Summary: Someone isn't sleepy.

Rating: NC-17

Authors notes: Thanks to Jewel and Sahiti for encouraging and ripping, all remaining errors are mine entirely... I have been known to be stubborn ;)

Feedback: Oh, yes, please?

Disclaimer: They are mine, in my dreams.

Dedication: Happy Birthday Ally.




*~*~*~*

Careful not to wake Bobby, Lindsay tiptoes into the bedroom carrying her shoes in her hand. She hadn't intended to stay out so late and is disappointed to have missed the opportunity to spend some time with him on one of his very rare nights off. When she nears her side of the bed, she puts the shoes on the floor, removes her jacket and places it on the chair before starting to undo the buttons on her blouse.

She's startled by Bobby's voice breaking the silence when he says, "Turn around and you'll be making one of my favorite fantasies come true."

With a barely suppressed laugh, Lindsay asks, "Which one?"

"Two hundred and thirty three."

Unable to control her laughter, she turns with her hands half-way through the task of undoing the buttons. As her eyes are still adjusting to the lack of light in the room, she can't quite see him clearly but what she can see sends heat waves through her body. She makes no attempt to hide her delight that he's awake as she says, "I thought you'd be asleep."

"And miss this show? I don't think so."

Removing the blouse, Lindsay asks, "So, what exactly does fantasy two hundred and thirty three entail?"

"Lying in bed watching you undress in the moonlight."

Surprised at its simplicity, Lindsay asks, "That's all?" as she unzips her skirt and lets it fall to the floor.

"Well, from there we have subsections, A, B and C," Bobby explains.

Lindsay stops removing her stockings and looks up with a smile, "Three subsections? Wow! Care to elaborate?"

Laying on his back with his arms crossed behind his head, Bobby says, "A: you put on one of those slippery gowns and climb into bed with me."

"I think you mean silk," Lindsay says as she returns to undressing.

Bobby rolls onto his side, resting his head on his raised arm, he replies, "I don't care what it's made of, it's how it feels when I get my hands on you that matters."

Taking a deep breath at the thought of those hands and what they can do to her, Lindsay nods and, trying to appear composed, says, "Fine, what's B?"

"B: you put on a pair of too-big butt-ugly pajamas."

Naked except for her underwear, Lindsay stands and appraises him, "That's a turn-on?"

"God, yeah!" Bobby's free hand strokes slowly over the bed as he looks at her.

Lindsay's eyes are immediately drawn to it and she can't stop imagining it against her skin. God, what he can do to her without even trying. Her heart rate has already sped up and her body is starting a slow journey into liquidity.

Bobby knows exactly what his actions are doing to her. Letting the tone of his voice say as much as his words, he explains further, "You're completely covered; no curves, no shape visible at all... but I know... I know exactly what that material is concealing... the less I can see of you, the more I want to see. I know how easily my hand can slide into that baggy clothing and find exactly what I need... exactly what I want." He pauses and smiles at her, taking a deep breath, he then adds, "Sometimes, Lindsay, I like unwrapping my presents."

Lindsay's surprised her legs are still holding her up. Bobby's voice has dropped an octave lower than sexy-as-hell and entered the no-woman-can-hear-and-survive zone. Just because she's regularly confronted with this phenomena doesn't mean she's developed an immunity to it; she doubts that she ever will, thank God!

"And C?" Lindsay whispers as she removes her bra, watching him watch her. Her breaths are deep and in tune with his; they are a room apart but their bodies have already joined.

"Ah, with C, you put on nothing at all. Of course, that spurs an image so mind-blowingly incredible that it then surpasses any subsection and becomes a fantasy all of its own. Two hundred and thirty four: you crawling naked over the bed towards me."

Placing her thumbs in her underwear, Lindsay says, "Ah, so what you are saying, Bobby, is that I'm now poised on the brink of fulfilling not one but two fantasies?"

"Jesus, Lindsay, just get over here," Bobby rasps, having had enough of this sweet torture.

Removing her final article of clothing, Lindsay climbs onto the bed and crawls slowly towards him; her eyes watching him, her limbs growing heavier in reaction to his pleased response. "Did you miss me tonight?" she asks as she arrives by his body, her voice is barely a breath but echoes through the room.

Her answer is his eager arms reaching out and dragging her down towards him and his mouth meshes with hers. Bobby's hands and mouth begin to explore her body - the body that so preoccupies his mind. He nibbles on her neck; the act makes her hips squirm in a way that she'd find embarrassing if she wasn't beyond caring about anything but how incredible what he is doing feels and... oh, god, does it feel good.

Laughing, she grasps his head and steers his eyes to hers, "Two hundred and thirty four, Bobby? Just how many of these do you have?"

"Thousands, since I met you, easily thousands," he grins and ducks his head back down again - how dare she interrupt when he'd discovered his life's purpose? His mouth finds solace in the hollow of her collarbone, is there anywhere she doesn't taste incredible? Is it any wonder that his mind is filled by her? She fills his dreams, day and night and every second in between.

Wondering if it's the same for her, he asks, "Do you dream about us, Lindsay?" as his mouth moves over her body. His tongue wrestles with a nipple before his teeth become jealous and want in on the action. His lips soon take over and soothe the tortured peak. Bobby's unsure if Lindsay's hushed, "Yes, yes, yes," had been an emphatic reply to his question or a response to his actions. Hoping it's a little of both, he lifts his head and looking at her with a grin, says, "Tell me what you dream."

"Hmmm, okay," she hums, pausing to contemplate.

Bobby returns to suckling on one of his favorite friends, giving her time to think about his request, surprised that she so easily complied. It isn't until he has switched to the long-neglected breast that Lindsay comes up with a plan. Her mental processes are a little slow having taken a time-out when she became lost in sensation.

"It involves me and... three men," she says and schools herself not to show any reaction when Bobby gasps and his mouth leaves her body.

His face appears on the pillow beside her and he asks uncertainly, "Really?"

"Yeah... I've thought about this one a lot lately." It is difficult for her not to reach out and soothe the concern off of his brow, but, he got her into this playful mood, so now he has to pay the consequences. "I walk into the room with one of them..."

"Me?"

"No, not you, the other two are waiting for us, I can see the expectation on their faces. I feel incredible as I walk towards them, the silk brushing against my skin reminds me with each step of where I am and what I'm about to do. I want this so much, dreamt about is so often, I can feel the emotion, the excitement in the room building with each step I take. I feel their eyes on me, my heart is pounding and I hold on tight as we get closer and closer. Finally, we make it to where they're standing, waiting, I feel a soft kiss to my cheek then the man I walked in with stands a little behind me and I find myself stepping towards the one I want, the one I came here to be with."

Seeing the question in his eyes she nods, "Yes, you. You'd watched me hungrily as I entered the room. I can see so much emotion in your eyes, I see love, adoration and even a little fear, God, you're beautiful. I just want to wrap myself around, hear you whisper my name but I wait as that is the way it has to be. We stare at each other and smile, a little nervous but so happy, I feel tears of joy threatening to fall as the third guy says something like... 'Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to...'"

Lindsay doesn't get to finish the rest of the priest's dialogue before Bobby pounces on her, eliciting a squeal from her and a, "That was so cruel," from him.

"The look on your face, Bobby, that was priceless. I've never seen you so repulsed and you were trying so valiantly to hide it," Lindsay laughs, "You are so cute." She watches him, her smile ever present. Lindsay can tell no witty response will be heard from him anytime soon as he is still a little shaken from the momentary panic caused by the trap that she'd set for him. She can see the amusement in his eyes, though, so isn't worried about his silence. Bobby's body language is eloquent enough to tell her that he appreciated if not quite enjoyed the joke and most importantly, he's delighted that she's finally home.

Lindsay rewards his complicity with a kiss, which Bobby relaxes into as he allows her joy to wash over him, rolling with it until they are again laying on their sides.

"I'm sorry I was so late," she tells him when they separate for some much-needed air.

"S'okay"

Kissing across his jaw, she says, "After the movie... we got to talking... then all of a sudden..."

"You realized you were horny and came running home to me?"

Lindsay laughs, "No! I realized the time and came running home, I didn't get horny until you spoke."

It's Bobby's turn to laugh, his arms wrap around her tighter and his mouth begins another exploration. "Mmm, tasty," she hears him mumble against her skin.

"How come you're still awake Bobby?"

"Just thinking."

"Worried about the Barker trial?"

"No... why? What did you hear?"

Laughing she says, "Nothing! I'm just trying to work out why you couldn't sleep."

"Well, I wasn't thinking about the trial, that's so textbook I could do it in my sleep, assuming I could sleep."

"So, what is on your mind then?"

"You."

"Oh." Lindsay pauses in her trail of kisses, returning her head to the pillow she looks at him, curious to hear what he'll say.

He shrugs, "Just thinking about you, about us..."

"Good thoughts?"

"Great thoughts," he assures her.

"Hence the nakedness and numbered fantasies?"

"Mm hmm... but I waited for you."

Lindsay giggles and wonders what is with Bobby tonight. Not that she isn't enjoying his mood, it's just that, considering how much thought he's expended on the subject, he's slow at putting any of it into action. It isn't that she doesn't enjoy talking to him, but they have to be up again in a few hours so the hour isn't exactly conducive to leisurely making love.

Lindsay is about to ask him if they are going to follow up on any of his thoughts when Bobby asks, "Do you have fantasies, Lindsay?"

"Of course I do, everyone does." She grins and snuggles up closer to him. "Although not everyone numbers them like some people that I know."

"Organization is the key to success."

"Then why are we still talking?"

Bobby laughs, then a little nervously asks, "Have you... Do you want... Is there something...?"

"Bobby, you of all people should know I'm not backward in stating what I want."

He nods accepting the truth behind that claim.

When he continues to merely stare, she adds, "If you're worried that there's something I want that isn't happening, then you can stop worrying. This -is- what I want."

"This?"

"You, me, happy, safe, naked." Bobby smiles but it fades to concern when Lindsay contemplatively says, "Although..."

"What?" he nervously asks.

"Bobby, in my dreams you tend to be a little more taciturn and a hell of a lot more tactile."

"That can be arranged."

"Thank God!"

"You're really eager, aren't you?" he says delighted.

Lindsay draws his face to hers as she says, "And whose fault is that?"

Bobby looks at her and Lindsay sees a number or retorts cross his mind before he gives in and does what they both want. She feels his lips smiling against hers and hopes his pursuits will soon become less cerebral and enter the sensual realm she's so craving. Hoping that the message has finally gotten through, Lindsay rolls onto her back and, thankfully, Bobby follows her. The heavenly weight of him pressing her into the mattress elicits a sigh of absolute contentment from her. Her fingers play along his back as he does phenomenal things to erogenous zones on her body that she didn't even know existed until he found them.

"You like that?" he needlessly asks, loving hearing her say that she does.

"Yeah," she hums, "Yeah."

"And everything you fantasize about happens?" He whispers while his mouth deliciously tortures behind her ear.

Too focussed on the ramifications of his actions, doesn't carefully consider her words before relying, "Ooh... no... not... everything."

His weight immediately moves off of her as he slides to her side. Leaning on his elbow, his face showing concern, he asks, "What's missing? Tell me."

Lindsay berates herself and makes a note to in future remember to always answer that type of question in the affirmative. "Nothing's missing, Bobby! Or at least it wasn't thirty seconds ago," she reaches out to try and coax him back but he's in cross examination mode now.

"Then what...?"

"It's just... not everything is humanly possible, Bobby."

The look on his face says, 'Try me.'

Sighing, knowing that she'll get no where until he's heard what he wants, she says, "I mean, for some of the things that I've considered to happen, you'd need to utilize time travel or... anti gravity or... or have body switching capabilities." Seeing his smile reemerge, she adds, "Bobby, you're good but you're not -that- good."

He growls as his mouth descends on her neck, his arms draw her against him as a muffled, "Just you wait and see," reaches her ear. She knows that he's going to leave a mark but it feels too good to complain. If it isn't in a place she can cover up she'll just make him pay for it tomorrow, she should be able to twist his arm into doing something for her as payback. She's lost in daydreams of a repentant amenable Bobby when she feels her face being turned towards his. The eyes that meet hers are full of mischief, not an ounce of contrition to be seen.

"Body switching Lindsay? Just whose body do you want to be in?"

"Yours," she answers with no hesitation at all.

"You want to make love to yourself?"

"No!" she laughs, screwing her nose up in distaste, she pushes him away. He flops down on his back dramatically and Lindsay follows him until she lays along his body. "What I want is to know how this feels for you."

Brushing the hair away from her face he begins, "Lindsay, I ..."

"I know, you've told me how it feels but Bobby, if it's anything like the way it is for me then words can never truly describe it, they'll never be enough... Just once I'd like to feel it the way you do."

"Only once?" When she grins, he adds, "Talk about putting pressure on a guy, you'd better make it a few times just to ensure you get the true idea."

"Just once will be plenty."

"But..."

"Bobby, you're forgetting that I know how it feels for me, I'm only willing to give that up once."

"That good, huh?"

"That spectacular!"

With the way Bobby is looking up at her, Lindsay finally feels in the control seat. Deciding that if he isn't going to get this show on the road she will, she begins an exploration of his body. She delights in listening to the noises he makes as she lathes his body with her mouth, it makes her reconsider her choices. It does sound like he's -really- enjoying it and she'd love to know just how it feels, but could she give up feeling his body to feel with his body? No, as enticing as it sounds, she'd far rather be the one causing his reactions than experiencing them. At moments like this, she's more than grateful to be a woman and decides her own body is fine with her.

There was a time when Lindsay had believed great sex was something that happened to others, it was something that she was just not capable of, but not anymore. Life has taught her that with the right partner anything is possible. The only thing that had been wrong with her in the past had been a poor choice in partners. Now she has a man that she trusts completely, that she loves, admires and respects and together they are perfect. Pleasure to them is as much about giving as receiving and she finds that, because of the deeply invested emotions, even the simplest of actions from Bobby elicits more sensation in her than anyone else ever has. The physiological changes he can cause with a mere look overwhelm her sometimes but they also remind her that great sex is no longer an envy, it's a fact.

Now all she needs is to convince Bobby that it's time to get some facts in order.

"Antigravity Linds?"

Grinning, Lindsay ceases her assault on his navel and rises as she sits back against his thighs. She shakes her head at his inquiring grin, trying to work him out, he's never this talkative during sex, he's never this talkative, period. But why on Earth did he have to turn over this new leaf now?

"What, you have a thing for astronauts?" Bobby asks when Lindsay offers no response.

"Astronauts don't do it for me, Bobby," she scoffs.

"That's a relief, every guy has his limits."

With a pout, Lindsay teases, "You don't want to give me the moon and the stars?"

"Oh, I'll give them to you, I'm just not keen on the idea of being the one to go out there and get them." When her pout doesn't seem to be fading he adds, "But I'll do it if you want me too."

Leaning against him, she whispers, "My hero," as she kisses along his jaw-line, his cheek, his nose; deliberately avoiding the place he really wants her.

Giving up on chasing her elusive mouth, Bobby asks, "Why antigravity?"

Lindsay sits up again appraising him. If the evidence wasn't there that he was ready to take this further she'd be wondering if this was a stall tactic. She's starting to believe he's doing it deliberately to torment her.

"Because from what I can see I can assure you gravity's nothing you need to be worried about," Bobby says as his hands trail along her sides, rising over her body, assuring her of the truth behind his words.

A minx like grin appears on her face "Strictly speaking, I didn't want it for me."

"Uh, oh," he smirks, "Is my ass drooping?"

Lindsay holds in her laugh, schooling her face to show only desire, her hands trail along his thighs in ever decreasing circles, each one closer to their destination than the last as in a wistful voice she asks, "Bobby, haven't you ever wondered what it would be like, if what went up... didn't by necessity also have to go down?"

Bobby's eyes close involuntarily as Lindsay takes him in hand, she delights in the intensity of his expressions as she ministers to his needs. The hands that had been on her hips when she touched him grasp her now so tightly it is bordering on painful. Looking at his face, she knows that he's totally unaware of his actions. His grimace is reminiscent of agony but she knows the truth, knows that it is actually exquisite pleasure. She takes pride in the sweat sheen developing across his skin and the knowledge that she can make this man, who'd never chose to hurt her, lose control enough that his actions are no longer governed by him. She listens to his body, obeying every plea.

When his eyes open and meet hers, Lindsay feels her body melt. His hands release their grip and move lower to rest on her thighs. His thumbs softly caressing the tender flesh aching for his attention. The hot flames shoot through her, every molecule screaming that there is only one cure to this rising insanity. Stopping her ministrations, she smiles at the groan he releases. Soothing him with her voice, she promises him that he'll approve of her new tactic as she moves forward then down; joining their bodies.

As their bodies become accustomed to the new sensations, Lindsay lays over his chest so that their mouths can join too. Their kiss ends as bodies scream for more. Lindsay pushes up slowly, feeling their bodies adjust, adoring his reverent sough, she braces her hands on his shoulders and begins to rock against him.

His whispered words of entreaty, of delight and admiration, remind her of their aborted conversation.

"Haven't you ever wondered what it would be like to live like this, Bobby... to live life on the brink of ecstasy... to spend glorious hours here... just like this... always like this... and to fall off the edge, over and over again... only to start right back where you left off?"

Although the answer he gives is barely coherent, Lindsay knows it is an affirmative one.

"I mean... what if we could do this twenty-four/seven, Bobby... Haven't you ever wished for that... to never have to end it... to feel this always?"

She finds herself drawn down to meet him as his hand cups her neck and his lips seek hers. She kisses him until her lungs are ready to burst and she rises again, taking a number of deep breaths before speaking again.

"Realistically, it would kill us... if there was no reason to stop, do you think we ever would?... oh yeah, oh like that... I... mean... how long could we survive like this, Bobby... oooh, oh, I... I give us a month... oh... God! Not if you do that... that's good... too good... do that and it's a week... but... oh oh... oh, what a way to go... too good to ever stop... don't you think?"

It's Bobby's turn to request more attention to fact as he stammers, "Lindsay... shut... up."

Giggling, Lindsay's hands move from their perch on Bobby's shoulders to rest behind her on his thighs, changing the angle of penetration and evoking a long guttural sigh from her as each stroke hits the spot... just right. With her now leaning away from him, Bobby's options are limited. He wants to touch her but he's unwilling to change the angle to do so, God, no, she'd kill him, chew him up and spit him out, he's own glorious black widow. Besides, it feels too damn good to alter. Her upper body is out of reach so he concentrates on what he can touch, his fingers brush the flesh where they are joined, an act Lindsay is greatly appreciative of.

Although, at first she's babbling about them never being born because if mankind had the ability to do this long term then no advances would ever have been made and humans would have wiped themselves out of existence millions of years ago, Bobby's action soon make even babbling beyond her. His thumb grinds against her on each down stroke and she feels goosebumps rising on her goosebumps. Her body begins the long slow destructive journey of breaking apart in glorious surrender. She feels the shattering begin, the trembling, tingling sensation of her body strumming ever closer to release. Crying out for more while simultaneously begging not to let it end. Her movements speed up, she feels him guiding her, hears him urging her on, encouraging her to let go, to let it happen, to let him catch her and she does. Surpassing the brink she free-falls into sensual overload as her sweat laden body collapses onto his and she feels herself engulfed in his arms.

Cognizance returns and Lindsay smiles up at Bobby whose now poised above her, his weight resting on his elbows while his hips press into hers. His smile is a mix of amusement and adoration. As the momentary confusion over how and when their positions were reversed passes, she begins to wonder what he's waiting for. Her hands raise to brush over his face, her thumb lingers on his lip and his eyes close as he takes it into his mouth.

"God, Lindsay, I almost lost it back there," he says making her grin.

"Bobby, I hate to break this to you, but that was kinda the point of the activity."

"Not for me, I just wanted to watch you."

"So we're done then?" she teases

"Okay, first," he concedes, then leaning down until their noses are touching, swears, "You... blow... my... mind!"

Lindsay smiles and tracing her fingers along his spine, tickles down his back, making him hiss. "So, now it's my turn to watch you," she says, her hand traveling over his butt and trailing along his inner thigh, "I like playing voyeur. You're fun to watch."

"Keep that up and it will be over way before either of us are ready," he warns.

"Bobby!" she purrs "I'm so passed ready, I'm blissed out. You're the one lagging behind. It's your turn now."

"I want to wait until you catch up again," he says, his grimace suggesting it's taking more control than he has.

"God, Bobby, what did you do, eat the energizer bunny?" Lindsay asks.

Bobby collapses onto her as he laughs. Their bodies shaking together in laughter serves to remind Lindsay that he's inside her and quickly has her joining him in his eagerness for more. Her state of lethargy passing, she prepares to resume their activity. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she shifts under him, cutting his laughter short as he emits a drawn out groan.

Rising on his elbows, he looks at her and asks, "Will you... again?"

"There's only one way to find out, Bobby" she grins, thrusting again.

"God, Lindsay, I need a second or the points moot."

"Still?" she asks surprised.

"Yeah, I'm struggling to stay distracted."

"Can I help?"

"Considering you even turned me on when you talked about death and destruction, I... Don't... Think... So."

"I talked about death and destruction?" Lindsay says surprised.

"Yeah, you sicko," he teases.

"Well, you were listening, what does that make you?"

"I always listen."

"Since when?" Lindsay says rolling her eyes in disbelief.

"Since you started making those little noises."

"I don't make little noises!"

Bobby gives a fairly accurate impersonation of the noises he adores, to which Lindsay replies, "Well, at least I don't grunt like some Cro-Magnon man."

"You like it when I grunt," he assures he.

Lindsay laughs, then concedes, "I know."

Bobby looks so smugly at her that she's left with no option but to buck her hips to shut him up. Her actions have the desired affect, and glassy-eyed, Bobby's body responds to her. Control is the last thing on his mind now, as Lindsay uses every trick she knows to drive him out of his mind.

"God, you feel so good!" he pants, knowing that oblivion is about to hit. "You ready?" he asks and Lindsay hears his desperation.

"Kiss me, Bobby and I'll be there," she promises knowing that all she needs is his lips to send her back over the edge.

He doesn't have to be told twice. His mouth feasts on hers furiously, only breaking contact when the ferocity of his climax has him roaring her name. He avows his love over and over as the tremors rush through him, then time and sensation stops, all he's aware of is the pounding of his heart and the hands soothing over his skin returning it to life.

"Did you?" he asks when the ability to speak with a semblance of coherency returns.

"Yes," she softly replies.

"You sure?"

Lindsay laughs and, wiping the sweat-dampened hair from his forehead, assures him, "I think I'd know."

Bobby grins and curls into her body. They lay sweaty, serene and replete, their breaths the only sound in the room, until lips again seek one another. Raising his head, he looks into her eyes and says, "So, time travel, Lindsay?"

"Bobbeeeeee!" she sighs, why is it that if she wants a conversation, she can't get a word out of him but if she wants to sleep, he never shuts up?

"So, what, 2015 and President Lindsay Dole entertains her adoring husband in the oval office?"

"God, no," Lindsay laughs.

"Well, what then?"

"Maybe... more like going back in time, Bobby."

"Yeah, I wouldn't mind reliving the last hour."

"Mmmm, yeah!"

"Is that what you mean? Reliving the good times?"

"No," she shakes her head, smiling in amusement at his persistence, he's like a dog with a bone, but he's such cute puppy it's impossible to get mad. "More like creating other times," she says.

Bobby nods, his I-have-no-idea-what-you-are-talking-about-but-I'm-trying-to-appear-supportive nod, "Tell me!" he says.

Lindsay sighs, then moves so they're laying on their sides facing one another, she smiles at his eager face and in a soft lullaby tone, hoping to coax him into sleep, says, "I'm a peasant girl, happily tending the fields. It's a beautiful, warm, spring day and I'm enjoying being outside and surrounded by the blessings of Mother Earth. There is a soft, sweet breeze and it's whispering through my hair, bringing with it the intoxicating scent of wildflowers. The perfection of the moment has me pausing to take a deep worshiping breath when I hear the sounds of horses' hooves. Right up until that moment I had been so caught up in where I was and what I was doing that I'd forgotten there was anyone else on earth. I turn towards the sound and see Sir Robert of Donnelly and his entourage approaching."

Bobby laughs loudly making Lindsay smile, spurring her on to make the story more elaborate for his sake.

"I know I shouldn't, it isn't my place, being just a peasant girl and all, but I can't help watching him - he's exquisite. There would be at least ten horsemen there but in my eyes there may as well be only one; I see no one but him. I'm thankful for that soft breeze now because without it I'm sure my body would be on fire. They near my field, Sir Robert in the lead, and the horses swift hooves seem to beat out the rhythm of my heart. No longer am I calm and at peace, oh, no, not at all. As they pass, he turns his head a little. I watch, thinking he plans on talking to his men, but then, I realize he's directly looking at me. I know I should curtsy, lower my head in respect, but... I can't drag my eyes away from him. The horses are moving swiftly so he has passed almost before I've had a chance to see him and I watch as the rest of his entourage rides by. For the rest of the afternoon I can't stop thinking about him..."

"As you tend your fields?"

"Yeah," she wistfully says. When he grins at her, she defensively asks, "What?"

"You, tending fields, I just can't see it."

"Oh, but you being Sir Robert isn't a problem?"

"Of course not," he wryly grins, "Once a great man always a great man, right?"

"I think I'm going to go to sleep now," Lindsay deadpans, making a move to roll away.

"Come back here," Bobby says, his arms holding her too tight for her to make an escape.

"I don't like you anymore," she mumbles while taking a deep loving sniff of the chest she's held tight against, belying her words her lips soon find themselves peppering the skin with kisses, "You're horrible."

His hands stroke over her hair and his lips press a soft kiss to the top of her head, "And you're my sweet little peasant girl."

Lindsay pushes up so she's looking at Bobby, "Laugh all you want, mister, but I'm an excellent field tenderer."

"And what exactly does that mean?" Bobby grins.

Lindsay giggles as she admits, "I have no idea... It isn't the point of the story though," she quickly defends.

"So, what is?"

"If you'd be quiet for ten seconds, I'd tell you."

Nuzzling her neck, he mumbles, "I'll keep my mouth busy this way."

"You do that," she encourages and takes a moment to calm herself so that she can continue.

Lindsay soon discovers that calm is a state that she can't quite reach. With her breast cupped in his hand Bobby's thumb is lazily rubbing over her nipple, rolling it in circles eliciting a corresponding heat that pools between her thighs; her body crying for that treatment elsewhere. When the sensation becomes overwhelming, Lindsay knows that she has to stop him if she is to continue her story but it is almost impossible to muster the will to do so. She finds her motivation in the fact that delaying the resumption of the activity they seem headed to repeat will be guaranteeing a more fulfilling revival. If it weren't for the rewards of patience, she'd say, 'To hell with talking.' The look in his eye tells her that she had better make a decision and make it fast. Shifting forward, she reaches behind his neck and encourages his mouth to meet with hers. Distracted by her kisses, his hand moves to rest on her back, holding her to him, enabling her desperation to abate as she gets lost in this new sensation: sweet love.

"Don't you want to hear my story?" she asks with a moue of despair when they separate.

"Sweetheart, of course I do," he whispers and cuddles up close, promising, "I'm listening."

'Sucker,' Lindsay thinks, she's pleased to know that her puppy-dog eyes work just as effectively as his do. Secretly she'd been glad of the interruption, not only because it had felt so damn good but because it had given her the opportunity to invent more of her tale.

"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, after Sir Robert passes I return to working my field, in the excellent manner in which I always do," she pokes her tongue out at him for dramatic effect, "I kept thinking about him though, I don't know if it's my wild imagination or a trick of the light, but... I believed he'd smiled at me."

"Yeah, well, you in a field would make anyone -" Bobby doesn't get to finish, because Lindsay's fingers taking a grip of his chest hair threatening a wax-less hair-removal treatment silences him immediately. He puts on his innocent face as if she was the one who had interrupted the story.

"That night, as we were sitting around the hearth to ward of the chill, a knock was heard on our door. When my father answered it, we discovered that it was a messenger sent by Sir Robert announcing that I'd been summoned to appear before him the next day."

"Summoned," he scoffs.

'In my office!' she mouths at him.

"I don't summon you," he declares.

"I'd hardly call it asking, either, Bobby."

Bobby opens his mouth, then closes it again realizing that he has no defense. "Go on," he says and Lindsay smiles at his deflection.

"When the messenger had left, everyone was curious, buzzing around me trying to find out what I'd done to cause this. I had no idea, I mean, surely he wasn't angry with what I'd done- that I'd had the audacity to watch him- it couldn't be it, it just couldn't. I could see in their eyes a mix of concern and envy and it just made me even more nervous. The very thought of seeing him up close, of talking to him, was staggering, I was so tense..."

"I believe Sir Robert is excellent at relieving tension."

"I wouldn't know," she grins, batting his hands away, whispering for him to shush, "There was no way that I could settle that night as I had far too much on my mind." When Bobby waggles his eyes suggestively she adds, "It was almost harvesting time and I was concerned about my crops."

He groans, "Yeah, sure."

Lindsay ignores him and continues talking, "When I awoke the next day, I put on my Sunday dress and was just finishing arranging my hair when a carriage arrived to take me to him. I'd never ridden in such luxury before and, knowing my destination, was almost too scared to enjoy it."

"But you did?"

"Oh, of course, never let fear get in the way of a good time, right?"

"That's my girl."

Lindsay accepts his kisses, relaxes into them until she realizes he has no intention of stopping. She pushes him away, giggling at the slurpy pop of their mouths parting.

"What?" he mumbles, moving to rejoin them.

"I'm telling a story," she pouts.

Bobby holds in a groan and moves onto his back, drawing her with him; just because his mouth isn't allowed in on the action doesn't mean his hands have to remain still. He runs his fingers over her back, loving the rippling effect as she reacts to his touch, her moving over him like that feels really good. So much for his mouth staying out of the action: her neck is there, it needs to be tasted... Now.

Lindsay reaches for his hands and lays them on the mattress beside them then sits up. She looks at him sternly when he tries to follow her. He lays his head back down and gives her a contrite expression in return. She pushes up, sitting on his thighs looking at the relaxed smile that had been missing when last she'd sat here, no, then he had been looking at her with lust and intent, now, now she sees the love, oh, and a flicker of lust but she'll just let that simmer for a while longer. Her hands roam over his skin and she makes no objection when his raise to caress her legs.

"You listening?" she asks.

Bobby grins and nods, starting to understand the rules of this game, reminding himself to never ask her for a story ever again... well not while naked anyway, or when hoping to get naked, or... actually ever again probably fits.

Taking a deep breath Lindsay speaks again, "Finally, we arrive at his castle..."

"He has a castle?"

"What you expected some fourth floor apartment?"

"A man's home is his castle," Bobby quips.

Lindsay looks around the room, with her critical Architectural Digest eye, "A castle, you say?" she asks when she looks back at him.

He shrugs, "I like it."

Lindsay pauses and kisses the palm that has moved to caress her cheek, she holds Bobby's wrist, keeping his hand against her and smiles at him, seeing concern in his eyes she lets him know that it is unnecessary. Leaning forward, she presses a soft kiss to his lips, whispers, "I like it too," then raises back up again.

"So, what happened next?" Bobby asks, unable to stop his relieved grin.

"Well, I'm ushered into a room that's larger than any I've ever seen before; you'd probably have to combine mine and three of my neighbors cottages to make this room. Sir Robert is sitting behind an enormous desk, working very hard but rises when I walk in. Taking my hand, he kisses it and thanks me for coming to see him. I don't know what to say because the whole scenario is so bizarre. I don't belong there; it is so out of my league. I stammer out some sort of unintelligible response, wishing with all my pounding heart that I hadn't come. He leads me to the fireplace and directs the butler to serve refreshments. Do you want to know what we ate?" she asks and hides her grin at his frustrated shake of his head, knowing that he wants her to get to the point... and fast! He took long enough getting to the point earlier, now it's his turn to endure a wait.

"That's lucky," she says, "Because I don't really remember, I was more preoccupied with staring at Lord Bobby than..."

"Lord Bobby," Bobby laughs, "What happened to Sir Robert?"

Lindsay grins sheepishly, okay, so she had become a little distracted as she'd allowed her eyes to scan the man laid out before her, maybe her, 'Good Lord, Bobby,' had unintentionally made it's way into her tale. "Um..." she says, "I changed my mind and if you don't keep quite he just may become someone else entirely."

"I'm quiet!" he assures her.

"Good, so when we are alone, Lord Bobby turns to me and says, 'I've been told that it's time I marry, will you be my wife?' Of course, my answer is, 'No.'"

"It is?"

"Yes," Lindsay laughs, then grinning down at Bobby's confused face, says, "Strangely enough, Bobby, he looked just as surprised as you do when I said it. At first he believed I was just confused, after all, he was the richest most powerful man in the county, so who was I to say no to him?"

"The most wonderful woman ever, that's who."

Lindsay pauses in her tale to look at Bobby. He smiles at the mix of surprise, delight and amusement on her face. When she continues to stare in silence, he asks, "What?"

Lindsay shakes her head and lays down over him, cuddling up close before beginning to speak, "He looks at me in total confusion, stutters out a, 'You don't want to marry me?' as if it's too impossible to believe that I wouldn't want that. I think, quite possibly, I'm the first person to ever say no to him and he honestly has no idea how to take it. When he finally has to accept that I perfectly understood the question, he tells me that he thinks I just need time to think about it, that given time I'll change my mind. Apparently, he believes that women do that all the time."

Bobby grins but in the interest of safety, remains quiet, deciding now is not the time to list the many, many, many times her mind has changed in the short time he's known her.

Lindsay smiles, she doesn't have to hear the list to know that he's composed it, having often had the misfortune to have the will-you-ever-make-up-your-mind-and-stick-to-it conversation with him. She rewards his good behavior with a kiss then returns to her story. "Believing that I'm being too impulsive, he then suggests that I stay at the castle for a week so that I can make an informed decision, and, if at the end of that time I still say no, then he'll let me go. The expression on his face assures me he doesn't believe that will ever happen. Although his suggestion is couched as a request, when Lord Bobby says something, you do it, no question."

Lindsay feels her mattress shaking a little and bites down on the nipple closest to her mouth, "Something funny?" she asks through gritted teeth.

Still now, Bobby risks life and limb by saying, "You doing something I ask, no question."

Lindsay moves up his body, rests her chin on his, and says, "Let me see if I can refresh your memory, I came home hoping for a good nights sleep, you made a request that I get naked and get over here... I don't recall making an objection and, Bobby, if I'm not mistaken, I'm both here and..." she leans in close, whispering conspiratorially, "completely naked."

Bobby's hands are compelled to verify her claim- thoroughly- while his eyes lock with hers and he challenges, "Ahhh but that doesn't count, there was something in it for you."

"A pretty impressive something too, if memory serves me correctly."

They grin at one another, goofy this-night-is-too-good-to-let-it-end grins.

"I could refresh your memory," he gallantly offers.

"Oh, but, Bobby, I have a story to tell," she purrs.

Bobby knows better than to groan, he did after all ask her to tell him about this dream, he'd just never expected she'd make an epic saga out of it. In the future he'll know better than to insist on a story when she has other plans, although, technically, those plans appear to have changed, he's not so sure that she's interested in going straight to sleep when she is done. In fact, he's quite sure that she has something else entirely on her mind, and he's positive it isn't just wishful thinking on his part.

His change in expression tells Lindsay exactly what he is thinking; there is a definite suggestion in his eye that they cut to the chase. "So, anyway," Lindsay says ignoring it, she's having fun now watching him squirm. "I find myself staying at the castle. In the interests of propriety though I can't possibly stay on my own, so they send for my sister too."

"Oh God," Bobby moans.

Lindsay laughs, "Yes, Helen arrives."

"Poor Lord Bobby," he groans, "He's an idiot but nobody deserves that."

"Well, strangely enough," Lindsay grins, "It only took five hours for him to become exasperated and send her back home. So, instead, he called for his sister Becca who he insisted always kept him in his place. Lucky, too, because I had no idea who my family would send next, my younger sister Lucy, well... she is a little too similar to Helen at times, and my older sister Ellenor would probably terrify Lord Bobby and he'd send us both away."

Bobby chuckles, "Isn't that what you want?"

"What?"

"Well, you don't want to marry him so don't you want to go home?"

"Not really, I did like Lord Bobby, I was a little fascinated by him. Even before I'd met him, I knew enough about him by reputation to know that he's someone to admire, someone I'd like to know better. I do want to get to know him, so, I'm quite happy to stay?"

"But not marry him?"

"I said 'no' to his proposal because I'm not going to marry some man just because he's rich and powerful. Money can buy objects, it can buy appearances but it can't buy peace of mind, it can't buy happiness... you can't purchase emotion, love... you can buy a house but you have to make a home. I don't want some empty castle; I just want a home with the man I love..." Lindsay feels the air become heavier and, quickly, to lighten the moment, adds, "But, hey, a week in a castle with the one and only Lord Bobby, how could any girl refuse?"

"Well," Bobby says smugly, "I can't see how, stud that he is."

Lindsay lets him get away with that one and returns to her story, "So, anyway, the next morning, I had barely risen when the room was filled with tailors and reels of material and gowns. I had enough dresses to clothe my whole village, men included, laid out before me and told to chose any I liked."

Bobby chuckles, "Are the men in your village prone to wearing dresses?"

"Not in public but it is a strange world we live in, Bobby, so I'd never discount the fact," she replies.

Bobby places his hand over his heart, swearing, "My only interest in dresses is in removing them from you, this, I promise."

"Ah, such a relief," she sighs, as if it had ever been in doubt. "Bobby, I, on the other hand, had a wonderful time trying on all these dresses, the materials were so soft, so refined, so slippery," she giggles winking at him, "I'd never felt anything so beautiful, it was amazing to me that for a week these would all be mine."

"What, that ass wasn't going to let you keep them?"

"I'm sure he would have, Bobby, but who needs finery in a field? I know that I'm going to have to give them up, they just aren't a part of my life."

"Isn't this supposed to be a good dream?" Bobby asks confused.

"It is," she promises him and lays her head against his chest, "It just has more plot than yours."

"Who needs plot?"

"Do you want to know what happens or not?"

"Sure," Bobby replies.

Lindsay hears the slur of his 's,' grins that he's finally getting sleepy, 'welcome to the club,' she thinks, although now that she's getting into the tale, she finds herself with a second lease of life; should he even fall asleep, she'd remain awake composing the rest in her head, then, done, she may just need to wake him up to... uh, reenact some of the favorite moments of her vision. Deciding it's best to keep him awake, ensuring instant feedback, Lindsay again begins to speak.

"I'm left with a dress for each day of my stay and a gown for each night, as there will be parties that I will be expected to attend. Lord Bobby returns to work then, telling me that I can do whatever I want for the rest of the day and to make myself at home. I know that he expects me to become covetous of my surrounds but I don't. I have only one need when it comes to a home..."

"No rats?"

Lindsay laughs and says, "Okay, make that two needs."

"What's the first?"

Lindsay rises to look at him. She shakes her head that he even needs to ask the question, she leans forward brushing her lips against his as she whispers, "You."

Her confession turns a soft kiss into one of passion as he assures her through his actions that he feels exactly the same way, that all he needs is her. When their mouths finally give in to the inevitable need for air, reluctantly parting, Lindsay returns to laying against his chest. The room is silent except for their heavy breaths, until Lindsay says, "I spent most of the day viewing the luscious gardens, I felt less out of place there, felt closer to the real me surrounded by nature rather than finery. Becca spent the day with me and told me many tales about her brother, barely anything was left secret..."

"I'm firing her in the morning."

Lindsay laughs, snuggling in close she says, "I'd like to see you try. You might need Lord Bobby's suit of armor because I'm sure swatting will occur."

"True," Bobby nods, believing that he'll carry bruises for life from some of Bec's swats; of course, he also believes that he never deserved any of them.

"Besides, you'd be lost without Bec, and you know it," Lindsay says.

"Yeah," he agrees wholeheartedly.

"And you think I don't know that your moments of relationship insight stem from a wake up call from her... Bec's going nowhere if I have any say in it."

"Hey! Sometimes I come up with them on my own."

"You just keep telling yourself that, Bobby," she teases.

"Get back to your story, would ya?" he growls but Lindsay sees the laughter in his eyes.

"Lord Bobby enters my room just as it's time for me to change for dinner..."

"Pervert," Bobby chuckles.

"He doesn't intend to stay and watch," Lindsay clarifies.

"Loser."

Holding in her urge to laugh, she rises and looks at him sternly.

"What? I never said a word!" he claims.

Why she ever thought that Bobby could stay quiet and listen, she doesn't know. She decides that the best way to deal with his incessant interruptions is to ignore them so continues as if there had been no disruption. "He smiles when he walks in and notices that I'm admiring the dress that has been laid out for me. It is the most beautiful gown I have ever seen and I still find it hard to believe it is for me. He again asks me if I will marry him and I reply, 'No Sir, I will not.' He..."

"You're a stubborn little thing, aren't you," Bobby laughs.

"And this surprises you?" Lindsay asks, her expression warning him to tread lightly.

"Not at all," he says, "I love your hard head," he adds, taking her warning and throwing it out the door.

Deeming his comment unworthy of a response, Lindsay says, "So, he says to me, that if we were married I could have an endless supply of gowns, by the best tailors, of the most luxurious materials. I tell him that I realize that and my answer is still no." Lindsay ignores the hand that has moved to her head and seems to be testing it's solidity if the knocking he's doing is any indication, continuing her story, without pause. "Lord Bobby leaves, mumbling something about me being stubborn but I have no idea what he is talking about.

Bobby's hand moves from her head and begins caressing her back, though she may be stubborn, he wouldn't have her any other way, actually, he would, he'd have her any way he can get her, not only does she have him whipped but she has him loving it too. Mischievous little wench, one day he'll show her who's boss... of course that would just involve pointing to her reflection in the mirror. His musings end the moment her voice breaks the silence.

"As I dress for dinner, I have so many people helping me that it is a wonder I am allowed to breathe for myself."

"Lindsay Dole... Miss I-Can-Do-It-By-Myself, letting someone help her- that I'd like to see."

"I'm not that bad."

"You are -very- independent."

"So?" she asks raising up.

Seeing the prospect of his reward for listening to her story slipping away, Bobby quickly back-peddles, "So, nothing... I'm just saying..."

"Saying what exactly?"

"That... uh... maybe you should finish your story."

Lindsay looks at him speculatively for a moment, her eyes boring into him, making him want to get down on his knees and beg forgiveness, except, she's actually on top of him so to do the kneeling thing, she'd have to move off of him and... well, nope he doesn't want that to happen. He realizes that she must be going to forgive him anyway because she stops staring and starts to speak.

"The party is wonderful; the music, the food, the dancing, is all exquisite. I watch it all in awe. The women are so beautiful, they belong there, you can see it, they look... they just look perfect."

"But none so perfect as you, my sweet wench," there, that should get him back in the good books.

"Wench?" Lindsay grins.

Bobby rolls his eyes, "You know, you try and sleep through those movies but they're insidious, they seep into your brain so that you can never get them out even though you -really- want to."

"What movies would that be, exactly?"

"Ones with snooty guys in long boots and tights," Bobby says with a look of disgust. Lindsay laughs and with a smug grin he adds, "That's what you and Helen went to see, right? Some movie were they don't even speak properly, the guy walks around saying, 'thee' and 'thou,' all the time."

"Maybe we did and maybe we didn't."

"Yeah, you did," he says knowing he's figured it all out now, "And I bet you cried too."

Lindsay doesn't bother answering; looking sternly at him, she secretly enjoys the smug look on his face, his you-can't-keep-a-secret-from-me grin.

When she doesn't reply, Bobby says, "No wonder."

"No wonder what?" she asks and regrets it instantly, knowing that she fell into his trap.

"Those guys rarely even kiss the girl, no wonder you came running home looking for a real man."

"Fruitless search," she mumbles, her hands running seductively over him before she raises her eyes to his, "I only found you."

"Can't keep your hands off of me, though, can you?"

Knowing that he's working up to something and deciding to ignore him so she can implement her own plan, Lindsay says, "Bobby?"

"Yeah?"

With the huskiest voice she can muster, she asks, "Would you wear long boots and tights if I asked you too?"

He grins, saying, "Depends."

"On?"

"Well, will you be in one of those dresses that is all frills and boobs?" His hands demonstrate exactly what he means, hovering over his chest pretending to push non-existent breasts up.

"You're such a man," Lindsay groans, he looks too proud of that statement so she decides to mess a little more with his mind, she, after all, has the assets to go him one better. "You know, if I wore one of those dresses, I'd need a corset for it to have the full effect," she says, moving her hands until they cradle her breasts, she raises them, creating the cleavage of Bobby's fevered dreams.

Bobby swallows heavily as his eyes glaze over, "Uh... sure... I'll wear them," he says, no longer caring what he's agreeing to as long as she doesn't stop.

"Liar," Lindsay retorts, dropping her hands.

Bobby's eyes almost shed tears at the loss of cleavage before becoming mesmerized by the resulting sway of now liberated breasts, like watching a tennis match, his eyes flick back and forth unable to decide what to watch first. Deciding he wants an instant replay, his hands mimic her actions as they slide up to heaven, cradling, raising, pausing, he looks at her and says, "Yeah, let's scrap everything but the corset, I liked the sound of that."

Oh, my, if she could find one as luxurious as his skin she'd agree in a second, is there any chance that it would feel so warm, so right, so ooooh, that's nice... Leaning into his hands she whispers, "Two hundred and thirty three, subsection D, I slip into a corset and crawl across the bed towards you."

"Now you're talking!" Bobby says dropping his hands from her, yup, there they go again.

Lindsay moans, feeling suddenly bereft she reaches for his hands and returns them to her body, "I'll buy one on my lunch break," she promises, playing along.

"Yay, I'll just cross another one off my list and.. uh... schedule a long lunch."

Lindsay grins down at him, remembering some past lunches that thoroughly sated their appetites, yeah, those were the days and it's definitely time they do something like that again, waiting until lunchtime tomorrow, though, might be asking for too much... let's get this show on the road tonight, it's time to finish this story and get back to more important business. "Want to know what I fantasize about, Bobby?"

"Yeah," he answers eagerly.

Lindsay leans over until their faces are inches apart, "You, silently listening to my story."

"I'm listening," he insists, "It isn't my fault you keep getting sidetracked."

Lindsay rolls her eyes a little as she leans forward and nibbles on his lips, "Do you want to hear my story?"

"Yes," Bobby says, because, when it comes to Lindsay, 'no' disappears from his vocabulary.

"Then shut up!" she says giving his lip a playful nip.

Lindsay rolls off of him and onto her side, Bobby follows her, grinning at her insistent tone. He lays in silence and waits and waits and waits; damn, but he wants to tell her to hurry up. He knows, though, that that is what she wants, so refuses to fall for her trap. Obviously, he passes her have-patience test because, after what feels like six hours, she grins and takes his hand in hers, kissing it softly.

"I watched all the pretty people at the party and I felt awkward compared to them, I knew that I could learn the steps, I knew that I could, for all appearances, become like them but inside... Bobby, inside I'll never be like that."

Bobby looks at her, he's feels that somewhere in all of this, there is probably an analogy but either his post-coital/pre-coital/hopefully-sometime-soon-coitally mind isn't wrapping itself around it correctly or, if it is, then he isn't sure that he likes the implications. "Lindsay?" he asks hesitantly.

She shakes her head and keeps talking, "I loved the party, Bobby... adored it. I felt out of place, yes, but at the same time I felt swept up in the atmosphere, the excitement. I liked it very much. It wasn't comfortable, it was scary, but... I loved it."

"And Lord Bobby?" Bobby asks.

"Just what part of 'shut-up' do you not understand?"

"Uh," Bobby says with terror in his eyes.

Lindsay grins, not believing it for a second. "I found myself liking Lord Bobby... very much. On first impressions, he had appeared formidable but I realized that that may have been less about his manner and more about my uncertainty. Of course, I was privy to his secrets now too. Once you learn that a grown man sleeps with a teddy bear, it's hard to be afraid of him anymore."

"Hey! That photo was a set up! I fell asleep in the office and the bear, I bought that for Kendal, I swear!"

"So you say," she grins and rolls onto her back, so that she doesn't have to watch him splutter; she is less inclined to soothe him when not faced with those eyes and it's fun listening to his little grunts of displeasure. He's such an easy man to play. "Lord Bobby took me under his wing, showed me around, taught me the steps. While he was with me, I didn't feel so out of place. He brought clarity to things and I soon realized that if I just held on to him when things began to get a little crazy, he'd steer me through. I felt secure with him and funnily enough, the reason was because I saw that underneath, deep down, he was a little lost too. He made me see that each and every one of these people that I'd thought I could never be like was actually just like me; they, too, were putting up a good front while trembling inside."

"He sounds like an ass," Bobby mumbles, trying to hide his reaction to her sentiment behind humor but the delight is in his eyes.

"Oh, most definitely," Lindsay nods. She watches the smile fade from Bobby's lips then adds, "He had -the- most delectable ass." Bobby's relief overshadows his attempt at nonchalance and Lindsay grins at him, "You are so easy, Bobby," she laughs.

"Yeah, I'm a sure thing," he replies, raising up on his elbow and looking at her with a suggestive eyebrow waggle.

Lindsay groans and reaches around to give his most delectable feature a behave-yourself pinch.

After his yelp of surprise, he asks, "So what happened next?" At least when she's talking she isn't hurting him, not that he doesn't like it when she hurts him but she'd had a scary look in her eye and he quite likes keeping his body in working order, he's hoping to get it working again soon so it's best she stops appearing likely to... uh... do damage there.

"Well, the next morning, over breakfast, he promised he would give me music and dancing every night once we were married if that was what I wanted. I had to remind him that I had no intention of marrying him, which surprised him immensely. He stuttered out, 'But you enjoyed the party?' Then he asked, 'Do you not like me?' I told him that I did, very much, and that I liked none better. I watched him silently muse over this while we ate, watched his sister fight the urge to slap him upside the head and enjoyed it, very much. He's quite cute when he's confused."

"Cute? Thanks, Linds."

"Anytime," she promises.

"Teddy bears are cute," he grumbles, seeing her delighted grin he quickly adds, "Not that I'd know... I've never had one; I've just been told they are."

"You done?" Lindsay asks, when he nods, she says, "After we ate, we went for a walk in the garden and he asked me if there was anything that he could give me that would make me change my mind. I told him that there was only one thing that I wanted but I would not ask him for it. I said that it was his to give and not mine to ask."

"You know, that's why women never make sense, they're trying to reenact these stupid movies."

"Bobby."

"Yes."

"I'd advise you to keep opinions like that to yourself."

"I'll tell the guys tomorrow, they'll agree with me."

"Some consolation that will be when you're sleeping on the couch."

"Hey, Linds?"

"Yes?"

"Is my sorry-babe face cute too?" He looks at her with the droopiest puppy-eyes and a trembling lower lip.

She decides not to pass comment, preferring to finish her story before they both fall asleep, "I spent the morning watching Lord Bobby work, I saw all these people coming to him with problems, they'd come to him so afraid and he'd talk to them, offer advice and promise them that he would do what he could to help and they'd leave with smiles on their faces. He told me that he never promised that he could solve a problem but always promised to try. He told me that hope was easier to believe than a lie and people were happy just knowing that something was being done. If you made big promises then, given time to think about it, they'd see it was false. He said that he couldn't guarantee the future but he could guarantee he'd act and that's all people really wanted to know."

Bobby grins at her and Lindsay raises her hand, sliding it along his cheek as she says, "See, I listen."

"I'm listening," he chuckles, unable to hide the pleasure he feels that she remembers so well the things he told her the first day that they worked together. He always listens to her, just because he likes to talk too doesn't mean that he isn't listening; he loves her voice, God, he could listen to her read a phone book and get turned on... yeah, he listens to her.

Lindsay smiles, he had been quiet then, but, then again, she had been talking about him, which he always likes hearing her do. Seeing now how best to keep him enthralled, she speaks again, "It was a wonderful morning and I fell in love a little then and there. I stopped seeing him as his title and started seeing him as a man, a wonderful man." Bobby's smug smile spurs her to throw in a little tease, "The perfect man of my dreams, an incredible heart in a beautiful package... with that blonde hair and baby face and..."

Lindsay doesn't get to finish her description as Bobby is on top of her, his fingers tickling her mercilessly as he promises to make her forget about blondes for life, like they've ever come into consideration since she's met her own version of tall, dark and sinfully lust-worthy.

"Okay, okay, okay," she laughs, when she deems breathing is becoming a necessity and she needs him to let up. "My memory is getting clearer now, he actually looks exactly like you."

"He'd better!"

"He does," she promises. When his hands leave her and move to lay beside her head on the mattress, she adds, "He has much better manners though."

Bobby flips her like a pancake, pressing down over her back, he takes an arm in hand and sets to work on reminding her who is boss. "But can he do this?" he asks as his lips move to her elbow.

"Oooh ... uugghh... ooooo.... eeee.... uh.... hmmmm.... Bobobohhhgeee... ahhhh," Lindsay so thoughtfully explains as his tongue laves the point of her elbow while his lips suction so firmly that she feels as if he's going to swallow her whole.

Oh! Yes! Please! Do! It! Now!

And then his hand is sliding under her body down down, past her breasts, her ribs, her abdomen down down, almost there don't stop keep going, keep suckling, where's his hand oh right there! God! And his hips are pressing her into the mattress and hers are pushing against his hand right there... ooooh don't please please don't stop... tongue elbow leave right there oooh... writhing suckling... story what story teasing... more more more must have more I said MORE... God, but he has talented fingers and mouth... oooh... tongue gone noooooo... it's back ahhhh good so good so good damn him too good... fingers tickling, under her elbow while lips suckle, in her body while hips grind... white light getting closer... aching tingling starting to burn... too much not enough more more oh exploding oh flying oh my my my oh oh... OH!!!!!!!!!!! God! Damn! HIM!

"Bobby!" Lindsay slurs when her brain begins to operate again, "Objection, unfair something-or-other."

"Surprise?" he whispers into her ear, sliding off enabling her room to breath.

"Yeah, something like that," she hums, "God!"

"Yes?" Bobby says and Lindsay laughs, shuffling over to wrap herself around him.

"Gimme a sec," she says, "You kinda wiped me out a little."

"Finish your story," he suggests.

"I had a story?" she asks.

"Apparently, you were mumbling something about a story back there."

"I was? God!"

Bobby chuckles and, framing her face with his hands, slowly raises her head from his chest so that he can look into her half-lidded eyes, "My ego thanks you," he grins.

"My everything thanks -you-!" she replies, with her body starting to remember how to function, she leans forward and softly kisses him. Tender kisses, starkly in contrast to the passionate frenzy of a moment before; a gift and a promise of more, sometime soon when she gains control of her limbs.

"So did you ever agree to marry that ass?" Bobby asks when Lindsay again lays her head on his chest.

"I said yes and we all lived happily ever after," she mumbles, no longer interested in the story just waiting for the energy to return so that she can show Bobby just how appreciative she really is.

"Really?"

"Well, eventually... I made him stew a little first."

"Tell me about it." Bobby says.

Lindsay grins, wondering if he means that, as in, he wants to hear it, or, as in, he remembers it well or a little of both. She decides to finish her story anyway, she needs a breather and she'll make it up to him by repaying the favor when her body decides to stop levitating around the roof. It doesn't appear to want to come down just yet.

"I didn't see him for the afternoon, but when it came time to dress for that night's party, he reappeared, this time with a gift of the most beautiful jewelry I had ever seen, promising me more if I'd only say yes. He looked so hopeful, so sure he'd got it right this time that it was almost difficult to turn him down."

"But you did."

"Of course, I needed more out of life than jewelry, I want my gravestone to say more than, 'Here lies Lindsay, she had a lot of jewelry.'"

"So what, 'Here lies Lindsay, Boy, could she tend a field.'"

"Smartass," she retorts, "For your information it would say, 'Here lies Lindsay, her dedication and hard work nourished us all, long may she toil in heavens fields.'"

Bobby grins, "Well mine will say, 'Here lies Lord Bobby, his heart was broken by a peasant girl, pray for his shattered soul.'"

"Actually, mine will be, 'Here lies Lindsay, she tried to have a fantasy but Bobby kept interrupting.'"

"Here lies Bobby, he'd anticipated sex but his fiancée never quit talking and the poor guy exploded."

Lindsay laughs then moans, "God, we're morbid tonight, first, we talk of the death and destruction of mankind and now we play dueling gravestones."

"It's kinda fitting though."

She raises up to look at him and asks, "How do you figure that out?"

"Well, don't the French call an orgasm, 'little death,' or something? And, uh... there's been a bit of that going on around here..." he leans in close and whispers, "three to one if you want to do the math."

Lindsay grins, "I only have your word for that."

"Excuse me?" Bobby says confused.

"Well, I have no idea what you got up to before I arrived home tonight, Bobby," she teases, "For all I know..."

"I didn't, I promise, I never..."

"Never?" she laughs.

"Not -literally- never," he grins, "Tonight never."

"Were you drinking tonight, Bobby?" Lindsay asks, not remembering the last time he was so playful.

"No, but I've got a real thirst developing," he replies, drawing her mouth to his.

They kiss as if they have all of the time in the world, until Lindsay's body is again on fire and Bobby is barely maintaining control. Eventually, Bobby pulls away, "If you're going to finish this story, Linds, make it quick."

"We can..." she begins.

He shakes his head, "No, it's okay, tell me, I wanna know."

Deciding she's done with elaboration, Lindsay begins to rush through the tale, "Things continued in much the same way, he'd shower me with gifts and make elaborate offers to coax me into saying yes but I never did. He'd alternate between anger and frustration and confusion, I was truly driving him insane. Every moment we spent together was wonderful and I'd see him thinking, now she'll say yes but then he'd ask and I wouldn't."

"You love him though, right?"

"Oh, yes."

"So, why do you keep saying no?" It's a question he's spent many nights mulling over, why her head would say no to a relationship when she'd already admitted he was in her heart. He'd never understood why she'd deny herself what she wanted.

Lindsay smiles as she resists the urge to tell him that if he wants her to hurry then he should quit interrupting. Deciding the fastest option is to just answer the question, she says, "To me it wouldn't have mattered if he was penniless, I didn't want all the luxuries he was offering, I wanted him purely because I loved him but... I couldn't have him because a relationship is two people, Bobby, I... it wasn't enough that I loved him, I couldn't live with less than him loving me too and I didn't think that he did. I needed him to not just want marriage but to want marriage to me. I couldn't live with him and not have his love... so I was prepared to leave, it would hurt but it would have hurt more to stay. Each proposal he'd said something along the lines of, it's time I marry, I should, I've been told to, but I'm not something that can be bought just to fill a role. I didn't believe that he wanted me."

"How... how'd he change your mind?"

"He came to me that final day and... I guess fear of me leaving made him brave and opened his eyes because he gave me his heart, he stood there, terror on his face, voice and hands shaking as he told me that he needed me to stay, that he loved me, that he couldn't imagine his life without me in it... he loved me and wanted to be my husband. Looking into his eyes as he said this, as he showed me that all I had hoped, had dreamed, was true... as terrifying as it was... the only answer was yes."

"The... the thing that you wouldn't ask for was his heart?"

"Yeah."

"So, how did he fall in love with you?" Bobby asks, genuinely curious.

Lindsay laughs, "What? You don't understand the attraction?"

"No," Bobby grins, "I mean, he saw you in a field and... and what it was love at first sight? I want to marry that girl?"

"Too implausible?" she asks and enjoys watching him sweat.

"No... no... I know that it's possible, probable, would have happened. I believe in love at first sight, I do, totally..."

"Liar," Lindsay grins.

"Hey, I was in love the moment you walked through my door," he says. When she looks at him in disbelief, he adds, "I just took a long time to recognize it."

"Liar," she says again but as she's kissing him while she says it, he doesn't make any objection. "I could tell you when he fell in love, Bobby, but I'm warning you it's a long, long story."

"Uh," he replies, "Well, uh, maybe... maybe tomorrow night... um..."

"Long story short," Lindsay grins, reeling Bobby in, "He'd heard me singing at the county fair and..."

Just as expected, Bobby finds that hilarious, "Now I know it's a fantasy," he chuckles when finally calm, "He heard you sing and didn't banish you from his county."

Lindsay pouts, "I'm devastated that you don't like my singing."

"I love your singing," he assures her, "I love everything about you."

"My stubbornness?"

"Uh huh."

"My nagging?"

"Most definitely, it's my favorite part of you."

"Oh, that's your favorite part, and here I'd been thinking it was something else entirely."

"Just goes to show that you don't know me as well as you think..."

"Oh, no, I think that I do."

"You know nothing," he teases.

"Oh, really," Lindsay says taking up the challenge, her eyes bore into his, distracting him from her actions, when she's all set she purrs, "I know all about this," and slowly runs her big toe along his instep making him squawk and almost buck off of the bed.

"Okay," he says with a high-pitched squeak, his face registers shock at his voice and she watches him gulp down a breath before he deeply says, "But that's all you know about me."

"I also know that you're eager to make love again."

"You think so?" He asks, pretending this is news to him.

"All signs point to it, yes."

"Such as?"

Lindsay looks at the mischief in his eyes and decides to avoid the obvious, "Your little finger."

"Excuse me?"

"It twitches when you are contemplating sex."

Bobby raises his hand incredulously, the only problem is, now that he is looking at them, and she is laying beside him with her aroused eyes, naked skin and manna-from-heaven voice, it isn't just his fingers twitching.

"Are you serious?" he asks looking back at her.

Lindsay nods her head, okay, so it's a lie but it's only a little white lie. It's just too good an opportunity to pass up because she knows that at some stage tomorrow she is going to catch him looking at his hand. If only she could organize for cameras to follow him twenty-four/seven she'd be able to categorically prove how often it is that men think about sex. She's lost in a vision of her accepting a Nobel Prize for this much-needed discovery when suddenly her eyes are rolling back in her head as Bobby proceeds to show her just how much he knows about her too... GOD!

Now that little nugget of information had been a miraculous discovery, who ever would have believed him doing that could cause a reaction such as this? God! Oh, but she's so close, she had better warn him, "Bobby, I'm warning you, send me over the edge now and you won't be hearing from me again until the alarm goes off."

Immediately, his thumb moves from -that- spot on her lower back and his hand releases her ankle. Her leg remains draped over him as she rests her forehead against his, "Whatever the hell has gotten into you tonight, I like it," she hums.

"You," he tells her as his lips join hers, "Love you, missed you."

"I'm here," she reminds him, rather needlessly, all things considered, but, hey, want a different line, ask a different author.

"Thank you," Bobby says.

Lindsay smiles and rolling to her back draws him with her, "For?" she asks as her legs wrap high on his back.

"Tonight... was... good," he says slipping inside her, sighing with anguish and relief to again be home. The heat, the constriction, feels so incredible that it's torture but lock him up and throw away the key because he isn't leaving for anything.

"Not good... perfect," she sighs, adjusting to the feel of him.

"Even the interruptions?" he grins, loving this moment, watching her take him, accept him, adore him.

She draws his face to hers for a kiss, then undulating her body indicates it's time to move, "I wouldn't change a thing," she assures him as he begins a slow glide through her.

"Really?" he asks, sliding all the way back in, he pauses when her face turns thoughtful, waits as he asks, "What?"

"Maybe... maybe I would change something," she says.

"Oh," he says, almost afraid to ask.

She smiles up at him, her fingers dancing down his spine as she says, "Yeah... Maybe I'd come home earlier, or not go out at all."

He growls and slides out fast, slamming back in. Lindsay laughs, pushing up to meet him hard. Too good not to repeat, they continue again and again.

"Wouldn't change a thing," she promises him again. Watching the emotions play over his face, feeling them reverberate through her, oh, no, she wouldn't change this for the world. Before he can ask her anything else she moves in for the kill, her limbs holding on tight as she meets his pressure with pressure, arches her body and calls for his mouth, kissing him hard before loving him harder in an act that should convince him that she's right were she belongs and had better have him falling asleep after or, by God, she'll take back that wouldn't-change-a-thing thing... maybe, either that or they'll call in sick and spend the rest of the day recovering from tonight.