We went back to the bunker because there was nowhere else. We were still in a strange town surrounded by what amounted to a family of strangers. Strangers whom I hoped would very soon be close friends and trusted companions, but still strangers just the same. But the bunker was safe, and I wanted one night during which all I had to worry about was the woman in my arms.

She was almost shy when we were finally alone. In the car, there’d been a lot of hand-holding and a few stolen kisses, but now she turned her back to me and fidgeted with her little handbag. I slipped out of my jacket and loosened my tie, my eyes moving over the length of her back. She was so beautiful. My heart was pounding with anticipation, but I was determined that this time was going to be different. I was going to take my time with her, show her how incredible this could be.

At least, I hoped she would feel it was as incredible as I was hoping it would be.

I moved up behind her and ran my hand along that amazing back, my fingers lingering on the back of her neck. She sighed softly, but there was tension in her shoulders that was almost palpable. I lay my hands on them, rubbing some of that ache away. She moved back against me, sighing again, this sound more of a happy sound than the one before. I kissed the side of her neck, and she reached back to touch my face.

“You’re so beautiful,” I whispered against her ear.

I continued to rub her shoulders, easing the tension away with each movement. Then I pressed my fist against her back, working out the knots that had come to visit there. She was slowly relaxing, her body becoming pliable in my hands. That was until I tugged at the zipper on the back of the dress and began to expose her back, inch by inch. I followed the length of the zipper with my lips, kissing each bit of skin I was exposing. Her back grew stiff, but she let slip another of those little sighs that suggested it wasn’t tension that was making her straighten up.

The zipper followed the curve of her back all the way down to the top of her thighs. I was practically on my knees, that familiar ache exploding in my lower belly as the dress split and revealed the lack of panties—or anything else—underneath. I ran my hand over the curve of her perfect ass, loving the feel of her silky skin and the promise of what was hidden between her slender thighs.

I moved back up behind her, creating a trail along the back of her neck as my hands carefully slipped the dress from her shoulders. It fell easily, puddling at her feet. I ran my palms along her flat belly, breathing in the scent of her as she traced the length of my arms with her own hands, pressing herself deeper into my embrace. We stood like that for a lifetime, just touching, embracing the feel of one another. And then she turned and snaked those lovely arms around my neck, her eyes heavy with desire as she moved in for a kiss.

My need was almost overwhelming. The pain of keeping control was threatening to kill me, but I wanted to enjoy this a while longer. I wanted to taste her, wanted to feel her, wanted to show her what it felt like to be worshipped the way a woman should be.

I picked her up and carried her to the bed. Her eyes widened with surprise when I laid her down and moved back, my eyes glued to her face, to her slightly parted lips, to her slender nose and high cheekbones. She looked almost innocent tonight, her skin glowing with a hint of youth. I could almost imagine what she’d looked like the first time she lay with a man, could almost see her the way she’d been before darkness filled her life. I could imagine who she might have been if life had been kinder.

My fingers shook with anticipation as I unbuttoned my own shirt. She sat up to help me, but I pushed her back, stepping outside of her reach. I wanted to watch her, afraid that her touch would steal my control away. I moved slowly, forcing myself to enjoy this anticipation.

She welcomed me back to the bed when I came to kneel above her. We kissed for a long moment, our tongues dancing. And then I began a slow exploration, taking my time getting to know each and every inch of her body. I began with her throat, that beautiful, graceful length of flesh that drove me mad whenever she wore her hair up. And then her shoulders, her collarbones, the sweet smelling pits in the hollows under her arms. She giggled a little as I worked my way down her sides, avoiding her breasts until I’d met each and every rib, the length of her sternum. And then…those thick nipples, stiff and full against the roof of my mouth.

I moved farther down, discovering the teeny belly button ring I hadn’t realized was there until that moment, running my tongue around it before tasting the flesh below it. And down, exploring the mound of her hip bones, the hollow where her legs met her hips, the space behind her knee, the knob of her ankle bone. Each toe, individually, the bottom of her foot. I loved each and every bit of her, exploring for what felt like hours, touching and tasting everything until her sighs threatened to drive me insane. She lay still for so long, patient with my need to get to know her. But then I touched a place that threatened her control, and her fingers buried themselves in my hair, tugging me closer to her, a groan bursting from deep in her chest to fill the room with the music of her need.

When she finally pulled me to her, her hands guiding me to that center that promised us both release, she was more than glowing. She was on fire, the green of her eyes burning like the jade in a dragon story. Her fingers bit into my flesh, tugging me as close to her as we could physically get and still pulling, wanting more. We found a rhythm easily, a music of our own that only we could hear. We danced, a beautiful dance that only she and I could perform. And when she cried out with her pleasure, it broke the last thread of my own control.

We clung to each other for a long time, finally settling against the pillows, our bodies exhausted, but our hearts full. I whispered against her ear, said things I never imagined I’d ever say to another woman.

I’ll never hurt you.

I’ll never leave you.

She snuggled tight against me, a sigh of contentment the last thing that slipped from her lips before she fell into a deep sleep.

My dreams were filled with the past. But they were good dreams. Memories I would always hold dear, content in the understanding that life goes on even when it seems like it can’t.

The future seemed bright for the first time in years. I couldn’t express how much of a relief that was.