Ottawa is the second coldest national capital in the world, second only to Ulaanbataar, Mongolia. It is also the capital with the most snow, so when a heavy snowfall warning is issued, its residents take a passing notice and continue as usual.

Georgie left Ottawa and headed for Montreal early, only because she was a cautious driver with a protective brother. She made it safe and sound, calling him to set his mind at ease. An hour after she arrived, the snowfall warning changed - the temperature hadn't dropped enough to allow for snow and they were now expecting a huge freezing rain storm. The residents of Ottawa then took notice.

In the winter of 1998, Eastern Ontario, Southeastern Quebec and parts of the Northeastern U.S. suffered a major blow at the hands of Mother Nature. An ice storm swept through that geographical area in a most devastating manner. Ice toppled power lines and massive trees; it turned roads and highways into skating rinks, and brought everyday life to a standstill. Major city neighbourhoods were without power for days and some rural homes lost it for more than a month. Although the storm left its fair share of devastation, what was unique about this natural disaster was that unlike most weather systems, it left a trail of beauty in its wake. Once the freezing rain stopped, the temperature dropped, so thousands of bent and curved trees sparkled like crystal sculptures, and the snow covering the ground shone with an icy coating. It may have been a catastrophe to modern amenities, but that part of the world never looked so beautiful.

The threat of this kind of ice storm brought Darcy to Lizzy's office early, not that he really needed an excuse. While others braced for a horrid weekend, the two were quite content with the prospect of being holed up at Pemberley by themselves to ride it out, so to speak.

"I thought this day would never end!" Lizzy exclaimed as she hopped in the back of Darcy's Range Rover, overnight bag in hand.

"Funny, I feel like it's just beginning," Darcy said as he leaned in to kiss her hello.

"Oh, today is a smooth day for you, is it? Well, that's good, I like to hear pretty compliments rather than orders or fits of stubbornness," Lizzy teased.

"I wasn't that bad last night, was I?"

"Depends on what you mean by bad," Lizzy replied quietly, wiggling her eyebrows. The Range Rover did not have the privacy panel so they were forced to remain restrained. "But seriously, no, you weren't that bad. I just wished you had given in to me sooner. I could have skipped dancing with Edmund and maybe Henry. The others, I didn't mind so much, but dancing with you was most enjoyable."

Darcy wisely kept quiet on the subject and the drive to Pemberley from Lizzy's office was amicable, if a little slow due to the already slippery conditions. Darcy explained that his home was well equipped for any serious power outages. Since Pemberley was originally the home of a lumber baron, there were fireplaces in every room. He also had a generator that kept his hot water tank, kitchen, dining and drawing rooms fully functional. His own suite of rooms had a propane space heater and two fireplaces stocked with plenty of firewood. Mrs. Reynolds always prepared enough food for an army, so they needn't worry about cooking for a couple of days.

"Then all we have to worry about is other comforts," Lizzy whispered excitedly. Finally, they could be alone and concentrate solely on intimate pleasures. If Lizzy had learned anything from their delays, it was that she wouldn't be contented until their relationship was fully consummated.

Quinn couldn't hear what the two were talking about, but he certainly could guess what they were going to be up to that weekend. He stifled a smile for fear they'd notice through the rearview mirror, but he couldn't help but be happy for his employer. Miss Elizabeth was a breath of fresh air and Mr. Darcy was definitely inhaling her deeply, making him a healthier, happier man. But knowing his employer's activities as well as he did, he suspected the two were having some troubles 'connecting'. He sympathized with them, but it looked like they finally had things under control.

Arriving at Pemberley, Darcy noticed Mrs. Reynolds's car was still in the parking lot. He, Lizzy and Quinn instantly went to the kitchen. Before Darcy could speak, Mrs. Reynolds smiled brightly at Lizzy with an outstretched hand. "You must be Miss Bennet. I trust you're feeling better."

"Oh, yes, thank you. It's nice to meet you, and please call me Lizzy. Your chicken soup was delicious. I don't suppose you give out your recipes?" Lizzy asked, returning the warm smile and handshake.

"I might be able to make an exception this one time," Mrs. Reynolds said agreeably.

Darcy was pleased the two were meeting as Mrs. Reynolds had been with the family since his childhood; however, before they started swapping their favourite secret ingredients, he interrupted. "What are you still doing here, Joanne? You should be home by now. The storm's already making driving a challenge."

"I just wanted to get these few things ready for your weekend and then I'll be off."

"You're not driving home in your little Corolla. Quinn or I can take you in the Range Rover."

After much protestation, Mrs. Reynolds gave in but only if Quinn drove, since Mr. Darcy had company. She refused to leave immediately, as she wanted to finish what she was doing. The master of Pemberley left Mrs. Reynolds to her preparations and brought Lizzy up to his room.

Although happily anticipating whatever the rest of the day would bring to her, Lizzy still felt awkward being led up to Darcy's bedroom to put her things away. It was exactly what she didn't want - it seemed so predictable, so planned, so blasé... and she definitely didn't feel blas é.

Darcy wasn't concerned about spontaneity at this point. He happened to agree whole-heartedly with Lizzy's pronouncement on the issue the night before. He was eager to bring her to his room, and though he would rather stay there with her from the start, he wanted her experience to be perfect, and having Quinn and Mrs. Reynolds below would not do.

Upon opening the door, Lizzy eyes widened, then shut, then widened again to make sure she wasn't seeing things. They walked into a sitting room, elegantly decorated and larger than the entire main floor of her townhouse. There were fully stocked floor to ceiling bookshelves on the longest walls, and a ladder on wheels just like an old bookstore or university library. One end of the room was anchored by a massive mahogany antique William IV desk, and the other by a formidable grey marble fireplace with a refined yet comfortable sitting area. Before her was what made her breath catch; through opened double doors stood an enormous, luxurious, carved four-poster king-sized bed. His bed. The bed she would have been laying in if his sister hadn't been home the night before.

This was what she wanted to avoid - this feeling, as if she was being given a tour of his 'lair'. She knew it was nothing of the sort; the bedroom, the bed, the whole suite was rich, yes, but also tasteful. It was just that she couldn't help but wonder how many other women he'd brought here, and her feelings of insecurity popped up again. She wasn't used to feeling unsure, she was a confident woman. Of course, she'd never had such strong feelings for a man ... and such a man! It changed her whole perspective on intimacy. She scanned the entire suite of rooms, stunned into silence. She suddenly felt quite small and overwhelmed.

"Do you like it?" Darcy asked expectantly. He hoped she would be pleased.

"What's not to like. It's amazing. Your whole home is amazing. I've never seen anything like it; not that I traipse through the bedrooms of multi-millionaires that often," Lizzy answered dryly.

"Glad to hear it," he said with an amused smile and a sideways glance. He then noticed her dazed appearance mixed with a touch of shyness. He'd come to find her bouts of bashfulness absolutely adorable. The night before, he had fondled the most sensitive spot of her body, but in the harsh light of day, she was nervous entering his bedroom fully clothed.

Mindful of her feelings, Darcy refrained from suggestive or playful remarks, and instead casually showed her where to put her things. He then gave her some time alone while he went to see if Quinn and Mrs. Reynolds had left and to make sure all the things he'd requested for the evening were ready.

Lizzy used her private time to take it all in. She put a few things in his closet where he had suggested, and couldn't resist gently stroking the gorgeous row of custom-tailored suits. She smiled, wondering where he had hung the uniform. She would have loved to lay it on his bed just to see his reaction.

She wondered which side of the bed he slept on, but quickly noticed a telephone and a half-read manuscript on one night stand. This relieved her as she had brought a few things she wanted to place on her side without him knowing - namely, condoms. She liked to think he was prepared, but one never knew, so she safely stored a package in the drawer next to where she'd be sleeping.

Lizzy took her time, admiring artwork and furniture, and finally gaping at the luxurious bathroom. The glassed-in shower alone was big enough for three (though she hoped the reason was purely aesthetic). It was fitted with a bench as well as rings of body jets ready to massage at every level. The Jacuzzi tub was equally massive and she found a door that opened to his own private sauna. She could happily live and die in that bathroom!

She had intended to change out of her work clothes, but she spent so much time snooping and imagining what it would be like to wake up in this room with Darcy every day, she thought better of it. She headed down to find him, wishing there was some way for them to have an impulsive moment, instead of a leisurely evening where they were both expecting the inevitable... the wonderfully inevitable, but inevitable nonetheless. She should have been careful what she wished for....

Darcy found the kitchen empty giving him the chance to inspect everything. The champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries were chilling ... but they were for later in the evening. The coq au vin was warming in the oven, the rice pilaf was cooked, the salad was tossed and the shrimp cocktail was on ice. All Darcy had to do was reheat the rice, toss the salad and serve. He was thrilled to have her to himself in his home, not only because they'd be together in his bed, but also because he simply enjoyed seeing her there. If felt so right to have her at Pemberley... her physical presence in his room simply made him happy. He wanted her to be as comfortable as he was because it was his fondest wish for the future to have her there permanently. For tonight, however, he wanted Lizzy to be relaxed, he wanted their night to be ideal and with the storm outside, nothing need interrupt them.

Of course with the luck we've been having the roof will probably cave in on my bed, Darcy thought. Well it wasn't the roof, but close. The buzzer from the entrance gate rang.

Please say Quinn forgot the code, Darcy thought as he approached the camera, but that assumption was not to be. He could see Charles's black Audi TT at the entrance. As tempted as he was to ignore him, he opened the gate, but hoped he could see his friend on his way quickly.

Darcy was walking towards the entrance as Lizzy came down the stairs. "You're not going to believe this," he said morosely.

"Believe what?"

He opened the door before Charles had the chance to ring. About to make a flippant comment, he stopped short when he saw both his friend and Jane were ghostly white. Lizzy immediately advanced to her sister once they were inside. "What's wrong?" Jane was too shaken to speak so Charles explained in an adrenalin-filled voice, "We were in the east end and didn't think the storm was going to come on so fast. We heard the Queensway was a disaster so we thought we'd come this way to get back to Jane's. But just as we came into Rockliffe, we skidded and did a 360. Luckily, there was no one else around. Yours was the closest place to come, Darcy."

"Are you both alright?" Darcy asked.

"Fine, just a little shaken up."

Darcy's concern for his friends overcame his desire for them to be gone. They were quickly ushered inside, and in an effort to ease their nerves, stiff drinks were handed out. Sitting on the Chesterfield, Lizzy finally got Jane to talk. "I'm okay now. It was just so terrifying ... well, you know."

Lizzy did know. Jane had been in an accident on her prom night. A close friend had been seriously injured and though he recovered, it affected Jane's soft heart. To go through such a close call again shook her usually serene nerves.

In fact, both Jane and Charles were so affected, they hadn't even realized they had quickly downed two whiskeys each. Darcy noticed and discreetly called Quinn to ask him to join them back at the house after dropping off Mrs. Reynolds. Jane and Lizzy's townhouse wasn't that far and if the roads were manageable for Quinn, Darcy would be more than happy to see his friends leave. Knowing Lizzy had nixed sex because of her sister once, he wasn't going to let it happen again, not in his own home anyway. A man had his limits and Darcy had been teetering on the edge of his for some time now.

He caught Lizzy's eye as she talked to her sister. She had an apologetic look on her face that terrified him. Was she already saying that tonight wasn't going to happen? She wouldn't go home with Jane, would she? Darcy was panicking inside and though he was usually rather good at keeping his emotions in check, he really wanted to speak with Lizzy.

Conveniently, she wanted to leave Jane and Charles alone for a moment. Charles had no idea Jane had previously been in such a serious accident, and Lizzy advised her sister to explain to him why she was much more upset than he. She also noticed Darcy looked distressed and knew they needed to talk. "Darcy, can you show me where you keep your wine?"

Once in the kitchen, Darcy took her in his arms and kissed her soundly. Somewhat stunned but nevertheless pleased, she listened as he explained, "Don't know when I'll get the chance to do that again so I thought I'd take advantage of our privacy."

She smiled at his expression of need for her but asked, "Why wouldn't you have the chance?"

"What if the roads are bad and Quinn can't take them home. They'll have to stay."

"I suppose we'll have to spend time with them, but I'm sure you have a bedroom for them, far, far away from yours."

"You mean, you're okay with us ... being together ... if they stay?" Darcy asked, somewhat surprised.

"My dear Fitzwilliam, there's a bit of a difference between the size of my townhouse and your place. Your walls are three feet thick and your bedroom is behind two sets of solid oak doors. I think we can be assured of privacy. Besides, I'm tired of letting things interfere with us," she answered practically with her last sentence holding a tinge of petulance.

Relief washed through Darcy. He could handle anything knowing Lizzy wasn't going to be dissuaded tonight. "Well, they may be able to go to your townhouse yet."

"I don't think so," Lizzy began. "Jane would be a nervous wreck."

She explained the situation and Darcy realized it would probably be best if Charles and Jane stayed. "But they'll be in a bedroom on a different floor, in a different wing."

"Excellent idea," Lizzy replied with a nod of her head. As she poured a glass of wine, she asked over her shoulder, "Will you need help in the kitchen for dinner now that there are more of us?"

"No, everything's-" He stopped himself, and came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, inhaling her sweet lavender scent as he delicately brushed the nape of her neck with his lips. "Yes, as a matter of fact, I think I'll need a lot of help. We may be busy in the kitchen until dinner is served."

As the four chatted genially over a delicious meal, the weather worsened outside. Quinn had been back to help make a bedroom serviceable for Charles and Jane and had retreated to the privacy of the gatehouse where he lived.

Lizzy and Darcy stole little glances at each other every once in awhile, but they were both a bit disappointed. They secretly caressed each other's hands under the table but their naughty play was noticeably absent. This meal was to have been for two, a romantic, quiet dinner where they could be as rapt with the other as they wanted. They were now forced to make conversation, and although it was with people they loved, it was unfortunately a tedious exercise for them.

Without realizing it, Lizzy was drowning her misfortune with wine. Darcy's selection was quite good and although she sipped at it, she did so quite frequently. It relaxed her a little too much, and Darcy would have noticed had he not been doing the same.

As they were finishing up the main course, the lights flickered on and off long enough for Darcy to guess the generator had kicked in and the power was off in the rest of the house. Once they had eaten dessert, the four spent the next little while preparing for the night by gathering flashlights, lighting candle sconces and hurricane lamps throughout the rooms and hallways, and starting fires in their respective bedrooms.

They finally regrouped in the Drawing Room when the doorbell rang again. Darcy had just poured himself a tumbler full of whiskey when a sopping wet Richard came in, backpack in hand. He stood in a full length navy wool coat and winter boots, but no hat. He looked somewhat pathetic - a drowned rat immediately came to Darcy's mind. "Darce, thank heavens I live only four blocks from you. Can you imagine the mess of me if I didn't?"

Rage scampered up Darcy's spine to the back of his neck, whispering in his ear to kick them all out. He had patiently waited for Lizzy to trust him, he had given her the time she needed before she was willing to make love, then it was like he had walked into a mine field where he dodged potential explosions only to be forced to take steps back and wait. He wanted her in his room at that very moment, no, not that moment ... he wanted her there yesterday and the day before that and the day before that. It took all his might to be polite to Richard ... and Charles ... and even Jane.

"I take it your power is gone," Darcy stated, emotionless, absently downing the whiskey and pouring another one.

"Brilliant deduction as always, Darce," Richard quipped. He'd no clue how bad an idea it was to tease his cousin. Luckily for him, Darcy was trying to be on his best behaviour for Lizzy. "I suppose you'd like a room," he said through a clenched jaw, taking another gulp from his second drink.

"You're a regular Sherlock tonight," Richard said, smiling.

"Come," Darcy ordered, slamming the remainder of his drink down, and turning to the stairs without waiting for a reply.

Richard turned to Lizzy. "You better give him something special tonight. That man's rather uptight." Without waiting for a reply, Richard followed his cousin. Lizzy stared at his retreating figure, dumbstuck ... and then the wine began to kick in. She giggled at his accuracy.

Although Lizzy and Darcy weren't regular drinkers, they enjoyed a libation or two on occasion. However, by the time Darcy and Richard returned from a room very near Charles and Jane's, our oft-interrupted couple were both feeling rather tipsy. They'd each imbibed just enough to forget themselves in the company of others, particularly because they were, not surprisingly, feeling rather randy.

Darcy immediately walked over to Lizzy and wrapped his arm around her. "I can't believe this," he whispered, more because it enabled him to give her earlobe a provocative suck. Lizzy bent her head to her shoulder and giggled; his tongue had tickled.

There were several competing interests now in the Drawing Room. Jane and Charles were happy to be safely ensconced in Darcy's home, their bellies full and their minds slightly buzzed from alcohol. They were an established couple who felt no need to hurry off to the privacy of a bedroom; they were perfectly content to be amongst others for the evening.

All dried off and settled in his room, Richard was a bundle of energy after his chilly jog to Darcy's, but he couldn't help but notice Lizzy and Darcy's friskiness, not to mention seeing Jane and Charles holding hands. He could only roll his eyes. Marvelous, I'm stuck here with two slightly sauced love-struck couples.

Lizzy and Darcy were, of course, uncomfortable with the extra company. Night after night they had tried unsuccessfully to connect. They were shot down at ever turn. Darcy was bewildered by the fact he, of all people, couldn't get privacy in his own home. Any given night in the past year he could have guaranteed it, but for the last two.

"So, what now? Darce, is your entertainment room functional?" Richard piped up wanting something to divert everyone's attention from amorous pursuits, as he was lacking the required partner.

"No." Darcy felt no need to be hospitable to his cousin. He'd known him long enough for Richard to understand his moods.

"Allllllllllright then," Richard continued. "Why don't we play something? A game. Do you have Monopoly? Trivial Pursuit?"

Charles shot the suggestion down. "We can't play Trivial Pursuit, Darcy always wins," but suggested eagerly, "How 'bout cards?" The night was young and Charles was always social. "Jane?" Jane nodded her agreement.

Lizzy looked at Darcy and shrugged. It looked like they couldn't make a quick getaway. He was technically the host of these uninvited guests.

"Wonderful. What shall we play? Not 45s - that's too blue-hair set, isn't it? What about Euchre?" Richard asked.

"I hate Euchre," Darcy stated. "Let's play poker."

Darcy was a poker expert. He felt he could beat them all quickly and handily, thus bruising some egos, and enabling him to end the evening early.

Lizzy liked that idea too, as she fancied herself quite the poker player. Her father had taught her years ago and as a teen she played with some fellows in her neighbourhood, winning more often than not. Her skills had been further refined last year when she befriended a few diplomats from a group visit from Monaco. She heartily agreed to the suggestion.

"But you're a great poker player too," Charles complained.

"Not up to the task, Charles?" Darcy inferred dryly, knowing how to push his friend's buttons.

"Well ... well, of course I am," he answered, a bit flustered with the challenge.

"Perfect," Richard interjected. "Right then, how much shall we bet on each hand?" He said as he rummaged through a drawer to find a deck. Richard knew where everything was in Darcy's house.

"Wait a second, who said anything about money?" Lizzy asked, turning to Richard, her hands firmly planted at her hips, affronted by the assumption. She explained her misgivings. "You three men have deep pockets, much deeper than mine or Jane's. A poker game here and there is chump change for you, but for me ... well," she looked over to Darcy sheepishly and continued, "I've already overspent my entertainment budget for the entire year. I can't afford to risk my hard earned salary on poker with high rollers."

Richard understood her reasoning but he'd never really played poker for anything but money, so he threw it back to her. "What would you suggest, then?"

"I don't know ... something that levels the playing field. Maybe we can bet household chores or something..." Lizzy thought out loud, unsuccessfully.

"No good to us. We already have someone taking care of that," Darcy explained with a wry smile that seemed to invite Lizzy nearer. She walked right up to him, looked him straight in the eye and asked, "What do you suggest, then, Mr. Darcy, Master of Pemberley?"

Darcy leaned close to her face and answered her taunting question quietly. "I think strip poker might be fun." He had a smirk on his face and his eyes never wavered, but his hand slowly glided up her arm. When it reached her elbow, his thumb jutted out and slid repeatedly over her blouse, arousing her nipple. She drew her breath in sharply and replied enticingly, "I like the sound of that."

Due to the couple's slight intoxication and their total disregard for everyone else in the room, they were louder than they realized... not particularly loud, but enough for a nosy Richard to overhear.

"I'd never take you for one to suggest it, Darcy, but strip poker sounds like a brilliant idea, and it seems Lizzy's in agreement."

Richard's statement went a long way to sobering Darcy. "Now, wait a minute. That was said in jest."

"It sounded pretty serious to me," Richard countered."Don't be ridiculous. We're in mixed company," Darcy chastised his cousin's depravity.

"No offense, Darce, but it's no fun playing strip poker when it's just men." Darcy couldn't argue that point, but Lizzy finally spoke up.

"You know very well Darcy didn't intend to be overheard. He was simply teasing me."

"Exactly." Darcy nodded decidedly. "You can't expect the women to play strip poker with us. Their dignity would be compromised."

Hearing Darcy's last words, Jane slowly lowered her eyelids. She knew very well what would happen next. Darcy may have been over the moon for her sister but he had yet to come to grips with her competitive nature.

As if on cue, Lizzy asked as casually as possible. "What do you mean?"

Darcy didn't sense any annoyance in her question and he had imbibed enough to speak plainly and without much thought. "I won't allow you and Jane to be reduced to strippers for Richard's entertainment."

"What's wrong with that?" Richard's joke fell on deaf ears. Lizzy's target was Darcy and she wanted an explanation.

"Oh," Lizzy replied before calmly adding, "So, you don't think Jane and I stand a chance and you want to protect us."

Darcy again didn't notice the tone of antagonism in Lizzy's voice. He placed a patronizing hand on her shoulder and smiled kindly. "I'm sure both of you are fine card players, but we're not talking about 45s in the church hall. Richard and I, we've played some high stakes poker in our day."

Charles looked to Jane and whispered. "Does he do this on purpose to goad her?"

Jane whispered back. "I think he thinks he's being noble."

Charles rolled his eyes just as Lizzy finally let her opinion rip. "Who are you to presume you know the level of my poker skills? It could very well be the men who end up stark naked, particularly with that kind of self-aggrandizing attitude."

"Elizabeth, what are you saying?" Darcy replied, dumbfounded. "I'm simply trying to shield you from any embarrassment. You can't really entertain the thought-"

"Oh, I certainly can, especially when you've already shown a big weakness. Overconfidence is not a characteristic you want to highlight. I already feel ahead of the game. If we were to play, I guarantee I could beat the pants off you," Lizzy retorted, failing to realize her own statement was as cocky as Darcy's.

"Elizabeth, be reasonable." Darcy attempted to calm her, trying to make her grasp the ridiculousness of even considering the game in the first place. It had been a private joke that he dearly wished he could take back but by this point, everything he said to her seemed condescending.

Lizzy lifted her chin with resolve. "Darcy, you're the one who suggested it, now you have to pay the price ... which will probably be your shirt, tie and pants before you even know what hit you."

"Lizzy," Jane said sternly, and then softened. "Come here, please."

Once Lizzy was before her, Jane implored, "What are you thinking? As much as he doesn't know your skill level, you don't know his either, and my skills are certainly not strong enough to assure me that I won't have to remove a lot of clothes."

Lizzy bit her lip, aware she may have gone a little far, but then her face brightened when she answered her sister's concerns. "You're right, but Jane, don't worry. Even though I've challenged him, do you think Darcy would allow either one of us to get into a humiliating position? I'm sure if we got anywhere near nudity, he'd let us bow out of the game. He's too much of a gentleman, even if his ego sometimes gets in the way."

Jane knew Lizzy was right about Darcy's courteous behaviour. She also knew Lizzy was a competent poker player and just might surprise the men. She wasn't so sure about herself, but the indignant feminist in her wanted to beat down the testosterone in the room. Even though Richard and Charles hadn't said much, she could tell they assumed the same - the women would lose. When she agreed to play, she saw the surprised look on Charles's face, but he certainly wasn't disappointed.

With significant trepidation, Jane sat at one end of the table. Charles quickly followed, facing her, thinking this quite the adventurous moment for his lady, heartily amused with the concept of strip poker and the possibility of seeing Jane take her clothes off slowly. However, he hadn't exactly thought through all the possible consequences.

Richard was jovial and a bit giddy with anticipation. He wasn't afraid of nudity in any form - his or anyone else's. He was ready to play regardless of the outcome, but he was quite thankful he was playing with particularly attractive women.

Lizzy was a determined, stubborn woman, intent on winning. She really wasn't being rational. She had let Darcy's misguided chivalry get to her. Instead of seeing it as kind, she only saw it as sexist and supercilious. While she fumed over his overconfidence, she neglected to notice she was emitting the same emotion. She thought little of the possibility of undressing and the repercussions if Darcy decided to just let the clothes fall where they may.

Darcy's whiskey consumption was now irrelevant. Events about to unfold rendered him stone cold sober. The woman he loved had positioned herself in a situation over which she had no control nor did she have any idea of its seriousness. As far as he was concerned, she was about to be naked at Pemberley - one of his fondest wishes - but somehow the gods had taken hold of his desire and distorted it to torment him, yet again. However, as much as he wanted to prevent any embarrassment to her - which he would if it became necessary - he was also a bit miffed that she wouldn't listen to his judgment on the matter. He was an extremely knowledgeable card player and was ready to show Lizzy why she should have trusted him.

With the cut of the cards, Jane was first to deal and to everyone's surprise, she won the first hand. "I guess there's something to be said for beginner's luck," she commented with a shy shrug of her shoulders.

"Excuse me, earrings are not clothing," Richard stressed with his haughty British accent, while Lizzy removed one as her first payout.

"I didn't hear anyone specify that beforehand," Lizzy replied resolutely. No one questioned her, but Charles commented, finally realizing he was only wearing five pieces of clothing. "Well, now the men are at a disadvantage."

"Ah, the beauty of accessorizing," Lizzy quipped with a coy glance across the table to Darcy.

He wanted to be displeased by her smugness, he really did, but he was impressed with her ability to find a loophole to help her position, and besides, the look on her face was terribly fetching. It inspired him to begin disrobing her in his mind, a definite handicap to his game.

Jane proceeded to win the second hand and the men were momentarily worried. "Are you a card shark, darling?" Charles asked as he removed a second sock.

"I'm as surprised as you are," Jane replied, wide-eyed and innocent.

Darcy shook his head at his own blindness. Strip poker wasn't quite like regular poker. Nobody folded. It was only partially based on skill, the luck of the draw had as much to do with it, which is why Jane had been successful. He would have to be very careful.

He won the next hand decisively which prompted Lizzy to remove nothing more revealing than the barrette from her hair. While this may have disappointed Richard, who began to worry he'd only get to see Charles naked, it stirred Darcy's blood far more than it should have. He was envisioning those loose curls spread over the pillow of his bed, and a scarlet heat boiled through his body.

His distraction led to Lizzy winning the following hand and with that, Charles was reduced to his underwear. He was quite uncomfortable and extremely worried about the next round.

However, he had his very own heroine. Jane had been a bit distraught for Charles, but also amused, and not a little aroused. As she laid down a full house, she looked deadly serious. "I believe it would be wise for me to quit while I'm ahead and before Charles has to show his behind. I'm taking him upstairs. I think some strip poker lessons are in order." She then stood, waggled her eyebrows and smiled widely, her hand outstretched waiting for Charles to take it.

"I just need to wear more clothes," Charles grumbled as his woman led him to their room, leaving an increasingly randy Darcy, a still indignant Lizzy and an unfailingly curious Richard.

As the cards were dealt, Lizzy suddenly grasped the opportunity before her - not the chance to bring Darcy down a notch by besting him, but the reality of a naked Darcy before her. Richard's presence was forgotten as she envisioned him and his entire muscular nude form at her disposal. Her determination to win now had more to do with sexuality than sexism.

Over the course of the game, their mutual frustration had morphed into unconcealed lust. The need to beat each other for a principle was thrown out in lieu of seeing the other strip. Neither she nor Darcy had the advantage with the next hand, their minds engaged in fantasies rather than the cards. Richard won and was also highly amused with the idea of stripping these two down. He was their ultimate interruption and he thought denying them privacy was a great joke.

Nothing too revealing had been discarded yet, though - Darcy merely lost his second sock while Lizzy had only to remove a scarf. The advantage of playing strip poker in work clothes rather than party clothes was becoming obvious - it would take awhile to get to the more intimate layers.

Darcy, frustrated by his play, focussed all his efforts on the game and was successful with the next hand. Richard was only required to lose another sock and Lizzy was required to lose her first; however, in her case, it was a stocking. Knowing it would give her an advantage, Lizzy pushed back from the table and let both men watch as she peeled off her hose. She reasoned that it was no worse than them seeing her in a pair of shorts, but the slow, seductive action of slipping silk down her leg left both men a bit woozy ... and quickly made Darcy angry at having to share the moment with his cousin.

"Richard, isn't there anywhere else you should be at the moment," Darcy asked aggressively without removing his eyes from Lizzy as she adjusted her skirt and moved back into the table. She was staring directly back at him, matching his intensity, but with a slight teasing glint in her eye, failing miserably at hiding a smirk.

Unfortunately, Richard was knowingly interfering in their ferally competitive moment and was enjoying the show immensely. He had no clue their relationship hadn't been consummated. He was blissfully ignorant and certainly wouldn't be receiving that tidbit of information from the couple at the table.

"Nope, nowhere," Richard replied as if oblivious to Darcy's overt hint.

The next hand was dealt and while part of Darcy's brain wanted to keep Lizzy's body parts hidden from Richard, the other part - the one located below his belt - desperately wanted to watch her remove the second stocking. His lower brain and his fabulous straight flush won out and Lizzy was again lifting her skirt to mid-thigh and flicking off her garter temptingly. She gave Richard a hard glance as if to tell him he wasn't wanted, then meticulously shed her second stocking, and tossed it onto Darcy's face.

He grabbed it in mid-air, inhaled it with gusto and then threw it with a flourish onto his shoulder for safekeeping.

"Seems you're proving your acumen after all," she stated in a deep, piercing voice. Lizzy proved her poker prowess, however, by winning the next hand. Both boys removed their 'accessory' - a belt.

Richard looked from one to the other and could swear they were about to gnaw through the table to get to each other. He knew he was driving them insane, but there was nothing more entertaining for him to do than be a voyeur in their match of wills as they slipped into mating ritual mode.

But finally ... FINALLY... Darcy's luck was about to change. He was no longer just lucky in cards. Richard's cell phone rang. It startled both him and Lizzy into consciousness, realizing their total absorption in the other.

"Saved by the bell," Richard wisecracked lamely before taking the call. Lizzy and Darcy's eyes darted briefly to Richard during his conversation but their concentration was solely devoted to each other. When Richard closed his phone, he looked at both of them with a pleasant smile and asked, "Darce, where are the keys to your Range Rover?"

"You're not going out in this weather, are you?" Darcy asked disbelievingly.

"I didn't think you'd care at this point, but I'm only going to the Château Laurier. Charlotte has a suite. It's too far for her to drive home safely. She thought I might like to join her, and I think she's right," Richard remarked.

Darcy could have argued about the safety of such an endeavour, but the hotel was only a five minute drive from his home and more importantly, Richard would be gone.

"They're in the kitchen. Drive safe. Have fun," Darcy said absently, his eyes never straying from the woman across the table.

After a goodbye to both and a thank you to Darcy, Richard walked away mumbling, "Hopefully as much fun as you're going to have."

"I'll deal," Lizzy stated with unflappable certainty.

As desperately as she wanted to win this hand and the rest, it didn't start off so well for our dear Lizzy, and her playing partner waited expectantly for her to remove an article of clothing.

Lizzy thought it over carefully. Were she to remove her skirt, her dignity would still be intact as he couldn't see anything under the table; however, should she remove her blouse, she would be facing him in nothing but a skimpy black lace bra, thus distracting him from his play. She was fairly certain Charles and Jane wouldn't reappear and she'd heard Richard drive off in the Range Rover so her decision was easy - throw Darcy off his game.

She slowly unbuttoned her blouse and noticed Darcy's eyes widen slightly - his poker face beginning to evaporate under the strain of anticipation. She'd untucked it from her skirt to get to the last button and then with a not-so-subtle stretch, shrugged the blouse off her shoulder, her chest jutting forward by the action. Darcy's eyes widened further and unbeknownst to him, his lips parted. With a final shimmy, Lizzy removed her blouse as provocatively as possible. And to top those two blatant manoeuvres, she proceeded to shamelessly lean into the table. Before Darcy were two bountiful breasts, presented to him like a sumptuous platter, ready for him to feast upon.

Despite Lizzy's lack of subtlety, Darcy had been reduced to a blithering, unfocussed, horny gawker, not particularly cognizant of anything but a certain snuggly packed package in black stretchy lace with a shiny front clasp winking at him, beckoning him to release it.

"Your deal." Lizzy broke the silence and Darcy's hypnosis.

He shuffled without knowing and dealt mechanically; his eyes, which had been permanently fixed on hers for most of the game, had now gone south. They were unable and unwilling to stray from the view directly before him; not only was her cleavage copious, he also saw a hint of two aroused nipples under the lace. When he finished dealing, Lizzy's lips turned into an amused grin. She put her cards down and stated calmly, "We play poker with five cards each, Fitzwilliam, not six."

Darcy gathered the cards, mortified by the error caused by his obvious distraction. Lizzy excelled at breaking his reserve and self-control; he knew it, but hadn't figured a way to overcome her proficiency. Needless to say, moments later, Darcy was unbuttoning his crisp linen shirt, after moving her stocking to his pant pocket - he didn't want to misplace that particular item of clothing. While his removal should not have been as dramatic as Lizzy's, the fact was, Lizzy had never seen him without his shirt. She had certainly felt underneath it, but any opportunity to see him unclothed had only been in her imagination.

He was perfectly aware of this, and when he removed his shirt, he stood; his impressive height dwarfing her as she sat in the chair. His moves were exaggerated in order to best enhance his physique, and when he pushed the shirt over his shoulders, he stretched as well, flexing his muscles, trying not to overdo it, in case Lizzy saw it all as a big joke.

He needn't have feared. Her eyes bulged as much as his had moments before. His broad chest and torso were taut and solid. She bit her lip as he turned to neatly place the shirt over his chair, the expanse of his back as mouthwatering to Lizzy as the view from the front. For a man so devoted to his business, it was impressive to see he was disciplined enough to keep his physical form as well-defined as his mental sharpness. She knew he enjoyed nuzzling in her cleavage, but she wondered if he'd be surprised to know she also yearned to attack his chest; it looked so powerful. Lizzy shifted in her chair as excitement filled her body, flowing downward to the center of her desire which was now becoming uncontrollably moist. She lost the following hand and as such, she lost her skirt. Again, she performed a delicate striptease, carefully unzipping it and letting it fall to the floor. She looked to Darcy with a naughty twinkle in her eye and gave him a coy remark. "Oops; looks like I dropped something."

She bent over to pick up the skirt allowing him to openly ogle her shapely bottom in dead-sexy black lace boyshorts. He didn't know how much more he could take of this, but once Lizzy draped her skirt over her chair, she sat back down, ready for the next round.

Luck, combined with a considerable amount of rabid lust in the man across the table, gave her the edge in the next game. She didn't even need to concentrate; she won without effort. Darcy stood for his disrobing, knowing perfectly well he was aroused. Under normal circumstances he would have done everything in his power to hide the fact; however, he unabashedly shed his trousers for Lizzy, wanting her to know what she did to him, and wanting her to be flustered by his lack of shame in showing it. He gave her a sight to behold in boxer briefs.

Her jaw uncontrollably dropped, but when she finally noticed, she shut it quickly, biting her lower lip as if to keep it from falling again. It had been a while since Lizzy had seen a man in such a state ... and never had she seen a man with such ... stateliness. Again, he turned to place his clothing on the chair, and she gulped hard as she caught sight of his tight, sculpted backside. She crossed her legs, wanting to somehow stifle her arousal so she could get through this game.

After feeling she'd been rightly impressed, Darcy sat down; this time he was the one with the satisfied smirk. Now she was the one who dealt mindlessly, she was the one with glazed eyes and unsteady breaths, and Darcy won this round easily. Unfortunately for him, she still had a garter belt to remove, but each knew the following hand would be decisive. Someone would have to lose something precious.

Darcy dealt, cock-sure he was about to see Lizzy remove part of her lacy ensemble. Lizzy held her cards confidently; certain Darcy would momentarily need to divest his boxer briefs. They were both tense, but was it from the fear of losing or the excitement of winning?

She placed her cards on the table with no hesitation; she had a flush, one of her best hands yet. Darcy was a little more dramatic, placing one card down at a time, showing one pair of threes, then another pair of tens, teasing her with the notion she'd won, until he put down another ten. A full house. "I believe that beats your hand," Darcy said, his voice resonating with a thirst for his payout.

Lizzy pouted, knowing she had been beaten. Even with all her accessories, she was still going to reveal bare skin; however, the idea wasn't as intimidating as it would been had the three other players still been at the table. She stood, well aware there would be no reason to sit again. Darcy wouldn't want to play cards with her topless because he'd only want to play with her topless.

Darcy rose as well, and walked towards her, a predatory look in his eyes, his arousal still evident. Both were breathing heavily, a steady, concentrated rhythm, as if preparing for a marathon. Lizzy reached up to her strap and fingered it lightly, licking her upper lip as she stared up at Darcy through her thick lashes. A minute smile on her face, she hesitated, as if delaying the moment to add suspense, and then she languidly slid a strap off her shoulder. She reached for the other one ... but suddenly stopped. The trace of the smile was gone; a nervous look replaced it.

Lizzy bit the inside of her lip, took a deep breath and went back to the other strap. Her eyes were wide. Darcy thought they looked apologetic. Her next comment confirmed his suspicions.

"I can't..." she whispered, shaking her head slightly. She pulled the strap back up, her eyes still steadfastly on his.

An almost imperceptible smile crept on Darcy's face. Again, her inexplicable shyness was taking over at the very last moment. She had been daring enough to play the game with mixed company, she had continued with Darcy alone as it became incredibly erotic foreplay, now, she had a bit of panic written on her face. She needed him to take control.

He stepped closer to her and lightly caressed her arms, looking down at her with an understanding expression. He wanted to reassure her, but he also wanted to make sure their evening continued. There was no reason to back down now. "I realize you're uncomfortable removing this last bit of clothing here. I completely understand."

She looked at him, a soft smile upon her face, and if he wasn't mistaken, a bit of relief. However, he wasn't finished. He gently toyed with her bra strap, kissed her lips ever so lightly, and added with a deep, arch voice, "That's why I'm quite prepared to do it for you."

It took a moment for Lizzy to absorb his meaning but there was no mistaking it when she saw a roguish grin spread across his face. All delicate adoration of the man fell by the wayside as her mouth dropped open in utter disbelief. She slowly backed away from him, her eyes never abandoning his. She picked up her clothes off the chair and held them to her chest.

"I can't..." she uttered again. This time there was far more certainty.

Darcy furrowed his brow. He was confused. This could not be happening.

She backed-up, her eyes still on him, a look of pain crossing her face.

"I can't..."

Darcy didn't believe it. This had to be some sort of a nightmare. She was ready, damn it! They had already been intimate, even if it wasn't sex. But no words came from his mouth. He was speechless as he watched her, shaking her head, looking tentative and small. She was tip-toeing backwards out of the room.

"I can't..." she repeated once again, as if convincing herself.

Darcy had no clue what to do. He was utterly bewildered and lost. She was backing away from him, literally and figuratively. She reached the thick oak balustrade of the staircase and stood behind it as if to hide. All of a sudden her expression changed.

"I can't ... believe you fell for that! Come and catch me, Fitzwilliam," she called as she ran up the stairs, followed by an impertinent giggle that hung in the air to taunt him.

For a moment, he stood there, stunned. How dare she! The nerve! And then, it hit him. She really got you, she got you good.

His primal instincts took over. He was going to punish her in a most satisfying way ... and she knew it. She was a saucy little tormenter who didn't like to lose, but she loved to rile him up, and boy did she succeed this time. He tore up the stairs knowing exactly where she'd be.

Lizzy managed to get to his room before he caught up to her. It was a challenge due to the storm. What had been a casual tour early in the day was almost a bit of maze now as the upper floors were lit only by candles. When she arrived in his chamber, she sat as casually as one could in lace undergarments, in a winged-back chair near his fireplace. She was trying to regulate her breathing, trying to appear relaxed, before he made it to his room; easier said than done after racing up stairs and down a large hallway to Darcy's suite, particularly when she had been laughing so hard. She knew she was in trouble. But then again, that's the fun part, she told herself.

She heard the doors to his anteroom open and then shut firmly, hearing the click of the lock. He definitely doesn't want to be disturbed. She smiled at the thought. She hardly heard his footfall due to his lack of shoes and socks but she definitely felt his presence moments later when the double doors flew open. His white-knuckled hands gripped the door handles and he stood there, like a taunted bull - all indignant passion, muscles flexed and tense. His glower was highlighted by the flickering flames throughout the room, making him look almost villainous. It was highly arousing.

So, of course, she teased him more. "What took you so long?" The question hung in the air like the smell of sex in a brothel. She was leading him on, working up his lather, getting him psyched to ravish her; she didn't truly comprehend how well she did it.

"You are a tease," Darcy stated.

"Me? Just trying to get you up here as quickly as possible. We've been interrupted too many times and I'm barely dressed," she countered casually, walking over to him. She stood before him, sweet, sexy and unquestionably brazen. He needed to have his say.

"Elizabeth Margaret Bennet, I have argued with myself for months on whether or not you are a tease, but I kept thinking - she doesn't really know what she's doing to me. Tonight, you proved me wrong. You know exactly what you're doing and you are a supreme tease. You nearly killed me down there! I don't think you want to have sex. I think you want me to have a coronary. Woman, you live to torment me."

Lizzy had stood unfazed, listening to his impassioned statement, allowing him to vent his frustration. She then reached up to him and gently brushed a stray curl back behind his ear. Her hand stroked his lobe, his jaw, then his cheek, finally reaching his lips where she gently placed two fingers. "A little less conversation," she paused to let the words dawn on him, "a little more action, please."

Lightening couldn't strike as fast as Fitzwilliam Darcy at that moment. Before Lizzy knew what hit her, his siege had begun. She heard the sound of the massive doors slamming behind him and was suddenly engulfed in his arms, his lips slanting harshly on hers, his tongue delving deeply and methodically in her mouth. She absorbed the heat of his bare flesh as he pressed against her and was nearly overwhelmed by the onslaught. If he hadn't been holding her, her knees would have buckled and she very well may have fainted.

But her weakness quickly passed, as the fire coursing through her body inflamed her, and soon, she was reciprocating. Her hands reached up and threaded through his curls, clutching them as if to anchor herself, not that she was going anywhere. Her tongue slipped through his lips and revelled in his taste. Her entire body responded to his, but he was all-consuming and in command.

Darcy was in his own private paradise, ready to traverse every nook, curve, dip, crease and bend of Lizzy's body. What he wanted above all, was to be ensconced in her most private of places, and it took significant mental willpower to quash his driving physical demands. Luckily, Darcy was ruled by his heart and mind and not his basic bodily instincts, so he took his time in the exploration of Lizzy's body. Even in his lust-drunk haze, her needs, and his adoration of her, gave him enough coherence to slow it down. In the end, he knew they would both savour the union far more than if he rushed.

So he took her bit by bit, first appreciating the richness of their kiss, her lips as sweet as raspberries, a taste that blended naturally with the subtle scent of lavender on her skin. She may not have had an extensive sexual history, but she knew how to give and receive a powerful kiss. It bid him to come and enjoy the rest of her and Darcy accepted the summons willingly. One hand caressed the softest spot of her neck while the other roamed to her thigh. He lifted her leg, wrapping it round his hip, forcing their arousals even closer together, but also giving him the advantage of sliding his hand under her panties and gripping her supple bottom.

Lizzy was conscience of Darcy, and absolutely nothing else - his lips against hers, his tongue playing inside her mouth, but particularly his hand. It was causing her nerve endings to tingle, as it drifted delicately over her back, all the way down to her thigh and back up again to her bottom, spreading currents of heat throughout the rest of her body. Most of all, she felt his hard body crushed against hers, and by virtue of the position of her leg, she could feel his stiffness against her belly. She wanted to give him as much pleasure as she was receiving but it was proving difficult when he had such a hold on her.

They broke away from their kiss, a mix of awe and hunger on both their faces. Darcy brought a hand to her back to support her as he dipped her low, moving the other to her throat, where it splayed and travelled over her chest. Lizzy arched her back and in one swift motion, he unclasped her bra, brushing aside the lace to reveal two perfectly aroused rose buds. He lowered himself onto a tight nipple, taking it, luxuriating in the sweet taste of her delicate skin as he listened to her whimper ferally. He looked up to see a woman being swept away, bliss showered on her face, drowning in a sea of pleasure. He was only getting started.

He brought her back to his lips, another kiss that seemed to penetrate her very bones as he skillfully finished removing her bra. He moved down her body, his tongue tracing a trail from her neck to her nipple, pausing for a moment to tickle and tease. He dropped to his knees and continued downward by placing gentle kisses on the bottom curves of her breasts. When he reached her belly button, he circled it languorously with his tongue, his hands now rubbing the sensitive spots on her lower abdomen causing her to moan rather indecorously. He withheld a chuckle while his hands moved to the waistband of her panties. They were a new style to him, as he hadn't had the pleasure of removing a woman's undergarments in quite some time. He'd no clue what they were called, but he found the scalloped edges that allowed her bottom to peak out, undeniably sexy. He'd have to give her a pair in red, to match the stockings.

As he slid the panties down, he followed with his lips, from her hip all the way to her ankles. He looked up to her, a lazy smile gracing his face and proceeded to kiss each toe, coyly worshiping at her feet. As erotic as his tour of her anatomy was, as intent as he was on seducing her, he was still playful enough to make her smile broadly. But the lighthearted moment ended quickly as he took the same route back to her mouth, this time his kisses seemed deeper, his tongue pressed a little firmer and her skin seared with his ministrations. His fingers were also free for the return journey, and paused where his mouth had not. He touched her heat, ever so gently, feeling her moistness for his own satisfaction, but also caressing her lightly, tempting her with what was to come. He didn't stay there. It wasn't yet time. His hands only caught up to his mouth when it had already reached hers and there he played - tracing her plump bottom lip with his thumb while licking her upper one. Allowing her to suck on his forefinger, he watched her taste her own juices and nearly lost his concentration.

An erotic fog had encircled Lizzy while Darcy explored her from tip to toe. She had never felt so adored or so pampered with sensuality. She seemed almost anesthetized by his expert manipulation of her body. It showed her complete trust in him, as Lizzy wasn't one to give up control of her senses easily. Touch by touch he had hypnotized her, and by the time his fingers began toying with her lips, she'd forgotten where they'd just explored, but took advantage of the opportunity to bestow some attention on him.

She grasped his hand firmly and sucked his finger - deep and tight into her mouth. They both knew what she was alluding to and their eyes locked as they both envisioned the progress of the evening. But she knew she wanted more than his slow seduction. She yearned to see him completely, to truly feel all of him against her.

She took a step back and for a moment Darcy looked puzzled. She placed the tips of her fingers on his chest and implored, "Please, let me."

He accented with no hesitation, he would give her whatever she wanted. Her pleasure was his pleasure.

She almost mirrored everything he had done. She needed him to be real to her. Her hands grazed his chest; she had yearned to touch his strong, sinewy torso and to feel his tawny skin under her lips. She inhaled his musky redolence and let her tongue taste his masculine flavour. Her fingertips drifted over his physique to the waistband of his boxer briefs. Now she was on her knees, removing his last remaining item, the one not lost in any poker bet, but freely discarded.

She kissed his hipbone delicately as she brought the briefs to the floor, her cheek brushing his erection ever so slightly. Was it on purpose or accidental? He'd no clue, but whatever it was, it nearly drove him mad.

She did not retrace her movements but stepped away from him. She gazed upon him, appreciating everything he was offering, admiring the beauty of his form and hoping she would be worthy of such a man.

He also took in the measure of her body - the fluid curves, the softness of her features. Her skin glimmered in the warm glow of the fire and candles. She looked ethereal, his own enchantress, a vision of womanly perfection, and there were no more interruptions, no more misunderstanding and no more doubts to surmount.

Before he could make another move, Lizzy neared him again. Bringing her hands to his chest, they slowly streaked down his abdomen until they reached their destination. She brought her fingers to his shaft, stroking him gently like a sculpture, acquainting herself with the contours and texture, fascinated with his reaction to her touch. She thumbed the tip where a touch of moisture had been released and she heard his sharp intake of breath. She grasped and stroked him more firmly but was unceremoniously stopped.

There was only so much a man could take while being a gentleman in the bedroom. He could no longer be tantalized by her touches without becoming overwhelmed. He swiftly wrapped both her legs around him and moved to his desired destination. He laid her down firmly, in the very middle of the bed, her hair cascading onto the pillowcase just as he had fantasized, but the reality undeniably outstripped his dreams.

The storm raged beyond the walls of Pemberley, ice pelting violently against the windows, the savageness of nature taking its toll on man's innovations as well as her own creations. Darcy and Lizzy were lost in their own storm, far less violent but no less powerful. They were unconscious of the world beyond his bed as passions that had raged inside them for months were now given leave to escape fully.

Darcy again ravaged her swollen lips as he lay next to her. His hands drifted and he delicately began to rub her already aroused sex. He felt her moan against his mouth, her hips arching in a corporeal cry for more. He was attuned to her every reaction, a slight movement or sound and he adapted his attentions. His finger gently circled her as if asking permission and when he felt her edge closer, he slowly slipped into her. He dragged his mouth from her lips to her breasts, then lower. Now was the time to taste her very essence.

Her eyelids fluttered as he caressed her inside while continuing to stimulate her fleshy folds. Her breaths were getting shorter, and she had little control over her own body. A sense of freedom overwhelmed her, but as she felt his kisses move lower and lower, she knew she needed him back at her lips.

He was slightly surprised when Lizzy gently indicated for him to return to her mouth. He so wanted to taste her passion and do things to make her scream in fulfillment. But most of all, he wanted her to be comfortable, and if she wanted to kiss him while she climaxed, he would gladly comply.

Seconds after he reached her mouth, he felt her tense and rub against his hand. She had clutched a shoulder and his hair and suddenly let out a groan, much louder than in his car the night before. In fact, all her actions were much more intense and liberated than they had been the night before.

Lizzy shook, lost in the intensity of her orgasm. Wave after wave of quivering heat washed through her body. She was a prisoner to Darcy's touch and never wanted to escape. He continued to stimulate her while she shuddered around him, prolonging her bliss, bringing out more. Her eyes rolled back, she stopped breathing and every pore of her body seemed excited by the air itself.

Darcy watched her and knew he couldn't hold out any longer. He reached for his night stand drawer and grabbed a condom, removing it from the package in record time. "Lizzy, my love, I ... I need you now, I can't wait."

Her eyes sparkled with excitement and through laboured breaths she asked, "What's there to wait for?"

Soon he was above her, bracing himself as he looked down at the beauty in his bed, but as much as he wanted to plunge into her depths, he held back. She was so tight; it had been so long for her. He couldn't just barge right in as if she were an open door. So as he lowered himself against her, guiding his erection to her sex, he teased her lightly, covering himself with her slickness, hoping her climax and his actions would help ease his entry.

Then, slowly, gently, he nudged inside, clenching his jaw in agony, holding back his true desire for her. He edged in further, his whole body like a slingshot ready to be released. She was so soft and welcoming, so wet, so hot, so engulfing.

Lizzy had been waiting for the impact, had been craving a decisive thrust ... and it hadn't come. She was ready and desperate to feel him inside her, all of him, and for some reason he was prolonging the moment. When her eyes slowly opened to see a look on his face bordering on pain, she realized he was holding back. Assuming he was taking it slow because of her lack of experience, she took matters into her own hands, literally. Grabbing his backside, she practically growled, "I want all of you, Fitzwilliam."

He was forced so deeply inside of her so suddenly, he almost lost total control. He was submerged in her flesh, afraid to move. Breathing deeply, he convinced himself he was allowing her to grow accustomed to him. The truth was he had to calm himself. The snugness his finger had felt was nothing compared to the firm pressure pulsing against his own arousal. She was consuming him. Her soft flesh molded around him, sending him to his own little piece of heaven.

Though Lizzy had acted on her need for him to enter her completely, now that he was inside her, her body was straining against his, expanding to his size. She bit the inside of her lip, adjusting to the sweet distress of lovemaking for the first time in a long time. As her body adapted, she felt Darcy slowly begin to draw out.

He looked at her intently, ensuring she was comfortable and was momentarily worried by the crease on her forehead, but as he shifted, it seemed to fade away, and he truly began his movements in earnest. If he needed any more convincing, Lizzy started rocking back and forth, her body calling for his.

Their rhythms soon united and Darcy was now on a quest for unbridled rapture. She was so lush and responsive; he was surprised by her eagerness, but he shouldn't have been. He knew Lizzy to be curious and spirited, and her passion for life was one of the things that had attracted him. Her response only confirmed all these wonderful traits.

They began a smooth and steady cadence; Darcy's solid body leaned firmly against Lizzy's as he buried himself within her time and again. He murmured words of love in her ear and whispered kisses across her face, and as she answered him, stroke for stroke, he increased the tempo further, building on their mutual pleasure. Their bodies seemed to meld together, their curves and crevices fitting perfectly like pieces of a puzzle. Darcy ground deeply into her, watching her every reaction, spellbound by the sensual feel of her writhing body, awed by the golden glow of her face, amazed she was even more breathtaking while he was loving her so intensely. As physically satisfying as the act had always been for Darcy, nothing had prepared him for the profoundness of being intimate with the one you knew you'd love forever.

Lizzy was besieged by attacks on all her senses. Darcy's burning, possessive gaze somehow also conveyed a tenderness towards her, searching for assurance that she was luxuriating in the moment as much as he was. As their passion intensified and their groove followed suit, she watched as perspiration glistened on his forehead. A droplet fell onto her neck, and he bent to lick it off, giving him a chance to voice his amorous thoughts. His words and the heat of his eyes, combined with his heavy gasps of pleasure shook her sensibilities. If her skin wasn't flushed, if they already hadn't been in the most intimate of positions, she would have blushed at his carnal potency. He coloured her senses in a kaleidoscopic haze, the hues of lust, love and devotion flowing together in a sublime offering of his deepest affections.

As she received his escalating thrusts, her emotions were conveyed through external means. She tilted and arched to meet his gyrating hips, she moaned with appreciation as he crushed against her, their bodies becoming slick with heat. The friction between them was mind-blowing and she dug her nails deep into his skin as he released any hesitancy he was harbouring to protect her delicacy.

He had craved her for so long, he had grown to adore her so, that now that the moment had arrived, every sense seemed heightened, every touch so electric, every emotion so visceral, he was completely lost. His strokes became more urgent; her reaction became more fevered. Their eyes glared at each other as they bonded, desperate to make the moment last but that frantic energy only brought them nearer to their peak.

They collided forcefully, over and over, Lizzy's legs wrapped tightly around him, her calves pushing at his backside encouraging him to burrow farther and faster. She was pushing back, her hips more often off the bed than not, and with each impact, her moans became stronger as she neared a second climax. Inside her, his throbbing pushed her limits and when she felt him grow even stiffer, it wasn't within her power to hold back.

A thousand currents of fire sliced through Lizzy, rising from her very core, an explosion akin to a bursting firework inside her body. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't think, all she felt were cascading convulsions overtaking her body. She didn't know how long it lasted, it could have been seconds, it could have been hours, and the only other sensation of which she was cognizant, was Darcy's release moments after her most powerful spasms.

He watched as she grew increasingly excited, as her body began to tense externally and internally. The vision of her in the throws of her orgasm, along with the feeling of her taut flesh around him, was too much for him to bear. With one final thrust, he erupted inside her with the force of a gusher, but his exuberance was light years beyond anything a prospector discovering oil could imagine. His primal groan was an exquisite indulgence, he rarely verbalized his pleasure with a partner so excessively, but there was no denying the way Lizzy had affected his very soul. His release was so potent, he feared he would burst blood vessels, but his worries were needless, so much blood had pooled elsewhere, he was saved from that affliction.

With this perfect fulfillment of his nightly dreams, Lizzy had brought him near exhaustion. He gracelessly collapsed atop her, his body damp from exertion, his chest bursting as he attempted to steady his breathing, his mind empty of all thought but the question of how quickly he would be able to repeat what just happened.

They lay together for some time, trying to collect their wits, reliving the moment, spreading gentle kisses on each other's faces, both revelling in the way their bodies clung together and how they'd just shared the most glorious of moments. Lizzy was the first to stir as she was rather numb from a certain weighty piece of man covering her.

"Fitzwilliam," she paused to think of a subtle way to indicate her discomfort, as well as to inhale some air, "You're a bit overwhelming."

Darcy kissed her glistening brow and whispered back, "As are you."

His earnestness was adorable; however, it started Lizzy into a fit of giggles. Darcy looked at her laughing eyes, confused and a bit worried. Once she took in another breath she explained, "Darcy, I was trying to tell you, you're a bit heavy for me."

He rolled off of her, mortified at his faux pas, but seeing her laughing so gaily, found it contagious. He chuckled in spite of himself and soon let loose, smiling brightly, showing his two perfect dimples. He lifted her onto him, holding her close; their laugh morphing into a celebration of their pure happiness in finally being together.

"Only you, Lizzy," Darcy began, shaking his head.

"Only me, what?" Lizzy asked before he finished.

"Only you could make me laugh at myself at a moment like this. You know, it could be quite demoralizing to be laughed at, right after lovemaking," he explained, staring at her beautiful eyes, so full of vitality.

"Luckily, you're a self-assured man who knows he has nothing to worry about," Lizzy countered smoothly with a small smile, her chin leaning on his chest. She then moved off of him, suddenly becoming quite pensive as she recalled their just finished encounter. "I can't believe this finally happened. Right now, it all seems so unreal."

Beginning to lift the sheets teasingly, Darcy said, "If you need proof..." He was flying high in the moment, lighthearted and jovial - emotions he'd rarely ever felt, but a certain magic potion called Lizzy brought them out of him.

"No, no, no," Lizzy answered, again laughing, quickly batting the sheets down. She was as gleeful as he, but wanted to be serious. She wanted to explain to him how he had moved her. She let the laughter die down and expressed herself in the simplest way possible. "Thank you. I don't know what else to say."

He lay on his side, leaning on his elbow to look at her. She was breathtaking - a myriad of emotions sweeping across her face. She looked happy yet wistful, sated yet somehow vulnerable. He brushed aside a wisp of hair from her cheek and replied meaningfully, "You're very welcome, but you have nothing to thank me for. It was my pleasure ... very much so."

"You made me feel ..." she paused. She wanted to say 'loved' but didn't want to be presumptuous, so she compromised. "... cherished."

She looked away before she could see his response as she quickly regretted that word. "I'm sorry, does that sound corny? I'm not very good at this, I'm afraid." Darcy now understood the significance behind her words. He took her face between his hands and forced her to look directly at him. He could see her eyes shining, holding back tears. His soul was touched - her feelings were so delicate. This confident woman, whose livelihood was based on her communication skills, was fearful of expressing herself to him. "Lizzy ... Elizabeth. You were wonderful - no, we were wonderful. You made me a better lover because you responded with your heart. You gave so much of yourself. I've never felt more alive, I've never felt as close to anyone as I do to you. You should feel cherished because that's exactly how I wanted you to feel."

The tears now flowed over her temples, but she was smiling, a huge, jubilant grin. He brushed her tears away with his thumbs and by God, he couldn't help himself, moisture was brimming around his eyelids too.

Through dewy eyes and a mouth that couldn't stop from beaming, Lizzy told her lover her truest of feelings. "Fitzwilliam Darcy, I am so in love with you."

Darcy delicately pressed his brow to hers, allowing her to feel the wetness escaping from his eyes, and easily responded to her in kind. "Elizabeth Bennet, you must know by now how much I love you. My heart has been yours for a very long time."

With a tender kiss, Darcy pulled her to his chest and watched with wonder as she fell into a peaceful sleep - the sleep of one who feels beloved.

Darcy woke in the middle of the night with a burgeoning erection, hardly surprising with a naked Lizzy wrapped around him. Her leg, stretched over his midsection, had shifted in her sleep; unknowingly turning him on. In addition, her breast rested on his chest and the heat between her legs was pressed firmly against his hip. There was only so much a man could take before his body responded accordingly.

He wondered if she'd mind if he woke her to make love again. Was she exhausted? Did such a long break cause tenderness? He'd no idea as they hadn't had the chance to discuss much before Lizzy had fallen asleep in his arms.

Except that they loved each other.

A warm flow of relief and contentment streamed through him at the thought. They were in love. She loved him. Yes, he had been confident she cared for him, and when they'd made love he knew her feelings were deep, but until she said the words, he'd only hoped.

They had come so far since their first meeting, where they'd allowed their instant attraction to manifest itself quickly and physically with miserable results. The journey to this point had seemed interminable, but it finally worked out ... and here they were, in the pleasurable aftermath of their heated, intense union. He thought back to her wicked game - she had dangled that carrot yet again and taken it back yet again, but thank goodness, this time it was only in jest. His heart couldn't take any more. Books always talked of a woman's delicate sensibilities, but a heart behind such a protective shell as Darcy's was that much more vulnerable.

Lizzy seemed to understand that, though, and when the moment arrived, her body expressed her sensitivity and devotion to him, not to mention her desire. It had been a consuming experience.

These musings ultimately wove their way back to his erection and her naked body, bringing him full circle - hot, bothered and unsure what to do.

His chest expanded with a deep intake of air as he pondered his next move. His subtle movement stirred Lizzy and she flipped over, still fast asleep. Now, however, both breasts were generously exposed to him, but more particularly to the cool air of a bedroom whose fire had long since died down and whose space heater wasn't picking up the slack. Her nipples quickly reacted, tempting him all the more.

Before he got the chance to wrap his lips around a pink peak, she shifted again - obviously her body didn't want to be exposed, and she turned her back to him as she lifted the covers up to her neck.

Even in her sleep she teases me. Darcy smiled, amused rather than perturbed by her unconscious action.

He decided not to disturb her just yet. He recalled the champagne and strawberries he had intended to use earlier but never got the chance. Perhaps that would be a nice way to pick up where we left off, he thought as he quickly slipped out of the bed, grabbed his robe and slippers, and headed downstairs.

By the time Darcy reached the main floor, the power switched back on. He glanced out a window to see the storm had abated so he snuffed out some still-lit candles and turned off some lights before reaching the kitchen.

Opening the refrigerator door, he muttered a few uncharacteristic swear words directed solely at his earlier departed cousin. No one else in the house would have the nerve to nick a bottle of vintage Veuve Cliquot and six of the ten chocolate-dipped strawberries. He probably feels like a fine, upstanding gentleman for having the courtesy to leave four,Darcy mused contemptuously.

Gathering the remaining berries, a few grapes and the champagne, he headed back upstairs, tray in hand to his room with his Lizzy, in his bed. His cousin was quickly forgotten.

Lizzy eyes blinked open with the sudden increased brightness of the room. She took a moment to orient herself, having never woken in such opulent surroundings, and a slow satisfied grin spread across her face. She turned to Darcy but was disappointed to find the rest of the king bed completely vacant. She looked over to see an open bathroom door but no visual sign of her man. "Fitzzzzzzzzwilliam", she called in a sing-songy voice, hoping to lure him back from wherever he was hiding. "Fitzzzzzzzzwilliam," she called out again, a bit louder, but still no response.

She couldn't help but be disappointed; to awaken in the middle of the night in her lover's bed only to find no lover next to her was not a girl's dream come true. She didn't really fear that he'd run off on her, after all, this was his home; but she hoped he wasn't attempting to distance himself after their earlier declarations. She didn't doubt his love, she just doubted the comfort he felt in saying it for the first time.

She thought of how the evening progressed and cringed at her daring. I can't believe I insisted we play strip poker. What was I thinking? She shook her head at the memory. I must learn to control my stubbornness, although it did turn out to be one damn fine way to lead up to the bedroom.

She recalled his fiery look after chasing her up the stairs and that memory alone made her long for him again, even though she was feeling the effects of two years of celibacy. How sensitive is normal? she wondered, but didn't dwell on the question as she rose from the bed to clothe herself and go search for Darcy. It gave her the chance to dress in her thigh-length aubergine negligée set. Guess it wasn't needed, she thought sardonically.

By the time she got to his anteroom, Darcy was returning from his expedition.

"That's quite the midnight snack," Lizzy quipped, seeing the bottle of champagne as well as the goodies.

"I think so." Darcy smiled appreciatively as he gave Lizzy the once-over. "Care to share some?" He nodded to her to return to the room. Lizzy chose to ignore the double entendre.

"My girlish figure will be ruined if I keep hanging out with you," she answered as she watched him place the tray of treats down on the table in front of the winged-back chair.

"I know a strenuous activity or two that may burn off those calories." His hands reached for her hips and grazed the smooth, satiny fabric draping her body.

Lizzy raised her eyebrows playfully. "Ah, a method to your midnight madness." She returned his caress, stroking his soft terry robe.

"Am I that blatant?" Darcy gave his best doe-eyed innocent look.

"I'm afraid so," Lizzy sighed, toying with the knot at his waist, but stopped and added, "But first, I want those strawberries. They look divine."

Darcy poured two glasses, passed one to Lizzy, leaving his on the table, and sat down in front of the fireplace where only embers now burned. He picked the plumpest strawberry and patted his knee, indicating to Lizzy he'd like her to join him. She smiled at his invitation and readily complied. Cozying up to Darcy was no hardship.

With Lizzy on his lap, Darcy was a contented man. After feeding her a strawberry, he stroked her smooth legs, back and forth, methodically and soothingly at first, before venturing higher under her robe, hoping to initiate another amorous encounter.

Lizzy usually loved his touch; however, his hedging upwards tickled and caused an awkward moment - she nearly sprayed champagne through her nose. Recovering quickly, she smacked his hand lightly. "Hey, let me enjoy the treats first. I'm a bit hungry, to be honest. The strawberries are wonderful, it's a shame there are only two each."

She held one to his lips but he stopped her. "No, if you enjoy them so much, have them all. We'd have more had my charming cousin not walked off with some."

"You're kidding. He stole your strawberries?"

"Six of them... and a bottle of champagne."

"Charlotte's a lucky girl."

"You should be so lucky." "What are you talking about? Luck has been on my side for some time now, particularly tonight," Lizzy said coyly, waggling her eyebrows.

"I suppose," Darcy replied languidly streaming a trail of kisses on her jaw line up to her ear.

"No suppositions," Lizzy retorted spiritedly, moving away from his seduction. "For me, everything was just perfect. I mean, I never ...never felt the way I felt with you tonight. And it's not just because I'm in love with you."

Lizzy stopped for a moment, shyly smiling up at him, not yet used to uttering those words. She continued on in a quieter voice. "Even on a purely sexual level, it was amazing. I can't even imagine what it would be like without a condom." She stopped again, bowing her head towards her chest, embarrassed by her effusions.

"Have you always used a condom?" Darcy was curious about her last statement.

"Well, no... not every time," she answered uncomfortably, not knowing why he'd want to know.

Darcy didn't understand her discomfort but thought a simple, logical suggestion would put her at ease. "Well then, why don't we try it without, right now."

His hand began to slowly slide back up her leg with the intention of progressing under her satin chemise.

"We can't," Lizzy answered with a furrowed brow as if confused by the suggestion. She rested her own hand on his to delay his progress.

"Why not?" Darcy asked. He thought she'd be pleased with the idea. It was only the rarest occasions when Darcy went without a condom. In fact, he usually did everything in his power, short of a vasectomy, to ensure his partners didn't end up with child - whether they wanted him to or not. More often than not, they would have preferred he take the risk. Only recently had he begun to think about other repercussions from going without a condom and was relieved he had been so safe in the past. He thought Lizzy would jump at the chance to make love to him au natural. He was certainly showing his trust in her. He wasn't even that averse to the possibility of an 'accident' happening. Of course, he never thought of the possibility that Lizzy would have no idea the sans-condom suggestion was so magnanimous.

"It's our first night together, we just can't," Lizzy reiterated, saying nothing to clarify her reasoning. From the look on her face, she clearly felt she made total sense.

Darcy believed he knew what the problem was. "Are you ... protected ... otherwise?" he asked as delicately as possible.

Lizzy answered in a matter of fact tone, even though, she was suddenly fascinated with the lace edging on her chemise. "Oh, yes. That may be surprising because of my total lack of memory this past week, but I'm very diligent about taking my pill."

"Then there's nothing stopping us," Darcy insisted. He saw no problems with their situation.

"We don't really know each other's-" Lizzy stopped to correct herself. "I guess we do know..." she stammered mid-sentence, not exactly sure how to express herself.

Suddenly, this new anxiety of Lizzy's became all too clear to Darcy and he felt like a self-absorbed ass. She was nervous about his sexual history, and rightly so. He only wished more young women were so cautious.Of all people, I should have thought of this,he chastised himself.

"Elizabeth," he began seriously, but decided to soften. She looked so uncomfortable. She could be so direct at times, even in the course of this conversation she was blunt, but when it affected her deepest feelings about him, she was very cautious in the way she broached the subject. "Lizzy. You have every right to worry based on what I've told you about my past and I should have realized your concerns. I want you to know, I was responsible. I used protection the majority of the time, and I do see my doctor regularly."

"I can't believe we're talking about this. Why don't we just forget it and deal with it later." Lizzy was struggling with having to discuss his somewhat sordid past on what was the most romantic night of her life. Yes, she'd love to be with him without a condom, but it wasn't that big a deal. She regretted the casual remark that started the discussion. They could talk about the possibility at a later date.

Darcy's opinion was diametrically opposed to hers. "You haven't forced me. There's no better time to discuss this than right now. I'm not worried about you, but you have a right to be concerned about me and making love to me. I just wanted to ease your fears. My last doctor's appointment was just before my birthday and I received a clean bill of health."

"How do you know you can trust me?" Lizzy asked.

"I believe you when you say you're on the pill and I'll be honest, that's a first for me. Also, you've explained your limited experience, and it was quite some time ago."

"But that doesn't mean I'm-" Lizzy stopped herself again. What was she going to say? That doesn't mean I'm disease-free? She was not going to get into this any further.

"I'm assuming you've been to the doctor's in the past couple of years," was all Darcy added with a small smile. He felt for her, he really did, but as long as they talked about it now, there was no need to ever broach the subject again.

"Well, you've got it all covered," Lizzy said, a little exasperated with the seriousness of the conversation.

A thought then occurred to Darcy. "Would you have stopped me tonight if I didn't have a condom?"

"Hell no, I brought my own!" Lizzy proclaimed suddenly no longer shy. "Really?"

"Oh, yes, they're in the drawer on my side of the bed."

"I've never had that happen."

"Really? What kind of women did you date?" She stopped and looked up at him, saying darkly. "Forget I asked that."

Darcy smiled as she continued, "I guess I'm just like a boy scout. My motto is Be Prepared."

This time he laughed. "I'm sure the Boy Scouts would be pleased to hear their motto used in this context. I must commend your responsibility. However, with your knowledge of my sexual history, I don't blame you."

Lizzy didn't want to discuss it anymore. As far as she was concerned, the topic was fully explained and they could now move on, so before he could add another word, she put her glass down, grabbed a strawberry and thrust it in his mouth. "No more serious talk about past relationships. I trust you and I know you trust me. Eat."

Darcy took a bite, his eyes warm and amused by her method of shutting him up. She was right. He'd already assuaged her worries, there was no need to rehash any gory details. They had far more important things to do, eating strawberries was only one of them.

Lizzy picked the freshest berry for him and suddenly juice began to dribble from the side of Darcy's mouth. He didn't get to wipe it off; she moved to lick it. The action caught him by surprise; however, as far as he was concerned, it gave him the go-ahead for a renewal of their earlier pursuits.

By the time Darcy swallowed the strawberry, they were locked in a vigourous kissing session that was quickly evolving into something much less innocent, fraught with heavy petting and heavier breathing.

Lizzy knew she needed to speak before she forgot to tell Darcy something important. Through short gasps and fevered strokes, she whispered, "Fitzwilliam... I have... a confession."

Darcy had been successful in removing her robe; his next obstacle her flimsy chemise. As he slipped a spaghetti strap over her shoulder, he absently murmured, "Mm-mm?"

Soon her chemise was at her waist and Darcy's hands and mouth quickly made their way to her breasts. Unlike the first time, he was more direct, but Lizzy didn't seem to mind. Her hands clutched his hair and she let out a soft groan when his mouth met a tightened bud.

She forgot what she was going to say until he carried her over to the bed, removed what remained of her clothes and took off his own robe. He was lying on top of her, kissing her neck when she remembered. "I... I'm rather ... tender."

He looked up to her with soft eyes, then continued to drag his mouth down her body as if oblivious to her words. Though he seemed to have acknowledged her, Lizzy worried he hadn't really heard what she said. As he moved to trace the curve of her torso with his tongue, he looked up again to add, "Don't worry, I'll be gentle."

Her legs wrapped around him, her hands roamed his back to his bottom, but as much as she trusted Darcy in almost every circumstance, she had seen the look on his face when they made love. Once she urged him on, he wasn't entirely conscious of his actions, so she offered what she hoped was a reasonable suggestion. "If I could go on top this time, I think it would be okay."

Her words literally stunned him and he stopped what he was doing to absorb her request, but even so, he blurted out, "I thought you said you weren't experienced?"

Lizzy laughed heartily and answered, "I may be inexperienced, but I'm not a Stepford Wife! You really think I'm the type to only accept the missionary position?"

Moving up to kiss her pouty lips again, Darcy replied rakishly, "How could I have been so foolish."

Darcy wasn't quite ready to relinquish the top to lay in wait for her onslaught. He still had things to do; namely, to thoroughly explore the pre-coitus possibilities, so he resumed his actions after adding, "Just let me have my fun with your body before you have your fun with mine."

With a playful wink, his face dipped down to her breasts and his hands caressed her curves, stroking particularly sensitive spots and meandering their way to their desired locations.

It took little time before he felt how aroused Lizzy truly was. Her physical responsiveness was reinforced by her soft, but ever-increasing moans as he massaged her gently. He slowly kissed his way to just above the dark tuft below her belly. Inhaling deeply, he readied himself to take the plunge, his anticipation elevated to mouthwatering proportions due to his missed opportunity the first time they made love. Just as he began to follow the downward slope to bliss, he felt her hands in his hair, gently urging him to halt his progress and return his oral attentions above the waist.

Somewhat surprised, a little confused and a fair bit frustrated, he complied with her indications. Lizzy could sense his disappointment so she threw herself into ensuring his thoughts were only focused on how she was touching and kissing him. He quickly forgot his personal wishes, particularly when she spoke with a voice full of need. "I want you inside me again and I don't want to wait."

A demand like that wasn't to be ignored so he rolled them over without hesitancy and watched as Lizzy straddled him. He always enjoyed when a woman wanted to be on top, not only did it free his hands, it provided inspiring visual stimulation. Having the woman be Lizzy, made the experience and view that much more breathtaking.

She held his erection in her hands and played a bit, stroking and thumbing, watching Darcy's facial expressions as she touched his shaft, then his tip. "Does this feel good?" she asked, half-rhetorically, but half-seriously as well, wanting to know exactly where she should center her attentions.

"Do you have to ask?" Darcy asked back, his breath ragged and uneven. He then implored, "Don't play too long."

With that plea, Lizzy brought his now-throbbing arousal between her legs, teasing him as he had done to her earlier, then slowly lowering herself onto him. Once she established her comfort level, she began to rock as he entered her deeper.

She was right - without a condom was definitely more intimate, a closer connection of sorts, a true melding of two into one. She also felt great pleasure in her position. It was thrilling to be in control of Darcy's sensations, to watch him watch her as she gyrated above him. She could tell he was highly turned on by the experience.

Not that Darcy wouldn't have been turned on otherwise; it was simply that being the one on bottom allowed him to concentrate more on what was happening to himself rather than focusing on Lizzy's state of arousal. He was still cognizant of her desire, but he couldn't help but notice she had it all under control. She was taking care of both of them through her rhythmic undulations. Her hands gripped his chest as her back repeatedly arched and relaxed. She was awash in the feel of him inside her, regulating her motions to ensure she felt no discomfort, only wondrous contentment.

Remembering a bit of advice she heard during a late night Sex With Sue radio show, she attempted to contract her muscles around Darcy and was immediately gratified by a husky groan from deep in his chest.

One of his hands moved to clutch her backside while Lizzy's fingers traced his lips. She allowed him to take them into his mouth, lips tight around them, his tongue stroking them inside. Watching him fall further into erotic intoxication, she also felt his bodily response as he began to buck up against her, forgetting his earlier assurances that he would be gentle. Luckily, Lizzy was beyond the point of feeling sore. The pleasures of the flesh and the adrenalin coursing through her body nullified any possible pain.

Darcy's other hand made his way to her sex and his thumb quickly joined in their rhythm, applying the sweetest pleasure to her. It almost seemed a competition as to who would succeed in bringing their lover to fruition first. Lizzy's newly found secret weapon gave her the winning edge - not that anyone could lose in this 'battle'. She gripped him and he was lost in white fire, spilling into her as he groaned in relief and satisfaction.

The knowledge of pushing him past the brink spurred Lizzy's excitement. His hot release and cries of passion culminated in her own blissful reverberations.

This time, Lizzy was the one to fall forward onto Darcy, but she did so purposely, wanting to twine herself around him completely as her body's quivering subsided. Clinging together, it was now Darcy who began a soft, deep chuckle. Confused, Lizzy glanced up to see his amused face. He spoke teasingly, "You, my dear, are not so inexperienced as you let on."

Her mouth opened in indignation with a defense of her person on the tip of her tongue, but she closed her lips to form a chagrined smile. She replied lightly, but honestly, "Just because I lack experience doesn't mean I lack imagination. It's not like I've lived under a rock all my life."

"I should have known by the way you kiss," he surmised.

She moved to his lips in riposte, delivering a luscious, searing example to prove his deduction. Once they parted, she grinned devilishly. "Yes, you should have."

Lizzy was about to get off of him and reach for some tissue when he stopped her. She looked at him incredulously. "Well, I'm certainly not going to sleep in the wet spot," she said resolutely, shaking her head and scrunching her nose in mock-disgust.

Darcy raised his eyes heavenward and sighed. He'd been so pleased when she had fallen asleep so quickly earlier and he was able to rid himself of the remnants of their lovemaking. He always found it awkward to deal with the 'disposal' issue when a woman was watching - he was a fastidious man and having an audience was not to his liking. He always worried women would find it made the whole experience a little less romantic and a lot tawdrier.

Now, she was joking about something he thought would make her uncomfortable; however, it was he who was uneasy with the situation. He wasn't going to let her clean up after him, so he swung his legs to the side of the bed, grabbed her tightly and lifted them both, saying haughtily, "Neither of us will ever sleep on the wet spot, Elizabeth."

"What are you doing?" she asked, laughing but a bit bemused by the fact he was still inside her while he carried her off.

"I thought you might join me for a shower," he answered nonchalantly, flicking on the bathroom light and punching in a few numbers on a control panel. He opened the glass shower door and finally placed Lizzy down as the jets began to beat upon their bodies at the perfect temperature.

She stood silent for a moment, enjoying the massaging quality of the water's pressure and the feel of Darcy's wet body against her. "Mmm, this is a wonderful idea," she murmured into his chest.

"Yes, it is, isn't it?" he asked back as he watched rivulets of water stream down the smooth camber of Lizzy's bare back and bottom. "It's giving me ideas. What do you say - is the third time the charm?"

Lizzy looked up at him with shocked and tired eyes. Before she had a chance to respond, Darcy realized he was pushing her limits. "It's all right. I shouldn't have suggested that. I know you may not be up to another round. I suppose I'm just too much man for you."

He said that last line with a wink and a lop-sided smirk, hoping she would take it as a joke and not a taunt. He didn't want her to feel uncomfortable. He should have realized it was a dangerous joke as Lizzy was one who always rose to a challenge, their earlier strip poker experience being a prime example. However, Lizzy had either learned her lesson or was too exhausted to argue. As if on cue, she yawned and laughed at her action. "I guess I'll just have to admit it. Right now, you are too much man for me."

"Just 'right now'?" he questioned lightly while his hands roamed the back of her body from her heavy dripping curls to under the curve of her derriere. "Is that to say in the future you'll be up to the task?"

"Oh, I fully intend to be too much woman for you someday, but right now I'm a little out of practice," she said, trying to keep their bodies from touching lest Darcy think she was playing the tease again. However, it was hard to keep away when his arms were wrapped around her.

"A little out of practice, is that all?," he asked, eyebrows raised. "And here you had me convinced you were innocent."

"Oh, I never said I was innocent," Lizzy clarified.

Looking down at her, Darcy's face suddenly became very serious. "But you would say you're a little hesitant about some things."

He noticed her avoidance of his eyes right away. She reached for some soap and carefully began to lather his chest hair, watching her own work carefully. However, he wouldn't let her off the hook so easily and quickly lifted her chin so that she had to focus on face. He then added, "I'm not trying to make you uncomfortable-"

Lizzy cut him off, surprising him when she spoke plainly. "I don't really like oral sex. That's what you wanted to know, right?"

He could tell she was rather defensive, which was the last thing he wanted, so he proceeded as delicately as possible, taking the soap from her hand and washing her back with rhythmic strokes, as if to reassure her that this conversation need not be upsetting. "Are you comfortable enough with me to explain why? Or is this too personal?"

Lizzy nearly laughed out loud at his choice of words - was she comfortable enough with him, was it too personal? For heaven's sake, they were naked in a shower after making love twice and he was wondering these things? He deserved an explanation - she knew she had thwarted his attempts twice already. She hesitated at first, but finally quietly revealed her experience. "I've only ... had someone ... go down, once. After we'd been together a few times, my boyfriend asked if I would consider giving him ... oral sex. He didn't push, he asked politely and I agreed as long as he would do the same to me. All's fair, right? So I fulfilled my part of the bargain and to be honest, I sort of liked the power it gave me. He was ecstatic and I looked forward to my turn. It didn't arouse me at all. So I never bothered asking him to do it again."

Darcy looked at her thoughtfully, stroking her arms gently with the lather from the soap as she reluctantly told her story. He didn't want to push, but he needed to know more. "Do you mind telling me how it felt?"

Predictably, Lizzy's level of shyness rose as the conversation deepened, but because Darcy was being so considerate with his questions, she closed her eyes and persevered with a choppy answer, "Um, well, I guess wet - but not from me - and ... sloppy. Ticklish and, um, well, just plain annoying. It was not enjoyable."

She looked up to him and his face looked less serious - the face of a man who knew how to solve a problem. "You've obviously never had it done right," Darcy answered matter-of-factly. "One experience prejudiced you."

Such a man. He has the solution right away. Lizzy almost threw her head back in frustration and amusement at his business-like attitude toward the whole thing. However, his opinion lightened her mood so she answered him with what she knew he wanted to hear. "And I suppose you know how to do it right."

"Well, I don't like to brag..." Darcy jested.

"You've said that once before and I don't believe you. I think you love to brag." "All right. Fair enough... maybe to you, but I guarantee you, even if it wasn't me and you had someone else do it properly - by the way, that's never going to happen - you'd be begging for it."

"I'll keep that in mind," Lizzy answered doubtfully, rinsing some soap off her arms.

"I'm serious. Why don't you let me try and I'll prove it."

"I was waiting for you to give me that kind of offer. Frankly, you're becoming predictable."

Darcy ignored her attempt to divert him with an insult. "Is that a yes?"

"That's a maybe," Lizzy admitted. "Let me sleep on it though."

"You mean I have to wait until tomorrow?" There was a distinct whine in Darcy's voice.

"Stop pouting. I do it much better; you can't compete - and yes, you'll have to wait until at least tomorrow," Lizzy corrected.

"Tomorrow, then," Darcy again ignored Lizzy's qualification. He watched as she rolled her eyes at his cockiness.

"AT LEAST," Lizzy reiterated.

"Semantics..." Darcy mumbled.

"This is an awfully big shower."

"Excellent change of topic."

"Thank you, I thought so," Lizzy acknowledged the compliment and continued on. "When I saw it earlier I thought you could fit three people in it, now that I'm in here, I think it could fit about five."

"I'd never really thought about it. Three, huh? Aren't you the kinky one."

"Hey, I'm not the one who actually owns the shower. I'm sure someone else must have commented on its size before." Although Darcy didn't seem to notice, Lizzy's insecurity revealed itself again with her last comment. She assumed other 'guests' would have said something. She turned around as if examining the jets in detail. She just didn't want him to see her face.

"Well, I'm the only one who's ever used it, so no one else has had the opportunity, but you," Darcy answered innocently, taking the opportunity to massage her shoulders.

Lizzy wasn't ready to buy that line. "You'd have me believe that no one has ever been in this shower but you?" she asked skeptically.

"Why wouldn't you believe it?" Darcy asked bewildered. He was able to follow Lizzy's train of thought from time to time, but this one wasn't connecting.

She turned to face him again. "Come on. You've told me of your past conquests. Where the heck did you take all these women if it wasn't to your bedroom?" She hated the sound of her voice and the question she asked. It was jealous and petty and she wanted to take it back. She had railed Darcy enough about his jealous streak that she knew she didn't have a right to throw these things at him.

Darcy was more circumspect. He knew she was insecure, he certainly understood jealousy and he knew the truth would ease her worries. "Elizabeth," he began with an air of gravity, his eyes gazing steadfastly at hers. "I've never brought anyone to this bedroom but you."

She didn't doubt the veracity of his comment and as emotional as the night had been for her, she was again moved to tears. She swallowed hard and hoped he didn't notice her demeanour through the water of the shower. She hated to be a weepy, overwrought female. When she was finally able to speak, she chose her words carefully as his admission had been a true eye-opener. "I know you told me you've never been in love and your words and actions tonight prove the depth of your feelings for me, but for some reason, to know no one has ever been here before, it just adds that bit of concreteness to it all."

He brought her close to him again, wrapping her in his strong, secure arms. He was relieved he alleviated her worries. Lizzy appreciated the quiet moment; however, she soon reverted to humour to lighten the heavy atmosphere. In a playful voice, she spoke her thoughts. "I don't know how you managed to keep someone like Caroline out of here."

"How dare you bring up her name and my miserable mistake tonight," Darcy replied in mock objection.

"I'm just trying to figure out how you could keep women out of here. I would have thought they'd be tearing down your doors," Lizzy replied logically.

"Haven't you noticed the heavy bolts?" Darcy joked.

"Well, all I'm saying is if you didn't let me come here, I'd be suspicious."

"I just made sure we ended the evenings at their place," Darcy answered before thinking so then added, "Elizabeth, do we have to discuss-"

"Is that what you were doing with me?" Lizzy cut in, again letting her insecurity get the best of her.

Darcy looked down sharply. "No! It was never like that with you. Do you doubt me?"

Lizzy looked incredibly sheepish when he posed that question. He assured her so many times and yet she still questioned him. She looked into his eyes with regret. "No. I don't doubt you. I'm sorry. I'm just being an insecure little girl - totally not me and not very mature. Let's change the subject again."

"Well, I think we better get out of here before we turn into prunes," Darcy suggested, turning off the water.

Exiting the shower, Darcy wrapped Lizzy in the plushest towel she'd ever felt. He insisted on drying her and although his slow, soft strokes were of no use in absorbing the water; they did aid in his own personal enjoyment. She playfully took control of her own towel and he sulked while drying himself.

She grabbed another towel for her hair and said, "I'm just going to towel it down. I'd need to blow dry it for it to really get dry."

"Well, why don't you?" he asked opening a cupboard to retrieve a hairdryer.

"Won't it be a little loud? I wouldn't want to wake-" Lizzy stopped herself when she saw the sardonic smirk on Darcy's face. A low rumble could be heard from his chest. Realizing what she'd said, she quickly quipped, "Now I understand what they mean by mind-blowing sex. I must have lost a few brain cells tonight."

Darcy just shook his head, kissed her bare shoulder and turned on the dryer for her. He loved that she could laugh at herself.

The vision Lizzy encountered upon returning to bed was a shirtless Darcy with covers to just below his chest, his eyes closed and a delighted grin on his face. She knew he wasn't asleep. "What are you thinking?" she asked warily as she climbed under the sheets.

Opening one eye and leaning toward her, he looked at his precious Lizzy and enjoyed answering her nosy question truthfully. "What I'm going to do to you tomorrow."

With a huff, Lizzy rolled her eyes and shoved him away from her, but he acted quickly by grabbing her arms and wrestling her into his embrace. Her resistance was a pretense; she had no wish to be anywhere else.

Turning out the light, Darcy wrapped his arm around Lizzy before saying, "Just in case you think I'm fickle, those words I said to you earlier - you know - I love you? Well, they still apply."

"What a relief!" Lizzy answered his humour in kind. "But you know, I'm not so sure I can say the same. I mean, it's been more than four hours."

"Well, then," Darcy whispered close to her ear, inhaling the scent of her freshly showered skin. "What can I do to rectify these doubts?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe a little kiss or two might remind me of why I said what I said," Lizzy answered pertly.

Darcy delivered. The slow, easy touch of his lips destroyed any sarcasm left between them. After all their physical contact - their empassioned touches over every inch of their bodies, Lizzy still melted over the power of his kiss. When they parted, she took a deep breath and said, "Don't ever let me joke about my love for you again. Because I don't think I could handle it if you joked about yours. I love you."

"Of course you do. I never doubted it. I just wanted to kiss you again," Darcy teased but with a soft smile on his face. She laughed appreciatively and planted one last quick kiss on his lips before she snuggled under his arm. He finally let her get more sleep, truly eager to have her rest up for the remainder of their weekend.

Darcy woke first again. He thought he'd be romantic by showering delicate kisses over her face to wake her. It would have been an idyllic first morning together had Lizzy actually stirred. However, she remained in deep slumber, thereby urging Darcy to perform less innocent actions on her person. His kisses slipped down her neck and he paused to nibble at her shoulder, brushing off the strap of her chemise, giving her one last chance to wake up to his sweet gesture. She smiled dreamily, but her eyes remained firmly shut.

I tried, he thought as he carefully moved her top below her chest to allow for his lips to shift lower. Soon they encircled a rosy tip, and finally Lizzy was slightly roused; a sigh escaped her mouth but her eyelids did not open. Rather frustrated at her non-complicity, Darcy couldn't tell if she was truly asleep or not. His naughty streak could no longer be held back and with a strenuous suck, he had his result. Her eyes flew open as she sat up straight. "Ow!"

In a blur of purple satin and before Darcy knew what hit him, Lizzy straddled and pinned him down. "You are a bad, bad boy," she chastened, her eyes flashing. She proceeded to lay flat on top of him, crush ing her entire body along his, still keeping his arms pinned.

Darcy was already sporting his morning glory and having Lizzy back on top of him 'glorified' him further. "I tried to wake you nicely and you ignored me. Your subconscious obviously likes it unladylike," he explained, clearly pleased with himself.

"Unladylike? Is that any way to talk to the woman you love?" Lizzy gave him an exaggerated pout.

"Absolutely..." Darcy's voice was as smooth and dark as chocolate. "I happen to think being unladylike is extremely appealing, particularly when you're in my bed."

She responded by lowering herself to his lips to luxuriate in a lazy awakening rather than a wrestling match. Soon they were lost under the covers, entwined and impassioned in another steamy confirmation of their affection.

Their lovemaking was more languid and less intense than their previous encounters - that's not to say it was any less passionate. The two were still discovering each others' bodies; they just had a little more experience this time around.

Afterward, Darcy lay contented, cuddling Lizzy against his body. He heard her sigh and smiled - she was sated, but he was already pondering how much more they could do in a weekend. He'd always had a healthy sex drive, but being with Lizzy created a whole other dimension of desire. There were so many aspects of their lovemaking he already adored - the smoothness of her skin against his, her distinctive fresh scent, but he believed what he enjoyed most was her unrestrained vocal response.

He knew she was completely unaware of the random deep groans that escaped from her lips, the sounds made him well aware of his ability to gratify her. He also knew she was entirely conscious of the urging words she had begun whispering in his ear when one of them neared their climax. Those words gave her power over his pleasure and he was thrilled she did it. He was undecided; however, if she knew she let out little whimpers when she wanted him to continue stroking, kissing or licking a singularly receptive spot - they seemed so natural, yet it was as if she was pointedly asking him to continue. He treasured her sounds, and her contented sigh was yet another he absorbed and memorized.

He, again, lifted Lizzy to the shower, at first ignoring her numerous teasing remarks about his obsessive cleanliness.

"You once called me a prude," Lizzy finally accused. "I'm starting to think you have your moments too."

Darcy surprisingly shook his head in agreement as he placed her in the shower."You're probably right. I'll have to get over it," he answered casually. "Especially when we have sex in the rest of the house. I can manage lifting you from the bed, but it's quite a hike to haul you from the game room."

Watching Darcy's mouth broaden into a puckish smile, Lizzy gasped in mock-indignation and jokingly swatted him, unable to withhold her laughter.

Darcy ignored her, instead bestowing his attentions on her body, attempting to be ever-so-helpful by washing her most delicate parts, but soon noticed her grimace as she subtly try to move his hands away.

"What's wrong?" he asked, concerned by the look. "Am I hurting you?"

"As wonderful as non-stop sex can be, Fitzwilliam, it's a little bit harder on me than you," Lizzy replied, trying to sound blasé.

Her tone did nothing to calm Darcy. "Why didn't you say something? We didn't have to-"

"I wanted to, don't doubt that. If I didn't, we wouldn't have," Lizzy assured him firmly.

Darcy smiled slightly at her assertiveness but still wasn't comfortable with the idea that she was hurting and it was his fault. He tried to mirror her and be light-hearted. "So you can't resist me, even if it causes you pain?"

"The pain is temporary, the pleasure lasts much longer," Lizzy said leadingly over her shoulder as she exited the shower. As she draped a towel around her body and stood at the sink to towel off her damp hair, he stood behind her, his eyes staring at her earnestly. She looked back at him with a pleasant expression, hoping he would let the matter drop. She was wrong.

"Elizabeth," he said seriously, "I don't want you in any type of pain. There 's no need of it. I've had more sex overnight than I've had in months so it' s no hardship to ease up. I'm quite satisfied in simply spending the weekend with you here. If you need to take things a little slower for your body to adjust, that's fine."

Lizzy's eyes remained on his in the mirror but they softened, letting her guard down, allowing him to fuss over her. "You're a sweetheart underneath the façade you give to the rest of the world, you know? How did I get so lucky to see the softy you really are?"

He looked at her for a moment, a witty reply on his tongue, but decided to answer her thoughtfully. "You chiseled and hammered away with more determination than anyone has ever tried, and sometimes you didn't even know you were doing it," he admitted, his arms enveloping her as he placed his chin on top of her soft curls, dipping his face into them to inhale her loveliness.

She smiled back at him through the mirror, her eyes acknowledging his genuine answer, but it did remind her of why they were having the conversation.

"Alright, I'll be honest. I could use a few hours without your hammering." Lizzy looked up at him from under her eyelids with a sparkle.

He chuckled and she even suspected a faint blush on his face, but even with his embarrassment he took the opportunity to inform her, "You know, there are gentler ways for me to-"

"I know, I know, you never quit," she laughed. "But for now, why don't I get us some breakfast."

"Why don't I get it for you?"

"Did you think you were going to leave this bedroom this weekend? I'll just grab us some juice, some fruit and some yummy muffins I saw last night. We can have breakfast in bed. It's cozier than eating with Jane and Charles."

"Mmmm... I'd forgotten about them. Maybe I should go down," Darcy suggested while watching Lizzy put on her negligée set.

She looked down and realized she'd no desire for Charles to see her that way and grabbed Darcy's robe. What was knee length on him, made it to her ankles, and the arms had to be rolled up about four times, but it covered her and didn't make her trip so she grabbed the tray he had brought the night before. "There, will that do?"

Kissing her, he answered, "I think I like this look for you in public."

"Don't hold your breath."

Lizzy blithely skipped down the stairs and into the kitchen, her inner happiness spilling out of every movement she made. Her face was graced with a small, satisfied smile, her bare toes wiggled against the hardwood flooring and everything in between seemed to exude joy.

Though she had reminded Darcy of the presence of Jane and Charles, by the time she reached the kitchen her mind had wandered to moments that consisted solely of her and Darcy. She was in the proverbial other world.

Stacking her tray with goodies, she absently hummed one of her favourite tunes, Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love, and laughed out loud at the appropriateness.

"I take it the two of you made up," said a voice from behind Lizzy's back causing her head to jerk around quickly. Jane sat sipping coffee in the breakfast nook. Lizzy hadn't even noticed her or the aroma of freshly brewed java when she'd entered the room.

"Made up?" she asked, confused.

Jane smiled at her sister's transpar