His kiss lingered lovingly at the nape of her neck, and he sighed softly as he pulled her closer to him, his hands pressing on her stomach, gripping her hips, melding her body to his. She inclined her head towards him, smiling and searching for his lips that she knew would eventually find hers. Impatient, she turned around and flung her arms about his neck, gazing intensely into his fiercely blue eyes, savoring the moment of anticipation, letting her desire rise, and when he leaned closer to seal the moment, she pulled away playfully, gently laughing, alluring him with her irresistible charm. Finally, she leaned towards him and grazed her nose along the line of his jaw; his carefully groomed stubble brushed against her soft skin, and she slowly worked her way to his soft full lips. The kiss was brief, but it was full of passion. Collapsing against his chest, she was the first to break the silence. "I love you."

"I love you too."

She sighed in utter contentment and happiness, enjoying the warmth of his flesh, the sound of his strong heart beat which she could feel pulsing beneath her ear, the smell of his musky cologne. Her wedding bands glimmered in the soft light of the bathroom. Suddenly pulling away she murmured, "I am going to get makeup all over your suit." Carefully she dusted off any invisible powder that might have deposited itself on his ebony jacket. She reached up and unbuttoned the first two buttons of his white button down, and he smiled in amusement at her, his perfect teeth gleaming in the light of the bathroom. What had she done to deserve someone such as him?

His fingers played with one of her pearl-drop diamond earrings. "Are you ready to go down?" he asked her, his voice smooth and dangerous at the same time.

"If we must."

He smiled at her, offered his arm, and she accepted, and they made their way from the hotel room and down the stairs to the ballroom.

As they made the descent down the richly carpeted stairs, the babble of voices began to grow louder and louder. She was keenly aware of his strong arm about her waist, the tendrils at her neck that stirred with his every breath, the warmth of his body so near to hers.

The room was glowing in the soft light of the chandeliers that were dripping with crystals. Someone offered them two flutes of champagne, and she gazed longingly into his eyes as they toasted one another. They were approached by a small group of people, and she thought she recognized a few of the faces. A hand was stuffed into hers, and she shook it half-heartedly as she heard the name of the stranger and then promptly forgot it. Suddenly, she was torn from his side, and he glanced back at her regretfully as he was carried away by his colleagues.

Hands boldly took her arms and another was placed at the small of her back as she was towed across the room by a flock of twittering females. Their chatter was like the babbling of a stream, and she heard not a word of it. She became vaguely aware of the sound of music. Somewhere not so far off, a string ensemble was playing the soft strains of Nat King Cole's "When I Fall In Love." When she looked back to her audience, she realized that she was standing at the bar. Her companions began to order drinks, but she craned her head, searching for a glimpse of him. She thought she heard the din of his laugh, but he was hidden among the crowd. When she returned her attention to the ladies, they were all staring at her, and she realized that they must have just asked her a question. "I'll have a cosmopolitan, please," she attempted, desperately hoping that this was the right answer.

As they waited for their drinks, they began to hound her with questions, but half the time she was not listening. She glanced down at her red satin, Versace gown, and she smoothed away the invisible wrinkles. Her black stilettos peeked out from below the hem of her dress, and she twisted her feet, watching the tiny diamonds sparkle in the soft light.

The minutes drug by. An hour passed slowly, and their voices were dull in the background as she sipped her third cosmopolitan and listened to the music. She had seen him a few moments ago. He had flashed a smile at her and winked in her direction after mouthing "Just a little longer." Her heart had skipped a beat, and she took a step sideways as she tried to keep him in her sight, but people blocked her line of vision.

The room began to sway a little, and she could feel her blood pulsing in her veins. Her breathing came more quickly, and she idly fanned herself with her hand. A tiny drop of sweat slid down her neck to her chest and disappeared down her dress. To her right, some doors stood open, letting the cool night air of summer drift in.

The moon was a golden orb in the sky, casting its watery beams down on the still earth, painting everything in its eerie light. Once outside, she was assaulted with the smell of pungent flowers as she rested her hands on the cool marble balcony. She was suddenly aware of his eyes on her, and she turned. The crowd had parted for a moment, and she saw him standing before her from across the room. His gaze was intense as he weaved through the crowd, and she too made her way toward him. They stood mere inches from one another. She could smell the wine on his breath. He took her into his arms and pulled her body flush up against his as he swept her away in a dance.

His legs were firm beneath her skirt, and his hand was sure as it guided her by the small of her back. She pressed closer, and she heard him let out a barely audible moan. Her lips were inches from his, but she did not kiss him. His lips were parted, and she felt his hand slide slowly down her back and press hard. He bent down and kissed her neck, and she grabbed his jacket lapel in her right hand. Her body shuddered slightly, and he gazed intently into her eyes. His breathing had become heavy, and she could feel his desire increasing with every heart beat. Unable to resist any longer, she reached up on her toes and fastened her mouth on his, and his lips moved hungrily on hers.

Finally he pulled away, suddenly aware of watching eyes but more acutely aware of the fire in hers. Without a word, he took her hand and led her from the dance floor and out the door. They wouldn't be back tonight.

They stumbled to the elevator. His arm around her waist was firm, and she could feel every one of his fingers digging into her side. His body was tense, like a spring that has been wound too tight, as he watched the light of the elevator indicator make its leisurely descent to the first floor. Another couple came to stand beside them, laughing casually and talking of a show that they had just come from. One look in their direction was enough to send them looking for another elevator.

Finally, the doors opened, and they rushed in. He hurriedly pressed the button for the second floor as he pinned her to the wall, covering her mouth with his, and she buried her hands in his hair. His tongue was smooth as it explored the inside of her mouth, massaging her tongue with his. His hands wandered down the length of her torso, and he gripped her right leg and hitched it up over his hip, pulling her as close to him as was momentarily possible.

She felt the floor drop beneath her slightly as the elevator made its ascent, the breath left her lungs, and she gasped aloud. She leaned her head back, and he kissed her adam's apple as it bobbed when she swallowed. The elevator chimed, signaling their arrival at the second floor, and without breaking contact, they left the elevator. She tripped over the back of her train and stumbled backward. Her shoulder blades met the silky wallpaper, and he braced himself so that he would not fall on top of her, all the while his mouth never leaving hers.

She began to undo his tie as they made their way down the hall. When she found their door, she was in the process of unbuttoning his shirt as he fumbled with the electronic key. The door clicked open, and they rushed inside, locking the door behind them.