"If I've been bitten it's been by the Love Bug. This man is the most charismatic man I've ever met, Adele. I can't stop thinking about him. And he gave me something to do while he waited. He wants me to call his sister in France and have her answer any questions I want to know about him. What do you think about that?" Nikita voice had issued a challenge; she was unconsciously supporting Michael against her friend's doubts.

"France, he wants you to call France?" Adele's voice had risen.

"Yes, did I forget to mention he's French?" Nikita voice became dreamy. "He has the most gorgeous accent, Adele. Daniel Day-Lewis has nothing compared to Michael Guenot. He is vacationing over here. He's a businessman of some type."

"Of some type! Don't you know? Listen to yourself Nikita." Adele's voice had become stern. "Pull yourself together. You're starting to sound like some of those fluff-brained models you work with, always being fooled my one man and then the next. This man has thrown you for a loop and I want you to stop fooling yourself. You know nothing about this man."

"I know that Adele," Nikita voice was firm again. She seemed to have recovered from her momentary dreaminess. "That's why I want you to do me a favor."

"A favor?" Adele was confused by Nikita sudden change.

"Yes, I want YOU to call Lysette Fisher in France and ask her about her brother. "I cannot seem to be rational about this entire affair, oh boy, what a word, Um, I mean, I think you will do a much better job of protecting my interests. If you call his sister and talk to her and still feel that I shouldn't meet him again, I'll trust you're decision, Adele. I'll immediately leave the area and return to New York so you can be sure I'm keeping my word. But if you talk to her and don't think I'll be at risk, I'll meet him again the day after tomorrow, high noon. What do you think?" Nikita had rushed through this little speech, but her last question was said on a quietly frantic note.

Adele tried to gauge her friend's state of mind. Nikita was always very expressive and Adele would have given anything to see her face at this point. But she couldn't so she had to go by her gut instinct.

"Alright Nikita, I'll call, but not tonight. Adele's voice firmed as she started to hear a protest from Nikita. "It would be after 10 PM there already, Nikita. You can't expect me to call her this late. I'll call tomorrow morning. You can call me tomorrow evening to get my answer. Give me the information."

"Thank you Adele, thank you so much." Nikita kept thanking her friend as she gave her the information that Michael had written down on the borrowed paper. "I'll call you tomorrow evening about this time again." Nikita voice lowered as she thanked her friend one more time. "I love you Adele, and I don't know what I would do without you."

Adele grew misty-eyed as she thought of her young friend so many miles away. "I love you too, Nikita. Just hang in there. Everything will be alright."

Nikita slowly hung up the phone and looked around. Darkness was starting to fall and it was time to go back to her campsite. An early night seemed like the thing to do. An early night and an early morning, with a busy day to keep her mind off the phone call she would make to Adele tomorrow evening. Nikita returned to her tent to dream of Michael.

*************

Michael leaned against the shower wall. He allowed the water to run down his naked body in an effort to wash away the fear that he felt while he awaited Nikita's decision.

Earlier that day he had reached the bottom of the path with the realization that even if Nikita had wanted to join him for dinner, he had no actual way of taking her anywhere. The fact that he had been hiking the trail had escaped his mind at the site of Nikita and his impulsive invitation had not been clearly researched.

Besides having no actual mode of transportation available, he had no idea of a suitable place for dinner. If he did manage to find a suitable restaurant, he had no formal clothes to wear to dinner. A hiker's backpack did not allow for such things.

Michael had set his mind to finding a campsite for the night and had started hiking down the road. It was while he was hiking that Ed and Martha reappeared. They had offered to take him to a nearby town and he had accepted. He had been thinking of camping again for the night, but he suddenly decided that he might as well be comfortable for the next day and a half. He certainly wasn't going anywhere when he had a date to keep.

The couple had dropped him off in front of a small hotel. It was nothing fancy, but it had a vacancy. Luckily it wasn't peak tourist season. He had taken the vacancy and had immediately started to disrobe. He had decided that a shower would help put him in the correct frame of mind.

So here he was, trying to let the water alleviate his pain. But it wasn't helping. He kept thinking of Nikita final words to him. "I don't know," she had said to him. And what right did he have to expect more from her? She had just met him.

"Oh God," Michael thought as he leaned his head against the wall of the shower. "She must think I'm a lunatic. I so much as propositioned her. She is probably afraid to call Lysette. She probably thinks my sister will be just as strange as I am. How can I possible expect her to call a total stranger to give her information about another total stranger? I'm an idiot."

Michael turned off the shower. Water dripped from his body as he stood there for a moment gripped in abject misery. His shoulders sloped and his head hanging. He thought back to every small moment he had spent with her and then his back straightened. He climbed out of the shower and toweled dry as he reshaped his mind-frame. Nikita would call Lysette and she would be there in two days time. He had to believe that. He had allowed his weariness to infect him with doubts, but no more.

He had not imagined the small electric shock that had coursed through his body each time he had touched Nikita. He knew that she had felt that tingle of electricity also. That spark was going to be enough to get him through the next two days. It would have to be, but a little fortification wouldn't hurt.

Michael hurriedly dressed. He need to go get a meal and then had to case the town so to speak. Surely there was a decent place that he could take Nikita to dinner. He had decided that it didn't have to be too formal. Something simple would make her more comfortable.

But first he needed to check in with Lysette. It had been several days since he had called her, and he needed to tell her his news.

As he heard Lysette's voice on the other end of the line, he tensed. He wondered if Nikita had called her yet. And she would call, he knew.

"Lysette, how are you?" Michael said as he heard Lysette answer the phone.

"Michael!" Lysette said with excitement. Michael could hear her as she covered the phone and called for Jonathan to come to the phone. And then the questions started, "Are you well? Are you eating right? Are you staying dry? Has the weather been good?"

Michael laughed as his sister's simple actions set his world back to normal. "I am fine. I am going to eat after we end this call. It's impossible to stay dry in the Smoky Mountains and the weather has been fine. Did I miss anything? Is there anything else you need to know?" Michael's joy at hearing his sister's voice was evident in his voice.

"I'm so glad you called." Lysette said. "I have been wondering how you were and I was worrying. You usually call me earlier in the day. It's starting to get late. You are not usually so unkind as to worry me."

"I'm sorry Lysette," Michael answered his sister. "I admit that I was somewhat distracted today. I was busy admiring all the beautiful sites. And speaking of phone calls, did you receive any today?" Michael voice was tightly controlled as he allowed his curiosity to surface.

"Phone calls? Well, let me think. Oh yes, Alice Renard called today. She wanted to know when you would be back. What should I tell her?" Lysette smile could be heard in this question.

'Tell her I plan on being busy for the next 50 years or so and that my behind is off limits. You didn't have any other calls?" Michael's concern had started to creep into his voice.

"No, no other calls. Who am I supposed to be getting a call from? Michael, you are not in trouble are you? Everything is all right, isn't it?" Fear had started to appear in her voice.

Michael sighed, as he understood that he was starting to frighten Lysette. "I am fine. Listen, I told you. It's just that I told someone to call you to get a reference, and I was wondering if they had done so."

"A reference? For what? You own your own international company. You don't need a job. Why would you need a reference?"

"It's not really a reference for a job, Lysette. It's a reference for, well, a date. I want to take this woman out for dinner and I told her to call you to check me out." Chagrin was in Michael's voice as he confessed to Lysette.

"A date! You told a woman to call me to see if she should go out on a date with you. Why in the world would a man who usually has to fight off women need a reference for a date? Are you feeling all right Michael? Do you have a fever." He heard Lysette relaying this conversation to Jonathan. Laughter came floating across the line.

"Lysette, quit making fun of me." An angry edge could be heard in Michael's voice. "This is important to me. SHE is important to me. I asked her to call you so that you could tell her about me. I wanted to set her mind at ease."

"She is important to you?" Lysette voice was quiet now as she repeated her brother's words and no laughter could be heard. "Oh Michael, are you saying that she is the one? You finally found the one?"

Yes, little one. I think she may be the one, but I just met her. I only spent an hour in her company. I wanted to have dinner with her so that we could learn more about each other, but how could I expect her to go out with me after such a short meeting. I met her on a hiking trail. I didn't want her to think that I was some strange man who picks up women all of the time so I told her about you." Doubt was starting to creep into Michael voice.

"Oh, Michael this is so wonderful! You have found someone! I can't wait to meet her. What is her name? What do you want me to tell her? When will she call?" Lysette's excitement had bubbled over and she was starting to spout a barrage of questions.

"Her name is Nikita Samson. Tell her the truth Lysette. I want to start off right with this woman. And IF she calls it will probably be tomorrow. She is supposed to give me her answer the next day." Lysette could hear the doubt in Michael's voice at his last sentence.

"Oh she'll call." Lysette laughed at the possibility that this Nikita Samson wouldn't call. "Ask any woman who has ever known you. Ask Alice Renard. She'll call. She won't be able to resist. And I will remain home all day tomorrow so that I will be here when she calls. Don't worry, dear brother, I will take care of everything. Now you must go get yourself something to eat and you must put this doubt behind. This is not the owner of an international company that I hear. I want to hear the confidence in your voice. I want to hear from the Micheal who can make old men shake in their boots."

Michael smiled as he heard Lysette's support." You are right, as always. I need to be confident. I KNOW she is the one."

"Of course I'm right," Lysette responded. "Now go eat and then get some rest. I will talk to you later."

"I love you Lysette," Michael whispered across the wire.

Tears gathered into Lysette's eyes as she heard these words from her brother. She knew that it was true, but it was only in the last year that he started to voice his feelings. "I love you, too. You're the best big brother in the world. Now hang up and don't call back. We don't want the line to be busy do we? We want to her from Nikita."

As Lysette hung up the phone after finishing her talk with her brother she turned to her husband. He had heard most of the phone call and was wating to be filled in with the details.

Lysette simply hugged her husband and laid her head on his shoulder. "I think that Michael is going to be happy now, Jonathan. I think he can finally be happy." Tears slipped down her cheeks at these words.

*************

Adele shook her head. "I hope I'm doing the right thing, Edgar. I hope this phone call does the trick. I sure don't want to see Nikita hurt. What do you think this Lysette is going to tell us? Any woman is bound to tell us that her brother is the best man in the world. We'll still be in the dark about what he is really like. What do you think?

Edgar, with his usual disdain for any concern that was human in nature, yawned. He flicked his tail once, twice, impatiently and then lifted his body and carefully balanced his way across the desk. He headbutted his human and marked her as his and then jumped down and sauntered to his bowl. Breakfast was far more important than whatever his human was going on about.

Adele looked at her huge orange tabby and sighed, "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Edgar. I truly appreciate it." With that small comment she lifted her hand to the phone.

The phone on the other end rang once, twice, three times. It was then hurriedly picked up and a woman's accented voice was heard saying, "Fisher residence."

"May I speak to Lysette Fisher, please." Adele frowned as there was a pause on the other end of the line.

"Is this Nikita? The voice finally asked.

"No. This is not Nikita. This is her friend Adele. Who am I speaking to." Adele's voice grew firm when she heard Nikita's name spoken.

"This is Lysette Fisher. I am Michael's sister. Who are you again and where is Nikita." The voice this time was firm.

Adele thought quickly and then decided on a course of action. "Okay, let's start over," Adele spoke with the authority that managing shelters had given her. "My name is Adele Gates. I am a friend of Nikita Samson. She called me last night and asked me to call one Lysette Fisher, sister of one Michael Guenot. He has asked her out to dinner after an extremely brief encounter, but has also it seems managed to scramble my friend's normally grade A brain. He gave her this number so that she could check him out. But, as I said, her normally astute brain has now gone the way of heated Jell-o and she doubted her ability to analyze the information that she would receive. Therefore I have been called in to do the dirty work. What is your position in this mess?"

A laugh came over the line. "I am Lysette Fisher and as I have told you I am Michael's sister. My normally decisive and self-contained brother called me last night to warn me that a woman named Nikita Samson was hopefully going to be calling me for a reference. He had asked her out for dinner but wanted her to call me to, as you say, check him out. My brother, who can command with the quietest order, was almost beside himself with worry last night that this Nikita wouldn't call me. So, that is who I am and what I am about, and can I ask what Jell-O is?"

Adele smiled and said in an aside to Edgar, "I think we have a winner."

She began again. "Okay, Lysette. Tell me about Michael. Can I trust my friend with him? Is he worth the effort? Should Nikita go to dinner with him?"

"I would be an awful sister were I to say he was not worth the effort, but I can truthfully say he is worth the effort. He is a great man. There is no one better than Michael. He raised me when our parents died and took over my father's business and made it a great success. There are many women who would fight for the chance to go out with him." The pride in Lysette's voice carried through to Adele.

"But will he be good to Nikita?" questioned Adele.

"My brother is very lonely." answered Lysette. "For years he has had to make decisions on his own with no one to support him. He has had to be a hard, tough man. This has not made him happy, because there is so much goodness in him. When he called last night I heard a tone in his voice that I have never heard. He was finally looking forward to the future. He thinks that Nikita may be the woman for him. I would do anything to make my brother happy and if Nikita will make him happy then I want that too. He deserves to be happy." Lysette paused. "What about Nikita, will she be good to Michael."

Adele thought for a moment. Just the little she had heard so far made her trust the situation. Growing up and living in New York City all of her life had given her a sense of things and her inner voice was telling her that this woman was on the level. "Nikita is lonely also," Adele started. "She has had a difficult life and has finally become a fine self-confidant woman. She has learned to take care of herself and has to answer only to herself for her actions. But she needs a partner. She craves for a relationship in which she can be herself and function on her own with the reassurance that if she does need someone, they will be there, no questions asked. I know that she also was stunned by her meeting with Michael."

"Stunned. What an interesting word." Lysette thought about what Adele had told her and then quickly made her decision. "I am going to tell you something Adele Gates. I think that Nikita and Michael should meet for dinner. I want them to pursue a relationship. I want Michael to be happy and I think she is the one to give that happiness to him. Do you think I'm crazy?"

Adele laughed. This Frenchwoman was indeed crazy, but it was a craziness that could easily be admired. "You know what, Lysette. Strangely enough, I agree with you. I think that Michael is just what Nikita needs. She should go out with him and I'll tell her that when she calls."

There was a pause on the other end of the line and then Lysette said, "Adele, do have a computer with a connection to the internet and a scanner attachment?"

Adele looked the mammoth set up on her desk and slowly smiled. "Why yes Lysette I do. Why do you ask."

"Well," a coyness had entered Lysette voice. "For some reason I think that we may become good friends and I just thought that we could get to know each other and each others' families a little better. Give me your email address and be ready for some files."

"You got it girl," Adele replied and sat back to enjoy herself.

************

Nikita, struggled up the path. The wind and the rain were fierce opponents in her battle to reach the top of the mountain. The bad weather had started yesterday afternoon. She had been going to call Adele, but a sudden crop of severe thunderstorms had knocked out the local phone service and she hadn't been able to reach her. The rain had continued and instead of camping she had spent a miserable night in her truck.

By rights she shouldn't even be here. Climbing to the peak of the tallest mountain in the Smokies was not the brightest idea in the face of another group of thunderstorms, but she had to give Michael his answer. She couldn't leave without doing that.

"Not that he would even want to go out with me now," Nikita thought glumly. Her night in the truck had left her tired and rumpled. The tortuous hike up the path was sapping the strength out of her. By the time she reached the top there wouldn't be much left to see except a pitiful creature.

Nikita arrived at the crest and paused. She looked toward the rock where she and Michael had sat. He wasn't there. He had said he would be there, but he wasn't. He wasn't there. Nikita's head dropped and she fell to her knees. Nikita could stop herself. She started to weep. He wasn't there!

Michael had weathered yesterday's storms in his motel room, after buying a 4-wheel drive vehicle that was. He planned on spending a lot of time in the US after his meeting with Nikita. He would need a vehicle when he was in the states. Even if Nikita refused his dinner offer, he planned on sticking around. She wouldn't escape him so easily.

His main concern now was that the weather might not permit Nikita to reach him. He, himself, had been unable to sleep and had arisen early to hike the mountain. The early morning hours had been foggy and damp and it had been a long hike. The weather had turned stormy. Not a good sign of things to come in his relationship with Nikita.

He had arrived at the top of the mountain shortly before the rains had started again and had quickly set up a small shelter for himself among the trees and Rhododendron. The small plastic tarp would be enough to protect him while he waited for Nikita. If she came.

He had put his head on his knees to protect himself against another onslaught of rain when Nikita finally arrived. He was using the time to plan how he was going to find her if she didn't make it. He wouldn't blame her if she chose not to in this weather. Michael missed seeing her arrival. It wasn't until he looked up and saw a figure huddled on the ground that he realized that he was not alone.

"Nikita, stop, don't cry. I'm here for you. Don't cry." Nikita thought she was hallucinating. Michael wasn't really here. It wasn't really his voice she heard. It was just that her emotions were playing tricks with her mind.

A hand gripped her shoulder and she jumped up, terrified. It only took her a moment to recognize the face of the man she had come to see. "M-Michael?" she stammered. "Oh, Michael. You're here." With these words Nikita threw herself in his arms and started weeping again. "I thought you weren't here. I thought you had given up on me."

The emotional creature he encountered shocked Michael, but when Nikita had thrown herself into his arms it felt right. This was the place she was supposed to be. His arms closed around her and hugged her tightly to his chest.

"Nikita, calm down. There is no reason to cry. I waited for you. I was not going to leave here without seeing you. Please stop crying." Michael whispered these words in her ear as he held her. He listened to the words that were streaming from her, incoherent though they seemed.

The words were tumbling out of Nikita. Getting to the crest and not seeing Michael had pushed her to her limits. She had thought that her dreams for the future were shattered. "I don't know what is wrong with me. I haven't been so unsure of myself since I faced that alley. I knew two days ago that I should say yes. I knew that you wouldn't hurt me, but I was so afraid. I didn't deserve someone like you. I just knew that. And then I made you wait and I called Adele, but I was supposed to call her back. But I couldn't reach her. How should I know what to do? And then I had to spend the night in the truck and I couldn't look nice. I fell twice on the way up here you know, and I didn't even get to shower today. Oh god, I must look a sight."

Michael smiled. Here they stood with rain pouring down on both of them and she was worried about how she looked. She was obviously exhausted, but still endearing. "Nikita." Michael tightened his hold on her. "Nikita. Look at me." Michael slowly saw her raise her face. He saw a face framed in wet stringy hair. Blue eyes that were pools of misery and a mouth that trembled. He saw the face of the woman that he was going to spend the rest of his life with, if he could convince her of that.

"Nikita. We both look a sight. Neither one of us is fit to attend a ball. But how we look doesn't matter. What does matter is that you came back to me. What matters is that you are willing to give me a chance. I will never forget that." Michael stood Nikita back from his embrace and looked intensely into her eyes. "Thank you."

Nikita had finally calmed down. Michael's calm voice had brought her back to her center and she took a look at him. Rain had plastered his hair to his face. He had shaved in the two days since she saw him and she now had a clearer view of his sensuous mouth. His green eyes were bright and he was staring at her. She blushed as she realized he had caught her staring at his mouth. She opened her mouth to comment when he interrupted her.

"Nikita, may I ask you something?" Michael voice was quietly intent.

"Yes," she whispered.

"May I kiss you?" Michael's voice was trembling with suppressed emotion.

"Oh, yes." Nikita replied. She watched as Michael's green eyes darkened at her response. She watched as his head slowly descended toward hers and then she closed her eyes.

Their mouths met and the sparks happened again. The kiss started tentatively. A slight pressure between two people who had hopes. It then deepened until it seemed as if each of their souls was being pulled into the others. They were both transported. No longer were they standing on a stormy mountain with rain pouring down on them. Instead they were in a quiet room with only a fire roaring. A fire that was engulfing them.

Neither of them noticed the lightning strike that felled a tree 50 feet away. The storm had ceased to exist for them and there was no danger. There was only the energy that sparked between them.

Michael finally raised his head and looked at Nikita's face. "Thank you."

"For what?" Nikit's voice trembled.

"For not being afraid of me."

"I'm not afraid of you." Nikita responded. "I'm afraid of this, this attraction between us. I've never felt so out of control."

Michael welcomed her honesty. "I know, it is overwhelming isn't it. I think we need to talk about it. But not here." Michael paused. "Nikita, do you trust me to not take advantage of you?"

Nikita looked seriously at the man before her. The moment of truth. "Yes, I do."

Michael reached up and placed his hand along her face and he smiled his thanks. "Then come with me. I have a motel room. You can take that shower you wanted and then we can go out for dinner. I promise that I won't take advantage of you."

"Okay, that sound good to me." Nikita acquiesced easily.

"Let me just gather my shelter," Michael responded and turned from her to go get his tarp. He was sure that he hadn't actually heard Nikita whisper, "But I don't promise to not take advantage of you."

*************

Nikita inhaled the spicy scent that came from Michael's soap. "I could spend hours here just breathing that scent in," she thought as she stood in the shower letting the water sheet over her. The smell of Michael wrapped its way around her and she closed her eyes. As if the image was imprinted on the inside of her eyelids, she could see him again as she had first seen him. His jeans had shaped the lower half of his body and she couldn't ever remember working with a male model that looked half as good in his Levi's as Michael. "Was the water getting a little warm?" His slightly long hair had framed his face, a lock just falling forward over his eyes. His eyes had held bemusement, something she was used to. Men often displayed that "deer in the headlights" look when she entered a room. She had become used to that. But Michael's eyes had held more. More than bemusement. Admiration. Warmth. Hunger.

Nikita groaned as she thought of the hunger. She imagined him, there on that mountain, walking up to her and turning her into his arms. She would be surprised at first and would struggle slightly, but would calm as he held her hands, his eyes gazing down into hers. Their eyes would speak volumes to each other, but no spoken words would be uttered. She could feel her heart racing as his head dips toward hers, his hair falling forward onto his face, brushing her face as he draws nearer. Just before he kisses her he utters "I have waited a lifetime for you" and then it begins.

His first touch is tentative. A slight brushing of his lips against hers. But as he finds no resistance, his kiss deepens, burning its way into her memory. She struggles slightly, not to get away but to free her hands. As her intentions are understood, his hands let go of her wrists and settle at her waist. She quickly rests her hands on his shoulders, feeling the breadth of him. She tentatively runs her fingers across his shoulders and up the side of his neck until her fingers can push back into his hair. She becomes lost in his kiss as her fingers tangle in the wild length of his hair.

His hands slowly drift up from her waist. One hand pauses as it finds the gap between her tee shirt and her jeans. It slides under her shirt and continues its course, but this time resting against her skin. The slight pressure against her body causes her hair to stand on end, the tingle of the electric charge generated by his fingers coursing over her body. She shivers as her body adjusts to this new sensation.

He pulls her closer, drawing her hips against his and she feels the pressure of his passion and her knees start to melt. His lips slide from hers and drift over to the tender area of her neck, never actually loosing contact with her skin. His lips continue to work their power as his hands keep drifting. The hand under her shirt continues its northward drift and his other hand drifts south. She can feel the pressure of his fingers against her jean- covered bottom, urging her closer into his body. The other hand in the mean time finds her breast and is gently squeezing it. His actions force a small gasp from Nikita and she starts to fall to her knees.

Michael moves with her, adjusting the positions of their bodies as they descend to the ground. As his body moves to rest upon her he moves one hand to her face. As she feels his weight settle against her she looks into his eyes. She stills feels his one hand resting against her breast as if it belongs there. His other hand comes to rest against her jaw, turning her face towards his. Her eyes look into the green pools that are his and she hears him say, "Nikita, Nikita."

Nikita jerked upright and her eyes flew open as she heard Michael's voice from on the other side of the bathroom door. It was accompanied by a knock. "Nikita? Nikita? Are you all right in there?"

She blushed as she looked at her surroundings. Somehow she had ended up on the floor of the tub. Michael's soap was in her hands and she seemed to have been rubbing it over her body.

"Nikita?" She heard Michael's voice again.

"Um, I'm sorry Michael. I must have drifted off. I'm okay. I'll be right out." With these words Nikita stood and ruthlessly turned the dial on the water stream. "Maybe some ice water will calm me down," she grimaces as she quickly finishes her shower.

*************

Nikita wandered out of the bathroom, toweling her hair dry and effectively hiding her face in the process. After her little escapade in the shower she was feeling slightly shy. She slowly got the courage to look around and was disappointed. Michael wasn't even in the room. A small pout creased her lips and then she laughed. Here she had been worrying about feeling embarrassed and he neatly preempted that feeling by not even being there to justify her feelings. "Why should I feel embarrassed anyway?" She spoke out loud. "Just because I read too many romance novels?" Laughter again erupted from her throat.

Nikita started looking around the motel room. She was warm and comfortable in her sweats, but boredom would soon set in. She wasn't used to being still for long. Hunger, this time for food, was also starting to assert itself. "I hope Michael gets back here soon," she thought. "Right about now, dinner sounds pretty good."

Nikita grabbed her night bag and hopped onto one of the beds. She searched for and found her comb and was drawing it through the length of her hair when the motel door flew open.

Michael entered the room in a rush, his arms filled with bags carrying the name of a nearby store. Nikita jumped off the bed and went to shut the door, the wind and the rain preventing it from swinging back and latching itself. "Can I help you," she asked Michael.

"No, I think that's everything. I figured that with the storm it wasn't likely that we could go out to eat, so I went for some sandwiches instead. I also bought a few other items while I was at the store. I hope you don't mind." Michael was busy wiping the rain off his face as he spoke these words.

"Actually, that sounds like a great idea. I'm famished. I'll start unpacking the bags while you go take a shower. But, before you go, could you do me a favor?" Nikita grinned shyly at Michael as she started her request.

Michael answered her with a smile of his own. "Anything."

"Well, I wanted a few more supplies from my truck, but as it's still pouring out there I was wondering...?"

"If I couldn't go get them as I'm already soaking wet." Michael completed Nikita's sentence. "I think your plan makes sense to me. What do you want?"

Nikita quickly described the containers she wanted and Michael went out in search of them. Nikita hovered by the window, watching as Michael fought his way to the truck. It had been no mean feat, his journey to the store. The storms were still raging, just as they had off and on for the past twenty-four hours. "I sure hope they end soon," Nikita thought, "or Michael and I may be stuck here. I had better look for a weather report while Michael is showering."

By this time Michael was on his way back and Nikita opened the door for him before he could reach for it. He entered and placed the containers she had wanted on the floor. "At your service Madame." Michael joked.

"It's Mademoiselle," Nikita corrected him. "Now go get a shower."

"Yes, mademoiselle, anything you say Mademoiselle." Michael grinned at her as he followed her commands. She wasn't sure if she had correctly heard his last statement as he entered the bathroom. "Thank God, it's Mademoiselle."

************

Michael slowly soaped his body as he thought about the woman in the outer room. She seemed to have relaxed somewhat since their first meeting. She had still been slightly nervous when they had first arrived back at the motel. She had kept her head down as he had ushered her into the room and he had seen her body relax slightly as she had taken in the two beds that were present. She had still been on her guard as she slowly rotated, taking in the room in less than a minute.

He had smiled at her and said, "Why don't you get in the shower. I'll just bring in a few items from my car." She had smiled nervously at him and had quietly replied, "Okay" and had headed for the bathroom.

Sometime during her shower she must have made a decision about how to approach the situation, because her attitude had changed by the time he returned from the store. He had become worried about her when she had stayed in the shower for such a long period of time. After he had called to her, the confusion he had heard in her voice had urged him to give her some space. It was at that moment that he decided to go for food. Maybe she would feel more comfortable if she could have a little solitude.

The Nikita that he had returned to seemed to have changed. There was a sense of ease about her that had not been present before in any of their previous encounters. It was if during the shower she had had a revelation, seemingly for the better. He had been gifted with her smiles the moment he returned to the room and her voice now had a more natural tone to it. Things were looking up.

He thought about the slight crinkles that formed at her eyes when she smiled. This was a woman who obviously knew how to laugh. He smiled at the thought of seeing her, head thrown back in laughter. How he hoped to see that soon. "She might even be able to bring laughter back to my life," he thought.

As Michael's mind rested on the image of Nikita in laughter, he started thinking of her mouth. It was a generous mouth, with lips that needed no artifice to draw attention to them. His mind lingered on her lips. Only now the picture was of those lips, swollen from the pressure of his mouth.

He thought about her. That woman in the next room who so stirred his senses. He felt the excitement build in his veins. How in heaven was he going to get through the next few hours without ravishing her? He was just about to admit to himself that this might indeed be a long shower when the lights went out.

************

Michael quickly completed his shower and pulled on a pair of sweat pants. As he opened the door to the room he expected to see little except outside light from the windows. Instead there was a soft glow emanating from the room. He stepped into the light and saw Nikita arranging a battery powered camp light on the dresser. She had also laid out their meal.

As he entered the room, Nikita turned and smiled at him. "Hey," she said. "I knew my camping gear would come in handy. She turned and approached him. "When the lights went out I had to feel my way around, but I finally located the lamps I had brought in. We'll probably have to conserve the power a little, in case the lights stay off for a while, but we can at least see what we're eating. It was probably really dark in there for you. No wonder you hurried to get out." She was backlit by the camp light and her golden hair glowed like a halo. Michael was entranced by what he saw.

"I was worried about you," Michael stated. I rushed because I thought you might need my help."

Nikita was admiring the man before her. There weren't many chests like his around and in his rush to get out to her he had neglected to put on a shirt and was giving her a great view. At his words she glanced at his face. "You were worried about me? How sweet, but there was really no need. I've been on my own for years and have weathered more than one storm on my own. But I appreciate your sentiment." She leaned forward slightly and kissed his cheek, her hand resting on his bare shoulder. "Hmmm," she inhaled slightly, "you smell wonderful."

"Those should be my words," Michael replied, overcome by her nearness.

Nikita leaned back and smiled at him. "Well, let me be the first to say them to you. You smell wonderful and you look wonderful." Her eyes drifted down his body and back up to meet his eyes again. "Really wonderful."" Her voice had become husky. She leaned back into him and kissed him again, this time on his lips.

"Nikita?" Michel voice had become thick with need. "Do you have any idea what you are doing?"

Nikita drew back slightly and looked at him. A slow smile moved across her face. "Oh, I think so," she murmured and then stepped even closer to him.

Michael took a deep breath as Nikita's body pressed against him. This was no longer the timid girl that he had originally met, but he felt that in some way this vixen more accurately reflected the Nikita he had felt drawn to. He watched as her lips drew close again.

Nikita once again pressed her lips to Michael's. She felt no resistance, but also little participation. "Are you frightened by aggressive women, Michael?" she breathed against his lips.

Michael gripped her upper arms and looked down at her with hooded eyes. Nikita gasped as she felt the pressure of his hands. She brought her hands up to press against his chest and became distracted by the feel of his muscles under her fingers. Her hands started to play against his chest. She looked at him through her lashes, "Well, Michael?" She whispered.

"No, Nikita, I'm not frightened by aggressive women." Michael brought his lips to rest against hers. "I'm intrigued by them."

"Good," murmured Nikita. "I've always wanted to be aggressive and intriguing." Nikita smiled at Michael and brought her hands up to his face, bringing them to rest at his jaw. She moved her lips to the corner of his mouth and gave him a small kiss. "But, you know what?" Nikita drew back and grinned at Michael.

"No, what?" Michael could barely get the words out, his throat was so thick with need.

"My aggressive woman impersonation is going to have to wait until after you feed me," Nikita whispered. These words were punctuated with the largest stomach growl Michael had ever heard.

Michael's eyes flew to Nikita's stomach and then back to her face. She was flushing with a slight bit of embarrassment but the grin was still on her face. Silence reigned for a stunned minute and then Michael burst out laughing. He hugged Nikita and then pushed her back to return her grin. "Well, what are we waiting for then, boss woman, let's eat." He turned her toward the food, keeping one arm round her shoulders. "Every person knows that an aggressive woman needs to keep up her strength."

Nikita turned her head to look at this man, whose body was still shaking with mirth. He was indeed very special.

*************

Michael was seated on one of the beds while Nikita lounged on the other. They were having a picnic meal by battery powered lamplight. This wasn't exactly how Michael had envisioned he and Nikita's first meal together, but he would take what he could get.

Michael looked at Nikita. She was leaning against the wall behind her with her legs stretched out across the bed. She had finished her sandwich and was picking at what remained of her chips.

"What did Lysette tell you about me?" Michael asked Nikita this question and was surprised to see her duck her head. He noticed that her fingers stilled.

"Um, well, I didn't call Lysette exactly. I asked Adele to call her instead." Nikita stated quietly.

"Why?" Michael softly asked, intently watching her body language.

"Well, our meeting had pretty much thrown me for a loop and I didn't exactly trust my judgement, so I thought Adele might be more rational when she spoke to Lysette." Nikita's chin had come up during the explanation. She tilted her head and looked at him out of the corner of her eye. There was a defiant twist to her bearing. She had no reason to feel guilty about her actions, why should she be embarrassed by her choices.

"I can understand your position," commented Michael. "I'm not sure that I have acted rationally during the last few days either." He was surprised to see that Nikita's body imperceptibly relaxed from its tense state.

Nikita grinned her appreciation of his reply and her hands started playing with her chips again.

"So then. What did Lysette say to Adele?" Michael changed his request. Nikita fingers stilled.

"Um," began Nikita, looking shamefaced. The angle of her head dipped.

"Um?" Echoed Michael quietly.

"Well, I actually haven't been able to get in touch with Adele, so I have no idea what she learned from Lysette." Nikita looked hesitantly at Michael, as if this man was going to think her actions unreasonable. She continued on in a rush. "I made the choice to meet you without any knowledge whatsoever of what kind of man you were other than what the voice inside of me told me."

Michael was stunned. She was here, alone with him and she hadn't even talked to Lysette. "What exactly did your voice tell you Nikita?" Michael voice was practically a whisper.

"It told me that I could trust you." Nikita's voice had become a whisper also. The impact of the moment was not lost on her. She had just confessed to this man that she hadn't talked to anyone. No one knew she was with him. She had given him a powerful piece of information.

Nikita watched Michael as he stood and walked toward her. He came up to her bed and sat on the edge of it. Her body moved slightly toward him as his weight made the mattress dip. Michael reached up and placed his hands at the sides of Nikita's face. He drew her toward him and looked into her eyes.

"I am incredibly honored by your trust," he whispered. With these words Michael leaned forward and kissed Nikita on the forehead and then rose and returned to his bed. When he was once again seated he turned to look at the stunned woman on the other bed. "So, what are we going to do to allow you to learn what kind of man I really am?" he questioned her.

"I have an idea," Nikita smiled at the man across the room.

************

"We can play 20 questions." Nikita's enthusiasm for the idea was obvious by the way she altered her position. She had gone from leaning against the wall to sitting with crossed legs leaning toward Michael in one smooth bounce.

"Twenty questions?" The confusion in Michael's voice was evident. "This is a game?"

"Yes, we each get to ask each other 20 questions. We can take turns at the questions, or we can both answer the same questions. What do you think?" Nikita raised one eyebrow questioningly at Michael.

"I think," Michael paused and looked at Nikita, realizing that she was holding her breath in anticipation of his answer, "I think that this does not sound like a game."

Nikita blushed as she realized he was right. "Well, let's call it a variation on the original game. In the original you are supposed to think of something, an object for example, and then I would try to guess what you were thinking of by asking you a series of questions, no more than 20. You would lead me to the correct answer by saying yes or no to my questions."

"And how will this game help you learn more about me?" Michael questioned.

"Well, I could ask you questions about yourself." Nikita responded.

"And I would answer "Yes" or "No"?" Michael's doubt could be heard in his voice.

"Hmm, I see what you mean." Nikita paused in thought. Michael watched her as she twirled a lock of hair around her finger. "Okay, here are our variations. You have to answer in only one complete sentence. You positively have to answer any question asked and you have to answer truthfully. How does that sound?"

Michael considered these conditions, weighing in his mind whether he could truthfully answer any question asked of him. He looked back at the woman leaning toward him so eagerly. If he wanted to start a lasting relationship with her he would. "Yes," he stated. "These are acceptable variations in the game."

"Okay, I'll start." Nikita's body danced in anticipation.

"Why do you get to start?" Michael questioned, smiling at her enthusiasm.

Nikita gave Michael an impudent grin. "Because I thought of the game, that's why."

Michael shook his head at her. "Lysette will love you," he sighed. Michael leaned against the wall and stretched out his legs. He crossed his ankles and his arms and turned his head to look at Nikita. "Okay, begin."

"Wait a minute. Do you want to alternate questions, or take twenty in a row?" Nikita demanded a clarification of the plan.

"Hmmm, I think," Michael tilted his head, considering her question. "I think twenty in a row."

"Alright, let's start."

************

Nikita looked consideringly at Michael. What question should she start with? She knew that he had a sister, she was married and had one child, and his parents were dead. That left a lot of room for questions. So, where to start?

"Where do you work?" Nikita began. It was a very simple question, but she realized that it was easier to start simple.

Michael thought about the rules. One sentence only. "I am the owner of an international company whose subsidiaries manufacture a variety of goods."

Nikita's eyebrows raised. This incredibly sexy man was an industrialist? Weren't they all supposed to be middle aged and overweight? She definitely needed to spend more time in the corporate world if this was the product.

"What exactly do your companies manufacture?"

"The companies manufacture various items including automobile parts and computer programs." Michael smiled. This game was easier than he thought it was going to be.

"How did you acquire these companies?" Michael's smile was wiped off his face by Nikita's third question.

"I inherited the first of the companies from my father and expanded from that point."

Nikita could see that this last answer had pained Michael more than she anticipated. The death of his parents had obviously been very traumatic.

"I'm sorry Michael. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories. We don't have to do this if you don't want to."

"No, it's all right. They are not the happiest of memories, but you wanted to know more about me, so let us continue."

Nikita thought and tried to get on a more positive track.

"Where do you live?"

"I live in the family home in Marseilles."

Nikita took a deep breath before she asked the next question, her body leaning forward in eager anticipation of his answer. "Do you live alone?"

Michael smiled slightly. Nikita was truly searching for personal information with this question. Michael decided to torture her. "No."

Nikita frowned and her body jolted backward in shock. "What kind of answer is "No"?" she hotly demanded of Michael.

Michael smiled at her. "It is a sentence and it is truthful. Was this last question included as part of your twenty?"

Nikita hurriedly backtracked. "Ah, no, no. It wasn't." Michael may have never played this game but he caught on quickly. It seems that he was toying with her. That meant in was time to change direction.

"What is the biggest annoyance in your life?"

Michael blinked. He had fully expected Nikita's next question to be about whom he lived with. He knew she wanted to know. He looked over at Nikita to find her smiling sweetly at him. He hadn't known her long, but he had the impression that Nikita was rarely sweet. Saucy maybe, but rarely sweet. He decided to up the ante. "The biggest annoyance?" Michael voice lowered and he slid to the edge of the bed and leaned toward Nikita. "You mean beside the fact that I have to wait before I can taste every succulent inch of your body?"

Nikita gasped. She had involuntarily leaned forward in response to Michael's movements and his voice. "Yes" she whispered.

Michael abruptly moved back to his former position leaning against the wall and said in a normal tone of voice, "Oh, that would be any business dinner or dinner party that includes Alice Renaud.

It was Nikita's turn to blink. For a moment there she had felt like Mowgli, being mesmerized by Ka. Michael's voice had lured her in. Her eyes narrowed. This man was entirely too good at this. And who exactly was Alice Renaud she asked herself.

Nikita couldn't wait any longer, not with the mention of another woman's name, "Who do you live with?"

Michael smiled to himself, but kept his poker face. He had caught her with that one. She had definitely been upset when he mentioned Alice. Maybe that woman was good for something. "I share my family home with my sister and her family."

Nikita unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief and Michael was pleased to see her reaction. She tilted her head and looked at Michael, considering his answer. A grown man living with his sister? Unusual. Her next question sought to explore that relationship further. "Do you like living with your sister."

Michael leaned his head against the wall and seriously considered Nikita's question. He loved being close to his sister. Her presence was reassuring. But recently, he had felt plagued with loneliness even though he was not technically alone. He signed before he gave his response.

"I love being close to my sister and her family, but I used to like it more than I do now."

Nikita frowned as she listened to his reply. Michael's body language had changed and he seemed pensive. Was it worth a question? Definitely. "Why is that?" she asked.

Michael turned his head and looked at Nikita. She was shocked to see the depths of sadness in his eyes. His answer carried past the one sentence rule, but Nikita didn't correct him. It was more important that she hear these words. "Her joy in her family makes me lonely. I know I am included in her joy, but I feel isolated, as though I am on the outside of the window looking in. I wonder if I will ever find what she has. Do I even deserve to have what she does? Will I spend my life alone?"

Tears gathered in Nikita's eyes. She moved to the edge of the bed and leaned forward, her hand reaching for his. When she took his hand she was surprised at the intensity of his return grip. She looked up into his eyes and drowned in the need she saw there. She opened her mouth to say something, but she didn't know what. Michael brought his other hand up to her lips and he shook his head. "Thank you Nikita. For caring. For being here with me. That is enough for now." As he finished he brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. "Now continue."

Nikita returned to her former position in the middle of her bed. She took a deep breath. How to continue? What avenue should she explore next? Nikita slowly breathed out and then started again.

"What is your favorite color?" Nikita hoped this would take his mind of his troubles.

Michael smiled tenderly at her. "It used to be green, but now I think it is blue, like the color of your eyes."

Nikita batted her eyelashes at him in an attempt to get him to laugh. It worked.

"What is your favorite type of music?"

"I like many different types, but I guess the Blues and Jazz styles are my favorite. There is so much emotion in that music." Michael found it difficult to explain exactly what he meant but he noticed that Nikita was nodding her head.

"I know what you mean," Nikita answered softly. "It's as if everything you want to say is welling up through the sounds of the instruments. It is an emotional release, just to listen to it."

Michael nodded is head in agreement. She had said it so well.

Nikita chidded herself, "Keep it light, girl." She then asked another question. "Okay Michael, what is your favorite type of movie?"

Michael didn't hesitate. "Even though most of the people I know wouldn't believe it, I like comedies because I appreciate the sound of laughter." Nikita's mouth began to open and Michael held up his hand. "And no, Jerry Lewis is not my favorite comedic actor." Michael laughed at the thought.

Nikita faked her outrage. "I would NEVER ask you that." Her laughter pealed across the room. After she had caught her breath she continued with her questions. "What horror movie continues to gives you the shivers, but you still have to watch it?"

Michael considered this question for a moment and then answered. "I think that would be The Exorcist, the idea of the devil taking possession of a child and the subsequent fight to win her soul back. Chilling."

Nikita nodded her head. So far, so good. "What image can still give you nightmares?" Nikita was shocked to see the almost happy expression suddenly disappear from Michael's face. "Michael? Did I say something wrong?"

Michael had been enjoying Nikita's questions, but the last one hit him hard. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. The talk of fighting for souls and then the word nightmare. It brought only one image to mind.

"Michael?" Nikita voice had started to tremble. Michael reaction to her question was scary. All of the blood had drained from his face. It was almost if his body went into shock. "Michael?" Nikita called his name again.

Michael remained in position, his head back, his eyes closed. His voice came out rough. "The image that gives me nightmares is a real one. A knock comes to the door and I walk to answer it. On the other side is a beautiful brunette dressed in black. She has a smile on her face. That's when the nightmare begins."

Nikita got up and went over to his bed. She sat on the side and again reached for his hand. "Is this when you were notified of your parent's deaths?"

Michael eyes opened when he felt her hand on his. He gripped her hand tight. "No, Nikita, it isn't, but I can say no more about it now. Please don't ask me."

Nikita listened to his plea and honored it, but this time she didn't leave his bed and she kept his hand in hers.

Michael took in Nikita concern and squeezed her hand. "Continue Nikita. You have five questions remaining."

Nikita looked down at his hand in hers and she ran a finger across the place where they joined. She looked again at the man resting beside her. It was time to give this man something else to think about.

Michael watched the expressions flit across Nikita's face. Worry had been the main expression in the last few minutes, but he was surprised as it was replaced with a playful one. What was she up to?

Nikita kept Michael's hand in hers, but she allowed her other hand to start drifting cross their joined hands and then kept it going up his arm.

"Why did you come on vacation?" Nikita voice had turned sultry.

Michel couldn't concentrate. All he could feel were Nikita's fingers, drifting back and forth on his arm and then up, onto his shoulders. "Lysette wanted me to get away to find myself, to have me return happier than what I left." Michael was barely able to get the words out of his mouth.

Nikita leaned closer to Michael and let her fingers start drifting across his chest. "Keep it together just a little bit longer," she whispered to herself. As her fingers kept up their movement she shifted her body closer to his. Her eyes met his and she smiled, a saucy little smile that was intended to drive him quietly crazy. By the change in his breathing she figured it was working. "What was your first thought when you saw me on that mountain?"

Michael's eyes narrowed, but he stayed where his was. If Nikita was intent on seducing him, who was he to argue? Honesty hmm? "I thought I must have walked into heaven and that I was seeing a vision of a beautiful goddess or an angel." His voice had lowered to match hers.

"And what do you think now that you have spent some time with me?" She looked at him through her eyelashes, half of her attention on her fingers that were drifting down his chest, lower and lower. A sexy grin was showing on her face.

Michael eyes also watched her fingers. "I think." Michael stopped and then looked at Nikita. His free hand lifted and tilted her chin so that she was looking directly into his eyes. "I think that heaven couldn't possibly as much fun as a day spent with you."

Nikita again felt like she was being mesmerized. Two questions left and she needed to make them count. "Would you consider postponing your set of 20 questions until later?" she whispered huskily.

"How much later?" he whispered back. His face drawing nearer to hers.

"Much later," she answered. His fingers had started to drift up her arm, tracing paths on her skin. Through it all their other hands remained entwined.

"I think that would be possible," he agreed.

"Good," Nikita groaned. His fingers were tracing her throat and then the nape of her neck. She closed her eyes and let her head roll back.

"Nikita, you have one more question left," Michael prompted. He watched as she gathered her thoughts. She opened her eyes and gazed back at him, her eyes dilated with passion.

"Michael, would you make love to me." Nikita voiced what she had wanted for some time. This was the right man. It was if their souls had been searching for each other forever.

"It would be my pleasure," Michael assented. He lowered his head and sealed his intentions with a kiss.

************

Nikita's heart was racing so quickly that it seemed to become entwined with the sound of the raindrops on the roof. While she had been hoping for Michael's affirmative response to her request she was still surprised by it. She thought he had wanted to wait, which was a rather quaint idea, but not really necessary for the two of them. When his lips had descended to hers she had unconsciously closed her eyes, fearing that he would stop before he pressed his lips to hers. At the first touch of his lips, her eyes flew open and she gazed into his eyes. He watched her as he sealed his intentions with a brief but tender kiss. Nikita smiled at Michael, realizing that even now he was uncertain if this really was the best course. "I hope it will be both our pleasures," Nikita murmured as she leaned forward to start another kiss.

This time when their lips met, heat replaced tenderness. Her initiation of the second kiss had allowed Michael to get passed the barrier of his conscious. Nikita wanted this he was certain, and he wanted it also. Their lips entangled and Nikita felt the heat from each kiss as it seemed to flow all through her body. Again and again their lips met, each kiss becoming deeper. Michael's tongue outlined her lips and then plunged inside. Nikita met him with the same response. The mating of their tongues only the precursor to what would soon occur.

Michael broke the kiss briefly. "Closer, Nikita, come closer," his husky voice whispered against her mouth. His free hand came up and slid beneath her hair, gripping the nape of her neck. The tender pull of his hand brought her closer into him. Nikita aided this movement by sliding her body more fully against his until they rested, he leaning against the wall and she against him. Their entangled hands parted, his free hand coming to rest upon her outer thigh and her free hand resting against his chest. Her left hand feathered his neck, feeling the cords of his arteries, blood pumping in rhythm with his racing heart.

Michael hand caressed Nikita's neck. First his palm and then the back of his hand, his fingers flowing over her skin. He gazed at this woman, shocked by the tenderness that was pouring through him. He wanted this woman with a passion that he had never felt before, never with any other woman. He feathered kisses across her cheekbone and then drew back, his fingers still caressing her skin. "Nikita," he rasped, "I want you to know that you mean more to me than any woman ever has. I have never felt as I do right now. Never."

Nikita eyes had been softly drifting over Michael's chest, admiring the strength that was casually hidden by a thin T-shirt. At hearing Michael's voice she lifted her head and her eyes locked with his. As he spoke she moved against his caress, as a cat does against the hand that strokes it. She listened to his confession and gave him a warm smile. Nikita whispered back, "Michael I want you to know that whatever else we find out about one another." Here Nikita paused and then continued. "and I'm sure that there is more about you that I will eventually learn, but whatever else there is, I m sure that neither one of else has ever felt this way about someone else."

Michael fingers grazed her face and came to rest against her face. He pulled her toward him and began kissing her again. "I want to feel you against me," his husky words slipped across her skin.

Nikita took this request as an invitation, moving quickly astride Michael. "I'd be happy to oblige," she grinned down at him, relishing in the gasp that she had elicited as her weight came to rest against him. Michael hands came to rest at her waist, trying in vain to control her in some small way, but the contact with her body proved irresistible and his hands slid under her shirt. Nikita arched her back as she felt his hands slide up her sides, the heat from them penetrating into her skin. "Ahhh," she sighed and then looked at the man beneath her, "Two can play at this game." With these words she slid her hands beneath his shirt and pulled it up over his head.

As his body came back to rest on the bed Michael grabbed Nikita's hands. She paused in her movements and looked down at him warily. "This is not a game, Nikita. Do you understand that?" Michael asked insistently. Nikita nodded her head and frowned. Michael continued, "Whatever we do here tonight, we both need to agree that it will tie us together irrevocably. We stop being individuals and we become one."

Nikita lips parted in shock. "That sounds almost like a marriage vow, Michael," she whispered as she struggled slightly with his grip. Michael loosened his hands and allowed her to free hers. His hands drifted up her body and played against her skin, his hands pulling her top form her body as hers had done to him. He gazed intently at her and then he smiled, a sweet but formidable smile.

Michael leaned forward and began planting kisses against her abdomen, punctuating them with seductive words, "What is happening between us is similar to two people exchanging marriage vows." His hands drifted up her back and drew her nearer. "I know that I will never be able to remove the scent of you from my body." He paused to give a lingering kiss at the side of her breast. "I will never forget the movement of your body against mine." Nikita's body was moving involuntarily against his, striving toward him.

Michael's mouth had reached her neck and his hands were beneath her arms. He gave her a lingering kiss and nuzzled her. As she moaned her enjoyment of his activities, he whispered in her ear, "Every sound that you make will be imprinted in my memory, a recording to come back to and play over and over again. Yes, Nikita, after tonight we will married, in pleasure if not in actual fact. Can you handle the commitment?"

With these words he withdrew slightly and looked into her eyes. He saw confusion and passion, but he also saw resolution. Nikita returned his look and seconds passed. Michael frowned as there was no response from Nikita. Had he pushed her too far, too fast?

Michael felt Nikita's body relax against his and then a slow smile drifted across her face. "And I thought I'd have to spend tons on a wedding dress," she murmured. "Yes, Michael I can handle this commitment. Now, let's progress onto the wedding night."

Michael smiled in relief and began raining kisses onto her, but then he paused again. "Nikita?" he queried.

"Yes, Michael," Nikita stopped trying to work the knot in Michael's sweatpants. This man talked entirely too much. She looked up at him, shocked to see a sexy smile glide cross his face.

Michael gripped Nikita body tight. "There something else you need to know about me."

Nikita tried leaning back, but Michael's grip held her tight against him. "Oh yeah, and what's that? she asked, sensing that Michael was playing with her.

"I like to start out on top," he stated with a smile as he quickly flipped her over him and onto the bed, his weight coming to rest against her, his hips resting between hers. He quickly leaned down and started again with the drugging kisses, the slight pressure of his hips nudging against her.

Nikita began to laugh and then quickly lost her breath as his tender assault on her senses began anew. She moaned as his hands and his lips went to work, dragging her into a storm of passion that neither one had experienced before. And the rain drummed against the roof with their heartbeats.

***********

Nikita lay with her head on Michael's shoulder, her hand resting on his chest. She closed her eyes in pleasure as Michael's fingers traveled up and down her arm as his lips left tiny kisses along her brow. She was physically exhausted but yet strangely invigorated. Michael was a potent lover and the intensity of their feelings for each had overwhelmed her. At one point she was sure she might almost have lost consciousness. Only the touch of Michael's lips against sensitive skin had made her start breathing again. "My God," she found herself saying silently, again, "this man is incredible."

Nikita felt the need to sneak another look at him, her lover. She leaned back and tilted her face up towards his and smiled. Michael was watching her, his green eyes glowing with the satisfaction of a satisfied feline. He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss against her mouth and reached up to brush her hair back from her face. "What is on your mind, Nikita?" he questioned.

Nikita couldn't very well tell him that she was fantasizing about him again. They both needed a short period of rest. Nikita thought quickly and settled on a topic. "Well Michael, it's much later. Do you want to start your twenty questions?" Nikita asked.

Michael looked down into her eyes and shook his head. "What more do I need to know other than the fact that we fit so perfectly together?"

Nikita laughed gently and nudged him. "There is that I guess, but really, I have to insist that you take your turn. Ask away."

Michael sighed, "Very well." He thought quickly back to the questions that Nikita had asked of him. "Where do you work?"

Nikita smiled and settled herself against him, her eyes closed in dreamy pleasure. "Oh, I'm a model, mostly in print but I also do some runway work."

Michael eyebrows rose. Her answer didn't really surprise him. She was a beautiful woman, but she was much more natural than other models he had met in the past.

"Was your dream always to be a model?" he asked.

Michael felt Nikita's body tense a little and there was a faint hesitation before she answered. "No, at one time my goal was to stay alive until the next day."

Michael's hand stilled on Nikita's arm. "Why did you have to worry about staying alive?" he questioned, concern evident in his voice.

Nikita stroked her hand against his chest, trying to comfort him. "Because until about five years ago, I lived on the streets of New York City. I picked food out of dumpsters and I slept in alleys. Not exactly a safe life for any person."

Michael hugged Nikita tight against him, his mouth resting against her hair. "Nikita! Why were you living on the streets?" The shock and horror of her situations was in his voice.

He felt Nikita shrug. "No matter how dangerous the streets were, I found that living with my mother and her boyfriends was becoming more dangerous. I had to leave there and I had no where else to go."

Michael was shocked by Nikita story. How could any woman treat her child so poorly that the child felt her only option was to run away? He felt a stirring of anger in his soul that was directed at Nikita's mother. He hoped that he never had to meet the woman. He decided that he needed to direct Nikita in a different direction, one that was hopefully less painful. He chose the only item of knowledge about her that she had talked about with pleasure, her relationship with Adele. "How then did you meet Adele?" he questioned.

Even though Michael couldn't see Nikita's face he could feel her body relax at the mention of her friend. He imagined a smile passing over her face.

"Adele saved my life the night I decided that staying at a shelter was preferable to heading down a dark alley one more time."

Michael turned more toward Nikita, sliding down beside her. "Tell me how Adele saved your life, so I will know how to thank her," he ordered Nikita.

Nikita turned her head toward Michael and bestowed a soft kiss on his lips before explaining, "Adele worked at the shelter and she saved me by opening the doors for me after they should have been already locked for the night."

Michael's arms tightened around her. There was silence for a few minutes as he absorbed the concept of Nikita living on the streets and the fact that, but for one woman, she might not have made it to the present day. He closed his eyes with the rush of anguish that swept over him. To not know Nikita was now unthinkable for him.

Nikita basked in the warmth of Michael's arms, reflecting sadly on her past, but with the knowledge that her future held so much promise. She waited for his next question.

Michael sighed and pulled Nikita closer. "How did you get into modeling after all of that, Nikita?"

Nikita smiled in remembrance, not even bothering to open her eyes. "There was a film company doing a documentary on the shelter and someone suggested to Adele that I might be able to find some work modeling. She was worried that I would end up in the Porn industry so she stayed with me every step of the way, and the rest is history."

Michael felt Nikita's shrug at the end of her statement. For her it truly was "the rest". She had moved on from the hurt of her developing years and had established a life that was her own. He felt new pride in the woman that lay beside him.

Michael decided to move in a new direction with his questions. "What is your favorite flower, Nikita?"

"Hmm, I love Irises, all kinds, but the bearded ones the most, because of that deep purple color that is so passionate, and I like the fact that, they come back every year." Michael watched the smiles flit across Nikita's face as she gave her explanations. It amused him a little that even though Nikita had set the rules, she rarely limited her answers to one sentence. She was too gregarious to even play twenty questions with restraint.

"So is purple your favorite color then?" Michael asked, thinking that passionate purple might indeed be a good color for Nikita.

"Well oddly enough," Nikita began with a hesitant breath and then continued in a rush, "My favorite color used to be blue, but I think that I now like green better. Not yellow-green, like the grass at the end of summer, but blue green, the colors of sea mist, or Spanish moss, or oh, I don't know, your eyes, perhaps." Finishing these words Nikita shyly looked up at Michael, but even he could tell that through the shyness, a devil lurked.

"Really?" murmured Michael as he brought his lips within a hairsbreadth of Nikita's. "Did I tell you that blue is my favorite color?"

Nikita sighed into Michel's mouth as he lightly moved his lips over hers, "Yes, I think you did mention that." She leaned into him as the pressure of his mouth increased, his body leaning over hers. For a short while she gloried in renewed passion, but Michael slowly started pulling back.