Heavy snow floated down on the city. News reported that more headed their way. The possibility of a week or more long shut-in becoming two looked apparent. Music played on, as well as the fire. Roman rested his head on Zara's stomach, hands firmly caressing her thighs - waiting. Her touch on his face and fingers wrapping through his hair was fire.

"Still struggling?"

Zara sighed, "Yes."

"You know what," he said, shifting to the side, propping himself up on his elbow. "Words got you into this situation. Words beat you down, embarrassed you." Roman traced his finger around the lace of her French garment, down the path to her intimate spot. Soft pants confirmed the pleasure that he wanted drawn out. "What if, just for tonight, you paid attention to my words - just me and you? What if you paid attention to just how we feel, right now. Not living in the past. Not living in the future."

Roman straddled Zara, leaned down, kissing her shoulders, her neck, and pressing kisses to the side of her face. Delicate reactions from the woman that he loved absorbed in his mind. Every nuisance of her body imprinted deep so that he could give her what she wanted. He loved watching her eyes fall shut, watching her melt. He slid his mouth down her throat. She moaned and writhed beneath him. They had plenty of time and he worked her over with that in mind. Long heated touches and mastery with his hands yielded her.

"Listen, Zara," he said, caressing her ear lobe with his tongue. Followed by a barrage of kisses that had her fingertips crushed into his shoulder. "Have I ever embarrassed you, ever hurt you?"

She could barely shake her head from the havoc he was wrecking across her body – hands everywhere, kisses burning her skin.

"Haven't you always been able to trust me with everything, treasure?"

"Yes," she breathed. His hands slid under the gown cupping the sides of her bra.

"Oh - Lord - Roman," she panted feeling his thumbs crush against her nipples. Everything felt amazing. Her body sensitized as he handled her with care and love.

Zara's world flipped upside down when he slid his mouth over hers, melding their lips together in fire. His tongue parted her mouth, demanded return. Their wild tongues danced together from years of separation - years of want. It was hungry, primal, better than his 18th birthday. Her body arched as he sucked the side of her neck. Then went full-on against those lips that had spoken such kindness into his life; been such a comfort, and sacrificed so much because she loved him.

Tears crested over her rims, he licked them from her face. He kissed her over and over, plundering her mouth in greed. He'd never get enough of this woman's mouth, mind, or body. He wanted this – always. Now she lay beneath him – the perfect spot to understand his heart. Roman threaded her hair in his hands, pulling her closer. He whispered in her ear. "All I see is beauty. All I've ever wanted was you."

He probed her mouth, soaking her in. The desperate kiss drove him deeper into desire. Made him want to rip those clothes off and claim her once and for all. Yet, he stilled the consuming passion stampeding through his heart for her sake. Slow and easy – that was the key to her life. With masterful control, he spoke so soft, like butterfly wings and deliberate. "Let my words take your pain, treasure. Love me until you forget what we've had to deal with – please, my precious, precious, one."

The kiss got hot, so intense - almost sexual. They poured into each other making up for so much lost time. Roman's heart pounded out of his chest, his body ached with need. He pressed into her again, covering every exposed part of her body with his tongue, teeth, and lips. He kissed her fingers, her legs, her thighs. Leaving his marks of passion everywhere. Fire pulsing through his veins; kisses and caresses raining love all over her.

Zara's breathing was thin; her panting - loud. She kissed him back with as much fervor. Finding her own path across his neck, sucking at his nipples and running her hand along his solid wall of muscles. She bloomed - a wilted flower coming to vibrant life.

"I love you more than anything, treasure," he breathed. "I've waited for you for so long."

Zara's chest rose and fell rapidly. She was delirious with passion - happier than she'd ever been in her life. "Take it off, Roman. Take everything off."

And he did – very slowly, inch by inch, taking his time and loving her with each kiss that he dragged up her legs. He hooked the Black French Lace, removing it from her hips. Zara's hand nervously tapped the blanket, until he covered her and, leaned over and kissed it.

"You're so thoughtful," she whispered, watching him slide himself up her body; then off with the lace-red gown.

Roman did this painstakingly slow, kissing and caressing his way up. "Every part of you is beautiful, Zara - inside and out."

His hands slid under her back and popped the bra snap. Zara gasped, watching him drag it away from her body with his teeth. Fever flooded her blood.

The onslaught of kisses started again. His hands touched, and held and felt everything that she'd been so afraid for him to even see. But now, it was just bountiful warmness and comfort as he handled her so gently. Reminding her often of her beauty and his love. It felt as if they'd sprawled out engaging for hours. Not an inch of her body was not touched or tangled with.

The aftermath was perfect contentment. Roman broke his rule and kissed the top of her forehead while wrapping her in the security of his strong arms. "Did we do okay?"

She smiled and nodded, trailing a finger down the side of his jaw. She'd never get enough of his thoughtfulness. Yes, everything was okay. Much more than okay.

"How do you feel?" he whispered, peering into her eyes.

"Like you have my heart in your hand."

"I do, and I'll never let it go." He leaned down kissing her thoroughly again. Finally, she fell asleep on top of him.

***

The white world outside lay in beauty. Roman had been watching the weather channel while waiting for Zara to wake up. There were four feet of snow already blanketing the city, another three feet expected within the next four hours. Strong winds buffeted the panes of glass in the penthouse.

Last night had been amazing and Roman was so much looking forward to more of Zara. His heart stirred knowing how difficult it had been to do what she'd done. It made him love her more. Roman sat in a chair across from Zara intrigued by her sleeping – quiet this time. He sipped on a cup of hot apple cider, while flashbacks of their encounter warmed his soul. She'd exhausted him with her need and passion. It was better than anything in his biggest fantasy. Two souls lost in love's primal heat. Two souls, thirsty in need of water. They drank from love's cup until it spilled over.

He watched the weather channel until she stirred, then stretched out like a contented cat by a warm fire. Luscious hair tumbled across her shoulders. She smiled letting him know that her life had shifted. The ugly chains around her mind – snapped.

"Thank you, Roman."

"It was my complete pleasure, my treasure" he grinned.

She lifted up the fuzzy white blanket draped over her. Giddy laughter bubbled up. "My - did we leave a mark. I'm blistered."

He shrugged. "Just marking my territory." He walked to the kitchen and prepared a cup of hot cider for Zara. "Looks like we're snowed in for another few days, treasure. I wonder what we could possibly do with all that time?"

She laughed and grabbed the cup that Roman extended to her. "You broke my walls last night and I'm not rebuilding them ever again."

"Good, Zara."

"I don't even know how to express how I feel. I was so ashamed to let you look at me, but when you did I saw nothing but love. I felt consumed last night. Like my body absorbed in yours – so deep I can never get out of it." She lifted the cover, beckoning him to sit with her. Zara's hand curved over his muscled shoulder. "You desired me, wanted me and most of all I felt safe."

"You're home for me, Zara, every inch of you," he said, kissing her cheek. "You're my treasure."

"Someone said to me once that our greatest fears are often just a shadow. My anxiety about being with you was a shadow. I walked straight through the shadow."

"I'm so proud of you for doing that." He pressed her back to the blanket, trailing one hand across the swell of her breast, while the other slipped under her back. Zara's head fell back against the pillows as he toyed with her breast. "You walked through that shadow because for once in your life, you listened to a different voice in your head."

"Yours," she said, lifting his head from her nipples. Zara cupped his face, sliding her lips across his. The smoldering heat between them was so easy to rekindle. What started as a soft kiss, turned into a wildfire.