A/N: I only own the idea

Hannibal watched as her breath had caught. Wanting nothing more than to be closer, he waited for her to get out of the car so he could take them to their accommodations. Sex was nothing new to him, but with Clarice he knew it would be. Never before had he given any emotion to the act. With her it would be both a release and a reset. A flash of anxiety came to him then. He knew the body well and knew it would accommodate, but he still thought the idea of causing her pain to be an unpleasant one. Hearing the car door open he was torn from his thoughts. Gathering himself he made his way around the car and took the wheel.

As he drove she watched his face. No longer a stranger, she could pick up so much from it now. Anxiety perhaps was the cause for the tightening of his jaw, or was it frustration? While she knew him better she would always have more to learn. Sighing softly, her eyes began to drift out the window. Seeing him in so much pain had been incredibly difficult. The ache to help forget then was almost a tangible thing. Remembering when he had told her she wasn't a tool, her cheeks flushed. Tool or not she still longed to comfort him. Did it make her selfish that she wanted his comfort as well?

The feel of sheets against skin was her next conscious thought. Frustrated with herself she realized she must have fallen asleep during the drive. Stupid. She mentally scolded herself. She should have been there for him. Opening her eyes, she had expected to see him, instead there

was only a room. What was in it did not matter. He was not. Putting her feet on the floor she stood to find him. When he had changed her in to the dress all those months ago she flushed with anger. Now, the cause of that flush was entirely different. Would he have looked at her? Would his hands have lingered? She knew he would have been nothing but courteous towards her, but still she entertained the thought. This only made her skin flush more.

When she found him he was sitting very still. In that moment she thought he would make a beautiful statue. When he heard her approach he turned towards her. Unprepared for the uncertainty in his eyes, she scrambled for words. "I'm sorry I fell asleep. I should have been there for you. Why didn't you wake me up? Why are you looking at me like that? Are you ok?"

His answer was almost inaudible. "I wouldn't dare disturb such beauty. You endured a lot today and I thought a rest would do you good."

Looking at him closer now she saw how tired he looked. Feeling foolish for letting her mind drift to physical actions she responded firmly. "What about you, you should have been in that bed beside me. Not out here thinking about things you can not change." The last part came out sounding angry. Her eyes conveyed it was not meant to.

"I wasn't thinking about the past I assure you. As I said I didn't want to wake you and if I had allowed myself in that bed with you I would have."

"Why would you have! Your the only person I know who can undress me without waking me up. Why do you think laying beside me and going to sleep would do so?"

If she had not been so serious with her question he would have laughed. Choking it back he reminded himself she did not talk in innuendos and decided to be forward, "Clarice, I had no intention of sleeping." He watched her face closely waiting for his words to sink in.

"What else would you," she watched as his fingers twitched and realization hit then. "Oh...um...that's um, what!"

A soft laugh that he could not contain then escaped him. She was delightful when she squirmed. Not wanting to offend her with his amusement he spoke carefully. "I don't mean to laugh, you're just so..." he searched for the word.

"Oblivious? Terribly awkward? Inexperienced?" She could have supplied more but he held up his hand to stop her. Letting her words trail off she watched as he shook his head.

"Enticing, beautiful, desirable, terrifying."

"That last one sounds wrong," she said. The want to feel his warmth pulled her closer. Once again his hand asked her to stop. Once again she listened.

"Actually my dear, it fits just right. Are you aware of the ledge on which you stand? I will no longer hold you back from falling. You are not, and never will be, in my control to hold down," as his eyes darkened when he spoke, their meaning was clear, "I would very much like to though."

Her words came out a whisper upon responding, "But you're not going to be able to do that from over there." Her heart picked up speed as blood that it pumped mirrored the desire in his eyes.

"Correct. That is where the last word comes in to play. I have never, done this with..."

"A virgin?" She supplied. "I won't turn in to a pumpkin at midnight, and I promise you don't have to sprinkle me in rose pedals. You're enough, I just want to be close to you." She was happy to see her attempt at a joke was rewarded with a small smile.

"You are no Cinderella Clarice, and an entire garden of roses would not nearly be enough. I hesitate to hurt you. It scares me to think of your bloodshed caused by my wants."

Ignoring his request for her to stay back, she walked up to him. Breath in her words and shaking with nerves she met his eyes with her own. "Our wants." Taking a deep breath for courage she steadied her shaking hand and brought it up to his face. He did not pull back when her fingers ran over his jaw bone. "I don't know how to do this on my own," her hand stayed steady as she began to unbutton his shirt. "I can try, but rumour has it, it's better when two people participate.

She was kissing his collar bone now. He struggled to focus on the words she was saying as her hands ran over his now bare back. Did she know she was torturing him in that moment. A mixture of fear and desire ran through him then. She was sitting in his lap now, legs curled beneath her. Sweet girl, he thought, still so contained. When her arms wrapped around him he felt his control slipping. "Clarice, I can't do..."

Gentle pushes he had told her. Hoping she was doing the right thing she brought her lips to his ear. "Yes you can. It's ok, I'm here and I want this. I want you Hannibal, only you."

The feel of her lips against his ear and breath against his skin had been his undoing. Bringing his arms around her; he shuddered when her legs seemed to naturally wrap around him when he stood to carry her to the bed.

When he stood, her legs wrapped around him out of instinct. As he walked the brief distance to the other room she couldn't help noticing how when she squeezed him with them; waves of pleasure shot through her. When she went to tighten them again he shook his head and put her feet on the ground.

"Don't pout, his voice was full of want as he looked at her then. "Now Clarice, allow me to turn the tables on you. I want to see you now, all of you. If this is acceptable to you, show me."

When he spoke her eyes closed. He definitely would make her float tonight but she knew it wouldn't be with his words. Realizing his eyes were on her she reopened her own. Looking at him then she flushed red. Their was no mistaking what he wanted now. Steadying herself she raised her arms above her head and met his eyes. "come take this off."

She did not need to ask him again. As he removed her nightgown he thought that in that moment time had stopped. The struggle of how to view her first briefly came to his mind. Hands? Eyes? Mouth? Gently pushing her back on to the bed he decided the occasion called for a little of everything.

Falling backwards fully exposed to him, she ached for his hands to find her. It was a short wait however as her body had only just hit the mattress when his lips captured her's. This kiss was different from the last one they had shared. It burned with want and made her body tingle in a way that she guessed only meant good things.

Drawing back his lips, he noted the flush in her cheeks had made its way down to her neck. Kissing her jaw bone as she had done so many times to his own he allowed his nose to rest against the hollow below her ear. Here was the feel of her skin. There was the pulse of her desire. Letting his tongue caress her neck he was flooded in her presence. There was the taste of her flesh.

Every part of her he touched ached for more. Why had he stopped at her jaw? Had that been his tongue on her skin just then? Feeling as though a river was sweeping her away, she brought her arms around his back once more. He was the perfect lifeboat.

When she had again went to pull him closer he drew back, shaking his head. "You're always so eager to have me closer. It is my turn to see you now. Stop trying to pull me down when I have yet to fully appreciate the view my dear." When the flush spread from her neck to cover her breasts he felt his body respond in turn. Moving slowly he lowered his face to them. He knew in that moment that nothing this world could ever offer him would be as delectable as the woman who lay before him.

When he kissed her breasts, she thought in that moment that her skin would combust. Was this another game to him? Would he push, until breaking with want, the request would spill from her lips to satisfy her aching need. Squirming under his mouth, her thoughts trailed away. He was too great of a distraction to allow focus on anything else.

As he lost himself in the feel of her skin and the scent of her arousal, an unexpected thought surfaced. This was love. To let go and surrender to another person, to respond chemically, physically, and spiritually. He had no doubts when he looked upon her, and found she was lost amidst his touch.

He had intended to make his way down her body, but insistent hands were on him again, pulling him up and down. Realizing this was not a battle he wished to fight with himself he allowed her to move him. When she bore her lips against his own he found he had forgotten what the cause of the struggle had been for. When her legs wrapped around his hips he couldn't contain the growl he released into her mouth. Warm against his lips her eager breaths tasted better to him than any wine ever would.

Too many clothes were between them she thought. When she felt the fabric of his pants rub against her sex she wasn't sure if she hated it or loved it. With a few wriggles of her hips she found it would temporarily do. At this point with how excited she was, anything would.

When she moved her hips against him, he bit her lip. When he tasted blood he attempted to draw back. She wouldn't let him however, locking her arms around him. What a delightful way to be captured he thought, as he licked the blood off her lower lip.

"Mm, pants, off..." her words were a jumble against his lips but the meaning was clear. Breaking away from her he quickly removed them. Now any distance was too much. When he felt her eyes on him he looked at her face. There was the timidness. He knew it would come but still felt unprepared for it. Raining in his desire he struggled to find the control to put her mind at ease. When she reached out and began to explore him with tentative fingers he thought he would grind his teeth to dust. "Clarice, beautiful girl, I'm trying to..."

Gently she squeezed feeling him throb under her fingers. "Stop trying, Hannibal." His name had came out barely a breath. Ignoring her thoughts of anxiety about his size, she gently pulled. When his eyes sparked, her body longed to make room.

She literally had him in the palm of her hand, he thought as he resisted the urge to press deeper in to her fingers. Stepping back, he fought to ignore the silent protest in her eyes. "Patience my dear," he whispered lowering himself to his knees between her legs.

"I don't want to...mmm..." her words were broken by a moan as he slid a finger inside. Whimpering with want now she pressed in to his hand. As his tongue touched her skin she shuddered, he felt too good. "Hannibal, stop, I don't want to finish like...I want to feel you, please!"

When she had asked him to stop he had immediately, at first thinking he had been too rough. Understanding as he registered the rest of her words laid his doubts to rest. He couldn't hold himself back any more, not with her on the edge and begging him to dive. Positioning himself above her, his hand cupped her face. "It will hurt, you know?" His words trembled. Had he been referring to himself or her?

Meeting his gaze, her hand covered his own. "I want to be close to you, some things are worth the pain." Something flickered across his face. Was he unsure how to handle her? This was a problem she could solve. Moving from under him she felt him intently watching her. "Let me," she said. Her words came out strong, not reflecting how she trembled on the inside.

When she got up he feared her mind had changed. But with two words however, she extinguished all of his. Always she would surprise him. He could only whisper her name and follow the request she had so clearly given. As he lay back on the bed he made a mental note to tell her that tonight would be a night of many firsts for him as well.

When she positioned herself above him he put his hands on her hips. Would he pull her down? No, they served only to align. Were his fingers trembling, or was she? Trying to calm her nerves she looked in to his eyes.

"I am here," with 3 words he set her at ease and without thinking she bore down on him. Something between a moan and a cry sounded. Was it from her or him? Pain froze her perched on top of him. Then she felt his hands. On her hips, on her face, pushing off the tears she hadn't realized were on her cheeks

"Silly girl, god you're insatiable. You should have took your time, are you all right? Do you want to..." his words died as he felt her hips begin to move, his eyes never left her. Around him he could feel her body begin to adjust. Gazing up at her with admiration he saw the moment when pain turned to pleasure and couldn't stay idle any longer. "Clarice, I want more, this is not close enough."

God it had hurt, like a thousand little knifes inside of her. As she moved her hips however pain subsided, and he fit her just right. When he asked her to get closer she didn't know what more to do. "How?" The question came out a gasp as she couldn't be bothered to hide the pleasure the feel of him inside her was causing.

When he scooted himself in to a sitting position he never left her body. pulling her against him in his lap he began to move his hips, lifting and lowering her down with the motion. A soft whimper escaped her then and he kissed her shoulder. "Is this close enough Clarice?" His voice shook with his approaching release.

Clinging to him she moulded her body to best work with his. Allowing him to support her weight she held tight to every thrust, adding her own downward pressure against his upward motion. "It will never be close enough," she gasped, her nails biting in to his shoulders.

They met each other thrust for thrust until he felt her legs start to tremble. Knowing she was close he picked up his pace. "Don't let go," his words a low growl in his throat.

When she felt him pick up speed she pressed her face in to his shoulder, holding tightly to him as he moved beneath her. Something inside her gave way then and she was pulled down in a undertow of pleasure like never before. Briefly she registered her voice crack as she screamed out his name.

When she let go he was only seconds behind her. One final thrust up took him to ecstasy and he grew suddenly still as his release came. Still able to feel the tremors from inside as he ran his hands through her hair, over her back, anywhere he could to just know she was really there. As she sat panting in his lap he held her tight. Never again would he let her go.

Neither were clear as to how many minutes passed before she started to squirm. Moving slowly so as not to hurt her any more he disentangled their bodies. He didn't have to look to know they were both covered in her blood, he could smell it in the air. A shower was definitely needed. Looking at her face he didn't see the harm in waiting a little bit. Seeing her spent after their coupling was worth being sticky for.

She hadn't felt anything like this in her life. Knowing it was juvenile to say it after what they had just done wasn't enough to stop the words from forming on her lips. "I love you Hannibal."

Hearing her declaration of love, made husky from her cries of passion invigorated him. He thought it to be the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. Touching her face he waited for her eyes to open. When she did he stared in to her soul and gave his in return. "I love you too, Clarice."

Two bodies held tight to one another in a room that would soon be replaced by another. Inside them, their spirits were at last content with the vessels of skin and bone that held them captive. For the briefest of moments, when the bodies were lost in passion, two spirits had became one. For them, it was enough.