A nice quiet weekend had done Astrid good. No middle of the night wake up calls from Broyles, no bizarre snack runs, and no baby-sitting Walter at the lab. So by the time she got to work on Monday, she was feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. She was ready for anything.

"Ostrich, I brought you my first chapter!" Walter cried, bounding over to her as she entered the lab.

Anything but that.

Astrid had been deeply hoping that Walter's erotic novel would be one of his ideas that never saw the light of day. She definitely didn't consider herself a prude, but the idea of reading about Walter's idea of romance did make her a little nervous. But of course the universe (and Walter) loved proving her wrong.

She looked at the brilliant scientist and fought the urge to smile. He looked like he was filled to the brim with excitement, with his grey eyes wide open and his body quivering, as if he were forcing himself not to jump up and down.

"Ok, Walter," she said. "I'll look at it; just let me get my coat off. "

Walter nodded and let her run through her usual morning routine before gently placing the first draft on her desk. He grabbed a nearby stool and sat down, implying that he intended to watch her read the entire thing.

And read she did. She got through about nine and a half pages before she reached an extremely familiar looking passage.

Agent Anna forced herself to hurry. She only had fifteen minutes to get into the building and turn on the ventilation system to spread the antidote. If she failed the government had authorized a Level 6 Eradication, an order that allowed the army to enter the building and kill everyone inside to keep the virus from spreading – including Josh.

Agent Anna had only worked with Josh for about half a year now, but her feelings for him were already getting blurry. After the death of her last lover, who turned out to be a traitor both to herself and her country, Anna swore to herself that she would never again open her heart to another man. But lately, the sarcastic ex-con had been worming his way into her thoughts, as she was thinking about him constantly.

Her body was another thing entirely. She had begun to crave his touch. When he handed her the paperwork from the latest case, her entire body would crackle with electricity. And when he put his arm around her after a long day, she would breath deeply and lean into him, her mind telling her to stop, but her heart begging her to go further.

Agent Anna pushed those confusing thoughts away and forced herself to concentrate on the mission at hand. She was currently in the garage, but if she took the stairs to her left, she would be able to reach the control room in no time.

She heard footsteps behind her. Agent Anna turned around and found herself face to face with none other than Josh himself.

"Anna," he rasped. "You have to let me out." The virus had turned his throat raw, making his voice nearly an octive deeper than his normal tones. It gave Anna goosebumps and made her hair stand on end in excitement.

"You know I can't do that, Josh," she said with regret. "You're infected."

"Please," he begged. "I can't control it. The virus is making me do things…it's not me!" Josh twisted in pain and Anna couldn't help but notice his prominent abdominal muscles peeking through his dark grey t-shirt.

"What is the virus making you do?" Anna asked, holding her breath. She was almost afraid to know the answer.

"Things that I want to do, but I know that I shouldn't," Josh answered. Suddenly his green eyes hardened, and he strode over to Olivia swiftly. He cupped her cheek and brought their bodies close – closer than they had ever been before. Olivia could feel his warm breath on her body, making her heart race like a wild stallion.

"Things like this," he whispered. And then suddenly, he was kissing her. His lips were softer than pillows, and as they moved against hers nothing had ever felt so right. She parted her lips slowly as his tongue entered her mouth, encircling hers and thrusting back and forth like a deadly serpent.

He quickly undid her button-down and tossed it to the floor. His hands kneaded her breast softly while he pressed delicate kisses along the line of her clavicle, all the while increasing his rhythm. He flicked at her nipple with tongue before biting it.

She moaned deeply. Her body felt like it was on fire, with each touch setting it a light once more. Her breath came to her in ragged gasps, making it difficult to even think. The only emotion, the only thought that pervaded her mind was a deep and aching sense of want.

She lowered her hands beneath his belt to feel his erection. She lowered his zipper and massaged his member, running her hands up and down the course of his long shaft.

He shuddered and moaned. "Anna," he gasped. "I want…"

She silenced him with a kiss. "It's ok, Peter," she said huskily. "I want it too."