tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52135966741626114002024-03-13T07:59:45.704-07:00LoPagan's Fic FunhouseErotic fan fiction starring the characters Jack McCoy & Claire Kincaid, played by Sam Waterston and Jill Hennessy on the long-running Dick Wolf television drama Law and Order. I do not own the rights to these characters.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-57275311259034094452013-02-01T13:09:00.000-08:002013-02-01T13:09:27.970-08:00Square Pegs<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Author's note: This is another older piece I managed to resurrect. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inspired by the episode "Hot Pursuit"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*****</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Want another drink?" he asked her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire shook her head. "I think I'll just go home now." To his chagrin, she actually stood, picked up her attaché case, and walked away. Jack turned on the bar stool and watched her walk out of the bar. When she reached the door, he stood, drained the rest of his drink, grabbed his coat and briefcase and hurried after her. Outside, he scanned the street, saw that she was up the block, crossing the street, heading back to the office; back to her car. He made it to the crosswalk just in time for the light to change. There were too many cars for him to attempt to cross against the light, and so he was forced to wait, forced to watch her get closer and closer to the parking garage, and farther away from him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He thought to call after her, but she was too far away, and he was reluctant to scream her name as she hurried away from him in such proximity to the office. As soon as he saw the streetlights above him go yellow, he began to walk swiftly across the street. She was at her car when he reached the garage, and he decided, short of throwing himself in front of her car as she drove out of the garage, or hopping on his bike and speeding after her (this thought didn't appeal to him much at the moment...he knew he'd had just enough in the bar that any action of that sort would be stupid and reckless), he was left with no other choice, if he was to stop her, than to call her name.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Claire!" he hollered. Several other people in the garage turned to look. Holding the car door she'd just gotten unlocked halfway open, Claire looked up to see Jack hurrying toward her. "Claire...wait!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She looked at him skeptically when he was near her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Can we talk?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"We've been talking."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Look, Claire..."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Go home, Jack."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I've had too much to drink."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"You often do."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">His face flashed surprise, then anger, then hurt. "I meant I need a ride."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"So take a cab."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Jesus Christ, Claire...," he began, saw that she didn't appear moveable and gave up, spinning on his heel and heading a few spaces down, to his bike.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When Claire saw that he was going to take the bike, her concern for him overpowered her anger, and she said, loudly, "Jack...wait..."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He turned, still downtrodden.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"C'mon...I'll take you home."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The ride to Jack's apartment was a silent one, Claire leaning back in the driver's seat, arms rigid in front of her as her hands gripped the steering wheel, Jack slumped over against the passenger side door, staring out the window with his chin resting in the palm of his right hand. He still wanted that conversation, but knew better than to push.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In front of his apartment, Claire idled the car, not moving from her seat, she set the parking break, and looked at Jack, waiting for him to take off his seat belt and exit the car.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Not coming up?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"It's a school night," she replied. "Damn him," she thought at the expression he gave her. She hated that he had the ability to flash her a look that could reach her heart even when she was angry with him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Never stopped you before."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Jack..."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Claire, at least park the damn car and hear me out."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She nodded, and complied.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When she'd pulled over, he released the seat belt and turned so his back rested against the door, looking over at Claire, and let out a wry laugh.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I'm glad this amuses you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">His face grew extremely serious.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"What amuses me is the fact that we seem to do so well at keeping our romantic life out of our work life, but we can't seem to do the reverse."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Really? It makes perfect sense to me ... the two of us, we're all about work. The way we operate at work is directly tied to our personal belief system, and we act and speak accordingly. It's only natural that our work, so much a part of who we are, would spill over."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Am I to take it, then, by your response to my treatment of this girl on cross, that you don't like who I am very much?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Jack ... I didn't say that."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"You didn't have to...you've made it abundantly clear."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"You just...push...too hard, sometimes, Jack, you know? I think sometimes you forget we're dealing with real people, with real people's lives, not theoreticals, not games. People aren't pages in books, Jack, they're not game pieces. Real life isn't black and white."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"So you've told me before," he said. "But the law IS black and white, Claire."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"The law doesn't exist in a vacuum, Jack. You can't expect to apply it as though it does... it's like...like...putting square pegs in round holes."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"You know something?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Enlighten me."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I've noticed this disturbing trend. Whenever we have a disagreement about the application of the law ... or the 'morality' of some law, I wind up getting the silent treatment when the work day is through, whether it's me disagreeing with you or vice versa. Why is that?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"You're the EADA ... we play it your way, all the way, right? My objections not withstanding."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I can't help the fact that I'm your boss, Claire," Jack said, on the defensive. "Jesus! It's not like you didn't know I was when you got involved with me."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"It's not the fact that you're my boss that pisses me off, Jack, because you're right, I did know that when we got involved. And don't get me wrong...for the most part, I'll readily admit that you don't treat me as though we've got a subordinate/superior relationship, that you listen to my input much more than Ben Stone ever did, and don't make me feel dismissed or unintelligent if you don't act on it, and maybe that's the problem. I get so used to you treating me essentially as an equal, that it catches me off-guard whenever you pull rank. But sometimes ... sometimes, Jesus, Jack, I get so angry when you ask for my opinion on something and then totally disregard whatever I've said because we have some sort of fundamental disagreement ... the death penalty, for instance."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Ahhh, yes... The Penalty," said Jack. "Whatever it's done for making citizens feel more secure, it's been a constant source of conflict for us."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Yes ... and no matter my feelings there, we always go with what you want."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Correction ... with what Adam wants. The statute reserves that decision for him."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"But you push for it ... you try your damnedest to make sure that the case can be molded to ensure a death penalty consideration by the jury ... even, at times, when it's been ruled out as an option for the obvious crime."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I can't help it, Claire ... I agree with the idea of capital punishment, both for its Band-Aid, and deterrent effects.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Yes, and you display all the zealousness required by the canons."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Yes. I do," he said unapologetically. "It's my job. I don't make law, Claire ... I just do my best to see that it's applied. And not randomly applied; at least, not on my watch."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"So how does that explain this afternoon?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"This afternoon would fall under the 'doing my job with all the zealousness required by the canons' heading."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"By beating up the mother of a rape/kidnap/brainwash victim on cross?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"That's what you think I was doing?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She blinked her eyes to indicate "Yes."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Listen," said Jack, leaning in closer to her, "I hear what you're saying when you say that sometimes I disregard your opinions, even when I've asked for them. I know I do it. I do it to everybody. It's not personal. I'm a pompous jackass ... so sue me. But this afternoon. I didn't treat that woman any different than I would have treated the mother of anyone charged with four counts of murder."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"No, you didn't ... and that's precisely my point. Are you so sure Leslie Harlan's 'just like any defendant charged with four counts of murder'? Are you so sure that she was a willing participant? I'm not ... even Olivet wasn't convinced."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Olivet said Harlan got a kick out of her criminal activity, don't forget ... and that she BELIEVED she was forced into it, not that she WAS forced into it."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"And you understand the distinction? I don't ... and I doubt the jury will."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"It's my job --OUR job-- to see that they do."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I don't know Jack..." she replied skeptically.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Sometimes I wonder if you've got the stomach for this job."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Why? Because I've got a conscience?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Yeah, that's exactly it," said Jack sarcastically when he'd recovered from the shock of the barely veiled slam, "And I don't ... is that what you're saying?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire stared forward, silent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Right," said Jack as he opened the car door in hurt anger, and exited, pulling his briefcase out with him, and slamming the car door shut. He headed down the block toward his building. Claire watched for a moment or two as he walked swiftly away from her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Shit!" she exclaimed, and banged her hand against the steering wheel once, twice, three times before reaching across the car and setting the passenger side lock. She made to get out of the car, but then decided against it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She knew she hadn't been very nice, wanted to apologize for the harsh things she'd said ... but she was still angry with him, he had said some not-so-nice things himself. They were both nursing hurt feelings and wounded pride --a state in which, she knew from previous experience, was not exactly conducive to making up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Maybe," she thought, "By the time I get home ... we'll both have calmed down enough to be rational."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was normally a 20 minute ride from Jack's apartment to the condo Claire had inherited from her grandmother, under ideal traffic and weather circumstances. It was early, however, and still commute time for many, and it took twice as long. The car ride home afforded her more than ample time, particularly since 20 of those minutes were spent literally sitting in traffic, to cool off, as she had known it would.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She came to a realization sitting in mid-town traffic -- and it wasn't a realization that made her feel very good about herself. What she felt about Jack's treatment of Leslie Harlan's mother that afternoon had less to do with the work issue than with the fact that she felt he'd disappointed her in his inability to express any sort of compassion for a girl who'd been horribly victimized -- when her victimization had most likely been the driving force behind any criminal activity in which she had participated. What bothered Claire most about this epiphany was not the fact that Jack had done something to disappoint her ... but that she had allowed it to disappoint her personally, as well as professionally.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She realized too, that in spite of their vow not to let the personal affect the professional, she did indeed, at least on some level, expect Jack to attend to her opinions, to give them more weight than he would the other ADAs because of their close personal relationship. This, she knew, had been Jack's contention so few moments before. And she'd made an ass out of herself for his having treated her exactly as she'd insisted at the beginning of their relationship.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She pulled up in front of her building and killed the engine. She was pulling the keys out when she paused for a long few moments, then shoved them back into the ignition, started up the car, flipped a U-turn in the middle of the road, and headed back to Jack. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">***** </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><div>
In the meantime, Jack had stormed down the block toward his apartment building. When he was at the steps to the building, he turned around to see if she'd made any attempt to follow him. He turned around just in time to see her pull away from the curb, and instead of heading in, he continued down the block, making his way to Molly O'Brien's pub.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He stopped in front of the bar. He'd had every intention of going in when he'd headed that way. He walked around the block six times intending to go in, eventually giving up, because he kept seeing Claire's face when she'd told him he often drank too much. If he weren't in such a foul mood, it might have amused him that she, when no one else had been able to manage, had the ability to guilt him into not drinking -- even when they were angry with one another. At the moment, it simply made him more angry.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
He turned toward his apartment, disgusted with himself that he hadn't gone in for a drink, or two ... or more.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He walked into the lobby, completely ignoring Roger the doorman, and moved toward the elevator. It didn't come timely enough for him, and so he headed for the stairwell, mounting the steps two at a time so that he was panting by the time he reached his floor.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He entered his apartment, mood not at all improved, dumped his belongings on the sofa and headed for the kitchen -- straight for the liquor cabinet. He poured himself a shot of vodka, and drained it, pushing the guilt away momentarily, until he again saw Claire's face, heard her voice, as she's said, "You often do". He slammed the glass down, spilling the second shot he'd poured himself all over his hand and counter.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He dried his hand on a towel and tossed it down, then headed out of the kitchen, taking off his coat and throwing it on the sofa as he moved toward the hallway. At the washer and dryer, he stopped and stripped off his shirt and undershirt and turned into the bathroom. He turned on the shower, thought better of it, turned it off, and sat on the edge of the tub. He set the drain and turned the hot water on full blast and adjusted the cold so that the water would be hot, but wouldn't scald his skin.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He dumped a couple of fizzing bath tablets Claire had introduced him to -- "to relax your muscles" she'd told him -- into the water, then bent to remove his shoes and socks. When the tub was full, he stripped off his jeans and boxers and laid them across the toilet, stepping into the tub and sinking down into the water.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He sank down, raising his knees out of the water as he bent his legs, until his chin was just above the water line. He lay there for a time, just soaking, feeling the water infusing his bones and muscles and veins with a languid stupor, which the alcohol he'd consumed helped. He dipped the wash rag in the water and brought it back out, rung it out, folded it, and laid it across his eyes as he soaked for many moments. He began to relax to the point where he felt himself beginning to doze off in the tub.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
His head began to nod as he came closer and closer to sleep. Several moments passed, and he was startled back into complete consciousness by someone ringing his doorbell over and over again. He stood, and wrapped himself in a towel, heading down the hall just as Claire unlocked and opened his front door with the key he'd given her months earlier.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She looked at him like he'd just caught her doing something she shouldn't be doing. He crossed his arms over his bare chest and leaned against the bookcase next to the entrance to the hallway. He raised an eyebrow at her.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
"So that's why you wouldn't answer the door ... I wondered. Roger said you'd gone up ... thought maybe you'd decided I wasn't worth the effort of opening the door."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
"Oh, c'mon now, Claire ... I'm not that much of a cold-hearted bastard."</div>
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<br /></div>
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"I never said you were."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
"No...but your eyes were accusing me of it all night. You may as well have said it."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
"But I don't think it ... no, that's a lie ... yes, sometimes I wonder if you've got a heart when we're dealing with certain cases ... but then I see the way other cases effect you ... the way they ignite your passion and indignation."</div>
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<div>
"You have to know that I wouldn't push when I push if I didn't truly believe the defendant was guilty."</div>
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<div>
"But you --we've-- been wrong, Jack. Remember Hank Chappel?"</div>
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"Claire...that's why there are so many checks along the way ... appeals, etc."</div>
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"That's good enough for you?"</div>
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He nodded.</div>
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<div>
"And when we execute a Hank Chappel because the checks along the way didn't catch the truth?"</div>
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"The odds are against it ... and anyway, you know that far more guilty people walk than innocent people go to prison."</div>
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"Talk to me about odds when an innocent person is executed ... you'll feel differently ... I hope."</div>
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<div>
"Assumes facts not in evidence," he told her curtly, "At any rate ... if you came here to harangue me again about my lack of compassion and apparent blood-lust, I'd prefer to skip it ... I'll stipulate. One lecture a night is about all I can stand.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
He was baiting her, that much was obvious, out of hurt indignation, and she'd been taking the bait ever since she'd walked into the apartment. Instead of coming back at him, she moved closer, though they were still separated by several feet.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I actually came here to apologize."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
His eyebrow went up again.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Oh...don't look at me that way ... you know I'm not above apologizing or admitting when I've been wrong."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"So you're admitting it was wrong to jump all over me --or ignore me, more accurately -- for my 'treatment' of Leslie Harlan's mother?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I was wrong to let it effect our personal relationship, yes."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"But you still think I beat her up on cross."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She did, actually, but had decided on her way back to his place, that if she disagreed with him about something at work, she was going to attempt to leave the disagreement there.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I realized on my way home that the problem I'm having is what you said it was ... my inability to leave work at work. I've been letting what happens in the office or the courtroom affect what happens between us after work, and that was wrong of me. I realized that on some level I must expect something more from you in terms of my thoughts and opinions as they pertain to cases because of what we are to each other outside of the office. I've been taking it out on you when I should really have been looking at myself -- you're not treating me any differently than I demanded you treat me when we were first together." She drew several breaths before continuing. "So I'm sorry ... for keeping all this in and letting it fester and not discussing it with you before now ... sorry for taking my frustrations out on you ... and I'm sorry for the things I said tonight."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jack nodded his head in forgiveness. "I'm sorry for the things I said, too."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Claire smiled a small smile. "Great!" she exclaimed. "I'll let you go and get back to your shower."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Bath, actually."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Bath then," she laughed, heading for the door. "I'll call when I get home."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Aren't you forgetting something?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She turned around. "Hmmm? Oh...yeah.... G'night!"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Just 'G'night'?" he asked, feigning a pout. "I realize we were fighting until about 40 seconds ago... but I don't rate a goodnight kiss?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She closed the door, and began walking toward him. "Oh...well...I think I can manage ONE."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When she was in front of him, she laid her hands on his shoulders and stood on her toes to give him a rather chaste peck on the cheek.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"You call that a goodnight kiss?" he teased, reaching out to rest his hands on her hips.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Some people might have considered it strange that they could be in the middle of a verbal brawl at one moment, and in the next instant, gently teasing one another and acting as though nothing had happened, once an apology had been issued and accepted. To Jack and Claire, however, it seemed only natural that they made-up so easily after a spat, for the feelings they shared ran far deeper, were far stronger, than any conflict they might have.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Perhaps I need a refresher course," she said. "Know anyone?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I'm an excellent tutor," he informed her as he dipped his head and brushed his lips lightly against hers, then pressed closer, lightly nibbling on her lower lip for a moment until she felt his arms going around her, felt his damp skin even through the fabric of her blouse. The kiss grew deeper as his arms encircled her waist and her arms encircled his neck.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She pulled back, breathless, after she had opened her mouth to him, giving his tongue free access to plunder the recesses of her mouth at will. "You're getting me all wet," she told him, mind still reeling, as it almost always did, even now, at the intensity of his kiss.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He raised his eyebrows at her, going for the obvious innuendo in what she'd said. She slapped his chest lightly, "I meant because you haven't dried off yet ... get your mind out of the gutter."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Damn ... and here I was, getting my hopes up ..." he teased, dipping his head again to kiss the slight amount of skin below her neck that the 'v' of her blouse revealed. She shoved him back softly, so he hit the corner of the doorjamb behind him.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Dry off, you nut job ... then we'll talk," she laughed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He took her by the hand and started pulling her with him down the hall, "Talking wasn't what I had in mind."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She sat on the edge of the bed when they were in his bedroom, and he stood in front of her. She looked up at him, and that smoldering glaze had come over his eyes, fogging over with his desire. Leaning forward a bit, she let her arm fall, then reached out, letting her hand contact his leg just below the knee, maintaining eye contact. She began drawing her hand up his leg, stroking upward softly, reaching beneath the towel as her hand moved higher and higher still: something he was fond of doing to her when she wore a skirt or a dress.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As her hand moved ever higher on his inner thigh, she could see Jack's face as he prepared himself, anticipating the pleasure he knew would shortly come. She broke eye contact and brought her other hand around him, resting her palm against his back and leaned forward until she was pressing butterfly-light kisses against his abdomen. Jack closed his eyes as she nipped gently at the smooth flesh there.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To both their amusement, when she ran her tongue around the outskirts of his navel, then darted it in, his stomach began to grumble --they had been going to have dinner after a drink or two, before she'd left him in the bar, and so they hadn't eaten since lunch.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Laughing, Claire let her hands fall from Jack. "What? Did I activate the magical hunger button?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Must have," he joked, running a hand lightly over her silken hair. "My stomach never has been very co-operative. Mind of its own."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Do you have any food?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Do I ever?" he laughed. "Unless, of course, I've planned something special." In the little less than a year that they'd been together, the only times Jack's refrigerator had been full were the times she'd dragged him to the grocery store and forced him to shop ... when she'd had enough of the left-over take-out of various ethnicities that usually populated his fridge.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Chinese or pizza?" she asked, laughing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Pizza ... no ... we had Italian for lunch," he said. "Chinese."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Claire turned over and lay across the bed, reaching for the phone on the nightstand. She dialed the number of their favorite Chinese food place in Jack's neighborhood.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Ming's Pagoda," said the heavily accented voice.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Yes ... I'd like to place ..." suddenly, Claire gasped into the phone as she felt the bed sag beneath Jack's weight and he moved behind her, straddling her calves as he began to run his hands up along the sides of her legs, up beneath her skirt. She recovered quickly. "I'd like to place an order for delivery."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jack's hands continued up higher, drawing her skirt up as they went. He stopped when the skirt was midway up her thigh.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I'd like an order of ..." she paused again, concentration broken as he reached beneath the skirt and began to work her panties off her, her hips lifting as he pulled upward before sliding them down her thighs. She was determined to get the order in, however, and forced herself to concentrate even more, knowing Jack was pleased as punch with himself for so effectively destroying her concentration. "An order of sweet and sour shrimp, Mongolian beef ..."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She kicked lightly, playfully, at him as he tickled her feet when he'd paused to remove her heels so he could get the underwear all the way off of her. "Chicken lo-mein with the pan-fried crispy noodles, and an order of steamed rice."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jack was lightly kissing his away up the backs of her thighs as she gave the address and phone number to his place. Suddenly, he was straddling her behind, pushing her hair aside and kissing the back of her neck. She was in the middle of saying "thank you," when he took the phone from her hand and replaced the receiver in the cradle.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Hey!" she scolded as he turned her over, "Do you have any idea how difficult it is to NOT sound like a freak when you do that? I felt like telling the Chinese food guy, 'Don't mind me ... my boyfriend's just stripping me from the waist down,' just so he wouldn't think I was some desperate phone-sex operator who'd decided she was hungry."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"You kicked me, ya know," he told her, beginning to unbutton her blouse.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"You deserved it."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"A few inches to the left and you'd have permanently killed my sex-drive."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She cocked an eyebrow at him. "Narrowly averted tragedy."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The clasp on her bra was next, and he pushed the cups aside. Moving down, he kissed the space between her breasts and then he was lower, pushing her skirt up around her waist. Claire arched her back and then thrust her hips upward when she felt Jack's tongue beginning to move on her.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Jack... the delivery guy..."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
His response was to dart his tongue inside her even as he brought a hand up to rest his palm against her pelvis while his thumb began to massage her swollen jewel. All thought of protestation left her. He worked her into a frenzy with his mouth and tongue, driving her higher and higher until, after many moments of prolonged anticipatory ecstasy, she felt her body begin to shake as the pleasure rocked her body.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He was over her suddenly and she reached up, body still in spasm, and tugged at the towel around his waist. He lowered himself gently down on her, kissing her neck and face as he braced himself on one arm and ran the other hand over her breasts, feeling the nipples rise against his palm. He moved his hand and brushed his knuckles over her cheek, gazing down at her, eyes silently questioning. She nodded, her eyes smiling and bright in the near-dark room.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
His hand moved away from her face and she felt him guiding the tip of his hardened shaft to the entry of her female passage, felt him pressing against her, slipping inside her. They moaned together as he slid deeper into her, until he was embedded fully within her.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
They began to move together, pace quickly becoming frenzied as their bodies connecting over and over again brought them exquisite amounts of pleasure. After many moments of repeated thrusting, of soft moans and sighs and breathless exchanges of endearments, Jack felt a lightning bolt pass from his stomach to his loins and outward, shuddering his release and calling Claire's name as she, too, felt her body beginning to crest, felt herself tumbling over into the abyss of pleasure their bodies moving together always created.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
They lay together, spent, entwined in each other, kissing and caressing softly, Claire's partially clothed body draped over Jack's naked, prone frame until they heard the doorbell buzzing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I'll go," Claire chuckled, "Thanks to your interesting methods of seduction, I require less to be presentable than you do."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jack held her hand until she was too far away and he had to let go. "Get the money out of my wallet...it's in my pants in the bathroom," he called after her as she began walking down the hall, her skirt falling into place as she re-clasped her bra and began buttoning her blouse again.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Coming!" she called when the doorbell buzzed again.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She paid for the food with money from Jack's wallet, tipped the delivery guy, and closed the door behind her, carrying the bag into the kitchen.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Just bring the food back here," he called out to her.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Smiling slyly to herself, she pulled the bottle of diet Pepsi from the refrigerator, grabbed a couple of glasses, put them in the bag with the food, and carried the bag and soda bottle back into Jack's bedroom.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Didn't your mother ever teach you not to eat in bed?" she asked. In the time since she'd left the bedroom, he'd pulled the covers back and gotten into bed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"My mother told me not to do quite a number of things I do in bed ... you've never complained before..."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"You've got me there," she admitted jovially.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"No wine?" he asked as she poured them both a glass of diet Pepsi.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Nope...I've got to drive home later..."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Riiiiight...." he said, smiling at her, "It's a school night."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Yep."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"As penalty, I insist on co-ed naked dining in bed."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"As you wish."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Claire began removing her clothes as Jack took the take-out cartons out of the bag and set them on the nightstand. When Claire was nude, she crawled onto the bed next to him, straddled his lap above the sheet, and picked up a pair of the chopsticks. Jack had busied himself opening the cartons.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
They sat this way, talking, eating, and laughing for quite some time. At times, they'd eat out of the same carton, held by one or the other of them, sometimes eating out of separate cartons, sometimes feeding each other (not the simplest of tasks with chopsticks) from the carton they each held. During one of the sharing incidences, a noodle from the lo-mein slipped from Claire's chopsticks and landed on Jack's chest and fell lower. Claire reached down and gingerly extracted the noodle and dropped it into her mouth.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"The noodle's taken care of," said Jack, a mischievous grin on his face, "What about the sauce?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Claire picked up a napkin and dabbed Jack's chest and abdomen.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I was hoping you'd take the hint and lick it off."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I know you were," she teased.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jack set his carton on the nightstand, took Claire's from her and set it next to his, then reached up to cup her face in his hands.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Guess we're done eating?" Claire asked, feigning innocence.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Guess so," said Jack softly as he drew her face down and raised his to meet it, brushing his lips against hers.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Claire pushed him back and held him at bay with her arms. "Fortune cookies first."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jack grabbed the bag containing the fortune cookies. "Your choice."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Claire picked one up and cracked it open, crumbs from the broken cookie landing on Jack's chest.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Watch the crumbs," he told her mock-sternly as he withdrew one of the other cookies and broke into it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"You will prosper financially," Claire read. "Dammit...I always get the stupid ones!"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Everything will now come your way," Jack read.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Rather cryptic...everything good, or everything bad....or everything in general?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"It's a fortune cookie...it means everything good," said Jack as he set the slip of paper aside, cupped Claire's face in his hands again and said, "Don't know what else could come my way ... I've got everything good I need right here," before crushing his lips against hers.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"You're pretty smooth when you want to be," she said breathlessly.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"You liked that one, did you?" he asked, smiling as he turned the tables on her and rolled her beneath him.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She nodded her head against the mattress, "I did."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He bent his head and kissed the side of her neck, "Thought you might."</div>
</span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*****</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">An hour later, they stood in the shower, Jack massaging the shampoo into Claire's scalp with his fingers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"You know," he commented, "This is the third time I've bathed today. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm about to sprout gills. But I'd never pass up the chance to get you in the shower.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire laughed. "Glad to hear it"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He tilted her head back gently, and worked the suds from her hair, then conditioned it, and rinsed again. When he was finished, he wrapped his arms around her upper arms and held her close to him. She laid her cheek against his chest and he bent to kiss the top of her head, and lower, to kiss her temple.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I love you," he whispered above the noise of the running water.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She tilted her head back and kissed beneath his chin, "I love you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack reached and turned off the water, and pulled Claire out of the shower with him. He slicked his hair back, wrapped her in a towel, wrapped himself in one, picked up another to towel-dry her hair, then used his brush to brush out her hair.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When they were dry, they dressed, and Jack walked with Claire down to her car. She leaned against her car with her feet in front of her on the side walk as Jack stood in front of her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"We've got more of the Harlan case tomorrow," said Jack.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire nodded.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"We gonna repeat tonight all over again?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Nope."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"You didn't let me specify which part of tonight I was talking about."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Doesn't matter. I don't plan on fighting two nights in a row. And tomorrow night, I want Mexican."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Is that right?" he asked, moving in, smiling, she dodged him and headed over to the driver's side of the car.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack followed her, caught her at the door and hugged her close kissing her once before releasing her and letting her open the door. "Call me when you get home."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I will," she said, resting her palm on his cheek before letting it drop. She kissed his cheek before saying, "Love you... g'bye," and getting in her car.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He watched her drive off then turned and went back into his building, to await the call saying she'd arrived home safely. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">*end*</span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-79965537235585859062013-01-15T07:40:00.000-08:002013-02-05T15:04:34.485-08:00Blister in the Sun (New Material!)<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Jack McCoy woke to a pleasant tightness in his stomach and the sensation of something warm and wet tugging at him. He’d been having a lusty dream about his girlfriend of several months, Claire Kincaid. Even in his sleep he couldn’t get enough of her. He shifted and noticed weight on his legs. As the fog of sleep receded, he recognized the various sensations. He sighed happily, then moaned, and Claire raised her head to look at him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He actually thought <i>“speechless”</i> as he looked at her. Her hair was mussed, partly from sleep, but mostly from their romp through his apartment and over the bed the previous evening. Eyes half closed, she held her mouth slightly open, lips swollen and wet. His breath caught in his chest. “Jesus,” he managed, finally.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Keep going?” she asked throatily, dipping her head again at his swift nod. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It didn’t take long. Afterward, she held him in her mouth until the last tiny spasm. Smiling, she tucked him back into his pajama pants before rising up and fitting herself into the contours of his limp, sated body. When he could manage a coherent thought, let alone draw a full breath, he queried, “Mmmmmmm. What’d I do to deserve that?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire chuckled, then propped herself up on his chest to look at him. “I can think of about 87 reasons from last night alone.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally able to move, he reached to stroke her hair. “Oh yeah? Pick one, and describe it in detail.” His grin could only be described as rakish. “The dirtier the better,” he added. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Hmmmm. How about when you had me leaning over the arm of the sofa, my panties pulled aside, two fingers stroking all the way in, all the way out, rubbing my g-spot each time they were deep inside me, stroking my clit between each thrust.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Wasn’t that right before you begged me, rather loudly, to ‘stop teasing me, dammit, and fuck me, Jack!’?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Oh, yes.” she said, toying with the hair on his chest. “Just exquisitely maddening.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Noted.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Keeping track, are we, counselor?” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Mmmhmmm. Forever cataloging the things that get you off.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“It’s a pretty long list, and we’re still just gettin’ started … are you writing them down?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack chuckled and kissed her head. “Absolutely shameless … one of the things I love about you.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He turned to his side and began lightly stroking her body. She sighed happily before answering him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Benefit of spending my adolescent years in boarding school, and not among Jesuits: No hair shirts or self-flagellation for enjoying the pleasures of the flesh. They just told us good girls ‘don’t’ … I always thought “don’t get caught’ sounded like a lot more fun. There’s some wiggle room when you aren’t worried about facing hellfire and damnation.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire stretched in Jack’s arms, and then relaxed into him, luxuriating in the languid feel of his hands on her body through her tank top and pajama bottoms, coupled with bolts of electricity flying through her whenever his fingers met skin. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“My good fortune,” he told her, leaning in to trail his lips along her ear. “I’ve never met another woman who was so …”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Horny?” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He chuckled. “Well, yes, that. But I was going to say ‘who gave herself over to passion as thoroughly as you‘, or with such a variety of appetites. You realize you’re every teenage boy’s wet dream?” He was taking care not to directly touch her breasts, only letting his knuckles graze the sides or underneath as he stroked her arm and abdomen. He stroked lower, over her belly, along her inner thigh, again only letting his thumb lightly graze close to her pussy. Claire arched trying to meet his hand, but he slid it up over her stomach, “You really are incredible.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Partly your fault, you know. If you weren’t so good with your hands, I wouldn’t need them all over me all the time.” She wrapped her leg around him, and he moved his leg until he could feel the heat of her pussy against his thigh.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“All over you? I think there are a few spots you need me to touch more than others. And not just with my hands.” He murmured against her neck, still stroking her, still not touching those few spots. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Mmmmhmmm,” she sighed. “I wish you’d touch them now.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I know you do. But you’re so much fun to tease,” he told her, kissing the base of her neck. Her pulse was racing, breath shallow, and she’d begun to move against his leg. “I wonder …”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Hmmmm?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What you would do if I told you I was too hungry for breakfast, now that I’m satisfied, to return the favor?” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You wouldn’t!?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Hypothetically … what if I did?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Well then, I’d send you out for bagels and take a really long shower.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">His eyebrows shot up and he nipped beneath her chin. “Oh, really?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Are you shocked? How do you think I made it through all of those months of flirting with you?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I never really thought about it, but with your sex drive … hmmmm, now I’m intrigued,” he trailed one finger around her taut nipple through her top, delighting as her body spasmed in response, before returning to the teasing, languid strokes. “How, exactly, did you survive?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“The occasional cold shower … and rampant masturbation.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Occasionally she delightfully blindsided him. “How rampant?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Daily … at least.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire felt Jack jerk involuntarily at her admission.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’m going to have a lot of fun working this into my overall view of Claire Kincaid,” he told her, letting his thumb stroke down the seam of her pajama bottoms, feeling her heat, just for a moment, watching her eyes flutter closed, then shoot open to look directly into his. “It makes perfect sense, now that I know the rigors of keeping up with your libido.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Feeling overworked?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“On the contrary,” he sighed against her neck, drawing her tighter against him “It seems I can’t get enough of you.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“That works out wonderfully for me.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’ve noticed you don’t complain.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“My only complaint, if you could even call it that,” she said, arching toward his teasing hand sliding over her pelvis, “would be that courtroom chairs are very hard. Noticeably more so after an evening with you. And particularly on Mondays”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Ha!” he chuckled. “I have occasionally noticed a little hitch in your step. Particularly on Mondays.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“And I don’t complain… because it’s fucking worth it.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Fucking right. But I want to back up a little bit, here, Claire.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Oh?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You didn’t think I’d let you drop a bombshell like daily-at-least masturbation and think I wouldn’t, uh, probe further?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Excellent stylistic choice, there, Mr. McCoy.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Nice evasion, Ms. Kincaid. Should I ask the court for permission to treat the witness as hostile?” He asked, lips against her throat, hand sliding between her thighs to cup her pussy, pressing, giving her a taste of what she wanted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Oh, yes, please,” she purred.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You are incorrigible.” His hand trailed away, slid up her body, to her neck. He tilted her head back and claimed her mouth with his own. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When she broke the kiss to breathe, she replied, “I think ‘insatiable’ might be the more appropriate word. Especially since I met you. But, OK, I’ll give. What do you want to know?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">‘Everything!” Even he thought he sounded too enthusiastic. He breathed for a moment, tempered his tone. “Tell me where. In the shower?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Sometimes. Sometimes in bed in the mornings, when I’d wake up in a sweat, all worked up, after dreaming about you. Sometimes on my couch, imagining you taking me on the couch in your office. In the ladies room at Hogan Place, after a case conference with you hard-assing the defense. Once even in the ladies room outside Part 49, because you touched my shoulder and leaned close to whisper in my ear, and after that, I couldn’t concentrate on the case. I just kept imagining you bending me over the bar table.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’ve had moments like those, too. Somehow, I managed to refrain from scratching that itch in the office,” he chuckled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Maybe if you had, you wouldn’t have needed to walk around with a strategically placed case file.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You noticed that?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Yep. I even noticed the bulge before you could cover it up once or twice.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“If I had been able to see such obvious and apparently frequent evidence of your reaction to me, I might have stepped up my game plan.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I love how you always try to spin it like I’m not the one who made the first pass.” She kissed his neck as he slid his hand beyond her hip, down the back of her thigh, then slowly back up again. “Don’t think your very obvious attraction to me didn’t inspire a trip to the ladies’ room.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“This just keeps getting better. I have to admit, though, I’m a little surprised you were able to stay quiet enough not to cause a scandal.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I can be quiet,” she told him. He actually snorted. “Hey, I can! But why bother if I don’t have to?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You realize from now on I’m going to wonder if you’re heading to the bathroom to get yourself off whenever you excuse yourself at the office, right?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Better keep a case file handy.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Yeah, no joke. Like that image isn’t a concentration killer.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You wanted to know.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Believe me, Claire, I’m not the least bit sorry I asked.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Trips to the ladies’ don’t happen very frequently anymore. Not now that I know you’re likely to fuck me senseless after the work day is done.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I love that it still happens at all.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Can’t help it. You’ll look at me a certain way, or there’ll be certain tone in your voice, or a particular movement of your hand … and it’s like my brain just short circuits. I’m toast unless I can scratch that itch. I haven’t felt like that since I was a raging ball of teenage hormones.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Trust me, I do know the feeling. I usually have a little more self-mastery. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve needed the case file trick.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">His hand was working its way beneath her clothes now. Still just teasing, his fingertips grazed the under side of her breasts, slipped down the back of her pajamas, squeezed her ass, then lightly trailed her outer labia. Characteristically, she arched back, trying for more pressure, more friction. And then the hand was gone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I just remembered one time in particular I think you’ll enjoy hearing about,” she sighed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“One of the trips to the ladies’ room?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Way to fixate, McCoy.” she laughed. “No … I was at home, but you did play an integral part. And not just in my imagination, either.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Please, go on,” he urged, pushing her to her back, working her tank top up to expose her breasts. He traced around them, avoiding the nipples, aching now for his fingers, his tongue, even his teeth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“It was late; I was working on a witness prep for an interview the next morning. I didn’t think I was particularly horny. Then my phone rang. You’d lost track of time working on a closing, didn’t realize it was almost midnight when you called to ask for me help getting past a sticky section.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He bent his head to kiss between her breasts. His hair brushed against a nipple and she jerked involuntarily. The slight touch was almost more than she could bear, and yet she wanted so much more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Your voice in my ear … it sounded so … intimate. I could almost feel your breath on my neck, your lips. I didn’t even realize what I was doing at first, but then my blouse was open, I was playing with my nipples. Then my jeans were open, and my hand was in my panties. The minute I started to play with my clit, you busted me, said my voice sounded funny, wondered if I was catching something.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He’d been turned on by their conversation since it began, but, sated, he’d yet to become erect again. Her last words changed that. He felt his cock twitch back to life, begin to stiffen. He remembered the phone call she was talking about.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I thought for sure you could tell, and at first I stopped, feeling embarrassed that you’d think of me like that, even if it were true.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I had no idea … I’d know, now, because I know your tells, but I was totally oblivious then.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Mmmhmmm, and then the thought after that was how hot it would be, you listening to me, imagining me, at that moment. Then I thought of you there, in the room, watching, and I had to muffle the phone so you wouldn’t hear me cum.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“If memory serves, you told me you’d gone to rescue something boiling over on the stove.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Something was definitely burning … just not in my kitchen.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He’d moved so that he was able to work her pajama bottoms off of her, spreading her legs and settling himself on his knees between them. He slid a hand up each thigh, running both thumbs along her outer lips, parting them to expose her, avoiding the touch he knew she most craved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I think you like telling me about this … you should see how slick and swollen your pussy is right now.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Jesus, Jack, you’re driving me crazy. I want …”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I know exactly what you want,” he told her. “My tongue, here” as he tweaked her clit between thumb and forefinger. “My fingers in here,” as he circled his finger around her hole. “Or maybe you want my cock inside you, deep, and hard, and fast.” He was back to just teasing her outer lips, enjoying watching her writhe and twist to angle for more direct contact. “But knowing your greedy little pussy, I’m guessing the real answer is ‘all of the above’.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He relented then, before she could voice a reply. He sucked her clit into his mouth, drummed his tongue against it as two fingers slid home, finding her g-spot. And when the first ragged moan escaped from her throat, he stopped just as suddenly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“No!” she whimpered, wanting, needing him to continue with every fiber of her being.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He covered her body with his and plundered her mouth. She could taste herself on him, and that excited her even more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Please,” she pleaded, eyes fogged with need, willing him forward.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He shook his head. “I want to see.” He kissed her again. “I know how worked up you are. I want to watch you scratch that itch.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You’ve seen me touch myself before. Maybe not to completion, but when I’m on top, or when you’re fucking me from behind.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Or when you know I’m about go off, and you want to time your orgasm with mine.” He’d begun moving against her, every so slightly, enjoying the friction of her heated sex rubbing against his still hardening cock. “I know. Somehow it’s not quite the same. I‘m a guy, we’re visual, what can I say? My very own peep-show … the idea is very, very appealing.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She hooked her feet behind the backs of his thighs to give her leverage to grind against him. Soon, the very thin fabric of his pajama bottoms was soaked from her wetness. She snaked her hands up into his hair, manipulating his head so that she could kiss his neck. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather have that big, hard cock, inside my hot, dripping cunt?” She whispered in his ear, then nipped his lobe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack jerked against her, cursed her sharp little teeth, praised her filthy mouth, but his resolve was unshaken. “Nice try … I know that’s what you want. And maybe after, I’ll give it to you, but first …” He eased himself off of her, sat back, and looked at her expectantly, one eyebrow raised, a smile teasing at his lips. “Well?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"It’s put up or shut up time, now Claire,"</i> she told herself. <i>"You started this game … you’ve wanted exactly this for months. Why are you suddenly so shy?"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Coy looks adorable on you,” he told her. “Even if you are a big faker. C’mon, Claire. I don’t think you would’ve told me all of this, about getting off on the phone thinking about me watching, if deep down, you didn’t want to show me.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I do … it’s just so … personal. Nobody’s ever watched me before.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He leaned over her again, kissed her neck, beneath her chin, and then her mouth. He brought his hand to her pussy, stroked her clit, stoking her fire. “I know how badly you want to cum.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“God, yes,” she moaned, moving with his hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Suddenly, he thought of something that might make her a bit less nervous. “Would it help if we began with me telling you what to do?” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She gasped and nodded against his shoulder.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Leaning back on his feet again, he said softly, “Why don’t you sit up and prop yourself up on some pillows?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She did as he suggested, and also removed the tank top he’d earlier pushed up. While she arranged herself, he re-positioned himself so that he was sitting on the edge of the bed, one foot on the floor, the other leg bent on the bed. He rested his chin in his hand and his elbow on his knee. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Comfortable?” he asked her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She blushed, hesitated a moment, then nodded </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Jack sat up and dropped his hand to her thigh, stroking lightly. His hand, as always, felt like a bolt of electricity when it touched her, yet soothing somehow. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He opened with “Close your eyes.” They fluttered closed. “Do you usually play with your nipples?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She nodded.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Show me how you like to play with your nipples.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With her eyes closed, it was easier. Jack’s voice was low, yet firm. Claire’s right hand fluttered up to her collar bone, first, then, tentatively, trailed down to her left breast. She spasmed as her palm passed over her nipple, arched backward, moved her hand lower to cup her breast, beginning to stroke her nipple with her thumb. She captured it between her thumb and forefinger, pinching, twisting, and then switching suddenly to the right nipple so her left hand could replace it. She tweaked them both simultaneously, then pinched, twisted, pulled a little, then backed off, stroked around them, squeezed the flesh beneath them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack noticed her hips were beginning to move against his bed. <i>"Interesting," </i>he thought to himself, taking note. <i>"She even teases herself." </i>Then she surprised him again, capturing each nipple between thumb and forefinger, pinching, pulling, clearly harder than he’d ever done. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire moaned, arched her back, bit her lip, and whimpered just a little. He leaned forward, kissed her and she answered his insistent tongue with her own. He pulled back, said, “look at me, Claire.” Her eyes opened, she was still biting her lower lip. Voice ragged and low, he asked, “would you like me to do it that hard?” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She nodded, pinched again, twisted, and pulled. Her breath caught, and she held it in, absorbing the pain that turned into pleasure as she released her breath in short, panting gasps. Her eyes slid closed for a moment, but she opened them. Jack’s look of naked lust and appreciation emboldened her. Keeping her left hand at her breasts, her right began its journey down her torso, eyes trained on Jack’s all the while. He smiled at her, nodded his approval. He’d known, once she started, she wouldn’t need much prodding. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He watched her fingers, those elegant fingers that had the power to distract him at the most inopportune moment, slide over her belly, her pelvis, until she was pressing her hand against her pussy. She gasped and circled her hips against her palm, and he watched her middle finger disappear into her cleft to stroke her clit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She cried out and his eyes flew back to her face. Her mouth was open now, emitting moans and sighs of pleasure, as she kept her eyes on him. Jack shook his head at her, exhaling heavily through his nostrils, and said, “Fuck, that‘s sexy.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She nodded at him, a crooked smile playing at one edge of her mouth. She gasped, and his eyes flew back to her hand. She’d shifted upward slightly, tracing slow circles around her clit. He glanced upward and her left hand was still dexterously tweaking and pinching her nipples. The finger on her clit began to circle faster and faster, hips bucking beneath the ministrations of her hand. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack took mental notes as he watched her. Her breath was hard, ragged, shallow. Her eyes were still focusing on him, but half lidded and dark, her face and chest flushed. He knew she was close, if she moved her finger just a little bit faster she’d crest and he’d be watching her shudder and call out her release. Knowing her penchant for begging him to relent and let her cum when he had her thusly teetering, he fully expected she’d have an orgasm momentarily.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">His eyes twinkled as he nodded, urging her to cum. She smiled thinking, <i>“He thinks I want to cum now.” </i> She shook her head, told him, “Not yet.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He might have known she’d surprise him. His eyebrow shot up. “If that were my hand, you’d be begging me not to tease you.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Her lips curled into a smile again, “I could get it over with right now.” Her voice was husky and slightly short of breath. “I thought you might want more of a show.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He smiled now at how she’d demurred, made him coax her into it, and then almost immediately gave over to the pleasure. This wasn’t the first time he’d considered that being “coaxed” into doing things she wanted to do was part of what was hot for her - as if being coaxed allowed her to more fully surrender to the pleasure. He was happy to play it that way if she wanted. Hell, he was happy to play it <i>any</i> way she wanted. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He leaned over to rest one hand on the bed on her side farthest from him. “Well,” he reasoned, his other hand moving to capture the nipple she was neglecting, squeezing hard, “It’s not as though you’re one and done.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">His mouth closed over hers and he pinched again. She gasped, and then met the demands of his mouth, involuntarily speeding up the pace of her fingers. When he sat away from her again, she was panting. “No … it’s … not,” she managed between breaths.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Her hand slid lower and she watched his eyes staring transfixed as her middle and ring fingers disappeared into her pussy. She held her hand still, grinding her hips so that her fingers churned inside her and her clit rubbed against the heel of her hand. When at last she needed more, she started pumping her fingers in and out. Soon, her index finger joined in and her eyes were sliding closed as the sensations overtook her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack’s cock had gone from stiffening to rock solid. As Claire’s first orgasm washed over, he moved his hand between his own legs to begin rubbing his erection with his palm. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Still twitching, eyes closed, her left hand joined her right, replacing the fingers in her pussy so those of her right hand could resume furiously circling her clit. Her eyes flew open and she took him in: watching her, appreciation and desire naked on his face; appreciation and desire made more obvious by the hard cock in his hand, which he was now openly stroking, freed from the bonds of fabric. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Yes … again … now,” she panted, and then she was tumbling over into the abyss of pleasure once more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She was still trembling with the aftershocks of her second orgasm when Jack was over her. ‘Pounced’ was the best way to describe his movement as he gripped her wrists and drew them over her head, drawing her lips into a frenzied kiss. He positioned himself just right and Claire felt that first piercing stab of pleasure as he buried himself inside her. He stilled himself long enough to slide his hands from her wrists so they were palm to palm with hers, feeling the last trembles of her orgasm contract around him. She wrapped her fingers through his. He closed his hands around hers, and gruffly said her name as she began to rock herself against him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He began to move then, slow, agonizing strokes, pulling almost completely out before sliding fully home. After several of these tantalizingly slow strokes, Claire began thrusting against him, urging him to increase his pace. Instead, he stilled himself, pinioning her hips to the bed with his, preventing her movement. When he felt her relax, he began the long, slow strokes again and immediately she began thrusting faster only to find her hips pinned, motionless, once more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She knew he was purposefully teasing her, and admonished, “Dammit, Jack, just fuck me!”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Instead, he pulled out of her and began sliding the shaft of his cock along the outside of her pussy, delighting in her little whimper of “no” as he left her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“MmmmMmmm,” he shook his head at her. “Remember the catalog? Let’s review this morning’s entries.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">His right hand trailed down her arm, along her side until he could cup her breast. He stroked her nipple with his thumb, and then captured it, pinching hard. Claire inhaled sharply through her teeth and squirmed against him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Like that?” he asked, and added, “Yeah,” as she nodded. He pinched sharply again, dipping his head to tease the other nipple with his lips. He took the stiffened nub between his teeth and nipped hard enough to make her cry out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">His hand slipped between them to tease her further, stoke her fire, and keep her on that edge as he began to lay out his evidence, like points in a closing argument. “You make a lot of noise when you want to cum, order me not to tease you, beg me … you were doing it just this morning, and then 30 seconds later when you had the opportunity to make yourself cum, you looked me right in the eye and shook your head, teased yourself some more, made sure I saw how hard you worked your nipples.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire’s stomach flipped over, the way it had those many months ago on the phone, when she thought Jack must’ve known she was touching herself: the slight tinge of embarrassment from him <i>*knowing*</i> feeding into the great, gnawing, want. He leaned into bite her nipple again, and then kissed his way up to her neck. His hand on her pussy stilled. He held it there, palm pressing against her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I think you like the edge, Claire, when I keep you there, teetering. I think you like to be talked into things you already know you want to do. I think you like to have to beg for it.” Her pussy contracted - he felt it even from the outside. Even though she’d already had an orgasm - two - the need was becoming unbearable. He’d given her just enough to make her notice the emptiness when he left her, and that emptiness was beginning to ache. “And then when I finally give it to you, you want it hard, rough even, to hurt just a little.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was true. All of it. And it was what she wanted right fucking now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Please,” she implored him, arching against his hand. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Admit it,” Jack pressed, repositioning himself on he knees. He gripped Claire’s waist with both hands and guided himself into her, holding her firmly still. “Admit that you like it when I tease you, when I make you beg,” His breath was hot against her ear, “Admit it, and I’ll give you what you want, exactly the way you want it.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Yes! Yes! Please!” she cried.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Don’t say it like you’re just saying it because you need to cum … say it like you know it’s true, because you‘re making me do it right now.” He demanded, with that maddening -and damn sexy- smirk on his face.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bastard! “Yes, god, please, Jack” she pleaded, “It’s true, all of it!”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Propping himself up on one arm, he moved the other hand to painfully tweak her nipple. Keeping up the pressure, he pulled back and thrust swiftly, forcefully, forward. Her breath caught, her mouth open, but soundless, for the first few thrusts. As he moved harder, faster, her eyes closed and she gripped his shoulders, dug her fingers into his flesh, and began to cry out. The pitch of her moans was low, guttural, but loud. He shifted his hand to the other nipple, pinched hard, and twisted a little. And then she was no longer on the edge, but falling into an abyss of blinding light and body-wracking pleasure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He kept moving, riding the waves of her orgasm, until it was over and she was thrusting against him rather than bucking and jerking. She drew her legs up, hooked her ankles together around the backs of his thighs and met each fierce, pounding thrust. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“God, I love fucking you like this,” he confessed, lips against her ear, breath hot and demanding. He was getting close. “Look at me.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Her eyes opened. “Please … harder,” she implored him, “Fuck me harder.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He did, and he knew he wasn’t going to last much longer at this pace. He ceased tormenting her nipples to draw her hand down between them, pressing her fingers against her clit which she furiously began to rub. “God, Claire … hurry, please … I don’t think …”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Her first contraction gripped him so tightly it almost hurt, but then they were spasms, tightening and releasing. Jack cried out, his moans joining hers as the waves took them both.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Afterward, he rolled away, capable of no more than that. They lay for some time, unable to move even to snuggle closer, connected simply by her hand holding his between her breasts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally, Claire rolled to fit herself into the curves of his side, resting her head on his shoulder, palm against his chest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Holy fuck,” she breathed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Well, it is Sunday,” he joked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire snorted and began to giggle. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“It wasn’t that funny,” he said, feigning seriousness.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Hey, you scrambled my brain and turned it to mush, low brow humor is about all I can manage … cut me some slack”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Now you’re making me hungry”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As if to bolster his case, his stomach growled. Then hers did. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Oh, god, competing appetites. I’m starving but I’m too well-fucked to move.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Ha, I know the feeling. I think *I* might find the court room seats too hard tomorrow,” he chuckled. He was stroking her hair. “So tell me, Ms. Kincaid,”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Hmmm …. Yes?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Did I balance the scales? Is the favor sufficiently returned?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Oh, god,” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’,” he said with smug satisfaction. And then, “Jesus, you’re amazing.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You just played me like a maestro … credit where credit is due.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“True,” he reasoned, “But it helps that you’re so much fun to play.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This time Claire’s stomach growled first. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Ok, ok, we get it” he said, laughing as he swung himself out of bed. “My turn to make breakfast, why don’t you hop in the shower? If you can move, that is.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Screw you, McCoy,” she laughed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You just did!” He slipped into the newer of the robes on the back of his door. He’d eventually had to buy himself another, as Claire had lain claim to his. He’d intended the new one for her - his old one was worn and he’d -badly- sewn a pocket that had ripped. But she’d insisted he take the new one. It didn’t smell like him yet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When she joined him in the kitchen, in his old robe, the coffee was already brewing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Hey, stranger” she greeted. He held his arms open and she walked into a hug. He kissed the top of her head and moved away to start pulling things from the fridge for breakfast. “Coffee first, then shower.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Sounds like the proper order of things,” he smiled. “Pancakes or eggs and toast?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What, no bagels?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">His eyebrow shot up. “Do I need to go out for some?” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I didn’t just come for coffee … I was going to let you know I might be a little longer in the shower this morning.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He shook his head and laughed, pride and awe both clearly present. “Really?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Hmmmm, unless you think ... ?” and she reached beneath his robe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He was still too sensitive, and he jumped, avoiding her hand. “No way, Kincaid, I think he may be out of service for the day.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“That is a travesty,”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Well, at least for the morning.” He smiled, eyes dancing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire gave over, “I think I’ll survive … honestly, I’m a little overly-sensitive too.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The coffee maker beeped, indicating it was finished brewing. Jack moved to pour them each a cup, let her fix hers the way she wanted. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Pancakes,” she said, answering the earlier question. “I love the way you make them.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Pancakes it is,” he said as she padded out of the kitchen to shower.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #ead1dc; color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">* * * * *</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She’d been teasing about taking a longer shower this morning, but she made the mistake of running through their encounter as she soaped and conditioned her hair. Jack was good - really, really fucking good - at reading her, at giving her what she wanted, and knowing when he shouldn’t. They didn’t always play these games, many times their sex was pretty straight-forward. Hot, intense, often tending a little toward raunchy, but less intellectual, more physical. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But when they played like they had this morning, -<i>"Jesus,"</i> she thought, "<i>he drives me crazy …and it makes me cum so hard.”</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She turned to face the stream now that her hair was clean, and the warm water spraying from the shower head stung her still tingling nipples. Her pussy twitched at the memory of the sharp pain of Jack’s fingers, the even sharper bite of his teeth. Unable to resist, she reached with both hands to tweak the still sensitive peaks. A ragged moan escaped her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No man had ever inspired this brain-melting lust in her. As much time as the spent having sex, it never felt like enough. She wondered sometimes if the fact that they had to be so proscribed about their relationship at work, while spending so much time together, increased the tension, made the need for him even more. Then again, even on mornings like these when he’d spent a good hour getting her off several times, she couldn’t get enough. It was a desire that seemed to feed on itself, like the flame of a burning candle endlessly drawing fuel from its wick.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She answered the suddenly urgent need with her fingers, eyes fluttering closed. She was so lost in the sensation she hadn’t heard Jack come into the bathroom. He stood for a moment, pleased with himself that he’d guessed right as he took in the sight of her through the shower door. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He startled her when he opened it. She opened her mouth to protest the interruption- more from shock than embarrassment, until she took in the length of him, noting that he was more than ready to take over where she’d left off.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I thought you said …?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Turns out you’re more … inspirational … than I realized.” He told her, stepping in, pulling her slick, naked body against his. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Oh yeah?” she moved suggestively against him, delighting as he jerked against her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Mmmmhmmmm … I was beating the eggs when I started remember the look on your face as you slid your fingers inside you. I finished making the batter and then had this very vivid image of you in the shower, doing what I just found you doing … and well, it’s hard to concentrate with a boner.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“My lucky day,” she said as he turned her to face the shower door and moved behind her. She bent forward slightly and gripped hold of the door frame. Jack slid home with ease. No pretense this time, just short, swift thrusts. Still holding the door with one hand, Claire moved the other between her legs, driving herself higher. She came first, the spasms of her orgasm wringing Jack’s from him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Mmmmm, that’s better,” he breathed against her ear as he slid out of her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Much better,” she said, turning to him, a well-sated smile on her face. They kissed deeply for a few minutes, and finally Claire pulled away. She laid her head against Jack’s chest, and wrapped her arms around him. After a moment, she looked up at him, and this time their stomachs rumbled in unison. She laughed, “About those pancakes?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“No way I’m leaving you alone in this shower again, Kincaid. I want to eat sometime before dinner.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She laughed with him. “Fine, you finish showering, I’ll go make our pancakes.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Deal”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*end*</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-13485207862190361792012-11-24T20:35:00.000-08:002012-11-25T10:19:44.240-08:00Paddles - (New Material!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/11667193/homepage/name/homepage.jpg?type=sn" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/11667193/homepage/name/homepage.jpg?type=sn" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Do you want another drink, Jack?” Claire Kincaid asked as she downed the rest of her scotch. They’d shared a bottle of wine with dinner and with the glass of scotch she‘d just polished off, she had a nice buzz going.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Sure” Jack McCoy replied. “If you’re buying.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire smiled and nodded her head. Grabbing her purse, she kissed Jack on the cheek and headed to the bar. Jack polished off his drink as he watched her disappear into the crowd. He rested his head against the booth and closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the alcohol warm his chest. Now that he had a moment to concentrate, he noticed the singer strumming her guitar on the club’s little stage was pretty good. Not his usual kind of music, but her voice was lovely and she played well. He let the music wash over him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Miss me?” Claire asked as she slid next to him in the booth. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Of course.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I missed you, too” she told him, eyes smoldering at him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack recognized the look and leaned in to kiss her. He’d intended a quick kiss, but Claire snaked her hand behind his neck and opened her mouth to him. Intrigued at her boldness in the middle of a crowded bar, he darted his tongue into her mouth. Claire felt her stomach flip, the way it always did when Jack kissed her this way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Mmmmmmm” she sighed as she broke their kiss. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What’s gotten into you?” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Ashamed of a little PDA, Jack?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Hell no. You just made me the envy of every man in this bar.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire laughed and snuggled against Jack as he draped his arm around her shoulder. “She’s good!” Claire commented as her right hand dropped to Jack’s leg . They sat quietly sipping their drinks, listening to the music. Claire’s hand started rubbing circles along his inner thigh. Her hand slid slowly upward. When her fingers reached their destination she stroked him lightly through his pants. Jack felt his cock stir. He gasped softly and reached for Claire’s hand. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“That’s more than a little PDA, Claire,” he scolded, the corners of his eyes crinkling with his smile. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Worried someone will notice?” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’d rather not have to walk out of here with an obvious erection, and I don’t think this booth is secluded enough for a hand job.” He kissed her quickly and let go of her hand. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire responded by immediately resuming. She felt Jack’s cock jump beneath her touch, and smiled at him wickedly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> “You’re being a very naughty girl, Ms. Kincaid.” He said, trying to sound stern. “Keep it up, and when we get home I might just take you over my knee.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire laughed and continued her torture. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You think I’m joking?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I think by the time you get me home, I’ll have you so worked up you’ll forget about everything except how much you want to be inside me.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Both of Jack’s eyebrows shot up and he smiled hugely. She was challenging him brazenly and the seed of a plan was forming in his mind. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Finish your scotch, Claire.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*****</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She continued to tease him throughout the cab ride home. Each time he moved her hand, she moved it back. It took all his willpower to not become fully erect. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He paid the cab fare as Claire darted into their building to avoid the rain. Jack joined her in the lobby and they headed up in the elevator to the apartment they shared - the apartment that had been left to Claire by her grandmother several years before Jack moved in with her shortly after they’d been dating for a year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the elevator Jack pulled Claire to him and crushed her mouth with his. Emboldened by their privacy, Claire reached between them to begin stroking Jack through his pants again. He groaned against her mouth as she felt him harden beneath her hand. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You’re in trouble now,” he told her, voice ominous, but with, a lopsided grin on his face.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’m quaking in my shoes.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You should be,” he retorted playfully. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the foyer they removed their coats and hung them in the closet. Claire moved to Jack and wrapped her arms around him. She pressed her body to his and kissed him. For a moment he kissed back, but then he </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">brought his hands up to grip her upper arms and pushed her against the wall behind her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What was your plan again?” he asked her, face an inch from hers. “Get me rock hard so I’d throw you against the wall and fuck you the minute we walked in the door?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“It seems to be working so far…”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Seems to be.” he chuckled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He pressed himself against her and kissed her again, bringing his hands up to her shoulders, then lower to cup her breasts. Claire shuddered as his fingers began to toy with her nipples. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He brought his hands back up to her face. She opened her eyes to find his staring at her. “I want to play a game - like one we’ve played before,” he said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Game?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’m in charge, ok?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Oh, that one,“ she breathed, thinking of the time he’d tied her up and teased her into a frenzy before giving her a mind-blowing orgasm - several, in fact. They had played that game a few times in the intervening months, changing up the script but with similar choreography, and Claire had enjoyed herself immensely each time. She felt her heart race faster at the thought. “Ok.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He kissed her roughly. “Remember, if you want me to stop at any point, say ‘red’ and I’ll stop.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She nodded. He kissed her again, then dipped his head to kiss her neck. He bent and drew her skirt up over her hips. He turned her to face the wall pressed her forward while pulling her hips against him. She could feel how hard he was under the fabric of his jeans through her thin satin panties. He pushed her hair aside and his lips launched an assault against the back of her neck. His other hand twined around her waist until he was cupping her pussy with his hand. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I have to assume by your behavior this evening that you’re feeling more than a little horny, yourself. Hmmm. I know how to test this theory” He slipped his hand into her panties to find her pussy hot and wet. “Aha, it looks like I was right.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire moaned and melted against him, propped up by the wall in front of her, as he easily slipped two fingers inside her. He rubbed her clit as he moved his fingers in and out of her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’m surprised you were able to wait this long,” he mock scoffed at her as his other hand came up to grip the hair at the back of her head, pulling back so her ear was next to his lips. “Maybe I should have dragged you into the nearest alley and fucked you then and there. Would you like that? Would you like being fucked in an alley like a bitch in heat?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire felt her pussy contract. She gasped, slightly ashamed of her obvious reaction. Finally, she nodded.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I can tell. Your pussy just got wetter when I said that.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Her chest and face felt hot and she knew that if she were looking in a mirror she would see herself flushed beet red. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He removed his hand then turned her back to him. He brought the fingers that had been inside her to her lips. “Taste yourself”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She closed her eyes and sucked his fingers into her mouth. She tasted salty and sweet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Open your eyes, Claire.” he ordered as his hand found its way back into her panties. When she opened her eyes, he slid two fingers into her an began to pump in and out again. Her eyes fluttered closed for a moment at the sweet invasion, but she remembered his earlier order and snapped them open immediately. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He continued fingering her slowly. “I want you to ask me for permission when you want to cum, Claire, do you understand?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She cocked an eyebrow at him, but replied “Yes, Jack” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Good girl” he growled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He continued fingering her, staring into her eyes. When she felt herself getting close to orgasm, she whimpered “Jack … I need to cum”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“That doesn’t sound like a request.” he told her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“P … please, Jack, can I cum?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“No.” he said, and removed his hand. Claire gasped and a look of frustration passed over her face. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack just grinned and shrugged at her. “You’re not the only one who knows how to tease.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Damn you!” she hissed, worked up and teetering on the edge of pleasure, only to have it denied.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Haven’t you realized what’s going on here, Claire?” He asked her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What?” she panted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Clearly,” he began, drawing her hands up over her head and pinning her wrists with one hand, “You need to learn a lesson about what happens to little girls who can’t keep their hands to themselves or do as they are told.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before she could object, he was kissing her, tongue plundering her mouth as his fingers sought her pussy once more. Claire moaned into his mouth as he made her head swim.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just as quickly as he’d begun the assault, it was over. He withdrew his hand and smoothed her skirt back down over her hips. Taking her by the hand, he lead her into the living room. He pushed her gently down into a chair then removed his belt and the sweater covering his button-down shirt and moved to pour them each another finger of scotch. He handed Claire a glass and stood in front of her while she had a sip. He took the glass from her and set them both on the table by the chair. He began to stroke her hair.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She watched his hands as he reached down to unzip his fly. Soon, his erection was inches from her face. She smiled up at him, proud of her handiwork. He began to stroke her hair softly and then, holding her head still, he brought the tip of his cock to her lips.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“This is what you‘ve been after all night, isn‘t it?” he asked her. “Show me how much you want it”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Part of her mind rebelled. She wanted - needed - him to fuck her, and this would only prolong her torture. Another part of her knew she’d provoked him, and found delicious pride in the fact that she’d driven him to this. Claire sank to her knees from the chair. Resting one hand on his hip, she gripped the base of his shaft with the other and her tongue darted out to tease the engorged head.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Suddenly, his hand gripped the hair at the back of her head and pulled her head back so that she was looking up at him. He bent over so his face was inches from hers. “No more teasing.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He stood up again and Claire sucked him into her mouth. Jack let his eyes close as the feelings washed over him. She began to move her head, her hand working in tandem on his shaft.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Mmmmm, that’s much better, lover.” He told her, enjoying the sensations slamming through him, content to let her work her magic for a few moments. Soon, though, he needed to increase the tempo. When he stopped her, she looked up at him. “God, that’s good, babe. But now I want you to put your hands at your sides and keep them there. I want to fuck your pretty face, use you for my pleasure..”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Holding her still, he began pumping his cock in and out of her mouth, slowly at first, finding a rhythm and depth that allowed her to breathe comfortably while he used her for his pleasure. Unaccustomed to being unable to use her hands, she did her best to suck and use her tongue as Jack began to pick up the pace. She couldn’t believe how turned on she was by this: Jack’s impressive presence, his velvety voice stern and commanding, language somehow vaguely degrading, using her for his pleasure, all the while playing her body and mind like only he could do. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’m going to cum in your mouth” he told her, pace increasing as he sought his release. He pushed himself deep into her mouth and held her head there as his cock began to spasm. “Ah, God, Claire!” he cried out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It took him a moment to recover. He grabbed his glass from the table and slugged back the remainder of his scotch, then looked down at Claire. He’d been petting her hair and when he caught her gaze, he rested his palm on her cheek. She reached up and held his hand, turning to kiss this palm. He sighed and pulled Claire to him and pulled her into his arms. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You are exquisite,” he told her gruffly, kissing her cheeks, her eyelids, her mouth. “But you must be so frustrated, my love.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Christ, Jack, you have no idea.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He frowned and nodded, but his eyes were laughing at her. “Poor thing. We’ll have to see what we can do about that … but not just yet. “</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack moved to the sofa and sat in the center. Claire could tell he was relishing tormenting her. She couldn‘t remember finding him sexier than in this moment. His hair was messed, his posture relaxed, voice strong and commanding, and he was looking at her like a cat about to swallow the proverbial canary. He held his hand to her and she moved in front of him, placing her hand in his. He pulled her sideways down onto his lap, brushing her hair aside and beginning to alternate light kisses and gentle nips up the long column of her neck.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">His nimble fingers undid enough buttons on her blouse to bare her breasts then lowered the cups of her bra so that her nipples, already taut with desire, were exposed. He began to toy with the hardened nubs, applying more pressure until Claire gasped at the mixture of pleasure and pain. She squirmed in his lap. He kissed her, then pinched harder still. Before she could protest, his tongue plundered her mouth. She moaned deep in her throat and began to suck on his tongue. Jack knew then that there would be no protest. He alternated gentle rubbing with his palms with sharp, fleeting pinches, his mouth never leaving hers, until he pinched just hard enough to make her mewl in pleasure-pain and tear her head away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack chuckled - or maybe it was a growl. “I love what you’ll let me get away with when you’re really turned on.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“It doesn’t really hurt … well, it does, a bit, but just for a moment, but then they’re so sensitive and it feels so good when you touch me”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’m glad to hear you say that, Claire. It’s going to make this next part easier for you.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Next part?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You didn’t think I was going to let you off the hook so easily, did you?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Hook? I’m not sure what you mean?” She looked genuinely confused.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He moved her from his lap so she stood facing him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Don’t you remember what I said was going to happen if you didn’t stop teasing me in the bar?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire blushed. Surely he couldn’t mean … <i>that</i>. “You said you were going to take me over your knee … but weren’t you just joking?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You really should know better by now to take me at my word.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“But Jack …”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What is it we tell a perp, Claire? ‘Don’t do the crime’…”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“If you can’t do the time.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Exactly.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“But …”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You know you can stop this any time you want, Claire. Just say the word. Of course, if you do that, you won’t get anymore of this.” He reached beneath her skirt and stroked her heated sex through her now very wet panties. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Bastard! That’s not fair.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Maybe not, but that’s how it works tonight, little girl. First you take your punishment, then you get your reward.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The lawyer in Claire searched for a loophole.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What’s it going to be, Claire? Spanking? Or are you going to be taking a cold shower before bed? I should remind you that thanks to your talented mouth, I’m already quite satisfied and don‘t really need to continue.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You’re mean, Jack.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“That’s what makes me so good at my job. And part of why you were attracted to me in the first place,” he said, rubbing his hands over her body. “Well? There is a question pending.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire weighed her options. She was so turned on. She’d agreed to play this game - generally a good sport, she knew she’d earned this teasing and torture with her earlier teasing of Jack. It couldn’t last more than a few moments, surely he wouldn’t really hurt her? And she could always say ‘red’ if she wanted it to stop. Was she worried about being humiliated? But this was Jack, and it was just a game - it wouldn’t change how he thought of her. And when it was over, release from all of this pent up frustration would be hers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I … yes.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Yes, what, Claire?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Yes … I’ll let you spank me.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Say please,” his eyes daring her to keep playing along.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Please … spank me, Jack.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Good girl. Now, my dear, I want you to go into the kitchen and bring me back a wooden spoon.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Wooden spoon? Are you serious?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Would you prefer a hairbrush?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“No!” She exclaimed without thinking.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Well, then you’d better hurry up and bring me that spoon, or I’m going to change my mind and make you get the brush.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Part of her dreaded what was coming, but she couldn’t deny her excited response to Jack’s role playing. This was Jack McCoy, EADA - Confident, commanding, with just the right tinge of arrogance - who still enthralled Claire in the courtroom. She’d been turned on by this persona on more than one occasion - but this was the first time she was experiencing it as “the perp”, the first time it spilled so completely into their sex life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Riding high on waves of desire, part of her was still surprised at how much this was frankly turning her on. She blushed to her toes as she pulled the spoon from the utensil caddy. When she handed it to Jack, who hadn‘t moved from the sofa, for a moment her embarrassment made her want to sink into the floor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But his velvety voice purred “Good girl” at her, and the embarrassment subsided. “Now, I want you to take off your clothes … everything, but leave your panties on.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When she was naked, he looked her up and down. “Christ, Claire, you look like sex on a stick. You should see how soaked your panties are.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire blushed again. She was doing that a lot tonight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Put your hand in your panties and feel how wet you are.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She was suddenly shy, and knew she shouldn’t be - she’d masturbated in front of Jack before. She gasped as her fingers sank between her slick, swollen lips. A bolt shot through her as her fingers found her engorged clit. Unable to help herself, she began to rub, while grinding her hips against her hand. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand away. “Tsk, tsk, little girl. I told you to see how wet you were, not try to make yourself cum.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I couldn’t help myself …”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I know, baby, I know. That’s why this lesson is coming none too soon. Now, shall we begin?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What do you want me to do?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Kneel down on the sofa and lie across my lap.” When she was in position, he queried, “Comfortable?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Not exactly …”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Good,” he chuckled. “Now, something is not quite right here … hmm. I know!”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He pulled the backside of her panties down to rest just beneath the globes of her ass. In this position, not only was her ass an easy target, but her pussy was exposed to him as well. Claire knew she was exposed, and felt silly and vulnerable and slightly on edge. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I feel ridiculous, Jack.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Good … that’s part of it.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">His fingers lightly stroked her enflamed sex. He knew that in order to make this work for her, he needed to alternate any sense of humiliation or pain with pleasures he knew she enjoyed. He slid a finger into her and pumped in and out until she was moving in time with his hand. His hand left her then, then raised and came down on first one cheek, and then the other. Claire cried out, not from pain - he’d tempered the first blows - but from the shock of his palm finally slapping her ass. He raised and lowered his hand, striking both cheeks in rapid succession, four more times.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire’s ass turned a lovely shade of light pink. He stopped the spanking for a few moments to trail his fingers lightly over the flesh he’d so recently abused. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire’s mind was reeling. The first blows had shocked her. The next few were harder and had stung more than she’d anticipated. But the stinging was quickly replaced by heat, and she was aware of how sensitive they’d made her flesh now that Jack was lightly stroking her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You’re doing well, sweetheart,” he told her, reaching to stroke her hair. “Ready for more?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After a moment, Claire nodded.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He brought his hand down harder this time, repeating the succession of 5 sets of strikes then immediately sank two fingers into her pussy. He held his hand still and with the other lightly traced her ever reddening ass. Claire jumped, tightened her muscles around his fingers and began to move against him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“That’s it, lover. Fuck my hand … make yourself feel good.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire took his words to mean he was going to let her cum. She thrust her hips back in earnest, moving faster until she was quickly approaching orgasm. Her motion was having an impact on Jack, as well - he felt his cock beginning to stir. Remembering his earlier instruction, she begged “Please, Jack. Please let me cum.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Instead, he withdrew his fingers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Christ, Jack, please!” she pleaded.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“But we haven’t used the wooden spoon yet, lover.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Jack, I don’t think I can take much more … I’m going to explode if I don’t cum soon.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“It’s almost over, Claire. You did so well with my hand. But that was just a warm up, the spoon would have hurt more if we’d started there.” He was stroking her hair again. “Now, how many blows with the spoon do you think would be adequate to finish your lesson?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire felt her face get warm again, feeling embarrassed by the request that she name her punishment. “Ten?” she replied, quietly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Hmm … that’s a nice round number. But let’s double it, to take care of your little attempt at making yourself cum a few moments ago. You seem to be having a little trouble keeping your hands from doing things they‘re not supposed to do.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire let out a ragged breath, mentally bracing herself for 20 - 10 blows with the spoon had seemed a lot to her, knowing he intended it to hurt even more than his hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“This time, I want you to count each spank out loud for me. Don’t forget what number we’re at, or we’ll start again at one.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire vowed to herself she would <i>not</i> lose count.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then came the first blow. She heard the spoon whistle through the air before she felt the impact. Sharp, and more stingy than his hand. “Ow, fuck, Jack!” she exclaimed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“That’s not a number, Claire.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“It hurt, Jack!”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Say ‘one’, or say ‘red’, Claire. Those are your only options.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She almost said ’red’, but the sting had already subsided , there were only 19 more, and then, if she was good, Jack would give her the release he‘d been denying her all night. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“One.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Good girl.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And then the second strike. “Two.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By 6, she was gritting her teeth, as he’d increased the sting incrementally with each set of strikes. At 10, tears sprang to her eyes and a tiny sob escaped her. He stopped to lightly stroke her burning cheeks with his fingers. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You should feel how hot your ass is right now. It’s a nice, deep shade of crimson,” he told her, sliding his fingers inside of her again. “You‘re taking this so well. I‘m so proud of you, my love.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire was beginning to feel raw, emotionally and physically. The spoon honestly hurt, but his fingers inside of her now felt like heaven. The joint sensations made her feel a general heat and pressure in her pussy and ass that were mingling and confusing her. She wanted it to stop, but she didn’t want it to stop. She focused on the fact that there were only 10 more to go. Surely she could handle 10 more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“We’re almost done, baby. Be brave for me,” he said as he withdrew his fingers again. “What number are we on?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Eleven.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Good girl”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And then it started again. This time, he didn’t alternate the blows between each cheek. There were two, quick and hard, on one cheek, then two quick and hard on the other. Then three, harder, on the first cheek, and the final three on the other. Claire never failed in her count. By now, Jack was hard again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Immediately Jack began with the praise. “You were such a good girl,” he crooned, stroking her hair and back. She was panting, her breath ragged, on the verge of tears but needing release more than she ever had before.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack helped her into a kneeling position and gathered her into his arms. He continued petting her, soothing her with praise, until tentatively, her mouth sought his. Jack kissed her gently at first, but she clung to him desperately, drawing strength from his lips. He stood, then, drawing her with him, pulling her against his chest. He kissed her face, then bent and gathered her into his arms and strode confidently into their bedroom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He laid Claire down on the bed and was quickly over her, kissing her and pressing the length of his body against hers. He slid his hand between them and pushed three fingers into her. Claire arched her back and moved with his rhythm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Look at me, Claire,” it was a gentle command. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Her eyes fluttered open. They were wet from her tears, but desire and need were still plainly there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Please, Jack,” she moaned.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He nodded, “You can cum now.” he whispered.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was all Claire needed to hear. Clinging to Jack, trying to keep her eyes open and locked with his, she crested and began to jerk and spasm. Her cries were loud - not screams, but louder than he’d ever heard her before. Jack held her, feeling her pussy contract rapidly around his fingers. Her eyes slid closed, but he didn’t insist she open them. He kept pumping his fingers into her, knowing how badly she needed this, not wanting to lessen her pleasure after the paces he’d put her through. He marveled at the way she’d taken everything he’d given her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Her orgasm lasted longer than any in her life, yet when it was over, she still did not feel satisfied.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Please Jack, I need more.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I thought you might,” he replied, kissing a line down her torso. He drew her panties off of her finally, then removed his shirt. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire yelped when he placed his hands beneath her ass - it was still tender. But then Jack’s mouth was on her, tasting her salty sweetness for a few moments before finding her clit with his tongue. Claire bucked against him and her hand flew to his head, pressing him harder against her. He quickly drove her to another orgasm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He lifted his head and pushed himself up over her. “More, baby?” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Unable to form a coherent thought, she could only nod. Jack moved off the bed and quickly divested </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">himself of his pants. Just as quickly, he was on top of her again, parting her thighs, his cock teasing at her entry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’m going to give you what you’ve wanted all night, now” he told her, thrusting deeply into her. His movements were quick and hard. Claire wrapped her legs around him and matched his pace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Yesssss, Jack” she moaned, “Fuck me … please don’t stop fucking me”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Jesus, you’re so hot and wet, Claire.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Still wound up, Claire came again, her pussy contracting delightfully around Jack’s thrusting cock. She came, and begged again “Please don’t stop.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He did, though, but only for the moment it took to turn Claire over onto her hands and knees. He quickly re-entered her and began pounding his cock into her pussy. Claire matched his frantic pace, moans rising higher. She could feel his pubic hair against her sensitized ass, aware of his scrotum slapping against her in a way she’d never noticed before.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She bent her arms so her elbows were resting on the bed, changing the angle of Jack’s cock entering her. His own orgasm rapidly approaching, he reached beneath Claire and began stroking her clit. “Cum with me, lover.” It was half plea and half command. But it was all Claire needed. Her body began to spasm and jerk, squeezing Jack’s cock so that he yelped and shot his seed into her pulsating pussy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They collapsed together, Jack rolling from her and pulling her into the circle of his arms. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire felt spent - more so emotionally than physically. Her orgasms, so long in coming, had been intense, powerful, almost soul-shaking. Jack had pushed her further than she’d ever imagined letting anyone push her, but he’d made sure she’d experienced blinding pleasure the whole time, as well. She had no idea where it had all come from, but she couldn’t deny he’d just given her one of the hottest nights of her life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He was stroking her softly, kissing her face, murmuring words of love and praise in her ear. His hand stroked down her back and she jumped when his fingers lightly played across her still-sensitive ass. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“It’s still so warm, baby.” He told her. “Do you want to feel?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire nodded and reached behind herself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Wow.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You should have felt it earlier,” he told her, still lightly stroking, kissing her softly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire kissed him back. “Jesus, Jack” she breathed. “I can’t even …”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I know, baby. You were amazing.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Little ripples of pleasure were still coursing through her body. Her every nerve ending seemed alight. Jack was stroking her side, and then her back. Rather than soothe her, it merely stoked the embers of her desire until Jack realized Claire’s hips were still lightly gyrating against him. He smoothed the hair away from her face and asked “Do you still need more, my love?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She did. She wasn’t sure why, after the incredibly intense series of orgasms she just had, but she did. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She nodded against his chest, shy and unaccustomed to this kind of need. He held her with one arm as the other moved between them, seeking her enflamed sex. His thick fingers sank into her. She moaned as he began to stroke them in and out. It didn’t take long before she was convulsing in his arms. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Overwhelmed, some small thing snapped inside Claire - the intensity of what she’d just experienced, how vulnerable and exposed she’d felt throughout. She began to convulse and let out a sob before the tears came. For a moment, Jack panicked, sure he’d pushed her too far in the heat of the moment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Jesus, Claire, I’m sorry,” he said, pulling her tighter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She shook her head, clinging to him, “N-no, Jack. It’s … it’s not bad.” She managed through her sobs. “It was … just all so i-intense … overwhelming.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He breathed a heavy sight of relief. “I love you, Claire … I would never want to truly hurt you.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You di-didn’t” she hiccoughed, beginning to get a hold on her emotions. “Just hold me for a while?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He held her until her crying ceased, and still didn’t leave her. Eventually she brought her hand to his face and raised her head to look at him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Thank you,” she told him. “I don’t think I can put into words how I feel, how good that was. I love you.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Love you, too. Will you be alright now if I leave you for a few minutes?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’m a puddle, Jack. I couldn’t move if I wanted to. I’ll be fine.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She admired his ass as he disappeared into the bathroom. Still not capable of much in the way of abstract thought, she was content to lie there, feeling little aftershocks still occasionally rippling through her body. She heard him fumbling around in there, and soon the bath water was running. In a few moments he was sitting next to her on the bed, stroking her hair. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Do you think you’re ready to move?” he asked, voice gentle yet tinged with the slightest air of amusement.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Think so,” she replied. When she was standing, she confessed, “still a little wobbly.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack scooped her up and kissed her quickly before carrying her into the bath. He’d lit the several candles Claire kept scattered around the bathroom and the tub was filling with her favorite jasmine scented bubbles. He set her down and helped her step into the deep claw-foot tub. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’ll get you another scotch. Neat? Or rocks?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Rocks, please, this time, thank you.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When he returned with her drink, her body was submerged beneath the mass of bubbles, her arms draped over the sides of the tub, head back, eyes closed, a contented smile on her face. He stood with his shoulder against the door frame, watching her for several long moments. He shifted, and she heard the clink of the ice in the glass and opened an eye to look at him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Hi.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Hi,” he replied, handing her the drink. He moved to leave her to soak.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You’re not going to join me?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I thought you might like a few moments alone.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She shook her head. “I want to be close to you.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Scoot forward,” he said, stepping into the tub and sinking into the water behind her. She leaned back against his chest and sighed heavily, taking a sip of her drink. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They sat quietly soaking, occasionally sipping their drinks, their other hands entwined on the side of the tub. Claire sighed again. Jack kissed her temple. “What are you thinking?” He asked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What a fantastic fuck you are.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He chuckled. “It’s not just me.” He brought their hands to his lips and kissed her fingertips. “It was really OK? I wasn’t too rough?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She shook her head. “The spoon hurt, but your fingers inside me made it hurt so good.” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They fell silent again, both thinking about their experience of those moments. Jack was thinking of the incomparable view of her gorgeous back side, the feel of his fingers inside her dripping wet pussy, watching her shamelessly move on his hand in between the strikes with the spoon. Claire was thinking of Jack’s fingers probing deep inside of her, her face flushed with embarrassment, ass on fire from the blows, and the combination the warring sensations had created within her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire turned slightly, offering her lips to Jack. His mouth closed over hers. The kiss deepened and Claire shifted so she was lying chest to chest with Jack. She felt his cock jump between them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Again, Jack?” she asked huskily.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Only if you want to.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She continued kissing him, lightly stroking his hardening cock. When he was ready, he lifted her slightly and brought her back down, letting her slowly guide him into her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They were gentle and languid this time, both desiring the connection more than the eventual release. They simply kissed and touched until the water started to cool. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They left the tub and dried off then, and returned to the bedroom. They turned out the lights and got into bed, finding each other in the dark. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Several moments passed before Claire whispered, “I love you, Jack … even when you’re mean.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire felt the rumble of his chuckling inside her. “I think after tonight,” he said, kissing her deeply, “maybe you love me especially when I’m mean.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They both felt her pussy contract.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Hmmm, see?” he told her, still chuckling.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire kissed him in response, gripping him tightly to her with her arms and her leg slung over his hip. He rolled her to her back and began to thrust more swiftly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Look at me, Claire,” this time half plea, half command. Her eyes flew open and locked with his. They moved with each other, never losing eye contact, until they came again together. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack rolled away, drawing Claire with him so her head lay on his chest. His satisfied sigh ended with a little moan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Pleased with yourself?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Not as much as you are,” he teased.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> She poked him in the ribs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Careful, little girl. Didn’t you just learn this lesson?” he said ominously, grabbing her hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What, that if I’m a ‘bad girl’ eventually I get fantastic orgasms?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack laughed. “Touché,” and kissed her head. “Wiseass.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Her chuckle joined his in the darkness. Finally they lay quiet, listening to each others’ breathing until each drifted off to sleep.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-70230710233209305152012-11-24T14:29:00.001-08:002012-11-24T20:47:20.670-08:00Bound & Determined<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Authors Note: </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This is a snippet of a longer piece I wrote, "Beginnings". I wrote "Beginnings" after finishing "Highwire", in an attempt to re-set Jack and Claire's relationship to its beginning and pin its trajectory to the hints dropped by the writers and actors on Law & Order. I couldn't resurrect the full "Beginnings" novel-length story, but I found this piece from it in one of my hand-written journals. </span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*****</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />“Hey, Jack,” came a voice from his right as he hung his coat in the closet by the door. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack McCoy turned to see his girlfriend and colleague, Claire Kincaid, smiling at him from the doorway to his kitchen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“How did you get in?” he asked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I sweet talked your doorman. He didn’t think you’d mind, as much as I come and go lately.” She paused. This wasn’t the warm reception she’d been expecting. “I’m sorry, Jack. I didn’t think you’d mind, either, but it’s obvious you do.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Did I say that?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>“You aren’t kissing me already like you would be if you were happy to see me,”</i> she thought. “I can see that you’re upset, and it seems to be upset with me. What is it?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“When did you get back?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Around 3:00 this afternoon.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He nodded, following her into the kitchen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I took an earlier flight, and thought I’d surprise you with dinner.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Some kind of penance?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maybe now she’d find out what was bothering him. “For what?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“For flying to Washington without letting me know?” he replied. “I felt like an idiot waiting for you at Leonardo’s. And I was frantic when I didn’t hear from you. I finally called the office to see if anyone had heard from you, and then told me where you‘d gone. ”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’m sorry, Jack. You were in chambers when I got the message from Hassan’s attorney. She was out of her mind because he was practically on a plane back to Afghanistan thanks to INS. Without him we have no case … and you know what happens to him as soon as he’s back there. You would have done the same thing, and you know it.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I would have left a note.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This wasn’t the way this evening was supposed to go. She hadn’t expected anger, and now she was getting annoyed with him, because she’d missed him and wanted a nice night together - not a fight. “I tried calling last night. The machine was full”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I was out.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I noticed. Where were you?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“A bar.” He folded his arms and leaned against the counter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Jack,” she began, trying to keep her voice even, trying to diffuse whatever time bomb was waiting for her. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I should have figured out some way to let you know. It was just so rushed and last minute, I barely had time to come home and toss overnight clothes into a suitcase before getting on the train.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She advanced toward him and Jack let her wrap her arms around his midsection as she looked up at him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Forgive me?” she queried softly, peering up at him intently.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Many thoughts swirled in his head. Part of him was still angry, because he’d been so needlessly worried when she’d failed to meet him at the restaurant. It was the first time she’d stood him up since their short, intense relationship had begun a few months earlier, when she had come to him, initiating both of their initial encounters. He knew he should trust her intentions more by now, but behind that arrogant façade, part of him still expected her to come to her senses and leave him. When she never arrived for dinner, his first thought was that she was pulling away from him. The force of the loss he felt, sitting in their favorite restaurant, had overwhelmed him. He knew he was reacting poorly, punishing her for inadvertently hurting him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Looking down at her upturned face, eyes full of concern and enough contrition to satisfy his male pride, he cursed his insecurity . <i>“A woman doesn’t look at a man that way, McCoy,” </i>he told himself, <i>“doesn’t bribe your doorman to surprise you with dinner if she’s half way out the door. Give over … she loves you.”</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I love you, Claire,” he heard his voice say.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I love you, Jack … and I am sorry,” she said forcefully, without an iota of hesitation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack’s mood visibly lightened.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You doubted that?” she queried, understanding the meaning written all over his face.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She didn’t give him a chance to reply, instead raising to her toes to kiss beneath his chin. Jack dipped his head and their lips met. It was a gentle, deliberate, possessive kiss with which they tried to convey their emotions to one another; Jack claiming Claire with his lips, Claire offering herself to him with hers. Their tongues met momentarily before Jack pulled his head back, looking at her intently.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I was worried something might have happened to you. You aren’t usually late without calling,” he told her. Indeed, those had been his first thoughts. Thinking something had happened to her had staggered him. He didn’t tell her the other part - that he’d been afraid it meant she was leaving him, afraid of appearing too vulnerable. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’m sorry.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He smiled suddenly. “I suppose I’ll forgive you … since you’ve gone to soo much trouble.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire smiled back. Jack was like that sometimes. He didn’t like discussing his feelings, rarely did until some situation forced his hand, and then it was like some cathartic therapy: hard, but once complete he moved on quickly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What’s for dinner?” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Linguine with pesto, roasted chicken breast, broccoli, Caesar salad … ok?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Perfect.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*****</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">An hour later, a well-fed Jack McCoy sat on his sofa, feet up on the coffee table, hand with a scotch glass resting in his lap. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finished cleaning up from dinner, Claire slid next to him on the sofa. Jack draped his free arm around her. The beginning of their dinner conversation consisted of Jack updated Claire on case statuses from meetings she’d missed in her absence while she informed him of the argument she’d made to prevent Hassan’s deportation and assure his extradition to New York. But shop talk was over.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I wish you would have been home last night when I called … we could have had a much more pleasant start to this evening,” she told him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Oh … I don’t know … I’d say it worked out in the end.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You say that like it’s almost over.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Are you staying the night?” he asked, hopefully.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I was hoping you’d want me to.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack nodded. “Stay. I want you to,” he said and stood, holding hi hand out to her. “Come to bed?” it was only half a question.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire slipped her hand into his and he helped her up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In his bedroom, Jack lit the trio of candles on his dresser -a tribute to Claire’s female influence. As a pleasant glow suffused the room, Jack sat at the end of his bed, taking Claire by the hand and bringing her close in front of him. He smiled at her, close-lipped and eyes crinkling at the corners. Claire didn’t know it yet, but that smiled signaled the beginnings of an idea forming in Jack’s brain.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>“We’re going to try something a little different,”</i> he thought to himself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What am I going to do with you?” Claire asked him softly, taking his face in her hands.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack shrugged and pulled her against him, catching her lips in a kiss that shook them both with its intensity. The current still running strong between them, they eased out of the kiss to regard each other, lust clearly rising in both. In a moment, they were again engulfed in a fiery kiss. In a moment, Jack was pushing Claire away again - something she did often enough to him to signal a change in pace or activity - and smiled inwardly at the look of confusion on her face: the look that generally belonged to him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I missed you,” he confessed,” I was worried for a while there that something …I couldn’t bear it if something were to happen to you.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I didn’t mean to worry you.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I know, babe… I’m just a little cranky because I got so little sleep.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t sleep very well last night, either.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“No? Why not?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She laid her hands on his shoulder and moved in a little closer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Because there was something I would rather have been doing. In a different bed. I kept thinking that if I hadn’t had to come to DC, I’d probably be making love to you. That’s when I tried to call.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Mmmm, I see. Hoping for a little phone sex?” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire blushed. She’d never had phone sex before, had never really seen the point, but the thought had crossed her mind as she’d laid in bed alone, missing Jack - Jack, whose voice was enough to excite her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I didn’t say that …” she stammered.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“The red in your cheeks tells me it’s true,” he replied. “What were you thinking you were wanting?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What do you mean?” she asked, turning a deeper shade of crimson.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>“Why does this embarrass me?”</i> she wondered to herself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“How did you think it would work?” he asked her. “What did you think we would do?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire shrugged. “I was hoping you’d have some ideas.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack wasn’t going to let her get away with being so vague. “You must have had some idea what would go on?” he prodded, pulling her against his chest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She tried to avoid looking at him, embarrassed by his questions - embarrassed more by her own desires. But he turned her face to his and looked directly into her eyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I thought we would … I don’t know … talk about what we like to do when … when we’re together … what do you think?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Nice … but you know what I would have liked?” He asked, happy to take the lead given her shy reticence. Shy wasn’t an emotion he was used to seeing on Claire’s face. It was more than just adorable - it was an incredible turn-on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire shook her head. Jack was holding her very, very close and she noted her heart rate had increased and breathing had grown more shallow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I would have liked to have you close your eyes … get undressed and let me tell you how to touch yourself. To pretend my hands were touching you … God, it would have been hot to listen to you cum from that.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire nodded in agreement and leaned in to kiss him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Would you like that, baby? Would you do what I told you? Would you touch your breasts when I told you to? Play with your nipples? Would you slip your hand down and massage your clit for me? Slide your fingers inside and pump in and out until you came for me?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire was breathing even more heavily now, a warm, glowing pressure starting in her stomach and spreading lower. “Yes … yes, Jack,” she replied, Jack’s words having their desire effect. “All of that … anything.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Stand up straight, babe,” he whispered, voice low, attempting to check his own desire as the image of Claire making herself cum at his command overcame him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I want you to take off your shirt, Claire,” he told her. “Slowly.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She cocked an eyebrow at him, but complied, drawing it slowly over her head. Jack smiled at the way her nipples hardened beneath the fabric of her bra as she grew cooler. He stood up and moved behind to unhook her the clasp. He laid his palms on her back and slid upward to her shoulders, easing her bra straps down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I would love to hear touching yourself for me,” he told her, “Love to see it.” he added, kissing her shoulders as his hands slid town to cup her breasts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire sighed and he leaned back into Jack’s heat. Their discussion of phone sex, in particular the notion that Jack would be instructing Claire how to tease and pleasure herself had given Jack an idea. When he felt Claire lean back against him, he let go of her breasts and stepped back, then moved in front of her before she could turn to him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire moved to embrace him, but he gently blocked it, grasping her wrists just as her arms were about to encircle his neck. The look of confusion flashed across her face.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Let’s play a little game,” Jack suggested as he sat on the edge of the bed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What sort of game?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Like what we were just talking about … but in person.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You want to watch me … touch myself?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>“Hell yes, and I’d pay good money to see it,” </i>he thought to himself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What I want - for now - is to watch you strip for me,” he told her, “Start taking your jeans off, very slowly … just undo the button and zipper for now.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire did so and jack delighted as the satiny-lavender of her panties were revealed between the open sides of the zipper.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Now, in a circle .. Turn in a circle, slowly.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire completed the revolution. She knew she was blushing at the way Jack was looking at her … his eyes filled with lust and affection, tinged with a hint of possessiveness Claire had never seen from him before … and it excited her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She looked at him expectantly, waiting for more direction.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, turn around and face the other direction.” When she had done so, he continued. “Now, I want you to ease your jeans off, very slowly, and bend forward a little while you peel them down your thighs.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack smiled as Claire did his bidding, slowly revealing her satin-clad behind, the sweet swell of flesh where her legs met her ass cheeks, the backs of her creamy thighs, and eventually both legs in their entirety.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Now turn back to me,” Jack commanded softly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire stepped out of her jeans and turned to face him, arms resting lightly at her sides.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Perfect,” Jack told her, making sure she noticed how thoroughly he perused her body, “It still amazes me how beautiful you are.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No one had ever made her feel as beautiful as Jack did when they made love. He spoke to and looked at her like he’d never seen anyone as exquisite. It always surprised her because Jack was not he most romantic man she’d ever met, and certainly wasn’t prone to flowery prose. Maybe that’s why it was so effective.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Come here,” he beckoned.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire moved closer and Jack let his hands come to rest atop her hiops.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Now what?” she asked him quietly, stroking his soft grey hair with one hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Her nipples were inches from Jack’s face. He couldn’t resist the darkened nubs, already hardened from the chill in the room, and from the excitement of being watched and instructed. He kissed each rosey tip before turning Claire around in front of him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He ran his hands over her back, sliding his palms over her behind. Claire loved the attention he was paying her. His words were firm and gently commanding, but his caresses were light, almost teasing. The combination of the two were already having a devastating effect on her and they’d barely even begun. Soon his lips were trailing slowly, lightly up her spine, sending shivers throughout her body until he was standing up behind her, planting fluttering kisses along her shoulders and neck.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“That feels wonderful, lover,” she told him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Mmmmmhmmm.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">More kisses. He pushed her hair aside and nuzzled the back of her neck all the way up to her hairline, then let her hair fall back into place and continued worshipping the her smooth shoulders. He slipped his hands under her arms and reached around her to toy maddeningly with her nipples, exulting as they grew larger and more taut beneath the dexterous moving of his fingers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Close your eyes, Claire,” he whispered.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire closed here eyes and in a moment it seemed as though the sensations of Jack kissing and caressing her had magnified.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“If I told you to keep your eyes closed no matter what, could you do it?” he asked her, trailing his fingers up and down her arms. “Do you trust me enough?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Of course I trust you, lover,” she told him, her eyes still shut. “But I’m not sure … I like watching you. I don’t know if I could keep them closed … why?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’d like to see how you react to my touch when all you can do is feel and you don’t know what I’m going to do next.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire had fantasized a few times about what it would be like to be blindfolded during lovemaking and the thought of the heightened attention to her other senses had always thrilled her. “Do you want to blindfold me?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The question and the excitement he saw flickering in her eyes told him she wasn’t going to need much in the way of persuasion. He swallowed hard and nodded, realizing an instant later that in her question and his response to it, some of his control was slipping away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He took a breath, smiled wickedly at her and moved past her to the bedside table.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He opened and shut the drawer and a moment later returned to Claire with a soft black satin sleep mask, given to him by Liz Olivet several months previously after a conversation about his occasional insomnia. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Ok?” he asked, raising his hands above Claire’s head.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Yes, Jack.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Gingerly, he lowered the mask so that it covered Claire’s eyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Can you see?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“No.” she replied, and indeed she could not. It was slightly disconcerting. Jack moved closer to her and she was comforted by the heat radiating from his body.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You look so sexy,” he whispered near her ear, and she shivered as his breath hit her neck. Claire felt her heart beginning to breathe faster.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I love you mouth,” Jack told her and she started as his lips unexpectedly met hers. “Your lips are so soft and warm.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He lowered his lips to the base of her throat. He moved behind her and she felt the hair prickle on the back of her neck at what she could sense but could not see. She arched her back as his fingers reached out to race her spine. He kissed between her shoulder blades then moved away from her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Jack?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Back in a sec, babe.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Left standing, presumably alone, Claire could not help but feel self-conscious to a degree: naked, vulnerable, unable to see.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When Jack returned - he’d gone to retrieve the belt from his robe - he padded silently up behind Claire.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Miss me?” Claire jumped. Jack chuckled and picked up her hand. “Come with me.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Carefully, he steered Claire toward his bed. “Okay, lover?” he asked her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Wonderful, Jack,” she had barely finished before he’d swept her feet out from underneath her. She squealed as she felt her body being lifted, turned, and cradled against Jack’s chest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You could warn me!”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“But you’re not supposed to know what’s coming next, remember?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He lay her down and laid down next to her. The feel of his clothes against her, sight taken away, made her more acutely aware of her own nakedness. Claire sighed as Jack leaned over to kiss her, moaning softly as he reached out to toy with an already stiffened nipple. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After several moments of deep kissing, Jack moved to straddle Claire, beginning a devastating assault of her neck with his lips and tongue before going after her lips once more. He massaged his way down her shoulders and arms and reaching her hands, slipped his fingers between hers. When he felt her fingers close over his own, he slowly drew her arms back over her head.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He kissed his way over to her ear, “I want to share a fantasy with you.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I thought you already were?” she asked. He knew by her voice that had her eyes been visible, they would be dancing mischievously at him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He chuckled. “Oh, there’s more to it, babe, if you’re willing.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Tell me, Jack.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I want to tie you to the bed … just your wrists. Kiss and lick and fondle you until you’re begging me to fuck you … to use my fingers … whatever it takes to make you cum. And then I want to make you cum over and over until you beg me to stop. I don’t want to hurt or humiliate you … just tease you when you can’t touch me back,” he whispered, kissing her earlobe and sucking lightly for a moment. “You won’t be able to distract me, to drive me so crazy with your touch that I have to be inside you. Are you game?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Yes, Jack,” she breathed. “I have to admit, I’ve had this fantasy before.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He kissed her. “I love you, Claire.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Love you, too.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Ready?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire nodded.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack knotted one end of his robe’s belt around Claire’s left wrist, ran the other through several slats of his head board and wrapped it around her right wrist, securing her hands to the bed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Okay?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire tugged at the bonds. They weren't too tight, but she definitely wasn't going anyway. That knowledge made her stomach flip, sending a bolt of pleasure shooting lower. “It’s fine, Jack.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Good.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In a moment, Claire felt jack get up. “I need to get something from the kitchen.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Hurry, please.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Alone, immobilized, Claire was struck by the degree to which she felt vulnerable. “Breathe, Claire,” she told herself. She knew she had nothing to worry about - Jack loved and cherished her and would never intentionally do her harm. Excitement and anticipation were stronger than fear she felt as evidenced by the rapid pace of her heart, the shortness of her breath, and the tingle between her thighs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It seemed like many moments had gone by since Jack had left her, when in reality it had been a minute or so. He returned quietly, hoping for a few moments to marvel at Claire without her knowledge of his presence. He stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame, a bottle of wine in one hand, two glasses in the other.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He smiled to himself, wondering if Claire was aware that her hips were gyrating ever so slightly against her bed. He moved and set his booty down on the night stand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Jack?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’m back, babe.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What did you get?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Some wine.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Suddenly his hand slipped between her thighs to cup her womanly softness.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Oh!” Claire gasped, then moaned softly as his hand increased its pressure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I think you’re going to enjoy this very much, he whispered softly, his voice suddenly very close to her ear, “I know I will.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She heard him pouring wine into their glasses, then his hand was behind her head, tilting it up. “Drink,” he said, bringing the glass to her lips, tilting back slowly. He was careful, yet some wine spilled from the side of her lips, running down her chin and throat. He put the glass down and bent to lick her clean. Claire sighed deeply. She felt his warm breath against her chest and then a sharp, wet tugging on her nipple that told her Jack had enclosed the hardened nub between his lips.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Mmmmm,” Claire sighed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He rested his hand over her panties again, and began rubbing back and forth, tantalizing her sex, igniting every nerve ending in her lush body, each one alive with feeling to make up for the loss of sight. When she began to push back against his hand, body demanding more, Jack removed the hand. Claire whimpered. He released her nipple and Claire moaned softly when he captured the other between his warm, moist lips. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire felt him stretching for something and heard him fumbling in the table next to the bed. She heard the pop of a plastic bottle opening and wondered which of the oils/lotions they’d purchased he had retrieved. The cool liquid he drizzled onto each nipple quickly turned warm as he began to softly rub it into the hardened rosy nubs, and she knew he had grabbed the almond flavored love oil.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He stood suddenly and Claire could hear him undressing, though much of her attention was focused on the tingling in her nipples. The bed sagged again as he moved himself between her legs. His mouth closed over a nipple again. “Mmmmmm,” he sighed as Claire moaned. He continued licking until the almond flavoring was gone. Then he moved to suckle the other. Eventually his moist tongue began making its way down her torso.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Instantly Claire’s mind began to reel. She knew exactly what was coming next -so she thought- and never had she anticipated it so much. The thought of Jack’s tongue working its magic on her enflamed womanhood made her anxious for the sensation’ she needed it, needed him to love her with his mouth, more than she ever had before.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She arched up involuntarily as his tongue reached the top of her panties. For a moment, re relented and kissed his way farther down, sucking briefly on Claire’s heated sex through her panties. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The respite was brief, and he moved further down, kissing and licking his way from her left knee, up her inner thigh, to the sensitive flesh where her leg joined her hidden secret. She wanted to snake her hand down into his hair, the way she usually did when he pleasured her with his mouth, to stop the teasing and press his face against her. It suddenly hit her what the immobilization of her hands meant. He could do anything he wanted to her, tease her, drive her crazy, and she could do nothing about it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He stopped briefly to nuzzle the sweet flesh before moving down to begin again with her right leg. He moved more slowly this time, and when he finally reached her inner thigh, he hooked a finger in each side of her panties, and gently eased them off of her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Jack, oh God, please!” she moaned, imploring him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Not yet,” he soothed softly, then began again with her left knee, moving slower still. The restraint was taxing him almost as much as it was taxing Claire, who was whimpering now, completely consumed with her need. She felt she would die if he aroused her further but granted no release when he finally eased her thighs apart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She felt his fingers on her, strong, firm, soothing, parting the petals of her feminine flower, darting his tongue inside her, sliding it in as deeply as he could. He pumped in and out several times before he stopped, his face hovering just above her. Claire could feel his hot breath caressing her naked flesh.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire felt shameless with need. “Jack … please!”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What, babe?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Please … make me cum … I can’t … I need to cum.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack gave in, licking his way up to her engorged female jewel. He circled round and round with his tongue, one handing resting on the flesh above her swollen nub. To her surprise, she did not instantly begin to cum. Instead, Claire’s hips pushed up against him. With his other hand he slid two fingers into her, letting them sink deeply in, then holding still. As he’d anticipated, Claire began to move against his hand, her hips guiding his fingers in and out of her hot, honeyed sheath even as he continue laving her clit with his tongue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When her rhythm steadied, he began pumping his fingers in time with her thrusting hips. He sucked her engorged pearl into his mouth and at last, Claire began to shudder. It began as a slight shiver and worked its way to a shake until Claire’s body was wracked with spasms of release. She cried out, sobbing Jack’s name as he continued the ministrations of his fingers and tongue, working her into a frenzied, extended orgasm, easing up as it began to subside, easing her down from the precipice as slowly and thoroughly as he’d brought her up and over it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At last, Claire lay sated, thoroughly spent, panting and sighing in her contentment. Jack reached up and loosened her wrists and removed the blindfold, then pulled her into his arms, stroking her body as tremors still coursed through her every now and again. When she finally opened her eyes, he was staring at her intently.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You were amazing,” he told her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“It felt so good.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I could tell.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I thought I was going to go out of my mind when you were teasing me … and it drove me crazy that I couldn‘t do anything about it.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“But beg,” he reminded her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She nodded. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“It was really hot to push you like that,“ he whispered, then drew her in for a long, deep kiss. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Mmmm,” Claire sighed into the kiss just before they eased apart. Jack trailed kisses down the column of her throat. When he reached the crook of her neck, he began sucking lightly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After a moment, Claire laughed and shrugged him away. “Hey! Trying to give me a hickey?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“No,” he breathed against her neck, reaching her earlobe and lightly sucking the sweet fleshy mass for several seconds before continuing, “I just love tasting your skin after you cum. I love all the different ways you taste … your lips, your skin, your cum.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Her body was tingling. She didn’t notice when it happened, but Jack had begun lightly toying with her nipples. She still felt very, very warm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Her heat did not go unnoticed by Jack. “Your body’s still so hot, babe.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“In more ways than one.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Oh, yes? He queried, trailing one hand down her torso and slipped it between her thighs to cup her moist, engorged flesh. He began rubbing back and forth, letting a finger slip between the folds as he did so. Claire sighed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack slipped two fingers swiftly into her. Claire moaned and her eyes fluttered closed as he began to pump in and out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You weren’t kidding,” he told her when her back arched, urging his fingers deeper. Intrigued, Jack wondered exactly how far she’d let him push her before her more aggressive nature returned, before she stopped letting him toy with her and demanded more. Though he’d released her bonds, Claire lay with her arms back against the pillow, her legs parted wide, accommodating Jack’s hand as his fingers probed her depths. She thrust back at him, gyrating her hips as he pushed his fingers in and out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Hold still, babe” Jack whispered, leaning in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I can’t, Jack,” she gasped, breath ragged.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Shhh … you can, Claire.” He bent over and kissed her neck, his other hand beginning to tease a nipple. “Don’t move or I’ll stop doing this,” he whispered, his command punctuated by an increase in the pace of his fingers pumping in and out of her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“God, Jack … please don’t stop.” she pleaded, incapable of ceasing movement.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But he did stop, withdrawing his hand completely. Claire inhaled sharply through her teeth, feeling the empty ache. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“If you can’t control yourself, maybe you need even more,” he told her. Suddenly there was a pressure on her again, and Claire felt Jack beginning to push his fingers back into her. This time, there was more pressure and when she felt her body accept him she knew he’d pushed a third finger into her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Jack!” she gasped, startled by the initial shock of being so full. It was awkward, slightly painful upon entry, but soon gave way to an intense heat that permeated the rest of her body as she opened to him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack, watching her very intently, had seen the momentary pain flash across her face. “Babe, do you want me to stop?” he asked, not prepared for how strangled his voice sounded with his worry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“No!” she cried. <i>“Was that me?”</i> she wondered to herself</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Holding his hand still, Jack leaned over and kissed Claire’s throat, then readjusted so that he might pay loving attention to her nipples.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When several moments had passed, Jack felt Claire begin to move her hips. Taking the hint, he slowly withdrew his fingers and thrust forward again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As before, a look passed over Claire’s face. This time, however, it was one of pure bliss. His rhythm grew more rapid. He eased back to watch Claire’s face. Abandoned to everything but the pleasure given her by her lover, Claire’s face shown with rapture. Jack’s breath caught and he exhaled, a long, strangled sigh. Claire was being driven to heights she’d never known before, but he wasn’t sure he’d last much longer. In ecstasy, she was so beautiful it almost hurt to look at her. Suddenly her dark eyes came open, smoldering at him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Christ Jack, please.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What, babe? What do you want?” he asked, genuinely unaware of what precisely she needed in that moment. He was pumping faster now, his own excitement nearly strangling him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I need you, Jack … need to have you inside me, hard, fast.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Suddenly, he regretted that he’d remained clothed, there was so much to remove before he could be inside her Claire the way she wanted - the way he wanted. He struggled free of his clothing as quickly as possible, tearing at buttons as he worked. When he was naked, Jack laid out against the bed and pulled Claire astride him, and bringing her in for a heated, intense kiss.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Show me,” he breathed hotly against her mouth. “Show me what you want … what you need.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire reached between them and guided him into her hot, honeyed depths. She braced her self with a hand on either side of her head as she began to raise and lower herself. She was slow and deliberate at first, raising up until Jack almost slid out of her, then lowering again and grinding momentarily before beginning to rise. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack grabbed her head in his hands and kissed her, hard. Claire began to ride faster then, raising up to grip the head board, more solid than the mattress, for increased leverage for her movements. Jack gripped her hips, driving her faster on him until she arched backward, head thrown back with abandon as she experienced another blindingly intense orgasm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Still hard, still deep in side her, Jack flipped their positions and began to piston his hips against her, needing to cum now, no longer able to hold back after such restraint. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Look at me, Claire,” Jack commanded, and her eyes flew open. When he saw her eyes roll back, another orgasm approaching, he slammed into her harder, crying out just before she did, collapsing on top of her, deeply sated.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Claire held him against her breast, stroking his hair, until they were both able to breathe normally. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Hmmmmm …. Where did all of that come from?” Claire asked, amazed by Jack’s new sense of adventure. She felt the rumble in his chest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I wanted to make sure you couldn’t get away,” he chuckled. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’ll tell you a secret” she said softly, still stroking his hair.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Hmmm, what’s that?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“When you doing that to me, the last thing I am thinking about is trying to get away.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I guess that means I should do that more often.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Mmmmm, yes, please,” she purred, snuggling closer. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-88230539466414301952012-11-19T20:26:00.000-08:002012-11-25T21:31:45.842-08:00Homemade Porn<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jack McCoy awoke in the wee hours of the morning. Claire Kincaid lay sleeping beside him, her head resting on his chest, arm across his abdomen and one leg resting over his so that her soft inner thigh lay across the top of his. He kissed her forehead gently and stroked her back. In sleep, she moaned softly and he was aware of her beginning to press herself against his outer thigh.<br /><br />Jack smiled languidly to himself in the darkness. "She must be having the kind of dream I was having," he told himself: the kind of dream from which he'd emerged fully aroused.<br /><br />He'd dreamed he was sitting behind his desk at work when Claire had strolled confidently, as always, into his office, a mischievous little grin on her face. She'd locked the door behind and had moved to do the same with the door Adam always used. When she was walking toward the third and final door, he decided to find out what was going on in her mind at the moment.<br /><br />"What are you up to?"<br /><br />"Come here," she'd told him, leaning against the corner by the door defendants and their counsel used.<br /><br />He'd stood then, and moved toward her, their eyes locking. When he was inches in front of her, he asked, "What's this all about?"<br /><br />She just smiled and reached forward, her hands loosening his tie and unbuttoning his shirt and pulling him in for a deep, erotic kiss. Jack was shocked for a moment, then began kissing her back. They began unbuttoning and pulling clothes to their extremities without actually removing anything.<br /><br />In his dream, he'd pulled Claire's skirt up, and to his delight, dream-Claire wore no panties. He hadn't been anywhere near aroused when she'd come in, but by the time she had his pants around his ankles and the waist band of his boxers clinging to his thighs he was rock hard and ready for her.<br /><br />He'd turned her to the wall, easing her legs just past shoulder width apart. He pressed himself against her and she could feel his hardness. "Like this?" he'd whispered hotly into her ear.<br /><br />She'd nodded. He turned her head and craned his neck so he could kiss her, then bent at the knee, kissing the base of her neck, and slid himself into her.<br /><br />It was at this point he'd woken up. He couldn't remember having had a dream, that he'd recalled later, in which he'd actually achieved sexual satisfaction.<br /><br />He stretched as he lay there. Claire stirred but did not wake. Whereas Jack was a light sleeper, Claire was the polar opposite: he teased her sometimes by saying she'd have slept through a WWII air raid.<br /><br />He kissed her forehead again, delighting in the sounds she was making. His lips against her forehead seemed to trigger her speech, and she murmured something in sleep that he wasn't altogether sure was English.<br /><br />He nudged her slightly and she rolled to her back. He turned to his side and stared down at her in the pale light of the pre-dawn. Drawing the covers back, he leaned in to kiss her shoulder, bare from where the strap of the tank top she wore had slipped down.<br /><br />She'd come over after the gym, and they'd had dinner, had watched some TV, and eventually had begun making their way down the hall to Jack's bedroom; stripping off clothing as they went. They'd gotten into bed with Claire still in her tank top and panties, Jack still in his boxers. They'd spent a long time talking softly, kissing and touching lightly, and had wound up, tired as usual on a Thursday night, falling asleep, still partially clothed, entwined completely in one another, before they'd had the chance to move on to more fulfilling pleasures.<br /><br />He bent to kiss her, and in sleep she kissed back, murmuring against his lips, the words as unintelligible as before.<br /><br />He wondered what exactly it was she was dreaming about. He decided to wake her and find out: to wake her in one of the most pleasant ways he could imagine.<br /><br />He straddled her and kissed her chest above the neckline of her tank top, and continued lower. Soon he was lightly kissing the soft flesh just above her panty line, her tank top having ridden up. Laying hands upon her hips, he lifted them slightly and began to draw her panties down. Smiling to himself knowing she'd wake to him doing something she found incredibly pleasurable to her, he set the panties aside. He eased her thighs apart and positioned himself between them. He kissed her inner thighs softly and she mewled quietly in her sleep. At last, he dipped his head to taste her sweetness.<br /><br />She arched her back as his tongue began to work on her and he found himself smugly wondering what effects his mouth working on her would have on her dreams. He tongued and sucked at her feminine core for some time.<br /><br />Claire woke to a tremendous, familiar tightness in her stomach, to a warm glow suffusing her loins, coming out of a dream in which she and Jack had, indeed, been making love to one another. She arched her back and stretched, sighing deeply as she realized what was happening.<br /><br />"Mmmmm ... ohhhh .... Jack ..." he heard her moan softly, and he paused.<br /><br />"Hey, Beautiful," he said to her, kissing the flat of her stomach.<br /><br />"That feels wonderful, babe," she told him, her eyes still but half opened, "Hmmm...Mmmm...don't stop."<br /><br />Eagerly, he dipped his head again and began to tongue vigorously at her jewel, delighting in the soft sighs and moans of his lover. He fastened his mouth around her swollen pearl and Claire instantly began to shudder, her hips thrusting up at him as she tangled her hands in his hair. She cried out, and Jack didn't leave her until her cries and spasms had subsided.<br /><br />He lay on his side next to her then reached for her hand and brought her fingers to his lips to kiss lightly.<br /><br />"Mmmm...wonderful," sighed Claire, stretching in Jack's arms.<br /><br />"Like that?"<br /><br />"Mmmhmmm ... if you're going to wake me up in the middle of the night ... please do it that way."<br /><br />"It's technically morning."<br /><br />Instead of answering, she kissed him.<br /><br />"What were you dreaming about?"<br /><br />"Nothing..."<br /><br />"Didn't sound like 'nothing' to me."<br /><br />"I give you too much power if I tell you my dreams, ya know."<br /><br />"I'll tell you mine ..."<br /><br />"Okay."<br /><br />"You go first."<br /><br />"I never said I was telling...but you did."<br /><br />"Fine. I see how it is."<br /><br />"Kiss me," she told him.<br /><br />He did.<br /><br />"You were saying?" she prodded after.<br /><br />"You came into my office, locked all of the doors and demanded that I make love to you. Against the wall."<br /><br />"Demanded, eh?" she teased.<br /><br />"Well....close enough."<br /><br />"By the way...I thought that I was the one who's supposed to have cornered the market on in-the-office-sex dreams."<br /><br />"Not like I could control it," he teased, massaging the nape of her neck with his fingers. "You going to tell me yours or what?"<br /><br />"Or what."<br /><br />"What happened to the reciprocity upon which we've founded our relationship?"<br /><br />"Well...if you're going to put it that way..."<br /><br />"I am."<br /><br />She softened, snuggling closer to him. "It's nothing really ... I just can't stop thinking about that time when we were in Illinois ... that time we made love in front of the mirror."<br /><br />Jack nodded. "And?"<br /><br />"I never really thought of myself as incredibly visual ... but when it was us I was seeing ... I can't get over how erotic it was ... I keep dreaming about it.<br /><br />"Are you saying you've got a developing interest in porn?"<br /><br />"Developing? You mean you didn't know that I spend a good deal of my lunches hanging around the porn houses on 42nd Street?"<br /><br />"Liar."<br /><br />"Don't call names."<br /><br />"You just said you're not visual...then you expect me to but that you hang out in porn shops? You're worse than a reluctant witness."<br /><br />"Okay...you caught me. I've never even been to one."<br /><br />"Just as I thought."<br /><br />They began kissing again, stroking each others bodies until Claire was pulling Jack over on top of her, pushing his boxers past his buttocks. He entered her slowly, and they made love with tender care, eventually reaching orgasm as they lay on their sides facing one another. Jack eased away first and brought a hand up to stroke her cheek. "I know a way we can see ourselves making love again."<br /><br />"By doing it in front of another mirror?"<br /><br />He shook his head. "You've got a video camera, right?"</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">*****</span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire was setting up the video camera in her bedroom the next night, Friday, when Jack rang the bell: he had his own key, but was in the habit of ringing or knocking before walking in on her. She'd told him it wasn't necessary, but it was something he did nonetheless.<br /><br />"Claire?" he called upon entering.<br /><br />"I'm in the bedroom," she called down the hall.<br /><br />Jack went into the kitchen to set the food down: he'd been put in charge of dinner while Claire was charged with the prep work for the video.<br /><br />He entered the bedroom to find her behind the camera, apparently focusing it on the bed, wearing a turquoise satin robe with a floral print.<br /><br />"Stand there," she said, indicating the edge of the bed, then bent to look into the camera again, adjusting the lens as Jack did as she'd requested. "Alright ... now lay down on the bed."<br /><br />"A bit eager to begin?" he teased.<br /><br />"Just want to get the camera ready now so we won't have to play around with it later."<br /><br />"Ever practical."<br /><br />"Now stand up again."<br /><br />He did.<br /><br />"There...that should do it."<br /><br />"C'mon...dinner's getting cold. I got food from that Moroccan place you like."<br /><br />"New Marrakech? Mmmmm."<br /><br />They ate on the floor in the living room between the coffee table and the fire place, their backs to a roaring fire.<br /><br />When they were full, they pushed their plates back and sat quietly sipping a bottle of good red wine Jack had been saving for something special.<br /><br />They were suddenly awkward with each other.<br /><br />"It's weird knowing we've actually planned to make love.... especially in front of a camera," said Claire.<br /><br />Jack nodded.<br /><br />"I'm shy about it," she said, confessing her inhibitions openly.<br /><br />Jack reached over and massaged the back of her neck. "Don't be, babe. It's just the two of us ... and I'm sure after we begin you won't even notice the camera. And you can rest assured no one but the two of us will ever see this tape."<br /><br />"I know ... just feels kind of funny knowing there will be a record ... an actual visual record, of us making love."<br /><br />"I feel it too. But it's exciting, the thought of it," he confessed, "Don't you agree? Is there anything I can do to put you at ease?"<br /><br />"You can pour me some more of that delicious wine, for starters." she told him. He nodded and did so. She took a sip and stood. She held her hand out to Jack and he took it, clasping it in his as she led him to the comfy chair and pushed him down, sitting on his lap. She was facing sideways, an arm around his shoulder.<br /><br />Jack craned his neck and kissed her full on the lips. She kissed back and soon they were engrossed in a kiss.<br /><br />"Are you naked under this?" Jack asked, his hands reaching for the sash.<br /><br />"You'll see soon enough." She stopped him.<br /><br />He moved to slip his hand inside the top portion of the robe but she prevented the move, so he slid his hand across her breast over the fabric, and squeezed playfully.<br /><br />"Hey!" she protested lightly against his lips, and he chuckled.<br /><br />"I'm trying to relax you," he said against her neck.<br /><br />"Oh? Really? You'll forgive me If I don't find having my tit mauled overly soothing," she teased, still holding her wine glass, she re-positioned herself so she sat astride Jack's lap, staring intently into his eyes over the rim of the glass as she sipped.<br /><br />Jack nodded and sipped his own wine. He set his glass on the table next to the chair, and did the same with Claire's. "If you're having second thoughts," he said, growing more serious suddenly, "tell me. I don't want to do anything you're even the slightest bit uncomfortable with. Nothing is more important to me than you are... I'd never do anything to deliberately sacrifice your comfort."<br /><br />"I'm not getting cold feet. I want to do this. Just a little nervous ... and feeling silly."<br /><br />They laughed low, together.<br /><br />Jack lay his palm against her cheek and rubbed it lightly with his thumb. She smiled as she brought her hand up and slipped her fingers under his. She brought his fingers to her lips and kissed them lightly, smiling at him. Jack craned his neck and Claire began to lower her face to his. They kissed, lips pressed flush against lips, lightly, then applying more pressure until they were kissing passionately. They opened their mouths to one another and Claire slipped her tongue into tangle with Jack's. Their tongues wound round and round one another until both were pulling back, gasping from the force and passion of their kiss.<br /><br />"I love you," whispered Claire.<br /><br />"You too, babe," he replied, his voice soft as he leaned in to kiss her supple lips quickly.<br /><br />"I'm ready if you are," she told him.<br /><br />Jack nodded and held her against him as he stood. He set her down and she moved to pull away from him but he held her close. He cupped her chin and tilted her head back, admiring her beautiful, delicate visage: her eyes, so dark and full of passion, the high cheek-bones highlighted now by her flushed cheeks, the strong line of her jaw, the elegant nose, the lovely kiss-bruised lips. He bent his head and kissed her forehead, then dipped his lips to kiss the pulsing vein at the base of her throat.<br /><br />Claire took his face between her hands and brought his lips to hers. They kissed, their arms holding each other tightly. Jack's hands slid down her back and over her behind. He squeezed softly, bent at the knees and stood back up, bringing Claire up against him. He slid his hands under her bottom and she wrapped her legs around his waist, locking her ankles. Still kissing, he carried her thusly down the hall to her room, setting her down at the foot of her bed.<br /><br />They kissed for a bit longer and suddenly Claire was laughing and pushing him away.<br /><br />"The camera's not on yet," she told him.<br /><br />He grinned sheepishly and went to turn it on.<br /><br />"You ready?" he asked when the camera was in front of him.<br /><br />She took a breath and sat on the edge of the bed. He smiled slightly and turned the camera on then walked around it and moved in front of Claire.<br /><br />She decided she would do everything in her power to never look over at the camera ... from fear of laughing ... or freezing up. She stared up at Jack instead. She felt a little cold, and shivered. Jack mistook this for her misgivings surfacing again and so he knelt in front of her and rested his hands on her knees.<br /><br />"Don't be nervous ... it's just like any other time. I love you."<br /><br />Claire smiled and leaned down to kiss him. He kissed back and slipped his hands beneath her satin robe, resting them on her thighs. They continued kissing until Claire pulled back. "Stand up," she told him against his mouth.<br /><br />When he was on his feet in front of her she reached for his belt. She went to work on the button-fly of his Levi's next, looking up at him, her cheeks flushed, showing her nerves. She pulled his pants down and he stepped out of them. She drew her nails up over his legs, his thighs, and Jack shivered visibly. She reached for the bottom of his boxers and pulled them down, his as of yet only partially erect organ bouncing free, poking out from between the tails of his white Oxford.<br /><br />She ran her hands along his outer thighs, up over his hips and higher, drawing the shirt up as she went, baring the lightly fuzzed flat of his stomach and went to work stroking him with her hand as she tongued around his navel.<br /><br />Jack groaned and let his head fall back for a moment, concentrating on the feel of Claire's small, warm hand gliding up and down along the smooth, soft, skin of his still-rising manhood, and her tongue, torturously distracting him by darting in, out, and around his navel.<br /><br />He began removing his shirt as Claire kissed her way down his lower abdomen. When she was lightly flicking her tongue against the underside of his still growing organ, he tossed the shirt aside. She took him into her mouth then, sucking hard upon the head as her fingers teasingly traced the shaft.<br /><br />He reached down with the hand furthest from the camera and smoothed it over Claire's silken hair. His hand fell to her shoulder, and he brought the other to her other shoulder, and drew her up until she was on her toes, wrapping her arms around his neck as he engulfed her in a tumultuous kiss. He lifted her several inches off the ground, turning 180 degrees before setting her on her feet again. He sat upon the bed and gripped Claire by the waist and pressed his face against her abdomen. He pulled back and tugged at the thin sash that held her robe together and she let it puddle to the floor behind her, revealing a delicate cream-coloured satin and lace camisole.<br /><br />Jack whistled low.<br /><br />"You like?"<br /><br />"I like."<br /><br />"Good," said Claire as she reached out to run her hand through Jack's hair. He dropped his hands to the backs of her legs and slid them up, cupping her behind and squeezing as he pulled her against him, nestling his face between her breasts.<br /><br />Hands on his shoulders, she eased him away from her and told him to lie back against the bed. He worked his way backward until he was lying reclined against her pillows. She picked up a foot and removed his sock before doing the same with the other. Straddling his legs, she crawled forward. When she was positioned over his lower pelvis, his near-fully engorged member straining behind her, she threaded her fingers through his and pinned his arms to the bed.<br /><br />"Now I've got you where I want you," she told him.<br /><br />"Not quite."<br /><br />"No?"<br /><br />"I know a place you'd rather have me."<br /><br />"Do you now? ... and where, pray tell, is that?"<br /><br />He got his hands free and gripped her face, bringing it down next to his. Just before kissing her, he said, voice rough, hot, low, "Inside you."<br /><br />He kissed her, his tongue plundering the sweetness of her mouth until she was squirming above him. He sat up so he could sit without resting back on his arms. Claire stretched her legs out behind him. He reached up and drew the shoulder straps of the nightie down her long slender arms and the satin and lace slipped over her breasts, one side catching slightly on its descent over the nipple. The garment hung about her waist, but lower, resting atop her hips. He cupped her breasts and leaned in to lavish her nipples with his lips and tongue, kissing, sucking and licking them.<br /><br />He re-adjusted holding her tight, and lay her down, head toward the foot of the bed. He worked the delicate garment off of her and soon her creamy flesh was visible to him in all her naked glory.<br /><br />"Beautiful ..." he said as he leaned down and took a nipple into his mouth. Claire gasped as he slipped a hand down between her thighs. In a moment he was trailing his tongue down her torso, gripping her hips and pulling her down, his tongue running small circles along her inner thighs until suddenly his tongue was on her, stroking up and down and then lightly flicking at her now aching-to-be-touched female jewel. He sucked and licked and nibbled until Claire was writhing, moaning, and mewling her satisfaction, hands tightly gripping the bed spread above her head.<br /><br />Jack lay next to her again, reached across her torso to clasp a breast in his hands as he lowered his head to suckle upon the one closest to him. He rolled them over so that Claire was farthest from the camera and lying partially across his body. He released his hold and she moved lower, her knees on the bed next to Jack and began to similarly torture his nipples. She licked her way downward, moving down further on the bed with her knees until she was tonguing at his navel. As she moved further, she felt one of Jack's hands stroking her back, squeezing a buttock and sliding back up.<br /><br />Bracing herself by reaching across Jack's thighs and laying her palm on the bed, she gripped the base of his now bulging member and lowered her head to flick her tongue across the ruby tip of him. Jack sighed and smoothed his hand over her silky hair. A few moments of Claire licking at his shaft and Jack was reaching beneath her --she hadn't moved between his thighs, but still knelt beside him -- he began to lightly fondle a breast, gently pinching at the nipple.<br /><br />Suddenly she took him into her mouth and was moving up and down on him. His hand moved further down her torso and he was softly massaging her pearl. He stroked his fingers all along and around her wetness as she began to suckle harder. Some time went by thusly and then Claire was teasing him, running her tongue along his shaft lightly. He reached down and drew his member against his belly. Claire understood the silent request. She began to lick and suck at the sensitive male orbs and began to work the length of him with her small, hot hand. He slid two fingers into her then, pumping in and out even as he massaged deep inside her.<br /><br />They were both moaning audibly by now, and Jack was begging Claire to take him into her mouth again. She did, and with his expert hands he began to drive her into a frenzy as he neared his own crisis, his hips thrusting up to match the strokes of her mouth. He both saw and felt as Claire began to shudder and he felt the bolt of white-hot lightning pass through his stomach and out through his loins, crying out as his eyes slipped closed, his body awash in pleasure.<br /><br />He lay spent, and Claire eased herself down beside him.<br /><br />It took him a few moments to recover and then he was pushing Claire onto her back, bending down to suckle on her nipples once more.<br /><br />"Oh, Jack," she murmured, her hand gliding through his hair.<br /><br />Jack wasn't exactly aroused anymore, but he knew Claire, knew her body and knew --in spite of the fact that he'd just given her an incredible orgasm --that she'd surely be ready for more. He knew, also, that the reactions of her body to his touch would trigger his own desire. The thought that all of this was happening on camera only added to the excitement both were feeling.<br /><br />Jack moved up to kiss her lips and she wrapped her arms around him. He kissed her neck next, and left her. He was on his knees, between her legs but lower, near her feet. Gripping her legs, he pulled her toward him and bent so he was kissing and licking at her inner thighs. With his hand he began to lightly stroke her moist heat as he continued teasing her thighs with his tongue.<br /><br />Several moment of this and he stopped. Claire's eyes opened and she saw him hovering over her, his warm breath blowing against her thighs and the swollen, aroused core of her womanhood. She arched up in anticipation as Jack lowered his head. She felt his tongue only lightly grazing against her pearl, lightly, maddeningly teasing her until she reached down and snaked her hand into his soft hair, forcing his mouth harder against her. He tongued eagerly, licking and sucking, pushing her higher and higher, maintaining an aroused state but not giving her the release her body was screaming for.<br /><br />He slid his tongue downward and slipped it swiftly inside her. He began plunging it in and out of her, sliding in as far as he could manage. Claire was having a glorious time. Jack was an incredible lover, and the fact that they loved each other made their lovemaking all the more pleasurable. Just the thought of his mouth on her could drive her to distraction.<br /><br />One of his palms was smoothing lightly over her belly. Suddenly he did something he'd never done before: as he continued pushing her to knew peaks of arousal, he reached up and gripped her wrist, drawing her hand down over her body, bringing it to rest on the dark triangle of curls that covered her feminine secret. She began stroking his hair and Jack smiled inwardly: she hadn't recognized the request. He tried again, maneuvering her hand and covering it with one of his own. He pressed her fingers against her with the force of his own fingers and encouraged her to massage her womanly jewel, rubbing slow, firm circles over the sensitive nub by pressing his fingers against hers.<br /><br />When he felt the muscles in her fingers begin to move without his help he removed his hand. Claire began to wiggle and thrust up against him as he tongued and sucked greedily at her. Both of them found this --Claire contributing to her own pleasure in this way as Jack worked her into a frenzy -- highly erotic.<br /><br />Suddenly Claire felt the warmth flood her body, felt herself begin to shake as she closed her eyes. An explosion went off in her loins that triggered a starburst in her brain. She threw her head back and cried out, her body wracked with spasms of intensely blinding pleasure.<br /><br />Jack was more than pleased with himself, and, by this point, was more than a little aroused. He'd grown incredibly hard as he'd paid such loving attention to Claire.<br /><br />He moved up and covered her body with his, kissing her neck as she struggled hard to catch her breath. He moved lower and was tonguing lightly at her nipples again.<br /><br />"Jack!" she exclaimed, her breath still coming in short, labored gasps. "Jack ... I can't..."<br /><br />"Shhh," he soothed, moving up and capturing her lips between his. "You're doing wonderful, babe."<br /><br />His hand moved lower and she felt him gently stroking her again. She arched up, seeking the pleasure.<br /><br />"More?" he asked her.<br /><br />She nodded and his hand left her. She whimpered until she felt him rubbing the tip of himself against her.<br /><br />"Mmmmm," she sighed as he slipped into her; sliding home.<br /><br />Jack groaned and held himself slightly away from Claire. She ran her hands up and over his pecks and along his abs, arching up now and again as they gazed lovingly at one another.<br /><br />"Want me to move?" he asked her softly.<br /><br />She nodded and Jack withdrew slowly and thrust forward again, just as slowly, doing this over and over again, to the delight of both.<br /><br />"Faster, Jack," Claire panted after a time.<br /><br />He began to move faster, Claire matching him thrust for thrust. She gripped his hips as he thrust, then slid her hands around until she was squeezing the contracting muscles of his behind.<br /><br />Through her moans, Claire managed to say, "I want to ride you."<br /><br />Jack slid his arms beneath her and rolled them over.<br /><br />She leaned over him, her palms resting on either side of his head and began to ride slowly, moving up and down as she leaned in to kiss him, licking at his lips. His hands went to her hips, then slid up her sides, around to her back and up to her shoulders. He slid them down again. He brought them around to her front to gently play with her breasts.<br /><br />Claire began to move faster and as she did so, she sat back, readjusting slightly forward and up, then came back down, allowing Jack to slide deeper into her. He dropped his hands to her hips and smiled up at her, his hips thrusting in perfect time with hers.<br /><br />"Touch yourself for me again, babe," Jack said, voice laden with desire, "Touch yourself while you ride me."<br /><br />The corners of her mouth turned up in a wicked little smile and she brought her hands up, running them through her hair. She tucked her hair behind her ears and moved her hands lower, massaging them over her breasts and sliding them down her torso.<br /><br />As Jack watched, and as she continued to ride him, she slipped her hand between her thighs and began to lightly massage her swollen feminine nub. It was like a bolt of lightening had shot through her body. Her back arched and Jack was slamming his hips up against her.<br /><br />"Oh ... God ... oh, Jack ... yessss," she cried out into the room, head thrown back in wild abandon, calling Jack's name again and again as he turned her to her back and thrust swiftly in and out of her, pistoning his hips with great force against her.<br /><br />His stomach clenched and then the explosion rocked through him. "Ahhh ... God ... Claire..." Jack's voice nearly sobbed in relief as he collapsed on top of Claire, his hot tribute shooting into her.<br /><br />He collapsed against her and they lay that way, thoroughly spent for many moments.<br /><br />Claire's legs relaxed and stretched out against the bed. She reached up to stroke Jack's damp hair.<br /><br />He kissed her, softly.<br /><br />"We should turn the camera off," Claire murmured against his cheek. Jack groaned and eased himself away from her. He sat up and dangled his legs over the side of the bed, running his face between his hands, , attempting to catch his breath, still slightly overwhelmed by the intensity of the encounter he and Claire had just shared, by the incredible rush and release of adrenaline he'd experienced at climax.<br /><br />Claire sat up, still breathing heavy herself. "You okay, lover?" she asked him, rubbing his back as she nuzzled the side of his neck.<br /><br />Jack nodded, then turned, gripped the back of Claire's neck, and kissed her hotly, his tongue seeking, finding, stroking. Claire was a little taken aback by the force of the kiss --after lovemaking, Jack was typically gentle, languid. "Amazing, babe," he said after a moment. "You take my breath away."<br /><br />She smiled sweetly, pleased. She slid a hand over Jack's chest and down, slipping it over his stomach and down between his legs to gently cup his flagging manhood. "Looks like that's not all I take away," she teased.<br /><br />"Hey!" groaned Jack, feeling, in spite of his years and recent orgasm, that familiar stirring begin once more.<br /><br />He took her by the wrist and moved her hand away, bringing it up to kiss her fingers softly. They looked at one another, eyes peering into one anothers' minds, into one anothers' hearts, and saw such love and passion mirrored there.<br /><br />"I love you, Claire" Jack whispered hoarsely.<br /><br />"I love you, Jack" she told him, eyes shining bright with emotion.<br /><br />They began kissing once more, the kisses quickly becoming heated, and soon their hands began to roam.<br /><br />Claire put on the brakes. "We should turn off the tape," she said between gasps for breath, "Before it becomes a full-length feature."<br /><br />They laughed together, softly.<br /><br />Jack stood and turned it off.<br /><br />"Ready to watch it?"</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">*****</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />They decided, upon Claire's request, to take a quick shower before settling in to watch the video in the living room --there was no VCR in Claire's room, and no need to hassle with hooking up the video camera where there was a VCR and conversion cassette at the ready.<br /><br />As usual, the shower they shared stretched out. After mutual washing of hair and cleansing of skin, sudsy wash-cloths and soapy hands grew bold. Jack paid a little too much attention to Claire's breasts and behind, while Claire lingered longer than necessary over the flaccid essence of him, washing and lightly squeezing through the cloth until she felt him begin to expand.<br /><br />When she'd had her fill of toying with him thusly, she pushed him back into the stream of water. She regarded his long, lean, still-hard body with desire --mixed with a bit of pride that he was HER man-- as the suds sluiced over his slick skin.<br /><br />"Have I ever told you how much I love the freckles on your chest and shoulder?," Claire asked.<br /><br />Jack cocked an eyebrow "50-something men don't have freckles," he informed her jovially.<br /><br />"My 50-something man does," she said, slipping her arms around him, between his arms and torso, "On your back, too."<br /><br />"You're making it up," he said, refusing to admit that he believed her --though he did, in fact, know that he did, in fact, have freckles.<br /><br />"Uh-uh," she shook her head. "Look," she told him, pointing to a spot on his shoulder. He turned his head to look and a deluge of water blurred his vision.<br /><br />"I see water," he told her, and they laughed. "C'mon ... let's get out ...I'm beginning to prune and we've still got to premiere our first attempt at a feature."<br /><br />"I don't think it can be called a 'feature' if it goes directly to video."<br /><br />"No? Well ... I'm sure we could find a distributor..."<br /><br />"Don't even think about it, Buster ... we're watching it and then I'm putting the thing in a safe deposit box."<br /><br />"Can I make a few copies, first? Please?"<br /><br />"You trying to bring a scandal down on our heads?"<br /><br />"Yep ... think of the freedom .. No work ... No sick perps to turn our stomachs or weaken out faith in human nature ... No deadlines ... No self-important judges or wise-ass defense attorneys..."<br /><br />"No money ..."<br /><br />"I've got enough ... and you own your condo ... We could take daily walks in the park ... make love whenever ... What?"<br /><br />"Nothing," she said, the small smile that was the cause of the break in Jack's speech widening, "I like this fantasy, too ... when do we get to the part where you keep me barefoot and pregnant for a few years before we chuck it all in and move to Florida?"<br /><br />"Smart-ass."<br /><br />He moved to embrace her but she ducked under his arm, shut off the hot water so he got jolted with the cold, and quickly exited the shower.<br /><br />"Hey!!!"<br /><br />She was in her thick, heavy robe and toweling off her hair before Jack emerged.<br /><br />"That was cold," he told her, taking the towel from her hand after wrapping one around his waist, and finishing the job of toweling off her hair.<br /><br />When they were dry, Jack slipped back into his jeans while Claire stayed in her robe. In Claire's room, Jack ejected the taped from the video camera and they moved together into the living room.<br /><br />"You get the tape ready," she told him, "I'll make the popcorn."<br /><br />"Popcorn?" he dropped his hands to her waist and pulled her against him.<br /><br />"Why does that sound odd? We always have popcorn when we watch a video."<br /><br />"Suggesting we eat popcorn while watching this particular movie," said Jack as he brought his hand up to run a finger lightly down from Claire's neck to the space between her breasts just above the place where the sides of her robe met. "Is not the most brilliant plan your incredible mind has come up with, my love ... it assumes our hands will be free..."<br /><br />Claire laughed lightly, "So you're saying they won't be?"<br /><br />"It's possible ... Unlikely, but possible."<br /><br />"What will our hands be doing instead?" she asked, feigning ignorance?<br /><br />Jack moved behind her. "Hopefully some of this," he said, sliding his hands beneath Claire's arms and around to cup her breasts, slipping them beneath the fabric of her robe, playing lightly with her nipples and kissing the side of her neck. He removed one hand and slipped it lower. "And some of this..."<br /><br />"Mmmmm.... what popcorn?"<br /><br />Jack chuckled.<br /><br />"C'mon ... let's watch it."<br /><br />Claire nodded.<br /><br />Jack went and sat in the easy chair, pulling Claire by the arm until she was seated on his lap.<br /><br />"Ready?"<br /><br />"Gimme the remote," she answered, and pressed play when he handed it to her, leaning back against him.<br /><br />The picture came up, Jack walking away from the camera, toward<br /><br />Claire, who sat stiff-backed at the foot of her bed, palms on the edge of the bed on either side of her. He knelt before her and rested his hands on her knees.<br /><br />"Don't be nervous ... it's just like any other time. I love you," he told her on the video.<br /><br />Claire smiled and leaned down to kiss him. He kissed back and slipped his hands beneath her satin robe, resting them on her thighs. They continued kissing until Claire pulled back. "Stand up," she told him against his mouth.<br /><br />"You're beautiful," Jack whispered into Claire's ear, kissing her earlobe softly. "I love watching you kiss me."<br /><br />They returned their attention to the video.<br /><br />She pulled his pants down and he stepped out of them. She drew her nails up over his legs, his thighs, and Jack shivered visibly. She reached for the bottom of his boxers and pulled them down, his as of yet only partially erect organ bouncing free, poking out from between the tails of his white Oxford.<br /><br />"How disappointing," Jack chuckled.<br /><br />Claire giggled. "Give me a minute...I fixed it."<br /><br />Jack groaned and his head fell back for a moment,<br /><br />concentrating as Claire's small hand began to move on him as she let her tongue dart in, out, and around his navel.<br /><br />Claire felt her stomach drop out and then a warm heat began glowing between her thighs. Her mouth fell open slightly and her throat felt suddenly dry. Jack held his breath, waiting for what came next.<br /><br />He began removing his shirt as Claire kissed her way down his lower abdomen. When she was lightly flicking her tongue against the underside of his still growing organ, he tossed the shirt aside.<br /><br />Jack squirmed, feeling desire begin to build in the pit of his stomach, shifting Claire on his lap, so she was turned toward him slightly.<br /><br />She took him into her mouth then, sucking hard upon the head as her fingers teasingly traced the shaft.<br /><br />Claire absentmindedly licked her lips. Jack felt his groin swell.<br /><br />His hand fell to her shoulder, and he brought the other to her<br /><br />other shoulder, and drew her up until she was on her toes, wrapping her<br /><br />arms around his neck as he engulfed her in a tumultuous kiss. He lifted<br /><br />her several inches off the ground, turning 180 degrees before setting her<br /><br />on her feet again.<br /><br />He turned his head and kissed the side of her neck, eyes still on the large television set.<br /><br />He sat upon the bed and gripped Claire by the waist and pressed his face against her abdomen. He pulled back and tugged at the thin sash that held her robe together and she let it puddle to the floor behind her, revealing a delicate cream-colored satin and lace camisole.<br /><br />"God, you're gorgeous."<br /><br />"So are you, Jack...your body's still incredible."<br /><br />She reached out to run her hand through Jack's hair. He dropped his hands to the backs of her legs and slid them up, cupping her behind and squeezing as he pulled her against him, nestling his face between her breasts.<br /><br />"I love how we look together," she told him. "I love the way you look at me when you touch me."<br /><br />"Are you getting hot?"<br /><br />She nodded. "You?"<br /><br />"God yes."<br /><br />He worked his way backward until he was lying against her pillows. She picked up a foot and removed his sock before doing the same with the other straddling his legs, she crawled forward. When she was positioned over his lower pelvis, his near-fully engorged member straining behind her, she threaded her fingers through his and pinned his arms to the bed.<br /><br />The heat between her thighs became moist.<br /><br />"I'm hard as a rock."<br /><br />"Shhh."<br /><br />Jack chuckled, noticing Claire shifting on his lap. Noticing it all too well as it was torturing him.<br /><br />He kissed her, his tongue plundering the sweetness of her mouth until she was squirming above him. He sat up so he could sit without resting back on his arms. Claire stretched her legs out behind him. He reached up and drew the shoulder straps of the nightie down her long slender arms and the satin and lace slipped over her breasts, one side catching slightly on its descent over the nipple. The garment hung about her waist, but lower, resting atop her hips. He cupped her breasts and leaned in to lavish her nipples with his lips and tongue, kissing, sucking and licking them.<br /><br />"I love when you do that."<br /><br />"I love the way you're skin tastes," he murmured, punctuating his words by leaning over again to taste the side of her neck.<br /><br />He re-adjusted, holding her tight, and lay her down, head toward the foot of the bed. He worked the delicate garment off of her and soon her creamy flesh was visible to him in all her naked glory.<br /><br />"Incredible."<br /><br />Claire gasped as he slipped a hand down between her thighs. In a moment he was trailing his tongue down her torso, gripping her hips and pulling her down, his tongue running small circles along her inner thighs until suddenly his tongue was on her, stroking up and down and then lightly flicking at her female jewel.<br /><br />Claire shivered, remembering exactly how good that felt. She didn't notice when it had happened, but Jack had begun lightly rubbing her lower back. His hand made small fluttery circles that were burning through her skin.<br /><br />They grew silent, unusually so, as they watched video-Jack work his magic on video- Claire, growing more aroused as video-Claire grew closer and closer to orgasm. They weren't aware of it, but they'd both begun breathing laboriously. At last, video-Claire cried out, her body wracked with the spasms of her release, face contorting.<br /><br />"I look so silly!"<br /><br />"You look gorgeous...just like you're supposed to."<br /><br />"That was so hot, Jack," she told him, her voice sounding almost strangled. Watching Jack tongue her into a frenzy on video as she sat in his arms on his lap was effecting Claire in a way that was not entirely familiar to her.<br /><br />He nodded. "I told you it would be," he said softly<br /><br />Jack lay next to her again, reached across her torso to clasp a breast in his hands as he lowered his head to suckle upon the one closest to him. He rolled them over so that Claire was farther from the camera and lying partially across his body.<br /><br />Jack began nuzzling the side of Claire's neck. She turned her head and they were quickly engulfed in a raging kiss.<br /><br />After a moment, Claire pulled back. "Mmmm," she sighed, licking her lips, tasting where Jack's had been. Driving Jack wild with the eroticism of the simple unconscious move.<br /><br />They refocused their attention on the video.<br /><br />Bracing herself by reaching across Jack's thighs and laying her palm on the bed, she gripped the base of his now bulging member and lowered her head to flick her tongue across the ruby tip of him. Jack sighed and smoothed his hand over her silky hair. A few moments of Claire licking at his shaft and Jack was reaching beneath her --she hadn't moved between his thighs, but still knelt beside him -- he began to lightly fondle a breast, gently pinching at the nipple.<br /><br />Jack slipped an arm around Claire's waist and down slightly, sliding it beneath the folds of her robe, his warm palm resting gently against the soft flesh beneath her navel.<br /><br />Suddenly she took him into her mouth and was moving up and down on him.<br /><br />Jack groaned, shifting uncomfortably in his seat, lightly pressing against Claire's stomach, sending a thrill through her. He couldn't remember having admitted it before, but he'd always found the sight of a woman going down on a man incredibly erotic. He'd longed many a time to see what he and Claire looked like when she gave him such intense pleasure. He'd imagined it would be hot. He knew now that calling it wildly erotic was an understatement. Watching his throbbing member slide between Claire's lips, Jack suddenly felt tortured in his jeans.<br /><br />He stroked his fingers all along and around her wetness as she began to suckle harder. Some time went by thusly and then Claire was teasing him, running her tongue along his shaft lightly. He reached down and drew his member against his belly. Claire understood the silent request. She began to lick and suck at the sensitive male orbs and began to work the length of him with her small, hot hand. He slid two fingers into her then, pumping in and out even as he massaged deep inside her.<br /><br />Jack's hand slid higher, easing apart the loosely tied sash of Claire's robe. The robe stayed closed, for the most part. Claire gasped as Jack's fingers brushed against the underside of a breast. He shifted uncomfortably, trying to relieve some of the tight, tight pressure in his groin.<br /><br />With his expert hands he began to drive her into a frenzy as he neared his own crisis, his hips thrusting up to match the strokes of her mouth. As Claire began to shudder her release, Jack, too, began crying out as his eyes slipped closed, his body awash in pleasure.<br /><br />He lay spent, and Claire eased herself down beside him.<br /><br />Claire chuckled.<br /><br />"What?"<br /><br />"No...nothing."<br /><br />"No...what?"<br /><br />"We're panting as much from watching this as we were an hour ago when we were filming it," she replied, indicating the TV.<br /><br />Jack smiled, then winced as Claire shifted, torturing his aching erection. Claire caught the flash of slight pain, looked down, and understood instantly the source of Jack's discomfort.<br /><br />Claire stood up, loosely retied her robe, and offered her hand to Jack. When he was standing, she pulled him with her to her sofa and pushed him down so that he sat with his back against the arm rest. She sat in front of him, between his legs --one stretched out along the back of the couch, the foot of the other resting on the floor-- and leaned back against his chest, careful to keep her from adding to his discomfort.<br /><br />"Better?"<br /><br />"Much, thank you," he replied, letting his hands run down along Claire's sides, causing her to shiver. Better, yes, because, though his heated manhood was still constricted by his jeans, a good deal of the pressure had been removed. Better, also, he thought, because it afforded him much better opportunity to play with Claire.<br /><br />It took him a few moments to recover and then he was pushing Claire onto her back, bending down to suckle on her nipples once more.<br /><br />"Oh, Jack," she murmured, her hand gliding through his hair.<br /><br />He inhaled the fragrant scent of her freshly washed hair. Combined with what they were watching, Claire's nearness, and the fact that he was already aroused to near fevered pitch, Jack realised his patience for play wouldn't last very long before he would need to dispense with the niceties of foreplay and posses Claire in a way that allowed her to possess him, as well.<br /><br />When his hands reached the tie holding her robe together, he tugged one end of the soft fabric and with his fingers, deftly eased the sides of the robe apart, baring Claire's form to him. He kissed the back of her neck through her dark, damp hair, and felt the shudder run through her.<br /><br />Jack was on his knees, between her legs but lower, near her feet. Gripping her legs, he pulled her toward him and bent so he was kissing and licking at her inner thighs. With his hand he began to lightly stroke her moist heat as he continued teasing her thighs with his tongue.<br /><br />Several moments of this and he stopped. She arched up in anticipation as Jack lowered his head. She reached down and snaked her hand into his soft hair, forcing his mouth harder against her. He tongued eagerly, licking and sucking, pushing her higher and higher.<br /><br />He slid his tongue downward and slipped it swiftly inside her. He began plunging it in and out of her, sliding in as far as he could manage.<br /><br />Jack's light touch caused Claire's nipples to stiffen immediately. He glanced away from the television, from video-Claire's intense reactions to the tender ministrations of his tongue to regard Claire's lush, flushed form. Her hips were beginning to slowly gyrate against the sofa cushions, her thighs beginning to rub together, seemingly unbeknownst to Claire. Jack smiled at the way her stiff, rosy nipples protruded so definitely out into the warmish air of her living room. Her lips were slightly parted and she was staring intently at the mesmeric action taking place in the video they'd made.<br /><br />Jack let his hands glide up, fingers fluttering lightly against Claire's nipples before he cupped the sensitive globes in his hands.<br /><br />One of his palms was smoothing lightly over her belly. Suddenly he reached up and gripped her wrist, drawing her hand down over her body, bringing it to rest on the dark triangle of curls that covered her feminine secret. She began stroking his hair. He tried again, maneuvering her hand and covering it with one of his own. He pressed her fingers against her with the force of his own fingers and encouraged her to massage her womanly jewel, rubbing slow, firm circles over the sensitive nub by pressing his fingers against hers.<br /><br />Claire's attention stayed focused on the tableaux created on the television in front of them, while Jack's had averted to Claire; to the way her body was reacting to their video ... to the way her body was reacting to his touch, to his hand slipping down between her thighs to gently tease her moist, heated sex.<br /><br />She threw her head back and cried out, her body wracked with spasms of intensely blinding pleasure.<br /><br />Claire rested her head back against Jack's shoulder, letting the pleasure of his probing digits overcome her even as Jack craned his head around to capture her sweet lips in a fiery kiss.<br /><br />He moved up and covered her body with his, kissing her neck as she struggled hard to catch her breath. He moved lower and was tonguing lightly at her nipples again.<br /><br />"Jack!" she exclaimed, her breath still coming in short, labored gasps. "Jack ... I can't..."<br /><br />"Shhh," he soothed, moving up and capturing her lips between his. "You're doing wonderful, babe."<br /><br />Claire reached between them and deftly worked the button fly of Jack's Levi's until they were undone. Jack breathed a sigh of relief, for now he didn't feel so restricted, that is, until she slipped her hand into the opening to free his straining rod which she instantly began to stroke. Jack groaned succumbing to the pleasure, letting his eyes dart back to the TV.<br /><br />"Ummmm ... that feels so good, babe ... this is so hot ... God, I can't believe we're watching this... you're so beautiful."<br /><br />Claire leaned forward, rose, and turned herself around. Jack smiled through lazy eyelids and reached to take Claire's face between his hands. He drew her into a searing kiss. She began working his jeans over his hips, drawing his other leg onto the couch so she might pull them off. Having removed them, she shrugged off her robe and moved so that she was sitting quite comfortably on Jack's legs, just above his knees.<br /><br />She whimpered until he was rubbing the tip of himself against her.<br /><br />"Mmmmm," she sighed as he slipped into her; sliding home.<br /><br />Jack groaned and held himself slightly away from Claire, with his arms for support. She ran her hands up and over his pecks and along his abs, arching up now and again as they gazed lovingly at one another.<br /><br />"Want me to move?" he asked her softly.<br /><br />She nodded and Jack withdrew slowly and thrust forward again, just as slowly, doing this over and over again, to the delight of both.<br /><br />Jack felt his groin twitch at the sight. That familiar achy-empty feeling washed through Claire's loins and she moaned, leaning forward to lick at Jack's lips.<br /><br />"God I want you," he told her gruffly.<br /><br />"Shhh, Jack... watch."<br /><br />"Faster, Jack," Claire panted after a time.<br /><br />He began to move faster, Claire matching him thrust for thrust. She gripped his hips as he thrust, then slid her hands around until she was squeezing the contracting muscles of his behind.<br /><br />Through her moans, Claire managed to say, "I want to ride you."<br /><br />Jack slid his arms beneath her and rolled them over.<br /><br />Jack's patience was at an end. He slid his hands over Claire's thighs, letting them glide softly over her skin until he reached her waist. His hands gripped her soft flesh and he said her name quietly, averting her attention from the screen.<br /><br />He lifted her slightly, and she nodded, bringing her hands to his shoulders for support. He lowered her again, and they gasped together, moaning softly as he slipped with ease into her eager depths. Instantly, they began to move together, bodies on fire as the sounds of the video mingled with the moans they were now making.<br /><br />Claire began to move faster and as she did so, she sat back, readjusting slightly forward and up, then came back down, allowing Jack to slide deeper into her. He dropped his hands to her hips and smiled up at her, his hips thrusting in perfect time with hers.<br /><br />"Touch yourself for me again, babe," Jack said, voice laden with desire, "Touch yourself while you ride me."<br /><br />At this, they turned to the television again, video-Jack's words drawing their attention.<br /><br />She slipped her hand between her thighs and began to lightly massage her swollen feminine nub.<br /><br />Her back arched and Jack was slamming his hips up against her.<br /><br />"That looks incredible," Claire panted through her sighs of pleasure.<br /><br />Jack could only nod, breath coming too short and heart pounding too hard in his chest at the sight of them together while they were actually together for him to respond. Instead, he gripped hold of her hips and began pumping up against her more swiftly.<br /><br />They were building and building toward passion's peak, almost in time with their video counterparts. As they continued to move together, as their pace increased, it became more and more difficult for them to focus their attention on the television --whenever they approached the apex of pleasure together, it was as if the rest of the world had dropped away and their sole focus was each other and the passion they shared.<br /><br />"Oh ... God ... oh, Jack ... yessss," she cried out into the room, head thrown back in wild abandon, calling Jack's name again and again as he turned her to her back and thrust swiftly in and out of her, pistoning his hips with great force against her.<br /><br />His stomach clenched and then the explosion rocked through him. "Ahhh ... God ... Claire..." Jack's voice nearly sobbed in relief as he collapsed on top of Claire, his hot tribute shooting into her.<br /><br />Jack sat forward and wrapped his arms around Claire as she continued to rise and fall on him. Burying his face between her breasts, he turned his head to capture one of her stiff rosy nipples between his teeth, scoring the nub lightly before sucking the pain away. Claire gripped Jack's shoulders and arched backward as the tempo of her thrusting increased. She was rising and falling with such fervour that, could either of them have formed a rational thought, they might have worried that he would slip from her warm and willing sheath.<br /><br />"Don't stop, babe," moaned Jack, encouraging her. "You feel so good. I'm almost there."<br /><br />"I don't want it to end," Claire managed before crushing her lips to Jack's in a kiss that seemed to suck the breath right from him. "Oh, God...faster, lover."<br /><br />They didn't notice, but the video had ended and the sickish-blue glow of an empty video tape playing now suffused the room. Claire felt like she was going to expire if she didn't find her release soon, while at the same time she felt like she didn't ever want Jack's hardness to leave her. Jack wasn't sure how much more he could take before his brain exploded from being overly sensitized to Claire and their lovemaking.<br /><br />Kissing her neck, Jack let a hand smooth it's way down her side. When he reached her waist, he brought the hand, palm flat against her skin, forward and down so that he might tease her hard, distended female pearl.<br /><br />Immediately, Claire cried out sharply, body bucking up and back as Jack's teasing digit sent her toppling into an abyss of pleasure that shook her to her very being. "Yes! Oh...oh god yes....ohmygod Jack..oh....oh..."<br /><br />"Ah, God...c'mon, babe...that's it," Jack panted, kissing her neck between words as he continued to guide her up and down on him, slamming his hips up to meet each downward thrust, losing control as Claire's entire body shuddered her satisfaction.<br /><br />Jack closed his eyes, feeling his stomach and thigh muscles clench as the quivering of Claire's tight, warm sheath wrung the orgasm from him. Claire was still moaning, her body still in spasm as Jack let out a low howl, grinding his hips up against Claire as he exploded deep inside her.<br /><br />Claire collapsed against him, damp forehead resting in the crook of his neck as they clung tightly to one another, breathing heavy. He hugged her tight, kissed the top of her head, and hugged her tight again.<br /><br />"Amazing," he whispered softly after many long, tender moments.<br /><br />Speechless, body awash in the conjugal after-glow, Claire could only nod against his chest.<br /><br />"I love you," Jack said softly, hugging her close again.<br /><br />"Love you, Jack," she replied, yawning.<br /><br />"Tired?"<br /><br />He felt the nod.<br /><br />"I think I'm too exhausted to move," he told her.<br /><br />Claire chuckled softly. "Even if you're not, I am...so looks like you're stuck where you are."<br /><br />"Naked on a couch with a beautiful woman clinging to me? I think I'll live."<br /><br />They laughed softly.<br /><br />"What about the TV?" he asked.<br /><br />"We left the remote in the chair."<br /><br />"Oh. Want me to get it?"<br /><br />He felt her shake her head. "I just want to lie here in your arms for a while."<br /><br />"Wonderful," he whispered into her hair, kissing her temple.<br /><br />Claire pulled the afghan from the back of her sofa down over them as she rolled slightly off of Jack, so they lay sandwiched together on their sides, facing each other, wrapped safely in one another's arms.<br /><br />"Do we still have to put that thing in a safe-deposit box?"<br /><br />Claire smiled slyly against Jack's chest. "Maybe we can keep it here for a while."<br /><br />"Or make another one."<br /><br />Claire laughed. "Yep...that's an option."<br /><br />Jack smiled hugely at the prospect.<br /><br />They grew quiet then, gazing lovingly at each other as their eyelids grew more and more heavy. Jack yawned again. Claire caught the contagion, and yawned as well.<br /><br />They laughed again, more softly this time, a warm glow enveloping them.<br /><br />"We're going to sleep on the couch, aren't we?" Jack asked.<br /><br />Claire nodded, yawning. "At least for now."<br /><br />Jack kissed the tip of her nose. "Thank you, my love."<br /><br />She looked at him with confusion in her eyes.<br /><br />"For making one of my fantasies come true."<br /><br />"You make all of my fantasies come true."</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-91672620317265059192012-11-19T20:08:00.003-08:002012-11-25T21:28:04.309-08:00Insomnia<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"It’s funny, isn’t it? The things that draw you to a person...the things that make you fall in love with them...funny how those things are the same things that can be used to push you away, like the vulnerability he conceals beneath his walnut-like shell." I’m talking to the cab driver. "What’s funnier is that it’s the little things that bring you back... the little things like his smell when he’s lying in the bed next to you, the feel of him there, the sound of his breathing."<br /><br />I’m in a cab because my car is at the office: I didn’t want to go get it before going home when I’d come in on the train from Baltimore.<br /><br />"Those aren’t the little things, miss," he tells me. "They’re the things you take for granted, sure, but they’re not the little things."<br /><br />I have to think about that for a moment.<br /><br />"I suppose you’re right."<br /><br />Why am I talking to the cab driver?<br /><br />"Did the two of you have a fight?"<br /><br />Yes. I cheated on him. I didn’t mean to, and I didn’t sleep with someone, but I betrayed him.<br /><br />I acted like I was unattached.<br /><br />Tim Bayliss is everything Jack’s afraid of, because he still thinks he doesn’t deserve me. Bayliss is young, attractive, too damn charming for my comfort, has a career he’s dedicated to, single, and worst of all, is clearly interested in me. Just the sort of man Jack thinks I should want, is afraid I’ll realize one day is what I want, and leave him. I went out with Bayliss that night anyway, and Jack hadn’t known where I was, and we’d fought. And I went to Baltimore and acted like I was available. In front of people that know both of us.<br /><br />And yet I’m in a cab on my way to Jack’s at 2 in the morning, because I got back from Baltimore tonight and I took a bath and went to bed and tried for 3 hours to fall asleep and just couldn’t do it because Jack wasn’t there with me.<br /><br />The cabby hears none of that.<br /><br />"We did...we had a fight," I reply at length.<br /><br />He’s looking at me through the rear view mirror.<br /><br />"Mind if I ask what about....?" he prompts, and I know he is asking for my name.<br /><br />"Claire."<br /><br />"Vic. Mind if I ask what about, Claire?"<br /><br />And I realize why I’m talking to Vic the cabby: I need to talk to someone about this...don’t necessarily want to get into it with Jack when I get there. And I’m trapped in a cab with this man, and he seems like a nice, sweet man in his 60s, and he’s interested, or at least politely appearing to be so, and he reminds me of what my father would have looked like at this age.<br /><br />I was stupid.<br /><br />"I hurt him... I went out to dinner with someone else...it wasn’t supposed to be a date, but it was, really, and I did it out of spite, because we’ve been having some problems lately, and I needed to lash out. He doesn’t understand why I’m angry with him ... and to tell you the truth, I don’t honestly know myself."<br /><br />"So then why are you on your way to his house at this time of the morning?"<br /><br />That’s an easy one: I need to be able to sleep tonight and I can’t do it alone.<br /><br />"I couldn’t sleep."<br /><br />"Does he know you’re coming? If you’re arguing, you might not be getting much sleep tonight."<br /><br />"He doesn’t know. I have a key. All I want is to go in and get in bed and go to sleep. He may not even wake up."<br /><br />"The two of you should talk it over, if you love him, if he loves you."<br /><br />"I know. And I do love him. But sometimes...he exasperates me so."<br /><br />The cabby is laughing at me.<br /><br />"Wouldn’t be love if he didn’t, honey."<br /><br />Normally the endearment would offend me from such a casual, fleeting acquaintance, but in this case I find it charming and sweet.<br /><br />"Guess you’re right, Vic."<br /><br />He pulls the car over and we’re in front of Jack’s building. I hand him the fare and a substantial tip and open the door.<br /><br />"I’ll watch until you get into the building."<br /><br />"Thanks, Vic. And thanks for listening."<br /><br />"Good luck, Claire, I hope you can work things out."<br /><br />So do I, I think as I shut the door.<br /><br />I run up the stairs, slinging my bag over my shoulder and carrying my work clothes on a hanger.<br /><br />Joey one of the night-watchmen buzzes me into the building.<br /><br />"He’s home, isn’t he, Joey?" I ask as I walk in.<br /><br />"Yeah, went in a coupla hours ago, Ms. Kincaid."<br /><br />"Thanks."<br /><br />In the elevator, now, and hoping Jack’s asleep. I crave his warmth and security but I don’t want to deal with the crap I know we’ve got to get through. Or at the very least, if he isn’t asleep, please don’t let him throw me out on my ass.<br /><br />The damn bulb above Jack’s door is still burnt out. The super obviously thinks the task a low-level priority and Jack is just obstinate enough to let it go.<br /><br />"That’s what part of my rent pays for," I was told when I suggested he change the damn thing himself.<br /><br />With the light out I have to fish around in my purse for my keys. I can hear the things jangling in there but I can’t seem to find them. Finally I feel cool metal and pull them from the purse. I have to set my things down in order to find the keys that unlock Jack’s locks. I pray to God he didn’t put the chain on tonight...he rarely does anymore.<br /><br />He didn’t.<br /><br />I set my bag on the couch and lay my clothes over the back of it, remove my coat and do the same with it before I go on down the hall. The reading light is on next to Jack’s bed, but I can see he’s asleep.<br /><br />He doesn’t wake up when I turn the light off and so I walk around the bed avoiding the spot I know from previous sojourns in this very room creaks. I’d lost the clogs in the living room and stand in the dark of his room stripping off my jeans and sweater until I’m not wearing anything but a pair of cotton underwear and a tank top.<br /><br />Pulling the covers back, I ease myself down onto the bed and cover myself. My back is to him and I scoot backwards, until I feel him against me. In sleep, he drapes his arm over me, and I welcome its weight. It feels like it’s been years since I’ve been here with him, and I appreciate the peace of being in his arms without all of heavy stuff. I keep telling myself I’ll think about that tomorrow, or I won’t be able to sleep.<br /><br />It’s funny how something as simple as an arm draped over you, as a warm body pressed against you, can relax you when nothing else can. Jack’s even breathing is soothing, and I concentrate on it, on the slow, level inhalations and exhalations.<br /><br />I can feel sleep beginning to descend on my brain, feel my limbs getting heavier, and my eyelids, too. I love Jack, more than I think he realizes right now, and it’s gotten to the point, I know it now, that even angry, even hurt and confused, his presence is natural to me, now: natural, and necessary.<br /><br />"His breathing, Claire", I correct myself..."just listen and don’t think."<br /><br />Shear force of will allows me to close my mind off to everything but Jack behind me, his arm heavy on my waist, his slow breath warm on the back of my neck, sending Goosebumps down my spine even as a warm glow begins to run through my veins.<br /><br />I feel heavy...my body, my brain, my eyes.<br /><br />Jack’s breathing sounds farther away, now, and the room seems even more dark than it had before. I can barely hear him now, just feel the warmth, his warmth, against me and all around me, and into this warmth I let myself sink, let myself be engulfed in it like someone relaxing into a warm tub.<br /><br />Jack’s warmth is all now, just Jack’s warmth all around…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She amazes me sometimes. She forgets I’m a light sleeper. I should be angry with her, I shouldn’t be pretending to be asleep as she takes her clothes off by the side of my bed. I should be sitting up, accusing, but I can’t seem to do it. Can’t seem to muster the cynicism and anger as she crawls into my bed and snuggles back against me, taking hold of my hand as I drape my arm over her warm body.<br /><br />I’m intrigued by this turn of events.<br /><br />We left each other on shitty terms two days ago and she headed to Baltimore, straight into the lion’s den, straight into Tim Bayliss’ lair.<br /><br />Why am I acting like she did something so treacherous?<br /><br />"Because she did lie to you, you schmuck," I tell myself.<br /><br />Well, not ‘lie’ exactly, since she did tell me about it after...but it felt like a lie. I suppose what I felt at the time was not that she had lied to me then, but that the fact that she could so easily accept a dinner invitation for another man seemed like a betrayal of all we’d had together. Like her love for me had been a lie.<br /><br />But then if that’s the case, what is she doing here?<br /><br />I snuggle into her and then lie completely still. I don’t want a fight, now. I don’t want a fight because lying here with Claire in my arms, the past couple of weeks seem like a dream, an unsettling dream that is over now that I’ve woken up to the woman I love in my bed. And at the same time I know that this is really the dream, because in the morning we’re going to wake up and we’re going to have to deal with what’s been happening between us, try to pinpoint when things first went awry (but if she’s here, I suppose, we really can’t be that far off track...taking a detour, more like, and a rather bumpy one at that), and try to figure out what we need to do to make it better. Work can’t suffer, and I can’t say that in the past weeks it hasn’t, because Adam has called us on it.<br /><br />And we have to work this out because I can’t go through all of this again.<br /><br />I love Claire, I know it, and I know she knows it. Or did, at least. I’ve never loved anyone I wasn’t supposed to love because of family bonds before, not even my ex-wife, the mother of my child.<br /><br />It’s funny when you find love in the last place you wanted to find it, and don’t mistake me: when Claire walked into my office, so young and poised and trying to appear arrogant, love was the last thing on my mind. Lust was there, sure, but I never wanted nor expected to fall in love with her, but now that I have, I’m not letting go lightly. 50-odd years to find the woman I’ve been waiting for. And despite recent appearances to the contrary, Claire is the woman I’ve been searching for my entire life.<br /><br />This is it for me.<br /><br />And so I hold her against me quietly, listening to her breathing, knowing from experience when she is asleep, as the tension in her body leaves and she sinks into the bed farther, sagging back against me more.<br /><br />"I love you," I whisper.<br /><br />And as easily as I woke when she’d opened my front door trying to be quiet, I feel myself dozing off. I have trouble keeping my eyes open and I listen to Claire’s soft breathing, feeling the way the breath moves through her body and her hair smells so good against my nose and her body is warm against mine and I know in the morning we’re probably going to fight but for now she feels so right in my arms that I snug…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I don’t get much more than 3 hours sleep, but that’s better than I would have done in my own bed. I wake up and I’m wrapped in Jack’s arms, only I’m facing him now, and my head is resting in the crook of his chin and I can hear his heart beating beneath my ear.<br /><br />I tighten an arm around him, then bring it back to rest on his side, and I realize suddenly that Jack isn’t wearing anything, which I hadn’t noticed last night, but then, when I’d finally laid down in his arms, I’d fallen asleep rather quickly.<br /><br />"Morning stranger," I hear him say.<br /><br />"You’re awake," I tell him, which is obvious. "You’re not too mad at me, are you?"<br /><br />"For Bayliss, or for being here?" he asks.<br /><br />"Both, either..."<br /><br />"For being here, no, though I’m curious. You’ve been pissed as hell and giving me the silent treatment since before we’d ever heard of Detective Bayliss ...were pissed that I didn’t ‘trust’ you...I’d gotten the impression you didn’t want much to do with me anymore, other than what work required.."<br /><br />"I’m sorry about that, Jack. Something’s bothering me and I haven’t been able to figure it out yet and I’m not altogether sure it’s entirely to do with you, although I do wish I could help you get over your insecurities where I’m concerned...it’s inevitable that I’m going to have some male friends...I don’t want you to feel as though I’m walking out on you when I get together with one of them."<br /><br />"Why did you sneak into my apartment at just before three in the morning?"<br /><br />"You were awake?"<br /><br />"You woke me unlocking the door."<br /><br />"I’m sorry."<br /><br />"Don’t be... but you can answer my question."<br /><br />"I couldn’t sleep at my place and I can always sleep here."<br /><br />"Oh."<br /><br />We’re skirting the issue at the moment and we both know it but right now it doesn’t seem to matter. The same spell that brought me here, the same thing that made me feel comfortable and that had allowed us to sleep in each others arms without a fight was wrapping around us again, and though we know there are some wrinkles we need to work out, there doesn’t seem to be any doubt that we will, and so neither of us has a problem with it when the words cease and we’re lying in Jack’s bed staring at each other across the space of inches.<br /><br />I’m suddenly acutely aware of Jack’s nudity again as he shifts slightly in my arms and the evidence of his arousal --probably the involuntary reaction of male anatomy in the morning-- brushes against me. When I feel him brush against my leg, I can see the look of pleasure flash briefly across his face and before he can open his eyes I’m pressing my lips against him, pushing the problems back again as he kisses me, his hand slipping over my hip and around until he’s sliding it down the back of my panties and stroking my behind with his hand. A thrill runs through me and it suddenly doesn’t matter that this is just another way of the two of us putting it off: we still haven’t ironed out the wrinkles, but I know that we will.<br /><br />I’m sure of it.<br /><br />I hear him whisper my name against my neck and he’s pulling me over on top of him and sitting up, kissing me again, holding my face in his warm hands. I give into him and wrap my arms around his neck, feel his hands lowering to the bottom of my tank top and I raise my arms as he draws it up over my head, cupping my breasts in his hands before I’ve even brought my arms back down. I gaze down as he lowers his head and soon I feel a sharp throng of pleasure course through my body as his lips close over one of my nipples while his fingers work the other into a taut peak.<br /><br />We haven’t been together since the night before Tim Bayliss walked into our lives and so it doesn’t take us very long before foreplay becomes a nuisance, a chore to be gotten through before more pleasurable activities can be brought on. Jack lifts his head from between my thighs and grins up at me as he begins to work my panties down: he’s been sucking and nibbling on me through my panties, driving me absolutely crazy.<br /><br />I don’t even see what he does with the fragile garment before he is over me.<br /><br />"I love you," he whispers, and I know he means it, that the words aren’t empty.<br /><br />"I love you, too," I whisper back, and I can see that he believes me because the worry falls from his face.<br /><br />He’s staring down at me and not going forward, though I need him to, desperately, and can tell he needs it, too, by the sweat beaded on his forehead. I reach down and he’s clutching himself, poised just about to slide into me, and I wrap my hand over his, drawing him forward and down, guiding him home.<br /><br />I moan when he’s all the way inside of me and we begin to move together quickly, and he’s kissing me again, kissing me as he slides in and out of me and I feel my limbs tingling and my body shaking and I feel like he’s melting into me. He feels so good over me and I feel myself beginning to crest, feel my body begin to shudder as he continues to move, moving in me until my orgasm has subsided and I’m halfway to another one as I recover and realise he is still sliding into me. I open my eyes and see the look of sweet concentration on his brow, the tender smile playing at his lips as he wraps his arms under mine and brings his hands around to my shoulders, gripping them as he thrusts into me faster and harder.<br /><br />I cry out as his body begins to spasm and he jerks inside me, and holds himself still, pouring his seed into me as my body spasms again, and I contract and release around him.<br /><br />He groans heavily and I hear him moan my name softly through the fog that had descended over my brain as I climaxed the second time.<br /><br />He rolls away and pulls me into his arms.<br /><br />"Let’s call in late for work, Jack," I say, when I can. "I don’t want this crap hanging over us anymore. Let’s go get some coffee and take a walk in the park and talk."<br /><br />Jack nods and grips the back of my neck and kisses my forehead.<br /><br />I know now that our conversation, while important, is just a formality. These particular wrinkles will be ironed out today, because I can see by the look on his face that he’s prepared to be honest about what he’s feeling with me, and I can do nothing but offer him the same courtesy.<br /><br />I love him, you see, and even if I forget it sometimes, even if he pushes me away, that won’t change. As long as I can lay in his arms and feel safe and at peace even when we’re in the midst of a maelstrom of issues calling into question the very strength of the fabric of our relationship, I know that Jack and I will be okay.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-35683094227598069022012-11-19T19:58:00.001-08:002012-11-19T19:58:26.391-08:00Heat Wave<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"God I hate this city in the heat," said Claire as she and Jack descended the stairs in front of the criminal courts building. "And the office, though cooled, is never quite cool enough."<br /><br />Jack glanced down at his watch. It was just pass 2 pm. "We don't have anything pressing to attend to. When we get back to the office, if nothing has come up, I don't see any reason why the future newlyweds shouldn't take the rest of the day."<br /><br />"And do what?" she asked, feigning ignorance.<br /><br />He looked her up and down, making sure she saw him do it. "Work on cooling off...." he said, and winked at her.<br /><br />"Oh," she laughed, "THAT will only make us hotter. And then we'll sweat more."<br /><br />Near her ear, he said, loud enough so that only she could hear him, "I like you hot and sweaty."<br /><br />"We'll just have to turn the air conditioner up really high to compensate."<br /><br />"I'm marrying a genius!"<br /><br />They both laughed.<br /><br />To their delight, there was no new business that required their immediate attention when they returned to the DA's office. Jack popped into Adam's office to let him know that he and Claire would be knocking off early.<br /><br />"Enjoy your weekend," Adam said.<br /><br />"Thank you Adam. You too," said Jack. "I'm sure we will."<br /><br />"I don't doubt it," thought Adam to himself. He had been against the relationship at first, believing it would end badly as had Jack's previous affairs with his assistants. But Jack and Claire had proven themselves capable of leaving their relationship at home, even when they were having trouble. Theirs' was a true partnership, in every sense of the word.<br /><br />"All set?" asked Jack when he met Claire back at her cubicle.<br /><br />Claire nodded. "Let's go."<br /><br />A short time later, they arrived at the building which housed the condo Claire's grandmother had left her several years earlier. They had decided to live at Claire's once they were married because it was bigger than Jack's old apartment, and it was already paid for.<br /><br />Upon entering the building, they ran into the building superintendent.<br /><br />"Hello Bill," Claire chirped cheerfully.<br /><br />"Hello, Ms. Kincaid, Mr. McCoy," he replied. "Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the cooling system is on the fritz again."<br /><br />"Oh, no, you're joking?" said Claire. "In this heat?"<br /><br />"I'm sorry," he replied.<br /><br />"When will it be fixed?" asked Jack.<br /><br />"Well, this time of year it takes a few days for the repairmen to fit us in," he explained. "They'll be here Monday morning. I was just heading down into the basement to get fans for everyone, like last time. I'll be up in a while with yours."<br /><br />"Thanks, Bill," said Claire.<br /><br />In the elevator, Jack asked, "Does this happen often?"<br /><br />"Every year, right in the middle of the heat wave," she replied.<br /><br />"Great! NOW she tells me! I can see why you usually go on vacation in August."<br /><br />"But not this year," she said leaning into him, "This year Claire's vacation has to wait until September because that's when Jack insisted on getting married. And you can't go on your honeymoon before you're married."<br /><br />"That's right," he chuckled, and bent down to kiss the top of her head.<br /><br />They entered their home, Claire removed her shoes, and headed for the kitchen, calling behind her, "Want some iced tea?"<br /><br />"Hell yes," he called after her.<br /><br />When she emerged from the kitchen Jack was sitting on the sofa. He had taken off his suit coat, tie, socks and shoes, and had unbuttoned the first 2 buttons of his white shirt. Claire handed him a large glass of iced tea and sat next to him.<br /><br />After a long drink of the ice-cold beverage, Jack said, "God it's hot in here.<br /><br />Claire stood, and took his glass from him. Setting both glasses on the coffee table, she turned back to Jack, and held out her hand.<br /><br />His eyebrow shot up as he reached for her hand and stood.<br /><br />"C'mon," she said, "I have an idea."<br /><br />Holding his hand, she led him down the hall into their bedroom, and on through into the master bath. She opened the door of the shower and turned on the water, adjusting the knob to make the water the perfect temperature to relieve some of the heat.<br /><br />She dropped Jack's hand and began to peel her damp clothes from her body. She felt sticky, and craved the relief the tepid water would bring her.<br /><br />Jack stood mesmerized as she removed her clothing. He loved to watch her undress. It excited him. His excitement grew as more and more of her skin was revealed. When her clothes lay in a pile around her feet, she moved closer to Jack and began to unbutton his shirt, which, like hers, was damp. The slightly pungent smell of him aroused her, as did his nearness, and the heat radiating from his body. When his shirt joined her clothing on the floor, he pulled her to him, feeling her body mould against his own, loving the feeling of her soft breasts crushed against his hardened chest.<br /><br />She wrapped her arms around his neck and he lowered his mouth to hers. He smoothed his hands over her back as she opened her mouth to him, and thrust her tongue out to tangle with his. He lowered his hands to her hips for a few moments, and she reached down to remove his belt, slacks, and boxer shorts.<br /><br />Wrapping his arms around her, he bent down a little, lifted her slightly, and carried her into the shower, pulling the door shut once he had set her down. She stepped directly into the lukewarm stream of water, and sighed contentedly.<br /><br />"Mmmmm, perfect," she said, and then he was right there next to her.<br /><br />She turned him into the stream, and he too was happy with how pleasant it felt. He lifted her again, so that her lips were just a little higher than his. She brought her hands up to his face, and kissed him provocatively, sliding her tongue into his mouth and playing a game of cat and mouse with his.<br /><br />Jack groaned softly, and turned Claire back into the stream of water. They kissed thoroughly for several long moments before he set her down and pulled her slightly out of the water. Slicking her hair back, he took her face in his large hands and lightly brushed his lips over her forehead, eyelids, cheeks, nose, and chin. He covered her entire face in tiny kisses, avoiding only her mouth, before lowering his lips to the vein he could see pulsating at the base of her throat. The skin there still smelled of her perfume, but was salty to the taste from her perspiration.<br /><br />Claire sighed and began to stroke his back and shoulders. Jack brought his hands up to cup her breasts, and he began to rub the already taut peaks of them with his thumbs. He shifted his hands to gently pinch her hardened nipples and was rewarded when a soft groan escaped her. Raising his head, he captured her lips in a kiss fraught with abandon. They held nothing back from each other, and it was as if they were making love to one another with their mouths.<br /><br />Claire could feel her desire for him growing more demanding by the moment. No matter how often they made love (which was very often, indeed), her desire for him never slackened. In fact, much to her delight and his, she found that each time they made love she wanted him more than she had the previous time.<br /><br />Suddenly, she grew fierce in her hunger for him, and shoved him back against the cold tile of the shower wall. She wanted to ravish him, and it caught her a little off guard, but her need for him at the moment outweighed the urge to reign herself in. She kissed him, violently, wanting to convey to him her overwhelming longing for fulfillment. She wanted to drive him mad with desire for her, as she was for him: to force him to take her there, to pick her up, press her against the wall, and shove himself into her, driving her to heights of ecstasy she had only ever experienced with him.<br /><br />Jack was a little astonished by her behavior. The depth of her passion was a source of constant amazement to him, for it seemed bottomless. Her mouth pulled at his. She sucked his bottom lip into her mouth an lightly bit it. Her hands were everywhere on him, seeking, finding, stroking. She tugged gently on his engorged member and said, "Now, Jack."<br /><br />Jack lost all restraint. Lifting her, he turned her back to the wall. She wrapped her legs around him, and he kissed her hard, sucking the breath from her. Holding her with one arm, he slipped a hand between them too caress her inflamed womanly softness with his hand. She moaned into his lips as he slowly slid a finger inside her She moaned louder as he withdrew the digit and inserted it again, repeating this pattern until she was whimpering for more.<br /><br />"Tell me, Claire," he said through gritted teeth. It was taking every ounce of control he had to keep from moving forward.<br /><br />"I want..." she panted.<br /><br />"What?"<br /><br />"I...want...."<br /><br />"What...what do you want?" he asked again, his mouth mere millimeters from hers.<br /><br />"I want...you."<br /><br />"Tell me what you want me to do," was his soft command as he increased the pace of his hand on her.<br /><br />Insensible now to anything but the need to feel him hot and hard inside her, she cried, "Put it in me, Jack....I want to feel you inside me."<br /><br />He withdrew his hand from her and guided his fully erect penis to the entry of her female passage. "Is this what you want?"<br /><br />"God yes!" she half sobbed, and at long last, he gave her exactly what she wanted.<br /><br />With one swift thrust, he penetrated her completely, and she cried out at the sudden force of his invasion. For a moment he was worried he had hurt her, and moved to withdraw, but she tightened her arms and legs about him, and pulled him close. After a moment, he began to move slowly inside her but she was too inflamed with desire to allow him to be gentle.<br /><br />"Not slow..." she gasped, digging her nails into the flesh of his shoulders "not now."<br /><br />Her need fed his own, and he began to plunge quickly in and out of her. Over and over he slid in and out of her, deeper, faster and harder with each thrust. His quick, powerful thrusts sent her spiraling over the edge into an abyss of pleasure, and she practically screamed his name as the climax wracked her body. With a final, deep thrust, and a loud groan, he poured his hot tribute into her. She unwrapped her legs, and Jack lowered her feet the wet floor.<br /><br />"My god," he sighed in appreciation.<br /><br />"I don't know what came over me," she said when she finally caught her breath.<br /><br />"I do," he said.<br /><br />"What?"<br /><br />"Me," he replied with a satisfied grin. He looked like a well-fed cat.<br /><br />"Oh, you!" she exclaimed, thumping him lightly on the chest.<br /><br />She pulled him back into the stream of water and grabbed the bar of soap.<br /><br />When they had thoroughly "cleansed" each other, Claire turned off the water and opened the shower door. They stepped out of the shower, and went to work drying each other off. Once dried, Claire slipped into a short satin robe, and Jack pulled on a pair of jeans. They went back into the living room to wait for Bill the super to return with the fan.<br /><br />In the humid heat of a New York August, it didn't take very long for the relief the cool shower had afforded them to wear off. Claire was refreshing their iced-tea when Bill brought them the fan. Jack set it up in the living room.<br /><br />Claire returned with the tea and a bowl full of ice, and sat Indian-style on the floor near the fan. "Come lay down," she said to Jack, patting the rug in front of her.<br /><br />Wordlessly, he complied. When he was settled, with his arms acting ass a cushion under his head, she said, "Close your eyes."<br /><br />His eyebrows shot up.<br /><br />"Just do it," she said, laughing.<br /><br />He did.<br /><br />After a moment, he felt something icy cold on his chest. He opened his eyes. Claire was leaning over him, holding an ice cube, tracing his chest. His back arched slightly when she ran it over his nipples. The heat radiating from his body melted the cube in no time at all, and Claire bent further over him, bracing herself with a hand on either side of him, to lap up the droplets of water it left behind with her tongue. Her tongue against his skin felt exquisite, and he longed to give her the same sort of pleasure. He tugged at the sash of her robe and the satin garment fell open, exposing her to him. Her breasts were inches from his face, and unable to resist the enticing, rosy peaks he lifted his head and began to suckle on her nipples, and alternately, nip at the swelling flesh of her bosom.<br /><br />Picking up another piece of ice, Claire began to trace his abdomen, soaking up the water with her tongue as she went. When that cube, too, was melted, she reached out with her hands to undo the fly of his Levi's. He lifted his hips so she could push them down. Not bothering to remove them completely, she left the waist of his jeans around his thighs revealing his only semi-erect organ, then sat back to shrug the robe from her shoulders.<br /><br />She leaned over him again and took his growing erection in her hand before lowering her head to trace the tip with her tongue. He grew stiffer still as she took him into her mouth.<br /><br />Her knees were resting on either side of his head, and he was looking up at her womanly cleft. She was beautiful, even there. He brought his hands up to stroke the soft, smooth skin of her inner thighs. Exposing her core with his fingers, he raised his head to stroke her sex with his silken tongue.<br /><br />She continued loving him with her mouth as he hardened more and more. The sensation brought on by him slipping his tongue inside her was blindingly pleasurable, and she stopped the motions of her mouth on him for a few sweet moments to enjoy the thrill he brought her.<br /><br />When she resumed her part of the passionate embrace, she moved her hand from the base of his hard shaft to lightly toy with his testicles.<br /><br />Jack groaned, and increased the pace of his tongue on her while rubbing her swollen jewel with his thumb. In a short time, the dual sensation of his mouth and hand brought Claire to a swift, shuddering release.<br /><br />Before Jack could reach his own climax, and while Claire's body still trembled with hers, he stopped her. She knelt back upon he knees, and he sat up and finished removing his jeans. Turning toward her, he rose to his knees.<br /><br />On their knees facing one another, they began a slow, passionate kiss while their hands roamed over each other's warm, once again slick bodies. Jack reached for the bowl off ice, retrieved a cube, and began to trace her skin with it, as she had done to him. After a few moments, he moved behind her, and traced her spine.<br /><br />Soon, all the ice that had not already melted from the heat was gone. Jack pushed her hair aside and kissed her long, elegant neck. Turning her head slightly toward him, he nibbled on her ear for a moment before whispering, "Lean forward on your hands."<br /><br />She did so, and he leaned over her, nipping at the back of her neck while stroking her still-damp hair. The cool breeze from the fan felt wonderful on their skin.<br /><br />Resting his hands on her hips, he pressed forward and slid into her with ease, groaning as he found himself embedded within her tight sheath to the hilt. He pumped slowly in and out of her for a few moments, and she thrust back at him. He leaned down to once again lavish her neck with kisses, and she began to thrust back at him with ever-increasing speed.<br /><br />He reached beneath her to fondle her breasts as he strained to match her pace. She moaned loudly as his hands first squeezed her breasts and then his fingers began to play maddeningly with her stiff, aching nipples. One of his hands left her breasts, stroked down her torso, and slid between her thighs to rub quick circles over her buzzing love-button. They moved together for several blissful moments before Claire cried out. In the midst of her third climax of the afternoon, Jack pulled himself out of her, rolled her to her back, and covered her slender frame with his larger one, before entering her again. She was still coming when he slid into her, and continued to do so as he thrust in and out of her with wild abandon. His world came apart as he thrust deep and hard, over and over again, uncontrollably, overwhelmed by the passion they shared.<br /><br />She drew him down for a long, wet, open-mouthed kiss, that was just as wild and uncontrolled as he. Their passion escalated one another, until neither could draw a rational thought With one last thrust, Jack shouted his release, as Claire shuddered with another, too caught up by the intensity of it to make a sound.<br /><br />It took a long time for their breathing to return to normal after their bout of passion had ended. He rolled away from her and pulled her into his arms. They were both fairly exhausted, and, warmed by the heat outside as well as the heat of their love, they fell asleep there on the floor, in each others' arms. </span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-39132912894446275972012-11-19T19:55:00.000-08:002012-11-19T19:55:08.413-08:00Experiments<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It was early on a Saturday evening in mid-August and therefore very warm. Jack and Claire had celebrated their one year anniversary of working together the previous month, and were rapidly approaching the nine month mark of their relationship. Earlier that day they had ridden out to the eastern end of Long Island, and had lunched at a quiet little restaurant in Amagansett, before tooling through a string of antique shops. It had been a simple, easy day but it had seemed incredibly romantic and intimate to Claire. Perhaps the intimacy lie in the fact that riding Jack's motorcycle meant she had to cling to him for the duration of the long ride to the end of the Island, and back. Or in the way their hands clasped tightly together as they walked down the sidewalk from shop to shop sent a thrill up her arm, flooding her body with warmth. Or perhaps it was the way he watched her, his eyes following her about the shops as she cooed over this chaise and that armoire. Perhaps. Claire suspected it was all three, and much more.<br /><br />Something about the day had Claire feeling like exploring much more than antique shops. They were on their way to the seventh consecutive shop when Claire had stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. At first Jack kept walking, but pulled up short when Claire pulled on his arm. He had turned to look at her, eyebrows raised, questioning.<br /><br />"Let's go home."<br /><br />The questioning expression on his face had become a grin, and they turned and headed for the bike.<br /><br />She had tormented him relentlessly during the ride back into Manhattan. She pressed herself against his back closely, much closer than safety required. At one point, on a very straight stretch along the Long Island Expressway, she had taken to caressing his thighs through his jeans.<br /><br />When at long last he killed the engine of his bike in front of Claire's building, Jack was so worked-up that anyone who chanced to glance in the general direction of his groin would have been able to tell exactly how aroused he was. For her part, Claire was amused at his attempt to cover his obvious erection by holding his helmet in front of him once they slid off the motorcycle.<br /><br />"Want me to carry that for you?" she teased, indicating the helmet.<br /><br />Was that a blush she saw on his cheeks?<br /><br />"No...no, I've got it," he said, shaking his head at her. She was obviously enjoying knowing that she had aroused him so thoroughly.<br /><br />The elevator had been empty. Jack entered first, and Claire followed. He had stood against the back wall, helmet still held in front of him. Claire pressed the number for her floor, the door closed, and she moved in front of Jack. She took the helmet from him, looked down, then back up, and smiled. Stretching to her toes, she kissed him lightly as her free hand reached out to gently massage the hard bulge in his pants. Jack groaned, closed his eyes, and leaned back against the wall. He wrapped his arms around her and was beginning to stroke and squeeze her tight behind when the elevator began to slow. They separated just as it came to a stop. The elevator door opened and they made their way to her door.<br /><br />They said nothing when they entered, just headed down the hall to her bedroom. Claire had deposited the helmet and her keys and purse on the table by the door as they passed.<br /><br />No sooner had they entered her bedroom then they fell into a passionate embrace. They stripped the lightweight jackets they wore from one another. Claire tugged Jack's shirt out from his jeans and pulled it over his head. She laid her hands flat against his chest as their tongues played a sensuous game of cat and mouse. She pulled her mouth away from his and kissed his neck as her hands began to rub slow circles over his nipples. She kissed down his chest and soon he felt her encircling his nipples with her tongue. When she began to suck on one, her hands reached out for his waist, undid his belt, and slowly removed it from the loops. Without the belt, his pants lowered a little, and Claire ran her hands over his abdomen. Grabbing her by the shoulders he pulled her up and crushed her against him.<br /><br />So aroused was he by her behaviour, and the thought of being inside her that he would have liked nothing better than to rip her clothes from her and make love to her then and there, with no further preliminary. But Claire had other ideas. When she felt his hands undoing the top button of her pants, she pushed him away and stepped back.<br /><br />"What's wrong?" he asked, confused, his voice strained.<br /><br />"Nothing," she replied. "But what's the rush?"<br /><br />"I can't help it," he said, and moved to pull her to him again, but she resisted.<br /><br />"Wait here," she said, and walked out of her bedroom, down the hall, and disappeared into the kitchen, leaving him standing there, frustrated.<br /><br />He sat on the bed and reached down to pull off his shoes and socks.<br /><br />When she returned carrying two glasses of red wine, she, too was barefoot.<br /><br />"Drink this," she said as she handed him one of the glasses.<br /><br />He took a sip first, and swilled the wine in his mouth before swallowing. He then proceeded to down the rest of the glass in one long gulp. Claire drank her glass just as quickly, and took both empty glasses and set them on her dresser. She returned to where Jack sat on the edge of the bed and stood close in front of him.. He reached out and around her, and ran his hands up the back of her legs, from her kneecaps to her behind, all the while looking up at her.<br /><br />"Slow," she whispered taking his face in her hands and placing the most tantalising kiss on his lips. He was sure the pace she was trying to set would kill him, but he didn't care. He loved it when she became aggressive and demanding in their love-making. He had long ago realised that when it came to sex, Claire knew exactly what she wanted and wasn't afraid to ask for or even demand it. It was one of the many things he loved about her.<br /><br />They kissed deeply for what seemed to Jack like ages, feeling the wine beginning to relax them. She let his hands roam freely over her body, letting him squeeze and knead her behind as well as crush her breasts in his hands, all the while holding his face and kissing him. This time, when his hands reached for her waist, she didn't stop him. He undid the button and slowly slid the zipper down.<br /><br />He moved to pull her pants and panties off her at the same time, but here she stopped him. "Uh-uh, not yet," she scolded and backed away. She turned her back to him and slowly slid her pants down over her hips, thighs, and down her legs, leaving her underwear intact. Though her back was to him, she was fully aware of Jack's eyes taking in her every move with lust he was too aroused to disguise.<br /><br />She turned to face him again, and pulled her shirt off, revealing the fact that she was wearing a set of matching bra and panties, something she knew set Jack on fire.<br /><br />"Beautiful....beautiful," he whispered as she climbed onto his lap and pushed him back onto the bed.<br /><br />Hands against her back, he moved them down and slid them inside her underwear, his warm hands branding her flesh. She was sitting a little more forward on him then usual, giving his mouth perfect access to her breasts. Though she still wore her bra, he reached up and began to suck on one of her already taut nipples. He moved his hands to her breasts, cupped the one he was sucking on, and squeezed the other gently with his free hand. When he moved to unhook her bra, she grabbed his hands, entwined her fingers through his, drew his arms up and back, and pinned them against the bed.<br /><br />She kissed his protest away and asked, "Have you ever been tied up?"<br /><br />"No," he admitted.<br /><br />"Would you let me?"<br /><br />"Tie me up?"<br /><br />"Yes."<br /><br />"Do you want to?" he asked.<br /><br />She nodded.<br /><br />"Alright."<br /><br />"Really?"<br /><br />"Better hurry before I change my mind," he joked.<br /><br />She got up from the bed and went to her dresser. From the bottom drawer, she removed two silk scarves. When she returned to the bed, Jack was lying completely on it, his head resting against her pillows. She straddled him again, and taking his left hand, she tied one of the scarves around his wrist and then to one of the rungs of her headboard. He nipped lightly at her breasts as she leaned over him. When his left arm was secure, she repeated the pattern with the right.<br /><br />"Are you comfortable?" she asked. "They're not too tight, are they?"<br /><br />"No, they're fine. I'm fine."<br /><br />"Good," she said and kissed him for several moments before getting off the bed again.<br /><br />"What're you doing?" he asked. He wasn't quite sure he liked this, but Claire seemed so excited by the idea, that it made him excited too.<br /><br />Without saying anything, she went back and retrieved another scarf from her bottom dresser drawer. This scarf, also silk, was a very dark blue, and appeared much thicker than the others.<br /><br />"What's that for?"<br /><br />"You're eyes," she replied, climbing atop him again.<br /><br />"Claire...I..."<br /><br />"Shhhh," she said folding the scarf over once before placing it over his eyes, lifting his head, and tying it. "Do you trust me?"<br /><br />"Yes," he said, without hesitation.<br /><br />She kissed him lightly and quickly once, twice, and a third time. "Then relax. I promise you'll like this."<br /><br />She reached down and ran her palms over his chest and shoulders, over and around his biceps, back to his shoulders, and over his chest again. She brought her lips to his and kissed him ardently, before beginning a trail of kisses down his neck. Running her hands along his sides, she kissed down his chest, pausing to teasingly tongue at his nipples before continuing on downward. When she reached his navel, he felt her hands undoing the fly of his jeans slowly. She kissed down over his stomach, not stopping until she reached the waistband of his boxer shorts.<br /><br />Breathless with anticipation, Jack waited for what he thought would come next. Instead, she left the bed again.<br /><br />"What're you doing?" he asked, a little suspiciously.<br /><br />"Going to get the camera," she stated matter-of-factly.<br /><br />He was on the verge of a protestation when her laughter let him know she had been kidding.<br /><br />"I'll be back in a sec," she told him.<br /><br />A few minutes passed, and suddenly Jack felt something running along the bottom of his foot, and jumped at the unexpected touch.<br /><br />"My my..." Claire said suggestively, still lightly running her fingertip along the sole of his foot. "Jumpy, aren't we?"<br /><br />"I can't see a damn thing and I can't defend myself. This is like man's worst fear Claire."<br /><br />She crawled onto the bed and kissed him feverishly for several heartbeats before moving down again and grabbing hold of the bottom of his pant legs. She pulled his pants off him. His underwear came next, and his fully engorged organ bounced free. It was bigger and harder than she could ever remember having seen it, so swollen, in fact, that it looked almost painful. No wonder he was so eager. She removed her bra and panties and straddled him again, sitting on his thighs.<br /><br />"Jesus, Jack," she said as she reached out and took the blazing item rising up from his groin into her hand and began to stroke, delighting at the way it jerked slightly in her hand, "I can't believe how hard you are. It's huge!"<br /><br />"I'm aching for you," he said in a strangled voice.<br /><br />She leaned down to kiss his him, licking his mouth open and running her tongue along the inside of his lips.<br /><br />"Mmmmm, where did you go?" he asked.<br /><br />She didn't answer him, and after a few seconds, he felt a cool, thick, sticky liquid being poured in a line from the space between his pecs to his navel.<br /><br />"God!" he exclaimed. "What is that?"<br /><br />Again, she didn't answer, but touched the line of fluid she had just poured on him, and pressed her finger against his lips for him to suck on.<br /><br />He sucked her finger clean and licked his lips. "Honey?"<br /><br />"Mmmhmm," she replied and bent down to lick the fine stream of honey from his body.<br /><br />He sighed deeply in pleasure. Their love-making was never boring, but he loved the adventuresome side of Claire that seemed to be emerging of late.<br /><br />When she had lapped up every bit of the honey she had poured on him, she grabbed the bottle again and squeezed some onto each of his nipples. Bending her head again, she licked and sucked his nipples until they too were clean.<br /><br />She adjusted herself further down on his legs, and squeezed a liberal amount of the sweet golden substance onto his raging erection. He felt her hair brush against his thigh as she began to lick him free. He kept waiting for her to take him in her mouth and suck, but she never did. Instead she licked and sucked at the shaft as if she were devouring an ice-cream cone. When she had licked him clean, she crawled up his body and impaled herself on his mighty lance.<br /><br />Jack's mouth opened and he moaned deep and loud. It was all he could do to keep from exploding inside her the instant he was fully imbedded within her hot, wet tightness.<br /><br />Instinctively, Claire knew not to move right away, so that Jack might regain some measure of control.<br /><br />"Is that better?" she murmured against his ear.<br /><br />"Oh, God, yes!" he practically shouted as she raised herself up and then lowered back down. "Ohhh, Claire..." he moaned.<br /><br />She reached for the honey bottle again, squeezed some onto her fingers and smeared it across each of her nipples, and offered her fingers to Jack for cleansing. She began to ride him slowly. Reaching behind his head, she tilted it up slightly and pressed a nipple against his lips. He began to lick and suck at it, and only when all the honey was gone did she offer him the other.<br /><br />"Untie me, now," he said.<br /><br />She leaned over and loosed one of his bonds, and then the other. The first thing he did was remove the blindfold. It wasn't that he hadn't liked what she'd done, because he had indeed found it both pleasurable and exciting, but he preferred being able to see and touch her. Grabbing her head in his hands, he pulled her face down to his and kissed her, long and hard, until she moaned deep in the back of her throat. Bracing herself on her hands, she raised herself away from him and began to ride in earnest. His hands slid down to her fondle her breasts. He squeezed and rubbed and stroked them, eventually bringing his mouth and tongue in on the action. Lapping at a nipple, he could still taste the sweetness of honey. Groaning in pleasure, he sat up and hugged her close. He ran his tongue along her skin, from the valley between her breasts, up to the base of her neck, and up under her chin. Bending her head to him, they were soon drowning in a fiery open-mouthed kiss.<br /><br />In a fluid motion, Claire was beneath him. He drove slowly into her several times before pulling out. He knew she was just as mad for release as he was, but she had teased him relentlessly throughout this entire encounter, and somewhere in his mind he decided to make her pay the sweet forfeit of her trespass. He located the honey bottle and squeezed some onto the soft indentation at the base of her neck. After bending down and sucking the spot free of honey, he began to drizzle a fine line down her torso, as she had done to him. When he had slurped up every last bit of the honey, he poured some over her breasts and proceeded to suck them clean. This done, he drizzled some into her navel, and bent his head to lap it up like a kitten would with a bowl of milk.<br /><br />He rolled her to her stomach, and squeezed a line of honey down her back. He ran his tongue down her honey-covered spine, and sucked at the honey pool that had formed in the small of her back. Adjusting himself down the bed, he drew one of her legs up and kissed the sole of her foot. Moving upward, he nipped gently at her calf, tongued her kneecap, and ran his tongue slowly up the back of her thigh. When he reached the curve of her buttocks, he began again with the other leg. This time, when he reached the hillock of her behind, he didn't stop, but nibbled lightly on each cheek, before continuing on up her back. Pushing her dark hair aside, he kissed the back of her neck and lay beside her. He pulled her against him, so they were both lying on their left sides, spoon-fashion, her back to him.<br /><br />He laid his hands on her waist and began to alternate between kissing her neck and nibbling on her earlobe.<br /><br />"Mmmmm," she practically purred.<br /><br />"Like that?"<br /><br />"Mmmhmm."<br /><br />His left arm slid under her and he reached up to tilt her head back so that he might kiss her lips. His right hand, which was still resting on her waist, slid down over her stomach, down over her thigh, to her knee. When it began it's ascension, it ran along the inside of her thigh. His other hand lowered to trace the curve of her breast with the backs of his fingers. As his thumb began to rub against her nipple, she felt him slip a finger from his other hand inside her.<br /><br />"How's that?" he asked, "Better?"<br /><br />"Yes!" she gasped.<br /><br />He inserted another finger. "Better?"<br /><br />"Much better," she whispered breathlessly.<br /><br />They began kissing again, and soon Claire was moaning against his lips. He removed his right hand, and after a few moments, she felt the tip of his swollen member pushing at the core of her womanhood.<br /><br />"Jack!" she gasped.<br /><br />"My turn to try something new," he said against her neck. In one smooth thrust, he buried himself inside her.<br /><br />He tilted her head back for another kiss as he began to move very slowly, in the timeless rhythm of love. Holding her close with his right arm, his left hand lowered and resumed caressing and fondling her breasts, as he repeatedly thrust into her, with slow, even strokes.<br /><br />They had never made love in this position before, and though she had been somewhat reluctant at first, it soon became quite clear to Jack by the way Claire's body reacted to his touch, and the little whimpering sounds of pleasure she made against his lips, that she was obviously enjoying herself very much.<br /><br />Claire covered Jack's right arm with her own, rubbing back and forth with her hand. Sliding it all the way down, she slid her fingers inside the spaces between Jack's, as he began to increase the pace of their lovemaking. He closed his fingers over hers.<br /><br />Claire guided his hand down between her legs. Needing no further hint, he quickly responded to her silent request. It wasn't very long before Jack felt her spasm as the first wave of release shuddered through her body. Immediately, he pulled out of her and backed away. Laying his hand on her shoulder, he rolled her to her back and quickly covered her body with his own, and entered her again. Wave after wave of orgasm overcame her as Jack, insensible now to anything but the intense pleasure created by the joining of their bodies, thrust swiftly into her, over and over. Claire was still shuddering her release, crying out loudly, when, with a final, almost brutal thrust, Jack exploded deep inside her, his cries mingling with hers.<br /><br />Too exhausted and content to move, he lay on her for sometime as they both waited for their breathing to return to normal. After a time, he adjusted himself a little lower, so that his head was resting against her chest, and less of his weight was on her. She began to stroke his hair, still damp from the recent exertion.<br /><br />"My god, Jack...that was wonderful!" she exclaimed softly after a long, comfortable silence. "You're the most incredible lover! I've never known passion like this before...never enjoyed being with a man so much. What do you think it is that makes it so good between us?"<br /><br />He was silent for a moment before replying. "Love, Claire," he said at last, "Its the love that makes it so good. I've never experienced passion like ours before, either, and I'm sure it's because I've never felt this way about a woman before. I love you....adore you. You excite me to distraction."<br /><br />"I love you, Jack!" she exclaimed. "Until I met you, I'd never really been in love before. I thought I had. But when I realized I loved you, I understood that I had only been playing at love before."<br /><br />"I feel the same way," he told her, and she reached down to kiss the top of his head. "You know....you could have completely taken advantage of me when you had me tied up. It's not as though I'd have been able to fight back."<br /><br />"Jeeze, Jack...you know I'd never do something like that."<br /><br />"I know.... I have to admit though, I was a little worried at first when you put the blindfold on me...and then with that camera comment. But I think it was the lack of control that worried me, as opposed to any real fear that you would do something to me that I disliked. I think maybe I thought you'd use it as some sort of power play, turn into a dominatrix on me, or some such bullshit. But instead, you used it as a way to enhance the excitement for both of us, showing me just how much I could really trust you." At this point, he rolled off her, and laying on his side, pulled her into an embrace, facing him. The kissed languidly for a few minutes. "I love you, Claire. Even if you are a helluva tease."<br /><br />She punched his shoulder lightly. "I'm not a tease," she said, mock-offended.<br /><br />"Oh yes you are."<br /><br />She smiled hugely. "Okay...so I am....but you love it."<br /><br />"Damn right."<br /><br />They kissed some more, and Claire said, "C'mon...we're all sticky from the honey...let's go take a shower."<br /><br />"I'd rather take a bath."<br /><br />"Would you? Why?"<br /><br />"Because I can think of nothing I'd like better at the moment than to have your warm, wet body on top of mine."<br /><br />"Bath it is." </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-30352339432090492782012-11-19T19:52:00.003-08:002012-11-19T19:52:41.867-08:00Phone Sex<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The phone ringing startled Claire. She wasn't asleep. She was lounging in a tub full of hot, sudsy water. Her eyes had been closed, and she had been lounging against the back of the tub when the phone had begun to ring. Her eyes snapped open at the second ring, and she glanced to her left.<br /><br />"Damn!" she said aloud, cursing that she had to get out of the tub to get the phone which stood on the vanity. She clicked the cordless on. "Hello?"<br /><br />"You busy?"<br /><br />"Busy? No...occupied, yes, but not busy."<br /><br />Silence.<br /><br />"Never too busy or occupied for you."<br /><br />"What're you doing?"<br /><br />"Taking a bath," she replied, settling back down into the warm, fragrant water.<br /><br />And sure enough, he could hear the lapping sounds the water made.<br /><br />"Pity you're not here to do my back for me."<br /><br />"I can be there in under 30 minutes."<br /><br />She laughed that musical laugh of hers, and it made him smile. "Water'd be cold by then, Jack."<br /><br />"Always so practical," he said, his mood lightening. He'd been in a dark mood all day, inexplicably, and had been a semi-asshole to everyone, including Claire. Sitting at home that night, working on a brief, he'd come to a page in his notes to which Claire had added some notes of her own, and she suddenly sprang to the forefront of his mind. First, it was her smiling face he saw, then the vision of her bent over her desk working diligently flashed before him, and finally, his mind projected the way she had looked when he'd last seen her, several hours before, and it dawned on him, as it had not then, that she had been disappointed, despite protestation to the contrary, when he'd turned down her offer of a drink<br /><br />Thankfully, she was acting as if he hadn't been in a piss-poor mood all day, hadn't given her, and everyone else, a tremendous amount of attitude.<br /><br />Of course, he realized that she knew full well, by now, that these moods occurred every so often, that they had nothing to do with her. Knew by now, also, how to recognize these moods, backing off until they passed.<br /><br />And yet, she'd invited him out...knowing he'd either say no or say yes, but stay just as locked in his mood, distancing himself from her. And she'd been disappointed when he'd begged off. He'd realized what a boar he'd been, that she must have needed him for something, and felt guilty. And so he'd picked up the phone and dialed her number.<br /><br />"I take it you're not feeling the need to bite my head off anymore," she said, matter-of-factly.<br /><br />"Babe, I .... Look...I...I'm sorry.... can we just...forget today?"<br /><br />"I'd like nothing more."<br /><br />They went silent for a moment.<br /><br />"Still want that drink?" he asked.<br /><br />"It's late, Jack."<br /><br />"Are you angry with me?"<br /><br />"No...no...I just wish I knew what brings these moods on."<br /><br />"So do I, Claire...so do I."<br /><br />"I love you, Jack," she said impulsively. It wasn't the first time she'd said it, not by a long shot, but it seemed to come out of the blue in their current conversation.<br /><br />Taken slightly aback by the sudden force of her words, it was a full heartbeat before the familiar glow these particular words spoken by Claire always produced hit him. "I love you, too," he replied.<br /><br />He heard her pull the plug from the drain, heard the water splashing a bit as she stood.<br /><br />"Water getting cold?"<br /><br />"Yep....and my skin is pruning. Hang on a sec while I dry off."<br /><br />He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, picturing how she must look at the moment, the suds from her bubble bath sluicing down her body as she rose, her hair in a bun revealing her long neck and elegant shoulders. He felt his groin stir, recalling the many times he'd held the towel that dried her glistening skin. The ache he experienced in his chest when he couldn't be with her was magnified by his physical desire.<br /><br />"Hey..." she said after a few moments.<br /><br />"Now what're you doing?"<br /><br />"Snuggling beneath the covers watching Lucy give herself a bath on the foot of my bed...talking to you."<br /><br />He remembered, suddenly, what had made him call her this night.<br /><br />"Claire... did...was something bothering you tonight? I get the feeling something was...and I feel like an ass for not recognizing it at the time."<br /><br />She hadn't expected this question. "I just... I miss you lately. I wanted to be with you tonight, that's all."<br /><br />"I wouldn't have been very good company until about 10 minutes ago."<br /><br />"What happened 10 minutes ago?"<br /><br />He shrugged, which he realized was stupid, because they were on the phone. "Just came to my senses."<br /><br />Jack got up from the table and moved to his sofa. He reached for the remote control and clicked on the television. The news was on, but he engaged the mute function so that he could merely watch the flickering images as he spoke to Claire.<br /><br />"Are you going to impose some form of penance on me for today?" he asked, only half-joking.<br /><br />"I think you're probably penitent enough," she said, "But if you disagree, I think I can come up with something."<br /><br />"I'll bet," he laughed.<br /><br />They fell silent for a few moments, and then Claire said, "So...you know what I'm doing...what are you doing right now?"<br /><br />"If I said I were molding your image out of blocks of butter would you believe me?"<br /><br />Claire snorted.<br /><br />"I'll take that as a yes."<br /><br />"Make sure you wash your hands, after...wouldn't want you ruining your furniture."<br /><br />"I'm watching the news without sound....it's just about over....not that I'm paying much attention...I'm not a lip-reader."<br /><br />The credits began to roll on the news, and so Jack began to flip through the channels as he and Claire continued to talk. He settled on HBO. Late night HBO. Erotica HBO, and, to slight displeasure, he lost what it was Claire was saying to him.<br /><br />"Jack?"<br /><br />When she called his name a second time, he said, "Hmmm?"<br /><br />"Must be something pretty damn interesting on the news."<br /><br />"What? Oh...no....I changed the channel."<br /><br />"Playboy channel?"<br /><br />"You know me so well," he laughed. "Turn on HBO."<br /><br />"'Kay," she said. She uncovered, got out of bed, and crossed to the armoire opposite the foot of the bed.<br /><br />Opening the doors, she revealed a 19-inch television. When she returned to her bed, she withdrew the remote control from the drawer in the bedside table and clicked the TV on. It was 2 women sitting in what appeared to be a Parisian sidewalk cafe.<br /><br />"What is this?"<br /><br />"Just keep watching," he told her.<br /><br />A waiter approached to take their order. He spoke English with a very thick French accent. One of the women sized him up. The way he was looking back at her, it was clear the interest was mutual.<br /><br />The acting wasn't very good. "What the hell have you got me watching?" she teased.<br /><br />"Patience, my dear."<br /><br />Cut to the waiter leaving from work, running into the two women, who had waited for his shift to end. He had changed his clothes, and his thick blonde hair was still mussed, and when he met the two of them in the street, he offered the one, a pretty, petite redhead, a tour of Paris. Her friend accepted for her, and she went of with the French waiter.<br /><br />Cut to cheesy, over-stylized montage (and Jack and Claire laughing together at the cheesy, over-stylized montage) of the two of them around Paris...the infatuation growing in both.<br /><br />Cut to him opening the door of his apartment for her, and the two of them stepping in. He poured them a glass of wine and turned on some low jazz music. He asked her to dance, and they pressed their bodies together and sway. It wasn't very long before the were kissing passionately and pawing furiously.<br /><br />With this, Claire's attention perked up. The two people on the television, named Phillipe and Ashley, may not have been very good actors, but they were very definitely attractive . . . and the site of them beginning to make love, in light of the fact that she and Jack had not been together intimately very often of late, was more than a little exciting.<br /><br />She felt her throat going dry as the man peeled the straps of the woman's dress down, baring her breasts upon which the camera zoomed in as her partner bent his head to flick his tongue across a nipple.<br /><br />Jack, in jest, let out a low whistle.<br /><br />"They're fake, Jack" Claire informed him.<br /><br />He laughed.<br /><br />The young Parisian picked up his partner and strode into his bedroom, laying her out flat and pulling the thin summer dress, top now around her waist, down over her thighs and tossed it to the floor, removing his own partially unbuttoned shirt before joining her on the bed.<br /><br />"As long as they're not talking," said Claire, "this movie isn't so bad."<br /><br />"I'm not complaining."<br /><br />Another quick cut and the two beautiful forms on the television were naked and quite merrily fucking, making noises that sounded so close to the real thing that, for a moment, Claire wasn't sure if they weren't just simulating sex.<br /><br />"Jack....d’ya suppose they're really..."<br /><br />"No...not in an HBO production...if the were, they'd have crossed the line from erotica to porn and we'd have been charged $6.95 for the pleasure of viewing for a few hours."<br /><br />They fell silent again as the scene cut once more, revealing the couple in a new position; she lay sprawled against the matters, fondling her own breasts as her new lover buried his head between her thighs.<br /><br />Jack was becoming quite aroused by the erotic vignette playing out on the television. He felt the pressure tighten in his groin and shifted as he sat on the sofa. Claire, too, began to feel a tightening in her stomach, realized it was just as much from the fact that she was on the phone with Jack -- both of them watching these two people make love to one another, both knowing that the other wished just as much that they were together, doing what this couple was doing, rather than simply sharing a voyeuristic encounter -- as it was from watching what it was she was watching.<br /><br />When Ashley was riding Phillipe, her body moving sensuously up and down on him, head thrown back and a look of pure ecstasy on her face, Claire decided she couldn't stand to watch much more of this. She hadn't been so excited by viewing someone else's sexuality since the time she and Jack had gone to interview witnesses at a sex club.<br /><br />She reali<span style="color: red;">z</span>ed her heart had sped up and she had begun to breathe heavily, as had Jack on the other end, and she began to laugh, low.<br /><br />"What?"<br /><br />"We sound like a couple of heavy breathers prank calling one another."<br /><br />Jack chuckled at this. "You doing okay?"<br /><br />"Define 'okay'?"<br /><br />"I'll rephrase," said Jack, slipping down lower into the couch and switching the phone to the other ear. "How are you feeling?" He asked the question because he knew the effect the show was having on him, and he was curios to see if it was having the same effect on Claire.<br /><br />She smiled to herself. She knew full well he was asking her if this programmed was making her horny, and she wanted to see how far she could push him before he came right out and asked her. The answer was that though the show wasn't arousing her --she'd been wanting to be intimate with Jack for several days, but stress and long work hours hadn't permitted it -- it certainly was making her regret more and more that she'd told Jack it was too late at night for him to take her up on that offer of a drink. She silently cursed herself for a fool. Jack could have been there by now --they'd have stayed in for the drink -- and they could have been doing, rather than watching.<br /><br />"How am I feeling in what sense?" she said seriously while smiling on her end of the line.<br /><br />"Is this exciting you?"<br /><br />"That didn't take long," she mused to herself. She had expected it to take him a few more minutes before he asked for what he was after. And now that he'd asked, she could feel a blush staining her cheeks.<br /><br />"Some."<br /><br />"Some?"<br /><br />"Why ... is it ... does it excite you?"<br /><br />He nodded, which she of course couldn't see. "Yes."<br /><br />Phillipe and Ashley were finished and Ashley's voice in a voice-over told them that once she'd left Paris, she and Phillipe had lost contact ... but that she had cherished her fling with the young Parisian. The show ended tritely, with Ashley, still in a voice-over, saying "I know now why they call Paris the "city of love'." Both Jack and Claire had a laugh at that.<br /><br />Claire clicked the television set off and snuggled down further into her covers.<br /><br />"Do you watch late night HBO often, Jack?"<br /><br />He laughed. "Every night...even when you're here...once you're asleep I go out to the living room for a little soft-core porn."<br /><br />"Wake me up next time, Buck-o."<br /><br />"So you like late night HBO?"<br /><br />"I've seen worse," she said.<br /><br />"Slippery," he said. "Good answer."<br /><br />Brazenly, she said, "I'd have liked it more if you'd been watching it here with me...not on a phone."<br /><br />"Yeah? Why, pray tell?"<br /><br />"You know why."<br /><br />Something about that made him smile. And then he decided that perhaps this hadn't been such a good idea... because now here they were, aroused, desiring each other, blocks and blocks and blocks apart. He knew he could take care of himself, but the idea didn't seem satisfying because it wasn't merely the orgasm he was after...he wanted Claire.<br /><br />"Jack?"<br /><br />"Hmmm?"<br /><br />"Come over."<br /><br />"I thought you said it was late?"<br /><span style="color: red;"><br /><span style="color: black;">"I came to my senses."</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire changed out of her flannel pajama bottoms and T-shirt and into her satin robe while she waited for Jack. She was high on adrenaline, had a lot of tense, nervous energy, becoming more excited with each passing moment, and so she set about adding a bit of 'romance' to her bedroom to keep herself occupied: some scented candles strategically placed, a bottle of red wine and some glasses...a little soft music, and then she planted herself, feet tucked underneath her, on the sofa to wait for Jack.<br /><br />Less than 20 minutes later Jack was knocking on her door. She hurried to let him in. She checked the peep-hole before opening: sure enough, it was Jack. He carried his jacket through one arm, both hands shoved deep into his pockets.<br /><br />"Land Shark" he said when she opened the door.<br /><br />"Christ, Jack! How many traffic laws did you break on your way over here?"<br /><br />"Enough," he told her, smiling as he advanced on her, moving past her into the foyer as she shut the door.<br /><br />She took his coat from him and moved to hang it in the closet in the entry-way, but he came up behind her and took it from her and hung it on the door knob.<br /><br />"You could've been hurt...you should be more careful," she said as he spun her around so that they were toe to toe, bodies mere inches apart.<br /><br />"Couldn't get here fast enough," he said just before he took her into his arms, lifted her slightly and crushed his lips against hers.<br /><br />Claire wrapped one leg around so that her foot hooked against Jack's shin as he held her tightly to him, their kiss growing deeper, consuming them. Jack growled in the back of his throat and let Claire slide down his body. She tugged his polo shirt from his jeans and drew it up over his head and they were kissing again, arms wrapped tightly around each other at first, until hands grew more bold, more fevered, and began to explore, roaming without aim, touching everywhere. Jack sank to his knees and tugged at the belt to Claire's robe, let the garment fall open but did not remove it, or open it further. He just leaned in and kissed her flat stomach, just above the line of her thin cotton panties.<br /><br />His hands dropped to her calves and she felt him running them lightly up the backs of her legs, the backs of her thighs --when he reached her behind he stopped and began to gently rub the smooth globes with his palms, feeling the heat of her skin through the flimsy fabric of her underwear, looking up at her all the while.<br /><br />Looking down at Jack as he began to slide her panties down her legs, staring into his deep brown eyes, Claire forgot all about the prep work she'd done on her bedroom. She sank to her knees in Jack's arms and he reached into her robe to fondle her breasts, fingering her tingling nipples, already formed into taut peaks as they began to kiss once more. Claire reached between them and Jack felt her tugging at his belt, getting it undone, moving on to the fly of his jeans, manipulating the button and lowering the zipper. Jack sighed deeply.<br /><br />Claire pushed his jeans and boxers down to his thighs in one long, fluid motion, freeing his pulsating organ. They wrapped their arms tightly once more as their tongues began a slow, teasing dance. Claire could feel the heat of Jack's arousal pressing against her pelvis. She wanted him, God! how she did! She'd known it earlier when she'd invited him for the drink. She forgot all about that when Jack bent his head to take a nipple into his mouth even as he slid a hand down over Claire's stomach, and lower, until he was resting his palm between her thighs, savoring the warmth radiating from her body for several heartbeats before his fingers began to press insistently against her. Soon, Claire was whimpering from the pleasure Jack gave her, begging for more, moaning softly as he slipped first one, and then another of his fingers into her. Simulating the love rhythm with his fingers, Jack quickly had Claire highly sensitized.<br /><br />Jack lost all self-control when he felt Claire contract and release around his fingers. He lay her down against the rug in the foyer and was over her instantly, lavishing her face with gentle kiss as he positioned himself and slid slowly into her, her back arching to ease his way as he thrust slowly forward and down, sinking into her all-consuming warmth.<br /><br />He wanted to be gentle, but the pleasure of being inside her after several days, after their phone conversation and all the things he'd thought of doing to her on his way to her apartment were too much for Jack, and he began thrusting swiftly in and out of her, kissing her neck, beneath her chin, her mouth, longingly, as he drove into her with increasing ardor. He thought he was going to expire from the extreme pleasure of it all when, moaning softly and alternately calling his name, Claire wrapped her long, smooth legs around his slim waist and thrust back up against him, pulling him deeper into her.<br /><br />She kissed him, nibbling on his lips, then licking at them, and crushed them against his once more, taking his tongue into her mouth to play cat and mouse with her own, until, unable to draw a breath, they tore their heads away. In a minute, they were kissing again, lips pulling at each other.<br /><br />She continued kissing him, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him closer, whispering against his lips, encouraging him to increase their already frantic pace until they were both swept up and over the precipice, finding their release in unison, crying out loudly as they clung together, their bodies convulsing as one.<br /><br />Jack lay atop her for some moments, spent, though not thoroughly sated by the encounter. He knew he had it in him to go again, in a few minutes, but first they had to be able to get up off the floor and make it down the hall to Claire's room: if they were to make love again, after the force and intensity of the passion they'd just shared, Jack knew they'd be too exhausted to get up and move.<br /><br />Claire welcomed his weight on her and held him close, even as he began to rise, pulling her up with him. When they were on their feet, Jack yanked up his pants, and Claire loosely re-tied her robe. Taking Jack's hand, she led him down the hall to her room.<br /><br />He gasped at the glow of the half-burned candles: he'd expected nothing even remotely like this.<br /><br />"Babe, I'm sorry," he said, squeezing her hand and pulling her back against him so that he could drape his arms around her and splay his fingers out across her abdomen. He kissed her neck softly and said, "If I'd known you had gone to such trouble, I'd have held back until we were in here. You should've said something."<br /><br />"'s alright, Jack," she said languidly, her body still feeling like a thick liquid had permeated her veins.<br /><br />"I feel like a boar...you wanted romance and I gave you..."<br /><br />"An incredible amount of pleasure," she told him, turning and snaking her arms up around his shoulders, "Don't worry about it, Jack...to tell you the truth...once you were here and I was in your arms I forgot all about the candles."<br /><br />He leaned back, clasping his hands against the small of her back, and cocked an eyebrow at her.<br /><br />"I only lit the candles to amuse myself while you were on your way over here."<br /><br />"A little nervous energy?"<br /><br />"You might say that," she smiled. "Want some wine?"<br /><br />He nodded and released her. "I'll pour it."<br /><br />He picked the bottle up from her bedside table and filled each glass half full. Turning, he found Claire sitting Indian-style in the middle of her bed. He handed her a glass, sat on the edge of the bed to remove his shoes and socks, and joined her, sitting next to her, his body turned in her direction, propping himself up with one arm as he looked over the rim of his wine glass at Claire, who was staring back at him over the rim of hers.<br /><br />Holding their glasses against their chests, then leaned into a kiss.<br /><br />"Mmmm...love you," whispered Claire, stroking Jack's face with her free hand.<br /><br />"Love you, too."<br /><br />They sipped their glasses of wine back quickly, draining the first glass and the subsequent ones Jack poured them with very little conversation in between time, instead, quietly looking at one another, something akin to wonder on their face.<br /><br />They drank down a third glass, and had a nice buzz going. Jack set the empty glasses next to the bottle on the night table and positioned himself on his knees in front of Claire.<br /><br />"Now that you've liquored me up," he teased, "You realize you're going to have to let me stay the night?"<br /><br />"I suppose I'll have to live with the inconvenience."<br /><br />"I'll earn my keep."<br /><br />"Damn right, you will," she told him, sliding her hands forward to rest on his sides, above the waistband of his jeans. "And you know what?"<br /><br />"What's that?" he asked watching as her hands slipped forward over his stomach and she began to manipulate the button and zipper of his jeans.<br /><br />"You can start right now."<br /><br />His eyebrow shot up. "My pleasure," he said as he stood and removed his pants and boxers, tossing them in the direction of her over-stuffed easy chair.<br /><br />"You sure you're up to this?" she teased, indicating his semi-hardened phallus.<br /><br />"Give me a coupla minutes and I'll make you eat those words. For now, I've got other plans for you" he said, advancing slowly across the bed toward her. Suddenly, he had hold of one of her ankles and he was yanking it toward him, pulling her out of her cross-legged position and at the same time laying her flat out against the mattress.<br /><br />Jack straddled her slender frame and pinned her arms above her head, attacking the leaping vein at the base of her neck with his lips. Holding her wrists together against the mattress with one hand, he slipped the other between her knees, and stroking up her inner-thigh, sought out her female softness, caressing the tender flesh lightly, eliciting a low moan from Claire, any thought of protest at his sudden 'attack' lost as he fondled her gently.<br /><br />Her eyes snapped open when his hand released hers and he stopped pleasuring her. He kissed her lips lightly, then reached to undo the belt of her robe, peeling the sides back and moving backward, pulling her up slightly and helping her out of the robe, then laying her back down and moving lower. He eased her thighs apart and gripped her waist, planting a kiss below her navel before lowering his head and seeking her core with his tongue. She arched her back and reached to rest her hand against the back of his head, pressing lightly. He began to suckle upon Claire's swollen womanly jewel and a cry escaped her, a cry that turned into a series of cries as he increased the strength of his mouth on her.<br /><br />He moved upward suddenly, capturing a nipple between his lips as a hand moved to massage the pearl of her womanhood with his thumb. Claire reached up and took Jack's still only partially hardened organ in her hand, pulling lightly, sliding her hand forward and back, squeezing softly, feeling it begin to expand almost instantly. Jack groaned above her as he adjusted himself to suckle upon her other nipple. A few exquisite moments passed thusly, until, without warning, Claire pushed Jack onto his back and straddled his legs. He looked at her quizzically.<br /><br />"My turn," she told him as she slid backward, pushing his legs apart and massaging the insides of his thighs with her hands. She bent to kiss the soft indentation where his legs met his groin area. Jack sighed deeply; that was something she'd never done before, kissing him there, even though she had on any number of occasions loved him with her mouth. She licked the soft flesh there before running her tongue over his sensitive scrotum. Taking his growing erection into her hand, she began to stroke up and down vigorously, continuing the tender ministrations of her tongue until he was hot and rock hard in her hand.<br /><br />Shifting upward, she took him into her mouth and imitated the action of her hand. She reached to cup his testicles in her hand, massaging them with her thumb as her mouth moved steadily up and down, the other hand gripping the base of his shaft. She began pumping with her hand as she drew her head back to run her tongue around the swollen tip of his erection, tonguing then sucking hard as one hand stroked him to near crisis while the one gently fondling his scrotum kept him suspended between a state of extremely agitated arousal and blissful satisfaction.<br /><br />"Mmmmm, God, babe...that's so good..." he groaned, his hips beginning to work up and down in time with her mouth and hands. "Oh, Jesus...God, Claire," he whispered, his voice strangled.<br /><br />For her part, Claire was enjoying herself immensely, becoming further aroused herself as she kept Jack hanging, always just about to topple into the abyss of sexual release without ever allowing him to do so. She gloried in the sounds Jack emitted, in his groans and sighs, and in his breathless words, praising her skills and encouraging her onward.<br /><br />When she was aware of the fact that she could push him no further without his achieving orgasm, she drew her head away and smiled at Jack, who lay gasping.<br /><br />"God!" he exclaimed, breathless. "Cruel," he teased, breath still coming in short gasps.<br /><br />Claire moved up his body until she was straddling his abdomen, his stiff, aching shaft standing tall behind her. She took Jack's hands when he reached for her breasts and drew them back, threading her fingers through his, and pinned his arms to the mattress. "I'm not the one who has to earn her keep," she said, her eyes dancing in the candlelight.<br /><br />"True," he said, overcoming the strength in Claire's arms.<br /><br />Without warning, Claire was on her back and Jack was over her, thrusting forward, guiding his throbbing member into her in one swift, smooth thrust. Claire gasped her pleasure and soon they were moving together. After a few ecstatic moments, Claire pushed him away, breaking their connection.<br /><br />Somewhat confused, Jack's eyes came open and he looked at her questioningly. "What's wrong?" he asked, voice strangled.<br /><br />"I wanted to try something," she said, panting. She drew her legs up so that her knees were at chest level and said softly, "Come into me, now."<br /><br />He was over her again, pressing himself down over her, his chest resting against the backs of her thighs, her ankles against his shoulders, and slid into her, both of them crying out softly as Jack was buried in her more deeply than he had ever been before.<br /><br />"Oh, God," he whispered as he began to move, seemingly independent of his volition, pumping steadily in and out of her.<br /><br />"Mmmm, yessss....oh, Jack...yesss..." Claire moaned again and again, Jack calling her name above her as he began to pump harder and faster into her, thrusting deep and steady until Claire's body began to convulse. He felt her contracting around him, squeezing his pulsating manhood so that he groaned deep and low in the back of his throat.<br /><br />He slid back, still hard as a rock, and moved Claire's legs to his sides, pushing forward again, sliding into her still quivering depths, her moans growing louder as the spasms subsided and Jack was moving in her again, moving in her still. She wrapped her arms around him, drawing her knees up slightly and clasping her ankles around his flanks.<br /><br />Jack dipped his head to kiss her neck and suddenly he was moaning, moaning deep and long, his stomach tightening and releasing as his body began to shake and he called Claire's name as he emptied himself into her. Claire cried her pleasure a second time as Jack collapsed against her, and they both lay spent, clinging to each other as they attempted to regain control of their breathing, of their straining hearts.<br /><br />Claire softly kissed Jack's damp forehead and he was able to roll from her, barely, so that one arm and leg were still draped languidly across her body. Claire lovingly stroke Jack's arm and shoulder, her heart still beating hard. After a moment she shivered, both from the remembrance of what had just passed, and from the air, now cool against their damp skin. Jack, difficult though it was, reached down and pulled the covers up and over them, resuming the position he'd just left.<br /><br />"Want me to get up and blow out the candles?" he asked in a hoarse whisper.<br /><br />"No ... stay with me," she said softly, "Just let them burn down."<br /><br />She felt him nod against her shoulder as her eyes began to close. They were both exhausted from their intense encounter, and Jack, too, began to feel sleep descending.<br /><br />Claire began to laugh softly, eyes still closed.<br /><br />"What?" he asked, voice not much above a whisper.<br /><br />"We're ridiculous sometimes."<br /><br />"What? Why?" He had no clue what she was talking about.<br /><br />"First you turn me down...then I turn you down... and we still end up making love on my foyer floor because we're too hot for each other to make it to someplace more comfortable. And then again in my bed."<br /><br />"We get it right eventually," he said, "That's what matters."<br /><br />"I love you," she whispered.<br /><br />"Love you, too."<br /><br />They kissed lightly for a few moments and then snuggled into each other, and, after some moments, drifted off into a sated, content sleep. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-72704389546549461192012-11-19T19:52:00.001-08:002012-11-19T19:52:19.252-08:00The Nooner<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><br />Jack McCoy was sitting at his desk. He'd just gotten off the phone. A case had come across his desk early in the week, a rape case in which the victim had been brutally beaten and savagely raped by a man she'd met at a sex club down in the industrial portion of Manhattan. He'd been on the phone with the manager of that very club just moments before.<br /><br />The manager had made Jack's skin crawl, but he had been forced to speak to the man because it was imperative that they be able to interview club employees who had been working that night, as well as any customers that could be recognized as having been there that night: one of them might be able to offer crucial evidence.<br /><br />The door to his office opened and a tall, lean young woman with dark hair and shiny dark eyes walked in, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth.<br /><br />"Hey, Jack," she said when she walked in.<br /><br />"Hi, Claire," he said rather dispassionately.<br /><br />Claire Kincaid dropped her attaché case to the floor and sat on the other side of the desk from Jack.<br /><br />"There's a warm welcome...you sure know how to make a girl feel wanted, McCoy."<br /><br />"Sorry, Claire," he said regretfully. "Just got off the phone with that sleaze O'Riordan who runs the sex club where Melinda Strusis picked Andrew Drummond up."<br /><br />"So...is it all set up? When do I go? They're going to co-operate when I go down to investigate?"<br /><br />Jack nodded, "When 'we' go, Claire."<br /><br />"You're going to take witness statements with me?" she asked. Normally, Jack couldn't be bothered to do the leg work --he'd done enough of it as an ADA in his own early days in the DA's office-- and left the evidence gathering to Claire or the members of the DA's investigatory squad, including detectives Briscoe and Logan.<br /><br />"If you think I'm letting you walk into that kind of place alone..."<br /><br />She stopped him, getting a little annoyed. He'd never tried the protective bit with her before, and she found it a tad annoying. "Jack...I appreciate the concern, but I can take care of myself. I've lived in this city for most of my life."<br /><br />Jack shrugged. "Call it old-fashioned, call it male chest-thumping, call it anything you like, but there's no way in hell I'm sending my girlfriend into a snake pit without back-up."<br /><br />"I thought we agreed we weren't going to let our personal relationship spill over into work?" she queried. It was early in May, and they had been dating since mid-January, when, after work one night, they had gone out for drinks and dinner and ended up back at Jack's place, making incredible love to one another. After a weekend spent in conjugal bliss, they had postponed the physical aspect of their relationship for over a month and a half, finally coming together again one delightful night early in March.<br /><br />"We did," he agreed.<br /><br />"So?"<br /><br />"Claire...I just want to...make sure no one...says anything to you...or tries anything. I know you think I'm being sexist and over-protective...but I'd never forgive myself if something..." his voice trailed off, and he was unable to finish voicing the thought. Claire was so alive and vibrant, that the thought of something happening to her was almost unfathomable to him.<br /><br />Claire's gaze softened, and she nodded evenly. "Okay, Jack," she relented, "I won't argue with you about it anymore." His concern touched her deeply. "When do we go?"<br /><br />"We have to be there by 11 this morning."<br /><br />Claire looked at her watch: 10:20. "Maybe we should go?"<br /><br />Jack nodded. "Get your coat." It was spring, but a light weight coat was still necessary.<br /><span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />They got out of Claire's car just before 11. They were in the industrial district, surrounded by warehouses. Jack searched out the warehouse they were looking for: It looked to be an abandoned factory of some sort.<br /><br />"It's that one," he told her, and they headed over, walking with purpose.<br /><br />As they neared the building, the faint sounds of some form of industrial music emanated from somewhere within. As they approached, a heavy door slowly pulled back a ways. Jack looked over at Claire, an uneasy expression on her face, and stepped through the opening, Claire right behind him. They were greeted by two large men in dark suits, obviously bodyguards of some sort by the shear hulking bulk of each of them.<br /><br />"Jack McCoy, Claire Kincaid," Jack said, indicating the two of them. "We're from the District Attorney's office."<br /><br />One of the men nodded silently and pointed Jack and Claire toward a staircase. They took in their surroundings as they headed for that staircase. It was indeed an old factory, as they mechanized chains, dormant now, hanging form the ceilings indicated. Now, the factory floor was sprawled with tattered sofas and chairs, spread willy-nilly throughout the dank, high-ceilinged expanse of the factory floor.<br /><br />Jack reached the staircase a nanosecond before Claire, and they glanced down the dark, gaping hole in the floor, the only light that of the sun pouring in through the windows high on the factory walls, and an eerie green glow in front of a door at the bottom of the stairs. Jack started to descend, hearing the music getting closer and closer, feeling it coursing through his body as he moved down the stairs, sensing Claire's presence close behind him.<br /><br />A man clad in leather and steel stepped out of the corner when Jack and Claire reached the bottom of the stairs. Claire jumped at the sight of the man, who had seemingly come out of no where. She was starting to feel very grateful that Jack had insisted on accompanying her down here. The leather and steel man opened the door, and a smoky red light oozed out, engulfing them, as did the music, instantly, as they stepped into the room.<br /><br />For the two of them, it was like they were stepping into another world...a sort of shadow or sub-world behind or below our own.<br /><br />Claire was more than shocked by what she saw. Despite the fact that it was late morning in the middle of the week, the club had more than a few patrons.<br /><br />"Don't these people work?" she said loudly into Jack's ear, wondering how in the hell they were going to hear the people they'd come to interview.<br /><br />"For some of them, I think this IS work," he replied.<br /><br />Just then, a woman in a tight rubber body suit seemed to suddenly coalesce from the crowd moving on the dance floor. She approached them. "You the two from the DA's office?" she asked, obviously an employee.<br /><br />Jack nodded.<br /><br />"Tommy's waiting for you...this way," she said and started back the way she'd come. Jack lay his hand on Claire's back and she started after the woman, Jack hot on her heels.<br /><br />Walking through the crowded dance floor had been a mistake, though Claire suspected the woman had led them this way on purpose: they were groped and pulled at by hands and arms all around them as they moved through the crowd. Leather and rubber and metal surrounded them, pulling at hair and clothes. They finally emerged from the crowd with a heavy sigh of relief from both.<br /><br />As they emerged, they came upon a series of metal cages, each hanging from the ceiling on a different length of chain. A woman in a chain-mail corset crouched in one. Two leather clad lovers were in another, locked in an ardent embrace. The rest of the cages were empty. Claire couldn't help but gawk at the things she was seeing around her. Off in the corner, several couples were pouring thick, coloured liquid over one another that seemed to mesh with their skin.<br /><br />"Liquid latex" the rubber woman told her when she followed Claire's gaze. "It dries and feels incredible."<br /><br />Claire nodded and they resumed their trek. Jack was wondering how clubs like this managed to exist within the view of the law, wondered why in the hell the proprietor of such a place would have allowed members of the criminal justice system to come down here and see the goings on. Along one wall a man, naked but for two leather straps that criss-crossed his chest, was shackled by his wrists to two metal rings protruding from the wall, and by his ankles to two metal rings on the floor. A woman knelt before him, and it was obvious to anyone who looked at them that she was slowly working his member in and out of her mouth.<br /><br />Claire blushed at the site and turned her head away. "How could someone do that in front of an audience?" she wondered, not understanding the inclination behind the exhibitionist fetish. Jack cleared his throat and they continued on.<br /><br />A cocktail waitress carrying a tray of drinks passed them. She wore a corset made of leather with steel boning that cinched her waist and made her uncovered breasts swell out so that they seemed to be spilling from the corset. Her panties were leather with a zipper that ran down the center from the front to the back. She wore painful looking nipple clamps, a spiked choker and wristbands. In a minute, they were passed by a man who appeared to be 30-ish pulling a girl not much beyond 18 years old around the place by a leash. The girl looked remarkably like Claire, only younger, and a tad more plump.<br /><br />The music was horribly loud. "What do they call this crap?" Jack asked Claire, thinking maybe she'd know.<br /><br />"It's Nine Inch Nails, Jack," she told him loudly.<br /><br />"Sounds like crap!"<br /><br />Claire nodded her agreement.<br /><br />The music pulsed all around and through them, and they were finding it difficult to both hear people and concentrate. The smell of smoke and sweat and liquor filled the air. All around them people in various types of bondage gear and S&M costumes in various states of undress were performing various sexual acts on one another. Thankfully, nothing like what either of them had heard went on at these places was happening around them, and Jack wondered if perhaps the patrons of this establishment had been warned to be on better behaviour than usual because of the interloping District Attorneys. He thought it likely that they HAD been warned, or he and Claire would have been witnessing acts of a far more deviant, degenerate nature. Some of the visions before them were indeed shocking, but more because of the fact that they were being performed semi-publicly.<br /><br />Eventually, they were lead to a wide corridor filled with 2 way mirrors like those utilized by law enforcement officials. There were 4 such windows, two on each side, revealing rooms whose walls were lined with the sex toys and the paraphernalia and accoutrements of bondage and S&M practices. Only two of the rooms were occupied, and Claire thanked her lucky stars that the acts taking place in these 'private' rooms were not TOO deviant: in one, a blindfolded woman was on her hands and knees pleasing a man with her mouth while another man took her from behind. In the other room, a slave/master situation seemed to be going on... a woman adorned totally in plastic and rubber, down to her thigh high shiny black plastic boots reclined in an odd looking chair. The man with her, wearing a pair of tight leather shorts was on his knees apparently polishing his mistress' boot with his tongue.<br /><br />Their guide opened a door at the end of the hall and they stepped into a large office, finding a rather good looking man standing behind his desk, a woman, bared from the waist up laid out in front of him. The man, a decade or so younger than Jack, his brown hair showing only the faintest signs of silver, had a pouty, full mouth and eyes as silver as the few strands in his hair. He was handsome in that dangerous, rakish sort of way, but there was something about him that both Jack and Claire latched onto. A darkness lingering behind the attractive exterior.<br /><br />The room must have been sound proof, for once the door was closed, the loud music did not permeate the walls.<br /><br />He eyed Claire in much the same manner he looked at the woman on his desk, and Claire felt the repulsion rise in the pit of her stomach. Jack saw the look, as well, and felt his anger rise.<br /><br />With a wave of his hand, Thomas O'Riordan dismissed his 'plaything' and sat behind his desk.<br /><br />When the girl was gone, he asked, "Can I get you something to drink?" He had a raspy, deep voice.<br /><br />They both declined, and Jack got down to business. He asked the man a slew of questions, Claire piping in whenever she thought of something Jack had left out (which wasn't often). For each question, O'Riordan had a slick, prepared answer designed to paint the club in the most positive light possible. Nothing beyond a little light bondage, some spirited spanking, and the use of a riding crop was encouraged by the proprietors of the club. If anyone was seen getting out of hand in their fantasy fulfillment, they were quickly escorted from the club and kindly asked not to return. He hadn't been in his office 'amusing' himself with several playmates that night, and could offer no insight into their case.<br /><br />O'Riordan, when he felt the questions were getting a little too close to discovering what actually went on in the club, promptly ended the interview, telling them to talk to anyone in the club they felt they needed to.<br /><br />"Would you mind letting us use your office to talk to the people?" asked Claire, realizing it would be impossible to speak to anyone about anything in the noise-filled main-room of the club.<br /><br />"I'm afraid I do mind," he told her, eyeing her again, "I've got another appointment in a few minutes and I'm going to need the use of the office. If you like, you can use one of the quiet rooms."<br /><br />"Quiet rooms?" asked Jack.<br /><br />"You saw the rooms as you walked down the hall?"<br /><br />They nodded.<br /><br />"Mr. O'Riordan... I don't think I have to tell you that those rooms are not conducive to conducting an effective interview of a potential witness," said Jack, standing. "I'll expect a list of staff working that night by the end of the week, as well as any patrons you think might have relevant information. We'll set up interviews that are more...appropriate."<br /><br />"Fine, Mr. McCoy," said O'Riordan curtly, "I'll see you have your list by the end of the week."<br /><br />They were effectively dismissed. Claire stood and she and Jack moved toward the door.<br /><br />"Feel free to have a drink or two on the house before you leave...or anything else that might...catch your fancy..." the man said lasciviously as Jack pulled the door shut behind them.<br /><br />Out in the corridor, the music once again began to overwhelm them. In the 'quiet rooms' the tableaux had changed slightly. The 'slave' was now dutifully servicing his mistress, and the two men had switched places in the other room. Jack regarded the scenes before him for a moment, then looked over at Claire and gave her a look, which she didn't think was intentional, that caused her to blush and look away.<br /><br />They headed back out to the main room. Jack checked his watch. Just noon.<br /><br />"Do you want to grab a drink while we're here?" he asked her loudly. They had been known to have a glass of scotch with Adam in the middle of the work day on occasion, and one drink here wouldn't necessarily be frowned upon. What's more, it would only be 'one' drink...no one would ever have to know about it.<br /><br />Claire was about to say no, but decided, "What the hell?" and answered in the affirmative.<br /><br />"C'mon," said Jack, taking her by the arm and leading her into the main room, and over to the bar.<br /><br />Much the same scene was taking place in that room, some of the people having removed more clothing. The man who had been receiving pleasure from the mouth of a woman was still chained to the wall but the woman had left him there, chained, and had obviously not sated him.<br /><br />They went over to the bar. Jack ordered a vodka rocks and Claire a rum and coke. Speech was impossible, and so they sat silently sipping their drinks, trying to stifle their curiosity to glance around the room, mouths agape at some of the things they'd be seeing. It was impossible not to see some of it though, for there were couples along the walls on either side of the bar, and the entire wall behind the bar was a large mirror, making the rest of the room visible even when one's back was to it.<br /><br />A short time passed, and Claire saw in the mirror the reflection of the young girl they had seen being lead around on a leash. She was being strapped to a wall that appeared to be covered by a faux-bear skin rug. When her arms and ankles were secured, the man with her tilted the wall back slightly, so that she was a little pass vertical. He had something in his hand --Claire couldn't make out what it was-- and he began to rub it all over his partner's body. Claire tried not to watch as the man dropped to his knees before the young woman and proceeded to rub the object all over her legs and thighs. He was being gentle with her, that much was obvious, and something about what he was doing to her was frankly exciting Claire.<br /><br />Jack, too, had noticed the girl again, most likely because she appeared so much like Claire, and had been watching the events unfold between the Claire-look-a-like and her partner.<br /><br />In a strange voice, he vaguely heard Claire say, "Jack...let's get out of here."<br /><br />They left their drinks partially unfinished and stood up off of the bar stools. They had two paths they could choose to the door: through the crowded dance floor as they had come, through the hands tugging and pulling at them, or right pass the young girl who's visage was so like Claire's.<br /><br />Jack headed for the latter, pulling Claire along with him by her hand. As they neared, it became obvious to them that the object the man held was some sort of vibrating device, though it was round, with dull spikes made of either rubber or plastic protruding. The girls mewling cries of pleasure became audible to them as her lover rolled his toy between her thighs. Suddenly, he left the toy and reached for the woman's hips, gripping them as he bent his head to the place his toy had so recently been.<br /><br />Jack felt his groin beginning to stir as they stood there. Claire, too, was growing more excited by the scene in front of her. Her response rather puzzled her: she had never been interested in porn, had never been a voyeur. Jack looked over at her, at her lips, slightly parted as she stood with her eyes fixed on the couple before her.<br /><br />She felt rather than saw Jack lean close to her. She felt his warm breath blow against her ear as he whispered roughly, "Let's go..." and pulled her toward the door. She offered no resistance and followed him, not looking back.<br /><br />They were suddenly bathed in the eerie green light at the bottom of the staircase, and stood staring up at the daylight streaming in through the abandoned factory's windows.. Jack was preparing to move towards Claire when they became aware of the leather and steal clad man again. Claire started up the stairs, Jack a few paces behind, watching her as she ascended. Jack cursed the daylight, cursed that daylight meant work --in those dark and musky rooms, it had seemed night, like when you come out of a dark movie theatre, forgetting it's going to be daylight still.<br /><br />As they strode across the factory floor towards the hulks in suits, Claire heard Jack say her name.<br /><br />"Yes, Jack?" she said, slowing and turning as he closed the distance between them.<br /><br />"When are we supposed to meet with Robertson?"<br /><br />"2:30."<br /><br />"Do you have any other appointments?"<br /><br />She shook her head.<br /><br />He smiled a little and picked up her hand, saying, softly, "Let's have lunch at your place."<br /><br />She arched an eyebrow, "Lunch?"<br /><br />But he was already heading for the opening that would take them back to the real world, pulling her with him.<br /><br />There was no one around when they got to Claire's car, and even if there were, they were not known here, not likely to see anyone they did know. Near her trunk, Jack took a chance and pulled her to him. They wrapped their arms around one another and lost themselves in a reckless kiss.<br /><br />They pulled apart suddenly and got into the car, buckled up and began to drive. As Claire navigated the streets, Jack, who generally slumped slightly to the right when riding in her car, adjusted himself so that his body was slumped in her direction instead. He wasn't leaning over very far...just enough to make it easy for him to reach over and rest his hand on the top of her thigh. He'd never tried anything like this in the car before --in the back of a cab, once-- and she decided for the moment to see what he'd do. As she expected, his hand started slowly moving upwards. It slipped under the fabric of her skirt, and she felt his hand slide further over so that it was running along her inner thigh.<br /><br />She let him get a good way up her thigh before she reached down and moved his hand away, saying, "Jack...you'll make me kill us."<br /><br />He sat back up and smiled at her, "We wouldn't want that, would we?"<br /><br />"Nope."<br /><br />Jack grinned hugely then slumped down to the right until they found themselves waiting at a stoplight in a bit of traffic. Jack sat up again and reached over to pull Claire's head over to his. He kissed her hard, and she kissed back, losing themselves in each other until they heard the honking from behind them. Flustered, Claire straightened up, released her brake foot and accelerated. Jack gazed at her from across the car again, noting the pleasant blush staining her cheeks.<br /><br />It seemed to take them hours to get to Claire's, in reality only taking them about 20 minutes. It was twenty minutes to one, and they had to be back at the office for the meeting at 2:30. That didn't give them much time: 45 minutes at the most.<br /><br />They started in the elevator. Jack's tie was undone, the top buttons of his shirt undone, as well, as they kissed hungrily, Jack's body pressing Claire's into the elevator wall. The elevator slowed and they pulled apart. Mrs. Harrington, Claire's neighbour, was in the hall waiting for the elevator, and eyed them knowingly, their slightly disheveled, flustered appearance and mussed hair speaking volumes.<br /><br />They exchanged greetings and headed quickly down the hall to Claire's door. Jack pressed himself against Claire as she struggled to get her door open. The last lock gave and they were in the foyer and Jack was hurriedly trying to get Claire out of the black suit coat she wore as she attempted to manipulate the buttons of his shirt. Their mouths tugged relentlessly at one another. Claire felt Jack's hands at the top of her blouse, fumbling with the tiny buttons, trying desperately to get a handle on his need for haste so he wouldn't pop all the buttons off the blouse. With patience that surprised him, he managed to get all the buttons undone without damaging the garment, leaning down to kiss the swell of her bosom as his hands tried to loose the clasp of her front-clasp bra.<br /><br />He fell to his knees as his hands slipped the cups back and he pulled her closer, his moist lips contacting the space between her breasts. He cupped each of them in a hand and turned his head to one side, taking one of the quickly hardening nubs into his mouth. He continued kneading her breasts as his mouth alternated between her nipples. One of her hands gripped his shoulder while the other one lightly stroked his hair as his lips and tongue worked her nipples into tight, firm peaks. Her breathing had become more labored.<br /><br />Jack continued laving her nipples with his tongue as he dropped his hands so that he was gripping her kneecaps. His hands slid higher, beneath her skirt, and continued on up, over the backs of her thighs until his hands slid up and over the satin covered globes of her behind. He massaged gently for a few moments before gripping the waist band of her panties and drawing them down over her legs.<br /><br />He stood suddenly, taking her face between his hands and kissing her, gliding his tongue over her lips and between them, seeking hers out, caressing it softly as he hands reached down to fondle her breasts once more. Claire slid her arms behind Jack, beneath the fabric of his open shirt, and the suit coat he still wore, and began to stroke the long, firm line of his back. Her hands glided along the waistband of his pants until they came around and rested in the front. He groaned in expectation as her hands undid his belt and manipulated the button and zipper of his dress pants. These pants were more loose than the jeans he wore as casual attire, and with the fly undone, and the weight of his belt, they quickly dropped down to his knees, leaving him standing there in his boxers, with his pants at his knees, his tie on the floor, his shirt and coat open.<br /><br />Claire took a step backward and she was leaning against the door to the foyer closet. Jack waddled to her and they pressed the lengths of their bodies together, their mouths once again finding each other. Claire could feel the hardness of him against her lower abdomen, and she brought her hand up to caress his straining member through the warm silk of his boxers. Jack made a noise that sounded almost like a purr and began to draw Claire's skirt up, bending his head to once again tongue lightly at her stiff and aching nipples. She pushed at Jack's boxers and they slid down past his hips and buttocks.<br /><br />Claire felt herself being lifted and pressed harder against the door at her back. She reached down and gripped the base of Jack's throbbing shaft and guided him easily into her. They had ceased using condoms a couple of weeks prior after both their tests had come back negative. He gripped one of her knees and drew her leg up so that her thigh was resting against his hip as he began to slowly move back and forth within her. This was not the time for the slow, gentle pace they had recently settled into when they made love. Their coupling was always erotic, always electric, but this time they would have sworn they could actually feel the current running back and forth between their heaving bodies. Claire brought her other leg up and Jack gripped the backs of her thighs as she wrapped her legs around him and he pushed fiercely into her.<br /><br />Jack's pulsing manhood was working Claire into a frenzy as they moved as one being. She gripped his shoulders and arched her back as she welcomed the burning hardness that invaded her body and plundered her depths exquisitely. She felt herself cresting, felt her body begin to spasm as she called Jack's name, vaguely aware of her own name on his lips as his own release rocked through him, pouring into her. The blood pounding in her ears was more deafening than the music at the club had been.<br /><br />He thrust deeply once, twice more, and then she felt him retreating from her, easing her to the floor as his lips lovingly tasted the salty flesh of her neck. He tilted her head back and lightly caressed her lips with his own before taking a step back. He reached out to smooth her hair back out of her face and smiled sweetly at her, the hair at the front of his head plastered to his forehead. Only then did Jack remove off his suit coat, tossing it onto the chair that lived next to the wall table in her foyer. He bent and pulled his boxers and pants back up as Claire re-clasped her bra and lowered her skirt back into place, trying to smooth out the wrinkles that had developed in the fabric.<br /><br />"Still hungry?" she asked him.<br /><br />He nodded and they headed for the kitchen.<br /><br />Jack sat at the table and Claire opened the fridge. "Looks like I've got some leftovers in Tupperware...some lunch meat, eggs, fruit, yoghurt...I made chicken salad for dinner last night and there's enough left over," she said, "Want a chicken salad sandwich?"<br /><br />"Sure," he said, watching her go to work on their lunch. He stood and went to the fridge as she made sandwiches out of the chicken salad and sourdough bread and retrieved the pitcher of iced tea. He went to the glass cupboard and took two glasses down and filled them both just as Claire had their sandwiches ready.<br /><br />They sat at the table silently eating for a few minutes. They hadn't mentioned the club since leaving it. Seemingly out of no where, Claire asked, "Did you see that one guy? The big hulking guy in the corner who was merrily flogging himself?"<br /><br />Jack nodded, grinning as he dabbed a napkin at the corner of his mouth. "Masochism to the Nth degree."<br /><br />"That O'Riordan is such a sleaze," said Claire as she reached for Jack's free hand and gripped it in her own. "I'm glad you insisted I let you go with me..."<br /><br />Jack raised her hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly as he nodded.<br /><br />They continued to eat for a few more moments, each of them reflecting on the things they'd seen in the club. Jack asked, "What was up with the boot-licking?"<br /><br />"Dominatrix with a well-trained slave..." she said.<br /><br />"And just what, pray tell, do you know about 'well-trained slaves'?"<br /><br />"Not a damn thing."<br /><br />"Just as I thought..."<br /><br />He laughed as her napkin hit him in the face.<br /><br />He reached over for her hand and pulled her out of her chair, so she was standing beside where he still sat in his. He pulled her in front of him and let his legs fall open so she could stand between them. Neither of them had bothered to button their shirts back up. Jack's hands reached for her waist and he leaned forward, placing a kiss against her smooth, flat stomach. His hands were sliding up her legs again.<br /><br />"Jack....?" she queried softly, gazing down into his upturned face. "So soon?"<br /><br />He nodded, saying, "We're on a limited schedule, here..."<br /><br />She cupped his cheeks in her hands and bending at the waist, brought her lips down to his. He released her legs and busied himself fumbling with his belt and button and zipper, freeing his rapidly increasing organ, almost fully erect by now. He worked her skirt up again, her panties still on the wall table in the foyer. She felt herself being turned as he closed his legs and lowered her backward onto his lap. She gasped as he slid into her. He had taken her from behind before, but only in bed, in the spoons position. This new position left her breathless as she braced her hands on his knees, leaned forward slightly and began to move on him.<br /><br />Jack gripped Claire's shoulders then slowly eased her blouse off of her, tossing it to the chair she had vacated. He planted a kiss between her shoulder blades and she shivered pleasantly feeling him still expanding inside of her as she rose up and down, using his knees for leverage. He gripped her waist next, slowing her pace down some, and then slid his arms further around her, slid them up higher until she was aware of him unclasping her bra again, sliding his hands into the open cups, his fingers toying maddeningly with her still erect nipples until he heard her whimper softly as she began to move faster.<br /><br />Jack leaned forward and wrapped an arm securely around Claire's midriff, bracing his other hand against the small portion of chair he did not occupy. Holding her tightly to him, he pushed himself out of his chair and bent his legs at the knee, alleviating the height difference that existed between them even now, when she wore heels. He released her waist as he moved her closer to the table, still throbbing inside her. He took her wrists in his hands and placed her palms flat against the table, a good deal past shoulder width apart, moving plates and glasses and napkins as he did so.<br /><br />He began to move against her as his hands ran down her slender arms. He covered her hands with his, entwining his fingers in the spaces between hers. She started to move with him and h kissed the back of her neck through her soft, sweet-smelling hair, the scent a mixture of her fragrant shampoo and her favorite perfume --Escape-- which had quickly become his favorite fragrance, too, the night he first smelt it as it emanated off the flesh of her long, elegant neck. He groaned into her hair at the memory of their first glorious night in each other's arms, then unentwined one of his hands from hers so that he might draw her hair aside.<br /><br />Jack inhaled the scent along the side of Claire's neck deeply, before kissing it lightly. He kissed the sweet indentation just below her ear and then bit down softly on her sensitive earlobe, delighting in the low moan she expelled into the air in front of her. He moved his hand to her throat, barely gripping just beneath her chin. He turned her head sideways a bit, and tilted it back, craning his own around so that he could capture her lips in a kiss with ease.<br /><br />Claire stood up straight --she had been bent over at the waist slightly, leaning her weight forward on her hands-- and draped her arm back and around Jack's neck, snaking her fingers into his ever graying hair. They continued kissing passionately as he pumped steadily in and out of her, their low moans increasing in volume in time with the increasing speed of Jack's thrusting.<br /><br />Jack gripped Claire's waist again as his pace grew even more rapid. Claire felt the tightening inside her that she always experienced just before reaching her crisis, and she soon found herself thrusting her hips back against Jack with wanton abandon, her body demanding he thrust deeper, faster, as she felt her climax build and build. He drove her --and himself-- higher and higher. Claire closed her eyes, trying to concentrate on the liquid heat building in her loins; fingers of pleasure spreading through the rest of her body like flames lapping at a structure just before it is consumed by fire.<br /><br />They were both striving hard, struggling toward the release that seemed to evade them as their passion built into a crescendo. It seemed to Claire that her mind had separated from her body and all she could do was concentrate on the intense pleasure coursing through her veins. She was vaguely aware of one of Jack's hands fluttering over her stomach. She felt a bolt of lightning flash through her body as Jack began to rub insistent circles over her inflamed womanly pearl.<br /><br />Suddenly, Jack felt Claire begin to spasm in his arms as the first wave of her climax washed over her. She cried out, first arching back against him as the fiery orgasm rocked through her, then sagged forward, her hands against the table to keep her from falling as Jack continued to plunge deep and hard into her contracting body, his own release coming hard and fast on the tail of hers, which still consumed her.<br /><br />Jack's weight sagged against her back, his hot breath labored, as was hers. She could feel his heart pounding against her back where he leaned against her and she smiled. Part of her mind was amazed that she'd survived this intense encounter --for a while there, she was afraid she might die if she didn't find her release soon.<br /><br />Slowly, Jack withdrew from her, bent to pull up his boxers and trousers, then sank back down into the chair. Claire's skirt once again fell into place and he pulled her, turning her as he did so, down onto his lap. They were still breathing quite heavily when he stretched his neck up and met her lips with his own, softly now, the urgency sapped out of them.<br /><br />Jack pulled slowly out of the kiss and gazed lovingly up at Claire, smoothing her hair with his palm as she lightly stroked his face. She smiled down at him lazily, through veiled eyes.<br /><br />"Extraordinary," he murmured softly as his lips brushed against the vein leaping at the base of her throat.<br /><br />"You too, lover," she whispered, taking his face in her hands and kissing him softly; first his lips, then his chin, the tip of his nose, his eyelids. Jack wrapped his arms around her and hugged her close.<br /><br />He sat back in the chair and let his arms fall to his sides, gripping the chair legs just beneath the seat. He smiled almost smugly, looking satisfied beyond belief --and he was.<br /><br />Her eyes sparkled down at him.<br /><br />"I've never had a lunch time quickie before..." she confessed.<br /><br />Jack smiled. "It's called a 'nooner', Claire."<br /><br />Claire happened to glance at the clock above her kitchen door.<br /><br />"Christ! Jack....it's 1:30...we should go...."<br /><br />Jack nodded. "We might want to straighten up a bit first..."<br /><br />Claire laughed. "We wouldn't want anyone thinking we'd partaken of forbidden fruit down at the sex club, now would we?" she asked mischievously.<br /><br />"Nope."<br /><br />"Know what?" she asked.<br /><br />"What?"<br /><br />"I think I want one of those fake bear-skin rugs...."<br /><br />"Do you, now?" he asked, the light dancing in his eyes.<br /><br />Claire nodded.<br /><br />They kissed languidly for a moment, then set about getting ready to head back to the office.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-26694623390789884992012-11-19T19:38:00.001-08:002012-11-19T19:41:41.148-08:00Energizers<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It was a Tuesday night early in July. Jack and Claire were on the couch in her living room. Letterman was doing his monologue. Claire sat with her elbow resting against the arm of the sofa. Jack had placed one of the throw pillows on her lap, and rested on his side, facing the television, head in her lap. She toyed with his hair absent-mindedly as they watched the talk show. They had sent a jury out on a difficult case the previous afternoon, and had been surprised to learn just after lunch that the jury had come in. Guilty.<br /><br />As a reward, Adam had ordered them from the building at four in the afternoon. They left Jack's motorcycle in the office parking garage. It was no longer necessary for them to hide their relationship. They had become engaged the previous month, and it was common knowledge.<br /><br />Winning a challenging case always got their adrenaline pumping, but they had been forced to crawl through Manhattan at a snail's pace, thanks to road-work and the beginnings of rush hour traffic. It had been maddening. They had been thrilled to finally arrive at Claire's place She had barely set the deadbolt before Jack had grabbed her, and turned her to him. Pulling her close, he lifted her off her feet and carried her down the hall to her bedroom.<br /><br />At the foot of her bed, he set her down. He removed her suit coat before pulling up her skirt and bending down to remove her panties. When he stood he began to undo the buttons of her blouse, and she reached for his belt and fly. His pants fell to his ankles, and he bent over to remove them, and his shoes. He picked her up again and lay her gently back upon the bed. He positioned himself between her parted thighs, she pushed his boxers down and he thrust slowly forward. They moaned in unison, as if on cue, when he slid into her. He lay quietly above her for a few moments, enjoying the feeling of his head swimming with the pleasure of being inside her, feeling her throbbing around him as she pulled him down for a kiss in which they were soon completely lost.<br /><br />After a few moments of deep kissing and caressing of flesh, Jack began to pull out, and then thrust forward again, doing this over and over, very slowly. Claire always experienced bliss indescribable the first few times Jack thrust in and out of her when they made love, and this time was no different. It was like he was pulling her desire for him out of her with each thrust and subsequent withdrawal, and she loved it. Very shortly, Jack began to move faster, with Claire's encouragement, and soon, their cries of satisfaction rang through the silent room.<br /><br />When their breathing slowed, Jack rolled away. Claire turned to her side, and propped her head up by resting her elbow on the bed and her head in her hand. Smiling down at him, she suddenly burst into laughter. As usual, the sound of her musical laughter was contagious, and soon he was laughing just as hard as she, though he wasn't quite sure why.<br /><br />"What?" he queried.<br /><br />"What a sight we must make!" she wheezed through her giggles. "Look at us: you've got your shirt on and buttoned, your boxers are hanging about your thighs, and you're socks are on! As for me, my blouse is only partially unbuttoned, my bra is still on, my skirt is pushed up around my waist, and I'm still wearing my heels for god's sake!"<br /><br />He took in their appearance and his laughter grew louder. "You're right!" he exclaimed. "We look ridiculous!"<br /><br />When their laughter had subsided, Claire asked, "You hungry? Because if you can wait a while, I have a pot roast I can cook."<br /><br />"Sounds great," he said, "And I've got an idea of what we can do while it's cooking."<br /><br />"Yeah? What's that?"<br /><br />"You'll see...." he hedged.<br /><br />"Dammit!" she exclaimed, voice still light with laughter. "You know I hate it when you do that!"<br /><br />"Patience is a virtue, my love," he told her.<br /><br />"And lust is a sin," she countered. "Do they cancel each other out?"<br /><br />"Smart-ass," he said, and then groaned when she had slapped him lightly on the chest." "Ouch! You know...one of these days you're going to have to stop physically abusing me."<br /><br />"But I thought you liked it rough?"<br /><br />"C'mon" he said when they stopped laughing. "Go start dinner and I'll work on the pre-meal entertainment. But don't come back here until I come to get you. I want it to be a surprise."<br /><br />"Uh-oh...now I'm in trouble...."<br /><br />"Oh...shut up and get out of here."<br /><br />"Fine...I see how it is," she said, feigning hurt feelings, sticking her lower lip out. "I'm getting my ass kicked out of my own bedroom. A lesser woman might have a problem with that."<br /><br />"Lucky for me I've got you and not a lesser woman."<br /><br />Jack got up from the bed then, and pulled his boxer shorts up. When he turned to Claire, he caught her staring in the general direction of his rear end.<br /><br />"Were you just staring at my ass?" he asked.<br /><br />"And if I was....what are you going to do about it?"<br /><br />"I'll think of something," he said as she got up and walked into her bathroom. She fixed her skirt and re-buttoned her blouse on her way. Jack was buttoning his pants when she came out of the bathroom, and kicked off her shoes.<br /><br />"I'll be in the kitchen if you need me," she said, and started down the hall.<br /><br />"Hey!" he called after her. When she turned back to him, he continued, "Aren't you forgetting something?"<br /><br />"What?"<br /><br />"These," he said, holding up her panties.<br /><br />"Keep them as a souvenir," she laughed.<br /><br />20 minutes later, he came into the kitchen. Claire had the roast, along with some carrots and potatoes in the oven, and was busy tossing a salad when he came up behind her, grabbed a cucumber slice, and put it in his mouth.<br /><br />"Hungry?" she asked.<br /><br />He nodded. Swallowing, he qualified his affirmative response, "But not for food. C'mere."<br /><br />Turning her to him, he spun them around. As he backed her toward the kitchen table, he undid the buttons of her blouse. This time, she undid the buttons of his shirt, as well. By the time they reached the table, both their shirts were completely unbuttoned, and Jack had unhooked her front clasp bra. He pulled her skirt up again, and reached down to run his hands up along the backs of her thighs, and over her smooth behind.<br /><br />He lifted her and set her on the table. He was standing between her legs when she reached down once again to set him free. Holding her waist, he began to kiss her neck as he pulled her toward the edge of the table, and slowly pushed his hard shaft into her warm and willing sheath.<br /><br />"Mmmmmmmmm," he sighed when he was all the way inside her. She tightened her muscles about him, and he groaned as she nearly unmanned him then and there. She leaned back and rested her palms on the table behind her for support.<br /><br />He began to pump in and out of her, neither slowly nor swiftly, but with sweet, devastating accuracy. Her head fell back in ecstasy when he lowered his mouth to tease her stiff, aching nipples.<br /><br />"Mmmm...ohhh yessssss....ohhhhhhhh, Jack!" she moaned as he wrapped his arms tightly about her and lowered her slowly down on the table.<br /><br />She opened her eyes to see him leaning over her, and was rewarded with the sight of his face awash in pleasure and blissful concentration.<br /><br />His eyes were closed, and he was repeating her name over and over in an ecstatic litany.<br /><br />He opened his eyes to see her staring up at him, and smiled down at her. She flashed him a brilliant smile in return.<br /><br />"I love you," he whispered, voice ragged.<br /><br />"I love you, too," she replied breathlessly.<br /><br />They stared deep into each others' eyes as their union continued to increase in intensity.<br /><br />Most of the time, Jack saw to it that Claire climaxed before he did (often several times before he did). But this time, the look in her eyes as he slid in and out of her with ever increasing frequency, combined with the feel of her soft, silken body against him, and her muscles clenched so sweetly around his hardness, he was unable to hold back. With a thrust and a yelp, he exploded inside her. Feeling the length of him jerk inside her set Claire off, too, and her cries of release soon joined his.<br /><br />He collapsed against her breasts. When he was able to, he stood up straight and pulled up his pants. He helped Claire off the table and her skirt fell back into place. He took her by the hand, saying, "C'mon...time for the surprise.<br /><br />When they were half way to her bedroom, he stopped, moved behind her, and covered her eyes with his hands. Slowly they continued on down the hall. When he removed his hands and allowed her to see again, they were in the master bathroom, which glowed with candles. Jack had drawn a bubble bath.<br /><br />He helped her out of her clothes, then removed his own. He climbed into the tub. He offered her his hand, and she stepped in after him. She moved to sit between his legs, resting her back against his chest, but he told her to turn around. He scooted himself more towards the middle of the tub, and when she sat, it was on his lap, facing him. Her legs were behind him, wrapped around him, crossed at her ankles.<br /><br />"Jack, this is wonderful," she said, before taking his head in her hands and kissing him lovingly. Soon their tongues were darting in and out of each others' mouths, locked in a sweet combat, in which there were no losers.<br /><br />They stopped kissing and Jack picked up Claire's loofah sponge and bottle of scented liquid body soap. Squeezing some into the sponge, he lathered it up. Wrapping his arms around Claire, he began to gently scrub her back.<br /><br />"Hang on a sec," she told him before standing. He loved the way the bubbles sluiced down her body. She reached across to the sink, grabbed a scrunchie, and pulled her hair up into a bun. She resumed her previous position. This time, Jack began to scrub her stomach and breasts with the loofah. Claire sighed with pleasure. She loved the side of Jack that liked to pamper her the way he was now doing.<br /><br />She wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed her soapy chest against his. They kissed passionately for several long minutes. When they pulled away, Jack rinsed the suds from her body. She picked the loofah up from where he had deposited it on the edge of the tub, and began to soap his chest and shoulders. As she maided him, she soon became acutely aware of the fact that he was becoming aroused again.<br /><br />She felt herself being lifted slightly out of the water, and when he brought her back down, she had found herself impaled on him. They made love again, there in the sudsy, warm water, taking their time, enjoying the relaxed feeling elicited by the heat of the water and the glow of the candles. Towards the end, when they became more frenzied, as they always did, they sent a wave of water splashing over the side of the tub to the tiled floor of the bathroom. Neither<br /><br />When they exited the tub, Claire dropped several towels onto the floor to sop up the water they had spilled. They dried each other off in silence. Words were no longer always necessary between them. Sometimes, they enjoyed just quietly being together, comforted by the mere physical presence of the other.<br /><br />Dinner was lovely. They ate well, having worked up quite an appetite. They drank drunk a bottle of red wine. When the dishes had been cleared and placed in the dishwasher, they settled in to watch a movie on cable.<br /><br />That's how they were now, on the couch, watching Letterman. After his monologue, when they came back from the first commercial break, Jack sat up, tossed the throw-pillow to the other end of the sofa, and scooted next to Claire. He pushed her hair aside and began to kiss her neck. Claire sighed happily. After a few moments, he slid off the couch, and moved in front of her. He ran his hands along her thighs, which were covered by the flannel pajama bottoms she had put on after the bath. When his hands reached her waist, she looked down at him as he began to work the flannels down over her hips.<br /><br />"Four times in one night, eh Jack?" she teased. "You going for some kind of record?"<br /><br />He smiled at her, winked, chuckled low, and said nothing,. When he had her pajama bottoms completely off of her, he pushed her tank-top and bent his head to place a kiss on her abdomen, just below her navel. She felt him gently spreading her nether lips with his fingers, and watched him as his head lowered, and his tongue began to caress her tiny jewel. Claire purred with pleasure as his tongue continued to work on her, until with a soft cry, she shuddered with her release. Jack raised his head, and looked at her. Eyes bright in the dim blue glow of the television, cheeks flushed with satisfaction. The problem that Claire experienced when Jack pleasured her as he had just done, was that it always made her want more. She reached out to him, and he moved closer to her, so that he was now kneeling in between her legs.<br /><br />He grabbed the bottom of her shirt and pulled it up over her head, so that she was now completely nude. He then removed his own T-shirt, which he had changed into after their bath (they had started keeping clothes at each others' place months ago, so that they weren't always forced to wait for the weekend to spend the night together). Next he unbuttoned the fly of his jeans, and pushed them down, along with his boxers. Claire made a sound that seemed to Jack like a cross between a gasp and a sigh when he entered her. He began to lick at the space between her breasts as he moved in and out of her, his hands resting on her waist.<br /><br />"God you feel great," he moaned, his lips now tasting the skin at the base of her neck.<br /><br />"Shhhhhh." she said, then lowered her head to kiss him. He stretched up to meet her kiss.<br /><br />Wrapping a strong arm around her, and bracing himself with the other, he pulled her close, pulled her up, and stood up from his kneeling position, bringing her with him. He turned them around and slowly lowered himself to the couch, bringing her to a straddling position on his lap. Soon she was moving up and down upon him, hands in his hair, tilting his head back and kissing him. He thrust back up at her as she began to move faster. Breaking the kiss for air, she arched her back, and Jack leaned forward, and pulled her back to him. He squeezed her breasts with his hands as he licked and sucked on her nipples.<br /><br />A few more moments of this, and Claire's mind shattered into a thousand shards of light and she cried out, as wave after wonderful wave of exquisite pleasure passed through her. With something akin to a sob (though that's not the proper word for the sound), Jack burst forth within her. She collapsed against him. He lifted her off of him, and moved them so they were laying facing each other on the sofa. Claire rested her head against his chest, still attempting to catch her breath.<br /><br />After a long silence, Claire asked, "Jack? Do you want to move in? We're getting married soon, anyway, and we're going to have to decide where to live. Your place may be closer to work, but mine's bigger, and there's the bonus of not having to pay rent. We could clear out of the spare rooms and turn it into a study --with plenty of shelves for your books--if you like."<br /><br />"Do you want me to move in with you now?"<br /><br />"Yes," she said, her cheek still against his heart, "Very much."<br /><br />"Will this weekend be soon enough?"<br /><br />"No....but I'll survive." </span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-18593108723495991322012-11-19T19:03:00.000-08:002013-01-21T11:32:39.295-08:00The First of November<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire Kincaid sat stationed in front of her computer, connected to the Lexus database, researching case-findings for a case she and Jack McCoy were due to argue before the Appellate Court the following week. A chime signaling inter-office e-mail sounded, startling her, so engrossed had she been. She clicked over to the e-mail program and opened the mail ... from Jack's address.<br /><br />"I enjoyed playing doctor last night," it read.<br /><br />Claire smiled, highlighted his sentence, clicked the "reply" button, and typed "What did you like about it?" beneath Jack's words.<br /><br />She pressed "send" and went back to her research, after deleting both the incoming and outgoing messages, as she always did, when she and Jack exchanged personal messages at work.<br /><br />She sat back after a moment, the smile growing bigger, and pondered the previous evening. It had been Halloween, and she had convinced Jack to escort her to the annual costume party given by her friend Carrie and her husband. After some initial hemming and hawing, she had been able to persuade Jack to go with her with the promise that she'd go in a nurse's costume --that was, of course, if Jack were to go in surgeon's scrubs.<br /><br />A few minutes later there was another chime indicating new mail, and Claire clicked over to retrieve Jack's reply.<br /><br />He'd highlighted her question and replied "Besides the get-up itself ... the doctor quite enjoyed his nurse begging him to take her against the wall in the stairwell."</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">*****</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />In spite of himself, Jack had found himself having a good time with Claire's friends, and their friends: he hadn't expected quite the age range, hadn't expected that Claire wouldn't be the only one of her friends involved with someone from another generation. No one had looked at him twice when Claire had introduced him as her boyfriend, only shook his hand and greeted him warmly.<br /><br />As often happens to couples at parties, after a bit of time, Jack and Claire began to mingle separately. They ran into each other in Shane and Carrie's bedroom, Jack coming out of the bathroom, Claire waiting to go in.<br /><br />"Hey stranger," said Claire, eyes brightening when Jack was standing before her, "Enjoying yourself?"<br /><br />"I'd be enjoying myself a lot more if you were dressed like that and we were in my room ... or yours," he told her, dropping his hands to her waist and pulling her close.<br /><br />"So not only did you want to be a doctor for Halloween... but you want to 'play' doctor?"<br /><br />"Only with you, babe ... because it's so much fun," he said, voice lowering as he leaned in to plant a kiss on her lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back, opening her mouth to him when she felt his tongue against her lips.<br /><br />"Oh, excuse me," said a woman they'd been introduced to earlier, interrupting them. Neither could remember her name, and both mumbled something to the effect that there was nothing to excuse as they separated.<br /><br />"I'll see you in a while," said Jack, moving to leave the bedroom, holding Claire's hand until he was too far away to hold it any longer. Claire entered the bathroom, regarding her flushed cheeks with pleasure for a moment.<br /><br />Several moments later she rejoined the party, spying Jack across the room, talking with a group of people. They smiled slyly at one another, and turned their attentions back to their respective groups.<br /><br />They met up sometime later in the kitchen, and finding themselves alone for a moment once again, took the opportunity for another impassioned kiss. Once again, they were interrupted, this time by Carrie, who smiled warmly, pleased that her friend seemed so happy. They rejoined the party as a couple this time, an arrangement which didn't last very long.<br /><br />When the party had begun to thin, when they had to admit to themselves that they'd over-indulged in the evening's libations, Claire noticed Jack sitting alone on the sofa, smiling happily into his scotch. She went and stood in front of him.<br /><br />"If your scotch is telling you jokes," she said in high spirits, cheeks flushed red from the alcohol she'd consumed, "You've had too much."<br /><br />Jack reached out and took hold of one of her hands and pulled her down, so that she was leaning over him. The position afforded him quite a view down her dress and he smiled. "Wasn't the scotch," he told her.<br /><br />"No? What was it?"<br /><br />He sat up and leaned his face close to hers, "I was wondering how much effort it would be to talk you into giving me a sponge bath."<br /><br />Claire tugged hard, pulling him up next to her, and whispered, "No sponge bath --G'night Shelly! Nice to meet you, David," she said, interrupting herself to say goodnight to some friends, before turning back to Jack and rising to her toes to whisper, "However, you might be able to talk me into a tongue bath..."<br /><br />Jack felt his groin stir, instantly beginning to swell at the notion Claire'd just planted in his brain. He wrapped an arm around her, standing next to her, and against her temple, whispered, "Let's get out of here."<br /><br />Claire nodded. They thanked their hosts, gathered their coats, and said goodbye to the remaining guests. In the hallway outside the apartment, they walked arm and arm to the elevator and pressed the down button. Looking up, they could see the elevator was at the 9th floor, on its way down. It would be several minutes before it made its way back up to the 15th floor, the floor they were on.<br /><br />Jack turned and pulled Claire to him, warmed by too much scotch, by the sight of Claire in her nurse's outfit, and the words she'd uttered to him amidst a room full of people.<br /><br />"I had a great time, tonight, babe, thank you," he said, kissing her softly. "Haven't enjoyed Halloween in a long time."<br /><br />"Night's not over yet, lover," she told him before pulling his face down to hers for a kiss he felt all the way to his toes.<br /><br />They wrapped their arms around each other, letting the kiss deepen until the elevator was dinging open. Jack moved to enter, trying to pull Claire in after him. "Think 15 floors is time enough?" he asked wickedly.<br /><br />"Not for you, Mr. I-want-a-quickie-that-ends -up-lasting-an-hour," she teased.<br /><br />"Damn," he replied, holding his finger against the "open" button, "I've always wanted to make love in an elevator. Coming?"<br /><br />She shook her head. "Come here," she commanded, crooking her finger, indicating Jack should step out of the elevator.<br /><br />"What're you up to?" he inquired, as she led him down the hall, towards a door with an exit sign. She pulled him with her into the stairwell, and led him down a flight, leaned over the rail to see if there was anyone coming up, then pushed Jack into a corner.<br /><br />"Hey," he said, "No need for force...all you had to do was ask."<br /><br />"Shut up and kiss me," she said, standing on her toes and leaning against his chest.<br /><br />He complied, thoroughly, letting his hands glide down her back until he was cupping the firm globes of her behind, squeezing lightly.<br /><br />"Mmmm," he sighed, "What's gotten into you?"<br /><br />"Too much alcohol ... and watching you all night. Know how hot you've had me all night, dressed like you are?"<br /><br />Jack beamed. "Not nearly as hot as you've made me," he told her, before crushing his lips to hers. He lifted her feet off the ground and spun them around, so that Claire's back was now to the wall.<br /><br />"Not too hot, thankfully," she teased, "In those pants, everyone would have known."<br /><br />"Sooooo..." he drawled, placing a hand on the wall on either side of Claire's head, "What, exactly, did you drag me to this semi-dark, quiet, out-of-the-way place for?"<br /><br />"Because I have something I've been dying to show you since just a little bit after we were interrupted in Shane and Carrie's bedroom..."<br /><br />"Really? Is it a trick, or a treat?" he asked, trailing a finger down her neck, stopping where the zipper of her costume began, just above the valley between her breasts.<br /><br />"You might consider it a bit of both," she told him, reaching to the hidden inner pocket of her coat and retrieving a small piece of black fabric. "Hold out your hands."<br /><br />He cupped his hands and she dropped the lacy satin fabric into them. He held the cloth up and to his utter delight, he discovered he was holding a pair of panties.<br /><br />Claire smiled conspiratorially at him. "Happy Halloween."<br /><br />"I don't think they'll fit me," he teased.<br /><br />"They might ... but then, they'd probably be too tight, cutting off the blood flow to a certain ... appendage ... I'm so fond of."<br /><br />"You're drunk," he said, shaking his head. He was ... almost.<br /><br />"Tipsy."<br /><br />"These are the ones you were wearing when you got here?" he asked her, knowing full well they were.<br /><br />"I took them off because I was going to let you play doctor in the back of the cab on the way home."<br /><br />He cocked an eyebrow at her. That statement made complete the swelling in his groin she'd begun with the statement she'd made earlier about the tongue-bath<br /><br />"But then, looking at you in the elevator ... after thinking such wicked, naughty thoughts every time I looked at you tonight ... I thought, 'let's conduct that examination right here'."<br /><br />"What, here?" he asked, looking around.<br /><br />Claire nodded, letting her hands slide along Jack's sides, beneath his shirt. "Desperate times..."<br /><br />"If it's an emergency..." his voice trailed off in a sigh as she pressed her body to his.<br /><br />"I've got an itch I can't seem to scratch ... can you help me, Doctor?" her voice low, husky ... and incredibly sexy. Jack felt his stomach tighten.<br /><br />"In the interest of medical science, I suppose I'll have to try," he whispered. Taking a step back, he reached up and began to draw the zipper of her nurse's uniform down several inches. He pulled the sides apart, revealing yet another surprise: the cups of the push-up bra she wore were designed to expose the nipples, the fabric stopping just beneath them.<br /><br />"Beautiful," he murmured, pulling her against him again by dropping his hands to her hips and pulling her into him. He pressed his lips against her long, elegant neck. Dipping his head lower, he captured one of her nipples between his lips.<br /><br />Claire's eyes slid closed and she sighed softly, the thrills slamming through her body magnified by the recklessness she felt, allowing Jack to kiss and caress her in a place where someone might conceivably discover them.<br /><br />"You said something about an itch," he said, coming back up to kiss her lips.<br /><br />"Mmmhmmm."<br /><br />"Are you gonna tell me where, or am I going to have to conduct a little exploratory procedure?"<br /><br />When he was kneeling before her, Jack reached out and began to trail his hands up over Claire's thighs, sliding beneath her skirt, drawing it up as they rubbed small circles up over her black-hosed thighs. Up over the garters, he encountered her flesh as he drew the skirt up to her waist. Slipping his hands around to clutch her tight buttocks, he drew her forward and kissed the smooth flesh of her pelvis.<br /><br />"You're getting warm," she told him, reaching out to stroke his hair.<br /><br />Jack leaned back for a moment to smile up at her. "Higher or lower?" he asked, voice faintly sarcastic.<br /><br />"Lower," she gasped, leaning back, shocked at herself, at the two of them, yet too caught up in the whirlwind of reckless passion that had so quickly overtaken them.<br /><br />She moaned softly, yet it seemed so loud to her, when his tongue began to graze the soft folds of her heated sex.<br /><br />"Keep going?" he asked, looking up at her again after several blindingly pleasurable moments for Claire: he kept expecting her to put on the brakes, to say they'd gone too far in such an un-romantic, far from private place.<br /><br />She bit her lip, nodding, and he dipped his head to lightly flick his tongue against the throbbing button of her womanhood. He brought one of his hands back around in front of her, gliding it along her inner thigh until she felt a finger gently pressing against the opening to her female passage. Suddenly, it slipped past the folds and Claire sighed heavily as he began to slowly work it in and out of her.<br /><br />When he'd wrung the first knee-weakening orgasm from her, and showed no sign of ceasing his thorough "examination", Claire gripped his hair and pulled his head away. He looked up at her, then suddenly stood, backing her to the wall.<br /><br />"Feeling better?"<br /><br />Breathless, she kissed him soundly before replying, "I think I need more aggressive therapy."<br /><br />"Mmmm...like what?" he asked, lowering his lips to the base of her throat.<br /><br />Her hands were at his waist, tugging at the drawstring of his scrubs, pushing them down over his hips, pushing his boxers down. She craned her face into his and kissed him as he lifted her and pressed her closer to the wall. She wrapped her legs around him and in a series of quick moves, he was suddenly throbbing deep inside her. He kissed her hotly as he began to move, thrusting into her steadily, loving the feel of her clenched so tightly around him as she began to suck upon his lower lip. As his pace increased, she began biting gently on his lower lip. She'd never done that before, and it sent thrills of pleasure coursing through his veins.<br /><br />She tore her head away, needing to catch a breath as the pressure in her stomach and loins increased, sending her spiraling higher towards passion's peak. Catching Jack's gaze, Claire smiled at him before her eyes slid shut again, abandoning herself to the wonderful things Jack was doing to her with his body. Her moans grew louder, as Jack's heavy sighs of pleasure filled her ears.<br /><br />Jack felt his knees begin to shake as his crisis neared. "Oh, God, Claire..." he breathed, unable to form a complete thought, overwhelmed by the complete abandon of the act, by their utter surrender to their passion for one another.<br /><br />"Mmmmm....ohhhh, yessss, Jack," she hissed through gritted teeth, gripping his shoulders so hard he felt her nails digging into his flesh.<br /><br />"God, Claire... Come... Come with me now," he pleaded, thrusting as quickly as he could manage.<br /><br />Suddenly, the white hot bolt of pleasure shot through his loins as he body shuddered, barely able to moan Claire's name as he poured his hot seed into her. His eyes snapped open and he sighed heavily as the quaking of his body subsided, kissing Claire's neck as she, too, recovered from the throes of her own incredible orgasm.<br /><br />He eased out of her and gently lowered her to the floor, sagging against her, trapping her body between his, and the wall behind her.<br /><br />"Another successful procedure," she said softly, kissing his chest.<br /><br />"You amaze me ... I love you," he told her, planting a wet kiss against her temple as he reached to adjust her clothes back into a decent state. He pulled his own pants up and leaned in to kiss Claire, who stood quietly watching him, a tiny smile on her lips. "I know we've been sort of functioning under a no-sleep-over-on-work-nights policy lately ... but I want to stay with you tonight."<br /><br />Claire nodded. "No argument here." She kissed him, then pulled him with her back into the hallway, toward the elevator. They were lucky to be alone, and it was only seconds before they were in each others' arms again.<br /><br />"I can't get enough of you," Jack whispered against her neck as his hands reached for her breasts.<br /><br />"I'm not complaining," she confessed, pulling his head back up so she might kiss him.<br /><br />"Mmmm.... do I still get to play with you in the back seat of the cab?"<br /><br />"Maybe ... or maybe I'll play with you," she stated cryptically as the door opened and they were in the lobby.<br /><br />On the street, Jack hailed a cab and opened the door for Claire --his out of work chivalry always made her smile: he'd hold doors and pull chairs and help her into her coat when they were Jack-and-Claire, the couple, whereas these acts were neglected, in general, when they functioned as McCoy-and-Kincaid, attorneys.<br /><br />Jack climbed in after her, and she scooted close to him, leaning back against the arm he draped around her. He gave the cab-driver Claire's address, then turned to beam at her. He kissed her forehead then faced forward again as she leaned against him and dropped a hand to his thigh.<br /><br />When her hand began to glide towards his groin he knew she was making good on her offer to play with him. She reached the junction between his legs and lightly rubbed her palm against his now-limp manhood. He sighed deeply, fingers of pleasure beginning to spread through him again. He let his legs fall open and she reached further, gently cupping his scrotum through the fabric of the clothes he wore. He turned and kissed her temple and she turned her head to gaze at him. They eased into a tender kiss. For the duration of the cab ride, they kissed gently, looking at each other as Claire continued stimulating Jack so that he was sighing softly, almost fully aroused again by the time they were in front of her building.<br /><br />When they pulled to the curb, Jack caught the cabby's eye in the rear view mirror, the man was leering at them, evidently congratulating Jack silently. He winked at Jack, who shook his head and smiled quickly at him, exiting the cab.<br /><br />"You made me the envy of that cab driver, you know," he told her as they entered her building.<br /><br />She chuckled as they entered the elevator. "I know ... he was barely paying attention to the road."<br /><br />He pulled her close, "Did you like knowing you were being watched?"<br /><br />"Tonight I did ... don't think I want to make a habit of it."<br /><br />"Good ... because I prefer one on one ... without the audience."<br /><br />"You didn't mind it much a few minutes ago," she teased just as they reached her floor.<br /><br />"This whole night seems so ... surreal ... I never thought you'd let me make love to you somewhere like that...let alone that you'd initiate it," he told her softly, his lips near her ear as he slid his arm around her waist. They walked slowly down the hall, "But God! it made me so hot for you! And knowing that cabby would've killed to trade places with me was a helluva turn-on. One surprise after another with you tonight ... I like it."<br /><br />They kissed in front of her front door for several thrilling moments. Laughing, Claire pulled back and tried the door. "When did we lose control of our hormones?"<br /><br />"Must be the full moon. But it's a loss of control I can frankly say, right now, I don't miss very much."<br /><br />"Neither do I," she murmured, pulling him into the foyer after her, pulling him into her arms. Their lips locked as they peeled each others' coats off. Claire broke away and pulled Jack with her down the hall to her bedroom. At the foot of her bed, they embraced again, falling into a kiss as passionate as any they'd shared in the stairwell.<br /><br />Claire reached down to stroke his hardness beneath his clothes and Jack moaned against her mouth, mind beginning to whirl again, with too much scotch, with the intoxicating adventurousness she'd exhibited all night, and most importantly, with the feel of her small hand stroking him to aching rigidity.<br /><br />"God! I love when you do that!" he groaned as her hand moved faster and pressed harder. She kicked her shoes off, his lips still tugging at hers.<br /><br />"I love feeling you get hard in my hand," she whispered huskily, knowing the effect her words would have on him. True to form, he groaned.<br /><br />She stopped for a moment to pull his shirt up over his head. Her hands glided over his chest, moving down, gliding over his rib cage, fluttering over his stomach until his pelvis contracted, tickled by her light touch as she slipped a hand into the pants of his surgeon's scrubs and beneath the waistband of his boxers. He succumbed easily as her hand tugged at the stiff length of him, sliding along the soft, ultra-sensitive skin, squeezing, pulling until Jack felt his knees going weak.<br /><br />He reached for her shoulders and eased her away from him. "I can't stand anymore."<br /><br />"No?" she whispered, eyes dancing, gently mocking him. "Sit down, then," she offered gently.<br /><br />He sat, pulling her against him, kissing her until they were breathless. She pulled away and took a step backward. She unpinned her hair and the dark, silken strands tumbled about her shoulders, framing her delicate face. She reached to draw the zipper of her dress down. When it was at her navel, she moved to shrug it off her shoulders.<br /><br />"Leave it on."<br /><br />She smiled. "Okay."<br /><br />She moved in and stood between his open legs and wrapped her arms around him.<br /><br />"We're going to be exhausted tomorrow," she said softly.<br /><br />"We'll go late."<br /><br />"What'd you do with Jack McCoy?"<br /><br />"I've got a few surprises of my own, you know."<br /><br />"I know, baby ... predictable isn't an adjective I generally attach to you."<br /><br />"What do you have in the morning?"<br /><br />"An appointment at 10 I can postpone, one at 11:30 I can't."<br /><br />"I don't have anything until afternoon. Postpone the first one," he told her, his hands pulling the sides of her costume open. "And no more shop talk until we get out of bed in the morning. I insist."<br /><br />"No problem."<br /><br />He reached up and slid his hands up the sides of her neck, cupping her head with his fingers tangled in her hair, and pulled her face down to his. He kissed her full on the lips. After a few moments, she felt him pressing harder and opened her mouth to him, their tongues tangling over and over again.<br /><br />Claire began rubbing Jack's shoulders, massaging the flesh at the back of his neck, then trailing her hands over his chest and downward. She knelt suddenly, massaging his thighs through the thin, pale blue pants. She tugged at the string.<br /><br />"Lift your hips," she told him, and tugged the pants and boxers from him. looking up at him, a look in her eye that told him he belonged to her, as much as she belonged to him.<br /><br />He bent to kiss her, but she pushed him back, and leaned forward, kissing the indentation in the center of his chest, then made her tongue into a point and trailed it over to a nipple. He groaned as she worked the nub into a stiff peak, licking round and round. She took it into her mouth and sucked until he let out a low moan, then ran her tongue across to the other nipple.<br /><br />She began moving downward, and Jack began to grow anxious. By the time she reached his navel, he was downright impatient. When she ran her hands along his inner thighs, he had to remind himself he was a gentleman. Finally, when he was sure he was going to expire, she lightly licked her way up the underside of his hardened shaft, causing him to nearly jump from his skin.<br /><br />"Don't tease," he managed in a strangled whisper. Usually, the way she toyed with him was ultimately enjoyable: at the moment, however, he had no patience for teasing.<br /><br />She took him into her mouth, running her lips down the hardened shaft as far as she could manage, bringing a hand up to supplement the workings of her hot mouth. Jack groaned, and brought his arms up and behind him, resting his head on his forearms, crossed beneath the contours of his head. He let his legs go limp, falling open further as he succumbed to the intensely pleasurable ministrations of his lover's mouth and tongue. She licked and sucked and stroked for many moments, one hand coming up to gently cup and squeeze his testicles. When they hugged closer to his body, when she knew his satisfaction was imminent, she trailed a finger beneath his heavy sac, gliding it along the soft flesh there.<br /><br />Jack cried out, and at the precise moment he was going to come, Claire pressed her finger firmly against him. He shuddered, feeling something very similar to orgasm, but to his immense surprise, no fluid issued forth. His body quaked, and he let out a long, low moan, trying hard to hold on to some semblance of reality: he felt on another plane, felt almost outside himself as the intensity of something entirely unfamiliar to him left him gasping for breath. What shook him to the bone was the fact that his stomach was still tight, his manhood still firm and standing at full attention.<br /><br />The possessive smile he'd noted on Claire's face earlier was still there, and he smiled back at her, unable to speak. She rose to her knees and moved up on the bed. Drawing her skirt up, she straddled Jack's hips and reached down between them. She gripped him in her hand and guided him into her dark, moist heat.<br /><br />"Where ... where ... did you learn how to do that?" he gasped as she leaned down to kiss him.<br /><br />"Cosmo's good for something," she stated matter-of-factly, then kissed him.<br /><br />"I didn't think feminists read Cosmo?" he teased, letting his hands move to the sides of Claire's legs. He glided them up, holding her skirt up about her waist.<br /><br />"Even feminists have vices," she replied, smiling down at him.<br /><br />"Is that right?"<br /><br />"Mmmhmm."<br /><br />"I like that vice."<br /><br />"Good."<br /><br />"Any other neat tricks up your sleeve?"<br /><br />"Maybe..." she said in a tone that told him there were, indeed, more tricks up her sleeve.<br /><br />"Good."<br /><br />They grew quiet, just gazing into one another's eyes, reveling in the warm glow suffusing their bodies, beginning where their bodies connected. After a time, Jack arched slightly upward and they sighed together.<br /><br />Hands still on her waist, he arched up again, this time guiding her up and back down on him. Claire began to rise and fall of her own volition, loving the feeling of Jack's thick member sliding in and out of her. They quickly fell into a swift, steady pace, moving together in a perfect union that left them moaning, breathless with their passionate exertion.<br /><br />As they moved together, Claire leaned slightly forward and ran her hands along Jack's chest and abdomen. She lightly pinched his nipples simultaneously. Jack groaned and lost his rhythm for several thrusts. She teased his nipples into stiff peaks, then leaned in to press her lips against his.<br /><br />His hands came up to crush her breasts and her nipples grew taut beneath his palms. She plunged her tongue into the warm recess of his mouth, running it along his teeth, seeking out his tongue. Over and over their tongues wound round each other, until Claire, unable to draw a full breath, arched backward.<br /><br />She paused momentarily and drew the constricting nurse's uniform up and over her head. Jack sat up and lavished Claire's neck and chest with kisses. Reaching behind her, he unclasped her demi-cup bra an and drew it off of her just before capturing a nipple between his lips. Rising slightly away from him, Claire draped her legs out behind Jack, wrapping them around his back, almost as though she were sitting Indian-style on his lap.<br /><br />In this position he was able to penetrate her more deeply, though some freedom to thrust was curtailed. Claire continued to rise and fall as far as the position would allow, Jack's hands firmly clutching the smooth globes of her behind. Rocking back and forth slowly, they let go of a substantial degree of their frenzy, in favour of a slow, steady, intensely pleasurable building toward the apex of passion, watching each other all the while.<br /><br />At long last, Claire began to feel that familiar, terrible, wonderfully intense tightening in her stomach and loins, and knew that her crisis neared. She pressed herself closer to Jack, holding him tighter, increasing the pressure of his pelvis against her throbbing womanly pearl. His clutch on her behind grew tighter, grinding her pelvis against him.<br /><br />Suddenly, Claire knew she was about to come. She increased her pace as much as she could, and to her great surprise, rather than satisfaction, she had only pushed herself closer to the precipice of body shaking pleasure.<br /><br />"Oh ... God ... I'm so close, Jack ..." she managed to gasp, closing her eyes in an attempt to will her body into orgasm.<br /><br />"God, yes, babe," he whispered hotly against her ear, "Come.. come for me now."<br /><br />"I ... I can't!" she practically sobbed, aroused to a fevered pitch, almost desperate in her need now, craving release more than she ever had before.<br /><br />Ever the gentleman where Claire's pleasure was concerned, Jack held her tight against him and turned her to her back. He began a frenzied thrusting, pushing Claire's legs wide apart with the force of his thrusts. To her immense relief, Claire's body began to spasm almost immediately, wave upon wave of pleasure coursing through her, overwhelming her senses as Jack continued his rhythmic thrusting.<br /><br />No sooner would one crest subside than she would feel herself beginning to ride high on another, each one more intense than the last. Overcome by the intensity of Claire's spasms --they were coming so close together that they seemed to Jack to be one continual orgasm-- Jack grew frenzied, bracing himself upon his arms as his hips drove his throbbing organ into her moist, quivering depths.<br /><br />Even in the midst of mind-shattering release, Claire was still lucid enough to consider Jack's desires. Knowing, from experience how sensitive were his nipples, knowing, too, just how much he enjoyed the stimulation of the sensitive peaks, she slid her hands around from his back, gliding around his sides, until she could tease them with her fingers and thumbs. In that instant, Jack lost control, thrusting into her forcefully one last time, his back arched as the spasms overcame him. He felt himself bursting, exploding into Claire as he held himself tight against her, calling her name as her body continued to shake and squeeze around him.<br /><br />They lay spent, bodies entwined, holding each other's hand for many long moments, replete with their satisfying encounter.<br /><br />Massaging her shoulder lightly, Jack began to chuckle.<br /><br />"Hmmm?" Claire sighed.<br /><br />"I think you missed your calling," he told her.<br /><br />"Yeah? How's that?"<br /><br />"You've got one helluva bedside manner."<br /><br />She rolled and propped herself up so she could look into his eyes, "Yours isn't too bad either, doctor."<br /><br />"I'm glad you approve."<br /><br />They quieted, gazing at each other happily.<br /><br />"Kiss me," Jack said softly, and Claire stretched to do just that, gently, slowly, the frenzy that so recently consumed them having completely abated.<br /><br />In a moment, Claire eased her head away. "I'll be right back," she whispered, and rose from the bed.<br /><br />Jack watched her long legs, so deliciously defined by the black hose she wore, as she disappeared into her bathroom. When she emerged a few minutes later, her garter and hose were gone. She crossed to the bed and climbed in next to Jack, snuggling against him beneath the covers. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her forehead.<br /><br />Squeezing her once, he nuzzled his nose into her hair and settled in to sleep.<br /><br />"G'night, Jack," Claire murmured against his neck.<br /><br />"'Night, babe," he replied softly. "I love you."<br /><br />They were quiet for a few moments, and into the darkness, Claire asked playfully, "Would it bother you if I were to say I might need a follow-up procedure in the morning?"<br /><br />"Of course not," he said, voice gently teasing, "It's the doctor's duty to keep treating the patient until she's cured."<br /><br />"I think I'm in for a very long, arduous recovery process."<br /><br />"As long as it takes."<br /><br />"Such dedication."<br /><br />"I'm a Boy Scout, what can I say?"<br /><br />They laughed softly.<br /><br />"Good night, Jack.<br /><br />"Good night, Claire," he replied, hugging her tightly to him.<br /><br />In a matter of minutes, they were both sound asleep, happy and content in one another's arms.<br /><br />*****************<br /><br />"The stairwell was fun" she typed in her reply, "But I rather enjoyed giving the good doctor a little instruction in a new, revolutionary procedure."<br /><br />"I'm still reeling from that," he admitted in his response<br /><br />"These emails are turning me on," she confessed in her next message to him.<br /><br />"Are you wet?"<br /><br />"You're bad."<br /><br />"You've never complained before," was his response. "Are you?"<br /><br />"Yes. Are you hard?"<br /><br />"As a rock, wishing we were at home with you on your back beneath me."<br /><br />"Save it for me for after work."<br /><br />"I'll do my best."<br /><br />"I'll be looking forward to it."<br /><br />"So will I."<br /><br />Her phone buzzed, and she picked it up, "Kincaid. Mmmhmmm. Okay. Thanks, Mike."<br /><br />"Jack...I've got to get down to the 27," she typed, and clicked send.<br /><br />"Fine ... I'll see you later. Keep thinking about me."<br /><br />"I never stop, lover. 'Bye."</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-50428451565537803992012-11-19T18:30:00.000-08:002012-11-19T20:31:48.349-08:00Birthday Presents<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jack walked into his office. It was a little before 6 pm. He sat in his chair, and leaned back, bringing his feet up to rest on his desk. He rested his hands behind his head and puffed up his cheeks, letting out a big breath of air.<br /><br />It was his birthday that day. 50. Half a century. And with the exception of Adam, who had the memory of an elephant, and his sister, who had phoned that morning, everyone had forgotten his birthday. What hurt the most was that Claire had forgotten. She had worked beside him all morning, and had not said a thing. He didn't want to have to remind her about it, and so he had said nothing. She had gone out on witness interviews after lunch, and he had been in a motions hearing all afternoon.<br /><br />Claire had been in the office, according to the secretary, but had headed home just after 4:30.<br /><br />"Jesus Christ! 50!" he thought to himself. "This calls for a drink."<br /><br />Sitting up, he reached down and opened the bottom drawer. He was going for the bottle of scotch he kept there, but stopped short. His less than half full bottle of cheap scotch from a liquor store around the corner had been replaced by a bottle of 12 year old aged Chivas Regal, with a big red bow around the neck. There was a card beneath the bottle. The envelope had his name on it, and the writing was Claire's.<br /><br />He pulled the card out from under the bottle. There was something small yet semi-heavy in the envelope. He opened it. It was one of those blank cards, with a black and white photo of a little girl and little boy standing on the platform of a train station. The little girl was kissing the little boy on the cheek. He opened the card. There was a key with a little red ribbon taped to the inside, with the following inscription:<br /><br />"Thought I'd forgotten, hadn't you? Oh ye of little faith! Happy birthday, lover."<br /><br />Under the key, she had written, "My place, 6 pm."<br /><br />He looked at his watch. 5:47. He'd never make it on time. But he'd sure as hell try.<br /><br />"Thank God for the motorcycle," he thought to himself as he weaved in and out of traffic in an attempt to get to Claire as soon as humanly possible, breaking nearly every major motorcycle-related traffic law on the books.<br /><br />He looked at his watch again just before sliding the key into the lock of Claire's door. 6:13. Good. He wasn't TOO late.<br /><br />He opened the door, and stepped inside. It was still fairly light outside, but all the lights in Claire's apartment were off. There was a flickering glow coming out of the living room, which he assumed was either candles or the fireplace. As he hung his coat in the closet by the door, he noticed a folded piece of paper with his name on it sitting on the table in the foyer, next to a medium sized wicker basket lined in a gorgeous deep-blue satin. Inside the basket lay two champagne flutes. He picked up the note and unfolded it.<br /><br />"Take this basket into the living room, where you will find a bottle of champagne chilling in a bucket of ice, and a note with further instructions."<br /><br />"What is she up to?" he wondered to himself. Taking the basket, he walked into the living room, and a roaring fire glowed in the fireplace. A small table had been placed in the middle of the room, with two chairs. The table was set for dinner, with two unlit candles in the middle. Next to the table sat the ice bucket on a stand, with the promised bottle of champagne. The note was on the table, next to a small plate containing 4 raw oysters on the half shell. He picked up the note.<br /><br />"Eat these," it read, "Then take off your shoes and socks. When you're barefoot, take the bottle of champagne and go into the kitchen. Read the note on the fridge for further instructions."<br /><br />One after the other, he tipped the shells to his lips, and felt the oysters sliding down his throat, before sitting on the sofa to remove his socks and shoes.<br /><br />Taking the bottle, he headed for the kitchen. The note on the refrigerator instructed him to open it up and take out the plate of strawberries he found in there. Sure enough, when he opened the door, he found a plate of strawberries, dipped in dark chocolate. Jack smile hugely. She was plying him with well-known aphrodisiacs: oysters, champagne, strawberries, and chocolate. The trouble she had gone to in putting all of this together, and in deceiving him into believing his birthday had slipped her mind was just as much of an aphrodisiac as were the food and drink.<br /><br />"And to think I had assumed she'd forgotten!" he admonished himself.<br /><br />He set the basket and the champagne on the counter, and removed the plate of strawberries. Underneath the plate there was another note.<br /><br />"I think that's everything. When you're ready for the rest of your present, meet me in my bedroom. Bring the items you discovered on your 'scavenger hunt' with you."<br /><br />He didn't need further incentive. Already he was beginning to feel his groin stir. Balancing the plate in one hand, he carried the bottle and basket in the other, and headed out of the kitchen and down the hall to Claire's bedroom. Her door was shut, but not all the way, so he nudged it open with his toe.<br /><br />The tableaux she had created made his breath catch in his throat. Light from what appeared to be about 2 dozen candles glowed about the room. Claire was sitting on the edge of her bed, feet tucked beneath her. She wore a thin robe of royal-blue satin, that matched the satin lining of the basket he carried in his hand. The color looked exquisite on her, setting off her dark hair and light, creamy complexion. She had pinned her hair up.<br /><br />"You're late," she said, but it was an observation rather than a rebuke or a complaint.<br /><br />"I know," he said, "I'm sorry. I didn't get back to the office until quarter of 6."<br /><br />She stood and walked over to him. Taking the plate of strawberries and the basket containing the glasses from him, she went and set them upon her dresser, saying, "Why don't you open that?"<br /><br />He uncorked the bottle of champagne with practiced skill, and moved in front of her. She held the glasses up, and he filled each, taking one from her, and placing the bottle on the dresser.<br /><br />Almost in unison, they raised their glasses to their lips, eyeing one another over the rims. With his free hand, Jack reached for Claire, and pulled her to him. He leaned down to nuzzle her neck. She must have bathed when she got home from work, he thought, because she smelled faintly of recently used soap, and the rose-scented body lotion she sometimes used.<br /><br />"Mmmmmmmm," he breathed against the base of her throat before beginning a trail of kisses up the long column of her neck, and then capturing her lips in a fervid kiss.<br /><br />Laughing a low, throaty laugh, she pulled her lips away from his, and said. "Happy Birthday, Jack."<br /><br />"Thank you, my love," he said earnestly.<br /><br />"How do you like your present so far?" she asked.<br /><br />"So far, it's wonderful."<br /><br />"It's going to get better," she promised. With that, she took him by the hand and led him to her bed, where she pushed him into a seated position. He opened his legs, and she moved between them. Both still held their glasses of champagne.<br /><br />Jack pulled Claire down onto his knee, where she remained as they polished off their glasses, never taking their eyes from one another. When the glasses were empty, she stood, took his, and set it with hers next to the bottle on her dresser. She returned to him, bearing the plate of the delectable-looking berries. She set the plate on the bed next to him, and removed one of the dark chocolate-coated strawberries. She pressed it against Jack's lips. He held her wrist in his hand as he bit into the delicious item, sending a thin stream of strawberry juice dripping down her fingers. She bit the remnants of the strawberry off the stem, and placed the stem back on the plate. Taking her hand, he sucked the juice from her fingers, watching her all the while.<br /><br />Jack wrapped his arms around Claire's waist and pulled her against his chest. He stretched up for a kiss, and she obliged him by lowering her lips to his. Her palms were flat against his chest, and soon he felt her fingers nimbly undoing the buttons of his shirt. She lowered her lips to his neck as she pulled the shirt tails from his jeans, and finished with the buttons. When all the front ones were done, she reached for a wrist, and unhooked that button, before doing the same with the other. Standing back a little, she eased the shirt off of him, and tossed it aside.<br /><br />He reached for a strawberry when she had succeeded in baring his chest, and offered it to her for consumption. They mimicked each others' actions with the previous berry. Jack noticed that his jeans were becoming tighter and tighter in the groin area as they continued feeding each other, until every last piece of the delicious chocolate covered fruit was gone.<br /><br />"I love you," he said, so low it was barely even a whisper.<br /><br />"I love you, too."<br /><br />They kissed once more, and Claire felt Jack's palms sliding up the backs of her thighs ever so slowly. Under her robe they traveled: higher, and higher, until his large hands were gently stroking and kneading her lace-covered behind.<br /><br />Stepping back, she reached down and tugged at the satin sash that held her robe together. Dropping her arms, she shrugged the robe from her shoulders, and it made a deep blue satin puddle behind her.<br /><br />Jack whistled low at the spectacle she presented. Beneath her robe, she was wearing a pair of royal blue lace panties with matching lace push-up bra. The colour of her undergarments was the same as the robe. Jack reached out to run his hands up and down along her sides. Pulling her to him, he ran his lips lightly over her cleavage, sending a thrill tingling down her spine.<br /><br />"You have the most incredible body," he murmured against her skin as she toyed with the hair at the back of his neck. "You smell so good."<br /><br />She lowered herself to her knees in front of him, and went to work on his belt, and the button-fly of his Levi's, while looking up to meet his heated gaze. Slowly, she slid her hand inside his jeans, beneath his boxer shorts, and with great care and gentleness, freed his semi-erect maleness.<br /><br />She smiled up at him almost lasciviously before bending her head and taking him in her mouth. Under the loving ministrations of her mouth and tongue, it wasn't very long until his entire body ached with the desire to be inside her. He reached down to pull the pins from her hair, and sent it cascading down over her shoulders. When he knew he was rapidly approaching fulfillment, he tangled his hand in her thick, soft hair, and pulled her head away from him. Smiling, she sat back upon her haunches as Jack stood. She pulled his jeans and boxers from him, and he helped her to stand. Reaching around her, he easily unhooked her bra, and pulled it from her.<br /><br />"Beautiful," he sighed in appreciation. Backing up, he sank down into a sitting position on the edge of the bed, and pulled her to him. He slid his hands along her sides, up from her waist, and brought them to her breasts. With one hand, he cupped a breast while his thumb rubbed back and forth across her nipple. The other hand also cupped a breast, but instead of using his thumb, he pulled her closer, and she felt his tongue snake out and graze over her nipple. His tongue flicked back and forth over the dark, rosy nub, and he reveled in her sharp intake of breath as he sucked it gently into his mouth. After a few exquisite moments, he switched off, and began to suckle upon her other breast.<br /><br />His big hands slid down her sides again. He hooked his thumbs in the waist band of her panties, and slowly lowered them, until she, too, was completely naked.<br /><br />Sliding back onto the bed, he beckoned her to join him, which she quickly, and happily did. They lay on their sides, facing one another for a few moments, without touching. Slowly, Claire leaned in, and, closing her eyes to abandon herself to the feel of his lips on hers, kissed him. He pulled her close, and she could feel the hardness of him against her pelvis.<br /><br />He brought his hands up and resumed caressing her breasts as the kiss deepened into something hot, wild, and impassioned. Stroking her side, he slid his arm around her. Palm against her back, he worked his way down to her behind with light, feathery strokes. His hand slid over her smooth behind, down the back of her leg, to her kneecap. Gripping it lightly, he dragged her thigh up over his hip. He slipped his hand in between them, and Claire sighed with pleasure as his hand began to stroke the softness between her thighs. He smiled against her lips as he felt her grinding herself against his hand. He thanked his lucky stars that the woman he loved was always just as hot for him as he was for her. He loved her more than he had loved anyone in his life, and what's more, he knew she loved him just as much.<br /><br />She adjusted herself higher on the bed, until she felt the hardened tip of him rubbing against her. Inch, by slow inch, he entered her, until he had filled her full of himself. She whimpered in delight as he lay embedded within her, still.<br /><br />"Open your eyes and look at me," she heard him whisper. She complied, and they smiled at one another lovingly. In unison, they began to move, arms wrapped tightly around each other, lips engaged in a slow, sensuous kiss. He slipped his tongue between her parted lips, imitating the action of his pulsating manhood.<br /><br />Jack rolled onto his back, pulling Claire on top of him. Bracing herself with a hand on either side of his head, she leaned down to kiss him. She had stopped their movement, in order to make their union last longer. The kiss she was now placing on his lips started out nearly chaste: lips fluttering against each other. Soon, it was so hot and out of control, that he was begging her to ride him to fulfillment.<br /><br />She continued kissing him as her hips resumed the sensual rhythm of love. The sounds of their lovemaking filled the room. She rose up and down on him faster and faster and he began to move his hips in time with hers. As she approached her climax, she tore her head away from him, finding it nearly impossible to breathe.<br /><br />He could hear her breath coming hard and fast near his ear. Their cheeks were touching as she continued to increase their pace.<br /><br />"Jack!" she panted, breath coming very, very short, "I'm so close."<br /><br />It was all he needed. Rolling her to her back, he thrust into her, once, twice, and a third time, her hips meeting his thrusts measure for measure. She began to feel like her mind was separating from her body. She could hear very little over the hammering of her heart.<br /><br />"Jack!" she sobbed as she dragged her nails down his back. She felt as though she were going to die if she didn't find her release soon. In what was left of her brain that could still think, she determined that didn't care, so long as Jack didn't stop this sweet torture.<br /><br />Jack whispered words of honeyed reassurance in her ear, but she barely heard him, as she soared higher and higher into the vortex of passion. Only the hot, full hardness of him sliding in and out of her seemed tangible. Her whole body seemed molten, and she felt herself dissolving under the force of their intense, burning passion, until nothing was left but incredible pleasure. She wasn't aware of it, but she nearly screamed his name. The last thing she remembered before surrendering to the blinding, scorching inferno he ignited within her, was hearing her name on Jack's lips as he convulsed, and poured his hot seed into her.<br /><br />When she could breathe again, and had decided that she was in fact still breathing, she reached up to stroke Jack's dampened hair. Jack lay sprawled on top of her, panting, his hands tangled in her dark hair. He rolled away, but caught her hand tightly in hers.<br /><br />After several silent moments as they continued to recover from their bout of passion, Claire rolled to her side, and propped herself up on her elbow so that she might look down into Jack's face.<br /><br />"Happy Birthday," she said softly, before leaning down to kiss him lightly. "I love you."<br /><br />"Thank you, Claire," he said earnestly. "I had thought...well, today it seemed like this birthday was going to be pretty shitty. Especially when I thought you had forgotten. But....but now. My god! Claire...all this trouble you went through...I....thank you. You've made this the best birthday I can remember."<br /><br />"It was no trouble, Jack," she assured him. "I was glad to do it. It was so hard earlier today. I knew you were hurt that I hadn't mentioned anything, but I wanted tonight to be special....so I had to make it a surprise."<br /><br />He pulled her head down for a kiss.<br /><br />"By the way," she grinned, winking at him, "the night isn't over. Not by a long shot." </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-89383329130984787022012-11-15T00:46:00.001-08:002012-11-15T00:46:12.005-08:00The Wedding Night<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">(this short story picks up several hours after the 'Highwire' Epilogue)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /><i><br /></i><i>"True and false fears let us refrain,</i><br /><i>Let us love nobly, and add again,</i><br /><i>Years and years unto years, till we attain,</i><br /><i>To write threescore; this is the second of our reign."</i><br /><b>~John Donne</b></div>
<br /><br />The chauffeur held the door of the limo open and Claire Kincaid -- Claire McCoy, now, technically, though she had decided to keep her maiden name-- climbed in. Jack handed her the gift bag she'd seen Lennie Briscoe give him just a few moments before and she set it on the floor as Jack climbed in beside her and settled in close as the driver shut the door.<br /><br />For the first time since the previous night when she'd snuck him into her mother's home, they were alone. They were alone for the first time as husband and wife. Jack reached down and clasped her hand in his. They gazed lovingly into each other's eyes, both searching for the right words to mark the occasion. Love for each other filled their hearts to capacity and radiated between them as they both realised there weren't words enough to express what was in their hearts.<br /><br />"I love you, Claire," Jack whispered, leaning across the distance of mere inches that separated them, touching his lips to hers.<br /><br />Claire kicked off her heels and brought her feet up and tucked them beneath her. Sometime earlier, with the help of her mother and best friend, Emily, she had taken off her wedding dress and changed into a pale-blue mid-thigh length dress made of a thick polyester that clung elegantly to her form and accentuated the soft curves of her body. The straps of the dress were thin, too thin for a bra. She wrapped her arms around Jack as their kiss deepened and turned slightly to him. Jack was still in his tuxedo.<br /><br />"Love you too, Jack," she whispered. "So very, very much. I've never been this happy."<br /><br />"Neither have I, my love...all thanks to you," he said as he lightly caressed her face.<br /><br />After a few more moments of impassioned kissing, Claire sat back against the plush seat of the limousine. Jack leaned forward and pulled a bottle of champagne out of the bucket Claire hadn't noticed before. He opened it, and poured them each a glass, handing one to Claire.<br /><br />"Trying to get your new wife drunk?" she asked him, her voice teasing.<br /><br />"It's our day, Claire...we deserve to celebrate as much as we want."<br /><br />Another kiss. And another. They sipped their champagne.<br /><br />"When are you going to tell me where we're spending our wedding night?"<br /><br />"When we get there," he said mischievously.<br /><br />"What are you plotting?"<br /><br />He took her chin between a thumb and forefinger. "You'll love it," he whispered softly, in that low, intense voice that still, after nearly two years, set her heart to racing. They kissed, then eased apart until their champagne glasses were completely drained.<br /><br />Jack set the glasses aside and turned more towards Claire. "When that door opened this morning...and I saw you standing there in that gorgeous dress about to walk down the aisle...." he swallowed, pausing for a moment, his voice growing even softer. "You were so beautiful, Claire. So, so beautiful... I felt...proud...honored...that you would be walking down that aisle to become my wife."<br /><br />"Jack...I...I love you, Jack. Love you more than I can say."<br /><br />Jack reached out and ran his hand around to the back of her neck as he gripped lightly and crushed her lips beneath his, groaning softly as her arms tightened around his shoulders, pulling him hard against her. Before either of them knew what was happening, Claire had risen to her knees and slid onto Jack's lap, clutching his face as they kissed again and again. She shivered as his hands ran up and down her long, bare arms. Shivered again as his hands came up to rest on either side of her long neck.<br /><br />Claire ran her hands over Jack's chest, still covered by the back-buttoned dress shirt. Her hands moved higher, tugged at his bowtie until it came loose, then unbuttoned the first two buttons, her lips moving down to kiss the slight amount of skin she'd just uncovered. She was pushing his jacket off his shoulders, down his arms when she felt his hands on top of her thighs, just beneath the hemline of her dress. His hands slid up higher, slipping beneath the fabric, gliding along the soft, smooth flesh of her thighs, drawing the dress up as he went. When he reached her hips, he slid his hands behind her, so that he might cup and squeeze the firm globes of her behind in his warm hands. The warm satin of her panties felt like heaven against his palms.<br /><br />He was kissing her neck, hot, wet kisses that sent bolts of pleasure down her spine. He tongued around her ear, nibbling the lobe and delighting in the sigh she emitted.<br /><br />Suddenly, Claire pulled back and said, "Jack...we don't seem to be going anywhere... We're driving...but not heading anywhere."<br /><br />"I told the driver I wanted him to drive around for a bit before heading over to the hotel."<br /><br />"Did you, now?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.<br /><br />He nodded before beginning to kiss her again. His hands were at her back. She felt him tugging at the zipper of her dress, felt the sides pulling apart as he splayed his fingers out over her back. He drew the thin straps down along her arms, lowering the dress, revealing her naked breasts, nipples already straining.<br /><br />Jack smiled up at her, sighing in appreciation at the sight of her: even after all this time, just the thought of her beautiful, naked body could set him afire. He reached up, and laid his palms over her breasts, nestling them in the palms of his hands. They kissed, then Jack pulled back and dipped his head lower, taking a nipple into his mouth. Claire arched back, her hand tangling in his soft grey hair. His hands were on her thighs again, sliding up again. She practically purred as he slipped his hands beneath the satin of her panties and stroked her behind.<br /><br />Suddenly, Claire, breathing very hard, pushed Jack back against the seat.<br /><br />"What's wrong?" he asked. Every now and then she would do something like that, and it always threw him a little. A small part of him still thought he didn't deserve Claire, and that one of these days she'd realise it.<br /><br />"Mmmm....nothing," she said, her voice sounding husky. "Felt wonderful...I'm just not so sure I want to make love to my husband for the first time in the back of a limousine..."<br /><br />Jack nodded. She was right. It was exciting, adventurous, even, that was certain, but...but you only make love for the first time as husband and wife once, and he wanted it to be perfect, just as she did.<br /><br />Jack raised his arm and pressed the intercom to the chauffeur, telling him it was time to head to the hotel. Jack reached behind him, next, and brought forward a blindfold...the type some people place over their eyes when they sleep.<br /><br />"What's that for?" she asked him.<br /><br />"Your eyes...want you to wear it until we get to the hotel...for the surprise. Once we're in the room, I'll take it off... okay?" if she objected, he'd have scrapped the whole idea.<br /><br />"Okay.... this surprise better be worth it..."<br /><br />"It is," he said, placing the blindfold over her eyes. She was still in a state of semi-undress. Jack knew they had some time before the reached the hotel --the Waldorf Towers, where they had spent an amazing night together, celebrating Claire's birthday almost two years earlier. He took her face in his hands and kissed her, she kissed back eagerly, lovingly as his hands moved to her breasts again, massaging her nipples into stiff, aching peaks. The loss of sight was intriguing to Claire...it meant she had to concentrate completely on the sensations he was creating on her skin and deep inside her, without the intrusion of sight.<br /><br />"I love you Jack," he heard her say as he dipped his head<span style="background-color: white;"> to her chest again. They continued thusly until the driver informed them they had reached their destination.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">*****</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />Jack led Claire down the hall. They were in the Waldorf Towers, now, on the way to their room --he had managed to secure for them the same room they'd stayed in all those months ago. Claire was still unable to see where they were. They paused, and Claire heard Jack fumbling with the lock. The door opened and Jack set the bag from Lennie just inside the door.<br /><br />Suddenly, Claire felt the floor dropping out from underneath her as Jack swept her up into his arms.<br /><br />"Jack!" she protested.<br /><br />"Tradition, babe," he said softly against her ear as he strode confidently into the room. "Have to carry the bride across the threshold." He had brought their luggage to the hotel the previous day, when he'd checked in, so that they would be able to go directly from he hotel to the airport in the morning.<br /><br />He set Claire down and kissed her lips teasingly, though she still wore the blindfold. She sighed softly and pulled him closer as his lips grew more insistent.<br /><br />"Hey..." she said breathlessly after a moment, "Don't I get to take this blindfold off yet?"<br /><br />He removed it for her. She blinked as her eyes re-adjusted to the light. She glanced around and her eyes lit up. "Jack...is this the room...?"<br /><br />"We stayed in for your birthday? That it is." he said, moving his hands to her waist.<br /><br />"Finally!" exclaimed Claire after they had kissed, and kissed again, and eased apart.<br /><br />"Finally what?"<br /><br />"I'm finally all alone with my new husband with no threat of interruption..."<br /><br />"Hold that thought," he said, kissing the tip of her nose before heading over to the door and placing the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the outside knob. He returned to her and took her into his arms. "My wife..." he murmured against her neck, then moved his head back up and asked, "So...now that you've got me all alone with no threat of interruption...what did you have in mind?"<br /><br />She didn't say anything, just brought her hands up to rest against his chest, then snaked them up and over his shoulders, pushing his tux jacket back as she did so. She leaned against him and sighed happily as she hugged him close. She began to kiss a line along his haw, starting at his ear and moving slowly toward his mouth. His hands moved farther around her slim waist until his fingers lightly drummed against the small of her back as their lips met again, pressing softly against each other.<br /><br />Their minds and bodies were still buzzing from the effects of the champagne they'd consumed at the reception (which was still going strong when they'd departed) and in the limo in celebration of their life together. Claire felt Jack's hands splay out across her back, felt them massage up her back before descending again. As they moved lower, Claire reached back and gripped his wrists, bringing his hands back to her waist. He slid them up her sides, then forward to caress her breasts, her nipples visibly poking out from beneath the fabric of her dress.<br /><br />Claire stepped back and reached for Jack's hand. She walked with him to the table in the middle of the room, then let go of his hand and moved one of the chairs in between the table and the large bed.<br /><br />"Light all of the candles, okay?" The room had candles scattered all about, and Claire wondered if Jack had put them there or if he had hotel staff do it. "And then sit in this chair."<br /><br />"What are you going to do?"<br /><br />"I'm going to open this bottle of champagne and turn on some music."<br /><br />"That's not what I meant..." he said as he dutifully set about lighting the candles.<br /><br />"I know," she told him as the cork popped out of the bottle. She filled the glasses and handed him one as he moved past her to light candles on the other side of the room.<br /><br />Claire turned on the radio and began flipping through the stations. She wasn't sure exactly what kind of music she was looking for... something on the slow side.. something rather erotic... the kind of music that gets under your skin pleasantly, that makes your heart pound in your chest, that you just can't shake. She settled on a station that seemed to be what she was looking for. She sipped her champagne --she'd consumed enough already and was tipsy enough that she didn't think twice about what she'd decided to do once she'd remembered part of the conversation she and Jack had at her mother's the night before (it seemed so long ago, now).<br /><br />Jack was sitting in the chair sipping his own glass as she approached him slowly, slinking across the room in a way that reminded him of her cat as it stalked some imaginary mouse. He wondered why, all of the sudden, the look on her face made him feel like he was her prey. Followed by that thought was this: if he was going to be hunted down and feasted upon in some fashion, he wanted it to be by Claire, whom he loved above all things, all people in this life. She took his glass from him and set it on the table, then moved back to him, moving between his open legs.<br /><br />The DJ on the radio was going on about something, though Jack and Claire were too caught up staring deeply into each other's eyes as she stood above him to pay any attention to what was being said.<br /><br />"What are you planning?" he asked her again.<br /><br />She reached out to stroke his hair. "Do you remember what you asked me last night at my mother's?" she asked softly.<br /><br />He shook his head. "We talked about so many things..." Suddenly, with himself sitting in the middle of the room in a chair apparently for no reason, with the radio playing music that neither of them generally listened to, Jack understood what Claire had in store for him. "You mean... the lap dance...?"<br /><br />As if on cue, a new song came over the radio. It was an older song, actually, and Claire recognised it, thanks to the controversy the song had engendered when it had debuted, as Madonna's "Erotica".<br /><br />"Perfect!" she thought to herself.<br /><br />She leaned close to Jack and whispered into his ear that he should hold onto the legs of the chair just beneath the seat, that he should continue to do this throughout, and that he should not attempt to touch her, no matter what, unless she explicitly told him to do so.<br /><br />Jack was amazed as she began to dance for him. He should have known she'd have the moves --she possessed in general the poise and grace of a dancer. What amazed him was not so much the raw sensuality of her body moving in perfect time with the music, but the words she had seductively purred into his ear as she'd begun her dance. She seemed to really be getting into this role-playing thing she was doing.<br /><br />She swayed closer to him, turning her back to him, glancing back as her hips gyrated in slow circles, checking his reaction. She saw his mouth had dropped open a bit and was pleased. She drew her dress up slightly, revealing more of the backs of her thighs to him as she bent her knees and moved her hips from side to side as she bent toward the ground. She gyrated back up again and spun around. Stepping closer, she reached out to grip the back of his neck as she repeated the same moves. As she rose slowly back up, she spun around again, and worked her way slowly down once more, making sure to brush against Jack as she did so.<br /><br />"Erotic, erotic, put your hands all over my body..." the song crooned seductively, not once, but three times in quick succession. Jack was having a hard time not doing as the song suggested.<br /><br />She craned her neck back to him again and instructed him, an aura of authority in her voice, to unzip her dress, then return his hands to the chair legs.<br /><br />She spun to him, making sure he watched closely as she slowly lowered the top portion of her dress, exposing her breasts to him. She heard him sigh raggedly as she turned again, pushing the dress down over her hips, her buttocks, her thighs and her long smooth legs. She kicked the dress aside and spun to him again, moving so that his face was just mere inches from her naked breasts, thrusting her pelvis out and grinding it against his body. Claire began to undo the buttons of Jack's shirt as her body undulated in front of him.<br /><br />"I know you want me. I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm not gonna hurt you. Just close your eyes," as she turned again and ran the satin of her white bikini panties over the smooth skin of his chest. His muscles contracted and skin flinched as she did this. She hooked her thumbs in the thin straps that rested on her hips and made as if she were going to work the panties down, instead teasing him, revealing just a bit more of her creamy flesh before pulling them back up again. She did this several times until she glanced back at Jack and saw the expression on his face: an expression that told her if she didn't stop teasing him in that particular fashion, he was going to stand up and remove them for her. On the one hand, she wouldn't have minded that all that much...on the other hand, she'd decided to give him a lap dance and was going to continue giving it to him until the song was over.<br /><br />Jack was aroused. He had been partially so most of the day, looking forward to their wedding night. He'd never expected anything like this. He was becoming more and more aroused as she danced for him, her movements becoming more bold, brazen even, as she moved her lithe frame against his immobile one. Jack felt the perspiration beginning to bead on his forehead, felt his semi-erection growing more taut, pushing against the fabric of his boxers and tuxedo pants.<br /><br />She danced her way behind him and slipped her hands down over his chest, then knelt and ran her hands down his back, reaching for the buckle that held his cummerbund in place. She removed the garment and tossed it aside. She was in front of him again, telling him to close his legs. He did as she asked.<br /><br />"Give it up, do as I say. Give it up and let me have my way. I'll give you love, I'll hit you like a truck. I'll give you love, I'll teach you how to....uhh...uhh...uhh...uhh," as she straddled his lap and continued her dance, grinding herself down onto Jack's lap. Jack groaned and his eyes slid closed as Claire stroked his chest in time with the movement of her hips and the rather erotic beat of the music. This was one helluva lot better than the lap dance he'd received the previous evening. He was more than pleased with himself for telling Claire about it, for asking her to perform one for him. That she had chosen to grant his wish on their wedding night made it all the more meaningful. It told him, though he already knew, that his desires were important to her, and if it was in her power to do so, she would endeavor to grant his wishes.<br /><br />"Open your eyes, Jack," she said in a voice that sounded more throaty than usual, almost unlike her. He did as she asked, and saw that though her words and actions denoted an element of control, her eyes were foggy with desire, with love and passion for her new husband. She, like himself, was not very far from putting an end to this little game and moving on to the deeper, more fulfilling pleasures that lay ahead of them this night.<br /><br />Thank God the song seemed to be ending as Claire gripped the back of his neck again, continuing to move.<br /><br />The heat penetrating her from Jack's gaze set Claire on fire. She'd teased him and he'd taken in marvelously. What she hadn't realised until that moment was that in teasing him, she'd been teasing herself, as well.<br /><br />Almost mournfully they heard Madonna's voice whisper "Eroti.......ca" and the song was over. Jack took this as his cue to action. He released the chair legs and took Claire's face into his hands.<br /><br />"Trying to kill me on our wedding night?" he asked, his voice ragged.<br /><br />He didn't give her the chance to answer him. His lips covered hers possessively. He groaned and wrapped his arms tight around her as she sighed deeply, her tongue snaking out to dance with his. He held her tight and stood, then bent a little and scooped her into his arms. He carried her, their lips still working intently against each other, to the large bed several feet from the chair. He lay her upon it and quickly covered her body with his own.<br /><br />His tuxedo pants felt rough against Claire's naked legs, but she hardly noticed as Jack bent his lips to her neck. He ran a finger along her lips and pressed slightly, until it slipped between them. She suckled hard upon it, and Jack groaned, removing the finger and replacing it with his thumb. The feeling of her tongue contracting under the pad of his thumb was exquisite. She gripped the collar of his open shirt and tore it backwards, removing it from him and tossing it aside.<br /><br />Jack parted Claire's thighs with his knee gently, and gingerly moved himself between her open thighs, laying on top of her so that she could feel the boiling hardness of him pressed against her own equally heated womanhood. They began to move together, simulating the love rhythm even though they still wore clothing.<br /><br />A few minutes of this, accompanied by a series of fiery kisses that stretched into one long, extended open-mouthed kiss, and Claire was furiously pawing Jack's chest. She reached behind him and gripped his tight buttocks, encouraging his rhythm. Their tongues teased and stroked each other as Claire brought her hands around to Jack's front, undoing his pants' button and unzipping the fly, pushing the pants and boxers down over his hips.<br /><br />Jack left her suddenly, and stood. Her eyes, which had slipped closed, opened when she felt his body move away from hers. She watched in admiration as he bent and removed his shoes and socks, then finished removing his pants, revealing the manly legs Claire so loved. She regarded his naked body with pleasure. She still found Jack's body beautiful: his lean, smooth torso, the slim waist and hips that tapered down into his long legs.<br /><br />"You're gorgeous, know that?" she asked him, her voice low as she gazed up at his naked form in the dim, candle-lit room.<br /><br />"Can't hold a candle to you, my love," he told her as he reached down and slipped her panties from her.<br /><br />Hey lay down next to her, turning slightly over her. He lowered his head and kissed her gently, nibbling her lips with his own. He rested his head in the palm of the hand whose arm was beneath him and gazed down softly at her.<br /><br />"I love you, Claire," he told her, voice thick with emotion. "I've never been this happy...never even imagined I could be. You came into my life and turned everything I understood about love and relationships on it's ear. You taught me how to love, Claire, in a way I never imagined I could."<br /><br />An overwhelming feeling of intense love overcame Claire as Jack spoke openly, his eyes, the windows to his soul, as open to her as the words he'd spoken from his heart.<br /><br />"We taught each other, Jack," she said quietly. "I never thought I'd love someone as much as I love you. Before I met you... I had this... hole... inside me, this emptiness I knew was there...but I couldn't quite figure out how to fill it. And then we became lovers...and then I fell in love with you...and that emptiness was filled."<br /><br />She drew his face down to hers and they kissed hotly for several long moments. Jack brought a hand up to run it over Claire's body in long, gentle strokes. He stroked her breasts, delighting as the rosy-brown nipples grew into stiff peaks, one of which he lowered his head to and encircled with his tongue as his fingers nimbly fondled the other. She arched her back as he grazed her nipple with his sharp teeth. She gasped as he sucked the slight pain away while his hand stroked down her torso, blazing a path over her stomach, stopping when he reached the soft curls that covered the plump flesh of her womanhood. He slipped his hand lower, pressing a finger between the folds of skin concealing her moist heat. He sought out her love-button, swollen already with her desire for him.<br /><br />He began to rub slow, insistent circles over her pearl. He continued kissing her as his hand worked its magic, wringing soft, mewling cries from his beautiful young wife until her hips undulated beneath his hand in much the same manner as they had moved when she had danced for him. Jack could tell by the sounds she made, the movements of her body, and the slight furrow of her brow that Claire was coming close to climax. He eased his hand away from her and she closed her eyes for a moment, breathing hard as she tried to check her desire, to slow the incredibly rapid pace of her heart.<br /><br />Her eyes --foggy, glazed-- came open again. "I want you," she told him plainly, voice low, as he began to tease her breasts again.<br /><br />He nodded almost imperceptibly. Claire was still on her back and Jack was still on his side. He drew first one and then the other of her legs over his hip so that her lower torso was flat against his body, and her upper torso was flat against the bed. He reached between them to lightly stroke and squeeze her bottom for a moment until she squirmed against him, grinding her behind against his raging shaft. Jack groaned and she felt one of his fingers lightly probing the entry to her female passage just before he slid it inside her. She moaned softly as he slipped another finger into her and began to work them slowly in and out, leaving Claire moaning quietly as he lowered his mouth to hers.<br /><br />She enjoyed what he was doing to her for many moments, even as she yearned for something more fulfilling --she wanted to feel his hardness pulsating inside her, feel his body moving in time with hers. Jack's self-control was rapidly reaching it's breaking point. Shear force of will had kept him from possessing her in the first few moments after they'd completely undressed each other. His hand retreated and Claire whimpered, her body on fire with the need to feel him inside of her.<br /><br />"Shhh...love," he soothed, murmuring the soft command against her ear.<br /><br />She moaned with relief as he finally pushed the hardened tip of himself into her tight sheath. They moaned together as he slowly slid all the way inside of her. "Mmmmmmm... God, Jack... that feels so good..." she breathed gazing up at him as he began to slowly move within her.<br /><br />Her eyes closed again as she concentrated on the feelings Jack was creating in her body. She pleaded with him to move faster and he did, encouraged by her words and her response to him. He could feel her tightening around him, knew she was coming close to climax again, and slid out of her.<br /><br />"Jack!" she gasped, panting.<br /><br />He moved her legs so they rested against the bed and lowered himself on top of her, kissing her neck languidly as his hands massaged her breasts. He left her, again, but before Claire could protest, he was easing her thighs apart and settling himself between them. He bent his head and his tongue was on her, tasting the honeyed nectar that was the sweet evidence of her arousal.<br /><br />"Oh...God..." she moaned as his tongue worked her into an aroused frenzy. He loved doing that to her, loved driving her mad with desire with his satiny tongue; it was a mutual feeling --she did it often enough to him, as well.<br /><br />For the moment, however, Jack seemed to be contentedly enjoying concentrating on Claire. There would be plenty of time, either tonight or one night down the road, for her to reverse the tables on him. She was beginning to think she was going to expire if Jack didn't relent soon. Jack plunged his tongue deep inside her, and Claire let out a near-sob of relief at the invasion. She felt wound tight as the string of a violin, and was just waiting for Jack to prove to her, once again, what an excellent fiddler he was.<br /><br />Suddenly, Jack was standing next to the bed, gazing down at Claire as she writhed against the comforter. She propped herself up on her elbows after a few moments. Jack held his hands out to her and she reached for them, allowing herself to be pulled into a standing position. Her legs felt weak and wobbly beneath her, and her head felt light, so aroused was she.<br /><br />Jack held her close, stroking her face with one hand even as the other snaked around her, steadying her against him, her body trembling, every place his skin touched hers aflame. When she was steady on her feet he kissed her lips tenderly for a moment.<br /><br />"I had them turn the hot tub on this afternoon, so it would be ready for us this evening," he told her.<br /><br />"Jack...I can't...I need..."<br /><br />He cut her off. "Shhhh...it's okay...I know, baby," he said as he led her by the hand to the bathroom, stopping along the way to hand her the two champagne glasses as he carried the bucket and a candle.<br /><br />When they were in the bathroom, he left her, returning to find her in the hot tub: he had gone back for two more candles.<br /><br />Claire found that the hot tub curbed her desire a bit. She no longer felt she would die if she weren't fulfilled soon. The dull but pleasant ache of having been brought to passion's peak several times, only to be eased back down rather than pushed over into the abyss, still coursed through her. Her champagne and the heat of the tub had relaxed her. Jack climbed in next to her just as she polished off her glass. He quickly drained the rest of his. He took Claire's empty glass and set it with his own on the side of the tub, then draped an arm over her shoulder as she leaned in against him.<br /><br />"How're you feeling?" Jack asked her, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.<br /><br />"Mmmm...relaxed, NOW...no thanks to YOU!"<br /><br />"I did get you rather worked up, didn't I?" he asked smugly.<br /><br />Claire slipped off of the bench and stood up, standing in front of Jack, water sluicing down her body, leaving water beads here and there so that it seemed like her skin was encrusted with diamonds in the dancing light of the candles. She bent over Jack, resting her palms on his shoulders as she came down on his lap, sitting slightly back on his thighs.<br /><br />"Yes...but I'll avenge myself later...when you least expect it..."<br /><br />Jack's eyebrow shot up.<br /><br />"Kiss me," she said softly, half plea, half command.<br /><br />He did, gently at first and then he slipped his tongue passed her lips. He ran it along her teeth, along the sides and roof of her mouth, avoiding her tongue until the last possible moment. As their tongues entwined and unentwined, Claire felt herself beginning to reach that fevered pitch of arousal again. Claire raised herself up a bit and slid forward, until she felt Jack's hardened shaft against her. She lowered herself and they both moaned as their bodies connected. They continued kissing as Jack dropped his hands to her waist as she began to rise and fall on him, moving faster initially than was her norm when they made love in this position. Jack pushed back up at her, slipping his hands around and under her so that he gripped the alabaster globes of her behind in his hands even as he lowered his head to enclose a nipple in his mouth.<br /><br />As Claire's pace increased, Jack lost all thought of trying to tease her: her body felt too good against his, the heat inside her too exquisite, and her misty, passion-glazed eyes too engrossing for him to hold back from her. He gave in to the pleasure that washed over his body. Claire wrapped her arms around his shoulders tightly. She found the pace she needed most at the moment and soon her cries filled the room as she climbed higher and higher up passion's peak. Suddenly, seemingly without warning, Claire's body began to spasm and jerk as wave after wave of the climax Jack had denied her finally coursed through her body. Jack held her close as she shuddered above him, crying out loudly.<br /><br />Her head grew light and she sagged against Jack, clinging to him, feeling weak, drained, yet strangely, not completely satisfied. When she finally recovered from the intensely powerful orgasm she'd just experienced she realised Jack was still hard as a rock and buried to the hilt inside her.<br /><br />She opened her eyes and slid slightly away from him, but not enough so that he slipped out of her. "You're still inside me..." she said softly, her breathing still somewhat labored.<br /><br />He nodded, kissing her gently for a moment before saying, his voice gently teasing, "Have to make sure I'm keeping my young wife satisfied...wouldn't want her to stray..."<br /><br />"My God, Jack ... when would I have the time? I've never been as satisfied as often with such regularity as I have been with you...even now you can exhaust me.... I imagine you would have killed me in your twenties..."<br /><br />"Then I see the Middle Eastern restoratives I've been putting in my food have worked..."<br /><br />Claire let loose her musical laughter and Jack sighed deeply at the beautiful sound.<br /><br />"What's so funny?" he asked, grinning up at her.<br /><br />"Two things," she replied, brushing his hair out of his eyes. "First of all...we're technically still making love ... and yet we're carrying on a ... quasi-normal conversation..."<br /><br />"And secondly?"<br /><br />"Secondly, there are somewhere around 150 of our friends and family who have a pretty good idea about what we're doing right now..."<br /><br />Jack laughed. "That is weird..."<br /><br />The complete intimacy of carrying on a conversation with Jack while he still pulsed inside her was really beginning to get to Claire. The weak, spent feeling was leaving her, and was rapidly being replaced by the desire to achieve satisfaction once more.<br /><br />Jack groaned as he felt her raise up a bit, and then lower herself back down. His eyes closed for several heartbeats as she rose up and sank back down again, the water rippling with her movements as well as swirling thanks to the jets furiously spewing water into the churning hot tub.<br /><br />"So good, babe," he said quietly before opening his eyes and pulling her face down to his for a kiss, then releasing her once more.<br /><br />He dropped his arms and wrapped them around her middle and slowly rose off of the bench, turning so that she sat on the edge of the tub, never breaking their connection.<br /><br />"Love you," he said against her mouth.<br /><br />"Love you, too,"<br /><br />They wrapped their arms tightly around each other, to keep Claire from toppling backward, and closed their eyes, abandoning themselves to the intense physical pleasure they brought each other, underscored by the deep emotional connection they shared. Claire wrapped her legs around Jack's waist as their bodies moved in time with one another, both gasping and breathing heavily, calling each other's names and moaning deeply.<br /><br />Claire knew she was getting close again, knew also, from experience, that Jack could surely out last her again: he had been known to take a considerable amount of time to climax. As Claire felt that tightening in her stomach begin to increase, she used a trick most women can do, though many don't know it: She began to contract and release her internal muscles around the burning hot lance that pierced her body over and over again. Jack shuddered visibly with the first few contractions, then began a frenzied thrusting as Claire increased the frequency and intensity of her contracting muscles. Jack felt out of control as he plunged into her almost brutally. He struggled to hang on, to hold back until Claire could reach another climax.<br /><br />Suddenly, he knew his control was lost, felt himself beginning to shake as a blinding light passed through his mind, bursting into a million tiny stars even as his throbbing manhood began to erupt, and he burst forth within Claire, crying, "Oh....oh, God, Claire!" as she too began to spasm, also invoking God's name and that of her husband as she became caught up in the throes of ecstasy. When their mutual climax had subsided, they remained clinging to each other for support for many long moments.<br /><br />Jack sat down upon the bench, pulling Claire down on top of him. They were turned sideways, so Jack's back was against one of the sides of the tub, while his leg was stretched along the bench. Claire gingerly turned over, so that she was leaning against Jack, who draped his arms around her and hugged her close.<br /><br />He kissed her temple. "You amaze me...you're incredible. I love you."<br /><br />"Jack...I love you...I love being with you....I love the things you do to me, always have," she began to rub one of the arms wrapped around her, "the way you make me feel...loved, safe, secure, cherished ... while we make love...and all the time."<br /><br />They grew quiet, and were suddenly aware of a low grumbling noise.<br /><br />Claire clutched her stomach, and chuckled.<br /><br />"I told you should eat more this afternoon..." he told her.<br /><br />"I was too excited to eat...and this morning at breakfast, I was too nervous."<br /><br />"You we're nervous?"<br /><br />"Weren't you?"<br /><br />"Me? You kidding? Jack McCoy has nerves of steel."<br /><br />She rolled over so that her body was facing his, and he slipped down into the water a bit more, holding her tight.<br /><br />"That's not what your sister told me this afternoon...."<br /><br />"I'm going to have to start bribing Becky into silence like I did when we were kids."<br /><br />"You may not have nerves of steel," said Claire, giving him a mischievous little grin as she slipped her hands underneath him, "But you've got buns of steel."<br /><br />Jack let out a guffaw.<br /><br />Claire's stomach grumbled again, and as it did so, Jack's chimed in.<br /><br />"Maybe we should get something from room service?"<br /><br />Claire nodded enthusiastically.<br /><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">*****</span></div>
<br /><br />Several minutes later and they were in the main room. Claire was sitting on the sofa pulling the pins out of her French twist as Jack read her the menu: appetizers, salads, pasta entrees, seafood, chicken, steaks, desserts...<br /><br />"Don't they have anything like burgers? Or is that too down home Americana for the Waldorf Towers?"<br /><br />"Nope...here we go... 1/4 lb. or 1/3 lb......cooked to your preference. They have burgers, cheeseburgers, bacon cheeseburgers or mushroom Swiss burgers...or a tuna melt...or a hot turkey croissant... All served with fries..."<br /><br />"1/4 lb. mushroom Swiss burger...Do they have seasoned curly fries?" she asked. "Or even better...onion rings?"<br /><br />"Claire....?"<br /><br />"Hmmm...?"<br /><br />"You're not having some sort of...craving...are you?"<br /><br />"I'd like some peanut butter ice cream and a few pickles, too..."<br /><br />Jack looked worried.<br /><br />"I'm kidding! Don't worry...no little Jackie’s on the way," she said, setting the final pin down on the table near the sofa before crossing to Jack and draping her arms around his neck.<br /><br />"Had me scared to death, there for a minute..." he told her, kissing the tip of her nose. "Wouldn't want something like that sprung on me unawares."<br /><br />"I'd give you plenty of warning.... I know how little you like surprises..."<br /><br />"I'm just teasing, you...I know you wouldn't spring something that important on me without us having discussed it."<br /><br />"You going to order our food or am I going to starve to death on my wedding night?" she asked after kissing him, effectively changing the subject.<br /><br />"I'm calling, I'm calling" he said defensively, throwing out, as he walked toward the phone, "Nag..."<br /><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">*****</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Half an hour later their food arrived: Claire got her burger and Jack had ordered the turkey croissant, fries for Jack, the seasoned curly variety for Claire. It took them less than 10 minutes to eat their food, hungry as they both were.<br /><br />"Oh, my God, I'm soooo full!" said Claire, leaning back in her chair and patting her stomach through the white terry cloth robe provided by the hotel. "But it was sooo good! Can't remember the last time I had seasoned curly fries."<br /><br />"Never even knew you liked them!"<br /><br />"Had to save SOME surprises for after the wedding."<br /><br />"C'mere," he said, holding his hand to her. She stood and took a step toward him, then sat down on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck as he kissed her lightly.<br /><br />"You remembered to pack your sun block, didn't you?"<br /><br />"30 SPF."<br /><br />"Good! We wouldn't want a repeat of last summer. I prefer making love within my species...crustaceans are out!"<br /><br />Jack laughed. "You had fun with my claws, if memory serves." He reached around her and filled their champagne glasses again, then handed Claire one.<br /><br />Out of the blue, Claire recalled Jack having a gift bag in the limo. "What was in that big bag you had in the limo?"<br /><br />"What bag?"<br /><br />"The gift bag...present for me?"<br /><br />"For both of us...from Lennie."<br /><br />"Oh, no...did you open it yet?"<br /><br />He shook his head. "Why? What's wrong?"<br /><br />"Laura came in while I was getting ready this morning and warned me rather cryptically about the contents of Lennie's gift."<br /><br />Jack stood and Claire slid into a standing position. "Time to open it...I'm intrigued," said Jack as he strode to where he'd left the bag. When he turned around, Claire was sitting Indian style in the middle of the bed, her naked knees jutting out from beneath the robe.<br /><br />Jack joined her, sitting with his back against the headboard. She moved so she sat astride him the package between them. She took the card off the side of the bag: your standard, sappy, congratulatory, good luck with your marriage card. Inside, Lennie had written, "Time for the two of you to put that straight-laced, up-tight DA veneer to rest....loosen up a bit. These should help. Good Luck, Lennie."<br /><br />Jack pulled the top layer of tissue paper from the large, rather heavy bag and peered in. Jack began to laugh.<br /><br />"What?" asked Claire as Jack wheezed in mirth.<br /><br />"This!" he said, pulling a rather large, electric shock blue phallus made of a hardened gel-like substance from the bag.<br /><br />"My LORD!" exclaimed Claire, taking it from him as he delved into the bag again, producing a pair of handcuffs. "Department issue, do you suppose?"<br /><br />Jack laughed, and nodded, "Most likely."<br /><br />Claire peered into the bag, and pulled out a thick strand with beads about half an inch in diameter set 2 inches apart on the strand. She held them up, perplexed: she'd never seen anything like them before.<br /><br />Jack laughed again. "Do you want me to SHOW you what these do," he teased, taking them from her, "Or just tell you?"<br /><br />"Tell me and then I'll decide if I want a demonstration."<br /><br />"Anal pleasure beads...but they're often not used solely for anal... the idea is the whole strand is inserted and is pulled out slowly, bead by bead."<br /><br />Claire nodded. "I think anal pleasure is something I can live without..." she said, as Jack produced a pair of edible underwear and a bottle of vanilla flavored "love" oil that heats the skin as it is rubbed in.<br /><br />"These should be fun. Are you going to let me eat them off of you or vice versa?"<br /><br />"We'll see..." she quipped dramatically.<br /><br />They continued going through the bag in this fashion. When the entire bag was empty, and the "toys' were on the bed beside them, they took stock of their prizes: several dildos in various colors, sizes, and textures, two vibrators (a long, thick sliver one that looked like a large bullet, and a shorter, thicker one that looked like a penis--both ready equipped with batteries), the handcuffs, the love oil, several bottles of massage lotion, the edible undies, a short riding crop, matching his and hers leather thongs, the beads, a pair of crotchless "what's-the-point?" panties for Claire, a blindfold, and finally, a book of positions.<br /><br />"Lennie..." said Jack. "I must say that even WITH the lap dance as evidence I never would have suspected THIS from him."<br /><br />"Neither would I...and the scary thing is, part of him must actually think we'd use this stuff... How are we ever going to face him knowing he thinks THIS of us...knowing he may well be getting a mental picture of the two of us using THIS for instance," she said, picking up the strand of beads.<br /><br />Jack laughed.<br /><br />"Jack...he gives us this for our wedding gift...I don't WANT to know what type of anniversary gift we've got com... that he's going to give us. And what the hell do we write in the thank you card?"<br /><br />"Thanks for the butt beads, we had a lot of fun! Sincerely, Jack and Claire?"<br /><br />Claire whacked him on the chest, on the bare amount of skin revealed between the folds of his robe.<br /><br />"Poor Laura doesn't know what she's gotten herself into."<br /><br />"She probably does," said Jack. "You said she warned you...."<br /><br />"Yeah...so she had to have known what was in it," replied Claire, leaning over and picking up the position book. "I'm looking at Lennie and Laura in a whole new light right now." She paused. "You know...not all of this needs to be put in a drawer never to see light of day again."<br /><br />"No?" he asked, eyes dancing at her though his expression was one of seriousness.<br /><br />"The oils and lotions are okay...this book seems benign enough, the blindfold."<br /><br />"I vote we keep the edible undies, the handcuffs, and the crotchless panties..."<br /><br />"We don't need to keep the crotchless panties."<br /><br />"Why not?"<br /><br />She leaned forward and laid her hands on his chest, then kissed his ear and whispered, "I'll just go panty-less..."<br /><br />His eyebrows shot up and he nodded vigorously. "Not quite the same as the crotchless, though...they're a bit more...tawdry..."<br /><br />"Tell you what, Mr. McCoy," she said, leaning in close to him and snaking her tongue out to lick his lips --ever since the lap dance, she had been feeling a bit 'naughty'-- "I'll keep the crotchless panties if you'll wear the leather thong for me..."<br /><br />"Deal-maker even on our wedding night..."<br /><br />"Fair's fair."<br /><br />"Leather chafes."<br /><br />"And you know this...because?"<br /><br />"Alright...I'll wear them, Mrs. McCoy, because you asked so nicely."<br /><br />Claire began to gather up the toys and other items and return them to the bag they'd come in. When she was done, Jack noticed she had kept the book out. He said nothing, just smiled slyly as she turned around and leaned back against him. He opened his legs and she came to rest between them, leaned her temple against his jaw.<br /><br />"So...d'ya think there's anything in here that's going to shock us?" asked Claire, as she opened the book.<br /><br />"Shock?" he asked, turning his head and kissing the side of her forehead, "No."<br /><br />She began to slowly turn the pages. The first couple of chapters were more than a little clinical, with diagrams and charts, and far, far too many words. The chapters immediately following those were descriptions of kissing, massage, fantasy and game play, and oral sex. They quickly passed those pages up, commenting in a quick yet amused fashion on what they were seeing.<br /><br />Jack had teased her at one point, as he sipped some of his champagne. "Slow down, babe...I want to catch all of this."<br /><br />"I'm trying to get to the good stuff."<br /><br />"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought you thought that," he said, pointing to a drawing of a man pleasuring a woman with his mouth, "WAS the good stuff..."<br /><br />"Well, yes...but I'm anxious to see if we can find something we haven't done..."<br /><br />Finally, she reached the position section. The first page was your standard missionary position. Claire turned the page, revealing several variations on the missionary position. Claire felt Jack brushing her hair back on one side of her head, felt him lean down and place a quick, gentle kiss on the crook of her neck. Claire shivered and sank back deeper into him. She turned the page again, revealing several more variations on the missionary position, including a slightly elevated one. Claire smiled. She still held onto certain memories of their past lovemaking. She remembered the time Jack had placed a pillow beneath her hips as he made love to her. It had been incredible.<br /><br />Claire sighed deeply, and Jack craned his head around so he could make out the content expression on her delicate face. He had remembered, too.<br /><br />"Turn the page, Claire," he said, voice slightly above a whisper.<br /><br />She did so, and they were looking at two rather common women on top positions. She turned the page again, revealing two more variations, slightly less common, but not unfamiliar to them.<br /><br />"Hate to tell you this, babe," he said, "But we've done most of these."<br /><br />She nodded slowly, turning the page.<br /><br />"We haven't done THAT!" she exclaimed, "Or that."<br /><br />She was referring to two positions, one called "the lobster" and one called "seated, facing away": the first was a depiction of a man, hands and feet flat on the floor, knees at 90 degree angles, arms straight, body facing upwards, with the woman sitting astride the bench-like shape of his body. The second was practically indescribable, and both of them doubted whether or not it would be comfortable" the man was laying on his back, legs raised to the ceiling, and the woman with him was seated on his up-turned behind, facing away from him, reaching back to grab his hands for support, as his feet rested against his back.<br /><br />"Don't even think it, my love," said Jack, voice light, happy.. "First, you said you didn't like making love to crustaceans, and second...I may be a lot of things, but a contortionist isn't one of them."<br /><br />"Oh, I don't know..." she said, "You're pretty limber."<br /><br />There were several more variations on the woman on top position, ranging from the man lying down to sitting up, with the woman kneeling astride facing away, to sitting with her legs wrapped around her lover. With the exception of the two they had discussed, they had, over the course of the past 21 months, accomplished every last one of them.<br /><br />As they thumbed intently through the book, Jack slipped his arms around Claire, so that his hands came to rest in the middle of her torso, halfway between her navel and her breasts. She wasn't quite sure when it had happened, but he had parted the sides of her robe and had begun to play softly with her breasts. She was aware of his hands on her, aware, too, of the tingling sensation in her loins as he worked her nipples into stiff, aching peaks with his thumbs.<br /><br />She squirmed against him, protesting, "Hey!" as he gave them each several light pinches.<br /><br />Jack groaned as she squirmed against him: he had grown hard again as he played with Claire's breasts while they looked through the book together. He released one of them and slid his hand up to her neck, tilting her head back and closing his lips over hers. As they kissed, he took the book from her and set it on the table next to the bed.<br /><br />Claire adjusted herself so that she was kneeling between Jack's parted legs, facing him. She leaned in to kiss him and he once again slipped his hands inside her robe. After a moment, she sat back on her haunches and tugged at the robe's belt, shrugging it off and letting it fall to the floor beside the bed.<br /><br />Jack's eyes lit up, "Beautiful."<br /><br />Claire smiled and reached for the belt of Jack's robe, pulling it until it came loose and the sides of the robe parted revealing his long, lean body. She leaned forward again and they began to kiss once more. She gripped Jack's neck with one hand and reached down to stroke his shaft with the other. He groaned against her lips and reached out to lay his hands on her shoulders. His hands slipped lower and he started teasing her breasts again.<br /><br />Suddenly Jack broke the kiss and lowered his lips to her shoulder, then further down, craning his neck until he was able to suckle on one of her breasts as she continued to stroke him. In the next instant, Claire was pinned beneath him.<br /><br />She looked up at him expectantly, a slight smile on her lips, eyes dancing. His breath caught...even after all these months, she could take his breath away. He gazed at her for a moment.<br /><br />"Hey..." she said softly, reaching up to brush hair from his eyes, "You look so intense."<br /><br />"I love you," he said, his voice rough with emotion.<br /><br />Before she could reply, he leaned down and pressed his mouth against hers, kissing her passionately, his lips and tongue demanding response. After several moments, he moved down her body and closed his mouth over a nipple. He released it and ran his tongue all around the nipple until she moaned. He nipped lightly and then began to flick his tongue quickly over the taut rosy peak, then slowed his tongue again, dragging it over and around her nipple. He nipped all around the flesh of her breast, sinking his teeth in only slightly, so she shivered in delight. He returned to the nipple, flicking it with his tongue, then massaging it again, and finally, taking the hardened nub between his teeth very lightly, and moving his head in slow, tight circles, tugging on her flesh as he did so. Claire cried out softly with pleasure, and her eyes slid closed as she concentrated on the sensations he created in one breast with his mouth, and in the other with his long, nimble fingers.<br /><br />He worked his way over to the other nipple, licking and nipping her flesh as he went, then began to tease it in the same way he had the first. Claire opened her eyes and raised her head, looking down at Jack. He sensed her eyes boring into him and looked up just as he took the tight nub between his teeth. The look of love mixed with naked lust on his face as his mouth tugged at her sensitive nipple sent a shiver down her spine, and she moaned, laying back again and closing her eyes.<br /><br />She felt him shifting upward, and suddenly, his hot, ragged breath was hitting her face. He smelled of champagne, vaguely of chlorine as well, and even so she could make out his cologne. She opened her eyes to see his face right above hers, so that she could only concentrate on a single feature at a time. His nose, then his deep, brown eyes, piercing into her own. Finally, her eyes moved to his mouth. That mouth from which the voice she found so beautiful, at times even soothing issued forth. That mouth whose lips felt so good against her own. That mouth with which he could drive her crazy with desire, eventually soothing her ache for fulfillment away.<br /><br />He leaned in to kiss her then, and she wrapped her arms tightly around him, pulling him down to her so that the lengths of their bodies touched.<br /><br />Claire tore her head away. "I love you, Jack," she whispered, held his head away from her, then grew a bit louder, "I love you so much. When you look at me like that...like this...I don't know if I can explain...this feeling overwhelms me.."<br /><br />"Shhh..." he whispered, kissing her softly, "you don't have to explain. I feel it too."<br /><br />She pushed the robe back off of his shoulders and he paused and removed it, letting it fall to the floor with hers. He reached down and gripped her hips. His lips found the side of her neck as he slipped a hand between her thighs. He paused again, and looked down at her, marveling at his good fortune. Never in his life had anyone looked at him with such love; he felt complete knowing he loved her more than he'd ever loved anyone.<br /><br />She arched upward, their eyes meeting, as he guided himself into her, sliding home in one long, smooth thrust.<br /><br />"I'll love you for the rest of my life, Claire," and he closed his mouth over hers.<br /><br />They began to move together, kissing over and over. They moved slowly at first, enjoying the pleasant feelings coursing through them. They began to move faster, encouraging one another, matching each other thrust for thrust.<br /><br />"Wrap your arms around my neck" he whispered, then held her closer to him, pulling his knees in tighter to him and sitting back onto his haunches, Claire clinging tightly to him.<br /><br />"Love you," she murmured as she wrapped her legs around him, crossing her ankles.<br /><br />They rocked together slowly, embracing, stroking shoulders and hair and backs, all the while murmuring soft words of love. After a time, they began kissing languidly, expressing their love and passion for each other with their bodies when they were too caught up in the pleasure they brought each other to express it with words.<br /><br />Suddenly, Claire began to shudder in his arms, saying his name softly and clinging to him as he lowered her to her back and began to thrust into her more swiftly. He continued moving within her as he knelt between her legs. He spread his own legs farther apart, Claire still in spasm, and pressed farther forward, pushing her legs open wider. The tops of his thighs were resting against the backs of hers, and her heels rested against the backs of his thighs as he thrust faster, Claire clinging to him, her soft moans becoming louder, becoming cries of pleasure, becoming his name, passing breathlessly over her lips. He called her name, too, and spilled his seed into her, then collapsed.<br /><br />Their hearts pounded against each other's chests, and finally he rolled away from her, pulling her carefully into the safe, loving circle of his arms.<br /><br />"I love you," he murmured into her hair.<br /><br />"My heart is so full," she told him softly, stroking his hair with one hand, his chest with the other, tears glistening in the corners of her eyes "You're part of me now...part of my life...forever..."<br /><br />He kissed her gently. "Let's get under the covers..."<br /><br />They did so, and snuggled close, arms and legs entwining. She turned her head and laid her ear to his chest, listening to the rhythmic beating of his heart.<br /><br />"Tell me," he said after several silent moments.<br /><br />"Hmmm?"<br /><br />"You sure you didn't just marry me 'cuz I'm the best lover you've ever had?"<br /><br />"Who said you were the best?" she teased softly, her voice becoming more languid as she realised she was growing rather sleepy<br /><br />Jack yawned audibly. It had been a long day for both of them. A long, glorious day.<br /><br />"You talk in your sleep, my love..."<br /><br />She kissed beneath his chin. "Do I?"<br /><br />She lowered her head again and he rested his chin atop it. She felt him nod. "Now and then, a choice phrase or two..."<br /><br />He yawned again.<br /><br />"Sleepy?"<br /><br />She felt him nod again.<br /><br />"Me too..."<br /><br />He tilted her head to him and kissed her wet eyelids, her forehead, and then, ever so softly, her lips.<br /><br />"I love you," he told her again. He'd never thought those words would issue from his mouth so freely. Never, that is, until he'd fallen in love with Claire. She made it so easy for him, both to love her, and to tell her so. "I love you."<br /><br />Claire chuckled low. "I love you too, Jack.... now go to sleep....you've got a honeymoon to rest up for."<br /><br />He chuckled, too, and they held each other tightly, soothing each other to sleep with their soft breathing and their hands lightly caressing each other's warm, familiar bodies, feeling more united than the ever had before, more in sync. They were married now, for better or worse (more better than worse, they hoped), partners, friends, lovers. They were everything the other needed, everything they'd ever wanted, and no matter what conflicts might develop in the future, they dozed off, secure in the knowledge that they loved and were loved, that they were safe, that in each other's arms they'd found peace. They'd found home. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-49501776038722022042012-11-15T00:31:00.006-08:002012-11-15T00:31:58.313-08:00Highwire - Epilogue"I don't remember exactly what I dreamt about that night, Jack, but I remember waking up the next morning, I think you were still asleep, and thinking that we'd passed some sort of test in our relationship.... Maybe milestone is better, but even that doesn't explain it very well. I had introduced boyfriends to my mother and Mac before, but never the whole family. And I'd never brought anyone home with me for a holiday family gathering. At the time, it just seemed the natural thing to do, it never crossed my mind what a serious step that was."<br /><br />Claire eased herself away from Jack, then adjusted herself so that she sat with her back against the headboard. Jack rolled over and laid his head in her lap and draped an arm across her knees.<br /><br />She was toying with his hair when he began to softly speak. "I think I knew that day that we'd end up here. Or at least that the idea of marriage to you no longer seemed so odious to me."<br /><br />She tugged lightly on his hair, "Odious... why I nev..."<br /><br />Jack sat up quickly and startled Claire by tugging her leg so that she was laying beneath him, effectively cutting off her speech.<br /><br />"Hey!... What're you doing..."<br /><br />"I'm not about to let you scold me for saying that you changed my mind about marriage, Kincaid."<br /><br />"What would you let me scold you for? Making an ass out of yourself in public? Gawking at another woman in front of me? Forgetting my birthday or our anniversary? Not taking the garbage out? Leaving the toilet seat up?"<br /><br />"Oh, Christ...I'm in trouble. The transformation is happening...maybe I ought to call it off..."<br /><br />"Don't you dare! And what transformation?"<br /><br />"My loving, passionate fiancée is turning into a nagging wife before my very eyes," he had her pinned down and she was struggling to free herself.<br /><br />"Just you wait, my love," she said defiantly, "I haven't even begun to nag."<br /><br />"Well, that's it, then, isn't it?"<br /><br />"What?"<br /><br />"I'm just going to have to keep your mouth occupied," he told her.<br /><br />She was about to make a snappy retort when he lowered his mouth to hers. He released her wrists and she wrapped her arms about his shoulders. They rolled to their sides facing each other and Claire brought her hand up to touch her fingers to his lips.<br /><br />"I love you," she told him.<br /><br />"You're my heart, Claire, my soul, and tomorrow in front of our friends and family, I'm going to give my life to you."<br /><br />"Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd fall in love with you that day I first walked into your office. Thank God my little speech didn't dissuade you.."<br /><br />"I didn't want to love you, Claire, didn't want to love anyone, but you bowled me over without even wanting to. If that's what you call fate...."<br /><br />"I wonder sometimes..."<br /><br />"Wonder what?"<br /><br />"No...it's nothing. Nevermind."<br /><br />"Cough it up," he ordered, "Or I just might be forced to tickle it out of you."<br /><br />"Okay!! I wonder sometimes where we'd be if it hadn't been for the Gordon case. If it hadn't been for that case, you never would have kissed me in the elevator that night, and I never would have known how you felt about me. I wouldn't have admitted to myself that I had feelings for you," she said.<br /><br />"Oh, I don't know, Claire. I think we would have found each other. You can only deny your feelings for so long."<br /><br />"You're probably right, but I've always thought that when he came after me, and you, my heroic Executive Assistant District Attorney, saved me... well, that was a pivotal moment in our relationship. It sounds kinda sick, but despite how traumatic that experience was for me, I really think it brought us closer than people generally are that early in a relationship. Looking back, you could say we were rushing things, but at the time, I felt, and didn't you feel, that there wasn't any choice?"<br /><br />Jack nodded his agreement.<br /><br />"Having you there with me, to see me through all of that, Jack...it meant so much to me at the time. It means even more to me, now. We've had our tough times, but we've seen each other through them, and our love is stronger because of it. I love you with all my heart, Jack. And I always will."<br /><br />"I can't tell you how happy I was to put that bastard in jail, Claire. When Chet found that statute, and I got the all the charges Pongracic had dropped added on to the indictment again, it meant so much to me to be able to vindicate you in that way. I'd never been so happy to win a case."<br /><br />"There were a lot of women who were very grateful to you when that verdict came down, Jack."<br /><br />"I know how you feel about the death penalty, babe, but I wished so much at the time that it hadn't still been illegal."<br /><br />"Even for an animal like Gordon I don't agree worth state-sanctioned killing, Jack."<br /><br />"I know, Claire, I know," he said, passing his thumb lightly over her cheek, "Hey... this isn't the sort of thing we should be talking about right now..."<br /><br />"And what sort of thing should we be talking about right now?" she asked coyly, relieved to change the subject.<br /><br />"Oh...I don't know. Our wedding night, maybe. The honeymoon..."<br /><br />From the living room down stairs, they heard the grandfather clock bonging 1 am.<br /><br />Claire looked over at the alarm clock next to the bed. "Oh, Jesus, Jack. It's one in the morning! You should go... We should get some sleep, because I'll tell you right now, I don't plan on letting you get much sleep tomorrow night."<br /><br />"You don't?"<br /><br />"Hell, no. It's my wedding night. I only plan on having one of 'em, and I plan on making it memorable."<br /><br />They got up, and Claire slipped into the robe she had brought from home. Jack began to dress. When he was dressed, Claire quietly opened the door and peered out. No sign of life from her parent's room, and nothing from the room Violet occupied. In the same manner she had snuck him in, Claire snuck Jack back out again. At the front door they paused, and Jack pulled her into his arms.<br /><br />"Next time we see each other," said Claire, "I'll be walking down the aisle."<br /><br />"I'll be there," he told her. "I'll be the one in the monkey suit, front and center."<br /><br />"I can't wait."<br /><br />They kissed, professed their love once more, and Jack departed.<br /><br />Claire went back upstairs and climbed back into the bed, which still smelled of Jack. She pulled the covers up over herself and curled into the fetal position, hugging her knees to her chest. She feel asleep quickly, a smile on her face.<br /><br />
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<br />Claire's alarm went off at 7 in the morning. She stretched languidly, and glanced toward the window. Light was seeping into the room through the slats of the Venetian blinds. How do you describe how a woman, more in love than she ever imagined possible, feels upon waking up on her wedding day? Thrilled... a little bit nervous, but not the least bit unsure... expectant... relieved ... with an element of bliss wrapped all around the rest of the feelings.<br /><br />She snuggled down into the bed for a minute, and wondered if she were imagining Jack's scent still lingering there, or if in fact she were really smelling it. No matter. After this morning, she would be waking up with Jack next to her for the rest of their lives.<br /><br />"Honey are you up?" her mother called, knocking on the door and breaking Claire out of her reverie.<br /><br />"I'm just getting up, Mother."<br /><br />"I made coffee. Go on down and have some. I'm going to shower and then I'll make breakfast."<br /><br />"Alright," she called through the door. "Thanks, Mom."<br /><br />Claire got up and slipped her flannel pajamas on, a pair of socks, and went downstairs.<br /><br />"'Morning, Mac," she chirped as she walked into the kitchen.<br /><br />"Hey, kiddo," he said, eyeing her over the top of his newspaper as she poured her coffee, "get enough sleep last night?"<br /><br />She nodded and sat at the table.<br /><br />"What time did Jack leave?"<br /><br />She coughed. "What?"<br /><br />Mac set the newspaper down. "You two were a little... shall we say....enthusiastic, last night."<br /><br />Claire felt her cheeks grow hot with her blush. "Sorry about that," she muttered.<br /><br />"Don't be."<br /><br />"Did... did ... Mom hear?"<br /><br />Mac laughed. "Lucky for you, you overloaded your mother on margaritas last night. I'm starting to suspect it was a plot. My mother, on the other hand..."<br /><br />"Oh, no... what did Gram say?"<br /><br />"I think it was something like 'Sounds like Claire's a lucky girl'."<br /><br />Claire laughed.<br /><br />Jeannine and Violet came into the kitchen just then. Violet winked at Claire, who smiled back at her.<br /><br />"Claire, honey, why don't you go shower while I fix breakfast? The hair dresser is going to be here in 45 minutes."<br /><br />Claire stood and hugged her mother. Without her, there would have been no way that she and Jack, on their tight schedules, could have gotten a wedding together in the 2 1/2 months since Jack proposed.<br /><br />"September is always such a good month for a wedding," said Violet.<br /><br />"Thank you, Mom," whispered Claire before heading back upstairs.<br /><br />
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Claire's maid of honour, Emily, her best friend and law school roommate, who had also been her roommate when she'd moved back to New York from Boston, arrived at the house while Claire's hair was being done.<br /><br />"You're glowing, Claire," she said upon entering Claire's old room.<br /><br />"I feel a bit luminescent, thanks, Em."<br /><br />When Claire's hair was done, it was in a French twist with sprigs of baby's breath woven in. She had decided to forego a veil, not wanting anything blocking her view of Jack's face, or his of hers, as they pledged their lives to one another.<br /><br />Mac drove Claire, Emily and his wife and mother to the church. He already wore his tuxedo, the required attire for the man giving the bride away. Violet and Jeannine had dressed, as well, Jeannine in a dress two shades of periwinkle darker than the colour Claire had chosen for Emily's dress. Claire and Emily would change at the church.<br /><br />Claire and Jack had decided on a Unitarian wedding. Jack, having been divorced from his first wife could not marry in the Catholic church again, because the marriage had not been annulled. Claire, an agnostic by choice, had been brought up in the Catholic church as Jack had, and for some reason, despite her religious doubts, had always imagined a church wedding.<br /><br />Jack's sister Becky was at the church waiting for them. Truth be told, at first, she had been wary of Jack and Claire's relationship, the age difference between the two of them being her main objection. But she had gotten to know Claire, and she had realised that for the first time in his life, Jack was truly happy, and they had Claire to thank for that. She had agreed that after seeing that her brother had been fed and was getting ready, she would come and help Claire get ready.<br /><br />"Becky, thank you so much for being here!" Claire exclaimed upon entering the bridal dressing room.<br /><br />"My pleasure, Claire. Anything for the woman responsible for that light I see in my brother's eyes. He deserves to be happy, Claire, and so do you."<br /><br />They hugged, and Claire thanked her.<br /><br />"Come on, girl!" exclaimed Becky. "Let's get you dressed!"<br /><br />With the help of Violet, her mother, Becky and Emily, Claire was dressed in no time. When Claire was dressed, they took Emily next door to dress her, Claire having asked for a few moments alone.<br /><br />Becky remained behind for a moment.<br /><br />"Claire... I'll go in a minute, but I wanted to give you something, first."<br /><br />"Oh, you didn't have to..."<br /><br />"I know you were planning on wearing the necklace my brother gave you for your birthday when you were first together, but I wanted to give you this to wear," she pulled a black velvet box from her purse. She opened the box revealing a pearl necklace. "My great-grandparents gave this to my grandmother on her wedding day. My mother wore it. I wore it when I married Jim. I'd like for you to wear it."<br /><br />Claire stood and wrapped her hands around her soon-to-be sister-in-law. "Thank you, Becky,"<br /><br />"You're welcome, Claire. Take care of my brother, he loves you very much."<br /><br />"You have my word."<br /><br />Becky left, and Claire sat down in front of the big vanity mirror. She clasped the necklace around her neck. She looked at herself in the mirror, staring at herself intently. "Em was right," she told herself, "I am glowing."<br /><br />There was a knock on the door.<br /><br />"Come in!" she called.<br /><br />Lennie Briscoe's girlfriend, Laura Russell stepped through the door.<br /><br />"Hi Laura!"<br /><br />"Hey, hon! You look fabulous! You're going to knock Jack out of his patent-leather shoes!"<br /><br />"Thank you! You're next, you know. I plan on aiming my bouquet right at you."<br /><br />"Great! Just make sure Jack aims the garter at Lennie, or he might not get the hint."<br /><br />"I'll be sure to tell him," Claire laughed.<br /><br />"I just came by to let you now that I had nothing at all to do with Lennie's wedding gift to you," said Laura.<br /><br />"Oh, God... what did he get us?"<br /><br />"Oh, you'll know soon enough. Just don't try taking it with you on the honeymoon or you might have some trouble getting through customs."<br /><br />"Thanks for the warning."<br /><br />Laura left, and passed Claire's mother in the doorway.<br /><br />"Hi, sweetheart."<br /><br />"Hi Mom."<br /><br />"Have you gotten your few moments alone yet?"<br /><br />"Nope... it's been Grand Central in here."<br /><br />"I'll go in just a minute, but I wanted to see my baby girl one more time before she becomes someone's wife."<br /><br />"Don't make me cry, Mom," pleaded Claire. "My emotions are already high, and I don't want to walk down the aisle in tears or with puffy eyes."<br /><br />"I'll try, honey. I just wanted to come in and tell you how proud I am of you. It wasn't too long ago that something like that would have been difficult for me to say. But I love you, honey, and it makes me so happy to see you in love, and happy. We don't' talk about him very often, but Claire, your father would be very proud of you, too."<br /><br />Claire felt the tears beginning to well up in her eyes. "I wish Gran could have been here, too."<br /><br />"We may not be able to see them, sweetie, but they're here with us," Jeannine pulled a hankie out of her purse and dabbed Claire's eyes. "Look...I'm making you cry."<br /><br />Mac opened the door. "It's almost time, Claire. Hon, you should go in and get seated."<br /><br />"I love you, Claire."<br /><br />"I love you, too, Mom."<br /><br />"So, you ready, kiddo?" asked Mac when Jeannine was gone.<br /><br />"Oh, yes, Mac. I can't wait to be Jack's wife."<br /><br />"After what I heard last night, I'd say you can't wait for the wedding night."<br /><br />"Mac! You're incorrigible! If my mother only knew how you really are!"<br /><br />Emily came into the room.<br /><br />"Em, you look great!" said Claire when Emily came in her periwinkle satin bridesmaid's gown.<br /><br />The two friends hugged.<br /><br />"Not as good as you do. C'mon, Claire, it's time. Jack's waiting."<br /><br />"I'm ready," said Claire.<br /><br />The three of them left the room and headed down the hall. They waited for a few moments until Violet gave Emily the signal to start down the aisle.<br /><br />"How're you holding up?" asked Mac.<br /><br />"I'm fine, Mac. I'm not nervous. I'm so happy I could burst."<br /><br />"Don't do that, it'd ruin your dress," he said. "Listen, Claire. I'm happy for you. You've made your mother and I very proud. Now you just make sure Jack treats you right."<br /><br />"He does, Mac. And he will."<br /><br />The wedding march began to play.<br /><br />"There's your song," said Mac. "Take a deep breath, and let's go."<br /><br />The chapel door opened again, and all of their guests stood. They may as well not have been there, for when that door opened, the only person Claire could see was Jack, standing at the other end of the aisle, waiting for her. The sight of Jack in a tux was always a stunning one. She almost wanted to run down the aisle so that she could get to Jack, and they could become husband and wife, and start their new life together.<br /><br />Jack's vision tunneled as well, when that door opened, and it was Claire standing at the other end of that tunnel. "My wife," he said to himself, "My life."<br /><br />Claire was a vision incomparable in her dress. It was sleeveless, white, with a v-neck collar that dipped to reveal the barest hint of cleavage. The shoulder straps were fitted under her arms, enhancing the look of her long, slender arms, and the bodice was encrusted with pearls. The bodice came to an inverted v beneath her chest, and a long, fitted mermaid skirt fell to the floor, accenting the curves of Claire's body. In the back, a train started out of the dress at knee-level, and extended for three feet behind Claire.<br /><br />"She looks like an angel," he thought. "My angel."<br /><br />"Let's go," whispered Claire to Mac. "I'm ready."<br /><br />They started down the aisle. Claire was on her way to her new life. A life that included Jack, come what may. A life of love and happiness that even the darkest clouds couldn't spoil. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-3658376227923360992012-11-15T00:28:00.003-08:002012-11-15T00:28:48.281-08:00Highwire - Part 20Before opening her eyes when she woke up the next morning, Claire was aware of something wet stroking her face. When she finally opened her eyes, she discovered the little black, furry bundle that was Jack's puppy licking her. She chuckled and pushed him slightly away.<br /><br />"'Morning," said Jack. "I see my kisses aren't good enough to wake you, but my dog's are..."<br /><br />She laughed and rolled from her back to her side, so that she lay facing him.<br /><br />"You got it," she said. "What time is it?"<br /><br />"It's just a little after 7:00," he repeated, softer this time, as he leaned in for his morning kiss, which she returned eagerly. He eased his head away from her. "Good morning."<br /><br />Behind her, the puppy was struggling to climb over her. He finally managed to clear her hip, and landed with a puppy version of an "oof" on his back in the small space between herself and Jack.<br /><br />"What's the matter, baby?" asked Claire in a put-on voice, "Aren't we paying enough attention to you?"<br /><br />He let out a melancholy yip, and Jack and Claire chuckled.<br /><br />"Guess not," said Jack jovially as he reached out to pat the chubby tummy the puppy proffered. The pat turned into a rub, and soon the puppy's leg was pounding furiously against the bed. "My God, you'd think he was that rabbit from 'Bambi'... what was his name?"<br /><br />"Thumper?" offered Claire.<br /><br />"Thumper, that's right," said Jack. "Hey...Wait! I've got it..."<br /><br />"Okay, spill it."<br /><br />"What do you think of 'Shakes'?"<br /><br />"Oh...no, Jack. Not Shakes."<br /><br />"Why not?"<br /><br />"Ever heard of a movie called 'Shakes the Clown'? A movie about a psychotic clown?"<br /><br />"Oh...well. I guess I can't name my dog after a psychotic clown," he agreed. "But so far this leg thing is his defining characteristic."<br /><br />"You already came up with a name."<br /><br />"Did I?"<br /><br />"Thumper?"<br /><br />"Hey...I like it. Thumper it is."<br /><br />As if to punctuate his naming ceremony, Thumper let out his loudest, most adult dog-like bark to date.<br /><br />
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<br /><br />They got out of bed after a few moments of light physical play with Thumper. Claire slipped into her robe, and Jack put his jeans back on.<br /><br />Claire made coffee, and they stood cuddling in the kitchen as it brewed. A few minutes later found Claire sitting Indian-style on the living room floor, the puppy bouncing around her, as Jack lit a fire. When he had the fire going nicely, Jack seated himself on the sofa.<br /><br />Claire stood and went to the tree. She retrieved a rectangular box which she gave to Jack. He opened it to reveal a mid-weight sweater in a hue of deep maroon.<br /><br />"I read somewhere once that wearing a sweater that came as a present from a loved one is like wearing a hug from that person all day long."<br /><br />She said it rather seriously, and they both broke out into instant laughter.<br /><br />"I guess that sounds a helluva lot cornier when said out loud."<br /><br />Jack nodded, grinning at her. "Thanks, babe, I love it. Now you open one."<br /><br />"Which one?"<br /><br />"The flat one that's like a thick piece of paper."<br /><br />She knelt by the tree and opened the gift. According to the box, it was a silver frame. She opened the box and pulled out the frame. Somehow, Jack had managed to obtain a picture from the Christmas party, that had been taken, unbeknownst to them, as they danced. They were looking at one another intently in the picture, their feelings for each other obvious.<br /><br />"How did you get this?"<br /><br />"I was going through some of the pictures with Adam, and I saw this one, well, the larger picture it came from, and so I called the photographer and had him crop it and blow it up."<br /><br />"It's great, Jack. Thank you," she said, and got up and went to him, kissing him on the cheek.<br /><br />Jack stood to get the rest of the presents they had gotten for each other.<br /><br />"My turn," he said, and began to tear into the paper of his final gift from Claire. When it was opened, he revealed a set of antique, miniature scales, the set she'd gotten from a local antique shop. "Oh, Claire. These are wonderful. Thank you. Now I just have to decide if I want to put them in my office, or keep them in my apartment."<br /><br />"That was going to be your big present until I thought of the puppy. I had a heck of a time locating these."<br /><br />"I bet," said Jack. "Okay, time for your last one."<br /><br />She picked up the final box, a rectangular one, not unlike the one the necklace he'd given her for her birthday had come in, but this one was somewhat shorter. When the wrapping paper was gone, she discovered that it was, indeed, another black velvet jewelry box.<br /><br />"Oh....Jack...." she sighed, slowly opening the box, gasping in shock as she realised she was looking at a diamond tennis bracelet. She lifted it gingerly, tears welling in the corners of her eyes. "Jack...My God...this is incredible! But...it's too much...I can't accept it."<br /><br />"Nonsense," he told her, "I'm not taking it back, and I'm not telling you where I bought it, because I don't want you returning it, either."<br /><br />He took it from her, saying, "Give me your wrist." When she had, he clasped the bracelet about her wrist, the diamonds shining in the light of the room. "See, it was made for you."<br /><br />"It's gorgeous, Jack, thank you! I've never....never owned a piece of jewelry this fabulous before."<br /><br />"You're welcome," he told her, leaning in as she did, meeting her lips with his own.<br /><br />After a moment, Claire pulled away, a huge smile on her face, and said, "So...can I expect a new piece of jewelry for every major gift-giving occasion? Cuz ya know...Valentine's Day isn't too far off, and Easter comes soon after that. I may want to put in a few requests..."<br /><br />"What happened to 'I can't accept this'?"<br /><br />"I changed my mind. Every girl loves diamonds."<br /><br />"I think I may be in trouble," said Jack, a mock-worried look passing over his face.<br /><br />"Your own damn fault," she teased. "What's in the other box? A sapphire-encrusted tiara?"<br /><br />"No, Princess...and it's not for you, anyhow. It's for Lucy."<br /><br />"Really?" asked Claire, her eyes lighting up. How sweet of Jack to buy a gift for her cat. "Let's find her and give it to her."<br /><br />Lucy was sleeping in the over-stuffed easy chair in Claire's room. They knelt before her, and Claire opened the gift --a catnip mouse toy, and a bag of fresh catnip.<br /><br />"Oh, Jack! Give her some of this stuff and you're going to have a friend for life!"<br /><br />Jack opened the bag and offered some to Lucy in his upturned palm. She ate it gingerly, then settled back down. It would be a few moments until it kicked in.<br /><br />"Soooo...." sighed Jack as he stood, pulling Claire up with him, up into his arms. "Am I to take it by your last remark that you plan on keeping me around for a while?"<br /><br />"If you're good."<br /><br />"IF??? IF I'm good?"<br /><br />"You heard me."<br /><br />"I heard you...but I don't understand the meaning of this 'if'," he said, playing along with her. "I was under the impression, last night included, that I AM good."<br /><br />"One would think that a man of your advanced years would have figured out before now how to tell when a woman is faking it...."<br /><br />Jack clutched his chest. "Faking? I'm wounded to the quick! But tell me something, because I'm curious, and maybe you can help me understand," he began as he backed Claire up until she felt the bed against the backs of her legs. "If I'm so lousy, why is it that you feel the need to initiate a good 50% of our sexual encounters?"<br /><br />"Because you're not always lousy," she said jovially. "Sometimes, you're adequate."<br /><br />"Adequate?" he asked, pretending offence as his hands reached down to tug on the sash of her robe.<br /><br />Claire nodded, eyes open wide. Jack sensed a challenge in there somewhere, and being the sort of man who rises to any challenge (real or imaginary), he set about to prove his virility.<br /><br />As he divested her of the robe, he said, "I'll give you adequate."<br /><br />Instead, he rocked her world.<br /><br />They lay together, spent, for some time. Claire's head was nestled in the crook of Jack's shoulder, and Jack lay on his back with one arm wrapped around her, his face buried in her silken hair. She was tracing Jack's chest with her fingers when they heard Lucy hiss. They sat up to see Thumper sitting on his hind legs at the foot of the chair Lucy occupied, a piece of discarded wrapping paper hanging from his mouth. Behind him, a trail lead out of Claire's room and down the hall.<br /><br />"Oh, no!" she exclaimed.<br /><br />Jack laughed.<br /><br />"That reminds me," said Claire, "I have a bone to pick with you."<br /><br />"Really? And what would that be?"<br /><br />"Your dog pissed on my floor."<br /><br />They laughed, drawing Thumper's attention, giving Lucy free passage to escape. Thumper's head swung around to see Lucy bounding out of the room, and he took off after her.<br /><br />"Poor Luce," said Claire.<br /><br />"I'll save her," said Jack as he stood and put on his jeans.<br /><br />Claire watched as he made his way down the hall,, gathering shredded bits of wrapping paper as he went. She got up, picked up her robe and headed for the bathroom. She flipped on the light, opened the shower door, and turned the faucet on. After a moment, she stepped into the hot stream. A minute or two passed, and she began to wash her hair. She was rinsing the shampoo out when the door opened and Jack stepped in. Without a word, he reached up to help her finish rinsing the suds from her hair, then, silently reached for her bottle of conditioner.<br /><br />After she had washed his hair, Jack asked her, "What time are we supposed to be at your mother's?"<br /><br />"10 for breakfast with Mom, Mac, and Mac's mother. Later on, the rest of the family will be there, and we'll have dinner around 4. I hope you're hungry, because we pretty much eat all day."<br /><br />"Good," he said, "I'd say we worked up quite an appetite this morning."<br /><br />Claire smiled. Jack had picked up the bar of soap and the washcloth, and he began to lather her up, doing her back first, and then turning her so he could do the front. He lingered a little longer over her breasts than cleansing required. When it was Jack's turn to be washed, Claire repeated nearly the same pattern he had used with her. However, instead of turning him away from her to do his back, she took the sudsy wash cloth, pressed her slick body against his, slipped her arm beneath his, and lathered his back that what. She brought her arm around the front again, and scrubbed his arms, shoulders, chest, and stomach. Her hand slipped lower and she began to lightly soap the flaccid essence of him that had so recently brought her so much pleasure, and now lay dormant, nestled against his body.<br />
<br />
Instead of the perfunctory cleansing he had expected, her hand lingered there. He looked down into her beautiful face, her eyes light and happy, all trace of the troubles of the past weeks gone. He could see the glee in her face, and knew she derived such pleasure from teasing him the way she now was, from the feeling of power her ability to arouse him even when he'd just been spent gave her. When he felt that old, familiar tightness in his stomach and loins he groaned and moved her had away.<br /><br />"Something wrong?" she asked, eyes laughing, trying to suppress a smile.<br /><br />"You're brazen," he told her, "Know that?"<br /><br />"I try."<br /><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">*****</span></div>
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<br />At twenty minutes before 10, they pulled up in front of the Geller residence. They had to park down the block, and they sat in the car for a few moments.<br /><br />"Nervous?" she asked.<br /><br />"Maybe a little. You?"<br /><br />She reached over and took his hand, nodding. "It'll be fine," she said, as much to reassure herself as it was to reassure him. She squeezed, and he squeezed back.<br /><br />"C'mon," he said, and then let go of her hand. He opened his door, and she did the same.<br /><br />They got out of the car and Claire loped over to the sidewalk, taking Jack's hand. In his other hand, he carried a paper sack with the bottle of wine he'd brought, some hors d'ouerves Claire had made, as well as a salad. Claire had brought all the gifts over the previous morning.<br /><br />They stood on the porch for a minute. After their shower, Jack had put on a clean pair of jeans, a clean oxford, and the sweater Claire had given him. Claire wore a pair of fitted black polyester pants and a fitted periwinkle cardigan with a pair of black heeled boots. After a moment, Claire said, "Take a deep breath," and pressed the door buzzer.<br /><br />Mac opened the door, wearing his characteristic suit with it's little bow-tie.<br /><br />"Hey kiddo, Merry Christmas" he said as Claire dropped Jack's hand and stepped toward Mac to give him a hug.<br /><br />She stepped back and said, "Mac...this is Jack."<br /><br />Mac regarded him skeptically for a moment, then let out a chuckle, stuck his hand out and said, "Come on in, Jack. We've been looking forward to meeting you."<br /><br />"Thanks, Mac. It's good to meet you. Claire speaks fondly of you."<br /><br />Claire smiled. They stepped into the foyer and Mac took their coats. Jeannine came out from the kitchen.<br /><br />"Hi honey!" she said, and rushed to hug her daughter.<br /><br />"Merry Christmas, Mom."<br /><br />Jeannine released Claire and walked over to Jack, who was standing next to Mac, still holding the bag with food.<br /><br />"This must be the famous Mr. McCoy," she said, looking up at Jack.<br /><br />"I wouldn't say famous," said Jack, surprised to be looking down into Claire's face as it would look in another 25, 30 years Claire's mother was a slightly shorter, older version of Claire.<br /><br />"Infamous," piped Claire.<br /><br />"I'm Jeannine," she said, offering Jack her hand.<br /><br />He shook it and said, "It's a pleasure. I can see where Claire gets her looks."<br /><br />Jeannine blushed. Mac, while she knew he loved her dearly, was not one for compliments. "Thank you, Jack."<br /><br />"Flattery gets you everywhere," Mac told him, chuckling again.<br /><br />Jack had a feeling he and Mac would get along very well.<br /><br />"Let's go in the kitchen," said Jeannine. "Breakfast is almost ready and my husband's mother is going to thank we've forgotten her."<br /><br />Claire said in an aside to Jack as they walked toward the kitchen and she took the bag from him, "No one who meets Grandma Geller ever forgets her."<br /><br />Jack cocked his eyebrow at her.<br /><br />"You'll see."<br /><br />In the kitchen, Mac's mother, Violet, was busy scrambling eggs. Jeannine took over for her so she could be introduced to Jack. Even though Claire wasn't her biological grandchild, she had been part of her life long enough that she loved her as if she were.<br /><br />Violet was a woman in her early 80s. She was of medium height, a little on the heavy side, but had a friendly, pleasant face, marked by the years, and striking green eyes.<br /><br />Mac took the bag from Claire, and put the food away. Claire told her, "The wine is from Jack."<br /><br />"Thank you, Jack."<br /><br />"Ahhh, Claire, how are you, sweetheart?" said Violet, embracing the younger woman tightly.<br /><br />"I'm fine, Gram. How was your flight?"<br /><br />"Bumpy my girl, very, very bumpy. I think the pilot was doing a bit of," she tipped an imaginary bottle up to her lips, "before he set foot on the plane."<br /><br />Claire laughed. "Gram, I want to introduce you to someone."<br /><br />"I was wondering who this strange man was."<br /><br />"Gram, this is Jack McCoy. Jack, this is Mac's mother, Violet Geller."<br /><br />"Your boyfriend?" she whispered to Claire, who nodded.<br /><br />"It's a pleasure, Mrs. Geller," said Jack, offering his hand, and that wonderful closed lipped smile of his.<br /><br />"No one has ever called me Mrs. Geller. I'm Violet," she said, firmly shaking his hand in return.<br /><br />"Violet," said Jack.<br /><br />"I like him," said the older woman to Claire. "Attractive. A bit on the old side for you, maybe."<br /><br />Claire gave Jack an incredulous smile. He waved his hand as if to say, "No offence taken."<br /><br />They sat down for breakfast: eggs, home-made waffles, bacon, fruit, fresh orange juice, and coffee. Jack had been feeling rather uncomfortable about the whole thing (it had been many, many years since he'd met his lover's parents. But then, Claire was more than just his lover), but Claire's family was accepting him wonderfully. He had been worried most about her mother, and from what he was seeing, this woman before him didn't resemble the woman Claire had been so afraid to talk to. Of course, Claire HAD told him that her mother had turned over a new leaf in respect to her daughter, and so he was seeing the new, improved Jeannine Geller. And he knew that Claire was not prone to hyperbole, and knew he could trust her judgment. He breathed a silent sigh of relief that he was meeting her mother now, and not 2 weeks ago.<br /><br />When breakfast was finished, Jeannine asked Claire to help her clean up. Jack offered to help, but Claire told him he couldn't--she wanted to get her mother's opinion. Violet wanted to help, too, but they sent her out to the living room with the men, who had begun discussing the case against Gordon as they walked out of the kitchen.<br /><br />Claire and her mother were clearing the table in silence. Claire was just waiting for her mother to start in. It seemed to be going well, but she was still somewhat wary of her mother's reactions.<br /><br />As they rinsed the dishes and loaded the dishwasher, Claire couldn't take it anymore. She was going to burst if her mother didn't comment soon.<br /><br />"So?" she asked.<br /><br />"Hmmm?" replied her mother.<br /><br />"What do you think?"<br /><br />"Of?"<br /><br />"Mom, are you playing with me on purpose?"<br /><br />"A bit, honey."<br /><br />"C'mon, Mother."<br /><br />"I like him, Claire. I see the way he looks at you, and it's obvious he cares for you."<br /><br />"Do you like him because you like him, or do you like him because he loves me?"<br /><br />"Does it matter? I see the way you look at him, too, Claire. I don't think you really care for my blessing --that is, if I were to deny it, you would continue to see him. Not that I think you disregard my feelings, but I've never seen you look so happy with someone before."<br /><br />"You're right, mom, but that doesn't mean I don't want you to like him. If you do, it makes it so much easier on me."<br /><br />"I like him, Claire. He seems a good man. That I can tell he has deep feelings for you only bolsters my opinion of him. I can't say that I don't still have some reservations, but I think you know what you're doing."<br /><br />"Mom, he's very good to me. I told you about my birthday presents," she put the towel she was holding down and thrust her wrist out to her mother, "Look what he gave me for Christmas."<br /><br />Jeannine held her daughter's hand and raised it up to look at the diamond bracelet Jack had given her.<br /><br />"Wow," said Jeannine. "Do you think you could get Jack to talk to your step-father for me? I didn't get a tennis bracelet from Mac until our 5th anniversary."<br /><br />"I got a couple of other thinks, too."<br /><br />"Really? What else?"<br /><br />"Jack got a picture from the Christmas party of us dancing together, and he had it blown-up and framed. And then he got me a..." here she paused, remembering for a minute that she was talking to her mother, and she didn't want to traumatise her.<br /><br />"And a.... what?"<br /><br />"Um... Nevermind."<br /><br />"Oh, I see," her mother replied.<br /><br />When they had the kitchen cleaned of the breakfast dishes, and had some of the things for dinner ready, they went out to join the others.<br /><br />Mac was sitting on an ottoman in front of the fireplace, Violet was in Mac's easy chair, and Jack was sitting at the extreme end of the couch. Claire sat next to Jack, leaning her head back against his arm which was draped along the back of the sofa.<br /><br />"My sons should be arriving soon," said Mac.<br /><br />"I'm so glad John and Marry are coming. In Marry's shoes, with such a tiny baby, I may have stayed home," said Claire.<br /><br />"I'm anxious to see my newest grandchild again," said Mac, "as well as Roger's brood."<br /><br />"Roger and his wife have four kids between the ages of 5 and 12," Claire told Jack. "And my cousin who'll be here later, she and her husband have a set of 3 year-old twins."<br /><br />Jack looked a bit uneasy at the thought of so many small children being in the house at once.<br /><br />"They're all incredibly well behaved," she told him, "And Roger's oldest likes to play little mother to all the younger children."<br /><br />The five of them continued to talk, and eventually the topic of Christmas gifts came up, and Jeannine made Claire show Mac and his mother her new bracelet.<br /><br />Violet was duly impressed, and Mac asked, "So, Claire, what did you give Jack?"<br /><br />"The sweater he's wearing, those scales I was telling you about," she looked over at Jack, and slipped her hand into his where it rested on his thigh, smiled at him, and continued, "And a puppy."<br /><br />"Puppy?" asked Violet.<br /><br />Jack said, "It was something I happened to mention to Claire that I'd always wanted, but for one reason or another, I never had one."<br /><br />"What kind of puppy?" Violet asked.<br /><br />"He's the most precious little thing," said Claire. "He's a 9 week old black lab, cocker spaniel mix."<br /><br />"Have you named him, Jack?" Claire's mother asked him.<br /><br />"Thumper," said Jack.<br /><br />"Like the rabbit in Bambi," added Claire.<br /><br />Mac got a good chuckle out of that. "I'm assuming his leg shakes when you rub his stomach?"<br /><br />"How'd you know?" asked Claire.<br /><br />Mac's chuckle turned into a guffaw. "It's obvious you've never been around dogs, Claire. Most dogs do that."<br /><br />Claire's cheeks flushed slightly. "Really?"<br /><br />Jack added, "I didn't know that either."<br /><br />Violet sealed it. "I like the name."<br /><br />"Well, then I'll keep it," said Jack, winking at her.<br /><br />"I like this one," she said to no one in particular.<br /><br />A few more minutes passed, and Claire's mom did the unspeakable: she offered to bring out Claire's baby books for Jack to look at.<br /><br />Claire stood and quickly offered Jack a tour of the house, which he, sensing her embarrassment, accepted post haste.<br /><br />She took him upstairs, and directly into her old bedroom. Just before opening the door, she said, "You are about to get a glimpse into the adolescent life of Claire Kincaid. My mother has kept this room the way I left it when I moved out to go to college. No snide comments about the stuff on the walls. Or the colour scheme."<br /><br />With that, she opened the door and flipped on the light. They stepped in, and Claire closed the door behind him.<br /><br />Jack stifled the urge to chuckle. For some reason, he couldn't imagine Claire as a teenager. He couldn't imagine her ever having been an awkward adolescent riddled with the self-doubt of that age.<br /><br />"I like it," he told her.<br /><br />"Liar," she said, moving so she stood directly in front of him. "I don't even like it anymore, and I used to live in here."<br /><br />"It's not... too...bad," he told her. "I like the poster above your bed, by the way."<br /><br />"Do you?" she asked, taking a step closer to him and laying her hands on his shoulders.<br /><br />He dropped his hands to her waist and inclined his head up to the ceiling. "I don't know though," he said, "I myself might have gone with a mirror."<br /><br />She laughed, low. "You would. But how, pray tell, as a teenager, would I have explained a mirror above my bed to my mother?"<br /><br />"Ah, yes. I hadn't though about that," he said, his voice growing softer. Claire was so close, looking directly into his eyes, smiling. Everything about her seemed to be smiling today, and it warmed his heart to see her so. He leaned forward and touched his lips to hers softly.<br /><br />After a moment, he pulled his head back and looked down at her.<br /><br />Quietly, as she tightened her arms around his neck, she asked, "Are you going to be okay with all of the kids and babies today?"<br /><br />"I like kids and babies, Claire. I'm not an ogre."<br /><br />"That's not what I meant... I just thought maybe..."<br /><br />"I haven't been around very many children. Maggie some, and Paul and Anna's kids, before...well..." his voice trailed off. "But I do like kids."<br /><br />"Good."<br /><br />"So...tell me something?"<br /><br />"Anything."<br /><br />"Why didn't you want me to see your baby pictures?"<br /><br />Claire blushed "I haven't been through those books in some time, but I know that I had this habit of running around without a stitch of clothing once I learned to walk until I went off to pre-school and had to learn to keep my clothes on. And my mother had a camera permanently attached to her hand for the first 18 years of my life."<br /><br />"I've seen you naked plenty of times..."<br /><br />"But not like that, Jack. Back then, I had chubby thighs, fat rolls, and no hair."<br /><br />Jack laughed. "I bet you were a beautiful baby."<br /><br />"I was bald until I was 2 1/2. They used to tape gift-bows to my head."<br /><br />"Now I'm intrigued."<br /><br />Jack laughed at Claire's look of consternation, and so she gave Jack a shove, landing him on his butt on her old bed. He reached over, grabbed one of her hands, and pulled her closer to him.<br /><br />"If you were interested in having sex," he said, gripping her waist, "You didn't need to resort to cave-woman tactics."<br /><br />"First of all... I never resort to cave-woman tactics," she said, taking a seat on his lap, "And secondly, I've never had sex in my mother's house."<br /><br />"There's a first time for everything," he said, and she leaned in to kiss him.<br /><br />Their kiss was getting hotter, hands roaming farther a field, when they heard the chime of the doorbell.<br /><br />"Oh well," said Claire jovially as she stood, hauling Jack up after her, "I guess today is not the day I get to violate the sanctity of my mother's home."<br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">*****</span></div>
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<br />By one o'clock, the house was alive with Claire's family. When Claire's cousin Michelle and her husband Daniel and their twins finally showed up (Michelle was perennially running behind schedule) all of the children were herded into the living room where all the adults already were for the opening of presents. Chaos ensued as the children made short work of their gifts. Wrapping paper flew everywhere as Michelle and Daniel and Roger and his wife Caitlin attempted to keep track of what their children were getting and from whom.<br /><br />Jack took all of this in. He was happy that Claire, despite the emotional distance that had existed for so long between she and her mother, had been a part of a family that obviously cared for one another. Mac and his sons were close, that much was obvious. Claire had previously told him that Roger, the elder of the two, was 3 years older than she was, while John was less than a year her junior. Mac's first wife had gone off to 'find herself' after their divorce, leaving Mac to raise his sons. Mac and Jeannine had been lucky: after their marriage, the three children had gotten along much better than most mixed families. Jack remembered Claire telling him that she and John had been particularly close owing to their close age.<br /><br />Jack was talking to Roger and Claire's uncle when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw John, whom Claire had been conversing with while admiring his new-born, gingerly place the baby into Claire's arms. He had never thought about Claire and motherhood in the same thought before. She had been, in his mind, Claire the lawyer, Claire the lover, Claire the daughter and Claire the friend. Seeing her gazing down at the tiny bundle in her arms changed that. Suddenly, the idea of Claire the wife and Claire the mother stole into his brain, and for the first time in many, many years, the idea of himself as a husband didn't seem so crazy.<br /><br />"Don't get ahead of yourself, McCoy," he told himself, "You've been together a month..."<br /><br />Claire sensed herself being watched, and she looked up, her eyes meeting Jack's instantly. They smiled at each other, and Jack wondered if Claire could read his thoughts. In fact, she was wondering if HE could read HERS. Motherhood was not a subject to which she had given much thought: it was something to be thought on in the future. She figured that eventually she would have a child, maybe two, but not for some time. Holding this tiny baby in her arms, for the first time ever, she experienced a physical desire to be a mother. It was a foreign felling for her, and though she still wanted to put it off for a while, the desire was there. She knew it was because for the first time in her 29 years, she was with a man to whom she could imagine herself pledging her life.<br /><br />Violet, too, had been watching Claire with her newest great-grandchild, and had seen the look exchanged between Jack and Claire. Loud enough that it drew the entire attention of everyone in the room, Violet said to Jack, "So tell me, Jack ... when are you going to take our Claire off our hands and give her one of those of her own to play with?"<br /><br />"Gram!!!" exclaimed Claire. She was absolutely, positively mortified that Violet had asked that. She looked at Jack. He appeared only slightly uncomfortable and Claire was relieved.<br /><br />There was an uncomfortable silence in the room for a minute, and then Jeannine gathered her wits, picked her jaw up off the floor, and scolded her mother-in-law. The subject was quickly changed. In light of what they had both been thinking, the change of subject was a relief for Jack and Claire.<br />
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<br />At four pm, as Claire had promised, they sat down to dinner. Jeannine had prepared quite a spread: turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, rolls, a green bean casserole, a pasta salad, and the green salad Claire had brought. Between the adults, several bottles of wine were consumed.<br /><br />Dinner was followed by coffee and conversation for the adults, and play time for the children Roger and Caitlin's 10 year old became fascinated by Jack when he overheard Claire' mention something about Jack's motorcycle. After that, Jack had himself a little friend and admirer, who also appreciated Jack's love of fishing.<br /><br />When dessert could be mentioned without a collective groan from the well fed mass of Claire's family, Jeannine served up the apple and pumpkin pies her sister had brought. Eventually, those members of the family that had commuted in that day had to make their way back to Penn Station for their respective train rides home. Jack and Claire were last to leave. Jack thanked Mac and Jeannine for their hospitality, telling them he couldn't remember the last time he'd enjoyed Christmas as much as he did this day.<br /><br />In Claire's car on the way home, it was decided that she would stay the night at Jack's, despite the fact that they had work in the morning, "to help Thumper through the transition to his new home."<br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">*****</span></div>
<br />They lay entwined in each other much later that night, talking. Thumper was asleep in the makeshift bed they had made for him in the corner of Jack's room.<br /><br />"I enjoyed your family, Claire," he told her, her head rising and falling on his chest as he spoke.<br /><br />"I'm glad. Mother likes you."<br /><br />"For which I am immensely grateful."<br /><br />"I'd say you were a hit with the whole family. Little Roger sure liked you."<br /><br />"Were Christmases always like this for you?"<br /><br />"After mom and Mac married, yes."<br /><br />"I wish ... I wish I could have known just one Christmas like that when I was a kid."<br /><br />Claire didn't know what to say, and so they fell silent, feeling each others' warmth, listening to each other breathe. Jack rubbed Claire's shoulder, and she was lightly stroking his side. After a time, they slept, dreaming of each other, and the future they might have together. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-9060285573405006402012-11-15T00:22:00.001-08:002012-11-15T00:22:25.356-08:00Highwire - Part 19The next two days were insane. In the office, Jack and Claire barely had time to remember to breathe, let alone stop working long enough to have lunch together. As with most things, where there is a will, there is a way, and so, both days, they managed to steal an hour for lunch together. "Working lunches" they called them, though no work, other than a few minor case related debates, was actually accomplished.<br /><br />The case against Paul Koppel was really beginning to come together, but he had managed to get the Judge to grant a pre-trial hearing, and they were to give arguments in front of her the next week. The Gordon case, on which Claire was still consulting, though she was not "technically" still on the case, was also beginning to solidify. With the new charges, they had managed to get a new judge, and Jack had Chet working on precedents and Supreme Court holdings that would allow them to get the DNA evidence in. Jack was hot to make sure that Gordon was going away for life, and it was imperative that they be able to nail him for the murdered girl.<br /><br />By the end of both days, the two of them were both mentally and physically exhausted, ruling out everything beyond a couple of drinks in the way of after work "quality time". They spoke on the phone for sometime both nights. The puppy, on Friday night, almost blew Jack's surprise, when, after having chased Lucy up and over the gate in the kitchen, and not being able to make it over himself, he began to bark and whine.<br /><br />"What was that?" asked Jack.<br /><br />The puppy ceased.<br /><br />"What was what?"<br /><br />He started up again.<br /><br />"That."<br /><br />"Sounds like a dog barking."<br /><br />"You don't have a dog," he said. "But it sounded too close to be one of the neighbours'."<br /><br />"I've got the TV on in the other room," she covered, then walked down the hall to her bedroom and shut the door."<br /><br />"Where are you now?"<br /><br />"My bedroom."<br /><br />"Ohhh, reeeealy?" he said. "Soooo....what are you wearing?"<br /><br />They forgot about the barking.<br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">*****</span></div>
<br />On Saturday evening, Christmas Eve, Jack arrived at Claire's just after 6 pm, as they had previously agreed, carrying a paper sack with handles in one hand, and an overnight bag on the opposite shoulder. He was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a sweater. Claire, too, wore jeans, though hers were black, with a long-sleeved, fitted purple polyester blouse.<br /><br />"Hi!" he said when Claire opened the door. He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek.<br /><br />"Hi," she replied. "Did you take a cab?"<br /><br />He nodded.<br /><br />"Go on into the living room," she told him, "I have to go get one of your presents from my room. I have to give it to you now because I won't be able to keep a lid on it for very long."<br /><br />"Wait..." he called after her as she headed down the hall. She had stuck the puppy in her bathroom until she was ready to give him to Jack.<br /><br />She turned around to see him pulling two bottles of red wine out of the paper sack.<br /><br />"One is for us tonight," he told her, "The other goes with us to your mother's tomorrow."<br /><br />"Oh, Jack, you didn't have to bring anything to my Mom's," she told him. "But you'll win some big brownie points for the wine. Particularly since it's red."<br /><br />"Shall I put the bottles in the kitchen?"<br /><br />"Yes," she began, then remembered the puppy's food bowl, water dish, and "mess" paper. "Actually, no... just hang out in here for a couple of minutes while I go get your gift."<br /><br />He gave her a slightly confused look, but nodded his agreement.<br /><br />"I'll just be a minute." When she was gone, he put several wrapped packages under the tree for her.<br /><br />In her bathroom, Claire was tying a red bow around the puppy's little neck. She came out and stood at the entrance to her bedroom, puppy in her arms.<br /><br />"Jack?" she called.<br /><br />"Yes?"<br /><br />"Sit down and close your eyes, okay?"<br /><br />"What're you up to?" he queried.<br /><br />"Just do it, okay?"<br /><br />"Alright."<br /><br />She started down the hall.<br /><br />"Are you sitting?"<br /><br />"Yes."<br /><br />"And your eyes are closed?"<br /><br />"Yes."<br /><br />"Okay then, keep 'em closed," she said as she turned into the living room. Jack was seated on the sofa. Holding the puppy close, she sat next to him.<br /><br />"Can I open my eyes?"<br /><br />"Not just yet."<br /><br />She held the puppy out at arms length, leaned closer to Jack, and held the puppy up near his face. The puppy sniffed him, then wiggled happily in Claire's hands, then licked Jack's nose.<br /><br />At this, Jack's eyes flew open.<br /><br />He looked shocked.<br /><br />Claire laughed as Jack reached up to take his new into his hands, and it continued to lick his face. "Claire? ... What? ... A puppy?"<br /><br />He didn't seem happy, and Claire was crushed.<br /><br />"You don't ... you don't want him?" Jack could hear the hurt and disappointment in her voice.<br /><br />"No ... God no," he told her, "I'll happily keep him. It's just that... this is the last thing I'd have expected."<br /><br />This made Claire happy.<br /><br />The puppy yipped, and Jack held him up and looked into his eyes. He grinned hugely, feeling something very close to the emotions he had felt when his mother had agreed to speak to his father about keeping the stray that had followed him home. He had thought, after his father had the animal destroyed, that he would never again open his heart to an animal, but one look into that puppy's face, and he couldn't help himself. There was something so inherently sweet about the sad-eyed black puppy with curly, floppy ears; he couldn't help but open his heart to him.<br /><br />He leaned over and kissed Claire.<br /><br />"Thank you," he told her, "I know why you did this, and that makes it all the more meaningful. Thank you. He's adorable.<br /><br />She stood and walked to the Christmas tree, silently noting the packages Jack had set under the tree. She pulled a gift-bag from behind the tree.<br /><br />"Here's some puppy-stuff," she said, and knelt on the floor between the fireplace and the coffee table. Jack and the puppy joined her.<br /><br />When Jack set him down, he began to shake his head, trying to dislodge the annoying red bow. Jack and Claire laughed heartily as the puppy shook his head so furiously, he knocked himself over.<br /><br />"He's rambunctious," she told Jack., wiping the tears from her eyes as the puppy picked himself up and started shaking his head again, knocking himself over once more. "You're going to have your hands full until he gets a little older. I tried to discipline him some, but he'd look up at me with those puppy-dog eyes, and I didn't have the heart.<br /><br />"You know... if you ever have children," said Jack. "They're going to be able to manipulate the hell out of you."<br /><br />She laughed. "You're probably right. Like you, I talk a big game, but on the inside I'm just a big softy."<br /><br />She started pulling items out from the bag: chew toys, a couple of bones, a collar and leash, and an envelope.<br /><br />She picked up the tug-toy. "He likes this one best," she informed Jack. "Watch."<br /><br />Holding it in front of the puppy, she shook it until he showed interest, and pounced on it, taking the free end in his mouth. He began to growl as he pulled backward, shaking his head side to side, his eyes going crossed and ears flopping to and fro. Jack and Claire started to laugh.<br /><br />"He's nine weeks old," she said as she handed the toy to Jack. "He's had his first shots, but he still needs to be fixed. This," she said, picking up the envelope, "Is a gift certificate to have that done if and when you want to. He's pretty much house-trained, but he's had a few lapses."<br /><br />"I still can't believe you're giving me a dog for Christmas."<br /><br />"I've got a couple of other things for you, too."<br /><br />"You didn't have to," he said, concerned. "He would have been enough."<br /><br />"I bought the other stuff, first, so don't worry about it, okay? After you told me that story, the idea of giving you a puppy dawned on me, and so I did it."<br /><br />"Did you name him?" he asked.<br /><br />"Nope, that's your job," she told him. "Just do me a favour will you?"<br /><br />"Anything."<br /><br />"Don't name him anything silly or common. There are too many dogs named Max, Rover, Spike and Spot."<br /><br />"I'll put a good deal of thought into it, I promise," he said. "Lucy will be thrilled when I take him home, I expect."<br /><br />"You're probably right," she told him. "He seems to like Lucy an awful lot. Won't leave her alone. I get the feeling he thinks they're the same species. But then, Lucy thinks she's human, so..."<br /><br />"So you're giving me a dog with an identity complex?"<br /><br />Claire laughed. "Yep, that's about it..."<br /><br />"So now I have to figure out how to give him back his inherent 'dogness'? Great, thanks a lot, Kincaid."<br /><br />"Take him to a pet psycho-therapist," she joked. "They have them now, you know."<br /><br />"What a crock!" he said. "Anything else I should know about him?"<br /><br />"He likes his belly rubbed."<br /><br />"We have something in common."<br /><br />"Yeah, but your left leg doesn't shake when I scratch your stomach."<br /><br />"I could make it if it'd turn you on..."<br /><br />Claire laughed.<br /><br />"Anything else?" he asked.<br /><br />"He has to sleep with you or he'll bark and whine all night."<br /><br />"Great...so you're giving me a spoiled dog who doesn't think he's a dog. Some gift. What else?"<br /><br />She thought for a moment. "Keep him away from low-lying pillows."<br /><br />"Did he shred one?" asked Jack.<br /><br />"Yep."<br /><br />"Sorry about that. What did you do with him when you went to work?"<br /><br />"Put him in the kitchen with one of those child safety gates blocking the door. You can have it now."<br /><br />Jack resumed playing with his new pet, and Claire stood. Jack looked up at her with a questioning look.<br /><br />"I'm gonna go work on dinner."<br /><br />"Want some help?"<br /><br />"No... you stay, okay? You boys need to bond."<br /><br />Jack chuckled. He felt giddy, almost, like a kid in a candy store.<br /><br />She turned and crossed the hall to the kitchen. He watched her go. She paused at the door to undo the safety gate, and let the kitchen door close behind her.<br /><br />"She's remarkable, really something special," he told himself. "She's the one, McCoy, so don't blow it. Don't play your freakin' games."<br /><br />The puppy had insinuated himself onto Jack's lap, and bounced up to lick him in the face.<br /><br />He had been playing with the puppy for several minutes when Claire pushed the kitchen door open and said, "Don't tire him out too much just yet....you want to do that just before bedtime so he sleeps for the night."<br /><br />"Yes Mom," he teased.<br /><br />"Shut up," she said, then stuck her tongue out at him.<br /><br />Jack began to play with the puppy, which he did for sometime. Suddenly, from the kitchen, he heard a loud crashing sound, followed by a stream of swear words from Claire. He scooped the puppy up and crossed to the kitchen.<br /><br />"Having some trouble?" he asked as he pushed the door open to see Claire trying to re-hang one side of the rack that held her pots and pans. He set the puppy down. "Here, let me get that for you."<br /><br />"Thanks," said Claire as she bent to pick up the pots and pans that had clattered to the floor.<br /><br />"What happened?"<br /><br />"I don't know...I was trying to get one of the large pots down so I could do the vegetables, and that one side of the hanging rack came crashing down on me."<br /><br />He got the hook back onto the chain that hung from the ceiling. "There, that should do it," he told her, then helped her to hang her pots and pans on the rack.<br /><br />"My hero," she said jokingly, and draped her arms around his neck. "Thanks."<br /><br />"Think nothing of it," he told her, and rested his hands on her hips. He leaned in for a kiss, which she returned, with pleasure.<br /><br />What started off as a semi-chaste kiss quickly turned into something more passionate, more intense. Claire's arms tightened around Jack's neck, and he pulled her closer, slipping his arms around to her back, his hands resting just above her behind. A few moments passed thusly, until the puppy, having his fill of food and water, wandered over and sat at their feet, letting out a quiet yip that drew their attention.<br /><br />They looked down at him and laughed.<br /><br />"What's the matter boy?" Jack asked.<br /><br />"I think he's jealous, babe," said Claire.<br /><br />"Of you?"<br /><br />"Nope... he's just met you....he's spent the week with me. I think he's jealous of YOU."<br /><br />Jack bent down and picked him up. The puppy excitedly licked his face.<br /><br />"There goes that theory," laughed Claire.<br /><br />"What're we having for dinner?" Jack asked Claire.<br /><br />"Prime rib, baked potatoes, vegetables, salad and bread."<br /><br />"Mmmm....sounds wonderful. How much longer until it's ready?" he asked.<br /><br />"About 40 minutes."<br /><br />"You sure there's nothing I can do to help?"<br /><br />"Nope, I'm making dinner," she said. "Why don't you play with the puppy some more?"<br /><br />"Alright...but if you need me to do anything, just let me know."<br /><br />"I will."<br /><br />Jack, puppy in his arms, headed out of the kitchen.<br /><br />"Jack?"<br /><br />He turned around.<br /><br />"You know what you can do for me?"<br /><br />"What's that?"<br /><br />"You know that table along the left wall of my living room? The one with the globe and clock and plant?" she asked.<br /><br />"What about it?"<br /><br />"Could you clear it off and move it in between the coffee table and the mantle?"<br /><br />"Of course."<br /><br />"Thanks."<br /><br />He set the puppy down and tried to figure out how to set up the safety gate. Several moments later, he gave up.<br /><br />"Claire? You want to show me how to work this thing?"<br /><br />She chuckled. "Sure."<br /><br />Once the gate was up, Jack washed his hands and then disappeared across the hall.<br /><br />A few minutes later, he appeared in the doorway again, standing on the opposite side of the gate.<br /><br />"Okay, it's done. Want me to set it?"<br /><br />"That'd be great," she said. "You know where everything is."<br /><br />He nodded and stepped over the gate. He washed his hands quickly before pulling the plates, silverware, and glasses from the cupboards and drawers, and set the table as he had offered to do.<br /><br />When dinner was ready, they carried the food into the living room. Jack had previously lit a fire. Claire lit the candles she'd had Jack set in the middle of the table, then switched on the tree lights, and switched off the lamps. The room glowed from the light of the fire, candles, and twinkling lights of the Christmas tree. Claire turned her stereo on, and lowered the volume as Jack opened the bottle of wine. The scene in her living room was incredibly romantic.<br /><br />They sat down to eat, Jack, acting the part of the gallant, pulling Claire's chair out and pushing it in for her as she sat. He sat in the chair he'd placed to the left of hers, and poured them both a glass of wine as she started to dish up her food.<br /><br />They didn't rush their meal, but sat for a goodly amount of time, just eating, drinking wine, and talking. When they were both full, Jack leaned back in his chair and set his napkin on his plate.<br /><br />"That was wonderful, Claire," he said. "You're a great cook."<br /><br />"You think I'm good? Just wait until you eat my mother's cooking tomorrow. She can run rings around me in the kitchen. But thank you."<br /><br />"Do you want to open presents now?" he asked.<br /><br />"Oh, let's wait until morning?"<br /><br />"That's fine," he said, "But there is one of yours that I want you to open tonight."<br /><br />She cocked an eyebrow at him.<br /><br />"You'll like it," he told her, thinking to himself, "So will I."<br /><br />"Do you want some coffee?" she asked.<br /><br />"We still have half a bottle of wine," he told her.<br /><br />She looked at the bottle sitting on the table. "So we do. Some more?" she asked, lifting the bottle and pouring herself a glass. Jack held his glass up for her, and she filled it, too.<br /><br />"Did you make anything for dessert?"<br /><br />"You're still hungry?"<br /><br />"No...but I might be, later."<br /><br />"Yes, I have something for dessert."<br /><br />"Good."<br /><br />They cleared the table and loaded the dishes in the dishwasher, storing the leftovers in Tupperware, and placing them on the shelves of the refrigerator, except for a few slices of the meat, which Claire cut up very small. She put some in the puppy's dish, and some in Lucy's. The puppy scarfed his down, and then Jack picked him up, and they went out into the living room.<br /><br />Sitting in front of the fire, watching Jack play with his dog, Claire got an idea.<br /><br />"Hey..." she began. "Do you want to take him for a walk?"<br /><br />He looked up at her. "Have you taken him for one yet?"<br /><br />"No I haven't."<br /><br />"Do you think he's big enough? It won't be too cold?"<br /><br />Claire thought for a moment. "Well, I don't know. Lucy is the only pet I've ever had. I think he's big enough. The collar fits him, and it hasn't snowed yet this winter. I think it should be okay. If we get down there and it's too cold, we'll come back up."<br /><br />"Why not?"<span style="color: #741b47;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #741b47;">*****</span></div>
<br />They had stopped in a coffee shop on the way back. Before entering, Jack partially unbuttoned his coat, and placed the puppy inside, buttoning the jacket up again, with Claire's help. They went in and ordered their drinks: a cappuccino for Jack, a non-fat mocha for Claire. Out on the street again, they set the puppy on the ground again, and walking slowly so as not to tax his little legs, they headed for Claire's, drinking their coffee and talking the entire way.<br /><br />Back in Claire's condo, they polished off their espresso drinks and watched the puppy romp around the living room, playing with his various toys, sniffing corners and the packages Jack had put under the tree.<br /><br />"Is there any of that wine left?" asked Claire.<br /><br />"Yes, there was. Do you want more?"<br /><br />She nodded, and Jack got up to go into her kitchen. He returned a few moments later, with two filled glasses. Claire was on the floor, the puppy in her lap. He was jumping up and down, attempting to grab hold of the tug toy Claire was holding just out of his reach.<br /><br />"Quit teasing my dog," Jack joked as Claire moved the puppy off her lap and stood, taking one of the glasses from him.<br /><br />They sat on the sofa, Claire leaning into Jack as he draped an arm over her shoulder. The puppy continued to explore Claire's living room as they watched, laughing at his reaction whenever he encountered something completely foreign to him.<br /><br />Suddenly Jack stood and walked to the Christmas tree. He retrieved one of the presents he had set there earlier, and walked back over to Claire. He sat next to her, handed her the box, and said, "This is the one I want you to open tonight."<br /><br />She smiled and set her glass of wine on the table. She pulled the bow apart and it fell, forgotten, to the floor. She eagerly tore into the wrapping paper, and uncovered a Victoria's Secret Box. She started to laugh.<br /><br />"What?" asked Jack, perplexed.<br /><br />"Something kind of amusing about the idea of you going into Victoria's Secret. That, and, isn't this going to be more for you than me?"<br /><br />Jack grinned rakishly. "That was the idea. Christmas gift to myself. Only it's gonna look a helluva lot better on you than me. Open the box."<br /><br />She opened it, pulled the sticker off the tissue paper, and pulled the sides of the tissue paper apart. She picked up the straps of an ivory coloured sheer lace negligee. When on, it would barely reach the top of her thighs. The breast section had several layers of lace, and therefore was not as sheer as the rest. It was a delicate, satiny feeling lace, and was, as is most Victoria's secret lingerie, beautiful. Beneath the negligee was a set of matching panties, bikini cut, with very thin straps that would rest on her hips.<br /><br />"Jack..." she said softly, "It's beautiful!"<br /><br />"You like it?"<br /><br />"Of course!"<br /><br />"Good...I was walking by the store, and I saw that in the window, and, well, it just looked like you."<br /><br />"Thank you!" she said, and leaned over to plant a big kiss on his cheek, that traveled lower, to his lips.<br /><br />The kiss was interrupted when they heard the rustling of paper, and looked down to see the puppy dragging the discarded wrapping paper into the middle of the living room.<br /><br />"Would now be a good time to start wearing him out?" asked Jack.<br /><br />"Yes, it would."<br /><br />With the two of them working to tire out the pup, in no time at all he was exhausted. Friskiness gone, he lay down in front of the fireplace. As he started to doze, Claire knelt and picked him up. Jack followed as she carried him down the hall into her bedroom, and laid him down on her bed. He seemed to catch a second wind, and bounded to his feet as Jack and Claire headed out the door.<br /><br />"Uh-oh," said Jack as the puppy yipped as loud as he could. He was at the edge of the bed, peering over at the floor as the he were preparing to launch himself off of it.<br /><br />In fact, that is exactly what he did, landing with a pathetic yelp, as puppies, unlike cats, do not always land on their feet. Claire rushed to pick him up. She cuddled him close, then sat with him on her bed.<br /><br />"Jack, c'mere," she said, "We're going to fool him."<br /><br />"Fool him? How?"<br /><br />"We're going to lay with him and make him think we're going to sleep, too."<br /><br />She placed the puppy down on the bed, near the foot of the side she occupied whenever Jack stayed with her (on night's spent alone, she generally slept in the middle of her bed). She lay with her head at the foot of her bed, and began to stroke the soft fur on the puppy's back as he snuggled down next to her.<br /><br />Jack smiled at the tableaux they presented, then lay down behind Claire. He draped his arm over her so that he, too, might lull his pet to sleep with the soothing touch of his hand. He propped his head up on his other hand, and looked down at Claire. He smiled, then lowered his head to place a gentle kiss on the crook of her neck.<br /><br />"Thank you for this, Claire," he said softly, "I can't recall having received a more thoughtful, meaningful gift."<br /><br />"You're welcome, Jack. It was my pleasure."<br /><br />"Tell me something?"<br /><br />"Sure," she replied.<br /><br />"What would you have done if I hadn't wanted him?"<br /><br />"Welllllll...." she drawled, "I'd have felt like crap. Then I would have had to dump you for your insensitivity and ungratefulness. And I would have kept him for myself."<br /><br />Jack chuckled so that the bed shook.<br /><br />"That wasn't a joke," she lied teasingly.<br /><br />"No? Well then..." and he dug his fingers into her side, tickling her in one of the sensitive spots he'd discovered the night they'd gotten drunk together.<br /><br />"Jack! Stop!" she gasped through her laughter. "You'll get the puppy too excited and he'll never go to sleep!"<br /><br />Jack gave her the respite she craved. The puppy had rolled to his back as Claire spoke, and she took advantage of the chubby tummy that was exposed to her due to this posture. Sure enough, as she had mentioned to Jack, his left leg began to shake in time with the motion of her hand. The leg shook faster as she increased the tempo of her rubbing, and both she and Jack laughed softly.<br /><br />"He really gets that leg going, doesn't he?" inquired Jack.<br /><br />"Yep."<br /><br />She stopped rubbing his stomach, and soon he had fallen asleep<br /><br />"I think he's asleep," said Jack after a minute.<br /><br />Claire rolled over and rested a hand on Jack's side.<br /><br />"You do really like him, don't you?"<br /><br />"Yes, Claire, I do."<br /><br />"Good," she whispered, and closed her eyes as she leaned her head closer to his.<br /><br />He felt her warm breath on his face just before he felt her lips on his.<br /><br />After a moment, she broke the kiss and said, "Lets go back out into the living room."<br /><br />He nodded and got up, helping Claire up after him. He wrapped an arm around her waist and they walked down the hall together. In the living room, they sat, wordlessly, on the sofa.<br /><br />"Let's polish off that bottle of wine," said Jack.<br /><br />"There's still some left?"<br /><br />"Mmmhmm. I'll go get it."<br /><br />When Jack was in the kitchen, Claire picked up the box containing her negligee, and hurried down the hall to her bedroom. When jack came back out, she wasn't there, and he figured she must have gone to use the bathroom. He resumed his position on her sofa and waited for her to return.<br /><br />In her bathroom, Claire was busy putting the nightie on. When it was on, she picked up her brush and brushed her hair out, and then put her discarded clothing into the hamper. On the way out to the living room, she paused by the full length antique mirror in her bedroom, and looked at herself.<br /><br />"Jack certainly has good taste in lingerie," she said quietly to herself. The negligee looked great on her. The see-through portion of it clung to her body, showing off the curves of her waist and hips. The panties that went along with it were tiny, revealing a fair portion of her pelvis in front, and behind in back. Before heading back to her living room, she pulled her velour robe out of the closet and put it on.<br /><br />She entered the living room quietly. Jack was sitting on the sofa, staring at the fire. She stepped into his line of sight, robe wrapped tightly around her.<br /><br />"I was beginning to think you'd fallen in," he said, standing and moving around the coffee table. He approached her, holding both glasses of wine in his hand. They were both a little over half full. "I see you decided to slip into something more comfortable."<br /><br />"You might say that," she said, taking the glass he offered her, and setting it on the mantle.<br /><br />"Not thirsty?"<br /><br />"I am, but I wanted to show you something first."<br /><br />"Oh?"<br /><br />With that, she reached down and tugged on the belt of her robe. The robe came open, she eased it off her shoulders, and tossed it so that it landed partially on her easy chair, partially on the floor.<br /><br />Jack's breath caught in his throat. He let out a low whistle. "I knew it'd look good on you," he said. "You'd make a burlap bag look sexy. But... I... I never expected.... Wow."<br /><br />Silently, she took his wine glass from him and set it on the mantle with hers. She took a step toward him, and stood on her tip toes so that she could wrap her arms around his neck. His hands came up to rest on her waist, and their lips found one another in a enthusiastic, open-mouthed kiss.<br /><br />"Merry Christmas," he said when they came up for air.<br /><br />"To you, too, lover," she replied, then began kissing him again.<br /><br />She stepped out of his arms and grabbed their wine glasses off the mantle. She inclined her head, indicating that Jack should follow her, and went and sat on the couch, tucking her feet underneath her. Jack sat next to her, crossed his legs, and took his wine glass from her.<br /><br />When the glasses were empty, he turned to her and reached up to grip the back of her neck with one of his large hands. He pressed her forward, meeting her half way, and closed his lips over hers. He leaned into her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He lifted her slightly and pulled her closer to him, pulled her over onto his lap. She arranged herself so that she was sitting back on his thighs, legs draped on either side of him. She took his face in her hands and kissed him again, feeling his hands sliding slowly down her back, then down over the back of her thighs. He moved them back up again, slipping them beneath the thin fabric of her new nightie.<br /><br />His hands kneaded her behind before traveling higher to rest in the middle of her back. His kisses trailed away from her mouth, along her jaw line, over to her earlobe, which he gently nibbled. Claire's hands dropped from his shoulders, until she was gripping his waist. After a moment, she started tugging on the sweater he wore. Jack lifted his arms into the air as Claire pulled the sweater over his head. Next, she went to work on the buttons of his white Oxford. Rather than removing it completely, she left in on him, and slipped her hands inside, her palms fluttering over his sides.<br /><br />Claire stood suddenly and tugged on Jack's hands, pulling him up with her. Hands still in hers, she led him, walking backward herself, down the hall into her bedroom. As they crossed the threshold, Jack swept Claire into his arms, and strode with confidence to her bed. He lay her down, and she reached up for him, and so he quickly joined her, covering her slight frame with his larger one. He kissed her face reverentially, worshipping every inch of her visage with his soft, moist lips.<br /><br />He felt her small hands manipulating the button-fly of his Levi's, felt her hand sliding inside. Her fingers found and traced his hardness through the thin, silky fabric of his boxer shorts. Jack groaned, and his eyes slid shut when she slipped her hand inside the opening at the front of his boxers, and began to firmly stroke him.<br /><br />"Like that?" she asked. He could only nod. "I know you do."<br /><br />He groaned louder as she increased the pressure and tempo of her hand.<br /><br />"Move for a minute?" she queried, removing her hand.<br /><br />"What's wrong?"<br /><br />"I want to be on top, but we can't just roll over or we'll kick your puppy."<br /><br />Jack nodded and stood. Claire, too, stood, and took hold of Jack's hand, leading him to the over-stuffed chair that lived between her bed and her closet. She pushed him down into a sitting position on the chair, and knelt in front of him. She began unlacing the boots he wore, and worked them off of him. His socks came next, and then she began tugging on the bottom of his pant legs. He lifted his hips and she pulled his pants from him.<br /><br />Claire stood and Jack leaned forward in the chair, his hands reaching out to rub up and down the backs of her naked thighs. Higher and higher they climbed, and he hooked his fingers in the panties he had just given her, and pulled them down over her long, smooth, shapely legs. She braced her hands on his shoulders as he raised first one leg to slip her foot free of her underwear, and then the other, placing them slightly apart when he lowered each foot again. He looked up at her, and even in the near darkness, he could see her eyes clouded with passion. His hands traveled along the outside of her thighs, dragging her nightie slowly up with them as they continued higher, up over her hips, coming to rest on her waist, looking at her all the while.<br /><br />He pulled her in closer, his gaze averted to her smooth, flat belly, but not before he saw her eyes flutter and close. He tenderly kissed her stomach. He kissed her navel, and his tongue darted out to play around the rim fleetingly, before thrusting in. Claire sighed heavily, and Jack ran the tip of his tongue slowly downward, over her lower abdomen, her pelvis. He looked up in time to see her head fall back just before he pushed forward again, and began to lave his tongue over the soft skin of her inner thighs with an agonising slowness.<br /><br />Claire moaned audibly when his tongue began to intimately work over her womanly softness. He pleasured her thusly for some time, until she cried out. Her knees grew week and her body sagged against him. He eased her down onto his lap, so that she was turned slightly sideways to him. A small smile tugged at the corners of Claire's mouth as she cupped Jack's face between her hands. She kissed his forehead, the tip of his nose, his chin, and finally, settled her lips against his. She stood leaning in and kissing him still, and repositioned herself so that she was straddling him.<br /><br />Her hands kneaded the flesh of his shoulders as they continued kissing, and he reached up to close his hands over her heaving breasts. She moaned again, and squirmed on his lap. After a moment, Jack's hands ran over her shoulders, and he slowly lowered the delicate straps of her negligee, lowering the bodice so that her breasts were exposed. He smiled up at her, and she beamed back, before he lowered his head to take a nipple in his mouth, scoring it lightly with his teeth before beginning to suckle unrelentingly. She could feel the hardness of him pressing up at her from beneath the thin fabric of his boxer shorts.<br /><br />She eased herself off of his lap and stood. Holding his hands, she said, "C'mon," and inclined her head toward her bed. Jack stood, his passion for her evident in his eyes, and the hard bulge she could see between his legs. She pulled him along with her, and sat on the edge of her bed. He knelt in front of her , eased her legs apart, and positioned himself between her parted thighs. She wrapped her legs around him, smoothed her hands over his silk-boxer clad behind, then tugged his underwear down. Jack massaged the tops of her thighs, his eyes trained on hers, then reached to his left for her nightstand drawer.<br /><br />Claire gripped Jack's buttocks as he entered her, both sighing raggedly as he slid all the way inside her.<br /><br />"You feel so good, babe," he whispered into her ear, as he stayed still within her, just pulsing inside her, reveling in the liquid hot pleasure their union created.<br /><br />"Oh, God, Jack, so do you," she said huskily.<br /><br />They started to move together, rocking in time with one another, their sighs and moans mingling.<br /><br />"Shhh," she whispered against his lips, "we'll wake up the puppy."<br /><br />They tried for a moment to be quiet, but their passion for each other was too great, and they could not. Jack covered Claire's mouth with his, effectively stifling a good deal of the noise they were making. He eased her back and joined her on the bed, still pumping in and out of her. His fingers tugged at her nipples as he thrust into her over and over.<br /><br />"Claire..." he moaned into the near dark of the room, "Claire," as his stomach tightened, and his body began to spasm his release. He kept moving within her, and the sensation of him jerking within her triggered her own release, her nails digging into the flesh of his behind, feeling the muscles contract and release beneath her hands.<br /><br />When it was over, they lay clinging to each other, whispering words of love to one another that were almost unintelligible in the wake of their intense passion. They had the presence of mind to stand, pull the covers back, and get into the bed together. The puppy had sprawled out on the foot of the bed, leaving them space equivalent to that of a twin bed, and so they lay sandwiched together, limbs entwined, Claire's head resting in the crook of Jack's neck.<br /><br />Soon, the sound of their hearts beating and their slow breathing lulled them to sleep.<br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-14341265503081915822012-11-15T00:16:00.000-08:002012-11-15T00:16:08.565-08:00Highwire - Part 18Jack was sitting on the sofa nursing his third scotch, staring into the fire he'd started when there was a knock on his door. He stood and walked over to it, glass in hand, and opened the door to find Claire standing in the hallway.<br /><br />Holding the door only partially open, he said crossly, "I thought I'd made it clear that I wanted to be alone."<br /><br />She pushed into the apartment and said, "Yes I know...By standing me up. I waited for half an hour. You could have called the bar, Jack...could have beeped me so I'd know you weren't coming."<br /><br />He shut the door behind her. "I didn't want to go."<br /><br />"That's obvious," she said. "You could have said that in the first place."<br /><br />"You weren't going to leave me alone until I told you what you wanted to hear," he said, more surly than she'd ever seen him.<br /><br />"Jack...I'm not irrational. I'm not dense. In the future, just say no. Don't agree to something for whatever reason knowing you have no intention of following through. I've never liked being stood-up."<br /><br />"I left my office to be alone, but you didn't seem to respect that. You followed me to the elevator...you..."<br /><br />She interrupted him. Both of their voices were beginning to increase in volume. "I wanted to apologise about my behaviour yesterday, wanted to explain..."<br /><br />"And I already told you that I know what happened. Someone saw us going into that hotel, and it hit the rumour mill first thing Monday morning."<br /><br />"Yes, but I wanted to explain --not WHAT upset me, but WHY it upset me-- because I know that in the wake of my reaction I hurt you and..."<br /><br />He interrupted her again, and said, derisively, "I'm not that thin-skinned, babe."<br /><br />"Will you shut up for 3 minutes so I can explain this to you?"<br /><br />Until then, they had been standing a good five feet apart. At this, Jack moved in closer to her, so that he was in her face.<br /><br />Voice low, he seethed, "I don't know what kind of relationships you've been in the past, but I'll tell you what. You don't come into my home and tell me when I can or cannot speak."<br /><br />"Jack, something is bothering you. It's more than what happened yesterday. When something is bothering you this much, you have to tell me."<br /><br />"You're not my mother, Claire. You're not my confessor and you're not my wife. I don't have to tell you a goddamned thing."<br /><br />"No, I guess you don't.... but you said something to me once, that day a couple of weeks ago when Gordon lunged over the table at me at Rikers. You said that if our relationship was going to work, we have to be honest with each other about our feelings. I'm saying those words back to you now."<br /><br />"Don't you dare lecture me about honesty," he bit at her, "You who wouldn't tell your mother about us until I raised a stink. You who kept the fact that you were having nightmares from me. Not to mention that incident yesterday. You have no right to impose a set of rules on me that you're not willing to follow yourself."<br /><br />She opened her mouth to reply, but realised he was right in what he'd just said, and clapped it shut. She opened it again a moment later and said, "That may be true, but you haven't exactly been forthcoming in regards to the Koppel situation, either, Jack."<br /><br />"Claire...." he said, heading for the door, "You'd better leave."<br /><br />"No."<br /><br />"What?"<br /><br />"I said 'no'."<br /><br />"Who the hell do you think you are to come in here and..."<br /><br />"I'm not leaving until we work this out. Every time we have a fight one of us leaves in the middle of it, and then we both feel like shit because it doesn't get resolved. Well, this time I'm not leaving," she said, planting her feet firmly as he moved toward her again. "If you want me out, you're going to have to put me out."<br /><br />"Don't tempt me," he said harshly, "And I wasn't aware we were fighting."<br /><br />"What the hell would you call this, then?" she asked.<br /><br />"I'd call it 'I don't want to be with you right now and you can't seem to get that through your fucking head'," he almost yelled.<br /><br />Her voice grew louder to match his. "IF you'd give me a straight answer --that's all I'm after-- about what's bothering you, or at least a decent reason why you won't tell me, I'd let it go."<br /><br />He finished his drink and left her in the living room while he went for another. He came out with his glass refilled, and took a large gulp.<br /><br />"How much of that have you had?" she asked him.<br /><br />He took another gulp, and glaring at her, said, "DO NOT... this is not the time.... don't lecture me about how much I drink."<br /><br />She was making absolutely no head-way with him, and all that was happening was that they were both growing more angry by the minute.<br /><br />"Jack..." her voice was almost pleading, "If I've said something... or done something, or NOT done something, I need to know."<br /><br />"That's some ego you've got on you, babe," he said hurtfully. "Contrary to what you may think, you are not the central focal point of my life...and if you think you are, you've got a helluva wake-up call coming."<br /><br />He regretted his cruel words almost instantly.<br /><br />Whatever resolve had been sustaining her seemed to flee, leaving her face to crumble beneath the force of his verbal blow. Chin beginning to quiver, she turned and headed for the door.<br /><br />"You idiot!" he admonished himself. "What did you say that for... because other than work --and she's part of that, too-- she IS."<br /><br />"Claire..." he called as she opened the door.<br /><br />She did not turn around, only paused briefly at the door before stepping into the hall and slamming the door shut behind her.<br /><br />He started to go after her, got into the hall just as she entered the elevator.<br /><br />"Claire!"<br /><br />But she didn't come back out.<br /><br />He moved quickly back into his apartment, grabbed his keys and a pair of boots, which he attempted to put on while moving swiftly down the hall. He could see that the elevator was just arriving in the lobby, and instead of waiting for it to come back up after pressing the button (she already had a head-start), he opened the door to the stairwell and ran down the stairs, and out the front door of the building.<br /><br />It had begun to rain, and the rain was coming down very heavily. Up the block a ways, he saw Claire at her car. She appeared to be having trouble getting the car door open.<br /><br />In fact, she WAS having trouble, because between the blinding rain and the stinging tears streaking down her cheeks, she couldn't see a damn thing. She heard Jack calling her name, but kept trying to get the car door open.<br /><br />As he closed in on her, the keys slipped from her shaking hands and fell into a puddle that had formed near her car. He reached her as she bent to fish her keys out of the puddle, and he knelt down to help her. They couldn't see her keys because her car and the intensity of the rain had obscured the light of the street lamps. She found them, grabbed hold, and without a word to Jack, started fumbling to get the key into the lock on the door.<br /><br />She got it in on the first try this time, but before she could turn it and open the door, Jack laid his hand on he wrist. She yanked her hand away as if he'd just poured scalding water on her skin. She had not looked at him since leaving his apartment. Here she turned her back to him and raised her palms to her face. Her shoulders were shaking almost imperceptibly, but enough so that Jack could tell she was crying. He made to put his arms around her, to turn her to him, but she avoided his embrace, pushing him away.<br /><br />"Don't," she said, her voice more than a little shaky.<br /><br />They were both drenched by this point. Claire at least had her coat, but her jeans and shoes were soaked, and her hair was plastered down to her head. Jack's white T-shirt had become transparent.<br /><br />"I'm sorry... Claire... God, I didn't mean that... I... I'm sorry," he said , his voice hoarse with emotion.<br /><br />He tried to pull her into his arms again, and again she pushed him away. She pulled her keys out of the door and started up the street.<br /><br />Jack followed her. "Where are you going?" he asked her, trying to stop her.<br /><br />"I don't know," she said, sounding lost. She kept walking.<br /><br />At last, he just grabbed her by the arms and pulled her to him, holding her tight against his chest, not allowing her to push him away, although she tried.<br /><br />"Let me go," she demanded.<br /><br />"I don't want to ever let you go," he said, his lips moving against her temple.<br /><br />"You just said," she hiccoughed through her tears, "That you didn't want to be with me. That I don't mean as much to you as I thought I did, as much as you made me think I did."<br /><br />"I know... I know what I said...I didn't mean that," he told her, "It's not you I don't want to be with...It's me."<br /><br />"I don't understand you." She was still crying. For the moment, she couldn't help it and didn't care to try.<br /><br />"I don't understand myself sometimes...why I do some of the things I do," he said softly. She had relaxed some in his arms. "If I let you go, are you going to walk away again?"<br /><br />She shook her head "no", and so he released her.<br /><br />He reached down for her hand. "Come back up with me," he said.<br /><br />She shook her head.<br /><br />"I'm not a yo-yo, Jack," she told him in between her deep breaths. "You can't push me away like you just did and expect to pull me back in as if nothing ever happened."<br /><br />"I know," he said. "But come upstairs where it's warm... and dry."<br /><br />She let him guide her back toward his building. Once inside his apartment, he removed her jacket from her and hung it over the back of one of his dining room chairs. When he went back over to her, he pulled her in front of the fire and reached out for her waist. He started to pull her shirt up, but she stopped him.<br /><br />"Jack...stop..."<br /><br />"Claire..." he said, strained. "Just take your clothes off so you don't get sick. I'll put them in the dryer."<br /><br />"Oh... okay."<br /><br />"You can wear my robe while they dry," he told her. "You know where it is. In the meantime, would you like some tea?"<br /><br />She nodded, and when he went into the kitchen to set the tea kettle on the stove, she headed for the bathroom. She stripped off her wet clothing, toweled herself dry, and ran the towel over her hair before slipping into Jack's heavy robe.<br /><br />When she was done, she opened the bathroom door to find Jack waiting for her. He, too, had changed into something dry. She handed him the bundle of soaking clothes. His hands grazed against hers as he took the clothing from her, and he was aware of how cold her hands were.<br /><br />"You're hands are like icicles," he informed her as he turned, opened the folding hallway doors to reveal a washer and dryer, opened the dryer door, and stuffed her clothes inside. He turned the dryer on.<br /><br />"C'mon," he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her down the hall with him, stopping in front of the fireplace.<br /><br />He reached for her other hand. Cupping them both between his own, he began to rub vigorously. After a few moments, he pulled her hands up --they were completely hidden by his much larger ones-- and attempted to use his warm breath to warm her hands.<br /><br />In the kitchen, the tea kettle began it's shrill whistling.<br /><br />"Wait here and stay warm," he told her.<br /><br />She was shivering and so she wasn't about to argue.<br /><br />Jack returned a few minutes later to find her sitting on the floor in front of the fire, attempting to cover her bare feet with the bottom of his robe. He held the cup in front of her and she took it, gingerly sipping.<br /><br />"Thanks," she told him, looking up at him.<br /><br />He nodded and went to sit in the easy chair. They sat, not speaking, for several moments, Claire still nursing her wounded feelings from the things Jack had said to her that night, Jack pained by the memory of the hurt look on her face and the lost sound in her voice when she'd started walking to no where in the rain just to escape him.<br /><br />"Do you still want to hear about what's been bothering me? he asked tentatively, "If you don't.....if you don't care anymore, just tell..."<br /><br />"I do," she interrupted.<br /><br />He nodded.<br /><br />"Tell me something first?" she asked.<br /><br />"What's that?"<br /><br />"Am I gonna have to flip out and stand in the pouring down rain every time I want to get you to tell me something?"<br /><br />"I don't think so," he told her, "But I can't say for sure."<br /><br />"I hope I don't have to go through all that, because, you know, in the summer, I'm going to be S.O.L."<br /><br />A sardonic smile crossed his lips and he said, "Well, you've got a few months to figure out how to snap me out of bastard-mode before the warm days of summer set in."<br /><br />"I'll think on it and come up with something," she said.<br /><br />She was beginning to warm up, both physically thanks to the fire and tea, and to Jack again, her feelings for him having gone ice cold for a time in the wake of his cruel words. It was finally sinking into her brain that the fact that Jack had come running after, out into the deluge of rain wearing only a T-shirt and a pair of jeans signified that his words had been nothing more than that: words. Words intended to wound and to bring her to his level of misery, yes, but words nonetheless, with no weight or truth behind them.<br /><br />He began his narration.<br /><br />"When Paul Koppel an I were in law school together... we met in our Con. 1 class. We lived in the same residence hall on campus, though on different floors. At the end of our first semester, we'd both had more than enough of the manic life of dorm living, having endured it for 4 years while earning our Bachelor's degrees. So we got an apartment close to the campus together," he said, pausing for a moment to sip at the cup of tea he'd made himself. "He was dating Anna by then, very seriously, too. I envied his relationship with her. She was --is-- a good woman, and without admitting it to myself back then, I held their relationship up as the model for what I wanted in the future... They were so together, so obviously right for each other, even a jaded cynic like myself could see that."<br /><br />He stopped for a minute.<br /><br />"Paul had such a knack for the law, Claire. Back then, he was one of the most moral and ethical people I'd ever met. I know I told you about his work with the Poverty Law Group, and the Abused Women's Advocacy Commission, but he did more than that. He was involved in Moot Court competition --so was I--, spent time each week in the campus legal clinic, and even though he was only a C-student, he tutored a number of our classmates, myself included.<br /><br />"I'm not ashamed to say that I looked up to Paul. I may have been the one with the grades, but he could have had them, too, had he spent more time at the books and less time in the practical legal world. And he didn't have the father I had. I admired --and shared, of course-- his drive, ambition and passion for the law. I respected his knowledge and the way he put it to use.<br /><br />"After law school, we all moved here to New York: me to come to work in the DA's office, Paul to work as an associate in the firm in which he's now one of the senior partners. Paul and Anna settled into their new life, started a family right away. I envied him their life together. I think, in Kathy, when we found out she was pregnant and I married her, I was looking for the life Paul led, which I'd always looked at as a kind of ideal. In my personal life, especially, I had always wanted to emulate him, and time and again I failed. With Kathy and our daughter. With Sally and Diana and a few other women."<br /><br />"So," said Claire, "You feel betrayed by someone you looked up to, by someone, who, in a sense, you tried to please?"<br /><br />Jack nodded.<br /><br />"It seems to me," she continued, "How do I put this? ... It seems to me that there is a correlation between what you felt for you father, and what you now feel for Paul Koppel."<br /><br />Jack set his tea cup down and stood, moving over to one of his bookshelves, staring intently at the volumes there without really looking at them.<br /><br />"I hadn't thought about it like that... but I can see how that's true," said Jack thoughtfully. "I always wanted my old man to be proud of me, but along with that went the terrible knowledge that he himself wasn't the type of person one should be proud of.<br /><br />"Paul was different. He was a good friend, and a damn good attorney, but somehow, at some point, without my knowledge, the Paul Koppel I know today diverged from the Paul that was my closest friend and confidant all those years.<br /><br />"When it came to me that Paul had to have been involved in the conspiracy to murder David Lempert, I didn't want to believe it. I thought, 'No, not Paul whom I've always trusted. Not Paul whom I've admired and respected all these years. Not Paul... he wouldn't do that'."<br /><br />Here, he paused and turned back to look at Claire, who was staring at him intently, her face a mask of concern.<br /><br />"But he did, Claire. He betrayed everything he used to stand for. He betrayed the very system of justice he used to hold so dear," he gulped, his voice shaking a little, "He betrayed... me."<br /><br />Jack began to pace as he continued. "This whole situation makes me feel as though I should be questioning my entire belief system --a damn frightening proposition at my age, let me tell you -- and my faith in everyone close to me, everyone I've admired. Even Adam, Claire. Even you."<br /><br />"Jack... I..."<br /><br />"No, please... let me finish. You've wanted to hear about this for a while now, and I've denied you. Well, I'm ready to tell it now, but in my own way, alright?"<br /><br />"Okay."<br /><br />"Do you know your Shakespeare, Claire? The histories?"<br /><br />"I worked my way through the complete works in high school, and again in college," she told him. "Why?"<br /><br />"Do you remember in Henry V when Henry finds out that he's been betrayed by Scroop and friends, who've been hired by the French to kill him?"<br /><br />Claire nodded.<br /><br />"Something about the situation with Paul made me think of it, and so I found a copy the other night. Henry confronts Scroop, who's betrayal is more acute because he and Henry were supposed to have been dear friends. He tells him, 'This revolt of thine is like another fall of man'. That's it, Claire, that's how I feel. Paul used to be so virtuous, and now look at him," he paused again, and walked over to the window. "There is a sentiment in there, too, that is akin to what I said earlier about questioning my faith in the people close to me. Henry says, 'This thy fall hath left a kind of blot to mark the full fraught man, and best endued with some suspicion'.<br /><br />"And so yesterday, when you started acting so strangely in my office, and then wouldn't pick up your phone or return my calls last night... I thought, well... after the weekend we'd had, to have you start acting so out of the norm for you, so cold, I wasn't sure what to think..."<br /><br />"I'm so sorry about that, Jack," she said.<br /><br />"I know, babe," he said softly, then continued. "That phone call that I was on just before you came in to my office this afternoon... it was Paul ,Claire, Paul and Anna both, trying to play on our friendship so I'd drop the charge, asking how could I do this to a friend?<br /><br />"I told them that the Paul who could do something like this was not the Paul that had been my friend. I was called some names, but that didn't phase me much --I've been called much worse, believe me. Then they hung up on me, and I started to think 'Maybe they're right'. What kind of man am I to put the best friend I've ever had in the position of having to choose between going to prison for several years, or testifying against the head of a mob family who has already proven numerous times that he's willing to have anyone killed who gets in his way, crosses him, or knows too much?<br /><br />"I have prosecutorial discretion. I didn't have to charge him. The knowledge of his true dealings with Dasso didn't have to go beyond you and me."<br /><br />"Yes it did, Jack," said Claire as she stood and crossed over to him. She placed her hand on his back and said, lowering her voice slightly, "Yes it did because of the kind of man you are. The kind of man who still believes in justice, and who isn't willing to compromise that belief, even for a friend. That's not something to be ashamed of, Jack, no matter what Paul and Anna Koppel might say. It's something to be admired."<br /><br />"Is it? I'm not so sure. I'm having trouble dealing with the idea that what I'm doing is the right thing to do. I know it's right. But it's causing such pain all around."<br /><br />"Jack?" she brought her hand up to his shoulder and he turned slightly to her. "Why don't you take yourself off the case? Let me take it... or give it to another EADA."<br /><br />"I can't, Claire. This is the horrible part. I have to be the one to do it. If Paul did this thing, I have to be the one to nail him for it. For me. It's ugly, but there it is."<br /><br />He walked away from her.<br /><br />"If you're wondering why I wouldn't tell you this before.... well... I don't particularly care for this vengeful side of myself, and I didn't want you to see it."<br /><br />"We all have our ugly sides, Jack," she remarked, moving closer to him again. When she stood in front of him, his back against the doorway to the hall, he dropped his hands to her shoulders. She continued speaking, "And we all want to hide them from the ones we love, like little secrets, but the thing is, secrets have a way of coming back and biting you. I don't want us to keep things from each other anymore, it creates too much discord later."<br /><br />He closed his arms about her and pulled her in. She tensed slightly at first, but relaxed quickly against the warmth of his body. He brought one hand up to stroke her still damp hair.<br /><br />"Jack?"<br /><br />"Yes?"<br /><br />"I'm glad you came after me... I would have..."<br /><br />"I'm sorry I was such an ass."<br /><br />"I'm sorry, too," she said. "I've been an ass myself."<br /><br />He leaned back a bit and tilted her face up, and looked into her eyes. "Are we better now?"<br /><br />She nodded, and he hugged her close again<br /><br />"God I've missed you," he groaned into her hair just above her ear.<br /><br />Her response was to kiss him, tentatively at first. He dropped his hands to her hips and held her there as her hands slid from his back, around to his arms, and up and over his shoulders, coming to rest in the hair at the back of his neck. She slid her hands back down his arms. At his waist, she slid her hands --warm, now-- under his un-tucked T-shirt, and lightly stroked his sides.<br /><br />He moved his head back and gazed down at her, a questioning look on his face. Earlier, when he'd tried to help her out of her wet clothing, she'd rebuffed what she'd thought was a sexual advance, and so he was looking down, to ascertain exactly what it was she had in mind. She stared back at him intently and nodded, seeing the questioning look on his face. He bent his head to hers and resumed kissing her, pulling her closer to him. Her hands slid further up his shirt, over into the middle of his chest, and lightly fluttered over his pectoral muscles. She removed her hands and lowered them to grip the bottom of his T-shirt, which she drew slowly up, and over his head.<br /><br />He pushed away from the wall and pulled Claire, by the hand, down the hall. On their way, the dryer shut-off.<br /><br />Jack paused and switched it on again. "We'll give them a little longer to make sure they're completely dried."<br /><br />"Good idea," she said gravely, nodding.<br /><br />They continued down the hall and Jack sat on the edge of his bed, pulling Claire down onto his lap so that she faced away from him. He drew her hair aside and lightly kissed the side of her neck. Claire shivered pleasantly. He eased her forward slightly, then reached around to loosen the belt on the robe she'd borrowed from him. When he could do so with ease, he worked the robe down her arms, so that she was bared from the waist up.<br /><br />His lips kissed the space between her shoulder blades as his fingertips blazed a light trail over her shoulders, and down her arms. His fingers roamed aimlessly over her skin. He reached under her arms, and around, and ran his fingers gently over her breasts, the pads of his fingers just barely grazing over her nipples. She sighed contentedly as he lightly squeezed before his hands continued on. His touch on her was light, almost maddeningly so.<br /><br />Claire grabbed hold of Jack's hands and brought them up to kiss his fingertips before standing and turning to face him. She tugged on his hands, and he stood, squeezing her hands before loosing them and resting his hands on her shoulders as he leaned in to kiss her. He felt her hands on his chest, sliding down lower, running along his ribcage. Her fingers trailed slowly along the top of the waistline of his jeans, until they met in the middle, and she began to undo the fly. Jack began to rub his hands over her back as she slipped her hands around his waist, and slightly inside his jeans, pushing them down.<br /><br />When his pants were in a heap on the floor, they knelt together on the bed, facing one another. Jack's hands continued their light exploration of Claire's body, and she was beginning to yearn for him to touch her with more force.<br /><br />She held his face in her hands, kissing him fiercely, all the emotion that had been pent up in her the past few days shaking free.<br /><br />"I've missed being with you like this," she told him huskily.<br /><br />"It's only been since Sunday morning," he laughed. "That's only 3 days."<br /><br />"I know....but when two of those days have been spent in a fight...." she said, her voice an odd mix of gravity and playfulness. "But if you feel it hasn't been long enough...I could always go and...."<br /><br />"You will not," he laughed, grabbing hold of her and falling backwards onto the bed, bringing her down on top of him.<br /><br />Both of them laughing, Jack rolled over, pulling Claire beneath him. He kissed her gently as his hands again began to gently explore her upper body. She held on to his waist for a minute before tracing the waistline of his boxers, following them into the back, then slipping them down inside, her fingernails lightly running over his behind.<br /><br />Jack sighed happily. Now that he and Claire were no longer at odds, he felt a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He reached for the sash that held his robe on her, at this point only from the waist down, and pulled the sides apart, baring her to him. One of his hands came up to reverently caress her breasts as he braced himself on the other. Having, seemingly, sated himself with her breasts for the time being, his hand moved lower, his touch still so light it was beginning to drive her mad. When his hand slid between her thighs and he began to delicately, languidly tease her, she reached up and pulled his face down to her, and kissed him, hard. When she pulled her head away to breathe, she said, finally, "Jack...please... I'm not going to break..."<br /><br />"What?"<br /><br />"You're touching me so softly...it's like you think I'm going to shatter if you touch me too hard..." she told him..."Actually, I'm going to shatter if you don't."<br /><br />"Hmmmm....that could be interesting to watch," he told her as she kissed him playfully. "Wish I had a feather..."<br /><br />"You'd probably kill me with it..."<br /><br />One of his eyebrows shot up at this and he said, still touching her very lightly, "Ahhhh... a weakness...I'll have to remember that and try it sometime."<br /><br />"That's how you want to play it, is it?" she queried, "Well...I can play that game just as well as you can," and with that, she bucked upwards so that he lost his balance and rolled off of her and onto his back. Before he could protest or recover, she straddled his thighs and pinned him down with her hands.<br /><br />"There...that's better," she told him before leaning down to kiss him on the lips....lightly of course, very lightly.<br /><br />"Now that you've go me where you want me," he inquired, "What are you going to do to me?"<br /><br />"Just relax," she whispered.<br /><br />She sat back on his thighs and both of them grew quiet as Claire began to lightly trace the various muscles of his torso with her fingertips. When she finished a circuit, she began to lightly rub her palms over his abdomen, chest, arms and shoulders. This done, she switched to her fingers again, this time softly raking his skin with her fingernails.<br /><br />Jack groaned when her nails traveled over his nipples, sensitive already from her previous touch. He sat up, his hands sliding sound her to cup the globes of her behind in his hands, and kissed her full on the lips, his desire to tease her abating. She kissed him back, sensuously, for some moments before pushing him down once more.<br /><br />She smiled down at him, then leaned over him, flipping her hair over, and running the mass of thick, silken, fragrant strands over his neck and downward. Claire moved her head from side to side as she trailed her hair down across his chest, and still lower. As she reached his abdomen, she began to work his boxers off of him. He lifted his hips to help her. When they were off and tossed aside, she resumed her position over his abdomen and began to trail her hair even lower, over his pelvis, the essence of his maleness, and over his thighs, which fell open.<br /><br />She heard his intake of breath when her hair had passed over his phallus again, and looked up to see that his eyes had closed. Claire paused for a moment and ran her hands through her hair, then tucked it behind her ears. Smiling to herself, she traced the underside of that hard part of him with a finger, and up around the tip. She watched as his face contorted in pleasure. His eyes snapped open and he gazed at her, desire naked in his deep brown eyes.<br /><br />Watching his eyes as she lowered her head seeing them light up in anticipation, she smiled at him before replacing the tip of her finger with the tip of her tongue. Jack sighed happily. Claire did not take him into her mouth, instead only teasing him by barely touching the sensitive flesh there with her lips and tongue. She rested her hands on his parted thighs and began to rub slow circles on the innermost portion of his thighs, applying only the faintest hint of pressure.<br /><br />He allowed her to continue until his stomach and groin had grown so tight he knew he was only seconds away from climax.<br /><br />"Claire..." he pleaded in a strangled whisper. "Please... no more."<br /><br />She ceased and moved upward, straddling his pelvis just above his raging manhood.<br /><br />"Well?" she inquired. "<br /><br />Hmm?" he said, resting his hands on her hips.<br /><br />"How did I do?"<br /><br />"Christ Claire," he groaned as she reached behind herself to lightly stroke him. "You won... I concede."<br /><br />"Good," she replied.<br /><br />Her smile of self satisfaction roused him and he said, "The battle Claire... but not the war." With that, she found herself pinned beneath him.<br /><br />"War?"<br /><br />He nodded. "Of course, in this war, no one really loses."<br /><br />"That's good because neither of us is a gracious loser."<br /><br />"No, that we're not," he agreed. "But I'd say there has been enough discussion for one evening."<br /><br />"I couldn't agree more."<br /><br />They grew quiet for a time, just touching and kissing one another, reveling in the feeling of lips on lips, skin on skin, hands on skin.<br /><br />Jack reached down between them, holding himself away from her, and began to stroke her female softness. After a time, he stopped and quickly took the responsibility for their protection. Rather than pressing forward and entering her, he reached over and pulled a pillow out from under the covers.<br /><br />He kissed her neck and said, "Lift your hips."<br /><br />When she complied, he placed the pillow beneath her, elevating her hips slightly. He pushed her legs open a bit wider, and slowly entered her.<br /><br />They moaned in unison as he entered her, both a little shocked by the wonderful sensation a slightly different angle of penetration could provide. He pulled out of her and thrust forward again, Claire arching her back and moaning once again as the top side of his shaft rubbed pleasurably against her inflamed and swollen womanly jewel.<br /><br />Neither of them were in the mood to be gentle, and so, with Claire's verbal and physical encouragement, Jack began to move swiftly in and out of her. Their moans and cries complimented each other, rising in volume at the same rate. Claire cried out first, wave after wave of pleasure rocking through her body, building higher and higher as she experienced one of the most intense orgasms of her life thus far. Jack, caught up in the vortex of Claire's incredible climax, shouted his own release as she continued to shudder her pleasure.<br /><br />Jack collapsed against Claire, and the clung together, breathing heavily, bodies coated in a fine sheen of perspiration from the exertion.<br /><br />"Amazing," he whispered, still too spent to roll away from her, "You're amazing."<br /><br />"WE'RE amazing, love," she corrected him.<br /><br />"I love you, Claire," he whispered a few minutes later, as he rolled onto his side, pulling he with him so that she lay facing him, their arms still wrapped tightly around each other.<br /><br />"I love you, too."<br /><br />They lay together for some time. Eventually, the dryer buzzer sounded again, and Claire moved to get up.<br /><br />"There's my cue," she told him.<br /><br />"Babe...don't go," he said, "Stay with me tonight."<br /><br />She looked down at him, at the open, vulnerable look on his face, and she wanted to stay, oh how she wanted to. But it was getting late, and they had work in the morning. And there was the puppy to think of. He'd barked and whined that first night she tried to make him sleep in the kitchen. She knew her neighbours, with the exception of Mrs. Harrington, would be upset by it. So, though it pained her to deny him, she had to.<br /><br />"Jack...God, I want to...."<br /><br />"I'm sensing a 'but' in there, Claire."<br /><br />"But I can't....not tonight... I can't tell you why just now, but it'll all be clear on Christmas Eve, I promise."<br /><br />He looked at her semi-warily for a moment, and decided, after the turmoil they'd been through the past days, to trust that she had a good reason.<br /><br />He pulled her down to him, and kissed her, hard. "Okay, babe. If you have to go, you have to go."<br /><br />"Don't be angry, please," she told him, laying her head on his chest for a moment. "Or hurt."<br /><br />He stroked her hair lightly and said, "I'm not, Claire. I'm not angry or hurt. I know you love me. I trust you."<br /><br />"Thank you, Jack." Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-68896126618627030672012-11-15T00:13:00.000-08:002012-11-15T00:13:05.518-08:00Highwire - Part 17Monday was like any other Monday for them: horrendously busy, made even more so by the fact that everyone had left the office earlier than normal the preceding Friday afternoon.<br /><br />That night, Jack asked Claire for dinner, but she turned him down, saying, "I have some Christmas shopping to take care of tonight."<br /><br />He nodded. "For me?"<br /><br />"Who says I'm getting you anything?" she asked, trying to keep the teasing tone from her voice.<br /><br />"You're not?" he asked, "Well then I may just have to take yours back."<br /><br />"Don't you dare!" she warned.<br /><br />"Okay....calm down, Greedy."<br /><br />"You're lucky we're at work or I'd make you pay for that remark," she told him.<br /><br />"Oh? And just how would you do that?"<br /><br />"Call me Greedy again when we're away from here and you'll find out..."<br /><br />They headed for the parking garage together, walking toward their vehicles, which they had taken to parking next to each other whenever possible. Today it had been possible. Standing between Jack's bike, and the driver side of Claire's car, they glanced around. There were still a fair amount of cars in the garage, as it was only 6 pm, and therefore early as far as Adam Schiff's ADAs were concerned, but for the time being, they were the only two people.<br /><br />Jack glanced quickly around as he moved in closer and lowered his lips to hers for a brief, delightful kiss.<br /><br />"Have a good night," he told her.<br /><br />"I'll call when I get home," she told him, then stretched her neck to kiss him quickly. She turned and opened her car and for in, Jack closing the door after her. He watched as she drove away, then got on his bike and headed for<span style="background-color: red;"><span style="background-color: white;"> home.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">*****</span></div>
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Claire drove to the address in Brooklyn the woman had given her on the phone earlier that morning.<br /><br />When Jack had left her apartment the previous evening, she had gone to have a bath before bed. While sitting in the warm, soothing water, she had made a decision. She had already purchased a set of antique, miniature scales for him for Christmas, and had been wanting to give him something else, something perhaps a little less cool and impersonal, but hadn't been able to figure out just what that should be. She had considered buying him a sweater, she had seen him in one once or twice and liked the look of him, but that too seemed.... she couldn't put her finger on it... but it had something to do with the fact that anyone could buy him a sweater... anyone could buy a lawyer, especially one as interested in justice as Jack was (despite his claims to the contrary at times) a set of scales.<br /><br />When he'd told her about the stray that had followed him home, and what had happened afterward, an idea had begun to form in her head. She decided to get him a puppy. It was something he wouldn't have gone out and done for himself, and though she knew it wouldn't make up for what had happened that horrible night when he was a little boy... the idea just seemed so perfect. It would give him companionship, as Lucy had done for her.<br /><br />She was the first person he'd trusted enough to share that story with, and she got it into her head that a puppy from her would be not only a considerate gesture, but a symbolic way of letting him know that while she wanted him to acknowledge and face his past, she also wanted him to look forward to the future, to the new, happy memories they would create, hopefully, together.<br /><br />So, in the morning, she had looked in the New York Times classifieds, under "pets" and had found a dozen or so ads offering puppies, some free, some going for upwards of $500 dollars: there were pit bulls, German Shepherds, poodles, Chow-chows, Beagles, Border Collies and several others. Most of the dogs would grow to be too big for city living (Claire firmly believed that large dogs didn't belong living in apartments), and she just couldn't see Jack with a little dog like a poodle or a Chihuahua (she wouldn't be able to take their yapping, she knew, and Jack generally had even less patience than she did).<br /><br />The last dog-related ad was for a set of puppies that were a black lab, cocker spaniel mix. Claire remembered that one of her mother's neighbours at the farm she and Mac owned upstate had a dog that was a mix of a golden lab and a spaniel, and though she was more of a cat-lover herself, she had always thought that dog was adorable.<br /><br />She had brought the paper to work with her, and called the number, telling the woman who answered that she was interested in getting a puppy for her boyfriend for Christmas, and could she please come by that evening to see the puppies. The woman had been delighted, and Claire said she'd see her later that evening.<br /><br />She pulled up in front of a two story brownstone that seemed to have quite a large backyard, walked up to the front door and rang the bell.<br /><br />A woman near here own age answered the door, a 2 year old toddling alone behind her.<br /><br />"Mrs. Grant? Hi, I'm Claire Kincaid...we spoke on the phone this morning about the puppies?"<br /><br />"Oh, yes, Ms. Kincaid, please, come in," said the woman, as she stooped to pick up her small child. "Come on through here."<br /><br />She led Claire down the hall, saying, "My husband and I wish we could keep them all...they're so adorable, but we've already got the two parents, who, by the way, are now going to be fixed."<br /><br />They entered a laundry room filled with 4 of the most adorable little dogs Claire had ever seen. 3 of them were black, one with a hint of red when the light shown on it just right, and 1 was a tan colour.<br /><br />"We're going to keep the tan one," the woman, "For Shane here to grow up with."<br /><br />The woman had set up a toddler-gate to keep the puppies in the room, and one of the puppies, the one with the red tint to it, came over and stood on it's hind legs, little front paws against the fence, and looked up at Claire with it's big chocolate coloured eyes. She was lost. The puppy had chosen her. She bent down and scooped it up, cradling it in her arms as it nuzzled up under her chin.<br /><br />"Looks like you've found your boyfriend's puppy, Ms. Kincaid," said the woman.<br /><br />"Please, call me Claire."<br /><br />"And I'm Jennie."<br /><br />Both women adjusted the burdens they held (Claire, the puppy, Jennie, her son) and held their hands out to shake hands.<br /><br />"How old did you say these puppies are?" asked Claire.<br /><br />"8 weeks, they've been weaned, and we took them for their first shots last Friday."<br /><br />Claire nodded.<br /><br />"Do you want him?" Jennie asked her.<br /><br />"Oh yes," replied Claire. "He's adorable... Can I take him tonight?"<br /><br />"Sure....let me give you some food so you don't have to stop on the way home."<br /><br />"Thank you."<br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">*****</span></div>
<br />She carried the puppy home in a cardboard pet crate Jennie Grant had given her, smiling the whole way home. Suddenly, in the elevator, she considered how Lucy was going to react to the rambunctious little dog. She grew slightly worried.<br /><br />She took the puppy into the kitchen and put a plastic bowl out with some food, and one with water, and set him down. He began to eat, and she set about making a little bed out of the cardboard carrying case Jennie had given her. She took a couple of older towels and put them in the box, which she had laid on top of a some newspaper she'd laid out for the puppy to go on. She remembered hearing once that a good way to accustom a puppy to a new place was to wrap an old ticking-alarm clock in a towel or blanket and lay it in the puppy's bed. The ticking sound would be soothing and remind the puppy instinctually of what it was like to be in the womb. She did all of this, and then went to quickly change her clothes so she could come out and play with the puppy.<br /><br />Lucy, having been in the kitchen eating when Claire pulled the puppy from the box, and had run from the room, was hiding in one of her many "secret" spots. Claire hoped she wouldn't be too bent out of shape, but then, the puppy would only be in her possession until Saturday, or Sunday at the latest.<br /><br />Later, when she was ready for bed, Claire, hoping she'd tired the little wiggly bundle of fur out, set him in the box, and headed for her nightly bath. She had been soaking for a nearly 10 minutes when she heard the little cries of the puppy coming from her kitchen. She tuned it out at first, confident he would go back to sleep.<br /><br />He cried throughout her bath. After, Claire climbed into bed, still hoping the little dog would eventually stop his pathetic cries. She was able to take it for about 15 minutes, then tossed the covers back and walked down the hall to the kitchen.<br /><br />The puppy was sitting outside his box, which he'd tipped over, when trying to get out, she imagined. She bent down and picked the whimpering puppy up and cradled him against her chest. He reached up to nuzzle under her neck and instantly ceased his whining. Claire smiled.<br /><br />"You're not going to let me sleep, tonight, are you?"<br /><br />As if in response, the little pup licked her. She laughed, and carried him back into her bedroom, climbed into her bed, and set the puppy on the spare pillow.<br /><br />She rubbed his tummy, and in a few minutes, he was off to sleep. Shortly thereafter, Claire too fell asleep.<br /><br />In the morning, she awoke to the puppy still dozing on the pillow next to hers, and Lucy sleeping soundly at her feet.<br /><br />Before leaving for work, she made sure the puppy had food and water for the day, as well as fresh newspaper. She put Lucy's food and water on the counter to protect it from consumption by the puppy. Claire shut the swinging door of her kitchen, paying no attention to the kitty door, and headed into the office.<br /><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">*****</span></div>
<br />That Tuesday morning, the week went to hell for Jack and Claire.<br /><br />They were working on the wording of a motions brief that was due in Judge Rodriguez chambers first thing the following morning. They had been going back and forth over a particular section....Claire, cautious as usual after being censured over the appearance of impropriety when she'd been investigating Joel Thayer all those months ago, was trying to get Jack to offer a little more information than he was willing to give.<br /><br />In the end, he had come to acquiesce to her wishes. "Alright," he told her, "We'll try it your way this time. See how it goes."<br /><br />Claire had excused herself, and headed for the ladies' room.<br /><br />She had just entered a stall when two giggling women came in behind her, talking to each other conspiratorially.<br /><br />"Hey Sarah, did you see the look on Kincaid's face when she came out of McCoy's office just now?" said one to the other.<br /><br />So, they had seen her come out of Jack's office, but must not have seen where she'd gone. Surely no one would be crass enough to discuss her knowing she were listening 5 feet away.<br /><br />"Yeah, Kris, I did, why?"<br /><br />"She looked pretty satisfied....I wonder what they were doing."<br /><br />Both laughed, as Claire winced. She knew the expression on her face had been one of self-satisfaction, but it was because she'd just gotten Jack to play the game her way for a time... not because they had been doing anything improper in his office.<br /><br />"Ya think? I've heard rumours about McCoy and his assistants, but do you really think Kincaid would go for him?"<br /><br />"She did have that affair with a judge when she was a clerk at the Court of Appeals," said one, "Besides, last Friday night, after the party, I was standing outside with Chet, having a smoke, and I saw the two of them go into the hotel next door."<br /><br />"No way, Kris!" said Sarah. "Together? Really?"<br /><br />"Swear to God," said Kris, who was, Claire realised, the Kristine Watkins Chet had brought with him to the Christmas party. "They were holding hands."<br /><br />"What'd Chet say?"<br /><br />"Chet? He didn't say anything. Actually, he tried telling me it wasn't them, but I know what I saw. Besides... I love Chet to death, but he's so obviously smitten with the great Claire Kincaid, he wouldn't hear anything that could possibly knock the golden halo from her head."<br /><br />Claire winced again.<br /><br />"I'm sensing some sour grapes, there, Kris," said her companion. "What have you got against Kincaid....she seems nice enough, if a little cold. She certainly does her job well."<br /><br />"Is she good at her job? She's sleeping with her boss...seems to me she earned her position on her back."<br /><br />Claire's vision blurred slightly. Who the hell was this girl? She wanted to throttle her, to burst from the stall and cry out, "I had my job long before I started working for Jack. I was Ben Stone's assistant first, and I certainly didn't sleep with him!"<br /><br />"Kris...you don't know what you're talking about. You haven't been around here very long. If Kincaid and McCoy ARE an item, well, it's not the smartest thing in the world for them to be doing, but in all fairness, she was an assistant to an EADA before she was assigned to McCoy. I don't know if you know anything about Ben Stone, but he certainly was too sanctimonious to have had an affair with anyone in this office, let alone his assistant. And Mr. Schiff approves of McCoy and Kincaid as a team....certainly she's not sleeping with HIM."<br /><br />"I don't understand what men see in her. She's an ice-queen."<br /><br />"Kris....you're my friend. I like you, therefore, I feel like I can say this to you," said Sarah. "I think you're jealous of Kincaid because you want Chet Williams, and he's got a thing for her. If she is with McCoy, it seems to me you'd be thrilled. Chet is fair game. Tell me something....have you mentioned what you saw on Friday night to anyone else?"<br /><br />"To one or two others," she replied.<br /><br />Sarah laughed. "Which, knowing you my dear, probably means 10 or 20."<br /><br />Claire's heart sank. 10 or 20 others? The rumour mill in the DA's office would have a field day with this juicy tidbit.<br /><br />The two women left the restroom, and Claire sat in the stall for another minute, part of her was fuming, part of her was worried about the consequences when word of the affair made it's way around, and yet, a small part of her was relieved that they wouldn't have to hide it anymore. She pushed the part that was happy away, and focused on the anger and worry she felt. She was trying to focus on damage control.<br /><br />Claire emerged, and after a moment, headed out into the hall, holding her head high. If she was going to be the topic of discussion, if her personal life was going to be put on display again, if she was going to be regarded with contempt or scorn, at least she wouldn't have to let them know it bothered her.<br /><br />She walked into Jack's office, and resumed her position opposite him at his desk. For his part, Jack, not knowing what had caused it, noticed the shift in her mood and demeanor.<br /><br />"Something wrong?" he asked.<br /><br />"Nothing."<br /><br />"You sure about that?" he asked again, his voice a little more quiet. He was looking directly at her, face a mask of concern. "The temperature in this room dropped significantly when you came back in."<br /><br />"So you think I'm an Ice Queen too?" she snapped, not knowing why she'd just chosen to take her frustration out on him.<br /><br />"Excuse me?" he asked.<br /><br />"Nevermind."<br /><br />"No.....tell me what you meant."<br /><br />"Drop it, Jack."<br /><br />"No. You walk out of here fine. You're gone five minutes, you come back in snapping at me. I'm assuming something happened in the interim between when you left and when you came back in, and I want to know what it was."<br /><br />"Stop it, Jack. We're at work. Let's work."<br /><br />Jack stood up and walked over to the clothes' rack in the corner. He rolled his sleeves back down and buttoned them, fixed his shirt and tie, and took his suit coat from the hanger and put it on. He walked to Claire and gripped her arm, pulling her up from the chair.<br /><br />"C'mon."<br /><br />"What're you doing?" she asked, anger mounting.<br /><br />"Taking you to lunch....Someplace away from here so we can talk."<br /><br />"I don't want to go to lunch with you."<br /><br />A pained expression passed over his face for just a moment. Claire caught it, but at the moment, she didn't care. The glass house she and Jack and their relationship had been functioning in was about to come crashing in around them. She wasn't at all prepared to deal with the ramifications of their affair being made public, didn't want to deal with people's misconceptions, with the ugly insinuations about how she'd slept her way into her position. Jack was an easy target for couple of reasons: he was the only one with her at the moment, and she could blame him and his pursuit of her for the blots that were about to mar her character.<br /><br />"Jesus Christ, Claire," he said. She was acting erratic. She'd never turned him down for lunch before, and he had not expected her to do so with such cruelty the first time she did. "What the hell is going on?"<br /><br />"I don't want to talk about it."<br /><br />"We're going to talk about it," he told her.<br /><br />She started to back away from him, but he still had hold of her upper arm. He advanced even as she retreated, gripping her arm even tighter.<br /><br />"Like you talk to me about Koppel?" she threw back at him. His eyes grew dark and she looked down at where his hand held her arm. "Jack...You're hurting me... and people can see."<br /><br />He instantly released her and she began to gather her papers, shoving them into her attaché case in a swift, yet organised fashion. She needed to get out, to get away from the office. Away from Jack. She needed to think.<br /><br />"What're you doing?" he asked, incredulous.<br /><br />"I have some witness interviews and them I'm taking the day."<br /><br />He stepped into her way as she started for the door.<br /><br />"Claire..." he began.<br /><br />"Jack," she nearly pleaded, "Please... I need to be alone for while before these interviews."<br /><br />"Fine," he said, growing angry himself.<br /><br />He moved aside and she breezed by him, out the door, and toward the elevator, stopping at her cubicle for her coat and purse.<br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">*****</span></div>
<br />In the parking garage, Claire got into her car, tossing her coat and attaché case onto the passenger seat. She put the key in the ignition and started her car. She shut it off after a moment, and rested her head on her hands, which rested on the wheel so that her thumbs were touching each other.<br /><br />"What're you doing, Claire?" she asked herself. "Why does the idea of people finding out about you and Jack displease you so much?"<br /><br />She sat that way for a long time, but no answer came to her. She tried to push it to the back of her mind, started her car, and headed out to her appointments.<br />
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<br />To say Jack was perplexed by her behaviour was to put it mildly. In sober truth, he was not merely perplexed or confused... he was baffled.<br /><br />They had a wonderful weekend together, a nice hour long telephone conversation the night before, and everything had been fine that morning. Until, that is, she'd come back from the bathroom, spitting nails.<br /><br />He threw himself into his work for several hours, pausing only to order lunch, and briefly when the food arrived.<br /><br />Just after 3:00. Adam walked into his office.<br /><br />"Where's Claire?" he asked.<br /><br />Jack shrugged. "Witness interviews."<br /><br />"I had hoped to talk to the two of you together, but it looks like you'll have to relay the conversation."<br /><br />Jack sat back in his chair and took Adam in. His hands were shoved in his pockets, and he was looking in Jack's general direction, thought not at Jack himself.<br /><br />"What is it, Adam?"<br /><br />"Ah... I don't particularly like the idea of discussing this with you...especially in light of some of the conversations we've had in the past... but evidently...the night of the Christmas party... You and Ms. Kincaid were spotted heading into the Waldorf Towers together. Arm in arm."<br /><br />So...... was that what was bothering Claire, Jack wondered. She must have over heard someone discussing it.<br /><br />"Do you know who it was?"<br /><br />"So it's not just a rumour?" asked Adam.<br /><br />"No...it's not just a rumour. We were there."<br /><br />"How long have you...How long has this been going on?"<br /><br />"Since the Talbert case went to the jury," Jack replied.<br /><br />"So... Before we had that conversation in your apartment?"<br /><br />Jack nodded.<br /><br />"Why the deception? Why go to the party and pretend not to be together?"<br /><br />"We were trying to keep a lid on it as long as possible, although we knew it was simply postponing the inevitable: the snickers, the snide remarks, the people saying she's just another notch in my bedpost or that she slept her way into her position, or that I'm an old fool trying to recapture his youth through an affair with a younger woman. It was an attempt on our part to insulate the relationship while still in it's developmental stage."<br /><br />"I can understand that," said Adam slowly, evenly. "However, I seem to remember having had conversation with you shortly after I made you an EADA, when Diana Hawthorne left this office after your relationship with her ended, in which you swore that from now on, your assistants were off-limits. And a similar one several months ago when you requested I assign Claire to you after Ben Stone handed in his resignation."<br /><br />"I remember them vividly," replied Jack.<br /><br />"You remember... but you chose to disregard, is that it?"<br /><br />"I don't know what you expect me to say, Adam. I'm not going to apologise. This wasn't planned. I didn't seduce Claire or pursue her or take advantage of her in any way. There is nothing illicit or sordid about our relationship." He stopped for a moment, and then continued. "This is not like it was with the others...this is..."<br /><br />"Different?" offered Adam knowingly. "I've heard this speech before, Jack. Sally Bell was different. Diana Hawthorne couldn't have been more different."<br /><br />Jack stood and turned toward the window.<br /><br />"I'm not sure how to respond to that Adam. Yes, Sally was different than Kathy, and Diana was different than Sally, and yes, Claire is different than all three of them. So of course my relationships with them were all different, just like it is with Claire.<br /><br />"With Claire," he continued, "With Claire it's more than just the physical differences, even more than the character and personality differences. The way I feel about Claire, the way she makes me feel, crazy and out of control, and yet so certain, is all new to me. There's a peace when I'm with Claire, Adam... and a joy. Neither of which I've ever known before."<br /><br />"All that in the space of three or four weeks, eh?" asked Adam wryly.<br /><br />"I'm not getting any younger, Adam. I've wasted so much of my life --on the personal level, anyway-- I don't want to waste any more... I can't afford to."<br /><br />Adam looked hard at Jack for a moment, his voice and demeanor were certainly sincere. He hoped Jack meant what he said. It was obvious in the way he spoke of Claire that he cared for her very much indeed.<br /><br />"Do me a favour, will you?" asked Adam. "And God knows, I don't ask that much of you. Make it work this time? I don't want to lose another good ADA to your libido."<br /><br />"I intend to make it work, Adam." said Jack.<br /><br />Adam walked out of the office, and Jack picked up the phone and dialed Claire's number.<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">No answer.</span><br /><br />
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Claire went through the motions of her interviews, listening and taking notes without really noting what was being said to her.<br /><br />"Thank God for my recorder," she thought later, knowing it would allow her to go back and revisit all that the witnesses had said to her.<br /><br />She finished around 3 and headed for home.<br /><br />When she got home, the puppy had managed to escape the kitchen, and had shredded a pillow lying on the floor near the large windows in her living room. He had also peed on her hardwood floor.<br /><br />Claire heard a hissing in the kitchen and turned in time to see Lucy come flying out of the kitty door, the puppy hot on her heals. Seeing Claire, the puppy bounced his little way over to her, tail wagging furiously, curly ears flopping on the side of it's tiny head.<br /><br />She began to scold him, but looking down into his sad puppy-dog eyes, she didn't have the heart.<br /><br />"Bad puppy," she said, her voice in no way threatening.<br /><br />She was going to have to come up with a better plan to keep him confined while she was at work. She remembered the child safety gate the Grants had used for this purpose, and decided to go get one, and clean up when she got back.<br /><br />She scooped up the wiggling little bundle, and strode down the hall, through her bedroom, on through to the master bath. She shut the door, leaving him inside.<br /><br />Lucy glared at her from the bed. Claire went over and sat next to her, scratching Lucy under the chin the way she knew her cat loved.<br /><br />"Ahhh, Lucia," Claire said to the cat, "Como va? Are you jealous?"<br /><br />Claire picked up her cat to snuggle for a few minutes, "You know no one will replace you in my affection."<br /><br />The puppy began to whine from behind the bathroom door. Lucy, annoyed, struggled to be let down. Claire released her, laughing slightly as her cat ran from the room.<br />
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<br />The puppy slept with Claire again that night. As she lay in bed scratching his soft, chubby tummy lightly with her nails, she regretted her behaviour toward Jack earlier that day. Regretted, too, the fact that she hadn't picked up her phone that night, even when she'd heard him leaving messages for her. She knew she'd hurt his feelings.<br /><br />She felt bad for having lashed out at him so cruelly when it wasn't him with whom she was angry. In fact, the truth was she wasn't really angry at all. It was hard to put her finger on it, but it seemed to her that what was really bothering her was not the fact that their relationship was only a hair's breadth away from being common knowledge (if a dozen or so people already knew, it wouldn't be very long before EVERYONE in the office knew). She was upset because she and Jack had not been the ones to inform whomever they pleased. A private part of her life was about to be made public (she hated when that happened), and not only had she --they-- been given no say in the matter, but they had not even known about it until it was too late to try and head it off at the pass.<br /><br />All she could do now was deal with whatever fallout would ensue.<br /><br />She determined to go in and apologise to Jack for making such an ass of herself, first thing in the morning.<br />
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<br />In the morning, Claire propped the swinging kitchen door open and set up the safety gate, leaving the door open so Lucy would be able to get in for her food and water.<br /><br />She left food and water on the floor for the puppy again, as well as several toys she had bought at a pet store the previous evening on her way back from buying the safety gate, and headed in to work.<br />
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Jack was not in his office when she got in, and he had left her no messages. She knew he had already been there that morning, because his jeans were hanging on the clothes' rack in the corner. She sat at her desk and pulled several files from her attaché case and began to transcribe the tapes she had made during her interviews the previous afternoon. She would be heading over to do arraignment hearings shortly.<br /><br />Several minutes into her task, Adam stopped by her cubicle. He cleared his throat, startling her.<br /><br />"Adam.... hello."<br /><br />"Good morning, Claire," he said. "Did you speak to Jack at all last night?"<br /><br />She shook her head, having no knowledge of the conversation that had passed between Jack and Adam. "Last night?" she asked innocently. "Why would I?"<br /><br />"Claire...don't bother," he told her. "I know."<br /><br />"You know?"<br /><br />Adam nodded.<br /><br />"Oh."<br /><br />Adam glanced around, stepped further into her cubicle, and lowered his voice.<br /><br />"I'm not thrilled about it, but what can I do? I've seen the fallout from Jack and his assistants before, and it isn't pretty. However, you're both adults, and what you do outside this office concerns no one but the two of you. Provided it doesn't effect your work. So far, it hasn't, and in all honesty, the two of you seem to have done quite well keeping a lid on it thus far. I would never have known had you not been seen together last Friday night," he said. "If you continue to remain as circumspect as you have until now, I don't see a problem. And don't worry too much about the rumour mill. In a week or so, there will be some new scandal to talk about, and the heat will be off of you and Jack."<br /><br />Claire smiled a small smile. He didn't seem angry, and he had said nothing about assigning her to another EADA.<br /><br />"Are you giving us your blessing, then, Adam?"<br /><br />"My reserved blessing... and my sincere wish that neither of you gets hurt down the road."<br /><br />He made to leave.<br /><br />"Adam?"<br /><br />He turned back to her.<br /><br />"Do you know where Jack is now?"<br /><br />"He had a meeting in Judge Walter's chambers."<br /><br />"Thank you."<br /><br />He inclined his head and made his way back to his office.<br /><br />Jack did not return before it was time for her to head over to do arraignments, and so she left, promising herself to talk to him as soon as she had that chance.<br />
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<br />She returned just after lunch, and Jack was still not in his office. She waited until the last possible moment before heading off to do another witness interview, in the vain hope that Jack would return soon.<br /><br />He did not, and so she left.<br /><br />When she got back this time, he was here, on the phone, engaged in what seemed to be a very heated discussion. He was looking at her, and so she smiled. Instead of smiling back, he swiveled around in his chair. She frowned and sat down at her desk.<br /><br />She waited a few minutes, and the rose slightly out of her chair. Jack was off the phone, and standing facing the window, staring out at the people below.<br /><br />Perplexed, she stood and walked to his office, opening the door without knocking, as was her custom.<br /><br />He must not have heard her enter for he did not turn around.<br /><br />"Jack?" she inquired.<br /><br />He seemed startled to find her there when he turned around.<br /><br />"Haven't you heard of knocking before entering someone's office?"<br /><br />Claire was taken aback. "Excuse me?"<br /><br />"I'd appreciate it if you learned to knock.. occasionally...if it isn't too much trouble for you."<br /><br />"I thought we'd dispensed with such formalities long ago."<br /><br />"It's customary to knock before entering a room...particularly your boss' office. It's also polite. You should try it sometime."<br /><br />He was picking a fight with her, much the same as she had done with him the previous day. And she wanted to know why. She also wanted to snap him out of whatever was bothering him so that she might apologise and have him heed it.<br /><br />"Will my faux-pas be excused if I tell you I came in here to talk to my boyfriend and not my boss?"<br /><br />"Two things," he said, his tone the same as it had been...rather snotty. "First, as you so aptly put it yesterday, this is work....we work. Second, I'm not too keen on the idea of being your boyfriend only when it's convenient for you."<br /><br />"I came in here to apologise to you about yesterday."<br /><br />"Fine. Apology accepted. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to be alone."<br /><br />"Jack... I wanted to explain what happened...I wanted to..."<br /><br />"You overheard someone discussing our relationship. Is that it?"<br /><br />She nodded. Yes, that was it in a nutshell, but she wanted to explain it further.<br /><br />"Fine. I understand," he said curtly. "Can I be alone now?"<br /><br />"Jack... please... I..."<br /><br />He moved toward his clothes rack and began to change.<br /><br />"What're you doing?" she asked. "Why are you changing? You never leave this early."<br /><br />"It's obvious you're not going to leave... so I will."<br /><br />She stood dumbfounded, watching him change. Was he lashing out? Giving her a taste of what she'd given him out of spite... or were his motives as hers had been: he needed to take his frustrations out on someone, and she had walked into his office?<br /><br />He finished quickly and grabbed his coat, helmet, and briefcase and left her standing in his office, like he had done that night weeks ago; the night he kissed her for the first time.<br /><br />Like that night, Claire followed hot on his heels. She got to the elevator just as Jack stepped in. With her hand, she stopped the door from closing. It slid back open and she held it there, much to the dismay of the elevator's other passengers.<br /><br />"Meet me as Gilley's at 6, will you?" she asked him.<br /><br />He didn't say anything.<br /><br />"Jack?"<br /><br />"Fine."<br /><br />She let go of the door and it slid shut.<br />
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<br />She waited until 6:30, and he didn't show up, and so she went home, trying to be understanding. Something was troubling him deeply, and it was more than the way she'd behaved the day before. But he had stood her up in what seemed a deliberate fashion, and that really got to her. If he hadn't wanted to go, he should have said so rather than agreed just to get her out of his face when he'd obviously had no intention of meeting her.<br /><br />They couldn't keep going on like this. Both of them were the type to internalise pain and anguish in order to deal with it, making them at times irritable and unapproachable. It was something they were going to have to work on if they expected their relationship to last longer than a few months. And Claire did.<br /><br />She thought about all of this as she changed into a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved v-neck T-shirt. Lucy was on her bed, and so Claire sat to cuddle with her for a few minutes.<br /><br />"Why do we seem to be pushing each other away so often, Luce?" she asked her cat, obviously not expecting a response.<br /><br />Lucy just snuggled beneath Claire's chin and began to purr. After a few minutes of this, Claire decided to go and give Jack's puppy some attention. He was, as ever, thrilled to see her.<br /><br />She had bought a rubber pull toy for the puppy, and wiggled it in front of him until he became interested in it. He grabbed onto it with his teeth, tugging backward as Claire lightly tugged the other side toward her. She began to twist her wrist, moving the puppy's head from side to side, his big ears flopping to and fro against the side of his small head. Claire laughed as he lost his balance and rolled onto his side. He bounded up quickly, chew-toy forgotten, and pounced onto Claire's lap, where she sat Indian-style in the center of her kitchen floor. She held him up and closed her eyes and mouth as he began to like her face in his little puppy exuberance.<br /><br />She played with the puppy thusly, until he began to pant heavily, and she could tell he was tired. She replenished his food and water, and came to a conclusion: She was going to Jack's place, and they were going to hash this thing out. Tonight. Before they became further alienated from each other.<br /><br />She set up the safety gate for the puppy, grabbed leather jacket, keys, and purse, and headed out the door.<br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-22449665169960558242012-11-14T23:30:00.003-08:002012-11-14T23:30:58.175-08:00Highwire - Part 16Jack woke first. His head felt thick from the alcohol he'd consumed. He looked over at Claire, who slept peacefully, and hoped she wouldn't feel too hung-over. She had rolled so that she was facing him. One hand was tucked under her cheek.<br /><br />He reached over and smoothed some hair out of her face. She stirred, but did not wake. He continued gazing at her, again awe-struck by her loveliness. He moved closer to her, dropping his hand down to rest on her side, just above her hip. He encountered skin rather than cotton, and knew her tank top had ridden up in sleep.<br /><br />She woke to find him staring at her intently, a small smile playing at his lips.<br /><br />When her eyes fluttered open, he asked, "How do you feel?"<br /><br />"I'm fine, now," she replied huskily.<br /><br />"Now?"<br /><br />"Didn't you hear me get up earlier?" she asked him. "I thought you were a light sleeper?"<br /><br />"I am... usually... but not when I go to bed drunk," he told her "So you got up? Were you sick?"<br /><br />She shook her head, "I felt like I was going to be, though. I got up and laid on the sofa for a little while."<br /><br />"Headache?"<br /><br />"Yes, when I was up earlier. But I found your supply of ibuprofen, and it's gone now." she explained. "What about you?"<br /><br />"I've been better... but I've certainly been a helluva lot worse, so..."<br /><br />"How much did you let me drink last night?" she queried.<br /><br />"Oh, I don't know.... six, seven shots... maybe more. Plus the scotch you had when you got here."<br /><br />"Really? That much, eh?" she seemed to have impressed herself to some degree. "Do me a favour, will you?" she said, pushing him onto his back and moving so that she sat astride his thighs, "Stop me at four or five from now on, okay?"<br /><br />"But you're so much fun when you've had too much to drink," he said, bringing his hands up to rest on her waist.<br /><br />"Yeah, but I passed out on you, right?"<br /><br />He nodded, his hands beginning to inch their way upward.<br /><br />She took hold of his wrists, drew his hands up over his head, threaded her fingers through his, and pinned his arms to the bed. "Think how much more fun I would have been if I hadn't gone unconscious on you."<br /><br />"Trust me," he said, a look of mischief crossing his face, "I had my fun."<br /><br />"With me lying limp beneath you?" she asked, lowering her lips to kiss his neck.<br /><br />"You'd be surprised at the advantages that situation presents. For one thing, I only have to worry about my own satisfaction."<br /><br />She bit into the flesh of his shoulder.<br /><br />"Hey!" he exclaimed. "What was that for?"<br /><br />"Insolence."<br /><br />"Me? Insolent? Never!"<br /><br />"That innocent, puppy dog expression isn't going to work on me, Buster."<br /><br />"It's not? Damn!" he teased. "You're made of tougher stuff than I thought."<br /><br />"That's right! And don't you forget it!"<br /><br />She leaned down to kiss him, releasing his hands, which he quickly moved to rest on her hips.<br /><br />"You're conscious now," he reminded her, as though she would forget. "We could have that fun right now."<br /><br />"I thought you already had your fun?" she said seriously.<br /><br />He chuckled. "Your memory is too damn good, woman!"<br /><br />She sat, staring down at him, and he slipped his hands beneath her tank top, sliding hem up higher. Just before he reached her breasts, she stopped him, and pushed his hands away, dropping hers to stroke his shoulders and chest. She ran her fingers along, feeling the muscles beneath his skin as they contracted and released beneath her light touch.<br /><br />Her hands glided lower, fingers tracing the outline of his pecs. They continued on down, over his abdomen, pass his belly button, and slid beneath the waistband of the boxers he wore. He closed his eyes in anticipation. Seeing this, Claire smiled slyly to herself, and massaged her was back up over his stomach, chest, and shoulders. She repeated this taunting, tantalising massage, several times, until she knew, from his ragged breathing, and the look in his eyes that he had just about enough of her torment. Still, she did not cease right away, only continued to stroke his chest, arms, shoulders, and further down, each movement of her hand on his skin driving him further and further along the road of arousal.<br /><br />When he thought he was going to go out of his mind if she didn't stop, he reached up, and pulled her face down to his, devouring her lips with his own, a need more powerful than any he'd ever known coursing through his body. It was more than the need to be physically intimate with her, though that, too, was part of it. He needed to connect with her, with this beautiful, wonderful woman with him. He needed to connect with Claire on every level he could.<br /><br />He released her lips, but held her face very close to his.<br /><br />"I really do love you, Claire...you know that?"<br /><br />"I know you do, Jack," she said quietly. "Did you really think I didn't?"<br /><br />He leaned up and kissed her again, softly.<br /><br />"I love you, too, Jack."<br /><br />He let go of her neck, and brought his hands around to her face, holding her hair out of her eyes, searching them with his own.<br /><br />"You mean it." he said.<br /><br />"Yes, Jack, I do. Of course I do."<br /><br />Pushing his torso off the bed with his hands, he sat up, wrapping his arms around Claire's waist.<br /><br />"I don't know what brought last night about, Claire, but I'm grateful for it. I haven't gotten drunk for fun in a long time."<br /><br />She understood what he meant. When he drank, it was usually to dull the ache, the loneliness, the contempt for others, and himself.<br /><br />"It WAS fun, Jack," she agreed. "You need to have more fun."<br /><br />"I was beginning to think that I'd forgotten how," he confessed. "That is, until you walked into my office one July afternoon. I started looking forward to work again. I'd always enjoyed the work, the arguing cases and hard-assing defendants and their attorneys. But coming into the office....dealing with co-workers on a daily basis... I'd begun to hate it.<br /><br />"I wanted you from the moment you walked into my office. Wanted to make you mine, at first because you said you wouldn't be, but that quickly changed. You were... are... this amazing, intelligent, beautiful creature, who gives me hell when I act like a bastard, and who won't always play the game by my rules.<br /><br />"I'm sorry for the circumstances leading up to Ben Stone's resignation, but if he hadn't resigned, I wouldn't have you in my life. You've made me happy again, and for that I'll never be sorry."<br /><br />Claire cupped his face in her hands and gazed lovingly at him. His vulnerability was showing through again. Every now and then, he would say or do something, or look at her a certain way that brought home the power she held over him, and she was at once thrilled that he trusted her enough to place his heart in her hands, and scared by the responsibility that entailed.<br /><br />"For God's sake, don't blow this, Claire," she told herself whenever he looked at the way he was now; face a mask of masculine vulnerability tinged with the sorrows of the past. "Look at him... he loves you. It's so obvious. Don't hurt him the way everyone else has."<br /><br />"Jack... I know you've been hurt by love in the past, over and over... though I don't know the details. And you let yourself fall in love with me anyway. Thank you for that. Thanks for trusting me enough."<br /><br />"I didn't have any choice, Claire," he said, voice low and full of emotion. "God! How could I not fall in love with you?"<br /><br />"I know you don't think so, know you think you don't deserve it, but I feel the same way about you."<br /><br />"I believe you Claire ... but you still might have to remind me of it every now and then."<br /><br />"That shouldn't be a problem," she told him. "I love you, Jack, and I'm going to keep telling you so until you quit looking at me as though you doubt it. And when you do, I'll keep telling you, lest you forget."<br /><br />"Promise?"<br /><br />"Cross my heart," she said, making the sign of the cross over her head with a finger. "I'll pinkie-swear if it will make you feel better."<br /><br />He craned his neck up and bruised his lips against hers softly, quickly, and retreated.<br /><br />"There," he said quietly. "Sealed with a kiss ... If you should break it now..."<br /><br />She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and hugged him close, his temple pressed against her cheek. After a time, he gripped her sides and held her slightly away from him. The heat of his gaze bore into her across the distance of mere inches.<br /><br />"I'm ready for that fun, now," she leaned down and whispered seductively into his ear.<br /><br />He raised his eyebrows at her when she sat back again.<br /><br />He was, of course, more than glad to oblige her.<br /><br />He reached for the bottom of her tank top and pulled it slowly up. She raised her hands over her head and he pulled it off of her. He crushed his lips to hers in a fierce kiss, to which she could not help but respond.<br /><br />His hands passed over her breasts, the merest hint of palms grazing her nipples, and it sent a pleasant shiver down her spine. They passed over them again, his touch more firm this time. His hands produced the desired effect --a low moan-- when he gently squeezed her breasts. He lowered his head to encircle the peak of one with his tongue while his fingers nimbly toyed with the other.<br /><br />He wrapped his left arm around her, and holding her close, turned to his left and lay her gently down. He knelt next to her for a moment, heart leaping at the smile she gave him, and at the look in her eyes, which had misted over with passion. He moved so that he sat astride her knees, and reached down to smooth his hands along the curve of her waist, the swell of her hips, and down, then slid them back up again. At her hips, he paused, then began to work her underwear off of her. He moved backward and pulled first one, and then the other leg free of the thin satin garment. He traced her calf as he lowered her leg, then positioned himself between her parted thighs.<br /><br />She reached for him, and he let her draw him in. She kissed him, and he kissed back, her lips soft and pliant beneath his. He loved the way her soft, pale skin felt like warm silk against his. He moved lower, and kissed the base of her throat, the vein there leaping under his lips. He kissed his way ever downward, tongue flicking into her navel as he continued lower. He nipped gently at the soft, tender flesh of her inner thighs, before lowering his head to pleasure her with his mouth.<br /><br />He did this for many long, achingly sweet minutes, though she could not have said for how long, driving her to the brink of release and back again more times than she could have accounted for. After a time, to gauge her reactions, he paused and looked at her. She lay gasping for air, skin flushed, lush body writhing, hands balled into fists that clutched his sheets so tightly her knuckles had gone white.<br /><br />He smiled, and rose to cover her body with his, gingerly lowering himself on top of her, feeling her hardened nipples pressing against his chest. Her body was slick with perspiration from his earlier tender assault. She clung tightly to his shoulders as he closed his mouth over hers and swallowed her moans and mewling cries of pleasure with a heated kiss.<br /><br />Claire slid her hands down to cup the firm globes of his behind, then began to tug his boxers down. He moved away from her and removed them, took care of the protection, and lay back down beside her, on his side.<br /><br />One of his hands slid down her torso, between her thighs, to gently stroke the place his mouth to which his mouth had so recently paid such loving attention.<br /><br />"Jack...please....stop..." she begged.<br /><br />His hand left her, and his lips stopped kissing her neck.<br /><br />"Stop? What's wrong?" he asked, obviously concerned.<br /><br />She breathed hard for several moments, until her speech wasn't so marred by breathlessness. "I don't mean stop altogether....just stop teasing. God, I want you too much to take much more."<br /><br />She was still laying on her back, and he drew the leg closest to him up over his hip, positioning his bent leg so that his thigh rested between hers. He entered her in this position, both gasping at the new and slightly different sensations brought on by this new position.<br /><br />As he began to move in and out of her, he reached with the hand that was beneath him to stroke her dark hair. The friction caused by his thigh rubbing against her swollen womanly jewel was so great, and so aroused was she already, that her first release rocked through her body in not time at all. As the climax shook through her, he held her tightly and ceased his movement.<br /><br />He stayed within her as she recovered, and was delighted when she began to move against him. After a few moments, she pulled away and rolled to face him. Jack drew her thigh over his hip and entered her again, thrusting deep as she brought her lips to his. They moved together, the only sounds their heavy breathing, and moans of pleasure. Claire leaned back to look into Jack's eyes.<br /><br />Her fingers played across his face, running over his lips. She closed her eyes as a feeling of great love welled within her. She opened them again, to see him looking back at her. "Oh God, Jack, I love you" she whispered breathlessly, "I love making love to you."<br /><br />"Claire," he groaned. "Claire...I love you."<br /><br />She rolled to her back, pulling Jack with her.<br /><br />He braced himself on his hands and looked down at her.<br /><br />"You're an incredible woman, Claire Kincaid, you know that?" he asked, heart filled to near capacity with his love for her. "You came into my life and filled a void I thought would never be filled."<br /><br />"Jack..." she breathed, arching up against him.<br /><br />"Claire... I look at you sometimes... and it hurts...it hurts I love you so much."<br /><br />"Jack...Jack, I love you too," she whispered.<br /><br />"Before you came along, I was floundering...I was..."<br /><br />"Shhhhhh, love," she said, resting a finger against his lips for a second, then beginning to caress his shoulders and back. She pulled him down to her, pulled him in for a kiss, and murmured, "make love to me, Jack," against his lips.<br /><br />They began to move once more, neither of them saying anything intelligible for a good deal of time.<br />
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<br />They decided to spend the day together. Neither of them had been very hungry for breakfast, so Jack had made coffee and some toast.<br /><br />While Jack showered, Claire dressed and headed for home, where Jack would meet her when he was ready, so that she could shower and change clothes.<br /><br />She was in her robe, brushing out her hair after having used the blow dryer, when Jack knocked. She hurried to the door, and let him in.<br /><br />"I'm almost ready," she told him, then headed back down the hall to her bedroom. "I'll just be a couple of more minutes."<br /><br />Jack went in and sat on the sofa. He had been there for just over a minute when Lucy came and jumped up on the couch. She insinuated herself onto Jack's lap, and laid down. She purred loudly as he began to stroke her fur. Jack smiled... he'd never been much of a cat person.... much of a pet person full stop.<br /><br />When he was 8 or 9 years old, a stray dog had followed him home one day. He had thought to keep it. His father hadn't been home at the time, and between his pleas, and those of his big-hearted kid sister, his mother had been persuaded to talk the old man into allowing the children to keep their new pet.<br /><br />If Jack had known what this request would cost his mother, a sweet, docile, long-suffering woman who endured much for the sake of her children, he never would have asked.<br /><br />His mother ended up in the emergency room that night, with a couple of cracked ribs, some bruises, and a bloody nose. The official cause, of course, considering the investigating cops called in by the attending ER physician worked for the same precinct as his father, was a bad fall in the kitchen.<br /><br />The next day, his father had taken the dog to a veterinary hospital to be destroyed. Not to the pound to give it a chance at adoption by some other family, but taken and deliberately, with malice, put to sleep. It was then that Jack had begun to hate his father. He had always hated the beatings regularly doled out to his mother, and often enough to himself, but to a poor, hapless stray..... he didn't understand how his old man could be so cruel.<br /><br />He looked down at Lucy, purring so contentedly on his lap, and cringed at the memory.<br /><br />"It would be impossible not to like this cat," he thought to himself. She had the sweetest looking face, she was soft and affectionate, though independent as all cats are. And, she belonged to Claire, who loved her cat very much, he knew.<br /><br />He flashed for a moment on the anger and hatred he had felt for his father that day, the day he had taken that poor, happy, unsuspecting mutt to be put down. The utter frustration and helplessness of being a child who could not stop the actions of a cruel parent washed over him again, and he recalled that he had not gone to school that day, instead staying home to sit with his mother, to cry the tears of a small boy who had already endured a lifetime of pain and anguish. His father never knew about that.<br /><br />He could remember telling his mother that he wished his father dead that day. He prayed silently as he wept over his mother while she slept that his father would get shot or killed at work, or in a bar brawl (he'd been in many), or drink himself to death...anything that would mean he'd leave his wife and children in peace. He wished for this many times after that day, but as much of a bastard as John J. McCoy, Sr. was and had always been, he seemed to live a charmed life, dying many years later, after having buried his wife several years earlier.<br /><br />Claire came into the living room and found him petting her cat, a sad, far-off expression on his face.<br /><br />"Thinking about Koppel again?" she asked him.<br /><br />He shook his head, clearing the memory. "No... I ....I um.... I was just thinking about something that happened when I was a kid... and it wasn't a pleasant memory."<br /><br />"No unhappy thoughts today," she said softly, sitting down next to him, reaching down to pat her cat. "I won't allow it.... Unless, of course, you'd like to talk about it?"<br /><br />He shook his head again.<br /><br />"I didn't think so," she said as she stood and held out her hand to him. "C'mon... let's get out of here."<br /><br />"Where are we going?" he asked.<br /><br />"I thought we could go for a walk in Central Park... or along the Hudson," she said. "Sound okay?"<br /><br />"More than okay," he replied.<br />
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<br />They entered Central Park on the lower east end, near the Plaza Hotel, and began to walk, heading no where in particular, gloved hands clasped tightly together.<br /><br />They came across a pretzel vendor (not an uncommon commodity in Manhattan, and Jack remarked, "God, I haven't had a pretzel in ages."<br /><br />"Do you like salt? Mustard?" she asked.<br /><br />When he nodded, she let go of his hand and walked over to the cart, steam rising around it in the cold December air. She ordered one with salt for Jack, one without for her, both with a side of mustard, with a Coke for Jack and a diet one for herself. Jack smiled as he watched her order, watched her pull off a glove and fish the money out of her purse. She walked back toward him, and he hurried forward, to help her carry the snacks. He followed her to an empty bench, and they sat down to eat.<br /><br />"I didn't mean that as a hint that you should buy me a pretzel," he told her, breaking off a piece and dipping it.<br /><br />"I know," she said, "But Christ Jack... I don't even want to begin to speculate about what you spent on me this weekend. The least I can do is buy you a stupid pretzel."<br /><br />"I'm not keeping score," he said, seriously, "Besides... you give me something worth far more than a million nights at the Waldorf."<br /><br />He grinned at her and she reached over to stroke his face lightly for a moment.<br />
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<br />When they had finished their pretzels and tossed their trash, they continued their walk through the park, commenting on passers-by, on the mild weather they were having for this time of year. Claire smiled at some children playing on a play-structure, all bundled up against the cold, there shrill laughter high, and happy. She looked over at Jack, who was smiling rather sadly, and wondered what he was thinking.<br /><br />Eventually, they happened upon an ice-skating rink.<br /><br />"Jack?" she queried, "Do you skate?"<br /><br />"I played hockey when I was a boy," he said, "But I haven't skated in years, not since Maggie was a little girl. I think she was 11 or 12 the last time I took her to Rockefeller Center."<br /><br />"Do you want to?"<br /><br />"What? Skate? Now?" he asked.<br /><br />"Yeah. Skate. Now," she replied.<br /><br />"Why not?"<br />
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<br />They skated, holding hands at times, laughing. They skated for a good amount of time. Claire was graceful as ever. Jack was less so, tripping at one point, when Claire was skating in front of him, facing him, moving backwards, holding his hands. When he tripped, he loosed his grip on her hands, and fell forward, landing on the ice.<br /><br />Claire laughed as she helped pull him up. "Guess it's not like riding a bike, eh?" she joked as he stood. Beet red with embarrassment was not a state in which she was accustomed to seeing Jack McCoy, and she found it more than a little endearing.<br /><br />"Guess not," he said..<br /><br />"You okay?" she asked, trying to contain her mirth.<br /><br />"My pride is wounded, but I'll live."<br /><br />Claire was still laughing. To her credit, Jack noted, she tried to stifle it, but there was something that bordered on hilarity in her mind about Jack McCoy picking himself so ingloriously off the ice, glancing around to see if he had been noticed, and dusting himself off.<br /><br />"I'm glad you find this so funny," he said, trying to sound severe.<br /><br />"I'm sorry," she choked, "I'm not laughing at you...well, I am, but...not really....not really you as much as the idea of... Ugh, forget it, I can't explain."<br /><br />He reached for her, but she skated backward just out of his reach.<br /><br />"C'mere," he said, "I want to show you something.<br /><br />She shook her head, skeptical. "I can see just fine from here."<br /><br />"If you want to see, you have to come here."<br /><br />"What makes you think I want to see?"<br /><br />"Because I know you....C'mere."<br /><br />She slowed and let him reach her. He rested his hands on her waist when he did.<br /><br />"Alright. What are you going to show me?" she asked.<br /><br />"The penalty for mockery," he announced, a wild look in his eye.<br /><br />He reached into her coat and began to tickle her ribs. She tried to pull away, but he quickly grabbed hold of her coat. She tugged backward, but he held tight, and while he lost his balance, he did not lose his grip. He began to fall again, this time pulling Claire with him, and they ended up, laughing, in a heap on the ice.<br />
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<br />After skating, while Jack returned the skates, Claire bought them both a hot cocoa --something both admitted loving, though not having had in quite some time-- and they headed out through the park.<br /><br />As they headed back the way they'd come, Claire asked, "What do you want to do for dinner?"<br /><br />"Eat," he said.<br /><br />She snorted and elbowed him in the ribs.<br /><br />"We can eat somewhere near my place," she said, "Or somewhere around here. Or I can cook. How hungry are you?"<br /><br />"Starved."<br /><br />"Me too. Let's eat around here. "I'm buying."<br /><br />"Good!"<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br />Later, in the hallway outside Claire's apartment, Claire was having a wee bit of trouble getting the door open. This may have had something to do with the fact that Jack had come up behind her, brushed her hair aside, and had busied himself nibbling on the side of her neck as he wrapped his arms around her. When the last lock finally gave, she pushed the door open, and walked forward. Jack let her go, and followed her into her dwelling. She shrugged her coat off and opened the closet near the entrance to her condo, and hung it on the hook attached to the door. She hung Jack's over hers, shut the door, and quickly found herself pulled around and to him, and then pushed up against the closet door.<br /><br />"Today was nice," he said, his hand holding her neck as he pressed his lips against her forehead.<br /><br />"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself... you seemed so sad earlier," she commented, "I'm glad I could take your mind off whatever it was."<br /><br />His eyes darkened for a moment, with memory she supposed, and he said, "That.....what I was thinking about earlier... can never be very far from my mind."<br /><br />"What, Jack? What is it? Tell me."<br /><br />He looked away, and she turned his face back to her.<br /><br />"I want to be there for you emotionally, Jack," she told him, focusing her gaze on him, "But you have to let me."<br /><br />"I've never talked about this with anyone... never, other than my sister...I'm not sure that I can."<br /><br />He let her go, and walked into her living room.<br /><br />She followed him.<br /><br />"Can I start a fire?" he asked.<br /><br />She nodded.<br /><br />When he was done, he went and sat beside her on the sofa where she had seated herself.<br /><br />"My family..." he said, "God this is hard to talk about, I've kept it in so long. My family was pretty fucked up, there's no other way to describe it. My old man... he was a helluva cop, but he wasn't a very good man. He was a bastard, as a husband and a father. He.... he abused my mother their entire marriage, or at least for as long as I could remember."<br /><br />He paused for a moment, and looked down, taking a deep breath.<br /><br />"I suspected that," she told him softly, "From some of the things you've said."<br /><br />He nodded.<br /><br />After a moment, she asked, "Did he abuse you and your sister, as well?"<br /><br />Jack pushed his hands off his knees and stood. He crossed to the window and stared out into the night.<br /><br />With his back to Claire, he said, "Me..... but not Becky..."<br /><br />"What made you think about it today?" she asked<br /><br />He shrugged, "Sometimes the littlest thing will bring back some memory. I was petting your cat, and was suddenly reminded of something that happened when I was a kid."<br /><br />He didn't continue, and so she prompted him. "What did you remember?"<br /><br />"Claire, I feel like I've already said more than I should."<br /><br />"But why, Jack? What do you think is going to happen if you tell me? I'm not going to leave... I won't think less of you, how could I? You weren't responsible for what went on in your house."<br /><br />"But this time I was, don't you see?" he asked wheeling to face her, his voice strangled.<br /><br />She stood and went to him. He moved away from her, back to the couch. He was running, not from her, but from his memory, from the guilt he felt. She followed him, sat next to him, urged him to continue.<br /><br />He recounted the story for her, and her heart ached for him. He must have been so small and frightened of his father.<br /><br />"Jack...what happened that night...it wasn't your fault," she told him. "You can't take the responsibility for the cruelty of your father. If it hadn't been the dog that set him off that night, it would have been something else.... you have to realise that."<br /><br />"Do I?" he asked. "When he started in on her that night.... it was because he was going to come after me, for bringing the dog home, you see, and she made the mistake of trying to protect me. I should have known.... I should have thought about how he was... but that poor dog... If I had just thought about it...."<br /><br />His voice trailed off, and he looked down.<br /><br />"If I had been thinking about her instead of myself, it wouldn't have happened... but I wanted to keep that little dog so much...we'd never had a pet. And then when he came for me...I was so frightened, I hollered for my mother, and she came, so he gave her what he wanted to give me, but worse," his voice was cracking. "Becky and I.... he didn't usually hit her in front of us, but he was so angry, he didn't seem to mind... we thought he was going to kill her. I should have stopped him... I should have at least tried."<br /><br />"But how? You were just a little boy, Jack, what could you possibly have done?" she asked. He had obviously been carrying this quilt with him for a great deal of time. How could she make him see that he hadn't done anything wrong? That he wasn't responsible for the events of that night... or any other such night?<br /><br />"You know..." he said after a minute, "Cerebrally, rationally, I know I wasn't to blame.... and God did it take me along time to come to that. And yet..."<br /><br />"And yet part of you is still that same, scared little boy who brought a stray dog home, then watched in terror as his father beat his mother to the point of hospitalization for it."<br /><br />He nodded, his eyes looking anywhere but at her.<br /><br />"I hate him Claire. I hate my father, and I've always hated him... Even when he was old, and sick, and frail and dying of cirrhosis of the liver I hated him. He was a cruel, violent man, and God knows I'd wished him dead often enough over the years," he told her. "I'd go visit him in the hospital, just so I could look down at him and know he was suffering. Not as much as we had. And not enough for what he did to us.... but suffering. This big, brute of a man, laid low by a disease he'd brought on himself, eating through tubes, unable to get out of bed, to wash himself. Such an undignified way to die. I just wish he had gone before my mother... at least then she'd have had a few years of peace."<br /><br />He stopped, and took a few deep breaths. Claire had reached down during this last speech to take his hand into hers. He looked down at where their hands lay clasped on his lap, and squeezed softly. He realised that the hand she held was the only place on his body that felt warm, despite the roaring fire he'd started.<br /><br />"I hated him because I always tried so damn hard to make him happy... to make him proud of me, but nothing I ever did was good enough. I could give a hundred and ten percent of myself to something, and he'd have expected a hundred and twenty. The only time he was ever proud of me was the day I graduated from law school," he looked over at her for the first time in many minutes, a sad smile, very small, on his lips, "You should have seen him that day.... I though he was going to burst out of his coat he was so proud."<br /><br />She listened to him, to the things he was saying, to the tone of his voice, to the body language he wasn't aware of, and knew that he hadn't hated his father at all, and that's what had him so torn. He loved his father, but had been terrified of him, of displeasing him. He loved his father, despite the abuse, the cruelty, the irrationality and the fear... and hated himself for it<br /><br />The clock on the mantle chimed 9 pm. Jack looked up as the clock began it's racket, looked at it like it was a foreign object he'd never seen before...as if he had forgotten that such a thing as time had existed.<br /><br />He sighed. "One more hour and I turn into a pumpkin."<br /><br />Claire glanced over at the clock herself, as though she needed to confirm the time. "Jack...you don't have to leave at 10:00 if you don't want. If you don't want to be alone tonight, you can stay. Or I'll pack some things and we can go back to your place."<br /><br />"Thank you," he told her. "But we agreed in the car that I'd leave at 10:00, remember? Neither of us got much sleep this weekend, and we've got a packed week coming up."<br /><br />"I can't bear to think of you sitting alone in your apartment when..."<br /><br />He interrupted her. "Claire....I appreciate what you're trying to do, honestly... and for listening without judgment, but there's practically not a day that goes by that I don't think about this in some way... I'm accustomed to it."<br /><br />She nodded.<br /><br />Jack, having had more than enough of this talk...of that particular memory... decided to change the subject, and the dark mood that had filled the room when he'd walked in and begun to bare his dark soul.<br /><br />"We have an hour...a little less now," he remarked and squeezed Claire's hand, which he had not let go of since she'd taken his hand into hers. "Any ideas on how we can pass the time?"<br /><br />She released his hand and reached over to switch off the lamp behind her, the only light in the room now coming from the crackling fire. She moved closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder, and he wrapped an arm around her. They sat like that, staring at the fire, for several moments.<br /><br />"Hey," she said softly, raising her head to look at him in the dim light. "Lay down, okay?"<br /><br />She stood so he could lay down with ease, and he did. She sat down again, and adjusted herself so that she was laying with him, her cheek resting against his shoulder.<br /><br />"Jack?" she said after some time had gone by, and they'd been just lying together, holding one another.<br /><br />"Hmmm?"<br /><br />"Thank you."<br /><br />"For what?"<br /><br />"For sharing that story with me.... for trusting me enough to open yourself up like that," she said quietly.<br /><br />"Jesus, Claire.... I should be thanking you. You're the first person I've ever known with whom I've felt comfortable enough to share the misery of my childhood. Thank you for not pressuring me into talking about Paul.... thank you for being what I need."<br /><br />"Jack," she breathed, her palm coming up to lightly stroke his cheek. She looked into his eyes, the firelight dancing in them, and leaned over to touch her lips to his.<br /><br />The soft, gentle kiss she'd laid on him quickly turned into something more fierce, more demanding, his desire to connect with her on every possible level surfacing again. He pulled her closer, then released her mouth, staring into her eyes intently. One of his hands came to rest on her side as they became engrossed in another kiss.<br /><br />They remained like that for the rest of their time together that night, just quietly lying in one another's arms on the sofa, kissing often, hands roaming lightly, both content to leave it at that without going any further, just lying together, kissing and touching lovingly in a way that, while very intimate and affectionate, was not necessarily sexual.<br /><br />Eventually, 10:00 did come, the mantle clock chiming the time.<br /><br />"Time for me to go," he whispered.<br /><br />She nodded.<br /><br />They kissed again, then moved to get up from the sofa. Claire grabbed Jack's hand as they walked to the door. He retrieved his jacket from the closet, and slipped it on. When he had closed the closet door, he pulled Claire into his arms once more, saying her name softly as he gently stroked her hair.<br /><br />He held the back of her neck with his hand and pressed his lips against her forehead, saying, "Thank you," and then kissing her with tender care before reaching behind him to open the front door of her condo.<br /><br />"G'night," he said, kissing her again.<br /><br />"Good bye, Jack," she whispered, kissing him. "I'll see you in the morning."<br /><br />One more goodbye from each, and several kisses later, Jack walked through the door way, Claire closing the door behind him. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-43112340407176134702012-11-14T23:18:00.003-08:002012-11-14T23:18:57.239-08:00Highwire - Part 15<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jack's happiness lasted through the cab ride back to his apartment, all the way up in the lift. He smiled to himself as he entered , and headed for the kitchen to check his answering machine. There was a biting message from Anna Koppel, who had already read him the riot act for going ahead with the prosecution against her husband on several prior occasions. He pitied her, for like him, she had been betrayed by her husband, who had abandoned whatever morals he had when he climbed, figuratively, into bed with the head of a mob family. Anna, unlike himself, was sticking by her husband, and on some level he envied that kind of blind devotion.<br /><br />"Funny how one 90 second message can turn a day that started wonderfully into a bitch," he thought to himself.<br /><br />The final message was from Claire, thanking him once again for the wonderful hours they had spent together in the hotel room. The sound of her voice lightened his mood some, but that lasted only a few minutes. He went into the living room and sat on the sofa. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a photo lying on the coffee table. The picture, taken over 25 years ago, was of him and Paul and Anna Koppel, several weeks before their wedding. He had taken it out several nights earlier, while drunk, to wallow in self pity. He picked it up to look at it more closely, convinced to some degree that if he looked hard enough at the picture, he would be able to see some flaw in Paul's character that he had not had the wisdom to see then. But there was nothing.<br /><br />"Damn you Paul," he said angrily to the photo.<br /><br />Looking at the picture, he felt the nearly irrepressible urge to get drunk again, thought better of it, and headed down the hall for his bedroom. He stripped of his clothes, pulled the covers back and climbed in. He had slept very little the night before, and after the relaxing morning he and Claire had spent together, he found he was actually quite exhausted. In very little time, he was asleep.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />When he woke up, it was dark outside. It was also raining, which precluded any thoughts of taking the bike out for a long ride to nowhere, something that generally helped clear his head.<br /><br />He drifted down the hall into the bathroom and flicked on the light. He looked at himself in the mirror for a few minutes, staring intently for several long minutes. He noted the marks of age beginning to rampage their way across his face, his hair, growing more grey as time went on. He rubbed his knuckles along his jaw. He looked scruffy, hair mussed from sleep, and he needed to shave.<br /><br />He turned on the water, lathered up, and picked up his razor, doing away with the stubble in short order, careful not to nick his skin. After, he got into the shower, still upset at himself for his complicity in Paul Koppel's prosecution.<br /><br />Showered and shaved, with nothing to do, he poured himself a drink and did something he rarely did: turned on the television.<br /><br />At 6 o'clock on a Saturday evening, the only thing worth watching was the news. He watched for a few minutes, then clicked it off. War, violence, death, crime, sex scandals: these were not the things he needed to be hearing about at the moment.<br /><br />He finished his drink and realised he was rather hungry. He put a pair of shoes on, grabbed a jacket and an umbrella, and headed out to a steak house a few blocks away.<br /></span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When he returned home, the bottoms of his pant legs were sopping wet from walking in the rain. He took off his jeans and changed into a dry pair.<br /><br />He didn't bother with the television this time, instead choosing a book from one of the many stacks in his possession, and lay down on the couch to read.<br /><br />He was 50 pages into the book before he decided he was cold, and got up to light a fire. He settled back down with the book, becoming so absorbed that he heeded not the passage of time.<br /><br />There came a light rapping at his door, and he started at the unexpected sound. He had not thought he'd have company this night. The knocking came again, louder this time, and he stood and went to the door. It was Claire.<br /><br />He opened the door.<br /><br />"Hi," he said, "What're you doing here? Not that I mind..."<br /><br />She shrugged, smiling.<br /><br />"Come in," he said, standing aside as she moved passed him.<br /><br />"Drink?" he asked, as he took her coat and tossed it over the back of the easy chair.<br /><br />"Sure."<br /><br />"Wine? Scotch?"<br /><br />"Whatever you're having."<br /><br />"Fine."<br /><br />He went into the kitchen, returning with two glasses of scotch, and found Claire sitting on the sofa, staring at the fire. He handed a drink to Claire and asked, "How was dinner?"<br /><br />"It was nice.....It's not such a hardship to be around my mother anymore. I can say things now.... things to which she normally would have responded critically, and she doesn't say a word. Sometimes you can see her wanting to interject something scathing, but she's developed remarkable self-control. Either that, or Mac threatened her," she concluded, laughing into her drink.<br /><br />They sat silently drinking for a few moments.<br /><br />The picture on the coffee table caught Claire's eye, and she leaned over to pick it up.<br /><br />"Koppel and his wife?" she asked.<br /><br />Jack hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "She left a message on my machine today....pleading with me to drop the charges, then cursing me for a bastard."<br /><br />Claire looked at him expectantly when he didn't go on. He knew she wanted him to launch into a narration on his feelings about Paul Koppel, but he still wasn't ready for that particular discussion.<br /><br />He said nothing, and so Claire, not in the mood for anything even approaching a verbal brawl, said, "Nice hair, Jack," as she stared at the picture. His hair was longer back then, indicative of the time. And as for the fashion? Well, let's just say Claire was happy to be living in the 90s.<br /><br />"You don't like it?" he laughed, happy she was not going to lecture him on her need for him to be open and honest about his feelings.<br /><br />"Makes you look crazed...like a wild man."<br /><br />"Well, I wasn't...in fact, I was too busy working my way through school and working my ass off to maintain an A-average to do too much partying." He looked down into his glass, empty now, and swore softly, "Damn!"<br /><br />"I'll get more," she told him, and took their glasses. "Continue," she prompted as she disappeared around the corner into the kitchen.<br /><br />He heard her opening and closing cabinets and wondered what on earth she was looking for. He continued, "I always preferred the small, intimate gatherings to the wild, crazy, debauchery-filled parties."<br /><br />"So did I," she called back from the kitchen. "Do you have any lemons?"<br /><br />"Lemons?" he paused, thrown slightly by the topic shift. "Bottom drawer of the fridge."<br /><br />A few minutes passed, and he called, "What're you doing in there?"<br /><br />At that moment, she emerged from the kitchen, balancing on a small cutting board a partially drunk bottle of Jose Cuervo tequila, a couple of shot glasses, some lemons, a salt shaker, and a knife.<br /><br />"What's all this?" he asked, clearing a space for her to set her findings on the coffee table.<br /><br />"Normally I just drink a couple of drinks here and there to relax," she explained, setting the cutting board on the table, "But every so often... I don't just want to relax... I want to get drunk. Not so that I throw up or feel like shit all the next day... but drunk. And I don't like to drink alone, so here I am. I hope you don't mind.<br /><br />You look like you could use a good binge, too."<br /><br />"I nearly went on one earlier."<br /><br />"What stopped you?"<br /><br />"I didn't want to get drunk and wallow in self-pity."<br /><br />She was kneeling in front of the coffee table, facing Jack, who still sat on the sofa on the opposite side of the table. She sliced into one of the lemons, cutting it expertly into six even wedges.<br /><br />"I never figured you for a tequila drinker," he told her, "well, not shots anyway...Margaritas maybe....but not slammers."<br /><br />"I wasn't much of a partier either," she told him, filling both shot glasses and pouring a bit of salt onto her hand, "but when I let my hair down...I really let it down."<br /><br />This said, she licked the salt from her hand, downed one of the shots without flinching, and bit into one of the lemon wedges.<br /><br />"Impressive," he said, then mimicked her actions.<br /><br />"That's nothing," she said, filling the shot glasses again. "On my 21st birthday, some girlfriends and I went to a bar. The bartender lined 5 shot glasses up in front of me, gave me a lemon wedge coated in sugar, and said that if I could down all 5 in rapid succession, without taking a break or a chaser, then our drinks for the night would be on the house."<br /><br />"Did you do it?"<br /><br />"With incentive like that?" she asked. "Hell yes, I did! Barely... I had to choke down the last one, but I did it. I was fine for about 10 minutes after that, then all the sudden the tequila kicked in and I was hammered."<br /><br />"Did you stop drinking?"<br /><br />"No, and I have to say that I don't remember much of my birthday after the first hour in that bar. And I regretted the amount I drank until well into the next evening."<br /><br />He laughed, and they both slammed another.<br /><br />After their 3rd shot, Claire requested music, and so Jack got up to turn on the stereo as she sliced into the 2nd lemon. He slipped in a greatest hits CD of Otis Redding's.<br /><br />The music began, and Jack held his hand out to Claire. She reached up and slid her hand into his. He closed his fingers about it and pulled her up against his chest, catching her in an embrace as the song "These Arms of Mine" began to play.<br /><br />Claire's head swam from having consumed a glass of scotch and 3 shots of tequila in such a short period of time, but Jack held her tightly against his chest, and it steadied her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and they began to sway slowly from side to side, as the music cast a languid spell about the room.<br /><br />He hugged her tighter and nuzzled his lips into the crook of her neck. She tilted her head to the side as his lips grazed lightly. "You smell so good," he whispered softly.<br /><br />"This is nice, Jack," she said. "We really should do this more often."<br /><br />"Get drunk?"<br /><br />"Dance."<br /><br />"No objections here."<br /><br />They grew quiet, swaying in time with the music. Claire began massaging the nape of Jack's neck with her thumb. He pulled her closer, his hands sliding lower, palms gliding softly over her behind, then back up, higher, until they stopped in the middle of her back, pressing her closer still, as her arms tightened about his neck. Claire released him slightly, clasping her hands together behind his neck, and leaned back to gaze up at him, her dark eyes shining.<br /><br />He smiled down at her, eyes bright and full of emotion. "I'm glad you came over," he told her, "I didn't know it, but this is just what I needed."<br /><br />Claire closed her eyes as he leaned in. As the song came to an end, he pressed his lips against hers, in a sweet, gentle kiss.<br /><br />He released her as "Dock of the Bay" began to play, reached down to grab her hand, and pulled her toward the couch. He sat, and drew her down onto his lap. His hand snaked up to tangle in her hair, and he pressed her head forward, his lips searching hers out for a kiss that was somehow both gentle and demanding at the same time.<br /><br />She turned into him more, her hands reaching up to grip his shoulders as his hands slipped beneath the light-weight, tight-fitted black v-neck sweater she wore. His hands slid higher up, around the back, and he discovered that she wore no bra. He brought his hands around to the front again, and she sighed deeply as his hands smoothed across her breasts.<br /><br />She pulled her head away from him, and asked, "Do you want anymore tequila?"<br /><br />He nodded and she slid from his lap, and knelt before the coffee table, filling the shot glasses again. She handed him one, and watched as he drained it without bothering with the lemon or salt.<br /><br />She picked up the other glass, one of the lemon slices, and sat next to him on the sofa.<br /><br />Hold this between your teeth for me," she said, holding a lemon wedge up to his lips. He looked at her a little funny, and she added, "I saw this in a movie once, and I've always wanted to do it."<br /><br />He did as she'd requested, feeling a little silly, and she tipped her head back to drain the small glass after having licked a patch of salt from her hand. The glass emptied, she steadied herself by laying her hands against Jack's chest, and leaned in to scrape the meat of the lemon from it's rind with her teeth.<br /><br />"My turn," said Jack, as he set the lemon rind back on the cutting board, poured himself another shot, and handed Claire a lemon wedge.<br /><br />He repeated her actions, then set the lemon skin and shot glass on the table. She was sitting with one leg tucked under her, and he adjusted himself so that he knelt facing her, one knee on the sofa, the other foot on the ground. He leaned into her, his hands finding the bottom of her sweater. He tugged it gently upwards, and she raised her arms so he could pull it over her head with ease. The cotton undershirt she wore turned out to be a white tank top, much like the one she'd worn to bed the first time he'd stayed the night with her.<br /><br />He pulled her leg from beneath her as he lay her back onto the sofa, easing himself down on top of her. One hand was on her waist, the other gripped her knee. He drew her leg up slightly, and she wrapped it around his, so that the outside of her left ankle rested against the inside of his right leg, just below the knee.<br /><br />Her fingers lightly touched his face as he began to kiss her: small, butterfly type kisses that covered her lips, leaving her yearning for more. She clasped her arms about his shoulders and pulled him down to her. He began covering her face with the same tiny, light kisses he had so recently been placing on her mouth. She grew impatient to kiss him more deeply, so she brought her hand up to grip the back of his neck, forcing his mouth to hers.<br /><br />She kissed him hotly, sucking his lip into her mouth, then biting it gently. He groaned softly as he opened his mouth to her. She ran her tongue over his lips, then slipped it between his parted teeth, to plunder the warm recesses of his mouth. Their tongues found one another and began to dance. He shifted himself lower, trailing his lips across her shoulders, bare but for the thin white straps of her tank top.<br /><br />He felt her shiver as he brushed his knuckles against the side of her breasts. "Cold?" he asked.<br /><br />"Just a little."<br /><br />He sat back and pulled her up with him., rubbing her arms vigorously in the hope that the friction would warm her.<br /><br />He got up suddenly and threw a couple of more pieces of wood onto the fire.<br /><br />She stood --a little too fast, her head feeling light-- and walked toward the fireplace. She felt like she was floating, and knew she had passed from the realm of a good buzz, to nicely drunk.<br /><br />Jack stood and turned to her. "Stay by the fire...I'll be right back."<br /><br />He left her standing there, and walked to his bedroom. He pulled the sheets and blankets up over the bed, removing the heavy comforter, and strode back down the hall to his living room.<br /><br />Claire was busy tossing the cushions and pillows from the sofa onto the floor in front of the fire.<br /><br />Jack, himself feeling the alcohol beginning to take effect, added the comforter to the pile. Claire plopped down onto the makeshift bed with less grace than that with which she usually functioned. She began to remove the heeled black boots she wore.<br /><br />Jack transferred the cutting board to the floor, then knelt in front of Claire to help her out of one of her shoes, just as she divested herself of the other.<br /><br />When her shoes were off, he leaned in closer and she scooted back, until she was fully on the pile of pillows, him advancing on her. When she stopped, he kept advancing. He slid a hand around to her back and slowly lowered her until she was lying flat against the couch cushions.<br /><br />She ran her hands down along his sides, pulling his polo shirt out from his jeans and sliding her hands underneath it, running them along his ribcage. She drew him down to her, and he pulled the comforter up over them. His lips found hers again and she gripped his waist as he braced himself slightly away from her, keeping his weight off of her.<br /><br />After a moment of deep kissing, he lowered himself completely on top of her, wrapped his arms around and underneath her, and rolled them over. She brought her knees up, and she was straddling him, sitting so that her shins were resting flat against the cushions. They never broke their kiss.<br /><br />Jack's hands were resting on her hips, and he raised them, slipping them beneath her tank top. His hands slid slowly up her sides, until they reached her breasts. She sat back on his thighs and looked down at him. She reached up to tuck her hair behind her ears as he lowered his hands to her waist.<br /><br />"Tell me more," she said, "I want to hear more about what you were like in school."<br /><br />"There's not much more to tell," he told her, "I worked, I studied. Played basketball, drank, had sex when I could, partied infrequently, read voraciously, ate, slept, etc. etc....."<br /><br />"I want to know what you were like," she told him, "Not what you did."<br /><br />"I honestly wasn't much different. Younger...slightly more arrogant, more self-absorbed, more of an optimist with a lifetime's less emotional baggage. Other than that, and the physical changes, I was the same moralistic, arrogant asshole you know today."<br /><br />"You're not an asshole."<br /><br />"Aren't I? Are you sure about that?"<br /><br />"You aren't to me...not usually anyway. And when you are, I know it's because you are trying to be....though I haven't figured out why just yet," she said, "But I will."<br /><br />"Will you?"<br /><br />She nodded, "I've made it one of my goals in life."<br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">*****</span></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">An hour, and several shots later, Claire was beyond nicely drunk. Jack, too, felt no pain. The Otis Redding CD had ended some time before, and Jack had switched over the radio: some station that specialised in a variety of music from the 60s and 70s.<br /><br />They sat, talking, joking, having a good time. They were having fun, not just being playful or bringing each other pleasure, but fun. The intense, serious level on which they generally dealt with one another had been washed away by the alcohol.<br /><br />At one point, Claire had pinned Jack down with all the strength she had, announcing her intention to discover whether or no he was ticklish. To her chagrin, he was not.<br /><br />Saying, "Turnabout is fair play," he had rolled her to her back, struggling playfully, amid laughing protestation, and began a similar exploration of her body.<br /><br />To his delight, and her utter dismay, he discovered that she was, indeed, very ticklish. His fingers tickled beneath her chin and under her armpits, then dug playfully into her ribs, her inner thighs and kneecaps. She pleaded for mercy, which he did not grant.<br /><br />"You started it," he said as he moved lower, grasped her ankle, and dug his fingers into the sole of her foot.<br /><br />"Jack!!!" she gasped, breath short from laughing. "Pl....please....sss... sstop! I...I can't take...anymore!"<br /><br />He relented, due more to the fact that a song he loved was beginning to play.<br /><br />"I love this song!" cried Claire.<br /><br />"So do I," he told her, standing and pulling her up with him, into his arms, as a wonderful live version of "Tell it Like it is" by the Neville Brothers began to play.<br /><br />He held her very close, and they began to sway.<br /><br />"I think I'm too dizzy for this," she told him.<br /><br />"I won't let you fall," he promised softly, his hands casually stroking her lower back.<br /><br />They clung tightly to one another as the song went on, barely moving. As the song came to a close, Jack dipped Claire backward... just a little at first, and then farther, and farther, until he had gone to far, and lost his control. They crashed down onto the pile of pillows and cushions, giggling, Jack landing partially on top of her.<br /><br />They both let out an "oof" as they landed.<br /><br />"You're drunk," he told her.<br /><br />"Thank you, yes I am," she said, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes, "So are you, Mr. I-won't-let-you-fall!"<br /><br />"I confess, I'm guilty as charged," he said. "Do we move directly to the penalty phase, so I can throw myself on the mercy of the court?"<br /><br />"Like the mercy you showed me just a short while ago?"<br /><br />"I thought judges were supposed to be impartial?"<br /><br />"Not this one," she told him, rolling so that she was on her knees next to him, looking down. "Lucky for you, this judge is more than willing to accept a discreet bribe or two."<br /><br />"In that case," he said, reaching up and clasping the back of her neck and pulling her down for a long, drawn-out French-kiss.<br /><br />After a moment, he released her neck and she sat back on her haunches.<br /><br />"So?" he asked.<br /><br />"For that, I'm willing to give you a reduced sentence."<br /><br />"Reduced?" he asked, smiling, as he brought his hands up to rest behind his head. "I was going for a dismissal."<br /><br />"You confessed. I'm afraid a reduced sentence is all I can do," she said, "However, for a small fee, I might be willing to consider a suspended sentence and some... ah.... volunteer work."<br /><br />"But Your Honour," he said, pulling her down to him once more, and rolling her beneath him. "I wasn't properly Mirandised....My confession is inadmissible."<br /><br />"Damn!" she said, "And I was so looking forward to that volunteer work..."<br /><br />"We might be able to work something out," he said, his tone going from light and playful, to serious, and intent.<br /><br />He touched his fingers to her cheek, flushed from the alcohol. Every now and then, when he looked at her, he was struck nearly dumb by the great force of her beauty.<br /><br />"God you're beautiful," he told her, leaning in to plant a trembling kiss on her lips. "I love you."<br /><br />Claire closed her eyes as he lowered his lips to her neck. Her head was spinning, and it was partly from the alcohol, and partly from the effects of Jack's lips on her skin. She sighed with contentment as he moved the straps of her tank top off her shoulders and began to lavish her warm skin with soft kisses.<br /><br />She reached beneath his shirt to stroke his chest and stomach, reveling in the sigh that escaped him. She pulled the shirt up, and he leaned back and pulled it over his head, tossing it to the side. He came over her again, and she pushed him slightly away, so that he rolled to his side, taking her with him. She leaned in and kissed his chest just beneath his neck, and he sighed again and hugged her close. They did not more forward, but rather continued lying there, holding one another, losing themselves in a kiss now and again, hands roving lightly over each other's bodies.<br /><br />After a time, Claire's caresses of his body became more languid, and finally stopped altogether. He craned his head back to look down at her. Her head rested against his shoulder, but he could see enough of her face to see that her eyes were closed, and he knew from her slow, rhythmic breathing that she slept. He chuckled softly, rose to his knees, and very gingerly drew her up into his arms. Her head rested against his chest, and she woke slightly, for a few seconds, long enough to wrap her arms around his neck and smile sleepily up at him, before dozing off again, her head resting against his chest. He rose slowly, adjusting her weight in his arms slightly before moving down the hall and into his bedroom.<br /><br />He pulled the sheets back with one hand on the side of the bed Claire always slept on, and lay her gently down. He reached down to unbuckle her belt, undo the fly of her jeans, and pull them from her, causing her as little disturbance as he could.<br /><br />When she wore naught but her tank top and panties, he covered her with the sheets and returned to the living room. He carried the cutting board into the kitchen and left it on the counter, pouring himself one last shot. He went back to the living room, picked up his comforter and headed back for his bedroom.<br /><br />He draped the comforter over the bed, stripped down to his boxer shorts, and climbed into the bed beside Claire. He snuggled up against her back (she had rolled to her side), wrapped an arm around her, nuzzled his face into her hair, and soon, slept. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-63074886478489784392012-11-14T23:14:00.001-08:002012-11-14T23:14:31.742-08:00Highwire - Part 14<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jack, you didn't have to do this," Claire told him as he pulled her close in the elevator.<br /><br />"I know I didn't HAVE to," he said, his lips finding the vein in her neck. It leapt under the touch of his mouth, "But I WANTED to."<br /><br />The elevator slowed and came to a halt at their floor. The door opened, and they stepped out.<br /><br />Taking her by the hand, Jack led Claire down the hall to their room. He knew already which one it was: He had checked in earlier in the evening, before going to Claire's.<br /><br />He opened the door for her, and she stepped in. The room was beautiful, and reeked of class. It was richly and elegantly appointed, with one very large bed, a large television, stereo system, desk and chair, sofa, a table and chairs. There was a large closet, and a door that led to the bathroom. Claire looked around the room<br /><br />"Jack, I can't believe you did this. It must have cost so much...you shouldn't have..."<br /><br />"I wanted to, Claire," he told her.<br /><br />He hung their coats in the closet, and revealed that he had been carrying a CD underneath it He set it down and hung her coat next to his. Picking up the CD, he walked over to the stereo. He put it in and pressed the play button.<br /><br />He put his hand out to her as he approached, and said, "Dance with me."<br /><br />The song began to play. It was the song they had danced to at the party.<br /><br />"Jack...how did you...where did you..?" she asked, as he pulled her close.<br /><br />"I bought it off the DJ," he told her.<br /><br />They held each other in much the same position as they had danced in earlier, only this time, their bodies were pressed tightly together.<br /><br />"This is how we should have danced the first time," she whispered, laying her head on his shoulder.<br /><br />His hand rested in the small of her back, and she toyed with his hair with one of hers as they swayed slowly to the music.<br /><br />"Happy Birthday," he whispered to her, and she raised her head to look at him.<br /><br />Tears shown bright in her eyes. "Thank you, Jack." she said. "For tonight. For everything."<br /><br />He smiled and lowered his lips to hers. They kissed softly. She sighed and wrapped both arms around his neck as they continued to dance.<br /><br />"The mere idea of you...the longing here for you. You'll never know how slow the moments go till I am near to you..." the song crooned.<br /><br />He began to stroke her back as they looked into each others' eyes, moving along with the music.<br /><br />"...The very thought of you.....myyyyyyyyyyy loooooooooovvvvvve." The song slowly came to an end, but they did not release each other.<br /><br />He kissed her ear very lightly and said, "there's no more music."<br /><br />"I don't care," she confessed, pressing herself tighter against him. He squeezed her closer and they kissed again.<br /><br />"Come here," he said after several moments of deep kissing, "There's something I want to show you."<br /><br />He led her by the hand into the bathroom, and turned on the light. There was a shower, a tub, and much to her surprise, a fair sized Jacuzzi in the corner. It had been turned on, likely by Jack, when he had checked in earlier. There were unlit candles all over the room, and a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket. He set about lighting the candles, then took her by the hand and led her back into the main room.<br /><br />"Now...." he said, "You said you had a surprise for ME, for later...."<br /><br />"Yes, I did, didn't I?" she replied coyly.<br /><br />"Is now later?"<br /><br />She turned her back on him and said, "Unzip me."<br /><br />He raised an eyebrow, moved in close behind her, and laid his hands on her shoulders. He kissed the crook of her neck and smoothed his palms down her arms before reaching for the zipper. He slid it down slowly, marveling at the long line of her spine, the curve at the base of it. He turned her to him, and slid the straps off her shoulders. Beneath the dress, she wore a black lace push-up bra. She pushed the gown down over her hips and it slid to the floor. She stepped out of it, and stepped back so Jack could get a look at her. She wore panties that matched the bra, along with garters and silk hose.<br /><br />His eyes grew wide and mouth dropped slightly open in appreciation. He had seen her in pantyhose, but she had never worn garters and hose for him before.<br /><br />She reached down and picked up the dress. "I have to hang this," she told him. His eyes watched every move she made. When she returned to him, she took him by the hand and walked toward the bed. She helped him remove his coat, bow-tie, and cummerbund. She pushed him into a sitting position, and moved in front of him. He laid his hands on her waist, and looked up at her. She was looking down at him tenderly, stroking his hair.<br /><br />"You look incredible," he told her. He reached up and pulled her face down to his for a kiss.<br /><br />"This night has been wonderful, Jack," she whispered. "Thank you."<br /><br />"It's not over yet," he said softly as he pulled her down against him and rolled her beneath him. He reached down and removed her heels, and tossed them to the floor. She went to work on the buttons and cuff-links of his shirt. When his chest was bare, she ran her hands lightly up his sides, slid them up to rest on his shoulders.<br /><br />Their kisses took on a sudden urgency as their bodies awoke to the memory of each other. They had not been together intimately since the night they declared their love.<br /><br />Her fingers played lightly along his shoulders as they kissed. He knelt between her legs, and sat back on his feet, pulling her up with him. She felt his hands sliding around to her back, then up to deftly unhook the clasp of her bra. He slid his hands up to her shoulders and down her arms, lowering the straps as he did so. He dropped the bra onto the bed and resumed his possession of her mouth. She clung tightly to him as he brought his hands up to gently rub the sides of her breasts with his knuckles.<br /><br />He held her close with one arm, and eased her slightly back. He lowered his head to encircle the taut peaks of her heaving bosom with his tongue. Her head dropped back and he lined her long neck with feathery kisses so light he felt her shiver in his arms.<br /><br />He was taking his time with her, not rushing at all. He had gotten it into his head that he wanted this night to be one that neither of them would be able to forget, and so he was going slow, in an attempt to make an eternity out of each wonderful moment.<br /><br />He pulled her tighter against him, crushing her breasts against his chest, and kissed her, long and slow, until she whimpered deep in the back of her throat. He lay her gently back on the bed and lowered himself down next to her, pulling her onto her side. He touched her face with his fingers, drawing them over her eyebrows, her eyelids, over her cheeks, and across her lips.<br /><br />She gripped his wrist and pressed kisses against his fingertips, and whispered, "I love you."<br /><br />He hugged her close, stroked her back lightly, and said, "Mmmmm..... know what I want to do right now?"<br /><br />"What's that?"<br /><br />"Go get in that hot tub."<br /><br />"Oooooooh....I'd forgotten about that. Sounds wonderful."<br /><br />They rose from the bed. She moved toward the bathroom, but he came up behind her and scooped her into his arms.<br /><br />"JACK!" she almost screeched. "What're you going to do?"<br /><br />He carried her into the bathroom, him laughing, her playfully struggling. He walked to the edge of the hot tub and made as if he were about to drop her in.<br /><br />"Don't you dare drop me in there!" she said in an attempt at a warning, though she was laughing too hard for it to carry any weight.<br /><br />He laughed and released her legs, and lowered her to the floor, still holding her against him. He kissed her once, then released her and set about lighting the candles. This done, he moved passed her and sat on the edge of the bathtub.<br /><br />He motioned her to go to him, and she did. She stood in front of him and he reached out to run his hands up the backs of her legs, looking up at her all the while. They glided up over her behind, and he splayed his fingers out against her back. He pressed her against him, his cheek resting against her abdomen. He turned his head and kissed the soft flesh there, then brought his hands down to rest atop her hips. He hooked his thumbs in the side of her panties, and discovered, to his utter delight, that she had put them on after the garters and stockings. He pulled them down over her hips, and slid them down her legs. She braced her hands on his shoulders as he lifted first one leg, then the other, and discarded the garment, forgotten before it had fallen from his hand.<br /><br />He reached behind her and unhooked the hose from the garter, then moved them around to do the same in the front. He stood , lifted her up, and began to walk toward the vanity. She wrapped her legs around him as he carried her. She gasped in shock as he set her on the cold porcelain of the vanity. She undid his belt and fly, and his pants dropped to his ankles. He stepped out of them and kicked them aside, before reaching down to undo her garter belt, and lay it next to the sink. His hands lowered to either side of a thigh, and began to ease the stockings down her long, smooth leg. In a few moments, he had her hose off. She took off her earrings and new necklace, and set them on the vanity.<br /><br />Claire reached out and rested her hands on Jack's slim waist. She pulled him closer, at the same time sliding forward slightly on the vanity. She ran her hands up his back, and brought her lips to his neck. She kissed beneath his chin, along his jaw, and over to his ear as her hands smoothed down his back, and tugged his silk boxers down. He bent and removed them, then pulled her off the vanity. He pulled her toward the Jacuzzi, both of his hands gripping both of hers. They climbed the tile steps of the hot tub, and Jack stepped in. Claire sat on the edge and dangled her legs into the hot water. Jack moved close to her and pulled her into the tub with him. He pulled her into the middle, and lowered them until the water lapped at their shoulders. The sound of the water churned by the jets fizzed in their ears.<br /><br />They kissed, and Jack pulled Claire over to the sit against the wall of the tub. He reached behind them, and handed Claire two champagne flutes. He reached again and brought the champagne bottle in front of him. He peeled away the wrapping, unwound the wire, and worked the cork out expertly, watching as a tiny white cloud rose from the bottle. He poured them each a glass, then reached and set the bottle back in the bucket.<br /><br />Claire scooted closer to him, and he draped an arm over her shoulder. One of the jets pounded into her lower back, and it felt heavenly. She tilted her head back and drained the glass of champagne. She turned and rose out of the water slightly, reaching for the bottle. When she sat back down, Jack had polished off his glass, as well.<br /><br />"More?" she asked.<br /><br />"Of course," he replied.<br /><br />She filled their glasses. He set his on the edge of the hot tub, then took the bottle from her, and her glass, which he set next to his. Bottle in one hand, he pulled them into the middle of the swirling water once more. He stood, and pulled her up with him. Before she could protest, he had poured some of the champagne down her chest, watching as it slid down between her breasts and into the hot, roiling water, then sank down to lick clean the places the champagne had so recently been. The taste mingled with the slight taste of chlorine.<br /><br />He poured more on her, this time insuring that the cold liquid would trail over a nipple, which he instantly took into his mouth. Her knees grew weak and she sank down against him. He pulled her close with an arm, and backed to the wall of the tub. He sat down and brought her onto his lap, facing him. He raised the bottle to her lips, and she tilted her head back as he tilted the bottle up, intentionally spilling some down her chin and neck as she drank from the bottle. He lapped the champagne away with his tongue, then drank from the bottle himself before setting it aside. He pulled her face down to his and ran his tongue over her lips. She wrapped her arms about his neck and he lowered his hands to rest on her hips as her lips began to tug furiously at his.<br /><br />His hands slid up her sides, then back down, and back to squeeze her behind. She let her hands slide down his arms, behind her, and grabbed his wrists, guiding his hands to her chest. His palms brushed against her nipples and she bit down on his lower lip. With a kiss, he smothered the moan he elicited from her when he gently squeezed her breasts.<br /><br />He gripped her about the waist and stood. Moving to a place where there was no seat along the wall, Jack sat Claire on the edge of the tub. His hands glided over her thighs as he leaned in for a kiss.<br /><br />His hands roamed everywhere on her, sometimes grazing lightly over her flesh, other times stroking and kneading with more intensity. He reached behind her head and searched her hair for the pins that held her French twist in place. One by one he pulled them out and laid them on the side of the tub. When all had been removed, he leaned her back against one arm and with the hand of the other, drew his fingers through her hair so that it fell naturally about her shoulders. He tangled his hand in her hair, cupping her head, and pulled back gently. He ran his tongue along the long line of her throat.<br /><br />Claire's fingers pressed into the flesh of Jack's shoulders, kneading gently. In the back, near his neck, she found a tight knot, and he groaned when she pressed her fingers into it.<br /><br />"You're so tight right there," she commented. "Does it bother you?"<br /><br />"Sometimes it does," he said.<br /><br />He made to kiss her, but she stopped him. "Move for a sec," she said, pushing him away.<br /><br />He seemed taken aback, but did as he was told. She scooted over until she was sure the bench inside the hot tub was beneath her, and said, "Come sit down."<br /><br />He sat in front of her, and she moved her hands to his shoulder, locating the knot once more. With her small, surprisingly strong hands, she began to work the knot out of his shoulder.<br /><br />It took some time, but she got it, exclaiming, "there!" when she could no longer feel the hard lump beneath his skin. He leaned back against her, tilting his head back against her stomach, and looked up at her.<br /><br />"Thank you," he said.<br /><br />Instead of a "You're welcome", she gave him a kiss. He turned and knelt on the seat between her thighs. He looked at her for a few moments, and she felt herself blushing from the heat of his intense gaze. She looked down for a moment, searching for the right thing to say.<br /><br />"Thank you for this night, Jack....for everything," she whispered, taking his face in her hands. "Thank you for the flowers earlier....For that beautiful, beautiful necklace...For all of this. No one... no one has ever done anything like this for me before."<br /><br />She brought his face closer, and kissed him softly, then pulled back to look at him, colour high on her cheeks.<br /><br />"When you look at me like that," he said, pressing his lips to hers in a swift, affectionate kiss, "It's all the thanks I need."<br /><br />He kissed her again, his soft lips warm and moist against hers. They opened their mouths to one another, melting in to each other, and kissed over and over, until kissing was no longer enough. His hands reached for her breasts, and he cupped them gently, tracing her nipples with his thumbs until she whimpered softly from the ache he had caused. He lowered his head and suckled hard, first one, then the other, rolling the un-attended nipple between a thumb and forefinger.<br /><br />Her head fell back, and she happened to catch site of them in the mirror above the vanity. She watched as he continued his sweet assault, watched as he moved lower, pulled her slightly off the edge, and lowered his head to tease the soft flesh between her thighs with his mouth. It was the last thing she saw for several moments. She closed her eyes and felt her head grow dizzy, then extremely light by turns as he pleasured her, until at last, she felt an explosion rock through her body.<br /><br />She went limp, and slid off the edge of the hot tub into the still-churning water. Jack caught her in his arms and held her close, kissing her face, calling her his 'love', until she began to kiss him back, an aura of urgency enveloping them.<br /><br />When Jack had come earlier to check in, he had noticed the two thick white robes wrapped in plastic, and had removed them from their packaging, knowing that later they would have need of them.<br /><br />Pulling her along with him, he moved to the steps of the Jacuzzi, and ascended them, holding Claire by the hand and helping her out after him. He pulled one of the robes from where they lay folded on the vanity, and draped it over her shoulders. She wrapped herself in it, and watched as he did the same with the other.<br /><br />He gave Claire their un-drunk glasses of champagne, as well as what was left in the bottle, turned off the hot tub, and blew out all but two of the candles. The two remaining ones he carried into the main room, flanked by Claire and the champagne. He set the candles on the bedside table, took the champagne bottle, and set it there, too. He crossed to near the door and flicked off the lights, so that the only light in the room came from the glowing candles, then quickly rejoined Claire. He took one of the glasses from her, sat down on the edge of the bed, and drained it quickly. Claire sipped hers first, then polished it off as Jack took hold of her free hand and pulled her toward him. He took her glass from her and set it with his near the candles, then pulled Claire down onto his lap.<br /><br />She sat on one knee, facing partly away from him, and he slid the hand farthest from her inside her robe to fondle her breast. She sighed and turned more toward him. He was looking up at her, and she craned her neck to lower her lips to his.<br /><br />Jack pulled at the belt that held the robe together, and it fell open. His fingers trailed along her skin and he took the other breast in his hand. In a sudden movement, he tugged the robe from her shoulders. This time both hands came up to massage her breasts.<br /><br />He kissed the side of her neck, from the base up to her ear. He took the lobe into his mouth and sucked lightly on it, then nipped at it gently before whispering, "Sooooo.....it's your birthday....do I get to spank you?"<br /><br />She snorted. "You serious?"<br /><br />He, too, laughed. "No," he said, pulling her into a standing position between his legs. "I can think of about a hundred things I'd rather do to you with my hands."<br /><br />She stood in between his legs and started pulling the top half of his robe open. "Only 100?" she queried.<br /><br />"I picked a nice, round number," he told her as his hands slipped down her sides, over her hips, and around to cup the globes of her behind.<br /><br />She laughed that throaty laugh of hers, and before he knew it, she'd untied the sash of his robe, and was pushing it off his shoulders. He stood, and both of the robes fell to the floor. He hurriedly yanked the covers back, and closed in on her, wrapping her in his strong arms, kissing her even as she kissed him back.<br /><br />Jack swept Claire up into his arms, kissing her as he knelt on the bed and laid her out against the fluffy pillows. He came down over her, gasping and closing his eyes as she reached out to take that hard part of him into her hand. He derived such pleasure out of her hand moving on him, Claire knew, and it filled her with a strange sort of power. She loved this man, wanted him, more at this moment than any time before, save that first time, in the morning, when they had come together so urgently after a night spent holding and touching each other.<br /><br />"God, Claire," he groaned as her hand became more insistent. He gripped her wrists, both of them, and raised her arms above her head. He pinned them there, and lowered himself to once again suckle upon her nipples.<br /><br />He released her arms and slipped one of his hands between them. He ran it up along her inner thigh, looking down at her with immense satisfaction as she arched her back when his hand reached it's goal. He brought her to the brink several times, easing away each time just before she slipped over the precipice.<br /><br />He knew she couldn't take much more, wondered how he himself had lasted so long without possessing her. He looked down at her, face flushed, eyes half open, lips slightly parted, and knew his control was rapidly leaving him.<br /><br />It was lost when she, barely able to say anything as she quivered beneath him, said, "Jack....please...."<br /><br />When he finally came in to her, it was explosive. He moved slowly first, until she gripped his buttocks and urged him faster, harder, anything that would bring them closer to fulfillment.<br /><br />Claire cried out first, wrapping her arms about him and almost weeping at the incredible pleasure he had brought her. Jack shuddered above her, called her name, and found his own release. He collapsed against her breasts and she lightly stroked his hair, breath too short and heart to full to say anything to him.<br /><br />He raised himself up, murmured, "I love you," and eased himself off of her. He lay on his back, and she turned and rested her head against his chest.<br /><br />"Thank you, love," she whispered.<br /><br />They lay together quietly for many long minutes. Eventually, Jack was aware of Claire's slow, even breathing, and he knew she slept.<br /><br />"Happy Birthday, my love," he said softly, and kissed the damp hair near her forehead.</span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Some time in the middle of the night, Claire woke up and found that Jack was not in bed with her. She sat up and looked around. She squinted, then widened her eyes again. Jack stood, wearing one of the robes, near the windows, holding one of the shades back, looking out onto the pale glow of the city below.<br /><br />"Jack? What's the matter?"<br /><br />He turned to face the bed. "What? Oh, nothing... I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep, and I didn't want to wake you," he said, "Are you okay? You didn't have another nightmare, did you?"<br /><br />"No."<br /><br />"Good."<br /><br />"Come back to bed."<br /><br />"I won't be able to sleep."<br /><br />"You don't have to," she told him, pulling the covers back on his side of the bed, still holding them against herself on her side as he advanced. "We could talk."<br /><br />"Talk?" he asked as he sat down on the bed, facing her.<br /><br />"Sure."<br /><br />"About?"<br /><br />"I'd like for you to tell me what's bothering you."<br /><br />"What makes you think something is bothering me?"<br /><br />"Jack....I wake up in the middle of the night to find you standing looking out the window like your dog just died...It's Koppel...isn't it?" She reached up and touched her hand to his cheek, nudging his gaze back to her when he would look away. "Why won't you talk to me about it?"<br /><br />"I...want to...but I can't...not yet."<br /><br />"I don't understand."<br /><br />"I'm not sure I can explain it....I ...If I talk about it now, if I think about the Paul I knew and the man he's become...if I make this about more than a man who broke the law and deserves to be punished..." he paused, searching. "I can't talk about this now... I will...I promise you. But I need a little space on this. I need some time to come to terms with the idea of sending my friend to prison."<br /><br />He was asking her for time, a request she had made to him regarding Gordon one night. A request which he had granted. How could she refuse?<br /><br />She lowered her hand and slid it beneath the one of his that rested on his lap.<br /><br />"Okay. I'll give you some time. But Jack? We're going to discuss this eventually."<br /><br />"I know, Claire...and we will, soon. For tonight..." he squeezed her hand. "tonight is for you, and I don't want to spoil it by talking about what reservations I may or may not be having about prosecuting my friend."<br /><br />She nodded, and closed her eyes as he lifted her hand to lay a kiss in the middle of her palm.<br /><br />He leaned over and pushed her hair back, baring her shoulders and neck. "It's your night," he told her again softly, as he slid his hand around to the back of her neck and began to rub it with his thumb. "And for tonight, what happens here, in this room, is all that matters, as though the rest of the world has fallen away."<br /><br />He leaned closer, his face nearing hers, and before he could close the distance between them by pressing her forward with the hand that rested on her neck, she whispered, "The rest of the world is still going to be there in the morning."<br /><br />He nodded, and pressed her forward. His lips were tentative against hers at first, as if he were waiting for her to shove him away and demand he tell her about whatever it was he was going through. When she didn't, when she kissed him in return and brought her hand up to caress his cheek, his kisses became more bold, more fevered.<br /><br />She was holding the sheet up against here chest with one hand, and he tugged it from her grasp, baring her to him.<br /><br />He stood and removed his robe. Before he could join her on the bed again, Claire was kneeling upright on the edge, wrapping her arms about his neck and pressing her warm body against his.<br /><br />Jack closed his arms tight around her. He squeezed her hard, then slipped his hands down her back, his lips crushing hers in an ardent kiss. He crawled on to the bed next to her, and sat down. Claire placed her hands on Jack's shoulders as she flung a leg over his lap, positioning herself so that her legs stretched out behind him.<br /><br />He rested his hands on her slim waist, slid them around, and up her back, until he was tangling his hands in her dark hair. He leaned in and planted a kiss in the hollow at the base of her throat, which trailed upward to her chin, and finally, her lips.<br /><br />Jack's hands glided back down until they were gripping Claire's sides. Skimming his palms over her flesh, he raised them to her breasts, crushing them in his hands. She brought her hands to his cheeks, and brought his face close to hers, feeling the warm air as he exhaled a breath. She pressed her lips against his, holding his face all the while. She kissed him hard, kept kissing him as she wrapped her arms about his shoulders and held him tight against her. She kissed him long, deep, and slow, leisurely exploring his mouth with hers, him matching her in kind. Their lips became more urgent suddenly, as did their roving hands: tugging and pulling at each other.<br /><br />They remained this way, holding each other close, lips hard and demanding, then soft and pliant. When, after a long while they came together, bodies uniting, they continued their deep, soul-searching kiss, until their breath came too short to continue the coupling of their lips. Even then, they remained with their faces so close to one another that she could feel the brush of his eyelash against her cheek, and he could breathe in the breath she exhaled. They managed a brief kiss here and there until they cried out softly.<br /><br />Jack turned and lowered Claire onto her back, coming down over her. He lay partially covering her, his heavy leg draped over one of hers, his head against her chest, his arm reaching across as he toyed with her fingers with his hand. She brought her hand to lightly stroke his soft hair, both incredibly silent. Except for the movement of her hand in his hair, and his fingers toying with hers, they were completely still.<br /><br />Jack reached down and pulled the covers up over them. In a short time, Claire was asleep. It took Jack longer, but eventually, his face still pressed against her chest, he closed his eyes, and slept.</span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jack tipped the young man who brought their room service. Claire still slept in the bed across the room. He pulled the clanking cart into the room gingerly, attempting to make as little noise as possible. It wasn't that he didn't want to wake Claire --he did--, but that he wanted to wake her in a way that didn't include being startled into consciousness by a loud noise.<br /><br />He had ordered them both a huge breakfast, consisting of fruit-topped waffles, eggs, sausage, fruit on the side, and coffee and orange juice. He wheeled the cart near the bed, and stood quietly looking at Claire for a few moments. She was sleeping on her side, arm tucked under her neck, her dark hair spread out against the white linen pillowcase. He liked watching her sleep, had done it a few times when she had sought refuge at his apartment. She always looked so serene, so different from the driven, always on the go, work-aholic Claire she was in the office. He wondered for a moment if sleep lifted his cares from his visage as it did for her, wondered if he looked that peaceful. Maybe one day he would ask her.<br /><br />Jack doffed the robe he wore, lifted the covers, and climbed into the bed next to Claire. She lay in an elongated version of the fetal position, facing away from him.<br /><br />He moved in behind her, moved her hair aside, blew lightly on her neck, and skimmed the pads of his fingers along her spine. She shivered and stirred, stretching her limbs, sleek as a cat. His hand came to rest on her hip, and he ran his lips slowly over the side of her throat.<br /><br />"Mmmmm...is it morning already?" she asked, voice still husky from sleep.<br /><br />"Unfortunately, yes," he whispered, his lips playing havoc near her ear as his hand slipped forward to stroke her belly.<br /><br />"Did the world disappear?"<br /><br />He laughed softly, "I can't say for sure, because I haven't checked.....But they brought us room service, so I'm assuming it didn't."<br /><br />"Did you sleep?"<br /><br />"For a few hours."<br /><br />She reached down and grasped the hand that fluttered over her stomach, dragging it up to kiss his fingers, his palm, his wrist.<br /><br />"Last night was amazing, Jack." she whispered.<br /><br />"Which part?" he asked, voice much lighter than it had been in the middle of the night.<br /><br />"All of it...all of yesterday, in fact, starting with the flowers. Then that necklace, the cab ride...dancing in your arms, the hot tub...making love," he nudged her face toward him, and planted a light kiss on her cheek, "It was wonderful when you came back to bed with me."<br /><br />"Tell me what you liked about it," he whispered, his hand beginning to roam her body with the knowledge and skill of a known lover.<br /><br />She would have rolled to face him, but with his hands on her waist, he held her still.<br /><br />"It was so slow and easy," she said, her breath beginning to come shorter. "You holding me tight in your arms as we made love, kissing you the whole time you were inside me... I love it when it's like that between us, when we go slow and don't try to devour each other --I like that, too, don't get me wrong-- But last night, I felt so connected...like despite whatever else is going on, when we're like that with each other, all that matters is that we're together...our bodies joined... and our hearts."<br /><br />"That's what I wanted you to feel," he said softly against her neck.<br /><br />He raised himself slightly, and with his thumb and forefinger on her chin, turned her face to him. He closed his mouth over hers gently, his hand beginning to blaze a trail down her torso, fluttering pass her abdomen, gliding down over the top of her thigh.<br /><br />He groaned into her hair as she squirmed and pressed her behind back against him, wiggling it enticingly against the ever-expanding spectacle of his groin.<br /><br />"Tease," he whispered, as his hand reached up and closed over a breast.<br /><br />She gasped and said, "I'd only be a tease if I did that and then pushed you away for my amusement."<br /><br />"Touché"<br /><br />"Lucky for you I like the things you do to me."<br /><br />"You do, do you?"<br /><br />"Perhaps more than I should...."<br /><br />"I'm not complaining..." he said.<br /><br />Claire laughed. "I know you're not."<br /><br />He grew quiet for a moment, then asked, "What is it you like?" as he began to play expertly, maddeningly, with her nipples, "This?"<br /><br />"Yes!"<br /><br />He slid a hand underneath her, to continue fondling her breasts as his other hand slipped down pass her waist and between her thighs. He began rubbing slow, insistent circles over the pearl of her womanhood.<br /><br />"Or is this what you like?"<br /><br />She said nothing, only nodded her head "yes" vigorously.<br /><br />His hand continued lower still, and he eased a finger inside her.<br /><br />"What about this?"<br /><br />"You know I like that..."<br /><br />"Yes, I do," he said. "I know what else you like." His voice was low, seductive, and filled with meaning.<br /><br />He reached over her, and retrieved a small package from the top of the nightstand.<br /><br />With the hand from the arm that was underneath her, he nudged her face toward him, and set about nibbling on her lips. His other hand brushed down her side. He ran his fingers lightly over the side of her thigh. When he reached her knee, he gripped it and drew he leg up and back so that her thigh rested across his.<br /><br />She felt his fingers graze her skin as he reached down to guide himself into her.<br /><br />She arched her back against him, and reached her arm around behind her, behind his head, and drew his mouth down to hers. They began to move together: slowly at first, ever so slowly. It was a slow, easy coupling, like it had been for them in the middle of the night. They kissed throughout, Jack's hand now reaching up to caress her breast, now gliding down again to stroke her softly as he eased in and out of her.<br /><br />She toyed lovingly with the hair at the nape of his neck, kissing him and grinding herself back against him. When he increased the tempo, she gripped his hair firmly and pulled back, holding his head about an inch away from hers.<br /><br />He continued pleasuring her with his hand as he worked himself in and out of her, until she cried out, calling his name out so loudly it was almost a shout. Her nails dug into the flesh of the arm he had slipped beneath her. Jack groaned against her neck, shuddered, cried, "I love you!" and found his own release, with a heavy sigh, and a long drawn-out moan.<br /><br />Claire rolled to face him, brining her hand up to his cheek as they stared deep into each other's eyes. She rubbed her thumb against his cheek, still very rough from his not having shaved yet.<br /><br />"You realise I'm going to have stubble burn?" she asked, her face and voice grave.<br /><br />"Oh.....I'm sorry, I didn't even stop to think..."<br /><br />She interrupted him. "Shhh....Don't be silly, I don't mind, really," she laughed, and placed a finger over his lips when he would speak again. "I'll wear my stubble-burn like a badge of honour. But I'm giving you fair warning...anyone asks me about it,, and I'm referring them to you for an explanation."<br /><br />"Claire...don't take this the wrong way..."<br /><br />"Uh-oh, here we go..."<br /><br />"What? I didn't say anything yet..."<br /><br />"I'm joking...anytime somebody starts a statement with 'don't take this the wrong way', I start to worry," she was smiling brilliantly. "I won't take it the wrong way....What is it?"<br /><br />"I was going to say, before I was so rudely interrupted," he teased, "'Don't take this the wrong way, but you're a little weird sometimes...'."<br /><br />"I prefer quirky."<br /><br />"I'm a little worried about what I'm going to uncover as this relationship progresses....anything glaring I should know about off the bat, other than, of course, the fact that strange comments fly out of your mouth occasionally, and you like to give your cat nicknames longer than the name you originally gave her?"<br /><br />"Several things come to mind....but I'm not telling," she announced prophetically, "You'll have to uncover them yourself....if you feel you're up to the challenge..."<br /><br />"Oh...I'm up for it, alright."<br /><br />Claire lifted the covers with one hand, and slid the other down between them.<br /><br />"Not at the moment, you're not," she informed him.<br /><br />"Keep doing that and I will be," he retorted.<br /><br />"Hmmmm, tempting," she said. "But didn't I hear you say something about room service?"<br /><br />"I ordered breakfast."<br /><br />"Good, I'm starved."<br /><br />They got up and both donned the luxurious white robes supplied by the Waldorf Towers Hotel. Jack wheeled the cart near the table and began laying out the meal as Claire made her way into the bathroom.<br /><br />When she emerged, Jack had transferred the enter contents of the cart to the table. He was seated and pouring coffee from the white carafe into two coffee cups. He had arranged the table so that Claire would be sitting to his left, rather than the across from him. In front of both of their seats sat a plate covered with a metal dome lid designed to keep the food warm during it's journey from the kitchen to one of the rooms. In the middle of the table sat the beverages, and a plate of fruit.<br /><br />"I noticed you turned the Jacuzzi back on," she remarked as she sat down. Claire fixed her coffee to her liking as Jack poured the juice.<br /><br />"Check out isn't until noon, so I figured, after breakfast....unless you have something else pressing to attend to today?"<br /><br />"I'm meeting my parents for dinner at 7:00, but until I have to meet them, I'm all yours."<br /><br />He nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.<br /><br />Claire sipped her coffee as he removed the lids from their plates. She dove into her food without another word, closing her eyes as she savored the first bite of waffle.<br /><br />Jack watched as she ate. She caught him gawking at her, and said, "I'll run an extra mile or two tomorrow."<br /><br />When they were done eating, Claire leaned back in her chair and placed her hand on her stomach. "Ugh...I'm so full I feel like I'm going to burst."<br /><br />"Don't do that," he cautioned, amusement evident in his tone, "They'll charge me a horrendous cleaning fee."<br /><br />Claire laughed "I think we're safe as long as I don't eat anymore."<br /><br />Jack dropped his napkin onto the table and stood. He put his hand out to Claire and said, "C'mon."<br /><br />He led her to the couch and sat in the middle. He told her to sit with her back against the arm of the sofa, and rest her feet on his lap.<br /><br />When she had complied, he took hold of one of her ankles with one hand, and with the other, began to press firm circles into the sole of her foot with his thumb. He raised her foot and began working both thumbs up and down her sole, her instep, her heel. He brought a hand up to massage the top of her foot while still kneading the bottom.<br /><br />"Jesus that feels good, Jack."<br /><br />"It should...you spend enough time on your feet in heels."<br /><br />He began to work on the other foot.<br /><br />"Think I could get you to do this a little more often?" she inquired.<br /><br />"Maybe...for a small fee."<br /><br />"Monetary or otherwise?"<br /><br />"Otherwise."<br /><br />"What?" she laughed, "You mean like bartering for services?"<br /><br />"Exactly," he laughed.<br /><br />After a few moments, he released her foot. She swung her feet around and tucked them beneath her, leaning across the couch to wrap her arms around Jack's neck. She kissed the side of his mouth, then rested her head on his shoulder and sighed happily.<br /><br />His hand came up, closed over her arms, and began to rub back and forth. He moved the other hand to rest on her leg. He patted it gently and said, "C'mon, there's a hot tub with our names on it."<br /><br />"Ahhhh, yes... the hot tub."</span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />They soaked for some time. Claire, hair pinned up, sat sideways on the bench with her back against one wall of the tub. Jack sat in from of her, between her legs, leaning back against her. His temple rested against her jaw line.<br /><br />Claire's arms were draped down over Jack, her fingers drumming a silent tune across his chest. "You know," she said, "You're going to have a helluva time trying to outdo yourself on my birthday next year."<br /><br />"I think you'll be surprised at how creative I can be," he replied, hand reaching down to lightly caress her calf.<br /><br />"I already am."</span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />Jack checked the time when they got out of the water. It was just pass 9 am. They dried off, and he led her, naked this time, back into the main room. He pulled the comforter from the large bed, wrapped them in it, and they lay down together on the couch, arms clasped tightly around each other, Claire's cheek resting against his chest.<br /><br />They talked for a while, covering various subjects, until the topic of Christmas was raised.<br /><br />"Jack, promise me something?"<br /><br />"What?"<br /><br />"Don't get me anything for Christmas....you did so much for my birthday....it's enough for both."<br /><br />"I'm not promising you that," he told her, "Besides, it's already too late."<br /><br />"Jack..." she said, growing serious, "I appreciate the thought behind all of this, but the expense...."<br /><br />"Claire...don't worry about that. What else have I got to do with my money? I help support Maggie, and pay my bills, work on my bike, take a fishing weekend here and there, and have a few drinks....after that, there's still more than enough left over to spoil the woman in my life."<br /><br />"Jack..."<br /><br />"Claire?"<br /><br />"I love you."<br /><br />"I love you too, babe."<br /><br />He kissed her forehead and hugged her close.<br /><br />"Tell me....are you nervous at all about meeting my mother?"<br /><br />"Nervous? No," he said, "Just a little curious what'll happen if she doesn't like me."<br /><br />"I think she will...well, I'm hoping she will," she qualified. "Mac will like you, and that's in our favour....Mac can get my mother to go along with almost anything. Anyhow...if she doesn't, she and I have reached some kind of understanding...she's going to try her hardest to keep out of my affairs, unless I give her permission to do otherwise. So you see," she said, squeezing him tighter, "You've got nothing to worry about."<br /><br />"Good." He hoped so.<br /><br />They remained on the sofa for a time, dozing lightly after many minutes had passed.<br /><br />Claire woke first, somewhat disoriented. She had dozed off for a few minutes, and had fallen into a deeper sleep than she had intended. Jack was still sleeping, and she eased herself from his arms. She wandered into the bathroom and picked up Jack's watch. It was after 11!<br /><br />She went and shook Jack gently, "Jack, wake up....it's after 11:00. We need to get ready to go or they'll charge you for another day."<br /><br />Jack rubbed his eyes, stretched and yawned. "Wouldn't be so bad.....we could stay in all day, and you could go have dinner with your parents, then come back...."<br /><br />She bent down and kissed him. "C'mon, let's get washed up and ready to go."<br /><br />Claire stood and went back into the bathroom, opened the shower door and turned the nozzle, setting the temperature to her liking. She stepped in and stood beneath the stream of water. After a minute, Jack opened the door and stepped in behind her.<br /><br />He stood close behind her and wrapped an arm about her waist, using the other hand to lift her wet hair so that he might nuzzle her neck for a moment. He reached for the small bottle of shampoo supplied by the hotel, unscrewed the cap, and poured a liberal amount into his hand. He rubbed his hands together and then began to work the shampoo through her soft, damp hair, massaging her scalp expertly. She turned, and he tilted her head back into the stream of steaming water, rinsing her hair clean..<br /><br />When her hair was washed, she returned the favour. They took a little longer to wash each other, lathering soap all over, then standing close together as the water poured down over them, the suds running down their bodies and onto the tile floor.<br /><br />They got out of the shower and toweled off. Claire towel-dried her hair, then combed it out (difficult with the tiny comb she had in her small clutch purse), then pinned it up so she wouldn't be outside with her hair down and wet in the middle of December.<br /><br />They dressed. Having no change of clothes, they put on their clothes from the prior evening. Jack gave Claire his tuxedo jacket to put over her dress. Carrying their jackets over one arm, he took Claire's hand with his free one, and hand in hand they exited the room, kissing for a few moments before opening the door and stepping into the hall. They held hands all the way to the lobby, until they approached the desk, and Jack had to release her hand to take care of the bill, careful to conceal the expense from Claire.<br /><br />Outside, they hailed a cab, and Jack gave the cabby Claire's address. When they pulled up in front of her building, Claire asked, "Are you going to come up?"<br /><br />He lifted her hand to his lips, "I don't think so, babe...I think I'm going to go home and get a little more sleep."<br /><br />She nodded, a little disappointed.<br /><br />He relented slightly. "I'll walk you up though," he said. Turning to the cabby, he instructed, "Keep the meter running...I'll be down in a couple of minutes."<br /><br />In front of her door, Claire slipped the key into the lock and began to turn it.. Jack covered her hand and turned her to him. "If I go inside I won't go home."<br /><br />He pulled her into his arms.<br /><br />"Jack," she said softly, "I can't thank you enough for my gifts....You're wonderful to me."<br /><br />"It was my pleasure."<br /><br />They kissed softly for a moment, then deeper. Reluctantly, they pulled apart, and he kissed her on the forehead, saying, "Call me tonight when you're done with your parents."<br /><br />She nodded, and gave him the jacket of his tux. He handed her coat to her, and she opened the door. She stepped inside, and he grabbed her hand as she did so, pulling her into another quick kiss.<br /><br />"Bye," he whispered.<br /><br />"Bye.<br /><br />Claire closed the door, humming softly to herself as Lucy moseyed up and rubbed herself against Claire's leg.<br /><br />"Hi baby," she said, picking her up and going into the kitchen to feed her.<br /><br />Outside in the hall, Jack walked quickly back to the elevator, feeling happier than he had in a very long time. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-91670650687896099272012-11-14T23:04:00.000-08:002012-11-14T23:04:08.774-08:00Highwire - Part 13<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Their week passed in a blur as they dealt with case upon case. Gordon was rearranged, and given his clear proclivity for violence, his lack of remorse, and his evident animus toward the female gender as a whole, was denied bail.<br /><br />"I'm glad not all of our jurists have their heads up their asses," Chet had remarked when recounting the arraignment hearing.<br /><br />Jack and Claire had smiled knowingly. Both had dealt with Lisa Pongracic on a number of occasions.<br /><br />As the week progressed, they learned more and more about Paul Koppel's role in the bribing and subsequent murder of juror David Lempert. Jack was going after his old friend in his characteristic bull-dog fashion, and Claire, though she felt nothing for severe distaste for Koppel and the mockery he had made of the system of justice she still so firmly believed in, wondered if it was because of the competition that had been going on between the two of them for a quarter of a century, or because Jack felt let down, and therefore betrayed by someone he had always respected and admired.<br /><br />Whatever the reason, the case against his friend was taking its toll on Jack. Claire asked him about it on several occasions, and each time received a variation of the same response.<br /><br />"I'm fine, Claire. This case is no different from any other case we've prosecuted. Paul Koppel is no different than any other defendant brought into this office. He broke the law, and he should be held accountable for it. It's that simple."<br /><br />Claire knew full well it wasn't that simple, and try as she might to get him to share his feelings with her, whenever she probed further, he invariably cut her off, changed the subject, or tried some other means to distract her. She decided to let it lie for the time being, particularly after a tiff developed when she suggested Jack was too close to the case, that he should hand it over to her for trial.<br /><br />"I'm perfectly capable of functioning as an effective prosecutor despite my personal feelings," he told her curtly. "My God, Claire... you of all people should know that about me by now."<br /><br />"So you admit you have feelings about this case?"<br /><br />"I didn't say that."<br /><br />"Yes, you did. Not ins so many words, maybe...but you did."<br /><br />"Stop trying to analyse me, Claire. Not everything has subtext."<br /><br />"Maybe not, but that sure as hell did," she said. "C'mon, Jack... You're talking to me, here."<br /><br />"Claire... drop it, will you? We have other cases to discuss."<br /><br />"Damn you!" she thought to herself. "One of these days I'm not letting you off the hook so easy, Jack McCoy."<br /><br />She dropped it, for the time being, promising herself to revisit the subject very, very soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For one reason or another, other than work and drinks one night, they stayed apart for the week, and so it was with impatient anticipation that they awaited the arrival of Friday the 16th, which would bring both the office Holiday party, and, more importantly, Claire's birthday.<br /><br />Jack had confessed that he had something special planned for the latter, but he wouldn't tell her what it was.<br /><br />She tried to cajole it out of him over the phone one night, but he would have none of it.<br /><br />"Friday will be here soon enough, my dear. You'll find out then," he had said. "I promise you won't be disappointed."<br /><br />"Those are mighty big words, Jack."<br /><br />"I'm confident."<br /><br />"I noticed."<br /><br />"Trust me, Claire."<br /><br />"Oh, I do."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Friday came quickly, and with it, a memo from Adam saying that the office would officially close at 4 pm that afternoon, and further, that he expected everyone to be gone by 4:30. No one, of course, had any problem with that.<br /><br />Just after 10 in the morning that Friday, a delivery boy brought Claire a bouquet of flowers, red tulips and white roses to be exact, with a little card that read, "Happy Birthday. I love you," with no signature. She didn't need one. Had she not recognised the handwriting, which she did, right away, she would have known by the inscription that the flowers had come from Jack.<br /><br />She strode across the hall to his office, and walked in.<br /><br />"I got my flowers," she said after pulling the door shut behind her. He stood, and made his way around the desk. Meeting in the middle of the room, they nearly forgot where they were. "Thank you."<br /><br />"You're welcome," he offered quietly, a look in his eyes that nearly melted her resolve to keep their affair a secret. She wanted to throw her arms around him: could tell he wanted it, too. But she restrained herself.<br /><br />"I'd kiss you," she whispered, "But they're eyes everywhere."<br /><br />"Later," he told her. "Later."<br /><br />Adam walked into the office.<br /><br />If he noticed the guilty expressions on their faces, he didn't comment. He crossed to Claire, patted her shoulder, and said, "Happy Birthday, young lady. I hope the party tonight doesn't interfere with any plans you might have had."<br /><br />"Thank you, Adam," she replied, stealing a quick sideways glance at Jack, who was now standing beside her. "And no, I didn't have anything planned for tonight. I'm looking forward to the party."<br /><br />"Good," he said. "And I meant what I said in that memo, you two. I want you gone by 4:30."<br /><br />"Yes sir," said Jack.<br /><br />"Very well. I'll be in my office if you need to see me."<br /><br />Adam left the way he had come in, shutting the door on his way out.<br /><br />"That was close," said Claire.<br /><br />"Indeed."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The party was scheduled to begin at 8:30. Jack and Claire had decided that though they couldn't go as one another's date to the party, he would stop by her place around 7:30. He wanted to give her part of her present before the party.<br /><br />Claire opened the door for him, and his breath caught in his throat.<br /><br />Claire was wearing an ankle length velvet gown with a scoop neck, inch and a half wide shoulder straps, and a slit up the left side that went all the up to the middle of her thigh. It was a deep blue, tinged with the slightest hint of purple. Her hair was pinned up in a French twist, and other than a pair of gold and pearl earrings, she wore no jewelry.<br /><br />"My God," he whispered, taking her in, "You look beautiful...gorgeous."<br /><br />Her reaction to him in his tuxedo was much the same. It was black, well cut, with a black bow tie and cummerbund. His hair was slicked back.<br /><br />"You look great, Jack."<br /><br />"Happy Birthday," he said, and stepped inside. He pulled her close by wrapping an arm around her waist, and kissed her.<br /><br />"Good thing I haven't put my lipstick on yet," she teased. "Go sit down. I'm almost ready."<br /><br />"Hang on a minute..."<br /><br />"Yes?"<br /><br />"Aren't you the least bit curious about your present?"<br /><br />"Are you kidding?" she laughed. "I've been dying all week!"<br /><br />He held out his arms, and nodded.<br /><br />A curious look passed over her face, and broke into a grin.<br /><br />"You do look incredible in your tux, Jack," she said, her smile growing, "And don't take this the wrong way, because sex with you IS wonderful, but..."<br /><br />Jack started to laugh. He knew where she was going with this.<br /><br />"C'mere, you goof," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners in the way that she so loved. "I meant that your present is in one of my coat pockets... come and get it."<br /><br />She advanced and searched the two side pockets. Nothing. She opened his coat and found a long, slender black felt box sticking out of the hidden pocket. She opened the box, and revealed a gold and pearl necklace. There was a half inch of gold chain between each of the delicate, shiny pearls.<br /><br />"Jack!" she lifted it out of the box. "Jack! It's beautiful!"<br /><br />"Do you really like it?"<br /><br />Clutching it in her hand, she threw her arms around his neck.<br /><br />"I love it!" she whispered, and kissed him on the cheek, then the corner of his mouth, and then full on the lips.<br /><br />"Thank you thank you thank you!" she murmured against his lips.<br /><br />"You're welcome," he chuckled.<br /><br />"Help me put it on?" Handing him the box, she turned her back to him.<br /><br />Holding an end in either hand, he lowered the necklace over her head. The clasp was small, and gave him some trouble, but after a moment, he got it.<br /><br />"There!" he exclaimed when he had successfully closed the clasp.<br /><br />She turned around and asked, "How does it look?"<br /><br />The necklace fit just around the base of her throat. The pale colour of gold and pearl next to her creamy skin, set off by the deep hue of her gown, and dark hair, was truly a sight to behold.<br /><br />"Amazing," he told her. He pulled Claire into his arms again, kissed her neck just above the necklace, and whispered, "Not as beautiful as you, but close."<br /><br />She left him to go look in the mirror that hung above the small table in her foyer.<br /><br />Her hand flew to her throat. The delicate strand of pearls looked so elegant and dainty against her neck.<br /><br />"Thank you, Jack. It's lovely."<br /><br />He came up behind her in the mirror, and lightly kissed the space between her shoulder blades, sending a pleasant shiver down her spine. He slid his arms around her, and splayed his hands over her stomach.<br /><br />"I'm glad you like it," he said softly, looking at her reflection in the mirror.<br /><br />"I love it, Jack!"<br /><br />"Good," he said, and bent his head to kiss the side of her neck. "Happy Birthday."<br /><br />He continued kissing her neck, then worked his way over to the other side. She sighed and leaned back against him. She was watching them in the mirror, thinking, "God we look good together!"<br /><br />Claire's cheeks grew flushed from the sensation of Jack's lips on her skin. His hands began to glide up her body. Claire closed her eyes and lightly bit her lower lip as his hands closed over her breasts.<br /><br />He raised his hands to her shoulders, ran them up and down her bare arms, and turned her to face him. He kissed her, long and deep, holding the back of her neck in his hand. He kissed her throat, her shoulder, the cleavage that rose above the low neckline of her dress.<br /><br />"Jack!" she said breathlessly, "Jack! What're you doing?"<br /><br />"Want me to stop?" he asked, not taking his lips from her skin.<br /><br />She gripped the lapels of his jacket and he raised his head to look at her. She kissed him, and he ran his hands over her velvet covered back.<br /><br />"I don't want you to," she said finally, "But..."<br /><br />"But we're all dressed up and we have a party to get to," he finished for her. "Besides," he continued, "I'd rather you waited until after I give you your big surprise before you begin expressing your gratitude."<br /><br />"There's more??? Jack! You're going to spoil me."<br /><br />"That was the plan, yes."<br /><br />"Gonna give me any hints?"<br /><br />"Nope."<br /><br />"Damn! I'm so curious I can't stand it."<br /><br />"You know what they say," he told her, "Curiosity..."<br /><br />"Killed the cat... I know, I know," she laughed. "Well, mister, I have a surprise of my own for you....for later."<br /><br />"Oh? Do you, now?"<br /><br />"Mmmmhmm," her hands were clasped behind his neck, "Nothing extravagant... but I think you'll enjoy it nonetheless.<br /><br />"I'm breathless with anticipation."<br /><br />"And later," she declared boldly, "I'll have you breathless for another reason entirely!"<br /><br />She pulled his face down to hers, and kissed him. It felt as though their lips were melting into each other. He squeezed her close, wanting nothing more than to cherish this woman he held so tightly in his arms.<br /><br />He eased her away from him. "C'mon...you should finish getting ready... before I say 'to hell with the Christmas party,' rip this beautiful dress off of you, and make love to you for hours."<br /><br />Claire looked at him through slightly veiled lids. "What Christmas party?" she asked innocently, her voice belying the knowing look on her face.<br /><br />He laughed and said, "Go get ready. We'll share a cab. When we get there, you can go on in, and I'll follow behind a few minutes later." As she started down the hall, he called, "Don't put any lipstick on just yet."<br /><br />"Why?" she asked, spinning on her heels, "Just what are you planning on doing to me in the back of the taxi?"<br /><br />"Humour me."</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> In the cab, they sat close together, Jack's arm draped over her shoulder. Claire dropped her hand to his knee. He leaned over and kissed the side of her face.<br /><br />She turned her head to him, and he was smiling down at her. "Happy Birthday," he said softly, his face bare inches from hers.<br /><br />"How many times are you going to wish me Happy Birthday tonight, Jack?" she teased gently.<br /><br />"I haven't settled on a number yet," he informed her, his eyes laughing.<br /><br />They leaned closer and eased into a kiss, giving little thought to the cabby beyond the fact that over the years, he'd likely seen a helluva lot more than anything the two of them would consent to do in the back of a taxi cab.<br /><br />The kiss became kisses, and soon Jack was all too aware of Claire's hand sliding slowly up his inner thigh. When her hand was dangerously close to its mark, he reached down and took it in his own, closing his fingers over hers.<br /><br />He began to toy with her fingers. They traveled thusly for most of the journey, sliding to opposite sides of the cab only when the neared the Waldorf Astoria. Their hands were still clasped together.<br /><br />When the cab halted, Claire squeezed his hand and said, "I'll see you inside."<br /><br />He nodded, squeezed back and released her hand as she opened the door and exited the cab. He watched her walk away.<br /><br />"You gettin' out here, or what, buddy?" asked the cabby, who was looking at Jack through the rear-view mirror.<br /><br />Jack nodded, paid the man, and got out of the cab. Claire entered the Waldorf lobby, remembered suddenly that she wasn't wearing any lipstick, and quickly headed off to the ladies' room, where she applied some colour to her lips. This done, she stood perfectly upright and looked in the mirror.<br /><br />Smoothing her hands down her sides beneath her wrap, she thought, "I'm dressed to kill," before leaving the bathroom to go and check her wrap.<br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jack entered the lobby shortly after Claire, and, seeing that she had headed for the restroom, checked his coat, and headed on in to the party. It was in the largest of the Waldorf's ballroom/conference rooms. Before descending the three step into the room, Jack took a silent survey.<br /><br />There were a myriad of round tables covered with gleaming whit tablecloths spattered about the room. Each table had a floral arrangement consisting of white and red roses, holly leaves, tiny ferns, and baby's breath. In the center of the room there was a dance floor (empty for the moment), and in the area where a band might have set up, there was a DJ instead. For now, the music playing was mellow and not very loud. Jack suspected that sometime after dinner, the music would come up both in tempo and volume, and people would begin to dance.<br /><br />"Quite a turnout," he thought to himself, glancing around the room at the number of ADAs, clerks, secretaries, and their significant others. He recognised many, especially those who had been with the DA's office for a time. There were quite a few, among the younger set particularly, whom he did not recognise. As EADA, his immediate circle of colleagues included the few other EADAs, other members of the office "old guard", and none but the cream of the crop of the younger set, like Claire.<br /><br />His eyes settled on Adam, who nodded at him, and indicated that Jack should to him. Jack nodded.<br /><br />On his way, he was stopped several times by co-workers, and re-introduced to wives and husbands. Jack smiled amiably, and turned on the charm.<br /><br />"She takes my breath away," he thought to himself.<br /><br />He was talking to a man who had come to work in the DAs about 5 years after himself when he saw Claire enter.<br /><br />She glanced around the room, saw Jack gawking at her, and flashed him a brilliant smile. He smiled back, inclined his head at her, and resumed his conversation.<br /><br />"If you'll excuse me,' he said, "Adam beckoned me when I walked in, and I don't think I should keep him waiting any longer."<br /><br />"Jack, my boy," said Adam when he approached.<br /><br />"Good evening, Adam," he replied. He turned to Adam's wife and said, "Hello Mrs. Schiff. You look lovely."<br /><br />"You always did know how to play to the ladies, Jack," she replied, eyes smiling brightly, "You remember our son, Josh?"<br /><br />"Of course," said Jack, offering his hand, "How're you doing, Josh?"<br /><br />"Just fine...I'm playing bachelor this weekend, and Dad insisted I come along to the party."<br /><br />"Have you seen Claire yet?" asked Adam. "I'd like to introduce her to my family."<br /><br />"I saw her come in a few minutes ago. If I run into her, I'll let her know."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Just after entering, Claire had heard her name being called. She turned and saw Chet coming towards her with a pretty blonde she recognised as one of the many law clerks employed by the DA's office. Her name was Kristine something-or-other, and she was in her 3rd year ant NYU law school, if she remembered correctly. She recalled Chet saying they had met when she was a 1st year student, and he was in his 3rd year.<br /><br />"Claire...you look great!" said Chet. "Where's your date? Don't tell me you couldn't get that man you're seeing to come with you, on your birthday of all nights!"<br /><br />"He wanted to come with me, but he couldn't," said Claire. It wasn't exactly a lie... she had never said he wasn't there at all.<br /><br />"Do you know Kristine Watkins?"<br /><br />"We've crossed paths a time or two," said Claire, smiling, "how are you?"<br /><br />"Fine. Ms. Kincaid..."<br /><br />"Claire, please."<br /><br />"Fine, thank you, Claire."<br /><br />A waiter walked by carrying a tray of champagne filled glasses. He offered them each a glass. They continued conversing until Kristine's said softly, "Mr. Schiff is coming towards us."<br /><br />Adam greeted them all, asked how they were enjoying the party and what-have-you. "They're going to be announcing dinner very soon," he told them. "Claire, I'd like it if you joined us."<br /><br />"I'd love to."<br /><br />They bid farewell to Chet and Kristine, and made their way to where Mrs. Schiff, Josh, Bill Englehardt (another of the EADAs) and his wife, and of course, Jack, stood talking.<br /><br />"Claire," said Adam, "You know Bill... this is his wife, Sarah. Sarah, this is Claire Kincaid"<br /><br />"Of course. Hello Bill," said Claire, shaking hands with both. To the wife, she said, "Pleased to meet you, Sarah."<br /><br />"This is my son, Josh," said Adam, placing his hand on Josh's shoulder, "Josh...Claire."<br /><br />"How do you do?" said Josh as they shook hands.<br /><br />"Well, thank you."<br /><br />"And last but not least," said Adam, "This is my wife, Colleen."<br /><br />Claire wondered how many glasses of champagne Adam had consumed. He was positively jolly, and she had never seen him so. It was a nice change from the wry, sometimes cranky, bottom-line Adam of the office.<br /><br />"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Claire," said Mrs. Schiff, "My husband speaks very highly of you."<br /><br />"Thank you," said Claire.<br /><br />"And of course, Jack, who needs no introduction."<br /><br />Claire smiled at him, and he smiled back. "You clean up pretty nice, Claire," said Jack, looking at her forehead so no feeling would be revealed if he glanced into her eyes.<br /><br />"So do you, Jack," she responded.<br /><br />There was an announcement that dinner was about to be served, and that everyone should find a place to sit.<br /><br />As they headed for a table, Mrs. Schiff moved closer to Claire, put an arm around her, and said, loud enough that everyone in their party would hear, her voice light with laughter, "You look out for that one, Claire. Jack McCoy could charm the pants off a nun if he got it into his head to do so. And he'd do it, too, just to prove to himself that he could."<br /><br />Claire winced slightly. It had been intended as a jest, and had indeed come off that way, but she knew it must have pained Jack to hear himself maligned to her.<br /><br />Mrs. Schiff, walking next to Claire, asked her, "How are you doing, my dear? Adam told me what happened."<br /><br />"I'm fine, thank you."<br /><br />"And Happy Birthday."<br /><br />"Thank you!"<br /><br />Joined by three others from the office, they sat down to dinner. Claire was seated in between Jack and Josh Schiff. They were served dinner salads and warm bread first. The main course consisted of chicken, a pasta dish, and vegetables. The food was rich, but good.<br /><br />Midway through dinner, when the conversation had lagged for a few moments, Mrs. Schiff asked Claire, "Would you like it if we sang Happy Birthday to you?"<br /><br />Claire was mortified. The thought of being sung to in front of several hundred of her co-workers and their guests was horrifying.<br /><br />Josh saved her. "How about a toast instead?"<br /><br />That seemed to satisfy his mother. She raised her glass and declared, "Happy Birthday, Claire!"<br /><br />"Happy Birthday!" said everyone else.<br /><br />Jack, thankfully, brought up another subject, and soon, the table was once again absorbed in conversation.<br /><br />Claire leaned over and said "Thank you," to Josh, loud enough so that only he heard it.<br /><br />"No problem," he said, and smiled.<br /><br />Adam's wife reminded Claire Mac's mother, her step-grandmother, Violet Geller.<br /><br />When the dinner plates had been cleared, Adam got up and gave a small speech, thanking everyone for the work they'd done that year, etc. When he was finished, the DJ upped the volume on the music. After a time, some people began to dance. Gradually, the dance floor began to fill.<br /><br />Claire glanced over at the dance floor, and smiled to see so many couples having such a good time. She envied them, that they didn't have to hide their relationships for fear of office gossip, and any subsequent scorn.<br /><br />Mrs. Schiff caught this, and took Claire's small, rather wistful smile to mean that she would like to dance.<br /><br />"Josh," she said, "Why don't you ask Claire to dance?"<br /><br />Josh smiled and declined graciously, "I'd love to, but I'm afraid if my wife found out I'd danced with a beautiful woman in her absence, Dad's office would have one more murder to prosecute."<br /><br />Everyone at the table laughed. Claire glanced at Jack out of the corner of her eye, to gauge his response to the compliment she had been paid. She couldn't tell, his expression revealed very little.<br /><br />"How about you, Jack?" asked Mrs. Schiff.<br /><br />Jack glanced at Claire. "I'd love nothing more," he thought to himself. He glanced over at Adam, who nodded.<br /><br />Jack stood, held out his hand and said, "Claire?"<br /><br />She slid her hand into his and rose. She was trying to keep from laughing, so ridiculous the situation seemed.<br /><br />The current song ended as they walked to the dance floor. out of their party's earshot, Claire said, her voice light with laughter, "This is such a farce....it's like a Shakespearean comedy gone horribly wrong."<br /><br />Jack laughed. She was right.<br /><br />The DJ announced that the next song had been requested. Jack led Claire to the center of the dance floor, in an attempt to obscure them from the view of the people at their table. Both were wondering if they could manage to be as close to one another as dancing required, without betraying their emotions.<br /><br />The song came up. It was an old Nat King Cole song. Jack pulled Claire close, but not as close as either of them wanted. His right palm rested in the middle of her back, as his other hand clasped her right one in his. Her left hand was on his shoulder.<br /><br />"The very thought of you, and I forget to do the little ordinary things that everyone ought to do," sang Nat King Cole.<br /><br />The music had a very languid tempo, and they began to move together. Claire wanted to be closer to him. She wanted to be able to lay her head against his shoulder, to feel his body moving close to hers. As they danced at the moment, there was a space between them, as decorum dictated.<br /><br />"I'm living in a kind of day dream, I'm happy as a king. And foolish though it may seem, to me, that's everything," the song continued.<br /><br />The music swelled, and Jack spun them around rather quickly, pulling her tight against him as he did so. The revolution complete, he eased his grip on her, and there was once again space between them. The brief contact, then swift retreat, created an electric current between them.<br /><br />"The mere idea of you ... the longing here for you. You'll never know how slow the moments go until I am near to you."<br /><br />Claire closed her eyes. Her heart was beating very fast. Had they been closer, she would have felt his beating against her chest in much the same rhythm. Jack wished he could will everyone around them to disappear and leave them free to hold each other as they wanted to.<br /><br />"I see your face in every flower, your eyes in stars above. It's just the thought of you, the very thought of you, myyyyyy loooooovvvve."<br /><br />He spun them around again. She opened her eyes, and raised them to look in his. He smiled at her as his gaze bore into her. Part of her willed him to kiss her, and he would have loved to oblige.<br /><br />Instead, she whispered, loud enough so he could hear him over the music, "How much longer are we going to stay?"<br /><br />Jack glanced at his watch. It was just a little passed 10:30. Some people had already left, but most remained.<br /><br />"We can't leave too early," he replied.<br /><br />"I can't wait for the rest of my surprise," she told him, looking at him intently.<br /><br />The song began to come to an end. "I see your face in every flower. Your eyes in stars above. It's just the thought of you...the veeerrrrrry thought of you, myyyyyyyyyyyyy loooooovvvvvvve."<br /><br />When the song was over, the reluctantly eased apart. "Let's go back to the table," Jack said. "Dancing with you like this is pure torture."<br /><br />Claire nodded.<br /><br />They returned to the table in time for dessert and coffee to be served. It was a chocolate and raspberry torte, with a flaky, buttery, crust. It was delicious.<br /><br />When the conversation eased up again, Jack announced, "I'm going to the bar for a scotch. Anyone care to join me?"<br /><br />Everyone declined. Claire did not.<br /><br />They made their way out of the ballroom, and headed across the lobby toward the bar. Jack glanced around the lobby quickly. Seeing no one he recognised and no one that appeared to have come out of their party, he grabbed Claire by the hand and pulled her around a corner. He pushed her against the wall, and they were hidden by a potted tree. He glanced about again, wildly this time.<br /><br />Reckless now, he pulled her roughly against him and crushed his lips against his. She responded immediately, and their bodies relaxed against each other as their mouths pulled at one another frantically.<br /><br />Several heartbeats passed, and rational thought once again took hold. They were breathing very heavily when they released each other.<br /><br />"C'mon," he said, "Let's go get that drink."<br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On their way back into the party, Jack said, "I think it's time for the rest of your surprise now. Say your goodbyes and meet me in the lobby in half and hour."<br /><br />She nodded.<br /><br />When they returned to the table, Adam had gotten up to go and mingle. Jack said he had to be leaving, using an early start for a weekend ice-fishing trip as an excuse. He said goodbye to everyone at the table, and headed off to find Adam.<br /><br />Claire became involved in a discussion with Josh and Mrs. Schiff. Some time later, Adam returned to the table. Several minutes went by, and Claire stood up.<br /><br />"I'm afraid I have to be going," she announced.<br /><br />"So soon?" asked Mrs. Schiff.<br /><br />Claire nodded.<br /><br />She said goodbye to everyone at the table, and headed out. She looked around for Chet and Kristine, wanting to say goodbye, but didn't see them.<br /><br />Jack was sitting on one of the posh sofas in the lobby when she emerged.<br /><br />He stood, his overcoat thrown over an arm. She put on her coat. They left the building without a word to each other.<br /><br />Once outside, Claire expected Jack to hail a cab, but instead, he walked down the sidewalk. He looked around. There were people on the street, but none he recognised.<br /><br />"Jack," said Claire, "Where are you going."<br /><br />He smiled. "C'mon," he said, and picked up her hand.<br /><br />He led her to the building next door, and they entered the lobby.<br /><br />As he pulled her toward the elevator, he removed a key from his pocket.<br /><br />"Jack...." she said, "Tell me you didn't rent a room at the Waldorf Towers."<br /><br />"Oh..." he said, very obviously pleased with himself, "But I did."<br /><br />The elevator door slid open, and they entered.<br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Back outside, in front of the Waldorf Astoria, but off to the side, in the opposite direction from which Jack and Claire had just headed, stood Chet Williams with his date, who was smoking a cigarette.<br /><br />"Wasn't that Kincaid and McCoy heading into that hotel together?"<br /><br />"No," said Chet, "It couldn't have been."<br /><br />But he had seen them, and he knew it was. "I'll be damned," he thought, mentally slapping his forehead. "Of course! How could I have missed that? Lucky bastard."<br /><br />"I'm telling you," she said, "It was them!"<br /><br />They obviously wanted whatever was going on between them kept secret for now, and he knew Kristine well enough to know that she was a gossip monger, and he sought to persuade her she hadn't seen what she had seen, out of respect for Jack and Claire, both of whom he liked and admired.<br /><br />"It wasn't them, Kris."<br /><br />"Chet...I know what I saw."<br /><br />"It wasn't them, Kris," he said shortly, "Drop it, please?"<br /><br />"Fine," she said, thinking, "I know what I saw." </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-7794521114178316792012-11-14T22:51:00.002-08:002012-11-14T22:51:14.222-08:00Highwire - Part 12<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After a huge dinner with Mac and her mother, Claire returned home. It was just passed 8 pm when she opened the front door. She set her bag down, and headed over to Mrs. Harrington's condo to pick up Lucy.<br /><br />Mrs. Harrington informed Claire that "that nice man I've seen you with lately" had been by just after Claire had left the previous morning.<br /><br />Claire felt temporarily light-headed. So he had come by. That had to be a good sign....didn't it?<br /><br />Upon re-entering her condo, Claire took Lucy into the kitchen and fed her. She went to the living room next, and pressed the playback button on her answering machine. The first few messages were from friends, expressing their relief that Gordon had been apprehended. Shortly after the attack, Claire had spoken to several of her girlfriends, explaining why she would be unreachable at home for an unknown amount of time.<br /><br />There was a message from Mac's oldest son, Roger, asking if she knew of anything Mac and Jeannine needed for Christmas. Another was from the owner of an antique store, telling her that he'd just acquired something similar to what she'd been inquiring about for her boyfriend's Christmas present.<br /><br />And then:<br /><br />"Claire....it's Jack....I.... I would have called last night, but I didn't check my machine until this morning. As soon as I got your messages, I rushed over to your place. I banged on your door, and Mrs. Harrington came out of her condo. She told me you'd gone someplace for the weekend. I tried paging you. I tried about a dozen times. Why haven't you returned any of them? Even if you're angry with me for not calling last night....just....call me."<br /><br />Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.<br /><br />The next one was Jack again.<br /><br />"Claire...it's Sunday evening. Look...just call me. We need to talk."<br /><br />She picked up her cordless phone and dialed Jack's number.<br /><br />She got the answering machine, and suddenly felt on the verge of bursting either into tears, or into a fit of laughter.<br /><br />She did neither, but instead left the following message:<br /><br />"Jack...I just got your messages. This is ridiculous. If we're ever going to talk, one of us needs to stay in one place for more than 5 minutes. I would have answered your pages, but I didn't bring my pager with me. I was at my mother's, and I wanted to make sure work couldn't intrude. I needed to shed the mantle of ADA for the weekend." She let out a short, wry laugh, and finished with, "Call me when you get in...I promise I won't go anywhere until I leave for work in the morning."<br /><br />She clicked the phone off and strode down the hall into her bedroom, and on through into the bathroom, where she drew herself a much desired bath.<br /><br />She soaked for half an hour before pulling the plug from the drain. After drying off, she slipped into a pair of comfortable flannel pajamas and warm, woolly socks, and headed for her living room.<br /><br />She sat on the couch, tucked her feet beneath her, reached for the remote control, and turned on the television. She flipped through the channels, eventually setting on "Thelma and Louise", which she had seen before, but had liked enough to watch again.<br /><br />Not very far into the movie, there was a knock on her door. She went and looked out the peep-hole.<br /><br />Jack! Claire felt a tingle run down her spine. She hurriedly undid the chain and deadbolt, and opened the door.<br /><br />"Hi," she said, smiling, and leaned against the frame of the door.<br /><br />"Hi," he replied, his somber expression breaking into a smile just as wide as hers. "I got your messages."<br /><br />"I got yours, too," she told him. "About the pages..."<br /><br />"Forget about it," he said. "I figured you must have left your pager. I decided that you would have called me back if you had gotten them, even if it was just to tell me to go to hell." He paused. "I decided to try coming by again. If you hadn't been home, I was going to sit in front of your door and wait."<br /><br />"I didn't think Jack McCoy waited for anybody," she teased.<br /><br />"I don't," he replied. "But for you I was prepared to make the odd exception."<br /><br />He moved closer to her, and rested his right palm against the door frame, just above her head. With his left hand, he reached up and brushed back a few whisps of hair that had fallen from the bun she'd pinned her hair into prior to her bath.<br /><br />"I got your messages," he told her again, softly, his eyes boring into hers.<br /><br />"Those eyes!" she thought to herself, letting herself get lost in them for a moment before saying, "You already said that...." a little more breathlessly than she'd intended.<br /><br />"Did I?" he all but whispered.<br /><br />Taking her chin between his thumb and forefinger, he tilted her head back and leaned down to kiss her.<br /><br />He paused an inch form her face, and she could feel his warm breath on her lips as he said, "Before I forget...I brought you something."<br /><br />"You did?" she smiled. "What is it?"<br /><br />He pulled her into the hallway and turning his head to the right, said, "That."<br /><br />It was a Christmas tree, leaning against the wall. When he stood it up straight, it was a good foot taller than he was.<br /><br />"Jack!" she exclaimed. "How on earth did you manage to get this here on your bike?"<br /><br />"The same way Santa Claus fits own all those chimneys," he remarked, his voice laden with an air of mystery, "magic."<br /><br />The way he was looking at her, she could almost believe him.<br /><br />"Seriously though...how?"<br /><br />"I paid them to deliver it, and I followed along behind them on the bike."<br /><br />"No one has ever given me a tree before," she said as she reached down to grasp his hand. She squeezed as she said, "Thank you."<br /><br />"My pleasure," he replied, squeezing back. "Do you have the trimmings?"<br /><br />"There's a tree stand and a big box of Christmas decorations of my grandmother's on a shelf in the closet of one of the spare rooms," she told him. "Let's get this thing inside."<br /><br />They brought the tree inside and placed it in the corner of the living room, by the windows. Jack helped her retrieve the stand and the box of ornaments. When the tree was in the stand, Claire filled it with water and draped the red velvet skirt with white tassels over it. Jack opened the box, pulled out several stands of white twinkle lights, unraveled and tested them. All but one strand were functional.<br /><br />"Don't put any too low," Claire requested as he began to string the lights. "Lucy's never seen a Christmas tree before, and I don't want her to be able to reach the lights...she might pull the tree over, or worse....electrocute herself," she finished with a shudder.<br /><br />"No problem, babe." They finished decorating the tree in short order. When they were done, Claire flicked off the living room light so that they might admire their handiwork. The tree, with it's white twinkle bulbs, crystal ornaments, and gold, silver, and pearlescent balls, was a breathtaking sight.<br /><br />Jack heard Claire sniff, looked over at her, and caught a tear sneaking it's way down her cheek.<br /><br />He reached over and pulled her into his arms. "What is it?" he asked.<br /><br />"I, um....I didn't put a tree up in here last year. I couldn't bring myself to do it so soon after my grandmother passed away," she said, reaching to wipe her tears away. "It's sad to see the tree just the way she would have decorated it."<br /><br />"You two were very close?"<br /><br />"Closer to her than anybody."<br /><br />"Then I wish I could have known her."<br /><br />"So do I," she said, smiling up at him. "She would have loved you."<br /><br />"Despite my advanced years?" it was a little mean, he knew, but he only said it to see what kind of reaction he'd get from her.<br /><br />"Look, Jack," she began, "I'm sorry about the other night. I don't know what my problem was...well, that's not entirely true.....I was just trying to come up with any way to get you off my back about my mother. I....said some things I shouldn't have said. Some things I didn't really mean. My only excuse being that I've been trying for so long to please my mother, with so little success, I just didn't want to have to face her disappointment again." She paused for a moment, and laid her head against his chest. He felt, rather than heard or saw her take a few deep breaths. "I'm so sorry, Jack...I acted just like the child I've been fighting for so long to prove to my mother I'm not."<br /><br />He reached up to stroke her hair. "It's alright, Claire... I could have been more understanding. I also said some things I didn't mean... I didn't need to insult you just because I was pissed off."<br /><br />"So, I'm forgiven?" she inquired, looking up at him.<br /><br />"You are," he said. "Am I?"<br /><br />"Yes!" she replied. "AND you've been formally invited to spend Christmas day with my family. Courtesy of my mother."<br /><br />"You told her!" He exclaimed. "When?" "Practically as soon as I got to her house yesterday morning," she confessed. "And for all my bellyaching, I'm afraid I didn't do it very tactfully."<br /><br />"What did you say?"<br /><br />She told him about the revelation she'd had while sitting in her old room waiting for breakfast, and how she had come to the realisation that it was time, once and for all, to make her mother see her as an adult capable of making informed decisions. She told him, also, about how Mac had expressed the desire to invite Jack to dinner in order to show their gratitude for his having saved Claire's life, as well as his subsequent kindness.<br /><br />"To which I replied, something to the effect that I'd already thanked you enough for all 3 of us. Mac was amused. Mom got angry, as I had expected. We argued back and forth for a while, until Mac put a stop to it. He spoke to her alone for some time. I don't know what he said, but the up shot is that my mother has agreed not to meddle in my affairs anymore. The change in her since their conversation is so drastic, for a while I was sure she must have been replaced by some sort of pod person. I'm still not quite sure what to expect from her on Christmas Day, but...." She paused....he hadn't actually agreed to come yet. A little worried, she asked, "You don't already have plans, do you?"<br /><br />"Nope."<br /><br />"Good," she said, and hugged him.<br /><br />Her head was turned toward the tree, and she grew sad again, and said nothing for a few moments. Jack moved back a bit and looked down at her. He saw her looking at the tree with a tinge of sadness in his eyes, and it pained him.<br /><br />"Hey....you going to be okay with that thing in here?"<br /><br />She looked up at him and nodded, her lower lip and chin quivering slightly with the effort to hold back tears.<br /><br />"Hey..." he soothed, taking her faced in his hands. "C'mere."<br /><br />He kissed her forehead, her eyes, which were wet with the tears she did not shed, the tip of her nose, and finally, very gently, her lips. It was electric. He brought his lips down on hers harder, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.<br /><br />It had only been two days since their fight, but those two days had passed with an agonising slowness for both. "God I missed you," she whispered against his lips. "I thought I'd ruined things for sure, and I couldn't bear it."<br /><br />"It's going to take a lot more than one stupid fight to get rid of me, lady," he kissed her again, passionately, before tearing his mouth away from hers to catch a breath. He pulled her into a hug, and said, "You know...I couldn't sleep in my own bed on Friday might because of you."<br /><br />"Why not?"<br /><br />"I could smell you all over my sheets, and it drove me crazy, especially not knowing if I'd ever hold you in my arms again. I did nothing but think of you all weekend," he told her honestly. "I just can't get you out of my mind."<br /><br />"I know I'm up here, Jack," she said, tapping a finger against his temple. She lowered her hand to lay her palm over his heart. "I want to be here, too."<br /><br />He lifted the hand she'd pressed against his heart, and lightly kissed her fingertips, saying, "You are, Claire. You are."<br /><br />They kissed again. Claire's hands toyed with Jack's hair, and he began to stroke her back. With one hand, he reached up, pulled the scrunchie from her hair, and tangled his fingers in her it. Tilting her head back, he effectively exposed her neck. He lowered his lips to the hollow at the base of her throat.<br /><br />In a series of light, feathery kissed, he worked his way back to her mouth. Against her lips he whispered, "I got your messages."<br /><br />This time, she didn't remind her that he'd already told her that, but instead returned his kisses with matching fervour. When several moments had passed, they eased apart, and with a sigh, Jack hugged her close.<br /><br />"Claire..." he said into her hair, "Did you mean what you said?"<br /><br />"When?"<br /><br />"On Friday night...on my machine. In your last message."<br /><br />"Oh..." she said. "That."<br /><br />"Yeah," he replied, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "That."<br /><br />Claire cupped his face and kissed him hard on the mouth. "I wouldn't have said it if I hadn't meant it.<br /><br />The smile broke. "Say it again, Claire."<br /><br />"I...I love you, Jack."<br /><br />A wave of pleasure passed through his body. He lifted her up and spun them around, laughing so happily Claire could have sworn he was giggling. Hearing those words pass over her lips as she stared deep into his eyes, Jack felt as if Claire had just given him the most precious gift imaginable.<br /><br />He set her down and looked down at her, his smile so huge he was sure she must have thought he was grinning like an idiot. Giddy was not a word she normally would have associated with Jack McCoy, but that's exactly how he looked. He still held her in his arms. He squeezed her tightly to him and buried his face against her neck. His breath was warm against her skin. When he pulled back and looked down at her again, his expression had grown quite serious.<br /><br />He held her face in his hands and said, "I love you too, Claire Kincaid. I love you as I never dreamed I'd love anybody."<br /><br />Claire felt her heart skip. She had suspected...but hearing him say it was an altogether different proposition. He had gone from boss, to friend, to lover, to love in a short period of time, and Claire cherished each aspect of their relationship.<br /><br />She kissed him then, not closing her eyes. His eyes remained open, as well, as their lips attempted to express to one another the depth of their feelings for each other. She ran her hands down his sides, and when she met the bottom of the sweater he was wearing, she began to draw it up. He lifted his arms above his head and helped her remove the sweater.<br /><br />Claire's hands went to the buttons on his white Oxford. They stared into each other's eyes as her fingers manipulated the buttons. Half way down the shirt, Jack grabbed her wrists, pulled her to him, and kissed her.<br /><br />She sighed happily into his lips. He released her wrists and their arms went round each other. When at last they came up for air, Claire, eyes shining bright and cheeks flushed with emotion, took Jack's hand and led him down the hall to her bedroom.<br /><br />As they neared the bed, Jack pulled Claire to him once more, bent down a little, and scooped he into his arms. He continued to the bed, knelt on it with one knee, and laid her out against her comforter.<br /><br />Claire's hands reached for the buttons on his shirt again, as he came down over her. He paused when she had all the buttons undone, removed the shirt, and tossed it aside. She stroked his chest and abdomen as one of his hands went to work on the buttons of the flannel pyjama top she wore. The last button undone, he laid his palm on her skin, just below the base of her throat. His fingers trailed lightly down her chest, the valley between her breast, to her abdomen, and back up again.<br /><br />With one arm, he lifted her slightly and peeled the pyjama top from her shoulders, tossing it in the same direction as his shirt. He lowered her again, and slid his hands down her sides. He hooked his thumbs in the waistband of her pyjama bottoms, and made to remove them from her. She lifted her hips slightly to help him, and he eased them off of her.<br /><br />Her hands tugged at his belt, then the button of his jeans, and then the zipper. He gently lowered himself on top of her, and she slid her hands down his sides: slid them inside his open pants, over his hips. She slid her hands to his waist again, and this time, when she slid them down, she slipped them beneath his boxers.<br /><br />Jack inhaled sharply as she lightly drug her nails over his behind. She pulled her hands free, and began to push his jeans and boxers down over his hips. He left her for a moment, to finish taking his pants off.<br /><br />When he returned, he lay beside her and pulled her into his arms.<br /><br />"You know something, Jack?" she whispered, tracing his thigh with a finger tip.<br /><br />He was kissing her neck, but paused long enough to say, low, "What's that?" "<br /><br />There IS one advantage to fighting..."<br /><br />He slowly pulled his head away from her, and catching the look in her eye, said, "Making up?"<br /><br />She smiled, kissed him, and murmured, "Exactly."<br /><br />Claire pushed Jack onto his back and slid on top of him. She leaned over to kiss him, and her hair fell forward, creating a curtain around them. She reached up to tuck her hair behind her ears, and bent to lavish his neck with long, moist kisses.<br /><br />He sighed and lightly stroked her back, sending shivers down her spine. Claire kissed her way to the side of his face, and over to his earlobe, which she gently bit. Jack's hands slid lower, until he was squeezing her behind.<br /><br />"Claire...." he groaned as she pressed herself down against him and brought her mouth to his.<br /><br />She kissed him, hard, darting her tongue out to slip in between his parted lips. Her tongue found his, and soon they abandoned themselves to the rush of feeling enveloping them.<br /><br />His hands came to rest on her hips as she raised herself away from him slightly, to look down into his eyes. He glided his hands up her sides, and they came up to her breasts. She moaned softly as he began to stroke and knead them. Jack took great pleasure in the way his touch always seemed to ignite something almost wild in Claire.<br /><br />Jack raised his head to capture a nipple between his lips, and was thrilled when a soft cry escaped her. He slipped a hand between them, and delighted as another cry escaped her, this one louder than the first. He reached for the drawer to her bedside table, then rolled her beneath him.<br /><br />God! how he wanted her. He knew she wanted him. It was more than the mere physical connection they were after. There was that, of course, but it was more. They had expressed their love for one another such a short time ago that the words still echoed through their minds.<br /><br />"My love," he murmured against her soft cheek as he slid, inch by slow wonderful inch, into her.<br /><br />She called his name and squeezed him down against her. He slipped his hands underneath her arms, and slid them up to tangle in her hair. She began to move her hips against him, but with a whisper, he stilled her.<br /><br />"Don't move just yet," he said softly.<br /><br />She closed her eyes and attempted to gain control of the desire coursing through her body.<br /><br />"I want..." she said, voice strained, "I can't...."<br /><br />"Shhh," he whispered, and kissed her deeply, "Look at me, Claire."<br /><br />Her eyes fluttered open, and he saw such passion there, such love.<br /><br />"I adore you," he told her.<br /><br />"I love you, Jack." She kissed his neck. "Love you....This is so perfect...so right. You make me feel things I've never felt...never even imagined I could."<br /><br />He gazed down into her eyes, and saw that there were tears there. If he hadn't been on the verge of tears himself, he might have thought something was wrong. He understood that they were tears borne of happiness, and they mirrored the elation he felt.<br /><br />He rolled to his side, pulling her with him, and drew her leg up so that her inner thigh rested against his hip. They never broke eye contact.<br /><br />He was still within her, still not moving, when he said, "You mean the world to me, Claire. I can say that... tell you I love you, but it isn't sufficient. Words aren't enough. I can show you, like this...in other ways....if you'll let me."<br /><br />She nodded her consent.<br /><br />"I may get moody, may say ugly things, and push you away...but, please, don't listen...don't go.."<br /><br />"Jack, I..."<br /><br />"Shhhhhh... please... I need to say these things to you, now, when there are no barriers between us."<br /><br />She touched her hand to his cheek and nodded.<br /><br />"I don't think I'll ever understand how I got lucky enough to have you love me," he continued quietly, "God knows I've never done anything to deserve you, but I'm going to try. God, I feel like we're rushing, that I've fallen too far, too fast, and it scares the hell out of me. But along with that goes the realisation that I'm not getting any younger. I can't afford to waste time when I feel the way I do. I love you in a way I never thought existed, and I can't think of anything that would ever change that," here, he paused, and averted his eyes. "All I ask is that you love me a little, if you can, and let me love you. I'd be content with that much."<br /><br />She took his face in her hands, and forced him to look at her. There were tears in his eyes, and hers. "Where does all this self-loathing come from, Jack? What's happened to you that you feel you don't deserve to be loved? Why shouldn't I love you with everything I have? Because I do, you know, rushing or no."<br /><br />He opened his mouth to say something, but she placed her finger against his lips.<br /><br />"Shhh, you don't have to answer now. Someday...when you're ready to face your demons....then you can tell me. I'll be there with you, like you have been for me through this ordeal. I love you, Jack McCoy... and I could never love someone who didn't deserve it."<br /><br />"Thank you, my darling," he whispered, his voice heavy with emotion.<br /><br />With one hand, he reached for her leg while the other went up to lightly grip the back of her neck. He pulled her closer, as close as he could, and kissed her, their tears mingling on the blanket beneath them.<br /><br />At last, he withdrew from her slightly, then thrust forward again. Low moans escaped them both as they began to move together. It was a consummation, an affirmation of the words of love and affection they had just uttered.<br /><br />They kissed and touched each other as they made love slowly, gently, murmuring names and terms of affection, until, at long last, their hands and mouths became frenzied as the demands of their bodies became more urgent. They cried out in unison, slipping into a vortex of pleasure unlike anything either of them had ever known.<br /><br />They remained still, silently clinging to each other for a long while, afraid to move for fear of breaking whatever spell it was that had surrounded them. Eventually, they eased apart having grown cold lying naked and damp on top of the covers.<br /><br />Jack got up and went into the bathroom. Claire pulled the covers back. When Jack emerged, Claire moved to go into the bathroom, but he intercepted her, and pulled her in for a kiss.<br /><br />He released her, and she entered the bathroom. When she returned, Jack had gotten into her bed. She crawled in next to him, and snuggled close. They didn't make love again, but kissed and touched one another until they fell asleep in each other's arms, content, secure, in love.<br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />Some time later, Jack woke up. Claire's head was nestled in the crook of his shoulder. He kissed her head, then turned to look at the alarm clock. 2 am.<br /><br />He shook Claire gently.<br /><br />"Claire?"<br /><br />"Hmmmmm?"<br /><br />"Babe, I..."<br /><br />"Mmmmm, Jack..." she said huskily, still caught somewhere between sleep and the waking world, "I was having the most wonderful dream...."<br /><br />"No more nightmares?" he asked.<br /><br />Through the fog of half-sleep, she understood what he meant.<br /><br />"Jack, how did you..." she began, then it dawned on her, "Liz."<br /><br />"You spoke to Olivet?" he asked.<br /><br />"Mmmhmm, this afternoon. We had lunch," Claire told him. "I'm a little shocked she told you about my dreams."<br /><br />"Claire, I didn't need Liz Olivet to tell me you were having nightmares."<br /><br />"Then how did you know?"<br /><br />"I slept in the same bed with you for a week, Claire. I'm not a heavy sleeper. Don't you think I noticed every time you thrashed about, or jerked awake?"<br /><br />"Why didn't you say anything?"<br /><br />"I wanted to let you come to me with it."<br /><br />"God they were so awful, Jack," she said, shuddering, and snuggling closer to him.<br /><br />"I know, baby, I know," he murmured into her hair.<br /><br />They were silent for a time, until Claire asked, "What?"<br /><br />"Hmmm?" Jack responded, perplexed.<br /><br />"You woke me.....I assume it wasn't just to tell me you knew I'd been having nightmares."<br /><br />"Listen, Claire...I have to go home. I didn't bring anything I need for work tomorrow."<br /><br />She nodded. "Okay," she said. "Right now?"<br /><br />"I should, before...."<br /><br />She interrupted him with a kiss.<br /><br />"Well, maybe I cant stay a little longer."<br /><br />He returned the kiss.<br /><br />"So....are you going to tell me about this wonderful dream I interrupted?"<br /><br />She shook her head. "But I'll show you..."<br /><br />Her hand fluttered over his stomach, then lower, and Jack groaned into her hair.<br /><br />"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" she asked, seductively, staring at him intently.<br /><br />He nodded, and groaned again as she increased the pressure of her hand. He succumbed for a few moments, then grabbed her hand and whispered hoarsely, "Enough."<br /><br />Before she knew what was happening, he had rolled her to her back. He came over her and pinioned her body to the bed with his own. He kissed her neck, then moved lower, to lavish her breasts with his lips and tongue. He kissed lower, and lower still, until he was kissing the soft, silky skin of her inner thigh. Finally, he lowered his head between her thighs.<br /><br />Claire gasped with the pleasure, and pushed his face harder against her. She arched her back as he pushed her higher, and higher. He drove her to the edge of fulfillment, then stopped.<br /><br />Her breath was coming hard and fast, and he adjusted himself so that he was lying on his back next to her. He turned slightly, and reached for the nightstand drawer, then rolled to his back again, and pulled her astride him, saying "Make love to me, Claire."<br /><br />She did so, eagerly, lovingly. She stroked and kissed his chest as she loved him. His hands played maddeningly with her breasts, and alternately, her behind.<br /><br />She reached the brink of fulfillment as he shuddered his release within her, and cried, "I love you."<br /><br />This sent Claire spiraling over the edge, and she collapsed on his chest.<br /><br />He stroked her hair and held her close until their breathing slowed. She rolled off of him, and he turned to his side, facing her. She laid her cheek against his heart, and listened to its rhythmic beating.<br /><br />He lay with her until he was sure she slept again, then got up, dressed, stroked her hair and kissed her lightly, and made to leave. On his way out, he encountered Lucy in the hallway. He scooped her up, and petted her for a few moments, He nuzzled her fur and said, "Be a good cat and go sleep with Claire," before letting her down to the floor.<br /><br />He watched until she disappeared into Claire's bedroom, then turned, and headed out the door.<br /><span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />When Claire awoke later that morning, she shut off the buzzing alarm, and smiled to herself at the memory of what had passed between her and Jack so few hours before.<br /><br />They were in love, and she prayed, though prayer was not something she generally resorted to, that nothing would ever change that. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5213596674162611400.post-26174782587202732092012-11-14T22:05:00.000-08:002012-11-14T22:51:39.411-08:00Highwire - Part 11<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire had checked her answering machine for a message from Jack when she woke up that morning. Again, there was nothing. The fact that there were no messages didn't come as much of a surprise to her: she had slept so fitfully that she was sure she would have heard the phone ring.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She debated whether or not to call again, but decided against it. The ball was in Jack's court now. She had made the first move. It was now up to him to call when he was ready to forgive her. She prayed that it would be soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">With a heavy heart, she got ready for her visit with her mother and Mac.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Just before she left, she put a call into Liz Olivet's answering service, saying she could be reached at her mother's number any time prior to late Sunday night, and that, if it wouldn't be too much trouble, she would like to get together with her sometime before early Sunday afternoon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire pulled up in front of her mother's house and killed the engine. Suddenly, she began to regret her decision to spend her weekend there. She would rather have been spending her time working things out with Jack. But the problem with Jack had not arisen until after she'd agreed to the visit, and her mother was not the sort of person who weathered a broken commitment well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Taking a few deep breaths, she opened the car door, grabbed her overnight bag, and headed up the steps to the brownstone. She slipped her key in the lock, and opened the door. Her mother was at the top of the landing, just about to come down the stairs when Claire entered.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Hi honey!," she greeted cheerfully. "Have you eaten breakfast yet?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire flashed her mother the brightest smile she could muster. "Hi Mom. No, I haven't eaten. Where's Mac?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I sent him out to the store for a few things. I would have gone, but I wanted to make sure I was home when you got here."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">During her speech, Jeannine Geller had finished descending the stairs. She crossed to Claire, and mother and daughter embraced.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire's mother was a tiny woman, just under 5'2", and petite. But for the height difference, and the differences brought on by age, Claire looked just like her mother.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jeannine stepped back and took her daughter's face in her hands. Gazing intently upon Claire's face, she said, "I'm so glad you're alright. I've been worried to death about you all week, knowing that maniac was still on the loose. Sometimes, I really hate the work you do. Dealing with the criminal element of society is extremely dangerous. I really wish you'd gone into something safer: corporate law, tax law, entertainment law, or something off the sort."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Mom,...we've had this conversation a million times."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I know, darling, but I was hoping now, after the ordeal you've been through, you'd finally be willing to listen to reason."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Mom, for the most part, my job is perfectly safe. This sort of incident is extremely rare," she said, sounding to herself like a broken record. This was the umpteenth time they'd had this particular discussion. "Besides Mom, I LIKE criminal law. I went into law to be a trial lawyer, and there is no greater opportunity for trial work than in a prosecutor's office. Not to mention the feeling of satisfaction I get when we've put on a great case, and the jury rewards us with a conviction. There is nothing like sending someone who has committed a horrendous act of evil against another away for a very long time."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I just worry about you, sweetheart. I'm your mother. It's my job to worry about you."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I know, Mom. I know."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Look, honey, why don't you take your bag up to your room and come back down into the kitchen. I'll be fixing breakfast."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Alright."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bag slung over her shoulder, Claire vaulted up the stairs two at a time. She opened the door to her old room and walked in. It had been over 10 years since she had left home to go to university and begin her life as an adult, yet her mother had never changed the decor of her room. Same pastel colour scheme. Same stuffed animals. Same posters of Marlon Brando in his On The Waterfront gear, David Bowie, Prince, and U2 circa their "War" era on the walls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She set her bag on the chair to her desk, and plopped down on the bed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Nothing like coming home to make me feel like I've never grown up," she thought to herself before flopping backward. Looking at the ceiling, he began to laugh. The poster of Sting, with whom she had been madly in love, still hung there. She had placed it directly above her bed so that his would be the last face she saw each night before drifting off into sleep (oh! the dreams she used to have of him!), and the first face she saw each morning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lying there, glancing around her girlhood bedroom, something dawned on her. As far as her mother was concerned, Claire hadn't aged pass the teenager she used to be. It made sense. Back then, Claire had let her mother pretty much run her life (or at least, had led her to 'believe' she was running it). Before marrying Mac, her mother had lived her life vicariously through Claire, and Claire had been too young, too naive, and too devastated by her parents' divorce to realise what was going on. It had set the stage for the pattern of control her mother had tried, and was still trying, to exercise over Claire's life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Well, today, Claire hoped to put a stop to it</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Claire! Breakfast!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Woah there, Deja vu!" Claire said out loud, and headed for the kitchen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Hey kid," Mac greeted her when she walked into the kitchen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Hi, Mac," she said warmly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He stood up from the table, set his newspaper down, and wrapped Claire in a big bear hug, which Claire returned with equal force. She loved Mac dearly. He had championed her whenever her mother had become too overbearing (he had a very calming effect on his wife), and it was because of him that she had chosen the legal profession.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"How're you holding up, kiddo?" he asked upon releasing her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I'm doing fine, Mac, now that Gordon is in custody."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"She's much too thin," her mother chimed in. "Wouldn't you say so?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Oh, I don't know," said Mac, winking at Claire. "I seem to have this vision of the beanpole she used to be when we were first married. I'd say she's filled out just fine."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Thanks, Mac," Claire laughed, socking him playfully on his arm. "I don't know what it is, Mom. I eat like a horse. I'm sometimes horrified at the amount of food I scarf down. I could eat nothing but greasy, fatty foods, and not put on any weight. I'd die of a heart attack at 35, but I'd still be thin."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire sat down at the table, as did Mac.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"What's for breakfast?" Claire asked. "I'm starving!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Eggs, toast, sausage, homestyle potatoes."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Mmmmmmmm!" said Claire. Her mother was still the best cook she knew.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As they sat down to breakfast, Claire's mother started in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"It was awfully nice of Mr. McCoy to let you stay at his apartment."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Guess I'm going to get this over with sooner than I thought," Claire thought.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To her mother she said, "Yes, it was."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I still don't understand why you didn't come home."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Jeannine," Mac interjected, "Don't start..."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"No, Mac, it's alright," said Claire.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"One would think you would have wanted to be with your family during an ordeal like that, not your boss for whom you've only worked four months."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"By the way, Claire," Mac interrupted, in an attempt to change the course of the conversation. "When do we get to meet this Jack McCoy, to whom we owe your continued existence on this planet? We'd like to invite him for dinner, so that we can express our gratitude."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire thought for a moment before responding. There were a number of ways she could play this. In the end, she chose the way she figured would most likely shatter her mother's little girl image of her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I don't think that will be necessary," she said after a moment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Why not?" asked her mother.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lifting a forkful of egg, Claire said, "I'd say I've thanked him more than enough for all three of us," and shoved the fork into her mouth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One of Mac's eyebrows shot up, and he began to chuckle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"What do you mean by that, Claire?" her mother asked suspiciously.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Just then the phone rang.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">None of them moved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Well?" her mother queried.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Somebody better answer the phone," remarked Claire as it continued to ring.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Mac got up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I'm waiting for an answer," her mother said.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Claire. There's someone named Liz on the phone for you."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Claire...." her mother began.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Mom. I have to take this. It'll only be a few minutes. I'll explain after."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She took the phone from Mac, and wandered with it out into the foyer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Liz, thanks for getting back to me so quickly."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"No problem, Claire," said Doctor Olivet, "What can I do for you?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I was wondering if the offer for a friend to talk to still stands? If so, I'd like to take you up on it."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Of course! I have plans for the day, but I'm free all day tomorrow."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Great!" said Claire. "Would it be alright if we met for lunch?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"That would be fine," said Liz.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">They agreed upon a time and place and said their goodbyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire was somewhat reluctant to go back into the kitchen, but she told herself, "You've opened this can of worms. Best go play it out."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She went back into the kitchen, silently replaced the phone, and returned to her place at the table.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She resumed eating. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Mac, looking amused. Her mother was glaring at her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, her mother asked, "You're sleeping with McCoy, aren't you?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire put her fork down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"It's a little more than that, mother."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Are you saying your having a relationship with him?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Yes."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Since when."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire thought back for a moment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"It's been about three weeks," she admitted, "Though it seems much longer."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Three weeks?" her mother snorted. "Three weeks? Good. You can't have gotten very attached in such a short time. It shouldn't be very difficult for you to end it."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire opened her mouth to interrupt, but her mother kept on going.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Of course, it might be a little awkward for the two of you at work for a while, but you're adults. You should be able to cope."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Mother, that's enough! I have no intention of ending my relationship with Jack because you think I should. Or for any reason."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I would have that after being censured as a result of you ill-thought out affair with that Judge, you would have learned your lesson about getting involved with your superiors at work."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Mom....I cannot even begin to tell you how totally different this is from what went on between Joel Thayer and I. Jack couldn't be LESS like Thayer. He's a good man, Mom. He has some...emotional baggage and issues...particularly surrounding his childhood. But he's good to me, Mom. He doesn't try to control me like Thayer did. He treats me with kindness and respect."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Isn't this the same Jack McCoy, whom several months ago you told me had worked his way through all of his female assistants? How do you know he doesn't think of you as just another conquest?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"It's not like that at all."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"How can you be sure?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Because I know Jack."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Is that so? After 3 weeks you can make that claim?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"A lot has happened in those 3 weeks."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I think you're acting like a fool, Claire. You're going to get hurt just like you did with Joel Thayer. You had to leave your clerkship early because of him. are you going to have to leave the DA's office when McCoy drops you? How many sex scandals do you think your career can take?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Mom. Stop. Please. I'm an adult now. I know what I'm doing. If I get hurt, then I'm going to have to deal with it. I'm not so naive that I don't know that's a possibility. But I can't have these feelings and not act on them just because there is a possibility I might get hurt when there is just as great a chance that things will work out for Jack and I."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"What are you saying, Claire? Are you saying you want to marry him?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire looked over at Mac and said to him, "Sometimes she makes me feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Mac nodded sympathetically. The one bone of contention he had with his wife after 17 years of marriage was the fact that where her daughter was concerned, she spent half of her time trying to mould her into some personal ideal, and the other half criticising her when she didn't live up to it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire focused her attention on her mother once again. "No, Mom, that's not what I'm saying. 3 weeks into a relationship is obviously too soon to be thinking about marriage. But it's also premature to be discussing what will happen when it's over, because at this point, I'm not thinking about it ending. IF down the road, it ends, I'll deal with it. But I'm not going to jinx it by making provisions for an eventuality I have no way of knowing will be an eventuality."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I think you're looking at this through rose-coloured glasses if you don't prepare yourself for when he tires of you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I think you need to leave it alone, Mother."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I'm just trying to spare you the heartache I'm sure will..."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire interrupted her. "If that's your intention, Mom, then I thank you. But I think it's rather arrogant of you to presume to tell me how my relationship with Jack is going to end up when A) you have no idea what's gong on between us, and B) you've never even met the man."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I think she's telling you to mind your own business, my dear," said Mac.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"She's my daughter, her life IS my business."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Claire, are you done eating?" Mac asked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Yes."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Would you mind excusing us for a few minutes?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Sure," she said. "Thanks for breakfast, Mom. It was great, as usual. I'll be in my old room."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When nearly half an hour had passed, there was a knock on Claire's door. She had closed it so she wouldn't' have to listen to the raised voices downstairs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Come in," she called, and Mac entered.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Hey kiddo," he said, and Claire smiled. Mac would be calling her "kiddo" even when she was old and grey. It didn't bother her to be called kiddo, because, unlike her mother, despite the endearment, Mac treated her like an adult capable of running her own life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"So," said Claire, "am I disowned?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"No of course not!" Mac laughed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Mac moved her overnight bag, pulled the chair directly in front of her bed, and sat down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Care to tell me what's wrong?" asked Mac.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I'd say that was pretty obvious."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Come on, Claire. I'm not blind," said Mac, "Or stupid. I could tell there was something wrong before you and your mother started going at it."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Mac, you've always been able to read me a little too well for my comfort."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"What is it? The Gordon thing?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I'd be lying if I said that wasn't still on my mind. Unfortunately, that's not what's really bothering me."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He waited for her to elaborate. When she didn't, he probed further, "So tell me what IS bothering you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Just promise me you want say anything to my mother, okay? I don't want to hear any 'I-told-you-so' already, because it's not as serious as it sounds."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"You sure about that?" she asked herself silently.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I'm assuming you and Jack fought?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire nodded.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Mind if I ask what it was about?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"It started when I got off the phone with Mom last night. He wanted to know why I hadn't said anything about us to her when she was trying to set me up with that guy from Wall Street. I told him it was because I had to approach her with the subject in the right way --which, ironically, I didn't do-- and he felt as though I was ashamed of him in some way, and.... oh, I don't know. It was ridiculous. We both said some awful things to each other, and it ended with him storming out. I tried to call him later, but he wasn't home. Or wasn't answering. I left several messages, but he has yet to call back."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Did you try again this morning?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She shook her head.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Why not?" Mac queried.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Well, for one thing, I don't want to act like Glenn Close in "Fatal Attraction", and....also, I can't help but wonder if I've alienated him beyond the point of wanting to work things out."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Do you love him?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Yes. I've only just realised it, but I do. Very much."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Does he know it?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I told him so on the machine last night," she admitted. "I have yet to tell him to his face."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Does he love you?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I don't ....Yes...yes, I think he does. Or did."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Then your course seems pretty clear, wouldn't you say?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Enlighten me."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"You've got to fight for him. Put your stubbornness --you got that from your mother, you know-- aside and do whatever it takes."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I know you're right, Mac."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Claire, let me tell you something. This life is uncertain. It also has a way of toying with us. I believe that there is one person for whom each of us was intended. Those of us who find that person, like your mother and I, are very lucky, for there are some people who spend their entire lives looking for that person, while others overlook their soul mate because they're too blind or stubborn, or because they think that there is something better out there for them. Don't throw whatever it is you and Jack have away because of pride. Don't let it be pride --yours or his-- that keeps you from finding out if you were meant to be together."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire leaned forward to hug him. "Thanks, Mac. I knew I could count on you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Anytime, kiddo, you know that," he told her, patting her back lightly before easing out of the embrace. "And by the way, I won't be mentioning this to your mother. I've just got her convinced that you've got everything under control, and that you know what you're doing, so she won't meddle anymore. I don't want to set her off again. So hurry up and patch things up, will you, or she may never be convinced to let you live your life as you see fit."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"You've got it," she promised, smiling.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Listen, Claire," he said, "Why don't you invite Jack to Christmas day with us? My mother, both of your step-brothers and their families will be here. So will your mother's sister, her husband, your cousin and her family."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"The whole family, then? Even John and Marry and the new baby?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Mac nodded, "Has my son ever missed a Christmas with us?" he asked. "They're coming in on the train from Philadelphia."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Poor Jack doesn't stand a chance."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"You're right," laughed Mac. "He doesn't."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"What is Mom going to say about this?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"It was her idea."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"What???" exclaimed Claire, incredulous. "You're joking!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"No, actually, I'm not. Her methods may be overbearing at times, Claire, but your mother loves you very much. If Jack is what makes you happy, then she'll be happy for you. Your happiness is all she's ever wanted...she just gets confused at times as to the difference between what makes her happy, and what will make you happy. Be patient with her. She's working on letting go of her little girl. Granted it's taking her longer than most....but I suspect that is because you are her only child."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"You know, Mac, maybe it would help her if you could convince her to redecorate this room. It's eerie coming in here....it's like entering a shrine to myself."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I've tried, Claire, though not recently. I'll start trying again after the holidays. Maybe seeing you and Jack together will help."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">*****</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Later in the day, Claire and her mother headed out to do some Christmas shopping.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">At one point, Jeannine turned to her daughter and said, "So, tell me about you and Jack."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Mom...." began Claire, preparing for another row, "if you're trying to start a fight....please don't."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I'm not, Claire! Jesus! And I'm not meddling. Can't I be curious about the man you're involved with without having an ulterior motive?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I don't know, Mother. I'd like to think so. Can you?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"As difficult as it is for me, I'm holding out the olive branch here, Claire. I realise that in trying to protect you from experiencing the pain I've known, I've been controlling and over-protective But honestly all I've wanted to do was insulate you from hurt. I forget that you're not my baby girl anymore, not chronologically anyhow, and that you have a mind and will of your own, and that your desires are separate from mine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I guess what I'm trying to say," Jeannine continued, "is that all I've ever wanted is for you to be happy. I always thought I had the answer as to how you would accomplish that....but I've been wrong. If Jack is going to be the one who makes you happy, then despite any reservations I might have....I'll support you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire couldn't believe this was her mother. Tears welled in her eyes. Her mother had never spoken to her in this manner. It had always been very difficult for Jeannine to express her feelings in a way that didn't come off sounding overly critical, and she was obviously making a tremendous effort.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">They had stopped walking, and Claire put her arms around her mother. "Thank you, Mom," was all she could think of to say.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It we the first truly tender moment mother and daughter had shared since. Claire thought back for a moment. Probably since she had graduated from law school 4 years earlier.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When they released each other, both women had to wipe tears from their eyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Now tell me about this man of yours," said Jeannine, chuckling slightly at the absurdity of the two of them standing in the middle of the Macy's home fashion department with tears in their eyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"He's wonderful, Mom," Claire began. "Looking back, I think I was attracted to him from the day we started working together. But I was wary because of what had happened with Joel, and so I fought it. I told myself he had a reputation...that he was a womaniser and I would end up hurt in the end if I let myself fall for him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"At first I was put off by his relaxed attitude. Working with him is so different from working with Ben Stone. But the more we worked together, his brilliance as a lawyer began to draw me in, and I began to find his easy going ways pleasant and appealing, because they denote a sense of comfortableness with himself that is very attractive. I grew quickly to admire and respect his abilities in the courtroom. I'll never forget the first time I saw him give a closing argument to a jury. He has this almost magical way of drawing a jury to him. He gives off this aura that mesmerises them. It's amazing how attractive a man who does his job brilliantly can be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"That was the first thing, even though I hadn't admitted to myself yet. And then it was the little things. The way he would let me argue with him, as Ben never would, for instance. Or how his hair is always just a little bit disheveled, or the way he'd touch me lightly on the arm or shoulder to make a point. Sometimes, out of the corner of my eye, I'd catch him just looking at me, a small smile on his lips, and his eyes crinkling at the corners as they do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I don't remember at what point I stared dreaming about him, but I did. It was incredibly disconcerting at first. Then I decided it was because we spent so much time together at work."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"What was it that happened that finally brought the two of you together?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"It was this Gordon case, actually," said Claire. "Jack and I had a number of difficult, high-profile cases when the case was brought to us for prosecution. Jack wondered who we should give the case to. Adam thought it would benefit me to be taken off a few of Jack's cases so that I might 1st Chair the Gordon trial, assuming he didn't cop a plea. Jack was against it, and after the meeting, I ripped into him in the elevator. He kissed me then, and even through all the confusion at my reaction to him, and the anger at him for what he had said in Adam's office, I found myself responding. I knew that it had never felt so right to be in a man's arms before. He left me in the elevator, but I was so flabbergasted by the kiss and my response to him, that I didn't go after him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"That's when I realised that despite my intentions to the contrary, I had fallen for him. I still can't pinpoint exactly when it happened. The next day, he came to me, saying it would be best if we confined our relationship to the professional level."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">At this point, Claire stopped for a moment, and laughed slightly. "Oh my God, I was beside myself! Working together was excruciating for about a week, and then we sent one of our high-profile cases to the jury. I don't know what it was....maybe I was emboldened by the passion he had displayed in his closing argument.....but I asked him to dinner.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"So that's how it started," Claire finished.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I was worried at first that maybe you were sleeping with him out of some sort of misguided feeling of gratitude for saving your life. Or that he had seduced you when you were vulnerable," said her mother.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Mom..." Claire hesitated for a moment. Should she tell her this? She was hoping they had come to some sort of silent understanding since that morning, and that from then on they could be friends as well as mother and daughter, so she decided to start acting that way. "We made love before Gordon attacked me."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Oh." Jeannine wasn't sure she wanted to be hearing these things from her daughter...but this was the most open they had ever been with one another...and she rather liked it. "Tell me a little about Jack."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"He gives off this incredibly relaxed, easy-going energy, and his is very relaxed, there's now doubt about that. He also works harder and puts in more hours than just about anyone in our office."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"You've told me about the 'at-work-Jack'. I want to know about the Jack you see outside of the office."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"It all goes together," she explained. "But I know what you're after. He's this weird combination of strength and vulnerability. He was so protective of me after what happened with Gordon. He was strong and nurturing, which was just what I needed him to be. He makes me feel so safe. He's so...sure of himself...most of the time, anyway.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"The reason I said earlier that I don't think he's going to hurt me is because it's him who is so afraid of getting hurt by me. I can see it in his eyes sometimes...it's like he wants me to stay, but keeps expecting me to walk out on him...because everyone else has.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I told you he had some emotional issues surrounding his childhood, and I believe al his demons stem from this. He never received the kind of love and affection he needed as a child, because his father physically abused his mother, and though he hasn't said anything...I suspect Jack was also abused by his father. So for most of his life, Jack has been pushing people away before they get close enough to hurt him. . . because he has learned to expect everyone will hurt him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"In spite of all of this, he's letting me in...letting me get close. And I have to say, I would like nothing better than to be the one who shows Jack that not everyone wants to or will hurt him...that not everyone leaves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"As traumatic as Gordon attacking me was, in a way, I'm glad it happened --God that sounds sick!-- because it's brought Jack and I closer than we would have been at this point had it not happened."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jeannine thought for a few moments after Claire stopped speaking, taking it all in. It was evident her daughter cared deeply for this man. It was also evident that he made her happy, because everything about her seemed to light up when she talked about him. Anyone who could do that to her daughter, had to be alright in her book.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Taking her daughter's hand, Jeannine said, "Claire...I know this is going to sound strange coming from me...but if Jack makes you as happy as I can tell he does....he's alright in my opinion. I honestly hope things work out for the two of you. I've never seen you this animated when talking about someone you were involved with....and it does my heart good to see it. I'm looking forward to meeting the man who has done that to you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">*****</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire met Liz Olivet for lunch at 1:00 pm the following afternoon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">They ordered their food and talked about everyday things such as the horrors of Christmas shopping, some of the cases on which Liz was consulting for the DA's office at the moments, and noteworthy items in the news.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In between the clearing of their salad plates, and the arrival of their lunch entrees, Liz focused the conversation on the reason for their lunch date: Claire's handling of the Gordon situation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Claire," said Liz, "as interesting as our conversation has been thus far....you didn't invite me to lunch to discuss current events, or standing on line during the holiday season."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"No, you're right, I didn't," Claire admitted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"So what's wrong, Claire?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"It's the Gordon thing."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I figured as much," said Liz. "What specifically about it."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Ever since it happened....the attack, I mean...whenever I go to sleep, I have these nightmares. I dream it's happening again, only worse. Most of them start with the attack the way I remember it. Where they get bad is when Jack comes to save me," Claire took a deep breath. "Most of the time he comes....but Gordon has a gun or some other weapon, and he kills Jack. Sometimes Jack doesn't come at all, and Gordon does as he pleases," pausing again, she shuddered.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Taking a sip of water, Claire continued. "I usually wake up before anything too awful happens...but the dreams last long enough that I know he's going to kill me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I thought the dreams would go away when Gordon was caught....thought they were just my mind's way of expressing whatever fears I had of him coming after me again. But since he's been caught, I've had the two worst dreams yet." Claire related the dream in which her mother had set her up on a date with Gordon, and in which Jack had turned his back on her. "And then last night....Last night it was Gordon coming after me again," She shuddered again, obviously very distressed at the memory of her dream. "But, in the end...I couldn't see his face for a while, he was wearing a mask. When he took it off, it wasn't Gordon anymore....but Jack."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire looked down at the table cloth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Claire," said Liz, "This may not be what you want to hear...but the dreams, they go away...and they are a perfectly normal response to the trauma you've been through. When you're awake, you can distract yourself with work, friends, family, etc. But you can't hide from yourself while you're asleep. Sometimes dreams are the subconscious' way of reminding us that we have unresolved feelings we need to deal with."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I don't know what it is, Liz," said Claire, looking across the table at her. "I think...maybe....maybe I feel ridiculous for letting this affect me as much as it does, when the fact of the matter is, nothing really happened to me. I came out of it with nothing more serious than a bloody nose... meanwhile, the next woman ended up brutally attacked, raped, and left under a bush in Central Park. I don't know why I can't get pass this."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Maybe the problem is that you're expecting to get over this too quickly and easily. You don't get to snap your fingers and make this go away, Claire. You were lucky you were able to escape being attacked.....it COULD have been you under that bush. But the fact that you escaped doesn't make the danger you were in at the time any less real...or your fears any less warranted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"You have to forgive yourself for having been afraid...anyone would have in your situation...and for whatever thoughts of retribution you might be having. Allow yourself to feel fear, Claire," Liz advised. "allow yourself to feel hurt, abused angry. Allow yourself to hate, and experience whatever other emotions this thing dredges up. Only by facing and dealing with your emotions will you heal...because if you don't...this thing just might destroy you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">They stopped speaking for a time when the waiter brought their meal. When he had left, Claire said, "You see a lot, Liz."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"More than you might think, Claire."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Meaning?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Meaning I'm still waiting for you to tell me the part you're holding back."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"What part?" Claire queried, having no clue what Liz could mean.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"The part about you and Jack."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire opened her mouth to deny it, but, looking up into Liz's eyes and remembering the pain she'd caused Jack by refusing to tell her mother about their relationship, she simply asked, "Is it that obvious?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"No, it's not, Claire," said Liz. "Remember that I'm trained to see the things people don't want me to see. I could hear it in the way you described your dreams. Aside from your fear of Gordon, the thing that stands out the most is the distress caused by Jack's death, and his becoming the one trying to hurt you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Oh."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Besides," continued Liz. "Jack is the one who came and asked me to talk to you in the first place. I saw in his eyes and heard in his voice his concern for you. It was obvious to me that he cares more deeply for you than one would a mere co-worker."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Jack asked you to talk to me?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Liz nodded. "He felt it might benefit you to talk to someone who had suffered through something similar to what happened, or nearly happened, to you. I'm sure my profession had something to do with his asking me to talk to you. Don't be upset with him for coming to me...he obviously did it out of concern for you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"No...no, I'm not upset he spoke to you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Have you mentioned these dreams of yours to him?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"No....you're the only person I've told."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"You should tell him, Claire. It's not a sign of weakness to ask for help when you're hurting, or recovering from a traumatic experience."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I know, Liz....and it's not that I have trouble expressing my feelings --well, sometimes I do-- it's just, I don't want to over burden him with my problems so early into our relationship. I don't want to drive him away because I appear too needy."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"The fastest way to drive a man like Jack McCoy away is to conceal things from him. Especially if it's obvious you're holding out on him. And it must be, or he wouldn't have come to me," said Liz. "He needs to know you trust him with the bad stuff, as well as with the good."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I hadn't thought about it in those terms before, Liz," Claire said thoughtfully.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Be straight with him, Claire. Give him the chance to be there for you. If not for your own peace of mind, then at least do it for your relationship. He may not be able to understand what you're going through --no one can, unless they've been through something similar-- but he can empathise. And if he cares about you as much as I think he does, he'll be there for you in whatever capacity you need him to."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">They conferred thusly for the remainder of the meal. When they were done eating, Claire picked up the tab for their lunch, and thanked Liz for her help. Liz offered herself as a sounding board anytime Claire felt she needed one, and they parted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Claire left the restaurant and returned to her mother's, feeling much more lucid than she had since first being assigned the Gordon case. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779221712913153806noreply@blogger.com0