Title:Unguarded Moments

Author: Nacromanser

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters in the real world but in Fantasy
land maybe, also im not making any money out of this (although in my
fantasy land im very rich and beautiful and married to Hugh Jackman so
:-))

Time frame:During TCOT Dangerous Dowager (Book Version)

Summary: A fill in the gaps of sorts between the time Drake leaves and
Perry wakes up

Feedback: I would love feedback constructive critisism is very important
but be gentle on me this is my first attempt at writing

Author Notes: The parts were i quote from the book are in italic and the
rest is my own ramblings

So here it goes Enjoy

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Drake slipped his arm around her waist and said, "Gee, Della, you're a
good kid! I wish I could get someone who had just one percent as much
loyalty for me as you have for Perry. How does he work it?"

Della laughed. "Take your arm away, Paul. Experience has taught me that
when a man sticks around my apartment about daylight, drinking Scotch
and soda and talking about my wonderful loyalty, he's getting ready to
go out of control."

Drake sighed. "I see you're a good judge of character as well as a
darned efficient secretary. Going to kiss me good-by when I leave,
Della?"

"No. If I did you wouldn't leave."

" Well," Drake said, "there's no harm in asking. I'll drop in at the
office later on and give you all the dirt I can dig up. So long, Della,
and thanks for the drink."

"Don't forget that bottle of Scotch," she told him as she closed the
door behind him.

Perry Mason stepped out from behind the screen where he had been
sitting. "The big palooka, trying to kiss my secretary! Where the hell
does he get that nerve?"

Della Street laughed at him. "If you're going to spy on my unguarded
moments you'll hear a lot worse than that. He was positively platonic."

"And padding his expense account," Mason grinned. "So that's why his
expenses are so big. Hand over that bottle of Scotch. If you're going to
get another one on the expense account I might as well make a hole in
this one."

"I think I'll join you. This case has surely given me a headache" she
said.

She heard him chuckle in response as she went to her kitchen to get the
glasses.

But when she came back she found him drinking directly from the bottle
and looking intently at her apartment floor. A small smile crept on her
face as she stopped to study his features. He had taken off his suit
jacket, vest and tie, rolled up his shirt sleeves and loosened a few
buttons from his shirt to reveal a hint of his powerfull chest. His hair
was slightly mussed from his fingers going through it every now and then
leaving a stubborn lock of soft dark brown hair shadowing his
foreheard,added to the light stubble that covered his face. All in all,
she thought he looked beautiful.

She didn't move. She just stood there taking in the sight of him sitting
in front of her. Although they had worked together for over 3 years, it
was the first time that she saw him looking so casual and tired. She
always thought that he could go non-stop for days searching thinking
fighting but his tiredness tonight didn't disappoint her. On the
contrary, she found it very endearing.

She was lost in her reverie and didn't notice him also looking at her,
not with the hard piercing look he usually directed at people but with
another much softer but yet deeper look. A slight smile tugged at his
lips as their eyes met for a moment.

She kept the eye contact for another second and then turned away
blushing slightly breaking the moment. She couldn't handle that look on
his face -- it enticed her yet scared her at the same time

"So much for manners in a lady's house," she said laughing nervously
pointing at the bottle in his right hand while putting the glasses on
the table.

"Well, accept my humble apologies, dear lady," he said smiling. His
voice was a little hoarse.

"I may just do that" she said pouring two stiff drinks. "And to what are
we drinking, by the way?"

"To Matilda Benson. She is a very intersting lady, " he said taking a
big gulp of his drink.

"I bet she is intersting -- leaving you in a sweet spot. And about the
case, Chief, I think you should..." she stopped as his hand gently
caught hers across the table.

"I don't want to talk about the case right now, Della. It can wait until
tomorow."

She was still silent looking at their joined hands and feeling his hand
kneading hers gently but then again not so gently. His hand was rough,
large, and strong. She wondered how can a lawyer even as unusual as
Perry Mason could have hands like those. Their roughness reflected hard
manual work.

" What do you want to talk about then?" she asked almost whispering,
lifting her eyes to meet his.

" Your unguarded moments," he said grinning.

"That is stricly confidential, " she answered him in a mocking, warning
tone.

He again chuckled softly and said "What else do you have in mind?"

His hands were continuing their ministrations, gently massaging her
fingers, her palms, just about touching her wrists and then back to her
fingers.

For a moment her mind was dazed from the sensations of his fingers
brought to her. She never thought that hands could cause so...GET A
GRIP, DELLA! The rational part of her mind chided her yet she couldn't
take her hands back.

"Della? " his voice called through the fog of her thoughts in the same
gentel tone that she was unfamiliar with. DAMN IT. WHAT IS HE DOING TO
ME?

" I can't think of anything in particular" she said drawing a soft,
shaky breath "I CAN'T THINK AT ALL," she thought.

"Me either. I'm not much of a small talker myself " he said still
smiling.

"There is always the weather. It is rather nice tonight." she said
sneaking a look at the open window. It revealed a the star-studded night
sky and a half moon.

She didn't get an answer from him. She lowered her head and looked at
him. He was completely occupied with her hands. The small smile on his
lips now faded. The alarms in her head were going off full force now.
She closed her eyes. Her face flushed. The sensations were too much to
bear.

"Perry?" She didn't know how she said it, but she did. It took her three
years to do it. It's really awkward to work with someone so closely and
not have the courage to simply call him by his first name.

He answered her with a small smile and soft questioning look appeared in
his eyes but still didn't raise his head fully he didn't want to break
the moment, The mention of his first name didn't just pass by him it
registered in his mind.

He never really understood it their relationship sometimes they were
very comfortable around one another but yet other times tension builds
to an almost unbearable degree as it was happening now, He knew he had
to stop but yet something was holding him back his turmoil lasted a few
moments but then slowly he stilled his hands holding hers for another
second then he released them saying

"I think i should go now, i need to have an early start tommorow im
going to try and end this fiasco" he ended his line standing up slowly

Della mentaly sighed in releif, let out a nervous chuckle and stood up
slowly mimicking his movements and asked "Got it all figured out?"

"Not really but i have some ideas"

"Would you like to share them?"

"I will ofcourse Della but not tonight tommorow is another day so..." he
said as he moved to stand by the door to the adjoining appartment

"so.." she answered standing close to him

"Goodnight Della and thank you" he said pointing to the door

"Goodnight cheif" she said and before she could stop herself she stood
on tiptoe leaned close, so close he caught the scent of her delicate
perfume he closed his eyes and then she brushed her lips with his in a
gentle kiss that last a few tingling moments then she was gone.

He heard the clinking of glass and the sound of graceful footsteps, he
opened his eyes a smile broke on his lips and then he turned arround
slowly opened the door

and disappeared inside closing it softly behind him.