THE NIGHT OF JULY 14th, 1960
By Andamogirl
Author's note: post series and post the second TV movie. Sequel to my story 'The Night of Michelito Loveless's revenge'.
Reference to my story "The Night of the Ice Cold Death".
A Wild Wild West / Mr. Lucky crossover.
In the Mr. Lucky show, the city and port where Lucky and Andamo are living their adventures is not specified, so I invented one: Puerto Verde, California. The series was filmed at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios in Hollywood with additional locations filmed in Long Beach, California.
References to the episode "The Night of the Assassin";
Jim: To the memory of when we first met, when I kissed you.
Lupita: As I recall, I followed that up by slapping you.
Jim: True, but the first memory overwhelms the second.
Artie: What about me, I have no memories at all.
Griswold: And who is this preposterous female and her gunmen? What's she got to do with this case?
Jim: Well, aside from the fact that she wears tangerine lipstick.
Artie: And wields a knife with style.
Jim: We don't know a thing about her, sir.
The Night of the Assassin.
Warning: the boys are spending quite some time in their underwear; there's foreplay (in the tag, no sex), and a lot of cigarette smoking. Fluff.
WWW
TEASER
Washington D.C. Mid-October, 1890
Indian summer
Mexican Embassy, garden, at night
Lupita Quesada took a sip of Champagne listening to the frog songs filling the air and even heard the distant hoot of an owl. She automatically looked up at the high trees lining the pond located at the far end of the Mexican Embassy garden.
The moonlight and the stars shining reflected on the calm water.
Breaking the night times sounds, she asked her companion, holding her against his solid frame, "Artemus, do you remember when you called me 'sugar'? It wasn't nice of you to call me that," then a mischievous smile appeared on her lips.
Artemus Gordon chuckled, pressing kisses to Lupita's forehead. "Yes, and I was pointing my gun at you, when I called you 'sugar' as I recall. That wasn't nice of me to call you 'sugar', but for my defense, I wasn't fond of you at that time. You and your vaqueros had me bush-whacked, tied up, gagged and locked in a coffin. I was pretty crossed at you at that time and I had reasons to feel that way."
He slowly curled his hand around the back of Lupita's neck, leaned in toward the beautiful woman he was dating tonight, and kissed her, their eyes sliding shut.
It was soft and gentle and light. It was a chaste kiss, slow and tentative. Then he re-opened his eyes and pulled back a little watching Lupita's reaction.
Lupita re-opened her eyes too, frowning, her face scrunched, looking chagrined, disappointed, but with a mocking sparkle in her eye. "That's it? That's our first kiss? That was hardly a kiss. I'm sure that you can do better than that."
Feeling a bit offended, an eyebrow arched, Artie huffed and said, "I'm an excellent kisser, but I don't want to rush things…" He explained as his hand still lingered on Lupita's cheek, caressing it with his thumb tenderly. "Because I want to savor each second I pass with you."
Lupita smiled, amused, with love in her eyes. "I know that. I was teasing you." She put her empty glass on the gray stone balustrade at the bottom of the staircase, next to Artie's. "Speaking again of our first meeting… well, second meeting, when you were disguised as a priest, I remember finding you dangerous and so handsome… even in your black cassock. Fortunately you weren't a real priest, just disguised as one… because I was immediately attracted to you, and I felt so bad… But I was relieved and pleased when I discovered that you were really a special agent of the US Secret Service."
Smiling Artie kissed Lupita's forehead again. "I'm still a special agent of the Secret Service and I'm still dangerous and I'm still handsome, even if I'm older."
She nodded and almost rolled her eyes. "And so modest."
Artemus chuckled at that and then gently cupping her face he said, "And despite your gun aimed at me after your men captured me, I couldn't take my eyes off your wonderful face." Then he leaned in, tilted his head which stopped a few inches from Lupita's lips. "I'm going to do better…" Then their lips touched. It was just lips on lips again, gentle and sweet, tender and warm, then he licked at Lupita's bottom lip, waiting for her lips to part before teasing his tongue inside, demanding access to her mouth, demanding control of the kiss.
Lupita smiled against Artemus's lips, pulled back and let her hands wander up into the man's dark (but graying at his temples), not-curled-anymore and soft hair. "Are you getting bold Artemus?"
He frowned, puzzled. "I thought you wanted something less… chaste?" She winked at him and he knew she was teasing him again.
Smiling, he trailed the backs of his fingers down her cheeks, tracing her features to her lips. "You know, I have never kissed a General before." He breathed and slipped one hand behind Lupita's neck, rubbing in little circles at her nape seductively. "Maybe I could get court-martialed for kissing a superior officer… You're a General after all and I'm a Major. You outrank me." He wrapped an arm around his date and pulled her into a tight embrace. "And I could be executed by a firing squad…and I would gladly accept that after another kiss…" He leaned down for a new kiss, and Lupita opened her mouth slightly, going pliant in Artie's arms, closing her eyes, inviting Artemus's tongue inside, letting him have control of the kiss.
This one deeper and more languid.
There was nothing light or chaste about that kiss anymore. Mouths opened, tongues twisting together, moans escaping.
But Lupita's fiery, passionate and commanding nature took over and she took control of the kiss, nipping and sucking at Artemus's lips, and his tongue and Artie moaned into her mouth.
She stood up on her tiptoes fingers twisted in his hair, holding him close as Artemus's hands held her tight around her waist.
They kissed for several minutes, the kisses growing passionate losing themselves in the moment. Then the two reluctantly broke their lips apart. They were panting, out of breath, requiring oxygen, gasping, their noses still touching.
Lupita smiled, keeping Artie held in her arms, their lips inches apart. "Much, much better," she commented then she licked her rosy lips." Pulling away from him, she added, "I could have you arrested and restrained by guards… " And saw Artie smile broadly.
He let out a short laugh, the age lines around his eyes crinkling with amusement. "And you're an expert in that matter. You told your fake peones how to tie me up like a Thanksgiving turkey."
She nodded. "And I gagged you myself. " She paused and asked, "So, how is it to kiss a General?" she asked, amusement sparkling in her black eyes.
Smiling at Lupita, Artemus gently caressed her cheek, and she leaned into it. "Hmm… not bad, but I have to try again to be sure…" He took her hand in his and kissed her fingers reverently, his brown eyes so soft and full of love. "I love you so much. You are everything to me that I could ever desire, Lupita."
Lupita brushed her fingertips across Artie's cheek, tenderly, then, she touched the line of her companion's jaw, softly.
Standing on her tiptoes she nuzzled her nose into the side of his neck then rained kisses along his jawline, eliciting moans of pleasure from Artie. "I love you, Artemus," she said, eyelashes fluttering.
Heartbeat pounding behind his ribcage, Artie kissed his way down Lupita's elegant neck, and then moved to her lips, placing soft kisses there too. "I love you, Lupita. More than you can imagine…"
Smiling at each other, they stayed locked in each other's embrace, enjoying this blissful tender moment of just the two of them.
It was a moment of pure happiness.
Lupita suddenly shivered and her hand came to rest on Artie's end-of-the-day-stubbled cheek. "It's getting cold. Maybe we could go back inside, Artemus." Goosebumps appeared on her skin.
Gallantly, Artemus took his black jacket off and placed it on Lupita's shoulders covered with a triangular shawl made of black lace.
He glanced at the two empty glasses sitting on the balustrade. "Let's go back inside, Lupita. We've run out of Champagne. Besides I'd like to invite you to dance." Through the large double windows of the reception room he looked up at the guests dancing a waltz, the orchestra playing the famous 'An der schönen blauen Donau' from Johann Strauss the younger. "You'll see, I'm an excellent dancer."
Feeling warmer now, Lupita wrapped her arms around Artemus's neck, lacing her fingers right against the back of his head and tangled her fingers into his hair. She loved his hair, a lot, she thought distractedly. Thick but silky and soft. "Let's dance here… and not a waltz, but something slow, body-to-body… I want to feel you tight against me, Artemus."
Smiling, Artemus said, "Yes, my General," and he leaned down and kissed her before wrapping his hands around Lupita's waist, settling them at the small of her back, pulling her closer into a tight embrace. He tilted his head so it rested against the crown of Lupita's. "I love you," he breathed, feeling the tightness in his chest at the swell of his feelings for her.
Not following the music tempo, they started to slow dance, Artie leading them, body against body, swaying steadily from side to side whilst the musicians continued to play in the background and Lupita rested her head on her companion's broad shoulder.
He smiled, "I love this kind of dance, pressed against each other, in each other arms, barely moving and because of that I can feel you close to me… But the kind of music playing is not appropriate for this kind of dance… What I call a 'slow dance'."
Lupita chuckled softly. "It's a very appropriate name." Then she moved her head, buried her face into the crook of her cavalier's neck, relishing his warmth and touch. "I like this too."
They continued to dance together for several more minutes, swirling softly, bodies pressed together, sharing smiles, kisses and caresses. The whole world around them vanished as they moved together as one, all they could feel surrounding them was love, all that mattered to her was him and all that mattered to him was her.
They stopped spinning as the last notes from the Viennese waltz played, echoing through the night, chests pressed together, panting for air and foreheads touching.
Lupita asked, "Maybe we could leave and go somewhere else Artemus…?" Her hand caressing his cheek and he tilted his head into the touch.
Smiling too, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, Artie replied leaning down, "On the banks of the Potomac for a moonlit walk? Or in a little French café near the White House perhaps?"
She kissed him, gently, sweetly, tenderly, and then she pulled back, saying, "You're teasing me, fair enough. You know what I want, Artemus, what we both want." Then with a sheepish grin she slipped her hand beneath Artemus's shirt, her hand resting against the small of Artie's back.
He nodded. "Yes, I know. There's a small hotel in Grant's Avenue, I know the people working there, they'll keep their ears, eyes and mouth closed. Jim and I brought witnesses for the prosecution there for protection while waiting to put them in front of a judge and the members of the jury."
She chuckled, "And women, many women, I suppose."
He nodded. "Yes, and it was a long time ago, when we were younger. Ancient history." He took her hand in his, and kissed it. "It's not far, about ten minutes away from here."
Lupita grinned, "Excellent!" she said, stopping and moving her hands to cup his stubbly cheeks. "I love you, Artemus," she murmured, pressing her lips against Artie's again.
Artie tightened his arms around Lupita and said, "I love you Lupita, yes, I love you. More than I've loved anyone."
Lupita raised up on her toes to kiss Artie's lips, then his chin and throat. "I love you so much querido mio…" She said, parting from her companion.
Artie smiled broadly. "Te amo mi amor…"
They were about to head toward the terrace, situated behind the embassy, when two armed men suddenly came out from a group of bushes and pointed their guns at them.
Artie moved in front of Lupita, protecting her with his body, regretting not having at least a Derringer in his pocket.
He tightened his fists, his body stiffening, readying himself to defend Lupita. "Who are you and what do you want?" he asked them, glaring at them full-force, his posture menacing.
Lupita moved to his side, not impressed, facing the intruders. "You're inside the Mexican Embassy. You have no right to be here," she said before calling, "Guards! Guards!"
Suddenly there was a series of short noisy laughs and Artie froze as he recognized them. "You! That can't be…" he said in disbelief as he watched his new arch Nemesis (and Jim's) move between his two henchmen and head toward Lupita and him. "You escaped!"
Michelito Loveless smiled mockingly, "Your power of observation is astounding Mr. Gordon. Yes I escaped so recently that the news didn't reach the Secret Service, yet." He frowned angrily, his eyes flashing. "Of course the first thing I had in mind was to pay a visit to the men who put me behind bars. It wasn't difficult to find you Mr. Gordon; all the Washington newspapers are writing articles about Artemus Gordon, special agent of the US Secret Service, dating El General Lupita Quesada, Director of the Mexican Secret Service." He shook his head looking sorry. "The guards won't come, General, they're dead. I'm sorry to tell you that Mr. Gordon, and you General, that your love story is going to end – rather abruptly." He raised his hand. "Gentlemen, aim at these two lovebirds, and fire!"
Lupita and Artemus took a step back, holding hands ready to face death together, unafraid. They were both hit, not with bullets but with tranquilizer darts.
Grunting, Artemus pulled the dart out of his chest, but it was too late. Spots danced before his eyes and he struggled to stay conscious.
Loveless Jr. chuckled. "I need a bait to lure Mr. West into a trap, and one Artemus Gordon alive is better bait than a dead one."
He laughed as he watched Lupita's eyes fluttering shut and her entire body fall limp. She collapsed at the foot of the stairs.
Loveless then glanced at Artemus who had just crashed to his knees, to the ground.
Raising his eyes, Artemus shot a black look at 'Loveless Jr.' even as he felt the edges of unconsciousness closing in on him.
He ended sprawled face down on the grass.
Michelito Loveless grinned. "Benton, grab Mr. Gordon and carry him to the Silver II. Daniels you take Miss Quesada and carry her to the Silver I. It's always good to have leverage when dealing with Messrs. West and Gordon."
Tbc.
