Part Three – and things might just be about to get steamy. The plot bunny wants some action, you see.
This story uses themes from my Kensi/Deeks universe, so first time readers might want to read the prior stories, starting with Personal Questions, which explain how Michael Brandel became Marty Deeks and just how he has all that money.
Well-off the beaten track, the club was exclusive in that you had to be a personal friend of the owner to get in. And once inside the drab, non-descript building you were assured of privacy and just about anything else you craved. The interior of DMs was a world away from its former purpose, with a series of wide-open spaces inside an old warehouse, with wooden floors, leather seats and, most important of all, plenty of strategically sited places where one could retreat for whatever purpose two consenting adults wished to engage in. The key-theme was discreet luxury, cunningly disguised as mild depravation. The laws had been circumvented by clever legal trickery, designating the club as a private residence, which meant that this was one of the few places where cigar smoking could still be indulged in. And if other substances were also being consumed, a blind eye was turned. It was the perfect adult playground, and it was the place you went to when you didn't want to be seen. Which suited Deeks right down to the ground.
"We haven't seen you here for a while, Mikey. Or is it still Marty these days? I find it hard to keep up with your complicated life." Dave eased himself into a chair next to his oldest friend. "Count me in. Five card stud?" As part-owner of the club, he was assured of a seat at any card game taking place on the premises.
"As ever. Do you really have to ask? We've been playing the same game ever since you set up that first card-school behind the music department at prep school." Deeks took a long pull of his beer and then replaced the cigar in his mouth. "And call me whatever you want. Most people do that anyway." He picked up his cards and studied them laconically before throwing down a handful of chips. "I'm in. And I'm still going to beat your ass, Dave. Some things never change, do they?"
Dave grinned. "One of these days you're going to have to control that smart mouth of yours, or you'll get in so much trouble even the Brandel money won't be able to buy you out of it."
"Like that's not happened already? You've no idea how much my life sucks." He surveyed his cards once more, before placing them face down on the table.
Taking a quick scan of the room, Dave leaned forward. "I don't know about that. I think your luck's about to change. Over there, by the bar. There's a brunette who's been checking you out since she came in. She can't take her eyes off you, mate. She's pretending to dance with her girlfriend, but she's totally hooked on you. This could be your lucky night."
Leaning back in his chair, cigar firmly clamped between his teeth, Deeks saw Kensi Blye across the hazy crowded bar. The lights caught her eyes and a flash of fire seemed to ignite them as she realised she'd been totally made.
"Of all the bars, in all the world, she had to walk into yours, Dave."
"You still suck at impersonations, Mikey. Better give it up as a lost cause. You know her then?"
"We've met. She likes to think she's some kind of ball-breaker. How come she got in here? I thought this was supposed to be strictly members only. Your standards are slipping." Deeks could feel his blood pressure starting to rise. This was supposed be his place, his refuge from the world. He'd been happy to put up half the money and let Dave take care of the management side, but maybe he was going to have to start to take more of an interest in the day to day running of things. If this gig with NCIS didn't pan out, her might just do that.
"Her friend looks kind of familiar. I think I might have slipped her my card." Dave sounded apologetic. "Is this going to be a problem?"
A slow, lazy grin crept across Deeks' face as he watched Kensi get so flustered she nearly fell off her high heels. This might just be fun. "Nope. No problem at all." He waved casually at Kensi and even the cigar smoke and dim lighting could not obscure the way her cheeks flushed. "This might just be fun."
Watching Hand to Hand, it struck me how much Kensi focused on Deeks – like she had him in her sights from the start – while he just seemed to tease her. So this story is just a little personal indulgence and will be fairly short and sweet. It might also be raunchy… Not much potential for a maim though – as yet. But who can tell?
If you like – please review!