Title: As Deep As The Sky

Fandom: 24

Characters: Michelle Dessler/Tony Almeida

Word Count: 5,835

Rating: NC-17

Summary: Putting an end to the build-up and falling a little harder sometimes go hand in hand.

Author's Notes: This is the next story in the 'Under Your Skin' series. It's not necessary to read the previous stories, but please take note that this is currently a Pre-Day 2 AU series, so details are not the same as what was canon on television. All previous stories can be found above.


She was gorgeous when she slept. Hell, she was beautiful all the time, but tonight he was damn near awe-struck by her. Her hair was down, falling over her eyes in ways that begged for him to brush her curls aside. She shifted, lips smacking when he did, and that made him smile.

He felt bad for waking her, but knew almost instantly that he'd never tire of seeing those long eyelashes flutter to reveal her beautiful big eyes.

His thumb brushed her lower lip and he bent his head, kissing her gently. Michelle smiled slightly against his mouth, fingers connecting with his jaw as his hand cupped the back of her head.

"Sorry," she murmured sleepily, nuzzling her face into his neck and yawning. "I missed the end of the movie, didn't I?"

He grinned, lifting her chin and kissing her again. Since that first kiss, he hadn't been able to get enough of her. "Sweetheart, you barely saw the beginning."

Michelle flushed. It wasn't the first time he'd called her that, but usually she ignored it. "Sorry," she apologized again, like he was going to be angry about her being tired even though he knew she'd worked all night long.

He'd seen her eyelids drooping as early as when their drinks arrived at dinner. That was why he'd suggested skipping the trip to the theater and watching a movie at his place instead. When she agreed, he even got two more desserts boxed up to take home. Those desserts were still on the coffee table, untouched, because Michelle had conked out against him almost as soon as the opening music started.

"It's okay," he assured, gathering her closer. "I ate your cake, though."

Michelle laughed, turning her head to find both boxes still there, clean forks resting atop them. "Tony, you're such a liar."

"Yeah, maybe," he smirked, smoothing his hand down her back. He was trying to keep it as polite as he could – he had been for three dates now – despite the way she was draped across his lap, so he did his best to make sure his hands never dipped past the small of her back. "Think you're awake enough for it now?"

Michelle nodded, sitting up slowly. Instead of grabbing both, she grabbed just one box, opening it up and getting a piece of cake on the fork before offering it to him. For some reason, it gave him a ridiculous little thrill of pleasure to have her feeding him cake and then taking her bite off of the same fork. Not to mention his breath sped up each time she licked the icing off the prongs before getting another bite lined up for him. He groaned when she took the final bite, eyes closed in bliss.

"Don't do that, Michelle," he warned.

Her eyes slid open, and she licked her lips quickly, a sultry smile playing at her lips. "Do what?"

"You're not allowed to enjoy cake quite that much."

"Oh yeah?" she challenged, shifting her legs underneath her on the couch and moving closer to him, all traces of tiredness gone from her demeanor. "Why not?"

Instead of answering, he tugged her against him, covering her lips with his and sweeping his tongue into her mouth. She tasted like the amazing chocolate cake they'd just finished together and it made him kiss her harder.

"I have never been so jealous of a fork in all my life," he panted when she finally released his lips.

Michelle giggled, kissing him again softly. "Don't be," she promised, tongue poking out to lick the corner of his mouth. "I like this way much better."

So did he. Even the sweetest chocolate would never taste as good as it did on Michelle's tongue. Then again, it was quite possible he would never enjoy coffee, beer, or any of the other tastes she'd shared with him the same way, either.

"Tony?" she murmured, kissing her way to his ear. "It's okay to touch me. I'm not going to slap you."

Her arms slid around his neck, sliding into his hair as her lips pressed against his. He kissed her back, even though his hands remained stationary against her spine.

"Unless you don't want to," she added lightly, teasingly. "We could always just sit here and hold hands for the next two dates."

He narrowed his eyes, dragging her down onto his lap, proving to her how unwilling he was to just sit there and hold hands. She drove him crazy under the most normal of circumstances, having her here and so close was enough to completely fry his brain. He'd wanted her from day one, he wanted her now.

"You wanna stay?" he asked quietly, moving her hair out of the way and kissing her neck. She didn't say anything, but she did stiffen a tad. "Once I start touching you, Michelle, I'm not sure I can stop," he admitted. "But if it's too soon-"

She pushed far enough away to meet his eyes. Instead of turning him down, she smiled bashfully. "I have a confession to make."

His hand slid down her back and around to touch her leg. Her skirt had ridden up to reveal two smooth, pale thighs and he took the opportunity to see if her skin was really as soft as it looked. It was.

"If you tell me you've got your period, Michelle, I'm gonna tell you I don't give a damn and you can think I'm gross all you want."

She laughed, shaking her head and cupping his cheeks. "I'm not on my period, Tony. But that's good to know."

She scratched lightly behind his ear, drawing a contented hum from his lips, which she echoed in her kiss.

"I brought my toothbrush tonight."

He nuzzled her jaw. "You could've used mine, but I like that you plan ahead."

She rocked against him slowly. "Seducing Tony tip number one: clean teeth," she teased.

He disagreed. "Seducing Tony tip number one: being Michelle Dessler."

She flushed.

"It's true," he promised. "You've been seducing me since the moment you shook my hand. I've just been keeping my distance-"

"Because of what happened between you and Nina?" she asked quietly, touching his cheek. He nodded, feeling sheepish that even she knew about it. His relationship with Nina hadn't been one of his more shining moments.

"Yeah."

Another easy smile touched her lips and she bent, kissing him softly. "So you think I just want you for your information?"

He shook his head rapidly, holding her lips to his, unable to get close enough.

"Good," Michelle assured. "'Cause I could care less about your information. I want in your pants for other reasons."

He laughed. "Me too."

She backed off of his lap, standing before him looking anxious all the sudden. That seemed to pass quickly and she straightened up a little more.

"So are we done talking?" she asked with a grin, tilting her head.

He nodded. "Yeah, we're done." He stood, reaching out and lifting her against him. Her surprised squeak was swallowed in a kiss and he started carrying her toward his bedroom, stopping only to tug her leg higher around his waist.

"Wait, wait, Tony, wait," she squirmed. "My purse."

"You can brush your teeth later," he promised, shouldering open his bedroom door.

"Not my toothbrush, I've got an entire box of condoms in there."

He laughed, letting her slide down his body until her feet touched the floor. "I do have a few dozen in the nightstand. Picked them up last week."

Michelle grinned, reaching for him again. "Good. Mine can stay then."

He tugged her close, hands reaching eagerly for the bow on the back of her dress. Once that was undone, he lifted the slinky material up and off her body. He knew her first instinct was to cover up, but instead her hands touched him, freeing the buttons on his shirt. He pulled her closer, fingertips running down the soft curve of her waist and touching lacy fabric of her underwear.

He kissed her cheek. "You're gorgeous, Michelle," he murmured gruffly.

Her hands pushed his shirt off his shoulders and his breath hitched when she kissed his neck.

"You smell good," she murmured into his throat before laughing nervously. "I'm sorry, that was stupid of me to say."

He shook his head, lifting her chin. "Hey." He touched her cheek, moving closer and kissing her softly. "I'm glad to know you don't hate my aftershave."

She smiled slightly, nodding and leaning into him again. He felt her hands land on his belt and jumped a little.

She laughed. "Nervous, Tony?"

"Quiet," he growled, trailing a finger across her back and feeling her shiver.

His pants were around his ankles seconds later and he kicked them aside lazily. Michelle's nose crinkled playfully, and he found himself pressing an impulsive kiss there.

She touched his waist, thumbs sliding against his sides distractingly. She tilted her head back, finding his eyes. Something in her gaze made him stop. He'd always thought she had honest eyes, but never had that been so true.

"Me too," she promised quietly, punctuating her statement with a quick swish of her hand against his skin. "Nervous, I mean."

One of his hands came up to smooth her hair back, cupping her cheek gently. It was strange, but the fact that she was nervous too, and willing to admit it to him, actually calmed him.

"I could put on some Barry White," he offered innocently, grinning when she cracked a smile. "Or, I've got Marvin Gaye around here somewhere if you prefer."

"Tony's groove music?" she teased, letting him start to walk her back toward his bed.

"Something like that, yeah." He kissed her softly, stopping just before the backs of her legs hit the bed and spinning so that he was the one who dropped down on the mattress first.

Michelle slid easily into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. "And how many girls have you gotten with 'Let's Get It On,' Tony?"

He pretended to think as he cupped the back of her head and tilted her chin so he could plant soft kisses along her jaw.

"Well, none, but 'Sexual Healing' has always been a big hit."

She slapped his back lightly in exasperation. "No music is fine."

He laughed against her skin, lips sliding across her collarbone. It really did amaze him how soft her skin was, pale and smooth underneath his mouth and his hands. He could probably spend all day just touching her.

Michelle rocked in his lap, tugging lightly on his hair and pulling his mouth back to hers for a kiss. He groaned and his hand slid under the band of her bra, unhooking it without hesitation. Michelle wiggled under his hands and he saw the lacy object go flying somewhere in the direction of the rest of their clothes before she pressed closer to his chest.

He kissed her again softly, hands trailing up her sides and caressing the swell of her breasts.

Her fingertip teased up his back, drawing his attention to her.

He didn't even recognize the sound of protest that came out of his mouth when she moved off his lap. Michelle just laughed, sliding onto the mattress beside him and reaching for his hand as she reclined against his pillow.

He turned, taking a moment to just watch her, simply taking in her kiss-reddened lips, the way her hair fanned out behind her, and the flush that was spreading from her cheeks down to her chest, stopping at two rosy, peaked nipples. Her breasts rose and fell as her breathing sped up and he turned his attention to the gentle slope of her stomach, past the lace panties he hadn't yet peeled her out of, and down to those legs he always found himself staring at when he should've been working. She was beautiful.

He moved closer, stretching out alongside her and brushing his mouth over her shoulder. His fingers skimmed up her stomach and along the underside of one breast before covering it gently with his hand. He kissed her collarbone again lightly before wrapping his lips around one nipple.

Michelle squirmed under his hands, and he felt her hand touch his head. "Tony," she sighed gently, as his thumb circled in time with his gentle suckling. "Oh!" she arched when he bared his teeth, lightly scraping against her skin.

He released her breast with a grin, pressing openmouthed kisses on her flesh as he slid over to give the other one the same attention. Her appreciation was made known when her hand tightened in his hair and she repeated her sigh of his name.

He returned to her mouth when he left her breasts, nipping gently on her bottom lip. She hummed, scratching his scalp lightly with one hand while the other ran across his shoulders.

"Has anyone ever told you how pretty you are?" he murmured, surprising them both at his change of subject. She smiled slightly, questioningly and he shrugged, trailing his hand down her body again, flicking her nipple on the way back up. "I'm serious," he added, kissing her nose.

"Not recently."

"That's too bad," he murmured, moving his hand to finger the edge of her underwear lazily. "Everything about you is pretty. Your eyes," he paused to kiss her brow gently. "Your nose." He kissed that, too. "Your mouth and this cute little freckle right here," he kissed both of those, too, sliding down her body and trailing his mouth across her skin. He paused at the top of her underwear, feeling her breath speed up.

"Your underwear's even pretty."

She laughed, brushing his hair away from his forehead as he grinned up at her. "I bought them special for tonight. The bra matches, too."

He spared a glance in the direction she'd flung it. Well, huh, so it did.

His lips touched her thigh, and he slid further down to her knee, cupping her calf and squeezing lightly. "Your knees are cute too, did you know that?"

"First I've been told."

He smirked, running his finger over the top of her foot. "You have pretty toes."

She wiggled said toes against his hand. "Thanks, baby," she quipped.

His fingers returned to her hips, dipping underneath the sides of her panties and checking with her for permission before continuing. Without a word, Michelle lifted her hips, allowing him to slide her underwear off her body and toss them to the side.

He kissed her navel gently, sliding his fingers across the silky skin on her inner thigh and cupping her. Her curls were trimmed short, tickling his palm. He brushed against her tentatively, feeling how turned on she already was and all he'd done was talk to her. He couldn't wait to taste her, all of her.

"How ya doin?" he asked, teasing his finger down her sex, feeling her legs shift and open a little wider to him.

"You need to ask?" she laughed breathily.

He shrugged, touching his mouth to her thigh. "Just checking."

He slid between her legs, leaning in and lapping gently at her. He was right, she tasted good. He glanced up at her finding her head flung back against the pillow, mouth opened slightly. He flicked his tongue lightly against her flesh, feeling her squirm.

"Look at me, Michelle," he commanded, blowing lightly across her skin. "I wanna see your eyes."

Still waiting for her to comply, he spread her open a little more, searching for and finding her clit with his tongue. Michelle stiffened, bucking against his face. "Oh!"

She seemed to like that, so he did it again, alternating between suckling and flicking the tip of his tongue against her. He felt her fingers touch his head and looked up to meet her eyes.

"Keep watching me, baby," he puffed, spreading her wetness with his thumb. She nodded, keeping her eyes on him, as he licked and kissed her, finding out what worked for her and what didn't. When he eased a finger inside her, tongue still circling her clit softly, she shuddered and her eyes fluttered shut. They shot open again when he hummed.

"Again," she murmured, tightening her fingers in his hair as he pressed another finger inside her, pumping slowly. Obliging, he covered her clit with his tongue, humming again gently. "Mmm, right there, Tony."

Encouraged, his fingers sped up; matching rhythm with his tongue until he felt her tighten around him and her hand gripped his hair, holding him to her.

She shuddered a little when his fingers withdrew and he took a final lap at her sensitive skin before moving his way back up her body, taking the opportunity to kiss her everywhere his lips could reach. He groaned against her mouth as she tugged his hips into hers; he was so hard it almost hurt.

"Usually it has to be my birthday for me to get that sort of treatment," she teased lightly, making him wonder what man in his right mind wouldn't want to get down on his knees and worship her on a daily basis. He was pretty certain if he had to choose a spot to die, he'd want to go cradled between her toned, pale thighs.

"If that's the case then you won't know what hit you come birthday time."

Her fingers slid beneath the waistband of his boxers, lightly scratching his back. "I absolutely can't wait." She kissed him lightly, tugging on his bottom lip. "But now it's your turn."

He allowed her to push him onto his back, grinning stupidly as those gorgeous lips of hers moved to the hollow of his throat, tongue dragging across his skin and dancing down to his shoulders. He felt her hands brush across his shoulders and down his arms, finding his hands and giving them both gentle squeezes.

Her lips tugged lightly on one of his nipples, making him groan. She didn't stay long, giving the other one the same gentle flick with her tongue before continuing down his torso, lips following the light dusting of hair on his chest.

She stopped just above his hips, stretching back up and kissing his mouth slowly. When she pulled back, her eyelids had lowered and she was giving him a sexy as hell smirk.

"I can't wait to taste you, Tony."

He was pretty sure he would've swallowed his tongue if she hadn't slipped hers between his lips again.

Before he knew it she was gone, moving back down his body and hooking her index fingers under the elastic of his boxers. She commanded them off and they were off, joining the pile of their clothes that had sailed halfway across the room.

He felt a swell of pride when he saw her smile appreciatively. He'd always considered himself on the bigger side of normal, but tonight he felt positively huge. He hadn't had a dry spell this long since he was in basic; he was throbbing already and she hadn't touched him yet.

Her lips touched his belly, making him groan. She smiled against his skin and she took him in hand, holding him firmly while her mouth continued downward.

She caught his eye, winking before she gave the underside of his dick a tentative lick. He watched her press open-mouthed kisses up his shaft and did his best not to buck into her when she wrapped her lips around his tip and flicked her tongue.

Squeezing his eyes shut, he touched her hair. Michelle just hummed and released him, calling his name in that breathy way she had that made his stomach tighten even more.

"I want you to see me," she requested, moving her hand up and down on him at a maddeningly slow pace. He nodded, pushing a stray curl out of her eyes. "I want you to talk to me, Tony."

"I'm not sure I can form words right now, Michelle. This is what you do to me."

Her lips curved and she ducked just out of his reach, teasing her tongue across a slash of his thigh. It was unexpected, and he pushed his hips into her hand.

She laughed, "I meant to do that first."

He chuckled in return, feeling the warmth of her breath rattling across his skin. "By all means, feel free to do it again."

"Mmm." She did on the other leg, this time trailing her tongue back to the base of his cock and gently suckling on his balls. He murmured her name, encouraging, begging, whatever. Just as long as she didn't stop.

Her mouth left him momentarily, giving him just enough time to relax before her lips parted and slid down, taking as much of him as possible. He had to breathe deeply just to keep from coming right then.

"God, Michelle," he gasped, looking down at her, feeling his hands twist in the sheets. She'd never taken her eyes off of his, not even as she moved agonizingly slowly down his length.

She slid back up, releasing him almost completely and pumping him firmly with her fist. Her tongue wiggled in distracting little circles, teasing until she wrapped her lips around him again, moving halfway down his length and back up again. He jerked when she slid her palm up his thigh and cupped him with her other hand.

"Shit," he gripped the sheets tighter, apologizing quickly for his profanity. Michelle hummed, shaking her head, releasing him from between her lips.

"I like knowing I'm driving you crazy," she sing-songed, pursing her lips and sending cool air across his wet skin.

"Oh you're driving me crazy alright," he rumbled, touching her head, wrapping a curl around his finger. "Get up here."

Michelle pouted, but nodded and released him with a final press of her lips. He sat up, meeting her halfway with an easy kiss, tugging her hips down. They both groaned as he brushed against her. She was even wetter than before.

She rocked against him, breaking the kiss just long enough to fling her hand out in hopes of opening the drawer to the nightstand.

"Tony, help me," she muttered. "The damn thing is stuck."

Pulling his lips away from her neck, he grappled blindly, helping her yank the drawer open.

"A hah," she murmured triumphantly, holding up the condom like it was a gold medal. Grinning, he took it from her fingers, cupping the back of her head and kissing her lightly.

"You're sure?" he asked, just in case she'd changed her mind in the three seconds between kisses.

Michelle rolled her eyes slightly, nodding and tugging his mouth to hers. "I'm sure," she promised. "If you're not inside me soon, I might not be, though," she added teasingly.

"Liar."

Her hips moved, teasing her center over him. "You wanna chance it?"

He nipped at her lips. "Do the honors then."

With a grin, she snatched the condom from between his fingers, shifting her weight onto her knees. What he wasn't expecting was the burst of giggles to come from her.

"You know, Michelle, that's not exactly comforting to hear right now," he drawled, sliding his palms up her ribcage and cupping her breasts. Michelle just nodded, covering her face with her hand.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I just, you said to do the honors, and I got the image of everything going into slow motion and Chariots of Fire suddenly playing out of nowhere."

The look on his face must have been priceless, because that made her laugh too. "I'm sorry, Tony," she added, clamping her bottom lip between her teeth and taking a deep breath. "I'll be serious now."

Her attempts at seriousness only made him laugh. Dragging her back into a kiss, he shook his head.

"You are demented."

"Yeah, well, you're about to have sex with me, what does that say about you?"

"I'm hot for lunatics."

She giggled again, pressing her mouth to his collarbone. "Stop it. You're not helping."

"What?" he blinked. "How am I not helping? You're the one having comedy hour in front of my penis."

Michelle just cackled at that, resting her forehead on his shoulder.

His fingers trailed up and down her spine, eliciting the shudder he'd been hoping for. Her laugher died away and she raised her head, meeting his eyes. Her lips parted slightly and she stretched up, kissing him so softly he almost thought he'd imagined it.

Silently she ghosted kisses across his throat and his chest, shifting down on the bed and tearing the wrapper to the condom open. His breath caught when she stroked him gently and pressed a quick kiss to his tip. After so much teasing, she made quick work of rolling the condom down onto his length, giving him another firm stroke once it was on.

"Good?"

He nodded, reaching for her again and tugging her down insistently.

"Hold on, hold on," Michelle murmured, resting her palm on his shoulder and sliding her hand between them, guiding him into position. He groaned at the feeling of her warmth as she slid down, sheathing him inside her. Dear God, he was finally inside her. Finally inside Michelle Dessler, the woman he'd been so drawn to for months, the only woman he'd thought of since the first time she touched his hand and smiled at him.

She smiled down at him now, just like she had that day; excited and eager, though now her eyes were glassy and aroused and they definitely hadn't been when they met. At least not at first.

"You still sure?" he asked, biting his lip gently, feeling her clench around him as she laughed.

"I'm pretty sure. You might want to persuade me a little bit more, though."

His hands slid down her back, grasping her ass and flexing his own hips, making her moan.

"More persuasion?"

Michelle nodded, pushing on his shoulders for leverage. "Lots of persuasion. Lots and lots of persuasion," she repeated, smiling and kissing him slowly, thoroughly.

She arched into him each time his hips moved upwards, wrapping her arm tighter around his shoulders and pushing her breasts against his chest. Her breathing was ragged and he knew his was too as he fought for control over his body.

"How's my argument so far?" he murmured, grazing her shoulder lightly with his teeth. She groaned mouth close to his ear.

"Very compelling." She lapped gently at his earlobe, tugging it into her mouth. He just hoped she'd remember to let go if he did something amazing. He didn't want to have to explain to the ER doctor, or his boss the next morning, how his ear was bitten off by his girlfriend in the throes of passion.

He shifted his feet slightly, lifting his knees just a little and causing her hips to rock forward. She shuddered, pressing her face into his neck.

"Mmm, Tony." She groaned into the hollow of his throat, making him grip her hips harder, pushing into her.

The angle was right, but the rhythm wasn't, and he felt himself growl in frustration. Neither of them was going to get there this way. He was pretty sure he was going to fucking explode if it didn't happen soon.

Somehow, Michelle knew, because she straightened up, palming his face and kissing him wetly. He gasped as she squeezed him and let her shift her legs so she could control how quickly she rose and sank. They fell into a greedy give and take pattern; she'd lower, he'd rise, hips slapping together in the center. Their lighthearted conversation gave way to harsh breathing and the occasional babbled call of encouragement.

He shifted and the headboard of his bed dug further into his shoulder, making him grunt and try to shift again. Michelle held on, but never broke her rhythm as she moved.

"Damn, you feel good," she murmured for about the fifteenth time, making him grin and tighten the hand he'd slid into her hair. He kissed her softly.

"You feel good, too," he replied inanely, tugging on her upper lip and pulling her down harder on him. The little noise she made went straight to his cock and he did it again, feeling her tighten around him.

Abruptly he rolled to one side, never breaking his connection with her as he swept the pillows to the floor and settled her head back against the sheets. He felt her hands land on his ass for just a moment before she gripped his back and arched against him, her feet planted firmly on either side of his legs.

"This okay?" he panted, pushing his hips against her again, withdrawing almost completely before sliding home inside her. He never wanted to be anywhere but inside her, encased in her heat, in her heart.

Michelle nodded emphatically, eyes glassy and bright. She tugged his head down pressing her mouth against his jaw. His head dipped, lapping at the side of her neck, tasting salty sweetness of her sweat, whispering her name against her wet skin.

Their new position meant he hit her just right on the upstroke, sending shakes through her body, down to the fingers digging into his sides.

"Mmm, more," she murmured, locking eyes with him again. He nodded, stroking harder. One of her silky thighs brushed his and he tugged her leg around his hip, feeling the brush of her foot against his back. She arched against him, squeezing her inner muscles gently, making him groan and drop onto his elbows alongside her head.

"You're killin' me, Michelle. You're absolutely killin' me."

She nodded, pulling him in deeper and gasping his name. "So close, Tony. So close," she babbled, closing her eyes quickly before opening them again.

"I know, baby, me too. Me too," he repeated, mouth sliding across her shoulder, baring his teeth gently against her clavicle. He could feel his orgasm approaching, feeling the tightening in his stomach, his balls, his toes with each thrust.

His hips snapped against hers again and again, sometimes hard, sometimes soft, he just wanted to get her there, too.

"Gotta come for me, Michelle, come with me," he pleaded, feeling her finally go taut in his arms.

"Tony," she called, holding onto his hips as he joined her seconds later, finally finding release after so many lonely months. His face landed in the crook of her neck and he practically sobbed her name over and over as he came in hot spurts, hips still moving rapidly against hers.

He felt her hand slide down his back, massaging his tired muscles as he lowered himself down onto her. Her leg shifted, but didn't slide away; instead her toes caressed the back of his thigh.

Finally, he was able to raise his head, kissing her mouth softly. He wanted to say so much, but was having trouble even forming the words.

"Hey," he was able to say instead. Michelle giggled, the action making her entire body shake in his arms.

"Hey," she added, palming the back of his head and dragging his head to hers. "You okay?"

He nuzzled his lips down and under her chin, nodding. "Never better."

"Good."

"How're you doin?'"

Michelle's fingers scratched lightly in his hair before slipping down and sliding against the base of his neck. Her fingers were cool on his hot skin.

"I'm okay," she replied quietly.

He frowned, propping up on one hand and finding her eyes. She didn't look unhappy. "Just okay?" he prompted, slightly worried.

She bit her lip, smiling almost shyly. "Better than okay. It was just the first thing I could think of."

Satisfied, he pecked her lips lightly, tugging at her lip with his own teeth and smoothing his tongue along the soft indentations she'd made.

"In that case, I'm putting a thesaurus on the nightstand. We're gonna use it next time."

Michelle giggled at the inane thought, poking his cheek affectionately. "Better go get it then, because next time's coming a lot sooner than you think."

Her claim was pretty much disproven when she stiffened and her face broke into a yawn. Grinning, he kissed her, delighting in the way she laughed into his mouth and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Lemme get cleaned up," he murmured finally, reluctantly pulling away and withdrawing from her. Stroking the inside of her thigh gently, he dropped a kiss there before padding to the bathroom to take off the condom and pee.

He was just about to brush his teeth when Michelle joined him at the sink, making him realize he hadn't even bothered to close the door. Ducking around him, she reached for his toothpaste and waggled her toothbrush at him for emphasis.

Before she shoved the brush in her mouth, she kissed his shoulder lightly. "I brought you some water. It's inside."

Mindful of her toothbrush, he leaned closer, kissing her cheek. "Thanks, sweetheart."

While they brushed their teeth, she propped herself up against the counter, watching him watch her. One of his hands landed on her thigh caressing her skin gently, touching her just to be sure that she was still there. Her fingers were doing the same to him, sliding against his waist, raising goose bumps. Even when he had to step away to spit, his hand and her hand remained.

"So you don't happen to have a change of clothes for tomorrow in that magical bag of yours, do you?" he asked, wiping his mouth on a towel and handing it over to her to do the same, watching in amusement as she left it wadded up beside the sink. This was the woman for him; tidy when she needed to be, but willing to let the little things slide.

"Not work clothes. I brought something to wear home, though, so I don't have to wear tonight's clothes. Just a t-shirt and shorts. They're not sexy at all, sorry."

He nodded, nuzzling his face against her neck and pressing a kiss there. Somehow he doubted that; nothing about her wasn't sexy. "What time do you think we need to get up? Last time I drove in the direction of your place in the morning, it took forever."

Her legs slid around his waist, locking at the ankle. Her palms danced up his shoulders, settling firming against his back. She tilted her head and smiled innocently. "We could always call in. I'm sure Mason'd be fine with knowing you're finally getting laid."

His head raised, and he made a 'hardy har' face before lifting her off the counter and waiting for her to kill the lights.

"Yeah, but it's with a lunatic, so I'm not sure he'd have great things to say."

She giggled, resting her forehead on his. "Take what you can get, buddy."

He set her on the bed softly, already leaning her back and wrapping his lips around a nipple. "Oh, I intend to."


Note: This was an absolute labor of love to write – I'd never tackled their first time together in any sort of meaningful way, and so it was quite difficult to get the tone and the emotions right, and balance the nervousness they were feeling about wanting to please each other with the nervousness I was feeling with having to write all that. But anyway! I think I did a good job, I hope I did a good job, and I hope anyone who's still reading this will give big hearty thanks to agent_almeida and featherjean on LJ for listening to me whine for over a week about this story. Without them, it'd still be unfinished.