Series Title: The Masquerade
Chapter Title: At Last - part 1
Author: jellie_rayneluv
Rating: PG-13 to R (this part) Some mild adult content. Steaminess to follow in later
Spoilers: none that I know of. Maybe season two finale, as it never happened in my
Author's Note: Devon has split and broken Ellie's heart. It's several months later and a chance encounter with her handsome neighbor,
where she least expects to find him, may be a new beginning. John and Ellie are noth were they want to be...what will happen next?
Chapter 9 will be split into at least 2 parts due to length. Plus the next part is not written yet, but I wanted to go ahead and post this.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, except some OCs that may present themselves
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Brief repost of the "countdown" ...
Randy spoke softly to her . "Do you trust me, Ellie B?" he said in a very serious tone, as he indicated to someone behind her that he'd be with
them in just a moment. Ellie could only stare at him and nod that, yes, she did trust him."Well then," he said as he gave her hand a reassuring
squeeze, "close your eyes and count to ten, out loud. Then you can open your eyes."
"This is crazy, Randy. " She laughed, "Unless, of course, you have John Casey hidden in your pocket, which I highly doubt." However, she did comply
with his request.
She felt a shiver go through her body before she got to three as she felt a large, warm body move up behind her. It was not touching her, but she knew
it was there.
As she reached five, she felt a large, strong hand gently caress her waist. Her breath caught in her throat.
At seven, she shuddered again as she felt fingertips caress her bare shoulder, so softly, and trail slowly down her arm to entwine in her own fingers.
At eight, her whole body began to tingle with unseen electricity as she felt a warm breath against her skin, and then a feather soft touch of smooth,
moist lips kissing her neck. She started to feel flushed from her head down to her toes... her toes that were starting to curl into the bottom of her Jimmy
Choo's. Her hands were starting to quiver, along with other parts of her anatomy.
At ten, her eyes flew open as she leaned her head to the side. She couldn't form words and the only thought in her mind was 'JOHN!' Then she felt and
heard a deep, sensual voice rumbling against her now exposed throat. "Hey there, pretty lady. Fancy meeting you here."
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To say that Ellie was in shock would be an understatement. She was sure this was some kind of dream and she would wake up any minute, tucked
away safely, alone, in her bed. Then she felt his fingers flex against her own ... and his other hand which had been resting at her waist skimmed up,
over and across her body to caress her neck as he he pulled her back against his chest. 'No, not a dream' she decided. She practically melted into him
when he kissed he neck again. His lips lingered against her skin and she could feel his breath against her, causing all the hair on her body to stand on
end. She moaned and looked up to see that Randy had made himself scarce and was now at the other end of the bar, giving them some sense of privacy
... if that was even possible in a place like this.
She smiled as John released his hold on her and took a step back, just long enough for her to swivel around to face him. She slid off of her seat and stood
to look at him. He was her "Prince Charming". He was a waking dream. And he was here. With her. Now. 'No time like the present' she told herself. "Hey you,"
she took a step toward him and slid her hands up his firm chest and around his neck to draw him back into her own space.
John was on cloud nine. He felt like he was floating. The woman of his dreams was standing right in front of him. Touching him. Beckoning him into her arms.
He was helpless to deny her. She was a Goddess ... a Siren. And if she was luring him to his death he would die a happy man. He wanted to say so many things
to her. "Hey back" was all he could manage at the moment. He did close the gap between their bodies as he wrapped his arms around her and brought her to
him. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling her scent, as if he wanted to reassure himself that she was real.
They were both trembling and unable to speak in words. So, they stood together, Ellie's head laying against John's shoulder. Her hands moved tentatively back
and forth, down his neck, across his broad shoulders and up again, her fingernails scraping lightly over any exposed skin they found. John's right hand roamed
freely across her silk-clad back, making small circular motions. His left hand moved to her bare shoulder and his fingers etched small patterns across her skin ...
down her arm and up again.
Ellie was starting to get dizzy. The feel of John's hands moving across her so softly was making her go weak in the knees. She broke the silence, "What is this
thing you do to me, John?" She had never been affected by a simple toucj.
He bent his head and growled into her neck. "Isn't it obvious? I was going for seduction." He kissed up her throat and rolled his tongue against her earlobe
before he playfully nipped at it.
"Really?" she squeaked.
"Mmmm, Hmmm" he moaned. "Is it working?" She could feel him smirking against her skin, even though she couldn't see it.
Thinking 'two can play that game' , Ellie grinned into his shoulder before launching her counter-attack. She turned her attention to his exposed neck, kissing him
in like fashion. Then she diverted her attention to his chiseled jaw line and then moved to his throat. Her tongue brushed lightly over his adams apple before she
gave it a love nip of her own. "Oh yeah," she sighed, "It's definitely working."
John was going crazy. If he didn't get Ellie somewhere private soon, he just may lose it and embarrass them both. He fought an internal battle to regain his control.
He had just about achieved it when he felt her gentle bite. 'Oh she's good' he told himself. He groaned again as he pushed away from her so he could see her. Her
lips were parted slightly ' So Inviting' and she was breathing heavier than before. Her grey eyes were shimmering behind her silver mask, and in them he saw her need.
Her want. Her desire. It was his for the taking.
John wasn't normally one for public displays of affection. But they hadn't they already blown that out of the water? '"What the hell, you only live once.' he thought as he
tightened his grip on her body and pulled her flush against him. He lowered his mouth towards her again. "If there are no objections, I am going to kiss you now" he told
her as he moved in, one hand moving up from her back to tangle in the hair at the nape of her lneck.
Ellie looked into his deep blue eyes and knew she was well and truly lost. He could kiss her any time, any where, and any way he wanted. He could probably back her up
against the wall and make love to her in front of all these people here tonight and she didn't think she would protest. She tilted her head and licked her lips as John zeroed
in on his target. "Okay, " she said breathlessly.
The word had barely passed her lips as his dark head dipped and Ellie's parted lips met him halfway to receive his kiss. His lips were incredibly soft, softer than she expected.
Her fingers kneaded the tight cord on the back of his neck and she urged him to get closer.
She felt his tongue lightly probing her mouth, gliding over her teeth. He sought out every nook and cranny, swirling around her tongue in a delicate yet sensual motion.
He increased the pressure of his fingers that were entwined in her hair as his other hand slid down to graze over her firm bottom. He pulled her hips against his own as
he intensified the kiss even more. His mouth on hers became even more demanding. She sighed into his mouth and yielded to him, every part of her body instinctively
meeting his demand.
For just a brief instant time seemed to stop around them. There was no chatter, no sound. The crowd faded to black and it was just the two of them. Two bodies locked
in an embrace. Hands, lips and bodies meeting for the first time. Neither of them knowing where their own body ended, nor where the others began. They were in a reverie ...
and it was perfect.
As suddenly as the moment began, the reverie was broken by an announcement being made by a man standing at a dais in the front of the room. He was telling everyone
that it was time for the midnight countdown and the big "unmasking". John slowly pulled was way, teasingly grazing Elli's bottom lip with his tip as he did so. Ellie gasped
at the sudden loss. She pulled away and looked again into his eyes and saw that they had darkened and they were burning with desire. For her. "Oh God, John ..." she
panted. "That was....wow."
She released her hold on John and gripped both hands on her seat behind her to regain her equilibrium. John let her move, but moved with her. He brought his hand from
the nape of her neck to capture her face between his thumb and forefinger. He tenderly stoked his thumb across her swollen lips. "I know, Ellie," his voice had taken on a
deeper and huskier tone. "I've wanted to do that for so long...It was worth the wait."
As she stood, Ellie took John's hand in her own and pressed a kiss to his palm before pulling him with her to lean against the bar. They stood in silence, regaining their
composure, for the final seconds of another countdown. When the countdown ended, still in silence, they simultaneously removed their masks and tossed them carelessly
on the bar behind them. Then they turned to face each other once more.
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