Sorry for the delay, people. I couldn't check things as many times as I usually do, but I had to publish the chapter before you all forgot what this story was about (;D).
Evidence
Chapter 10: Closeness
Niles entered his room, threw himself in bed, and pressed his face on the pillow.
He was trying to maintain some control and not yell by pure joy.
(It was already ridiculous enough he had been dancing all along the corridor to his room.)
But it was very difficult not to feel like he was slowly but surely opening the gates of paradise, after a night like that.
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For starters, Miss Babcock had dined with the family and she had been absolutely lovely.
Well, lovely for her standards: she had mocked Miss Fine, said something unintentionally shocking to Maxwell and the children, threw some light insults Niles' way and seemed to be enjoying herself so tremendously that, at some point, everybody was smiling at her.
People had realized her acts were just funny routines, and they were not laughing at her – they were smiling at her.
It made a huge difference, and Niles felt warmed all over by the thought that she could be going through a really good phase; one that would make her feel happier and show to the world how interesting she was.
And, if Babcock was going to feel better about herself, he obviously would.
(Not that he didn't feel good about her in a daily basis. He enjoyed way too much her nasty ways. The surprise was how the appreciation of others mattered to him.
Not appreciation for him, but for her, of all people.
It was kind of a shock to Niles to realize he didn't mind being the butler, tonight and forever, if maintaining his usual role meant he was able to see her growing up and blossoming.
He tried to rationalize the feeling, justifying it by the fact he liked being generous, and that a better Babcock would make the whole household happier...
However, being generous to her gave him an unexpected satisfaction, he had to admit.)
After dinner, people made small conversation and soon the family was ready to retire.
The blonde asked if Hazel could take her home, once it was so late.
Mister Sheffield didn't mind, Fran threw Niles and CC a look that promised an interrogation, and they departed kind of in a hurry.
Well, kind of.
Niles was helping Miss Babcock with her coat, at the door, and talking to Maxwell Sheffield, 'Sir, I'd like to ask you something'.
'Yes, Old Man. What is it?'
'I just wanted to warn you that I may act queer, tomorrow…'
'Here he comes with that word again', Fran commented, 'Last time, you meant sick'.
'This time, I mean weird', he eyed his companion while he put his own coat, 'as in possessed…'
'Come on, Tidy Bowl', CC squinted at him, 'It's getting late'.
'She's anxious to include me in her nightly rituals, so it seems', Niles gave Maxwell a meaningful look, 'If I act strange tomorrow, Sir, don't hesitate – call the authorities'.
'You mean, the experts', CC grinned, 'The Police has no power over me'. Noticing the fond look she was sharing with Niles, she changed her expression to a bossy one and tilted her head towards the door, 'Do what you were trained for'.
Niles rolled his eyes at her bossy ways and went to the door to open it for her, 'I hope you plan on turning on the charms sometime, or it will prove to be a very difficult ride'.
Maxwell and Fran never heard her answer, because CC pulled Niles by the arm when she passed by him and through the door.
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They took the town car and the conversation went around how the producer and the nanny were not as witty or quick-minded as they should be – a topic both enjoyed, specially because it served to point out the similarities they shared.
Arriving at the penthouse, Niles couldn't say he was surprised when CC invited him to stay for a while. They were having a wonderful time, after all.
She offered to make them some tea, and they started talking about the next Sheffield-Babcock production, and how they had been preparing a backers' party, and that there would be dancing.
And then she surprised him, declaring with an annoyed face, 'I hate my dance moves'.
'Really?'
'You must have noticed I'm not exactly an expert'.
'I enjoy dancing with you', he said, 'I find the hooves easy to deflect'.
She rolled her eyes, 'It's not that bad when I'm with you, because you are an annoyingly amazing dancer. Just you can compensate for my lack of rhythm'.
(Niles didn't like her lack of confidence, but he had to contain a smile by her saying he had the skills to complete her in any way.)
Yes, he had noticed she was not an amazing dancer, but he didn't think she was that bad, 'Don't say it. If you were so terrible, we wouldn't be so great dancing partners'.
CC nodded in agreement, and mused, 'Why do you think we manage well in the dancing floor? Don't you find it strange?'
He sipped his tea, 'I think it's natural. You feel comfortable dancing with me because we know each other very well, and this is decisive to moving together'.
She made a doubtful face, 'I know Maxwell, too, and I don't feel so at easy while dancing with him'.
'You don't know him as you know me. I'm talking about the skin level'.
(Aaaaaand there his mouth goes again blurting things out...)
Again, she surprised him, tilting her head in thought, 'Oh... Do you really think it's about it?'
'Of course', he said, masking his relief in a tone of sureness.
They stood quiet for a while, sipping their teas and feeling comfortable with each other.
Suddenly, Niles got a bit agitated, 'But, tell me... You do like dancing? Or I have been torturing you without even knowing it, all of these years?'
CC let out a small smile before she could prevent it. He had sounded worried. 'Well... The first time we danced, at a backer's party... Sara was alive, she was very gracious, and I have resigned myself to be always the second best to everything. Maxwell was the boss in the business, Sara was the graceful one in the house, you were the Master of the kitchen', she winked at him, 'Then you came to me and you made me feel less self conscious...'
She stopped for a moment to choose the words, and noticed he had his eyes glued to her.
'I still feel really tense while dancing, but you made me relax since that first time because... I thought you were going to do something horrible to me, and then I realized it was you, and I could never foresee every possibility you could come with... So I said – To Hell with it!, and decided I would just enjoy it while it lasted. Fortunately, while we are dancing you have been in your best behavior, since then'.
For some moments, Niles just kept looking at her as if he needed time to process the information that she had decided to trust him while dancing. He thanked himself from the past, for being nice to her and stablishing that connection.
Obviously, he had to tease, 'So... It seems you just stopped thinking and let go... It was a first for the spontaneity thing, then'.
She put a hand mockingly on her forehead, 'Dear... Did I just give you evidence that you introduced me to spontaneity years ago?'
'I think so', he chuckled, then turned serious, 'And I can promise not to mention it again, if you promise not to rub my slip of today in my face, in the future'.
CC smirked, putting the mug in front of her lips to hide a smile at the soft look on his face, 'It seems a good exchange'.
They clinked their mugs and sipped, both relieved they had found a way to deal with their somewhat tense misunderstanding from earlier.
'What if you had ideal circumstances?'
'You may not believe it, Niles, but I don't read minds. Ideal circumstances for what?'
'For dancing. Supposed it was with me, with no one else around. Do you think you would enjoy it?'
'I already admitted I enjoy dancing with you. I don't see the point of your question'.
'Ok, I'll rephrase: do you think that under the ideal circumstances that I described, even if it is an activity that makes you generally all tense, you could feel incredibly elated by dancing?'
She laughed and conceeded the point, 'Yeah, probably'.
'Then, let's do it!', he put his mug on her center table and got up.
Niles went to her stereo, searched through radio stations and stopped at the first chords of Spice Girls' Too Much, 'Let's try this one'.
CC hesitated when he made his proposition, but then she realized he was really happy to be the guy who made her enjoy dancing, and that he wanted to do just that, right now...
… and she found his willingness endearing.
She got up as soon as he turned to her, grinning, after taking the center table carefully to the side. He positioned himself in the classic dancing position, his right hand in the air, his left one by the height of her waist.
She rolled her eyes, put her own mug besides his and went to his arms, putting her right hand on his left one, and pousing her left hand on his shoulder.
She noticed his giddiness, and squinted at him, 'Brace yourself, Butler Boy'.
'For what?', he asked.
'The dancing. It's not going to work'.
'I don't understand. It's already working'.
'How is it?'
'You're in my arms, I'm moving slowly and feeling good about it. You're not totally into it yet, but if you move your hips just a bit more, you can take me to heaven, baby'.
She laughed, taking her hand from his to support both her arms on his shoulders, 'Dear God, I hope this is not how you manage your sexual encounters'.
Niles grinned at her zinger and because she had found a comfortable position that brought her closer to him. He put his now free hand on her waist, holding her, 'Liked the parallel? I can do it again and again and again...'
Now she chuckled, 'All night through?'
He pressed his hands a bit on her waist, suggesting silently the rhythm, and got closer enough to talk into her ear, 'Just like this, darling. Yeah, move those hips for me'.
She just hummed into his shoulder, delighted by his voice and his humor.
He felt bold, so he kissed her lobe lightly and went on, 'Can you feel my hand?'
'Which one, lover?', she asked, playing along, 'Should I be worried?'
'Just feel it', he murmured back, and started moving his left hand slowly from her waistline to the small of her back.
She paid attention, and noticed how his fingers grazed the edge of her blouse and settled in a caress, 'Yeah, I can feel it'.
'Is it good?'
'Uhum'.
His hand moved again, this time by the line of her spine, up and down, slowly.
CC closed her eyes and pulled him to her with her arms, linking her hands behind his head, 'That's... great'.
They kept swaying for a while, enjoying the song and the small meaningful gestures (her forehead resting on his temple, the hand on her waist playing delicately with the skin he could reach between the blouse and the pants), until he murmured, 'That's the kind of thing you should be paying attention to'.
'Uhm?', she asked, not changing her stance.
'People who thinks dancing is difficult often focus on their feet. When we're dancing like this, so close and touching, our feet should be the last thing in mind', he backed off slightly to look at her, 'However, if you have a foot fetish...'
'I don't, relax', she chuckled, 'I like the idea of people kissing my feet just metaphorically'.
He smiled at the notion she was telling him to relax when the subject was her fetishes, as if he would have to deal with them soon.
Gloria Gaynor's Be soft with me tonight started, and CC took her arms from Niles' shoulders.
Thinking she was going to put an end in the dancing, he stopped, but she just adjusted her body to reverse their positions, putting his arms over her shoulders and her hands on his waist. She brought him to her again, 'This is so good, baby. Don't stop'.
He chuckled, happy she couldn't see his face at her endearment, 'I see we're back to the ambiguous talking'.
'Yes. I'm feeling adventurous'.
His heart was beating furiously in antecipation, 'Care to explain?'
'I want to try a new position', she spoke with a lowered voice in his ear, 'This way I can feel you moving under my hands'.
Niles enjoyed the idea immensely and was ready to comment on it, but he was just able to gasp, because her hands went from his waist to the sides of his hips, under the coat he was still wearing.
'Is this ok?', she asked, not stopping her now relaxed swaying, but attentive of his reaction.
'Yes, it is...', he sighed, breathing normally again.
'Did I surprise you?'
'You often do. And I like it', he lowered his own voice, 'Just keep it going'.
She smiled, 'Sure'.
They kept dancing. Niles noticed CC, while swaying, had moved in a way that made her seem a bit shorter than him.
It was as if she was positioning herself to... what, exactly?
He felt her hands tortuosly going lower, starting by his hips.
They reached the front of his thighs and stayed there, caressing him.
Niles' heart was beating madly at the feelings she was arousing in him. She was exploring his body with a tenderness that would be unexpected if it was not by how much he had been noticing the changing that was happening in her.
The only bad thing about this situation was the fact he could feel the blood pumping to places a gentleman should not put in evidence for a lady. At least, not in a stage of their relationship when he wanted to follow her pace and show the same geltleness she was showing him.
It went through his mind that the same situation could be tender and sexy, and that being in love was basically finding someone who could arouse the best in you and arouse you, and he felt slightly unbalanced by the idea that CC Babcock was making him think of love, but he couldn't quite organize his thoughts, now.
Her hands had moved to the side of his thighs.
He closed his eyes and licked his lips.
(It was playing Cool Cat, now, and Freddy Mercury's voice singing Messing with the beat of my heart could never be a more perfect soundtrack for an occasion.)
Niles felt the hands sneaking under his coat, reaching slowly around, and he stopped breathing.
She was not doing it, was she?
Yes, she was.
Her hands reached his rear and stayed there, palming him and feeling every move he made, as she said she wanted to.
Niles' knew his arousal was very evident, now, but he couldn't prevent it. He could just moan in pleasure.
He heard her letting out that low chuckle he found incredibly seductive and he grinded against her.
For a second, he thought she would push him away.
'Yeah', she moaned, grabbing his butt forcefully, 'Do it again'.
He grinded on her one more time, being helped by her moves to mold against him, this time.
Both breathed deeply into each other.
Marvelling at her scent, Niles kissed the side of her neck.
CC retributed planting her lips on his jaw and tasting his skin for some moments.
Fortunately for their desire to maintain the slow pace, she trembled and gave a tiny step back just in time for Billy Idol's Eyes without a face start and give them a reason for less intimate dance moves.
Every time they separated a bit more for her to swirl (a daring move for someone who declared herself so self conscious), she threw glances to his middle and seemed very proud of the still obvious reaction she had provoked in him.
Not totally comfortable with her smirk, Niles brought her to him at the bridge of the song (the rocky part), so they could touch loosely by their middles, his left arm around her waist. Of course, it was not bad that this new position took him out of her glance, but brought them closer again.
The song resumed the stance of the first part, and CC brought her hands to the original position on Niles' shoulders.
CC had the face of a woman who just had an epiphany, 'It is about relaxing, really'.
Niles smiled at her, 'I'm glad you feel confident enough to relax like this with me', he raised a brow, 'I have never been the ideal partner to burst your self image'.
She shook her head, 'You notice me, Niles. The way you express it is a bit kinky, but I have learned to deal with it'.
'Kinky?', now both brows went up.
'Forget it', she waved a hand, 'I think all the dancing has messed with my head'.
'I mess with your head'.
She bit her lip at his loapsided grin, and then lowered her voice, 'Whatever you say, once you keep doing that'.
They laughed and kept swaying. They were cooling down a bit and just enjoying the delicate beat of Minnie Riperton's Loving You.
CC changed the position again, bringing one of her hands to take one of Niles' and keep it to her chest. She murmured, 'You were right. I'm elated'.
He used his thumb to caress the hand in his, touched by the tenderness of her gesture, 'Dancing is about feeling good. People who really like you will enjoy it with you, not because you're doing it right, but because you feel good about doing it'.
'Ha-ha', she mocked him.
'What?'
'You're saying you like me'.
'I was speaking generically', he pouted.
'Yeah'.
She couldn't decide if she was going to insist and extract a confession, but the radio announced the time and both realized it was late and he should go back to the mansion.
Niles got out of her arms relutantly and turned off the stereo.
CC called him Cinderella and went with him to the door.
And dear God, she had kissed him again, that same enticing way with mouths closed, lips desperately pressed against lips...
… and, this time, with her hands squeezing his butt and bringing him impossibly closer.
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To complete his perfect night, Niles managed to escape Fran's questioning.
(She was an amateur if she thought he was going to enter by the front door when he knew she would be waiting for him at the sofa...)
He felt like he had gone crazy: all he and Miss Babcock had been doing was touching, and he felt like he had never been so close to anyone else.
Niles had spent years fantasizing about CC Babcock, and now he was slowly getting closer to her, and he felt like he was going to explode, and at the same time this slow approximation was as delicious as their bizarre relationship, and...
He should take a shower to calm down and relax, but he wouldn't do it tonight. Not if he could sleep with her scent all over him.
And his own scent mingled with hers, because there was no way he could sleep without doing something he was sure he would have to do from now on, every time she touched him like that.
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CC was going through the same, in the penthouse.
She couldn't stop smiling; she couldn't stop the arousal while feeling his ligering scent in her; she couldn't deny herself the pleaure of fantazysing about him and touching herself.
She had never felt something like this. It was like being a teen again, falling in love with a guy, but without all the bad parts: the feeling of not being enough; the sensation of being invisible to him; the craving for a touch that would never come.
It was quite refreshing, after só many years thinking Maxwell was the kind of goal she had to accomplish.
Niles made her feel comfortable enough with herself that she would claim him when she wanted, being sure he would reciprocate.
It was clear he couldn't help feeling attracted to this thing they had between them.
She obviously couldn't, either.
It was so delicious she just wanted to make it slow, noticing the evidences scattered through their closeness.
And, especially, never stopping.
She was too excited to stop now.