"So..." O'Neill remembered to assist Carter with her chair. He pulled his eyes away from the fantastic cleavage shown by the 'sweet' little black dress she had chosen to wear this evening. "Did I mention...I like that dress?" He seated himself, lifting his gaze to that of the woman's.

"I like what you are wearing as well, Col." She had practically gasped when she had opened the door at her place to see the man standing outside. He wore all black. Pants creased to a razor edge, a soft cotton short-sleeved shirt and a stylish black leather coat, opened and worn casual. His shoes were polished to a high gleam and he had shaved...close and smelled...heavenly.

Jack's gaze took in the string straps on the soft-looking shoulders and the frilly black ruffle which fell off each in a sexy drape. The dress was short, hugging her thighs and she finished off the ensemble with heels that couldn't possibly be comfortable because there wasn't that much of them to begin with, but...they were easily five inches high. It almost brought the woman up to the man's eye level. Almost, but not quite for Jack was tall, as was Samantha Carter. He liked that fact. She had legs that went on forever. That was 'cool' in Jack's book. Very cool

"This is lovely." Carter looked around the opulent surroundings. "I hear it's impossible to get reservations, sir. How did you.."

"Not for General Hammond." Jack shrugged.

"...Sir...you told him about..." How to state it...

"That I needed to impress someone special tonight? Yes. I did." O'Neill lifted his head to stare at the woman.

Carter was 'impressed.' "Sir, I'm..." What? What was she feeling? So many things. "I'm..."

"Speechless? You, Carter?" He teased a little. Then he smiled, the long creases in his cheeks suddenly most prevalent with his mischievous grin. "Red letter day...or night." He motioned outside the huge plate-glass window of the restaurant, glancing at the panoramic view offered from the eighth floor of the building.

"The sun set is breathtaking." Carter feasted her eyes. "Sir...do you think everything will be alright? With Ba'al, I mean?"

"No shop talk, remember?" He cautioned. "And, yes...Jacob will get a message to Old Snake-head through the Tok'ra. I'll talk to him. It will be fine."

Sam relaxed intuitively, trusting this man implicitly. The liquid brown eyes held a warmth to them that put her mind at ease. She found herself far too susceptible to his charm tonight. She sought a topic to take her mind off the fact. "Sir? Are you sure you're comfortable with Cassie taking care of JJ? We could have brought him, you know." "He doesn't like this place." Jack dismissed. "Chuckie Cheese is more his style...doesn't like the mouse though...it scares him."

"Me too." She tried a small joke. "Did you say he tasted his first jell-o tonight?"

"Tasted?...no, I wouldn't say he 'tasted' it." O'Neill told the truth. "Smeared it, squished it, put it in his hair...up his nose, in his ears." The man sighed lightly.

Carter chuckled. "Who knew jell-o could be so much fun."

"Oh, I don't know, Major." Jack folded his hands under his chin, staring directly at the woman. "I can think of a few things to do with it that could be...interesting."

Carter...blinked. She...processed. "...Like?" She decided to call his bluff to see how far he would take such a line of endeavor. "What, exactly, sir?"

Those brown eyes dropped to the cleft of her breasts, remaining for a long beat. "...This and that, Carter." He lifted a hypnotic gage. "I like 'red'...blue is your favorite, right?"

She watched him drink from his chilled glass of beer, his eyes never leaving hers. He sat the glass down. "That is what you 'like'...isn't it?

"Are we still on the jell-o, sir?" She chanced a tiny bit of flirting herself.

"Your preferences are my priority tonight..." Jack did not back down. "Whatever you want...name it."

'Col Jack O'Neill' Sam thought to herself but smiled softly instead, stating. "I have my very own Air Force Officer at my beck and call this evening? Is that what you are saying?"

"Do with me as you will." He motioned with his hand.

"At least until twelve o'clock...Cassie's bedtime, according to her mom?" She teased again, liking the man's style.

Jack's expression altered just enough to let her know she had blown it. A scowl creased his brow suddenly.

"I was joking, sir." she hastily amended.

"...That's part of what I am now, Carter." He absently drew a pattern on the lace tablecloth, his scowl increasing somewhat. "The kid...that's what I meant, before...about...thinking this thing through. He might get in the way, a lot of the time. I don't have the options other men might...have."
"JJ's not in the way, Col...not unless you had intended to drop me off after you pick him up." Carter stated bluntly, holding her breath, her heart beating hard in her chest for such...brazen behavior. She lifted her head when Jack sought her out, determined to be strong...unwavering in her decision. The one she had just made concerning this man.

God He really was a most handsome individual Sometimes, he took her breath away.

"....What?"

"Well..." Carter demanded. "Did you?"

O'Neill had hoped...no, damnit...prayed, she would think along such lines but to actually hear the words had thrown him. "...No." He told the honest to God truth for the first time ever with Samantha Carter. "...I...don't want you to...I mean, I want you to..." Crap...say the damned words Just...say it He reached impulsively, placing his hand over hers. He held her eyes willfully, enjoying the feel of the warm, dry palm against his calloused one. He tightened his grip, his thumb rubbing the inside of her flesh with a most suggestive sweep.

Carter found the action extremely erotic in nature, fighting a slight rush of color to her cheeks. She lowered her eyes from his intent gaze, totally affected by what he allowed her read within the creamy depths.

"Carter..this is..." O'Neill sought for something 'cool'...something 'unique' to say for her. Something he normally would never say "....Neat." He grimaced, feeling the inadequacy of such an inane remark. "...Crap " He chastised himself severely.

Sam held her grin, watching the man squirm.

Jack shook his head, frustrated. He knew the 'cop guy' would be doing this so much better.

He tried again. "I...I want to...be here." He allowed some of the emotions he was feeling through. He sought her eyes. "With you...like...this. I've wanted it...hell Forever " Or it seemed like it to the man. "You gotta KNOW that " He practically commanded her to do so by sheer strength of will alone, his expression one of serious concentration. "I'm not good at this stuff " He was becoming angry with himself.

"...Yes, Col." Carter was touched as never before, her voice soft for him. "You are."

She almost made him believe her. O'Neill sat, simply looking at her. She really was a remarkably beautiful woman and he wanted to tell her so. Desperately. Instead, he arose and stretched out his hand. "...Dance?"

Carter downed her head to hide her amusement, mastering it hastily. "Sir...the band just went on break."
O'Neill looked around. Then seated himself. "Oh."

"I would love to dance...they shouldn't be long. Maybe..." She tried to ease the moment with an upbeat. "Until then...we could eat?" The server had discretely come and gone moments before. "This looks delicious " She glanced at her dish. "I bet it tastes way better than the food in the Commissary, huh?"

"...Yeah." Jack looked at his own dish, wondering what the hell he had ordered. "Great."

Carter tried again. "You want to try it?" She was still uncertain of his mood.

Jack's mind went blank. "What?" He had been on an entirely different subject.

Carter felt better, sensing exactly what he had been thinking. "The food, sir.." She clarified all the same.

O'Neill snapped back from his pleasant little journey. Sam's perfume had filled his head with all sorts of really 'cool' thoughts. He had even forgotten about his stupid 'dance' thing for a beat. "Oh...oh, yeah. Sure. Looks...great " He picked up his utensil.

Carter did the same, trying the salad. She closed her eyes to the taste. "Ummmm...the house dressing is supposed to make you 'melt'." She savored the delicious morsel.

Jack was wondering if he could make Samantha Carter 'melt' later on this evening. It was a long time since he attempted anything like that. A long time. Oh, he didn't count the 'one nighters' The ones where you wake up in the morning and there was a stranger beside you. The 'Desperate Times', he referred to them as. Few and far between.

"Did you get that 'thingy' to work today?" He thought it best to think other...safer thoughts so early on.

"No shop-talk." Carter tried her filet-of-sole. "Wow...this is great "

Her words did not upset Jack...he had come prepared. He had made a list this afternoon when he was supposed to be writing his report and afterwards, he had run it past Daniel who had made a few changes. Well, a lot of changes, actually and the man had been too damned curious as to the reason Jack would suddenly be interested in making small talk and even more interested in whom O'Neill was making small talk with.

Jack had shut him up with a "you gonna help me with this or not?"

And, Daniel had helped him but Jack suspected the man had guessed the 'why' and 'whom' of it all.....damn him.
O'Neill reached inside his shirt pocket, producing the list, stealing a quick glance at it before putting it away again.

Carter had not missed the behavior, wondering over it.

"...So..." Jack had his first 'topic' in mind now...he gave her his full attention, difficult for the man on the best of days, granted, but, this time...he 'focused' and hoped nothing 'Ancient' popped into his fron. "Did I mention I liked the dress? Oh, yeah..." He moved on to 'topic' two. "Read any good books lately?"

"Sir?" She was stumped. Books?

No books, hum...fine. Number three. "I remembered flowers but...the florists were closed."

Carter shifted her eyes, again...a little lost. "This is more than enough, Col." She motioned about them. "I love this place It's gorgeous "

Odd, Daniel had said 'flowers' were a 'must'. But, she had said it was ok. So much for Daniel and his theories. Next "Your hair looks great." He motioned. "I like it 'up' like that...it's cool."

Sam dimpled....getting it. "Thank you." She nodded politely.

What was after that? Damn, he had forgotten. He had momentarily lost his train of thought because he really did think her hair was cool.

"Sir...what was that paper?"

"Where?" He looked around suspiciously, especially at a passing server.

"In your pocket there. May I see it?"

"Why?" He looked at HER suspiciously, then. "...It's nothing." He shrugged. "Nothing, So...movies? You like movies? I like movies. Want to go see a movie...or something?"
Again, Carter was touched...deeply by the man's efforts. "Teal'c said something about going to see Ry'Ak." She knew how to put him at ease. "Did you get to attend the wedding?"

"You were off-world, weren't you." Jack felt on familiar ground finally. "Yeah, I went. I got them a toaster."

Carter covered her mouth with her hand to hide her smile. "Eh...sir? Do they have electricity now?"

"No, but they might." He was optimistic. "Someday."
"That's true." She held her amusement admirably. "It was thoughtful of you, sir."

"Hey...I like the kid...though, guess he's not a kid anymore." Jack granted.

Carter reached, placing her hand into his warm one.

Jack looked at the contact, taken aback by the women's behavior.

"The band has returned, sir."

Jack searched out her meaning. "Yeah." He nodded, returning his interest to the contact of her touch.

"Want to try it now?" She asked.

Jack O'Neill's mind was not at it's best tonight. "Here?"

"...Would you like to dance, now, sir?"

Jack relaxed visibly, then arose again. "You scared the hell out of me there, Carter." He admitted. "I'm no Fred Astaire...just saying."

She allowed him to precede her to the dance area. Several couples were already on the floor as the band had returned two songs before, in reality. She had been waiting for Jack to ask her again. She felt his hand gently guiding her, on the small of her back. The touch burned through the silk of her dress.

She faced the man under the low, romantic lighting. They stood for a long moment, just staring into each other's eyes. They were not aware of their actions. And then...Jack touched the woman. His palm sliding around the curve of her waist. He stepped closer and took her other hand in his, their fingers enter twining.

Sam felt the strength of the man surround her as his arm tightened slightly against her waist and he had stepped, his thigh fitting between hers, brushing slightly on the silk covering her thighs.

She lifted her arm about the man's shoulder, curving it just so. She laced her fingers into the hair along the back of his neck as he settled her against his body.

His warmth seeped into the marrow of her bones and she closed her eyes to...savor. The scent of Jack O'Neill filled her senses. God He smelled so damned good

O'Neill wasn't faring much better. Carter fit his embrace perfectly. He could feel the incredible curves and bulges of the woman's body.
He had dreams about things like this...nice dreams...cool dreams...excellent...dreams.

The man moved to the slow rhythm of the music. He didn't know the song but he suddenly liked the damned thing He also liked the fact that Carter's fingers massaged his nape causing tiny shivers of pleasure to traverse his entire spine. He remained very still under her administrations.

O'Neill's right leg had been maneuvered between her leg and each time he stepped to the beat of the music, the hardness of his upper thigh rubbed enticingly on just the right spot of her mound. It caused all sorts of forbidden thoughts.

He held her intimately but not offensively, allowing Carter to make the decision about whether or not the contact continued. It was a public dance floor and he would observe all proprieties but Carter sensed an underlying current within the man. One she vibrated to.

Not tension so much as...confidence in his...no...not abilities but more so...strategy, perhaps. Jack O'Neill was military, through and through. He had an objective and instinctively knew how to go about achieving it. Carter did not think the man was aware of his capabilities or even conscious of them.

She did not mind, in the least, in this instance...being the object of his...campaign.

How to let him know without crossing that 'Alpha Male' territory Janet had so meticulously explained to Sam, was another thing. Her infamous mind ticked away at the solution.

With Pete, she could simply make a move of her own. She was a grown woman and a little confident of her own 'strategy' from time to time but...with this man?

What would an 'Alpha Male' enjoy in his prospective mate? Carter flushed with pleasure at such a thought but more so at the slight rush of wetness between her legs caused by O'Neill inadvertently tightening his arms, pressing her closer.

She drew in a hasty breath, unable to halt a small gasp of...pleasure. Her breasts were now crushed to the muscular chest and it felt...damned good

O'Neill instantly picked up on the 'slip', his eyes darting to read her features as if to confirm his own instincts.

Carter hesitated. How much did she allow him see? How much did a man like this expect to see? How much did he want to see?

Warriors...Conquerors. Such men existed in this day and age, the fact they knew how to mask such an archaic concept only proved them more dangerous and cunning.

Carter held a strong will herself and was more than a match for such men but, with this one, she was slowly discovering...she had no wish to exert such attributes.

She did not feel the need, for Jack had proven his respect for herself and her abilities many times over. And so...it was with no trepidation what-so-ever, Carter lifted her eyes obediently when willed do so by a force more powerful than her own and then meekly lowered them, as if purposely submitting to whatever O'Neill deem necessary at that particular moment.

The man's response was to lift her face, with gentle but firm fingers beneath her chin, lean slightly, placing his lips ever so lightly to her mouth. The touch electrified the woman. She wanted more...so much...more. But...she refrained.

Jack remembered the taste of this woman. He had kissed her before. Her breath was warm and sweet-smelling, like her body. He liked kissing Samantha Carter. He pulled back, mindful of the place and moment, searching those lovely eyes. They looked into his soul His thoughts wondered. He would awake late at night to that scent...to the feel of her mouth under his guidance.

She would not be beside him....but...she was here now She was real. This wasn't a damned Alternate Universe or she wasn't her own Evil Twin...this was Major Samantha Carter. The man's eyes dropped to those full, sensuous lips.

He was unashamed of what he was feeling. He trusted her. He felt secure enough to lower his guard a little. The walls he had carefully constructed all these years. He felt all sorts of 'cool' stuff pressed against his, by now...straining form. He wasn't ashamed of that, either.

Jack leaned once more, this time, his mouth parted hers slightly, his tongue tip flitting tentatively across hers. Sam stifled a moan of prurient desire from escaping her throat.

Alpha Males were good They were very....very...good Well worth the time and effort

"Can we..." Jack had stopped moving, thank God...for her system was stretched to the limit, her middle heated quite deliciously by the dance movements. "Get the hell out of here?" He had asked huskily, his tone causing her stomach to flutter with suppressed excitement.

"Whatever you want." She deliberately had stated it like that. 'Yeah, Flyboy...whatever the hell you want.' She finished in her thoughts, her heart swelling with joy. Sam had manage keep her tone even, as she had the long gaze into his eyes.

She felt 'in charge' but she was intelligent enough to realize she was not in actual control. He was allowing her to take the lead, if only in increments. She would gladly take what he would 'give'. And Samantha Carter was determined....

Tonight Col. Jack O'Neill was going to 'give' her something she had wanted now for a very, very long time. He may not be aware of the fact...he wouldn't expect it on a 'first date'....he was an officer and gentle if only by act of Congress, after all, but....he was going to 'put out' if it was the last thing she did.

She would worry about doubts and recriminations tomorrow.

Tonight Was HER night She was going to make the most of it She was confident she could convince the man to her way of thinking, if she played her cards right.

Alpha Male or no...Jack O'Neill was going to 'share'—the one thing he protected the most. His heart...his mind...his soul. And especially...that perfectly honed physical body he possessed.
All these thoughts and more crossed her mind as he lead her from the dance floor, threw three hundred dollars on the silver tray on their table, placed her wrap about her shoulders, his fingers brushing her flesh ever so gently in the process. She turned...his eyes catching here and she...melted inside. She had never seen such raw intensity within the dark chocolate depths.

And...it was all for her, she sensed.

Alpha Males were the best damned thing in this entire Universe Pure and simple.