" Mr Hardy!" the concierge called as Frank headed toward the elevator.
" I was about to have this walked up to you"
He held up two very elaborately wrapped gift boxes.

Frank looked confused. "I think you must be mistaken." Frank replied.
"I didn't order anything."

The concierge just shook his head. " No, sir delivery instructions
from Mrs Prito. As she owns the building I'd not forget . She
instructed me to wish you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Have a
good evening, sir"

Frank motioned for Nancy to grab the boxes and they headed upstairs.

"Frank she owns the building?" Nancy asked clearly surprised. What
little Nancy knew of Tony's family they ran a pizza shop.

Frank shrugged. " I know Tony'a Great Grandfather came from Italy in
the late 1800s I think. Tony mentioned something about him buying lots
of property. He ran a series of markets and restaurants for wealthy
clientele. I had no idea this was what Tony meant by a few investment
properties."
Frank answered her.

Nancy nodded suddenly curious what was in the boxes.

"Where should we set this?" Frank asked as he took off coat and placed
the food on the coffee table.

Nancy smiled. She wanted to snuggle and be comfortable. She also
wanted to use the fireplace she saw in the master suite upstairs.

" Let's take it upstairs. I want to warm up by the fire." Nancy
answered.

Frank smiled pleased with the idea. " Sounds perfect. Bring the gift
boxes . We'll open them upstairs."

They collected what they needed from the kitchen, and headed upstairs.
They sat on the floor with their backs against the coach. Frank turned
on the fireplace and soon there was a warm glow throughout the room.
Frank had removed the large comforter from the bed, while Nancy set
the food on the coffee table. She poured the saki into glasses and put
it to warm by the fire as she laid out their food. Frank had gotten
plenty to share of sushi rolls and sashimi. Nancy started on the warm
soup as Frank sat down.

He quickly gulped the soup and grabbed a pair of chopsticks and
started on the California rolls. He stopped when he realized Nancy
wasn't joining him.

"You want some?" He asked and grabbed a piece with his chopsticks and
put it on her plate.

She smirked as she took a sip of saki and handed him a glass.

"What?"

"You gave me a fork. I know how to use chopsticks."

He grabbed a piece of sushi with the chopsticks and placed it in her
mouth just as she was about to complain again. "Prove it." he teased
and handed her a set.

She looked at him with evil in her eyes. She grabbed a chopsticks.
"You're going to be wearing the sushi when I'm done with you."

She speared a California roll with the chopsticks and bent the
chopsticks back ready to fling California roll at him.

"Don't you dare." Frank warned her.

"Or what?" Nancy challenged as she aimed ready to let the sushi fly .

Frank lunged and grabbed her hands before she could plaster him with
sushi. He lay her flat on the ground with his body over hers, and ate
the California roll off the end of her chopstick.

" I hate to waste perfectly good food." He smiled at her then kissed
her quickly before rolling off. "I gave up food fights back in
elementary school. Truce?" He asked as he roiled off her.

Nancy picked up a piece of sushi with her chopsticks and quickly
shoved it in his mouth. "Truce."

He smiled as he ate. He felt and honestly was acting like a little
kid. His brother was right. It was good to loosen up occasionally.
For some reason he did that naturally around
Nancy. Normally it never would have occurred to him to feed Nancy with
his chopsticks.

"Are you channeling Joe or something?" Nancy asked mirroring his
thoughts . He laughed out loud, as Nancy looked at him mystified.

"I was just thinking no wonder Joe has so much fun. Think I should try
acting like an idiot more often.?" He teased.

"In limited doses, it's OK." She agreed." I like the easy guy who
follows my every command better." She teased.

Frank nearly snorted his saki. "Yeah right, good luck on that." He
answered smiling at her.

Nancy heard a definite challenge there. She got up and sat behind him
on the couch. He looked at curious what was next. She bent down and
kissed the nape of his neck working her arms around his front. She
began rubbing circles across his chest with her fingers while teasing
the back of his neck.

Frank's head fell forward of it's own volition. God, she was driving
him crazy. He moaned involuntarily and she laughed into his neck.
"Willing to do my bidding yet, Hardy?"

Frank wasn't forming coherent thoughts at the moment. He was too
caught in what she was doing to him to care about anything else.
Before he even realized he joined her on the couch. Nancy let him sit
next to her, but she led.

She climbed in his lap and soon she was kissing him on his face. She
ran her fingers over the stubble on his cheeks followed by her lips.
Frank leaned back in the couch transfixed as he absorbed every sensation.

He reached out and brought her into more intimate contact with his body.

There was no question that Frank was aroused. She could feel him
through her clothes just as Frank lost control.

With a low growl he grabbed her and kissed her senseless. She felt so
good and Frank was on fire. He had never wanted anything more than he
wanted Nancy Drew at this minute.

Nancy returned the kiss with fervor. She was absolutely amazed at the
effect she had on Frank. It thrilled her, but scared her at the same
time. She had never had such an effect on a man before. Ned had never looked at her or reacted to her that way. It made her feel powerful and adored at the same time. She reveled in the feeling.

Frank wasn't thinking anymore. All he was aware of were Nancy's lips
and her hands on him. The feeling she evoked with a kiss or a touch
was overwhelming. Frank was drowning in sensation as she kissed and
touched him. He was lost unable to do anything but moan in pleasure at
her touch as she kissed him and respond in kind.

Nancy looked at him surprised. She suddenly realized they were quickly
hitting the point of no return. Frank seemed unaware
of the situation. Gently she moved her hands to more neutral territory
allowing Frank to calm down for a minute.

Frank came to himself as he realized Nancy was slowing the pace. He
felt like he was going to explode and moaned in frustration. He also
realized as he started thinking again he had nearly gone over the
edge. She had such an intense effect on him. It shocked him in some
ways. She wasn't the first person he dated seriously. He had some
experience, and this was the first time ever he lost control like this.

Frank placed his hands on her shoulders . He took several deep breaths
trying to bring his body under control. He opened his eyes and looked
at her through glazed eyes.

Nancy watched Frank come back to himself slowly. His cheeks were
flushed, he was breathing harshly, and his eyes were dilated.

She placed her hands gently on his chest. She took a deep breath. She
was surprised how effected Frank had been. She really felt bad. She
hoped he didn't think she was leading him on. He had such an effect on
her, that she had gotten as lost in it as he had. Just she had been in
control, and she hadn't thought were it would lead. It wasn't that she
hadn't imagined it, or that she didn't want it. She definitely did
eventually, but they needed to talk and take more time as a couple.

"Frank..." she stuttered trying to bring herself under better control.
" I'm sorry I didn't mean...."

Frank shook his head no to stop her. He took her hands in his and sat
up slowly.

He gently kissed her hands. He had been along for the ride more than
willingly. "I was as much involved as you.". He said and leaned his
head against her. He was trying to collect his thoughts, while his
body wanted something else entirely. He knew where she was going. He
didn't want her feel any guilt. They were both along for the same ride
and they both went willingly..

He sat next to her on the couch with his arm around her.
He kissed her on the cheek.

"You have no idea what you do to me. I stopped thinking for a while.
Sorry I don't usually get that out of control."
Frank looked at her sheepishly.

She smiled at him. "You're not the only one. I was driving and you
were mostly along for the ride."

Frank chuckled and kissed her gently . " It was one wild ride. I can
easily be convinced to be a passenger again."

Nancy laughed out loud. He continued before she said anything else.

" I wasn't planning on going where we almost went. I think I'd like to
eventually, but first I think we should talk before we go there." He
stopped and looked at her waiting for a reply.

She sighed and leaned into him. "How do you always know what I'm
thinking?" She asked him.

Frank just shrugged." We just always seem to be in sync. " Frank
smiled as he remembered how it always drove Joe crazy. "Besides it
annoys Joe to no end."

Nancy chuckled. "Glad to be of assistance." She smiled at him.

She looked at him. "I like you. Don't ever doubt that." She stated.

" I'm just not ready yet."

She waited for him to say something. He sat and thought for a minute.
Twice they'd come closer than maybe they were ready quite yet.

He swallowed and looked at her." One step at a time. Just even talking
is OK. There's a lot I don't know that I probably should." He looked
at her. He was slightly uneasy asking about what happened with Ned. It
had not missed his notice that she had said there was no one serious
since Ned. He wondered exactly why that was.

"What are you wondering about?" She asked genuinely curious. She knew
there were things about his past she wanted to know. She wasn't sure
how to ask.

"Well, you mentioned that there hadn't been anyone serious since Ned?
I can't imagine that there weren't opportunities." Frank said bluntly.

Nancy's brows rose. Well, he wasn't wasting time. Maybe getting this
out of the way wasn't as bad as she feared it might be.

"There were opportunities." She hedged trying to figure where to go
with this.

Frank waited silently. He got up for a minute and grabbed the saki
from the table and poured them both a glass.