NOTE: Well, here you go and the usual warnings apply. Nothing scary you will find...maybe something to make you snort, but who knows?
Everybody's Talking
There was a buzz and Matt hit the intercom button. "Yes?"
Monica's voice rushed at him. "I'm sorry Mr. Donnally, but Mrs. Pittman is on her…"
Gabrielle shoved his office door open with a smile plastered on her face. "He's got it sweetie, I told you I'd announce myself." She frowned. "Good help is hard to find these days."
"I'm really sorry Mr. Donnally; I wasn't sure what to do." The voice sounded a bit panicked from the intercom.
Matt sighed and glared at Gabrielle. "It's okay Monica, we'll be fine. Hold all my calls please." He released the button and sat back in his seat. He held out a hand toward Gabrielle, he'd dealt with her enough to know he couldn't give her too much leeway. "Please, sit and can I get you anything to drink?" He waited a beat and then stood.
She smiled at him and slid her coat off. She waited for him to take it and then she sat on the couch along the wall. "Scotch if you have it, vodka if you don't." She crossed her ankles and leaned into the couch as she watched him move through his office, first hanging her coat by the door and then to the small bar area he kept. She licked her lips. She wasn't going to deny that the man was pleasing to look at. Right now, without his jacket, his shirt was pulled tight across his shoulders since his back was turned as he fixed her drink…well she wasn't going to complain. She bit her lower lip and admired his ass.
He glanced over his shoulder. "I think you liked it neat?"
She blinked and slowly let her eyes slide up to his. She smiled and almost purred. "I like a man who remembers details." She held out her hand as he got closer and took the scotch. "So, what exactly did you want to discuss Matthew Donnally?"
Matt took the chair he'd been in earlier when he'd talked to Nico. He watched her, he knew she was eyeing him like the bitch in heat she was. She had a habit of doing that anytime she showed up at the office, well almost anytime. If Nico wasn't around she did. If Marshall was around she was twice as bad as usual. Nico usually took the brunt of her heated stares and pawing if he was there. Matt sipped his own drink and then set it down on the glass table beside him.
"I had a few questions and Nico seemed to think you'd be able to answer them." The corners of his lips lifted when the mention of the other man's name suddenly shifted her eyes from passionate possibility to ice cold distain.
She took a long sip, downing half her glass and then nodding. "Props for pouring the good stuff, but what the hell did that asshole think I could answer for you that he couldn't tell you?" She sat back, crossed her arms and held her glass against her chest. Her eyebrow was up in challenge.
Matt cleared his throat. "Well, he's dating my ex and…"
She laughed, interrupting him. "You want her back and you want me to help you?" She lifted her glass and downed the rest of the scotch. She shook her head. "I'm all for screwing people over, but I'm a bit above junior high antics, so if that's what you want, thanks for the drink and I'm leaving." She put the glass down and started to stand.
Matt grabbed her forearm before she stood and looked her in the eyes. "No, you misunderstood, please just hear me out."
She looked at him and smiled. "I'll hear you out, but you'll owe me Mr. Donnally. Are we clear on that?"
He couldn't believe that dealing with this half of the Pittman marriage was just as bad as the other half, but it was; hell, possibly worse. He doubted Marshall would ever ask him for certain favors that Gabby just might. He started to seriously consider if this had been a mistake. It was bad enough to owe Marshall a favor. Owing Gabrielle one? He nodded, "Fine."
She sat back and crossed her legs which dragged her skirt high on her thigh. "Fine, then I'll hear you out, but not here, over dinner. I already have reservations at Daniel at eight. Would you like my driver to pick you up?"
He watched her face and then was distracted as she adjusted the hem of skirt. The woman was beautiful; he wasn't going to deny it. He swallowed. "I can get there."
She smiled. "Parking is a bear that time of night, are you sure?" She uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, she saw the path of his eyes shift to her cleavage. "I don't want you to be late. Chef Daniel is a personal friend and he knows I'm coming, if I show up late…" she shook her head and pouted. "That's not going to happen Matthew now is it?"
"No." He shifted a bit uncomfortably as blood moved south. "But, you're right parking is a pain in the ass on Friday night in the city." His eyes moved to her face and caught her licking her lips as she smiled. God he was in trouble and he knew it. "I'll still be here at six thirty."
"Mm, then I'll have Brad pick you up here. If we're early we'll have a couple drinks then." She reached out and touched his jaw. "Do shave though, that's not going to do at all and I assume you have something to change into?" She ran her painted finger nails down the stubble on his cheeks.
Matt sat back and nodded. "I know how to dress for dinner Gabrielle." He stood and moved to his desk, breaking her hold on him. God she was getting under his skin and she knew it.
She smiled and moved to the coat hooks by the door. "I'll see you at eight then Mr. Donnally. I look forward to hearing your queries then." She took her coat, waved and sauntered out his door.
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Nico gathered the bowls and nudged Juliette as he headed toward the kitchen. "Help me with drinks." He gave her a stern look making sure she understood that there was to be no question and no complaint. He watched her look down and swallow, but she nodded.
He glanced at everyone else before he left. "How about picking a movie? We'll get popcorn."
Lindsay smiled and pulled the remote from her brother's lap and the bickering started.
Dani didn't even try to stop it. She was thrilled to hear it. Happy to have both kids home. She was happy that her daughter was healthy enough to be angry at her brother and arguing about what movie to watch and she smiled at Nico. "Do you need my help?"
He shook his head. "No, Juliette's going to help like I asked aren't you Juliette?"
The girl sighed and pushed up from the arm chair she was occupying. "Yea, I'm coming." She rolled her eyes and followed Nico into the kitchen and away from the discussion over action movie or comedy.
She leaned against the counter and watched as Nico rinsed the ice cream bowls and then she moved to take them and put them in the dishwasher. She didn't say anything. She just waited and hoped he'd let it go, but she knew he wasn't going to.
"So, what is it?" He rinsed a bowl and handed it to her. "It's not the drugs, so what is it Juliette?" He rinsed the five spoons, turned off the water and then leaned against the counter waiting for her to take them from him. He watched as she put the bowl in the dishwasher and then pulled the silverware from his hand. "I mean I know you're lying to me, hiding something. Did you get in trouble for something else? Fighting?" He sighed. "You've done that before, but usually you get your ass kicked out for that, so I figured that's not it."
She shut the dishwasher and leaned against the adjoining counter. She crossed her arms and looked at him. "Can't you just let me live my life?"
He smiled wryly. "I've tried that before and it doesn't work. Your parents did that most of their lives Juliette." He looked her in the eye. "This is exactly where it got you. I know you're technically an adult, but you aren't making very adult choices yet, so drop the bullshit and tell me what the hell you're avoiding me for, or better yet, stop doing things that make you avoid me."
"Fine, you want the truth? I like a guy in rehab and we sort of made out." She blushed and looked away. "I swear to you that's it."
Nico's breath left him in a long exhale. "That's all? You kissed a boy and you liked it?" He paused and mentally went through the list of men in the rehab center. He knew who was there and what they were there for. He pushed away from the wall. "Wait a sec, There are only four men there that are even remotely your type." He continued working on the men in his head.
She stepped toward him and cocked her head. "Hey, how would you know my type? She poked a finger in the center of his chest? I don't even know my type." She stuck her tongue out at him.
He looked down at her. "Well, you said it was a guy, so that eliminates the girls, not that there were that many."
She snorted. "No and none of them were my type at all."
He laughed. "You like guys with cash Juliette, so that puts them on your side of the dorm. On that side, there are," he closed his eyes and counted mentally for three seconds, "ten men, but only three of them meet the other two requirements."
"Those are what Nico?" She crossed her arms and flipped her hair over her shoulder.
He smiled. She wasn't letting it cover her face anymore. "Good looking with a good physique and there are only six in that category and then we have to bring it down to age. I'm pretty sure anyone over forty is pretty much out for you."
She frowned. "Okay, for the most part anyway you're probably right." She went through the list. On her list there were four men left, not three. "So, who's on your list then?" She challenged.
"Kevin Anderson, Nathan Berger and Henry Nunez, which one is it Juliette because I want more info on him?"
She smirked and shook her head. "You're the great Nico Careles. You should have to figure it out yourself."
He stepped away, moved to the pantry where he pulled out the popcorn and then he found the air popper. He measured and poured, placed the bowl from the top cabinet and turned it on. He grabbed Juliette's arm and looked down at her once the popper was loudly purring.
"Don't you dare play games with me Juliette. I know you remember how I can be and just because your father's dead doesn't mean I won't play hardball with you again." He sighed, let go of her arm and shoved a hand through his hair. "Now, tell me who it is or I will find out and when I do well, neither of you will like the result."
She bit her lip. "I really like him Nico. Like really, really like him and I think this could be different because he's different. He knows what this shit is like and how things are, you know living life like this…" she waved her hand around. "You know with people always watching you, seeing you…" she blinked back tears and then crossed her arms and hugged herself. "He understands it and gets things. I don't know what's going to happen and nothing has happened beyond that one kiss, which I stopped because it was the right thing to do. I don't want the relationship to start in rehab. I want to see what happens when we're out, but I don't want you." She glared up at him. "My guardian angel, surrogate father and all around pain in the ass Nico, fucking things up for me just because of who he is and what he's done and what you know about him."
She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and bit her lip.
Nico was confused. He looked down at her because he knew he was missing something. The popcorn popper was blowing hot air, the corn had finished and he moved to turn it off. He watched as she opened the fridge and went through the steps to melt butter in the microwave. He got glasses for drinks and poured and as he finished it hit him.
"Oh my god." He put the pitcher of lemonade down and turned to the girl who he considered his daughter. "I didn't even put him in the list Juliette because I thought you both knew better. I warned him."
She looked over at him and shook her head. "You can't keep me from seeing him if I want to see him Nico. He makes me smile and he doesn't treat me like I'm some special doll or princess. He doesn't treat me like I'm broken either."
"Do you know how many girls Terrence King runs through in a season; hell in a night he's had four, five in his room." He watched as she buttered the popcorn.
She nodded sadly. "Do you want to know how many men have been in my bed at a time Nico?" She looked up at him. "And I'm not talking about when I was too high to say no." She cocked an eyebrow at him. "When you're unhappy, you look for something to fill the hole inside you." She stirred the popcorn and poured more butter. "Drugs, sex, alcohol…any of it works for a short period of time." She looked up. "I did the same thing. It made the pain go away, it felt good, but in the morning you just feel worse. So, the next night you think, maybe six or seven guys or girls, it doesn't always matter, more alcohol, more drugs…"
He gasped. "I'm sorry Juliette, so damn sorry…" He pulled her into his arms, crushed her against his chest and held her. "I wish I could make the pain go away. I wish I could have been there then, to stop it. To stop them."
She clung to him, her tears wet his t-shirt and she nodded against him. "I know and you were there…you always were there when I called, but I pushed you away, pushed dad and mom away too." She pulled back. "Right now though, don't judge him by a different standard than you judge me, because that's what you're doing. If he's a horrible person for all the sex, drugs and partying, then so am I. You can't have it both ways. We're both recovering, yes. We both risk relapse, yes. But, we both know and understand that and I want to wait until we're both out before we try."
"That's probably one of the most adult things you've ever said to me." He smiled and kissed her forehead.
"So, you're not going to break his kneecaps?"
Nico snorted. "Well, I'd lose my job if I did that," He cocked his head, "So no, but I will threaten to cut off one of his balls and hang it from my rearview mirror if he hurts you." When she started to laugh he smiled. "Notice, I said one, he'll still be perfectly able to function with one intact testicle. I wouldn't ruin the rest of your life if things worked out for the two of you. I just want to inflict pain."
"The movie's ready…we're waiting on the popcorn." Dani sidled up to the counter. She took in Juliette's tear streaked face and Nico's concerned one. "Is everything okay in here?" She added with concern.
Juliette stood on her toes and pressed a kiss to Nico's cheek as she hugged him. "I think so. I love you, by the way. I'll take the popcorn out if you two get the drinks." She stepped back and on impulse hugged Dani too. "I love you too."
Dani hugged the girl. "I love you." She gave Nico a look over Juliette's shoulder.
He shrugged. "I love you, kiddo."
She snorted, popped some corn in her mouth and ducked out of the kitchen with the bowl under her arm.
Dani shot a concerned look at Nico. "You mind telling me what that was all about?"
He sighed and pulled her into his arms. He simply rested his chin on the top of her head. "Juliette has a thing for TK and she is insisting that I don't interfere. They haven't done more than kiss and she doesn't plan on anything more until they are both out of rehab. He understands her. His being a "player" is just his way of filling the holes in his life the same way she did with drugs, alcohol and sex, so I shouldn't judge him harsher than I judge her…" He said it all in a big rush and then sighed again, waiting to see what Dani would say.
"Hmm, well she's right and it sounds like she heard it in group therapy." She looked up when Nico pushed her back by her shoulders. "What? You don't think that's what he's doing with the girls and partying? He's looking to fill the loneliness, but what he wants is someone in his life to come home to, to be there for him."
"Really?" He shook his head. "TK wants one girl, all the time?"
"Yes, really, he's a good boy in a bad boy persona." She took his hand. "Let the two of them see what happens. It might explode, but she needs to learn what that for herself. A broken heart is a part of growing up. You had yours broken. It hurts, but it's part of life."
He nodded. "Okay. I'm still cutting off one of his balls if he hurts her."
Dani laughed. "What?"
Nico proceeded to tell her what he meant.
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Matt sat across from Gabrielle and waited as the wine was poured. She'd already selected something before he'd arrived and he had arrived on time, but she'd obviously been seated early. He wasn't surprised. She thanked the sommelier, but he waited as she picked up her glass and sniffed and then tasted the wine.
"Perfect." She smiled at him again and he nodded and then poured a glass for her guest.
"I'm glad you approve, Ms. Pittman. Is there anything else I can do for you?" He asked in a slight accent.
"No thank you Raj, I think we're good, as always." She touched his hand and smiled charmingly.
He nodded and moved off toward the back of the restaurant.
Matt picked up the glass and sipped. He was impressed. "This is very good."
She smiled. "Raj is the head sommelier," she leaned forward, "he'd only bring the best to my table." She leaned back and surveyed the crowd in the room as she crossed her legs.
Matt took in her change in clothes. She now wore a black dark blue dress, cut incredibly low across her breasts. There were diamonds at her throat and in her ears. Her heels were high and black and she licked her lips and he noticed they were deep red. He'd adjusted his own wardrobe to a dark suit, white French cuffed shirt and grey and black striped silk tie. He'd had client meetings at Daniel before. He had no problem knowing what was appropriate, though he'd be the first to admit that his current companion was by far the sexiest he'd been with.
"I'm sure he wouldn't dare bring anything else." He sipped and put the glass down.
"You do clean up nice Matthew. I figured you would and I took the liberty of ordering the six course tasting menu for both of us." She smiled again. "That will give us plenty of time for you to ask your questions and get your answers." She leaned closer. "I hope that's okay?"
What was he going to say, though he really hoped she was picking up the tab. Not that he wouldn't, but still, he didn't want to pay the what, at least two hundred dollars a person, plus wine costs. He smiled. "That sounds perfect Gabrielle; I hear the sampling menu is excellent here." He had heard that, though he never thought to experience it.
"It's quite exquisite." She looked up just as the waiter was bringing their first course. "And it looks like we're about to find out."
He watched as the food was placed in front of them and the waiter announced what it was with a flourish and then vanished.
"I hope you like squab." Gabrielle picked up her fork and started on the small salad watching him as she did. She was in control, just the way she liked it and she had no intention of letting that control slip.
Matt smiled and nodded, thinking to himself that he hoped he did too. "I do." He took a hesitant bite and it was good, so he ate and was pleased to find that the wine was excellently paired with the food.
It was quiet for a minute and then Matt asked, "So, can I ask you something?"
She set down her fork and dabbed at her mouth. She nodded as she reached for her glass. "I believe that is why you came." She sipped her wine and watched him.
"It's pretty much common knowledge that you were having an affair with Careles while you were married to Marshall, but at some point you broke it off with him. Why?"
She smiled. "Common knowledge?" She set down her glass. "That's rich since Marshall had no idea that I was sleeping with him. Sure, he knew I was sleeping with someone, and there were more someone's than just Nico Careles, by the way, but he did not know about Nico at all." She leaned closer to Matt. "So, tell me how it was common knowledge Mr. Donnally. I'm intrigued." She picked up her fork and continued on her salad.
Matt cleared his throat and speared more food, put it in his mouth and chewed. He gathered his thoughts as he tried to figure out exactly what he wanted to say. He swallowed and watched as the viperous woman across the small table scrutinized him. "Let's put it this way Gabrielle, every single time you came to the office without your husband you oozed sexuality around any available male, I won't deny that, but with Nico," he snorted and set down his fork. He picked up his wine, drank and then set it down as well. "With Nico Careles it was different. You oozed, but only for him. You ignored everyone else, except maybe in an attempt to make him jealous. The two of you went to dinner, the two of you took his car places and he was seen in your company more often than not. And don't go telling me it was because he worked for your husband. You always had your own security with you. You didn't need additional security and I saw footage of the two of you a bit too close for simple discussions a few times." He shook his head. "Oh, Careles is careful. He knows the angle of every camera in the office, but his hand would linger just a little too long sometimes. The same way it does with Dani Santino now." He nodded. "So yes obvious, if you cared to look."
Her eyebrow was up and she smiled. "Well bravo to the assistant GM." She lifted her glass and then drank. She kept her eyes on him as she did. She lowered her glass and licked the wine, a bit suggestively, from her lips. "Bravo, so you know we were fucking behind Marshall's back and you think I put an end to it?"
Matt looked up at her confused. He nodded. "Yes, and I'd like to know why."
She laughed, it was lyrical and she put her glass down just as the waiter came to remove their salad. She smiled and kept her eyes on Matt as they waited for Raj first to pour the wine in preparations for the next course. She lifted the glass, tasted and smiled at Raj. "This is wonderful as well. I can't wait for the food to accompany it."
"I'll tell the chef." He nodded and then was gone with a wink.
Gabrielle returned her gaze to Matt. "You have the wrong information Donnally. I didn't end the relationship, or whatever it was we had."
He gave her a confused look. "But I thought that…I mean…"
She shook her head and shifted in her seat. She uncrossed her legs and then recrossed one over the other. "What did you think?" She raised an eyebrow. "Nico has an unusually strong sense of right and wrong. It finally caught up with him when Marshall asked him to find out who I was with. Was that the first time he'd stopped sleeping with me? No. We'd been through it so many times through the years; I hardly thought it would last. Hell, I'm still not convinced he'll be gone for good this time." She laughed. "You have no idea, absolutely no idea."
Matt's eyebrow rose at that bit of information and then he shook his head again. "So, what the hell was Nico insinuating then?" He rubbed a frustrated hand over his face feeling like he let the other man play him. He wouldn't deny he deserved it, because he was the one who had started it. If he'd been played after all, he was the one who'd accused Nico of horrible things. "He said you'd tell me all about it, because you were pissed at him."
She snorted. "I am, because he left me. I loved him and needed him." She shifted and the toe of her shoe ran up the inside of his calf. Her eyes were on his as this happened.
He knew it wasn't an accident. "You don't love him anymore?"
She shrugged. "I don't know how I feel about him. I still could use him. He has certain useful skills. He's very good at scratching certain itches." She sat back again and picked up her glass nonchalantly and sipped.
The waiter was back with their second course. He smiled and announced it, again with a flourish and then was gone.
Matt watched as she began to eat and pick at her cod salad. He picked up his fork and ate. Again, the food was excellent and he said so.
She nodded at him, lost in her thoughts. She put her fork down halfway through her course and picked up her wine. "So, he said I'd tell you, did he?" She shot him an evil smile. "Hmm, well I guess if he wants you to know, then fine." She pushed the salad to the side, snagging a slice of artichoke from the plate delicately with her fingers. She placed it on her tongue and chewed. When she was done she licked her fingers while the man across from her watched. "What do you want to know?"
He swallowed. She was dangerous. Not just a little bit, but seriously, mind numbingly dangerous. He took a few more bites of his salad, finishing it and then eased the plate to the side. He picked up his glass and sipped before easing back in his chair. He watched her as he gathered his thoughts. He played the wine around in the glass and watched it swirl as he did he spoke. "There are rumors and no, don't ask how I know or where I heard them because it's all just whispers in the wind and I couldn't tell you exactly where I heard it, but there are rumors that Nico likes things a bit rough in bed." He looked up at her. "The rumor was that you kicked him out of your bed because of this."
If she wasn't in a completely public space with respectable people and a place that she wanted to return regularly, she would have burst out laughing hysterically. As it was, her shoulders shook with contained laughter and she set her glass down to dab her eyes with her napkin to preserve her makeup. "Oh…now that's rich." She almost snorted and then took a deep breath and shook her head as she waved a hand in front of her eyes to keep the tears at bay. "Wow," Her eyes were wide when she looked at Matt. "Really? I kicked him out of my bed because he liked it rough? Did you tell him that?" She giggled again.
Matt, again a bit confused and not sure what was so funny, nodded. "Yes, and he told me I should get the facts straight."
"Yes, you might want to." She smiled and picked up her glass. She drank and nodded when the waiter motioned to their plates. "Thank you." The waiter was gone in a flash and she focused back on Matt. "My, you have some interesting sources then. I just told you that it was Nico who ended things and over the years, it was always him who put the brakes on our relationship. Never me." She sipped from her glass and watched Matt's reaction. "I always wanted more from him." She waved her hand. "It's way more complicated a relationship than we could discuss over dinner and maybe even more complicated than you'd understand." She arched a brow.
"Try me." He heard the challenge in her voice and was willing to accept it. What was the worst that could happen? Was she really as dangerous as Nico warned him? She was a woman after all, not a wild animal.
She chuckled huskily. "Oh Matthew, Matthew, you are a bold boy aren't you?" She winked at him. "I'll tell you this; I was in love with Nico before I married Marshall. Marshall was in love with me. When Marshall saved Nico's live by paying for a team to go covertly in and rescue him Nico felt he owed Marshall, so he basically forced me to him. Up until that time, Nico and I were the couple. After that time, it was me and Marshall, but Nico and I could never quite quit each other." She smiled and then there was a pause as the next round of wine was poured for the next course.
When they were alone again, she continued. "Even after Marshall and I were married, Nico and me, well we still had our time. Marshall found out and as you know, Marshall didn't always handle things normally." She shrugged. "We were young, stupid and confused. Nico and Marshall were both scarred by war. Marshall more so and I was struggling to hold them both together. I'd grown to love Marshall by then and as wrong as it was, Marshall knew and encouraged Nico and I and then, it at times became a threesome." She watched Matt's face and wasn't surprised to see his shock.
"Oh my god." He picked up his wine and drank, downing half a glass.
The next course was placed in front of them and neither of them started immediately.
Then Gabrielle picked up her fork and motioned to the man across from her. "Now, if you want more answers, I'll gladly give them to you, but not during dinner. You owe me a favor I believe?"
He picked up his fork and cut a single ravioli in half. "I suppose I do." He lifted the fork to his mouth and chewed the bite. "God, that's wonderful."
She nodded. "Yes, it is. Isn't it?"
They ate in silence until Gabrielle had finished her entire plate. She set her fork down and wiped her lips. "So, after dinner you will accompany me to my hotel room and spend the night with me."
Matt choked on the food he was swallowing. He coughed, tears in his eyes as he stared across the table at the woman calmly sipping her wine. He wiped his mouth and took a sip of the water that suddenly appeared beside his plate. He looked up at the waiter. "Thank you."
"Is there anything else I can get you sir?" The waiter asked him sincerely, handing him a second napkin and discretely taking his first as well as their plates.
"No, no...thank you though." Matt picked up the water and drank. Thankful as he swallowed and his gaze returned to Gabrielle. When the waiter left and he could speak easier he leaned close, "What?"
She smiled. "You asked questions and you owe me a favor. I'm still willing to give you more answers, but really, you owe me even for what I've given you. So, like I said, you'll spend the night with me. I promise," She gave him a heady look through half open eyes. "You will get all the answers you want Mr. Donnally."
Nico's warning flashed into his head, but maybe that was just Nico being jealous. Damn, Nico had Dani, so why didn't he just take Gabrielle? Turn around is fair play…all is fair in love and war…keep your friends close and enemies closer. All sound advice and all fit his situation. He picked up the wine glass and eased back into his chair. He could definitely do worse than a night in bed with Gabrielle Pittman and seeing Marshall no longer owned the team and neither did she…"I'd absolutely love to Gabrielle."
A slow, sensual smile lit her face. "Well then, game on Matthew…game on."
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Dani stretched and yawned as the movie ended. She glanced over at Lindsay and noticed she'd fallen asleep. She smiled and motioned to Nico. "She didn't make it through."
He pulled Dani close and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "You want me to carry her up?"
"No, let me wake her slowly and I'll help her up and make sure she's okay." She leaned into him a second. "I'll meet you up there." She smiled and then stood and moved to the end of the couch where Lindsay was and shook her gently. "Linds baby, hey…let's head up to bed."
"Mom?" Lindsay jumped a bit and then blinked. She looked around. Saw her mother and then Nico. She saw Ray Jay and Juliette on the chair and then smiled. "Thank god I'm home." She sighed and nodded. "Bed, yea, sounds good." She glanced at Juliette. "You're sleeping upstairs right?"
Juliette smiled. "Right next door or I'll sleep with you if you want." She leaned up and twisted, popping her back. "I don't mind."
Lindsay smiled and nodded. "I might…" she looked at Dani. "Can you help me change mom, I'm still having a hard time getting my jeans off."
Dani nodded. "Sure, let's get you up the stairs then and Juliette can come up in a few." She glanced over her shoulder as she helped Lindsay up.
"Like I said, no problem." She smiled and then sank back into the chair beside a snoring Ray Jay. She glanced at Nico. "How do you boys do that?"
He rolled his head on the couch and looked at her. "What?"
She lifted her hand and motioned to the snuffling boy beside her. "Sleep through everything?" She rolled her eyes and then stood and moved to the couch. She watched as Ray Jay resettled himself on the chair and mumbled. "Every man I've been with, dad, him…hell, even you, though you I can't sneak past, but you'll sleep through things too."
He smiled and shook his head. "I only pretend, usually I'm more than awake." He watched her. "But I think it's a genetic thing." He shrugged. "Not sure."
"Hmm, well it sucks whatever it is." She simply sat beside Nico and stared at the blank TV screen. "Did you ever wish it?"
"Wish what?" He sat up, leaned his elbows on his knees and looked over at her.
"That I would have been yours?" She kept her eyes straight ahead. "You know for real."
He sighed heavily. "There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't wish it." He smiled sadly. "But that doesn't change how I feel about you. It didn't then and it doesn't now. I've always thought of you as my daughter in my heart and you're my god-daughter. Now, well…" He shrugged. "I feel I have more of a reason to keep you close and protect you. I feel your father would want me to. He was always the buffer for your mother and now that he's gone you need someone to be there for you."
She was quiet for quite some time and then she spoke. "Dad told me, when I was little that if anything ever happened to him that I needed to go to you; that I should call you first if we were out of the country. He made me promise."
"I never knew that." He grunted softly at the revelation, but then there was quite a bit he never knew about Marshall he was sure. "There's something I need to talk to you about too." He sat forward and looked at her again. "There's a problem with the ownership of the team."
"What exactly does this have to do with me?" She fiddled with the edge of a throw on the back of the couch.
"You need to sign some papers so that the sale can go through. It's just a formality. It gives the league the rights to act as your sales agent basically." He watched her face and saw when the realization that she still owned the team hit her. He knew she was shrewd. So much like her mother and father combined.
She smiled. "So, what you're saying Nico is that at this time, I own the team and they can't sell, unless I agree?" She leaned eagerly toward him. "I could just keep the team. Make it mine?"
He shook his head. "No. Your father's will states that the team will be sold, I'm pretty sure he wants you to have the money from the team, and your father had signed the forms already, but since you are now owner, we need you to sign a new set. It's really just a formality."
She sighed. "I'd love to have the team. Dad loved it and it would be a way to keep a part of him with me and it's fun to pretend it could be mine, but if I want to be with TK, there's no way I can own the team now can I?"
Nico shook his head. Her attitude showed maturity, maybe she was growing up. "No, you really can't." He frowned. "So, you'll sign the papers?"
"Yes I'll sign them, but not tonight." She leaned over and kissed the man beside her on the cheek. "I love you and thanks for always being there, even when I don't want you to be." She stood. "I'm heading to bed, or at least to keep an eye on Lindsay."
"Wake us if you need us."
"Then you better sleep in some shorts," she said over her shoulder, "because, I don't want to barge in on you au naturel."
He shook his head and watched her turn the corner. He picked up the popcorn bowl and stacked the cups before he nudged Ray Jay. "Hey kid, head up to bed."
"Yea, fine." He grumbled and stood up and then headed for the stairs. "Nico, you mind if I ask you something?" He paused suddenly, pivoted and turned to face the other man.
"Sure kid, what's on your mind?" Nico really was done with teen drama for the night, but he didn't have a choice. He carried the bowl and cups to the kitchen and expected Ray Jay to follow, which he did.
"Just curious, but did Juliette just say she was with TK and you not threaten to kill him, because I sort of remember a death threat if I looked at her sideways." He paused outside the kitchen. "What's the deal there?"
"The deal is, your mother doesn't want you involved with her and I'm dating your mother. Since, I'm dating your mother, I want her happy…" He paused, gave the kid a suggestive look. "You see how that needs to work. You get my drift here Ray Jay?"
Ray Jay coughed. "Dude, really?' He pulled a face. "That's my mom you know?"
Nico laughed. "I know and it didn't stop you and Juliette from commenting earlier about our bedroom activities, so I figured you wouldn't mind the discussion now." He got a bit more serious.
Ray Jay sighed. "Fine." He scratched his head. "But, really? Juliette and TK?"
He shrugged. "She's picked worse guys and I have some control over TK, so he's a hell of a lot better than most choices." He flipped the lights off and motioned toward the stairs. "I don't need to tell you that this goes nowhere. The press, your friends, no one finds out."
Ray Jay made a zipper motion over his lips. "Fort Knox man, nothing…CIA secrets."
"Okay, a simple yes was all I needed, but good enough." His phone chimed as they reached the bottom of the stairs. He motioned to Ray Jay. "Night kid."
Ray Jay headed up the stairs. "Night Nico, see ya in the morning…four miles right?"
Nico chuckled and nodded. "Yes, four and I'll be waking you up at six." He didn't look up as he pulled his phone from the pocket of his jeans.
It was a text from AJ. Just an update and it read: FYI, shut down 2 sites. Both vids present, no new source. Both codes out of EU.
He frowned and texted back his thanks and a good work. He headed up the stairs. He checked on the girls and told them both good night. They were sitting on Lindsay's bed chatting as he smiled, pulled the closed and then moved down the hall into the master bedroom.
Dani was just exiting the bathroom as he locked the door. She was rubbing lotion into her hands and up her forearms. She smiled at him and purred. "Mm, I was wondering if you got lost."
He met her halfway across the room and slipped his arms around her. He buried his nose in her hair and inhaled her scent. "No. I was just talking to Juliette. She was in the mood to talk and then, so was Ray Jay." He stayed there for a few seconds and let her go as he moved to the bathroom to ready for bed.
"She'd already told you what was going on. Was there something else bothering her?" Dani asked as she sat on the bed and rubbed lotion into her heels. It was quiet for a few seconds, then the toilet flushed and water ran.
Then Nico appeared in the doorway with his toothbrush. "Other than her being hot for TK…" He sighed "She just wanted to ask how I felt about being her surrogate father." He shoved his toothbrush in his mouth as he smiled and started brushing.
Dani knew he was holding something back. She followed him back into the bathroom. "You know, I'm still struggling with that some. Really, TK? Why is it someone at rehab? Oh, I'm not sure that's a good idea. Two recovering addicts? Does he like her back? Please tell me they haven't been screwing around in rehab. Corinne will kick them both out. Damn, I sound like I'm in junior high?" She giggled as she waited for Nico to finish brushing his teeth.
He spit and raised an eyebrow as he went back to brushing without confirming or denying anything.
She knew what he was doing. "Will you hurry the hell up?" She shoved his arm and laughed when he turned the water on, wet his hand and spritzed her with water. "You got me wet."
"Are you wet, or are you…wet?" He chuckled, spit, rinsed his mouth and his brush and then as he turned off the water, he side stepped to pin her against the vanity. He smiled down at her. He caught sight of his face in the mirror and wiped a streak of white, foam from the corner of his mouth with his thumb. His eyebrow rose. "You know, you'd probably look much sexier than I do with a messy mouth Danielle." He whispered suggestively against her ear.
She gripped his hips and shivered as she stared up at him. "God…the places you send my mind."
"Are exactly where I want them to be." He kissed a path from her ear to her lips and kissed her. Then he pulled back and answered her, suddenly serious. "Juliette and TK, hard to fathom I know." He watched her face and nodded.
"It is and it isn't. I mean right now they're in a similar place so they're bonding. Two addicts with money, they know the same people…" She shook her head. "I hope they don't do anything stupid." She closed her eyes. "I really wished they were both a little more settled, a little more mature. I'm just worried."
He smiled and cocked his head to the side as he pulled back arm's length. "Have you met her? Him? I could introduce you. She's the daughter of Marshall and Gabrielle, my god daughter, queen of unsettled and yes, all around maker of stupid choices. He's the star running back of the Hawks, on the front page of the sports section for, 'Look what the dumbass did now' on an ongoing basis." He laughed. "You don't think that this is classic Juliette and stupid TK, Dani?" He took a breath and his eyebrows pulled together. "Honestly, I think you were right earlier. They actually might be okay this time."
Dani moved around him. She hoped they were right. "I hope so, but the odds aren't good. They're both addicts, just recovering mind you and neither one of them has a solid clue about who they are or what they need. I worry about how the hell they're going to form a healthy relationship?" She was in the bedroom and she turned when Nico followed her. She was worried about both of them. She loved them both, or was really starting to love Juliette anyway.
Nico watched Dani sit on the bed and he understood her frustration. He felt it, but they had no right interfering. Hell, he wanted to tell Juliette no, but he knew if he did, she'd just double down and be all that more determined. She'd done it before. She was Marshall and Gabby's daughter after all. If he told either of them no, the same thing happened. He pulled his t-shirt off, folded it and placed it on the dresser and then slipped off his jeans.
Dani was distracted by Nico undressing even though she should be used to it. He undressed for bed every night, but her heart skipped a beat or two, she would swear it did, when he bent over to pick his phone up when it slid from the pocket of the jeans he'd just removed. She must have made a sound because he turned to look at her.
He smiled. "You're red Dani, what's got you all flushed baby?"
She shook her head. "Nothing, it's just warm in here." She stood and pulled the throw pillows from the bed and turned down the comforter. "I don't understand how you can be so calm about Juliette and Terrence." She huffed and climbed into bed, leaned back against the headboard and pulled the comforter up under her armpits like armor. She watched as he walked around to the other side of the bed casually. "I really did figure you'd be over there actually cutting off his singular ball like you threatened." She giggled.
He sat and as he took off his watch, set it on the end table and plugged in his phone. When he started speaking there was a smile in his voice. "Well, we can't control them Danielle." He finished, flipped off the light and rolled onto his side. He propped two pillows under his head and looked over at her. "Come down here and talk to me."
She sighed in resignation and slid down into the bed. She lay on her side and faced him. She blinked into the darkness. "I know we can't, but I'm worried and scared. I'm just not sure they should do this."
He reached out and pushed the hair off her cheek and smiled at her. "I know, but when you were with Ray, did your mom tell you he was bad for you?"
Dani snorted. "Hell no, ma loved Ray. Star quarterback, rah-rah…go Ray!"
He rolled his eyes; he figured Dani's mom would be like that. "Okay, but if she had, what do you think you would have done?"
"I would have married him anyway, just to spite her." She snorted. "Hell, I should have not married him to spite her, but I got pregnant with Ray Jay, so…and I know what you're saying. I get it, but the therapist side of me sees all the bad decision parts of this and is screaming, 'Don't do it!'".
He pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head and rolled so that she was resting against his chest. "I hear you. I want to tell them the same thing and if he hurts her, I'm going to kill him, because I know how to hide a body so no one finds it."
She pinched him and kissed his chest. "I love you so much, you know that right?" She looked up at him from his chest. "I love that you say you'll do that and you never would. I love that you actually could do that." She snuggled against him. "It makes me feel safe." She shivered and pressed against him. "You'll never know how much it means to me knowing that…what…thank you for bringing my baby home Nico." She sniffed softly against his chest as emotion suddenly overwhelmed her. "Hell, I don't even know where that came from."
"Shh." He kissed her temple and her forehead and pulled her closer. "You don't have to know. I'm here baby and you're welcome. I love you and I'd do it again and again for you, Lindsay, Ray Jay or Juliette." He tilted her chin up so he could see her face. "You mean the world to me."
She smiled and wiped her face, then pressed it against his chest and shoulder. "I don't know what I did in this life to deserve you, but I'm glad I did it."
He pulled her closer and held her. He wanted to tell her that there was no way it worked that way because if he got the person he deserved he'd be stuck with Gabrielle Pittman for all eternity. He almost laughed and for a split second he wondered what happened with Donnally, but Dani's sweet body was pressed against him and her hand was wandering over his hip as she lapped as his right nipple.
"I thought you were tired Danielle?" His voice was lower than before and he lifted his hips slightly against her palm when her hand brushed against him. He smiled as she stroked him and he hardened quickly. He moaned as she wrapped her hand around him and stroked up and down.
"I am."
"Then what are you doing?" He didn't stop her, he let her play, just lay as he was on his back while her hand jacked him off. He groaned when she paused and pulled the covers from them. The cooler air hit him and he gasped. He smiled when she sat up on her knees and pulled her knee length night shirt over her head. "Mm, much better." His left hand trailed up the outside of her thigh to the curve of her hip and teased to her navel. He watched her face as two of his fingers moved lower, lower, to her curls, and then he brushed over her clit. He slid his fingers one on each side of the sensitive nub and started a rhythm of back and forth. "Don't stop what you were just doing baby…"
Dani was mesmerized by his touch. It was different, pressure on both sides at the same time, friction and a pulling but pushing sensation all at once. She blinked when he spoke to her. His voice was thick with need. She swallowed and shifted closer. It changed the angle of his fingers and she gasped, which then changed to a short moan as she reached for him and took him back into her hand.
His closed briefly and then opened. "Wet your hand for me." He slid his fingers against her clit, pinching lightly as he did, she was slick and there was little friction as his fingers moved over her. "Do it Dani."
He waited and arched into her palm. God, watching her was so damn hot. She was straining against his hand, her nipples were hard. She was moving into his palm and stroking him. That alone was almost enough to get him off. He smiled when she let go of him and lifted her hand to her mouth.
She smiled at him. He had her on fire. Why what they were doing had her so turned on she didn't know, but watching his face was killing her. She kept her eyes on his as she opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue. She licked her palm and felt almost dirty doing it, but it sent heat through her. She was sure to slick her palm well, and her fingers and then she licked the bottom edge of her little finger.
He moaned, his cock jumped and then her hand was around him again. "Fuck yes." He slid through her slick hand as he raised his hips. "Mm, perfect." He watched her face and thrust upward. "Very nice baby, I like that."
Dani twisted and pulled as he jacked him and rocked against his fingers. She really wanted more. She wanted to feel him inside her, but this was intoxicating. She bit her lip and thrust against him. Her head fell back, but she kept watching Nico. He was sexy and breathtaking in his pleasure. "Oh god…yes…Nico." She moaned when he slid his fingers further back and they just barely dipped inside. Her body reacted by tightening around the tips of his fingers. "Oh god…" Her eyes went wide.
He smiled at her and repeated the same motion over and over, shallowly dipping his fingers inside until he knew she was going to go over the edge. "So close Dani…I feel it…" He teased her again, thrust up into her palm and then let his fingers slide deep inside.
She moaned, her legs shook, her thighs almost shaking the entire bed. "Nico, oh my god…" She somehow managed to keep some kind of motion going with her hand, but it was in starts and fits. "Oh, fuck…" Her body clenched around his fingers as waves of pleasure shook her. She rode them and watched his face as he smiled up at her. She could tell he needed her. She smiled back at him, leaned forward as she panted over him and then she kissed him slowly. She tasted the toothpaste he'd just used as she deepened the kiss and drew him into it.
He let her kiss him and pulled his fingers slowly from her as her body relaxed him. Her hand was still stroking him, though it was almost an afterthought as she kissed him and he was getting more desperate as the kiss deepened. By the time she lifted her head and smiled down at him, he was about to say something, but he didn't have to.
She reached for his hand and pulled his fingers into her mouth.
He moaned and arched up into her hand sharply. "God, Danielle…"
She smiled, licked off his fingers and then pulled them from her mouth. "What do you want?"
He groaned. He hadn't meant to make this about him. This was simple sex, give and take. He lifted his hips into her hand. "God Dani, I want to cum so badly right now, but your mouth please." He lifted his hand to her shoulder and slid it into her hair. "Oh god, that's what I want." He watched her lick her lips and smile at him as he gathered her hair.
Dani groaned. There was something about hearing him tell her he wanted her that way. It sent heat straight through her. "Oh god…" She settled by his hip and still holding him she lowered herself over him. She watched his face as she licked the tip of him and then swirled it around him. She flattened her tongue and let him slide nice and deep inside, then sucked as he pulled most of the way out. She watched his face as she did this.
Nico kept her hair lightly fisted in his hand and lifted his hips as she lowered her head. "Yesss, Dani...oh fuck yes." When she gradually increased her pace, he followed, but did press. He watched her and he had already been close. He groaned and pulled at her hair. "Dani…I'm gonna cum baby."
She smiled around him. She knew. She felt the way his balls tightened against his body and she sensed the rising tension in his muscles, the way they twitched and pulled. She heard the hitch in his breathing. She caught his eye and nodded slightly even as she doubled her efforts and took him deeper. She struggled some to accommodate him, and she breathed out as she lifted her head quickly from him.
She licked her lips. "It's okay." She took him back in her mouth and tried not to laugh at his face because it was priceless and if she could take a picture, she would.
He moaned, he loved her so much and god he wanted to kiss her, spank her, fuck down her throat and a few other things right now. He tightened his hand in her hair and canted his hips, not because he was taking over, but because instinct took over. The urge to thrust was overwhelming as the need to cum rose up and he used the hold on her head to keep her from taking him as deep as she probably would have and to keep himself from thrusting down her throat, because he saw what he wanted and struggled not to take it. He threw his head back and came in three shallow thrusts with his back arched on the bed as he gasped and groaned.
"God…Danielle…Shit…what you do to me…" He looked up to see her smiling at him and wiping at her mouth with her hand as she swallowed. His hand massaged the back of her head and he pulled her down onto his chest because he didn't feel he had the energy to sit up quite yet. He smiled at her, sated and out of breath. "You didn't have to do that."
She wiped her mouth again. "I know, but I wanted to." She looked at him sheepishly.
He leaned in, cupped the back of her head and pressed her to head toward his. "That was amazing." He brushed her lips with his and then his tongue slid against her mouth. When she tried to pull back he didn't let her, but deepened the kiss. His tongue stroked against hers slowly until she moaned and kissed him back.
Dani didn't want him to kiss her quite so deeply. Shit, really not after what she'd just done, but he wasn't letting up and his hand was pressing her closer and finally she gave in with a moan. Her tongue skimmed along his and then clashed against with it. There was a small battle; all parry and thrust and her hands curled in the hair on his chest until she was forced to come up for air. She pulled away with a small gasp and her glazed eyes blinked at him, out of focus and hazy as she smiled slow and languid. She felt like melted butter and her muscles were heavy and warm.
He smiled at her, kissed her nose and pulled her close. "Let's get some sleep." He bit back a yawn rolled half to his side, taking her with him. He tucked a pillow under his head and angled it so Dani's head rested on it instead of fully on his arm. He smiled when she snuggled her nose to his chest.
"Mm, sleep sounds good." She rubbed a foot up his leg.
He nodded. "Yes…it does." He managed to nudge the comforted high enough up the bed with his foot, so he could snag it with his right arm. He pulled it up over them both. "I'll see you in the morning."
"M'kay." She mumbled and snuggled under the covers.
NRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNR
Matt wondered why he'd agreed to go to her hotel room. He wondered why he hadn't listened to Nico and he wondered how he was going to ever think of Gabrielle Pittman the same again. He was also going to give Nico some serious credit for dealing with her, because he winced as he turned off his shower and then reached for a towel. He was sore as fuck after last night.
The woman had an appetite for sex, and pain and the two mixed in not equal measures. She liked handing out pain and she didn't mind asking for it either, but the bruises on Matt's ass and back from her nails, teeth and those wicked heels. Now, he understood why she wore them and why a knife and the shoe shared a name.
"Holy fuck." He looked at a particularly nasty bruise on his chest, most likely from the heel of a shoe. He rubbed at it and then winced again. "How did Nico survive her?" He shook his head and then turned to his bedroom. He was going back to bed. She'd had him up most of the night and god, it hadn't been in a good way.
He fell into his bed and pulled a pillow over his head before he pulled the sheet over his naked body. She'd told him that with Nico it was about her getting the pain, not him. Well, that was not what he'd wanted to hear. He moaned and rolled stiffly onto his stomach. He was sort of hoping that if spankings were involved between Nico and Dani that Dani was the one holding the proverbial hairbrush. He got comfortable, sighed and closed his eyes. "No dreams from last night…no dreams from last night…no dreams from last night…"
He didn't want to see Gabby in a red and black corset. He didn't want to see himself eating her out because she said so. He didn't want to see himself on the floor, on his back as she walked, literally, all over him in those damned spiked heels. No, he didn't want to see that, and dammit it wasn't going to get him hard, that's for fuck sake.
