Six ways to sunday.
Idiom
Meaning: Thoroughly or completely; in every possible way; from every conceivable angle.
Six Ways to Sunday
Chapter Seven- Recreational Flirting
Look alive you two," Bozer said over cons from his 'covert' place behind the bar. He's pretending to be a bartender for the night.
Riley rolls her eyes playfully then loops her arm through Mac's. They enter the gala arm in arm after giving their 'names' to the hostess.
This mission is different for Mac. It's been a while since he could concentrate on the mission one hundred percent without trying to keep track of Desi was mad at him about something. It's strange being in the field without her. Sure he's had missions without her before but it always felt like she was around the corner. Now it feels different. According to Matty she was traveling with Phillip to see his parents and resurrect himself basically. She would also be doing some recon for Matty while she was away for however long. Mac didn't know how soon she would be back just that she would return.
Riley passes him a champagne floor with a mischievous smile and said, "for appearances," she smirks when he takes the drink. He allows his eyes drink her in because it's impossible not to stare. She's wearing a floor length, black dress that was also moonlighting as her second skin. It makes him want to forget about the blackmailers posing as a charity foundation and just take her home and get her out of that dress.
He chugs the entire glass. Why did he love bad ideas? When he set the glass down on a passing waiter's empty silver tray, he catches Riley's questioning stare. He wants to tell her how ravaging she looks but isn't sure how would receive it. Nothing had really happened between them since he kissed her last week. Not from lack of trying. They had been busy with work and couldn't seem to talk about their blossoming romance while on coms the whole time. Though it didn't stop the flirting.
So much flirting. According to Bozer, they needed to be hosed off. Mac wants to chuckle just thinking about it. It's been a whole new world without guilt riding his chest for flirting with Riley. He could finally let his eyes linger on her. Find stupid excuses to touch her and check her out. Like tonight. He's never seen anyone wear a dress like Riley.
"I'm going to try to find a computer or server." Riley said.
"Two more minutes we have to blend in. Can you pretend you're having a good time?"
She frowns, "We'll see how gracious you come off with stilettos and spanks on."
Lowering his voice, Mac said, "The dress is appreciated. So are the stilettos." He thinks about all the times he couldn't outwardly compliment her like he wanted to. All the times he had to pretend that Riley isn't sex on legs.
"Don't let me get the hose you two," Bozer said on coms.
They both blush, always forgetting they were on coms. As annoying as Bozer is, he did make it seem like a joke. Mac thinks that's why Matty hasn't mentioned anything. Or maybe she was leading them into a false sense of security.
"Thanks for that Bozer," Riley said, fanning her flushed cheeks.
Mac laughs and pulls her to an unoccupied table in the corner. Sure, he wants to spend more time with Riley but he also doesn't want to come off suspicious by disappearing two minutes after they entered the gala. The small table gives them a good vantage point of the room while also giving them some privacy. Mac takes over com and she follows suit.
"Can we talk?" he said.
"We are talking," she said.
"You know what I mean. I meant about us." he said
"There's an us?" she teased.
"We kissed," he whispered.
"I remember, I was there"
"So...I thought it was a good kiss—great even."
The corners of mouth curved, "I agree with you."
"Then what are we doing right now? Shouldn't we be moving forward or something."
"You know I thought a lot about what I would do if you were single. But I'd never actually believed it would happen and now that it has...I just don't want to feel like your rebound…besides, isn't this fun?"
He knows she's referring to all the recreational flirting. And it has been fun but he wants more…
"Is that what you're afraid of?" She nods yes.
"Are you really going to make me wait?"
She leaned into him from over the table and hovers in front of his face only to whisper, "Yes."
He groans and she laughs, reclining to her original position.
"That's just evil." he said, pulling at his top button in a failed attempt to cool down.
She shakes her head and puts on her coms first. "I think we've pretended enough." she said. Macs nods and she saunters out of the ballroom in a strut that should be outlawed.
He follows a moment later to the chairman's office to do some old-fashioned sleuthing. While Bozer is cloning phones of the guests and Riley is trying to install a virus onto their servers, Mac breaks into the chairman's safe and begins snapping pictures of the documents.
"Major problem. I think the real Karolyn Vesper and her bodyguard just showed up." Bozer's alarmed voice comes over the coms.
"How are they here right now? Their flight got delayed...we delayed it." Mac said.
"Maybe we can ask those when we get out of her. The host is whispering something the head of security. You guys should get out of there." Bozer said.
"I'm almost done, Bozer can you stall? I need one more minute." Riley said.
"Distraction is my specialty."
Mac quickly replaces the files in the safe and sneaks back down the hallway where he thinks Riley is. He finds her on her knees in front of a server, replacing some yellow coloured wires.
Mac peeks out of the door and see three security heading their way, "three incoming, and armed." Mac said closing the door quietly and locking it.
"What are you doing?" Riley whispered.
"Out the door is no longer an option." He points to the vent. "Up we go."
Riley glowers at him and then the vent before kicking off the stilettos and gathering them in her hands.
"It'll be fun." He grins.
Five minutes later he's crawling behind her through the vents.
"You know, in case we don't make it out of here alive, you should agree to have dinner with me so I can die happy." Mac said. All he hears in response is her labored breathing as she crawls through the small space.
When they exit through a vent in the busy kitchen, they ignore the questioning looks from the kitchen staff and bolt out the employee entrance.
When they're in the alley catching their breaths, Riley turns to him and wipes something off his cheek with a soft smile.
"Go out with me?" he said, hoping it didn't sound desperate.
"I'll meet you guys at the extraction point." Bozer said.
Bozer's voice comes over the coms the same time they see two security guards rounding the building toward them. Instinctively, Mac takes Riley's hand and they high tail it out of the alley.
Only until they're one block away from the extraction point does Riley put on stilettos again. Mac offers his jacket and can't help but rub his hands over her shoulders as he puts it over her. She smiles appreciatively. He wants to press her on why she hasn't answered his question but doesn't want to slip back into bad habits. Before they can continue their root she takes his hand and stop him.
Mac finally feels like they're alone. Truly alone, coms off, in black of night. He thinks she's going to answer his question but instead she pulls him to her by the collar of his shirt.
He flattened a hand on the wall next to her face and captures her lips in a demanding kiss. Her body softens under his as he tilts his head and kisses her deeper. Her hands massage the skin on his neck as they lose themselves to the kiss. He claims her mouth with his tongue in a way that is now and familiar. He pulls away from her only to see the look in her eyes. He has to make sure she's feeling it too. From her pink swollen lips to her dilated pupils, he's pacified knowing he's not the only one.
"Dinner tomorrow night?" he said.
She nods as if in a trance.