SEARCH AND RESCUE
The West Wing and its characters are the property of Aaron Sorkin, Warner Brothers and NBC. No copyright infringement is intended.
RATING: NC-17
ARCHIVE: Please, be my guest and thanks.
Search and Rescue
Friday nights are for fun and frolic, for letting go of the week that was and gearing up for the week ahead. For most people, it's a signal that it's time to relax. Not always true if you're a mover or shaker in Washington, D.C. Or not always true if you cover their actions.
Danny Concannon, Senior White House Reporter was planning an evening with White House Secretary C.J. Cregg. Maybe dinner, maybe a movie, maybe dancing or maybe just a quick trip for take out and an even quicker trip home to her place for a long, lovely evening of passion. There were no set plans.
And then there were no plans at all.
C.J. Cregg called a full lid for the Press Corps after President Bartlet, the First Lady and Chief of Staff Leo McGarry departed for Camp David. Then she dropped a lid on her simmering plans with Danny. An immediate response was needed on some matter.
Toby Ziegler and Josh Lyman decreed that they along with Sam Seaborn and C.J. would work on it, no matter what the day of the week, time of day or plans. She stopped by Danny's cubicle to inform him of the roadblock. She'd been a bit disappointed but Danny knew her dedication to Jed Bartlet would win out.
Danny gave C.J.'s hand a squeeze and a kiss that scraped across the knuckles. It left her sighing with eyes closed. She shook herself out of the state when Josh yelled for her. "Sorry, another time," she whispered and disappeared.
The red headed reporter weighed his options. He could go to C.J.'s office to try to distract her or offer to help. She'd put her no nonsense face on so that seemed like a losing effort. Danny could camp out in front of her apartment door or keep working. He decided the hell with all those choices. He'd go home and live to love another day.
*********************
Once there, he shunned work. Plenty of time to catch up on research and correspondence later. Danny gave himself the evening off, it was Friday night after all.
He changed into ancient, soft, comfortable sweats that knew his body well. He loaded the stereo with favorite CDs and hit the shuffle button. The variety would make things more interesting.
Danny settled on to his couch with a stack of magazines he'd meant to read. Most of his free time these days went to C.J. or keeping up with his son living out of state.
Plus Danny was writing another book on Abigail Bartlet. That meant his down time on Air Force One was spent in research or figuring out a way to grope C.J. in the galley of the plane.
A smile danced over his face. C.J. had ignited something in him. There were times when Danny felt like he was back in high school. He was afraid to stand up after Press Briefings just like he'd been afraid to stand up after Health Class.
Before C.J. or just the thought of C.J. reduced him to a pile of hormones, Danny turned back to the article. It was about fantasy baseball. He contented himself with the second best sport and its nuances. Some Bob Seeger music pounded in the background.
He'd read long enough to have a grasp on the subject and to be hungry. Since a Dodger Dog or a regular foot long wasn't an option he considered calling for a pizza. A couple more paragraphs...then the doorbell rang. Danny got up carrying the magazine. He'd heard of "Mystic Pizza" but not Psychic Pizza.
He opened the door and found C.J. on his doorstep. "Hey", his face lit up in delighted surprise. He pulled her inside, tossed aside the magazine and reached to kiss her.
She batted his hands away. "You're here." C.J.'s tone made it sound like a crime.
"Obviously."
"Why are you here?"
"I live here." He told her as he closed the door and wondered if he'd made a mistake answering it. This was not the sweet, loving, sexy woman he desired. This was someone who was mad at him but he couldn't figure out why. And he wasn't sure he wanted to know.
"I went looking for you Danny. You weren't at the White House, you weren't at the paper." She was pacing in front of him.
"That's 'cuz I'm here."
"I can see that." There was fire in her eyes and for some reason that amused Danny.
"Hey, C.J., if you're going to wear a path in my carpet, take off your shoes. The carpeting was just cleaned." He figured he'd gauge her mood.
"Fine. That's what occupies your mind." She kicked off shoes and trouser socks. C.J.'s pacing resumed. "Our plans for the evening are canceled and you don't care."
"I do care"., he started to speak.
"No you don't. You're nowhere to be found. Why didn't you pop into the office to try and distract me? Or bring me dinner?"
He ran a hand through his hair. Danny was exasperated. "Did you want me to do that? You seemed pretty definite about my dismissal."
"Since when do you ever listen to me?" C.J. stomped her foot, then began repeating the back and forth path in front of him. "We had Friday night plans, they get tabled and you leave."
Danny laughed and was fixed with a withering look. "It's not funny, Danny. I am tired of being under the microscope or being taken advantage of or in your case, not taken advantage of."
"I can take care of that C.J. easily enough. How about something to drink? And also..." He moved to take her into his arms and ended up with the back of her jacket as she twisted away.
"Forget it. You're in the same class as the men I work with. No one pays attention to my needs or concerns." C.J. moved away, leaving Danny to pull her jacket the rest of the way off.
She didn't even notice to Danny's amusement. C.J. just continued to rant and rave. It was unlike her to be so unaware of her surroundings. The target of her wrath was now her Senior Staff cohorts. Danny vaguely heard Billy Joel's "A Matter of Trust" playing as the soundtrack to her diatribe. "They don't have lives so no one else is supposed to have a life. Just because they're losers do I have to be?"
Danny started to answer but she took her tirade in another direction verbally and physically. She started making a path up and down the hallway. "I'm trying to work, trying to get through that damn report. But I can't concentrate on it. I keep thinking of you, of us, of what I'd like to do to you, have you do to me."
"Great." He paced with her and turned her toward him. "Let's get that started." He reached for the buttons on her blouse and got the top one undone on the camp shirt. "That's flattering."
"Oh is it? I go looking for you to tell you this and you're not there." His effort to get the next button open happened just before she moved away to rail some more.
"Okay, I'm sorry." And Danny was, sorry she was upset and sorry she was being so elusive. How was he going to get close enough to kiss her, let alone nudge her into the bedroom if she wouldn't focus on him?
"I'll bet you're sorry. I have all this, this, this pent-up energy and nowhere to expend it." Danny moved to the last button on her short-sleeved top. He succeeded and then C.J. shoved at him. "So I had to work, Danny."
The push had him off balance but he bounded back. He noticed C.J. was so ticked she didn't notice her blouse gaping. Danny wondered how long his luck would last. He tugged at the collar in the back and started to gently pull off the blouse.
C.J. went off on another tangent about dense men and he slipped the blouse off of her. The irony didn't escape him. It was amazing; she was in a lacy bra and seemed none the wiser or chillier. Danny decided to go for broke when the moment presented itself. He was intensely entertained. C.J.'s righteous sense of indignation was leading him to some interesting thoughts.
Danny forced himself to concentrate on her words. She said, "I finished my part of the report, no small feat since I had a hard time focusing on the content and its meaning. I took my part over to Josh and I got quite a surprise."
"What happened, C.J.?" Danny's tone was casual as his eyes were busy deciding whether or not he should move.
"He wasn't there. So I went looking for Sam, same deal. Then Toby, a clean sweep. I hit their pagers."
Danny maneuvered her against the hallway showing intense interest. "Wow. Was this before or after you hit the roof?"
"Cute."
"Who called back first?" Danny braced one hand on the wall next to her. With the other he casually reached to her pants. He slid open the hook and pulled the zipper down. To his astonishment, she didn't seem to notice. Danny was careful to conceal his smile of triumph.
"I think Josh drew the short straw. He called. I could barely hear him over the bar noise. They sneaked out to get something to eat."
"Ouch."
"Yeah. I was left behind to work, to be the glue, the drudge. Well, I'd had it. I'm tired of being forgotten, ignored, unappreciated."
"I haven't forgotten you, I'm not ignoring you, in fact I'm about to really appreciate you." He moved her pants off her hips and let them pool to the floor. Still, no response from C.J.
"Danny, that's easy to say. But you weren't there, you don't know."
He took a step closer to her. "I know this C.J., you knew enough to come here."
"Don't flatter yourself."
"Shut up." Her eyes widened at his strident tone. He inched closer. "Subconsciously, you knew what you wanted. I've nearly undressed you with nary a protest."
"What the hell?" C.J. looked down at herself and jolted at the realization that he was right. Then she was jolted to a whole different place when Danny slipped his fingers under the lace at her hips and quickly plunged them into her center.
He heard one long gasp of shock trailing into elation. Danny watched her eyes glaze over and felt her quiver. That one movement found C.J.'s center open, wet and hot. She closed around his fingers and the sensations carried her head back against the wall.
The CD player pumped out Bruce Springsteen singing about "Fire." C.J.'s gasps, moans and sighs added to the soundtrack as Danny enjoyed her reaction. He continued to play his fingers in that welcoming velvety softness between her legs. His mouth claimed hers in a kiss. He met no resistance. She'd wanted him without even knowing it; he could still taste the breath freshener she'd used. C.J. tasted of mint and madness, peppermint and passion. Danny knew this was just the first stop they'd make tonight in their quest for relief.
"You aren't doing much complaining now, C.J."
"What?" C.J. leaned against the wall. Danny's fabulous fingers had drained her of anger but not curiosity. "How did I get like this?"
"I'm a master at the art of allurement and seduction."
"No, really."
He answered that first by tickling her again where his fingers had stayed. As she started to sway, he stopped. "Simply put, I was paying attention. You weren't."
"I can't do this."
"No problem. I can handle things, as you know. You can just enjoy."
Before she could protest, Danny bent his head to her chest and dropped kisses along the line of her bra. C.J. reached for his shoulders to balance herself. She then grabbed onto his sweatshirt's shoulders as he slipped his tongue under the fabric to taste her. It was glorious and goose bumps started to cover her skin.
Then Danny took his hand and flipped open the front hook on her bra. He slid her underwear down in a quick motion.
"Danny, you shouldn't, I shouldn't, we shouldn't."
"Thanks for the language lesson, C.J. But I did, you will and we can. Step out of your clothes." He softened the order by caressing her exposed breasts and bestowing a small kiss on her lips. "Please."
C.J. found she didn't want to disagree. She decided he might be right. A quick tangle of the sheets and she could go back to work without feeling deprived. That was probably all Danny wanted too, she rationalized. She'd make it up to him some other time. "Fine.", she agreed.
Danny pointed her down the hall as she stepped out of her remaining clothes. He guided her with a gentle hand on her shoulder. And the tension he felt in her muscles convinced him C.J. wanted to couple and run. But Danny was determined to make it a night of long, languid love.
In the bedroom doorway, Danny hit the light switch so C.J. could find her way. It lit the nightstand lamp, its base partially obscured by books. More light streamed into the room through the curtains on the terrace door. The colors were grays and greens, cool but masculine. C.J. thought it was a great reflection of Danny.
She noticed some clutter, but it wasn't messy. She walked near the bed and gestured to the exposed sheets and blanket. "Your bed's not made." She said it in an accusatory tone.
"Don't jump to conclusions. I wasn't planning anything or entertaining someone else. Sometimes I make it, sometimes I don't."
"Isn't that true of so much in life?," she mused. "Guess that saves us some time."
C.J. moved to wrap her arms around his neck to pull them onto the bed to get things going.
He caught her arms and braceleted them over her head. "Don't rush. We have all the time in the world don't we, C.J.?"
"Sure. Of course. I was just anxious. After all, you're still dressed."
"Does that bother you?" He pulled the covers away. "Lie on your stomach, please."
"My stomach? Danny, what's going on?"
He didn't answer, just stood there and waited. She gave in grudgingly. "Be mysterious." C.J. climbed into the bed to lie face down. The pillows smelled of Danny and she took a deep appreciative whiff. She exhaled quickly as Danny began to touch her. But it wasn't in a sexual way, it was to massage her shoulders.
It felt superb as he kneaded the area between her shoulders and neck. Despite her hopes for a mad romp of sex, she began to relax and enjoy Danny's hands soothing away the day's stress. His silence added to a growing feeling of peace. "Danny, you don't have to do this."
"I know, but I like looking at your long, lanky lines from every direction." Something classical filled with flutes and strings played on his stereo. C.J. tried to identify it but as his hands began to now rub out the kinks in her back she stopped trying to work her brain that hard. He was succeeding. Danny could tell there was an easing of tension by the way her body felt under his fingers. C.J. confirmed it with an occasional murmur of contentment.
Danny did love her body, front and back. He'd come to enjoy trailing his fingers down the long line of her spine. It always made her shiver. They both became aroused when he concentrated on the small of her back. That was one of the spots that was incredibly sensitive on her.
He knew if he traced small circles there now the massage would move from relaxing to foreplay. He could kiss her there and things would start to heat up. They had been together long enough to know and enjoy these intimate details, the small secrets shared by lovers in darkened rooms.
But there was always room to improvise. He brushed her hair from her neck. C.J. expected him to run his fingers down her back. She looked forward to it. Instead, Danny nipped at her ear lobe, then bit gently at her shoulder blade. C.J. shuddered with delight.
Danny pressed his advantage. He ran his fingers down that familiar path then followed the same trail with his lips. C.J. was growing anxious for him to continue. She took a deep breath and caught Danny's scent on the pillows as she imagined him ready to trace those tiny circles on the small of her back.
He surprised her by rubbing his beard in that spot. The whiskers were a contradiction: half soothing, half arousing. It was so typical of Danny and the inventive ways he wooed her. He took steps to make her feel special and valued.
C.J. purred and began to twist under his actions. He wanted to turn her over and lose himself in her. But Danny needed to take more time tonight. He sensed C.J. still held on to an illusion of self-control. Danny was going to shatter that and allow her to lose herself in passion.
The nuzzles from his beard became soft kisses from his lips. Then little licks and bites that alternated with the kisses. He felt C.J. shift her weight to push herself deeper into the bed. She moaned when his fingers danced over the area. He dipped them to caress her ass, then quickly moved them under her to find her wet core. On her next moan, he returned to the small of her back.
She was off-balance but heard him say, "You know, C.J., I'm not a big fan of tattoos but this is a beautiful spot for one on a beautiful body."
The idea made C.J. laugh and one more layer of tension streamed out. It was one of the glories of their relationship. As lovers they weren't just matched well physically, they had become familiar with each other's needs. She needed to feel desirable and cherished. He needed to know he mattered to her. "Danny, I want to look at you, to touch you, to be with you."
She flipped to her back without any objections from him. She started to reach for him. "How come you're still dressed?"
"Why is that such a big deal to you?" He straddled C.J. and allowed her to get her hands nearly to his sweatshirt. He then grabbed them and moved them over her head. They lay center to center and even through the material they felt each other's heat. "Admit it, C.J., this is erotic. You're exquisitely naked and I'm clothed and in control."
To prove his point, he swooped down to kiss her when she opened her mouth in protest. The words died quickly, reborn as sighs and gasps when his tongue tangled with hers. He nipped, sucked and licked his way through her lips and mouth. Then Danny began to kiss her again deeply, enjoying her sultry, exotic taste.
C.J. wanted more. She tried to get her hands free, to run them over his body to take some control, to possess him. He held tight and continued his incredible assault on her mouth. Her only defenses were to answer the kisses fiercely and to twist her body under his. She felt him growing hard against her center and that made her more frantic.
Danny felt the change and adjusted his actions. He changed his target to gently move his tongue on the inside of her ear. The change in speed along with that location caused a new discovery. She murmured approval and he felt a small shiver run through her. He repeated the gesture, then moved his now gentle lips to her mouth.
But before she could respond to the kisses he was letting go of her hands and streaking his down her body. Her power to reach for him was gone, destroyed by his actions. He swiftly pulled himself off of her and moved a hand between her legs. It was one more shock to buffet her system. C.J. wasn't sure where these feelings of pleasure were starting but that all seemed to end in that spot. She wanted more but wasn't ready to ask.
Danny watched her eyes become darker and lose some of their focus. He knew a few more caresses or a few flicks of his tongue in that lovely place would send her over the edge. That was too simple, not enough for what she needed tonight, for what he wanted to give her.
He stroked her inner thighs and called her name. "C.J., stay with me. It'll be worth it. Baby, this is just the start."
She didn't want to be patient. She tried to grab him, to distract him, to get him inside her. The cool, plotting woman who by now had planned to be on her way back to work was desperate. C.J. no longer cared about returning to her office with her edges dulled. She just wanted to lose herself in Danny and let whatever happened, happen. It was a new revelation. Why didn't he want that, too?
Danny worked his way to the foot of the bed. "Ever since our first time, I've been fascinated by your secret. What color polish is on your toe nails tonight?"
Before C.J. could answer, Danny had taken her foot and began to massage it. This was a different kind of heaven and C.J. lost herself in the kindness Danny was showing. "Do you like the color?"
He switched to the other foot. "I didn't expect Cotton Candy Pink. It looks delicious." Danny proved the statement by moving his mouth down to nibble and lick at her toes.
C.J. understood what he meant by this scene being erotic. She was in his bed, surrounded by his pillows and his scent, naked and vulnerable. He was clothed and taking control not by sheer strength or intimidation but by caresses and kisses. "Danny, stop."
"Why?"
"I don't know. I can't think."
"There's no need for thinking, C.J., just feel. Let yourself feel."
"That's not who I've been."
"Forget all that." He'd begun to work his way back up her legs with kisses and strokes. "Better yet, I'll make your forget it." He parted her legs and moved gentle hands over her thighs, the creases at her torso and just above her center. She began to breathe unevenly, anticipating his hand or tongue going there.
Once again, Danny shifted the balance of seduction. He let her catch her breath, moving up her torso with kisses. She reached a hand to him. He took it, kissed it on top and then on the palm, nibbled at her fingers then moved it to her center. Her eyes opened wide in shock. "C.J., you see how open you are. There's so much to enjoy and experience."
Danny used his mouth to tease the nipples on her small, sensitive breasts. His hand remained over hers, guiding it into her core. C.J. felt like she was being ripped apart by the waves of pleasure. When he had her nearly at orgasm, he pulled their hands away. She moaned, partly in disappointment, partly in desire. But, she trusted Danny not to abandon her.
He didn't. He rubbed his chest on hers to remind her that he still wore clothes. Then he moved his hands slowly over her. He stimulated every inch, bringing all her nerve endings to life. His mouth then followed the same path. C.J.'s taste was as essential to him as water.
She felt the whiskers in his beard and mustache that tickled, the touch of his lips that tingled and the bite of his teeth that titillated. Danny traveled from her throat to between her breasts. C.J. was torn. She couldn't stand much more of this, but wanted it to go on until she was satisfied.
His mouth again claimed her breast, he used his tongue the nipples. Then his teeth, then his beard. She bucked in pleasure from the beard tickling that delicate skin. C.J. watched him enjoy her breasts and it added to her feelings of floating. She whimpered and ran her hands through Danny's hair. "More please, Danny. God, you are so good at this."
He was torn. He felt pride in his ability and the fact that she was enjoying herself but annoyed she was still having coherent thoughts. Time to nudge her to the next level.
His tongue traced a line down her body, pausing for a few lazy turns on her flat stomach. The muscles contracted under that motion.
Then Danny plunged his tongue into her. Danny kissed her in the heat she greeted him with. He alternated between his tongue and his lips in that center. His hands caressed her thighs. In seconds, she was rocking to meet him as he reveled in her taste. It was as intoxicating as the first time he'd discovered her volcano of emotions. He heard her call his name.
Danny increased his pace. Every sound after that from C.J. was incoherent until the loud moan that told him he'd driven her over the edge. C.J. tried to hang on. But as the ripples of sensation smashed into her, she just let go. She let herself be carried away, certain Danny would take care of her.
He studied her as she lay with her hands over her eyes, those eyes heavy with contentment. "Come back to earth, C.J."
"Why? Floating like this is incredible." She smiled at him. He was pleased with his results.
"Maybe it would be even better if you weren't alone."
"Hmmmm." C.J. wasn't sure what Danny was saying, she just liked the sound of his voice washing over her like his touch had. His tone made it sound like there were more delicious diversions ahead. She held out her arms to him in welcome.
He came into them and C.J. wrapped her legs around him. "Afraid I'm going somewhere," he asked.
"Do you want to?," she questioned in a husky voice.
"Only to destinations I can take you to, this is just a stopping off place, C.J. There's more for us to have."
"Take whatever you want. I know it'll be good." Even in the midst of their passion Danny knew she was taking them to another level in their relationship. She was offering him more trust.
"Thank you, C.J. Help me get us there."
"Yes."
"I want to be inside you."
"I want that, too."
"Do something about it." He rubbed himself into her. She noticed again the barrier of clothes and unhooked her legs from around him.
C.J. slid her hands down his body and pulled at the elastic waist of Danny's sweat pants. They were old and gave easily as she slid them away from him. She found herself stroking bare skin. "That's all you were wearing?"
"I told you I wasn't expecting company. I figured I'd sleep in these."
"Not yet you won't." She moved her hands under the sweatshirt and then skimmed her nails down his body. They raked over his lean torso. But her grasp was strong when she reached between his legs.
Danny's mind was now the one fighting to stay clear. His brain began to fog over as she fisted her hand around him. She petted and touched him until she felt wetness. "I can't wait, Danny. Empty yourself into me. Share yourself with me."
Her desire was in her eyes, her voice, her touch. He knew it was in both their centers and couldn't be denied. It wouldn't be denied no matter how much control he tried to hold onto to. Their bodies were now in charge.
He parted her legs gently as she sighed, certain there was more wonderful intimacy to come. Danny slid into C.J. and found her open and waiting. As that velvet sheath closed in around him, he lifted her hips. She gasped as he slowly went deeper. "Hold on to me, C.J. Let's watch each other go crazy."
She opened her eyes reluctantly, not sure she had the strength to use any part of her body except the part joined to him. But when their eyes met, she couldn't turn away. C.J. reached for Danny's shoulders.
He began to push back and forth inside her. The slow strokes ran the length of that tunnel of waiting. He was inching her into an ocean of jangling crests. C.J.'s mind was blank, her whole body connected to that one spot. She groaned and Danny couldn't bear to wait. Her nails dug into his shoulders
His rhythm changed and her hips met each thrust and now there was speed and an almost mad feeling to connect. C.J. felt herself tumbling off a high cliff into that sea of passion. Danny watched her eyes flash as the orgasm took hold and then he let himself follow her to that blissful oblivion.
****************
The music stirred them, a low, slow bluesy beat reaching into the bedroom from the living room stereo. Danny reluctantly but gently pulled out of C.J. as their hands entwined and their lips met.
There were no words exchanged, none were needed. They let their bodies carry the message in that silent voice lovers use who have been one and are still connected.
As one, they moved onto their sides and faced each other. Their arms wound around each other and they kissed. It went from gentle to passionate to tender. C.J. moved to look at a clock. Before she could reach for it, Danny spooned up against her.
He captured her hands in his and nestled her close. She sighed as he kissed her neck. She decided to forget about the time and enjoy this moment of being pampered and cherished. They dozed off for a few minutes.
CJ woke to Nat King Cole and "Unforgettable." She appreciated Danny's taste in music and the CD changer's timing. She wondered if he was awake. Before she could turn, he squeezed her hands and said, "I thought you were about to start snoring."
"I don't snore," she retorted. She kissed his hands clasped around hers. "I sometimes talk and moan..."
"I know."
"No." She now slapped his hands. "No, in my sleep."
"Ah."
She traced small patterns on his hand with her thumb. CJ felt his pulse pick up speed and felt a burst of sheer feminine power. "Danny, I do have a couple of confessions."
"Bare your soul, so to speak."
"I'm starving. I haven't eaten."
"Okay, that can be taken care of easily. And...," he prompted her.
"And I planned to just tangle up the sheets with you in a quickie before I went back to work."
"I know."
"How did you know?"
"I know you, C.J. That was a conscious decision, but unconsciously, you understood what was important. You knew we had to be together without any thought of time."
"Maybe. Once you started your treatment, Dr. Concannon, I couldn't even see straight enough to read a clock."
"It's my great bedside manner. Now to get to the other need. Take out or my cooking?"
"You cook?"
"At least scrambled eggs and toast."
"Sold."
"It'll be good."
"Don't worry, if it's not you still have talents to recommend you."
"Thanks." Danny rolled out of bed and grabbed the sweat pants. They'd never bothered to take off his sweatshirt. He bent to kiss CJ. "How about a glass of wine, Gorgeous?"
"Great. You're still wearing clothes."
"Cooking naked is hazardous."
"True, but how fun is life if it's not lived on the edge?" She watched him leave, appreciating the view, and then lolled back on the pillows. Her body ached satisfyingly from their lovemaking. She pulled up the covers and marveled at the revelation of being Danny Concannon's lover and in his bed. It beat reading dull reports at the White House.
CJ reminded herself that Danny knew what to do in and outside of bed to make it a memorable evening. She was glad that her temper overruled her head and then her heart had overruled her temper. He strolled back into the bedroom and handed her a glass of wine.
"Thanks. I don't smell anything cooking."
"In a minute, slave driver. Be patient."
"Not one of my virtues."
"Virtue is overrated." Danny disappeared back into the hall but reappeared a moment later, laughing. "Hey, CJ, your pants are beeping." He tossed them to her after retrieving them from his hallway floor.
CJ pulled out her pager and looked at the number. She made an exasperated sound. "Figures. Josh is looking for me." She reached into the other pocket for her cell phone and punched in a number. She swallowed some of the wine. It was a lovely white, tasting of summer and warmth, just like Danny.
She and Danny exchanged smiles as she lounged in the doorway. "Get started cooking. I like to watch." Danny saluted and headed out. "Hello, Josh Lyman, please. CJ Cregg returning his call. Thank you."
She did make her way out to command a view of the kitchen. CJ watched as Danny pulled out a carton of eggs and a loaf of bread. He reached for bowls, pans and plates but paused for a swig of wine.
"Hello, Josh. You beeped me." She paused to listen. "I'm glad you finally found your way back. My portion of the work is on your desk. It should get you where you need to be."
CJ took another drink and contemplated the glass while feeling the warmth of the wine move through her. It was almost as delicious as sex with Danny. She stifled a laugh to say, "No way, Josh. I won't be back tonight. I put in my time. Forget it."
Danny could see that Josh was trying to be persuasive. He could also see CJ wasn't buying it. "Hey, if you guys were so concerned about work, you should have stayed put and worked. I did and now I'm done."
There was another gap for her to listen. "Okay, one more time. You blew it when you left me behind. I'm not coming back. I'll be in tomorrow. No, I don't know what time. But I assure you it won't be at dawn"
Danny watched her face tense up. "Josh, live with it. And I don't want my pager going off again from you. The same goes for Toby and Sam. The only pages I'll return will be from Leo or the President. Don't try and reach Carol at home to sweet talk her, either. I will be checking my caller I.D. I'm serious and you know it. Have a lovely evening."
She clicked off the phone and drained her glass. CJ felt some of the tension and frustration from earlier trying to take hold. She rolled her shoulders to clear it and called out to Danny, "Is there anymore wine?"
"Coming right up." He wanted to keep her relaxed. He brought the bottle into the bedroom and started to walk towards her. Then he just stopped and stared. "Wow."
"What's wrong?" CJ wondered.
"Not a thing. I can't believe that I have this sexy, beautiful, bright woman in my bedroom. You're naked and you don't care. You're so comfortable with who you are, it just radiates."
Her voice softened as she held out the wine glass. "I give you some of the credit for that. You make me feel like the person you described." She raised a silent toast to Danny.
They were looking into each other's eyes, sexual tension beginning to build. It was snapped in two by Danny's phone ringing. He leaped to grab it as he set down the wine bottle with a bang. He was determined to make this quick. "Yeah, Concannon."
CJ noticed his expression went from annoyed to amazed. "Hello, Josh." CJ nearly choked on her swallow of wine. Danny continued. "No, I haven't had a call from C.J. Why?" He nodded. "I know she wasn't planning on working late, but I know that changed. You tell me why she's mad."
The wine on an empty stomach had given C.J. a nice buzz. She sidled over to Danny and whispered in his free ear. "I can tell you why she's mad about you." To Danny's delight and distraction she began to move her tongue around the inside of his ear.
Then she wrapped an arm around his waist from behind and began to run kisses from the base of his neck around to his jaw line. Danny swallowed hard, desperately trying to keep his composure and his conversation going. "Josh, I can't imagine C.J. calling here tonight, but if she does I'll tell her you're looking for her. Sure, if she sounds like she need cheering up I'll see what I can do." He hung up the phone and fell to his knees.
"Is something wrong, Danny?" C.J. asked it in that tone women adopt when they know they have the upper hand.
"Oh, no. I just feel like I was in the middle of one of those dreams I used to have about Miss Williams in Junior High."
C.J. put the wine glass down and wrapped her arms around his neck from the back. As she bent onto him, pressing her lips to his temple, Danny felt her breasts rubbing against him. He moaned.
She questioned, "What would you have done if Josh had asked if you'd seen me?""
"Either lied or walked out of the room so I'd be honest."
"How about if Sam called?"
"Same deal."
"Same for Toby?"
"Nope. Him I would have told the truth. 'Toby, I have C.J. naked in my bedroom and she's attacking me.'"
She stopped nuzzling him long enough to ask in surprise, "Why?"
"Because it would give him apoplexy, because I know he wishes he were me and because he's stupid enough to believe that conflict of interest crap."
"Danny."
"Hey, it's an insult to you."
"Thank you."
"Not just because you're trustworthy, C.J., but I can think of 8,000 other subjects besides our jobs for pillow talk. Or we can just avoid talking all together."
"We're talking now." She started to walk in front of Danny to pull him to his feet.
"Not for long," he promised. He stayed on his knees and pulled her to him. In a flash, he buried his face in her.
C.J. was stunned at the move but quickly began to pant as Danny plundered her. This time it wasn't slow and tender, it was fast and desperate. He needed her, he needed her to be his and there wasn't time for pretty words. She was shocked and then swept up into the passion.
Her hands moved through his hair, pulling him closer, urging his mouth, tongue and that glorious beard deeper into her. His actions drove her to grind against him as he once more found the perfect point of contact.
The sensations started to melt her bones. Danny had her from behind, stroking the small of her back. As she started to tremble and lose her balance, he bent her back onto the bed. Danny remained kneeling and intent on his purpose of again taking C.J. to a sensual abyss outside her mind.
"Danny, please. I, oh, God, don't stop. It's glorious." Then she lost her ability to speak. Her body plummeted into the place Danny opened for her and C.J.'s mind went blank. Blissfully blank.
She opened her eyes to find herself tucked again into the bed with Danny next to her. She reached out her hands to him. He took them and kissed them and settled next to her.
"Okay, now let's talk." Danny's tone was lazy and revved up something in C.J.
"How far did you get on our food?"
He groaned. "Not far. Give me a sec."
"I don't think so. You've had your turn, now it's mine. First things first." C.J. rolled on top of Danny and tugged his sweatshirt over his head. "At last." She dove to run her hands over his chest, feeling the ripples and waves.
She varied her touch and speed as she savored the texture of his skin, the tone of his body. He was glad to let her have her way and felt his muscles contract under her attack. He sighed. But C.J. needed more, she needed to taste him. Her mouth went to his and she ran her tongue over his lips.
It delighted them both and set the stage for her to continue to sample his mouth. The kiss deepened and he pulled her closer. Kissing had been the first threshold of intimacy for them and continued to be something that aroused deep longings. Both of them could recall times, places and the power of those kisses. Once again, the fusing of their lips was heating things up.
C.J. broke away and in a breathless voice told him, "Your kisses should come with a warning label."
"Care to risk it?"
"Later. Now I have other targets." She bent her head to his chest and listened for his heartbeat. She kissed him there and heard his heart quicken, then pound harder. She gave him a sly smile. "God, you're easy."
Before Danny could retort C.J. moved her mouth around on his chest. She fastened her mouth on to one of his nipples to lick and flick it with her tongue. As she did that, she played her fingers over his abs. They contracted but Danny didn't start to lose his field of vision until C.J. bit and then sucked his nipples.
His moans signaled her to slip her fingers below the waistband of the sweats to start to fondle him. He was groaning now and it matched her gasp as she found him growing hard under her soft touch. Her mouth had the colors in front of his eyes changing to a sea of red. "C.J., do you know what you're doing? You're making me crazy."
"Good. Then we're right on schedule. I can't believe I thought I could just grab a roll in the hay with you and then go. You're way too much fun for a quickie."
"Thank you," he managed to croak out. "How about if I, hey, what?" His thoughts were derailed by her quick hands streaking down his body and stripping off his sweat pants. Once C.J. had them off, she just stared at him in the light from the nightstand lamp.
"I am so glad you always look a little rumpled and distracted at work. If you were a clothes horse I'd be in trouble."
"Why is that?" Danny forced his mind to focus on her words, not her busy fingers. He reached for her.
She settled into his arms for a moment. "Because the other women would know about the very nice body hiding under these clothes. They might try to feel these muscles, to learn about this scar on your shoulder, to touch you in one of these places where you go crazy."
Her hands matched her words as she ended up stroking his sides. He writhed under her in pleasure and said, "Remind me to order a subscription to GQ."
"Forget it."
"I can't."
"I'll make you." With that, C.J. moved her hands between his legs and parted them. Like her, one of his erotic zones was having that area stroked and aroused. C.J. was happy to oblige and followed her hands with her mouth. While she kissed his inner thighs he felt her fingers brush over and under his shaft.
She used her tongue and lips to work her way to where her hands danced over his member.
"She's right.," Danny thought. "I can't remember anything but her name." And he called out that name as C.J. kissed him in that most intimate spot. From sweet kisses she escalated to using her tongue, then took him deeply into her mouth.
He was wet and getting wilder with every motion of her mouth. Danny knew that she was turned on by his reactions of pleasure. His moans excited her and she could feel him straining to hang on to some edge of sanity.
When Danny was nearly beyond reason, C.J. pulled herself up. She climbed on top of him and lowered herself. This time she took him in quickly, too frustrated to wait. He matched her anticipation. With a quick movement he probed her and her muscles wrapped around him. She felt incredible spasms rocket through her.
They paused, locked eyes and hands. As their minds tried to hone in on this, their bodies overrode thought. C.J. began to pump up and down on Danny. "Take me, C.J., take all of me. There's more."
She let a stream of "yeses" fly. She rode him until their minds were blank, their bodies stretched to breaking point and their desire undeniable. C.J. started to scream and then melted on to Danny as the orgasm took them both.
****************
Their hearts and breathing regulated themselves back to normal rates. But Danny was still inside C.J. They were reluctant to break that bond, clinging to each other internally and externally.
Danny buried his nose in C.J.'s hair. He reveled in her scent. It was an intoxicating mixture of her perfume, her natural smell, and the essence left by their mating. "You are so unbelievable.," he whispered as he left kisses on her skin. "Stay with me tonight, sleep in my arms and my bed, be here for breakfast." He pulled her tighter into his arms.
"You haven't fed me tonight so I don't think I have the strength to leave." She smiled indulgently and snuggled against his neck. "Not just weak from hunger, but I think you've worn me out. I doubt I could walk."
"So you'll stay?"
"Yes." A simple answer but more complex than it seemed. Most times they stayed at C.J.'s or in her hotel room on the road. At Danny's, she left when their evening was over. Danny's heart stirred with a new yearning for the woman wrapped in his arms and around his mind and heart.
It was not the time for deep pronouncements. She'd run like a deer. So he went for the light side, quickly flipping her over so he was now on top. He began to pull out of her and heard her disappointed sigh. Danny kissed her deeply and then looked into her heavily lidded eyes. "I'll have you fed in 10, 15 minutes tops. Though I'm not sure what I'll make for breakfast, scrambled eggs is my piece de resistance. Hey, I know: Pop Tarts."
"You're getting dressed again., C.J. complained. "Can't I at least have the sweat shirt?"
"Be patient. I need to be dressed to grab your bag out of your car. Then we'll negotiate. "Where'd you park?"
She told him and warned, "I might go rummaging if I get cold while you're gone.""
"Help yourself. But I have another idea." On his way out, he lit a fire in the bedroom fireplace.
"Hey, Danny, do you think we would have had a night like this if our plans hadn't been sidetracked?"
He paused in the doorway. "Hard to say. I don't think we'd be here. I never expected this when I got home tonight."
C.J. was suddenly curious when she noticed Jim Brickman's piano music playing in the background. "You've had a lot of great music on the CD player. Every now and then some of it seeps through. What were you doing?"
"Reading, catching up."
"What were you reading about?"
He looked sheepish. "Fantasy baseball."
"Any good."
His smile turned boyish. "Nothing compared to the fantasies you brought to life when you showed up on my doorstep."
"Well, baseball is the second greatest sport. Go get my stuff and then feed me."
"Your wish is my command."
"It better be."
*******************
Danny kept his promise and had a plate of food in front of her in 13 minutes. She let him keep his sweatshirt. C.J. opted instead for the dress shirt he'd worn that day. They ate picnic style in front of the bedroom fireplace. They exchanged food, wine, laughter and kisses.
C.J. offered but Danny wouldn't let her help clean up. He could see she was fighting sleepiness. When he'd finished and walked back into the bedroom, he found her already in bed asleep, his shirt discarded once more on the floor.
The sweats joined them as he climbed into bed. But C.J. had slipped on something for bed. As Danny bent to kiss her good night, he noticed she'd sprayed on perfume before falling asleep. He inhaled the fragrance and kissed her gently. They both sighed in contentment and he drifted off to sleep as easily as she had.
However, Danny was restless. C.J. had claimed the side of the bed he normally occupied. He did some tossing and turning while fending off dreams of baseball diamonds, stacks of reports and beepers going off.
He woke to realize all was well and C.J. was in his bed. Her gentle, even breathing comforted him and he fell back asleep. This time like so many other nights, he dreamt of her. She filled his mind and the need filtered through his body.
He stirred and turned to find himself spooned against C.J. In his dream, he reached out to wrap an arm around her. There was no objection, just the warmth of her body heating him up. She moved closer and Danny instinctively tightened his hold on her.
There was a feeling of arousal growing in Danny. Unconsciously he moved his hands down C.J.'s body. Her soft moans pierced his sleep and brought him close to wakefulness. He caressed her breasts and Danny felt her rub against him in pleasure. The motions remained steady as he felt her nipples harden, her breathing catch and her moans amplify.
Danny's hand slid to cup C.J. and her gasp brought him closer to the surface of reason. But as she turned to nestle against him, he still thought he might be dreaming. Her murmurs became kisses on his throat and chest.
C.J.'s sounds, scents and movements invaded his blood and coursed through his system. Danny had to have more for his survival. His hand circled in her center. The small, incoherent sounds she made, the grasping of her hands on his chest and her wetness excited him.
Nearly awake but still moving on intuition he caught her lips in his. He used his tongue to tease and stir her out of sleep. Then he climbed on top of her.
Neither of them was sure whether this was a sweet dream or a sweet reality. Neither cared. In her half-conscious state, C.J. reached for Danny with her arms. As he took her, she reached for him again. Her muscles closed around him, made him welcome and gave him pause. Her mouth now found his.
When he felt himself twitch inside her, her felt her lips smile in response. She whispered "Danny" sleepily against his lips.
After that he was lost to her again and began to move in leisurely strides that filled her. She molded herself around him and took in every thrust with delighted sounds. They became more awake as their bodies became more aroused, taking over the rhythm and reason from their brains.
There was no other point to life for them than this moment of fulfillment and fantasy. C.J. started to dive back into that paradise and pulled Danny closer. He fell with her as he emptied himself into her while calling out her name.
******************
"Do I apologize?" he wondered softly as he kissed her pale skin and moved a hand through her tousled hair. Danny still wasn't sure how reverie became such lovely, satisfying reality.
C.J. stretched like a cat and brought herself against him. "For what? For the most intimate, incredible, erotic..." She whispered into his chest. "I've run out of adjectives. It was beautiful. Was it real?"
She had never experienced anything like this. But she'd never experienced anyone like Danny. He showed her more tenderness, compassion and caring than she'd ever known. But there was also a passion, desire and sexuality that was a revelation. This was love and as C.J. wrapped herself around him to sleep once more, she knew the day was coming when she would tell him.
Danny felt C.J. shift herself to be as close to him as possible. He began to drift back to sleep secure that this was the love he'd searched for and that C.J. knew it. Soon they'd put into words the feelings born in their lovemaking.
He could wait because you never could be sure what joys were on the horizon. C.J. proved that to Danny tonight when she knocked on his door. They were both better for it. The proof lay in each other's arms and hearts.
####