-24-
Santa Barbara was an Old Spanish town, built centuries ago, destroyed in a storm, and rebuilt in the twenties. It was famous for an ancient courthouse, missionaries, and festivals. Jack had absolutely no idea where he was going as Nina gave him instructions from a map and a computer printed page on her lap. "Okay, next left."
Jack did as told; indicating left before he checked in any of his mirrors, and slowed enough to pull in to the next road on his left. She told him to pull into a large driveway, complete with green plants on either side, and he slowed as they reached the front of an old Tudor building. "Park up." Nina said, pushing open her door as soon as he'd stopped. A teenager made his way out of the building, wearing a smart 'bell-boy' suit that he was obviously uncomfortable in, as he adjusted it seven times before he reached the car.
Jack put the car in park and put on the hand brake. "Why do I feel like I'm being kidnapped?" he asked her.
Nina just laughed, shutting the car door as Jack pulled the key out and climbed out of the car. The bellboy made his way to the boot of the car, and opened it, taking out Nina and Jack's bags and placing them on the pavement. Nina walked up to Jack and took the car keys, resting her hand on his lower back whilst she handed them to a second bellboy. She looked up at him, offering an uneasy smile as he caught her. He leant in and kissed her as she gestured to the house.
"We going in?" He asked.
"Room 12." The first boy said, collecting one bag in each hand, he took a few steps towards the house. "If you'll follow me, Mr Myers, Miss Bauer."
Jack and Nina glanced at each other, and smiled, they followed him into the Tudor house. Inside it was anything but modern. The floors were huge wood, the walls were some kind of clay, adobe, There were carpets and a few desks, each one seeming slightly out of line with the general aura of the city, the bell-boy passed a few clerks, he spoke a few words to each, without Nina or Jack having to say anything. They walked together a few feet from the bellboy, Jack taking in as much detail about the building as possible, holding Nina closer still, and Nina watched him, paying a little attention to the path she walked.
Eventually they came to rest outside their room, and the bellboy opened the door, setting one of their bags down on the ground as he opened the door. "This is your room, number 12." He pushed open the door and stood aside, waiting for Jack and Nina to step through. Nina let go of Jack's arm so he could walk around the room, half listening as the bellboy explained the amenities of the room to her. Eventually she accepted the keys into the palm of her hand, stuffed a few dollars into the young man's hand and let him leave.
Jack noticed Nina go into the bathroom and changed his discovery route. The room was lovely; Nina was certainly hoping to have a nice weekend together. The room was beautifully decorated, huge thick curtains with elaborate designs, heavy piled carpet and comfortable sofas towards one end of the room, a bed at the other. The bed was covered with a huge throw rug, thousands of pillows, it was flanked by huge wooden armoires, and Jack walked around it, testing the mattress. He sat upright as Nina emerged from the bathroom.
He had had yet to wander out onto the balcony when she approached the bed. "What do you think?" She was deliberate, gripping his lapels to pull herself into his lap, raising herself above him, she wanted to tease him.
Jack smiled at her, pulling her head down to kiss her. He didn't respond verbally, just pulled her closer and closer to him until she landed on the bed on top of him, which he quickly rolled so she was underneath, constantly kissing her. "It's very nice." He muttered to the crook of her neck, and then unfastened top two buttons of her shirt.
Knowing Nina as he did, he paused, "What time are our reservations?" He asked her. Nina arched her back as she whined, inadvertently pressing her chest against him.
"Nine thirty." She admitted. "I'm almost afraid to ask, what time is it?"
Jack glanced over at where the clock would be, had it been one of their beds, and sure enough, a small digital clock was on the side, it was ten past nine. "We have twenty minutes." He told her, hovering above her, propped up by his elbows.
"To get there and get dressed." She pointed out, considering their options. They were both ruffled and tired from the drive here, and could use a few minutes to relax. Jack flopped over onto his back, and let out an exhausted sigh, probably hoping they would post pone, or even forget dinner. Eventually he pulled himself out of bed, and hoisted Nina up too. "Jack, what are you doing?"
He pushed her towards the bathroom, "We can fit in a quick shower, and be a few minutes late."
"We?"
"Yes."
"We?"
"Yes." He was turning on the bathroom lights now.
"You're putting an awful lot of confidence into the size of the shower."
-24-
Jack rolled over and wrapped his arm around her waist, sighing contentedly into her shoulder. She couldn't escape for long. The second she rolled onto her side, Jack would move in behind her and spoon her, wrapping an arm around her waist and resting his head on her shoulder. Whilst she hated thinking about Jack's wife, she had to wonder, as a psychologist. She presumed that they always slept close together, and Jack associated sleeping on your side, away from the other person in the bed was a sign of anger. This was most likely why Jack spooned her every time she moved away, it was a natural response that something like fifteen years of marriage had programmed into him.
Nina, on the other hand, was a singleton, she was quite happy sleeping on her side, alone, in fact she found it more comfortable sleeping apart from whoever else was in the bed, it was hot with another person there, and it didn't matter when it was someone you didn't care about. But she'd started turning the air-conditioning up an extra notch in their apartments to accommodate him, and was beginning to find it comforting to have Jack sleeping beside her. She hated herself for thinking she was getting 'weak' simply for accommodating him, but couldn't help compromising for him just the same. Tonight had, after all, been incredible, just like every other night. If she wasn't going to change her habits for good sex and a relationship, then it really wasn't worth doing it for anything.
When Jack's hand started to draw circles on her stomach she realised just how awake he was, she had presumed he'd be exhausted. He was obviously too tired for one thing, and too awake for the other - the in-between option was inevitable. She heard his words before he said them "Pity we don't have a chess board here."
She smiled to herself, and then rolled over onto her back. "You mean you didn't pack one?" Jack knew his chess obsession was of great amusement to her, and laughed at her innocent expression. "I've got an idea." Nina jumped out of bed and scrambled over to her suitcase, she quickly found a few items of clothing to pull on. She pulled out a pair of knickers and a tight purple sweater, choosing to forego the bra in the interest of comfort. She turned back to Jack and noticed he was still in bed, on his side, having left a gap where she had been. "Come on." She beckoned.
He sat up in bed, the covers pooled themselves at his hips, exposing his muscular chest and tattooed arms, and he scratched his chin. He was tired, and groggily called out to her. "We're not seriously going to go find a chess board at this time of night, are we?"
Nina put her hands on her hips. "Come on." She turned back to her suitcase, and was delighted to notice him crawl out of bed and make his way over to his bag in her peripheral vision. She eventually found a long black skirt in her case and tugged it on, turning to see Jack pull a shirt over his head.
She found a hair band in the top of her suitcase and tied up her offensive hair, it was getting to a very awkward length, dangling around just below her ears, tickling her neck, she was going to have to get a cut when they got back to the city. Satisfied with her appearance, she grabbed their room keycard and held it in front of her as she backed towards the door. "Pocket?" she asked him, knowing she had none. He took the offered piece of white plastic, and tucked it in his trouser pocket.
They only passed two hotel employees on their way to the garden, both in the lobby. They had passed another two patrons in the corridor, but they were so wound up in each other that they failed to notice Jack and Nina, who had to slide past them whilst they fumbled with both each other and the hotel key simultaneously. They were able to limit their reactions to the couple to a few raised eyebrows and knowing smiles, at least until they reached the elevator.
Nina asked Jack to shut his eyes as they made their way out into the garden, and even knowing he wouldn't, lead the way though the garden. It was lovely, short lush green grass, and several tall willow trees. There were a few flowerbeds but the buds were shut for the night, and several areas where there were tall hedges scattered around the garden, they isolated tennis courts, swimming pools. Nina could hear the solid thumps of a late night tennis game, and continued on, pulling Jack towards a particular gap in the hedge.
"You can open your..." Nina began, turning to look at Jack. Much to her shock, his eyes were shut, having yet to hear her words. She was touched, knowing it was completely against his nature. She smiled, and placed a soft kiss on each cheek, just underneath his closed eyelids. "Open your eyes, Jack." She whispered.
When Jack opened his eyes he smiled, and wandered off, instantly wanting to explore what was presented in front of him. "What is this?" He asked, as he walked around her surprise.
"Do you like it? It was brought here from England fifty years ago - it was for the children to play with during the grand master's chess tournaments." Jack touched each piece as he passed it. He was walking around a giant chess board, alternating coloured paving tiles in the ground, and huge wooden pieces, chest high, laid out ready to play.
Nina circled the board and came to rest in the middle, perching herself on the edge of a pawn. "Do you want to play?" She asked him, raising an eyebrow mischievously.
Jack smirked to himself. It could be a lot more fun with life sized chess pieces. "Okay...but my rules?"
Santa Barbara was an Old Spanish town, built centuries ago, destroyed in a storm, and rebuilt in the twenties. It was famous for an ancient courthouse, missionaries, and festivals. Jack had absolutely no idea where he was going as Nina gave him instructions from a map and a computer printed page on her lap. "Okay, next left."
Jack did as told; indicating left before he checked in any of his mirrors, and slowed enough to pull in to the next road on his left. She told him to pull into a large driveway, complete with green plants on either side, and he slowed as they reached the front of an old Tudor building. "Park up." Nina said, pushing open her door as soon as he'd stopped. A teenager made his way out of the building, wearing a smart 'bell-boy' suit that he was obviously uncomfortable in, as he adjusted it seven times before he reached the car.
Jack put the car in park and put on the hand brake. "Why do I feel like I'm being kidnapped?" he asked her.
Nina just laughed, shutting the car door as Jack pulled the key out and climbed out of the car. The bellboy made his way to the boot of the car, and opened it, taking out Nina and Jack's bags and placing them on the pavement. Nina walked up to Jack and took the car keys, resting her hand on his lower back whilst she handed them to a second bellboy. She looked up at him, offering an uneasy smile as he caught her. He leant in and kissed her as she gestured to the house.
"We going in?" He asked.
"Room 12." The first boy said, collecting one bag in each hand, he took a few steps towards the house. "If you'll follow me, Mr Myers, Miss Bauer."
Jack and Nina glanced at each other, and smiled, they followed him into the Tudor house. Inside it was anything but modern. The floors were huge wood, the walls were some kind of clay, adobe, There were carpets and a few desks, each one seeming slightly out of line with the general aura of the city, the bell-boy passed a few clerks, he spoke a few words to each, without Nina or Jack having to say anything. They walked together a few feet from the bellboy, Jack taking in as much detail about the building as possible, holding Nina closer still, and Nina watched him, paying a little attention to the path she walked.
Eventually they came to rest outside their room, and the bellboy opened the door, setting one of their bags down on the ground as he opened the door. "This is your room, number 12." He pushed open the door and stood aside, waiting for Jack and Nina to step through. Nina let go of Jack's arm so he could walk around the room, half listening as the bellboy explained the amenities of the room to her. Eventually she accepted the keys into the palm of her hand, stuffed a few dollars into the young man's hand and let him leave.
Jack noticed Nina go into the bathroom and changed his discovery route. The room was lovely; Nina was certainly hoping to have a nice weekend together. The room was beautifully decorated, huge thick curtains with elaborate designs, heavy piled carpet and comfortable sofas towards one end of the room, a bed at the other. The bed was covered with a huge throw rug, thousands of pillows, it was flanked by huge wooden armoires, and Jack walked around it, testing the mattress. He sat upright as Nina emerged from the bathroom.
He had had yet to wander out onto the balcony when she approached the bed. "What do you think?" She was deliberate, gripping his lapels to pull herself into his lap, raising herself above him, she wanted to tease him.
Jack smiled at her, pulling her head down to kiss her. He didn't respond verbally, just pulled her closer and closer to him until she landed on the bed on top of him, which he quickly rolled so she was underneath, constantly kissing her. "It's very nice." He muttered to the crook of her neck, and then unfastened top two buttons of her shirt.
Knowing Nina as he did, he paused, "What time are our reservations?" He asked her. Nina arched her back as she whined, inadvertently pressing her chest against him.
"Nine thirty." She admitted. "I'm almost afraid to ask, what time is it?"
Jack glanced over at where the clock would be, had it been one of their beds, and sure enough, a small digital clock was on the side, it was ten past nine. "We have twenty minutes." He told her, hovering above her, propped up by his elbows.
"To get there and get dressed." She pointed out, considering their options. They were both ruffled and tired from the drive here, and could use a few minutes to relax. Jack flopped over onto his back, and let out an exhausted sigh, probably hoping they would post pone, or even forget dinner. Eventually he pulled himself out of bed, and hoisted Nina up too. "Jack, what are you doing?"
He pushed her towards the bathroom, "We can fit in a quick shower, and be a few minutes late."
"We?"
"Yes."
"We?"
"Yes." He was turning on the bathroom lights now.
"You're putting an awful lot of confidence into the size of the shower."
-24-
Jack rolled over and wrapped his arm around her waist, sighing contentedly into her shoulder. She couldn't escape for long. The second she rolled onto her side, Jack would move in behind her and spoon her, wrapping an arm around her waist and resting his head on her shoulder. Whilst she hated thinking about Jack's wife, she had to wonder, as a psychologist. She presumed that they always slept close together, and Jack associated sleeping on your side, away from the other person in the bed was a sign of anger. This was most likely why Jack spooned her every time she moved away, it was a natural response that something like fifteen years of marriage had programmed into him.
Nina, on the other hand, was a singleton, she was quite happy sleeping on her side, alone, in fact she found it more comfortable sleeping apart from whoever else was in the bed, it was hot with another person there, and it didn't matter when it was someone you didn't care about. But she'd started turning the air-conditioning up an extra notch in their apartments to accommodate him, and was beginning to find it comforting to have Jack sleeping beside her. She hated herself for thinking she was getting 'weak' simply for accommodating him, but couldn't help compromising for him just the same. Tonight had, after all, been incredible, just like every other night. If she wasn't going to change her habits for good sex and a relationship, then it really wasn't worth doing it for anything.
When Jack's hand started to draw circles on her stomach she realised just how awake he was, she had presumed he'd be exhausted. He was obviously too tired for one thing, and too awake for the other - the in-between option was inevitable. She heard his words before he said them "Pity we don't have a chess board here."
She smiled to herself, and then rolled over onto her back. "You mean you didn't pack one?" Jack knew his chess obsession was of great amusement to her, and laughed at her innocent expression. "I've got an idea." Nina jumped out of bed and scrambled over to her suitcase, she quickly found a few items of clothing to pull on. She pulled out a pair of knickers and a tight purple sweater, choosing to forego the bra in the interest of comfort. She turned back to Jack and noticed he was still in bed, on his side, having left a gap where she had been. "Come on." She beckoned.
He sat up in bed, the covers pooled themselves at his hips, exposing his muscular chest and tattooed arms, and he scratched his chin. He was tired, and groggily called out to her. "We're not seriously going to go find a chess board at this time of night, are we?"
Nina put her hands on her hips. "Come on." She turned back to her suitcase, and was delighted to notice him crawl out of bed and make his way over to his bag in her peripheral vision. She eventually found a long black skirt in her case and tugged it on, turning to see Jack pull a shirt over his head.
She found a hair band in the top of her suitcase and tied up her offensive hair, it was getting to a very awkward length, dangling around just below her ears, tickling her neck, she was going to have to get a cut when they got back to the city. Satisfied with her appearance, she grabbed their room keycard and held it in front of her as she backed towards the door. "Pocket?" she asked him, knowing she had none. He took the offered piece of white plastic, and tucked it in his trouser pocket.
They only passed two hotel employees on their way to the garden, both in the lobby. They had passed another two patrons in the corridor, but they were so wound up in each other that they failed to notice Jack and Nina, who had to slide past them whilst they fumbled with both each other and the hotel key simultaneously. They were able to limit their reactions to the couple to a few raised eyebrows and knowing smiles, at least until they reached the elevator.
Nina asked Jack to shut his eyes as they made their way out into the garden, and even knowing he wouldn't, lead the way though the garden. It was lovely, short lush green grass, and several tall willow trees. There were a few flowerbeds but the buds were shut for the night, and several areas where there were tall hedges scattered around the garden, they isolated tennis courts, swimming pools. Nina could hear the solid thumps of a late night tennis game, and continued on, pulling Jack towards a particular gap in the hedge.
"You can open your..." Nina began, turning to look at Jack. Much to her shock, his eyes were shut, having yet to hear her words. She was touched, knowing it was completely against his nature. She smiled, and placed a soft kiss on each cheek, just underneath his closed eyelids. "Open your eyes, Jack." She whispered.
When Jack opened his eyes he smiled, and wandered off, instantly wanting to explore what was presented in front of him. "What is this?" He asked, as he walked around her surprise.
"Do you like it? It was brought here from England fifty years ago - it was for the children to play with during the grand master's chess tournaments." Jack touched each piece as he passed it. He was walking around a giant chess board, alternating coloured paving tiles in the ground, and huge wooden pieces, chest high, laid out ready to play.
Nina circled the board and came to rest in the middle, perching herself on the edge of a pawn. "Do you want to play?" She asked him, raising an eyebrow mischievously.
Jack smirked to himself. It could be a lot more fun with life sized chess pieces. "Okay...but my rules?"