Title: In From the Cold
Author: little_miss_writer
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I own nothing unfortunately. Elizabeth Corday, Robert "Rocket" Romano (Warner Bros, Michael Crichton and a variety of other lucky, lucky people. I wish I did own them, but I don't. This is a work of fiction so nobody get upset ok?
Notes: A few things to know. In this story Elizabeth is not involved with Mark, so no marriage and no Ella. Takes place sometime before "Lockdown". It's just a nice little piece about Romano and Corday's friendship. I have read the season nine spoilers (I wish I hadn't!), but nothing is given away here at all, so its entirely safe. Also I'm British and so is my spelling, you have been warned!
Thank you so much for your reviews, they've all been so positive, especially from my fellow Robbie fans, you're all very much appreciated. Keep the reviews coming in, send any feed back to little_miss_writer@hotmail.com, or r/r!
Chapter 6
Something was different. Something was definitely different. She could sense it, something was wrong. Well, maybe not wrong exactly, but strange, a sensation she wasn't used to at all. Elizabeth blinked repeatedly, trying to fight her way into full consciousness. She found herself staring. Staring up at a ceiling, a ceiling that wasn't hers. Lying in tangled sheets, warm sheets that weren't hers either. And she was absolutely certain that her bed was not supposed to be this size. The morning sunlight streamed thought the curtains, gradually pushing the sleep filled clouds away that had formed around her mind. Robert. With a sudden jolt she remembered. Robert. The thought made her smile as her mind suddenly whisked her back to a short time before…
Robert kissed her with a passion, with a hunger that she had never experienced before. She had never felt this wanted, this needed, to be desired in such a way. He kissed her like a drowning man, desperately clinging onto his only lifeline. Slipping his hands to the straps of her dress, stroking down her along her shoulders, down her arms, taking the smooth velvet material with him. She returned his kisses with equal passion, her mouth learning his, her hands learning the strong, hard muscles of his back, kneading them softly. She moaned when his mouth left hers, trailing hot, wet kisses down her neck, along her collarbone, hands stroking her sides. Just a slight touch and her skin came alive, her blood hammering through her veins, his heat and his energy passing through to her. She felt on fire. Everything else in the world paled in comparison, nothing could reach her here. But one nagging thought still nipped away in the back of her mind. Better speak now before it's too late . She hated to do it but……..
"Robert." She hardly recognized her voice as her own, it was husky and breathless, wavering as his lips moved over her skin.
Through his kisses he replied with a breathless "Yeah…"
"Don't you think we could," he nipped her shoulder, then soothed the skin with his soft tongue, "Oh, uh, maybe go somewhere else?"
His lips where moving up again, trailing up her neck to her ear, gently nibbling. She could feel his lips curve into a smile, "Why? You're here…..here seems nice..very nice in fact….more than nice……"
She laughed, or at least she had intended to, but it came out more as a moan, "Robert …please…I really think we should….."
He broke off breathless, eyes gleaming, lips kiss swollen, "Honestly Lizzie, trying to drag me into bed huh? You always used to getting your own way?"
She didn't miss a beat, smiling wickedly before tracing the zipper of his jeans with one hand, and leaning in to nip his ear lobe, enjoying his sharp gasp giving way to a low moan. "Always."
Looking up with chocolate eyes glazed, voice husky, "Well then, I'd hate to disappoint you."
Elizabeth gasped. The memory was intense. Of course it has only happened a few short hours ago, but he invoked such strong and powerful feelings within her. And she had seen in his eyes that she had an equal effect on him.
How exactly they had managed to clamber up the three flights of stairs was utterly beyond her. All she remembered were the desperate kisses and caresses, trying to unzip Robert's jeans while his hands roamed her body. Then, buy some miracle they had found themselves in Robert's bedroom.
The moment she heard the door close behind them, she felt it. The incredible rush of insecurities. The thoughts and doubts that plagued her, that had plagued her all through her teenage years into adulthood. What if he doesn't find me attractive? What if he laughs at me? What if I freeze? Her romantic experiences of the past few years had been far from wonderful, they had left her feeling empty, longing for something that she couldn't quite name. It had been like that when she was younger too. She had rushed into sex as a teenager, not really understanding what it could truly be like with the right person. It had been a race, who was more grown up? Who had had the most boyfriends? And over the last couple of years it had been similar. Going from one one night stand to the next, each one leaving her empty and longing. Longing for something that she'd never truly had, but at the same time knew she needed. Something that she prayed Robert could give he, somebody to make her truly happy, not just physically, but emotionally as well. Someone she loved, who returned it ten fold.
Robert was staring at her, a rather quizzical expression on his face, as his breathing slowly returned to normal. Damn, how long had she been standing like an idiot for? Stupid, stupid, stupid. She didn't want him to think she had changed her mind, or her feelings. He would understand her nerves wouldn't he? Everybody must feel like this at some time, right? She opened her mouth to speak, but as she did Robert broke eye contact, mumbling incoherently, as his gaze settled on his feet.
"Sorry Robert?"
He looked up as a faint blush spread across his cheeks. He tried to avoid eye contact, looking above her head, to the left and to the right, before finally meeting her eyes. He was silent for a short time, and when he did speak she had to strain her ears to hear him, "I, uh, said, you, uh," the last words came out in a jumbled rush, " make me feel nervous."
She felt her eyes widen, he was as anxious as she was? A small smile tugged at her lips, did that make them both paranoid? "I do?"
"Uh, yeah," the blush deepened several shades, his eyes seemed desperate to break contact, "I've, uh, waited for this for so long, and I, uh, don't, what I mean is –"
She knew he hated to be seen as vulnerable, it was a side of him others rarely if ever saw. She felt a sudden urge to protect him, to comfort him. "You didn't want to be, uh, disappointing?"
Relief flooded his features, even as his blush intensified at the words. His eyes met hers, and she could see the relief shining clearly. She hadn't laughed at him, or cut him down with a sarcastic comment, he could trust her, trust her in a way he could trust no one else, "How did you know?"
She allowed herself a faint smile, "Let's just say I'm familiar with the feeling," she closed the gap between them, "but what I've seen so far is far from disappointing, very impressive in fact."
He grinned, one hand automatically moving to trace the line of her lips, "Really, would you like to see more?"
"I'd intend to."
And she certainly had not been disappointed. It had been like an experience like no other, and each memory was precious. The awed gasp when he gently slipped of her dress and the way he had whispered "You're so beautiful". Not the usual way, the way men said when they could think of nothing else, but in a way that told her he truly meant it, and wanted her to believe it too. His body: much more toned and firm that she had imagined, the way that it had felt against her, his skin soft and oh so smooth. The kisses and caresses, soft and loving, rough and passionate, showing what they hadn't been able to say for so long. Soft kisses, hot trails down her body, nips on her skin, surgeons hands tracing the lines of her body, whispered words of love, it had been simply electric. He had given her his all, such a caring and sensitive, yet passionate and exciting lover. And she had returned the favour, learning his body, his responses, and how to tease those responses out of him, over and over again.
And in the early hours of Christmas morning when their lovemaking had drawn to an end, they had lain together, content to listen to each others breathing, as they drifted off to sleep.
Elizabeth smiled to herself and turned to glance over at her lover. Who wasn't there. A shot of anxiety tore down her spine. Where was he? She knew he wasn't working today. Where had he gone? Oh, for gods sake get a grip of yourself. It's his house he's hardly likely to run out of his own house. He's probably in the bathroom, or making breakfast. Even so she felt the anxiety build up, her nerves tingling. What should she say? What should she do? How could she feel be so in love with him, yet be terrified of seeing him in the morning? Elizabeth knew the answers even if she couldn't always admit the answers to herself. If was simple. She was so used to relationships going wrong, that she couldn't believe it when they seemed to be going right. It was although she had an inbuilt self-destruct: to terminate relationships before they get too serious. But why should she be so nervous around Robert? When this was something she wanted to become very serious? Elizabeth remembered having a similar feeling with a man she had loved several years ago. When she had tried to explain her thoughts to him, he had laughed, and said that if she did it so often, some part of her subconscious must enjoy it. She had been shocked. Could she enjoy it? Why else would she keep doing it? But then the past few, or many, years could hardly have been described as fun. He had been wrong, and she had told him so. Only when she had said it, she hadn't entirely believed it; now she did.
Because now, lying in Robert's bed, the sheets next to her, still warm from his body, she knew. It was a self-defence mechanism. Hurt others before they hurt you. Exactly the same one that Robert himself used. Only where he used it in everyday life, she only used it with matters of the heart. And again, she felt a sudden surge of curiosity. Why was he like that? He had been hurt she was sure, but obviously in a far deeper way than she had ever been. Who had hurt him so badly? Would he ever be able to truly overcome that hurt? She knew that the sarcasm was part of his defences, she couldn't imagine him without it, but surely there was some way to teach him to be slightly more open, and show him that not everybody was out to hurt him. Maybe they could teach other. The blind leading the blind.
She chucked quietly to herself. The she was startled by barking near the open door, followed by a metallic clattering sound, and soft cursing. Well somebody was having fun this morning. She allowed herself a small smile, before closing her eyes, and waiting.
With her eyes closed her hearing seemed to be twice as sharp. She was aware of everything, the sound of the door closing, a scrabbling noise near by, his footsteps, his breathing, a light tinkling sound. And smell. She could smell something wonderful, coffee, coffee and something else, food, she thought. She heard him place something on the small bedside table, and then the bed dipped slightly beside her, as he sat next to her. Then she could feel his soft skin brush against her face, as he kissed her cheek. And she could feel him tracing patterns with his fingers on one of her hands, she opened her eyes and saw him, in boxers and dressing gown, staring down at her hand, fingers moving gently, he seemed mesmerised. Then, as if sensing her gaze, he looked up and their eyes met.
"Good morning."
"Good morning Robert," she smiled, then stopped as the steady scrabbling sound at the door became louder, "what's wrong with Gretly?"
"Oh, I had a bit of a hard time getting past her carrying all that," he gestured to the table, and Elizabeth gasped. On a the table was a tray, a tray holding, hot steaming coffee, what smelled like freshly squeezed orange juice, a full English breakfast of bacon, sausages, grilled tomatoes, fried eggs, baked beans and buttered toast, as well as a large stack of pancakes complete with maple syrup.
"Oh my god Robert. Is this all for me?"
"Yup, I mean you must have burnt off a hefty amount of calories last night, can't have you fainting on me can I?" his eyes were sparkling as he lifted the tray, gave her time to sit up, and place it on her lap.
"It looks wonderful. But what about you, aren't you eating?
"Already had some toast, I don't eat a lot in the morning."
Elizabeth lifted her cutlery, preparing to tuck into the impressive meal laid out before her, when something caught her eye. A box, a medium sized velvet covered box, lay between her coffee cup and plate of pancakes. Setting her knife and fork down again, she glanced at Robert. He smiled, but stayed silent. Hesitantly she picked up the box, it was fairly light, then lifted up the lid.
Inside was the most beautiful, breathtaking necklace Elizabeth had ever seen. Although it was a relatively simple design, there was no hiding the elegance or the expense. A stunning silver chain, and attached to it, a single diamond, blinking in the light. Elizabeth gasped, lifting it out of the box, letting the cold metal play across her fingers. She stared in wonder, then looked at Robert, who was staring at her in uncertainty.
"Do you like it?"
"Oh Robert it's beautiful."
He smiled, all uncertainty pushed away by the sound of her voice. "Good. In that case, happy Christmas Elizabeth."
It was a Christmas present? But –
"Robert I didn't get you anything."
Gently, untangling the chain from her fingers, his hands circled round her neck, underneath her hair, then a moment later they came away, leaving the necklace resting on her warm skin.
"You're here aren't you?"
That simple statement touched her more deeply than he would ever know, she leaned in close to him and kissed him lightly, "I'm glad I am."
He smiled, then ducked his head, "I hope you're gonna eat all that. It was a nightmare trying to get up those stairs carrying it all y'know. Gretyl thinks I've got a new favourite girl."
"Really? And have you?"
He made a show of thinking it over, "I dunno, I mean Gretyl can do some pretty neat stuff. Can you fetch?"
Elizabeth laughed, then took on a crestfallen air, "No. No I can't."
"Mmmm, shame. But maybe you can do some other tricks?"
"I'm sure I know a few things that could impress you." Elizabeth grinned, then started to eat as instructed. Between mouthfuls she asked, "Are you going to let her in?"
"Oh great. I wondered how long it would take for you two gang up on me," he rolled his eyes, before crossing the room, standing well back from the door as he opened it. A huge furry thunderbolt thundered into the room, launching itself onto the bed. Gretyl fussed over Elizabeth for a few minutes, before settling down at the foot of the bed. Robert laughed, shaking his head, as he crossed the room, leaving his gown on the floor, and climbing back into bed. Spearing a pancake with the spare fork on the tray, he grinned, "Y'know, when I said I'd like to share a bed with two of my favourite girls, this wasn't exactly what I'd pictured."
"Oh no?"
"Yeah I'd always thought Gretyl would bring that nice Siberian Husky from down the road, she's got lovely eyes."
She lightly slapped his toned stomach, "Robert!"
They ate in silence for around ten minutes, Robert stealing the odd piece of food off the plate. Then Elizabeth claimed she couldn't possible eat any more without bursting. She rested her head on Robert's shoulder, feeling his pulse, and his fingers gently running through her hair. Outside came the faint cries of children playing in the snow, and the calls of anxious parents, telling them not to get their new clothes wet. And some of Elizabeth's earlier thoughts came flooding back into her mind. Unanswered questions.
"Robert?"
"Mmmmmm?"
Elizabeth inhaled deeply. She knew that this was going to be a difficult question to ask, and, certainly for him, a difficult one to answer, but she had to know. She wanted him to trust her completely, with everything.
"What were Christmases like when you were a child?"
tbc
Ok you should know the drill by now! Please r/r and send any other feedback to the usual address little_miss_writer@hotmail.com Keep going all you other Romano writers! Especially Rocket Launcher, just keeps getting better and better!! I wait for more with baited breath!
Lmw
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