Author's note: Wasn't going to post this but changed my mind! Jack and Nina needed some happy times...;D

Control - Part 4

He watched her sleep from the edge of the bed. He was half dressed already but he was reluctant to wake her, a little nervous how things would be now. But he had to go so…

He reached out and stroked the hair out of her face and caressed her cheek. He watched her eyelids flutter as she slowly woke up. He kissed her shoulder and she looked a little startled when she opened her eyes. But she quickly closed them again and curled up like a cat.

"What time is it?" She sounded a little worried and he quickly answered.

"It's only six. I have to go back home and change." She nodded and he caressed her cheek again.

She stirred. "I'm getting up too."

"Nina, you don't have to. Take the day off…"

She smiled sleepily. "I can't do that…"

"Well, at least come in a little late…" He stroked her hair and leaned forward placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

She raised her head and she pulled him down for a kiss, her lips so intoxicating under his.

"One of the perks of sleeping with your boss?" she asked in an amused tone and he smiled and kissed her again.

"I really must go, Nina… I can't be late today."

"It's OK, Jack… I'll be in right after you..."

He had left her and driven home. He showered and shaved and couldn't wipe the grin off his face as he watched himself in the mirror. He felt good. So good.

He bought some coffee on the way in and realized that he wasn't surprised when he saw Nina's car already in the garage when he got to CTU. He just kept on smiling. Towards the guard. Towards a grumpy Tony and towards Nina who looked up the second he came in, like she could feel his presence. She smiled back but quickly lowered her gaze and he headed up to his office taking two steps at the time.

He wanted to call her, just hear her voice, and perhaps scold her a little for being here already but he decided to wait. He felt an energy he hadn't felt in months and took of his jacket and hung it in his locker. He watched his reflection in the mirror and smiled again. He could take on the world today… He sat down at his desk eager to start working.

He looked at his left hand. The ring. He fingers traced it, turning it around his finger. Was it time to take it off? His marriage was over, wasn't it? Not that he was sure about what last night had meant. Nina had been so reluctant in the bar, stating clearly that she didn't want to get involved with him. Had she changed her mind? He didn't know what he really felt for her - but he definitely wanted her again.

Memories of the night washed over him. Stumbling around, pulling her clothes off, tasting her lips, her skin, her arousal. Naked skin against naked skin, sweating and breathing hard. Pushing her down, pushing inside and almost exploding from the sensation. She had been ready for him, moaning underneath him, moving with him in ecstasy, with a wild desire he had longed for and hadn't seen or felt in years. She had been loud, told him what she wanted and taken everything he had to give her. When she slid down his body and took him in her mouth he had kept mumbling her name.

He smiled again and realized this was the first time he slept with a woman other than his wife in almost 18 years… He looked at the photo on his desk. His smile faded slowly and he felt a little disappointed. Disappointed in himself that he hadn't been able to make it work. That he had failed his daughter… and Teri too. He took the ring off and put it in his top drawer before he turned on the computer.

The phone started ringing. It was going to be a busy couple of days…

"Nina, come with me!"

Jack was hurrying past her on his way to a lunch meeting and she looked up in surprise. She caught Tony's disapproving look and smiled towards him, rolling her eyes. Well, there's Jack for you.

She glanced down at her sandwich. "Seems like I won't be eating lunch now…" She looked up at Tony. "You want it?" She grabbed her jacket and started running after Jack and barely heard Tony's response.

"Sure, thanks."

Jack was walking fast and she caught up with him right by the elevators. Too many people around them. No chance to ask where they were going or why he needed her to come along. All she knew was what he had told him an hour ago – he was going to a meeting and he had wanted her to reschedule some of his prior engagements for the day.

They were by his car when she started to ask him but he interrupted her.

"Just get in the car, Nina."

She did as he said, but shot him a questioning glance. What was he up to?

Driving out of the garage she turned towards him. "Where are we going, Jack?"

He was looking straight ahead but she still saw it. His little smile.

"There is no lunch meeting, is there, Jack?"

He smiled and looked at her. "Oh, yeah, but it's just going to be you and me…"

"Jack, we don't have enough time to drive all the way home and then back again…"

"We're not going home" he said as he pulled the car over and into a parking lot.

A motel.

She watched him as he parked the car and then he suddenly looked up at her and she saw a little hesitation in his eyes.

"Too seedy?"

"No…" She shook her head and realized how much she appreciated that he asked.

"Wait in the car…"

She felt a little nervous. What if someone saw them? This was a risk. She didn't take risks – she planned everything carefully. Well, except for the other night, she reminded herself. She hadn't planned for it and now she was going to have to roll with it. With anticipation and excitement she watched him coming out of the reception and she opened the car door and got out.

He was nodding towards the end of the U-shaped building and she started walking when she heard him lock the car. She slowed down a little not knowing if their room was on the first or second floor and he caught up with her.

"Up the stairs" he said in a hoarse voice and she nodded.

He reached the top of the stairs before her and opened the second door, stepping aside to let her in. She caught a glimpse of a beige carpet, light yellow curtains and a bed with a flowery bedspread before he spun her around.

The door slammed shut when he kicked it and his hands were already working on peeling her jacket off her shoulders. She let him take it off her before she moved her arms around him, pulling the hem of his shirt out of his pants. He kissed her hard and started pushing her back against the bed. His hands snaked around her and started working on the zipper to her skirt and she answered his kisses unable to repress moaning into his mouth as she felt his hands move up under her top. She managed to step out of her skirt and kicked it away and it landed in a pile on the floor soon to be joined by his shirt. Her hands were working on his belt but he pushed her hands away, he was faster. She stumbled back, yanking her top over her head, and bumped into the bed. He shoved her back and she pulled him down with her.

So it was going to happen again? She was losing control once more but right now it only felt good…

---

They were lying side by side in the bed, sweaty and flushed. A couple of minutes ago he had been on top of her, riding out the waves of their climax but now their breathing was calming down. She couldn't stifle a little laugh and he turned towards her smiling broadly.

"God, I needed this…" she said honestly. It was just what she needed, all the tension and the worries of the last couple days seemed to be gone.

"Me too…" he admitted. "It was either this or D343"

"D343?" She gave him a puzzled glance and he grinned.

"You know… that file room on the third floor… filled with backup copies from the intelligence exchange with South East Asia…" He grasped her hand and his fingers laced with hers. "Nobody ever goes in there… and there are no cameras…"

She squeezed his hand and smiled. "Good to know, Jack"

"But I thought this… was… better…" he kissed her shoulder, his lips travelling up to her ear. "A bed and a shower…"

"Mmmm…" She moaned softly at the feeling of his lips against her neck and she moved a hand up to his hair, pulling him close. They had to get going but she was so reluctant to let him go.

She was enjoying seeing his playful side - his happy and relaxed side. It made her relax too… It made this feel less dangerous but the more she thought about it she realized that perhaps it only made things even more dangerous. Losing control? Feeling too comfortable? Almost feeling happy? She could get careless and what would happened then?

But his hands were moving over her and his breath as he chuckled against her neck, telling her how he wished they had a little more time, made her smile.

She nodded in agreement to his proposal that he should come over tomorrow night. 'Dinner and…' She smiled broadly now – the 'and' sounded most promising.