Date and Time: May 11, 2067, 2455 hours
Location: Treviso, Italy
POV: 3rd Person
Black growled low in his throat as he stepped out of the bathroom into the bedroom he and Violet were to share as part of their cover. He looked over at his new partner's – he gave a mental shudder at that word, troublemaker was a so much better description – half the bedroom and scowled when he saw that all her bags excluding her overnight bag was packed and stacked by the door. Her overnight bag was opened on one of the room's dressers, and her night clothing was tossed onto the still made bed. He barely batted an eyelash at the silk and lace nightshirt splayed across the bedcovers – he was rather experienced and he had seen far more seductive night wear on and off many a more beautiful woman than his new partner – as he studied the room for clues. A slip of paper sticking out from under the room's telephone caught his eye. With practiced ease he removed the slip of paper and his ebony brows snapped together in a scowl as he stared down at the address of a nightclub that was a block or so away from the hotel.
That little twit was so going to hear it for sneaking out while he was in the shower!
The rave music blared loudly and numerous bodies moved in synchronization with the club's pulsing lights. Long dark fiery hair twirled around the gleaming black leather and lace bodice and miniskirt Anika Solvig wore and her favorite pair of shiny black thigh high boots complimented the ensemble nicely. Dark purple eyeshadow was carefully painted on her eyelids and her eyes were artfully rimmed in black eyeliner and her already long eyelashes were coated with black mascara, giving her pale lavender eyes an almost hypnotic appearance. Dark red lips curved up into a smile as she lost herself into the music, her arms lifting up over her head, the numerous bracelets she wore on her wrists clattering together softly and weren't heard over the loud music blaring form the speakers. This was wonderful and so much more fun than having to sit and wait in that stuffy hotel room waiting for their orders to head for Venice.
The woman known to her comrades as Lieutenant Violet was finally having fun on this mission! She smirked to herself as she compared this small club back to the larger one she had frequented regularly back in Berlin before she had joined up with the military. After the quick comparison, she found that while there weren't as many extras, the music was excellent and there was enough room on the floor to dance without the guys being able to get a free grope and blame it on the crush of the crowd.
A hand reached out from the crowd and clamped down onto her bare left bicep. She snarled and turned with a lightning fast rabbit punch to her assailant's face – or tried to at least. A long masculine hand caught her fist and she found herself looking at the annoyed face of her new partner.
'Outside, now!' he mouthed and with a mental cringe, she obediently followed him out into the cold night air. After they were safely back in their hotel room, he let her have it.
"Of all the idiotic, irresponsible things!" Black all but roared. "While you were out gallivanting around, I have received our orders to move out to Venice first thing in the morning!"
"Finally!" she exclaimed. "I thought we'd never leave! Do you have any idea how excruciatingly boring it's been just sitting around and waiting in that hotel room?"
"I have a pretty good idea, you little twit! The point is that we were supposed to stay there and wait for our orders, but no, you had to go and run around dressed like some call girl."
"Call girl?!" She hissed. "Just for your information, you jackass, I happened to have been one of the most decently dressed women in there, and even if I was a call girl, I wouldn't sleep with you no matter how much money you offered!"
"Like I'd even have to offer money just for that!" He drawled with a wicked smirk. "I've never had to do so before and I never will."
"Ugh, just ruin the rest of my night, you pig!" Violet groaned, "I'm going to have nightmares now!"
"Now if you think about it in the right frame of mind, we're supposed to be newlyweds! You tell me what we're supposed to be doing!"
Violet blushed to her hairline and Black could only sit there and grin. I've made my point, he thought, immensely pleased with himself. After all was said – shouted and shrieked, actually – and done, the two finally agreed to sleep the rest of the night before having to catch the early morning train to Venice.
Despite her earlier accusation, she found that she had rather pleasant dreams…
Date and Time: May 12, 2067, 0900 hours
Location: Venice, Italy
POV: 3rd Person
Venice was a beautiful city, one that she had always stared at longingly at the pictures on postcards and in travel books. Too bad the company isn't as great… she grumbled mentally as she shot an evil look at the man sleeping in the seat across from her. She refrained from 'accidentally' kicking the older man, for fear that he'd start bitching at her for him having to 'come and retrieve' her from the night club she had visited the night before. She leaned back in her seat and made a face at him. She was young and the club had only been a couple blocks away from the hotel at the most – besides, she was a Spectrum officer, and in her military career before that ranked high in self-defense courses that the Academy had offered. After checking her safety belt and pulling out a pillow and blanket, she curled up in her seat to get some sleep.
Date and Time: May 12, 2067, 1115 hours
Location: Venice, Italy
POV: 3rd Person
"It's bad enough I'm sharing a bedroom with you, but I won't share the bed!" She all but shrieked. "You can sleep on the floor like last time!"
"Why not just scream that a little louder – I don't think the members of Akito heard you." Black retorted snidely. "Now calm down, you don't want to be all bitchy when we go to meet the Archbishop, now do you?"
"Bitchy?!" Violet snarled as she picked up a vase full of flowers, "You want bitchy, I'll give you bitchy!"
"Put it down!" he snapped, "If you break it, I'll make certain it comes from your pay!"
She gave a low growl and slammed the vase back onto the small decorative table from where she had grabbed it, causing the water inside to slosh around violently. The two glared at each other until there was a knock on their suite's door. Both slipped back into the roles of Spectrum officers and Black gestured for her to say put. She nodded and pulled out a revolver from her ankle holster and stood beside the bedroom door, ready to provide her commanding officer any cover fire.
"Yes?" She heard him asked in Italian.
"The Archbishop wishes you to join him for lunch at noon precisely, sir." A younger voice informed him.
"Thank you. May God bless you." Black replied.
"And may God watch over you, sir." She heard the younger voice say before their suite's doors closed.
Seconds later, the bedroom door opened and Black gave her the all clear signal.
"You heard, I take it?"
"Yes. We meet the Archbishop for lunch at twelve noon precisely." Violet recited as she tucked the revolver back into her ankle holster.
"Excellent. We had best prepare for it then…"
Date and Time: May 12, 2067, 1200 hours
Location: Venice, Italy
POV: 3rd Person
The Brother led them to the chambers the Archbishop used for the small intimate meetings.
"You're very fortunate, Mr. Ferguson. His Eminence rarely sees newlyweds anymore as he is so busy for mother church these days," said the Brother in accented English. "I think he is likening back to the early days when he had just become a bishop."
He stopped in front of a door and knocked, a cheerful voice bidding them enter. The brother moved aside for them to pass and they entered the room. The brother closed the door behind them and they looked at the Archbishop.
Archbishop Doventry was so good that he practically radiated with a holy light. His hair was starting to thin and he was somewhat plump, but he carried the added weight well with his purple robes and paternal demeanor. The holy man smiled serenely as Violet and Black approached him hand in hand, both dressed in the customary black, with Violet's silver crucifix shining proudly in the sunlight against her black blouse.
Must decontaminate hand… Violet thought, and fought to keep the demure, peaceful smile on her face. Despite her thoughts to the contrary, her hand actually felt all nice and tingly in Black's own, like that's where it belonged. She mentally shook herself and got back to the mission at hand.
"Please, come sit down, you must be tired by your trip!" The Archbishop said as he directed them to matching chairs placed side-by-side.
"Thank you, Your Eminence," Violet murmured softly before kissing his extended ring, playing the part of the submissive Catholic wife to the hilt as she stared meekly down at her long black cotton skirt.
Black also kissed the Archbishop's ring before he turned and made certain she was comfortable before sitting in the chair beside her, gently clasping her hand in his, trying to ignore the sensations running through him. His mind kept flashing back to when he dragged his new partner out of that club, and how she had looked in the leather and lace ensemble. His brown eyes carefully surveyed the room, searching for any potential threat or an area where any surveillance devices might have been hidden.
"I am delighted you could join me for lunch." The Archbishop said softly. "Things have been rather interesting to say the least."
"So we can imagine, your Eminence."
"Brother Andrew will serve us and then take his leave so we can discuss this at length."
"Does the good Brother know the situation?" Black inquired, inwardly nervous that there could be an inside person involved with the threat.
"No. There are very few that know of this, save the Pope and several of the papal security people. It's been downplayed as best…" the Archbishop quieted as Brother Andrew entered with help to serve their lunch. They waited until Andrew and the others left, and then began to discuss details.
Date and Time: May 12, 2067, 2045 hours
Location: Venice, Italy
POV: 3rd Person
Violet picked slightly at the lace hem of her white and lavender silk nightshirt and blushed slightly before placing the matching robe on the chair beside the queen-sized bed. They had decided that they would share the bed, so that their cover would appear more credible. Her, in a nightshirt wearing absolutely nothing underneath, in front of a superior male officer…and a rather attractive – oh alright, very sexy, very hot – one at that! So what if he was a bit older – that only made him all the more interesting. She slid underneath the covers on the left side of the bed and leaned back against the pillows. The door of the connecting bathroom opened and Black walked out. It took all of her willpower to keep from staring at the black silk pajama bottoms he wore, which was molded his muscular hips and hugged his crotch with such loving care and lightly molded to his…. with a blush, she turned her back to him and burrowed under the covers. He noticed this and a smirk appeared on his face as he slid into bed. He had never seen that kind of blushing. Her temperature should be up at least a full degree by now, he mentally chuckled.
"Good night, Anita."
"Good night, Conrad." Her voice was muffled slightly by the covers.
Date and Time: May 13, 2067, 0105 hours
Location: Venice, Italy
POV: 3rd Person
In the darkness of the unexpectedly cool night, two tired bodies curled up against one another in a search for body heat. Strong arms enfolded the tiny form of the female Spectrum officer and she snuggled up unknowingly against her superior officer's muscular chest. Still in a state between wakefulness and sleep, his hands slid down her silk clad back and cupped her hips and his lips nuzzled the soft skin at the side of her slender neck. Still partially asleep herself, she gave a soft moan and her hands slid across Black's bare waist and trailed across the elastic waistband of his pajama bottoms. He slid his hands underneath her nightshirt and stroked her bare hips softly.
He nudged her legs apart and slipped between her pale thighs. Black's greater weight pressed her against the mattress as he pushed her nightshirt up. However, the sudden weight on top of her startled Violet from her sleep. Her sleepy eyes became instantly alert at the sight of the man covering her body with his. Several factors ran rampant through her mind all at once: One, her commanding officer was lying on her, wearing only his pajama bottoms. Two, there was something very large and very hard pressing against her inner thigh, very near her mound, which she was very certain was his arousal. Three, he had his hands up under her nightshirt and on her waist. Four, she was hoping he was fully asleep, that way he wouldn't know of her arousal and response.
"Ca.…Conrad She hissed in a low, urgent tone, remembering they were supposed to be married. "Wake up and get off of me!"
His only response was to move one of his hands over her rapidly moistening pussy and press his mouth against hers. Black's tongue rubbed up against hers and he moved his hand back to her hip and pressed his arousal right against her mound, sighing as he did so. Violet's eyes almost crossed while her hips bucked slightly in response as she gasped against his lips and tried to regain control over her hormones. She placed her hands against his pectorals and tried to shove him away – she only managed to break the heavy kiss. He then tightened his hold on her by sliding his hands from where he was holding her hips to clasp her buttocks and grind his hardness against her mound once more. A moan managed to escape her lips and he gave a throaty groan in answer as he ran his lips over her collarbone on up the slender column of her neck. Oh dear God, give me strength! she begged silently. I cannot give into this sexy, horny man who happens to be my commanding officer and have sex! It is WRONG! she mentally chided herself before thinking, Dear God, if he's like this asleep, what's he like awake? She refrained from smacking herself on the forehead for that thought and tried to regain control. While she was silently trying to regain control, he started to push down his pajama bottoms with one hand. Violet's jaw dropped and she began to make very serious attempts to wake him up.
"Wake up, damnit and get off of me!" She growled, her voice getting louder now.
His lips sought out hers again and before he could slip his tongue into her mouth, she bit his lower lip – hard. Black jerked into wakefulness at the pain arced through his lip. His eyes popped open and he found himself staring into his partner's angry pale lavender eyes. His quick mind automatically took in the situation at hand. One, he was on top of Violet, resting between her thighs. Two, he still had his pajama bottoms on – barely. Three, she still had her nightshirt on, but it was pushed up around her waist and he now knew for a fact she didn't wear anything under it. Four, he was aroused to the point that it almost hurt. Five, Violet looked both really aroused and really pissed off. Black lifted his mouth from hers and pushed himself up onto his hands and knees and stared down at her.
"If I told you I was sorry, would it help?" He asked. His mind was racing. What was the matter with him?
She reached under her pillow and pulled out a dagger before she placed it against the very large bulge in his boxer briefs. "What do you think?"
His head bowed as he followed the dagger's path with his eyes. "Right. Pardon me."
He waited until she moved the knife and climbed off of her and out of the bed before stiffly walking to the connected bathroom. Maybe a cold shower would help…he winced slightly as he tried to lengthen his stride and decided another course of action might be needed, but only if the shower failed. He locked the bathroom door behind him before he carefully pulled his pajama bottoms off and stepped into the shower stall.
Black had to refrain from letting loose a shout as the icy cold water suddenly ran over him. He looked down and noticed he was still fully aroused. Damnit… he groaned mentally and stopped himself from banging his head against the shower stall's wall. After double-checking that the bathroom door was locked, he made certain the sound of the shower was loud enough to fully drown out any stray noise before he began 'taking care of business'. He had this nagging feeling that he'd be doing this a lot over the course of this mission.
He made certain that there was no evidence of his activities before pulling on the robe he had left hanging on the back of the door and putting his boxers in the pocket of the robe. Barely was the bathroom door open then Violet all but knocked him over to get into the bathroom. His mouth went dry and he felt his member stirring once more at the sight of her erect nipples straining against her silk and lace nightshirt and caught the musky scent of her arousal. The bathroom door slammed behind him and the nagging feeling he had earlier turned into a screaming banshee. Dear God, he was going to be in constant state of semi-arousal all through this mission, wasn't he?! He growled silently as he stalked over to the dresser and pulled out a pair of clean pajama bottoms. He slid them on before placing his discarded robe on the chair next to his side of the bed and climbed under the bedcovers, making certain to keep his back facing the bathroom door. Perversely, he thought it would fit in with the newlywed cover they were portraying, but he felt Violet wouldn't see the humor in it.
Violet made certain the lid to the toilet seat was down before placing a clean nightshirt and matching thong down on the lid and stripping off what she already wore. She bit her lip at the sensation of the silk rasping across her hard nipples, hoping to smother the gasp she felt build up in her chest. Walking carefully, she stepped into the shower and felt overwhelmed at the musky scent lingering in the air. A blush spread across her cheeks at the thought of Black… She shook her head – bad idea thinking of her CO in that light, since it would only bring trouble, lots and lots of trouble.
She turned on the water, setting it to just above lukewarm. The water rained down upon her and she shivered slightly at the sensation. Her feminine side and hormones was something she had repressed since she joined the military service, and when the rare occasions that situations like this came up, she was generally at a loss of how to handle it. With a sigh, she lathered up a washcloth and began to gently scrub her shoulders. As the cloth ran over her still tender breasts, she bit her lip to keep from moaning. Violet nibbled on her lip in indecision – should she? The Church did frown on it and she never had really felt the need to do so before…
But she'd get no sleep in this condition, her more logical side – and rather aroused side as well – argued. Resting her forehead against the shower stall wall, she tried to remember the things the few other women she had been stationed with said they did to relieve this pressure. 'Follow your instincts; they never let you down, in or out of the bedroom!' She recalled one of the older women joking.
In the bedroom, Black peeked over his shoulder at the bathroom door. He could have had sworn he heard a thud, like something falling. She didn't slip did she? Or maybe she's taking care of her problem the same way you took care of yours? part of his mind hissed softly. What if she was? He felt his member hardening again. Turner, you idiot, stop it! the logical part of his mind screamed. If she did fall and hurt herself, she was probably too stubborn to call out for help, he reasoned. You just want to see if she's playing with herself, Turner. snickered part of his mind while the more reasonable side of him responded with, Stop thinking this way! She could be hurt and drowning!
He hesitated at the bathroom door before trying the knob. It turned silently and he opened it partway to peer into the bathroom. His heart in his throat, he felt his mouth go dry and all the blood rush and pool to his groin. Her eyes were closed and her head tilted away from him, but he could see her hand in-between her legs and how she was moving both her hand and her hips. Despite the shower running, he heard her softly moan his name – she did want him! He silently closed the bathroom door and he stood there for a second before staggering back over to the bed and laying down belly first on his side of the bed. He had to regain a semblance of control. This was vital!
After rinsing the soap from her body and the shampoo from her hair, she stepped out of the shower and pulled a towel off of the rack to begin drying her hair. She paused to pull on her clean clothing and tossed the dirtied ones into the laundry basket
Black lay there on his belly and stared hard the wall. The shower was loud, but he heard her final moan even though it had occurred several minutes before. His cock had throbbed at that sound, and his body tensed again. The bathroom door finally opened and he risked a peek. She was towel drying her hair, which kept her from seeing him looking at her, dressed in a plain white cotton nightshirt. His eyes jerked back to where they had been staring at the wall and he did his best to command his body to relax, which was very difficult due to the condition he was in.
It was going to be a long night – and an even longer mission…