Hi and thanks again for the reviews. I got less reviews for the last chapter than I did for any of the others and I wasn't sure why.
Although the reviews with regards to my writing have been positive, the Jack/Michelle plot has definitely gotten mixed reviews. Kita called it "abhorrent"; others seem to like it. I thought it was a different twist. I've written six other stories with happy endings for Tony and Michelle. (Technically, Carnival Town was a Jack/Kate story but it had a happy ending for Tony/Michelle also.) So if you are in need of a happy ending for Tony and Michelle, try one of those and you'll end up with that warm, happy feeling that we all get when our favorite couple lives happily ever after.
Just a warning, I gave this story an overall rating of T (that used to be PG-13). Well, plan on this chapter being M (or R in the old rating system). So don't say you haven't been warned! By the way, if you don't like the idea of Jack and Michelle together, you may want to stop reading now. Once again, don't say that I didn't warn you!
Chapter 9
Michelle put her head back and let her body slide a little deeper into the Jacuzzi. The hot water bubbled around her neck and she closed her eyes enjoying the feeling. She rarely allowed herself such luxury. She and Tony had lived comfortably on two incomes, but once he went to prison and she was forced to make due on her own income, she had little left over for extravagances such as this. She had considered selling the house and buying a little condominium; that would free up several hundred dollars a month, but couldn't bring herself to sell the house that she and Tony had chosen so carefully and been so proud of. When she reserved the Jacuzzi suite at one of Washington D.C.'s top rated hotels, she rationalized it by telling herself that it was her Christmas gift to herself.
It was Friday, December 22nd and she had arrived in Washington late the night before. She got up this morning and went to a nearby salon for a manicure and pedicure and a facial. Now she was enjoying a bath and in an hour she would have to start getting ready for the Cabinet Christmas party at the White House. All of the cabinet members and their senior staff would be there. Jack had been invited and had asked her to come with him.
She had said "yes", of course. Any chance she had to spend time with Jack she took. She relished their time together. They hadn't had a lot of it. Since Michelle returned from Washington last summer, she and Jack had talked and emailed on almost a daily basis. Jack was in LA a few weeks later for Jacob's christening and he spent as much time as possible with Michelle. In September, he had a meeting with a defense contractor in San Francisco so Michelle met him there for the weekend. Then several weeks later, he had some meetings in St. Louis and again, Michelle took some time off and met him for a long weekend. Both times they had stayed in separate rooms. Jack was back in LA for Thanksgiving and they had dinner together at Kim and Chase's house. Now just a few days before Christmas, they would attend the White House party together tonight, spend tomorrow evening at a small private gathering at Secretary Heller's house and finally, fly to LA together on Christmas Eve. Jack had taken off the whole next week, so they would really be together for almost ten days and Michelle found herself as giddy as a schoolgirl at the prospect of spending that much time with him.
Michelle checked the time and decided that she should get out of the bath before she turned into a prune. She stepped from the bath and wrapped herself in a huge terry towel and spent the next couple of hours getting ready. She started by lotioning her body from head to toe. Then she put on her make up. She had been experimenting with make up for several days and finally came up with a combination that she thought looked both natural and sophisticated. Now it was time to do her hair. She had dried her hair with a diffuser so that it was full and curly. She pulled it into a ponytail at the nape of her neck and then into an exotic twist. She positioned corkscrew curls all around her face. She added long, dangling earrings and a strand of pearls around her neck. The whole look was sexy and romantic and she smiled knowing how good she looked.
Finally it was time to get dressed. She took off her robe and looked at herself in the full length mirror. She would be 35 next month and still had a fabulous figure. Not that she didn't work at it, she reminded herself. She went to the gym four days a week and watched her diet closely. Her arms and legs were solid but not muscular. Her stomach was tight and flat and her hips softly curved. Her breasts were small, but round and well shaped. She stepped into a pair of flesh colored lace panties and put on a matching strapless bra. She zipped herself into a strapless red gown just as Jack knocked on the door. She stepped into a pair of high-heeled, strappy sandals, straightened her gown and rearranged her curls for the hundredth time before she went to the door. Jack stood before her looking unbelievably handsome in his tuxedo.
"Oh, Sweetheart," he said as he held her at arms length for a moment to look at her. "You look gorgeous. I'm not sure I want to take you to a party looking this good. I'm afraid someone will steal you away from me."
"Not a chance," she said as she kissed him. "You can't get rid of me that easily. Do we have a few minutes? I bought a bottle of wine; maybe we could have a glass."
Jack looked at his watch and nodded. "We've got time. Secretary Heller invited us to ride in his limousine with him. He'll be here in about 20 minutes."
"That was nice of him," Michelle commented. "Is he taking a date?" The Secretary was widowed and had dated only occasionally over the past few years.
"He's taking Audrey," Jack told her.
"Why isn't Audrey taking Paul?" Michelle questioned him as she handed him the wine bottle and watched him open it.
"They separated again. This time she filed for divorce." Jack poured the wine into two glasses.
Michelle tried to hide her look of surprise. She turned her back to Jack pretending that she was fixing her hair in the mirror. "Does she want you back?" she asked with a pang of jealousy.
"I don't know," Jack told her honestly. "And I don't care. I've got you now and you're who I want to be with." He touched her shoulder and turned her around. "Honestly, Michelle. I haven't paid any attention to Audrey. I love you. I don't love her. I'm not sure I ever really did love her. I cared for her and, at the time, I thought I loved her, but I'm not sure that I ever did."
He handed her a glass and raised his in front of her. "To the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
"Stop, Jack!" she giggled as she took a drink. She looked away embarrassed by the compliment.
"I'm serious," he said. He took her glass away from her and set it on a table, then he pulled her into his arms. "You are always beautiful, but tonight you are stunning. You're taking my breath away and every guy at the White House is going to be jealous and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it." He kissed her softly at first and then harder. She was groaning quietly when his phone rang.
"That's our ride, Sweetheart," he said as he pulled away slowly.
Michelle took a second to fix the lipstick that they had just smudged and to wipe some off of Jack's face. He helped her on with her coat and they went downstairs to the waiting limousine. Michelle was concerned about spending the evening with Audrey. She knew that she was the reason that Audrey broke up with Jack. It stood to reason that Audrey was going to try and win him back.
They stepped out into the cold December night. Michelle shivered and looked up at the banks of steel gray clouds that filled the sky.
"Snow clouds," Jack told her.
"Really?" Michelle replied giving them a second look. She was a southern California girl through and through and had never really seen snow clouds before. In fact, her only real experience with snow was when she and Tony had gone skiing a couple of times. "They look so menacing. I thought you said that they were only predicting a couple of inches."
"That's the prediction. The storm is coming up from the south and is expected to blow out over the ocean after we get a couple of inches. The cloud cover makes it look worse than it is."
"You'll be proud of me. I went out and bought boots and a winter jacket just for the occasion."
"That's probably a good idea. The snow is expected to melt pretty quickly, but it'll still be cold and wet tomorrow."
The evening at the White House was magical. Michelle felt like Cinderella at the ball except that she didn't have to look for her Prince Charming. She was on his arm all night. She realized after an hour or two that her concerns about Audrey were unfounded. Audrey was pleasant to both she and Jack but never made any attempt to monopolize Jack's time or draw his attention to her. Audrey eventually was able to get Michelle alone for a moment and took the opportunity to allay her fears.
"Michelle," she said, "I can imagine that this is a little uncomfortable for you."
"To be honest, Audrey, it is. I know you're separated from your husband again and it would be natural for you to try and rekindle your relationship with Jack. Obviously Jack and I have started our own relationship and I'm a little protective of that. But I also understand that you're with him five days a week at work and I'm 3000 miles away."
"You don't have to worry about me trying to get Jack back. He's incredible, Michelle. I know that. He is such a special person, but he loves you far more than he ever loved me. He is so much happier than he was when he and I were together. I would never try and interfere with your relationship. What you've got is really special. I just want the best for Jack and right now, I think you're what's best for him."
They all left the party together around midnight and stepped out onto the covered portico to get into the limousine. The snow had started falling. The bare trees were outlined in white against the dark sky and the snow had started to stick to the grass.
"Oh, it's beautiful!" Michelle exclaimed.
"Enjoy it while it lasts," Secretary Heller said cynically. "It's going to melt and tomorrow it'll be all dirty and slushy."
The ride back to the hotel was brief. Jack and Michelle asked Audrey and Secretary Heller to join them in the lounge for a drink, but they declined.
"I'd like to get home before the snow starts settling on the roads," Heller told them. "Since this is all supposed to melt tomorrow, I doubt the roads commission has any plans to plow it and it might get a little dicey over the next couple of hours."
The four said goodnight and Jack helped Michelle out of the car. They made their way up to her room.
"Do you have to go?" she asked. "I don't want you to stay if you think driving might get dangerous."
"I'm not in a hurry. I don't think the roads are going to get that bad and my SUV goes through the snow well."
"Would you like to finish the bottle of wine we started before the party?" Michelle asked hopefully. She wasn't ready for Jack to leave or for this perfect evening to end.
"Wine sounds great." Jack sat down on the sofa and watched while Michelle got the wine from the small refrigerator and poured two glasses.
"Did you have a good time tonight?" Jack asked her as Michelle handed him a glass and sat down next to him.
"It was incredible. I never imagined myself at a White House party. I felt like a princess."
"You look like a princess," he told her as he kissed her.
Michelle put her arms around him and returned the kiss. The intensity of the kisses slowly increased. Michelle moaned as Jack worked his way down her neck and then along her bare shoulders. He felt her shiver against him.
"Cold?" he asked.
"No," she answered with a smile, "you're tickling me." She could feel the excitement building in the pit of her stomach.
"Well, I won't kiss you there if it tickles," he told her. "I'll just kiss you here." He raised his head and began kissing her lips again. He tasted the wine on her lips and licked them hungrily wanting more. His tongue slipped into her mouth and he felt her sucking on it. He found the feeling exciting and he groaned so she would know that she was turning him on.
Michelle responded to his groans by caressing his face and running her hands through his hair. He pulled her up onto his lap while his hands traveled up and down her back.
"Jack," she whispered seductively as she pulled away after a long series of kisses. She leaned in and kissed him lightly as she got up off of his lap. She held both of his hands in hers. "It's time."
Jack raised his eyebrows questioningly.
She nodded. "You told me that I'd know when the time was right. Well, it's time." She tugged gently at Jack's hands and he stood up.
"Sweetheart," Jack started, "does this have anything to do with Audrey? If you're doing this because you're afraid that Audrey is going to try and get me backā¦"
Michelle silenced him by pressing her fingertips to his lips. "Audrey and I had a long talk. I'll admit, I was a little worried about her before the party tonight, but she was really straight forward with me and she assured me that she wouldn't interfere with our relationship. No, Jack, this isn't about Audrey. This is about you and me. We love each other and it's time to take the next step; unless, of course, you're not ready."
Jack pulled her close and kissed her to show her that he was very ready to further their relationship. Michelle walked over to the door and put the "Do Not Disturb" sign on it. She didn't want anyone interrupting their first night together. She turned out the light in the outer room and led the way to the bedroom where housekeeping had turned down the bed and turned on a dim light on the nightstand next to the bed.
Once in the bedroom she turned toward him and they began kissing again. Jack ran his hands down Michelle's back and gently cupped her bottom in his hands. He pulled her pelvis tightly against his and she could feel that he was already becoming excited. Michelle groaned and put her hands inside of his jacket and pushed it off of his shoulders. She then opened his tie and began unbuttoning his shirt.
Jack pulled back slightly. "Michelle, I'm not prepared for this. Do we need protection?"
"No," she whispered. "It's taken care of. I'm on the pill."
He gave her a surprised look. In a discussion a few months earlier she had mentioned that she used birth control pills while she and Tony were married, but had stopped taking them once they separated. "You little vixen," he teased her. "How long have you been planning this?"
"I wasn't planning it but I knew that it would eventually happen. I had a doctor's appointment so I asked her for a prescription. I hoped that it would allow us to be spontaneous," she told him feigning anger, "but you had to go and ruin the moment by asking questions."
"Let's see if we can get that moment back," he said in a soft, seductive whisper. He pulled her in close and kissed her deeply.
"That might work," she said back as the kiss broke.
She went back to unbuttoning his shirt and started to push it off of him. Jack stopped kissing her for a second to take off his cufflinks so that he could remove the shirt. Michelle ran her hands through the soft blond hair on his chest.
He caressed her face gently. "Take down your hair," he requested.
She raised her hands slowly to the back of her head and pulled out several hair pins. Her hair fell lazily down her neck. Jack put his hands in her hair and drew it out over her shoulders. There was something about running his fingers through her hair that made him crazy with desire. He had waited for this moment for months now and it was worth every minute of it; it was worth every sleepless night when he couldn't get her off of his mind and all he could imagine was making love to her.
He reached behind Michelle and slowly pulled down the zipper on the back of her form fitting gown. He eased the gown down over her hips and pushed it to the floor. Michelle stepped out of it to reveal the lacy strapless bra and bikini panties. Jack groaned as he ran his hands down her body. He kneaded her breasts through her bra and leaned down to kiss along its lace edge and into her cleavage.
Michelle put her head back and exhaled softly at his touch. Without hesitation she reached behind her back and opened her bra. She took a step back from him and removed it; dropping it to the floor with her dress. As she moved back toward him, she cupped her hands under her breasts as if offering them to Jack. Jack accepted the offering and took them in his hands, caressing them and rolling her nipples gently between his thumb and forefinger. The desire in his eyes was undeniable.
Michelle reached for his belt buckle. Jack helped her and soon his pants were on the floor on the ever growing pile of clothes. They stood next to the bed kissing for a long time, hands touching and caressing bare skin but somewhat shyly staying above the waist.
Jack finally let his hands drift below Michelle's waist and to the lacy edge of her panties. Michelle groaned into his mouth and he put his hands into the panties and pushed them down her legs. He held her out at arms length and slowly surveyed her naked body.
"Beautiful," he whispered, "so beautiful."
Michelle had spent the last several months so afraid of this moment; so concerned that she wouldn't or couldn't enjoy it. She was terrified that she would be haunted by thoughts of Tony or memories of their love making, but none of that happened. Instead, she was enjoying Jack's touch; she simply couldn't get enough of it. And his body! He was 41 and still had an incredible body. It was lean and tight and his skin was smooth.
Michelle helped Jack finish undressing and they slowly, deliberately got into bed. The sheets were surprisingly cool against their skin and the contrasting temperatures seemed to make the experience more exciting. Jack turned out the light on the nightstand. Now the only light in the room was the thin strip coming in from the gap between the closed curtains. The reflection off the snow provided more light than usual in the middle of the night.
Jack turned over after turning out the light and took Michelle into his arms. They kissed deeply, urgently; their passions rising to a fevered pitch. Their hands traveled over bare skin while curious fingers sought out those places that brought the most pleasure. Their brains quickly catalogued the spots that brought the biggest response. Soon hands and fingers were replaced by hot, wet mouths and tongues. Jack led the way as each of them looked for those sweet spots that turned the other into jelly.
Neither spoke; their moans and their touch were all they needed to express their deepest feelings. After Jack had kissed every inch of her body, Michelle pushed him onto his back and began to do the same. She held him deep in her mouth and caressed him with her tongue.
"Baby," he panted, "You're going to make me come."
Michelle pulled back and flicked him with her tongue. "That's the point," she told him as she stroked him.
"No, not yet," he said. "Come here."
He reached out to her and pulled her on top of him. They kissed with an intensity that was almost painful. Jack put his hands on her hips and lifted them so they were positioned directly above him. Michelle put her knees on either side of his body and knelt in an upright position. She slowly lowered herself onto him. As she did, Jack put his head back and arched his back to try and push himself in deeper. He let out a long, low groan that made Michelle smile. She initiated a slow rhythm. Jack tried desperately to speed it up, but her position allowed her to maintain control and set the pace. She increased the speed a little and watched Jack's face. The ecstasy was unmistakable. He reached out, put his arms around her back and pulled her down against his body. She was still on top of him, but now he had some control. He put his hands on the backs of her thighs and held her tight to him, and then he increased the rhythm. Michelle moaned uncontrollably. Jack couldn't remember ever being this excited, certainly not with Kate or Audrey; maybe with Teri but it was too long ago now to remember clearly. He concentrated on Michelle and willed himself not to climax before she did. He felt Michelle's body tense up and spasm against his and, at the same time, she tightened up around him. That was the end of his self control. He groaned loudly and pushed himself as deep as possible inside of her. He felt as if he exploded.
Jack wasn't sure when they started kissing, but minutes later he found himself holding Michelle's face in his hands and kissing her. They were both panting between kisses trying to get their breath and to process the last few beautiful moments.
Michelle eventually slid off of Jack and curled on her side in his arms. He kissed the top of her head and stroked her body gently. He caressed her face lightly and could feel that her lips were turned up into a smile. He was grateful to feel that smile. He was concerned that she might become emotional. After all, this was her first intimate experience since Tony's death. He remembered his first night with Kate. He lay in bed for hours afterward watching her sleep and comparing her to Teri.
Jack traced Michelle's lips and she kissed his fingers. They lay silently in the dark room listening to each other's heart beat, feeling the regular in and out of their breathing, relishing the warmth of another body. Slowly they each drifted off into a peaceful, exhausted sleep.
I was criticized in one of my earlier stories for making my love scenes too graphic. I apologize if I offended anyone. If it really was too graphic or not in good taste, let me know, I can certainly edit it. (But be specific, I need to know what should be edited and more than one person is going to have to complain before I edit.)
