February 14th, 2004
Carlos walked up the stairs to the firehouse. He wanted to curl up and die. Today had been utterly long and boring. Most of the people him and Kim brought in were allergic reactions to their Valentine's candy. The coolest victim they brought in was a guy with a diamond earring stuck in his eye. Blood was spurting every where. Gruesome. Carlos stopped at the top of the stairs and stared at Levine. She was on the floor, bending in very provocative positions. Her pelvis pointed to the ceiling. Carlos eyed her up and down. Wow, he thought.
"What are you doing?" He asked. Levine sat up and chuckled.
"Yoga." She said. "You should try it sometime."
"I don't think so." Carlos said walking up to the bunks. Levine got up and followed him.
"Why is that?" She asked him.
"Because it's for women and fruits." He said, "And I'm neither of those."
"You're tense though." She said.
"I am not tense." He said taking off his uniform shirt.
"Sure you are. You're giving off these huge tense vibes." Levine said. Carlos gave her a look, "And nasty vibes."
"Have you ever thought I get tense and nasty only when you're around, Levine?" He asked. Levine pouted playfully.
"Are you just sad that you don't have a valentine?" She asked.
"No." Carlos said, "Just go home to your girlfriend."
"As much as your fantasies want it, Carlos, "I'm not a lesbian." She said.
"Trust me," He took his under shirt off and looked at her, "I don't fantasize about you." Levine leaned against her locker and stared at him.
"Can I come over to your place?" He looked at her shocked.
"What? No!" He said. She rolled her eyes.
"Get your mind out of the gutters, Nieto." Levine said. "I want to check out your apartment. There has to be a reason why you're always crabby. I'll feng shuay your room."
"I don't need no fungus." Carlos said.
"I'll bring some wine." Levine said, "What else do you have to do? No one should be alone on Valentine's day...Even you." Carlos looked at her.
"If you move my bed and stuff, I could get all like cleared in my head?" He asked. Levine smirked.
"It's very possible. Depends on how you accept it." She said. He sighed.
"Fine." Come by at eight." he said, "Davis will be gone by then."
* * *
He must be crazy inviting Levine back to his place. Wait, he didn't invite her. She did. Carlos went into the fridge to get out some snacks. He might as well be a good host with carrots.
"I'm out of here." Ty said.
"You look good." Carlos muttered.
"Why thank you, Doll." Ty said with a lisp, "I'll see you tomorrow." Carlos nodded putting some mini carrots on a plate. Levine was a vegetarian. She'd want veggies. Carrots and cherry tomatoes. He hoped that'd be enough for her. he went back into the fridge and pulled out the ranch dressing. She could dip her crap in here. He heard a knock on the door.
"Great." he put the tray of food on the table and went to the front door. Carlos glanced in the mirror before opening the door. Levine was already smiling big enough to crack her face.
"Here's the wine." She held up a bottle.
"Good." He took the wine bottle from her. He would need a lot of wine. "I ah...laid out some food if you're hungry."
"Yeah! Thanks!" She said walking into the apartment. Carlos shut the door behind her and went to grab some glasses for them.
"I'm opening the wine." He said.
"Great. I need some." Levine said, "So tell me, why don't you have a date tonight?" Carlos chuckled opening the bottle.
"I haven't had time to really pursue anyone, you know everything that happened with Kylie and Christian...Not to mention work." he said handing her a glass of wine.
"Yeah, I understand." She said, "But at least you got a healthy daughter and a brother out of all of it." Carlos smiled at her.
"Yeah, you're right." He said.
"You should do that more often." Levine said biting into a carrot.
"Do what?" He asked.
"Smile. It becomes you." Levine said. Carlos cleared his throat.
"Let me show you my room." He said. Levine nodded. Anything to get away of her complimenting him. Carlos and Levine stepped into the bedroom, "Well, here it is. There's nothing much to it and I don't see how else we could move the furniture."
"I can see why you are what you are." She said sipping her wine.
"Yeah?" Carlos looked around.
"This room needs more colour." She said pointing to the bed, "We can move that vertical to the window and move your dresser near the closet. That should work just fine."
"That's all we have to do?" He asked. Levine nodded.
"We're going to have to paint these walls maybe blue or get some paintings on them." She said. Carlos frowned, "Do you have any paint? We could paint some pictures on them."
"Ahhh....I don't think so." He said, "I would rather hang pictures up."
"Have any family pictures?" She asked. he nodded.
"I have a lot now." He went into his closet and pulled out a photo album that Adam gave him.
"Terrific." Levine said finishing off her glass of wine.
"I have some picture frames. Let me get them." Carlos went into the living room. Why was he doing this? he would probably hate all the changes that she'd make. He heard her grunted as she pushed the dresser. he laughed, "Let me help you." He grabbed a bag of frames he had just bought and went back into the bedroom.
"Yeah, I need someone strong. What have you got in here? Anvils?" She said pushing her blond hair away from her face.
"That's exactly what I have in here." He smiled.
* * *
Carlos and Levine sat on the bed, with an empty wine bottle, staring at the pictures they had just hung. Their eyes were almost closed from too much liquor. Levine burst into laughter.
"What?" Carlos asked.
"You had big ears when you were a child." She stated.
"And I don't know?" He asked. Levine looked at him and smiled.
"They're perfect." She slid off of the bed, "Let's move this sucker."
"You have a lot of motivation for someone who's drank too much." Carlos said getting up. "I'll take one side you take the other."
"Got it." She said. This would be comical. Two very drunk people moving a bed.
"Do you usually drink like this, Levine?" He asked.
"No." Levine said, "On my count. One...Two...Three." They began to push, but it was as if the floor was moving from beneath their feet. The bed wasn't moving. Levine's hands slipped and she fell onto the bed in a fit of laughter. "I can't."
"Me either." Carlos laughed laying down next to her. "The room is spinning."
"A good spin or a bad spin?" Levine asked.
"Since when was a spinning room good?" Carlos smiled at her.
"Very true." She giggled propping herself up on her elbow, "Thanks for this. It wasn't a depressing Valentine's after all."
"You get depressed?" Carlos asked, "Colour me shocked." Levine rolled her eyes.
"I'm not always happy. Valentine's Day makes me even more depressed I'm single." She said.
"And why do you think you're single?" Carlos asked her.
"Men don't find my ways attractive I guess." Levine said. Carlos stared at her. Maybe it was all the liquor, but he found her attractive. She seemed so sad as she looked down. That was so out of character for her. Carlos touched her cheek softly. Her eyes turned up to look at him.
"I find them...cute." He said. Levine chuckled softly. "I'm serious."
"Sure." he said. Carlos licked his lips. It had to be all that wine. His fingers spread spread behind Levine's head and he pulled her against his lips. Her eyes slipped shut when she felt Carlos' lip touch hers. Her body shuddered, but she didn't pull away. it had been four years since a man had kissed her.
He was kissing Levine. Boy, the men back at the house would really laugh at this one. Who cares? Carlos slowly slid his tongue into her mouth. He felt her entire body just give up and will it to be his. That was what he wanted at that very moment.
Carlos pushed her gently against the bed. His free hand went around her waist. His thumb stroked the flesh of her side. That elicited a groan from Levine's throat. There was no turning back now.
Her hands pulled at his t-shirt. Her eyes sparkled as Carlos pulled it off. Yes, she had seen him without his shirt many times, but now, it was different. She arched her back so he could take off her shirt. His eyes widened when he saw that she was not wearing a bra. Why should that surprise him?
"I like feng shuay." Carlos said. Levine laughed softly as Carlos' fingers curled beneath the wait band of her pants.
"Me too." She whispered. Carlos kissed her stomach as he pulled everything off. he three it across the room. His throat went dry. She was definitely lean and limber. Yoga was wonderful. "Take them off." His hands shook slightly as he undid his pants. He slid back into bed against her body after his pants were off. He could feel Levine's body tremble. "I'm nervous."
"We don't have to do this if you don't want to." Carlos said. Levine slid her arms around his neck.
"I want this. I need this." She said.
"How's my karma now?" He whispered.
"Wonderful." Levine kissed him softly. This was happening, She thought. She wished it wasn't after a whole bottle of wine, but hey. Breaking a four-year dry spell was worth it.
Carlos positioned himself against her heat. Levine's eyes slid shut as he slid into her body. The feeling was almost over powering for the two of them. It was utterly wonderful getting the bedspring to squeak beneath them. It was more than just two bodies connecting thought Carlos. As Levine put it, It was more like two souls joining as one.