A/N – here's part 3, which is the last one! Thank you all for reading- honestly, it's been such a mini labor of love for the last few weeks. Huge thank you to Pillar—of—Salt for the support along the way. Warning – this is rated M.
…
The space beside her is noticeably empty, and she senses his absence before she's even fully conscious. She opens her eyes; the sheets on his side are cool, suggesting he's been gone for a while. But she hears the gentle hum of the TV on low, and upon lifting her head a few inches, she sees Mike in one of the chairs, eyes glued to the screen, sipping coffee from a Styrofoam cup.
On the nightstand next to her is a paper cup full of steaming hot tea and a glass of water. He was one step ahead of her. Actually, at this point, at least three steps ahead of her. Somehow he always remembered her needs, despite the absolute mess of the last twelve hours.
"You're up early," her voice breaks the silence. A quick glance of her phone indicates it's nearly time for her to get up and shower.
"I went to the gym."
"You?" Nadine lifts an eyebrow, the corner of her mouth lifting at the image of Mike pumping iron or pounding it out on a treadmill. "I've never seen you voluntarily exercise."
"I workout," he says dismissively, "Just not regularly."
"I didn't hear your alarm go off," she treads lightly, purposefully keeping her tone light, offering him a chance to take the bait and open a conversation.
"I turned it off. Couldn't sleep." He looks like he has more to say, so she purposefully remains silent, sipping her tea, waiting.
"Listen, about last night," he begins, the tops of his ears noticeably red. He's been fuming.
"Mike," she knows an argument is inevitable now.
"Just let me finish." His voice is so dismissive and cold it makes her wince. The finality of his tone feels like an ultimatum. "Has it ever occurred to you that maybe the reason why you never let anyone in is because you actively push them away? You keep me at arm's length with your rules and stipulations but when you feel like testing the waters, when you're in the mood, it's good enough."
He's using her own words against her – the rules and stipulations. Keeping things quiet at work, never openly admitting anything was going on between them. Her face reddens with embarrassment and anger. "That's not true," she tries but falls short. Everything he's saying is in some way, shape, or form true. She cringes at the thought of what'd happened between them last night. Clearly it'd had the opposite effect than what she intended.
"You tell me bits and pieces, never the whole story. None of this actually means anything to you, does it? It's all about what's easy for you, what lets you to take the most and give the least. Someone to call when you feel lonely and then forget about."
She considers him for a few moments, her face emotionless. "It was never anything more than that," She says coolly, regretting the words before they fall from her lips. Still, the damage was done.
His face visibly crumples, and she knows she's hurt him. She wonders if her words sting like his did.
"Maybe to you it wasn't," Mike begins, swallowing hard.He pulls on his suit jacket, nearly ripping the buttons through the tiny holes. "If that's how you feel then consider this experiment failed. I'm done."
Fuck, she thinks, knowing if he walks now she can't salvage it. It's not what she meant. "Mike, wait," she tries, grabbing his arm to stop him. But he's too quick and too strong, and easily rips his arm from her grasp. This can't be happening a second time. Once was hard enough.
"Let go of me." Mike's voice is pure ice. He turns sharply on his heel, grabs his briefcase, and slams the door behind him.
…
She spends the whole morning replaying their conversation in her brain like a broken record until she wants to hit her head against the table. Each time, the pit in her stomach grows until she can barely hear the speaker in her morning session, let alone think about anything going on around her. By noon, she's nursing yet another headache, and by 3, all she wants is a drink. Or several.
When she quietly slips into their room at the end of the day, Nadine is partly relieved to see him sitting at the small desk, pouring over his computer, because at least he's still here. He ignores her completely, not even looking up from his spot. She wonders, regretfully, if they'll spend the entire evening in silence.
"I'm sorry." It doesn't seem like enough, but it's all she's got.
His back stiffens at the sound of her voice. "I'm not."
That one stings. "Mike," she begins, nervously. She hates the fact that even now, he still has the ability to make her anxious, so effortlessly. It's unnerving.
"I don't want to hear it, Nadine." He doesn't even turn around.
She begins to wonder if any of this is even worth it.
"Just hear me out, please." Her voice is tinged with regret. She wonders if he notices, or cares. She stares at his back, willing him to turn around. Finally, he turns to face her slowly.
"What?" Clearly he's still reeling over her words from this morning. He actually for once looks like hell – ashen, with bags under his eyes. He looks like he's pulled an all nighter.
"I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean it." She clears her throat and tries to meet his steely gaze.
"You sounded pretty honest." Mike looks past her shoulder at the wall behind her. "I'm not doing this with you, Nadine."
"What?"
"I'm not having this conversation again. For the fourth or fifth time," he yanks at the tie around his neck, pulling it loose. "We both know how this goes." He sighs in defeat.
She feels just as defeated as he sounds. "We never seem to say the right thing to one another." She sits down on the bed, as it it'll support her.
He nods thoughtfully. "You're right about that one."
"It doesn't have to be this way."
"What are you trying to say, Nadine?" A hint of frustration creeps into his voice.
"I'm saying," She begins, inhaling a shaky breath, "Is that, you were right about a lot of things."
"Does it pain you to say that out loud?" He can't help it. She scoffs, but the corner of her mouth lifts a tiny bit.
"Just a little." She stares at her knees. "But you are, and I said some pretty awful things to you, and I didn't mean them."
"I'm a big boy, I can handle it." Mike's face visibly softens. "And," he continues, choosing his words carefully, "Regardless of how this turns out, we were worth more to me than just convenience."
"Me too." Her voice is nearly inaudible, and he knows just how hard it was for her to admit that.
Mike comes to stand in front of her. He reaches for her hand and threads his fingers through hers. "I accept your apology, Nadine. And I'm sorry too, for throwing things in your face like I have the last few days."
She looks up at him. "I'm tired of fighting with you, Mike."
"I know," he says softly, reaching for her other hand. "Me, too." It feels like a truce, albeit a weak one, but a truce nonetheless. They stay like that for several long moments, until she speaks again.
"You know," she rises to her feet, and even on tiptoe, only comes up to his chin. Nadine presses her cheek to his chest. "I think it was your turn, if I remember correctly."
Mike's eyes widen, but he certainly doesn't object, and winds an arm around her waist. "My turn?"
She gives him a coy smile, and his throat tightens. Surely she's not serious, he thinks, but then she presses her body into his, and he's practically a goner then and there.
"I was working on something, you know," he pulls her in tighter, fighting a losing battle. "It was important."
"Worry about it later," she pushes him back towards the wall with more strength than she realized she had, but Mike pulls her right along with him, flush against his chest. She lifts her chin to meet his, and then he's kissing her, and she loops an arm around his neck because she needs to feel him closer to her. His mouth is over hers, and she can taste a faint trace of whiskey.. She licks his lips, as if asking for permission to kiss him back, and when he finally lets her, she groans into his mouth. Her tongue explores his mouth, running along his teeth. Definitely whiskey, she thinks. Clearly it'd been a rough afternoon for him too.
Mike spins her around so now her back is pressed against the wall, and he continues his path along her neck with his lips. His hands slide under the hem of her shirt, trailing over her stomach, fingers digging into her ribcage. Nadine rises on tiptoes to kiss his jawline. "You have too many clothes on," She tugs at his suit jacket lapels.
"Ditto." He fumbles with the buttons on her shirt until she finally finishes the job, and then pulls at his until it's abandoned on the floor. She grips his upper arms; her small hands can barely flex around the width of his biceps. She searches for leverage as he pins her against the wall again and leaves a row of kisses down the side of her jaw then finding her lips. Mike presses his knee between her legs and she moans into his mouth.
Her blouse hangs haphazardly on her shoulder before falling away, revealing a dark blue lace bra with a front clasp that contrasts well with her pale skin. Mike squeezes her breasts with both hands, and a small yelp erupts from her throat. "Too much?"
"Keep going," she arches her back, urging him to touch her again, and this time he squeezes just a little bit harder. She presses herself against him, and Mike's lips close around the shell of her ear.
She nearly rips his shirt in her attempt to get it off of him, and he merely smiles before covering her hands with his, quickly freeing the buttons and shedding it behind him. "Patience," he whispers into her ear, sending a chill down her back. Mike pulls one of the cups of her bra down, and takes her nipple into his mouth. She gasps when his teeth sink down, and he holds her closer to his chest as he switches to the other.
"God, I want you," he groans against her shoulder, pushing her into the wall. She's wearing too many layers, so he unclasps the front of her bra and throws it somewhere behind him, bending his head down to kiss her now bare chest.
She pushes her breasts into his face. "Well, are you going to do something about it?"
He bites down on her shoulder tauntingly. "Just you wait, sweetheart."
Shivers run down her spine and her hips buck lightly into his.
His hands travel down to her waist, pulling at the hem of her skirt. "Your clothes always seem to get in my way," he complains with a smile, practically ripping the fabric from her hips once he's gotten the zipper down. He takes a step back, eyeing her up and down, then running his hands over the smooth skin of her hips.
"You've never had any issues taking them off," She quips, her breath hitching in her throat when his fingers trail over the matching dark blue underwear she's wearing.
"You're perfect," he whispers into her hair, words that are never far from the forefront of his mind. She smiles into his chest. "Utterly perfect." He drops kisses on her sternum and the flat plane of her stomach, before dropping to his knees and trailing kisses down over her thighs.
"What are you waiting for?" She presses her pelvis into his face, legs beginning to tremble at the anticipation of what she knows is going to come next.
"I'm admiring you," He hooks his finger through the front of her underwear. "Why the rush? Got somewhere else to be?"
A strangled cry escapes her throat. "Now, Mike." he can sense her impatience, but he'll be damned if this isn't enjoyable for her. He's not in this to fuck her and fall asleep. He's going to take his time, savor her, and blow her mind along the way.
"I'm in no hurry, Nadine." He's fully prepared to make sure she enjoys this. Mike stands, cupping her chin in his hands, kissing her face. And then he lifts her up, one arm under her knees and the other around her back, carrying her across the room and setting her down on the bed before laying down next to her.
"Now, where were we?"
She lifts her hips toward him teasingly, and he shakes his head again. "Not quite yet." Mike's fingers dip below her matching underwear and her breath hitches when his knuckle grazes her clit. "Is this what you want?"
"Y-yes," Nadine arches her back. "Please, Mike," she breathes, and it takes nearly all of his self control to not devour her right there. He continues his exploration of her body, nipping at her ribcage, tracing his lips over the delicate curve of her hips before finally pausing at her stomach.
"We should get rid of these," he pulls at the band of her underwear. She lifts her hips and Mike pulls them off, tossing them over his shoulder. "You don't need these anymore tonight." They fall somewhere behind him on the floor.
"What about you?" Nadine gestures to his pants. "You're still fully clothed." She pulls at his belt, failing to undo the buckle. She struggles with it, a look of amusement crossing Mike's face.
"Need some help?" Mike quickly undoes the buckle and buttons, and Nadine haphazardly pushes his pants down past his legs, then his boxers. Her eyes widen at the sight of his now freed erection, and she reaches down with one hand to stroke him. He sighs against her neck, and gasps when her hand tightens around him and increases the pace of her movements.
Finally, Mike hovers over her, positioning himself between her legs and carefully bringing his body to cover hers, hooking her leg around his hip. In one smooth stroke he pushes into her fully, covering the sharp inhale that escapes her lips with a soft kiss. He teases her with small movements, just enough to make her need him more than she already did, and she moans softly in his ear.
Her muscles flutter around him tauntingly, and he needs to move before he blows it right there. She feels even better than she did 4 months ago if possible. Beneath him, she shifts her hips teasingly, impatiently. "Now, Mike." There's a bit of desperation in her voice that wasn't there minutes ago.
Mike pulls back and then pushes back into her with a sharp drive of his hips, again, then again. She gasps in surprise, or pleasure, or both, and curls her other leg around him, her heel digging into the small of his back. It's been awhile, he remembers, willing himself to slow down, but she doesn't seem to mind. "Like that," she practically purrs, lifting her hips to meet his. "Faster." She doesn't care if it sounds demanding.
He's not about to turn her down.
"Oh my god," she shudders when he reaches down and strokes her clit with his thumb. "That feels amazing." Her head falls back, and Mike sucks at the pulse point on her neck, which will most definitely be a bruise the next day. He doesn't care at this point, and quite frankly, neither does she.
"Missed you," she murmurs, eyes closing as her orgasm builds, and it takes only a few more thrusts until she lets go, her entire body starting to shake and she practically cries out his name. He goes with her, rocking into her once more before he's finished too, practically falling on top of her, arms numb. They slump together, catching their breath, chests heaving with effort..
"I missed you, too," he whispers when he can breathe again, kissing her forehead and nose. "So much." He carefully shifts off of her and disappears for a moment. He returns back with a glass of water, which he takes a sip of before handing to her.
She yawns and stretches beneath the covers, her body exhausted. Mike rejoins her in the bed, and she instinctively curls herself into his arms. He tucks his chin over her shoulder and presses a kiss to her cheek.
"Round two?"
She pushes him onto his back and goes to town.
...
It'd been somewhat of a late night, complete with a room service pizza and beer in between multiple rounds of sex, until they were both too exhausted to move. Hours later, barely enough to classify as a night of sleep, she awakens with her leg slung over his, her head against his chest, his hand protectively covering her hip.
There's a familiar ache in her muscles; one she hasn't felt in a long time. Given how quickly it hits her and how intensely she feels it, she's positive it'll last for at least a day or two. Sitting down will definitely be a challenge for the time being.
Mike stirs beneath her when he feels her move, his hand coming up to cover her head. "Morning," he grunts, pushing her hair from his face. "You know, that's one thing I didn't miss about sleeping with you. Always having your hair in my mouth."
"What time is it?" She shrugs from under his arm, reaching for her phone out of habit, which is across the room and probably dead.
"4:40." Mike reaches underneath the sheets and gives her breast a gentle squeeze, and her body responds automatically as she lifts her hips to meet his. He pinches her nipple and she swallows a moan. "Gives me plenty of time." His lips find her neck, planting a row of kisses behind her ear.
"To do what?" She runs her fingers down his spine.
"Have you practically screaming my name again." He's hard already against her hip. "Remember that?" He reaches underneath of her, pulling her flush against his chest, trailing his lips across her chest.
She does remember. perfectly. As if she could forget.
Nadine claws at his back, kissing his jawline before finding his lips with hers. Her body responds to his touches and kisses almost immediately. Mike's lips close around her nipple, his tongue swirling a pattern before going for the other. She moans when his teeth bite down gently, sending a shiver through her body.
He nudges her legs open with his knee, fingers trailing between her legs, one then two finding its way inside of her. She tries to relax and enjoy it, but it's short lived. She's too sore for this.
"Mike," she hisses, swatting his hand away. "Stop."
He stops immediately, brushing her hair from her face. "What? Did I hurt you?" Mike leans over her, tenderly rubbing her thigh, looking concerned.
"No ...I'm just too -" She searches his face, feeling her cheeks flush.
His face softens, understanding flicking through his eyes. "You're sore," Mike finishes her sentence, pulling his hand away and kissing her knee. "It's okay. I have a better idea anyway."
"What's that?"
With a grin, he throws the heavy comforter off them both and presses her bent leg open, then the other. The cold air hits her skin, and he eyes her hungrily. Kneeling between her spread knees, Mike kisses the inside of her thigh from the knee down, pausing to leave a kiss on her lower stomach, then repeating the kisses on her other leg. "I think you'll enjoy this more,"
When his lips brush against her clit, it takes her by shock and her back arches off the bed. She digs her heel into his back, rocking her hips against his face. "Mike," she cries his name, stretching it to four syllables. He's right, this was a much better idea.
"Told ya," he murmurs, his tongue dipping inside of her. "Is this better?"
"God, yes," she breathes heavily. She hasn't forgotten how incredibly good at this he is, and when the flat of his tongue sweeps over her in broad circles, Nadine swears under her breath and grips the edge of the mattress, digging her nails into the sheets. Mike continues to alternate between the broad sweeps of his tongue and tiny circles. It only takes minutes before she starts to convulse, her hips lifting off the mattress.
"God, Mike, I'm so close." With one more stroke of his tongue, she comes so hardher entire body starts to quiver uncontrollably . She tries to move beneath him, but Mike holds her carefully and continues to kiss and lick her until she finally stops moving. Looking very pleased with himself, Mike drops a kiss on her stomach, then her rib cage, and finally to her lips. "Better now?"
She sighs contentedly. "I am, but what about you?"
"Don't worry about me," Mike grunts, but she knows better than that. He's staring at the ceiling, concentrating on the intricate tile pattern above their heads.
"What are you doing?" She threads her fingers through the patch of hair on his chest.
"Thinking of anything else but you," he growls, squeezing her fingers against his chest. "You're distracting me, you know, when you do that."
"Stop talking," she breathes, brushing her fingers over him, and she swears he gets bigger in her hand when she runs her hand over him. She pumps him twice, then moves so she's straddling his hips, her breasts inches from his face. She leans down further and gives him a sloppy kiss.
"What are you doing?" Mike looks at her wide-eyed. "Nadine … "
"Screw it," she pins his hands down with hers next to his head, ignoring the ache that intensifies when she lowers herself down on him to the hilt. Mike holds her hips, careful to avoid the bruises that are already starting to show from hours before, and rubs the small of her back as she adjusts.
"Nadine," Mike's hips twitch involuntarily once then twice, maybe a bit too forcefully based upon the tiny wince that crosses her face, and he reaches for her wrists, holding her for a minute. "You just said you were too sore."
She ignores him, instead presses a soft kiss to his lips. "It's your turn, Mike." She rocks back and forth a few times, swaying her hips just how he likes. "You feel so good," she breathes, moving just a little faster.
"God," he sighs, sliding his hands to her legs. "You're so beautiful."
She leans back and quickens her movements, swaying her hips in time with his thrusts. It's like they haven't forgotten exactly what the other person needs.
"I'm not going to last if you keep this up," he gasps, curling one hand around the sheet and the other around her waist. "You feel so fucking good."
"I don't care," she leans back and rests her hands on his shins, and Mike's eyes nearly roll back in his head at the change of angle. She braces her knees on either side of his hips and meets him stroke for stroke. He forgets about taking it slow for her sake, and increases the intensity of his movement.
She practically cries out with pleasure, reaching down and stroking herself.
"Jesus Christ, Nadine," Mike's eyes widen at the visual in front of him, and he pounds into her twice more, before he comes,releasing into her, his body starting to go limp. She's panting too, shoulders heaving, skin damp with sweat, and she gingerly slides off of him, settling at his side.
She leans over to kiss him, her lips warm and wet on his.
"You okay?" Mike reaches for her hand under the blankets and gives it a gentle squeeze.
"More than," Nadine sighs contentedly. "You?"
"Obviously." He rests his hand on her stomach, stroking her skin lightly. "You're incredible."
"You aren't so bad yourself." Contentedly, she snuggles next to him, and dozes off within seconds.
...
At 5:50, they finally pull themselves from the bed not because they want to, but because they have a flight to catch in mere hours.
Mike offers to get her coffee and breakfast while she gets ready. She takes a shower, letting the hot water sting over her sore muscles. Upon quick inspection of body in the mirror she notices multiple bruises and red marks that leave a detailed blueprint of where his hands and mouth claimed her, multiple times over. She skips washing her hair (partly because her arms are too sore) and by the time he gets back she is half dressed, padding around the hotel room in a pair of black pants and a bra.
"It was slim pickings this morning," he hands her a cup of tea and a cranberry muffin with two ibuprofen capsules on the side. Not her favorite, but it will have to do. "I know you aren't a huge fan of cranberry but it was all they had. Guess they're ready to get rid of us." Mike kisses her cheek, taking a sip of her tea before stepping into the bathroom for a shower. "How much time do I have?" He finishes the remainder of the bagel he'd brought back.
"This is just fine, thank you Mike. About forty minutes." She finishes dressing herself, zipping her pants and finding a casual wrap sweater. Her phone is dead, having spent all night on the ground in her skirt pocket with the rest of her clothes, so she plugs it in and anxiously awaits the onslaught of emails that undoubtedly flooded her inbox over the last twelve hours.
Mike is ready in less than fifteen minutes, so they spend some time packing up the room, throwing each other various articles of clothing that have somehow mixed together over the last few days. She folds her clothes into the suitcase, tucking away various smaller bags of makeup and jewelry, lining her shoes neatly at the bottom.
"So I guess we successfully survived?"
"Depends on your definition of successful," Nadine quips, taking the bra he hands to her, then throws him a pair of his pants.
"We're both still here," Mike offers, tossing a few pairs of shoes into his suitcase. "That should count."
"It does," she agrees, reaching for her makeup bag. "I'd say we made up fairly well, wouldn't you?" She winks at him, and he gives her a wide grin.
"Mind-blowingly well," Mike retorts, reaching for his UVA t-shirt tangled with one of her blouses. "No incidental room charges to my credit card, either."
Nadine stifles a laugh. "We still have a few minutes, you know."
He gives her a devious wink before pulling her into his arms and down onto the bed with him.
…
They're on the same flight home, which is delayed two hours due to weather.
Once they're checked in at the gate, Nadine scrolls through a few missed emails and memos before settling down with a book in her lap. She sips a cup of tea and over the rim of her glasses catches him checking her out every so often.
He doesn't even bother trying to hide it.
Mike, as his luck would have it, spends almost an hour of their delay on the phone with his ex wife because their son breaks his arm at a baseball game. Flustered, he reports to Nadine his son will need a cast for 8 weeks and the possibility of physical therapy.
"He's not the most athletically inclined," Mike rolls his eyes in frustration when he hangs up the phone for the third time, settling into the chair next to hers. "Ran right into another kid and they both went down. Other kid doesn't even have a scratch. My kid has a broken arm."
"Maybe he inherited his athleticism from his father," she responds dryly, giving him a light pat on the arm. "He'll be alright?" She questions, checking her watch.
"His pride is more wounded than his arm." Mike leans back in his chair. "Apparently breaking your arm at baseball is a life-ending event for an eleven year old."
Nadine laughs, secretly relieved those days are over for her. "Just you wait. It gets worse when they're older." She returns to her book when his phone rings again, giving him some space to work out the situation.
...
The flight home is relatively uneventful despite some intense turbulence, and when they finally head to baggage claim at Reagan, it hits her just how exhausted she is. She still needs to call a cab to get back to her condo, she remembers with annoyance. With a huge yawn, she reaches into her pocket for her phone.
"I can take you home. I valet parked, so my car is here." Mike offers once he hauls both of their suitcases off baggage claim. They'd officially made it home in one unbroken piece.
"Uber is fine," Nadine scrolls through the screen for her Uber app, but Mike yanks the phone from her hand.
"You're not taking an Uber. The surcharge alone will be ridiculous and they always take the long way around. I can have you home in less than an hour."
"Don't you need to get back to see your son?" She rolls her eyes, holding out her hand for her phone back.
"My ex wife let him go to the movies with some of his knucklehead friends. They're much cooler than me, anyway. I'll head over there tomorrow to do some damage control."
"It's so out of your way." It really is. She lives in the heart of DC and he lives in Alexandria, which certainly isn't a commute she'd want to make after a day of traveling.
Really, it's not a problem at all." He's already pulling her suitcase in the direction of the airport valet lot.
She's too tired to argue with him, so she concedes.
The traffic out of Reagan is as usual, a total nightmare, and it's another hour of traffic before he pulls up in front of her condo. He doesn't even need directions, not that she's surprised.
"I thought you said less than an hour," she mocks him lightly.
"Can't control traffic, sweetheart." He turns off the ignition, and a silence falls over the car.
She thanks him, and before she can open the door, his hand is on her wrist.
"Have dinner with me next week?" He asks hopefully.
She leans against the doorframe, a smile beginning to crack at the corners of her lips. "I'll have to check my schedule." He knows it's as close to a yes as she'll give.
It's good enough for him.
-Fin-
Thanks for reading - you're all wonderful.
