Chapter Two: A Real Beginning

He's not sure exactly what he's doing. Well, that's not entirely true. He knows that he's made the adjustments to the detail. He's got extra agents around the President. And he's already changed the schedule for the next three days to allow for the additional number on the detail, as is required by the military action the President has taken against Syria. It's what he's doing standing in the hallway that makes him unsure.

It's been well over a year since he kissed CJ at one of the Inauguration balls. He hasn't forgotten a single detail of their encounter. But, he's fairly certain that she didn't even remember it the next morning. She was, he will admit, a little drunk. And he knows that she was on her way to more balls where she probably consumed even more. So, he's not really hurt that they never discussed it. But. Every time he sees her he has the desire to know her better. To talk to her about everything. And, as old-fashioned as it seems, he'd like the chance to woo her.

Ron knows that he is not what most women would consider suave. He's not un-experienced. But, his chosen career is not that appealing to most women. He can count on one hand the number of dates he's had in the last couple years. He likes to think that CJ might be different. She works for the President. She understands this lifestyle. So, he's hopeful. And, standing in the hallway. He wants to catch CJ before she leaves for the night.

The President made his television address a couple of hours ago. CJ is in the pressroom now. He had heard from Carol that this would be the last one for the night. So, he's waiting for her to come out of the pressroom. He takes a couple deep breaths and chides himself for acting like a nervous teenager.

He sees CJ well before she sees him. She has her head bent over a folder and she's talking to Carol as she heads for her office. When she finally raises her head, she smiles at him. It's a genuine smile, Ron thinks, and it gives him the last bit of courage he needed. He clears his throat.

"CJ, I was wondering, if you had a minute, I'd like to talk to you."

She seems a little puzzled. He guesses she's trying to figure out what Secret Service measures she needs to be aware of for her next briefing. But, she nods and invites him into her office. He follows behind Carol. When he's stepped into her office he notes the raised eyebrows as he closes the door.

"What can I do for you, Ron?"

"Uh, well, CJ, this is a... . Well, it's a personal request."

"Okay."

Ron is momentarily stopped by the way she elongates the word. He finds it quite charming. He realizes he must truly be smitten by her if one word can take him off on a tangent in his mind. And, he realizes that he's been staring at her for a full minute while she's been waiting for him to talk.

"I was wondering if you would like to have dinner with me?"

"Tonight?"

"Well, whenever you have a chance. I know you've got a busy schedule and... ."

"I'd like that. Tonight?"

"Uh... yeah. Tonight is good."

"Just give me about twenty minutes to wrap some things up here?"

"Of course. I'll be back in twenty minutes."

Ron leaves her office and can't help the smile that won't seem to go away. Now, he just has to find something to do for the next twenty minutes.

~*~

Ron is sitting at his desk. He's going over the latest threat watch. Technically he's off duty. But, he and CJ are having dinner again tonight. And, he finds it easiest just to stay at the White House until she's ready. This will be their fifth dinner. Though, it's really their eighth attempt. He chuckles at the thought that he's found the one woman whose schedule is even more unpredictable than his.

He thinks he's gotten to know a side of CJ that most of the people who work here don't even know exist. He's sure the senior staff has seen it. Knows, after what she's told him, that Toby has definitely seen it. But, he likes seeing her in a different light. He finds the softer side just as intriguing as the strong side she shows at work.

He feels immeasurably better about their kiss at the Inauguration now. He was surprised that she remembered. Even more stunned that she brought it up at their first dinner. He found her embarrassment quite sweet. And he understands her reasons for pretending that it had never happened. He had told her as much. It must have been difficult, coming into the White House as a complete unknown and trying to get the respect of the press corps. A group of people he isn't quite sure knows the meaning of that word. So, trying to have any sort of relationship at that time, he admits would have been a mistake. He was relieved, though, to find that she remembered the kiss fondly. Of course, there had been many more kisses now to rival the memory.

He is nervous about their dinner tonight. Not so much the dinner part. He is a great cook, if he does say so himself. But, he's taking her to his apartment. He knows how he would like the evening to end. But, it's been awhile. And this is CJ, the most extraordinary woman he's ever dated. He's nervous he'll embarrass himself.

His phone rings and he picks it up, grateful for the interruption of his thoughts. It's CJ. She's ready to go. He hangs up and puts the threat watch back in its folder.

"Showtime, old man."

~*~

CJ is sitting on his sofa with her legs curled under her. Her shoes are lying half-hazardly under the coffee table. She's nursing the same glass of wine she's had for the last hour. And she's telling him for the third time the joke she made about Toby's internet stock. He realizes that she's nervous.

"CJ, it really is a funny story. But, that's the third time you've told me."

"It is?"

"Yeah. Listen, I invited you here for dinner. There doesn't have to be anything more than that. So, if it will make you feel better, I can take you home right now."

Ron is surprised to realize that what he's said is true. He thought for sure he knew how he wanted this night to go. But, he understands now that CJ's feelings are more important to him than his own. That gives him a start. And, he's relieved to get it out there.

"I... . Ron, I'd like to stay."

She says it so quietly that he can't fully trust that he heard her correctly.

"I'm sorry CJ, I didn't... did you... ?"

"I'd like to stay. It's just... it's been awhile. And, as you know, the last time was Toby. So, it's been a really long time with somebody... new."

"We can go slowly."

She nods her head just as he makes his way to the sofa. He takes her head in his hands and kisses her deeply. Slowly exploring her mouth. He pulls back and brushes her hair off her face. He kisses her ear, her neck, and starts a trail of kisses down her throat. He feels her fingers at the back of his neck and his side. He thinks he's never felt anything more amazing.

He's not sure who he is when he's with her, because he finds himself doing outrageous things he would normally never consider. This, for instance, is definitely out of the ordinary. He's scooped her up off the sofa and he's carrying her to his bedroom. He thinks if she weren't so busy kissing his throat that she might be laughing.

He lays her gently on his bed. The light from the hallway and the streetlight shining through the open curtain provide more than enough illumination. He kisses her again, marveling at the softness of her lips. His hands roam the angles and curves of her body. A hand on his chest stops him and he pulls back.

"Ron, I'm not... do you have... ?"

"Yeah, CJ. I've got some."

She smiles and he can see her struggling to hold in the laughter. So he does the only thing a gentleman can, he laughs first. Some of the tension has left and they both laugh for a few more minutes. He thinks he'll tell her later that he finds her laugh the most potent of aphrodisiacs, but he's too busy now helping her undress.

~*~

He's lying in bed with CJ curled against him. He's stroking her hair. Her hands are wandering the planes of his stomach. He thinks this is the most comfortable he's ever felt with another woman. It has to be. Otherwise, he would be dying of embarrassment.

"Ron, are you okay?"

"Yeah. I was just thinking that."

"What?"

"I was thinking how comfortable this feels. That's you. I think any other woman would have been out the door an hour ago."

She moves up so her face is level with his. She folds her hands over his shoulder and makes herself at home.

"It happens. There's nothing to be ashamed of. Besides, you... uh... made up for it."

"You are very cute, CJ, when you blush like that."

His reward is a swat on the arm. He laughs again. And flips her over before she realizes what he's doing. He's pinned her to the mattress and is looking into her eyes.

"That's not fair. That's some Secret Service trick."

"Yeah, CJ, 'cause the Secret Service trains us how to do things in bed."

It's her turn to laugh now. But, she stops quickly when he moves his mouth down her collarbone. His mouth finds it's way to her breast. He kisses the underside and she takes a deep breath.

"Does this mean... ?"

"Yeah. I was thinking we could try it again."

And his hand is already going for the box of condoms on the dresser. But, she twists under his body and manages to grab the box first. He watches her eyes as she opens the foil packet and tosses the wrapping aside. His eyes never leave hers as she puts the condom on for him. In fact, his eyes never leave hers until she closes them later. As she shudders beneath him. And keeps them closed as she falls asleep. And it is another hour before he finally closes his eyes in slumber as well.

End of Chapter Two