Unexpected Developments
A/N: This was originally a plot bunny that I expanded. This occurs a few months after Nick and Niamh's acceptance into chambers, in which they've taken to working together and becoming good friends because of it which, of course, changes with this. This is also NOT my best sex scene but they DO get a hell of a lot better (and hotter), I promise. And Nick's mentioned sister is obviously my creation. (He seemed like the big brother type to me.)
Timeline: Early September 2011
Though she knew it to be unprofessional, Niamh bit down on the edge of her pen as she contemplated the case file in front of her. She then glanced at the folder next to it, buried among the mountain of papers that had collected on the couch with her in the middle, switching her focus every five minutes. 'There must be something here…Anything! I just need a small piece…' She thought with a groan as she finally glanced up at the clock. She put her head back down, but immediately looked back up again, double-checking the clock.
"I have to leave," She said suddenly.
"What?" Nick asked, looking up from his own file. He and Niamh had agreed to work together and assist each other with their cases and had spent the past three hours poring over details, bouncing ideas off each other and preparing future defenses.
"It's late," Niamh said, quickly shuffling papers around as she stood. "I should have been gone long ago but…"
"Stay."
"What? No. If I don't get home…"
"You want to walk all the way back to your flat in the rain?"
"I can borrow and umbrella, can't I?"
"Alright. New question. Do you really want to be wandering around at night?" Nick asked, adding, "In the rain?"
Niamh stopped, thinking it over for a minute, finally she said. "Drive me then."
"Niamh, you know I can't afford a car. Just stay. It is no trouble, I am used to accommodating sudden visitors."
Niamh sighed, knowing herself defeated. "Fine," She huffed, kicking her shoes back off.
Nick smiled. It was rare that he ever saw her as anything less than professional and he enjoyed it. To him, it meant that she was becoming more comfortable around him, paving the way for an increased friendship.
"But," She stipulated. "If I am to stay I'll need a shower and…What am I going to wear?"
"Well, there's the shower," Nick said, pointing down the small hallway, oblivious to the issue.
"So you expect me to walk around naked then?"
Suddenly, Nick sat up, as if a light finally went off. "No…Of course not. I'll find you something." At that, he got up and made his way to the bedroom.
Niamh followed, watching as he sieved through a drawer, muttering to himself.
"There has to be more than this," He muttered, pulling out a satin garment as he continued to shuffle the contents of the drawer around. Finally, he gave up, sighed and stood. "You can wear this. It should fit."
Niamh laughed.
"What?"
"You just randomly have a stash of women's clothing?"
"They're my sister's. Whenever she visits I have her leave some stuff for next time. She tends to drop in unexpectedly at times and I like to be prepared," He explained.
She simply nodded and stalked back into the living room, pulling from her purse a smaller bag.
"And what is that, may I ask?"
"Just a few necessities. Shampoo, makeup, toothpaste and the like."
"And you carry that around with you?"
"Just in case," Niamh shrugged. "I learned my lesson after having to stay at a friend's house unexpectedly during year eleven in school. It was far too awkward asking to borrow such things." At that, she turned and stepped into the bathroom, leaving him alone.
Nick turned away, intending to go back to the cases, but stopped and glanced at the clock himself. 'I guess supper is in order…but…what to make?' He quickly glanced about his kitchen and soon began to open cabinets, stopping for a second when he caught the sound of the shower running. He then turned back and finally found something.
'It is not much, but it will have to do…' He thought, picking up a jar of marinara sauce.
Niamh sighed contently, running her hands through her hair as the water washed over her, taking her previous stress with it. Though thoughts of the case threatened to surface she pushed them out of mind. Showers were for relaxing, not worrying over previous matters. Those could wait until after, she decided as she picked up her washcloth. She regretted having to step out later. As soon as the water stopped, her raging thoughts came back full force, the most prominent being the trial in three days, which she was still unprepared for.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Nick tapped on the counter, staring at the food on the stove. 'Is it a universal rule that women must take forever when washing up?' He sighed and began to search out plates and glasses as the sound of a hair dryer caught his attention, followed by an almost enticing humming. He quickly shook the thought from his mind and got to work on the plates, not noticing when Niamh stepped out moments later-until she spoke.
"What do you think?" She asked.
Nick turned his head and dropped the serving spoon he had been holding. She stood before him in a dark-blue nightgown with very thin spaghetti straps. It fell just above her knees and was decorated with lilies in a lighter blue that blended well with the main color and the dark green stems that connected them. It had been the only sleepwear item he could find and he now regretted giving it to her.
Niamh shrugged and gave him a coy smile as she fiddled with the hem of the garment.
In an attempt to ignore her, Nick turned his attention back to the task at hand.
Niamh laughed to herself, satisfied with the result of her teasing and set her previous clothes on the coffee table, then she returned to the kitchen and watched him as he finished the plates and set them and the glasses on the table. She let out a small laugh and said, "Very grown up. Pasta and wine for a casual occasion."
"It's cranberry juice, actually. I don't keep wine around. I can't afford it, and if I have it, my sister will drink it," Nick explained, motioning for her to sit.
Niamh gave him a small nod and took her place at the table. "You did not have to do this, you know."
Nick shrugged. "You're a guest and I intend to treat you, as I do with all my friends."
"Thank you."
Nick didn't answer, and they spent awhile in silence before Niamh broke it.
"Tell me about her," She said.
"Who?"
"Your sister. I'm curious."
"Her name is Patricia and she's currently in school for fashion design. Her hobbies include overly dramatic 'fights' with boyfriends, random visits at one in the morning and one-night stands."
Niamh laughed, easily seeing the joke.
"What about you? Do you have any siblings?"
Niamh shook her head. "None. But, I always wanted a sister."
"You can take mine."
"No thank you. As I got older, I realized the benefits of being an only child," She said, casually picked up her glass to take a sip.
"Isn't it lonely?" Nick asked, looking back to his food.
"Sometimes," Niamh admitted with a shrug. "But, you get used to it."
Nick paused, unsure of how to respond and they spent most of the meal in silence, making occasional small talk about their cases and the difficulties surrounding them. Afterwards, Niamh assisted him in cleaning the kitchen, taking no notice of the questionable looks he was giving her as he watched her move about.
'Good God…she's gorgeous! Why have I not notice it before? She…Wait! No! Never! Of course she's pretty, but it means nothing. It will never mean anything,' Nick thought with a shake of his head.
"Is something wrong?" Niamh asked, noting his expression.
"What? No. I was just…thinking…" He said, his eyes quickly dipping to her breasts, which were clearly bare.
Niamh raised an eyebrow, but shrugged it off and moved back into the lounge to finish her work. Soon afterwards, Nick joined her, setting a glass of water on the table in front of her.
"Thanks," She muttered, not looking up due to her concentration.
He sat across the room and turned to his own case, soon being startled by a loud groan. "What's wrong?" He asked.
"I don't get it! I just don't!" Niamh said, throwing her pen down. "The evidence is there, but…" She trailed off and groaned again.
"Which case?" He asked, moving to sit on the edge of the sofa she was using as her workplace.
"The burglary."
"Can I see?"
"Hm? Sure," Niamh said, shifting to grab the brief behind her, adjusting a fallen strap as he handed him the large, black binder. "Are you sure you're alright? You look…Pale." He looked nervous and flushed and she was beginning to worry about his health.
"I'm fine, really," Nick muttered. "Just…Stressed," He lied. There was no possible way to describe his sudden attraction to her, not to her face. Part of him wondered if he'd been secretly thinking about her for awhile and simply never acted on it, while the other part said it was nothing but a brief, sexual attraction brought on by her sudden change in appearance. Of course, he always thought her attractive, but she was a friend and nothing more.
"Are you sure? I can help with some of your work if…"
"No. I'm helping you, remember?"
Niamh nodded and began to explain the case details to him, carefully presenting her points before explaining her trouble.
'I guess you do not always know what you're doing…' He thought with a smirk. More than once, their colleagues in chambers had muttered that Niamh only knew what she did because of her background and acted like she knew everything.
"What?" Niamh asked, finally noticing his smirk.
"Nothing."
"What is it?"
"I told you, it's nothing."
"Then stop looking stupid and help me!"
"Very well then. First of all, there is no loophole as you claim."
"What do you mean?"
"Look," Nick started, then he went on to explain his position, making Niamh realize that she had simply been overanalyzing the case. The answer was staring her in the face and she hadn't taken notice because it had been too obvious.
"Thank you," She muttered, quickly making notes.
"No problem. We are working together, remember?"
Niamh simply nodded and continued on with her newfound lead as Nick watched her, growing more nervous as he did so. She seemed perfectly content in being engrossed in her work and looked so…beautiful and natural with her unadorned hair and makeup-free face. He couldn't help but stare, examining every inch of her, as if examining a case for hidden evidence.
She glanced up at him for a moment, slightly uncomfortable with his watching eyes, but ignored it and moved on, simply thinking him to be deep in thought on his own work.
Finally, after a long silence, he could take no more. The ignorance of his own feelings was killing him. He wanted her and he knew it, and finally, he said, "Niamh?"
"Hm?"
"I…I apologize in advance."
"For what?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"For this," At that, he moved closer and pulled her towards him for a sudden kiss.
Startled and unsure how to react, Niamh tried to pull away, but fell into it as it grew more passionate.
Neither understood what was happening or why, but refused to question it, as if, the minute they did, everything would change. So, after he broke off, she simply brought him back to her.
Despite the initial shock, Niamh admitted to herself that she liked it. She had never once thought of him as kissable, but had to admit that he was a good kisser. Damn good, actually. She reached up, tangling her hands in his hair just as he was doing to her.
His senses were reeling in several different directions. He still couldn't place why he started this, but had no will to stop it. He brought her in closer-if that was possible-and gave into her silent demands to deepen the kiss, holding back a moan as their tongues finally met, both of them battling for dominance. Then, something shifted, altered subtly, within him, something that told him that this was far from the end.
Without a second thought or a break in the kiss, he gathered Niamh into his arms and stood, carrying her, bridal-style, to his bedroom.
Niamh knew his intent and, while she knew that she should stop it, end it where it was, no matter how awkward, but she just couldn't bring herself to do so. She was fully aware of what she was doing and she liked -no- wanted it.
Soon, she felt the soft, cool sheets of the bed beneath her, not getting even a second to stop and think before he was on top of her.
Nick quickly captured her in another series of kisses and finally allowed his hands to roam her body. He stared into her eyes, looking for some sign to stop, knowing that this wasn't right and that if they didn't stop now, they wouldn't until it was over.
Niamh threw her arms around him and pressed him to her, her hands soon moving to wander his chest, eagerly fumbling with the buttons on his shirt.
The entire situation brought on the memory of a conversation they had once had and he teasingly whispered, "Are you consenting?"
Smiling, she gasped, "Yes…"
It was done. There was absolutely no turning back now. What was to be would be. All that mattered now was them and their sudden, mutual desire.
As he moved in for another kiss, Niamh finally gave up with the buttons and simply tore his shirt open.
He frowned for a moment, as now he was down a work shirt, but soon shrugged it off, sat up and threw the shirt off before finally working up the will to remove himself from her lips, to the rest of her body, starting with her neck.
She gasped as he gently nipped at her skin, praying that it wouldn't leave a mark. Oh, the stories those in chambers would spread if they saw it. When she had made the mistake of sleeping with Clive, everyone knew it and she still heard the occasional muttering about it. She couldn't have it-not again. Luckily, he stopped before she had to say anything and continued on.
With a sly look that she couldn't see, Nick grasped one of the straps and eased it off her shoulder, revealing a breast. Drawing the nipple into his mouth, he began to suck on it, occasionally stopping to tease her with his tongue, cupping and caressing her other breast through the satin fabric as he did so. They were perfect, neither too big nor to small and fit nicely under his hands.
Her gasps soon escalated to moans as she ran her hands through his hair, wishing he'd stop and kiss her again. She wanted to put her hands on him, feel him instead, deciding that when it was her turn, she wasn't holding back.
He quickly drew down the other strap, giving the second breast the same treatment as the first. He continued downward, pulling the nightgown down with him, until he gave up, grabbed the hem and simply pulled it off, leaving her in only her panties, which immediately met the same fate as the nightie.
Niamh gasped as she realized that she was naked, and then frowned when she remembered that he wasn't, so, she immediately pulled him back up and took her hands to his trousers, which came off rather quickly with his help in between kisses.
Suddenly, Nick stopped and recoiled back, simply wanting to stare at her. He ran his eyes over every inch of her body, taking her in. Her silk-like hair, stunning blue eyes, her breasts, her perfect curves, and those incredible legs. "God, you're beautiful," He whispered, drawing her in for a long, deep kiss.
"You're not so bad yourself," She teased, placing her hands on his chest, taking him in. He wasn't the most well-built man she'd seen, but he wasn't really thin either, but somewhere in between with his small, but firm arms and chest. His eyes had some sort of hypnotizing effect to them, and she couldn't help but stare into them.
As he drew her in for another kiss, he discreetly moved his hand down between her legs, teasingly trailing it up her thigh and nearly collapsing with want when he finally found her and felt the slickness of her arousal-and not shortness thereof-come off on his skin. Without a second thought, he nudged first one, and then two fingers into her, smiling at her moan, which was soon shortened by his kiss.
She let him have his way for awhile, then, when she could take no more, she grabbed him and flipped him over. The look in her eyes told him everything he needed to know. Now it was her turn. After a few, brief, teasing kisses, she moved down his body, doing as he did to her, but taking it a step further as she traced patterns on him with her tongue and hands, smiling when it brought forth a moan from him. She stopped and came back up before she went too far, deciding that she wasn't ready to go down on him, not yet, anyway. Instead, she continued to kiss him as he pressed her body to his, enjoying the feel of it. She could feel him against her, and knew that if they didn't finish soon, they would both go mad.
Though she was more than eager to be taken, she stopped herself, remembering what needed to be done. God forbid if they were to tempt fate.
"You…have something…right?" Niamh gasped in between kisses.
"In…the drawer," Nick replied, pulling her back to him.
Amidst their kissing and caressing, Niamh reached out until she touched the bedside stand and quickly, almost forcefully, pulled open the drawer on it. After some quick searching she finally found what she was looking for.
He reached up to take it from her, but she held it out of reach.
"Let me," She purred, moving down his body again, eagerly pleasuring him in the act of protection. When she came back up, she positioned herself over him, gave him a quick kiss and whispered, "Now?"
"No," Nick said, quickly flipping her back over. "Now." At that, he grabbed and suddenly took her, bringing from her a rather loud cry of pleasure, which he silenced with a kiss. "Shush," He ordered. He wasn't particularly interested in disturbing his neighbors and having complaints against him, especially not for this.
Being a flat owner herself, Niamh got the hint, and reluctantly suppressed her moans and cries as he grabbed her hands, their fingers intertwining as they moved together, eagerly, desperately. They still had no idea what had come over them to cause this, but they certainly weren't complaining.
'Dear God! She's incredible!' He thought, finally allowing himself to do so as he felt her legs wrap around his waist, enhancing his arousal. It beyond obvious now that he was attracted to her but this…this took it to an entirely different level.
At this point, neither wanted an explanation as everything blurred in a steady, heady heat and they reached a climax together.
The minute they collapsed, their identities came rushing back to them, along with several layers of questions.
"Niamh? What…the fuck…did we just do?" Nick asked.
"Each other," Niamh replied, suppressing a giggle.
"This isn't funny! Do you have any idea what this means? I…"
As he went on, Niamh shrugged him off and turned away, overcome with exhaustion. She easily drowned him out and slipped into a peaceful sleep.
"Niamh? Niamh?" He said when she didn't answer several of his questions. He then sighed at the sight and maneuvered the blankets to pull them up, figuring it could wait until morning.
When he woke the next morning, it was still dark, as it always was when he woke. For a moment he ignored the time and rolled over, only to be hit with the intoxicating scent of perfume…vanilla to be exact. Immediately his eyes shot open, and though his mind tried to deny it, his eyes couldn't.
'We didn't!' He thought as he gently lifted the blanket from Niamh's body, revealing both her and the answer to him. He dropped the blanket and began to shake her. "Niamh," He said.
"No," She said with a slight, annoyed wave.
"Niamh!" He snapped, shaking her harder.
"What?!" She snapped, her eyes widening when she saw him. "We didn't…" She said.
Nick nodded. "We did."
"Oh, God!" Niamh groaned. "I am such a whore!"
"What?"
"First Clive and now you," She said, turning away from him. "I guess I won't stop until I go through every man at Shoe Lane Chambers," She muttered, obviously regretting what happened.
Nick drew close and held her. Surprisingly, she didn't protest.
"You're not a whore," He insisted. "But, I have to know. Why did you sleep with Clive?"
"I don't know," Niamh admitted. "First…He played the sympathy card and I was drunk… and it…just happened."
"And why did you sleep with me?"
She paused for a moment, not having thought about it. Finally she said, "I wanted it. I wanted you. When you kissed me…Something just came over me and I…I found myself…wanting you."
Nick sighed and Niamh followed. Neither was sure exactly what had happened. Whether it was a simple one night stand or a true night of passion, they weren't sure…
After a long silence Nick spoke again, "What are we to do about chambers? If they know then…"
"They won't know if we don't tell. Just keep quiet and everything will be fine," Niamh said.
'No it won't,' He thought. 'Not until we figure this out.' His thoughts were broken by Niamh's shifting as she started to stand, then, suddenly, she stopped.
"What?" He asked.
"Don't look," She said.
He thought to make some quirky remark, but decided against it and politely turned his head.
"What time is it?" She asked, pulling the blanket around her.
"Six thirty."
"And I don't have to be at chambers until eight…" She muttered. Then she quickly grabbed her nightgown and panties and headed out, stopping to collect her clothes before she went into the bathroom and quickly dressed.
After she had left the room, Nick quickly got up and threw on some clothes, coming out just as she finished, her mussed hair hidden with a ponytail.
"Here," She said, holding out the nightie.
"Keep it. I don't think I want to give it to my sister after…"
"Right," Niamh said. "Thanks."
They stood in an awkward silence for a moment before she turned, collected her papers, binders and pens and shoved them in her briefcase. She double checked her stuff and joined him in the kitchen, taking notice of the rain out the window. "Thank you for letting me stay." She said. "I hate to ask for more but…can I borrow an umbrella?"
"Oh, sure," He said. He produced one from the coat closet and handed it to her.
"I'll give it back at chambers," She promised before heading out the door and leaving him alone. Once outside, she stood for a minute, staring at the half lit street while inside Nick did the same, only at the window, both wondering the same thing: "What the fuck just happened?"