I'm terribly sorry for the delay in posting. Hope you're still there.
Here it goes.
More than a woman
Chapter 11: Wish you were here – Part 2
CC is sitting comfortably in a cafeteria inside the airport, sipping her cappuccino and trying not to look at her watch again.
She had known she would arrive too early the moment she rose from her bed and started dressing; however, it had been already settled in her mind that (even if it was an absurd and illogical and downright bizarre notion), the earlier she arrived, the closer to meeting Niles she would be.
She rolls her eyes. What has this relationship turned her into?
At least, having to wait for so long gives her time to be by herself and chill out, once the ride to the airport had been filled with a certain type of… well, feelings, and CC is still not used to deal with, you know, feelings.
Every small and interesting incident made her wish Niles was there with her so they could comment on that, what made the missing of him almost unbearable.
Every street corner made her smile fondly at the thought of his tramp jokes, reminding her of how stupid she had been, for years, for not confronting Niles at what seemed an off-handed compensation, to him – when he couldn't confess his desire, he would sexualize her in the most absurd way he could make up.
Every building they had gone together reminded her of something they had done there – and that some of those things could get them arrested.
Every place they had not gone together yet made her wish they would, so she was able to be reminded of something they did there and could get them arrested.
CC took some time to accept that this obsession for each other was not a new thing, but eventually she had to admit Niles invaded her thoughts at the most inappropriate moments since forever.
(And he had given her hints that the same occurred to him, even confessing that the nickname witch was related not just to her evil ways and powerful charms, but to the fact she seemed to be mind-controlling him, so strong and twisted was his interest in her.)
Both were constantly reminded by the other that they shared a convoluted sense of humor that was a bless and a curse, and both were aroused with things that, in any other context, would be considered the utmost disrespectful.
Both enjoyed playing with fire, and kept seeking their said nemesis, even if covered in shame and guilt for nurturing such a hopeless infatuation for someone so different from them.
Now they had been officially an item for just some weeks, but their bond and their past together make it seem like their current predicament was just the continuation of a lifetime of intimacy.
She breathes deeply into the delicious smell of coffee (she always comes to this cafeteria in the airport because their coffee reminds her of Niles') and sighs.
Yeah, intimacy is the word.
She closes her eyes, reliving in her mind the taste of some things he did wonderfully.
She makes an effort to stay inside the realm of food, because people passing by surely can't read thoughts, but she is sure her desire will be written all over her face if she keeps thinking of Niles and the other things he can do wonderfully.
Her mind provides the memory of strawberry cheesecake.
And her mind is a bitch, because strawberry cheesecake is what he brought with him the first night he spent with her in the penthouse.
That night..., she thinks and bits her lower lip.
CC felt some trepidation at the notion of inviting Niles over. He would surely love spending the night with her out of the mansion, after one week of her spending every night in his room, but both knew how harder it would make for him to be back at the appointed time to prepare breakfast, in the next morning.
(It had already been hard enough to separate in the mornings, knowing they would see each other in a couple of minutes.)
She had decided to throw the invitation at him as if she couldn't care less, prepared to dismiss the idea if he found it not practical.
She had a lifetime of dealing with frustration. She was quite good at hiding it.
'So, Lysol Breath, it's time for me to go', she announced flippantly, as soon as she entered the kitchen, close to the end of a Friday afternoon, 'Any plans for tonight?'
Niles was at the counter, seemingly organizing the ingredients for dinner, and raised his head in surprise and dread, 'Aren't you staying?'
She fought a smile at how obvious he was in his affections for her, 'I wasn't planning to. I mean, I have been staying for a while. I have never arrived so early at work. People will start wondering if I have rented a room close to the mansion or something'.
'Oh', he lowered his eyes, pouted, took a knife and started cutting whatever it was he had before him.
There were disappointment and insecurity written all over his body language, and still he did not to say a word to her.
CC found endearing that Niles would choose not to question her decision, and equally horrified by her need to clarify her intentions as soon as possible, to lift the burden of his shoulders.
She got closer, walking around the island until she was supporting her hip on the counter, besides him, and crossed her arms on her chest, 'We'll start it all over'.
He gave her an almost unnoticeable nod and kept cutting the vegetables.
Understanding he was trying not to react, probably thinking she was making up some stupid excuse, she rested a hand on his, stopping the knife.
His eyes were on hers in a second.
She raised her brows, 'Pay attention, this time'.
He frowned, intrigued.
She went on, repeating herself slowly and making illustrative gestures, as if she was talking to a child, 'So, Lysol Breath. It's time for me to go. Any plans for tonight?'
Niles frowned deeply, hesitated for a moment, juggled his shoulders, uncomfortable, and then answered, serious and kind of affronted because she was acting like that and forcing him to say it, 'I wanted to be with you'.
'Great!', she approved, joyfully, patting his hand, 'Would you like to come over?'
She asked and moved away, quickly, pretending she had to take some water from the fridge.
The silence stretched, and she guessed he was pondering over what to answer.
When she decided there was no way she could still avoid looking at him without showing her nervous she was, CC turned to Niles.
He had his mouth hanging open (for solid 10 seconds, so it seemed).
When she looked at him he managed to ask, 'You mean… to the penthouse?'
She nodded, smiling.
'To spend the night?'
She nodded, grinning.
He stayed silent for another solid 10 seconds, as if looking for something in her face.
'So?', she asked, becoming apprehensive.
'What should I bring?', he asked, still very serious.
'Bring?', she leaned her head, amused, 'You don't have to bring anything, Niles. You can dine here, with the family, and I'll dine there, and we meet later'.
His face got illuminated, 'I will make cheesecake!'
CC rolled her eyes and waved her hand in dismissal, 'Well, I'm going home now, because I have some... things to prepare', she ignored his raised brow, 'I'll be waiting for you'.
'It will be strawberry cheesecake, once it is one of your favorites', he informed her with his boyish grin.
'No need to fuss about bringing anything, I've told you', she got closer to him, preparing the terrain for their goodbye kiss, 'You make it sound as if you were a British old maid who is going to visit an equally old friend and wants to be nice, in hopes to be invited again...'
She stopped speaking, realizing what she had just said, and he opened his arms, smirked and raised his shoulders as if asking And?
'Damn, I walked into that one', she shook her head, 'That's exactly what we are'.
Niles chuckled, 'Yes, it's my first time there as a friend. I'll make sure to be nice', he approached enough to kiss her cheek chastely, 'And of course I'll bring a pie'.
CC opens her eyes and takes another sip of her hot beverage, memories of how that chaste kiss made her embarrassed and furious and aroused flooding her mind.
She supports her forehead in her hand – they had almost been caught making out, that time. She never thought she would say that, but they were lucky Nanny Fine's voice would carry over, or there would be some difficult explaining to do.
The blonde looks around, observing the other people in the cafeteria. She hopes they can't see in her face how happy she is. Or, if they can, that they are happy, too. She remembers how it feels to be unhappy and see the offensive happy smile in someone's face, and she doesn't want to rub her obvious happiness in the face of innocent strangers.
What has this relationship turned me into?, she wonders again, A caring human being?
When she invited Niles over, she just intended him to come and spend the night with her in the penthouse. She didn't know exactly why it seemed important – she supposed she wished to show him he was part of her life and welcomed to her territory as much as he had welcomed her to his.
Caring for him was something she had resigned herself to, at that point in their relationship. So, even if it was not clear which devious force dragged her to make the invitation, she did it anyway.
She could foresee the challenge of chatting, walking around and doing whatever they wanted to without the feeling they could be caught doing something that would shock people. CC knew they enjoyed the danger, but usually did things in public places much more because they couldn't restrain themselves than from any real thrill at being caught. They had such amazing moments inside proper bedrooms, too (having sex with Niles was fun and often took more time than they had planned); thus, CC knew the gains of having privacy, and was well aware of how much it troubled her.
She knew what it did to her, in fact, because she had gone through it since she woke in Niles' arms for the first time, with a crushing sensation that they belonged together, mixed with an intense feeling of never being alone again if she chose to stay.
Being with him was challenging, but right.
Of course, things would spiral out of control, surprising both of them, in situations of total privacy, like that night.
That night…
Niles arrived with flowers, the strawberry cheesecake and a small package of something he called 'gourmet dog food', and made a joke about CC being free to choose which snack she preferred.
He gave attention to her, he played with her overjoyed dog (who seemed to love the butler with a passion, when Nanny Fine was not around), he shared things about their respective days while eating cheesecake and drinking tea.
'It will serve us well as breakfast', he had commented while wrapping the cheesecake they hadn't consumed, to keep it as fresh as possible.
'Oh, all right', she rolled her eyes playfully while he opened her fridge, 'I'll get up with you tomorrow morning, so we can share something sweet before you go back to slavery'.
'Wasn't it the plan all along?', he closed the fridge, smirking, 'I know I intended to wake you up with something sweet', he approached to enlace her waist with his arms and pull her to him, 'And I don't mean just the pie'.
CC laughed her throaty laugh she knew he adored (and right now made him look deep into her eyes while he adjusted their bodies to mold them better together), and pecked his lips, 'Oh, the things I do for you!'
'I don't see the sacrifice in waking up in my arms to have a taste of the sweet things I can do', he pecked her lips teasingly, 'Honey'.
Now she giggled, because she adored bold/teasing Niles, 'I mean the hour, you fool', he frowned, as in confusion, and she added, 'Waking with the dawn'.
'Oh, I see. Don't worry about that. I'll keep the curtains closed, so you won't turn into dust at the sun', he smiled, 'I won't let anything harm you, baby'.
She squinted at him seizing the opportunity to make those kinds of promises as if they were jokes, and went on, 'I never have to wake up so early', she tilted her head, 'I'm not even sure the sun has already risen at the time you'll have to be up tomorrow'.
'We can stay in bed until later, if that is what you wish'.
'Of course this is what I wish, but I know you can't'.
'I can't?'
'Slavery, remember?'
'I asked for the day off'.
CC was wide eyed, 'Really?'
'Really'.
'And… you got it?'
'I must be back to the mansion just in time to prepare dinner'.
She was shocked, 'How did you...?'
'I have my methods, woman', he cut her off and shrugged, 'You're not the only one who knows how to pester people until they do what you want'.
She remembers his deep blue eyes shining at her, proud of himself and glad he had got the expected reaction from her: she was so happy she couldn't stop grinning while she gave him a celebratory kiss, and her giggles made Chester jump at their feet to join in.
CC rests her cup on the table and covers her mouth with her hand – she is grinning foolishly, in the middle of an airport cafeteria.
She must look like an idiot to anyone who sees her now.
It is all Niles' fault: he fits so well in her life that he makes her feel exposed every time they are together, every time he looks at her, and now it feels like she can't mind that much when it happens.
That night was an example.
(That night, she sighs.)
When they decided to move things to the bedroom, she asked for a moment to deal with Chester, and Niles agreed.
She thought his agreement meant he would be waiting for her but, obviously, it was not it: he followed her to the room she had ordered to be decorated and adapted to her dog, with all kinds of toys and things he liked, a big comfortable bed and snacks for him to treat himself when he wished to.
Niles quickly moved to give refresh the water bowl and clean what was certainly the spot where he did his necessities, and CC went on with the routine she shared with her pet: she calmed down the excited Pomeranian, putting him to bed and making sure she cared and would be there to see him the next morning.
When she was over with it, she started to get up from her kneeling position besides the dog's bed, and was surprised to find out that Niles had come to stand by her side and was now reaching a hand to take hers.
She accepted the not really necessary help, got up and looked at him to thank him.
He was looking at her with such adoring eyes she almost lost her balance.
She had felt exposed in her life, in lots of situations, many of them embarrassing; but this was different.
She could see in his eyes he had understood the nature of her relationship with Chester – how much she cared for the dog, but made sure not to show it in front of other people. Maybe he had understood that she didn't try to compete with Fran for his attentions because she didn't mind he played with her while CC worked – she was a Nanny, after all, and he was her baby.
And maybe Niles had realized that CC was lovely and caring with a small, fragile and pestering creature like Chester, the same way she had been with Maxwell and Sara's kids when the former Mrs Sheffield had been alive... And that it meant what they were doing there was bizarrely similar to what couples who live together do, organizing their home and taking care of the little creatures they are responsible for...
Permitting Niles to spend the night in the penthouse was all about entering a dangerous zone, then.
A zone in the neighborhood of marriage.
And Niles didn't need to make much effort to prove her that they should be a couple.
They somehow already are.
They somehow have already been for a while.
He was talented, she must say, but things were kind of writing themselves.
CC sighs, sipping at her coffee.
She can't believe she, CC Babcock, the famous Bitch of Broadway, is loving every minute of a healthy relationship with a caring man.
She is aware that Niles has been slowly and patiently creating a web around her, and that she doesn't have the strength or the will to get free.
She just hopes he realizes it is a spider web – strangely enchanting in its lightness and, exactly because of that, extremely fragile.
She hopes he won't try to change anything.
She is not sure of how she will react if he suddenly does something foolish, like proposing again.
She fears he is going to do it every time he gets like that, hooked to her eyes, holding her hand as if she is the most wonderful thing he has ever seen.
That night, after they spent a ridiculous time just being silent and enjoying the others presence (what Chester must have considered amusing), Niles spoke delicately, 'I want you to know I feel honored to be invited into your lair'.
She knew her eyes were shining. She could feel it, 'I thought you would find it too tiresome to come here. With the waking up earlier thing and all'.
'What do you think I am, witch? One of your own kind – cold hearted, aloof and detached?', he chided playfully, then added softly, 'I don't care about the time I'll have to be up if I can be with you'.
And there he went again, expressing things through teasing.
CC decided to pick just the teasing part to answer, 'I always thought you were too lazy to do anything out of the house'.
He smirked, 'I am, but being close to you puts me up instantly'.
She giggled, 'That was cheap'.
'See the bad influence you have over me?', he raised his brows, 'I could have just said you have seen me doing lots of things out of the house, already'.
They chuckled at the memory of some of their adventures, and kissed.
'Once you're here', CC said, 'You'll do everything I ask of you'.
He nodded, 'It's fair. However, you must know that being lazy forced me to be creative. So, I may be at your mercy and in your territory, but... Oh, just forget it. You'll end up doing whatever you wish with me'.
CC passes a hand through her hair, trying to disguise the warmth spreading on her face. Yes, she had done all she wanted with him, that night.
That night.
She had pulled him to have a shower with her, because she loved showering before bed, and she loved showering with him, and why the hell not, and they started playing with the soap, with giggles and hands grabbing and stolen kisses and increasingly heated stares.
At some point he pushed her back against the wall and started assaulting the side of her neck deliciously.
Her hands went exploring his back, feeling his muscles from his shoulders to his lower back, and then to his buttocks.
Her slippery fingers got curious and settled between his butt cheeks, massaging the area there, hinting at a desire she was still not brave enough to express in words.
They had spoke about it, already, in their first night, but the subject had not been brought up again, and she didn't know how to do it.
His left hand, who had been doing some heavenly things to her breast, let go of her to rest over her hand on his back and press it further against him.
'Wanna try it?', she asked in his ear, her throat suddenly dry.
'I'd love to'.