I went looking for the Bee Gees song that better fitted the next chapters, and I found the one with the perfect lyrics.
It's taking forever to write this (real life got too busy), but at least the soundtrack is in place.
More than a woman
Chapter 17: Nights on Broadway – Part 1
CC sighed in deep satisfaction, 'Oh, yeah. Just like that'.
'I really believed you only wanted a massage', Niles chuckled, 'You sneaky nymphomaniac'.
'I was tired and tensed and wanted a massage', she started protesting, but then surrendered to the damn butterflies his chuckle never failed to create in her stomach and smiled, pacified, 'I never said it had to be only that…'
'Uhum', he sounded annoyed, 'The things I have to bear'.
He spoke and, after a beat, she laughed heartily, because Niles said those things while rubbing CC's back, as he had been skillfully doing since she accepted the offer he, in fact, had made.
It was obvious that any teasing was just kidding, now: they loved touching each other; they were in the penthouse, in one of those cozy nights by themselves they realized, very early in their relationship, they craved; having someone to share things was a new experience to CC; having so much free time was a new experience to Niles.
They were enjoying the built together routine immensely, and still focused some energy on pretending they didn't, just for the sake of sharing a laugh and not drown in the romanticism that often menaced to overwhelm them.
Not that sometimes the romanticism didn't win. And they didn't mind it that much if it happened in the penthouse, when their intimacy was protected from any prying eyes.
The couple quickly discovered that, if they wanted to have any personal time with no danger of being spied on or interrupted, leaving the mansion at any given opportunity was mandatory. They had been doing it since they started seeing each other and realized acting on their mutual attraction would, sooner or later, put them in trouble, once hiding in spare rooms, temporary unoccupied rooms or limos couldn't work well forever.
Even CC, a known workaholic, had been finding it difficult not to brush business aside to go to the kitchen just to see Niles, now that they didn't have to hide when they were plain seeking each other.
(However, seeing Niles never meant just seeing, CC had never realized how yummy he was while working, and soon there they went again in search for a discreet place.)
Besides that, there was always the danger of being caught in between Fines, Sheffields and their shenanigans – even well beyond work time for nosy Niles –, and the blonde made the butler compromise on leaving with her as soon as they considered their immediate obligations taken care of.
They were, surely, part of 'the family', but since that episode in California (the one that involved leggy blonds in hotel rooms) the need for extended time by themselves became stronger and stronger, and retiring discreetly seemed to be the only way to make sure they had a life of their own.
And they loved the life they had on their own.
They didn't need to be an official couple to develop an amusing capacity to find any excuse to communicate with each other, no matter what was going on around them. Niles and CC would always manage to include the other in conversations, whatever the subject was, sometimes through zingers, sometimes through references, sometimes just because. In a natural development of their relationship, the more they got intimate, the more they had to talk about when together. It soon turned blatant obvious their time in the mansion was not enough, because they now talked in the way from the Sheffields to the penthouse, in the elevator of CC's building, while they walked around the apartment, while playing with Chester, while snacking on something.
Every moment together was made for exchanging ideas, stories, impressions, stares, touches, caresses, and having pleasure out of it.
That was the reason why they had spent time together in errands, too.
It started officially the day Niles went to the office, stopped by the side of Maxwell's desk and announced he was going to the grocery store.
CC, who was sitting on the green leather sofa, straightened her back swiftly, with her eyes slightly wide.
'I see you perked your ears', Niles threw at her, with that cold stare that had been giving her chills for years, which just recently she accepted were not related to angriness.
She bit her lower lip, looking at him, analyzing her own feelings on the subject of Niles going on an errand in the middle of the day and how it seemed to stir strange irrational wishes in her.
'Maybe you want me to bring something', he suggested, still very serious, 'Is it dog food? Have you already finished all of your favorite flavor?'
She leaned her head to the side, not knowing exactly what to do with the sensation that she was almost realizing what she had to do, 'Yes, I think I may need some'.
He noticed there was something going on. So, he offered, even if slightly hesitant by the presence of their boss, 'I can bring it'.
She squinted at him, 'I'm not sure you'll know what to buy. Chester is really exigent and is not used to the low price brands you're used to'.
He moved his shoulders, uncomfortable at the unexpected teasing, once this was before California, 'Well, if you're so worried about your dinner date, you should come over and buy the meal yourself'.
His blurted answer clarified what she wanted to do.
She got up from the green sofa and said, decisively, 'I will'.
Niles turned to her, surprise and hope etched on his face, 'You're coming with me?'
'Yes', CC grinned at his joy, 'Someone must make sure you do your work properly'.
Their time alone had been increasing tenfold since they spent their first night together, what made them realize they already spent a lot of time together before that, but needed more and more of it now.
It surely altered their day schedules but, specially, it turned their nights into a totally new experience.
CC never thought her cold and classy penthouse would become a place she would relate to comfort and pleasure, but now it felt like she could feel Niles all around it, and Niles was all about comfort and pleasure, to her.
They often watched TV or a movie, together, or listened to some music, and it brought up stories of their lives they never thought they would feel comfortable to share.
There are not much to be embarrassed about when you're having a relationship with a person who has so many tastes in common with you. CC still thought with amusement at how Spanish soaps had entered her life in an era when they had not yet admitted they liked each other, even if their body language had changed drastically. Nowadays it felt natural to sit by his side to watch it, but at that time it just made sense if they were looking for a way to be together without openly admitting it.
(Oh, well.)
Sometimes they danced and traded zingers, just for the thrill of it.
Sometimes the day had been so exhausting they would tend to some basic needs and collapse on the big penthouse bed.
Sometimes the day had been extraordinarily busy, but they felt refreshed as soon as they reached the apartment, started doing things while talking about this and that, and when they realized it was really late.
Sometimes Niles would mock CC for no clear reason, and she knew it was one of the symptoms that he was overwhelmed to be with her and would explode if he didn't tease her in any way. She knew he was not reverting to their old ways, just acting out of his own difficulties to express affection for her after so many years of hiding how he felt. It was not happening much after California, but sometimes it still did, and she had already developed efficient counter-attack strategies.
(In a memorable night he had the stupid idea of saying she was not pronouncing some French name correctly, bragging he was half-French and adding something about his surprise she hadn't learned to speak it fluently from her contact with the sailors. She quickly answered he was the specialist in the room and pleaded him, oversweet eyes and all, to teach her. His disarmed face was precious, and the fact he proceeded to show her the correct pronunciation, praised her greatly and rewarded each correctly spoken vowel with a kiss should have contented her.
However, she still wanted her revenge. So, she dug in the theme of foreign languages until shediscovered he just knew German words for being affectionate and intimate, pressed him for a convincing explanation and finally heard all about him and Nanny Mueller.
CC found the story cute, and started calling Niles Liebling every time he felt naïve in bed, just to see the blush on his cheeks at being reminded he was with someone that had more experience than him.)
Sometimes CC, being who she was, wanted to work, and Niles would leave her to it and read a book. However, when he got tired and decided they should be done for the day, he sat in front of her and stared until she got the hint that he could stay looking at her like that forever, and stopped her activities, too.
Sometimes she asked him to fetch something, just to see him look for it everywhere and start fussing about the way she should organize her living space. It never failed to entertain her when he realized she had given him the wrong directions: he tried to glare at her but was not able to.
(Apparently, he liked when she pranked him as much as she liked doing it.)
Sometimes CC was just telling him how she had made a stupid screenwriter recoil in terror, Niles would look at her with an adoring smile and hold her hand, and she would cave in to urges that were brand new to her – like leaning in for a soft kiss or sitting on his lap to nestle in him.
Sometimes Niles would call CC to the big window she had on her living room and make a joke over something involving the sky – pointing up and asking which one was her world, or saying he was glad she was not flying around in her broom because the weather was not fit for it. And then he would hold her hand or enlace her waist and she would grin at how obvious it was, now, that he had been making up excuses to have her attention since forever.
(And yes, she knew how corny staring at the starts was. However, she couldn't care less. Her life now felt like a Disney movie most of the time, Niles had made a lot of jokes on her finally giving up trying to be the evil Stepmother to bloom into the powerful witch he adored, and CC was loving it all.)
Sometimes they would trade zingers like in the old days just to create a moment of tension and see who would snap first and grab the other to stop the stupidity with heated kisses and bold moves that leaded to rough sex.
Sometimes they felt so fond of each other that no tension was able to appear, and they made slow tender love.
(They often got carried away – with or without tension – and Chester turned suspicious of their displays of affection: the dog was all right when he was included, but hated when he was persuaded to retire to his room for a while. He surely liked Niles and seemed to approve of CC's happier version, but still, the intensity and frequency of their intimacy gave the pet mixed feelings.
Well, he would have to learn to live with it.)
Niles' hands pressed the perfect spot on her back, CC came out of the memory lane and commented, dragging the words a bit, 'My back's really stiff, isn't it?'
'As expected for a corpse', he quipped, smiling at the way her voice showed how relaxed she was.
CC moaned an agreement.
Niles leaned a bit forward and lowered his voice an octave, massaging the same spot and overdoing the sexiness, 'Let's find out if I'm able to put some heat in your decaying form'.
'Uhm, baby...', she played along easily with the sexy persona he brought up for her amusement, 'I may be the one who masters the shiatsu, but you know exactly where to touch me'.
He stopped the massage for a moment to support his hands on the bed and lean all the way forward to press a lingering kiss on her cheek and reply sincerely, 'I'm glad to hear it'.
CC bit her lower lip: she felt sparkles where his lips caressed her face and in her breasts, where his arms ended up brushing her sides.
And it didn't help that he had been sitting on her buttocks, his thighs and balls rubbing on them.
She moved her hips, trying to get comfortable while becoming quickly wet and hard, 'And I'm glad you're talented like this'.
'Things have not been easy on you, but don't worry', he spoke, caressing her lobe with his lips and moving his hips with hers, 'I live to serve'.
She breathed deeply to deal with the things his promising words so close to her ear and his welcomed weight did to her, 'I'm lucky to have you'.
CC didn't need to look at Niles to know her words moved him deeply – she felt him hardening against her rear, and heard his heartfelt sigh.
She always thought a real romantic relationship would imply changing who she was, in order to fit the role of a woman. For years she associated being the female half of a couple with being delicate, amenable, often submissive, surely bored, and ran away from it as much as she could. When she started her relationship with Niles, she had been afraid a life together would destroy the fire they had between them – and that was one of the reasons why she was not open to talk about marriage.
To her surprise, their first weeks were full of passion, and then California happened, their intimacy gained new levels of affection and tenderness, but it didn't alter their pleasure to be with the other, nor the lust that still clouded their minds and took away their control.
Both things worked for them – the passion and the tenderness – and he seemed to have decided to give her proof of it right now, trailing kisses on her cheek and jaw, reaching the side of her mouth and bringing his tongue to the game, caressing her lips delicately and then finding its way between them firmly.
CC grabbed the sheets and opened her mouth to moan and kiss him back.
When their lips parted, she rested her head again on the mattress, breathing hard, and he rested his forehead on her temple, 'I'm sorry, kiddo. You need to relax, not to get all worked up like this'.
'I'm not complaining'.
'Neither am I', he said, planting a kiss on her hair, then on her shoulder, and straightening his back again, 'But I compromised on being your masseur for the night, and no matter which tricks you use, I intend on fulfilling my duty'.
'You're not helping', she groaned, once he rubbed his cock on her rear when he adjusted himself to sit on the back of her thighs.
'I already told you I was never of any help to you'.
'You're really not helping', she groaned again, this time because he was referencing that night, 'As if I didn't already have enough pestering men around me in business, I chose to be in close quarters with the kinds of you'.
He slapped her butt playfully, 'Behave'.
She laughed, moving her hips, 'Not helping…'
He went back to the massage and his hands found a new place that needed attention at the middle of her back, 'The ones you call Californian types are giving you trouble, aren't they?'
She felt like melting at his voice, slightly less articulated than usual, that spoke of his intention of controlling his own arousal – because she needed massage and rest, and he was paying attention and aiming for soothing.
The familiar scent of her massage oils and the now familiar scent of him in her bed linen put CC in heaven and made her believe she had finally found home.
She wondered when she had stopped feeling queasy about those feelings of belonging.
She guessed it had been in Beverly Hills, when Niles crossed the country because he feared she would forget him. At first CC had been really surprised by his insecurities, and didn't know what to do about them. But then, it hit her that the man had crossed the damn country for her, and it made no sense to argue over it. She just wanted to make sure he knew she was happy he was there, and that he had nothing to fear, because she really, really, really was invested in their relationship, once there was no way she could deny how much in love with him she was.
(And how could CC not be in love with Niles, when a lifetime of sexual tension, pranks and clever quips had developed into what felt like a lifetime of familiar scents, delicious sensations, intimate understandings and fluffy feelings?)
She made an effort to focus on the conversation and answer him, 'Yes, they throw absurd schedules and demand last minute changes to lower the budget, and expect me and Maxwell to run up and down to fix issues that wouldn't exist if the changes had not been imposed in the first place'.
'It must be difficult not to have total creative control'.
'Sometimes it feels like the project is being run by those clowns, and not us'.
'But imprinting your style and choices while working in a new media was part of what engaged you two in this endeavor, wasn't it?'
'Yes, it was', she agreed, groaning when he found a knot and started working on it.
'Then, I'm sure you're up to the challenge', he truthfully declared, then added, in a cheerful tone, 'They won't know what hit them the first time you burn their houses to the ground just by opening your mouth in a moment of untamed fury'.
CC smiled: she loved how clever Niles was, understanding what was going on; and she loved that he gave her the support she wanted, the way she needed.
'I hope so. I can barely wait to supervise things live', she answered, and sighed, 'We're really close to moving, aren't we?'
He stopped to renew the oil on his hands, 'Why, dumpling', he said, very serious in his endearment, and added, intrigued, 'I haven't noticed you were troubled by the idea of leaving New York'.
'And I'm not', she quickly assured him, noticing he sounded almost distressed by the idea that he had left something about her to go unnoticed, 'I like it here, but I love tropical paradises, too, as you know. I am looking forward to living where I can see the ocean every day'.
'Missing you natural habitat?'
'Uhm… Are you calling me a whale or a mermaid?'
'Neither, sweetheart', he quickly answered, 'I believe I speak for all mammals when I say we owe the utmost respect to the being who first dared to drag itself on dry land', he leaned forward and kissed her cheek, 'Thank you'.
She grinned, 'When I thought the zingers about my age would be over, you top yourself and suggest I'm among the oldest living forms'.
'I have no interest in topping myself, darling', Niles smirked, his hands sliding by the sides of her spine deliciously, testing if CC was in any pain or discomfort, and discovering she wasn't, anymore, 'But what is bothering you, then? About moving, I mean'.
She closed her eyes, 'It's happening in some weeks and we didn't even have the time to go hunting for a proper house'.
His hands stilled, 'You're thinking of buying a house?'
CC found amusing that Niles was so surprised he missed the opportunity for a hunting joke, 'I pondered on asking Maxwell to live in the attic of their new mansion, but I gave up when I remembered the Fines will probably need it when they go to visit'.
The pout was clear in his voice, 'No need to answer like that'.
She smiled, not repentant, 'I know you're fond of them, but I've had my share of sleeping under the same roof as those people for a lifetime. The more we can avoid it, the better'.
'I got the part about wanting a separate place…', she didn't need to look at him to know he was squinting at her, 'You know very well my question was related to the fact you mentioned a house, woman, not an apartment'.
She stretched her body lazily, savoring the fact he had called her woman, something he has done some times through the years and never failed to thrill her.
(Niles just called her woman when he was really serious and wanted her to listen to him, and she had always appreciated the deference.)
He rested his hands on her shoulder blades as soon as she relaxed her torso again, as if he intended to pin her down to demand answers.
She found it really sexy.
Her mind was assaulted by memories of him manhandling her, especially in situations when she had just untied him after doing some nasty things to his body: he would grab her roughly, as she really aimed to when she teased him mercilessly, in bed.
(Making Niles lose control and be consumed by a fire that turned him into an untamed animal was one of her main fetishes.)
Her whole body awoke in arousal again.
'Yes, a house', CC spoke, trying not to let the desire cloud her thoughts, 'I want to live as close to the Sheffields as possible without living with them, and the neighborhood they chose has no apartment buildings'.
'I see', Niles answered, a hint of hesitation in his voice while dried of his hands on a cloth and then reached out to caress her locks, 'Have you seen the pictures? There is nothing even remotely similar to this place'.
'I've seen them', she threw a look over her shoulder, 'Don't you think it will be a nice change to have a garden and live near the beach?'
'Chester will surely be thrilled to have some grass and sand to run onto', Niles smiled, imagining the scene, his fingertips moving leisurely on the skin of her back, 'And you living closer to our workplace will surely diminish the possibility of us being caught in compromising situations'.
'Uhm?', she lazily asked, supporting her head in her hands.
'We can just run to your house if some sudden urge overwhelms us'.
'That would be a scene', she chuckled, 'I hope California is as open-minded as its fame claims, or we will be arrested in no time'.
He was intrigued, 'We did some daring things, here, and were never caught'.
'Here we wear a lot more clothes, lover'.
She spoke and spied over her shoulder.
Niles had his eyes wide, a blush covering his cheeks.
And his cock hardening, while he was obviously being assaulted by images of them clad in Summer clothes and having to deal with inappropriate erections.
'Some months ago you made a full body shudder at the thought of me walking around in shorts', she teased, 'What a change'.
He got out of the haze, 'It was more a shudder of fear at what the sight would do to me than of disgust, you must know', his left hand went to his member and he stroke it almost absent mindedly, 'But suddenly I realize you must live closer'.
'Don't worry', she licked her lips at the sight, 'We have the rooms of the new Sheffield's mansion to try before we start running home'.
The hand stopped mid stroke, his body tensed a bit and he leaned his head slightly, frowning.
She knew he had just realized she was hinting at something, and added nonchalantly, 'We should go there next week and choose a place we like'.
As she had guessed, he went right to the point, 'May I ask you to clarify your generous use of we?'
'I'll need your help', CC rested her head on the mattress again and closed her eyes, 'For example: I know a suitable kitchen must have a functional sink and cook, some cupboards and a fridge, maybe a subzero. But, besides that, all I can think of is to make sure there is a table or a counter with the right height for us to have sex', she opened her eyes to throw a glance into his direction, 'And I wonder if you'll prefer to have a kitchen as big as the mansion's, or smaller as the penthouse's. Why should I decide it by myself if we can do it together?'
Niles stayed silent, looking back at her.
CC frowned, 'Hazel?'
He rested his hands on his thighs and cleared his throat, 'Of course I can help you to choose a… place. A house. It will be a pleasure. I... I'll start clearing the bed off, sweetie'.
'Really?', she raised a brow, 'You think you can help?'
'Surely', he got off of her almost in a hurry and started collecting the massage oils, 'With some luck you'll find a place close enough. I guess the company will be really busy until things get settled, and it's a great idea to go there for you to choose something with time to spare'.
CC turned her body to lie on her back and supported herself on her elbows, observing while her boyfriend busied himself kneeling between her and the edge of the bed, collecting the massage oils and putting them on the bedside table.
He went on talking, '…and it will be great to have a comfortable place for you to go whenever things get too much. In business, I mean. Even if I know you enjoy working, it's important to have some time for yourself, now and then, to recharge and...'
She found his behavior amusing, but intended on clarifying the subject as soon as possible, 'Niles?'
He put away the last bottles and looked down at her.
Their eyes met, and hers made clear she was demanding an answer.
He sighed, troubled and not sure of how to proceed.
Her left hand took his left one and she rested her body on the bed again, pulling him down with her gently.
He obeyed, adjusting his body to spoon her side, 'I'm sorry. I got nervous'.
'So I could see', she said, matter-of-factly, 'Care to explain why?'
He entwined their fingers and rested their joined hands on her tummy, 'For a moment it sounded like we were moving together'.
'And it got you nervous?', she extended her right arm above her head, so she could caress his hair, 'I thought you wanted it'.
He smiled sweetly at her, 'Of course I want it, kiddo. I just- wait', his eyes were wide, 'Does it mean what it seems to mean?'