A/N:Hi guys, sorry for my absence I was away for the weekend, which happened to be bad timing as it turned out! I want to thank you for the support I have received, especially my Guest reviewer who I am not able to thank privately.
Plunderer and I have always had very opposite views of the characters and fanfic in general, and have clashed from time to time, but I hope I'm never guilty of disliking someone for having a different opinion. I want to assure you that our conversation following their review was perfectly cordial.
Ironically, though I don't agree that I have strayed past the bounds of character development, if someone PM'd me and asked which one of my fics they should try first or after a long absence, it would not have been this one. It was written purely for fun, as (I hope,) an enjoyable read for W/L fans with a mix of 'friends with benefits' and modern romance novels in mind.
Having said that it did give me the chance to explore a few different things with their character interactions and my hope is that overall you'll find that there are a few moments that make the story as a whole worthwhile… actually I'll just be glad if it made you smile a few times ;)
All the best LX
p.s. this chapter is pure fluff, if you don't like the sexier side to their relationship you might want to skip it
Chapter Twenty
"Please tell me that's the last one?" Wheeler groaned as he put the bags he was carrying in the storage compartment of the Geo-cruiser. They'd already dropped off one load before lunch. "I'm not sure we have room for any more."
Linka laughed at him, "Poor Yankee, just one more shop I promise, and you will like it."
He snorted in disbelief but let her lead him back towards the shopping precinct, mostly because it involved her holding his hand.
She stopped in front of a brightly decorated shop front with a warm glow in her cheeks. "Well?"
Wheeler looked around in surprise, "Rebecca's Fantasies?"
"I keep my promises." The lovely Russian gave him a shy smile.
A rush of warmth spread through Wheeler that had nothing to do with the lacy apparel in the window display, and he pulled her into his arms. "I can't believe how incredibly lucky I am, but you know I won't make you go in there with me, I keep my promises too and I haven't forgotten that you said it would make you feel bad."
"Not bad, just uncomfortable." She blushed deeper, "I want to do this with you."
"'Kay." He kept one arm around her as they entered the shop and were immediately surrounded by silk, satin and lace.
Linka watched Wheeler's eyes dilate and instead of embarrassment she found she was amused, "Do you want to be alone?"
"Huh?" he glanced down at her in surprise.
"You looked like you did not need me to enjoy yourself in here." Her eyes sparkled as she teased him and he revelled in it.
Leaning down to whisper in her ear the American said, "I was picturing you in them Babe, I have every inch of you memorised and I still know it won't come close to the real thing."
Her flush deepened but she wasn't upset, "Well I cannot try it all on for you so you will have to pick what you want to see me in the most."
"I want to pick something you'll feel sexy in." He told her.
"Can I help you at all?" the shop assistant made them both jump and look guilty. She smiled, "Sorry. I just wondered if you were looking for anything in particular?"
"I want a present for my girlfriend." Wheeler replied shamelessly, hugging Linka closer.
The blond rolled her eyes, "A present for me, da I am sure she believes you."
The assistant chuckled but said, "Our luxury items are for both partners to enjoy, why shouldn't it be a shared experience? … uh, unless you mean they are really not for you to wear?"
Linka decided the look of horror on Wheeler's face was worth any embarrassment she felt on entering such a shop with him. "Do not worry Yankee moy, it is not my sort of thing either… though I have a friend who really likes the Rocky Horror Show."
The American closed his eyes, "Please tell me you don't mean Gi."
She laughed, and told him no. "The subject has never arisen between us, I will have to ask her when I get home."
The assistant laughed along with them but then said, "Why don't I let you both look around for a while, call if you need me."
In the end it wasn't nearly as bad as Linka had feared, she even picked out a satin pyjama shorts and camisole set to buy for herself. They wandered around together, with one or the other occasionally picking up something to hold up against her but at last she felt compelled to ask, "Can you not find anything?"
"I can find lots of things… I'm just not sure you'd be comfortable in them." He confessed.
Linka shrugged, "Well I do not suppose I will be wearing them for long."
That made him laugh, "I didn't mean that sort of comfort, and I dunno…." He walked over to a black lacy bra and thong set. "I think this'd go great under your Planeteer uniform and you'd have to wear that all day."
"And you would not be able to concentrate all day." She mock scolded him. "Kwame would not thank me for that."
"I wasn't planning on telling him."
Linka chuckled, "Fine. That is what you want then?"
He nodded but she could see he had something else on his mind, "Out with it."
Taking her hand, Wheeler guided her over to a gauzy, thigh length sapphire blue night dress with roses gathering the material beneath the breasts and over the tiny matching panties.
"You can see through it." Linka commented, "It hardly seems worth it."
"I told you, you wouldn't like it." He sighed.
She smiled at him, "It is beautiful, I would love to wear it for you. I just thought you would pick something more…"
"Slutty? Red basque and suspenders maybe?" he shrugged, "That's not how I see you. If it was something you picked that'd be different, I'm happy to go there or anywhere else with you, and it'd be fun, but like I said, I wanted you to feel sexy, you always look it."
Linka leant in to kiss him and the moment lingered before they gathered their purchases and took them to the counter.
The assistant gave them approving smiles but didn't comment.
"Hey, how daring are you feeling?" Wheeler nodded towards the adult only section that was separated at the back from the main shop.
Linka shook her head at his cheek, thinking, I must be crazy! At the same time she marvelled at how easy things were with him… had anyone else tried to get her to go in there for a laugh she would have died of embarrassment, instead all she said was, "Why not?"
The assistant put their purchases behind the counter for them and led them back, "Do you need me to explain anything?"
The Russian groaned and hid her face in Wheeler's shoulder.
"Thanks but I think we'll stick to the basics." He replied for them and was relieved when the woman moved outside the curtain, though she stayed where she could see them as if she was afraid they'd start trying things out.
"Pick what you want Jason and let us go, please?"
He kissed her head, "You can do this, just say yes or no. Silk ties?"
She swallowed, "Yes."
"Blind fold?
"Da."
"Body paint?"
"What does it taste like?"
He shrugged, "Says chocolate."
"Nyet, it will not be real chocolate, it will be disgusting." She noted that he looked a little disappointed but he put it back without arguing.
He pointed at a range of devices that required batteries and she quickly shook her head but the helpful assistant stepped back in, "There's a sample model on the shelf there."
Linka looked at her in disbelief and Wheeler choked.
"You put it against the tip of your nose so that you get an idea of the feeling." The seller advised with a straight face that was cracking at the edges.
With a wicked expression, Wheeler grabbed the device and turned it on before Linka could protest but he was gentle as he brought it up against her nose. She gasped and wrinkled her face up but when she stepped back she surprised her partner by saying, in a very hushed tone, "Yes."
Looking triumphant but not stupid enough to comment, Wheeler selected a box containing a rather plain model and added it to their collection. Deciding not to push things any further he said, "Done, unless there's anything you'd like?"
She shook her head and he was fairly sure she'd avoided looking at anything he hadn't deliberately pointed out but that was ok, mostly all he'd cared about was her giving him her trust and that she'd done.
When they got outside he pulled her against him and whispered, "Thank you for being so brave."
Linka smiled at him, "Thank you for being patient with me, it was not as bad as I thought it would be and that is because of you."
"Not too worried?" he teased.
"Not at all... I'm looking forward to it."
Gaia appeared as they were unloading the 'cruiser and gave them a friendly smile, "Professor Apollo is holding a press conference on a new Solar Energy Converter he has developed. The others were eager to get there and went on ahead."
Wheeler laughed, "You mean Kwame was eager to get there to see Karen."
"They were all interested in the invention," Gaia corrected him but she looked amused. "You will need to hurry if you are going to make the press conference."
It was then that Linka surprised them both, "Do we have to go?" her cheeks warmed as she continued, "I mean the others are there to represent us and we will probably miss all the excitement by the time we have put the shopping away anyway. To be honest I was looking forward to being able to relax… we have been on a lot of missions lately even if they were not eco-villain related…"
She trailed off, trying not to look as embarrassed as she felt.
The Spirit of the Earth smiled again, her eyes taking on that knowing look that they both now recognised. "Of course Linka, there's no need for you to go if you'd prefer not to."
"Thanks Gaia," Wheeler gave her a cheeky grin and disappeared back inside the geo-cruiser to collect the last of the bags. Linka echoed the sentiment and loaded herself up with the re-usable bags to take to the kitchen.
Sometime later Wheeler entered the kitchen carrying the last of their purchases, "I put the fun stuff on your bed. What'cha doin', making a snack?"
"Sort of." She threw a saucy grin over her shoulder but continued to mix the ice-cream and sauce together.
Wheeler wrapped his arms around her from behind and pressed a gentle kiss to her neck, before peering over her shoulder at what she was doing, "Vanilla and Hot Fudge? My favourite!"
Linka's smile showed in her voice, "Da lyubov, I know. Mine too."
"I know," he grinned and began nuzzling her neck, "You're gonna share though, right?"
She gave a wicked giggle, "That was definitely the plan. You need to put away the rest of these things first."
"'K," he gave her a last kiss and then moved away to do her bidding. When he returned he found her filling a large material icing bag. "You gonna decorate a cake with it?"
The lovely Russian shook her head, sealed the bag and then put the last spoonful in her mouth before resting the tube in the bowl. Then she turned in her lover's arms and brought their lips together, parting them so he could lick the mixture from her tongue.
Wheeler moaned softly with pleasure though he continued to search for the taste long after the supply was exhausted. Catching his breath, he tenderly cupped the side of her face, looking deeply into her eyes and forgetting everything else completely.
Linka swallowed, "We should go… before the rest melts too much."
"Go where?" he asked blankly and received a soft kiss in return.
"My cabin," she turned slightly, not pulling away and lifted the bowl, "I thought this would taste better than cheap body paint, da?"
He stared at her for a moment and then scooped her up in his arms, making her squeak and clutch the bowl, "God, you're perfect!
Laughing at the unseemly haste at which they arrived at their destination, Linka nonetheless disrobed in record time while Wheeler retrieved the silk ties and the blindfold from the bag, putting it aside.
"I thought we were going to share it?" She teased, reaching around him to undo his belt with a proprietary air.
"We will," He shrugged, removing his t-shirt and stepping out of his jeans as they fell to the floor. His boxer briefs were showing signs of strain but he ignored it in favour of encouraging Linka to lie down, "Trust me?"
Linka raised her hands above her head, and let him tie her wrists to the posts on either side of her head board, but made him laugh by saying, "I trust you with my body, I am not sure I trust you not to hog all of the ice-cream."
He didn't bother to correct her, instead he placed the blindfold carefully over her eyes and secured it in place, "You ok with this?"
"Da… do I need a safe word?" she asked nervously.
"For ice-cream?" Wheeler teased, but then became serious. "No Babe, 'Stop' will do. One thing I will never do is something that would hurt you, that sort of thing does not turn me on."
She smiled and relaxed a little, "I think I knew that."
He leant down and kissed her briefly but then stood admiring her, tracing her contours with her eyes and letting himself appreciate the control she'd given him.
"Yankee?"
"Still here Beautiful, just admiring the view."
"You should be tired of it by now."
"Never."
The blindfold was beginning to take effect and though she could still feel the bed beneath her, and sense the presence of her companion, it felt almost as if she were floating. She gasped as a drop of the cold, sticky treat was placed without warning on the tips of her breasts, "Bozhe moy!"
Wheeler laughed, pleased with her reaction and trailed some more over the sensitive areas around her throat. When he traced more along her stomach, it felt random to Linka but it was actually an unsteady attempt to write 'I love you'.
Rather than going any further, now that the ice-cream was melting against the heat of her skin, Wheeler leant over to lap the liquid pooling at her throat, sucking here and there and making her groan.
Linka tried to reach for him before remembering she was trapped, and she realised for the first time how vulnerable she really was like that… he could do anything.
"Don't struggle," He'd noticed her sudden activity and reached up to rub her wrists, "If you're not ok with this I'll untie them."
"Nyet… it is ok," she swallowed, "I am just not used to being restrained, I was trying to touch you before I remembered I could not."
He ran his hands back down her arms and kissed her heart, "You've got quite a pulse going there, is it because you like it or because you're terrified?"
Linka gave a nervous laugh, "I… it is making me more conscious of how it feels I think, I know you will not do anything I will not like but I cannot tell what you are going to do, or where." She gasped again as the heat of his mouth sucked another spot clean.
"I like it," She whispered, and was rewarded by his tongue trailing along the words he'd written.
He moved away and she became nervous again. She knew he was still there because she could hear some movement but she couldn't place the noises. "Jason, talk to me, please?"
"I'm not going anywhere Babe," he promised, and she felt the bed dip as he sat on the end before encouraging her to bend her knees.
All thought fled as he picked up the ice-cream bag and let the melting liquid trickle over her.
Wheeler grinned at her reaction and reminded her that he couldn't speak Russian but that it hadn't sounded lady like. Without waiting for a response however he brought his mouth down, tasting the unique mix of vanilla, fudge and Linka.
"I have a new favourite flavour," He told her, going back for more as she continued saying things he couldn't understand, although her tone was now blissful and he took it as encouragement.
Wheeler stopped, leaving her panting and almost sobbing, and rid himself of the last of his clothing. "Talk to me Babe."
"I… cannot… I…"
He re-mounted the bed and covered her body with his own, pressing against her, "Tell me you want me."
"Da," She gasped, "Please Yankee!"
He began to make love to her, and Linka responded to him automatically while forcing herself to keep from pulling at her restraints. "Jason… I need to hear your voice."
"I'm here Babe, I'll always be here…" He couldn't speak any longer and kissed her instead, reaching up with one hand to entwine their fingers together.
They fell over the edge together, collapsing back on the bed and letting the pleasure wash over them.
"Untie me?" Linka requested, the first thing either of them had said.
Wheeler reached up and released her hands, though she was still pinned beneath him. He propped himself up on his arms and watched her remove the blind fold.
"So what did you think?" He watched her carefully, she wasn't trying to get away but if she was distressed at all he'd never suggest using the bonds again.
She shrugged, "I felt very exposed for a while, I kept worrying about things, I did not mean to but I suppose I am not very good at giving up control."
He kissed her, "Thank you for trying it, and for trusting me."
"I trust you completely and I will do it again," She promised, "It is not that I did not like what you did, or how it felt. I did. But when your senses are deprived your imagination works overtime."
Wheeler grinned and she found it infectious, but he said, "Good because we have more stuff to try out, remember?"
"Later," She promised, "Now it is your turn, can you turn us over?"
He nodded, wondering what she had in mind and moved them so that he took her place and she could sit up.
Wheeler let her put the blindfold on him and bind his wrists but protested when she then slid off him to stand up. "You are supposed to anticipate."
He sighed but soon became caught up in the moment as she began to pipe the ice-cream over his body in much the same areas he had chosen, and it made him hiss through his teeth at the sudden cold when she ventured lower.
She giggled and began to taste him, starting with his chest and working up to his lips before following the trail downwards. He was struggling to remain still long before her tongue reached his tattoo but she stopped then and stepped away, remaining silent as she gazed upon his very male body.
"Linka?"
"It is disconcerting, nyet?"
"Very… you wanna come back here?"
The lovely Russian moved back to the bed and caressed the inside of his thigh as she brought her lips back down to his stomach, gradually moving back to where he wanted her. She licked the sticky mixture off him with care and heard her head board creak as he gripped it.
"How does it feel Yankee?" She asked at last, moving to sit astride him and running her hands up his chest.
"I want to touch you." He growled, deciding he wasn't going to just lay there any longer.
Linka gasped and did her best to adjust, moving with him until they both found their pleasure. "Do not break my headboard!"
"And I thought I was bad at giving up control," She chided at last, laughing up at him as she lay curled around him.
"Yeah, yeah. You drive me wild and expect me to lay still?" he was grinning, now content to stay where he was.
Linka took off his blindfold and kissed him, releasing the ties so he could take her in his arms. "I am glad the others had gone out, I am not sure I could have done this if they were on the island."
"We'll have to beg Gaia to send them away more often." He replied, settling them both comfortably and resting his head against hers.
"And will you tell Gaia why we want the Island to ourselves?" She asked.
Wheeler laughed, "You think she doesn't know? I'm not saying she watches but seriously, we're not fooling her." His lover nodded, not as bothered as she might have been by the prospect.
After a while Linka got up, "I am hungry, and sticky. I need a shower before I start dinner."
Wheeler nodded, "I'll help… with both."
To be continued…