DAY 7: Objectionable

Despite the tension of the morning, they managed to spend a relaxing Saturday together. The paparazzi had learned to leave them alone if they wanted any information at all, so their walk through Central Park was only interrupted by two giggling fangirls and an older man pointing his finger at them.

It was a mutual decision when their hands reached for each other and their fingers intertwined.

Their rules said nothing about holding hands, but when Rick started tracing patterns on her wrist, Kate felt a tingling rush of goose bumps trail up her arm and let go of his hand. He was starting to turn her on without even trying, so she escaped her needs by creating distance between herself and the object of her desire.

The new exhibition at the MOMA had just opened. It was the perfect place to clear her head and get her body back under control. The tabloids' all-seeing camera eyes were not allowed access to the holy halls of art, but the museum was still too public for physical closeness, although Kate couldn't help tugging on his hand when she had spotted a particularly interesting piece here or there.

Rick liked art, he really did. He liked the finesse of a Cézanne, the dreamy awe of a Monet, even the sometimes confusing whirls of a Van Gogh. But after an hour or so, the images began to blur in front of him and watching became an act of concentration, rather than relaxation.

Kate wasn't like that at all. She absolutely adored art. She could look at the same painting for hours and hours, but if she could choose from many, one had to drag her away from them or else she'd never leave.

Her mom had loved art. Kate kept telling herself that it wasn't necessarily the only reason for her affinity, but she couldn't deny that it accounted for at least part of it.

When the museum closed, Kate was tempted to ask Rick to play out his celebrity card so they could stay a little longer. Her pride didn't allow her those amenities though, so she begrudgingly followed him out onto the street.

They both breathed a sigh of relief when they entered the loft; Rick because they hadn't been molested and because he would cry out if he had to look at another cubist painting or weird sculpture, Kate because she had managed to refrain from jumping him in the cab.

The pop of the wine bottle as Rick opened it sounded like music to Kate's ears.

"X-Men or Spiderman?" she called to him from the couch. That had been their deal; Kate got to drag Rick through the art exhibition, but Rick could choose the action movie of the night. He made his way over from the open kitchen area with two full glasses in his hands.

"How about 'The Spirit'?" he suggested. They were both aware that, although their deal stated that he could choose freely, he would never choose to watch anything she didn't like.

She chuckled. "You only want to see that because you think Morgenstern is hot!" she accused.

He grinned and made no attempt to deny it. "Can we make a freebie five list like Kevin and Jenny?"

She laughed, fully and freely, the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. "Oh no, Mister 'White Whale'! You'd probably see it as a challenge and try to check all five from your list as fast as possible!"

He couldn't deny that either.

Kate awoke with a start. It took her a good minute to realize that she was tucked into Rick's arms on the couch. The blanket they had cuddled under was long forgotten, fallen to the floor, the movie already over for quite some time, the TV screen now a bright, irritating blue.

She felt him stir beneath her and angled her head so she could see his face.

"Humph…" he grumbled and raised his hand from her hip to rub his sleepy eyes. "Whatime's it?" he asked, his speech slightly slurry. He'd only had a glass and a half of wine, so she was sure it was from the tiredness and not from the alcohol.

"Late" she answered, not wanting to look back towards the brightness of the screen to find out what time it really was.

"Hm" was his only return and when he stirred again, Kate suddenly realized that his one hand rested on her rear end. Her body tensed, but Rick didn't seem to care and instead of moving it away, used the other to brush her hair from her face.

"Let's sleep" he mumbled and pressed a short kiss to her lips. Then another. And when his lips brushed hers for the third time, Kate couldn't help but react to it. She couldn't help remembering the feel of his hands on her butt when there was no fabric separating their skin, couldn't help but rub her body against his when she discovered that his thigh was conveniently seated between her legs, couldn't help but gasp when his teeth slightly nipped at her lips.

That small sound she made catapulted him back to reality and he broke away as if someone had hit him.

Her eyes were big with shock and lust as she gaped at him, her chest heaving. They were both panting.

Kate blinked. With a jolt Rick jerked his hand away from her butt.

"I…you…we…" he stuttered.

She took a deep breath.

"We're even. Nothing happened," she decided.

He moistened his lips with his tongue and her control wavered.

"The bet is still on?" he asked, voice raspy with both sleep and want, his contours oddly shifting in the harsh light of the TV. She closed her eyes to fight her desire and swallowed thickly.

"The bet's still on."

A/N: Sorry for the long wait. I'll try to be faster with updates in the future!
Have I told you guys recently how awesome you are for reviewing so much? Even on the worst of days, my inbox manages to make me happy! :D