So...two more after this one.

Misconceptions pt. 39

Thomas stepped from his ensuite and stared openly at his beautiful wife. She was at the vanity brushing her wet hair, and he smiled, recalling the delicious shower that they shared together. It felt really good to just be with her, and to let all the other problems go for awhile. They weren't gone, they would never be gone, but it was a much needed reprieve. "So?" he voiced, walking up and placing a soft kiss on her neck. He ran his hands over the silk of her robe. "Think you might have breakfast with me?"

She grinned from the mirror, continuing to brush her short hair. "I think I might be persuaded?" She paused, staring into his blue eyes. "Who's cooking?"

He laughed, raising his hand before heading to the kitchen to prepare some bacon and eggs.

Eve sat in her chair a moment longer, staring at the bags that were under her eyes. She was so tired, from both lack of sleep and from worry. She sighed, standing and heading to join her husband. She didn't get very far though, because her phone rang. "Hello?" She lost her smile, listening to the voice intently. "Nothing? Look, your reputation is on the line, so just do your damn job!" She hung up, taking a few breaths to push away the frown. There was no need to drag Tom into anything yet. He'd be pissed that she made the call in the first place, but it was for the best.

She sighed again, rolling the tension from her shoulders. Then she walked toward the stairs and the smell of bacon.

"It's about time you got here, the eggs are done." He passed her a plate so that she could load up her own amount of bacon. "Another minute and you would have had a cold thank you meal.

She smirked. "Thank you for what?"

He grinned too, putting the pan down and leaning. His mouth was so close to her ear. "For last night, and for what you did for me about twenty minutes ago," he teased, kissing her quickly.

She took her plate and sat across from him at the maple table. "Well that wasn't just for you."

He laughed. "Damn it, woman!"

A sharp knock on the door caught their attention, before Michael was entering the kitchen. "Mmm, bacon." He helped himself to some breakfast, and turned to find both parents staring at him as though he had two heads. "What?" he asked, biting down on a piece of the pork.

They laughed in unison.

After some light-hearted banter around the table, he shifted, wishing this would be easier to discuss. "So? Any word from John?"

Tom sighed. "No, but he'll call you before he'll call us Mike." It was true and it hurt a lot, but they did dig their own grave, so to speak?

He looked at his mother, who was once again sporting a frown, and it caused a brief pang in his heart. That he was the one to put it there. Why couldn't they all just act like a normal family? "So listen, I've been thinking about everything and I came up with an idea." They didn't speak, they only listened, and when he was done, for the first time in a long time he felt hopeful.

Michael stood and grabbed a few more pieces of meat before exiting. He had an important meeting if this was going to happen, and frankly, it really needed to happen. He wasn't sure his family would recover if it was left alone? That's what they did when John left for Quantico, and he wasn't going to let history repeat itself.

"I can't believe you made that? From stuff in my fridge?" She took another spoonful and moaned lightly. She couldn't help it, it was delicious. "What did you say this is called again?"

He poured his breakfast onto the plate and then focussed on her, amused at the way she was digging in with gusto. "Milk porridge."

"Milk porridge," she repeated, frowning. "It sounds disgusting."

He leaned on the counter and stared into her eyes. "Is it?"

She shook her head, accepting his soft kiss as he leaned closer. He kissed her again, and took one last shot, deepening the contact with a gentle swipe of his tongue. Then she was watching him prepare his plate. Butter, cinnamon, cream, more milk. It was just baffling to her that this was possibly the best breakfast she's ever eaten in her life...and the most fattening.

"Where did you learn to make this stuff?"

He sat on a nearby stool, and took a quick mouthful before speaking. "My grandmother, actually."

She blinked. "Grandmother?"

He laughed lightly. "Yeah, you know, the woman who gave birth to my father? A grandmother. They're sweet and caring, and usually try to meddle in your life...for your own good of course."

She smiled softly. "I never knew my grandmother. And you remember my grandfather...nothing sweet there!" He returned her smile, so she pushed on with the conversation. It was nice just learning about him. They didn't really know one another at all, not really? "So she taught you to cook?"

He shrugged, taking another bite. "No way! She guarded her recipes like they were government secrets. It drove my mother insane!"

"So how...?"

"...I blackmailed her."

Natalie laughed. "What? You blackmailed your poor, sweet grandmother? McBain, you have a darkside!"

He shook his head. "Everyone has a darkside Natalie, your's is just more...well it's just more than most." He was still sporting a grin, and felt relief when she didn't seem upset by his comment. He wasn't really sure how far was too far to push her? They were still learning their way. "Seriously though, the woman was all the things a grandmother should be, but she was not into sharing her recipes. I had to take action. Milk porridge is worth the sin."

She finished off her plate and nodded wholeheartedly. "You got that right." There was a moment of pleasant silence in the kitchen, while she thought about the last time they were in here together. Doing decidedly different things on this very counter. A small blush painted her cheeks. She needed a distraction. "So tell me John, what exactly does one hold over a sweet, tender elderly relative?"

He chuckled again, finishing his breakfast and grabbing the plates. They clanged as he tossed them into the sink. "I caught her smoking one night."

She didn't get it? "Yeah, and...?"

"And that's it! She promised that she quit, and in my family a promise is everything. If you don't keep it then you're not worth anything. She was desperate to keep her indiscretion under wraps, and so late one night after everyone went to bed, she taught me how to make milk porridge." He didn't move, he just stared into her eyes for a long moment.

"Wow!" She leaned on the counter and stared back, feeling a familiar heat begin to spread throughout her body. "How old were you?" Now that, she really wanted to know?

He took her hand and lightly played with her fingers, keeping his gaze on hers. "Um..I'd say nine I think? Maybe ten?"

There was more silence. She liked the way he was just letting things happen with them, but she was nowhere near as patient. "So? You got any questions for me?"

He smiled. "Is this what we're doing?"

"Can you think of a better way to get to know one another?"

"Yes."

She laughed. "I don't mean physically, big boy."

He thought about it for a minute before coming up with one. "Okay, do you think of Llanview as your home?"

"I...maybe? Why?" He didn't say anything, but she knew why he was asking. "Llanview is the first place I've felt like I had a home, but it's not the location that makes it that for me. I like B.E. and working for my grandfather." She grinned. "I like the money."

He glanced around the apartment, nodding slowly. "Yeah, I get that."

She reached out and put a finger under his chin, forcing his eyes her way. "John, it's just a place, a job. You said we'd figure it out together, remember? I'm gonna hold you to that."

He took a long, smooth breath into his lungs. "Well, why don't we start with a trip to Washington, and then worry about the rest later?"

"That sounds like a really good idea to me. Besides, I've never been to Washington."

His eyes lit up. "See, now that's important information. Showing you around my town could prove very, very interesting." He reached out and tucked her hair behind her ears. Touching her was something he intended on doing on a regular basis. "So? Your turn, Buchanan."

It was, but she wasn't sure she wanted to ask it? He was waiting on her, so she bit her lip lightly. "Have you ever been in love?" She held her breath, terrified that they were about to launch into another fight, but to her delight he didn't seem upset at all.

"Yes, or at least I thought I was, but that was before I really knew what it actually felt like."

Those eyes of his were working their magic again, because her pulse was spiking as he stared at her. She brought his hand to her lips and kissed its back, before relinquishing her grip. Then she brushed some hair from his face and tried to calm her nerves.

"Her name was Caitlyn. I met her in the twelfth grade, and I fell for her. I thought I would marry her. She went with me to Quantico, and we lived together for nearly three years."

She swallowed, transfixed. "What happened?"

He shrugged, frowning. "I don't know really? She just woke up one day and wanted more than me. I worked all the time, and she didn't want to be alone. So she wasn't." He reached out and grabbed her hips, pulling her from her seat and onto his lap. Their eyes locked. "I think we were in love with the idea of each other, but you can't love an idea." He moved his hands up the back of her shirt slowly, unhooking her bra. "It doesn't make you burn." He breathed against her neck, placing hot, wet kisses on the white flesh. He took one of her hands and rested it over his thundering heart, while taking the other and flattening it around his erection. Air was becoming hard to access. "It doesn't make you ache." He tightened his arms, circling her and burying his face in her wonderful hair. "Can you feel me ache, Natalie?" he asked softly.

She closed her eyes, quickly losing her control. He was like steel beneath her palm, and he was scorching. She released him and pulled from his tight hold. "Well, maybe we should talk some more in the shower?" She looked into his bright gaze. "Ease that ache of yours."

He stood before her, looming with a menacing height. His hand ran over her hair, petting with gentle strokes. "A shower, huh?" He was grinning again.

She nodded. "You go, but don't you dare start without me."

He frowned slightly. "Where will you be?"

"Right here, phoning my office." His look of disappointment reminded her of a boy at Christmas, longing for the real gift he wanted from Santa. "I'm going to make sure that they direct all calls to another member of my large and capable Buchanan family." He visibly relaxed, and the sight made her heart skip a beat. It also made her horny. "So get going, McBain!"

He got closer, pinning her between his strong, steady arms and the island. His mouth rested flush against her ear. "Make the call quick, Natalie," he suggested, in a low tone.

She almost buckled from the sexy sound that rasped from his throat. Good God! She tried to speak but couldn't, so she simply nodded, losing it completely when he bent and took her mouth fiercely. The contact was intense and fiery, and she felt a pool soak into the panties that were hidden beneath her skirt. After another glorious span of time, he stopped the torture long enough to walk away. She met his eyes right as he stepped into the bathroom and out of sight, and then she reached for her phone and made her call. She could hear the shower, and it only increased her excitement. This was the second time she's fantasized about him wet and in her shower, only this instance was about to become the best reality. Her legs carried her closer.

ding.

Natalie stopped in her tracks and focussed on the elevator, wondering who was coming up un-announced? Buchanan Towers was a highly secure building, so this was completely unheard of. A second later the door opened and Michael McBain joined her, freezing as he scanned her apartment. He had the same dopey look on his face that his brother had worn.

"Hey?" he greeted, seemingly lost in the tall ceiling.

She didn't know what to think? "What are you doing here McBain, and how the hell did you get up here?"

He finally looked at her and walked closer. "I came to talk to you about John, and I used my badge to get access." He answered her, and now waited.

"What about John?"

He took a breath, happy that she would at least hear him out. His eyes quickly darted around the room. "Is he here?"

She nodded. "He's in the shower, where I plan on joining him, so can we make this quick?"

He frowned, feeling very uncomfortable. "Right. Listen, do you think you can get John to the house tonight for dinner?"

She froze. Is he kidding? "What house?"

"You know what house, and dumb doesn't suit you!"

"We're not in your station now, detective, so watch your tone or I'll put my foot up your ass!"

Despite his irritation, he grinned. Christ! "Listen, Natalie..."

"Hey, where are you?" a deep voice called from the bathroom.

She turned and swallowed, not sure why she felt she needed to hide this, but she was going along with it for some stupid reason? "I'll be one more minute! Take matters into your own hands!" she joked, enjoying the laughter that erupted from the room. She refocussed on the younger McBain.

Michael shook his head, but pressed on. There wasn't a whole lot of time. "Natalie, if John leaves now with things how they are...then my family is never going to get it together. And I know that you think that we don't deserve..."

"...you don't!" she agreed, coldly. But John did. "Listen, I'll get him there alright, but that's about all I can do. That doesn't mean it will end well, Michael. That's up to him."

He nodded. "It's a barbeque like we used to do when we were kids. Be there around six, okay?" He climbed back onto the elevator and rode it to the bottom, praying that some good would finally come their way. This had to end, and he was desperate for a happy ending.

She stood in her spot for another moment, trying to wrap her head around what she just agreed too. Why the hell did she do it? He was going to be pissed! She wasn't entirely sure that she could get him there after everything, but something inside told her to try, and so that's what she would do.

"Natalie?"

She spun and found him peaking around the doorjam in irritation. "Impatient, aren't we?"

He watched her walk closer, stopping about a foot away. "Well that's your fault." He reached out and took her hand, leading her into the room and under the warm spray. They touched everywhere and got clean in the process, taking special care to be very thorough with the soap.

After a few more heated strokes beneath the water, John hoisted her from the stone and pressed her against the deep plexi. "This is the best shower ever!" he commented, taking slow, easy control of her willing body.

She nodded, losing her voice for a second time. That is until he was deep inside her and forcing a reaction that would melt the polar ice caps! Then she got a clear demonstration of the accoustics in this room.

"So are you going to tell me what's on your mind?" He didn't look at her, not really finding it necessary. She knew what he was saying? She was hiding something, stewing over it. He stared through the glass railing and took in the city that surrounded them. The view from this balcony was stupendous, but he knew it would be, given the apartment itself. He felt her step through the french doors of the bedroom and join him. She didn't take a seat though. Instead, she moved closer and opened his legs, nestling between them so that her back was propped against his chest. "Nat, tell me."

She sighed. "Your brother was here."

"What?" He spun her slightly so that he could look at her while they had this chat. "When? What did he want?"

"He was here right before our shower, and he wanted me to convince you to go to a McBain family barbeque tonight at your parent's house."

He was actually speechless for a few seconds, but he pushed through it. "What did you say?"

She turned back around and wrapped her arms over his, holding him. "I told him I'd do it."

He frowned, not sure what he was feeling? He was angry and feeling a little betrayed, but it probably had more to do with the conspiratorial nature of this so-called dinner and its invitation. "I see." He stared at the river hard.

She licked her lips. The tension in his body told her everything she needed to know. "I know you're angry, but it wasn't meant to hurt you. I wanted to help you."

He pushed her forward and stood from the deck chair, facing her as she fell against the maroon cushion. "It's a lie Natalie, a secret, and it doesn't feel good."

She nodded. "I know, for me either. That's why I told you." He was really struggling with his confused emotions, but she sensed that he was coming to terms with her actions. She held out her arms. "Come sit back down, John."

He hesitated, but in the end reclaimed his seat. She was once again between his open legs and once again leaning into his broad chest. He tightened his arms as they framed her. "God, everything they do is a sneak attack!" He felt sick. "They can't even pick up a phone and invite me over like a normal adult. Instead they try to shanghai me into an ambush barbeque!"

She sat up and spun fully around, staying close. Her hands fell to his strong thighs. "Actually, this one is all your brother."

"Mike?"

She touched his face for a moment, holding his surprised eyes. "He wants to get you all together, John. He just wants you to give them a chance before you leave town." She felt a chill, and didn't know if it was from the cool breeze on her skin or the subject matter? "I think you should go."

He wanted to laugh, but couldn't muster the fake emotion. "Why? For what purpose?"

"For your family, your brother and parents. They all love you."

"Maybe I don't need their love?"

She didn't believe that for a moment. "You know, an hour ago you were telling me about your grandmother, and you did it with a huge smile on your face."

He didn't get it? "What's your point?"

"Take it from someone who knows, McBain, having no family sucks. You have one." She stopped talking, sneering slightly. "It's not always the best one, but hey..."

He blew out a sharp breath. "They called my boss." She nodded. "They tried to railroad you more than once." Again, no disagreement. "They insist on telling me what a horrible person you are for me and that I'm ruining my life."

She chuckled. "Yeah, but they're consistant."

He frowned. "It's not funny, Nat."

It wasn't, so she lost her grin. "No, but you should still go. It's a couple hours, and maybe it'll be good to hear what they have to say? At least then you'll know that you tried?"

He couldn't believe it? "You really want this, don't you?"

She nodded. "I think that you really want this, but are too damn stubborn to admit it." She leaned foward and kissed him firmly, sliding her tongue past the broken seal of his lips. She pulled away and looked at him. "I'll go with you."

Okay, now he's heard everything? "You're kidding?" She shook her head. "Nat...?"

"So dinner's at six o'clock!" she interupted, touching his open mouth with her fingers. She wanted to spend the day with him, and to do that they needed to forget about his family. They would all be together soon enough! "I've got an idea that I think you'll like?" He stared at her, burning hotter when her hand dropped to his shirt and slowly opened the buttons. "We have all afternoon to kill, so you should probably wind down?"

He swallowed, shifting slightly as her fingers opened his pants and tugged them away. "I do feel a little tension," he admitted, already lost and she hasn't even touched him yet.

She smiled. "You know what relaxes me, John?" He shook his head, and she lowered herself, kissing his stomach and chest with soft, light kisses. "This view." She reached out and wrapped her hot palm around his even hotter penis, pulling with a strong stroke. She sucked on his abdomen, scraping her teeth across the tanned skin. "Tell me about the view please?" she asked, barely above a whisper. She ran her hands over his torso slowly, feeling every inch of him as she moved.

He closed his eyes for a moment, focussing on the hand that was back between his legs. It continued to touch and stretch, igniting a passion that began to build tightly deep within. "There's a skyscraper across from us," he offered weakly. How the hell was he supposed to focus on the damn view, when she was flattening her tongue and licking him from ball to tip. He groaned, arching closer.

"Go on," she breathed, encouraging him for more. She didn't give a rat's ass about the view, but when he spoke his voice brought her closer to climax, and that alone was worth the price of admission. "Describe it?" She put her mouth on him and moved slowly, taking in all of his length until he was deep in her throat. Then she pulled away.

Fuck! What the hell was she asking of him? He couldn't remember? "It's a tall building, long..." He felt her throat again and nearly came right then and there. "Ugh..Natalie.."

"..hmmm.." she hummed, shrieking a little when his hands found her hair and pulled. His grip was strong on her scalp, but there was no attempt to remove her and she smiled. "The river?" she asked, sucking on him and spilling between her own legs when he cried into the open air.

"It..F UCK..it's moving.." He blinked, refocussing on the top of her head. She was bobbing over him pretty quickly, using her hand and mouth to create one hell of a sweet friction along his cock. It was mind-numbingly spectacular! He felt himself begin to unravel. "More, Nat..Natalie!" He was begging and he didn't even care.

She stopped all movement, lifting her head and taking in the sight of him as he stared out somewhere over the railing. His chest was heaving violently, sucking in all the oxygen. He was wet from his arousal, as well as her mouth, and it was incredibly sexy to see up close. She took his balls and gently played, tugging and squeezing while she kissed his head with swollen lips. "Is the river wet?"

He growled, completely lost now. She was teasing him, pushing him, and he opened his mouth when she was back in place, resuming her exuberant duties. "Uh, fu..mmm...don't stop!" His orgasm was climbing, nearly upon the both of them. "..ggrrr..oh yeah, use your tongue..." She did. He felt it swirl around him and slide along his hard shaft eagerly, and he finally snapped. "UGHHH..NATALIE!"

She squeezed his balls sharply, struggling to swallow all the cum that shot out, but his orgasm was staggeringly long. She did what she could, feeling it cool on various parts of skin as it escaped, flowing freely as he shook. She tasted him and lapped at him, watching as his hand found his erection and jerked hard, finishing what she started.

After a long while, he released his hold and sat blankly into the cushy chair. His breathing was eventually calming, but his mind wasn't. She just sucked him off on her terrace, and he felt unbelievably sated. It was incredible! She was incredible!

Natalie took his recovery time for her own, needing to slow her breathing and heart rate as well. She wanted to give him that, to distract him from his melodrama, and it was a hell-of-a-lot of fun for her too! She rose up the seat and leaned on his chest, slightly shaky from her efforts. She touched his mouth, heating up when he looked into her eyes. "How you doing?" she asked, concerned.

He stood suddenly and hoisted her to her feet, practically carrying her into the apartment and to the big bed. When she was on her back, she saw him again and he was grinning salaciously. He rested his knees against the edge of the bed and quickly disrobed. "You wanted a distraction," he croaked, "I'm going to give you one." Then he crawled over her and let his hands do the walking. She wasn't the only one capable of surprises.

He spread her roughly, enjoying the sounds that were beginning to rock the room. He didn't care about the dinner, he only wanted her, and so he devoted his body and mind to achieving his goal.