CHAPTER 2

Niles had mopped the kitchen floor and changed his shirt before returning downstairs to find CC still patting at her damp shirt and hair with the towel he'd given her.

"Oh stop it, it's not doing any good," he said, snatching the towel from her. "Follow me."

She frowned but did as she was told and tailed him up the kitchen stairs and into his bedroom.

She had never set foot on the enemy turf before. She was so busy looking around for anything she could use against him later that she never asked why she was there and just plopped herself down on the bed.

"Don't sit there, you'll wet my bed!" He said as he neared her with a blow dryer in hand.

"Oh well then I'm getting it comfortable for you. I'm sure you're used to being in a wet bed," she chuckled.

"Just get up." He moved toward her to plug in the blow dryer. "Now turn around so I can do your back," he said.

She eyed him skeptically but turned nonetheless. He turned on the dryer and blasted the air against her back. She jumped and turned to slap him on the shoulder.

"That's hot! You'll burn me!"

"Sorry," he said while turning her away from him again. Without thinking, he crept his hand under the hem of her shirt at her lower back to protect her skin from the heat.

"What are you doing?!" She said wide-eyed but didn't move.

"Relax. I'm not doing anything. The blow dryer doesn't have a cooler setting so I'm shielding you from the heat... Although I'm surprised you're not used to it, what with you being spawn of Satan and all." He smirked to the back of her head.

She didn't respond.

As he pointed the dryer higher on her back, his palm began to get a little too hot so he turned his hand under her blouse and rested his palm flat on her bare skin. She jumped a little and so did his heart when he felt the back strap of her damp bra. Neither of them said a word.

He began to move his hand around, struggling to fight the urge of his fingers to dance across her entire back. He could feel that her skin was beginning to warm up.

"Okay!" She said a little too loudly and realized it. "Um. I think the back is fine." She slowly turned to face him and his hand was now on her hip, still under her shirt. "Thanks," she said looking at him with her head tilted and brows furrowed. She was trying to read his face for a sign of what he may be thinking.

She knew what she was thinking - she liked the feeling of his hand on her hip.

A MAN'S hand! I like the feeling of a man's hand on my hip! Not his! She tried to convince herself in vain.

He still hadn't moved. He was staring at the spot where his hand rested under her blouse. She cleared her throat and he looked up at her, pulling his hand away.

"What? Couldn't hear you over the blow-dryer," he said.

"I said the back is fine now, thanks," she responded.

He half reached for the button at her collar but then pulled away, not knowing how to go about helping her with the front of her shirt.

"Niles," she chuckled "I know it's been a while since you last saw or touched a woman but you can think again if you're assuming you're gonna lay your paws on my puppies! I think I can manage."

"Yes... Um. Yes. Just don't burn yourself."

She frowned at his lack of a comeback "Maybe I should take it off," she said touching the first button at her neckline.

"What?" He gasped.

"I mean, if you could leave the room, I could take it off and dry it faster."

"Right! And your bra too," He blurted.

She looked at him.

"I mean, not that I- You don't have to take it off- it'll probably protect your skin more than- I'll go now," he laughed nervously.

He turned to walk out and pulled the blow-dryer right out of the plug outlet with him. He quickly turned and put the dryer into her hands and rushed out without a word.

She smiled, realizing she had something she could use against him. She just had to decide how she wanted to use it.

"Niyaals" the whine flew past a delicate vase in the hallway and he caught it as he came toward Nanny Fine. He wasn't sure if it was her voice that knocked it off balance or his distracted walk after the scene that had just transpired in his room. In HIS room! He relished the thought that that woman was still in there. Topless.

What the hell is wrong with me?!

"What's wrong with you?!" Asked Fran when he finally came into view.

"Nothing's wrong, Miss Fine. What did you need me for?"

"Are ya sure? Ya look like Ma does when she sees a piece of cheesecake in a fridge behind the window of a store that won't open till morning!"

"I'm sure! I'm just not feeling myself today." He said.

"Well then, ya should be feelin' someone else! Hahaa!" She winked and nudged him. He smiled weakly.

Already have, Miss Fine. Already have.