Hi, people. Sorry for the delay. At least, I produced a super big chapter!
Reviews are always welcomed.
The marriage
Chapter 13: She accepts his case
CC exited the office without knowing exactly what to think. In times like this she realized how much Maxwell could be insensitive and drop bombs on her as if she was Wonder Woman.
She stopped once she was out of the door: being seen as Wonder Woman should not be a bad prospect. In fact, she craved for this kind of attention from her partner since forever.
Truth be told, she always got irritated when the man behaved like that, informing her of things at the last minute and demanding her to take decisions quickly.
Not that she doubt her own qualities. She knew how much she had conquered in her life because of her strength and wit…
(… and not just in the business area,she thought, with a smirk, and started walking again)
…and it was natural that Maxwell relied on her. She was generally overconfident and exaggeratedly self-reliant, but when time comes, making her own choices and stand for them has been the key to be successful.
So, it was perfectly acceptable that she took this decision by herself. Not just acceptable, but predictable. That was what people expected from her.
The puzzling thing was that she felt the need to seek for some advice, right now. Even if she was sure the final decision would still be hers, now she had someone to listen to.
That is why she told Maxwell she needed some tea and got out of the office.
Wasn't it what she did when she needed some time to herself, even before they were married? She said she needed to get something at the kitchen, and went there to see him? And then she would get back to the office, refreshed and prepared to take any decision?
And if he was in the office already, she would follow him out – specially after some zinger he threw her way.
One day she took the Boy's baseball bat to pretend she was going to hit him. It was funny when he saw her coming after him – he had his eyes wide for a second and then pretended to be perfectly calm, kept walking and proposed they had some tea her favorite flavor.
She found it very endearing when he felt menaced enough to notice she needed some positive from him. How many times did she announce her PMS episodes just to see him squirm and treat her like a queen for the day?
And some times the need of him was so much she had shamelessly dragged him out of the office with her, too. She couldn't remember exactly why, but Nanny Fine came once with something related to the Boy, Maxwell asked her, CC, to exit so he could have a word in private with the Nanny, and Niles pretended he didn't hear the word 'private'.
If I go out, so he does, CC had said, pointing at the butler.
Of course, Maxwell had fairly said and turned to the butler, Niles.
What did I do?, he childishly asked.
Niles…, Maxwell warned.
CC couldn't stop her smirk when he came after her and groaned, Now you have ruined it for everyone!
They had gone together to the kitchen, where she proposed they had tea, the flavor he chose. She knew how much he delighted in the office affairs, but she couldn't let him have the upper hand.
He understood, and they had a good time together.
CC stopped at the living room and breathed deeply. Why did she need to analyze so hard a situation that seemed so simple? There was no need of making deaf ears to some external advice now and then. There was nothing wrong in listening to people who can have a reasonable word or two to say. And most of all, it is worth listening to people who care enough to ponder over your needs and try to help you to make things better.
It was perfectly safe and natural to crave for her personal oracle – now that she could admit she had one – because he was not any person, but the one she respected.
The one who would do anything to make sure she had just the best of everything.
She stopped again at the swinging door that leaded to the kitchen – had she just thought of Niles as the one for her?
Truth be said, he had been there to tell her what she needed to hear since forever, and now that they were together, it had just been made official how much he meant to her.
(Her eyes went wide: since when the idea of making things official gave her a funny feeling? And what did it mean?)
CC supported her hand on the door, put her head up high, and then she walked slowly but decisively into the kitchen.
Niles was standing at the island, and his calm posture and emotionless face showed nothing.
'You had the intercom ON?', CC stopped, pointed to the machine on the wall and asked, just to make sure.
'Of course', he answered, maintaining his poker face.
'Then you know…'
'Yes, I do'.
She sighed and walked to the cupboard across from him. It was good he already knew. She felt like the weight of explaining was lifted from her shoulders.
He followed her with his eyes, turned to face her, leaned on the sink and just waited.
CC supported her back on the cupboard, crossed her arms on her chest and bit her bottom lip, 'What do you think?'
It was very like her, to adopt such a direct approach, but at the same time Niles had never thought she would bring the question to him. It was basically business, and even if he knew she trusted his opinion, business was her territory.
He decided to start cautiously, 'Well… I always said the play was pretty good. The public is still flowing after months', she smiled proudly and he resumed, 'It is not exactly a surprise that TV people want to turn it into a sitcom'.
She shook her head, 'But it is a surprise that they think we should produce it with them. They normally just offer absurd quantities of money, buy things and do whatever they want with them'.
'You have the rights of the play and have succeeded in putting it on the road. It is not just honest, but clever, that they ask you to do it'.
'Yes, it is', she grimaced.
'You seem troubled', he commented, observing her, 'By your voice, you were excited when Maxwell told you the news'.
'And I was… I am excited… It is not a secret I always thought theater would be dead in a few years. A change in perspective like that could show us if we have a place in television before we have to look for it'.
'You talk like it was not something you would enjoy'.
'I like the idea of a challenge…'
'If you didn't, you would have not exposed yourself to the cameras so many times, Sasquatch'.
She smiled, 'You know how much this hide and seek thing thrills me'.
He smiled back, 'Yes, I do. Then…', he approached her and caressed her forearms with his hands, 'what is the problem?'
She leaned her head and uncrossed her arms, enjoying his soothing moves. She was very glad to have come to him, 'I'm not sure I want to change my life like this. I mean, it is not just all the trouble of entering an industry we don't know… It is moving to the West Coast… and meeting people that still have to learn how dangerous I am…', it was his time to smile, 'It will change everything!'
Niles lifted his eyebrows and nodded, showing he had got what she meant.
CC looked into his eyes with renewed attention, 'Would you mind moving?'
Niles had found sweet that she cared for his opinion on things, and now it was more than that – she seemed interested in knowing how he would feel about such a change. It was almost as if his opinion could influence her decision.
Well, who was he trying to fool? She obviously cared.
'To say I've grown used to New York is an understatement; in fact, I love this city', he looked away and adopted a dreamy face, 'I am this kind of guy that start slowly, trying to understand things and adapt to them', he fixed his eyes on hers, 'however, when I realize something is really good, I fall in love with it and there's no hope of recovering'.
She grinned and pecked his lips, 'I know what you're pointing at, you charmer, and I have no time for this, now'.
Their eyes locked and, contradicting what she had said, she got closer and started kissing him leisurely.
'Thank God you are a witch', he said when their lips parted.
'Why?'
'So you can stop time like this'.
CC looked at him in awe for some moments, licked her lips and looked away, swooning. 'Wow'.
Niles chuckled and hugged her, 'That's all right, baby'.
She hugged him back, 'Yes, too much all right. It is frightening'.
Some moments of silence. He put his hand in the back of her head, caressing her hair, and she fought to calm down her heart.
'Niles?'
'Uhm?'
'I really want to hear what you have to say'.
'You mean… about going to California?'
'About everything. But now, specifically, California'.
They parted to look at each other, 'Then, seriously: if we move, I'm sure both of us will miss New York. There are a lot of beautiful things here, and we will always cherish them'.
'I know', she sighed, 'Central Park, The Rainbow Room…'
'The snow, the crowded streets…'
'The mansion and the penthouse…'
'Oh, yes, these too. We have a lot of wonderful memories, here', he wriggled his brows at her.
Both giggled at that, and CC put her hands on his chest, 'I thought you had a serious point…'
'And I have!', Niles protested and caressed her face, 'We both love tropical paradises almost as much as we love this city'.
'This means we could make a lot of wonderful brand new memories in a new and hotter place?'
'This means we can be happy anywhere, as long as we are together'.
Their eyes locked, surprised. For some moments, neither knew what to say.
CC slapped him playfully, 'Argh, Niles! What is it with you, today?'
'I'm sorry, you just do things to me', he softly said and kissed her tenderly.
She accepted the kiss her way – sneaking a hand to his nape and making it deeper.
He circled her waist with his arms and brought her closer, and for some time they stayed like that, enjoying each other again.
When the kiss became delicate feathering lips on lips, they locked stares again.
CC sighed, 'Yes, I'm sure we could be happy anywhere, as long as we have this'.
'Told you so', he maintained her close to him, 'I will adapt to hotter lands, if this is the case, as I would adapt to anything that was necessary to be with you'.
'Thank you', she smiled, giving up pointing that he was being all romantic again, 'It is good to know I can always count on my servant'.
'You're welcome', he tilted his head to signalize a slight change of topic, 'So, the real point here is if you and him think moving on is the best course of action for the business'.
CC frowned, 'Deep inside I know we shouldn't let this pass. I prefer regretting a decision than keep wondering what might have been'.
It made Niles look at her curiously. 'Should I take a note of using this idea on you some time?'
She looked back at him and grimaced, 'Oh, don't ask me. It doesn't make any sense looking from here, either'.
He grinned and they heard voices coming through the swinging door.
CC went down, hiding behind the counter, to Niles' surprise.
Maxwell entered, 'Niles, Old Man… I thought CC was here'.
'She was, Sir, but she said she had a lot in her mind, took her broom and went for a ride'.
'Oh, well… I'm glad it is just the two of us', he approached, his hands touching the island, 'Did she mention the proposal of the TV studio?'
'Yes, she mentioned something about producing a sitcom in Los Angeles'.
'And did she say if she has taken a decision?'
'I think the part about having a lot in her mind was about it, Sir'.
'Oh, I see… But… what do you think she will decide?'
'Have you already made your mind?'
'No, I haven't. I think that, if the proposition sounds so good, we should at least try it. However, we have everything very well settled here', Maxwell tapped the island nervously, 'And she seemed even more reticent than myself'.
'Very out of character for her'.
'Exactly'.
'And you thought I could tell you what is happening?'
'Maybe'.
'Oh, Sir, I feel honored by how much you trust my abilities, but supernatural phenomena are way out of my league'.
Maxwell smirked, 'I understand. You are afraid of saying something and be proven wrong'.
'It won't work with me, Sir'.
The glare Niles threw him was so dark that Maxwell cleared his throat and went to sit at the table, 'All right, I'm sorry. I suppose I'm just really nervous. I mean, what will happen if we take different decisions?'
Niles looked at CC, at his feet, and back at Maxwell, 'You're worried about the partnership?'
'No, I think we stay as partners, even if we take different decisions. We could adapt to work in the two branches of business. What worries me is the new… organization of… the family'.
'What do you mean, Sir?'
CC got to her feet, 'He means you, Butler Boy'.
Maxwell got up and turned to her, 'CC! Where were you?'
She waved a hand innocently, 'I just entered by the back stairs. Didn't you hear me coming?', she threw a glare at her smirking husband, 'Shut up, Niles'.
Fran entered the kitchen that moment and stopped when she saw everybody there, 'Sorry, I think I'm late for the checking point'.
'That's all right, Fran', Maxwell smiled at her, 'We were just discussing some dramatic news'.
'Oh, I love dramatic news! What happened?', she came to peck his lips and sat down.
Niles looked at CC. She had a pensive frown in her face.
She looked back at Niles and, before Maxwell could say anything, she asked, 'You would be thorn, if one of us went away?'
Fran was surprised, 'What? Who would go away?'
'I suppose it would be hard for everyone', Niles answered CC.
'But you…', she frowned at him.
'The Sheffields are my family, too, but I have already lived far from my family once, when I came to the United States'.
'Your family too?'
'Yes. Besides you'.
CC blinked, 'I am your family?'
'Of course you are. If you part ways, I'll stay with you', he grimaced at her, 'I thought that was clear'.
CC frowned even more deeply, and looked at the space. She was in deep thinking.
Niles turned to the nasal voice that manifested itself, 'Someone cares to explain what is happening?!'
Maxwell took Fran's hand, 'We received a business proposition. If we accept, it may be necessary to move to Los Angeles'.
She gasped, 'Oh my God! And what have you decided?'
'They haven't, yet', Niles answered her, 'And Mister Sheffield is worried they take different decisions and we have the family separated'.
The three of them started talking at the same time: 'It's not like it is impossible, but the arrangements…' (Maxwell), 'I'm sure we will find a way to accommodate things' (Niles), 'Who would guess we had to separate after all we have been…' (Fran)
'Are you crazy?!', CC yelled and everybody shut up and looked at her, 'We are staying together!'
Recovering first, Fran got up, 'Way to go, Miss Babcock!'
CC nodded at the Nanny and turned to her business partner, 'Maxwell, let's accept their proposition of filming a pilot and evaluating it. We gain time and have something more concrete to base our answer on'.
Maxwell blinked some times and then said, 'Yes, of course… This is a brilliant idea, CC', he smiled warmly at her, 'Let's do it'.
Satisfied, she turned to a grinning Niles and took his hand, 'And you, come with me. We have to…'
'Do it?', he suggested, smirking.
'Yeah!', she answered seriously and started pulling him to the back stairs.
'CC!', Maxwell called, 'You're supposed to be with me while I make the phone call!'
Fran tsked, 'Max, let them be. She just discovered they are family!'
Ncncncncncnc
To their surprise, the TV Producers were so excited by their interest that less than one month after the initial contact they received a tape of the pilot.
'It's so exciting! We're going to watch a TV show first hand!', Fran exclaimed, coming to the living room with the popcorn, 'It's almost as exciting as gaining a free ticket!'
'To what?', Brighton asked.
'To anything!', Fran, Sylvia and Yetta answered at the same time.
'Calm down…', Maxwell made a gesture for Fran to sit down on the arm of the armchair he was occupying, 'It is just a first try for a pilot. If we don't like it, it won't be produced'.
'I feel very nervous by the responsibility', Val said, from her place on the floor, where she sat with Gracie and Brighton, 'What happens if we don't get it? First episodes can be confusing!'
'A good show is great since the first episode', Yetta proclaimed, from the big sofa. She was sitting between Sylvia and CC, and turned to the producer, at her right, to pat her arm, 'Do you remember how great they made the first episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show?'
'She remembers as if it was aired yesterday', Niles answered while approaching with more enormous bowls of popcorn. Maggie, who was helping him, was directed to take one bowl with her to the people on the floor, and give other to Sylvia. Then he gave his two others to Sylvia (who smiled at him gracefully in return, and soon grimaced, worried by the small quantity of food). 'Weren't you together for the occasion, Yetta?', he asked gently, stopping by the side of the big sofa, close to his wife.
CC looked up at him, smirking. She was amused that, even if he knew Yetta was dangerous waters, he couldn't help it. She decided to answer him, 'No, Neil, you're confused. It was you and Yetta's anniversary, the other day, and you watched a rerun'.
'It must be you who is confused', he grinned back, 'I would never forget if I had such a charming lady by my side. It is so rare to find one nowadays!'
'Hey!', this time, Fran, Val and Sylvia protested at the same time, what made Gracie and Maggie laugh.
CC couldn't help the thrill of having an audience, 'Oh, I'm sure you had a great time with this charming lady of yours, specially after so much time without a soul who wanted to have fun with you'.
'I had fun with Neil?', Yetta was surprised and delighted, U-hu!', she cheered.
'What a pity you can't remember', Sylvia commented.
'Eventually it will come to me', the older woman assured her daughter.
'Maybe we should start', Maxwell suggested, 'We will have a lot of fun. Family fun'.
'Oh, I don't know!', CC pretended to be worried, 'Are you sure you can take so much fun, Neil? When was last time you had so much in the same night?'
'Surely not in the last coven you invited me'.
'You were not a guest, but a victim. It was natural we witches had all the fun to ourselves'.
'Having all the fun for themselves when there is a hunk around? I can't get it', Yetta shook her head.
CC turned to her, 'He can be very hard to get, Yetta', CC looked at Niles and, not satisfied by the innuendo, made her voice lower, 'as most wild animals'.
Niles tried to disguise the shudder that took him at the sound of the word animals coming from her lips in such a low tone, and didn't quite succeed. It brought too many memories.
'That is why a woman must know how to use her body language', Yetta said and seated with her legs slightly turned to her left, in what she believed was a very provocative pose, and baited her eyelashes at the butler.
'Ahn, people…', Maxwell tried again.
Fran was finding it all amusing, but she knew the man was growing restless, 'All right, Yetta, knock it off. You had a fight, he won't get close to you now. Let's watch the movie'.
'But movies are great to fix this kind of situation', Yetta answered Fran. 'I've had my time in drive-ins. It is very dark and you can easily…'
'Nobody is doubting, Ma', Sylvia cut her off.
CC turned to the grandma, 'Don't worry, I'll help you', she motioned to Niles, 'Come on, Neil, sit here with your girlfriend. It's time for you to stop this nonsense'.
She got up and pointed her previous place to Niles. He looked at Sylvia, already distracted again, eating (her eyes lost in hungered pleasure), and Yetta (smiling at him while striking that strange pose), and was sure it was not a good idea, 'I… thank you, but I have to serve people. It is better if I stay here…'
'Absolutely, Old man!', Maxwell, always the worst timing around, decided to be considerate, 'Have a seat. I want you to watch it and give your opinion, too'.
CC couldn't hide her joy at this, and chuckled.
The three siblings and Fran suppressed their laughter and the millionaire smiled, happy to have made something to bring grins to the faces of his family.
He didn't know why his butler had made such an annoyed face, but he could discover the reason at another occasion. The important thing was that people were happy and the disturbing chatting would probably stop.
Niles sighed, went to sit at the end of the sofa and immediately looked at the older woman – she had quickly settled a hand on his thigh.
He smiled at the small hand and interrogative eyes. She was always so flippant and funny that people often forgot how much of a fragile thing she really was. He put a hand lightly over hers, 'We're ok, Yetta. She', he pointed CC with his head, 'does not know, but we have already made up'.
That made the grandma smile sweetly, 'Good!', she leaned in conspiratorially, 'And I intend making up again as soon as you're ready'.
She winked at him and looked up at CC with a touch of… smugness?
Niles followed her glance, realized what was happening and flashed a grin to Yetta, 'I'll let you know, Sugar'.
CC rolled her eyes in annoyance.
Everybody laughed, and she shook her head.
She was not annoyed with Yetta, nor with Niles.
She was annoyed by what his behavior did to her, CC.
Why did his attitude make her all warm? Why was it that, when his care was not directed to her, she felt like it was all right all the same? Shouldn't she feel excluded or cheated in some way by his joke with the senile woman?
Then CC realized that Yetta, being just a crazy old woman, could always count on Niles to be careful with her.
What did it mean?
That Niles likes older women?, a voice inside her head supplied, mocking her. She had to keep that in mind for a future zinger.
Back to the point at hand: it meant he had a big heart, and took care of everyone, specially the ones that needed most.
If he acted like this around other people, the things he would be able to do for her, his beloved and crazed wife were…
…almost frightening.
Niles had taken care of Maxwell and all of his family, then he had adopted the Fines, and to top it all he had her, CC, all of this time to keep an eye on.
Her old self could act as a crazy smoking old lady, sometimes, as he had pointed out at her numerous times. She had given him a lot of work, since forever.
And yet, he didn't hesitate about being with her when this California thing appeared in their lives. Niles really wanted to be with her forever, no matter what.
CC got agitated and made a shooing gesture, 'Oh, all right, scoot over, Yetta. Open your legs, Butler Boy, so I can have a seat'.
Yetta took off her hand from his thigh and pointed a finger at CC, 'I knew you had a thing going on with the male maid!'
'Yes, I have', CC adjusted herself on the sofa, between the legs of a shocked Niles.
'Can we?', Maxwell asked, noticing the display would take hours if no one acted.
'I'll turn off the lights!', Fran announced, agreeing to interrupting the show.
CC's voice was heard as soon as the lights were off and just the TV screen was lighting the room, 'And don't you dare messing with him. I can see in the dark'.
Yetta's voice answered quickly, 'Killjoy shiksa!'
'Oh, God…', Niles groaned, resting his forehead on CC's shoulder, and sneaking his arms around her waist.
'Meanwhile, I just hope he is not going to moan when we're watching the thing', Sylvia pointed loudly, from the other end of the sofa, 'It reminds me of Morty and how he makes strange noises while watching TV'.
'I'm sure Neil's moans are not gas…', Yetta answered.
'I'll hit play!', Maxwell warned, the control of the VCR in his hand directed at the machine.
The recording started, and everybody turned to the TV excitedly.
They had agreed in letting the comments to be made after they watched everything, so they had just some laughs and quick murmurs at the first minutes.
When the animated opening song started to sound, CC put her right arm to the side and slowly made her hand sneak on Niles.
She leaned on him to hide her maneuver and felt him tense, startled.
'Relax', she turned her head enough to kiss him quickly on the lips.
Niles understood it was a greeting and not an agreement, kissed her back and murmured, 'Don't you want me to pay attention to the video?'
'I'll keep a copy. We can watch it later'.
'There they go with the murmuring', Fran commented.
'All right, Nanny Fine, we're over', CC answered and turned to the TV again, as if to watch the opening.
Her hand was the only part of her body moving.
Niles tried to keep just one part of his body reacting, but found it increasingly difficult. This thing about going away from New York was messing with his feelings: he felt closer to this woman in new emotional levels, once there was the possibility of making a major change in their life, again, and the fact none of them could think of not doing it together.
It was not the wedding he had dreamed of, but was surely something that gave him a sense of forever to their relationship.
At some point he decided he had to speak to her and explain his lack of control. He liked the thrill of being caught, but some situations were too edgy for him.
He cleared his voice and brought his mouth to her ear, 'You should stop it. I can't give you what you want here'.
CC closed her eyes at his whispering in her ear. She was finding it difficult not to moan at the feeling of him. 'But I like the teasing…'
'Me too', he sighed and she had to grab his thigh with her free hand to control some of the shivering, 'But lately it has been too much…'
The opening was almost over, and she had just a few seconds to make a decision. She turned her head to look him in the eyes, 'Let's test our limit'.
'Shush!', Fran glared at them. She hated when they did things she couldn't understand.
Niles looked at the Nanny, 'All right', and he leaned back on the sofa, bringing CC to him, as if to accommodate her better.
The scenes with dialogues were back in the screen, and everybody went silent.
Even with a small space to move, CC maintained her hands on Niles and could feel how aroused he was by the way he clenched his hands in front of her, and how his breathing was ragged against her back. Not mentioning the obvious arousal in her right hand.
CC couldn't resist his closeness and turned her head slightly, and Niles brought his chin to her shoulder, so he could nibble at her ear.
At the twenty-five minutes' mark (the pilot had thirty), CC suddenly said, her voice strained, 'A show based on the life of such a type of woman can't be a success on TV…'
And the comments never stopped again.
She just took part in it in the beginning. Her interest was to create a diversion, so she could wriggle her body against Niles' and feel him squirm.
He was too damn more controlled than she had expected, and it was arousing and infuriating her.
Of course, he had reacted to her ministrations, but she wanted him at the edge of being discovered, and that was very far from what was happening now.
In fact, she was the one that seemed very close to being in the open.
With people distracted, she planned to use not just her right hand, but to move in a way that made him…
She almost jumped in surprise when he moved the hands that were firmly settled at her waist. They went up until they grazed her breasts lightly.
It was a menace. And, sometimes, she knew when to capitulate.
CC took her hand from him and put it chastely on her lap.
He lowered his hands, moved to peck her neck and murmur a passing 'Thank you' and both watched the rest of the video while trying to not notice how all warmed they still were, even after agreeing on not pursuing the idea.
Both felt warm because they had behaved. The notion of almost loosing control to the point where they had to stop was almost as stimulating as the danger itself.
When the show ended, Fran turned the lights on again and CC sat straight, adjusting her clothes and giving Niles space to put his hands over his lap, before she stood up.
She started organizing a debate about the pilot, asking questions, hearing the answers and taking notes.
Niles helped as much as he could, trying to disguise his difficulty to focus – not just the previous experience was still disturbing him, but CC had adopted a very professional stance, what always made him weak.
While he was taking a discrete deep breath in order to calm down a bit, he was startled by Yetta's shoulder nudging his, 'She is a minx, isn't she?'
He had the deer in the headlights look, because the old woman winked at him and turned to the big group to join the discussion again, as if she had seen everything and was all right with it.
Happily for the butler, Sylvia handed him three enormous empty bowls of popcorn that needed to be taken to the kitchen, giving him an excuse to leave for some moments and the necessary shield to do so without scandal.
ncncncncncnc
That night they had dinner at the Sheffields, after discussing the pilot in length with the family. Everybody made interesting comments, and Maxwell and CC started dealing with their first concerns related to the wider assistance that TV projects intended to reach.
They tried to go to the office to write down some ideas, but Fran insisted they took Sylvia and Yetta home before settling for work. Maxwell agreed when it was clear how late Sylvia already thought it was, and how appropriated staying the night she already thought it was.
Everybody called it a night. The children, Fran and Maxwell went in the ride to Queens with them (they were already such a family!), and Niles managed not to drive them, what gave him the freedom to go home a bit earlier with his wife.
They took the town car and chatted about the pilot all the way. The parts Niles and CC were able to watch, obviously.
Once they reached the door, both were already feeling all hot just by thinking of what they had almost done. Their comments made them remember what they were doing while watching the tape, and both were very aware of the arousing the other was feeling.
Niles observed while CC opened the penthouse still smiling by his last comment. He quietly suggested, 'I would like to do that again'.
She opened the door and entered, 'Do what? Watch the video?'
'I would like to do all of that again', she heard the door clicking closed and his body against her back, 'The video and the position', his hands came to her shoulders, 'No clothes and no audience'.
She closed her eyes and trembled. She needed some time to cool off, or she wouldn't last, 'Shouldn't we shower and change, before? After all, it was a long day…'
'Maybe you were not paying attention', his mouth came to her ear and he murmured, 'I said no clothes'.
'How daring', she giggled, trying to gain time, 'Next thing I know you will be asking me to cluck like a chicken'.
Of course, he couldn't resist it; so, he whispered, 'It turns me on'.
'Damn', she clenched her fists, suddenly very wet. She licked her lips and turned her head slightly, 'I won't say that'.
'If you do, we won't reach the sofa', he agreed.
She sighed, agreeing, and started walking to the VCR, while taking the tape from her purse.
CC turned the VCR and the TV on, inserted the tape and turned to Niles.
He had already taken his coat and tie off, and had started to unbutton his shirt.
The socialite had her mouth dry while starting to open her own shirt. The look on his face made her wish they were already nude.
He kept looking at her and making the process really slow.
Then she noticed the symbolism: it was the same way they did it at the first time without a condom.
The notion of a new beginning was clear – in that tape was a project that could change everything, as their first time without anything between them had been a change in the way they felt not just about each other, but each other.
Once they had finished unclothing, he went to the sofa and installed himself.
She went to stand in front of him and smirked, 'We won't be able to recreate the original event'.
He looked down at himself, 'I'm sorry, but I am really not able to wait for your hand, now'.
'I can see it', she answered, turning her back to him and sitting down between his legs. 'I wonder what we will do, once the initial intention is not going to happen'.
'What do you think was the initial intention?', he asked, his lips travelling by her shoulders while he talked, ticking her skin with his breath.
'W-Watching the video…?', she closed her eyes again and felt boneless. He had his hands on her hips, his lips on her neck and his length against the small of her back.
'…while teasing?', he sounded slightly surprised, and he nibbled her ear, 'No…', he kissed her below the ear, 'I just wanted to taste you in this position'.
His hands sneaked around her waist and joined in her front, and he pressed himself against her back, mimicking the exact position they had been earlier.
'Like this?', she whispered once she felt he had settled – his head resting against her shoulder.
'Exactly like this'.
CC sighed, feeling her thundering heart. 'Are we enjoying the moment or waiting for me to do something?'
'Can we have both?'
'Yes'.
'Then, let's enjoy it until you decide to move things further'.
CC stayed like that for a while, feeling him against her, still, hearing his breathing and basking in the feeling of his hot chest against her back and his arms around her waist.
She loved the feeling of him. Specially in these occasions when she could not decide if she wanted to make the moment last or just ravish him right there. The torment was absolutely delicious.
Then, suddenly, she remembered the remote control and she opened her eyes.
It was in the table in front of her, and she said, very low, 'I think we forgot the video'.
Niles opened his eyes too, and started to answer, 'We don't have to… Oh, God', he had to stop, because she reclined her body to take the remote and pressed her rear against him while doing so.
Niles' hands went to caress her back, and she decided she liked the idea of exposing her back to him like this.
He realized her offer and his breathing accelerated: he moved his hands to her shoulders and adjusted his hips to increase the contact.
CC felt very ready, let go of the control and got up enough to use her hands to close Niles' legs and sit on his lap.
He was not inside her yet, but the level of eroticism had rocketed and both knew they would not be able to wait for much time.
She knew she had him too, because he rested his forehead on her back and breathed deeply to try to calm down.
'Is it too much for you?', she teased, moving her hips.
'I'm yours', he murmured, 'Tell me what you want me to do'.
She laughed at that, 'You're referring the chicken episode, again?'
He chuckled, 'If you ask me, I'll do it'.
'You would do anything for me, wouldn't you?'
'Yes. Everything'.
She felt like she had never been so powerful in her life. It was not just about being talented and competent – it was about making him desire her forever. 'I want you inside me'.
She said and moved to accomplish the task, noticing how he whimpered and brought a hand to the base of his cock to calm down a bit.
This man really desired her, after more than a year together, and the thought of it made her want and cherish him even more than she already did in a daily basis.
They were not able to watch that tape together, after all. They really tried, but some things simply won't happen.
Ncncncncncnc
Fran entered the mansion running, 'Niles, you must hear this!'
'What happened? The manicure did your nails wrong?', he was not at his best mood. Maxwell was all nervous about his business meeting in Los Angeles, CC was going with him and was starting to get annoyed by her partner's anxious behavior.
And Niles was the one to pay for everyone's crazy moods. Including Fran's, that now was Maxwell's fiancée and had her family even more present in the mansion than before.
Fran looked at her nails before answering, 'No, they are nice', she snapped her head at him, 'But I talked to a psychic, and she said Maxwell would be in bed, in Beverly Hills, with a leggy blonde!'
Niles looked at her as if she had gone crazy, 'What are you talking about? He would never do it, now that you are together'.
'How can I be sure?! What if he meets a big blonde star and she decides to seduce the newest big producer loose in town?'
'Oh, stop it. The big blonde star you are imagining won't meet a man loose in town. He will be all the time with…'
And both looked at each other, 'Miss Babcock!'
ncncncncncnc
After Maxwell and CC went to their trip, Niles and Fran called Chinese take-out and seated at the kitchen table to eat. The children were out, the house felt empty and they had the most pessimistic ideas going through their minds.
'I can't believe Max would do this to me…', Fran sighed.
'And I can't believe either of the two would make this to me', he forlornly answered. 'Specially her. Why would she let me for him?'
'Oh, please. He is rich, tall, dark and adorable'.
'Exactly. I've already proved to her, over and over again, that he is not her type'.
'You don't seem very confident on your power over her', Fran threw him a doubtful look, 'Do you think she is still pining for him?'
'She can't be. We are perfect for each other, and she knows that. The same way he knows you are perfect for him'.
Fran patted his hand, smiling, 'Yes, they should know… But I insist – he is quite a hunk…'
'He would never do for her the things I do', Niles looked scornfully at her, 'And I'm not referring to bringing her tea and other domestic tasks that would already be a big deal in my favor. I'm talking about every desire she had ever mentioned, in any circumstances'.
'Oy, enough with the mental images', Fran pleaded, 'Anyway, I can't understand why he would leave me for her'.
'I don't know', he answered in a very nasal voice, mocking her.
'Enough, Niles. We must think together. What will we do?'
'Maybe we should not worry about it. I mean, your psychic must be wrong', he got up and walked to the stove, 'We are just overreacting because you kept insisting in a commitment he was not ready to make, and I…'
'…have tried to talk her into a commitment she was not ready to make?', Fran got up and went to him.
He stopped, 'Oh, my God. They are leaving us!'
'We must go there, Niles!'
'Yes! We will show them who they belong to!'
'All right! Buy our tickets and inform the children!'
'Hey! What will you do?'
'I'll choose something smashing to wear'.
'Don't you think I have the same task to accomplish?'
ncncncncncnc
And that was why Niles and Fran traveled from New York to Beverly Hills, entered the hotel and had to show people Niles' marriage documents to reach their partner's rooms and make a surprise.
There were some misunderstandings about that (like Fran finding Niles and Maxwell in bed, once she finished talking to CC, who had exchanged rooms with her business partner because she preferred the one that didn't have a balcony), but the butler finally managed to get out of the wrong room and was received at the right door by a smirking CC.
'Really, Bell Boy? A psychic told you a leggy blonde would be in bed with Maxwell and you believed it?'
He stopped after entering, 'She was right, after all'.
'How is it?', she closed the door and kept looking at his backside approvingly.
'It was me', he turned, smiling.
'Seriously?', she started laughing when she realized what must have happened, 'Oh, my God! That's an absurd!'
'Why? Don't you think I'm leggy?'
'You're lucky you are', she answered, coming to hug him, 'So I can delight in your presence here'.
They started kissing, and he murmured, 'I missed you'.
'Me too, but you think you should have flown all this way to get to me?'
'Fate had me crossing an ocean so we could meet', he answered seriously, looking into her eyes, 'The least I could do was cross a country when I'm afraid of loosing you'.
She smiled, 'You have no idea what you do to me, do you?'
'Sometimes I am not so sure'.
She claimed his lips and showed him some of her feelings on the subject.
When they parted, he took her hand and kissed it, and she realized his gentleness got to her as much as his body, 'Thinking like that… It is the most beautiful thing any man has ever done for me'.
'Are you happy, then?'
She just nodded and claimed his lips again, this time forcefully, as she knew would throw him out of balance.
When she let them part, he looked like she had given him a shock, 'Wow'.
'Isn't it?!', she giggled.
'Yes, Love, it is', he answered and kissed her again, walking towards the bed and forcing her to walk backwards.
They reached it and CC let herself fall down, 'Come here', she called him dramatically, 'Show me how much you missed me'.
'Be careful with what you ask for', he warned her, kneeling between her legs and taking off his v-neck t-shirt.
'I can take whatever you have to give me', she answered, opening his trousers.
'I wouldn't be so sure', he took off his trousers and briefs, 'You have no idea how much I want you right now'.
'Maybe I want you more', she licked her lips.
He lowered his naked body enough to reach for her pajamas, 'We'll soon discover who wanted the other more', he pulled it from her head and threw the thing aside, stopping to look at her naked breasts and then lowering his eyes. 'Don't tell me you are wearing nothing…'
'I had plans for later', she answered. 'I intended to call you in a most unbecoming hour'.
'It would never be unbecoming', he started pulling her pajama pants slowly. 'I'm at your service any time'.
'I can see it'.
Now that they were both nude, he waited for her to move to the middle of the bed and laid down on her. Both sighed at the feeling of skin on skin.
A new round of kisses let her all ready for him, and she crossed her ankles behind his back, 'No games, tonight, right?'
He was travelling kisses by her neck, and started lowering until he could reach her breasts with his lips, 'Just a bit'.
She trembled all over, 'Now I'm not so sure I can take it'.
'You are not used to surrender so quickly', his trail reached her stomach, and she put her feet on the bed again.
'I'm not used to be surprised by a jealous husband that traveled across the country to make sure I'm his'.
Niles stopped and looked up at her, his eyes dark with passion, 'I came to make sure you know you're mine as much as I'm yours'.
That made CC feel something strong. Something related to the feeling of belonging that kept growing stronger inside her.
She needed time to analyze the situation, so, she let her head rest on the bed and closed her eyes. 'Let's make sure', she challenged, enchanted by his closeness to her core.
Niles groaned at the challenge and started licking her.
He was normally very good at it, but CC was sure he had never felt so good as he did in that hotel room. He took her to the edge slowly, tongue and fingers doing an amazing job, and when she thought it was too much, he would bring her back a bit just to put her again at the edge.
Certain nights were about multiple satisfaction, and she surely enjoyed those, but other nights, as this one, were about the building of the sensation, and their intimacy – how much they knew each other, to the point where they could sense what to do and when to stop.
And even when it went wrong (yes, there were occasions when they had to give up certain ideas), they would just laugh it off and proceed with another option. Simple like that.
She could barely believe how her night had turned into this. A couple of hours ago she was preparing to spend her night alone. She had even gone to bed naked under the pajamas and asked the hotel to call her some hours later, so she could call Niles.
Now she was totally relaxed, resting on her back, her legs parted and her body tingling all over from the sensations this man could arise on her.
CC opened her eyes and lifted her head to look at him – her man.
His muscled shoulders were on her thighs, his sandy hair was moving between her legs, and his butt was ascending and descending with his own arousal, synchronized with his tongue in her.
It was all too much, and she started to beg for him in very clear terms.
Niles sensed her urgency, stopped what he was doing and came up quickly. He entered her and started thrusting roughly.
Both needed exactly that.
CC opened her legs even more, feeling the thrill of being with him like this.
He obviously felt it, too, because she didn't remember him being so vocal as tonight.
She delighted at the Miss Babcock's and CC's that came from his mouth, and grabbed him harder when he mixed them with Love, Baby, Love you so and Need you now.
CC couldn't control herself, and next thing she knew she was very vocal, too. Her repertoire included, besides the already expected Niles and Bell Boy, some almost non-recognizable mumbled classics as Give it to me, Harder and Take me.
She thought her body would be ripped apart. She loved the feeling of him slamming into her. This kind of raw sex was one of her favorites, and she knew it was like a magic ritual – it needed the perfect circumstances to happen.
Tonight, with the day they had spent apart, the unexpected meeting and Niles declaring his decision to follow her anywhere made the night special and the conditions, perfect.
It was magical.
Her mind started loosing focus, and the notion of belonging was the only thing that made any sense.
He kissed her roughly, and she could feel how close he was to coming by the intensity of his groans, that had grown unarticulated.
When she sensed she had reached the point of no return, she grabbed his hair and pulled him to her, so she would be able to muffle her cry of pleasure in the side of his neck. She was sure she would wake all the hotel, if her cry reflected the greatness of the feeling.
Once her lips touched his skin, she couldn't control herself – she had to lick it, and then suck it and bit him until she marked him. Her ankles crossed behind his hips to bring him to the deepest and maintain him locked there, and her nails found her way into his back.
Her grip on him and the pain/pleasure sensation sent him over the edge violently, and she went with him, her teeth and nails making his body shudder.
Both needed some time to calm down at least a bit. CC kissed his neck softly, where she was sure would be a big hickey very soon.
When Niles could talk, he put a hand on his neck, grimacing, 'Wow… Am I turning into a vampire, now?'
She breathed deeply and smiled at him, 'I wouldn't give you immortality. I was just feeding'.
He kissed her, chuckling, and let himself collapse on his back. 'That's what I thought'.
She turned to him, putting her leg over his thighs and her head on his chest, to listen to his heart and not loose the contact, yet. She was feeling very fond of him.
'Do you think I can have a professional to plan it?'
Niles frowned, 'I beg your pardon?'
'I asked if I can at least have a professional to plan the wedding, not your best friend?'
Silence. His heartbeat quickened considerably. 'You mean not Miss Fine?'
'Who else?'
'Of course you can. It is meant to be special for us. We should have it the way we choose, and I'm sure Miss Fine has good intentions, but not the style we would want'.
'England or America?'
Niles paused and licked his lips. He was getting confused, 'I always thought England would be easier for my parents, but they would enjoy a trip to the United States, too'.
'But what would you prefer?', she insisted.
'Well… We have a beautiful chapel next to the lands, and we would have the advantage of being far from the Broadway journalists, if you wanted them out of it'. He grimaced at how many details he had already covered in his musings.
'I like the idea of a chapel in the countryside. We could call your parents to set a date and make the reservations, then invite my parents to a dinner and make an announcement. My mother will probably find it very classy, and Daddy will surely love the idea. He is as romantic as you'.
Niles blinked some times, Will?, 'Listen, Babs… why are we talking about that?'
'I don't see why I shouldn't say yes to your proposition, anymore'.
'R-Really?'
'Yes'.
Silence. And his heart beating like mad under her ear.
'I just feel like we belong together, and it will be great to celebrate it as you have dreamed of'. CC smiled, 'We have been really happy'.
Silence, again. And the mad beating.
'Hey, Butler Boy! I said yes! Aren't you reacting?'
'I-I-I… am too shocked… I always thought you would say no, and that I would have to ask you again and again until you changed your mind…'
'What an idea…', she took his hand without lifting her head, 'Why would I say no to you? And if I said, why would you ask me again? And if you insisted, why wouldn't I agree, in the end?'
'Maybe you would think we were not ready… and maybe I would never give up on you… or you would never give up on me… I don't know…'
She smiled when he fell silent again, 'I have no doubts about us, and last weeks made me realize how proud of us I am', she moved to look at him, 'I want everybody to know we are together and… Niles!'
She stopped talking because he had tears pooling in his eyes. She adjusted her body over his and pushed the comforter oven them, 'Shush, baby. Are these happy tears, at least?'
He just nodded, unable to speak, mesmerized by her eyes.
'I'm glad I finally did the right thing, then'.
