Fic One requested by keylimecliche. "I didn't pay my bill so my water is shut off, can I please shower in your flat?" Janther AU.
Just a heads up, there's nothing explicit in this chapter but some things are slightly more than implied.
Jane was in her pyjamas, text books spread all over the table and a bowl of ice cream in her hand when she heard the knock on her door.
Looking through the peep hole she muttered under her breath when she saw her boss, before turning the lock.
"Hi?" she said, with what she hoped was an obvious blend of polite irritation.
Gunther Breech leaned against her door frame, arms folded across his chest in what he clearly thought was a cool and casual pose. A lock of black hair flopped over one eye, spoiling the effect.
"Hey," he said, brushing it aside.
" . . . hi," repeated Jane. "Was there something you needed?"
Gunther glanced over her shoulder and into the tiny living area of her flat, at the table covered in books and the bowl of melting ice cream.
"Sorry to interrupt your hectic evening," he said, his gaze returning to Jane and taking in her sleep shorts and oversized t-shirt. With dragons on it.
One of his eyebrows arched, and Jane wondered if he even realised it was doing that. He gave her the same look a lot at work.
"I'm studying," she said bluntly. "So if this isn't important maybe we could discuss it tomorrow?"
"Actually, I need a favour," he admitted, suddenly a little uncomfortable. "I, uh, didn't pay my bill and my water got shut off. Can I use your shower?"
Jane blinked in surprise. "What? How does Gunther Breech fail to pay a bill?"
"I don't know," Gunther said through gritted teeth. "I guess I just forgot."
Jane couldn't help the smirk that spread across her face. Gunther Breech was admitting to making a mistake? And asking her for a favour? Oh, she could have fun with this.
"Look, can I use your shower or not?" Gunther asked impatiently.
"Hmm," Jane tapped her chin, making a show of thinking it over. "I mean, is this really appropriate? Why didn't you ask one of the guys?"
"Drake is at Pepper's and Smithy is visiting his family. And we both know I'd rather never take a shower again than ask Jesse for help," he glowered at her. "Yes or no, Turnkey?"
"Oh, gee, I dunno," Jane turned and strolled back into her living room. "I'd hate to be accused of being improper with my boss, you know?" She grinned over her shoulder at the man standing in her doorway.
Gunther sighed in defeat. "Fine. You wanted Saturday the 25th off, right?"
Yessss. Jane resisted the urge to punch the air.
"Are you bribing me?" she asked in mock horror. "I expected better of you, boss."
"Yes, yes I am. Now are you going to let me use your shower?" Another strand of hair fell over his eyes and he pushed it aside impatiently.
It did look like it could use a wash.
"Fine," she relented. "Come in."
He stepped into the flat, his broad shouldered frame making the space seem even smaller.
"Nice place," he said unconvincingly. "Very you."
Jane glanced at the posters of medieval knights and dragons that adorned her walls and grinned unrepentantly. "Thanks. The bathroom's through there. You'll find towels in the cupboard."
She watched in amusement as he walked towards the bathroom, shuffling sideways between the sofa and table towards the door.
Her place really was too small for him.
"Where's the door?"
Jane was broken from her reverie by the question.
"Oh, come on. You know what I earn, you think I can afford a place with internal doors?" she teased.
Gunther looked at her incredulously. "You're kidding," he said in a tone that suggested he wasn't sure, but he certainly hoped so.
"Nope, the last tenants took it with them and replacing it is on my landlord's to do list." Jane shrugged. "It's not really a hassle for me though. I just use the curtain."
She pointed, and Gunther looked at the flimsy shower curtain pushed to the side and held in place at the top of the frame by several thumb tacks.
"You're kidding," he said again.
"Take it or leave it," Jane shrugged. "I promise not to peek!"
She chuckled to herself as she heard Gunther mutter unintelligibly, and returned to her books and ice cream.
The curtain brushed against the bathroom floor as it was moved into place, and the shower started running shortly after.
She definitely had no intention of looking, of course. That would be wrong.
Just a quick glance to make sure the curtain was in place, to spare them both any embarrassment.
It was.
Well, good then.
She stirred the melted ice cream and drummed her fingers on the page of her book.
The sound of the water changed as he stepped into the shower and it began to splash off and over him.
She read the same sentence three times.
"Dammit," she muttered, pushing her chair back and carrying her bowl to the sink, spoon clattering against ceramic as she dumped it on top of her other dishes.
She could wash them, but giving her boss a cold shower might affect her newly won Saturday off.
There really wasn't anywhere to sit that didn't have the bathroom curtain square in her field of vision, so Jane slouched down onto the sofa, grabbing her phone and staring blankly at the screen.
Water splashed erratically- perhaps he was rinsing his hair- and then the pipes shuddered as the taps were turned off.
Jane dropped her phone onto her chest and stared at the striped plastic curtain. She couldn't see anything anyway, so what was the harm?
Bare feet slapped against the tiled floor and the cupboard was opened and closed as Gunther removed a towel.
The curtain billowed slightly as the towelling off process began.
Jane sighed.
"Your bathroom is minuscule," called Gunther.
"Yeah," she agreed absent-mindedly as striped plastic breathed in and out.
"How do you even live in this shoe box?"
"Yeah," sighed Jane.
"Pardon?"
The curtain stilled.
"Um, yes, what? It is small!" Jane scrambled to her feet, dropping her phone. "Shit!"
"Are you okay?" Gunther stuck his head out from behind the curtain, the plastic pulling taught against his shoulder. That damn lock of hair, now slick and wet, hovered in front of his eye, a single drop of water trembling at its tip.
Gunther looked down at Jane as she crouched on the floor, picking up her phone, just as the drip let go, splashing onto his lower lip.
"Yes?" she said, eyes following the moisture as his tongue darted out to swipe it away, before licking her own lips.
"Really?" he asked with that damn, damn smirk.
"Yes!" She jumped to her feet. "I'm fine. Thank you!"
"Okay then," said Gunther, still smirking.
He moved back behind the curtain, tugging it back into place when the belaboured tacks rebelled.
Jane had barely registered the sound of them hitting the floor when the plastic sheet fluttered gracefully downwards, revealing Gunther with a towel knotted around his waist and a look of disbelief on his face.
"What the-"
"Shit," said Jane again. "Shit, sorry! Mind the tacks!" She hurried over, unthinking, and began searching for the tacks, picking them up as she found them. "Just- don't move, okay?"
"Jane."
"I've nearly got them all, just hold on."
"Jane."
"Just don't step on any, okay?"
"For God's sake, Jane!"
Jane looked up then, past the bare legs, the grey towel, the -guh- toned stomach and bare chest, to Gunther's face.
"It's fine," he said, although the tight line of his mouth suggested otherwise.
"Right, off course! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" Jane jumped to her feet. "I'll just, um, fix this . . ."
She grabbed the curtain and looked up at the top of the door frame, then down at the tacks in her hand.
"I used a ladder before . . . " she trailed off uncertainly.
"Jane, it's fine," Gunther said, and Jane looked up to see his controlled facial expression crumble to reveal . . . an amused smile?
He took her hand and gently upturned it over his, dropping the tacks onto his palm. "I can get this."
Taking the curtain and holding it by one corner he reached upwards to fasten it against the door frame with one of the tacks.
His torso stretched out, further defining the V of his lower abdomen, and the towel slipped down incrementally.
"Jesus," breathed Jane . . . out loud.
"Oh, shit," . . . also out loud.
Gunther glanced down at her once more, his eyebrow curving upwards incredulously.
"I should go. Do the dishes." Jane felt the heat rising in her cheeks. "And drown myself in the sink," she muttered, trying squeeze past him with her eyes closed.
"Jane, wait." Gunther lowered an arm to stop her. "It's fine, really," he said, the same amused tone in his voice. "In fact," he added, reaching behind her to drop the handful of tacks into the sink. "I honestly don't mind."
Jane squinted up at him in disbelief, noting the nearness of that divine chest before taking in the look of good-humoured affection on his face.
"Really?" She asked stupidly, as though his proximity and the fact that he was holding her in place wasn't telling enough.
"Really," he confirmed, using his free hand to push the damp hair off his forehead, only to have it fall back into place.
That was Jane's undoing. She grabbed the back of his neck and pulled his lips down to hers, her tongue hungrily tasting where his had been earlier.
He responded with enthusiasm, to Jane's relief, his other arm snaking behind her and pulling her body against his, before turning her slightly and pressing her against the door frame.
She sighed happily as her hands explored his chest, finding his nipples and teasing them gently, and his groan rumbled against her fingers.
It was Jane's turn to smirk, although when Gunther felt her lips stretching under his he turned the tables, moving his kisses down her jaw and to her neck, lathing his tongue against the delicate skin.
"G-Gunther," she gasped, annoyed by the breathy way her voice sounded.
"Mmm?"
Jane didn't know how he could make such a simple noise sound so smug.
She could feel him, hot and hard and pressing against her through the towel, and a responding ache grew in her.
"Bedroom," she panted in his ear. "Now."
Gunther gathered her up and, for once, obeyed without argument.
Ooooo
Early morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, waking Jane. The heavy arm draped over her waist tightened reflexively as she stirred, and she smiled, reaching for the little book on her night stand.
She was flicking through the pages when Gunther snatched it from her grasp.
"My turn to choose," he reminded her sleepily. "I was thinking the lingerie sales person one sounds fun," he murmured into her hair.
"I'm sure it does," Jane rolled her eyes, grabbing the book back and placing it on the table. Of all the engagement gifts they had received, the little book from Pepper had definitely been the most fun. "I thought last night was pretty good."
"As if I would ever forget to pay my bills," he grumbled, but his satisfied tone suggested he didn't disagree with Jane's assessment.
"That's the fun of pretending," Jane reminded him, kissing his temple. "But I have to go wedding dress shopping today and if you don't get moving you'll be late for work."
Gunther groaned wearily but rolled over and got out of bed. Jane admired his backside as he walked from the room into the bathroom, closing the bathroom door.
And then she smirked.