Now

Niles awoke early the next morning; the chink of moonlight that had so illustriously illuminated CC was now a tentative pale streak of dawn. He hadn't moved since he had fallen asleep, which he knew because his head was still sunk into the pillow that had a slight teasing aroma of CC's perfume still lingering upon it. This was earlier than he usually woke up, but he felt well rested. He reached over to turn off his alarm clock, and the motion fluidly turned into a stretch.

Thoughts of CC swirled his brain, but he'd become so accustomed to it that it barely bothered him, like a ringing in one's ear that becomes barely noticeable after a while. The shock of their rendezvous could no longer be labeled shock; once his initial surprise at his spontaneous actions in the living room so many years ago had worn off, Niles had adjusted easily to the idea of their sporadic couplings.

What had surprised him, perhaps, was how quickly he became accustomed to all facets of her. He had become addicted to the sounds she made, softly and then with increasing volume; he had begun to crave the feel of her soft skin; the little smile she gave when she realized what his intentions were, or when she sometimes initiated contact, had aroused him more thoroughly than anything ever had.

Yet there were times, often in the awkward moment when they each realized that one was about to leave, that Niles wondered whether it had been wise to enter the sex-only relationship with the woman for whom his feelings were decidedly more than just sex. The simplicity of it seemed to suit CC but Niles found himself filled with something like regret whenever CC left, when he would have preferred her to stay.

In the beginning, it had suited him as well. When he'd first met her, he knew that class lines were too ingrained in her; she would never see him as more than the help. The emergence of their sexual relationship was perfect to eradicate the tension between them and seemed the simplest answer to what two people should be expected to do with their fierce attraction when the rest of the circumstances of their lives were too complicated to navigate.

But the continuation of their affair, if you could call it that, even when one of them met someone else, even when he resented her and she disgusted him, seemed to complicate as the years went on. Clearly, class lines weren't of such importance to CC that it stopped her from sleeping with someone several rungs below her on society's ladder. If she had feelings for him, as Niles sometimes suspected she did…

The butler sighed. It was this, precisely this, that caused him to experience twinges of regret about how this all had started. Maybe it had been a mistake, after all, and maybe their sexual relationship was too big of an obstacle if ever they wanted to begin a real relationship. How could two people even attempt to bridge that sort of gap? But if it had been a mistake, it was one that Niles participated in willingly throughout the years, and it bothered him to think that his insatiable desire for her was something that would ultimately prevent him from being with her properly.

If it was a mistake, it was a mistake he made over and over again—so then what sort of person did that make him?

He had almost immediately decided, after their first sexual experience, that it would not happen again. It was unwise, truly: a butler sleeping with his boss's secretary. It was improper and something that Niles knew butlers and maids did all the time, but that didn't make it right, of course. Yes, that first time was the only time, until CC had approached him right after, looking so fetching in her post-coital glow, and indirectly set up at least one more time: "You owe me one."

Niles hadn't needed to ask what she'd meant. She hadn't climaxed and he didn't like that; it made everything feel unfinished. Perhaps after all it wouldn't be the last time…if things were unfinished, Niles didn't like to leave it like that…

That had been a Friday, and when he had awoken on Saturday morning, Niles knew his initial declaration of one time only was never going to last if CC was on board. As he'd grown out of his adolescence, his sexual appetite had slightly decreased in intensity; if he slept with a woman, he was usually sated for at least a few days. But the next morning, he had awoken with an aching hardness and a powerful desire to be with CC again.

And, of course, he owed her one…

Monday morning arrived with a slight awkwardness in the air—neither had really known how the other would act. Niles considered it a good sign that CC behaved normally after a strange exchange where he'd opened the door for her and she'd handed him his jacket. Niles had looked at her and dipped his eyes momentarily over her body; CC had raised her eyebrows and walked off with her nose in the air. Niles thought he knew her well enough to tell if she'd actually regretted what they'd done.

Mondays usually meant lunch out for Maxwell and Sara; they'd established rituals for themselves as a couple in order to ensure time together after Max had started his company. A thrill rang through him as Max had waved cheerfully at his butler as he and his wife left for a leisurely lunch downtown. Niles waited twenty seconds and then headed to the office. As he approached the open door, he saw CC pacing back and forth, staring at an open manila folder in her hand.

When the office door closed, CC jumped and spun to look at Niles. "What are you doing?" she asked, a little accusatorily, a little excitedly.

"Taking care of my debts," Niles responded innocently. He walked to her and lifted her easily onto the desk, perching her on the edge of it. CC looked as though she was about to object but it died in her throat when she felt Niles's fingers softly traveling up her legs. He leaned forward and CC's chin automatically jutted upwards, anticipating his kiss, but he merely grazed the side of her lips and instead trailed his lips softly down her neck.

Meanwhile, his hands had pulled down her thin pantyhose and he shifted slightly as he removed her shoes and bared her legs completely. CC still looked uncertain about what he had planned but her face soon relaxed and she let out the blissful sigh that he already loved as he gently slid his hands all over her, fully appreciating her shape.

Then, without warning, Niles kneeled down in front of her, tugging her towards him, and settled her knees on his shoulders. CC's eyes widened and brightened and Niles couldn't help grinning as he kissed first her left thigh, then her right. Whatever she had been possibly objecting to before, CC now arched towards him, settled back on her elbows. Painfully slowly, he edged her skirt upwards and kissed closer and closer to his ultimate destination. He felt the muscles in CC's thighs clenching and nudging his head closer.

He kept up his slow tempo, occasionally darting his tongue out tantalizingly close to where he knew CC wanted it, but all at once, Niles eschewed this pattern and ran his tongue along her wetness with more pressure than he'd been using. CC gasped and started panting and quivering all over.

Niles kept his hands on her hips, holding her gently and yet firmly in place, as he continued his sweet assault. He stroked and swirled his tongue, altering his pressure and speed, and faster than he'd ever made a woman come, CC suddenly gasped loudly and sat up abruptly, her legs shaking, and then she arched her back and landed on the desk once more, writhing against Niles's insistent tongue.

When her orgasm had subsided, Niles gently lowered her legs and stood, his palms against the desk and his body leaning against her legs.

"Now we're even," he said in a mischievous tone. CC stood up, a little unsteady on her legs, and looked at him with stars in her eyes and clouds in her cheeks.

Wordlessly, she pushed on his chest until the backs of his knees connected with the leather couch and he was forced to sit down. Reaching down, CC undid his pants and revealed his hard length. She straddled him and slid down upon him, gasping again and watching as his eyes unwittingly closed. His hands returned to her hips and she moved on him in a frenzy, clutching at the hair on the back of his head, the sensation heightened thanks to his ministrations from moments before. CC felt him clench and then a loud groan fought for escape from his throat and his fingers released their strong grip on her hips.

Breathing hard, CC rested her forehead momentarily against his. She could smell herself on him and her stomach swooped. "I doubt we'll ever be even, butler," CC said softly, her voice a little raspy. Then she climbed off of him, lowered her skirt, and grabbed her pantyhose, heading to the bathroom to clean herself up.

From the comfort of his bed, Niles grinned at the memory and then groaned when he felt his body respond.