A/N: I'm back. Hopefully for the whole summer if my muse will permit. Sorry this chapter is a bit of a tease, I'm hoping some reviews will kick my muse into gear and help me get the next chapter written.
A Brief Interlude
At the end of the hall she turned left though her right hand indicated he should take a right. Jack paused at the junction and watched her disappear into a room that was presumably the kitchen. She was stunning. Quite literally, every time he saw her in the altogether he was stunned, struck dumb and speechless. The door to the right burst open and a woman stepped out into the hall, completely unfazed by his nudity and breezed past him to return to the party. With a quick shake of his head, he darted into the bathroom and closed then locked the door behind him.
He drew in a deep breath and then blew it out slowly, but it still didn't stop his head from spinning. Jack took the opportunity to relive himself then just as he reached out for the tap, he decided to make use of the shower and the ample stack of towels that had been set out for the guests.
Sliding off his mask he hung it from the door handle. The black leather provided the thinnest veil between right and wrong, it had the potential to allow him to touch the forbidden fruit he'd coveted for so long. It had to be kept safe and had to be worn as he moved about this secret paradise.
The shower cascaded coolly over his skin, the old water system taking it's time to send heat his way. He twisted his head under the spray as he rubbed down his body with a masculine looking shower gel. He rinsed out his mouth with water then spat it out. It helped with the dryness but did nothing to quench his thirst. Just as the spray began to warm, he shut it off.
It wouldn't do to keep a lady waiting.
The towel felt rough against his face, but there was familiarity in it, just like the towels that had been washed too many times in industrial detergent at the base so very unlike everything else that had happened in the past hour.
The reflection in the mirror was familiar too. But he hadn't expected to see his brows knitted together in concern and worry, especially considering that he'd just had two thoroughly satisfying orgasms. It was that concern and worry that seemed to niggle at him, telling him that he should just get dressed and go home. It wasn't and unreasonable thought. All that had happened in the past hour had met or exceeded his expectations for the evening. He knew that the desires of his body had been more than satisfied.
And yet, his mind and his heart desired more.
This creature, this Azure that prowled in the shadows, so reminiscent of his reliable Carter and yet so incredibly unpredictable and unexpected, she commanded his attention. Her mere presence demanded more of him than he thought it possible to give, like some mythical creature luring in men for their own nefarious purposes. It was irresistible. She was irresistible. So he found himself rising to the challenge, in more ways than one.
The mask settled snugly on his cheeks once more he stepped back out into the hall, following her invisible trail to the kitchen.
He stopped at the doorway peeking in and scoping the place out. The floor dropped off down three steps, even from the hall he could sense that the air was cooler in the sunken room. A cursory glance took in the modern cabinets, dark wood worktops and a dinning area and conservatory beyond. But his eyes were quickly drawn to the pale figure looking at the numerous bottles of liquor littering the worktop ahead. That short blonde hair, gold threads shimmering through it, a long slender neck bent slightly in concentration, shoulders slim but strong, a neatly tapered waist before swelling out to accommodate rounded hips and a peach-like behind, firm thighs disappeared into white stockings and stretched all the way down to three inch stiletto heels.
'Can I get you a drink?' sounded that soft southern drawl, jarring him more so that the sudden question to an apparently empty room.
He should have been surprised by her question, by the knowledge that she knew he was watching her, but Carter always seemed to know when he was watching her. That, and she would have been able to recognise his silhouette in the reflection of the bottle of bourbon she was currently holding.
'I'm driving.' he answered, stepping down into the kitchen.
She moved to the other side of the kitchen with only the slightest glance in his direction, a glance that revealed nothing before opening the fridge and withdrawing two bottles of water. He watched as she made her way to another cabinet withdrawing what looked like an energy bar before making her way over to him offering a bottle and the bar.
His eyes briefly flicked over her body then became focused on her hands, the shape, the grip, the length of her fingers, he studied them closely as he recalled every time in the field that Carter had passed out rations in much the same manner. Any doubts he had that this may have been another woman were assailed in that single gesture, and as he accepted her offering and noted that the cereal bar was maple flavoured, his favourite, it firmly cemented his belief that Azure was most certainly Samantha Carter.
'Thank you.' he said, his gaze meeting hers.
'You're welcome, gotta keep your strength up now, haven't we honey?' Azure replied with a wink, before turning and walking over to the other side of the kitchen, hauling herself up onto the work surface to sit cross-legged and begin sipping from her bottle of water.
Once again Jack was struck dumb, just as soon as he thought he had a handle on things there was another curveball. Honey?
It was certainly going to take some getting used to, but he definitely liked it
As heat crept up his neck he became aware of the small smirk around her lips, seemingly enjoying his reaction. He found himself smiling shyly in return before leaning against the counter himself and ripping open the flapjack and tucking in with gusto.
'So, not your first sex club then?' she asked.
'Mmm.' he mumbled acknowledging her question even though his mouth was full of cereal bar. He swallowed and nodded. 'I've dabbled a little in my past.'
'Finding it easy to get back into the swing of things?' she asked with a grin.
Jack smirked and replied, 'You could say that, yeah.'
The rest of the cereal bar disappeared, then was quickly followed by the entire bottle of water. He gulped at the air almost as desperately as he'd chugged the water.
'Better?' she asked her head tilted slightly to the side, watching him closely.
He nodded. Jack thought briefly on whether this meant they should move things along to something more physical but her inquiries into his past had made him curious about hers. Not to mention he was glad of any excuse that would delay the decision of whether or not he should sleep with his second in command.
'Have you been doing this long?' he asked.
'I'd dabbled as you say until maybe 8 years ago and I tried hosting my first night. It went well. Really well. Masquerade nights seemed to be my forte so I just stuck with it.'
'It is a very good party.' he replied, impressed by how she gave a full answer to his question and yet completely avoided giving him any personal details.
She smirked.
'Just very good?' she teased slipping from the counter and sauntering over to him. 'I'm sure I can do better than that.'
Jack frowned softly.
Doubt suddenly assailing him as he watched glorious forbidden breasts come within reaching distance, oh how he longed to press his hand to those delicious mounds, to spend hours touching every inch of her skin. But the idea of clocking on on Monday morning, going to briefings, going on missions seemed impossibility after such an encounter.
'I don't think...'
'Apollo,' she said with a soft authority, reaffirming that this environment was unlike any other and neither of them were themselves. 'I get the feeling that we may come to nights like this for similar reasons. Everything out there can get so complicated, so muddled that you can't tell black from white and everything is a shade of grey. Here, in this place, everything is clear cut. It's as sure as black and white. It's, quite simply, either a yes or no. So, I'm going to ask you a question and I'd like you to answer with a yes or a no.'
He found himself being pulled closer and nodding, agreeing to her terms.
'Right now, in this house, do you want to have sex with me?'
It was the easiest question he'd ever been asked.
'Yes,' he breathed.
She smiled a sultry grin and took his hand in hers.
'Then I think it's time we made our way upstairs.' she said slipping her hand into his and leading the way.