Dear Marvel, just borrowing them again. I don't think they mind and it seems to make a few of my friends happy, so I hope it's okay with you.
Thanks so much for the kind reviews. I'm always so happy to get those review notices on my phone.
Sandy-wmd: Thanks. It's difficult to reveal things about a characted that you know full well that they're not very eager to share with people. I hoped the disclosure would be true to character.
PrincessPrettyPants: 'daddy' dearest is going to learn a few things
AllFor Jesus: Yes, Natasha is a natural an assignment of this sort.
ShadowBeats22107: Thanks. I hope you enjoy this update.
Marqueza: I certainly hope my Campaign of Terror lives up to expectations. I think Nick and Phil are more constrained by Maria's request than by their own scruples in this situation, but, as you noted, there are others who made no such promises to her
Ella: Thank you. Working on ways to terrorize her father. I'll probably put in little bits here and there.
Thanks also to follows and favorites. I do so appreciate the positive strokes. You're the new fuses in my Christmas lights.
Risks 14
"Maria. I need your help," Natasha whispered urgently as soon as she had answered the phone.
"What's wrong?"
"Are you finished for the day?" the red-head asked, ignoring the question.
The deputy director took a quick glance at her computer. "Almost. I just need to wrap up a couple more things. Maybe 30 minutes or so."
"That's fine. Get it done, then meet me at the Elswood Suites Hotel, suite 2100," Nat whispered at her before disconnecting the call.
Slightly concerned, the agent quickly completed her work and headed for the luxury hotel. When she tapped lightly at the door, it opened just a crack.
"Are you alone?" the other woman hissed.
Maria looked up and down the hall. "Yes."
The door closed, then opened again, Natasha's hand snaking out to grab her arm and jerk her into the room as the door slammed shut again.
"What's going on?"
"Bedroom," Natasha directed, pulling her quickly across the living room and into the bedroom, pushing the door closed behind them.
Maria looked around. "Where's the body? Bathroom?" she asked, crossing to peek into that room.
Natasha gave her a confused look. "Body? What body?"
The dark haired woman looked at her. "Your call sounded pretty urgent. I figured you wanted me to help you dispose of a dead body," she told her with a shrug.
"Not today," Nat laughed, "but I'll definitely keep you in mind when I do. No, tonight it's just your body that I'm interested in.
Maria's eyebrows rose. "I'm really flattered, Nat, but we're both otherwise involved at the moment," she reminded the other woman.
"That's not what I meant, though maybe I'll keep that in mind, too. For now, I just need you to strip," she told her, digging through some of the many bags laid out on the king-sized bed.
"Might I inquire as to why?"
Nat sighed. "I have an assignment as a sort of personal dresser for this woman and I need to make sure I've got the timing right. I have to get her dressed for an occasion and I want to make sure that I'm allowing enough time for everything that I need to do." She looked pleadingly at her friend.
"You dress up all the time, Nat."
"Yes," the red-head agreed. "I dress myself. Dressing someone else is entirely different. I thought about asking Annie for hints, but I figured I'd learn best by doing. Besides, she scares me a little."
"Okay. What do you need from me?" Maria surrendered.
With a dazzling smile, the assassin handed her a bag. "Shower. That way I can start with a clean slate. You've got body wash, shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion, all with the same scent. If we layer it properly, it lasts longer," she told her, shoving her towards the bathroom. "Hurry, hurry. I'll get everything out here ready."
When Maria emerged several minutes later, Natasha had lit several scented candles, put on some music, and poured them each a glass of wine. "Come on," she said, waving her towards the chair set up in front of the dressing table.
"Are you sure you're not trying to seduce me?" Maria asked.
"Trust me, you'd know if I were," Nat assured her as she guided her into the chair and handed her the wine. "Just trying to make the client relax."
She picked up the hair dryer and one of several brushes she had laid out and went to work on Maria's hair. After several minutes of blowing, brushing, and spraying, it gently framed her face in soft waves, pulled back on one side with a diamond studded clip.
With a nod of satisfaction, she started pulling jars, tubes, brushes, and sponges out of a makeup case, holding them up to Maria's face as she selected the proper shades.
"So, how are things going with you and Nick?"
"Good," Maria responded.
"Glad to hear that," Natasha answered. "You've both seemed a bit tense the last couple of weeks. Phil has, too, come to think of it."
Maria grimaced. "That obvious?"
"Not to most people," Nat assured her, dabbing a couple of different shades of makeup on her face before selecting one.
Sighing, the brunette explained. "You know about the Avengers Initiative, Inc. that Ms Potts and I have been working to set up, right?" The other woman nodded and she continued. "One of the financial groups that we met with ended up being the one that my father owns. Running into him and his assistant again brought up some old memories, which brought up some old nightmares, which led to me nearly decking Nick in our sleep one night.
"I understand," Nat told her. "I think Clint usually sleeps with one eye opened."
"And he wouldn't have it any other way," Maria teased.
"Nor would Nick," the assassin returned.
Maria shrugged. "Well, he hasn't walked out yet. Even when he found out about..." she left the sentence hanging.
"You thought your past would scare him off?"
"I was always told that I didn't deserve to be happy, didn't deserve anything good in my life."
"Sounds like your father was a real winner," Nat commented sarcastically. "At least you got your mother's looks."
Maria turned. "How do you know that? I never even saw a picture of her. He didn't keep any around the house. Said he didn't want me spoiling them by looking at them."
Nat gently turned her back and continued working on her makeup. "He has a picture of the two of them in his office. A wedding picture, I think. It was in a drawer, but I thought it was too pretty to leave there, so I set it on his desk."
Before Maria could turn again, Nat gently held her chin. "When were you in his office?"
"A few days ago," the assassin told her, eyes suddenly dark. "I had a short layover in Chicago and Phil mentioned that I might want to pay a brief call on him. He wasn't home, so I just looked around, did a little redecorating. Actually, I think I may have left one of my knives on his desk, too."
A brief smile crossed Maria's face. Then, she frowned. "I'm sorry, Nat. I've read the reports on the Red Room project and on your childhood. I guess mine wouldn't seem so bad compared to that."
This time it was Natasha who spun Maria's chair to face her. "No, Maria. This isn't a competition. While I don't know or need to know details, I know that it wasn't just that daddy wouldn't buy you a pony. My demons don't make yours any smaller."
"Thanks," Maria told her with a nod. Then she smiled again. "Wow. If it's part of your job to get information from your client, you should have no problem finding out everything you need."
Nat matched her smile. "I am good, aren't I?" she asked, stepping back to take a look at her handiwork. She compared several different lip colors, chose one and brushed it on, then nodded in satisfaction.
"Okay. Time to get you dressed."
"Do we really have to do all this?" Maria asked.
"I like to be prepared," Nat told her. "You know how often our lives depend on being prepared."
"Fine," she said, throwing up her hand. "What do I wear?"
The red-head selected a bag, glanced inside, then handed it to her. Maria's eyebrows rose again as she pulled out the black lace and silk merry widow and matching thong.
"The right foundation is vital," Natasha reminded her. "Besides, you agreed to place yourself in my capable hands."
"I suppose I did," Maria agreed, shedding her robe and slithering into the form fitting garments. After a few minor adjustments, Nat pulled a garment bag from the closet, unzipping it to remove a very sexy variation of the little black dress. She assisted the deputy director into the dress and zipped it into place. The strapless top had soft underwires, gently lifting her decolletage to the point she feared a deep breath could cause it to pop out. A couple of pieces of strategically placed garment tape assured that the top would stay in place. At least, as long as she wanted it to, Nat assured her with a grin.
The dress's deep black fabric was shot through with silvery threads, it's form fitting skirt ended mid thigh, leaving her long, shapely legs on display. Nat handed her a pair of sparkly silver heels.
"Why is it always high heels?" she groaned.
"Because you've got great legs that look even better in heels and because your boyfriend it 8 inches taller than you so you can get away with it."
Maria looked at her curiously. "You mean, your client's boyfriend."
"Yeah, my client's boyfriend," Nat replied, walking around her friend to survey her work, then nodding her satisfaction. "One more spray," she commented, spritzing Maria with one final layer of the soft vanilla scent.
"So, what's the occasion?" Maria asked suspiciously. "Charity gala? Celebration of some sort?"
Tasha pulled out her phone, typing quickly, then putting it away. "Just making some notes," she commented before replying. "It's her birthday and she's been having a difficult time and her boyfriend is wanting to treat her to a romantic, private dinner for two."
At that moment, a light tap sounded on the bedroom door. Maria jumped to reach for her weapon, but Nat already had it in hand.
"No need for that," she said with a smile as she reached to open the door.
Nick stood in the doorway, a single red rose in his hand. He was dressed casually in black slacks and a black silk shirt, opened at the collar. He nodded his thanks to Tasha as his gaze landed on Maria. His jaw dropped slightly. The red-head finally reached over and patted him on the chest.
"Breathe, Nick."
He took a deep breath, his face lighting up.
"Stunning."
Maria nodded her thanks. "Romanoff does good work."
"Romanoff had great material to work with," the woman in question replied. She gave Maria a slight push in Nick's direction. "Happy birthday."
He held out the rose. She took it, breathing deeply of it before taking Nick's outstretched hand. He kissed her softly. She turned to Natasha.
"Thanks. For everything."
"My pleasure," the assassin answered. "I'll just collect my stuff and get out of here. You two have fun."
"Yes, ma'am," Nick replied, pulling Maria close and capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. When they had to break it off to breathe, he ran his hands down her back.
"You are an amazingly beautiful woman, Maria Grace Hill."
She smiled up at him, stroking the soft silk of his shirt. "You cut a pretty fine figure yourself, Nicholas Raymond Fury."
He took her hand, leading her out onto the balcony where a perfectly appointed table awaited. As he held out the chair for her, she looked around, taking in the fine linen, crystal, silver and china. The tantalizing scent of a steak dinner teased her nostrils.
"This is absolutely amazing, Nick."
He shrugged. "I know you've probably never celebrated your birthday, but I see it as an opportunity to show you just how very special you are to me." he told her.
Opening the wine, he poured them each a glass, then raised his in a toast.
"To the woman I love," he proposed.
"To us," she corrected.
"To us," he agreed.
The meal was consumed mostly in silence as they enjoyed the excellent dinner and the even better company. Nick found his gaze continuously returning to the exquisite woman across the table from him, delighted to simply be spending time with her.
When they had finished, he pulled back her chair and offered her a hand to rise. They walked over to the railing where they looked out over the city lights.
"It looks so peaceful and clean from up here," she murmured. He grunted agreement, turning his head to look at her again. He noticed her shiver slightly.
"It's chilly out here. Are you ready to go inside?" he asked.
"Not yet," she shook her head. "I love seeing the city like this."
He moved to stand behind her, wrapping his arms around her to hold her close. "Better?"
"Definitely," she agreed, leaning back against him.
Resting his chin on her head, he breathed deeply. "Mmmm. You smell wonderful."
She laughed. "The secret is to layer the scent. Makes it last longer."
"You know what my favorite scent on you is?" he whispered in her ear, his voice husky.
She turned in his arms, looking up into his dark eye.
"What?"
"Me."
She shivered. "Let's go inside."
He smiled, opening the sliding door and guiding her in.
"Yes, let's."
I've kind of put Maria through the wringer the last couple of chapters, so I thought it was time to let her have a little fun. Let me know what you think, please. I'm leaning towards a 14.5 'M' chapter, it you think you'd read and review it. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this and review (if you feel led to do so). I appreciate you all.
Now, which story next?