Niles expected to be stopped by security as he approached the iron gates at the entrance of the condominium, but the Jaguar had an electronic sticker that indicated the owner was a resident. The two security personnel gave a little salute to Niles as he entered. Having second thoughts about whether to inquire about the parking spot of Ms. Babcock, he continued to drive till he reached the area with an atrium of the left and a row of parked cars a little further on the right side.
Niles found a roving security guard on the premises and stopped to inquire.
"I beg your pardon. May I know where the parking slot for Ms. CC Babcock is located?" asked Niles.
The security guard seemed to recognize the car but not recognizing Niles, he peeped through the driver's window into the car. He seemed suspicious to find the sports car's top closed but seeing CC on the passenger's side seemed to relieve him of any apprehension.
"I'm Ms. Babcock's boyfriend and I'm here to take her home. She had too much to drink tonight," explained Niles matter-of-factly.
"I see, sir. The VIP parking is on this side near the lounge. Ms. Babcock's parking is the first slot," explained the guard.
"Thank you," said Niles.
It wasn't very far from where he found the roving guard. Opposite the Atrium was the VIP lounge where the elevator for VIP, the penthouse residents was located. There were five floors designed as penthouse, and CC's residence was at the topmost floor. The rest of the unit owners use the front lobby reception area for entrance. Niles parked the Jag on the first slot nearest the lounge.
He tried to shake her awake, but she only mumbled and went back to sleep. The guard stopped by the parked car and asked if they needed some assistance.
"Let me try to wake her up first," said Niles as he opened the passenger side and shook CC once again.
"Darling, we're home. Let's get you to bed," he said, loud enough for the security guard to hear.
"Darling," he repeated.
Niles felt the guard would be more trusting if he were Ms. Babcock's fiacee. The guard seemed sympathetic on their situation as though he had witnessed more than his fair share of situations like this.
"I can unlock the door for you, sir while you carry Ms. Babcock," said the guard.
"I appreciate that. That's very kind of you," said Niles.
Niles figured the shopping bags ca stay in the trunk overnight, the signature labels would not disappear if left in the car anyhow. It's not like they were groceries that would expire.
The guard was a lifesaver as he didn't know where Ms. Babcock's house keys were.
Without difficulty, he carried her out of the car and walked towards the lounge.
The guard accompanied them inside the lounge to the reception.
"Hi Nancy, this is uhm…"
"Mr. Niles Beresford," said Niles.
"Yes, Mr. Beresford. Ms. Babcock's boyfriend. I'll be coming up to assist them," said the guard.
Nancy input something in the computer and ushered them to the elevator.
The guard kept glancing at Niles, carrying CC, her head comfortably resting on his shoulders and occasionally would move her head to nuzzle the crook of his neck, her arms lazily draped around his neck.
"If you don't mind me speaking forward, sir. This is the first time I've seen Ms. Babcock with a male visitor and the first time I've seen her drunk… makes her look a little more human. It's quite surprising. She always seemed so stand-offish," said the guard.
Niles smiled at him. "She's really quite nice if you get to know her."
The guard let them in at the top floor penthouse, and they were greeted by the noisy and excited Chester jumping up and down.
The living room curtains were open, and Niles could see the breath-taking view of Manhattan, with all the tall buildings looking small, and the numerous lights that looked like stars spattered in the dark.
Taking two steps down to a sunken sala, he laid CC on the nearest couch before getting a ten-dollar bill from his wallet, handed it to the guard and thanked him for his assistance.
Chester kept yapping and yapping, trying to jump on the couch where CC lay.
He called Chester and the dog gladly went to him asking to be petted.
Niles gave him a few belly rubs before going into the kitchen to look for his dinner. He found the bag of kibbles and poured some on Chester's bowl which he hungrily devoured.
A note on the fridge from the housekeeper, which Niles just noticed, said that Chester had been fed and walked at 8pm.
"You're very sneaky like Ms. Babcock. You already had dinner," reprimanded Niles affectionately.
Chester kept barking like he needed something, and Niles noticed how Chester kept eyeing the cupboard filled with various dog treats.
"You had two rounds of dinner and still you want a treat!"
Chester barked excitedly.
"You'll be as big as a bulldog. Which one do you want?" asked Niles, touching the different bags of treats.
Chester seemed disinterested in all the bags Niles was touching until he held the bag of treat that looked like an enormous corndog with mozzarella cheese on top.
"You have a big appetite," said Niles, giving him the enormous dog treat.
Leaving Chester in the kitchen nibbling his doggie treat, Nies walked around the condo, exploring rooms and halls in search of CC's bedroom. He discovered there was an indoor jacuzzi in the same room as the little gym where Ms. Babcock kept in shape. Connected to the recreation room was a glass door leading to a small, pebbled patio with a patch of grassy area. On the corner was a wooden doghouse. From a small pet door on the opposite side, emerged Chester who lifted his hind leg and watered a small plant on the grassy portion of the patio.
The heavy silence that filled the room as he walked around exploring was shattered by the ring of the telephone on the side table near the foyer. It rang five times before it went to voicemail. After the tone, a recording started it was a man.
"CC, it's Greg. Look, I'm sorry. It was presumptuous of me. I really like you, CC. Can you give me another chance? Perhaps we can go out of town this coming Saturday. Please pick up your cell. I've been trying to call you."
Niles smirked as the recording ended. "You had your chance, and you blew it. She's mine now. We're going jogging that Saturday."
Then, he pressed a couple of buttons deleting Greg's message. He felt no guilt at what he did. He must have been bad. If he was a good man, there was nothing to be sorry for. Good Riddance, he thought.
Finally, Niles found CC's bedroom. It had an enormous picture of her on the far side of the wall near the small seating area by the fireplace. He recognized the picture as one of those included in her old portfolio when she was modelling several years ago. It was locked up in her steel cabinet in the office accumulating dust. At times it crossed his mind to take it and she wouldn't even notice it missing.
The photo was great in a regular size 4x 5 but blown up it looked stunning. CC was draped in nothing but a white fur coat, a part of her cleavage was showing, and her long legs were bare. Her shoulder length blond hair was wavy and tousled, her lips were colored a vintage red that looked very inviting to kiss, and with her doe-eyed look of innocence, it was truly a seductive picture. He couldn't blame her father for wanting to put an end to her modelling career.
He found CC still asleep on the couch the way he left her.
"Ms. Babcock, wake up. Let's get you to bed," said Niles.
CC stirred a little and murmured.
"My head hurts and I'm very sleepy."
She did not protest as Niles picked her up and carried her to the bedroom.
Dropping her on the queen-sized bed, Niles contemplated whether to change her Tequila-stained clothes or just let her be, Chester noisily came barking happily. The dog jumped on the bed and started licking CC's face trying to wake her up. Catching the scent of the Tequila on her blouse, he began to sniff it.
"Get off the bed, Chester. I don't think this is where you sleep. I saw your fluffy bed in the living room," scolded Niles, taking her down to the floor.
Deciding to take off the stained clothes, Niles began unbuttoning the top of her blouse, his forehead forming droplets of sweat as his fingers couldn't help but graze her soft skin. Suddenly, Chester jumped back to bed and started growling. He bit Niles' jacket by the wrist, trying to stop him from undressing his master.
"Chester, let go. I'm not going to harm her. I'm just taking this dirty thing off," said Niles but Chester seemed to distrust him, and kept his teeth on his jacket. He tried to ward him off, but his teeth remained on his coat as he growled.
Despite Chester's relentless pursuit to stop him, Niles managed to take off CC's blouse. His breath caught in his throat seeing her half naked. She was more beautiful than he imagined. He started unbuttoning her skinny jeans that clung to her slim form like a second skin, sliding it off her legs proved a bit difficult, and his hands could not help but glide against her long, silky legs.
Chester grew angrier and snapped at the helm of his pants, trying to stop him.
"Cut it out, Chester, I have no designs on her I assure you," said Niles.
But dogs could not read minds, but their instincts were remarkable, and he could sense the desire rising in Niles. Clad in nothing but her white and lavender lacy undies, CC was a sight to behold. His desire for her began to rack his being. He picked up the furious dog and locked him out of the room.
Desire strained on his pants and hunger clouded his eyes for moment, he leaned on his elbows hovering over her, to get closer to her on the bed, gazing at her beauty, wanting to memorize every inch of her, and to impale his senses with the scent of her.
He stopped himself from kissing her. He knew that if he gave in to that one kiss, he wouldn't be able to stop, and he loved her too much to take advantage of her stupor. He just wanted to watch her all night.
As though she could sense his scorching stare, her eyes flew open and their eyes met, for while they stared at each other, albeit her stare was still hazy, she tried to focus before she flashed him a lazy smile.
As though her eyes were heavy, she closed them again. "I'm cold," she mumbled before turning to her side away from Niles, hugging a pillow as though she wanted to shield herself from him.
Niles scolded himself. Of course she would be cold, he left her with nothing but her bra and panties. He ran to the walk-in closet in search of her nightgown, pulling drawers and opening cabinets and to his dismay, all the sleep wear she owned were like the lingerie in the Victoria Secret shop that day that revealed more than concealed and he knew it would be futile putting it on her when he would likely be taking it off her. He was putting a reign on his desire and her flimsy lingerie would certainly not help.
Then an opened gift box caught his eye. There it was Mickey Mouse staring back at him. He remembered CC's 11-year-old niece that returned the Mickey Mouse nightgowns CC gave her for her birthday, claiming she had outgrown Mickey Mouse a few months ago.
Niles pulled out one of the night gowns with the huge grinning Mickey Mouse in front and put it over CC's head. It was unintentional but his hands groped her body as he eased the shirt down her unconscious body. It was a tight fit since it was meant for an 11-year-old girl. The shirt fell just an inch below her panties. He was burning with desire having grazed her breasts several times but the grinning Mickey Mouse staring at him reminded him of his good intentions.
He pulled the blanket over her and fixed her pillows to make her more comfortable.
"Good night, Ms. Babcock," he said tenderly, brushing the side of her face gently with the back of his fingers.
He couldn't help it. He turned back just before going out the door. Looked at her for moment and said, "I love you," then he closed the door gently behind him.
Still with her eyes closed, her breathing even, half unconscious, CC replied in a whisper.
"I know."