Crossing the Line** (1/6)
   **Formerly entitled: “Lulu Makes a Move”
 
AUTHOR:  Shirley 
 
E-mail: sbell_1944@yahoo.com
 
RATING:  NC-17 (sexual content)
 
CONTEXT:  Follows the events of “Shelter” and “The Chinese Wall” and Lulu’s 
request that she and Nick not see each other any more than necessary.
 
DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction.  Any resemblance of characters in this 
story to any persons living or dead is purely coincidental.  Most of the 
characters have been borrowed from “The Guardian” – a CBS Drama Series.
 
--+--
 
Nick appeared at his bathroom door wearing his silk Ralph Lauren pajama bottoms 
which tied at the waist.  He had just taken a hot shower and felt much better.  
Now, perhaps he could finish his paperwork and then get some well-needed sleep.  
He finished drying his hair and tossed the towel carelessly on the floor of the 
bathroom.  Connie would get it in the morning.  She had been with him ever since 
he arrived back in Pittsburgh.  She came every weekday and cleaned up his 
messes.  He chuckled to himself thinking about Connie.  Aside from being a 
capable domestic she was also eager to offer advice on any number of subjects 
but most often about his love life or lack thereof.  He was lucky to have her.  
She had been a Godsend.  She was very discreet and more than capable of handling 
all of Nick’s domestic needs from cleaning, occasional cooking and taking care 
of the laundry and dry-cleaning.   She even offered decorating advice, often 
unsolicited.  Nick guessed she was in her mid-fifties.  She was on the plump 
side but very jolly and a pleasure to be around.  She usually arrived between 
7:00 and 8:00.  They had worked out signals just in case he was with someone 
when she got there, but that hadn’t happened much lately.  
 
He padded over to his bureau and removed a clean white T-shirt and pulled it on 
over his head.  The room was dark save for the low-wattage lamp by the bedside, 
his desk lamp and the light from the full moon which streamed in through the 
tall windows and across the floor of the elegantly appointed but very masculine 
room.  The room was large with the centerpiece being the massive king-sized bed 
against the center wall flanked by two large bedside chests made of the finest 
cherry wood. Two cozy chairs were positioned before the large floor-to-ceiling 
windows which faced out onto Ellsworth Avenue.  Across the room there was a very 
large armoire and on the adjacent wall another gentleman’s chest, all in 
matching cherry wood.  The décor was done in two-shades of gray with black 
accents.  He had turned back the down coverlet on the bed and folded back the 
sheet at one corner so all he had to do was crawl in when he finally finished 
his work.  He was looking forward to slipping between those steel-gray silk 
sheets which felt like sleeping on a cloud.  He had paid a fortune for them.  
The salesgirl had convinced him that 600 thread count was worth the extra money 
and she had been right about that.  Nick slipped his feet into his suede 
slippers and sat down again at his desk.  
 
He sat a moment recalling the horrible week he had had.  He had screwed up 
another deal at his father’s firm and, on top of that, things hadn’t gone well 
with Lulu.  After he kissed her she had told him it was a mistake.  He couldn’t 
figure that girl out.  She definitely responded to his kiss at the time but 
earlier today she told him she was going to go through with her wedding plans.  
At this thought Nick tossed his head and exhaled audibly then turned his 
attention to the file open on his desk. He did a quick review of the papers and 
made a few final notations then shoved it all into his briefcase.  He had done a 
considerable amount of research on this particular proposal and felt like it 
might redeem him in some manner with his father.  He had been surprised that his 
Dad even felt comfortable about giving him another big deal after the debacle 
earlier in the week.  He had decided one thing for sure; Lulu was a major 
distraction and it was just as well that she was going to keep her distance from 
him in the future.  At least he was trying to convince himself of that.  
 
He reached up to turn off the desk lamp.  As he did so the room seemed to come 
alive with the glow of the brilliant moonlight which cast its eerie tentacles 
across the darkened room.  
 
The doorbell rang, shattering the silence.  He glanced at the clock on his desk 
with an illuminated dial and noticed the time was 11:43 pm.  Who could it be at 
this time of night?  He walked across the room and through the bedroom door onto 
the landing at the top of the spiral staircase.  The foyer was bathed in the 
eerie glow of the moon coming in through the skylight.  The effect of the 
moonlight was to cast everything in shades of gray.  Nick stood for a moment on 
the landing to wait for his eyes to acclimate to the half-darkness then started 
downstairs.  The doorbell sounded again. 
 
Nick peered through the peephole in the door and pulled back, clenching his jaw. 
 He turned the deadbolt and slowly opened it.  He stood with his right hand 
resting on the door jamb and his left holding the edge of the door.  Standing 
before him, illuminated by the streetlamp and the glorious moonlight, was Lulu.  
It was Lulu who finally broke the silence as she stood wringing her hands.  
 
“Brian had to go back to Columbus.  He’s on duty at 6:00 am.”  She tried a 
feeble grin and continued clasping and unclasping her hands.  
 
Nick didn’t speak.  There was only one reason she had come to him at this hour.  
He stood motionless for another minute and finally extended his right hand, palm 
up to Lulu.  She smiled meekly and placed her hand in his.  He gently pulled her 
in through the doorway, closing and locking the door.  He backed her up against 
the wall next to the door blocking her exit with his arms on either side of her. 
 He brushed back her hair and gazed at her face barely visible in the shadows.  
He noticed her eyes were suddenly wide with fear and excitement as he pressed 
the whole of his body against hers.  He gently bent to kiss her on the mouth.  
She kissed him back.  His passion began to stir and he was sure that Lulu could 
feel his desire beneath his clothing as he pressed closer and closer.  She 
caught her breath and pulled him ever closer.  She reached both hands beneath 
his T-shirt and touched his hot flesh.  His muscles quivered at her touch.  He 
gathered her into his embrace and kissed her neck and ears and eyes as if to 
devour her.  
 
He removed her coat and tossed it over the stair railing.  He then gathered her 
in his arms and carried her up the stairs.  Lulu held him around his neck and 
looked into his eyes.  In his bedroom he stood her down beside the bed.  He held 
her head with both hands and peered into her eyes.  She reached under his 
T-shirt and caressed his body.  He quickly removed the T-shirt, tossing it 
carelessly towards the chair near the bed and reached over to turn off the lamp 
on the bedside chest.
 
Now all the light in the room was from the moonlight streaming in through the 
large windows covered only by a sheer drapery; the heavy linen drapes having 
been pulled back to allow the light to come in.  The house was positioned to 
permit total privacy with the curtains open.  The giant full moon, framed in the 
large window, looked surreal through the sheer draperies and cast its long 
silvery shaft of light across the bed.  Nick stood as a silhouette against the 
backdrop of the window.    
 
He took the hem of Lulu’s sweater and pulled it over her head, tossing it to the 
side.  She stood there in her black lace-trimmed bra.  He noticed her body was 
well-toned; his first look and he was not disappointed.  He cupped her breasts 
in his hands and bent down to kiss her décolletage.  Lulu closed her eyes as he 
kissed her neck.  He slowly began to unbutton her jeans.  Slipping his hands 
between the fabric and her body, he slowly slid them down.  She stepped out of 
them and he tossed them aside.   Lulu was breathing hard.  She had her hands on 
his head and pulled him to her.  He kissed her belly just above her bikini 
panties.  His hands were now on her waist and he continued kissing her torso, 
now kissing the top of her breasts all the while caressing her with his hands.  
He pulled down one strap of her bra and let one breast escape.  He kissed and 
nibbled at the nipple and heard Lulu gasp.  She was holding his head tight 
against her breast.  He freed himself and reached to unclasp her bra then drew 
her to him, his hardness between them.   He slowly removed her panties.   She 
quivered as she stood bared before him.  He stood admiring her tight little 
body.  Lulu shyly reached out to take the ends of the tie which held Nick’s 
pajama bottoms. She slowly pulled the ends and then loosened the top causing 
them to flutter to the floor.  He stood naked before her.  Only then did she 
realize he did not wear underwear beneath his pajamas.  
 
Nick stepped forward and, lifting her slightly off her feet, he moved her onto 
the bed.  She lay there with her dark hair framing her face.  He had never seen 
Lulu more beautiful, all flushed with sexual arousal and glowing in the 
moonlight.   She reached up and touched the side of his face as he hovered above 
her.  She kissed his eyes, cheeks and finally his mouth.  He lay with his left 
leg over hers.  As he caressed her body he could feel her quiver beneath his 
touch.  She seemed reluctant to touch him so he guided her right hand to his 
turgid member.   She let out a barely noticeable gasp and then slowly began to 
stroke him gently but firmly.  He continued to kiss her as he positioned his 
body between her legs.  He was now directly above her, most of his weight now 
resting on his arms.  He looked directly into her eyes and asked softly, “Are 
you sure you want this?”  She answered immediately with a breathless, “Make love 
to me, Nick.” 
 
Nick gently entered her, slowly at first then faster and deeper with each 
thrust.  Lulu’s hips rose up to meet his.  Slowly, rhythmically, he moved.  Lulu 
put her hands on his buttocks and pulled him into her.  He was moving faster and 
faster and realized Lulu was not yet ready.  He slowed and then stopped.  Lulu 
continued to move beneath him.  He said, “Wait.”  He knew if he was going to 
prolong this experience, he’d better slow it down a notch.  He usually had more 
control over his body but tonight seemed to be different.  He was finding it 
hard to pace himself.  He continued to kiss her passionately then slowly began 
to move again.  Lulu’s breathing began to quicken and she let out a low whimper. 
 Sensing that Lulu was nearing her climax, he increased the pace and both 
writhed to a climax as explosive as any he had ever had.  He collapsed totally 
exhausted on top of her.  She kissed his face and neck holding him tight against 
her breast.  He finally rolled over next to her and lay staring at the ceiling.  
Lulu rolled over to cuddle beside him in the crook of his right arm.  She put 
her right hand on his chest and playfully twisted the fine hairs there.  He 
placed his hand over hers to steady her.  He pulled her into him with his right 
arm around her and kissed her forehead, her eyes, her lips.  She raised herself 
up and looked into his eyes.  They kissed again; long and lingering.  Neither 
one spoke and before long they had drifted off to sleep.  Not a word was spoken 
between them.  They both knew, tonight they had crossed the line.  
 
The alarm clock sounded.  It was 6:00 am.  Nick rolled over to shut off the 
alarm and then remembered the events of the night before.  He and Lulu had been 
amazing together.  For a moment he lay there savoring the memory.  He raised 
himself up on one elbow to scan the room.  He noticed that Lulu’s clothes were 
missing.  She had apparently left sometime during the night.  He scratched his 
head.  He wondered why she hadn’t awakened him to say goodbye.  He sat up on the 
side of the bed and pulled on his pajama bottoms.  He walked over to the window 
and peered out on a gloriously beautiful day then rubbing the back of his head 
he headed for the bathroom. 
 
 After a quick shower he dressed hurriedly but with great care.  In his business 
he had an image to maintain.  This morning he had an early appointment with his 
dad and Mr. Silver to go over the deal he had been working on the better part of 
two days and nights.   This time he was ready and he knew his father would be 
proud.  
 
~~~~~//~~~~~
 
Things had gone very well with Mr. Silver earlier and Nick was feeling very 
confident and good about himself as he stepped off the elevator at Legal 
Services.  He quickly glanced around to see if he saw Lulu anywhere but she 
wasn’t immediately visible.  Nick put his briefcase down in the conference room 
and went for a cup of coffee.  As he headed back to the conference room he saw 
Lulu emerge from Alvin’s office.
 
“Mornin’, Lulu,” Nick said.  She glanced Nick’s way but didn’t say a word or 
acknowledge him in any way.  His smile faded immediately into a look of 
disbelief.  Lulu proceeded to her office and closed the door.  
 
After a moment, Nick left his coffee cup on the counter and proceeded to the 
“broom closet”.  He knocked and immediately entered closing the door behind him. 
 He found Lulu sitting at her desk with her head in her hands.  She slowly 
looked up.  Nick gave her a questioning stare waiting for her to say something.  

 
“What is it, Nick?”  She asked as though she didn’t understand why he was there. 
 
 
After a moment, he said, “What?”  He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.  Lulu 
gazed at Nick without expression.  After an agonizing moment of silence, he 
turned and walked out the door pulling it closed behind him.  
 
Leaning against the door he closed his eyes tightly, successfully shutting off 
the tears that were welling up in his eyes.  Sadness was quickly replaced by 
anger.  He was through being Lulu’s boy-toy.  He stopped by Alvin’s office to 
pick up his latest assignment and returned to the conference room to retrieve 
his briefcase.  As he headed for the elevator, he glanced over at Lulu’s office. 
 The door remained closed.  
 
~~~~//~~~~
 
Nick strode through the lobby at Fallin & Associates and towards his office when 
Jake hailed him but he kept walking, totally oblivious of his surroundings.  
 
“Hey, Nick.”  Jake called after Nick, a little louder this time.  
 
Nick turned and glared back at Jake.  “What, Jake?”  He snapped.  
 
“Oh, just wanted to say hello,” Jake said feebly.  He had noticed some definite 
changes in Nick’s attitude lately at the office.  Jake had thought they were 
becoming pretty good friends but then all of a sudden it seemed Nick was even 
more distant than ever.  
 
“Yeah, oh, well, hello.” Nick said and continued to his office.  
 
Nick slumped into his chair staring off into space.  He had to get a grip on 
things.  This whole Lulu thing was tearing him up.  Throw in his recent problems 
with his Dad and the murder of his probation officer; well it was becoming 
increasingly tough to resist the remembered euphoric benefits of a “coke” binge. 
 He shook off that thought and opened his briefcase.  The rest of the day was 
spent working on the new case from Legal Services and finishing up the final 
documents for the deal with Mr. Silver.  At least that deal had worked out okay. 

 
~~~~~//~~~~~
 
It was almost 8:00 pm when Nick got home.  It had been an especially tough day 
keeping his mind on things but he had managed.  He removed his overcoat and 
jacket, throwing them over the corner of the sofa, and loosened his tie.  He 
went to the refrigerator for a Perrier.  He really didn’t feel like eating.  He 
flipped on the TV and turned to a cable news channel for the latest world news.  
Nothing much had changed in the world today … just in his own little corner of 
that world.  With his elbows on his knees he put his head in his hands.  How had 
he allowed himself to become so subject to his emotions?  He was exhausted yet 
he didn’t feel like he could sleep.  He couldn’t stop thinking about the events 
of the last few weeks; the murder of his probation officer, the problems he was 
having at the Firm and now Lulu.  He would just take a little drive. Maybe that 
would help. 
 
Nick pulled his jacket and overcoat back on and headed for his car.  He drove 
down by the river and parked along the quay.  He walked to the edge of the water 
and peered down into the blackness.  The moon was still shining brightly tonight 
and dancing off the ripples in the water.  A riverside park was nearby and Nick 
noticed couples walking arm in arm, some embracing.  Briefly he allowed himself 
to remember his evening with Lulu.  What had gone wrong?  He had thought they 
were finally beginning to make progress.
 
He returned to his car and drove around for another 30 minutes.  It was now 
about 9:30 pm.  He suddenly realized he was in the alley behind Colin’s 
apartment.  He turned the ignition off and leaned forward, head on the steering 
wheel.  It would be so easy to forget about the pain of the last week with a 
quick visit to Colin’s.  He removed his seatbelt and opened the driver’s door.  
He exited the car and stood looking up the long stairway leading up to Colin’s 
apartment.  The next thing he remembered he was in his car, driving.  But 
driving where?  
 
~~~~//~~~~
 
He parked at the curb, got out and locked the car.  He looked up at the 
four-story building he was standing in front of.  It was an older building in 
downtown Pittsburgh which had been converted into loft apartments a few years 
ago.  It was quite the tony place to live.  Those who had gotten in on the 
ground floor paid much less for their apartments; at today’s prices they were 
fairly expensive.  Nick took the elevator to the fourth floor.  He rang the 
bell.  It seemed like forever before anyone answered.  Finally, Nick heard the 
rattling of the safety chain.  The door opened and Alvin peered back.  He was 
dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt.  He looked at Nick, standing there dressed in 
his suit with his tie loosened.  He threw the door open wider and invited Nick 
to come in with the wave of his hand.  
 
“Nick, take off your coat and have a seat.  Can I get you anything to 
drink….coffee, a soda, water?  Anything?  I just made some fresh coffee.  I was 
going to do some paperwork and thought it might help me stay awake.”  He laughed 
mostly to himself.  He didn’t usually have trouble staying awake.  It was the 
sleeping that gave him trouble.
 
“Yeah, coffee’d be fine.”  Nick took a seat in a chair in the living room.  “You 
got a nice place here, Alvin.  I thought these places were pretty expensive.”  
 
“Well, they are now.  I guess I made a good investment when I bought it years 
ago.  I knew the guy who was developing this area and he convinced me it would 
be a good buy.  Guess he was right.  You take anything in your coffee?”  
 
“No, black’s good.”   Nick sat with his head down.  Alvin placed the coffee on 
the coffee table in front of him.  
 
“It’s good to have you stop by Nick.  I don’t get that much company.”  Alvin 
seated himself on the end of the sofa nearest Nick.  Nick glanced at Alvin with 
that pained expression that Alvin was oh so familiar with.  There was something 
bothering Nick but Alvin wanted to wait for Nick to break the ice.  
 
Nick picked up the coffee mug and took a sip.  “Pretty good coffee.  My dad 
makes a pretty good cup of coffee, too,” Nick said trying to get comfortable 
with being at Alvin’s place.  Nick glanced around the apartment; Spartan by any 
measure, a typical bachelor’s pad.  There were several large comfortable pieces 
of furniture but not a lot of knick-knack stuff.  There were books of all kinds 
lying around everywhere along with magazines and periodicals both legal and 
medical.  Alvin was apparently an avid reader.  That’s something he and Nick 
could have in common.  Nick liked to read when he got the chance.  
 
Minutes passed without a word and finally Nick said, “Alvin, I came close… 
tonight.”  His eyes were pleading with Alvin for help.  
 
Alvin knew what he meant.  He waited a moment to see if Nick would continue then 
said, “You know, Nick, the fact that you came here instead is a good sign.  Do 
you want to talk about it?”  Alvin didn’t want to pressure Nick knowing that was 
the wrong approach, but it was important that Nick talk things out or it would 
continue to be a problem for him.  
 
“I haven’t talked about my problems with anyone since boarding school.”  Nick 
bowed his head thinking about the times he had wanted to talk with his father 
but was unable to do so.  It was easy to talk about things in school with his 
friends since most of them had similar problems in their lives.  But, as a man, 
it had become harder and harder to reveal his inner self, even to himself.  
 
“Nick, if you’re worried about confidentiality, you can rest assured that 
anything you say will stay in this room.  Don’t forget, I’ve been down this road 
and I know exactly how you are feeling.  I am not trying to say that I have 
conquered all my demons but I am more at peace now than ever before.  If there 
is anything in my experience that can help you I am ready to share.”  Nick could 
tell that Alvin was very sincere.  Alvin had never talked to him about his own 
troubles with addiction probably because Nick had always shut him down.  He 
realized, now, how selfish he had been when Alvin tried to share his 
experiences.  He was beginning to realize that sharing was part of the recovery 
process.  
 
Nick started by telling Alvin about the murder of his probation officer.  As it 
happened, Alvin had heard about the murder from his contacts at the police 
department.  He didn’t know before today, however, that Nick had gone to the 
police and given a full statement.  Alvin assured Nick that he had done all he 
could under the circumstances of that unfortunate incident.  He didn’t want to 
tell Nick, at this stage, that he should have reported Dale for his unethical 
behavior rather than go along with his scheme.  Nick was, at the very least, 
opening up.  The best thing that Alvin could do was to listen.  
 
Alvin could tell this wasn’t all that was bothering Nick.  Finally after several 
minutes had passed, Nick said “Alvin, thanks, man, for listening.  I should be 
going.”  He stood and offered his hand to Alvin who also stood.  
 
Alvin held his grip and put his other hand over the top of their clasped hands.  
“Nick, there’s something else bothering you, isn’t there?  Are you sure I can’t 
help?”  Nick tugged his hand free and as he turned to leave he said, “Alvin, 
there are just some things you don’t talk to anyone about.”  Nick started for 
the door.  
 
“It wouldn’t be about a girl, would it Nick?”  Nick stopped suddenly and 
half-turned to face Alvin.  His expression revealed nothing.  Alvin quickly 
added, “Believe me I’m probably the wrong person to talk to about women but I 
can listen pretty good.  Sometimes that’s all it takes.”  
 
Nick said, as he turned to leave, “I’ll remember that, Alvin.”  
 
Alvin stood speechless as the door closed behind Nick.  He figured he had struck 
a nerve with that last question.  He walked to the window to look down on the 
street.  In a few moments he saw Nick emerge from the building and walk to his 
car parked right out front.  He noticed Nick sat for a long time in his car 
before he started it up and pulled slowly away from the curb.  At least Nick had 
come to him this time.  That was a good start.  
 
To be continued… (Confused 2/6)