Merlot at Midnight Author: Romantique Email: dolph1n@sbcglobal.net Rating: R for adult situations. Summary: Nick finally lets go. This fanfic contains all the requirements of the (September 2003 Summer Daze Challenge) Full Circle Challenge. Distribution: Archive anywhere, but e-mail me, please at dolph1n@i... --+-- Skyline Luxury Apartments Midnight It had taken weeks for the two of them to meet, again. Between Nick Fallin's impossible work schedule at the firm and LSP, and Jenna Larsen's limited time in Pittsburgh, tonight had been scheduled and rescheduled no fewer than three times. But it seems the third time is going to be the charm. "To finally getting together," Nick toasts the leggy blonde with a glass of a fragrant Merlot, his contribution to their evening together. Long, tanned legs in that denim mini skirt . . . Nick can hardly keep his eyes off her. "Cheers," Jenna reciprocates, making that wonderful tone created by "clinking" two glasses of fine crystal. Nick met Jenna on a recent business trip to New York City. A stewardess for U.S. Airways, Nick was instantly attracted to her Scandinavian beauty. After a purely coincidental flight back on her return leg to Pittsburgh, she couldn't help but notice her handsome repeat passenger. Jenna is never one to date a passenger; however, this handsome gentleman worked his impeccable charm and good looks on her and managed to obtain a date before the plane had landed. It had been months since Nick and Lulu had gone their separate ways; and even though Lulu had recently returned to Pittsburgh from the Bay Area, their relationship was strained in a way that would defy explanation from either party. At this time in his life, the idea of dating a stewardess appeals to Nick. *A gorgeous woman who is geographically undesirable. Perfect!* Tonight, Jenna cooked him an Italian meal consisting of a salad, fresh bread, pasta, and sausage. It was an excellent meal which Nick thoroughly enjoyed. Their dinner conversation was fresh and effortless, as they stared endlessly into one another's eyes. There were definite sparks between this man and this woman. "Do you live here alone?" Nick asks, sipping the wine. A glass or two of wine couldn't possibly hurt, he rationalizes against his better judgment. "No," Jenna answers as she leans closer to him. "I have a roommate, another stewardess. But she's out of town for the week." There is a siren gleam in Jenna's sapphire eyes. She stands to refill Nick's wine glass, when he puts his arm around her tiny waste and pulls her closer to him and then down, beckoning her to sit on his corduroyed lap. "I'm so glad to hear your roommate will not be home," he locks eyes with her and breaking their gaze, he takes the wine bottle out of her hand and places it on the table. Gently, he places his hands on top of her shoulders, lifts her blonde mane off of her neck, and pulls her even closer. Their lips meet, at first for just a sip. The taste of Merlot swirls in his mouth as their tongues meet for the first time. And then, he kisses her more deeply while she meets him with luscious kissing of her own. His body immediately responds to her electricity. Seated on his strong lap, she can feel his passion rise beneath her, and it ignites her own. Their kissing builds, becoming an urgent, passionate hunger for more. Kissing leads to touching, leads to moving, leads to moaning; and their temperatures rise with their deepening desire. Then, suddenly in their rising frenzy, Jenna's arm knocks over a full glass of wine, spilling the magenta liquid all over her new lover. "I am so sorry," she breathlessly whispers, upon seeing that she's spilled red wine all over Nick's heather cashmere sweater. Nick flinches uncontrollably from the unexpected coolness of the wine against his heated skin, but he quickly assures the beautiful woman on his lap that everything is okay and begins to wriggle out of the wine soaked garment. Jenna helps him pull it over his head. Intoxicated by a wave of his masculine scent, she looks down at the dark, red beads of liquid that remain on his muscular chest and torso. Slowly, sensuously, she licks the wine from his skin with the tip of her tongue, more than making up for her clumsy move. Nick's nerve endings respond to her tongue as he watches her slowly lap up every last drop of the wine in her descent down his torso, toward his belt buckle. He watches, frozen in amazement. Serious lovemaking begins again and again and again, starting in the dining room and ending in the bedroom. The next morning 5:00 a.m. Nick awakens to a darkened room filled with travel posters. Disoriented, he doesn't know where he is for a moment or two. He gradually emerges from a wine induced haze to find a sleeping Jenna is snuggled next to his bare skin. They feel good together. She begins to stir in her sleep, when he reaches over to stop her. "Go back to sleep," he whispers. "I need to go into the office to prepare for a hearing." Spent from their night of explosive passion, she quickly slips back into blissful sleep. Nick then searches for his clothing that is strewn about the floor, masculine clothing intermingled with feminine undergarments. While successful in finding his boxers, pants, socks and shoes . . . he cannot find his sweater. *Oh, yes. It's in the dining room,* he suddenly remembers. He tiptoes out of the bedroom is socked feet in an effort to be quiet, and he makes his way to the dining room where last night's festival of passion began. The memory of their bodies bringing such pleasure to one another is fresh and exciting, but the wonderful thoughts quickly leave him as he is unable to find his sweater. It is very chilly this morning. Going down on all fours on the floor and searching under the table turns up nothing. Now shivering from the cold, he returns to the bedroom, and carefully sits down on the side of the bed. He whispers into Jenna's ear. "Jenna? I'm sorry to wake you, but I can't find my sweater. I really need to get to the office." "Huh?" she stirs and opens her eyes to find that beautiful, bare- chested man again, sitting next to her. She smiles. "I have to get to the office, and I can't find my sweater," Nick explains again. "I'm sorry to wake you, but its cold outside." Slowly, the sleepy blonde sits up and wraps her warm arms and body around Nick's air chilled skin. "I'll help you find it," she speaks in a low volume, as she becomes more awake. He helps her out of bed. The nude woman sprints through the chilled morning air to her bathroom, where she grabs her bathrobe from the hook on the door. Together, they then begin to search for the sweater. "I thought I left it in the dining room," Nick whispers, "but I can't find it." Finally, Jenna remembers. "Oh, I put it in with my dry cleaning. I insist that you let me have it cleaned for you." "That's very sweet," Nick flashes a little grin. "But I don't have a jacket, and I need it." "Hey," she interrupts. "I have some U.S. Airways sweatshirts. The company gives them to us, you know, promotional items. Here, let me get you one." And she hurries to the hall closet and pulls out a man's sweatshirt. It had never been worn. "You can keep it," she says as she hands him the folded shirt. Nodding with gratitude, he pulls the shirt over his head. It fits him perfectly and is very warm. "I'll return your cleaned sweater to you," she promises. "It is such a beautiful sweater." "Not as beautiful as you," Nick approaches Jenna and gives her a parting kiss. "Thank you," Nick whispers. "I will definitely be in touch with you. You are . . . wonderful." He flashes a smile that reflects his carnal satiation, as he leaves her smiling to return to her blissful sleep. Later That Same Day 11:00 a.m. Jenna emerges from the bedroom, in uniform with flight bag in tow. "Hi Clara," she greets her housekeeper. Jenna and her roommate hired Clara to clean their apartment once a week. "Hello Jenna," Clara returns the greeting. "Looks like you're headed out of town." "Yes," she answers. "I'll be back in a few days. Could I ask you to do something for me?" "Of course you can," the housekeeper replies. Jenna goes into the bathroom and reaches into the top of her laundry hamper. "Would you take this sweater to the dry cleaners? And tell them that the spots are red wine?" she asks, handing Nick's sweater to Clara. "I'll take it this afternoon," she replies. The housekeeper can't help but notice this is a man's sweater. "This is very nice sweater," she comments. "Hmmmm," Jenna agrees. "It's cashmere. A sweater that is as beautiful and classic as the man who owns it." "Did you meet someone special?" the housekeeper asked her young client. Jenna smiles a knowing smile. "I think so, Clara. I think so." LSP Offices One week later Nick Fallin writes furiously onto a legal pad. He is in such a rush; he should have left for Court ten minutes ago. When he finishes scribbling his final thought, he shoves the legal pad into his briefcase, grabs his trench coat, and heads out the door. In his haste, he almost crashes into Lulu. "Nick, you and I need to discuss the Bradley case," she pleads. "Not now," he huffs. "I'm late for Court." "That's what you said yesterday," Lulu reminds him. "We need to take care of this . . . today? Can we meet for dinner tonight?" she asks as she follows him through the lobby toward the elevators. "I can't," he shouts, pounding on the elevator call button. "It will have to be tomorrow." Just then, the elevator doors open. Jenna is standing in the car, pleased to have found her new lover." "Nick," she smiles, holding a white box. "I have your sweater, good as new." Nick returns the smile. "Well, I can see why you're busy," Lulu says under her breath. "What did you say?" Nick turns around and asks Lulu. "You heard me," Lulu replies. She turns and walks away in exasperation. And Nick did hear her. He enters the elevator. "I'm on my way to Court, but we can talk on my way down to the main lobby." "I just came by to return you sweater, and hopefully find out if you're free tonight," the gorgeous blonde announces. Taking the sweater from her, he leans over and gives Jenna the sweetest kiss as the elevator approaches the ground floor. He has a fleeting, wonderful thought about taking her right here in the elevator. "Yes, I'm free tonight. Can I pick you up at about seven?" "That would be great," Jenna shows her approval with a big smile that lights up her face. As Nick exits the elevator to head for the parking lot, he turns around to her and says, "Perhaps I should wear my lucky sweater tonight?" Nick's new lover nods to show her approval. "And I'll bring the wine." She flashes her handsome new lover a very big smile. ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . fin