Part 15
Nikita laid her costume and Michael's across the bed. She was not looking forward to the evening. She'd had to endure many unusual situations on past missions, but she had always managed to escape from having to take things too far. Tonight she was not sure she could avoid it.
Based on her initial meeting with Rick Darrow, she was sure that he was going to do everything in his power to bid for her and win her. She thought of the things that Preston had told her and she felt queasy. Hopefully, Michael would be able to hack into Rick's computer and access the information that they needed before the auction got too far under way. If that happened, she knew she would have an out. Otherwise, without Michael to either bid for her or get them out of there, she would be put on the auction block.
Her nerves were on edge. As she filled the bath tub with bubbly hot water, she went downstairs to pour herself a glass of wine. Better yet, she decided to forego the glass and bring the whole bottle. She was sure if she could just relax that she would be able to get through the evening.
Placing the bottle on the ledge of the deep ceramic tub, she dipped her toe in to test the water. She pressed the play button on the CD player on the shelf beside the tub and turned up the volume to her favorite Beverly Klass CD. This particular CD held special memories for Nikita.
The aroma fo jasmine wafted through the room as she lowered her body into the sudsy bath. Tipping the bottle back she took a swig of wine. She was just beginning to drift off amid a perfectly decadent fantasy featuring her favorite green-eyed man when she felt a drop of wetness on her face. She opened her eyes to see Michael standing over her, his fingers soaking in wine, aiming droplets for her slightly open mouth.
This fantasy is turning out to be better than I dreamed, she thought. Then she saw Michael take a long drink of the wine before pulling off his tie and unbuttoning his shirt. She watched him through the steamy haze of the bath as he unzipped his pants and slid them down is legs until he was standing naked before her.
That's the great thing about fantasies, Nikita thought, you can make the object of your desire do anything you want. Michael bent down next to Nikita's head and ran his fingers over wine-soaked lips. He took another drink from the bottle and leaned over and opened his mouth against hers, dribbling wine down her chin and into her mouth.
She reached up to touch his stubbly cheek and he pressed his lips against hers with more heat and emotion than he'd ever revealed to her. His hand dove beneath the bubbly water and found its way to her breast, as he continued to gently circle her tongue with his.
Nikita let out a little sigh. She couldn't remember when she'd had such a realistic fantasy. Not only could she see and feel him, but she could taste him. It was not an unpleasant sensation.
As her eyelids drifted downward she felt Michael break his lips away from hers and heard a gentle splash as he stepped into the tub to sit in front of her. She sat up and wrapped her long legs around his torso as he pulled her body into his arms. She could feel his broad chest pressed against her breasts as she ran her hands across his muscular shoulders. He was kissing her again, this time with a deliberate passion that wreaked havoc on Nikita's senses. Her body began to react to his touch and as she moved her hands from his shoulders across his chest, down his abdomen to is...
Nikita opened her eyes wide. Wait a minute, she thought. This is no fantasy. This was really Michael kissing her and caressing her intimately and seductively in the middle of her bottle of wine in her bubble bath in her fantasy.
Michael pulled his lips from hers and looked into her eyes questioningly.
"Why'd you stop?" he asked huskily.
"Stop?" she said, amazed that she managed to form the word coherently.
He took her hand from his belly and moved it down further until she was grasping the throbbing heat between his legs. His eyes never wavered from hers and she was overwhelmed with the desire she saw there.
She began stroking him lightly until she felt him harden in her hand.
He deftly lifted her up and pushed her down onto himself until he was completely ensconced within her. His eyes never left her face as he moved his body rhythmically against her.
She could feel his hands cupping her bottom as he raised and lowered her, slowly at first, and then more feverishly until he felt her tighten around him and sensed the oncoming spasms of her body. He buried his face in her neck and bit down gently, waiting to feel her release before he let himself get lost in the essence of Nikita. She vaguely heard him say her name, Ni-ki-ta. She felt him pull her to him tightly, pushing himself even deeper inside of her. They clung together until both bodies stilled. Michael tilted his head down to reach for her lips and pressed his half open mouth against hers in a soft, gentle motion. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes and as she closed her lids the moisture made its way down her face. Michael pulled his lips from hers and began to lick the tears from her cheeks. As Nikita opened her eyes she felt Michael move their joined bodies apart. He leaned back against the tub and pulled her back against his chest. His arms circled her body and she leaned her head onto his shoulder.
They sat in stillness for what seemed like hours. Michael ran his hands across Nikita's silken body and nibbled on her ear.
"If you don't stop that we'll never make it to the party," Nikita said.
"Stop?" asked Michael, as he stood and wrapped Nikita in its fluffy warmness. Then to her surprise, he picked her up and carried her into the bedroom, dropping her lightly on the bed.
She propped herself up on her elbows, aware that they were both still very naked, and also very aware that Michael was still very aroused.
He reached out, tentative at first, and then rubbed his hand up her leg to her inner thigh where he leaned over to kiss her wetness. He moved to position himself between her legs and she began to feel the most exquisite sensation as his tongue explored her inside and out.
Still propped up by her elbows, her arms became like jelly and she melted into the softness of the mattress. All she could feel was Michael's hot mouth teasing, first lightly and then with intense pressure. Just as she was on the verge of release, he lifted his head and ran his tongue up her belly and licked the inside of her belly button.
As Michael made his way up her body, his mouth found first one breast and then the other. His hands were moving lightly over her belly until he increased the pressure by pulling her legs apart and sliding his hardness inside of her. He stretched his arms over her head and intertwined his fingers with hers, pinning her hands to the bed.
Only when he began thrusting inside of her did he look into her eyes. And what he saw there took his breath away. Nikita's crystal blue eyes had turned to a deep blue pool of ocean and the waves of her love washed over him.
His lips brushed hers and she felt his breath in her ear when he whispered, "I want you so much, Ni-ki-ta.. This is just us now. No surveillance cameras. No mission profile. Just you and me."
For once, Nikita was speechless. Was this really Michael taking the initiative and opening the door that he kept closed so tightly between them? This Michael was giving her what she wanted and taking what he needed. This Michael was baring his soul, giving in to what he once called his weakness. With this Michael she saw a light that hadn't been there before. She saw the light of truth and honesty. And yes, she also saw the light of fear.
When they were both spent from their passion, they again clung to each other in silence.
"Why can't it always be like that?" she thought, not realizing that she had spoken out loud.
"It's always like this between us," Michael whispered into her ear breathily.
"Yes, it's always there isn't it?" Nikita said a little sadly. "But it's as if the closer we get to it, the further away it becomes."
"It's not the way I would choose it to be for us," Michael said slowly. "But sometimes the choices are already made for us and we're powerless to change it. I may not express it to you the way you would want, but you're the only bright ray of light in the darkness of my life."
Nikita sat up and looked down at Michael. Just when I really need those surveillance cameras so I can replay those words when you retreat back into your shell, thought Nikita.
"I don't know if that's enough for me, Michael," Nikita said. "You're like a king living inside of a castle that's surrounded by a moat. I never know if the drawbridge will be up or down."
"I've told you before that I lead separate lives, and there are reasons for that," Michael said. "But I struggle with my feelings for you everyday and it scares the hell out of me."
"Michael, fear can keep you from loving," Nikita said. "And the only thing that can stop the fear is love. I don't know what it is that's holding you back. I do know that as much as I want to be with you like this, that I die a little more each time you shut down on me. I'm not the same person I was three years ago. I want to be with you, but I don't need you to survive anymore. I don't need you to live."
Michael was silent, as if he were etching her every word into his memory. He reached up and traced his finger along the side of her face.
"I'm sorry," Michael said wistfully.
"I'm sorry too," Nikita said. "I've had to put my life in your hands more times than I want to remember. That takes a certain amount of trust. If there's not trust between us then there can't be anything else."
