Disclaimer: don�t own characters but still making up their lives so ha ha ha� Jack had gotten to the point where he didn�t even knock before he went into Nora�s office now, and she didn�t look up when he sat down across from her at the desk. �So, what can I do for you?� She asked as she continued to write. �Not much.� �Ah, so I guess this isn�t work related.� �Not really.� She looked over her glasses at him. �What does that mean?� �I thought you may fancy having dinner with me this evening.� �That has nothing to do with work.� �It�s getting you to relax after work�� �Cheap, very cheap.� She took her glasses off and leant back in her chair allowing herself to relax just a little. �You know you have to stop wandering in here, people will talk.� �What about, we�re working aren�t we?� He leant forward on the desk smiling at her. �And we were working last week when you were sneaking your hand in my top? We both know Serena noticed my button was undone, how embarrassing do you think that was.� �But she never actually saw me do it therefore it could have just slipped open, by accident.� �Well no more kissing or touching while we�re here, can�t risk it.� �Alright. Whatever you say boss.� �Don�t be flippant�now go and leave me alone.� �You haven�t said yes yet.� �What to � oh dinner I can�t tonight I�m sorry.� �Why not?� Jack complained. �Excuse me;� she smiled. �I already have a dinner date.� �With who?� �An old friend, now go away and let me do some work.� Jack sloped off feeling more than a little rejected. He knew he didn�t have any right to ask Nora what she was doing and with who but he couldn�t help it. They�d known each other for years and he�d always found her attractive, but she invariably seemed to be just out of his league, plus he�d never been one for relationships and she �d always known that, teased him about it at times. But when she�d come to work with him at Hogan Place there was something different about her, somehow she seemed surer of herself and her position, and more importantly the allure she had over him. It wasn�t long before they were openly flirting with each other but things had taken a more serious turn when they�d ended up in bed together at Christmas. So for the past few months they�d been bed partners, it seemed strange to him that he was the one pushing for more while she was content to just spend the odd night with him. He hadn�t occurred to him that he could be being used, but in a way he supposed it could be put that way, only he knew her too well; she wasn�t the kind of woman to do that. He helped himself to coffee and leant against the machine as he looked toward Nora�s office; perhaps she was just pissed off after last week, he did go a bit too far, got carried away � one thing she was adamant about was that nobody should know about them. It was only fair; afterall she couldn�t risk her job for him, or her reputation. He drained the last of his coffee and tossed the cup into the waste bin, he just needed to talk to her properly about where she thought this was all going. He could do that tomorrow, if she wasn�t busy � he started back towards his office when he noticed a smartly dressed man knocking on Nora�s door, maybe he was the man she was going out with tonight, she did say dinner date. Still he shouldn�t jump to conclusions� * * * Nora hid her head under the pillow at the sound of her doorbell ringing. When it didn�t stop she dragged herself out of bed and pulled her dressing gown as she made her way down the stairs and through the hall to her front door. She turned on the light as she slid the door open a crack and found Jack standing there. She let him in and he followed her into the kitchen. �What the hell are you doing here, it�s one in the morning.� She yawned, switching the kettle on and taking two mugs out of the cupboard. �I needed to talk to you.� �About what?� She leant against the work surface and watched as he stalked around her kitchen. �Jack, come on, it�s late and I�m tired � is it work?� �No, no it�s us.� �Us?� �Who was that guy you went out with?� �Excuse me, have you been drinking � what right do you have to question who I see?� Jack sat down at the kitchen table. �I don�t I suppose, no right at all.� Nora placed a mug of coffee in front of him. �If you must know he and I used to date years ago, he moved away but has just come back to the city and wanted to catch up, does that pass inspection.� �I�m sorry, god I feel such a fool.� �Why are you so worried Jack?� He shrugged. �I just thought, since we�ve been sleeping together�� �Sleeping together Jack, that�s all. You never wanted more, I�ve always known that.� �What if I said I did?� �Why � why now after all these years, you�ve always known how I felt about you.� �How do you feel now?� �I�m not sure, we find each other attractive, you�re good company, we have fun � I�m not sure I want more now. I�m your boss Jack it�s hardly professional.� �So it�s professional to sleep together?� �Sleeping together is very different to loving one another Jack.� �You think I don�t know that!� She watched him for a few minutes as he stared down at his coffee. �Jack, I really am tired.� �Then I�ll go.� �I didn�t mean that. Stop being stubborn.� �Can�t we just try Nora?� �We�ll talk about it tomorrow. But for now I�m going to bed, and I�d like you to stay with me � to sleep that�s all.� She took his hand and he stood up and followed her as she turned the lights back off and led him upstairs to her bedroom. * * * Nora woke to the soothing feeling of somebody kissing her neck, the smoothness of lips pressing gently against her, the warmth of a hand resting against her stomach and a rather alert man pushing his body up to her back. She reached down and squeezed Jack�s hand without opening her eyes and he responded with a quick squeeze of her stomach. She opened her eyes and glanced over at the clock, it was only 8.30 � a whole Saturday to enjoy yet. She vaguely remembered the conversation from last night and felt just a little bad for not being more receptive to Jack�s comments, but hell it was the middle of the night. �Nora.� He whispered against her neck. �Talk to me, scold me if you have to, but don�t be silent.� �What would you like me to say?� �That I�m forgiven for acting like a fool, that you�ll forget what I said and move on.� She turned to look at him. �You really want that?� He leant forward to kiss her but she pulled away. �This is why I knew I shouldn�t get involved with you Jack McCoy, because I can never say no. Because sex for you is just that, and I thought I could do that too but I can�t. And last night you said�.. It was all lies, jealousy.� Jack rolled her over and pinned her down with his body. �Hey don�t call me my full name it means I�m in trouble.� �You are, now get off me.� �No. What I said last night I meant, I just didn�t think you wanted to hear it that�s all. Some old guy who�s messed you around for years, why would you want anything serious from him anymore, I thought you just wanted this.� �Screwing around � I thought you knew me better. I�ve been doing �this� for years with men I hardly know, it�s awfully lonely Jack.� �Nobody knows that better than me. I love you Nora.� �You swore you�d never say that again, not after Claire.� �I know, but never is a long time and besides now the pain has subsided I�m not sure Claire and I would have lasted, she was far too sensible for me, she would have realized I�m going nowhere.� He smiled. �So I�m not sensible?� �You�re irresistible.� �And old � what about all those nice young secretaries that follow you around.� �They don�t have your smile, or your eyes, or your wonderful, wonderful voice.� He kissed her throat and skillfully lifted her nightdress off with one hand. �Early morning sex.� She breathed into his hair. �No, making love.� �You know the difference?� �I�ll show you the difference.� * * * Three days later Jack couldn�t stop smiling, and people were beginning to stare he knew it, but he didn�t care. Life suddenly seemed sweet again, after years of mistakes and loneliness and negativity he finally felt like he�d done something right for a change. He swung round the corner of the hall and smiled goodbye to some of the other attorneys who were off home. He knew she would still be there, and would be glad to hear about his day in court. After all it was only professional that they should talk about these things. He knocked on her office door and entered at her response. �Now how did I know it would be you?� �You�re psychic.� She held out a tumbler of whisky for him. �Celebrations I believe.� �Thank you very much.� He sipped it and sat down on the couch, opening his jacket and relaxing. �Where�s Serena?� �Had to rush off, has a date I believe.� �Oh, good for her.� �Hmm, good for us, no interruptions - you know I do like that blouse.� He smiled. �Don�t get any ideas, I want a thorough report then we can go home and stop being DA�s and then you can play with my blouse�� �Tease.� He drained the rest of his whisky. �Well we won, so let�s go home now.� �I can�t I have work to finish.� �It�s late, you shouldn�t work so hard.� She laughed at his serious expression. �You of all people telling me that! Look here are my keys, let yourself into the house and make yourself comfortable. I�ll ring you when I�m setting off and you can run me a bath.� �What? I�m not a house husband you know.� �I know, I�ll make you a deal, you do that for me and I�ll make dinner � how does that sound?� �I got a better deal.� �Go on.� �I�ll run you a bath, if I can share it.� �Tough one, will you use scented candles?� �And lots of bubble bath.� �Well then I�ll bargain, but only if you leave now or I�ll never get through this.� �Alright I�m going, before I do though, just one kiss.� �I told you not here.� He moved round the desk to her and took her hand. �Oh go one, just one.� His hands were soon roaming up her back and winding into her hair as he brought her head closer to his and found her mouth. Neither of them noticed as the door opened, but Nora was moaning into Jack�s mouth when she heard it slam shut. The jumped apart and Nora ran to the door opening it to look down the hall, there she saw the Mayor hastily retreating to the elevator and not looking back. |
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| T h e B l o u s e |
| by Ms. E |