Disclaimer: I don�t own the characters just the story, making them do what I want for a change� As much as Nora loved her job there was no denying the politics of it were a pain in the ass. She was never very good at shutting her mouth when she had something important to say, or playing the game that various people wanted her to. She wasn�t particularly for the death penalty but at certain times she had to support it, of course she hid this fact from the press. Jack had always known her feelings on it; she remembered the heated arguments they�d had when she�d dated him all those years ago but now they never argued just got on with it. She supposed it was because the passion had gone, it didn�t bother her that much. Relationships always change and as she was now his boss it wouldn�t be exactly professional for her to be fantasizing about him. She got up from her desk and eyed her reflection in the window; still it would be quite flattering if he showed a little interest, damn if any man would show an interest. Over the past year she�d been so tangled up with work she not had a date, a drink, even an intimate conversation with a man. Had she really lost that spark � when she was younger she could just look at a man in a certain way and he�d come over, she was never short of admirers or someone to flirt with. She looked at her watch and realised she�d been reminiscing for over an hour, perhaps it was time to go home, there was a party tonight and she had to shower and change and make herself look at least halfway decent. She pulled her coat on and swept all the files off her desk into her briefcase, she�d have to sort them out when she got in. She wasn�t looking forward to tonight; she was far too tired to be in the mood for socializing. She�d decided on a plain black dress for the evening, long sweeping material, a low-neck line gave just a glimpse of her cleavage, and a simple silver chain added some sparkle. When she arrived at the hotel it was already bursting with her fellow workers, aswell as her rivals for the next election. Funny how they spent most of their time criticising her views and trying their best to dig some dirt on her for the press, but tonight they would be the sweetest, nicest people you could ever meet. Her best friends it would seem, goodness she needed a drink. For two hours she swept round the ballroom making polite conversation with the other guests, she was hungry and had only managed to secure one glass of wine - some party. She spotted the balcony door was open and quietly sneaked through hoping to grab a few minutes to herself. She leant over the side and looked out upon the city lights, the air was cool, the view breathtaking and for a second she felt happy. �Not enjoying the party?� A familiar voice came out of the darkness and she instinctively turned towards it. �It�s alright, it�s only me.� Jack came out of the shadows to stand by her side. �So why are you out here instead of meeting and greeting.� She shrugged. �I got bored, you know sometimes I really hate politics.� �Me too, but you - I don�t believe that. You�re too good at all the diplomatic stuff, you carry it off without effort.� �Thanks, I think. So why are you out here?� Jack laughed. �I was bored too, I don�t know, they hire out this expensive hotel and somehow they still don�t know how to party.� �I know, where is the music for gods sake? People need to dance.� �Especially when they�re drunk and someone else is paying for the alcohol.� �You old cynic.� He leant down on the wall next to her and closed his eyes letting the evening breeze wash over him, she looked sideways at him, why the hell was he still so damn attractive? �Refreshing isn�t it.� �Very much.� �You know Jack, I�ve always wondered, why have you never considered running for DA?� �What! Can you really see me doing all that; I enjoy the courtroom drama far too much. Besides I told you I�m no good at the political side, I say what I think.� �I�ve noticed.� �And you know they�d never elect me, I have far too much baggage. Too many mistakes and skeletons in the closet.� �So I�m straight laced and boring and can suck up to the men in suits.� �I didn�t say that.� �No I did, it�s horrible to realise Jack that you�ve gotten old and are no longer doing the things you enjoy the most.� �Such as?� She looked sideways at him a smile playing on her lips. �I haven�t had a date in over a year.� �Ah, well if it�s any consolation you�re probably better off without them, they all go wrong.� �I forget you don�t believe in true love do you.� �What makes you say that?� �Come on Jack we both know you�ve never sustained a relationship, you�re too selfish and work orientated, we both are. That�s why we�re both still single.� �Perhaps, or perhaps we just made a mistake all those years ago.� �How much have you had to drink?� �Probably too much, but I mean it.� He stood up straight stretching his arms above his head. �Besides Nora I don�t know why you�re so worried, you go in there and click your fingers and any number of men will come running.� �But what if I don�t find them attractive.� �Then find someone you do.� He put his jacket on. �Well I�ve had enough, I�m gonna get a cab home and watch late night t.v. Night.� He turned away from her. �Night.� She said to his back, then suddenly she found she was having thoughts about him she thought had long since disappeared. �Jack, have you ever seen the hotel rooms here?� He turned back to her and shook his head. �Would you like to?� Nora took Jack�s hand and pulled him into the darkened hotel room, she hadn�t been so excited in years, she moved towards the desk and switched a lamp it on. She could hear her heartbeat pounding in her ears and her blood was pulsing as she ran her hands up over his chest and his fingers were tangling in her hair. �If we do this, your career, your reputation�� �Shhh, just forget them for a while nobody has to know.� She pressed her mouth against his and in a second he�d lifted her up and pushed her back onto the desk. His hands were moving her dress up and she eagerly parted her legs so he could move closer, he felt so good, he was moaning her name as he fiddled with her bra and she couldn�t help but giggle. �Jack, it�s been so long.� She lay back on the desk and he followed her, placing kisses over her chest and up her neck. She closed her eyes when she felt that searing heat beginning to travel through her body, he hadn�t even undressed her yet. What the hell was she doing, in a hotel room, while a party for her went on downstairs? She felt like a teenager again, all that young lust, needing it so badly� �Stop, stop it please.� She pushed Jack off and sat up pulling her dress back down to cover herself. �What�s wrong, did I hurt you? I�m sorry Nora I didn�t mean to�� �No it wasn�t that, I just can�t, I�m so sorry. I shouldn�t have led you on � god I�ve made such a fool of myself. I thought I could do this, but I�ve never believed in one-night stands. I�m not the kind of woman who sleeps with someone simply for a fix and you�re not the kind of man who goes for commitment � I found that out years ago. You haven�t changed and neither can I, so this won�t work.� As much as what she said hurt, Jack couldn�t deny it was the truth. She was far too honorable to screw around for the fun of it; it was always something deeper for her � that was part of the problem the first time around. His inability to commit, it wasn�t that he didn�t love her � hell that had never been a problem, it never would be, but there was something about experiencing that first touch again, living solely with one person, children, marriage � all that smothered him. And she�d always gone for that, she needed the strength and stability of a relationship. He went back to her and took hold of her hands. �It�s ok, I understand.� He kissed her forehead. �I love you Nora, I always have.� �Sometimes that�s not enough though.� �I know, I�m sorry I can�t give more.� �I can�t force you. Thank you for your friendship Jack, it means so very much to me.� He lifted her down from the desk. �Will you stay for a while, have coffee with me, I feel so ashamed.� �Well don�t, we�re both adults.� �Supposedly responsible ones.� �We can�t get it right all the time. How about we relax, play cards like we used to.� �You know I�ll still beat you, haven�t lost my touch.� �I can believe that.� He took his tie off and loosened his shirt before sitting down. Nora turned the lights fully on. �I�ll order some coffee.� �Alright, you get the cards and I�ll deal.� �Sure.� She smiled, she was frustrated as hell but she knew it was for the best. She couldn�t go through all that pain again, it was hard enough breaking up with him the first time around. |
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| Y o u n g L u s t |
| by Ms. E |