dcheighteen

Michael sat in the studio watching the bars of the equalizer move in rhythm to the music but his mind was miles away, thinking of the statements Carmen had made� He had allowed himself to not think about how miserable Brandon�s life must have been, hell lots of kids grew up without their fathers around, many more of them grew up without any support from their father�s either� Where did she come off telling him off like that? He hadn�t been around like a father, but he had cared, he had supported both of them. His thoughts continued to swim and he played with the controls until the music sounded more like mush than melody� he was about to give up on trying to concentrate on the album that night anymore when the door to the little studio opened.

Mike couldn�t mask the look of surprise on his face, when Wayne came through the door dragging a petulant Faith behind him. Wayne approached the control board and threw a folder of papers on it�

�Thought you might be interested in what our girl here is up to while you�re gone Boss.�

Mike had to keep from laughing at the sight of Faith struggling to release herself from the hand that held her, the picture before him was comical, Wayne the big mountain of a man that he was, was simply standing there with her arm in his grasp, and little Faith was just flailing away on the other end of his grip�

�No use trying to budge that mountain girl, it ain�t happening.� Considering how his day had been going, he didn�t even care too much anymore what she had been getting into, but the humor in the situation was just what he needed to brighten his mood.

Looking down at the folder and considering it�s contents for a minute, he looked up at Faith who had become a limp, resigned captivee in Wayne�s locked fingers.

�Any particular reason for your overwhelming desire to rifle my cabinets, my dear?� Mike looked at her skeptically for a few minutes, waiting for an explanation.

�Why would you even ask? Why WOULD I have any reason to try to understand the man I�m living with, whose past seems to be shaded, and shrouded with so many unexplainable occurrences that were �not true� but now� are?� Faith�s face clouded over and her lower lip pouted, she was pretty sure this was not how most journalists got their interviews� but, this wasn�t a �normal� journalistic situation either.

�Soooooooooo�. We�re living together again, hummm? That�s interesting. I seem to remember a certain young lady up and running off without so much as a good-bye, nice knowin ya. I really don�t think the fact that you come waltzing back here entitles you to any real explanation of anything. Why should I explain myself to you? Have I ever once asked you to explain YOUR past?�

�Go ahead, I don�t have any unwanted kids buried away in my past.� Faith shot back but saw the wounded look of pain that her comment had caused. Hitting him below the belt was probably not the best way to find out the information she needed, but there had to be a better source than this. She felt pretty certain he would never open himself to her questions, and more over, he would probably figure out her reason after too long.

�I think�� Mike stopped himself to consider the options, and what their consequences would be; he hesitated for a long time, staring at the woman held before him for his sentence. �It might be best for both of us, if you left for awhile.� He noticed the look of shock on her face, guess she wasn�t expecting that. �Yes, I do have some things to straighten out, maybe even some things I�m not proud of, but I do not have ANY UNWANTED children.�

Faith looked at his eyes that had taken on a stubborn look of defiance, she was not going to gain any headway now, he didn�t trust her, he didn�t even know why, but she guessed he sensed a lack of loyalty that would no longer permit open feelings. She thought for a moment to reach out and touch him, to comfort him, let him know she still cared. She was surprised that her body refused the action, as she looked at the man seated before her, the one that had made her melt and jump about as a teen-ager listening to the music that had shaped her life for years, she began to realize that the man seated there was not the same image she had ached for, he was a man, period.

�Okay, Mike, if you think that�s what you want, then that�s the way it should be.� She smiled as sweetly as she could to convince him of her loving sincerity, hoping desperately he would believe that she had his best interests at heart. �One last thing though.�

Mike raised his eyebrows to question her but didn�t continue to ask what the favor would be.

�Could I have a picture� to remember.�? Faith nervously shifted as if she were a groupie hanging at the edge of a crowd begging for just a picture, for an autograph� what a laugh, she had been just that when they had met, a bouncing autograph seeker who desperately wanted to touch the man she adored from afar for so many years. And touched him she had, those memories wouldn�t fade quickly.

Mike began to rummage through his desk drawer for one of the many 8x10�s that were mailed out to fan who sent letters asking for a picture or autograph. Pulling one from its folder, he particularly liked this one; it was sweet and rather elegant in its simplicity.

�No silly. A real picture, of the two of us. I�m sure Wayne wouldn�t mind taking a picture.� She turned in Wayne�s grip to look up at him with innocent puppy dog eyes� �Would ya Wayne? Please?� Her sappy sincerity was threatening to make her sick to her stomach. It wasn�t that the words were so out of character for her, but the fact that she knew inside where they came from. Luckily for her, she realized no one else in the room had picked up on her sarcasm.

Mike sighed and pushed himself away from the desk to prepare to walk around it and have yet another picture with an adoring fan taken. That did strike him as crazy under the circumstances, but he couldn�t keep himself from picturing it that way. Faith moved away from Wayne as he walked over to the shelves on one side of the room and picked up a camera that was there. A Polaroid that was kept loaded and ready for those impromptu photo opportunities that occasionally happened, when someone noteworthy popped in to make some arrangement or deal. They usually wanted a picture to �remember� the time too.

As Mike stationed himself and allowed Faith to come to his side and put her arm around his waist, he put his arm around her shoulder too. Why not? Give her a good picture to remember. As the camera flashed, he didn�t even have time to respond as Faith�s arm shot out and her hand reached out to grab him in a way that made him weak in the knees. Oh THAT would be a picture to remember. He couldn�t help but respond to her lightening fast kiss that she planted on his lips as the camera flashed and he felt her hand squeeze him. In that very instant, she had created the ultimate photo opportunity. Good thing these Polaroid�s didn�t come with negatives.

Faith took the Polaroid from Wayne�s grip, it was priceless� perfect, oh she�d treasure this one all right. So would Marvin. Faith grinned at the thought of the little man sitting behind his desk gasping at the �evidence� of her relationship with the elusive Mr. Jackson.

As Faith left the building, she passed through the glass doors where an old-gray-haired security officer sat almost snoozing in the mid-day sun and passed a Carmel skinned, black haired beauty that was entering through the opposite doors without so much as a glance in her direction.

Mike looked up from his desk almost wearily at the woman that entered his office, no knock, of course. He studied her expression; this didn�t look like a social call. Certainly she wasn�t going to get into it about Brandon here? He watched as she walked calmly over to stand in front of his desk, he watched as she lifted the brown valise by her side to rest on the top of the desk� and he watched in wide-eyed amazement as she pulled a file from it and slapped it down in front of him.

What was it today with people producing files and throwing them on his desk? This one held no secrets as to its contents though, as the front of it was clearly stamped �SONY LEGAL DEPT.�

�Oh please, Carmen. Back off. I�ve been working. I�ve been in that damned studio every day.

�And done absolutely nothing.� She countered before he could continue to plead his case. Your masters may be kept in a locked vault love, but you are NOT the only one that has access to them. You know damned well that they�ve been watching you. Now I�m telling you, cause my ass is on the line for this too. Get back to work!�

�How�s Brandon?�

Carmen blinked at the nonchalant and effortless change in subject. Didn�t this man ever listen?

�Michael. Brandon is not the issue here. Your career, and mine, are the issue at hand. If you don�t produce something saleable in the next 7 days, it will no longer be in my control to stop the dogs. Do you understand?� Carmen watched for a response. He was a bright man, she knew he was, and a clever businessman, what was wrong with him lately? Certainly couldn�t still be that blonde headed piece of fluff that he had been with. She studied him closely for signs of remorse, anger, anything. They had known each other for over twenty years, there had been many times since he had left that she had yearned for him to come back, to quit the life-style that forbade him any real life of his own. Hell she had stayed single all these years, and not for lack of offers, forever with the dream that one-day, he would stop, he would come to her. She had watched with knowing eyes, the failed marriages, and ached for him because she knew that the life he had would not accommodate such trivial luxuries as a family life. She had been living testament to that as well as Brandon. She had hoped that he would realize that she was there for him when he decided to re-join the human race and live a life that would permit him human pleasures that were lasting and meaningful, but damn it all, now was NOT the time for that. She walked around the desk and took his chin in her hands. She hovered over him like a mother and wiped away the single tear that had become a stream down the side of his face. She had never guessed him to be the type to be so torn up inside, emotional yes, relentlessly driven always, but confused and torn� never. �This is no joke Mike, one last time, you have to do it, one last time.� And then come home to me, she wanted desperately to add. But she wouldn�t. She had long ago decided not to beg for his love. If he came back, it would have to be him that did the begging, at least for a few minutes. She felt his hand as it reached for her and touched her hip. She felt it as it simply lay there on her waist, not grabbing, not holding, just touching. Like a wounded animal he needed the comfort of touch, she bent to kiss his forehead and felt the heat there. Oh don�t tell me he�s getting sick� for Christ�s sake not now. She reached down and pulled at his white cotton shirt to loosen it from his pants, and then tugged at the white cottony soft undershirt exposing his belly, and felt for warmth. Whew�. That�s a relief, no fever, just hot headed as usual, she laughed to herself. �Is your father doing okay?� She questioned, trying to make some form of small talk that would avert his attention from whatever pain was inside.

�He seems to be. He�s been talking and eating. It appeared to be a minor stroke, thank God.�

Carmen was almost surprised to hear his admission of thanks for his father�s return to health; they had never been truly close, as father and son. There had always been respect, and even admiration at times, but never what she would call love. She had supposed it was a strange situation to have had a father who was more of a business partner than a father all your life. Lot�s of kids may go into business with their father�s later in life, but few went into business with them at the age of 8.

�I�m glad he�s going to be okay.� She was too; Joe had always been nice to her, even after all the phone calls. Even after she had tried desperately to make Michael�s parents see what Michael wouldn�t let them see. She had always suspected that Joe had known the truth, but she had also realized that he didn�t care the way Katherine would have if she had known that Brandon was her grandson.

Mike looked away and gazed out the window with no particular purpose but perhaps to block the tears that might threaten to fall if he allowed himself to consider the possibility of anything but his father getting better. He felt Carmen begin to move away and his hand did then clasp her waist, pleading for her to stay where she was. She looked good, and he was still feeling the effects of Faith�s little impromptu display of �affection� just a few minutes earlier. He pulled Carmen towards him and positioned her above him, her legs straddling his as she hovered above his lap.

�Oh you think so?� She giggled, this was a surprise. He had never shown her any display of affection in a public place whether they were alone or not, and certainly beyond the doors to his office, they were not alone. She reached down and began to tuck his shirt back into his pants and felt his growing need for her. �You certainly can�t be serious, Mike?� She watched as he used his free hand to displace his shirt once again. His belly was seductive as she watched it rise and fall with his every breath. Her fingers fell to lightly caress his belly button, brushing at the light wisps of hair that surrounded it and ran in a thin line up his chest and down, to disappear at the waistband of his trousers. She felt his other hand come up and rest on her opposite hip and the slight tug as he offered himself as a seat. �I�m not really tired Mike, I don�t need to sit down.� She giggled as she playfully resisted his light pull. She looked into his eyes that had taken on a glow as she felt his hands slowly descending to the hem of her dress, running down her thighs, feeling the silky nylon that covered them. She sighed audibly as his hands made their way back up and under the hemline of her skirt. Then gasped in surprise as he whirled her around to face the desk in front of them, and in one swift motion, felt her panties and nylons pushed towards the ground, and his hot breath on her skin as her legs tingled in anticipation of what might come next.

�Okay, no sitting down then.� He smacked her briskly on the ass, and she felt his hands move between her legs, his slender fingers feeling her, searching for the spots that would make her moan. She covered her mouth with a hand as she leaned across the desk, her elbows supporting her body, trying to keep from loudly announcing the pleasure to the world beyond the doors of the office. She screamed a muffled exclamation of pleasure as she felt his fingers push inside to probe her. She felt him moving and exploring, she moaned again softly as she felt his lips touch her thighs. She moaned with disappointment as he withdrew his fingers and ran them, moist and wet down her legs to grasp her just above the knees, and she drew in a gasp of air as she felt his tongue replace his fingers. Ohhhhhhhhh� her hand flew down to pound the desk top and flatly hold her in place as she squirmed about in ecstasy, his hands keeping her legs locked in place, as his mouth worked her into an excited frenzy that she was sure the whole world could now hear, let alone the people in the outer offices. He teased her, he held her firmly still, he let his tongue wander about and he tugged at the tender skin with his teeth. Carmen wanted so badly to turn around, to push him back down and take the seat he had originally offered, but he held her tight, not allowing any deviation from his path of choice. She felt his hands as they massaged her thighs, still holding on, but working her muscles, she felt him as he began to rise behind her, his tongue trailing up and away, his hands moving their way up her thighs to rest on her buttocks as he maneuvered into a better position. She was vaguely aware of his actions behind her as he loosened his pants, feeling one of his hands leave as the other kept her in the position she had been put in. She felt him move up behind her, his hard body pressed against her, his hard waiting, pulsing, throbbing muscle straining for her. She felt his hands as he spread her and positioned himself. She moaned loudly as he thrust himself inside of her. No more exploring, he had hit the jackpot and was going for the gold. He thrust deeply and she felt him fill her, as he moved back out she felt her muscles strain to keep him in and tighten around him. She shrieked with pleasure as he thrust again, pushing her hips into the desk, her arms fighting to keep her from slamming against the wood. She felt his hands move over her hips and around her waist, pushing her dress up further still. She felt him lean into her as his hands pushed up the brassier and his hands grasped her breasts and she felt him thrust again, deeper, her neck arched with the pleasure and he kissed the top of her head as he bent over her, caressing her nipples lightly with his fingers. She giggled and squirmed but the weight of his body over hers kept her in place, unable to move away from his hands that were working her into an even higher climax. She felt her juices flowing around him as he pinched her nipples tightly. She wanted to scream for him to stop, and beg for him to continue, all at the same time. She moaned again as he rammed into her again, her hips pounding against the desk edge. Then he stood behind her, still inside of her, his hands releasing her breasts and moving over her back, massaging her shoulders as he rocked inside her gently, soothing her, almost singing to her with his body. Then she felt him pull out, and she felt the sudden shock of emptiness that always accompanied the withdrawal, but she knew he hadn�t climaxed, she stay still against the desk, unsure of what his actions meant. Then without warning he grabbed her again, spun her around to face him and lifted her until her legs wrapped around his waist of their own accord. He stumbled slightly because of the pants that lay around his ankles, and struggled momentarily to maintain his balance as he shook himself free of the bondage at his ankles. Moving backwards with her in his arms, encircling his waist he leaned against the wall with his back and lowered her down to enter her again. Oh Glory, her eyes glazed over with the heavenly feeling of his body in hers. He moved his hips as she rocked slightly in his arms. Gently feeling the careening pleasures inside her. She felt the urgent movements of his hips and knew the moment wasn�t far away, he could no longer control his anxiousness, he was pushing up as she fell on him, reaching new depths she never had thought possible. Hitting areas she didn�t even know until that moment existed inside of her. She felt the muscles in his arms tighten as he pushed one last time and released himself inside her. She lay into his chest with her head on his shoulders as he sighed with the pleasure of his orgasm. Once again she moaned with disappointment as his body withdrew itself from her, leaving her once again with the void of it�s absence. She quivered as his breath hit her neck and he held her tight against him. She knew it was probably her imagination, or her own desires, but she felt his love flow through her as his arms held her. She yearned for him to say the words that she knew were not coming and tears filled her eyes.