Somewhere Warm (Part V)
Mar. 19th, 2007 04:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
failegaidin Jack inwardly groaned as he awoke to sunlight pouring into the room, and quickly shut his eyes again. His head was pounding and the room was swimming and he seemed to be tangled up in another person's limbs. He slowly opened one eye and was mildly surprised, although infinitely relieved, to see Chloe's sleeping form cuddled up against him. He smiled at the sight of her, reveling in how beautiful she was even in sleep.
Jack bit back another groan as he remembered the previous evening. He hadn't meant to drink that much, and he certainly hadn't meant to confuse Chloe. He had kissed her because he wanted to, and because the alcohol had stopped his brain from coming up with any more objections. But he remembered the look on her face when she had pulled back – she was confused, and worried that he was just drunk and desperate.
A smile spread across his face as he remembered his last words to her on the beach. He would just wake her up and let her know that it had not been the alcohol talking, that he still very much so wanted to kiss her and have his way with her. He lifted his hand to push the hair back from her face and tuck it behind her ear. She stirred slightly, but remained sleeping, and Jack moved his hand to her arm, gently rubbing up and down. Chloe stirred again, this time pushing her body up against his and moaning quietly. Jack's smile grew as he saw the effect his touch was having on her. He leaned his head down to her ear. But just as he was about to wake her, his stomach heaved and Jack realized that the alcohol was about to come back with a vengeance.
He bolted out of bed and slid to his knees in front of the toilet, emptying the contents to his stomach. He silently cursed himself for being such an idiot. If he had just kissed Chloe on the beach like he had wanted to, none of this would be happening. In fact, he'd probably be in bed with her right now, making love to her and eliciting more of those moans that turned him on so much. Instead he was stuck with the not-nearly-as-sexy toilet for company.
Chloe had woken up at the sound of Jack rushing from the room, the bed suddenly much colder in his absence. She frowned as she vaguely remembered Jack touching her just moments earlier, but her thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of her friend getting sick in the bathroom. She smiled ruefully and got up to join him.
"I told you," she said simply.
Jack glared at her, still hugging the toilet. "Shut up."
"Well I did."
"Chloe…" he warned.
She laughed and knelt down beside him, rubbing his back as he doubled over and got sick again.
"You don't have to do that," he said quietly.
"Do you want me to leave?"
"No."
Chloe smiled. "Then I'm staying."
Fifteen minutes later, Jack hauled himself off of the bathroom floor and decided that it was time for a shower. He contemplated asking Chloe if she wanted to join him, but he figured that might not go over so well.
He emerged twenty minutes later to find Chloe dressed in jeans and sneakers, filling a backpack. He leaned against the doorframe, watching her, wondering how he was going to tell her how he felt. He supposed he could just blurt it out now, but he hesitated again, and then the moment was gone.
"You're gonna want long pants," Chloe said when she saw him standing there.
"Where are we going?" he asked, rifling through his suitcase for a pair of jeans.
Chloe shrugged. I thought we could go for a hike, explore a little bit. If you want to do something else…"
Jack smiled at her. "No. This sounds great."
Chloe nodded and continued filling her bag.
***
There were paths all over the island, crisscrossing through the jungle, most eventually leading to one beach or another. Chloe picked one at random and just started walking, enjoying each other's company. Jack struggled with himself for a good half hour before finally plucking up the courage to take Chloe's hand. As his fingers brushed her palm, Chloe jumped, jerking her hand away. Jack pulled his hand back as well.
"Sorry," he said, looking everywhere but at her. "I, uh-"
Chloe tried to calm her heartbeat. She had been so lost in her thoughts that when Jack had touched her, it had scared her half to death. She smiled at him, sad that she had ruined the moment.
"No, I'm sorry. I was just…thinking. You startled me, that's all."
Jack nodded and they began walking again, both lost in thought. Jack wondered if he should try a second time, but he wasn't sure if he was just being foolish. Maybe she really didn't want him touching her. But with everything else that had happened on this trip so far…was he just reading the signs wrong?
He was jerked out of his thoughts at the feel of Chloe's hand tentatively sliding into his own. When he turned his head to look at her, he saw that a small blush was creeping up her neck as she kept her gaze straight ahead, refusing to look at him. Jack smiled and squeezed her hand, reassuring her that this was okay.
***
An hour later they found themselves on a secluded beach. Chloe walked halfway to the water before setting her backpack down and opening it, rummaging through its contents. Jack watched her in amusement.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
Chloe pulled out a blanket and spread it on the sand underneath the shade of a tree, using rocks to weigh the corners down. She then kneeled in front of the bag and pulled out containers, opening them one by one and setting them on the blanket. When she was finished she looked up at Jack and said simply, "Lunch."
Jack grinned and sat down across from her, pleasantly surprised by the little picnic she had set up. They ate in comfortable silence, enjoying the breeze that was coming off the water. Chloe had ordered sandwiches from room service while Jack had been in the shower, and they feasted on those as they watched the waves crash against the sand. When they were finished, Chloe packed up all of the containers and put them back in her bag. Then she pulled out two books, handing one to Jack.
"What's this?" he asked, looking at the book in confusion.
"A book."
Jack sighed. "I can see that, Chloe."
"Then why did you ask?" she replied as she slipped on her sunglasses and tried to get comfortable laying down on the blanket.
"You know what I meant."
Chloe propped herself up on her elbows and looked at him. "I thought we could just sit and read. You know, enjoy the day. Isn't that what you're supposed to do on a tropical island?"
Jack smiled at her, realizing that she had planned this whole day – packing the lunch, picking the trail, finding the beach. "Yeah it is," he said. He looked around him and then scooted back to the tree behind them and leaned against it, opening his book. Satisfied, Chloe laid back down and tried to get comfortable again. She tried sitting up, laying on her stomach, leaning on her arm – nothing was working. She glared at Jack, who was obviously comfortable, but he kept his eyes on his book, suppressing the grin that tugged at his mouth. Chloe weighed her options in her mind, finally deciding to throw caution to the wind.
Jack watched from the corner of his eye as Chloe got up and walked towards him. He figured she was going to demand that he move over and share his tree. Instead, she pulled his knees apart and planted herself right in front of him, leaning against his chest for support. She shifted a couple times, sending waves of electricity throughout Jack's body, and then settled down and opened her book. Jack couldn't see it, but she grinned as she felt his heartbeat race against her back.
Jack nearly choked at her proximity. Did she realize what she was doing to him? He concentrated on slowing his breathing and regaining control of his body. Deciding that a little revenge was in order, he wrapped his left arm around her waist, sliding his fingers under the hem of her shirt and letting them stroke her skin. Hearing the hitch in her breath, he pulled her closer, placed a kiss on the side of her neck and opened his book.
***
As the sun began to set, Jack set his book down and wrapped his right arm around Chloe's waist so that she was completely surrounded by him. At this she closed her book as well and leaned her head back onto his chest, placing her hands over his.
"It's amazing, isn't it?" he asked quietly.
"What is?"
"How easy it is to spend a whole day doing nothing – and to enjoy every second of it."
Chloe smiled at that. She never imagined that they would be sharing something like this, that they would ever get to enjoy each other's company in a situation that didn't involve bombs or terrorists.
"I'm taking you to dinner tonight," Jack stated, interrupting her thoughts.
"Okay."
"Some place nice. So you have to wear dress."
"Now you're pushing it," Chloe replied.
"I have to dress nice too."
"Have you ever worn a dress?"
"No."
"Then I win."
Jack paused for a moment, and then said quietly, "I want to do it right this time."
Chloe froze, not believe what she had just heard. "What?"
"I screwed up last night, Chloe. I know I drank too much. I'm going to do it right this time." He paused again. "I'm going to be sober when I seduce you."
"Seduce me?" Chloe squeaked.
"Do you have any objections to that?" he asked, wondering if this would be easier or harder looking her in the face.
Chloe crinkled her nose. "I thought I was the one that was supposed to be seducing you," she said.
Jack laughed at that. "Is it possible to seduce each other at the same time?"
Chloe shrugged, trying to hide her nervousness. "Guess we'll find out."
Jack smiled and brought his lips to her ear. "So you'll come? To dinner?"
Chloe sat up and turned his arms so that she could face him. "Of course." Leaning forward, she planted a firm kiss on his lips and then stood up to pack their stuff. As he watched her in wonder, she gave him a classic Chloe look.
"Come on, Jack. If you expect me to go to dinner, you have to give me time to make myself look like a real girl."
Standing up, Jack walked over to her and grabbed her waist from behind, pulling her against him. "You don’t need to do anything extra to look like a "real girl," Chloe. You're stunning as it is."
Smiling at the compliment, Chloe finished packing up their stuff and grabbed his hand, leading him back down the trail toward the hotel.
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Date: 2007-03-19 09:09 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2007-03-19 10:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-19 10:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-19 09:16 pm (UTC)"He figured she was going to demand that he move over and share his tree. Instead, she pulled his knees apart and planted herself right in front of him, leaning against his chest for support. She shifted a couple times, sending waves of electricity throughout Jack's body, and then settled down and opened her book. Jack couldn't see it, but she grinned as she felt his heartbeat race against her back."
Adored this bit, it's just so Chloe. She is full of contradictions and this illustrated it perfectly, in many ways she's terrified of the 'seduction' but then she goes ahead and does something as bold as this. This fic is inspired. I love it. :)
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Date: 2007-03-19 09:23 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2007-03-19 10:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-20 01:21 am (UTC)Hummm this should be interesting.... ;)
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Date: 2007-03-20 02:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-20 12:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-20 12:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-20 01:02 pm (UTC)Haha yes, sex plz. ASAP!!!
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Date: 2007-03-20 01:52 pm (UTC)Thank you :) Glad you liked.
Loved It
Date: 2007-03-24 11:41 pm (UTC)Jen
Re: Loved It
Date: 2007-03-25 02:58 am (UTC)