Heat of the moment (13/19)

Author- Midnight Faith

Spoilers- none

Distribution- FF.net, AOH, buffysearch.net and Neurotica… anyone else just ask :)

Pairing- Lilah/Lindsey

Rating-NC-17

Summary- It's Lilah's first day at Wolfram and Hart's Oklahoma office

Disclaimer- they belong to the almighty Joss… I am but a child in his candy store

Dedication- To Bobbi who is one in a million

"That's the one," Lilah said, pointing to a low lying, drab, grey building, with a sign proclaiming 'Wolfram and Hart, regional Oklahoma office.' She was shocked at how it was obviously a million miles away from the LA skyscraper she was used to.

Lindsey squeezed her hand lightly in reassurance before kissing her on the cheek. She smiled at the tenderness of his touch, how open in such a public place yet free of constriction. A luxury that would be denied of them should he get a position at Wolfram and Hart, causing both of them mixed feelings.

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly.

"I haven't been away from you for almost a month," he said, "I don't know if I'll stand it."

"Lindsey, it's only a couple of hours."

"I'll miss you."

"Stop it. Go focus on getting a job." She told him, playfully.

"You nervous now?" He asked her.

"Not really. I'm not thinking about it. You?"

"A little."

"Would a good luck kiss help?"

"Definitely."

She kissed him, at length, slowly and warmly.

"Mmmm…" he said, breathing hard, "You see any deserted alleyways?"

"Lindsey," she scolded playfully, "I have to be at work in five minutes."

He sighed against her neck.

"What time's your interview?" She asked him.

"Midday."

"Call me. Let me know how it goes?"

"Four-ish?"

"Yeah, I can arrange to be in the ladies room right about then."

"And then we can…"

"Phone sex? That's so tacky. Why have virtual when you can have the real thing?"

"That a promise?"

"Yeah… I'm… booking an appointment at the doctor's. I'm sick of our sex being 'plastic wrapped' if you know what I mean."

"You're sure you want to?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"There's no pressure. We can talk about it later."

"Lindsey, It's my responsibility. Let me deal with it."

"It's *our* responsibility." He said, meaning it. She was surprised at how trustworthy he was being and it was a little unnerving to her having never seen this side of him before.

"Modern man," she teased, "I have to go."

"Good luck, honey."

"You too."

He pulled her close for a final hug before watching her ascend the steps to the Wolfram and Hart building, nervous at watching her walk away from him.

*****

The sharp ding of the elevator and the swishing open of the doors to the third floor, snapped Lilah back to reality.

Stepping out into the bustling corridor she groaned inwardly, after having been informed at the front desk because city planning officials restricted the height of buildings to three storeys, and therefore office space was limited, everyone had to share. She'd been informed her office 'partner' was named Mark Jones and her office lay on the third door to the right.

The door was open and who she could only assume to be Mark was working at a desk to the left of the door.

"Lilah, hi," he said with a warm grin, standing to shake her hand, "How are you?"

"I'm good," she said, noting his dark classic good looks and attractive tan, "You?"

"Can't complain."

"Mark, right?"

"Yeah, well," he said gesturing to a desk opposite the door, "This is yours but it looks a little plain compared to mine." She noted his was littered with photos of his wife and two daughters, "But I'm sure you'll fix that soon."

She shrugged.

"I don’t have a husband and I don't have any kids."

"But your boyfriend's probably an Armani model right?" He said with a smile.

"I'm… not exactly seeing anyone right now," she lied, wanting to protect Lindsey more than anything.

"I'll introduce you to a few of my college buddies," he smiled.

Lilah realised she instantly liked him, her initial attraction to him fleeting and over in a moment, feeling completely at ease in his company, different compared to the way she expected to be feeling, anticipating the company to be the same in every state. Savage and brutal not easygoing and friendly.

"So… any cases?" She asked.

He gestured to a barrage of manila folders in the 'in' tray.

"Take your pick. Medical lawsuits ten deep in every office on this floor. Mostly out of court settlements. If we get anything significant we can work on it together if you like."

"Agreed," she smiled, picking the top binder from the pile and smiling, in her need to climb the ladder again. And if co-operating was the way to do that here so be it. Competition was concealed that much was obvious to her.

She felt at home here already.

*****

"I'm gonna cut out early," Mark told Lilah later that day.

She looked at the clock on the wall, second hand ticking towards three O'clock, surprised to find she wasn't annoyed by his lack of competitive spirit.

"My eldest, Amber has a piano recital at four. Will you be OK?"

"I'll be fine." She shrugged, his obvious marital bliss making her a little uncomfortable and she was amazed to find the slightest tinge of jealousy race across her skin.

"Clock out as early as you want - go now even. You don't need to lock anything. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye," she said after him, dotting a period at the end of her last sentence. She didn't look up when she heard the door open until she heard the familiar sound of Lindsey's voice and the door close behind him.

"Hello, beautiful."

"Lindsey," she said, momentarily displaced by his presence, "What are you doing here?" She asked nervously.

"Hello to you too. I need to ask you something."

"Ask away."

"I've been offered the job."

She smiled warmly.

"That's fantastic." She said, meaning it.

"Do you want me to take it? It's a good offer. Lots of benefits, four day week, Fridays off so long weekends."

"Yes, then."

"You sure?" He asked, apprehensive about working for Wolfram and Hart again, but overwhelmed by his need to be near Lilah again.

"If that's what you want, take it."

He sat on the edge of her desk a little nervously and whispered,

"So am I allowed to touch you then?"

"Describe the degree and intensity of this touch."

"Just a little hand holding."

"Sure," she smiled as he took her hand in his and squeezed slightly.

"I missed you," he admitted, "Did you… book an appointment at the doctors?"

"Yeah, I did. They want us both to go register at the local surgery. I can pick up a form- bring it home for you." She said tensely, realising their stay in Oklahoma would be truly permanent then. He sensed her nerves making him feel apprehensive too.

"Or I could come with you."

"To fill out a form?"

"No-go to the doctor's with you. Discuss options together."

"I don't know… you'll hate it."

"Lilah, it's our responsibility. Not just yours- mine too. I'd like to be a part of the decision you make."

She nodded.

"OK."

"OK? I didn't expect that to be so easy." He said, in two minds whether she wanted him there or not. He wanted to be there for her, but on the other hand if she didn't want him there in his experience it usually led to a bitter argument.

"Are you calling me easy now?" She teased, "We're a partnership now aren't we? Everything we do is fifty- fifty?"

He nodded, pulling her in for a now illicit kiss.

*****

Lilah pushed the door open to their apartment, her hand never leaving Lindsey's reassuring grip.

He closed the door after them, one handed, as shoes were removed, bags, wallets and keys discarded and they finally found themselves in each other's arms once again.

"Mmmm…" she said, "Let's make tonight special."

"You want to go out to celebrate?"

"I think I’d rather stay in," she said, "Do we have food?"

"Yeah. We have the makings of a ratatouille or something."

"Aubergines?" She asked skeptically, "Very erotic."

"And what will you be doing whilst I'm slaving over a hot stove?"

"Making myself look beautiful."

"If it helps you don't even have to try." He said. Strangely she felt familiarised to his compliments and the sporadic moments of understanding they shared. It made her feel connected to him and she realised she liked it. He felt the same way, treasuring her smiles that told him he made her feel special.

She rolled her eyes, keeping her guise, as he kissed her, passion deepening as she teasingly backed into the doorway of their bedroom before whispering in his ear,

"Go make the aubergines erotic."

He groaned, half in desire, half in frustration.

"Aren’t I getting an entrée?"

"We're skipping the entrée. Entrees are tiring and the dessert I have planned… well, you'll have to wait and see."

Twenty minutes later, Lilah appeared in the doorway of the kitchen wearing a short, strapless grey dress, hair in gentle waves, her make up perfect. Lindsey turned from the stove to find his breath catch in his throat.

"Wow," he said, walking towards her, "You look amazing."

"I'm sorry, you've seen the dress before."

"I don't remember."

"There's no reason why you should. It was BTS." She said, scolding herself for feeling the slightest bit hurt.

"BTS?"

"Before the sex. And do you remember there being any clothing anyway?"

He didn't have a response to that barb so he kissed her instead, holding her for a moment.

"I love you," he told her, "I don't know what else to say."

"You could talk about today. How it's been emotional and scary."

"But I'm happy. Tomorrow we're going to be in the same building- all day. That gives me tingles."

"Are you getting a tingle now?"

"God, yeah."

Her face changed to serious.

"Thank you for being there today. It meant a lot to have your support."

"Anytime. It was nice to know you trust me."

"And you trust me."

She kissed him tenderly cupping his face with her hands before noting, "The ratatouille's boiling over."

Lilah couldn't help but give a small nervous laugh as she watched him dish the ratatouille onto two plates.

"What?" He asked, turning to her.

"Nothing," she shook her head, still giggling.

"It's because this is so domestic isn't it?" He said, momentarily unnerved himself.

She nodded; also feeling disconcerted at the situation.

They spent the next twenty minutes eating, feeding each other and teasing into a frenzy with a flurry of sordid and futile jokes about aubergines.

Eventually, Lilah gave in, face and body flushed by Lindsey's relentless teasing and half a bottle of red wine. She wove around the table, sat on his lap, hands threading in his hair.

"You're really hot you know that?" She said.

"Same to you. And tonight… is about anything you want."

"Anything?" She said, looking in the direction of her X-files DVD.

"Oh no," he groaned.

"I'll turn you into an X-files fan before the year's out."

"And you into a Bond fan."

She stuck her tongue out at him playfully, leading him over to the DVD player and pressing play.

He walked back over to the sofa lying on his left side so he faced the TV before tapping the sofa cushions in a silent invitation for her to join him.

She did so, lying beside him so she also faced the TV his hand, finding it's way mid way up her left thigh.

She tried to breathe deeply and concentrate on the TV, silently closing her eyes as his hand moved higher.

"You’re not wearing any underwear," he whispered in her ear, "Anyone would think you wanted me."

"Anyone would be right," she breathed, somehow managing to turn over and pull him to a sitting position, kissing him and working on removing his pants and boxers, before lowering herself onto him.

"That was sudden," he said, a little breathlessly, as she began to move against him fast, "Not that I'm complaining."

She planted kisses on his neck and chest through his shirt before replying,

"I was horny."

"I noticed," he said, burying his hands in her hair, feeling his release rapidly approaching given her furious pace. "Shit, Lilah, I…" he said, raising his hips and groaning as he came inside her. He breathed heavily against her neck and said, "Sorry… that was a little quick."

"My fault," she told him, "Reprise? In the bedroom?"

He responded by carrying her into the bedroom, not falling asleep until long into the night…