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“How about this one?”
“No.”
“And this one?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Okay, this one then?”
“That looks like something that 1986 rejected.”
Sonya sat back in mild frustration and swept her finger over the tablet screen again to clear the various gowns she had pulled up. She set the device aside and picked up her coffee cup, taking a much-needed sip of her latte. “You know, I think the problem is that you’re way too picky.”
From across the table, Vera wrinkled her nose, and pulled her own coffee cup towards her. “Said the women resolute on wearing her dress uniform. Are you planning on wearing your good combat boots or every days?”
“They polish up fine!” Sonya insisted with a laugh as Vera shuddered in mock horror. “Honestly, it’s a fifty-fifty split with the female officers I know. Half wear gowns and half wear our full-dress uniform. I’ve never seen the need to glam up for what amounts to a night of drinking and trying not to fall asleep at the table from boredom.”
“That bad huh?” Vera brought up a dress on her phone and held it out for Sonya to see. “I like the style of this one for you, and it’s at a store nearby. I thought after breakfast we could check it out.”
Sitting at a café off Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles, they were surrounded by some of the best high end retail shops that the city had to offer. Not as crowded or overpriced as Rodeo Drive, it had been Sonya’s idea of a happy medium when Vera had called to asked if she wanted to go for breakfast. Their secondary mission of the day was to do some prospective dress shopping for the upcoming annual Special Forces Military Ball. Since Vera was coming on Jax’s arm as his plus one, she was on the lookout for the perfect gown for the evening. While Sonya had been insistent on wearing her full-dress uniform, Vera was determined to try and show her a handful of dresses she thought would change her mind.
Of all the things that had changed for the better in her life in the past six months, she had to admit that becoming friends with Vera was the most surprising, and most pleasant. As a child growing up, Sonya had never found making female friends to be easy, simply because she disliked most of the things they were supposed to have in common. She had little time for shopping due to her martial arts classes, focused on school while they focused on boys and was more comfortable on the gun range then she was at a high school dance. As an adult, she was one of a handful of women who had made it into the Special Forces. The highly competitive nature of their jobs, plus the fact she could be deployed and have to move at any time, made making friends almost impossible. At first when Vera had called her to talk or dropped her a message to see how she was faring, Sonya had been reluctant, cautious even. That had changed quickly once Sonya had realized how sweet and devoted to Jax she clearly was. Over the following months, they had formed a fast friendship over weekly breakfasts and regular coffee dates. It hadn’t taken Sonya long to realize how much she enjoyed having another woman to talk to; both for serious matters and for casual conversation. It was a relaxing change she refused to take for granted, given how chaotic her life normally was.
She took the phone Vera offered and eyed the gown on the screen with a critical gaze. To her surprise, she didn’t hate it at first sight, not like most of the other gowns Vera had shown to her. It was strapless and cut liner across the chest with a V that showed off just enough cleavage. Colored a rich dark blue like the night sky, the silk fabric was overlaid with streaks of shimmering silver that looked like shooting stars. The spray pattern went across the bodice and skirt, trailing down the sheer hem to the floor. As she looked closely, she also could see that there were tiny crescent moons shimmering along the hem like hidden jewels. It wasn’t a full ball gown, not like the others she had laughingly rejected, and the skirt was just full enough to pour around the model’s legs in a drape of sheer silk.
“Didn’t you say the theme this year was ‘In the Cosmos’?” Vera asked as she took a bite of her eggs.
“Yeah, it is, and I see where you are going, but…” Sonya forked a strawberry aggressively and tried to feign ignorance as Vera gave her a dry look. Each year the military ball was held at a different location with a different theme. This year, it was being held at the Los Angeles Museum of Science and Nature, a massive complex in the Hollywood Hills. In addition to one of the best science museums in California, the structure held not only a full biodome, but a massive aquarium and planetarium.
“Come on, it would look amazing on you, and it would absolutely blow Johnny’s mind, he’d never expect it.” Vera gave her a pleading look. Once again, Sonya wondered how on earth she had managed to come in contact with two people over the past year who were able to get her to push past her comfort zones so easily. “What’s the harm in trying it on?”
“There’s no harm in that.” Sonya said with a reluctant sigh as she looked at the image. The more she did, the more she liked it, and the idea of surprising Johnny with the reveal at the last minute. She could see herself wearing it, buying it as a rare treat for herself with the added bonus of knocking his socks off in surprise. Her only reluctance stemmed from the fact it just wasn’t her or at the very least, the her that she let everyone else see without fear of looking foolish. “The harm comes later when my colleagues see me dressed like this and never let me live it down again. I may have to get deployed just to outrun the jokes.”
“Fuck them.” Vera’s tone was as cheerful as the orange juice they were drinking. “You are Lieutenant Colonel Sonya Blade, and you’ll only be bothered by them if you let yourself. You’re a bad bitch on a regular basis, in pants or a dress. Buy the gown, enjoy wearing it for the night, and tell them to go fuck themselves.” She raised an eyebrow suggestively and gestured with her fork, speaking in a low voice. “And then go home and enjoy wearing it while blowing Johnny’s… mind. It’s win-win for both of you.”
“Vera!” Sonya's cheeks flushed with heat even as she laughed and swatted her across the table with a napkin.
“Sonya, I’ve seen the way he looks at you, if the man falls any harder in love, you’ll need to scrape him off the pavement. He adores you.” Vera chuckled as a small smile spread across Sonya’s face. “And it’s quietly obvious that you feel the same way, you are kind of shit at hiding it now.”
Sonya snorted and pushed her plate away, taking a final sip of her coffee. “I’m getting rusty then. I used to be really good at hiding how I was feeling. I kind of prided myself on it actually.”
“Or maybe you’re just happy for once.” Vera made a motion to the waiter so they could get the check. “And there’s no need to hide that.”
Sonya cocked her head, thinking on the idea and found that it wasn’t quite as much of a hard sell as it would have been a year ago. After a second, she raised her juice glass. “You know what? I’ll drink to that.”
Vera raised her glass in response and finished off her juice as the check hit the table. “Cheers, now let’s clear out of here and go look at that dress.”
Thirty minutes later, Sonya found herself standing in a changing room, looking at herself in the mirror and wondering if she was out of her mind. She was actually contemplating buying the very expensive but absolutely gorgeous gown that she was currently wearing.
She turned left and right in the mirror, resting her hands on her abdomen in pleased surprise. The gown fit like a glove; it would need very few alterations aside from the basics of adjusting it to her height in heels. The bodice was snug and hugged her breasts perfectly, tapering down to show how tiny her waist was, while the dark blue color showed complimented her peaches and cream skin tone and blonde hair to a tee. The skirt was just full enough to allow for movement and swirled around her feet in slight billow as she tried to walk.
She stared at herself in the mirror, feeling her stomach constrict with a mixture of anxiety and annoyance. The figure in the mirror was a stranger with no trace of the years of hard work she had put in, or the uniform that defined her. It was quite frankly, a bit terrifying to see how easy it was for all of that to fall away and leave a person she didn’t know behind. It was even more terrifying to admit she was willing to consider it partially because she knew Johnny would love it. In the few past relationships, she had attempted, she had set a hard line quickly over maintaining her own identity. The fact that she seemed so willing to let that line slip away made her hands go clammy, and caused what remained of her breakfast to gurgle alarmingly in her stomach.
From outside the change room, Vera’s voice bordered on both excitement and impatience. “Sonya, you have five seconds to finally come out or I’m coming in to get you!”
“I’m coming, I’m coming!” She let out a huff and gently picked up the skirts so she could walk properly. Nudging open the changing room door, she stepped out gingerly, leaving it open so she could dart inside if she felt the need to.
At first glance, Vera’s eyes went wide, and she let out a low whistle. “Oh honey, that’s gorgeous on you, Johnny’s going to lose his damn mind.”
“If I buy it, it’ll be because I like it.” Sonya reminded her, closing her eyes and making a pro versus con list in her head. “But surprising him would be a sweet gesture. He’s always talking about future movie premieres and getting to see me glammed up.”
There was more to it than that, and the more she thought on it, the more she realized it. His observation skills were on par with some of the best soldiers she knew, he paid absurd attention to all the little details of her life and used them to find ways to make her happy. He was constantly surprising her by with unique dates and gifts. Not only that, but he had also adapted his lifestyle, something he loved dearly, and taken on more responsibility because it meant being close to her. Vera was right, she was happier than she had been in a long time. After all that, what was wearing a dress for one night?
“Exactly, so why wait?” Vera strode forward and eyes the dress critically. “And if you still wanted to, you could easily get a unform jacket tailored to fit this like a bolero jacket. Then you could still wear all your medals and show them off. You have the time.”
The more she was talking, the more Sonya was buying into the idea, even if it made her stomach flutter. “You know, wearing a pretty dress isn’t going to make an already boring night more interesting.”
“It can’t hurt.” Vera shot back as she adjusted the skirt and stood back with a nod of satisfaction. “And the night will be as boring as you make it, given the company.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sonya raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
Vera smiled and clasped her by the shoulders, turning her so she could see herself in the full-length mirror on the back of the change room door. “It means in that dress and with Johnny as your plus one, I’m fairly certain you can find ways to entertain yourself. Be creative, I’m sure you’ll think of something that will make the night fun for both of you.”
“You know what Vera,” Sonya said with a wicked grin as an idea began to form in her mind. “I think you may be right.”
She turned back towards the change room and the salesclerk hovering nearby. “I’ll take it; do you do alterations?”
By the time the day of the military ball rolled around a week and a half later, Sonya was confident that everything would be in place for the evening like she had hoped. She just had to get through her workday first and make it back home to get ready in plenty of time. Her normal routine for formal events was quick and efficient. She’d been kitting herself out in her dress uniform for over a decade and had it down to an exact science from polishing her boots to pulling her hair back into the tight chignon she preferred to wear. Getting ready with an unfamiliar element meant adding extra time to do so, which in turn meant burning through the work she needed to do double time so she could leave early.
Unsurprisingly, despite her plans, she was quickly bogged down in paperwork and stuck at her desk, staring at stack of folders that seemed to laugh at her for thinking her day could be even moderately easy. Sonya firmly believed that if there was a military version of Dante’s Inferno, there would be several nuanced terrifying levels for those who broke or ignored the rules. An icy cold level for those who didn’t keep their weapons in good order, a scalding level for those who perpetually ignored orders and put others at risk and a mind-numbingly boring level for those who slacked on training and expected to remain in shape. In Sonya’s mind the worst level would be a never-ending desk job, a non-stop cycle of stacks of paperwork reserved for those who couldn’t manage their time properly and screwed everyone else over in the process. And although she was excellent at managing her time, she’d never been late for a mission or a meeting in her decade long military career, this was the level of hell she currently sat at: surrounded by file folders, trying to work out the budget for her squad for the next quarter cycle.
She’d been at it steady since coming in from her drill course just after 8AM, taking only minimal breaks, two for fresh coffee and another to grab a half-stale sandwich from the Officer’s Mess. She had eaten in a hurry at her desk as she tried to finish as much of the paperwork she could before clocking out for the day. It wasn’t that it was due critically soon -- she still had plenty of time to sort through it -- but it was like watching paint dry and she preferred to see it done and over with for the year.
She was sitting with her head bowed to her laptop when the sound of steps approaching her open doorway followed by an overly dramatic sigh captured her attention. It was highly exaggerated and soul searching, the kind of sigh pulled from the bottom of one’s diaphragm, and designed to garner the question “Are you okay?” followed by an outpouring of immediate empathy. Knowing very well who it was - there was only one person in the world who was interrupt her working hours dramatically without fear of repercussion - she chose to ignore the noise and keep her eyes trained on her computer screen.
Johnny leaned against her door frame and sighed again, drawing it out as much as he could until she finally looked up in mild annoyance and very deliberately snapped closed her laptop lid. Seeing he had gained her attention; he sauntered into the room and dropped his duffle bag on the floor. He tossed himself onto the couch across from her desk, letting out a full body groan as he did so.
“Are you going to live?” Sonya tried to hide the smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. He was an attractive mess, hair slightly mussed, a light dusting of stubble on his cheeks and skin glowing from a recent shower. He was clad in a dark green tank top, his dog tags and black workout pants along with a pair of combat boots that looked too shiny and flawless to be anything but brand new. She felt a twinge of desire low in her stomach and pushed it aside as she waited for him to answer.
“I don’t know,” He closed his eyes and pouted, tossing one arm over his eyes to shield them. “Maybe if you come over here and kiss me.”
“I’m working at the moment,” she pointed out, gesturing to the stacks of file folders surrounding her. “Shouldn’t you be too? Don’t you have a couple of hand-to-hand combat classes today?
“One down, one to go.” He gave her a glowering look and wagged a finger at her in an accusatory fashion. “You didn’t warn me they’d all be a bunch of little assholes.”
“Johnny they’re military cadets, of course they’re assholes!” Sonya began shifting through a stack of papers, trying to find the resource allocation forms she needed. “They don’t know their backsides from a beehive, it’s your job to whip them into shape and teach them.”
“I know that but from the way you describe your drill courses, I was expecting one or two, not a full squadron of walking talking anuses with buzzcuts.” Johnny made a face and adjusted his position, so he was comfortable reclining on her couch cushions. “I’ve never heard so many muttered Ninja Mime quotes in my life.”
Sonya felt anger flare through her, hot and raw, at the tone of discouragement and disappointment in his voice. In all her time teaching drill courses, she had navigated through the full gambit of students from the exceptionally talented to the utterly hopeless. All had come with the inherently cocky attitude of knowing they had been picked to be elite soldiers for Special Forces. As a female instructor, she had dealt early on with scorn from male students who didn’t think she had a place among the top ranks of the best. She had taken great pleasure in kicking ever ass that came her way with that misogynistic shitty point of view until there wasn’t even a hint of a whisper of it in her classes anymore. She’d built a reputation for being a brutal instructor because she had no choice: she demanded respect and she got it.
Instinctively she could guess where the problem lay. Johnny’s students knew who he was, they had seen his movies and knew he possessed fantastic fighting skills. What he lacked was a rank and a military background, and they knew that was an area they could exploit to undermine his authority. They would never have pulled that shit with a ranked officer, and there was no way she was going to let it fly now. Still, it would do no good for her to crash his class and cause shit; it wouldn’t earn him any respect if his girlfriend tried to solve his problems. Not to mention it was against the rules she and her CO had agreed on in terms of his consulting contract. She had to remain as hands off as she could, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t put things in perspective for him.
Getting up, she walked over and shut her office door firmly then turned back to where he lay on the sofa. When she spoke, her voice was cool, firm and full of the same steel she used when she was dealing with a student she’d rather shoot or kick the shit out of. “Johnny, how many fucking black belts do you have?”
He sat up abruptly, hearing the tone of her voice, and watched as she stalked across the room to perch next to him on the edge of the sofa. “Four. Karate, Jeet Kune Do, Shinto Ryu and Shorin Ryu. Why?”
Sonya ignored his query, took his chin in his fingers and stared him down. “How many championships did you win when you were starting out and how many blockbuster movies have you made?”
“Eleven championships and sixteen blockbusters, seventeen if you count the one in reshoots.” He raised an eyebrow. “Is there a point to this resume, or are you just trying to turn yourself on at work?”
” You wish,” she glowered. “And yes, there is a point. Compared to those cadets, you’re their superior in every way that matters: attitude, skills, life experience, and combat. You need to walk into that class and own the fucking room. They need to learn fast you run them, not the other way around. Make them respect you and don’t put up with any shit. You know that cocky asshole you were when we first met? Bring him out to play and show them why you make the big fucking bucks kicking ass.”
“You are so hot when you’re pissed off.” He gave her a grin and playfully grabbed her, pulling her down onto the sofa next him. After a brief glance in the direction of the door to make sure she had locked it when she shut it, Sonya gave in and stretched out next to him. Sonya hooked one leg over his, winding her arms around his neck as he sealed his lips to hers. She swept her tongue across his mouth as he stroked along the curve of her breast, finding his way to the zipper on her uniform jacket and tugging it down insistently.
“I’m also in the middle of my workday, on the clock,” she pointed out, stilling his hand and trying to catch her breath. Quickly she changed the subject to something neutral and less charged. “And if I want to get out of here on time tonight, I need to get a good chunk of this budget done. Did you manage to pick up your tux?”
“That was the main reason I stopped by, to tell you it’s ready at the dry cleaner’s and I just have to swing by and pick it up.” He made a face and gestured to a garment bag hanging off her office door. “And you’ve got your… kitchen dress, is it?”
“Mess dress, and yes, I have everything I need. I have one important meeting this afternoon and then I’m heading home to get ready.” It was only a half lie; the garment bag on her door would be staying put, having done its job well as a decoy in case he showed up as she thought he might, and her last “meeting” would be to the salon Vera had recommended. Her dress was stowed safely at home in the back of the tiny portion of her closet he hadn’t claimed, hidden behind a bridesmaid dress she hadn’t worn since 2008 and her dress blacks, only brought out for state funerals and memorial services.
“Excellent, I’ll swing by the cleaners, shower and change after I get done with my second class this afternoon and pick you up at 7pm.” He sat up, pushing her braid out of the way and trailed his lips over her neck. “Don’t work late.”
“Stop distracting me and I won’t have to.” She stood up reluctantly, rezipping her jacket and smoothing out her dress slacks. She wanted nothing more than to give in, visions of straddling his lap and riding him until they were both spent dancing through her mind. It wouldn’t be the first time they had given in to temptation in her office. One memorable night months before, when they had still been orbiting around each other and trying to figure out exactly what they were, he had shown up when she had been working late and they had made good use of her desk. Another time, he had stopped by for lunch on the rare weekend she had been working and the office building had been practically abandoned. By the time they came up for air on her couch, the coffee he had brought had gone cold, and the sandwiches were practically soggy. Unlike the other times they had fooled around there, however, it was the middle of the day on a Friday, and any number of high-ranking officials could show up at her door.
He bounded up off the couch and playfully stalked her across the room with a determined look in his eyes. Swiftly he backed her up against the wall, plunging his hands into her hair and tipping her head back. He leaned in close to her ear with a grin, nipping the lobe with his teeth. “You like it when I distract you.”
She leaned up and kissed him swiftly. “Maybe I do, but my CO won’t. And as much fun as it would be, I don’t think fucking my boyfriend on company time during the day is a valid excuse for getting behind in my work.”
Sonya leaned past him and opened the office door, noting that her secretary was conveniently absent. “Now, get the hell out of my office before I lose my better judgement.”
Johnny grinned, scooped up his duffle and brushed past her out the door, dropping a quick kiss on her cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” She looked back and forth to make sure they were alone and gave him a playful swat on the ass. “Now go, I’ll see you tonight.”
“Yes ma’am.” He adopted a mock stern countenance, pulled his shades out of his pocket and slipped them on, then strode off down the corridor without looking back.
With a shake of her head, she watched him go for an instant then turned back towards her desk with a noise of dismay at the stacked papers. Closing the door and sitting down, she reopened her laptop and forced herself to get back to work so she could peel out when she needed to. At least that meant she wasn’t going to feel feel like she was leaving a total shitstorm behind her for when she returned on Monday morning. She cracked her neck, stretching out the muscles, grabbed her coffee cup to take a swig, then opened the OP expenditure file she needed and dug in for a very long, very boring afternoon.
The evening rolled around much faster than she had anticipated and soon Sonya found herself at home getting ready, while keeping an eagle eye on the clock to make sure she was staying on time. She leaned into the mirror in her bathroom, carefully checking her hair for the millionth time and went back to putting on her makeup. Despite being an old hand at these functions, she was flat out nervous about that evening. Partially because she had never brought a date before, preferring to go alone so she could leave early or with Jax so they could both bail for beer and BBQ at whatever roadhouse they could find within distance of the ball’s location that given year. The remainder rested on the fact she was out of her comfort zone, and unsure of how the evening would unfold.
She was also keenly aware that in the eyes of her colleagues, bringing a date like Johnny to an important event like the Military Ball was tantamount to saying they were a serious couple. Given that they were -- that he was pretty much living with her on base and only travelling back to LA for work (sometimes staying overnight at the condo if he had an early call the next morning or a long night shoot) -- Sonya wasn’t sure why this small final step gave her butterflies like it did. Maybe because there would be over five hundred of her colleges there that evening and bringing a date made her feel scrutinized by the many eyes of those who knew her as tough and happy to be alone.
Fuck them. Stepping back, she channelled Vera’s words and gave her appearance a once over, giving herself a nod of approval. She was happier than she had been in a long time, and she wasn’t about to let a room full of high-level jarheads make an already dull evening even worse by playing into her own insecurities. The pep talk she had given Johnny earlier was also ringing through her head, and she scowled harshly at her own weakness, given how she had grown angry at his doubts. She was going to walk into the room that evening and own it, because it didn’t matter if she was in a gown or her uniform, she was Lieutenant Colonel Sonya Blade and she demanded and expected respect.
This was all the damn gown’s fault.
She had been perfectly content to just wear her dress uniform, hated pencil skirt and all. It was dependable, familiar and most of all it was neutral; she felt comfortable in it as much as she loathed it. Now she had changed the game completely all because she had a moment of weakness over the dress, a situation to which she was completely crediting Vera as a bad influence. In doing so she had stripped away all the protective armour her uniform normally brought her. Talking about making her feel vulnerable: with her hair in an intricate braided updo and loose curls down her back, and the swirl of cobalt blue skirts around her legs, she didn’t recognize herself. The problem was she got the feeling that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. She lived her life in her comfort zone; stepping outside of it once and awhile was healthy... or so she was going to keep telling herself.
Sonya took a steadying breath then walked over to the closet and began to hunt for the pair of high heels she had bought specifically for that evening. She eyed the empty spot in the closet where her mess dress normally hung. She’d specifically left it in hanging on the back of her office door when she left work that afternoon so she couldn’t chicken out and change into it at the last minute. Still, the idea of changing her plans at the last minute had crossed her mind at least a few times between her office, the salon and home.
“Coward,” she muttered to herself in disgust. She squared her shoulders and allowed her face to slip into the mean mug she had spent years carefully cultivating. Walking over to the end of the bed, she scooped up the short navy-blue formal jacket she’d arranged to have tailored and ran her fingers over the medals lining the left lapel and shoulder. Each one was a battle she had thrived in and survived, her actions exemplary and a credit to her training.
That’s what matters, not the outside candy coating. Sonya slipped on the jacket with a determined shrug at the thought. She settled it at the shoulders and returned to the mirror to make her final checks before heading downstairs.
The sound of a key in the front door drew her attention and she felt her stomach roll with both anticipation and anxiety. Before she could react further, Johnny’s voice sounded out as he started to move from the front door down the hall towards the bedroom.
“Sonya? Babe, are you ready to go? The car’s waiting out—” His voice died off as he entered the room.
Sonya turned slowly, her breath catching as he stopped dead in his tracks and saw her for the first time. She smiled, watching as his jaw dropped slightly in surprise and shock filtered through his features, followed by delight. She could see his throat working but he couldn’t seem to form coherent words. He actually half turned and looked behind him, as if he half expected to get jumped, or have someone tell him he’d wandered into an alternate universe. Walking across the room, she took his chin in her fingers and gently closed his mouth then pressed her lips to his in a feather light kiss.
He looked impeccable, clad in a very traditional black tuxedo and, in deference to the evening’s theme, sporting a navy-blue cummerbund and bow tie. Sonya reached up and adjusted it slightly then stepped back and assessed him. “You look like James Bond.”
“Really? I feel like the big bad wolf” He spoke in a stunned tone, as if she was going to disappear in a puff of colored smoke.
Sonya made a disbelieving face, wrinkling her nose at him in perplexment. “Why?”
He made a low growling sound as his gaze roamed over her unabashedly. “Because I am thinking some truly nasty thoughts right now, like how you look good enough to eat. You look absolutely stunning.”
“I feel like a Barbie doll,” She admitted ruefully.
“Barbie has nothing on you, that chick wouldn’t know the butt of a rifle from the business end.” Johnny cocked his head thoughtfully. “But that could be a great marketing strategy for Mattel. Sharpshooter Barbie! Just what every little girl wants for their birthday.”
“I’d have wanted one as a kid.” She chuckled at the thought. “I was always stealing my brother’s G.I Joes and waging war on my stuffed animals.”
Johnny reached out, running his hands down her sides until they rested on her hips, and changed the subject, speaking in an awed voice. “Did you do this for me?”
“I keep telling myself that I did it for me,” Sonya admitted, lacing her voice with innuendo. “But the truth is, I may have wanted to blow your… mind a little.”
“Consider me blown thoroughly.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and carefully pulled her closer, trying not to damage her dress. He tipped her chin up and kissed her, nipping her lower lip. “In fact, if I didn’t know we were obligated to go to this thing tonight, I think we might have trouble getting out of the house.”
“Ah, but we do, and the car is waiting.” She turned slowly, letting his eyes take in the detailing on the dress and the way it hugged her curves in all the right places. She could see the desire flitting across his features and moved leisurely knowing it would drive him crazy. Innocently she scooped up her clutch and turned towards the door. “Shall we?”
He came up behind her, leaning in close to her ear. “It’s going to be a long night if you keep doing things like that.”
“Hmmm, true but have patience.” She leaned into him and nuzzled his neck. “And remember one thing.”
“What’s that?” He traced his fingers over her collarbone, making her shiver.
“That once it’s done, you get to be the one who takes this dress off of me.” She eased herself against him, feeling his body respond as she did so.
“Well, that’s going to shock the fuck out of the driver on the way home, but hey, he works in Hollywood, so he’s probably seen worse.” Johnny turned her to face him, dipping his head low and grazing his lips over her cleavage. “And if not, I’ll pay him ample to keep quiet.”
Sonya swatted him playfully. “Pervert.”
Johnny grinned gleefully. “You love it, almost as much as you love me.”
Sonya let out an exaggerated sigh as if she was hard done by. “We’ll see if I say that in six hours when this night is done.”
She checked the time on her phone and winced; it was far later than she liked. “Come on, we can’t keep the car waiting much longer, not if we want to get there on time. Not to mention the sooner we get the night started, the sooner we can come home.”
Johnny casually took his phone out his pocket and tapped something in. At Sonya’s curious glance he angled the screen so she could see the timer he had just set. “Five hours, forty-nine minutes and sixteen seconds to go.”
“Until?” She played innocent, bumping her nose off of his playfully and sinking further into his arms.
His voice was low and smoky, sending a current of desire racing through her making her toes curl in her high heels. “Until I can get you to ride me wearing that dress.”
“You better hope to hell we don’t hit traffic on the way back to the Venice Beach,” she pointed out. She tilted her head up, almost brushing her lips off his and then turned her attention to pressing light kisses to his jawbone, inhaling the sharp spicy scent of his aftershave.
“That’s what the dividing screen between us and the driver is for.” He pressed his lips to her neck and nuzzled her skin with his nose. “And traffic would be a stroke of luck, more time to ourselves uninterrupted.”
“The chances of anything XXX-rated happening on our way home are very slim.” Sonya reached out and palmed his cock, drawing a low groan from him at the stroke of her fingers. “But who knows? I’m in a good mood, play your cards right and you might just get lucky.”
The Los Angeles Museum of Science and Nature had been built in 1962 and the sprawling art deco building always gave Sonya the feeling that the architect had been on designer drugs during the entire building process. The sandstone-colored buildings were domed and elegant, but closely situated together in a loose honeycomb shape that often befuddled people the first time they ventured into the complex. A round glass biodome had been added in the 1980’s followed by the planetarium and now the whole complex looked so much like an elegant antfarm. Still, in the time she had been posted in California, Sonya had been a frequent visitor, mostly to visit the biodome and aquarium. The ball was being held in the Main Atrium, a large hexagonal building that acted as both banquet and exhibit space as needed with halls ways shooting from the space leading to various museum collections and attractions.
As the car pulled up in front, one long black vehicle in a long line of vehicles waiting their turn, she looked out the window to see that the front of the old building had been lit up with lights. A silver runner with the Special Forces symbol had been placed down the front steps to the manicured ground. Above the entrance, images of the cosmos flickered in rotation and stars were cast against the stonework steps.
“This looks more Hollywood than I thought.” Johnny observed, peering over her shoulder. “Maybe it won’t be so bad.”
“When it gets dull, and it will I can assure you, we can always sneak off and look at the exhibits. They left most of them open for exploration tonight and the planetarium has some sort of light show going on after the bulk of the speeches are done.” Sonya focused on making last minute checks to her hair and makeup in anxiety as they waited, already annoyed that they weren’t even in the door and she was fussing over her appearance.
“Oh yes, because if we were alone, looking at museum exhibits would be the first thing on my mind.” He made a face and she bumped him playfully with her shoulder.
“On your best behavior, if you think I can give a death stare, wait until you have five hundred other people doing it at the same time.” She gathered her skirt in preparation as the driver approached the drop off and pulled to a stop.
Johnny shuddered in horror at the thought. “No thanks, I’d rather not spend the entire night fishing my balls out of my abdomen.”
A moment later, the driver appeared and opened the car door for them silently. Making sure she wasn’t going to trip and fall on her ass, Sonya stepped out gingerly and waited for Johnny to join her. As the car pulled away, she wound her arm through his and they mounted the steps to the already bustling building.
At the door they were met by a young soldier in full dress uniform who glanced at the tickets Sonya produced and then up to the rack of medals she was sporting on her jacket. He snapped into a sharp salute that she returned respectfully and moved aside so they could enter.
“How do you pull the short straw for that job all night?” Johnny asked quietly as they walked away.
“Normally by pissing off your CO.” Sonya gave him a tight smile. “It was one of Jax’s favorite punishments.”
“And how many years did you have to do it?” Johnny snickered as she glared at him.
“More than I’m willing to admit to you.” Sonya steered them towards the Main Atrium, keeping an eye out for Jax and Vera. Another bonus to each having their significant other with them: instead of being seated with random co-workers it would be the four of them at a table by themselves. Given how much she loathed having to make small talk with strangers, it was going to be a blissful change from previous years.
As they passed by a cluster of officers from the base, Sonya felt their eyes burning into her as they took in her appearance. For a moment she wanted to melt into the floor and hide, but then she checked herself, mentally straightened her shoulders and schooled her face into a cool and reserved mask.
From within the group, she heard a voice stutter in surprise. “Is that…Blade?”
Another voice sounded in awe. “Naw, can’t be.”
Stopping in her tracks, Sonya turned with a scowl and flipped the gawkers the bird decisively before smiling and rewinding her arm through Johnny’s. Walking away she heard a dry voice mutter, “No, that was definitely her.”
“Causing trouble right out the gate?” Johnny whispered in her ear.
“Damn right,” she said with a snort. “I don’t want them to think just because I’m in a dress that I can’t kick all of their asses black and blue.”
“Mission accomplished.” Johnny said sardonically. “I think I see our better half over that way, by the bar.”
Sonya peered through the crowd, seeing Vera and Jax standing by the bar and raised a hand in recognition. Pushing through the crowd, she hung on to Johnny tightly and pulled him behind her as she made her way across the room. Jax stood up from where he had been slouching against the bar rail as they approached, the surprise frank on his face as he saw how she was dressed.
Vera swept forwards, wrapping Sonya in a fierce hug before the other women could protest. Her dress was a silver and black tapestry of swirls, and while Sonya had seen the gown on her at the shop, under the lighting it was stunning. She had piled her dark curls into an intricate updo and accentuated with delicate silver jewellery that seemed to radiate against her skin.
“You look amazing.” Sonya smiled as she pulled back and took in the full effect. “I knew that dress was going to be killer.”
“And what about you? Did the dress work as well as you thought it would?” Vera wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
“Mind. Blown.” Sonya smirked. “It’s one of the few times I’ve ever seen his mouth not work.
“I heard that,” Johnny scowled as he gave Jax a fist bump in hello. “But I mean you’re not wrong I guess.”
“I rarely am.” Sonya reached out and poked Jax playfully on the shoulder. “It’s good to see you rocking this again Major, looking as sharp as ever.”
“It took some convincing to put it on.” Jax gave her a tight smile, and she could see anxiety behind his features. “I hadn’t planned on coming this year, too many people, but Vera has a way with words.”
“I said it would be good for him, and he was going.” Vera smiled and patted Jax on the cheek gently. “And he took my advice.”
“Didn’t have much choice,” Jax grumbled affectionately.
Sonya looked down at her gown and then back at Vera. “Really? I know how that feels.”
“You both need someone to kick you in the ass regularly and tell you to stop stubborning yourself into corners.” Vera rolled her eyes in frustration and scooped her purse off the bar. “Now come on, let’s go sit down and pre-drink before this gets underway so it’s not as painful.”
“Have I mentioned how much I adore you?” Johnny gave her a hug hello and a kiss on the cheek.
“You do have all night.” Vera reminded him as she began to lead the way to their table with Johnny close behind her.
As Jax passed Sonya to catch up to her, he glanced down at her gown and leaned in close to her ear. “If you are under some type of superhuman mind control, blink twice and I swear I’ll get us both out of here.”
Sonya patted his arm fondly. “Nice try.”
“I had hopes of escaping.” He winced. “How did we wind up with a pair social butterflies like those two?”
Sonya chuckled and bumped his shoulder with hers as they walked. “Karma.”
He sighed and then shook his head ruefully. “Yeah well, remind me to kick its ass the next time it gets within ten feet of us and then thank it.” \
“Get in line.”
By the time they were seated, waiters had begun to circulate with baskets of bread and salad. Jax had managed to commandeer a table towards the back of the room, scoring them more privacy and reducing the loud chatter minimally so it was more tolerable for conversation.
Sonya glanced towards the stage as she took her jacket off and settled it on the back of her chair. “How long do you think we have until this dog and pony show starts?”
Jax glanced at watch. “I’d say about ten minutes, they tend to like to wait until they start serving the food. Nothing tastes better with filet mignon then a side of mashed potatoes and utter bullshit.”
“I just hope they don’t butcher cooking the steak like last year.” Sonya grumbled. She scowled as Jax made a face of contention at her. “What? I’m a Texan, it offends me.”
She flagged a waiter as he scurried by. “Excuse me, can I get a double scotch and soda please?”
“Make that two.” Johnny settled next to her and slipped an arm around her shoulders.
“Better make it three.” Sonya leaned into him. “Because I guarantee I’m going to steal yours.”
“Oh, come on, it can’t be that bad.” He toyed with his salad fork and made a stabbing motion with his fork. “I mean if it was, somebody would have taken someone out with a high-powered rifle as a distraction before now.”
“The thought had occurred to me.” Sonya said wistfully. “But it’s too much paperwork.”
“Yeah, all the J52-P forms you would have to document.” Jax shuddered comically. “Takes all the spontaneity out of it.”
“Because everyone at this table knows soldiers just thrive on being spontaneous.” Johnny drawled. “If spontaneity involves keeping a detailed chart of if and when to replace your socks.”
“Traitor!” Sonya gave him an offended look. “That was between you and I!”
Vera gestured to Jax. “He keeps a pair of socks, and a pair of shoes in every room of the house!”
“I see you that and raise you keeping her duffle bag even though it’s being held together by spit and trauma.” Johnny mimicked a gagging gesture to show how disgusted he was.
“Never washes his bomber jacket, ever. On rainy days I can smell it across the farmhouse.” Vera makes a similarly disgusted face at Jax as he raised his hands in contrition.
Sonya turned to Jax with a wince and a tight smile. “I’m starting to think putting these two together tonight was a bad idea.”
She turned just in time to hear Johnny say “If you think that’s an odd place to keep a gun, I found one in the bedside table next to a bar of chocolate and her—”
Sonya kicked him under the table.
Johnny made a pained noise and cleared his throat. “Never mind, scratch that. I’ve just been told that information is highly classified by my CO.”
“Oh look, it’s starting!” Sonya took a healthy sip of her drink, thankful for the distraction as an elderly man in full dress uniform took the stage. “That’s General Coyle, he’s giving the main address.”
Johnny’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “He looks like he could keel over at any minute.”
Sonya and Jax spoke in unison. “We can hope.”
Addressing the crowd, General Coyle spoke in a surprisingly loud voice that carried across the space, clearly used to commandeering the attention of large groups of people.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the 67th annual Military Ball. We’re here this evening to wine, dine and dance our best officers, and to hand out accommodations that recognize why they are the best. Through actions and conduct, these officers have proven time and time again…”
Sonya pulled her attention from the stage for a moment watching with concern as anxiety began to spread across Jax’s features. His fingers dug into the table as he closed his eyes and took a shaky breath. Sonya knew the overall look well; it was normally accompanied by a panic attack, and she knew once one began it would be hours before he was calm again. She felt a wall of protectiveness hit her and it was on the tip of her tongue to ask him if they needed to bolt.
Before she could, Vera reached over and took Jax’s hand, intertwining their fingers together. She squeezed Jax’s fingers reassuringly and Sonya watched as the tension retreated from his body. Within a moment, his breathing was calmer and although he was still pale, Sonya could see that the worst had been averted. Jax raised Vera’s fingers to his lips briefly and gave an almost imperceptible nod of his head to indicate he was okay. Sonya smiled and leaned into Johnny, resting her head in the crook of his neck as he kissed the top of her head.
Karma indeed. If, on the strange and rare chance, she ever met whatever form it took, Sonya was going to ask what the hell it had been thinking over the past couple years and then offer to buy it a beer in gratitude. She looked over at Johnny, who gave her a sunny smile over the rim of his drink and then over at Jax and Vera.
Maybe I better make that two or three. With the waiter approaching with their food, she snapped herself back to focus, letting the General’s monotone waft over her as she prepared to eat her meal.
Two hours, three scotches and one over cooked filet mignon later and any minimal joy or hope Sonya had carried that the evening wouldn’t be as dry as burnt toast was long gone. Not even the large crème brulee in front of her was enough to offset the droning coming from the main stage. She swirled her spoon in the dessert and then dropped it into the bowl with a sigh. They had made it through the opening address, a flag procession and a host of commendations and medals. Now they were slogging through an extended retirement presentation for General Walters, who had previously “retired” twice before and always balked at the last minute.
Sonya looked around the table. Vera was idly checking her phone, Jax was sitting back in his chair half asleep, and Johnny was leaning on the table with his chin on his hand, actually watching the stage with a degree of attentiveness that was surprising.
“How are you not bored stupid?” Sonya whispered from the corner of her mouth.
“Over a decade of awards shows, I’ve built a combat tolerance.” He stole a spoonful of her dessert. “You haven’t been truly bored until you’ve sat through Martin Scorsese waxing poetic about his latest masterpiece. I swear I’ve seen the dead rise, hear him droning on stage and decide it’s better to just go back to their graves.”
He winked at her. “You’ll see, Oscar season is just around the corner.”
“Oh God, I have to dress up again?” She tried to look dismayed at the idea. “I don’t know if I have it in me. This may be a once in a decade thing.”
“A decade? I don’t think I can wait that long.” Johnny pursed his lips and made a show of looking thoughtful. “I may just have to come up with a reason for you to get dressed up long before then.”
Sonya felt her heart stop for a moment before she managed to form words. “It had better be a damned good one.”
“Oh, I think it would be once in a lifetime.” He winked at her, and she felt a flush of heat spread through her cheeks.
Jax yawned loudly and cracked his neck, startling her back to attention. “I think I need to take a break and get some air, stretch my legs.”
He rose and pulled his uniform jacket off the back of his chair then turned to Vera. “Walk with me?”
“Gladly.” She rose gracefully and took the arm he offered. Turning to walk away she looked over her shoulder at Johnny and Sonya. “Don’t get too bored while we’re gone.”
Johnny gave her a smile worthy of a headshot “I’m sure we can make our own entertainment.”
“That’s what I said.” Vera called over her shoulder as they disappeared into the crowd.
Watching them disappear, and with the next general set to take the stage to give a speech on an upcoming exhibit on science and modern warfare, Sonya could feel the last of her brain cells starting to die. It was the final call to action she needed to lay aside any lingering worries and embrace the plans she had tentatively and covertly set into action for the evening. She gave Johnny a sidelong glance and scooted closer to him. She shifted her skirts under the table and then extended her high heel, running it along the inside of his calf slowly.
Johnny quirked a smile and leaned close, so he could whisper in her ear. “What are you doing?”
Sonya fluttered her eyelashes at him in exaggeration then leaned in and pressed a lingering kiss to his neck. “Taking sage advice and entertaining myself.”
“Oh, now you take advice,” Johnny caught the waiter as he passed by. “Can I get a martini please, shaken not stirred?”
Sonya scoffed slightly and he grinned. “What? You said I looked like James Bond. I’m just playing the part.”
Sonya let her hand drift across his thigh slowly. “I’d rather you play with me instead.”
Johnny gave her an intense gaze and she watched as his eyes traced a map of the places he’d like to touch, but couldn’t with so many of her coworkers around, starting with her lips, and moving down to her neck. She followed his look as it drifted across her shoulders and the expanse of cleavage the gown exposed then back up again. He chewed his lower lip thoughtfully then reached over and dragged a finger along her jawline, drawing a sigh out of her chest before she could stop herself.
Seeing the game was on, Sonya reached up and gathered her hair, lifting it off her neck so he could see how her skin glowed softly in the ambient light of the room. She casually let it fall, aware that the rose scent of salon shampoo, so much stronger than she normally used, would waft towards him.
He leaned back in his chair as the waiter returned with his drink, steepling his fingers and waiting until he was certain they were alone. Once they were he reached across the table, capturing her hand in his. He turned it palm up and began to trace circles slowly over her palm, then moved up her arm and swept across the ridge of her collarbone. Sonya felt desire begin to build and she squeezed her legs together, trying to control the ache she felt begin to build.
Trying to distract herself from the dampness between her thighs, Sonya reached over and stole the olive skewer from his martini. Bringing it to her lips leisurely she slid it into her mouth, sucking the alcohol off gently and feeling the gin burn across her tongue. Making sure no one was looking, she swirled her tongue around the skewer, drawing the olives past her lips slowly. Johnny’s face flushed and he let out a sharp breath, pupils flaring with desire as he watched her. When she finally pulled the skewer from her mouth, she flipped it between her fingers then laid it at the base of the martini glass. With a smirk she sat back against her chair, raising an eyebrow as if to say, “your move.”
He waited until she was toying with his calf again then edged closer on his seat and dipped an arm under the tablecloth to casually capture her foot, pulling in into his lap amid the folds of her skirt. Sonya was thankful for the obscuring tablecloth as he flipped the fabric aside and slid his hand up her leg, running his fingers along her silk covered calf. She watched as surprised registered on his face, and his eyes flashed up to hers. Stretching her leg farther out further, she relaxed into his lap, then slid a hand under the table. Covering his hand with hers, she glided it further along the silk until she reached the lace band at the top of her stockings. He let out a low whine and she smiled, wrinkling her nose in amusement.
“What’s the matter?” Sonya whispered playing innocent. “Is everything all right?”
“Very much so.” Johnny whispered back, dragging his fingers back and forth across the fabric, reaching a fraction of an inch higher until he could dart his thumb over the clip attached to her garter strap. “Very, very, much so.”
At the touch of his hand, her breath hitched, and she felt heat spread through her stomach, the gathering dampness between her legs causing her to shift her hips instinctively towards his fingers. He chuckled and withdrew, settling her skirt around her again, meeting her gaze with one of unbridled lust. Before she could recoup, he shifted again in his seat, draping an arm around her and skirting his fingers lighting fast along the curve of her breast. He ghosted his lips over her neck and shoulder, nuzzling his nose along her skin until she squirmed away.
“Stop that, you know I’m ticklish.” She protested “If you make me laugh out loud, I’ll lose any credibility I have left with these jarheads.”
“Hey, you started this.” He gave her a wicked grin and idly traced a finger along the top of her breasts, drawing lazy circles as her skin flushed under his touch and she held back her laughter.
“Oh, I see, just along for the ride, are we?” Feeling bold, she slid a hand under the table and stroked along his inner thigh. Brushing her fingers over his cock through the fabric, she wasn’t at all surprised to find him hard under her hand.
He swallowed a noise of desire, and she could see the muscles in his throat working to maintain control before he managed to speak, dropping his voice low so only she could hear it. “I think I’ve made it abundantly clear at this point that you can ride me anytime you want.”
She continued to tease him, watching as color crept along his neck and face “Hmmm, you are easy, I’ll give you that.”
“Only for you,” he grew serious, brushing her hair over her shoulder, letting his fingers linger on her skin. “You bring out the best in me.”
At a loss for the right words and with a soft smile playing at her lips, she ducked her head, resting it against his fingers. She gave him a look from under her eyelashes and then abruptly pushed her chair back and stood up. He gave her a questioning glance as she moved around to his side, running her fingers along his shoulders. Sonya leaned down, giving him an unobstructed view of the way, her dress hugged her cleavage, and spoke close to his ear. “Count to forty and then follow me.”
She grabbed her clutch and began to make her way towards the door, glancing back in his direction to see he was preparing to leave the table, and then stepped out of the Main Atrium and into the museum beyond.
In the relative quiet of the museum’s lobby, Sonya looked around to see which direction she wanted to go in, and quickly made an executive decision. If she went left, it led to the aquarium, and right led to the planetarium. She went right, making sure to take her time, until she saw him come out of the Main Atrium searching for where she had gone. He caught her gaze and turned in her direction, so she quickened her step playfully moving down the hall and disappeared into the first doorway she found open.
Walking into the dimly lit space she couldn’t help but let out a soft gasp in awe as she took everything in. The museum’s Hall of Minerals lay sprawled before her, stones and gems shimmering in the soft light. To her right was a showcase full of jade, some polished, some raw, while to her left was a glass wall display full of chunks of opalite and rose quartz. The exhibit opened further to various cases full of stones and gems ranging from common to rare. In the soft light, the walls glimmered as if they contained flecks of mica and as she moved into the room, she got the feeling she was walking deeper and deeper underground. To some it may have felt claustrophobic, as if the walls were closing in, but to Sonya it felt comforting. It was almost as if the strength of the stone was holding the world outside at bay.
On any other instance, she may very well have taken her time, read the info cards and poured over the various exhibit pieces in fascination. Tonight, knowing Johnny was right behind her, she stepped further into the room, trying not to let herself get distracted by all of the displays in front of her. She nearly made it, even bypassing a display on deep sea coral, until she saw the main exhibit piece and stopped in her tracks. In the center of the room, lording over everything else and easily fifteen feet tall, was a massively cut geode. Steel grey on the outside, the revealed interior was a rich tapestry of purples and blues shot through with flecks of silver and swirls of black.
Given that the ball’s theme was ‘Under the Cosmos’ it was highly appropriate that the interior of the geode looked like a galaxy in motion. It was also truly captivating, and Sonya quickly found herself immersed in the way the colors shifted in the light. She moved closer, crossing her arms over her chest and peering at the crystalized mineral in fascination. Every time she moved; the color spectrum shifted and something new emerged. It was the type of effect that one could spend hours staring it and never get bored.
She was following a pattern of purple and silver when she heard the soft steps of Johnny approaching behind her. Instead of turning to face him she continued to look at the geode, feigning ignorance until he slipped his arms around her waist and tucked his chin in the crook of her shoulder.
“It’s gorgeous.” He noted as he took in the obelisk. He leaned his head against her neck and mouthed the skin. “But not nearly as gorgeous as you.”
“Has flattery like that ever worked with me?” Sonya turned his arms, feeling the length of his body against hers, and wound her arms tightly around his neck. He skimmed his hands down her body until he was cupping her ass possessively and dragged her against him.
“I can hope and dream.” He tipped his head down and captured her mouth with his, drawing her lower lip between his teeth and nipping gently.
“Yes, you can.” Sonya let her hand slip down between them and stroked along his cock. “But I prefer more tangible things.”
Johnny growled low in his throat and rested his forehead on hers. “Woman, you are killing me slowly tonight, one hard-on at a time.”
“You have no idea.” She gave him a teasing smirk and dallied her fingers along his collar bone. He pulled back and gave her a searching look then scanned the room for a suitable spot. Seeing a stone bench carved into one of the walls, he took her by the hand and pulled her along with him until they reached it.
Sonya let him ease her down onto the flat surface, pushing herself back enough so she wouldn’t tumble off easily and leaned back on her hands. Johnny shed his jacket, tossing it on the bench beside her and sunk down between her legs, taking her skirt in his hands and carefully pulling the fabric up until it was pooled at her waist. She watched the expression on his face shift to reverence as the black silk stockings she had picked for that evening were revealed. He slid his hands up her thighs, pushing them open gently and ran his fingers over the lace bands, toying with the garter clips, then running his thumbs over the thin lace straps. With a smouldering glance, he pushed her skirts up further until he finally revealed the sheer black garter belt and accompanying panties.
Johnny looked heavenward for a minute, as if to thank whatever Gods were listening, and Sonya couldn’t help but chuckle. He was many things but when it came to sex, complex was not one of them. “Oh, you like that do you?”
“I think it’s the best gift you could ever give me and my birthday’s not for months.” He gave her a wicked grin and leaned down, taking his time and pressing a kiss to each of her inner thighs, nosing along the fabric until he returned to her center. Agonizingly slow, he pressed his lips to the thin fabric between her legs, torturing her with his breath, skimming his lips over her until she writhed under his hands.
Sonya could feel her pulse roaring in her ears, and she arched towards him, feeling heat sizzle through her. She was at war with herself, a part of her brain screaming that what they were doing was stupid and dangerous with her coworkers down the hall. The other part loving every minute of the thrill of being with him and enjoying herself with no regrets. She felt euphoric, lightheaded even, and reached down to run her fingers through his hair, tugging gently, letting him know she wanted more.
He moved his hand lower, nudging the silk covering her to the side, and then stopped suddenly, cocking his head to listen. “Did you hear that?”
The sound of footsteps coming down the hall caused Sonya to blanche. Johnny quickly pulled her skirts back down and helped her to feet, grabbing his jacket and throwing it over his arm. “Come on, this way.”
Sonya took the hand he offered, letting him pull her towards a high display and tucking them behind it out of sight. They had barely hidden when a pair of officers strode into the room and began to look at exhibits. Looking suitably bored, they began to read the cards, pointing out the interesting pieces to each other. After what seemed like an eternity, one smacked the other on the shoulder in boredom, clearly wanting to move on. They wandered from the room without even suspecting Johnny and Sonya were there.
Immediately Johnny began to chortle, bending his head to hers and pressing a kiss to her forehead. “That was really fucking close.”
“Too close, lucky they were just junior officers and not higher up.” Sonya made a noise of disappointment and frustration. “We should go back, it’s too risky.”
Johnny pressed her back into the display case, running his fingers through the loose curls on her temple, and toying with one between his fingers. “We could, or…”
He tipped her chin up and kissed her, rolling his tongue over hers heatedly. She reached up and fisted her hands in his hair, bruising his lips in response as she pressed her hips against his. “Or what?”
“Or we could find somewhere a little more private and…” He leaned in, brushing his lips over her ear and painting a vivid picture of what he had in mind.
Sonya felt her stomach flip as a series of explicit images floated through her mind via his words. Heat began to pool between her legs, and she shifted her position against him with a low sound of desire. She looked back towards the main hall, warring with herself. After almost getting caught, insisting they go back to the banquet was the smart move. Back to where it was boring, but where she wasn’t putting her position on the line for a little play and distraction. The problem was, it wasn’t what she wanted to do at all, for once she wanted to have some fun.
“Fuck it.” Before she could over think it anymore, she gently pushed him back so she could move past him and then extended a hand. “Why don’t you lead the way?”
With an arm tucked around her waist, Johnny hurried them from the room through another doorway, and down a short hallway lined with high-definition movie poster sized photos of space. The Milky Way, the Horseshoe Nebula, Jupiter’s ion storm, Haley’s Comet; Sonya recognized most of them, others were nameless to her but not without beauty in their colorful swirls and clouds.
She pointed to a framed shot of Pillars of Creation as they passed it by. “I’ve always thought this shot was beautiful. I was fascinated with the Hubble Space Telescope as a kid. I had a poster of this on my bedroom wall when I was in high school.”
“Really? I had Cindy Crawford in a string bikini.” Johnny grinned as she rolled her eyes in exasperation and pulled him along. “What? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
“Proof that even at 15 you were already thinking with your cock,” she grumbled good naturedly.
“Yeah, like every other teenage boy on the planet.” He scoffed. “But I suppose it was very telling.”
“Enlighten me as to how?” Sonya asked. They went down a short flight of stairs and turned a corner to find the wide glass doors of the planetarium in front of them. A large sandwich board proclaimed daily educational shows on one side and the other showcased the evening light shows that were put on after dusk.
“That I had great taste in women then, and I still do now.” Johnny’s confidence made Sonya scowl.
“You know, with the number of bimbos you’ve dated, I’m not sure if that’s a compliment.” She peered into the room and cautiously stepped through the doors, checking to see if anyone was inside. It was eerily quiet, setting her nerves on edge as she gauged if the risk was worth it or if she should just force them to return to the safety of the Main Atrium after all.
“Would it surprise you to find out I was actually the bimbo in a lot of those situations?” He winked at her, strolling into the curved space as if he owned it, casually looking about to see where the most secluded spots were. Sonya mentally twitched, as though she could feel the blood vessels bursting in her brain. Sometimes she was still utterly stunned at how different they were, like fire and ice. Some how together though they burned hotter than she had ever thought possible.
“In all honesty… not even a little bit.” Sonya pulled the door shut behind her, ignoring the indignant face he made. She looked around the room and made a frustrated noise. The open layout was much like a theatre, with steps leading down to a seating area and at the front a raised platform of a stage for lectures. Instead of regular seating, plush black recliners lined the bulk of the space, leaving little room to hide themselves if needed. “This is no more private than the last room.”
Johnny took the steps two at a time and wandered over to a control panel casually checking out the buttons. He flipped a switch, and Holst’s The Planets began playing softly; another deft touch and the galaxy was shifting above them in a symphony of purples and blues. “But it’s much more romantic.”
“You are going to get us in utter shit.” She said with a laugh as he continued to fiddle, diming the lights and adjusting the music volume to his satisfaction. She wandered down the steps and headed for the stage. Eying Johnny, who with his head down looking at the control panel wasn’t paying attention to what she was doing she hoisted herself up onto the edge of the stage. Taking a moment, she settled her skirts high up around her thighs so her stockings her visible. She crossed her ankles demurely and reclined on her hands, feigning boredom.
“Relax, if anyone comes in, we’ll tell them it was on when we got here.” He looked up, his face splitting into a mellow grin. He cocked his head and took his phone out of his pocket. “May I?”
Sonya considered him for a moment and then gave a small shrug. It would be a tame photo considering some of the others they had taken privately taken together. “Standard rules apply, no one sees it on pain of de-nutting.”
“Of course.” He waited for her to arrange herself, tucking the skirt around her so the lingerie was fully visible and snapped a few shots. He skimmed them, deleted the ones he disliked and then took a few more.
“Are you going to spend all night playing Ansel Adams or are you going to come over here and kiss me before we get caught?” Sonya flashed him an impatient glance and looked over at the door, nerves getting the better of her.
Abandoning the control station he strolled over, tucking himself between her legs and running his hands along her thighs. “You started this; you’re telling me you’ve never snuck off like this before? Not in high school, at the academy? You never cut loose to avoid being bored stupid, or hell, even just for the fun of it?”
“What do you think?” She took his hand and slid it up further, brushing his fingertips over the front of her panties.
“I think I’m honored to be the bad influence you need in your life.” His voice was thick with desire as he traced a pattern in the black lace fabric. “And I’m glad it’s not someone else.”
Sonya shook her head, repeating his earlier words. “Only for you.”
“What?” he pulled back to look at her, reaching out to trace her cheek.
“Tonight, the dress, flirting, sneaking off, I can’t picture myself doing this with anyone but you.” She rested her hands on his chest, praying he wouldn’t notice the slight tremble in her fingers. She looked down, clearing her throat, hoping she wasn’t making herself look weak in his eyes. “And if I’m really honest with myself, I don’t want to.”
When she looked up to meet his gaze, the affection in his eyes made her breath catch. He took her hand off his chest and pressed a kiss to the inside of her wrist, “I love you too.”
Sonya slid and arm around his neck, pulling him close so she could settle her lips on his. Hunger and desire stretched between them; interwoven with a tenderness that she wouldn’t have thought possible from herself six months before. Unsure of how to express the depth of what she was feeling, she allowed her body to do the talking for her. She carded her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck, entwining her tongue with his. Her body was on fire, lust making her acutely aware of how hard her pulse was pounding. From just below the stern veneer she so carefully kept up, her love for him was making her feel euphoric and dizzy.
Johnny began tracing a path with his lips, dipping his heads low and working along her jaw and down her neck, drawing the skin between his teeth and sucking the skin lightly. He returned a hand to her thigh, running his fingers along the skin leisurely until he reached the thin fabric covering her, nudging it aside as she swallowed a soft moan. Dancing his hand over her, he ghosted through her clipped curls then eased his fingertips against her clit, finding her slick at his touch. Sonya arched her hips against his hand, biting her lip as he began to massage circles with the pad of his thumb. Thankful for the music, knowing it provided some cover for any sound they made, she rested her head against his chest and made a breathy noise against his shoulder.
He let his fingers dip lower, starting a rhythm that varied between tormenting her clit and slipping in and out of her to tease the bundle of nerves he knew would send her over the edge. Sonya dropped her hand between them, stroking his cock, fumbling slightly as she began to work the zipper on the front of his dress pants.
He stilled her hand gently, pressing his forehead against hers. “Are you sure? I don’t want to get you in trouble sweetheart, we can stop before if the risk is too much. Home isn’t that far off, we’ll survive.”
He was giving her an out, a way for them to go back to the Main Atrium away from the chance of getting caught in flagrante, and she loved him all the more for it. That he cared about her career and reputation, when not long ago he would have just acted on impulse and faced the consequences later, wasn’t lost on her. She also had no intention of simply going back, she wanted him, all of him, and she was beyond reason or rationale about it.
“Johnny, look at us, I think we’re long past the point of return,” Sonya managed to get his zipper down, sliding her hand inside to cup him with her fingers, stroking up and down his shaft lazily. “I don’t want to stop; do you?”
“My gorgeous girlfriend played dress up for me, and now has my dick in her hands, sue me but I think the only answer is a resounding hell no.” Anything else Johnny could have said was lost in the low growl of pleasure he made at her touch. She freed his cock from his pants, pushing the fabric aside as she continued to caress him, letting her thumb tease the head of his shaft as he thrust into her hand.
Sliding to the edge of the stage, she hooked a leg over his hip, bringing herself as close to him as she possible could without tipping off the edge. He feathered his lips over her shoulder, settling himself against her, and rubbed his cock over her clit, building a friction that caused her to see sparks. Sonya rubbed her hips against his hungrily, fisting her hands in his hair and pulling him in for a bruising kiss as she swept her tongue over his mouth. Reaching between them, she seated him at her entrance, letting out a low moan as he slid inside her until their hips were flush against each other.
Slowly he began to move, pulling out almost completely and sinking back into her as she dug her nails into his shoulders. Arching against him she closed her eyes, letting herself get lost in the rhythm as they moved together. His skin was warm under her touch, a flush stealing up his throat as he let his head fall back and snapped his hips against hers. Sonya felt her throat constrict with emotion, feeling as though she was falling, as the love she felt for him rippled through her. She let out a low whine, pleasure coiling tightly in her abdomen like a spring as she matched him thrust for thrust.
Abruptly, he opened his eyes, stilling for a moment as he wound her arms around his neck. “Wrap your legs around me tighter, I have an idea.”
Sonya obliged, letting out a noise of surprise as he withdrew and picked her up, holding her securely against him as he moved away from the stage. He took several steps back until he reached the first line of leather chairs and tumbled them down into one, landing so she was sitting astride his lap. Under their weight, the seat reclined back, giving them both a better view of the ceiling above them in violent shades of black, purple and silver. She shifted her skirts, fanning them out so they draped over both of them and guided his hands to her hips as she slowly sank back down on his cock.
“God you’re gorgeous,” he murmured as she began to move, leisurely rising and falling on his shaft. “I never get tired of seeing you undone like this.”
She brushed her lips off his as he tangled his hand in her hair, and clenched her muscles around him, watching desire flicker in his eyes intensely. “The fact you see me undone at all should tell you how much I love you.”
He wrapped his arms around her with a groan as she increased her tempo, feeling her impending orgasm dancing just out of her line of vision. She chased after it, tightening her legs around him and grinding her clit, as she felt the sensation begin to build along her spine. Sensing she was close to the edge, Johnny returned his hands to her hips, fisting his hands in the fabric of her skirt and using the tension to guide their movements. Sonya felt herself shatter as a crescendo of pleasure sparked through her, causing her vision to go static and white. She reached out a hand, digging her nails into the leather of the recliner for balance. Moving chaotically she snapped her hips against his, wanting to feel every inch of his cock as she rode him to completion.
Johnny tightened his hold on her, digging his fingers into the silk pooled at her waist as he pistoned his hips off of hers. Sonya leaned back slightly, using the recliner’s armrests for leverage as she moved up and down his cock and biting back a final muffled cry as her climax began to ebb. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, biting her shoulder lightly to contain his own gasp, and followed her over the precipice into his own orgasm. She felt his hips jerk as he spent himself and leaned low, crushing his lips with hers, all the while keeping a steady rhythm with her body until she felt him finally go still.
With a soft sigh, she allowed herself to collapse against his chest, resting her forehead under his chin as he stroked circles along her back and shoulders. After a catching her breath, conscious that someone could walk in at any moment, she reluctantly shifted off his lap and onto the edge of the arm rest. Johnny righted his pants then tucked her in the crook of his arm tenderly. After a moment she leaned her head on his shoulder contentedly watching the Milky Way above them and then chuckled.
“What’s so funny?” He kissed her temple, reaching up to brush a stray lock of her hair back into place.
Sonya gestured to the ceiling, pointing to the fact that among the planets visible, the Earth had shifted almost totally across the room since they came in. “I think we made the Earth move.”
Johnny leaned his head against the lounger’s cushioned headrest and gave her a grin. “You know, I could get used to this.”
“What? A galaxy above your head while we’re having sex?” She cocked her head, feigning ignorance. “I mean, I suppose it’s better than mirrors on the ceiling.”
“You cutting loose, letting yourself have a little fun every once and awhile.” He brushed his knuckles over her cheek as he spoke, moving along her jawbone and the shell of her ear.
“You wish.” She chortled, pressing a kiss to his neck. “I have a reputation as a hardass to maintain.”
“I know, and that ass is absolutely worth it.” He pouted slightly. “Maybe just like, on my birthday, and I don’t know, Arbor Day or something.”
“Or maybe we make this an annual tradition.” She snorted and made a face of dismay. “I can tell you it will make knowing we have to attend this again next year much more enjoyable.”
“I think I can live with that.” He kissed her softly. “Just promise me one thing?”
“I make no promises, but I’ll try. What is it?” She pulled back to look at him in concern.
“Please don’t make me wait a whole year to see those garters again, I think it might actually kill me.” He made a pleading expression, causing her to laugh against his shoulder.
“Tempting.” She nipped his lower lip and followed it by tracing her thumb in its wake. “But I do like having you around, so I guess I’ll have to oblige.”
“You want to know the best part?” She leaned down close to his ear, dragging the lobe with her teeth. “You haven’t even seen the corset that goes with them yet.”
He made as though he was about to hop up, causing her to grab the front of his shirt or risk being tipped on the floor. “I’m ready to head out whenever you are.”
“Nice try.” Sonya looked around the room and sighed reluctantly. “We should actually get back though. Eventually even Jax and Vera will wonder where we went.”
“Yeah, I suppose so.” He helped her to her feet and then rose, looping an arm around her shoulders. Noticing a smear of lipstick on the shoulder of his dress shirt, he winced. “We should probably find a place to clean up on the way, try not look quite so obviously pleased with ourselves.”
“I think I saw a bathroom on my way here.” She leaned against him as they began to walk from the room. “And if not, I can always dunk you in the aquarium, you can be my personal merman.”
“I’m starting to think you have a fish fetish.” He wagged a finger at her in mock censure.
“And I’m starting to think you know too much about me.” She scowled playfully. “I may have to take you out.”
“Idle threats Lieutenant Colonel, you’ve already admitted you like having me around.” He gave her a confident grin and opened the door for her to exit ahead of him.
She sighed over-dramatically. “Well, I guess I’m thoroughly fucked then, aren’t I?”
Johnny winked at her. “In more ways than one.”
With the night fading, Sonya steered them back towards the Main Atrium at a clip. She’d been correct in spotting the bathroom just beyond the Hall of Minerals and stepped inside to make repairs. Luckily, her hair wasn’t totally ruined, and she was able to sweep it back into place obediently. Fixing her lipstick proved more problematic, and in the end, she gave up and just sufficed with removing as much of it as she could. After a quick trip to nearest the empty stall, she gave her appearance a through look over in the mirror above the sink and headed back to the hall just as Johnny stepped from the adjacent men’s room. His hair was combed, his shirt fixed and he’d redonned his tux jacket to hide the lipstick stain he couldn’t remove. Walking towards her, he held his hands out in encompassing gesture. “How do I look?”
“Like you just got well laid in a planetarium and you’re trying to hide it.” Sonya’s voice was deadpan as she smoothed out a wrinkle in her skirt, thankful the material was dark and somewhat forgiving.
“Excellent, exactly what I was going for.” Johnny took her arm, and they approached the door to the ball and slipped back inside.
They approached their table and Sonya wasn’t at all surprised to see Vera and Jax had returned and were watching the awards being given out on stage. She dropped into her seat with a soft thump and pulled her drink towards her. Across the table, Vera gave her a quirked smile and raised an eyebrow as if to say, “I know exactly what you were up to.”
Johnny drained the last of his martini and set the empty glass aside. “What did we miss?”
“More commendations and awards.” Vera waved a hand lazily and took a sip of her drink. “We haven’t been back that long.”
“Long enough.” Jax tossed his napkin on the table and gave a bored snort. “If y’all are done acting like horny teenagers, can we blow this shindig finally?”
“We weren’t--” Sonya stopped as Jax raised an eyebrow stoically. Heat flushed across her cheeks, and she cleared her throat and looked away.
“You never were any good at hiding at things from me.” He said sardonically. “Probably the reason you spent, what was it? Three years doing door duty? Or was it four?”
“And even if you could--” He gave Johnny a pointed look. “The lipstick badly hidden on Loverboy’s shirt doesn’t lie.”
“There’s a good BBQ place on Sunset.” Johnny interjected, and Sonya mouthed a grateful thank you in his direction. “Best draft beer and smoked ribs I have ever tasted. I could definitely go for some.”
“Would they still have space? It’s Saturday night.” She would have taken peanuts and a pit fight if it meant moving the subject on from their sexual exploits.
“I’ll pull some strings.” He pulled out his phone and began texting rapidly, his expression going serious. After a moment he slipped the phone back into his jacket pocket. “We’re good to go, they’ll hold a table for us. The driver’s going to meet us out front.”
“Let’s move out then, this place is giving me a headache.” Jax rose stiffly from the table and extended a hand to Vera as she stood. Fingers intertwined they began to navigate the tables to the exit, heads bowed together in conversation.
Sonya rose and pulled her jacket on then gave Johnny a grateful kiss on the cheek. “Smooth save.”
“I thought you might appreciate that.” He adjusted his jacket and offered her his arm in a gallant gesture. “Shall we? Before Jax decides to walk.”
“Hang on.” Sonya stopped him with a gesture. “Can I steal your phone for a minute?”
Perplexed, Johnny took his phone from his jacket, unlocked the screen and offered it to her. She took it from him, tapped something into the device and then reached over and tucked it back into his jacket pocket silently.
“What was that about?” He gave her a questioning look and she chuckled, patting him on the shoulder as they began to follow Jax and Vera.
“Nothing, just resetting your timer.” She gave him a wink as he let out a cross between a laugh and a groan as they moved to exit the room. “I figure two hours to eat, and we can escape back to the condo.”
He slipped an arm round her waist contentedly. “And what? You’ll give me a fashion show?”
She cocked her head as if considering his words and then lowered her voice. “I don’t know if it could be defined like that, considering how very little I’ll be wearing.”
“You know if I remember correctly the restaurant has some pretty good bathroom…” His voice trailed off as he gave her a boyishly hopeful grin and they let the main atrium door close behind them.
“Don’t push your luck, Johnny.”
“Push my luck…have you met me before?