Madeline offers Nikita some tea.

"I suppose you are curious as to why I called you in here." Madeline smoothly says as she pours the tea with careful precision.

"I've learned it doesn't pay to be curious in Section, Madeline." Nikita answers just as smoothly as she politely accepts the cup of tea.

Madeline smiles and nods in acknowledgment. "You are becoming better at this all the time, I congratulate you." She sips, "However, it is not always ... inappropriate to be curious, it is how we learn after all."

Nikita puts down her teacup and folds her hands in her lap, "What do you have to teach me today, Madeline?"

Madeline continues to sip her tea for a moment while Nikita prepares to wait patiently until doomsday if necessary. When she has finished her tea, Madeline tilts her computer monitor so that Nikita can see it. On the screen is picture of a fairly attractive, though slightly hardened, woman. She appears to be in her mid-forties and is posed for the picture in a look of quiet serenity.

"This is Martha Nipac. She is the president of Nipac Import. Her late husband developed this company nationwide and since his death, Martha has taken the company worldwide. She is very smart, savvy and ruthless when the situation calls for it."

"And...?"

"Someone in her organization is using her contacts to export some highly classified information. We need to find out who, where and then stop the supply. I would prefer that the contact be brought in for questioning, however, it is not a mission requirement."

"What kind of information?"

"That's not your concern."

Nikita nods, somehow she is not surprised by that answer. "Weaknesses?"

"One. She likes her men young, attractive and sophisticated. She requires an escort to various charity and social events. Michael is currently working inside."

Ahh. That explains his absence and somewhat cryptic short phone calls. She looks at the picture of Martha Nipac again.

"What am I supposed to do? I thought Operations had me pulled from field work until he feels satisfied with my ... work." She doesn't say 'punishment' but Madeline is very aware that the no repercussions clause was ineffective.

"I pulled you back into field work. Martha is not an easy target and is too hyper vigilant to let anything slip. Michael has reported that she is very possessive and has shown a tendency to obsess if she believes that he is distracted from her."

"She is in love with him." Nikita interrupts to state.

"Perhaps. She probably believes herself to be. This is where you come in."

"Where?" Nikita still can't see what she is going to be able to do in this scenario.

Madeline sights, "You need to enter Martha's social circle and do what you do best."

"?"

"Distract Michael."

**********

Nikita applies one last coat of mascara and pulls back from the mirror to study the final effect.

It is deliberately stunning. Madeline certainly knows her business. Nikita smooths the dress down her body enjoying the feel of silk on her bare skin. Well almost bare she thinks with a smirk. Still, I'd hate to play strip poker in this outfit.

"It's a simple enough outfit, devastating in it's simplicity actually." Madeline had told her.

Electric blue, strapless, slit to there and body hugging. "What could be simpler?" Just because it's staying up by good intentions and the fact that you can see the lace top of her stockings through the slitdoesn't mean it's not a simple pattern.

Yeah, right.

The creamy smoothness of her neck and shoulders catch the light as she pulls on a glittering peacock wrap. It's only when you are up close and personal do you see the almost faded love bite on her neck. Madeline had merely arched an eyebrow when she noticed and covered it.

Flinging her loose, curling hair behind her, Nikita walks out of the dressing area and over to the loading van. Several conversations stop as male operatives watch her covertly. Even with Michael gone, none of them are brave enough to approach her. Well, almost none.

"Hey Sugar."

"Walter." she smiles and then notices that he is dressed in a tuxedo. "Walter, are you coming with me?"

"I'd love to." he replies automatically but as he tugs at his bow tie, Nikita knows his heart is not into his lechery at the moment. "Actually, I got drafted."

"Drafted?"

"Yeah, Rodney was supposed to play your uncle, but he was pulled for another mission." He spreads his arms wide, "So here I am."

"Well, I'll have to behave better than I did last time you were my 'uncle'." Nikita teases.

Walter grins remembering, "Now, don't put yourself out Sugar."

***********

The party is in full swing and crowded with the upper echelon, who's who and the untouchables. Nikita is bored stiff. If this wasn't a mission, she wouldn't have stayed a minute. Who am I kidding? she thinks, if this wasn't a mission, I couldn't get in to this party.

Nikita scans the crowd again and sees Michael and Martha enter the main ballroom. Michael looks elegant in his traditional black tuxedo. Nikita stares at him entranced by the way the ruffle on white shirt seems to enhance his masculinity. The tuxedo is not Section issue and it is apparent that it has been tailored for him. Nikita tears her eyes away from him before it becomes too obvious and looks at Martha. Martha is outfitted in a demure tan dress suit, one chosen to befit her station in life. Well the contrast will make the electric blue look even more glamorous and daring.

Nikita adjusts her earring, "Target spotted." Within moments, Walter is at her side. With predatory intent Nikita and Walter advance on the couple. It's not hard to be introduced to Michael and Martha, tonight's hostess is a real social butterfly and believes that everybody should JUST know everybody else.

As Walter spins Martha around the floor, Michael questions Nikita during their dance.

"What are you doing here?"

Nikita moves closer to him and leans in even closer to whisper, "Why? Aren't you happy to see me?"

Michael doesn't reply but momentarily pulls her closer.

Nikita laughs softly at him and tells him the scenario Madeline outlined in regard to contacting a Mr. Johnson.'

     ***********

Earlier -

Nikita looks at Madeline, "As soon as Michael sees me, he'll know I'm there to work Martha."

Madeline smiles her sphinx smile, "Unless we provide him with another story. A believable one. Your P.D.A., outlines the scenario that you will give Michael."

"So if I am supposed to be working another mission, how will I justify distracting Michael?"

"You will be too busy flirting with Michael and not paying enough attention to your mission. Michael's protective instincts will not allow you to fail and he should be sufficiently distracted to cause Martha to lose concentration. Team B will take out the contact while you two are playing your roles."

Nikita swallows her tea and the feeling that she has just been subtly insulted.

**********

At the party -

"Have you contacted him yet?" Michael slips automatically into the Team Leader role.

"No, not yet." Nikita replies airily. She puts her hand up to stroke his face and turns his com-unit off. "I've missed you." she says while issuing a killing glance through her lashes.

"'Kita." Michael warns.

"Yes?" she pouts at him, her eyes locked on his mouth.

He takes a deep breath and pulls her closer. His hand spans her nude back. For a moment, he caresses her then his hand becomes searching. "What is keeping this dress up?" He hisses as his hand explores her back under the cover of her hair.

Nikita winks and whispers, "The fact that we are in public."

Michael's eyes darken and his voice is very quiet and calm, too much so, "What are you wearing underneath?"

"You've got your hand on it." Nikita smiles and notices out of the corner of her eye the intense glare that Martha is directing at the two of them. Martha answers Walter absently, her attention completely focused on Michael and Nikita.

     *********************

Several dances later, Nikita is uncertain that she should take Michael's distraction as a compliment of her ability or an insult in that he would assume that she would let a mission slide as badly as she appears to be doing.

Nikita and Walter spin by the table where Martha and Michael are sitting. Martha reaches out and deliberately turns Michael's head back to face her.

"I'd have to say you were succeeding Sugar. He can't take his eyes off of you."

"Hmm. I know. Isn't that strange behavior for Michael?" Nikita frowns unconsciously as she notices that Michael is once again staring at them, much to Martha's displeasure.

"Maybe you are doing your job too well."

Nikita glances at Walter wryly, "Right. I believe that Michael has figured out our plan and is doing his part." She makes sure to wave at him behind Walter's back and in front of Martha.

Martha glares at Nikita and says something to Michael that pulls his attention back to her.

Whatever it was she said, he now smiles and takes her hand kissing the back of it all the while murmuring something to her. She appears slightly modified but is still angry, if the look she gives Nikita is anything to go by. Michael takes Martha out onto the floor and charms her for two dances in a row.

**********

Michael lays alone in the big, satin covered bed and (not for the first time) thanks his lucky stars that Martha considers sex something sweaty and distasteful. Tonight she had finally decided to give him a position' with her company. It's the first break that she has allowed between keeping him in her private life and offering him access to her professional life. He has relayed all of the information he had charmed out of her already to Birkoff and was waiting for some collation factors.

He twists restlessly, what did Nikita think she was doing running around almost dressed and flirting with everyone? What was she doing here? He didn't for a minute buy the Mr. Johnson story. First off Nikita is too good of an operative to treat any mission so casually and secondly it is just too coincidental that they would be working the same group at the same time, separately. What was Madeline thinking dressing her up like that?

He shifts searching for a comfortable position, knowing that sleep will elude him again. He misses his own bed and he misses Nikita. It didn't help his concentration any seeing her tonight. Being on these charming missions is tough enough since he has started working with her, but now to have to be with Martha while she is here ... it's like Lisa Fanning all over, except Martha is no innocent and she doesn't want to bed him, just own him.

Michael sighs and rolls over trying to banish the sight of Nikita, dressed in a clingy nothing, flirting with everybody in sight from his mind

***********

Nikita swats the tennis ball gleefully and smiles at her opponent. It's not often she gets to play at being one of the idle rich and she has decided to enjoy every minute of it. Today there are more people around her age for her to flirt and play with.

Walter is watching her from the sidelines suffering through his chance to be an indulgent uncle and hobnob with the stuffed shirts. Nikita smiles to herself as she remembers the look on Walter's face when he saw the outfit he had to wear for this outing. Still he manages to carry off the Ascot look quite well.

"Out."

"Oh pooh." Nikita fans herself and smiles apologetically at her opponent. "I just don't know my own strength sometimes." she bats her lashes.

Her opponent, a luscious dark-haired hunk named Colt smiles at her. "Don't worry about it. I was about to ask if you wanted to take a break and get something to drink anyway."

Yeah, especially since I'm beating the pants off of you. At least Michael would have made me work to win. Nikita scans the crowd and sees that Martha and Michael have joined their party on the club house verandah. "Sounds wonderful. Let me just tell my Uncle." Nikita agrees while glancing up at Colt shyly. He melts.

     *******************

Nikita makes sure that Martha sees her enter the club with Colt. If the basilisk stare she receives is any indication, Martha not only recognizes her but remembers her also. Nikita smiles coyly at Michael as she walks past his table. At first she thinks he is going to be able to ignore her until she notices that his eyes are traveling down the extended length of her legs on display in the short little tennis skirt she is wearing.

With an inner smile Nikita makes sure that she is seated so that her legs are on display and easily visible to Michael. She then proceeds to flirt outrageously with Colt.

For his part, Michael is not as blatant as the evening before but he does watch Nikita with a close eye and he is very definitely paying attention as Nikita and Colt walk past the table making plans for the evening.

************

Later that afternoon, while Martha is discussing business, Michael slips away, technically, to refill their drinks. As he rounds the corner, he runs into Nikita, literally, or rather she runs into him.

"Ooff."

"Michael!" she smiles, "What a surprise."

"What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you." She turns his com-unit off. "Do you miss me?" she breathes. She runs her hand down the right side of his face, her fingers stopping to lightly touch the circle under his eye, "You don't look like you are sleeping, Michael." her voice hardens, "Why is that?"

Michael just looks at her silently and Nikita's eyes narrow to slits contemplating his non-answer.

"Is that Mr. Johnson you are with?" he asks to deter more questions he can't answer.

She laughs and opens her eyes wide and innocent, "No, that is Mr. Blakely. Isn't he cute?" she asks rhetorically. "And he's rich." She assumes a contemplative expression, "Very very rich. I wonder if he is rich enough to ..."

"Don't even think about it Nikita." Michael warns.

She shots him a mischievous glance, "Tsk, tsk, Michael. You should know me better than that. I'm always thinking about it." She winks at him and then glances at her watch, "Got to go, he's probably looking for me by now. See you tonight."

Michael watches her walk off and sees Mr. Blakely's expression brighten when she comes into sight. Great! She's hooked another one, he thinks sourly. With an impatient gesture, he turns his com-unit back on and buzzes Birkoff.

"Birkoff, I want Intel on a man named Colt Blakely."

"Colt Blakely? Is he part of the mission?"

"Now Birkoff." Michael snaps.

     --- Back at Section ---

Madeline walks up behind Birkoff while he is working on Michael's request.

"What is this?" she asks, pointing at the screen.

"Someone Michael wanted research on. Don't ask me." Birkoff disclaims.

Madeline smiles to herself as she remembers Nikita's report about using a gentleman named Colt as a cover. It seems that Nikita is providing some form of diversion.

************

"The electric blue was somewhat successful, but I will need something more ..."

"Daring?" Madeline supplies. "Somewhat? I would say from the fact that Michael has Birkoff researching Colt Blakely, you are succeeding in your mission parameters."

"Really?" Nikita grins to herself. "When did he do that?"

"Back to the dress Nikita. You haven't succeeded yet." Madeline warns.

Nikita pauses, she debates whether she should pursue the conversation and then relents, "Daring and/or casual. I'm not really sure. It's supposed to be a casual evening with some sports thrown in, but it's the same crowd." Nikita plays with her hair and shuffles the phone around.

"Let me think about it."

They hang up and Nikita absently chews on her hair, pondering what is going on with Michael. Why is he having Colt researched? Is he jealous? or suspicious?

     ****************

Nikita bites back her sighs and pretends to be interested the sibling rivalry that Colt and his brother, Randolph, are engaging in, for her attention. Nikita's eyes are drawn to the dance floor where Michael is once again dancing with Martha and Martha, damn her, is looking very much like a cat with a bowl of cream. Nikita taps her earring three times and suddenly Walter is there at her table, excusing her from the conversation and whisking her out onto the dance floor.

"Thanks Walter. I don't know how much longer I could have stood them."

"No problem Sugar. I'll take any excuse I can get to hold you in my arms." He winks at her.

Nikita laughs and kisses his cheek. "You old fox."

Walter spins her around the room a couple of times, each time getting closer to Michael and Martha. With a whisper Walter informs Nikita, "I just had a conversation with Birkoff and he said that with just a little more of the right information, he can begin the Sims."

Nikita gives Walter a slow broad wink, "Does this mean that it's time for me to drop my dress?"

Walter grins big time, "Any time you are ready Sugar!"

************

"Pssst. Pssst. Michael!"

Michael turns at the sound of Nikita's hissing. He can barely discern her hand motioning to him from behind a huge potted palm. With a quick glance around to locate Martha, he walks over to Nikita's hiding place.

"What is it, Nikita?"

"I need your help." she whispers and grabs ahold of his arm.

"Whaaattt?" he asks as he is pulled into a closet.

Very deliberately Nikita places her hand over his mouth and removes both of their com-units. Once she has turned them off and stashed them on the shelf by the door, she turns around and smiles at him.

"What are you doing Nikita? Is everything okay?"

Nikita holds the fact that he is immediately concerned for her close to her heart and then gets on with her intentions. "I'm fine Michael. Well, no, that's not really true." she stops talking and looks down.

Michael feels a wave of panic as various possibilities flash through his mind. "What's happened?" Has she gotten into some kind of mess with Colt? Damn Birkoff and his sketchy information!

"Welllll ..." Nikita moves closer to him, "I have this problem."

"What?" Michael braces himself for the news.

"I have this ... itch." Nikita states just before she throws her arms around him, pushing him up against the wall and kisses him.

Michael automatically catchs her. He is originally taken by surprise but then his suppressed hunger washes over him and he takes charge of the kiss.

"You can't have everything your way, Nikita." Michael mutters against her mouth and pulls away from her. "Sometimes you have to let someone else take the lead."

Nikita looks at him with curious eyes. When she sees his sensous green gaze something inside of her flutters to life.

Michael leans in and softly brushes her lips with his, evading her attempts to increase the pressure.

************

Nikita grabs Michael's waist and starts to pull him closer to her, trying to increase the kiss when he takes her hands from around his waist and holds them together behind her back. Nikita whimpers in dismay regarding this restraint.

"Shh, shh. Trust me." Michael whispers softly in her ear.

Michael clasps both of her wrists in his left hand and uses his right hand to gently smooth her hair away from her neck. He inhales her sweet, clean scent and feels his body react to her.

Nikita lets her eyes close as she feels his lips on her neck.

His lips glide up her neck and began to caress her jawline, his tongue darting out to highlight a particularly sensitive area or two.

Nikita arches mindlessly against him and sighs softly.

Michael listens to her sweet sounds of desire and mentally restrains himself from making love to her right there and then. He knows the end result will be all the sweeter if he waits and brings her to a fever pitch first. He has been denied the feel of her for too long.

"Michael, Michael, kiss me." Nikita pleads, pressing against him as much as possible.

Unable to resist the soft plea, Michael kisses her, his tongue tracing her lower lip before he tastes of her. She takes sweet and tangy and he strokes her tongue with his in an ancient rhythm. Michael can feel his body clench with anticipation.

Nikita tugs at her wrists, striving to be free so that she can touch him, hold him.

Instead of releasing her, Michael moves her hands around his neck, showing her where he wants them.

Nikita submits to the invisible bondage and clasps her arms around his neck.

His hands now free, Michael strokes down her arms and around her shoulders to her back.

Nikita feels his touch like a path of fire burning her skin. She moans into his mouth.

Michael swallows her cries and strokes her bare back with a delicate light petting motion. His fingertips gliding down her spine and then feathering back up, delighting in the feel of her smooth skin.

************

Nikita is lost in the world of sensation that Michael's hands and mouth have created for her. She is disoriented to suddenly be deprived it.

"What?" she asks softly as her eyes open, her face soft and flushed.

Michael looks into her blue desire-filled gaze and shudders. Before he can say anything a loud voice is heard.

"SO THEN I TOLD HIM ..."

With a small smile Michael shakes his head, "You are too distracting by far." he whispers and kisses her lightly. With delicate care he helps her stand up by herself while moving away from her.

Nikita's hands clutch automatically at his shoulders, keeping him in some contact with her.

"No." she protests.

Michael gently disengages her hands. "Later." he whispers.

Nikita looks into his eyes and sees the solemn promise to continue and nods, "Later." she agrees.

Wordlessly Michael hands her, her com-unit from the shelf and replaces his.

"Shall we?" he indicates the door with a sweeping gesture for her to precede him.

Nikita takes a deep breath and then another. Her body is refusing to function at the moment. It's one desire standing in front of her, waiting patiently to leave the intimate confines of the closet. Her blood is still on fire and her heart is racing.

"Michael, you can't leave me like this." she whispers/pleads.

Michael arches an eyebrow questioningly then as he realizes what she means, a slow smile spreads across his lips and a twinkle enters his eyes.

"Like what?" he teases.

"Wet!" Nikita says, even though her face is flaming.

"It's no different from the way you've left me on occasion." Michael tells her solemnly and opens the door.

************

Nikita listens to Colt as he attempts to finesse his way around his jealousy with only half an ear. Her main attention is on Michael and Martha. Martha has her hand clamped firmly on Michael's arm with a grip that will no doubt leave bruises in the morning as she talks to him. Slim satisfaction in a job well done Nikita tells herself. She has obviously succeeded in distracting Martha into concentrating solely on Michael and not her business. Since she has returned from out of the closet she has seen Martha wave away a phone twice. Just then Martha looks up and straight into Nikita's eyes. A chill runs down Nikita's spine as she sees the naked animosity in Martha's blue eyes. Martha's grip becomes tighter if that is possible and from across the room Nikita can see the tightening of Michael's mouth as he endures the pressure.

"... It's for your own good that I am warning you. My Dad works for Martha Nipac and she is ruthless. I just don't want you getting hurt."

Nikita snaps her attention back to Colt. "Your father works for her?"

Colt straightens a little with importance, "Yes, he is the Director of Import. He and Martha worked closely together to expand the company overseas."

Nikita eyes him and decides that despite the closet incident this might be her lucky night anyway. She can hear Birkoff in her ear telling her to keep him talking, like she hasn't figured that out on her own. "He must be pretty high up in the organization by now."

"Yeah but he still keeps his hand in." Colt looks at Nikita and sees the interest in her eyes. Maybe this is the way to divert her attention away from the gigolo and back to him. "He is always sneaking off to investigate the staff."

"Sneaking off?"

"Yeah. He impersonates a temporary worker so that he can watch how the crews are handling the materials and also how they are behaving. International commerce is a tricky business you know. It's my major at school."

Birkoff mutters something in her ear and begins typing so fast that Nikita can hear the clicking rhythm. Colt continues to talk about his college courses and his future aspirations while Nikita forces herself to remain awake. It's too bad, really. Colt is a nice kid, but Nikita's taste seems to have taken a definite turn from nice to dark. A dark angel to be exact.

"Good catch Nikita." Birkoff mutters in her ear, "I think I can run some Sims from the combined Intel. Martha has been detailing Michael's new position to him for the last fifteen minutes. What did you do anyway? All this time, I have never heard her so angry."

Nikita ignores Birkoff and allows Colt to escort her to their table, now that the fashion show/charity event is about to begin. As luck, and a hefty bribe *ahem - donation* from Walter have conspired, Colt, Nikita, Walter, a lovely young woman from Martha's firm named Jessica, Michael and Martha are all at the same table.

Nikita smiles slowly as they are all seated and she realizes that Michael is within toe reach. Slipping her shoe off, she prepares to enjoy herself.

************

Following the party, Michael and Nikita were called back. Birkoff and Team B had no problems discerning that both Martha and Brad Blakely were involved with the selling of information once all of the information was collated. At this moment both of them are "chatting" with Madeline.

     -----------

"I knew I was in trouble when I heard your shoe hit the floor." Michael groans into Nikita's hair. His fingers busily removing the pins, one by one.

Nikita smiles into his chest and deliberately lifts one foot and wiggles it until her shoe drops off.

     ....

"Michael. Oh God Michael." Nikita breathes.

Michael liftes his head to watch as Nikita approaches her first delicious shuddering climax of the night in his arms. Her whole body is arched, tense as s drawn bow, glistening with a thin sheen of sweat. Her hair is fanned out against the red satin* pillow in rays of sunshine. Her blue eyes are squeezed shut as she twists her hands in the red sheets.

Michael is sprawled on his stomach between her raised thighs, her hot scent of her filling his head and the indescribable taste of her still on his tongue.

He always keeps his promises.

END

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