Seven Days a Week

Day 1 *** "I can read your mind and I know your story I see what you're going through..." ***

I watch him walking down the hall in this sexy, lose-limbed stride of him. He's as graceful as a cat, a panther actually. So dangerous yet so sexy at the same time. I've never seen a man quite like him. He's one of a kind.

"Nikita," someone shakes me from my thoughts. I turn my head, "What is it, Walter?"

"Don't you think you better go? There's a briefing in two minutes," he reminds me.

"Mmm? Oh, yes, of course," I mumble and hurry towards the briefing room. Walter looks at me quizzically and I feel my cheeks go hot. He knows what I was thinking about. He always does. Well, at least when it comes to Michael, he says I'm like an open book. I hope Michael doesn't notice.

I hurry to the briefing table and take my seat. Michael takes the seat next to me. I wish he didn't do that, it makes it very difficult to me to concentrate. Damn!

Operations clicks on the screen and the briefing begins. I hardly pay attention; I'm too busy in trying to look at Michael without him noticing. He's all focused at the briefing, as always. *Sigh* Whatever. Lucky for me, It's just a standard mission, nothing special. It will take place in Florida, two days from now. Good, maybe I'll catch some sun.

The profile is easy enough. The team will settle in a nice hotel in Florida, where the mark usually spends his vacations, and wait for a proper opportunity to get him. I hope we'll have to wait a few days for this opportunity. Hey, who says that missions can't be fun from time to time?

The briefing ends and I rise from my seat, feeling relief. I have to get away from him; he wreaks havoc in all of my senses.

Suddenly I hear his voice. "Ni-ki-ta." I stop and wait for him. Dammit! It sounds so sexy when he says my name like that. Mouthing every syllable so slowly, like he's trying to taste it. Oh my.

"What is it, Michael?" I try to sound nonchalant.

He says nothing for a few moments and just looking at me with those green eyes of his. "Is it about the mission?" I try to get whatever it is out of him.

"Yes."

"Well, what is it?"

He says nothing for a few more seconds and then utters, "Bring your bathing suit." Then he leaves. I stand there with my mouth half-open. Was he serious? He probably was. He has once again stunned me and it's only the beginning of the week!

Day 2 *** "It's an uphill climb, and I'm feeling sorry but I know it will come to you..." ***

God, I don't believe I was such an idiot. Yesterday at the briefing I sat next to her (God only knows why I do that, it's much too distracting). I tried to concentrate on the mission instead of in the scent of her. My, she smells so good. Like shampoo and body lotion and that scent that belongs only to her and drives me crazy. SHE drives me crazy. I hardly noticed to what Operations said. Thank god he didn't notice. The mission is tomorrow, in Florida. It means it'll be hot. It also means that she will probably prance around in one of her snug tank tops and tiny shorts that show off her beautiful body. Merde!

When she rose from her chair to leave the briefing room, I really wanted to say something to her. I don't know what. That she drives me crazy just by being near me? That I want her to stay close to me? Probably a bad idea. So I just stared into her beautiful sky-blue eyes until she asked me what's wrong. I mumbled something about taking a bathing suit to the mission and left quickly. She probably thinks I'm out of my mind.

I noticed that I've been staring in the blank computer screen for almost ten minutes. That can't be good, but I'm used to it. That's what happens every time I think of her. I see her walking down the hall in her workout clothes. Today it's a light blue lycra top and a pair of snug lycra shorts. Her hair is tied carelessly in a knot in the middle of her head, shines like the sun in the cold neon lights. Nikita. She can even make Section 1 look like a better place. I see a couple of operatives walking past her. One of them turned his head to admire her smooth legs. I feel like smashing him against a wall and telling him to get his eyes off of my woman. Of course, If I did that to every operative that noticed her beauty, there will be no male ops left alive in the Section. Who can blame them? She really is a goddess.

I'm staring again. I better get to work or I won't be done with this profile until very late tonight.

I can't concentrate because of her and it's only the beginning of the week!

Day 3 *** "Don't surrender, 'cos you can win in this thing called love..." ***

Oh, my GOD! If you thought that Michael looks gorgeous in the black clothes he always wears, just wait till you see him in black Speedo's!!!

How did I get the chance to see him like that? Well, apparently the mission wasn't so easy. The team was supposed to stay in the hotel for a few days and 'mingle' so the mark won't suspect us (not that I'm complaining, it's kinda fun actually).

So, in the late morning hours, the team was split into 3 pairs and each pair went to a different place in the hotel to look for the mark. Harrison and Donnelley went to the lobby, Adams and Kelly went to take a look at the hotel stores, and Michael and I went to the large swimming pool. He called to my room earlier this morning and told me the profile. He told me to meet him at the swimming pool at 10:30. I couldn't help teasing him a little, "So, that's what the bathing suit was for," I said. He paused for a second and replied, "Be there on time."

So I donned my bathing suit and a white summer dress and took the elevator to the lower floor.

I stepped out of the elevator, a towel and a bottle of sunscreen in my hand and a pair of sunglasses perched on my nose and scanned the area looking for him. I spotted him at last sitting on an easy chair, wearing a white T-shirt and a pair of dark blue shorts. I stepped toward him and smiled.

"Good morning, Michael," I said, sitting on a chair next to him.

"Good morning," he replied, his eyes scanning me from under his sunglasses. I lifted my sunglasses so they rested on my head. "Have you seen the mark yet?" I asked casually.

"No." came his soft reply, "We are to stay here until noon to see if he shows up," he explained.

I nodded and casually took off my dress, revealing a new sexy bikini I bought last week. His eyes skimmed my body quickly and I could swear I saw something flash in them. I don't know what it was. I lifted the sunscreen and squeezed a big blob into my palm. I have a fair skin and I should be very careful in the sun. It will be very ironic if I die from cancer, while being a Section 1 operative, don't you think?

I rubbed the lotion into my arms, legs, face and stomach. When I tried to rub my back, I felt his strong hand grasping my shoulder gently. I tried not to sway from the feelings that his touch had evoked and I swallowed hard.

"Let me do it," he whispered, his warm breath caressing my neck. I nodded and handed him the bottle. He squeezed some into his palm and rubbed it into my skin in slow, circular motions. If I didn't know better I'd say he's doing that on purpose, driving me crazy with his touch.

When he finished I retrieved the bottle from the chair and turned to face him. "Shall I return the favor?" I asked with a smile. I was sure he wouldn't accept my offer, so I was pretty surprised when he quirked a little smile and took off his shirt. I swallowed again and started rubbing the lotion into his back. My fingers touched every smooth muscle on his back. It felt sooo good. I was sorry when I finished and he walked slightly away. He finished drubbing the lotion quickly and stepped out of his shorts.

Oh. My. GOD!!! He was wearing a pair of black Speedo's and I think I must've been gazing at him with my mouth open for several minutes. When I realized what I'm doing I raised my eyes quickly to find him staring at me. I flushed red when I realized he knew exactly what I was looking at. I averted my eyes from his.

I think every woman in the area was staring at his gorgeous figure, clad in the little black garment. I saw some of them practically drooling over him. I felt like slapping them and warn them away from my man. My man? Where had that came from???

"Shall we take a swim?" his voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Uhh, sure, why not?" I murmured.

We both dove in the water and started swimming. He was swimming so fast that I couldn't keep up with him. I think he swam along the pool 50 times continuously.

Will I ever be cool and collected when I'm near him? Probably not.

Day 4 *** "When you question me for a simple answer, I don't know what to say..." ***

She's still driving me crazy, and I can't help it. Yesterday, we went to the pool to look for the mark. When she took off the dress I swear I saw half of the men there gawking at her. She was wearing a little turquoise bikini that highlighted the color of her eyes and her pale, creamy skin. When she started rubbing the sunscreen into her beautiful body I couldn't resist touching her. I spread the lotion on her back and she suggested returning the favor. I didn't know what to say so I assented. BIG mistake.

Once her talented hands touched my body I couldn't stop my body's natural reaction to her. I was so glad I was still in my shorts and with my back to her. When she was done, I stepped quickly out of reach and rubbed sunscreen into the rest of my skin while trying to concentrate on controlling my body. Breathe in... Breathe out... That's it.

Once I finished I jumped quickly into the water and swam along the pool. I think I've been swimming for an hour straight. All the while I was trying to divert my thoughts from her to the mission. It didn't work.

Today we're supposed to go to the lobby. I'm meeting her downstairs in 5 minutes.

5 minutes later... I see her now. She's sitting on a sofa in the lobby sipping something from a china cup. Probably tea. She's wearing a tight white blouse and a blue skirt. She looks a little tanned, probably from the day spent at the pool. She is beautiful, But, then, that's nothing new.

"Hello, Michael," she greets me with a smile.

"Good morning," I reply and take a seat in front of her. I call the waiter and order my morning coffee. "Have you seen him?" I ask her quietly.

"No, not yet," she replies, running her fingertips along the rim of the cup. She's nervous from some reason, I wonder why. We spend the next few hours sipping drinks, eating croissants and scanning the room for the mark. He's not here. The two other teams report every 15 minutes or so. Still nothing.

Nikita set her cup on the little table and excused herself. As she rose and turned her back to me I got an eyeful of her exposed back. Two thin elastic straps held the blouse to her back. It was obvious that she isn't wearing a bra. I feel my pulse quicken. Merde! She does that sometimes, wear blouses that look completely innocent from the front, but on the back... oh my. I glance at my watch. Two more hours and we leave the lobby. She comes back from wherever she was and takes her seat. She folds her long legs and gives me an innocent look. A seductress. Now I'm certain she's doing that on purpose!

Day 5 *** "But it's plain to see, if you stick together you're gonna find the way..." ***

The mission is over. Yesterday, while Michael and I were seated in the lobby, Donnelly reported that he tracked the mark in one of the hotel stores. The grab was easy. They waited to the mark to come out of the store, knocked him unconscious and dragged him to the Section van that waited in a secluded corner near the hotel. I have to admit, this mission has been fun, but I'm glad it's over. I don't know how longer I would've been able to be near Michael without losing my control and jumping on him in the middle of the hotel for everybody to see. Am I crazy or what?

When at the lobby, I noticed him checking me out. He gazed at me with those intense, beautiful, green eyes of his and my mouth went dry. When I rose from my chair to go to the restroom I gave him an eyeful of my back, exposed by my blouse. I turned to look at him as I receded. His eyes, half lidded, were riveted to my figure. His mouth was slightly parted and he looked so... delicious. I think that the electric current that I feel every time he's near me is not all in my imagination. Maybe he feels it too.

We're back in Section now. I've already debriefed and I'm on my way home. I have three days downtime now. I plan to spend them in bed, maybe I'll do some reading, but I really need a few hours of sleep. This mission really wore me out. Being so close to Michael and not doing a damn thing about it can be really draining. Believe me, I know.

I'm on my way out at this very moment. Maybe I'll stop to say bye to Michael? Probably a bad idea, but I really want to see him.

I walk to his office and knock on the door. "Come in," I hear his voice. I open the door and peek inside. He's sitting in front of his computer, as always, probably writing a report. He looks tired, his eyes slightly red, like he hasn't been sleeping. I wonder what's keeping him awake.

"Umm, I'm leaving now," I start, "I have some downtime, do you need anything, before I leave?"

He seems like he's considering and then he replies, "No, thank you." I don't know why, but I am a little disappointed. Maybe I wanted him to need something; maybe I wanted to hear him say that he wants my company. Who am I kidding? This is 'Blank Stare' Michael. He would never admit to need anything.

"'Kay, bye," I murmur and turn to leave.

"Ni-ki-ta." his voice stops me. He's doing that again, saying my name like that. It always makes my pulse race. "Yes?" I reply, looking into his eyes. He hesitates and then lowers his eyes back to his computer. "Enjoy your downtime," he murmurs and starts typing in his computer.

Disappointment floods me again. I have a feeling he wanted to say something else but regretted. "Bye, Michael," I murmur and leave. I'm exhausted. I better go to sleep.

Day 6 *** "So don't surrender, 'cos you can win in this thing called love..." ***

I don't believe I did it again. Yesterday, I was about to ask her if she wants to have dinner with me, but when she lifted her blue eyes to look at me, I suddenly lost my nerve. That's ridiculous, it never happened to me before; not because of a woman. But then, Nikita is special. She's not just an ordinary woman. She's the one that's been hunting my dreams ever since I laid eyes on her.

It's weekend already, and I'm still stuck here with the stupid reports. I think I've had it, the reports can wait. I want to go home. I turn off my computer, take my jacket and leave Section. It was a good idea to come with my motorcycle today; maybe some wild riding will make me feel better. I hop on my bike and take my helmet. It feels good riding the bike. I feel the wind and the slight rain and I feel better already. It seems that my bike has its own volition, because instead of driving to my house I find myself in front of her apartment building. This is probably a bad idea, but at the moment- I don't give a damn.

I take off my helmet and approach the building. I arrive at her door and knock. Nothing. No answer. I knock again and still there's no answer. Well, either she sleeps like the dead or she's not home. I take out her house key from my pocket (I always have it with me) and unlock the door. The place is quiet.

I look around. The livingroom is dark and so is the kitchen. I climb the stares to her bedroom and then I see her. She's asleep. She looks like The Sleeping Beauty with her blond hair spread on the pillow and her lush lips slightly parted. Even in her sleep she looks tempting. I don't want to disturb her so I better leave. I have no idea why I'm here anyway. I better go home and catch some hours of sleep myself. It's the end of the week already, and I better rest while I can.

Day 7 *** "When you want it the most, there's no easy way out, When you're ready to go and your heart's left in doubt, Don't give up on your faith, love comes to those who believe it, And that's the way it is..." ***

It's the end of the week already, and I'm still thinking of him. So what's new about that??? At least I had some much-needed sleep. Of course, my night has been full with dreams about him. Some of them were really weird, and some were, well, let's call them X-rated.

I'm tired from this cat and mouse game already. I know that he feels something, but trying to get him to talk about his feelings is practically mission impossible. I think I'll try to change that. So I'm heading to Section, even though it's my downtime. I'll talk to him, maybe invite him to dinner. If that doesn't crack the sexual tension between us, I think I'll go insane. So, I gather my courage and head to Section. He will probably be there, writing reports.

"Hi, Birkoff," I murmur as I pass through comm. "What are you doing here?" he inquires without moving his eyes from his computer, "You're supposed to have downtime."

"Just taking care of some unfinished business," I reply as I approach Michael's office. I knock hesitantly and open the door. He appears mildly surprised to see me. He says nothing, just stares at me.

I step inside and clear my throat. He continues staring at me and then he punches a few keys on the little keyboard in his desk. We have privacy. "What is it, Nikita?" he asks quietly. If I didn't know better, I would say that he looks a little afraid to hear my answer. I clear my throat again.

"Umm, I was wondering if you'd like to come tonight to dinner, at my place." I say.

He looks at me and then grants me a little smile. "I'd love to," he replies.

I smile brilliantly at him. "Eight o'clock then. Don't be late." I say with a smile. He nods and I open the door and leave. Ok, now I have to figure out how to cook a really good meal in less than three hours.

Less than three hours later...

Ok, everything is ready. The food is ready (and it's NOT takeout! I cooked myself!), the wine in chilled in the fridge and there are two narrow candles on the table. I hear a soft knock on the door. Eight o'clock sharp. He's never late.

I take a deep breath and open the door. He stands there, dressed in black trousers and jacket but with a dark green shirt that makes his incredible eyes look even more beautiful (if something like that is possible).

"Hi," I smile to him, "come in."

He comes inside and surveys my figure. I'm wearing a tight, midnight blue dress. I bought it a while ago but I never had an opportunity to wear it.

"You look beautiful," he says in that soft voice that makes my heart lurch.

"Thank you." I think I'm blushing. "Shall we eat?"

"Of course," he replies and approaches the table. I take out the food from the oven and the wine from the fridge. I pour two glasses of red wine and hand him one. He drinks slowly, without taking his eyes of me. The meal passed in a tense silence. I really hope it wasn't a bad idea after all.

"The food was great," he compliments me with a little rare smile (is it just me, or his smiles have become less rare lately?"

"Thank you. I cooked myself, I think I deserve a pat on the back," or a kiss , I think but I don't dare telling him that.

We sit on the couch with our wineglasses and I turn on the TV. There's a nice old movie on and I relax a little.

A few minutes later, I suddenly feel his arm wrapping around my shoulder. I turn my head to look in his eyes and what I see there makes me forget all about the movie and about everything else that isn't Michael.

I see fire in his eyes and I feel liquid fire flooding me when I look at him.

"Why did you invite me here tonight, 'Kita?" he asks, his voice husky. I decided, for once, to be straightforward.

I look deeply into the liquid fire of his eyes and say, "I'm tired from our games, Michael. Why don't you just tell me how you feel?"

Before I have a chance to finish the sentence, his mouth descends on mine and I'm engulfed in the most passionate, hungry, desirable kiss I've ever gotten.

We've never seen the end of the movie.

~ The End ~

* The song lines in this story were all taken from Celine Dion's wonderful song "That's the way it is."

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