Paul was prompt as usual and when he knocked on the door, North was ready and waiting for him. Taking his proferred arm, they left CLHQ

The evening had started out with a stroll along the river. They had stopped and sat on the bench alongside the trail where they fed the birds breadcrumbs that Paul had brought along.

After that they continued on their walk which eventually led to a small bistro that was situated overlooking a small lake. They sat outside on the terrace and enjoyed a glass of wine before ordering their dinner. Soon the waiter came and took their dinner order. Paul had grilled steak with a chef's salad and North had broiled trout and salad. They both passed on dessert.

After their dinner plates had been cleared away they both sat back and enjoyed an after dinner smoke. It had been a while since just the two of them had gone out like this and they were going to take advantage of it. North had been away for a few days and Paul had been busy with other things.

"I'm glad you 'ordered' me to come out tonight Paul. I've missed this."

"Well, it wasn't exactly an order, but I know how hard you have been working the last few days getting caught up on all the paperwork and I decided you needed a night out. Get your batteries charged so to speak." he explained. "Besides, I also heard about this list you have been working on and I was hoping that you would include me for more than one night."

North laughed at this. "Now where did you hear that?"

"Oh North, I do have my sources, although I guess to be honest I happened to see the list on your desk when I dropped by earlier."

"Ahh, so that is what prompted your invitation."

"In a way. But I also enjoy our nights out together and what comes after." he smiled slyly.

"Oh you do, do you? Well that's good because so do I."

"Well what say we walk off this meal and slowly start heading back. You can come up to my room for a night cap and we'll see what develops from there." he suggested. "That is if you're not too tired my dear."

"Sounds good to me Paul."

With that the two of them got up and while Paul paid the bill, North stopped off in the powder room. Soon they were outside again and on their way back

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

North and Paul came walking back into CLHQ arm in arm and laughing. It had been a wonderful evening for them. North hadn't been too keen on the idea at first but now she was glad that she had taken Sherry's advice. She knew though that the paper work still needed to be done and soon. "Hey Paul, why don't you go on up and I'll join you shortly."

"Oh no you don't." he said as he grabbed both of her arms and turned her to him. "If you go in your office I won't see you for days. It's not going to be going anywhere and will still be waiting for you in the morning. This is our night together. I've missed you."

North sighed. He had a point and she really didn't want to see this evening end either. "You're still trying to get me to give you most of my nights."

"But of course. And I am sure I will succeed." he boasted.

"You seem very sure of yourself." she laughed.

"Aren't I always?"

Both of them laughed at this as they turned and headed up the stairs to Paul's quarters.

****

After getting settled comfortably in front of the fireplace on the bear rug, the two of them enjoyed a glass of champagne and strawberries and whipped cream. They fed each other the berries and had fun licking off the dollops of cream that managed to drop off the berries. Before long pieces of their clothing were discarded in their quest to pleasure each other. Coming up for air after a very lengthy kiss, they got rid of the rest of their clothing. Getting a pillow off the bed, Paul placed it under North's head as he bent down to join her once again. There was no need for the fire now as they were making their own heat with their lovemaking. It had been far too long for both of them.....

A long while later they decided to move into the bathroom. North was pleasantly surprised when she noticed the changes Paul had made since she was last here. There was a huge, extra deep double tub set into a walk up platform and above it was a skylight. Walking over to a switch on the wall, Paul set it to open up the skylight. She could see the stars in all their glory when she glanced up and out. Then he walked over and started the water running into the tub while adding some bubble bath to the churning water.

North was impressed. Normally Paul wasn't quite this romantic. Maybe he really was serious about spending more time with her. She was actually starting to feel a little shy around Paul right now. This wasn't like him. Telling him she would be right back, she went back out to the living room and gathered up their glasses and the rest of the champagne. She also managed to find some candles in the dresser drawer and also took these back in with her and set them out around the tub.

Holding out his hand to her, he helped her into the tub and then joined her in the bubbles.

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

Luxuriating in the tub the two of them resumed with their lovemaking. There were a few funny moments when shifting position, Paul ended up under the water and came up spluttering and North laughing at his plight was soon ducked under as well as her punishment. The water had cooled somewhat and the candles had burned down low before they deemed it necessary to leave the sanctuary of the tub. Drying each other off, but not succeeding very well, they made their way to the bed.

After snuggling up together under the covers, Paul turned to North. "Well I don't know about you but I am a bit hungry." he said as he nipped at her shoulder.

"Hey!!!"

"Not to worry dear. I'll let you catch you breath. I was actually referring to some real food. Dinner was quite a while ago and I, for some reason, have built up an appetite."

"Well, you certainly are insatiable." North laughed. She too was feeling a bit peckish. "Why don't we call Christopher and see if he has anything he can throw together for us. He can send it up in the dumbwaiter and that way we won't be disturbed by anyone."

Picking up the bedside phone he did just that and a short while later they could hear the sound of the dumbwaiter as it made it's way up through the floors. North made her way over to the wall and opening the door, lifted out the tray that Christopher had made up for them. Walking back over to the bed she sat cross legged at one end and lifted up the cover.

"MMmmm, eggs benedict. Your favorite Paul and mine."

"Yes. And I see he added more strawberries and cream!!!" Paul laughed. He started to dig into his meal and consumed it in short order. North took her time knowing that she would need her energy for the night. When she was finally finished, Paul picked up a strawberry and dipped it in the cream, held half of it in his mouth as he leaned over towards North. Taking her cue from him, she bit off the end and slowly started to chew the berry. After swallowing she sensuously licked the cream from her lips all the while looking deep into Paul's eyes. This ritual continued until all the berries had been eaten.

Dipping her finger into the bowl of cream, North scooped out a dollop and let it drop onto his chest, which she then proceed to lick off ever so slowly and so started their next foray into lovemaking. It was well into the night before either one of them fell into an exhausted but sated sleep.

! ************

North awoke just after sunrise and stretched luxuriously. She hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time and was almost looking forward to tackling the paperwork she knew was awaiting her in her office. Looking over at Paul she smiled fondly. He certainly didn't look like the formidable man now that everyone was afraid of or intimidated by. Leaning over to give him a kiss on the cheek before getting out of bed, she was taken by surprise when his arm came up and pulled her close to him.

"Stay and have breakfast with me." he pleaded.

"Oh Paul, I wish I could but I really need to get some things done today." she sighed wistfully. "If I don't get caught up today I never will. Believe me, I would rather stay right here with you!!"

"Will you come back tonight?" he asked pleadingly.

"Well.... okay but only if you let me cook you dinner." North pulled away from Paul reluctantly, got off the bed and started to pick up her scattered clothes off the floor.

"Sounds good to me." he agreed. "Nice view from here too.." he commented as he watched North bend over to pick up her blouse.

Grabbing the pillow off the floor, North flung it in the direction of the bed but missed him. "Watch it buster. I can always add a little something to your dinner tonight if you don't behave!!"

"As long as it's you, I won't mind."

North just shook her head and smiled as she headed to the door to let herself out. Making her way to her room she grabbed a quick shower and a fresh change of clothes before making her way downstairs to the kitchen. Grabbing a cup of coffee, she made her way to her office.

It was very quiet this morning and glancing at her watch, North was surprised to realize it was still quite early. Considering her lack of sleep the night before, she was wide awake. Turning the knob on the door to her office she walked inside and flicked the light switch. Turning away from the wall it took a few seconds for the changes to take effect in her mind, but before that registered, she was lambasted by yodelling!! Startled she dropped her coffee onto the floor. The mug shattered into pieces and as she glanced down at the mess she noticed the cups on the floor filled with water. 'Oh my gawd' she thought to herself. Here she goes out of CLHQ for just a few hours and this is what the girls did to occupy themselves.

Looking around the room and noticing the changes on the walls, she chuckled softly to herself. The yodelling she could handle, provided it was at a lower decibel. Leaving her door open (she figured she would share the music with the rest of the girls!!!), she made her way over to her desk, skirting around the cups on the floor. Gingerly opening her drawers one at a time she was relieved to see that the girls hadn't tampered with them. That was until she reached the middle one.... then it happened...

Greg came out of the ceiling with a thwump and on top of the yodelling, North now heard his infamous phrases. 'Go to hell! I want to see the man in charge' and 'You couldn't be in charge of my crotch', over and over and over again. It was more than she could take.

By now some of the girls had been woken up by the loud yodelling and were standing in front of North's door giggling, but with their ears covered. North just gave a wry smile as she walked from her desk, flipped the light switch off, which thank goodness turned off the yodelling but not Greggy, and made her way out. "And just who was the brains behind this latest excursion into my office?" she asked the girls.

No one said a word. They just continued to laugh and giggle. North did notice though that there were a few girls who were conspicuously absent from the throng that now stood there. Namely, Sherry, Curlly, Rita and Aly. But North remembered that Aly was on a mission and wouldn't be back for a few days. And come to think of it, Walter and Birky were nowhere to be seen either. Hmmm. Interesting.

Just then Michael appeared with Sherry in tow. "Good morning North." he said in greeting. "I assume it is from this location that the noise that awoke us was emanating from?"

"Yes Michael." North chuckled. "I assume you didn't know anything about this now did you? Oh what am I thinking.... of course not. Not our Michael."

Sherry didn't like North in this mood. She was too .... happy!! Any other time she would have been absolutely livid with what they had done to her office. "What are you going to do North?" she asked in trepidation. Curlly and Rita had come up behind Michael and Sherry and just glanced at each other. Sherry had assured them that North wouldn't do anything too drastic to them if she found out it was them.

"Do? Me? ... why absolutely nothing. Nothing at all." she answered still smiling. "As a matter of fact, I think I will take the day off. But by the time I return tomorrow, I want all the 'extra' goodies taken out." North started to walk towards the stairs but turned at the last minute. "Oh and Mcddor? I want ALL the surveillance equipment you put in my office out as well."

Mcddor sputtered. "Wha.. How..?"

North just laughed. "I may not always be around Mcddor but I do know that between you and Walter, you're the only ones who have access to that kind of intel." North then turned to go up the stairs again but remembered at the last minute something that Sherry had asked her for. "Sherry," she called out, "if you still want that room you asked for, you can have it. I do hope you realize though that you will still need to ask permission from Michael to use that 'other' door. You are not the ONLY one that has visitation rights with him. I just hope it won't be too uncomfortable for you as his room is not soundproofed."

With finality, North ran up the stairs, past her floor and up to Operations.

The End

This story ©copyright Northstar, 1999