THREE

Cate let up on the brake and guided the Benz around the building to the underground parking entrance, as Kiefer instructed.  After a long pause at the gate while Kiefer attempted to recall his access code, Cate finally pulled the car into an open space at the back of the garage. 

She sighed and giggled softly as the men practically tumbled out of the back of the sedan, Jon following Kiefer out the drivers’ side door.  She climbed out of the car and waited for them, her gaze automatically scanning the dark garage, assessing their security.

Kiefer noticed Cate’s silent action and grinned.  “SHHHH!” he hissed loudly to Jon.  “This is a covert op!  Cate’s got the perimeter covered!  Time to move!”  Clasping his hands together and steepling his index fingers to simulate a gun, Kiefer giggled and tipped his head toward the elevator.

Jon laughed giddily and mimicked Kiefer’s actions, wielding his own fake gun.  Together the men began to creep toward the elevator in an unsteady tactical approach.

“Good Grief,” Cate chuckled as she strolled after them.  She hadn’t seen Jon so wound up in a good long time.  She was glad to see him let go and have some fun, even if it was fueled by a couple bottles of wine.  He had been far too serious over the past month, ever since the tour started up again. 

Cate’s heart warmed as Jon looked back over his shoulder and gave her a huge grin.  Again she felt a little pang of regret over their earlier argument.  But it was obvious Jon wasn’t holding a grudge.  He was just enjoying the moment.  She could handle a few lost hours of sleep to let him have his fun.

After “clearing” the elevator car, Kiefer, Jon and Cate took the short ride to Kiefer’s twentieth-floor apartment.  Again checking to ensure there were no threats in the hallway that needed to be neutralized by their finger-guns, Jon and Kiefer stealthily approached the apartment door.  

Cate stood back, leaning against the wall with her arms folded, watching the pair perform an unintentionally hilarious version of a dynamic entry to Kiefer’s apartment.  She laughed aloud as the men barreled through the unlocked door, shouting “Go! Go! Go!” followed by “Police! Don’t move!  Step away from the bar!” 

Shaking her head, Cate followed the men through the door, closing it quietly behind her.  She wondered how Kiefer would explain the ruckus to his neighbors tomorrow.  Then again, maybe they were used to such disturbances, living next to Jack Bauer's alter ego.

“Are we clear?” Cate asked teasingly as she strolled into the spacious living room.  She crossed the plush oriental carpet and settled on a tan leather barstool.

“Roger that.  All clear,” Kiefer answered in tactical-speak from his spot behind the glass-topped bar.  He grinned and poured a shot of whiskey into a heavy glass.  He held the drink out, offering it to Cate.  “Refreshments secured.”

Cate shook her head, declining the whiskey.  “No thanks, Kief.  I’m driving.  You boys enjoy.”

“Ah, if you insist.” Kiefer splashed a few fingers of whiskey into an identical glass then wandered from the bar over to the couch, where Jon was already reclining.  Handing a drink to his friend, he sank down into an adjoining leather chair.  “To us.  The real Last Action Heroes.”  Kiefer raised his glass in salute.

“To Jack Bauer and Dirk Steele,” Jon replied, then chuckled.  “Fuck.  That does sound like gay porn.”

“Well then!  To gay porn!” Kiefer announced merrily.   “Hear, hear!”

Jon laughed and leaned forward to clink his glass noisily against Kiefer’s, almost sliding off the couch in the process.  “Hear Hear!” he echoed before righting himself and taking a long drink of the whiskey.

Cate chortled at Jon’s and Kiefer’s antics.  At the sound of her laugh Jon turned his head toward her, giving her a wide grin.  Their gazes locked and Cate felt a warm flush of arousal as she saw the want in Jon sparkling blue eyes.  She smiled back at him for a long moment, reveling in the response he could always evoke from her, with just a single look.

Cate slipped off the barstool and moved over to settle beside Jon on the couch.  Immediately his hand went to her thigh.  “Well hello, Baby,” he purred sexily before leaning over to nuzzle at Cate’s ear.  “Glad you came to the party?”

Cate chuckled softly.  “Yeah, sure.  Came to the party.  More like came to drive you two drunks home.” Her tease was gentle as she felt her earlier annoyance at her husband completely melt away with the heat of his breath on her neck.

“You’re a good woman, Cate.”  Kiefer raised his half-empty glass in salute.  “And you can spank me anytime.”

“Nuh-uh,” Jon immediately argued, shaking his head as Cate giggled beside him.  “Me first.”  His hand slid a little further up her thigh.

“Oh, all right,” Kiefer fake-grumbled, then grinned again as he took another sip of his whiskey.  “So you want me to step into the other room and you can do it right there on my couch, or what?”

“Yeah, Man… thanks!”  Jon answered brightly before setting his glass on the end table at his side and lunging playfully at Cate.  She squeaked in surprise as Jon wrapped his arms around her and pushed her sideways on the leather couch, covering her with his body.

“Jon!” Cate protested weakly through her giggles as he attacked her neck with his lips.  “For God’s sake… have a little restraint. Kief…”  Her protest was muffled by Jon’s mouth as he kissed her.  Cate chuckled against his lips, then returned the kiss for a long moment before turning her head away.  “Kiefer doesn’t want to see this.”

“Actually, I was gonna make some popcorn and enjoy the show,” Kiefer joked, taking another sip of his whiskey.  “Don’t let me interrupt.”

Jon turned his head to smirk over his shoulder at his buddy.  “You might learn a thing or two, Man.”  He grinned lecherously.

“OH-kay!  Time to go home!” Cate announced, laughing as she pushed Jon off her.  He smirked and gave her breast a gentle squeeze before helping her sit up on the couch.  Cate rolled her eyes then stood, waiting for Jon to follow so she could head him toward the door. 

“I gotta go home,” Jon fake-pouted to his buddy, reaching for his glass.  He downed the remainder of the whiskey, then smirked and dropped his voice to a stage whisper.  “But lookie what I get to do when I get there!” 

Kiefer nodded and grinned back at Jon.  “You’re a lucky man, Jonny.  A lucky man indeed.”

“Yeah.  I am.”  Jon smiled sweetly up at Cate, then pushed himself up from the couch.  “Whoops!” he giggled as he swayed and staggered, trying to find his balance.

Cate chuckled and stepped forward, catching Jon and sliding her arm around his waist as he listed toward her.  “C’mon, Special Agent Man-of-Steele.  Your Mischief Night is over.”  She turned toward the door, pulling Jon with her.  “Night, Kief.  It was great to see you.  Give us a call tomorrow, okay?”

“Sure thing.”  Kiefer stood and followed Jon and Cate to the door, grinning goofily as he weaved and bumped against the wall.  He pulled open the door and paused to give Cate a kiss on the cheek.  “Thanks for the ride home, Love.”

“Any time.”  Cate smiled and returned his affectionate gesture, brushing her lips over his roughened cheek.

“Hey!” Jon protested.  “What’s with all the kissy-face?”

“Oh, Sorry.”  Keifer grinned and planted a sloppy wet kiss on Jon’s cheek.  “Better?”

Jon laughed and squeezed Cate into a hug.  “Call me, Big Guy!” he teased, puckering his lips at Kiefer in a mock smooch.

“And on that note… good night!”  Cate chuckled again as she guided Jon out the door and down the hall toward the elevator.  The second she punched the button to call for the car she felt Jon’s arms tighten around her.  Cate squeaked softly as Jon spun her around and pinned her against the wall, smirking naughtily.

“God, Baby…. I want you,” Jon breathed in her ear as he pushed at the hem of her hoodie.  His lips found her neck as he slid his hands under her top, his calloused fingertips caressing her warm skin.

Cate giggled softly at Jon’s randiness.  “Oh really?  I couldn’t tell.”

Jon pulled his face away from Cate’s neck and stared at her, surprise registering in his expression.  “You couldn’t?”  His naughty smirk returned as he pressed his hips forward against Cate’s.  “Can you tell now?”

Cate let out a little chuckling purr at the feel of Jon’s erection pressing against her.  “Oh, well maybe now….” she teased.  Considering how much alcohol as Jon had consumed in the past few hours she was surprised he could summon a hard-on at all.  Surprised and a little impressed.

“Christ, Baby… I’ve been thinking about you all night.  I should have stayed home and made love to you instead of going to that fucking party.”  Jon dropped his mouth to Cate’s before she could agree.

The soft swish of the opening elevator doors caught Cate’s attention.  “Jon…” she gasped, pulling away from the kiss.  “Elevator’s here.”

“Good,” Jon growled.