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Painting by Numbers
by Spirit
Email: naughtyspirit@cableinet.co.uk
Rating: NC17 - I'm liking the smut.
Pairing: K/L
Disclaimer : They are not mine. They are Joss's. He doesn't let them do
this. He's possibly right.
Summary: Kate and Lindsey fell into a series or two I was playing with, got
together and post Dead End wandered off into the wild blue yonder. This is
where they ended up. There's no real plot here, and I think I didn't do
'depressed' enough (at all). Apologies now.
Notes: I promised Lar a smutty Lindsey shippy type thing for her birthday.
And because the brain wouldn't work all that well, I also went to Kate
Bolin's challenge site and hit the button. I rolled once, and I rolled,
'Lindsey, depressed, painting' - I guess I'm all kinds of doomed. So I
apologize in advance for the sugary sweetness going on here. This is
possibly badfic, or just sheer obsessed fic. Either way, I had fun writing
it and I hope you like it, hon. And then I promise, no more K/L.
For a while.
= = = = =
He wipes at the spot on the wall, wondering how they've managed to get
grease or whatever the hell it is there, between yesterday and today. It's
not coming off and despite wanting this to look perfect, Lindsey's already
planning ahead and figures they can move the dresser across the room and
cover it up. Or just have some crazy mobile dangling next to it, banging
against the grease spot every now and then, just enough to annoy the hell
out of him every time he sees it. He rubs at it again and swallows back the
sigh, admits defeat and walks into the kitchen.
The cupboard space here has no order, bottles and jars pushed together in an
attempt to save time and space by just ignoring it. He picks up a jar of
something that looks like white spirit, spills half when the lid comes off
and wonders if he's going to own a pair of jeans that aren't covered in
paint/chemicals/miscellaneous gross liquid by the time the house is
decorated. That and whether he'll be able to do anything but collapse into
their bed at the end of the day. Maybe he can get a back rub out of this,
make it worth the aggravation.
"Looking for something there, Lin? Or just trying out a new pattern on the
tiles?"
His shoulders sag and he holds out the jar.
"There's a spot on the wall, I was gonna clean it off."
She bends down next to him and pulls out the right bottle.
"Told you not to eat pizza at the same time. Stuff gets everywhere."
"Guess you'd better come keep an eye on me, then."
Kate grins and pats him on the shoulders.
"Sure, get me in there with all the paint fumes. I get knocked out and God
knows what you'll do with me then."
She presses her hand over his mouth as he opens it to suggest a few things.
"Save it for when I don't have to get paint splotches over my butt."
"Nothing wrong with that, sweetheart. Gimme a few to get this mark off and
I'm all yours."
She kisses him briefly, lips tingly with something she's eaten, lemons or
something like that and Lindsey slides his hand up to the back of her neck,
holding her there, tasting it. He rolls his tongue over her lip before she
sighs and pulls back, rosy flush on her cheeks and a smile he didn't think
he'd get to see on a daily basis. There's the odd thrill when she rubs her
thumb down his cheek, scratches bristles and pulls away peacock blue.
"I don't know if you're painting yourself or the wall."
"Could always do what I said originally and just hire someone."
"Sure, cause we can afford that right now. Besides, I thought you were
serious with all this 'my house, me build it' vibe you've been on."
"I was talking about earning the money so someone else can build it."
She snorts back a laugh and gets to her feet.
"Lawyers - you're never hands on."
Lindsey runs his hand up her leg and pauses at her thigh, fingers scratching
lightly across the denim surface. Reaches the inside seam and slides up,
pressing more firmly until she pushes back against his palm.
"What was that again, Ma'am?"
With a loud swallow, Kate deliberately walks away, backing up against the
door and reaching for the handle. He likes the way her hips sway when she's
nervous, her usual surefootedness slipping away as she tries to get back
into focus. Loves that he can make that happen with just a touch and that
they're both still two minutes away from bedtime.
"I'll leave you to it. Gonna finish getting those tiles out of the bathroom,
so don't use the shower when you're done."
"Using the tub's okay?"
"Sure. I'll leave you a towel out."
"Not gonna join me?"
"In that thing? There isn't room."
He stands up and grabs the washcloth.
"I'm sure I can make allowances. Course, you'll have to squeeze close but
I'll put myself out, just cause it's you."
"You're a well of human empathy."
He grins and pushes past her.
"It's in my contract."
Back in the bedroom and Lindsey rubs harder at the grease, takes the
surrounding paint off with it and cannot match it up no matter how thick he
puts it on. It takes him less than half an hour to give the whole thing up
as a bad job and he packs the cans away, flinging the still wet brushes into
the white spirit. He follows the sound of the mallet into the bathroom and
stands in the doorway, watching as she swings at the ceramic, rubber tip
bouncing back against her chest. Watches as she stops and pulls the
shattered tile from the wall, dropping the pieces into the trash with a
certain amount of glee.
"Enjoying that, Kate?"
"Actually, yeah. Stops me pounding this through a few heads right now."
He steps into the bathroom and turns on the faucet. Waits until the
temperature rises before he leaves it and sits behind her, hands on her
shoulders, edging out the tension.
"You pretending that's me?"
"Amazingly...no."
"Want to tell me who we're bashing then? Just so I can get the defense
ready?"
She snorts and waves the mallet at him.
"I can't afford your services, Lin. I guess I'll just have to hope you can
do me pro bono."
He nuzzles her neck, feels the warmth of the bath beginning to hit the room.
"I'm sure we can come to some arrangement."
"One that involves me keeping my pants on?"
"Sure, as long as I can take mine off."
Her hair sticks against his chin and Lindsey pulls it away smoothly as she
turns round. Slides her legs over his thighs and locks herself into his
arms, mallet deposited on the floor. They kiss as they always kiss, hungrily
and with that excess of tenderness that doesn't come easily. Lips pressed to
lips, parting because lust is always powerful between them, something that
never has to be worked on, unlike everything else that passes through this
relationship. When his fingers reach the waistband of her pants, Kate leans
back, panting a little as Lindsey tries to pry them off.
"I thought we just agreed these were staying on?"
"I didn't sign anything."
"Neither did I. So paws off."
Lindsey shrugs and gets up, drops the paint smeared T-shirt into the laundry
basket and unfastens his jeans. Eases them down over his hips and watches as
she tries to hide the grin. She swallows once and resumes that emotionless
expression he recognizes as a holdover from a different life. He's seen her
show that that face when she's worked recently, watched as they explained
she wasn't eligible to join the force here, that she's still on the outside
and she can't claw her way back in. He's held his arms open in the night,
felt a smooth body against his own with trembling shoulders, failing to hide
rage and frustration, face still impassive as she tries to work out why he's
still doing the same thing, albeit with a less frightening brand of
clientele and she can't get so much as a pass into traffic. He's listened as
the tears came, streaking her face with silvery trails and heard the long
sigh as she resolutely decided this wasn't going to beat her.
And if he's heard it before, he doesn't care. She matters.
"So who's the head?"
She shakes her head and gestures to the world at large.
"No one, everyone. I got a 'thanks but we'd rather gouge our eyeballs' out
on the volunteer scheme."
"Well they're assholes. Nothing new. We knew it wasn't going to be moonlight
and roses."
He smiles at her, gestures to the drooping daisies on the vanity.
"That's what you have me for."
Kate rubs the back of her hand along her forehead and he wonders if she's
trying to rub the knowledge away, wishes he knew how to fix this. He knows
what's coming, can't avoid it and even though he wishes the record would
change, he's not going to force it. Not when he has what he needs, and what
he wants is only ever a hair's breadth away.
"What am I if I'm not a cop?"
"You're still Kate. You're still you. It's just a job."
"You still have your just-a-job."
"Yeah, but I'm sleazy and you get that everywhere. You're different. You're
cleaner than I can ever be."
"Is that a good thing if I can't find a place?"
"We have time. You have time. You'll find something you want to do."
"That a challenge, McDonald?"
"Yeah it's a challenge. Now can we fuck?"
Stands before her now, naked and aroused, aware that she's still a little
more lost than he is, aware she has a better chance of making it through
this with her soul still intact. He's not sure if the Powers that Be she's
mentioned on more than one occasion have anything to do with Angel's rescue,
or if a part of that brought about his own turn away from Wolfram and Hart,
but he's hoped that the reason allowances were made was because of this
moment. And the next, and everything that comes for them - moments in the
dark and in the light that weren't possible back in LA. So whatever they
choose to do now, whether it's actually being on the side of the angels or
some semblance of what they once were, fate got them this far. When she
reaches for him it's another breath of relief that this still stands, a
tower they're building now and this is something he won't hire anyone else
to do.
Her shirt slides off easily, hitting the floor with a 'schlub' as the
remnants of the tile adhesive spread out. Bra free as always, and she edges
against him, cool skin against cool skin, warmth when they connect and he
holds the moment, kissing again as he slips his hands to her waist, no
resistance this time when he pulls the cord of her pants. Hand on her ass as
she grins against his mouth, head tilted slightly because it's so close - no
one on tiptoes or bending down too far - when he leans forward, wanting
more, she bends beneath him and it always fits together, each bump and curve
and ridge pressing into the other in some insane yin yang on acid. But it
works for them, naked and longing, all mixed up with a healthy dose of guilt
neither can quit thinking about for longer than a few minutes.
Lindsey eases over to the bath, feels the rim bang against his knee and
reaches down to the faucet, tries to turn it off. He burns his fingers and
stops, yelping as he pulls away from the hot metal. She laughs at him, naked
and jumpy, and Lindsey tries to assume a stance that doesn't make him feel
so doltish. But it's not possible and when she turns the hot off and the
cold on, he wonders how much it's going to cost to make this bathroom as
convenient as the one he used to own. He misses that more than anything
else, misses being able to just hit a switch once and know it's not going to
involve spanners and pipes and other shit he thought he was working himself
out of knowing. Then she's sucking his fingers into her mouth and he doesn't
give a damn about the heat or anything because if she's in a sucking mood,
everything's good.
"Don't go getting ideas, Lin. I'm not bending over tonight, not the way my
back feels."
He grins and runs his wet fingers along her lower lip.
"Not an issue, darlin'. I'll lie down and you won't have to hurt anything."
"Get in the tub, Lindsey."
He climbs in and leans back, arms up and ready to catch her weight. Feels
her legs slide over his, snug fit in the tub, water catching and pooling
between his belly and hers. The water splashes up his arms and Lindsey runs
his fingers over her flesh, palms flat against the underside of her breasts,
tries to spread his thighs so she can sink down and he can reach her for a
kiss. Her hair dangles on his shoulders as she bends to meet his mouth,
teasing and licking along his lips until this really is something like
devouring, eating from milk and honey and tasting everything that went
before. Wrapped up tight in her arms and he can feel the jolt of skin on
skin, an easiness they haven't really dared explore too much.
It's sometimes enough that he can wake each morning knowing she's within arm
's reach, the curve of her back elegant below the bedspread. Every moment he
steps out of the house, works, brings home pennies and everything larger, he
knows he's coming back to her. In some ways, in all ways, Kate is home - ice
blue clarity when he needs it. There's not much difference in the evil here,
he knows he hasn't kept all the wolves from the door, but he can sleep with
the baying, can rest easy because his dreams no longer haunt him. He figures
it's always friction between them, being caressed and adored and argued
with. Whether it's words or skin, it's all about the motion.
In the tub, he glides backwards, trying to settle where he can push up and
into her without drowning either one of them. Feels her fingers brush
against his as they grip the sides and her legs scoot out from under her,
giving him a face full of ass, warm and round and never unwelcome, but he
doesn't want to do that right now. Hears her chuckle and attempt to right
herself and why waste the opportunity - nuzzles against her thigh until he
hears the laughter stop, held breath as he runs his tongue along the warm
flesh. Kisses her, tastes again and he's lost in the whole idea that they
can just do this forever. Hard against her back and Lindsey grabs hold of
her hands, pulling until they're both righted and it won't take much more
than a good wriggle on her part to get where he wants to be.
Kate wraps her arms round his neck and kisses him, wet hair on his cheek and
though she shifts her hips, he can't seem to find the right place. Pauses
mid kiss as he tries to reach down and sort the issue out, catches her
amusement and leans back.
"Need a road map, cowboy? I thought you had this route memorized."
"Given me all the wrong angles here. Don't want to bend you in two."
"You've never minded before."
He grins and slides his hand up the side of her face.
"You never mentioned back ache before."
Kate shrugs and kisses his palm.
"It's all this crap I keep clearing out. Eleven bags today."
"That's all it is?"
"It is. Promise."
Fingers entwined in her hair and Lindsey runs his tongue over his lips.
"You'd tell me, right?"
"No."
"No?"
"No. I'd keep it to myself until it went all kinds of wrong and you stood
there wringing your hands at me. Of course I'd tell you."
Lindsey grins and grasps her ass, swiveling round until she's under him,
hears her gasp against his neck. And as she pushes up, he feels that melting
point near, gains momentum as her thighs wrap round him and it's all sliding
home from here. He breathes out, easing forward, kissing her until he can't
think and he feels the water on his back, spilling out and over and that's
going to need some serious cleaning later but he doesn't care. Creating
waves, miniatures along the line of the tub and it's always her, always
close and the loud clap of her belly against his brings him back. And he
still can't get this quite where he needs it, so he stands, climbs out and
carries her unsteadily to the bedroom, feet slipping on the floor and her
barely restrained laughter in his ear.
"We *ever* going to do this?"
Leans back on the bed and slides his hands under her thighs, guides her down
and rests his arms behind his head.
"All up to you, Kate. Anything you want."
And she wants him, knees slapped to his sides and her fingers resting
lightly on his chest. No inhibitions here, he thinks as she leans backwards,
hips moving rapidly and her eyes closed. He can remember the tension of
other women naked in front of him, the shadows they stuck to just so he
couldn't see a wrinkle or a line or a hair out of place. He remembers that
and grins as she stretches up, body exposed and he loves it, follows all
lines and new curves, gives in to the urge to touch and as she quickens her
pace he cups her ass. Squeezes down as she goes too fast, tries to breathe
out and hold it but she's not listening, riding hard and then there's the
edge.
"Kate...slow down...don't wanna..."
He groans as she touches his lips with her fingers, finds the swell of her
belly and then she's gone, head dropped back as she lets out deep breathy
sighs. He doesn't wait, gives in to everything and closes his eyes as it
washes over him. By the time he's started to breathe normally, her face is
next to his, soft kisses on his cheek and his hand still trapped between
them. Raises his free fingers and runs them down the back of her neck,
smiles when she does and wonders when he was ever tense.
"I feel a whole lot better."
He chuckles and kisses her, easy now, skin tingling from the still contact.
"That's good. You gonna finish getting them tiles off now?"
"Watch it, lawyer. You don't want to provoke a violent reaction here."
"What are you gonna do? Sit on me?"
She wriggles her hips and he concedes the point, stroking along her spine
until she yawns, warm breath on his face. Rocks her onto her side and kisses
her cheek when she closes her eyes.
"You're not making this easy for me. I have things to do."
"They can wait. Sleep."
"Stay with me?"
He reaches for the rust colored sheet, draws it up round her and moves to
the edge of the bed. Feels her hand; warm on his arm and figures the
bathroom can wait until morning. He'll shower, wash the paint off before he
stands in front of judge and jury. Feels his way back up the bed, wrapping
arms round her until she's flush against his body, hip to thigh and her head
tucked neatly against his shoulder. She tilts her head up to kiss him, hands
laced over her hip and it's quiet now, air conditioning shrugging to a
standstill in the night. Beat coming at irregular intervals against his
belly and he likes feeling that even more than he thought he would. Kisses
her until she stills and can't help but ask the question.
"Kate?"
"Love your voice, Lin, but don't start asking if you can sing..."
He shakes his head.
"It's about the marriage thing."
She groans and opens her eyes.
"What about it?"
Kisses her again, chill in the evening, warm under the covers.
"How're you liking it so far?"
She smiles then, long limbs entwined with his, full moon outside and the
ease of a sun that will always rise here. Lips against his until she falls
back and settles against his chest.
"Loving it."
~ end ~
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