She dreaded this, their first meeting since their conversation in the observation lounge. She’d been desperately trying to find something that wouldn’t embarrass him too much. She’d done her research and found out as much about him as the ship’s library would provide. It had provided her with a fairly exhaustive supply of reading matter about the invitro programme too. It had made hard reading. She had been horrified at the whole affair, and now she could see why he was so angry with both her and the reasons behind her visit. He didn’t need to be doing this. He had a war to be fighting, and not just with the Chigs. In the end, she’d decided the hell with it. In for a penny, in for a pound. He’d gripe about whatever she chose to do, so why not let him just get on with it!

While she waited for him and - who was it again? She checked her paperwork. Oh yes, Cooper Hawkes - she pottered around the room. It was a fair size, and soundproof. She was grateful for that, because if the other guy was anything like Colonel McQueen, well, she hated to think what the decibel level would be when she told them what she had in store for them! Actually, she was quite looking forward to it. Or maybe, she admitted to herself, it was to seeing him.

She actually jumped as they appeared in the doorway, both of them with faces like stone. She tried to lighten the mood a little.

“Hi. Thanks for coming. I didn’t think you would.”

She realised the other marine was the tall one she’d seen the day she arrived. They both continued to scowl at her. She sighed. Well, they certainly look like sulky children she thought. Oh damn them; they will do this, even if it kills me!

“Ok. Can you take your boots and socks off please, and roll up the legs on those flight suits?” she asked.

She saw them glance at each other as they sat down, ignoring her. So they were going to play that game, were they?

“Perhaps you didn’t hear me?“ she said smiling. “I’ve asked you once, I’ll ask you again. Will you please take off your boots and socks and roll up the legs on your flight suits?”

She smiled to herself as Hawkes looked across to McQueen quickly. She saw the slight shake of the head he got in return.

“Ok.” she said, crouching down next to McQueen. ”He’ll obviously do whatever you tell him. So I’m telling YOU - take your boots and socks off, or I’ll do it for you!”

She stared right into his eyes, letting him see she meant it. This time the anger she saw there was expected, and she wasn’t afraid of it.

“Do it, marine!”

When he still didn’t move, she sat and started to unlace his boots. He tried to pull his leg away, but she grabbed it firmly.

”Oh no you don’t. I told you - you do it or I will, so you just better hope your feet aren’t ticklish.”

She held his foot tight between her thighs and continued unlacing the boot while he sat placidly and glared at her. Ignoring him, she pulled the unlaced boot from his foot, and the sock soon followed. She found herself looking at a pale foot, smaller than she’d imagined with neatly trimmed nails. As she began slowly rolling up his flight suit, she found herself enjoying the feel of the fair hairs on his leg against her fingers… the touch of his skin against her hands. Catching his eye, she looked away blushing. She quickly undid the other boot, and made short work of removing boot and sock, and then rolling up the pant leg. She looked quickly at him, seeing the laughter in his eyes… and something else too.

She turned to Hawkes.

“So, are you going to do it yourself? Or…”

He quickly bent to unlace his own boots.

“Yes ma’am!”

She stood up taking a deep breath.

“This is what we’re going to do. I’ve laid down some paper. I thought we could start with foot painting. That way, if you get called out quickly, no one need know what you’ve been up to!”

She tried to sound enthusiastic.

“So who wants to go first?”

She watched him. Would he actually do it? Hawkes was almost jumping up and down in his seat with excitement. She smiled at him; he was just like a big kid.

“Come on then.” she laughed. “Let misery guts here wait his turn!”

She led the way to where she’d laid out some paper, and some trays with red and blue paint.

“Aren’t you going to do it?” came a voice from behind her. She turned, startled. He had come up close to whisper it in her ear.

She turned and found herself almost in his arms. Blushing furiously, she stammered, ”Well, yes. Of course.”

She bent to untie her own shoes, before realising how close that brought her head to his thighs. She straightened up quickly, and took a step backwards. Boy, could this get any more embarrassing? She was going to be so grateful when this session was over with!

He met Hawkes in the hallway outside the room. “Listen up, Hawkes. She’s gonna ask us to do stupid stuff; we’re not going to cooperate. Take your lead from me, OK?“

Hawkes nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

Taking a deep breath, McQueen strode into the room, followed closely by Hawkes.

He smiled inwardly when she jumped as they entered. Good! Keep her on her toes he thought.

“Hi. Thanks for coming. I didn’t think you would.”

No, neither did I, he thought, except Boss Ross told me he’d have me escorted here by a security detail if I didn’t come voluntarily!

Ignoring her completely, he sat down to wait her out. At her next comment, he could feel Hawkes wavering. He shook his head just enough, he thought, for Coop to see, but she noticed too. Must be those elvish eyes he thought. Hell! Where were these thoughts coming from?

“Ok.” she said, crouching down next to him. ”He’ll obviously do whatever you tell him, so I’m telling YOU - take your boots and socks off, or I’ll do it for you!”

He damn well wasn’t going to do anything this little puke of an elf told him to do! When she bent to grab his foot, he tried to move it away. She grabbed at it again, this time clasping it firmly between her thighs. He tried to keep his face as blank as possible, but his anger showed in his eyes. He knew it showed… but this time, he realised, the elf wasn’t going to back down!

He sat and stared at her as she unlaced his boot, carefully pulling it off his foot. Next she removed his sock gently, as though he were made of glass. He watched as she stared at his foot. What? She acts like she’s never seen a foot before! He started to smirk as she began rolling up his pants leg. He could feel her cool fingers on his bare flesh, and it felt so good to be touched like that. He almost lost himself in the feel of it.

He caught her eye as she glanced up at him. She was enjoying this, he thought… but then, so was he, he had to admit. He nearly laughed out loud at the way she started to blush, and quickly de-booted his other foot in half the time!

He was almost sorry when she led Hawkes away, but he knew just what to do to keep her off kilter. He crept up behind her and whispered in her ear.

“Aren’t you going to do it?”

He was delighted to see her reaction… the way she spun round almost into his arms. He was tempted to kiss her there and then, especially when she blushed yet again, but she bent to her shoes. Thank goodness, he thought, before he felt just how close she was to portions of his body that really didn’t need any extra help knowing she was there!

He took a long deep, calming breath as she stood up, and prayed this would be over soon.

Next : Chapter Six
Previous : Chapter Four

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