Blurring the Lines
By Gayle Smith

Lisa blushed as she checked herself in the mirror for the third time in as many minutes. She didn’t understand why she was so nervous. She’d been out on plenty of dates before, but there was just something about the way his kind brown eyes looked into hers that made her go weak in the knees. And when he smiled at her . . . Lisa’s stomach did a small flip-flop just at the thought of his smile.

“Get yourself together, girl.” Lisa admonished, “It’s just a date. One you shouldn’t be going on anyway.” She had always sworn that she’d never date a patient, no matter how charming. She’d always worked hard to never blur the lines between her personal and professional lives. And she’d heard all the rumors about this one. Playboy. Heartbreaker. Immature. Accident-prone. Flakey. Arrogant. All the things she loathed in a man.

And so, she’d stood in the treatment room, taking his vitals, scarcely noticing his handsome features. Besides even if she had been looking, Lisa just didn’t have time in her life for the kind of distraction a man would provide. But then a soft groan caught her attention, nothing she hadn’t heard a hundred times before, and she looked up to see her patient slowly raising his hand to his temple.

She’d called his name and watched as he’d peeled open one warm brown eye. The other eye had quickly followed suit as he spotted her. That was when she saw the first smile. Even as weak as it was it had made her pulse quicken. Then as she’d stepped to the door to let the doctor know his patient had regained consciousness the man had flirted briefly with her, again nothing that didn’t happen to her every day in the ER. Then he’d flashed her another grin, a lop-sided affair full of mischievous delight and sultry promise. At that moment Lisa knew she was sunk.

And so, here she stood, feeling as nervous as a sixteen-year-old about to go on her first date. Terrified he’d show up and equally scared he wouldn’t. Lisa took a deep slow breath and willed herself to calm down. She’d nearly succeeded when the doorbell rang. That gentle peal sent the butterflies in her stomach on a quest for freedom.

After one last glance in the mirror, Lisa opened the door and found herself staring directly into those eyes. At the sight of her, Johnny’s face broke into THAT grin and she wondered briefly how her legs where managing to keep her upright before turning her attention to the large bouquet of flowers he held in front of him.

“I’m not late, am I?” Johnny asked nervously, “I saw these at the florist on the corner and . . . um, these are for you.” He thrust the handful of flowers in her direction.

“Carnations?” Lisa smiled as she brought the pale pink flowers up to her nose.

“Yeah, I know that most people like roses, but . . .” Johnny shifted uncomfortably, “I’m not sure why, but when I saw them in the window they just reminded my of you. You don’t have to keep ‘em if you don’t like them.”

“Don’t like them? I love them.” Lisa stood on tiptoes and planted a quick kiss on Johnny’s cheek, causing him to blush furiously, “How did you know they’re my favorite?”

“I didn’t I just . . .” Johnny stopped and grinned easily at her, “They just felt right.”

“Hold on while I put these in some water and then I’ll be ready to go.” She hurried out of the room as he called out behind her.

“I got us a reservation at this new restaurant a few blocks from here.” John admired her retreating form, “I hope you like steak.”

“Love it.” Lisa stepped back into the room and offered him her arm, “Shall we?”
~*~*~*~*~

Lisa turned back to Johnny with a smile as the waiter stepped away, “So, you were going to tell me how you ended up becoming a paramedic.”

“There’s not really much to tell.” Johnny pushed the last of his dinner aimlessly around his plate, “I was already a rescue man when the program came into existence. Paramedic was just the next logical step.”

“Why don’t I believe that?” Lisa asked softly, noting the brief flash of pain that went through his eyes.

Johnny looked up slowly, favoring her with a brief flash of his heart-stopping grin, “Because you’re pretty perceptive. Yeah, there was more to it than that.” He leaned back in his chair, considering his answer closely, “I guess I’m just a sore loser. I was tired of retrieving corpses and it felt like that was all I was doing. This way . . . this way I feel like at least I’m giving them a fighting chance to survive.”

Lisa reached across the table, laying her hand lightly on top of his, “That’s sweet. At the hospital we do everything we can to save the patient, but sometimes . . . I can only imagine what it’s like for you out there in the field.”

Johnny shook off the moment and turned his hand over, cupping it lightly around hers as he brought it to his lips, “You know what, this conversation’s getting way too serious for me. Tonight is about having fun. What do you say we get out of here and go dancing? There’s this new club over on Jennings that I’ve been dying to check out.”

Lisa felt a thrill course through her as his lips brushed gently across her hand and it took her a moment to realize that he’d asked her a question, “Dancing? Um, sure, I’d love to go dancing.” A brief image of Johnny holding her body pressed against his flashed through Lisa’s mind and she was suddenly very glad of the restaurant’s dim atmosphere. There’d be no way Johnny could miss the bright crimson that colored her features otherwise.
~*~*~*~*~

The club, Dante’s, was crowded and loud, but Lisa found the life and energy contained in the room invigorating. The pulsing beat of the music seemed to make it’s way through her body, making her feel as though she were flying. John’s hand in hers was the only thing that grounded her in reality. And just when she thought her heart would burst from exhilaration the tempo of the music changed. A slow, mellow melody filling the room as Johnny wrapped his arms around her.

Lisa’s breath caught in her throat as she melted into Johnny’s arms. The noise and smoke of the club forgotten. Only the two of them remained, their bodies pressed together as they moved together as one, letting the rhythm of the music guide them.

Lisa closed her eyes as she leaned against Johnny’s chest, feeling the ripple of his muscles beneath his shirt. She slowly raised her head and found herself staring into Johnny’s brown eyes. The intensity of emotion that she saw there sent a thrill coursing through her body. Then slowly he lowered his lips to hers.

Lisa felt as though she’d received a mild electric shock. As Johnny’s lips met hers her whole body tingled. Lisa opened her mouth slightly, allowing Johnny access and he slipped his tongue into her mouth. The kiss continued to deepen, leaving Lisa both breathless and longing for more.

When the kiss finally broke, Lisa whimpered softly and looked up into John’s eyes. She could tell that he was as deeply effect by the kiss as she was. Without thinking, she wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him down into another kiss, not intending to let go until they were both too weak to resist the attraction that tore at them.

John’s hands drifted slowly down her back, caressing lightly as they did, molding her body against his. The tension was more then Lisa could take. She knew that if she didn’t have him, and soon, she would die from wanting. She took his hand in hers and led him from the dance floor, her eyes never leaving his.

Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancin'). Johnny Rivers.

The music faded behind them and Lisa took advantage of the brief respite in the noise rising on her tiptoes again to whisper in Johnny’s ear, “I think we should get out of here. Now.”

“Yeah,” was all that Johnny managed to croak out, his voice husky with desire. They made their way swiftly toward the door and nearly made their escape when a voice called out behind them.

“GAGE! HEY GAGE!”

Johnny turned with a frustrated groan. A stocky man with short curly hair made his toward them towing a petite brunette behind him.

“Gage, I thought that was you.” Chet Kelly turned to his date, “See, Mel, I told you that was him. No one could miss Gage’s skinny butt out there on the floor.”

“No, they certainly couldn’t.” Mel’s eyes glittered as she looked Johnny over lasciviously, “You certainly are . . . tall.” She cleared her throat, “And what large . . . feet you have.”

Lisa’s eyes narrowed angrily. ‘Is that little hussy coming on to my date?’

Before Lisa could form a response, though, Johnny spoke up, “Hey, Chet. Listen, I don’t want to seem rude, but, uh, Lisa and I were just on our way out.”

“Are you kidding, Gage?” Chet slapped him on the back, “The night is still young. Come on, Mel and I’ve got a table in the back. Heck, I’ll even buy the next round.”

Johnny glanced over at Lisa, his eyes apologetic as they sought her permission. With a barely perceptible nod, Lisa granted it. But in the process ran her finger lightly across Johnny’s palm, letting him know that there were more enjoyable things they could be doing.

“So, Lisa, you work at the hospital, right?” Chet asked as they sat down.

“Yes.” Lisa replied politely, keeping one eye on Mel and the other on Johnny who seemed to be fidgeting uncomfortably in his seat. As she watched, Johnny looked up startled and suddenly moved his chair closer to hers. “What was that about?” she whispered in his ear.

“I’ll tell you later.” Johnny grabbed a beer off the Waitress’ tray and took a large gulp.

“So, Lisa, did you have to agree to go out with John just to get him to sit still?” Chet poked Johnny in the ribs, causing him to swallow wrong and begin coughing. “We’re startin’ to think that Gage here gets himself all banged up just so he can meet all the pretty new nurses.”

Lisa and Johnny exchanged a pained glance, both knowing it was going to be a long evening.
~*~*~*~*~

Two hours later as Lisa made her way through the crowd toward the table, she sighed ruefully at just how correct that premonition had been. If she had to hear one more word about Chet’s barbed wire collection or how he’d met Mel at the Flea Market while she was looking to add to her duct tape collection, Lisa was sure her head would explode.

She skirted the dance floor and stopped dead in her tracks when she spotted the table. Chet was nowhere to be seen and Mel was taking full advantage of the situation. She had her ample bust practically shoved in Johnny’s face as she kept trying insistently to place a piece of paper in his hand. To Lisa’s relief, Johnny politely, but firmly declined.

“Johnny?” Lisa pasted an insincere smile on her face, “How’s it going?”

Johnny looked to all the world like a man who’d just been rescued from the pot of a band of bloody thirsty cannibals. “Lisa, thank Go . . . I mean, hi. Ready to go?” he asked hopefully.

Lisa fought an urge to say, ‘Yes, as soon as I finish ripping this hussy’s hair out piece by piece,’ but settled instead for favoring Johnny with a dazzling smile as she reached for his hand. “Absolutely.”

‘Throw yourself at him all you want,’ Lisa thought smugly as Mel’s face fell, ‘I’m the one he’s going home with.’

“Hey Gage, you can’t leave so soon.” Chet popped out of thin air, a pitcher of beer in his hand, “After all, you paid for this round.”

“That’s all right, Chet,” Johnny slipped his hand around Lisa’s waist, “you and Mel enjoy it. It’s getting late and I need to get Lisa home.”

“Ah, come on, Gage, there’s plenty of this evening left and we’re off tomorrow.” Chet pouted.

“But I’m not.” Lisa struggled to maintain her smile, “And it really is getting past my bedtime.”

“Don’t worry about it, Chetie!” Mel giggled as she snuggled up against him, “We can go home and I’ll show you how to do a lot more with duct tape then just collect it.”

Lisa and John exchanged a quick glance, neither wanting to know, and quickly made their escape.
~*~*~*~*~

Johnny stood in the doorway to Lisa’s apartment looking contrite. “Listen, I’m really sorry about that. That’s definitely not how I planned for this evening to end. You don’t have to explain.”

“Explain what?” Lisa asked. Johnny had been strangely silent on the ride home and Lisa had begun to wonder if she’d done something wrong.

“Explain why you don’t want to go out with me again.” Johnny smiled understandingly, “I wouldn’t blame you if you never wanted to speak to me again.”

Lisa couldn’t help herself, she threw back her head and laughed, “Is that why you were so quiet? Johnny, what makes you think I wouldn’t want to go out with you again? I was having a wonderful time until your friend showed up. Besides, don’t you think we should wait until this date is over before we start making plans for another one?”

“You mean it’s not?” the shock and delight on Johnny’s face was evident as he flashed her a boyish grin.

“Of course not.” Lisa took his hand in hers and drew him into the apartment.

“What about work tomorrow?” Johnny found himself suddenly unable to take his eyes off her lips.

“I lied.” Lisa admitted as she reached up and drew him down to her. Their lips met and she lost all sense of time and place. All she was aware of, all she cared about, were the feelings his touch awoke in her. She knew that she had to have more of him, all of him, now.

“Lisa,” Johnny groaned as he broke the kiss, “are you sure about this?”

“Shut up and kiss me.” Lisa murmured as she led him toward the bedroom, her fingers fumbling with the buckle on his belt.

Johnny swept her up into his arms, carrying her into the bedroom without breaking the kiss and laying her gently on the bed. Their hands moved swiftly, tugging at a snap here, a button there, divesting each other of their restraining clothing. Then Johnny’s lips finally left hers. He brought her hand to his lips, looking down into her passion filled eyes as he kissed it. Then he slowly began to work his way up her arm, catching her ear lobe between his teeth and gently nibbling on it.

His hands found her breasts, kneading the tender flesh gently. Lisa quivered, a moan building in the back of her throat as she arched against him. And just when she thought she could take no more, he lowered his mouth to her breast, drawing the nipple between his teeth and suckling it gently. “Oh God!” was all Lisa could manage as she rode the wave of sensations.

Finally the anticipation was too much. Lisa needed him now. She pulled his Johnny’s head up and reclaimed his lips as her other hand reached down to guide him into her. When she touched him Lisa could hear the guttural moan that formed deep in the back of his throat. Johnny pinned her hands above her head and pushed her thighs apart with his knee, glancing once more into her eyes before plunging into her.

Lisa gasped as he filled her, thrusting her hips upward to accept him fully. They moved as one, each giving and taking. Their bodies entwined until finally it was impossible to tell were one began and the other ended. All they knew was the pleasure, the sensations that they brought out in one another. Until finally, their bodies drenched in sweat, they tumbled over the edge together satiated.

"Oh God," Lisa's breath came out in a ragged burst as she lay her head on Johnny's shoulder, "that was incredible." With a laugh she leaned over to kiss his cheek, "I can't wait to see what you do to top this on a second date."

"I thought we weren't supposed to talk about the second date until this one was over." Johnny responded, his voice husky with desire.

"So, this one's not over yet, huh?" Lisa raised an eyebrow as she grinned at him mischievously, "What else did you have in mind?"

"A little of this." He brushed his lips across hers, "And a little of this." He pressed his lips to the nape of her neck, "And then, maybe some of this."

Lisa felt Johnny's hands roam the length of her body as his lips made a slow passage downward, pausing to tease her breasts, slipping lightly across her navel. Next she felt butterfly kisses making their way slowly up her thigh.

“Johnny, what are you . . . Oh my God,” Lisa moaned as she felt Johnny slip his questing tongue inside her. "Oh. Oh my. Oh. Oh." Lisa screamed, her nails digging into the mattress as Johnny's tongue delved deeper.

She tried to focus her thoughts, but the waves of pleasure rolling through her body refused to allow her to do anything but surrender to them. And then he found her, found her center, his tongue moving in slow, deliberate circles until she lost all control and screamed out his name. Spent, she collapsed back to the mattress and reached down to pull Johnny back up to her, nestling against his chest as she drifted off to sleep.
~*~*~*~*~

Lisa drifted. Floating somewhere between a pleasant unconsciousness where dreams of the night’s pleasures beckoned her and waking to the warm fingers that moved gently through her auburn tresses. Finally the tender movements won out, pulling her from her languorous stupor. She lifted her eyelids to find herself gazing into Johnny’s warm brown eyes.

"Good morning," she said almost shyly, "How long have you been awake?"

"I'm not sure." The gentle grin tugging at the corners of Johnny’s lips sent a flush of warmth through her abdomen, “How’re you feeling this mornin’?”

“Wonderful. Incredible.” Lisa wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down into a kiss. She felt the warmth that had begun in her abdomen spread throughout her body as he covered it with his and she knew that she had to have him again. As the kiss grew deeper, more insistent, Lisa moved her hands down his back, pressing him against her, her hips arching up to meet him, ”Now,” she rasped out desperately, “I need you now.” Her lips never leaving his.

“Are you sure?” Johnny asked huskily, a moan escaping his lips as she wrapped her legs around his hips.

“Yes, now. Please. I can’t . . . I need . . .” Lisa opened her mouth to make room for his probing tongue, desire flushing even brighter as she tasted him in her mouth. Moaning deeply, a primal sound filled with insatiable desire, she tightened her legs around him.

And then, without a further word exchanged between them, Johnny slipped into her, filling her, joining his body with hers in a way that had never felt so right before. They moved as one, their bodies giving and taking on an instinctual level, need overriding all rational thought, passion searing them both into each other’s souls.
~*~*~*~*~

“How do you want your eggs?”

“Hmm?” Lisa looked up guiltily, knowing that Johnny had asked her a question, but unable to stop indulging in the pleasure of watching him move through the kitchen clad only in a pair of black silk boxer shorts.

“Eggs.” Johnny held up a spatula, his eyes twinkling mischievously, “How do you want them?”

“Fondled. Um, I mean scrambled.” Lisa tilted her head to the side as she watched his every move. She enjoyed watching the unconscious grace with which he carried himself across the small space as he worked. She shook herself, cleared her throat and looked up at him, “Are you sure you don’t want me to help?”

“Nah,” he shrugged casually, tossing a glance over his shoulder that turned her knees to putty, “eggs I can handle. No problem.”

The thought that raced through Lisa’s head as he opened the refrigerator and bent to grab the milk caused a blush to creep up her cheeks. 'My god, she thought suddenly, ‘I’ve turned into a sex fiend over night.’ But even as the thought formed she knew that it wasn’t the sex . . . well, wasn’t just the sex, it was this man. This warm, tender, loving, aggravating, incredibly wonderful man standing in her kitchen making her breakfast was what she couldn’t get enough of.

As Johnny turned away from the refrigerator, Lisa knew that he was speaking to her, but she suddenly she found she couldn't focus on the words. Couldn't focus on anything other then his mouth. His lips really. The lower one. That full spot on the lower one. She wanted to sink her teeth into it, suck it tenderly into her mouth and devour it.

Lisa didn’t remember moving forward, had no conscious memory of moving her feet, all she knew was that now her arms were around him, his head bent to meet hers as she worried his lip between her teeth, sucking it tenderly into her mouth.

Lisa maneuvered Johnny across the room, stopping only when his leg struck the edge of the kitchen table. When Johnny looked down at her in surprise and started to speak Lisa covered his mouth with a finger and shook her head. Then, gently, she pushed him down onto the table. Her hands slipped beneath the elastic on his boxer shorts and pushed them slowly downward. As Johnny watched, she loosened the tie on her robe, dropping it to the floor and stepping toward him.

Lisa placed a quick kiss on his rock hard abdomen, then slithered up his body, exploring every inch until their lips met once more. “What is it about you that I can’t get enough of? Every time I look at you all I can think is I have to have him now.”

“I think you are.” Johnny managed to laugh before her fingers covered his mouth again.

“Ah, ah! No talking.” Lisa admonished, nipping playfully at his ear, “I’m in charge here. You just lay back and enjoy the ride.” With that, she slid her hand down his body, wrapping her fingers around his hardening length, pumping it firmly until Johnny groaned beneath her.

Lisa raised herself above him, kissed him, quick and hard, before lowering herself onto him, taking his full length in one swift motion. The gasp that escaped Johnny’s lips spurned her to action, rising and falling above him as sweat slicked both their bodies and Johnny cried out incoherently. With each stroke, Lisa could feel Johnny fighting with his desire to move. Finally he could take it no more, his hands grasped her hips as he added his motions to her own, slamming deeper and deeper into her until they collapsed in a quivering, satisfied mass.

A small laugh escaped Lisa’s lips and Johnny lifted his head to look at her, “What’s so funny?”

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to eat on this table again without blushing.” Lisa admitted, before stealing a kiss. ~*~*~*~*~

“You’re doing it again.”

“What?” Lisa glanced up guiltily, wondering how Johnny could’ve read her thoughts so well.

“Staring at the table with a silly, but totally gorgeous, grin.” Johnny set the last dish in the drainer and started across the room.

“I can’t help it.” Lisa lowered her lashes, a blush creeping across her features, “I’m just trying to figure out how I’m going to explain to my parents that we can’t eat at the table Sunday night.”

“Why not?” Johnny asked with a raised eyebrow and half grin.

“Because there’s no way I’d be able to get through a whole evening with my father at the table and not be beet red all night.”

“I don’t know,” Johnny sat down on the couch next to her, gently pushing her hair back to reveal her neck, “Maybe you should get a new table.”

“Uh uh.” Lisa leaned her head back, allowing Johnny greater access as his lips nuzzled her neck, "I'm never getting rid of that table. I may have it bronzed.”

“Bronzed?” Johnny began paying particular attention to her ear lobe, his teeth gently worrying the tender piece of flesh, “Bronze is good.”

“Oh God, I can’t think when you do that.” Her breath caught in her throat.

“That’s kind of the point.” A husky voice answered before maneuvering her downward.

“Yes, but I have to think.” “There was something important I wanted to say.”

“What?” Johnny’s hand slid slowly up her thigh.

“Something, I don’t . . . Oh yeah.” Lisa moved quickly, sliding from beneath Johnny before he had a chance to react. “I was going to mention that I’m starting to feel a little grubby and in desperate need of a shower.”

“Oh.” He sat up quickly, scratching his head, “Well, now that you mention it, I guess I could stand one myself.”

“Yeah, it’s just too bad that we’re in the middle of a horrible drought.” Lisa smiled impishly as she held her hand out to Johnny, “Guess that means we’ll have to share.”

Johnny leapt to his feet with lightning speed, taking her hand in his, “You know, you’re right. And as a firefighter it really is my duty to make sure that none of that water goes to waste.”

“Then I guess the only thing left,” Lisa whispered as she brushed her lips against his, “is to decide who gets to stand under the water.” With that, she pushed him back down to the couch before running into the bathroom, laughing as she went. ~*~*~*~*~

Johnny turned the bar of soap slowly in his hands, working up a good lather. Then gently began running his hands across Lisa’s body, making sure not an inch of flesh was left untouched, paying special attention to her breasts and inner thigh until he felt her trembling beneath his touch.

Next he poured shampoo into his hand, working it through her hair, his long fingers massaging her scalp. All the while planting small kisses against her neck or nibbling on her earlobes.

Lisa turned in his arms and brought his lips to hers, holding him against her as she backed into the wall. By unspoken agreement, Johnny lifted her up, using the wall as a brace while she wrapped her long legs around his waist. As their lips met, they joined once again, their bodies melding seamlessly in the familiar rhythm.

Lisa’s nails dug deep into the tender skin of Johnny’s back, her back pressed against the unforgiving tiles, neither caring about the bruises that must surely be forming. Their only care was about giving and taking. Pleasure and pain entwining into one ravenous beast that demanded to be satisfied. ~*~*~*~*~

“I really have to go,” Johnny sighed before leaning down into one last kiss.

“I know.” Lisa agreed, stretching up to pull him into one more kiss, “We’ll never get any sleep if you stay here tonight.”

“And we both have to work tomorrow.” Johnny’s hands slipped inside her robe, squeezing gently, “So we have to sleep.”

“Yeah, so you have to go.” Lisa concurred, not removing her lips from his, “Soon. Very soon.”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah.” Lisa tugged him back into the apartment, closing and locking the door behind him, “Just not right now.”
~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~

Many thanks to Lisa O., but beta duty, encouragement and Randy pics. *g* And to Mel, for being an incredibly good sport. Look out for falling safes.

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