InsaneJournal

It was that kind of night...
Who: Tessa and Harry
Where: A restaurant and then elsewhere
What: A tour, amongst other things.
When: The night of their net conversation, January 8th
Warnings/Rating: R for sex
Status Complete


Tessa wrapped up her shift, and headed home for a quick shower and a change of clothes before heading out to meet Harry. She’d picked a buffet that offered a variety of American comfort food, and was relatively easy to find, even if you’d never been there before. Location, location, location--right? Of course, right.

It was a place she and her family would sometimes gather for Friday fish-fries, and she had lots of fond memories there--some of them fairly recent ones. It was also a decent price for...well...all you can eat. Even though it was a Tuesday, they would still have a decent selection.

She found a parking place, and headed in, keeping an eye out for the new guy in the lobby, in case he’d arrived ahead of her. If not, she’d wait to be seated until he arrived.

Harry smiled as he rose from the lobby, waving a hand. He’d had no plans, so had headed to the restaurant right away, only stopping at one place on the way. He held up a tulip as she approached. He figured even a non-date should get a flower, right? Right.

He smiled as he nodded. “Hello, Tessa.”

First thing she noticed? Harry was tall. Second thing she noticed? The flower. It was a very sweet touch.

“Hello, Harry,” she said, stepping forward, and extending her hand. “It’s nice to meet you in person.” How many guys would bring a flower to a random dinner? Maybe she should ask random guys to dinner more often and take a poll. “Glad to see you found the place all right.”

He moved to shake her hand, and then handed her the flower with the other one. “Nice to meet you, too. You look pretty.” His eyes danced, as he nodded to her, complimenting her. She really did.

“It wasn’t too hard. Shall we sit?” He was curious to see how this would go.

“Thank you,” she said, for both the flower and the complement. He seemed like a nice guy. She looked to the hostess to let her know that they were ready, and they were promptly shown to a booth, which was clean and set with silverware all ready and waiting.

A server came by a moment later, to offer a drink menu, and get them started with beverages. Tessa shamelessly ordered a chocolate malt. “How about you, Harry?” she asked, “What’ll it be?”

Harry smiled slowly. “I’ll have what the lady’s having. I like her taste.” And he caught one of her hands, as the waiter left, to lift it to his lips and kiss, with the slightest scrape of teeth along skin.

It was an unexpected gesture, at once old-fashioned and forward. Tessa cocked her head, her lips turning upward in fascination. She really needed to get out of her apartment, and away from the hospital more--she was meeting the most interesting people, these days. “You’ve got a sweet tooth too, huh?”

Harry grinned. “I do. When i see something sweet, I just want to lick it up, and I don’t care who sees.” He was having fun, flirting back with this interesting lady. Orange County was a really nice play to be, he thought.

Tessa’s brows rose. This one was almost as friendly as Thor. Maybe even more so, if such a thing were possible. Not that she minded. After all, she had sort of invited it. “Well, I’m glad you’ve found something to your liking,” she said, “And I’m happy to have been of help!”

Harry smirked at her. “Nice of you to lend a helping hand.” His smirk was even wider at that, and then he nodded. “Thank you for meeting me. I’d love to see everything you want to show me.” Oh Harry...

Well, then. Tessa smiled. She would have to think about what she wanted to show him. But in the meantime... “Should we go hit up the buffet? I’m sure we’ll find something there to tide us over until our milkshakes arrive.”

Harry nodded, rising. “I’d like that I am starving!” Which, flirting aside, was true. Harry was splurging today, as he had been paid and actually filled the car’s gas, and managed to pay rent a month ahead on the motel! So this was a good day!

Tessa rose with him, gesturing toward the buffet tables. He could lead, or follow, she wasn’t particular. She was just enjoying the evening, and a chance to meet someone new.

When they reached the buffet, she grabbed a plate, and a small bowl, and began to make her selections. Some veggies, mashed potatoes and gravy, fried chicken. A scoop of steak chilli. There were salads, and desserts as well, on another table--but she figured they could always make another trip or two if all went well.

“See anything you like?”

“I see a whole lot.” Of course, by then, he was watching her as she bent to get food, and not the food itself, but, ah, details! he smirked as he actually worked on filling his plate and did so and overfilled it, with ridiculous ease.

“I think I may die of glorious noms.”

Tessa was too busy filling her own plate to pay attention to what Harry was looking at, exactly. But she was aware that the stitching on the back pockets of her jeans was exceedingly flattering. She finished getting what she wanted to eat for the time being, and cast a smile over her shoulder as she headed back to their booth.

He was watching her again as she glanced back and his glance slid up to catch her eyes, unashamed to have been caught watching how her ass moved. He followed her, grinning. “Want anything to drink?” he waved at the drink machines. “I’ll pour if you watch the plates?”

He placed his plate down and leaned against the booth, grinning.

“Iced tea? With a little lemon if they have some out,” Tessa requested, unrolling her silverware and tucking the napkin across her lap. Harry was really being quite sweet, for all the flirting. It was a pleasing balance. “I won’t let anybody steal your place.”

Harry nodded, and grinned at her. “You got it, Tessa.” And he turned to walk away, and just because, he gave his hips an exaggerated swing. When he got their drinks, he headed back over, her tea and his coke bubbling along.

he set them down and smiled as he settled. “Here we go. Plenty to eat and drink.”

And he had a sense of humor, too! Tessa approved. Not that he needed her approval.

She went ahead and started crumbling cornbread into her steak chilli while she waited for him to return with the drinks. The malts came shortly before he did--the old fashioned kind with half of it poured into a parfait glass and the remainder in the big, tall, metal cup that it was mixed in.

She smiled up at Harry as he sat, and slid his malt a little closer to him. “Perfect timing.”

He smiled and took it, raising it to clink with hers. “To good meals and finding new friends.” He nodded and sipped. And smiled wider. “Oh man, that is good Let’s eat!” He turned to his food, slid her drink to her, then dug in..

Tessa expressed her agreement by returning the toast with a smile, and setting about her dinner with gusto. Once the immediate hunger was appeased, and she slowed down a little to let the food settle before filling up the corners, she had more energy to continue chatting, asking Harry about his life, his work, and his plans in Orange County. All of those ‘get to know you’ kinds of questions.

Of course, she made sure to let him get in a few of those as well.

Harry was hungry and he dug in with zest and excitement. This was good and she was nice. And he smirked. When he finished about two thirds of his plate, he looked up at her. he answered her in kind. He talked about his business, about helping people, about checking in on his friend, and about wandering, And he did ask her about her life here.

Finally, he sat back, smiling. “You’re a rather interesting person.”

She smiled, nibbling at some buttered asparagus and bok choy. She was liking the food, and the conversation. And the company. “I’m glad you’re having such a good time--and that you’ve got friends in town. It’s always easier to settle into a new place if you know somebody.”

She could see herself getting along with this guy, maybe even becoming friends. “So you said you were looking for housing--anything particular you’re looking for, or just something affordable to tide you over?”

Harry nodded. “It works out okay. Mostly I drift from motel to motel. And that segues to the next answer. I just need a place to flop. Some place with a roof over my head. Nothing else is important.” he liked her smile, and her way of talking. And she also had great eyes. And she seemed genuinely interested in him, which was a bonus! He hoped they could be friends.

And flirting for more? He had no idea.

“Well, I can give you the name and number of the folks who manage the complex where I live,” she said, “I think there are a couple units that have opened up recently. And I can keep an eye out if I hear of anything else.”

She wasn’t sure what his budget was, but he didn’t seem like one of those lawyers who did pro bono work because they were rich and could afford it. She wasn’t sure how she’d gleaned that in the short conversations that they’d had, but Harry seemed like one of those people who would give you the shirt off his back if you didn’t have one, because it was the right thing to do. The world needed more people like that.

“Sure, that’d be good. I might not get to that level any time soon, but maybe?” Right now, he was lucky if he was paid often enough and enough to afford rent on the motels he usually lived in since he spent most of his cash on food, cash. and information trade. Hmm, for that matter, Tessa might be a good information source. In addition to being hot!

“Thanks. I’m always looking, around working. Work tends to take precedence.” Hence his knowledge of all the clubs, hotels, and places with free bathrooms, sinks, and showers in the surrounding cities.

“Work always does,” she said, “I try to make time to break up the routine every now and then. Hit the pool or the dojo.” She pulled a pen out of her purse and started making notes on a paper napkin, adding the dojo where she trained to the list of places for Harry to check out, along with the Y. Free exercise equipment, showers...it could come in handy if he was pressed for time or cash. She jotted down some local thrift stores, and dollar-shops as well.

“Do you have business cards? I might be able to refer you, if anything comes up.”

Harry nodded, smiling, watching her. He had somehow gotten lucky with this find. In not the traditional sense, but still. He wasn’t counting that out entirely, either. He dug into his pockets and found a very small baggie, and pulled out ten cards, and plopped them on the table.

Harry Dresden
Attorney At Law
Working for You when No one else will
rates reasonable
### ### ####

Tessa turned the napkin over and wrote her number on one corner, then slid it across the table toward Harry. Then she picked up his cards, and tucked them in a pocket of her purse, offering and encouraging smile. “I’ll give you a heads-up if I send anybody your way,” she said, reaching for her chocolate malt. “I hope things work out for you here.”

“Thanks. They will, probably.” He smirked and took the napkin, and slipped it into his jacket. “Life has a way of making things work out, sometimes.” he just smirked as he watched her lips close on the straw and... he breathed and looked away, yes. It had been a while.

She smiled, dabbing the corners of her mouth with another napkin. It wasn’t that she was trying to be overtly sensual, but she couldn’t help noticing the looks that Harry was trying to hide. Should she try to be more careful? Or should she encourage those looks? She seemed to be in a bit of an odd season, as far as her interactions with men, lately.

“What do you like to do, when work and bills are not eating you alive?”

“When--- what is this imaginary time you speak of?” He grinned at her, then shrugged. “Mostly, I watch cheap movies, walk a lot, jog, and go see stage magic shows.” He liked stage magic. It seemed like a metaphor for being a lawyer in a way. Sleight of hand and sleight of mind were close, very close.

Tessa laughed, shaking her head. “When I find out, I’ll let you know! But just in case you ever decide to play hooky from life, I did jot down the budget theater on there.” She waved at his person to indicate the napkin that she’d given him. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen a magic show, but I bet you could find some.”

Harry grinned at her and nodded. “I’d be obliged if you do.” Her words made him smile, and hmmed, listening. “Think you’d be interested in catching a budget movie, or a show?” A long shot, fired in the dark, but why not?

“I might be,” she said, canting her head. “Is there something you’ve been wanting to see, or is that a hypothetical future invitation?”

“Here Comes the Boom. It sounds Silly, but fun.” he grinned at her. “What do you say? Two hours of weirdness with an already odd duck?”

“All right,” Tessa decided, on the spot. “I’m in.” She was free for the evening. They were getting along. Why not?

He grinned and pulled out his phone, checking the times on an app his phone had. “Looks like one starts in an hour, at that one...” he tapped the paper she had written things on.

She nodded, leaning her elbows on the table to peek at the listings. “Sounds good,” she mused, “That gives us some time to wrap up here, and still get there in plenty of time.” She glanced up at him with an inquisitive look. “Are you still hungry at all, or do you want to take a turn around the block before we head to the show?”

“The second, I think. the things i’m hungry for now won’t come in a restaurant menu.” Cheesy, but true. He grinned and put some money down for the food, then rose and nodded to her. “Shall we?”

Tessa arched a brow at him curiously. There were all sorts of appetites that couldn’t be satisfied at a restaurant. But she had a feeling they’d be taking care of at least some of those things before the night was through.

She slid out of her seat, and slung her purse over her shoulder, nodding as she linked her arm with his. She figured it was a good way to take the lead without actually running ahead. “I think we shall.”

He liked that, and grinned. Harry had grown up around strong women. Ones that took charge, well, pushed buttons, a lot. Sometimes. A lot.

He grinned as they walked out, and headed for the sidewalk. “How long have you been working as an Emergency worker?”

If he hadn’t just moved to the neighborhood, she might have let him lead, but she figured this was a good way to help him learn his way around. Besides, it was particularly companionable, and seemed to fit the mood at the moment.

“When haven’t I been? I went right into emergency medicine as soon as I was finished with general nursing, and started looking for work in the field as soon as I got out of school. My father is an ME, he could have been a surgeon but he was fascinated with forensics. I never really knew my mother, so I was pretty much a daddy’s girl. It was either medicine, or law enforcement, and medicine won out. Maybe it was a little arrogant of me--and don’t get me wrong, I have the highest respect for what he does--but I wanted to get there before they ended up on his examining table.”

Harry nodded, listening, and smiled softly.”Reminds me a little of why I work so hard. I do more than just lawyer up. I investigate. A lot of people can’t afford a real private investigator separate from a lawyer, and sometimes not even a lawyer like me. But I want to help them before they end up another statistic.”

Tessa nodded, knowing just how it felt to be passionate about a cause; about one’s life-work. It could be the best feeling in the world...and also the most frustrating. But Harry didn’t seem like the kind of person who gave up easily.

“All this way, chasing a lead? That’s dedication.”

“Hm? what do you mean? I came here for a lot of reasons, but mostly because I have several jobs lined up. People so desperate for help they reached out all the way to Chicago.” he looked grim. “People like that can’t be left to drift.”

“That’s exactly what I mean,” she said, waving a hand to indicate the world at large. “How many people would just refer those desperate souls out to someone else, who may or may not actually give a crap? But not you. You get out there and get your hands dirty.”

In Tessa’s book, that was worth noticing.

Harry smiled a little. “Someone has to thumb their nose at the big people, the rich people and make faces at them as they are denied what their little greedy hearts desire.” He nodded.

“Okay, Robin Hood,” she said, smirking up at him a little. “You can stay.”

She continued leading him around the block, pointing out a few landmarks and shops along the way, in between the witty repartee. Every now and then, she’d glance at her watch, to make sure she headed back to the parking lot, and her vehicle, in time to make it to the show.

He snerked and stuck out his tongue at her. “Whatever you say, ‘Marian’.” he waggled his eyebrows at her. “Shall I climb your tower, to come in your window and discover your locked secret chest?”

He walked with her, listening and making note of everything.

“My chest is only a little more secret than Victoria’s,” she quipped, leaning playfully against Harry’s arm. Was it a terrible pun? Probably. But she was okay with that.

He smiled, and slid an arm around hers, and grinned. “Then it deserves attention. Shall I reveal it to the light of the moon and wash it clean with due appreciation?” He smirked.

Tessa smiled up at him coyly. “I find that I am not opposed to the idea,” she said, “Perhaps we should revisit this question after the show. We wouldn’t want to miss it, would we?”

“Very true. We should head back that way, and get ready. I feel that sitting in the dark next to you might entail a certain amount of not looking at the screen.” He waggled his eyebrows.

Tessa turned their steps back toward the parking lot, even as she returned the banter. “I promise to sit very close, and be as distracting as you like.” She grinned. “Maybe we can even share a popcorn and Coke.” Drinking from the same straw? Gasp!

“Could be fun. And Sounds perfect.” Such hedonism! Scary! He smiled softly as he walked with her, a spring in his step.

“And I promise, if the popcorn goes down your shirt, to do my best to find it and remove it, no matter how far it goes...” He winked at her.

“Oh, you are incorrigible,” Tessa said, feigning indignation and playfully swatting at his chest. “I love it.” Maybe she ought to have been behaving more responsibly, but life was short. And she was enjoying herself far too much to stop now.

Harry chuckled and nodded. “I do try.” He swatted her ass lightly in response. They were having fun. It was nice.

“We might see some of the movie, maybe.” He chuckled again.

“We might at least hear most of it,” she added, smirking at him. As they approached the lot, she fished out her keys to unlock the doors. “Let me know if you think I’m going too fast.”

Harry chuckled, following her and sliding in once she had unlocked them, belting up. “So far, you are going just my speed.” He winked at her, enjoying this too much.

They drove to the cinema--to the tune of more playful, teasing banter--bought their tickets and refreshments, and picked out seats, high up in the back of the theater, where they could sit close in the dark. Tessa made sure to whisper commentary in Harry’s ear during the coming attractions, letting her lips brush against his neck, and the shell of his ear. “When was the last time you did something like this?”

He groaned lightly as she did that, and he turned his head to her, one arm sliding around her, and the hand firmly landing on her breast from the other side. “It’s been a very long time.” He kissed her nose, then, and her cheekbones, before daring a real kiss.

It may have been a long time, but Harry seemed to know what he was doing. Tessa didn’t object, though. She just tilted her head, and parted her lips invitingly as she let her hand trail down his chest to rest at his waist.

Harry smiled, hoping he did, and kissed her. She tasted nice, and sweet and like popcorn and he kissed her more, hand gently stroking her breast, the other one sliding to where hers was, and under the cover of his jacket, which was on his lap, unbuttoning his jeans’ button.

Tessa arched her back, pressing her breasts into Harry’s hand. Her own started to wander a little, and discovered that he was already coming undone, and she smirked against his kiss. Naughty, naughty boy.

Harry stroked her breast, and teased the nipple through bra and shirt, smirking, He wiggled under her hand, letting her feel how excited he was already getting.

“You feel good.” He whispered the words for her ears alone as he stroked her.

She could feel her own body responding to Harry’s touch, and breathed a soft sigh, hot against his neck. She did feel good. She let her hand slip inside his pants, and stroked him, teasing as she explored. “So do you.”

Harry groaned against her ear and her hair as she stroked him, his body reacting quickly. The brush of her fingers along him made him harden even faster. Damn. So good. He breathed out, nibbling along her ear and kissing her temple, along the pulse point. His hand slid down and up under her shirt, to cup her breast through her bra, caressing a little harder.

Her heart sped up a little, and she licked her lips, her chest rising and falling with her breath. She wrapped long, slender fingers around his hardening length, and gave a firm, but gentle squeeze; feeling it come alive in her grasp. “So hot.”

Harry smirked, then gasped as she squeezed and made him tremble. It jerked in her hands, and pulsed with heat and life. And she made it more so as she stroked it. He shuddered, nipping at her neck, then lower, his other hand sliding down her belly, toward her pants, in turn.

Tessa nuzzled Harry’s neck in return, her breath ruffling his hair as his mouth followed the low scoop of her t-shirt. She tried to keep quiet--and still--as he made to unfasten her jeans. She hoped they weren’t too tight for his hands. He had nice hands. Warm, and firm; not unlike the rest of his body. She ran slid her hand along his length a little more, getting a feel for him, and just how much room she had to work with--or how little, as the case may be--in his pants.

Undoing her jeans, he slid a hand down them and under her underwear, to slowly stroke her there, touching her exploratorily, with fingers eager to tease her. He relished the feel of her heat there, and one finger teased along the lips he found, not quite going inside yet.

He kissed her hair, groaning into it, as she touched and stroked him, and he shuddered, glad his pants were not tight there where her hand was. The stimulation made him slide that finger into her, and let it explore inside her!

Shifting her hips to better accommodate him, Tessa gave a low sound of pleasure, which she muffled against his shoulder. She was grateful for the sound of the film, and the fact that the theater wasn’t especially crowded, but still, she didn’t want to get caught just quite yet.

“Mmm...”

A second finger slid into her, and he began moving them in her, stroking those fingers along her sensitive walls slowly as he hissed out a low breath of pleasure. This was fun! He kissed her hair and her ear, nibbling there as he let himself relax more, and chuckled. He hadn’t done anything like this in a long time.

Tessa drew a knee up over one of Harry’s, wanting to be as close as she could get without actually climbing into his lap. She nipped at his neck, where it met his shoulder, listening for his responses, and paying close attention to his physical reactions as well. She knew she’d have to be careful if she didn’t want to tip him over the edge too soon.

Her touches were making it harder for him to concentrate, but he forced himself to do so, letting a third finger join the other two, thrusting faster with them, and wanting to make her come. He smirked at her as he waggled his eyebrows, then kissed her for real, shuddering.

She let go of his cock as his fingers moved more urgently, and clung to his waist instead, fingers digging into his hip. She kissed him hard, eyes closed as she concentrated on the hot, sweet friction between her legs. Lust and pleasure coiled inside of her, somersaulting in her belly, and she gasped against Harry’s mouth as she came.

As he felt her come, he groaned, thrusting those fingers in her until she was done, and slowly sliding to a halt, still inside her. “Mmm, heh.”


He smirked as he drew his fingers up and licked them clean, before smirking at her. “Yum.”

Tessa blinked up at him, letting her body relax in her seat as she watched his fingers disappear inside his mouth. Then he gave her that sexy smirk, and she tugged him close, kissing him deeply. She liked the taste on his mouth.

He kissed her hard and groaned softly into her mouth. His voice was less than a whisper. “MMmm, stars, Tessa, you feel good.” His hands stroked under her shirt again and groped her breasts, not even pretending to watch the movie now.

She stretched languidly in her seat, nuzzling his cheek. Her bra twisted a bit, and one strap slid down her shoulder, baring a nipple beneath her shirt. She didn’t care. “I could make you feel even better...”

And his hands found it, and stroked it, tweaking it softly, then harder as he kissed her again, and smirked. “Oh? And will you, here?” His smirk grew hotter. “Please?”

“Yes.” Even just that one word was full of heat, and desire, and sensuality. Her hand stroked his stomach, while her other arm wrapped around him; fingers buried in the hair at the nape of his neck, scratching lightly. Other fingers dipped below the belt again. “Hand? or mouth?”

He whimpered, and for a moment dithered, then went for it. “Mouth. Please.” His imagination had already gone there and with her offering? Oh yes. He wanted that. He shifted and his hands smoothed the opening to let himself stick out more clearly, even as he watched her and shivered.

Tessa smirked, and kissed him, rolling up her jacket and dropping it onto the floor at his feet. Then she broke the kiss and knelt obligingly between his knees. Stroking his thighs through his jeans, she leaned in close, offering a glimpse of pale cleavage before her head tipped forward and a curtain of dark hair obscured the view.

Her lips found his erection, and she mapped out a trail of kisses along the vein, which she then followed with her tongue--flicking around the head of it while her eyes rolled upward to watch him. “Shh...”

He shivered eyes wide as she slid down to her knees, and he clapped a hand to his mouth as he started to softly moan. He clenched his teeth together, panting as she moved and her cleavage showed. Her tongue, and her kisses, made him feel like he was going to explode, and he lay back his head. Oh Heck...

Tessa smiled, then took him into her mouth, exhaling as she slid around him, inch by inch. Maybe she was testing his control, maybe she just wanted to see how far and how deep she could take him before she had to come up for breath.

Harry whimpered softly, and looked down at her, and his eyes went wide, shuddering as she took him deep, and he felt like his mind and body were shaking. “p-please...” He wanted to feel her move, at least a little, before he came, and he was shuddering with it, knowing it wouldn’t be long now.

Lifting her head slightly, Tessa pulled back so that her lips were pursed around the head of his cock. She breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of him; massaging with her tongue; sucking him into her mouth, releasing, and then bobbing down around him again.

“Al-almost there...” He warned her as his pulse sped up and his breathing quickened, and her mouth did wonders. His cock stiffened yet more and in moments, he was clapping a hand to her shoulder as he came, wordless, like a scream, as pleasure filled him and overflowed.

“Mhm...” Tessa wrapped a hand around the base of his shaft, picking up the pace a little as she felt him stiffen. She swallowed around him as the hot fluid spilled into her mouth, humming as she drank it down as neatly as she could.

When she finished, he pulled her up, shuddering, to kiss her. Just because. And because, god, it had felt good. “That was amazing.” His voice was quiet as he kissed her again, and again.

FIN.