<em>~ Nicci  and Bo, joint post, going to the Great Hall to find Bo some Whiskey ~</em><br/><br/><br/>Bo smiled at Nicci's remark, his eyes scanning the silver labels.  "I'm glad we don't have to resort to that then, I'm not sure the others would understand if I had to carry you to the lounge."  He chuckled lightly.<br/><br/>"I think you are right there," Nicci chuckled, "Not exactly the right impression for the first night of getting to know everyone."<br/><br/>Bo was just enjoying the closeness of Nicci, her simple companionship.  There was something special about her that had drawn him from the moment he had laid eyes on her.  Suddenly, his eyes widened in surprise, another treasure so rare and valuable that he could hardly believe it sat on the table before him.  Not overly cultured, despite his travels, he did consider himself to be somewhat of a connoisseur of scotch whisky.  One of his favorite was Johnny Walker Blue Label, though a very rare treat at over $200 per bottle.  He knew that Johnny Walker occasionally created special versions, but he had never thought to see, let alone have the opportunity to taste what was rumored to be their most rare.  Sitting behind the other bottles, with its soft blue leather covered lid propped open  was what appeared to be a bottle of Blue Label 1805.<br/><br/>He released Nicci's hand, reaching out and gently removing the prized bottle from the soft white casket in which it lay.  Turning it slowly so that the bottle was upright, label facing him, he was able to confirm his earlier suspicion.  His mouth was slightly agape, turning quickly into an amazed grin as he looked over at Nicci.<br/><br/>"Do you know what this is, Nicci?"<br/><br/>Nicci heard the pleasure and awe in his voice, and the grin that once again softened his kissable mouth lit up his face like a child unwrapping  his dream present at Christmas. She couldn't believe the difference it made, once again he was changing like a chameleon in front of her eyes and she could feel a laugh bubbling up inside her in response to the wonderful aura of happiness he was projecting.<br/><br/>“No, tell me, it sounds as though you've found something pretty special?”<br/><br/>Bo gaped at her for just a moment, his mind trying to register the incredible understatement.  Pretty special.  For an ex-military man, a $30,000 bottle of whisky was more than just pretty special.  Looking back at the bottle laying gently in his hands, like one would hold a new born when wanting to admire its cuteness, he spoke reverently, "Pretty special indeed.  Only 200 of these exist.  And they weren't sold.  A few years ago, Johnny Walker gave them to the individuals deemed to have made the most significant contribution to modern life, according to them.  I don't know if the Lord of this manor is one of those people, or if he, well, or she, bought it, but what I am holding in my hands, Nicci, is worth around thirty thousand dollars."<br/><br/>It was just like a man talking about super-cars or the latest gadget, he was all lit up inside and enthused and it made her even more amused. She loved that he felt like that about something, and that it was obviously such a big deal for him. She remembered the first time she had a large cheque and had bought a washing machine for her mother, well as much for her really, no more dragging bags down to the laundrette.  On the same day Jo Nash had told her all about the new skateboard he had just bought. While he stroked it lovingly he had spent half an hour telling her how wonderful it was and why, full of the power of owning something he had wanted so much and the delight in it's uniqueness.<br/><br/>But for her of course, although she had listened, and had been so pleased for him and watched him as he extolled the virtues of risers and wedges, rails and ribs and the lapper which was going to  prevent hang-ups she had been holding inside the warmth of her washing machine and all it meant to them. She had know that to tell him would break the special moment Jo was living in, and to do that would be so cruel and unfair.<br/><br/>And right now she felt the same, she didn't care much about Whiskey or the value of things in monetary terms, but she wanted Bo to enjoy his moment and live it to the full so she said with real pleasure in her voice, “Wow, that's really something.”<br/><br/>She raised on tip toe and kissed his cheek lightly, “What a wonderful thing to find on our first night together, you can drink a toast to us all with something truly special.”<br/><br/>Like a jolt, the soft kiss to his cheek snapped him out of his reverie.  He turned his smile warmly to Nicci.  Pretty special, indeed.  She had been right after all, he realized.  Bo knew when he was being humored, and that Nicci wasn't nearly as impressed with the bottle as he, but he appreciated her all the more for showing interest.  Then he blinked at what she had just said.  '... drink a toast ..."   Of course, he realized, it was here for them to enjoy or it wouldn't have been left out.  Surely he couldn't let an opportunity like this pass him by.  Setting it back in its casket unopened suddenly seemed to be sinfully reserved.<br/><br/>"A toast with the others is a wonderful idea, Nicci.  But would it be too inappropriate if we shared a private taste together first?" he paused for just a moment, the seriousness of his tone hinting at an alternate meaning, "I'd really like my first taste of something this special to be with you."<br/><br/>Nicci bent down and got one of the low crystal tumblers and lifted it up, holding it ready for him to pour into, “I think that is a lovely idea, I'd love to see you take your first taste of something so special, I think if the other guys had been into whiskey they'd have said something when you mentioned it, so I think this treat can be all yours.”<br/><br/>Bo was pleased with her response, though the fact that she had just grabbed one glass and put a slight emphasis on the word "yours" wasn't lost on him.  "Would you try a little taste with me? Such things are best shared."<br/><br/>“I'm afraid I don't drink spirits, I like the taste though,” Nicci said her breath almost catching as she thought yes, the taste of that whiskey on your lips would be dam fine, her eyes for a moment lingering on the their curves,  before meeting his eyes again, “If you don't mind I'll take a tiny taste from your glass, just to say I have tried something so very special.”<br/><br/>Bo smiled, "that would be just fine."  Glancing back to the bottle, he said with an expectant edge to his voice, "guess we have to open her first."  He twisted the cap, breaking the seal with a soft sound of tearing metal and set the cap on the table.  Then holding the bottle in his right hand, he wrapped his other around the crystal tumbler, his fingers laying firmly atop Nicci's.  The soft warmth of her skin beneath his calloused pads caused him to meet her gaze once more.  Then focusing on the glass, he tilted the bottle up slowly, until just barely a finger's breadth of the golden, tea-like liquid sat rocking gently in the bottom of the crystal container.<br/><br/>Holding her fingers around the crystal for just a moment as he tilted the bottle back upright, he spoke softly, "You know, you were right." His gaze went back to hers, searching.  "I have found something pretty special."  He had something on his mind, and he felt it pulled from him, but once it started, he offered it willingly.  "I don't know what draws two people together so quickly, and unexpectantly.  But I feel that with you, Nicci.  I think you feel the same, your eyes tell me that you do.  The slight parting of your lips," his eyes went to her mouth, "the quickening of your pulse in your neck," they dropped to her neck, "and the rise and fall of your chest," his eyes glanced down to the top of her chest for just a brief moment, before returning quickly to her eyes.<br/><br/>As his fingers wrapped around hers Nicci's pulse rate jumped higher. She looked at his strong hand and let herself enjoy the feeling of completeness it gave her to be held by it. She stayed very still as he poured the whiskey, trying not to let her hand shake with  the little tremors his touch was setting off with it's heat.  She was just starting to wonder if he could feel it too when the quieter softer tone of his voice pushed even more buttons.<br/><br/>She could feel the pulse in her neck jump just as he said it, and she met his eyes, her own troubled and unsure, she was not one to be coy or play games with feelings so matter how much she loved to flirt so she said gently, “I am attracted to you Bo, very much so, in more ways than I thought I could be in this situation so quickly,” she looked down, biting her lip for a moment, watching the light move through the amber liquid in the glass, the image, like the flames in a fire compelling and almost meditative.<br/><br/>“But you know, you do not seem to know if you want to feel anything for me, or even if you like the feeling.  It has felt like one minute you do and not the next.  Don't go where your heart doesn't lead Bo, there is no need to feel you have to, I can't..........” she found her breath stupidly catching in her chest, how could she say she just couldn't bear it if was playing with her?  She knew he had the capacity to hurt her, really hurt her, why she wasn't sure, or why she yearned for him to not just to care but to appreciate her, to want her for who she was not who he wanted her to be.<br/><br/>“You don't need to make me feel better about earlier, I know I upset you, and..... maybe I understand more that you think” She paused, that was something they could talk about another time when they knew each other better,   “I can wait until you know how you really feel Bo, we have plenty of time and you have nothing to prove.”<br/><br/>No, he had nothing to prove.  Bo never had anything to prove, not to himself, and not to anyone else.  He had proven all that he needed in his life many years ago.  The days for proving were long behind him.  What he felt now was real, he knew.  There were no doubts, no faulter in his unwavering confidence.  His heart led the way, pulling him along behind, the banner of its honest desire flying high.  Nicci's uncertainty, and cautious plea, gave his heart's journey a destination.<br/><br/>The hand touching hers left the crystal glass and moved to caress her cheek softly until his palm rested beneath her chin.  He tilted her face up to his.  His other hand, holding the bottle, dropped listlessly to his side, the priceless nectar inside all but forgotten.<br/><br/>There were no words to pass his lips, none to convey what was inside.  He leaned in slowly as he stepped closer to her, looking down into her eyes.  His lips parted slightly.  Their course set, he was just a follower, treading along behind the pull of his need until they met hers.  Softly they touched.  His eyes closed, as his will and his heart became one voice.  Speaking through the gentle caress of her cheek and the soft touch of their lips.<br/><br/>As if the world had gone into slow motion, Bo's reaction to her words, even thought there was no introduction or words of intent, the inevitability of where his movement was leading to was evident from the look in his eyes from the moment he started to move.<br/><br/>The slowing down of time around them seem to continue as  spellbound  her lips parted very slightly just before his met them, and holding her breath and closing her eyes the magical moment melted away all her doubts.  No man could fake this, even it was just physical need and nothing else and it let her give herself up fully to the communion of their mouths.<br/><br/>She'd thought that to taste the whiskey on his lips would be wonderful, but the taste of him and just him was breathtaking. It was just like the different tastes of a man's cum - she had found she either loved it or it meant nothing at all and Bo's mouth tasted divine and lit her up inside.<br/><br/>Kissing was the way you knew, knew if you could touch someone, be with them, hold them in your arms and comfort them, care for them.   And his kiss held the sweet promise of that and so much more.  The contained heat behind it was enough to make her knees weak and Nicci's free hand came up to  cup the back of his head her fingers threading though his thick hair and rubbing his scalp gently.<br/><br/>The world faded to nothingness, a soundless void embracing the two of them.  Bo's hand, seemingly of its own free will with bottle attached, reached to the small of Nicci's back, pulling her to him.  He felt her pulled close, the warmth of their bodies shared between them.  The soft, gentle caress of her flesh pressing against the firmness of his own, their clothing but a whispered hint of their division, hardly noticed.  His breath quickened.  A hunger from deep within threatened to increase the pace of the kiss, until by a sheer force of will, he pulled back just enough to peel them slowly apart.<br/><br/>With their lips close enough to brush each other lightly, their breaths warm against one another, he looked into her eyes, so close and yielding.  "You are wonderful," he started, in a husky whisper, "I know you have fears.  We all do.  But my heart is certain, Nicci.  As you will see, I promise."  Pulling away slightly he brought his hand from around her back, smacking it lightly over his heart, "There are no doubts residing here."<br/><br/>His mistake was realized almost immediately as he felt the wet stain against his chest.  Looking down, the opened bottle laying against his torso, a small circle dampening his shirt just above the opening, he grinned.  "Well," he looked back to Nicci, "that is an expensive stain."  He chuckled softly, taking a half step back.  Seeing that she still had the glass in her hand, he reached for the metal top and began to screw it onto the bottle.  "Why don't you take the first sip, my dear.  I'll finish what you leave."<br/><br/>Nicci managed to laugh a little as he pointed out the spilt whiskey, even though she was a tumbling jumble of emotions inside.  He had said he had no doubts and most of her believed him, just the trembling uncertainty still remained deep down inside that wasn't sure still of what exactly he was certain of or what it meant for her.<br/><br/>The kiss though had given her the hope they would overcome the uncertainties and no matter how much instinctually she had wanted to carry on a deepen their encounter she was glad they would have time to get to know each other a little more first,.  She needed that, she realised, to feel that Bo was not so hidden from her, such an unknown quantity.  Perhaps too that way she would not hurt him again with an unguarded word nor spoil their chances of reaching  a connection that would really work.<br/><br/>The sexual meltdown she could manage, she had spent more than half her life having to dampen down her sexuality, perhaps one day she would be able to be herself fully, but not here and not now there were far more important things to consider.<br/><br/>She took a small sip of the Whiskey, a very small sip, knowing that a larger one would make her giddy, savoring the dark almost malty taste. She smiled up at him, feeling again almost girlish after their wonderful kiss, “Why don't you top up your glass so you can bring it with you, I'm sure it would be lovely for you to sit by the fire sipping such a wonderful thing slowly and comfortably, enjoying every moment.”<br/><br/>Bo reached out, taking the offered glass.  He turned the glass deftly in his fingers until Nicci's light lipstick imprint was facing him, and then tilted it quickly, draining the remaining liquid in one lingering swallow.  He closed his eyes briefly as his palate detected the subtle nuances that made this whisky so precious.  A soft hum of appreciation rolled over his lips as his eyes reopened.  "Very nice.  I believe I will enjoy this with the others.  But so should they, if they'd like.  See if there are a few more glasses, and perhaps a tray down there, please," he said, indicating the spot where she had found the glass.<br/><br/>While Nicci was pulling out a silver tray and placing four glasses atop it, Bo shifted the bottle to his left hand, then the glass, his forefinger holding it by the rim squeezed tightly against the side of the bottle.  Once Nicci was situated with the tray, he offered her his other hand.  They smiled warmly at one another, then hand-in-hand made their way out of the great hall and down the hallway to the lounge.  Upon entering, they found that everyone else was in various states of waiting and preparing for their game.