m_findlow | BTBD Challenge 13

Title: Taking advantage
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Suzie, Jack
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 1,307 words
Content notes: Written for Challenge 13 - Advantage at beattheblackdog
Summary: Suzie is determined to keep her eye on the prize

Suzie hated the way Jack ogled at that pathetic little piece of pretty in a suit. He was like a puppy with a chew toy, enjoying it for now until such time as he got bored with it and tossed it away. Despite that it still irked her.

She much preferred the way he looked at her, and she could admit that very few men had made her feel the rush of excitement she felt when she knew his gaze was upon her. That searing blue eyed look penetrated deep, and filled her veins with equal parts fire and ice. She didn't have to overstretch her imagination to know that sex with Jack would be mind blowing. She could feel herself salivating at the merest thought of running her tongue over that delicious flesh and exploring the rippled musculature that hid, most of the time, behind the old fashioned exterior.

She'd been working for Jack for nearly two years, and during that time she'd never taken advantage of the chemistry she could sense smoldering between them. She knew she was attractive, and few men could resist her attentions if she felt them worthy. For the most part though, all of her liaisons had been one sided. She was of the opinion that feelings and emotional connection got in the way of a perfectly good sexual relationship. And that was what it was, just sex. She needed it, needed the release. Torchwood was mad at the best of times. All she needed was something to take the edge off, or to burn off the pent up adrenaline that came from a day of running around, life and world in peril.

She knew Jack was no different. He intrigued her in the sense that even after so long, she knew hardly anything about him. She'd followed him a few times, just to see what he got up to when he sent the rest of the team home. Most times it was incredibly boring, watching him slip a key into a fire exit door of one of a dozen tall buildings in the city, and making his way to the rooftop, where he would stand for hours on end, oblivious to the freezing cold air, or the sheer banality of what he was doing.

Other times she'd had more luck, witnessing him sneaking into some of the city's more secluded bars, often returning with a warm body. Sometimes they didn't make it any further than the alleyway, preferring to satiate their needs right there in public view. Admittedly, it turned her on. He liked to live hard and fast, and she could relate to that. She was almost tempted to call after him and offer him a second bite of the cherry before he headed home for the night.

There was no denying in her mind that given the chance, he wouldn't refuse her offer, but so far, for reasons unknown she'd held back. It had nothing to do with moral concepts like the fact that he was her boss. It was almost a fear of the unknown. Jack was an unknown quantity, intense and unpredictable. It made him alluring and exciting to her, but also hesitant. She'd played with fire before.

More and more though she decided she didn't care. It wasn't as if she had any competition, not at work at least. Poor, sad Toshiko might be twenty kinds of clever, but she was no threat to Suzie. Jack treated her more like a little sister, always protective of her. Even Owen wouldn't show any interest in her, and he'd shag just about anything. No, if Suzie wanted Jack, all she had to do was take advantage of the situation when it presented itself. And she didn't have to wait long after having made that decision. A simple late night rift retrieval that only required the pair of them.

'I'd say that was a success,' Jack said, turning from where he'd carefully placed the containment box in the back of the SUV, and finding Suzie stood much closer behind him that he'd expected.

'Maybe we should celebrate,' she remarked demurely, making it clear that she didn't mean going for a drink.

'Maybe,' he replied unerringly, waiting for her to make a suggestion of what they might do. Even in the darkness she could sense that fierce blue gaze on her, and it filled her with the rash confidence to keep going.

Though she was above average height with her long, slender frame, and even in her knee high boots, she couldn't immediately reach the requisite height to seize his lips. Instead, she grabbed for his lapels and brought his face downwards to meet hers, pressing her lips firmly against his own. For his part, she noticed that there was very little resistance from Jack. She loved that she could command such obedience. Just as she felt him begin to press a little bit back against her, she opened her mouth to let his tongue inside. That's when he pulled back, gripping her upper arms with his strong hands. Hands that she had been fantasising about caressing other parts of her body not too long from now.

'We shouldn't,' he said.

'Sure we should,' she replied, letting go of his lapels and snaking her arms around his neck, noting how lusciously warm his skin was.

'No. I mean, we really shouldn't,' he repeated.

'It's fine,' she reassured him, determined not to let him slip away so easily. A little persuasion was all he needed and his moral compass was flexible enough. 'I don't care if you bat for both teams. It could be fun, and I can tell that you want this,' she purred.

'It's not that. It's just,'

She let go and her demeanor flickered from sex kitten to slightly vexed.

'Just what, Jack? Saving yourself for someone else? Please, God, tell me it isn't the delivery boy.'

'You've got it all wrong,' he declared, though thoughts of Ianto hadn't crossed his mind for a few days, he hadn't dismissed them entirely. He sighed out a sharp breath. 'Suzie, you're a remarkable person. Intelligent, resilient, resourceful, and with enough sass to take down an army.'

She folded her arms angrily across her chest. 'But I'm not good enough for you?'

'I've done this before. It never ends well.'

Suzie was fuming with annoyance and something akin to embarrassment. It was something she hadn't felt for a long time. When was the last time a man had rebuffed her advances?

'So you think you're doing me a favour?'

'I'm doing what's best for you, and protecting you from a world of hurt and disappointment. Nothing good can come from this. You need to keep hold of your life and find someone who can give you what you deserve.'

Suzie scoffed at the idea that Jack thought she wanted happily ever after. He could sense her rolling eyes at him, like a petulant child denied ice cream.

'Let's go home and put this behind us. Tomorrow is another day. I'm prepared to forget anything happened and go back to how things were before. Deal?'

She huffed quietly and walked away, hopping into the passenger side seat without further comment. Jack took it for acquiescence and joined her in the car.

'I'm only doing what's best for you. You can hate me all you want, but one day you'll thank me for it. You're a valuable member of the team, and I don't want to lose you because of a silly little thing like some misplaced feelings.'

Half an hour later he'd bid her goodnight as she left the hub, still not speaking to him. Three hours after that, and several shots of tequila, she had an equally drunk Owen pressed up against her body in the hallway of her flat.

BTBD Challenge 13 - Taking advantage

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