Rating: NC-17
Spoilers: Up to HCon-172, though nothing specific.
Notes: Okay, so, it isn't White House or Bust, but we thought it might appease you. Jori and Mojo may archive and Perri, if she ever updates her site. Hint, hint. [ED: Hint duly taken. :p]

"My granddad had boats."

That was all she'd said. A simple statement, like a hundred others she'd said to him, involving her family or her past. But for some reason, this one stuck with him. This one prompted him into dragging her to the marina on the next fair day to see his boat. She should have mentioned she'd always been scared of the damn boats. She stood on the pier as he played with the riggings, muscles moving under his shirt. Well, okay, maybe she'd have a little fun, after all.

He held out a hand for her. "Come on."

She had Dramamine. She had good walking shoes. And no good excuses. With a small sigh she took his hand and let him help her onto the swaying deck.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine. I haven't been on a boat in years."

"She's a good boat."

"Okay."

"I'll give you a tour and then we'll set out."

"A tour?" She glanced around the small boat.

"Come on, there's a little cabin underneath."

"Okay." She followed him to the back of the boat and through a small door.

They went into the little room. It had a tiny kitchenette, a narrow bunk and a few small pieces of furniture.

"Do you ever sleep here?"

"When I'm out overnight."

"Aren't you scared? Out on the water alone at night?"

"No, it's peaceful. I like it."

She sat on the bunk. "I guess it is hard to find peace on land."

"You'll love the bay." He went back up the steps to open the door, but it didn't move.

"Maybe if I don't embarrass myself totally today you can take me out again. I could certainly use. . ." She looked at him. "What?"

"Uhhh.. . The door's stuck."

She stood. "What?"

"I can't get the door open."

She hopped up and came over to him. "We're stuck?"

"I think so."

"We're *stuck?*"

He pounded the hatch with his fist. It didn't budge. "Yes."

She came up beside him and pushed on the door. "What are we going to do?"

"I'm going to sit down and think about that."

"Well, great. That's great." She frowned. "Do you have any food?"

"No."

"This gets better and better."

"I brought a cooler of stuff, it's just still up on deck."

She rattled the handle of the hatch. "How are we going to get out?"

"Could take the hinges off."

"Oh, that's a good idea. Do we have a screw driver or something?"

"Yes. But there's a small problem."

"What?"

"The hinges are on the outside."

She shrieked. "Sam!"

"It's okay, I'll call someone."

"Oh, there's a phone?" Sam pulled out his cell phone. She bounced. "Excellent. Call the cavalry."

The closest he could get to cavalry was Josh, and Josh was in Bethesda with the president. "He won't be here for a couple of hours."

She sighed, but sounded resigned. "Great. I should have known. Nothing good every happens to me on boats."

"I'm sorry."

She sank on the bunk. "You're just lucky I didn't sink this one."

"You've sunk a boat."

"It was a little boat."

"How did you sink a boat?"

"It was. . . we were in college. I was with this guy at this lake and we took this little row boat out. And it wasn't exactly *me* who sank it. But it did sink and we had to swim to shore. And our friends thought it was hysterical so we all went and got drunk to celebrate that we'd lived and I got really dehydrated and I was sick for a week."

"You really are a walking disaster aren't you?"

She pouted a little, shoulders slumping. "Yeah."

"This was my fault."

"You're not Mr. Lucky yourself."

"Are you mad?"

She looked at him. "How do you lock yourself in your own boat?"

"It's not locked, it's stuck. Something probably got caught in it."

"Has this happened before?"

"Once, yeah."

"Jesus, Sam."

"It was an accident!"

"Why didn't you leave the door open or something?"

"I didn't think of it."

"Well, what are we supposed to do until Josh comes? I don't see a Parcheesi board or anything."

"I don't know. Wait."

"Great. Just great."

He rubbed his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah."

His shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry. I just wanted. . .I love sailing, and I just wanted to show you this. Share it with you. Because I. . .I like you and I thought maybe if you could see. . ."

She looked over at him, immediately feeling bad. "Oh, Sam. . . I like you too." She went over to him. "I like you a lot. Nothing else would have gotten me on a boat."

He grinned. "Really?"

"I hate boats, Sam." She smiled. "But I wanted to go sailing with you."

He touched her cheek with his fingertips. "I promise I'll take you."

She titled her head, an odd little smile on he face. "I know what we could do."

"What?"

"Blame it on the Bossanova." She gave her hips a little wiggle.

He watched her with a frown, looking confused. And then his eyes got huge.

She laughed brightly. "Oh God, that was priceless."

He leaned in and kissed her. She froze a little, then wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Mmmm. I didn't misread you, did I?"

"No, that's where I was headed."

"Good." He kissed her again.

She kissed him back deeply, leaning into him. They sunk slowly back on the bed.

"Tell the truth," she murmured, nipping his throat. "You were planning this all along."

"I was planning a totally innocent sailing trip."

"Nah. Bring the blonde sex kitten you have a crush on out on the open ocean and have your way with her."

He slipped his fingers under her shirt. "I'll have you know I'm a gentleman."

"I hope not."

He pushed her shirt up slowly. "I am."

She lifted her arms so he could pull it off. "I'm really not looking for a gentleman right now."

"Well, now that you've made the first move, all bets are off." He cupped her breasts through her bra.

She shuddered. "Excellent." She kissed his mouth roughly.

He groaned, sliding one hand down along her leg. She sucked in a deep breath, then brought her mouth back to his. She buried her fingers in his hair. He traced the hem of her shorts along her skin. She groaned, nails raking on his scalp.

His mouth moved, slowly trailing down her throat. She closed her eyes, arching her back. He unhooked her bra and attempted to peel it away, somehow getting them both stuck in it.

She laughed hysterically.

"Hush." He fought with it, and one of the straps broke.

She started to laugh harder, gasping for breath.

He kissed her mouth. "No laughing."

She grinned at him. "But it's funny."

He kissed her breasts, flickering his tongue over one nipple.

She sighed. "You know how to distract a girl," she murmured. Her hands went between them to undo the buttons on his shirt.

He pushed up on an elbow to give her easier access. She finished the buttons and spread her palms on his chest. She sighed softly again, dipping her head to kiss the skin.

He shifted again, hitting his shoulders on the wall. It was a small bunk. She made a sympathetic noise and reached up, drawing him close, kissing his mouth. "Careful."

He sunk into the kiss, reaching down to unzip her shorts.

She arched her hips for him as he slid them down. Her fingers traced patterns on his back.

"You know what I definitely don't have down here?"

"A queen sized bed with mints on the pillow?"

"Condoms."

"I'm on the pill."

"Wow, that's fortuitous."

"Isn't it though?"

He pulled her panties down. "You know you're even prettier naked."

"Thank you. I like your chest."

He took the opportunity to kiss her breasts again. "I like yours, too."

"You like small breasts, don't you?"

"They're perfect." He trailed his fingers down her abdomen. "You have many perfect parts."

She blushed. "Thank you."

He parted her legs slowly, and slipped his hand in between.

Her eyelids fluttered and she lifted her hips into his touch. He stroked her gently, watching her face. An odd little smile touched her mouth and she reached up to stroke his cheek. She pushed her hips up to him.

He rubbed her clit with his knuckle and sank a finger inside her.

She gasped and her whole body jerked. "Sam."

He grinned. She bit her lower lip and met his gaze as he continued stroking her. Her breathing had sped up and she was moving with him.

He slowed his pace, then sped it up again, then slow. They had plenty of time.

"Sam," she wailed. "This is so-" She bucked at him. "Unfair."

"Patience."

"No."

He pulled his hand back. "I could stop."

She reached forward and cupped the bulge in his pants. "If you think you're the only one who can torture someone."

He closed his eyes and groaned. She undid his fly quickly, sliding her hand inside to stroke him.

"Point made," he hissed.

She grinned, scooting closer to him. "Touch me again."

He fought to get his pants all the way off. "I have a better idea."

She squeezed him. "No, touch me again."

"You. . .uh. . ."

She smiled a little. Looked like all his synapses weren't firing. She released him to help him with his pants. She kissed his mouth hard. He groaned again, pushing her back down to the mattress.

She tugged his lower lip. "I've wanted you for the longest time."

"Me too." He lifted her lips and slowly slid inside her.

She gasped, breathing hard. "Sam."

"God, you feel good."

She swallowed. "So do you." She kissed him, cupping his cheek. "You fill me."

He kissed her mouth, beginning to move. She moaned into his mouth, slipping her legs around his waist as she moved her hips in time with him.

They slid back and forth together, rough and gentle at the same time. Her pleasure wound through her, slow and steady, until her motions were erratic, breath pants. She clutched at him, obviously at her edge.

He shifted a little, changing the angle.

She sucked in a sharp breath and spasmed beneath him. She clenched around him roughly. She hugged him tightly, soft whimpers emanating from her throat.

She felt him moving a few more times before exploding himself. She sucked in a deep breath, relaxing beneath him.

He made an inarticulate noise, burying his face in her shoulder.

"Well said," she murmured, stroking his back.

The boat rocked suddenly with the weight of someone leaping onto it from the dock. Sam lifted his head. "Shit. Josh."

She squeaked. "Tell him not to come in." She started trying to find her clothes.

Sam climbed up, looking for his clothes.

"Sam?" The door rattled. "Seriously man, this is the last time I let you out."

"Hang on a second," he called.

"It's not like I don't have things to do on Saturday."

"Like go back to work?"

"Exactly." The hatch pulled open just as Ainsley got her shirt on. She jumped and held her broken bra behind her back.

Sam was still standing there, wearing just pants and an unbuttoned shirt. "Hi."

Josh looked at the two of them a moment, then threw back his head and laughed. Ainsley sidestepped behind Sam.

Sam buttoned his shirt. "Oh, shut up."

He leaned on the wall, catching his breath. "Oh God." He wiped his eyes. "Well, I'll leave you to your business."

"Yeah. Go home and think up some more crackpot excuses to bother Amy Gardner."

That shut him up. He made a face at Sam. "You're welcome for coming all the way out and freeing you. Nice seeing you Ainsley."

She poked her head around Sam's arm. "You too, Josh."

He waved vaguely and hopped off the boat.

Sam chuckled. "Do you know how much I enjoy him having a crush on someone I can make fun of him about? Because there's so much mockery he's got coming."

She smiled. "Give it to him good, Sam."

He sat down to put his shoes back on. "It needs to stay at crush level, though. He's cavity-inducing when he's got a girlfriend and grouchier than Toby when it goes south."

She sat on the bunk, smoothing out the blanket. "What are you like when you have a girlfriend?"

He tilted his head. "I don't know. You'd have to ask the others, I guess. It's been quite a while."

She leaned forward and kissed him tenderly. He cupped her cheek in his hand, drawing out the kiss.

She rubbed the tip of her nose over his. "Do we still have time to go sailing?"

"You trust me in the open water?"

She grinned. "Yeah."

"Okay. We have time."

"Okay." He got up to go upstairs and she stopped him. "Sam?"

"Yes?"

"What. . . was this?"

He sat down on steps. "I. . .I don't know."

"I'm just. . . I don't do this with just anybody. Usually."

"Well, I hope it's a beginning."

She smiled widely. "It is as long as you want it to be."

"I certainly do. Shall we sail?"

She bounced up and came towards him. "Yes, please."

He took her hand, and they went up the steps.

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