Heat

"Miss Fine! In my office now!" Maxwell Sheffield yells hanging up the phone. 

Oh, god, what did I do this time? Fran thinks worriedly trotting to Mr. Sheffield's office. I haven't been near any of his backers in weeks, so I couldn't have scared any of them away. 

Max looks enraged. "Miss Fine, because of you, I hired another one of your insane relatives. Your cousin has just quit my new show. I am forced to find another flutist. She decided to quit at the last minute to go to Hollywood for fame and fortune! What the hell do they need with a flutist in bloody Hollywood?" he growls. 

"Oh, Mr. Sheffield...I'm so sorry, but that's really not my fault."  

"From now on please stick to being the nanny and stay out of my life! Now go! I have to find a new flutist and we're opening in a week!" He dismisses her with a wave of his hand and gets on the phone to call the musician's union. 

Fran leaves the office with little to say in her defense. She is hurt by his harsh words and by how unfair he was. She couldn't help it if her cousin quit. Well, from now on I will stay out of his life, just like he wants. She thinks wincing at how that statement from him hurt. She climbs up the stairs to her room, dejected. It was only a few months ago that he told her he loved her on that fateful trip from Paris, only to take it back the next day. Ever since then, it seemed he went out of his way to find something to yell at her about. It's almost as if he's afraid of his feelings, she ponders. He's so repressed he just can't come to grip with them. Well, I'm not waiting around too much longer. I don't deserve to be treated like this. She lies on her bed and falls into a light sleep her eyes stinging with tears. 

 

Fran decides she doesn't want to dine with Maxwell Sheffield tonight. The kids are on their annual ski trip to Aspen. He was mad at her, and she wasn't crazy about him right now, so dinner alone together would be insufferable. She walks into the kitchen and informs Niles that she is going to eat in her room. 

Niles gives her a sympathetic look as he watches her ascend the back staircase. He had heard Mr. Sheffield bellow for her and figured he had yelled at her for some stupid little thing. Why doesn't he just get it over with and sleep with her already? The reason he's so emotional around her is he's got to channel that sexual tension somewhere. Nile's has known his boss all Max's life and has analyzed the situation perfectly. Well, he'll be sorry someday. She's not going to put up with it forever! She's been here four years, how much more can she take? He wonders a little worriedly. The bleak look he saw in her eyes terrified him. Niles knew that she was on the brink. 

 

Max walks in the dining room. "Niles, why is it so bloody cold in here? It's in single digits outside. Why don't you have the heat blasting?" He says rubbing his hands together. 

"Oh, sir, the furnace has gone out. They can't repair it until morning. Here sit in front of the fireplace and eat your dinner. I made sure you have a huge fire in your bedroom fireplace. That will keep it warm enough," he says carrying Max's dinner into the living room. 

"What about you old boy?" You don't have a fireplace in your room," Max sits on the couch sipping a glass of wine. 

"Oh, don't worry about me, sir. I've got a date this evening. I won't be home until tomorrow." He gives Max a wicked smile and walks up the stairs to his room. 

The fact that Miss Fine didn't have a fireplace in her room completely slips Max's mind. He had subconsciously pushed all thoughts of her out of his head for the day so as not to get enraged again. He finishes his dinner and goes back in his office to work briefly. He decides it's too cold and goes to the warmth of his bedroom. 

 

Why is so cold in here? Fran thinks getting out of the hot bath she took to try to help sort out her life. She had made some very important decisions in that tub, and was determined to get her life on track. She goes to the thermostat at the top of the stairs and sees it is turned on. Niles had already left and the fire in the living room had burned out. Growing up in an apartment in Queens, it would never occur to Fran to light the fireplace for warmth. The furnace must be broken again. Oh, great! Five degrees Fahrenheit outside and snowing. Well I better get more blankets for my bed. She thinks going to the linen closet. She returns to her room and cuddles under her covers. 

 

Max is sitting comfortably in his black silk pajamas in front of his fireplace reading the latest best seller 'The DaVinci Code.' He sips his scotch rocks and takes a puff of his cigar. Hmm...The house is terribly quiet tonight. He suddenly notices. Oh, that right, the children are away and Niles is out for the evening. That just leaves Miss Fine and me. Suddenly he realizes that he has not seen her since he yelled at her this afternoon. Did she go out for the evening? He thinks with a little nagging guilt in the back of his mind. Even though he wouldn't admit it to even himself, he loathed when Fran was out at night. He was coming to realize that a woman as attractive as she would have no trouble finding male companionship.  

Now that Max has settled down, he realizes that he may have overreacted earlier. He also is suddenly feeling badly at telling her to stay out of his life. He is well aware how empty his life would be without her. I'll apologize when she gets home. He thinks. Well, I better leave her a note and inform her that the furnace is broken. Hmm, that poses another problem. Where in the world will she sleep? Well, maybe the living room in front of the fireplace? For some reason he wasn't at all crazy about that idea. He gets up and goes to her room to leave the note. He opens the door and is horrified to discover Fran shivering madly in her bed. She has the covers pulled over her head but he can hear teeth chattering beneath them. "Miss Fine! Oh god! You're freezing!" He cries running to her bed. His heart drops into his stomach at the sight. 

"OH, Mr. Sheffield...I'm so cold! I think the furnace is broken. I've been trying to get warm, but it's really freezing in here," she says through those chattering teeth. She looks up at him with big brown eyes and he is racked with guilt. 

Panicking he lifts her out of bed and carries her to his room. She is holding him tightly feeling the warmth of his body against hers. "Oh Miss Fine. I'm so sorry! I was a bloody cad not to think of you sooner!" He sets her in front of his fireplace and wraps his arms around her trying to give her some of his body heat. She is chilled to the bone and trembling madly. "Mr. Sheffield, I'm so sorry about my cousin..." she begins through chattering teeth. 

"Oh, don't worry about that Miss Fine." Max holds her tightly against himself and is terrified that she is going to get pneumonia. He frantically rubs her as he is holding her closely to him. "Miss Fine, why didn't you come to see me if you were so cold?" he says his heart breaking at how she was shaking in his arms. 

"I knew how mad you were at me," she says shivering even more. Max is consumed with guilt and was really worrying that she wasn't warming up fast enough. Her porcelain white skin actually had a light blue cast, the sight of it horrified him. He suddenly lifts her in his arms and takes her to the bed. He puts her in under the covers and quickly gets in with her, pulling the covers most of the way over them. Fran is surprised but not at all displeased. Max gently gets on top of her and wraps himself around her.  

"Miss Fine, please excuse the familiarity, but we have to utilize all my body heat to get your body temperature back to normal!" he says completely covering her body with his. Max is so scared of her getting sick that he wasn't the least bit embarrassed at the situation. He wraps his arms around her and rubs his cheek up against her. He is dismayed at how cold her face feels against his. Oh god, if she gets sick it will be my entire fault. Poor little thing! He thinks rubbing his cheek against hers. I hate that I was such a beast to her earlier! 

Oh my god! Fran thinks happily feeling his body on top of her Does this feel good! Now, how do I get this going? She ponders. She's feeling so much warmer now...like that's a surprise when the man of her dreams is enveloping her body making it tingle all over. "Oh, Mr. Sheffield...I was so cold!" she says shivering a little harder, seeing an opportunity. 

"I know Miss Fine! I am so bloody sorry. I never even thought of you! You should have been in here with me tonight; it's the only warm room in the house. How thoughtless I was!" He rubs her arms and shoulders desperately. He looks anxiously down at her. She looks deeply into his eyes. The look she gives him suddenly makes his heart beat faster. He is just starting to realize her beautiful body beneath him as he feels the warmth emanating from her. Max knows she is out of danger and let's the pleasant feelings flow. "Oh Miss Fine..." he whispers as delightful tingles are starting to reach his lower regions. 

"Mr. Sheffield. You feel so good on top of me," she murmurs as their cheeks are still rubbing together. She puts her arms around him and he is suddenly aware that he is pressing himself into her. Oh god, she feels so good under me. Without thinking he softly kisses her on the lips. Her shivering has subsided but he stays on top of her, rhythmically pressing himself into her body. She spreads her knees apart and presses herself against his huge arousal. Max moans as he feels her respond. All that is separating them is the thin material at the crotch of their pajamas. He is now breathing very heavily. 

Oh, Mr. Sheffield, this feels so good," she moans hugging him tightly to her. "We probably shouldn't be doing this. Mr. Sheffield, you're getting me really turned on," she whispers breathing heavily. "We should probably stop." He just kisses her more ferociously. Fran presses against him more urgently, causing him go groan. 

"Miss Fine, you are so lovely and I was so stupid. I'm so sorry. How can I make it up to you? "he murmurs smiling down at her with a hopeful look in his eyes. 

"Oh, you're definitely doing it already," she whispers kissing him. She gasps as his tongue penetrates her lips. Slowly, tentatively his hands start to roam her body. He finds the buttons of her pajama top and slowly starts to open them. He looks in her eyes for permission and she nods seductively. Max kisses her as his hand caresses her breast for the first time. 

Fran lets out an involuntary moan as little tingling sensation rush through her body. She instinctively arches her hips up into his erection. Her reaction excites him even more. He kisses down her neck slowly until he reaches the other breast. He lets his tongue do wonderful thing to it, which causes her to press herself into his arousal more desperately. Encouraged by her reaction, Max tentatively lets his hand go south. He slowly starts pulling her pajama bottoms off.  

Uh, oh. Fran thinks coming back to reality. Suddenly she stops him. He looks up at her surprised, disappointed... and a little worried. 

The realization that this is Mister Sheffield pulling her bottoms off suddenly terrifies her slightly. I won't be able to go back to how we were if we do this. This is permanent! She thinks now more than a little nervous. "Oh Mr. Sheffield. We can't do this," she whispers sadly. Max is stunned and horrified. Oh, god! I don't want to stop! Max takes her into his arms and gently puts his fingers under her chin looking into her eyes. 

"Miss Fine, what's wrong? Don't you want to be with me?" He is valiantly trying to control his breathing and his racing heart. Oh god, how could she stop me! I really need her! I've never been so turned on! I've wanted her for so long, and I thought she felt the same about me. He rubs his cheek against hers his body trembling with passion. "Please Miss Fine...Fran. I just want to make you feel wonderful," he pleads, his eyes at half-mast. 

"Oh, Mr. Sheffield. I just can't do this with you!" she says tears forming in her eyes. She casts her eyes demurely down and wipes a tear away. 

Oh god! Why is she crying? He thinks starting to panic. Did I hurt her? I just hate it when she cries. He sits up and gathers her tenderly in his arms. "Please tell me what's wrong, darling." He is rocking her in his arms. "Did I cause you any...discomfort?" he asks gently kissing the top of her head. 

Fran looks up at him. She can't believe she stopped him when she has dreamed of this moment for three years. All of a sudden, she empathized with him for taking back the thing. He was right...this could change their lives forever. Was she ready for it...was he? Fran takes a deep breath and swallows back more tears. "Mr. Sheffield, if we do this, I know I'm going to fall hopelessly in love with you." She is stunned that she just blurts it right out. I can't believe I just said that...well, it's true! She thinks suddenly realizing it's time he knew the truth. "It's hard enough living with you here now, knowing that you don't love me. But, I'm not as experienced at this as you are and I know myself. This is an important step and I don't take it lightly, despite what Miss Babcock thinks. I've only had sex with men I thought I was in love with...and who loved me." She buries her head in his chest. She can hear his heart beating madly. Oh, god. Did I scare him? She thinks, at the sound of his heartbeat she starts shivering again. 

Max takes his fingers and puts them under her chin bringing her face up to his. She is relieved to see him smiling tenderly. Suddenly he kisses her softly. "Oh, Miss Fine. You make me so happy, how can you say I don't love you? Oh, yes, that blasted trip from Paris. I'm so sorry I took back saying I loved you. I was just scared. You must know how crazy I am about you!" he says laying her back and getting on top of her again as he feels her trembling. 

She looks at him and her heart starts pounding madly at his confession. Finally! He admits it! "Crazy about me, huh? You almost let me freeze to death!"  

Max looks at her and is relieved to see a twinkle in her eyes. He has thrilled her beyond belief that she was kidding, but that guilt he felt earlier at seeing her trembling under the covers made him twinge. 

"I know!" He cries hugging her protectively to him. "I am so sorry about that my darling!" Max really did feel horrible about the thought of her lying in her bed trying to get warm. He shudders at the thought that she could have fallen seriously ill. 

"Mr. Sheffield! I was just kidding. You are so sweet." She kisses him tenderly. "I'm crazy about you too! Mr. Sheffield, I wasn't telling you the whole truth just now. You see...I'm already hopelessly in love with you. I have been since Paris. Even if we had made love just now, I'm pretty sure I couldn't love you more than I already do," she murmurs snuggling his chest. 

Max smiles happily at her. His heart is now pounding through his chest. He realizes that by admitting her feelings for him, she has released all his inhibitions about their relationship. This is the first time he has ever been completely sure she loves him. Was that what had been holding me back all these months? He thinks happily.  

"By the way, Mr. Sheffield, thanks for warming me up!" she says cuddling him seductively. 

"So," he says his voice suddenly husky with renewed passion realizing that he is on top of her again. "Where do we go from here, Miss Fine?" Knowing full well where he wants to go. He starts kissing down her neck again and she is delightfully aware that he is pressing himself into her again. 

"Well, Mr. Sheffield. I'm getting a little cold again. Warm me up!" she orders. 

"My pleasure," he softly groans, gently pulling down her pajama bottoms. This time he wasn't interrupted. 

 

The End 

 

Hope you enjoyed this short story on this cold February day! I know I could use a little heat...it's been a long winter! M.A.