A First Time for Everything

[searches_forhim]

[Continued from the Tag Someone New meme]

Jane had debated for the better part of an hour whether to actually go out with Jack. Yes, their meeting had seemed ideal, and he seemed like a great guy. But appearances could be deceiving.

After talking with Darcy she decided to go through with it - with Darcy's tazer in her purse. She texted him the address of her favorite Japanese restaurant, telling him to meet her at 8. After going through every dress in her closet she decided on a simple black one, accenting it with gold shoes and jewelry. She left her hair down simply because she didn't like every way she tried it up.

She walked to the restaurant since it was only a block from her apartment. She arrived early - she liked arriving early - and stood outside waiting for him. She paced to work off some nervous energy. Astrophysics she had no trouble with. Dating made her shake in her heels.

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[searchesforhim.livejournal.com]

The kiss was soft and sweet - and short. It was the perfect first kiss, in her opinion. Her eyes remained closed for several seconds afterwards, their foreheads touching, until she finally pulled back with a smile on her lips.

"So that was the grand prize?" She quirked an eyebrow at him, one finger idly tracing along his jaw. "How do you get better than grand? Super grand? Or is that the best I'm going to get tonight?" Just when she'd thought him shy, he'd gone and kissed her. She had always thought herself shy as well, but something about his bravery was contagious. Between the teasing and the flirting and the kissing she felt... normal. She felt like a normal girl for maybe the first time in her life.

[jack-flanagan.livejournal.com]

"My lady...your wish is my command. After all, I am but your humble meal." Jack laughed softly which only made his eyes shine even more. He was smitten and happy. It was a terrific combo. He hoped Jane felt the same about their date. "I should hope I taste nearly as good as you do," he quipped before meeting her lips for another kiss.

The contact this time was a little stronger and more intricate. His arm moved around her shoulders to hold her into his side. A large hand gently covered nearly all of her bicep with the embrace. His other hand loosely laced fingers with hers on the table. "Indulge me a little longer," Jack whispered at her lips when they needed breath. His eyes were closed at first but slowly opened.

Blue spheres pleaded his request. He watched Jane intently as he posed his question. "...Let me walk you to your door."

[searchesforhim.livejournal.com]

Jane was beyond smitten - she was enamored. She felt as if she were in a dream that would end any moment with her alarm going off. It did not feel possible that she had just met him a few hours earlier on a subway platform.

She sank into the second kiss, absorbing the feel of his arm around her, his fingers lacing into hers, his hair just tickling the side of her face. Her body screamed at her for more, but her mind finally caught up to the situation and screamed louder that they were in a public place. When he pulled away and mentioned walking her home, she wondered just how loudly her mind had been yelling, because it would seem that he had heard it.

"What about dessert?" she asked in a teasing tone. Her brown eyes lingered on his blues as she wondered if he truly intended to stop at her door, or if it was just a way to get closer to an invitation into her apartment. Jane had never in her life had a one night stand, or slept with a guy after only a first date - because the situation had never come up. She did not think it was something she wanted to do, though, even with Jack, who appeared to be perfection personified.

[jack-flanagan.livejournal.com]

Her body felt as if it melded with his. The moment was perfect. Space and time were lost yet every detail of their date was clear on his mind. They were clear opposites and compliments all at once. Jack feared that Jane was simply too good to be true. He was petrified of ruining their date, then she teased.

It didn't seem that Jack could ruin it if he tried.

He couldn't help a soft laugh and found himself stealing another kiss before replying. "Mmm... I think if you take too much of me tonight, I will die a happy man. Or did you mean stopping somewhere for a treat?" he returned through a playful grin. Jack straightened but remained sitting close with an arm around her.

"I am glad to spend as much time as possible with you tonight. Dessert, tea... street performers. I'll even keep you warm riverside if you'd like," he offered with earnest eyes.

[searchesforhim.livejournal.com]

She chuckled softly. "You assume that you are the dessert? That's quite an ego you've got there, Jack." Jane could not remember a time she had felt so comfortable both teasing and being teased with someone she hardly knew. Something within her recognized something in him - a shyness mixed with confidence, a damaged and painful past, a desire to have a happy future. Whatever it was, it was drawing her to him like a moth to a flame.

His last statement made her heart do somersalts in her chest. She broke his gaze to look down at his arm. "I was wondering what that was on your sleeve. I see now that it's your heart." He wanted to spend more time with her and wasn't afraid to say so. What kind of prince charming was he?

[jack-flanagan.livejournal.com]

The teasing was light and playful. His humor was usually under breath mutterings of snark and ribbing friends. Jack was more prone to being the butt of jokes among female friends and the one to pick at male friends. The banter with Jane was on point. It didn't feel like a first date but as if they had known each other for a long time. The way they smiled now said as much. She met his warmth and interest. He couldn't be happier.

Much how his words affected Jane, her assessment of him brought similar sentiment to the towering man she sat with. "You seem to enjoy bringing color to my cheeks. Well played, Jane." He tried to make it playful but failed miserably with the awkward smile on his lips. "I should warn you, that very trait you speak of tends to be the reason relationships haven't worked out for me. I'm not much of a mystery."

And the secrets he kept, Jack had yet to trust anyone with. He would save that fact for another time. His experience with the opposite sex consisted of boring some women and not opening up to others. He had as much to do with the end of courtships as those he dated, if not more often. Jack was lucky in that respect. He had a keen sense of what he wanted out of life and his own limitations.

[searchesforhim.livejournal.com]

"Well that just makes no sense. What kind of girls have you been dating? I'd take a guy who's honest and open with his feelings over one who wants to play games and leave me guessing any day of the week." It did not seem possible to her that a guy this gorgeous with such a great, playful personality could be single, and even less possible that a girl would reject him specifically because of the traits that made her attracted to him.

"I have an idea. Why don't we pick up dessert and take it back to my place? There's an amazing Italian bakery two blocks from here with these cannolis that are so good I had to forbid myself from going more than once a week. We could pick some up, I could make some coffee, we could talk more?" His arm was still around her, and she lightly tilted her head to rest on his shoulder.

"And I promise no biting unless you ask for it."

[jack-flanagan.livejournal.com]

He had emphasized enough for one night how women either found him boring. Eventually, Jane would learn of the girl he lost at home for keeping walls around his heart. She could make up her mind on whether to continue or take the path of those before her. Maybe she truly would enjoy his low key manner of being. Jack was honest. She would always have that. There would simply be a darkness he held deep inside that he might never open up about.

It never had with a childhood best friend. Again, maybe Jane was the key to the lock he held there. She was doing wonders now. He grinned very boyishly at her proposition. If there was a mirror to see his reflection in, Jack would possibly be mortified. He nearly gave the impression that he was never intimate with a woman. And that wasn't even the complete reason behind the grin. He was happy she felt comfortable enough to invite him where she lived.

"Might be too soon for biting but never know with sugar and espresso in one's system," he teased while finding himself nestling comfortably with her. "I would very much like more talking. And kissing. I won't lie to you. But I make a promise to be content with whatever you bless me with. This has been the best night I've had in some time. Even if it ended right now." Jack lowered and gave her one last soft kiss before motioning with a nod that they should rise.

[searchesforhim.livejournal.com]

It wasn't until he sat back that Jane fully remembered they were sitting in a public place. She blushed and looked around for their waitress, who quickly appeared with a box to put the leftover sushi in and the check. Jane, ever the independent woman, reached for the check just as he did.

"I have to at least offer to pay for mine," she said with a smile, feeling the eyes of the older couple at the table across the restaurant on them. She wondered if it was with fond memories or envy that they looked upon Jane and Jack.

"If you won't let me pay for this then at least let me take care of dessert."

[jack-flanagan.livejournal.com]

"You do recall telling me earlier today that you are going to school, aye?" It wasn't a question as much as it was confirmation. Jack spoke gently and low enough where no one else could hear. He was too mesmerized with Jane to notice any eyes their way but knew to keep certain subjects quiet. At least, that was his way with finances. "You can purchase to your heart's content when you get that degree."

In no way did Jack mean to be condescending. His gaze was genuine. He would gladly accept meals, desserts and whatever else Jane found fitting when she was through with her degree. It didn't even strike him that he spoke of a future so easily with this being their first date. "I had no intention on this evening being a dutch date. Especially not after you so generously picking the location and hosting dessert."

[searchesforhim.livejournal.com]

Jane opened her mouth to argue, but the look in his eyes stopped her. He truly was trying to be a gentleman. She had been raised to believe in old-fashioned manners of courtship, and had practically given up on finding a guy who followed them too. So much so that she had almost not even recognized good intentions when they were right in front of her face.

"Then I concede. Thank you, Jack." Her appreciation was sincere. She did not need him to pay. Though she was a graduate student, she had inherited more than enough from her father, and would never want for money.

[jack-flanagan.livejournal.com]

His eyes had a habit of smiling on their own. Not exactly a twinkle or sparkle. As stoic as Jack could often be, it was easy to tell when he was happy just from the look in his eyes. The fact that Jane wasn't trying to get something from him or only had one thing on her mind had him smitten. It wouldn't take much more for him to be completely enamored. Her elegant way of conceding had done just that.

"Off to pick up dessert?" he asked while extending his elbow in her direction once they rose from the table. Jack had paid the tab and left a generous tip. It was mostly from his mood since he didn't know the server at all and would be hard pressed to consider the service they received as spectacular. He gave Jane a dashing grin, feeling rather great about the date, and happily escorted her out.

[searchesforhim.livejournal.com]

Jane was the exact opposite of stoic. Whatever she was feeling - happiness, fear, anger - was always written all over her face. Moreover, she was aware of this fact and could do nothing to stop it. Every time she tried to hide how she was feeling she could only make it a few minutes.

She took his arm with a smile, hooking her purse over her shoulder as they walked out of the restuarant. "Go right," she said as if directing a driver. They turned and started walking down the block toward the bakery.

"So tell me something, Jack. Just how many of these disastrous dates have you been on since moving here?"

[jack-flanagan.livejournal.com]

They had an amazingly great stride together. Jack wasn't sure how that was even possible given their height differences. Her head was level with his bicep. He slowed his gait which seemed to be enough. Or maybe given her excited energy, Jane had quicken hers as well. He wasn't sure and none of it mattered other than how well they fit together.

He only moved toward where she directed in acknowlegment and soon Jane was starting conversation again. "A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell," he answered wryly. His jealous nature didn't allow him to entertain thoughts over who may have been around before him. "And only a fool would easily give up his tales of woe. ...Let's just say, there's very little chance we'll run into anyone who's missed me."

Jack had kept eyes ahead when he spoke until the end, giving her a glance with a sheepish smirk. "Does that satisfy your curiosity?" he asked with a bleed through his accent again.

[searchesforhim.livejournal.com]

Jane added in an extra step for each one of his so that they remained side by side. It was easy enough to do, and soon she wasn't even thinking about it. His answer was expectedly vague, but she was not the type to pry when someone didn't want to talk about something, especially when that something was the past.

"For now," she replied and squeezed his arm. They stopped at the intersection and waited for the light to change so they could cross the street.

"I've been so busy with my work that I haven't been on a date in... god, I can't even remember how long. So we won't be running into anyone from my past either. If you were wondering."

[jack-flanagan.livejournal.com]

"Anyone in the present?" he asked though she had answered the question already in a way. Jack prefered to be certain. It might have been much to ask out of a first date but he liked getting that question out of the way as soon as possible. He was naturally competitive and jealous. If there was anything he needed to prepare himself for, earlier was better than later.

His face held curious restraint. Without realizing, his arm tightened ever so slightly, tucking her arm into his side more snug while his eyes held a hope much the way a kid at Christmas would look at a box that could hold an item high on their list. Yet Jack tried to keep the rest of his face stoic. Tried and failed. His ability to don a poker face was a challenge with the beauty beside him. "No one for me."

[searchesforhim.livejournal.com]

She looked up at him briefly before the light changed and they started walking again.
This time instead of his heart being on his sleeve, it was all over his face. She felt his grip on her arm tighten ever so slightly and it felt nice. Protective but not overly so.

"Well, there is this one guy. We met randomly on the subway and we've only been out on one date so the jury's still out on whether he's relationship material, but I can say that he is a great kisser." She glanced at him out of the side of her eye, checking to see if he could tell she was talking about him.

"He claims he doesn't have great taste in women but he went out with me, so how bad could it be?"

[jack-flanagan.livejournal.com]

"Ah, but you don't know yet if he's relationship material. It means I still have a chance," he returned with his lips tugged into a smirk. He gave Jane a wink then continued their walk. The two received a number of looks.

Jack didn't pay attention to anyone but his date. He had a hard time just keeping his eyes in the direction they walked which was necessary in a city like New York. Never know what gem lied on the sidewalk. He definitely didn't want Jane stepping in anything either.

"I never claimed that I didn't have great taste in women, by the way. My taste was so high end ...I didn't manage to hold their attention for long. Or maybe they all recognized for me that they weren't the right ones?" Something of a flirt there. Hopefully not too much for a first date.

Sweet aromas filled the air. Jack looked up and reached for the door with his free hand. He held it open and waited for Jane to enter before following her in.

[searchesforhim.livejournal.com]

"If you play your cards right," she replied, his wink making her giggle. She felt like a goofy middle schooler on her first date. Then again, Jane hadn't had her first date until high school, so that didn't completely apply. She had been a shy nerd, ignored by just about every guy that walked the halls, and she had preferred it that way.

"I call taste in the wrong women the same as bad taste. There's a lot to be said for listening to your instincts about someone from the beginning, and knowing whether they are someone that not only fits what you want but will see you as someone that they want." That had made a lot more sense in her head.

Once inside the bakery she took his hand and pulled him over to the case, reluctant to stop touching him even for a few minutes. "See anything you like?"

[jack-flanagan.livejournal.com]

Considering Jack looked like a scared twelve year old (http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d181/ruzila/SWaTH/future%20verse/Jack12.jpg) until he turned fifteen, his first date wasn't until high school either. His late blooming was the reason he could never be vain about his looks and often missed interested looks. It didn't help matters how fast he grew either--stretching like a bean pole then taking a couple years for weight to finally add on.

He was tempted to ask if she preferred there be other women in his life given her responses but rethought the idea. Jack didn't know what else to make of her last response over the subject. Fortunately, they had the bakery to distract them. He planned to walk around with hands in the pockets of his slacks when she took his hand and tugged him to the case. The move was comforting given the exchange they had moments before stepping in.

"Yes," he answered simply with eyes on Jane. His heart pounded in his chest. He hoped she wasn't too disappointed with his romantic history. Her words seemed to indicate as much. Answering her now how Jack did, looking into her eyes, he would be able to tell how badly he screwed up. Maybe he would be destined to have bad taste in women after all.

[searchesforhim.livejournal.com]

It took Jane a moment to realize he meant her. She was about to continue teasing him but something about the look in his eye stopped her. She smiled and squeezed his hand. He seemed like a big puppy, looking for attention and approval.

"I haven't had the best luck with dating either," she said softly. She had only been in two long-term relationships, both of which had ended in disaster. The first had cheated on her, and the second had left her when her dad had died. He'd said he couldn't handle how emotional she was. In the two years since then she had only been on a handful of dates, none of which had led to a second. It had been too difficult for her to even think about opening up again.

"But I think our luck's changing. Don't you?"

[jack-flanagan.livejournal.com]

"Two negatives equal a positive. It was meant to be," he answered and finally peeled his eyes away before making a complete fool of himself. It was time to hide that emotion and guard himself. Jack felt exposed even though he felt no threat by Jane. Keeping so open would need a little more time. Hopefully she would give that to him.

When his gaze returned to the case, his hand squeezed hers affectionately as if to apologize. "I never turn my nose at desert. I'm happy to try your favorites. In time, I'll figure what mine are." His thumb gently rubbed over where it held her hand. Jack waited for her to choose while keeping his large hand snug over hers.

[searchesforhim.livejournal.com]

Jane was grateful that he broke the connection before the urge to kiss him again became irresistible. Meant to be. Like a fairy tale. Or an episode of Sex and the City.

She ordered two chocolate cannolis and walked them down to the end of the counter to the cashier. She still felt strange letting him pay for this too but she held her tongue. His thumb on the back of her hand sent small shivers up her arm and made her heartbeat quicken. She wondered if inviting him back to her place would end up being a bad idea. He was old-fashioned and so was she. Sleeping with someone on the first date was definitely not part of the old-fashioned playbook.

"Does that mean you want to come back here again?"

[jack-flanagan.livejournal.com]

"Definitely," he answered with a grin. Jack took the bag after dropping a dollar into the tip jar and returning his wallet back to his pocket. His other hand immediately reached for Jane's as they walked toward the door. He pushed the door open with his hand that held the pastries and followed her through the exit. "It's been a wonderful night. I'd gladly do it all again."

Jack wasn't exactly old fashioned. New York often didn't afford him the opportunity to be. However, he did manage to tell a number of women no. There were some that would've had sex out in public if they had their way. He had been lonely at times but never that desperate. Jane would be different. He was glad for that. Flings weren't satisfying. He wanted more in life and felt alone in that until now.

If nothing more happened that night but sharing dessert, it would not have disappointed him in the slightest. Jack did have self control and no expectation that her invitation had been to sleep together. In fact, he expected the night would end soon after they ate dessert. He could also sleep--actually sleep with Jane and behave himself but neither needed to test those boundaries on their first date.