Nolo Contendere (No Contest)

Title: Nolo Contendere (No Contest)

Author: Pixie (pixie@pixies-bookshelf.com)

Synopsis: Claire makes Jack work for her forgiveness.

Disclaimer: I don't own 'em, someone else does. I don't make any money from writing this, if I did I would be doing my dream job! :)

Rating: NC17

Pairing: Claire/Jack

Category: Romance, Humor

Spoilers: "Charm City", season 6

Distribution/Archiving: If anyone wishes to pass this around, please let me know where first. Otherwise this will be found on adult-fanfiction.org and pixies-bookshelf.com/fic/archive.asp.

Feedback: Always appreciated!

Author's Notes: This is my first Law & Order fic, and I couldn't have gotten through it without the fabulous help of my beta and all around beater-into-shaper, Kelly. *grin* If you don't like the idea of Claire and Jack as a couple, I suggest you don't read this.

~*~

Claire left her office and stopped in Jack McCoy's doorway, crossing her arms as she leaned against the jamb. She watched as he packed up the last of his papers for the evening.

"So, Bayliss seems to have a thing for me," she commented, grinning.

"Yeah, I know," he replied nonchalantly, glancing up at her.

Claire's expression registered surprise and she fishmouthed, unable to find words for a moment.

"What do you mean, 'I know'?"

Jack slipped on his jacket, then grabbed his briefcase. "I saw him checking you out when he first came in."

"You did?" she implied as he approached.

"That's why I had you talk to him," he told her, brushing past and out the door.

She turned and gaped at his departing figure. Claire then shook her head as if to clear it and followed after him.

Once outside, the A.D.A. exclaimed, "You used me, Jack!"

Jack stopped and turned to look at her. She saw he was barely hiding a smile. "I saw something that I could use to my advantage to get what was needed out of an uncooperative detective. And it worked."

Claire glared at him. "I can't *believe* you!" She stomped off toward the subway, her heels clacking angrily on the pavement. Jack found himself smiling as he watched her from behind, her hair swishing back and forth on the collar of her coat. He could tell she was really pissed.

"You can't honestly tell me that you wouldn't have done the same," he challenged. As he got into stride with her, she saw the huge smile on his face.

"I don't use the people I care about," she told him, jabbing a finger at her chest. Throwing him another angry glance, she walked faster.

"Claire!" he called, but she ignored him and just kept going.

The A.D.A. made her way downstairs to the subway and got into a car, Jack right behind her. She took the last available seat, forcing Jack to stand in front of her. Hebbedbbed the handhold as the subway started to move and his body rocked back to front before her. Claire turned her head sideways, trying to stop lewd thoughts from overthrowing her annoyance with him.

Jack didn't miss her turning away, like she was attempting to hide from him. Maybe her anger wasn't as strong as he had thought and it was dissipating. Time to test his theory.

The subway stopped briefly, then started again. Jack shifted a little, allowing his legs to straddle her left one. As he swayed with the motion of the car, his jean-clad legs rubbed gently against her panty-hosed left one, causing what he considered a pleasant friction.

When she felt something brush up on either side of her leg, Claire's head whipped around and caught sight of what was going on. The sneaky bastard was trying to soften her resolve by rubbing up against her. There were times that his nearness did bring down her defenses, but he had pushed his limits this time. And Claire was going to make sure he knew it.

As his body swayed back, she crossed her right leg over her left, giving his right knee a kick for good measure. Jack winced at the sharp pain the toe of her heel had caused and gave the A.D.A. a wounded look. Claire simply smiled tightly back at him, then returned to ignoring him.

Arriving at their stop, Claire stood up and followed the crowd once Jack was out of the way. Someone bumped her forwonceonce they were off, and the A.D.A. held out her hands and caught herself before she fell on her face. Unfortunately her hands landed on McCoy's back. He turned to look at who was behind him and smiled at her. She didn't return it, and, as Jack noticed, she seemed somewhat more annoyed than earlier.

"Claire," McCoy began, but she walked right past him without a word.

Claire walked to her car, steadfastly ignoring Jack's further attempts to get her attention. She opened the driver's side door and slid into the seat, closing the door. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him straddle his bike, and after one final glance at her through his visor, he rode off.

The A.D.A. banged her hand against the steering wheel.

How could she have not seen it. It was a classic McCoy tactic, do anything to win the case. She should have known he wouldn't have been oblivious to the looking over Tim Bayliss gave her from moment one. And she should have known that was why he had them talk to the Baltimore detectives separately.

Eventually Claire chuckled. She had to admit, it was a good one. Even if it did piss her off.

She sighed, starting her car finally. Using her that way was going to cost him.

Driving home, she emplemplated what hoops she would make him jump through before the punishment fit the crime. She yawned, then froze, memory returning.

"Oh shit," she swore at herself, then began hunting for streets to turn herself around. Three lefts and a right later, she started back the way she came.

Claire drove up in front of an apartment building, wedging her car into the last spot. She walked up to the front door, got out her keys and let herself in.

Once up a couple of floors in the elevator and down the hall, she opened the door to the apartment.

"Someone there?" Jack's voice carried from the bedroom.

Her expression became filled with annoyance. She had hoped that either he wasn't there yet or that he had fallen asleep. "Just me."

He met her in the living room. "I thought you went home."

Giving his NYU t-shirt and boxers a quick once-over glance, she returned her attention to his face.

"I forgot the suit I was going to wear tomorrow is here," she stated, moving past him and into the bedroom.

He turned and followed. "You couldn't have worn another?" he asked, his head shaking slightly as a smirk formed on his lips.

Claire could tell by the tone of his voice that he thought he had won.

[No such luck, Mr. Big Stuff,] she thought.

"I haven't had the time to get to the cleaners. And you're not the only one with a lucky summation suit, you know." She walked to the closet and opened it, pulling out the cleaned and pressed suit. Turning back around, she made to leave, but Jack stood in her way.

"It's kinda hard for me to leave if you're in my way."

"C'mon, Claire, stay." He leaned up against the wall, his t-shirt riding up slightly and showing some skin, distracting her for a moment.

Looking up again, she demanded, "Give me one good reason."

"It's late, and you're tired," he suggested, eyebrows raising. When she didn't say anything, he said softly, "Stay."

Claire sighed. She was tired...

"This does not in any way mean you've won," she told him, shoving the suit back in the closet to exchange for one of his white dress shirts. He tried to hide his widening smile from her as she worked the buttons. "You're not getting off easy."

Jack raised his hands in mock defeat. "Since when do I ever?"

Claire stripped off her jacket and Jack moved away from the door toward her, but she tossed the coat at him, allowing her to slip past him to change in the bathroom. He wasn't getting any free shows tonight.

When she returned, Jack was sitting up under the covers, reading. She stood in the doorway and coughed, gaining his attention.

He smiled delightedly as he let his gaze travel across the sight of her lithe body draped in Egyptian cotton. The shirt barely covered down to her bare thighs, and thanks to the light coming from the living room, he could make out her silhouette under the material. He felt his arousal harden.

[Wipe that smile right off your face,] she thought.

"I think under the circumstances you should sleep on the couch."

His smile faltered, but then a look of mischief lit his face. "It's my apartment," he said.

"So *I* should sleep on the couch?"

Jack didn't say anything, just grinned.

Claire growled while walking over to the bed, and to his surprise, she grabbed the pillow under him and left the room.

Glad he hadn't been lying down when she had done that, he sat up straight and snapped the book shut. "Claire! Don't be stupid!"

The A.D.A. went to the linen closet and pulled out a blankehen hen made her way back to the living room.

"Jerk," she muttered as she tossed the blanket and pillow on the couch. "'It's my apartment'," she mimicked, snorting. "Yeah, well that's all you're gonna end up with if you keep that attitude," she yelled back toward the bedroom, for his benefit.

Claire turned out the light, then slipped under the blanket, eager to warm up. The apartment was a lot cooler with so little clothes on. She beat the pillow into place and tried to get comfortable on the couch, lying on her back. Finally she closed her eyes in the hopes of getting some sleep.

What seemed like no time later she heard the creaking of the bed, then footsteps moving across the room to her.

"Go to bed," she told him, keeping her eyes closed.

Weight pressed down the blanket between her thighs, and as she opened her eyes, she watched him lean a hand on either side of her head. He kept himself far enough above to to be non-threatening, but the position he had chosen was beginning to excite her. Her body started to tingle when he brushed some of her hair aside with his right hand.

Jack heard her breath hitch and he smiled. [Won't be long now,] he thought.

Even in the semi-darkness, Claire didn't miss his expression of enjoyment at what he was doing to her, and this managed to strengthen her resolve.

[Keep it together, he's not going to win this one,] she chastised herself.

She stared up at him. "Go. To. Bed."

Her returned irritation with him threw him for a moment, but he retaliated with the surefire puppy dog eyes. "I can't sleep," he told her, making sure he sounded sympathetic.

"It's only been a couple of minutes."

"It's been half an hour."

"You're not going back to bed without me, are you?" Jack shook his head and the A.D.A. sighed in frustration. She gently pushed him to a half-kneeling position on the couch, then threw the blanket off her and stood up, the chilled air on her skin raising goosebumps. After grabbing her pillow, she held her hand out to him. He took it and stood up, following behind her as they walked to the now dark bedroom.

She let go and tossed the pillow on the bed, slipping under the warm covers on the left side. Jack got in on the other side and made to embrace her, but Claire turned on her side, facing away from him.

"Goodnight," she said, which gained a non-commital response from him.

As expected, a couple of minutes later he sidled over and spooned with her. She decided to allow this, see how far he would take it. He placed a soft kiss on her shoulder as his left arm slid slowly around her midsection. Claire tried to keep her breathing even as his warm left hand brushed across her bare thigh and slowly slipped under the shirt to rest on her stomach. He placed another kiss further up at the base of her neck, and Claire closed her eyes, trying to concentrate on keeping control of her rising heart beat. No way in hell was she going to give in now.

Jack nuzzled the back of her neck, the scruff of his beard tickling her. He took in the clean scent of her shampoo mixed with the musky perfume she wore. He loved the smells, especially when he discovered them on his clothes. It was as if she had marked him as hers.

He raised his head as she turned towards him. They searched each other's eyes for a moment before Jack leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. As she turned to face him, her back flattening against the mattress, he moved out of her way. He went to kiss her again, but she stopped him with her right hand over his lips. Claire slid it down his neck, resting it on his chest.

Pushing him so that he lay back on the bed, Claire sat up and straddled Jack's waist. She licked her lips as his hands slid up her thighs and cupped her butt, gently squeezing it. The A.D.A. then took hold of his hands and intertwined their fingers. As she lay forward, covering his body with hers, she pushed his arms over his head and held them there. He fought to free his arms, but she kissed him hungrily, grinding her hips into his in response to his prominent erection. He quickly forgot anything else.

As Claire kissed him deeply, she tasted the last remnants of scotch in his mouth, adding to a flavor that was uniquely Jack. If she had bothered to look, she would have found the empty tumbler on his bedside stand, where he had nursed it while reading.

The A.D.A. pulled back from the embrace, taking deep breaths as she lay cheek to cheek with him. Her heart was racing and for a moment she had almost given into the desire that was coming to a slow boil within her. She wasn't done with him yet though.

"We're doing tmy wmy way, nice and slow," she whispered breathlessly into his ear.

Her silky hair caressed his face as she nibbled on his earlobe, prompting further moans from him. Jack didn't know how much longer he could hold back.

As Claire gave a final nip at his earlobe, Jack groaned out, "Whatever you want."

She sat up a bit, looking into his eyes. "Then how about we put it to a full stop."

His expression registered confusion at her words, and then frustration as she moved off him to lay on the left side of the bed again, her back to him once more. It took him a couple of moments before he turned to face her back.

"Claire, what the hell?"

She turned her head to look at him, teasing with a grin. "You didn't actually think I'd make it that easy for you, did you?"

Jack reached out to touch her and she batted his hand away. She turned her head back around, getting comfortable, and ovedoved to spoon her again. This time she elbowed him in the stomach.

"Ow! Jesus, Claire, you're going to have me all bruised!" he exclaimed, keeping a safe distance from her.

Claire glanced at him again, her grin now a huge smile. "If you want to avoid further injury, counselor, I suggest you sleep on the couch for the rest of the night."

Jack propped himself up on his right arm. "Is *that* what this is all about?" he questioned, sounding exasperated.

"Goodnight, Jack," she responded sweetly, then turned back again.

He glared at her back, then yanked the pillow out from under her. As her head hit the mattress, she called out, "Hey!"

Jack didn't say a word as he left the room, but Claire didn't miss the smirk on his lips.

~*~

McCoy tossed and turned on the couch, finding it impossible to get comfortable. Between the far too soft cushions and his raging hard-on, he was having a hell of a time of it. He knew he could easily take care of the latter, but part of him didn't want to give her the satisfaction. Of course, he was denying *himself* satisfaction by not doing so.

Jack sighed, frustrated. No matter how much he tried to not think about any of Claire's sensual details, another would take its place. The way her eyes gleamed with desire. How perfectly his body fit into hers. How soft her skin was and how goosebumps raised on it whenever he caressed in just the right spot. That little 'o' she made with her mouth when she came.

He rolled onto his stomach and moaned. [Christ, Claire, you always do this to me,] he thought. Any other woman he would never have put up with it, but with her, he came back for more. Admittedly it was always great sex...and part of him was sure it was love.

He rolled onto his back again and kicked off the blanket, getting off the couch and heading for the bathroom. Maybe a cold shower would help.

~*~

Claire heard Jack walk in the direction of the bathroom, then the sound of the water running and finally a yelp from him as he obviously got in to what must be a cold shower. She laughed at the thought of him being stubborn enough to not give in and just spank it, but he wouldn't be McCoy if he wasn't that way.

The A.D.A. slipped out of bed and shivered slightly at the loss of heat. Claire padded toward the door, intending to end the game and join him for a hot shower, in more ways than one. The water suddenly stopped running as she approached the bedroom door, so she paused there to wait for him to come out.

She wasn't disappointed when a minute later he appeared in the lighted bathroom doorway with only a towel wrapped low on his hips, the light shining off the remaining droplets of water on his skin. She found herself holding her breath, not wanting to lose the sight of this man looking relaxed and unconscious of her perusal. It was actually quite a turn on.

Claire watched him turn off the light and then walk to the couch, lying on his stomach on top of the blanket. He groaned, closing his eyes. She licked her lips in anticipation and snuck into the living room.

Once beside the couch, she took a moment to let her gaze drift over Jack's body, from the tips of his toes, up his calves, to the towel that covered his thighs and butt. She gave into the urge to see more and reached down to tug at the towel, but was stopped when his hand shot up and grabbed hers. Claire gasped in surprise at the action, then chastised herself for not thinking he would hear her.

Jack turned over and sat up, amazingly keeping the towel in place while he held onto her hand. She let herself be pulled onto his lap, straddling it. He let go of her hand and placed both his hands on her hips, gently pulling her closer. She let out a whimper as his still apparent erection pressed into her sex.

"Guess that cold shower didn't help," she rasped, trying to make light.

Jack raised a finger to her lips, shushing her. Her tongue darted out, licking the finger, then she took it into her mouth and gently sucked it as he pulled it out. She went to kiss his lips, but he ducked into her neck and kissed her collarbone, gaining an appreciative moan from her.

He began a maddeningly slow process of unbuttoning the dress shirt, placing soft kisses on her skin the more he revealed it. With each touch of his lips, Claire felt the heat within her grow.

Once the last button was undone, Claire moved to take the shirt off, but Jack stopped her.

"Leave it on," he told her. "I like you in it."

She did as he asked and didn't have to wait long for his next move. He pushed back the coffee table with his right foot and tossed the pillow on the floor, then changed their positions. He lay her on the floor with him leaning over her, mimicking their earlier encounter on the couch. Jack dipped his head and tasted her lips slowly, teasing her tongue with his. The A.D.A. attempted to deepen the embrace, but he pulled back and began kissing along her jaw, up to her earlobe which he began nibbling.

Claire moaned in minor annoyance. Not that she wasn't enjoying what he was doing, but she wanted him to speed things up. She had been teasing him all night long and she...

She paused mentally mid-thought, realizing what he was doing. Smug bastard. This was payback. Not for long, if she had anything to do with it.

Claire reached up and ran her hands along his firm stomach and then up his sides, repeating the motion until she coaxed him to arch toward her, allowing her better access to his bare back. Jack returned his mouth to hers as she brushed her fingers across his back, the desire building higher within him.

[Damn if she isn't good at this,] he thought.

Resting her hands on his lower back, Claire slid her fingers under the towel and began loosening it until she could remove it entirely. She tossed it over her head, letting it land where it may. She returned her hands to his now fully-naked body, softly caressing every inch of skin she could touch.

Jack began a slow descent on her body, tasting the saltiness of her sweat-sheened skin as he kissed and nipped strategic spots that he knew would drive her crazy. He paid special attention to her nipples, gently suckling and laving them as his hands teased wherever they touched. Claire's hips arched in response to his ministrations and her hands ran through his still damp hair down to his shoulders, attempting to push him further down, but he resisted.

"Jack," she whispered, looking at him. He gazed up at her, his eyes dark with lust. Claire swore she would come right then and there.

He pulled himself into a kneeling position between her legs and grasped her hips with his hands. She whimpered as he slid his thumbs under the waistband of her panties and caressed her soft skin while removing them. Once off, he threw them behind him and leaned over her once again.

"You know I'm not as young as I used to be," he stated, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Do I look like I care?" she replied breathlessly. They both smiled widely at her answer, then groaned simultaneously as he entered her.

Jack leaned his forehead against Claire's, holding still as he enjoyed the feeling of being inside her. She felt his hot breath on her face like a caress.

[If this isn't heaven, I don't want to know,] she thought, her entire body throbbing in anticipation as she waited for him to move.

Deciding to take the initiative, Claire tilted her head slightly, bringing their lips together softly. Their embrace started slow, tongues teasing and tasting as their hands caressed smooth skin, eliciting moans of pleasure. Jack pulled back his hips and pushed forward again, causing the A.D.A. to arch her hips in response. He gently tugged her lower lip between his lips as he moved out of the kiss, his hips pumping faster with hers. He nuzzled her neck, gaining a soft moan from her.

Catching her breath as best she could, Claire felt the desire for release pressing more and more on her as their bodies moved together in passion. Each time she was pressed into the carpet under her it caused an added pleasurable friction that only served to increase the need. She let out sighs and gasps with each arching, digging her fingers into his back. This spurred Jack to push harder and faster with each stroke.

Her body felt the beginnings of orgasm tingling in her groin as his right hand rested on her hips, urging her to keep up with him. The feeling quickly raced through her body as it hit full force and she tensed around him, holding Jack close. He was soon over the edge with her, happily giving into final release.

They lay entwined for a moment, Jack lying on top of her, allowing the remnants of their orgasms to wash over them. He then rolled them sideways and they lay together in a loose embrace, all the tension of their evening activities finally gone.

"So, you still mad at me?" he queried, eyebrows wagging, kissing her softly on the lips and causing Claire to grin.

"You still have a couple of hours left to make it up to me," she answered. Jack buried his face in her neck and groaned, making Claire laugh aloud.

THE END