Who's Kissing Who

by Tracey

September 2002, Firthness Challenge Entry

Rated PG

Author's Note: Okay, please be gentle. This is my first time...posting that is. I haven't quite followed J.A.'s story to the letter but I think I have in spirit. It's a modern day version and I had a hard time cutting it to 2000 words...I think it's actually 1,999 - one to spare. The doesn't count does it? I'd like to continue this story but I don't know if it will end up fitting with the rest of the challenges...we'll see. A big thank you to Lissa for editing it down! I appreciated the help so much! Here goes nothing...hope you enjoy.

"I can’t believe you talked me into this Lizzy," Jane said in Netherfield’s ballroom, attending Charles Bingley’s famous August long weekend party.

"Jane, he can afford one or two crashers, I’m sure we’re not the only ones. Besides, it’s my birthday and I’ve always wanted a party like this," Lizzy giggled as she snatched two champagne cocktails from the tray of a passing server.

"You’re not actually going to drink that?" Jane asked nervously. It was one thing to crash a party, but to consume the fare provided for real guests was unpardonable.

"Not both of them," Lizzy quipped, "One is for you."

"Oh no, I’m not touching anything."

"I don’t care if you nurse it all night, just hold onto it. We have to at least try to blend in," Lizzy explained, placing the glass in Jane’s hand.

This was not easy to do, though, for Jane and Elizabeth Bennet were strikingly beautiful young women who could only blend in on the cover of Vogue. Though they’d been tucked in the corner of the ballroom since their arrival, every man had noticed them, including the host and his best friend, William Darcy.

"Darcy, do you know those ladies? Heavenly creatures, especially the blonde," Charles asked.

"You mean you don’t know? Isn’t this your party?" Darcy countered disbelievingly. He was always surprised at Charles’s laissez-faire attitude.

"Well, Caroline could have invited them."

They both looked over to Caroline and then back at the enigmatic beauties and instantly shook their heads. They knew too much of Caroline’s own vanity to believe that possibility.

"Well, let’s go find out who they are," Charles proclaimed eagerly.

Darcy didn’t accompany his friend but observed at a distance in order to intercede if things got ugly, or worse and much more likely, if Charles was swept off his feet by devious gold-diggers. Darcy figured these ladies were on the prowl to catch themselves a rich man like Charles, a dot-com millionaire who had sold his stocks at the right time.

Upon approaching the ladies, Charles decided on an active approach.

"Excuse me, but would you like to dance?"

Jane was astonished, but couldn’t help being pleased, having already noticed the handsome man from across the room. She hadn’t intended to interact with anyone, but his welcoming face and startlingly bright smile relaxed her wariness.

Lizzy gave her a thumbs-up as she was led to the dance floor, a gesture not lost on Darcy.

Jane quickly confessed her crime to her suitor. She was heartily ashamed and promised to leave if he agreed not to tell anyone.

"No! Don’t leave," Charles urged and followed with, "Jane…I’m Charles Bingley."

Jane’s knees nearly gave out with this revelation, but she needn’t have worried. He’d never heard such an honest and delightful excuse in his life, and she was so stricken with guilt he couldn’t help but become more enraptured with her. He quickly insisted that she and Lizzy were now belatedly invited guests.

Darcy was not so trusting of them, and while Charles wooed Jane, he made his way over to Lizzy, intent on intimidating her into departing.

"Looks like they were made for each other," Darcy said, casually nodding to the couple and laying his trap.

"Yes, they do," Lizzy said non-committally to the gorgeous yet imposing being standing next to her. She would normally have flirted with such a tall, dark and handsome example of the male species, but she didn’t quite trust the look in his dark eyes.

"Has she known him long?" Darcy asked, consciously not using Charles’s name. Although who wouldn’t know who the host was?

Immediately suspicious, Lizzy quickly ascertained that she should truly be on her guard.

"Who wants to know?" she asked pertly.

He was staggered by her directness, unaccustomed to being questioned by a woman. Usually they were as non-confrontational as possible with the multi-millionaire, for if Charles Bingley and his new money were fine fish to catch, William Darcy’s old money was a net-full of lobster. He was used to getting attention, respect and deference. This lady surprised him.

Thinking over what he’d actually asked, however, he realized the question wasn’t exactly innocent party chatter.

"Forgive me. I’m Darcy, Charles’s friend."

He extended his hand and at once noticed her firm grip, again so unlike those readily submissive women he typically encountered.

"Oh yes…Darcy. Charles has mentioned you before," Lizzy lied. Well, I’m not exactly lying, she reasoned, I’m sure Charles would have mentioned Darcy to someone before.

"So has she known him long?" he asked again.

"Not too long…just long enough for him to convince us to come here tonight," Lizzy said, feeling like she was being lured in with a fishing rod.

"Oh, really," Darcy said with interest. I’ve caught her! Too bad, because she’s quite lovely…but then again, aren’t all the vacuous, shallow ones?

Jane and Charles noticed the interplay between the two and the host immediately knew he was needed. In no time, he was by Darcy’s side.

"Lizzy! Happy 22nd birthday! Glad you could make it back from Europe in time! Jane and I were afraid you’d miss this bash and I so wanted you to celebrate here. Tell me all about your travels. Darcy, can you fetch the ladies more champagne?" Charles requested directly and immediately turned to the women to continue chatting.

Darcy obliged, somewhat in shock. Why would Charles make that stuff up? He said he’d no clue who they were and he’d never forget inviting those two. Why would he save face for them?

By the time he’d returned, the three were conversing famously, laughing as Lizzy regaled them with her language blunders in Europe.

Charles officially introduced them to William Darcy, explaining his friend’s preference to use his last name. After a polite but abrupt, "Nice to meet you" he remained silent, never leaving Charles’s side. Lizzy thought him supremely rude and introduced herself as Elizabeth. "Lizzy" was reserved for friends. If the host had no issues with them, why should he?

Out of nowhere, Charles cocked his head and said, "Do either of you girls swing?"

Jane and Darcy simultaneously responded with an incredulous, "What?"

Lizzy, on the other hand, gave an eager, "Yes!"

Two pairs of disbelieving eyes shot to Lizzy’s face and both persons repeated an even more incredulous, "What?"

But Charles took her hand and headed to the dance floor where they proceeded to perform an energetic Lindy Hop.

Jane couldn’t help but blush and laugh at her assumption, but she’d never seen Lizzy swing dance. Darcy was heartily embarrassed at his strong reaction and preposterous misinterpretation of Charles’s invitation, but as proud as he was, he couldn’t help but share the chuckle with Jane.

He quickly became mesmerized by Lizzy’s dancing ability. Charles lifted and twisted her at a rapid pace which she easily matched. Her eyes sparkled and her smile gave a child-like spirit to a not-so-child-like body. She was playful and had impeccable rhythm. Darcy began to wonder if this matched her bedroom proclivities as well. He was aghast at his uncontrolled thoughts, but they haunted him through the evening as Lizzy became a favourite amongst the men on the dance floor.

Darcy would not allow himself to be charmed by a pretty (well, to be honest, gorgeous) woman, and continued to think of her as an opportunistic party-crasher. He could not, however, continue to think of her as vacuous, for he’d heard some of her thoughtful conversations as well as her biting comments to any man who deigned to condescendingly tease her. It had greatly amused him.

Darcy finally admitted to himself that he was being charmed and decided the best way to break the spell was to escape from where it was being cast. He ventured to the patio to take a few deep breaths, allowing the cool night air to soothe his fiery libido.

Unfortunately for him, a certain lady followed.

Caroline Bingley had been persistent in her attentions to Darcy since returning from design school in Paris. Three months ago, he’d been briefly enamoured, thinking she’d changed from the nasty, catty Caroline of the past, but he quickly realized it had all been a ploy. He ended the relationship. She did not.

So there they stood, Darcy avoiding a kiss on his lips only to have an obvious red mark on his cheek. He politely argued with the diva and regretted not being able to tell her off as he’d like to…but she was Charles’s sister.

Lizzy noticed them as she stood in the open doorway and couldn’t help but eavesdrop. Though Darcy had not impressed her, she sympathized with him in this situation. That alone would not induce her to act; but perhaps if she saved him from an evening of misery, he may look more kindly on her and Jane.

With a resolve that surprised her, she confidently marched towards the couple.

"My own Sweet William, there you are! I’ve been looking all over for you," she said wrapping her arms around his torso.

Thankfully, Darcy was a quick study and eased his arm around her shoulder in return. Lizzy continued lest he didn’t completely catch her drift.

"You know, a girlfriend could get jealous when her man is out here alone with a lipstick smudge and a woman by his side; fortunately, I trust you implicitly." She paused. "Are you going to introduce me?"

When she looked into Darcy’s eyes, he saw her devilish gleam and swore he’d never been so thankful or bewitched in his life.

"Of course Elizabeth," he began, returning her smile. "This is Caroline, Charles’s sister."

"Oh, then I won’t be jealous. Who would be so silly as to hit on her brother’s best friend? It could get messy," Lizzy said, hitting the bull’s eye.

"Indeed," Caroline sneered. "A pleasure, I’m sure, Elizabeth. How long have you too been dating?"

"A couple of weeks," he spoke before Lizzy could be caught in the lie.

"But it was love at first sight," Lizzy said, snuggling into Darcy’s solid chest only to find herself thrilled by his woodsy scent and rock hard torso. She bit her lip, trying not to entangle phony emotions with real ones.

"Sweetie, we haven’t danced all night. I think it’s time we went back in," she said moving away slightly to clear her mind of certain randy thoughts.

"Whatever you wish, my love," he said, taking her hand and bidding adieu to the oh-so-Parisienne Caroline.

As they walked away, Lizzy stretched up to reach Darcy’s ear and whispered, "Do you think she bought it?"

"I don’t know," he murmured back boldly, "but I know what would convince her…"

Darcy turned to face the eyes of a lady who perfectly comprehended his meaning.

He had only intended the kiss to be tender and light; endearing but intimate. However, when his lips touched hers, he immediately tasted her sweetness and exhilarated in her tenderness. He deepened it just a touch and upon feeling the increased pressure, Lizzy gently sucked his lower lip in response. They both lost it. Whatever distrust they had for each other was temporarily lost in the blissful headiness of a sexually charged kiss.

When they finally parted, almost a minute later, Lizzy was stroking Darcy’s cheek with one hand while the other was immersed in his thick, pitch-black curls. Darcy had managed to enfold her tightly into his body, relishing her voluptuous curves pressed firmly against him.

They stood stunned at what they had unleashed. Finally, Lizzy cleared her throat, swallowed hard and whispered in a shaky voice, "Guess that probably convinced her."

Darcy slowly nodded in agreement, unable to release his gaze from her twinkling eyes. He’d deal with the consequences later. "Yes…I think… that…worked."

There was no need to see Caroline’s reaction. It was no doubt similar to theirs. As they turned to re-enter the house, Darcy instinctively captured her hand and they both caught the astonished faces of Charles and Jane.

Copyright held by Tracey - 2002