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Fic: Every Time I Breathe I Take You In

Fandom: Nikita

Pairing: Ari Tasarov x Nikita Mears (Nikari)

Rating: R

Spoilers: Season 2 AU where Ari betrays Amanda and works with Nikita and her team. He has been with them for several months at the starting point in this story. For the purposes of this universe, Nikita and Michael have remained friends but have never been a couple.

Summary: Nikita decides to go for a midnight swim to clear her head. She isn’t expecting company, but Ari has been proving a man of surprises as of late.

Author's note: When it comes to my OTPs, fluff generally starts to become a priority. This is just one of many Nikari pieces to drift in that direction.

On AO3

Every Time I Breathe I Take You In

There were remarkably few places to be alone with one’s thoughts in an estate the size of the one Nikita Mears currently occupied with her team.

Things had been especially hectic as of late, leaving the former Division operative in a state of frazzled nerves more often than not, so she had taken to late night swims to clear her head.

While the indoor, heated pool that adjoined the property was a popular destination during the day, it was quiet and isolated past midnight. This led to it being a perfect spot for mulling over feelings and contemplations, which seemed to circulate especially around a certain individual.

For the past several months, Ari Tasarov had become an unexpected ally – betraying his organization, his ex-girlfriend, and much of what Nikita had assumed that he stood for. She knew all too well how difficult the transition could be once such a decision had been made and had not hesitated to offer him sanctuary in return.

The truth was: she’d anticipated him turning the deal down, but then he’d surprised her and everyone else by accepting and coming to live on the grounds.

This alone was an adjustment that had taken time to accept – less so on Nikita’s part and more on everyone else’s – but as it turned out, having Ari around resulted in no shortage of benefits.

For one thing, the man was an excellent cook. She’d asked him one time where he’d picked up the skill and his sole response had been a mysterious, alluring smile.

Which brought up an additional benefit, at least where she was concerned: plenty of one-on-one interaction in order to sus out what her feelings for him happened to be.

From the instant that they had met, there had been a spark of attraction between the pair. The burgeoning affection had only increased on Nikita’s end after Ari had rescued her from certain death.

There had also been that incredibly heated make-out session between them in an elevator prior to the aforementioned heroics, but at the time she’d thought that it might have been because he’d been aware of her potential fate.

Nikita sighed softly, floating lazily on her back as the moment replayed over in her mind now that it was at the forefront. She could easily imagine the solid heat of his body as it pressed against hers, his soft mouth seeking her own over and over, and those talented hands threading into her hair to keep her close.

A bloom of heat erupted right below her stomach at the memory. That was another thing she hadn’t expected him to be quite so good at.

With a frustrated sound, she sank under the chlorinated water, holding her breath for as long as she was able and attempting to empty her head of the sensual picture.

She broke the surface once she needed air, slicking her hair back from her face and carefully opening her eyes when she had swept the remaining drops of moisture away so it wouldn’t sting.

Her vision went blurry momentarily before clearing, and her heart skipped several beats when she witnessed the man she had just been thinking of enter the room.

“I thought I might find you in here,” Ari’s deep, resonant voice belied amusement. He was dressed in a thin, pale blue button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled up and collar unbuttoned just enough to reveal a triangle of the toned chest that lay beneath. This was paired with black pants that were also rolled up along his calves. His feet were bare, and he carried a pair of large, fluffy towels, so he had clearly anticipated what she would be doing.

“Who tipped you off?” she swam to the edge of the pool and rested her arms on the mosaiced tile that framed it. “Was it the nerd?”

He snickered quietly at her nickname for Birkoff. “Actually, it was Alex.”

“Really?” Both of her eyebrows shot up. “I thought it would at least be another month before she began speaking to you.”

He set the towels down on a chaise nearby and then picked a dry spot close to her where he sat and dangled his feet in the water. “It wouldn’t have surprised me if it had taken a year. I can’t say I blame her either, after…” a disappointed frown marred his angular, handsome features. “Well. After.”

Instinctively, she slid closer. “You can’t dwell, Ari. You have to look forward.”

The corners of his mouth turned up briefly. “That’s easier said than done.”

“Trust me,” she reached up and grasped his wrist, her grip firm but not unkind. “I know.”

Eyes of brilliant, cobalt blue caught hers, the sincerity in them making her pulse thrum. “It helps having you around, Nikita. You’re the one person here who doesn’t judge me outright.”

She swallowed, pleasant butterflies fluttering around in her stomach. “Just give them time.”

“I am.” His hand crossed over her own, squeezing in reassurance. “Besides, what they think isn’t what matters.” His gaze never left hers, the hidden meaning in his tone becoming clearer by the second.

A substantial part of her wished to kiss him, so she could recall exactly what it was about his taste and touch that drove her so wild. The more logical side didn’t want to startle him by being too aggressive.

“Could you…move over a bit?” she inquired.

He arched a brow curiously but did as she requested.

She swam over to the ladder that was closest so she could exit the pool, aware of him watching her as she grabbed a towel and then rubbed down some of the moisture from her one-piece bathing suit.

After drying off slightly, she moved to sit beside him and dunk her feet back into the water. “There’s something that I’ve been meaning to talk to you about, but it’s taken me a while to come to terms with it.”

Ari exhaled, though his face betrayed little emotion. “It’s all right. I think I know what you’re going to say.”

“And what’s that?”

He kicked up a tiny splash. “You don’t feel the same way that I do.”

She paused, thinking over how best to communicate to him that he was completely wrong about that.

She settled on tenderly placing one hand on his cheek and turning his face towards hers.

“Ari, ever since that night and that moment we shared in the elevator – it made me realize just how much of my life isn’t real. It’s all theater and play pretend. But you? You’re real. What you make me feel is real. And I can’t risk losing that.”

He reached out then, framing her face between his hands and whispering with conviction: “You won’t lose me, Nikita. But I won’t be some sort of consolation prize. I know that’s what Amanda really wanted: not my love, but my influence.”

“That isn’t what I want. I want you. I want you so badly that it terrifies me.”

Whether it was his doing or hers, it was hard to say, but in the next second she was in his arms.

The ardent kiss that was shared threw them off balance enough to tumble into the pool.

She grasped at his collar while underwater, breaking from the embrace and kicking to propel them back to the surface.

They emerged, sputtering and coughing.

“That probably wasn’t the smartest idea,” Ari gasped.

“Probably not,” she managed, laughing quietly, only for it to die once she got a better look at her companion.

There had been an unintentional perk to their impetuousness in that his shirt was now soaked through and clinging to his slim yet well-built torso.

She allowed herself to stare at her leisure, and thanks to how transparent the fabric was, there was little left to the imagination.

Her eyes traveled slowly along the breadth of his shoulders and then headed down, appreciating a broad chest and tapered waist.

As he ran his fingers through his now damp hair, she got a clear view of a toned bicep, and when he finally met her eyes again, the look that crossed his face was adorably befuddled. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m not allowed to stare at a handsome man?”

“You find me handsome?” he quipped, crossing what little distance was left between them and snaking his arms around her waist beneath the water.

“Ari, I just told you that I wanted you so badly that it terrified me,” she rolled her eyes but circled her arms around his neck. “I figured it was a given.”

“Desire can work in mysterious ways,” he touched their foreheads together. “And admittedly, I’m out of practice when it comes to being the one who’s being lusted after.”

“Let’s go about fixing that,” she mumbled, brushing her lips tenderly over his and reaching for the buttons on his shirt. “Starting with getting you out of these wet clothes.”

His hands moved up to still hers before they got too far. “Wait.”

“Don’t tell me you’re ticklish.”

“A little, but that’s not why I stopped you,” he confessed. “I want this to be special, not some wild fumble in a swimming pool.”

“It wouldn’t be a wild fumble –

He cut her off before she could protest further by placing his fingers gently over her mouth. “Yes it would. I can do much better than that. Follow me,” he twined their hands together and escorted her out of the pool.

Nikita’s curiosity grew as Ari guided her through the labyrinthian maze of tunnels that ran under the house. They had stopped only for a moment to gather some blankets, and while she wasn’t minding the lovely view that she had of his elegant frame in still drenched clothing, she had to wonder just what he had planned.

“You’re not cold?” she queried, noting that visibly: he was unaffected by the chill in the air.

She, however, had cocooned herself in one of the blankets to keep from shivering.

“No, but then I do hail from a country known for harsh winters,” he cast a glance back at her. “Don’t worry. It’s not much further.”

“Ari, I didn’t even know these tunnels were here.”

“I’m not surprised, they’re well-hidden for a reason. Judging by the architecture and our location, it’s likely that they were built back during the American Revolution.”

Her brows arched at the guess. “When did you become an expert on both American History and architecture?”

“I needed a hobby,” he shrugged.

She gave him a look.

He drew to a halt and elaborated. “I’ve been looking into building an underground safe house for a while. The research led me into some unexpected areas.”

“You were looking into building a safe house? Even though you’ve been staying with us?”

Ari turned; his expression was serious, making her breath catch. “I sensed that I may no longer be welcome before too long.”

She sprang forward, shaking her head. “No. No, I’m sure the others will –

“Let’s not kid ourselves, Nikita. I’m an outsider and I always will be. If all that’s gained from this is a chance to rebuild my life and a night with you, so be it.”

“No.” She stamped her foot, which probably didn’t look too imposing in a flip-flop, but she didn’t care. “Ari your home is here…with me.”

“I want that more than anything,” he stepped forward, taking the chance to run his fingers through the damp strands of her hair. “I love you. But it doesn’t change the fa –

She interrupted him with a fervent kiss, looping her arms around his neck and pouring every ounce of emotion into the embrace, hoping it would get her point across better than words could.

He kissed her back just as ardently, which told her that the message was received loud and clear.

He pulled away first, nuzzling at her nose. “You stopped listening after I said that I loved you, didn’t you?”

“Completely. Now can we please get to wherever we’re going? Because I’m ten seconds away from tearing your clothes off and having you against a wall.”

“As fun as that sounds,” he abruptly scooped her up and began carrying her the rest of the way, smirking when she let out a squeak in surprise. “You’re going to have to wait just a little longer. I promise it’ll be worth it.”

“Better be,” she murmured, snuggling close.

Eventually, they came upon a door, and Ari instructed Nikita to close her eyes for the short remainder of their journey.

Though she was practically buzzing with anticipation, she humored him by doing so.

She felt him set her down on a plush surface, and then heard him rummaging around before she flinched when the area was flooded with enough bright light to make spots appear against her eyelids. “Okay…what’s going on?”

“You can open your eyes now.”

Carefully, she did, only for them to widen once she could see clearly.

They were in an atrium, surrounded by glass walls that shimmered when the overhead lamps reflected upon them. She was seated on a comfortable bed, and there was a wild array of plants and flowers stretching out across the ground. She could pick out roses, jasmine, and several types of wildflowers, along with plenty of herbs, vegetables, and fruit. “Ari, what is this?”

“It’s home. Well, it will be, once I convert the rest of it,” he walked over to her side, a wide, beaming smile gracing his striking features. “I’ll have to take out most of the glass on the west side for privacy, but I planted all of this first.”

“So you just found this place?” she looked at him quizzically.

“Actually, I bought it.” He confirmed, reaching out one hand so she could stand at his side, observing his handiwork.

“You were serious about putting down roots then; I guess I just didn’t expect that to be literal. I also didn’t peg you for having such a green thumb.”

“It’s something I indulged in where I could over the years,” he moved behind her and circled his arms around her waist.

Sighing, she leaned back. “It’s beautiful in here. How far are we from headquarters?”

His breath ruffled her hair. “About thirty minutes. I never intended to stray too far.”

“Good.” She twisted to face him, pressing her palms over his heart. “It can be our private get-away.”

He dipped his head, his lips grazing hers tantalizingly. “I’m hoping, someday, that it can be more than that. Home wouldn’t be complete without you by my side.”

Her heart cartwheeled happily at his words, and she nudged his nose playfully with her own. “That sounds absolutely wonderful, but first, I need a promise from you.”

“What kind of promise?”

“Let me prove to you how much I love you,” she toyed with the top button on his shirt before popping it open. “No more hesitation.”

He chuckled from low in his throat, pulling her in further and slipping the blanket still around her shoulders onto the bed behind them. “No more hesitation…no more doubts. I promise.”

Elated, she caught his mouth in a passion-infused kiss, effectively shifting the mood towards more pleasant pursuits.

Now that there was nothing further to distract either of them, they took their time.

Skilled hands eased Nikita out of her swim wear, while she focused on getting Ari out of his mostly dry clothing, smiling when he tugged his arms free of the shirt and she could take a moment to appreciate the alluring picture in front of her before continuing until it was skin against skin.

Her breath hitched when he stepped closer, her fingers skimming over the sculpted muscle of his arms and chest as he stole another kiss and guided her onto the bed.

He settled comfortably against her, causing her to moan quietly and revel in the velvet texture of his skin. She then hooked one leg around his and turned the tides so he would be the one under her instead.

She smirked at the stunned expression on her lover’s face when she straddled his hips and dragged her nails through the hair that dusted his chest. “Now, stay still.”

“Easier said than done,” he hissed as she ducked her head and purposely nipped at his throat, her tongue laving at his Adam’s Apple briefly before drifting lower.

Her hands moved up to pin his against the blankets while she continued in her quest. She recalled his earlier comment about not being used to the one being the object of desire, and she was determined to worship every inch of him until her point was made.

With each kiss and touch, she could sense his resolve crumbling and made mental notes of where he happened to be the most sensitive.

It was when he uttered several curses in his native tongue that she was certain she had him exactly where she wanted him, and not long after: she succeeded in her task of driving him over the edge.

With a satisfied grin, Nikita crawled back up the length of his body, darting firefly kisses along the path she made.

His chest heaved with each breath that he took, painting a very sensual image that she pocketed away in her mind before she rested her head on the pillow next to his and slung an arm over his torso.

“Penny for your thoughts?” she inquired, sweeping an errant strand of tousled hair away from his eyes. He had been growing it out recently, and she rather liked the way it accentuated his face.

“I think you might have chased any coherent ones away,” he looked over at her, an ocean of blue glittering with amusement. “Typically, there’s a bit of patience where seduction is concerned.”

“Patience was never one of my virtues.”

“Clearly.” His already deep tone was laced with enough gravel to prompt a pleased shiver to run along her spine.

Instinctually, she curled into his embrace. “I feel like there’s going to be some subtle payback.”

“Nothing will be subtle about it, darling,” he shook his head, mischief glinting in his gaze right before he swiftly trapped her between his body and the mattress. “Or quick, for that matter.”

“Oh really? I bet I can take anything you dish out,” she challenged.

“We’ll have to see about that,” he arced one brow in response, and then his mouth descended on hers.

They reclined further into the nest of blankets, Nikita gasping when Ari’s lips strayed to travel, feather-light, along her neck.

She was quickly consumed by sensation, heat blossoming at her center while he gradually explored, leaving no area of her body uncharted in an effort to prove good on his earlier words.

She inhaled shakily as he did so, unexpected feelings surfacing at his actions. Previous experiences had always been on the brief side, with a fair amount of clothing left on. She had made it a point not to expose herself entirely in order to shield her heart from disappointment, and yet, with him, she was willing to risk it all because of how strongly she cared.

A startled sound escaped when he paid special attention to her breasts, her hands moving up to card through his hair and keep him steady. At the same time, a practiced hand stroked up the curve of her hip before finally darting between her legs.

Eventually, she let go as he reduced her to a trembling mess, collapsing back against the pillows, sated.

It took her a bit to regain enough composure to open her eyes, only to find him staring at her with a self-satisfied expression that she immediately wished to wipe from his face.

“To be fair: you were the one who started this,” his shoulders shook with mirth thanks to the look she directed at him.

She lunged forward with a growl, sending him toppling back onto the mattress, cutting off the genuine laughter that emerged with a wild embrace that gradually turned romantic the longer that it went on.

He turned to bear her beneath him again, limbs entwining naturally as they became fully lost in each other.

She locked her legs around his waist, arching her hips in an invitation that he willingly took – joining them with a quick thrust before they began to move in time.

They rapidly gained symmetry, unable to stop kissing or touching in some way as their union wore on, until, at last: they fell, one in every aspect.

By the arrival of morning, Nikita has lost track of just how times she and Ari had made love. All she knew was that she was going to be pleasantly numb for a good few hours still, and pondered how he even had the energy to get up and make them breakfast.

She sunk, happily, into the soft covers of their bed and watched him wander around in the small kitchen nearby. He had a blanket wrapped around his waist instead of bothering with clothes, which allowed her plenty of his lean, perfectly muscled frame to ogle over while she waited.

He seemed well-aware of her admiration and looked back over his shoulder. “I am not working with an open flame while completely naked, sorry to disappoint you.”

“You didn’t have to make pancakes.”

“I know, but I seem to recall you describing these as orgasmic so I thought I’d put my skill to the test in a different way.”

Giggling, she sat up, gathering the bedsheets around her in a make-shift dress so she could rise and assist him. “You have any blueberries around here?”

“I knew I was forgetting something,” he shut down the stove temporarily and walked over to take her hand, escorting her over to a row of various berry plants. “We also have strawberries.”

“I’ll take a bit of each.” She knelt down and began collecting one kind, while he went to grab the other.

With handfuls of fruit, they made their way back to the kitchen and fell into a routine of cooking, talking quietly and basking in one another’s company.

A short time later found them back on the bed with a tray of food that they could share.

Nikita chewed on a slice of strawberry with a smile, observing Ari while he topped the pancakes with some butter and syrup. “Careful, we don’t want to make more of a mess than we already have.”

He laughed softly and began cutting into the breakfast. “It will probably drip onto us rather than the bedding, but that just gives me an excuse to take a long hot shower with you later.” He leaned across to kiss her sweetly and then offered her the first bite. “I’ll let you be the judge of how well these turned out.”

Her grin spread before she enthusiastically dug in.

He watched her fondly, resting his chin against his hand. “How are they?”

“Fantastic,” she mumbled, mouth still full. She took a sip of the tea he’d made for her to wash the remnants down. “The blueberries were the right call.”

His way of thanks was a gentle kiss to her shoulder before he began to eat as well.

It was silent as they finished their meal, and Nikita took the opportunity to fully appreciate how handsome Ari could be even during the simplest of moments.

Love bubbled up within her, and when he briefly left in order to put their dishes away, she stretched out lazily along the covers. “I think I might just take a well-earned nap. You’re welcome to join me.”

“Sounds perfect,” he didn’t waste a second in taking her up on the invite, and the next few minutes were spent getting comfortable under the blankets again.

She cuddled close, pillowing her head on his chest and basking in his natural warmth. “You know…with a bit of paint and a feminine touch, this truly could be ours.”

“Ours, I like that,” his fingers danced over the slope of her shoulder. “Are you certain?”

“I am,” she peered up at him. “Let’s make this a home.”

The kiss he bestowed was evidence that he approved of her plan, and they settled in for a long rest, content and very much looking forward to their future.

The End