Chapter Six: Alone At Last
“Is this our first date?” Nikki asked when she joined JC on her sofa that night. The children had been bathed and put to bed. He had set the mood. The room was lit by only the Christmas tree lights. She had come down the stairs to see him uncork the champagne and pour two glasses.
He smiled and handed her a glass. “I guess it is.”
“I suck at first dates.”
“Our first non-group date then. We don’t have to do the awkward prelims.”
“Okay. What should we toast to?”
“Accidental meetings?”
She smiled and nodded. “To accidental meetings.” She took a sip and relaxed back against the cushion. “I’m sort of a light weight. This will go straight to my head.”
“I won’t take advantage of you,” he promised.
She giggled. “Oh, darn!”
JC put his arm around her, tucking her close.
“This feels good,” she signed, rubbing her cheek against his shoulder. “More than good. It feels wonderful.”
“What does, honey?”
“Being here with you like this. Quiet. Cozy. Intimate. Right.”
He nuzzled her ear. “I’m glad. It feels the same for me.”
“I can’t remember the last time I had ‘adult’ time that wasn’t working.”
“That’s too bad. We’ll have more,” he promised.
“Nice sentiment, JC, but how is that supposed to happen? I mean I don’t know your schedule or anything, but don’t you have some sort of tour coming up?”
“Yeah…”
“You don’t exactly have a career built for domesticity.”
“Nikki…”
She shook her head, almost embarrassed. “I am getting way ahead of myself here, aren’t I? You never asked for anything permanent, did you?”
“Stop it.” He took her chin in his hand to tip her face up to his. He saw tears glittering in her eyes. “Ahh, baby, don’t. I am not into playing house. I’m not playing at anything. I wouldn’t do that to you or the kids. Yeah, I am looking for more than just a holiday fling. I want to explore how far this can go, so don’t go thinking you’re just a momentary distraction. You aren’t.”
“I have two children,” she reminded him.
“Put them in the plus category, not the minus.”
Her eyes went wide. “Honestly?”
“Honestly. Yeah, we’ll have to make adjustments, but I’m more than willing. They are great kids.”
“I don’t now what to say.”
“That we can work on compromises so we can try to be together.”
“You’re sure?”
I am sure.”
She gave another little sigh. “I never in a million years expected anything like this.”
“Me neither.”
For a long moment, they merely sipped their champagne, enjoying the silence and each other’s presence.
“What are you doing for Christmas?” Nikki asked after a long while.
“I usually go see my folks or grandparents. It Depends.”
“You have family. That’s wonderful.”
JC smoothed back a stray lock of her hair. “This year I am seriously considering staying right here.”
“Why?”
“You need to ask?”
“For us? Oh, JC, don’t. We won’t be here.”
He frowned. “You won’t?” There went his Christmas. “Where will you be?”
“Virginia…The DC area. My father is with the Pentagon.” At his slow smile, she asked, “What?”
“My grandparents live in that area too. I grew up in Bowie, Maryland.”
“I grew up outside of Chicago. Chad’s mother is there. We switch off each year. This year it happens to be my parents turn to have Christmas.”
“This just keeps getting better. My parents live in Chicago.”
“So where are you heading?”
“Since I am not staying in LA to be with you, I guess I’ll do what Mom has been after me to do.”
”Go to Chicago?”
“No. Go to DC.” JC grinned. “Can we spend some time together, honey?”
“We stay at a hotel.”
“Let me take care of the hotel.”
”I’ve already made reservations.”
“Unmake them. I’ll get us a suite for four.”
“JC—“
“Separate bedrooms,” he promised. “We’re not there yet.”
“Where are we?”
“To the ‘I want to kiss you and learn your mouth’ stage – and maybe ‘let’s touch each other until we’re crazy’ stage.”
“Those are physical stages.”
“You want an emotional definition of where we are? I can only give you my side.”
“Okay.”
“I’m pretty sure I’m falling for you real fast. I can’t call it love yet, because we couldn’t trust something that quick. I know you are a special lady – and I think the kids are great. I know if we decide we love each other at some point, I’m a lucky guy.”
Nikki found that the silly girl part of her was disappointed that he’d made not declarations of undying love. The practical woman in her, however, knew he was right. It was too soon to call it love. “I felt connected almost from the start,” she confessed.
“Me, too.”
She set her glass down and turned towards him. “Did you say something about making good on your deposit, Mr. Chasez?”
JC put his glass down beside hers to free his hands. One arm went around her; the other lifted her chin. “It was only a tiny down payment,” he told her huskily.
“Pay me in full, JC,” she whispered.
“Are you sure?”
“Mmm…hmm…” She lifted her lips to his, stopping with a mere breath between them. “I want to taste every part of your mouth. I want you to make me breathless and light-headed. I want to melt into you, breathe you…”
With a groan, JC closed the space and took her mouth. He built the fire slowly. Sipping kisses turned into clinging lips. His tongue stroked and tangled with hers. Boldly her tongue invaded his mouth as her fingers lost themselves in his hair. She held him willing captive and he didn’t even want to resist. Then they were falling back onto the cushions. He pulled his mouth from hers to taste her skin, the hallow beneath her ear, the side of her neck, her throat.
Nikki wallowed in the sensations he was creating. She felt desirable. She felt vibrantly alive. She wanted more. More of him. More of everything she had been denied all this time! Her hands pushed under his sweater to discover his flat stomach. She felt the muscles quiver at her touch. His lean ribs…soft skin, hard muscle…
“Nikki…honey…” His hands wandered over the silky flesh over her back beneath her sweater. He found she had removed her bra since arriving home. Soon her was cupping her breasts, strumming her nipples with his thumbs. He wanted to taste her there as well…
Gasping, she arched against him. He was so hard, so sure, so male…
Stilling his hands suddenly, he dropped his head to her shoulder and took a deep, shuddering breath. “We have got to stop, baby. This could get out of hand way too easy.”
“I think it already has…” Nikki turned her face away. “I’m sorry for coming on like some love-starved widow.”
Raising his head, he took her chin to bring her eyes back to his. “Nikki, I wasn’t complaining. I just don’t want us to regret anything that happens between us. We both said we weren’t ready for this yet.”
Scooting from beneath him, she sat on the edge of the sofa, trying to find her legs. They were like jelly, refusing to stand. She couldn’t believe the way she had just behaved! She had practically begged him to take her right there on the sofa!
JC rubbed her back comfortingly. “Baby, come back here. We both got carried away. Don’t beat up on yourself. You’re a beautiful, desirable young woman with perfectly healthy, normal urges…”
“I was ready to rape you.”
“Can’t rape the willing, Nik.” His voice was laced with good humor. “Come here.” He pulled her down on top of him. “If I wasn’t looking for more with you, I would have gone with it. But I am looking for more. I’m not willing to compromise the future for what promised to be one helluva good ride tonight.”
“How did you get so wonderful?” she asked, smiling at him bashfully under lowered lashes.
“Good genes. Great parents – and realizing a long term goal is worth a few short term sacrifices.”
“I’m a lucky girl.”
“I am one lucky dude.”
With a sigh, she laid her head on his chest. “It feels good just to be held, to be close.”
“Yeah, it does.”
“I should get you a pillow and blanket and let you get some sleep.”
“In a bit. Just let me hold you a while.” They said nothing for a long moment. “Nik?” JC ventured.
She didn’t answer. She had fallen asleep in his arms. Briefly he wondered how long her day had been. She’d been up with Dylan and Kimmy probably long before he had gotten out of bed. And she had stayed up to be with him. It made him feel good to know she felt she could relax her guard and sleep in his arms.
They had a lot to discuss about Christmas, but it could wait. Daylight would be upon them soon enough.
Nikki woke slowly, a little at a time. Not her bed…too hard…too lumpy…Too—JC! Opening her eyes, she found the sleeping man had been her pillow, her mattress and her blanket!
“’S’okay, Nik. Go back to sleep,” he mumbled when she tried to extract herself.
She studied him uninhibited by his return gaze. He was even breathtaking in sleep! Those sculpted lips. Those chiseled cheekbones. She smiled to herself. Nikki Martin waxing poetic about a man…that was pretty amusing. “JC, I have to get up,” she whispered in his ear, not resisting the urge to tug at the lobe with her teeth.
“Not now, honey,” he muttered. “I’ll take care of you later.”
Nikki burst out laughing. “You arrogant oaf!” She slapped his chest as she sat up.
JC woke at the sound of her laughter and the smack. “Wha?…”
“Mighty proud of what you tuck into those jeans, aren’t you, Chasez?”
He sat up, rubbing his eyes. “What’d I do?”
“Here I was all prepared for a little morning snuggle and you tell me ‘later’?” She was clearly amused. “News flash – you kinda talk in your sleep.”
“Kinda?”
“Let’s say you respond inappropriately.”
“Shit.”
Nikki rose. “I’m gonna put a pot of coffee on then take a shower.”
JC grabbed her hand. “Honey?”
“Remind me never to wake you with kisses and love bites.”
She was still smiling. Wasn’t that a good sign? What in the hell had he said? Getting to his feet, JC pulled her to him and kissed her thoroughly. When he lifted his mouth he murmured, “Better?”
“Mmm…much.” Her face was dreamy.
“I’ll leave and change and be back, okay?”
“You can stay – if you want.”
“You sure?”
“My two aren’t fashion police, JC. They won’t bust you for wearing the same outfit two days in a row. Why don’t you eat breakfast before you go?”
“I’d like that.”
Nikki gazed into his yes, letting him read the contentment in hers. “So would I.”