The next few weeks were filled with excitement and hard work. The boys finally got some work on the new album. It took quite a bit of effort to bring them back together; they had been enjoying themselves so much that they had almost forgotten why they were here in the first place.
They had to sober up AJ from too much clubbing on the mainland, pry Brian from Leighanne's grip, make Nick turn off the video games, disconnect Howie from Lynn and drag Kevin from his and Athena's bed. But once they did, all of the creative juices flowed and produced some great songs. The tracks they laid down were very impressive to everyone who heard them, including the girls.
If there had been tension in the beginning, it was gone now, except for Leighanne. She still had no goodwill towards Athena, but by now, no one cared. Even Brian was sick of hearing about it and told his wife to shut her mouth or go home! She was so disgusted that she packer her bags and did just that! Brian knew there would be hell to pay when he got home, but for now he was having too much fun. It was one of those fun-filled days that the most excitement happened!
All five of the boys were playing basketball against the guys from the studio crew. When the game became tied, Nick went up to make the winning basket. As the ball went into the hoop, he hung on the rim in victory. Suddenly, the rim gave way and Nick fell onto the pavement, breaking his leg in two places! Nick's summer of fun was over! No more getting wet for him! Nick would have much preferred amputation as to having to refrain from water sports and water of any kind for the rest of the summer. Be that as it may, he was stuck!
And stuck he was, poor Nick! Everyone around him was enjoying their last days on the island. All but Nick, that is! He spent most of his time moping and feeling sorry for himself. Hobbling around on crutches was not his idea of fun. Not to mention all the razzing he was getting from everyone. He swore if he heard "Air Carter", hop-along or crip one more time, he was sure he'd kill someone!
It was during this time that Nick and Athena's friendship began to blossom and Kevin lost his tight grip on Athena. It started the day that everyone went scuba diving, which frightened Athena to death. She wasn't afraid of the water, but there was just something about being submerged under water for long periods of time that just didn't settle well with her.
Kevin tried all morning to persuade her, but to no avail! She refused to even go and watch, so that left her alone at home with his royal grumpiness, Nick. At first Athena kept to herself, but after awhile, that became boring, so she ventured down to see what was happening in the game room. Nick sat on the floor with his leg propped up on pillows cursing at the TV screen.
" This stupid piece of junk! I can't wait to get off this God-forsaken island so I can play a decent game, one that actually works the way it's supposed to!" Nick said as he threw the controller across the room. Athena stood in the doorway; almost afraid to walk into the room for fear that he might throw the other one in her direction. She coughed, " Is it safe to come in?"
Nick growled in her direction, his eyes never leaving the TV screen. Athena walked over to the closest chair and sat down.
" So, what are you playing?"
Nick rolled his eyes, " Oh some stupid game that Brian picked up for me on the mainland. Crash-something, it's some dumb-ass wolf guy running around the woods like an idiot! I don't know what it is; it's just stupid!
Athena's eyes lit up immediately. " Crash? Crash Bandicoot, is that it? And he is a dog, not a wolf!"
Nick looked over at Athena in total shock! " Yeah!" He said with a raised eyebrow. " You know this game?"
Athena smiled, " Know it? I'm awesome at this game! I've beat it twice. My guess is that the mice in the pit are kicking your ass, aren't they?" Athena gave Nick a very self-assured grin, feeling quite proud of herself!
Nick lowered his shoulders and sighed, " So how is it girlie, that you know so much about this video game?"
Athena smiled as she gathered up the controller and hit the reset button.
" I must admit that I am a closet Playstation junkie"
Nick laughed for the first time in the two weeks since he broke his leg.
" Well, Miss Thing, show me how to kill the mice!"
The rest of the afternoon was spent playing video games and laughing.
It was well into the evening before the others returned home from their day of scuba diving.
When AJ, Brian and Howie entered the house to the roars of laughter and competition coming from the game room, they were floored. Could that be Nick and Athena having so much fun?
Kevin was anxious to get to bed that night. He was so tired and sunburned and was no way in the mood for any nonsense. But as he walked through the doorway and watched his lady sitting on the floor playing video games with Nick and having fun without him, he was hurt and his old, overbearing self took over.
" Athena, honey, what are you doing?" Kevin said in the nicest voice he could muster. She looked up and noticed the look on his face and knew Kevin was not pleased.
" I am whipping this little boy's ass at this game!" She smiled happily up at him, hoping to see a smile in return, but Kevin remained stonefaced and grunted a reply.
" Are you about through? I would like to go to bed, now!" Athena knew the hidden implication in what Kevin had just said, but she was having too much fun to him in to him this time.
" You go on up and I will be there as soon as I whip the pants off him. I've almost got him beat!"
Again she smiled up at him hoping he would be nice and understanding, but Kevin was in no mood for this and wanted his toy back and he was not referring to the video game!
" Athena, I said, I wanted to go to bed! Are you coming?" His tone was low and strong and she knew that the words he had just spoken were a demand and not a question.
Athena smiled at Nick and handed over the controller. " Okay, Nicky boy, you win this time, but next time you won't get off so easily!"
Kevin turned and headed up the stairs when Athena handed the controller over to Nick.
As he ascended the stairs he mumbled, " Yeah, well, there won't be a next time!"
Nick grabbed Athena's hand as she was turning to go, " Wait, you don't have to go just because the old man said so!"
Athena smiled, " Yes I do."
She walked away without another word.
Nick lay awake in his bed replaying the events of the day. He never knew Athena was so much fun. She was so damn good at that game! What in God's name did she see in someone as anal as Kevin? The room next door was silent and he wondered if they had fought. He wanted to protect her and he was angry with Kevin for talking to her that way. Why did he even care Nick asked himself. He had no feelings for her; or did he? He shook his head and rolled over on his side, praying sleep would soon find him. But instead his mind was filled more thoughts of Athena.
Athena was awake as well, her mind racing. Why had Kevin been so gruff earlier? She thought back to the events that had transpired once they reached their room. Athena had almost feared what would happen once they were behind closed doors. But much to her surprise, he was not mean, but just the opposite, very passionate, tender and loving.
He placed his hands on each side of her face as he backed her up against the door.
" I love you," He whispered as he planted kisses down her neck. He fell to his knees in front of her as she looked down into his eyes to see the love she knew had always been there.
Without a word, he started to unbutton her blouse. The feel of his hands on her body made her shiver. She bit her lip and let her eyes roll back in her head. She moaned as he ran his thumbs lightly over her satin covered nipples, then sliding one hand behind her back, he unfastened her bra and let it fall to the floor.
Athena let her fingers run through his soft dark hair while pulling him up to her.
" Baby, I love you," He mumbled against her skin. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Oh God, she loved him too. With a slight tone of grief in her voice, she once again gave herself over to him.
" I love you too, Kevin."
Every time they made love he took her to a higher plane. She had never known a man who had the power to make her feel this way time after time. As with every aspect of his life, he also made love with fire and perfection!
As she lay awake watching Kevin sleep, something inside of her changed that night. She had never given in to Kevin that way before or had she always given in to him? This trip had started out so marvelously; they had never seemed so close before now. All those times that they had to sneak around having to hide from the press and the fans, so his wife would not find out. Or management too, for that matter. But, now that they were in a place where no one cared, things seemed to be coming apart. She thought about how much she had enjoyed Nick's company, he wasn't such a bad kid after all. She laughed to herself, kid hell, he was only two years younger the she, so she guessed he wasn't so much of a kid at all. Laughing and playing those video games with him had been the first time she had actually felt like a kid herself in so long. For as far back as she could remember she had always had to work. She had worked in her parent's restaurant since she was old enough to peer over the counter. All through school and even through college she was there, working along side her parents, trying to make a go of it. Kevin would have been more than happy to take care of her financially, but to keep in the good graces of her Sicilian father, she continued working in the family business. Her father chose not to think about her relationship with Kevin; Athena was his only child and he lover her, but being the devout Catholic that he was, everything about that relationship was wrong! But as wrong as it was, she was his baby, his bambina, his only child and she was perfect in his eyes.
This entire trip was wearing on Athena's psyche. Was she just Kevin's plaything? Did he truly love her? Was she using him? Would her parents ever embrace her love for a man that belonged to another woman? Or could everyone else be right and this was a no-win situation? And what about Nick was she beginning to have feelings for him as well?
Athena wasn't sure of anything anymore. She lay her head on the pillow and closed her eyes and let exhaustion take her over and she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 8
As much as the islanders didn't want their days in the sun to come to a close, all good things must end. Tomorrow they would go their separate ways until the album's release. It would be at least three months until the boys saw each other as a group again.
A cookout was planned for the last night on the island. The music blared as the smoke from the grill filled the air and the party people gathered around the pool. All five of the boys and the three remaining women were all in attendance, as well as the crew from the studio.
Brian manned the grill with style and flair. No one knew what a good cook he had become since his marriage and the girls joked that maybe Leighanne wasn't feeding him good enough, so he had to learn to cook or starve! Nick was in charge of the music. At first, he was almost destined to become fish food because of the music he was playing, but after some persuading from Kevin and AJ, he gave in and started to play something that had a beat to it instead of ear-wrenching heavy metal. The ladies were pleased with the change and soon all were up and dancing.
Shortly into the first song, Athena caught a glimpse of Nick pouting in the corner behind the sound system.
Athena had tried to keep her distance from Nick after their night of playing video games on the game room floor, but after three days of silence, Nick cornered her in the kitchen and gave her the third degree. Once she explained that everything was fine and that they did not exchange even one cross word, Nick let it go. Or at least that is what Athena thought, but deep inside it killed Nick to watch Kevin touch her. He knew in his heart that Kevin was using her in one way or another and no matter what she said, he knew she would be the one to get hurt in the end. It was at this time Nick vowed to himself that if he couldn't stop her from loving Kevin, then he would be there to catch her when she fell. But tonight, watching Athena bump and grind against Kevin, was taking it toll on him. Christina Aguilera's song, Genie in A Bottle, was one of the songs Kevin told Nick to play or he would be one of the survivors kicked off the island! Kevin loved to watch Athena dance to this song, she was so sexual and it was the one thing he talked about the most to the guys prior to this evening.
Nick knew in his heart that he would have trouble watching this transpire in front of his eyes.
As the music flowed from the speakers and the sound hit Athena's ears, she squealed, " Oh, I love this song!" Nick hobbled over to help Brian with the food, but as hard as he tried, it was to no avail, he couldn't keep from watching her move her body. She rocked with the rhythm of the music. With her hands in the air she swayed her hips back and forth and up against Kevin's body. Every time the chorus played,"I'm a genie in a bottle, you got to rub me the right way," she would grind her ass against Kevin's crotch. It nearly took Kev's breath away every time she touched him. But Kevin was not the only one enjoying Athena's little display, every man in attendance couldn't take his eyes off her as the song played on and on and on.
When the song ended, Kevin grabbed Athena by the hand and drug her into the house. Nick and the others knew exactly where they were going. Athena laughed as he picked her up and carried her up the stairs. Once inside their room, he threw her on the bed and started ripping his clothes off as fast as he could. Before Athena knew what was happening, he was naked and inside of her. She closed her eyes as the pain of his entry eased into pleasure.
" Amore Mio amore Mio! {My love, my love}", she whispered in his ear and Kevin slowed his pace, raising his eyes to hers. He felt ashamed of his impatience. She kissed him softly, " I love you, Kevin. Please tell me you love me, too."
Kevin smiled, " Yes, baby, I love you, too."
Athena smiled as she grabbed his ass. " Then, don't stop!"
Kevin just chuckled as they continued their journey to ecstasy.
Kevin lay in bed watching Athena at the dressing table brushing her long dark hair.
" You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!" he said as Athena looked over her shoulder, smiling at him.
"Oh Kevin, you are nuts!"
He sat up. " Come here, you." He said, beckoning her to his side. She walked to him, standing naked in front of him. She started to feel self-conscious as he took her hands and pulled them away from her body so he could look at her. " You are so beautiful. You are the most precious thing in my life and I don't want this night to end."
Athena dropped her head to hide the sadness on her face. Kevin lifted her chin with a gentle finger so they could see eye to eye. " Don't be sad, baby, it won't be long until we see each other again."
Athena's words came out of her mouth before she could stop them. " When Kevin, when? I can't bear the thought of going back home and not having you in my bed every night. When can we be together forever?"
As soon as she got the words out, she wanted to take them back. She and Kevin had never spoken of forever nor had they ever talked about him divorcing his wife. What they had was different than his marriage, there were no demands and that was what he loved about it the most. Yeah, Kevin had to admit he thought about divorcing Kristen at least ten times a day, maybe twenty when Athena was around; but he knew she would make his life a living hell if he even mentioned it! Kristen had dirt on every single member of the group and she would be more than happy to spill it right before the new album was about to hit the shelves. Kevin couldn't risk that, so he dropped Athena's hands and quickly changed the subject.
" Come on baby, get dressed. I'm sure the food is probably read by now." He pulled his shorts over his hips and grabbed his T-shirt and headed out the door.
Athena plopped down hard on the bench in front of the dressing table, looking at herself in the mirror.
"Lei l'idiota{you idiot}!" Shaking her head, " English, Athena, English!" She stared at her reflection, "Why did you have to say something so stupid?" She ran her hand through her hair," Well, so much for happily ever after!" Athena dressed in silence and headed back downstairs to join the others.
Story Used with Permission
Copyright © 2001-2002
All Rights Reserved
No part of this text may be copied or reprinted
without the author's permission.
The next few weeks were filled with excitement and hard work. The boys finally got some work on the new album. It took quite a bit of effort to bring them back together; they had been enjoying themselves so much that they had almost forgotten why they were here in the first place.