10,000 Kisses
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by: Suzanne
copyright: 1998-99
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10,000 Kisses Chapter 34

"Hey, baby," Kevin said leaning down and attempting to kiss Suzanne.

"Eww," she said holding her nose, "You stink, boy, don't kiss me!"

Kevin pouted at Suz with his glistening green eyes and a fake hurt look.

"Oh, don't give me that, you big baby," she said laughing.

Nick shook his head as he watched the two, "Oh god, can you be any more obvious?"

"Huh?" they both replied in unison.

Nick gestured towards Kevin who then looked down. Suz swept her eyes up and down Kevin.

"Oh, OH!" she said suddenly, "Why Kevin, you are certainly up and at'em today!"

"What?" he said glancing down at himself then doing a double take. Soon, he was blushing fiercely. Groaning, he sat down on the chair next to Suz.

Leaning over, she whispered into Kevin's ear, "I'm flattered, honey, very flattered. You might feel a little embarassed, but you don't know how good that makes me feel to see you like that."

Moving away, she softly caressed his face, "Now, go inside and get a shower because I have something to tell you."

Suz watched Kevin walk away then turned back to Nick, "Oh god, I don't know how much longer I can keep myself away from him."

"Then don't," Nick said grinning, "You know you want to!"

"Shut up!" she said playfully punching him. Getting up with a new found energy, she ran to the court to join the others.

"Hey, wait for me!" Nick said running after her.

~On the Court~

"I wanna play," Suz said running up to them.

"So do I!" Nick said following behind her.

"Copycat!" Suz shouted to Nick.

"Am not!" he yelled.

"Am too!" she said trying not to laugh.

"Am not!" Nick replied again.

"AM TOO!" Suz repeated slowly.

"Ok," Nick said agreeing with her.

The gang all looked at each other. Brian, Rachel, and Howie tried to stifle their laughter while Joe, Donnie, Chrissy and Val didn't even try to hide it. Meanwhile, Joy, Tracy, Jordan, Kat, and AJ looked the other way while Jon was with Aaron bouncing the basketball.

"Whoa, I think someone has a crush on Suzanne," Brian teased.

"I do not!" Nick yelled defensively, "I-I-I"

"He just cares very much about what happens to me," Suz offered as she tugged on Nick's hand.

"And only as a friend, guys," Nick continued, "She loves Kevin."

"You love Kevin?" Howie said surprised.

"Yes, I do...more then I ever imagined I could love someone," Suzanne said.

There was silence for a few moments.

"Have you told him?" Tracy finally said.

Suz shook her head yes.

"And I love her too," Kevin said coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her, "So, honey, what did you have to tell me."

"What did I have to tell you?" Suz said thinking hard, "Uh, I love you?"

"Stop teasing!" Kevin said kissing her neck.

"Stop doing that and I might never be able to tell you," Suz said.

"Why?" he replied.

"Because you are taking my breath away," she said giggling.

Everyone groaned.

"Ok, ok! Don't have a freakin hissy fit," Suz said glancing at Rachel.

"I'm staying in Florida after the summer is over," Suz said as she instantly felt Kevin's arms tightened around her. She soon felt his breath against her neck as he buried his head in her hair.

"You're what?" Chrissy said as she turned to Rachel, "Are you staying too?"

Slowly, Rachel nodded her head yes.

Instantly, tears began to fall down Chrissy's face. Without thinking, Joe wrapped his arms around her. By now, everyone had coupled off into their respective pairs.

"Chrissy," Suz said quietly, "You are welcome to stay her with us as long as you find a job."

Chrissy's head snapped up, "You're serious?"

"Yep!" Rachel interjected, "Now, lets go eat!"

Chapter 35 10,000 Kisses

~A few weeks later~

"Yo, Bone, did you get lost in there?" Suz yelled from next to her cuddled position with Kevin.

"Aw, shut up, Suz," AJ grumbled trying to sound mad.

"Well, I don't have much time, you know, I DO have to go to work tomorrow!" she continued, "UNLIKE some of us!"

Kevin giggled as he could picture the obvious expression probably evident on AJ's face.

"Hey, I'd like to see you learn a new freaking dance in 10 minutes," AJ yelled back.

"Yeah, we know, you're no rico sauve," Suz giggled.

"Jesus girl, you like to push his buttons, don't you?" Kevin said.

"Hey, what can I say? I love having guys as friends. I've never had that before," she said looking at Kevin.

He smiled, "So, tell me, how do you like working down here?"

"Well, I like it. It is different from up home. I deal with the public more which I guess is better in the long run," Suz said.

"Are you happy?" Kevin said trying to read her eyes.

"Yes, I'm happy, Kevin, very happy. I don't care what I do during the day just as long as I'm with you at night," she answered leaning in to lick his lips.

"Oh god, Suz," Kevin moaned.

"Kevin, I'm scared," she said suddenly sitting back on her heels.

"Scared...of what?" Kevin said pulling her closer to him, "Baby, tell me."

"Oh god, this is highly embarassing," Suz said looking down and playing with her fingers.

"Tell m.." Kevin started but was interrupted by Brian and Nick walking through the door.

"I'll be right back," Suz said quickly making her escape. She disappeared into the kitchen.

Kevin watched in bewilderment as she raced away from him.

~In the Kitchen~

"Oh god, I almost embarassed myself in front of him," she thought banging her head against the wall.

"Suz?" AJ said coming back into the kitchen from the pantry closet.

She looked up startled having totally forgotten that AJ was in there.

"Embarassed yourself in front of who?" he asked.

"Kevin," she mumbled incoherently.

"Huh?" AJ asked.

"I said KEVIN!" she repeated.

"Honey, nothing you could do would embarass you in front of him," AJ said taking her arm and leading her to a chair, "Now tell me what this is all about...if you want to."

Suz searched AJ's face wondering if she should or shouldn't.

"Uh, ok," she finally started, "Oh man, this is very embarassing."

"Suz, you can tell me anything," AJ said concerned.

"Well, you know that I haven't actually made love with Kevin, right?" Suz said.

"You haven't?" AJ said surprisingly.

"Nope, and there is a reason too," she said casting her eyes down.

"Suz," AJ said raising her chin, "Is everything ok with you? I thought you were doing well with Dr. May."

"Oh, I am but this has to do with something else."

She took a deep breath.

"Well, when I was at the gynocolegist's office weeks ago...Oh god...I can't believe I'm telling you this!"

"Suz, you're scaring me!" AJ said with a worried look.

She sighed then mumbled something.

"What?"

"I said," she continued, "that the exam hurt."

AJ's eyes widened, "She wasn't rough with you, was she? You did tell her that it was the first time you've been to a gyn?"

Suz giggled slightly imaging what someone would think if they heard AJ talking with Suz like this.

"Yes I did, but that wasn't it."

AJ gestured with his hands for her to continue.

"Ok, ok, she said that I was, uh, oh god, very tight!" Suz whispered, "you happy now?"

It took a moment for AJ to process what she said.

"Oh, now I see," he said as he thought.

"And you probably think I'm a fool," she said almost crying.

"No, I don't, Suz," he said lifting her head to meet his eyes.

"Do you see now why I haven't made move? I know Kevin is waiting for me to make a move, but I'm scared," she said.

"Hon, you have nothing to be scared about. I'm not going to lie and say it might not hurt, but you know that Kevin is going to be very gentle with you. AND you have EVERY right to stop him if it hurts too much," AJ said forcefully.

"I know, I just feel so stupid about it."

"Don't be, Suz, don't be. It is your body and your life...but like I said, Kevin isn't going to hurt you intentionally. He is just as afraid as you, though it might not be physically."

Suz leaned in to hug AJ, "Thank you, AJ."

"Anytime, Suz, anytime," he said, "I don't how often we have to say it but we love you and would do anything for you."

~In the living room~

Meanwhile, Brian and Nick had sat down next to Kevin.

"Where was Suz going?" Nick asked.

"Uh, I don't know," Kevin said then quickly explained what had happened.

"Give her time, cuz, you know she will tell you in her own time," Brian said.

"I know, you are right," Kevin said as he stared dreamily into space.

Brian nudged Nick who both looked over at him. They rolled their eyes.

They sat there for a few more minutes until Suzanne walked into the room finally.

Saying hello and then goodbye, Brian and Nick swiftly exited the room to leave the two to talk.

Chapter 36 10,000 Kisses

Suzanne walked back into the living room like nothing had happened and proceeded to sit down next to Kevin and cuddle up to him.

Concerningly, he glanced down at her as she smiled up at him. He was dying to ask her what she had wanted to tell him but was following Brian's advice. Taking his arm, he wrapped it around her pulling her close.

AJ walked back into the living room finally and positioned himself comfortably on the recliner, "You guys finally ready."

"Uh, AJ, hate to tell you, but we were always ready. Just waiting on your scrawny ass," Suz said laughing.

"Hey, I do not have a scrawny ass, do I, Kevin?" AJ said glancing over at his friend.

"Hell, guys, I'm staying out of it," Kevin said raising his palms.

"Just put the movie on, Bone," Suz said shaking her head.

AJ popped the tape in and then sat down, "Oh, what in the hell are we watching?"

"The Matrix," Suz said, "You'll love it."

"The Matrix?" Kevin said questioningly.

"Yeah, didn't you ever hear of it?" AJ said.

"Uh, no," Kevin said guiltily.

"Oh, what's his name is in it!" AJ said looking over at Suz and snapping his fingers.

"Keanu Reeves?" Suz said supplying the actor's name.

"YEAH!" AJ shouted, "But how did you get a copy? It's still in theaters."

"Oh, I've got my connections!" Suz said giggling.

"Really, baby?" Kevin said looking down at her.

"Yeah, I'll tell you laters," she said as the movie began.

~Over 2 hours later~

"So, what did you think of it?" Suz said looking at AJ and Kevin.

"Nick will LOVE IT!" they said simultanously.

She rolled her eyes in response but quickly, a somber look appeared on Suz's face as she thought back to her conversation with AJ earlier.

'I have to tell him' she thought.

As if AJ had read her thoughts, he quickly excused himself to go to the studio to play around with some of the songs they were recording. AJ could see the whole time during the movie that though Suz was watching it, he could also see her eyebrows crinkle every time she thought of something. And his gut instinct told him that she was thinking about what was discussed in the kitchen between them.

Suz and Kevin sat there just watching the tv basking in each other's presence.

"Why did AJ leave so abruptly?" Kevin suddenly said to Suz catching her off guard.

"Well, uh, he..." Suz started then stopped, "he knew I needed to talk to you."

With a rush of words and her head facing the floor, Suz blurted out exactly what she told AJ in the kitchen.

Suz finally had the courage to look up at Kevin only to see a faint wetness falling down his face indicating he was silently crying.

She attempted to smile weakly at him. She felt so stupid for being so scared over something that people did every SINGLE DAY! She wanted him SO SO badly but was afraid.

"Oh, baby," Kevin whispered in that deep, deep sexy voice of his, "I would never NEVER intentionally hurt you. I'm so afraid of losing you...so afraid."

"Why?" Suz questioned, "Why are you afraid of losing me. You're not going to lose me."

"I don't want to lose you to someone else," he said as he gently ran his fingers through her hair.

"Why would you lose me to someone else?" she wondered.

"Oh, baby, you really don't realize how guys do look at you now that you're confidence and self esteem has grown in the last few months," Kevin said.

"What?"

"You don't see it, do you? When we walk into a store or down the street? I see them whisper and I hear what they are saying. I'm not jealous...because you certainly deserve all the attention they are giving you. I'm just so afraid you are going to want someone better...someone who will be around all the time," he said tearfully.

"Kevy, baby, I have never noticed that," Suz said forcefully.

"Believe me, I've looked at other woman that way and I know what they are thinking."

"I will never want anyone else, Kevin. I love you, do you hear me? There is NO ONE better...it doesn't matter to me that you might not be around all the time. You think I came into this not knowing that? I knew who you were...and I knowingly became involved because I love you. Let me say it, I'll never leave you!" Suz said.

Both of them just stared at each other for a few seconds until their lips smashed together in a hot, volcanic kiss.

Suz knew in the back of her mind that Kevin and her had made a tremendous leap in their relationship today. She had never realized how scared Kevin was of losing her but she had been scared of losing him. But not anymore...she wasn't scared anymore of anything involving Kevin.

10,000 Kisses Chapter 37

A few weeks had passed as Suz, Rachel, and Chrissy got settled living in Florida. It was a big change for them...mostly the weather compared to Philly.

Suz stepped out her car noting that neither Chrissy nor Rachel were home yet. As she walked to her front door, she glanced quickly at Kevin's house across the street. The guys had been gone for about 3 weeks on a short tour in small arenas. Suz thought she was dealing well with Kevin gone. She talked to him everynight or at least, every other night. He also constantly emailed her even if it was just to say 'I love you'. She knew Kevin loved her very much.

Getting her keys out of her pocketbook, she was startled as the front door flew open revealing Nick.

"Whoa!" Suz exclaimed in surprise.

Nick grabbed her hugging her tightly.

"Hi Nicky boy! Whatcha doing here?" Suz said as she walked in the front door with Nick following her. She proceed to look in every room for Kevin.

"He's not here," Nick said laughing, "I came home early."

"Why?" Suz said wondering.

"Well, they didn't need me. They had some promotionally stuff to do and some photo shoot and I got done early so they told me to go home. They say I wouldn't stop whining. Imagine, me...whining," Nick said with a laugh.

Suz cocked an eyebrow as she tried to hold her laughter in.

"Come on, lets go out!" Nick said playfully whining...emphasis on the whining just to annoy Suz.

"Aw, Nick, I just got home and I'm exhausted," Suz said.

"Please!? Aaron is waiting to see you"

"Well, where ya hiding him?"

"Oh, he's across the street. Come on! I promise that it will be fun."

"Ok, ok, let me go get changed and I'll be right down. You go get Aaron and I'll meet you back here in 10 minutes," Suz said as she raced up the steps.

"Ok," Nick said sprinting out the front door.

Within minutes, they had all piled into Nick's truck

Meanwhile, a car slowly pulled up to the house as Nick's truck disappeared from site. The 4 remaining men, AJ, Howie, Kevin, and Brian piled out of the car.

"Ok, you all know what you two are to do?" Kevin said to AJ and Howie.

"Yes," AJ said rolling his eyes then whispering to Howie, "Man, I didn't think Kevin could get more uptight then he normally is!"

Howie stifled his laugh as he continued to listen to Kevin drone on. He knew that Kevin was very nervous of what was about to happen tonight.

"Ok, now Brian and I are off and we'll be back within the hour," Kevin finally finished.

"Kev," Howie said laying his arm on Kevin's shoulder, "don't worry man."

"Easy for you to say," Kevin mumbled, "This is a life altering decision."

Brian gently pulled Kevin away to the car again while AJ and Howie went inside.

~Inside the House~

"Ok, where to start?" AJ said looking around.

"You grab the bedroom and I'll start on the living room," Howie commanded.

An hour later, AJ and Howie met up in the kitchen.

"Done?" AJ asked.

"Done!" Howie said proudly.

"I'd like to see her face when she sees this," AJ said.

"Yeah, well, Kevin better have bought stock in Kleenex Tissue Co!" Howie said laughing, "Lets get out of here."

Quickly the two made their exit just as Brian and Kevin pulled up. After confirming with each other that everything was in place, AJ, Howie, and Brian went home while Kevin went to wait in the living room.

Chapter 38 10,000 Kisses

Kevin patiently waited in the living room, sitting on the couch, going through some photo albums that Suz's uncle had around of her family. He smiled as he came across a picture of Suz when she was 5 years old with her hair cut to her chin and straight as an arrow. He ran his finger lovingly across the coolness of the plastic covering the picture. He studied her cute innocent face, cringing slightly as the horror of what would happen to her in the following years washed over him.

~With Suz, Nick and Aaron~

"Guys, can we go home yet?" Suz said whining.

Aaron and Nick shook their heads no and dragged Suz into the next store.

Suz shook her head as she watched Nick and Aaron retreat farther into the electronics store, not even noticing she was still standing in the doorway. She quickly exited taking a sit on a nearby bench. She closed her eyes and thought of Kevin. She missed him terribly and seeing Nick only increased that feeling more. But she was amazed at the strength she had when the guys had went away for a tiny bit.

"Hey, Suz," Aaron said running out of the store and jumping towards her, "Where'd ya go?"

"Oh, Aaron, I'm just so tired from work. But I appreciate you and Nick taking me out," she said hugging Aaron.

Suz looked up as Nick walked out of the store with a bag in his hand.

"You actually found something that you don't have?" Suz said laughing.

Nick just scowled.

"Ok, who wants ice cream? Then we go home, please!?" Suz said.

"Sure," Nick said following after her.

~Back at the guys' house~

Nick pulled his truck into the driveway and shut the ignition off.

"Thanks, Suz, for going out with Aaron and I," Nick said.

"Nick, I'm glad you asked me to go. But now, I'm off to a nice bath and bed," Suz said getting out of the truck. She quickly hugged Nick and Aaron goodbye, waving at them as she crossed the street.

"Oh, she's be getting alot more," Nick mumbled.

"Did you say something, Nick?" Aaron said.

"Nevermind," he replied, "come on, lets go try this new game."

~Back at Suz's house~

Suz pulled her hair back from her neck as she quickly put the key in the door wanting to get into that nice HOT bath. Flinging the door open, she quickly shut off the alarm and made her way to the stairs...but then stopped abruptly. Ever so slowly, she looked ahead of her, seeing the flicker of something against the walls. Turning her head slightly, she glanced out of the corner of her eye seeing several candles spread out in the living room. Suz sniffed smelling the scent of honeydew and orange candles.

'Oh, god, my favorite,' Suz thought.

As she continued to move her head taking in the appearance of the living room, she was surprised when a pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around her waist.

"OH!" Suz said then realized it was Kevin holding her.

"Hi baby," he whispered sending a shudder through her body.

It hadn't of even been a minute since he had wrapped his arms around her and she could feel herself getting extremely wet. Her legs twitched the more Kevin breathed down her neck. His hot, moist breath whispered past her shoulders and down her breasts as she felt her nipples harden.

"Hmm," she said placing her hand behind his neck. She lifted her head towards him and pulled his face towards hers. She slowly snaked her tongue out outlining his gorgeous lips. Kevin grunted lowly and opened his mouth inviting her in.

At the same time, Kevin manuevered the two of them forward to the couch. He slowly sat down as Suz sat on his lap not breaking the contact of her tongue to his lips. Their tongues slowly began to dance with each other as Kevin's hand crept under Suz's shirt cupping her silk covered breast. Muttering something incoherently, he swiftly removed her shirt and unsnapped her bra baring her breasts to his eyes. As their tongues met again, Kevin reached his hands up cupping her breasts, rolling her nipples between his fingers. He could feel them harden more under his erotic touch. Reaching beside him without shifting Suz, he grabbed the candle placed on the endtable. With a gentleness, Kevin dipped some wax on her nipples watching as her body jerked in response.

Kevin could feel Suz's mouth clamp down on his tongue sucking forcefully.

He watched as some of the wax slid down her stomach, hardening as it went.

Surprising Suz, Kevin gently pushed Suz off of him and kneeled on the floor. She looked at him with a question but he ignored it taking her hands in his. Leaning his head down, Kevin nipped the wax off of her nipples, licking the revealed bare skin underneath, each time.

"Oh, jesus," Suz groaned, "baby, don't stop, please!"

Kevin chuckled softly as he felt Suz squirm underneath him. Her knee accidentally brushed against his swollen groin causing him to gasp. Their eyes both flew up quickly locking with each other.

"I love you, baby," Suz whispered as she gazed at her beautiful boyfriend.

"Oh, baby, you don't know how much I love you," Kevin said.

"Why don't you show me?" Suz said with a grin thinking she knew what Kevin was going to do. She was ready...now was the time...

"Ok," he simply said, realizing it was now or never, as he reached underneath the couch.

Suz arched her eyebrow wondering what he was getting.

"Honey, what are you doing?

Suz sat there breathlessly as she watched Kevin's movements as if they were in slow motion.

"Kevin?" She said shakily. She was getting more nervous by the minute. She had no idea what Kevin was reaching for now. She thought he'd push her on the couch and cover his body with hers or something...Not reach under the couch.

10,000 Kisses Chapter 39

Suz's eyes slowly adjusted to what Kevin had pulled out from under the couch. Quizzically, she looked at him wondering.

"A stuffed dog?"

Kevin was trying to hold his laughter in. He knew that she was probably thinking he was reaching for something, but most certainly not a stuffed dog.

"Here, look at him," Kevin said thrusting the dog forward.

At closer inspection, Suz realized that the dog was a beagle. Around his neck was a tag. Looking at it, she noticed it read "Spunky". Looking up at Kevin with her hazel eyes, Suz attempted to keep her tears under control. "How did you..."

"know?" Kevin finished.

Suz nodded yes.

"Rachel told me. She's told me alot about you. In fact, she explained alot of the pictures in your photo albums"

Suz smiled crookedly, "So, this is my surprise? A stuffed dog?" She looked closer at the animal. "Wait, why does he have a name tag WITH an address...110371 Orange Way." Suz's eyebrows crinkled as she thought.

"Kevin, that's like 4 houses down from yours."

Kevin smiled up at Suz, "Wait here." He quickly got up and disappeared.

Suz sat on the sofa, shirtless, with the candles flickering around her. Her desire to have Kevin was rising with each passing second as he became more mysterious with his actions.

He quickly returned with something in his arms that was struggling.

"Kevin?"

It took her a second to figure out that it was a real dog.

"Oh, my god!"

Gently, Kevin walked over placing the puppy in her lap. Quickly, the puppy, which ultimately was a beagle, sat up licking Suz's face.

Suz instantly wrapped her arms around the puppy feeling something crinkled underneath her touch. Leaning the puppy forward, she saw a piece of folded paper nestled in his collar. Hesitantly, her hand reached out pulling the paper from his collar. She slowly began to open it...then her jaw dropped.

"Kevin?"

"Yes?"

"What is this? It has my name and your name on it," Suz said as she began to read the piece of paper.

After she was finished, she opened her mouth but nothing came out. She just sat there staring at the paper but not really seeing the words anymore. 'Was he asking me what I thought he was?' she wondered to herself.

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