Lynne spent the night tossing and turning while the most wonderful images haunted her non-sleep. She awoke convinced that the evening and Nick's attentiveness had been an aberration, until the doorbell rang at 10:30 in the morning.
"Hi!" Nick stood cheerfully on her threshold, paper grocery bags in his arms.
"What are you doing here?" She didn't mean it to come out rudely, but unfortunately it did.
"I brought breakfast," he grinned, breezing by her and into the kitchen, seemingly unfazed by her dark mood.
Lynne followed him in a daze. "Nick-"
"I hope you like bagels. I have three kinds, and four different flavors of cream cheese. This stuff is the BEST," he chattered, setting out all the ingredients on the work island in the center of her kitchen. "There's this little deli around the corner from my place and they bake these right there on the spot. Got any orange juice?" he opened the fridge with one hand, while licking the cream cheese off his other fingers.
Lynne had to laugh. This was insanity. What was he doing to her life?
"What?" He looked at her innocently, and then snapped his fingers as if suddenly remembering a forgotten engagement. "I know what I forgot!" Wiping the remaining cream cheese onto his pants he rounded the bar and pulled her into his arms. Bending his head, he proceeded to kiss her senseless.
Lynne's knees were weak and thank god he was holding onto her or she'd have tumbled to the floor. She was fast becoming lost in his kiss when he pulled away and grinned.
"Good morning!" he said. "THAT'S the way to start your day."
Lynne stood mutely as Nick grinned.
"You DID say I could see you again, right? I just didn't wanta wait. Since today's Saturday I thought we could-"
"Nick!" Lynne was waving her arms to get his attention as he set out plates and napkins for breakfast.
"Huh?" he stopped, finally noticing her frantic movements. "I'm sorry, Lynne. What did you want?"
"Just slow down, Nick, that's all!" she laughed. "I'm barely awake and –"
"Oh, man, I'm so sorry! I woke you up!" He looked slowly down at her attire and stifled a laugh. Lynne was semi-dressed, sporting a ragged, worn out Tweety Bird nightshirt and gray athletic socks.
Lynne groaned. In the insanity of Nick's arrival she'd totally forgotten to pull on a robe or ask him to wait outside. "I need to get dressed. I … umm …" She blushed from head to toe.
Nick actually felt sorry for her. "Look," he said gently, "go get changed while I set everything up. While we eat, we can make plans for the rest of the day."
Lynne simply stood and stared at him. Who was this really? Where was the obnoxious whiny boy she'd learned to despise over the years? God, it was like she was in a mirror universe in one of her dad's old Star Trek episodes.
"Lynne? Hello???" Nick was snapping his fingers in front of her face.
"Oh, god. Sorry. I'll just go … umm … change."
Nick grinned as she stumbled from the room. This was too much fun. But what the hell was he doing here? It had all started out as a way to prove a childish point, but somewhere along the line it had all changed. He suspected it had been when she opened the door last night. This was not going according to plan.
* * * * *
God, what is he DOING here? Lynne practically emptied her dresser looking for something decent to wear. God, today is laundry day and there's nothing here … I haven't showered… my teeth …. Lynne hastily brushed her teeth and pulled her hair into a ponytail. Nick Carter is in my kitchen. Making my breakfast. Planning my day. God. In last minute haste, she shoved her dirty laundry beneath the bed and pulled up the comforter to make it look good. It never occurred to her to wonder WHY she was straightening her bedroom. After all, it's not like Nick would ever get to see it.
"There you are! Better?" Nick stood and pulled out her chair for her as she stared at the table in amazement.
Her tiny breakfast table was set with her good china and silver, and the flowers he'd brought her last night were in the middle. Sunshine streamed through the kitchen window and this was just perfect. She sighed. "Nick, this is perfect."
"Glad you approve," he said, handing her a cinnamon raisin bagel. "Try these, they're my favorite."
"I kinda took you for the Frosted Flakes type," she said, dipping into the soft cream cheese.
Nick leaned across the table and whispered, "Frosted Flakes don’t impress girls, Lynne. Or women," he added.
The way he said 'women' touched something deep inside her that hadn't been touched in a very long time. As she looked in his eyes, she saw a flicker of something much deeper than just suddenly appearing for breakfast.
"Anyway," he sat back and grabbed a bagel, "what did you have planned for today?"
"Laundry," she answered automatically and could have crawled into a hole in embarrassment.
"I suppose I could help."
The thought of Nick handling her undergarments was too much to bear. "NO! I mean, I couldn't ask you to do that. I can always catch up on that tomorrow."
"Okay, whatever. How about we just go out for a drive and see what we can find?"
"That sounds great. I can't remember the last time I did something like that!"
They made small talk over the rest of their breakfast. Lynne stood to clear the table, but Nick stopped her with a hand on her arm. "Let me clear this all up, ok? Take your time, go grab a shower. I showed up uninvited and I know I've thrown off all your plans for the day. As soon as you're ready we'll get going."
Lynne did as she was instructed. She was just fastening her damp hair with a clip when the phone rang. "I'll get it!" she called out the doorway. "Hello?"
A deep voice on the other end immediately made her smile.
"Kevin! Hi! How are you? Of course I'm in a good mood, I had a great time last night. Where? Silly man, at the awards show!"
They laughed over small talk before Lynne sat down on her bed to talk seriously.
"Thanks for your email, Kev. I appreciate the way you tried to fix me up with AJ, but when he couldn't make it Nick showed up instead and-" She listened in confusion. "What do you mean *what* email? The one you sent me on Tuesday. You were where? No, that's not possible, I got-" Her brows furrowed in concentration then raised in understanding. "You're in L.A., but Nick was watching your house?" She grinned. "Mmm hmm, no I understand perfectly. Don't think about it anymore, I think I know what happened. Sure, ok, see you soon. Love you, too, Bye!"
That little sneak. First she was angry for his deception. She stood and made her way to the stairs to confront him until harsh reality set in. The only way he could have replied to her letter to Kevin was if … he'd read it. Oh dear god, he'd read what she said about him. Was he playing her? Was that what this was? He was trying to get her back for the things she'd said about him. And she was falling for it, hook, line and sinker. But … he'd been so nice, so sincere, there's no way that could be an act. Right?
Lynne decided to play it by ear and see how the day went.
Just like the night before, Nick was a perfect gentleman. They ended up driving out to the lake and renting a rowboat, and it was a wonderful day. The kind of sunny, sweet days you read about in romance novels. They fed the ducks, got too much sun and laughed like long-lost friends when Nick tried to teach her how to row the boat.
"Damn, girl, you're going to tip us over!" he laughed as the tiny boat jerked to and fro.
"But you SAID to move the oars in opposite directions!"
Nick howled as the boat nearly capsized again. "Here, let me do it!" He stood up, fully intending to trade places with her, but the boat tipped back once more just as Lynne tried to move past him. Struggling for balance, Nick caught her around the waist as they both fell into a heap on the floor of the boat.
Lynne shrieked at the sudden movement and the feeling of free-falling. She landed with a thud, right on top of Nick, who grunted as the wind was knocked out of him. Water sloshed over the side, but miraculously they stayed afloat. Too shocked to move, they simply stared into each other's eyes and began to laugh. They stayed that way until the laughter subsided and Lynne laid her head on his chest to catch her breath.
As the moment passed, they became acutely aware of what they were doing. Lynne lay still, but caught her breath as Nick's hands wrapped themselves in her hair. She lifted her face, and as she looked into his eyes once more, he smiled and pulled her closer. She was helpless to stop what happened next.
In what seemed like slow motion, he pulled her closer until their lips were touching. Just barely. He brushed his mouth back and forth, and his soft tongue reached out to trace her lips. He wanted so much more, but this was wonderful.
Lynne was gone. As she lay against him, his mouth doing wicked things to her senses, she felt a stirring in the pit of her stomach, even as a matching reaction from Nick made itself known. As he nibbled her lower lip she felt the unmistakable beginnings of an erection against her belly and she gasped. Her mouth opened for air and Nick deepened his kiss, wrapping his tongue around hers until she whimpered in surrender. Instinctively Lynne's hips pressed against his and had they not heard children laughing across the lake, they could very well have consummated their new-found relationship right then and there.
The spell was broken for the moment, and Nick laid his head back, eyes closed, breathing erratically. His face was flushed and it wasn't all from the sun.
Lynne moaned, "Oh god…" and Nick began to chuckle.
Pushing her off of him, he struggled to sit up. Once they were upright, neither knew quite where to look until Nick took the oars and began to row back to shore. "Let's get outta here," he whispered.
Once back on dry land, she still couldn't meet his eyes. "Lynne," he called after her. "Lynne, stop!" he caught up with her as they approached her car, turning her around to face him. He lifted her chin with his fingers, but she still wouldn't look up. "Lynne, please?"
"Take me home," she requested in a small voice.
"Just for the record, I'm not at all sorry that happened." Nick kissed her quickly on the top of her head and opened her door.
All the way back to her house, their minds turned over the events of the past two days. Neither wanted this to end, but neither wanted to continue with the charade. Alone with their thoughts, each decided the best way was to confront the demons and be done with it.
Once again they found themselves on Lynne's doorstep, poised in an awkward moment.
Lynne started. "Nick, we need to talk."
"I know. There's something I need to tell you."
The tone of his voice was one Lynne had never heard. He sounded almost … afraid? "Come on in." She unlocked the door and they both entered in silence.
The door had barely closed behind her when Nick began to confess. "Lynne, I can't do this anymore. Our date last night? Kevin had nothing to do with it. I was at his house, see, and I read his email. And when I saw what you wrote, I was really pissed and decided I needed to teach you a lesson only it backfired because I really, really like you a lot and well, maybe even more than 'like', but you're gonna hate me now and … why are you laughing?"
Lynne wiped the tears of mirth from her eyes. "I know all about the email, Nick."
"You what?"
"I talked to Kevin this morning. It seems he was in L.A. when 'he' emailed me from his house."
Nick closed his eyes and leaned back against the door. "I'm so sorry."
She laid her hand against his cheek. "Nick, it's ok."
"It is?"
"Well, not what you did, but I think it stopped being a payback sometime last night."
He nodded his head in agreement. "I know. As soon as you opened the door last night I was gone." He sighed. "Forgive me?"
"Maybe," she grinned, running her fingers down the front of his t-shirt.
"That doesn't sound too encouraging," he said, his chest tingling from her touch.
Lynne shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe you could make it up to me."
"I could? Yeah, I suppose I could," he said, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her to stand between his feet as he leaned back against the door.
"It would have to be something really special. You know, for all the anguish you've put me through."
Nick raised his eyebrows. Anguish? Two can play at this game. "I could make it really special," he grinned. "What did you have in mind?"
She was insane. This was not what was supposed to happen. She should stop this right now before it went any further. She should not be running her hands over his chest and leaning against his hips where she could feel …. oh my god. She swallowed nervously as he sucked in a deep breath. "Nick?" she whispered.
"Yeah baby?" he asked softly.
"Kiss me."
"Oh yeah…" he tipped his face and pressed his mouth to hers. This time there was no easy brushing of lips, no tender light teasing caresses. This time he took possession. Lynne made tiny sounds as their mouths fused, and it inflamed him even more. His arms held her tighter as her arms came up to wrap around his neck and as she pressed her breasts against him, he could feel her nipples tighten in response.
Sweet, she was so sweet.
They stayed that way for a very long time, until Nick became aware of a dull ache in his lower back. Shifting around, he finally was forced to let her go. Looking behind him, he found the source of his discomfort: the brass doorknob.
"Ouch," he mumbled, rubbing his back as Lynne attempted to make her eyes focus.
"Nick, I-"
"Let's find a better place. I won't make love to you in your front hallway."
"What?" she gasped.
"I want you, Lynne."
Lynne was speechless. She simply stared at Nick, searching his eyes for … for what? Sincerity? Love? Desire? She really wasn’t sure, but then she really wasn't sure about much of anything these days.
"Are you crazy?" she whispered. "Nick, this is insane." Yet she did nothing to pull away from him.
"Is it? I'm not so sure anymore." He stroked her back gently, calming her as he watched her thinking. "I just know that we started something last night and I don't want this to end."
"I don’t normally-"
"I know that. If you *did* I wouldn't be here. "
"I don't even like you," she blurted and then groaned at her own faux pas.
Nick just laughed. "That may have been true two days ago, but I got the distinct feeling you'd changed your mind."
"My brain hurts," she moaned, leaning her head against his chest.
"Then stop thinking so hard," he said, tipping her face up to his once more. "Just feel."
Her brain was screaming. No! Yes! Don't do it! Run! Are you crazy? Go for it!
"Yes," she sighed.
"Yes?" Nick could have sworn she just agreed with him. "Lynne?" he whispered.
In silent answer she took his hand and led him upstairs, thankful she'd remembered to stuff her mess underneath the bed. To say that her bedroom was eclectic would have been too kind.
Nick looked around, grinning at the variety of stuff that spilled over the tops of her furniture and just … everywhere. They were definitely made for each other, whether she believed it yet or not. Her eyes darted about nervously, so he put his hands on her shoulders and held her still. In a deep, sexy voice he asked, "Lynne I need to know something first."
Her eyes widened. "What?" she asked breathlessly.
"Tell the truth, now." He leaned close to her ear. "Do you hide your laundry under your bed?"
She couldn't help it. She began to giggle helplessly and soon he joined in. "Oh mercy," she laughed, wiping the tears from her eyes. "You, too?"
"Yep. One of my more endearing qualities," he added with a smirk. And then his hands were at the hem of her t-shirt, pulling it swiftly over her head to land on the floor, his lips pressing against the flesh of her neck as his tongue stroked a damp path from her ear to her shoulder.
Lynne did the same, pulling up his shirt and struggling to get it over his shoulders. "Nick-" her voice was anxious with frustration and he obliged her by stepping back and completing the task, tossing his shirt on the floor with her own.
Just as he'd suspected, she'd not been wearing a bra and her ripe, full breasts brushed against his chest as he took her mouth once again. Locked in an embrace, their hands roamed freely over each other's backs, enjoying the warmth of the naked flesh. They broke apart, breathing heavily and Nick cupped one breast in his hand, brushing his thumb maddeningly over the pebbled tip. Lynne moaned and he continued his gentle torture, kissing his way sweetly down her chest before capturing her breast between his lips.
Lynn cried out at the sensation, and Nick's arm was the only thing stopping her from falling to the floor. She fisted her hands in his hair as he suckled her, swirling his tongue around her nipple and gently tugging with his teeth. She was almost relieved when he stopped, but he simply took his attention to her other breast, leaving her a helpless, quivering mess.
"Nick," she gasped. "Nick, stop…"
His only response was to press his hand to her bottom to pull her closer to his aching erection. As their hips met he groaned and shuddered. "Lynne-"
Lynne became bolder, pressing her hand between them and squeezing the firm flesh beneath his zipper, smiling as he moaned once more. He rocked against her fingers, head tossed back with pleasure. Pushing gently, she backed him toward her bed where he fell awkwardly onto the covers, pulling her with him.
Nick regained his balance and rolled her beneath him, completely covering her body with his. They kissed hotly, until he felt her hands at his waist, fumbling with the snap on his jeans.
"Take … these …. off …" she said, pushing at his pants.
Rolling away, he unzipped himself and pushed his pants and underwear off and onto the floor. As he rolled back, Lynne had done the same and lay beautifully nude before him. Her hair spilled across the bed and her mouth was swollen from his kisses and he had to have her. Rising over her, he kissed her gently as he swept one hand over her body, learning her curves and touching all of her hidden, secret places. Parting her thighs, he sank his fingers into her moist heat and sighed as she trembled beneath his hand. He stroked her carefully, but firmly and felt the tension begin to coil in her body.
Lynne was so lost in the pleasure, in the feeling of Nick's hands on her, in her, that she whimpered against his mouth. She felt him pull away and protested, reaching for him, but he eluded her grasp, continuing to stroke the wet heat between her legs. Closing her eyes, she felt she would fly apart any second and her forehead furrowed with concentration. Almost, almost…
"Lynne," he murmured. "Baby, look at me." Nick's hand slowed, almost stopping and she wanted to scream. He felt her hips rise against his hand, and he spoke again. "Come on, Lynne, look here."
Angry at the loss of sensation she opened her eyes to beg him to continue. Their eyes met and just as suddenly as he had stopped, he plunged his fingers deep within once again and she shattered. She was still pulsing as he rose above her, removing his hand and replacing it with something much, much better.
"Oh god," she moaned as he sank deeply within her body, not coming to rest until he was fully sheathed in her warmth.
"God, baby," he groaned. "So good… this is so … I can't wait." Lifting her hips closer, he began the dance. His strokes were sure and strong and he held on as long as he possibly could before crying out her name and spilling himself into her body.
They lay wrapped together, the cool breeze drying their sweat-slicked skin. Sleep threatened to claim them both when the ringing of the telephone startled them both from their drowsiness.
"Lynne?"
"Don't worry, the machine'll get it …." she yawned against his shoulder.
Both jumped as Kevin's voice filled the room.
"Lynne, it's me, Kev. Back in town, just got your message. What the hell is going on? And what's all this about 'ask Nick'? You despise Nick. Besides, he's not home. Give me a call, ok?" They could hear him laughing as he hung up the phone and began to chuckle, too.
"Oops," Lynne said with a grin.
"Guess he's in for a surprise."
"You can say that. I'm kinda surprised myself."
"Yeah?" Nick asked. "You like surprises?"
"Sure, doesn't everyone?"
"Then you're gonna love this…"
Lynne giggled as he rolled her on top of him, beginning all over again, and they never did call Kevin back.
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