Part 32

"Bec?" Nick whispered in the darkened room, not really wanting to wake her but knowing he must. "Bec, come on, time to get up."

Becca sighed, stretching with her arms above her head, still not really awake. Sitting back on the floor by the sofa, Nick was content to simply watch her sleeping. He rested his chin on his hands and let his mind drift back; back to the night he'd met her.

"Kevin, are you sure about his?" he'd asked, re-buttoning his sport coat for the fifth time in as many minutes.

"Trust me, Nick, you'll love her. She's really sweet."

"So tell me about her again."

Kevin had groaned in exasperation. Nick had never been fond of blind dates, and it looked as if he had his work cut out for him tonight. "She's been Sarah's best friend for years. They were college roommates, and when Sarah left Russell, she moved in with Becca for a while."

"So that means she's older than me?"

"YES, Nick, will you get a grip? She's maybe three years older. Big deal. Now can we get a move on? I have a surprise party to attend."

They'd left for Becca's house, and Nick nervously chewed his nails all the way. Standing at the door, he'd wanted to run but something kept him there. Fate? Maybe. She'd been so adorable, obviously more nervous than he was, and when she'd tripped over the carpet he knew it was meant to be.

Thinking back, he was almost positive that's when he'd fallen in love with her. And now, to find out she'd been a fan all along, that just did something to him inside. He'd dated fans before, but none of them had ever gone out of their way to conceal it, or to get to know him the way Becca had. And to think that he'd almost lost her . he shook off the feeling of dread that threatened to overwhelm him and lay his head on her tummy, closing his eyes.

He awakened to the feel of her fingers weaving through his hair, lightly stroking his scalp.

"Hey, baby." He smiled up at her.

"Hey yourself. I guess I wasn't the only one who needed rest, hmm?" She smiled back at him, loving the sleepy look on his face and the way his hair was always in such wild disarray when he awakened. She was content to stay that way all night, but her tummy growled, right in his ear.

"Whoa!" Nick laughed, sitting up.

"Sorry," she said, blushing. "I guess now would be a good time to eat something?"

"Your wish is my command. What'll it be? Chez Carter has a limited and exclusive menu, you know."

Becca laughed, scooting upright against the cushions. "Corn flakes," she said, laughing again at the look on his face. "C'mon, Carter, you NEVER have food unless you're expecting company, but I know for a fact that you always have corn flakes and milk. So, that's what I want. A big bowl with lots of sugar."

"Damn, I knew it was fate." He grinned at her and asked, "Can I keep you?"

"Is that a proposal, Carter?"

Nick suddenly became serious. "What if it was?" His eyes locked with Becca's and he could almost see her thoughts turning around and around.

"Umm ." Damn him. How the hell was she supposed to answer this? Was he for real? Was he kidding?

He saved her the agony of indecision. "Think about it, Bec. Maybe one of these days I'll ask again."

Kissing her lightly on the lips, he pulled himself to his feet and wandered off to the kitchen.

Becca sank back against the cushions. Not fair. It just wasn't fair. Here she was, alone with Nick Carter, wearing little more than one of his old jerseys and she had the good fortune to have stitches in her head, a fractured ankle and a case of PMS the size of Los Angeles. Life just sucks sometimes. But on the other hand, she *was* alone with him, she *was* scantily clad and *he* didn't have PMS. And, God, did he just propose to her? Ok, maybe not, but ..

"Here ya go, one bowl of corn flakes, super sized."

"Thanks Nick." She shook off the millions of thoughts that were bouncing through her head. "So, now that I've slept all day, what am I gonna do all night?"

He smirked at her, raising his eyebrows and she blushed. "You're so easy, Bec." He laughed. "I thought we'd watch some videos. While you were asleep I picked out a few I think you'll like."

Choosing one from the stack he turned on the TV and popped it into the VCR. "Have you talked to Sarah today?" she asked innocently.

"Oh yeah, " Nick snorted. "I think I've sent her into hiding by now."

"Why, Nick? What have you done?" Becca glared at him over her cereal bowl.

"Besides calling her at the Center today? Every thirty minutes?"

"Nick!"

"Well, c'mon, Bec, I was worried about you and I had to have someone to talk to. But I tried again late this afternoon and she was gone. Rachel wouldn't tell me where, just that she'd gone for the day."

"Probably off somewhere with Howie. I hope she was ok after last night." Becca frowned, concern for her friend plainly evident on her face.

"She was, I promise. She said she and Howie talked a lot about it and things were good. Ok? Now c'mon, you ready for the first video?"

Becca nodded her head. Nick pushed 'play' on the remote, and as the music began she choked on her Cornflakes. Nick patted her on the back as she recovered her breath. "See? I told you you'd like this. Now eat up, you need your strength."

He grinned, watching her expression out of the corner of his eye.

Damn him. He's evil, so evil, Becca thought. He'd gone through his old stuff and found copies of their early music videos and was intent on making her watch every one of them. Ok, so this is not so bad, she thought. So far it was the cute stuff like "Anywhere For You" and "As Long As You Love Me." She could handle this. There were early interviews spliced throughout and it was hysterical to see them back when they were nothing more than babies themselves!

She relaxed, leaning against Nick as he wrapped his arm around her. It was so nice, so comforting to sit this way, and she wanted it to never end. Soon the first tape came to an end, and she carefully made her way to the bathroom while Nick cleaned up her dishes and set up the next vid. Within minutes, they were snuggled back together and the music was starting again. There were a few Bec had never seen, so she had no idea what to expect or how it would affect her.

This next one was new to her. It was vaguely reminiscent of that old Michael Jackson video, you know the one with the monsters. It was a riot! She laughed at Brian's comical facial expressions, but when they were all five transformed into characters from classic horror stories, she gasped. She watched them all cavort in full makeup as they sang and danced and when Nick appeared on screen in his mummy costume she cried out, her hand over her mouth.

"Bec?" Nick pushed the pause button and sat back to try and see what was wrong. Becca's eyes held a haunted look and they were filled with tears. "Becca, what?" Nick grasped her face, tipping it up to his.

On a broken sob she managed to say, "Sarah-"

It struck him like a blow to the midsection. "God, baby." He pulled her into his arms as he realized what he'd inadvertently done. The video they were watching was the one they were to recreate the night of Sarah's accident. They'd all spent the night in the emergency room dressed exactly as they appeared on screen and for Becca to watch this video was tantamount to making her relive the entire experience. He held her as she trembled and finally she quieted.

"Nick, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall apart. It just - it just caught me off guard and it all came rushing back at me."

"You sure?"

"I'm ok, Nick. I'm not that much of a loser."

"Stop it, Becca. Don't you dare put yourself down like that. What you've been through is more than any one person should ever have to go through in their entire lives. You're one of the strongest women I know, now I just need to convince *you*."

"Damn, you're good for me, Nick."

"Well, SOMEBODY has to do it. Gimme the remote, I'll fast forward past this one."

"Thanks," she said reaching up to kiss him on the cheek. "I'll watch it someday, but not tonight."

"It's a deal. Oh, ok. Here's one I know you like. Sarah told me." He smirked, settling back to watch.

The music began and Becca actually whimpered. "Nick," she protested in a strangled voice.

"Hmm??? I thought you liked this one?"

He watched her face, highly amused at the stunned look on her face.

"God-" she gasped as she continued to watch, totally losing herself in the video and forgetting that Nick was even in the room. It was the one that had started it all for her and as Nick appeared on the screen time and again, her entire body was suffused with heat. Soon, coming up soon .. Jesus! There he was, hair slicked back and smirking at the camera. No eighteen year old on earth should be able to look like that, the 'you know you want me come and get me' look. Becca nearly melted on the spot.

Nick continued to watch her reactions and it was all he could do not to laugh, or to rip her clothes off and take her right there. Fortunately, he remembered her condition and settled for thinking about what he'd do to her later. Much later.

Becca was hypnotized by the action on the screen and by the time the final scene came around she was lost. She sat quietly, watching the Boys play in the fountain, their clothing soaked through and almost completely transparent. When Nick closed his eyes and ran his hands down his wet body she couldn't hold back any longer. "Christ Almighty, Nick, what the hell are you trying to do to me?!"

"Damn, Sarah was right," he mumbled.

"What?" she huffed.

"She said that just once in my life I needed to watch *you* watch that video. Damn if she wasn't right."

"It's not fair."

"Damn right about *that*" he agreed, adjusting his jeans.

Becca stopped her ranting and took a good look. Letting her eyes wander over his hips, she began to see his problem and she giggled.

When she saw the look he gave her, she giggled some more. "I'm sorry. No, no I'm not." Laughing, she leaned back against the pillows.

"Now you know how *I* feel."

"Yeah, I got a pretty good idea."

Leaning over her body, and being careful not to bump her ankle, he began pressing feather light kisses along her neck. He reached her ear and stopped long enough to nibble at the lobe before licking it and then sucking it between his teeth.

Becca caught her breath and turned her head just in time to capture his mouth with her own. She kissed him with a hunger that had no way of being eased and it was torture for them both. Her hands held him close as they kneaded the tense muscles on his back and his hands crept beneath her back to press her against his chest.

At long last he pulled away, and breathing heavily, he rested his forehead against hers.

"Ouch." Her whisper caught him off guard and he rose up on his hands.

"Bec?"

"Sorry, you bumped my stitches."

Her hand came up to cup his face and she rubbed her thumb along his lower lip. Dipping his head, he sucked her thumb into his mouth, wetting it with his tongue and watching her eyes darken.

After long moments, he pulled away. "Let's get you back to bed. This is way too soon."

"Nick?"

"Yeah Bec?"

"Thanks. Just for being you, and loving me."

He smiled sweetly and kissed the tip of her nose. "C'mon princess, off to bed."

He helped her up the stairs and into bed. As she settled beneath the covers, he handed her a pain pill.

"I don't need this."

"Not *now* you don't, but this'll take the edge off and help you relax. No, don't argue with me. Just one, just for tonight, ok? I don't want you to wake up hurting in the middle of the night. I might not hear you."

"Oh?"

"*Oh* is right. I'm sleeping on the couch tonight." Before she could protest, he said, "No way, Bec. I'm only human and I need some space."

Becca smiled lovingly, yawned and said "See you in the morning, Nicky."

Nick moved to turn out the light, saw that she was already sleeping and whispered "'Night sweetheart."

*************************

It was 5:30 in the morning when Becca wakened and she knew there was no hope of falling back asleep, especially since she had slept all day the day before. It was still dark, and she knew Nick wouldn't be up for hours.

Stretching slowly, she felt amazingly good. Becca leaned on the furniture for support and carefully made her way to the top of the stairs.

"Ok, I can do this ." She figured out which was the best way to hold the railing and somehow managed to get to the bottom of the steps without falling and breaking her neck. "But then that's ok, because Nick will kill me for doing this by myself *anyway*," she laughed to herself.

"God, I'm talking to myself. Coffee . I need coffee."

While the coffee brewed, she looked in on Nick. True to his word, he was dead to the world on the sofa, one arm flung over his eyes, one foot resting on the floor. Becca giggled at the sight, stifling her laughter beneath her hand.

Shaking her head, she made her way back to the kitchen to pour the first of many cups of coffee. She sat and watched him sleep for well over an hour. Truth be told, she could never get enough of him. She'd meant it when she'd said he was beautiful. She sighed, resting her chin in her hand against the arm of the chair.

Just then, Nick stretched, turning onto his side facing Becca, laying his head on his hand. The afghan he'd snagged from the hall closet fell to the floor leaving him clad only in his boxers and she gasped. Literally gasped. It seemed like ages since she'd been with him, when in reality it had merely been a few days.

As if he somehow sensed her presence, he turned onto his back once again and Becca watched as his hand moved to his groin. Her eyes widened as he moaned in his sleep and she watched as he began to harden beneath his fingers.

"God," she whispered.

Nick mumbled once again and stilled.

Becca watched for a few moments more before making her move. Carefully she moved toward the sofa, settling onto the floor beside him. His hands had moved away, but there was still just the slightest hint of his morning erection tenting his boxers. Now - if she could only do this before he woke up ..

She took a deep breath and leaned over him, planting soft kisses along his length, stifling a giggle when he twitched beneath the fabric. Ever so gently she let her fingers stroke where her lips had been and his hips rose toward her of their own accord. He moaned once again, lifting his hips even closer to her and there was her chance. As his hips left the sofa, she somehow managed to pull down his boxers, and as his half-erection sprang free she immediately took him in her mouth.

He was still soft, and as she swirled her tongue around him he swelled in her mouth. Pulling away, she wrapped her hands around his length and licked the tip of his penis, catching the tiny drops on her tongue and then flicking it back against the opening. She stroked him firmly, her mouth never still and suddenly his hands were in her hair, guiding her movements.

"God Bec." he moaned sleepily.

Becca took him completely in her mouth then and he groaned. Raising her eyes, she was startled to find him watching her. Her movements faltered, but only for a moment. Her mouth was never still as she moved over him, sucking him deeply into her throat and swirling her tongue around and around. With her free hand, she reached between his legs cupping him and squeezing him gently and rhythmically.

Nick's hips moved him deeper into her mouth and his hands tightened in her hair. "Bec," he almost whimpered, his control almost gone. "I -"

Becca pulled away and said, "Let go, Nick."

"You don't want -"

She kissed the tip of his penis one last time and answered huskily, "Yes, I *do* want. Come for me Nick."

He surged into her mouth one last time and she felt his flesh swell and tighten and then he was gone. He released himself against her tongue and his sweetness flowed down her throat in an endless stream.

Becca lay her head against his hip as his breathing returned to normal and his hands played with her hair. She looked up to find him watching her again, and she blushed crimson under his steady gaze.

"Good morning," she whispered.

"I'll say it is," he grinned. He pulled her up beside him and tucked her against his side. "Just had a wicked thought."

"And that would be-?" She craned her neck back to see him.

"If I kept you for my personal alarm clock, I'd never miss another rehearsal again." "Nick?"

"Yeah, baby?"

"Shut up and kiss me."

And he did.