Chapter Twelve


Nick opened his eyes, squinting at the bright sunlight streaming in through the white curtains. He glanced at the clock on Gianna’s bedside table, realizing it was still early. He looked down at Gianna, laying with her back to him. Turning over, he dropped his arm around her waist, pressing himself against her. She sighed in her sleep, squirming a little before falling back to sleep. Nick smiled. He hadn’t slept that well in a long time. Having Gianna in his arms did something for him...made him feel safe, needed. No one had ever needed him. He closed his eyes, and fell back asleep, happy and content.

Hours later Gianna awoke, feeling pressure on her back. She opened her eyes and lay, puzzled, wondering what was behind her. Turning over, she came face to face with Nick....she blinked a few times, clearing her vision...Nick was still there, sleeping soundly with his arm wrapped tightly around her. She smiled, finally remembering what had happened last night. She fell asleep during the movie and had awoken in her room when Nick kissed her cheek. She shook her head in disbelief. He had actually stayed. His hold on her tightened as he rolled over onto his back, bringing Gianna with him. She laughed to herself as she was pulled half on top of Nick.

“Nicky..” she whispered, leaning down to speak in his ear. He mumbled something in his sleep and turned his face towards hers...his cheek laying against her forehead. Gianna draped her arm across Nick’s chest and rested her face near his neck, breathing him in deeply. He rubbed his cheek against her hair and exhaled, still asleep. “Nick...” she whispered again, squeezing his body as she called his name.

“Hmm?” was his reply.

“Wake up.” she said planting light kisses on the soft skin at the base of his neck.

“Mmmmmm.” he responded to her touch, his fingertips running lightly over her spine. His eyes remained closed.

“Come on...wake up, baby.” she whispered playfully. She ran her hand up his body and into his soft hair. Running her fingers through the blond strands, she was rewarded with another small moan from Nick. “I’m gonna kiss you...” she warned. Nick’s hands continued to massage the muscle of her back as she propped herself over him. She ran her eyes over his angelic face, his eye lashes brushing his cheeks, his lips...calling her...begging to be kissed. She saw the smile forming on his lips as her fingers remained in the short spikes of his hair. “Nickolas..” she whispered louder as she began kissing her way up his neck.

“Gianna....” was the only response she got this time.

“Nick...” she said between kisses, she kissed his cheek, his forehead, her hand still playing in his hair. She could tell he was awake now. His free hand had joined the other one, traveling over her back, and he was leaning into her kisses. “Hey...” she whispered, his eyes finally opening.

“Hey..” he said smiling at her.

“Finally...I thought I was really going to have to kiss you.” she said plastering a frightened look on her face. Nick laughed.

“I’m sure that would have been awful.” he commented rolling his eyes. His hands remained on her body, traveling to her lower back. He held her against him. “How’d you sleep?” he asked moving one hand to her face. He brushed some loose strands behind her ear before he brought his hand to the back of her neck.

“Really good.” she said closing her eyes as Nick rubbed circles on her neck. She relaxed her body against his...allowing herself to lay completely on top of him.

“Me too..thanks.” he said casually.

“For what?” she asked raising her gaze to his eyes. They looked different today..not as dark--he looked happy.

“For letting me sleep here...I haven’t slept that good since I was happy with Angela. I didn’t think I’d ever have that kind of rest again...” he answered truthfully. He saw the change in her facial expression. She looked surprised...she looked beautiful. “How do you do that?” he asked aloud.

“What?”

“Manage to look so good? Your hair is all messed up, you have no make-up on...yet, you’re the prettiest thing I have ever seen..” he whispered, tangling his fingers in her hair. Her cheeks reddened. No one ever said things like that to her.

“Thanks, Nick.” she answered in a small voice.

“Welcome....” he smiled.

“I’ll be right back.” she said reluctantly, returning his smile as she climbed off the bed and disappeared into the bathroom. Nick fell back into the fluffy pillows laughing to himself. This felt amazing. He realized that he wanted this...wanted to love her, wake up beside her..hold her in his arms. He wanted it all... The bathroom door opened and Gianna came back out, clean face and fresh breath. “It’s all yours.” she said shrugging her shoulders innocently. Nick nodded and got out of bed. He paused to kiss Gianna lightly on the forehead before he made his way into the small room, and closed the door. Gianna stared at the closed door with wide eyes. He seemed like a completely different person. In the last few days he’d gone from not being able to touch her, to kissing her voluntarily. She jumped up and down, silently cheering. Laughing lightly she quickly changed from the clothes she’d worn the day before into some shorts and a T-shirt. She pulled the covers up on the bed and flopped down in the middle of it.

“Hey you.” Nick greeted her as he came back into the room, sauntering over to the bed. He had changed into clean clothes and cleaned himself up as well. “Move over..” She looked up at him as she slowly moved to one side of the bed. He laid down next to her and smiled. “Hi.”

“Hi..” she said laughing.

“What’s so funny??” he asked.

“You...what’s wrong with you?” she asked eyeing him suspiciously.

“Whaddya mean?” he asked looking over at her.

“You held me last night, you let me kiss you this morning, you kissed me....”

“I’m trying.” he said simply, but paused. “Actually, I don’t even need to try...it kind of just happens. I do what I feel..”

“Honestly?” she asked.

“Honestly.” he whispered turning on his side to look down at her. He propped his head up with one arm and lightly ran the fingers of his other hand over the skin on her arm. “I don’t know why...maybe because I want this so bad...but it’s easier than I thought it was going to be.”

“How so?” Gianna asked quietly, feeling his touch--his feather like caresses-- move from her arm to the back of her hand.

“Well,” he began, moving his hand to her stomach to continue his gentle journey, “Yesterday, when you touched me...I wanted to move away...but I made myself sit there, and let you continue. It felt good to have someone else touching me...different than it did with Ang, but different in a good way. You aren’t the same person she was...nothing with you is the same as it was with her. That’s what makes this so easy. Everything is new.” he said smiling as his hands halted just below her breasts.

“Different.” Gianna repeated looking up at Nick.

“Yeah...different. I feel different....” he said smiling. He had never felt more secure in his life. He was completely at ease at that moment, laying there, next to Gianna. He never wanted to leave her. That thought--that desire--comforted him.

“What are you thinking?” she asked softly, loving the relaxed mannerism Nick was showing. He wasn’t tense...he wasn’t nervous...he looked mellow.

“I’m thinking about a lot of things.” Nick confessed. Mainly, he was thinking about advancing their relationship another step. He knew he could tease her, he knew he could hold her...now he wanted to show her how he felt, really show her. Although he was comfortable with the way things were now...he couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if he were to kiss her...face his fears. Would he be able to handle that? Nervousness flooded his body. Was he ready for that step??

“Let’s go find some food.” Gianna said, breaking Nick of his thoughts. He nodded his head, realizing he was hungry and followed Gianna down to the kitchen. “What do you want?” she asked looking through the cupboards. Nick sat at the table and watched her rummage through food. He cocked his head and listened..the only sounds were Gianna’s mutters as she searched. The house was unusually quiet. Nick glanced around the kitchen, his gaze landing on a note stuck on the fridge.

“Hey...” he said, catching Gianna’s attention.

“Hey what?” she asked setting a box of macaroni and cheese on the counter as she looked over Nick’s shoulder.

“They’re gone.” he said holding up the note. “Listen to this...’Hey kids, we went to this local place for breakfast before we’re heading over to Disney for the day. You guys looked too cute to wake up. Hope you can keep yourselves busy for the day. Have fun...don’t do anything I wouldn’t do! -Bone’”

“Don’t do anything he wouldn’t do?? What does that include?” Gianna asked muffling a laugh. Nick glanced at her over his shoulder, smiling too.

“Not much...” he commented. Gianna shook her head and held up the macaroni and cheese.

“It’s almost noon...wanna go straight to lunch?”

“Sure...” he said watching her dig around for a pan to cook in. Nick smiled and inspected her backside as she bent over into one of the lower cupboards. She straightened and turned around, catching Nick staring with a smile on his face.

“Nick.” He shook his head at the sound of his name.

“Hmm?”

“You were staring.” she explained patting him on the arm.

“Oh.” he flushed light pink. “Um....sorry.”

“Sokay.” she smiled, and filled the pan with water to start the pasta. “You wanna have a seat or do you wanna help me with lunch?” she asked raising an eyebrow. Nick was still planted next to the fridge, holding the note tightly in his fingers.

“Uh, help, I guess.” he finally answered, sticking the note where he found it. He made his way over to Gianna and stood patiently next to her. They watched the pan filled with water for a few painfully uncomfortable minutes. Nick’s fingers played with the hem of his shirt, nervously. The silence was getting to him. Why all of a sudden were they not talking? Their arms brushed lightly...he grew even more agitated....he wanted to touch her. Gianna shifted nervously. He was beginning to make her uneasy. All of a sudden he was very quiet...like he was having some inner battle with himself. She felt the soft skin of his arm as he moved slowly closer to her, it felt amazing. Finally, not being able to bare the teasing sensation of his arm, she moved away from him. Hopping onto the counter next to the stove she looked at Nick. He was still staring into the still water, chewing his lip. She exhaled deeply causing Nick glance over at her.

“Nick.?” she asked. He raised an eyebrow. “What’s going on?” she questioned, her voice soft and small.

“I don’t know.” he responded, moving his body in front of hers. His hands were planted firmly on either side of her body.

“Yes you do...you’re quiet.” she complained, her gaze shifting back to the water.

“Yeah..I am quiet.” he admitted leaning his body against the counter, now standing between her legs. He boldly moved his hands to rest lightly on her thighs. His rough, callused fingertips ran softly over the skin at the edge of her shorts.

“What are you doing?” she whispered, his gaze on his hands, moving over her legs. Her heart was beating rapidly...his entire attitude was making her uncomfortable. She was no longer able to anticipate his next move. He was being spontaneous. He wasn’t the apprehensive guy she knew a few days ago, he was making moves left and right and she couldn’t keep up.

“I don’t know.” he answered, again. He looked up at Gianna and smiled innocently. “I’m just doing something...” he reasoned, shrugging his shoulders. “I want to do more...” he said cocking his head to one side, analyzing Gianna’s expression.

“You do?” her eyebrows raised in question. This was becoming hard to believe. This guy can’t stand to be have any part of her body touching him not forty-eight hours ago...and now he wants more?

“Yeah...but, we have time.” he stated running his hand over Gianna’s upper arm. Her face calmed, regaining the peaceful appearance. “We’ve been here for almost three weeks, we still have another five to spend with each other...even more afterwards...”

“Afterwards?” she asked. She had never stopped to think about what would happen after the two month vacation from life concluded. She would go back to Harvard, and Nick would resume touring and recording for the group. Was a relationship even worth that?

“Yeah...when summer is over. We were going to try to start something right?” Gianna’s gaze left his. “I thought...” Nick backed away, pain flooding his blue eyes. “You aren’t interested in an afterward, are you?” he concluded from her blank expression. He turned away from her, retreating to the living room. Gianna followed.

“Nick...” she pleaded. She sat next to him on the couch, but he didn’t acknowledge her. “Nick,” she began again, extending her arm to place it softly on his arm. He jerked away from her. She closed her eyes momentarily, clearing her head..searching for the right words.

“How could you do this?” he asked, interrupting her thoughts. “I trust you, tell you how scared I am to love again, and you convince me that you are the one that’s going to make everything okay. And, this entire time, you haven’t planned on continuing to see me after we leave here. Were you just going to convince me to love you and then leave me as soon as the two months were up?” he asked, his hurt sounding in his words.

“No, Nick...that’s not what I was planning to do..” she tried to explain.

“So, you weren’t planning to leave me...but you were planning something? Are you even interested in a relationship? Or, are you just going to have fun teasing me?”

“Nick..” she said defensively, her eyes wide.

“Did you lie to me this entire time?” he asked angrily.


Chapter Thirteen
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