Part 312
Becca struggled to rise from the depths of sleep and found herself unable to move. Her arms were pinned by her side and she felt trapped. She struggled in vain against her captor, relaxing only slightly when soft lips brushed her ear. Warm breath on her skin made goose bumps rise on her neck and yet still she struggled.
"Easy, Bec," Nick whispered sleepily. "Relax baby."
All the fight went out of Becca as she finally became aware of her surroundings. She sighed as Nick's arms hugged her closer. "I was dreaming," she whispered.
"Didn't feel like it was a very good one, baby." Nick raised up on one elbow to look over his wife's shoulder. He saw the remnants of fear on her face and kissed her shoulder gently, watching her intently.
"It wasn't. But it's all a jumble … I guess it's everything that's happened catching up with me." She rolled to her back and looked up into Nick's eyes. "I've missed this," she smiled. "Waking up with you, having you close like this."
Nick simply smiled. Words wouldn't come, and he'd felt like this day would never arrive. Carefully, he covered her body with his own, pressing his lips to hers and kissing her sweetly. His fingers wove through her hair as they exchanged breath, feeling a closeness that had been absent far too long.
Becca sighed, slipping away into Nick's touch, her fingers tangled in his soft blonde locks. She moaned as Nick deepened the kiss, and as her breasts began to tingle in anticipation she suddenly pushed him away, struggling to sit up.
"Bec?" Nick caught his balance as he watched the panic on Becca's face.
"The baby-"
Nick grinned. "GT's in his bed, Bec, sound asleep. I moved him around 5:30 this morning."
Becca collapsed back against the pillows, a guilty look on her face. "I'm sorry."
"Baby, it's okay," Nick laughed. "This is all new to me, too."
"What time is it?"
"I dunno, around 8:30, why?"
Becca sighed and closed her eyes. "We're supposed to meet everyone for breakfast."
"Not until 10, Bec." Nick frowned as he stroked Becca's hair and brushed it away from her face.
"Can I stay here?" she asked meekly.
"What's really going on, Bec?" Nick lay back down, pulling Becca closer so that her head was on his shoulder.
"Everything."
"That covers a lot of ground." Nick lay quietly, enjoying the feel of having Becca in his arms again. "Bec, we all said some pretty harsh things yesterday."
Becca shrugged. "There was a lot of truth in most of it, Nick."
"But Sarah-"
"I don’t want to talk about Sarah." Becca tried to sit up, but once again, Nick held her down.
"What did you mean last night? You said something about Sarah killing me?"
"Nick-" Becca knew she had to explain herself, and even now it sounded so ridiculous.
"Baby, talk to me." Nick threaded his fingers through Becca's and waited patiently.
"In her story, Nick. I know it's just a story, but … it happened at the end of 'Dark Riders'."
"She finished it?"
"She posted the last chapter yesterday morning. I found it when I was checking my mail, right before I left Julie's. She shot you, Nick. In cold blood."
Nick chuckled. "Bec, it's just a story."
"No, its not. I write, too, Nick, and I know that stuff like that comes from deep down inside. Why would Sarah do that, Nick? I read what she wrote and it hurt. It hurt so bad that she would do that to you, to ME." Becca sniffled as the tears began to fall.
"Bec, the last week … it's been really tough on all of us. Hell, baby, I missed you so damn much, and I know I was a pain in the ass to be around. Sarah has been on edge ever since 9-11. She's still trying to work out everything in her mind, and I know she hasn't been sleeping. We'll work everything out Bec, but can we please not talk about all this now?"
"I'm sorry, Nick."
"Baby, don't be. I've missed you so much, and I know we haven't had a chance to talk much. I'm sorry, too."
"Kiss me?" Becca whispered.
Nick complied. Once more taking her mouth with his own, he tasted her, loving the softness beneath his lips. Gently his hand crept beneath her gown, resting on the soft swell of her tummy and stroking higher.
"Nick, we can't-"
"Shh, baby, I know." He kissed the slope of her neck as his hand came to rest on her breast, tight with the need to nurse their son. "I just need to touch you, Bec, it's been so long." Gently he stroked her swollen flesh, his fingers brushing the tight bud of her nipple, his hips rocking slowly against hers.
"Oh," she sighed as his hand closed over her breast, closing her eyes, and then, "Ow, Nick … easy."
"I'm sorry, baby," Nick was immediately contrite, his hand stilling.
"It's just really tender, go slow, okay?" Becca smiled as Nick pulled away, pushing aside the covers and tugging her gown up around her waist. The fabric bunched up beneath her breasts and Nick leaned over to spread soft moist kisses along her abdomen.
"Hard to believe," he said quietly.
"What is?" Becca reached for him, once again stroking her fingers through his hair as he lay his head against her.
"Just a little over a week ago you held our son … here, inside," he kissed her tummy again, his fingers tracing the fine lines where the skin had been stretched tight. "Such a miracle, Becca."
Becca's eyes were full as she relaxed under his touch. "I love you, Nick," she whispered.
"I love you too, baby, you have no idea how much."
Suddenly he was resting above her, his crystal blue eyes shining with a wetness that matched her own. He sighed as she wrapped a hand behind his head and pulled him in for another kiss. He teased her, brushing his mouth fleetingly over hers and moving to kiss her cheek before returning once more to the game.
"Nick-" she protested in a voice laced with frustration.
"Shh." He licked gently at her lower lip and chuckled as she tried in vain to capture his tongue between her teeth. "Minx, be nice."
"I can be very nice," she purred.
"Not for five more weeks, you can't," he groaned.
"There are other ways, Nicky." Becca smiled as he lifted away, feeling the unmistakable hardness against her hip.
Nick looked down into her face and his eyes closed in desperation as her hand wrapped around his erection. "Becca-" he groaned as her fingers stroked him.
"Nick, look at me," she insisted. Her breath caught as she watched him give himself over to the feelings she was creating. His eyes were still closed and his lips were parted just slightly as he breathed in shallow pants, trying desperately to hold on.
"Damn, baby," he groaned, his hips rocking helplessly against her hand.
Becca held him firmly, her rhythm never faltering and her breath caught as he swelled even more, a warm trickle of satiny fluid running over her fingertips as he came closer and closer to completion. Her thumb caught the drops and spread them over the satiny smooth tip, and she smiled as a strangled sound came from deep within Nick's throat.
"That's it, Nick," she whispered, "let it go baby." The covers had been kicked aside and she raised her head to watch as all the feeling in Nick's body seemed to become centered in the mass of rigid flesh between his legs. His hands gripped the sheets as he trembled, on the brink of ecstasy, wanting it to end and yet never wanting it to end.
"Please…" he whimpered, his hips lifting from the bed as he strained against her fingers.
Becca's eyes were dark as she watched him come apart at her touch. Leaning closer, she placed her lips at his ear, licked him once and whispered, "Do it now. Come."
With a strangled cry, Nick let go of all that he'd built up over the past weeks of self-denial. In hot endless streams he bathed himself and his wife's hand in his offering. He pulsed for what seemed to be endless minutes, and when he was spent, he lay still, his softening member still cradled in her hand. Weakly he reached for her, pillowing her head against his shoulder as he tried to breathe normally. "Becca…"
"Shh. I love you, Nick."
He simply smiled and kissed her hair. From the far corner of the bedroom, a soft rustling was heard and soon erupted into an indignant cry for attention. He laughed as Becca sighed, knowing that their day was off and running. He'd never been happier in his life.
As she moved to sit up, he caught her by the hand and pulled her back. "This is what matters, baby," he said with a gentle smile. "Nothing else. Nothing outside of our love is worth your heartache. Whatever happened, it'll be okay, Bec. Just remember that. It doesn't get any better than this."
Becca kissed him gently and went to pick up the baby. Nick watched her as she talked softly to him, changing him and settling into the rocking chair to feed him. As she pulled aside her gown to nurse him, a wave of emotion washed over Nick and he bit his lip to contain the sob that threatened to escape.
"Nope, it doesn’t get any better than this." With a smile he rose and headed for the shower, stopping only long enough to kiss Becca once more and to say good morning to his son.