Part 512

Nick closed the bedroom door softly, not wanting to wake Garrett. Silently he tiptoed over to peer down at the baby who was sleeping soundly, oblivious to the turmoil that had suddenly come into the lives of the adults closest to him. He covered him up, smiling at the warmth that one tiny body could produce. Thank god he was all right. Nick sighed and turned to find Becca stuck in her sweater and struggling to pull it over her head.

"Hey, hang on, let me help," he said taking the soft fabric in his hands and helping her pull it off.

"Damn thing …" she said quietly, sniffling at her frustration.

"Bec, come on, let’s crawl into bed. I just need to hold you."

"That’s not what ‘I’ want." Becca turned away from him, reaching for her nightgown as Nick stood in dumfounded silence.

Nick was still standing there watching her when she finally turned around. "Nick, please."

"Please what? Bec, what am I supposed to think when you say something like that?"

"I don’t want to ‘cuddle’, Nick. I’m sick and tired of that. I need you, Nick."

"But Bec-" He sucked in a deep breath as she stood before him, running her hands over his chest and up into his hair.

"Kiss me Nick," she pleaded, stretching up on tiptoe and pulling his head closer.

Nick let her pull him closer, pressing his soft lips to hers and letting her have her way with him. As they kissed, Becca wrapped her arms around his back, kneading the tense muscles and finally slipping her hands beneath his sweater to run her hands over the smooth skin of his back. She dragged her nails up and down his spine and he groaned, feeling himself react instantly. Damn he wanted her, but-

"Make love to me Nick," she whispered, nibbling on his lower lip and moving her hands over his chest to brush against his nipples.

"Bec, this isn’t fair," he whispered.

"Please? I need you," she begged. "It’s been so long."

"Baby, I need you too, but-" His voice no longer worked. Becca pushed his sweater up and was busy kissing his chest, flicking her tongue over first one nipple and then the other. "God Bec," he groaned and finally managed to push her away.

"I love you Nick," she said with tears in her eyes and emotion clouding her voice.

"I love you too, Bec, but this isn’t the right way to-" God give me strength he thought as she grasped his full erection through his jeans and squeezed gently.

"It will be so good, Nick." She continued to stroke him and he was ‘this’ close to coming in his pants when he grabbed her hand.

"No," he choked, "no it won’t be good. Bec this isn’t right and you know it. It’s still too soon and you’re still hurting from everything that’s happened tonight."

"Nick please?" Her eyes overflowed and she just wanted him to make it better, to wipe away all the bad memories she’d been forced to talk about.

"Baby, I want you so much, I really do. But Bec," he tilted her chin up, "when I make love to you again it’s going to be perfect." He tangled his fingers in her hair and forced her to look at him. "There won’t be anyone else around, Bec. There won’t be any deadlines, no meetings with lawyers, no baby …" He chuckled at the look in her eyes. "You might have forgotten that certificate Howie and Sarah gave us, but I haven’t. I love GT to pieces, but for one night he can go keep someone else awake. I want to take my time and touch you all over, to learn your body all over again. I want to lay you down and taste every inch of you. And then I want you to do the same to me."

"But Nick…"

"Come to bed, baby. Let me hold you, please? I need you to let me hold you tonight."

Becca closed her eyes and rested her forehead against Nick’s broad chest. "I love you," she whispered softly.

"Oh baby, I love you too." Wearily they crawled beneath the comforter and Nick spooned up behind Becca’s back. He wrapped his arm protectively over her, and buried his face in her hair. Her feet were cold, so he rubbed them with his foot, all the time pressing soft kisses into her hair as she cried quietly. Eventually she quieted, and her even breathing told him that she was finally asleep. He sighed and closed his eyes, finally allowing himself to slip over the edge into exhaustion.

Part 513        Index