The Gift
Chapter 10
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As he stood under the hot shower, Nick thought about his situation. Lainie hadn't given him any indication that she was falling for him. Was he acting stupid? It would seem so. He laughed to himself. He was being an idiot. He was about to ruin a good thing because he was paranoid. Besides... would it be so terrible if they got involved? Probably not. Lainie was a dream come true. In Nick's eyes, she was perfect... beautiful, sweet, innocent, caring, funny... He wasn't about to ruin that. Now if he could just keep AJ's hands off of her, he'd be in business...
Lainie pulled her soft terry robe on and sat on the counter waiting for Nick to emerge.When he finally did, she smiled brightly.
"Did you enjoy your shower?" she asked. Nick nodded and smiled back as he dried himself off. Naked, he walked over and positioned himself between her legs. He pulled her close to his body, and stared into her eyes.
"You know what?" he said quietly.
"What?" she replied, draping her arms over his shoulders.
"You're beautiful."
"So are you," she chuckled. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, baby. What is it?"
"Is AJ always like that? Flirty, I mean?" she asked, resting her forehead on his shoulder. His skin was hot and damp, and he smelled like her shampoo.
"Yep. Always. He can't help it. That's just how he is. Flirts with everybody. Hell, he even flirts with guys. I don't even think he realizes he's doing it sometimes."
"He flirts with guys? Does he... like... guys?" Lainie asked, her eyes snapping open.
"Not like that. Or at least I don't think he does. He just flirts with everybody, you know. He wants everybody to like him."
"Sounds familiar," she said, laughing.
"What? Are you like that?"
"Yeah, but I don't flirt. I just want everybody to like me."
"Well, I like you," Nick said, hugging her tightly.
"I'm glad you like me," she laughed.
"What are we gonna do today?"
"I thought you wanted to stay naked in bed all day," she replied, looking up at him with a grin.
"Nah. AJ ruined the mood. What is there to do in this town on a rainy day?"
"Not a damn thing," she laughed. "Seriously. There's nothing to do here on rainy days. Usually I just read a book or something. Besides, it's cold out there."
"Well, ok. Do you have a movie theatre or anything?"
"Yeah, but there are only two movies playing, and I've seen both of them. They're not new."
"What movies?" he asked, stepping up to the counter and rubbing some kind of stuff in his hair to make it stand up.
"The Fast & The Furious, and Shrek, I think," she said, watching him fix his hair.
"Well, let's get ready and catch the matinee."
"What about AJ? Are we taking him too?" she asked.
"I guess we'll have to. I mean, I invited him down here. I can't just leave him."
"Ok. Well, let me put my makeup on," she said, turning around on the counter to face the mirror. Nick watched intently as she applied her makeup.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she giggled.
"You have the most beautiful skin," Nick said, running his finger down the side of her face.
"Thank you."
"What do you do to make it look like that?"
"Part of it's hereditary. The other part is my beauty regimen," Lainie laughed. "Every other day, I exfoliate with almond scrub, and then I use a mud mask made from volcanic ash. I follow that up with a toner and moisturizer every day. I'm sure you really wanted to know all that, didn't you?"
"You'll have to do me sometime," Nick said, picking up her blush brush and putting a little on her cheeks.
"Oh will I?" she said, her eyebrows raised.
"You know what I meant, smartass," Nick laughed.
"Oh, a straight man who knows how to put my makeup on for me... How sexy is that?" she said, smirking.
"I'm not that good at it," he said. "Close your eyes and let me try to do your eyeshadow."
Lainie did as he asked, and he picked out some colors for her. After a few minutes, he told her to open her eyes. He smiled. She turned to look in the mirror, and saw that he had actually done a pretty good job.
"That's the limit to my makeup artistry," Nick laughed.
"Beautiful job," she said, taking the brush from him. She finished applying her makeup. She left Nick in the bathroom, brushing his teeth. She went back into the bedroom, and found AJ still lying on her bed.
"Hey sexy woman," AJ said, his arms behind his head. "What are you getting all dressed up for?"
"We're going to the movies," she said, pulling a sweatshirt and a pair of jeans from her closet.
"We're going out and you're gonna dress like that?" he snickered.
"What? It's a sweatshirt and jeans," she said, wrinkling her nose. "You don't like a sweatshirt and jeans?"
"Noooo..." AJ said, shaking his head. "Let me pick something out for you."
"Ok..." she said, tentatively. "But just don't pick something weird."
"I seriously doubt you have anything that I would consider weird in your closet," AJ said, skeptically.
"You're probably right," Lainie laughed. As he went though her closet, she stared at the tattoos on his back. She had the urge to touch them. They were so beautiful. He had a really nice back... AJ went through all of her clothes and sighed.
"You need more red in your wardrobe," he said, shaking his head. He pulled out a tight fitting red shirt from The Gap and looked it over. "This'll do."
He threw the shirt to her and waited for her to put it on.
"I need a bra," she laughed.
"Oh. Sorry. I'll get one for you," he said, walking to her dresser.
"Oh no you won't!" she exclaimed, stepping in front of her lingerie drawer.
"What? You got stuff in there I'm not supposed to see?" AJ asked, poking her in the side. As soon as she jumped out of his way to avoid his hand, he opened her top drawer and began to dig through her underwear.
"You're a pervert. Did you know that?" she said, sitting down on the bed and folding her arms.
"Never denied it," he stated. "Whoooo... white cotton bikini panties. Very sensible. Not very sexy."
"But they're comfortable," Lainie maintained. "And they're cheap panties. $1.98 at WalMart."
"Ugh. Cheap and panties should never, ever be used in the same sentence. Have you ever heard of Victoria's Secret?" AJ said, shaking his head in disgust. "You need a serious underwear make-over, girl."
"Well thank you," she snorted. "Like I asked you opinion on my undergarments."
"Oh well. Here. White cotton panties and here's a bra," AJ sighed. "Too bad I didn't find anything sexier in there. I'm disappointed in you, missy."
"Ah.. bite me," she said, taking the underwear from him. She turned her back to him and pulled the panties on under her robe. "Turn around. I need to put my clothes on. Better yet, get out."
"Nah. I'll just turn around," he laughed, turning her back to him. She dropped her robe and put on her bra. AJ watched her reflection in the mirror. He noticed the curve of her back and how creamy smooth her skin was, and how her honey-colored hair swished as she moved. He smiled, then felt himself beginning to get hard. She pulled the tight red shirt over her head and pulled on her jeans, then turned back around. She saw AJ watching her in the mirror with a sexy smirk on his face.
"Oh you!" she chastised.
"Sorry. Couldn't resist," he said, turning back around. His erection was obvious in the flannel pajama bottoms. Lainie's eyes grew large and she blushed profusely.
"You're... umm..." she started to say. But she stopped herself and turned away.
"I'm what? Hard? Yep. You made me that way," he said, his voice low and husky.
Nick picked that very moment to come out of the bathroom. He stopped, looked at AJ, then at Lainie.
"Well... what do we have here?" Nick asked, smiling nervously. His eyes immediately went to AJ's crotch and he shook his head in confusion.
"Nothing. Lainie was just making me hard, that's all. She's a sexy girl, Nicky. If you don't hurry up and make your move, I'm going to" AJ laughed. Before either of them could respond, AJ walked out of the room, still chuckling.
"I just keep reminding myself that he doesn't know any better," Lainie said, shaking her head. "But my gosh... He's relentless, isn't he?"
"Yep. Relentless and has absolutely no shame," Nick sighed. "You know... if you want to be with him, all you have to do is tell me. I'll understand. You don't owe me anything. I mean... well, you know what I mean. You and I don't have any... you know... commitment... or anything."
Lainie nodded, then looked down. She wasn't sure what to make of that comment. She liked Nick. She really did. She hadn't even seriously considered AJ as a possible... date... or whatever.
"Lainie, look at me," Nick said softly. He lifted her chin and kissed her. Nick had the most perfect, soft lips she had ever seen. She looked into his eyes.
"I didn't mean anything bad by that, ok? All I'm saying is that you don't have to stick with me just because of... you know... what happened earlier today. That was so great, but I don't want you to think you owe me anything. If you want to give AJ a try, or if you want to go out with him to see what he's like one on one, it's fine with me. Who knows? You might even like him. He's a great guy. He's a lot of fun and everything."
Lainie nodded again. She was truly confused now. She thought Nick liked her. Obviously, she was making too much of their relationship. What relationship, Lainie? You're being stupid. You have no relationship with Nick Carter. Damn it, you just met him 3 days ago. How could you have a relationship with somebody you just met 3 days ago? And why the HELL would Nick Carter want a relationship with you? You're no supermodel. You're no Willa. Hell, you can barely even dance... Lainie swallowed hard and forced a smile.
"You ready to go grab some lunch and see the matinee?" she said, blinking several times and hoping Nick couldn't see the tears in her eyes. She turned away from him quickly and walked downstairs.
Nick went to AJ's room and knocked.
"Enter," AJ called. Nick walked in and sat down on the bed. AJ stood in front of the mirror over the dresser combing his hair.
"Whassup, Nick?" AJ asked, smiling into the mirror.
"So... you like her, don't you?" Nick asked quietly.
"Yeah, I do. She's great. Why? You like her too?"
"Yeah. I do," Nick replied, not smiling.
"Ooooooh... conflict of interest here, huh?" AJ laughed.
"I don't know if I'd call it that. I mean, there's no relationship or anything. I just think she's fun. She's pretty...."
"PRETTY?" AJ exclaimed, cutting him off. "She's fucking amazing!"
"Ok, she's amazing. And I think she wants you," Nick said, looking away.
"You're kidding," AJ laughed. "No way. She doesn't want me. She wants you. It's obvious. She's totally not interested in me."
"Yes she is," Nick said, simply.
"You're serious," AJ stated. "You're really fucking serious."
"Yep."
"So... what are we gonna do about it?" AJ asked, sitting beside him. "I don't want this to affect me and you, bro. If you want me to back off, I will. I like her, but you're my bro. I love ya, you know?"
"I know. I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt me. But I also don't want you to do anything to hurt her either," Nick said, staring down at his fingernails.
"Dude... you know I wouldn't do something fucked up like hurt her. I like her. It's not like she's a fucking groupie or a throw-away, ya know?"
"I know. I didn't think you would, but I just wanted to be sure. She's a sweet person. And she really is a virgin, too," Nick said, smiling slyly.
"You could tell?" AJ asked, smirking.
"Oh yeah. It's very... shall we say... obvious," Nick laughed.
"Ohhh shit," AJ laughed, shaking his head. "Tell me more."
"A gentleman never reveals details," Nick said, shaking his head.
"Nick... you're no gentleman. Spill it, dude."
"No. You'll just have to find out for yourself," Nick said. He stopped, not believing what he had just said...
"Oh?" AJ said, his eyebrows shooting up. "You're giving me permission?"
Nick cringed and squeezed his eyes shut for a second. "You do whatever you want, man. Just don't hurt her. I don't want her to... you know... stay with me, and then wonder what she's missing when she looks at you."
"And what if she decides she likes me better?" AJ snorted.
"Well, so be it. It's better to find out now rather than later, right?"
"I guess you're right," AJ said. "So, if I ask her out for tomorrow, you won't be pissed?"
"Nope. But like I said... don't hurt her."
"I'd never hurt her," AJ said, smiling sincerely. "If I do, you can kick my ass and I won't even fight back."
"Right. Like I couldn't kick your ass anytime I wanted," Nick laughed.
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11