Hey, I took the time to fill these out for you as best I could. There's still some info that you need to put in and some of them need an essay to go with them. Please, fill them out, even if you don't know where you want to go right now. You need it, trust me. You can work out where you want to go after you get accepted to all of these for spring term, which starts at the end of January. Get on the ball, Nick, and do something for yourself.
Danny.
Nicole took a look at the graduate school applications. A smile overtook her face and instead of working on her cases, she started going through the applications. She began working on essays to send out with those that required them.
***
Dane watched Nicole leave, seeing how her step had slowed as the days passed. She noticed the bags and lines under Nicole's eyes getting darker and heavier. She was running out of ideas on how to soothe the frayed nerves of the corporate attorney. She was also finding it harder to ignore the hints that Nicole was dropping about what she thought would relax her, which was getting laid.
Dane didn't say so out loud, but she doubted Nicole would be able to stay awake long enough to have sex. The only things Nicole really did when she came home now were take a quick shower, eat her dinner, and fall into bed. There was no room for anything else, so Dane thought that it'd be best to get Nicole to ease her way out of whatever was making her frustrated and tense before they hopped into bed together.
Dane scratched her head. "What's left for relaxing things to do? Flowers, bath, favorite meals, music, books, movies…I could take her away for the weekend. Oh, wait, no. Don't have the savings for that anymore. Shit."
If only she had met Nicole earlier in life, she lamented. She would've been able to take real good care of Nicole. She would have found someone to spend her money on instead of snorting it or smoking it.
"Or I would've fucked her over like all of the other people in her life. Well, no use thinking about what coulda been. I need to do something before Nick breaks under the pressure."
Dane sighed and figured that something would come to her eventually. She had time. Nicole was staying at work late most days and they rarely had their usual nights anymore because of Nicole's new habits. She wasn't able to do anything whenever Nicole was like this.
That day Nicole arrived late and was so worn out that she didn't bother eating dinner. Dane frowned as she put the food away, feeling like she had cooked for nothing. She had spent the entire day strategizing and racking her brain on how to relax Nicole, all for Nicole to fall asleep forty minutes after walking through the door.
"Calm down, Danny. She's working hard, not because she wants to stay late, but because she doesn't want to let anyone down. She doesn't want people to think she's slacking off, and because she doesn't want anyone to say that she's doing a bad job. I have to stand by her. She needs it. She deserves it," Dane reminded herself as she put dinner into containers and into the fridge. She wouldn't abandon Nicole just because times were rough. She was stronger than that.
Dane finished her clean up in the kitchen and went to the den. She stared at the ceiling most of the night, trying to sort out her feelings. She couldn't believe she actually felt…underappreciated and neglected. She shook away the thought by reminding herself how people took advantage of Nicole. She needed someone around to take care of her. Dane wanted to be that someone and she'd work hard to remain that someone. She cared way too much about Nicole to run off when the attorney obviously needed her the most.
In the morning when Dane woke up, she began her usual routine. She paused when Nicole made her way into the kitchen, looking just about the worst Danny had ever seen her. Nicole was ashen. Her usually vibrant eyes were dull, glass-like, and bloodshot. The bags under her eyes were dark violet, like deep bruises. Dane wouldn't have been surprised if Nicole dropped over right in the middle of the kitchen.
"Nick, how're you feeling?" Dane rushed to the smaller woman. Her hand immediately went to Nicole's forehead, even though she had no clue what she was doing. She had never done anything like that before, but right now she felt like she could give medical tips to the best doctors in the world. Nicole felt clammy, which she guessed that meant Nicole was sick.
"Crappy," Nicole admitted with a pained groan.
"You look like that, too, and I don't like how your forehead feels, either. Go back upstairs, go to bed. I'll call your office and let them know you're sick."
"No, I'll call."
Dane blinked. "No fight over it?"
"No fight, on one condition."
A smile graced the taller woman's features. "Okay, what's this condition?"
"You lay next to me while I sleep." An arched eyebrow caused Nicole to continue. "We don't have to do anything. I just…I've been wondering what it would be like to sleep next to you….I've been dreaming about it…"
"It's okay, Nick. You don't have to keep going. I'd be honored to sleep next to you."
That put a grin on Nicole's face that lit up the room. Briefly, she looked like she usually did. She wasted no time calling to say that she wouldn't be in that day. She had breakfast and marched upstairs with Danny trailing behind her. Danny halted at the doorway.
"Danny?"
"Sorry…it's just…" Dane ran her hand through her hair. "I've never been in your room, except that one time. You know, to leave your applications…"
Nicole took Dane's hand and gently tugged her inside the room. Dane was led to the bed. Nicole pulled back the covers and lay down, sighing as she touched down on the comfortable queen-sized mattress. It took Dane a few seconds, but she also lay down. Nicole made herself comfortable, cuddling against Dane's form. She was asleep in seconds and Dane occupied her time watching Nicole sleep. Dane drifted off with a smile on her face.
***
Dane woke up a couple of hours later to find Nicole sleeping soundly against her. It was one of the few times when Dane woke up and knew exactly where she was the moment that her brain began functioning. She smiled and her hand started caressing Nicole's pajama-clad back. She was happy to see the color had returned to Nicole's face while they slept. She lightly stroked Nicole's cheek with her right hand. I can't believe I had a moment of doubt where I thought I could walk away from this.
She would've walked away from Heaven; the heaven of having Nicole pressed against her in such a trusting manner. Her steady breathing against Dane's neck made her smile. She felt so many different emotions in that one moment that she dared think she'd never be able to leave Nicole.
"Shit, I love this woman," Dane realized, speaking aloud.
Nicole suddenly moved, cuddling closer into her. Dane stiffened, thinking Nicole might have heard her. The tension that shot through Dane disturbed the resting body against her. She groaned slightly, her lips touching against Dane's neck. Dane whimpered and squirmed, which only made things worse. Nicole moved with her, rubbed against her frame, and her lips touching Dane's skin again. Dane felt like her body was on fire after long seconds of sweet torture.
"She's going to kill me." Dane knew she'd go with a smile.
She was taken from her thoughts on her impending demise as Nicole started rubbing her nose into Dane's neck. Her hands went from laying limp by Dane's hip to wandering up by Dane's breasts.
"I thought you just wanted to sleep next to me," Dane said in a mock accusing tone.
"Now, I want to sleep with you," Nicole replied with a voice that was low from sleep. She kissed Dane's throat.
"You're in no shape for that sort of thing."
"I'm very well rested and I have the whole day off. I want to be with you and I think you want to be with me, too," Nicole's voice was low and hesitant.
"Guilty as charged," Dane confirmed. She wanted to be with Nicole more than any woman in her life, but it wouldn't be good to work Nicole up if she were really sick.
Nicole bit her lip. "I heard you…what you said…"
Dane gulped, pushing down a lump in her throat. "Didn't I say that in my head?"
"No, you didn't. I haven't felt anything like this before."
"Me neither. I do know I don't plan to ever leave you, Nick, unless you want me gone. And even then, I warn you that I'll fight for you. Hopefully it doesn't go to a creepy degree."
Nicole chuckled. She pushed herself up, capturing Danny's inviting lips. Dane responded to the kiss, returning all of the passion that her body would allow. Even with deep desire clouding her mind, Dane noticed Nicole moving over her, pressing their bodies closer together as the kiss continued.
Dane didn't put up a fight, moving her hands to Nicole's hips as the lawyer straddled her waist. Their mouths refused to part as their hands quickly made it their business to wander over cloth-covered forms, delighting at the hints of curves underneath the clothes.
"You feel so good," Dane growled. She knew she had somehow fallen into a trap and was being distracted from a concern she had minutes ago, but the rest of her mind didn't give a damn about that. If this was a trap, she wanted to fall for more.
"So do you."
They practically tore each other out of their pajamas. They took a moment to appreciate each other's body. The moment lasted until Nicole noticed something that she found interesting. Dane had five tattoos of small paw prints on her stomach going upward to a body part that Nicole decided to inspect. She traced the path that the tattoos took before arriving right where she wanted to be. Dane moaned lightly.
Greedy fingers clutched all of the freed skin, hungering for as much tempting flesh as possible. Demanding palms rubbed, mapped, and memorized each part of the bare bodies before them. Their lips and tongues weren't to be outdone and left the company of each other to feel the rest of the forms that they wanted to know better than their own.
Dane's mouth wandered down Nicole's neck, licking and kissing every inch she could. She yearned to taste all of Nicole at once and silently cursed that it was impossible. As she got to Nicole's breasts, her hands moved before her mouth had a chance to sample the goods. The redhead moaned loudly as Dane's hands played her like a fine instrument, making her body cry out.
"God, yes," Nicole hissed and pressed herself deeper into Dane's questing hands.
Dane growled again, craving to give Nicole more of what she was silently demanding. Dane moved her decidedly useless left hand and replaced it with her mouth. Kisses and licks around the swell of the full mound made Nicole buck against the musician. She moaned loud enough to reach the heavens when Dane's lips latched onto the center of her breast, taking her in as if she held the key to immortality. She wrapped her arms around Danny's head to keep her in place. She ran her hands through soft ebony locks and gently bucked against Dane. Dane continued playing her, bringing forth sweet notes deep from within Nicole's soul.
"Oh, Danny…" Tears gathered in Nicole's eyes. "It's never…No one's ever…Ah!" Her words vanished into incoherent murmurs. She clutched Dane as tightly as possible, making sure the guitarist couldn't escape.
Dane shivered when she heard Nicole cry out. She sat up slightly, wanting to take more of Nicole into her mouth. She rolled them over and settled on top. Nicole moaned even louder, feeling the maximum amount of heated flesh against her in their new position. She wrapped her arms around Dane and tried her best to pull them infinitely closer.
Danny adjusted her mouth against Nicole's body, pulling at the gem between her lips. The wave of ecstasy that rippled through Nicole was such a shock that she screamed. Nicole's body arched and let Dane know that she definitely played the right note. Dane turned her attention to the gem's twin and plucked it with her lips and tongue in the same manner. Nicole called out again, her body bowed again. Their bodies writhed against each other. Dane hissed, "I need more."
With one last nip, assuring that her mark would be left, Dane moved on. Nicole whined from the sudden abandonment, but the sour note was corrected by quick licks and nibbles going down her abdomen. She panted as rapture built as Dane played on. Kisses swirled around her navel before working down to her thighs.
"Danny…" Nicole cried, hands still lost in the unruly mop of thick onyx hair, stroking the wild mane as Dane continued her wonderful torture.
Dane kissed the inside of toned thighs and with each touch of her lips it was as if she were hitting a button that controlled her girlfriend. Nicole's silky legs slid open with each loving touch. Dane purred and nuzzled the warm flesh offered to her and the sound vibrated through Nicole. Dane craved her even more. Nicole's hips bucked and jerked, begging for the divine, skilled touch of the musician. Nicole's long, willing limbs were placed on an altar of broad shoulders and paradise was about to be achieved as Dane strummed her new favorite instrument. Her tongue took short licks, like quick plucks to a finely tuned string. She had control of Nicole like she would any of the other instruments that she played and she used the utmost care with the woman she loved. She felt like she could drink of Nicole for the rest of her days and survive for centuries, especially if she kept getting such passionate cries and adorable mews from Nicole.
Dane's typically detested left hand showed that it could still play with the best of them, stroking Nicole with expert ability, earning loud, sharp notes from her. Her left hand occupied Nicole's plump breast, flicking the center jewel with almost deft care. The right hand had a greater mission. Her right hand helped bring forth the most exquisite notes as her fingers slid up and down Nicole's glorious treasure. Her tongue continued on, moving against Nicole's pearl.
Dane felt a shudder roll through her because of the sounds, so much like beautiful music. The heavenly notes from Nicole resonated through Dane like the greatest song of all time. She needed more. One finger and then two went to know Nicole as intimately as possible, strumming her as if Dane knew all about Nicole's body, and the crescendo was reached quickly. Nicole screamed so loudly the neighbors might have heard. Her back bowed again, tears flowed from her eyes, and declarations of love slipped from her lips. Dane wasn't done, though. She played on, bringing forth more cries from her lover until Nicole was too tired even to scream.
"No more, please," Nicole begged, her chest heaving as she tried to take in as much air as her lungs would allow. Her body was glistening with sweat and passion; she appeared sated and at peace.
Danny smiled into short dark red curls before kissing her way back up Nicole's body. The lovers kissed deeply, soul searing affection flowing through them. They stared into each other's eyes, telling the other just how much they were loved in ways that words would never be able to express.
"You're tired now," Dane playfully accused, smiling and beaming with pride. She could see sleep creeping up on her lover as Nicole's eyes drooped, almost closing completely. It was nice to know she hadn't lost her touch, even though she hadn't done anything remotely sexual in over a year.
"Just a little," Nicole admitted with a small yawn. "Guess I wasn't as ready for this as I thought. Actually, I've never felt so much like I did just now. It really took a lot out of me. You really took a lot out of me. I really wanted to touch you, too." She yawned again.
A proud smile settled onto Dane's face. "Go back to sleep. The whole point of today is for you to get some rest and relaxation." Dane kissed Nicole on the cheek.
"You're going to stay, right?"
Dane smiled brightly. "A crane couldn't pull me away. Go back to sleep." Dane rolled over onto her back and pulled Nicole against her side.
Nicole made herself comfortable against Dane's body once again, resting her head against a sweat-covered shoulder. Dane gently caressed Nicole. She was asleep almost immediately. That's definitely a song I want to play forever, Dane thought as she fell asleep with a smile.
CHAPTER 14
Nicole awoke from a nap and smiled, memories of what happened an hour earlier playing in her mind. Looking for a prolonged repeat, she began kissing on the warm neck that was temptingly close to her mouth. She dragged her tongue along the tantalizing throat, feeling Dane's heartbeat under her curious tongue.
"Starting troub
le again?" Dane asked in a sleepy tone without opening her eyes. Her voice was playful and there was a smile tugging at her lips.
"Actually I'm hoping I can finish it now," Nicole whispered seductively. Dane opened her eyes and looked down, noting the lustful expression embedded in Nicole's eyes.
"Don't push yourself, Nick. You were exhausted. Taking the day off wasn’t to exhaust you more, but for you to rest. Besides, you might pass out halfway into this. Then we both lose," she playfully added. The teasing grin on her face was precious, but didn't get a smile from her lover.
Nicole sighed. "You're right. I just…I want to make love to you."
Dane sighed, too, and caressed her girlfriend's shoulder. "Believe me, I want you, too. I'd love nothing more than to spend the whole day making love with you, but we have to worry about your health first. Do you want some lunch?"
There was silence for a few moments. Nicole's hand wandered over soft form of Danny. Curious fingers traced ribs before going to Dane's slightly pudgy sides. A smile settled on Nicole's face as she played with Dane's stomach and sides. She recalled when Danny first started staying at the house and how she looked like she weighed less than a leaf, but she was filled out now. She had small love handles poking out of her sides, which Nicole adored. She continued stroking Danny's middle and her fingers eventually wandered to the tattoos on her girlfriend's abdomen.
"These are cute and so are you. Do you have any other tattoos I might have missed?"
Dane smiled. "I could tell you, but where's the fun in that? Now, about lunch?"
"Can we just order something? I want to stay in bed and I want you to stay here, too," Nicole requested, hands still busy gliding over Danny's torso. She was willing to bet there were other tattoos, but it'd be more fun if she discovered them on her own. It was something to look forward.
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