Nic's Devotion: An Endless Series: Book One

by Sara Hess

  He was in for a rude awakening.

  “The engine quit on me this afternoon on the way back from practice, something about the oil not getting to the pistons causing the engine to sort of seize up. The engines toast.” I gave her a smile through my bold faced lie. “Looks like I’m looking for another vehicle.” Giving her a kiss I shut the door and went around to the driver’s side.

  “Won’t they just give you another since it wasn’t even a year old?” Carrie asked as I started the engine.

  “I think I’ve soured on it after that. I’ve been thinking about getting something with better gas millage and eco friendly. Maybe you can help me decide.” I said with a grin and a wink her way.

  It could take weeks to get this trust fund situation ironed out so I’d just have to vacillate between vehicles until it was. I had a few thousand in my personal bank account that I’d taken out of my trust fund just in case, but it wasn’t enough to buy a new vehicle, or to waste on a used one. Therefore, I was going to have to manage my money carefully; something I wasn’t accustomed to doing.

  No matter what I needed to keep my state of affairs from Carrie or she would end up blaming herself, and she certainly didn’t need anything else to worry about.

  “But however will you get anywhere until then?” Carrie asked with wide eyed innocence.

  The little cat wasn’t being very subtle because I could hear the laughter in her voice and knew she was recalling the remarks I’d made about her getting around on the bus. Unlike her though I had a multitude of friends I could depend on to help me out. She hadn’t any then, but she did now.

  “Well, Miss Clever Caustic Carrie, I have the same classes as some of my roommates and we all share rides to practice, so that will be covered. The only other thing I need a vehicle for is to pick you up and I have four people who can lend me one of theirs.” I replied as I pulled up outside her dorm building. Jumping out I jogged around to her side and opened the door to her grinning face.

  “Come on…you…me…the bus…we should make a date.” Carrie hopped out with a chuckle.

  We walked up to the buildings door. “You’ve been trying to sell that bus to me from the beginning. Who wants to take mass transit when there’s a vehicle on hand?”

  Carrie swiped her card at the building’s entrance and we walked in. She started trotting up the stairs instead of taking the elevator. She always took the stairs saying it was faster. “Millions of people take the bus every day, and if you really wanted to save the environment that would be the best way; less vehicles on the road and all.”

  She gave me a grin over her shoulder, but I was too busy staring at her ass to really appreciate it. I couldn’t truly argue her comment because she had a very valid point, but there was no way I was going to be taking the bus unless it became absolutely necessary.

  So I gave her the best argument I had. “I like my truck.”

  She laughed opening the door to her floor. “But you don’t have your truck.” She countered. “And if you’re not going to take the bus to save the environment then your next option is a tiny electric car.”

  I followed her down the hall to her room still staring at her ass and realized that I’d been caught in the web of my own lie. Shit, was I going to have to buy some tiny ass smart car just to make good on my lie? Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen. I really liked my truck, any truck, and there was no way I’d fit comfortably in one of those miniature cars anyway. Sorry Kia.

  “There’s no way I’m buying something that a bunch of clowns might start climbing out of. We’ll just have to do some serious exploring on big trucks with good gas millage.” I amended.

  Carrie was laughing as she unlocked her door. I noticed someone’s head peek out a door down the hall, a male head. He zoned in on Carrie, switched to me, and then disappeared closing the door behind him.

  What the hell was that? Had he been waiting for her, and if he had was it because he was interested in her or because of the story? Either way I wasn’t liking it. I might have to pay that room a visit tomorrow morning.

  Carrie opened her door and I wrapped her in my arms shuffling her inside kissing her neck. “Do you want to get a shower in before we head on over to the house for the party?” I asked pecking at her neck. I felt her stiffen up slightly in my arms.

  “Do you think it’s a good idea for me to go?” Uncertainty colored her tone as she clutched at my arms.

  Our house was having a before the game party tonight. The game was Sunday and it was away and we needed a day for recovery if we were staying up to the morning hours. Carrie had been undecided about it for days, thinking that her being there might cause some problems. I’d told her that any one of the guys on the team would cause more problems with the fights they started than she ever could.

  “Amanda wants you to be there and so do the guys. It will be fun.” I said squeezing her tight. “And if it’s not then we’ll head upstairs or back here, okay?”

  “Okay.” She sighed. “I don’t need a shower because I already took one this afternoon.” Her fingers trailed lightly over my forearms as if reminding me of what we did this afternoon. I didn’t need any reminder’s, it was imprinted on my brain. “Let me just get my hair out of my braid and change my clothes.”

  I cupped one of her breasts and moved one hand down to cover her mound. “Don’t feel you have to rush. My first choice would be to stay here with you, but I really think you need to get out and have some fun, so go make yourself more beautiful. Although, I don’t think that’s possible.” With a last kiss to her cheek I stepped back and gave her a swat on the ass. That ass of hers drew my hand every time, I couldn’t help myself from touching it any way I could. I think I might be turning kinky with some of the thoughts it conjured up in me.

  Carrie jumped and yelped. Turning she gave me a hard glare, but as always she couldn’t hold back her grin. Grabbing some clothes out of her baskets she headed for the bathroom closing the door behind her.

  I chuckled; even though we were having sex constantly she was still shy with her body when not in the thorough’s of sex.

  Chapter Forty-one

  Carrie

  I closed the door behind me with a smile leaning against it for a second to regulate my breathing. Nic had gotten me all riled up touching me than sent me on my way with a pat on the bottom. I might have to return that favor some time tonight.

  Walking up to the sink I washed my face and brushed my teeth. Then I unwound the braid I’d put in my hair after my shower at Nic’s this afternoon. It fell in thick, puffy, waves down my back. Not wanting to deal with it getting in my face I gathered small portions of the front and sides and fastened them with a clip on top of my head. It actually looked pretty good for a rush job.

  I took a hard look at my face. I’d been doing that a lot more recently. My lashes where thick and black enough that I didn’t really need mascara, and they even curled slightly to where I didn’t have to take an eyelash curler to them. My cheeks had some color to them right now, probably because of Nic. He was my personal blush enhancer. I could put on some lipstick but Nic would just kiss it off when I came out so what was the point. My complexion was clear so I didn’t need any concealer which was a plus. I hated concealer, and as long as I kept away from too much chocolate and chips I was good to go.

  I did want to try something with my eyes though. I’d seen some girl with black liner on her bottom lid and it had really made her eyes stand out. Picking up the new black eyeliner I’d picked up the other day I lined my bottom lid with it. Wow! It was subtle, but I could see the difference. It made my blue eyes really pop.

  It hit me abruptly that I was having no difficulty looking at my eyes in the mirror. In the past I’d always shied away from looking at them too closely because they’d unconsciously remind me of my father. When I looked in the mirror now I just saw me, not past memories trying to surge up and strangle me. I found myself letting out a deep sigh of liberation.

  Stripping out of my w
ork clothes I stepped into the new outfit I’d bought recently; dark skinny jeans and a white button-up half sleeve shirt that formed to my body enough to show some curves, but not too much that I was uncomfortable. I was unaccustomed to wearing figure enhancing clothes and I felt a little exposed even though I knew I wasn’t. The shirt had a V front but I had it buttoned up to where it covered my breasts without showing an abundance of cleavage like a lot of other girls I’ve seen.

  Slipping my boots back on I took a deep breath and walked out of the bathroom. Nic was lying back on my bed but sat up as I walked out. His eyes widened and his gaze slowly scanned me from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet, and then traveled back up again. I was getting really nervous at the length of time he remained silent.

  Nic’s eyes finally met mine and they held a fiery heat. “Come here.” He commanded huskily.

  I moved forward without a thought of disobeying him. He sat on the edge of my bed his knees parted. I halted at his knees.

  “Closer.” He said, not moving to touch me.

  I took one more step to stand between his legs. His hands lifted to settle on my jean clad knees. Leisurely, he began to glide them up my legs to my hips leaving a blazing trail of heat behind. He then ran them over my butt sliding down and around each cheek, cupping and squeezing. Pulling me even closer he stuck his face into my tummy and nuzzled. My hands rose to grip his shoulders for support.

  “You look stunning, and I know I’m going to sound like the Neanderthal you keep calling me, but I don’t know if I want you going out looking this good. You’re already too beautiful for words so this is just overkill. I’m going to want to punch every guy in the face if they look at you with anything more than a polite smile.” His hands slipped under my shirt caressing the bare skin of my back.

  My breathing had escalated and was coming out unevenly. “Would you like me to change? I can put on some sweat pants and my old 7-up t-shirt.” I offered with a smile that he wasn’t seeing since his face was still pressed against my belly.

  He groaned. “I’ve seen you in that shirt. It’s almost transparent so that’s not much better.” He grumbled. “How about we just throw on that black sweater of yours? You know, the one that covers everything.” His hands moved back to my butt cupping both cheeks.

  “I was going to put that on anyway.” I admitted truthfully, not wanting him to think he was completely getting his way. That happened way too often as it is. Anyway, I wanted him to think I was sexy, and my old frumpy clothes were anything but sexy. “If it got hot I had planned to take it off though.” I ran my hands through is his soft hair. He was always going on about my hair, but I thought he had marvelously soft curly hair. It was such a gleaming golden color and I’d noticed some new highlights in it from the extra sun exposure.

  Nic sighed. “I guess, but only if you get really warm...and start to sweat some.” Looking up he gave me a cocky grin letting me know that he’d been playing with me just as I had with him. “You look hot and I had to try to keep all that hotness to myself.”

  I blushed at his compliment. He’d called me stunning earlier but his face had been buried in my stomach at the time, not looking at me with a burning intensity in his eyes. I gripped his hair a little tighter and bent down to rub my lips over his. “I’m all yours no matter how anyone else looks at me.”

  “Damn straight.” He growled latching onto my mouth fiercely proving me right on the lipstick theory. He molded and squeezed my butt, fingers arrowed between my legs causing my already wet sex to become drenched in arousal. I moaned in bliss rocking into his hand and scrapping my nails down his back.

  “Fuck.” Nic groaned tearing his mouth from mine. Giving my rear cheeks one last caress he let go and stood up. “We need to go or I’m going to have you on this bed naked in twenty seconds. And while I would be fine with that you need to get out and have some fun.”

  I wasn’t sure about that but I threw some clothes in my backpack for tomorrow since I was planning to spend the night at the house tonight, and then making sure I had my sweater and purse we set out for his house. I had only been to the one previous party, and while it had been okay I’d only had a good time because he had been with me. It really didn’t matter what we did, as long as he was there I would be in seventh heaven.

  Fifteen minutes later after a quick stop at the cafeteria so I could grab a small sandwich…which Nic said was way too small…but I said was perfect because I wasn’t that hungry…we were pulling up in front of Nic’s house. It was nine-thirty and dozens of cars were already lining the street, but somehow the space in the driveway was still open for Nic to pull into. It was like magic.

  As we stepped in the door I held onto Nic’s hand trying not to mangle it in dread that the music was going to come to a halt and everyone was going to turn to look at me with expressions of disdain. I knew I was being melodramatic in my thoughts, but this was my first social event after the article. My classes had been bad enough.

  Realizing my thoughts I immediately stiffened my spine. I had made it through my classes with no one by my side, and now I had Nic standing there; everything would be fine.

  Between twenty to thirty people were mingling in the front hall and I recognized half of them as Nic’s teammates while the other half were girls. More than a dozen heads turned our way and I couldn’t help cataloging the expressions. Nic’s teammates ranged from curious to friendly, while the girls ranged from curious to narrowed eyed calculation. One face stuck out more than the rest and he walked over with a huge smile and open arms.

  “Well, it’s about time, cuz. I was thinking Nic was going to keep you all to himself tonight.” Blake leaned down and picked me up in a big hug. He was as tall as Nic just a little beefier.

  I returned the hug a little less boisterously, still getting accustomed to the affection being thrown at me. “Actually, he was the one that pushed me here.” I divulged without thinking. I winced inwardly; that made me sound like a coward.

  Blake pulled back with concerned eyes. “What do…?”

  “Oh my god, Blake. Do you know this girl?”

  Great, barely one step in the door and I get called out. We all turned to the high pitch voice of a pretty redhead that had stepped forward to stand beside Blake. She put her hand possessively on his arm and looked at me with an incredulous expression.

  Nic’s arm wrapped around me pulling me closer to him and Blake looked down at the girl with a frown. “Yeah, April, Carrie’s my cousin. Why are you calling her ‘this girl’?”

  April’s face transformed into a frown as Blake stared down at her with his own dark frown. “I’ve just read that article about her, and heard certain…rumors around campus.”

  “What kind of rumors?” Blake’s frown darkened further.

  “Yeah, what kind of rumors?” Nic repeated angrily wrapping me tighter in his arms.

  April’s gaze bounced back and forth between Nic and Blake in consternation. I noticed that the crowd in the hallway was taking a decided interest in us.

  “Maybe we could take this to another room?” I said softly in mortification.

  Both guys caught on quickly looking around. “Let’s go up to my room.” Nic led the way up the stairs and under the caution tape informing people not to pass under penalty of a five-on-one ass whipping. Blake pulled the girl, April, after him. I wondered if she was his girlfriend or someone he just started dating.

  “I’m going to distance myself from you a little when we get upstairs. I think it might make her spill more. Don’t take it personally, okay. I love you.” Nic whispered in my ear as he opened the door allowing everyone to file in. I went to sit down on the bed wrapping my arms around my waste unsure if I really wanted to find out was being said about me. As the saying went, ‘ignorance was bliss’. Did I want to disturb that bliss?

  “So, April, what exactly have you been hearing?” Nic asked taking a stand by his dresser with his arms crossed. Blake stood six-feet apposite of him, while April and I fac
ed off perpendicular to them.

  April looked around at all of us and I could see her taking notice of the distance between Nic and me. I could actually see her tension ease a bit. I wondered how Nic knew she would relax just from that. She threw a narrowed eyed look my way before giving all her attention to Nic and Blake.

  “Well, there’s been the information from the article, about how she killed her father and being institutionalized for it. People have been calling her the crazy killer or the psycho slayer.” April paused as if to assess how the guys were taking her words. Nic jaw was tight but otherwise blank. Blake’s wasn’t so bland; he looked furious but remained silent.

  “Go on.” Nic encouraged giving her an appreciative smile…a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

  April returned the smile coyly. Was she flirting with him? She was seeing Blake for Pete’s sake.

  “There have been some rumors that she only works at the Sports store so she can meet athletes…for you know.” She said suggestively throwing me a censorious look. I wasn’t enjoying what I was hearing but for some reason I found her look kind of funny and raised my eyebrows at her. She moved her gaze to Blake and offered him an apologetic look as though giving him her sympathies that he had to put up with such a relation. I didn’t appreciate that because it was too close to my feelings.

  Blake’s jaw twitched and his gazed switched from April to me, an angry expression still on his face. It crossed my mind that to April the anger might have looked like it was directed at me, but I could see it wasn’t. Some of the constriction in my chest eased.

  “Is that it?” Nic asked.

  April’s eyes widened tragically and she looked towards Nic. “Unfortunately, no; I’ve heard there is a very reliable story going around that she has been with at least six other lacrosse player’s…possibly at the same time.” She whispered those last five words like they were contagious.