by Andrea Hurtt
He parted them, and gently caressed her tongue with his. Nick broke their kiss and took the bacon from her, setting it on the table. He stood and held a hand out
She hesitated a moment before taking it.
He pulled her to her feet and led her back to the bed.
Hope faced the bed, and he came up behind her, wrapping his right arm around her waist, pushing the hair away from the back of her neck so he could place a soft kiss with his free one.
She shivered.
He moved to the side of her neck and the top of her shoulder. Nick found his way to the zipper of her dress, and pulled it slowly down.
Hope’s breathing became pants.
He let the fabric fall to her waist.
She wasn’t wearing a bra; her back was smooth.
He ran his fingers over the soft skin down to push the skirt off her hips, revealing the blue lacy panties.
He whirled her around, and took in the sight of her bare breasts. The perfect cherry nipples called to him. His cock pressed against the rough fabric of his jeans.
Hope reached for the buttons on his dress-shirt. She seemed disappointed to find him wearing a tank top underneath.
He pulled off both shirts and dropped them to the floor. Nick returned quickly, unable to keep his hands to himself. He had to touch her…everywhere.
Hope ran hers up his chest as he pulled her in for a kiss. Her touch glided up behind his neck, pressing her warm body to his.
Nick groaned at the feel of her. He encircled her as he kissed her deeply. He gripped her firm, round behind as he ground her against him.
She trailed her fingertips down his arms and looped hers inside his.
Nick was barely aware of what she’d done before she had his buckle undone.
She unbuttoned his pants to free him and began to stroke.
He grunted and kissed her harder.
Hope pushed his pants down. She still had her heels on.
He pulled one leg up and kissed the inside of her ankle, then pulled her shoe off. He kept kissing her there, moving up her calf to the inside of her knee.
She whimpered in anticipation.
Nick got halfway up her thigh, then moved to the other leg.
She moaned in dissatisfaction at being led to the brink then made to wait again.
He smiled; that was exactly the reaction he’d wanted. He kissed his way up her other leg.
She writhed beneath him.
Nick pulled off the lacy panties, and pushed her legs apart to allow him access. He gently flicked his tongue against her, bringing out a gasp from deep inside her.
He smiled to himself, he wanted her, all of her, but he was going to take his time and enjoy this.
He licked and suckled her, torturing her blissfully until Hope came, crying out.
Nick crawled up next to her, watching her body shake with the aftershocks.
When she regained control, she rolled up next to him, pressing the length of her body against his. “Two can play that game,” she whispered huskily.
Hope kissed her way down his body.
He sucked in a breath when she took him into her mouth.
She worked him slowly at first, swirling her tongue around his tip.
Nick shuddered in pleasure, but it wasn’t until she started humming that he almost lost his restraint.
He couldn’t hold back any longer, he pulled her up and flipped them over so he was on top of her. He didn’t want to come with her mouth on him. He wanted to come inside her.
She wrapped her legs around him and Nick plunged deep.
They both gasped.
He kept a rapid pace, covering them both in a sheen of sweat.
Hope shook, and her body spasmed around him.
He thrust as far as he could go, and held on as his body exploded.
They both lay paralyzed by the orgasms flowing through them.
Eventually, Nick collapsed into her. He relished the feeling. There was nothing more calming or comforting than the feel of his body covering Hope’s, protecting her.
He rose onto his elbows and kissed her. When he started to get up, her legs were still wrapped around him.
“Where do you think you’re going?” she smiled.
“I just thought you’d like to clean up.”
“You thought wrong. I like the smell of you all over me. But we really should get something, if we are going to keep going at it like rabbits.”
Nick smiled and relaxed back onto her with a sigh.
Yeah, he’d been right before.
She really was special.
Chapter 11
“It’s the Ellen show? You didn’t tell me it was Ellen!” Panic inched up Hope’s spine and she had to pant a little bit. Sure, the band was going to be on a TV show, but Ellen was one of her favorites.
“I didn’t know it mattered,” Nick said.
“Yeah. It does,” she whispered. “I’m nervous.”
He chuckled. “You’re hanging out with the men in the world’s most popular pop band, and you’re nervous to meet Ellen?”
“So?”
“So, that’s cute. And kinda hurts my feelings.”
Her already-knotted stomach lurched. She’d never want to hurt him. However, one look into his intense blue eyes told her he’d been teasing. She hit his chest with a loud, smack.
He mock-winced and swatted her hand away, with a wink. “I’ll make introductions after the show. You stand right here. I gotta get over there.” Nick left her off to the side of the stage, and rushed to join his brothers behind the scenes.
Her heart raced as the show began.
“I’m Ellen. But you already knew that. I can’t wait to tell you about my guests for the day. The awesome band, Razor’s Edge. Once a year, I do a live show so people can see how hard it really is hosting a talk show.” The hostess introduced the band.
Thomas was a goofball, as Hope had gotten the impression he would be, after their first meeting.
Dwaine announced he was about to be a daddy again.
Scott talked about being glad to return to his brothers after taking a break to ‘reflect,’ whatever that meant.
Then Ellen turned to Blaze.
“What have I been up to lately? Well, I fell in love.”
Hope had had a feeling that was coming. She was so elated for her best friend.
“I miss you, and I just want you to know, I’ll never break your heart. I love you,” her bestie’s man continued.
Nick smacked the man across the chest. “Dude, not cool. I was going to talk about how I fell in love.”
Hope’s heart skipped a beat. Her knees wobbled.
What?!
Maybe I should sit.
Before she fell on her ass.
Hope was sure it was all for show, that Nick needed to up-stage his friend. There was no way he could mean it. This couldn’t be real, could it?
Ellen, the comedian she was, jumped right in. “And your fans are okay with the two of you falling in love with each other?”
Nick stuttered and turned bright red. He pointed to Hope. “A girl, I promise! I fell in love with a girl. She’s standing right over there.”
A cameraman swung his equipment her way.
Her cheeks seared. She was going to be on TV!
Ellen saved her. “Well, then. I think it’s time to hear if these boys still have it going on. So, what’re you going to sing?”
“We’re gonna treat ya’ll to something from our new album, a song called Peach,” Scott announced.
When the song was over, they cut to a commercial break.
Nick ran to Hope’s side.
He leaned in for a kiss, but she pulled away.
“What?” he asked.
“You’re in so much trouble, mister.” She tried to use her best schoolteacher voice.
“Why?” He reared back, his mouth hanging half-open.
“Because of…” she twirled her finger at the stage, where the guys had been sitting for th
e interview.
Nick chuckled. “Ah, come on, baby. You know how I feel about you; I mean after last night…” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
Hope smacked him.
The night before had been amazing, and she was falling for him, but National Television?
Really?
He quickly kissed her cheek and ran back, because the commercial break was over.
“Welcome back!” Ellen said. “In case you just tuned in, today we have Razor’s Edge with us.”
The screams were almost deafening.
Hope studied each of the guys’ reactions.
They all seemed so grateful to have their fans, and were humbled by the love of the crowd.
Ellen asked the guys if they wanted to play a game.
After the crowd screamed in excitement, the band agreed.
Ellen explained the game.
Hope hadn’t been listening to the hostess, she was too busy visually stalking Nick.
Then she heard the screaming, and it plugged her back in.
“Well, it looks like we have some volunteers,” Ellen said. “I think it’s only fair that the guys pick their partners for this game.”
More cheers went up.
The girls were jumping up and down trying to get their attention.
As four of the guys walked into the audience, Ellen grabbed Nick’s jacket and pointed at Hope.
He got a devilish grin and headed straight for her.
She backed away, trying to find an escape, but the stagehands had been watching and pushed her back towards her man.
Nick took her hand and led her out on stage.
She was shaking so badly her teeth chattered.
“It’s okay,” he whispered. “It’s just a game.”
Hope stood next to him, shaking; petrified.
The girls around her were all fawning over the other guys.
She tried to focus on them, to forget the nerves swimming in her gut.
“Okay, the object of the game is to get five oranges into your baskets,” Ellen explained. “The girls will give you the orange, you have to carry it over to the basket and drop it in. The first team to get five oranges in, wins. Now, the catch is, you can’t use your hands.”
Of course, there was going to be a catch.
“The girls will hold the orange like this,” the hostess put the orange between her chin and chest.
A cheer went up from the audience.
“The guys have to remove the orange, holding it the same way and carry it to their basket. If you drop it, you have to go back for another.”
Hope met Nick’s eyes.
He was smiling.
She tried to relax.
What was the worst that could happen; they’d drop the orange?
Who cares?
Nick leaned in. “Think Grace will give us a bad time if we win?”
“She’ll give me a bad time, anyway,” Hope said.
“Okay, girls! Grab an orange,” Ellen called.
All the girls tucked an orange under their chins as they stood in a line with the guys in front of them.
“Go!” Ellen yelled.
Nick leaned down and hooked the orange under her chin. He lifted it out and made his way over to the basket.
He wasn’t in the lead. How? That’d been so fast!
She tucked another orange under her chin and waited.
He returned after successfully dropping it in the basket. Nick took the second one, but it fell to the floor as they were passing it.
Hope picked it up and put it back under her chin, and he took it smoothly this time.
Although he appeared to be hurrying, he wasn’t. It was almost like he was trying to lose, if not by much.
Dwaine was dropping his third orange in the basket when Nick returned to take their third one.
“You’d better hustle,” she whispered as he took it the next one.
Nick pulled away and winked. He was headed back for the fifth orange when Scott dropped his fifth in the basket.
“We have a winner!” Ellen yelled.
The TV hostess took both Scott and his girl’s hand and held them in the air.
Everyone applauded.
She awarded the winner her prize, an iPad, before cutting to commercial.
Hope tried to head backstage, but Ellen asked all the girls to stay there.
Nick leaned close again . “Now aren’t you glad we didn’t win?” His tone was sly.
“You did that on purpose,” Hope said, frowning.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said, those blue eyes wide with innocence.
Hope lay curled in bed, her head resting on Nick’s hard chest.
They were both exhausted after their excursions that day; which included a fabulous lovemaking session once they’d returned from The Ellen Show.
She wanted to talk about his declaration, but she was so tired.
They needed to talk about it though.
It can wait until the morning. Best to do it right before I hop on my plane.
Hope was almost asleep when she heard the buzzing of Nick’s cellphone on the nightstand.
He ignored it, as did she. He continued to receive texts for the next fifteen minutes.
“Baby, why don’t you just check that? It could be something important,” she whispered.
He let out a moan. “I don’t wanna move. But you’re right. They’re persistent, so it might be.”
Hope hadn’t called Grace after the show. She’d been so wrapped up in Nick and what’d happened during the day, she’d completely spaced out calling her friend. Blaze had made a declaration, too.
She sat up so that Nick could reach his phone, then turned the nightstand beside her. She grabbed her own cell from the charger cord.
There were no missed calls and no messages from Grace. Hope wasn’t really worried though. Her bestie had a lot to do in only a few days and probably hadn’t had time.
“Hey baby, have you heard from Grace?” Nick asked.
She glanced over her shoulder; he was still looking down at his phone. “No, I haven’t, why?” She didn’t like the odd sound in Nick’s voice.
“Blaze sent me fifteen text messages. He can't get a hold of her, and he’s freaking out.”
“Tell him to get a hold of himself and go to bed. Grace turns off the ringer at about nine p.m. I’m sure she’s already passed out at this point. She had a busy day, too.”
He spoke out loud, slowly, while he typed out his reply. “Hope says get your panties out of a bunch. Grace is probably asleep. Try again in the morning. Shutting my phone off now.”
Chapter 12
Bright rays of sunlight filtered in the room through a slit in the curtains. Nick stretched all his muscles, enjoying the ache in his body.
It was well earned.
He glanced over at the woman sleeping beside him. Their time was limited. She’d be leaving soon. Too soon.
Nick wanted to push the strand of hair off of her face but was afraid he’d wake her. Instead, he watched her sleep, her breathing deep and peaceful.
She was like no other woman he’d ever had in his bed.
He had to say goodbye.
But for how long?
They’d be in L.A. for a few weeks, then off to Chicago, followed by a nine-month tour. If he was lucky, he’d see her at a show if there was one in her town. Would that be enough?
One night with her?
It’s better than nothing.
He slid off the bed and headed to the shower. Nick needed to clear his head.
“Baby, I hate to wake you up, but I don’t know what time your flight is,” Nick whispered in Hope’s ear about ten minutes later.
She’d mentioned the day before her flight was late morning, but he didn’t know more than that.
Hope yawned, rubbing at her eyes. “It’s at eleven. What time is it now?” She rolled over to look at the clock and jumped out of bed. “It’s after nine! Why didn’t you wake me
?”
Nick watched, helplessness washing over him, as she flitted about the room, throwing things in her suitcase before rushing to the bathroom. “Babe, are you all right?”
She rushed into the shower. “Yes. Uh, no. I, um, I get massive anxiety about getting to the airport on time.”
“We’ve got plenty of time. It only takes about fifteen minutes from here.” He struggled to understand how she could be this much of a wreck over getting to the airport.
“I still have to check my bag, get my boarding pass, and get through security.”
What could he say to make her feel better? “Is there, uh, anything I can do?”
“No. I just need to hurry.”
This wasn’t how Nick had planned his final moments with her, but what could he do?
Twenty minutes later, they were heading to the parking garage.
“What’re we doing here? I thought the cabbies picked you up out front?” she asked.
“Yeah, but my car’s parked down here.”
Hope cocked an eyebrow. “You have a car here?”
“Yeah?”
“Then why has Blaze been driving us around?”
Nick laughed. “I like making him be my chauffeur.”
They walked over to a beautiful black Beemer with dark-tinted windows.
He popped the trunk and put her suitcase in, slamming it with a finality he didn’t like.
Soon, they were rushing toward the airport.
“You didn’t have to take me, you know,” Hope said. “I could’ve gotten a cab.”
He dared to take his eye off the road long enough for a glimpse at her. He couldn’t help but notice red-rimmed eyes. “I wouldn’t miss seeing you off for anything.” Nick grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles. He could tell something was on her mind, but he wouldn’t push.
If she wanted to talk, she’d speak up.
The ride to the airport seemed to rush by for him.
Hope, on the other hand, seemed to be counting each second.
“What airline?” he asked.
“Delta, but you can just drop me off…”
“I don’t think so.” Nick pulled into the short-term parking and into the first available spot. He’d turned the engine off and gotten out of the car before she spoke again.
“You don’t have to come with me, we could say goodbye here.”