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Chapter Twenty Eight

“Nicky, don’t pout,” I said for the umpteenth time. “It’s really not that big of deal.”

“Ha,” Nick said, stabbing at a piece of watermelon. “That’s easy for you to say.”

I sighed.

“That was ten years ago,” I reminded him, placing a hand on his arm. “And it’s not like I ever knew you guys. It was just all physical.”

“Still,” Nick said. He held out a piece of cantaloupe. I plucked it off his fork and took a bite. “You thought he was sexy?”

“Let it go, Nick,” I said.

“Yeah, like Brian’s going to make that easy,” Nick said.

Brian had taken a plain white Hanes t-shirt and written “Livvy Loves Brian” in magic marker.

“You better not wear that to soundcheck,” I warned him. Brian smiled.

“Why not?”

I shook my head. Nick dumped our plates; I went to work transferring the interview files from the morning and readying the camera. The guys disappeared to get changed.

I was so engrossed in my work that I didn’t hear Nick sneak up. He sat down next to me. “Boo.”

I looked over. He wore an Ernie t-shirt, jeans, and baseball cap. I smiled.

“Cute shirt. But, you look like you should be wearing Oscar the Grouch instead,” I teased, tweaking his nose.

I saw Brian walk out. He was wearing his Bert hoodie. Nick followed my gaze.

“I bet you like Bert better,” Nick said, scowling.

“Nick!”

He pouted.

“Nick this is silly,” I complained. “What’s it going to take to make you stop thinking about this?” I asked.

Welllll…

I watched him take out his sheet of interview questions again. I raised an eyebrow.

“I had a few more questions that I wanted to ask,” he said sweetly. I made a face.

“It would make me feel better.”

“Fine,” I said holding up my hands in defeat. “But I’m not going back on camera,” I reminded him.

“Oh no, these are going to have to be off camera,” Nick warned. He stood up. “I’ll ask you them after sound check. My bus. Be there or be square.”

Uh-oh, I thought as he walked out onstage.

-----------------------------------------

I sat on the couch in Nick’s bus, waiting while he dealt with some rouge fans who had pounced on him before he could open the door. I cracked my knuckles nervously. Finally, the door creaked open.

“Ready or not, Livvy, here I come,” Nick sang. He walked over and stood in front of me, hands on hips.

“Let’s get it over with,” I said. “But I don’t want to hear any more whining about the Brian thing.”

He sat down next to me. “Deal.”

The sheet of paper reemerged; by this point it was folded and creased beyond recognition. My heart began to beat faster.

“Question one,” Nick said. His face was serious; he was all business. “What’s your favorite place to be kissed?”

My mouth went dry; my toes curled. I couldn’t help but think that anytime Nick kissed me anywhere was my favorite place. Hell, even when he kissed the top of my head he made me lose all track of time or thought.

“My neck,” I finally said.

I felt Nick lean closer. His lips grazed my neck gently.

“Like this?” he whispered.

“Mm,” I mumbled, my eyes fluttering closed.

He nibbled gently on the sensitive skin, then sucked gently. “Or like this?”

I dug my nails into the couch. “Mm-hmm.”

“Good. Question two,” he whispered softly, his lips not straying far from my neck. “When we make love, where do you want to do it?” His fingers trailed down my side. I shivered at the use of when rather than if.

“Everywhere,” I said, my breathing coming quicker. I heard him moan, his body slid closer to my own.

“About that underwear,” he said huskily. I turned slightly, my leg draping over his own. I took the paper from his hand and looked at it. Every question was sexual. I folded it up, throwing it on the table. My arms snaked around his neck. The angelic part of my mind reminded me nicely that I wanted to take it slow; the demonic part of my mind was focused on Nick’s masculine scent and the thought of him naked and all mine.

“You’ll just have to find out for yourself,” I replied coyly.

I met Nick’s lips hungrily. His good hand snaked under my shirt, his palm splaying out on my bare back before traveling around to my stomach and breasts. I broke our kiss momentarily as I brought his t-shirt over his head, tossing Ernie into regions unknown. I took a moment to savor his bare chest, tracing my fingers along every well defined plane.

I felt him unclasp my bra. With a smile at his one-handed technique, I tugged off my shirt, letting it fall to the ground. The bra soon followed.

“Oh Livvy,” Nick said, his eyes sparkling. I leaned back into the plush leather as he hovered over me. Our lips met again in a swell of passion. My hips arched as his hands slid down my waist and then under the heavy fabric of my jeans.

“A thong girl,” he said in approval, his lips still next to mine.

“Right now, I’d prefer us wearing nothing,” I said back, nibbling his bottom lip.

In a whirl of clothing and a delicious sense of anticipation, I devoured Nick in all his glory with hungry eyes. He began a trail of kisses down from my lips that brought about a slow agony of anticipation. My hands worked through his hair as he licked and nibbled his way down. I didn’t know how much longer I could wait.

“Nick,” I said in a heady breath. He looked up at me.

“I need you now.”

“Every good thing is worth the wait,” he explained. His face was flushed, his shoulders glistening with perspiration. I slid down into the couch a little more, simultaneously stroking his member with my fingertips. I felt his chest constrict, his breathing increasing even faster.

“Maybe you’re right,” he moaned, his head falling back. I continued his pleasure, watching him tense up even more. Finally, with a force of an animal, he grabbed my hands, gently pinning them about my head and kissing me hungrily. My heart beat in anticipation; any moment Nick and I would become one.

My legs wrapped around his waist, our lips locked in a way that I never wanted to breath independently again. I could feel him; the moment of truth was almost here…

A loud knock sounded on the bus.

“Nick?” Brian called out loudly. “Man, the concert’s starting in five minutes. Are you in there?”

Just like that, the magic was broken. Nick’s head fell on my chest.

“Nick?” Brian called out again.

“I’ll BE OUT!” Nick yelled out in frustration.

Brian didn’t call out again; he must have headed back inside. Nick looked at me, his eyes speaking volumes. I smiled.

“Saved by thousands of screaming fans,” I said sadly. Nick sat up; I followed.

“They’re not going to save you forever, Liv,” Nick said, standing up.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“I’ve got to get ready,” Nick said.

“Maybe we can’t do what we want to do in five minutes,” I said sweetly. “But I think I can take care of your problem.” I pointed to Nick’s erection, pulling him back down on the couch.

I needed to let my sexual tension out; somehow pleasing Nick seemed to be the right choice.

I knew that I had tossed going slow out the window; but as Nick gave me a long kiss before running out on stage, I couldn’t help but hope that an uninterrupted night would come sooner rather than later.