Chapter Twenty-Nine: Intimacy Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Being Intimate
Nick trudged into his hotel room that evening having brushed off the guys for the night, he didn’t want to go out to dinner, he just wanted rest and a long phone conversation with Alyssa before retiring to bed. He stripped down to his boxers and a tee shirt grabbing his sidekick he called her phone hearing it ring once…twice…
“Hey what’s up?” Alyssa said slightly cheerfully knowing that it was Nick on the other end. She had just exited the elevator going to Nick’s floor. She’d gotten a spare key by flashing her ring saying that she was James Howlett’s fiancée. He was such a comic book nerd. She giggled when she had to say it, knowing that Nick used superhero surnames in hotels occasionally, other times he used movie characters or cartoons as a way to keep the fans from finding his exact hotel room. If it weren’t for him she would have never known that James Howlett was really the original real name behind Wolverine from X-Men. She laughed to herself as she stopped right outside his door.
“Not much, just got into the hotel, how was class today?” He asked.
Alyssa chuckled and opened the hotel door sneaking into the room. She surveyed the living area and saw Nick nowhere to be found. She grinned and figured he’d be tired and in the bedroom of the suite. “Well it was strange not being the one giving instructions that’s for sure, and it’s going to be a lot of work what with me beginning online teaching again. I’d made a deal with Jennifer that I’d only do online teaching until 2009 just because I thought I was you know going to have something else really important occupying my time. But that didn’t happen.” She replied darkly.
Nick sighed and lay back a little more. “I’m sorry baby, for all this bull we’ve been through. It just isn’t fair.”
Alyssa took a shaky breath and sat on the arm of the couch facing the bedroom, “So tell me about your suite?” She said looking around the room.
He sighed a little and said, “It’s a room, a suite, living room bedroom you know the usual.” He said with a shrug.
“I think you should go out in the living room.”
“Why?” He asked hoping she’d left him something.
“I left you a surprise, you must have been so tired you missed it.” She suggested making him chuckle.
She heard him move and groan as he got up off the bed. She heard the door open and crossed her legs sitting on the arm of the couch. He opened the door and looked around the room his eyes falling on her sitting on the couch end. She grinned seeing him standing in an Ed Hardy tee-shirt and black boxer briefs. They both shut their phones off and he grinned. “I don’t think I could have missed this…” He remarked going over to her.
Alyssa chuckled and hugged him, “I figured I’d come out for a day and surprise you.”
He held her to him happy that she was there. “I’m glad you came, but I’m only here for a few days.”
“I know but I came to talk to you. I didn’t want to do this talk over the phone. It’s just so impersonal.” She explained making him grin and lead her back into the bedroom.
“Get changed into some pajamas and come lay with me, we’ll talk then.” Alyssa grabbed her bag and brought it into the room and set it down. She kicked off her shoes and unzipped her suitcase taking out a pair of shorts and an old tee-shirt. She heard him rustling around the room and stripped down taking off her shirt first and then her jeans.
Nick stopped and stared momentarily seeing that she’d gotten her body back to when she was playing soccer. He glanced at her underwear and bra both simple black, silk boy-shorts and black matching bra. He felt himself getting aroused just at the mere sight of her. He looked away as she pulled on the shorts and then pulled off her bra and put the old tee-shirt on. She turned around seeing him turn down the sheets. Alyssa came over and sat down getting comfortable. He sat down as well sitting across from her. “So...” Alyssa began.
“So…” Nick mirrored making them both chuckle at each other. “Where do we begin?”
“I don’t know so much has happened in our relationship you know? Our friendship, Collin, my dad…”
Nick thought a moment then spoke up, “How did Collin ask you out?” He asked he’d always wanted to know why she’d said yes in the first place.
Alyssa took a deep breath pausing to gather her thoughts. “We were studying at school for a group project, Kellie and I were and he was in our group. Kellie had to go call her grandmother to say she was going to be late and he asked me out.”
“That’s it? You just said yes?”
“Well yeah, I mean he was this really sweet guy and well it’s not like you were even really that present in my life like you started to be after we started dating and after he died.”
Nick’s face grew dark for a second, “Did you really love him?”
“I think so, I mean it’s a lot like what you and I have but it was more innocent I guess…” She started trying to find the right words to explain the situation. “He was a great guy, and just everything I really needed in my life back then. He was just well he was like you are. He respected me and yeah we argued sometimes but it wasn’t that bad, it was actually a really good relationship. Which was why it devastated me so much when he died.”
“Why were you going to sleep with him?”
“What’s with the 20 questions?”
“I just want to know, when I’m done then you can ask me anything you want and I’ll tell you the truth.” Nick explained pausing for a moment. “So answer my question.”
Alyssa shrugged, “I thought it was the net logical step. I cared a lot about him, trusted him even, and it sucked that I was going to be the last one out of my friends to lose it. And I was really depressed with my dad getting sick and he was really the only person I could talk to about it back then. I was afraid to even talk to you about it. I just didn’t want to worry you or even bother you since your life was so hectic back then.” She admitted. “And it was this huge rejection that he died that night. I just…it was so hard for me to even wrap my head around that he was really gone…”
“So is that why you have trouble letting me in? You’re afraid that I’ll get taken away too?”
Alyssa nodded. “I just don’t know. It’s so hard to just get it all out. And I hate that it is. I’m trying it’s just so hard. Can I ask some questions now?”
“Of course…”
Alyssa looked down at her hands, “Why did you wait so long?”
“Wait so long for what? To tell you?”
“Yeah.”
“I thought my actions spoke louder than anything I could have said. I know my indiscretions on my solo tour and all that made my other actions confusing but I was sort of like Olivia back then in a way. Like how she was so determined not to realize who she really was, I was determined that I couldn’t really love you. But I guess I was wrong.” He said with a lopsided grin. “Believe me I didn’t want this to happen between us. I wanted us to be friends. I think that’s why I struggled for so long with the mere idea of us. But…”
“What changed?”
“Us living together, working together, it made me realize that I wanted you around as more than just a friend and person who worked for me. I wanted you…period.”
“So then why…?
“The other women after that realization? Because it was still the same thing. Once I realized that it scared me that I was willing to screw up our friendship over just wanting to be with you. And I didn’t want to do that. I couldn’t do that to you, to our friendship. You and I were having such a great friendship going that I was almost afraid to ruin that. And we almost did ruin it.”
“Well maybe then it’s a good thing we’re in therapy, we can focus on maintaining that balance between friendship and relationship.”
“Yeah I think so too.” He said with a confident grin.
The next morning…
“Are you sure you can go sight seeing?”
“Yes, now let’s go. We’re not recording until this afternoon.” He said as he pulled her out of the hotel taking her hand as they walked down the streets of Nashville.
Alyssa giggled, “No wonder you love this city…” She said as they passed the Bell South building.
Nick gave her an odd look, “Why?”
Alyssa pointed to a building, “It looks like batman’s head.” She said laughing a little.
Nick cocked his head to the side for a moment and then cracked up, “You’re right! I’d heard about the batman building I hadn’t had time to find out what it looked like or even where it was.” They continued to walk around until they ended up at Ernest Tubb’s Record shop. They walked in and Alyssa went over looking at all the old vinyl records, the CDs and everything they had to offer there. She gasped a little and Nick headed over to her. “What?”
She held up what she found, a vintage Elvis vinyl from his days as a huge Nashville star. “This is from when he used to run around with Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis.”
“Seriously?”
“Oh yeah, you’ve seen Walk the Line haven’t you? They all knew each other from touring in the early days, like the 1950s before Elvis and Jerry hit it big, and then Johnny became huge. But the first one was June. She hit it big before any of them because of her family.”
“Yeah the non-crazy Carter clan.”
Alyssa giggled a little, “Oh come on you’re family isn’t all THAT bad.” Nick shot her a look and she gave him a sympathetic one in return. They made their purchases and left still sightseeing here and there. By that afternoon Nick and Alyssa came back to the hotel. They walked in laughing together holding hands as they made their way over to the elevators.
“Nick?” Brian said behind them.
Both of them turned and looked at Brian in surprise. “Hey man what’s up?”
Brian looked between them, “I didn’t think Alyssa was here.”
“No neither did he. I surprised him last night.”
Brian’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Really?” Those were the first words he’d heard out of her mouth since the events of just over a month before. And he couldn’t deny the feeling of calm that swept over him as he saw them standing therewith their hands connected and somewhat happier expressions on their faces. Anyone could still tell that they were going through a lot of pain and grief from their loss. But just the sight of them being at least a little happier in the company of each other made him a little more confident that they’d eventually be okay.
She nodded, “Yeah. It was sort of spur of the moment, I’m leaving tonight after he gets back from recording.”
“Yeah I was just coming to tell you that we don’t have the studio until the morning.”
“What?”
“Yeah some stupid scheduling glitch. But I’m sure that’ll give you two more time to be together before you leave Ali.”
Nick and Alyssa grinned at each other and gave Brian a hug. “Well I hope to see you back in LA sometime soon.”
“Me too, Leighanne and Baylee miss you!” He said with a grin.
“I miss them too.” Alyssa said as they departed going into the elevator. Nick and Alyssa laughed a little when they got into the elevator. “Busted…probably thinks I came here for a booty call or something.” She said with a sarcastic chuckle.
“Hey I’d think the same thing based on our track record.” He said as they stepped off the elevator and headed to his hotel room. They walked in setting their small bags of souvenirs down. Alyssa kicked off her shoes and flopped down on the bed.
“I am so tired…” She said with a light laugh.
Nick relaxed onto the bed as well. “Me too. It’s crazy we walked all over the place today.”
“I know right? I think I need a shower… All that walking in the humidity.”
“Want any company?’ He asked without even thinking.
Alyssa giggled a little and shot him a skeptical look, “You’re kidding right?”
“Uhh no? What it’s not like I’ve never seen you naked before.”
She rolled her eyes and turned to him. “You’d want to take a shower with me knowing you’re not going to get laid?”
Nick snickered, “Not everything is about sex Ali. Sometimes just being that comfortable with each other is what I need sometimes.”
Alyssa smirked and got up going into the bathroom. Just as she walked in she popped her head out of the door. “You coming or what?”
His eyes widened and he jumped up shedding his shirt as he walked into the bathroom seeing Alyssa already slipping off her pants then standing there in just her bra and panties turning on the faucets of the large shower. Alyssa turned seeing him shirtless for the first time in months she looked away quickly and passed him, “Where are you going?”
“I’m just gonna set out some clothes for later just get in I’ll be there in a moment.” She replied passing him. She took a deep breath and went to their luggage laying out pajamas for them both. She walked back into the bathroom a moment later and shed the rest of her clothing seeing he’d already gotten into the shower. She went to the door, and opened it seeing him beginning to turn, “Don’t turn around.” She semi-commanded making him stop until she stepped in fully. He moved to the side letting her get under the spray as she wet her hair down. They stood their silent for a moment or two avoiding eye contact. “Are you sure you’re comfortable with me in here?” She asked observing how he’d look at her body for a moment then look away.
Nick looked up at her face finally meeting her eyes. “Sorry, just had a total guy moment there.”
“It’s okay, you are a guy right?” She shot back with a grin as they switched positions again.
Nick looked away then back to her, “You’re driving me crazy.”
“How so?” She asked with a knowing smirk.
Nick gave her a skeptical look, “Umm hello…?” He said with a glance downward.
Alyssa rolled her eyes and moved in closer. “So? You’re the one that asked to take a shower with me.”
Nick sighed, “I know, it’s just I don’t the lack of physical contact gets to me sometimes. Especially when I got so completely used to us being so…”
“So animalistic?” She offered.
Nick rolled his eyes and leaned his head back for a moment rinsing his hair. Alyssa moved in a little closer just as he leaned his head down again making their mouths just a half inch apart. Both their breathing quickened as they both stared neither moving away from their close proximity. Alyssa leaned up just a little placing her hand on his chest as their lips met hesitantly. They both looked at each other then went for it again closing their eyes as they kissed passionately. Nick moved his hand to the back of her head weaving his fingers into her wet hair as she did the same. He backed her up a little turning her to the tiled wall backing her up against it deepening the kiss letting their tongues duel with each other. Alyssa sighed into the kiss wrapping both arms around his neck pressing their bodies together fully. Nick broke the kiss moving his mouth to her neck as he moaned out lightly just feeling her skin against his again. Their body heat and wet skin from the shower was just enough to push him over the edge with a loud growl just as Alyssa kissed along his neck. She felt him release himself against her abdomen felt his body go limp after the force of his release had hit him.
Alyssa snickered a little, “God what a few months of no sex and you’re like a fucking 13-year-old.” She remarked pushing away from him to go over and wash herself off while he braced himself against the tiled wall. Nick turned and watched her finish washing herself then left him alone in the shower. Minutes later he turned off the faucets and went into the bedroom changing and drying off.
“Sorry about that…” He said biting his lower lip as he settled himself to sit on the bed.
Alyssa chuckled at him as she set the phone down from ordering room service for the night. “Don’t worry about it. It caught me off guard.”
“Yeah…” He said looking away.
Alyssa laid her head on his bare chest looked up at him. “Hey, relax it’s not the first time you’ve had an orgasm with me you know.”
“I know…just yeah definitely wasn’t planning on that…”
“It’s okay, it was actually kinda hot, you know. I can get you off with barely even touching you. It’s kind of an ego boost.” She said with a grin.
Nick’s face flushed in embarrassment, “You’re not just saying that right?”
“Of course not. You know me, I’m not normally one who’d lie.” She replied with a reassuring glance. “Besides it’s nice to know I’ve still got it.”
Nick cracked a smile chuckling a little. “Yeah you certainly do.”
If you read let me know what you think! =)
Author's Chapter Notes:
I know weird chapter title but it fits lol. Sorry I've been absent from updating the past few days, got some food poisoning and bam was sicker than hell! I'm okay now phew but am still sorta out of it. Hope ya'll like it!
Chapter End Notes:
Tri thank you once again for all your help this chapter and seriously you need to watch that movie!!
