They agree to disagree about where to go first, but the one thing they do agree on is that they're going somewhere. Somewhere else. Away from the city, away from the loft, away from real life for a little while. Nick and Jess are going to take a vacation. Together. Alone.
When Jess suggests the vacation, Nick considers for a moment. He doesn't have too many responsibilities, and he thinks he can get shifts covered at the bar. He's been thinking a lot about the bar lately, actually, and if he really plans to work there forever or if he needs to do something else. Plus, he'd love nothing more than some uninterrupted time with Jess. This thing with them - so complicated and simple at the same time. Months of unresolved tension and the weightiness of their friendship and living arrangements at stake...but now that they're finally together are we together? it just feels so right. The last thing he wants right now is Schmidt lecturing them. He just wants to be with her and see what happens. It's still hard for him to wrap his mind around the apparent fact that she wants to be with him, too.
Jess insists they go back to the loft long enough to leave notes for the roommates and pack a quick bag. She takes too long for Nick's taste (how many pairs of shoes could she need?) and he leans against her doorframe, hands in his pockets and his duffle bag at his feet. He'd packed in roughly three minutes - toiletries, clean-ish clothes, phone charger, money. He'd placed his scrawled note to Winston and Schmidt on the counter and come to see if she was ready.
"Jess." Nick watches her opening drawers and shuffling through clothes in her closet. She was still in her sari. "What are you doing? How long do you think we'll be gone? Do you really need all of this?"
"Always be prepared, Nick! I don't know where we're going yet." Jess tucked a pair of flats in her suitcase and considers two dresses she has thrown over her shoulder, trying to make a decision. "Is it hot? Cold? Will we be hiking or swimming? Will I need to dress up? Maybe we should think about where we're going before we..."
Nick strode purposefully toward her, wanting to stop her before she could suggest they not go until they had thought this through. He took the dresses from her, tossing them on her bed. Her mouth fell open and he bent his knees slightly, wrapping an arm around her waist and lifting her, pulling her to him and kissing her hard. Full of passion, lust and reassurance. Jess sighed and curled her fingers into his shirt. So amazing. Why have I never been kissed like this before Nick? She snapped herself out of it. "No, Nick! We can't. Not right now! I have to finish packing so we can get out of here before someone comes home."
Nick pressed his forehead to hers and wrapped both arms around her. "Jess, you don't need all this stuff. Just pack the essentials. Besides, I plan for you to be wearing as little as possible. You don't need clothes."
Jess broke free of his arms, frustrated by his low chuckle. "Just give me five minutes. I need pack a few more things and then write the guys a note."
"Already took care of it." Nick sat on the edge of the bed, loosening his tie.
"Took care of it? We've barely been here five minutes. How did you write a note and pack already?" Jess dropped the pair of mittens she was holding, deciding she probably wouldn't need them. Probably.
"I'm a man, Jessica. I made quick decisions and took action."
Jess laughed at him and tucked two pairs of pajamas into her suitcase. "Is this new for you?"
"Maybe so, Jess. I've decided to stop thinking so much and wasting time on things that aren't important." He resisted the urge to laugh it off or change the subject when she caught his eyes.
"Are you saying I'm important?" Jess stopped packing and approached her bed, stepping in between Nick's legs and placing her hands lightly on his shoulders.
Nick swallowed hard. He was still hesitant to name his feelings for her, especially to her. He remembered how she'd reacted when Paul told her how he felt, and how each of his own recent relationships had fallen apart just as he'd opened up and expressed his feelings. But Jess was different, and he knew he couldn't brush her off. He'd wanted her for so long - he'd never forgive himself if he didn't go all in and see what could happen. He wrapped his arms around her legs and looked up at her. "Jess, you know how important you are to me. Right now, the only person I want to waste time with is you."
Jess was touched and surprised. It wasn't long ago that she could easily have seen him panicking and retreating at a question like that. Something really had changed between them. She cupped his face with her hands, brushing her thumbs over stubble as she kissed him softly. "I like decisive Nick Miller. He's sexy."
"Yeah, he likes you too, Jess. Now how about this packing?" Nick hated to let her go, but she was right - they needed to hurry. He was anxious to get out of the loft before something interrupted them.
Jess grabbed her makeup bag from her dresser and put it in her suitcase. "Okay, this is it in here. I just need to grab a few things from the bathroom and I'm ready to go." Her phone buzzed and she reached for it. "Oh, my dad made it home okay."
"That's great." Nick zipped her suitcase for her and carried it to the hall. "Hey, are you going to change out of that before we leave?"
Jess looked down, apparently just realizing she was still in her wedding clothes. "Ha. Good call, Miller." She started to undo the sari and glanced at Nick just outside her door. She hadn't undressed in front him in a non-sexual situation yet, and it felt oddly intimate, but she decided not to ask him to leave. She began to unloop the soft fabric and unwrap its layers from her body carefully, trying to remember how to fold it. She heard a noise from the hallway and glanced up to see Nick setting the suitcase down. With his rolled-up sleeves and loosened tie, Nick looked to Jess exactly like he had after their failed first date attempt. Her breath caught as she remembered the unresolved heat between them that night and how they'd lingered outside her room in the exact spot Nick was standing now.
Nick had watched as Jess started to remove her sari, but realized quickly he was staring. He had every intention to walk away, so she could have some privacy. He should collect her things from the bathroom, or grab a beer, or make his bed before they left. But the only thing he could do was set the suitcase down and take her in, arms loose at his sides. God, she's beautiful. He saw her catch him staring, but still couldn't make himself walk away. He couldn't take his eyes off of her, and his breathing quickened when he noticed a change in her. He watched her drop the collected fabric she'd been handling so carefully. She held his gaze, breaking it only long enough to lift her blouse over her head. She clutched it for a moment, then let it slip through her fingers, along with the rest of her resolve.
"Come here, Nicholas."
"Jess, we..." He realized his voice was hoarse and cracking. He could have been a blind man, and the sound of her voice asking for him like that would make him just as aroused.
"I know. But I need you. Now. Nick...please?" Desire and a little trepidation filled her voice. She hoped he wouldn't turn her down and was suddenly acutely aware of how little clothing she had on.
That was all it took for him to regain his mobility. He crossed her room and savored the relieved grin that passed over her lips, giving her a small smile of his own before he covered her mouth with his. Her lips parted easily for him and when she moaned and pulled back to whisper breathlessly, "There's always time for this," Nick knew he was lost in her. He couldn't tell her no, even if he wanted to. Not that he wanted to.