Title: Gift of Love
Disclaimer: I do not own CSI, Anthony Zuiker and CBS do. Hooters was established in Florida and is now headquartered in Georgia. Pepsi is owned by the PepsiCo.
Special shout-out goes to shortpeanut for letting me bounce ideas off of her.
Author's Note: An idea that came to me and started writing back in August 2011 but was so busy and had no time to work on. Some parts of the story are AU; there will be no Eddie in this story but Lindsey will be in the story. Story starts during Nick's junior year at Rice, December 1991, Nick is 20 and Catherine is 22.
Beta'd by: Simply Laura and TotalCSIFan
Genre: Romance/Family
Rating: T (T+ bordering M at the end of the chapter)
Chapter 1: The Spark
Catherine Flynn had been living and working at the Hooters in Houston for about six weeks and she loved it, especially interacting and getting to know the patrons who came by. She also worked hard because Ted and Sam had put in excellent recommendations to get Catherine the job. What she didn't realize was about to meet someone special.
Meanwhile Nick Stokes and three of his Upsilon Tau Psi buddies, Jackson Ingram, Tristan Alexander and Lane Kendrick had finished the first semester of their junior year by going to their favorite restaurant, Hooters.
As they walked up to the restaurant Nick turned to Lane, "Man that sociology final for Dr. White was tough don't you think?"
Lane acquiesced but also added, "Don't forget what he told us at the beginning, if we get a C in the end it means we learned something rather useful."
The four of them headed in and was greeted by the hostess who then showed them to their usual table. They were looking at the menu and chatting when their waitress came by.
"Hello my name is Catherine and I will be your waitress for tonight, can I get you gentlemen started with any drinks?"
As the guys gave their drink orders, Nick became entranced and smitten with the strawberry blonde waitress. She was absolutely gorgeous and for some reason, it seemed like Nick thought he had seen her before somewhere but couldn't recall where.
Catherine had gotten the orders when she noticed that one of the guys was staring at her and not that she minded. After all, she used to be an exotic dancer back in Vegas. The guy was hot and a good piece of eye candy rolled into one.
After breaking the silence she gave a warm smile and asked, "Sir, what you like to drink?"
Snapping out of his daydream, Nick stumbled out his answer, "Um, uh I would like a Pepsi with a lemon on the side."
Taking in his good looks once more, she winked at him before turning to the rest of them, "Okay I will be right back with your drinks, fellas."
As Catherine made her way to bar to order the drinks, she turned her head around and briefly made eye contact with the young man who had captured her attention and winked again.
Only a few seconds after the waitress left when Tristan spoke up, "Hey Nicky I saw you eyeing the waitress. It looks like you have the hots for her bro."
Jackson and Lane both gave Nick their ritual slap on the shoulder as a way to tease him. There was no denying and all Nick could do was grin like an idiot.
Lane came up with a good idea he excused himself and went to go find the waitress that captured his fellow brother's heart.
-x-
All throughout the meal, Nick had been enjoying it while receiving subtle nonverbal flirtation signals from the beautiful waitress. They ranged from a quick gaze to head nod, giggling, licking her lips, gentle arm and back caress causing Nick to feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
At the end of their meal, Jackson went to pay the food bill and when he got back he handed Nick a note. With a smirk on his face, he turned to Nick, "Nicky here is a note from a certain waitress."
Nick swallowed a bump that formed in his throat, took the note, opened and read it.
To Nick the very handsome Southern fella,
I am off in ten minutes, so please meet me in one hour at the address listed in this note. I have a surprise for you so don't be late.
Xoxo,
Catherine
When Jackson caught a part of the note he couldn't help but comment, "Oh Nicky you are one lucky dude."
Again all Nick could do was grin like there was no tomorrow. He had indeed gotten lucky.
He snapped out of it and turned to his pal, "Okay guys since y'all had a drink I will drive you back to our apartment and get ready before heading over for my surprise."
The four of them left the restaurant and headed back to their apartment. Fifty minutes later he arrived at her place with a bouquet of flowers knowing that a guy can't go wrong with flowers.
As he stood outside the door he rehearsed what he wanted to say. Once he was satisfied, he knocked on the door.
When the door opened and Nick saw Catherine in a tiny and short midriff baring top that revealed cleavage matched with a tiny thong, his heart beat went into overdrive for a few seconds and what he had rehearsed all vanished. As soon as his heart rate had calmed down a little, he walked on over to Catherine and all he could say was, "These are for you".
With a smirk on her face, Catherine accepted the bouquet and replied cheekily, "Why thank you, stud."
She smelled the bouquet of tulips and azaleas but soon she put it aside and once their arms were around each other and their lips met for a passionate kiss there was no stopping them.
As frenzied kisses continued at a bruising pace, Catherine got rid of his outerwear and Nick removed his shoes and socks and then let his hands roam her body giving Catherine tingly sensations on her skin. They didn't want to stop the pace they had established but they had to in order to get air in their lungs. The moment they relinquished each other's lips Nick saw that her lips were swollen and her eyes were burning with desire.
Catherine placed her hands one Nick's face pulled him and the instant their foreheads touched she whispered seductively, "Why don't we take this someplace more comfortable, hmm?"
Nick's heartbeat sped up at the suggestion as Catherine took his hand and led him to her room. Shortly after closing the bedroom door, Catherine surprised him by pulling Nick for another crushing kiss. Working her lips upwards and nibbled his ear and whispered, "Are you ready for your surprise?"
Nick couldn't anything but nod. Catherine then made a quick work of the rest of his clothing leaving him in only in boxers. She pushed him lightly and before long he was sitting on the edge of the bed; now was the time.
Catherine began to bust out spicy moves she used when she worked at the Paradise Lounge. As Nick watched her salaciously rub her upper body while shaking her hips, he began to really feel uncomfortable. Not only did his pants tighten rapidly but it seemed like someone had turned up the heater. It seemed like all of a sudden that she was straddling his lap, hands on his shoulder and began grinding away causing Nick to moan. Suddenly she stopped grinding and she took off the short shirt exposing her chest. Nick's breath hitched and his eyes grew wide when he saw her topless. However, Nick never got a chance to say anything when her lips attached on to his and it didn't take long for a tongue duel to ensue. A short time later, the two of them had on protection and were all over each other as they gave into their desires.
A/N 2: Thanks for reading the first chapter of "Gift of Love". Reviews are welcomed but please no flames.
