A loud bang woke her sharply. She flinched against Jack with a terrified squeak.
"Shhh it's ok, just one of the patrol vehicles backfiring. I'm here it's ok." He murmured reassuring nonsense into her ear, stroking her back in comforting circles. He could feel her heart thumping and little tremors were making her hand quiver against his arm. He hated seeing her scared or upset.
"I love you." She whispered, so quietly that he nearly missed it. His heart stuttered. She had never said it before. He knew that he loved her, but he wasn't sure whether Nikki was looking for a fling or a relationship. He hadn't wanted to push his luck.
"I love you." He whispered back. He was surprised at how easy the words were to say; he'd never said it to a girlfriend before. He rolled onto his back, pulling Nikki with him so that she was sprawled on top of him. The overlarge hood of his top flopped forward, covering her gorgeous brown eyes. He laughed softly, his heart full of love for his clumsy, gorgeous mess of a girlfriend.
She pushed the hood of her face, her nose wrinkled into a disgruntled expression that reminded him of a cat having its fur stroked the wrong way. He kissed the spot behind her ear. She squirmed closer, burying her face in his shoulder.
"Your stubble tickles!" She hissed playfully.
"You love me anyway though." He whispered back, tucking a strand of dishevelled blonde hair behind her ear.
"Shut up." She mumbled, making him smile.
"Does this mean we can tell Leo now?" He asked hopefully. The last few months had been killing him. It was so hard not to casually mention dates he and Nikki had been on, to not kiss her or touch her at work.
"Yeah, although we should wait until we get home. He's got enough to worry about." Nikki murmured against his neck. Jack glanced over to the shadowy corner where Leo's bed was situated. He could just make out the silvery grey of Leo's hair on the pillow.
"Yeah, I guess. Night babe." He kissed her hair lightly, tucking her more securely into the narrow space between him and the wall.
"Sleep tight." She mumbled, already half asleep.
