I hope this has come out alright, I just tried out the copy n paste feature! Anyway, thankyou for all the reviews of the last chapter, and iI hope you enjoy!
I had to face it. I went back into the room, taking a deep breath. My fears were made moot when I noticed that she was asleep. I sat on the edge of the bed next to her for a moment or two, watching the slow rise and fall of her chest. She seemed so angelic, it would be a sin against God if I woke her. It wasn't late at all, still only mid afternoon, but we were travelling until late last night, our plane only landing at half 11, and by the time we had made it to the hotel we were shattered. I folded the top sheet over her, and shifted myself comfortable on the bed, admitting that perhaps a nap wouldn't hurt.
A few hours later the alarm clock buzzed, allowing time to change for dinner. I opened my eyes slowly, and noticed Nikki stirring even slower from her slumber. Our eyes met and she smiled instantly. I think she must have noticed an involuntary look on my face, because she furrowed her brow, asking me what was wrong with her eyes. It only took a few seconds before her memories flowed through her bloodstream, and her cheeks reddened. She seemed sober now, at least.
She took a deep breath and clenched her teeth guiltily. "I kissed you, didn't I?" She whispered rhetorically, "I'm really sorry, Harry".
I shot her a smile, subconsciously laced with sadness, and shook my head gently. "It's fine, I didn't mean to..." I trailed off, unsure how to answer. I did mean to kiss her back, we both knew that, but to admit it made things so much more real. I couldn't even apologise for taking advantage of her, or nearly, without admitting it.
"I don't blame you, anyway, I'd kiss me if I was a woman", I joked in attempt to clear the air. Not one of my best. She laughed anyway and elbowed me in the side. I feigned a hurt look and she shuffled closer, wrapped an arm around me and gave me a squeeze. I could never help but notice her scent, it was intoxicating, as if the homely smell of her were the Pied Piper. I pulled away gently, after what was an inappropriately long length of time. "Dinner" I said simply.
15 minutes later and I was covered more modestly than my shorts and vest from earlier in the day, dressed up in tan coloured trousers and a dark navy polo. Nikki was still in the bathroom, and had been since we'd got up from the bed. I sighed, tapping my foot impatiently on the floor. I called her, complaining about my hunger and that no one would care what she looked like. When she finally came out, I realised for the second time that day that I was wrong. The simple black bandeau dress hugged the curves I'd yearned for earlier, amplified the shapes of her modest breasts and the tiny waist I'd always assumed was bigger. She'd caught the sun, her normally pale skin browned slightly against the black heels that lengthened her legs. Her hair was pulled back into a messy updo, gorgeous blonde curls occasionally dropping below their restraining clips and spray. Her makeup was simple, but she'd taken care to make an example of her plump red lips.
"Put your tongue back in your mouth Harry" She laughed.
Shit, I'd been staring. I grinned up at her, looking her up and down. "Not bad"
I pulled back the door for her and she walked out through, mocking my chivalry. She took my hand as we walked across the holiday park, enjoying the heat of the warm evening.
"Shall we go to the bar after? The drinks are all inclusive til 2" She was saying. I was agreeing, still taken aback by her beauty.
"Only if you're sensible this time" I nudged her with a grin.
The dinner choices catered for the large variety of cultures that appeared to be in the resort. Nikki scoffed at the typical lasagnes and meats, electing for a fish dish that was apparently very popular around here. I shrugged and ordered a steak (medium rare) and chips. I noticed the eye rolls my companion gave me as I not-so-subtley checked out the waitress and refused to eat cultural food. When the food arrived though, I couldn't fault either dish.
After we'd eaten our fill, we ambled out of the restaurant arm in arm, already a little merry from the dinner cocktails that dampened our stomachs. I ordered a round of two screwdrivers, and a few sambuca shots each, which, to my amusement, Nikki was terrible at downing. She ended up sipping them in the end, blaming it on the taste not her ability to do shots. I bet her that I could do four vodka shots before she had done two sambucas, and that's where my memory begins to get a little fuzzy. I know I drank a lot, and that she drank probably two thirds amount, despite being less than two thirds my size. I had to catch her from falling more than once.
I ordered another round at the bar, sweet talking the waitress into topping up the 25ml of vodka in our cocktails. I grabbed them and stumbled back towards the booth we'd been occupying, furrowing my brow when I noticed that Nikki had been replaced by a couple who couldn't get enough of each other. I wandered around for a few minutes, calls for her drowned by the volume of the music. Realising my fool's errand, I went back to the booth, ready to ask if they'd seen what had happened to her, when I realised what was going on.
A feral need was plastered over Nikki's face, eyes closed, almost growling with excitement. The man planting deep kisses in her neck had one hand around her back and another on her chest.
I stepped back, not sure what to do. Nikki was an adult, not a child, she could make her own decisions, no matter how much I wanted them to be different. I swallowed, squashing down the rage breaking out of its prison in my heart. That man should have been me, could have been, if I'd continued our kiss earlier. Why this would be any different, I had no clue. I wanted her, more than I cared to admit. I wanted to feel the love I knew we had for each other, feel her next to me, touch her more than I could now.
I dropped the drinks onto the table of the people in the adjoining booth and left the bar quickly and quietly, walking slowly back to the room with my head down and my hands in my pockets, the look of a defeated man. I was alarmed by my jealousy, confused. It never normally bothered me when Nikki had someone, I had women all the time after all. Something was different about this time though, I had let myself believe that she was ready to wait for me. It was only a holiday fling, I knew, but I felt abandoned. A small part of me was saying that maybe, just maybe, I was ready.