Note - This chapter is dedicated to Ashyen, who mentioned in her story notes on one of her fics that she likes the idea of this pairing.
LIZ AND NIK-2008
She was laying in bed beneath a heavy down comforter, but still she shivered.
Elizabeth felt the loneliness, like a unwanted houseguest, sink down into her bones.
This home she lived in- the one Jason bought so she could raise their daughter and Cameron in a place with a big back yard- was full of life during the day, as the kids ran and played, and stark empty silence at night.
Jason lived across town and was in love with another woman.
Some other woman. There had always seemed to be one of those where Jason was concerned. And this one Liz couldn't fight, wouldn't even try to, because that is not how she wanted to get any man's love.
Besides, late last summer, a different man took Jason's place in her fantasies. A man she had no business ever thinking about that way. A man who, at that time, was married to her best friend.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Nikolas rang the doorbell, hoping he didn't wake the children. He pictured her rising from bed, her white gown clinging to her skin, and slipping her feet into those old torn up bunny slippers.
The guard glared at him. As if he knew Nikolas was not supposed to be here at 2 am.
She opened the door with a worried expression. "What is it? Is someone hurt?"
"Nothing so dire. May I come in?"
The porch light illuminated him and the guard who stood a few steps away, ready to toss Nikolas onto the curb if Liz gave him the slightest indication the visitor was unwanted.
She gave Nik a look, one that said it all without words. He knew this was something they agreed to not do.
He also knew she was going to let him in anyway.
(If
there were no words,
no way to speak,
I would still hear you.
If
there were no tears,
no way to feel inside,
I'd still feel for
you)
XXXXXXXX
She made coffee, just for something to do. But when she came back into the living room, setting the tray on the table, she didn't offer it to him.
Instead she said "You're not supposed to be here."
"No, I'm not."
She joined him on the couch. "It's too complicated."
"Yes, it is."
She shook her head at him, then smiled, because of course he was being completely reasonable with his words and unreasonable with his tone, which was low and filled with desire for her.
Liz pulled her ratty pink robe tighter over her silky nightgown.
Nikolas added, "You had to know I would want to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day."
His gaze worked over her from head to toe, making her skin flush, and her body start to thump with an ache only he could take away.
This ticked Liz off, because he wasn't supposed to have this affect on her. And before that day last year, he hadn't.
"One damn kiss, Nikolas. One kiss and look at this mess we are in."
"It was one hell of a kiss, though."
Liz stood up and started to move away from him, needing distance if she had any hope of resisting the pull she felt when his eyes connected with hers.
They had decided to pay penitence for ruining his marriage by never again talking about that night, never forgiving themselves, and never, ever, ever going there again.
Now he had chosen Valentine's Day, or the early morning after, to come here with sex in his eyes and bring it all up again.
"That kiss cost you a marriage and almost cost me my best friend. We are lucky Em even speaks to us!" Liz ranted at him.
"Don't you think I know that?" Nikolas stood up and started to close the gap between them. "But it doesn't change the fact that I go to sleep seeing your face in my mind every night. Every night, Elizabeth. I know I am not supposed to feel this way. I know it would be easier if I could stop." He finally reached her and slowly raised his hand and brushed a strand of her long brown hair behind her ear. "But I can't stop."
Nikolas lowered his mouth to his and the moment before he kissed her whispered again, his voice ragged and desperate, "I can not stop wanting you...wanting this..."
And either could she. She didn't protest when he slipped the robe from her shoulders, she barely even noticed because his lips were still on hers, his tongue was inside her mouth, and then his hands were sliding against her night gown, up her back causing her to arch toward him.
"If you want me to leave, tell me now" the tone of his voice begged her not to push him away, but let her know he would understand her choice either way.
They both felt like they would be damned to hell if they gave into this lust.
But, tonight, when they had spent six months already wanting this, and six months praying they could stop wanting this, it was too much to take anymore.
Whether they went down into the flames for this or not, Liz didn't care at this moment.
"Don't stop," she breathed out.
He cupped her face and their kiss this time was even more desperate and out of control.
"There's a downstairs bedroom in the back of the house," she whispered.
He picked her up and their eyes met. Once more they studied each other, thinking about how they were never supposed to give into this.
"Don't stop," Liz told him for a second time.
And that is all Nikolas needed to hear. The sun would be up soon, there was no more time to waste.
Cause all I need is you,
my Valentine
You're
all I need, my love, my Valentine
