More sexy stuff. :D
This is the last chapter. I hope you've enjoyed it!
Nico lay quietly next to Dani, the room starting to lighten with the coming dawn. He'd slept on and off, his mind turbulent. He'd never, ever poured his heart out to anyone like he had to her just a few hours ago. He never thought he was even capable of such a thing.
He turned to his side and spooned up close to her, his arm around her, his nose buried in her hair. Inhaling slowly and deeply, he caught the fragrance of her shampoo and closed his eyes. After they'd talked, they'd begun kissing, and soon after that they'd made love. He'd had plenty of sex in his life, but this was the first time he could ever remember actually making love with someone. He smiled. It had been an exquisite experience.
As the room continued to lighten, he gently stroked her arm, feeling the softness of her skin underneath his fingertips. Placing a soft kiss on her bare shoulder, he slid quietly out of bed, slipped on his jeans, and went downstairs to make coffee.
He leaned against the counter as the coffee brewed, the rich aroma awakening him. All he wanted to do was go back upstairs, strip off his jeans, climb into that soft bed and make love to the woman who was stealing his heart... but he had things to do today.
You can come back tonight, Careles.
But he didn't want to come back tonight. He blew out a breath. For the first time in a long time, he didn't want to work. He didn't want to babysit rich, spoiled athletes. He wanted a day to relax. A day to sleep in. A day to spend with Dani.
He picked up his jacket off the counter, where he'd hastily left it last night, slipped it on, withdrew his keys, and walked barefoot to the car to retrieve his briefcase.
Dammit, this day is for me.
Dani stretched in the morning sun like a sleepy cat. Nico must have already left, she thought, and realized how disappointed she was at the concept. As the memories of the previous night came flooding back to her, she blushed. He had certainly been a competent and skilled lover... easily the best she'd ever had, although she knew he was just number four. Covering her mouth, she remembered him counting as she'd reached each climax. The last number she remembered was three. She'd never had that many in one night.
Doing a happy little wiggle in the bed, she grinned, and sniffed the air. "Coffee!" she said with wonder. If there was coffee, there was...
As if right on cue, Nico appeared in the doorway, clad only in jeans and a warm smile. "Good morning, Doctor." He had two mugs, one in each hand. "I brought you a cup."
"Ooo, thank you, Nico." She sat up, tucking the covers underneath her arms as he walked carefully to the bed and sat on the edge next to her. He placed a soft kiss on her lips. "I thought you'd left," she said, and took the mug he offered her.
"I thought about it," he replied, "But I decided that it might be more fun to spend the day with you."
She raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Fun? You know how to have fun?"
He gave her that look that she loved, and tapped the end of her nose with a fingertip. "It's naughty to be so sarcastic."
She grinned. "But I like being naughty."
A slow smile crept across his face. "I will not reply to that comment, on the grounds that my response may incriminate me." And he took a healthy sip of coffee.
"So what do you want to do?" She hugged her knees with one arm and sipped her coffee with the other.
"As close to nothing as humanly possible. I never thought I would ever admit this, but I'm exhausted, Dani." He sighed and took another sip of coffee. "I feel like I could crawl back underneath the covers and sleep all day."
"Then do it, Nico. Call in sick."
"I don't call in sick."
"Well, then, just tell Mr. Pittman you need a day off, to take care of some things."
He thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "That would be more believable. I have my briefcase, so I can do some work, but it can wait until later."
She set the mug down and lay back on the bed, stretching her arms over her head. "I know something you can take care of... right now."
"You do?" he asked, knowing exactly where this was going. He set his mug next to hers and peeled off his jeans.
"Mmm hmm. Oh, my." She smiled. "Is that for me?"
"Why, yes, it is." He slid underneath the covers, placed one knee on either side of her thighs, and leaned in on his elbows, his hands on her arms. "Every bit of it, my lady." He nipped at her neck, his whiskers tickling her skin.
She moaned softly and wrapped her arms around him. "Can we have a repeat of last night?"
"Of course," he whispered, feathering kisses over her shoulder. Settling between her legs, he joined himself with her slowly, loving the low moan that slipped from between her lips. He soon found a rhythm they both enjoyed, and the only sounds in the room were the sounds of their breathing.
He held her gaze as he made love to her, kissing her here and there, nuzzling her cheek. She reached back to twist the pillow underneath her head. "Nico," she breathed, "Oh, God, Nico..." he answered by taking one of her hands, interlacing his fingers with hers. Suddenly she was at the edge, and toppled over as his mouth covered hers once more. As she moaned, he whispered into her ear, "One."
He watched her as she drifted back down to earth, his heart filled to overflowing. I think I love her, he realized. He'd never been in love with anyone before. There had never been time, and there had certainly never been anyone like Dani.
He released her hand and reached back, pulling one of her legs to rest on top of his shoulder. The sudden shift in position sent her over the edge again, and she cried out his name, her nails scraping against his chest.
"Two," he growled, and reached his own climax, burying his face in her neck.
They relaxed together, him breathing in the sweet fragrance of her perfume, her gently running her fingers through his soft, dark hair. Finally, Nico whispered, "Dani?"
"Mmm hmm?" He felt so good lying in her arms.
"Thank you."
"For what?" she asked, tickling his scalp.
"You," he replied simply. He moved to lie beside her, pulling her into his embrace.
"Well, you're welcome. And thank you for you, too," she whispered against his neck, wrapping an arm around him. "I'm glad you stayed the night, and not just because it's hot being with you," she added. "You've taken a very important first step in your recovery, and I'm so happy I could help you with that."
He kissed the top of her head and stroked her shoulder. "Me too." He watched as her eyes drifted closed. "Dani?"
"Mmm hmm?"
"What happens now?"
She opened her eyes and searched his face. "About what?"
"This." He pointed to the two of them. "Johnson. All of it. I'm in foreign territory here. I don't know what I should do next."
"Well..." she caressed his upper arm gently. "I'm perfectly okay with you and me, first off. I really care for you, Nico. You're unlike any man I've ever known. You keep me guessing, and yes, you irritate the hell out of me most of the time with your secretive sneakiness." She paused, letting that sink in. "But it's okay, because you're so good looking and smart."
He feigned disappointment. "Is that all?"
"Oh." She giggled and kissed his scruffy chin. "And so good in bed."
"I'll take that," he said, smoothing his hands over her skin. "And what about Johnson?"
"I think you're coming to terms with it in your own way, Nico. You're grieving, and that's good. You know his death wasn't your fault. I think if we keep talking, you'll be alright."
"Is that your professional opinion?" he asked huskily, nibbling at her earlobe.
"Yes, it is, Mr. Careles."
He sighed and snuggled into the pillows, pulling her as close as he could. "I think it's time for a nap, Doctor."
"I think I agree," she whispered. A few minutes later, she raised her head. "Nico?"
"Mmm hmm?"
"Did they ever find out why the hell there was someone shooting at Phoenix that night?"
"Oh, yes," he said with a sleepy yawn. "It was nothing more than a crime of passion. We were all in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Sounds like you were in the right place to me, sailor. If you hadn't been in the hospital, you might have never opened up to me, you think?"
"Always analyzing, Doctor, aren't you?" he said, giving her bottom a light squeeze.
"Yep!" she giggled.
He kissed her. "And that's just one of the many reasons that I love you..."
The look of surprise and joy in her eyes was all the response he needed.
Prologue
Two Years Later
New Haven Memorial Cemetary
New Haven, Connecticut
Nico squinted into the bright midday sun. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you, Allen. It was my responsibility, but it wasn't my fault. We knew what the hell we were getting into. You were braver on that day than I could ever be, in my whole life." He pushed a small medal into the ground by the black marble tombstone. "Take it. It's not doing me any good. Looks better on you anyway." He smiled.
He read the letters.
Allen Phillip Johnson
June 1, 1963
November 17, 2001
Beloved son
Brave soldier
"See that girl over there?" he said softly. His eyes stung with tears. "She's the best thing that ever happened to me. Remember I said I'd never fall in love?" He stood up and held up his left hand. A platinum wedding band glittered on his ring finger.
"I've never been so glad to be wrong."
~~The End~~
