Title: The Ten Times Waverly Earp was Definitely NOT on a Date with Nicole Haught
Author / Date of Inception: Kimberly21570 / May 2016
Fandom: Wynonna Earp
Pairing: Waverly Earp and Nicole Haught—WayHaught
Synopsis: This WayHaught story follows Waverly and Nicole's journey back in time as they reflect upon the moments they've shared together—the moments that led to Waverly's self-discovery, and ultimately drew her into Nicole's arms. Some moments are light and fun, and others, dark and heavy, because it is the coalescence of those shared experiences that leads us to fall in love.
Chapter Summary: Chapter 10 brings us to Waverly's brazen confession in Nedley's office, and chronicles the events that followed, at least in my own head. There's a touch of Wynonna and Gus in there too, helping to bring them all full-circle before they're faced with the unforeseen. It's another rather long one—about 39 pages total this time, so once again, grab a drink and a snack, sit back, relax, and enjoy!
Rating: Chapter 10 is rated a strong PG-13, not quite verging on R-ish, for some sexual innuendo and overtly sexual comments. This chapter continues us on that slow burn toward NC-17. I promise, it's coming! Anyone who is familiar with my writing knows it's well worth the wait. My theory on ratings is… if I wouldn't want my 16-year-old niece to read it, it gets an R or NC-17 rating; otherwise, it's usually gonna be PG-13. I'd be fine with her reading this one, but there's no way in hell I'd let her get her hands on Chapter 11. Just sayin'…
Disclaimer: The characters of Waverly, Wynonna, Willa and Ward Earp, Officer Nicole Haught, John Henry "Doc" Holliday, Deputy Marshal Xavier Dolls, Gus McCready, Sheriff Randy Nedley, and washed-up rodeo clown Champ Hardy, as well as the Shorty's Saloon, the Black Badge Division offices, the Earp Homestead settings are owned by creator Beau Smith, NBCUniversal, the Syfy Channel, and SEVEN24 Films IDW Entertainment. The original characters of Mr. Erickson, Mrs. Millie Sommers, and Officer Sarah Grady and her husband Frank are the property of this author, and any resemblance to fictional characters, or real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Rights to the song Coming Home, recorded by Sigma, featuring Rita Ora, belong to composers Pete Kelleher, Ben Kohn, Tom Barnes & Wayne Anthony Hector/BMG Rights Management. No copyright infringement intended with regard to any of the aforementioned persons or entities.
With the exception of brief references to Episode 1.07, Walking After Midnight, which aired on 5.13.2016, Episode 1.08, and Two-Faced Jack,which aired on 5.20.2016, content from Episode 1.09, Bury Me with my Guns On, which aired on 5.27.2016, and brief references to content from Nicole's Tumblr journal, the story content and dialogue in these scenes are original. The timing of the WayHaught text conversation is a bit off because the blog hadn't been published when I began pacing this story. I imagine I'll correct it at some point in the future, when I go back to retime the story overall to match the changing seasons in the actual episodes. For now, my focus is finishing the story. Written for fun, not profit. All other standard disclaimers apply.
There's no beta on this, since I'm just writing it for fun, so any and all mistakes are my own. If you see anything major, I'd appreciate the heads-up so I can correct it. Thank you again for all the follows, favorites, kudos, and comments. Your interest in this story is deeply appreciated, and I honestly feel overwhelmed—in the best possible way—by your words of support and encouragement with regard to my work. I've been writing for more than 15 years, and I have to say, the compliments I've read from you all regarding this story continue to be some of the most generous I've ever received. I lack words to express how much that means to me, but I will always endeavor to respond personally to each comment in forums where the commenter's personal settings allow for it.
Speaking of personal responses, I do apologize for the delay in responding to your comments regarding Chapter 9. My Internet connection was down for more than two weeks and, unfortunately, I've gotten behind. I do intend to rectify that as quickly as possible now that I'm back up and running.
Finally, I'll admit to being torn in terms of the progression of Waverly and Nicole's physical relationship. I don't think it unreasonable that they would have sex right away, but the barn scene seems to indicate otherwise. Another thing I've contemplated is the timing for when they finally admit they love each other. In the scene at the station, just before Nicole almost kisses Waverly in Nedley's doorway, it looks to me like she whispered or mouthed, "I love you." Yet, in the scene where Waverly admits to Wynonna that she loves Nicole, it seems like Nicole is surprised to hear her say it. Any thoughts on that? Observations? I would love to hear them.
Anyway, all that said, you all have been extraordinarily patient throughout this slow burn—rather like Nicole, I would say—and I sincerely hope y'all enjoy part one of the payoff, as we visit Waverly's confession, in Chapter 10—Coming Home…
Kim
P.S. Merry Christmas and/or Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate, and may you all be blessed with a happy and prosperous new year. Peace.
The Ten Times Waverly Earp was Definitely NOT on a Date with Nicole Haught
"Know I'll never find it on my own
'Cause this life ain't leadin' nowhere I can go.
I'm standing still with nothing in my way.
Letting me go, so I can find myself again.
I know if I can find my own way back
There's a life I always knew, but never had.
I'm tired of fighting things that I can't change.
Letting me go, so I can finally find my place.
I need that ground beneath my feet
To feel that ground beneath my feet…
I need that home, I'm coming home, I'm coming home
'Cause this life that I've been living ain't my own
Home, I'm coming home, I'm coming home
'Cause I'm tired of being out here on my own
I'm coming home…"
Pete Kelleher, Ben Kohn, Tom Barnes & Wayne Anthony Hector, Coming Home
Chapter 10 – Coming Home:
Friday, May 27, 2016… Ghost River County Municipal Offices—4:45 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time
Beyond aggravated, Nicole sighed as she put the finishing touches on a report regarding a fishy stench that apparently spewed from Mr. Erickson's house every time he opened a window or a door. Reportedly, it was quite pungent, repugnant, even. "It smells like death!" Mrs. Sommers, who had filed the report, very adamantly complained.
Immediately, Nicole's gut instincts went on alert, and she wondered what kind of trouble Mr. Erickson might be in. She was afraid she might be destined for a run out to his place to check things out, thus delaying her ability to talk with Waverly and hopefully put their recent quarrel behind them. Thankfully though, her disquiet proved unwarranted when, upon further questioning, she was able to determine that the smell was not, in fact, the result of a dead body.
Literally, it smelled like fish.
All the time.
Mrs. Sommers even had a file folder stuffed with photos of Mr. Erickson's trashcan, overflowing with the remnants of freshly disemboweled trout. And apparently, rather like the trashcan, she'd had her fill.
Struggling to hold her composure and not laugh at the clearly distraught woman, Nicole assured Mrs. Sommers that, while she certainly empathized with her concerns, there was really nothing the police could do. There was no law against eating fish—three times a day, if that's what rocked Mr. Erickson's world. Well, she didn't put it quite like that, but Mrs. Sommers definitely came to the understanding that her neighbor could eat fish as often as he pleased, despite her aversion to the smell.
What a colossal waste of time. It was nuisance complaints like this that made Nicole wish she'd never left the Dallas P.D. Nevertheless, she dutifully filled out the paper report for entry into the system before shift's end. She definitely wasn't getting out of there on time.
Huffing, Mrs. Sommers slammed the file folder shut, responding with a snappy retort about how they'd all "see about this!" And then, as she stormed out the door, looking rather pissed as she did, one of Nicole's fellow officers, Sarah Grady, came in with an update on a case they were working from a couple of days prior—this one regarding a two vehicle collision out on Highway 81, just to the south of the Ghost River County Line, northeast of town. It was charter bus versus snowplow, and several passengers were reportedly injured, some of them seriously.
Snowplows in May. Jesus, she missed the weather in Dallas sometimes. Sure, it was hotter than hell in the summertime, especially with the humidity, but the winters were downright balmy compared to this place! They got a dusting of snow every couple of years or so, usually in the early morning when temperatures could occasionally dip below freezing; and it was melted by noontime as they soared well above. But that was neither here nor there, Nicole silently reasoned, because Purgatory was her home now—subzero temps, endless snowfall, fishy smells, and all.
The bus, filled with elderly passengers, had been headed from the old folks' home just south of Purgatory to the casinos in the Big City, for the annual Slot Machine Bonanza, where the group was certain they'd all take home a windfall. Sadly, their dreams of independent wealth were cut short, when the bus driver underestimated the dangers of maneuvering a fifteen-ton tube of metal on icy pavement, and put the bus into a skid, smacking right into the back end of a slow-moving snowplow. Officers Grady and Haught had been dispatched, along with EMS, to secure the crash site and file the official report, as well as assist in transport to the hospital, if necessary. And now more details were beginning to trickle in as Sarah worked the case behind the scenes, visiting some of the more seriously injured passengers at the hospital once they were up to giving their statements.
Grateful for the reprieve from the fishy ordeal, Nicole set the Sommers complaint aside, and grabbing the file with the initial crash report, she began filling in the recently unearthed details as Sarah provided them.
"Thanks for the info, Sarah," Nicole said, as she jotted down the last of the details. "I'll get the paper report finished up, and enter the latest into the system before I leave."
"Thanks a lot, Nicole," Sarah replied. "I'll grab the update when I get in tomorrow morning."
"No problem," Nicole assured.
"Hey, was that Millie Sommers I saw storming out of here as I walked in?" Sarah asked, almost as an afterthought.
"Yeah," Nicole sighed. "She filed a complaint about a 'fishy smell' coming from old man Erickson's house. She really had me goin' there for a moment—I thought he had a dead body in there. But then I figured out…"
"Again?" Sarah interrupted, sounding unimpressed.
"Wait. She's complained about the smell before?" Nicole sounded surprised, though, in retrospect, she wasn't really certain why. The woman came armed with an entire file folder full of photos of the man's trashcan. Surely, she hadn't taken them all in one day.
"Weekly," Sarah said dryly. "I don't know why she can't just learn to deal with it. The man's retired; he likes to fish," she shrugged, as if to say: What's the big deal?
"And he enjoys eating his catch, apparently," Nicole grinned. That trashcan really did look gruesome.
"She showed you the pictures?" Sarah asked, already knowing the answer.
The expression on Nicole's face answered the question, and Sarah laughed. "It's rather revolting," she granted. "And as much as he enjoys eating his catch, I think he enjoys annoying the Widow Sommers with the… aroma… even more," she said with a knowing wink.
"Ah! I get it now," Nicole chuckled. "Well, somebody needs to introduce him to a bottle of cologne, 'cause he's certainly not gettin' any with that pungent aroma he's got goin' on."
Sarah laughed. "Just wait 'til she starts filing complaints about his Christmas decorations," she warned. "That'll start around mid-October. And it'll be daily."
"October?" Nicole sounded suitably chagrinned. "He certainly likes to get an early start."
"Yeah," Sarah laughed. "And it lasts until the end of January. Drives her crazy. She claims the lights keep her up all night."
"How many lights are we talkin' 'bout here?" Nicole asked, wary of the response.
"The place looks like the Griswold's," Sarah reported, eyes widening in emphasis. "Don't even get me started on the animated lawn ornaments."
"Criminy," Nicole muttered.
"You're not kiddin'," Sarah laughed.
"Well, perhaps she should invite him over for dinner," Nicole suggested. "She could serve him steak—show him there're other options for dinner. And maybe even teach him a thing or two about the subtleties of tasteful Christmas decorating."
"Your lips to God's ears," Sarah said with an easy grin.
Nicole chuckled. "In the meantime, remind me to skip his street when I go house hunting," she said drolly. She loved Christmas, but that was just ridiculous.
"You in the market?" Sarah asked, leaning against the counter.
"Eventually," Nicole answered noncommittally. "If I don't buy, I'll build. I don't really wanna pay rent forever."
"Copy that," Sarah said. She reached across the counter, giving Nicole's hand a gentle, motherly pat. "Well, it's nice to know you're thinkin' of stayin' around these parts. You've become a real asset to us, Nicole."
"Definitely staying," Nicole said with a smile. "And thank you. I really enjoy bein' a part of the community here."
"You're welcome. Glad to hear it," Sarah replied warmly. "Anyway," she segued with a sigh, "I've gotta run. The grandkids are coming for dinner, and Frank's threatening to feed them cold hotdogs and boxed mac 'n cheese if I don't get home before they get there."
"At least he's not threatening them with fish," Nicole teased.
"You make an excellent point," Sarah laughed. She rather enjoyed Nicole's wry sense of humor. "Have a good night."
"You as well, Sarah. Enjoy," Nicole said, turning her attention back to the report, as Sarah closed the file folder and turned to leave.
As she did, Waverly came rushing through the double doors, nearly running her over.
Clearly on a mission, Waverly sidestepped her with the practiced ease of someone who was accustomed to weaving through tight spaces, heading straight for the front desk where Nicole was sitting. "Hey!" she exclaimed, sounding winded.
Startled by her unexpected appearance, Nicole's head jerked up, and her breath caught in her chest. She couldn't believe Waverly was actually standing there. Despite herself, her world stilled for a moment.
"Nedley out for dinner?" Waverly asked, sounding like she was in a rush. She knew full-well that she'd just left him at Shorty's, drinking coffee and socializing with the townsfolk—at least the ones who weren't already drunk. But she needed an ice-breaker, and Nedley suited that need perfectly.
"Oh, you mean happy hour at Shorty's?" Nicole asked, her tone sounding like a verbal rolling of her eyes.
"Yeah," Waverly replied, her cadence clipped as she glanced toward his office door, and then back at Nicole.
"Same time every day," Nicole answered on a sigh. She didn't know whether she was happy to see her, or aggravated that she hadn't even acknowledged their earlier quarrel. "Kinda like clockwork."
Before Nicole even finished answering, Waverly pushed past the swinging door into the bullpen, heading straight for Nedley's office.
Caught off-guard, Nicole twisted in her chair, her eyes following Waverly, as she called after her. "Hey!" What the hell is her deal?
When Waverly didn't respond, Nicole stood from her chair. "Wave!" she called again, quickly trailing behind her.
In Nedley's office, Waverly pulled her puffy blue coat off, tossing it over the arm of the sofa. She sounded out of breath, which made sense given her anxiousness, and the fact that she'd run the entire way from Shorty's over to the station. And then she set about closing all of the blinds. Jesus, why does an inner office need so many frickin' windows!
"Hey!" Nicole said again, as she entered the office to see Waverly closing the blinds on the set of windows closest to the door.
"Excuse me," Waverly said in a rush, ignoring Nicole's call, as she moved Nicole aside, closing the door behind them.
"What is your problem?" Nicole snapped uncharacteristically, as she backed away from the door. "I don't understand why you're—"
Waverly lunged toward her, her right hand grasping Nicole's left shoulder for leverage, as she stretched up on her tiptoes, capturing Nicole's mouth in a passionate kiss that took her completely by surprise. Not that she was complaining! She'd spent countless hours daydreaming of what it would feel like to kiss Waverly Earp.
Before she could really react, Waverly's right hand was cradling Nicole's face, her left arm wrapped around Nicole's neck, pulling their bodies flush against one another. Her head was spinning as she responded to the kiss, and instinctively, she grasped Waverly's waist with one hand, and her forearm with the other, as Waverly quickly, almost frantically, maneuvered them toward the sofa.
Having acted on sheer impulse, Waverly worried, just a bit too late, that this whole thing could end in disaster—or God forbid, physical injury—given that she couldn't see where she was going. But she just went with it, consequences be damned. And the move proved so agile, so smooth, that Nicole would have sworn it was choreographed—if she'd possessed the ability to think beyond the fact that Waverly Earp was kissing her.
They landed on the sofa with Waverly on top, and Nicole's hands fell to her waist, as Waverly braced her hands against the arm of the sofa, both of them breathless, and Waverly clearly eager to continue the kiss.
But Nicole caught use of her senses again, gently prying Waverly from her. "What happened to friends?" she gasped in question, clearly overwhelmed by the swift unexplained shift in Waverly's demeanor towards her. Not that she was complaining, but she needed to make some sense of what was happening.
Waverly lurched back, just looking at her as she attempted to catch her breath. "You know what I've always wanted?" she asked, the cadence of her speech uncharacteristically rapid, even for her.
"What?" Nicole looked and sounded like she was afraid to hear the answer, as she shifted on the sofa, trying to sit upright; which proved a bit difficult with Waverly sitting on top of her. She sighed, settling for just leaning back on her elbows.
"To parachute out of a plane at fifteen thousand feet," Waverly rambled, her heart pounding erratically in her chest. She leaned in toward Nicole, her left hand grasping the back of the sofa; a means of steadying herself.
Nicole gave her a puzzled look, but remained silent.
"Yeah," Waverly said, confirming for Nicole that it was indeed true. "To swim, far, far out into the ocean so that I can't see the bottom anymore," she continued, gesturing with her right hand to emphasize exactly how far. "To eat geoduck."
Nicole's facial expression twisted into a contortion. She looked positively aghast. "Isn't that the one that kinda looks like a—" She pursed her lips as if she were about to say a word that started with the letter "p", but before she could actually utter the word "penis," Waverly confirmed it for her. "Yeah, it is," she said, almost breathlessly.
Clearly disturbed, Nicole nodded slightly, and closed her eyes. And when she opened them again, for a brief moment, she looked like she might lose her dinner—had she actually eaten any. But she remained silent, because Waverly was rambling again. The girl was certainly on a roll.
"Point is, I've always wanted to do things that scared me," Waverly was saying, the cadence of her voice finally slowing. "But, well," she paused, swallowing hard and tilting her head adorably. "It's not so easy to be brazen…"
She looked away as she spoke of brazenness, drawing in a deep breath as she gathered the courage to finish what she'd started. It was then that she realized her hand was on Nicole's thigh, and self-consciously, she pulled it away—not that she hadn't touched Nicole before, because obviously, she had; but now, even a simple touch took on a much more profound meaning.
A moment later, she met Nicole's sincere gaze again, and continued, "…when the thing that you want, tha-that scares you to death, is sitting… right in front of you," she confessed, those last five words being delivered on a whisper of relief, her hand gesturing between the two of them. God, it felt incredible to say those words! It was terrifying, and yet, freeing, in a way that Waverly had never known.
Her expression softening, Nicole looked at her through enlightened eyes, and in that moment, she felt herself tumbling more deeply love with Waverly Earp. "I scare you," she whispered softly, the corners of her mouth lifting into a faint smile. It wasn't a question so much as it was a profound realization.
Waverly's soft sigh blossomed into a smile. "Yes. Yes, you do," she confirmed, as Nicole looked at her with those eyes so filled with adoration, suffusing her heart with courage. "Because… I don't wanna be friends."
Nicole's expression turned to momentary hurt and confusion, and swallowing hard, Waverly quickly sought to clarify. "When I think about what I wanna do most in this world… it's you."
An amused grin sprouted on Nicole's lips, her face flushing slightly in response. Her heart swelled, even as she struggled to stifle the giggle that tickled in her chest. Christ, you're adorable.
"Oh, god, that sounded so much more romantic in my head," Waverly muttered, more to herself than to Nicole, the expression on her face almost pained. She paused for a moment, closing her eyes as she attempted to regain her composure. And then she tilted her head, her hands fluttering anxiously, like a hummingbird's wings, in front of her as Nicole's eyes slowly closed, that amused smile still playing across her lips. There was nothing sexier or more adorable than a flustered Waverly Earp. How those two things could exist simultaneously was still beyond her comprehension, but Nicole couldn't get enough of that intoxicating amalgam.
When Nicole opened her eyes a moment later, she fell directly into Waverly's gaze once again, as Waverly was saying, "Just, uh, jump in any time, Nicole, because I really, really don't know how to do this."
"Oh, sure you do," Nicole responded on a husky whisper, looking at her with those eyes again—the ones that Waverly swore could see straight through to her soul.
Gazing right back into Nicole's eyes, Waverly took a deep breath as her brain scrambled for words. "Maybe I should just stop talking," she exhaled, her expression one of concern that she might be doing this all wrong.
"See…" Nicole murmured as she reached for the ends of the soft multicolored winter scarf that still hung around Waverly's neck. Skillfully, she wound them around her hands. "You're gettin' better at this already," she said, her voice, a soft caress, as she used the scarf to pull Waverly toward her.
Waverly would have regarded that as a smooth move had she not been so caught up in Nicole's eyes, the way they looked at her with such tenderness and desire. No one had ever looked at her that way before, and it made her feel simultaneously wanted… and ridiculously nervous.
When Waverly was close enough, Nicole leaned in to kiss her; but Waverly pulled back just enough to meet what quickly turned into a questioning gaze. "Maybe you should stop talking too," she suggested.
"Maybe you should make me," Nicole challenged, her tone flirtatious as that dimpled smile splayed slowly, yet confidently across her face.
Heart thudding in her chest, Waverly searched Nicole's face intently for a moment, her gaze flickering from soft pink lips, to those expressive russet eyes, and back again before leaning in to accept the challenge by claiming that perfect mouth in a kiss that left no question of her desire for Nicole.
With Waverly hovering over her, Nicole melted into her kiss, allowing herself to be pushed back against the arm of the sofa. She'd spent so much time dreaming of this moment, and now that it was happening, it was more incredible than she ever imagined. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, and she was certain Waverly could feel it against her own. She could definitely feel Waverly's heart beating against hers.
Waverly's left hand fell against Nicole's neck, and when their mouths parted, reconnecting again a mere breath later, Nicole turned the tables on her, shifting forward and effortlessly lifting Waverly up, settling her on her back, their heads ending up at the opposite end of the sofa in one fluid motion. Their kiss broke with the impact of their landing, both of them gasping for air, and Nicole smiled down at her, reveling in the look of delighted surprise that played across Waverly's beautiful face.
Clearly wanting more, Waverly pulled her close with a firm hand against the back of Nicole's neck, as the other wrapped around her shoulder. And then Nicole was kissing her again, this time frantically, passionately, eager mouths connecting, parting, and connecting again. Waverly's lower lip quivered; her breath warm and ragged against Nicole's lips when their mouths parted again, ever so briefly. Nicole smiled, her mouth meeting Waverly's again, as she used her left hand to lift Waverly's leg, wrapping it around her waist, her own body pressing firmly against Waverly's now.
Even fully clothed, Waverly's entire body flushed with heat at the sensation of Nicole's weight pressed so firmly against her. It was intoxicating, and she reveled in the thrill of it as she cradled Nicole's face in her hands, holding her with a tender firmness, their kisses leaving them both breathless, and wanting.
Nicole's left hand slid confidently along the silky smooth material of Waverly's tight black pants, up the back of a toned thigh. She reveled in the ripple of muscle beneath her fingertips, even as her body flushed with warmth at the subtle hint of Waverly's tongue brushing against her lower lip. Subconsciously, her hips shifted, pressing harder against Waverly, as her hand glided over that perfect ass, urging her closer, their kisses deepening.
A soft groan tumbled from Waverly's lips into Nicole's mouth in response, and her right hand traveled from Nicole's face, along her neck, and down to her shoulder. Venturing onto her chest, her hand lightly grazed the outer edge of Nicole's left breast, drawing a soft moan from those lips that kissed her with ever increasing urgency. And then she pressed her hand firmly against Nicole's upper chest, relishing the solid strength of her body, before returning to cradle her face again, her left arm still firmly wrapped around Nicole's shoulder, pulling her impossibly closer. God, she never wanted this to end!
Moments later, their mouths separated, and they lingered for a beat, each catching the warm breath that the other exhaled. And then Nicole's thumb was brushing lightly against Waverly's bottom lip, even as Waverly's fingertips pressed delicately against Nicole's pulse point. She delighted in the sensation of Nicole's pulse tripping beneath her fingertips, as the fingers of her left hand instinctively tangled in Nicole's French braid, tightening.
Gliding her fingers along Waverly's chin, Nicole slid her hand beneath, tipping her face upward, and Waverly's eyes fluttered open in response, her right hand pressing lightly against Nicole's upper chest. For a brief moment, Waverly reveled in the sheer delight of having Nicole's beautiful face so close to her own. Her breath was so warm, so sweet, like peppermints, against Waverly's lips, beckoning Waverly to taste. But before she could answer the call, she gasped softly at the sensation of a warm tongue flicking against her lips as Nicole claimed her mouth in another kiss, this one slow at first; then quickly turning passionate once again.
Several kisses later—some lingering, others brief, yet sweet—and all of them imbued with tenderness and longing, Waverly's hand was pressed gently against Nicole's face again as their mouths parted, and they were sharing a soft laugh, as they smiled into one another's eyes, communicating their shared elation without need of words.
Shifting onto her left side, Nicole stretched out as best she could, given the surprisingly short span of Nedley's sofa. Waverly whimpered at the loss of Nicole's weight against her, and Nicole grinned in response. Slipping her left arm beneath Waverly's side, she pulled her firmly against her own body. "Better?" she inquired, those dark eyes teasing.
"Better," Waverly grinned, settling into Nicole's arms. It was better in far more ways than one.
Neither of them could say how long they lingered there, each lost in the other's gaze, sharing tender kisses, fingertips lightly caressing soft skin, but suddenly Nicole was very aware of Waverly's body, shifting against her own.
Lifting up just slightly, Waverly skimmed her mouth lightly against Nicole's, and then fingertips followed, feathering across her lips, lingering on her skin. "I've wanted this for so long, Nicole," she whispered. "I realize now, from the moment I first met you."
Rendered breathless by the vulnerability and tender longing in Waverly's soft voice, Nicole's heart thrummed wildly in her chest, as her lips flickered into a subtle smile beneath Waverly's touch. "Feeling's mutual," she murmured softly.
Reaching out, Waverly tucked a wayward wisp of auburn hair behind Nicole's right ear. "I'm sorry I made you wait," she whispered.
I would wait for you forever. Nicole's smile widened, reflecting in her eyes as she gazed at Waverly. "You're worth every moment," she quietly declared. "I'm just glad we're finally here."
"I spent the whole day, thinking about us," Waverly quietly confessed.
"I did, too," Nicole admitted.
"Really?"
Nicole nodded. "I couldn't keep my mind off of you," she said softly.
Fingertips skimmed along Nicole's jaw, catching beneath her chin, and then Waverly was guiding her closer, kissing her again. A soft laugh tumbled from her lips as she released her. "I can't stop touching you, kissing you," she grinned giddily.
"I don't want you to," Nicole murmured against Waverly's ear.
"There's a lot that needs to be said. A lot that… I need to say," Waverly contended, stressing the part about herself.
"We have plenty of time," Nicole assured.
"We do," Waverly agreed. "But… there's one thing that can't wait."
"And what's that?" Nicole asked.
Closing her eyes, Waverly drew in a deep breath. And when she opened them again, there were tears glistening within, as she cupped Nicole's face tenderly in her hands. "Nicole, I… I'm so sorry… for what I said to you in the car earlier," she said, solemn regret echoing in the softness of her voice. "I can't even imagine how much it must've hurt you; especially after all we've been through together. It's no excuse, but I… I was scared. I never meant to hurt you. And I… I'm just so, so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?"
Russet eyes shimmering with unspent tears, Nicole released a breath she didn't realized she was holding, as she brushed a thumb across Waverly's cheek. "Thank you. I… I really needed to hear that," she quietly acknowledged, realizing for the first time just how true it was. She'd never known what a gift a simple, heartfelt apology could be, until the moment it was uttered by Waverly Earp. "And yes, of course I forgive you," she said reassuringly. "Waverly, I lo…"
No—, she thought, stopping herself, lest she mess everything up before they even got started. It was far too soon for declarations of love, no matter how true. Pressing her lips together, she smothered the words, allowing them to die on her tongue. But that did nothing to quell the burning of them in her heart. "The only thing that matters is you and me, here, right now."
Waverly's breath caught in her chest, and she smiled into those tearstained eyes, mesmerized by the tiny flecks of green and gold that glistened therein. Gently, she touched Nicole's face again; needing to be certain she was real. "Kiss me again, Nicole," she breathlessly implored.
Nicole's heart fluttered in her chest. "Waverly…" she breathed, her thumb brushing against Waverly's lower lip again as slowly, she searched those expressive green eyes. And then she leaned close, skimming her mouth against Waverly's, lingering, the tip of her tongue playing lightly along the edges of those soft lips.
Answering Nicole's tacit request, Waverly opened to her, welcoming her into the warmth of her mouth. She gasped again at the silky sensation of Nicole's tongue against her own, and as their kissed deepened, once again, they lost themselves completely in one another.
Friday, May 27, 2016… Nedley's Office, Ghost River County Municipal Offices—5:45 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time
"I should probably get back to work," Nicole said reluctantly, her mouth brushing lightly against the Waverly's neck.
Waverly released a soft hum of appreciation, and Nicole smiled against her warm skin. God, it felt good to be with her like this—to not have to hold back anymore. She was still lying on her left side at the outer edge of Nedley's couch; Waverly nestled firmly against her toward the back, protected from sight by Nicole's body. Waverly's puffy blue coat served as a shared pillow beneath their heads, their arms and legs entwined.
"How soon do you get off?" Waverly murmured as she lazed in Nicole's arms, her short nails slowly scraping along the warmth of Nicole's belly in a light, yet titillating caress. She had no idea how long they'd been there, nor how long they'd kissed. All she did know was that the reality of kissing Nicole Haught far surpassed every single fantasy she'd dreamed up in her head—and those fantasies had been plentiful, starting with the day they'd first met. She was ridiculously turned on, and in her desperate need to touch skin, she'd hastily unfastened a few of the lower buttons on Nicole's shirt, slipping her hand inside and burrowing beneath the tank top she always wore underneath.
The low growl she'd elicited from Nicole the moment she'd made contact with soft skin told her Nicole didn't mind in the least. And she had no doubt that had they been anywhere other than the Sheriff's office, she would've had Nicole completely naked by now; she ached so, to feel the softness and warmth of Nicole's skin against her own. The thought of what would follow terrified her a little, but certainly not more than it excited her. Nicole Haught was exactly that—she was so frickin' hot! Sexy as hell, with that enviably unerring confidence, and a body that just wouldn't quit. And kissing her, being touched by her, turned Waverly on more than anyone ever had, or ever could. More than that though, she was kind, and gentle, and patient, and caring, and Waverly knew without a doubt that she wasn't just falling fast, she was already gone.
Nicole struggled to hold her composure, as she lazed there beneath Waverly's touch. "You keep doin' that, 'n I'd say 'bout thirty seconds," she answered, her tone ominous, yet somehow still playful, as Waverly's fingertips continued their slow, torturous caress. Her body aching for that sweet caress in other places, she couldn't believe how completely turned on she was from nothing more than a few heated kisses and the warm, tender touch of Waverly Earp's hand on her bare skin. No one had ever done that to her before. "You're driving just a little bit crazy here," she groaned.
Waverly felt her face flush, and she momentarily averted Nicole's intent gaze, biting her lower lip adorably. Then, tapping Nicole's belly with the backs of her fingers, she managed to look suitably incensed. "I was talking about work."
Biting back a chuckle, once again Nicole feigned innocence. "Oh—," she managed, before the grin finally broke through, offering Waverly a lovely display of that dimple. "In that case, 'bout an hour. I, uh… I kinda need to make up for the time I've spent in here with you," she explained, a slight flush coloring her cheeks.
"Ohhh, I don't know if I can wait that long," Waverly husked, as she nipped lightly on Nicole's bottom lip, tracing the edge with the tip of her tongue.
A soft groan slipped from Nicole's lips, and her heart skipped a beat, anticipation rising. "Wait for what?"
"For you to take me to bed," Waverly whispered against Nicole's mouth, taking her newfound brazenness to a new level as she kissed her again. "God, Nicole, I'm so turned on right now…"
"Waverly—" Nicole said, her tone tinted by caution.
"What?" Waverly countered, her mouth still playing over Nicole's. She knew exactly what Nicole was thinking. "I know what I want, Nicole. I want you," she declared, emphasizing the object of her desire.
Nicole let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "Believe me, Waves, I want you too. God, you have no idea how much." The raw honesty in her statement was evident in the deep sense of longing in her voice, and echoed in the storm that swirled in the depths of that dark, penetrating gaze. "But…"
"No," Waverly said, brushing her mouth across Nicole's in a sultry kiss that led to their tongues entangling yet again, as her fingertips stroked a little higher, lightly grazing the silky smooth skin beneath Nicole's right breast. Nicole shivered in response.
"Waverly—"
Delivered on a fettered breath, Nicole's utterance of her name caused Waverly's state of arousal to intensify tenfold. "I don't wanna hear why we shouldn't…" she husked, nearly breathless herself. "I just wanna hear you say 'yes'."
"We haven't even been on a date," Nicole whispered in protest. She needed to slow this down—and quick! Not that she didn't want it, hadn't literally spent weeks dreaming of it, but they were on Nedley's couch, and she was still technically on the clock. And there were oh, so many other reasons why taking Waverly Earp to bed so quickly was a supremely bad idea—and Nicole feared she was in danger of forgetting every single one of them.
Leaning back just slightly, Waverly met Nicole's gaze, holding it steadily. "Seriously, Nicole?" she countered.
"What?" Nicole looked confused, to say the least.
"Who have we been kidding?" Waverly asked rhetorically. "We've been dating for weeks." She emphasized the duration of their dating history.
"So… what? You were in denial?" Nicole ventured, the corners of her mouth lifting into a grin.
"Why do you think I kept reminding you that we weren't on a date?" Waverly intoned.
Nicole's brow furrowed. "You didn't," she said. "Well, maybe twice."
"Right…" Waverly scrunched up her nose, slowly dragging out the word. Suddenly, she felt self-conscious again, and she bit her bottom lip. "That was only in my head, wasn't it?" She looked almost pained. "I have a lot of conversations that only happen in my head."
So I've noticed. That amused grin skipped across Nicole's lips again, causing a delightful display of her dimple. But she said nothing.
"Stop that," Waverly laughed. "I can hear what you're thinking, you know."
Nicole laughed outright, and Waverly silenced her with another kiss, lingering on her lips.
When they finally came up for air, Nicole arched an eyebrow. "This is either the fastest I've ever gone in a relationship, or the slowest," she said, sounding flummoxed. "At this point, I'm really not sure which."
"What do you mean?"
Taking a moment to clear her head, Nicole drew in a deep breath, releasing it slowly. "Well, if we've been dating for weeks, then… I am really, really behind," she declared, emphasizing the exactly how far she was lagging. "I've never waited this long to kiss a girl."
Waverly laughed. "Yeah, but you sure made up for it in technique," she granted. And then she nuzzled against Nicole's ear, murmuring, "I've never had a first kiss get me so hot I could go off without even being touched."
"Christ, almighty," Nicole cursed, her head suddenly hazy again, her body suffused with heat.
That infectious laugh tumbled from Waverly's lips, igniting laughter in Nicole, as well.
"And if we haven't?" Waverly asked out of curiosity when their laughter ebbed.
"Haven't what?" Nicole was lost.
"Been dating all this time?" Waverly chuckled. "What, does being turned on shut your brain off, or something?" she teased.
Nicole grinned. "Well, then this is the slowest, most excruciatingly fabulous burn I've ever experienced," she confessed. "And by the way, you do have quite a talent for short-circuiting my brain."
Intrigued, Waverly arched an eyebrow. "Tell me more, Officer Haught," she husked.
That tightly-wound coil of desire twisted deep in Nicole's belly at the sound of her name falling from Waverly's lips, and she had to force herself to focus. "Well, it started the day we first met," she confessed. "I got so caught up in you that I forgot why I was actually there."
"Oh, who are you kidding, Nicole?" Waverly laughed, calling her on her crap. "You swaggered into Shorty's with one thing on your mind—getting into my pants."
Nicole looked suitably offended, though, in truth, she wasn't offended at all. "Actually, I was looking for information," she reported. "I just got a little… distracted…" By a ray of sunshine in a soggy tank top, who took my breath away without even trying, she thought, but didn't voice. She still couldn't believe how easily she'd forgotten about her assignment. But one look at Waverly Earp, up close, and her brain had all but ceased to function.
"Don't even try to deny it, Officer Haughtpants," Waverly warned, playfully emphasizing Nicole's last name. "The place was completely empty except for us; though, you tried to pretend you didn't notice. And it would've been hard not to notice the 'Closed' sign, flashing neon outside. Plus, you had your card tucked into your pocket, ready to whip out at a moment's notice."
"You don't have a neon flashing sign," Nicole adeptly skirted.
"Whatever," Waverly countered. "The sign was plastered in the window. There's no way you could've missed it."
"Okay, fine," Nicole relented, admitting she had a dual agenda that first morning. "But I wanted a date, not a hookup." You are worth so much more than some casual hook-up, Waverly Earp. How is it that you don't know that? "And I really was there on an assignment from Nedley."
"You were playing detective?" Waverly sounded doubtful.
"Yes. As a matter of fact, I was," Nicole confirmed, her tone forthright.
Waverly furrowed her brow. "And what, exactly, were you detecting?"
Nicole grinned. "Well, I ended up detecting how frickin' distracting you are," she said flirtatiously.
Rolling her eyes, Waverly pushed playfully at Nicole's shoulder. "I'm being serious."
Dropping the grin, Nicole put on her serious face. "Nedley caught wind of some kinda commotion the night before," she explained. "And I guess he was right, 'cause you did tell me you had a crazy night."
"Yeah, well, let's just say… we had a run-in with a bit of an… unsavory character," Waverly hedged. "No worries, though. Wynonna took care of it."
"Do I even want to know how?" Nicole asked, dryly.
Waverly winced. "Probably not."
Nodding, Nicole readily accepted that she wouldn't get anything more out of it. And then she thought back to Waverly's observation and deductive reasoning skills for a moment. "You know, you'd make a fine detective yourself, Waverly Earp."
Waverly's eyes danced with glee. "You really think so?"
"I really do," Nicole affirmed, kissing Waverly lightly. And then she smiled into those beautiful green eyes. "I love that I can do that now," she declared.
Waverly smiled. "I love it too," she agreed, her lips meeting Nicole's again. "Don't ever stop."
"I could kiss you forever," Nicole murmured against Waverly's mouth.
"Mm… That's a pretty good start," Waverly declared, as she lost herself in Nicole's kisses once again.
Friday, May 27, 2016… Gus's House—6:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time
Finding herself on Gus's back porch, Wynonna knocked on the kitchen door. A moment later, she turned the door handle, opening it and calling out, "Gus? Hey, Gus, you home?" as she entered the room. She knew her aunt was home—the truck was parked out front. She just didn't want to startle her by walking in unannounced.
"Wynonna?" Gus sounded confused and a little concerned as she walked from the dining area into the kitchen, finding her niece standing there. "I thought you were headed outta town," she said, more question than comment. She hadn't been pleased when Waverly told her about Wynonna's planned excursion. It sounded like more of the bullshit she'd spun when she left town at barely eighteen, and hadn't come home for years. She'd had to force herself to remember that the Curse was real, and that despite the stress of it, Wynonna was changing for the better.
"Change of plans," Wynonna shrugged. She had walked into Shorty's earlier, hell-bent on escaping this town—at least for a little while. It felt like the world was crashing down around her. Everything up until the kidnapping had been stressful, to say the least. But the kidnapping had gotten to her in a way that nothing else ever had. She was still reeling from the impact when Dolls informed her of that fucking psych evaluation. And then he'd left her there alone with that woman; she felt scared and abandoned, and the impact of it pushed her over the edge.
But then she'd gone back to Shorty's, and her talk with Waverly had done far more good than either of them first realized. Waverly loved her. She believed in her. She'd told her so in the exact moment when Wynonna needed to hear it the most. And Nicole believed in her too, she remembered. She'd said so that night at the station; the night before the kidnapping. Nicole had told her she was worth the time and effort. No one other than Waverly had ever said anything like that to her before.
After leaving Shorty's that second time, she'd gone out riding, thinking. And the more time she spent reflecting those conversations as she rode, the better she felt about herself, despite the judgment she felt from the analyst. And then Dolls had called, asking her to come back to the Division headquarters. He'd said she was a good deputy, and returned her shield to her, restoring just a little bit of the belief she'd begun to have in herself. And so now she was here, ready to say the things she'd needed to say to Gus for more than fifteen years. She hoped she wouldn't lose her courage.
A slight smile touched Gus's lips. "Glad to hear it," she said, moving unhurriedly across the kitchen. "Coffee?" she offered.
"Absolutely," Wynonna said, sounding relieved. Anything to take the focus off of her rattled nerves, and the swell of unsolicited emotions for a moment or two.
Opening the cabinet door, Gus reached inside, pulling out two gray mugs. She set them on the counter near the coffee pot, and closed the cabinet again. She lifted the carafe then, pouring the steaming liquid and setting the carafe back on the warming plate. And then she turned to Wynonna, mugs in her hands.
"So what brings you over?" she asked curiously, handing one of the mugs to her niece.
"Just been doin' a lot of thinkin'," Wynonna admitted.
"About?"
"Things," Wynonna said vaguely. Edgily, she sipped at the coffee.
Gus stifled a chuckle. Wynonna was never easy to read, nearly impossible to anticipate, but this was extreme, even for her. Clearly, she had something heavy on her mind, and Gus surmised it was the remnants of whatever she hadn't said the night of the barbeque. Sliding onto a stool on the far side of the island, she waited patiently for her niece to speak her piece.
Silence lingered between them for several minutes, before Wynonna finally spoke again. "I, uh… I never thanked you for takin' such good care of Waverly," she said quietly, as she shuffled the coffee mug between her hands.
Gus looked up from her own mug, her eyes braced on Wynonna. The tone in her voice was something she had never encountered before—it was a mixture of gratitude, guilt, and sorrow. She remained silent, simply waiting.
"For protecting her from the, uh…" Knowing how Gus felt about any talk of the Earp Curse, she allowed the word to die on her tongue.
"From the Curse?" Gus ventured, finishing the comment for her.
"Yeah," Wynonna said, looking rather penitent. "Sorry. I know you hate it when I talk about that," she said ruefully. "You gave her a chance at a normal life, Gus. I'm just sorry I kept fuckin' it up. And I'm sorry for all the shit I put you and Curtis through."
Gus's heart broke just a little bit more. She had been so hard on Wynonna, and the girl had never deserved that. Yes, she'd made some truly shitty choices in life, but Gus had come to realize that those choices were a direct reflection of how she'd been made to feel about herself. She was acting out, because she didn't know any other way to cope with feeling so lost, so alone, and so completely worthless. Gus knew she was culpable in that, and she'd never felt more sorry about anything in her life. "I'm the one who's sorry, Wy," she said softly. "I doubted you, questioned your sanity. I let them lock you up and drug you, for Christ's sake. And I was so wrong, Honey."
Delivered on a cascade of teary-eyed remorse, Gus's words were like a balm to Wynonna's aching soul. "You didn't know, Gus. You didn't know the Curse was real. You were just tryin' to protect Waves," she said, offering absolution as her own eyes filled with tears.
"I should've been protectin' you, too," Gus acknowledged.
"You were doin' what you thought was best, Gus," Wynonna reiterated. "I can't fault you for that."
"You don't have to," Gus replied ruefully. "I fault myself enough for all of us."
Wynonna's hands stilled, and along with them, the coffee mug that had been scraping back and forth on the countertop. "I really wish you wouldn't," she said softly. "I wish…"
She paused, closing her eyes as she gathered her courage.
"What is it that you wish, Wy?" Gus gently prodded.
A brief, tight-lipped smile brought out Wynonna's dimples, and then she sighed. "I've been runnin' for so long, that I honestly never thought I'd find my way home. But… everything changed when I came back this time. I… I feel grounded here now, like I never did before, with Waverly, and you, and Nicole, and Black Badge; even Doc and Dolls. I feel like I finally belong. And I know we can't go back, but… I wish we could at least start over from here," she admitted.
The heat of tears burned behind Gus's eyes, as an affectionate smile touched her lips. "We can definitely do that," she readily agreed. She stood from the stool then, and rounding the corner of the center island, she took Wynonna into her arms, hugging her close. "No more judgment or blame, no more talk of the past, okay?" she soothingly suggested, as the tears trickled down her cheeks. "We've already got a good start at bein' a family again. Let's just focus on that."
The deep sense of relief that flooded over Wynonna took her by surprise, and she clung to Gus, her tears falling unabashed. She hadn't realized the weight she'd been carrying all this time, until the moment it finally lifted. She knew she would still fuck up. And she would still make self-deprecating comments. Those things would never change. She was convinced the tendencies was embedded somewhere in her DNA. The difference was, she would no longer believe the negative thoughts quite as strongly as she once did. "Yeah, I'm down with that," she finally managed, sniffing back the tears.
"Good," Gus declared as she released Wynonna from their embrace. "Now how 'bout you join me for dinner?" she suggested. "It's just leftovers, but it'd be nice to share it with ya."
Smiling through her tears, Wynonna nodded. "Yeah, I'd like that," she readily agreed. "We should call Waves. And maybe Nicole, too." She thought being with family might help with whatever they were arguing about that morning.
A knowing grin spread slowly across Gus's face. "I'm pretty sure they have other plans tonight."
"Together?" Wynonna sounded confused.
"Yeah," Gus confirmed with a nod, as she pulled a handful of containers from the refrigerator.
"I thought they were fighting." Wynonna's tone asked the question.
"Waverly left work early to go sort it out," Gus reported.
"Cool," Wynonna said casually, letting it slide. "So… what kind of leftovers are we talkin' 'bout here?" she asked, shifting the conversation back to dinner.
"Oh, a little of this, a little of that," Gus said vaguely. "I'm still tryin' to learn how to cook for one.
She sounded a little sad, and Wynonna draped an arm around her shoulder, giving her an affectionate squeeze. "I can't even imagine how hard it must be," she empathized.
Gus simply nodded.
Wynonna grinned then. "You could always invite me over for dinner," she suggested. "Like, every night. Waverly only cooks when Nicole is over."
Delivered on a whine, the final part of Wynonna's comment made Gus smile. "Oh, you'll be just fine. I have a feelin' she'll be cookin' a whole lot more often from now on," she commented.
Brow furrowed, Wynonna asked, "Why's that?"
"Well, you'll just have to talk to your sister 'bout that," Gus answered, gently patting Wynonna's hand. And then she turned her attention to the leftovers, leaving Wynonna to ponder her comments.
Friday, May 27, 2016… Nedley's Office, Ghost River County Municipal Offices—6:15 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time
"Okay, seriously, I really do need to finish that report, so Nedley doesn't kick my ass," Nicole said regretfully, her fingertips lightly grazing along the valley of warmth in the small of Waverly's back. "He'll be back from Shorty's soon."
"I know," Waverly sighed disappointedly. Nedley usually came in around four and left by six-thirty when the complimentary happy hour buffet ended. "Sorry I keep distracting you."
"Don't be," Nicole grinned. "You're the best distraction ever."
Waverly beamed. "Think so?"
Laughing, Nicole grabbed one last quick kiss. "I know so," she confirmed.
Sitting upright on the sofa, she smiled to herself at the memory of Waverly's frantic fingers unbuttoning her shirt, as she refastened them in preparation for rejoining the outside world. "But the sooner I finish up, the sooner I can meet you at my place," she said suggestively. She couldn't wait for Waverly to unbutton other things.
"Do you work tomorrow?" Waverly asked.
"No," Nicole answered. "I'm off until second shift on Sunday, why?"
"Think we could stay at the homestead tonight?" Waverly asked tentatively.
"Really?" Nicole sounded surprised. Nearly every night they'd spent together since the kidnapping, they'd been at Nicole's place. Nicole had very easily gotten used to Waverly being there in her space with her and Stormy. And on those nights when Waverly didn't stay, Stormy was as disquieted as Nicole, as evidenced by her pacing the floor by the door, anxiously awaiting Waverly's return.
"Yeah," Waverly said. "Wynonna had to leave town for a few days, and she was kind of hoping you'd stay with me."
"Sure," Nicole agreed, not really needing an explanation. It really didn't matter to her where they stayed, as long as they were together, and she told Waverly so in exactly so many words.
Grinning at her, Waverly declared, "Oh, we are most definitely together, Officer Haught." And then she leaned in with a kiss that sealed the declaration.
Nicole felt her entire body flush from the heat of Waverly's kiss. "You wanna ride out together?" she asked when their mouths finally parted.
Waverly smiled. "I'd love that," she declared. "Meet you at your place in an hour?"
"That sounds perfect," Nicole agreed as she stood from the sofa. Once upright, she offered Waverly her hand. "Let me walk you out."
Without a moment's hesitation, Waverly took her hand, allowing Nicole to pull her to her feet. And then she was standing there in the safety of Nicole's arms again, her hands pressed against Nicole's upper chest. It felt different this time, in a way she couldn't quite explain. The best part was that she didn't see a need to explain it at all. It simply was, and that was okay with her, because she was with Nicole. How was it possible that this woman could make her feel so secure, even in the face of uncertainty? She hadn't a clue; and even that didn't bother her anymore.
Tilting her head, Nicole studied Waverly for a moment. "You look awfully serious all of a sudden," she commented, curious about the shift in Waverly's demeanor.
Smiling up at her, Waverly eased her hands up Nicole's chest, draping them over her shoulders. "All happy thoughts, I promise."
Gently, Nicole cupped Waverly's face in her hands, a thumb lightly caressing her lower lip. "That's good to know," she smiled. And then she leaned down, kissing Waverly once more before suggesting it was time to go.
When they finally arrived at the Jeep, which was in the parking lot, flanked by Nicole's cruiser and Nedley's SUV, Waverly spun around, reaching for Nicole as if by instinct. Just as she had in that very first kiss, her hands cupped Nicole's face, and she drew her close. Only this time, it wasn't a frantic, impulsive action meant to stave off her anxiousness; rather, it was a deliberate means of communicating the depth of her need for Nicole.
Surprised, but not reluctant, Nicole went willingly, allowing Waverly to take the lead—they were out in public now, and it mattered to her that Waverly be comfortable with whatever happened between them. For Nicole, it was never a matter of coming out, really; it was more about simply living as her authentic self. She rarely spoke of her sexuality in so many words, but she lived her life openly, not wasting time worrying about what others thought of her, including her sexuality. She had blossomed into her identity, her truth, over time, and now it was a non-issue to her; just another beautiful thread in the tapestry of her person. She had to consider though, that it might not be that simple for Waverly. And she respected that.
As their mouths met, the warmth of their breath mingling, Waverly leaned back against her Jeep, pulling Nicole firmly against her. Slipping beneath that puffy blue coat, Nicole's hands fell instinctively to that trim waist, encircling her, as Waverly's hands continued to caress Nicole's face. Her fingers were warm against the cold air that blew against her cheeks, and Nicole delighted in the sensation of them against her skin. An inquisitive tongue snaked out, flicking lightly against Nicole's lips, and the kiss deepened, as Nicole opened to her, granting her entrance, her fingers tangling in the softness of Waverly's hair.
The longer they kissed, the tighter that mutual spring of want coiled deep within their bellies, and finally, Nicole broke away, their labored breath creating a billowy cloud in the cold air that lingered between them. "Waves, we need to slow down here," she groaned. "I have to go back into work."
"Just a little longer?" Waverly murmured in plea. "I'm not ready to let you go just yet."
Nicole's heart skipped a beat and she smiled. "I don't wanna let you go, ever," she declared on a whisper, her warm breath teasing against Waverly's ear. And then Waverly's mouth was on hers again, and Nicole pressed into her, their bodies molding perfectly together as she fell once again between the open front of Waverly's heavy winter coat.
Several minutes later, completely breathless and edging dangerously close to the brink, Nicole pressed her palms against the side of the vehicle, and bracing herself, she gently pushed away from the full-body contact. Their lips were the last to part ways, and she looked at Waverly with those eyes, hazy with want.
"What are you doing?" Waverly gasped and shook her head, flummoxed and still ridiculously turned on; even more so than she was in Nedley's office. Missing the pressure of Nicole's warm body, she reached for her, trying to pull her close again.
Resisting Waverly Earp was the hardest thing Nicole had ever done, but resist, she did, her expression turning serious. "Stopping, before I can't anymore," she answered, sounding almost pained. "Jesus, Waverly, I want you so bad." The truth of it was startling.
Looking quite pleased with herself, Waverly grinned. "It's a damn shame you don't drive a pickup, Officer Haught," she said suggestively.
Nicole paused, her mouth slightly agape. Tenderly, she reached up to take Waverly's face into her hands, sincere russet eyes falling into a stormy sea of coppery-green, swirling with arousal. "For the record, my seats do stow away," she said with a roguish grin. And then her thumb gently brushed Waverly's cheek, her voice falling quiet. "But more importantly, you are worth so much more than the back end of a pickup truck, Waverly Earp," she whispered, her tone low, husky, and breathtakingly sincere.
Struck by the sheer power of Nicole's words, the intensity of her emotions, Waverly blinked once, and then again, as she fought to keep the tears at bay. Reason warred with Emotion—it seemed like such a silly thing to cry over. They were just words, right? And it wasn't like Nicole was profession her undying love, or anything.
But they weren't just words to Waverly.
No. To her, they were beautiful, meaningful, stirring latent emotions from the very depths of her soul, like the harmonies of a symphony or the cadence of romantic poetry. No one had ever said anything more beautiful to her. Not in her entire life. And it touched a place inside her where she never even knew she was hurting—until those words were whispered to her by the one person who could actually make her believe them. How could I not fall in love with you when you say such breathtaking things to me?
Overwhelmed, in the best possible way, she felt an unexpected need to profess her love for Nicole, right then and there. But it was far too soon for such confessions, as least as far as she could figure. She didn't really know how this love thing worked. She'd never felt it before. Not like this, anyway. She'd never known this all-consuming fire that burned in places inside her that she never even knew existed.
Despite herself, the tears glistened in her eyes, clinging to her lashes and threatening to spill down her cheeks, as she peered up at Nicole, meeting that tender, steady gaze. She didn't need to say a single word. Nicole understood.
Waverly's face still cradled in her hands, Nicole leaned down, meeting soft lips in a tender kiss. It was slow, deliberate, meant to comfort and reassure, rather than arouse.
When Waverly's eyes shuttered, the tears fell unchecked, and Nicole was there to catch them with her kisses. And when Nicole's mouth returned to hers, Waverly's lips trembled as she tasted the salt of her own tears in the tenderness of Nicole's kiss. And then she found herself cradled in the safety of Nicole's arms again, her own arms wrapped around Nicole's waist beneath her jacket, as those soft lips pressed gentle kisses against her temple.
It felt like coming home.
Friday, May 27, 2016… Ghost River County Municipal Offices—6:45 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time
Nearly two hours after Waverly's arrival, Nicole finally settled in at her desk, attempting to finish her abandoned work. The evening shift had begun while she was still preoccupied with Waverly in Nedley's office, and another deputy had taken over the monitoring of the reception desk and the dispatch radio that hissed and crackled each time the dispatcher reported in. Still, she struggled to maintain focus on work long enough to finish that damned report on the fishy smell that wafted from Mr. Erickson's house.
Realizing she wasn't going to get anywhere until she made contact with Waverly again, she set the report aside and pulled out her phone, texting: Am I dreaming? Are you real? Did that happen?
Waverly's almost immediate response was to send not one or two, not even ten or twenty, but twenty-eight unicorn emojis, followed in quick succession by a single pair of kissy lips.
Twenty-eight, exactly.
Nicole wondered briefly at the significance, and then she just laughed at the complete randomness of it. Unicorns and kisses. At least those weren't as random as the cat, eggplant, flower, plane text Waverly had sent while she was in the hospital. She still hadn't figured out what the hell that meant. All she knew was that it was all ridiculously frickin' adorable.
Christ, she was in love.
Friday, May 27, 2016… Nicole's Apartment—6:45 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time
Settling into the corner of Nicole's sofa, Stormy already perched in her lap, Waverly released a deep sigh of contentment. She couldn't stop the goofy grin that seemed to have taken up residence on her face the moment she parted with Nicole. She did it. She actually did it! She kissed Nicole Haught. More times than she could even count. And it was so beyond amazing that she just couldn't stop.
The white-hot urgency of her need for more had settled into slow burning ache deep within her belly, but she knew by instinct that it wouldn't take much to reignite the flame. Nicole was passionate, yet tender, breathtakingly beautiful, and sexy beyond words, and kissing her was like being consumed by fire—it made her skin flicker and dance like the tips of the flames, but the deepest intensity was found in the blue heat in the center of the base, the inferno that burned deep in her core.
Startled from her musings by the text ringtone on her phone, she chuckled softly at Nicole's message: Am I dreaming? Are you real? Did that happen?
Her belly did a flip-flop. There were so many things she wanted to say in response to Nicole's queries, and yet, she couldn't find words to express any of them. She was still so giddy she could barely think. And it sounded like Nicole's level of giddiness rivaled her own. Was that even a word that Nicole would use to describe herself? Waverly hadn't a clue. But it didn't matter anyway. She knew they were both happy. Nicole hadn't stopped smiling the entire time they were together; she could even feel that smile against her lips as they kissed.
Words failed. And where words failed, emojis reigned. She ended up sending a message full of nothing but unicorns. And then she decided to punctuate it with a single kiss. The whole thing was ridiculously corny, and totally Waverly—like the cute little pink hearts on the fingertips of the gloves she'd worn that morning—and she knew it would make Nicole smile.
Smiling to herself, Waverly set her phone on the side table, and picked up the novel she'd been reading the last time she was there. It was the latest in a lesbian murder-mystery series by one of Nicole's favorite authors. She'd read the first installment during the week that Nicole was gone, and had gotten so hooked that she read the next one while Nicole was home recovering. Now she was on the third installment, and she couldn't wait to see what happened next. The bonus was she was getting some insight into lesbian sex, which she figured would come in handy; now, it seemed, more quickly than she'd imagined when she first started reading.
Setting the bookmark next to her phone, she tried to lose herself in the story again, to no avail. The harder she tried to focus, the worse the distraction became. She couldn't keep her mind off of Nicole.
Giving up, she shoved the bookmark in place, and setting the book aside, she idly stroked Stormy's soft fur, as she lost herself in thoughts of Nicole—her smile, her laugh, the way she looked at Waverly with those eyes, the incredible sensation of Nicole's weight against her body, the way her hands felt against Waverly's bare skin, the way her kisses left Waverly's mind in a delirious haze, even as they turned her insides to molten lava—it was all so deliciously overwhelming.
When finally she heard Nicole's key in the deadbolt lock, she glanced at her watch, surprised to see that only forty minutes had gone by—it felt like hours! She was so excited to see her, she had to force herself to be still and at least let her get through the door. A means of distraction, she turned her attention back to Stormy, who still slept soundly in her lap.
"Hey," Nicole greeted cheerily, the bright smile on her face lighting her eyes as she glanced across the room at Waverly.
"Hi," Waverly replied, biting her lower lip adorably as her eyes scanned Nicole's lean, well-toned form. She knew Nicole was strong, but she was still a bit surprised at how easily she'd managed to maneuver her when they were making out on Nedley's couch. The memory of it still made her tingle all over. "I'm glad you're home," she said, forcing the thoughts aside before they could get her into trouble.
Gently setting Stormy on the cushion beside her, Waverly chuckled at the disgruntled "Meow!" she received for disrupting the spoiled feline's evening snooze, and then she rose from the sofa, making her way toward the door.
"Me too," Nicole readily agreed. Closing and locking the door, she removed her jacket and Stetson, hanging them on the hook beside the door, and then she stooped down on the throw rug, untying her boots and slipping them off.
Waverly was there to greet her as she stood to her full height. She liked that Nicole was barefoot except for her socks now, because her lips were two inches closer. Wrapping her arms around Nicole's neck, she took full advantage, pulling her into a kiss.
Instinctively, Nicole's arms slid around her, and pulling her closer, she groaned into their deepening kiss. From the moment they met, she knew without question that Waverly Earp was no ordinary girl. She was something quite special. And when they were on Nedley's couch, she'd quickly come to realize that kissing her was like no other experience she'd ever had in her life. This kiss did nothing to contradict that insight; rather, it bolstered it.
Several minutes later, when Waverly finally released her, Nicole smiled down at her. "That was quite a greeting," she said, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Makes me wanna leave, just so I can come back home again."
Waverly grinned and kissed her again; this time, briefly. "You don't have to leave just for that," she said flirtatiously, as she wrapped her arm around Nicole's waist. "I'll gladly welcome you home all night."
"Can't argue with that," Nicole reasoned, pressing a kiss against Waverly's temple. "And not that I'm complaining," she said, draping an arm around Waverly's shoulders as they moved toward the sofa. "But aren't you supposed to be at work right now?"
"I told Gus I needed to leave early," Waverly explained. She tucked a bare foot up beneath her as she settled on the sofa next to Nicole, curling into her side. Stormy was back in her lap the moment she sat down, making her giggle. "And when I told her why, she said she didn't want to see me again until Sunday," she grinned.
"You told Gus?" Nicole said, the surprise in her tone asking the question.
Nodding, Waverly smiled proudly. "I sure did," she said. "Didn't really need to though. She already knew."
"I think she figured it out a while ago," Nicole said offhandedly.
"You've talked to Gus about us?" Waverly sounded surprised.
Smiling, Nicole nodded. "The day of the barbeque," she confessed. "She asked if you knew how I feel about you, and warned me that Wynonna'll probably threaten to kick my ass if I hurt you," she laughed.
"Oh, my god, that's so embarrassing," Waverly said. Clearly chagrinned, she buried her face in her hands. "I'm so sorry, Nicole."
"Don't be, Waves," Nicole said easily. "It was sweet. And honestly, it was really good to know that she's cool with us being together."
Reassured by Nicole's comments, Waverly dropped her hands, taking one of Nicole's into her own. "She's been rooting for us the whole time," she shared, her fingertips lightly playing over Nicole's. "She told me so this afternoon."
"I'm not surprised," Nicole said, their fingers entwining. "I kinda got that vibe from her when we talked that morning."
"We wasted so much time," Waverly lamented, leaning her head against Nicole's shoulder. "That's my fault, Nicole, and I'm sorry. If only I'd dumped Champ after that bullshit with Wynonna, we could've been together all along."
"Would you have been ready?" Nicole asked gently.
"I guess we'll never know," Waverly said regretfully.
"Then why tear yourself up over it?" Nicole reasoned.
A short, disparaging laugh fell from Waverly's lips. "I wouldn't be an Earp if I didn't," she commented wryly. "It's in our blood." Kind of like our demon killing abilities and ridiculously high tolerance for alcohol.
"Yeah, I've kinda noticed that," Nicole commented. "Not the part about it being in your blood," she clarified. If I believed in that sort of thing, I'd be in trouble too, she thought, but didn't voice. It wasn't the right time for that. "But I've noticed Wynonna does it a lot. She's even harder on herself than you are."
Waverly grimaced. She knew it was true, but it broke her heart to hear it. "Yeah, Daddy was like that, too," she noted, more to herself than to Nicole. Probably got it from Wyatt; that's where all the bullshit started. "If he'd lived, he never would've forgiven himself for Willa's death."
"But that wasn't his fault, any more than it was yours or Wynonna's," Nicole reasoned.
Barking out another pained laugh, Waverly said, "When has that ever stopped an Earp from feeling guilty?"
Nicole knew the question was rhetorical, and she held back her argument. "Point taken," she said simply.
They fell silent then, each lost in her own thoughts for several minutes. Waverly was lamenting the choices she'd made that kept the two of them apart for so long. And Nicole was busy thinking about what the future might hold for them. Not that she didn't have moments of regret, because she most definitely did. She just didn't tend to dwell on things she couldn't change. As for Waverly, it wasn't that she didn't have positive thoughts about the future. She was just a little stuck in the past at the moment. Together, they balanced one another out quite nicely, and though they didn't know it yet, that was something they would come to understand and appreciate along the way.
It was Waverly who broke the silence. "Know what I wish?" she mused, tucking an arm behind Nicole's back to get closer to her.
"What?" Her fingertips tangling in soft brunette tresses, Nicole gently caressed the back of Waverly's neck. She was interested in what would come next, but also a little nervous to hear it.
"That we could go back, and relive all of our non-dates, so I could kiss you all the times I wanted to," Waverly confessed.
Nicole's grin was a bit roguish as she met Waverly's gaze. "And exactly how many times did you wanna kiss me?"
"Pretty much every time I looked at you," Waverly blushed.
"You're not alone in that," Nicole confessed, her own face flushing with color.
Gratified by Nicole's admission, Waverly smiled softly. "By the time we got to the barbeque, I thought I'd lose my frickin' mind if you didn't kiss me soon," she confessed.
Nicole took a moment to digest that information, and then her eyes widened as realization struck. She laughed, giving Waverly a playful shove. "Oh, my god, you let me win."
"Win what?" Waverly feigned innocence.
"When we were riding," Nicole said. "You let me win, so you could ask me what I wanted."
Waverly grinned sheepishly. "I wanted you to make the first move," she shrugged.
The absolute honesty in Waverly's admission made Nicole's heart skip a beat. "You understand why I couldn't, right?" she asked, her tone searching.
Nodding, Waverly said, "I do now."
"I'm really glad," Nicole said, sounding relieved. "I hated that you thought for even a moment, that I didn't want you. Nothing could be further from the truth."
"I never really believed that; not deep down anyway," Waverly confessed. "I was just hurt, and… maybe a little angry—at myself, not you. I'm sorry I made you feel that way."
Her palm brushing along Waverly's cheek in a tender caress, Nicole let her fingertip catch beneath her chin. Drawing her closer, she kissed her lightly. "I understand," she validated. "I'm sorry you were hurting. That was never my intention."
"I know," Waverly acknowledged. "I don't believe you would ever do anything to hurt me."
"Not intentionally, I wouldn't," Nicole assured, as she tucked a wayward lock of hair behind Waverly's ear.
Receiving Nicole's unspoken message: I wouldn't hurt you on purpose, but I'm not perfect, Waverly took a moment to process it, accepting it for what it was: the truth. And then she leaned forward, pressing a light kiss to Nicole's mouth. "I wouldn't intentionally hurt you either," she whispered in promise.
A soft smile flickered across Nicole's lips. "I know you wouldn't, Waves," she acknowledged.
"Good," Waverly declared, her smile dancing in her eyes. "Now, are you hungry, Officer Haught?" she asked. "It's getting late, and I know you haven't had dinner."
"I'm starving, actually," Nicole admitted, realizing after Waverly asked, that it was true.
"Let me fix you something," Waverly offered as she gingerly moved Stormy onto Nicole's lap.
Stormy let out another disgruntled "Meow," over having her nap disturbed, and in a flash, she darted toward the bedroom, as Waverly stood from the sofa.
Shaking her head at the cat, Nicole chuckled as she grasped Waverly's hand, catching her attention before she could walk away. "I have a better idea," she announced, gazing up at her.
"And what's that?" Waverly sounded intrigued.
"Why don't I change clothes, and we can fix something together," Nicole suggested.
Waverly smiled. "I like that even better," she readily agreed, tugging Nicole to her feet. "What would you like?" she asked, as she led Nicole around the sofa, their fingers entwined.
"Doesn't matter," Nicole answered breezily. She would eat tree bark if it meant Waverly would be sharing a meal with her.
Stopping, Waverly turned to her. "You always gonna be this easy?"
Realizing too late what she'd said, Waverly's face flushed, as Nicole arched an eyebrow, that roguish smile teasing its way across her lips. Pulling Waverly to her then, she leaned down, kissing her lightly. "Only where you're concerned," she said with a playful lilt.
Grinning, Waverly kissed her again. "Go change your clothes, Officer Haught," she instructed. "I'm gonna pull out that leftover chicken from the other night, and figure out what we can do with it."
"Sounds perfect," Nicole declared. She'd been repeatedly amazed with what Waverly could manage to create using leftovers, and she doubted tonight would be any different. Unable to help herself, she kissed her once more, and then headed down the hall to change.
Watching Nicole walk away, Waverly took a moment to appreciate the view. She thrilled at the way the muscles in Nicole's back flexed beneath that navy shirt as she moved, and while those taupe uniform pants were hideous, to say the least, Nicole's perfect ass filled them out quite spectacularly, Waverly noticed, not for the first time. Everything about Nicole's body have her a thrill, and Waverly couldn't wait to see more of it.
A roguish grin flickered across her mouth, as she turned toward the kitchen, and then purposefully, she set on the task of making dinner. Rifling through the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry, she quickly sized up the contents, deciding what she would make. She pulled the glass cutting board out from the lower cabinet near the stove, and then began gathering ingredients. A few minutes later, she had the leftover rotisserie chicken, a wedge of fresh parmesan, a bottle of olive oil, a package of frozen spinach, half an onion left over from the dinner they'd fixed a few nights ago, two cans of diced tomatoes, chicken stock, a canister of uncooked pasta, and a bevy of herbs and spices setting out on the center island, where she began combining ingredients in Granny Haught's timeworn, yet amazingly functional Dutch oven. Nicole used it for almost everything because it heated evenly and nothing ever stuck to it, and Waverly had quickly become a convert.
Once the oil, garlic, spinach, and chopped onion were combined, she set the Dutch oven on the burner to simmer over medium heat, ran a pot of water and set it on another burner to boil, and turned her attention to the next set of ingredients that would make up the sauce.
Ten minutes later Nicole returned wearing a pair of loose-fitting, faded jeans, and a navy blue Dallas P.D. t-shirt, her auburn tresses falling in soft waves around her face. "Guess you figured out what's for dinner, huh?" she said casually, more statement than question.
Glancing up from the sauce she was throwing together, Waverly's breath caught at the sight of her. Slowly, green eyes filled with interest traced every inch of her, noticing how the t-shirt, while a bit loose, still hugged the curve of her breasts so perfectly, and the jeans hung nicely on her hips. They were a little long because Nicole was barefoot, but that only served to make them sexier, the way they bunched up just a bit atop her sock-covered feet. She took another moment, scanning upward this time, and then reaching Nicole's face again, she smiled into those teasing russet eyes, her own face flushing with color when she realized she'd just been brazenly cruising Nicole. "Yeah, I uh… Tuscan chicken with… uh, penne pasta," she stammered, lifting the canister of pasta, giggling it a little bit.
Amused, Nicole chuckled to herself as she padded across the kitchen floor toward Waverly. Wrapping her arms around her from behind, she brushed a kiss against her neck. "Well, it smells amazing already," she complimented. "What can I do to help?"
It simply astonished Waverly, how completely natural it felt to be standing there in Nicole's kitchen with Nicole's arms wrapped around her, talking about making dinner. It had felt natural from the start, and now that they were together, that feeling had increased exponentially. Never in her life had anything ever felt this right. And they were just getting started. Suddenly, she couldn't wait to see what the future would bring.
Turning her head toward Nicole, she smiled and kissed her mouth. "Will you drop the pasta in, and then cut up the chicken?" she requested. "This'll finish up whatever's left."
"You got it," Nicole readily agreed. "How much pasta do we need?"
"About half a kilogram," Waverly answered.
Converting the measurement into ounces in her head, Nicole eyeballed the pasta, dropping what looked to be about two cups into the boiling water, giving it a quick stir. "Are you finished with the cutting board?" she asked, turning toward Waverly.
"It's all yours," Waverly answered.
"Thanks," Nicole said, taking it to the sink to give it a quick rinse. Drying it off, she pulled a paring knife from the drawer and quickly set to work on the chicken, while Waverly added the mixture of freshly chopped oregano, thyme, and basil, salt and pepper, diced tomatoes, and chicken stock to the Dutch oven, and turned up the heat just slightly to bring the contents to a boil.
"Once this boils, you can go ahead and add the chicken," Waverly explained, turning then to the final ingredients for the sauce.
"Where'd you get this recipe?" Nicole asked, as she chopped the chicken into bite-sized pieces on the cutting board next to Waverly.
"Gus used to make it when Uncle Curtis was out of town," Waverly answered, whisking together some flour and a bit of cream to help thicken the sauce. "He wasn't much for pasta except for spaghetti and meatballs, so it was kind of a special treat for us while he was gone."
"That sounds nice," Nicole commented.
A faint smile touched Waverly's lips. "It was," she said, her tone wistful. "I've always really enjoyed the times I spent alone with each of them. They both made it special in their own ways."
"What kinds of things did you do with Curtis?" Nicole asked. She loved hearing Waverly tell stories about growing up with her aunt and uncle.
"We took care of the horses together, hiked the mountains a lot, and went fishing down by the springs," Waverly answered. "And I loved it when he'd take me riding on his Harley," she grinned.
"The one Wynonna inherited?"
"Yep," Waverly confirmed with a chuckle. "You should've seen her when I told her it was hers. She was super excited." The memory of her sister squealing in laughter as she scrambled into the back of Champ's truck, growling as she straddled the bike, and then purring as she fondled it, made her want to laugh out loud even now.
"I'll bet," Nicole grinned. "It's a beautiful machine."
Lifting the cutting board from the counter, Nicole carried it to the stove. She scraped the cut chicken into the sauce, and gave it a thorough stirring. And then she checked the pasta. "How done does the pasta need to be?" she asked.
"Al dente," Waverly responded.
Nicole gave the noodles a stir, noting that it wasn't anywhere near al dente yet. "Pasta's gonna be another few minutes," she commented. She much preferred to make her pasta fresh because it tasted better and took less time to cook; but the packaged kind worked in a pinch.
"That's okay. The sauce isn't quite ready yet either," Waverly noted. Once all of the lumps were out of the cream and flour mixture, she poured it into the sauce, stirring it thoroughly. And once it returned to a boil, she turned down the heat, allowing it to simmer until the noodles were ready. She glanced at Nicole over her shoulder then, "Would you mind grating a little fresh parmesan?"
"How much do we need?" Nicole asked, reaching into the drawer for the cheese grater.
"Just enough for a garnish," Waverly answered, keeping a close eye on the sauce so it didn't burn or clump as it settled into a simmer.
Nicole grated the parmesan into a small bowl, and then she rewrapped the remainder of the wedge, returning it to the refrigerator. Quickly rinsing the grater, she dropped it into the dishwasher, turning her attention back to the pasta. Stirring it first, she dipped out a noodle, carefully draining the water from the spoon back into the pot. She blew on the noodle to cool it slightly, and then she lifted it with her fingers, taking a bite. It was firm, but not sticky, which seemed right to her, but this was Waverly's recipe, and she wanted to be certain. Turning to Waverly, she offered the other half for her to taste.
Green eyes dancing with mischief, Waverly nipped lightly at Nicole's fingers as she took the penne noodle into her mouth, drawing a smile from Nicole. And then she bit into it. It was perfect, but she was tempted to say it needed another minute or two, just so Nicole would feed her another one. Instead, she leaned into Nicole, urging a light kiss from her, before declaring that it was, "Perfect."
Nicole grinned. "What, the pasta… or my kisses?" she whispered flirtatiously against Waverly's ear from where she stood just behind her.
"Both," Waverly declared. Turning toward her, she tangled her fingers in the loose auburn waves at the base of Nicole's neck, pulling her into another kiss, this one lingering.
Moaning softly into the kiss, Nicole smiled against Waverly's lips. "Pasta's gonna go from perfect to overcooked if I don't get it off the burner," she murmured.
"Buzzkill," Waverly lightly accused.
Chuckling, Nicole grabbed another quick kiss, before returning her attention to the pot of boiling pasta. She switched the burner off, removing the pot to slow the cooking process. Opening a cabinet beneath the counter to the left of the dishwasher, she retrieved a metal colander, setting it in the sink.
Waverly giggled to herself when she caught sight of the colander. The holes on the sides were shaped like miniature pineapples. Ever the pragmatist, it was probably the most whimsical thing Nicole owned, and Waverly absolutely loved it. And as Nicole reached for the pasta pot, Waverly turned her attention back to the sauce, still thinking about how adorable those pineapples were.
Moving back to the sink, Nicole poured the contents into the colander, allowing it to drain thoroughly. "Is the sauce ready for this?" she asked.
Checking the sauce, Waverly gave it another quick stir. "Looks good," she announced, giving Nicole the go-ahead. She stepped out of the way then, and lifting the cutting board from the counter, she gave it a quick scrub in the sink to remove the chicken residue. Once it was dried, she tossed the towel onto the counter, setting the cutting board back on the center island. She moved to the counter near the window then, pulling one of three small black planters, each containing three individual pots, from the windowsill. Grabbing the scissors from the countertop, she clipped a sprig of basil from the plant, and then setting both the scissors and the sprig on the counter, she returned the planter to the windowsill.
In the same planter with the basil, Nicole grew oregano and thyme. In the next, she grew fresh rosemary, parsley, and chives, and in the third planter were mint, sage, and the Vietnamese coriander, which gave her fresh cilantro. Waverly loved that Nicole grew fresh herbs in her kitchen. They used them almost every time they cooked, and it made all the difference.
A few feet away, Nicole dropped the pasta into the Dutch oven, stirring it into the sauce. "This really looks amazing, Waves," she complimented. "Smells even better."
"Wait 'til you taste it," Waverly said temptingly, as she quickly chopped the basil. Then, moving toward the cabinet to the right of the sink, she pulled two plates down, setting them on the counter near the stove. And then she turned to the drawer where the silverware was kept, pulling out two forks, setting them on the center island near the basil and parmesan.
Resting her hips against the countertop, Nicole folded her arms across her chest, her eyes never leaving Waverly. She loved watching her navigating her space. It hadn't taken long for Waverly to learn where everything was, and she moved around with ease and confidence, like she belonged there with Nicole. And she did belong there, Nicole acknowledged, smiling to herself.
"Would you like some wine with dinner?" Nicole offered.
Waverly smiled as she edged around her, moving toward the stove. "Sounds nice," she answered.
"Red or white?" Nicole asked, deferring to Waverly. She'd long-since ceased questioning her judgment when it came to wine pairings. Waverly was never wrong on the subject. Shoving away from the counter, she moved to the refrigerator, opening the door.
"Red for me, thanks. I think it goes better with this," Waverly answered over her shoulder. Turning the burner off, she began plating the food. "If you want a white, that Chardonnay we had with the chicken the other night would be good."
Deciding she preferred a red, Nicole pulled the bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon they'd opened a few days earlier from the bottom shelf, closing the refrigerator door, and setting the bottle on the counter nearby. Reaching into the corner cabinet to the left of the sink, she pulled down two wine glasses, and then she popped the cork on the bottle, pouring the dark liquid into the glasses in equal measure. She recorked the bottle then, returning it to the refrigerator.
As Nicole poured the wine, Waverly brought the plates of food to the center island, sprinkling both servings first with the freshly chopped basil and then with a dusting of parmesan. Finally, lifting the prepared plates from the countertop, she moved toward the dining room table, Nicole following behind her with their glasses of wine, in hand.
When she reached the dining area, Waverly noticed the living room lights were dimmed, and on the table, she found their forks sitting atop neatly folded cloth napkins, and the candles in the centerpiece aglow, casting a soft ambient light across the table. Pleasantly surprised, she smiled at Nicole as she set the plates down next to the place settings. "When did you manage this?"
"While you were working on the garnish," Nicole answered with a grin.
Reaching for Nicole's hand, Waverly pulled her close. "I didn't realize you were such a romantic, Officer Haught," she husked.
Leaning down, Nicole nuzzled against Waverly's ear. "Sweetheart, you have no idea," she whispered, skimming her mouth along the taut cord of muscle in Waverly's neck.
Waverly's heart skipped a beat at the sound of Nicole's voice, the warmth of her breath against her skin. She turned her head, capturing Nicole's mouth in a kiss that took Nicole completely by surprise, her fingers tangling in those soft auburn waves.
It took only a moment for Nicole to gather her bearings, and then she was grasping Waverly's waist, pulling her impossibly closer as she took control, deepening their kiss.
Waverly felt an unfamiliar dipping quickening that echoed deep in her belly in response to being so under Nicole's control. She always hated it when Champ would exert control over her, but with Nicole, it felt entirely different; surprisingly arousing.
The kiss was brief, but hungry in a way neither had ever known, and when Nicole lifted her mouth, she was met by eyes that swirled with desire that matched her own. Gratified, a soft smile flickered across her lips. "We should probably eat dinner before it gets cold," she whispered in suggestion.
Green eyes flickering up to meet Nicole's again, Waverly bit her bottom lip lightly, releasing it slowly. "Right…" she murmured, the corners of her mouth twisting into a smile.
They settled into their usual places at the table then, sharing the meal they prepared together. It was really no different than any other night they'd shared a meal together at this table. Except that it was completely different, in that there were no questions, no uncertainties lingering between them. They were together. Really together. And that made all the difference in the world.
Friday, May 27, 2016… The Earp Homestead—10:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time
Waverly and Nicole were laughing together about something Waverly had said in the car, as they came through the front door into the living room at the homestead. Her backpack was slung over her right shoulder, secured with her hand, and a freshly pressed uniform that looked like she'd just picked it up from the dry cleaners, in her left hand, Nicole held the door open with her foot, allowing Waverly, who held a large canvas bag filled with groceries in one hand, and Stormy in her cat carrier in the other, to pass through ahead of her. Nicole followed quickly behind, the glass in the door rattling as it closed behind her.
It wasn't the first time Stormy had come to visit the homestead. In fact, she already had her own food and water bowls, along with a stash of cat food in the kitchen, a litter box that was tucked into an alcove in the main floor bathroom, and a bevy of toys scattered around the house—all at Wynonna's suggestion. She'd tried to sound nonchalant about it when she suggested that Nicole bring Stormy along when she came to visit, especially if she planned to stay the night—it just made sense since Nicole spent so much time at the homestead, that Stormy not be left all alone—but neither Nicole nor Waverly were fooled by her act. They knew she liked the cat, despite her adamant contentions otherwise. And so Stormy had become a regular fixture around the homestead, traveling back and forth with Nicole, and even Waverly at times, during Nicole's week away.
Just as Waverly set the cat carrier and bag of groceries on the floor, Wynonna came shuffling into the room, an open bottle of beer in her hand. "Oh, hey," she said in casual greeting, continuing her path toward the sofa.
Stormy started rattling the carrier door, caterwauling the moment she heard Wynonna's voice.
"What are you doin' home?" Waverly sounded surprised, but not unpleasantly so. After her conversation with Wynonna earlier in the day, she just hadn't expected to see her again until Monday.
"Change of plans," Wynonna shrugged, trying to sound more blasé than she felt, as she dropped down onto the sofa. She'd had enough emotional interaction for one day, given her earlier conversation with Waverly, and then with Gus before dinner. "Dolls reinstated me."
"That's great, Wyn!" Waverly said supportively. Stooping down, she released the latch on Stormy's carrier, and the cat bolted out before she could even get the door completely open. A moment later, she pounced into Wynonna's lap, purring loudly, as she rubbed her head against Wynonna's chin.
Amused by the cat, Wynonna chuckled. "I take it you guys worked out your squabble," she commented, grinning as her eyes moved back and forth between the two of them.
They laughed at Stormy's antics, and then Waverly glanced at Nicole, smiling. "That we did," she confirmed. "And what about you? Did you figure things out?"
"Yeah," Wynonna answered, and she scratched Stormy's back in the place she loved it most. "And I had dinner with Gus tonight," she reported. "We kinda worked some stuff out too."
"I'm really glad," Waverly said supportively.
Given what Waverly had told her earlier about Wynonna and some of the things she was dealing with, Nicole decided it best to give them a few minutes to talk. She nudged Waverly's arm with her elbow, catching her attention. "Hey, I'm gonna go drop my stuff in your room, and then I'll take care of the groceries, okay?"
The expression on Waverly's face said she was grateful Nicole understood what she needed without her even having to ask. "Thank you," she said quietly. "Should only be a couple more bags in the back of the SUV."
"No problem," Nicole said, brushing her hand lightly against Waverly's arm before reaching down to pick up the grocery bag. "I'll be back in a bit."
Waverly had to curtail the urge to kiss Nicole before she left. It caught her off-guard how quickly that inclination had become second-nature, and for the first time, she realized it wouldn't be as easy as she thought to keep their relationship from Wynonna. Not that she didn't want her to know, but it was so new to her that she just wanted a little time to savor it, to savor Nicole and all that she'd brought to her life.
As Nicole left the room, Waverly slipped out of her boots and took off her coat, hanging it on one of the hooks behind the door. And then she moved toward the sofa, taking a seat next to Wynonna. "You want to talk about what happened?" she asked, tucking a foot up beneath her.
"Not particularly," Wynonna answered. But she knew she had to. Waverly needed to know the whole story about Shorty's. She was quiet for a moment, as she rubbed Stormy's ears, enjoying the appreciative purrs she received in return for her efforts. Why couldn't people be so easy to please? And then she turned toward Waverly. "I put down another Revenant today," she divulged.
"Really?" Waverly sounded surprised. "What happened?"
"Apparently he came into Shorty's lookin' for me while Dolls was there with Nedley," Wynonna explained. "So Dolls hauled him in."
"Yeah, I remember him," Waverly recalled. "What did he want with you, anyway?" she asked warily.
"You're not gonna like this, Waves," Wynonna said hedged.
"Just tell me, okay?" Waverly pressed.
Closing her eyes, Wynonna took in a deep breath. "Bobo bought Shorty's," she divulged on a labored exhale.
"What?" Waverly exclaimed, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Yeah, I know," Wynonna commiserated.
Immediately, Waverly was on her feet, pacing the room. "How in the frickin' hell did that happen?" And then she stopped, turning to Wynonna again, an expression of sheer horror on her face. "Does Gus know?"
Wynonna nodded. "I broke the news to her while I was there," she said. "She didn't take it very well."
"I can only imagine," Waverly sighed, crossing her arms over her chest as she began pacing again. "Well, we have to do something!" she declared. "We have to stop him."
"It's a done deal, Waves," Wynonna said regretfully.
Feeling defeated, Waverly simply nodded.
"Dolls thinks we can use it as an opportunity to gather intel, though," Wynonna added, hoping to raise Waverly's spirits, even if only a little.
"How so?" Waverly asked, intrigued.
"By planting a bug," Wynonna answered.
"I'm definitely game," Waverly quickly agreed.
"No way in hell are you goin' in there, Waves," Wynonna insisted.
"I work there, in case you've forgotten," Waverly sarcastically reminded. "They'd never suspect at thing, me goin' in there."
"You're seriously gonna keep that job?" Wynonna couldn't believe her ears.
Waverly cringed. "Of course not," she answered. "I'd never work for that shithead. But he doesn't need to know that right away."
"Who doesn't need to know what?" Nicole asked as she reentered the room after putting the groceries away. The expressions on Waverly and Wynonna's faces stopped her in her tracks. "Sorry… Should I leave and come back later?" she asked, not wanting to intrude on anything classified.
"No, of course not," Waverly said, reaching out toward Nicole.
Nicole's gazed shifted guardedly from Waverly's face, to her hand, and back to her face again, the unspoken question reflecting in her eyes.
Realizing what she was doing, Waverly took the cue from Nicole, dropping her hand. And then she held Nicole's gaze steadily. "You should know that uh, that I'll be quitting my job at Shorty's," she announced.
"What?" Nicole sounded both surprised and a little bit concerned. "Why?"
"Gus sold the place today," Waverly answered.
"Okay?" Now Nicole was confused. They'd all known it was coming. Why was it suddenly such a big deal that Waverly would actually quit?
"To Bobo Del Rey," Waverly added, her tone wry.
"Well, shit," Nicole muttered, stunned by the revelation.
"Exactly," Waverly affirmed with a sigh.
"I take it Gus didn't know he was the buyer," Nicole deduced. Shrugging out of her jacket, she hung it behind the front door next to Waverly's.
"No, he used a broker to put one past her," Wynonna supplied.
"Well, it certainly isn't my place to tell you what do, but I can't say I'm sorry to hear you're quittin'," Nicole said to Waverly. "There's just somethin' evil goin' on there. I can feel it."
Wynonna barked out a sarcastic laugh. "You don't know the half of it."
Nicole glanced toward Wynonna. "I know I don't," she acknowledged, her gaze clear and steady. "But I'm hopin' at some point you're gonna get around to fillin' me in."
"I wish I could, Nicole. I really do," Wynonna said sincerely. She really did hate keeping her in the dark. "But Dolls is back, and he'll have my ass if..."
Raising a hand, Nicole effectively stalled Wynonna's comment. "I get it, okay?" she said simply. "I don't want you jeopardizin' your job. Just know that if you ever need me, I've got your back, Wynonna. No questions asked."
Truly grateful for the offer, a faint smile touched Wynonna's lips. She knew, without question, that Nicole meant every word. She wished she could still feel that certain about Dolls, but her trust in him had been shaken by his inaction earlier that day, and it would take a long time to restore it. "Thanks, Nicole. I, uh… I really appreciate that."
"Yeah, thank you," Waverly said, her tone filled with gratitude as she moved to Nicole, wrapping her in a hug.
Nicole hugged Waverly in return, being careful about how she touched her. It was Waverly's call as to when Wynonna would be told about their relationship. "There's nothin' I wouldn't do for either one of you, or for Gus," she vowed.
"We know," Waverly affirmed, squeezing Nicole tighter for a brief moment, before letting her go.
"So… you guys wanna watch a movie or somethin'?" Wynonna asked. She'd had all the sappy bullshit she could stomach for one day.
Waverly glanced at Nicole, who nodded in agreement. And then she grinned at her sister. "Sounds good," she said. "What do you wanna watch?"
"Anything but a…" Wynonna began.
"Musical," they all three said in unison. And then they laughed together.
"Can I get you a beer, Nicole?" Wynonna offered, tipping her nearly empty bottle toward her friend.
"Stay put. I'll get it," Waverly said, holding up a hand, halting her sister from getting up. "You seem to have a lap full of pussy again," she teased, amused that Stormy always seemed to end up napping in Wynonna's lap.
"Yeah, that never gets old," Wynonna said sarcastically, causing Waverly and Nicole to laugh.
"You need a fresh one?" Waverly asked her sister as she turned toward the kitchen.
"Yeah," Wynonna answered. "Thanks."
Watching Waverly until she was out of sight, Nicole moved across the room toward Wynonna. "Sounds like your day ended a whole lot better than it started," she commented as she settled into the opposite corner of the sofa. She remembered vividly how out of sorts the elder Earp had been when she encountered her that morning, and this was far more palatable.
"Well, seein' as it started with a failed psych evaluation, I'd say anything short of a lobotomy would be an improvement," Wynonna replied sardonically.
"You really do hate shrinks, don't you," Nicole commented, more statement than question.
"Yup," Wynonna confirmed, popping the 'p'.
"Sorry it started out with such bullshit," Nicole commiserated.
"Thanks," Wynonna replied. "And thanks for comin' out here to stay with Waves this weekend," she added. "I really didn't wanna leave her alone."
"It's no problem," Nicole said casually. "We probably would've spent it together anyway."
"Mm…" Wynonna nodded, thinking nothing of it. Nicole was there all the time, it seemed, so it wouldn't even surprise her if it was true. That's why she'd asked Waverly if Nicole would be around for the weekend in the first place.
"So what are we watching?" Waverly asked, padding back into the room on sock-covered feet.
"No idea," Nicole answered. "What are you in the mood for?"
The smoldering expression in Waverly's eyes told Nicole exactly what she was in the mood for, and Nicole bit her bottom lip to stifle her response. Instead, she suggested they watch something innocuous, like a romantic comedy. And after some rather animated discussion, they settled on a sweet, romantic story with a little science fiction twist to keep Wynonna guessing.
Saturday, May 28, 2016… The Earp Homestead—1:30 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time
Quietly, Waverly crossed the room, staring out the window into the darkness of night, noting only the dim glow of the lamplight from the barn that indicated Doc was home. Her arms were wrapped tightly around herself; whether as a subconscious means of self-protection, or to stave off the chill in the house, she couldn't be certain—and neither could Nicole.
Approaching from behind, Nicole brushed her hands along the center of Waverly's back and up over her shoulders, giving them a light caress. A soft sigh fell from Waverly's lips, and she leaned back into the solid support of Nicole's body, knowing without a doubt that she would be there.
Reveling in the closeness once again, Nicole slid her arms around Waverly's midsection, nuzzling against her neck. Silently, she breathed in the scent of her—wildflowers on a spring afternoon, just like always. "You okay, Waves?" she asked quietly, her fingertips gently splaying across the soft, warm skin of Waverly's bare belly.
"I don't know what's wrong with me," Waverly confessed, her voice tight with apprehension. She was honestly at a loss as to how to explain it. Since the moment they first kissed, she'd been thinking about being with Nicole. Really being with her. She couldn't wait for it to happen.
After dinner, they busied themselves with cleaning the kitchen, and then packing Nicole's things. And once all the potential distractions were eliminated, they'd landed on Nicole's sofa for an encore of their encounter in Nedley's office. Their kisses grew increasingly more heated, hands and mouths tentatively exploring, leaving them breathless once again. Waverly had been the one to put the brakes on this time, explaining that she didn't want to start something they couldn't properly finish because, much to Nicole's delight, once she got Nicole into bed, she had no intention of letting her out again until Sunday afternoon.
While they were both happy to see Wynonna when they arrived at the homestead, they were also a little disappointed. The plan had been to unload the groceries, and basically go straight to bed. But with a wrench in their plans, they'd willingly adjusted—Wynonna was never the one to instigate socialization, and for her to ask about watching a movie with them was huge. And though their plans were briefly curtailed, Waverly had driven Nicole to near distraction during the movie, her fingertips lightly grazing the seam of Nicole's jeans on her inner thigh as she leaned against Nicole's side.
Blissfully, Nicole relaxed into her touch, feeling herself grow harder, the pulsing between her legs growing impossibly more intense, with every stroke of Waverly's fingertips, and by the end of the movie she was afraid she might go off just from the pressure of her jeans against her as she walked to Waverly's bedroom.
Once they were finally alone in her bedroom, Waverly kissed her with the same fierce passion she had that very first time. It didn't take long for the embers that had smoldered all evening to reignite into a full-blown flame. Nicole's t-shirt hit the floor, with Waverly's sweater following close behind. And then Nicole's fingers were tangled in Waverly's hair, her mouth skimming along the taut cord of muscle in Waverly's neck. Waverly groaned in appreciation, her fingers fumbling with Nicole's belt. Their breathing grew labored as they stumbled toward the bed, falling onto the mattress with Waverly landing on top.
Their kiss broke from the impact of their landing, finding them both breathless, panting for air as Waverly gazed down at Nicole. Her eyes searching Nicole's, she swallowed hard around the rising uncertainty. And then without warning, she was pulling away, looking restless, unsettled, and a little confused, as she pushed herself backward and onto her feet again, her breaths coming in short, almost desperate gasps.
She didn't know what was wrong, exactly. All she knew was that, despite all of her bravado, she wasn't ready for this. Not yet. She felt ridiculous. Moments before, she'd been absolutely certain of what she wanted, and now, she wasn't certain of anything, except that she definitely did love Nicole. Perhaps that was what scared her the most.
The shift happened so quickly it left Nicole's head spinning. She sat upright, watching Waverly carefully for any signs of physical distress; though she didn't expect to find any. This was likely an emotional response to uncertainty, which Nicole definitely understood. It was a lot to process all at once, and if she were being honest, she would admit that she'd even anticipated it. At the moment, her only concern was making sure that Waverly felt safe and understood. And with that foremost in her mind, as Waverly moved toward the window, Nicole followed closely behind.
That was how she found herself standing there half-dressed in the middle of the night, her arms wrapped around Waverly from behind, as she whispered reassurances to her. "Who says there's anything wrong with you at all?" she said gently, more statement of comfort than question as she pulled her impossibly closer.
"I wanted this, Nicole," Waverly said, her voice quavering. "I really did."
"I know, Baby," Nicole murmured, brushing Waverly's hair aside. Lightly, her lips skimmed the outer shell of Waverly's ear—a gesture of comfort, not seduction. "I know…"
"And I still do," Waverly clarified. "I want you."
"But?" Nicole gently pressed.
Waverly turned to her then, and peering up into those warm russet eyes she found nothing but love and understanding reflecting back at her. "But I just… I'm really nervous right now, Nicole," she confessed, her entire body beginning to shake. "Believe me, my body is totally on board with this, but… my head is freakin' out here. And I don't know why. It's not like I've never…"
She looked like she was on the verge of a breakdown, and Nicole's heart nearly broke from watching it. "Hey…" she whispered, her fingertips whispering across Waverly's cheek. "It's gonna be okay."
Spoken with such gentle certainty, Nicole's assurance was like a balm to Waverly's tattered soul. Without words, she wrapped her arms around Nicole's waist, burying her face in Nicole's chest, drawing in the crisp, familiar scent of her skin. And Nicole responded in kind, pulling Waverly close against her own body, where she simply held her, tenderly caressing her soft skin as her hands gently stroked up and down Waverly's back.
Neither of them knew how long they stood there, locked in their embrace. But when Waverly finally released her, Nicole smiled down at her. "Come sit with me," she encouraged, offering Waverly her hand.
Waverly nodded, and taking the proffered hand, she followed Nicole over to the bed. Sitting down, Nicole patted the bed next to her. But Waverly climbed into her lap, her knees flanking the outer edges of Nicole's toned thighs, instead. And then she draped her arms around Nicole's neck, hugging her again, this time, even tighter.
Nuzzling into Waverly's neck, Nicole returned the hug, holding her close for several minutes. And then, leaning back, she tenderly cradled Waverly's face in her hands. "Listen to me, okay?" she gently implored.
Searching Nicole's eyes, Waverly simply nodded again.
Nicole offered a reassuring smile. "I want you, Waverly Earp," she said softly, as she gazed into those soft green eyes, so filled with uncertainty. "In my life. In my arms. In my bed… But if you're not ready to make love, I'm okay with that. I'm content just to hold you, to have you near. I just wanna be with you."
"Really?" Waverly gasped, her eyes flooding with tears. No one had ever been so tender with her, so loving. And no one had ever offered her such a complete sense of autonomy, with absolutely no guilt.
A soft smile formed on Nicole's lips, her eyes shining with sheer adoration. "Really," she whispered, feathering a light kiss across Waverly's mouth. "I get that this is all completely new to you. It's different, and… maybe even a little bit scary. So we don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with, Waves. We don't have to do anything at all."
Waverly looked nervous, doubtful, but she didn't vocalize it.
She didn't need to. Instinctively, Nicole understood. "You've spent your whole damn life tryin' to prove yourself to other people, doin' whatever you have to do to make sure they stay. Well, you don't have to do that with me, Waverly. You don't have to be perfect, and you're not responsible for keeping me happy. And you certainly don't have to have sex with me to keep me interested," she reassured.
"But… I got you all worked up," Waverly said apologetically. Champ used to get so angry when he'd get worked up, only to hear that Waverly didn't want it. He always expected her to take care of it for him—after all, it was her fault, he'd argue, even if he'd done it to himself. "Shouldn't I at least…"
Shaking her head, Nicole gently shushed her. "Not gonna lie, I'm really turned on right now. But that's my problem, not yours," she adamantly declared.
"But I'm the one who kept touching you," Waverly said ruefully. "I knew what it was doing to you, and I kept it up."
"And I could've asked you to stop at any time, Waves," Nicole reasoned. She didn't need to ask where this was coming from; she already knew. Champ Hardy was a complete fucking dickhead. Never again would Waverly ever have to deal with that kind of emotionally manipulative bullshit. "But I chose not to because, quite frankly, I liked what you were doing," she admitted. "That's on me."
"Really?" Waverly sounded almost afraid to believe her. It was always her fault with Champ, even if he'd gotten worked up without her even touching him. Sometimes she didn't even need to be in the same room!
"I promise," Nicole reassured. "Trust me, when you decide you're ready, I am all over it, because I want you, Waverly." Christ, I've never wanted anyone more, she thought, but didn't voice. "But until then, just know I'm not just some dickhead who's gonna threaten to walk if you don't put out on the first date… or the second, or even the tenth."
Nodding, Waverly sniffled. How did Nicole always manage to make her feel better when she thought she deserved to feel worse? "What about the eleventh?" she asked, smiling through her tears.
Amused by Waverly's use of wry humor to ease even the most intense situations, Nicole chuckled softly. "Not even then," she answered, her tone of voice saying it would always be true.
And then she took Waverly's face into her hands again, pressing a tender kiss to her lips. "There's no timetable here, Waves. No pressure. And I promise you, no matter how long it takes, I'm not goin' anywhere. So… how 'bout for right now we just let go of any expectations when it comes to sex, and just let things happen as they will," she suggested. "If whatever we're doin' gets to be too much for me, I'll let you know. I promise. And you can do the same for me, 'cause I really don't want anything you don't want."
Delivered on a whisper, the tender sincerity in Nicole's voice made Waverly's love for her deepen exponentially. "You have no idea what that means to me," she said, tears streaming down her face.
And suddenly, she knew what it was that scared her. She knew, without a doubt, that making love with Nicole would change her, would change her life, in ways she'd never imagined possible. But it wasn't about the physical act, at all! Not that she didn't enjoy a good fuck with Champ once in a while, but mostly sex was all about him—it was something she did to keep him happy, because he was less of a dick when she put out. But with Nicole, for the first time in her life, it would actually mean something to her emotionally. And while thought of being physically intimate with Nicole was exciting to contemplate, it was also really scary to think that everything she'd ever known to be true about relationships would suddenly be made false, replaced with needs and feelings that were categorically foreign to her. And most of all, she feared opening herself up to that kind of vulnerability, only to have it taken away from her someday.
Silently, Nicole watched as a series of emotions played across Waverly's features—fear and uncertainty, gratitude and relief, and then spontaneous enlightenment, followed by another wave of uncertainty. "I probably don't," she admitted. She understood the pressure of unjust expectations, but the idea of feeling so abandoned and alone was completely foreign to her. "And that makes it even more important to me, to keep my word."
"I know that you will," Waverly said with conviction. That was one thing she would never doubt. She touched Nicole's face then, allowing her fingertips to linger against her soft skin. "I still want you to stay with me tonight," she said softly, as she leaned in, brushing her mouth against Nicole's the way that she'd wanted to so many times before. She loved the simple fact that she could do that now. No more holding back. "Will you?"
The depth of Waverly's vulnerability nearly broke Nicole's heart in two. Gently, she touched her face, wiping away her tears. Skimming a thumb across her lower lip, she kissed her tenderly. And then she met that trusting gaze, holding it steadily, as she whispered, "There's no place else I'd rather be."
Wrapping her arms around Nicole's neck, Waverly hugged her again, this time tighter than ever. It wasn't out of gratitude or desperation that Waverly clung to her, but out of a sense of acceptance and belonging, the likes of which she'd never felt before.
Instinctively, Nicole understood that, and releasing a slow sigh of relief, she buried her face in Waverly's neck, as she wrapped her arms around Waverly's body, pulling her impossibly closer.
When they finally parted, by mutual silent agreement, they went about their nightly rituals. They crossed paths frequently as they prepared for bed, each time sharing a light touch, a smile, or even a brief kiss. It was like a perfectly choreographed dance. And thirty minutes later, both of them showered and changed, they were crawling beneath the crisp, cool sheets and heavy comforter on Waverly's bed.
The warm water had done little to quell Nicole's arousal, but it allowed her to refocus her mind, thus enabling her to control it. For that, she was grateful. Reaching toward the antique nightstand, she switched off the lamp, leaving the room illuminated only by the moonlight that streamed through the blinds, filtering through the sheer curtains that hung beneath heavy cerulean drapes that were tied back at the center. She smiled to herself, remembering the afternoon she and Waverly had installed the blinds and traverse rods, and hung the newly purchased window treatments.
When shopping for the drapes, they also picked out a warm comforter for Waverly's bed. A few shades lighter than the drapes, it matched her blanket and throw pillows, perfectly coordinating her room. And when they were finished, the simple accouterments completely transformed Waverly's bedroom, prompting her to suggest that they do the same in other rooms throughout the house. Nicole was more than happy to oblige—she enjoyed the work, and loved every moment she spent with Waverly in the process.
Curling into Nicole's side the way she usually did, Waverly released a deep sigh of contentment, as she nestled her head against Nicole's chest, her arm draped loosely across Nicole's body. The comforter was warm, but Nicole's body was warmer, as she felt herself being wrapped securely in Nicole's arms. It felt familiar, and yet, entirely new and different in the most breathtaking way. "I love being with you this way," she said softly.
Nicole shifted just slightly, and tilting her head, she pressed a lingering kiss against Waverly's forehead. "Mm… me too," she quietly concurred.
Delivered on a contented sigh, Nicole's response bolstered Waverly's confidence in what she was feeling. "Does it feel… different… to you tonight?"
Nicole nodded. "Yeah," she breathed, the sense of awe in her voice validating Waverly's experience. "It feels… solid now; like… I don't have to be scared that you'll disappear anymore."
Pushing up on her elbow, Waverly met Nicole's gaze, marveling at how her eyes shimmered in the moonlight. "You were scared of that?" She sounded surprised.
"Yeah," Nicole admitted. "Really scared."
The vulnerability in Nicole's voice, in her eyes, was palpable, and it made Waverly's heart ache in the most beautiful way, not because Nicole was feeling it, but because she had chosen to share it with her. "I've never felt this way about anyone, Nicole," she whispered in confession, her fingertips lightly caressing Nicole's side. "And I may not really know what to do with that just yet, but I promise you, I'm not going anywhere."
"I believe you," Nicole assured, pressing a light kiss to Waverly's lips.
Waverly settled back into Nicole's arms then, and Nicole shifted onto her side, bringing them face to face, their heads resting on Waverly's favorite pillow. And then Nicole smiled into those beautiful green eyes. "I've never felt this way about anyone either," she confessed.
"Promise?" Waverly asked, seeking reassurance.
"Cross my heart," Nicole whispered, slowly tracing an 'X' across her heart with her index finger.
Taking Nicole's hand into her own, Waverly pulled it toward her, pressing a lingering kiss against her palm. And then, with her palm still pressed against the back of Nicole's hand, she entwined their fingers, nestling their joined hands against her chest.
In desperate need of more contact with her, Nicole used the leverage from the arm that lay beneath Waverly's shoulder to pull her closer, their bodies meeting, pressing together at every possible juncture, as she smiled into those captivating eyes. "So I was thinking," she said quietly, setting the stage for what was to come.
Waverly arched curious eyebrow. "Should I be scared?" she teased, drawing a chuckle from Nicole.
"Hardly," Nicole assured.
Waverly grinned. "Then what have you been thinking, Officer Haught?" Her tone said she was intrigued.
"We both have tomorrow night off, so… I wondered if you'd like to go on a real date with me." Nicole's tone asked the question.
"We've had plenty of real dates," Waverly contended, her eyes dancing with mischief.
"Yeah, but this would be the kind where I get to kiss you," Nicole clarified.
"Well, you could kiss me right now, if you wanted," Waverly intoned.
"Does that mean this a date?" Nicole asked, with that playful grin on her face.
Waverly shook her head. "No, Officer Haught… this is definitely not a date," she answered, emphasizing the denial of Nicole's assumption.
"What is it, then?"
Waverly's expression turned serious, and gazing into soft russet eyes that glimmered with devotion, her fingertips fluttered along Nicole's cheek. Leaning in, she kissed her tenderly then, and when she met those eyes again, this time finding subtle shades of inquiry, she whispered, "It's coming home…"
The promise in Waverly's voice caused Nicole's breath to catch in her chest, her heart trilling beneath her breasts. The reaction was so powerful she could feel the reverberations deep within her soul. Gasping, she offered a tremulous smile, those soft russet eyes glistening with unshed tears. That tearstained gaze locking onto Waverly's, she slipped her hand behind Waverly's neck, tangling her fingers in those long wavy tresses, as she gently rolled Waverly onto her back. And then she was kissing her with a passion that literally took Waverly's breath away, welcoming her home to a place that neither of them had ever been before.
TBC in Chapter 11—Exploration and Discovery…