Chapter Ten

Steve opened his front door and smiled at Nikki as she held up a grocery bag in each hand, water dripping from her nose as the rain outside pounded on the roof of the porch.

"I come barring gifts. Permission to enter?"

Steve reached out taking the bags from her, "Permission granted, but it'll cost you a kiss."

Nikki released the bags and put her wet hands on his face, giving him a quick one on the lips.

"Hello," she grinned.

"Get in here," he replied, stepping back and allowing her to enter. He kicked the door shut with his foot as he followed her into the kitchen.

"I can't believe how hard its raining out," Nikki declared, running her hand over her long blond hair. "I got this wet just coming from the car."

"Well at least it's not a hurricane anymore," Steve said, "they down sized it to just a tropical storm."

He set the bags down on the counter, peeking inside as Nikki nudged him out of the way.

"I told you, it's a surprise."

"How do you know I'll like it?"

"Because I just do." She leaned over and kissed him. "Now go sit and watch the game and dinner will be ready in about half an hour."

"I'd rather watch you."

She blushed over that, nudging him with her hip. "Go."

"Fine," he moaned, walking away.

Twenty minutes later Nikki peeked her head around the corner of the family room, "It's ready."

Steve jumped off the couch rubbing his hands together, following her into the kitchen. The table was already set and the food on the plates.

"Tah dah," she exclaimed, showing off the entrees.

"Are those onion burgers?"

"Yes," she smiled proudly. "Your dad showed me how to make them. I remember him telling me that they were your favorite."

He went to her and put both arms around her waist. "Thank you. It is my favorite. I haven't had one in years."

Pleasing him was so easy she thought. He didn't put any expectations on her or the relationship that was evolving into something nice. It was her second trip to his house and technically their third date. He'd come to her house once, but only to pick her up to take her to dinner at a nice restaurant in one of the fancy hotels in Waikiki.

He sat down and took a drink of the beer that was opened at the head of his plate. "I feel spoiled," he admitted, "but I could get used to this." He squeezed some ketchup over the burger and put the top on and smashed it down, admiring the juices as they spilled out the side of the meat. "Ahhh, look at that," he said happily, "just like Dad used to make."

Nikki couldn't have been more pleased with his reaction. She imitated his move and they took a bite at the same time.

"Does it taste ok?" she asked him.

"Perfection," he smiled, washing it down with a drink of his beer. "You did great, thank you," he said sincerely.

"You're welcome. I think your Dad would be…" she was stopped mid sentence by a loud crack of thunder that startled both of them, causing Nikki to shriek and Steve to instinctively duck. At the same time the lights went out.

"Holy shit that was loud!" he said, standing up and going to the front door. He opened it up and felt a gust of wind with a blanket of mist from the rain that continued to come down in buckets. He quickly closed it again. "The whole block is out."

Nikki stood behind him, holding on to the back of his shirt, feeling safer by being in close proximity to him.

He turned around and smiled over the concerned look on her face. "Are you scared?"

"No! Well, maybe a little. That freaked me out!" she admitted.

He put his arm around her, guiding her back to the kitchen. "Freaked me out too."

The sun had yet to set but with the storm raging outside it wasn't producing the light it normally would have at five o'clock in the afternoon.

"Do you have candles?" Nikki asked.

"No. I don't think so, but I do have a lot flashlights." He set her down at the table and went to the garage, knowing exactly where they were.

She watched him disappear through the garage door and nervously looked around the room, hearing the storm raging outside. He appeared seconds later with three flashlights. He turned them on and set them on the table so they were all standing and pointing toward the ceiling.

"It might not be as traditional as a candlelit dinner," he joked, "but close enough."

"You make it romantic," she chimed in, putting her hand on his knee as he sat back down. "My hero."

Steve laughed over that. "All I did was go to the garage and get a flashlight. If that makes me a hero then you are very easy to please."

"I guess so then."

They finished eating and cleaned up the mess the best they could in the dark as the sun set the rest of the way.

"Now what should we do?" Nikki asked with the lights still out.

Steve slid up close to her, "Well if I was sixteen I'd say let's make out."

She blushed shyly over that. They'd kissed here and there and it felt comfortable and natural, but they'd yet to have another long, romantic kissing session like the one in the interrogation room. He was always a gentleman with her, never forcing himself on her or making her feel pressured about sleeping with him. At the end of the night he said goodnight and left it at that. She wasn't naïve to men's advances having her share of lovers, three to be exact over the past five years, but it seemed most men after the second date, some even the first, always expected that next giant leap, but he didn't. It was refreshing.

"We could tell stories around the flashlight," she joked.

"What kind of stories?"

She became serious as she looked up at him. "I'd like to know the story about Stuart."

He felt a cold chill run through him over that subject, but it was the second time she'd asked him that question. He couldn't put her off any longer and he couldn't lie to her either, but he did fear she wouldn't look at him the same way anymore if she knew the truth.

"I know this is a hard subject for you Steve, but we only have to talk about it this one time. I'll never ask about it again, I promise." She needed to know for her own sake, she needed to know what had happened to her brother.

It was better to do it now he thought, and get it over with before he fell any harder for her than he already had. If she wanted to make a break from him because of what he had done, then he wanted it to be now rather than later. "Ok, Nikki. You deserve to know."

She led him over to the family room and she sat down on the couch, but he didn't join her there, instead he sat on the edge of the coffee table wanting to face her dead on when he confessed his responsibility to her over her brother's death. She deserved that too.

"Our unit was on patrols," he began; glad that it was semi dark now so he could hide behind it, or maybe it was better that he couldn't see her. "We were ambushed from the rooftop and forced down a long narrow passageway between two buildings. Everyone took shelter in doorways. Stuart and I were together."

She almost instructed him to stop there, hearing something distressing in his voice, but she couldn't bring herself to speak. She needed to put Stuart to rest and was hoping this would help. She had made up hundreds of scenarios of that day, but never knew which one was the right one.

"We needed to get to the end of the alley, but it was risky. We couldn't go all at once or they'd pick us off. But someone had to make the first move to return fire while the others escaped down the same path. I was the leader, it was my job." He closed his eyes, regretting his move to this day. "I ordered Stuart to go with me." He shook his head. "Halfway down the alleyway he was shot in the neck."

Nikki gasped, feeling those words sting her in the heart. Tears instantly welled in her eyes. "Oh Stuart," she whispered through her hands that covered her mouth. Finally hearing the true story hurt worst than she thought it would.

He heard her anguish, but worst than that he felt it, as well as the blame for it. "I'm sorry Nikki. It was my fault. I should have waited. I was so sure we could…" he stopped himself from making an excuse, changing his words. "I was over confident and it cost your brother his life," he shivered over the last words but looked at her straight on, willing to take on whatever anger and resentment she might have felt at that second towards him. "I'm so sorry."

He had crumbled before her eyes in just a matter of seconds. Gone was the strong, resilient man she had grown to admire and fall in love with. The guilt over what he felt he had done was unjust she thought. "If you could go back and do it again, do you think you would you do it differently?"

"Yes," he said, admitting to her that guilt.

"Would you?" she asked again. "Because I don't think that's true. I trust you and so did Stuart. I don't believe you had anything to do with Stuart's death. You didn't put a bullet in his neck; you were trying to guide him to safety."

"There were so many factors that I didn't take into consideration."

"Then you had time to sort out several different plans?"

He shook his head, "No. I don't know, maybe."

"Yes or no," she demanded. "Did you make several different plans and choose the most dangerous one because you felt 'over confident'?"

"No," he quickly replied, alarmed over her tone, feeling that fear over what he had predicted, he was going to lose her.

"Then why? Why did you take my brother down that alley?"

"We needed to get cover for the others and our path held the minimal amount of danger. I felt if we could get to the end we could cover fire for the others. They knew they had us pinned down. It was only a matter of time before they started dropping explosives."

"Then you made an impulsive decision?"

"Yes."

"Who else died?"

"No one," he replied, relieved over that. Stuart's death was hard enough.

It was dark but she could still see him, but it was his voice that gave it all away. 'How sad for him,' she thought, 'to be carrying that around for so long.'

"I wanted to tell you," he confessed. He couldn't look at her, "I understand Nikki if you're…" he paused, "if you're angry. You have a right to be."

"No I don't," she challenged him. "And you have no right to feel guilty over what happened to him. I know Stuart. He didn't shy away from fear, but he wasn't a fool and he didn't take unnecessary risks either. He followed you because he agreed with your decision, not just because it was an order." She knelt down on the ground in front of him, forcing him to look at her. "That's what I believe and nothing or no one, not even your guilt will change my mind."

He'd been waiting for the bomb to drop on him and wipe out all her feelings for him, but what he hadn't expected was her allowing him full and complete exoneration from that day. "Nikki, I'm sorry."

"Don't you see what's happening here between you and I?"

He finally looked at her, but was puzzled over the connection between what he had done and their relationship.

"I miss Stuart, but I also know how much he loved me. He sent you to me? Don't you see that? That proves to me that he trusted you and it also proves to me that he didn't blame you for what happened, so you have to stop feeling that guilt and let it go. He brought us together. It's what he wanted."

He felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up over that new revelation that had never crossed his mind before. He recalled holding him as he spoke his last words; she was right, they weren't anger or resentment; they were about her and needing his promise to watch out for her.

It was the second time that she had managed to change his life for the better, not an easy feat by any means, yet she had succeeded so gracefully with her words.

"What about you, Nikki?" he asked her. "Now I have to know something. Can you still look at me the same way, knowing what you do?"

She considered that the easiest question ever been asked of her, but she also felt just telling him wasn't going convince him, so instead she showed him.

She never ceased to amaze him with her methods that could easily move him into a place that was foreign to him. She was a master at seeking out those places and bringing them to light for him to enjoy. This kiss was another one of her masterworks.

He slid off the table and was kneeling before her as well now, taking in all that she was offering, proving to him in the most delightful and truthful way that nothing had changed between them.

The wind howled outside and the rain pounded on the roof but neither one was aware of anything other than the person kneeling in front of them.

He held her close up against him, feeling the same need from her as their bodies melted into one another.

"Stay the night with me, Nikki," he asked her.

She didn't hesitate, wanting it just as badly as he did. "Yes," she whispered. "Take me up to your room."

He kissed her for that, wanting her so badly that if she hadn't requested that when she did, he might have taken her right then and there. But the idea of her in his bed was just as stimulating and worth the extra couple of minutes it took to get her there.

Nikki held his hand as he led her up the stairs. Her heart pounded fiercely, but not from a nervous tension like she would have anticipated if this moment ever came to light, it beat rapidly out of sheer pleasure and joy. She was in love with him. There was no doubt in her mind, and she was overjoyed that she felt a similar closeness coming from him. She wasn't sure if he was feeling the love that she was and she didn't care because what he was currently displaying for her was just as gratifying.

He turned to her as they entered his room, eager to see the same light in her eyes that he had downstairs, hoping that she hadn't had second thoughts as they made their way up to his room.

He was both relieved and aroused as she kissed him, giving him the green light to fulfill the fantasy that had evaded his thoughts and wouldn't be stifled until he had her.

She lifted up on the bottom of his T-shirt breaking from the kiss just long enough to pull it over his head as he raised his arms. She let it fall to the floor as he forcefully pulled her against his bare chest and kissed her again, leaning her back as it grew with intensity.

She felt as if her body was going to explode if she didn't satisfy this want for him soon. As if he could read her mind he lifted her up and laid her back on his bed, not breaking the rhythm of the delightful kiss that was setting the tone. He was going to ravish her and she couldn't wait for the moment to happen.

She bent her knees moving him between them as he began to simulate the act, which made her moan in eagerness for the actual feel of him inside of her.

She felt his hand slide down the outside of her thigh and move under her skirt that was now bunched up around her hips. He rolled them on their side, slipping her panties off and then rolled over on top of her again. It was so seamless that she barely had time to catch her breath from the erotic way in which it had been performed.

He'd never been so physically possessed by a woman before that he felt this type of eagerness to be inside of her. His sexual arousal was only heightened by her equaled enthusiasm as she pulled down on his shorts and boxer briefs, freeing him and then saying his name as if begging him to do it now and not prolong her agony with removing anymore of her clothes or foreplay which could be explored with their next liaison, she wanted him now.

Nikki gasped with pleasure as he touched her between the legs. He let out a soft moan over the wetness that only encouraged him. There was no doubt that she wanted him just as eagerly.

She gasped again only with more passion as he used that want for her to both of their advantages as he slid into her with one gentle motion.

She lifted her hips off the bed and pushed into him, carried away by the feelings that erupted inside of her. It wasn't just the carnal act of sex that was bringing her the most pleasure; it came from the man that was performing it.

He felt a warmth rise up and spread over his body with every new stroke. He slid his arm under her waist and braced his other just above her head, rising up and taking her with him as he increased the momentum, seeing and hearing her enthusiasm over that move which only encouraged him.

She reached out in the darkness and put a hand on his bicep, grasping it as her fingers and nails dug into his skin, overwhelmed by the intensity of his technique. She was torn over wanting to feel the orgasm that was building inside of her but in the same breath she didn't want the erotic pleasure he was giving her to end, ever.

She lost the battle as it welled up inside of her, taking control of mind and body, filling that voided space in her life, in her body, in her heart, calling out the name of the man she'd been waiting for all that time.

It was a sound he wanted to hear repeated over and over; never knowing it could bring him such satisfaction or that the woman that was attached to the voice could so sexually gratify him, but she grabbed ahold of him from the inside out as the climax of their intimacy came full circle for him.

Nikki slid her hand up into his hair, holding him as he rested his head on her shoulder while his body calmed from the aftermath. She could feel his warm breath on her neck as it came in quick short gasps. He seemed to be drained of strength, which made her smile, pleased that he had enjoyed it as much as she had.

He rose up to say something clever to her but when they made eye contact the words vanished from his thoughts.

Her sheer beauty and the way she was looking at him left him speechless.

There was nothing to say, he felt it had already been said between the looks, lowering himself back down until his lips were on hers, kissing her in a way that made him thankful and fortunate to be where he was at that second.

...

Nikki opened her eyes seeing just a hint of morning light through the sheer curtains on the lanai doors. The storm had passed in the night and she chuckled softly, realizing neither one of them had really even noticed it after they had gone to bed.

She rolled over on her back, feeling him come awake as she had. His hand slowly moved up her naked body as she put both of hers over top of it, guiding him to where she wanted to be touched.

Her skin was so soft that he felt his hands too rough and unworthy to touch her, but she didn't think so, guiding him down her stomach and up her thigh as she bent one leg, leading him back down and up over her breasts, her neck, kissing the palm of his hand as she brushed it over her lips.

He rolled over on top of her as she opened her legs, welcoming him again, feeling his want for her pressed against her stomach as he kissed her.

Their first time was explosive unable to control the craving for one another. The second was soothing and patient; she felt this one was going to mirror that. He made her feel as if he were enamored of her body, removing all her clothes and taking his time with her. She couldn't have been more pleased, or satisfied.

...

"You're too tall," Nikki laughed, "I'm freezing back here!"

Steve turned around in the shower and put his hands on her hips, switching places with her.

"Better?" he asked, moving her under the warm water.

Nikki moaned and smiled up at him. "Much. You're sweet." She stood up on her toes and kissed him. "Are you cold now?"

"You're making me hot," he winked at her, "so no, I'm just fine."

She rolled her eyes at his playfulness, snuggling up to him and laying her head on his shoulder. "I wish you didn't have to go to work."

He caressed her back and down over her buttocks growling as he did, "Me too".

She leaned back so she could see his face. "Do you want to come over tonight?"

He gave his reply before he kissed her. "Absolutely."

She wanted him again, and again and again, wishing they could lie in bed all day and do nothing but make love, talk, sleep, repeat.

He wanted the same, or at least as far as he could master until he had to leave for work, telling her so with his kiss and even more so directly.

"Once more before I go to work? You're already going to possess my thoughts all day so I might as well make it worth my while and be late." He squeezed her around the waist. "What do you say gorgeous, one more roll in the hay?"

Nikki wouldn't, nor could she resist his offer. Looking directly at him was hard enough with his unshaven face that screamed out masculinity, but she already knew what lied ahead with that offer, and a thousand horses couldn't pull her away from him. "Yes. Yes, oh yes," she whispered putting her arms around his neck and kissing him.

He reached past her and turned the water off, gripping her tighter around the body while she did the same around his neck. He lifted her up as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He held still in that position, holding her with little restrain.

"I want to know you better," he blurted out.

She took that as he had meant it. She mattered in his life.

"I'm an open book for you."

He liked that response and told her so with a kiss.

He came out of the bathroom still holding her while they both giggled over it as he made his way to the bed, crawling up from the bottom and laying her down, nestling between her legs as he did.

"You know," she said to him, running her hand over his still moist hair, "that open book thing goes both ways."

He smiled, brushing the tip of his nose over hers, "ok, but I think you might get bored after the first chapter."

"Never, I think it'll be a masterpiece." She lifted her hips and began to slowly stroke him,

The conversation came to a halt with that move as he kissed her and set out to accomplish what he had brought her there for.