*A/N:

I had this chapter written ages ago and I've just been waiting for the rest of the story to catch up! Happy to finally be able to share with you! Hope you like*

CHAPTER FOURTEEN:

It was dark in the loft, and quiet. Schmidt was with Cece at her apartment, and Winston was at work. Jess padded through the hallway to the kitchen, wearing a pale blue, fluffy robe. Hair down, still damp from her shower. She gave a heavy sigh as she reached for a glass and grabbed some juice from the refrigerator.

Yesterday had been awful. She wasn't expecting the truth she'd tried to bury to be be ripped from her lips by his incessant probing.

Maybe it was for the best, perhaps this had all just been a terrible, messy idea in the first place. The line was crossed. Boundaries blurred. And now they had both ended up feeling hurt. She had managed to successfully avoid Nick since walking out last night, but she knew she'd had to face him at some point.

She walked around the kitchen island, her back to the living area. She closed her eyes and willed time to reverse back to that afternoon at the bar where it had all started. That kiss. That damn perfect, delicate, fairytale kiss. It changed everything.

"Hey, Jess" Nick appeared behind her, as if from nowhere, and scared her half to death. She let out a little shriek and dropped the glass to the floor. She span around and watched, helpless, as it smashed right next to her foot.

"Dammit, Nick!" she scolded "What are you even doing here? I thought you were meant to be at the bar?"

Nick had dropped to his knees to collect the broken pieces, and rose slowly, his eyes fixed on hers. He rested one hand on the counter behind her, and reached forward with the other to place the glass out of harms way. He left his hand there, so she was now encompassed by him. Trapped. Close enough to feel the heat of his body. She swallowed hard and took a breath.

"I changed my shift." he said, quietly "We need to talk, Jess"

There was so little space between them now, his words fell on her cheeks. This was torture.

She closed her eyes briefly to regain composure before replying, determined "I don't want to talk about this now..." Jess laid a hand on his right arm and tried to release it so she could escape his hold, but Nick didn't budge.

She sighed and fixed him with a steely, blue-eyed stare.

"Move, Nicholas"

"No." Came his reply, meeting her stare and refusing to break it.

"No? What do you mean, no?!" Jess was incredulous at his pig-headedness "Get out of my damn way, Miller'"

"No, Jessica" he said her name slowly, with intent "I'm not letting you go..."

They both knew he wasn't just talking about right there, right now, in the loft kitchen.

She let out a sigh, and dropped her head, the remaining resolve she had was gone "I can't do this, Nick" her voice was so full of sadness, it nearly broke him "I don't know how to do this! It's too hard..." the words caught in her throat.

"Don't shut me out, Jess. Why won't you just talk to me?" He pleaded

Still avoiding his gaze, she gave her answer. It came out as a choked sob "Self preservation..."

Nick's grasp on the counter immediately relented, and he bought a hand up to her face, stroking his thumb across her cheek. She leant into his palm and kept her eyes closed.

Jess couldn't look at him.

Wouldn't look at him.

Or else she'd be undone.

Instead, Nick bought his forehead to hers and gently rested it there, the two of them stood in perfect stillness, before responding in a low, gravelly, whisper.

"Fuck self preservation..."

Jess took a sharp intake of breath and pulled her head back just enough meet his gaze again. Their eyes locked and her heart jumped. The air crackled between them as he pressed his lips to hers. She kissed him back hungrily and wound her arms around his neck as he pulled her into him. It felt so good to have her in his arms and feel the weight of her against him again.

He broke their embrace to feather kisses down her neck. She let out a soft moan as he reached the spot just below her earlobe. Using the tip of his tongue, he traced up and along her jawline as she gripped the back of his head while whispering his name.

He took a step back to look at her, breathing laboured by his lust. She looked so damn beautiful.

"Jess..." he began, his eyes dark and full of want, but she reached over and placed a finger on his lips. Now was not the time for talking. Surprising herself, she tugged at the cord of her robe, letting it slowly fall off her shoulders onto the floor, leaving her stood naked in the loft kitchen.

Taking in the sight of her, Nick nearly lost himself there and then. His mouth fell open and he saw her glance down, suddenly self conscious under his intense gaze, and his breath caught in his chest.

"Not here" he managed to choke out, before scooping her up in his arms and heading to his room.

Placing her on the bed, he suddenly felt overdressed and removed his shirt whilst she made light work of his belt and jeans. He leant in to kiss her again. Tender, light kisses quickly turned deeper, faster, harder. Tongues parting lips and dancing together.

Bringing himself up on his elbow, his head level with hers, Nick couldn't stop himself from staring at her gorgeous face. Her body beneath his felt better than he'd ever imagined.

"What's wrong?" Jess asked, frowning, after he'd stayed that way for a few moments. Nick smiled as he replied "Nothing" with a shake of his head and a small bite on his bottom lip "Nothing at all..."

Nick ran his hand down over her stomach and revelled in the giggle that escaped Jess's lips as he did. He lowered his palm further, down over her hips, finally landing between her legs and encircling her slowly, drawing soft curses from her mouth as she rocked her pelvis against his fingers. She locked her eyes on his and he kissed her hard on the mouth before moving his lips down to her thighs, teasing her mercilessly before taking her to the brink of ecstasy with his tongue. Butterflies rising in the pit of her stomach, she whispered with urgency "Nick...I need you, now..."

"Patience, Jessica!" He flashed her a wicked smile before replacing his tongue with his fingers, working tirelessly to please her. His heart nearly burst in his chest as he saw her eyes flutter closed, and her head tilt back. Her mouth dropping open ever so slightly as she moaned his name. He never wanted to stop hearing that sound. She shuddered against his fingers with a yelp of pleasure and pulled him back up to her, kissing him wildly before breaking away.

"Holy moly!" She exclaimed breathlessly.

"Holy moly?! Really, Jess?" He shook his head and laughed. That is so Jessica Day, he thought.

"Shut up and kiss me again, dummy!" she grinned back, her cheeks flushed.

He bought his other hand up and placed it over hers, lacing them together and pinning her to the pillow as he lowered his forehead down to hers, nudging her nose with his and giving her the smallest, softest kiss against her smiling mouth. A precious, tender moment perfectly contrasting the uncontrollable lust that was threatening to engulf them both.

Jess ran her hand over his strong shoulders and down his back, sending tingles along his spine. She traced her fingers around his waist and moved them underneath until she reached her target. Taking his throbbing hardness in her hand, she felt him draw in a small breath and twitch at her touch.

It was certainly an impressive piece of equipment. Oh, Nick Miller. Who knew?!

Jess rhythmically stroked the length of him, softly at first, then worked him harder and faster until he moaned loudly and suddenly moved himself away, causing her to frown at him.

"Jesus, Jess, are you trying to kill me?!" he could barely get the words out.

"Oh, you liked that, huh?' She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Not as much as you're going to like this..." Nick whispered back, smirking.

His breath hitched, body resting heavily over her as he took a moment to regain composure before placing himself between her legs. She gasped as he entered her, Nick growling "oh...fuck!" into her ear.

This felt like nothing that either of them had experienced before. Pure, heavenly ecstasy that made every fibre of their being soar skywards. Like two puzzle pieces, they were perfectly linked. Moving together with such intrinsic symmetry it was indescribable.

Her body closed around him as he settled to a slow, deep rhythm. Much to her delight, if her sighs were anything to go by. Feeling her around him was the most amazing thing he had ever encountered, and it was taking all of his self control not to lose himself instantly.

Their bodies were firmly pressed together, eyes locked and breathing fast. Nick dipped his head and placed butterfly kisses over her cheeks, down her neck and onto her breasts. Taking her nipple in his mouth, he sucked gently, tenderly. She groaned and he broke away to grin down at her. He wanted to taste every inch of her body. Hooking one arm under her waist, the other gripped her thigh, lifting her off the bed slightly.

"...oh my god, Nick" she whimpered, as he picked up his pace.

She could feel the waves building, pulsating through her body at the feel of him pressing inside her again and again. Every nerve ending in her body was tingling, her skin on fire from his touch. The intensity was almost more than either of them could take. Nick could tell she was close as she bucked her hips up to meet his and hooked her legs around him, allowing him even deeper. He reached down between them, using the pressure of his thumb to draw small circles at her most sensitive part and tip her over the edge. She tightened suddenly around him, immediately pulling him down with her. He let out a deep moan into her hair and Jess bit down on his shoulder to dampen the sounds of her pleasured cries.

They lay connected for a while afterwards, feeling the rise and fall of each other's breathing as it slowly calmed. Nick rested his head next to hers, and she nuzzled in the crook of his neck, placing tiny kisses right above his collarbone. It made him shudder and she gave the cutest of laughs as she did it again just to elicit the same reaction. Jess protested when he finally rolled away from her, causing him to chuckle and wrap his arm over her waist, pulling her tight into him. So close he could almost get under her skin. Nick breathed in the smell of her hair and let out a contented sigh. She turned her face to his and kissed him hard on the mouth.

"What was that for?" He asked, amused.

Eyes bright, Jess smiled up at him. "Nothing." she giggled and bit her bottom lip

"Nothing at all.."