*****A/N:- Thank you once again for the reviews….I think I might actually be able to finish this story. You all enjoy!*****

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

After they'd spent a couple of necessary hours at the arena, Glen rushed Nina to the nearest cinema and sat with her watching a film he didn't take any notice of. The feel of her sitting next to him and her small hand wrapped round his fingers kept him occupied for the two hours the film lasted, that plus the many kisses she'd sent his way and the equal amount he'd returned. He just enjoyed being with her so much and he couldn't remember a time he'd ever felt so lighthearted in his life. It was obvious to him that Nina was just as happy with his company, and he was graced with her beautiful smile often during the day. Even whilst eating a meal at a quiet restaurant, he couldn't stop touching her hand, needing the contact in case this wonderful dream suddenly ended and he woke up alone.

Nina looked across the table into his eyes and found she couldn't look away. "I've had a really good time today," she said softly, stroking his fingers. "If I'd known how good it would feel being this close to you, I'd have attacked you years ago."

"Attacked me?" he asked on a chuckle.

"Oh you have no idea what sort of fantasies I've had about you while you've been sitting in my chair and I've been doing your make up," she told him with a nod. "If I'd been a little braver I'd have jumped on you the moment you sat down. I don't know how I managed to restrain myself, really." She smiled and cocked her head to one side. "What would you have done if I'd jumped you?"

He couldn't help laughing. "I'd have been shocked speechless," he admitted. "But I would have loved it, too. Sitting in that chair became a highlight of my days."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really. Pretty pathetic huh? Most guys would just have grabbed you," he said with a slight frown at what he thought of as a flaw.

"It's not pathetic at all, it's lovely. And I would have hated any guy who just grabbed me," she said, smiling again. "Except you, of course. I don't suppose you ever noticed but I was always breathless when you came into the room. It was a highlight of my days, too. And I could legitimately touch you, which was yummy, even if it was usually restricted to your face."

His eyebrows shot up. "I did think you spent a long time on my face considering there wasn't much to do," he mused.

"Yeah well, I was enjoying myself," she said, laughing now at his expression and at the fact that she didn't mind admitting all of this to him. He needed the confidence boost. "Mmmm, I used to imagine you sitting in that chair and me just swinging my leg over you and...well...you get the picture."

"I do," he said, clearing his throat as the image stayed fixed in his head and his body reacted to it. "Be interesting to try that out sometime."

"In my work room? Where anyone could walk in and see us?" she asked, her mouth falling open when he nodded. "Glen Jacobs! We can't do that!"

He laughed then. "You should see your face!"

"You're rude," she told him. "Naughty boy."

He raised an eyebrow at her tone. "You don't seem too bothered by that."

"I think it's hot," she said, laughing. "Not that I'd let you do anything to me where anyone could walk in."

"No?" he asked, narrowing his eyes on her mouth as she licked her lips.

"No! But anywhere with a lock on the door..."

Glen swallowed. "Anywhere?"

"Just about."

"You know, I like just being alone with you. I love it."

"Me too," she agreed. "And we can be alone again as soon as we've had dessert."

"We have to wait?"

"Not if you don't mind skipping dessert. I'm happy if you'd like to go back to our room now."

"Well, you did say I could do anything I wanted with you," he said with a brilliant smile. "I have a list that we should get started on."

She couldn't help laughing out loud at his hopeful expression. "A whole list?"

"Mmm-hmm. It's pretty long, it could take all night. Maybe all tomorrow night, maybe all week," he said, motioning for the waiter to bring their bill. As soon as it arrived he grabbed a wad of bills out of his wallet and threw them down on the table, his eyes meeting hers again. "You ready, sweetheart?"

She shivered at the promise his eyes held. "I love you calling me that," she whispered. "I'm definitely ready."

He drew her out of her chair and they left for the hotel, knowing the night ahead would be something to remember.

Two weeks passed by swiftly. After one particularly busy day Glen let himself into their room and gave a deep sigh. He felt like he was home again, even in such impersonal surroundings. He'd had to work later than Nina and they'd arranged to meet back here, but the last two hours had felt like forever. It had been a chore to keep his mind on work, and only Mark slapping him around the back of his head and growling at him to pay attention had made his mind snap back to what he was supposed to be doing. He smiled as he thought of the older man. He had been preoccupied as well, because he'd had some sort of encounter with Peyton Ross and he'd spent an entire hour afterwards in the gym beating the hell out of the punch bag. Glen had never seen a woman drive Mark so crazy.

His mind snapped back to the present and his lips curved into a smile as he saw the clothes littering the floor where Nina had obviously dropped them. Tidiness was definitely not one of her virtues, but she made up for it in so many other ways that he had no complaints at all. He could hear the shower running in the bathroom and he found his feet guiding him there without any conscious thought from his brain until he was standing watching her through the plastic curtain of the shower stall.

Nina became aware of the hulking figure on the other side of the curtain only when he moved again and she squealed in shock when he drew the curtain back and stepped inside to join her, fully clothed. "Glen! What are you doing, you're getting soaked!" She laughed as he wrapped his arms around her and rested his head down onto her shoulder, heaving a heartfelt sigh of relief that he was back with her.

"Sorry, I just couldn't wait for you to get out," he murmured, squeezing her slightly.

"That's ok," she said softly, hugging him back and closing her eyes. "I missed you today."

"I missed you more," he said, drawing back to drop a lingering kiss on her lips.

"You look tired," she told him, running a hand over the side of his face and smiling when he leaned into her touch.

"I'm beat," he admitted, a huge yawn testament to that fact. "Sorry, I'm gonna be useless tonight."

She gave him a mild glare and started pulling his clothes off him, not finding the task very easy where he was being next to no help at all and the clothing was soaking. "You make it sound like all I want from you is sex," she said, stroking his chest softly but not in any way sexually. "I don't mind if you're tired, I'll be happy just snuggling with you, you know? Besides, you need all the rest you can get after the last few days. So do I, come to think of it."

"Sorry, I didn't mean it to sound like that," he said, smiling as she tried to undo his jeans and almost stamped her foot when she couldn't do it easily enough. "Need some help?"

"Yes!" she said, frowning. "You couldn't have worn sweat pants?"

"I will tomorrow," he promised, quickly shedding the jeans and everything else he had on before he hugged her close again. "God I need this hug so much, it's just not funny."

Nina smiled happily and closed her eyes as she ran her hands over his back. "Happy to help," she murmured. "Want me to wash your back?"

"That'd be good," he said. "I don't think I could find the strength to do it myself, to be honest."

"In that case I'd be happy to wash everything," she said, grinning at him. "And no, not for any ulterior motives. We both need an early night." At his raised eyebrows she slapped his arm. "For sleeping! Now, turn round."

Glen did as she directed, chuckling all the while, and relaxed under the warm shower as she soaped up a cloth and washed him as thoroughly as she dared. He rinsed off while she stepped out and wrapped herself in a big towel, holding one out to him as soon as he'd finished. After helping to wrap it round his waist and pouting as the lovely view was covered up, she wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against his chest with a contented sigh. "I could stay here like this forever," she murmured.

"I wish we could," he replied, dropping a kiss on her head. "Unfortunately, we have to eat, sleep and then catch our flight out in the morning. Dammit."

"How much time to we have before we have to work tomorrow?" she mumbled.

"If the plane isn't delayed and if there are no other hold ups, then we'll have the afternoon to spend together. I have to be at the next arena at 6."

"I was so out of it today I forgot to find out what time I have to be in," Nina grumbled.

"Peyton will know, and she's flying with us tomorrow too."

"She is? Doesn't she usually fly with J.R.?"

"Yeah, but he's got to fly out early and she still had work to do, so I said she could tag along with us if that's ok?"

"Of course it is. I wonder where Mark will be sitting?" Glen mused.

"Nowhere near us, I hope. Honestly, I mentioned his name when I saw her today and she nearly took my head off!" Nina laughed. "Peyton's always been good at hiding that temper, but it seems Mark is able to bring it out with little or no effort. He'd better watch out!"

"I think he can handle anything she throws his way."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Nina said, moving away from Glen and drying herself properly before dropping the towel and grabbing one of Glen's shirts to wear in bed.

Glen couldn't help but laugh at how huge his shirt looked on her. "You look like a fairy fighting her way out of a sack," he murmured as he followed her lead and dried himself off. "Wouldn't you be more comfortable in something smaller?"

Nina shook her head and smiled at him as she slid into the big bed. "I like wearing your shirts. I don't have anything as soft and comfortable as these."

"Then you can wear them as often as you like," he said, dropping his own towel and narrowing his eyes at the thorough look she gave his body. "You look drop dead sexy wearing it."

"So do you," she murmured.

"I'm not wearing a shirt though," he pointed out as he moved closer.

"I know, that's what's so sexy." She stroked a finger down the middle of his chest and over his belly as he sat down next to her on the bed, smirking as she pinched him. "Mmm, padding."

"Will you stop calling me fat!" he protested, chuckling when she rubbed the pinched area better and gave him a beguiling grin. "Ok, you can call me whatever you like."

Nina laughed. "Not fat, yummy," she murmured, leaning forward to press a kiss on his shoulder. "Let's order room service."

"Ok, then we have to sleep. Maybe tomorrow night we won't be so wiped out, huh?" he said, picking the phone up.

"I hope not," Nina replied, yawning.

An hour later they had eaten and were laying curled up together in the bed, Glen contentedly stroking Nina's back as she drifted off to sleep. He smiled and wondered how his luck had changed over the last couple of weeks.

The next morning Nina stood in the lobby with Peyton as Glen checked them out of their rooms. Nina bit her lip as Mark walked past them, stopping briefly to glare at Peyton before he joined Glen at the desk.

"I don't know what he's got to glare at," Peyton grumbled, her blue eyes trying to burn a hole in his back. "Idiot."

As if Mark heard her, he turned and frowned, making Peyton raise an eyebrow and give him a haughty stare right back.

Nina chuckled at the look on Mark's face. "You two should really just have a knock down fight, get it out of your systems," she said. "Either that or have sex."

"I would never have sex with someone like him," Peyton said, glancing at Nina. "He's a Neanderthal. He doesn't do anything for me at all."

"Sure he doesn't," Nina said. "Remember who you're talking to, Peyton, I know you like him despite the fact he can be a dickhead."

"He doesn't deserve to be liked," the younger woman grumbled, patting her neat braid of blonde hair and stiffening as both Mark and Glen moved back towards them. "Damn."

"Morning Nina," Mark said as he joined them, giving her a smile but pointedly ignoring the younger girl.

"Morning. Are you riding to the airport with us?" Nina asked, wondering why Glen would bring him over when Peyton was with them.

"Yeah. I was going to share a rental with Shawn, Paul and Kev, but I couldn't bear the thought of being stuck with them for that long. You know how they can be."

Nina nodded. "Oh yes, I know. They seem to have an endless selection of practical jokes when they're together. I don't know how anyone could stand their company for more than an hour!"

"Well, we all know someone we feel like that about, don't we?" Peyton said quietly, flicking her eyes up to Mark and then turning away.

His mouth fell open at the implied insult, and he narrowed his eyes. "Don't we just," he muttered. "I suppose that is going to be on the plane with us?"

Peyton looked up to see him pointing one big finger at her and scowling. "I am a person, not a thing, although I'm quite sure someone like you wouldn't know the difference. And don't you dare point at me!" She finished her tirade by grabbing his finger and bending it back before he could move.

"Ow! Goddamn it!" he snapped, managing to pull his finger back and examine it closely. Peyton had disappeared when he finally looked back up and he frowned, narrowing his eyes in frustration when he realized revenge wasn't close at hand. "Where'd she go?"

Glen sighed. "Somewhere that you're not, I imagine," he said. "Mark, just cool it ok? We have to get through a flight and I don't want to have to referee a fight between you two ok? Can't we just have some peace for a while?"

"She's the one doing all the attacking, unless you missed it," Mark said. He rolled his eyes at Glen's expression. "Fine, I'll keep the peace, but only until the flight is over. Once we're at the next hotel she's fair game."

"Just as long as I don't have to watch, then fine," Glen replied, jumping when Nina slapped his arm. "Hey, what did I do?"

"You're condoning his behavior, that's what you've done," she replied, turning a glare on Mark. "You leave Peyton alone. She only retaliated for the way you spoke to her, and she has every right."

"What happened to words not hurting people? I didn't physically do a thing…."

"Except stand there glowering at her, looking like you wanted to strangle her," she said, smiling a little. "I didn't know you were like this."

Mark blinked. "Like what?"

"Mean," she replied. "When the guys were hounding Glen you were all protective, and yet he can take care of himself. But little Peyton somehow deserves all your animosity. I don't get it."

"Glen has never hit me upside the head with an ashtray," he pointed out.

"Yeah but then you've never tried to kiss Glen."

"That's not the point…"

"No it isn't. The point is that Peyton doesn't deserve the sort of things you want to do to her. Why can't you just ignore her? I'm sure she'd do the same."

Mark sighed and absently rubbed his sore finger. "I guess I could try," he said grudgingly. "But I'm not making any promises. For this flight, I'll pretend she isn't there, ok?"

Nina nodded and gave him a small smile. "Ok. Thanks Mark. Maybe you're not such a meanie after all."

"Huh!" Glen snorted, earning himself a slap round the head from Mark. He laughed and grabbed Nina's hand. "Well, I guess if World War 3 isn't going to break out we should really get going. I can see Peyton waiting outside."

Sure enough, the small blonde woman was standing waiting patiently for them to emerge, obviously more comfortable being outside than being in Mark's presence.

"Remember your promise," Nina told him.

"I didn't promise anything."

"Mark…"

"Ok, ok," he growled, unable to help smiling as he picked his bag up and followed them out of the hotel. He liked Nina and he didn't want her to be upset with him, but as for Peyton….his smile widened. He didn't have to pay the little dwarf back today, he could wait. Anticipation of what he could do to her kept him happy all the way to the airport and onto their flight. If Peyton found it a little unnerving to find him staring at her and smirking every now and then, she didn't let it show.

Glen knew better and he chuckled. "He's going to get her back, you know. Sometime when you're nowhere around, and she's all alone….he'll do something nasty."

"He wouldn't?" she asked, then sighed. She knew him better, and she answered her own question. "Yeah, he would. Well Peyton can handle herself. I guess I'd better butt out."

"Like I've said before, I think it's a good thing you stick up for your friends the way you do. Of course, arguing with Mark is never a good idea, but still….."

Nina gave him a grin and pressed against him as the plane took off. "You'll protect me from him though, right?"

"Damn straight I will," he said gruffly, putting one beefy arm around her and pressing a kiss to her lips. "Nobody will ever hurt you while I'm around."

She shivered at his tone and grinned even more. "Aw…same goes for you too, you know?"

He raised an eyebrow. "You're going to protect me?"

"Yep."

He chuckled, shaking his head at just the idea that she could protect him. "Ok, then."

*****I know it was a bit of filler really, but hope you enjoyed it anyway. Another chapter up soon! *****