SUNRISES AND SECOND THOUGHTS

- Narrator's Point Of View -

Nick looked out across Lake Mead, watching the sunrise. He and Sara were sitting on a blanket, watching the sun come up. He was sitting down with his legs spread, Sara sitting between them. It was a romantic position Nick thought. His arms wrapped around Sara's waist, and she placed her hands on his, squeezing them gently. Nick felt Sara lean more into him, and he smiled. She trusted him more; with each event that passed, she let a little more of her heart go to him.

He valued that heart more than anything he had ever valued in his entire life. He was falling for Sara, hard and fast.

He looked down at her face. Her beautiful features and small touch of make-up made her radiant. Nick could positively not believe he was holding this woman in his arms. He hugged her closer, if that was humanly possible. She felt it, and he watched a large smile grow on her face, that telltale blush creeping up again. He brought a hand to her cheek, laying his fingers on the side of her neck and caressing her cheek with his thumb. She smiled again, turning her head towards him.

Their eyes connected. And in that moment they both knew. They saw the fire in each other's eyes, the pent up heat and passion. Sara turned her body more towards his, looking more intensely at him. His thumb halted its journey across her cheekbone.

Neither one really knew who leaned in first, but somehow, their lips connected. It was soft and warm, and they kissed gently for a long time. Small pecks and long kisses where they took their time, memorizing grooves and curves of each other's mouths. Nick's hand's rested on Sara's hips, and her arms slung lazily behind his neck, playing with the short hairs that grew there.

Sara stopped for a moment, backed away, and smiled at Nick. He let one hand run through her hair, smiling at her as well. Sara turned her body fully towards Nick's. A wicked grin overtook her face, and she captured his lips. His mouth opened willingly to her, and she took full advantage of it. She cupped his face, and his hands slid a little ways up her shirt, resting against her bare skin.

- Sara's Point Of View -

I can't believe this. I simply cannot.

Nick and I are making out.

Yeah. Sure. Wake me up now God, and I'll go to work a happy woman.

Nick kisses me one last time, and slowly breaks off. I keep my eyes closed, still not completely sure if I am really here.

I open my eyes, and Nick is smiling down at me. I blush and look away, turning my head and staring at the ground. I feel Nick's hand run through my hair, and our eyes connect once again. This huge, contagious grin spreads across Nick's face, and I feel myself grin as well.

I lean in and let my head rest against his shoulder, and his arms wrap around me, holding me tightly against him. I let out a breath I had been unconsciously holding, and he chuckles.

"Sara, you're amazing, do you know that?" he asks. I laugh, my breath hot as it bounces off his shoulder and back onto my face.

"Hey, I'm still waiting to wake up."

We laugh together, and I wrap my arms around his neck. We sit there for a while like this, and I close my eyes. My body zones in on the sensation of Nick, and his tender caress. I let a hand glide through his hair, and we just sit enjoying silent company. The feel of Nick's body pressed flush against mine is so overpoweringly stimulating, I don't feel a need to talk, and apparently neither does he.

And suddenly, I'm scared.

I'm falling for Nick.

And that scares me.

- Nick's Point Of View -

I felt Sara's body stiffen suddenly, and it jerked me out of my 'infatuation haze'.

"You okay Sar?" I ask gently, opening my eyes, but not letting her out of my arms. She turns her head in towards my neck, and I feel her breath and lips.

Let's just say I grit my teeth.

"Umm...yeah. I'm fine." She tries, but I can sense the unease in her voice.

"Are you sure?"

At this, she backs out of my embrace. Her arms slide from behind my neck and rest on my arms. I look at her with concern, and her eyes tell me something is wrong.

"I'm scared." She admits, looking away. I tilt my head, trying to catch her eye again.

"Of what?" I ask encouragingly. A million things run through my head, but the top two are her nightmares and that man that attacked her.

"Of you."

Okay.

So I didn't see that coming.

I take my hand gently from her back, raise a hand to her chin, and tilt her head so she meets my gaze.

"Why?" I ask as wave of sadness washes over me.

"Because I care too much about you." She says, on the brink of tears. My jaw drops, and I break into a smile. Without giving her time to think, I capture her lips, a deep feeling of lust and want growing in the pit of my stomach. I return my hand to her bare skin, and she whimpers. A moan escapes me as I hear and feel her responses. The kiss deepens, and my hands ride up her shirt a little more. She presses her hand into my arm, signaling me to go no further. I nod, but let my tongue dart in and out of her mouth.

I groan loudly as she scoots herself closer, grinding into me in the process. She freezes, but I refuse to stop kissing her, and she loosens again. I break away from her lips and kiss down her neck, sucking gently on it. She breathes heavily, and a soft groan escapes her as I do. I break from her skin and stop, looking down at her flushed face as I regain lost oxygen.

She hugs me to her, pressing herself into me. I held her to me as well, needing to feel her.

"I care too much about you too."

We sit there in silence again, and I savor the feel of her in my arms.

"Nick?" her voice calls gently, and she speaks in a tone that you might expect form a child.

"Yeah babe?" I reply, and she backs out of my embrace just enough to look me in the eye. Her hand comes to my face, and she smiles tenderly at me.

"Thanks for caring."

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Author's Two Cents –

Okay, okay. I know. It's a filler chapter.

Sue me!

Umm...as you can see, the Rascal Flatts Series is progressing nicely. If all these stories are done by mid 2005 I'll be amazed. I'm planning on doing maybe one C/G multi-chap, and maybe possibly another N/S. Otherwise, I'm thinking one shots.

If you have been sticking with me I can't even begin to thank you enough.

Oh how I hope this story is good!

Review or burn in the eternal flames of hell!

Oh So Much Love -

! The ! Notorious ! Cat !