Chapter 4

Sara dared a glance at the mirror in her bathroom and groaned at the sight she saw. God how could he possibly think she was beautiful. A 3-inch gash blazed above her right eye. Her left cheek was a deep shade of red with hints of an ugly bruise to come and her lower lip was swollen. Her eyes traveled lower to the angry red marks on her neck. She reached up and gingerly touched them. If given the chance that maniac would have killed her, squeezed until her life's breath left her. She shuttered thinking how close she had actually come to not making it if Nick hadn't gotten into the room when he did. She closed her eyes and sighed. She couldn't think about it anymore. She had a more serious dilemma to figure out, what was she going to do about the handsome, sexy man in her kitchen?

She stripped off her clothes and turned the shower on as hot as she could stand it. The water caressed her aching skin as she let the horrid memories of the bastard's hands touching her wash down the drain. Instead she imagined a gorgeous Texan softly stroking her skin, placing gentle kisses along her neck, running his big hands up and down her aching body. She groaned, those images were definitely not helping. She shampooed her hair quickly and rinsed off. She climbed out of the shower and went to grab a towel. When she glanced in the mirror she gasped at what she saw. The front of her body was a series of black and blue marks, especially around her ribs.

Nick was walking down the hall when he heard a gasp from the bathroom. He went to the door and knocked, urgently asking, "Are you all right Sara?" When she didn't respond he turned the handle and opened the door. He gazed into the steam filled room and saw a very startled Sara frantically trying to wrap a towel around her self. "Nick," she hissed, "What the hell are you doing?""I ahhh heard you gasp. I thought you were hurt." Nick answered sheepishly, trying desperately not to stare at her almost naked body.

Sara couldn't help but laugh at his dreadful effort not to look at her. "I'm fine Nick. I just didn't realize how bruised my body was, that's all." Relieved that Sara was not mad at him for busting into the bathroom he decided to have a little fun. "If you want I can give you my valued opinion on how serious I think those bruises are." Nick said with a sexy grin. "Nick," Sara said shaking her head. She grasped the towel tightly around her body and walked toward the door. Stopping in the doorway she turned and gave him a playful smile and said, "I'll keep that in mind Nick because I may definitely need your valued opinion in the future." With that said she glided out the door.

Nick stood there dazed for a moment as he listened to her bedroom door close. Did she just say and mean what he thought she did. A small smile spread across his face. Hell yeah! Sara Sidle had just come on to him. With a happy grin on his face he headed out to the kitchen to find something to eat. He was starving. He opened her refrigerator and groaned. There was a head of lettuce, 2 tomatoes, a cucumber, a bag of carrots, a carton of orange juice, a 6 pack of beer, a stick of butter and a package of processed cheese. He headed over to her cabinets and found a half a loaf of multigrain bread and a couple of cans of soup. Not the greatest meal but it would have to do. He got out the ingredients he needed and sighed in frustration when he couldn't get the soup opened because of his arm in the sling.

"Need some help Cowboy?" He slowly turned around and gave her a frustrated smile as his eyes ran appreciatively up and down her body. She stood there in a blue tank top and denim shorts. He couldn't help but whistle when he saw her long legs. "Damn Sidle you have some mighty fine legs." " Thanks I find them pretty handy on occasion," she said with a sexy smirk. Nick blinked for a moment then let out a deep laugh. "Damn woman you just sent my imagination into overdrive." She let out a laugh and gave him a big toothy smile. "Let me help you hero of mine."

They worked side by side, with Nick doing what he could. Soon they were both seated at the table eating grilled cheese sandwiches and soup. They ate in comfortable silence each enjoying their food. When they finished Nick helped her clear the table. " I think I want to try and take a shower." Nick said. "Did the doctor say you could?" Sara asked as she finished rising the last dish. "Yeah as long as I don't get the wound too wet." "Let me get you a towel, and a couple of things I need for the handy solution. You go get your clothes and I'll meet in the bathroom."

A few minutes later Nick entered the bathroom carrying his clothes. "The towel is right there on the sink. You'll have to take off the sling and your shirt so I can cover your wound," Sara said holding up a plastic bag and some waterproof medical tape. Nick raised his eyebrows in confusion. "Saw it on a television show once." She said with a sheepish smile. Nick grinned at her a moment before asking," Sara do you think you can help me with the sling and my shirt?" "Ah Stokes I knew you had a secret desire to have me undress you." Sara said with a smirk. "Yes but that desire also included me reciprocating the favor." Nick replied with a sexy smirk of his own. Nick watched in fascination as Sara's cheeks began to turn pink. "I do believe I just made you blush Ms. Sidle. Could it be that you have perhaps had the same said desire?" Nick said with a wicked smile. Fighting her embarrassment, Sara met his gaze and started to say, "I…"when Nick's cell began to ring.

Sara gave him a triumphant grin and tried to turn away when Nick grabbed her arm and said,"Darlin' this conversation is definitely not finished." He reached into his pant pocket and pulled out his phone. "Stokes"… "Hey man what's up"... "Alright but it still hurts when I move it a certain way"… "What did you find out?"

As Nick listened to Warrick tell him about the case, Sara began to help him off with the sling. She could feel his heated gaze on her so she avoided his eyes. She wanted to complete this task as fast as possible and distance herself from his presumptuous scrutiny. She wasn't sure exactly what she would have said to him earlier about her similar desire. He made her very nervous when he watched her with that predatory gleam in his eye. She tried to steady her hands as she began to unbutton his shirt. Thank god he was on the phone otherwise he would be getting way to much enjoyment out of this situation.

Her hand hesitated at the last button and she risked a glance up at his face. He gave her a huge "you enjoyed that didn't you' smirk. "Damn man," she thought as he stood there talking with the phone against his ear, smiling that sexy grin of his. She'd show him. Taking a deep breath she undid the last button. She raised her eyes to meet his. She placed her hand on his stomach and slowly ran it up his incredibly hard chest. She felt his sudden intake of breath as the palm of her hand slid across his taunt nipple. Ever so slowly she ran her hand up to his shoulder catching the shirt in her fingers. God his body felt incredible. Through the sound of the blood pounding in her head she heard him tell Warrick to hang on. Never breaking eye contact, he lowered the phone and held his arm out as she seductively slid the shirt off his good shoulder and down his arm. She held her breath, awaiting his reaction as she reached up with her other hand and laid it softly against his stomach. She watched captivated when a spark of desire began to dance in his beautiful brown eyes.

Her hand burned a trail across his skin as she touched it. He dropped his gaze and watched mesmerized as her other hand began a similar journey up his chest. He had to force himself not to close his eyes and moan at the sensations her touch was creating throughout his body. She stopped just below his shoulder and took a step closer to him. He could feel her hot breath against his collarbone. As gently as possible she slid the shirt off his shoulder and down his arm. She stepped back and gave him a victorious grin. He stood there dazed. "Phone Nick," she said smugly as she pointed to the cell in his hand. "Shit!" he had completely forgotten about Warrick.

Feeling foolish he lifted the phone back to his ear and said, " Sorry man, Sara was just helping me get undressed for my shower." "Nick!" Sara screeched as she heard a startled Warrick say loudly through the phone, "Come again?" Nick couldn't help but chuckle as he watched Sara's cheeks flare to a brilliant pink color. "Sara and I are helping each other out that's all. The doctor said she couldn't leave the hospital unless she had someone to watch her in case of a concussion. So being the gentleman that I am I volunteered my services and moved into her apartment. In exchange she gets to cook all my meals, do my laundry and give me sponge baths." Owww" Nick muttered when he felt a hand knock him up side the head. " Yeah she just hit me. Damn woman! Owww!" he said again as she began to remove his bandage none to gently. " No I didn't deserve it man. I gotta go. All right I'll tell her. See you guys in a while. Thanks."

Nick flipped the phone shut and glared at Sara. "That hurts," " I'm sorry," she said sweetly. "Warrick said to say hey and that he and Catherine will be over before shift to fill us in. They haven't found any substantial evidence yet. The autopsy came back on the victim. She was stabbed several times with a small pocketknife. Actual cause of death was strangulation." Nick watched as Sara subconsciously brought her hand to her neck. He met her eyes and said quietly, " She was also raped," Sara closed her eyes and turned away.

Nick gave her a moment and then reached out and touched her shoulder. She turned slowly and he took a step toward her and pulled her to him with his good arm. He sighed quietly as he felt her soft damp hair touch his face. He inhaled and let her scent surround him. She felt so right in his arms.

Sara tried desperately not to cry. Instead she concentrated on the man holding her. She rested her head against his muscled shoulder and spread her hands out over his back enjoying the sensation of his naked flesh against her fingertips. They stood there for the longest time taking pleasure in and seeking comfort from one another.

Sara was the first one to pull away. "Let me get you ready so you can take a shower." She was all business, avoiding his eyes as much as possible. Within a minute she had his shoulder covered with plastic and taped. "All set," she said backing toward the door. "Sara," he started when she cut him off. "I'm still kind of tired I'm going to go lay down for a couple of hours till War and Cath get here." She turned and scurried out the door.

Nick sighed. He knew she was going through a tremendous amount of stuff. He just wished she would open up to him more. She had taken a huge step with her confession and he was grateful for that. He thought maybe it was time to share some secrets of his own.

He managed to get his pants and boxers off and climbed into the shower. The hot water felt great against his aching body. Ten minutes later he was dressed in a pair of clean boxers. He tried unsuccessfully to rebandage his shoulder. He headed down the hall and gently knocked on her bedroom door. When she didn't answer and opened it softly. She was curled up on her side, sleeping peacefully. Damn he didn't want to wake her up. He turned to leave when he heard her softly call his name.

He turned back to look at her. "I'm sorry," he muttered, "I couldn't do this by myself," holding up the bandage and tape. She smiled softly at him and motioned for him to come to her. She sat up on her knees and scooted backwards on the bed. She patted the place in front of her.

Nick sat and handed her the stuff. He closed his eyes and relished the sensation of her fingertips brushing his skin. Rather then get up to put the front bandage on she leaned over his shoulder. Realizing her mistake to late when her chest pressed against his back. She felt him tense and she had to hold back her own groan. Instead of making a big deal about it, she continued her task.

Nick sat there unable to move. The shock of feeling her breasts pressed against his back raced through his body. He had to count to 20 silently willing his body back under control. When she finished she pulled away from him and he missed the heated contact immediately. He turned slowly to face her.

Sara met his passionate stare with one of her own. She let out a long hiss of breath as her eyes zeroed in on his lips. He watched through hooded eyes as her beautiful chocolate eyes settled on his lips. "Sara," he groaned. Her eyes quickly darted back to his and she smiled shyly at him. He reached up and gently caressed her cheek. "God I want to kiss you so bad right now darlin'" he whispered huskily. "But I don't want to hurt you," he said tracing his finger softly over her hurt lips. "Nick," she breathed hotly as she leaned forward and touched her lips with his tenderly. He let her take control of the kiss and enjoyed the sensation of her lips softly gliding over his. She pulled away from him slowly and reached up and touched her swollen lip. Meeting his eyes she asked seriously, "How long till this will go down." "Couple of days, but if you put some ice on it sooner. Why?"

Sara gave him a sexy smirk and said, "Oh I have plans for my mouth and your mouth buddy, big plans." "Big plans for our mouths huh? Will it also involve the sampling of other body parts I hope." He said with a devilish smile." "One step at a time Cowboy," she answered kissing him on the check. Leaning back on her pillow she yawned. "You should try and get some more sleep." Nick said standing up. She smiled up at him and said, "If you want you can use my hip as an arm rest again." A huge grin broke out across his face. "Are you sure?" "Nick just get in bed." "Thanks," he said climbing in behind her.

It took them a couple of minutes to get settle but finally their bodies were spooned comfortably together. Nick smiled down at the top of her head as he felt her body relax against his. He could definitely get use to this feeling. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep thinking about Sara and her wonderful plan.