Chapter 6

Star walked up to Nick's door. It was their second date and she offered to drive this time. Plus, she thought it was only fair that she got to see his place since he'd seen hers.

They'd decided to do this one a little more casual. They were going to dinner and a movie. Star only hoped she could remain focused on Nick, though. The kiss with Warrick was all she'd been thinking about for the last few days. But she knew she had to get past it and so kept the date with Nick.

After she knocked, Nick opened the door. "Hey Star," Nick greeted her, smiling as he noted she looked quite sexy in her knee length emerald skirt.

"Hi, Nick," she replied. "You ready?"

"Yup," he stated, walking out the door and locking it behind him. A smile crossed his lips as she got closer to her black car. "That is not your car," he said in amazement.

She nodded. "You like it?"

"It's a '67 Fastback Mustang. Of course I like it!" Nick responded as he got closer.

"I thought you would. That's why I wanted to drive," she flashed an evil grin.

"Where did you get it?" he asked, walking around the car. "It's in mint condition."

Her grin grew wider. "It's the only think I left my marriage with that I didn't bring into it."

He playfully crinkled his face and replied, "Ouch! I guess I shouldn't piss you off."

She let out a small giggle. "Nope. Hop in."

They decided on going to the movie first. Neither liked a full theater, and the matinees were generally the least populated. Plus, the trendy new restaurant Star wanted to try didn't open until seven.

As they drove by the theater, Star noticed that it was dark. She slowly pulled along side the front doors and Nick noticed the sign.

"It says they're closed," Nick told her.

"Damn," she replied. "Did it say why?"

"No, it didn't. Can't we just go to another theater?" Nick asked.

"No," she was disappointed. "The movie is a limited release and was only playing at this theater."

"Oh," he responded and then paused, thinking. "We could go straight to dinner, go to a club, or maybe we could rent a movie and get some take-out?"

Star looked down at her invisible watch and then back up at him. "Sure, why don't we rent something. I'm not really feeling the club vibe tonight."

"So, where do you want to get take-out from?" Nick questioned.

A little while later, the duo had finished eating their take-out and was sitting on the couch, a respectable distance from each other. They'd chosen a scary movie that neither had seen.

During the movie, they two drifted closer together. The movie wasn't very scary and both had been mocking the movie for most of the viewing. Star really liked Nick's sense of humor; with every witty comment, thoughts of Warrick faded further into darkness. Nick really liked Star's laugh; with her every giggle, Nick felt more alive.

Both grew quiet as the movie wore on and became more intense. One scene was particularly severe and made Star jump. She must've been more startled than she thought because when she landed she knocked Nick in the head.

She turned to him as he placed his hand on the spot she hit. "I'm sooo sorry!" she quickly apologized.

"It's alright," he replied, lightly rubbing the spot.

She covered her face as her cheeks turned bright red. "I can't believe I did that!"

Nick smiled as he pulled her hands from her face. "It's ok, really." He laughed when he saw how red her cheeks had become.

"It's our second date and I've already given you a concussion!"

He laughed again and then looked her straight in the eyes. "Seriously, I'm fine."

She looked back into his eyes and took a deep breath. Sitting so close to him, she got a good hint of his cologne and in that moment, it reminded her of the cologne Warrick was wearing when he kissed her. Her inhibitions left her and she kissed Nick.

Nick was taken aback by the kiss. He really didn't think Star liked him in that way. But the kiss was passionate and he wasn't about to stop it. He leaned in closer and put his hand on her bare knee.

When Nick's hand touched her knee, it reminded her even more of the forbidden kiss. In reliving the moment, she placed her hand on Nick's. This time, however, no wedding band was found. So she did what she would have done; she slid her other hand around his neck and pulled him as close as she could get him. Their kiss heated up.

In his college days, Nick wouldn't have thought twice about a situation like this, but currently he was having his doubts. It seemed his confidence was something he'd left behind in the plastic coffin. He didn't want the kiss to stop, though. It was the first time since he was rescued that anyone had kissed him like this. And her skin felt so soft and warm underneath his hand.

Star's desire got the best of her and she gave a light tug on Nick's hand—her way of giving him permission. And he gladly accepted it. He slid his hand up her thigh as he leaned into her, causing her to lie back. He was giving into his desire as well.

Star knew what was going to happen next, although she wasn't sure how she felt about it. And, at the moment, it wasn't her head she was thinking with. His lips were full and sweet as he kissed down her neck. His hands were light and smooth as they caressed her skin. No one had kissed or touched her like this for years—and it felt good. She reached down and started to unbuckle his belt.

Her actions had once again caught him by surprise. He knew things were getting hot, but didn't think they'd go any further than this. When she reached for his belt, he paused for a moment and gave her a questioning look.

She smiled, biting her lower lip, and nodded. She knew the nod was a lie; she wasn't sure. But she reached up, grabbed him by the neck, and pulled his lips back to hers. She needed this right now and that's all she really cared about at the moment.

Nick was still hesitant, yet he couldn't stop himself. Being with her, feeling her youth, made him feel like the old Nick again—the Nick that had no fear, no inhibitions, who dated a different girl every month. He started to unbutton her blouse and he let their craving over come him.