Title: Trouble comes in Twos - Part 12
Dinner was wonderful. The night is wonderful. Nikki is wonderful.
I even believe that I proved to Nikki that I can actually cook. I think she believed I lived on pop tarts or something.
We're out on the porch now, enjoying the night again. We're in the middle of our second bottle of wine and I'm enjoying the light buzz.
Nikki is sitting next to me on the couch, relaxing with her feet up on the coffee table, looking like a pleasantly full pussycat in that elegant boneless way she has.
Maybe it's the wine. Maybe it's just the easy company tonight. Maybe it's the night, with the crickets and birds for ambiance. But I feel things are close to being normal between us again.
"7th grade dance," Nikki says, expanding on the topic we started at dinner, our "firsts".
I nudge her companionably with an elbow and look at her with disbelief. "NO way! You took a girl to your Junior High dance? Wow, talk about guts..."
"No," she laughs easily and looks back at me, her brown eyes twinkling, "I went with Beauregard Stern. He was nice enough, but he and his best friend were double dating with me and Katie Howard. Michael, his friend, dared Katie and I to kiss right there during the last dance. We did. She was a much better kisser than Beauregard that's for sure." Nikki laughs again, blushing at the same time.
I join her, imagining a younger Nikki.
"You were just born wicked, weren't you?" I shift my body on the couch, so I'm sitting on one foot and my arm is laying against the back.
Easier to talk this way. Mmhmm. Yep. That's all. No added benefits of being able to look at her. Nope.
Nikki turns so she's facing me as well and replies, "Well, of course. If you're born in an old Southern family, it's part of the genetic package." She winks and takes another sip of her wine. "So Delaney, your turn. Who was your first french kiss."
I'd prefer not to answer this question, but a deal is a deal.
"Andrew... my cousin," I say, grimacing.
"Eww..." she replies in mock horror.
"Yeah. That's how it was. I was eight. Go ahead, I know you want to say it," I give her permission, seeing the mischievous gleam in her eyes.
"Kissing cousins?"
Such a beautiful smile for a brat.
"Har har," I grumble half-heartedly. "NEXT!"
Nikki laughs and leans her head on her palm, her arm on the back of the couch like mine. "Hmmm... which should I ask next? Although, I still think my answer was better."
"Sounds better, that's for sure," I mutter before I can check myself.
"Oh really?" Nikki grins at me.
"How many glasses of wine have we had?" I ask lamely.
"Not enough?"
I can't help it, she just makes me want to laugh all the time.
"Where were we? Oh yes, my turn," Nikki focuses on our little game again, "Hmm... we agreed on anything goes, correct?"
Uh oh. Big uh oh.
I narrow my eyes and answer, "Yes, but..."
"Shhhh, my turn, Detective," she says while waggling an index finger at me. Nikki takes a moment to think. "Ohh, favorite sexual position."
Oh. My. God.
"Nikki Beaumont, you are a light-weight!" I exclaim in utter shock. OK, maybe I'm not all that shocked. But... damn. Fair is fair.
"Oh, Sugah. I assure you I am no light-weight. I am barely even carrying a buzz at this state. We've hardly even tapped that second bottle," she assures me. "Speaking of." Nikki leans over me to grab the wine bottle and refills both of our glasses.
"Thank you."
"My pleasure. Now answer the question, Detective Delaney," she winks at me over the glass, not knowing, or maybe knowing but not caring, what that does to me.
I cover the flush on my face by taking a very long slow sip of the wine and setting it down, just so, on the table. Clearing my throat, I'm back to normal. Of course that's a relative term, since I have to answer her question now.
Oh, but Delaney. After you're done, you get to hear hers. My god. We're masochists.
"To be honest, I really don't have a favorite, but if you MUST know," I ignore her coy smile and continue, "I always preferred oral stimulation."
Wow. I wouldn't have thought you could actually snort wine.
"Quit... laughing... at me," Nikki complains as she tries to clear her lungs and sinuses.
"I'm not laughing at your pain, Nikki," I say between giggles, "I just find it hard to believe that anything I say could have surprised you like this."
A couple minutes later she's composed herself again and emptied her glass for a new one. She gives me a mock glare and admonishes, "You know that shouldn't count right? It's not a position."
"Well, it's not like I've gone through the Kama Sutra, Nikki," I protest somewhat vehemently. "There's... um... I'm sticking with that answer."
Nikki considers for a moment and nods. "Fine, but you have to be more precise."
"What?? You want me to paint you a picture?" My face is flaming red now. Who thought of this damn game anyways?
Oh yeah. Me. Little Miss "Tell me about your first crush?" Yep, that's me.
"Nooo..." Nikki's lips twitch in amusement, "You can save that for another time if you want."
"Why thank you, Detective Beaumont. How very kind of you," I reply drolly. "So what do you mean by 'be more precise'?"
That wicked gleam in her eye just gets me every time. She leans forward until her lips are almost touching my ear, then whispers, "Do you prefer giving or receiving oral stimulation?"
She leans back and cracks a satisfied smile at my expression.
"Umm..." I think my brain just crashed because I cannot think of one thing to stay that sounds remotely human.
Nikki chuckles into her wine as she takes a sip. "You started this... remember that, Nora."
My body shivers at how she says my name. Low, dark and unrepentantly sexy. Which, of course, just makes her grin more evil.
"Nikki..." I protest, valiantly trying to put off the inevitable.
"Nora, answer the question. Fair is fair," she replies, not letting me go.
"Fine. Receiving. I never really enjoyed... umm... with guys." There, I'm done and as soon as my face goes back to its normal shade of color, I'll think of a good payback.
Nikki hums at the answer, seemingly pleased that I finally gave in, I suppose.
"Have you ever enjoyed it with a woman?" she asks innocently and it's my turn to choke and cough on my wine.
"Don't... have to... answer... not the question," I sputter out my reply.
Not fair. Not fair. Nikki Beaumont is a cheat!
"True. I'll save that for next time," she says happily, after I've finally caught my breath. Then she proceeds to tell me her favorite position.
Honestly, I didn't think it was possible to do that with two women, but hell, what do I know.
I'm stuck in a feedback loop for several moments trying to get the logistics of it correct in my head, but apparently hands on knowledge is a better teacher.
No. NO. OK. Back to safe topics of conversation, Nora. Erase. Erase. Damn images.
Although... wait, that might work.
No. NO!
Nikki seems rather tickled at my stunned expression. She's getting a real kick out of tormenting me tonight. But it's OK. We're relaxed and there's very little tension.
"We did well today, didn't we?" I ask suddenly and explain what I mean when her look changes to one of puzzlement. "I mean, you and I. It's a good sign that we can be friends, good friends and partners?"
"Yeah, we did good... partner," she finally answers with a soft look.
"About last night, I didn't mean to say... that is... I wanted..." My words are coming out like a scratch on a record. All over the place now.
"Nora, you don't have to say anything," Nikki offers quietly, looking at her wine glass reflectively.
"I want to. I need to," I insist and go on after I see her nod. "Last night, I said I didn't mean to ruin things between us." Reaching out, I tentatively touch her forearm with just the tips of my fingers, then bring my hand back to rest in my lap. "Have I ruined things?"
Her head snaps up and her deep, brown eyes meet mine. "No. You haven't. Don't think that. EVER," she insists. "In fact, if anyone has ruined anything, I would be me."
"No, Nikki..."
She sets down her glass and stands up to go. To run away again?
"Nikki..." I reach out with a hand and stop her before she can leave. "Please, don't go."
She turns to look at me, her dark eyes sad. Her face looks even paler than usual and I can see the faint trace of dark circles under her eyes, her makeup unable to cover up the evidence completely. She really doesn't look like she's been getting a good night's sleep.
"Nora, I can't..." she looks away from my face for a moment, but I won't let go of her. Instead I squeeze her forearm a bit tighter to keep her from moving. Nikki looks back up at me, and I'm shocked at the depth of emotion I see in them, and the tears that are welling.
"Please don't cry. I couldn't stand it if you cried. Not over me."
She blinks and a lone tear escapes and runs down her cheek to fall off the edge of her jaw.
"Please, just let me go. I'll go to Dan Monday... I'll ask to be switched," she starts to say but I interrupt her.
"No!" I almost yell it, then I blush as I see how it startles her. "No. Nikki... We can do this. Just give me..."
Her eyes are pleading with me to let her go, let her run. I won't have it, I made the mistake of letting her go last night and I won't do it again. I step into her personal space, refusing to let go of her arm, pulling her around to face me completely. "Trust me. Please? You're the best partner I've ever had. The closest friend I've had. You know things about me that even my brothers don't know," the words tumble from my mouth. I have to convince her. I don't want to lose her.
That's it. I don't want to lose her. I'm not much for words usually, but I have to get her to understand.
"Nikki..." I say her name softly, a benediction as I step up closer to her until I can feel her breath against my face. "Please..." clearing my throat for a second, I continue, "I'm going to say this once and you're going to really listen to me, Nikki Beaumont. I am not like that first partner of yours. I'm not here to want to try and bed you and leave you. You're not a conquest to me. You're... We're cops, yes. I don't care. I don't," I insist.
"I'd rather live with you in my life for five minutes than deny this," I let go of her arm slowly, fearing she'll leave, but she doesn't. Reaching up to her face, I touch her, running my fingertips down her strong jaw.
My heartbeat doubles as she closes her eyes and unconsciously presses back against my fingers.
"I can't go back. I can't. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me and I'd rather resign and sell Mardi Gras beads on the street than be just your partner on the job. Either way Nikki, I'll always be your friend."
Nikki keeps her eyes shut, and slowly shakes her head back and forth.
How do I get it across to her? There's nowhere for us to go. I'll be the first to admit there's something powerful between us beyond just the physical, beyond just a working partnership, and beyond this friendship we've started.
Unconsciously I lean closer to her. The cool evening air makes the heat pouring off her body feel so delicious, even with the bare inch of air between us. The warm scent of her washing over me, through me with every breath I take in.
Her eyes pop open and we're so close. And yet so far apart. Connected only by my hand on her arm. Nikki's gaze meets mine and it's a shock. It's just like the first time we met.
I feel myself drowning in those dark pools. God, this is so hard. But so good. I want this, please Nikki.
"What have you done to me?" she whispers and her lips come even closer to mine. Not a kiss yet. A hint of warmth and silk, that's all.
So close to her, so tempted to push forward. I'm drowning in the need to be swallowed by the soft taste of her, to be overwhelmed by the touch of her soft lips. Releasing her forearm, my fingers slowly trail up her to her shoulder.
"Don't be scared of this...of us," I whisper back, our lips still not touching.
But even this is intoxicating. I want more. Please, Nikki... Give me more.
A frustrated moan crawls out of her throat and she presses her body fully against mine.
"We shouldn't..." she groans pressing her forehead against mine. Our bodies have melded against one another, but still we haven't kissed. So very close. "I don't want this to ruin..."
Nikki's hands are on my hips, fingers so light that I barely know they're there, the warmth of her fingers through my jeans is the only hint that she's holding onto me.
The heat between us is almost stifling. Our hands and arms are holding each other close as we share the same hot breath, but still not quite kissing.
It's so painful, this feeling, being this close to her. I want to jump over the precipice, but I can't jump alone. I'm the one who has never kissed a woman. I'm the one who has never felt so strongly about another woman. And yet, I'm the one willing her with all my heart to come to me, to put aside her fear.
"Kiss me," I beg her in a low whisper, "just once. If you can say no after that, then I'll have this moment... and then I'll leave," I promise her, even though I'm not sure I can follow through afterwards.
"Please?" my voice croaks out the word, my emotions so high, so full to overflowing that I can feel my own eyes filling with tears.
I don't know who presses forward that last fraction of an inch and I don't care.
Her lips are soft and full.
And for this one moment...
Finally mine.
TBC