As always, I massively appreciate feedback. Every chapter takes around 2 hours to write (this one took almost 4!) so knowing people are enjoying this is a major motivating factor!
The plane was almost full when they finally boarded; when they had arrived at the check in desk Nick had been unable to find his ID. After a frantic search through his bag they had found the sandwich bag that housed it scrunched in the back pocket of his spare pair of jeans. Next chance I get, I am buying that man a wallet, Jess thought as they pushed their way through the aisle towards their seats. She had given the window seat to Nick – he told her he got a little travel sick if he wasn't next to a window. Jess was going to explain that those travel sickness rules don't apply to flying, but he'd looked at her with big puppy eyes and she'd decided not to correct him.
As they settled, their seat mate joined them –an older lady who smelled strongly of lavender and fell promptly asleep as soon as she had fastened her seatbelt. Soon the last few passengers had boarded and the plane began to accelerate down the runway, pushing Jess back into her seat. She felt Nick's hand grasp hers tightly as they slowly began to lift off the tarmac. Her heart leapt into her throat a little- this part always made her a little scared, but she soon relaxed as they began to gently ascend into the sunny blue California sky. Nick pulled her hand to his and kissed it. He looked tired. Last night he had worked a long shift and he couldn't have had more than 4 hours sleep. "Take a nap Nick, you look exhausted," Nick smiled in reply; he rested his head against the fuselage around the window and within minutes he was fast asleep.
Carefully Jess disentangled her fingers from Nick's and watched his hand sink back into his lap. She reached into the large orange purse she had stowed under the seat in front of her and pulled out a ball of green yarn attached to an almost finished scarf and two knitting needles. She really hoped Bonnie would like it. Her fingers began to work and the soft clack of the needles filled the silence around her. She heard Nick's soft regular breathing and turned her head to look at him.
His face was turned partially away from her and she rested her head against the seat back as she observed him. Nick's hair was mussed up and his face was covered in a smattering of 2 day old stubble. She loved the way this felt on her skin when he kissed her, loved the feel of it as he moved across her body, like last night. She felt a flush of heat as she remembered the quick, frantic sex they had when he had returned from the bar and slipped into her bed. The plaid shirt he was wearing was a little rumpled and clung to his arms, the arms that had held me up against the wall last night as we…Stop! Jess told herself. He had this strange effect on her. Since this thing had started she had never stopped wanting him, every day, all the time they were together. She'd never felt anything like this before. The attraction between them was magnetic; they gravitated towards each other, found themselves touching even without realising it. And when they were alone… She took a breath as her eyes lingered on his strong jaw and soft lips. But it wasn't just physical, there was more; a chemistry, a connection, like nothing she had ever felt. Shaking her head she returned to her task whilst she let her mind wander and daydream with possibilities of what might come next for them.
Arriving at O'Hare, Jess had been surprised at how warm the air had felt as they waited for the cab. The last time she was in the city it had been so cold. She quickly removed her cardigan as Nick helped the cabbie load their bags into the cab before they climbed into the car. "You're very quiet," Nick said, placing his hand on top of hers where it rested on the seat between them and rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.
"Hmm?" she replied absentmindedly. He smiled at her.
"I said you're very quiet. That is not like you."
"Sorry, just thinking," she sighed.
"Anything I need to worry about?" he asked, concerned.
"No… I'm just nervous I guess," she pulled her lips into a small smile and bunched her shoulders together.
"C'mere," he said reaching his arm around her shoulder and pulling him towards her before placing a warm kiss on her head, "You have nothing to be nervous about."
"You mom scares me a little Nick," Jess replied pulled herself close to his body and breathing in his warm, musky scent.
"My mom loves you Jess. I know you didn't get off to the best start but she thinks you're great. She was really happy when I said you were coming."
"Really?" she asked looking up at him quizzically.
"Yes really," he said, laughing a little as he stole a quick kiss. Jess relaxed a little and laid her head into Nick's body.
Nick paid the cabbie as Jess psyched herself up for meeting Bonnie for only the second time. Not as the weird roommate she didn't know, but as her son's girlfriend. She gulped down her fears as Nick returned to her side and picked up the bags, "C'mon," he urged, taking Jess's hand in his and giving it a squeeze before leading her towards the house.
As they approached the door it suddenly swung open and they were confronted with the beaming face of Nick's mom. Without pausing she launched herself at Nick and grabbed him in a bear hug, "Nicky! I've missed you!" without missing a breath, she grabbed Jess and bundled her into the hug, "And you've finally brought home a girl! A nice one!" The hug caught Jess by surprise and knocked the air out of her lungs – this woman had surprising strength.
"Hey Bonnie, great to see you," Jess said nervously as the hug ended and the feeling returned to her arms. Reaching into her purse, "I, er, brought you a gift," she handed over the finished scarf to Bonnie whose eyes immediately lit up. Jess felt a little silly – the temperature was in the 90s, not exactly woollens weather. But Bonnie seemed thrilled.
"Oh honey, it's lovely, thank you, my favourite colour," and proceeded to wrap it around her neck over her floral cotton dress.
Entering the house Jess expected the see the same manic atmosphere that had pervaded during their last visit, but the air inside was quiet and still. "Mom, where is everyone?" Nick asked as he closed the door behind him.
"Your brother and cousins are out running last minute errands, Nana is down at the seniors centre and no one else has arrived yet." Bonnie smiled as Nick and Jess stood together in the hallway, "You guys make the cutest couple! I can't wait to show you off! Magda is always boasting that all her sons are married and-"
"Woah, mom," Nick interrupted, "Let's not scare Jess with stories of your crazy sister just yet. Actually, we need to freshen up, long flight. Where is Jess sleeping?" Nick picked up Jess's purple case.
"Well, we're short of space and I'm not totally behind the times, so I know you two are probably already-"
"Mom!" Nick cut her off as Jess blushed deeply.
"What I'm trying to say is would you mind sharing? I've laid out two towels already in your old room." She gave them both a little smile. "Anyway, I have to get back to the stove, dinners in an hour, be down on time, everyone should be back by them." She walked over to Jess and placed her hands on her arms, "They all can't wait to see you," and gave Jess a kiss on the cheek.
"Alright Ma, let my girlfriend go so she can unpack," Bonnie released Jess but continued her wide smile as the two made their way up the creaking wooden staircase. On the landing, Jess stopped, turning around and placing a hand on Nick's chest.
"Do you realise that's the first time you've called me your girlfriend in public?" she smiled and looked at him with glowing eyes.
"Really? Well I guess it is," he replied, giving her a small kiss on the forehead before moving in front of her and pushing the door open on his old room.
Inside the room felt musty and stale, not having been occupied since his father's funeral. The floor was covered in a thick green carpet, and in the corner was a small bed, neatly made up with blue linens. Nick placed their bags on the floor and then headed to open up the two wooden sash windows that looked out over the large yard to the rear of the house. As he was doing this, Jess laid her purse down and began to survey the contents of the shelves that lined one wall of the small room. They were littered with childhood memories. There was a picture of Nick and Winston riding bikes, they looked about 8. There were ribbons stating, "Science fair, 2nd place" and "Maths student of the year, 1995". A pile of concert stubs that looked like they were from his college days lay in one corner, along with a photograph of Nick, Winston and Schmidt in their graduation robes. Jess picked up the frame and studied the contents. Nick's smile was optimistic and confident, just starting out in life. It was at this moment that Jess suddenly realised how little she knew about this man. Besides the brief snippets she had garnered in the past two years, she actually knew very little of his life before she had entered it.
Walking over to the bed, she sat down and placed the picture on the bed next to her. Nick had busied himself emptying the contents of his bag onto the floor and was occupied tossing items into the dresser that was located under the shelves Jessica had been perusing. As she watched him push the last items in and close the drawer, she spoke, "Hey Nick, why did you drop out of law school? You've never actually talked about that." Nick sighed and turned to face her. His face held a serious expression.
"I don't like to talk about it, it's in the past," he said shrugging his shoulders.
"I know, but I've realised I know so little about your past, what made you you," She gave him a warm smile as he sank to the floor and crossed his legs.
"Well, it's not that interesting story I guess, but I'd have to start before I even when to college," he leant back on his arms as he continued, "I was always the responsible one. Dad was always disappearing with his crazy schemes and mom, well, she's great but she needs help. So as I was the oldest I took charge, looking after Jamie, doing things round the house, helping mom with bills – I got my first job when I was 14 delivering newspapers and by the time I was graduating high school I had 3 part time jobs, to help out." He took a deep breath before continuing, "Plus, I was working late ever night. I knew to really change things I needed a job, a real job and for that I needed to get a scholarship. So I worked my ass off and got a full scholarship for prelaw at UCLA."
"Wow, that's incredible, I had no idea…"
"That I was academic?" he finished and Jess blushed, ashamed of her assumptions, "Well it was a lot of work, A LOT. Then I got to college and suddenly it was like a whole load of pressure had been released. The responsibilities I'd had at home seemed so far away and I started to relax. I started skipping classes, having a few too many beers and other substances… ," He looked up at Jess, "I just about managed to keep my GPA up to graduate and I got accepted into Law School but I felt, so, lost." At this point, Jess raised herself up off the bed and slid down to sit on the floor. "I went through the motions for the first couple of years, I wanted to make my mom proud I guess. But I didn't really know why I was doing it. Then I got to my second last semester and I just, I just quit." Nick was playing with his hands now, rubbing his thumb against the palm of the other. Jess had noticed he did this when he was nervous.
"So, you just left?" she asked.
"Yep, wrote a letter to the dean, cleaned out my dorm room and moved in with Schmidt. I got a job at the bar while I weighed up my options and then I met Caroline a couple of months later. And here I am now, 5 years later and not much has changed."
"What made you do it though?"
"To be honest Jess, I've asked myself that many times when I am cleaning out the beer lines at work or mopping up a drunk's vomit," Jess let out a small giggle, "But I really don't know. I guess I realised that you should do things in life for yourself, not for other people. I thought I'd find some great idea or career if I gave myself the chance. So that part didn't exactly work out," Jess moved over to his side and draped her arms around his neck.
"You're right Nick, you shouldn't do things for other people. I guess it sucks you haven't found your way yet, but you will. I believe in you," looking down at her, Nick felt incredibly lucky. Most girls would run a mile from a law school dropout bartender, surviving on tips, but she saw him differently. She saw his potential not his failures and in turn that made him think that perhaps, one day soon, his life could be different.
"I don't deserve you," he replied.
"Yeah ya do," She nodded in response.
"No, I don't."
"Miller, don't argue with me or-" and with that she launched at him, attacking the sensitive parts of his body that she had discovered. Nick hated being tickled, she had learned that a month or so ago when they had got into a playful argument over Jess's attempt to brighten his room with a few feminine touches. The scented candles and vase of flowers had resulted in a full on wrestling match which Jess decisively won by tickling him into submission.
"Stop, Jess, argh," Nick wailed and his arms flailed wildly as his body responded. He tried to grab her and push her away but she was quick and stronger than she looked. "Please, Jess, don't. STOP!" Jess jumped at Nick's outburst and stared at him. "You're really turning me on," he continued, much quieter. Jess's eyes flicked downwards and she saw the unmistakable bulge in his jeans. She pursed her lips cheekily and flashed him a wicked grin. "No," he said, aware of what she had in mind, "My mom…" his voice wandered of as Jess moved in front of him and began to unbuckle his brown leather belt.
"Haven't you ever done it in your room when you parents are home?" she asked in a low, gravelly voice.
"Actually, no. And anyway we can't…" Jess's eyebrows rose at the confession. She had lost her virginity pretty late but even she had experience the fun of trying to keep quiet so mom and dad don't catch you in the act.
"Miller, you have missed out. And we are," she stated in a no nonsense voice and with that she quickly pushed forward and pressed her lips against his whilst she continued to unbutton his jeans. She wordlessly slipped her hands under his shirt and swirled her fingers in the sprinkling of hair on his chest, "Mmmm," she moaned, moving so she was sitting in his lap. Finally giving up, he wrapped his arms around her and pressed his body against hers. She could feel him against her crotch and began to gently rock her hips against the hardness.
Nick's fingers were tangled in her hair, his kisses had moved lower and he has attending to the visible cleavage of her sundress as she dug her nails into the warm skin of his back. Without a word he placed his hands under her thighs and lifted her onto the edge of the bed. She let out a brief, 'Oh' in surprise; she found it incredibly sexy when he took charge. Wresting his jeans to the floor, he leaned across her and continued his caresses, the feel of her body increasing his need to be inside her with every passing second. He moved a hand lower and lifted her skirt up, running his fingers over her smooth thighs. She was wearing white cotton underwear, so innocent looking. Before he had a chance to do anything else, her hands had started to push them down over her legs unveiling a much less innocent sight. He moved to start lifting off her dress and she stopped his hand and shook her head, "No time, don't want mom to catch us," she whispered. She was full of surprises. Instead, he moved to his own underwear and in a second it was on the floor. Jess looked up, eyeing him like a naughty schoolgirl. She licked her lips and continued, "Come on baby, and remember, you gotta be quiet." He did not need asking twice and after quickly locating a condom, he moved back over to her.
Lying over her body, which was still perched on the edge of the bed, he supported himself on his forearms as he looked directly into her eyes. As he started to move inside her, her mouth formed a large O, her eyes widened and she made a sharp intake of breath. Slowly he began to rock his hips, as she reached up and balled her fists in the material of his shirt, pulling him closer, and the skirt of her dress bunched around her waist exposing her lower half. Nick used this as a chance to run his hands up and down her legs, restraining a groan of pleasure as he did so. He hadn't realised that semi clothed sex could be so, hot. Her rhythmic breath blew warm gusts across his neck that burned and excited him; he had to fight the urge to speed up instantly. Jess had no such qualms and began to push her hips up against his with increasing urgency, until he felt his mind begin to swim. Balling his fists, he desperately tried to quell his desire to shout out her name; the look of concentration on his face made Jess's mouth twist into a crooked smile, as if she found his efforts to stay in control funny. If that's how she wants it, he thought and he quickly pulled out of her, causing her to audibly gasp. "Remember, be quiet," he warned quietly as he flipped her swiftly onto her front and once again raised the cotton material of her dress exposing the soft skin of her behind. He circled his hands over the creamy skin once, before, without warning, re-entering and continuing his thrusts. She noticeable tensed up at this unexpected happening. As he continued, he could hear her panting, "Shhh," he reminded her. He pulled her hips up higher to meet his as he moved deeper, the small noises she was making as she tried to remain quiet turning him on more than ever. The ageing springs of the mattress began to squeak with the motion, so Jess moved her feet onto the floor and lifted her body weight onto her hands to silence it. Wrapping one hand once again in her hair, he used the other to take a firm hold of her hip, urging into into a rapid rhythm. After what felt like an eternity to her, finally, he let himself go, moving quicker and faster, pivoting his hips, until he felt near the point of no return. He moved his hand down so he could touch her, "Come with me," he whispered in her ear, causing her to feel wave of burning desire sweep over her body. All at once, the moment was upon them; Jess pushed back against him as ground into her.
"Oh God," she moaned into the sheets, trying to remain quiet, and he felt her quiver in satisfaction. Feeling her pleasure pushed him over the edge and he jerked and shuddered as a powerful orgasm pounded through his body, she straightened up at this moment and grabbed her body, encircling her in a tight embrace, pulling her towards him. At last, as he folded over her, a whispered series of expletives left his lips that made Jess smile. After a moments silence, he slipped back down to sit on the floor as she slowly turned over and pushed down her dress to cover her modesty. They both continued to breathe heavily as they locked eyes, large smiles slowly growing on their faces. "So," she began, "You can tick that off your bucket list," this made him laugh. How she could switch from sexy to funny in an instant was one of the things he loved about her. She bent down and picked up his pants, "Come on, we're going to be late for dinner," standing up, she smoothed down her dress and walked towards the door.
Buttoning up the jeans he gestured to her discarded underwear, "Aren't you..?" he let his voice trailed off as she shrugged.
"Nah, I think it will make dinner much more interesting if I don't," and with that she turned the handle of the door and stepped into the hall. Nick shook his head and followed her, tucking in his shirt as he went, Man, he thought, what woman.