A/N-Howdy folks! Sorry, I've had a busy week and really have not had time to reread and post the next chapter. There will be only one more chapter after this one. I'm still pondering doing a sequel. Not sure I have the time to do one or not. I'll just have to see. In any case, I am really glad so many of you have enjoyed this story. Thanks again for all the great reviews!
The last few days Nick and Greg had taken advantage of the hotel accommodations and the casino. They had both won a little money but nothing grand. They had tried their best to not talk about what happened and instead enjoyed each other's company for the first time in a long time. Greg continued to sleep in the same bed and let Nick hold him until he fell asleep. He still would wake from a nightmare here and there but nothing too serious, as hitting him like he had the other night. Nick felt that his boyfriend was finally coming around and feeling more comfortable in his presence.
Now they were pulling into the driveway of their house. The crime scene had been cleared and the cleanup was completed. Catherine and Sara had seen to it that the place was as close to as it had been prior to Jasper invading their home, with maybe a few extra touches.
Greg sat in the passenger seat, nervously clenching and unclenching his fist. Nick knew it was not going to be easy for him to enter their bedroom and wondered if it was such a good idea for them to go back into it. He hated that Jasper had used their bedroom to do what he did. He knew it would somehow always feel tainted by him.
Nick got out of the car first and then waited on Greg who fidgeted getting his luggage out of the back seat. "Come on, Greg. We can't avoid it forever. I know this is not easy but it is still our house. We have to ignore what happened in it or at least try not to think about it."
Greg looked up at him and then sighed. "I know." He pulled his bag out and closed the car door. He followed behind Nick, who got out his keys to unlock the door. He opened it up and heard the alarm warning. He told Greg to hurry up and get in so he could reset the alarm. Greg rushed past him and stopped as he entered the living room. He was shocked at what he saw. A slow smile spread over his face. "Wow!"
Nick turned around to see why he said what he did. He came up behind Greg and smiled himself. In the corner of the living room, by the patio door stood their Christmas tree all decorated with the lights even on. "It had to be Catherine and Sara. They said they were going to make sure the place was put back in order. I am sure they knew we had no time to decorate."
Greg dropped his bag on the floor and walked up to the tree, forgetting everything else. He started looking at the tree and saw what he was looking for. "Look, they found the ornament you gave me on our first Christmas together." He pointed to it on the tree. Nick walked up closer and saw the red glass ball that had Nick and Greg written on it. He smiled, remembering that Christmas morning.
It had been their first one. Greg had only lived with him for a couple months but he already knew at that time that they would be together for years to come. Nick had the ornament customized. He had given Greg some CD's and a few shirts and stuff but the ornament was something more personal and meaningful. He remembered Greg opening it and his surprised expression and then the kiss that he earned after it. Thinking of that kiss made him realize it had been about six months now since they had kissed. Greg still hadn't got that intimate yet and Nick was not going to force him into anything he was not ready for.
"That's really nice of them to do this for us. We really have some wonderful friends. We have to make sure to get them really good gifts, even if they do come after the holiday itself," Nick said to him. He decided to take a look around the rest of the house. He picked up his bag and Greg's and took them into the main bedroom. He walked in slowly and saw that everything seemed almost back to normal. He did catch the scent of deodorizer and the patch in the wall from where the bullet that had grazed him ended up. He heard footsteps behind him and turned and saw Greg coming in. He followed his eye path to see the first thing he looked at was the ground where Jasper's body had laid dead the last time they were there. He looked back at him and could see a slight shaking. Greg seemed to sense him noticing and he wrapped his arms across his chest and looked away towards the bed.
"You know, the bed in the second bedroom is a queen. We can both sleep there for a while, if you do not mind. Until you are ready to come back to the main bedroom here," Nick suggested, seeing how uncomfortable his boyfriend seemed still to be in that room.
Greg shook his head though. "No, I can't avoid everything forever. If I am to move past all this, I cannot let what happened in here get to me like that." His eyes met Nick's. "We'll sleep in here tonight. Besides, my parents might decide to stay with us and they'll need that second bedroom then. We should really unpack our things and get this place in ship shape for my parent's arrival. They'll be here tonight. I can't believe it's Christmas Eve already."
"I know. Okay, let's forget about all the bad stuff and think of the future," Nick said to him.
They spent that afternoon and getting the place ready for visitors. Greg had gone to the airport to pick up his parents. They were thrilled to see him and see that he was in far better shape than he had been the last time they saw him. They ended up taking Nick and Greg out for an expensive dinner. Luckily for the guys, his parents decided to stay at a hotel instead of interrupting their home life. Nick was thrilled because he wanted some true alone time with Greg.
"So we'll come by at around 1pm tomorrow. We'll let you guys sleep in," Greg's father said to them as they were walking out the front door.
"Thanks Dad. We should have the food going by then. I love you two and have a safe drive to the hotel," Greg told his parents before he hugged them goodbye. Nick gave them hugs too and waited for Greg to finish walking them to their rental car they had decided to get.
Nick was sitting on the sofa by the light of the Christmas tree when Greg came back in. After setting the security alarm, Greg walked into the living room and sat next to Nick. "It's been a nice day with my parents but I am glad they are not staying with us. I like some quiet time without them around," he said to Nick with a smirk.
"I agree. Plus it gives me the opportunity to try something again with you." His partner gave him a curious look. Nick smiled knowing Greg was thinking something else. He reached behind him and pulled out a small box. Greg looked down at the box and smiled, figuring out what it was now.
"I presume that is for me," he said pointing to the box. Nick nodded. "I'm hoping this time around you will take it."
Greg took the box from Nick's hand and opened it up. It was the same ring he had tried to give him over a month ago and he had said he was not ready. This time was different though. He knew where he stood in the relationship. He handed the box back to Nick, with the ring still in it. Nick suddenly looked hurt. Greg smiled. "I was hoping you could put it on my finger, as cheesy as it may be."
Nick suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. "You had me going there, Greggo. I will gladly place this ring on your finger." He was going to grab Greg's hand when suddenly he pulled his hand away.
"Wait! I got a surprise of my own." Greg suddenly got up and ran off into their bedroom. He came back a minute later and sat down. He had a big grin on his face. He held out a small box. "This is for you."
Nick was shocked. He didn't expect Greg to get him anything. He told him he was just happy to have him alive and with him. He took the box and opened it and found an identical ring to the one he got for Greg. He picked it up and looked at it more closely. There was an inscription. "For my personal savior, love always, Greg." Nick felt his eyes get moist. He looked up at Greg who seemed timid all of the sudden. "You are my personal savior. I would not be here right now if it was not for you. I can't ever thank you enough," Greg said to him.
Nick lifted his hand to his face to wipe away a tear that fell from his eye. "You've already thanked me enough just by being here and giving me this. Now may I place this ring on your finger?"
"Only if I can put my ring on your finger," Greg said to him with a small smile.
"Of course," Nick said. He took his left hand and placed it on his finger next to his pinkie. Greg did the same thing with Nick's hand. They both ended up staring at their left hands with their rings on them.
"So does this mean we are married?" Greg asked with a smirk. Nick smiled at him. "Perhaps someday we can make it legal but for now this is good enough. We know how we feel about each other and that is all that matters."
"You know, a couple of months ago, I would have never thought I would be here now. I thought for sure I would be dead from being beaten so badly or just starvation. I never really dreamed I would be here with you on Christmas Eve. If anything I thought I would still be in that hell hole, chained up like an animal. But here I am, sitting with the man I love, by our beautiful Christmas tree. I'm so lucky," Greg said to him.
Nick reached up and touched Greg's face tenderly. "I'm the one who's lucky. I'm so lucky you are back in my life. Those four months made me realize just how much I needed you in my life. I love you Greg, so much it hurts sometimes."
Greg reached out to touch Nick's face. "I have another gift for you," he said with a smile. He leaned forward and pressed his lips against Nick's for a kiss. Nick was not expecting it and pulled away suddenly.
Greg sat back, his face flushing from embarrassment and hurt. He thought this is what he wanted; maybe he was disgusted with him after all. "I…I'm sorry. I just thought," he felt like he was going to burst into tears so he got up quickly. He felt his arm being grabbed.
"No, I'm sorry. I just…you just surprised me. Please, don't go. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings," Nick said to him quickly. He pulled him back down to the sofa. Greg wouldn't look at him now and he knew why. He could see his hand shaking some. He knew he did upset him. He was finally trying to deal with his intimacy issues and Nick made him feel like he didn't want it. He put his finger on his chin and lifted his head up to look at him. He saw the hurt swirling in his eyes. "Damn it. I didn't mean to hurt you. You just took me by surprise."
"I thought…I thought that maybe you really are disgusted with me," the younger man said with a shaky voice, the pain still evident in his eyes.
"God, no. No, I told you before you don't disgust me. I love you," Nick said to him, tears in his eyes. He didn't want this to happen. He didn't want him hurting again. "No, I want you. I want you so badly." He leaned forward and looked into the emotional big eyes staring back at him. "I want to kiss you now, if I can."
The younger man nodded slowly. Nick moved forward and pressed his lips against Greg's slightly chapped ones. He felt Greg parting his mouth open and Nick took that as a good sign and snaked his tongue into the warm mouth of his lover. He missed the taste of the younger man.
Greg felt warmth traveling through his whole body as the Texan deepened the kiss. He placed his hands around the back of Nick's neck and pulled him closer to him. Suddenly the taste and feel of Nick was everything to him; his warm skin under his fingers and the taste that was Nick. It had been so long he had not realized how much he missed being with him. He needed to have more of him. He moved his hands down and under the shirt Nick wore. His hands touched the muscled chest and moved up to his nipples. He heard the older man groan into his mouth as he worked his nipples into hard peaks.
Greg finally broke the kiss and stared seductively into Nick's eyes. He had this surprising hunger come over him. "I want more of you, I need you," he growled and then took the bottom of Nick's shirt and pulled it off over his head with his assistance. Then he latched onto his neck and started ravenously kissing down his neck, to his chest.
Nick wasn't sure what got into Greg all of the sudden but he was not going to stop him. He was so wrapped up in feeling the hot breath of Greg on his body that he didn't care. He felt the wet mouth on his nipples and groaned as they were teased with teeth. "Greg, I love you so much," he said as the man's mouth moved down his chest, edging closer to where his cock was already straining against the jeans that held him in.
"We should….we should take this into the…fuck Greg…into the bedroom," he panted as the younger man continued his assault on his body. Greg suddenly lifted his head, his eyes dark with lust. "Into the bedroom then." He sprung up and took Nick's hand and dragged him into the bedroom. Nick followed eagerly.
Greg spun Nick around and pushed him onto his back, onto the bed. He looked hungrily down at the older man. He was his, all his to command. He felt his cock hard against his pants. "Take off your pants," he said with command in his voice to Nick. Nick shimmied out of his pants and underwear, allowing Greg to do whatever he wanted with him.
He stared at the beautiful man before him, naked and suddenly felt self-conscious about getting naked himself. "On your stomach, I want to make love to you," he said to Nick. Nick saw a flicker of doubt and maybe embarrassment in his eyes before he went ahead and turned onto his stomach. Greg was now able to pull down his pants, knowing Nick couldn't really see him. He reached over to the nightstand and hoped it was still supplied with lube and condoms. He found what he needed. He stuck one finger into Nick's hole and heard the pleasure filled moan from the older man. He worked his way to three fingers, preparing him properly. Thoughts of how often he was not prepared properly and how the pain he would be in had entered his mind. He shook his head from those thoughts. He couldn't let them in now and ruin the moment.
"Come on, fuck me already," Nick groaned. He had been waiting for this moment for what seemed like forever. The voice set Greg's mind straight and he rolled the condom onto his already leaking cock. He entered Nick slowly. "God, Nick, you feel so good. So tight, so beautiful," he said as he started a slow pace, just enjoying the feel of being in control after so long of having no control. He heard the moans below him and they drove him to pick up his pace.
"Oh Greg, yeah, right there…ohhh, fucking so good," panted Nick into the pillow as he felt Greg's pace get harder and hit his spot more and more. With his one hand he started stroking his own hard length that was close to coming.
"I'm going to fuck you so hard," Greg growled in a low voice. Nick suddenly realized Greg's thrusts were getting more on the side of painful. "Greg!" He called out as the younger man's pace became almost frantic. He came on the sheets below him as Greg pumped furiously into him.
Greg got lost in the feeling of being in control and didn't realize how rough he had gotten until his own release came into the condom. He was panting and realized that Nick had called out his name in what sounded like pain just before he came. He pulled out quickly and turned his back to Nick. He discarded the condom as tears started to fall from his eyes. He felt horrible. He pulled up his pants and sat on the edge of the bed. He knew he had gone too far and had hurt Nick. He knew for a moment he had let those thoughts creep back in and for a moment he thought he was fucking Jasper hard just like he had to him so many times. He wanted to hurt him like he had been hurt.
Nick noticed that Greg had not said anything and had pulled away quickly. He turned over and saw Greg's still clothed back to him, his head hanging low. He sat up and put his hand on Greg's shoulder. It was quickly pushed off. "Greg?"
He saw him shake his head. "I'm so sorry, I don't know what got into me," he said trying to hide the fact that he was crying but Nick could tell. He was shaking some. Nick moved closer to him and put his hands on his shoulders and made him turn to face him. He saw the tears streaming down his face. He put his hands on his face and lifted it to look into his eyes. The pain and humiliation swimming in them broke Nick's heart.
"You didn't hurt me. I mean it hurt a little but I'll be okay. I know you didn't mean to," he said as his own eyes moistened. Greg tried to remove his hands from his face but he didn't back down. "No, you aren't pushing me away this time. I knew going into this, I knew that there would still be issues you needed to work out if we became intimate again. But I love you Greg." He released his face as Greg stared at him in silence. Nick took his left hand. "I gave you this ring for a reason. I'm in this with you for the long haul, through whatever life throws at us. I know you still have a lot of demons to deal with and it's not always going to be easy between us, but today you surprised me. You made love to me and yes, it was a bit rough towards the end but still you were comfortable enough to be with me again. That's the best gift you could have given me," he said with a smile as he wiped his thumb over his cheek to wipe away the tears.
His shaking had subsided. He gazed into loving brown eyes and lifted his own hand to wipe away tears that had fallen on the older man's face. "How is it you know what to say to make me feel better? I love you so much for being so understanding." He leaned forward and kissed him. Nick eagerly accepted the kiss from the man he loved.
After a minute Greg pulled back and sighed. He picked up Nick's left hand and stared at the ring on it. "I guess you are right, I do have a lot of demons still hanging around." He looked up at him with a small smile. "I'm just glad you are being patient with me. I don't know what I did to deserve you but whatever it was, I am grateful."
Nick smiled back at him. "I'm the one who often wonders what I did to deserve you…so I guess we are even." He suddenly realized he was completely naked while Greg was fully clothed. "You know, I think it is time for us to get some sleep so we can be prepared for tomorrow with your parents. Since I am still sort of sticky I'm going to jump in the shower."
Greg blushed a little realizing Nick had cum on his stomach. "Uh, I'll clean up the sheets and turn off the lights in the living room while you shower. Then I'll take one after you and we can go to sleep."
"Sounds good to me," Nick said before sneaking in one more kiss before he headed to the bathroom. "Love you," he said as he stood up and walked to the bathroom.
Greg stared at him leaving, admiring the man's perfect ass. He still wondered how Nick could find him attractive after all that happened. He was just happy he did.