Hola from sunny Spain! I may be on holiday but I can't get these stories out of my head.

Leaving her room, she closed the door softly behind her and with a deep breath headed towards the living area, prepared for the inevitable questioning. On the couch, Nick and Winston sat drinking beers and watching a game on TV. Schmidt was at the dining table, with his laptop, typing away.

The click-clack of her heels alerted the men to her presence. Schmidt was the first to raise his head and he gave a long, low wolf whistle. "Muy caliente, Jessica."

She blushed a little as she registered Nick looking in her direction, bottle paused midway to his next mouthful. His lips were parted a.s he looked her up and down; tight black dress, killer heels, tumbling curls pushed over one shoulder. "Er, thanks Schmidt," she replied quietly.

"So, tonight is the date, right?" he continued.

"Yup," she replied shortly, pulling her mouth into a little awkward smile.

"I must say Jessica, after everything," with this he turned and gave Nick a purposeful stare, "Your taste in men pleasantly surprises me."

Jess shifted her feet a little uncomfortably as he spoke, feeling Nicks's eyes continue to bore into her. "It's just a date Schmidt. Putting myself out there. Moving on. From Spencer." The words tumbled out if her mouth in a rapid stream, tripping against one another in the process.

"Date?" asked Nick, sounding like he had just woken up from a daze.

"Yes, Nicholas, keep up," Schmidt chided.

"With?"

"Who do you think dumbass, Randolf," Schmidt replied exasperatedly.

"Oh..." he replied, his voice trailing off as he spoke, "Well then I guess you look fine. He probably goes for the obvious look," he finished tartly. Jessica looked at him, a surprised expression on her face, what the...

"Like you can talk Nick, I saw the way you were looking at Jess when she walked into the room," Winston chimed in. He still didn't know about their prior arrangement. Jess felt an embarrassed flush spread over her, making her skin burn.

"Yeah, well, um-" Nick began to fumble for words before placing the beer bottle to his lips, muting himself before he could say anything else.

"Whatever," Jess started, shaking her head and feeling confused by Nick's behavior, "I gotta go." She didn't leave time for a reply before she turned and they heard the heavy slam of the apartment door.

"What the hell was that, Nick?" Winston immediately asked, turning to face his friend.

"What? Nothing," Nick said shaking his head and making a grumpy turtle face.

"Didn't seem like nothing to me? To me, it sounded like you were, well, jealous," he eyed Nick, who steadfastly avoided his gaze, his own eyes locked on the commercials that were currently playing on the TV.

"I said drop it Winston," he replied finally, giving him a cool stare as he finished his bottle, "I need another beer," he said, standing up and stomping to the kitchen.

Winston turned to look at Schmidt who was still sat at the table and gave him a quizzical look. Schmidt replied with a shrug, mouthing the words I don't know, as he did so. Although, of course, he knew perfectly well what was wrong with Nick. But he wasn't going to let that ruin the loft dynamic.

"Are you sure you don't want me to..." Randolf flashed his eyes up to the apartment building and raised his eyebrow as Jess began to open the car door.

Twisting her head to him she faked a yawn, "Oh, I'm just so tired," she lied.

"Yeah, I guess it's late," he said reluctantly. Slowly, he started to lean in towards her, edging her back closer to the door as she moved herself out of his zone of proximity. "Jessica..." he began, leaning over her.

"Achoo," she said, faking a sneeze, "Achoo! Achoo!" She gave him a goofy smile, "Oh my allergies, you'd better not come any closer, you might, er, catch them," she said quickly as she fumbled for the door latch.

"Catch your allergies? I don't think that's possible," he mused.

"Er, special allergies," she said, nodding her head, her fingers finally locating the latch, "Okay, good night, thanks for the date," she said curtly with a small smile.

"I'll call you," he offered and she replied by continuing to smile as she slid out of the low slung sports car and dipped into the chill night air. The car began to pull away and Jess rushed into the apartment lobby and headed for the elevator.

While she searched for her keys, Jess felt relief flood through her. The date had been awkward. Terrible and awkward. The man did not stop talking! About himself mainly, or attempting to name drop celebrities he had worked for and met; designers he was friends with. He had talked so much they had been the last to leave the restaurant so now she was tired and wanted nothing more than to flop into bed and forget the date ever happened.

Dumping her keys on the small table near the door, she kicked off her shoes and stretched out a yawn. Suddenly, she heard a noise coming from the hallway. She stepped forward and stopped, paralyzed when she saw it was Nick.

"Um, hi Nick," she said a little awkwardly.

"Hi Jess," he replied shortly, "How was the date?"

"Great, fantastic even," she lied. He twisted his face and nodded slowly in response. The air went silent. Giving him a small smile, she walked over to the kitchen and placed her purse on the counter top.

He seemed to gather his thoughts and started walking towards the door, "Alright, well, see you later," he replied, picking his coat from the rack.

"You're going out at one a.m.?" she asked, whipping her head round to face him, "Where on earth are you-"

"Caroline," he interjected, "I'm going to see Caroline." She stood, a little stunned as his words sunk in.

"Caroline, your ex, Caroline?"

"Yes, what other Caroline could there be? I called her and she wants to see me."

Jess felt a bubble of frustration rise in her throat. Caroline, the woman who had shattered his heart into a million pieces, turned him into a shell of a man. Why was he calling her? What was he trying-

"Are you insane?" she cried, the words bursting out of her before she had time to think.

"What?" he asked, crumpling his brow.

"I said, are you crazy? She used you, destroyed you."

"Oh, she used me did she? I guess you'd know a thing or two about that," he replied acerbically, turning again towards the door.

"Excuse me?" Jess said sharply, stalking over to where he stood, "What is that supposed to mean?" He could see a flash of anger and passion rising in her pale blue eyes.

"Well, look at us for example, I was pretty useful until someone better came along, right? So I guess I am the guy women use," he shrugged.

"How dare you-that was not even- how can you compare- urgh!" she threw her hands up in frustration as she sought the right response.

"Yeah, I was good until you jumped into bed with the next to guy to come along," he continued, unable to stop himself now.

"What the hell Nick? Where did this came from? I didn't sleep with Randolf!" she shouted, feeling the heat rose in her body.

"Really?"

"No, of course not!"

"Well, you can see why I thought you did, especially after the way you jumped me..."

"I jumped you?" she could feel her blood begin to boil now, "As if!"

"Well it didn't take much did it?" he taunted.

"You jerk. You complete and utter jerk. Go to Caroline and mess yourself up even more than you are now and see if I care," she turned away and stormed back to the kitchen, feeling hot tears forming in her eyes.

As she turned, he immediately felt remorseful. He'd taken it too far, far too far. Insulted her. He didn't mean any of those things - it was merely an outlet for his own frustrations. And now he felt like crap.

"Jessica," he began, slowly following her, "I-"

"What?" She said tartly, her reddened eyes flashing to his, "You want to insult me some more? Bring it on. But you should know, what we had was different. If you think I jump into bed with every guy who comes along, you clearly don't know me that well at all."

Her words stung but he knew she was right. Feeling a wave of regret, he stepped closer. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, I've just had a bunch of beers-"

"Yeah, that's your thing isn't it, Nicholas? When life gets tough hide in a bottle of liquor," she was angry now.

"Well hang on a minute, Jessica, I'm trying to apologize, if you'd damn let me."

She took a few deep breaths, calming herself a little, staring into his eyes. She could see the remorse. He took a step closer to her and placed a hand on her arm. Her eyes moved to look at this gesture, before returning to his gaze.

"I apologize. What I said, it was out of line. Completely," he said finally. Slowly she digested his words, focusing on the small dark buttons of his shirt.

"And I apologize for what I said about Caroline, if it makes you happy-" her eyes lowered to the ground as she stopped talking. Slowly, he brought his hand to her chin and raised it so she was looking at him once again. He looked at her and wordlessly saw something, hidden inside her, shining through her still glazed eyes. "If she makes you happy-" she began again, breathing a little heavier this time.

Her mind clouded as she stared into his dark eyes, what was she trying to say? She forgot. This was the closest they had been to each other in weeks and she felt a familiar longing grow in the pit of her stomach. Teasing her, taunting her.

He waited for her to finish, but she seemed lost in thought. Her bottom lip quivered a little as she felt his hand tighten slightly around her arm. Her heavy breathing tickled the skin exposed by the undone buttons of his shirt. Wordlessly he raised his hand to her shoulder, slipping a finger into the thin strap of her dress and running it up and down its length.

She paused at his gesture, glancing at his hand as it scraped against the soft creaminess of her skin. A moment passed, then another. The burning in her stomach was becoming unbearable, she knew the only thing that would fix it- the only thing to give her some release, some peace, would be to touch his warm skin. To feel his hands roaming her body. To dig her fingers into his hair as he layered her in hot passionate kisses. Feel his body covering her with his own, making her feel compete. He tilted his head so their faces were almost touching, his lips inches from hers.

"Being with you makes me happy Jessica," he said breathlessly.

Sharply, she took in a breath, his words surprising her and thrilling her at the same time. without thinking, she placed her fingers into the belt loops of his pants; hooking them in, locked, so he could not escape.

In her eyes, he could see it. The want. The need. He felt it too. His body ached to feel her close, as it had for these past weeks, when he lay at night unable to sleep, staring up at the ceiling; wishing her warm, soft body were beside him. His hand paused where it had been moving and he swallowed. No, he couldn't, they couldn't, Caroline ...

Before either had time to ruminate further their bodies launched into a passionate, crippling kiss. Her hands cupped his face as his arms wound around her, pressing her body into his, melding them together. A loud, throaty groan escaping his lips as he could feel every inch of her, pliant yet passionate in his arms.

She could feel her heart pounding, blood rushing to her skin- sensitising it further to his touch. As his kisses worked their way down her neck, her skin burned, sending shivers of pleasure through her body. She forgot where she was, when she was, who she was. Her only focus the urgent and eager movements of his lips as they explored her skin.

He felt her body melt into his as he hungrily let his lips roam to all the places he knew she loved. The heavy breathing against his skin and the jerking movements of her body sent waves of bliss through him. His head told him to stop; this was a terrible idea. But his body took over, pushed those thoughts away as he swung her into his arms and marched towards her bedroom.

Inside he quickly pushed the door closed and looked into her eyes; he saw a burning deep inside her. Something raw and primal, it scared him - how much he could see she wanted him. Because he felt the same. He should stop, leave. Nothing could come of this, they were too different...

At that moment, she dug her hands into his hair, so hard it almost hurt. The force causing their mouths to clash against one another, their tongues engaged in furious battle as they each sought something in the other. Solace, fever, passion.

Collapsing onto the bed he tugged at the thin straps of her dress, pulling them down roughly, yanking the top of her dress with them so her back lacy bra was exposed. Looking up, he could see her eyes were dilated, so much so that only a thin ring of azure blue remained. Not wasting a moment, he buried his face in her cleavage; nipping, licking, biting the skin whilst he fumbled with the clasp of her bra and she reached down and rubbed her hands against the growing hardness in his jeans. His eyes rolled back in pleasure at her touch, his breath shuddering a little.

Nimbly, her fingers released the heavy metal buttons of the denim, as her bra slipped open. His hands reached out and touched the sensitive skin of her breasts, causing her to pant as his mouth followed, his other hand impatiently pushing up the tight material of her skirt, hearing it tear a little as he did so. In that moment she felt wanton, giving over to the passion. Her arms flew back over her head, mind swimming in pleasure and delirium. She stopped thinking, letting her body do what it wanted- take what it wanted from him. A release from the feelings of anxiety and disappointment that had recently flooded her heart.

Returning to her mouth, their kisses became a dance of tongues and lips, biting kisses, as fingers dug into flesh. Her hands impatiently pushed his pants to the floor, taking the underwear with him. As she did this, his body flexed against her, hands moving to the curve of her waist, thumbs pressing against the bone of her hips. She pushed herself towards him, wanting to be as close as she could; his hardness against her making her stomach pulsate.

Her head was saying she should stop, pull up her dress and walk away. But her body- her heart, they were louder. We need this, want this. She craved his touch, like a drug. No, her head said, this is wrong, nothing will come of it. He doesn't really want you completely...

But these protests were drowned out by the movements of her body, pushing down her own underwear, drawing his hips into hers. "I want you," she whispered in his ear, "I want you, inside me..." Who was this talking? I don't talk this way, she thought.

He paused, lifting his mouth from the hot kisses it was placing on her stomach, "Are you sure?" he asked. Nodding, she circled his arms with her fingers and drew him towards her, he was so near her could feel her damp warmness. "Wait..." He whispered. But she paid no heed and and tugged him closer to her, easing him inside her. His mind knew something was forgotten, but the feel of her hot, tight walls crushing against him and her velvet skin, as he raked his hands up and down her body, made him instantly forget his protests.

The ache abated as he slowly filled her, deeper and deeper until he could go no further. The smoothness of skin upon skin causing her head to roll back in abject pleasure, her only focus the melding of their bodies.

The feel of her nails digging into him almost caused Nick to come, there and then. Stilling his body, he regaining some control. He bent his head forward, foreheads almost touching as he began to make achingly slow movements, so slow she was aware of every inch of him filling her as he slid inside. From her mouth escaped small, panting sounds as she moved her hands to the two indentations at the base of his spine, trying to urge him into a more rapid movement.

Selfishly, he ignored her gesture. His gaze fixated on watching her squirm in pleasure beneath him, the way her eyelids fluttered and her lips trembled as he rocked his hips against her.

She was floating, above her body, watching herself react in ways she had not thought possible. Operating purely on instinct, she pulled his neck towards her, plunged her tongue into his mouth so they were joined completely. Immediately he began to thrust quickly into her; rapid, powerful thrusts, so much so her whole body rocked with the sensation. He began to give into his own desires, the feel of her crippling his restraint as his body, slick with sweat, rubbed against her still half worn dress; his shirt, damp, sticking to his skin.

The friction of his movement began to push her over the edge, so satisfying was the sensation. Arching her head, she stared into his eyes as she felt the passion grow in her belly, expanding as his movements tipped her over and the pulsating release of orgasm flooded her body, inside out.

Watching her unravel beneath him, he removed the last iota of restraint he had held and pushed himself faster and faster, the burning building in him finally exploding as his shuddered to a halt, his fists balling into the soft sheets of her bed as his body jerked involuntarily.

Panting, he collapsed onto her, laying small, hot kisses on her neck, as she wordless tried to process what had just happened. Returning to reality, she felt his weight pushing her into the bed, the material of her dress bunched around her waist, the small buttons of his shirt digging into her skin.

There were no words that could express that moment, so each lay still as the seconds ticked by, before he began to peel himself away, slowly pulling out of her. Then he remembered what had been forgotten in the heat if the moment.

"Jess," he said seriously, eyes flashing to her face, "We didn't use a condom." Realisation flooded her face, how foolish, she was always safe, doubly safe, thank God.

"It's okay," she whispered, "I'm on the pill, don't worry." Relief flooded him as she pushed her hair back from her face.

"Oh, good," he replied quietly as he sunk back into the mattress. No more words passed and eventually they both slipped off their remaining clothing and curled under the covers, falling into fitful sleep.

Yawning, she stretched the crick in her neck as a light pounding began in her head. It was still dark out, too early to be awake. Why had she woken? Then she felt a stirring beside her. Nick. Her cheeks burned with the memory of what they had done only hours earlier. What had come over her?

She felt him move and slide his feet off the bed. He was trying to be quiet; to sneak out, she thought in cool realization. In the darkness she could hear him searching for his clothes, turning over to face him she watched his outline bend over and start pulling on his jeans, left at the foot of the bed. As he finished buttoning the fly, his eyes lifted until he became aware of her watching him. He froze.

"Oh, hey Jess," he said simply whilst she pushed herself a little further up the bed, holding the covers to retain some modesty.

"Hey," she replied shortly as he dipped down and picked up his shirt from where it lay on her side table. "Going?" she finished, seemingly incapable of more than one word a sentence in that moment. He nodded in response.

"Yeah, I thought before, you know-"

"Yeah," she echoed. Her fingers playing with the soft cotton of her comforter as he shrugged on his shirt.

"Jess, about earlier, I-"

"I'm sorry," she blurted out, "I don't know what came over me," she dropped her gaze as the flush once again rose in her.

"Oh, well, I..." he fumbled for words as he tried to think. He hadn't expected her to say that. He was going to tell her that he meant what he said about her; she was special. But instead he stood there like an idiot, gawking. "I'm sorry too then," he finally said.

As he confirmed her fears that he knew this shouldn't have happened, a ball of anxiety grew in her belly and a fixed smile lay on her lips. "We should never-" she began.

"No," he found himself saying involuntarily.

"I mean, Caroline..."

"Yeah, you're right. I guess it was the argument, the beers..."

"I'd had a few glasses of wine," she offered sadly as he stuffed his hands in his pockets and nodded in agreement. The conversation petered out - neither satisfied, though both feeling they had done what they needed to protect themselves, their pride. As he reached for the door he raised his hand to say goodbye before slipping into the cool air of the corridor.

When the door closed, Jess slid back down the bed and her hand moved to the crumpled sheets were he had lain and her fingers balled together in them. You silly, silly girl she chided herself. Why did you do that? Why? She forced her head back into the pillow as she recounted the events of that evening.

The only solace she found was that she had saved face; she'd preempted him saying it was a mistake by doing it herself. She hoped and wished that she would soon forget this ever happened. But in her heart, she knew she couldn't.

Throwing back his own covers, Nick dove into bed, his mind a confused mess of emotions and memories. No, he didn't regret what had happened, it wasn't a mistake. Why did he lie to her? He knew the answer - he was never the one to put his emotions on the line. Ever. That was a mistake, he told himself as he tried to switch off his mind and fall asleep. But he knew that was a lie as she pervaded his dreams, seemingly taunting him even in unconsciousness.

Oh those crazy kids! A review would be lovely - I love to hear what you guys think!