Author's Note-I continue to be astounded by the reception this is receiving Thank you all so much. I couldn't do this without all of your kind, encouraging words. If I don't reply to you I'm sorry, I forget or get busy, but know that I appreciate every single review and every single reader. Thank you all. NYLF xx
Kate flopped down onto the couch, a little way away from Rick, and leaned her head back into the cushions, her eyes slipping closed as she sighed.
"Everything go okay?" Rick asked softly. Kate nodded slowly, rolling her head to meet his eyes.
"Good as gold. Your kid's an angel Rick." She smiled tenderly. Rick flashed her a proud grin before reaching for her feet and dragging them onto his lap, making Kate twist around to lean her back against the armrest "What are you doing?" Kate asked only a tad nervously. Rick's smile softened as he firmly worked the muscles in the ball of her foot with his thumbs, revelling in the whispered moan that fell from her lips at the manipulation.
"Y'know, you're pretty tall without the power heels Kate. You don't need to wear them all the time." Kate chuckled deep in her throat, making Rick's heart stutter.
"I like the way they make me feel." She murmured. Rick chuckled.
"What? You like sore feet and pulled leg muscles?" Kate shot him a withering look which slid headlong into affection when his thumb found a particularly tender spot. "Because, I like you at five nine, you don't need to try and be six." Kate laughed and shook her head, pressing her heel into his thigh just a little when he worked a tense muscle.
"They make me feel powerful. In control." Kate murmured slowly. Rick squeezed her ankle and switched feet.
"You are in control Kate." He murmured, this conversation suddenly a lot more serious than it was before. "Heels or flats, you are in control." Kate's eyes fluttered open and found him staring at her.
"Alexis asked if I was her new mommy." She wasn't sure where that came from. She had meant to keep that little titbit to herself, at least until she knew where Rick and she stood in their brand new, only hours old, relationship. But apparently her traitorous brain decided this was the moment to bring this minefield up. She swallowed and dropped her gaze to her hands, determined not to see the anger she was sure would be in his eyes.
"What did you tell her?" Rick asked, his tone carefully blank. She wouldn't look at him and that made him nervous as to her own stance on the issue. He watched as Kate swallowed hard again and if he didn't know better, he could have sworn her hands were shaking just a little. He fought the urge to reach out to her, thinking she'd probably need the distance, emotional and physical, to have this conversation with a steady voice and dry eyes.
"That I'm not trying to be her mom. But I do care about her and she can come to me, about anything." Kate paused, her eyes glancing up at him a little guiltily before looking back to her hands. "Then I said that no matter how close you and I get, I won't ever overstep and try and make myself her mom." She shook her head, running a nervous hand through her hair. "I overstepped didn't I?" Rick chuckled and reached for her then, dragging her by her waist so she was sat sideways on his lap. He gently kissed her temple.
"I think that was a really good answer for someone who had no idea the question was coming." Kate huffed out a relieved chuckle. "We'll talk to her. Tomorrow maybe? Tell her about us." Kate smiled shyly.
"I think I'd like that." Rick smiled brightly and kissed her cheek, leaning his forehead against her temple as he enjoyed her soft weight on his lap. "Hey, Rick?" Kate asked quietly, that shy tone back again. Rick braced himself.
"Hmm?" He murmured against her ear, trying hard not to smile smugly at the pleasant shiver that shook her every muscle.
"Do you mind if we don't sleep together yet?" Rick pulled back as she twisted her torso to face him, her pink lower lip trapped between her brilliant white teeth. "I mean, we can sleep together just not, y'know, sleep together." Rick chuckled at her sudden lack of eloquence.
"So we can share a bed but you don't wanna have sex?" Rick broke it down, forcing himself not to laugh as she blushed.
"Do you mind? It's just..." Rick leaned forward and kissed her softly, stopping the rambling before it started.
"You don't have to explain yourself to me, Kate. I told you, I'm not going to rush you. I want you to feel secure and safe and confident with me, within yourself, before I make love to you." Kate's cheeks reddened further and Rick gave her a soft smile. "You tell me when you're ready Kate; we'll do this at your pace." Kate kissed him slowly, taking her time to trace the contours on his mouth with her curious, deviant tongue.
"Thank you." She whispered, resting their foreheads together once she'd pulled back. Rick smiled and kissed the tip of her nose gently, making her giggle.
"You don't need to thank me for this Kate. So long as you're happy, so am I."