�You had no right to do that Nick, that was so inappropriate.�
�Inappropriate?! Inappropriate?! How was that inappropriate?�
�Last time I checked not only did it say 1984 on my birth certificate but I get monthly periods, I can smoke cigarettes and if I kill a man I�ll go to jail for life. That my friend makes me an adult and whatever I want to do, even if that means going home with a complete stranger then I can make that decision without you hovering over me, whisking me away as if I�m your damn child.�
�I did that for your own good! Note that word you so tactically added in-STRANGER! You don�t know if that guy wasn�t some psycho killer/rapist that wanted to rattle you up some, let alone being at risk for HIV or AIDS, something he might have but you wouldn�t know because he�s a stranger!�
�So has that little factor ever stopped your trouser snake? From what I noticed tonight you had a cluster of lovely young ladies I�m sure would be in this bed right now getting their hair misplaced if you know what I mean. So don�t come to me with that crapiola ok?� Damn she was right about that part. Nick stood there spitting out information that he himself hadn�t taken into account. It was just a blessing that the ones he invited back into his hotel hadn�t some funky STD or worse. But still this wasn�t about him, this was about Tina and Mr. Model who was probably
gonna fuck her till she couldn�t walk the next day. No one and he meant no one was going to touch his future wife. Thought he forgot about that morsel huh?
�I just couldn�t let you go off with him and I�m not going to apologize for that!�
�Why?!�
�Because you�re mine!� Ohh wrong thing to say NC. The look in Tina�s eyes made his arm hair stand up. No he did not just say that she was his?
What? Nah maybe she heard wrong, actually she convinced herself that she heard wrong because that boy would have to be out of his mind to say some shit like that and believe it. Nick intently kept his eyes on her mouth slowly opening to say something before her pounced on her fast.
Nick�s tongue wriggled around hers so fast that her body really couldn�t comprehend what was going on. Had this been any other time she would�ve enjoyed this kiss seeing as though Nick really knew how to move that tongue of his but then she remember exactly what brought them to this point. He just fucking said she was his like she was some damn puppy or some possession he had purchased earlier that day on their shopping trip. Reluctantly she pulled away from Nick�s grasp. Trying hard but failing to catch her breath, Tina looked once more at Nick before running out of the suite. As fast as she could she bypassed the elevator being too impatient to wait for a car to come up. As it all went down Brian and Howie saw her running as if Freddy was behind her with his claws. Both looked at each other in wonder.
�Carter strikes again,� Howie scoffed.
^*^
Luckily for Tina, Nick had already given her the agenda of the next days activities making it easier to ignore Nick all around. Laughter filled the tour bus at Nick�s foil. Never had a girl ran so fast away from him. Nick had enough of hearing the taunts and teasing of the guys. Leave it to them to gloat something like that in his face. Let them laugh it all up, that shit wasn�t going to last.
�Where�s your wife?� Howie laughed. Nick looked up at Howie with hate filled eyes.
�She�s in the next room� he grumbled.
�Well I guess you two better call off that engagement. From what I could tell last night, looks like there�s trouble in paradise.�
�I don�t know Howie, didn�t look like much of paradise to begin with�
Brian laughed. The two men sat amongst each other in a fit of giggles due to Nick�s turmoil. A smile slowly grew across his face. This was going to be fun.
�Keep on laughing shorty and fatty, keep on laughing�.� Nick removed himself from the black leather couch causing the laughter that once filled the room to cease. What was going on in that mind of Nick�s? Tina was scribbling along a pad of tomorrow�s tasks when she felt a dent in the couch behind her. No surprise there on exactly who was behind her. She could smell his cologne. �Can we talk?�
�I�m a little busy,� she said frankly.
�Make yourself unbusy.� Quickly Tina�s head snapped around to face Nick in his rudeness. �I knew that�d get your attention. Anyways I wanted to talk about yesterday night.� There was no way of getting around it.
Eventually they�d have to come to a stalemate of sorts on the grounds of everything that transpired the night before. From Nick�s domineering attitude to that kiss, middle ground was a must if they wanted to maintain a working relationship for the next few months.
�Talk.� Any other man, this task would be hard but being who he was by the end of it all, Tina would be more than convinced that he was sorry.
Nick was just that sure of himself.
�Look I should�ve never said those words that I said to you yesterday. You were right, you are an adult and I should�ve never let the phrase �you are mine� utter from my mouth. I�m not your daddy and that was just plain wrong, so please let me not only apologize for the way I approached you but my actions at the club. I was genuinely worried for you even though I had a stupid way of showing it. Mama taught me better than that and if it�s any consolation, you can slap me just as hard as my mama would. Just to let you know, when she does, she slaps the shit out of me so do your worse.� That was so not fair! It wasn�t fair that Nick had to come in there and make that sympathetic apology. Even offering bodily harm which she should�ve imposed on him but chose against it.
�I�m not gonna hit you Nick, just don�t let that shit happen again ok?�
�Alright.�
�Its just I know what�s best for myself and I have every right to make any decision I want without being made felt bad for that�., but I appreciate your concern for my well being. You were right, he could�ve been Hannibal Lecter for all I knew and thank you for making me think twice about that.�
�Girl you know whenever we�re with each other I�m gonna try to keep you safe. With that I�m gonna pay more attention to you while we�re out so you don�t have to venture off meeting strangers. You shouldn�t have to.�
�Ok, sounds like a plan� she smiled. Well at least that part was settled, still there was one more situation to handle.
�But that�s not all I wanted to talk about.� Slowly Tina looked back at Nick, knowing full well what he wanted to talk about it. The kiss. Yeah she was mad last night for his actions but there was no way she could pretend that that kiss he delivered wasn�t hot. When she made it back to the bus her whole body shook. For the rest of her night she couldn�t really function. Sleep came hard and thoughts that played along her mind were far from pure. Nick not only made her mad he made her horny.
�Well um maybe we can talk later cuz I have to uh--um--yuh--um, damn.�
A small chuckle escaped Nick�s lips. Tina was trying to find any way to get out of that situation she was in only to find that there wasn�t one. After the show they were back on the road again hitting up Sacramento, being on a moving bus left limited excuses of what one had to do. In Tina�s case in finding something to get out of a hairy setting. Nick moved closer to Tina, which made her move further away. This process continued until there was no more couch to slide down. Any sane person would�ve just jumped up from the couch but the moment Nick placed his eyes on her she was smitten.
�Why do you keep fighting it?�
�Fighting what?� she choked.
�This attraction, you know you want me as much as I want you, no?�
�Nick--you�re my boss. I can�t be with you like that. Friends yes--more no.�
�Tina if you want to delude yourself into thinking that this entire time we�ll be nothing more than friends then fine.� Talk about an awkward silence. Basically she had no clue on what to say after that. Seriously they could only be friends. Any more would be just wrong. She wasn�t there for a boyfriend, she was there for a job. A job that would help with college tuition and if she saved just right a new car. Simply put she was just gonna have to stick to her guns and ignore the advances of one Nickolas G. Carter. Yup that was the plan�that was the plan until Nick�s soft lips gently touched the left side of her face showering it with soft kisses until they made their way straight to her mouth he anxiously desired as he laid alone in his bed that night. Expertly running his tongue along hers, he was cementing the very fact in his mind that when Nick wanted something, Nick got it. Whether that was solos in the groups songs, clothes, movie deals or women, there was nothing he wanted for and that included Tina. Finally they parted looking deep within each others eyes. �I got some movies in the other room. Spend some time with me.�
�Ok� she whispered. Nick got up from the couch and held his hand out for her. When she placed hers in his, Nick grinned knowing full well everything was going to plan. Together they walked through the very same room Brian and Howie sat laughing at him in. They weren�t laughing now, instead scowling at the display of affection quite opposite of what they had seen that previous night before when she was running away from him.
�Hey um, go on in there I have to get them out of my bag.�
�Ok.� Tina said nothing to the guys since they were still treating her like a leper. Nick waited until Tina was fully out of hearing distance.
The grin Nick sported wasn�t really one of happiness, more like one old cartoon villains had like an evil grin of sorts. Brian was now growing pissed at Nick�s actions. Swiftly removing himself from the chair he was sitting in, Brian stood eye to eye with Nick.
�This shit is getting ridiculous Nick. We know all about Paula, but I�m sure Tina doesn�t. End this shit now before you hurt her.�
�Brian, I�m not going to hurt her.�
�Not intentionally but you will. It�s not fair to her, you can look at her and tell that she�s not ready for your bullshit.�
�Get out of my face Brian,� he groaned. �You don�t know shit about me.�
�No, see I know all about you and that�s what I don�t like.� Nick said nothing, just laughed in his face and walked around him as if he had said nothing.
