She walked out of the bathroom with her bra and underwear and pulled on a pair of black pants when Nick entered her room. He was wearing a black and white shirt and a pair of blue jeans.
�Is Larry on his way?� He nodded,
�He should be. I haven�t talked to him since last night. He probably figures you�ll keep me on time and he doesn�t need to call and check on me.� She smiled and pulled her shirt over her head. After a day of relaxation she felt like a new person. She didn�t want to feel (or look) like the walking dead anymore. She wasn�t an ugly girl and she was tired of looking like one. She even had on make-up and she flat ironed her hair so it was bone straight and up away from her face with a clip. He leaned down, captured her face in his hands and kissed her. She gave in and wrapped her arms around his neck and returned a kiss that was more intense than she had ever had. She moaned as his tongue delved into her mouth. She could hear herself moan and the more they kissed the louder and longer she voiced her pleasure. Her head was floating, her knees were failing her and she reluctantly broke the kiss and sat on the bed. He took it as an invitation to get more comfortable and pushed her on her back before lying on top of her.
He ran his hand over her forehead and back through her hair,
�You should wear your hair down.� She put her hair up because James liked it up. She wanted to look nice for him. She wanted him to remember why he had been attracted to her, why he wanted to marry her. Her eyes met his and she whispered,
�James likes it up.� She didn�t know why she told him that. He didn�t care about that. James was the last person on Earth Nick would ever think about. In fact, no matter what, she didn�t think Nick would ever like James. It was like James had taken over his territory. It didn�t make perfect sense to her but logic didn�t factor into emotions. Common sense told her she was lucky to have James and she shouldn�t endanger their relationship and pending marriage but emotions drove her to make love to Nick.
�Please, wear it down�for me.� She stared at his lip and she must have agreed because he told her,
�Thank you.� before leaning down and capturing her bottom lip in his mouth and sucking it. She ran her hands up and down his back, something she loved to do. He was so broad and being close to him made her feel so much more like a woman, it was hard to describe but she loved being near him. She didn�t want to stop and they wouldn�t have it the doorbell didn�t ring.
�You get that while I finish getting ready.� He plunged his tongue in her mouth one last time before leaving the room and closing the door after him.
She was on cloud nine as she reapplied her make-up then let her hair fall down. As she brushed her hair she could hear Larry and Nick talking. She quickly threw the brush on the bed and went out to greet him.
�Good morning.� She smiled and hugged him,
�Hi.� He took notice of her and nodded his head,
�You look great this morning. In fact, � He stood back and looked her up and down,
�You look quite refreshed.� She wasn�t sure but she felt there was something behind his compliment.
�Thanks.� He smiled broadened and she felt like she was on the defensive,
�It was nothing a hot shower and a good night�s sleep didn�t do.� He nodded,
�That�s all it was? That�s great.� Before she could say anything he gave his attention to Nick,
�Kid hurry up. You knew I was coming. Why aren�t you ready?� He looked at her,
�He�s always running late.� Nick came out with his bag,
�I just needed to put a few things in that I used this morning. Give me a break.� Larry rolled his eyes and nodded,
�Yeah, yeah. I was just telling Quinn how great you both look. You look like new people.� He winked at her before heading towards the door and holding it open for them. Could he see something? Had her demeanor changed? Nate was there last night and he never gave the impression that there was anything different between her and Nick. And if there was one thing her brother was good at it was telling her how he felt about something going on in her life.
When she flaked out her sophomore year in college and her family found out she was getting mostly C�s in her classes it was her brother who effectively put her back in her place and on the right track. Her brother was definitely her protector. He looked out for her even when she didn�t think she needed it.
�Well, I guess sleep works wonders.� Nick said as she grabbed her purse and keys and followed them out the door.
What about James? If Larry noticed something surely he would too. But the fact that Nate hadn�t noticed anything made her think Larry was just grasping at straws. She was just have to stay away from Nick while they were at the hospital and not get too comfortable with him. It was one thing to not yell and be completely mean but it would be very noticeable if they were suddenly bosom buddies connected to each other�s hips. Everyone would notice that.
The key was to be nice to everyone, everyone that she hadn�t been nice to before. Basically that meant everyone who was there for Nick. From his band mates to his family. His only family there was Jane and she wasn�t sure if she waned to be too nice to that woman. She sat in the back as they made their way to the hospital and all she really wanted to think about was her day with Nick. It was nice, it was relaxing, and it was fun. And the intimate moments were definitely not regretted. She knew she should feel bad but she didn�t. She didn�t even feel bad for not feeling guilty. That had to have meant something. Did it mean that it was right? That she and Nick were natural? She just never felt wrong when she and Nick were together. It felt so good. She smiled, and not just physically. She closed her eyes and daydreamed of all the things Nick did to her the day before.
Nick opened her door for her and pulled her into a hug. She closed her eyes and sighed, it just felt so right.
�Nothing is going to change when we walk in that hospital.� She held on tight and listened to him,
�No more arguing and fighting. No more friends and family trying to control things. This is you and me. She�s our daughter.� He pulled her back with his hands on her shoulders,
�Right?� She nodded her head,
�Yeah.� He looked at her sternly,
�I need you to support me Quinn.� She knew what he meant. She could no longer sit back and allow James and her friends to diminish his presence, his role and his say so in their daughter�s life. He was MacKenzie�s father and he shouldn�t be disrespected by anyone, even her fianc�e.
She nodded her head,
�I know, I will.� He looked as if he needed more reassurance and she said it again,
�I will support you Nick. You�re her father�no one else.� He kissed her on the forehead and she closed her eyes again as she felt his lips on her skin. She wanted more, she wished she could have more but it just wasn�t appropriate. Not in public, not in front of strangers walking by and Larry standing right there.
Chapter 88 cont'd