AN:  Yay!  Nick and Cat: verbal fighting commences.  Fun for all.

inspiredthoughts@hotmail.com


*********************** Curiosity Killed... Chapter Sixteen ***********************



When I wake up again it's close to nine, a much nicer time to be awake.  I roll out of the 
bunk and land on the floor with a thud.  I yawn, content to sprawl in the middle of the 
aisle, and scratch my head.  

Nick, who was in the kitchen fixing himself a sandwich, steps over me on his way towards 
the back.  I watch his retreating backside and tilt my head, studying his butt with an 
unbiased opinion.  

You know, maybe those teenies are on to something after all.  

I sigh and stand slowly, pleased to find my stupid thigh isn't bothering me nearly so much 
anymore.  I consider fixing myself a meal before shrugging the impulse off and walking 
carefully back towards the back where Nick has disappeared to again.

Curiosity.  Cat.  You understand.  

I open the door to find him sprawled on the couch, a Play Station controller in his hands.  
He has a backwards baseball cap on and looks all of twelve.  He doesn't look up at my 
intrusion, big surprise, but says, "Go away," I a command of bored indifference.  

Do I listen?

Nah.  

I close the door behind me as I come on in and throw myself down on the sofa next to Nick.  
He glares at me sideways with his fierce blue gaze but keeps most of his attention fixed to 
the television.  "Whatcha playing?"  

"None of your business."  

I raise a brow at his arch tone and smile, preparing to enjoy myself.  "Can I play?"

"No," comes the short reply.  

My smile grows.  "Why not?"  

"Because I said so."

"Well that's hardly being hospitable," I chide.  

Nick snorts and sounds suspiciously like Kevin.  "I let you sleep in my bunk."

"I didn't sleep in your bunk.  I slept in a spare bunk."

"Oh yeah?" he demands, "How could you tell?"  

I bat my eyes even though he's not paying attention; it's all about form children, and 
answer, "Because there wasn't blood on the sheets."  

"Dammit!" Nick curses fiercely, "I died." 

"Again?  Oh no!"  

He throws the controller down and glares fully at me as I twirl a lock of hair innocently.  
"You know," Nick growls, "I can see why Kevin tried to smack you around."  

"AJ likes me."  

"AJ has bad taste."  

I bristle at the insult.  "Howie kissed me."  

Nick's golden brows rise slowly.  "Oh really?"  

"Twice," I say and watch, perplexed, as Nick straightens and studies me with renewed interest.  
"And Kevin kissed me too."  

"Did he?" comes the amused answer.  

I frown as Nick slides closer to me on the couch.  "Umm, yeah, twice."  Nick slides closer 
still and hello, did we forget about personal space?  "What are you doing?" I whisper loudly 
as a very close and personal Backstreet Boy stares down at me.  

His bangs are sticking out of the band of his cap and his eyes, usually so brilliantly 
sapphire, deepen to a perfect shade of navy blue.  His fingers come up and trace my lips 
softly and I have a moment to panic before he whispers, "Evening the score," and kisses me.  

Hello and welcome to Nick Land.  First stop, tongue.  Very nice tongue.  Very talented 
tongue.  But, hi, tongue, my name is Cat.  We haven't really met because, well, I usually 
don't meet tongues on the first kiss. 

Wow.  Nice Nick kissing.  These teenies might really be on to something.  And, well, its not 
Kevin with oozing seduction and the promise of sweet darkness but well, its pretty darn nice.  
I'm pleasantly surprised.  That and its very nice to get kissed without getting sucked into 
happy, blissful oblivion like Kevin tends to do with me.

We break apart after a couple very, very nice minutes of Nick's amazing tongue.  I'm happy 
to note we're both somewhat more rumpled for wear and breathing heavily.  "Wow," he breathes 
as his fingers trace my slightly swollen lips anew.  "Again?" he asks, hopeful, eyes flaring 
cerulean.  

"How about I take a rain check on that."  

Nick frowns for a moment.  "Is sex out for now then too?"  

I roll my eyes.  "Well, yeah."  

"All right," he agrees with a shrug and, after a slight adjustment, picks up his controller 
and starts a new game.

I shrug and sit up, watching for all of thirty seconds before asking, "Can I play?"

"No."

"Why not?" 

"Didn't we just HAVE this conversation?" Nick demands, exasperated.  

I grin cheekily.  "I don't remember.  I'm a Cat, not an elephant."  

"Don't be so sure," Nick mutters.  

I pinch him and he swears, colorfully.  

"I'm going to kiss you again if you don't stop annoying me!"  

I consider this carefully, then shrug.  "That's a risk I'm willing to take.  Can I play?  
Can I play?  Can I play?  Pleeaaaasssseeeee?"  

Nick growls with absolute disgust and pauses the game.  I watch, amused, as he stalks over 
to the cabinets around the TV and rips out a second game controller.  He plugs it in and 
flings it savagely in my hands before sitting back down, sullen.  

I smile serenely and demurely prepare to kick Nick Carter's ass.  "Thank you."  

"You're not welcome."  

Wow, this wake up went a LOT better than the first one.  I should get to go back to sleep 
for four hours every morning.