CH 4 2

After Gia cried all her tears out, Nik pulled back and looked at her.

“Are you OK, did he hurt you?” Nik asked concerned.

Realizing that she must look so weak and fragile to this guy in front of her, Gia pulled herself together.

“Yeah I’m fine, he just hit me across the face and that hurt but I’m fine.”

Nikolas brought his hand up, pushing back the braids that had come undone behind her ear. Noticing the cut on her left cheek that was starting to swell up. Gia was shocked at herself by letting him touch her like that. Normally she would have slapped his hand away but there was something about this guy that made her trust him. 

“I don’t think you are” Nik said.

“I’m, I’m fine” Gia said, trying to convince both him and herself.

“Did... he... he rape you?” Nik asked gently.

“No, you came in just in time” Gia said looking down at her hands.

"Look, you can’t tell anyone about this OK? I would be so embarrassed if anyone found out” Gia said, slowly shaking her head.

“Embarrassed? Why?” Nik asked shocked.

“Look I’m known to be a tuff girl from Brooklyn to all my friends. I should have been able to get him off of me, or better yet I shouldn’t have even let myself be up here alone with him” Gia said with an ashamed look on her face.

“What are you talking about?” Nik asked.

“Look that guy was strong OK? I had a hard time pulling him away from you. This is not your fault” Nik said.

“Well maybe it’s my clothes.” Gia said looking down at herself.

“I mean I’m not exactly modest about my body.” She said.

At this Nik gabbed her hands and looked into her eyes. “Look…” 

“Gia.” she gave him.

“Gia.” Nik said with a quick smile, why does that sound so familiar? Nik thought.

Getting serious again, “This is NOT your fault. That guy is an asshole. He’s a pig and he tried to rape you! Don’t let him win by telling yourself that this is your fault. Yes you’re a very beautiful girl with a great body.” Nik said. Gia blushed.

“But you did nothing to bring this on yourself.”

“You have a right to be hurt and scared,” Nik said as Gia burst into tears again. Nik held on to her, not wanting to let her go and rocked her, whispering soothing words in her ear. When Gia looked up at Nikolas he lost himself and did what he wanted to do the second he saw her and kissed her. Nik was surprised that she didn’t pull away. Instead she welcomed his tongue in her mouth, matching the rhythm of the kiss to his. When they separated, Gia smiled at him.

“Thank you for being to so nice to me.” Gia said with a genuine smile that made Nik’s heart skip a beat.

“You don’t have to worry Gia, I won’t let that guy hurt you again.” Nik said with his hands in hers.

“Why are you being so nice to me, you barley know me?” Gia asked, tears flowing again.

“I... I can’t explain it but something makes me want to protect you.” Nik said gently, he went to touch her face but she flinched, as more tears dropped.

“Gia...” Nik said, thinking again that he had heard that name before.

“ I think you should get this looked at.” Nik said with concerned, pushing away the braids that kept falling from behind her ear back again.

“I can’t.” Gia said, shaking her head.

“Get the hell away from her, Cassadine!!” Juan yelled with rage when he burst into the room.

“Cassadine?” Gia said slowly, pulling back.