�You did invite me right?�
�Definitely.� She left Nickolas inside. �I took the opportunity and ordered for you. I hope you don�t mind.�
�Depends on what it is.�
�Steak; unless you want the pasta.�
�Steak�s fine.� They sat down. �But you�re better.� She smiled at him, as they began to eat. �Why didn�t we just go out somewhere?�
�I really didn�t want to be around a lot of people. Don�t you want to be alone with me?�
�Of course I do.� He smiled.
�I�m glad.�
�Besides, if we weren�t alone I wouldn�t be able to get as horny as I am right now looking at you in that damn dress�damn girl.� Sunshine smiled at him. �You know how to turn me on.� Sunshine just continued smiling and they sat there a moment eating in silence.
�I have to be truthful, Nick.� He looked at her. �There�s a reason I wanted to have dinner with you and not because of some stupid game.�
�What�s that?�
�I wanted to apologize for the way I�ve been treating you lately. I did a lot of thinking and realized it was totally wrong of me. I should�ve never treated you the way I did and I�m sorry. I guess I�m hoping you�ll forgive me.� She looked up from her food and looked at him, as he continued looking at her.
�Maybe I will. You did admit to being wrong, ya know, and did say sorry, ya know. You also seem very sorry for it, ya know.�
�I am sorry.�
�How sorry?�
�Very sorry. I�m sorry to the point where I�m miserable without you and want�� She stopped herself before she said anymore. �I�m really sorry, Nick.�
�What do you want, Sunnie?� He looked at her interested.
�Nothing; forget it. Let�s just finish eating.�
�Why don�t you want to tell me? I promise I won�t laugh or get mad.�
�So how�s the tour going?�
Nickolas looked at her a little annoyed that she didn�t answer the question. �The tour�s going fine. None of us got hurt yet.�
�That�s good. When will you be done?�
�I guess the beginning of June if everything goes to plan and then we start the American leg the end of August and finish about mid-November I believe.�
�Bite?� She held up her fork to him. �It�s really good.� Nickolas ate what was on Sunshine�s fork then gave her a bite of his. �According to my personal trainer I have to cut back on all the meats I eat. I can�t eat so much. Especially those fatty foods I eat, ya know.�
�I can see that lasting.�
�It�s been over a year, Carter, and I haven�t had much fatty foods. And I haven�t been eaten every time something bothers me.�
�I�ve noticed that.� She grinned. �Who is this personal trainer?� She looked at him.
�Why are you interested?�
�Is it male or female?�
She waited a second then said, �It�s Brad.�
�Oh.�
�You have nothing to be jealous of.�
�I�m not.�
�Right.� They continued eating and talking for the next fifteen minutes or so. After they were done they sat and talked while listening to music. When 98 Degrees� �I Do Cherish You� came on Sunshine said, �Dance with me.� Nickolas smiled and got up. He took Sunshine�s hand and pulled her out of her seat. They began dancing and Sunshine looked at him. �Remember this song?�
�It�s the first song we danced to.� He kissed her forehead. �I�m not as stupid as you think.�
�I never did think you were stupid.� She put her arms around him and laid her head on his chest. They danced for a few minutes not saying a word and Sunshine wrapped her arms tighter around him.
�What are you thinking about, Sweets?�
�That I don�t want this moment to end.�
�It doesn�t have to.� She smiled and breathed in his scent.
�What are you thinking about?�
�How much I want to rip this dress off you.� She giggled and Nickolas smiled.
�Don�t ruin the moment.�
�Sorry.� They looked at each other. �What�s for desert?�
�Whatever you want.�
�Then how about my favorite; you.� She smiled at him. �Or yours; strawberries with chocolate sauce.�
�Then you order while I go pee.� She left him go and ran to the bathroom, as Nickolas chuckled.
Nickolas called down to the kitchen and ordered the desert. After Sunshine got out of the bathroom they continued dancing until there was a knock at the door.
�I�ll get it.� He went and answered the door, leaving the guy in. He gave him a tip and the guy left. �Stay where you are.�
�Why?�
�Close your eyes.� Sunshine did as requested and Nickolas picked up three red roses and a strawberry. He walked over to Sunshine and said, �Open your mouth.� He took a bite of the strawberry.
�What are you going to do?�
�Just open your mouth.� She waited a second then slowly opened her mouth and Nickolas set the half of strawberry in her mouth. Instead of eating the strawberry she opened her eyes and they looked at each other. She put the strawberry between her teeth and just looked at Nickolas. Nickolas smiled and leaned down and kissed her; with the strawberry in her mouth. Sunshine licked the strawberry juices from his mouth and teased his lips with her own. �Mmm.� He licked his lips and she smiled. �I think that was the tastiest kiss I�ve ever had.� She continued smiling and kissed him again.
�There�s a lot more where that came from.�
�I can�t wait.� He winked. �Close your eyes again.� She just looked at him and did as told and he kissed her. She went to kiss him in return, but he pulled away. �Don�t open those eyes until I say.� He looked at her a moment then put two of the roses behind his back. �You may open them now.� Sunshine opened her eyes and saw the rose and smiled while taking it.
�It�s beautiful.�
�But not as beautiful as you.� She continued smiling. �One rose is for being so gorgeous.� He handed her another rose. �Two roses are for letting me in your life a million times.� He handed her the last rose and she put them to her nose to smell them. �And three roses are for how much I love you.� She just smiled at him and they kissed. After the kiss they wrapped their arms around each other and just danced.
Nickolas rested his forehead on Sunshine�s and sang along with the music, �Sometimes when we touch/the honesty�s too much/then I have to close my eyes and hide/I wanna hold you �til I die/�til we both break down and cry/I wanna hold you �til the fear in me subsides.� Sunshine smiled. �Romance and all it�s strategy/leaves me battling with my pride/but through all the insecurity/some tenderness survives/I'm just another writer/still trapped within my truth/a hesitant prize fighter/still trapped within my youth�� Sunshine continued smiling and he kissed her.
They continued dancing a few moments then Sunshine said, �I notice the way your eyes sparkle and you never stop smiling. I miss the taste of your soft sweet strawberry lips and the way you wrap your arms around me when we kiss.� Nickolas just looked at her in shock. �You wrote those words right?�
�Only to you.� They smiled. �I was wondering what happened to that letter. I thought I misplaced it, but here you stole it.�
�I didn�t steal it. It had my name on it so I took it.�
�Without permission.� He kissed her.
�Does it matter? I would�ve took it either way.�
�Of course you would�ve.�
�Tonight was fun.� She hugged him. �I�m glad we had this time together.�
�So am I, but I have to go.�
�Now? It�s only eleven.�
�Josephine is probably wondering where I am.�
�She�s with D so I highly doubt you�re on her mind.� He just looked at her. �Just stay a little bit longer. Please.�
�But I should go and be with my girlfriend.�
�Stay until 11:30 then you can go. I promise.�
�I need to spend time with my girlfriend though. She flew all this way to see me.�
�Never stopped ya before so please stay. I promise I won�t do anything to make ya mad.�
�Sunnie��
�Please, Nick. I don�t want to be alone.�
They looked at each other for the longest time and Nickolas smiled saying, �I could�ve said yes the first time you asked, but I like watching you beg.�
�You jerk.� She went to slap him playfully, but Nickolas grabbed her hand and kissed her. They started dancing again for a few minutes then Sunshine asked, �Nicky�will you marry me?�
�Excuse me?� He stopped the dance and they looked at each other. �Did you just ask me to marry you?�
�Yeah.� She smiled.
�Are you serious?� Sunshine just looked at him to show she was very serious. �Sunnie, marriage is a very big commitment. Are you sure you�re ready for this?�
�Yes; I want to marry you.�
�But we�re still young yet and you�re just getting started with your career.� He looked at her, wanting to say yes, but he knew exactly what he was doing. �I don�t think now�s the time to take that giant step and commit to spending our lives together forever.�
�So you don�t want to get married.� She left him go and walked away a little disappointed and embarrassed. �I understand.�
�Sunnie, I don�t want you to be mad. I just don�t think it�s the right decision.�
�I�m not mad. A part of me knew you were going to say no, but the other part was hoping��
He walked over to her and took her hands in his. They looked at each other and he said, �I�m very flattered you asked me and I�d love to marry you someday, because I love you with all my heart and soul.�
�I understand, Nick. You don�t have to explain. Maybe you should just go and be with your girlfriend.�
�It�s not 11:30 yet and this time it ain�t going to be so easy for you to get me out of your life.�
�Well, I want you to go.�
�First answer my question. Do you want me?�
�Of course I want you. Why do you think I asked you to marry me?�
�Since you do want me, I ain�t going anywhere until I feel like it and until I know you�re not mad at me.�
�I�m not mad at you, Nicky.�
�Then prove it.�
�How? By letting you make love to me?�
�That�s a good idea, but no. I�ll settle for a kiss.�
�Just a kiss?�
�Just a kiss. I promise. Unless it happens to turn into something more. I still have that urge to rip that dress off you.� Sunshine gave a slight grin and kissed him while trying not to cry.
�Maybe we should finish desert. I don�t want good strawberries to go to waste.�
�Then I�ll feed them to ya one by one.� He picked them up off the cart and joined Sunshine on the bed. �And after each one I�ll kiss your soft sweet strawberry lips and make you the happiest girl on earth.�
�I already am.� They both smiled and kissed.
CHAPTER 9
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