Chapter 14

The week passed excruciatingly slow for Tara. Every day, she dragged herself into work and watched the chatroom with a hawk's eye, printing out the latest updates to the webpage, collecting as much as possible to show to the guys when the weekend came. Andy was over at her apartment every night, going over the latest with her, and begging her for more details about how "his AJ" was doing.

And every night, after Andy left, Nick would call, and Tara found herself on the phone with him for hours, talking about anything and everything. She found herself genuinely looking forward to seeing him when Friday night rolled around, and for more reasons than just showing him the latest website update.

As she had the week before, Tara's flight landed in Dallas late Friday night. She was shuttled to the boys' hotel by a bodyguard, and shown up to Nick's room. This time, she opened the door herself, calling out a hello as she walked inside.

Nick was on top of her in an instant, grabbing her tight in a bear hug and refusing to let go. "Francine," he said softly, pulling her body against his as his arms wrapped around her back.

"Smartass," Tara replied, smiling wryly when she tried to pull away and herself unable to. "Nick? Can I put my bag down?"

Nick pulled away with a chuckle, grabbing her bag from her and leading her into the room. "Yeah, yeah, come in," he smiled, putting her things down. "You tired? Thirsty? Hungry?"

Tara shook her head, looking at her curiously. "You feeling alright, Nick?"

"Sure, why wouldn't I be?" He asked, sitting down on the couch and motioning for her to do the same.

"You're being awfully courteous," she said suspiciously.

"Courteous?" Nick shrugged. "Can't I just be nice?"

"Yes, but," Tara sat down and frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Why would you say something's wrong?"

"Because you haven't made one smartass comment since I walked in the door," Tara replied evenly. "Why are you the only one here? Where are the other guys?"

Nick ran a hand though his hair, "they're in their rooms."

"Why?"

"Because I threw them out," Nick said softly.

"And why did you do that?"

Nick sighed, and shook his head, "can't we just forget about that for a while? Be happy, not think about this guy?"

Tara looked at him closely, "tell me what's wrong, Nick, then we can forget about it, ok? Why did you throw them out?"

"He called again," Nick said, fidgeting uncomfortably. "Last night."

"But…"

"I know I didn't tell you last night," Nick shrugged. "I didn't want you to worry."

Tara smiled weakly, "Nick, I worry about all of you anyway."

"Yeah, well," Nick made a face. "I tried. Anyway, he called Kevin, said that he would get me, when we got to the place where first person shooter games were born, since he intended to play a first person game with me. Kevin doesn't understand what that means," Nick ran a hand through his hair, and shuddered. "I do."

"That means Dallas, I get that, yeah. But that still doesn't explain why you threw them out," Tara frowned. "We're in Dallas. Why the hell would you want to be alone?"

"Because I'm scared shitless and wasn't doing a very good job of hiding it!" Nick said angrily. "Because they're already looking at me like I'm going to fall over at any moment, and it would just be worse if they knew that this asshole said he's coming after me NOW. Because I just wanted…" his words trailed off, and he sighed heavily. "Doesn't matter."

"Wanted what, Nick?" Tara prompted him gently.

Nick looked at her, his blue eyes bright. "I just wanted you to get here. I knew you'd understand what that clue meant, and I knew you wouldn't look at me like you pity me. They do."

"I'm worried about you, just like they are."

"It's different," Nick said softly. "It's like they think I'm not worried, so they have to do it for me. You know how scared I am."

"Did you tell the FBI about that call? What it meant?" Tara asked him.

"Yes. They have extra security downstairs," Nick rolled his eyes. "You know, that doesn't make me feel much better…"

"I'm so sorry Nick," Tara said softly. She sat looking at Nick for a moment, before wrapping her arms around his back, hugging him. "I'm so, so sorry," she murmured, feeling his hand come up to tangle in her hair.

"Not your fault."

"I know, but," she hesitantly reached up and ran a hand through his hair, smiling when she felt the silky strands under her fingers. "I feel like I need to say something, do something."

Nick pulled away slightly to look into her eyes, a light smile on his face. "You're helping just by being here," he told her, running a hand along the side of her face. "I knew you'd understand how I felt."

"I do." Tara bit her lip as she stared into the brightest blue eyes she'd ever seen, trying to decide if she should do what she really wanted to do next. She turned her head to nuzzle the palm stroking her cheek, smiling when she heard Nick's breath catch in his throat. "Nick…"

"I should…do…god…" Nick pulled his hand away, with a sigh of regret. "I can't, not this…"

Tara grabbed his hand before he could get up, and shook her head. "Why don't you want to do this, Nick?" She asked softly, running her fingers over his palm.

"Because, Tara," Nick's eyes widened when she brought his hand to her mouth, gently kissing his fingers. "Tara?" He asked in amazement, staring at her in surprise. "But, what…"

"Maybe you're not such a pretty boy after all," Tara mused, taking her time as she kissed each of his fingertips, loving his startled gasps with each touch of her lips.

"But, oh god…" Nick's word ended in a strangled cry when Tara took his index finger into her mouth, her tongue swirling over the tip. His eyes couldn't grow any wider as he watched her lips move on to another finger, good god, what was she doing to him….

"Or maybe I'm just learning to like pretty boys," she let go of his hand and looked into his eyes, smiling at him. "What do you think, Nick?" She asked coyly, tilting her head at him.

"I don't care," Nick said in a husky voice, before grabbing her face in his hands and kissing her deeply. His hands slid down her neck to her back, and he pulled her closer to him as they remained locked together. Hesitantly, his tongue flickered over her lips, and he heard a soft moan leave Tara's throat as she opened her mouth to him. "Tara," he groaned, losing himself in the taste of her, his tongue exploring her mouth, playing over her teeth, her tongue….god, he had wanted this so badly.

Tara's hands returned to Nick's hair, tightening around the blonde locks to hold his head in place. Never in her life had she been kissed like this, and she never wanted it to end. She could only stare at Nick in amazement when he pulled away, gasping for breath. "Nick?" She whispered.

"Will you yell at me if I ask you to come to bed with me?" Nick said in a seductive tone, smiling at her.

"Only if you promise you're thinking very dirty thoughts," she replied with a similar grin.

"Oh, I am," Nick stood up and pulled her into his arms, again finding her lips ready and waiting for him. He found himself swept up in the kiss, his passion taking him over, and slid a hand underneath her shirt, lifting it up and over her head before he'd completely realized what he was doing.

"Nicky," Tara breathed, standing on tip toe, she was forced to lean into him to remain upright as his kisses made her knees weaker and weaker. She felt him deftly unhook her bra, and was only slightly aware of it being flung across the room, before she felt a set of fingers playing over her breast. "Oh god," was all she could say, clinging to Nick's chest as their tongues danced together, her back arching into his hand.

"You're too short," Nick remarked, leaning her back over his arm as his lips slid down her neck, his tongue licking a path down the hollow of her throat, and over to one erect nipple. He caught the rosy peak between his teeth and bit down gently, grinning when he heard a moan leave Tara's throat at the touch. "You like that," he murmured, licking over her before biting down again.

"Nick," Tara's hands were dug into his shirt, clutching the material tight in her fists. She groaned and nearly fell when his fingers wrapped around her other breast, and she gasped, "I'm going to fall, Nick."

Nick chuckled and bent down, sweeping her up into his arms before she had a chance to react. "Can't have that happening, can we," he told her, capturing her lips in another kiss as he walked into the bedroom. He threw her onto the bed, laughing when she scowled at him. "What?"

"Just throw me down like a sack of potatoes, why don't you," she joked, sitting up and reaching out for him. "Come here."

"I promise you, Tara," Nick pulled off his own shirt before joining her on the bed. "I've never wanted to do things like this to a sack of potatoes."

"I should hope not," Tara sighed happily when Nick crawled on top of her, and pressed her body up against his, relishing the feeling of his skin against hers. She ran her hands down his back, and around to the front of his pants, working at the buckle impatiently.

Nick pushed her hands away to finish the task himself, quickly undoing his pants and pushing them down, along with his boxers. He stared at her for a moment when he was finally naked above her, smiling when he saw her eyes fixed on him. "You sure you want to do this?" He asked her softly, bending his head to kiss her lips.

"Positive," Tara replied, squirming as she undid her own pants and kicked them off. "I don't know why, Nick, but you do something to me," she said in awe, watching as he sat up, running his hands along the sides of her body.

"Well, you do something to me too, Tar," Nick smirked, looking down at himself. His fingers slid between her legs feeling her wet and waiting for him. "So that's what I did to you," he cooed, playing over her softness, and relishing the sound of her moans when he touched her just right.

"Yes, Nick," She gasped, pulling at his back urgently. "Nicky, please, I want you."

"Now?" Nick asked, returning to her mouth and lavishing it with kisses. He felt her squirm away, and looked at her expectantly. "Even from a pretty boy?"

"Just from this pretty boy," Tara told him firmly, wrapping her legs around his back. "And now."

She didn't have to ask twice, Nick quickly positioned himself above her, and slid inside, groaning with pleasure once he felt her warmth surrounding him. He heard her moan as he filled her, and remained still for a moment, letting both of them grow accustomed to the feeling of each other. "You feel so good," he whispered, gently moving his hips with hers as he began to kiss her again, slowly, delicately.

"So do you," Tara gasped, her eyes fluttering shut as pleasure began to move throughout her body.

Nick watched Tara's reaction in amazement, a smile crossing his face. "Your eyes are closed," he whispered, sliding his hands down her arms and taking her hands in his, intertwining their fingers. He placed a kiss on each of her eyelids, hearing her breath grow more and more labored with every thrust of his hips.

"I can't keep them open," she panted, groaning when she felt his movements within her begin to grow faster. "Nick, god, you feel amazing…"

"So it's not because you don't want to see a pretty boy?"

Tara's eyes flew open at that, and she stared at him, unsure for a moment whether or not he was kidding. "Nick, god, if you ask me that now…" her words got caught up in a loud cry, as Nick's mouth had returned to her nipple, and he was sucking on it deeply as his hips worked her below.

"Kidding, baby, just kidding," Nick murmured, returning to her mouth and kissing her. "You're not going to kill me for calling you baby?"

"Nick, dammit, right now, you can call me anything," she gasped, holding onto his hands tight as he began to move deeper and deeper inside of her.

"Tara," Nick groaned with pleasure, feeling Tara's body beginning to tighten around him. "You feel so good, oh god," he gasped, his head falling down to rest in her neck as he continued to move in and out of her.

"Don't stop, Nick, please, don't ever stop," Tara begged, her eyes squeezing shut tight. She felt him push inside of her with a relentless speed and force, her body starting to tremble from the intense pleasure threatening to take her over.

"I won't, I swear baby, I won't," Nick moaned, his tongue licking over her skin, needing to touch something, to feel every inch of her, as much as possible.

Tara let out one last cry of Nick's name, before her body went over the edge, her hands squeezing his tight as pleasure swept over her.

"God, Tara, I love you," Nick cried out as his own peak hit, the tight spasms of her surrounding him setting him off on a wave unlike anything he'd ever felt before. He collapsed on top of her, fighting for breath as they both came down from their high.

Tara's eyes flew open when she heard Nick's cry, and she held him tight, unable to believe what he'd just said, and how she felt about his words. "Oh, Nick," she whispered, giving his hands one last squeeze, and laughing when they didn't react. He was definitely relaxed now, she thought with a giggle. She felt like she couldn't stop grinning, and carefully untangled one hand to run it through his hair. "You're all sweaty," she remarked, brushing at the beads of sweat on his forehead.

"What can I say, I'm a hot pretty boy," Nick giggled, rolling off of her and pulling her into his chest. "And you're a pretty hot girl."

"Aww, you say that to all the girls you've just made love to," Tara joked, kissing him deeply.

"Busted," Nick grinned and returned the kiss with vigor, before sitting up. "I'm thirsty. You thirsty?"

"I know I want something," Tara smiled, letting her eyes trail over Nick's body.

"You'll get lots more, but first I think I need water," Nick stood up and smacked his lips together comically. "I'll be just a minute, baby," he leaned down to give her a deep kiss, laughing when he felt her arms around his neck, trying to drag him back on top of her. "So don't go anywhere," he laughed as he pulled her arms off of him. "I'll be right back, I swear."

"Better be," Tara told him, watching appreciatively as he walked out of the room. God, that boy had an amazing body... She stretched out in the large bed, unable to believe what she'd just done, what she intended to continue doing a lot more of. Nick Carter. And her. Who would have ever guessed it? Well, Andy….all week he'd been telling her how much he thought she belonged with Nick, how it was no surprise to him that she'd become such good friends with him, that it only made sense.

Tara sat up when she heard a soft thud in the room beyond, rolling her eyes. "Don't trip over anything, Kaos, I want you back here in one piece." She sighed, and ran a hand through her hair, laughing when she felt the tangled mess around her head. What exactly had Nick been doing to her hair to mess it up so much, she wondered? Well, whatever it was, she definitely wanted more of it. "Nick?" She called, frowning when she still heard no reply. "Nicky?"

Tara got out of bed and grabbed Nick's t-shirt from the floor, slipping it over her head. She padded out to the living room, looking around in confusion. "Nick?" Her breath caught in her throat when she realized she didn't see him anywhere. She ran to the bathroom, pushing open the door, "please tell me you're in here?"

It was empty.

"Nick?" She turned around and looked around the living room again, panic and dread filling her heart. "NICK!" She screamed, hoping against hope he was playing some awful joke on her and hiding, somewhere, and would come out when he heard her.

But there was no reply.

"Oh god, Nicky," Tara's eyes filled with tears, and she stared at the empty room, wondering what the hell she was supposed to do now.

Nick was gone.

***

ß Back | Next à