Offside

Nicole laughed.

“I’ll show you later,” she promised. “You don’t have to wake up yet if you don’t want to. Go back to sleep.”

I settled myself with my head basically in her lap and closed my eyes again. I listened to the sound of her turning the pages of her book, the sound of the rain on the roof as it began to pour, and the sound of Nicole’s stomach grumbling.

Rumple’s stomach was all…rumply.

I snickered against her leg.

“What are you laughing at?” she asked.

“Your tummy is noisy.”

I glanced up and Nicole was glaring down at me.

“Thanks a lot!” she snapped.

I wrapped my arms around said stomach and kissed it over her shirt.

“I love it,” I told her. I shifted back a bit, putting just a few inches of distance between us so I could see her better. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” Nicole’s expression softened, and she tossed the book upside down on the nightstand. “Still tired?”

“Not as much,” I said with a shrug.

Nicole slid down so we were lying beside each other again. With her hand positioned behind my head, she brought me forward and our lips met. The kisses were only soft at first, as they had been earlier in the day, but quickly turned into more. I absorbed the warmth and comfort of all of it—Nicole’s body, the house, the tiny room that was really just a part of the living room, and everything they had done for me even though they really didn’t have much to give.

Although Dad and I always seemed to have more money than we knew what to do with, I didn’t think I had felt so…rich…since Mom died.

Nicole’s hand moved over my shoulder and chest, her fingers digging into the fabric of my T-shirt and making me shiver. I ran my hand up her arm until I could cup her face, and I kissed her again and again, exploring her mouth and then letting her explore mine.

Nicole broke the kiss with a groan and pushed herself away from me.

“What?” I asked.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I wasn’t thinking…I mean…shit, we shouldn’t…”

“Nicole, it’s okay.” I reached up and put a finger under her chin. “I really, really missed you. Missed this.”

I tightened my hold on her, bringing her closer until I could kiss her again.

“Are you sure?” she whispered. “I don’t want to…push.”

“You aren’t,” I insisted between more kisses. “I want this. I want you.”

Her fingers snuck underneath the edge of my shirt, and her palm splayed out over my stomach.

“You still have fantastic abs,” she mumbled into my mouth.

“Yeah?”

“Definitely.” Nicole backed off and looked at me quizzically. “At least they pretty much feel the same. I think I probably ought to see them to know for sure.”

“I see you get your subtlety from Greg,” I commented. “You want it off, baby? You only have to ask.”

I raised my eyebrows at her a couple times.

“Incorrigible,” she said then pursed her lips. “Take that shirt off, Thomas. I want to see you.”