31 The Unforgettable Kiss

Everything happens in slow motion. You watch as the attacker falls to the ground and when you turn your head back to Nick, his right beside you. He looks into your eyes with concern.

"Kim, are you okay?"

He takes a hair out of your face that's clinging to the blood against your face. You don't know what to think or feel. You just stand and stare at Nick. Everything around you fades away. You hear nothing but the sound of your own breathing. You only see Nick and his blue eyes staring into your soul. You slowly close your eyes for a moment and then you look again at everything around you. Then you know exactly what you should do.

"Please, may I?"

NICK'S POINT OF VIEW

He looks at you and he can't stop wondering if he just would've been here a bit earlier, he could've saved you from being hit in the head. He sees you moving closer to him and he knows exactly what you want to do because every fiber in his being wants to do the same. Then you go and do that thing that drives him crazy and you ask him if you may hug him.

"Of course, Kim…of course!! Come here!!"

He walks closer to you and he wraps his arms protectively around you.

KIM'S POINT OF VIEW

He comes closer to you and put his strong, safe arms around you. You can't help the explosion of arousal that burst through you as his skin touches yours. You feel every sensation in your body going into overdrive. You feel safe and secure. You feel like you belong to him.

"Thank you, Nick!"

"Fuck…Kim, are you okay?"

You look up at him and knit your brows. "What do you mean?"

"You're crying…"

You suddenly feel the tears falling down your cheeks. You take your hand up to your face and you realize that your cheeks are soaked with tears and that you've been crying severely. You didn't know you were crying as you're interest was so completely focused on the man standing in front of you. Then it's as if your feelings are catching up with you and a feeling of complete hopelessness consumes you.

You feel your legs giving in underneath you and Nick holds you up tight against his chiseled chest. It's like you're looking at yourself from a distance as if you've left your body and now you're just observing from afar. You watch, feel, and smell every moment with Nick. You faintly hear his voice as if he's speaking to you from very far away.

"Kim….Kim….are you doing okay? You're safe now, I've got you….you're safe with me"

His words don't enter your mind but fall on your heart instead. You've never experienced this kind of safety or have been in any man's arms that compares to the completeness and sanctuary that you feel in Nick's arms. You find yourself wishing you don't ever have to leave his arms. You close your eyes and your senses are once again filled with his musky scent. Your heart slowly returns to its normal beat and you know that you should leave his arms now but every fiber inside you disagrees with you.

"Thank you, Nick. Thank you once again for saving me"

You stare into his brown eyes and he looks back into yours. His lips are only a few inches away and you can easily get lost in them.

NICK'S POINT OF VIEW

There are no words that can describe the amount of arousal and passion he's experiencing at this very moment. He looks down at your rosy, soft provocative lips and he can't help himself moving towards you. He feels his defenses breaking down one by one as he moves closer to you. His eyes can't seem to leave your lips. He's now hypnotized by you. He looks into your eyes begging.

KIM'S POINT OF VIEW

The attraction between you is undeniable. You've wanted to do this from the first moment you've set your eyes on him and there's nothing that's going to stop you from doing it now. With every wink of the eye, his lips move closer and closer to yours until they're nothing but a breath away.

You slowly close your eyes as you feel his soft lips resting against yours. The world stops and everything around you cease to exist. All you want is this glory of a man that is laying little butterfly kisses over your trembling lips.

When you hear his slow rapid breaths, you know that he's feeling the same that you're feeling. This only but ignites the burning desire you have deep inside for him. He moves his hand away from the small of your back and slides them up in agonizing circles until he reaches your neck. He tangles his fingers in your hair and pulls you even closer to deepen the kiss.

Then the sound of a gunshot jerks you back to reality. You jump out of his arms and suddenly you feel cold and lost.

"Fuck! I'm so sorry, Kim!"

"It's fine, it's okay. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done-"

"No! I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have known not to…you have a boyfriend for god shakes!"

The urge inside you wants to jump out and shout at the top of your lungs that you don't have a boyfriend anymore. You take a deep breath and open your mouth.

"Nick, it's okay…I don't have-"

Nick put his hand over your mouth and whisper in your ear.

"Go to the corner, sit still and don't turn around"

You see Nick's demeanor changing before your eyes and you see the seriousness mixed with concern in his eyes. You quickly make your way to the corner and sit down, not turning around. You hear as Nick takes out his gun and slowly walks to the opening of the curtain. Then you hear two gunshots and your heart jumps at the thought that you might find Nick on the floor. You breathe slowly and hope to hear just a hint that Nick is alive.

"Everything is okay now"

You want to turn around and run into his arms just holding him but you know you can't. You turn around and see Nick standing over another attacker's body. He looks at you and gives you a slight smile to make you feel at ease. You give him a nod back.

"Can you shoot a gun?"

"A gun?"

"Yeah, have you ever handled a gun before?"

"Uhm…yeah a little on the ranch, shooting foxes? Why?"

"Good, good"

He bends down next to the attacker and takes his gun, checking the ammunition and then racking the slide. He hands it to you.

"What should I do with this?" You frown at him.

He puts his other hand over your hand with the gun. He pulls you closer to him.

"I have to go and help the others. This will keep you safe. Dammit…Kim, I need you to be safe. Will you please take this gun and shoot when someone wants to attack you? You don't let them get close to you, you shoot them and you shoot them dead. Can you do that for me? I need to know you'll do this for me…please?"

You can see the brutal concern residing in his eyes and that he won't leave unless you'll assure him that you'll be able to handle yourself. You want him to be at your side but you know that his team needs him to be the leader and show them the way. You need to let him go and look after the rest of the camp.

"I can handle myself Nick, go!"

"Fuck!" He shakes his head and turns to walk away but then he finds himself back at your side.

"Promise me, Kim, promise me…please"

You look deep into his eyes. "I promise"