Chapter Two

She collapsed on the bed, exhaling the breath that she'd held so long. My God, she thought. What just happened? Any other time, she would have laughed at the situation. Nick, for all his swaggering, had been mortified. She may even have seen fear on his face--fear of her. In a blink of an eye, he had gone from being irreverantly funny Nick to "take me now, Nick." Would she ever be able to face him without thinking of him sexually? Banishing all but platonic thoughts of him would be easier said than done.

Recalling his expression as he watched her, she blushed. He wanted her as much as she did him. His huge erection made that evident. She would never let him know the effect he had on her. Shaking her head, she tried to dispel any thought of his devastating appeal. He's one of Howie's best friends, for heaven's sake, and I'm Howie's girlfriend. What am I thinking?

"Hey babe, it looks incredible down there. Man, you do too. I love what they did to your hair."

Howie's cheerful smile lit the room. He was in such a good mood, becoming animated at the thought of entertaining. The man was truly a party animal.

"Thank you, even if I really didn't do anything."

"Don't underestimate yourself. You co-ordinated it. Have I told you how much I love you?"

Melanie felt ill, as if she had cheated on him. She couldn't reconcile her own physical attraction to Nick when she loved Howie so deeply.

"What's wrong, babe. Don't worry so much. Everything looks great. I even got Mom's chicken and rice specialty from her."

Howie approached her, his gaze fixed on her soft, parted lips. He ran his thumb across them, feeling her moist breath on his hand. The hunger in her eyes telegraphed a very clear invitation to him.

Bending his head, he teased her lips with feathery kisses. Melanie whimpered, urging him to devour her with his mouth. Her own passion raged out of control as her hands clamoured to dispose of his clothing. He didn't need any more encouragement.

She pulled his T shirt over his head and immediately grasped his nipple sharply with her teeth. Her hand raked down his body to reach for his hardening rod, pushing his pants down, as she moaned against his chest. He couldn't get close enough to satisfy her.

"Whoa, baby, easy!" Howie laughed at her brazen attack of him. He pushed her back against the bed, his mouth crushed hers as they both became increasingly vocal in their needs.

"Howie, fuck me hard. NOW!"

He crawled up between her legs while she wrapped herself around his muscular frame. Her hands held tightly onto his upper thighs, just below his butt, forcing him to enter her while she thrashed wildly beneath him.

"You bad girl! Have you been waiting for me? Gawd, baby, you feel so good, so hot."

Her shouts for release echoed in his ears as he heard his own voice blend with hers. He was so turned on by her aggression that his normally disciplined body rocked forward, experiencing an indescribible pleasure as her own body clamped down on him possessively. Their ecstatic cries ultimately announced a reverberating climax.

Howie's pushed himself up on his arms, kissing her repeatedly, and whispering tender 'I love you's' against her face.

His gold chain dangled from his neck between them. On it hung an unidentified object which caught her eye. Her hand halted it's pendulous swing and she stared at her discovery.

"What's this?"

"That was a surprise for you. We should talk about it after the guests leave."

"Wow, for me? It's the most beautiful ring I have ever seen."

"It's an engagement ring. I'd like to make an honest woman of you," he grinned broadly.

"Oh God, Howie. You are so wonderful. I don't deserve you."

Tears sprung to her eyes. Howie could sense a sudden change in her, almost as if she was panicking. He could usually anticipate her reactions but not this time. He hadn't expected anything but an enthusiastic yes. His heart sank with disappointment.

The timing was wrong. They had their deepest and most poignant moments in the wee hours of the night or the very early hours of the morning before they slept. He had wanted to propose to her then, not having anticipated a stolen interlude before the party. Cursing inwardly at this twist of fate, he probed her disquiet.

"What is it, sweetheart? You wanna be with me, don't you?"

"Oh, Howie, how could you ask me that? I love you so much it hurts."

"Then whatever it is that's upseting you, it'll be ok. We'll figure it out, together."

Their lips clung to one another, giving and receiving the love that sustained them, prolonging contact with each other before they'd have to separate and get on with the evening.

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Nick's presence in the kitchen left more than one of the catering staff unsettled. He was, after all, a flirt extraordinaire.

No one dared stop his incessant nibbling. The giggles from the two young Latinas only encouraged his insolence. They were hardly able to hide their crush on him. Nothing in their overprotected youth prepared them for the likes of Nick Carter. He knew how to work an audience, no matter what the circumstances. His large body hovered over the counter where they were working until the doorbell rang.

"Don't worry, ladies. I'll check to see who it is."

AJ stood at the door with his arms full of presents.

"Fuck AJ, it took you long enough."

"Yeah, I'm sorry, man, I had a lot of shit to do. Hey, call Howie for me. I have something to show him."

"He's upstairs getting ready. Give me a minute."

Nick had been looking for any reason to face both Melanie and Howie. He wanted Mel to know that he wasn't bothered by the incident. He was really pissed off that she treated him like he was some out-of-line kid. He was neither and she'd soon figure it out.

He ran up to the third level of stairs, calling Howie's name. There was no reply but as he approached, he could hear their moans. Her cries of passion would torture his thoughts the entire evening.

"Bitch," he thought angrily. "I know she wants me".

Again, his body betrayed him, as his pants bulged in front.

"They're busy."

"Did you walk in on them?" AJ asked pointedly, his lecherous smirk further irritating Nick.

"I didn't have to. . . " Nick responded after a pregnant pause. They had all known each other long enough that explanations were seldom necessary.

********************************

By 10pm, many of the guests had arrived and the party was buzzing with friendly chatter. Melanie and Howie would often glance across the rooms at each other, ever aware of each other's presence.

As she talked to his brother, John, Howie appeared by her side. His hand massaged her neck in an unspoken gesture of intimacy. He wanted to make love to her so badly, he was surprised at himself. It was partly because of something Nick had said to him. Something happened between Nick and Mel. All Howie knew was that he had never seen her so turned on.

They were always good together but this time had been unbelievable. He couldn't get enough of her when she was obviously so sexually charged. No one else at the party could see this about her but she was his soulmate. He could read her like a book.

They excused themselves to check if the caterers needed anything. John smiled that they both needed to do so. Howie tugged her hand, leading her through the main floor towards the kitchen. She giggled when he glanced quickly around them before gently pushing her into the washroom.

He shoved her hard against the wall as he kissed her forcefully. His tongue thrust into her mouth warning her of his intentions.

"Geez, Howie. Are you nuts? Your parents, family, our friends, everybody is out there."

"Feel me. Goddamn it, I want you so bad."

"My poor baby. Me, too. Why don't we send them all home."

She felt his rock hard erection through his pants and groaned. Bending down, she tugged down his fly with her teeth in an effort to release him from his cotton prison. Her mouth brought him to an almost immediate explosion with her ministrations. Howie bit down hard on his lip trying to keep silent as she drained him. It wasn't enough for them but they would have to wait till later. He kissed her deeply, tasting himself on her lips.

"I want to make love to you," he complained.

"Howie, you're being really naughty tonight. What's gotten into you?"

"You're even sexier tonight than you normally are. I didn't think that was possible but you're making me a wild man."

"Save that thought, baby, for later tonight, or should I say the morning?"

Howie peaked out the door, hoping that their disappearance escaped detection. He casually left and she followed a few minutes later. No one seemed the wiser.

"Did you tell him?"

"Jesus, Nick! Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"Well, did you?"

"Did I what?"

"Did you tell him?" Nick persisted.

"Nick, what are you getting at?"

"Did you tell him that when you were screaming his name earlier, you were thinking of me?"

"You. . . YOU. . . You arrogant son-of-a bitch. Why didn't I see this side of you before? What a nerve!"

Melanie was enraged by his statement. Her instinct was to slap his face but she held her temper and turned to walk away.

"Well, I told him. . . " Nick ground out.