He couldn't believe what she'd just told him, even though she'd broken the news as gently as she could he still felt like a ten ton truck had just slammed into him!
''Nick please.... just listen..''
''I can't believe you kept this from me!''
Kevin put his book down and rose to his feet ''What the hell is happening?''
''Ask her!''
Kevin turned his head to her....''Heather?''
''It's only two weeks''
''What is?''
Nick was frantically pacing the room ''She's going away for two weeks..... photographing some volcano is obviously more important than being with me!''
''Nick.... calm down..... it's what she does''
''Who's side are you on?''
Heather repeated it softly "'It's only two weeks Nick''
Nick glared at her....his eyes wild and angry... covering the pain and despair he was really feeling.
''I can't manage two minutes away from you...how the hell am I supposed to cope for two weeks!''
''It may only be one week''
''If that's meant to comfort me ....it doesn't...you promised me you'd never leave''
''I'm not leaving you that way....''
''It fucking feels like you are!''
''I have a job to do''
''Yeah.... I know you're my girlfriend!''
''That's not a job!''
''What is it then..... apart from too dull to stay around for!?''
Heather was trembling now she couldn't make Nick understand.....this was all going so wrong.....she wanted this nightmare to stop...she wanted him to hold her.....forgive her.
All Nick could see was losing her for good.
''I thought you loved me Heather..really loved me!''
''I do Nick ....you know I do...''
''Don't lie to me any more....I'm not an idiot!''
He made for the door... Heather took a step to follow him..cried out his name ...
he turned pointing his finger at her......''And don't think for a moment that I'm gonna ask you to marry me now.....!''
he plunged his hand into his pocket and pulled out a little velvet covered box.. ''this ring is never gonna be on your finger...you're never gonna be my wife..... got that!''
The room was full of amazed faces...except for Brian...
Heathers' hand flew to her mouth.....
Nick stared at her...stunned himself by his outburst....
''And I know you had no idea I was planning that ........and I wish the floor would open up and swallow me.''Nick was breathing heavily... close to breakdown..but he never took his eyes from Heather.....
How could she do this to him
Brian closed his eyes ..... he 'd known about this..and he'd known just how Nick was planning to propose...
''Nice goin' Nick...so that's how you tell a girl it's over...very subtle ....''
Nick glowered at AJ.
He glanced at Brian who just shook his head and looked awayas if to say 'you fool Nick..just look at her'
Nick responded to this almost telepathic message from Brian his eyes rested once again on Heather..........
tears streaming down her face.
He pulled the door handle, left the room and slammed the door behind him.
Heather collapsed on the couch sobbing for Nick.
Brian immediatley sat beside her, trying to comfort her..they all crowded around ...none of them really knew what to say..each of them stunned by Nicks' behaviour, not about him being annoyed as such..but they'd never seen him 'blow' like that!
Heather tried to explain to them, she needed someone to understand!
''It's my job Brian...I've wanted this assignment..I fought real hard for it....it's a dream of mine..
you understood..... why can't Nick... I'd never stop him from fulfilling his dream!''
''I think you'll find you can't win that one ... you are his dream.''
''I love him so much''
''I know babe he's acting like a fool''
''I don't want to lose him Brian''
The door opened suddenly..... everyone jumped.
It was Nick...... the guys moved away as he slowly approached her..
The tension in the room was unbearable...
Brian watched Nick willing him on... whispering to himself 'do it Nick..make it right'
Nick was standing in front of her now.... his eyes moist as if he'd been crying...but his face had not softened.
Heather lifted her tear stained face up to look at him....
then and only then did his expression change.... he sank to his knees..taking her hands in his...''Heather... I'm so sorry.... please marry me ...I'm madly in love with you and I'm just a total freakin' idiot...please angel...?''
He squeezed her hands and turned on his 'come to bed' eyes...
''please be my wife''
Heathers' tears flowed afresh..she looked deep into his wonderful blue eyes and felt a blush
rising in her cheeks.
Nick willed her to answer...it felt like ages but it was only seconds...
his heart was pounding it's way out of his chest
slowly she nodded her head...and whispered ''Yes''..
a smile spread over her lips...
Nick leapt to his feet and pulled her from the couch up into his armswith such strength that her feet left the ground...he held her so tightly...as if he'd never let go ever again.
Heather folded her arms around his neck and they rubbed noses.
''I love you so much Nick.... I never meant to keep anything from you''
Nick eyes told her he understood ''Just kiss me....the way I like it''
Heather obeyed and they dissolved into their own world of hazy warm love.....
Nick felt her tongue teasing him and he loved it..he let himself be taken by pleasure....
They had no idea how long the kiss lasted....but when did they ever?
When they finally broke from the kiss ....all hot and stirred up..Nick was about to ask the guys to leave...but as he looked around he saw that they already had!
Their eyes scanned the room over each others shoulders..they giggled both knowing what would happen now!
Nick squeezed her body enjoying the feel of her pressed against him ''Oh well.....lets celebrate our engagement......oh wait.... give me your hand''
Heather held out her hand...
''The left one would be better!''
she held out her left hand and Nick slid the diamond and sapphire ring onto her finger
it fit perfectly!
Heather gasped "'Nick...it's so lovely!''
''I chose it because the sapphires match your eyes!''
She smiled at him..
he was blushing...
''Thank you my darling... It's just perfect''
Her hand stroked his cheek as she smiled and gazed into his eyes.
He felt his blood stirring!
''How did you know the size?''
''Oh uhm... AJ left his pinky ring here one night and while you were asleep I tried it on you''
''And I didn't wake up?''
''No... I was very gentle''
''Oh yes...... and what else have you done to me while I've been asleep?''
Nick grinned ''Nothing except gaze at you and maybe kiss you''
she grinned back at him......
''No I've never molested you....'' he pulled her close
''that would be foolish I'd much rather you joined in....
although.......?''
''Don't you dare Mr Carter.... I never want to miss anything!'' Heather threw her arms around him...
''There's still the problem of how you feel about my job''
''Honey ... you love your job.... I love you... I know you love me...I freaked out ...I know..
it was sheer panic....you go drool over the volcano.. as long as when you come home you drool over me instead.....I'll find a way to cope.....I'll call you every ........hour''
''Nick!''she patted him playfully on his chest
''Well you can call me too!.... when you get back we'll make some real plans...wedding plans!''
''I'll have more time to apply for assignments that put me in the same place as you''
''Can you do that?''
''I'm a freelance photographer... I pick my work!''
''You could be my personal photographer''
''Yeah right!''
''You could take the 'Nick Carter' erotic collection''
''Oh yes... and what would that involve?''
''uhm....a bed ....you.... me....candles''
Heather cupped his face with her hands
''Handcuffs!''
Nick looked at her, their eyes sending frantic lustful messages to each others brain.
''Funny you should mention those!''
''Nick you haven't?''
''No... but we could get some!''
Heather pushed him back onto the couch and crawled up his body
''You'd like that would you Mr Carter ..if I handcuffed you to the bed and had my way with you?''
Nick swallowed hard and managed to croak out ''Yeah!.....and I love the way you call me ..Mr Carter... I feel like a naughty school boy''
Heather leapt off him quite suddenly...''Pervert!
''Hey!...don't think you can't get me steamed up and then just stop!''
Nick got to his feet and started to chase her around the room.
She giggled and ran but Nick soon caught her...or did she just let him catch her...it didn't matter......
They both collapsed behind the couch....in a heap of lust... and celebrated their engagement in a way neither of them would ever forget!!