Backseat Rhythm (closed)

[Maid of Marvels]

She'd heard the first time would hurt -- and it did, but not in a horrible way. Kimi cried out softly with the first stabbing pain of it, but that slowly turned to a burning that seemed to ease with every gentle stroke Nick took. The concern in his voice, the caring in his eyes, the tenderness in his every touch and movement made everything they were doing "right" and she wanted only to please him in return.

Kimi felt herself begin to respond, in much the same way she did when she touched herself in private, the way she had when Nick had touched her with his fingers. Marvelling at the realization that she'd transcended the momentary discomfort only to find her body awakening in similar yet very different ways, she whispered his name. "Nick. God, Nick. It feels so... "

He seemed to hesitate, looking deeply into her eyes for signs that she wanted to stop, but when she wove her fingers through his hair to pull his mouth down to her own, Kimi somehow sensed that they had both suddenly become more confident in what they were doing. They were making love!

She felt the inside of her vagina spreading and then reshaping to his. Every fluid movement of their coupling serving only to intensify the blossoming feelings deep within her. Wrapping her legs around his waist, Kimi started to meet him thrust for thrust as they found their rhythm and began the slow climb that would soon take them both free-falling over the edge.

 

[captainb]

Nothing had ever felt like this. Not just the enveloping heat of Kimi’s body around him, not just the sensation of their bare skin pressing together, nor his lips against hers or his lips kissing her earlobe or her breasts flattened under the weight of his chest. There was a connection, a matched rhythm to their breathing, a fusion on some level beyond the physical that edged close to perfection. Slowly, steadily, his hips pushed forward and pulled back. He watched her savoring each bit of him as her body yielded with each entry, then the delicious yearning on her face as he withdrew only to repeat.

This is it, he thought in wonder. I’m fucking… Her eyes were half-closed, focused somewhere through and beyond him, and the edges of her lips were curled in a girlish image of rising delight. No, I’m making love, he thought again.

Her arms curled around his neck. “You’re smiling,” she softly said.

His grin widened. “I know, I can’t help it. You’re so beautiful, Kimi, god I love you…”

He froze. The words had slipped out before he even knew they were there. He stared down at her, their mouths slightly open, motionless except for the unconscious throbbing of his rigid flesh inside her. He searched for something to say, but absolutely nothing worked its way out. And then, it didn’t matter, as her eyes softened and she pulled his head down, her mouth opening to meet his as her legs wrapped tight around his thighs. He felt her inner walls become molten and he pushed forward hard to meet her rising thrust. It felt right to move faster, and her hips rolled under his as he drove himself harder and deeper into her. The kiss broke as their breaths quickened. Sweat rolled down his nose and he flicked his head to the side. He moved even faster, suddenly aware of the sound of her sex sloshing with each thrust. A short cry escaped her as he slapped his crotch against hers particularly hard. He did it again, somehow aware that he was hitting her clit each time.

She stiffened under him, her fingers digging almost painfully into his arms, and it was as if her pussy melted. For a moment, he was thrusting into a cavern of liquid, her body shaking under his in time with her short, deep gasps. He didn’t stop, didn’t speak, just kept doing what he was doing and watched and marveled as she came beneath him.

Then came the familiar clenching deep below his spine, a boiling sensation that swiftly gathered and warned of imminent release. A tiny measure of sanity remained and screamed Not inside her!! Almost desperately, he yanked himself out, the veins of his cock throbbing and the head swollen to a shiny purple. Somehow, his orgasm slightly held back as his mind sputtered, not knowing where he should aim.

Still shaking, Kimi leaned up and gripped his shaft with one hand. Her body glistened with sweat, her nipples tight and hard. She stared at the cock in hand and he felt the first pulse rise swiftly, two short arcs of cum pumping quickly over her fingers, and then the wave rose up to its full height and crashed forward through his body.

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Wide-eyed and fascinated by the eruption of sperm from Nick's cock, Kim almost didn't move in time. She hadn't expected their lovemaking to end this way. In fact, she hadn't much considered how it would end -- just that she hadn't wanted it to stop at all.

Twisting around quickly, she gave him a gentle tug as her lips parted and her mouth slithered down the pulsing, throbbing length of him. The force of the next blast took her by surprise, almost causing her to gag, but the next and the next... Kim eagerly swallowed his cum. Jet after powerful jet. Eager not to miss a drop.

When Nick finally stopped cumming Kim pulled back, letting his semi-erect penis slip from between her lips. She looked up at him through the wisps of hair that had fallen down over her sweaty forehead, marvelling at the wonder in his eyes and sucked his cock back into her mouth one more time before pulling back and grinning a huge, sheepish grin that matched the one on his face.

She was thrilled that the pleasure he was feeling right now was partly of her own doing and pulled him gently down to her so that she could kiss him. Again and again. Gods he was beautiful. And sexy. And... he loved her! Could there be any better place for her to be in the entire world than in his arms?

 

[captainb]

Nick could taste himself on her lips but didn’t care. He’d sampled a bit of his semen once before. It just tasted weird and he’d never had a thought about doing it again. This was different, though. He’d been astonished, delighted when she pulled him into her mouth to let him gush inside. Her smile was a mixture of shyness and excitement over what she’d done, and as their tongues enfolded each other and the odd, slightly salty taste was passed between them, he eagerly accepted it, letting the mingled saliva and sperm from her mouth wash over his own tongue. They clung together, his semi-erect cock pressed wetly against her belly.

He rolled onto his side and she snuggled her face under his chin, her arm draped over his chest. His heartbeat eased from its rapid pace as the post-coital bliss enveloped him, and from nowhere a chuckle escaped his lips. In a moment he was giggling in delirious happiness.

Kimi’s finger pressed against his lips. “Shhh,” she whispered even as her own mirth began to bubble up. “What are you laughing for?”

“I don’t know,” he said, trying to keep his voice down. His hand cupped her cheek. “I’m just so damn happy.”

She grinned and kissed him again, and they lay together in the flickering theater light, letting the foreign words wash over them in unintelligible comfort.

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Kimi's eyelids fluttered open and a smile crept over her face as she found herself looking into the deep blue of Nick's eyes. He was leaning up on his elbow, tracing his finger along the line of her jaw. "I must have fallen asleep," she said quietly.

"It's okay. I like... watching you."

She raised her hand, gently caressing his cheek with the back of her fingers. Kim didn't think she'd ever felt this comfortable, this safe with anyone in her entire life. It just felt so... right. And he loved her!! That in itself was something completely beyond her comprehension. It was different from "mom and dad love", or even the begrudging love she got from Queen Deirdre or even her shrimp of a little brother. Nick didn't love her because he had to, he loved her just because...

"I love you," Kimi murmured, combing her fingers through his short hair and gently pulling him closer. She offered her mouth to him then, lips parted in invitation as she felt the stirrings of desire in her body that matched the more evident ones in his as he pulled her gently closer.

 

[captainb]

He swam toward her, drinking in her breath and scent as their lips touched again. Her foot slid up his thigh and wrapped around it, drawing him tight against her body. He felt himself begin to stiffen again, and reached up to palm her breast. He still marveled how soft it was, soft with a stiff, rubbery peak in the center that betrayed her own desires. Her own hand slid between them to trail along the length of his rigidness.

The lights flickered on, the stark white light catching them by surprise. The music still played, and Nick risked a quick peek over the edge of the balcony. The movie’s credits were rolling and footsteps echoed from below. He saw Kimi wrinkle her nose as she saw the underside of the seats they were lying next to. Muffled voices could be heard, and then the unmistakable clank of shoe on metal stair. Her body stiffened under his.

“Nick…?” she breathed.

He squatted and reached for the pile of clothing. “Get dressed, Kimi, I think someone’s coming up here!”

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Heart pounding, though in a totally different way than it had been just a few moments ago, Kimi snatched up her clothes and dressed hurriedly. The approaching footsteps had halted and they could hear the sound of voices just outside the door. "Jesus, Nick. What if... "

"Shh... "

She had the blanket over her arm and he'd already grabbed his backpack when she saw the door latch move up and down. She just knew she'd be grounded for the rest of her life -- or sent to a convent. How did something so beautiful suddenly get so...

"It's locked. Guess this is good a place as any. Show me the money, Franco." A man's voice carried from beyond the door, followed by the sounds of what could only be some sort of drug deal going down.

Nick put his arm around Kim, drawing her close, though neither of them took their eyes from the door. After a few moments, they heard the footfalls descending the fire escape, but they weren't foolish enough to think that they were safe just yet.

Taking her by the hand, he put his finger to his lips again as they moved furtively toward the door. Placing his ear against it, he listened then gestured that she should follow quickly. "Ready?" he mouthed. Kimi couldn't do anything but nod. "K." Kissing her lightly, he pushed the latch and peeked outside before giving her a thumbs up.

If we get out of this mess, I promise... What could she promise? Hell, it really didn't matter. They were going to get out of here. They had to.

 

[captainb]

The hallway was dark and empty again. Nick and Kimi slipped down the stairs, easing through the door at the bottom and back into the dingy basement before they spoke again. They looked at each other and started giggling.

“Geez, what the hell was that about?” he asked.

“I’m not sure,” she said. “But it didn’t sound good. That was really close.”

“Boy, wouldn’t they have gotten an eyeful if they’d opened that door! Watch your step,” Nick said as they sidestepped the puddles on the floor. Stopping at the outer window, Nick drew close to Kimi. “You were incredible,” he whispered. She bit her lip and grinned, then sighed as he pulled her body tight for another kiss.

Passing voices and a distant car horn brought them back to reality. They looked up at the open window. Kimi, ran her hands over her clothes. “Do I look okay,” she asked. My hair must be a mess.”

“Eh, a bit,” he said, brushing a few of her stray locks aside. He stepped back and looked her critically up and down. “Actually, you look quite respectable, young lady. For someone who totally rocked my world.” He felt his face flush along with hers, and their eyes darted up to the window again.

“Oh no,” she said. “It’s dark out! What time is it?” She looked at her watch, then up at him. “I was supposed to be home hours ago.”

“I’ll give you a boost up,” was all he could think to say.

No one noticed as they crawled out of the window and dusted themselves off. As they started walking back out of the alley, he took her hand in his. Next time, it’ll be somewhere nice, he thought. Somewhere with cleans sheets, and a mattress, and that isn’t sticky….

A brief bit of relief hit him as he saw the car was still there. He opened the door for her and slid into the driver’s seat, tossing his bag into the back. They drove in silence for a few minutes. Nick wondered if she would be in trouble, and how much she was going to blame him for it. The passion and intimacy of a short time ago seemed like another world, and now they had to deal with this one again.

“Are you gonna be okay?” he asked as they neared her neighborhood.

“I think so,” she said. “I can come up with some excuse. But maybe… maybe you should drop me off at the block before my house.” He looked at her. “You know, in case my dad or someone is waiting for me.”

“Yeah,” he said, thinking Just what her old man needs. Seeing her drive up with some trailer trash.

He pulled to the curb and turned off the headlights. They could see her porch lights up the street. He looked at her profile, and the dim illumination of her cheeks and lips brought back the memory of her in the old movie house. He touched her arm, and she turned to him suddenly, almost pulling herself into his lap as her mouth covered his in kisses, her tongue soft and wet on his.

Their eyes opened as a bright flicker of light hit them. Cheek to cheek, they looked to the car’s left. Nick’s heart thudded hollowly at the red and blue lights rotating on top of the black and white that had pulled up next to them.

 

[Maid of Marvels]

The blinding glare of the squad car's spotlight shone into the car as the officer got out and sauntered over. Kimi was shaking, but Nick hadn't moved and was holding her hand, their fingers twined together tightly.

"Nice night," the officer said as he bent over to look into the car.

Nick's head spun quickly toward her as Kim gasped. "Shh... I'll talk. It's okay," he whispered.

She didn't say anything, just shook her head rapidly back and forth. It wasn't fear that made her gasp just now though. It was the fact that she recognized the voice. Not only did she recognize the voice, she recognized the cop... and he recognized her.

The cop nodded his head and stood up, looking down the street before bending down again. "Get lost? Break down? Run out of gas? Who's your friend, Kimi? License and registration, please."

Nick leaned past Kimi, giving her a quizzical look as he pressed the button on the glove box. She didn't know what to do but roll her eyes as he took out the document and handed it over.

"Uncle Mac, this is Nick. Nick Simmons. Nick, this is my uncle, Officer Jamison. Uncle Mac, we were just... "

"Yes, I saw what you were just... " And he seemed less than pleased, Kim thought. And rightly so. She leaned her forehead against Nick's shoulder as her uncle relayed Nick's information to the dispatcher.

"I'll make it right, Kim. Don't worry," he said softly.

She nodded, a sick sort of feeling in her stomach as she kissed his cheek. She'd always been the good one. The one who never even got her nose dirty. It was Dee who did it all and never got caught. She'd never hear the end of this.

"Your parents know where you are, Kimi? Your dad? Your mother? It's past curfew. And you, Nick Simmons. What do you have to say for yourself?"

He couldn't answer, Kimi knew. Not straight out anyhow. How could he say where they'd been? Even if they'd gone in the front door, there was the flick... An art film, but sexy nonetheless. No one would ever understand. Kimi groaned and answered for him, prepared to lie and hoping she wasn't going to get caught.

"We went to The Overlook, hung out for a while then pizza and... Uncle Mac, some guys from school keyed Nick's car today. I guess we just got caught up... "

Her uncle looked down at the side of the Gran Torino and whistled softly, walking around the entire car and coming back. "Nasty gash. You do the work on this yourself, son? Might take a while, but you can grind it out and paint her up good as new. Nice ride, by the way. Know who did it?"

"Yes," she blurted out.

"No," Nick interjected.

"Which is it? Yes or no?"

Kim's face heated up as Nick repeated, "No. Just someone that had nothing better to do, I guess. And yeah. I did the work on this myself."

Her uncle nodded, his fingers drumming on the edge of the door as he appeared suddenly lost in thought. It was a ploy, Kimi knew -- the calm before the storm. They were in for it now. Or at least she was.

"So what am I supposed to do with you two kids now, Kimi? What do you think would be the right thing to do? Help me out here, kiddo. I may be your uncle, but I'm a cop. And us cops have rules to follow." He nodded sagely, looking from one young face to the other and back again. "Now normally, I'd take the two lovebirds home to their parents, see? Your dad isn't gonna like this. Your mother will probably cry a river. Your sister, well... We know Dee won't let you live this down."

Kimi sighed. It was true, all true. Given her druthers, she'd just as soon not been caught out like this, but she wasn't ashamed of being with Nick. In fact, she was more than a little proud. "Dunno, Uncle Mac. I guess... "

"Tell you what," he began again before she could finish. "Your Nick looks like a nice young man. No record. No tickets. Clean as a whistle. That's a good thing. Now here's the plan... " He leaned in conspiratorially. "Sunday dinner. You know I'm always there. This time we're gonna have an extra though. Nick? On behalf of my niece and especially my sister and her husband, I cordially invite you to attend. I'm thinking Kimi's parents need to meet the boy who kept her out so late. Be there. Fourteen hundred hours on the dot. Now you get this gal home and go straight to yours." Banging his hand on the Torino's hood as he headed back to the squad car, Uncle Mac motioned for Nick to start it up and then nodded in the direction of the Tremont house.

Kim could swear she heard him chuckle as he walked away. He wasn't, was he? Wide-eyed, she looked at Nick and shrugged, grinning. "You heard him. I hope you like roast beef cause that's what we're having."

 

[captainb]

What the fuck just happened? Nick’s head was reeling. From cop to uncle to dinner on Sunday night… with Kimi’s parents! And with the cop… Uncle Mac? Holy shit!

He didn’t even realize he’d driven up the block until he stopped the car in front of her house. He let out a deep breath as the police car slowly cruised by, the light bar on top thankfully turned off. He glanced sideways at Kimi and gave her a half-grin. “Roast beef, huh? Yeah, sounds good…”

Nick’s hands still gripped the steering wheel. She bit her lower lip and slid closer to rest one hand on his thigh. “Are you okay with it? Coming to dinner, I mean.”

He snorted and shrugged. “Oh, sure. Hey, it’ll be nice to get a home-cooked meal.” He forced a smile and patted her hand. “It just, uh, kinda came outta nowhere, you know? I mean, we really only had one… date…” He knew it sounded wrong as soon as he spoke. One hell of a “date,” Nick. Kimi’s face was silhouetted against the porch lights and he couldn’t read her expression. He squeezed her hand. “I’ll be there, it’ll be… fun. Nothing like meeting the family, huh? I’m sure your mom and dad will get a real kick out of meeting me. Roast beef. That’ll be good. I’ll… I’ll be hungry. Yep.”

Nick clenched his jaw and willed himself to stop talking. Kimi’s eyes wetly reflected a streetlight. He slid sideways in the seat and cupped her cheek in one hand. “I’ll be there,” he said softly, and brushed his lips against hers. He couldn’t help glancing at the porch beyond as they kissed. It was empty, although he might have seen a curtain move. “You better get inside,” he whispered. “I don’t want to get you in trouble.”

She gave a small laugh and nodded, then stepped out of the car. He leaned over as the door closed and rolled the window down. “I’m gonna get some work done on the car tomorrow. What time did he say to come over again?”

She leaned down. “Fourteen hundred hours. That’s Uncle Mac talk for two o’clock. On the dot, right?”

“Right,” he said, his brow furrowing. “Two o’clock? I though he said it was dinner.”

Her mouth slightly twisted. “It is dinner. That’s just a fancy name for lunch.” She lightly tapped his nose. “Play your cards right and you might make it over for supper sometime, too.”

He cocked his head and nodded. “Okay. Dinner it is. I’ll see you then, okay?”

She nodded and turned to the house. He watched her go up the porch steps, torn between wanting to walk her to the door and being somehow terrified of doing so. She opened the door and turned to look back, and he waved and started the car down the street. He drove cautiously through the neighborhood, turned onto Route 326 and gunned the Torino’s V8 through all gears until an approaching curve forced him to throttle back on the machine’s roar. Only then did he turn and start to slowly find his way home.

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Testing the knob on the front door quietly to see if it was locked, Kim looked back toward Nick and waved timidly before pushing it open. Visions of her parents and Deirdre waiting to give her the third degree like some common criminal had sent her heart plummeting to her toes, but face them she must. It was her own fault for not watching the time. She wasn't a kid. She knew better. Well, she should have known better.

"I'm home." She spoke quietly in the direction of the living room, expecting to hear the sound of her mother's shrill voice shrieking "Where have you been? Do you know how worried your father and I were? We thought you were dead. Deidre never did this to us. Blah, blah, blah... " but the only voice that answered her was her sister's.

"Upstairs," she said, bounding off the sofa. "Now!"

Kimi blinked, ready to ask Dee just who she thought she was, bossing her around like their dog for Pete's sake, but thought the better of it when she saw her sister's face. She wasn't mad! Deidre wasn't mad. In fact, the look she saw was one of concern and maybe a little bit of bemusement. But she definitely wasn't mad. In a way, that frightened her all the more.

Taking the stairs to her room two at a time, Kim let herself into her bedroom and waited for Dee to catch up. It didn't take Miss Queen Bee long to get there, though she quickly closed the door behind herself and stood for a minute just staring at her younger sister.

"Look, Dee. If you're going to try to blackmail me, it won't work," Kimi blurted before Dee could begin the threats. "I already got caught out by Uncle Mac so mom and dad are going to know anyhow. Sorry."

"You really are a... child, Kimi Tremont," Dee began with that superior, holier-than-thou attitude she was so famous for. "You were wrong for not at least phoning, but they never even knew you were gone. And I got the call from Uncle Mac. Nick Simmons?? You were with Nick Simmons??"

Kim stood defiantly before her sister, her arms crossed over her chest. She wasn't sure whether she was madder at her parents for not even noticing she was gone or over the way Dee was saying Nick's name. "Shut up, Dee. Just shut the hell up! And yes, I was with Nick Simmons. Do you have a problem with that?"

Deirdre took a step forward and Kimi brought her fists up defensively. She'd knock her out. She swore she would. Just let her... Kimi winced as her sister quickly closed the gap between them, laughing as she did so. What happened next would have been enough to put someone with a bad heart six feet under and even hours later, Kim would still have trouble trying to sort it all out.

She struggled as Dee grabbed her, fully expecting them to be thrown to the floor or at least the bed and thoroughly pommelled. It wouldn't be a fair fight she knew -- it never was. Dee was not only taller but heavier by at least twenty pounds. "Let... me... go!" Kim gasped, enraged by the sound of her sister's laughter.

"Calm down, Kimi. Calm... down."

"NO! Let... me... "

"Fine! Have it your way!!" Deirdre let her go as quickly as she'd grabbed her, sending Kim tumbling backward onto the bed gasping.

"I love you, you little twit. I just wanted to give you a hug, dammit. As for Nick... I was always afraid you'd end up with one of those other jerks you hang with. I know who Nick Simmons is... and he is fine."

Kim looked at her sister in disbelief. Dee had to be on drugs... or something. "I already said you can't blackmail me, Deirdre. What do you want?"

"Nothing, Kim. Nothing. I just want to help. Uncle Mac said we'd be having company for dinner on Sunday. I remember what that was like -- bringing home my first proper boyfriend. Do you?"

Kimi nodded her head. She remembered... boy, did she. It was hell, sheer hell. And the guy never came back either.

"Okay, then" Dee said. "We're gonna make sure the same thing doesn't happen to you, is all."

"How? I mean... " There had to be a catch to this. Dee was never nice.

"You're just going to have to trust me," she said cryptically, making Kim squint. Why, oh why did this feel like the calm before the storm?

 

[captainb]

The gravel crunching under his wheels brought Nick back to reality. The Torino’s headlights washed over the front of the trailer, highlighting the sagging gutter and the concrete blocks that held up what passed for a porch. The tiny windows were highlighted by the dim glow of a TV through the thin curtains. He killed the engine and sat in the dark, listening to the slow tick coming from under the hood. At times like these he almost wished he smoked. He truly had no desire to walk in… there. He couldn’t even call it a house and it certainly didn’t feel like home. Mobile home, hah! If only it could roll away. He knew what it looked like inside: blue shadows everywhere, with the only light coming from the set – dirty dishes covering the kitchenette counter – the stale smell of old cigarettes and unwashed clothes. He kept the door to his room closed at all times, but the stink crept in there too.

Nick closed his eyes. For the thousandth time, he fought down the voice that screamed inside to just leave, to throw his clothes in the car and drive… anywhere. He’d argued with himself that he could hang on, hold out just until he graduated, then he would go, get a job, get away from this place. It was a daily fight, and dragging himself into the trailer every night was a small, if sour, victory.

Tonight’s argument was different. The voice of escape was muted, as if not quite convinced anymore that freedom lay in fleeing. Kimi’s face floated through his mind, a swirling collage of all the glimpses he’d had of her face, all of the expressions, snatches of conversations, her smell, her taste, her eyes, her eyes… He wasn’t leaving, not anytime soon, he realized, and the other voice quietly accepted that.

He sighed and leaned his head back. Dinner at the Tremont’s. Great. He felt lucky about the cop (Uncle Mac, good grief!). Not because he’d done anything wrong. He hadn’t, nothing he’d been caught at. But whatever police check Mac had done hadn’t dug too deeply, since he hadn’t mentioned Nick’s father. Nick wondered if Mac would have been so enthused about showing him off to Kimi’s parents if he’d known about the wife-beating, thieving, ex-con alcoholic lying on the broken couch in the trailer.

With a grimace, he stepped out of the car. He’d put up with his life so far, he could tough it out until the end. He just hoped, as he walked up the wooden steps, that his dad hadn’t fallen asleep again while watching a porno.

 

[Maid of Marvels]

It seemed like it took a week to get from Friday night to Sunday afternoon. Her mother and Dee spent all of Saturday at the mall while her dad played golf with a new client. Her brother was at a friend's house and spent the night so Kimi was basically on her own.

Dee, seeming eager to prove her trustworthiness, announced their dinner guest over Chinese takeout causing her mother's mouth to pop open and shut again while her father merely arched an eyebrow. Kim had quickly retreated to her room with the excuse of a report pending in order to avoid the impending inquisition. Besides, she was sure Dee would fill them in -- and then some. God, she wished she knew what that girl was really up to.

******

"Wake up! Wake up!"

Kim groaned and opened one eye to see why her sister was shaking her. It was only Sun...

"He'll be here in a couple of hours. You need to figure out what you're going to wear and maybe I can help you tame that mane of yours," she gushed.

"Dee, you're giving me a nosebleed. Slow... down... And what's wrong with my hair?"

Kim's words were wasted as her sister yanked her into a sitting position. "Look!" Deidre chided, turning her chin toward the mirror on the dresser.

Yikes! It was just a case of chronic bedhead, but that was fixable. And why did Dee seem to think she needed to wear something special? The nagging feeling that her elder sister was up to no good returned with a vengeance. "Go away!" she shouted, throwing herself back onto her pillows. "I know what I'm wearing and my hair is just... well... Don't you have someone else to bother?"

"I'm just trying to be helpful."

"Yeah... well, go be helpful somewhere else. Adopt a gerbil. Frogs are cute. What about a kitten? Go. Do. I'll call you if I need anything. Shoo."

Kim sighed. "Talk about someone needing to get a life!"

In a way, though, Dee was right. Nick would be nervous enough about having to come to dinner without having to endure her family's questions while she finished getting dressed.

Getting out of bed, she peered outside. The weather wasn't bad. Maybe she could just wait for him on the porch or something. If he showed up. If.

******

Kim didn't bother with breakfast, deciding instead to peel the potatoes (why was that always her job) and set the table before going back upstairs to shower. Dee had obviously found something to amuse herself with because she was nowhere in sight. Why did that bother her?

Normally, she wouldn't have dressed up for something as mundane as Sunday dinner, but she didn't want to look as if Nick's presence was less than special to her either. It took her longer than she expected, but Kim finally settled on a skirt and sweater set she'd just bought recently. It was short, but not too and the sweater was both soft and a bit clingy. Comfort clothes.

"Where is she?" Uncle Mac's voice boomed from downstairs as he announced his arrival. The "she" in question could only be herself.

"Coming, Uncle Mac!" she called from the doorway of her room, hoping that at least he was going to be on her side in this. She knew her uncle well enough to realize that he would not have invited Nick if he didn't like him.

She heard Nick's car pull up outside as she reached the bottom of the stairs. "Looks like your beau is here," Dee said with a rather snide grin.

"Knock it off, Dee," she snapped and looked to Uncle Mac for help.

"Well, he can tell time at least," her uncle commented, grabbing Dee's arm and leading her toward the kitchen. "Coffee. Is it fresh?"

Kimi smoothed her hands over her skirt and glanced in the hallway mirror. Her hair was semi-under-control, the curls tied out of her face with a green velvet ribbon that matched her eyes. Okay, she wasn't beautiful, but she was okay.

Not waiting for him to knock, she stepped outside onto the porch and wiggled her fingers at him shyly. The grin on Nick's face when he looked up at her drove away the fear that he hadn't come because of the implied threat but because he wanted to see her again after...

"Hiya," she said walking down the steps toward him. "I'm glad you came."