Stuff & Nonsense - Ch. 4
Fandom: Nikki & Nora
Pairing: Nikki/Nora
Rating: R - definitely R.
Title: Stuff & Nonsense - Ch. 4
Disclaimer: These characters well, Nikki, Nora, Dan, Darius, Georgia, Charlie, Arthur, Bobby and Mrs. Delaney are so not mine (dammit!), but Ann and Jill and other characters not mentioned in the pilot are (Ha!). The ones in the “dammit!” category belong to Nancylee Myatt and other’s I don’t know. Title and inspiration for this piece comes from Missy Higgins’ song, Stuff & Nonsense…
A/N: Well this little story went by quicker than I had thought it would, but here we are at the last chapter. To all of those that have read a great big thank you and those that left me those nifty comments and encouraged, well, you lot aren’t so bad yourself.
In other more off topic news, I’ve went and committed to Ralst’s Epic Proportions Challenge (again…something’s wrong with me, I just know it…and I’m sure someone can prove it.) I’ve got about five weeks before I finish that maybe a bit longer if I f’up the schedule I’ve set up (this is a high probability). What this means for Nikki & Nora is that I need to take a small hiatus. Projections say I should be posting the aptly titled - N &N #5 - Untitled, sometime around the end of March. So until then, I’ll be around, reading and lurking, but no posting. Everyone take care, have a great February and March and I’ll see you later. =0D
Ch. 4 - Not Forever
Three-twenty-six A.M. glares at me from the bedside clock. In all honesty, three hours and some minutes into the New Year aren’t that bad. From my position behind Nora, I would have to say that the year is starting off in quite the proper way. A little dinner, a lot of dancing and just enough alcohol to keep you warm without getting so drunk that you wake up the next morning wanting to get an I.V. of saline and pain killers.
To cap it off, we got to go back to Nora’s little haven at Ann and Jill’s. Which is how I’ve found myself in a pickle. Not a major pickle. More like a minor hiccup in the evening. I’m just so torn. My lover in all her glory is on all fours. I should be doing more than staring at the expanse of flesh, but for the life of me I can’t seem to move much more than my right hand or tear my eyes away from the woman before me.
The smooth plane of her shoulders, down the line of her spine, my hand trails and traces a path. I stop right above the new piece added to the canvas of my lover. At first, I was a little upset that she would do this to herself. The small of her back was - is - one of my most favorite spots on her. I can glide the tips of my fingers over it just so and it will relax her when she’s on edge or ignite in her a passion that leaves me spent.
And in one fell swoop she’s changed that area on her body…I was a little miffed until she explained herself.
Taking my index finger ever so lightly, I start on the outside right edge tracing the path of the swirl of ink through the design of the knots and towards the center, towards the heart. The skin is a little slick from the ointment I rubbed into it earlier that evening, but it just aids in my quest to map the redesigned territory. I trace the heart and the crown sitting on top of it and then take my time to caress the left side of the vines.
Tattoos aren’t really my thing, but this one stirs in me a series of emotions that start somewhere in the center of my chest, a tightening that squeezes and causes my breath to hitch. Needing to act, I sit resting my bottom on my calves and lean down to plant one solitary kiss in the center of the tattoo.
I slide down the small of her back, run my left cheek over the soft skin of her right ass cheek, nipping at the skin and causing her to let out a soft yelp. I smile, sit up and push her forward. Giving her some direction, I take her hand and turn Nora over, her right leg swinging over my head so that I’m kneeling between her now parted legs.
Her head cocks to the side as I gaze down on her. Her breath hitching as I run a set of blunt nails down her left thigh and I watch as the muscles quiver under my touch. Now that I have her where I want her, I need to figure out what exactly I want to do with her. So many possibilities so little time before we get tired and need sleep.
“Nikki?” Nora says, drawing up to rest on her elbows.
I smile and say, “Just thinking about all the things I want to do and in what order.”
I move my left hand up and grip her hip moving up towards her flank and around to cup a breast, teasing the nipple to attention. She arcs into the touch, pressing against my palm. “You know,” I say, “If I were a poet, I’d dedicate entire sonnets to this?”
Her closed eyes snap open and she looks at me with just the cutest look of confusion. Sitting up and dislodging my hand she wraps one arm around my waist and the other hooks under behind my knees. Swiftly, she repositions us so that I’m practically sitting in her lap and her lips are covering mine.
A warm tongue slides over my bottom lip and I open for her. The taste of her explodes on my tongue and I run our muscles together pulling back slightly to catch a breath and nibble at her lower lip. Gripping the hair at the back of her neck, I pull her head back to kiss and suck my way towards the hollow of her throat, back up the opposite side. My lips, tongue and teeth carve a path from the knot of muscle in her jaw, down her cheek and back to her lips where she sucks my tongue into her waiting mouth.
Giving up the neat plan of seduction I had formulated to leave her begging, Nora instead tosses those thoughts out of the metaphorical window of my mind as her left hand kneads my breast. Her attention never lavished on just one; she moves between the two. Finally, she pulls out of our kiss and rests her forehead against my temple. “There’s a large part of me that’s glad you aren’t.”
A little breathless, I manage, “I would be a fantastic poet, sugga.”
She chuckles as the hand that was attending to my breasts drops lower to trace unseen patterns on my tummy. “Hmm,” she mumbles, “You’re capable of many things, I’m not sure being a poet would be one of those things.”
I pull back and scoff. Exaggerating the need to clear my throat, I find her eyes and go for it, “An Ode to Peanut Butter and Jelly. Two ample mounds, their proportion ideal. I take great joy in their reveal. Peaked with two sublime nubs only add to their appeal. Why I’d give up my heels to play among those hills.” I only manage a semi-straight face as I finish my ode and punctuate the last word by rolling one of those sublime numbs between my thumb and forefinger.
This earns me a full belly laugh as she doubles over letting her head rest on my bent knee. Unable to contain my laughter either, I join in as we giggle in the wee hours of the morning. The bed shakes and I wrap my arms around her shoulders for support.
She regains a bit of her composure first and wipes away a few tears that escaped from the corner of her eyes. “Oh, God. I don’t know what to comment on first, the fact that you named my boobs peanut butter and jelly or that you said you’d give up your shoes.”
“Hey, peanut butter and jelly are acceptable terms. They go very well together,” I tease.
She rolls her eyes and pecks me on the tip of my nose. “You’re crazy. You’ve lost it. That’s all I can think to say.”
“Hmm,” I hum and nuzzle the soft flesh between her neck and shoulder. “It’s your fault. Shall I give you another?” I pull back and open my mouth to try for another poem, but her hand clamps over my mouth and she shakes her head.
“Please, for the love of God, do not write me anymore poems,” she hisses.
My mouth turns down against her warm palm and I pout.
“Not that I don’t love you, I just don’t think the English language can bear any more offense,” she smiles at me, removes her hand and presses her lips against mine. The kiss lasts the barest of seconds before she pulls back and mumbles against my upturned lips, “Please shut up now and make love to me.” I close the distance between our lips and give in to her request.
Unsuccessfully, I try to stifle the yawn. It’s early or late depending on the perspective. The clock reads seven-oh-six and the morning sun is peaking through the slit in the opaque curtains. I would get up and close them, but movement of any sort seems entirely too excessive.
Nikki lays nestled in the crook of my left arm. Her hair slightly tickling the inside of my bicep. We rest atop the rumpled sheets of our bed, cooling off from activities that started some time ago. One of her arms is trapped between my body and hers, curled just so that it makes for a very cute image. Her other hand is thrown over my midsection, her fingertips play with my hip.
I tuck one hand behind my head and let the other play with strands of her hair. We breathe in and out at the same time. This relaxes me like nothing else. Knowing that she’s here with me, just as tired, satisfied and spent as I am. My eyes drift closed and I hover on the edge of sleep and consciousness, thinking of Nikki.
Her reaction to the tattoo was…unexpected. She was upset at first. That much was clear. Then I took a second and explained to her the reason behind it. Her outlook changed in that instant. Telling her it was for her, because of her, helped. More than I thought and while it seemed a little rash, it wasn’t.
I had always wanted one. Never really knew what I wanted, but when I stepped into the shop with Jill, the idea just sort of came to me. The symbol something from my Irish heritage and very much a representation of my stance concerning the brunette in my arms.
“Hmmm,” Nikki moans and stretches.
“You’re actually awake?” I ask not opening my eyes as I feel her shift to lay half on top of me. My chest acts as her pillow as I feel her nod.
“I was thinking that our trip is almost over,” she whispers.
“Well, we still have a few days before we need to go back to work when we get home. We can spend a few days, do laundry, teach Mister that the living room carpet is not the same as a patch of grass to relive oneself and maybe even get to some of the stuff around the house,” I offer.
While we are moved in, Nikki’s picked up two paintings and this huge mirror. All of them need to be hung and we still need to spend some time training Mister properly.
“If that mutt doesn’t quit going potty on the new carpet, I’m going to turn him into a pair of slippers,” she grumps.
Playfully, I smack her bare shoulder. “Be nice. He’s a puppy.” I shake my head. “I still can’t believe you never had a dog growing up.”
Nikki shrugs. “Daddy’s not a big fan. I had a cat. It slept at the end of my bed.”
“Hmm, and did this cat have a name?” I wonder.
“Linda,” she answers and I laugh.
“Seriously?” I’m somehow not shocked. “You named your cat Linda?”
“Well, no. Not me. The old lady that gave her to us named her. It’s the only name the cat would answer to so I kept it.” Nikki yawns as she says, “Besides it’s not that big a deal. As long as you’re happy with him, I’m okay.”
The conversation lapses as she finds a particular patch of flesh on my upper thigh captivating. “Nor, what do you want to do for your birthday? It’s coming up soon.”
That’s something I haven’t actually thought about. With the move, Nikki’s birthday at the beginning of December, the Holidays and this vacation, my birthday isn’t even registering. I shrug. “I hadn’t given it much thought.”
“That means I get to surprise you,” Nikki says. I hear the implied threat in her voice.
“Maybe I can amend that with a quiet night at home. We can dance until the sun comes up and then I can have my way with you,” I try to steer her thoughts to less extravagant areas because her surprises are usually just that, extravagant.
“You’re intent on spoiling my fun, aren’t you?” she pinches my side as she asks.
“No,” I say trying to squirm away from the fingers I know are close to another area of flesh. “You said you wanted me happy. Well, that would make me happy. You, me, our home,” I plead and reason.
Nikki gives an undignified grunt and she relents, “Fine. Is there anything in particular you want for your thirty-second birthday?”
I give her the first answer that comes to me, “You.”
She snorts and her hand slips between my thighs, playing with the wiry hair covering my center. Her fingers slide through and offer a bit of pressure. The groan slips free and she rubs a little harder.
“You can’t be serious?” I ask. I’m exhausted. I know she is, but there she is, sliding her hand through my arousal.
“I wouldn’t be doing this, if you weren’t so delectable,” she says kissing the skin right above my belly button. Her index finger parts my folds and runs the length of my slit, over my clit and down again to push inside of me.
“Nikki,” I breathe.
“Shhh,” is all she says to me as I feel her move down the bed. She snakes under my leg, leaving that lone digit inside of me as her mouth kisses its way down my thigh.
This isn’t fair.
My eyes finally open to see her staring up at me. She maintains eye contact as one firm kiss is placed at the apex of my lips. She grins and winks right before she leans in and I feel her tongue trail a very similar path her finger did few moments prior. My head drops back against the pillows and both of my hands tangle themselves in her hair as I try to find purchase amongst the onslaught. Another finger joins the first and I cry for another. The third slips in and she sets a firm pace. I hang on and enjoy the ride.
I watch as Jill bounces towards the top of the bed and pulls Ann down in her lap. I continue to fold a sweater amused at the look on the model’s face. She’s pouting and normally, pouting doesn’t go very far with me, but she does it quite well. Even Nora can’t pull off the protruding bottom lip look and melancholy arch of the eyebrows as well as Jill. I’m impressed.
It still doesn’t mean that we’re going to stay the last few days of our vacation. There are things at home that need to be attended to despite the fun and relaxation we’ve had here.
Ann pats her wife’s hand and Jill sinks back into the pillow, her face buries itself into the fabric and she groans. The sweater goes in the suitcase and Nora hands me a blouse that was hanging in the closet.
“Oh, fucking Christ, Nor,” Jill whines.
Three sets of eyebrows arch in question. Jill just rolls her eyes and grumbles, “You two are gonna leave and leave me to clean up the sex sheets.”
Nora chokes on the disgruntled yelp she was planning, Ann smirks and waggles her eyebrows in my direction. I just smile and say, “As a good hostess, that would be the standard procedure.”
“Jill, really?” Ann asks, “Sex sheets?”
The woman in question looks up innocently at her wife and blinks. “Well, what else am I supposed to call them? Fuck tarps? Booty blankets? Or how about puss…” Nora leaps over the bed and has her hand firmly clamped over Jill’s mouth before she can even finish the statement.
My lover’s neck is beat red, which means her face is probably just a shade deeper.
“Can she even breathe?” Ann asks curiously.
Jill shakes her head and Nora eases her hold. “Are you done?” my girl wants to know.
With a nod of her head, Jill’s mouth is freed and Nora climbs off the bed. “Pussy pads,” Jill squeaks out before Nora throws the closest object at her friends head. The pillow connects with a solid thud against Jill’s face.
“Ann, control these two,” I direct before spinning around to the dresser to finish off the suitcase.
“I can’t. I tried and for my troubles, Jilly bit me in the ass.” I turn around and watch as Ann stands, starting to undo her belt.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
Her hands are on the open button of her jeans. “Showing you the scar. She bites hard.”
I roll my eyes. I should have known better. I look at Nora. Her hands are covering her face. I think she’s given up on packing. We need to leave for the airport in a half hour; a little help would be appreciated. “Nora, would you like to assist me?” I ask sweetly, batting my own lashes in her direction.
“Only if Jill stops talking,” she says behind her hands.
“Hey, Delaney, if you can’t talk about it you shouldn’t do it. Don’t think we didn’t hear you two going at it like jack rabbits a few nights,” Jill informs the two of us.
I have the good sense to blush and keep my mouth shut. Nora seems to lack that as she says, “Oh, like you two are quiet?”
“True, but we on occasion have the good sense to use a gag on Ann. My baby can get carried away.” Jill pats her wife’s thigh. Ann just groans and falls off Jill’s lap to join Nora on the bed.
They lay side by side until Ann curls into Nora’s side and whispers, “Can I go home with you?”
“No,” Nora states.
“Ha!” Jill pumps her fist in the air. “See Annie, you’re stuck with me.”
“You wanna trade, Jill?” I cut in on the banter.
Nora’s hands drop quickly and she glares at me.
Jill’s head tilts to the side in thought. “Do you cook?”
I shake my head.
“No deal. I need a cooker.” She leans over then and kisses the side of Ann’s head.
The agent opens up her arm and Jill happily snuggles into her wife’s side while Ann is still firmly ensconced in Nora’s arms. They do look awful cute all curled up together.
“See, Annie, I’ll keep you.” Jill purrs into her wife’s side.
“Hmm,” Ann grunts, “The question is whether or not I’ll keep you. Delaney, you want to trade?”
“No,” is the quick reply that makes me smile.
“Good,” I say and swat at Nora’s leg. “Then get up and help the woman you want to keep.”
Dutifully, Nora untangles herself from the women on the bed and finishes off the suitcase that she had started. With her help, we’re able to have everything loaded in the car with a few minutes to spare. Ann and Jill are side by side in the afternoon sun. It warms a little, but it’s still ridiculously cold.
“You two are responsible for the next visit, come down and join us or we can go someplace else,” Nora says leaning into me.
“We could do a cruise?” Ann offers.
Jill makes a face.
“If you guys want a cruise, we can just hire a captain and staff and take the family yacht,” I say. “More cost effective and we can pick where we want to go. The Caribbean is amazing in June.”
“You have a yacht?” three women ask at once.
I shrug. Didn’t I tell Nora?
“Well, technically, it’s daddy’s but it’s named after me.” I look at them and sigh.
“Okay, when we get home, you and I are going to have another conversation about assets and what else I need to know.”
“Well, that’s pretty much it. There are two vacation homes and the yacht,” I answer Nora.
“And these vacation homes are where?” Ann asks.
“One’s outside of New Orleans. Nora’s been to that one. It’s the family home. The other is in Puerto Rico. Daddy likes to vacation there at least once a year. It’s his getaway spot. So, that’s an option, we can commandeer the yacht and head to Puerto Rico.” I bump Nora’s hip and she rolls her eyes.
“We’ll think about it,” Jill answers and opens her arms up. She gives me a hug and then Nora.
Ann is next as she hangs on to me and whispers, “Thanks again Nikki. Call us when you land so I’m not pacing the length of the house worried?”
I pull back and nod. I notice the extra water in her eyes and offer her shoulder a firm squeeze before she wraps Nora up in a bear hug. “Love you, Nor. Be safe.”
Nora offers a muffled version of the same sentiments. I give one last wave before I slip around to the driver’s side and wait on my lover. She climbs in and Jill leans in giving me one last pointed look before shutting the door.
I wait until Nora has her seat belt secure and I pull away from the curb towards the airport. Her hand finds mine and I lace our fingers together. I notice the swipes her free hand takes at her cheeks and eyes.
The lingering bit of pain eases as I cross the threshold to our home. Mister’s been yipping happily since we picked him up from Darius’ and Nikki’s managed to call her father, Ann and Jill and Dan letting them all know that we’re home. I’ve yet to call my mom and I tell her.
She knew I was going up north on vacation, I didn’t tell her where, who I was visiting and if anyone was coming with me. Frankly, I’m hard pressed to think of a reason why she would need to know.
“Nora, sugga, can you grab the door?” Nikki asks as she’s dragged through the front by Mister on his the leash.
I set the bags down and close the open door.
“Mister, I swear if you don’t stop…” Menace laces Nikki’s words and I laugh.
“Mister,” I bark, “come here.”
The dog stops pulling against Nikki and trots over to me, wagging his tail. Big dopey brown eyes blink up at me. I scratch his head and lean down to take off the leash.
“That dog has it in for me,” Nikki pouts as she winds up the leash and sets it on the kitchen island.
Scratching behind his hears, I stoop down and get a lick to my cheek for the trouble. “He does not,” I inform her. “You just need to learn how to deal with him. How someone as well versed in social graces as you seem to be can exist without knowing how to handle a dog is beyond me.”
“They teach that sort of thing in finishing school, Nora Marie. They do not teach how to scratch a dog behind the ears while he drools all over your face and you better wash that cheek if you think I’m going to kiss…”
“Baby,” I interrupt. I love the woman to death, but… “Shut up and come here.” We’re not even in the door five minutes and she’s already griping about one of the sweetest dogs that I’ve known. Grudgingly, she stands next to me, her arms folded across her chest. I crook a finger at her and then pat the tile next to me. She gives me an exasperated sigh, but drops down next to me regardless.
“Now, there’s a couple things. He doesn’t listen to you because you haven’t asserted your authority. Once he gets the picture that you are second in command he’ll start to listen to you more, but threatening him isn’t going to help.”
Her brow knits together and she asks, “Second in command?”
I laugh and Mister tries to get into my face. “Sit,” I command and sober up. I point to the floor and tap on his behind. “Sit.”
He clues up and rests back on his haunches.
“Yes, Nikki, second in command. I’m first and right now he thinks he’s second,” I tell her.
“I don’t think so,” she clips.
“To a dog, that’s how it goes. They’re pack animals.” I pat her knee and say, “We’ll get you sorted out. Here,” I say taking her hand. I show her how to scratch Mister in all his favorite spots. My hip starts vibrating then and groan. “You sit and bond. Let me get this.”
I stand and brush off my hands before I grab my phone, “Delaney.”
“Nora,” my brother’s voice responds.
I swallow the lump that immediately formed in my throat and say, “Yeah.”
“Uh, hi,” he stammers.
“What’s up Bobby?” I tuck my hand under my arm and walk the length of the living room.
“I, uh, you home?” he asks.
“Yeah just got in. What’s up?” I ask again.
“I uh, I’m outside. Figured I’d call before I came in,” he says.
I move to the front door and poke my head out. He’s pacing the length of the courtyard. “Bobby!” I holler and close the phone.
His head snaps up and he jogs over to me. His smile is hesitant, but I ignore it and pull him into a hug. We may not be on the best of terms right now, but I still love him. I still missed him.
His arms wrap around me and he squeezes tight. I feel his nose bury itself in my hair as he lifts me off my feet a little.
Finally, after a few minutes of hanging on to each other he lets go first and I lead him into the house. Nikki’s still sitting by the kitchen; she and Mister are playing together. She’s got the chew toy dangling from the end of a rope and they’re engaged in a game of a tug-o-war. Bobby’s eyes light up at the sight of the dog.
“When’d you get him?” he asks dropping to his knees. Mister goes bounding over to him while Bobby opens his arms to take the dog into a hug. “Who’s a good boy? Uh? You are. Yes, you are,” my brother coos and Mister’s tail happily thumps against every available service.
Once he gets over the excitement of the dog, Bobby looks up and sees Nikki looking at him. He has the good graces to tint pink and stammer, “H…hi, Nikki. Good to see you again.”
Nikki’s chin dips and she stands to take residence against my side. Her arm goes around my waist and she pulls me to her, making sure that she’s just a fraction of an inch ahead of me, separating me and my brother.
Bobby’s eyes lower and he stands. Mister grabs the toy he and Nikki were playing with to trot off and head to his spot in the living room. My brother looks around and takes in the new space. He knew where it was, I made sure of it.
“Bobby was there something you needed?” I try to move this along. I am a little tired and honestly, not in the mood to deal with him right now. I hate that things feel this way between us. I hate that one second I can have my arms around him and it feels like it always did, but then, then it’s like he remembers. He remembers who is sister is and he clams up again and the tension comes back stronger than before.
“Yeah, uh, I did.” He toys with the zipper on his open jacket. He’s out of uniform which means he’s off today. “Can we, uh, maybe sit down? I wanted to talk to you both.”
I look at Nikki and see nothing but love and support. I nod and lead us all into the living room. Bobby takes the recliner and Nikki takes the couch. Unable to relax, I lean against the arm of the couch and feel Nikki’s hand move to the small of my back.
“Well, see,” he starts, “I just wanted to,” he licks his lips, “that is to say, I wanted to apologize.” He finally looks up from the floor and finds my eyes. “I’m sorry, Nor. I didn’t…wasn’t sure how or what to say. Finding out the way I did wasn’t right, but it’s still no excuse. So I’m sorry.”
He stands abruptly and starts for the door. I jump up and manage to catch him by the sleeve of his jacket, “Bobby…”
“No,” he says not turning around. “I need to go. I just wanted to stop by, try and set things right, sis.” He turns to me then and offers me a smile.
“Thanks,” I say a little thicker than I would like.
“I mean it Nora. I’m here. I don’t understand it, but that shouldn’t matter. You’re my sister. You’re the person I’m closest too and I don’t want that to change.” He finds my hand and squeezes it. “So, whatever you need. I’m here.” He looks over my shoulder and I don’t need to see to know that Nikki is right behind me. He directs his next words to her, “That goes for you to Nikki. Whatever you need. I’m here. I’m sorry if I caused you two any problems.”
“Thank you, Bobby. That means a lot. To both of us,” Nikki finds the words that I can’t.
He offers a little smile before placing a kiss on my forehead. I watch a little shell shocked as he scurries out the door, the clicking shut behind him.
Well, how about that for a homecoming?”
It feels good though. A weight that had settled on me since Bobby and I stopped talking is lifted and I breathe a little easier. Nikki’s arms snake around my waist causing me to lean against her in support. I tilt my head back and find her lips. We stand there, locked in an embrace for minutes on end. It feels right. It feels like this is what I was meant to do. More than being a cop. More than being a sister or a daughter or anything else that I can think of. I know I’m supposed to be here with the woman who is holding me.
I finally break away and whisper, “I love you.”
She smiles against my neck and whispers, “Love you too, Nora. I love you too.”