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Nick smiled and squeezed her hand. They arrived at the market and entered. Olivia grabbed a cart and got started.
"So, what are you making for dinner tonight?" he asked.
"It's a surprise." she said as she put things in the cart.
Nick watched her as she shopped. A smile played on his lips. He couldn't help but think about what John said about him being in love with Olivia.
"Nick?" Olivia said, bringing him back to reality.
"Yes, luv.?"
"Are you ok?"
"Fine, sweetheart. Just fine. I was just thinking."
"Hmm....about what?"
"Tonight. You're sure you want to have a dinner party for all of us?"
"Very sure." she replied, smiling.
They left the market, loaded up the car and headed back to Nick's house. Once they arrived, they unloaded all the groceries. Olivia set about putting everything away and Nick picked up the phone to call John and Simon.
Nick entered the kitchen to find Olivia finishing up.
"And?" Olivia asked.
"They'll be here at 8:00. Is 8:00 ok?"
"It's perfect. That gives us awhile to relax and be alone."
She crossed the kitchen and entered his arms. He kissed her gently before he led her into the living room. He stretched out on the sofa, Olivia laid beside him and cuddled close.
"Mmmm....." he purred. "I like this."
"Me too." she replied as she propped up on her elbow and kissed him.
Olivia kissed Nick with hunger and fever. He wanted her so much, he couldn't erase the thoughts of making love to her. He was brought back into reality by the trail of warm kisses Olivia started on his neck. She looked up from his chest, her eyes locked with his. She moved closer to his face, put her lips close to his ear and whispered "I think we should go upstairs."
"Do you now?" he asked teasingly.
"Yes. I think we should go now."
She stood up and took his hand, leading him up the stairs and into her room. Olivia wrapped her arms around him, kissing him as they slowly made their way across the floor. Olivia pulled away, smiling as she directed Nick to her bed. He sat down, a sly smile came to her lips as she slowly began to unbutton her shirt, exposing the soft skin that had driven him wild. She shrugged the shirt off and began to unbutton his. Nick pulled her close, longing to feel her warm skin against his again as she dropped his shirt on the floor. Olivia kissed his lips hard, he felt her unbutton his trousers and slide them down.
Nick's mind was racing, she was still kissing him hungrily when she straddled him and wrapped her legs around his waist. Their eyes were locked as he held her undulating hips. He lowered his head and kissed her neck and throat when she threw her head back, her sounds of pleasure mixing with his, radiated the room.
Nick held Olivia, they were still breathless, trying to recover from their lovemaking. Olivia propped up on her elbow and burst into a fit of laughter.
"What's funny?" asked Nick.
Olivia pointed her finger, still laughing. Nick looked where she pointed and started laughing too, when he saw their clothes strewn everywhere in the room. Olivia slid out of bed and began rounding up clothes, still laughing. Nick was completely enthralled with her. She came back to the bed, leaned over and kissed him as she laid the clothes down.
"I better start getting things ready for tonight." she said.
"Would you like some help?" he asked, buttoning his trousers.
"Sure, I'd love it." She grabbed a robe and wrapped it around her.
"Once we get things going in the kitchen, then we can shower and get ready."
Nick and Olivia went down to the kitchen. She began cutting and chopping and Nick selected several different wines.
"There." she said "All done."
Nick was exhausted just watching her move around the kitchen the way she did.
"I hope everybody's hungry and I hope they'll like it." she said.
"I'm sure they'll love it." he assured.
"I hope so." she said nervously.
"Don't worry, sweetheart. John, Simon and Yasmin will love it."
"We'd better start getting ready, Nick. They're going to be here soon."
Nick and Olivia went up the stairs and stopped at her room. He kissed her and smiled.
"Don't be nervous. You already know John and Simon and you'll really like Yasmin too."
"Meet you downstairs?" she asked.
"I'll be there." he replied with a kiss.
Nick finished getting ready and went downstairs. He heard a timer go off. He was just about to let Olivia know, when he turned toward the stairs, he saw her.
"Look at you." he said "You look great."
"Nick...." she blushed as she walked into the kitchen.
He wrapped his arms around her.
"What can I do?" he asked.
"Well, you can take this into the living room." she said, handing him a tray.
He left with the tray and stuck his head in the kitchen.
"Sweetheart." he called.
"Yes?"
"Your guests are here."
Olivia drew a deep breath. "Ok, I can do this." she said.
"You'll be fine, luv." Nick said, holding her as they walked to the door.
He put his arm around her waist and kissed her gently.
"Ready?" he asked, reaching for the doorknob.
"Ready."
Nick opened the door to find Simon and Yasmin. He greeted them, then turned to Olivia and began the introductions.
"Olivia, this is Yasmin. Yasmin, this is Olivia. And of course, you already know Simon.
"Olivia, it's lovely to meet you." Yasmin said with a warm smile, as she extended her hand.
"Lovely to meet you too." Olivia said taking Yasmins' hand with a firm grip.
"Come in and sit down." Olivia said as she stepped out of the doorway,making room for her guests to enter. "What are we having for dinner? Whatever it is smells great!" Simon said as he rubbed his hands together.
"Simon...really." Yasmin said as she rolled her eyes at him "Behave." she commanded.
"Please make your selves comfortable. I have a few other things to tend to in the kitchen." Olivia said as she excused herself. "Would you like some help?"Yasmin asked.
"Thanks. That would be great."
Olivia and Yasmin disappeared into the kitchen. "Should we be afraid?" Nick asked as he turned to Simon. "Those two? Absolutely!" he said with a laugh. Just then there was another knock on the door. "Olivia. John is here." Nick called.
"Ok. I'm coming."
Nick and Olivia opened the door to find John and a very attractive Brunette.
"Ah, John. Welcome" Nick said as he shook his friends' hand. "Olivia, you look stunning." John said as kissed her cheek. "Thanks...so do you." she said with a smile. "This my date,Kathryn Thorpe." John continued.
"Oh please, call me Kate." she said as she extended her hand. All the introductions done, they sat down to dinner. "It all looks wonderful." John said as he pushed Kates' seat in for her.
"Thank you." Olivia said as she stood with Nicks' arm around her waist. Everyone, ate and talked, and had a lovely time. After dinner the men retired to the living room to talk about all the work they needed to get done on the album.
Olivia, Yasmin, and Kate set about trying to clean up some of the mess. "So, I understand you are a lawyer." Yasmin said. "Yes. I am."
"Must be fascinating." said Kate
"It can be..but it can also be tedious and time consuming." "Anything can be." Yasmin said with a smile. "Wonder what the guys are talking about in there?" Kate mused. "If I know them like I think I do, the first few minutes were spent being paranoid, wondering if we were sharing dirty secrets in here. " Yasmin stated as all three women burst into a fit of laughter. The three women finished up in the kitchen, then joined the men for a few cocktails.
Nick smiled as Olivia and the others entered the room. He knew Yas was the model, but to him none were more beautiful than Olivia. "There you are, luv." he said as he held his hand out to her and motioned for her to come sit on his lap.
They talked and drank for awhile longer, then started saying their good byes.
"Everything was lovely." Simon said as he kissed Olivias' cheek. "Thank you."
"Olivia, we must get together and do something before you leave. Just us girls." Yasmin said as she hugged Olivia tight. "I agree. Just call and we will plan something." Olivia said with a smile.
"Thanks for a lovely evening." John said as he and Kate headed out the door.
Once everyone was gone Olivia threw herself on the couch and let out an exhausted sigh.
"Tired luv?" Nick asked with a laugh.
"Exhausted." she said with a smile
"You were wonderful though." he whispered as he kissed her gently. "Thank you. That means so much to me." she said as she held him tight. Nick returned her embrace as he left soft, warm kisses on her neck.
CHAPTER 14
Olivia sighed and ran her fingers through Nick's hair. "Come with me." he said.
"Umm.....where are we going?" she asked, half asleep. "We're going up to bed."
Nick stood up and pulled Olivia up and into his arms. He half carried her up the stairs and entered his room. He laid Olivia on his bed. She looked so peaceful lying there sleeping.
"Sweetheart." he whispered.
"Mmmmm.." she mumbled, still half asleep. "Did you want to change for bed?"
"Ummm-hmmm." she replied as she slowly sat up and started undressing. Nick began undressing. He kept thinking about how well their
evening had gone and how well Olivia had gotten along with Yasmin and Kate. She was wonderful.
He got in bed and curled up against her. Nick wrapped his arms around her and felt her warm skin against his. "Olivia.....sweetheart." he whispered.
She didn't respond or move. He knew she was sleeping soundly. He held her close against him as he drifted into sleep.
When Nick awoke, it was still dark out. He found Olivia looking down at him, with tears in her eyes.
"What's wrong, luv?" he asked.
"Oh Nick." she cried.
"What's wrong, Olivia? Please tell me." he said, with concern in his voice. He pulled her close and tried to sooth her.
"Shhh...." he whispered. "Olivia, please talk to me." "I'm sorry, Nick." she began "I'm not upset or anything like that." "Then what is it?" he questioned.
"It's just that for the first time in a long time, I'm truly happy." she smiled as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Nick kissed her tears away as he held her face in his hands. "I'm glad to hear that, sweetheart." he said before kissing her gently. "I'm sorry I woke you." she whispered.
"Don't apologize, luv. I'm here for you. I want you to be happy." "I am Nick. I'm truly happy and it's all because of you." she said.
Olivia leaned closer and looked deep into his eyes before she kissed him. Nick tightened his embrace and returned her kiss.
Nick held Olivia close as they both fell asleep. They woke up the next morning the same way they had fallen asleep...wrapped in each others warm embrace. "Wake up, luv" Nick said as he placed soft, warm kisses on Olivias' face.
"Hmm? Already?" she asked as she stretched. "I'm afraid so. I need to actually go to the studio for a bit this morning."
"Oh...alright." she said with a laugh.
"Why don't you go take a shower luv, and I will go make us some breakfast." Nick said as he headed out the door and down to the kitchen. Nick set about making breakfast when the phone rang. "Ello?"
"Nick. It's Yasmin. I was just calling to thank you and Olivia for a lovely evening last night. Simon and I had a wonderful time." "You are welcome Yas. Glad you guys had a nice time." "We did. I really like Olivia. She is smart, and very sweet.And very attractive."
"Yeah, she is." Nick said with a smile.
"I've gotta run...Simon is calling for me...tell Olivia I will call her about our get together."
"I will Yas.Thanks for calling."
"You are welcome, Nick. Hold on to this one." Yasmin said as they hung up the phone.
"Ah...There you are." Nick said as Olivia entered the kitchen. Nick smiled, Olivia looked radiant and her damp hair made her look
sexy.
"Good morning." she replied.
"Have a seat, luv. I've got everything ready." "Nick, you didn't have to do this."
"I wanted to." he said, leaning over to kiss her. "Oh" he began "Yas called while you were in the shower. She said thank you for a lovely evening."
"How sweet of her." Olivia replied.
"And she said she would call back so you two could arrange your get together."
"I look forward to that. I like Yasmin a lot." "She likes you too, sweetheart. Everybody does." "Do they now?" she teased.
"Umm-hmm. You know John and Simon like you and Yasmin and Kate do too." "I like them too."
Nick glanced at his watch. "Uh-oh. I guess I'd better go before I'm
really late!"
"Go ahead, I'll be fine."
"I shant be gone long, I promise."
"Nick, it's fine. Now get to the studio before John comes looking for you."
He pulled her into his arms and held her tight. "Bye, sweetheart. I'll be back soon. I.........I'll miss you." "Mmmm..I'll miss you too."
Nick kissed her gently. She stood at the door and watched him
leave.
"Damn!" Nick sighed. He wanted to be there with her. His mind kept wandering back to what Yas said earlier. "Nick hold on to this one." He could hear her saying it over and over again in his mind.
Olivia smiled as she sat at the table and sipped her coffee. She could still smell him on her robe from where he'd hugged her. She was startled out of her thoughts when the phone rang. "Hello?"
"Hello, Olivia. It's Yasmin."
"Good morning."
"Nick's left for the studio, right?"
"Yes, he left a few minutes ago."
"Would you like to get together for coffee?" "I'd love it."
"Great. I'll come and pick you up. Say about 15 minutes?" "That would be fine."
"See you then."
"Bye, Yasmin."
Olivia ran upstairs and got dressed. She heard the doorbell shortly afterwards.
***********
"Did we oversleep, Rhodes?" John laughed. "Ummm....no. Olivia and I were talking." "Uh-huh...Are you gonna tell her?"
"Tell her what?"
"Nick, I know you, mate. You're crazy about her. Face it Rhodes, you're in love with Olivia."
Nick smiled but said nothing as he went behind his keyboards and counted down.
***********
Olivia opened the door. Yasmin greeted her with a hug. "C'mon." Yas said, taking Olivia's hand. "We'll stop by the studio and let the guys know where we're going."
Olivia and Yas got in the car, talking and laughing all the way to the studio. They entered to find the boys jamming around. A smile lit up Nick's face when Olivia entered the room. John, Yasmin and Simon all saw the way he looked at her.
"Nick." Yasmin began "Olivia and I are going out for coffee. Would you like to meet us somewhere for lunch? I'm sure you won't be here half as late as Simon and John."
"I should be leaving around noon." Nick replied, never taking his eyes off Olivia.
"Good. Meet us at the little cafe around the corner." "I'll be there." he replied as he made his way to Olivia.
He walked Yas and Olivia outside and took her in his arms. "Have fun." he whispered before he gently kissed her. "See you in a few hours." she replied.
He stood outside as the two women walked to the cafe. A broad smile came to his lips as he entered the studio.
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