Mid-July, 2001 - Marathon, FL

Danielle laid in the chase lounge soaking in the sun and floating in and out of napping. Now that Nick had some time off, they decided to go down to the Keys and spend some time with Nick's family. Nick had a small house on the grounds of his family's estate. So many times he thought about selling his house in Tampa and moving down to the Keys permanently. After all, he bought the house in Tampa to please Mandy, not himself and frankly, he was sick of it. The only reason he stayed there now was to be near Danielle. After he talked her into staying in Tampa, he couldn't just up and move on her either.

Nick had two glasses of ice-cold lemonade in his hands and he sauntered over to where Danielle was sunbathing. He placed the cold glass on her stomach causing her to jump straight up.

"Thirsty?" he laughed.

After recovering from the initial shock she smiled back at him, "smartass. . . yes I am. Thanks."

He took a seat in the lounger next to her and reached out his hand to hers. She reached back to him and the squeezed each other's hands.

"Thanks for bringing me down here," she told him. "I absolutely love it down here."

"Yeah, me too," he replied. "I've actually been thinking about making this the permanent residence."

"Really?" she asked. She cocked her head and lifted her sunglasses onto her head. "What's stopping you?"

He smirked and lifted his sunglasses also. "You. I can't leave you alone in Tampa."

"Well, it's like I said before though. You're always gone anyway, so it doesn't really matter where we live. We're traveling all the time to be together anyway. If you want to be down here, go for it. Don't make me stop you."

He looked down at his feet and then back up at her, "Are you serious, or is this a mind game thing like women do?"

"Nick," she began. "I don't play games, and you don't have to worry. I'm not going anywhere. Wherever you are, we'll still be together."

Nick nodded, taking note to think harder on this subject at a later date. Right now, he just wanted to focus on his free time and spending it with as much quality as he could with Danielle.

"I can't believe I have this month off. Obviously, the circumstances suck, but I love being able to be down here with you," he said standing up and moving over to her lounger. He sat on the side as she scooted over a bit to make room for him.

"I can't believe you're all mine for the next month," she replied. "What are we going to do with ourselves?"

He leaned over her lifting her sunglasses once more on her head, "I'm sure we'll think of something," he whispered and placed his lips on hers.

Later that week. . .

Nick had started getting restless. He and Danielle had spent the last few days lounging in the sun, hanging out at local establishments at night and taking rides in the ocean on one of his boats or jet skis. It was now just he and Danielle at the family estate as Aaron, his mom, dad and sister left for a few shows that Aaron was doing.

Danielle had just come back to the house from a morning run when he surprised her at the door, keys in hand.

"C'mon, we're going for a road trip," he smiled pulling her into his arms.

"Nick, I stink! I'm all sweaty!" she cried, trying to push herself away not wanting him to get sticky from her sweat.

"Think I care? It's not like I've never felt your sweat before," he smirked.

She smirked back and then pulled him close to her, "Well, in that case. . . how about a shower before the road trip?"

"You mean?" he asked eyebrows raised.

She snuck out of his grip and began to shed her t-shirt. She threw it at him as she held his gaze on the way to the bathroom, her eyes inviting him to come along.

"I do need someone to wash my back you know," she called from around the corner.

Nick threw the t-shirt over his shoulder and followed her lead. When he got to the bathroom she had already turned the water on and was just stepping out of her shorts.

"Let me help you with that," he said walking up behind her. She stood up with her back against his chest and allowed his hands to roam down her sides and to her waist where she had pulled her shorts back up. He took the waistband in his fingertips and slid them down her legs kissing her back all the way down.

She turned around once her legs were free of her shorts and lifted his shirt over his head. She ran her hands along his chest and then tugged on the waistband of his workout shorts. She didn't take them off, but she slid her hands under the waistband and onto his rear. She gently massaged his butt and began kissing and licking his chest. He buried his face in the top of her head and let out a slow moan when she reached around the front of his waist and took his now growing member into her hand.

The steam was beginning to build on the mirror in the bathroom from the shower. He brought his hands up to the sides of her face and licked the outline of her lips. She spread her mouth open and reached her tongue out to meet his. They slowly circled their tongues around each other's and then gently parted.

"Now how about that shower?" she cooed.

He pulled the shower door back and the two got in under the water. Danielle ran her hands through her hair under the stream of water and Nick watched her throw her head back with her eyes closed. He loved looking at her body and he loved it even more with the water running down her. He reached out and began massaging her breasts, to which she brought her head back and opened her eyes. She reached her arms around his neck and he brought his arms around her waist. He rubbed her back while they kissed under the water stream. He could taste the sweat running off of her from her run that morning.

She moved from his lips to his neck and then to his chest. She kissed lower and lower and his hands massaged farther up. She was soon on her knees in the shower and his hands were entwined in her hair as she licked and sucked onto him. He groaned and closed his eyes, only to open them shortly after to watch her pleasure him.

Danielle loved being with Nick in the shower. Something about being wet and under the water that was so sexy. Her inhibitions left her in the water and she loved watching the droplets drip off of him. She loved even more how he watched her and held her. But what she enjoyed most, was the feeling of pleasing him. She could feel his hands gently caressing her head and tasted him in her mouth. She could tell he was close to climaxing as his breathing became quicker and he began a rhythm with her mouth.

"Babygirl, I love you so much," he breathed. "You have no idea how good this feels. . . uhhhhh. . . yeah."

He came soon after that and he gently pulled her back up to him, kissing her lips firmly. She parted from him and ran her hands against his cheek. "Baby, I love you too," she told him, and then kissed him once again.

They got out of the shower and dried off. They both got on clean clothes and headed off on their road trip. Once they got on the highway headed north, Danielle piped up, "So, baby, where are we going?"

"Miami!" he exclaimed!

"Miami?" she repeated. "Why Miami?"

"I'm thinking it's time for new wheels, what do you think?" he looked over at her.

"Really? Sounds fun, what did you have in mind?" she asked.

"Not sure yet. Well just have to shop around and see what we can find," he said.

After six hours in Miami, the two were headed back to Marathon in a brand new Cadillac Escalade. Quite a step up from the Durango, is what Danielle told him. Nick agreed and then let her pick the color. She chose white, just like her Camaro.

Nick and Danielle spent another week in the Keys, even heading down to Key West for a few days to enjoy the nightlife and the sunsets. Then they were off to Minnesota to see Danielle's dad and brother and do some good old lake fishing.

Northern Minnesota in the summertime was quite different from what Nick expected. He thought he'd be freezing, but for the most part it was quite humid and hot. Mornings were a little chilly and especially cold if out on the lake early enough. Danielle had Nick up at the crack of dawn a couple days to get out on the lake for the early catch. Lake fishing was very different from ocean fishing and Nick found that he was enjoying the fight with a northern pike almost as much as a fight with a mackerel.

One afternoon, the two took the pontoon out to cruise the lake and soak up the sun. Danielle packed the cooler with soda and beer for their excursion and they were off.

They periodically would jump in the lake for a swim to cool off from the sun before getting back on the pontoon and enjoying the weather again.

"I know why you loved growing up here," he told her. "Having the lake in your backyard is just as good as having the ocean."

"Yeah, it is," she replied. "And the best part? You don't have to worry about salt water and what's living in the salt water when you jump in."

"Hell, I'm not afraid of what's in the ocean," he told her. "You just jump in."

"Yeah, but you can't tell me you've never ever worried about a shark or jellyfish? C'mon. . ." she teased.

"Well, sharks maybe," he smiled. "But this is great. It's no wonder your brother stopped coming down to Florida in the summers."

"Yeah, I missed some good summer times for a few years," she said. "But now, I have the luxury of enjoying both."

"It's so secluded up here. You could hide out forever and no one would know. It's nice to be anonymous sometimes. People are pretty laid back and used to us Carters down in the Keys, but in Tampa it's still kinda crazy. Up here, heck, NOBODY knows who I am." Nick told her.

"That's true. To everyone here, you're just my boyfriend," she said. "And I LOVE how that sounds."

"I wish we had time to do stuff like this more often. It's kinda nice having time off. Not worrying about interviews, or rehearsals, or concerts, or appearances. Just doing whatever, whenever," he said, taking a drink of beer.

"Yeah, but that's not real life, Nick. We all have to work. I'm gonna be starting soon. In just a few weeks to be exact. This summer is really flying by," she said.

"Are you still gonna do that stuff for Britney?" he asked.

"Yeah, she's creating some kind of position for me to help me get my feet wet," she answered.

"Must be rough," he teased.

She swatted at him and laughed, "Look who's talking!"

The two shared a laugh and then silence once again fell over them. Nick took another drink and spoke up, "Kevin called me yesterday."

"Really? When?" she asked.

"When you were out on the boat with your brother and I was TRYING to take a nap," he answered.

"So what did he have to say?" she asked.

"AJ is getting out soon. . . I think in a couple days," he said.

"How is he? I haven't heard from Sarah at all, so I don't know," she said.

"I guess he's great. I feel kinda like a shit not going and visiting him, but it didn't seem like he wanted any of us to. But I guess he's doing really well," he told her.

"So, what's the plan?" she asked.

Nick took a deep breath, "Kev says that AJ is gonna need a few days to get his bearings together once he gets home to Orlando. Then we're gonna set it up so he has a sponsor on the road with us. Low profile one, but one that's there in case he needs someone. And then we go for a few days of rehearsal in Orlando. First show back is Aug 24."

"August 24? That's not even two weeks away!" she said.

"I know! That's why I'm trying to enjoy this as much as possible. It's gonna get so crazy so soon," he sighed.

"Aww baby," she said getting up and moving over by him. "And once I start working, it's gonna be harder for us to see each other too."

"I know, and that's what I'm NOT looking forward to," he sighed again. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and squeezed her to him. "Promise me something?"

"What's that, baby?" she looked into his eyes.

"Promise me that when all this starts back up and you're doing your thing and I'm doing mine, that you won't ever lose focus on us? I hated how it was when you were in school. I don't want things to be like that again."

"Baby, I'm gonna have a lot more freedom. You don't have to worry about that. Besides, I can't stand being away from you," she reassured him.

"So, you promise?" he asked.

"I promise," she confirmed. Nick kissed her lips gently and then stopped to stare at her. But there was something about this stare that was far away. "Nick, baby, what's bothering you. You've gotten quiet anytime we've talked about AJ coming home."

"I know, I'm just. . . just being stupid. But, that last night in Boston? The night I hurt my hand, when everything came to a head?" he started.

Danielle had an idea of where this conversation was going. They never talked about that night, or what happened when AJ kissed her and berated her. She nodded for him to continue.

"It's just that, I don't know who AJ is going to be when he's home. Is he still going to be AJ? The AJ that night, I wanted to kill him. Kill him for hurting you. That night I didn't care if I ever saw him again. I couldn't believe that even as a drunk, he could be the kind of person that he was that night. I couldn't handle the thought of him touching you," he told her.

"Nick, that night was so crazy. Everything was out of sorts and he was really drunk. He was at his rock bottom. AJ has never made me feel comfortable, but one thing is for sure is that he loves you. You are his brother. And you love him. I hope for his sake he isn't going to be the AJ that we saw that night. I hope that he goes back to being Alex," she explained.

"I hope so too," he said. "I just don't want anyone hurting you again."

"No one is going to hurt me, baby," she smiled. "You don't need to worry about a thing."

Danielle and Nick went back to Tampa when AJ was released from rehab. Everyone met at AJ's house for a small welcome home gathering. Everyone knew after that gathering that all the craziness of the world of Backstreet would be starting back up. And everyone just kind of held onto that gathering as long as they could.

AJ looked great. His frame of mind never seemed better. He was actually nice to Danielle. No snide remarks toward her at all, which was very odd since he usually was able to sneak one by on a daily basis.

Danielle spent a good portion on the evening catching up with the girls and Nick and the boys reconnected. It seemed like this break really set them off on their own paths. None of them really spoke at all while AJ was in rehab. So it was nice to see them together and laughing.

Milwaukee, WI

First night back on the tour, after the show

First night back for the boys and you would have thought that Michael Jackson was there. The media was unbelievable! Everyone was there to see the Boys reunited on stage with the newly sober AJ. Everyone's spirits were high and the show was awesome. The energy from the crowd was overwhelming and you couldn't help but get caught up in the excitement of the tour starting again.

Danielle and Nick had one more night together before they had to part ways for a couple of weeks. She needed to get back to Florida and get in the thick of a project for Britney's camp and Nick needed to re-focus his energies on the Boys and the tour. The two agreed that two weeks apart would be okay and that they would have a wonderful reunion in New York for the Video Music Awards.

Since this was the first show back, Nick was high on adrenaline. He couldn't sleep and didn't want to sleep. All he wanted to do was stay up all night once they got back to the hotel. But, of all places, they were in Milwaukee. And frankly, there just wasn't much to do there. So Nick arranged for the hotel restaurant to stay open a little later for them and they had a late dinner.

When they got back to the hotel room, Danielle gasped when she saw the sight before her. Candles, soft music and the bed turned down with satin sheets.

"Wow," she whispered and turned to face a smiling Nick. "I'm. . . I'm. . . speechless."

"That's the idea," he whispered back, taking her in his arms. "Two weeks apart, I wanted to make the most of tonight."

He leaned down and began kissing her deeply. Their tongues entwined immediately. Danielle could feel her legs getting weak. For months she had been kissing Nick, but for some reason, right that moment, it felt like their first kiss. The way their lips melted together, as if they were meant to be together. There was no feeling like the love that she felt in her heart and in her soul for Nick.

He loved tasting her mouth. Never before had he ever enjoyed just kissing someone so much. He never wanted to let go of her. He held her face in his hands and occasionally caressed her cheeks with his thumbs. He loved this woman. He always loved her. He just never knew that loving her would become such a central part of who he now was, and who he wanted to be. Wherever life took him, he knew that he wanted her to be with him.

He laid her back onto the bed and continued kissing her passionately and rubbing his right hand down her thigh and back up to her face. He was going to make love to her. They'd of course made love before, but tonight was different. Tonight, it FELT like he was making love.

He parted his lips from hers for a brief moment to gaze into her eyes. "You are so beautiful, Danielle. Not just what is out here," he said touching her cheek then moving his hand to her heart, "but right here too. Can you feel how I much I love you?"

She ran her hands through his hair over his eyes and brought both hands to his face. "I've never felt like this for anyone before, Nick. What we have is so strong. So strong that it scares me sometimes. I don't ever want to lose you, Nick. I love you so much."

"You'll never lose me, baby. I waited too long for you to come into my life. I'm not gonna let you go," he whispered and placed his lips back on hers.

He began unbuttoning the blouse that she was wearing and she arched her back under him to allow him to slip the shirt off her shoulders and pull her arms out of the sleeves. He then unsnapped her bra and pulled that off exposing her breasts to him. He gasped upon seeing their exposal. He'd seen them before, but tonight it was like the first time. He took his own shirt off then and she undid his pants. He slid her skirt off, then removed his pants and crawled gently back on top of her. Both of them were completely naked now and he placed his left knee between her legs as the two continued kissing and caressing each other.

She opened her legs wider to allow him to rest his body between them. She wrapped her right leg around the back of his thighs and ran her hand down his back. He moved his lips to her neck where he sucked and nipped at the nape of her neck. He knew the spot that drove her wild and she moaned feeling his tongue on her skin.

"Baby, I want to be inside you," he whispered. "I want to feel all of you."

She loved hearing him say those words. It gave her such pleasure to know how he desired her. "I want you to make love to me, Nick. God, I want you so much."

Nick reached under the pillow for the condom he hid there earlier and Danielle watched him as he put it on. He re-positioned himself between her legs and slowly placed the tip at her entrance. He teased her for a moment by just holding himself there, but soon realized he was teasing himself too. He gently slid into her causing them both to moan. They rocked together slowly, enjoying the feeling of him inside her causing their breathing to become heavier and their pace of their lovemaking to quicken.

"Oh. . . my. . . God," Nick panted. "God, baby. . . I love you so much." He brought his body closer to hers to feel her breasts against his chest as he pumped into her with a more steady rhythm.

She met his rhythm and grabbed onto his lower back, wrapping her legs around him trying to pull him deeper and deeper into her. She was going to come soon. He felt so good, and she knew this was going to be an explosive orgasm. "Oh, God. . . Nick. . . I'm gonna come, baby."

As soon as Nick heard those words, he felt his buildup start to release, and no sooner did she feel him start to come that her climax hit. "God! Nicky. . . Nicky," she breathed.

She could feel him continue to come as her climax began to fade and she only wished she could feel him without the separation of the condom. Someday, she thought, someday we won't need those.

He finished and then kissed her lips gently. "I love you, Nicky," she whispered.

"I love you, too," he breathed hard, still trying to catch his breath. He laid down next to her and turned his head to hers. "I'm gonna miss you so much, babygirl."

"I'm gonna miss you too," she said kissing his forehead.

He closed his eyes and before she knew it, she could hear that he had drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

She got out of the bed, blew out the candles and turned off the music. Then she pulled the sheets up over both of them and snuggled up next to him. Where she too, soon fell asleep.

The next morning. . .

Nick and Danielle said their goodbyes at the hotel, and then she got into the limo to take her to the airport to head back to Tampa and start work. Two weeks and then she would see Nick in New York. She hoped the two weeks went fast. It was going to be weird not seeing him everyday.

She was so happy about last night. She was thrilled with how beautiful it was and very thankful that her monthly friend waited a day before showing up. She was cramping pretty bad and the last thing she wanted was for that to ruin the night they had. No amount of painkiller could be better than the memory of making love to Nick last night.

Nick boarded his bus and went right to the back to his private room area. He pulled out a picture of him and Danielle from his bag and set it on his nightstand next to the bed. After he put it down, he picked it right back up again. He was going to miss her so much. But he knew they both had work to do. He thought about last night and smiled. He couldn't believe how in love with her he was. And how loving someone that much can make making love that much better. He looked at the calendar and put an "X" on the 25th. "One day almost down, twelve more to go," he sighed.

Chapter 20
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