janey_sooner-or-later-2

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SOONER OR LATER by Janey <<< Part 1

PART 2

Nicky managed to find a cheap hotel to spend the night in. He couldn’t stand the thought of going home in case Dina contacted him; because she worked closely with Terri, Martin and the Manics she had all of their addresses and contact numbers, and knowing how angry she could get Nicky wanted to stay out of her way. He also knew that a cheap and nasty hotel would be the last place that anyone would think of searching for him. Right now he needed to be on his own to lick his wounds.

Dina searched through her contact book. Throughout her years at Hall or Nothing she had been head hunted constantly by one rival company, their last approach to her had been the previous month but again she had turned them down. They had offered her more money, more holidays, a fancy company car and her own expense account but she declined; she had been with Hall or Nothing since they first started up and loved it there; it was like one big happy family.

Over the years she had developed strong friendships with Martin and Terri. She had supported Terri when she had lost Philip and Dina could recall how devastated the Manics were at his funeral, Nicky especially. He was utterly bereft and grief stricken and she had spent a long time talking with him, recalling some of the happy times they had had with Philip and that had seemed to help him.

Now was not the time for sentiment though, she had to think of herself and take herself out of a painful situation. For as long as she worked for Martin and Terri she would have to meet and work with Nicky and she knew, as professional as she was, she wouldn’t be able to leave her hurt behind; she loved him too much and the pain was too deep, so too was the humiliation. How could she ever face him again?

Dina called Martin at home and explained that she needed to take the morning off as personal time because of a situation that had occurred. Dina was never one to take time off and would turn up for work even when ill or would work from home instead, so Martin had no qualms in granting it for her and also asked if there was anything that he could help her with.
“Martin I can’t lie to you,” she stammered, her guilt getting the better of her. “I’m going to ‘Regal Management’ to see about a job there. My position has become untenable and to avoid causing embarrassment to you it seems like the sensible thing to do.”
“Dina I don’t understand,” said Martin clearly baffled at the sudden change in her attitude. “Nothing has happened between you and Nicky so what’s to get embarrassed about?”
“Things have changed Martin and forgive me but I can’t and won’t elaborate; I hope you’ll forgive me, this isn’t something I’m doing lightly.”
“Please don’t make any rash decisions, but what ever you decide I’ll support.”
“Thank you. I’ll be in at 1pm then.”

Nicky had called Terri asking her if Dina was in because he needed to speak with Martin but didn’t want to see Dina if he could avoid it, so she had told him about Dina taking the morning off as personal time but hadn’t explained to him the reason why, only that she was sue back at 1pm.

He arrived at the offices at 11.52am and went straight to Martin’s office; Terri was also in there with him.
“So, are you going to tell me what the hell is going on?” requested Martin inviting Nicky to sit down. “I take it that because you were so petrified at seeing Dina that this has something to do with her?”
“Well that would seem obvious,” moaned Nicky sarcastically.

“Nicky come on, we’d love it if you two managed to sort yourselves out and get together. It’s clear that you adore each other, Dina has carried a torch for you for years and I know that she feels awkward about taking it further because she’s so close to Rachel that she thinks she’s stabbing her in the back in some way.”
“Tell me about it.”

“Nicky I’ve never seen you like this,” Martin said softly. “What happened?”
Nicky fidgeted about, making lots of strange mumbling noises. “I umm…”
“I can’t help you if you don’t talk with me,” encouraged Martin gently.
“You’ll hate me; not as much as I hate myself but still…”

Terri knelt on the floor in front of him and placed her hands on his thighs, “whatever it is we won’t hate you,” she whispered, softly smiling to him. “Now why don’t you tell us?”
“I slept with her last night.”
Martin and Terri smiled at one another and their sighs of relief were very audible. “About time,” they said together.
“You don’t understand,” Nicky moaned, getting up and pacing around the office. “I had sex with her and left while she was asleep.” He didn’t look at them, he couldn’t he was much too ashamed of himself.
“What the fuck did you do that for?” barked Martin, slamming a fist hard onto his desk making Nicky flinch. Martin rarely lost his temper.

“I cuddled her and called her Rachel. When I looked at her it freaked me out and I just had to leave.”
“Oh Nick,” Terri sighed in exasperation.
“I know I’m being ridiculous because I’m not in love with her but I do still love her, and I can’t help but feel guilty and strange too. It doesn’t seem right that I can love someone as much as Dina when I’ve been married for so long and still love my ex-wife.”
Terri hugged him and he started to cry. She then noticed Dina walking into her office with a couple of packing boxes and without alerting Nicky, managed to get him to sit down so that Dina wouldn’t see him. Martin noticed what she was up to and also tried to ensure that Nicky remained seated.

After being shown around Regal Management Dina had indeed been offered a position there and a very tempting incentive package, but that was not the reason for her decision, Nicky was. She had to put as much distance between them as was possible without moving house.

Dina placed the packing boxes on her desk and began to put her personal things into them. She had gone straight home after accepting the post to type out her letter of resignation, all that she had to do now was find the courage to tell Martin and Terri; it was going to be extremely difficult.

She surveyed her desk, apart from things belonging to Hall or Nothing everything was packed, so with resignation letter in hand, she went to Martin’s office and saw that Terri was already in there, as it was quiet she knocked and walked straight in. Initially she didn’t notice Nicky, and sadly handed her letter to Martin.
“They’re willing to pay you some compensation for my going straight away. I’m sorry, I know it’s short notice but I can’t risk bumping into Nicky.”
Martin and Terri inhaled sharply, guilty expressions crossing over their features and then Dina heard a rustling movement; it was Nicky squirming uncomfortably in his chair.

“I hope you’re fucking satisfied with yourself!” she hurled at him as he cowered into the corner as much as was possible for someone of his size.
“Dina,” whispered Terri attempting to calm her down, “shouting and yelling isn’t going to help; he feels wretched enough already.”
“Good!” she spat furiously; walking right up to him and making him look into her eyes. “How dare you have sex with me and then leave without so much as a ‘goodbye’? You are a using; despicable coward of a man Nicholas Jones and I never want to see you again! I hate you like I never thought I could hate anybody, and because of you I am leaving a job I love and people that I adore. All because of you and your stupid fucking games.”

“I’m sorry,” he stammered. “Please don’t leave because of me, I’m sure there is another was around this so that we don’t have to meet.”
“You’re sorry about me quitting? Great! What about an apology for fucking me and then running away? Was I that bad that you couldn’t face me in the morning?”
“It was nothing to do with you Dina, for heaven’s sake! I got scared ok, and I know that I’m a twat and the biggest fuck up walking this planet!” he spat back standing up now and gazing down on her.
“Calm down you two will you?” pleaded Martin; “you’ll have everyone coming up here to see who’s trying to kill each other.”
Dina took a deep breath; “you’re right, I’m sorry. Erm before I go, you can have this, it’s my contact book,” she handed it over to Martin and then hugged him warmly, and then hugged Terri as well.
“You sure there’s nothing in it that you need?” said Terri, fighting back tears. “For heaven’s sake Dina, you can’t leave!”
“I have to,” Dina spluttered, finding it difficult to speak whilst crying.

Nicky surveyed the scene before him and was aware of the tears welling up in his own eyes. “Please Dina don’t go. I don’t want you to. I love you.” His mouth started to curl into a smile; he’d said it, he’d told her.
With tears streaming down her face Dina turned to face him, in a shocked voice she asked, “pardon?”
Tenderly he stroked her face and smiled at her warmly. “I said that I love you. Perhaps we can go and talk?”

Dina smiled at him, and Terri and Martin heaved a huge sigh of relief, but it was a little premature.
“Oh Nicky, I have only one thing to say to you…FUCK OFF!” She then slapped him hard across his face and stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind her.

Nicky slumped back into his chair and cried his heart out, Martin and Terri stared at one another, aghast at the turn of events.

Dina spent the afternoon shopping for some new business clothes, aromatherapy oils, books, CDs, dvd’s, underwear, jeans, boots and makeup. She spent a fortune but didn’t care; her salary increase would help pay her credit card bill. She also bought gifts for Martin and Terri and ordered Terri a huge bouquet of flowers, making sure that it had all of her favourite flowers in, in all of her favourite colours. Saying goodbye had turned into a nightmare and one almighty mess, she hadn’t wanted to leave with an atmosphere hanging over her, but seeing Nicky was the final straw. She resolved that she would call Martin and Terri later and go and see them as soon as possible to apologise to them both; the last thing she wanted was bad feeling.

Nicky left the Hall or Nothing offices, stopped off at the supermarket and bought a couple of bottles of wine, a bottle of vodka, a bottle of whiskey, a couple of bottles of coke and a frozen pizza, and then made his way to his empty home, feeling depressed and lonely. He had told her he loved her and where had it got him? As a result his face was sore from the force of her smack, just as well she hadn’t clenched her fist, it would have been one hell of a right hook.

“Oh Dina I love the flowers,” Terri gushed. “They are stunning. All my favourites, thank you.”
“I am so sorry about everything, from my leaving to that scene in Martin’s office. I don’t know what else to say; I don’t usually get violent.”
“Why don’t you go round and see Nicky? You can work this out if you want to. He genuinely does love you, but it’s frightening him.”
“It’s frightening me too. I’ve never gone this mad over a guy before. It’s like all my faculties have left me and I don’t like that. Nicky brings out such extreme reactions and emotions in me.”
“That’s what love does to you!” Terri giggled.

“I was thinking of going to see Rachel, talking it through with her, not that I’d tell her all the gory details however, but we had a scene in a winebar the other night and she may well get to hear about it.”
“I’m sure she’ll be ok with you and Nicky being an item.”
“Oh we won’t ever be that anymore Terri,” Dina said softly. “It’s time to face facts; we’re not meant to be a couple, we have too many things working against us.”
“Don’t say that Dina, what you’ve had is a few set backs. Honestly, there has been something bubbling between you both for years. Don’t give up without a fight.”
“I’ve done more than enough fighting to last me a lifetime,” Dina said morosely.

“As much I didn’t want you to go, perhaps working at Regal Management will help; if you’re not around each other as much you may actually start to realise the depth of emotions that you have.”
“How come you’re so determined for us?”
“It saddens me that 2 people who are so obviously in love and should be together, just can’t seem to get beyond the hurdle of actually starting to date! Sooner or later it will happen, and when you get married I’ll be there to gloat!” Terri said jovially. “And when you have children I’ll volunteer for babysitting duties.”

At the end of her phone calls with Terri and Martin she had arranged to go into the offices to see them to hand over her gifts and say a face to face goodbye, and they had promised not to be devious or underhand and ensure that Nicky was nowhere to be seen. How complicated things had become.

“What the hell…” groaned Dina rubbing her eyes and fumbling for the bedside lamp, the ringing of the telephone rudely interrupting her sleep. 2.13 am, Dina blinked at the clock her vision still adjusting to the semi darkness picked up the phone and sleepily said, “yes?”
“Whydyaavtodoititsnotfair.”
“Nicky, you’re pissed!” Dina would know his voice anywhere. Right now though she wasn’t sure whether she was mostly angry or mostly concerned and worried. Nicky hadn’t got drunk for years, he just didn’t handle booze very well these days and he sounded dreadful; more than an ‘I’m pissed out of my head’ dreadful. “Nicky. Nicky! Talk to me.”

“IsorryIfuckedup,” was the very slurred response, hurriedly followed by a horrible retching sound; Nicky was being sick.
“Ok Nicky, I’m on my way. Don’t worry ok, just give me 20 minutes.” He gave no answer but Dina could still hear him throwing up in the background, and Nicky was incredibly pathetic when it came to being ill.

Dina threw on a tracksuit and a Liverpool Football Club jersey, grabbed her car keys and set off for Nicky’s home, not caring that her hair looked wild and she hadn’t washed. She had often had to go there to pick him up for meetings and interviews, and it wasn’t too far from her own home.

“Nicky! Nicky!” Dina bellowed, hammering furiously on the door. “Let me in.” Banging noises could be heard from inside so he wasn’t comatose, on the floor crawling possibly, but not comatose.
Dina opened the letterbox and saw a very ill Nicky staggering to the door. He’d take a few steps, stumble and fall, get up and so on. “Let me in Nick, come on love let me help you.”
“Dina,” he mumbled with a grin spreading broadly across his face.
“Come on you mad drunken bastard, let me in.”

Nicky eventually managed to fumble his way to unlocking and then opening the door, and as Dina stepped inside he started to slide down to the floor again. Dina kicked the door shut, crouched down beside him, put Nicky’s left arm around her shoulders and hiked him up onto his feet.
“Let’s get you cleaned up huh?” Nicky merely grunted in reply, as rather awkwardly Dina helped him up to his bed.

It took her a long time to undress him and clean him up; he was a tall man and the difference in their height made it tricky, not to mention that he was slightly heavier than he used to be. It had been a great many years since she had last had to do this, in the fact the last time was probably just after Richey disappeared, so she was out of practise too.

“Please don’t be sick until I’ve found something for you to vomit into,” she said softly stroking his forehead and covering him with the quilt. How defenceless and vulnerable he seemed now, despite his height and incredibly long gangly limbs he was like a lost little boy needing comfort and affection. “You handsome, mad fool.” Dina brushed a featherlight kiss over his lips and he moaned into her, turned his body inward and moved an arm until it rested upon her thigh.

“Dina,” he whimpered in his alcohol-induced sleep, squeezing her thigh and snuggling up to her, his head lying over her hips.
Dina giggled at the sight before her; “Come on Nicky, I’ve got to go downstairs.” Carefully as she could, she slid from beneath him, settled him once more and then went downstairs to see what kind of a mess was there to greet her.

Two empty wine bottles, a bottle of vodka that was ¾ finished and half a sad looking pizza were on the work top near the sink, and the sink was pretty rancid smelling. Nicky had been really sick and would no doubt have the mother of all hangovers when he started to come round. Dina put bright pink rubber gloves on and found some cleaning materials under the sink and set about cleaning and disinfecting everything.

With the kitchen finally actually looking like a kitchen again Dina started to clean the downstairs WC, not a pretty sight, nor a pleasant smell. ‘I should have made him clean all this up,’ she thought to her self, tying the black bin liner up, ‘would have served him right, the drunken sot,’ then she realised that she hadn’t brought his dirty clothes down to put in the washing machine, nor had she taken him a bowl upstairs, as quickly as she could she remedied that.

Dina turned the lights off downstairs, and slowly wandered upstairs; she was tired she needed sleep, but also knew that she would have to stay near to Nick in case he vomited. For all she had put a bowl at the side of the bed, that would only be any good if he was conscious enough to be aware of it.

She needed to change her clothes; they were sweaty and smelled of cleaning stuff and disinfectant. If her brain had been working she would have put them in with Nicky’s clothes but never mind, she could sleep in one of Nicky’s t-shirts, and get a pair of shorts and a t-shirt to wear whilst her clothes were in the wash.

After finding some suitable clothes in Nick’s bedroom drawers Dina had a shower to freshen her up, donned the t-shirt and her briefs, and slipped into bed alongside Nicky. The temptation to cuddle him was almost overwhelming but she was there purely to ensure that Nicky survived the night so that he could enjoy the aftermath when he surfaced. Pulling the quilt right up to her chin, with her back facing into the middle of the bed and sleeping as near to the edge as she dared, she settled into a fitful sleep.

“Fuck!”
“Nicky?” Dina asked, waking up at the sound of him bumping into furniture. She had left a small table lamp on in the corner of the bedroom and was able to see Nicky trying to stagger to the bathroom. “Let me help you.” Dina got out of bed, put and arm around his waist and guided him through to the en suite.
After having a pee he washed his hands, though it took him a while because he was swaying so much, brushed his teeth, and rinsed his mouth with mouthwash. “You came,” he smiled, finally focusing enough to see her reasonably clearly.

“Back into bed,” she smiled back “I’ve put a bottle of water on the bedside cabinet for you to drink. You’ll be dehydrated.”
“Umm,” he grunted starting back to bed. “I feel odd.”
Dina said nothing but continued to help Nicky back to bed, covering him back up with the quilt. “Now sleep,” she said. He mumbled something incoherent and snuggled himself down.

She walked round to the other side of the bed, got in and smiled as she heard his gentle breathing. For a while she lay there, listening to him, but then she had to turn around to watch him. He was facing the middle of the bed and seemed so peaceful; so handsome. Why did it all have to be so complicated?

Dina had trouble going back over to sleep, she could still hear Nicky’s breathing, she felt it on her face, and she could smell the freshness of him from the soap she’d used to wash him. Everytime she closed her eyes she had visions of him smiling at her, then kissing her passionately and making love to her. It was all so vivid she could swear she could feel him caress her.

Daylight was breaking and still she was awake. Nicky grunted, stretched out an arm and rested it over the curve of Dina’s waist, and she sucked in some air as he delicately touched her and it was electrifying; Dina couldn’t help but snuggle closer to him; he excited her and she loved him.

As they cuddled Dina played with the soft hairs over his stomach and chest, so soft and silky yet almost invisible to the naked eye. Nicky moaned and moved even nearer to her, and Dina didn’t move when he wrapped both arms around her, and began nuzzling sleepily at her collarbone. Dina responded to him, how could she not? Even half-asleep and drunk still, he turned her on.

“Nicky,” she pleaded softly, “are you ok?”
“Mmm, Dina,” he murmured in reply, his mouth moving upwards and capturing hers in a kiss. “Love you babe.”
“Nicky,” she whimpered, ignoring the rational part of her brain that was telling her that this was wrong and she was taking advantage of him. He probably wouldn’t even manage to remember much of it but right now that didn’t bother her, hell it hardly registered.

His tongue caressed hers slowly, his large masculine hands stroked up and down her back, moaning as his passion grew. She loved the way he was kissing her, sweet, tender and so erotic. The stirrings of his growing erection pressed against her stomach, and as she delicately ran her fingers over it, she whimpered and deepened the kiss.

“Oh my…”
“Shush,” said Nicky, his fingers caressing her between her thighs, dipping into her wetness and fumbling for her engorged nub.
His touch was slightly rough and impatient but Dina didn’t care, he was exciting her and that was all that mattered; quite frankly she was astounded that he hadn’t fallen back to sleep again.
“Nicky I…” she started to say but Nicky captured her words in his mouth as he kissed her, holding her to him as her body shook from her orgasm.

Tenderly he kissed and soothed her, whilst her body recovered and she planted tiny kisses across his chest, her fingers making invisible patterns over his stomach, loving the way his muscles undulated under her light touch. For some time she said nothing, then she recognised that his breathing had changed; he was falling back to sleep again.

“You handsome sod,” she smirked stroking a thumb over his lips.
Nicky wriggled in the bed, moaned and sighed “Rachel”, unconsciously tugging Dina into him.
Dina took a deep breath; ‘Ok, he’s asleep, don’t worry about it’ she said to herself, ‘it doesn’t matter.’
Then he curled a leg over her thighs; “I love you Rachel.”

That did it, she couldn’t get out of the bed quick enough.

Part 3 >>>

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