She slowly made her way to the head of the bed and crawled under the covers, laying on her right side. Nikki placed the ice pack over her ankle, and pulled the covers up to her shoulders. As she turned to leave, Alex reached out and caught her hand. "Will you stay with me?"
Nikki began to shake her head. "I don’t think—"
"Just hold me for a little while. I just chased my best friend out of my life, and I’m hurting. I really don’t want to be alone." She gently tugged on her hand, pulling her closer to the bed. "Please."
Nikki nodded as she replied, "Okay. I just need to change my clothes. I’ll be right back." She quickly left the room, and returned minutes later wearing a loose T-shirt and shorts. She climbed into the bed behind Alex, turned off the light, and snuggled close. As she placed her hand on her hip, Alex pulled it around her, pulling her closer. She smiled as she felt the warmth of Nikki’s body behind her. She pushed back gently until her butt made contact. Nikki groaned as Alex rubbed her delectably round bottom against her. "What are you doing?" she asked.
"Just getting comfortable."
"Well stop. You are making me quite uncomfortable." Afraid of angering her, Alex quickly pulled away. Nikki groaned at the loss, grabbed her, and pulled her close again. "I didn’t mean you had to leave, just stop wiggling. I like how you feel in my arms, and while I enjoy the wiggling, I can only take so much teasing." It was obvious Alex was upset by the stiff way she held herself, no longer comfortable in her arms. Nikki snuggled closer, wrapping her body around Alex and holding her close. When she didn’t relax into the embrace, she whispered, "Alex, honey, what’s wrong?"
Alex was confused by Nikki's reaction, and afraid her anger would surface at any minute. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tease you. I’ll hold still, I promise," she said shakily.
Nikki released her and rolled over to turn the light on. She turned back and saw Alex still had her back to her, unmoving. "Alex, please look at me." She slowly rolled on to her back and turned her head towards her, but was unable to meet her eyes. "Will you please look me in the eye?" She waited patiently as Alex gradually lifted her eyes until they met hers. "I’m not upset with you, honey, and more importantly, I will never raise a hand against you. I am not Jo." Alex looked away and began to worry her lip. "Do you believe me?"
"I’m trying. Part of me really wants to believe, and the other part is so afraid that I’m making the same mistake again." She looked up at Nikki where she lay propped on her elbow beside her, and shrugged. "I’m sorry."
"Stop apologizing. You have nothing to apologize for. I can handle a little teasing." She smiled down at her. "Just be gentle with me, I’m not made of stone." She saw the confusion in her eyes before she looked away. "You don’t have any idea what I’m talking about do you?" She reached out and gently cupped her cheek. Alex slowly turned towards her as she shook her head. "I’m in a constant state of arousal when I’m near you. I want you, Alex. Words could never express how much." Alex desperately wanted to believe as she searched her eyes for the truth. Seeing her uncertainty, Nikki grasped her hand and tenderly kissed her knuckles. "Let me show you."
Alex watched as Nikki’s lips caressed her knuckles and felt her warm breath across her skin. Oh how she ached to feel both in other places on her body. She swallowed and licked her suddenly parched lips. She was startled when she realized Nikki was placing her hand down her shorts.
"Feel how much I want you, Alex."
She timidly reached out and ran her fingers through the short curls under her hand. She gasped as they encountered wetness.
"That’s all you, sweetheart," she said as Alex looked up into her eyes. "You turn me on just by being you."
Alex smiled as she quickly reached out and ran a finger through the slick folds under her palm. She watched Nikki’s eyes widen slightly before slamming shut, and her breath catch as she reacted to her touch.
Nikki groaned and reached down to remove her hand. "Do you understand now?"
Alex searched her face for proof as she asked, "You really want me like that?"
"More than you can imagine." She stopped her wandering hand as it slid under her shirt.
"Then why won’t you let me touch you?"
Nikki rolled on to her back and pulled Alex to her side. "Because you’re not ready to trust me yet, and you're not ready to be completely honest with me either."
"That doesn’t mean I can’t –"
"Yes, it does."
Alex sighed and snuggled in close. "I understand."
Nikki began to gently caress the bare skin of the arm Alex had thrown across her chest. "I'm not going anywhere. You'll get another chance. Think of it as something to look forward to." She could feel Alex begin to relax against her and knew that sleep wouldn't be far behind.
Alex opened her swollen, tired eyes and looked around her room. As the events of the previous evening came back
