Nic's Devotion: An Endless Series: Book One (10 page)

     I fastened my seat belt. “No, and I’m not going to let
you buy me anything.” I stated firmly.

     He grinned. “I was just going to ask if you would like
me to stop anywhere for you.”

     I shrugged. “That’s okay; I’m going to have something
when I get home.”

     I really couldn’t afford spending my cash on eating
out. I could have asked him to stop at the cafeteria, but I didn’t want to put
him out. From the expression on his face he might know the reason I’d refused,
so I decided to lay it out there.

     “Actually, I really need to watch my spending and
that’s why I try not to eat out.” I admitted. I wasn’t going to be embarrassed
about it.

     He nodded as though he were familiar with the
practice―
which I doubted
―or he could see why I would need to
do that―
which was way more likely
. “That’s fine.” He threw me a
sideways glance as he pulled out onto the road. There was barely any light in
the cab of the truck so I couldn’t read his expression. “But it’s not going to
stop me from asking you out to a meal every now and then. My treat.”

     “Friends don’t take advantage of other friends like
that.” I said softly, unsure of what he was trying to convey. I was so bad at
this.

     His hand reached over and clasped mine, and I sighed
inwardly at his warm touch. “Carrie, I like spending time with you. How about
every once in a while you take pity on me and let me have my way.” He held up
our entwined hands. "Or you will force me take extreme measures.”

     I breathed a little easier. Spending time together wasn’t
that bad. “Extreme measures, huh? I guess we’ll just take it one day at a
time.”

     He rubbed his thumb over mine. “That sounds really
good.”

     My breathing escalated again at the caress. “I could
always take you out to lunch at the cafeteria, my treat.” I joked nervously
knowing that as a scholarship athlete he most likely received free food like I
did.

     He laughed. “It’s a date.”

     My heart skipped even though I knew they were just a
play on words.

     Nic held my hand the entire ride to my apartment and we
exchanged comments on our day. It was nice. When we arrived he put his truck in
park but kept it running. “I don’t suppose you’d let me walk you up?”

      My heart quivered. I didn’t want him anywhere near my
mother. “No, that’s okay, really Nic.” I unbuckled my seatbelt. “Thank you for
the ride though…again.” 

     “You know, this is the second time I’ve driven you home
and I still don’t know your last name.” Nic declared suddenly. 

     I tensed at the thought of him knowing my last name. He
could find out so much about me; the information was out there for him to look
up. However, there was no way I could avoid telling him without it seeming odd.

     “Harper, Carrie Harper.” I waited anxiously, but he
only smiled and I almost slumped in relief that my name wasn’t familiar to
him. 

     His hand reached out and squeezed mine. “Well,
goodnight Carrie Harper.”

     “Goodnight, Nic Stanford.” I slipped from the truck an
overload of emotions rolling through me.  

Chapter Nine

NIC

     The rest of the week passed in periods of fast and
slow. Morning and afternoon classes crawled by, but lacrosse practice went
swiftly, and I have to say that my moves on the field were pretty damn
impressive. I couldn’t seem to do anything wrong this week.

     However, the times between classes and practice moved
sluggishly as I caught up on course work or whatever else I needed to be doing.
Moreover, during that block of time I was jittery and had a difficult time
concentrating. I found myself constantly looking at the clock…waiting.

     The first couple of nights I don’t think it ever was a
conscious plan that when seven-thirty rolled around I dropped whatever I was
doing and drove over to the Sports shop. I just did it. However, on day four
when I walked through that door and saw Carrie’s face light up upon seeing me,
and my heart responded by doing some kind of funky ass pitter-patter in my
chest, I could no longer fool myself. I was chasing a girl. 

     Friday I mulled over this shocking fact wondering what
the hell I was doing, but I didn’t come up with any illuminating answers.
What's more, it didn’t stop me from going back to the Sports shop. 

     I had to deal with Mark once more on Tuesday, but I
handled it better than I had Monday. One lethally cold glare directed his way
when I entered kept him on the other side of the store out of my way. I really
didn’t like the idea of Carrie working with the douche bag. I could tell the
prick was interested in her just from his demeanor and remarks, and because…who
wouldn’t be.

     Carrie didn’t show any reciprocating interest, but it
still chafed my ass that they were going to be spending a lot of time together.
When he’d stepped in her space Monday I’d wanted to reach across the counter
and drag him the hell away from her, but I’d controlled myself. However, I’d
ended up doing it anyway because of that fucking comment he’d made. The little
shit had deserved a punch in the face for embarrassing her like that.

     I had to admit though that my anger had been a
culmination of things; his interest, his snide remarks, but also his divulging
of my reputation―my well earned reputation. It wasn’t like Mark had been
lying so I couldn’t really be angry at the little fucker for that, and hell; it
hadn’t even mattered because Carrie had already heard the rumors from others.
Fortunately, for me, Carrie didn’t seem fond of rumors and hadn’t let them
influence her decision in regards to our…friendship.

     It was amazing the relief I’d experienced at that.

     Thankfully, John supervised Carrie Wednesday thru
Friday, and the look on his face as I ambled around the store was pure
amusement. I wanted to rip that smirk off his face but if I was in his shoes
watching me I would have been laughing my ass off as well. I was behaving like
one of my groupie’s; showing up at her place of work and acting as if I needed
something from the store when I didn’t.

     I had a stockpile of lacrosse supplies I had no need
of.

     Tuesday, I bought a new head for the new shaft I’d
purchased Monday. Wednesday, I procured some lacrosse mesh. Thursday, I paid
for some sidewall string. On Friday Carrie walked up to me, her face
self-consciously red, and handed me a key chain with a donkey that read ‘
you’re
an ass
’. When I looked at her in surprise she told me that was the last
thing she was ever going to sell me and if I needed anything else from the
store I would have to have another store employee ring me up. She informed me
she wasn’t going to enable me any longer, and then she’d stalked off in an
adorable huff. All I could do was laugh.

     “So Friday night; got any plans?” I asked as Carrie and
I walked out the front door of the Sports shop. John clicked the door locked
behind us.

     Carrie shifted her backpack on her shoulder; the thing
looked like it weighed at least twenty pounds. Reaching over I slid it off her
shoulder and threw it over mine. Yep, about twenty pounds. Damn, what did her
course work consist of?

     Carrie immediately started protesting. “Nic, you
don’t…”

     “Carrie, we’re going thirty feet. It’s no problem.” I
interrupted.

     “That should be my line. I already carried the thing
miles today. What’s another thirty feet?” She groused.

     I grinned at her attitude. “I wasn’t walking with you
then, now I am.” I answered reasonably. I never considered myself a chivalrous
person, but Carrie made me want to open doors, carry backpacks, and do a host
of other things for her. Actually, there was quite a long list of things I
wanted to do to her, but that was another matter.

     Unlocking the door to the truck I set Carrie’s backpack
in the back and then assisted her in the passenger seat. It gave me an excuse
to touch a part of her person, not in any kind of dick move, just a helping
hand to her arm and thigh. They were innocent touches but they worked hell on
my libido.

     Shutting the door I jogged around to the driver’s side.
“So…Friday…plans?” I reiterated starting the engine.

     Carrie’s beautiful face displayed confusion. “Uhm, I’ve
got some homework that I need to do, but that’s about all; then I usually go to
bed.”

     Homework on a Friday! “You’re not hanging out with
friends tonight?” I asked wanting to know her plans and who she was doing them
with.

     “I don’t really have…I just normally stay…I focus on my
school work pretty much.” Carrie wrapped up her disjointed ramble.

     I was glad it was dark because Carrie’s words were
causing definite frown lines to take over my face. Was this girl really telling
me that she had no friends…at all? I just didn’t understand it. I mean, I was a
private person but I had several close friendships, especially the guys I lived
with. Carrie was a way nicer person than me; she should have people knocking
her down for a chance at being her friend. The only possible explanation that
she didn’t must be because she wasn’t opening herself up to the possibility.

     I had sensed that she was somewhat reticent, but no
friends seemed pretty extreme. She seemed to be trying with me but I watched
her struggle with it.

     I suddenly recalled the look of determination that had
crossed her face when I’d first asked her out to lunch. I had thought that look
meant she was taking a chance at trusting me to not kidnap and molest her, but
it hit me that she had trusted me with more than that ride. Carrie had been
opening herself up to a friendship.

     It was a bit of a gut wrenching revelation.

     “Well, are these homework plans of yours set in stone
or could I offer you an alternative?” I asked keeping my voice free of the
disquiet I was feeling.

     Carrie shrugged and looked out her side window. “Not
necessarily set in stone.” Her hands fiddled with the zipper of her coat and
she threw me a sideways glance. I catalogued all this because I was watching
her carefully.

     “So, I have a chance of convincing you into doing
something else. This could be tricky because homework is probably rated rather
important to a girl on a scholarship. I’m going to need a minute to think about
this. While I do that are you hungry?” I asked.

     Carrie had turned to look at me fully. “You really want
to do something…tonight…with me?” She asked with a frown.

     I wanted to do a lot of something’s with her, but I
kept that to myself because her question was asked innocently with mystified
surprise. She had no idea of the pull she had on me.

     “Yeah, I do. Do you?” I asked, and shit, I was actually
nervous for her response.

     Carrie’s hands twisted the fabric of her coat. “Uhm,
sure, but I’m not really dressed to go anywhere.”

     I nodded as though her affirmative reply had been a
given. “That’s okay, we can keep it simple, but we need to get some food in you
first.”

     “You are
not
buying me anything.” Carrie stated
firmly. “We’re close to the cafeteria and they’re open till nine. I can stop in
there and get a sandwich to go or something, and since it’s my turn to buy I’ll
even get you something.” She grinned knowing I got free food there as an
athlete.  

     “I feel special, or do you buy food for all the guys?”
I teased making for the cafeteria.

     “Just the ones that chauffer me around, so that’s
three.” She returned playfully.

     She wasn’t kidding about that. My blood heated; who
else was driving her around? Carrie laughed. “Nic, you’re thinking too hard,
simple things down a little.”

     And it instantly hit me and I grinned shaking my head.
“You little…” I couldn’t really call her a shit so instead I said, “You give
your bus driver’s food?”

     Carrie smiled. “I wrap up a few cookies for them
whenever I can. I don’t bake myself so ever since I started college I’ve become
their best friend. Paul’s probably wondered what’s happened to me this last
week. He’s being cookie deprived, poor guy.”

     These dudes better be old guys. “His loss, my gain.” I
responded unremorsefully. “You can give me all his cookies now.”

     I hadn’t meant the remark to be suggestive but as the
words left my mouth I realized what it must have sounded like and I watched
Carrie to see how she would receive it. Would she blush or show interest? My
dick swelled at the thought of her doing either.

     “It’s not the same because you can get your own
cookies.” She complained.

     I laughed; at her remark and because she was completely
clueless about the sexual innuendo. “Yes, I could, but receiving cookies from
you would make my day.” I said unable to help myself. We’d arrived at the
cafeteria and I drove into a ten minute parking spot just as someone was exited
it.         

     Carrie smiled and gave an aggrieved sigh. “I guess it
would only be fair to save you some cookies, too.”

     The only thought in my head as I exited the truck was,
‘
all of her cookies were mine and no one else’s
’, and I had to admit the
thought shocked me. Shifting my swollen dick unobtrusively I stepped around the
truck and walked with Carrie into the cafeteria. Even though the sexual banter
had been one-sided I’d still gotten horny from it, but then I was always
fucking horny around her. The entire week had been one never ending hard-on.

     I was still undecided about what I was doing with
Carrie. Since seeing her again and realizing that she was legal, though still
pretty young, I’d stopped denying that I wanted her. And I wanted her badly, to
hell with my rules. However, she was different than the other girls I’d banged.
I didn’t just want to fuck her.