Strapped

Strapped Part 8

After kissing Mickey goodbye before she headed home to change for the wedding reception, Nikki spent part of her morning down in the garage, tinkering around, not really accomplishing much. Her mind wouldn't let her focus too hard on anything as it was still on Mickey and the beautiful words they shared together the night before. A fluttering invaded Nikki's lower extremities and she giggled like a school girl while sitting on a rolling utility stool, alone in the garage. Nikki sighed after getting her giggles out and looked around at the shop. She was happy she decided not to open today, she didn't think she would be able to focus on anything besides Mickey.

She frowned. "Oh, God. I'm turning into one of those preppy, snooty girls who fawn all over their hairbrained-all-brawn-boyfriends." She shivered at the horrid thought. She glanced at the time on her watch and saw it was almost noon. She put her tools away then closed and locked up the shop and just as she went to hop up the stairs to her place, a knock sounded on the front door of the building. She spun around and slowly opened the door, peeking around it. She smiled wide at the sight of Joey; she opened the door farther. "Hey, how's it goin'?"

Joey was standing there with her hands tucked away in her black, pressed trousers, looking dapper in a white, crisp, collared button-down and a black suit jacket. Her collar was open, exposing her collarbones. Nikki could smell her cologne from where she stood and she fought hard not to inhale.

"Damn, Joey, you look great. Where ya headed?"

"That job I was tellin' ya 'bout. I gotta be there early."

Nikki nodded. "Well, whatever this job is must be fancy for you to doll yourself up." She threw Joey a wink, knowing the term 'doll' wouldn't go over well on a butch like Joey.

Joey raised a mocking, annoyed eyebrow at her friend before she smiled back at her.

"So, what brings ya by?" Nikki asked.

Joey shrugged as she looked down at her polished shoes as if they were the most interesting thing in the world at that moment. "Just wanted to see how you were, is all." She looked back up and at Nikki. "Is that okay?"

She sensed Joey was there for more than a welfare check and had a sneaking suspicion Joey had developed stronger feelings for her. She swallowed hard. Nikki wanted to be wrong, but she had to confirm, because she wasn't the type to string anyone along. "Joey, did you really just stop by to see how I was, or is there a deeper meaning why you're here?"

Joey swallowed hard then quickly looked away, eyes flitting on everything and anything before she took a breath and met Nikki's gaze. "Look, I know you have a thing with that Mickey person, and I don't want to come between anything, but..." she stopped and took a tentative step closer to Nikki, "I think I'm falling for you."

Time froze as Nikki peered into a pair of eyes that held nothing but devotion, adoration, and lust for her. She realized that Joey hadn't taken a breath since her confession. She stepped closer, closing the gap between them and placed a palm on the exposed skin under Joey's shirt. "Joey, I like you, a lot. I find you attractive and you turn me on in so many ways, but..."

"No, don't. If you're going to turn me down, then I don't wanna hear it."

Nikki's hand fell away, but Joey caught it and lifted it up to her lips and kissed it. "I'm sorry," she said in a broken whisper as tears pooled in her eyes, threatening to spill over.

Joey pressed a soft kiss to Nikki's forehead and said as she pulled back, "Don't be. I'd rather have you as a friend than not have you as nothing at all."

Nikki's tears spilled down her cheeks and she choked back a sob. They stood there in a warm, snug hug before Joey pulled away and said goodbye. Nikki watched her drive away in her Camaro and wondered if Joey would ever come around ever again. She hoped so.

*****

Nikki was standing in front of her mirror adjusting the black collard shirt feeling a combination of sorrow and elation. Heart broken from Joey's much too late confession, but thrilled to go to an event as Mickey's girlfriend had Nikki's insides churning. She palmed her stomach and winced, then spun on her heel and bolted to the bathroom. She stepped out from the bathroom, confident nothing else was going to come spewing out, and made her way back to the mirror where her form-fitted, suit jacket was hanging. She slipped it on, adjusted the collar and sleeves, before she turned from side to side, inspecting her black, sleek suit. She ran her hands down the silk lapels as she checked for any misplaced hairs on her head. With a subtle eyeliner and a touch of mascara, Nikki was the epitome of soft butch with a feminine flare. She smiled devishly at herself, knowing Mickey wouldn't be able to keep her hands to herself tonight. She turned for the bedroom door, swiping her wallet off her dresser on her way out, and stuffed it inside her suit jacket. With her three-inch, black heeled boots tapping against the hardwood floor, she felt sexy and couldn't wait to see Mickey's expression. She walked over to one of the windows while tapping her pack of cigarettes against the palm of her hand wishing time would move faster. A quick glance at the wall clock against the exposed brick, she sighed. Twenty minutes to seven. She guessed Mickey didn't want to show up to her ex's wedding reception right on time. A knowing smirk crossed her face when she figured Mickey would rather make a grand entrance. Nikki lit up a smoke and threw her head back as she sucked deep before taking the smoke between her fingers and blowing out a long stream.

Twenty-five minutes and two cigarettes later, Nikki was fidgeting with worry. Mickey should have arrived already. Both of them were never ones to worry about time schedules and always went with the flow regarding anything in life, but now that Nikki has attached herself emotionally to Mickey, she warred with herself over whether to call Mickey like a clingy girlfriend, or to just ride it out and wait. A familiar roar coming down the street filtered through the opened window, and she smiled as her heart leapt up into her throat. She grasped the window pane on either side with her hands as she watched Mickey roll in on her motorcycle. She bit her bottom lip, hard, when Mickey removed her helmet and watched her hair fall in waves down her back and over her shoulders. Those strong shoulders were draped in Italian silk contrasting against the leather jacket that matched her form-fitted leather pants. Only Mickey would find a way to look so effortlessly dashing and dangerous at the same time.

"I was starting to lose hope," she called down to Mickey.

Mickey stopped her ascent toward the front door and grasped her chest where her heart sat and mimicked someone who had been fatally shot. "My apologies, my dear mistress. I had to make a stop and gather something for my fair lady."

"I'll only forgive you if I like what you have." Nikki winked then turned for the front door. She met Mickey at the top of the stairs where they kissed passionately. "I missed you, you were gone too long."

"I'm sorry, I'll move in to solve our problem, then." Mickey was out of breath as her eyes sparkled only for her.

Nikki's breath caught at the mention of moving in. Not wanting to ruin the light mood with a heavy topic, she sidestepped it and asked, "Where's my gift?"

Mickey smiled, reaching inside her leather jacket and pulled out a single red rose. "I searched high and low for the perfect one."

Nikki's eyes misted over as she delicately took the blood red rose from Mickey and touched the delicate petals to her nose and inhaled its sweet scent. "It's so beautiful, thank you."

Mickey cupped her cheek and said, "Only the best for my girl." She pressed a soft kiss at the corner of her mouth. "Shall we?" She offered her arm.

"Gladly, but I have to lock up. Gimme a second to put this in water, too." She turned and went in search for a vase. "Damn." She closed yet another cupboard when no vases appeared. "I guess a drinking glass will have to do." She found a tall glass and filled it with water then placed the rose inside. A smile formed on her face as she walked it over to the table and set in the centre. She took a moment to admire the simple yet magnificent beauty of each petal and its rich colour. A colour that represented so many things in life. Lust, sex, passion, riches, and love. She turned toward Mickey, who was standing far off to the side, watching her. "You really do love me, don't you?"

Mickey made purposeful strides toward her and without warning, took her face in her hands and kissed her hard, quickly evolving into a deep and wet kiss. Breaking away abruptly, breathless, swollen, and aroused, Mickey said, "I want you by my side for the rest of my life."

"Ditto," Nikki whispered.