The big night was upon her. Nichelle knew that this was make or break. Things had to go perfectly, in her favor of course. He couldn’t know what she was planning or even what she was thinking, which ironically turned out to be him.

 She figured room service and deep conversation over candlelight would suffice for a while, then she would make her move. She hoped that she could find time to turn on her mini tape recorder and the batteries would last.

“Shit.” Nichelle hissed as she inspected the tiny device remembering she had forgotten to put new batteries in from her last interview. It was going on 9 and she didn’t have enough time to run around Miami in search of a convenience store. She pressed her face into a pillow, fully intent on screaming into it when Baby began to bark and jump around excitedly near the hotel door.

“Baby calm your little…” She stopped short as she heard the light tap on the door. She sat quietly, as if waiting for some sign that it wasn’t who she hoped it was, but the second knock was a constant reminder that instinct wasn’t always right.

Isn’t he early?

Groaning, she remembered she had forgotten to give him an exact time, hell, she had forgotten to give a time at all. She threw the pillow aside and relinquished thoughts of beating herself up for the recent absence of her mind. Nichelle began to pick up obvious evidence of her profession and get that hyper dog of hers in a calm state. “Just a second!” She yelled, completely out of breath.

Is she okay in there? Maybe it’s a bad time, damn! I knew it!

Justin let out a breath, one he didn’t know he was holding in. “Good going numb nuts, she probably has someone in there already…” He mumbled as he played with the plastic around the single white rose he’d bought not 5 minutes ago. He then realized how lame and awkward he felt holding such a thing. Since when did he, Justin Timberlake, buy anything for a woman…unless it was a box of condoms to be on the face side? This fumbling dolt of a Justin was one he hadn’t encountered in a long time, not since Mira.

The door swung open dramatically causing him to lose any ounce of gallantry he had left. All color drained from his face as he did a once over. Her face was scares of all make up except for the gloss on her lips; of course, he thought. Her shoulders were, again, bare and exposed by the black tank top she wore, accented by a frayed brown belt tied loosely around her waist. This time her legs were covered, something Justin didn’t know was a crime until now; covering such beautiful legs had to be grounds for prosecution he thought.

Nichelle stood in awe. He looked…she couldn’t find a word to describe him. The baggy jeans should have made look ridiculous but it only added to his charm and the leather jacket he’d been wear the last time she saw him. She’d seen him in the outfit before, why was she still so effected by it or him? She wasn’t sure if she looked as stupid as she felt in her Old Navy skirt but she was willing to guess he wasn’t complaining by the way his mouth hung slightly open. She mentally snapped out of whatever trance she was in and began to put on the charm. She about lost it with glee when she saw the white rose in his hands.

Fucking sap.

“Hi there stranger. Is that for me?” She gestured to the rose provoking him to look down at his own hand then back into her eyes.

“Oh! Yes, yes it is. Just a friendly gift, between two friends you know.” He chuckled nervously at some unspoken joke he hadn’t made. Nichelle laughed, not at his words but at his evident state of uneasiness. She graciously took the rose and moved aside to let him step inside.

“Come on in. I put Baby in the bathroom so she shouldn’t bother you, unless you have to go that is.” She giggled taking in the fragrance of the rose. It smelled wonderful, she thought and she knew that any man willing to take the time out to buy a flower for a woman on the, so called, “first” date wasn’t going to be hard to manipulate.  “Thank you, it’s gorgeous.” She closed the door behind her and moved passed him.

“Make yourself comfy. I just want to get some things out of the kitchen.” She plastered on a smile and exited the room.

Bastard

He crossed the room and sat on the cream colored couch taking in his surroundings. Very spacious, he thought. “She makes good money whatever she does.” He murmured to himself. Then it hit him, he didn’t know exactly know what she did or even who she was. He made a mental note to ask tonight.

When she entered the room another moment later she carried in a bottle of champagne and glasses in one hand and a lighter in the other. She set the glasses down on clear coffee table in front of Justin more so that he got a little peek of what she had to offer.

Not even close to high school huh?

Oh he had gotten more then a peek; an eye full was more like it. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. He wasn’t sure if she knew how absolutely alluring she was or that she was bending in a way that made his knees go weak. Justin was sure that if he hadn’t have been sitting he’d have been sprawled out on the ground.

Nichelle could feel his eyes on her and this brought a secretive smile to her face as she went to light a few candles on the fireplace mantel. She took in the scent of vanilla and turned back to him.

She was glowing, he thought. With the candles dancing behind her illuminating the edges of her body she spoke. “Are you going to that star-studded New Years Eve party?” She tried making small talk because for some reason his gaze was starting to make her fidgety.

“Um, I’m not completely sure. There are things I need to get back to at home.” He said thinking of a certain sugar plum fairy.

She caught the wistful look in his eyes and narrowed her own.

Hmm sounds like I might have some competition.

We’ll just have to put a stop to that here and now, she thought as she poured champagne into his glass then her own.  She made sure to covertly add a special something to his champagne before picking up both glasses.

A little something to loosen him up.

She scooted past him and took her place very close beside. “So, Mister Timberlake what does a girl have to do to hold your attention?” She asked putting a glass in front of him. His head snapped toward her at the question. His thoughts had been drifting since he stepped into her room and it irked him that she noticed.

What is going on in that head of yours?

She sipped on her champagne noticing the flavor was somehow different. Ignoring it she continued to stare at him. She watched his eyes. They had always been a gorgeous cobalt, she noted and at the moment they were shifting from her own eyes to her lips. She took a gulp of her champagne to, hopefully, slow her heart rate; it seemed to help for the moment.

“You have familiar eyes. Beautiful.” He blurted. The champagne did nothing to decrease her rapid heart now but the sincerity of his words did soften it for a split second.

“No ones ever told me that before. Thank you.” The room became uncomfortably silent. One mind was kicking itself for sounding like a fifth grader with his first crush and the other was trying to figure out why there were suddenly two pop super stars and why the sudden urge to kiss both emerged.

“I’ve been dying to kiss you for the longest time.” Nichelle grabbed for his shoulders and pinned him against the arm of the couch. Her lashes felt heavy and her smile was very lazy as she caught sight of his initial shock.

“Um…Nicky...are you okay?” His voice trembled.

“Oh I’m just fine you sexy piece of man you. Kiss me already.” She slurred and crushed her lips against his. Though he knew she wasn’t herself, her lips felt wonderful against his. So soft and willing. And god, did she smell like heaven. His breath hitched when her tongue took its time down the length of his neck.

“Nicky…you have to…stop.”

“Don’t you want me Justin?” Her voice purred in his ear causing him to take a slow steady breath. Finally acquiring the strength, he took a hold of her shoulders and pushed her back some.

“Of course I do, I just…I just can’t. Plus, I think you’re drunk sweetie.” He spoke softly reaching a hand up to move a strand of hair out of her face.

“I’m not drunk. I have a high tolerance for alcohol and I’ll have you know…I’ll have you know…I’ll…I forgot what the fuck I was talking about.” She proceeded to giggle and stumbled to stand up.

“I think I better go. You need to sleep this off.” With one arm around her waist he helped her into the connecting room where a king size bed sat adorned with sheets of ivory.

“I really liked that rose you gave to me. I think it would look really really really really good in here. Don’t you think? It’s white and so is the room. White. Oh, Snow White, I love that movie!” Talking a mile a minute, she hadn’t noticed he had taken off her heels, pulled the sheets back and placed her snuggly between them. She did, however, realize when he began to make his way toward the door.

“Justin! Justin, you can’t leave yet.” She began to push the covers away but he was beside her in a flash.

“No, just stay in bed. Go to sleep. I’ll call you tomorrow when you’re feeling better.”

“But…I can’t sleep. Come lay with me.” She batted her eyes innocently and broke out into giggles again.

He chuckled. He thought twice about mentioning this to her tomorrow. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She held on to his hand before he could retreat again.

“Stay, at least until I fall asleep?” Her eyes begged and he couldn’t resist even if he wanted to.

“Okay. I can always sing to help you sleep.” He smiled down at her, fully joking. When her eyes went bright at the request he knew the joke had fallen on deaf ear.

“What do you want to hear?” He unconsciously played with the tips of her fingers now realizing her hand was still in his.

“Anything pretty.” She said seriously and closed her eyes on a dreamy smile. He chuckled and cleared his throat.

The sound of his voice filled the room and mixed with her senses. She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt so relaxed. The vibrato on the ends of each word sent chills down her spine and had, what was left of her mind, spinning. The promise of eternal love in the words he sang struck a cord with her until she was breathing rhythmically and dreaming of being in the arms of the voice that sang to her.

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