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She's always been a mascara girl. All it took were a couple swipes of an inky black wand across her lashes and she's ready for the day. Maybe a dusting of blush, if she pleases. But lipstick, that's another story.
Lipstick is more of an evening wear thing. Other than that, Nic very seldom wore it for most occasions. She prefers a light chapstick-esque base over several heavy layers of thick makeup so as long as she won't be leaving an obvious colorful trail onto surgical masks and other surfaces that she wouldn't have noticed otherwise. Even harder to scrub off if you're in a rush to get to the next patient.
However, this time, she's willing to make an exception.
Rosewood Red, a new lipstick still cased in plastic from the day it was purchased.
A little out of her comfort zone but she was pleased with the final results once she looked into the mirror. A deep brownish-red shade with a tinge of berry, almost bordering on maroon, and with a smooth, velvety finish. Dark enough to stand out against her creamy skin but not so much that it's garish and tacky.
Unless....does it look tacky? She's never tried a color as bold as this, at least not outside of date night.
No, don't cave.
It's a beautiful color and it compliments her in every way.
Where's the harm in wearing it at Chastain?
And on Valentine's Day, no less?
At the hospital, things were according to routine.
"Can you give us the status on our appendicitis patient?" Devon inquired.
"He's resting, but we'll need to page someone soon," she answered quickly.
"And given his age, his chance at a speedy recovery is if only he undergoes a laparoscopic surgery."
"And, don't forget; he has a weak heart. They have to proceed with caution."
And then she turned to face Conrad. "Can you go ahead and page Mina and Dr. Chu?"
She was met with what she mistook for a glare, yet it wasn't filled with animosity but something just as intense.
"Conrad?"
He blinks, suddenly back in reality.
"Hmm? Yeah, yeah. On it."
He walked away briskly without another word.
She wouldn't have allowed it but a storm of worry pervaded her thoughts nonetheless. Conrad is a reserved person by nature, which isn't a cause for concern in of itself. But sprinting off like a bat out of hell is, especially if he does it for no reason. Especially if he does it whenever she approaches him.
Now, all he utters is a clipped hello while averting her gaze, his cheeks burning red as he excuses himself to go off to an unspecified location. She barely noticed it then but she swore he was glancing at her lips every now and then, but that didn't mean anything, right? Whatever's the case, she couldn't quite put a finger on his odd behavior.
Was he mad? Because if he was, he would've said something already. She's not going to force it out of him but she hopes he's not closing himself off from the world again. They made a pact to be as honest with each other as humanely possible after restarting their relationship, and at the same time, she proposed another deal: no sneaking into the on-call room or supply closet, but they can still spend the night at each other's place. It's the beauty of clean state; trying to stand on your two feet and familiarizing yourself with the ground and movement as if you were born again. And setting some boundaries is a step in the right direction while also to trying to evade the prying eyes of co-workers since it's too soon.
He should know that, so the freeze-out is unnecessary, or maybe it's something else?
Okay, fine. It's probably not a huge issue.
And just when she resolved her internal argument, Conrad appears at her side. Nearly jumped out of her seat.
"Meet me at our usual spot? There's something I need to discuss with you.....but not here," he whispered, leaning over the nurse's desk, his voice dropping an octave.
She swallowed but held out her hand anyway.
They traversed the hallways at an unusually fast pace, with their hands intertwined tightly. She wonders if this is the wrong time to ask him about the silent treatment he's giving her but maybe it's time to rip the band aid off and get it over with.
They reach the supply closet and enter, with Conrad closing the door behind them.
"Listen, Conrad...."
That was all she could get out before his lips crashed onto hers.
She stayed still with her arms at her sides, but then he cupped her face, deepening the kiss. Her eyes fluttered shut and she pressed herself flushed against him, letting the rest of the world fall away.
Never did it felt damn worth it. There was no rush. Lips slid against each other in a slow rhythm, producing tiny wet pops as they met and parted. It wasn't so much as a scorching blaze of passion but like warm electrical currents coursing through her bloodstream, creating that buzz that always leaves her head spinning. She could spend hours drowning in him and won't even need an anchor. Hell, he could be her anchor if he wanted to.
They never kept track of how many minutes have passed, too busy caught up in the other's ministrations. Conrad gripped her hips as his kisses grew fervent, and he slowly backed her against the wall. His tongue explored her mouth, eliciting a moan from Nic, who raked her fingers through his already spiky hair in response. Soon, his lips trailed down her neck, nipping as he goes. He zeroed in on the spot underneath her ear, sinking his teeth into and sucking the little pulse point. His hands remained stagnant, caressing her back and nowhere else. Nic shuddered and curled her toes in her tennis shoes. He teases her dangerously close to the brink, and she so badly wanted to throw caution out of the window and rip off his---
But faster than Conrad comprehended, Nic yanked him from her neck and held his face in place, breathing heavily. As their foreheads touched, her hands clasped at his nape, playing with the little hairs she felt, and they swayed in tandem. In place of fiery desire was peace and comfortable silence.
"God, Nic, you have no idea what you do to me....." he husked. "And I thought you couldn't be any more irresistible, but damn...."
It took her long to catch her breath before her voice returned. "Not sure what I did exactly."
"You didn't have to do anything. You just bring it out of me," he smirked.
She snickered, rolling her eyes. As she raised her head, she inspected her handiwork. Pinkish red smears painted his mouth with some above his chin. Well, it made someone's eyes pop.
Muttering a curse, she proceeds to lick her thumb to wipe at the stains. Then, Nic rummaged around her pocket for a tissue and dabbed at his lips. Conrad chuckled at her flustered gestures.
His eyes, blackened and blown-wide, never left her lips while she was at work. As she drew the tissue away, he leaned in and stole another kiss. And then another, and another.
"Mmm," Nic grunted as she pulls away. "Wait, hold on. Weren't you supposed to be mad at me?"
"No, why?" He asked, furrowing his eyebrows.
"You've been giving me the silent treatment and kinda avoided me all day," she explained, "I tried to remember if I done or said something, or maybe I was overreacting....you know what? It's probably not worth mentioning anyway. Let's just drop it for now."
He laughed, and she was just dumbfounded. "No, no," he said as the laughter died down. "That's not why I acted like that. It's because...you'd think I'm insane for saying this."
"Try me," she encouraged, soft yet firm.
He looked down at the ground with a bashful smile and then back up at her. "All that was on my mind was you and that lipstick, and I literally could not focus on anything else. I had my duties, you had yours. Let's just say, it would've been very inappropriate if I ravaged you right then and there, as enticing as it may be."
"You saw me with makeup on before."
"Yeah, but it was...different. A Good different."
"So...you like?"
"No. I love it."
"I'll take it," she smiled, radiant as the sun, and Conrad needs no words to appreciate how gorgeous she looks right now.
Honestly, there are no other words that would do Nicolette Nevin justice. Even his list of reasons of why she takes his breath away isn't enough. Under such circumstances is where his words get scrambled and clogged in his throat, and they come out half-formed and nonsensical.
But if there's one thing he understands, it's that living in a world where she doesn't exist is the worst form of torture. Not a torture he'd be willing to endure again.
"I just can't wait 'til this shift's over," he admitted. "At this rate, all I am looking forward to is comfort of my own bed. Although, I usually sleep better...if you're next to me.
She hummed with one eyebrow raised.
"We haven't seen each other in, what, ages?"
"Five weeks," she corrected.
"Well, it's about time we got properly reacquainted."
She giggled into his mouth as he captured her in another passionate kiss with a grin. This time, she didn't push away.
"I missed you," he said, pure joy coloring his tone.
Her favorite sound in the world. "Missed you, too."
They didn't need to say 'I love you' because they already did. With their hands, their smiles, their noses brushing past each other. This is enough.
Unfortunately, Nic's beeper cut it short. They groaned as they separate but duties come first. Luckily, they have a special reservation at Juniper Zest waiting for them at 8, so they'll survive.
She straightened her wrinkled top while Conrad tended to his, as well as letting her clean up any remaining smudges left behind. He was one foot out of the door when Nic gently grabbed his shoulder and her face inched closer to his ear, barely making contact.
"Happy Valentine's Day, darling," she whispered, planting her lips the spot underneath, mirroring Conrad's actions prior, turning his knees into jelly.
And she was gone, leaving him in love-drunk haze, with Conrad faintly registering a wink before she disappeared into the halls.