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Luke heard the knock on his trailer door around 7:00 am. It was nice not being first on the call-list this year, even if he was still pretty high up on the list. He stood from the sofa, stretching his muscles, wiped a hand over his tired face, and opened the trailer door.
Nicola stood on the step, two cups in her hand, a smile on her face. “Morning, husband .”
Luke chuckled lightly, stepping aside to allow his friend entry. He closed the trailer door behind her. She handed him his coffee, her own cup more than likely filled with peppermint tea, but before they could sit on the sofa, he pulled her into his arms.
“Missed you, Nic,” he mumbled into her hair.
Nicola squeezed him back, her hand rubbing up and down his side. “Missed you, too.”
He chanced a small kiss upon her neck and then drew back, settling himself on the stiff cushions. It had been a few weeks since he’d seen her, most of their communication after the tour through texts or random voice notes and video calls. They had met up for dinner at her place a few weeks ago, discussing the scripts they had received for the first two episodes of the season. Both were eager to dive right into filming, excited for the direction they were taking this year. The pressure was off of them, allowing them to fully enjoy the blissful married life their characters were reveling in.
“This is going to be so nice this season,” Nicola commented, pulling her legs up onto the sofa, curling up before she took a sip of her tea. “I mean, still hard work, but a lot less stress.”
He nodded, grinning at her. “I know what you mean. I like that we have less drama with our characters. I’m ready to enjoy married life with you.”
She pursed her lips. “We have a few steamy scenes in these first two episodes.”
“That we do.” He smirked at her, leaning forward, their eye contact strong. “Think we should practice?”
Nicola rolled her eyes, reaching out to lightly smack at his chest. “Flirt.”
Luke wiggled his eyebrows. “Only with you.”
Their eyes locked again, a familiar heat bubbling between them, causing the trailer to fill with sexual tension. It was always like this with them, ever since they unleashed their chemistry two years ago. They stopped holding back with each other, allowing whatever it was between them come to fruition without actually crossing any lines, though they toed the line constantly. It was so easy to get lost in their characters, so easy to let them take over and let their characters lead.
Nicola cleared her throat, breaking eye contact, taking another sip of the steaming liquid in her cup. Luke felt a rock of disappointment settle in his stomach, but he tried to ignore it.
“What time are you needed today?” she asked after a moment.
“8:15. I already hit the gym and showered this morning, so I appreciate the coffee and company before I head to set.”
She smiled that smile that he swore was for him only. “I’m needed at 8. Got some solo shots to do.”
Without thinking, Luke reached out, placing his hand on her knee. “Save me a spot in the makeup trailer?”
Nicola glanced at his hand, biting her lip, and slowly grabbed his hand in hers, lacing their fingers together loosely. “Of course.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying each other’s presence. It was one of his favorite things about being around Nicola. They were able to be with each other, not speaking, for a long time, and it was never awkward. They even knew what the other was thinking with a simple glance into their eyes. It was a magical thing, something they treasured.
“I have to admit,” Nicola spoke again gently, looking down at their clasped hands. “I am a little nervous about easing back into the kissing and love scenes again.”
Luke’s eyebrows scrunched together. “Really? I thought we overcame that last season.”
She let out a puff of soft laughter. “We did, but that was two years ago. It’s been a while.”
“I’m pretty sure they say it’s like riding a bike,” he smirked.
She rolled her eyes, but there was a grin on her lips. “You know what I mean!”
“I know,” he laughed, leaning in. “I wasn’t kidding about the practice, you know. Maybe not the full love scene, but a kiss? We can do that.”
She raised her eyebrows, that tantalizing plump bottom lip stuck behind her teeth again. They stared at one another, her blue eyes shifting back and forth between his eyes and his lips. “Yeah?” she finally whispered out.
Luke’s heart sped up, nodding once in confirmation.
Nicola cleared her throat again, slipping her hand free from his grasp, and stood from the sofa. Luke sat back in confusion, blinking his eyes rapidly.
“Well, when we get to those shoot days, I’ll make sure to stop by, uh, early, so we can… do that.”
Another wave of disappointment went through him that he once again pushed down. He stood as well, setting his coffee cup on the small table beside the sofa.
“Right. Sounds good.”
Nicola pointed her thumb over her shoulder, looking up at him. “I should head to hair and makeup. See you there?”
“Yeah, yeah,” he agreed, shoving his hands in his sweatpants pockets, rocking back on his heels. “You got a new playlist for this season?”
She smiled brightly. “Of course I do. You know me.”
“Can’t wait to hear it,” he told her honestly. Before she could turn to leave, he took a chance and bent down to kiss her cheek. He could hear her gasp, a small puff of hot air brushing his face. He turned his head slowly, cautiously, afraid any sudden movements would force her to draw back.
When she stayed still, her large eyes looking up at him, her lips parted slightly, he closed the tiny distance between them, placing a small peck on the corner of her mouth. Nicola’s eyes closed briefly before they fluttered back open, looking directly at his lips that hovered over her mouth. This time, she leaned in, and he was more than ready for her, pressing their lips together in a chaste kiss.
He wanted to fully capture her lips again after they parted, kiss her harder, deeper, but she put distance between them, and he forced himself to step back as well.
“Bye,” she mumbled before she spun on her heel and was out the trailer door in a flash.
Luke licked his lips, tasting the smallest hint of her chapstick that she left behind, and felt his heart thud in his chest.
“Bye.”
******
ALT ENDING
******
Much like their characters’ first kiss in season 3, after their lips first came together, they both moved in to kiss again. Luke captured her top lip while Nicola sucked on his bottom lip, their bodies slowly coming together. He was hunched over her, bending his knees to reach, and he slid one hand out of his pants pocket to wrap it around her lower back. Nicola raised her free hand that wasn’t holding her cup to his chest, her fingers gripping at his t-shirt.
Their lips moved together slowly, gently, little smacking sounds filling the trailer along with her sweet sighs. Luke couldn’t resist moving his hand down from her lower back to the roundness of her ass, cupping her through her leggings, and he squeezed. Nicola gasped and he took the opportunity to slip his tongue into her open mouth, moaning as it tangled with hers.
The kiss became deeper, longer, filled with that heat that always bubbled near the surface around them.
“You’re so… fucking tall,” she grumbled between kisses, and he let out a small huff of amusement that she quickly swallowed with her lips and tongue.
Their lips continued to run over each other, his fingers digging harder into her ass, but then they were interrupted by her phone ringing. They parted quickly, Nicola putting several feet of distance between them as she fumbled to pull her phone out of the side pocket of her leggings.
“It’s my sister,” she told him, her voice quivering.
“Tell her I said, uh, hello,” he replied, pushing his hand back in his pocket, ignoring the fact that his palm was still tingling from when he was touching her butt.
She sent him a grin, nodding. It still wasn’t awkward between them. If anything, it felt more relaxed than before. Nicola answered the call, sending him another smile over her shoulder before she left his trailer, the door clicking shut behind her.
Luke let out a breath of air, dropping his head back, closing his eyes, and gathered himself together. He knew this year would be different between them, but he had no idea just how much.
He just hoped they could survive it.