Okay. This is my very first sort of adult fan fiction. I'm not even sure it 
is bad enough to be considered adult. I'm sending it out on this list 
because it hints at making love. 

Blame only me if there are mistakes because they are solely my own. I wrote 
this off an inspiration I had this morning when I was listening to Garth 
Brooks. 

Song Disclaimer: The story is set to "The Red Strokes" by Garth Brooks. I'm 
not making any profit off the use of these wonderful lyrics. Just borrowing 
the lyrics to set the mood. Thanks!

FK Disclaimer: I'm not making profit off Nick and Natalie either. Just 
taking them for a spin, dance, and a little stress reliever : )

FTP site can archive, fkfanfic can too. So can Mel Buckley (I'll e-mail you 
it separately to make sure you get it). If jadfe thinks it's good for their 
site, knock your socks off. You can archive it too. If anyone else wants 
too, sure, go ahead. Just tell me so I can brag to my friends : ) LOL 

Well, here it goes...


The Red Strokes
by Laura Janvrin
March 2001


Nick looked at the finished product with a sigh. The sun, the moon, dusk, 
dawn. Such contrasts, yet, they were his life. Contrasts. He and Natalie 
were contrasts. Maybe that’s why he loved her. She was what he was not. 
She was the other half of his soul. He sighed longingly. 

Nick was pulled out of his revere by the music. He turned sharply to see 
that Natalie had let herself in and put on a Garth Brooks CD. 

"Where were you?" She asked softly when she noticed he had turned and was 
staring at her on the sofa. 

"Here. I was thinking about now. You. Me. Us." The words were so simple. 
Normally, he would not have said them, but his painting had turned up his 
emotions to the point they were impossible to hide anymore.

Natalie smiled shyly and looked away from his serious expression. She said 
nothing though to change the subject, which gave him hope. 

"Natalie..." She looked up at him once again with her big beautiful green 
eyes.

When he said no more, she stood up and walked over to him and his painting. 
She looked at the canvas, which was being bathed in moonlight. 

"It’s beautiful, Nick," she whispered in awe.

"Not as beautiful as you." The words were almost so quiet he wasn’t even 
sure he said them. 

She looked at him in surprise. "You think I’m beautiful?"

"Oh, Natalie...," he reached out and brushed her cheek with the back of his 
hand. She leaned into his touch as if she were starving for just that. He 
quickly realized the feelings were mutual. 

Moonlight on canvas, midnight and wine 
Two shadows starting to softly combine

Nick listened to the words of the song that came through. "The Red Strokes." 
They described what was happening here, now, between two hearts, between he 
and Natalie.

The picture they're painting 
Is one of the heart 
And to those who have seen it 
It's a true work of art 

"Natalie? Can I have this dance?" His words were a horse whisper. 

Natalie nodded with a smile as she stepped into his embrace.

Oh, the red strokes 
Passions uncaged 
Thundering moments of tenderness rage 
Oh, the red strokes 
Tempered and strong (Fearlessly drawn) 
Burning the night like the dawn 

Nick nuzzled Natalie chestnut mane with a sigh as he pulled her close. They 
fit perfectly. Nick kissed her hair softly.

Steam on the window, salt in a kiss 
Two hearts have never pounded like this 
Inspired by a vision 
That they can't command 
Erasing the borders 
With each brush of a hand 

"Nick..." Natalie whispered in his ear as his lips reached the skin of her 
neck. He could hear the love in her voice. And the desire. The same desire 
that was rising in him.

Oh, the red strokes 
Passions uncaged 
Thundering moments of tenderness rage 
Oh, the red strokes 
Tempered and strong (Fearlessly drawn) 
Burning the night like the dawn 

She turned her head to face him more. With a low moan, he finally claimed 
her lips.

Oh, the blues will be blue and the jealousies green 
But when love picks its shade it demands to be seen 

Without even remembering how they ever got there, they were in front of the 
fireplace. Then they were undressed. And then Nick and Natalie were finally 
loving in a way that Nick never through they would.

Oh, the red strokes 
Passions uncaged 
Thundering moments of tenderness rage 
Oh, the red strokes 
Tempered and strong (Fearlessly drawn) 
Burning the night like the dawn 

"Nick...Nick..." His name was so beautiful on her lips. 
He said her name in return, along with a declaration he never meant so much. 
"I love you, Natalie. Oh, how I love you."

Oh, the red strokes 
Passions uncaged 
Thundering moments of tenderness rage 
Oh, the red strokes 
Tempered and strong (Fearlessly drawn) 
Burning the night like the dawn 

"I love you, Nick," she said mere seconds before he bit. 

Steam on the window, salt in a kiss 
Two hearts have never pounded like this

Nick smiled at her smiling face. He stopped in time.


The end