He took a moment to calm down.
His nose brushed against mine as he leaned in. When he stopped and gazed down at me once more, I grinned up at him and exhaled contentedly at the gentleness of his movements.
He smiled and added, “That was a hell of a wake-up call.”
I mumbled. “I strive to satisfy.”
He blew a raspberry on my neck to protest. I giggled and made an effort to shoo him away.
“You’re not getting away from me so easily.”
I was quite aware of that tone, and if I didn’t stop this, he would soon be primed for round two. I shook my head, knowing I had to get him up for the meeting. I pushed against his chest.
I jokingly shook my head. “You need to take a shower so you can get to your meeting. You’re going to be so late.”
He groaned and sighed in resignation before getting out of bed. As he made his way to the restroom, I grinned and took in the sight of his bare ass. I closed my eyes and tucked myself back under the covers that still smelled of him.
I kept picturing the scene from a few minutes earlier. He had told me the things my heart wanted to hear only in my dreams.
Before long, it seemed, I was awakened once more. Nicholas encircled me, looking dapper in his suit, and kissed me goodbye.
“I’m leaving. What time will Courtney pick you up today?”
I stretched and yawned. “She said she would arrive around eleven.”
He lowered the sheet so he could see my assets while nodding in appreciation. He smiled smugly as I squealed and pulled it back over me.
“Before you two go shopping, why don’t you come down to my office first? I can show you around while we eat lunch.”
I supported myself on my elbows and tried to understand what he really wanted.
“You want me to see you at work?”
“Yes, without a doubt. I’d like to introduce Francis to you.”
I nodded, beaming. “Sure. I really want to know what you do.”
He gave me another kiss before getting up. “Excellent. John will bring you to the office. Just text me when you are close and I will meet you at the front door.”
“Okay.” I wanted to drag him to the bed and take that suit off of him.
He wanted me to be more active in his business, and that made me so glad.
His life.
After he left, I jumped in the shower and let the hot water wash over me while I thought about Nicholas. It was clear from the little time I knew him how much pride he had in his business. His life revolved around it.
At least before I arrived.
I wanted to think that I was beginning to fill the void in his life, but I wasn’t brave enough to think that I had grown to be as significant to him as his company was. He had only work to look forward to and nothing else… at least, that is what I had seen so far.
I scowled as I considered how little of his past I actually knew. He wasn’t even entirely to blame for not being more forthcoming. I hadn’t really asked him to discuss it with me. I had been willingly keeping myself in the dark while skating along on this thrilling journey.
I needed to step up and start acting like a wife instead of just a friend with benefits if I wanted him to start opening up and sharing more of his life with me, life outside the boundaries of the bedroom.
Maybe if I knew more about his past, the words I had imagined coming from his mouth would someday come true.
To appear my best for Nicholas, I spent my time getting ready. I let my hair down and dressed in a little sundress that made my legs look amazing. After slipping on a pair of sandals, I headed downstairs to wait for Courtney.
I entered the kitchen and sat down on the stool after Laura greeted me.
“More shopping today?”
I chuckled while nodding. “Yes, it’s been a lot more enjoyable than I anticipated. Now, I’m actually looking forward to it.”
“Would you like a quick breakfast before you leave?”
I quickly looked at the time and noticed that it was almost eleven.
“I am meeting Nicholas for lunch so I think I will skip breakfast. I appreciate the offer, though.”
Her smile almost made me blind. “It is a good sign that he asked you to go. You are really good for him.”
I cocked my head to the side, wanting to understand what she meant. Before I could inquire, she continued.
“He has been hostile and distant for a few years.” She stopped and wiped the already clean counter with a towel. “I am not sure if he has told you anything about his past…” she stopped mid-sentence and glanced in my direction.
I leaned in her direction, eager to hear her thoughts. “Not much. He has a hard time trusting people, I know that.”
She let out a sigh and resumed scrubbing. “Rosalind Hewitt.” She spoke with a surprising amount of vitriol. Laura had never before used a nasty tone, but it was clear that she had strong feelings regarding this Rosemary character.
“Who is that?”
“Jefferson and Simon, her father, have known one other their entire lives. They always seemed to believe Rosemary and Nicholas would get together. They genuinely dated for a long time while. Everyone believed they were the perfect pair.” She let out another sigh as she dropped the towel. “I’m not really sure what occurred, but she broke his heart. She did something to him and the boy hasn’t been the same since.”
When I considered a heartbroken Nicholas, my chest ached. Despite my desire to harm her for everything she may have done to him, I was jealous that he had loved another woman.