With all of him pressing me into the mattress he rubbed in delicious ways that breathing became rapidly difficult, sparing him from any reply.
“Let me.” Nicholas pressed a hard kiss against my mouth. “Just…” His hands cupped and pinched and I moaned as my body arched towards him, resistance dying in the heat of passion.
There was too much to feel, too much to experience. Nicholas cursed and shifted and for a heartbeat we lined up perfectly causing us both to groan.
“You’re wearing too many clothes.” His growl was punctuated by fabric ripping, then the weight of my holster being removed. Instead of inciting fear it thrilled me.
I wasn’t strong enough to tear fabric but Nicholas removed his clothes at record speeds when I tugged on the material. Free of the restrictive suit I wrapped my legs around his waist and pressed invitingly against him. Skin met skin and the friction lit fire in my blood.
“Nicholas.” My hands fisted in his hair and pulled his mouth back to mine.
“Fuck, Songbird.” He and slid a hand between us to cup my center. His fingers played with the sensitive flesh, sending shockwaves rocketing through my system.
“Nicholas.” So close just…so close.
“So fucking wet.” He bit down on my collarbone and I cried out undulating against his hand, demanding more.
Nicholas thrust his fingers in and I broke, calling his name. I whimpered when he removed his hand only to have the sound transform into a quiet moan when he pressed the tip of his cock against my entrance.
He rocked slowly, his body shaking from the control. If I had breathe to curse I would have. I’d been almost eight years without sex. That was long enough that everything was almost virginal tight. The pain was almost as intense as the man. God, it was so fucking wonderful.
Impatience flooded me and my hips flexed up taking more of him than he was apparently ready to give because he froze.
“Fuck, Songbird.” Nicholas brought our mouths together and his hands tightened on my waist holding me in place. His hands were stronger than my hips preventing any motion I tried. Agonizingly slow he pushed the rest of himself into me then paused.
I yanked on the hair I had fisted in my hand. “Nicholas.”
“A minute. I need a minute.” He demanded and kissed me like his life depended on it.
With more ferocity the strands in my hands were jerked on. “If you don’t fucking—” I didn’t get to finish because he pulled out slowly and pushed back in. The two little balls on that fucking piercing dragged and pulled in places that created mind blowing friction.
“Like that do you?” His chuckle turned to a groan when I squeezed all the muscles I could. He shifted and quickened his tempo, but only enough to torment.
Frustrated just a little, I released one hand from his hair and ran it over his shoulders to his chest. I pinched a nipple slightly and was surprised when he shuddered lightly and his tempo faltered. I wasn’t the only one with sensitive nipples apparently.
Evilly now, because I wanted him to create a lot more friction with that damned piercing I released the other hand from his hair and brought it down to the other nipple.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” Nicholas’s hands released my hips to grab my wrist and yank my pinchy fingers over my head. I shifted my hips and my eyes nearly rolled back when the faster tempo I demanded hit something inside of me that caused stars to explode across my vision.
“Can’t fucking savor the moment can you?” He groaned and matched my speeding hips beat for beat. Shifting both my hands into one of his then using his free hand Nicholas guided my hips into that perfect position to hit that internal spot with every thrust.
Pressure built until I was sobbing demands even I didn’t understand. Nicholas seemingly did because he fused his mouth to mine and moved his tongue in rhythm with our hips. The single touch from the hand that wandered from my hip sent me over the edge in a wordless cry.
Nicholas’s hips jerked at a faster tempo for a handful of thrusts when my insides clamped around him. He groaned into my mouth before collapsing on top of me motionless but for our heavy breathing.
After several very long moments I noticed the damp mattress beneath my ass. “Nicholas.”
“Hmm?” He rubbed his nose against the side of my head.
“You didn’t use a condom.” Not a question, nor a statement I wanted to be making.
“No diseases here.” He pressed light kisses to my jaw and earlobe. “You’re safe.”
“Did you consider, you might not be?”
“My risk to take.” He yawned and nibbled the earlobe he’d kissed. “You are definitely worth the risk.”
I closed my eyes and tried not to scream. There were no nasty diseases in me either, but that wasn’t the point. “And what about pregnancy?”
“I think we’re both old enough and wise enough to know how to take care of children.”
Again, not something I wanted to be contemplating at this particular moment.
“You don’t take birth control?” He didn’t sound like he cared either way, but I had to remind myself Nicholas wasn’t the most responsible of people.
I sighed. What else was I supposed to do? He couldn’t be reasoned with in certain moods and I knew that.
My period was still a week away. The Depo shot handled most things, but it wasn’t infallible. With that being considered my most fertile time was around fourteen days ago. Still, who could accurately judge Mother Nature? If he got me pregnant I would kill him.
My eyes crossed when he shifted pulling closer—I hadn’t thought we could get closer—and dragged those fucking little balls against sensitive flesh.
I wriggled a hand free and slapped it against his ass. “You’re not exactly light.”
He chuckled into my hair. Asshole.
“Walker, I can’t breathe.”
He grunted and turned his head to look into my face. “You know, having sex with someone reveals a lot.”
My heart sank a little. I had been naked before and he hadn’t seemed to mind it. Then again it hadn’t been sex before. A hard swallow did nothing for the rising distress. “I know my body is imperfect…” Before the sentence completed, I bit my tongue. There was no reason to apologize for my shape or size.
Nicholas pushed up to an elbow and looked down into my face. I averted my eyes and bit the inside of my cheek to keep from being stupidly emotional.
“Bianca, look at me,” He waited for my eyes to meet his. “You have a beautiful body. I love your body. Reveal as in personality. I’ve seen you naked before and you’re as glorious now as you were then. I have no complaints.”
If he hadn’t been watching me the tears that pricked my eyes would have been discreetly wiped away. Nicholas leaned in and kissed them away. Then dropped his full weight back down.
“Walker, come on.” I shoved unsuccessfully at his shoulders. “You really are heavy.”
A lazy hand played in my hair. Since the night in San Diego Nicholas developed some kind of infatuation with my hair. He was always touching it, pulling on it, or whatever. Little boys and their weird habits.
“As I was saying,” Nicholas continued with eyes closed and voice growing sleepy, “sex reveals a lot. Like the fact I’m only Nicholas when I’m buried balls deep into you. You’ve never called me Nick or Nicky, thank God. Otherwise, though I’m Walker. Mr. Walker when you’re annoyed or pissed, and I’ll let the rule breaking slide on that because temper is something I definitely understand.”
“How generous of you.” I pinched his ass with no reaction from him but flexed muscle. What the hell were we talking about when he was collapsed on top of me and still firmly nestled inside? I should protest but since the damage was already done, why bother?
“You’re welcome.” He yawned again. “Anyway. Why can’t I be Nicholas all the time?”
He shifted again rubbed deliberately though it was obvious he didn’t have another round in him and sighed. I rubbed gentle circles on his back con
sidering his question. A week ago I would have said decorum, professionalism even. I couldn’t use that answer now. When his light snoring lulled me to sleep I still didn’t have an answer.
I woke because the bed was cold. I didn’t need to be a genius to know I was alone or that Nicholas had apparently been gone for some time. A note was pinned to the pillow beside my head.
Sorry about the clothes. They’re beyond repair. I’ll replace them. I’m using some music from your books. We can discuss the technical part of that later. Went to the stage rehearsal. Don’t freak. It’s your off day too.
~Walker
P.S. You never did answer my question.
He made me smile, even when he wasn’t present. And frustrated the hell out of me. Hadn’t he ever heard of a thing called permission? Maybe I didn’t want that music used. Huffing a little I climbed out of bed.
My body was sore but not in a bad way. Certainly not in a way I was used to being in pain. I decided that was something to add to the plus column not the negative.
Retrieving my corset holster from the floor, I checked the gun and strapped it back on. My underwear—my favorite pair no less—were a lost cause. The bra straps had been snapped and the thong was nothing more than shredded tissue. Funny, I hadn’t felt him rip them off in any violence. All the buttons on my blouse had been popped off. The zipper of my skirt was ripped.
Suits weren’t cheap. I’d give him this one. If he continued to ruin clothes he would be replacing them.
I was leery of leaving the room without clothes on. The guys were probably on stage at the moment, but they could return at any moment. Looking around the room I thought what the hell. As Nicholas pointed out it was my damn off day too.
I went through his clothes. The man had enough for an entire Broadway lineup. One of his black band tee shirts, and a pair of his gray sweatpants covered modesty. I said fuck it to a bra; this was my off day too. The black shirt was pretty thick so I wasn’t overly concerned. Since my hair was a tangled mess I just piled it on top of my head and under his hat. With that settled I went out to the bunks and got a pair of sock and my cross runners.
With no makeup, my hair tousled and armed with only a cup of coffee—well okay and the Ruger—I sought out the guys. The concert hall was within walking distance, down at the corner of the hotel according to Obi’s report. However, when I stepped out I realized the busses were conveniently parked at the back entrance of the concert hall.
I nodded to one of the security guys as I walked through the back doors and into the fast pace of stage production. Moving along the edges and shadows, I worked my way around to the sound panel in the front of the house. Drake Henley’s familiar braids were bowed over a control panel adjusting sound.
He glanced up through coke bottle glasses, briefly ran his dark eyes over my appearance, and then went back to his panel. “You okay?”
I reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Yeah.” I looked up at the stage and sighed a little. “I am.”
The whole band was shirtless and clearly sweating under the lights. Distracted by considering where I would start to lick I almost missed Henley’s next comment.
“Almost shit a brick when Taylor said you called. Messed up, the way you left.”
“Yeah.” I squeezed the younger man’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
He looked up again. “Don’t do it again.”
I held his somber gaze and nodded. “I won’t.”
He returned a nod and went back to adjusting sound. I dropped my hand and stepped away.
I’d only made it three steps away before he called me back. “Hey, Bella?”
I turned. “Yeah?”
“Welcome back.”
For family it was that simple. The feeling stayed with me all the way to the edge of the crowd barricade already set up. I leaned against them and watched for a moment, sipping my coffee and considering.
I knew the moment I had Nicholas’s attention because he missed a note on the guitar he was playing. Or rather, missed a whole lot of notes. The music stopped when Nicholas did.
I waited for the silence before using my best fan girl voice. “Oh my God, Nicholas Walker I love you.”
He laughed and rolled his eyes jumping down from the stage even as I climbed over the barricade.
He fingered my shirt. “I do believe this is mine.”
“Something funny happened to my clothes.” I shrugged with a bland face, “It looks like they’d been mauled by some kind of wild animal. All of it was completely unsalvageable.”
Those grinning lips widened. “Is that so?” His eyes trailed over my body and turned hot. “All of them? Terrible. We can have Henry set out traps.” He reached up and pulled the hat from my head sending all my hair cascading in a free fall down my back. He placed his hat on his head and inched closer.
“Bella, my flower.” Taylor walked over and dropped his arm over my shoulders effectively discouraging Nicholas from getting any closer. “I still need a few hours of work out of him.”
Nicholas reached out and flicked Taylor’s arm off my shoulders. His eyes held a different kind of heat when the landed on Taylor.
Taylor smirked. “She was mine first, cowboy.”
“She’s mine now.” Nicholas growled, his smile gone.
“Nicholas, knock it off.” I sighed. “Get back to work. I’m going to see about lunch.”
Nicholas’s gaze returned to me and there was something in his eyes I couldn’t identify. He tipped his head as if considering then smiled again. “Tacos.”
I turned to the men still on the stage and called out to them, “Tacos?”
I received three thumbs up.
“The five would like permission to eat with the band.” Taylor spoke and winked. “Juliette and Fitz want a real conversation.”
I shrugged. “I have no problem with it.”
Nicholas sighed. “If we must.”
I pushed up on the balls of my feet to kiss his cheek. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
He turned his head and deepened the kiss to something less public appropriate. The coffee cup I held slipped and I didn’t even notice. Nicholas’s hand fisted in my hair holding me in place until he was good and ready to let go.
“You’re welcome.” He nipped my lip lightly before stepping back completely.
My voice was lost somewhere so I gave him a thumbs-up and stared blankly at the coffee cup Taylor held out to me with a smile that bordered on laughter. I snatched the cup and stormed away.
The taco joint manager wept with either joy or frustration when I ordered enough taco fixings to feed fifty people—even though Denton declined to include his girls in the luncheon. The sound was hard to decipher over the phone. I paid him in advance and I even added a handsome tip to have it delivered in two hours. The tip was more of a bribe since I knew I was asking a lot on short notice and they didn’t do deliveries on the norm.
When the guys came in to the dressing room with the rest of the Five, I had finished setting up the buffet table of taco servings. Arc whooped and rushed over to fill a plate. I shook my head and moved over to the table where my salad waited. Nicholas would have to get over it. I liked salad. I did. My mouth watered for salad. That’s what I kept telling myself.
“Good to see some things remain constant.” Juliette walked right over and in a single motion picked up my salad.
“Hey, I’m eating that.” I jumped up as she dumped it into the trash. I snarled at Nicholas’s quick smile and approving nod.
“You’re wasting away.” Juliette fisted her hands on her hips. “It hurts me to see you starve.”
“I’m not starving.” I mimicked her pose ready to defend my salad. “But I will now, since you threw my lunch away.”
Fitz walked over with two plates and set one down where my salad had been. “This is better for you.” He took a seat opposite me next to Arc.
I pinched the bridge of my nose.
“Are you feeding my flower power righ
t?” Juliette whirled on Nicholas. “You don’t let her eat just muffins and salad, do you?”
Nicholas grinned and took a seat next to me. He slid one of the two water bottles he carried over. “We try. She really needs her comfort food, you know?”
“Here.” Henley handed Juliette the second plate he carried. “Eat with her. You might get more in her if you do.”
I didn’t scream in frustration. Instead I crossed my arms. Those damnable fatting tacos would not be entering my mouth.
“You’re thinner than you were.” Taylor frowned as he sat directly across from me.
“Hips don’t lie.” Juliette nodded. “Yours have melted.”
I snorted and propped an elbow on the table. “Like hell they have.”
“Fitz makes the best tacos.” I watched worry creep into Juliette’s eyes. “Please, Bella. Just one?”
Nicholas bumped my shoulder with his. “Do I need to make airplane noises?”
I sighed in disgust as Arc and Max laughed.
Guy shrugged at our newest additions. “Doesn’t like when we use her own words against her I guess.”
“Looks like Henley might have to go back to making the protein shakes.” Taylor didn’t look up from his plate, letting his threat hang over my head.
“I brought the Bullet.” Henley swallowed another mouthful before adding, “Totally doable.”
I grimaced. “Fine, fine. Christ.” I picked up one of the tacos, trying to figure out how I was even going to take a bite. “Person can’t even enjoy salad in peace.”
“But Bella.” Juliette smiled. “We know you don’t actually like salad. Not even a little bit.”
Nicholas stiffened next to me. “Then why is that at least one of her meals every day?”
Juliette worried the inside of her lip and Taylor wisely filled his mouth. Fitz and Henley took their cues from Taylor. The table fell silent looking from me to Nicholas.
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