She wraps her arms around my neck. “Nick, I want you so bad. I only had that one time with you. It wasn’t enough.”
Christ. My dick springs to attention in my pants. I know exactly what she means. The one and only time we slept together was when I took her virginity and it was amazing, but we were both kids back then. What would it be like to be with her now?
“I can feel that you want me, Nick.”
She’s right. I’m fully hard and her rubbing against me isn’t making it any easier to do the right thing here. I reach for her wrists behind my neck and pull them around to my front, separating our bodies.
“Mazzy, the issue has never been that I wasn’t attracted to you. We can talk about this in the morning when you’re sober, okay?”
She sticks out her bottom lip in a pout I remember seeing her do back when we were kids. “Promise we’ll talk about it tomorrow?”
I nod. “I promise. But right now, let’s get you into bed. I think you’re going to regret your poor choices in the morning.”
“Fine.” She stomps up the stairs in a zig-zag pattern.
I follow in case she stumbles, but she makes it to her room without incident. As hard as it is, I close the door to her room and head to bed in my own.
And yes, I jerk off twice to get rid of my blue balls.
Thirty-Four
Mazzy
It’s after dinner before I make an appearance the next day. I woke up mid-morning, but my hangover was so bad, I couldn’t get out of bed. I remember now why I don’t usually drink. Nick was nice enough to come check on me a few times and bring me some greasy food from the diner he likes, but I only feel well enough now to leave my room. After I shower and brush my teeth, I head down to the main floor, but Nick’s gone. Maybe he went out somewhere.
Then I notice music coming from the backyard, so I head back and find Nick in the hot tub with jazz playing on the outdoor speakers. He doesn’t seem to hear me come out, his head tipped back on the inside edge of the hot tub and his eyes closed.
“Hey,” I say.
He startles and sits up. “Hey.”
He meets my gaze, and it’s then I remember our conversation when we returned home last night. The one where I made him promise that we’d talk about us.
“You feeling human again?”
My cheeks heat. “Yes, thanks for taking such good care of me.”
“Lord knows you took good care of me enough times.”
“True, I guess you did owe me.”
He chuckles. I walk to the edge of the hot tub and dip my fingers in the water.
“Why don’t you join me?” He nods toward the water.
“I didn’t pack a swimsuit.”
“You could always wear your bra and underwear.”
I wasn’t sure if he would try to pretend as if last night never happened, but now I know for certain what he’s offering me is an invitation. And though I’m nervous about what the outcome will be, I’m not willing to let this opportunity slip past me either.
So without answering, I peel my black tank top over my head. Thankfully, I’ve always been partial to pretty lingerie, so I’m wearing a black lace La Perla set. It doesn’t leave much to the imagination, but I think in this instance, that’s a good thing.
Nick sucks in a breath when I toss aside my tank top. When I shove my shorts down my legs, he shifts in his seat. I kick off my sandals and carefully step into the hot water on the opposite side of the hot tub as him.
The bubbles tickle my skin and the heat from the water seeps into my bones, relaxing my muscles. Neither of us says anything for a long time, but we watch each other as jazz plays over the speakers. Eventually the jets stop. The abrupt quiet feels weighted, and I know that now is the time to talk about last night.
Nick starts. “You had me make you a promise last night.”
“Are you going to keep your promise?” I ask.
He nods slowly. “Ask me what you asked me last night.”
“Honestly, I’m not exactly sure what I asked you.” I remember the gist of our conversation but not the actual words.
He chuckles. “I’m not surprised. Why don’t you ask me whatever it is you want to know then?”
I consider being coy or beating around the bush, but we spent years doing that with each other and look where it got us. So instead I ask the question I really want an answer to. The one that means more than the others—why did you kiss me, did it mean anything, do you want me as much as I want you?
“Do you hate me?” I second-guess myself as soon as the words are out of my mouth because the answer might not be one I want to hear. You can hate someone and still be physically attracted to them.
He frowns. “I never hated you, Maz.”
My forehead wrinkles. “But you wouldn’t talk to me. Or see me. We haven’t spoken for years.”
He sighs and stands from where he sits across from me, making his way over to me. Holy hell. This is the first time I’ve seen Nick shirtless in ages and he’s absolute perfection. I had an idea from being at the gym with him—I could tell from his T-shirts that he was fit—but this is another level. My view is cut off when he sits beside me.
“You of all people should understand what a kick in the nuts it was to find you kissing my brother. Of all the people…”
He doesn’t need to explain to me what a contentious relationship they had. I was there for it. While Keith was constantly praised by their father for being his mini-me, Nick was always made to feel less than because he didn’t fit the mold of what their dad thought a Ryan man should be. There were constant comparisons between the two, and Nick always came out on the losing end. And his brother didn’t make it any easier, basking in their father’s attention and using any opportunity to make Nick look bad.
Basically, there was no better person I could have used to hurt Nick.
“That said, I could never hate you. I was hurt by you. Deeply.”
“You know it never went any farther than what you saw, right?” I’ve wondered throughout the years if Nick thought that maybe we had been sneaking around behind his back or something.
He nods. “I know that. And I believe that he kissed you first because I know my brother would use any opportunity he could to hurt me. But still, seeing you kiss him back…” He shakes his head as if he’s trying to erase the image.
I place my hand on his cheek. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I won’t ever lash out like that again, no matter how angry I am.”
“I know. And I’m sorry for what I did to put you in that position. It’s true that I just assumed you’d sit on a shelf, waiting until I was ready to pick you up.”
“I think we both took each other for granted.” I let my hand fall from his face, and he catches it under the water, squeezing.
“We did. I don’t know about you, but I’m not into repeating my mistakes.”
I shake my head. “Me either.”
“How about a fresh start? From this point forward, we look ahead rather than behind?”
I’m unable to look away from his blue gaze. “I’d like that.”
He uses the hand that’s holding mine to pull me closer to him, and he leans in until his lips are a breath away from mine. “You mentioned something last night about wanting us to kiss again.”
“I did,” I whisper. “I do.”
“Well then, far be it for me not to give my wife what she wants.”
He threads his fingers through the hair at the back of my head and pulls me in until our lips touch. I sink into the kiss, knowing this will change things between us yet again, but only in the best way.
Thirty-Five
Nick
Our lips touch and our tongues tangle. The taste and feel of this woman I tried to keep at arm’s length for so long overpowers me. I can’t get enough of her, and a simple kiss turns into a ravenous one, letting out years of pent-up lust and need.
Removing my hand from the back of her head, I wrap my hands around her waist and move her
so that she’s straddling me, needing her closer to me. She looks down at me with heavy lids and I’m struck by how much more of a woman she is now than our first time together.
Back then, she was tentative and unsure, second-guessing everything she did. Now as she grinds onto my hard length, taking the friction she wants, she’s very much a woman in control of her destiny. Her head falls back, exposing her neck, and I take the opportunity to run my tongue from her collarbone, up her neck, to her earlobe. I push my hips up and she moans. It’s the best fucking sound in the world. Though I maybe don’t have the most informed opinion, being that I haven’t made her come yet tonight. I’ll remedy that soon enough though.
Her hands are in in my hair and I pull her down to kiss her again. Our tongues fight for control until she finally cedes, and I set the pace. One that matches the punctuation of my hips. She pushes her weight down on me and nips at my bottom lip, her breathing heavy.
I pull her up by the waist so that her breasts are above the water line. I want a closer look.
Fuck, when she stripped down to her lingerie earlier, it was all I could do not to touch her. I was salivating at her nipples poking through the black lace set.
Her tits are the perfect size for her frame. Full Bs, if I had to guess, and her pink nipples are hard points that poke through the lace. I pull one into my mouth, lace and all, sucking hard and swirling my tongue around the nub. When I clench the end of her nipple lightly with my teeth, her fingers tighten in my hair.
I give her other nipple the same treatment until she’s writhing in my lap. My dick is like steel and the friction she’s creating is a delicious torture. I slip my hand under the band of her panties and I’m rewarded with another moan. She’s slick with arousal, even in the water. Her nipples become harder points when I glide my finger over her clit. She thrusts her hips in a silent plea for more when I tease her entrance with my fingertips.
“Nick…”
The way she says my name, all breathy and full of lust, makes my cock press painfully against my swim trunks. What I wouldn’t give to have her sink down on me right now. But I want this to be about her first. I want to show her how much I meant the words I spoke earlier.
When I push two fingers into her, she shudders and grips my hair, not that I mind. I pull them out and push them in again until she’s riding my fingers—her tits bouncing in my face as she bounces up and down. Mazzy is panting and brings her lips to mine, moaning into our kiss.
I keep her on the precipice until she’s begging for more and needing me to back off at the same time. Once I’m satisfied that I’ve prepared her for an orgasm to wring her dry, I use my thumb to massage her clit. Within seconds, she comes.
“Oh my God!” she cries, bucking onto my hand, her insides pulsing against my fingers.
Fuck, she is the picture of desire right now. I watch as she comes down from her high, straightening her head and looking at me with a slack jaw and heavy eyes.
“That was…”
I grin. “Phenomenal? Exceptional? Fantastic? The best you’ve ever had?”
“All of that.” She slumps into me and I wrap my arms around her, kissing the top of her head.
The sensation of her lace-covered breasts on my chest does nothing to abate my hard-on currently looking for a little attention of its own. But I ignore my need for the moment. I just want to hold her and commit this moment to memory.
I don’t know whether I’m making the right decision by giving into my desire, but I know that something has to change. There’s no way I could spend the next five months living with this woman and not acknowledge that there’s still something between us. I would’ve thought that I could never look at her the same way as I used to, but she’s still the same ol’ Mazzy who gets me like no one else does. And I can tell she still has the same heart she always did.
There are no guarantees in life, but I hope like hell we’re headed down the right path.
Thirty-Six
Mazzy
Once I’ve caught my breath, I pull back from leaning on him to gauge his reaction to what just happened, hoping like hell there’s no regret.
I, for one, couldn’t be happier. Seeing him let go and be in the moment with me as he feasted on my breasts and brought me higher and higher with his fingers… I’ve never seen anything more erotic in my life.
He’s looking at me with a mixture of desire and reverence.
God, I want to sleep with him—badly—but I wonder if we should take things slower. We’re still finding our footing, and it might be wise to take it one step at a time.
That said, I’m not the kind of woman to leave her man hanging.
“Take your swim trunks off,” I say.
He raises an eyebrow without a word but wraps his hands around my waist and lifts me off him. Then he pushes the shorts down his legs and tosses them out onto the patio, where they hit with a splat. He grins at me and splays his arms along the back of the hot tub. “Do your worst.”
I’ve always loved cocky Nick. It makes me want to bring him down a peg or two. I move in the water until I’m straddling him again, then I take his hard cock in my hands. He’s silk on steel as I glide my hand up and down, alternating the amount of pressure I use.
Nick groans and lets his head fall back to face the sky.
I continue pumping my hand, swirling it on the tip until he’s bucking. He rights his head and meets my gaze.
“I wanna see these tits.” He reaches around my back and unhooks my bra.
I take a quick glance around the backyard. His yard is private with large cedar hedges lining the perimeter. The straps fall down my arms and he tosses my bra somewhere near his swim trunks.
Nick licks his lips while his gaze takes in my bare chest. I use both hands now, stacked on top of each other, one moving clockwise, the other moving counterclockwise.
“Fuck, Maz. That feels so good.”
Nick’s grip on the side of the hot tub gets harder, bunching the muscles in his arms and turning his knuckles white. He’s panting and bucking into my hand, biting his bottom lip. Having him at my mercy like this makes me feel powerful and gives me an even better idea.
“Sit on the side of the hot tub.” I let my hands drop from his rock-hard length.
His eyes flare, and without missing a beat, he perches on the edge of the hot tub corner, setting his feet on the seats below. I slide through the water, the sensation of it moving against my bare chest enticing, until I’m between his legs.
I grip the base of his dick in my fist and slide my mouth down his length. He groans, deep in his chest, and pulls my hair back with both hands so he can watch me. When I hollow out my cheeks and suck to make my way back up his length, he groans again and his hands tighten in my hair. I bob up and down, unconcerned with the sucking and slurping noises I’m making. When I’m as far down as I can go on his length, I hold myself there for a moment so he can really feel himself at the back of my throat.
It’s his undoing, and soon he’s bucking into my mouth, holding me still. I willingly take all he gives me, letting him use me for his pleasure.
“Fuck, Maz. I’m gonna come.”
I massage his balls with my hand, and with one final thrust he comes down my throat, stilling himself in my mouth. While he rides out his orgasm, I suck gently, then come up for air once he’s done. He immediately pulls me in for a kiss, gripping the back of my neck hard while he pushes his tongue into my mouth.
A slight breeze across my chest reminds me that I’m practically naked in his backyard. I pull away from the kiss and sink back down into the water.
“After all these years, and after that, you think you can get away from me that easily?”
I chuckle and Nick grins, sliding back into the water. He wraps his arms around me and holds me close.
“I think you should move your things into the master bedroom with me.” He gives me a quick peck on the cheek. “What do you say?”
My breath catches. It’s one thing t
o get physical with Nick, but another to live like a real husband and wife. The prospect of growing used to it then losing it frightens me.
“Nick, what does this all mean?” I ask in a quiet voice.
His hand comes to my face and he brushes his thumb over my cheek. “I don’t know. Let’s see what happens over the next five months and we’ll worry about it then.”
It’s a risk. I’m setting myself up for heartbreak again, but sometimes you have to risk everything to gain the one thing you really want.
Thirty-Seven
Mazzy
Waking up in Nick’s arms the past few mornings has been like a dream. We haven’t slept together yet, but it’s definitely coming. Pun fully intended. We can hardly keep our hands off each other. Every night when we lie down, his fingers bring me to orgasm more than once.
I don’t know why we haven’t done it, but I’m letting Nick set the pace. He’s the one who ended our relationship, so he should be the one to choose how fast we piece it back together.
He’s working a shift at the hospital today, so I’ve made plans to check in with Sally on how everything is coming together for the fundraiser, then have lunch with my dad in his office.
Darius is driving me, and as I knew he would, he probes. “How’s married life?”
“Married life is good this time around, thank you.” I smile at him in the rearview mirror.
“Have to say, I was surprised you went and got married after what happened the first time.”
“Nick is nothing like my first husband. You wouldn’t know this, but he was a big part of my life for a long time before we had a falling out.”
“You sure he’s changed?”
I chuckle at his assumption that it was Nick who did me wrong. “Actually, I was the one who hurt him.”
His eyes widen and he glances back at me. “You don’t say.”
I nod. “Yeah, and we’re finally at a place where we can move forward and that’s what we’re doing.” My words are true regardless of the circumstances that brought us here.
Don't Mind If I Do : A Fake Marriage Romantic Comedy Page 16