Cali knew he was waiting for her reply, but she was temporarily paralyzed by emotions she didn't want to examine too closely. When Nick leaned forward to place a platonic kiss on her cheek, she smelled the masculine scent of his aftershave. He allowed his cheek to rest against hers as he hugged her closer.
Adrenaline mixed with alcohol fueled her next fateful move. As Nick pulled away from her like the gentleman that he was Cali reached to hug his waist to her tightly. When he looked down into her eyes, she pushed to her tippy toes to close the distance between them and pressed her lips against his.
It started as a chaste kiss, but didn't take long to escalate. Cali could taste the ale Nick had been drinking earlier as his tongue slipped between her lips. Her knees grew weak beneath her and he strengthened the hold he had on her, ensuring she wouldn't topple over. He shuffled them backwards until Cali pressed against the unforgiving front door at her back. Nick's solid body mashed against her.
By the time Nick pulled out of their kiss, they were both short of breath. Cali kept her eyes closed, afraid she'd see reproach in his eyes. "Cali, baby, open your eyes."
When she did, he looked more in control than he had at any time since she'd met him. The desire she saw on his face confused her.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't take advantage of you like this. You have enough shit on your plate to deal with without adding this to the pile." Figures he would apologize.
"What exactly is this?"
"A mistake, that's what it is."
"Ouch. So I'm a mistake?"
"Dammit, Cali. Stop putting words in my mouth. You know that's not what I meant."
"Do I? Listen, I get it. It's complicated, but I just thought..."
"Stop. It's the Cosmos talking."
"I'm not that drunk, Nick. I'm lonely. I know you could make me feel better."
"Maybe, but you'd only feel better for tonight. Tomorrow, you'd regret it."
"How do you know that?" Dare she finish her thought? "I've thought of you a lot since we had dinner. It's helped."
"Oh, Cali, I've thought of you too, but we're both so raw right now. I don't want either of us to get hurt worse than we already are."
Her brain knew he was right, but her heart and the rest of her body weren't listening. Months of celibacy partnered with the feel of his growing erection through their clothes spurred her into action. Cali slid her hand between their bodies, caressing his hardened cock through his slacks. She watched his eyes smolder with desire as her stroking hand turned his manhood to rock.
She hated the desperation in her voice as she begged. "Please stay. I don't want to be alone again tonight."
"Christ, Cali. You're not playing fair. I want you so bad, but I also feel like I'm supposed to be protecting you from anyone else hurting you, including myself. Haven't you been hurt enough?"
In her tipsy state, her thoughts were only of physical pain. "You'd never hurt me like Kevin, did. All of the bruises are finally gone."
"That asshole! He left bruises?"
"Only during sex. He didn't really abuse me like hitting me or anything."
"What a fucking prince."
They were in a stare down. He was right. Cali wasn't playing fair, but she just couldn't stand the idea of being alone again tonight. She continued to stroke his erection through his clothes until she was sure she felt him beginning to tremble under the burden of holding back from acting on his desire. She suspected she would feel foolish in the light of day for acting so wanton, but she'd deal with that tomorrow. Tonight, she wanted Nick to bed her – to make love to her – to remind her she was worthy of his attention.
She knew the second Nick made up his mind to stay. The uncertainty left his eyes and was replaced with a possessiveness that made her shiver. She was unprepared when he scooped her into his arms and turned towards the winding staircase that led to the upper floor bedrooms.
At the top of the stairs he finally spoke. "Which way, Cali?"
"The double doors at end of the hall."
Only after they were in the master bedroom did Cali second-guess her answer. Should they make love in her and Kevin's bed? The look of satisfaction in Nick's eyes as he realized where they were bothered Cali. Was he here for her or was he only interested in getting even with Kevin by fucking Cali in their marital bed?
She didn't have enough time to worry about it. Nick laid her head on the pillows before he stepped away from the bed to slowly undress. It was as if he were unwrapping a present for her. Her eyes darted back and forth between being consumed by the heat in his eyes and enjoying the gift of his athletic body as he took off each piece of clothing until he stood naked.
Cali let her eyes devour the rigid cock jutting out from his body. He was thicker than Kevin and she admired the masculine package Nicholas Mikos presented. She began to feel apprehensive that she wouldn't be able to match up to his expectations. Surely Roni was a better lover since Kevin sought her out. Would Nick be disappointed in her like Kevin always had been?
His words jarred her back to the present. "Unbutton your shirt, Calista."
She moved in slow motion, following his direction until her blouse fell open to expose her baby-blue lace bra.
"Unzip your slacks. Push 'em down your legs."
Cali did as he asked, never taking her eyes away from his. She noticed his breath becoming more labored as she kicked her slacks to the floor. She was down to her bikini underwear.
Nick sat on the bed next to her. He reached out to stroke her bare stomach before lifting her to a sitting position long enough to divest her of her blouse and unhook her bra. He laid her back gently before he pulled her bra straps down her arms and tossed it to the floor.
His first touch to her breasts was tentative. She enjoyed watching his reaction as her nipples grew under his ministrations. For all of her flaws, she knew she had good cleavage. They were just a bit bigger than his large hands could handle. Nick got bolder, cupping and squeezing until her sensitive peaks stood at attention.
When Nick climbed onto the bed, he straddled her thighs facing her and lunged forward to suck her tip into his hungry mouth. Cali was unaccustomed to the leisurely pace he was setting, particularly since he continued to make her the center of his attention. Cali lost herself in the sensation of his wet mouth sucking and nipping at her as he trailed kisses in the valley between her tits. She enjoyed running her fingers through his thick, black hair – holding him against her chest as if to subconsciously keep him from changing his mind.
He moved his lips lower, kissing his way to her belly button. He scooted down the bed so he could reach out and hook his fingers in the waistband of her panties. His eyes locked with her as he bared her pussy, pushing her legs open wide. Cali wanted to be embarrassed, but the look on his face wouldn't let her. The heat in his eyes made her feel beautiful – desired for the first time in a long time.
The first tentative swipes of his fingers through her slick folds pulled a groan from Cali. When he stopped to massage her clit, she felt her hips bucking off the bed. His playful grin knocked the wind out of her, literally. She'd always known Nick was a handsome man, but as he knelt before her, preparing to claim her, she realized just how much she wanted this. If she were honest with herself, she'd been attracted to him the first night they'd met, yet she was certain they would have never acted on the attraction between them.
That was then, but this is now. Nick's warning about regretting their actions in the light of day flitted through her head. Was this just a one-night stand for him?
She didn't get to finish her analysis. Nick's mouth on her wet heat made it impossible to think of anything but the pleasure he was delivering. He refused to rush, spending long minutes licking... teasing... sucking... It was the slowest build up to a climax Cali could remember, but by the time he plunged two fingers deep inside her as he latched onto her clit, she crashed into the most exquisite orgasm of her life. She cried out as she bucked her hips off the bed, yet Nick's lips refused to leave her
pussy until he had wrung every last drop of ecstasy from her.
Through narrowed eyelids she watched him finally sit up. His face was wet with her juices. He looked quite pleased with himself as he grinned down at her playfully. Warning bells were going off. In that moment, the connection between them felt so strong she worried that after he left, there might be another empty hole left in her heart.
She didn't get to dwell on it because Nick was blanketing her, his elbows on either side of her head to hold himself above her. She felt the crown of his hard-on at the entrance to her core. She held her breath, waiting for his insertion. When it didn't come, she opened her eyes to find him waiting for her. He was holding on by a thread. He didn't say a word. He just peered into her eyes as if he could read her thoughts and maybe he could because just as she was prepared to beg him to claim her, he pushed forward, piercing her channel. Her sheath was stretched as he filled her like she'd never been filled before. They each groaned as he bottomed out against her cervix.
She could tell he was trying to be gentle, but she didn't want gentle. She needed him to claim her. She wanted him to erase the pain she'd been carrying for months. Her quiet "Nick, please..." confused her because even she didn't know what she was asking for. Nick seemed to understand, though, because he pulled out of her body before ramming forward again and again. Her cunt was so wet from her first orgasm that his shaft slid easily in and out in a naughty rhythm until she'd come for a second time.
"Dammit, Cali. I'm not going to last very long."
"It's okay. You've already taken care of me twice."
Their pounding coupling only lasted another minute before she watched the peak he'd been holding off washing over his handsome face. Nick pulled away from her to yank his cock out just in time to deposit his hot cum across her tummy. Until that very second, Cali hadn't even thought of protection. Because she and Kevin had been trying to conceive, she wasn't on birth control. She was grateful Nick had kept his wits about him enough to remember to pull out. Adding an unplanned pregnancy by a one-night stand would not be recommended.
Nick flopped next to her on the bed before he reached out to hug her to him. Cali curled against his side, throwing her right leg across his body. They laid locked in their embrace for a long time, each coming down from their high while trying to sort through their complicated emotions. It was in that quiet time, Cali's mind drifted to a thought that took hold and wouldn't let go.
"Nicholas."
"Calista."
"Why did you decide to make love to me?"
His playful chuckle helped relieve some of her fears. "That's a rhetorical question, right? I think the real question is how could I have possibly resisted?"
"But...well... was it because of me or... " She took a deep breath before finishing her worry. "Or did you sleep with me here in Kevin's bed just to get even with him?"
She was on her back in a second with Nick towering over her, his face full of anger. "God-dammit, Cali. I'm not going to let you ruin this moment. What happened between us tonight had nothing to do with Kevin and Roni. They made their choices and they paid for them. You're a gorgeous, intelligent woman and I'm attracted to you. Period."
He looked serious. She wanted so badly to believe him. He eventually got up to grab a towel and glass of water from the bathroom before pulling back the covers and getting them settled in between the cool sheets. Cali couldn't remember ever feeling more contented than she did as Nick's naked body spooned her as they both dozed off to sleep. For the first time since the accident, she fell into a dreamless sleep, free of the haunting nightmares that had been her nightly visitor since her trip to the morgue.
Chapter Five
Nick woke to the smell of coffee. It took him a few minutes to remember where he was. He reached out to find Cali's side of the bed empty, but discovered the steaming cup of coffee on the bed stand. He could hear the shower running in the connected bathroom.
He'd spent the night making love to Cali in Kevin Bennett's bed. He'd awakened at two in the morning, knowing he should get up to slink home before she awoke. Instead, he had watched her sleeping peacefully in his arms, remembering how fragile she had looked as she'd begged him to stay. At the time he had worried he was staying for all the wrong reasons. He didn't want to use Calista to get even with Kevin. She didn't deserve that.
Now, in the light of day, he knew he was in much greater danger of losing himself to her. He'd like to think this was the beginning of something special, but he feared the ugliness that had brought them together would always be wedged between them. Things were moving too fast and he didn't know how to slow them down without hurting her.
The shower turning off moved him into motion. He got up and scrambled to find his wrinkled clothes on the floor, rushing to throw them back on. He was sitting on the side of the bed, sipping his coffee when she emerged from the bathroom dressed in a casual yoga outfit, her wet hair wrapped in a towel. Calista was a natural beauty. Even with no makeup on, she was breathtaking.
"Good morning, sunshine." He tried to keep his voice lighter than he felt.
"Good morning, Nick. I hope I doctored your coffee the way you like it."
"It's perfect, thanks."
An awkward silence fell. Cali broke the quiet with a request. "I was hoping you could drop me off at my car as you're leaving. I have an appointment with my real estate agent in a couple hours and then need to run a few errands."
Nick picked up on her reluctance to look him in the eye and suspected she was feeling embarrassed by her behavior the night before. He pushed to his feet and took her in his arms. She felt stiff until he stroked her back, letting his hand fall to cup her ass through the thin pants. He liked the feel of her relaxing against him.
He pulled back enough so he could look into her eyes. "How are you doing this morning? Are you feeling okay?"
She hesitated. "I'm fine I guess. I slept better than I have since... well... you know. Thanks for staying. I'm just hoping you don't think badly of me because..."
Nick cut her off with two fingers to her lips. "Shhhh. Don't go there. There's nothing to be embarrassed about, Cali. We are both consenting adults. I care about you."
"Oh thank goodness. I was worried I'd screwed up any chance of being able to help you with Andi. I hate being alone so much and I really am looking forward to being able to spend time with you and your daughter. It's going to help me too."
Nick had forgotten all about that. His face must have projected his concern, because Cali's face paled. "You have changed your mind, haven't you?"
"No. I haven't. It's just... well shit. I don't want Andi to get hurt. She's already lost her mom. If I introduce her to you and she likes you and then..." He stops, unsure how to finish the sentence without hurting Calista.
"...And then you end up regretting last night you'll want to avoid seeing me again."
"I'm not going to regret last night. Ever. But I do worry we're moving too fast and that we're each too emotional to be making smart decisions about new relationships. I'll never forgive myself if I end up hurting you like Kevin did."
Cali wouldn't look him in the eyes and he suspected it was because she agreed with him. He pulled her close, cupping her face to force her to look into his eyes. "Let's just take this one day at a time. Can we do that?"
She smiled a weak smile. "I guess so."
"Great. Now, I'm happy to take you to your car. I need to swing by and pick up Andi at her friend Katie's house and then get her to gymnastics. I know you have errands today, but would you be free to come by for dinner tonight at the house? If you're serious about babysitting with Andi, you two should meet. I'd like her to get comfortable with you before I leave town."
If he'd doubted that she was serious about helping him, his doubts were gone when her face lit up. "I'd love that so much."
Cali's GPS directed her through the winding upscale subdivision lined with million-dollar homes. She was running a few minutes late for dinner with Nick and Andre
a. She would have been nervous enough going to their home and meeting Nick's daughter for the first time, but spending the night before with Nick had complicated things. She was grateful he had seemed as if all was okay this morning as he'd driven her back to her car behind the Irish pub, yet she couldn't shake the fear of him having second thoughts about what they'd done as they were apart today.
She pulled into the wide driveway of the two-story brick colonial style home. It was dusk and hard to see the house number, but the front porch lights illuminated as she turned off the engine to let her know Nick was waiting for her.
Nick. Her heart did a little flip-flop as she remembered the intense look in his eyes as he'd made love to her in the middle of the night. Her memories of their passion-filled night felt surreal, as if they were just a dream.
He opened the door as she walked up the sidewalk. She'd been trying to tell herself all day that they'd just comforted each other the night before, but seeing him in his casual jeans and golf shirt waiting for her with a smile had her panties getting damp in a very uncomfortable sort of way.
He leaned in for a quick kiss. "Hey there. I was worried you were having trouble finding us."
"No. I just left a few minutes later than I should have. My trusty GPS got me here just fine."
Once inside, he took her jacket to the coat closet before returning to take her by the hand. "Ready to meet Andi?"
"You bet. Does she know why I'm here?"
"Yes. We've talked about it and she was happy that you weren't like the other nannies she didn't like at all."
"But... does she know who I am?"
He stopped in his tracks, turning towards her. "No. In fact, she doesn't know her mom was in the car with anyone when she died. She just thinks Roni was driving."
"Okay, well I didn't plan on talking about it anyway, but I want to be sure to back up whatever you've told her."
Twist (A BDSM & Romantic Erotica Boxed Set) Page 32