by Amy Brent
He greeted her with a kiss, and then led her into the restaurant. They dined on some of the finest cuisine Nicole had ever tasted while he told her tales of the sights he had seen and the historic beauty of some of the world's oldest cities. Nicole found herself a bit dumbstruck by Horatio's stories, and she knew that her stories of drama in the emergency room simply wouldn't compare. It made her wonder what a man like Horatio could possibly see in her. Surely, she thought, he could find some rich, beautiful woman who was more in his league. But for reasons she couldn't fathom, he had chosen her.
At the theatre, they sat in a private box, their seats close together, so Horatio could put his arm around her. Nicole laid her head against his shoulder, captivated by the show on the stage. It was so riveting that she lost track of time while the performance carried on. She wanted the night to go on forever.
But the magic was interrupted when Horatio's cell phone started to vibrate in his pocket. He pulled it out, frowning at the screen and sighing. He gave Nicole and apologetic look.
“Do you really have to answer that?” she whispered.
“I'm afraid I do,” he said.
He got up and stepped out of the box, leaving her alone. She looked over her shoulder, peeking out through the curtain that closed the box off from the corridor. Horatio stood in the corner, speaking into the phone in a low hush. Nicole watched him with a frown, wondering what could be so damn important that he would interrupt their first date together in two weeks.
She leaned a bit closer, trying to make out what he was saying. Most of it was too quiet for her to hear. Though it sounded like he was arguing with someone. She heard him say “No” more than once, and through the gap in the curtains, she could see him making angry gestures with his hands.
He looked up at her, catching her watching him through the curtain. She turned back around, trying to pretend that she hadn't been trying to eavesdrop. A few moments later, Horatio stepped back into the box and sat next to her. He straightened his jacket, sitting up straight, a stoic expression on his face.
“Everything okay?” Nicole whispered. She put a hand on his knee.
Horatio's spine stiffened. He didn't meet her eyes. “Yes. Everything's fine.”
But she knew he wasn't telling the truth. There was something in his posture, in the cold tone of his voice that told her something was wrong. Something that he didn't want to tell her. And while she wanted to respect his privacy, she couldn't help but wonder what the phone call had been about.
4
* * *
After the show, Horatio and Nicole walked out of the theatre arm in arm. The smile had finally returned to Horatio's face, and Nicole took it as a good sign. She tried her best to put her earlier concerns out of her mind.
Horatio's driver brought the car around to pick them up. Horatio opened the door for Nicole, kissing her lips before she got in. When the car started to drive, Horatio put a hand on Nicole's knee and asked, “Are you in any rush to get back home tonight?”
She smiled at him, feeling warmth spread through her at his touch. “I didn't have any other plans tonight,” she said. “Other than spending my time with you.”
“In that case,” Horatio said, “you should come back to my hotel. I left a bottle of wine chilling there, and we can put on some music and enjoy the rest of our evening together.”
“Sounds wonderful.”
Nicole leaned forward and kissed him. Horatio raised the divider between the front and back seats, giving them some privacy from the driver. He pulled her close, his lips caressing hers while his hands began to roam her generous curves. She shifted closer to him until she was practically on his lap, and his hand started to slide up her skirt. She broke the kiss for just a moment, nervous about doing anything in the car. But the windows were tinted and the divider was raised. No one could see what they were doing. And the thrill of fooling around in the car, while they drove past dozens of other people on the road, made her feel deliciously naughty.
She reached over and laid her hand against Horatio's thigh. He shifted to give her easier access as she started rubbing him through the silken material of his pants. Her hand rose higher, teasing his crotch. Horatio moaned, his fingers gripping her hair as he continued kissing her. She teased him for a few more moments, letting her nails trace across his bulge. It grew harder at her touch, straining against the fabric of his pants. She pulled her hand away and stroked his thigh, trying to spur him on and make him want it more. He let out a sharp groan and reached down to push her hand back, holding it firmly against his crotch. She giggled, pulling back from his kiss to look teasingly into his eyes. He gazed lustfully at her, a dominant growl rumbling in his throat.
“You're a tease,” he said, stroking her dark hair.
“Maybe,” she said, giggling.
Horatio reached down and unzipped his pants, exposing his hardness to her. She licked her lips, glancing down at it, and then looking back up into his eyes. He reached a hand behind her head and gripped her hair, pushing her down. She didn't resist as he pushed her head down onto his crotch. She opened her mouth and let his hot flesh slide between her lips. Horatio held her hair tight and guided her motions as she bobbed her head up and down, letting her lips caress his flesh. He moaned in ecstasy as she pleasured him. His head leaned back against the leather seats and he closed his eyes, letting her work her magic.
All too soon, the car arrived at the hotel. When the car stopped, Nicole sat up, wiping her lips. Horatio quickly zipped himself up and straightened his clothes, and by the time the driver came around to open the door, they both looked presentable again.
They got out and headed into the hotel. The driver flashed a knowing smile at Nicole on her way by. Her face heated up, as she wondered what he might have heard from the front seat of the car. But she told herself that she didn't care. She was a grown woman, doing what she wanted with a grown man, and she had nothing to be ashamed of.
Horatio led her to the elevator, and as soon as they were inside and the doors closed, he started kissing and touching her again. He pinned her against the wall, his firm hands massaging her full breasts. She gasped and moaned, grinding herself against him. She could barely wait for the elevator to get up to Horatio's suite.
When they got into the room, Horatio didn't even wait long enough to get to the bed. He pushed her against the table by the door, knocking a lamp out of the way. He reached down to grip her ass, lifting her up onto the table, and then he pulled her skirt up and her panties down. She kissed him eagerly, unbuttoning his shirt while he dropped his pants. He was still half-dressed when he plunged inside her, and she moaned in ecstasy as he filled her and started thrusting in and out of her.
Nicole clung to Horatio's shoulders as he held her against the table, giving it to her hard, just as she needed it. He kissed her ear and sucked on her neck, leaving love bites on her soft, caramel skin. She cried out in pleasure, not caring if anyone else in the hotel heard the racket they were making. All she cared about in that moment was the man she was with and the way their bodies were joined. She was in heaven, and she called out Horatio's name over and over as he filled her, bringing her to new heights of pleasure.
They moved to the bed and made love for hours, surrounded by silken sheets and caressing shadows. Later in the night, Nicole laid there in Horatio's arms, holding him close against her. She drifted into a sleep filled with wonderful dreams, and she felt warm and safe wrapped in the silk sheets and her lover's embrace.
Sometime later, she awoke to an empty bed. She looked around blearily, searching the shadows for her lover. She saw him standing by the door, hunched over the table there. She sat up, rubbing her eyes. He looked up at her, then came back to the bed, smiling.
“You should get some sleep,” Horatio said. He kissed her forehead, climbing into bed next to her.
“What are you doing up?” she asked him.
“Nothing. Just went to the bathroom.”
There was something tense in Ho
ratio's eyes, something that made Nicole hesitate. “I'll be back in bed in a minute,” she said. She got up and headed to the bathroom, stopping to get her purse on the way. She found her purse sitting on the table by the door. She frowned at it, hesitating for a moment. She was sure she had tossed her purse on the floor when they got into the room. It couldn't have been sitting there on the table, not when that was where Horatio had pinned her down when they first got there. She would have known if she'd been sitting on the purse while he fucked her.
In the bathroom, she dug through her purse for some toiletries, wondering about what she'd seen. Had Horatio been looking through her purse? She couldn't imagine why. There was nothing valuable or interesting in there, and besides, he had so much money that she couldn't imagine him trying to steal from her. It must have been her imagination, she told herself. Though something in the back of her mind bothered her about the whole situation.
She made herself ignore the baseless worries. She finished cleaning up, and then went back to bed, snuggling into Horatio's arms. She drifted off to sleep, feeling safe and protected in his embrace, and certain that any concerns she had were nothing but her overactive imagination.
5
* * *
A few weeks passed, and Horatio didn't have to leave the country on business again, giving them a great deal of time together. Nicole savored every day she spent with Horatio, from the dinners together, to the plays and shows he took her to, to the nights they spent in bed together. She started feeling like he was becoming an undeniable part of her life. This made it all the harder when he told her he had another trip coming up soon.
“Again?” she asked, pouting at him. They sat across from each other while having dinner at a fine restaurant. “I know it's your job and all, but I was really getting used to having you around.”
“It'll only be for a week or two,” Horatio said. “I wish I could get out of it, but I really can't. This is a really important business deal that needs to be closed.”
Nicole let out a long sigh. “When are you leaving?”
“In three days,” he said. He flashed her a charming smile. “Plenty of time for us to spend together before I go.”
“Except that I'm busy working the next three days,” Nicole said. “I want to spend as much time with you as I can, but I can't put off work.”
He reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “Well, I suppose I can't complain about you being busy at work, considering that I'm leaving the country for my own work.”
She smirked at him. “Well, I just wish my job was as glamorous as yours. I'd much rather be overseas seeing the sights than stuck in the emergency room for a twelve-hour shift.”
“We each have to pay our dues,” he said.
“I suppose that's true.”
They made the best they could of the next few days, sharing quiet evenings at Nicole's apartment after she got done from work each day. She was too exhausted to go out to a club or even to dinner after working such long shifts, but Horatio didn't complain. He seemed content to enjoy her company, even if it was simply sitting on the couch, watching a movie together and fooling around before bed.
She insisted on seeing him off at the airport the day he left, despite his objections that she didn't need to. “I'm just going to be standing in line for two hours to get through security,” he said. “Not very exciting.”
“Well, I still want to see you off,” she insisted. “It's the last time we'll be seeing each other for weeks. I want to make the most of it.”
She drove down to the airport with him, and they spent some time fooling around in the backseat of the car while Horatio's driver made his way through the airport traffic. When they got to the airport it was still early morning. The sun was shining, though the chilling breeze made the air inhospitable. Nicole stood with Horatio at the terminal, her arms wrapped around herself, wishing she had brought a jacket.
“I'll call you first chance I get,” Horatio said. He cupped her cheeks with his hands and he leaned in to press his lips against hers.
“I'll miss you,” she said.
“I'll miss you as well, darling.” He smiled at her, but the smile didn't quite touch his eyes. There was a tension there that set Nicole's nerves on edge.
“What is it?” she asked.
He gave a small shake of his head. “Nothing. It's...nothing.”
“Is something wrong?” She frowned. His behavior had been a bit off for a while now. Ever since the night at the theatre. She had tried to convince herself that it was just her imagination, but the tension hadn't dissipated. She couldn't help but fear that she had done something wrong.
“Don't worry about it.” He kissed her forehead, and then hugged her tight, wrapping his strong arms around her. He held her so tight that she thought he was afraid to let go. When he pulled back, the tension was still in his eyes, but there was a deep affection there as well.
“Have a safe flight,” she said. She gave him one last kiss before he left. She stood there outside the terminal, watching through the windows as he walked up to airport security. She wanted to rush inside, to hold him close, and to capture one last moment together. But she knew she had to let him go.
“Ma'am?” the driver said, stepping up alongside her. “We need to go. We can't stay parked here.”
Nicole let out a long sigh. “I know,” she said, hanging her head. “I know.”
She got back in the car, and the driver brought her home. For the next few days, she moped around her apartment, feeling under the weather. At first, she shrugged it off as love sickness. But when she threw up in the morning on the third day, she knew it had to be something more. Between the nausea, how tired she'd been lately, and the soreness she was starting to develop in certain places, she started recognizing the signs. A trip to the drug store later that day helped her confirm it. She was pregnant.
Horatio called her that night from overseas. She answered the phone with tension in her voice, not sure whether she should reveal the truth to him now, or wait until after he returned from his trip. She paced around her apartment while they chatted and Horatio told her about the sights he'd seen so far on his trip. She barely responded, only hearing half of what he said while her mind was preoccupied with her own thoughts.
After they'd been speaking for a little while, Horatio asked, “Nicole, is everything all right?”
“Yes, of course,” Nicole said, her voice a bit more high pitched than she would have liked. “Everything's fine. Why wouldn't it be?”
“Well you seem a little...off,” he said.
Nicole closed her eyes and rubbed a hand over her face. “Sorry. I'm just...I'm just a little under the weather, that's all.”
“You're sick? You should go see a doctor. Oh, what am I talking about?” Horatio chuckled. “You work in a hospital. You're surrounded by doctors.”
“Yeah,” Nicole said, still too distracted to focus.
Horatio was silent for a long moment. “Nicole, are you sure you're all right?”
Nicole held her breath, trying to decide what to do. She didn't want to worry Horatio, and she didn't like hiding anything from him. But it seemed too impersonal to tell him this kind of news over the phone.
Yet, on the other hand, she didn't think she could keep it in.
“Nicole?” Horatio asked. She could hear the worry in his voice.
“Horatio...”
“Yes, dear? What is it?”
She took a deep breath. “Well...the thing is...I'm pregnant.”
There was a long pause. Nicole held the phone close to her ear, straining to hear anything. For a moment, she worried that the call had been disconnected.
“Are you sure?” Horatio asked.
“Yes. Well, I took a test. They're pretty accurate.”
Horatio was silent for another long moment. Then he said, “All right. Listen. There's something I'm going to need to take care of when I get back to the States. I'll need a day or two.”
“Wh
at?” Nicole asked, a frown forming on her face. “Horatio, what are you talking about?”
“I'll explain when I can,” he said. “For the time being, you're going to have to trust me.”
“Trust you? Horatio, what's going on? I just told you that I'm pregnant.”
“Yes, I know,” he said. “And I want to make the best possible life for you and our child. This is why I need to take care of this. I've been putting it off for too long.”
“Take care of what?” She threw a hand in the air in frustration. “Horatio, you're not making any sense.”
“I can't discuss it over the phone. Just trust me. I'm going to take care of you. I'm going to protect you and our baby. I'll see you soon.”
He hung up before she could ask any of the questions that were rampaging around in her head. But the biggest question of all was, protect her from what?
6
* * *
As the time until Horatio's return slowly passed, Nicole found herself more and more worried about him. He hadn't called her back since she had told him she was pregnant, and she didn't know what to think about that. Her pregnancy and her future weighed on her mind, making it hard to concentrate at work. In the break room one day, one of her coworkers, Tanya, commented on her odd behavior of late.
“Have you been feeling okay?” Tanya asked. She frowned at Nicole in concern. “You've been kind of out of it lately.”
“I've got some stuff going on,” Nicole said, avoiding Tanya's eyes. She wasn't sure how much to share with her friend.
“Anything you want to talk about?”
Nicole bit her lip. Her fingers toyed with a napkin, tearing it into little pieces and leaving them scattered all over her lunch tray. “It's really kind of complicated. I'm not sure where to begin.”