“How?” She takes another step to me.
Flawless. Perfect. Not meant for the likes of someone like me.
I wrench myself away and go back to the story. “Jed and your dad made me want to be a better man. I earned my GED. I worked so hard to eliminate my past.”
“You mean to run away from it.” God, she’s right behind me. If I turn around, she’d be right in my arms. So, I just bob my head up and down.
“Yes. I left. I had to. Don’t you see? Do you finally understand?” I chance a glance over my shoulder, and my eyes meet her blue ones.
“Tell me why, Nick. Tell me the truth. You’re not the same man you were back then. And we both know I’m not the same woman,” she demands.
No, she’s not. She’s stronger. She’s more captivating, if that’s even possible. She’s more beautiful, both inside and out. And she still has a hold of my heart.
I slowly face her. Our bodies brush against one another. Inside, my heart gives a small shudder and sigh. “I left because I had to make something of myself. I stayed away after Vegas because I thought I was giving you what you wanted. What you needed.”
“Well, you learned differently, didn’t you?” I ache as she backs away. “Nothing stays the same, Nick. People, places, love. It’s just like the sea—constantly changing. You should be fucking grateful mine was mired so deep it didn’t go very far.”
For a second I’m frozen by her words. But in the next, I’m sweeping her into my arms, my lips crashing down on hers when her words penetrate.
Maris
“I don’t want to imagine my baby sister having sex. Ever.” - From the journals of Jedidiah Smith.
“Be certain,” Nick demands against my lips after he lets me up for air.
“I was certain years ago,” I taunt. I back away and move toward the stairs. “Maybe you should take a few moments to think. Just don’t take twenty years this time.”
I walk away and climb the steps to the beginning of us. Or it will be the end. My head bows wearily as I realize I hear footsteps but not the creak on the stairs signifying Nick’s following me. Pretending my heart isn’t trying to pound its way out of my chest, I make my way to my bedroom. And then I close the door.
At my dresser, I slip off all my jewelry—even the gold cross. I let out a small snort of amusement. If Nick comes through that door, Jed has no place between us in bed. Once that’s complete, I move to the window to pull the curtains.
And my heart withers inside my chest.
Nick is striding from the house toward the borrowed Outback purposefully. I pull the blinds, unable to witness him actually pulling away. “Well, that answers that question.” I slip off my shirt and walk into my en suite to fling it into my hamper. I pause at the mirror and just brace my hands on the sink. “I found a love that will make me happy, Jed. Now, take your friend and fuck off.”
Leaving the bathroom, I realize I forgot to take off my watch. Fiddling with the band, I’m not looking up. I crash into something hard that shouldn’t be there. When hands catch me from falling backward on my ass, I let out an ear-piercing scream.
“What the fuck, Maris?” Nick glares at me.
“What are you doing here?” I accuse.
“What do you mean, what am I doing here? Did you change your mind?” Vulnerability crosses Nick’s face.
“Me? You’re the one who left, you dick.” I slam both hands against the solid wall of his chest.
“Well, that explains why you just blew out my hearing. Sunshine, I didn’t leave.”
“The hell you didn’t, Champ. I saw you.” I fling an arm out toward the window, my breath coming in shallow pants.
Nick comes closer, trailing his fingers along my extended arm as he does. Reaching my fingertips, he bends it at the elbow and twists it up and behind me. I slam against his body. “I went to the car to get something we need.”
Oh. My lips part. I know I can’t get pregnant, but yeah. I didn’t even think about that.
“Last chance, Maris.” Nick’s breath fans over my lips before he kisses the corner of one lip. His free hand plays with my bra strap, sliding his fingers up and down. The skin he touches is branded.
Scored.
Desperate for more.
“It’s too late, Nick.”
“Thank fucking God.” His head jerks slightly before his lips cover mine. His one hand threads into my hair. He releases my arm so he can do the same with the other.
Not being a fool, I take advantage to wrap both around his waist, binding him as tightly to me as I can. I yank up his tee in the back, desperate for the feel of his skin however I can get it. Nick rips his mouth away, before quickly tugging his shirt over his head with one arm. He then quickly dispenses with my bra so when our bodies slide against one another, we’re flesh against flesh.
Oh. My. God. I can’t be saying it as the only air I’m getting is in between kisses, so I know the thought is running on repeat in my mind. His nipples are buried in his dark chest hair. When I find them, I pinch and twist them slightly as I explore the ripples and planes of his magnificent body.
Nick’s reaction is to pick me up and wrap my legs around his waist as he makes his way swiftly to the bed. His kisses before were hungry, but now I feel like I’m being devoured. It’s wild, raw, and uncontrolled.
And I love it.
As soon as my back hits the spread, I try to roll him over. His head shoots up and the blaze in his dark gaze pins me in place. The devastating curve of his lips leave a trail down my neck before he cups my breasts and lifts his head. “Do they ache for my mouth, Sunshine?” comes his dark whisper.
“Throb. Make it go away, Nick.” I lower my lashes until the only thing in my vision is his dark head lowering.
My back arches as his lips cover the straining tip. His tongue rubs it back and forth, rolling it along the roof of his mouth before letting it out with a pop. He shifts over me to take the other one in while his hand skims up my body to pinch and twist the first in much the same way. My legs wrap around his hips. My hips begin to rotate, seeking relief from an agony much worse.
“That’s it, Sunshine. Show me how you burn.” Nick holds my hands pressed to the bed as I undulate beneath him.
I arch again, my nipples dragging against his chest, and my pussy rubs against the firm column of his cock trapped behind his jeans. “Please, Nick.” I don’t know what I’m asking for.
“What do you want?” He bends down and presses a kiss to the inside of my breast.
“More, everything.”
Nick releases me and sits back.
“Come back.” I curl up so I don’t lose the warmth of his body.
“I will. Just as soon as I get these damn clothes out of the way.” He mutters something about scissors, and I grin before sliding to the end of the bed.
“Strip,” I order him.
Nick’s hand goes to his waistband while mine go to my boots. I quickly undo the laces before standing up. Nick’s frozen in place. Hoarsely he says, “Keep going.”
I pop the buttons on my pants, and nabbing my panties, I slide them off. Within moments I’m nude, and Nick’s still standing there half-dressed. Nick starts to lunge for me, but I step back. “Your turn.”