14. Nicholas

FOURTEEN

Nicholas

Good tidings we bring / To you and your kin.

3:55 pm

I barely make it to my room when I remember.

Damn it.

The watch. I forgot it in her room when I left this morning and I've felt naked all day.

I stop in the doorway, not even bothering to sit down.

With everything going on today, it completely slipped my mind to tell her. It's been only a few minutes since I left her, and I'd meant to ask about it earlier, but of course, with all the ups and downs, it fell off my radar. I want to try to catch her before she jumps in the shower.

I glance at my phone, knowing I'd better text her to make sure it is okay. I certainly don't want to surprise her. I'm sure she isn't in the shower yet, but you never know.

Hey, I think I left my watch in your room last night. Mind if I swing by to grab it before you shower?

I don't even have time to second-guess myself before my phone buzzes with her response.

Sure, come by. I'm about to get in the shower, but I'll wait for you. I don't see it, but you can come take a look.

I sigh, relieved to get it sooner than later. I could ask her to bring it down with her, but I'd rather have it now so I don't forget again. I hate being without my watch.

I head straight for her room, my hands already getting clammy at the thought of seeing her again. How is she having this effect on me?

I knock lightly, and when she opens the door, she's wrapped up in a robe. My mouth immediately waters at the sight of her at the same time my throat feels dry. She looks striking and for a moment, I'm speechless.

"Hey," she says, leaning against the doorframe, keeping her left leg off the floor. It looks like she has already taken off her black knee brace she has been sporting. "I looked around but didn't see it. You can come in and check around, though."

She hops over, motioning me in.

"Thanks," I say, stepping inside, trying to ignore the fact that she's standing there, looking irresistible, her bare feet against the floor. My eyes skim the room as I try to focus. "It's gotta be around here somewhere."

"I thought I checked pretty well," she says, motioning to the bedside table, "but maybe I missed it."

I crouch down next to the table, peering behind it, and sure enough, there it is, wedged between the table leg and the wall. I reach for it and pull it out, holding it up with a small smile. Must have gotten jostled in the wildness of the night.

"Found it," I say, standing up and showing her the watch.

Her eyes soften for a second as she looks at it. "Is that... the watch I gave you? That Christmas we were together?"

I pause, glancing down at the familiar band and face. "Yeah, it's the one. One of my favorite staples."

She gives me a faint smile, something unreadable in her expression. "I'm surprised you still have it."

I slip it back onto my wrist, feeling the weight of it settle against my skin. "Of course I do."

Before either of us can say anything more, she clears her throat, stepping back toward the bathroom. "Well, I'm glad you found it," she says, her voice casual but a little too stiff. "I need to, uh, jump in the shower now. Six o'clock?"

I slip the watch back onto my wrist, the familiar weight of it grounding me, while also connecting us. Something in her eyes switched when she realized I'm still wearing the watch she gave me all those years ago.

The bathroom door is still slightly ajar, the soft hum of the shower already running, but that's the last thing on my mind now. She's right here, just inches away, and I can feel the heat radiating from her, the same heat that's been pulling me in since the moment we reconnected.

I clear my throat. "Yes, six o'clock," I answer her, my hand brushing against her arm.

She doesn't pull away. Instead, her breath hitches, and I can see the slight smile on her lips. When she doesn't move, or push me away, I take it as permission to touch her—silent, but there.

I lean in, my hand sliding up to cup the side of her face, my thumb brushing her cheek. She exhales softly, like she's been holding her breath this whole time, and then, her lips part.

I close the distance between us, kissing her like we're trying to erase the space, the time, the pain between us. Her hands come up to my chest, not pushing me away but pulling me closer, her fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt.

The kiss deepens, and I feel everything rushing back—the fire, the intensity, the desire that's always burned between us. This wasn't my intention when I came up here, but I'm certainly not opposed to what is happening naturally.

I don't know how we end up against the wall, but the next thing I know, her back is pressed against it, and I'm kissing her harder, deeper, my hands finding the edge of her robe.

She makes a soft sound, something between a sigh and a moan, and it drives me crazy.

"Rives," I breathe against her lips, my fingers slipping beneath the fabric, finding bare skin. She arches into me, and I wonder if I can push our reservation back.

My heart is pounding as I press Rives against the wall, her body responding with an urgency that matches my own. Her fingers are deft, swiftly working the buttons of my jeans, the sound of the zipper joining the symphony of our ragged breaths. I pull my shirt over my head, impatient, needing to feel her skin against mine.

She unties the belt of her robe with a swift flick of her wrist, the fabric parting to reveal the curves and lines of her body that I've been aching to rediscover. It falls behind her, forgotten, as I lift her, my hands cradling her firm backside, her injured knee held carefully to avoid any strain. She wraps her legs around me, her body fitting perfectly against mine, just as I remember.

I carry her to the bed, our lips never parting, the taste of her igniting a fire within me. Gently, I lay her down, her hair fanning out around her like a halo, her bright blue eyes locked onto mine. Hungrily, I take a moment to just look at her, this woman who has haunted my dreams for years, her olive skin flushed with desire, her chest rising and falling with each rapid breath.

Then I kneel between her legs, my hands tracing the contours of her body, reacquainting myself with every dip and swell. She reaches for me, pulling me back into the kiss, her nails scraping lightly down my back, sending shivers through my body.

I trail kisses down her neck, her collarbone, my tongue tracing a path to her breasts. I take one of her nipples into my mouth, teasing it with my tongue, eliciting a gasp from her. Her back arches, pressing herself further into me, as I lavish the same attention on her other breast.

My hand travels down her stomach, my fingers slipping between her folds, finding her already wet and ready for me. I stroke her gently, feeling her respond to my touch, her hips bucking against my hand.

I can't wait any longer. I position myself at her entrance, looking into her eyes as I slowly push inside her. She feels like heaven, hot and tight around my cock, and it takes everything in me not to thrust into her with all the pent-up longing I've harbored over the years.

But I hold back, moving with deliberate slowness, giving her time to adjust to my size, to the feel of me inside her once again. Her injured knee is propped up, supported by the bed, ensuring that she's comfortable, that the only sensation she's experiencing is pleasure.

As her body relaxes around me, I begin to move with more urgency, each thrust driving us both closer to the edge. She meets me stroke for stroke, her hands roaming over my body, her legs tightening around my waist.

The world outside fades away as we lose ourselves in the rhythm of our reunion, our bodies moving in perfect harmony, the connection between us reignited, stronger and more intense than ever before. This is more than just sex; it's a homecoming, a reclaiming of something that was too precious to let go.

I feel the tension coiling within her, the telltale signs of her impending release. I reach between us, my fingers finding her clit, circling it in time with my thrusts. She cries out, her body convulsing around mine as she comes, the feeling of her contracting around my cock sending me over the edge as well.

With a final, deep thrust, I let go, my orgasm ripping through me like a wildfire, as I empty myself inside her with a groan of pure, unadulterated satisfaction.

We lay there, entwined, our bodies still joined, our breaths gradually slowing as we come down from the high. I press a kiss to her forehead, her temple, her lips, tasting the salt of our mingled sweat, the sweetness that is uniquely Rives.

As I roll off her, careful of her knee, I pull her close, wanting to keep her near, to hold onto this moment for as long as possible. She snuggles into me, her head resting on my chest, her hand splayed across my stomach.

We don't speak, there's no need for words. Our bodies have said everything that needs to be said, and for now, that's enough.

4:40 pm

I'm lying in her bed, staring up at the ceiling, my heart slowly coming down from its racing rhythm. The whole thing had started and ended so fast—one minute, we were standing there with our plans ahead of us, and the next, we are tangled in her sheets. I guess she's forgiven me.

I glance over at Rives, her chest rising and falling steadily, her skin still flushed from the rush of it all. It feels like old times, the way we used to get swept up in the moment, the intensity.

The silence hangs in the room, comfortable but charged, until Rives suddenly breaks it.

"Okay, that's enough," she says, her voice cutting through the quiet. "Get out so I can get ready," she laughs and leans in to kiss me.

When she pulls away, a smirk tugs at the corner of my mouth. "You're kicking me out already?"

She sits up, pulling the sheet around her like some kind of shield, but the teasing smile on her face softens the blow. "Yes, Nicholas. You can't just lie there like you own the place. I need to shower, and we have dinner. Go on, skedaddle."

I stretch lazily, still riding the high of what just happened. "I mean, we could just cancel the reservation... or push it off and see where things go from here, if you know what I mean?"

Her eyes widen, and she scoffs, swatting at my arm. "Cancel? Are you out of your mind? It's Christmas Eve, and we have a fancy date. We're going to dinner, so go get ready.

I laugh, raising my hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. Just thought I'd offer."

"You thought wrong," she says, swinging her legs off the bed and standing up, the sheet still clutched around her like a toga. "Now, move along before I really kick you out."

I can't help but chuckle as I push myself up and start gathering my clothes. Even after everything, we can still joke like this, still find these moments of lightness in the middle of all the chaos. It's... nice.

As I pull on my shirt, I glance over at her, watching as she disappears into the bathroom, the door closing with a soft click. There's something about seeing her like this—relaxed, in her element, despite the craziness of today—that makes me realize how much I've missed this. Missed her.

Shaking my head, I grab my jacket and head for the door. "I'll meet you downstairs in a little more than an hour," I call out, though I doubt she hears me over the sound of the shower starting.

I slip out of her room and head down the hall, still feeling the warmth of her lingering on my skin. The whole day has been one roller coaster after another, but somehow, here we are, still finding our way back to each other. Even if it's just for tonight.

5:21 pm

I pull the knot of my tie loose, deciding to ditch it altogether. I threw it in my suitcase as a "just-in-case" afterthought, anyway.

It's Christmas Eve, sure, but I'm not that formal. The pressed button-up shirt and dark slacks are enough to make it look like I put in some effort. I smooth down the collar in the mirror, running a hand through my hair, and give myself a once-over. Not bad.

The truth is, I don't know what to expect tonight. After everything that's happened today—from waking up in her room, the tension that followed, to the quickie after she found out I was there on the mountain that day—I can't shake the feeling that tonight's dinner will be a big exhale. It's surely been one of the busiest Christmas Eves I've ever had.

I grab my phone and jacket, heading downstairs to the bar a little earlier than our reservations. I could use a drink, something to calm the rattle running through me.

As I settle into a seat at the bar and order a whiskey neat, I shoot Rives a quick text.

Hey, I'm downstairs early if you finish getting ready before dinner. No pressure, just wanted to let you know I'd be here.

I set the phone down and lean back, taking in the warm glow of the bar. It's cozy, with a few people scattered around, and the Christmas lights twinkle along the garlands hanging from the walls. The fire crackles in the corner, making everything soft and relaxed. The kind of Christmas you see in the movies.

As I sip my whiskey, I thumb through my contacts and decide to give Bobby a call. I've already talked to Nicky, but I haven't spoken to Bobby or Sammy yet, and with some time to kill, why not? I hit the call button and listen as it rings.

Once. Twice. No answer.

I frown for a second, but then shrug it off. They're probably still visiting Santa. He told me they were going at the end of the day.

I bang out a text to Bobby.

Hey, tried calling—catch me later when you can. Merry Christmas.

I slip the phone back into my pocket, not thinking much more of it. I know we'll catch up eventually.

The whiskey does its job, relaxing me as I sit here, watching the snow still coming down outside. The place is starting to fill up with other guests, all here for their Christmas Eve dinner, I supposed. I never realized how many people get out for this, since I'm usually home on Christmas Eve.

None of it catches my attention the way Rives does when she walks in. Wow.

I see her immediately, and damn—my heart stumbles in my chest. She's wearing a dark green dress, simple but elegant, the kind that shows off just enough to make me catch my breath. She's moving carefully with her crutches, but somehow she makes even that look graceful.

I stand as she approaches, my insides flipping, and try to keep it together. She glances up at me, a smile playing on her lips, and suddenly, I feel like an idiot for forgetting how much of an effect she has on me.

"Wow," I manage to say, a little rough around the edges. "You are stunning."

She smirks, her eyes sparkling just a little. "You clean up pretty well yourself."

I chuckle, shaking my head. "Well, I don't hold a candle to you, but I do what I can."

There's this moment, just the two of us, where it feels like everything else fades away. The noise of the bar, the people milling around—it's all just background to whatever is happening between us right now.

"Sorry I couldn't come down for a cocktail sooner. Looking this good takes time."

"Ha! No worries. I'm just glad I get to enjoy the view. We have plenty of time at dinner. Ready?" I ask, stepping closer. I'd already signed my tab as it's time for our reservation.

She tilts her head, giving me that same playful smile I've missed so much. "Yeah. Let's do this."