Chapter 7

He stared at her curled up on the single sofa, her hands cradling her cheek against the cushions propped beneath her head. She had shed the tiny jacket, leaving her arms bare. He had seen her emotions come to the fore as she sat beside her mother’s bed. He had left the room to give her a few minutes of privacy.

When he returned, it was to see the tears streaming down her cheeks, which had undone him. He had gently suggested that they heed the doctors’ advice and get going. On the way, he stopped to pick up Chinese.

“Tell me about her,” he said softly. He would persuade her to eat something in a few minutes, whether she liked it.

“Mom.” A whimsical smile touched her lips. “She is a tower of strength. You could not get one past her. I hate housework and love books. So, I would have my nose buried in some volume.

Mom worked as a librarian for years, giving me free reins to borrow as many books as possible. And I took advantage of it. I was curious; I had to find out what was happening around the world. My dad, he was this gentle soul, and she handled him-”

She shook her head. “And he did not mind one bit. They loved each other. He used to say that she took pity on him when she agreed to marry him. He was a plain Joe, and his name was Joseph, incidentally. He said he was a plain Joe and still wonders what she saw in him.”

“You favor her.” As soon as he stepped into the room, he saw the resemblance, and their likeness was uncanny. It gave him a sense of what she would like at that age.

“Yes. He used to say he lived with the two most beautiful women in the world and felt like a king. Mom loved him so much-” She bit her lip and looked away from him as she struggled for composure.

“If you don’t want to.”

“No.” She shook her head, turning to face him, dark brown eyes bright with tears. “I miss her, miss them both, and it feels like something is missing in my life. I am married, and he did not get to walk me down the aisle; she was not even there - it feels weird, for lack of a better word. As if it was not sanctioned.”

Sitting up, she drew her knees to her chin and looked so much like a lost child that he wanted to cradle her in his arms. “Anyway,” She forced the smile as she resumed.

“She was a stickler for doing the right thing. She was well-loved at the library, and it was due to her personality. She was incredibly blunt yet kind about it. And she could make up a storm.”

“I am guessing you did not inherit that particular skill.” He murmured.

“No.” She shook her head. “I was always reading and asking Daddy questions.”

“What did he do?”

“He was a civil engineer and was so humble that you would never believe he was so damn good at his job. I admired him so much that I wanted to be like him when I was younger.”

“Then you decided you want to become a lawyer.”

Nikki nodded. “I became fascinated with the workings of the law when I was fifteen and never wanted to do anything else. Then we lost him to a freak accident when I was seventeen-” She looked away from him again, and he could see her fighting the tears.

Making a decision, he rose, walked swiftly over to the sofa, and scooped her into his arms.

“No.” She tried to fight him, but he remained firm. “I don’t want to cry,” She whispered.

“It might be the best thing for you to do.” Tucking her face into his chest, he stroked her back. It was as if the dam had been broken. A torrent of tears flowed from her and had her clinging to him.

He listened in silence, rubbing her back as she flooded his shirt with her tears. Emotions clutched at him and had his body go rigid with sorrow. She had always appeared to be so strong and fiercely independent that he had never would have suspected she was this vulnerable or needy.

When it became obvious that the tears had abated and her slender body had stopped shaking, he eased her away a little. Tucking his fingers under her chin, he tipped her face up, feeling the jolt at her tear-soaked cheeks and spiky lashes.

Something shifted inside him, and the need to lose himself in her was so fierce that he had to move a little so she could not feel the evidence.

“I think you need to lie down for a bit.” He told her gruffly, rising with her in his arms.

“I ruined your horrendously expensive shirt.” She murmured, her hands snaking around his neck.

“Remind me to buy another and put it on your tab,” he said lightly as he effortlessly bounded up the stairs.

“Thanks.” She whispered.

“For?”

“Giving me the chance to vent.”

They had reached her bedroom, and he laid her gently against the pillows.

“Part of the job. Let’s get you out of this, shall we?” His tone was brisk, deliberately so. He was fighting the urge to make love to her, and it was not working. “Turn so that I can get the zipper.” She did, and he had to breathe before easing it down, the sound making an unnaturally loud noise in the silent room.

Ignoring the bare expanse of flesh, he pulled it off her arms, and when she turned onto her back, he had to fight the urge to press his lips against her skin. He was going to have to take off her bra, and his skin was already so hot he felt as if he was burning up.

Springing off the bed, he stood there looking at her.

“Marcel?”

“Did you- do you have any clothing left here?”

“I think there are some in the drawers over there.” She pointed to the chest of drawers in the corner of the room.

“Good.” Turning on his heels, he walked over to the piece of furniture, his body as tight as a coiled spring.

Yanking the drawer open, he took out a T-shirt and turned to go back to her. She had finished undressing and was only wearing panties. He could not move. It felt as if all the breath had been sucked out of his body, and he was one big raging erection. Her breasts were surprisingly generous, the nipples puckered.

“Marcel.”

He had to drag his eyes away from her nipples to stare at her face, but that was an even bigger mistake. Her lips were parted, the bottom one lush and moist. Her hair had slipped from the chignon, and several curls trailed down her cheeks. She was enticingly delectable, and he was ravenous.

Moving swiftly to bridge the distance, he stood at the side of the bed and continued staring at her as he unbuttoned his shirt. Keeping his eyes on her so she would not doubt his intention, he shrugged off the shirt, which dropped to the floor. Next came his undershirt. It all seemed to be happening slowly as if he was dragging out the moment.

Nikki’s eyes clung to his, her heart accelerating, her body poised and ready to receive what she had longed for since meeting him. She dared not breathe or move in case even one slight movement had him changing his mind and walking out of the room.

He had taken off his dress pants and toed off his shoes before she dragged her eyes to his bare chest. A moan escaped her as her eyes wandered over the bunched muscles and the spread of dense dark hairs on the flesh.

His waist was narrow, and his sex- She was completely unaware that she had uttered a sound, that a gasp had escaped her as she was given full view of his erection.

Keeping his eyes on hers, he climbed in next to her. She started to reach for him, but he shook his head. “Not yet.” he rasped, pushing her back against the pillows. His eyes roved over her face and stopped at her parted lips.

With a feral growl, he bent his head - she expected him to kiss her lips but felt a sudden jolt when he kissed her eye before going to her wet cheek and drifting to the seams of her lips. Her body was pumped and rearing to have him inside her, on top of her.

It took all of her restraint not to reach for him. Curling her fingers into the sheets, she kept herself anchored as he traced the outline of her lip before parting them with his tongue. She opened her mouth eagerly, one hand lifting to cup his jaw.

The kiss was searingly gentle, erotic, and so arousing that in just a few seconds, he had her whimpering, drowning as he deepened the kiss. His hand drifted to her flat stomach, body shuddering when he felt her quivering flesh.

When he ended the kiss, she started to reach for him again in protest, but he evaded her hands, his mouth drifting to her neck, ravaging the softness of the flesh until she was weak with need.

“Marcel.” She whispered achingly. “Please.”

Her soft, cultured voice had him reacting violently. Sinking his teeth into the swell of her breast, he sucked the skin into his mouth and had her crying out in shock.

“Please.”

“No.” Even though he was maddened with a desire so profound and powerful, he was determined to pleasure her. Soothing the bite, he finally reached the target. His tongue swirled around the tight bud slowly before pulling the nipple inside his mouth. When he started to suckle, she lost it completely.

Crying out his name, her hands clutching at his shoulders, fingers digging into his skin, she turned her writhing body towards his, eyes blurry by a need so desperate, she could hardly stand it.

“Now.” She demanded hoarsely. “Please, Marcel.”

Transferring to the other nipple, he gave it the same thorough treatment before going further down. The awful craving inside her was unbearable. Her body was shaking, her heartbeat drowning out everything else. Crouching over her, he drew off the panties and flung them to the side of the bed, head bending to inhale her musky scent.

Pressing his lips to the curls covering her sex, he touched the kernel of sensitive flesh and had her springing up in shock.

“I cannot take any more!” She cried.

As if in answer to her please, he dipped his tongue into her warmth. The climax was like a flood that swept her away with such force that she felt she was being carried along a violent storm with no end.

Unaware of the sounds she was making, she fought to get back some control as he continued to dip deep inside her with his tongue.

Before she had fully recovered, he was on top of her, sliding into her tightness, his large body shuddering.

His eyes glowed as he bent his head to hers. He had to stop to take several breaths as her tightness enfolded him completely.

“Oh, damn me,” he whispered against her lips. “Don’t move,” he warned shakily. “Not yet.”

“I can’t.” Her arms came around his neck, her face buried in his chest as she inhaled his scent.

Lifting her slender legs, he wrapped them around his waist and started moving slowly. Tipping her face up, he took her lips in savagely, bruising the soft skin as he drove into her with a force that had her head rapping against the padded bed head.

She came again, her cries of release swallowed deep inside his throat. He followed closely behind her, his body surging as he poured himself into her.

She was still trembling, her heart pounding unsteadily as she clung to him. When they finally mated, she had expected something substantial, but nothing in her wildest imagination had prepared her for this. He was hers, she thought fiercely, now more than ever, and she would never let him go.

When he started to ease off her, she clung, her hands tight around his neck.

“I am crushing you,” he murmured. “Just let me-” He loosened her hands and shifted so that she was half on top of him and still intimately joined. Her face was buried in his chest, his hair tickling her skin. And she felt beautiful.

Her day had gone downhill when she received the call about her mother, and she had felt such an unbearable sadness that everything seemed hopeless. But now, he was here, and they were together like this, and it felt wonderful.

What she had not managed to accomplish during the honeymoon had been made possible, had been done right here, and she was hopeful that this would be a turning point in their marriage. Indeed, he could see that there was something between them.

“You must be hungry.” His deep baritone rumbled against her cheek.

“I feel decidedly naughty and decadent.” She whispered.

“How so?”

“I am in bed in the early afternoon with my husband.”

“That constitutes the term ‘naughty and decadent’?” His voice was mild and amused.

Lifting her head, she propped her chin on her hand as she stared at him. His hair was mussed, his amber eyes slumberous. “It does.” Lifting a hand, she smoothed away the curl that had fallen over his forehead.

Her hand drifted to his jaw and stayed there.

“I asked if you were hungry.” He was fighting the urge to make love to her again and could feel himself hardening.

The lovemaking had thrown him off because he had not expected it to be so potent, and he just realized that he had made love to her without using anything. This means there could be repercussions, ones he was not sure he was ready for.

Nikki sensed his mood changing and was determined not to allow that to happen. She took the initiative and climbed on top of him.

“What are you doing?”

“I need more, and so do you.” She arched her body, and he helplessly surged upwards, his hands clamping on her narrow hips.

*****

They ate in bed. The food was already cold when they got around to it. He heated it in the microwave and returned it to the bedroom, where they ate silently.

“Finished?” He nodded towards the carton in her hand.

“Yes.” She handed it to him and watched him put it away with the rest of the uneaten meal. He had not said anything about what had transpired between them, and she wondered if he had regrets.

“It’s early.”

“Is it?” Turning her head, she glanced at the clock and saw it was barely eight.

“I think we should go back to my place. Do you feel well enough to go to work tomorrow?”

She nodded. “I left unfinished business there and told Marge to reschedule some meetings.”

She glanced at him. “We could spend the night and leave early in the morning.”

“Then we stand the chance of being caught up in the rush hour traffic.”

“You are right.”

“How about a shower?” He asked casually.

“Both of us?”

“Yes.” He nodded.

“That sounds great.”

“Meet you there.” He climbed off the bed and walked across the room, giving her the thrill of seeing his magnificent naked body from behind.

Smiling slowly, she climbed off the bed and followed him into the bathroom. He had the shower on full, and his gorgeous body was already soaking wet.

“Come here,” he whispered as soon as she slid the glass doors open.

As soon as she stepped in front of him, he reached for the sponge and squeezed a generous amount of gel.

“What are you doing?”

“Bathing you. Turn around.” When she did, he curved a hand around her waist and started to run the sponge from her neck and then to her breasts, taking the time to circle the nipples until she was a trembling mass of nerves against him.

Moving down her stomach, he concentrated on that area for a few seconds before moving down to the curls between her thighs. Nikki gripped his hand, her body arching and quivering as he moved the sponge with excruciating slowness over the protruding flesh.

Twisting her head upwards, she begged for his lips, and he complied, crushing her lips as he dipped the sponge inside her. A moan escaped her to be swallowed by his lips, and then another one as he slipped a soapy finger into her.

Ending the kiss, he dropped the sponge and lifted her so that her legs were wrapped around his waist. Pressing her against the tiles, he pierced her with an erection so complete that it was close to bursting.

Bending his head, he ravaged her mouth as he drove into her, his wet body slapping against hers, the need to devour her so great that he was almost out of his mind.

Lifting his head from hers, he arched his back as the orgasm, the power of it, had him driving into her and pinning her against the tiles. She came then, calling out his name as she leaned drunkenly against him, her body weak and shattered.

*****

He did not say anything to her after that. They had finished bathing and used the towels to dry themselves before entering the bathroom. He waited while she got dressed before going downstairs. He ensured she locked the doors, engaged the alarm, and followed behind her until they reached his townhouse.

“I have some things to do.” He said gruffly as soon as they entered the bedroom.

Now, he was cloistered inside his office, doing God knows what. The man was as prickly and unpredictable as a porcupine, and she would not spend the rest of the night after experiencing something extraordinary, thinking about it.

She was emotionally exhausted. She had run the gamut from grief to depression and then a passion so powerful that she was still reeling from it. He had made love to her three times, and the last time, the one in the shower, had been so potent that it had bowled them over.

She had a feeling that was what was bothering him.

Turning to the side, she switched off her lamp and closed her eyes.

Marcel was not working. He had closed the door to maintain privacy, but he could not open the damn folder. On his phone, he saw that Simone had called him several times and left messages. But he was not in the frame of mind to call her back.

What had happened between him and Nikki at her place was sharply etched on his mind, and he could not stop thinking about it. He had behaved like a rutting beast, especially the last time in the shower. It was as if someone or something had taken over his body and left him with little to no control.

He had no idea what it meant, but he knew without a doubt that things had changed between them and had been changing between them ever since that first kiss.

Leaning against the chair, he closed his eyes and brought back the memory of her warped around him. God, she was addictive! he thought wryly. The feel of her slender curves, the taste of her against his tongue, and the muskiness of her arousal were still obvious to him.

But there was still the nagging thought that she had married him for his money or his family’s influence. The nursing home where her mother was staying was one of the best in the country, rather like a five-star hotel.

He completely understood why she wanted the best for her mother because she loved the woman very much. But he still could not know that she had used him to get what she wanted. His eyes popped open as the truth hit him. He was violently attracted to her, and he wanted more.