33. Savannah
thirty-three
Savannah
Light catches the tiny sequins on my dress, making them sparkle as I spin side to side, checking myself in the mirror one last time.
Tonight is Nico’s charity event, and I’ve gone all out.
Hair, nails, and makeup. The works. Even my body has been buffed, waxed, and plucked.
I’ve chosen a backless champagne A-line dress with a sweetheart neckline, thin spaghetti straps, a flowy skirt that falls just below my knee, and glittering geometric embellishments that accentuate my curves.
I am incredibly nervous to show up with Nico. I’ve seen pictures of the women he’s taken to events in the past, and I’m feeling a little inadequate. I’m a doctor who spends her days in scrubs, taking care of sick children. And as much as my job is exhausting, I love it.
But let me tell you, at the end of a very long shift, the last thing I want to do is put on makeup, fancy clothes, and shoes that bring more pain than beauty.
“Savannah?” Nico knocks on the bedroom door, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts.
“Be right there,” I shout back.
You got this.
With a deep inhale, to help calm my nerves, I grab my clutch off the bed and make my way to the living room, where my date awaits.
My stomach trips over itself as I find Nico staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the view. And what a view it is. In a sleek custom black suit, Nico looks sinfully sexy.
“Okay, I’m ready.” My heart pounds in my throat; I’m so nervous.
Nico turns around, and he practically chokes on his words. “Fucking hell.”
“That bad?” I can’t help self-consciously brushing a jittery hand down my dress.
His gray eyes darken, and he licks his lips hungrily. “If wanting to ditch tonight so I can stay home and rip that dress off you is bad, then fuck yes. So fucking bad. Atrocious. Terrible.”
“Stop.” My cheeks flame as Nico’s gaze roams over me, giving me goosebumps.
“Never. Now spin.”
I do as I’m told and slowly turn, giving him a full look at the dress.
“You’re fucking gorgeous.” Like a predator, Nico prowls towards me. In what I now consider his go-to move, he grips the back of my neck and pulls me in for a sweet kiss to my pink-stained lips. “I don’t know how I’m going to keep my hands off you.”
“I think you’ve been doing a good job so far,” I tease, tugging his thick chain. “But maybe we can play doctor tonight?”
We’ve spent the last two nights sharing the same bed, and all we’ve done is kiss and fool around like a couple of teenagers. Not that I’m complaining about our steamy make-out sessions. Or his hand-delivered orgasms.
But I’m ready for more.
Nico growls. “Time to go, mia gattina viziosa.” My vicious kitten.
I inwardly grin, proud of myself for understanding his Italian.
“Breathe, gattina,” Nico whispers in my ear as he places his hand on the small of my back and leads me into the lofted event space where tonight’s dinner and auction are being held.
“I’m trying.” Aside from the annual fundraiser held by Mercy Hospital, I haven’t attended an event like this since I lived in San Francisco.
My mother required our attendance at every function imaginable, but stuff like this was never my thing. Bradley loved to be the spectacle. He considered charity events as an opportunity to network.
I fight the urge to fidget. “Everyone is staring.”
“They’re staring because you’re the most beautiful woman in the room. And probably the smartest too.”
I melt like butter at his compliment and smile up at him. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Nico’s hand never leaves my back as he grabs a champagne flute off the tray of a passing server and hands it to me. “We can leave whenever you want.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. This is your event, and it’s important. I’m okay.”
There is no way I would make Nico leave.
On the ride over, he filled me in on how his charity helps pay for registration and equipment fees for single parents who can’t afford to put their children in community sports programs and has now branched out to assist children in foster families and orphanages.
What he’s doing here is amazing. If he hadn’t told me, I never would have known about the work he does outside of baseball. He’s done too good a job of portraying himself as a cocky, womanizing baseball player all these years.
I’m not a fan of the persona, but the real man? I’m falling for him in every imaginable way.
“Grazie, cara mia.” Thank you, my dear. The way he whispers Italian into my ear as he draws circles on my back sends shivers racing down my spine and heat pooling between my legs.
“You can’t do that,” I whisper, squeezing my things together.
“Do what?” He arches his black brow at me.
“Speak Italian to me in public.” I sound like a whimpering mess, and all he’s done is thank me. I haven’t told Nico I’m learning Italian yet, but the Italian lessons I signed up for are helping me understand him. They do not help how hot and needy they make me.
Nico barks a laugh, and gosh does the sound fill me with happiness. He steps closer and with his tattooed finger pushes my hair behind my ear and purrs, “Does it turn you on, gattina?”
My mouth runs dry, forcing me to take a sip of champagne before I answer, “Yes.”
We’re in the middle of a crowded room, and it feels like it’s just the two of us here. As if I’m his singular focus. Our faces inch closer just as someone shouts his name.
“Mr. Romero! Finally, you’re here.” An exasperated-looking young woman with red hair, deep green eyes, and a matching green dress rushes in our direction.
“Delaney, how many times have I asked you to stop calling me that? Just Nico is fine.”
She winces. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine. Delaney, this is my girlfriend, Dr. Savannah Winters. She’s the head of the pediatrics department at Mercy Hospital. Delaney runs the foster portion of our non-profit,” Nico states proudly, introducing me to his colleague.
Girlfriend?
When did that happen? And why does it feel like I might float away like a balloon from joy at being called his girlfriend?
Nico’s hand drifts lower, grazing the top of my ass, making my breath hitch.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Delaney,” I squeak.
“Nice to meet you too.” Delaney shakes my hand as she grins at Nico. “Oh, my goddess in heaven. I can’t believe it. You have a girlfriend.”
“For fuck’s sake, Delaney,” Nico grunts, and I can’t help but laugh. Nico pierces me with his gray eyes. “Watch it, Doc.”
My knees wobble at the storm brewing in Nico’s eyes.
“Oh, I love this,” Delaney says, rubbing her hands together. I get the sense that this woman is as genuine as she seems and knows Nico a decent amount to be giving him crap about his relationship status.
“You’re fired,” Nico grumbles.
“You can’t fire me. You need me to do all the work,” Delaney sings as she dances side to side like any little sister would, teasing her big brother.
Nico’s lips twitch, and for the first time it appears he’s not as easily able to hide behind his grumpy mask of indifference. I love this version of Nico.
For the next couple of hours, Nico introduces me to so many people that I can’t keep their names straight. It would be overwhelming if not for all the reassuring touches he’s spoiled me with. Nico hasn’t left my side or had a conversation he didn’t include me in.
It’s the opposite of how Bradley treated me at events like this. Everything was about him, and while you would think that’s how Nico would be, he’s not. Every conversation, Nico has made it about the charity and the children who need help.
Listening to him talk so passionately about how his organization helps children makes my uterus scream for him to put a baby in it. Seriously, finding out Nico’s heart is as beautiful as his outsides is making me extremely hot and bothered.
I’m dying to rip open his shirt, lick his tattoos, and ride his dick until I come.
As if he can read my mind, Nico kisses my cheek and holds out his hand. “Dance with me.”
“Of course.” I place my palm in his and let him lead me from the dinner table to the dance floor.
Nico wraps his arms around my waist and possessively places his large palms on my back, tugging me close, as I wrap my arms around his shoulders.
“Are you having a good time?” he asks.
We sway to a sultry Michael Bublé song.
“I am.” I was nervous at first, but with Nico at my side, it got easier as the night went on.
“Good. I have a few more of these things to attend, and I was hoping you would be my date for them.”
My skin prickles with desire as his fingers mindlessly swirl designs down the length of my back.
“I think I can manage that.” I reach onto my toes to kiss him when we are shoved to the side, and I lose my footing. Nico grabs me around the waist, catching me before I fall.
“You should really watch where you and your whore are dancing,” a man I’ve never met sneers.
He’s about as tall as Nico, with dark hair, light-blue eyes, and a dark tattoo of a tiger on his neck. If I didn’t know any better, you would think he was related to Nico.
“I suggest you keep your mouth shut about my woman.” Nico pushes me behind his back in a protective stance.
“Your woman?” The man laughs, the sound eerie and high-pitched like a cartoon villain’s. The man leers at me and winks, making me cringe. “I’d love to see how long this lasts.”
“What the fuck are you doing here, Damien?” Nico growls.
“I was invited, remember? I’m just paying my respects.” Damien smiles cockily, and if not for the sinister look in his eyes, he might be good-looking.
I shiver for a different reason. He has circles under his eyes, his suit is rumpled, and his tie is askew. He looks slightly unhinged.
“Bullshit. You came to start something. Just remember, if you do, you’ll pay for it. My lawyer and I have everything we need, D. Everything,” Nico emphasizes the last word.
The man swallows, his throat bobbing in barely concealed fear. “You’ve got nothing.”
Nico grins at him menacingly. “I know about your illegal contract negotiation tactics, and I’m sure there is plenty more you’re hiding. But don’t worry, I’m digging.”
Damien snarls, “I will fucking end you.”
“Let me fix this for you.” Nico reaches out, and Damien flinches.
Nico misses nothing as he grins wickedly and adjusts Damien’s tie, before tugging it and pulling it tight, cutting off Damien’s air supply.
“You’re fucking done, D, and now it’s time for you to go.
Don’t make me call security. You’re just embarrassing yourself now. ”
An angry Damien turns redder than a tomato as he growls out, “Fuck you, Romero,” and pushes Nico away.
Damien glares at Nico, but when he notices people staring, he stomps out of the loft without another word. There are a few eyes on us as Nico turns around and cups my cheeks, checking for any injuries.
I grab his wrists to reassure him. “I’m fine, Nico. I promise.”
Sliding my hands under his jacket and over his shirt, I press my palms into his chest. His heart is racing, and anger rolls off him in waves. Whoever that man was, Nico was not happy to see him.
“Mind telling me who that was?”
Nico leads me back onto the dance floor to finish our dance before he speaks. “That was my ex-agent and ex-best friend.”
“Your best friend?”
“Ex. I overheard him saying some things about Talia that I won’t repeat. After I fired him, I learned he had been stealing from his own company. A company I invested in. I hate it took me so long to see his true colors.”
“I’m sorry.” My heart breaks for the man who gives everything to the ones he loves.
“I’m not. I’m glad I found out the truth.
Damien can’t be trusted, and I don’t want him around my family.
And I certainly don’t want him around you.
” He brushes his fingers over my cheek and down my jawline, tilting my chin up, then lays a chaste kiss on my lips.
The silver flecks in his irises glow as he says, “You’re precious to me, Savannah. ”
“I’m precious to you?”
“You have to know by now you are.” He smiles, and I can feel my heart squeeze and rearrange itself inside my chest.
Everything comes floating back. Ordering dinner. The security. Adding my thumbprint to the lock on his penthouse. The all-night spooning. The make-out sessions.
I’m special to him, and he doesn’t want to rush. Heat swirls between my legs and sends the butterflies in my stomach fluttering. We are so done waiting. I want this man more than my next breath. For so long, he’s been showing me how he feels. Time for me to show him.
“Nico?”
“Yes, gattina?”
“I need you to take me home and fuck me. Now.”