35. Amara
Chapter thirty-five
Amara
I wake up with Nicholas’s lips on mine. It’s a soft kiss, slow and lazy, like he has all the time in the world, and I break out into a smile, my stomach fluttering.
His lips leave mine, trailing down my neck. I feel his lips curve into a smile before he pulls away. “Morning,” he murmurs, his voice still rough from sleep.
My eyes flutter open, seeing Nicholas above me, already dressed, in a crisp suit.
“Where are you going?”
A sigh leaves his lips. “I need to head into work.”
“Today?” I ask, my brows dipping.
He nods, a groan leaving his lips. “All I want to do is get back into this bed and bury my head between your thighs until you scream my name. But I have a meeting with the board this morning to discuss the details of the merger.” He breathes out a sigh, shaking his head. “There’s still so much we need to figure out and the deadline is coming up soon.”
I blink, pushing myself up onto my elbows. “Yeah… I know.” I press my lips together, trying to act like the thought of us ending soon doesn’t affect me. I want Nicholas to get what he’s always wanted. I want him to succeed. But once this deal goes through and Blackwood Hotels go international, everything between us will end.
His gaze flickers to mine, sensing the sudden shift in my mood. He gives me a small, almost apologetic smile. “Stay. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be back later.”
I try to smile, but it doesn’t quite reach my eyes. “Okay.”
He leans down, pressing another kiss to my lips, but this one is firmer, more desperate, before he turns and shuts the door behind him.
I lie in bed for a while after he leaves, the thought of everything between us ending making my chest ache. Goddamn it. How did I let myself get so attached to him? This deal was supposed to be easy, beneficial even, but all it’s bringing me is pain. I let out a sigh and reach for my phone from the nightstand, scrolling through the missed texts from Sophie and Jade.
Jade :
We’re going out tonight. I don’t want any excuses.
Hello?
Sophie :
She’s probably still sleeping. Not everyone wakes up at the crack of dawn like you.
Jade :
Lucky. Insomnia’s a bitch.
Sophie :
Texting me this early should be illegal. It’s a Saturday.
Jade :
So, where did we land on the whole going out thing?
Hello?
???
Sophie :
I give up.
I chuckle at their texts, my fingers hovering over the keyboard.
Me :
I’m in.
Jade :
WOOOO.
The door creaks open, and I glance up, hoping Nicholas came back, but my assumptions are crushed when I see Pumpkin jumping on my bed, meowing at me like she hasn’t been fed in days.
I let out a laugh, rolling out of bed before walking to the kitchen to feed her.
Her paws claw at my ankles as she follows me, meowing along the way.
“Calm down. You’ll get your food soon,” I mutter, filling her bowl and her water dish.
Once she’s taken care of, I wander back into the bedroom, shedding my clothes as I go, until I’m standing in just my underwear.
My eyes drift toward the mirror, and this time, I don’t look away. I let my eyes settle on my reflection, taking in the curves of my body, soft and round, with old white stretch marks that cover my skin.
My thighs brush together as I shift and run my hands over my stomach, the knot in my throat thick as I attempt to swallow it down. My fingers brush against each groove, and roll, my eyes tracking every movement. I’ve spent so long trying to avoid the mirror, but for the first time in… forever, I’m starting to love myself more, feeling comfortable in my own skin.
I let my fingers wander, my hand brushing along my sides, imagining Nicholas’s hands on me, picturing what he sees when he looks at me, thinking of the way he looks at me like he’s never seen another woman before.
Sometimes, I still catch myself avoiding my reflection, wishing certain things were different, but I’m getting there. Slowly but surely.
Then, an idea hits me. A sudden rush of confidence runs through me, and I step back, drop my panties, and reach for my phone. I quickly flip the camera on, angling it just right, and snap a couple of pictures. My teeth tug at my bottom lip as I sit on the bed, lying back and angle the camera to catch my naked body as I cup my breast.
I take a couple more pictures, my confidence growing with each one. When I’m done, I glance down at the images, scrolling through them as my heart hammers in my chest. It’s me. My body—every curve, every inch—no filters, no shame. Just… me. And for the first time, I can’t help but smile, because I look good.
I attach the pictures with a quick message.
Me :
Miss you.
I press send, and immediately, my neck flushes with warmth, wondering if he’ll reply. He’s busy, tied up with the merger, and I’m sure the last thing on his mind is me. But I still feel a little thrill coursing through me.
I shrug it off when there’s no reply a couple of minutes later, and grab a towel, heading for the shower. The water engulfs me immediately and I let out a groan, closing my eyes. I’m going to miss this shower when I have to leave.
When I’m finally done, I step out, drying off my hair as I spot one of his t-shirts lying on the bed. I used to be so curious about what he would wear when he wasn’t in the office. But, of course, Nicholas looks as amazing in a t-shirt and sweatpants as he does in a fitted luxury suit. I throw the towel on the ground and pick up his light grey t-shirt, tugging it on. I bring the soft fabric to my nose, a smile tugging at my lips as his scent fills my senses.
My eyes squeeze closed. God, I miss him. It’s irrational to miss someone this much only an hour after they left… but I do. I miss his smile, miss his kisses, miss the way he cups my face in his large hands as if I’m the most precious thing to him.
My stomach growls, snapping me out of my thoughts, and I head to the kitchen, opening the fridge as I scowl for some ingredients to make a sandwich.
The bread only just hits the counter when I hear the familiar ding of the elevator.
My eyes snap toward the doors, seeing them open, my eyes widening when Nicholas steps into the room. His eyes lock onto mine, and before I can get a word out, he’s walking towards me, closing the space between us in seconds.
“Wha—” I don’t even get the chance to speak before his lips crash into mine. His hands grip my waist, and before I know it, he lifts me effortlessly, placing me on the kitchen counter like I weigh nothing.
“What are you doing?” I ask, breathless, pulling away from his mouth. “I thought you had a meeting.”
Nicholas’s lips curl into a grin as he leans in close, his breath hot on my neck. He slides his hand onto my thigh, making me shiver under his touch. “I needed to fuck my fiancée instead.”
His words hit me like a jolt of electricity, his grip on my waist, possessive, claiming, and I can’t stop the smile that tugs at my lips. I love the way he says that word.
Nicholas groans. “You think it’s funny making me rock fucking hard at a business meeting, sending me pictures like that?” he asks. “You think I could handle another second without leaving that room and rushing back here?” I shiver again. “You underestimate the hold you have on me, Amara,” he continues. “God, the sight of you—wet and warm, smelling like candy, dressed in my clothes. Fuck, you’ve ruined me.”
Before I can process it all, his lips are on mine, his tongue brushing against the seam of my mouth, making me gasp. But my stomach growls loudly, interrupting the moment.
He chuckles against my lips before pulling back. “Hungry?”
A smirk curves my lips. “Kind of. I was about to make a sandwich.”
He gives me one last kiss, before straightening his tie. “Eat, baby. I can wait.”
I arch an eyebrow. “You’re not going to ravage me?” I tease.
His lips curl into a smirk as he shakes his head. “Not right now. I can wait.”
He takes over, grabbing the bread and the fillings as he finishes making my sandwich. I give him a smile as I take it from him, feeling his gaze lingering on me as I take a bite. I swallow down the sandwich, my lips tipping up into a smile of their own accord. “Stop looking at me like that,” I murmur.
His smirk widens, breathing out a laugh. “How are you so damn beautiful?”
Before I can reply, his lips find mine again, his hands sliding up my thigh, gripping my skin, and—
“Fuck,” Nicholas groans, pulling back suddenly and looking down at his leg. “What the…” I follow his gaze, my brows knitting together as I see Pumpkin, clawing at his legs, letting out a meow.
Nicholas groans, rolling his eyes. “What a cockblock.”
Pumpkin leaps up onto the counter, climbing into my arms, her purrs vibrating against my chest as I pet her. “Poor baby is jealous,” I tease, lifting Pumpkin closer to my face and pressing my nose against hers. “You want Nicholas to give you kisses, too?”
He scrunches his nose, the corner of his mouth tugging into a small smile. “I’ll end up with a scratched face, and then your mommy wouldn’t want to kiss me anymore.”
I roll my eyes, a playful grin tugging at my lips. “That’s not true. I’ll want to kiss you even more.”
Nicholas glances at me for a moment, then turns his attention back to Pumpkin, who’s now trying to nuzzle against his chest. “Well, in that case…” He leans closer to the counter, his hand moving to Pumpkin’s back. “Scratch away, Pumpkin.”
She stretches out, curling her little paws against Nicholas’s chest, her tiny nose nuzzling him.
Nicholas chuckles as she climbs into his arms. “I guess she is pretty cute.” His gaze shifts back to me, his fingers lightly brushing my leg. “I think I’ve fallen in love with your cat,” he says, with a smirk.
I let out a laugh, shaking my head, feeling my heart soften at the look on his face. “It was inevitable.”
Nicholas chuckles, but his smile falters, just slightly. The playful gleam in his eyes dims, and he swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he looks at me. “Yeah.”
My heart stutters, the beat picking up pace, each thump like a drum in my chest. The way Nicholas looks at me, the way we fit together, the way he makes me feel…
This might all be fake, for the sake of the deal, but there’s something else, something I can’t pretend isn’t there anymore. My feelings for him have been growing, building, until the realization slaps me right in the face.
I’ve fallen in love with my boss.