Chapter 5
Time melted into thebliss of the sun on our bodies and deep, wet kisses, as we learned our way around each other’s bodies. I sighed luxuriously, sated, and relaxed, my arms dangling by my sides as Nico pushed into me, yet again. The last of the evening sun beat down on my upturned face and my skin prickled. Had I put sunscreen on at all recently? I was probably as red as a beet. I’d think about it later.
After hours of kissing and licking and pleasuring me, I was a limp noodle around his body. How many times had he taken me? Four, five, more? I’d lost count. He”d pleasured me over every part of this balcony, in and out of the pool. He was insatiable, but I was no better, urging him on with each thrust of his hips. Nico came with almost a sigh of relief and collapsed on me.
I smiled at him. “You need a nap.”
He nodded wearily. “I do. Nap, then food.”
We cleaned up in the bathroom. He hesitated and I realized he wasn’t sure whether I wanted to sleep by myself.
I guided him to the bed. Nico wrapped himself around me and was asleep I was sure with the next breath. I stayed awake for a few moments longer, looking at the arm holding me close, the long fingers resting over my heart. This was a fling, nothing more. A summer fling. A not-honeymoon.
* * *
When we woke again, languid and still enjoying touches and kisses, I thought I’d better deal with the contraception discussion. It was stupid of me to be so reckless, and if I was back on the dating game, I would not be doing that again. I made a bit of an embarrassed joke of it, confirming I was on the pill by waving the packet at him, and he showed me recent test results on his phone proclaiming him free of anything I needed to worry about, and the fact he was two months older than me. He’d just had his thirtieth birthday.
I squinted at him. “You get tested? You’ve got a girl in every port, Nico?”
He grimaced. “If only my life was that exciting. This is for the insurance for my job. I work too hard for screwing around the world. I’ve been single for a while now.”
“You travel the world?”
Nico rubbed his temples and I saw how tired he looked, the fan of lines around his eyes deeper now. The man should be asleep, not pleasuring me. “The hotel chain is expanding and as my parents are retired, I spend most of my time on the road.”
“That sounds lonely,” I observed.
Nico looked surprised. “Most people are envious of my life. They don’t think of it as an endless list of hotel rooms and meetings. I have a cat I haven’t seen in six months. She’s probably forgotten I exist.”
He had me at ‘cat’.
“Where is she? What’s her name?” I asked eagerly.
Please let me see his cat. He must have photos of her.
“Her name is Toni. With my parents down the road.”
“You need to see her. You must miss her.”
“You have no idea. I’ll love on her once my parents’ guests have gone home. I’ve got a few weeks’ leave soon despite what my father thinks.” Nico hesitated. “You can come with me, if you want.”
I blinked at him. “You’d take me to meet your cat?”
“Why not? I warn you, Toni’s a love sponge. Once you start giving her attention, she won’t let you stop.”
“That...sounds perfect.” I had to swallow hard around the sudden lump in my throat.
He looked at me. “I didn’t even ask if you liked cats.”
“I love cats. I lost my baby last year. Jakey-Jakes was eighteen. My parents got him for my tenth birthday.”
I didn’t say Mick had flat out refused to get a new cat. I didn’t want to go on and on badmouthing him, in case Nico thought I did that with all the men in my life. I blinked and looked away, not wanting Nico to see me crying again. But he just hauled me into a tight embrace. I stayed there, in his arms. It was so comforting, pressed against his bare chest, the light fur tickling my cheek.
“Toni is nine. I found her behind the bins at university. It took me a few days and a lot of scratches to realize she was feral. But I started feeding her and when she stopped viewing me as the enemy, I sneaked her into my room. Strictly forbidden of course.”
“Did you get into trouble?”
“Yes,” he said cheerfully. “I either rehomed the cat or moved out.”
“What did you do?”
“I moved out of course. Toni was mine.” He gave me a rueful smile. “I had money, although finding somewhere to live that would take a cat was harder.”
“But you found a place?”
“I did. The landlady loved Toni as much as I did. She had three of her own.”
I sighed happily.
“It wasn’t so easy when I started work, but my parents agreed to home her when I’m away.”
“You all have big hearts,” I said.
“We do.’ Nico dropped a kiss on top of my head. “What shall we eat? I need to fuel up for round two.” I felt a rumble and I realized he was laughing. “You’re not blushing, are you?”
“No.”
He could feel my heated cheek against his skin. His snicker told me he knew I was lying.
Dinner was room service. Neither of us were ready to face the outside world. I left Nico to order while I took a much-needed shower, soaping my body and reveling in the spray of hot water. I heard a knock and hurriedly rinsed the soap away.
By the time I got out of the bathroom dressed in another sundress, this one red, a feast had been laid on the table. I found Nico on the balcony lighting candles to keep away the bugs as the light faded.
“When you said room service, I imagined veggie burgers and fries, not a five-course banquet.” I studied the table full of meze platters, kebabs, lemon potatoes, and tiny, sweet desserts including baklava. “Do you eat like this every night?”
Nico chuckled. “I might have told them to make it special. After the fiasco last night, I figure you’re owed it. I should have asked you what you like to eat.”
I grinned at him. “I eat everything veggie. I love my food.”
He gave me a skeptical look. “Really?”
“Really.” I huffed. “You think I’m too skinny?”
“I don’t care what shape you are,” Nico said.
Now it was my turn to be skeptical. “Really?” Every man I’d ever known had an opinion about a girl’s weight.
“I guess I like women who love their food. My last girlfriend picked at salad. That did not go down well with Mama.”
I chuckled. “I love eating and I love cooking. I’ll cook meat, I just don’t want to eat it. But the last few weeks have been stressful. I forgot to eat.”
He put a hand over his heart. “You cook too? Don’t tell Mama that or she’ll be marching us up the aisle. It’s on her checklist for daughters-in-law.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Daughters-in-law, plural?”
Nico shoved me gently. “You know what I mean. Come on, let’s eat.”
I followed him to the table, trying very hard not to think about being introduced to his mom.
* * *
We flaked out on thecouches, the warm evening breeze flowing over us.
“I can’t remember the last time I ate so much.” I rubbed my belly.
Nico rolled his head to gaze at me. “It was so good,” he agreed.
He reached out and we entangled fingers.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“Don’t say thank you. I want you to understand you don’t have to be grateful. I want to be with you.”
“I’m kinda bruised at the moment,” I admitted. “I’m not sure what’s real and what isn’t.”
He rolled toward me and trailed his other hand down my cheek. “I’m not Mick.”
“I know that.”
“I’m a workaholic, a bit too intense, I love my family, and I think I’m developing feelings for you, Cassie Carstairs.”
“You just described me,” I said. “Miriam is never going to believe this.” I had that refrain on repeat in my head.
“Who’s Miriam?”
“My best friend. She’s the one who forced me to come here.”
“I owe her,” Nico said.
I shook my head. “Never say that. She’s a monster. She’ll hold you to it.”
He chuckled and we went silent for a moment, gazing at each other.
“I want to fuck you again,” he murmured.
Then I was on my back on one of the chairs, my legs wrapped tightly around his waist as Nico nestled between my legs.
I tugged him against me, one arm wrapped around his neck, the soft hair on his chest tickling my sensitized skin. He cupped my breasts, then ran a hand down my side and across my belly. I shivered as he brushed my clit, then dipped into my pussy.
“I want to love you again until you’re melted in my arms.”
He thrust against me, pressing his hard dick between us.
“I’m going to make you forget your name,” Nico whispered, his breath warm against the shell of my ear.
“Too late,” I murmured. I’d forgotten who I was from the first kiss in the pool.