Chapter 28
Aubergine.
Immediately, Nicola’s hands cupped my face, cool metal rings touched my heated skin.
“Please don’t go, Nicky," I urged. "Come upstairs w–”
He kissed me.
I melted into it, throwing my arms around his shoulders. My entire body crushed into his, absorbing the warmth I had been deprived of for days-- the warmth I had grown dependent upon.
He pulled away just as my tongue grazed his bottom lip.
“Aubergine.” My name was a warning, he was breathing hard.
“Please.” I clenched into his suit jacket. “I feel really stupid and insane right now. And everything is fucked up. But I want you.”
Nicola swore and bent forward, circling one arm around my thighs. He hefted me over his shoulder like he’d done with his luggage and I squeaked in surprise.
“Nicky!” I smacked his back. “Put me down!”
“You’re going to take a shower. You’re going to go to sleep.”
I scowled. “I want you.”
“And I’ve dreamed of fucking you in a million different ways,” he shot back. I froze. “But I’m not going to take advantage of you.”
“Oh my God.” I deflated against him. He carried me through his bedroom and straight to the bathroom.
I was placed on my feet. Even as I scowled, he ignored me and opened the glass door, turning on the shower.
“What kind of mafia don are you? I'm practically begging you and you're turning me down? Al Pacino fucking lied to me!”
He spun and grasped my face between his hand. His fingers lightly squished down so my lips puckered out. I think he just wanted me to stop talking.
“I’m taking care of you. Because you won’t bother doing it. Shower.” He stepped back and crossed his arms, blocking the exit. “I’ll wait here.”
I pushed down my leggings and threw them to the ground, very much like a petulant child. “Why won’t you get in with me?”
“You just said you feel insane. You’re not thinking straight.”
“Get in with me, Nicola.”
“No. And tomorrow when you're clear headed, you’re going to thank me for not fucking you.”
“Well, tomorrow, I’m going to staple your head to the couch,” I hissed, and pulled my t-shirt overhead.
“Oh, what a sweet, gentle flower you’ve bloomed into–” He froze.
“What? What’s wrong?”
His hand shot out and grasped the long, silver chain that sat between my breasts.
Shit. I completely forgot.
His thumb ran over the rounded edge of his ring, then his eyes lifted to meet mine questioningly.
“I… I’m sorry,” I began quickly, feeling my face heat. “You left it at the apartment. I was going to give it back. Um, eventually.”
I couldn't read the new expression on his face. Maybe he was touched. “No. Keep it.”
Before my eyes could widen, he kissed me again, hard.
It was all consuming, everything I wanted. The kind of kiss that turned you breathless.
My bra was unhooked with a single pass. Nicky had been doing that for at least two decades, I shouldn't have been impressed by it, but I was.
I pushed off my panties and quickly helped him unbuckle his pants. He whipped off his tie, unbuttoned his shirt. His rings were pulled off and sounded like coins as they hit dropped onto the stone counter.
I was urged under the sprays, then backed against the marble wall. The glass door shut behind him. Nicky braced one arm against the marble wall just beside my head.
Water streamed down his face in rivulets as he stared, waiting. Black hair was wildly strewn, plastered to his face.
Sweet Jesus.
Slowly, he looked me over. “Face the shower.”
With a turn, warm water pelted my chest. I tensed as I felt him press against my back. One warm, large hand cupped a breast and already I was sinking into ecstasy.
It wasn’t just the confidence of his hands. It was his touch. Nothing else grounded me the way he did.
His right hand explored downward. Fingers parted me and then slowly stroked over my pussy. I clenched down on nothing.
“God, you’re wet,” he whispered, toying and tugging on my nipple. “Just how many times did we hang out, where you were sitting there, soaking through your panties like this?”
I bit back another whimper. “I–I don’t know.”
“Would you touch yourself–” My body melted when his middle finger sank inside me, then his index finger. The stretch was familiar, tight. “And think of me?”
“Nicky–”
“Answer the question.”
“Yes.” My voice came out hoarse.
He smiled against my hair. “Even with the blue alien dildo?”
His long, thick fingers began to slowly work inside me and my knees wanted to give out. One of my palms shot out to the wall so I didn’t crumble.
I tried to scowl, but it just felt so fucking good. “Yes.”
The moan that came out of me echoed in the bathroom, we might as well have set up an intercom system for the whole house to hear. I used my freehand to slap over my mouth.
“No, it’s good. Let them hear you.”
I vigorously shook my head, but my entire foundation almost collapsed when his other hand circled over my throbbing clit.
“I know exactly where you like it,” he whispered, smugly. His thumb stroked, firm. “They don’t.”
They? Who were they?
My attention was swept away as he pressed a kiss to the side of my head. “Keep moving like that, Aubergine. Look down. Watch me fuck you.”
I looked down, his hands were so large as they worked over me. Whimpers escaped through my tight lips I rocked my hips in tandem with his fingers.
“Nicky–” I braced my other hand on the glass wall, my nails scratched down its smooth surface like I could anchor myself. “Fuck. It’s so good, please. Please make me come.”
He groaned against me. The wet sounds his fingers made were filthy and erotic, and drove me over the edge.
The climax passed through me like a wave. At the crest, my hearing went out. Pleasure swept over me, so good and consuming I forgot everything but him and me.
Everything else went away as I still rode out the wave. By the end, I was almost entirely being held up by him.
“Jesus. I’m dizzy.”
He laughed softly. “Lock in your knees.”
I did as I was told.
Nicola washed me. I mean, he really lathered the soap– his fancy imported French stuff– and sank his shampoo into my head and washed my hair.
Somewhere in the back of my head, I wanted to tell him I could do it myself. He didn’t have to trouble himself.
But… this was how he showed affection. It wasn’t through flowery words. It was through his actions and choices.
So I said nothing. I remained totally selfish, and let him.
My hair was conditioned. Rinsed out. The shower was turned off. Nicola toweled off my body.
“Want me to blow dry your hair?” he asked and I almost choked on a laugh.
“I thought the imported French soap was the least gangster thing about you. Offering to blow-dry my hair might’ve just taken first place.”
He smacked my ass. “My generosity is dwindling here.”
I shook my head with a smile. “I'd rather you get in bed with me.”
Nicola exhaled heavily through his nostrils.
His gaze flickered to the door. Maybe he was trying to figure out if he could bolt for his study and lock me out.
"Please?"
His eyes met mine. I knew I’d already won before he even nodded.
I found a fresh pair of panties and pulled a tank top on. When he emerged from his closet in briefs but nothing else, I smiled at him.
“What’s that look for?” Nicola glanced down at himself. “Something on me?”
He was still the man of my dreams. Not perfect, I mean... not even close. But he was here.
He could’ve disappeared into his study. Buried himself in work. Hidden behind the Don mask.
That would’ve been easier. He didn’t.
“Nothing.”
I watched him crawl between the silky sheets. He ripped the pillow out from underneath my elbow and I almost face planted on the mattress.
“Geeze–”
“You know I like sleeping on that side. Move over.”
Yeah, definitely not perfect.
“But this side is closer to the bathroom," I said.
“Yeah. Exactly. Scoot over.”
I scowled as I crawled to the left side of the bed. “Anything else, Master Moretti? Perhaps a mint for your pillow?”
“The sass could turn down a notch or two, considering Master Moretti should be working right now, not sleeping." He fluffed his pillow then dropped his head back.
“That’s how relationships work. And stop acting like you’re some robot that doesn’t need sleep, too.”
He sneered at me mockingly. “Just get over here, Aubergine.”
I pressed myself against his side, draping a leg over him and my arm wrapped tightly around his torso.
“You are literally latched on me like a parasite right now."
“I wouldn’t have to be if I wasn’t convinced you’d ditch me when I fell asleep. I need security measures in place.”
His free hand slowly drifted up my leg, then rested over my thigh. “I won’t leave. I missed my bed too much.”
“Oh, my God,” I whispered.
He laughed. “I’m joking! Y'know, mostly.”
With my cheek on his shoulder, I looked up at him. “Of all the men in this world… I picked this one. Who calls me a parasite.”
“There’s pros and cons to every choice, Abs," he pointed out with a soft yawn.
“Pro. You’re pretty.”
His eyes were shut, but his lips curved. “Why, thank you.”
“Con, you’re an asshole.”
“I mean, it comes with the territory. It’s not fair to hold that against me.”
“Pro. You’re getting better at listening. Con. You’re still kind of domineering. And do whatever you want.”
“That was two cons in a row–”
“Hm. It’s not looking good, Nicola.”
He lightly pinched my thigh and I squirmed with a laugh.
“Go to sleep. You’ll think of more pros with some rest. I’m full of them.”
The bedroom grew quiet. I was dozing in and out, trying to shut off my mind, half convinced the hospital would call any second and tell me Dad was dead.
The only thing that soothed me was the man I’d tangled my body with. I shifted against him for the tenth time, resettled my head closer to his chest.
“Go to sleep." He sounded annoyed.
“Are you watching me?” I opened one eye and looked up at him. “You go to sleep.”
“You first.”
“Stop making it a competition.”
He huffed in amusement. His hand stroked my damp hair and gently tucked some behind my ear. “Do you need one of those pills?”
“No." I listened carefully to his heart beat and told myself to not think about anything else but what was happening in this bedroom. "Just this.”