Imperfections Forbidden (The Imperfections #2)

Chapter 1

Cat

Earlier, Nick sent me a text to tell me he made reservations at an exclusive restaurant that just opened near his apartment.

Exclusive must mean dress to the nines, because they cater to very rich people.

I put on my fitted sleeveless red on top dress with a oval cutout across my chest, black from the waist down stopping above my knees.

I straighten my hair and let it fall back over my shoulders with a part at the side. My makeup is light, as usual. I put on my three-inch black strappy heels and my diamond stud earrings.

It’s like I’m on a secret mission as I leave the house. Since Kate has moved in, I feel like a fugitive on the run, trying not to get caught by the authorities.

I get out of the cab in Chelsea, in front of Nick’s building, and ring the bell.

I’ve never been to his apartment before while sober.

The only thing I really remember is his bedroom.

I ring again, but no answer. Did he forget the time?

I hope not; my cab left and it’s freezing out here.

My phone alerts me I have a message. It’s a message from Nick.

The door is open, come in.

Maybe he’s still getting dressed. I hope he has all his clothes on.

I don’t have the strength or the willpower after today.

I clutch my purse in my hand and open the door.

I walk into a spacious hallway then up a flight of steps to another door.

There is an elevator but I need the walk for my nerves.

There are two doors; I choose the one in front of me, which happens to be open so I assume I’m correct.

It leads me into a state-of-the-art kitchen that was built for a master chef, with a huge stainless steel refrigerator, six-burner stove with a flat top griddle, and gleaming pots hanging from a rack overhead.

The living room is as nice as the kitchen. His furniture is the same tones as in his office. Hardwood floors, a large plush area rug in the center of the living room, and a gigantic floor-to-ceiling window on one side of the room overlooking the city skyline and the water. “Wow, it’s spectacular.”

“Yes, it is.”

I spin around at the sound of his deep voice.

He walks over to me and takes my hand. He’s wearing dark blue jeans and a white button down shirt out of his pants.

He looks fresh and clean, and I want to run my fingers through his thick black hair.

That one thought brings back memories of me on his desk and my hands in his hair, holding him to me, and I feel my cheeks growing warm.

“Why aren’t you dressed? Am I overdressed? I thought you said we were going to an exclusive restaurant?”

“Relax, you’re not overdressed. We’re going to an extremely exclusive restaurant.” He winks at me, and I pull my hand away from him. He takes my hand again with a mischievous smile. “Don’t be shy, now. Follow me.”

“Where?”

“Don’t worry. I want to show you something.”

“Don’t worry? Easy for you to say, hard for me not to do.”

“Trust me, you’ll like it, I hope.”

He leads me into an elevator in the kitchen.

He pushes a button, and we go up in silence.

I wish he would let my hand go; I’m so nervous my hands are starting to sweat.

I wonder if he can hear my heart beating out of my chest?

It’s so loud in my ears. He squeezes my hand and pulls me closer to his side without looking at me.

“Relax, trust me.”

I don’t say anything and keep my eyes focused on the doors.

The elevator stops, and the doors split apart.

My mouth drops open, and I walk out of the elevator on to a enclosed rooftop garden.

Half of it is covered by clear glass walls, with a clear ceiling.

I’m surrounded by roses and flowers of every color and little twinkling lights that look like stars in the sky and droplets of rain resting on the petals.

I can’t believe it! It smells and looks incredible.

There’s a table in the back covered with a white tablecloth.

On it, there’s a bottle of pink champagne with two crystal flutes and two plates covered with silver lids.

“Nick, it’s breathtaking.”

He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me against his rock-hard but soothingly warm body.

He leans down to my ear. “You’re breathtaking.”

“Why did you do this?”

“I wanted to surround you with the stars above and below. Stars are points of light; if you find the right one, it will always lead you back home with the brightness of its illumination. As long as they’re there, you will never be lost when the night comes and you’re cast into darkness. You’re my star.”

I really like this Nick. “I don’t know what to say.”

He turns me around and unbuttons my coat. I let him slide it down my arms, and he throws it on the chaise. Taking my hand, he leads me to the table. Pressing a button on a remote, the song “By Your Side” by Sade begins to play. “Dance with me,” he says.

Putting my hand in his, I lay my head against his chest and listen as we move in each other’s arms. I feel like I’m in a dream—a dream I never want to wake up from.

This is what I want, to be here with him, by his side, to have and to hold.

To be loved. He wants me, and I want him.

It’s as simple as that. That’s enough for tonight; it’s enough for now.

I lift my head up to him, and my hand goes around the top of his head.

Running my fingers through his hair that’s as black as the night sky, his eyes are as clear and warm as the summer sky in June.

Our lips meet and fuse together in a kiss so tender and slow, filled with so much emotion it steals my breath away.

There is no word to describe what I feel in this moment.

“Make love to me, Nick.”

These words tumble out of my mouth like a woman held captive by frustration, guilt, and fear, a girl held way too long against her will.

I’m ready to give in and surrender in a warm rooftop garden surrounded by fragrance and beauty of every color, on a bitter cold November night.

The stars are bright above and around me, and the man of my dreams makes love to me like we are the only two people in this world.

I let him in without hesitation, fear, or guilt; we are joined together as one.

I am the center of his universe with every pull, push, lick and taste; every touch, feel, thrust, cry of passion, and explosion of hot, flowing heat. I am his. This is truly my first time.

When it’s over, we sit at the table with me in his lap, wrapped in a blanket.

He feeds me, and I feed him. We drink from the same glass.

We talk and we laugh. Later, he lifts me up in his arms and carries me to his bed.

We touch, kiss, and explore with our hands and mouths for hours, in complete darkness, only the sounds of sighs and moans of two lovers in perfect harmony.

This is the happiest I have ever been. I don’t want to leave.

I know it’s almost time for me to go. We lie facing each other on his bed.

Nick’s leg between mine, mine over his, the sheet wrapped around us.

Our hands intertwined, his head is on his arm.

He looks at me and brings our joined hands to his lips kissing my fingers.

“Stay with me. Don’t leave tonight.”

“I can’t. I didn’t tell anyone I wasn’t coming home. I didn’t even tell them I was going out.”

“Are you going to make me beg?”

“Maybe; I’ve never heard you beg before. And as a matter of fact, you’ve made me beg more than once today. Turnabout is fair play.”

“I will for you. If it will get you to stay. Stay.”

“Only you can make begging sound like a demand.”

He moves the sheet down to my waist, bending his head to take my nipple into his mouth, and my hand goes to the back of his head rolling me on my back.

“Say you’ll stay. Please.”

I arch my back off the bed, my fingers fisted into his hair. He moans, and I moan back. His hand crawls up my leg.

“Ni-ick.”

“Say yes.”

I say the only word I’m able to say with his mouth on me and his hand in me.

“Yes.”

I send a text, telling my parents I’m spending the night at a friend’s house. I spend what is left of the night in Nick’s arms, tired and blissfully satisfied.

I wake up with a bright stream of light in my face by myself in his huge bed.

I didn’t notice how big it was last night.

I didn’t notice much of anything last night.

Now that I’m thinking about all of it I’m smiling from ear to ear.

I put my hands over my eyes and shake my head, God, it was good.

I want to replay it over and over and over again in my head.

“Hey, you.”

Nick strolls into the room in a pair of jeans and a sleeveless T-shirt. Why does he always look so good in the morning? I probably look like a roughed up mess.

“Hey, you.” I self-consciously run my hands over my hair to smooth it down.

“Did you sleep well?”

“I slept so good I didn’t hear you get out of bed, take a shower, dress and eat breakfast, leaving me all alone in bed looking a hot mess.”

He plops down next to me and kisses me on the forehead. “Don’t worry about it. I forgive you for not looking your absolute best for me at all times.”

“You jerk! You should totally come in here with breakfast on a tray made especially for me.”

“I’m sorry, I must have left my manners in bed with you, when you begged me to let you stay last night.”

“What!” He tries to kiss me, and I put my hand over his mouth and push him away. “Don’t even try to kiss me.” He playfully bites my hand, pins me to the bed, and kisses me anyway.

“You were so cute, curled up in my bed sound asleep, that I didn’t want to wake you up. I decided to make a few phone calls before you got up; that way I can spend the rest of the day giving you my undivided attention.”

He rubs his unshaven face against my cheek, and I make a face at the rough stubble scraping my skin. “Well, I’m up now and I’m hungry—are you going to feed me or what?”