Chapter 15
Adam
The phone vibrating on the nightstand almost gets thrown against the wall before I realize it’s most likely Oscar.
“Yeah,” I grumble, answering the phone.
“First of the few deliveries is in thirty minutes. Get there and pick it up immediately.” Oscar hangs up just as quickly as he called.
Fuuuuuuck. I don’t want to wake up Nova, and I don’t want to bring her along.
I look over at her barely visible head. A faint smile paints a picture of what could be if everything was different.
I whisper her name once, in the name of trying to wake her up but hoping she stays asleep.
Nova doesn’t budge. She’s sleeping so soundly this is probably the first time she’s gotten good sleep in forever.
I roll slowly out of bed, careful not to wake up Nova, and quickly head to the bathroom. I flip the shower to cold, my hand automatically going to my morning wood as I step in.
Pleasure washes over me—pleasure that I hoped would get washed down the drain with the freezing-cold shower, but no such luck. Guess that’s what happens when you sleep naked next to the woman you’re crushing on.
Flashes of Nova’s body, so soft and warm, run through my head as I grab the soap that smells like her.
As I run my soaped-up hands along my body, I can’t help but imagine what it would feel like if they were Nova’s.
Her small yet strong hands taking control.
Touching me wherever she damn well pleases.
I was so close to saying “fuck it” this morning, but we were both exhausted. Judging by how quickly Nova fell asleep, it was the right call. It didn’t stop me from reveling in the feel of her against me.
My hand reaches my dick, and my lack of control takes over. The soapy friction puts me on edge in minutes.
What would it be like if Nova was on her knees for me? What would it be like to be on mine for her?
God, I’d do that in a second. I’d worship her.
If only our lives weren’t in tough spots.
Or she knew who I really was.
I shake my head, focusing on the feel of my hand as it slides up and down my shaft.
My free hand slams against the shower tile as visions of Nova dancing on stage pop into my head. I imagine her dancing just for me, and I’m a goner.
I come with a grunt, desperate to keep quiet so I don’t wake up the woman I’m fantasizing about. Lord knows she doesn’t need to see what kind of dirty bastard I am with her in the other room.
The rest of the shower is uneventful, thank God, because I’m running late thanks to my horny detour. Within another five minutes, I’m in my SUV—with damp hair—and heading toward Bella’s and the cave.
Since Nova isn’t here this time, I’m going to attempt to sneak some pictures of who’s delivering things so I can relay the information to my team. She’s been a wealth of information even if I hate that I’m using her in order to get it.
The wait doesn’t take long, and neither does finding a hiding spot behind some bushes that have a clear view of the cave opening. Two minutes later, the first delivery shows up, giving me clear pictures of the man.
Me:
Am I dropping this off ASAP or waiting until all come in?
I’m careful to word it so it’s ambiguous. I don’t want to spook Oscar.
O:
Tonight.
Sighing, I plop down on the ground, ready to be here for the long haul.
Fuck Oscar for not telling me how many fucking deliveries there were supposed to be. I’ve been here all day, with no end in sight, and I just know that Nova is panicking right now.
Me:
I didn’t ditch you. O called, and I had to work all day. It was hard as hell leaving that bed.
Nova:
Sure, sure. Whatever you say. I’ve just getting some housework done.
Me:
Housework, huh? Do you have to work tonight?
Nova:
I do. Guess you won’t get to have naked snuggles tonight.
Me:
You enjoyed it.
Nova:
Shockingly, I did. That’s not like me.
Me:
I must have some magic powers.
Nova:
More like a magic body. It’s all the muscles. They’ve put me in a Chris stupor.
I choke on my laughter, looking up to make sure no one is around to catch me off guard.
Me:
That really doesn’t sound like an issue for me.
Nova:
Not for you, but certainly for me. You apparently make me lose my damn mind. Who sleeps naked with a man and doesn’t at least get an orgasm out of it?
Nova:
That was too honest. Shouldn’t have said that.
Me:
My mistake. Next time, I’ll ensure you get an orgasm too. Note to self: Never go to bed with Nova without giving her an orgasm.
Nova:
Yeah, I won’t complain.
Me:
You’re playful today. I like it.
Nova:
I’ll blame the naked sleeping. It’s completely out of my norm, so my brain is short-circuiting today due to the change in habits.
Me:
Join the club.
I think about my jacking off in the shower and how the day has been a damn struggle because I’m not with Nova. My world has turned upside down at a point where I’m so damn close to cracking this case.
Nova:
Feels like there’s a story there.
Me:
Maybe, but I’m not sharing. Want to come over after your shift?
Nova:
You need to sleep, not to wait for up for me.
Me:
I’ll be at Bella’s as soon as I’m done here.
I leave her no room for argument. This compulsion to be around the woman is going to land me in trouble, but apparently, I don’t give a shit. And I am fucking tired. The thing is I only want to sleep if Nova’s next to me.
Nova:
Stubborn.
Me:
Takes one to know one.
My phone buzzes in my hand, signaling a phone call from Nova. I answer, but she doesn’t let me get a word in.
“I know you can’t talk, but I just wanted to tell you that you’re very cute when you’re tired.
I slept the whole night through for the first time in forever thanks to you.
So, if you maybe want to come to Bella’s and take me home after, I won’t be sad.
And I hope you got pictures so I can tell you who they are. ”
“I did, and I’ll be there,” I whisper.
“Good. See you soon, my naked sleeping partner.” Then she hangs up.
Absolutely nothing could rip the smile off my face for the rest of the day.
Six deliveries and one drop-off at Oscar’s apartment later, and I’m finally walking my happy ass into Bella’s.
The drop-off went really well. Oscar talked with me more about upcoming deliveries and even mentioned an auction happening soon. No firm dates or times, but even the actual knowledge of them happening is more than I’ve had in almost a year.
Now, I get to spend the rest of the night watching Nova look hot as fuck on stage while waiting to take her to my own bed. For once, I don’t feel any jealousy of the men watch her. Because I know I get to take her home and she’ll be in my bed all night long, not theirs.
Male pride is a hell of a thing. One I’ve never really experienced before, but it’s certainly raging through me right now.
An announcement overhead tells me that Nova’s next and it should be her last dance of the night. I lean forward, cupping my club soda and lime, and wait to see what she’s dressed in.
The bump of the table, sloshing my drink over my hands, jolts my attention to the man sliding into the other side of the booth.
“She’s a hot piece of ass, ain’t she?” Nico practically salivates as he speaks.
I refuse to answer or give any hints that Nova is mine, no matter how much I want to, so I look down at my drink.
“That’s okay. No need to say what we all know. It’s just a matter of time until I get her to break. Maybe I’ll take her to the office tonight, throw her over the desk and make it so she has to take it.”
My hands squeeze the glass so hard it breaks, shocking us both.
“Ahh, now I see. I’ll just have to do it on a night when you aren’t here then. Can’t be interrupted, after all. Maybe I’ll bring her back to my place so she’ll never see the light of day again.” He looks entirely too happy.
I know he’s trying to instigate me. The problem is it’s working. My teeth grit, and he slugs back his tequila.
“You’re not tough shit. You may be Oscar’s little pet project right now, but you’ll be gone soon enough. And by that time”—he looks over at me with a sneer—“I’ll have my pet project exactly how I want her. Submissive and silent.” He toasts his empty glass to Nova up on stage.
I snap.
His head cracks against the wooden table before I shove him down onto the booth. Punch after punch lands, but the red haze that clouds my vision is far from gone. Hands grab at my shoulders, ripping me away from the piece of shit trying to go after my woman.
My hands go up in surrender. “I’m good,” I pant. “I’m good.”
That’s when I look at Nova. Her eyes swarm with unshed tears, and there’s a look of fear I’ve never seen on her face before.
“That’s right. Take a good look now while you still can,” Nico spouts off as the bouncers lead him out the back hallway.
The one holding me grabs my shoulder so I don’t go after him. “The only reason I’m not kicking you out is because of Cano. Don’t make me call him.”
I shrug off his hold. I give Nova a nod before I tip my head to the backdoor. She subtly nods back but continues her dance. I go the way Nico went, just to ensure he isn’t hanging around the dressing room like the fucking asshole he is. Luckily, he seems to have gotten the message … for now.
Fifteen minutes later, Nova bursts through the back door, head on a swivel frantically looking for me.
“Oh my God! What happened?” she asks once she spots me against the brick wall.
“Nico knows we’ve been hanging out. We’ll need to be more careful, and you need to be extra careful here. Take a bouncer with you if you need to go anywhere without cameras, and I’ll be here every night you work.”
“Chris, you’re freaking me out. What did he say?”
“Just …” I sigh, running my hand through my hair. “Trust me when I say be careful.”
“You need to be more careful.”
I smile at her words. “Worried about me, Nova baby?”
“Must be the naked sleeping. I’ve temporarily lost my sense of self-preservation.”
My feet move closer to her; my hands go on her hips. “Speaking of … What do you say to another night of naked snuggles?”
“I think I could be persuaded,” she says before she rests her head on my chest. My arms wrap around her, holding her. “What are we doing?” Nova whispers.
Somehow, I know she isn’t talking about right this minute. I just don’t have an answer for her. I can’t tell her that everything she thinks she knows about me is made up.
Not everything. You’ve shown her more of your true self than to anyone outside of your team.
“I don’t know. I can’t make any promises,” I murmur into the crown of her head.
“I’m not asking for any.”
“Come on.” I step back and lead her to where I parked.
The drive to my place is quiet. Nico rattled me, and it seems he did the same to Nova as well.
We tuck into bed, naked, and as my hand trails down her stomach to give her that orgasm I promised her, I hope that I can keep Nova close. Once I tire out my woman, Nova snuggles up against my side, with her head and hand on my chest.
I think about my next steps.
Things are ramping up Oscar. Logically, I know I’m close to the end of this assignment.
But I just don’t want that to mean it’s the end of me and Nova as well.