24. Chapter 24 #2
After a beat, Nick pulls away, and the loss of his touch sends embarrassment crawling up my spine. “Oh gosh, Nick, I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have…” My words trail off as he sets the bag and flowers aside.
“No, you absolutely should have. I just hate to drop these. I need both hands on you right now.” He straightens to his full height, and the difference between us suddenly hits me. It’s unbelievably hot, the way he towers over me, the way his broad shoulders lean into mine.
And then his lips are on mine again, all coherent thoughts gone out the damn window.
For a moment, time stills. Our lips crash together, my fingers fisting his shirt as his hands find my waist, hauling me flush against him. The sound I make when our mouths meet surprises me—soft, needy, and completely unrestrained.
Nick’s grip tightens as though he’s been waiting for this. Like he’s been holding himself back for weeks and finally doesn’t have to anymore.
He slides his hands to the backs of my thighs and lifts me effortlessly. I gasp as the movement steals the air from my lungs, wrapping my legs around his waist and clinging to him.
My body molds to his hard chest, solid shoulders, the unmistakable heat of him pressing into me.
His mouth moves against mine, slower now. Deeper. More intentional.
He kisses me like he wants to taste every part of my body. His lips curve into the faintest smile when I tug his hair, and the low rumble in his chest goes straight to my core.
I’m not sure how long we stay here, mouths and limbs tangled, breathing each other in.
I never want to move.
I want to stay right here, wrapped around him, letting the rest of the world fall away.
Eventually we part, both breathless and flushed. Nick blinks at me in stunned delight, his smile spreading across his face as I step back and welcome him inside.
I walk into the kitchen, grab a large mason jar from under the sink, fill it with water, and place the flowers inside. I keep my face slightly hidden behind a curtain of hair until I feel Nick come up behind me. His hands settle gently on my waist as he leans his head toward my shoulder.
“Lydia, don’t hide from me,” he whispers.
I turn toward him, unable to hide the flush in my cheeks. I look up, noticing the swell of his lips from our kiss and the blush climbing his neck. He’s just as turned on as I am.
“I’m not hiding. I’m hot as hell right now, and if I don’t keep my eyes off you, I can’t be held responsible for what I might do.”
Nick’s dark eyes light up with amusement.
“Oh, yeah?” he murmurs. “What might you do?”
I know I probably shouldn’t, but I reach up, wrap my arms around his neck, and pull him down to me, all inhibition gone.
“I could easily rip your clothes off and fuck you in this kitchen,” I whisper, then push him away slightly, taking a deep breath as I notice his stunned expression.
“But then we’d be late for your mom’s birthday dinner, and showing up with sex hair and beard burn might not make the best first impression.
” I busy myself straightening my blouse, mostly to avoid his stunned expression.
When did I become so forward? I’ve never spoken so easily about what I was thinking with anyone. But Nick isn’t just anyone. I spoke to him without fear of repercussion or judgment. Still, maybe I shouldn’t have blurted out I want to have sex with him on the floor of my teeny-tiny kitchen.
I look up at him, hands still fisted in his shirt, searching his face for any sign of what he’s thinking.
He looks down at me, and a devilish, amused look spreads across his lips.
“Fuck, you’re amazing. Please always talk to me like that.
Exactly like you just did.” He grins wider, planting his hands on the counter and caging me in.
Have I just combusted? Good God, this man is effortlessly sexy.
“I have something else for you,” he says over his shoulder as he reaches for the small bag on the counter, leaving his other hand beside my hip.
He hands it to me, and I take it. “You didn’t need to get me a gift, Nick.
The flowers are more than enough.” I pull aside the single piece of tissue paper and take out a small ceramic chicken.
Huh?
At first, I think it’s just a sweet little trinket, until I remember picking it up that day in Sam’s store while we were shopping for Susannah.
I thought it was precious, but when I saw the price tag, I decided it would have to wait.
It wasn’t a necessity, just a cute little knickknack.
Nick must have noticed me looking at it.
“Thank you, Nick. I…” My voice trails off as I fight back tears. This man is so thoughtful, so kind, and because of that, I’m standing here on the verge of crying over a tiny ceramic chicken. I try again, daring to look up at him. “Thank you. This was so sweet of you.”
I look up, pulse racing, catching how his gaze locks onto mine.
“It’s the little things, Lydia.” He shrugs like it’s nothing and takes the tiny object from my hands, placing it on the windowsill above my sink.
“I saw you looking at it the other day. I just wanted you to have something that would make you smile.” Good heavens, is this man even real?
My heart flutters again, as it seems to do constantly when Nick is around. I already want to keep him forever.
I take a deep breath and clap my hands once.
“We should go. We don’t want to be late, right?” I take another deep breath, trying to calm myself. Is it hot in here? Good grief, it really is. Without thinking, I lift a hand and fan myself. Just as I turn toward the door, Nick’s hand wraps lightly around my wrist, spinning me back toward him.
“If I forget to say it later, thank you for coming tonight,” he says, looking into my eyes, his own bright and a little nervous, but mostly excited.
“In case I forget to tell you later, thank you for having me. I had a great time.” I try to give him what I hope is a sexy wink, but knowing my luck, I probably just look like I have something in my eye.
Nick chuckles low, placing a hand at the small of my back as he leads me to the door. He grabs my purse and the small brown paper bag I set beside it. “What’s this?” he asks, holding up the bag as we step outside while I turn to lock the front door.
“It’s just a small gift I picked up for your mom. I didn’t want to show up empty-handed.”
“You got my mom a gift?”
“Yeah. Is that okay?”
“Of course. I just…thank you, Lydia. That was really sweet of you.”
We walk to his truck, Nick stopping to open my door and help me in. His cheeks are flushed, and he’s wearing the sweetest grin.
My own cheeks burn, and I duck my head, trying to hide just enough so he can’t see how much he affects me. But something tells me he already does. And I think maybe, just maybe, I have the same effect on him.