Chapter 34
“Eat.” Nicolas held a bowl of strawberries.
Emily tried to move to him from the living room, but she was tethered, held back by an invisible rope around her legs. It had something to do with that commanding tone.
“You’re not at work,” was all she managed to get out.
He lifted a brow at her. “And you haven’t eaten all day according to the housekeepers.”
She blinked. “I’m not hungry.”
The sight of him was one she’d longed for since he’d left for work.
Wait.
Did he come back just to feed her?
His eyes squinted, agitated lines pulling his face down. “Not hungry? Okay…what have you had for lunch then?” He strolled over and sat beside her. Her mouth went dry as desire bloomed inside her body from his scent.
“Emily.” He snapped her out of the daydreaming.
“Hmm?”
“I asked what you had for lunch.”
She looked at him, her mind finally catching on. “Uh…”
His jaw tightened.
“I didn’t do it on purpose!” she blurted. “I’ve just been script reading and the time slipped away from me.”
His eyes softened. “Say ‘ah.’”
“What?”
The strawberry between his long fingers caressed her lips. She looked at him wide-eyed. “Ah…” he coaxed.
Emily’s mouth parted as if she were under compulsion.
Nicolas didn’t take his eyes off her lips as they wrapped around the red fruit and sucked it in swiftly. She chewed for a few seconds. Her eyes flew open in delight at the taste.
“Yummy.”
He cleared his throat. “Do you want some more?”
She nodded eagerly. His eyes flickered away as she ate another one.
“I thought you had work. Why are you here…” Her eyes found his casual attire after chewing. “Dressed down like this?” She took in his clothing; loose black slacks and a white dress shirt.
“I took the day off and hung out with some friends of mine. We went to our usual boxing gym.”
“You box? And why haven’t you mentioned these friends of yours?”
“Yes, I box,” he mirrored her way of stressing the word. “And maybe because I haven’t been seeing them as often? I don’t know.” His shoulders moved up and down lightly.
“We’ve been friends since college, but with everyone’s jobs, it’s been difficult to make time.
Doesn’t help that Chase has been out of the country for the past two years.
You’ve probably heard of them. Chase owns Carva & Co.
, a luxury brand line. And Ethan is a bestselling author and screenwriter for many films.”
Emily stiffened. “You’re not…” She released a shaky breath. “You’re not talking about Chase Carvalho and Ethan Yuen, are you?”
He nodded. “Yeah, you know them?”
The smallest yelp left her before she took a deep breath, regaining her composure. “Do I know them? I’m pretty sure everyone knows them.”
Nicolas’s eyes took in every twitch of her facial muscles. “Now there’s a part of me that wishes you didn’t, Em. You seem way too starstruck for someone of your stature. Who is it? Chase? Ethan? Or worse…both?”
She smacked his arm. “Shut up! I’m not starstruck. It’s just that I’ve always wanted to work with Ethan. He’s a genius. Full stop. You don’t understand how precious his scripts are.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she practically vibrated with excitement. “Really? They’d better be, considering how he hibernates for half a year like a damn animal while writing.”
She nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, they are! Actors have multiple rounds of auditions just to land a role. Any role.”
Suddenly her expression clouded. “The problem though is that he specializes only in adult books and films.”
Nicolas froze for a second, then his hand reached out and squeezed her own. “I heard about your disagreement with F&G.”
Her gaze held his at the mention of the entertainment firm, realizing that was the reason for his reaction.
“Yeah, I don’t particularly like the idea of being nude on camera.
I know some actors find it empowering or artistic, and I respect that completely, but it’s just…
not for me. Something about eyes on me in my most vulnerable state makes me feel… somewhat ill.”
His touch transitioned into a massage up the length of her arm. “I’m sorry you had to be pressured into something like that.”
“It’s alright, I’ve had to deal with more unpleasant situations.” He let out a huff at that which made her grin. “But if the opposite were the case, would you be fine with me acting in an R-rated film?”
Her eyes assessed him, her heart thudding.
His lips pursed. “It’s not that I’d be fine, per se. Of course, I’d be a bit jealous that others would see you in a way only I want to, but if it’s something you want to pursue for your career…I can’t exactly deny you that, can I?”
She grasped him by the cheeks. “Why are you so adorable?”
“Emily,” he sighed. “What have we discussed about that word?”
“That you want me to call you it?”
He fought back a smile, lips folding but his eyes danced with amusement. “You’re such a pain in the ass.”
“Funny, ‘cause that’s exactly what I thought about you in Montecito.”
“As if you were such a ray of sunshine.”
“Others tend to think that,” she declared, tossing her hair with an exaggerated flair.
He hummed deeply in a mix of defeat and approval. “I’d say I can make it happen for you to work with Ethan on a project, but I know you wouldn’t take well to that.”
“You know me too well, husband.” She patted his cheek before leaning back.
He licked his lips and watched as she brought her knees up to her chest.
“I never want to get a role that way. I already have enough nepotism rumors to last a lifetime.”
He rubbed at her right shoulder. “It was just a suggestion. You just seemed so excited and…”
She kissed him on the cheek.
His eyes widened for a split second before they melted into softness.
“I know,” Emily said with a smile. “And thank you.”
A squeal left her when his arms slid themselves under her knees and forced her to straddle him. With Emily’s legs on either side of him, Nicolas’s eyes danced across her face, growing darker with each movement.
“You sure know how to disarm a man.”
Her heart raced, but she couldn’t help batting her eyelashes at him. “Me? I would never do such a thing, Mr. Re.”
His left hand traveled up to the side of her face. He grasped the ponytail resting behind her neck into a fist. She gasped. “And you’re playing with fire, Mrs. Re.”
She took the bait. “It just so happens I like fire. It’s scientifically proven to be one of nature’s most transient beauties.”
He gripped her chin. His eyes said smartass but his lips asked, “Is that so?”
“Yes.” She was breathless. “For a man of your stature, it’s quite alarming that you don’t know this.”
A chuff of laughter left him at her using his own words against him. “More alarming than how coy you’re being right now?”
She flushed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You have a tendency not to,” he noted, eyes surveying her.
“Nicolas…” She drawled as his large hands descended to her hips. She was now hyper aware that she was wearing a skirt. That meant he could feel everything.
“Yes, wife?”
Emily’s pupils stilled.
One beat. Two beats.
He pulled her in, hard and fast. Gripping the end of her ponytail, he kissed her like his life depended on it.
A million different sensations flooded her.
He dragged the hair tie out of her hair.
She kissed him back with equal fervor. Her fingers twisted in his soft hair.
He tasted divine and his scent was…very Nicolas.
It was so damn arousing. She found herself beginning to grind against the front of his pants.
This was when the bubble that held them both popped abruptly.
Nicolas pulled away from the kiss breathlessly.
He wiped at his lips, his pupils blown. “Don’t do that.”
She didn’t know what had gotten into her, but Emily didn’t listen. Her hips rolled against him once more.
He groaned, eyes turning heavenward. Grabbing the chance, she trailed kisses against his neck. He released a string of curse words.
“Emily—”
“Yes, Nico?”
Her voice came out seductive. The nickname made him grind his teeth. He grasped her tightly, not enough to hurt her but to cease her admissions of pleasure.
“Stop,” he hissed at her.
She licked her moist lips. “Why?”
“What do you mean ‘why’? Emily, you’re—”
“Why ask me to stop when you know I don’t want to? And we both know you don’t either. Is this because of the virgin thing—”
“What? No!” he interrupted, looking appalled. “I mean, it’s part of the reason, but not entirely.”
“So what is it? You just like to wind me up, then walk away because it’s fun? How long do you expect me to endure this? Or maybe you like knowing I want you this much.”
Nicolas looked floored by her rapid confessions. Like he’d been caught in a sudden downpour, drenched before he could react to the speed and weight of it.
“Em…”
“Forget it!” she erupted, angry and embarrassed.
She pushed herself off him, but he was quick to latch his hand around her wrist. “Wait.”
“What is it now, Nicolas?”
He grasped her wrist tighter. “Do you mean it?”
“Mean what?”
“That you want me.”
Is he serious? Why does he think I’ve been allowing all of this?
Her heart thumped within her chest as she saw his pupils shake in anticipation.
“I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want you,” she confessed.
“Okay,” he breathed, blinking rapidly.
She stared at him. “Okay? Just that?”
“No, I mean…I give up. You win.” He looked like he’d truly surrendered, his shoulders falling and his brown eyes seeping into the softest shade.
“Last time I knew you weren’t in the right state of mind.
I figured you’d only wanted to do it to take your mind off things.
But if it’s truly what you want, I won’t stop you. ” His voice lowered. “I won’t stop.”
Fire curled in her veins.
“Don’t blame me for what happens after this, Emily. Because when I’m done with you, I’ll have you begging for me to stop. And when you do, because you will, don’t forget you’re the one who asked for it.”
Her throat bobbed.
Oh shit.