12. Nick
Chapter twelve
Nick
I love making Willa laugh. It's a sweet and soft tinkling noise. When it leaves her mouth, it sinks into my soul, filling me with happiness. After experiencing firsthand how debilitating Willa's anxiety can be, it makes me feel oddly victorious each time I elicit a laugh from her.
After our cinema date, we headed to dinner at a small Italian restaurant.
Willa warned me it wasn't "fancy Italian" but rather the "bastardized American version of Italian.
" I didn't select the restaurant for the food though.
I picked it for the romantic ambiance, with its small, darkened interior and private tables overlooking the sea.
I wanted Willa to know without a doubt that our outing today was a date.
On our way back to the hotel, we walk hand-in-hand down the boardwalk that links Saltside's downtown main street to the beach.
There are some people out walking, the eager tourists carting shopping bags and those like us who are on their way home from dinner, but no one bothers us or even seems to notice that a Hollywood star—and a European prince—are walking amongst them.
Since Willa opened up to me last night, I've been contemplating telling her who I am.
But I'm enjoying the freedom that comes with simply being Nick Windingham.
There are no expectations. No hidden agendas.
She likes me for me, not for my status or wealth.
But as my feelings for Willa develop into deeper bonds, my omission feels more deceptive.
Romancing Willa feels wrong, like I'm behaving rashly and bending the rules. Because I am. I'm breaking all the established royal requirements of a romantic partner.
But then again, I've always been a rebel.
"You've grown quite serious," Willa murmurs as we wait for the hotel elevator, her arm tucked in the crook of my elbow.
"Introspective more than serious," I counter.
"What has you feeling introspective?"
"Who not what, and it's you," I summarize succinctly.
Her head tilts. "Me?"
"Yes, you , my darling. Specifically, you and me together. Why does that surprise you?"
She fidgets. When her beguiling emerald eyes meet mine, her confusion is palpable.
"I suppose because I didn't think this," she toggles her hand back and forth between our bodies, "meant much to you.
" As the shock on my face turns to offense, Willa hurriedly continues, "I mean, I just assumed we were… a meaningless vacation fling."
"Nothing about what I feel for you is meaningless." My jaw tenses, as I contemplate how much to tell her. "Admittedly, my physical attraction initially drove my desire to spend time with you, but that quickly morphed into more."
So much more.
The confusion in her eyes abates, as mine rises to the surface. This is the make-it-or-break-it moment. If I accompany Willa into her room, one thing will lead to another, and everything will change. Once we start a sexual affair, we can’t go backwards .
When the elevator doors slide open on her floor, I escort her to her suite, my hand warming the small of her back.
Once Willa unlocks her door, she spins to face me, pulling me into her hotel room.
The door shuts, and my choice is made when she takes a slow, deliberate step forward, her breasts brushing my chest.
The atmosphere is instantly charged, and the anticipatory tension ratchets up as she stares at me with hunger in her eyes. There's no way I can stop this freight train of desire. Memories of our kisses last night flood my brain, engulfing my senses.
I want her.
I slide a lock of hair from her cheek, rubbing it softly. My fingers trail down her jaw and neck. Her eyes widen as I slowly lower my head. Her tongue darts out, moistening her bee-stung lips. When she leans into me, I close the distance.
I nip at her bottom lip, savoring the moment she opens up to me.
My hands thread through Willa's caramel hair as I slant my mouth over hers.
She molds her plump lips to mine. I tilt my head and stroke her tongue, tasting the strawberry lip balm that she favors.
My kiss is commanding and forceful, yet she meets me, greedily capturing my mouth.
With each second that our kiss continues, it grows more passionate. Desperate. Needy and raw.
I want more, so much more, from Willa.
Her arms band around my waist, tightly grabbing my shirt with her fists.
I step into her, bridging the small gap between our bodies until none exists, until her breasts are smashed against my chest. My hands traverse the contours of her body, skimming down her ribcage, her waist, and finally settling on the swell of her generous ass.
God, she's got an incredible body. Luscious and soft.
My fingers deftly move to the buttons at the neckline of Willa's dress, eagerly undoing them as we kiss.
But then Willa pulls her face from mine, burying it in my neck. "Nick, be careful with me," Willa whispers. "I…I haven't been with anyone since..."
She trails off, but my mind jumps to fill in the blanks. Since her miscarriage.
Her downcast eyes widen, as she murmurs, "It's okay, if you don't want—"
I realize with a start that Willa assumes handling her gently will be a burden. A burden I may not want to undertake, but her assumption couldn't be further from the truth.
"There's nothing I want more than to be here with you.
" I cradle her face in my hands, her questioning eyes bounce up, watching me intently.
"You're in charge, Willa. Whatever happens next, you're in control.
We can keep snogging," she smiles at my word choice, which was my goal, "or we can do more, but it's up to you. "
She stares at me, speechless, as blatant vulnerability washes over her features. Finally, she replies, her voice breathy, "I want more, Nick. I want to experience… more with you."
"Then we'll move at your pace. You can stop me at any time. We'll only do what feels good."
We continue kissing and my hands slowly wander, slipping up to her breasts.
With tender touches, I squeeze and explore them over her clothes.
When I think she's ready, I begin unbuttoning her dress again.
This time, she doesn't stop me. She spurs me on, helping when my fingers have difficulty with the tiny pearl buttons.
We move from the hotel suite's living room into the bedroom.
With each step we take, more items of clothing are shed and discarded.
Her dress.
Her shoes, kicked off, one at a time.
My loafers .
My dress shirt.
My trousers.
Her lacy, light blue bra.
My boxer briefs.
And finally, her knickers.
But once we collapse onto the bed, Willa tenses up beneath me. Her flushed cheeks, pebbled nipples, and the scent of her arousal are obvious indicators she’s physically turned on, but mentally or emotionally, she seems disconnected.
Tapping her temple gently, I ask, “What’s going on up there?”
She gnaws on her lip. “I’m getting trapped in my head. Everything we’re doing feels so good, but I can’t fully relax.”
Rolling onto my side, I slow things down to allow her to acclimate. With my fingertips, I stroke Willa's torso, circling her breasts, but then withdrawing. Teasing and tickling. I brush my lips against her jaw and scatter kisses along her neck, her pulse jumping under my lips.
And I offer her an out. "We don't have to do anything you aren't ready for, Willa."
She turns to connect her sizzling gaze with mine. "No, I want to." She insists, "I want you."
"I have an idea, if you're open to it." When she nods, I continue. "Do you have a vibrator?"
If she hasn’t slept with a man since before her miscarriage two years ago, then surely, she uses a toy or two to get herself off.
With a small jerk of her head, Willa nods, her pink cheeks turning crimson.
God, I really love making her blush.
She points to a small toiletries bag on the nightstand.
Unzipping it, I pull out a hot pink vibrator and turn it on.
Testing the buzzing against my palm, I ask Willa to lie back.
She appears hesitant but willing. Settling next to her, I kiss her mouth as I lightly trace her slit with the toy.
When the vibrations caress her clit, her mouth goes slack against mine and she puffs out a quiet mewl.
"Is this how you use it when you touch yourself?" I murmur, my lips moving across her skin as I kiss her neck, eliciting a shiver.
"Yes," she whispers with a jerky nod. "But…"
"But what, my darling? Teach me how to make you feel good. Remember you're the one in control tonight." I move my mouth from her neck, kissing down her decolletage until I trap a nipple between my lips. I suck on her peaked rosebud and flick it with my tongue.
She moans and arches her back, pressing her breast into my mouth.
With a pop, I release her nipple. "Tell me, darling. What else can I do to make you feel good?"
"Finger me. Please," she breathes out.
With the toy still vibrating against her clit, I slide two fingers inside her drenched core. I curve them upward, massaging her g-spot.
"Oh, God, yes." She pleads, "Keep going."
Willa's hips twitch and twist as her pleasure grows. She grinds her pelvis into my hand as her toy buzzes against her sensitive bundle of nerves. She begins to chant, alternating between "oh, God" and "yes, Nick, yes." I love the sound of my name spilling from her lips in such a primal way.
Her body tenses. Her fingers grip the sheets. Her toes curl. Her knees close, pressing her thighs against my hands, locking me in place. And then she snaps, bucking her hips wildly and crying out one nonsensical word after another.
Holy hell, my ears have never heard a more beautiful symphony of sounds then when Willa climaxes.
As she pants, I withdraw my fingers, licking her juices from them.
Turning off the vibrator, I flop it onto the bed and sprawl onto the bed beside Willa.
Pulling her into my arms, I hold her, stroking her hair and caressing her body.
I love feeling Willa's naked body, still flushed and pliant from her orgasm, cradled against mine.
"We’re not stopping, are we?" she questions.
"Not if you don't want to."
"You said that I get to call the shots tonight, right? Well, I don't want you to stop, Nick." She lifts a brow, shooting me a haughty look. "Or are you afraid you can't give me more than one orgasm, Nicholas?"
With a playful growl, I pounce, rolling onto my back and tugging her down on top, straddling my hips. "Oh, I can provide you with as many orgasms as you want, Wilhemina. Name the number and I'll deliver."
With her hands on my chest, she gazes down at me imperiously. "That sounds like a dare."
I trail my fingers up and down her creamy thighs. "You are the expert on dares, so how many orgasms do you want tonight, Willa?"
She lowers her head, placing it close to mine. "At least one more, but I really want to feel you come too," she whispers, her breath tickling my face. And then she slowly rocks against my erection, her breasts swaying tantalizingly.
My hands clasp her hips possessively, as she circles them over my rock-hard dick. The feeling of her satiny softness slicking over my cock is exquisite. I fight a guttural groan. "If we're going any farther, then we need a condom, my darling."
Willa grins abashedly. "I actually have some in my bag." She tilts her head, adding, "Maggie gave them to me in hopes that we'd use them."
I reciprocate her grin. "Then put one on me."
My dick twitches at the thought of Willa's hand on me. But that thought is nothing compared to reality. When her warm, petite fingers gently roll the condom over me, I bite my lip to keep from thrusting into her hand.
"Now what will you do to me, Willa?" My voice sounds gritty to my ears, desperate to be inside her.
She crawls over me, situating her core over my dick and then she slowly guides my cock inside her, inch by agonizing inch.
Once I'm fully seated inside her pussy, I experience nirvana.
My mind blanks as Willa rides my cock, her warmth pulsating, suctioning my dick into her inner channel as she moves so sensuously.
I can't take my eyes off of her as she loses her inhibitions. I’m mesmerized, watching as she uses my body to chase her pleasure. Her hair, wild and tangled, falls across her face, as her eyes flutter shut, bliss etched upon her face.
I’ve never seen a more beautiful sight.