Chapter Forty-Four

AFTER DINNER, NICHOLAS AND ACACIA retired to her apartment, while Rick and Kurt’s overnight replacements guarded the hallway.

After such an intense evening, Acacia was desperate for him. But Nicholas took his time lighting candles around the studio to the music of Anne Ducros.

“Where’s the cat?” he asked.

“Hiding in the bathroom.”

“Finally, we have privacy.” Nicholas smiled and assisted Acacia in transforming the day bed to a queen-sized bed.

She removed a pair of pillows from her reorganized closet. “The look on your face when you saw the bed this morning was priceless.”

“I know my mother likes you. I know she likes us together. I couldn’t believe she’d sabotage me by incorporating a single bed in her design.”

Acacia laughed.

He removed his suit jacket and hung it on a chair. Just like that, the mood in the room shifted.

Acacia watched, mesmerized, as he slowly unfastened his tie and placed it over his jacket. He gazed at her while he unbuttoned his white dress shirt and removed the cufflinks, setting them on her nightstand.

He took her hand. “You are my reward.” He kissed her fingers, one by one.

“I’m a reward that comes with a tremendous amount of baggage. But I care for you.”

“That’s all I ask.” He touched her face with both hands, lowering his mouth to hers.

When their lips touched, the energy between them sparked. Nicholas tugged her lower lip into his mouth and drew on it.

His thumbs passed over her cheeks, and Acacia leaned into him. He released her lower lip and angled his head, smoothing his mouth across hers.

Her arms lifted to clasp around his neck. She brought their bodies together, sighing into his mouth.

His tongue slid against hers, and she tasted cinnamon.

“You don’t have to hide yourself.” Acacia reached a tentative hand to his prosthetic.

He caught her hand. “It doesn’t repulse you?”

“It troubles me because I know someone hurt you. Others continued to hurt you because of it. But it’s part of you the way my scar is part of me. It’s evidence of your strength. Your courage.”

He kissed her hand and turned around.

She was about to call him back when she realized what he was doing. He’d positioned himself in front of the mirror that hung near the front door.

She gave him privacy by fussing with the pillows.

A minute later, his hands were on her shoulders.

She turned. His eyes were cautious.

She touched her lips to his scar. “I’m not hiding from you. You know who I am and who my father is. You know I accept you as you are.”

He took her mouth fiercely. Then he unzipped her dress and watched it fall to the floor. “It was a lovely dress.”

“I’m glad you liked it.” Gingerly, she held onto his shoulder as she took off her heels.

He caressed her neck and nudged her bra strap aside to taste her skin. He plied kiss after kiss across her collarbone.

“I love your curves.” His hands covered her breasts, over her black lace bra.

“Good. I like to eat, so despite the time spent at the dojo, I’ll always be curvy.”

He pulled the cups of her bra down. Then with murmured appreciation, he bent to take one of her nipples in his mouth. He teased the other with his thumb.

She fanned a hand against his neck, urging him on. She kissed the shell of his ear and nibbled at it with the edge of her teeth.

With a growl, he released her. He tugged his shirt out of his trousers and threw it aside. He stepped out of his pants, and his belt buckle clanged against the floor.

They came together again with urgent kisses. Nicholas’s hands slid to her backside and he lifted her, wrapping her legs around his hips.

He carried her to the bed and looked down at her with longing.

“I delight in you,” he whispered. “What you say, your laughter, the way you speak.”

He rested his hand on her abdomen. She felt her insides flutter.

“Come here.” She tugged his arm, pulling him atop her. “I like your weight.”

“That’s good.” He chuckled, bracing his forearms on either side of her shoulders. “Because I like how my body feels against yours.”

She parted her legs, and his hips nestled between them.

His fingers quested the catch to her bra and unfastened it, dragging it over her heated skin.

“You’re lovely in everything.” He dropped the bra to the floor. “But you have a beautiful body. Look how your skin glows in the candlelight.”

He blew across her nipples and watched them constrict. He teased them, catching them between his thumb and his forefinger. Pleasurable sensations shot across her body, increasing her desire for him.

She didn’t want to be selfish. She traced the ridges of his abdomen above the waistband of his dark blue boxer briefs.

He pushed himself against her hand, and she stroked him firmly.

“Delicious.” He licked her breast and transferred his attention to her nipple.

She reached around him to push his underwear over his hips.

It took a moment for him to free himself. Then he sheathed himself with a condom and moved between her legs.

He caressed the curves of her cheeks, his gaze watchful and serious.

“Aren’t you happy?” Her finger traced his dark brows.

“Happy to be with you, of course. But I’m afraid I’m out of practice at being happy, mon amour.”

Her hand rested on his backside and she pressed, nestling him more tightly between her legs. “Do you feel this?”

“Yes.” His expression brightened.

“We create something together we don’t have apart.”

“That makes me happy.” His mouth slid against hers, and his tongue dipped inside.

She lifted her hips in encouragement, and he thrust forward.

“I need a moment,” he said roughly, tearing his mouth from hers.

She touched his face. “You feel so good.”

They moved in concert, and she lifted her hips to meet every stroke. But Nicholas was determined to make their connection last. He would not rush.

Her hands traced his strong shoulders and the bumps of his spine. She clutched his backside with both hands and squeezed.

“Look at me,” he demanded when her eyes fluttered closed.

She saw a slight vulnerability in his eyes—something in that moment he could not hide.

“It’s good,” she panted. “So good.” Her head lolled back and her eyes closed.

His pace quickened and pushed more deeply. She met him stroke for stroke.

He kissed her neck, tonguing the skin wetly and catching it with the edge of his teeth.

He went deeper inside her, and she felt the pleasure build. Building. Building.

“Please,” she begged. Her eyes flew open. “Please.”

“What do you need?” He almost stuttered. He clenched his jaw as he quickened his pace.

“More.” Her fingers dug into his backside.

He lengthened his strokes, entering her more deeply and moving faster. Faster.

He angled his upper body and lifted her breast to his mouth. He tongued her nipple and sucked hard.

“Yes.” She released with a cry.

He kept moving, extending her pleasure.

She wrapped her arms around him and hid her face against his neck.

He pulsed inside her. Then he grew still.

She touched his cheek, below his scar. “Are you all right?”

“I was just thinking about the fireworks that always seem to explode when we’re together.”

“We’re lucky.”

“Yes, we are.” He paused and lifted his head. “The way we are together is very different from how it has been for me in the past.”

“For me as well.”

He brought her hand to his chest. “You’ve stolen my heart.”

“An even exchange.” She smiled. “You have mine, as well.”