CHAPTER NINE
NIKKI
†
I’VE LISTENED TO A lot of music over the years. Ever since I was a kid and I’d be in my dad’s car, listening to The Eagles, Queen, and Pink Floyd.
With my mom, we’d always had to suffer a little more country stuff: Dolly, Reba, and Tammy. I never understood what those women were so bothered about. They’d always be crying about their men. “Nobody’s gonna take my man,” or “I’d never let him go,” they’d croon, and I always wanted to shrug and tell them that it wasn’t their work to keep him there in the first place. If he wanted to stay, he would. And, besides, if it took that much hard work to hold on to ‘your man,’ then you’re best letting the fucker go. Who would want to hold on when the other party was chomping at the bit to leave, anyway?
But, to my horror, for the first time in my life, those songs started to make sense. When I looked at Jake, something happened to me that had never happened before and that only after such a short time of seeing him again. It was ridiculous! I know.
I wanted him in a way I’d never wanted anyone. I had no idea what it all meant, but I felt so possessive whenever he was around.
Nobody’s gonna take Jake, I said to myself, although to be honest, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do to him exactly even if I got him.
Everyone presumed that, even though I worked hard and was at the very beginning of what I hoped would be a successful career, I made time for love. They all thought that there was no way I could spend all my time with my head bent over blueprints or sitting in front of a computer. Even Mia and my mom thought that I must have had a secret boyfriend on the side. Maybe even more than one. There was no way I was twenty-four and still a virgin, surely.
Sadly, they were wrong. I was twenty-four and sealed up like a Swiss bank account.
I certainly wasn’t scared of sex, in fact, I wanted it very much, only I didn’t have the time to give it that much thought, and the not-having-a-boyfriend part didn’t help either.
That was, of course, until I saw Jake again.
I imagined there were plenty of girls who would grew with crushes on guys and, then when they were older, they’d look back and wonder why on earth they’d liked them so much in the first place.
That’s not what happened to me. The guy I was sure I’d been in love with since I was twelve was now, nearly seven years since the last time I saw him, even more attractive than ever. God, just the thought of him made my body react in ways I didn’t know were possible.
That chiseled body of his and that damn manly beard… God, not even a nun would be able to resist! I practically melted into the sea when I saw him wading in to join me for a swim.
He was gorgeous, his arms and legs were strong and muscly. He had a beautiful chest, firm and smooth, with a defined stomach with abs I found myself wanting to scrub laundry on. There was a line of dark hair that ran down under the lip of his swimming shorts, and I wanted to find out where it went. When he held me in the water and pretended to dance with me, I was pretty sure nothing would have stopped me if he’d made a move.
Then, I fucked it all up.
Did I have to bring up Brandon?
For an intelligent woman, I sure was stupid! But, I was just so nervous being so close to him. I knew I’d made a mistake, I could see it in his eyes. He left, telling me something about a call with his boss, but I was sure it was more to do with what I said. I’d put my foot in it and reminded him of the one thing that would make him think twice about ever thinking of me being more than a kid sister.
When I saw him later that morning, the heroines of country music were in my head, chewing on a strand of wheat and calling on me to lasso that boy and not let him go. So I girled-up and asked him for dinner. When he said yes, my stomach flipped so violently I could barely eat my breakfast. I certainly couldn’t have eaten whatever it was he was tucking into; I have no idea what it was but it looked suspiciously like pork and pineapple.
Later that evening, I went to talk to Mia. She and I have always shared everything about our lives, save for the one secret I was keeping to myself. But, all that needed to change.
In her room, I whispered to her about Jake, my voice low so that my mom wouldn’t hear me. She was excited. “The guy from the other night?” she asked. “Did you get his number?”
“I didn’t need it,” I explained. “I’ve known him since I was a kid.” I proceeded to tell her about how he and Brandon had been firm friends since high school, and she clasped her hands over her chest and made a sad face.
“Aw!” she wailed. “That’s sooo romantic. Your childhood crush! Your first love! Oh, I think I’m going to overdose on love!”
“Stop it!” I hissed, slapping her on the shoulder. “It’s not like that. Really. We’re just going for dinner, nothing more. Only I need you to help me out with an outfit again… and doing my hair… and then the makeup.”
“Yeah, right. All that for just dinner,” she grinned.
I pulled a face and we both burst out laughing. “Come on. Let’s do this. Don’t want you to be late, now!” Mia smiled, tugging at my arm and dragging me to my feet.
†
By the time I walked down to the lobby to meet Jake, my hair was down over my shoulders, my eyes popped with mascara and a generous application of eyeliner, and the white dress Mia had loaned me made my tan look even darker. The maxi dress came down to my feet this time, and I loved the way it felt, swishing in the slight night breeze. The neckline plunged a little, coming to a V just below my cleavage. That meant that I wasn’t able to wear a bra but, thankfully, the dress carried just enough support so I didn’t feel uncomfortable.
He was already waiting for me, sitting in a chair and flicking through a magazine. He looked so sexy, his hair combed back and his beard neatly trimmed, showing dark against the white shirt he was wearing. He wore dark blue jeans and dark shoes and, when he saw me and grinned, the dimple added to the whole irresistible picture.
He stood up when he caught sight of me, and I could see his eyes narrowed slightly as he watched me walk over. He stepped forward and kissed me on the cheek, squeezing my waist. “You look lovely,” he said, his eyes burning over my face and lingering on my mouth.
“Thank you,” I replied, and I meant it, too. I loved to hear him compliment me.
Getting on the bike was a much easier task in the long, flowy dress this time around. I carefully scooped up the soft material and held it close to my body before slinging my leg over the seat, settling behind Jake.
I was careful not to get any oil on the material. Mia would have killed me, for a start, and besides, I didn’t want to sit at dinner looking like we’d stopped to change a tire. He kicked the engine into action and we sped off.
He must have looked for somewhere we could eat before we left because he seemed to know exactly where we were going. We pulled up outside a small restaurant full of people, and a waiter, who asked us where we’d like to sit, greeted us. Jake turned to me. “How are you with mosquitoes?” he asked.
I pulled a face. “I need bug spray and I haven’t bought any,” I said.
He smiled. “These days they don’t bother with me. When I was first traveling, I was bitten within an inch of my life, but I think they’ve realized I don’t taste that great.”
I wouldn’t be so sure…
He turned and asked for an inside table, to my relief, and the waiter gave us each a menu and asked what we’d like to drink.
Jake looked at me. “Champagne?” he asked.
“Of course,” I smiled. “We’re celebrating the wedding, after all.”
The waiter’s face lit up. “Oh, we have newlyweds!” he cried. “Congratulations! Please, have a bottle of our finest champagne on the house!”
My face must have been a picture as Jake burst out laughing. He leaned over and gently touched my hand. “Don’t say anything!” he chuckled. “He’s giving us free champagne, after all!”
It may have been the restaurant’s finest bottle, but it certainly wasn’t the world’s finest. However, it was chilled, bubbly, and not too sweet. Jake raised his glass, and I caught a wicked twinkle in his eyes.
“To you, Nicole,” he said loudly. “Thank God I was able to save your life after the bout of diarrhea. Without it, we never would have met.”
He was playful and I loved it, so I decided to join in the fun.
“Oh, Doctor Matthews, you’re so wonderful,” I said, trying not to laugh. “And after your syphilis has cleared up, I just can’t wait to consummate our marriage.”
He threw back his head and roared with laughter, then took a sip. “You’re terrible!” he smiled.
“Me?” I asked. “Who was the one talking about bowel movements and trying to embarrass me?”
“Well, I was certainly evenly matched,” he said, tugging on his hair as though tipping an imaginary hat to me. “Touché.”
I bowed my head. “Thank you,” I said.
I ordered a shrimp salad with avocado, and he ordered the lobster and fries. The food was delicious, so fresh and wonderful it made me wish I could eat food like that every single day. We talked about the kind of food Jake had eaten on his travels, and he made me laugh with stories about eating freshly roasted iguana in Mexico and trying to eat a strange plant in a house in Indonesia before someone told him they actually used it as toilet paper.
Strangely, the topic of a wedding gift never even came up. But, hey. I wasn’t complaining.
The night flew by and, after the champagne, we ordered cocktails. Huge bowls of fruity punch laced with rum came with two straws, and we drank and laughed until Jake held up his hands. “I can’t have any more,” he said. “I’ve gotta get you home on the bike, remember?”
“I think we’re both over the limit by now,” I giggled. “Why don’t we take a walk on the beach and sober up a bit?”
He paid the bill without question, and I was touched by the healthy tip he gave the waiter.
Could he be more perfect?
He held the door for me as we left, and once we stepped outside, he took my hand, curling his fingers through mine as if it was the most natural thing on earth. There was just such an ease about us.
We walked down to the beach and slowly strolled along the sand. I was relieved I’d worn my flat sandals this time instead of the high pumps.
As we walked, I held onto him and I could feel my body become warmer with desire, a soft longing throbbing at the pit of my stomach.
“A penny for your thoughts?” he asked, breaking the silence.
“Well, why don’t you guess?” I said, flirting with him.
He pulled me closer by letting go of my hand and circling my waist, our bodies touching at the sides.
“Oh. Now this could become either very interesting or…” he drawled, his voice husky. “…very dangerous.” He stopped, turning towards me and I held my breath.
He was suddenly serious, the sexual tension between us immediate, sending an electrifying wave of desire through my body.
God, how I wanted him!
“You are wondering what it would feel like if I did this…”
He brought his one hand up, and swiped my hair back over my shoulder, exposing my neck. He slowly brought his head down and ever so lightly kissed me in the nape of my neck.
“After which, you wondered what it would feel like if I did this…”
He lowered his head again, opening his mouth where his kiss was still burning, but this time he bit me softly before sucking gently at my neck, letting his tongue flick over my skin.
I held on to his arms, as I was afraid that I was going to fall over, my knees suddenly weak. I could feel how my nipples hardened and strain against the soft material of my dress. A groan escaped my lips at his soft torture.
Why doesn’t he just kiss me!
“And now, you thinking about this,” he said, slowly flicking his tongue out to bring my earlobe into his mouth and sucking it before nibbling it lightly with his teeth.
“But… what you are wondering more than that… is how it would feel if I do this….”
He suddenly spun me around, pulling me back against his hard body with one hand around my waist, making me gasp as I slammed into him. He brought the other hand up across my body, and his fingers played at the edge of the material where it plunged to expose the swell of my breast.
“Jake,” I breathed. “Please…” I was dying for him to touch me.
“Please, what?” he whispered, still moving his fingers up and down the rise of my breast.
“Please… touch me.” It sounded like a prayer on my lips and it felt like it, too. I was desperate for his touch, not caring to hold back my desire for him any longer.
He slid his hand underneath the material, his touch burning my skin and then my nipple. I threw my head back and collapsed against him, letting out soft moans of pleasure. His fingers played with the hardened peak before it enveloped my breast, squeezing it gently.
“Tell me, baby. What do you want now? Show me what you’ve been dying to do,” he breathed against my ear, the soft hair of his beard caressing my cheek.
I didn’t need a second invitation. I knew I wanted to taste his tongue in my mouth. I swung around, reached up and pressed my mouth against his.
A fire swept through my body.
God, I’d never wanted anyone so badly!
He pulled away slightly, a low chuckle escaping his lips as if he was somehow satisfied with my raw display of want for him. He lowered his head, capturing my mouth as he pushed my lips apart with his tongue.
I stroked his face, feeling the hair of his beard beneath my fingertips, finally allowing my thumb to brush against the dimple I’d been dying to touch.
Time disappeared and I clung to him, needing him like I needed oxygen to breathe.
Then he reached down, his hands just below my ass and he picked me up, pressing me to his body. I responded immediately by bringing my legs around his waist, glad for the long flowy dress I was wearing not restraining me from doing so.
I clung to him as he walked over to an area out of sight from prying eyes, our lips hungrily seeking each other again.