“NIC, I’M COMING!”
I could feel Nic grow bigger as he pushed as deep as he could inside of me. My world was spinning as I fell apart along with him. Our bodies slapping against each other had to be one of the hottest sounds ever. It drove me to another wave of trembles. He moved in and out so hard and so fast the table started to move across the floor.
I’d never experienced this type of love making before in my life. It was one of the most erotic moments of my entire life.
When Nic finally stopped moving, he fell on top of me while I wrapped my arms around him.
He fought for air as he said, “Hottest fucking moment of my life.”
Dragging in a deep long breath, I said, “Wow. That was . . . like nothing I’ve ever experienced before in my life.”
Nic drew back and stared into my eyes. I wanted so desperately to tell him I was falling in love with him, but I knew it was way too soon for that. And I wasn’t sure if I was confusing lust for love. There was for sure a lot of lust going on between us.
My heart stopped when he spoke his next words.
“Gabi, I’m falling so damn hard for you.”
Thud.
Butterflies jumped into action in my stomach as I gazed into his beautiful eyes.
I opened my mouth to speak when I heard a key slip into his front door lock. We both turned and looked at the door. My chest squeezed at the thought of who could have a key to his condo.
“Fuck.”
The feelings I was experiencing were throwing me off. Was it another woman? Why would another woman have a key to his place? Cole maybe?
“It’s my mother.”
Okay, I was not expecting that.
I was positive my expression turned to pure horror. Pushing Nic off of me, I dropped to the ground and frantically started to pick everything up off the floor.
“Please don’t do this to me, God! Please,” I chanted as Nic dropped to my side and began cleaning up.
“I changed the locks the other day so something like this wouldn’t ever happen.”
Stopping, I turned to him. “Really?”
A smirk appeared on his face. “Because I really didn’t want my mother walking in on us while we’re fucking.”
My cheeks burned. “That wouldn’t be a very good impression.”
He laughed, “No, it wouldn’t.”
“Nicholaus! My key is not working!”
Nic’s phone started to ring, and we both chuckled.
After getting everything looking somewhat normal, he reached for my hand and kissed the back of it.
“Well, looks like you’re being pushed into the lion’s den earlier than we hoped.”
I tried to appear calm as I shrugged and winked. “I’m ready.”
Bullshit.
I was terrified. Sick to my stomach. I’d just had sex with Nic, I was sure my hair was a mess, and I had no panties on.
This is not happening.
“I’m heading to the restroom, what will you say?” He smiled a wide breathtaking smile. He’d shaved two days ago, but his scruff was back, not enough to hide those dimples though. My stomach dropped.
“I’ve got this. Go on.”
I nodded. “But, Nic?”
“Yeah?”
“Button your pants back up.”
He looked down and quickly buttoned up while I rushed to the bathroom to freshen up. On my way, I dashed into Nic’s room. Opening his top drawer, I smiled and grabbed what I needed before slipping into the bathroom right as Nic opened the door for his mother.
I had used the hall bathroom, so I heard every single word.
“Mom, what are you doing here?”
“Why does my key not work?”
I covered my mouth to hide my chuckle.
I cannot believe his mother had a key to his place.
After taking a close look at myself, I couldn’t help but smile. I for sure had a just fucked glow to my cheeks. Pulling my hair up, I looked around for something to keep it up. I opened a drawer on the vanity and my heart seized as I stared at the pink makeup bag in front of me. It had a huge white S on the top of it.
How old was it? Who’s was it? Why was it in this bathroom? And who was S?
Nic and his mother’s voice mixed in with the questioning voice in my head.
“Who is here? Is there a girl here?”
Nic laughed. “Yes, Mama. There is a girl here, she’s in the bathroom.”
I should have been nervous as hell. Nic’s mother was on the other side of the door, but all I could think about the bag in front of me. A woman kept a spare makeup bag at Nic’s. The only good thing about it was it was in the spare bathroom and not his bathroom. But why had she left it if she hadn’t intended on coming back? A random hook-up wouldn’t leave her makeup bag behind unless she knew she would be back. Nic said he didn’t date.
Confusion swept through my mind.
Opening the bag, I peeked through it. Whoever she was, she liked expensive makeup. Then I found a piece of paper. My hands shook as I opened it.
Scarlet,
Meet me at my place at ten. Don’t wear panties.
~ Nic
I dropped the note and stumbled back. Covering my mouth, I turned and threw up in the toilet.
A light knock at the door startled me.
“Gabi? Are you okay?”
Tears streamed down my face, but I needed to get my shit together. I had no idea how long that had been in here. The thought of Nic being with another woman doing exactly what he had just done to me made my stomach turn again. I leaned over and threw up again.
The door opened, and I cursed myself for not locking it. Nic stepped in and looked at me, then over to the open drawer with the bag and note sitting on top of it. His eyes widened in horror.
“It’s not what you think, Gabi.”
Standing, I grabbed some toilet paper and wiped my mouth.
“What in the world happened in here, Nicholaus? It looks like you danced on the table,” Nic’s mother called out.
The only thing I knew to do was regain my composure, go out and meet his mother and then think of any excuse to leave.
I slammed the drawer shut and turned on the water to rinse my mouth. Now I was pissed. Not at Nic. At me for being like this.
“Gabi, just let me explain everything after she leaves.”
Rinsing out my mouth, my thoughts started to go all over the place. I knew a part of this was my own guilt for not telling Nic the truth. But to have an ex-lover’s note pop up in my face like that.
It was too much.
“I realize I’m overreacting. I need to process some things, but for right now, we’re going to go out there so I can meet your mother.”
When I walked into the dining area, a beautiful woman with dark hair and olive skin turned and gasped.
“I’m so sorry. I choked on bread and Nic scrambled over to help me. I was in the restroom trying to get myself back together.”
Another lie.
Nic’s mother stared at me. Once the shock wore off her face, I swore it was replaced by a look of pure evil. The way her eyes swept over my body made me want to run out the door and never come back.
“And who is this beautiful young woman, Nicholaus?”
Wow. I was honestly surprised by her kind words. They certainly didn’t match the look in her eyes.
“Mama, this is Gabi Mandola. Gabi, this is my mother, Katerina Drivas.”
I reached my hand out for hers. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Drivas.”
She forced a smile. “Mandola? Italian?” Her eyes shot over to Nic quickly before she focused back on me.
With a nod, I forced out my answer. “Yes, my mother and father moved from Italy to New Jersey before I was born.”
Shit. Shit. Shit. I just told the truth. Damn it, Gabi.
Her eyes darted back and forth from me to Nic.
“Nicholaus, you didn’t tell me you were seeing someone.”
Nic cleared his throat. “I was actually going to call you and Dad to see if you wanted to do dinner tonight. Maybe invite Thano and Kilyn and spend some time with Kira.”
Katerina’s eyes snapped over to Nic. “Uh-huh. I see.”
Oh. Shit.
“It turns out I won’t be able to do dinner tonight,” I quickly added. “I’m so sorry to run, Mrs. Drivas, but I’ve got an emergency at the bakery. It was so very nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”
She forced a smile. “I wish I could say the same.”
Nic reached for my hand, but I quickly pulled it away.
“Gabi.”
Turning to Nic, I did my best to smile. “I’m sorry to run off.”
I walked as fast as I could to the door. Opening it, I stepped outside and hustled to the elevators. I could hear the sound of his condo door shutting and Nic following me.
“Gabi. Wait. Damn it, if you would wait for one fucking second.”
Hitting the down button, I forced myself to not cry.
Nic grabbed me and turned me to face him.
“It’s not what you think.”
A harsh laugh slipped from my lips. “Really? Because you have another woman’s makeup bag in your spare bathroom and a note telling her to meet you at your place for what—a fuck fest, Nic? I see you like your women with no panties. That must have been an extra little turn on for you earlier.”
Nic closed his eyes, and I had to look away or I’d start to cry.
“That’s Scarlet’s bag and I haven’t seen her in months.”
Hearing him say her name hurt more than I thought it would. I didn’t even know this woman, but I knew she had shared Nic’s bed and most likely more than once if she had a bag in his bathroom. Knowing that brought out a side of me I’d never experienced before.
My jealous side.
My teeth sunk into my trembling lip. Nic used his finger on my chin to pull my eyes to his. “That’s not true. I see Scarlet when we go to her dad’s place to eat lunch sometimes. But the only thing we do is exchange a hello. I swear to you, Gabi, I haven’t slept with Scarlet since I’ve met you. I haven’t slept with anyone but you. I don’t want to sleep with anyone other than you.”
“You . . . you still see her? When was the last time you slept with her?”
“It’s been months. At least six. And yes, I see her, but it’s like I said, we exchange a simple hello.”
I had to force down the sick feeling I felt at knowing Nic saw his old fuck buddy often.
I finally lost the battle and let my tears fall. I hated being so weak and vulnerable, but that was what Nic did to me. He brought out emotions and feelings I’d never experienced before.
Nic cupped my face within his hands while brushing my tears away with his thumbs. A look of disappointment swept across his face. “I’m sorry you found that, and I’m so sorry you would think I would do that to you.”
I shook my head, feeling foolish how I reacted. “I’m sorry I acted that way. I’m not sure what in the world is going on with me. You bring out so many different feelings and I’m so confused, Nic. I have never in my life been a jealous person, but seeing that note after what we just shared. All these images of you with another woman came crashing in on me.”
His smile made my knees weak. “I swear to God I would never hurt you, Gabi.” The way he gazed into my eyes, I knew he was telling me the truth. I also felt it in my heart. His lips pressed to mine. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I kissed him back.
When he finally pulled back some, he softly whispered against my mouth, “I know it hasn’t even been two weeks, and I hope like hell I’m not about to fuck things up.”
My breath stalled in my throat.
“I’m falling in love with you.”
His words rushed through my mind like a bolt of lightning. Every hair on my body rose. I needed to tell Nic the truth. Everything needed to be out in the open before I declared my love to him. No. No . . . I was going to follow my heart and not my head.
“I’m falling in love with you too.”
The brilliant smile that covered his face made me giggle.
“Please don’t leave. I don’t want your first meeting with my mother to be like that.”
“What would we say if I came back?”
Right then my phone went off. It was Max. Nic frowned.
“Emergency at the bakery. Looks like I really do need to leave.”
He nodded. Then holding up his finger, he said, “Wait, don’t move. I’ll be right back.”
I watched as he raced back to his condo. A minute later he and his mother walked out of the condo and headed my direction. I couldn’t shake the feeling I had when his mother stared at me like a bug that needed to be stepped on.
“I told my mom about your emergency at the bakery. She wants to come along.”
My eyes widened in horror. “W-what? To the—the bakery?”
Katerina smiled big. “You’re a baker? I love to bake. And cook.”
Oh. Shit.
“Me too,” I said before I realized how it sounded more like a challenge than a simple response.
She nodded. “So, let’s go see this place of yours. I can hardly contain my excitement. First to learn my eldest son is dating, and then to find out she owns her own Italian bakery.”
The way she stressed Italian couldn’t be a good thing. And by the look on her face I would say she was far from excited.
When we stepped onto the elevator, she glanced over to me. “Are you recovered from your . . . choking . . . incident?”
With a wide smile, I nodded my head and tapped my hand on Nic’s chest. “Oh, yes. Nic saved me. I’m sorry we had made such a mess. Things got a little, crazy.”
Nic attempted to hold back a laugh.
Katerina simply smiled. As we stepped out of the elevator, she walked next to Nic and went on and on about a baby shower. I took out my phone and sent Kilyn a text.
Me: 911! Katerina showed up at Nic’s right after we had sex!
She’s with us now. Going to the bakery for an emergency!
She responded back within seconds.
Kilyn: This is a CODE RED. I repeat! CODE RED! You’ve had the forced meeting. That is NEVER good. Take deep breaths and whatever you do . . . don’t tell her you own the bakery.
Oh no.
Me: Too late.
Kilyn: Oh . . . no. Okay. Be prepared. She is going to insult you in ways where she is acting like she isn’t insulting you. Be ready. Smile. Don’t let her know she’s getting to you.
I cringed on the inside. Glancing up, I noticed Katerina stood at the passenger side door. She was giving me an exasperated look, and I winced, wondering how long she had been waiting for me to walk up. Then I noticed she was standing at the front passenger side door, making me go to the backseat.
With a smile, I slid into the backseat and started back up with my texting.
Me: She’s making me sit in the backseat! WTF
Kilyn: That doesn’t surprise me. You are a bug she needs to crush. Okay, next, be ready for the challenge.
Me: Challenge?
Kilyn: Yes. She needs to prove you unworthy of her son and her above you, what better way to do it than challenge you in some way.
My heart was racing.
Me: OMG. What kind of challenge?
Kilyn: That’s the tricky part. She’ll throw it on you when you’re least expecting it. Don’t let her see your weakness!
“Who are you texting?” Nic asked as I jumped and let out a yelp.
“Oh, um, Max.”
More lies.
“Nervous little thing, isn’t she?” Katerina said.
I swallowed hard as I glanced up at Nic. What in the world am I about to get myself into?
He glanced up in the mirror and winked. Then he mouthed, I’m sorry, and all my fears melted away.
“So, my oldest son has decided to go against his parents’ wishes.”
Don’t. Show. Fear.
“Mama,” Nic warned.
“An Italian,” she huffed under her breath.
I’m so screwed.
Me: She’s going to eat me up and spit me out! Why does she not like Italians?
Kilyn: No she is not! Okay that’s a lie. She probably is. Um, I think Thad dated one once and things didn’t turn out well. Listen! You walk into that bakery and you own that bitch! Well wait, you do own it. You stand proud. And whatever you do, don’t look her directly in the eye. She has a direct path to your soul!
Me: God help me.
Kilyn: You’re gonna need more than just him.