“I threw myself on you. I tried to give myself to you and you put me on Bradley’s bed.”
“Nicole, we were dating for months and I waited to make love to you because you weren’t ready. I was so crazy about you. I wanted our first time to be perfect. In my room, that wasn’t love. That was lust. You asked me to fuck you. There was no way after waiting for so long, I was going to let our first time be like that.” He pulled me in closer. “Don’t get me wrong. I wanted you as much you wanted me, but I knew if I had sex with you and you looked at Brad the way you did, I would kill him. You were still too confused. I figured if you and Brad would just get together, it would help me get over you.”
“You made me feel so unwanted.” A tear started the travel down my cheek.
“I wanted you more than anything. I really am sorry, Nicole. I really did think maybe Brad was the better man for you and I was trying to do the right thing, but now I know I can’t live without you. I can’t. And if it means I have to give up everything to be with you, I will. All that matters to me is you.”
“You can never treat me like that again. Ever.”
“I know. I’m so sorry. It was horrible. I know that now.”
“You made me feel so ugly, so undesirable.”
“I really am sorry Nicole. I was stupid. I love you so much. I’m sorry I hurt you.”
He kissed each of my cheeks, then our lips finally met. One gentle kiss at a time, he tasted my lips like it was the first time.
“You love me?” I bit my lip looking into his eyes.
“I love you more than you will ever know.” He continued to kiss me, savoring each one.
“You haven’t been with anyone else?”
“Nicole, there is only you. Since I met you, there has only been you.” He continued to kiss me and the world started to blur.
“Mmm, Dylan.” I smiled timidly, looking into his eyes again. “I like kissing you…”
He took my face in his hands, “I want to spend the rest of my life kissing you.”
As we kissed, my stomach announced that it was hungry. My face warmed, and I put my hands on my belly to quiet it down. “I am sorry.” I awkwardly giggled.
Dylan laughed, kissing my forehead, “I wanted to make you breakfast in bed. I guess this is my cue.” He walked over to the grocery bags by the door and grabbed the roses off of the chair. He brought two of the bags into the kitchen, placing them on the counter and placed the roses and the last of the bags outside the entrance of the bedroom. “If you would like, you can go lay down and I can surprise you.”
“I’d rather stay here with you. I can help or at least keep you company.” I followed him into the little kitchen. I reached my hand in one of the bags, pulling out eggs and placing them on the counter and the two of us emptied the bags, setting everything out to create the morning meal.
“Shrimp, crabmeat, wine… This sounds like it is going to be amazing.”
“Have you ever had a seafood omelette before?”
I shook my head.
“This is my suite. This is where I would always stay when I was in town, so I know my way around this kitchen, although they have made a couple improvements. I must say.”
Reaching in the bag and pulled out a tiny box. “Trojans?” I began laughing. “So you thought you were going to get lucky.”
Dylan’s face looked like a little boy that got caught with his hand in the candy jar. He took the box from my hands. “We won’t need these. I’m just happy to be here with you, knowing I have my Nicole back. If all I do is kiss you, that will be perfect.” He took the box and tossed it in the trash and leaned over to kiss me again.
“Um, I think.” I walked over to the trashcan, grinning. “I think maybe we should keep these, just in case.” I bit my lip as I pulled the little box out of the trash and put it on the counter.
He smiled, reaching his hand out to pull me close to him one more time, tucking my hair behind my ear. “I love you, Miss Carlisle. I want to spend forever with you. No matter what happens today, just being here with you, knowing you are finally mine again, makes me feel complete.” Dylan kissed me, lifting me onto the counter, as my stomach serenaded him with hunger pains again. “Nicole, you just keep me company; I want to do this for you. Besides, I love watching your feet dangle off the counter, this is how you were sitting when I first realized I was crazy about you.” He gave me a peck, then began to cut up the onions and sauté them in butter.
After breakfast, Dylan grabbed the bag by the entrance and the roses and slipped away for a moment into the bedroom, coming back to join me on the couch.
“Dylan, you were saying your dad is sick. What is wrong with him? Is he going to be okay?”
“My mom was really upset. That is why I was gone for so long. I couldn’t bring myself to leave.”
“Do you know what’s wrong with him?”
“She was really vague, she was crying. I haven’t been close to my parents since…well. It was nice spending time with my mom until Sarah showed up and it got a little weird. She did try and get together with me last night, but I said no. When she left, my mom tried to convince me to marry her for our family. It’s a stupid, complicated thing, but she wanted Sarah and me to take over the business if my dad passes away. She thinks that Sarah’s dad will try and take advantage of my father’s illness or something since he owns so many shares. I don’t care. I’m not marrying someone I don’t love.”
“I can see why she wants you to marry Sarah. I mean, she is beautiful and rich and she’s educated. I don’t understand why you like me. I’m nothing compared to her. Look at me. I can barely walk. What if I never can? What if I never get my memory back? I have all these nasty scars…” I pulled up my shirt showing the horrible scars on my upper thigh.
“Shh, never put yourself down, you are amazing! What did I tell you about that? Baby, you blow her away. If you never walk again the way you used to, if these never go away,” he said tracing my scars, “even if you do not remember, no matter what…I love you completely. Just the way you are.” He tucked my hair behind my ear and placed his hands on my face as he leaned in and kissed me.
“I’ll give up everything for you.”
“What do you mean?” I pulled away.
“Nothing, it is nothing.”
“Dylan what do you mean?”
“Me and my mom ended up fighting again. Last night ended badly. I don’t get it. My mom confirmed that if I chose you, I’ll lose everything. That is what I have been dealing with. I guess that’s why I have been so stupid the last few weeks. If I gave up everything and you chose Brad…well…”
I looked down. I didn’t want to be the reason Dylan lost the lifestyle he was accustomed to.
Dylan could see the look of sadness in my eyes and lifted my chin so I had to look in his eyes. “I told her if I lost you, I would lose everything. You are my everything.”
“Dylan, I don’t want you to…”
“Nicole, I can’t live without you. I won’t live without you. It will be a little harder at first, but I will give you the life you deserve to live.” He took my hands. “We will find Jess, I promise. I was able to find an investor to buy my house and I have a little money tucked away. I even talked to Chris this morning and if we get strapped for money he said I could help him with a contract. That money would set us up for a while. He is going to help me find Steve, we will get rid of him. Then we can start our life together. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you and to take care of you and Jess.”
As he kissed me, the phone rang. He took his cell phone out of his pocket and turned it off, laying it on the coffee table to make sure we were not interrupted. Then he unplugged the phone in the suite.
Gazing into my eyes in between kisses, he told me how much he loved me. As he kissed me, he lifted me up an
d carried me toward the bedroom. I was finally his.
We almost passed the kitchenette. “Wait!” escaped my mouth and I bit my lip, trying to hide my embarrassment.
He stopped and grinned as I picked up the box of Trojans off the counter.
The lights were out in the bedroom, but the dance of the candlelight flickered and music played softly. This is so beautiful. He did this for me. A smile filled my lips and a warmth came over my body. I gazed around the room and then back into his eyes.
As he laid me on the bed, I realized that he had pulled down the covers and scattered rose petals over the mattress. The petals kissed my skin. I looked up at him, his eyes so affectionate.
He took the box from my hand and put it on the nightstand. “We don’t have to do anything, Nicole. I just want to hold you. God, it has been so long.”
Chapter 59
*Dylan*
He stood admiring her for a moment and a tear started to form in his eye. Just a little over two months ago, she lay in a hospital room connected to machines that kept her alive. He had thought he may have lost her forever. Now he watched her lying on the bed of roses, breathing. Her breath gave him chills. He wiped the tears away and lowered himself onto the bed next to her. His fingertips traced her eyebrows, her cheekbones, the contours of her face. “You are so beautiful.” His fingers traced her lips and he leaned in to consume them. As they kissed, he pulled his t-shirt over his head and threw it to the side of the bed.
Her hands traveled over his chest and she bit her lip again. “So you are all mine?”
He nodded and just smiled, loving her fascination with his body.
“All mine?” her hands lowered to undo his pants. “I want to feel all your skin next to mine.”
Dylan helped her remove his pants and began unbuttoning her shirt again. All that separated them was their underwear.
Their kisses grew more passionate and his hands explored every curve of her body. Slowly his lips traveled down her neck. His hands cupped her breasts as his tongue began to savor her nipples. “Mmm.”
She let out a tiny moan. Her fingers ran through his hair. She twitched as he stimulated her with his mouth, slowly making his way down her body. As he lowered her panties, his lips traveled back up her legs, making his way to the nectar between her thighs. His tongue excited her, and she sighed as her heartbeat pulsed out of control and her body quivered in bliss.
“Mmm, you are so wet--so sweet.” He felt her body tremble in response to his mouth and it incited a hunger for her that was uncontrollable. His lips traveled up her body as he aroused her in ways he could tell she had never experienced before. He could barely breathe, his heartbeat screaming in his chest.
“Make love to me Dylan,” she panted, using her feet to lower his underwear. She reached for the little box on the nightstand as he kicked his underwear off all the way. She handed him the box.
He fumbled with the box, tearing it open. The rubbers fell and scattered onto the bed. He reached for one, ripping it with his teeth and began sliding it on.
Her hands gently covered his and she continued sliding it onto him, biting her lip. “Dylan.” She stopped him as he proceeded to lie on top of her again. “I, I’m a little scared.”
“What are you scared of, baby?” He was willing to wait if she wasn’t ready.
“You, you are huge.” She raised her eyebrows.
He laughed. “We can take it slow. I’ll be really gentle.”
“Can you just kiss me.”
“Of course, baby.” He laid beside her, gazing at her then leaned over to gently taste her lips, pausing with each kiss. Her cheeks were a soft pink and the way her chest rose and fell with each breath he found intoxicating. He had been with many women but never had a woman captured his soul the way she did. Each kiss became more and more passionate until she moaned in between tiny gasps of air. “I love you,” she whispered. The words escaped her lips.
He traced her lips with his fingertips. “Say it again.”
“Dylan, I love you,” her voice, still soft in between breaths.
He kissed her more passionately as his eyes filled with tears. It was the first time he had heard her say those words. “Say it again.” He smiled as his tears kissed her cheek.
“I love you so much, Dylan.”
He touched her lips as if they as if they were a rare and delicate flower. Tears flooded his eyes, and he couldn’t hold them back. “My God, I thought I had lost you. I thought I would never hear those words come from your lips. You’re alive,” his voice cracked. “This isn’t a dream.”
His tears fell upon her, and she reached up, wiping the moisture coming out of his eyes as he kissed her. Each kiss became more and more intense until their excitement accelerated out of control. “Make love to me, Dylan,” she pleaded.
She felt his hardness as he opened her thighs wider to enter her. “I will take it slow.” He gently pushed himself inside her. “Oh my god, you’re so wet.” He watched her face as he slowly pushed deeper and deeper inside her. Her moans encouraged each thrust.
“Dylan, oh Dylan.” Her screams fueled a fire inside of him and he rolled her on top of him so he could watch her body respond to him. As she sat on top of him clutching his chest, he pulsated deeper inside of her. She arched back as she rode him until her body trembled uncontrollably and her vagina pulsed around him. He rolled back over, on top of her and thrust inside her, their moaning in harmony intensified as he released inside of her and their bodies quivered together.
They clutched each other, and Dylan murmured, “I love you, Nicole.” He began kissing her again and their bodies were soon in another frenzy. The world disappeared again as they experienced each other’s body and discovered how to please each other.
As she climaxed again and lay in his arms out of breath, she traced his chest with her fingertips.
“I think if you had done that to me when I first out of the hospital, there would have been no doubt who I was in love with.”
“Nicole, the reason it’s so amazing is because you are ready.”
“I love you so much, Dylan.” As she said the words, she felt it harden and slightly jump against her thigh. “Mmm, I love you.” She kissed him. “I love you. I love you.” She kissed him, smiling big. He was firm and ready to make love to her again. “I think we may need another box.”
.
Chapter 69
*Bradley*
It killed Bradley to see Dylan walk out the door, knowing what was about to happen. When Dylan didn’t return for two days, a deep depression set in Bradley. Why have I been so stupid? Why didn’t I even try? He cursed himself for not trying harder to win Nicole’s love.
Knowing that she hadn’t slept with Dylan, knowing she had never told him she loved him gave Bradley a tiny spark of hope that somehow she would choose him instead. She did choose me and I turned her away. God why was I so stupid.
He paced the floor. I need to go. They don’t need me here, I need to go. As he began packing up he noticed a map in his suitcase he hadn’t noticed before. A map. He discovered a yellow carnation painted in the corner. Shit! How the hell did this get in here? Was Steve here? How did he find us? He traced the carnation. It’s a map of Washington, D.C. and Maryland… Jess is there! Steve is going to get Jessica.
He picked up the phone, only to get Dylan’s answering machine. He called the hotel operator; “Can you connect me with suite 342?” Again the phone rang and rang. Shit! He grabbed the map and began walking to Nicole’s room. Getting to the elevator, he watched the numbers. As the door opened, he turned back, walking toward his room quickly. I can’t go there, I can’t just knock on the door. He stopped in the hallway. I have to. I have to let them know. He turned back around and finally reached Nicole’s door. He stood in silence, staring at it, trying to build up the courage to interru
pt whatever it was that he may be interrupting. That is when he heard it. Nicole screamed Dylan’s name as if in ecstasy. Shit! He swallowed, walking away from the door again. Bradley realized this confirmed it. Why did he come? It was over. She would never be his. His footsteps dragged as he walked back to the elevator, pushing the button for the lobby instead.
“Can I have a shot of tequila?” The bartender handed him his shot. As he took a few more, he began confiding in the stranger. “The woman I love is sleeping with my best friend.” He buried his head in his hands.
The smell of perfume invaded his space as a woman sat beside him. He realized it was Sarah.
“Poor Brad. What are you going to do about it, Brad? You going to sit back and let him take the woman you love? Do you think he really loves her? The only person Dylan loves is himself.” She put her hand on Brad’s arm. “We can help each other Brad. You want Nicole and I want Dylan. We can work together and get what we want.”
Bradley didn’t even acknowledge that she was talking to him. He reached in his pocket to grab his wallet and pulled out the map. Shit! He had totally forgotten why he went to the door in the first place. He paid the bartender.
“Think about what I said, Brad. We can help each other. You know you are better for her.”
“Dylan loves her, Sarah. You need to accept that you have no chance with him.”
“I don’t give up that easily. You’ll see, Brad. I may have lost this battle, but we will see who wins the war.”
Bradley rushed out of the bar and back up to Nicole’s suite. He knocked on the door. No one answered. He banged on the door. No one answered. He saw the maid’s cart in the hallway and ran over to it.
“I locked my key in the room, can you open it for me?”
“I’m sorry sir, I can not.”
Obsession and Sacrifice (Alaska #2) Page 24
