by Sylvia Day
“What?”
Stephanie stared up into Nick’s gorgeous but pissed-off features and felt like she was going to pass out. His jaw was shadowed with stubble, his blue eyes rimmed with red. His hair was spiked from agitated fingers and his beautiful mouth was harshly drawn. He simply looked like hell, but her heart swelled with happiness at the sight of him.
“I love you, Steph.” He caught her hand and pressed it over his heart. “Feel that? That’s panic. I’m terrified you’re going to say that’s not enough, when that’s all I’ve got to give you.”
Tears welled and dripped from her lashes. “Kevin…”
“You should have told me about your son, Steph. I’ve been going nuts trying to figure out why I can’t have you.” Catching her zipper, Nick tugged it down and shoved her jacket to the floor.
“Now you know why this isn’t going to work,” she said, her voice shaky.
“I don’t know shit, Steph. Because you didn’t tell me.” Shoving his hands beneath her top, he squeezed her breasts and she melted in his hands. “Think quick. The bed or right here on the floor.”
“Oh my God.”
She stumbled away, backing down the hallway as he stalked her. With wide eyes and a racing heart, she watched as he shed his jacket and then his shirt. When he reached for the button fly of his jeans, she swallowed hard. The tender lover she’d known three nights ago was gone and the thrill that coursed through her made her dizzy.
“Nick…”
“I’d lose the sweater if I were you. You’ll be sweaty enough without it.” He shoved his waistband just low enough to free his fully engorged cock and heavy balls. Then he reached into his back pocket for a condom and sheathed himself even as he stalked her.
Yanking her sweater over her head, she faced forward and nearly ran the remaining distance to her room. Nick was right on her heels. She was barely to the foot of her bed before she got her bra loose and then he was on top of her, his long lanky body sinking into hers. The crisp curls of his chest scraped her nipples and she gasped, opening her mouth to his questing tongue. A low groan rumbled deep in his chest and he tugged at her jogging pants.
“Off.”
She squirmed desperately, kicking. “I’m trying.”
“Try harder.”
Laughing, she wiggled free and then his hand was between her legs, stroking her pussy and rubbing her clit. She wasn’t laughing anymore—she was whimpering and arching up into his hard body.
“Did you miss me?” he growled, biting her earlobe.
“Yes… Ummm… too much.”
Two fingers slipped inside her and stroked, making her cream.
“Spread your legs.”
Nick came over her, nudging her thighs wider with his lean hips before he took her in a deep, breathtaking thrust. Then he wrapped his fist in her dark hair and began to fuck her within an inch of her life.
“Nick!” Steph writhed beneath him, trying to move but held still by the prison of her bound hair and his pumping cock.
He leaned his weight on one elbow and used his free hand to pull her leg over his hip so he could plunge to the hilt. She watched him, every nerve ending in her body hot and tingling, her breath panting. The waistband of his jeans rubbed against her inner thighs, a constant reminder that he couldn’t bear another moment without being inside her.
“This isn’t about getting laid,” he insisted hoarsely.
“I know.” Her hands clung to his straining, sweating back.
“This isn’t temporary.”
“I-I…” Her cunt fluttered along his cock. “I know.”
Burying his face in her neck, he said, “I love you” against her ear and she melted. Into the bed, into him, into an orgasm that made her cry out his name. And he filled her with love.
With hope.
* * * * *
Nick tucked her cheek against his damp shoulder and said, “Talk to me, Steph. Tell me what you’re thinking so we both get on the same page.”
She gave a lame shrug. “I don’t know where to begin.”
“Start with the ex,” he suggested. “Tell me about him.”
“Tom’s a great guy. He’s handsome and charming, a caring dad. But he couldn’t commit to me. I think he really wanted to, but he couldn’t.”
“Sweetheart, I’m not like Tom. Just because I waited for you to come along doesn’t mean I’ve got commitment issues.”
“He’s got a new girlfriend every month,” she rushed on. “Kevin has a little notepad he takes to his dad’s to write down their names so he doesn’t mess up and use the wrong one. He did that once and it was a mess.” She reached down and stroked his bare hip. “I can’t do that to him, Nick.”
He nuzzled against her. “I’m not asking you to do that. I’m asking you to let me in. Make room for me in your life, someplace permanent. Let me love you, be with you. You won’t regret it.”
As his blue eyes began to glisten, something inside her softened. “I’m scared. For my son. For me.”
“I know. I’m scared too.” He pressed his lips to hers. “I’m scared you’re going to send me away because you can’t trust me.”
The last three nights without him had been hell. She’d missed the feel of him holding her, making love to her, making her feel special and cared for. She missed the way he made her laugh and how good she felt when she was with him. “I want to trust you,” she whispered.
“Then do it! Listen to me, Steph.” He rose up on his elbow to look down at her. “Being a single mom doesn’t mean your life is over.”
“It means my needs come second. I can’t—” She closed her eyes. “You don’t understand. It was hard for Kev. I was a wreck when Tom and I broke up. And I didn’t even love him anymore.”
“But you love me.” Nick cupped her face in his hands. “A little. Enough to be scary. And I’m glad you love me because I’m head over heels for you.”
The look in his eyes told her he was laying it all out there, making himself vulnerable.
“I-I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll give us a chance. You’re used to running the show, and you can keep on running it. I just want to be the guy you lean on when you need to recharge. I want to be the guy who holds you when you’re tired and makes love to you when you’re not. I want to be the guy you come home to every day.”
“There won’t be any sleepovers for awhile,” she warned, needing him to cast aside any romantic illusions.
“We’ll take long lunches.”
“A lot of nights you won’t see me. I can’t do the dinner and date thing often. Kevin only goes to his dad’s every other weekend and part of every holiday.”
“I know I’ll take the backseat to your son. I’m okay with that. In fact, I love you for that.”
The tears wouldn’t quit and the knot in her throat made it hard to speak. “Kevin might not warm up to you right away.”
Nick pulled her closer. “I know that too.”
Steph frowned. “Have you dated a single mom before?”
“No. But my friend Chris just married into a similar situation. We met for lunch today and talked about it. I talked to his wife, Denise, too so I could try to see things the way you do.”
“You did?” The image in her mind of Nick approaching his friends to discuss his feelings and fears made her cry harder. She hugged him tight, silently conveying her endless gratitude.
“I wanted to know what to expect. I wouldn’t have come here like this without doing my homework. That wouldn’t be fair to any of us.”
“So you know it won’t be easy.”
“I’m not asking for easy, sweetheart. I’m asking for a chance to make you happy.”
She didn’t know whether to laugh or keep crying. So she did both. “You’re The One.” Kissing his face, she pressed him back and climbed over him. “This whole year you’ve been right here and I couldn’t see it.”
“I love you, Steph.” His lopsided smile made her heart race. With a lock o
f dark hair falling over his brow, he looked younger and vulnerable. Lying on her Christmas quilt, he was the most perfect present she could ever imagine.
She pressed her lips to his. “You made all my wishes come true.”
“Actually…” He grinned. “We missed one.”
“Did we?” Thinking back, her eyes widened as her mouth curved. “Yes, we did.”
Licking her lips, Stephanie slid down his body.
Nick closed his eyes with a contented sigh. “Merry Christmas to me.”
Sylvia Day is the multi-published author of highly sensual romantic fiction set in historical and futuristic settings. A former Russian linguist with the US Army Military Intelligence, she now writes full-time. When she’s not working on her next erotic romance, you can find her chatting with visitors on her weblog, message board and chat loop http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SylviaDayBookCafe.
Stop by http://www.sylviaday.com to say hi and meet all her bad boy heroes.
Sylvia welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Ellora’s Cave Publishing at 1056 Home Ave., Akron OH 44310-3502.
Also by Sylvia Day
Kiss of the Night
Misled
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