The Philadelphia Series: The Complete Collection Boxed Set

by Taryn Plendl

  She scoffed and moved around me, punching the elevator button a little too aggressively. I watched the door close before I finally let out the breath I was holding.

  Damn it! Why was I even surprised? I was such an idiot. I’d completely misinterpreted his text message. I had assumed he wanted to work this through, but obviously it was just the opposite. He just wanted to know when to expect me so he could have his booty call. Apparently he had decided to keep living like he always had. I guess I should be happy that it happened before I allowed myself to be with him.

  I leaned against the wall, willing myself not to cry. I didn’t want to be the crushed, weak woman. I was better than that. “Come on Chelsea, you can do this,” I told myself softly, pushing away from the wall and walking to our door. I slipped the key in the lock, turned it and walked in.

  The door closed behind me as Nick rounded the corner. “You’re home.” He smiled nervously.

  “Uh, yeah. Apparently a tad too soon.” I didn’t like the hurt in my voice.

  “What do you mean?” Nick stepped toward me, but I put my hand up to stop him.

  I set my purse and keys on the table and walked past him into the living room, stopping before I reached the couch. “I saw your friend in the hallway.” I stood with my back to him. It was too hard for me to look at him right now. I didn’t want to be hurt, but I was.

  “My friend? Chelsea, what are you talking about?”

  I whipped around. “Your blonde friend. I saw her leaving. God, I’m so stupid!” I yelled, shaking my head.

  Nick’s face changed when he realized what I was talking about. “Shit, Chelsea, it’s not what you think.”

  I closed my eyes and took a ragged breath. “We are playing an entirely different game, Nick. While other girls might wait patiently until you breakup with your many girlfriends, I can’t. You see, I have been waiting all my life for something real. And if this isn’t real, no way am I spending another hour on waiting.” I turned and walked toward my room, but I was spun around as Nick grabbed a hold of my hand.

  “Damn it, Chelsea. Don’t walk away. You need to listen to me for a minute,” Nick pleaded.

  “There isn’t anything else to say, Nick. I know what I saw. I think we need to just …” Before I could continue, Nick pulled me to him and kissed me hard. I pushed him back, stunned.

  “Damn it, woman, you are going to listen to me, and if you want to walk away after, that is your prerogative, but I need you to stop for a damn minute and just listen.” I stared at him, shocked.

  “Okay,” I mumbled.

  “Okay?” he asked, cautiously.

  I nodded.

  Chapter 20

  Nick

  This day was turning into a nightmare. I honestly couldn’t believe that it was the same day. I had gotten into a fight, kicked out of my game, drank myself stupid, slept with a beautiful woman in my arms, shared an amazing kiss, and then managed to screw that up, too. I couldn’t make this shit up if I tried.

  If Chelsea didn’t look so hurt, I would have probably laughed at the situation. I was a complete moron a lot of the time, but not so much so that I would be dumb enough to laugh at a woman who looked like she could either burst into tears or tear off my balls. I wasn’t taking that chance.

  “First, you did see the blonde, but what was she doing, Chelsea?”

  “Leaving,” she whispered.

  “Exactly. She was leaving. She never even made it through the door. I told her I was off the market.” She hadn’t taken it well.

  “You’re off the market?” She asked softly. I took both of her hands in mine, pulling her closer to me. “Nick, I just want you to know that if you come any closer, I’m not going to let you go again.” There was just a hint of a smile on her lips, and I could tell she was nervous. Shit, I was nervous, too. I was so out of my element here.

  “I’m counting on that, Chelsea.” After she had left, I had some time to think about what I wanted. I wanted to still have fun, go out with my friends, enjoy my life to the fullest, but the thing that I had no doubts about was that I didn’t want to do any of those if Chelsea wasn’t with me. For so long I had denied that Chelsea meant anything more than a friend to me, but I loved her—I needed her. Warmth filled my chest and settled in my heart as I finally admitted what I think I might have known all along.

  My hands shook and my stomach tightened. “I love you.”

  “What?” she whispered.

  “I love you, Chelsea; I want you to be mine. I want to be yours.” I placed my forehead against her. “God, please tell me you want this, too.” Her bottom lip trembled, and her eyes looked glassy with tears.

  “You love me?” she asked as a tear rolled down her cheek.

  I reached out and wiped the tear away. “I'm a screw up, Chelsea, and I'm so scared because I've never wanted to be with someone as much as I want to be with you. I don't want to lose you.” I didn’t even care that I sounded like a girl. I was past that. I knew what I wanted, and she was standing right in front of me.

  “I love you, too, Nick.”

  “You do?”

  “Oh God, so much!” I took her face in my hands and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

  “Well, what do we do now?” I pressed my forehead to hers.

  “Will you make love to me?” she whispered.

  I groaned at the thought, “Baby, I’ll do anything for you.”

  I led Chelsea back to my bedroom, not turning to face her until we were standing right at the end of the bed. She was trembling. “Chelsea, we don’t have to do this. We can wait.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t want to wait. I want this. I want this with you. Now.”

  She pulled her shirt over her head and stood before me in just her jeans and a small, white lace bra. My mouth went dry, and I couldn’t even speak. She was so perfect.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  I took her face in my hands and pressed my forehead to hers. Now I was the one trembling. “I don’t know how to do this,” I confessed.

  Chelsea laughed. “What do you mean? You have been with more girls than I care to think about, Nick.”

  “Shit, that’s not funny, Chelsea. But really, not like this—never like this. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  She stroked my cheek and smiled at me. “Well, I guess we’ll just figure this out together.”

  Before I could blink, she pushed me back onto the bed and straddled me. I chuckled at the little red-haired vixen leaning over me. I flipped her over so she was under me. Kneeling, I pulled my shirt over my head and tossed it to the floor.

  Chelsea slid her hands over my chest, making me groan. I was fully straining against my jeans, harder than I’d ever been. “God, girl, you’re going to unman me with just your touch.”

  I unbuttoned her jeans, watching her face. “Is this okay?” She nodded. “If you want to stop, just say the word, no questions asked, okay?”

  She grabbed me by the back of my neck and pulled me down into a kiss, giving me the go ahead. I didn’t need any other encouragement as I unzipped her jeans and shimmied them down over her hips. Oh sweet Lord! Her matching white lace panties were the sexiest things I’d ever seen.

  She was the most exquisite woman I’d ever laid eyes on. I had always thought my type was a voluptuous blonde, but I was wrong. My type was Chelsea. She had ruined me for any other women.

  I ran my hands from her ankles, up her legs and brushing over her thighs, watching as she closed her eyes and tipped her head back. Her skin was so smooth and flawless. I could stare at her all day and still never get my fill. I placed soft kisses up her abdomen, licking and nipping as I made my way up to her mouth.

  “Wow,” I whispered. I lightly kissed her lips. “God, woman, you are beautiful.”

  “Thank you, Nick, but you my love, are over dressed.” Her small hands trembled as she unbuttoned my jeans. As much as I wanted to just rip my jeans off, I didn’t want to rush her. We were both so far out of our element
here, and I didn’t want to give her any reason to over-think anything, so I stood still as she slid her hands inside the open waist of my jeans, barely brushing my straining erection as she did. A moan escaped from the depths of my throat.

  Chelsea looked up at me, biting her bottom lip, looking so vulnerable. I smiled as I reached up and cupped her face as my jeans dropped to the floor. I pulled her into a long, drugging kiss, guiding her down to the bed with me. Hands, arms and legs were everywhere as we tried to get closer to each other.

  I cupped her perfectly sized chest through her bra before unhooking it and sliding it off, tossing it over my shoulder. I returned my attention to her beautifully creamy breasts, brushing my thumbs over her erect nipples before placing feathery kisses over them.

  I pulled myself back over her, capturing her mouth with mine, licking and tasting as I pressed my throbbing hardness into the junction of her thighs. “Oh god, Nick,” Chelsea gasped.

  I shuddered. “I know. It feels so good—absolutely perfect.”

  I sat back on my knees and watched her face as I removed the final piece of clothing from her gorgeous body, revealing her delicate softness. I closed my eyes, trying to get myself under control, so I didn’t bring this to an end before it even began. I had never had an issue with that before, but I was seriously close to reliving my early teen years.

  “Is something wrong?” Chelsea propped herself on her elbows.

  “No, everything is so right. You are perfect.” I stood up briefly and shuffled out of my boxers before lying back down next to Chelsea. I trailed my hands down her stomach, around her navel and finally down to the place I’d had so many fantasies about, sliding my fingers through her folds.

  “Oh my god, Nick! So good … so different.”

  Different? Different from whom?

  Chapter 21

  Chelsea

  “Why did you stop?” I looked over at Nick who was staring at me with a strange look on his face.

  “Um, you said it was different. Different from who, Chelsea?” He seemed almost hurt, and then it hit me that he thought I was talking about another man touching me.

  I couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, it’s different, Nick. Having you here in the flesh—touching me the way you were—feels so different from when I touch myself and think of you.” I couldn’t believe I was saying this to him, but it was the truth.

  “You think about me when you are pleasuring yourself?” His voice was low—sexy.

  I bit my lip to control the smile forming on my face and just nodded.

  “Holy shit, Chelsea. That’s so fucking hot! And to think, I was just down the hallway.” His mouth captured mine again with so much urgency that I thought I’d combust right there and then. He continued where he’d left off, stroking and rubbing circles on my most sensitive spot. I moaned at the intense pleasure, which seemed to only fuel his passion. Carefully he slid one finger inside me, causing my hips to buck involuntarily.

  “So fucking wet, Chelsea,” he groaned, closing his eyes. “Is this okay, babe?”

  “Oh yes, Nick. Please, don’t stop,” I begged. The feeling was incredible, but when he slipped a second finger in while continuing to rub circles above, I immediately arched against his hand, calling out his name as my body was wracked with soul-shattering intensity. He continued to softly rub me as I came down from my climax.

  “That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen, Chelsea,” he whispered, placing kisses along my jaw.

  “Please, Nick. I want you inside me.” I couldn’t think about anything else. I wanted him like I’d never wanted anything before. He was so beautiful. What I had seen of him in his clothes before now could never compare to the beauty of his strong, toned, and tan body. He captivated me in every way.

  “I’ve never … I mean … shit, Chelsea. I don’t want to hurt you, ever.” He was just as nervous as I was with this.

  I stroked his cheek. “It’s okay, Nick. It will only hurt for a minute. I want this, please.” His eyes bore straight through me, like he was seeing everything in my soul. I reached between us, wrapping my hand around his hard length and squeezing before I stroked him from base to tip, loving how responsive he was to my touch.

  “You sure?”

  I kissed him. “Nick, I am more sure about this than I’ve ever been about anything.”

  He nodded as he reached over to his bedside table, grabbing a condom. I watched as he ripped it open and rolled it down over his throbbing hardness. “If you want me to stop at any time, just say so.”

  I pulled him down, kissing him with all of the passion that I felt. I shuddered as I felt him pressing against my opening. He slid in and out an inch at a time before stopping as he felt the resistance. “Ready?” He waited until I nodded and then pulled back before driving himself forward in one swift motion. I gasped as he buried himself in me. It burned so much and I gripped his shoulders. He didn’t move. “Chelsea, I’m so sorry, babe. I’m so sorry.” He pressed his forehead against mine. I could feel his breath on my lips as I realized I had my eyes tightly closed. Slowly, I opened them to his beautiful eyes, wide with concern.

  “It’s getting better. Try to move a bit.” He pulled back slightly and then forward again. Each time it felt better until the burning switched over to pleasure. I lifted my hips to meet his thrusting body, matching his fluid movements.

  “Incredible, Chelsea. Never been like this … never.” He continued to look into my eyes as he moved in and out, stroking us both toward ecstasy. I felt so full—so loved. I gave this man every part of me. He had my heart and soul, and now he had my body.

  “I love you, Nick,” I whispered as we moved in an increasing tempo. I could feel the intense pleasure rising up through me until I couldn’t contain it, letting go with an uninhibited cry of satisfaction as my body convulsed around him.

  “Oh God, Chelsea!” Nick lost control, shaking violently as he spent himself inside me, before collapsing in exhaustion and pleasure.

  I trailed my hand up and down his spine, placing kisses along his shoulders. I don’t know how long we laid like this before Nick rolled off of me and walked to the bathroom. I heard the water run and a moment later, Nick returned with a warm washcloth.

  “Lay back, let me take care of you.” He kissed me on the stomach before cleaning me off below with gentle movements. He tossed the washcloth into the hamper and climbed back into the bed with me, pulling me back against him. “I love you so much, Chelsea,” he whispered before I fell into a restful sleep.

  ***

  The sound of slamming pans and muffled cursing woke me out of my peaceful slumber. I giggled at the memory of Nick’s last attempt to cook for us. I decided to hop in the shower quickly and get out there before he hurt himself.

  I decided to dress in one of Nick’s t-shirts until I could get back to my room for my own clothes. I pulled my hair up into a ponytail and headed toward the kitchen, which was currently quiet, making me even more nervous.

  I rounded the corner to find Nick putting the finishing touches on the table. I gasped when I saw the spread before me. “Did you do all this?”

  His smile was huge, obviously feeling pretty proud of himself. “I did.”

  “Nice.” I moved toward the kitchen as Nick stepped in front of me, pulling me in for a kiss. “As much as I love your kisses, if you get between me and the coffee pot … well, you're just gonna have to die.”

  He chuckled and put his hands up in surrender. I grabbed us each a cup of coffee and brought it to the table. “I’m impressed. I had no idea you were capable of this.” I glanced around. Nick had made blueberry pancakes, sausage, and eggs. It looked mouthwatering.

  “I’m a man of many talents, Chelsea. You have just seen the tip of the iceberg so far.” He waggled his eyes.

  “Well, I look forward to exploring the others.” I popped a bite of pancake into my mouth and groaned. They were actually really good! I finished chewing and then leaned in to ask a question that was troubling me since
I climbed out of bed.

  “Nick, what now?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, what is this?” I pointed between us. “What are we doing?”

  He put his fork down on the plate and folded his hands in front of him. “Just so there is no confusion—you are mine. I am yours. There’s no one else. I can see myself without a lot of things, Chelsea, but I don’t think I could ever see myself without you again. I love you.”

  I smiled, took another bite and watched him start to squirm as he waited for my response. Finally, I swallowed and leaned forward. “I think that sounds just about perfect.”

  “Yeah?” He grinned.

  “Yeah.” I grinned right back.

  Epilogue

  One year later

  Nick

  “Hurry up! I swear, if you guys screw this up I’m going to kill you.” I turned around in time to see Talia and Ava rolling their eyes at me, but I was way too nervous to even say anything. I continued to push my way through the crowd, hoping my friends were following me with some sense of urgency.

  The last year had been incredible. It seemed to take me forever to get things right with Chelsea in the beginning. It was the first time I was truly comfortable with a woman, and it scared the hell out of me, but what an amazing feeling it was when you realize you truly love someone. I had my fair share of screw-ups in the past year, and did my fair share of groveling to make it right, but I never had a single doubt that it was worth it. I've learned that the worst thing to be without is love—well, toilet paper comes in a close second, but seriously, God I loved that woman!

  “Nick, honestly dude, you need to calm down.” Tom moved up next to me, keeping pace, even with his prosthesis.

  “That’s easy for you to say, Tom. You’re marrying Talia in a week. Your girl has already said yes.” Tom didn’t remember, but he had been just as frantic when he proposed to Talia eight months ago. I remembered how surprised she had been when he arranged to have a fake trauma run at her work. Talia was an ER nurse, and they had rolled Tom in on a stretcher with his face obscured with bandages. The doctor told Talia to cut off his shirt to assess his abdomen and chest, and as she did, she exposed a perfectly healthy stomach that had “Talia, Will You Marry Me?” written on it.