by Ally Adams
“Sure,” I assured him, but I didn’t understand why he wanted to come this way when he couldn’t see my face and I couldn’t see his, especially for our first time. Was it a control thing? I didn’t have a chance to think any more, as he slowly moved into me. Holy crap, the pain.
“Slower Nik,” I cried and he immediately stopped. It had been a while and I was tight. My butt rubbed against his hard chest as he began to move again, into me, slowly, slowly, inching me open, taking my breath away. I might have been super wet but the pain still ripped through me. I grabbed one of his arms and gripped tightly.
“Slower, sorry, slower,” Nik said, and eased back until he was completely inside me. Fuck he was in so deep, this position was painfully wonderful. He hands moved back to my hips and he began to grind in and out, each movement so precise and deliberate. I arched my head back enjoying feeling him in so deep, fuck he was deep.
He groaned my name. “Sah-sha, I love having you wrapped around my dick, fuck this is so good.”
I laughed because he summed it up so perfectly and then he wiped the smile from my face as he took me with several hard, fast moves. Groaning, aching, his wanting of me was so satisfying. I felt his whole body tense, and explode and he made a guttural sound like an animal sated. Fuck that was sexy too. He moved his hand up the outside of my body, while his cock inside me was thick and filling every inch of me. With the one arm, he wrapped me against him and with the other huge, muscly arm, lowered us onto the bed, still attached. I lay spooned in him; the doggy position lent itself perfectly to that.
“So good,” he said.
“So good,” I agreed, and we lay getting our breath. “I’m so glad you persisted with us,” I said after a while, holding his arms as he encased me.
“I knew we’d be a perfect fit,” he said.
After some time, he reached for a tissue from the bed stand and pulled away to put the condom in it. He returned to hold me and we lay in silence. Eventually he spoke.
“I saw your ink but I didn’t want to stop sucking on your nipple to ask... what does it mean,” he said. He ran his fingers over my chest and heart where the words lay, each move tingling my skin. I had the words ‘Festina lente’ tattooed over my heart.
“It’s Latin, it means ‘make haste slowly’—it is a reminder to fall in love slowly,” I said. “My mother always uses that phrase and I’m a bit impulsive so I’m taking it onboard.”
“Make haste slowly,” he repeated the words. “Is it such a bad thing? Besides, can a leopard change his spots?”
I shrugged. “Maybe not, but it’s there to remind me.” I wanted to ask him something, but wasn’t sure if I should yet. Then I remembered all the cloak and dagger shit I had gone through with Adam and I decided if we couldn’t be upfront then we were screwed from the start. But before I could ask, he pulled me around and began to slowly kiss me again—God I loved how he did that, it was so sensual. I could have stayed that way all night except I could hear his stomach rumbling.
“You’re hungry?” I asked.
“Fucking starving,” Nik said.
“Didn’t you eat after the game?” I frowned and turned to look at him.
“No, we showered and had a few drinks.”
“Nik!” I rolled my eyes, sitting up. “You have to eat after a match. You can’t run around for a couple of hours and not recharge. You are supposed to restore your body back to pre-game levels in the shortest possible time.”
Nik grinned at me. “Is that so, coach?” he asked, reaching again for my nipple and I stopped him with an excellent tactical move.
I tried not to smile but failed. “Yes,” I said, trying to stay serious with him. “Doc told me. You need carbohydrates and fast. I can’t believe the trainers let you guys leave without eating.”
“They had some pizza there and stuff, but I didn’t need it then, I don’t eat well straight after a match—I had a sports drink.” He wised up. “But yeah, you are right. I need to eat now. Plus you just took all my final energy supplies, I need resuscitation,” he said and dramatically fell back onto his back. I fell onto him.
“Right then. I’ll give you the kiss of life and we’ll go eat,” I said.
“Can we walk somewhere? I’m getting stiff,” he asked.
I gave him a raised eyebrow.
“In other areas,” he qualified his statement with a smile. Not so, he was hardening again already in a very important area.
“There’s a great steakhouse in walking distance.” I kissed him and jumped up before he could pull me back down. I raced naked down the stairs, and he grabbed his gear and followed. I disappeared into the bathroom and he stopped at the doorway.
“You can come in,” I said, leaning into the shower to turn on the taps.
Nik walked in, laughed and stood with his hands on his hips looking around. He was so sexy—big and fully on display in my bathroom. I had designed it to be my dream bathroom—I liked smoked glass and mirrors and no obstructions and it was like a peek-a-boo room. You could see the silhouette of the person showering and there was a sizeable spa bath. It was definitely an apartment designed for a couple.
“This is very cool,” Nik said, and walked into the shower next to me where I was having a quick rinse, down below especially. No door, just a smoky glass panel to step into and straight under a huge ten-inch square rain shower head that really wet you—almost as much as Nik wet me—it had to be said! Nik reached for me and I threatened him with the soap.
“No, you have to eat, we have to go. If you get faint or a bloody nose again, Doc will ban us from seeing each other,” I said, and passed him the soap. I slipped out of the shower, grabbed a towel to dry and left one out for Nik. I headed upstairs to change. Besides, if I stayed I would have to wash him down and explore those scars he didn’t want to talk about and a few other areas. I soon realized that he took me from behind so I wouldn’t ask him about them; it wasn’t lost on me. But I wouldn’t forget and next time we were intimate, I was going to see his face.
Chapter 14
“Don’t move, Saffy,” I ordered my twin sister for the hundredth time. “I swear, you’ll end up with a lopsided wedding dress, it will look crap and you’ll ruin my reputation before I get one,” I shook my head even though I couldn’t really be cranky at her. The dress was looking fine and the cut was really perfect for Saffron. They had compromised—Saffy and Daniel—delaying the wedding for one year and travelling during that time. They had both given notice at work and would take off to Europe in a matter of weeks. I didn’t want to think about how much I would miss her. Before then though, Saffron wanted the dress at a stage where she just needed a final fitting on her return.
“Saffy, please stand still or I’m going to have to tie you up,” I threatened her.
Saffron giggled. “Sorry Sassy,” she said, but she couldn’t stand still. I had pinned the dress together, it was heavy and she kept jabbing herself moving around with excitement—it was so good to see her happy. Saffy’s fiancé wasn’t allowed to be here but he would drop in later. On hand and not helping at all was our brother Ethan, along with Max and Saffy’s best friend and the second bridesmaid Lilly. Lilly was more like Saffron than I was—they were both small brunettes and both a bit flaky. They believed in real love, poetry and pigs flying. Lilly was studying English literature; Lord knows what she was going to do with that.
I had left work right on five to get home to meet Saffy and co., so I didn’t get to see Nik arrive for training and ogle him from the office window—I hated a missed opportunity. I would text him later and catch up. But now, I seriously had to focus on Saffron’s dress and her wriggling wasn’t helped by all the distractions—Max kept filling everyone’s glasses with champagne, Lilly was creating home-made pizzas in the kitchen and Ethan played DJ—he had on some great jazz music. I had a mouthful of pins as I paced around Saffy on the bridal stage. Prada was giving me a sympathetic look from his perch above us, I was tempted to join him and refuse to come down. Add
to this, all I could think about was one tall, gorgeous German—I couldn’t sleep for thinking about him, damn him.
I didn’t hear Lilly approach until she squealed and I jumped a mile high.
“You look so beautiful Saffy,” she gushed to my twin, “even unfinished, it’s beautiful.” She turned to me. “You have such talent Sassy,” she said. “Will you make my wedding dress one day too?” She glanced at Ethan as she said it. She didn’t have a hope—Lilly was sweet but Ethan would need a much more challenging woman to keep him on his toes.
“I’d be honored, Lilly, especially if you chose one of my designs and not a pattern,” I said with a sly glance to Saffron who rolled her eyes
“I’ve always wanted this style,” Saffron moaned.
“I know, I know,” I shushed her.
Lilly continued her focus on Ethan; worth a shot I guess.
“Ethan, has anyone ever told you that you look like Ryan Gosling, you know the actor?” she asked, batting her eyelids.
“No, no-one ever,” Ethan said, and I laughed. I tried not to, but he was so deadpan.
“Oh please Lilly, his head is big enough without telling him that,” I said, and he shot me a look that warned trouble. To add to the mayhem, there was a knock at the door. I looked at Ethan but he didn’t turn the music down, it wasn’t really that loud, so surely one of the neighbors wasn’t freaking out.
“I’ll get it,” Max said, making himself useful for the first time tonight. He opened the door and I heard him gasp a little. I was kneeling on the floor adjusting the hem of Saffy’s dress and looked towards the door. There was a gorgeous athlete could-be model standing there—Nik. I grabbed the pins from my mouth and gave him a smile that said take me away from all this, or come in, one or the other.
He looked at me and his eyes lit up—we were alone in that space for a moment—and then it was like we both remembered there were other people in the room, and the room around us got suddenly noisier as everyone fussed over Nik. Max shook his hand, ushered him in and started introducing him to everyone, while I pushed up off my knees.
“Ah you are the best friend,” Nik said, shaking hands with Max. He turned to Ethan. “And I thought you were Sah-sha’s boyfriend, you had me worried,” he said, on being introduced to my brother.
Ethan grinned. “God no, she’s all yours, and good luck.”
I gave Ethan a smirk—I guess we were even now for my earlier Ryan Gosling comment. Lilly was looking at Nik like Adonis had just stepped into the room, she was so fickle—one minute fascinated by Ethan, the next absorbing the vision of Nik. She shook his hand and gazed at him in wonder, as if she wanted to paint him—she was always a bit ethereal our Lilly. I wanted to paint him in chocolate and lick it off, fuck there’s an idea, keep that for later. Then my sister got her hooks into him. Poor Nik, but he did volunteer to come in.
“Ah, so you’re Nik.” She smiled and shook his hand. “You’re quite beautiful, aren’t you? Wow.”
I didn’t think Nik—who spent a lot of time in the limelight—was capable of being really embarrassed but he went three shades of red and looked to me for rescue.
I grinned at him. “He is beautiful,” I agreed, and he came over to me. He didn’t seem to care that everyone else was there; he wrapped his arms around me, leaned down and kissed me. Again, the weirdest thing—as though it was just the two of us in the room and when we pulled apart, I realized for the first time tonight the room was quiet, everyone was watching us.
Nik looked around. “Um, did I crash a party?” he asked.
“Hell no, you’re very welcome,” Ethan said.
“Champagne?” Max asked.
“We’ve got beer,” Ethan said holding up his bottle.
“Yeah, a beer would be good, thank you,” Nik said. “Sorry I came empty handed.”
“Oh I doubt it,” I teased him, then I remembered we weren’t alone and reddened. No need to give the family and friends fuel for gossip. I pulled out of his arms. “I just need to help Saffy get out of this dress, so make yourself at home. You know your way around,” I said, trying to look more chilled and failing miserably.
“I’ll text Daniel and tell him it is safe to come around now,” Saffron said, sending a message to her fiancé.
“I’ll look after Nik,” Lilly said, brightly, and I knew she would. Not with the intention of stealing him, as Lilly was so sweet and lovely, she would just look after him—stare at him, size him up, try and work out how he ticked. A bell buzzed on the oven. “Oh, the oven is ready, okay everyone I’m putting the pizzas in, you’ve got fifteen minutes,” she announced.
“I should go, so you can eat and see your friends,” Nik said.
“Don’t be silly, I love you being here.” I grabbed his arm. “I would have asked you but I didn’t know if you’d cope with this lot or run screaming from me.”
Ethan laughed. “Well that’s nice isn’t it?”
“Yeah don’t be silly, we see each other all the time, the more the merrier,” Max said, handing Nik a beer. “Besides, it’s nice to see Sassy happy.”
I gave him a pained look. It was bad enough I felt as though everyone was watching the two of us without Max letting on I’d been on another planet, planet joy. Nik’s phone rang and he glanced at the screen.
“Ha, it’s my best friend, he’s here for a few weeks on business,” he said, “you’ll have to excuse me.”
“Here as in in-town? Ask him around if he’s brave,” I said.
Nik smiled and took the call. He spoke in rapid German, so sexy to hear and watch. I’d have to get him to speak German to me in bed, don’t care what he says, just say something. Saffron tugged my arm and I came back to reality and followed her into the guest room to help her out of the wedding dress.
“He’s gorgeous,” Saffron whispered to me. I nodded, that I knew. “This is just what you need Sassy, be open to it.”
I nodded again—she must have been talking with Ethan to say that. Saffron took my hand.
“Sassy, I love you and you’re very lovable. I want to see you happy.”
I looked her in the eyes, my eyes—we weren’t the kind of twins that felt each other’s pain or knew when one of us was in trouble, but we had a deep connection and I would kill to protect her. “I love you too,” I told her, “but I’m just taking small steps here.”
“Of course,” she said. “But everyone’s vulnerable when they go into a relationship Sassy, everyone. Don’t miss out because you’re scared, it could be the best thing ever.”
“And if it is not?” I asked.
Saffron shrugged. “Then you’ll never die wondering.”
Brave words for someone who has had one major love affair and is now marrying him—been there, done that, got the scars. I unpinned the back of her gown and she stepped out of the dress just wearing her underwear. I laid it carefully on the sofa while Saffron got dressed. When we came back out, Lilly had Ethan and Nik putting out plates and napkins for the pizza while Max was doing water glasses for everyone.
“Good job, Lilly,” I teased her, “nice to see the boys doing something for a change.”
I ducked as they shot back barbs at me. Nik laughed, he looked so relaxed as though he belonged and he flicked me a glance which said he was happy to be there. I loved having the chance to watch him with my family and friends.
“Is your best friend coming?” I asked him.
“Yes, thanks. He’s here for a week on business.”
“From Germany?” I asked, surprised Nik would be here and not with him if that was the case.
“No,” Nik assured me, “He’s been working in New York for six months, but he’s on this side of the country just for a week for business.”
“I’ll slow the pizzas down,” Lilly said, turning down the heat. “This is turning into a party,” she said, excited. God bless Lilly, she had an endless supply of excitement. I might have to wear earplugs on Saffron’s wedding day.
Fifteen minutes later Daniel, Saf
fron’s fiancé, burst in.
“Safe?” he asked.
“All safe,” I agreed giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Just don’t go into the guest room, I’ve got the dress on the chair.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he said, greeting everyone, and kissing his fiancée. I was glad the love focus was a little off Nik and me, even though we were the novelty. Ten minutes later there was another rap at the door and Nik answered it; he back-slapped the man on the other side of the door and moved aside to let him in, closing the door.
“Ah, everyone, this is Anton,” Nik said.
Anton came bearing wine and beer and offered it up.
“Well, you can stay,” Ethan said, taking the drinks from him.
*****
Nik introduced Anton to each person and finished with me. Anton was tall too, but nothing on Nik’s tall and gorgeous stature. Where was I? Oh yeah, Anton. He was probably just six foot or shy of it, light brown hair styled in a very corporate fashion and blue eyes, not as crystal blue as Nik’s eyes. He wore silver framed glasses and had the look of a banker—turns out he was a financier.
“So hello Sah-sha, you’re the beauty who has captured Nik’s heart,” he said with his lovely German accent. He shook my hand and Nik rolled his eyes, embarrassed. I grinned happily—it was Nik’s turn for the big reveal, oh yeah, Anton coming around was a great idea. I realized that Lilly was staring at Anton now—so much male in one room.
Anton looked from Saffron to me. “Wow, nothing alike for twins. I would have thought you two were the twins,” he said looking from Lilly to Saffron.
“We get that all the time,” Saffron said.
“Sasha and Ethan look more alike,” Max added.
“Yes, we’re the good looking ones, we got the best genes but we don’t like to rub it in,” Ethan teased and Saffron hit his arm. He handed Anton the same brand beer that he and Nik were drinking and the men sat on the sofa while the women fussed around... somehow we had taken on traditional domestic roles—that sucked.
