Slow Burn - a Novel: The Elite

by KB Winters

  “Tempting.” Nick gave a half-grin. “But actually it looks like I’ll be sticking around at the museum for a while. After we finished the last test flight, Aaron took me out for a couple of beers and offered me a full time, permanent position. He’s going to be expanding into a second location and won’t have time to do any more of the mechanic work himself. He’ll be too busy filling up the new space and launching the sister museum.”

  “Oh? Wow. I had no idea.” It surprised me that Aaron hadn’t mentioned it to me in any of his recent visits to the shop. Then again, we’d never really talked business all that much beyond the occasional “how’s it going” and I hadn’t even seen Gemma for a couple of weeks. “Double congratulations then!”

  Nick’s smile widened but faded all too quickly. “Thank you.”

  “It’s good news, isn’t it? I mean, that’s what you want? Is to stay?” As soon as the question left my mouth, I held my breath, waiting for the answer. The dark look in Nick’s eyes had me unsettled and unsure of the answer that I would have bet money on a week ago. A day ago.

  Before I’d fucked everything up.

  “I want to stay here, Carly. I love my job, the museum, this town.” His eyes searched mine. “Being with you.”

  I nodded, a prick of tears stinging my eyes. “I want you to stay, too.”

  “You do? Cause this morning it felt like you couldn’t wait to get away from me.”

  My gaze plummeted to the wooden planks of the deck, illuminated by the soft yellow glow of the porch light off to the side of the front door. “I’m sorry, Nick.”

  “I didn’t say that to shame you, or make you feel guilty, Carly. I’m saying it because I need to get to the truth. I need to know where you’re at. The last few weeks have been amazing. Yes, we’ve both been hellishly busy and under a lot of stress, me with the F-4, you with Alesha, but I’ve been living for the nights we get to spend together. Knowing that at the end of the day, I could leave and see you and spend the entire night with you, that was what got me through all the madness. But this morning…” He shook his head as though words failed him momentarily. “It seemed like you were trying to take that all away.”

  “I wasn’t trying to, Nick,” I locked my eyes with his, desperate for him to understand. If there was a way I could have poured all my thoughts, my heart, into his, I would have.

  “Then explain it to me. Please? What were you trying to say? Cause from where I’m standing, it was a complete lockdown as soon as I brought up the future. Our future. Why does that scare you so much?”

  The question was simple enough. But the answer was so tangled and complicated that I couldn’t figure out where to start.

  “Carly, baby, please help me understand.”

  “It’s scary because I don’t know what will happen,” I said, cringing at how stupid it sounded. “I mean, it’s the unknown right? Doesn’t everyone fear the unknown?”

  “Maybe? To a certain point,” Nick agreed. “But at some point you have to let that go and just do it anyways.”

  I nodded. I agreed with him. At least, in principle.

  “I came here to Holiday Cove after getting out of a very toxic, and at times violent, relationship.” Nick cringed. I’d already confessed to him about my ex’s temper, but clearly the reminder was painful to him. As it was to me. “My ex would drink a lot and take out his anger on me. It took me a long time—too long—to get out. I came here, borrowed the money I needed from my dad, and built my business and a safe, insulated life. I work seven days a week because I want to keep my routine, to not leave too much room for chance. It’s safe. Familiar. Comfortable. I know my customers and they know me. I used to be this wild child, running all over the place, partying, drinking, getting into trouble. It’s basically a miracle I’m not dead or in jail. And sure, there’s still part of that girl in here, but I will never go back to that life again. It’s better to keep myself fenced in.

  “So, when you came into my life it was this whole new world of possibilities that opened up and it happened all at once. I’m scared, Nick. I’m scared of what will happen if I let myself go. If I give myself permission to build all these plans with you and map out this life and leave my bubble, what happens if it falls apart?”

  Nick stepped towards me and wrapped me in his arms, holding me tightly against his chest. My resolve broke down and the tears splashed onto my cheeks. “What happens if it doesn’t?”

  “I’m scared of letting myself fall, but I’m also scared of losing you,” I whispered, my words muffled by his shirt.

  He ran a hand over the back of my neck, soothing me. “You’re not going to lose me, babe. I’m here to stay and not just because of the job. I’d have found a way to stay one way or the other. I don’t want to lose you, either.”

  Nick’s fingers slid up my neck and cupped the side of my face, bringing my eyes up to his. “Carly, I’m falling in love with you.”

  He didn’t wait for me to say it back—maybe because he knew I couldn’t—and instead captured my lips with his in a gentle, sweet kiss that pushed away the rest of the doubts and fears that had been gnawing at me.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Carly

  “Come home with me,” Nick said, reaching for my hand.

  I looked back at the house. “I can’t. It’s Alesha’s last night before my dad and Kelli get into town. I don’t want to leave her alone in the house.”

  Nick nodded, sucking back his disappointment.

  I walked my fingers up his chest and smiled sweetly up at him. “Maybe you could come back over once she’s asleep?”

  He captured my fingers and pressed them against his lips. “That depends.”

  “On what?” I asked, arching my brow. Nick Adams had never turned me down before.

  He grinned and dropped his mouth to my ear. “On whether or not you can keep from screaming out my name while I’m fucking you.”

  A shiver bolted down my spine like a lightning strike. “Oh.”

  Nick chuckled softly before letting his tongue explore the outside of my ear. He was making his way down the side of my neck with hot, open mouthed kisses, when we jumped apart at the sound of the front door opening up.

  “Oh…sorry…”

  I smoothed back my hair and looked over at Alesha as she peeked outside. “Hey... What’s up?”

  She stepped out onto the porch and went past me to go down the stairs. “I left my purse in the car and I need my wallet.”

  “Sure thing. Uhm, here, let me unlock…” I dug for my keys and a chirp sounded as the doors unlocked. “There ya go.”

  A minute later, she returned to the porch, purse in hand. “You guys can go back to making out now…” she said sarcastically on her way back into the house.

  Nick laughed, an amused smirk on his face.

  I held up a finger. “Leash, wait, what did you need your wallet for?”

  “I was ordering a pizza online. Dad wired some money to my account.”

  “Aha.” She had returned the stolen gift card to me after coming home from the hospital but I’d withdrawn some cash from it to give to her. “Well I’ll be inside in a little bit so make sure you order my half with pineapple.”

  “Nick?” She glanced over at him. “What’s your topping?”

  Nick glanced at me and then back to Alesha, as though silently looking for confirmation that he could stay. That his presence wouldn’t be an intrusion on sister time. I gave him a nod. “I’m a black olive fan and extra onion if they have it.” I made a gagging expression and he smirked. “Okay, never mind. Hold the onion.”

  Alesha nodded and went back inside to complete the order.

  “Smart man,” I said, running my hand up the back of his neck. “You’re a hundred percent more likely to get lucky if you don’t smell like onions.”

  He laughed and kissed me softly. “I don’t wanna crash your party. Say the word and I’ll get outta your hair. Let you girls live it up unsupervised.”

  I bopped t
he tip of his nose with my finger. “It’ll be fun. Alesha likes hanging out with you too. And you know Lady won’t object. You’re just the kind of sucker who’ll slip her some extra cheese.”

  Nick laughed and followed me inside the house.

  * * * *

  “I think she’s asleep,” I whispered to Nick from across the couch. Alesha snored and rolled to her side on the other couch, snuggling the tiny puppy to her chest like she was a favorite teddy bear instead of a live dog. Lady didn’t seem to mind.

  Nick massaged the balls of my feet. “You wanna take this upstairs?” He waggled his brows at me.

  With another glance at Alesha, I weighed my options. During the movie, Nick and I had barely been able to keep our hands to ourselves as we’d spooned together on the couch with a blanket pulled over us up to the waist. His cock had been pressed between my ass cheeks for the better part of an hour, and I couldn’t have told someone the plot of the movie we’d watched even if my life depended on it.

  Eventually, I’d made him sit across from me and we’d taken turns massaging one another’s feet instead. Still amazing but less tempting to get into trouble.

  But with Alesha asleep…

  Nick’s eyes were dark. The expression on his face clear. It was one I knew very, very well.

  “Okay,” I agreed, hopping off the couch. I led the way, tiptoeing past Alesha after tugging her blanket up over her shoulder and making sure her feet were covered at the same time. Nick followed after me and we crept up the stairs, avoiding the squeaky step.

  Once we were behind the closed door of my bedroom, Nick didn’t waste any time. His lips crushed against mine and he flipped me around to pin me against the door. I moaned into his mouth and snaked my hand down the front of his jeans to grip his thick cock.

  “Damn, woman,” he hissed, breaking out of the kiss as I stroked the velvet soft skin on the tip. “What am I gonna do with you?”

  “Whatever you want, baby” I replied, giving him a seductive smile.

  “In that case…” He tugged the hem of my shirt up and over my head. “You won’t be needing this. Or…these…” his hands went to the button on my jeans and within seconds those were gone too.”

  “What about these?” I asked, licking my lips as I tugged at the waist of my thong.

  Nick grinned and shook his head. “Off.”

  I shimmied out of them and ran my hands back up my body, letting Nick watch as I touched and explored my body. His eyes went wide as I moved my hand over my hot skin. “Fuck, that’s hot, baby.”

  I grinned and decided to really give him a show. He followed my finger with his eyes as I dragged it down my stomach, past my navel, and ran it down my pussy lips. I rubbed my clit and moaned softly as I gave myself pleasure. It was at least a thousand times hotter than it would’ve been without Nick’s eyes greedily devouring my every move and gesture.

  “Yeah, baby, you like that wet pussy too?”

  “Mmhmm.” I teased myself in slow circles and rolled my hips for him.

  “Taste it. See if you like the taste of your sweet honey,” he prompted.

  I dragged the finger back up my stomach, between my breasts, and sucked the finger in my mouth as though I was taking his cock. I groaned at the sweet taste and closed my eyes as I sucked in my cheeks around my own finger. Before I reopened my eyes, Nick had a hold of me. He was tired of show and tell. He wanted a taste for himself. He knelt on the floor before me and hitched my thigh up over his shoulder. I grabbed onto the desk by the door for an anchor as he parted my lips with his tongue and sucked my clit into his mouth.

  “Fuck!” I gasped as he pulsed the tender bud between his lips. “Nick!”

  He broke away and I swore again. “Baby, you have to be quiet. Put your hand over your mouth.” He grinned up at me and went back between my thighs, teasing and torturing me with expert skill.

  Nick thrust a finger deep inside me and I nearly lost it. He watched my face as he slid his magic fingers into me and found ‘the spot’. “Yeah, baby, come for me. I want you everywhere.”

  My knee buckled and I fell across him. He knew what his fingers could do to me. He sucked my clit into his mouth and when his fingers pressed against the sweet spot inside, I moaned—loudly— against him. “God, Nick…oh God.”

  His tongue lapped at me, licking up every drop. Not a second later, my hips were pulsing and I bit my thumb to keep myself from screaming loud enough to wake the entire neighborhood.

  On one leg, straddling his face, it was hard to stand as my body recovered from being pushed over the edge of pleasure. Fireworks exploded behind my eyes with each pulse and surge and when I crashed down, Nick gently released my thigh from its resting place on his shoulder and smiled up at me as he rose from the floor.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him fiercely, showing him I was very appreciative. As our lips tangled, he stepped us to the side and guided me to the bed. I tugged at his t-shirt and he pulled it off over his head and threw it to the floor. While he stripped off his pants and boxer briefs, I unclasped my bra. The feeling of all of his bare skin against all of mine was a slice of heaven.

  He took control and rolled on top of me. He pushed his cock inside me and moved slowly, his dark eyes locked with mine. We didn’t say anything as he rocked in and out of me, both of our bodies moving in time with each other, as though we could both hear the same silent song and were following the same rhythm. We peaked together, both gasping and moaned relief at the same moment. When Nick finally stilled he dropped his body weight to his forearms, his lips less than an inch from mine as we both caught our breath. He was still inside me and I wanted to stay that way forever. Locked together. I didn’t want it to be over. To lose that feeling of togetherness.

  “Can you stay?” I asked, dragging my fingertips through his hair that was slick with sweat.

  He nodded. “As long as you want.”

  “Thank you.”

  “For what?” he asked, smiling.

  “For being patient with me. I’m sorry for being difficult.”

  He laughed softly and shook his head. “You’re not. Trust me.”

  He kissed me before I could object.

  A while later, nestled together under the sheet, I listened as Nick’s breathing slowed and lulled into a steady, rhythmic pattern. I snuggled in against his chest and listened to the peaceful sound. I couldn’t sleep. Inside my head a storm of thoughts and emotions were raging and I knew there wasn’t a way to calm it. Nick’s declaration on my front porch was looping through over and over: I’m falling in love with you. I couldn’t let it go. The words had been like a stone sinking into a pond. The ripples from impact had spread over the surface of my heart and kicked up all sorts of feelings.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Nick

  The alarm on Carly’s phone went off way too early the next morning—before the sun had even begun to rise. Carly stirred beside me and fumbled for the phone on the bedside table until the sound stopped. “Sorry,” she grumbled.

  I reached for her under the sheet and found her hip. “Come here. Five more minutes.”

  She chuckled softly but gave into my request and snuggled up against me, her bare skin hot on mine. God, she felt good. I knew I couldn’t keep her here all day. She had to go meet her father and his wife at the airport. But, if it was up to me, we’d have stayed in bed all day.

  “Did you sleep good?” I asked her, stroking her hair.

  She shook her head. “Not really. I couldn’t stop thinking.”

  “About what? Your sister leaving in a couple of days?”

  “No…”

  My hand left the silky strands of her hair and started down her bare shoulder and arm over the sheet. It was torture, since I knew I couldn’t have her again, not when she had to leave so soon, but I couldn’t help myself. When it came to Carly, I couldn’t get enough.

  It took me a second to realize she’d gone silent again. “Baby?”

  “I was th
inking about what you said last night. About falling in love with me.”

  “Oh?” My pulse jumped at the mention of it. I’d meant it, but had cut her off before she had a chance to say anything back. Part of me knew she wasn’t going to say it back and I didn’t want to hear an attempt to stumble through a reply that was bound to be awkward.

  She tipped her chin up, resting it against me so she could look up into my eyes. “I don’t think I’m falling in love with you—” my heart sank to my stomach. “I’m in love with you, Nick.”

  My eyes went wide at her steady declaration. “You are?”

  She laughed softly. “I am.”

  To prove her point, she kissed me long and hard. “I love you.”

  “I love you too,” I said, my voice hardly above a whisper as my throat clogged with emotion. The past twenty-four hours had been such a roller coaster that I couldn’t quite believe the sudden three-sixty difference in how I felt lying beside her compared to the previous morning when she’d stalked out of the house without so much as a smile for me.

  I kissed her again, letting the memories of the day before melt away. I no longer wanted to think about them anymore. That was the past. Here, in bed with Carly, kissing her softly was the future. Our future.

  We parted and I held her close, trying to get every last drop before she would slide away and get up to go see her family. I knew it was an important day and I didn’t want to be greedy, even though I knew it would hurt like hell to let her leave and know I wouldn’t be able to see her much, if at all, during the rest of the weekend.

  “Nick?” she mumbled against my chest a minute later.

  “I know. You have to go.” I dropped a kiss to the top of her head, breathing in the sweet scent from her shampoo and salty sea air.

  “Will you come with me?” she asked. “Come meet my dad and Kelli. I want them to get to know you.”