Just like Nick would’ve celebrated it if Grace’s cousin hadn’t called and interrupted them that morning.
That thought led his brain down a rabbit hole that could only end with his jeans suddenly becoming too tight. The feel of her—warm and sleepy and soft, on him, then under him—had been as close to perfection as he imagined he’d ever get.
The fact that they’d been interrupted was both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it was fortunate that cooler heads prevailed and they didn’t do something Grace would regret. On the other hand, there was that amazing body of hers…
For the second time since they’d met, he’d wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anything, anyone, in his life.
He wasn’t used to this kind of emotion. He was an ex-Marine, for God’s sake. Marines didn’t do a lot of sitting around and discussing their feelings with each other. Which was probably why he’d avoided the subject all together and she’d spent the day totally pissed at him. But, hell, he’d rather have her mad at him than thinking he was some kind of obsessed psycho who got too attached too quickly or something.
Grace snorted. “It’s totally my nature to be crude. You just never realized it because I suppressed it while we were married. I don’t suppress anything now.”
That’s my girl, Nick thought.
Wait a minute…no, she’s not.
Nick rubbed his temples, suddenly exhausted. Shit, was he really arguing with himself?
Sadie cocked her head to one side and put a hand on his arm. “Nick, you don’t look so good. Are you okay?”
Not really, he thought, but nodded. No reason to tell Sadie he was losing his grip on reality.
But then, Brad put his hands on Grace and everything went a little…hazy.
Grace had no clue what the hell was wrong with Brad. The divorce had been his idea, for God’s sake. Not that she’d been against it, but still, he’d chosen to leave. Now he was here, at her brother’s wedding, showing more passion than he ever had in their marriage? Was she on Punk’d or something?
He put his hands on her shoulders and stared down at her, intense in a way she wouldn’t have thought him capable before today. “Grace, really. Please believe me. I love you. Our marriage…went off the tracks a bit. But we were good together. You owe it to me—to us—to at least discuss reconciliation.”
She opened her mouth, but whatever scathing retort she planned to deliver ended in a yelp as a corded forearm snaked around her waist and yanked her back against a solid wall of man.
“That’s going to be a problem, Brian,” Nick said, his voice very close to Grace’s ear.
Brad pushed his glasses up again and narrowed his eyes on Nick. “The name is Brad.”
“Whatever. See, I’m afraid Grace won’t be giving you another chance. At least, not anytime soon.”
“And why is that?”
“Because she’s with me.”
Grace gulped. Holy fuck! Had everyone suddenly lost their grip on reality?
Then Nick pushed her hair over her shoulder and dropped a hot, open-mouthed kiss beneath her ear, and her brain fogged up a bit. Her knees might have given out a little, too. Fortunately, he tightened his grip on her and didn’t let her melt into a puddle of lust on the floor at his feet.
Brad’s gaze traveled up and down over Nick, then he smirked. “She’s with you.”
Disbelief positively dripped from his tone, and the way he said you was just insulting. As if there was no way a guy like Nick would be with a woman like her. Like he was totally out of her league, or something. And the fact that Grace thought he might be a tiny bit right just pissed her off even more.
“That’s right,” Nick said, supremely confident in a way only insanely attractive people could pull off.
“Really?” Sadie squealed. “That’s great! Oh my God, Nick, you’re going to love being a part of this family!”
Well, at least Sadie didn’t think Nick was too good-looking for her. She practically had them married off. Brad, on the other hand, still looked skeptical.
“This is awfully…sudden, isn’t it?” he asked.
Nick’s breath brushed across her neck as he curved his body around hers and looked down at her, raising goosebumps all over her flesh. And she really meant all over. In fact, Grace had goosebumps in places she didn’t even know she could get goosebumps.
“Well, Brett—”
“It’s Brad.”
“—when I see something I want, I don’t believe in taking it slow.”
Nick shifted slightly, placing his hands on her shoulders, and his long, lean fingers splayed over her collarbones. One good deep breath and his fingertips would be on her nipples. Grace leaned back against Nick as she got a little lightheaded at the thought.
Sadie grinned up at Nick, then glanced over at Brad and asked, “So, I guess you’ll be going home?”
Brad glared at Nick a moment longer before shifting his attention to Sadie. “Absolutely not. This changes nothing. He is utterly irrelevant. This is between me and my wife.”
“Ex-wife,” Nick and Grace said in stereo.
“A technicality,” Brad conceded.
“A legality, in fact,” Grace muttered. “We both signed the papers.”
Everyone ignored her, of course.
“I don’t intend to make things easy for you, pal,” Nick said, his voice brimming with false congeniality.
Brad’s answering smile was far more feral than any Grace had ever seen on him. His voice was pure steel as he said, “I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have no doubt the better man will win.”
Good grief, Grace thought. If this goes on any longer, they’re likely to whip out their dicks and pee on me right here in the lobby to mark me as their territory.
That thought and accompanying visual—ew, gross!—snapped her back to reality.
Grace turned around and looped her arm through Nick’s. “We’re done here. Let’s go,” she said, dragging him toward the elevator. “Sadie, it was a pleasure meeting you. We’ll see you at dinner.”
Sadie grinned and waved, then turned to Brad and shrugged. “Sorry,” she said, sounding sincere. “My brother’s a great guy. You probably don’t stand a chance. You’re welcome to stay for dinner, though.”
“Later, Bart,” Nick called out over his shoulder as Grace hit the button and shoved him in the elevator.
Chapter Eleven
Grace waited until the elevator doors shut before planting her fists on Nick’s chest and shoving hard. It wasn’t good for her self-esteem that he barely budged.
Note to self: start strength training program immediately.
“What the hell was that about?” she screeched, dismayed that her voice was a full octave higher than usual. She was sure the shrill sound had dogs all over the state cocking their heads in confusion.
He shoved both hands through his hair, then threw them up in frustration. “Fuck if I know. I just couldn’t stand the thought of him putting his hands on you.”
She turned her own hands palms-up in the universal what-the-hell gesture. “I was married to the guy, Nick. He’s had his hands all over me before.” Albeit not very often, and not usually in a mutually satisfying kind of way. But that was hardly the point.
His eyes darkened. “Don’t remind me.”
Dear God. Was he…jealous? No, that couldn’t be it.
But as he started pacing the small space liked a caged wolf, he certainly looked jealous.
“Nick, are you jealous?” she asked tentatively, fully expecting him to laugh and scoff at the idea.
He stopped pacing abruptly and threw his hands up again. “Of course I’m jealous. Isn’t it obvious?” The pacing started again. “Oh, and when he got all uppity and insinuated that someone like you would never waste your time with someone like me? I swear, it was all I could do not to knock his unnaturally white teeth down his stupid British-accent-having throat.”
She frowned thoughtfully. “I just assumed he meant that someone like you
would never be with someone like me.”
“That’s what I said.”
True, the words were the same, but the meaning was totally different. Which meant…
“You really are jealous,” she said, stunned.
“Haven’t we established that?” He faced her again. “Jesus, Grace, you’re driving me absolutely fucking insane.”
Boy, if she had a nickel for every time she’d heard that.
But he went on. “I barely know you, but you haven’t left my mind since I threatened to cuff you on that plane.”
She blinked up at him. “I feel the same way,” she whispered. “But Nick, we’re not dating, and I don’t want to lie to my family all week.”
The heat in his eyes stunned her into taking a step back. He followed, backing her up against the wall and flattening his palms on either side of her head. “Then don’t lie. Be with me this week.”
The words hit her physically, melting her bones. Fortunately, he leaned into her, holding her up with his weight.
“I don’t usually do that kind of thing, Nick.”
“I’m not talking about sex,” he said quickly.
Well, that was a relief and a huge disappointment all at the same time.
He must have seen the disappointment in her eyes, because his brows raised. “Unless that’s what you want.” He shook his head, as if clearing it before adding, “But all I’m talking about is spending time with you. As much as possible between now and the wedding.”
Oh, boy. This was dangerous territory for her. She was already more attracted to Nick than she’d ever been to another man, even her ex-husband. And to have that kind of attraction to a man she barely knew was absolutely terrifying. “This is crazy,” she said. “This morning you could barely force yourself to speak to me.”
“Okay, I’ll admit it. I was a coward. You terrify me, angel.”
She shivered as he brushed a lock of hair off her forehead, his hand lingering against her cheek. “What’s different now?” she asked, her voice shaking with what she could only assume was a creamy blend of fear and pent-up lust.
His gaze dipped to her mouth, then back up to her eyes. “I’m tired of being afraid. I want you, Grace. I’ll take however much of you you’re willing to give me.” He rested his forehead against hers. “Just say yes.”
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I’m not looking for a relationship, Nick.”
He tipped his head to one side, his eyes never leaving hers. “Yeah, but what would you do if you found one?”
Oh, God. That was maybe the scariest, most irresistible thing she’d ever heard. She took a deep breath. “If we do this…”
His head dipped closer to hers and she put a hand on his chest to hold him off. “If we do this,” she repeated, “it’s on my terms. This whole thing”—she gestured between them—“has been crazy and out of control so far. I need more control.”
He nodded slowly. “You’re in charge. Just say yes.”
Her gaze dropped to his mouth. “Yes. But—”
Whatever she was going to say was lost forever as his mouth captured hers.
His lips were warm and firm, yet surprisingly gentle. It wasn’t the kind of kiss she would’ve expected given the hot, hungry look he’d pinned her with, but she felt his desire as surely as she felt her own. He was holding back, she realized, giving her the control she’d asked for.
If she’d been able to think, she would’ve backed off, put some space between them. But Grace hadn’t had sex in a long time, and the magic that was Nick O’Connor’s mouth had just awakened every girly, lustful part of her body, giving her tingles in places that had never even felt a twinge before, so rational thought was a distant memory.
She threaded her fingers through his hair and tugged him closer. Nick growled low in his throat and moved his mouth more deliberately over hers. Grace opened to him and when his tongue touched hers, she thought she’d never tasted anything so amazing in her life. He tasted like peppermint and lust and hot male, and Grace wanted to devour him whole.
He slid his hands down her shoulders, along her ribcage, then slipped his fingertips beneath the snug bottom of her sweater. Hot tingles spread across her chest, her belly, and between her thighs.
But even though he fed her one hot kiss after another, it wasn’t enough. She wanted more. She wanted everything—all the passion and fire she’d been missing for so long. She wanted to absorb his heat and feel every inch of his bare skin beneath her greedy fingers.
Grace hitched a leg over Nick’s hip and ground against him in an effort to better fit her curves to the hard angles of his body.
She felt his tenuous control snap, felt it in the way his hands tightened reflexively on her ribcage. Felt it in the pounding of his heart against her breast. Felt it in the hard bulge of his…
Wow. He wanted her just as much as she wanted him. The realization played hell with her already-galloping pulse.
And still he wasn’t close enough. She needed more. Nick must have sensed her struggle because he slipped his hands to her waist and lifted her. Grace wrapped both legs around his waist in response. She moaned as her hips rubbed against his. A perfect fit.
Panting, he leaned into her, holding her in place with his weight as his hands shifted from her waist to her outer thighs, then up under her so that his hot palms were cupping her bottom.
Grace let her head fall back against the wall as his mouth slid down her neck. She gasped when his tongue dipped into the hollow at the base of her throat. “This is crazy,” she whispered as she wound her arms around his neck.
“Uh huh,” he murmured against her collarbone. He left one hand on her bottom and used his other to tug down on the V-neck of her sweater. “God, you’re so beautiful.”
Okay, so maybe this wasn’t crazy after all. That was a pretty great compliment, and she couldn’t even remember the last time she’d felt so alive. And tingly. There were definitely tingles. Hell, her tingles had tingles at this point.
He trailed teasing fingertips over the swells of her breasts and her entire body tightened in anticipation. This was only foreplay, she reminded herself, amazed. If foreplay felt like this, could she actually survive sex with this man? Was death by orgasm possible?
She couldn’t wait to find out.
And just when they’d gone as far as they could with their clothes still on, just when she was on the verge of begging him to drag her to the nearest bed and fuck her senseless…
The elevator dinged and the door opened.
Grace heard a scandalized gasp as Nick slowly lowered her to her feet. She closed her eyes, unable to face, well, anyone at this point. Really, how does one hold her head high when she was caught seconds away from screwing a man against an elevator wall?
A squeak escaped her as Nick leaned over and gave the front of her sweater a quick tug up. Her eyes flew open and she found herself reluctantly staring at a wide-eyed elderly couple. The man’s eyes were fastened on her breasts, and the woman’s eyes were firmly on the front of Nick’s pants.
The older woman glanced at Grace. “I miss being young,” she said with a wistful sigh.
The man shook his head, eyes still on Grace’s chest. “You never looked like that, even forty years ago.”
She scowled back at him. “Well, you never looked like him, either.”
Nick grabbed Grace’s hand and led her out of the elevator. “Sorry about that, folks,” he mumbled.
“You have nothing to be sorry about, dear,” the woman said, adjusting her glasses as she gazed up at him worshipfully.
“Lucky bastard,” the old man muttered as the doors closed.
A hysterical giggle bubbled its way up Grace’s throat and spilled past her lips.
Nick glanced down at her, one brow raised. “You think that’s funny?”
She shook her head, but couldn’t hold the laughter back. Soon, tears were rolling down her cheeks.
Nick grinned down at her. “Grace Emerson Montgo
mery, you will surely be the death of me.”
Chapter Twelve
Grace needed some serious time to think after her encounter with Nick in the elevator, so she slammed her door in his face after promising to talk to him before dinner.
And now, after a nap on truly fabulous 600-thread count sheets and a shower in a bathroom fit for a queen, she was finally ready to face the fact that she’d agreed to date her future brother-in-law, even if only for the week. She’d also have to learn to cope with the fact that she’d mauled him in the elevator like a drunken, horny teenager.
One step at a time, Grace. Baby steps.
On a one-to-ten embarrassment scale, this barely rated, right? Certainly not, considering she’d puked on him at 30,000 feet.
Ugh, who was she kidding? This had disaster written all over it. They had so much to talk through before this went any further.
“Nick,” she said as she scrunched some frizz-tamer into her hair.
“Yeah?”
Just the sound of his voice in the next room caused a little flutter in her stomach. How pathetic was that?
The fact that they were given adjoining rooms was both a blessing and a curse. With that adjoining door open, as it was now, she could easily carry on a conversation with Nick while they were in their respective bathrooms getting ready for dinner. But with only an open door between them, what would stop her from crossing into his room and finishing their kiss? That amazing, toe-curling, melt-your-clothes-off kiss they’d started in the elevator?
“If we’re going to be together this week, I think we should agree to some ground rules.”
There was a loaded pause before he said, “There are rules to being together?”
Grace slicked some gloss over her lips. “Absolutely. The first would be that we can’t let this get too serious. I meant what I said about not looking for a relationship.”
There was another pause before he chuckled, then said, “This must be what people mean when they say karma is a bitch.”
You Complicate Me Page 6
