NICK (Carsonbrothers Book 3)

by S R Dyble

  Nick led me outside where there were lights fixed onto the outside wall. He took me around the house and to the back where there was a door I hadn't been into before. Using the set of keys he had, he unlocked it and I peered down the steps into the room.

  "Where's the light?" I asked and he reached forward to flick it on.

  It made hardly any difference at all.

  "Okay, you're right, it looks shit-scary down there."

  "You coming?" he asked and I shook my head.

  "You're afraid?"

  I glared at him then.

  "I guess I'll go down alone and work out then…" he said before taking steps down.

  "I knew you were lying!"

  I followed after him, taking a few steps at a time until it got warmer.

  "Oh, this is some paranormal activity shit down here…" I said looking around the darkened space.

  Why was it so dark?

  I made my way around the large space, noticing the small window at both ends of the room. Obviously, during the day, they would let more light in…

  I couldn't focus on much else, it was so stuffy down here.

  "Why is it so hot?" I asked, whilst staring around the room.

  "The boiler is down here, plus there's not much ventilation."

  "How will you work out in this heat?"

  "Well, I could always take my clothes off, that will help…" he answered.

  "Very funny…"

  He smiled, making his way over to the boxing equipment.

  "You're gonna box?" I asked.

  Nodding, he brought up his hands and held onto the punch bag in preparation to start his assault.

  "I thought Kit was the boxer?"

  "We were all taught how to fight at a young age. Kit was just the one to compete for my father."

  I nodded. "You any good?"

  "Of course."

  I rolled my eyes.

  "You don't believe me?" he winked at me.

  When I didn't answer, he picked up a set of boxing gloves and came towards me.

  "No, I'm not fighting you," I refused.

  "Why not?"

  "Because you're not gonna prove anything from fighting me," I concluded.

  "I'm not tryna prove anything... It'd be good for you to learn some fighting skills."

  "Right. For when the bad men try to take me, right?"

  "Something like that," he narrowed his eyes at me.

  "Fine, but I'm not doing it down here. It's too hot."

  "Okay. Let's do it up there on the beach," he smirked.

  I rolled my eyes and made my way back up the stairs and into the cool air. We found a spot on the sand and I slid my hands into the boxing gloves.

  "You ready, Petal?" he winked, holding his hands up, now with boxing gloves on.

  "Don't expect me to go easy on you, Nicholas."

  He bit his lip and smiled, making my insides ignite at the mere sight.

  "Watch your footing, wouldn't want you tripping on the sand, now would we?"

  "Don't worry about my footing," I answered. "Worry about that pretty face getting busted up. You're gonna wish you had on your mask."

  "Strong fighting talk there, Petal."

  "Strong words from a strong woman."

  Again, he smirked as we took steps in a circle, sizing each other up. Playfully, he lifted his hands to playfully punch me, gently nudging his fists against my face.

  "You need to learn how to defend your face. Lift your gloves to block punches."

  The next time he went to punch me, I dodged his fists and he smiled at me as I stood back up straight. Then I smiled back at him cockily.

  "Okay, let's see how you manage when we take things up a notch."

  "Bring it, bitch," I threatened.

  Smiling, Nick began jogging ever so slightly in place.

  I eyed him then began copying his movements, taking the piss out of him as I did.

  "You best be ready," he said.

  "Born ready."

  Swiftly, Nick lifted his right arm and I was on it within a flash, blocking it but not expecting his second fist to come in the opposite direction. I ducked out of the way.

  "Good, now let's see how good you are on your feet."

  I made the mistake of looking at his feet, expecting him to make fast movements towards me. He did, but my mind didn't process quickly enough and as his fist came towards me, I ducked backwards, almost falling and gripping a hold of his arm to hold myself up.

  He smiled at me knowingly.

  "You sure you wanna continue?" he asked me.

  "I'm gonna finish you like a chocolate cookie, you big twat."

  "Why don't you bring it then?" he teased.

  "I am gonna bring it."

  He tormented me with his eyes.

  Lifting my clenched fists, I threw punches at him, each one hitting his hands and arms until I lost my temper and picked up speed, losing my footing and dragging him down with me in the process. Thankfully Nick used his hands and broke his own fall so he didn't crush me, but I fell onto the sand with him hovering above me. The sand felt chilly without the sun beaming onto it.

  "Next time you fall, kindly don't drag me with you, okay, Petal?"

  "Told you, you were going down…" I grinned up at him as he hovered over my body while chuckling.

  "You need to work on your temper," he said, staring into my eyes.

  "You need to work on…" his eyes were staring into mine so intensely that I lost all thought and stared back at him like a fool.

  "We interrupting something?" a female's voice asked, and we each flicked our eyes to whoever it was shining their torch onto us. It was blinding us. Then she moved it away and after my eyes had readjusted, I could see it was Olivia and her friends. Nick got up first and held out his hands to pull me up.

  "We were just boxing," I said and she eyed me, looking as if she were chewing on her face.

  "Looked more like wrestling to me," her friend laughed and I smiled trying not to appear awkward.

  "So, what brings you here?" Nick asked casually.

  "We're going to a roller coaster park tomorrow and some of the others thought it would be a good idea to ask if you wanted to come."

  I couldn't focus much on Olivia because her friend— her name was Luna, I think—was nodding her head enthusiastically in agreement. She looked as high as a kite on something.

  "You wanna go?" Nick asked me, breaking my concentration.

  I looked at him, shocked that he'd even suggested it.

  "There's this mega, and I mean mega roller coaster, it is amazing!" Luna said now taking the central position and beaming at me.

  "Ignore her." Olivia giggled. "She's had far too much to drink."

  She pulled Luna back to her position behind Olivia and I raised my eyebrows.

  "Whatever drink she's been sipping on, I want me some of that," I laughed.

  They all laughed along with me and Nick smiled at me, making me feel centre of attention.

  "I'm up for it if you are?" I asked Nick.

  I was ashamed to admit that I'd never really been to an amusement park. I'd hiked up the side of an active volcano when I was nine, but never met any princess at Disney World. My parents never had free time for holidays like that.

  "Great!" Olivia didn't wait for Nick to reply. "We're heading out at 9am."

  I nodded and thanked them for inviting us.

  "It'll be fun," Olivia's other friend, Frankie said.

  "You gonna invite us inside?" Olivia posed to ask Nick.

  Nick smiled at her, "Maybe next time, I’ve gotta take a shower."

  Olivia's friends hooted and I rolled my eyes. They were getting themselves bothered over Nick getting a shower and I had to smile as I headed back inside.

  Back inside, now that Olivia and her friends had gone, I watched as Nick passed me, not missing how his body brushed against mine to get by. He left and headed towards the bathroom, pulling his top off as he walked down the corridor. Sitting on the so
fa pouffe, I edged to the side to see him walking away. I knew he couldn't see me eyeing him, and I couldn't stop. It was the definition in his back and the arch leading all the way down to his bum. The further away he walked, the more I had to lean to a side to watch, resulting in the damn pouffe leaning with me. With a huge thud, I fell onto the wooden floor, cursing and scrambling to my feet. I got up quickly, brushing my hair to one side as Nick turned to see what was going on. I smiled at him like nothing had happened then casually swanned over to the kitchen. Reaching for my phone, I pulled it out and took a deep breath. Then beamed once I saw the photo Eve had just sent to me. Eve sent me a photo almost every day, normally of Erin. I laughed out loud at the photo she'd sent today. It was of Kit wearing his hazardous baby changing gear that Jason had given to him for his birthday. The photo was of him preparing to face Erin, lying on her changing mat, presumably needing her dirty nappy changed. I had to show Nick this straight away and I headed down the corridor, calling after him.

  "Yeah? Come in," he said as I reached the bathroom door.

  I assumed that meant he was finished and fully dressed, so I walked straight in to see him standing dripping wet and with a towel wrapped around his bottom half. I didn't want to stare at him any longer, I'd already been guilty of that. I rushed over to him to show him my phone. Then, smiling, he lifted up his phone from the side and showed me the exact same photo he'd just been sent by Eves. I should have known… Smiling, I laughed at the photo as Nick pointed out the clip over Kit's nose. After pocketing my phone, I glanced back over at Nick, realising he was still standing pretty close behind me. Over my shoulder, I stared at him. The steam and smell of shower gel invaded my nose. I snapped out of it as Nick neared closer. Walking out of the bathroom I rubbed at my forehead.

  "Lilly?"

  I stopped in my tracks and turned back around to look at him.

  "Stop running from me, will you?"

  Then he began taking steps towards me. I lifted my hands to stop him coming any closer. Him being this close made my body lose all traces of sensible thought. My hands landed on his wet torso, the bumps of his six-pack and the heat from his body radiating through my fingers as he got even closer. Then I dared to look in his eyes. Lifting his hand, he cradled my face. My cheek felt tiny in his hand, and his fingered trailed around my head and into my hair so that he could direct my head closer to his. It was so gentle, so beautifully captivating having his hand cradling my head. It was such a simple act but it had me holding still and totally lost in his touch as he gently brought his lips onto mine. It took a few seconds for our kiss to turn from something innocent into my hands creeping up his neck and his hands shifting over my behind. One hand held onto my waist, as his other gripped my arse.

  "I can't tell you how much I've missed this," he said, kissing down my neck. "How much I've missed you," he continued, sending waves of electricity over my body.

  Each wave led to my chest like a battery being charged. My eyes were closed, my body in that moment was his and like always, I became a total idiot around Nick. I had no self control when things like this happened with him. But something inside of me realised that and in a split second, I pulled away. Both of us were breathless as we stared at each other. Biting my lip, I thought about what had just happened and took a step away.

  "It's okay, Lilly. Don't look so scared."

  "I'm not scared," I answered straight away.

  "Then why are you looking at me like that?"

  "I don't know."

  The longer I stared at him, the more I realised, I was scared. Nick was dangerous. I'd never felt so safe around someone so dangerous. Dangerous because I already knew Nick could break my heart, it had already happened, and I knew he could do it again. This time leaving nothing left.

  "I'm… I'm gonna…" I started to trip over my words as I tried leaving the room.

  "I'm gonna go take a swim in the pool," I eventually said.

  He frowned at me. I knew I was acting like Nick hadn't just kissed me passionately, but I was trying not to. I shouldn't have let him kiss me. Once again I had been foolish and I wanted to punch myself.

  "Lilly?"

  I hummed, trying to act casual.

  "I'll be in the pool," I said pointing my fingers at him and totally ditching him there. At first I thought he was going to come after me, but he let me leave. As I did, I pressed my hands against my boiling hot cheeks and cursed myself. I should have never let Nick kiss me, and I wasn't going to let it happen again.

  Nine months earlier

  "What the actual fuck, Lil?" Nick stared at the corner of the room, the eight-legged demon still held captive in an old popcorn tub.

  "You called me down here to remove a fucking spider? You have any idea how fast I got here? I probably got a fucking speeding ticket!"

  "Are you seriously lecturing me right now? Get the fucking thing!"

  "You captured it in a tub, the poor thing will have suffocated…" he said, getting closer.

  "P-a-lease..." I flicked my hair cockily, "I gave it a breathing hole. I'm not having that hairy thing on my conscience."

  "Uh-huh." Nick bent down before the tub and eyed it.

  He searched around the tub and I frowned, approaching him, and wondering what the hell he was doing. Was he reading the god-damn ingredients on the tub or disposing of this damn thing?

  "How big did you make this hole? Because you know spiders can fit through tiny holes, right?" he asked as I stared at the tub.

  My eyes widened once I realised the damn thing had obviously watched The Escape Plan and had done a runner on me.

  I got up quickly then, searching the floor as if at any second it was about to bite me on the arse with it's tiny vicious fangs. The anticipation became too much and I squealed before a wriggle took over my body and I jumped onto the couch.

  "It's fucking out there," I said, my arms around myself.

  Nick stared at me, his eyes full of humour as he neared and brought his arm around me.

  "What the hell are you doing? Find the damn thing!"

  "I have a better idea," he answered, his eyes levelled with my breasts. He had to have been able to see my nipples through the fabric because he brought his mouth forward and held one of them between his teeth, causing my legs to weaken so he could scoop me up. He laid me back onto the couch and I searched around frantically, making sure the bloody thing hadn't made a house for himself and his twenty kids inside of my pillow.

  "Oh God..." My eyes fluttered as Nick pulled aside the fabric on my shorts as well as my knickers and his hot breath landed against the sensitive spot between my legs. In that split moment—as I gripped onto the edges of the couch—I couldn't even remember my own name, nevermind the little pest that had terrified me. I moaned out loud and my head shifted continuously, not getting enough of his torturous tongue against my clit. Once he had his fill of making me a jittery mess, he yanked away my shorts and knickers completely before fucking me hard. He brought my legs higher, pulling me to the edge of the couch so that he could dig deeper.

  "Nick," I panted. "Oh my God."

  "You like that?" he asked, his words sounding so sexy and taunting against my growing anticipation.

  "God yes!" I shouted louder as my release came in waves, crashing over me.

  Straight after, he flipped me over and didn't waste time thrusting back into me. Now in a doggy position, Nick slapped my arse and hummed.

  "You hot little beauty," he said, almost breathlessly.

  It made me smile as he continued his amazing rhythm, making me come again until he found his release.

  "I think you used the spider as an excuse to get me over here."

  I raised my eyebrows, getting up and away from his arm beneath me and I stared at him.

  "You think I can fake that fear? Don't flatter yourself, bitch."

  He smirked, eyeing me as I got up.

  "There's no shame in wanting another go, you know?"

  I rolled my eyes. "There was a damn spide
r, okay?"

  "I believe you."

  "You'd better believe me because now you're gonna help me find it."

  "Sorry, Petal, no can do. I gotta go and—"

  He saw me glaring at him.

  "Our friends with benefits contract includes the small print at the bottom that no one reads. There, it states the terms of this agreement. One of them being, you agree to seek out potentially demonic pests from your fuck buddies house and dispose of them…"

  Nick scoffed, eyeing me as he got up in only his boxers.

  "Let's assume there is actually a contract written up, you'd never get me to sign it, therefore your small print is invalid…"

  "Is that so?" I watched as he got dressed before coming towards me.

  He kissed my cheek before I could answer with another well-prepared remark.

  "I'll see you soon, Petal."

  Present day

  Waking up here never got old. Every morning, the beautiful sunlight would stream through the chiffon white curtains. The morning breeze coming through the open window lifted the fabric ever so slightly. I stood up, stretching my legs and wandered over to the window. Pulling the curtains aside, I stood in the sunlight, staring out of the window and down the beach. I jumped out of my skin when I saw someone passing. That someone was Nick and I jumped backwards, trying to cover myself with the curtains. I wasn't naked but was only in my underwear. I had worn a bikini in front of him and had worn only my underwear whilst swimming the day before but now I felt practically naked like this…

  "Sorry! Sorry…" Nick rushed back to my window, holding his hand up in surrender.

  "You scared the hell out of me!" I yelled at him.

  Holding his surfboard, he grinned at me before leaving. I rolled my eyes and gathered a few bits to take a shower. I got cleaned quickly and did my makeup before heading into the kitchen to get a drink. With my tea in hand, I strolled over to the windows. From where I was standing, I could see Nick surfing the waves. With such skill and stamina, it made me grip my mug even tighter. Then as he finished, he walked out of the water and up the beach, slicking his wet hair back in the process. I was glad he hadn't noticed me here, my mouth slightly agape and staring at his wet glistening body like a damn fool. Eventually, he spotted me as he settled his surfboard against the railing outside. He smiled at me knowingly before looking away. Acting uninterested, I stared down at my mug and listened for him coming into the house. I heard his footsteps on the wooden flooring.