Summer turned her head as Nick tried to capture her mouth with his. As much as she wanted to lose herself in his kiss, she pleaded with him again. “Come on, Nick, please stop. I think I hear the baby crying.”
Backing up Nick heard the frantic cries of a hungry infant before he even opened the door. The urgent cries of his son immediately brought him under control.
“Duty calls,” he said as he left to tend to the needs of his son.
Good timing little man, Summer said to herself, holding the towel close to her traitorous body as she watched Nick’s retreating back.
Turning off the water, stepping in front of the mirror, she wiped it with her hand.“I knew it.” On her neck was a hickey the size of Texas. “What was I thinking? A second longer we’d be knocking boots. I wish he’d leave me alone and go find somebody else. I’m never going to get him out of my system if he keeps sniffing after me like some dirty old hound dog.”
Summer was flat out lying to herself. She didn’t want Nick to find anyone else. She wanted him to find her with his heart. But the only thing he had managed to do once they were alone was to get her all hot and bothered. And that upset Summer. Wasn’t she supposed to flee temptation like the pastor said on Sunday? But how in the world could anyone flee a drop dead gorgeous, six-three, two hundred twenty pound temptation?
♥♥♥
Going down stairs, Nick stopped in the living room long enough to put a pacifier in NJ’s mouth to quiet him as he laid him in his bassinet. The babe had been crying so hard his little face was as red as a tomato. “I’ll be right back buddy,” he crooned soothingly to the baby.
Once in the kitchen he prepared the bottle as Summer instructed him. Shaking the bottle on his wrist like the model in the baby magazine, he tested the milk. Satisfied the milk wouldn’t scorch the baby’s tender mouth he made his way to the living room. Picking up his son Nick settled his large frame down on the sofa. Becoming inpatient, NJ spit the pacifier out, squirmed and squealed, demanding to be fed. He greedily accepted the bottle as Nick placed the nipple in his mouth. The baby sucked and grunted at the same time as his hunger was being satisfied.
Nick smiled. “Buddy, you were hungry.”
Each time Nick held his son, he tripped. It was a good trip though. For years, he told himself he didn’t want children. That he didn’t have time for them or that he would never find
the right woman to have any with. In spite of all he believed, here he was with a child on the heels of turning forty years old in two short years.
Raising a child was a serious commitment. He never committed himself to anything in his life other than his business. It amazed him how such a tiny baby had impacted his life and filled his heart with so much love. Love he never knew existed, nor knew he was capable of giving. No longer was he that self-proclaimed bachelor. He was now accountable and responsible for someone other than himself, and it scared the hell out of him.
He’d been wrong about everything. Having a child was a wonderful gift. Each and every time his son gazed at him, with eyes identical to his own, Nick fell in love with him all over again. He refused to have the same strained relationship with NJ that he had with his father. The strained relationship was partly because his father never had time for him. He was too absorbed in his career to be involved with Nick as a child. His father’s main objective was becoming a federal judge. His primary love was for the law and not his family.
Every game, boys scout outing, field trip, or any other activity he was involved in as a child his mother attended every event as if she was a single parent. As a small child around the age of five or six he remembered an argument between his parents. “You never spend time with your son. All you do is take on case after case, leaving me to raise Nicholas on my own. He needs you to be a father to him,” his mother tearfully complained. Nick never forgot his father’s harsh rebuttal to his mother’s complaint. “You wanted a baby. Now deal with it! And leave me the hell alone!”
Nick until this day resented his father for placing that burden on his mother. He promised himself that he would never treat his son as nothing more than a mere interruption to his life.
For years, he couldn’t figure out why his mother put up with his father. That wasn’t the first, or the last time he witnessed his father’s gruffness toward his mother where he was concerned. After making his first million, Nick offered to take his mother from his father’s home. She refused telling him, “Son my place is with your father. I made a vow before God to love him until the end.” And that’s exactly what she had done up until the last breath left her body.
The night of his mother’s death, he and his father nearly came to blows as Nick released years of pent up frustrations. The sight of his father weeping over his mother’s dead body made him sick. After years of neglecting his wife, he decided to be a husband. However, it had come a little too late for Nick’s mother. After thirty-five long years of marriage, she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer. That night he accused his father of never loving his mother. “You never loved my mother. You practically ignored her for as long as I can remember. She should’ve left you years ago. Maybe she would’ve had some happiness in her life.” When his father angrily defended himself, Nick brought up every overheard argument beginning with the one he’d heard as a very small boy.
He would never place that heavy burden on Summer. Never would she be made to feel as though she was a single parent. He was involved with their son from the moment of his birth. Summer was very accommodating and sensitive to Nick’s needs as a new father. Before he could suggest going to NJ’s first doctor’s appointment, she had called him at the office requesting he go with her so he’d be familiar with the baby’s pediatrician. When she first brought NJ home Nick would call to make sure it was okay to come over to see his son. “Nick, you don’t have to ask permission to see your son. Just come over whenever you want to see him.”She was making the best out of a situation that had the potential to be downright ugly. And Nick appreciated her for doing so.
After feeding NJ, Nick placed him on his shoulder and gently patted his back the way Summer had showed him. When the baby gave up a big burp, Nick cradled him with his head in his hands and his little body resting on his forearms.
“Buddy, what am I going to do about your momma? Your old man messed up real bad. It may be too late for me. I treated her like s―” Nick abruptly stopped, not letting the foul word escape his lips as he remembered he was talking to an infant. Lately he was making a conscience effort to curb his inappropriate language around the baby. He didn’t want NJ picking up his nasty habit when he got old enough to talk.
The entire time he talked the baby intently held his gaze as if he understood. NJ’s little lips curved in a toothless smile and he cooed as if to say, “You better hurry up and figure it out Daddy.” A deep rumbling laugh rose from the pit of Nick’s stomach. Leaning down he placed a delicate kiss on the baby’s forehead. “Don’t worry. Daddy’s going to win your momma back.”
Chapter 25
Floating down the stairs in a pair of lavender silk pajamas, Nick got a whiff of Bath and Body Work’s newest scent, Brown Sugar and Fig as Summer rested a hip against the edge of the sofa closest to him.
Flicking through cable channels with the remote in one hand while holding the baby in the opposite arm he tried to ignore the tantalizing scent dancing beneath his nostrils.
“Do you want something to drink or to eat? She asked as she leaned across Nick and touched NJ lightly on the tip of his nose with her finger.
“Sure, what you got in there?”
“My mom made some baked chicken, greens, candied yams and macaroni and cheese before she left.”
“Cool, I’ll have that.”
Summer’s mom was mean as all get out, but the woman sure could burn. Nick was the recipient of many a tasty meals while she stayed with Summer and the baby over the past six weeks. And he had enjoyed every single meal.
Pushi
ng off the edge of the sofa, Summer stood. “Okay, coming right up.”
While she was in the kitchen preparing his food, Nick sat holding the infant struggling to get himself together. Summer’s scent was too provoking. She had him feeling like a starved man who desperately needed to be fed in the worst way.
Minutes later she placed a tray with a plate of hot steaming food and a glass of her famous strawberry lemonade on the coffee table.
“Here let me take him so you can eat.”
“Thanks.” Was all he said as he concentrated on the piping hot plate in front of him as an effort to clear his head.
Tenderly the sleeping infant was transferred from father to mother. Once the baby was settled in her arms, Summer gently kissed his forehead.
“You’re going to spoil him rotten Nick if you keep holding him like this while he’s sleeping.”
“Come on now, I don’t get to see him as often as you. I can’t help it if after a long day at work all I want to do is hold my son.”
Summer smiled. He loves his son so much. Is this the same man who almost lost his mind when he found out I was pregnant with his baby? Now look at him, can’t keep his hands off my baby. “Yeah, my little man has that effect, doesn’t he?”
“Yep, he does,” Nick agreed as he turned to the movie, Training Day. Picking up his plate he patted a space on the sofa next to him. Having Summer and NJ close always made him feel complete. It made him feel whole.
Sitting down she asked, “Did NJ take the bottle okay?”
“Yeah… he did good…Why?” he asked in between bites.
Evading Nick’s question she questioned, “Did you burp him?”
Nick raised a brow. “Yeah, why you ask?”
“Because I don’t want him to get a tummy ache from all the air in his little belly,” she said in baby talk as she held the sleeping baby kissing his tiny lips.
“Not why to that. Why did you ask about how he did with the bottle?” Nick noticed how Summer squirmed at his clarification of the question.
“Because he didn’t like the bottle at first, he kept crying and spitting out the nipple.”
“Why?” Nick was now even more curious as she squirmed even further with her explanation.
“He likes the breast better than the bottle,” she mumbled under her breath.
“That’s my boy,” Nick commented with a wolfish grin.
Rolling her eyes and scooting away feigning disgust, Summer huffed, “You so nasty. Just nasty.”
Nick chuckled, shrugging a broad shoulder. “I’m only telling the truth.”“Whatever, Nick.”
Summer swatted Nick’s hand as he leaned over and poked her in the side. “Come on, you know you want to laugh.”
“Leave me alone nasty boy. Watch your movie,” she said swallowing her giggles as she stood holding her son close to her chest.
“Where are you going?” he asked almost in panic fearing he had gone too far in his jesting.
“I’ll be right back. I want to put my little prince to bed.”
“A’ight, hurry up back so you can watch the movie with me.” Hurry up back? What is up with that? Nick mindlessly scratched the side of his head, wondering when he had become so desperate. Since you fell in love with her, the tiny voice in his head taunted.
Returning from putting the baby down, Summer found Nick in a more relaxed position. The tie was removed, the first few buttons of his shirt were undone and his sleeves were rolled up. Reclining back, long legs were stretched out and crossed at the ankles.
“Are you comfortable?” Summer asked as she plopped down next to him.
“Uh huh, why you asking?”“Because, you look awkward to me that’s all.”
Nick frowned. “I do?” He certainly didn’t feel uncomfortable.
“Mmm hmm, you do.” Leaning forward she instructed him, “Here, give me your leg.” She removed a shoe, “now your other leg,” and then the other. Placing the size thirteen Kenneth Coles under the table, she asked, “Is that better?” as she leaned back next to him.
Wrapping an arm around her slender shoulder, he pulled her head to his chest. “Yes, thank you, baby.”
“You’re welcome.”
When Summer pushed away from the embrace, he tightened his hold and kissed her forehead. “Stay and watch the movie with me.”
Reluctantly she submitted to his request. Lying in his arms feeling the steady rhythm of his chest rising and falling was hypnotizing. Her resistance to be near him was effortlessly dissolving the longer she stayed in his embrace.
The movie came to a scene Summer enjoyed although it was a bit on the violent side. She didn’t care though. Shoot Denzel was fine!
“You look like him?”
“Who?” Nick asked confused. “The white dude?”
“No simpleton. Denzel,” she replied rolling her eyes towards the ceiling.
Nick look at the television screen then back at Summer. “I do?”
“Mmmm… hmmm… yep…yep,” Summer purred as she watched Denzel swagger across the screen.
“Is that the only reason why you dated me?” Nick asked pretending to be offended by Summer practically drooling at the television screen.
“But why of course. How else do you think you hooked me?” Summer teased saucily.
“Woman, please. I look ten times better than that chump.”
Summer pushed away planting her hands on slender hips. “Negro, pullease! As if! And don’t be calling my man a chump! Chump!”
Within a flash he had flipped her on her back and straddled her midsection.
“Nick! What the heck are you doing?” Summer squealed.
Grinning with mischief in his eyes, he demanded, “Take it back.”
With a stubborn glint in her eyes she shook her head from side to side.
“I said take it back.”
“No! Now get off me!”
“Okay, have it your way, Miss Summer.”
Summer screamed and squirmed as Nick mercilessly tickled her. Being extremely ticklish, she tried with all her might to get him off her petite body. It was useless he was too large.
Nick covered her mouth with a large hand. “Ssh, woman, you’re going to wake up the baby.”
Nick snatched his hand away when she nipped his palm with her teeth.
“Hey, what you bite me for?”
Laughing at his mock anger, she said between laughs, “Because…now… get your… big…butt…off of me!”
Summer’s screams bounced off the walls as he resumed tickling her. Again he silenced her with a tighter grip. Summer’s small hands didn’t have strength as she attempted to pry his hand from her mouth.
“Want me to let you go?”
Summer nodded her head.
“When I let you go are you going to tell me what I want to hear?”
Again she nodded.
“Good.”
Slowly he released his hand from her mouth.
Summer said nothing as she gave him the evil eye.
“Well, Miss Jackson.”
“Let me up first. My back hurts,” she pouted.
Nick was agile as he stood pulling her to her feet with him. Backing away toward the steps, Summer taunted him. “You wish you looked as good as Denzel on your best day buster.”
Making a mad dash for the stairs was futile. With one powerful swoop of his arm, Nick had Summer around the waist carrying her.
“Whoooa!” She yelled as he dumped her on the sofa straddling and pinning her arms to her side.
Bursting into laughter again she said, “Nick, this isn’t fair!”
Nick loved that Summer was laughing. He loved even more that he was the cause of her laughter. Chuckling feigning confusion, he quipped, “What isn’t fair, Beautiful?”
“You out weigh me by more than a hundred pounds.”
His chuckle dwindled to a grin. “So.”
“Boy, what are you about to do to me?” Summer could tell he was about to be up to no good.
“
You should’ve told me what I wanted to hear.”
“Okay, I’ll tell you.”
Nick shook his head. “Nope. Too late.”
Summer went completely still as he slid a hand in the waistband of her pajama bottoms. This was one time she wished she’d wore panties underneath her pajamas.
“What are you doing?”
“I just want to make you feel good.” He nibbled at her earlobe as his voice seductively dropped to barely a whisper while his hand expertly glided further inside in search of her hidden treasure.
Oh…oh…o-o-o-oh!
Summer moaned and writhed as his long strong fingers worked their magic, stroking and caressing, finding her hidden pearl.
She felt herself being pulled back into Nick’s vortex as he took her to a place she hadn’t gone in over almost a year. Struggling with her emotions as she slipped into a haze of ecstasy she told herself she couldn’t get caught up in Nick’s world again at any cost.
But it was easier said than done to refuse him, to resist being pulled into his web when he was giving her body such pleasure. This one time. Just this once, she told herself as her body tumbled out of control.
Summer lay on the sofa, her thighs quivering after having a longing she hadn’t realized was so deep satisfied. Nick captured her mouth in a penetrating kiss that sucked the oxygen right out of her lungs. When he felt her struggling to break the kiss, he was sure it was to replenish the precious air she needed to breathe.
Breaking the kiss, his mouth mere inches away from hers. “Now you were saying, Miss Summer.”
Not hesitating the conceal the lazy, satisfied grin, she let out a soft sigh.“Honey, you’re ten times finer than Denzel.”
“I thought you’d see things my way.” Of course, his response was one of arrogance. Oh, honey you have no idea how much I love seeing things your way. She would not say such a thing aloud giving him the satisfaction of knowing he had her body humming a sweet melody.
Slowly withdrawing his hand and changing positions on the sofa Nick pulled Summer against his solid body. She felt his steel heat pressed against her as she lay nestled between muscular thighs. Immediately she reacted by jumping up and away from the intimate contact. Her movement had been so abrupt she nearly tripped over her own feet.
A Special Summer (Love Conquers All) Page 19
