Page 55 of Once Upon a Beast

Nic kissed the spot between my neck and ear. I shivered in response and gripped the armrest tightly. “Reading,” he whispered.

I couldn’t help myself. I laughed, leaned back, and looked at him. “Reading? You’re offering to have me read with you?”

Nic stepped back. “Do you not like reading? Is it not something that you could do all day, with the proper motivation?” he asked.

I stood up and he took a step back. I reached up and put my hands on his hips. “You know I most certainly could spend all day, every day reading. I don’t need any motivation as you call it to do that. I thought you were talking about something else.”

Nic put his hands on my hips and smiled at me. “Oh, what might that be?”

“I don’t know? You’re the one with this vivid imagination you keep bragging about. You tell me.”

“Oh, did I not mention that you were naked when you were reading the book?”

“I am, what about you? Are you naked?” I smiled and loved that we could tease each other so easily.

“Maybe. I could be with the right motivation,” he teased and I laughed.

“What motivation would that be?” I moved closer to him and wrapped my arms around his back.

He dropped his head down and shiver went down my back as I felt his breath on my neck. “If you are with me, I would be willing to do just about anything. For example, if you were naked next to me, I could reach over and touch you whenever and however I or you wanted me to.”

“That is fortunate as I could do the same. Out of curiosity, where would this reading be taking place?” I asked.

“Wherever you want.” Nic leaned back and looked at me. “I was thinking maybe the shower?”

I laughed. “You want to read in the shower?”

“We could, but I was more thinking about getting you naked in the shower. The reading and everything else could come after.”

“And what are we going to do in the shower?” I tilted my head up and brought my mouth towards his.

He put his mouth a breath away from mine as he whispered, “It’s better if I show you.”

Chapter 29

Nicodemus

The weekend had been perfect and over all too quickly. As I had suggested, Layla and I had spent all of Saturday in my penthouse, reading, showering, and a lot of other inventive things. It was while we were making lunch that I was able to fulfill my fantasy of having her on the kitchen counter. It was incredible and I had the added joy of seeing Layla blush every time she walked by it.

I could have stayed in the penthouse with her all weekend. I had just gotten her in my arms and I wanted to enjoy every minute I could with her there. She was an inventive, attentive, and vivacious lover. I thought I had some good ideas on places and things we could do but I quickly found out she had just as many thoughts on the subject.

It was so easy to be with her naked but it was just as enjoyable to not. We had talked, laughed, and simply just been in each other’s company all day. We did get to the reading but it had quickly turned into other things and I knew that Layla would never think about sitting on a couch with a book in the same way again.

As Sunday came upon us, I didn’t want the weekend to end. I didn’t want Layla to leave me. It had only been two days but I liked holding her while I slept. I especially liked waking up next to her and seeing her smiling at me.

We had agreed to take a walk and get some dinner late on Sunday afternoon. The day was warm and the weather was perfect so we strolled through Central Park before heading to the restaurant. I had lived in New York City since I was in my early twenties, I loved the city and considered it my home. I enjoyed Central Park and had spent many weekends walking around, reading, or even listening to a concert or seeing a play. As I walked hand in hand with Layla, I was seeing it in a new light and it was all because of Layla.

The weekend, the day, even having a meal was better when she was next to me. I loved seeing her smile as she saw something she liked. I loved hearing her laugh as she heard one of my stories or I did something she thought was ridiculous. I loved holding her hand as we walked down the street and knew she was with me. I loved just knowing she was by my side and I wanted to keep her there forever.

There was no doubt in my mind that I was in love with her. I thought I had been when we were younger, but it was nothing compared to what I felt for her now. It felt more mature, more solid, more long lasting. We had both changed since we were kids, we weren’t blinded by youth or fantasies that we might have about what we were doing. It made for a more open, honest, and fulfilling relationship.

It was there in how we talked to each other. I was more open with her about my life, about my past, and what I wanted for my future than I had ever been with anyone else, including her father. I wanted her to know everything about me. She already knew so much, but I didn’t want any secrets between us. I wanted her to feel she could be just as open with me.

She had been. She told me about her college years, her friendship with Ella and Ara, and her desire to be in New York City and work for the public library. I admired her and that she was willing to take a job that wouldn’t pay much but would make her happy. Her father had money and I wondered if he was helping her out. I could see her not wanting to or be beholden to anyone.

I did want her to be beholden to me. Or at least, I wanted her to know that she could count on me. We might have just started sleeping together but she was it, this was it for me. I wanted a future with her. Marriage, kids, house, PTA meetings, family vacations, all of it, and I wanted it to start as soon as possible. I felt we had wasted too many years being apart, I didn’t want to waste anymore.

As we walked back to my penthouse, I squeezed her hand and leaned in towards her and said, “I do love my job and the challenges it brings, but I have never wanted a weekend to end less than I do this one.”