Page 81 of Worth Every Penny
“I’ll open the door, but I won’t let him in. Wait until we’ve gone, then call yourself a cab. Put it through expenses. I’m really,reallysorry.” He presses a quick kiss to my cheek. “But my dick is even sorrier.”
“Are you there? Can you hear me?” Charlie’s voice penetrates the room.
“I’m here,” Nico answers, his tone sharp.
A tentative pause. Then, quieter, “Can we go home?”
“Go,” Nico mouths, shooing me towards the desk with one hand. I roll my eyes and get on my knees, crawling beneath the desk, tucking my legs in. Nico follows, crouching so I can see him, one hand on the desktop above. My breath catches at the sight of him staring at me, so excruciatingly handsome.
“Next time, you’re going to do that naked.”
“You wish,” I say, half-laughing.
“Oh, I do. And you will.” He grins, gives me a wink, and rises to his full height.
“Nico, wait.” I keep my voice low.
He crouches again. “What?”
“Am I going to have to wait another week to see you again?” I cringe at the desperation in my voice, but his smile is so warm that it instantly allays all my fears.
“You think I could stay away from you that long? What are you doing tomorrow?”
Tomorrow?“Nothing.”
“I’ll pick you up at ten. Pack an overnight bag and bring your passport.”
My passport?
He doesn’t wait for agreement before he stands again. I can only see his feet and lower legs. He approaches the door, kicks my shoes out of sight and then pulls it open.
“Charlie. Let’s go.”
I wait until I can no longer hear them before I crawl out from under the desk and brush myself down. What the hell just happened here? And what do I pack for a night away with Nico Hawkston?
24
KATE
There’s a permanent buzz under my skin as if Nico has rewired my body. I’m in a constant state of heady excitement. The slightest brush of my underwear against my pussy and I’m plunging into a state of intense arousal. It’s not sustainable; I barely slept last night.
“I can’t stand being around you,” Marie mutters, as she packs her bag to head to the hospital. “You're like a horny version of Pollyanna. I forgot what you’re like when you’re getting laid.”
“I haven’t got laid.”
Elly giggles. “Not yet.” She focuses on Marie. “Lay off her anyway. We’ve had grumpy Kate on our hands for too long. Next time I see Mr. Hawkston, I’m going to congratulate him on giving you such a fantastic orgasm that you’ve metamorphosed into a pleasant human being.”
Normally, I’d have something to say about an insult like this, but today a grin threatens to split my face. I can’t contain my elation. Nico’s picking me up in ten minutes and I have no idea what he has planned or where we’re going.
“All I’m saying is, we don’t know how long this is going to last,” Marie explains, with herI’m a doctor, trust me, expression on her face. “In fact, you don’t even know whatthisis.”
“You’re such a killjoy,” Elly argues.
“And you’re the kind of romantic that encourages people to lose their heads so they can’t see where they’re going. Stop encouraging this. Maybe if you hadn’t, this wouldn’t have happened.”
I’m inclined to pipe up and say that it would have. My body has a mind of its own where Nico’s concerned, and I’m at the mercy of overpowering hormonal impulses. But my friends are barely pausing for breath in their back and forth, so I say nothing.
“His eyes aren’t painted on. I mean, look at her. She’s bloody gorgeous.” Elly’s eyes flash at me. “You’re gorgeous. And, he’s thoughtful. He bought those shoes. He definitely cares.”