Page 38 of Until Now
“Don’t play coy, Davina.” My heart drops when he all but spits my full name. “It’s all starting to make sense now. If you just wanted to make Lee jealous, why didn’t you just say that?”
“Nick, that is not—”
“Come on, Nina. It’s obvious. I saw you not even ten minutes ago.”
Saw me? What does he mean he saw me?
“Were you spying on me?”
“Hardly.” Darkened eyes meet mine. “You weren’t exactly hiding. I came to check on you when you didn’t come to bed, but you seemed to be doing just fine.”
“Nick, nothing happened. I mean, yes, he kissed me, but we didn’t— We didn’t have sex.”
“I’ll be the good fake boyfriend you hired. When this is all over, you can go back to him.”
“Zitto! Listen to me.” I take his hands in mine. The need to make him understand courses through me. “Nothing happened. I stopped him before anything could happen, and I came back…to you.”
And finally, it's like he sees me, and really takes in my appearance. My lips are swollen from Lee’s attack, but I’m still put together as usual. My olive green button-up still tucked neatly into my jean shorts, hair still pulled into a loose braid, not a strand out of place. I visibly see his defenses fall. “Shit…Nina, I-I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have just assumed—” I practically melt into his embrace. “I’m sorry. And, even if you did—”
“I don’t. It’s over, it’s been over.” I shouldn’t have to explain it though, we’re not together. Even if the lines are a little blurred at the moment…we’re not together, but being in his arms feels so right. “I tried to stop him, tried to push him away, but I couldn’t.”
His arms tighten around me at my confession. “If he touches you again, I’ll beat his ass.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
When I wakeup, I notice the sun is higher in the sky than normal for six in the morning and a glance at the alarm proves it true. 9:43 A.M. Shit, did I sleep through my alarm? I don’t remember the last time I slept past seven. Beside me, the bed is empty. Why didn’t he wake me up? A groan fills the space around me when I stretch. My phone vibrates on the nightstand next to me. Why is it on vibrate? I never have it on vibrate.
Nicholas Davis
I can’t fight a smile — I don’t think I ever received a good morning text from Lee or JJ. And, he’s bringing breakfast? And, he’s flirting with me? I can’t even be mad about him turning off the alarm.
Nicholas Davis
My heart skips a beat.
I’ll be home soon.
With that thought, I snuggle back into my bed. The familiar earthy scents of cedar and cardamom fill my lungs when I grip his pillow settling in for a long day in bed with my boyfriend.
Fake.
Fake boyfriend.
A long day in bed with my fake boyfriend.
§
I don’t even remember falling back asleep. One minute, I’m watchingSupernatural,and the next… Nick is staring down at me with a smirk and a coffee. “Just following orders, Fossette,” my voice thick with sleep.
“Good girl.” That goes straight to my core and suddenly I’m wide awake. His lips like fire against my forehead. Nick leaves the coffee on my nightstand and collects the rest of my breakfast. It’s like he’s oblivious to what his words are doing to me as he starts to pull take out boxes from the bag. “Do you want breakfast on the balcony?”
“How about breakfast in bed?”
Darkened eyes dart up to meet mine. He stares at me like he’s trying to figure out what exactly I’m saying before a smirk tugs on the corner of his lips. I can see he’s considering it, but he shakes his head. “I’ll meet you on the balcony, Dee.”
When he’s gone, I let out the breath I’d been holding. Holy shit. What in the hell just happened?
§