Like a desperate loser, I stalked his Facebook profile. Since we have so many mutual friends, I was able to view most of his posts and albums. Unfortunately, his account didn’t give any indication of what he was doing or who he was doing. Nick is an extremely private person, so he rarely updates his social media accounts.
From a handful of photos he was tagged in, I knew he had returned to the club scene a few weeks ago, but I still had no clue I’d run into him tonight. When I was suddenly clutched on the dance floor, I assumed it was Christian. He asked me earlier to save him a dance. It was only when my body reacted differently did I realize it wasn’t him. My body was responding sexually to the stranger’s sensual dance moves. It had only ever responded that way to one person.
My suspicions were confirmed when my dance partner licked my neck. My body was once again right: Nick was in its vicinity. When my eyes darted up to seek confirmation, I couldn’t see any of his features through the poor strobe lighting. When his hand ran from my stomach to my earlobe, goosebumps followed his path.
I couldn’t help the moan that parted my lips. I can’t help but react to him. My body craves him. Even his simplest touch causes it to melt, and when his lips sealed over mine, my pussy throbbed. I can’t explain my attraction to Nick. It’s unexplainable. Even knowing he has the ability to destroy me doesn’t stop me from wanting him.
When he dipped me, images ofDirtyDancingflashed before my eyes. It honestly made me the happiest I’ve been in six months. I felt beautiful, cherished, and wanted. When he swung his hips, wordlessly asking me to dance, I granted my body permission to have the one thing it craved most.Him.
I so enjoyed dancing with him that when Slater asked if I was ready to leave, I was hoping Nick would beg me to stay. No matter how many times you're rejected, each new case burns more than the first. Thankfully, I seemed to have misunderstood Nick’s silence. He didn’t want me to leave. He was just as confused as me.
I don’t know where we go from here. I’m only back in town for the Christmas-New Year holiday period. I had every intention of spending as much time with Emily and Nicole as possible, but things feel different now. My feelings for Nick aren’t new, but they’re not as daunting as they were months ago.
My friendship with Christian has proved what I have with Nick is different than anything I’ve experienced before. My feelings for him are all-encompassing and somewhat scary. Christian and I have grown close the past few months. The morning after Nick left was pretty awkward, but over time, Christian was grateful Nick’s unexpected arrival forced him to maintain his “player etiquette” of not sleeping with the same girl twice.
His blockbuster movie has propelled him into super stardom, and his player lifestyle grew right along with it. I don’t know how many times I’ve witnessed him in compromising positions in our building elevator the past two months. He also uses my apartment to hide in until his “dates” get the hint to leave.
I’ve been tempted to warn the women of New York about Christian’s player ways as Tina cautioned me about Nick all those months ago, but then I realized, neither Christian or Nick hide who they are. They’re brutally honest—even when it stings to hear the truth.
I don’t know what planet I was living on when I expected Nick to be faithful to me when we weren’t even together. It hurts knowing that at the same time he was chasing me, he was also chasing other women, but its burn isn’t as bad now as it was back then.
Lessons were learned, and adjustments were made, but one thing has remained the same: the love I have for him.
* * *
Halfway home, my phone dings with a text. Peering down, I notice it's a message from Nick. Since Emily’s attention is still rapt on me, I drop my cell into my purse, deciding to read his message later—once I'm alone.
I shower and settle into bed before reading his message. I wish I didn’t wait so long.
Nick:
I never wanted anyone.
I never needed anyone.
Until I met you.
Why have you always been my rule breaker?
With a smile big enough to compete with the moon, I reply:
Me:Because rules are meant to be broken.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Nick
Ispot Jenni the instant she enters Mavericks. She’s smoking hot in a strapless red lace dress and sky-high stilettos. Her heels are so tall, I reckon if I stand next to her, she’ll match my five-foot-eight height.
Yeah, I’m short. Kind of happens when you’re conceived in a test tube, then delivered eight weeks early so your stem cells can save your brother’s life. Obviously, I don’t recall a single thing that happened during my first three years on this planet, but I’m certain I don’t regret a moment. Isaac can be a little shady at times, but he’salwaysbeen there for me. There’s nothing I could ever want that he wouldn’t give me. The shirt on his back. An apartment. A lucrative stake in his multiple business operations. If I want an in, he’ll give it to me. I guess that’s why I’ve always been a bit of a rascal, because I know no matter what happens, he’ll be there to pick up the pieces.
You’d think this knowledge would have me going a little easier on him, but hey, aren’t painful, teeth-grinding moments what little bros are about?
I’m drawn back to the present when I spot Jenni in the corner of my eye. Her wide gaze reveals tonight is her first time inside Mavericks. Because she's not over twenty-one, we had to get permission from the owner for her to attend Emily’s surprise nineteenth birthday party tonight. She also had to fly home for the occasion—thank fuck.
I’ve been missing her like crazy. We’ve talked regularly the past month, but it can’t compare to seeing her in person. The band was supposed to be performing one last hurrah before our album drops, but we all agreed that celebrating Emily’s birthday was more important.
With the songs for our album written, we start laying down tracks next week. It’s been a long and tedious six months, but the high caliber of the songs we’ve created will soon rocket us to the superstardom we've actively been seeking the past four years.
