“Nikki’s the smartest person I know,” James’ voice pipes up from the back, and I sink into my seat, zipping my lips. I clearly can’t be trusted with my body or my voice around this man. But I find myself grinning as I wrap my arms around my legs and cuddle into the warm, luxurious heated seat of his truck.
It's nice to feel a little more like me.
16
Sutton
I’m in awe. She’s hella smart. Like, really smart. And it’s such a fucking turn-on. There’s no doubt she went to a university somewhere; that type of knowledge and brain power doesn’t just show up in anyone. I swear I learn more from her than I do anyone else. I could probably learn more from her than I did in school. On the days when I turned up anyway.
She cuddles up on the seat next to me, making herself smaller than she is. Which is crazy, given how little she is. All of five-foot-nothing, like a little Tinker Bell, and I feel like an ogre beside her. I turned on the heated seats, and I think she’s enjoying that. It isn't too cold, but we’re all wet, and I still feel water running down my cheeks and back. Damn, when she touched my face a moment ago, I could’ve sworn I felt my heart stop. It’s never done that before. I’ve never felt that with another woman, especially from such a simple touch.
“Hungry?” If the sounds from her stomach are any indication, I’d guess she is.
“A little,” she says softly.
“I wasn’t sure what you liked on your pizza, so I just got pepperoni.”
“What?” She sits up a little, her eyes a mix of confusion.
“It's James’ fault. He started talking about pizza slices in math homework tonight, and I can’t eat two pizzas myself.” It’s a lie; I can. I could down those suckers easily.
A shout of excitement from the back seat has me chuckling. “Yes! Thanks, Sutton.”
As I turn down their dirt road, the forest covers us. With the rain clouds thick in the sky, the journey is even scarier than last time. No birds singing, no sunlight filtering through. Just rain, clouds, and the dark forest. It’s spooky as hell.
She’s quiet, clearly in her head. Is it a bad idea? Probably. I should be keeping my distance, but I can’t. I should be planning my re-emergence into LA, looking at which project Bobby has lined up, figure out what I want to do with my future. But none of that holds my interest like she does. I’ve watched her for weeks, spoken to her almost daily, and now, as I edge toward her home for the second time, I know no one else comes here and the fact that she's letting me in speaks volumes.
She isn’t scared of me, but she’s hesitant. I get it. I’m a lot. My name is well known, my face even more so. I have people trying to find me, and I’m on the cover of magazines. She wants quiet, doesn’t want to be found. She doesn’t want to be seen.
But I see her. Innocent, beautiful, enticing. Not caring who I am, even though she knows exactly what my fame level is. Never once has she or James asked for a photo or an autograph like the rest of the town has. She could probably get me to sign something and sell it online to make money—she needs it. But she doesn’t. She’s never treated me any differently than the usual patrons who come to the diner and I like that. She likes me for me, and I like her for her.
“I’m starving.” James opens his door the minute I pull up to their cottage, and with his bag on his back and the pizzas in his hands, he jumps from the truck and runs through the rain and inside. Nikki laughs, her face lighting up seeing him happy.
I turn to her. “He’s a great kid.”
“He really is. Thank you, Sutton. Really, thank you.” She’s watching me, and I notice a thread of wet hair stuck to her face. Lifting my hand, I brush it away, caressing her skin, trailing my finger down her jaw. She swallows audibly, the movement of her neck smooth and delicate just like the rest of her.
“Anytime.” I mean it, even though my voice sounds like gravel. My gaze hits hers, then moves to her lips and back again. Fuck, I want to kiss her.
“You know… Hawaiian pizza was actually invented in Canada by a Greek chef,” she whispers, her eyes darting from my lips to my eyes and back again, following the same movement mine just made. Wanting my lips closer to hers, I lean forward, just a little. God, the things I could do to this woman.
“Really? I didn’t know that.” There she goes again with her random facts that are fast becoming like an aphrodisiac to me.
“It’s said that—”
“Are you coming? I’m staaaaarrvvvving!”
We pull back, startled, hearing James yell over the rain. I spot him at the front door, looking right at us, and I huff a laugh.
“Let me get your door.” Before she can reply, I open my door, running in the rain around to her side, needing the water to cool me down before I lift her out. She squeals a little at the cold rain thrashing down on us, her hands holding on to my shoulders tight.
“It’s cold!” She shrieks with laughter before I hear her snort that has me grinning. Makes me smile every fucking time.
“And wet.” I put her on her feet in front of me, but I don’t move my hands; they feel permanently connected to her waist. Her hands don’t drop from me either as we both stand there, rain pelting down, her hair and mine now almost plastered to our faces.
My smile falters as my gaze turns hungry. I look down at her, seeing her eyes sparkle up into mine, small water droplets on the ends of her long lashes. Her breathing escalates as her fingers slide up to the back of my neck. Her hands on my body are everything. I watch a rain droplet glide down her cheek before it curves toward her mouth. It trickles over her top lip, before it slowly slips over her bottom. The sight is the last tease I need, especially when her fingers dig into my neck and her breathing grows faster.
“Fuck it.” I step forward, my lips colliding with hers immediately.
