Page 42 of One Kind Soul

Christian took her hands and interlaced his fingers with hers. “Yup. I gave him a bunch of apples last growing season which he turned into the most delicious turnovers that sold like wild at his café. He owed me a favor. I collected it today.”

He’d used a favor on her. She sighed at how sweet that was. Nicole stepped closer so her front touched his. “Excellent work, Chrissy. Excellent.”

“Marco was serious about a lunch rush though,” Christian said. “We don’t have much time.”

“I’ll take a little time over no time.” She rose to her tiptoes and captured his mouth with hers. The kiss turned molten as Nicole backed them toward the house. They didn’t come up for air as she fumbled with the doorknob, trying not to break the contact. When she got it open, Christian lifted her and ducked inside. He kicked the door shut and headed directly for the guest room, Remi barking at their appearance.

“Having sex in my brother’s house seems naughty,” he said.

“We don’t have time to seek out another location and I’m too hot for you to turn back now.”

“Same.” He tore at her T-shirt, nearly ripping it, but Nicole didn’t care. They had to do whatever was necessary to get naked quickly.

When Christian backed up to pull off his jeans, Nicole grabbed that box of condoms she’d bought in Boston. Shaking a packet onto the bed, she yanked off her jeans then slid Christian’s briefs down his long, toned legs, careful around the stitches on his calf. She pressed a kiss near the injury.

“That’s looking much better.”

“Itches like hell, but yeah.” He grabbed her under the elbows and coaxed her to standing, pulling her body against his. His palms came to rest at her panty-clad ass and he massaged, pressing his arousal against her as Nicole ran her hands up and down his muscled arms.

“I know you came over to show off your truck, but I’m seeing way more impressive sights right here.” She coasted her hands along his shoulders then pressed her palms to his pecs.

He lifted her and deposited her on the bed, taking a moment to peruse her nearly naked body on display. “You got that right, Nixen.” He slid off her panties while she wiggled out of her bra.

Christian draped himself over her and she loved the weight of him atop her. Since he’d shielded her from that van, his body had come to mean safety to her. Safety and a ton of pleasure. Being with him was both calming and exhilarating at the same time.

He sheathed himself with the condom and with a few tender kisses, he pushed into her and the world stopped spinning. There was only right now. These precious stolen moments.

Moments Nicole was beginning to live for.

****

By definition, what he and Nicole had done earlier today at Donovan’s . . . and at his farm a day ago . . . and in that Boston hotel on the weekend were booty calls. They were getting together to have sex and doing it on the sneak. While a part of Christian had enjoyed orchestrating a way to see Nicole today, another part of him had wanted to waltz right up to her at Donovan’s house and greet her with a kiss in front of his brother and Tessa.

Would that have been so bad? Then it would all be out in the open and he could shake off the booty call feeling. Most guys probably wouldn’t worry about doing booty calls. Hell, they’d most likely view it as a sweet gift, but Nicole wasn’t a booty call type of woman. She deserved more and he certainly wanted more.

Sitting in his truck now, back in Donovan’s driveway to pick up his brother for the bachelor party, Christian wrestled with going in and seeing Nicole but not being able to touch her. Maybe he should beep the horn.

Before he could decide either way, the front door opened and Donovan came jogging out. He opened the passenger side door and hopped into the truck.

“Hey—”

“Explain this,” his brother interrupted while shoving his phone in Christian’s face.

Christian took the phone. “Explain what?” He looked at the screen where two figures held each other and kissed with a desperation that bordered on pornographic. They stumbled their way up a front path and Christian swallowed loudly when his and Nicole’s faces were clearly displayed on the camera.

The doorbell camera. The one Donovan had on his security system because he was a detective and of-fucking-course a detective would have a state-of-the-art security system to guard his home.

From brothers who engaged in booty calls with fiancées’ best friends.

“Oh . . . uh . . . I...”

“That explanation sucks, Christian.” Donovan ripped his phone from Christian’s hand. “What were you thinking?” He shook his head. “You weren’t thinking. Not with this anyway.” He smacked Christian on the back of the head.

“Hey, now. I can—”

“You can what? Give me a logical reason for why your face is fused with Nicole’s? There’s only one reason I can think of. And in my house, Christian? Seriously? How could you let this happen?”

Getting a little angry now, Christian held up his index finger. “First of all, as the footage shows, that kissing was not one-sided, Donovan. I wasn’t attacking Nicole. We were mutually involved in what you witnessed there.” And what had gone on in the guest room, but he didn’t think mentioning that would help him out here. Thank God there were no indoor cameras.