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She wanted to explain to him all the emotions she went through back then but it would be impossible for him to understand. Impossible to comprehend how two people with such magnetic chemistry could make so many mistakes. Maybe he was right—their relationship relied on extremes without really getting to know each other. Lust without love—passion without compassion.
Nick’s fingers gently slid over her bruised jaw. “Don’t worry, Johnny is gonna pay for what he did to you. No fuckin’ way he’s getting away with it.”
He drew in a deep breath and shifted closer to her. “I don’t know what I’d do if something ever happened to you or Portia. I was so fuckin’ scared when Samson called me. Then I felt so goddamn guilty.” He paused and she visualized his smoldering ebony eyes staring down at her. “I wish things could’ve turned out different.”
Cheryl squeezed her eyes tight and bit down on her lower lip but it was no use. “Me too.” Her voice was small in the dark room.
“You’re awake?” Nick’s whispered rasp surrounded her.
She shifted to a sitting position.
“One thing neither one of us can do is turn back time.”
The undeniable logic of truth hung between them.
She touched her cheekbone. “I hate the thought of anymore violence.”
“You’ve been around long enough to know how this works.” Nick kicked off his shoes and swung his legs onto the bed. The heat of his body surrounded her, made her feel protected, made her feel . . . no, those thoughts were way too destructive.
“Doesn’t mean it isn’t time for a change.” She twisted so she could see his face. “Let me talk to my father without other people getting involved.”
“You mean the Serpents?”
“I’m sure they’re totally capable, but this isn’t their fight. It doesn’t make sense to bring outsiders into it.”
Nick cocked his head. “They’re not outsiders. Not anymore. If it wasn’t for them Samson and I would’ve never gotten the club open. Mamba runs security at Wicked like a pro, and they’ve basically had our backs since we hit Vegas.”
“I understand, but before you do anything let me talk it over with Frank. At some point I have to come to some kind of an understanding with my father. I would also like to believe he wouldn’t sanction this—” she pointed to her bruised face—“no matter how much money Johnny makes for him.”
They stared at each other for a long minute. Whether her and Nick had a relationship or not, she didn’t want to see him hurt. His silence unnerved her so she pleaded, “Promise me.”
He gently tipped her chin, then feathered soft kisses down her neck and along her collarbone. He eased her onto her back and smoothed his palms down her side until they caught on the loose waistband of her sweatpants. He slid them down to her hips as he kissed the firm skin of her abs from hip to hip. Her insides tightened with arousal, and when he moved to her thighs her legs fell apart and her back arched to his eager lips.
“Love the taste of you, the scent of you.” He left teasing nips along her inner thighs until her hips were bucking against her will.
“You didn’t answer me.” Her words faded on a moan.
She could’ve tried to resist him. Tell him to stop and she knew he would’ve obeyed her, but just like every other time before he rendered her helpless. Unable to stop the flurry of emotions, the euphoric high Nick awoke in her. The need to be with him in every way overpowered all reason.
“Nothing better than this, babe,” he mumbled against her delicate skin.
Earlier he told the guys her and him never had a chance, but his actions told another story.
“No matter whatever happens between us I want you to know it will always be about you, always be for you.”
His words filled her with absolute joy and devastating pain, because deep in their souls they knew this could never be, they could never be again.
Nick used his tongue in the most expert way. Licking and sucking, drawing out every quiver of her body until she was helpless to object. She rode his mouth and he didn’t let up, he brought her to the ultimate place where physical and mental pain dissolved in a pool of sensual arousal.
Cheryl collapsed against the bedding as Nick stroked her thighs knowing her body so well. Another part she would miss. Amazing how after ten years he still knew what she needed and wanted, but of course, they’d never had trouble in bed. There they were the champions of a perfect relationship. Each knowing the other’s wants and needs. Anticipating then acting, like a perfect machine, in tune and on point.
Real life told another story. There they struggled with truth and lies and untold stories. If only they could bring the honesty they shared between the sheets to the everyday. Perhaps peoplelike them weren’t meant for the everyday. Like Club Wicked they only came alive at night, when the sun went down. They were only perfect for a few hours in certain prescribed situations, then once the curtain dropped it all fell away.
Reality invaded with its decisions and right and wrong. They weren’t equipped for the everyday, mundane choices, they were made for glitz and glamour. The sparks becoming firecrackers. The bonfire only burning in the midnight hours. Anything else was too hard, too complicated.
Tomorrow she’d get Portia and Izzy settled at the Bellagio and then she’d talk to her father. Meet with him and devise a plan before Nick had a chance to act. She didn’t want to bring him into her fight. He had way too much to lose and she wouldn’t be responsible for him losing any part of his dream. Not over a bastard like Johnny Russo.
Cheryl burrowed into Nick’s warm body, but she didn’t fool herself. By morning he would be gone and she would be at the Bellagio.
