The look of pure adoration. Aimed straight at me.
“Hi.” She smiles while catching her breath.
“Hey, you.” I tuck a strand of golden hair behind her ear.
“I like this. I like waking up next to you.” She smiles shyly while tracing the tattoos on my chest. “And I know that we still have lots to talk about. And it’s going to take some time for you to trust me…”
I cradle her head in my hands and guide her down until our lips meet. After a soft peck, I pull her back an inch so she can see the honesty in my eyes. “I trust you, Nikki. I know we’re just getting started here, but I don’t want you to feel like we’re on uneven ground.” I pause, then smile widely. “Unless it would make you feel better if you asked for my forgiveness by offering various sexual favors.”
“Tony!” she screeches while slapping my biceps.
I grab her hands and slowly kiss each of her open palms. “I like hearing you call me Tony,” I admit.
She grins. “I still can’t believe I’m allowed to call you Tony after all this time.”
“I don’t care what you call me, as long as I get to call you mine.”
Her quiet gasp is followed by a playful groan. “Fine! You win. One quickie to start the day, and then you’re for sure keeping that thing away from me.” She hops off me and starts making her way toward the stairs to the bathroom. “And only after I brush my teeth. I think you’re cute, but I don’t get down like that.” She laughs.
I’m hot on her heels. “Thank God, cause your dragon breath was kickin’!”
“Tony!”
Yeah, I like hearing her call me Tony.
* * *
A quickie it was not.
But after we finally managed to leave the room, Nikki banished me to the gym to burn off whatever “demon energy” I have left while she took off to sunbathe by the pool. Apparently, tanning was the only activity she had the energy for. And if that fact didn’t puff my chest with pride…
I spend most of the time at the gym stretching out my muscles. The last twelve hours have me on the verge of pulling a muscle. And I’ll be damned if Nikki realizes how worn out she has me by day two.
I grab a water bottle and stand by the windows facing the pool area. It’s been less than an hour, but I’m already missing Nikki.
Yep. Guess I’m a simp now.
I spot her easily. She’s lying in one of the cabanas while reading. I really hope I gave some of her “book boyfriends” a run for their money.
Boyfriend. Hmm, we’re going to have to discuss titles, because the one thing I do know is that I’m not abiding by today’s warped dating rules. There will be no gray area. I belong to that woman as much as she belongs to me. And I’ll provide no mercy if any man gets those facts twisted.
Which may be why my radar spots an older blond guy staring straight at Nikki. My hackles instantly go up, because he’s not leering over her like that Mr. B. creep, but rather observing her like she’s the missing piece of a puzzle.
It may be nothing. Rich people can be weird. But that doesn’t mean I like it one bit. Which is how I find myself walking out of the gym and toward Nikki’s cabana. I run into Chris and quickly give him a fist bump for providing those electrolytes in our time of need. And by the time I turn the corner, the weird older guy is gone, but the pit in my stomach remains. Something feels off, but I don’t want to worry Nikki as I approach her.
“Hey, stranger. Mind putting on a shirt so the waitresses don’t drop their drink trays?” Nikki teases while shading her eyes from the sun with her hand.
“Hmm, territorial already? I can get behind that.” I crawl over her body and give her a sensual kiss. “There, now everyone knows I’ve claimed you as mine.”
“You know, sometimes you say shit that has the feminism flying out of my body at lightning speeds. Yet somehow, it works for me.” She laughs while pulling me in for another kiss. “But I think I’m ready to head back to the room. I need a nice bath to recover from… you know.” She blushes.
I stand and put my hand out for her to take. “How about we head back, and I’ll prep a nice bath for you with all the fancy essential oils lined up on our bathroom sink and order some sweet and salty treats?”
“Oh, that sounds—”
“And then, I’ll wrap you up nice and snug in a fluffy robe and set us up on the bed so we can watch a Julia Roberts movie. How does that sound?”
“Quadruplets,” she whispers under her breath.
