Page 86 of Who's Loving You

“The earrings.” The ones Lucy just told me were sold. The ones I had my heart set on.

Nic looks at me like a very proud man, seeing how joy fills me. “Lucy said these are the ones that made your eyes light up. And as beautiful as they were in store, I knew they’d be even more beautiful set amongst the brightest jewel in the galaxy.”

The tears that have laid dormant for years finally decided to break the levee and flood down my cheeks. Words fail me because the man that I was told –in the words of Monty– liked to wag his wiener all over the freeworld is now calling me a jewel in his galaxy. Like…c’mon.

“I hope the tears mean you like them.” I can tell he’s anxious with my lack of verbal response, so I throw my arms around him and tell him with my kiss.

My salty tears coat our lips and our tongues dance a waltz of lovers. Me…in love…with a man who makes my nerves crawl up my spine and burst out of my head.

Queue tire screech.

Wait…in love? That’s not what this is. AT ALL! It’s just amazing sex. That’s it. I love the sex we’re having and the orgasms have clouded my brain.

My rational brain re-engages and I come back down to Earth.

“Thank you Nico. I love them. They are the exact ones I’ve been wanting.” I swipe away at my tears, but he sweetly brushes away my hand and takes over drying duties. “How did you know about them?

“A loud Lucy dodo bird told me that they recently became your object of desire. So, I thought, why not give my object of desire hers.”

Ugh!! Can he just stop already?

He brings his thumb to his mouth and licks away the tears he has stolen. “Why did you do that? There’s a towel right here, you weirdo.”

With a slow shake of his head, he says something that knocks my brain off its rocker. “I want your smiles, your laughs, your looks that tell me I’ve pushed you to the edge of your sanity, and your tears. Good or bad, I want to be the one that carries them for you.”

Here’s where I would insert that gif of the woman melting and sliding out of her chair because literally, I’m smashed.

I grind my teeth because Iwill notcry again. Once every few years is more than sufficient.

“No more crying, beautiful. Let’s do something fun. Go brush those pickle chips off your breath and grab some comfy shoes.”

“What? I don’t–that’s crazy. I don’t even like those.” The pulse in my neck throbs. If there were a lie detector hooked up to me right now, it would definitely be blaring alarms.

He gives me that one brow arched look and steps over to my trash can. Lifting the lid, he reaches in, roots around, and pulls out an empty bag. The evidence sits in my face and he acts like he just solved the greatest mystery of all time.

“Babe. It’s okay. They’re amazing. Just admit it and move on.” He drops the bag back into the trash and crosses his arms over his chest.

I jump off the counter and mirror his stance, though I am much less imposing in mine. We have a silent stare down, waiting for the other to break. Normally I am the champ of strong wills. People don’t challenge me because they know they simply cannot win. But of course, this jerk has to completely ruin everything I’ve built up.

With a sigh, I drop my hands and concede. “Fine. I like them. I don’t want to, but those things are addicting and I can’t stop.”

He throws his head back in riotous laughter, and it’s a sound more glorious than that of me counting my shoes and purses.

“Let’s go Ms. Pickle.” He takes my hand and drags me to my bathroom where I continue to pout now that he’s discovered my secret.

My sour mood doesn’t last too long because Nic finds a way to boost me right up. Let’s just say we both had to brush away the evidence.

Jesus, where is this cheesy shit coming from?Nic has, once again, orgasmed me into stupidity.

30

NICO

Unknown number: Miss me yet?

Me: Who’s this?

Unknown number: Don’t be silly, handsome. Your key is still warm in my hand. Just say the word and it’s all yours. And so am I.