Nick and Lilac Read online

  ****

  Nick sat in the darkness of his limousine, alternately stroking Lilac’s back and threading his fingers through her hair as she laid on the seat, her head pillowed by his lap, her body half curled, facing away.

  “Lilac,” he said softly.

  She turned on her back, looking up at him with dreamy doll-like eyes, its beauty making him swallow audibly. “Hmm?”

  “When did you know,” he asked slowly.

  The impish smile she sent him was like a shaft to his heart. She asked in all innocence, “When did I…know…what?”

  He scowled, and she laughed, the sound playing over his skin. “Why can’t…you say it?”

  “Because,” he said succinctly, “---it makes me sound like an insecure ass.”

  Her laughter rang out again, but then she reached shyly for his face, caressing his cheek. He captured her hand and kissed her palm, something that was fast becoming a regular routine he wanted to savor. Lilac’s lashes drifted closed, as if she, too, savored the contact.

  Eyes still closed, Lilac mumbled, “It’s not…terribly romantic.”

  “I doubt that.” Nick meant it. Lilac had her head mostly in the clouds. He doubted there was a single thought in her head that was not whimsical.

  Her eyes opened, a stern look in them. “Promise…you won’t laugh?”

  “I pro---”

  “It was…at the club,” Lilac admitted in a rush. “When I…you.”

  Nick stilled, unsure if he had heard her right.

  And then he coughed, several times.

  When she tried snatching her hand back, he lost it, laughing. She growled even as he lifted Lilac up so she could sit on his lap. She tried scrambling away, but he didn’t let her. “Really, Lilac?” He let his eyes go wide.

  She choked. “You…jerk!”

  He laughed harder. “I never…knew. Are you sure you’re writing a historical romance and not erotica?” Her cheeks turned red, and Nick’s jaw dropped. “You fucking write erotica, too?”

  “Nick!” She was completely embarrassed. Something hard poked her from below, and she looked down, blinking when she realized that it was Nick’s erection. “Nick!” It came out as a wail at first, but it ended a breathless gasp when Nick was suddenly kissing her, his lips devouring hers before moving down, Nick hungrily sucking her neck.

  “I’m so fucking turned on right now,” he told her in a rough voice. “My shy little lamb’s writing erotica.” He moved up, letting his tongue swirl around her ear, and Lilac rewarded him with a sexy little whimper.

  “I’m just fucking blown away, sweetheart.” Nick sucked on her ear, and she gave him a moan this time.

  She twisted her head away, pulling back because if she didn’t get a moment to catch her breath she would just die. “What about…you?” Lilac swallowed, feeling awkward but wanting – needing – to ask it. “When did you…know?”

  Not missing a beat even as his guilt gripped his heart, Nick said, “When I realized Jason was stealing you away.”

  Lilac blinked and then a smile tugged at her lips. “That’s so…selfish.” She shook her head. “That’s so…you.” And then she frowned. “And just so…you know…Jason was not…stealing m-me away.”

  Nick just looked at her.

  Lilac told him firmly, “He knows…I love…you.”

  He continued to just looked at her.

  A little exasperated now, she threw her hands up. “Jason was not…stealing me away!” She frowned at him. “He’s your…brother, Nick. He would never…do that.”

  He surprised Lilac by moving forward, catching her lips with a rough hard kiss. When he lifted his head, he looked into her eyes, saying evenly, “Even if he did – even if he does – he can’t steal you away from me again.”

  “Because…I love you?” The truth shone in her eyes.

  He swallowed. Lilac’s love a temptation that he knew was forbidden, but he could not help wanting more and more. “Yes,” he said slowly. He sank his fingers into her hair, using it to pull her close. Nick nipped her lower lip. “Because you love me.” He kissed her fully, his tongue driving in, reclaiming what he had almost lost.

  They took off their clothes leisurely, as if every moment was meant to be savored. And when Lilac was completely naked in his arms, he took her time pleasing her, kissing every inch of her body that he could reach. He caressed her breasts, loving its fullness, cupping them and sucking long and hard on its rosy tips until Lilac was moaning helplessly in his arms.

  “Beautiful, manari mou,” he whispered as he moved down, his lips leaving a trail of kisses on her belly. He shifted her up so her back would be against the side of the car and he knelt down across her on the seat.

  “Nick.” Her voice shook at the way her body trembled under his hungry gaze.

  He carefully lifted her legs and placed them over his shoulders.

  Realizing his intention, Lilac moaned. “Nick.” She was embarrassed, aroused, and excited all at the same time.

  Nick moved down, causing her legs to dangle past his back. The first touch of his lips had her gasping, and when his tongue started thrusting in and out of her, she started screaming. Her legs twisted, her head echoing the motion.

  She gripped his hair, unable to help it.

  “Do you want more, manari mou?” He punctuated the words by sucking her clit.

  Gripping his hair more tightly, she sobbed out, “Yes. Please, yes.”

  He sucked hard, his fingers replacing his tongue, and she started to fly. His fingers moved faster as she came, his tongue working harder on her clit, and Lilac’s sobs of pleasure filled the limousine. As her body became pliant, the tremors of her release dying, Nick straightened, carrying Lilac with him as he leaned against the side of the car.

  And then he was lowering her on his engorged cock.

  “Nick!” Her eyes rolled back at the fullness of him, her still-moist passage welcoming his cock warmly. “Nick!” She couldn’t believe how quickly her body was responding to the almost punishingly hard and powerful thrusts of Nick’s hips.

  “Lilac,” Nick growled, and the command in his voice made her look at him with unfocused eyes. He tightened his grip on her waist and began thrusting into her in earnest.

  She started bouncing on his dick, her soft beautiful body obeying the demands of his. Soon, she was sobbing again, her hands moving up his chest to grip his shoulders as she started riding him.

  “Yes,” he gritted as Lilac’s tight pussy squeezed around his cock. “Just like that, sweetheart. Just like that.”

  She gasped, “I’m…coming…again.”

  “No.” He lifted her all the way up, until only the tip of his cock was brushing against her swollen entrance, and then he pulled Lilac back down, filling her to the hilt.

  She screamed.

  “Come when I tell you,” he growled.

  She moaned in protest.

  He fisted her hair. “Understand, sweetheart?”

  Her eyes flew open. “Y-yes.”

  “Good.” And then he was fucking her hard, letting the pleasure take over both of them. He pounded into her, wanting her cock to brand Lilac’s pussy as his – and always his. Soon, he could feel it, the rumbling of an orgasm that was about to sweep them over.

  “Ready, sweetheart?”

  “Yes,” she sobbed out.

  “Then come now, sweetheart.” He slid his hand between their bodies, playing with her clit the way he knew she wanted. She screamed, and as Lilac splintered around him, Nick reached his own orgasm, and he came with a shout of his own. He pulled her down on him, grinding his hips into her, thrusting harder and faster to make the orgasm last as long as possible.

  Lilac collapsed against him, and he gathered her close, kissing her hair, stroking her back.

  She snuggled like a kitten against his chest, kissing a spot above his nipple. “I l-love you.”

  Nick hoarded the words, a part of him feeling like they wouldn’t be his forever. Closing his eyes, he cuppe
d her face to bring Lilac closer, kiss her as deeply as he could. “I love you.” The words became easier to say each time, and Nick still didn’t know if it was a good thing or not.

  Lilac was still asleep when they reached his home, her doll eyes blinking with confusion when she realized where he had brought her. Lifting her in his arms, he strode into his home, his security team going ahead of him to throw the doors open.

  “Sleep in my bed tonight, sweetheart,” he told her as he stepped into the lift. “I need you close.” He kissed her lips as he drew Lilac closer. “I need to feel that you’re mine.”

  Her eyes were sleepy, but they were still shining with love. “Yes,” she whispered, cupping his cheek. “Everything…in me…yours.”

  ****

  After promising a sleepy Lilac that he would be home by the time she woke up, he headed straight to Senses, where Christien and the rest of their friends were. It was also where he had texted Jason to show up, knowing that there was no point delaying the inevitable.

  “Someone’s in a good mood,” Christien murmured as Nick joined them in the VIP exclusively for their use. He saw that the whole gang was complete – including Nathan, who was more often abroad than not.

  Reid raised a brow. “I gather there’s no more trouble in paradise?”

  Nick flipped him the bird, but even Reid’s mocking words couldn’t get rid of the lighthearted feeling inside him. Everything felt so fucking right, now that Lilac was back in his life.

  Jaike leaned forward, her eyes filled with hope. “Does that mean Lilac’s your…girlfriend?”

  “Yes.”

  Jaike squealed – making Nick blink and then he was laughing, for it was his first time to hear Derek’s girlfriend do something so…girly. His friends offered their own congratulations, which he accepted with a grin.

  At Jaike’s eager questions, he told them briefly what happened, including the melodramatic scene at the hangar. “And you told her you loved her?” Jaike demanded, wide-eyed.

  Nick tried not to notice how several pairs of narrowed gazes were directed his way at the question. “Of course,” he said. “I wouldn’t want her as my girlfriend if I didn’t.”

  There was a moment of silence before Derek stepped in, smoothing over the awkwardness like he always did. “You seem more excited than Nick is, baby,” Derek said teasingly as he pulled Jaike close for a quick kiss on the lips.

  Jaike colored. “I can’t help it. I’m just really happy. I mean, it’s not always fun to be the only girl in the group---no offense meant, though.”

  There was a chorus of “none taken” from the men, although Reid was muttering under his breath about how he could have more women in the group if Jaike just didn’t take offense to his girls.

  Jaike scowled. “No. Your girls flirt with Derek too much.”

  Reid said patiently, “It shouldn’t matter when we all know Derek won’t ever flirt back.”

  She glared at Reid even though she knew he was just doing his best to annoy her. “NO.” Turning her back on an already-laughing Reid, she told Nick happily, “I can’t wait to spend more time with Lilac! It feels like forever that I’ve had someone to talk to when you guys are away doing your guy thing.”

  Nick teased, “You’re getting old, Jaike. You weren’t exactly alone the entire time. I had Karla before, remember?” Somehow, it was easier to talk about her now.

  An odd expression crossed Jaike’s face. “Uhh, yes.”

  Nick frowned at the color suddenly staining Jaike’s cheeks. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

  Derek’s arm curled protectively around Jaike’s waist. “Nick.” His voice held a note of warning.

  Jaike squeezed Derek’s hand under the table reassuringly. “It’s okay.” She looked back at Nick, asking slowly, “Are you sure you really want to hear the truth?”

  Nick lowered his beer, feeling like he had to be completely sober to hear what Jaike was about to say. “Yes.”

  Jaike said helplessly, “She was a bitch.”

  Nick stiffened.

  “I’m sorry, Nick, but she was. She…treated me like shit, told me in not so many words that I’m beneath all of you. She was that kind of girl, Nick and I just wish…” She sighed, as if unable to bear the vileness of what she wanted to say. Jaike looked at him straight in the eye. “Lilac is the perfect girl for you, and she’s worth a thousand Karlas in this world.” She reached out to squeeze his hand. “One day,” she said softly, even though she wasn’t really sure if it would come true. “You’ll see I’m right.”

  And he knew then that he hadn’t been fooling anyone in the room.

  They knew he had lied, too.

  Everyone started talking after, and Nick played along but guilt was spreading inside him like an indelible stain on his heart. Would everyone in the world know that he had lied about loving Lilac? Was it so fucking wrong when by lying to Lilac, he was giving her what she wanted?

  His phone vibrated, and the name on the screen stopped his heartbeat for a second. “Excuse me,” Nick managed to say before leaving the room. He went to the fire exit on the second floor, and the cruel irony wasn’t lost on him as he answered the call.

  “Karla?”

  “Nick.”

  Just the voice alone made him dizzy. It was that night again, and he braced himself against the wall. His temples hurt, the grayish fuzzy parts of his attack like a fucking dynamite that kept exploding inside his brain.

  When Nick still didn’t answer, fear struck her. She couldn’t have lost him to another woman, could she? Not so soon, and not without a fight, Karla thought. She made her voice soft and shaking as she ventured again, “Nick, please. Talk to me, Nick. Are you still mad?”

  He tried using Karla’s voice as his anchor but it didn’t work, the pain in his head becoming unbearable. Another image floated in his mind, and he grasped it desperately.

  Lilac.

  He concentrated on her exquisite face, the doll eyes that never failed to shine, the smile that always soothed, and Lilac’s quiet rusty voice that never failed to make him feel right. Slowly, his world found its way back to its rightful place, the pain gradually receding. His vision cleared. He said hoarsely, “Karla.”

  Relief rocked her body. He wasn’t furious, which only meant he still didn’t remember. She hoped to God he would never remember. This time, she didn’t have to fake the way her voice shook, relief making her almost giddy. “I really need to talk to you, Nick.”

  The image of Lilac persisted in his mind.

  “Karla…I’m with someone now.”

  “I know that.”

  The pain in Karla’s voice made Nick squeeze his eyes.

  I’m here, Nick. I’ll always be here. You’ll always be my man.

  “I’m sorry,” he said harshly.

  “Just please meet with me,” Karla choked out. “I know the things I did were unforgivable, and there’s nothing I can say but…I was weak.”

  Karla’s last word taunted and shamed him, reminding Nick of the nights he had cried like a fucking baby, even wetting his bed, and Karla had always been there. She had never breathed a word about how fucking weak he had been.

  “I’ll text you when I’m there, Nick. But if you can’t---” Karla’s voice caught. “If you can’t, then I understand. I just want you to be happy. I want you to be with a girl who really loves you, knows you like I knew how you were all those years ago---”

  She heard Nick sucking in a breath, and she could see him flinching, knew she had hit a raw spot. “Nick,” Karla whispered. “If we don’t meet again, just remember that I will always love you. I don’t care what the others say if they ever learn the truth. I’ll always be happy to have you, and I just hope she feels the same about you, too.”

  Nick said harshly, “Goodbye, Karla.”

  He ended the call, but it was too late. Karla’s toxic words had already poisoned him, and it would fester there for some time.

  Pushing the fire exit doors open, Nick w
as stunned to see his brother standing outside. He looked into Jason’s eyes and he knew that Jason had heard his side of the conversation.

  “Jason.” He struggled to hold his emotions in check.

  “Nick.” His brother was grim-faced, but there was something in his eyes that made Nick look away.

  “You’re still in touch with Karla?” He expected Jason’s voice to sound accusing. God knew he wouldn’t blame Jason if he was. But instead, his brother sounded…bleak.

  “She wants to see me.”

  Silence followed, and Jason fought to find the right words to say. Nick was in love with Lilac. He could see it in his brother’s eyes, the way the knowledge that Lilac would be hurt if she found out about his phone conversation with Karla was already haunting Nick.

  But Jason also knew that there was a part of Nick which still belonged to Karla, blinding him to the truth.

  He said carefully, “If you have to, then you should. I only want the best for you – and Lilac wants that, too.” Saying anything else would force his brother’s back against the wall, and he didn’t want that, didn’t want anything that would give the bitch a hold on Nick again.

  Jason’s words stunned Nick. He said thickly, “Jason, I---”

  Jason shook his head. “Nick, whatever I feel about Lilac…you are my brother. That will always come first.” It was not a lie, and maybe that was why Lilac had fallen in love with Nick and not him.

  He was in love with Lilac, but not as much as Nick loved and needed her.

  When Nick left, Jason made two calls – one to his mother, and another to the bitch he called stepmother. There was only one way to make Beatrice talk, and though Jason knew his decision would hurt his family, sometimes – the fucking end justified the fucking means.

  The Nineteenth Encounter

  The sound of feminine laughter slipped into Nick’s consciousness, calling him out of a deep slumber. He instinctively reached for Lilac, and when he found only air he was instantly awake, his heart beating madly.

  He could not lose her so soon.

  Nick shot up from the bed, and he had already gotten his pants on when he realized that the sound of laughter was not Lilac’s. It was ---