Is this working?
I’m fucked.
“How was your day?”asked Claire.“I didn’t get to see you very much.”
“It was good.Everything’s fine.You?”
“Fine.”She ran a hand down his arm.“Are you okay?You seem distracted.”
“Nope.I’m good.”He cracked a smile, hoping it looked genuine.
They got to her house and she unlocked the door.Nick was glad to see she’d taken his advice on that.If anyone ever broke into her place…
A horrible image flew into his head, one of someone hurting Claire.
Dwelling on that unlikely thought for even a second gave him hives.
This is not exactly ‘friends with benefits’ behavior, my dude.Calm down.
Only Nick wasn’t calm.He was rattled.
He cared for Claire, and needed to be inside her so badly, but he knew that if they had sex again it would just put more strange ideas in his head.
Things like wanting to be there for her when she went home at night, wanting to protect her and comfort her.Wanting to be her rock and her inspiration.
Her greatest love.
Do you even hear yourself?
Maybe this was a bad idea.He should probably go home and sort himself out.
Claire closed the front door behind them, and turned to him.She was so fucking cute in her hip-hugging shorts and a T-shirt that saidLive.When she looked up at him, she was nibbling her bottom lip.A coy light warmed her eyes.“So,” she said quietly, “what do you want to eat?”
Yeah, he was definitely fucked.
Nick seized her and hauled her up against his body.
His banquet was already in front of him.
Chapter Eighteen
Claire missed her alarm on Tuesday morning and ended up sleeping in, something she hadn’t done in a long time.Of course, the reason for her tardiness throbbed in her brain like a headache just starting to take hold.
It was all the sex with Nick.She hadn’t exactly gotten a lot of sleep lately.
Which was great.She just hadn’t expected it to affect her work life.
As she hurried across the field, she straightened her T-shirt and fluffed her hair.Did she have dark circles under her eyes?She’d forgotten to check her reflection before leaving the house.
Look at you, primping for Nick.
She stumbled on a large rock in the field, but righted herself and stopped for a minute.“Okay, sister, slow down.There’s no need to rush.”
She might try to tell herself she was simply rushing to start her work day, but deep down she understood she was hurrying to see him.
The moment he was out of her presence, a void opened up.She still wasn’t sure if his absence was the sole reason for her sense of loneliness, but it cut deep.
Claire knew one thing for certain.When Nick was around, she was happier, giddy even.
