She slapped him on his abs. “Shut up!”
After quickly grabbing the offensive hand, he held it in his then toyed with her fingers. He was beaming and lookedsohappy she didn’t know what to do with herself. “I was only joking. Of course I’m willing to indulge in anything that involves your pleasure.”
“And when it doesn’t?”
“You still leave me incredibly exposed.”
She leaned in to give him a peck on the cheek just as he whipped the sheet off his lower half with theatrical flair. “See?Exposed.”
“What are you doing? Stop!” Emily shrieked.
He threw his head back laughing at her reaction. Her lips tugged upward then slowly they split into a big grin. She couldn’t help it. Her eyes were witnessing the pinnacle of Nicolas’s carefree look, the one she hadn’t seen in a long time. His brown hair ruffled, his dark eyes screwed shut and hissmile.
God, that smile.
Seeing it made Emily insanely happy. How she longed for it to always be. To simplyexist.
Because she loved this man more than anything else.
45
Nicolas was on cloud nine.
He didn’t know if life could get any better than this. The very idea was as impossible as trying to bottle sunshine. It was beautiful in theory, but never meant to be done. Precious things like that should never be contained.
Just like his love for his wife laying in his arms.
He’d tried to conceal it. He tried convincing himself that he’d agreed to marrying her because of his duty. Because she was, despite the risk that came along with her, his best option. In the back of his mind, he knew that had been bullshit.
When it came to Emily, nothing was ever business.Everythingwas personal.
He’d believed he understood the full extent of his adoration for her. A crush. A lack of information. Knowing more about her should have extinguished that fire, but it had only fanned its flames.
Now experiencing what both her heartandbody could offer, that belief had crumbled.
What Nicolas felt now was something greater, an elevation beyond anything he’d known. She’d redefined its limits.
Emily was the first and last woman he’d ever loved.
He’d been convinced what he had with Molly back in college was love until Emily stormed back into his life and made him question everything.
Had he ever felt as deprived when her eyes weren’t on him as he did with Emily? He longed for her to notice him in every room they were in.
Had he ever personally sought out everyone who crossed her with retaliation? Every cell inside him burned from the restraint to not kill Mallion for what he’d done to her. How he had her feeling less than, had her thinking she was the problem when it was clear he’d been undeserving of her. Having Steven handle him was far too generous. He should have had him blacklisted to the point he’d never show his face in this industry again.
And had he ever loathed the idea of another man touching her with such visceral fury? He wished he’d been her first everything. Her first romantic interest, first date and first kiss.
Therefore, the answer to all of these questions was a resounding no.
His finger brushed against her cheek which was tinged with a faint pink. Asleep, she really looked like an angel.
Emily stirred at the feel of his touch against her skin, her plump lips parting. He traced the outline of them.
Nicolas wondered if she knew that she wouldn’t be able to leave him now. He knew she hadn’t married him because she wanted to. Her falling for him had been love, unscripted. But they’d already gone far beyond the point of return. They’d have to see this through until the ending credits.
He’d make sure of it.
Her eyes fluttered open when he poked the side of her left cheek.
