We managed to get all the prep work done for the night, and by the afternoon, I was really missing Nick. Spending an entire day with him had spoiled me. I needed to keep my eyes on the prize. Nick designing my building, New York the week after Thanksgiving, and spoiling him as often as I could.
Stella and I reworked our schedules to correlate mine with his. Alejandro tried to give his bartenders a set schedule so they could have the same days off every week. Nick and Ben alternated the two slowest nights during the week, and tonight was Ben’s night to cover the bar.
The Monday before Thanksgiving, we’d finally worked out a night for Nick to come over to my apartment. I told him to pack a bag just in case he wanted to stay. If he needed to work on his classwork, I had no problem with that as long as we were together.
I was also hoping he was ready to move our relationship along. As much as I loved kissing him, I craved more. My dick was an iron post these days, and I couldn’t jerk off enough in the shower to sate Winchester.
Yes, I gave my dick a name. I called him Winchester because he was long, well-constructed, and ready for repeated action. Sometimes I had too much time on my hands.
Moving to Portland had been an easy decision, and I fell in love immediately with my tenth-floor apartment I’d purchased from a Portland Pirate who’d been traded. The three-bed, three-bath place was located along the waterfront and provided a stunning view of the Willamette River. I’d loved it so much the first time I saw it, I made a cash offer on the spot. He needed to sell, and I needed to buy, so it worked out.
I walked around and turned the lighting down low so the colorful lights from the bridges became an artistic backdrop. Candles flickered throughout the kitchen, family room, and my bedroom. I’d even lit a few in my bathroom in case Nick wanted to relax in the huge, oversized soaking tub. At six-foot-four, I could appreciate the extra legroom in the tub, not to mention it was big enough for two.
Nick was due in about fifteen minutes, so I turned on some old-school R&B love songs that played over the sound system all throughout the apartment.I hummed along to some Luther Vandross as I checked on the lasagna bubbling in the oven.
Two wine glasses sat on the island along with a bottle of red I knew he liked. After removing the cork, I left it to breathe, then put the homemade bread with olive oil and spices into the oven to warm.
Surveying the kitchen, I ventured back into the family room. A rainy, mid-November night was the perfect time to use the gas fireplace. I could see us tangled up on my oversized leather sectional sofa, kissing while our hands roamed and clothes came off. I wanted my mouth and hands all over his body, because I was beyond ready to move us along. But I’d promised to go at his pace, so I could only hope.
At six-thirty, the doorbell rang, elevating my pulse. I ran my hands through my hair and glanced at myself in the foyer mirror before opening the door. Nick had his back to me, looking at the intricate design of the hallway just like I’d known he would. When he turned around to find me leaning against the door frame with my arms crossed over my chest, his eyes made a quick sweep from head to toe.
I straightened and tucked my fingers into the neck of his shirt to pull him to me. “I’ve missed you,” I murmured into his hair that smelled like coconut.
“I’ve missed you, too,” he said, shifting for a sensual kiss.
Every time our lips came together, the world slipped away. The bag he held in his hands dropped to the floor as he leaned into our embrace. My hands roamed his back and slipped lower to his ass as I savored the feel of his mouth on mine.
The beeping from the oven interrupted the moment, making us both groan in displeasure. Even though we were yet to say it, love wasn’t a strong enough word for the bond I felt with him.
“If I don’t take the food out, it’s gonna burn.”
Nick chuckled as I shut the door and took his hand to lead him to the kitchen.
“I hope you’re hungry.”
“Famished. Haven’t eaten since breakfast.”
I let go long enough to turn off the timer and open the oven. “Why? Were you that busy today?”
Nick put his bag on the floor and took off his jacket. He draped it over the chair as he told me about his day.
“Yeah. I had class until one, then fell down a rabbit hole looking for inspiration for the restaurant. My professor stopped by and I told her what we’d discussed. Her eyes lit up when I told her the premise. She also said she knew the perfect mentor for me, and she was going to give him a call.”
I smiled. “Did she like it?” I pulled the lasagna out and placed it on the chopping block to cool.
“Yep, she loved it. Then she told me about some places in town that we might want to check out.”
“That would be great!” I said, watching as he came over to look at the lasagna.
“That smells amazing.” His stomach growled on demand, making us laugh.
“I guess your stomach agrees.” I poured us each a glass of wine and handed one to Nick. He took a sip, never breaking eye contact, before he put it down.
His blue eyes sparkled in the low light, and I craved to take him right here on the counter. “I’d love to see your place. Give me a tour?”
He ran his hand down my arm to my free hand. I put my glass next to his and nodded. “Follow me.”
As I walked him through the apartment, Nick studied every wall and art installation, along with the size of the rooms, and the view each one had of the city. When we walked into my bedroom, I stopped and let him wander around. He trailed his fingertips over the dark furniture and gazed at the big four-poster bed. He looked at me over his shoulder.
