“Nico,” Lucy breathes, and I’ll never get tired of hearing her say my name. “This is… magical.”
“It is,” I say, not adding the much more sentimental,but not just because of the stars.
We lay like that for a long time, Lucy and I, until I can’t stop myself from kissing her. The kissing turns to touching, my hands skating down her phenomenal dress, up over her thighs. I turn her on her stomach and kneel between her legs.
I palm her ass, squeezing, growling deep in my throat. I’ve always been a man who went mouth-first, and when I spreadher, I can’t stop myself from touching her there. The place I haven’t been able to stop thinking about since she said she wanted to take all three of us at once.
Then, parting her further, I bring my mouth to her.
Lucy gasps and stills, hands fisting in the blanket, her body tightening, tightening impossibly for me. I’ve done this before, on just a few occasions, but this is different. Feels different, especially with the promise of the three of us enjoying her together, later.
I love the sight and sound of her against my mouth. The reaction she has to my lapping and kissing.
“Ni-co,” she stutters, gasping, nearly crying out. Breathing hard, I pull back from her, laying my cheeks on the perfect globe of her ass and smiling into the dark.
“How was that?” I ask, and she laughs under me, something between a shaky breath and a chuckle.
“I don’t know if you could tell,” she sighs, “but I liked it.”
I hum against her skin, reach down and stroke myself, thinking I’d like to fuck her now. “I could tell.”
“Nico?”
“Yeah?”
“I don’t think I really want to be a narcissist, after that.”
I still haven’t stopped laughing when I slide inside her, feeling perfectly and contentedly at home.
Chapter 41
Cole
I’m thinking about the copper material imbuing process when I pick Lucy up from the airport. She looks relaxed—most likely from Dane’s date—and sun-kissed—most likely from Nico’s.
She stands at the edge of the terminal, holding her purse with both hands in front of her body. I saw the pictures from their time on the island, during which Lucy wore a white bikini and floral Dior dress, but now she’s back in New York City and wearing a thick wool coat.
Undoubtedly, the designer clothes, bag, and shoes are Dane’s doing, but she looks good in them. I’ve never really cared about clothes, which drives Nico and Dane nuts. They don’t understand why a man with so much money would choose to wear Marvel shirts and sweats from Target, jeans and a button-down with a simple jacket.
It’s what I’ve always known, what I grew up doing. Of course, I could hire some sort of stylist to remake me, but I like being me. That’s what the money really affords me, the chance to be myself.
And that—understanding the sweet freedom of being yourself—will give me the leg-up on the guys. Dane took Lucyshopping and out to eat because it’s how he enjoys spending his time, his money. Nico took her to the island and out on his boat because he can’t imagine a good date without sand between his toes.
But I’m not thinking about whatIwant. If this date was about me, it would be a trip to Comic Con or a science museum. Or, better yet, a whole day at home with Lucy, playing the new Resident Evil game together with a private chef there to whip up whatever snacks we want.
It was my first thought, but Claire’s voice in my head redirected me.
The date isn’t about me, as much as I’m sure Lucy would enjoy that. It would be another opportunity forherto knowme, and what I want now is to have a better glimpse into her.
“Cole,” Lucy says, slipping into the passenger seat and shutting the door hurriedly behind her. Christmas is in just a few days, and while it’s been flurrying here and there, the snow hasn’t stuck.
“Lucy,” I return, cocking my head and smiling at her. I don’t realize I’m doing it until she smiles back, leaning over the console and kissing me on the cheek. It’s quick, and her lips are cool from being outside, but it feels like more. The lingering press of her fingers on my shoulder travels through my ligaments, the sinew, imbuing me with a glimmering sense of warmth.
“I’ll be honest with you,” she says, arranging her coat around her legs as I pull away from the curb. “You’ve got some stiff competition.”
I glance at her as we turn out of the airport parking lot and toward our destination. A quick look at the clock tells me we’re still on pace to be on time. “You and I both know you’re never going to pick a clear winner.”
Lucy’s smile grows, “Oh, do we?”
