Chapter 14

“You look like you could use a friend. Or a few fingers of scotch.”

Nick turned from staring at a spot on the fireplace to JC, who walked into the living room carrying a giant bottle of Johnnie Walker. Nick smiled but put a finger over his mouth, signalling that Matty was asleep next to him on the couch.

JC nodded and turned to the mini-bar set up next to the fireplace. Nick carefully stood up, making sure he didn’t wake his sleeping son and walked over to join JC.

“None for me,” Nick said, as JC pulled out two empty glasses. “I’m banning alcohol from my system.”

JC laughed in disbelief. “Now that’s a first. What happened?”

Nick shook his head and pulled out a bottle of water from the mini-fridge. “Don’t ask.” Looking over at JC, Nick smiled, “You look like you had a good trip.”

“Oh it was a dirty dirty trip. In the very best way. You should’ve come.”

Nick gave his brother-in-law a wry look. “My Vegas party days are over, cuz. But you go represent for the rest of us.” Nick moved over to the sofa by the windows, keeping a close eye on the sleeping Matty. “You’re back early though.”

JC swirled the scotch in his glass and sat across from Nick. “It started to get boring. And besides, a little birdy told me Tasha’s in Baltimore for a few days. I thought I’d come back and keep you company.”

Nick gave him a long-suffering look. “Dude, you gotta stop with the matchmaking.”

“Then you gotta stop being a douchebag and tell her exactly why you’re avoiding her.”

“I’m not avoiding her.”

“You’re a crap liar, Nick.”

“I’m not lying!”

“She’s noticed, you know.”

Nick opened his mouth and then decided against it. Instead, he took a well-timed sip of his water.

“Is it Faith?”

Nick frowned. “What about Faith?”

“You hide behind your grief and your love of Faith that you don’t see anything else out there.”

Nick opened his mouth to defend himself but JC put a hand up.

“I’m not saying you’re not trying. You are. Your work with Tasha is proof of that. All I’m saying is stop pushing us away. We’re all family here, man. We love you. We want to help.”

It felt like hours but Nick spoke up. “There was a song.”

JC blanked. “What song?”

“A month ago, you and Tasha were playing a track in my studio. The night of the barbeque?”

JC nodded. “It was great, Nick. Tasha and I loved it.”

“I wrote it the day of Faith’s funeral.”

JC moved closer to Nick and waited for him to continue.

“I wanted to sing it before...” Nick stopped and cleared his throat. “But I couldn’t. So I recorded it. For myself, hoping the more I listen to it, the more I can get some courage and let go.”

Nick frowned. “Now, every time I hear it, I get angry. Every single time. It’s not just anger at her. It’s anger at myself, anger for Matty...”

Nick paused and took a breath.

“I want Tasha to sing it.”

JC blinked, caught off guard. “Say what now?”

“I want her to sing it. And you to produce it. I need it to get it out of that room and out of my head. It needs to live somewhere outside of myself, because if it stays here, one of these days, I’m going to smash every single thing I own because of it.”

Nick knew his face was red from trying so hard to control what he was feeling. JC frowned. “Are you sure you’re doing this for the right reasons?”

“What better reason is there than self-preservation?”

JC still looked hesitant. “Nick, that song is very personal. Maybe you should sing it, release it to the world. Who knows, maybe it’ll help you heal.”

“I can’t sing.”

“What? Of course you can.”

“I WON’T sing.”

“Nick...”

“Will you do it or not?” Nick’s tone became curt.

It was a staredown between the two men for a good minute before JC said, “Have you told Tasha?”

Nick shook his head.

“Are you planning to tell her or is that one more thing you want me to tell her?” JC asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I was going to talk to her when she’s back in LA. But I didn’t want to bring it up unless you sign on to do it too.”

JC seemed hesitant. “Can I get back to you then? I just...I want to give you a few days to think about it some more, Nick.”

Nick nodded. “We’ll talk about it again when Tasha’s here.”

“When is she coming back anyway?”

Before Nick could even answer, JC’s phone started ringing obscenely loud from his pocket. “Day after tomorrow.”

JC put his phone up to see who was calling and smiled. “Well, speak of the devil. One sec, bro.” He pressed Answer on his phone and said, “We were just talking about you, my sexy little muffin. How’s Baltimore?” He signalled to Nick that he was taking the call in the other room so he didn’t wake Matty.

Nick stood up and followed JC to the front foyer, to see if he can get a chance to speak to Tasha, even just for a little while. But the look on JC’s face made him stop short.

“Tash, calm down, what’s wrong?” JC motioned Nick to hurry forward. “Sweetheart, you need to breathe.”

Nick tried to listen from right next to JC’s ear but the reception from her was choppy at best.

JC pressed the speaker button and suddenly Tasha’s broken tear-filled voice filled the room.

“...Daddy...NICU...seizure...I don’t---”

Nick snatched the phone from JC and pressed the Speaker button again and pressed his ear against the phone.

“Tash, it’s Nick. What happened?”

“Daddy had a seizure, Nick. He’s going to NICU...I don’t...I don’t know what to do.”

Nick’s breath caught in his throat as he tried not to panic for her. “Is he okay? Are they operating? Where are they now?”

“They’re taking him now. We were just watching TV, Nick. Oh my God, we were just watching TV.”

Nick lowered his voice to a more soothing tone. “Baby, sit down, please, and take a deep breath. Your dad needs you to be calm, okay?”

“I don’t... I can’t lose him, Nick. He’s all I have. I can’t lose him.”

“And you won’t, just…baby, please just breathe in for me.”

He heard her not so steady intake of breath and closed his eyes. “That’s my girl.”

Nick waited until her breathing calmed somewhat. “Where are you now?”

“Out..outside intensive care. They’re trying to stabilize him and...fuck.”

Nick straightened. “What is it?”

“I feel so helpless.”

Her voice sounded so small, so scared. “I know, sweetheart. But your dad, he has the best doctors in the country. They’ll make sure he’s okay.”

“But what if he’s not okay?”

“Then he will be, just let them do what they need to do. It’ll take time, Tash.”

She was quiet for a few minutes, with the sound of her ragged breathing the only indication she was still with him. JC stood a few feet away from him, waiting and watching Nick’s face carefully.

She whispered something so softly he almost didn’t hear it.

“I wish you were here, Nick.”

Those words felt like someone punched him in the gut. “I wish I was there too.”

“Thanks for talking me down.”

“Anytime.” Nick ran a hand through his hair. “What’s going on now? Any changes?”

Hearing voices in the background, Nick assumed someone had decided to keep Tasha company.

“What’s happening, Tash?” Nick asked, getting anxious.

“Is she still there?” JC looked almost as worried as Nick felt.

“She’s talking to someone, I think and---”

“Nick?” Her voice was starting to get mixed up in static again.

“I’m here,” he said, “Was that the doctor?”

“No but it was the nurse saying Dad’s been stabilized. The doctor wants to talk to me. I’ll call you guys back.”

“Okay, but---”

And it was dead air.

********

Tasha was exhausted and running on caffeine. It was two AM and she had been in the OR waiting room, wondering what the doctors were doing with her dad for four hours.

It had been an emotional roller coaster since Dad had his seizure earlier that evening. His doctors said it was a very strong reaction to his new drug regimen and they needed to stabilize him to, first, get the drug out of his system, and second, do an EEG and a brain scan to see how it affected his brain function.

It took a torturous three hours but the doctors finally agreed that based on what they found, severe seizures were going to continue if they didn’t go in and drain the excess fluid from the tumor.

On a positive note, the doctor said, since her dad had started being a part of their program, his tumor not only stopped growing, but showed positive signs of reducing in size. That meant all the time spent in gene therapy and all the medication was actually working.

Tasha didn’t know what to feel. After authorizing the surgery over four hours ago, she hadn’t heard anything or seen anyone come out of the room. Everyone had assured her that it was a simple procedure, as far as brain surgery goes, so she shouldn’t worry.

But there she was, staring blankly at the vending machine, knowing she should eat something yet immobilized by her panicked thoughts.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket and gratefully, she answered it, wanting more than anything to be distracted from her worrying.

“I am so glad you called. You just saved me from choosing between Doritos and a two-year-old Nutrigrain bar.”

Nick’s laugh was deep and throaty, like he had just woken up. “I would’ve thought the culinary options at a place like Johns Hopkins would be a little bit more highbrow.”

“Trust me, this is as good as it gets.”

He laughed. “How’re you holding up?”

She leaned against the vending machine and kept her eyes peeled to the closed OR door. “I’ve been better. But much improved from my panic attack earlier.”

“You are starting to sound like your normally abnormal self.”

Tasha had to smile. “You like me a little crazy, admit it.”

“I like you, crazy or not. But preferably crazy. Any news from the OR?”

After that first phone call, Tasha had made it a point to send updates to Nick and JC via text so they knew what was going on. “Nothing yet but I’m hopeful. Trying to stay hopeful.”

“You’re stronger than you realize, Tash.”

She slid down to the floor and sighed as she wrapped her arm around her knees. “I don’t know, Nick. All that time in California’s made me a crybaby.”

“Really? Blaming California? That’s low,” he chuckled. “If I were you, I’d blame Baltimore before I give California any grief.”

She smiled. “Watch it, blondie. This is my hometown.”

Tasha felt the warmth of Nick’s smile even over the phone. “Nick?”

“Yes, Tash?”

“I’m not sure if this is a no-no in your manager/talent relationship rulebook, but right now, I miss your hugs.”

It took him torturous seconds to respond. “I miss your hugs too, Tash.”

“It’s like they magically take away all the worry, and tell me everything’s okay.” Her eyes started welling up again in spite of her pushing the tears down. “Dammit, this hospital food is making me into a cheeseball.”

Nick’s laugh was low. “Stand up, Tash.”

Tasha, surprised at his last statement, looked up around the room littered with other people waiting for their loved ones. “How did you know I was sitting down?”

Softly he answered, “Because I’m right behind you.”

Faster than she’d ever moved, Tasha stood up and turned. Sure enough, Nick was right there, leaning by the door frame, dropping his phone in his jacket pocket. He kept his gaze right on her though, giving her a slow half-smile.

Tasha forgot to breathe all over again. Was she dreaming? She can’t be dreaming. He flew all the way here? For her?

All her questions were forgotten as soon as Nick’s arms opened. The next thing she knew, she was flying into them.

********

It was the look of pure joy on Tasha’s face that knocked the breath out of Nick even before she ran into his arms.

With her eyes red from crying and her hair in disarray, she had never looked more beautiful to him. And now, even as he held her tight, he couldn’t even think of letting her go. Ever.

It took a few seconds but he felt her tears against his shirt and realized she started crying again. “Oh baby, it’s okay, I’m here,” he said softly as his hands ran soothingly up and down her back.

He pulled back and touched her face to make sure she was okay.

Tasha was frantically wiping the tears coursing down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, I just...damn it, I’m like a leaky faucet.”

Nick smiled as he cupped her face with his hands and wiped her tears gently. “You’re perfect.”

She stared straight into his eyes and he remembered thinking why he never realized she had green flecks around her deep brown irises.

Her hand touched his shirt tentatively. “I just ruined your shirt.”

He looked down and shrugged. “It’s just a shirt.” Nick pulled her to him again.

So they stood there, in each other’s arms as Tasha tried to get some control over her emotions and Nick...well, Nick was trying to ignore the overwhelming urge to kiss her.

It seemed like hours before either of them started to talk. Or move.

Tasha said something to him softly. Nick stifled a smile as her words were muffled from the fabric of his shirt. “I’m sorry, what did you say? I can’t hear you over all your gross girl snot.”

She pushed him away in mock annoyance, laughing in spite of herself. “You’re gross girl snot. Also, why do you smell like tacos?”

Nick gave a surprised laugh. “Do I? Oh wait, I had some in the cab on the way here.” He couldn’t help but look sheepish. “It was a long flight. I got some veggie quesadillas for you though. Are you hungry?”

“Starving.”

He let go of her to grab the paper bag he dropped on the floor. “Come on, you sit, I’ll feed you,” he said, pulling her to a nearby vacant couch. She followed, her hand entwined with his.

She pulled on his hand before they sat down. “Nick?”

Turning, he said, “Yes, T--”

It was quick, but he felt her lips on his for a fleeting moment, full of softness and emotion.

He tried not to look as surprised as he felt but it was impossible to ignore the tingling on his lips.

“Thank you. For coming down. I’m not sure how long I would’ve lasted before I completely became a puddle of uselessness.” She smiled, her eyes still tear-filled. “I’m glad you’re here.”

He tightened his hold on her hand. “So am I.”

********

“Matty, are you thirsty? How about a Bloody Mary? Or a whiskey sour?” JC called out to the toddler in the next room as he prepared himself a drink to take with breakfast.

“No, no blood Matty. Yuck. Orange juice,” Matty called out, riveted by the animated movie playing before him. “And pa cor.”

“Did you say popcorn, dude?” JC called out, leaning back to look at his nephew from the fridge. “I don’t think you can have popcorn for breakfast.”

“Yes pa cor Matty,” he nodded to his uncle, his hair a veritable afro of morning bedhead. “Daddy say yes.”

JC’s eyes narrowed. “You little con man. Your dad would never say yes to popcorn for breakfast.”

Matty put his hands over his mouth and giggled. “I know. You funny Unca C.”

JC couldn’t help but laugh. As exhausting as it was to babysit a crazy two-year-old, especially one that had Carter genes in him, some days Matty just reminded him so much of his baby sister, it was hard to not smile around him.

“What’s so funny?” Leigh asked as she walked into the kitchen.

“Matty. I’ve just decided he has enough of Nick’s sense of humor and Faith’s charm that he’s about the funniest dude I’ve met in a while.”

Leigh shook her head. “JC, it’s all Faith. Have you heard Nick’s jokes? He’s lucky he’s blonde. And easy on the eyes.”

JC grinned and leaned over to give Leigh a kiss on the cheek. “Can I get you a drink? I was just grabbing Matty and myself some OJ.”

Leigh shook her head. “No, but thanks. I have to get to the office. Where’s Damon? Hey Matty!”

“Leigh Leigh! I watch Nemo!” the little boy called from the other room.

“Okay buddy. I’m going to stay here with your uncle, okay?” Leigh said, peeking into the living room. “Nice ‘fro, Matty.”

Matty smiled at her distractedly. “I cool.”

“I gave Damon the day off,” JC told Leigh as she settled on the barstool across from him. “I was home anyway.”

“Hear anything from Baltimore yet?”

JC shook his head. Aside from the one message from Nick early in the morning telling him that the surgery went well and they were just waiting for Tasha’s dad to wake up, he had no other news. “As far as I know, Tasha’s dad is stable. Nick said he’ll call once her dad wakes up. So far, things are looking up though.”

“Good, good.” Leigh said, looking at JC with a knowing grin. “So. Nick and Tasha, huh?”

JC groaned and dropped his head on the table. “Dammit. I knew there was a reason I don’t like making bets with you.”

Leigh opened her hand and told JC, “Pay up, old man.”

“The battle’s not over yet, Leigh. Nick’s fighting it. I can still win.”

“Come on. Who travels six hours--on a private chartered plane no less--to Baltimore for someone they’ve only known for, what, a month? Please, JC.”

“You’re too cocky for a pregnant lady. You’re lucky we’re friends.” JC grumbled as he pulled a twenty-dollar bill from his wallet and dropped it on her outstretched hand. “Remind me again why we made that bet?”

“Because you didn’t think that Nick would break his own rules and fall in love. And because I think he would, if the right person came along.”

“We don’t know if this is love though. It may just be...you know...the horny one eyed monster in his pants.”

Leigh raised an eyebrow. “You want to bet on that?”

“Jesus, no, stop trying to take my money,” JC scoffed. “I did help you win this one though. Flirting with Tash, making Nick jealous...you know.” He gave her an exaggerated wink.

“Psh. Amateur,” she told him with a smile. “Nick wasn’t jealous. I don’t think he realizes what’s happening yet.”

“Then technically you haven’t won the bet yet.”

“Jace, there’s a difference between wanting to be the good guy, like Nick is on a regular basis, and wanting to be someone’s hero.” Leigh explained. “If he wanted to be a good guy, he would check in on Tasha every few hours, to make sure she was okay. But he flew to Baltimore, chartered his own plane, just so he could be there with her and hold her hand. If that’s not a hero, I don’t know what is.”

JC gave Leigh an amused look. “They’re not going to fall in love just because he’s a hero, Leigh.”

“No, but they will fall in love once Nick realizes she’s saving him as well.”

**********

Tasha let the rush of hot water crash over her overtired body and was certain that this was the first time in her life that she’d thoroughly appreciated a hot shower. Being in the hospital until 5 AM, tense and worried about her father did nothing for her nerves. Thank goodness for Nick and his presence.

She had been waiting with Nick for a few hours before her dad’s doctor came out and assured them that the surgery went well and not only was the source of his seizures fixed, there was also proof that his tumor was shrinking at a healthy pace. When he recovers and wakes up from the surgery, his doctor would talk to all of them about further treatment options.

They were ushered out of the hospital soon after that, though. The NICU had limited visiting hours and her dad was to stay there in recovery for at least a few days. He’d had major brain surgery after all.

“You both need to rest,” Rose, her dad’s nurse, told them, as she led them to the elevators. “Jeff will be sedated until the swelling from his surgery lessens and then he should wake up. Even then, the NICU is closed to visitors until 2 PM. You can return then.”

“You will call me if he wakes up before then, won’t you, Rose?’ Tasha pressed the older woman before the elevator doors closed.

“Of course, dear. Now you and your boyfriend go get sleep so you can come in refreshed later this afternoon.”

Surprised, Tasha shook her head. “Oh, but Nick isn’t my b--” The elevator doors closing cut off her statement. She felt her face turn red in embarrassment. “--oyfriend.”

To his credit, Nick didn’t make a big deal out of it. He looked at her, smiled and gave her the barest hint of a wink.

They got to the hotel after a five minute walk. When she arrived in Baltimore a few days before, she decided to cancel the original reservation at the Ritz Carlton and checked in at the nearby Best Western, which Nick grumbled about all five minutes of the walk over from the hospital.

She left him at the front desk to get his own room and went straight for the shower. It was by far the best decision she’d made in the last few days.

She still couldn’t get over the fact that Nick was here, in Baltimore, with her. After that morning waking up at the beach house patio, with his hand on her bare breast and another cupping her behind, she was certain he was going to stay far away from her.

Today, he not only surprised her by flying to be with her on what was quite possibly the most exhausting night of her life, but he also calmed her down, made her laugh and touched her enough to make her feel like she wasn’t alone.

And all in a span of three hours.

She frowned as she rinsed the soap from her body. She didn’t want to overthink this whole Nick thing but it was just so easy to depend on him, to rely on him to make things better. She was starting to forget that she’d been thoroughly happy independent, making her own decisions, relying on herself for everything.

But now, here he was, a pillar of support and friendship and if she wasn’t careful, she was going to expect so much more.

She turned off the shower and grabbed the towel to dry off quickly. She wanted to talk to Nick before he passed out in his hotel room and tell him she didn’t need him to be here. At least not for long. Matty should be missing him and he must have a million things he needed to take care of...and where was her underwear?

Wrapping one towel on her head to keep the wet hair at bay, she wrapped herself with another, remembering that she’d left her bag of toiletries and underwear on the bed.

The TV was blaring the early morning news as she walked into the room. Funny, she didn’t remember turning it on before taking her shower.

“Please, for the love of God, don’t accidentally drop your towel.”

She whipped her head to the other end of the room where she’d heard Nick’s voice. He had quite comically covered his eyes with both hands and was sitting at the edge of the untouched bed close to the window.

Tasha would’ve laughed if she wasn’t so self-conscious. “What the hell--Nick!”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I thought you heard me come in, they didn’t have any rooms so I came to tell you but your door was open and I just waited until you were done...”

She clutched the towel around her body and grabbed her clothes and toiletries. “Wait hang on, I’ll put some clothes on.”

She was already smiling by the time she ducked back into the bathroom. Nick, the consummate professional and one time groupie magnet, was afraid of a half-naked woman. Her.

She emerged after a few minutes, her hair brushed, her pajamas securely on and her tank top covering everything that needed to be covered.

“Can I open my eyes now?”

Tasha had to laugh at that. “Yes, Nicky.”

He saw her amused look and smiled. “You know you shouldn’t leave your door open like that.”

“And you know better than come into a girl’s room uninvited.”

Nick sighed. “But...but....your eyes, they were so inviting, babe.”

For a second, she thought he was serious, then she saw the teasing glint in his eyes. “Did that line ever work on anyone, Carter?”

Nick’s smile was slow and teasing. “I’m out of practice, Tash. Give me some credit for trying.”

She walked over to him and plopped down next to him on the bed. “Did the concierge say no rooms?”

“No rooms, not even their honeymoon suite.” Nick turned to her incredulously. “I didn’t even think this place had a honeymoon suite.”

“Don’t be a snob, Nick. These are perfectly good accommodations for four days.”

“But the Ritz, they have a TV in the bathroom. Who doesn’t want a TV in the bathroom?”

Her shoulders gently pushed his. “Nobody really cares if you have a TV in the bathroom, Nick,” she said dryly. “You former popstars have a really skewed view of reality.”

Nick laughed and put an arm around her shoulders companionably, tiredly. “You smell good.”

“You need some sleep.” She touched his face, her fingers feeling the scruff of his five-o’clock shadow. “Just stay here. There’s two beds, no need to find a hotel at this hour.”

 Nick leaned back and turned his attention to the TV. “That’s probably not a good idea.”

“Because you snore?”

“Like a donkey in heat.”

A snort escaped her lips before she could stop herself. Nick looked at her and at the same exact moment, they both cracked up, laughing for so long, Tasha had to clutch her stomach because it hurt from all the giggling.

“That was sexy,” Nick said with a wink and dropped a kiss on her head. It was a good feeling, relaxing with Nick and the fact that they could enjoy companionable silence together, even as they watch the early morning Baltimore news.

“How…uh, how long are you planning on staying? Not that I want you to go or anything.” She didn’t dare look at him in case her eyes gave away anything she didn’t want to.

“I’m here as long as you need me, Tash.”

Such an irresistible offer. “That’s the thing,” she said, “What about Matty? And all the things you’re busy with in Malibu?”

His brows furrowed. “What about them?”

Her hand touched his leg in reassurance. “I love that you’re here, Nick, I do. But I’m feeling guilty about taking you away from all that.”

“Tash---”

“Why are you here? With me?”

The question seemed to catch Nick by surprise. Pulling his arm off her shoulders, he looked like he was about to walk off. Instead he took a minute, looked at Tasha patiently waiting for an answer and ran his hands through his hair multiple times.

“I don’t know.” He locked his deep blue eyes with her brown ones. “We talked, you sounded like you needed someone, and I hopped on a plane to be with you. To help.”

She nodded. To help. Tasha pulled her knees closer to her chest and hugged them with both hands, a part of her trying to protect herself from him and the feelings he seemed to always stir in her when he was around.

“Thank you, Nick.” She looked at him, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. “I can’t even tell you how much you being here makes everything better. But you’re already helping me with my career. You helping me with my personal life, I’m afraid...”

Nick frowned when he saw her avoiding his eyes. “Afraid of what, Tash?”

“I’m afraid I’m going to start relying on you and when this is over...” She looked up at him and said bluntly, “You’re going to break my heart.”

Nick looked taken aback at the last statement.

“Nick, I’ve been alone and on my own for five years. I can take care of myself and my father. But no one’s been there for me in a while and I can’t...” She paused and swallowed. “I can’t risk getting too used to it. It’s one thing to rescue me from the bowels of jazz lounge singing...but this...you, here. I don’t know what this is. We’re friends, I know, but you hold me like I’m more than that, you talk to me like I mean something to you. Do I?”

 “I don’t know,” Nick answered helplessly. “I just...I wanted to be here for you. With you.” He looked away and stood up, just to give them some distance. “Don’t make me overthink this, Tash. We’re friends, we shouldn’t have to explain why we do the things we do for each other.”

“Then why were you avoiding me? Before we ran into each other on your patio the other night, you didn’t even want to be in a room with me alone.”

Nick shook his head. “That’s not true.”

“It’s true and you know it. And it started that night in the studio. You didn’t even show up at the Ellen Show the next day. What am I supposed to think?”

“Jesus, Tasha. I don’t want to talk about this.” His hands rested on his waist in frustration. “What do you want from me? Do you want me to leave? I can leave right now.”

“No!” Tasha sat up on the bed and touched his arm. “I just want you to understand, Nick. This thing? You being here? It feels so good it scares me. And if this is you being a good manager, I want you to tell me now so I don’t feed this infatuation I have for you any more than I have to.”

Nick looked at her in silence as he absorbed her words.

It was a full minute before Tasha decided to just abandon the conversation altogether. “Okay, you know what? I’m overly emotional and probably just need some rest.” She started to get off the bed and stand next to Nick. “The bed’s all yours. Actually, the room’s all yours. I’m going for a walk.”

As she turned to head to the door, Nick caught her hand and pulled her to him. Tasha turned with a frown and said, “Don’t worry I’m not--”

“Shut up.” He said the words low in his throat before he grabbed the back of her head and lowered his mouth to hers.

Tasha’s first instinct was to push him away. She did. She tried. But the rough feel of his lips against hers and the overwhelming sensation of his fingers buried in her hair, keeping her in place, felt like an electric charge to her whole body.

He devoured her mouth like he’d been hungry for the taste of her for years. He’d coaxed her lips open and she complied, the feel of his tongue too good of a temptation to resist. Her hands moved from his chest to around his neck and her fingers through his hair, pulling him closer. She needed him closer.

Her knees were weak by the time they broke apart, breathless, so his arm went around her waist to steady her.

“I can’t stay away, baby. I tried,” he breathed against her ear. “Jesus, I tried.”

Tasha pulled his head down and captured his bottom lip and lightly nipped. He took in a sudden breath and tightened his hold on her, raising her up so she could wrap her legs around his waist.

She was getting lost in the feel of him, of the way shots of heat came over her every time his tongue flicked hers, every time his hand touched her skin, every time they rocked closer to each other.

“So sweet,” he murmured against her neck, his breathing laboured, kissing the skin over her throbbing pulse, not wanting to let go.

“Don’t stop,” she breathed, her eyes closed, turning her head and almost lost her mind as soon as she felt his tongue playfully, hotly, tracing the shape of her ear.

Her legs tightened around his hips when her hands started working on the buttons of his shirt. His fingers lifted her tank top so he could feel the softness of her skin and locked his lips with hers again.

She didn’t really know how long they kissed--a minute or an hour, but soon his hands made its way down to her bottom, cupping it and raising it so it slid against his erection.

How she landed with her back on the bed and Nick above her, she didn’t know. She didn’t really care. No thinking, just feeling. And everything felt so good.

Nick lifted his head to look at her, his eyes intensely focused on the blush on her cheeks and her bruised mouth. He ravaged that mouth, and he looked like he wanted to do so much more.

“Shirt. Off,” she demanded, pushing the fabric off his shoulders. Her hands landed on his chest, exploring the tight muscles.

“Yes ma’am,” he answered huskily, tossing his shirt aside and proceeded to lift her tank top off her as well. “Your turn, baby.”

She complied, her eyes closed against the feel of his hands suddenly on her breasts, at first caressing, then playfully pinching her nipples. That combined with his mouth practically eating hers up, she was so much closer to losing her mind than she thought.

He wasn’t gentle. His hot touch made her think he was angry and unbelievably impatient. As he practically tore her pajama bottoms off her, he captured her nipple in his mouth. His hands were everywhere, touching her inner thigh, smoothing the hot flesh on her belly.

“We should stop,” Nick breathed against her mouth before biting into her lower lip, his knuckles grazing the edge of her panties.

Her hips rose against his hand. “We should?” she asked after stifling a moan.

His knuckles moved over underwear, applying gentle pressure on her. Her hips rose again. “Now. Before I--”

Her hand closed on the throbbing erection inside his pants.

He covered her hand with his own quickly, closing his eyes against the sensation. “Tasha...”

“Just kiss me, Nick.”

Murmuring a low curse, he obliged and took her mouth for another searing kiss.

And it was a long time before either of them stopped.