It was the persistent buzzing near her ear that woke her from deep sleep. Trying to stay cocooned under the covers, her hand shot out and tried to find the source of the noise.
“‘Lo?” Tasha said sleepily as she pressed her phone’s screen and answered the call. What time was it and why was anyone calling her at this hour?
She heard the giggling first. “Good morning to you too, sunshine. You’re running late for our yoga date. Also, why is it so dark?”
Another voice chimed in, “Do you think she knows we’re on Facetime?”
Tasha’s eyes opened suddenly. “Oh shit.” Scrambling from under the covers, Tasha brushed hair off her face and frantically tried to cancel the video call.
“Ah ah! Don’t you dare! Friends don’t hang up on friends on Facetime. It makes us think you’ve got something to hide.” Tasha saw Leigh’s smiling face.
Tasha frowned and narrowed her eyes. “You’re a bitch.”
Leigh tossed her head back and laughed. “But I’m your favourite bitch.”
Rochelle’s dark hair showed up on the side of the screen. “Hey. Nobody told me we were doing nicknames!”
Tasha practically squealed in surprise. “Ro ro! Baby girl, I’ve missed you!”
“That’s because nobody invites me when fun stuff starts happening. Like sex tapes and shit.” Her mock frown made Tasha laugh. “And what’s this I hear about you and the Gos?”
Tasha grinned. “Oh you heard that?” Under the sheet, she felt a hand tighten on her hip. She jumped, almost dropping the phone. “Ah!”
Nick’s playful grin greeted her as he emerged from under the covers, kicking the duvet off both of them. Her heart started racing at the look of pure evil in his eyes.
Dropping her phone onto her shoulder, she mouthed “Go, I’m on the phone,” and slapped his hand lightly off her hip.
He shook his head, his hair standing on end and gave her a devilish grin.
“Hey, what happened? Where’d you go?” Leigh’s voice came muffled through the covered phone speaker.
Tasha frowned at him to make sure he knew she was serious, but with a few light kisses on her abdomen, she was already feeling the growing heat between her legs.
“Guys, can I call you back?” she said distractedly as she looked back into her phone. “There’s, uh, something crawling on my bed.”
“Oh. Eww.” Leigh made a face. “Wait, before you go, Ro and I have good news!”
She gave Nick a quick glance and saw that he was slowly making his way to her on all fours, with eyes decidedly wicked. She gave him a warning glance and promptly wiggled away from him, inadvertently kicking him on the shin.
He exclaimed “Oof” before she could cover his mouth with her free hand.
“What’s, uh,” she said back on the phone, trying her best not to look ruffled by Nick’s teasing. “What’s the good news?”
“So you know we’ve been trying to get a few designers to sponsor your tour wardrobe, right?”
She felt Nick’s tongue on the palm of her hand, gently licking, as his own hands pulled her closer to him. “Y-yes?”
Rochelle looked at her curiously. “Are you sure you’re okay? You look a bit flushed. Did you sleep?”
“No, but I’m fine.” She felt Nick’s hands spread her legs open and bit back a whimper. “News?”
“So this beautiful beautiful soul here---take a bow, Ro--didn’t tell me that she talked to the designers behind The Blonds, and they’re so so excited to give you couture for your tour.”
She gasped, not quite sure if it was from Leigh’s news or Nick’s hand caressing her between her legs.
“Oh my god.”
Nick pulled her hand away from his mouth and laved her finger with his tongue slowly...and she was sure she grew ten shades redder.
“Right?” Leigh said excitedly. “So The Blonds have a showroom they’re opening in Beverly Hills and they’ve invited you to try on some clothes...today, darling. So you need to get ready. Ro and I are picking you up in 15 minutes.”
She shuddered as Nick let go of her hand and his mouth latched onto her left breast. “Thirty. Pick me up in thirty.”
“Okay, but aren’t you---” She didn’t hear the rest of Leigh’s statement because she cut the call and dropped her phone next to her.
“Nick,” she breathed, as she dragged her fingers through his hair.
He looked up at her with searing eyes as his teeth closed in on her nipple, twisted then let go.
“Good morning, baby,” he murmured against her ear he moved up and pulled her closer.
“I was on the phone, Nick,” she said, trying to sound stern as he took a tight hold on her hips and turned them both over, so his back was on the bed and she was on top, straddling him.
“I know,” he said with a smile as he sat up and touched the hair that rested by her shoulder. “And how ARE the girls doing?”
“They’re coming by to pick me up in half an hour,” she said, her expression softening at Nick’s gentle touch.
He grabbed her hips and pulled her closer to him. “That’s plenty of time for some morning happy, don’t you think?” he said, wiggling his eyebrows, clearly playful.
Her eyes shone bright with laughter. “You’re insatiable, my love.”
He spanned her cheeks with his thumbs. “Tell me again, Tash.”
“Tell you what?”
“That you love me.”
Her heart started pounding a staccato rhythm as her eyes connected with his and memories of everything that happened last night came back to her.
She’d probably been too impulsive to confess her feelings for him so soon, but she was tired of keeping him away, and after everything that happened, and everything that JC had told her, she needed him to know she was there for him, in every way possible.
She lowered her head and kissed his lips softly. “I love you, Nick.”
“Again.”
Tasha smiled and dropped kisses all over his face. “I love you, love you, love you, love you.”
She felt his hands tighten on the sides of her face as he pulled her straight to his lips for a long erotic open mouthed kiss.
When they broke apart, both of them breathing heavily, Tasha said it again. “I love you, Nick. But you need to go.”
He frowned comically. “Excuse me?”
“I mean, I need to shower and get ready and you need to get to work on...whatever you do in that office all day. What DO you do?”
“Hey. I work. I make calls. Send emails,” he grumbled as she started to move off him. He grabbed her hand before she got off the bed completely. “Need company in the shower? I’ve been told I’m really good at scrubbing girls’ fronts.” Again with the wiggling eyebrows. How can anyone resist this guy?
Tasha dropped another kiss on his lips but crawled away before he could catch her. “Nu uh, the last time you were in the shower with me, we ran late.” She shrugged on her robe as soon as she stood up and tied it closed. “Come on, Nicky, get your sexy tush out of bed and out of the room before you distract me even more.”
As she walked to the bathroom, he jumped out of the bed and captured her waist. She yelped and felt her back crash against his chest.
“Baby, how about you reschedule with the girls and spend the day with me,” he said against her ear. “Let me take you out on the boat for the day, just the two of us. Or maybe go up the coast to Santa Barbara and just...you know, spend some time together.” His hands untied the bow that kept her robe together.
“Nick, I can’t, I’m sorry. It’s for the tour.”
“Okay, how about I go with you girls then?”
She caught a glint of something shiny on his hand from the sun and turned around to face him. “Nick. No. I don’t think we should be seen in public together. I mean TOGETHER together.”
He frowned. “Why the hell not?”
She raised his left hand and showed him exactly why. “You still have your wedding ring on, Nick. I don’t really mind or care when we’re alone together, but in public...I don’t want to be that girl.”
“What girl?”
She really didn’t want to say it. “The homewrecker. People see that ring and it’s just going to get crazy all over again. People make assumptions, and ask questions later. After this whole sex tape fiasco and Belinda and Johnny...the last thing I need to flaunt is that we’re...” She waved her hand nonchalantly, “whatever this is.”
“Tasha.” He said her name with absolute care. “You know I...care about you.”
She gave him a slight smile. “I do, but until we figure out what this is, is it so bad that we keep it our little secret?”
He stared at her for a good minute, debating internally with himself. She touched his face and gave him a kiss of reassurance. “I just don’t want to pressure you, Nick. Not when things are going well for us. Okay?”
Reluctantly, he nodded. “So I guess that means I can’t kiss you outside this room?”
She nodded. “But you can kiss me, hold me, and do whatever you like with me while we’re here. In fact, I already have something interesting planned for tonight,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “That is, if you come around and check up on me again.”
With that, he squeezed her butt cheeks in excitement. “You bet your sweet tushy I will.”
She laughed and started walking him to the direction of the door. “Your tushy isn’t half bad either, Carter.”
“Are you sure about the shower? Because my hands are really really good.”
Were they ever. “I’m sure. Now you go and do your thing. I promise what I plan tonight will be worth it...” she said, her eyes full of promise as she opened the bedroom door and urged him out.
“You could still change your mind, baby.”
She smiled, “I won’t.” She gave him a quick kiss and closed the door behind her.
But not before he said, “Wait, I need my...”
********
“...Pants.” Wow. That really happened, didn’t it? Waking up with Tasha next to him and now, minutes later, he was standing, buck naked, in a cold hallway.
Suddenly flashes of the night before played in his mind: her admission of love, the way she felt in his arms, her responsiveness...and Jesus, the sounds she made.
Then he heard the giggling.
“Daddy wee wee.”
Nick closed his eyes and leaned his head against the door. Great. Just what he needed.
“Yeah, what your kid said,” Damon’s low voice shook with laughter. “Also, your white ass is glow in the dark from where we’re standing.”
Carefully covering his family jewels, he turned and gave both of them a look of warning. “Just because of that, you’re on Tasha duty today, D.”
“Good. You need to catch up on some sleep. Because I’ve been telling you for years, bro, the walls need soundproofing.”
If Matty wasn’t there, he would’ve given Damon a few choice four letter words. But he stopped himself because one, he needed pants to get in the verbal sparring mood with Damon, and two, the older man’s teasing wasn’t going to ruin his good mood.
“I’m going to shower. You two go get some breakfast, I’ll meet you downstairs.”
Damon grabbed his arm before he could walk past them. “I’m glad you finally have your head out of your ass,” he said quietly. “Now don’t screw it up.”
“Bye bye, Daddy,” Matty waved as Damon carried him down the stairs. “I see your bum bum!”
Nick shook his head and laughed. As he got in the shower, he couldn’t keep himself from smiling. Today, he was going to work, but tonight...tonight, Tasha was all his.
*************
“And dis tuttles.” Matty pointed to the screen then spooned some ice cream into his mouth. Tasha nodded and resisted the urge to wipe his mouth clean. They’d been watching Finding Nemo for the last forty-five minutes and the bowl of ice cream they shared had either ended up around Matty’s mouth or on his shirt. After the first five minutes, Tasha realized that the toddler was working on eating ice cream all by himself and left him alone.
She noted too that every time something was funny, his giggles made the ice cream drop to on his cute little ‘I heart Justin Bieber’ t-shirt. And, no lie, his longish blond curls made him look like Bieber’s baby brother.
As he licked his spoon, he looked up at her and grinned. “Watch tuttles, Ashy. Dory funny! Dory Ashy!”
Tasha laughed and ruffled his hair. “What are you saying, little man? That I’m Dory?”
“You funny lie Dory, Ashy!”
“And you’re cute like Squirt, pumpkin,” she told him, tweaking his nose.
He considered my statement for a few seconds before smiling. “Rad.”
Tasha leaned back and laughed as she pulled the little boy closer to her side.
The last five days had been a whirlwind for all of them at the Compound. Tasha was getting ready for her first show in Las Vegas and it was five days full of rehearsals, recordings, and wardrobe fittings. Not to mention Nick and Mike channeling Magnum P.I. and working with police to find Belinda.
Johnny Finkel had been in a holding cell since he was picked up for questioning, Tasha and JC’s testimonies giving the detectives enough probable cause to keep him in the precinct. His alibi didn’t hold, since his cousin admitted to covering for him so clearly he was guilty of...well, something.
He still wasn’t talking but Tasha felt a little better knowing his was in police custody and not out in the streets of Malibu, planning his retribution.
The fire and the threat of the sex tape release seemed like lifetimes ago, especially since Tasha and Nick worked hard to keep it off their minds. During the day, Nick was focused on work and Tasha was busy finishing recording her album, rehearsing with her new band and talking to her dad whenever she got a chance.
The nights were a whole other story.
Five nights now and every single one of them Nick spent with her in the Marilyn room. Some nights they were too tired to do anything but sleep in each other’s arms. But others...other nights, Nick made her feel like the only woman in the world.
She touched her face and felt it growing warm at thought of what they did last night. She would never dare him to play rough ever again.
Well, maybe not for the next few days at least. Every single muscle in her body still throbbed with awareness from a full night of his attentions.
“Hey, anyone home?” she heard Nick’s voice as he entered the hallway beyond the TV room.
She tried to ignore the butterflies she felt in her stomach when she heard his voice. “We’re in here, Nick.”
“Watching Nemo, Daddy!”
“I can see that,” Nick said, his voice laughing as he entered the TV room, “How many times have you seen Nemo, baby?”
She saw Nick loosening his tie as he gave her a quick nod. He was wearing a suit, oh dear god. He knew how much she loved seeing him in his suit. Yesterday’s torn suit jacket in the heat of the moment was proof enough.
“One hunnred million!” Matty said with flailing hands. “An two.”
Nick’s laughter rumbled through his chest. “You are the coolest kid.”
Matty settled against Tasha and resumed watching the movie. “I know.”
Nick stood behind Tasha on the couch and settled his two hands on her shoulders. “Hey.”
She looked up and smiled. “Hey.”
“Where’s everyone?” he asked softly, looking straight into her eyes, his gaze guarded.
“JC’s in the theatre, having a meeting with the band. Mike and Damon are in the office, on a call with Leigh.”
He nodded, looking distractedly on the TV. “So it’s just us in the house?”
“Right now, yeah.”
“Good.” With that, he leaned forward, gripped her hair down and gave her a kiss that was all tongue and heavy breathing and wanting. Her toes curled.
When he pulled away, the look in his eyes made her want to take off all her clothes right at that moment.
“I missed you today,” he said softly, his finger on her chin.
“So did I.” It was terrible how much she thought about him while he was gone. Thank goodness she knew her music down pat, otherwise she wouldn’t have survived dress rehearsals today.
He walked around the couch and slid down next to her. “Scoot over, babe, I’ve got a hankering for some Nemo.”
She moved, taking Matty with her. He shrugged off his suit jacket and put an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. She casually rested a hand on his thigh and leaned against his chest.
“How was your day?” he asked against her ear, his fingers loosening her hair from its ponytail.
“Exhausting. But I’m ready for Vegas tomorrow.”
“All packed?”
“Just finished.” She turned to him. “How was your meeting with the guys?”
He shrugged. “Same ole thing. Kevin likes to hear himself talk sometimes, we let him.” He pulled her closer. “You smell like peppermint.”
She smiled and tilted her head with a sly smile. “I know. I taste like it too. Matty and I were sharing some ice cream.”
He closed his hand on her hair and pulled none too gently to capture her lips again.
“Ashy, look, dolphins!”
Tasha felt his groan against her lips before she heard it.
She pulled away from him and gave Matty a smile. “I saw.”
“Matty, what is it about Finding Nemo that you like so much?”
“Tuttles. Dooode.”
It was impossible to stay annoyed at the toddler, she noted, even for Nick, who relaxed against her. “You like the turtles?”
“Yep,” he said, scooping some more ice cream from the bowl on Tasha’s lap.
“Matty told me I was like Dory,” she told Nick with a laugh.
“Wow, was that a compliment?”
Her eyes narrowed and she pinched his side. He barely had enough time to jump away.
“Ashy Dory. Coz you sing.” Matty looked up at Tasha and sang, “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”
“And who are you, Matty? You like turtles, so are you Squirt? He’s rad, man.” Nick said, leaning forward with a paper towel, wiping ice cream from around his son’s mouth.
He smiled. “Silly Daddy. I Nemo!”
Nick showed exaggerated surprise. “Whaaaaat?”
Matty’s giggles made both of us smile.
“Why are you Nemo, baby? I thought you wanted to be a surfer dude.”
He paused and looked up thoughtfully. “Nemo’s Mommy in heaven, too, like Matty.”
Nick stiffened against Tasha.
“And Nemo’s daddy hewo.” Matty looked at Nick with a bright smile. “Like you, Daddy.”
“Oh Matty,” Nick breathed, his eyes shining with unexpected tears. “I’m no hero.”
Matty frowned when he saw his dad’s expression. Crawling over Tasha and narrowly missing the half full bowl of ice cream, Matty threw his hands around his dad’s neck. “Don’t cry, Daddy. Matty here. We turn off Nemo. Watch Buccs?”
Tasha wiped some tears that were threatening to fall from her own eyes and laughed at the toddler’s suggestion. Nick returned his son’s hug with one arm and pulled Tasha closer with the other.
He couldn’t help but laugh over his son’s statement either. “It’s okay, Matty. Let’s watch Nemo. And give Daddy one more hug. A long one this time, okay?”
His smile was identical to Nick’s in every way. “Okay.” Matty’s arms tightened around Nick’s neck and they stayed like that for a while, with Nick’s eyes closed and Tasha entwined her fingers with his down her shoulder.
Wiping his eyes discreetly as his son pulled away and crawled back to his spot next to Tasha, Nick sighed. Tasha ran her hand over his thigh lightly.
“This kid is going to be the death of me,” he whispered to Tasha as he leaned back against the couch.
She nodded in understanding. “You okay?”
He nodded and dropped a kiss on top of her head. “Yes. Sorry. I just...he’s never talked about his mom like that before. It caught me off guard.”
Tasha gave him a smile and leaned against his chest.
He let go of her hand and ran his fingers up and down her arm, almost as if to make sure she stayed where she was.
They watched Finding Nemo for a few minutes before Tasha squeezed Nick’s knee.
“Yeah.”
She looked up and said, “You’re a great dad, Nick. I know it gets hard sometimes, but you are wonderful with Matty. Don’t ever think otherwise.” She touched his cheek. “Okay?”
He bit the inside of his cheek before looking at her. “I’m just never sure, Tash. I’ve been at this for two years and some days I want to tear my hair out. But he’s a good kid and he looks up to me. I can’t not keep trying. He makes everything worth it.”
She touched his cheek. “That makes you a hero in his eyes, Nicky.”
What she saw in his eyes she wasn’t quite sure. All she understood was at that moment, he tilted her chin up and kissed her again. This time it was a touching of lips, expressing gratitude and relief.
“I’m glad you’re here, Tash.”
She smiled and tried to ignore the warm feeling that spread across her chest. She leaned against him to watch the rest of Finding Nemo.
Almost an hour later, as the credits rolled and Matty was asleep on Tasha’s lap, Nick looked at his watch. “It’s almost six. Are you hungry? I was thinking of ordering some Chinese for us.”
“Oh, crap,” Tasha said, sitting up abruptly. Belatedly realizing Matty was on her lap, she stopped herself from standing up once she felt his head move.
“So no to dinner?” Nick looked at her, confused at her reaction.
She moved Matty carefully off her lap and put his head on a pillow.
“I kind of started dinner. And forgot about it when Matty and I sat down for the movie. Do you want to get changed and I’ll have dinner ready for us in fifteen?”
He stared at her like he wasn’t sure if he was dreaming or not.
She blinked. “Nick?”
“I’m sorry, did you say you made me dinner?”
Tasha wasn’t quite sure where he was going with this. “Yes?”
He pulled her unceremoniously on his lap with one tug. “What did you make?”
“Well I know you like pulled pork sandwiches so I’ve had pulled pork in the slow cooker all day. And some mashed potatoes and roasted veggies. I was supposed to bake the banana cream pie but we can let that cook while we eat...oh and I found---oof.”
He found her lips and kissed her hard, at the same time pushing her tank top off her shoulders.
“I can’t believe you made me dinner,” he said, kissing his way down her neck.
“Nick,” Tasha breathed, hanging onto him as his hands went all over her. “Stop, we can’t do this here. Matty might...”
His hands stilled their exploration and he sighed against her shoulder. “You made banana cream pie. I LOVE banana cream pie.”
She laughed and ran her fingers through his hair. “Is all this because of pie? I can make you pie as much as you want, love.”
He tightened his hold around her waist. “It’s not just about pie. It’s about dinner. And you with Matty. And just you being here for me to kiss when I get home.” He looked at her straight in the eye and caressed her cheek. “You’re spoiling me, Tash.”
She dropped kisses on his lips. “I. Can’t. Seem. To. Stop. Myself.”
He pulled her close and grabbed her lower lip with his teeth. “And don’t ever stop. Give me your mouth, baby.”
His voice made her insides turn to mush and surrendered her mouth to his.
“Yoohoo, Tash, you here? I have a delivery for you.” Leigh’s voice echoed from the entry way.
As soon as the other woman’s voice registered in Tasha’s head, she pushed off of Nick and promptly fell on the carpet.
Struggling to get her top back upright and standing up at the same time, she said breathlessly “We’re in here, Leigh.”
Nick just gave her an amused look and leaned back to watch the show.
“You could look less cocky, you know,” she murmured as she tried to keep her balance and check if her boobs were hanging out of her shirt.
He raised an eyebrow and smiled. “I’m not the one hiding from everybody.”
“I’m not hiding,” she fairly hissed. “And stop smiling.”
“Baby I can’t stop smiling even if I wanted to,” he answered in a low voice. “You look like a woman who’s been thoroughly ravished. By me.”
“Who needs to stop smiling?” Leigh said, walking into the room with a big box. “And Nick, get off your ass and help me with this box. I can’t believe you’re letting a pregnant lady carry boxes.”
Nick stood up quickly and retrieved the box from Leigh’s hands. “What the hell is this?”
“Gifts, clothes. Frederick’s of Hollywood.”
Nick looked like he was about to drop the box to the floor. “I’m sorry, did you say...”
Tasha nodded. “Frederick’s. Lingerie. Can you bring it upstairs to my room, Nick?”
“WHO THE HELL IS GIVING YOU LINGERIE?”
Tasha and Leigh were both taken aback by Nick’s tone.
“Indoor voice, Carter. Jesus,” Leigh said, pulling Tasha to the other side of the room. “It’s a thank you from Frederick’s, because Tasha just agreed to perform at their benefit fashion show in New York when you guys stop there next month.”
“Oh.” Nick looked appropriately chastened. “Sorry. You know I’m excitable. I’ll bring this upstairs, change and help you with dinner. Do you want to stay for dinner, Leigh?”
“If it’s vegan shit, no.”
“Oh I have pulled pork in the slow cooker, and some grilled veggies and mashed potatoes. You should join us.”
“The pie’s all mine, Leigh. No one bogart the pie!” he said when he walked out the room and jogged up the stairs.
When Nick was out of hearing range, Leigh stayed me with a suspicious look. “What’s going on?”
Tasha pretended to be confused by her question. “What do you mean?”
Leigh’s eyes narrowed. “You’re hiding something. And you look flushed. And why are you cooking pork for dinner? You’re vegetarian.”
“I told you to stop watching Criminal Minds, Leigh.”
“And give up my Shemar Moore fix? No way honey. Now spill.”
“Nothing’s wrong. And Nick loves pulled pork, I just thought I’d make it for him, he’s letting me stay here and all.”
Leigh stared at her, assessing the truthfulness of her statement.
“Leigh, stop being creepy. You know your prego lady stares weird people out.”
“I’m not done with you. I’m going to call the girls over and we’re going to check out your loot from Frederick’s. And wine. They’re going to bring wine. Once we get you drunk, I’m going to get some answers.”
As Leigh took out her iPhone, Tasha shook her head and laughed. “I love you and all your crazy, Leigh. I do.” And with that, she gave the other woman a hug.
*********
It was almost two hours since Nick saw Tasha go upstairs with the girls. And almost two hours since the pizza came for the rest of the guys (He was NOT sharing any of that food Tasha made. That was his and his alone). Since everybody was waiting anyway, all six guys settled in the game room next to Nick’s studio in the first level and started an impromptu poker game. A few hands in and Nick was losing everything, distracted as he was with what Tasha was trying on from Frederick’s. The rest of the crew were grumbling about how long it was taking for the two boxes of chicken wings to arrive. Either way, the beer was cold, everybody was having a good time and JC was telling stories. It was a good night.
Howie still couldn’t forget the pie he saw in the kitchen. “Are you sure we can’t try it? Just a little bit? You all are leaving for Vegas tomorrow after all. It’s a waste of good pie.”
“Shut it, D. The pie is mine.”
“Hey, y’all going to Vegas without me?” Brian whined from across the table. “Where was my invite?” He put his cards face down on the table. “Hit me.”
“I gave everyone Tasha’s tour schedule. You guys are welcome to fly in and watch her first show if you want. She’s headlining The Palms.” Nick said, downing the last of his beer. Standing up, he went to the fridge by the bar and said, “Who wants another round?”
Kevin raised his empty bottle. “Grab me a Guinness if you have any, man.”
Nodding, Nick turned to the fridge when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Pulling it out, he saw “photo incoming” from Tasha.
As soon as he opened it, he promptly dropped the empty bottle in his hand. “Christ,” he said, sweat breaking out on his brow.
JC stood up quickly when he heard the bottle crash. “Nick. You okay, man?”
He wanted to check his pulse because he felt like it was going a million miles a minute, especially after seeing Tasha in the red bra and panties AND garter belt. If stockings and high heels were involved, he may need to go out on a stretcher.
“I’m fine. Sorry, slippery bottle.” He located the broom and dust pan and started cleaning up the mess when he heard the front door open. Damon walked down the stairs and into the game room moments later with two massive boxes of wings.
A smattering of “hallelujah”, “I love you, Damon” and “where’s my hot sauce” were heard from the table.
Another vibration from his phone.
Did you see it? Tasha’s next text message said.
He smothered a groan as he dropped his head against the bar fridge door.
Yes.
Did you like it?
Too much. I’ll meet you in your room. Wear heels. If you don’t throw the girls out, I will.
Slipping his phone in his back pocket, he quickly grabbed a Guinness for Kevin and twisted the cap off.
“I’m going to sit this one out, guys. I’ll be upstairs to check on Matty.”
AJ laughed. “You’re losing your mojo, Carter. Come back and let me take more of your money.”
“You ass,” Nick said as he went up the stairs, “What kind of a host would I be if I took all your money, man? I’ll be back to win those Laker season tickets in the next hour, you wait and see.”
He didn’t get very far upstairs before he heard the clicking of heels and the giggling voices.
“Nick! There you are!” He could recognize Tasha’s voice anywhere. “The girls and I were thinking of going dancing tonight, did you want to come?”
He looked up and saw Tasha, a vision in a form-hugging red dress with lace trimming across the chest. Looking lower, Nick had to hang on to the bannister when he saw the sheer stockings and sparkly red heels.
“You look like Christmas and New Year’s all rolled into one,” Nick said, surprised he managed to speak coherently.
“Did someone say dancing?” JC said from behind him. “I’ll go!”
The rest of the girls walked down past Nick and went to tell their men what the new plan was. JC threw an arm around Leigh and walked with her to Howie.
While the others were distracted, Nick grabbed Tasha’s hand and pulled her upstairs. As soon as they reached JC’s floor, Nick opened a door and pulled Tasha in.
Not bothering with the light, Nick locked the door to make sure they weren’t disturbed and trapped Tasha against the wall.
“Show me,” he breathed against her ear, already dragging the straps of her dress down her shoulders.
Tasha gasped at his boldness. “Nick, not here. It’s too dark and JC might...”
He found the zipper of her dress on her back and slid it down. “Here. Now, baby.”
And then her dress dropped to the floor.
Nick caught his breath in his throat. The moonlight reflecting from JC’s windows gave enough light for him to appreciate the very little scraps of lace that Tasha wore under her dress.
“Hang on,” he said as he lifted her and made her legs wrap around his hips. Her breathing became shallower and shallower as she hung onto him and his hands grazed her bottom.
He ran his tongue on her bare shoulder while Tasha struggled to unzip his jeans.
His fingers felt the lace edges of her panties. “How many pairs of this did you get?”
Dazed, it took Tasha a few moments to answer. “Three, I think.”
He tore the lace off and stuffed it in his back pocket and slammed her none too gently against the wall. “Then you won’t miss it.”
Tasha’s eyes tried to stay open as his fingers entered her. “You’re making a habit of tearing up my underwear, Carter.”
He laughed and grazed her ear with his tongue. “I keep telling you to stop wearing them when I’m around.”
She tossed her head back when he pulled his fingers away. “No, please, Nick.”
“Please what, baby?”
“I need you inside me.”
He pushed his fingers back in. “You mean this?”
“No...yes...oh, fuck me.”
He smiled against her hair as his thumb massaged her clit the way he knew drove her insane. She melted in his arms.
In the back of his mind, he heard voices coming closer. Riding a wave of pleasure, he replaced his fingers with his cock, always hard, it seemed, when he was around her.
“Oh I think Tasha went back upstairs, let me check,” Nick heard JC’s voice register dimly but he was too busy pumping into Tasha and being consumed by the feel of her tightly around him to care. When she started moaning, he put his thumb in her mouth and said, “Bite.” She did.
And he goddamn nearly lost his mind.
He wanted to kiss her, but he didn’t dare. Once he did, he wouldn’t let her go for a whole night, especially when they had a house full of guests.
It didn’t take much time for her to find her orgasm, and him to find his release, especially since they’d been teasing each other since earlier on the couch.
As soon as they could stand steady, with their breathing back to normal, Nick put his pants back on and Tasha slipped on her dress. Turning around so Nick could zip her up, he carefully kissed each piece of skin he covered almost reverently.
“Are you coming with us, dancing?” she asked as she tried to maintain her shaky balance.
He shook his head and kissed the back of her hand. “You go. I need to stay here with Matty. And the guys want to play more poker, I think.”
She nodded and turned the door knob. “I hope you appreciate the fact I’m going commando in this dress not because I want to but because I like knowing my underwear is in your back pocket.”
He gave her a slow smile and tried to quell the urge to carry her upstairs to bed.
Giving her one last kiss on her temple, he murmured against her ear. “Be good, baby. And wake me up when you get home. I’m not quite done with you yet.”
