Page 43 of Love Over Time

“You have that too, but if you leave again—”

She slipped my erection past her lips.

“Damn.” I glanced up at the ceiling and saw stars. I let her work me up and tease that sensitive spot below my shaft. When her hair tickled my side, I reached for the wayward lock to put it behind her ear and almost came. The sight of her face, my cock in her mouth, her tongue licking me, was more than I could bare.

She let go with a quiet pop. After being in the warmth of her mouth, my cock felt cold, though the rest of my body was on fire as she rolled a condom on. She straddled my hips and watched as I entered her. Even if she hadn’t returned to Paradise Creek for me, right here, right now, she was here for me. I sat up and took off her top, pushing her breasts together so I could kiss both nipples. I could spend the rest of my life like this with Nikki, playing poker in bed and having sex. With her by my side, the pain of all those years didn’t exist. It was as if I’d never lost my family, her.

I ran a hand up her neck and buried my fingers in her hair while she worked magic with her hips. Our tongues collided, and I got lost in her again. Just like that summer at the manor, we were the only ones in the garden, the world.

“Henry.” She tightened around me, as she’d done last night. She was ready to come.

“I’m right here, baby. Not going anywhere.” I gripped her waist and flipped her on her back, thrusting into her with all the desire I felt for her. Sex with Nikki was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. She dug her nails into my thigh, meeting my hips, offering everything she had. And there it was again. I spiraled down with her, rock hard. An explosion just below my navel surged down to my toes—all ecstasy with a slight stroke of pain. “Oh shit.” I kissed her temple. She called for me again, her lips trembling against my shoulder. I’d never seen anyone as beautiful as Nikki, and she was mine.

“We should do this all day,” she said out of breath.

“I agree.”

And then my phone rang. If that was Russ, he was fired.

“You should get that.”

Reaching over to the nightstand, with Nikki kissing my shoulder and rubbing her hands all over me, I grabbed the phone. Yeah, I could get used to this.

“What is it?” She scooted out from under me.

I showed her the screen. A message from Mr. Paredes, the bank manager.

—Got your message. How does noon sound?—

Earlier today, Nikki had shown me the medicine bottle she took from Mom’s bathroom. Inside, we’d found a key that we both agreed had to be a key to a security box. We had no way of knowing if the key was for a box at the local bank, but it was worth a shot.

“Looks like we have an appointment at the bank,” I said.

“God, I hope Tessa used the local bank. Phoenix is a really big haystack.” She jumped out of bed, completely naked, and strutted to the bathroom. “Give me thirty minutes.” She closed the door and then immediately came back out. “I’m going to use my bathroom. Who uses a store-brand shampoo?”

“I’m poor, remember?” I got out of bed, met her at the door, and kissed her. “How long before you fully understand I have nothing to offer you?”

“It’s just shampoo, Henry.” She pushed me hard and snuck out of the room.

I leaned on the wall. How long before Nikki realized it wasn’t just shampoo? After her parents died, she and Lisa had had to make do with almost nothing, but she’d left that girl behind a long time ago. I couldn’t drag her down with me, back to that place she’d fought so hard to get out of. The hollow feeling in my chest hit me again. After last night and the better part of this morning, there was no way in hell I could let her go.

I considered joining Nikki in her shower, but in the end, I trudged to the bathroom to get cleaned up with my store-brand shampoo. We couldn’t miss our bank appointment.

Fifteen minutes later, I was dressed and ready to go. On my way out, I spotted the tuxedo I’d worn last night lying on top of the dresser. My dad’s tuxedo. It’d fit tight around the chest, but it got the job done. With everything that happened after the party, I’d completely forgotten about Mom’s envelope. I fished it from Dad’s jacket and opened it. My stomach sank, as the blood left my face and hands.

Another note from Mom, addressed to me:

Henry,

Your uncle only had a copy of your dad’s last will. This is the original. I kept it safe for you after your uncle sent you away.

Love you always,

Mom

This version of Dad’s will was what I had expected. I was his sole beneficiary, and it was dated shortly after I was born. The will my uncle had was dated years before he and Mom were married. Jonathan had claimed Dad had simply forgotten to update it, and fed the town some sob story of how he would never leave Mom and me on the street to fend for ourselves. The asshole paid for my schooling only because my college fund wasn’t part of the family fortune, and Mom was the owner.

Heart pounding in my throat, I sat on the edge of the bed. All of this was still mine. Was that why Jonathan had kept me away from Mom all this time? Because he was afraid she’d tell me the truth? I had to tread carefully. When he found out I was looking for Mom, he’d sent someone to rough me up. What would he do if he found out I knew the truth and that I had a way to get my fortune back? Kill me like he did with Dad?

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