Page 86 of Release You

“What does that mean?” She peered at me.

“It’s a surprise. All I can say for now is that Lisa is coming home.”

“Really?” She laughed, a carefree and loving sound that made me feel ten feet tall. I finally could give her everything she wanted. She cupped my face. “And we can both live here with you?”

“I refuse to spend any more time away from you.”

“Thank you,” she said on my lips.

“If you really want to thank me…” I slipped my hands under her top. Her smooth skin made me want to forget about the world.

She giggled again, getting out of her T-Shirt in two blinks. As soon as she did, I had my mouth over her hardened nipples.

“You are so beautiful.”

“How much time do we have?” she asked in between uneven breaths as she reached over for her emergency pack on the bedside table, where she kept condoms, of all things. No doubt stuffed right next to her gun and cable ties.

“We have to be at the hotel in two hours.”

“Then hurry up and make me come.” She rolled a condom over my erection and guided me inside her.

“Christ, Nikki.” I sat up and kissed her.

Since the day I met her so many years ago, I fell in love with Nikki’s free spirit, and the way she saw the world through rose-colored glasses despite all the bad in her life. Over the years, no matter how hard I tried to hate her, my love for her never wavered.

“I don’t want to spend any more time away from you, either. I want to live here with you.” She rolled her hips.

A slow buzz washed over me as she pushed me closer to the edge.

“Henry.” Her fingernails dug into my shoulder.

My name on her lips was my undoing. I craved it. I lived for it. And there it was again, the all-consuming orgasm that sent us to a place where only Nikki and I existed. Her breathing, her heart beating were the only things drumming on my skin, the only sounds I could hear.

“Oh my God, Henry.” She clung to me, riding out the last waves of sensation.

“I know,” I whispered.

We sat in the middle of the bed, tangled in each other’s arms. I didn’t want to move and break the connection between us. I’d come so close to losing her. It would be a long while before the feeling that we were living on borrowed time would go away. I scooted off the bed with her legs wrapped around me.

“Where are we going?”

“Shower.” My feet slapped against the cool floor as I carried her to the clawfoot tub. “I’ve always wondered what you’d look like wet.”

“Henry.” She let out a sexy laugh and dropped her head into the nook of my shoulder.

Two hours later,I parked my truck outside the Cavalier Hotel. Nikki wore my jersey and a pair of sweatpants we found in my closet. It didn’t matter what she wore. She still looked hot as heck.

“What happened to all your clothes?” I asked.

“I packed them and left them in your room, under the bed. I figured that would be the last place you’d look.”

I shook my head and climbed out of the car. “Go on and get dressed. Looks like the surprise is almost ready.” I stood in the middle of the lobby and watched Nikki rush upstairs.

As much as Mrs. Blaine hated to be doing this much work for Lisa, she just couldn’t say no to me, especially after Russ made sure everyone in Paradise Creek knew that I was back at the manor, a proper Cavalier, as Nikki had put it. I had money again, and to Mrs. Blaine that was all that mattered. It was why she agreed to cater Lisa’s welcome-home party. I wanted everyone in town to know Lisa was innocent.

“What do you think? Is this what you had in mind?” Mrs. Blaine placed a tea candle holder on one of the round tables. Just the way Mom used to do it when she’d hosted her parties at the hotel. The band had already set up on the top of the grand staircase and were tuning their instruments.

“It looks great. Thanks.” I nodded.

---