Page 28 of Don't You Dare Marry Me

“Never,” Abagail agreed. “Friendships are gold.”

eleven

“And where have you been?”

Nicola froze. Abagail was sitting on the lounge chair in the middle of the library, ankle over her knee, reading glasses on, and a very pointed and semi-angry look on her face.

“Out,” Nicola answered, her toes curling in her shoes. “Which, we really should talk about the fact that I need my car back.”

Abagail jerked her head to the side. “It’s not fixed yet.”

“Yeah, but I need it back.” Nicola wasn’t going to back down on this one. She needed that binder with all of Alanna’s medical information in it.

“It’s at the mechanic.” Abagail pressed her lips into a thin line, her gaze narrowing. “What do you need it for? Cal can take you where you need to go.”

Nicola shook her head, her hair moving around her ears. “It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?” Abagail continued her stare.

Nicola knew that Abagail was looking for some kind of answer that she couldn’t give. She’d spent the last nearly twenty-four hours at the hospital, and she’d only left when her stomach was rumbling so loudly that Alanna had kicked her out to go getdinner, reassuring her that she would be fine while Nicola was away. She planned to go back in the morning to be there while Alanna was transported back to the rehabilitation facility. She’d narrowly escaped Aunt Simone coming out to visit, but the stay wasn’t long enough for that.

“I just need my car.”

“You were fine with the mechanic fixing it.” Abagail closed the book that she was reading and set it on the table next to her. “So what changed?”

“I’m still fine with the mechanic fixing it.” That wasn’t the issue. In fact, it was something super helpful that Nicola would be eternally grateful for. If her car could last her a few more years, then she would take it.

“Then what are you not okay with?”

“I need my stuff from the car.” Nicola bit the inside of her cheek. She didn’t want to tell Abagail too much. They didn’t have that kind of relationship. She wanted to make sure to keep the lines between business and pleasure separate. Even if the business was all about pleasure. “That’s it.”

Abagail narrowed her eyes even more, as if not believing her. “Where have you been all day?”

Nicola froze. She couldn’t tell Abagail where she’d been. And it was clear that Cal hadn’t told her where he’d dropped her off the night before either. So it didn’t really matter in the long run, did it? Nicola clenched her fists at her back and then loosened them. This was the time for acting, and she’d have to put on the show of her life.

“I’ve been out.” Nicola plastered on the smile of a lifetime as she sashayed her way into the library. She’d barely explored the house, and this was a new room, but it was damn gorgeous. Dark woods, high bookshelves—ladder included—and lighting that made the whole thing shine even though it was dark outside. “If you remember, our arrangement isn’t about personal things. It’sabout the sexual.” Nicola purposely dropped her tone, sliding it into the seduction level and leaving the flirting out of it. “That’s what we agreed on.”

“We did,” Abagail agreed, leaning back into her seat and roving her gaze all over Nicola’s body. “And yet, you were gone all day without telling me where you went.”

“You’re not in control of me, Abagail.” Nicola slid onto Abagail’s lap, straddling her in the chair. She took a deep breath and slowed her racing heart. Bending down, Nicola pressed her lips against Abagail’s ear. She delicately traced the outer edge of Abagail’s earlobe. “So I need my car back, so that I have my freedom.”

Abagail’s breath hitched.

“I can come and go as I please.” Nicola nipped the bottom of Abagail’s earlobe, sucking the stud earring into her mouth and flicking her tongue around it before letting it go. “And you can’t do a damn thing about it.”

When Abagail’s hands moved to Nicola’s hips and then her ass, Nicola knew that she was very close to having her be putty in her hands. That’s all this was about, right? Nothing more, nothing less. Abagail would fill Nicola’s bank account, and when they were done with each other, they would walk away without heartache. It was exactly what Nicola needed right now.

“Where were you today?” Abagail asked again, sliding her hands up the backs of Nicola’s thighs to her ass. Abagail squeezed and then started to massage. Nicola held back her moan, but she rocked her hips against Abagail’s thighs. She could just as easily grind herself to coming on top of Abagail if that was how tonight ended up. But she wasn’t going to go another night without an orgasm.

That’s what she was paid for, wasn’t it?

Nicola moved her lips—not kissing, just tracing—across Abagail’s jawline from her ear to her chin and to the other ear. “It’s not relevant.”

“It is.” Abagail’s hands moved up Nicola’s back under her shirt and enjoyed the fabric against her skin. Abagail was struggling to keep her hands to herself.

It was exactly what Nicola was looking for. She dropped her hips down so she was planted right against Abagail and started a slow and steady grind. The pressure, the friction, the slide of her underwear against her clit and folds was exactly what she’d needed. If she could do this, she could forget the trauma and chaos of the last twenty-four hours, and she could more easily slide back into life. Right? Wasn’t that all this was going to take?

Abagail reached Nicola’s bra strap, deftly pinching it and unhooking it in one swift move. She slid her hands around Nicola’s front, cupping and massaging her breasts. She flicked her thumbs over Nicola’s nipples, teasing them into sharp little peaks.

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