Page 44 of Falling for Nicole
“No. Declan, you don’t need to do that. I’ve got money, I was just being a cheapskate.”
“No, I do. It’s the least I can do. I know I’ve been nothing but a dick to you since you moved here, and you’ve done nothing but help with the shack. Consider it a bonus.”
“I thought the orgasms were a bonus.”
“Yes, but they’re not something I offer all my employees.”
“Good to know.”
By the time we come down off the cliff, the sun is starting to set. We’ve left it a little late for shopping so the only place I can really offer to take her is our out of town 24/7 supermarket. I feel like a bit of a dick offering to take her to get stuff and ending up here, but she doesn’t seem to care as she stands and debates the best colour of towel.
It’s gone midnight by the time we get back to hers after stopping at Lilly’s to pick up her stuff. The look on my sister’s face when we turned up and left together was something to behold. I could see her years of dreaming about us getting together running through her head as she smiled at us. I’d hate to burst her bubble so I refrained from telling her this was just a bit of fun. Because that’s what this is. I decided years ago that all that marriage and kids bullshit wasn’t for me. I want money and a successful business or two—that soppy shit is for other chumps. Plus almost everyone I know, apart from my parents, ends up falling out, divorcing and hating each other, or one of them dies, leaving the other wishing they had, too. Why risk that by settling down? I want to enjoy my life. It doesn’t mean anything that suddenly a certain redhead keeps tainting my vision for the future. I tell myself that’s just because I seem to be a little obsessed with her at the moment. I’ve absolutely no reason to believe that feeling is going to last beyond the summer, let alone the year.
“Do you…uh…want to stay?” Nicole asks when we’ve finished making her bed with the sheets she picked out earlier.
I stare at her, then glance over her shoulder to her very inviting bed. I was up before dawn this morning so I could catch some waves before work, and I’m whacked. My previous thoughts come back to haunt me. I’ve never spent the night with a woman before. Once we’ve done what we intended to do, I either get up and leave or she does. Not once in my life have I actually slept with a woman.
Then, a thought hits me.
Fuck.
The other night at the shack, I slept with Nicole. I spent all night with my arm around her waist, and when I woke, the first thing I did was look over and watch her sleep.
My heart starts to race and my palms begin to sweat.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I uh…just realised something.”
“What is it? Can I do anything to help?” I presume the panic on my face makes her think it’s something bad. Well, it is, I guess. Or is it?
I continue staring at her as she waits for my answer. The longer I look into her eyes, the more I feel myself start to relax, and the idea of waking up to her in the morning starts to feel right.
“Sure, I’ll stay.” I pull my t-shirt off and throw it into the corner of the room. The rest of my clothes soon follow, and Nicole’s join them.
* * *
I feel eyes on me when I wake. Cracking an eyelid open, I find a mop of red hair looking down at me.
“Mornin’,” I croak.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Why?”
“I never thanked you for all this last night.”
“Oh, don’t worry, Ginge, you did plenty of thanking.” Her cheeks blush and I fucking love it. “So you’re accepting it then? I was worried you were going to tell me where to go.”
“I considered it at first, but I love the place too much. So thank you.”
“You’re welcome, but I still expect daily blow jobs for the foreseeable future to show your continued gratitude.”
She pulls a serious thinking face.
“What?”
“Just wondering if I should kick you out of my bed now or after you’ve made me come.”
“Come here.” I tackle her down to the mattress and show her she doesn’t have a choice.
