Page 81 of My Rock Star Neighbor
“Sure.”Nick stands.
“No, Ms.Hughes’s,” he says.
Nick steps back.
“I’ve always been impressed by your reporting.Your article on that police investigation last year—my colleagues thought you handled that fairly and got the facts right.That’s rare, unfortunately.I’m sorry this happened to you.We’ll keep an extra eye out around this building until the window is fixed.”
“I’m honored.”I sign yesterday’s copy ofThe Intelligencerright next to my article.
Nick butts me with his shoulder.“It looks like I’ll have to get used to having a famous girlfriend.”
I’m making the bed in Luca’s spare room as Nick puts the pillowcase on my pillow.This room has a queen bed and a luggage rack.Not even a dresser.Luca must subscribe to the philosophy that guests shouldn’t get too comfortable.But it did have an amazing shower in the bathroom with jets from all directions.I’d put on my sexiest lingerie.And a sweatshirt because I don’t want to be completely obvious.
Sherlock is curled up in his cat bed that I brought from my apartment, along with all essentials.And this time, Nick left with two of his guitars.
“We can stay here,” Nick says.“Luca is going on an assignment for a month, and he said the apartment is ours.We can outfit our apartments with proper security in the meantime.”
“Let’s think about it.I didn’t want to sleep there tonight, but I’m sure after a thorough cleaning, I’ll be fine.It is my home.”Why do I feel like I’m trying to persuade myself too?
Nick puts the pillows on the bed as I spread out the comforter.
“So…” He shifts his feet.“Sleep well.I can turn out the light as I leave.”
I gaze at him.“I don’t want to sleep alone.”
His brow furrows.“Right.I can understand that.I can share the bed with you.We’ll sleep.”
I take a step closer.“No, actually.I want you.Not just kissing.All of you.”
I touch his arm, and he looks down at my hand on his arm.I feel the tremor that goes through his body.His glance meets mine.The look of tenderness in his eyes almost makes me tear up.He puts his hand gently on my waist.
“Are you sure?”he whispers.
“Yes.”I brush that curly lock of hair that always falls down on his forehead away from his eyes.Both his hands now encircle my waist.
He pulls me in tightly against his hard body.“Maddie.Do you know how happy that makes me?”
“Not as happy as it makes me,” I say with warmth in my voice.
He pushes my hair back from my face and kisses me hard, like he was afraid he was going to lose me—like he wants me to remember only this.And I hold him tightly.I want to block out everything else but Nick’s taste and touch.
We walk backwards to the bed without letting go of each other and sink into it.Only when I lie on the bed beneath Nick does he stop kissing me.He leans his forehead against mine.
“Oh, I’m going to make you very happy, Maddie,” he says.“But first, we really have to get rid of this sweatshirt.I didn’t have a chance earlier to admire your lingerie.”
He shifts to his side and unzips my sweatshirt.I watch his tan hand, his capable fingers, pull the zipper down, and my breath comes out in shaky gasps.He pushes the sweatshirt off my shoulders, and I help him pull it off.
“Maddie.”His voice is deep and gruff.“You’re sure, right?This isn’t some reaction you’re going to regret in the morning?”
I push him down onto the bed.“No regrets.Unless you keep talking.”
He growls and cradles the side of my face with his hand, angling his own head to tenderly kiss me again.My body melts as we show each other what it means to be alive.
No regrets.I still have a huge smile on my face from last night.I must have looked like an insane person when I told my boss, Felicity, that an intruder broke into my apartment last night with a hammer, and yet here I am, buoyant—unable to stop smiling in delight.The police officer whom I met today withThe Intelligencersecurity said I was the most cheerful victim he’d seen.
My smile falters, though, as I approach my building and see the boarded-up window of my apartment.The street seems its usual self, except for the policeman on the corner.
I text Nick that I am here.He’d agreed to meet me at my apartment.I need to clean it up and take the rest of my stuff to Luca’s.My landlord called to let me know that he’d boarded up the window.But it’s best to stay at Luca’s for the time being.
