Page 84 of One Unexpected Gift

“Where will you be?” she asked breathlessly, too aware of how close their bodies were. Too aware of the heat emanating off him.

“I’ll be spooning my brother and would welcome middle of the night diaper duty.”

Sky chewed on her bottom lip and glanced over her shoulder at the big bed in the middle of the bedroom Nick used when visiting his parents. If he slept with her it wouldn’t be like they’d be getting hot and heavy with Gabby’s playpen next to the bed.

She toyed with the button to his polo shirt. “I’m not as big and warm as your brother must be, but you’re more than welcome to... spoon in here if you’d like.”

There. She did it. Cards on the table. Sort of. Not too obvious, but an invite, nonetheless.

“What would you like, Skylar?” He cupped her cheek in his palm, and she leaned into it.

Blinking slowly, she lifted her lashes and looked straight into his honest blue eyes. “I haven’t been spooned in a long, long time.”

He could interpret her words literally or think of spooning as a euphemism. Either way, she’d take what she could get.

Nick traced her lips with his finger and curled his other hand around her hip. “Well then, I’d love to do the honor.” He guided her into the room, quietly closing the door behind him.

Every room in the estate had a private bathroom. She took her sleep shorts and shirt from her bag and carried them to the bathroom while she brushed her teeth, washed her face, and tried to calm her breathing.

“The bathroom’s all yours,” she said, leaving the light on behind her.

“I’m all set. I used Holden’s.”

Had she been in there that long? Sky turned off the light and blinked until her eyes focused in the dark. Nick was already under the covers, his hands behind his head as he grinned at her. The sheets fell to his stomach revealing his naked chest.

She swallowed the lump of lust in her throat and padded across the room, sliding between the covers. All was quiet while they both lay on their backs. Finally, Nick broke the silence.

“I know you said it’s been a long time. It’s been a while for me as well.”

Sky’s heart raced in her chest. This was what she’d been wanting. Not just intimacy, but Nick. Nick’s kisses, Nick’s arms. Nick’s love. It would be kind of weird with Gabby asleep only a few feet away from them, but her presence hadn’t tamped down her libido one bit.

The sheets rustled as Nick moved, and she felt his warm touch on her waist.

“Spooning is better when you’re on your side.” He kissed her temple, then moved her body, tucking her butt into the curve of his stomach. He draped his arm across her, and she linked her hand with his, pulling their joined hands close to her heart. “Sleep well, darlin’.”

––––––––

Sky rolled into the sudden dip of the mattress on her left side. Wasn’t Nick spooning her from behind? She forced one tired eye open making out his silhouette sitting on the edge of the bed next to her. It was still dark out, but traces of the pending sunrise poked through the slats of the blinds.

Nick smoothed his hand over her hip and spoke softly. “She’s all changed and ready to go.”

“Gabby? She’s awake?” Sky pushed her hair out of her face and sat up, blinking the sleepy seeds out of her eyes. “I didn’t even hear her.”

She couldn’t remember the last time she slept so hard. Not since before she could feel Gabby kicking her bladder. Once she was twenty-two weeks pregnant, the nightly trips to the bathroom became a regular thing.

Her boobs strained against her nursing bra. It wasn’t the most flattering bra in the world, but it was more comfortable than sleeping without one. Gabby fussed in Nick’s arms.

“Ready for her?”

Propping the pillows behind her back, she got comfortable then stretched out her arms for her baby. Gabby latched on and cooed in content.

“Thank you. I can’t believe I didn’t even hear her. Or you.”

“No problem. You were tired.” He rubbed her leg and then stroked Gabby’s head. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to do this alone.”

She was thankful for the dark. Hopefully it hid the burning of her Irish skin. Nick was too much. Too good. He made her rethink her life goals. Her priorities. Right now wasn’t the time to figure out if that was a good or bad thing. Her focus had to be one hundred percent on Gabby, which meant there was zero percent left for her to think about a relationship.

Blaming it on hormones is what she’d do. Eventually, she’d come to terms with her feelings. It was too scary to listen to them right now, not when she was leaving in a few weeks.

---