Page 111 of One Unexpected Gift

“Darlin’, I like you anyway I can get you.” He skimmed his hands up her sides and cupped her breasts. “I’m going to miss you.”

“Are you talking to me or my boobs?”

“All of you, Skylar. I’m going to go crazy with need without you.”

She rolled off him quicker than an avalanche can take out an unexpecting skier. “That’s nice.” By the tone of her voice, nice wasn’t... nice.

“Baby. What’s wrong?” He rolled to his side and attempted to spoon her, but she kicked his shins. This wasn’t the way he envisioned their last night together. “Skylar?”

Her body went rigid when he touched her. Sitting up, he reached behind him and turned on the bedside lamp. He couldn’t see her face, but he heard her tears. When she wouldn’t face him, he got out of bed and rounded it to her side, dropping to his knees on the floor in front of her.

He moved her hair out of her face and wiped her tears with the pad of his thumb. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

She opened her eyes and glared. “I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunities so you shouldn’t have to worry about going too crazy before having your needs satisfied.”

Confusion washed over him before realization did. Nick shook his head. “There is no one else on this earth who can satisfy the needs that I have, Skylar. You’re the only one. And my other needs, the ones that aren’t sexual, are filled with Gabby’s smiles and your company. I’m not interested in any other females in my life besides you two.”

Skylar blinked and a few more tears leaked out. He wiped those away as well before lowering his mouth to hers. “I want you, Skylar. Only you.”

“I’m sorry.” She closed her eyes and sniffed.

“For what?” He moved closer, resting his elbows on the mattress as he stroked her head.

“For jumping to conclusions. For sounding like a jealous lover.”

“I like that you’re jealous.”

“Oh. Real nice.”

Nick smiled at her sarcasm and traced her bottom lip with his finger. “It means you care.”

She was quiet for a moment before she responded. “I care, Nicolas. I care a lot.”

Nick drew his head back a few inches so he could see her more clearly. “You’ve never called me Nicolas unless you’re teasing or reprimanding me.”

Skylar chewed on her bottom lip and then reached out and touched his shoulder, drawing small circles with her finger. “Your mother told me she calls you and your siblings by your full names because it’s more special and shows her love for you.”

Nick’s jaw dropped at her revelation. It was a revelation, wasn’t it? By the pink stain on her cheeks and her downcast eyes, he’d bet it was. Or was he looking into this because he wanted it to be true. She didn’t say she loved him. Of course, she could be nervous that he didn’t feel the same and was waiting for him to return the words.

Covering her hand with his, he brought it to his bare chest. “I’ve been calling you Skylar for a long, long time.”

She released the hold she had on her lip and tried to pull her hand away. Not the reaction he was going for.

“Yeah. I know. It’s a thing your family does subconsciously. The whole name thing.” She tried to roll to her other side, but he held firmly onto her hand. The pink in her cheeks had turned to a full-fledged red. Not of sexual desire but of anger.

Nick took a moment to process his words and trying to figure out how they could have been misstated to piss her off. Then, the lightbulb went off. Not before he’d ruined the moment. Needing to rectify the mood quickly, he hopped up on the bed, straddling Skylar over the blankets.

She cast a quick glance at his nakedness–which wasn’t standing at attention as it was a few minutes ago–and then looked away.

“Do you remember what I called you the first time? In my office?”

Her deep scarlet toned down a bit and then she lifted a shoulder. “Skylar.”

“No. I called you Sky because that was how you introduced yourself to me. I believe I called you Sky over and over again.” There was the blush he knew and loved. Yes, loved. “Do you remember what I called you the second time? In the supply closet?”

This time, her long lashes lifted, and she looked up at him. “Sky?” She bit her lip and moved under him.

Nick rested his elbows on either side of her head. “Maybe at first, but in the closet, when I was trying like hell not to scream your name, Skylar rolled off my tongue, and you’ve been Skylar ever since.”

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