Page 66 of Elusive Surrender

“I wasn’t going to kiss you back,” I whisper.

Nick rubs the tip of my nose with his own. “I’ve already told you what happens when you lie. You’ll end up lying over my thighs getting a spanking that you won’t soon forget. Remember that. Right now, I’m going to get you home, fed, and into a comfortable bed so that you can get some much-needed sleep.”

I breathe through the racing of my heart and all of the emotions and desire his words evoke. My lips part, and he clicks my seat belt into place while I stare at him, still dazed, tongue tied, and confused by my reaction to this man.

“You keep looking at me like that, love, and you’re going to end up getting that kiss.”

I breathe in deeply and try to think of something to say, but nothing comes. Still, the flutter of butterflies continues to dance in my stomach. I close my eyes, relishing in the feel for a moment, but the weight from hours of sleep deprivation and high intensity energy and emotion soon take over.

Bands of strengthare wrapped around me, holding me suspended in the air, and I smell the sexy scent of aftershave mixed with a deliciously masculine scent when I wake.

“Almost there; hang on.” My cheeks heat as he carries me smoothly up the rest of the steps to my apartment. I hide my face in his coat while he manages to keep me in his arms, wrestles a key into my lock, and gets us both through the door without any effort at all. “Let’s get you settled.” Nick walks toward the couch and places me gently onto the soft leather material.

Nick Montgomery is entirely too nice, too charming, too damn hot for his own good and most definitely for mine. “You could have woken me up. I was quite capable of walking up the stairs with my own two feet, and how did you get my key?” I ask, half covering my mouth to suppress the yawn that makes its way forward regardless of my efforts.

He looks down at me, and his mouth twists. “She wakes. And by the way, you’re welcome,” Nick responds, as I shimmy off my jacket and toss it into the recliner next to me.

This man shakes me off my game and messes with all of my God-given senses, but there’s no reason to be rude to him, especially after everything that he’s done for me. I look into his eyes, and he meets my gaze straight on. “I’m really sorry, Nick, and thank you. I appreciate you getting me home and hauling my ass all the way up those stairs. Did Liam or Trent give you the key?”

“Apology accepted. They did give me a key. Lunch should be here shortly, so why don’t you get your shoes off and get comfortable.”

I slip out of my purple Crocs, and he looks down at my socks. “They don’t match,” he remarks, grinning.

My cheeks heat with embarrassment. “I could tell you mismatched socks are a new trend, but you’d probably threaten to put me over your knee again.” I keep to myself the fact that my heart beats harder just thinking about his threat.

His eyes light up with amusement. “You’re a quick study. You’ve run out of warnings. The next time you even fib, just a little, you’re going to find yourself lying across my thighs. Consider the two warnings I’ve given you as shout outs over the bow, but don’t expect another, because you won’t get one from me.”

The doorbell rings. “Lunch is here. Hold your snarky response. I wouldn’t want to miss it.” Nick heads to the door, returning moments later and placing a large bag of takeout from one of my favorite restaurants on the coffee table, leaving me grinning widely at his comment.

He goes back for two more bags of food, and my stomach growls loudly as the aroma of the freshly made food emanates through the bag and wafts through the air. “It smells absolutely delicious. This is one of my favorite places.”

Nick laughs. “Slide over,” he commands playfully.

I scoot down on the couch as he arranges the contents of the bag on the ornate glass coffee table in front of us. The smell of the spicy chicken in the pad thai fills the air as he opens the lid and places it in front of me, and then he gets a meal of shaved beef on top of a bed of rice for himself. He places the spring rolls and dumplings onto the table using the lids as makeshift dishes and then pulls out two sets of chopsticks. He tears off the paper and hands me a set before opening a bottle of water and placing it in front of my plate. “Lunch is served.”

My mouth waters at the feast laid out before us, having missed dinner the night before. “The entire meal looks amazing. That donut was great, but this tops everything.”

Nick’s lips twist in a half smile, but he doesn’t say a word.

I take a bite and glance over at him with a mouth full of noodles to find him watching me. That little twist to his lips sends a butterfly sensation straight to my center. I avert my gaze because being this close to Nick is far too intense and intimate for my own good. If I didn’t fully acknowledge the all-consuming attraction to this man before, I certainly have to now. Because any time Nick Montgomery is near, every traitorous neuron in my body comes alive, and that’s something we’re going to have to remedy quick because that will never do.

Nick swallows the bite of meat he has in his mouth. “You’re blushing, Allie.”

I inhale, trying to gather my composure. “I’m hungry and over-tired, and this dish is a little hot.” Damn my mind. I feel my cheeks heat. “I mean spicy hot. I’m not sure why it came out that way.”

“Careful, love, you wouldn’t want to unintentionally lie to me and find yourself with a sore ass before you make it to that bed, would you?” Nick asks, his eyes alight with amusement.

I look away because we’re skirting way too close to the edge of my comfort zone. “I think finishing my lunch and getting some sleep is exactly what I need.” I take another bite of the spicy noodles, but it’s difficult to stay focused on something other than the thought of him in that double-sized bed with me.

“While we’re on the subject of punishments.”

“Were we on that subject?” I can feel the corners of my lips tilt upward and try to focus on my food instead of the intensity of those eyes that are causing my skin to heat with their gaze.

He laughs. “I think we were, and that we should discuss a few things about your safety. The stunt you pulled last month with Trent and Liam to get out of the apartment without security? That can’t happen again, Allie.”

My chop stick pauses midair. “Seriously? Did they tell everyone?” My cheeks heat at the thought of my part in the whole sordid affair and how irresponsible my actions were.

He considers my questions. “Not many people know. Sheldon told me what happened when we were discussing your security. We’re fortunate the whole thing turned out well, and that drugging your guards didn’t put you and Lexie in even greater danger. It could have had a much different outcome, though, Allie.”

---