Do You Want Me?

Clara sighed, shook her head, and then leaned in my direction. "Please pardon my sons and spouse for their actions. The drawback of being surrounded by men is just that." She grinned pleasantly, and I started to relax right away. "I also married Jefferson when I was young, which is what Geoffrey was so rudely referring to," she informed.

Geoffrey said "cradle snatcher" while making a false cough.

As Jefferson's cheeks started to slightly flush, Clara shot her son a stern look. Nicholas whispered in my ear as he leaned in close. "Dad was 35, Mom was 18, and I was the tiny delight that hurried their wedding along."

I made an effort to hide my surprise, but I struggled. Clara grinned, Jefferson scowled, and Geoffrey just carried on laughing.

"I think that sounds lovely and romantic, though. I'm glad to see my baby smiling." Even though we were deceiving them about our real connection, I had to grin when I saw the affection with which Clara gazed at Nicholas. She again turned to face me. "I'm also looking forward to having grandkids."

I chuckled apprehensively and drank some more.

"We are working on it." Nicholas wrapped his arm around me and placed a kiss on my forehead.

I was so startled that I smacked him under the table. Despite my chagrin, his humor appeared to lessen the uneasiness at the table because Clara beaming, Jefferson, and Geoffrey kept laughing.

His brother said, "I'm sure you are."

I wanted to hide underneath the table.

Fortunately, we just spoke briefly while we munched on our appetizers. Once our entrees arrived, the serious conversation resumed.

I glanced over to see Nicholas eyeing me with worry as his fingers lightly caressed my arm. I nodded to tell him everything was all right.

"I have no living family remaining. Both of my parents have passed away, and neither of their parents are still alive or involved in my life." I continued because I didn't want to witness the awkwardness and sympathy that always accompanied the description of my family life. "I do have an amazing friend whom I think of as family. She was rather shocked, yes."

I chuckled along when Nicholas' snorted. The silence around the table was unnerving.

I glanced over at the other men again and both of them looked a little uneasy, but Clara grabbed my hand and sat down next to me. With her eyes watering, she remarked, "Well, you have parents and siblings now."

I gave her hand a tight squeeze in gratitude. She was quite kind, and I could see why Nicholas loved his mother so much.

The remainder of the meal went relatively smoothly. After Jefferson inquired about my family, Nicholas and his father remained obstinately silent to one another. I bit my tongue to avoid inquiring as to the cause of the tension.

Everyone was friendly to me in spite of the conflict between those two. It was shown that my fears about them not accepting me were absolutely unjustified.

When I told Clara I would meet with her for lunch in a few days to talk more about the post-nuptial party she planned to arrange for Nicholas and me, she was positively giddy. She emphasized that because we did not have a traditional ceremony, we had to legally declare our marriage.

Nicholas was of no assistance at all when I wanted to refuse, but Geoffrey's assurance that we would be showered with gifts convinced me otherwise. I never saw anything wrong with receiving gifts.

By the time Nicholas and I arrived at our house, I felt considerably less pressured that my last name was now Rowe. Despite the unusual nature of my entrance into his life, I genuinely felt like a member of his family.

"I enjoy your constant smiles. It's fresh." As we began to ascend the stairs to our room, he stopped me.

My eyes were nearly level with his as he stood on the step below me and I turned to face him. I couldn't help but wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him passionately.

"I'm happy, so that's why."

His fingers moved slowly up my legs and along the backs of my knees. I bit my lip, which made him growl low in his chest.

"I adore seeing you smile. It's time to follow through on your promise and show me what's underneath this outfit."

I whispered in his ear as I leaned in and nibbled his lobe. "I'll let you in on a secret. I don't have any underwear on."

His hands tightened around my thighs as he inhaled sharply.

"You weren't wearing anything underneath the dress this the entire time?"

I backed away and took another step up, my head shaking. "Nope."

My stomach flipped at the need that was written all over his face. His eyes sparkled. "I will give you a headstart of ten seconds."

He stood there looking like he was going to pounce, and my heart was racing.

"Wha..."

He interrupted me. "One."

I chuckled and began to ascend the steps before he could count to two. Around the time he screamed 'five', I lost my heels and sprinted as quickly as I could up the stairs. But even then, he caught me before I entered the bedroom. It's a shame that my brand-new dress didn't make it through the night.

.

I sighed as the constant beeping jolted me out of a fantastic dream about Nicholas and some whipped cream.

I poked the sleeping man, who was encircling my nude body like a cocoon. He only grunted before he yanked me closer.

"Turn off the alarm, Nicholas."

He pulled out an arm while mumbling something incomprehensible. After a loud smash, the peaceful silence returned. When his arm came back to cradle me, I cuddled up against his warm body.

The house phone began ringing from my nightstand making me wake up a little more. With Nicholas sprawled over me and snoring in my ear, I was confined to the middle of the bed, lying on my back.

It was difficult for me to escape by trying to slide out since a big man was clinging to me just like a koala.

I complained into the phone, feeling bad that Laura had to put up with my morning grouchiness.

"I apologize for waking you up, Willow. Nicholas has a crucial meeting at 8:00, but it's already 6:45. Since he hasn't yet come down, I concluded that he probably shattered another alarm clock."

"I see. I will wake him up, Laura."

I hung up and sighed.

It was harder than it sounded to wake him up. Even during a hurricane, the man would barely struggle to sleep. I chuckled and chose to employ the only strategy I was confident would work after glancing over at the noticeable mass under the blankets.

I needed to woo Cocky Junior.

Nicholas instantly reached out and drew me back beneath him as I slipped over the bed grinning. He had some sort of internal navigation system that found me no matter where I was. He finally rested between my legs after I managed to wiggle myself around enough. I gave his neck a kiss and ran my fingers along his back.

"Nicholas?" I bumped my hips up against his while sucking behind his ear. "I need you."

He stiffened up a little and whimpered softly. I wanted to pump my fists in my small victory when his hands wandered.

"Nicholas, do you want me?" When he began kissing my neck, I grabbed hold of his hair.

"Fuck yes, little one." I shivered at his sleep-induced huskiness. "Always."

He had his hands on me. Inside me. When he found me wet, his guttural groan made me quiver. It was astounding how well-suited we became in such a brief time as if I were designed specifically for him.

Or him for me.

I knew that was a sentimental thought, but I couldn't help it.

He thrust into me, filling me with one push, and I moaned out. His body moved in unison with his lips on time. What began slowly and sweetly gradually turned intense. He kept a rapid pace, and his voice was demanding in my ear.

"Do you feel good?"

Did I feel good? How could I respond to such a silly question?

No words were spoken. Although I wasn't sure of the sounds that came out of my mouth, they appeared to encourage him even more.

I wrapped my legs around him and became so engrossed in the pleasure that I lost track of my job to get him out of bed. When he was the only thing I could perceive with my senses, it was simple to lose track of anything else.

He was beginning to invade my emotions in addition to raising my body to such extreme pleasure.

He gave me a gentle kiss as we both came down from our orgasms. I found him watching me when I opened my eyes finally. I held my breath, waiting for the words that he was about to say.