Six Weeks of Seduction by Ellis O. Day
CHAPTER 49: NICK
When Nick got to Sarah’s the door was locked. Tank was already barking but he knocked anyway, as he tried to keep his temper in check. He was glad she was being safe but he needed a key. She opened the door, wearing a pair of exercise pants and an old T-shirt. With her hair pulled back in a ponytail and no makeup on she looked sixteen. Images of last night tumbled through his head—her hanging naked, his face buried in her pussy, making her scream.
“Hey,” she said and stepped aside, bringing him out of his fantasy and back to the reality of the fight that was to come.
“I need a key.” He walked past her into the living room.
“What? Oh, yeah. I guess.” She closed the door.
“I’m living here, right?” He tossed another full duffel bag onto the couch.
“Ah…yeah, I guess.”
“You guess?” His voice rose and Tank moved closer to her but didn’t growl. That was progress.
“I don’t want to fight. I’ll get you a key.”
“Good but we’re going to fight. We need to get some things straightened out.”
“What, Nick? What needs to be straightened out?”
Her face was starting to flush. She was getting pissed and he was glad because his anger was simmering right under his skin. It had been since she’d refused to let him pick her up last night.
“This.” He pointed to her and then himself. “Us.”
“What about us?” She stressed the last word and it made him want to punch the wall.
“There are some things we need to get settled.”
“Like what?” She sat on the couch, her face a calm mask but her hands were clenched.
“Like you sneaking out in the morning.”
“I had to get home. You were still asleep.”
“I woke up at seven and you were already gone. It’s not like I slept all fucking day.”
“I thought you needed your rest.” She smiled slightly at him. “But you seem rested now.” She bit her lip.
He wanted to groan. No, he wanted to grab her and fuck her, but that was her game. “It’s not going to work this time, Sarah.”
“What isn’t going to work?” She opened her legs slightly.
He didn’t think she did that on purpose but she might’ve. “You distracting me with sex.”
“What?” Her eyes widened. “I don’t do that?”
“Yes, you do. Every time you push me away.”
“I don’t push you away.” She glanced down and his stomach clenched. She was doing it on purpose.
He sat on the couch next to her. Tank’s lips curled up slightly but there was no growl.
He gave the dog a slight nod. Point taken. He lowered his voice. “Why do you do it? I would’ve taken you home this morning. I would’ve picked you up last night.”
“I know, but…”
“But what?”
“It’s just happening so fast.” She touched his hand and he captured hers bringing it to his mouth for a kiss.
“We’ve known each other almost six months,” he said.
“And more than four of those we weren’t together or even speaking.” She pulled her hand away from him. “I can’t jump into this knowing that you’ll…”
“That I’ll what?” He knew what was coming and there was no way he’d keep his anger checked. He stood and walked to the other side of the room because he was in no mood to get bit. “What do you think I’ll do?”
She shook her head. “Please, Nick. Let’s just drop this.”
“You think I’m going to cheat on you? Like that asshole Adam. Well, I won’t.”
She took a deep breath as if trying for patience. “It’s not that.”
“Bullshit. Tell me the truth, Sarah? Why don’t you want to meet my family? Why won’t you meet my friends? What do I have to do to prove that I’m not Adam?”
“I agreed to go to your sister’s party with you and…I know you’re not Adam...”
“But…” This was going to hurt.
She looked down at her hands that were still clenched in her lap. “But how can I trust that this”—she waved her hands between both of them—“is real. That what you feel is real and not some game or conquest when you told me that you tire of women after thirty days.”
“You set the time limit between us this time, not me.” He couldn’t stop from moving closer to her. He wanted to shake some sense into her. Kiss her until she believed what he said. Believed in him. Tank growled, stopping Nick’s feet. Smart dog because if Tank wasn’t here, he’d be touching her, kissing her and fucking her by now. It was the only time he felt that she was truly his. “And I told you that it’s different with us. With you.”
“It’s only different because I’m not clinging to you. Because I won’t submit to everything you want.” Her voice was soft and sad. “As soon as I do, it’s over.”
“That’s not true.” But a whisper of doubt crept into his head. “You know what? I can’t argue with you about this anymore.” He had to get out of there. He had to figure out if she were right. He strode to the door and left.
