actually starting to ache from staring so hard. ‘It’s affected the part of her brain that deals with rational thoughts and sensibilities. She has to stick to a routine or she panics, and she gets easily obsessed by things. She freaks out around strangers, and security is a big thing to her, so we decided she’d be better off living in the Oaks.’
‘Wow, I’m sorry, Rebecca. What happened, the accident?’
I felt my entire body tense. I couldn’t tell him that, wouldn’t . He’d think I was despicable; I certainly did when I allowed myself to think back to that night, that entire horrible month.
‘I … that’s not something I want to talk about, Nicholas. You have your secrets, and I have mine,’ I added, knowing I sounded bitter but not caring in my exhausted state.
Although he hadn’t seemed happy with my refusal to share my story with him, Nicholas was surprisingly gentle and considerate with me for the following few hours, insisting that I have a snooze on his sofa and stay for the rest of the day.
His gentleness even lasted through an exhausting sex session that he had claimed would make me feel better. Afterwards, instead of dressing and leaving as he usually did, he sat up and gazed down at me with a peculiar expression on his handsome face.
‘Why are you here, Rebecca?’ he asked suddenly, causing me to worry that I’d outstayed my welcome. After all, I’d been here the entire day and it was getting late now. Once again, it crossed my mind that I really should consider getting myself a normal relationship where I didn’t constantly need to be on tenterhooks, but somehow I just couldn’t bring myself to walk away from Nicholas.
‘I don’t mean now specifically,’ he said quickly, seeing the slight panic on my face as I tried to sit up. ‘I mean each week, why do you come here? You don’t strike me as a fuck-buddy kind of girl.’
Oh God, was I that obvious? Nicholas was right, of course, I had always been the relationship type and since starting this … thing … with him, I intrinsically knew that deep down I wanted more. Why else would I have run here today after my heart-wrenching night with Joanne? Not that I was going to admit that to him; it would well and truly scare him off and I was enjoying myself too much for it to end just yet. Maybe I could get away with some light remarks and half-truths to placate him.
‘I come for an amazing piano lesson,’ I said with a shrug and a small smile that I hoped appeared light and humorous.
One of his eyebrows arched high over his browbone as he continued to study me in silence. Apparently, he wanted more detail and was simply going to wait until I provided it.
‘OK, OK, an amazing piano lesson followed by some average sex,’ I remarked casually, but my heartbeat was racing in my chest. You had to be brave to toy with Nicholas Jackson; it was an adrenalin-raising experience.
Watching him carefully, I saw his eyes darken and narrow as something very like annoyance crossed his features. God, he could be so touchy, but perhaps I shouldn’t push him too far. He was an incredibly proud man and joking about his sexual prowess appeared to be pushing him toward the edge. Time for a bit of truth.
Raising my hands in a gesture of surrender, I grinned. ‘Calm down, Nicholas, I was only joking!’ Jeez , he needed to find his sense of humour.
‘You’re right, I wouldn’t have thought myself a “fuck-buddy” type of girl either,’ I acknowledged, dropping my gaze at my crude phrasing, Nicholas might curse easily, but I very rarely swore out loud, only in my head. Remembering his virtual obsession with eye contact, I raised my eyes as I continued. ‘But I’ll be honest with you, Nicholas. I’m 25 years old and until now the only sex I’ve experienced has been fumbled and pretty lame.’
Pulling the sheet tighter around my waist to give me something to distract myself with, I finally spoke again. ‘Until I met you, I never
‘Wow, I’m sorry, Rebecca. What happened, the accident?’
I felt my entire body tense. I couldn’t tell him that, wouldn’t . He’d think I was despicable; I certainly did when I allowed myself to think back to that night, that entire horrible month.
‘I … that’s not something I want to talk about, Nicholas. You have your secrets, and I have mine,’ I added, knowing I sounded bitter but not caring in my exhausted state.
Although he hadn’t seemed happy with my refusal to share my story with him, Nicholas was surprisingly gentle and considerate with me for the following few hours, insisting that I have a snooze on his sofa and stay for the rest of the day.
His gentleness even lasted through an exhausting sex session that he had claimed would make me feel better. Afterwards, instead of dressing and leaving as he usually did, he sat up and gazed down at me with a peculiar expression on his handsome face.
‘Why are you here, Rebecca?’ he asked suddenly, causing me to worry that I’d outstayed my welcome. After all, I’d been here the entire day and it was getting late now. Once again, it crossed my mind that I really should consider getting myself a normal relationship where I didn’t constantly need to be on tenterhooks, but somehow I just couldn’t bring myself to walk away from Nicholas.
‘I don’t mean now specifically,’ he said quickly, seeing the slight panic on my face as I tried to sit up. ‘I mean each week, why do you come here? You don’t strike me as a fuck-buddy kind of girl.’
Oh God, was I that obvious? Nicholas was right, of course, I had always been the relationship type and since starting this … thing … with him, I intrinsically knew that deep down I wanted more. Why else would I have run here today after my heart-wrenching night with Joanne? Not that I was going to admit that to him; it would well and truly scare him off and I was enjoying myself too much for it to end just yet. Maybe I could get away with some light remarks and half-truths to placate him.
‘I come for an amazing piano lesson,’ I said with a shrug and a small smile that I hoped appeared light and humorous.
One of his eyebrows arched high over his browbone as he continued to study me in silence. Apparently, he wanted more detail and was simply going to wait until I provided it.
‘OK, OK, an amazing piano lesson followed by some average sex,’ I remarked casually, but my heartbeat was racing in my chest. You had to be brave to toy with Nicholas Jackson; it was an adrenalin-raising experience.
Watching him carefully, I saw his eyes darken and narrow as something very like annoyance crossed his features. God, he could be so touchy, but perhaps I shouldn’t push him too far. He was an incredibly proud man and joking about his sexual prowess appeared to be pushing him toward the edge. Time for a bit of truth.
Raising my hands in a gesture of surrender, I grinned. ‘Calm down, Nicholas, I was only joking!’ Jeez , he needed to find his sense of humour.
‘You’re right, I wouldn’t have thought myself a “fuck-buddy” type of girl either,’ I acknowledged, dropping my gaze at my crude phrasing, Nicholas might curse easily, but I very rarely swore out loud, only in my head. Remembering his virtual obsession with eye contact, I raised my eyes as I continued. ‘But I’ll be honest with you, Nicholas. I’m 25 years old and until now the only sex I’ve experienced has been fumbled and pretty lame.’
Pulling the sheet tighter around my waist to give me something to distract myself with, I finally spoke again. ‘Until I met you, I never
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