The Only Way is Up

Part Twenty Two

Finally Nicole lifted her head and looked up at Maxim, met his eyes, the sadness there made her want to hug him, comfort him. But he wouldn't appreciate that; he'd see it as pity. So instead she smiled, "thank you."

He cocked an eyebrow, "thank you?"

She nodded, "I backed you into a corner, you didn't have to tell me anything."

Groaning he lifted a hand, ran s finger over her jaw, she shivered at that, and it made him smile, "I don't like thinking about the past...that's why I don't mention it."

"But you have to share things."

Dropping his head, he swiped his lips over hers, "you are making me do and want things I didn't think were possible."

She sighed, "you have to embrace life...I know what it's like to close down, to not know what's happening, to not see a future...you, the training, it helped me so much. I only wish I could help you."

"You do everyday."

They walked back to the cafe, to Andrei and the motorbike in silence, both thinking through all that had happened.

"You'll come and see me soon," Andrei had hugged Maxim when they arrived back at the cafe. Maxim made the plea as they moved the bike out of the yard and into the street.

Andrei nodded as he helped Nicole on to the back of the bike, "soon friend, I swear."

Then it was back to clinging on to Maxim as the bike made light work of the streets heading back into the city.

As the bike moved, Maxim directing them around bends and between vehicles, she couldn't concentrate on anything but his hard body under her hands, against her chest, and between her thighs. He was a fighter; he'd pitched his body in fake warfare against another. She had no idea how that made her feel. But she'd always had the feeling that it had all been for a purpose, there was a reason for his dedication to his physical condition. Did she think that it was because he was a trainer? She wasn't convinced, but never in her wildest dreams had she thought that it was because he was a fighter. And a model. She swallowed nervously against his shoulder, the soft leather of his jacket against her cheek, she couldn't wait for some alone time so that she could investigate his modelling pictures, the fighter ones had made her more than a little hot under the collar.

It was an hour before the engine slowed and she spotted her house along the street from them. As when they'd arrived in Southend, he jumped off the bike and helped her off. It was as she stepped down that she wobbled on the edge of the kerb, and for a moment she feared she'd fall, but two arms encircled her and she was pulled up against his hard body.

"Sometimes the vibration of the bike makes your legs a little wobbly."

Lifting her eyes Nicole looked up at him not wanting to admit that part of the shakiness in her legs was him, the proximity to him. And that was something she wanted to distance herself from him.

Standing back she smiled, "that'll be it."

But he smiled too, and she knew that he was seeing through her comment, "ok..."

So now came the awkward 'on the doorstep moment'...Nicole sighed, "I'd ask you in...But I have to be up early tomorrow. Something about a rearranged Pilates session? You see I have this demon personal trainer..."

Maxim chuckled softly, "ah, that is a real concern. I couldn't anyway...it wouldn't end well." That was accompanied by a wicked glint in his eye and she couldn't help but smile.

"No?"

At that comment he took a visible deep breath and then lifted a hand to cup her cheek, "you have no idea."

The tension was suddenly almost unbearable, his eyes were penetrating hers, his fingers scorching her cheek, his body just a breath from the length of hers. As his head lowered subtly, she knew he was going to kiss her, so she closed her eyes.

His lips brushed hers, and her whole body jolted, that was all the encouragement that Maxim needed to slide his free arm around her, settling over her pelvis, easing her forward in to him. His kiss was as practiced, as expert as the previous ones, and her response was as uncontrolled. She'd never been so worshipped, yet so ravaged, his lips were making love to hers, and whilst she wanted to cringe at the soppy love story analogy, she also knew that it was true. He took, he gave, it was wondrous. Her legs wanted to collapse again, wanted to run her hands over his skin, touch him below his shirt. But she didn't...

And once again it was Maxim that ended things, pulling back slightly, "you see what I mean?"

She'd known he was right before that kiss, if he'd stepped inside her house things would get out of hand. And she still wasn't sure...when he wasn't touching her, that it was what she wanted.

Giving a small nervous smile she nodded, "thank you...for tonight. It was beautiful. And thank you for talking to me, you could have walked away."

He groaned at that muttering under her breath and it was her turn to smile, "see you soon?"

"Lunch tomorrow; I'll meet you at the gym." She made to protest, she needed her space, time to regroup. But he could sense that doubt, "we have to discuss your training...now that you've reached your goal."

Reaching for her hand, he took her keys then opened the front door, "lock it behind me, ok?" With a mute nod, she did that, then collapsed behind it panting.