The Only Way is Up

Part Twenty Four

Then, not knowing how else to deal with the tension, he kissed her again, not quite as ferociously, but passionately and deeply, and he felt her melt into his arms.

Nicole was choking on emotion, fear, anxiety, and now desire and passion. Her brain was fuddled, but her body seemed to know what it wanted. And at the moment it was the hard insistence of Maxim.

Finally a hint of common sense wafted into her brain, and she dragged her lips from his, though her hands remained splayed across his muscular back. Almost panting from the intensity of it all, she looked up at him.

"We shouldn't do this."

He gave a small shrug, "we're both adults..."

She stepped back, literally putting him down, then gave a small smile, "you're right..."

"But you're not ready."

Her smile was apologetic, "do you want a drink?"

Studying her, it was a long moment before he nodded, "ok..."

But as she left him in the hallway, praying for some distance to get her hormones back under control, he followed her. She could feel his body heat against her as she walked into the kitchen. She poured two glasses of water, then turned to see him leaning against the small table, his hip resting against the wood. He looked amazing, in jeans that fitted him perfectly and a t-shirt that clung to him without being tight. His hard body tense, ready for anything.

She handed him the glass and he nodded, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Tell me about what happened."

The surprised him, she looked up at him, "Vincent? He...I don't know what he wants...he was at my car, outside the gym where I was doing Pilates. Just hanging."

"Huh! Coincidence you mean? That is bullshit. This is his reaction to you appearing to be over him."

She sighed, "I don't know. He is just..."

He didn't let her finish, "don't make excuses for him Nicole, for god's sake. Look at your hand. What man would do that to a woman?"

"I wasn't about to excuse him...I was trying to say that I don't know WHY he's doing it, that's all."

He was silent, watching her as he sipped at his water.

"Aren't you going to say something?"

He shook his head, "I find in these situations there are few words that can help."

She could feel the anger emanating off him in waves, "you're angry?"

Shaking his head again he offered, "anger does not come close. I am...furious."

Nicole recoiled somewhat, "at me?"

It was only at that, as he looked up into her eyes that he softened, "of course not at you...well not other than my anger that you went near that man in the first place. And that you've held him in such regard, that you actually want to rekindle something with him."

"I don't!" She stepped towards him, "I thought I did...but I don't. Ever. You've made me realise that I'm worth more than second best."

Finally he smiled, "you are right, you should always be someone's first prize, never accept less."

His hand rose to cup her cheek and she found herself leaning into his touch, like a cat. It made him growl, like a lion, and that made her rub against him even more.

"Damn, you are making this so difficult for me."

"What?" She asked feigning innocence. There was something addictive about his attention, him being so attentive, so caring, but also the hints of the tension that was brewing between them. She'd tried to ignore it; to concentrate on what she thought was the right thing. But he wasn't taking no for an answer. And he showed that in every little thing he did.