Chapter 21
“Nicolas…” Rachel started to speak, but suddenly everything went dark as something warm and soft crashed against her lips. Nicolas’s kiss was hungry and demanding, stealing every breath from her lungs. She tried to push him away, but he pressed her firmly against the door, his body caging her in.
“Stay still,” Nicolas whispered against her mouth, his voice rough with amusement and something darker. “What if he hears
us?”
From outside, Jaxon’s voice echoed: “Rachel, where’d you go?”
Rachel froze, her heart hammering so loud she was sure he’d hear it through the door.
She felt Nicolas pull back just enough to speak, his lips still brushing hers as he watched her with predatory eyes. Then his mouth was on hers again-harder this time, more possessive, like he was claiming something that had always been his.
Right then, Jaxon came back to the door, standing outside looking confused. “Uncle Nick, have you seen Rachel?”
He stepped closer, and Rachel could hear him just inches away. Nicolas’s hand slid to the back of her neck, his thumb stroking her pulse point as he kept her pinned there, completely at his mercy.
“Just opened a window,” Nicolas replied smoothly, his voice completely steady even as his eyes burned into hers. “Problem?”
Jaxon laughed awkwardly and started to leave, but his footsteps stopped right outside again. Rachel’s breath hitched as Nicolas’s free hand traced down her side, slow and deliberate, making her shiver.
Just as Rachel thought her heart might actually explode, the door handle turned and the door swung open.
Nicolas had somehow moved across the room in seconds, casually leaning against the bed, scrolling through his phone like
nothing had happened.
Jaxon smiled sheepishly. “Uncle Nick, you sure you haven’t seen Rachel?”
Nicolas barely looked up. “What am I, her babysitter?”
Jaxon shut his mouth and backed off.
Everything went quiet, but Rachel’s pulse was still going insane, her lips still tingling from his touch.
Nicolas walked back over to her slowly, like a predator stalking prey. He leaned down, his mouth inches from her ear: “Think this counts as cheating?” His voice was pure sin, dripping with challenge and raw desire.
She tried to step away, but he caught her waist, pulling her flush against him. She could feel the heat radiating off his body, smell his cologne mixed with something uniquely him.
“Admit it,” Nicolas whispered, his lips grazing her neck, “this is way more exciting than anything you ever had with him. You and Jaxon’s uncle… wonder what he’d think about that?”
Rachel’s face burned as her body betrayed her, responding to his touch despite her mind screaming at her to run.
“You’re insane,” she breathed, but her voice came out breathy instead of angry.
Nicolas chuckled low against her throat, the vibration making her knees weak. “Maybe. But that’s what makes it so damn good.”
His fingers traced along her jawline with maddening slowness, his thumb brushing across her bottom lip. When she unconsciously parted her lips, his eyes went dark with want.
“Scared?” Nicolas asked quietly, his voice a dangerous whisper.
Rachel felt like she was drowning, her heart pounding so hard she couldn’t think straight. Every rational thought was being burned away by the way he was looking at her.
“Stop…” she whispered, but even she could hear how unconvincing it sounded.
Nicolas smiled-a slow, wicked curve of his lips-and suddenly stepped back, leaving her cold and breathless against the door. “I just wanted to see how long you’d keep lying to yourself.”
And with that, he walked out like nothing had happened.
Rachel stood there shaking, her whole body still humming from his touch. She was starting to think reaching out to Nicolas
might have been the most dangerous decision of her life.
But there was no going back now. She’d opened this door herself.
In the dining room, Charles was absolutely delighted that Rachel had stayed for lunch.
Rachel sat quietly at the table, barely able to focus on anything except the memory of Nicolas’s hands on her. Jaxon kept
looking at her with genuine concern.
“Rachel, try this-I remember it used to be your favorite.” Jaxon smiled as he put food on her plate.
Nicolas suddenly cut in coldly: “Jaxon, you’re really going all out taking care of Miss Leroix.”
Jaxon blinked, then smiled. “Rachel’s going to be my wife. Looking after her is my job.”
Nicolas let out a bitter laugh: “Funny thing is, Miss Leroix doesn’t seem too excited about that arrangement.”
Rachel’s stomach dropped as she gripped her chopsticks tighter, refusing to meet Nicolas’s eyes.
Jaxon picked up on the tension and went quiet.
The whole table got awkward fast. Charles cleared his throat, clearly sensing something was off.
Nicolas felt his control slipping and stood up abruptly. “I’m done here. You guys enjoy.”
He headed straight for his room without looking back.
Rachel stared down at her plate, her mind still reeling. Jaxon noticed her mood shift and asked gently: “Rachel, you okay?”
Rachel forced a smile. “Yeah, just tired.” She turned down his offer to drive her home.
Up in his room, Nicolas stood by the window watching Jaxon walk Rachel to her car.
He lit a cigarette, his hands not quite steady.
Nicolas laughed at himself, shaking his head. “Nicolas Rothschild, you’ve really lost your fucking mind.”
He crushed the cigarette and ran his tongue across his bottom lip, still tasting her.
