“Do you want to be normal?” Nick leans his head to the side. “Dating four men isn’t normal. Enjoying sex with more than one person on a continual basis – not normal. Getting to travel, working for your father, being smart and caring and empathetic constantly … Sophia, you’re not normal.”
“Thanks.” My voice is hollow.
“It’s not a bad thing, sweetheart.” He assures. “Normal is boring. I think it would drive you insane. If you want normal … we can try to give you that.”
Why does that feel like a slap in the face to ask for? I stand up and pull all the blinds shut. I linger at the window. “I’m not saying that I don’t like what we have – all of us – and I’m not saying that I’m bored or want change. I just don’t want to miss out on things and sometimes I … I just want to be another irresponsible twenty-something that gets too drunk with friends.”
“Gunner would be happy to help with that.” Nick chuckles. “Even if you just earn some friends for the night.”
I nod.
Nick wraps himself around me and kisses my temple. “This is the kind of stuff we should talk about, sweetheart. It’s important, just like when we had our dances in Hawaii.”
“You know you’re important to me.” I turn in his arms. “So important, Nick. I love you. I love how you make me safe, loved, valued, heard. You do so much for me just because you’re you.”
He blushes a little and laughs before hugging me. We’ve kissed, made love, fucked, and everything in between, but this feels somehow … more. I rub his back and squeeze him so hard against me, I’m almost sure that we’re going to combine into one person.
“Thank you, Sophia.”
“Should I say it more?” I ask, sighing and nuzzling his neck.
“Every time you tell me, it’s wonderful.” He exhales, kissing my head, my cheek.
I turn my head slightly and kiss him hungrily, licking along his bottom lip and taking control as soon as I can get it. I nip his tongue then push mine between his lips. Nick devours me, moaning against my mouth until I’m hot all over.
He owns me in every possible way in this moment. He’s my lunch, the best part of my day, and … and aren’t my clothes too tight and too much? Nick presses his forehead to mine and rubs my sides.
“I love you, Sophie.”
He holds my face between his hands and kisses my forehead, the space between my eyebrows, and my lips. I squeeze his sides, making Nick jump a little, so I giggle. How can he fix this with just words? Just a hug that puts me back together in only a minute.
“I love you,” I promise. “You are wonderful.”
He kisses me again. “Ask Gunner to go out Friday. I’ll be the D.D. just to make sure everything is safe. I’m sure you can make plenty of friends without him, but the two of you can get some attention and fun with others.”
“I invited an old college friend to join us Friday for Holden’s party on Saturday.” I straighten his shirt, smoothing it down. “We’ll see how that goes.”
“It will go fine,” Nick assures, rubbing me again. “She might have an uphill climb when it comes to accepting, but I think it will be okay.”
That gets me through the day.
By the time I’m off the clock, I don’t complain when Gunner’s arm comes down around my shoulders as we walk out. He bumps my hip with his and sways his sides to the rhythm the heels draw out of me until I giggle and shove him.
He pulls me closer. “I’m stealing you.”
“You didn’t get enough of me over the weekend?”
“Not possible, sweets.” He assures, opening the car door to let me in.
He holds my hand as I sit down, then kisses my knuckles. It’s a move that’s so unlike him, I’m not convinced he hasn’t been body snatched. Gunner jumps in the car turns up the music and pulls his sunglasses down.
From billionaire workaholic to playboy in one move.
I giggle and buckle up. ‘Where are you stealing me to?”
“I have a whole plan.”
“That you’re going to let me in on right?” I giggle.