uncomfortable statement of truth. I nodded, then headed out the door. If I stayed, then I might never leave, and I wanted Tucker more than I wanted this, at least for now. Tucker was excitement and comfort, while Hermes was stability. It wasn’t lost on me that he’d also be the one man I got involved with—if I got involved with him—that my mother would approve of. Maybe he’d be good for me in other ways, too. Maybe I did need an older gentleman to protect me and guide me on my path, but as much as I tried to wrap my mind around it, my heart rebelled.
Hermes might be a smart choice, but he wasn’t my choice. Not now. Right now, I was headed to someone who excited me and made me feel good about myself in the here and now, flaws and all. Tucker was still pulling me toward him, like a massive sun in orbit, and I wanted that. The calm he left me with was real and not some petty illusion.
But it was also temporary and I had to accept that.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Tucker
Nik didn’t talk much on the ride back to my hotel room. I didn’t mind. She stayed curled up at my side in the taxi and the feeling of her soft, warm body flush against mine was more than enough to keep me happy and satisfied during the ride. I figured that dealing with that Hermes guy was hard for her, when what she really needed was peace.
But was peace what I could give her?
I wasn’t sure what I was doing with her. I knew that I wanted to help her and that despite what she’d said, some part of me was channeling my inner white knight and hoped to save her.
That wasn’t me. Sometimes I’d have a girl a second or third night in a row, but I hadn’t had a real relationship since high school. Why limit myself, right?
Then I’d seen her . And more importantly, Nikki Lorenz was more than just a hot good time. She was a woman wearing her heart on her sleeve, who was literally balanced on the edge. Things started to change for me when I saw her dive off the stage. She had a wild, free spirit and I wanted to help her make the most of it—without letting it consume her.
She could tell me pretty stories all she wanted about how balancing made her feel alive, but no one would do that without at least seriously considering the prospect of being hurt or killed. I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t been there, but I felt it was at least even odds that someone would have been fishing her out of the river. I truly believed that.
So she needed me.
And if she didn’t want to talk on the way to my hotel or go over whatever bullshit Hermes had to say on behalf of the Wicked Witch, that was cool by me. Frankly, I didn’t mind having her soft body pressed up against mine, not in the taxi, and not when she leaned on me as we took the elevator to my room. I figured she’d be wiped. That she’d want some rest.
But I could tell from the way she was already nibbling on my left ear lobe that while she wanted to use the bed for a variety of things, sleep wasn’t one of them. I was definitely on board. Blood was flowing fast to places other than my brain, and I could feel the denim of my jeans growing tighter.
Nikki moved from my ear down the line of my jaw, her kisses feather-light teases, promising me so much more. I reached down and cupped the curves of her ass, enjoying the feel of her soft flesh between my fingers. Nikki squealed a bit and kissed my lips, her teeth grazing over my bottom lip. I shivered as I guided her into the room and then immediately started walking to the bed.
“So I was thinking we might try something different tonight,” she teased.
I laughed. “Yeah? Well, I’m definitely up for anything you want, Nik.”
She grinned back at me and pressed her hips against mine. “I can feel that.”
“I bet you can feel a lot,” I said, leaning down and kissing the hollow of her throat. “But we can do whatever you want. If you just need to sleep, I understand.”
She shook her head and grazed her fingers
Hermes might be a smart choice, but he wasn’t my choice. Not now. Right now, I was headed to someone who excited me and made me feel good about myself in the here and now, flaws and all. Tucker was still pulling me toward him, like a massive sun in orbit, and I wanted that. The calm he left me with was real and not some petty illusion.
But it was also temporary and I had to accept that.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Tucker
Nik didn’t talk much on the ride back to my hotel room. I didn’t mind. She stayed curled up at my side in the taxi and the feeling of her soft, warm body flush against mine was more than enough to keep me happy and satisfied during the ride. I figured that dealing with that Hermes guy was hard for her, when what she really needed was peace.
But was peace what I could give her?
I wasn’t sure what I was doing with her. I knew that I wanted to help her and that despite what she’d said, some part of me was channeling my inner white knight and hoped to save her.
That wasn’t me. Sometimes I’d have a girl a second or third night in a row, but I hadn’t had a real relationship since high school. Why limit myself, right?
Then I’d seen her . And more importantly, Nikki Lorenz was more than just a hot good time. She was a woman wearing her heart on her sleeve, who was literally balanced on the edge. Things started to change for me when I saw her dive off the stage. She had a wild, free spirit and I wanted to help her make the most of it—without letting it consume her.
She could tell me pretty stories all she wanted about how balancing made her feel alive, but no one would do that without at least seriously considering the prospect of being hurt or killed. I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t been there, but I felt it was at least even odds that someone would have been fishing her out of the river. I truly believed that.
So she needed me.
And if she didn’t want to talk on the way to my hotel or go over whatever bullshit Hermes had to say on behalf of the Wicked Witch, that was cool by me. Frankly, I didn’t mind having her soft body pressed up against mine, not in the taxi, and not when she leaned on me as we took the elevator to my room. I figured she’d be wiped. That she’d want some rest.
But I could tell from the way she was already nibbling on my left ear lobe that while she wanted to use the bed for a variety of things, sleep wasn’t one of them. I was definitely on board. Blood was flowing fast to places other than my brain, and I could feel the denim of my jeans growing tighter.
Nikki moved from my ear down the line of my jaw, her kisses feather-light teases, promising me so much more. I reached down and cupped the curves of her ass, enjoying the feel of her soft flesh between my fingers. Nikki squealed a bit and kissed my lips, her teeth grazing over my bottom lip. I shivered as I guided her into the room and then immediately started walking to the bed.
“So I was thinking we might try something different tonight,” she teased.
I laughed. “Yeah? Well, I’m definitely up for anything you want, Nik.”
She grinned back at me and pressed her hips against mine. “I can feel that.”
“I bet you can feel a lot,” I said, leaning down and kissing the hollow of her throat. “But we can do whatever you want. If you just need to sleep, I understand.”
She shook her head and grazed her fingers
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