Broken Pieces (Riverdale #2) (2 page)

“Suit yourself.” He said and lifted his glass before throwing back the shot. The three musketeers, that’s what they reminded Nick of, downed the shots. Mallory and Phillip took the fiery liquid like champs, while Sam reached across the bar to chase the shot with Nick’s beer. Her body shuddered and she scrunched her face up as she guzzled the beer. He couldn’t help the smirk. It was nice to know as much as things changed there were a few things that remained the same.

She slammed the beer bottle against the bar and slapped Nick’s bicep. “Wipe that grin off your face Foti.”

Her hands lingered for a moment, her fingertips traveling along where his sleeves ended. He looked down at her hand and then back at her face. She retracted her hand as if she had just scorched her fingertips. He thought he heard Phillip mumble something, but wasn’t sure when he pieced together the words. Something about swinging from his arms, Nick shrugged it off.

Mallory turned to Nick.
“So…”
Mallory began before taking another sip of her drink, swallowing the gulp of alcohol she eyed Nick with a sassy stare, deciding to finish her thought.  “Will you be making Samantha drop her panties tonight or what?”

Phillip threw his head into his hands and his shoulders slumped defeated. It was almost comical, Nick mused. Mallory looked at Phillip with innocence in her gaze.

“What? What did I say? Wasn’t this the plan?” She scratched her head confused.

Nick’s eyes wandered towards Sam’s, he brought his hand up to his face and scratched at the day’s stubble that covered his jaw. She had turned an awfully embarrassing shade of red, and he couldn’t tell if was from anger or shame.

“I’m all for Samantha dropping her panties for me.” He took a long sip of his beer, eyes intently staring into hers. He pulled the neck of the bottle down, and licked his lips. “What color are they anyway?”

“None of your business.” She said through gritted teeth and then surprised him by taking a step towards him. He bit the inside of his cheek to hide the smile. The fire in her blue eyes had him truly wondering what color they were. She poked his chest with one perfectly manicured fingernail. “Read my lips.” She whispered. “No matter how many times you say my full name, you’ll never see my panties.”

His hand closed around her wrist and he cocked his head. “I bet their black lace.” He leaned over and his breath grazed her ear, causing her to shudder. “Samantha.” He whispered against her ear. He decided he liked the way her full name sounded coming from him, and vowed to make more of an effort to use it.
      

Chapter Two

Sam groaned as she began to awaken. By the way her head was pounding,
she figured there had to be a mariachi band playing over her head. 
She could picture the band stomping around dancing on her brain. She fought to open her eyes, wondering to herself if she would be able to lift her head that felt as if it weighed a ton. She recognized a scent, it was musky
and woodsy yet fresh and clean.  It
smelt delicious. She didn’t remember her sheets ever smelling this good. She sniffed her pillow one more time, indulging in the scent, before rolling over and stretching her body along the mattress.
  S
he went to stretch her arms over her head when she noticed the long sleeve shirt she was wearing. Startled, she sat up and looked down at her chest, she had on a man’s button down shirt, and well, that was it. She pulled back the covers and lifted the shirt that was creeping up her thigh. Relief washed over her. At least she was wearing underwear.

“Shit! Shit! Shit! What did you do Sam?” She said as she buried her face in her hands. Okay, all she needed to do was think. Whose shirt was she wearing anyway? No, please God, no. She combed her fingers through her hair, or at least attempted to. Failing miserably, she figured her hair must resemble a nest of some sort. She jumped out of bed and took in her surroundings. Her clothes were nowhere in sight. Great
.  More good news.  She
was never going to drink again. She couldn’t remember a damn thing, other than… that son of a bitch!

The last thing Sam remembered, Nick Foti had been telling her and her friends he wouldn’t mind her dropping her panties for him. She suddenly felt sick as she glanced over to the chair in the corner. There were Nick’s jeans and shirt from the night before draped over the arm of the chair. Funny, how she was able to find his clothes, but not hers. She swung open the door and stomped barefoot out of his bedroom. She was going to murder him.

His apartment wasn’t that big, two steps out of the bedroom and she was in the open concept living room that led straight to the kitchen. If she wasn’t so damn mad she would’ve taken a moment to appreciate the fact that all he wore was basketball shorts. He turned around and she forgot what she was mad about. She hated that part of herself.

“Coffee?” He asked as he brought his own mug to his lips and took a sip.

“Are you kidding me? Coffee? That’s all you have to say for yourself?” She said, putting her hands on her hips to further emphasize her mood.

“I didn’t think you were a morning person. Good to know I’m two for two.” He said as he reached into his cabinet and pulled out another mug. He began to pour her a cup.

“What the hell does that even mean?” She asked as her brows furrowed in confusion. She couldn’t help but stare at his sculpted chest. He was a piece of male perfection, truly he was. Her breathing hitched when she noticed the brown hair that trailed from beneath his belly button down to… holy crap
! 
He couldn’t possibly be wearing any underwear. She swallowed hard.

“First, you were in fact wearing black lace underwear. Second, your morning attitude is just as bad as your rest of the day attitude.” He slid the coffee mug across the counter.

She snapped out of her trance and glared at him. “You try waking up in a strange bed with someone else’s clothes on and tell me how your attitude is.”

He looked as if he was actually contemplating the scenario she had just offered up to him. He shrugged his shoulders. “I’d go about it differently than you.” He took another sip of his coffee.

“Oh, let me hear this one.” She said as she rolled her eyes and took the first heavenly sip of caffeine.

“Well, I suppose my first question would’ve been along the lines of ‘was it as good as I hoped it would be’?”

She spit out her first sip before she could even swallow it. Nick hid his mouth behind his mug and Sam was certain he was hiding a smirk. Her eyes widened.

“Are you saying what I think you’re saying? You and I had sex?” She stared at him in horror. How could this have happened? She wanted to kick herself because not only did she ask herself how it happened, she followed it with, how could she finally have had sex with Nick and not remember one single detail. She stared back down at the bulge that was so evident through his loose fitting basketball shorts. For crying out loud how could she forget
that
?

Nick cleared his throat, and raised an eyebrow at her.

“Are you going to put some clothes on?” She squeaked.

“That depends.” He said as he gripped the edge of the counter, his arms flexed. “Are you?”

“Gladly. If you would just point out where they are.” She crossed her arms against her chest and sulked. This has been the worst morning after ever. She looked up at him. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“Which one? You asked a bunch.” He said as he walked around the counter, carrying his cup of coffee. He sauntered into the living room and bent down, holy hell he had a killer ass too. When he rose to his full height, he held out one of her heels to her. Well, now we were getting somewhere, she supposed.

“Thanks.” She muttered and snatched the shoe from him. “Did we sleep together?”

Nick turned around and stared at her. She felt her cheeks flush as his stare traveled the length of her body. What the hel
l are you embarrassed for now?  He had already seen it all, she guessed by the smug way he was reacting. 
The bastard probably remembers too.

“You really don’t remember?” He said and took another step closer to her. She couldn’t find her voice, well she could, but she just didn’t trust what she would say. What sat on the tip of her tongue begging to come out was, ‘No, how about a re-enactment?’

Nick reached out and toyed with the top button of his shirt that she wore. She stared up at him watching as his eyes darkened. She couldn’t read him. His lips were a straight line, and his eyes dipped lower and settled on the shirt button he had been toying with for another moment. When his eyes finally met hers, he removed his hand.

“Let’s clear something up. We didn’t sleep together, yet.”

“Yet?” She would’ve slapped him if she could stop the band in her head or her eyes from radiating towards his shorts. Her body was all out of whack.

He nodded confidently. “I’ve already made up my mind that we most definitely are going to be sleeping together. I also decided I’d like you sober and very much alert.”

She swallowed hard and felt the temperature rise around her. Suddenly her lack of clothing was having her feel overdressed. She forced herself to gain control.

“Ha! Well, that’s too bad, because I have decided I’m not interested!” She glared at him, crossing her arms. There Nick Foti, take that!

He laughed, he actually laughed. “If you wanted me to believe that you probably should’ve stopped undressing me with your eyes a few minutes ago.”

Sam’s mouth gaped open, and as if on cue her eyes found his shorts again. What the hell was wrong with her? She snapped her eyes shut. “I am not undressing you with my eyes.”

“So you’re not picturing how big my dick is right now?” He asked dead serious. There wasn’t even a hint of humor in his voice.

Sam was in big trouble. She needed to get the hell out of there, and quick.

“Whatever it is you’re figuring, just add on a couple of inches.” His hands played with the elastic of his shorts, teasingly. “You know what, never mind, I’ll just show you.”

“No!” she shrieked. Why? She had no idea. “Where are my clothes Nick? I’m so done playing games with you.”

He snapped the elastic band of his shorts against his waist and shrugged his shoulders.

“Your loss. Now you’ll just have to wait a little longer.”

This was crazy, when did she lose control?

“No, if I die without ever having seen your dick…”

“Horrible way to go,” he cut her off. “Don’t worry baby, I’ll make sure it doesn’t end like that for you.”

“You know what? Go to hell!” She bent down and grabbed her other shoe.   Bending
down, she slid her heels on. She glanced down at the shirt. It came up about mid-thigh. She supposed there were worse outfits she could be doing the walk of shame in. This would just have to do.

She grabbed her pocketbook that was on his couch. Her car was downstairs, that she was sure of. She had driven herself to Rudy’s last night.

“Sam, wait.” Nick said as she headed for the door.

“No. I’ve had enough of your shit. In fact, I had enough to last me a lifetime.” She turned around and faced him, her anger boiling. “You should’ve taken your chance last night, or seven years ago when you had the shot. Because I promise you, there will never be another opportunity again.”

He didn’t argue. He stayed completely silent and just when she thought he had finally got the point, he dropped his shorts. There he stood gloriously naked in front of her. He bent down and grabbed his shorts and handed them to her.

“Put these on, your brothers would kill me if you walked out of here dressed like that.”

Nick Foti was naked in front of her. Holy crap, she’d basically dreamed of this moment since she was thirteen years old. Well, he sure as hell didn’t disappoint. He carried a monster between his legs, one she wouldn’t mind getting more familiar with. She willed herself to stop staring at his impressive package and looked back at his face.

He wore a smug expression as he offered her his shorts. What did he say? Her brothers would kill him? She smiled sweetly at him and grabbed his shorts. She crumbled them up in a ball and threw them in his face. She turned on her heel and opened the door. When it slammed behind her, she hoped Jake and Luke would do just that.

* * * * * *

Nick rubbed his hand back and forth over his head. Christ, she drove him crazy. He had done his best to take care of her last night. He knew that she and tequila didn’t mix
well.  H
e remembered that little fact from years ago. When she could barely stand and her friends were too wrapped up in their game of pool, he decided to take her upstairs to his apartment.

He had assured Phillip and Mallory, he’d take good care of her. They looked more than happy that he had stepped up to the plate. In fact Phillip offered him some condoms and Mallory some words of encouragement. If he remembered correctly, she had told him, if Sam didn’t remember in the morning he’d simply have to refresh her memory. Phillip obviously agreed with Mallory because he shoved more condoms at Nick after her statement. It seemed as if Sam’s friends were on a mission to get her laid. He didn’t have a problem with that as long as he was the only one they had in mind to fulfill their quest.