When Angels Fall (Fallen Angels) (56 page)

He knew that was what had been on her mind, but didn’t want to bring it up. “Okay, come with me.”

“Nick, don’t be mad at me,” she said, getting up.

 
“I’m not mad. Get whatever you need for tomorrow and follow me,” he said and waited for her to get some things together.

“Where are we going?”
 
She went through her bag.

“You’ll see,” he answered and took what she gathered up and put it into his bag. He opened the door and led her to the elevator.

“Nicholas, really, where are you taking me?” she asked him again.

“You’re like a little kid who is going to spoil the surprise. You’re not in control at this moment, so come on and let me handle things.” He laughed and pressed the button.

They had gotten off at the sixteenth floor and he led her down the hallway. As they stopped at a door, he looked at her. “Close your eyes and don’t open them until I tell you. If you peek, you will ruin everything.”

Chloe sighed and did what he asked. Crossing her arms to her chest, she asked, “What is this?”

“Just do what I said. Stop being so nosy,” he answered. He took her in to the room and led her out to the balcony. “Now, stay out here until I come and get you. Here, take this,” He handed her a menu that hung on the door when they got in. “Order us breakfast for tomorrow,” he said, then closed the curtain, and left her there.

After she went through the menu and placed the order, she looked out over the balcony. The salty ocean air was cool, but the glow of the moon on the water was breathtaking. It was a clear night and you could see almost all the stars in the sky. It was so peaceful. Chloe thought about her life and wondered how she had come to that moment. Eight months before, she was a sheltered, lonely mess, and now, she had him. She never dreamed she would feel this way about anyone, let alone have that person feel the same for her.

Again, she looked at her ring. He really loved her that much to give it to her and make all those promises to her. She‘d been so deep in thought that she hadn’t heard him come out to get her. He startled her again, but this time, by putting a cloth over her eyes. “Nicholas, what are you doing?” She laughed.

“Just humor me a little more,” he said and couldn’t seem to resist the urge to kiss the nape of her neck.

Chloe waited for him to show her what he’d been up to.

Before he did, he touched her face and kissed her lightly. “Before I remove the blindfold, remember, you can still say no and we can wait as long as you want. I promise it won’t be like Gabbie and Dave. They aren’t here and we aren’t them. It’s just you and me. This is our world and our night. Let what happened between them go out of your mind and stay focused on us.” He softly kissed her again.

Reaching up, she touched his hand. “I will.”

Nick took the cover off her eyes and waited for her reaction. When her eyes adjusted to the soft lighting, Chloe gasped and put her hand to her mouth. The room was aglow with candles and soft music was playing. He had spread red rose petals throughout the room and even some on the bed. After taking it all in, she looked over at him.

He held a red rose in his hand. “Is this what you wanted?”

“I’m speechless. I can’t believe you did this. It’s so beautiful.” She almost cried. Had he really done all this for her?

“I know we’d said doves, but that was a little hard to do. I could, however, open the balcony door and let a pigeon or seagull in?” he teased.

 
“Could you? I would love to wake up to some bird flying around this room, squawking at us.” She smiled and smelled the rose.

“Not a problem.” He went to open the door, but she stopped him.

He took her into his arms and slowly danced with her in place.

Chloe laid her head against his and closed her eyes. She felt so safe and secure in his embrace.

“I love you,” he whispered. “Chloe, just tell me if—”

She put her finger to his lips. “I want to remember every moment of this night. I want to remember the way you held me and touched me—” she started to say when he kissed her. “And kissed me.” She sighed as his lips touched her neck. Slowly, she pushed the shirt off his shoulders and ran her hands down his strong arms. He put both hands to her face and kissed her again, caressing her cheeks as he did.

She was so nervous that she was trembling, but she tried to push her way past it.

He took her hands and held them.

“Baby, relax.”

“I’m trying to.” She was feeling a little frustrated with herself. She took a deep breath and pulled away from him. “I’ll be right back.” She went to the bag, got something, and went into the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror and tried to relax. She wanted this; she wanted him. She just had to let it happen the way it was going to. Looking at the bag she’d gotten, she hoped this would help her a little more.

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Nick sat on the chair, staring at the ceiling. He knew she was scared and still freaked out about the Gabbie thing, but this was not the way he had pictured the night going. She said she was fine and then ran off and locked herself in the bathroom. He heard the door open, and when he looked up, his jaw dropped.

 
She wore a white, sheer, baby doll nighty. The fabric was split down the middle and held together with a white, silky bow.

He couldn’t help but stare at her, his eyes traveling from the beauty of her face to the way the outfit conformed to her body.

“I wanted to wear something sexy for you. If you don’t like it, I can change,” she suggested, seeing the way he stared at her.

Nick couldn’t say anything; he just took her into his arms and kissed her, letting his hands go inside the split and rest on her back.

 
Chloe put her hands to the back of his head and then slowly let them fall to his tank top. Bringing her hands to his hips, she pulled at the material to start to remove it.

He pulled away and quickly took it off, revealing the chiseled chest he now had from being active with the baseball team.

 
As soon as her warm hands were on his bare chest, his kisses grew more passionate. His hands were on her waist and he held her against him so tightly that she could feel his hardness. Slowly, she moved her hands down to his jeans and started to unbuttoned them. Her heart was pounding. Before she could start to remove them, Nick picked her up and carried her over to the waiting bed. He laid her down, and then removed his pants.

Climbing in to bed next to her, he looked into her eyes. “Are you sure?” He softly kissed her.

Chloe took her purity ring off her pinky, and taking his hand, she placed it into his palm and closed his fingers around it. “I’m giving myself to you, my love. I’ve never wanted anything more.”

“Give me your hand,” he said softly and reached for her left hand. He took off the ring he’d given her earlier, and in its place, he slipped his ring on her finger. “Someday, I’m going to marry you and this will be real. But for tonight, pretend it’s real. That you’re my bride and this is our wedding night.” He put the promise ring on top of his so it wouldn’t slip off.

Chloe kissed him as her reply. Their kisses were slow and gentle, but then grew stronger and with more passion.

His hands strayed down along her back, loosening the bow, the silky fabric gliding off her breasts, only to be replaced with his warm hands. Now they lay in each other’s arms, their naked bodies pressing against each other.

“Chloe?” he whispered, trying to keep from going too fast. He had wanted this to last, this feeling he had for her, but he found that now that the time had come, he needed badly to take her.

“Yes.” Her answer was breathless as his lips found her breast.

“Say it,” he almost begged her as he parted her legs.

“I love you, Nicholas, so, so much. Make love to me,” she whispered.

As he started to press into her, she gasped.

“God, baby, I’m sorry, I’m so, so sorry.” He caressed her face, knowing that he was hurting her.

She touched his face and calmed him. “It was only for a second. I’ll be okay. Just hold me in your arms and kiss me as you do.”

He did as she asked, and waited for her to calm a little more. Then, he pushed into her. Chloe cried out a little and clenched her fingers into his back. He was in her and felt her body throbbing around him. He noticed the tears streaming down her face and it broke his heart. He kissed away her tears and she looked into his eyes. “My beautiful angel, I’m so sorry I hurt you,” he whispered as he stroked her hair.

Chloe kissed him softly, feeling his love for her in his words. “Shh, the worst is over now, Baby. I love you.” She touched his face and encouraged him on. As the candles started to burn out, their promise broken, they became lovers.

The early morning light came through the sliding glass door, waking Nick from his dream. He reached for her, then realized she wasn’t next to him. “Chloe?” he called to her softly. When she didn’t answer, he got out of bed to look for her. He found her on the balcony, standing in the sunlight, her hair softly blowing in the breeze.

 
She’d put on his shirt and her panties, but nothing else.

He laughed to himself because he had just pulled on his jeans and was looking for his shirt. Quietly, he opened the door, came up behind her, and kissed her bare shoulder where his shirt had fallen off a little.

“Come back to me,” he whispered.

She turned around and kissed him hungrily.

 
He touched her face as they kissed and she purred as he pulled her closer. “Good morning, angel,” he said in between their kisses.

“Good morning, lover,” She giggled. “I didn’t want to wake you, so I came out here,” she explained as he held her.

“Okay, so I’m awake. Come back to bed.”

“We have to get moving. Breakfast will be here soon, and then we have to go to our other rooms,” she reminded him.

“Yeah, I kind of forgot about the other rooms. I like this one. It has sentimental meaning now,” he teased.

She giggled at that and hugged him.

“What were you thinking about when I came out here?”

“Hmm, you. Just how tender, loving, and passionate you are. How last night was amazing and how madly I’m in love with you,” she answered as she traced a line down his chest.

“So, I’m guessing you have no regrets?” he asked while he started to unbutton the shirt he suddenly wanted her badly.

“What about you? Do you regret what happened?” she asked, taking a deep breath as his hands started to caress her naked breasts

 
He picked her up, took her back to bed, and showed her his answer.

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Chloe lay in his arms and sighed. This was where she wanted to stay, here, in their own little world, away from everything and everyone. She hated that this had to end soon. She leaned up and looked at the clock. “Okay, in a half hour, breakfast will be here. I’m going to grab a shower and wash all this hair spray out of my hair.”

“Good. I need food; I’m so drained. Who knew sex could do this to you?” He laughed, and then watched her modestly get out of bed and cover herself. “What is going through that mind of yours?”

She looked at him and pondered the thought more. “Come take a shower with me,” she suggested.