Page 76 of She’s Worth the Risk

Nick is pensive as we walk along Fruit Street to the arts center. I’m not sure if it’s from running into Marcus or from the fact that someone he knows saw us together. But then, Marcus was probably none the wiser until Nick took my hand.

“You didn’t have to tell him we’re…” I trail off, unsure how to phrase it. Not when I’m supposed to leave town in a couple days.

“Yes, I did.”

I glance at Nick. “Why?”

He stares straight ahead with a furrowed brow, saying nothing, and I exhale.

“He seems… nice.” I take a sip of coffee, adding, “Although I have to admit, I kind of wanted to punch him.”

A wry smile lifts one side of Nick’s mouth. “That’s why.”

“What?”

He stops, still two blocks from the arts center, and turns to me. “You stood up for me before you even knew who he was.”

“Well, yeah.” I frown. “And believe me, once I knew he was your brother, I wanted to do a lot more than that.”

Nick’s eyes penetrate mine, swimming with something I can’t name. Then he wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me close to cover my mouth with his, kissing me deeply. I soften against him, forgetting where we are, losing myself in this moment with him. When we finally part, Nick drops his forehead to mine.

“You’re amazing, Zinnia.” His rough exhale is sweet against my lips. “God, I wish…” But he doesn’t let himself finish the sentence, shaking his head and forcing himself to step back. “Come on.”

And I spend the rest of the evening wondering what, exactly, he wished for.

Life drawing is tenser than usual. Nick’s eyes never leave me, unless to help a student, and even then it’s with great reluctance. I’ve been nude in this room many times before, completely exposed and on display, but tonight is the first time I blush under the intensity of his gaze.

I don’t know if anyone else notices.

After class, he packs down with stiff, agitated movements, but it’s different from the Nick I met. Instead of his body language signaling control and restraint, it feels more… despondent. Defeated, almost.

My heart sinks as I tighten my robe, stepping forward to help him. We’ve spent the most amazing two weeks together. I still can’t believe how willingly Nick fucked me in front of that mirror, how well it worked to help his walls come crumbling down. Since then I’ve felt closer to him than ever, but seeing Marcus seems to have set him back.

And I’m furious.

I know he’s Nick’s brother. It’s probably far more complicated than I realize, but it crushes me to see Nick hurting like this.

“Thinking about Marcus?” I ask cautiously, as Nick snaps an easel shut with far more force than necessary.

He looks at me from under low brows. “Yes.”

“You know he was wrong, don’t you?”

His forehead creases in confusion. “About what?”

“Your drawing. He probably laughed because he was jealous.”

“That’s not…” Nick begins, but I plow on, determination rising hot inside me. He needs to hear this, because my guess is no one ever told him.

“You’re so fucking talented, Nick,” I say fiercely. “And I won’t let you give it up again.”

He stares at me, unblinking. His chest rises and falls with his rapid breathing, and he swallows loud enough for me to hear.

“Zinnia…” His voice comes out choked, full of grit. I expect him to push back, to argue with me about his brother, but instead he steps forward, hauling me into his arms. I yelp in surprise as he tugs me onto the sofa, and I straddle his lap, just like the last time I tried to have sex with him here.

Only this time, Nick isn’t stopping.

His tongue plunders my mouth hungrily, like a starving man who knows this is his last meal. His hands yank at my robe, freeing the tie, and he buries his face in my chest, hands rough as they move over my breasts, my waist, my back. He’s already as hard as granite between my thighs, and he grinds it against me, gripping my hips.