Nora

"Red or white?"

"Black." I replied.

Mom sighed dramatically. "Red or white?"

"Red." I huffed. "I honestly don't see the point of spending three days decorating the house when all of it has to come down in an hour after the guests arrive."

"Would you say that on your wedding?" She asked back. That made me shut my mouth.

"I fly day after tomorrow." I said, changing the topic. "I figured I'd fly a day earlier to help you put together things. But I think you'll manage."

"Of course I'll manage. I'm your mother. I think you forget that sometimes." She huffed. "What are you doing?"

"Working."

"It's a Sunday."

"So?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Where are you. Office?"

"I-uh," I stuttered. "I'm at- at a penthouse. Nicolas." I whispered the last part, hoping she wouldn't hear.

"You're what?" She shrieked. Of course she heard. Her ears were made in a way to especially hear those things I didn't want her to. "Wow."

"It's not even a big deal. I'm here everyday." I winced when I said that. Sometimes my mouth just blurted out things that I regretted later.

"So it's turning serious?" She questioned.

"I...think so? I don't know. We're taking it day by day." I replied.

I looked up and my eyes met icy blue ones. He was just standing by the door, his weight supported by the wall, arms crossed on his chest, looking at me. A sleeveless white tee was stretched across his body, low hanging shorts hiding his deep v from me. His face was wiped off any kind of softness. He was hard. He looked rough, wild, rugged. And mouthwatering.

"Nora?"

"Yeah?" I blinked to wake up from my daze.

"I asked if he was there with you?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Give him the phone."

"What?" I shrieked. "Why? No!"

Nicolas stepped forward until he was in front of me. Water droplets adorned his inky black hair, conveying to me he'd been in the shower. His delicious scent wafted to my nose, making my lips parch. He raised his hand, his thumb lightly grazing my cheekbone as I closed my eyes in content. 

"Nora?" Mom repeated.

"Yes?"

Nicolas raised an eyebrow at me. I covered the speaker of the phone and whispered to him, "My mum wanted to talk to you. I said no." Then I said into the phone. "Mom, I need to go. I'll speak to you- Nicolas!"

I watched in horror as he snatched the phone away from me and pressed it to his ear. "Mrs Kinsley. It's such a pleasure to hear from you."

I could imagine my mother swooning at his deep voice. He dazzled everyone. His thumb didn't stop tracing my cheek, but he was looking towards the door now. His mouth turned up by my mother's words. "Thank you, Sofia. I appreciate that, honestly." 

My mouth parted open. He was on a first name basis with my mother by one sentence? 

He hummed at whatever she said from the other side. And then his mouth turned into a frown and he looked at me, a slight look of accusation in his eyes. "She didn't tell me that."

"What?" I mouthed. He didn't answer, but narrowed his eyes at me. 

"It'll be my pleasure. Unfortunately, I have some business in France that particular day, but I will try my best to make it."

I blinked. His words settled in my brain.

"It was a pleasure to talk to you. I hope to see you soon." He smiled into the phone and hung up. Then he looked at me. "Nora?"

"Yes?"

"Why didn't you tell me you fly back home day after?"

"I was about to." I said. "I was going to right now after I talked to her."

"And your mother told me she wanted you to bring someone. But you didn't ask me. Are you going with someone else?" He sounded so calm that it scared me.

"No!" I exclaimed. "Why would you think that?"

He didn't say anything.

"Why would I go with someone else when I have you?" I softened my voice. "You don't have to worry about anyone, Nico. Ever."

"Why didn't you ask me? Do you not want me to come?" He sounded hurt. "I won't if you don't want me to."

"It isn't like that." I wrapped my arms around his waist as I got up. "It's just a huge step and I don't know if we're ready to take it."

"Do you think we're moving too fast?" 

I took some time to answer. "No, I don't. But meeting each other's family is such a-"

"You've already met my family."

"I've met just your sister."

"She's my only family. My parents don't have a part in my life." He said.

My heart clenched at his words. We hadn't talked about our families. That was a topic we hadn't reached yet. "Nico- I, I'm sorry. I didn't know that."

He shrugged. "I don't even remember them."

"Would you like to come?" I asked softly. "And no, I'm not asking that out of pity. I just thought that you'd think it was too soon and I didn't want you to panic. It sounds absurd now that I say it out loud. I'm sorry if I hurt you. But, would you?"

"Would you like me to?"

"Yes." I said without a beat. "Yes I'd love that."

He smiled. "Then I'll be there."

I lifted up on my toes to press a soft kiss to his mouth. "Thank you. And I'm sorry."

"You don't have anything to be sorry for. You were being cautious and I understand that." He said. We stayed like that for a while, him caging me in his arms as I held him. His lips were in my hair and his hold was tender, soft. I trailed my fingers in his hair and he hummed contently.

"I want to take you out." He said in my ear. "Right now."

"Give me five minutes and I'll get dressed-"

"You look beautiful whatever you wear." He cupped my face, then held my hand and pulled me after him.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

When we went out of the room, I saw Lorenzo standing in the hallway. He gave me a small nod, then looked at Nicolas. "It's ready."

"Come." He said to me, and guided me to the loft. Nico's penthouse was the biggest I'd ever seen, and I'd seen many. It was magnificent, beautiful. The interior was a dark blue, like his eyes, with a contrasting white. It was sleek, modern, but a royally traditional at the same time. Whoever designed it knew how to make something look stunning. And Nicolas knew how to show it off.

The loft was big, circular, edging out of the building. My hair flew blindly into the air as I gasped, "We're flying?"

A lone helicopter jet adorned the space. Its blades were rotating, and as I let my eyes fall on it's body I saw the word 'Reid' written so prominently, so dominantly at the front. Nicolas chuckled at my expression and guided me inside, settling me down on the seat. He rounded the jet, talking to Lorenzo but I couldn't make out the words. Then he came over to again, settling in the seat beside me. 

He looked my way, moving forward and tucking my seat belt, making sure it was tightly protected. He handed me a pair of headphones and I put them around my ears, him doing the same. "Jet 9910, ready to take flight."

My jaw dropped when I saw him wrap his palms around the control. "You're flying? You know how to fly?"

"I got my flying license way before I got a driving one, baby." He chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll not crash." Then he looked at me. "You're too precious to be crashed."

When whoever was on the other side gave him the permission to move, Nicolas took a deep breath, his hands moving on the controller. And then we were in air. My jaw was still dropped as I watched him with rapt attention, taking in his scrunched eyebrows, his eyes full of concentration and focus. I sat there mesmerised as I took him in. Him. My boyfriend.

He glanced at me from the corner of his eyes, a small smirk playing on his very inviting lips. "I understand that you can't get enough of me, and as much as I like you staring at me, we have everyday for that. Right now, look down."

I blinked, closing my mouth, clenching my fists and turning my eyes away from his figure to look down. In all my five years of being in this city, I'd never known it was so beautiful. The entire Vegas was shining as if a bright star, so fascinating that I couldn't take my eyes off. Buildings passed beneath us, we were so high that figures appeared as small as ants. Nicolas looked at me again, or maybe that was my imagination, but I couldn't look away from the sight beneath me.

"I knew you'd like it." He said.

"I love it. It's beautiful." I whispered. 

"It is. The most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life." He murmured. When I glanced at him, he wasn't looking down at the city. He was looking at me.

"Nico," I began, helpless. It was too much. This was too overwhelming. The was he was looking at me was too powerful.

"I look at you everyday and my feelings for you just grow." He looked away. "Why does that happen?"

I gripped his arm, wanting to kiss him but afraid it would break off his concentration. But instead he turned my way and bent down to press his lips to mine. It was short, brief, nothing like our ordinary kisses, but it was enough.

"I'm falling for you, Nico." I whispered. Nicolas gripped the controller tightly. "With each passing day, I'm falling for you. Hard, fast, and deep. And I don't know what to do."

"Don't let go." He warned. "Don't run away."

"I won't."

"I started falling for you a long time ago, Nora." He breathed out. "I still am."

We flew in silence after that. He landed us safely back on the helipad at his loft, and carried me outside, into the elevator, sliding in beside me in the car and holding me tightly. He carried me over to my apartment as well, tucking me in my bed, throwing off his shoes and getting in beside me.

"Stay." I pleaded.

"I can't. I have an early flight tomorrow." He said.

"Will you come? To my house?" I asked. He'd said he would but I needed to hear it again.

"I will." 

He tucked my hair behind my ear and gave me a soft, lingering kiss. When I bit his bottom lip, he groaned and his softness vanished, being replaced by a deep lasting hunger that he always reserved for me. His arms gripped my waist, his hand holding my head in place as he shaped his lips on mine. "I want you to remember this when I'm gone."

"I will, everyday." 

He kissed me again, holding me tight as I fell asleep in his arms. When I woke up the next morning, he was gone. The sheets were cold and empty beside me. I pushed my head into his pillow, letting my nose inhale his lasting scent.

The door to my apartment banged hard. I groaned, kissing the pillow, and getting up. The banging continued. I ran a finger through my unruly hair as my feet slapped on the floor. I pulled open the front door, ready to cuss at the person disturbing my sleep, stopping short.

Lydia's over thrilled and frenetic face came in my view. She thrust her left hand in my face, my eyes hitting the shining piece of diamond on her finger and widening as she screamed "Wassup, maid of honour!"

*

AHHH I'm super enthusiastic right now cause Catch You reached 100K reads! Thank you so much everyone for support my work, and a HUGE one to all those who're supporting this as well. Y'all are my motivation to keep writing. We reached 1K reads on No Lies so soon that I couldn't even comprehend it. THANK YOU!

Love,

Rish