Nora

"I honestly don't understand." 

Lydia sighed dramatically. "We had sex, alright?"

"Couldn't you have just said that?" I exclaimed. "What the fuck is blossoming my flower?"

Cameron chuckled. "She read that in a book somewhere. She literally asked me to unfurl her petals. Can you believe that?" 

I fell down on the couch, holding my stomach and, teasing her. "What is wrong with you, Lydia? Is that how you talk dirty in bed?" 

"You were supposed to keep that a secret." She hissed at him, and narrowed her eyes at me. 

"I still don't understand why you ghosted her." I looked at Cameron.

He looked down and blushed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was...scared? She said no to me the first time. And that night she'd been so open but I was still afraid she'd think it wasn't the right time and I was losing my goddamn mind."

Lydia winced. "That was a poor excuse. I honestly don't even remember why I said no. I'm sorry."

Cameron shook his head at her, bringing up their joined hands and kissing the back of her palm. I almost swooned. "So you're getting married." I murmured. 

"We are." They said in unison, looking at each other, their smiles identical, so goofy and excited, so infectious that I couldn't help but smiling as well.

"Did you decide the date?"

"We-uh, don't want to wait much-"

"Two weeks." Cameron finished.

I raised an eyebrow. "There's no way your parents would agree to that. Two weeks isn't enough for them to plan everything."

"We don't want a huge wedding." Lydia replied. "Just friends and family."

"Did you talk to them?" I asked.

"They know he was proposing last night. But, we haven't yet talked to them about the date."

"Good luck with that." I snorted. "Anyway, I promise I'm gonna throw you the best bachelorette party ever."

Her smile widened, while Cameron mumbled under his breath. "Anything but strippers, Nora."

I smiled at him, "We'll see, Cammy. Now, on a serious note, do not ever ghost us like that. I was going to murder you because I thought you'd broken her heart." I violently motioned towards Lydia.

Cameron looked down, rubbing the back of his neck. "I- yeah. I don't know. I was pushing back the proposal because I felt she'd feel it was too soon and it was taking a toll on me. And then I panicked. I don't know how to explain it."

"Whatever it was, don't do it again." I stated. My phone rang and I jumped forward to grab it, but Lydia beat me to it. She was just about to hand it to me when her eyes swept over the caller id, and they widened excitedly. She pushed the phone in my hand.

I chuckled, pressing it to my ear. "Nicolas."

"Nora." His delicious voice was enough to make me squeeze my thighs together.

"Hi. Did you land safely?"

"I did. I jacked off in the plane thinking about you."

I coughed and stuttered, "I-wha-oh." I looked at the two people sitting in my living room, and thought it was better to this conversation with my visibly horny boyfriend alone. So I got up and walked into my bedroom. "Weren't people there with you?"

"In a bedroom. Alone." He said, almost sounding amused. 

"Oh. What did you think about?"

"You sprawled on my bed, legs wide open for me, helpless and at my mercy, ready to please me." He lowered his voice, making it sound huskier and dirtier. "I imagined you on my knees for me, looking up with those beautiful dirty eyes, eager to take me in your mouth and not getting enough."

I gasped inaudibly, clenching the bed sheet tightly, pressing my legs together to get some friction.

"I will make that happen, Nora." He purred. "Once I come back."

"Yes." I whispered.

"Where are you right now?"

"Home." I replied. "Lydia is with me, though. Cameron proposed to her last night."

There was a pause. Then, "She said yes?"

"Well, duh." Then I added, "If she hadn't I'd be over her place and we wouldn't be talking right now because she would have been crying."

"Why would she be crying if she is the one who said no?" He asked. "Anyway, that's not why I called you."

"Why did you call me?"

He took a deep breath. "I faced a few reporters today. They asked some stupid questions and I just wanted to make sure you're-"

"I didn't even know that, and I'm fine." I said to me. "Nicolas, stop worrying so much about the paparazzi."

"I'm trying."

"I know you are. You don't have anything to worry about. I can handle myself. I have Ben and Matt as well. I'm not running away now."

"Good."

"I've gotta go, I'll call you back later."

"Miss me." He warned.

"Always do." 

~~

I gripped the edge of my desk tightly when I heard the questions that were thrown at him. 

"Nicolas, is Nora just a replacement for Sydney?"

"How does she feel by your history with blondes?"

"How long before you get bored of Nora and throw her away?"

Nicolas was gritting his teeth as he tried to keep his patience. His jaw was clenched, nostrils flaring, fists clenched so tight I was afraid he'd bleed them. Fuck, was he angry. I cussed at my hormones for being turned on by that. Lorenzo kept them out of his way, but the questions still reached his ear. I could see his patience and calmness fading away.

He was dressed in a navy blue two piece suit, a dazzling white tie around his neck. Black ray bans covered his beautiful ocean irises from the sight of a passerby, but I knew they would be smouldering right now. His inner beast was tamed, but it was clawing his way out. 

I sighed and shut down the laptop, closing my eyes and rubbing my forehead. They weren't getting to me, I wasn't upset with his history with women. I understood that was the past and he had no control over it now. I wasn't concerned with the Sydney questions because I knew that chapter was closed the moment she hurt his ego. I wasn't concerned about them thinking I wasn't enough for him, because I knew I was, he knew I was, so that was alright. But still, they couldn't keep doing this.

"Yes Jack?" I said into my phone when my supervisor called me a few moments later.

"How are you?"

"I'm alright."

"Good." He paused. "There's a slight complication with the Razer deal."

I closed my eyes in frustration. I should've known Nathan won't leave it so easily. "What is it?"

"They want you, Nora. They won't accept the deal if it's not drafted by you. And it's billions, you know it's important."

"What do you want me to? Because I'm surely not drafting it." I said.

"Charlie doesn't want to pressurise you, but we all need it to happen." He sighed. "Can't you just- make an exception? Just once?"

Like you did a few years ago.

"I can't believe you'd ask that of me." I shook my head. "Do you not know me at all, Jack? Even after five years?"

"Look, I understand it's difficult knowing K-"

"Don't." I gripped the phone tightly. "Just- don't."

"Nora-"

"I can't speak to you right now." I hung up the phone before he could say anything else. Then I stared at the wall.

Thoughts roamed in my head. Thoughts that I'd buried a long time ago and didn't want to think again. Memories that I didn't want to relive ever. Emotions that made me want to claw my eyes out and bury myself in a hole. I gripped my seat as an uncontrollable sob erupted from my throat. 

It was too much. I needed to get away. I couldn't breathe. My chest constricted as I gripped my neck, inhaling harshly, but no oxygen made it's way down my windpipe. My whole body was shaking and when I got up to get myself a glass of water, I fell down. I picked up my phone with shaky hands, feeling my lungs give up.

"M-Matt," I whispered so softly I didn't even know if he heard it. The phone cluttered out of my hands onto the floor.

The last thing I remembered was being lifted up. I passed out after that.

I woke up to the stroke of gentle fingers on my cheek. They were soft and smooth like honey, tender and sweet. When I fluttered my eyes open, Nicolas was sitting on a chair in front of me. I then realised I was actually lying on the bed. I made a move to get up, but he shook his head and pushed me down. It was then I noticed the raged control in his eyes. Fury behind those brilliant irises, so strong as if carved from the deepest pits of hell.

"What're you doing here?" I whispered meekly. 

He helped me up, offering me a glass of water. "Benjamin called. You had a panic attack. Tell me what happened."

"I-I don't know."

"No lies, Nora." My name rolled off his tongue so sexily as if he'd practised. "Ever."

"It was nothing. You shouldn't have-"

He gripped the back of my head and slammed his lips on mine. They were hard with lust, rough with desire, bruising with anger. His hand cupping my jaw was firm, yet soft. "Tell me."

I closed my eyes tightly, desperate to not cry. He tilted my chin up, pressing a feather light kiss to my forehead. "Tell me, please. I need to know."

"It wasn't the first time." I whispered out. "I've had them before."

"Why?" His voice was soft like his fingers. He was being patient with me. He was trying to not be rough, trying to be gentle. I adored that.

"I was in a bad place in my life for a while. Life didn't make sense. It took everything in me to come out of it."

"Bad place?"

"I-I don't want to talk about it." My throat constricted. "I- can't. I'm n-not ready."

"Nora?" The fury in his eyes unleashed when he saw my tears. His thumbs gently swiped them away, cupping my face. His face looked utterly ready to lose control. He was hanging by a thread, ready to snap. "Christ, Nora, please don't cry. I'm sorry."

I climbed in his lap as he held me tight, pushing my head in his neck as I clutched his shoulders. His lips were in my hair and he rubbed my back. I wanted to talk to him but I couldn't.

"We'll talk about that whenever you're comfortable, okay?" He whispered softly. "But you need to tell me if anything bothers you, ever. Let me take care of you. I know you can do it yourself, but I want to care of you, Nora. Let me."

"I t-tried so hard to- to not-"

"Shh." Nicolas made me look at him, his eyes softening. He brushed off my tears again, his posture rough and demanding attention, but giving all of his to me. "It's okay. I'm here, it's alright."

"I didn't want to do it." I sobbed. "They made me. I didn't want to."

"Who made you do what, baby?"

I just coiled my arms around his neck and shook my head, lowering my head down, still crying. He cursed under his breath, grabbing my head. "Nora, you're okay. Talk to me."

I gripped the back of his head and pushed my lips on his. They were hungry and desperate, but still tender. I tightened my legs around his waist. "Don't go. Please don't."

"I'm not going anywhere." He whispered, intertwining the fingers of both of our hands. I looked down at them.

"Promise?"

He looked at me with an intensity so powerful, as if the whole world could crumble and he wouldn't blink, wouldn't look away. "No lies, Nora. I promise."

*

So...this was a chapter that was a bit hard to write. It involved a whirlwind of emotions and while I like writing feelings, it's still hard to not reveal the major portion early into the story. I'm sure y'all might have hell lot of questions, but...good things come to those who're patient lol. 

Don't forget to comment, vote and share if you like the story! <3