Chapter 26: Chapter: 26

ANDREA

Nicklaus and Logan were seated at the dining table in the living room, having breakfast. When I finally came out of my room, I was fully dressed in an expensive white pantsuit with a sky-blue shirt.

Nick was dressed in a charcoal-gray suit and a crisp white shirt. He looked utterly delicious and so hard, with his dark features, as if he were sculpted from marble. I took my time ogling him, before my eyes fell to his guard dog.

That man frightened me. As always Logan was dressed in his bodyguard's attire, in all black, and looking all scary. I walked toward them, my heels clicking on the marble tiles.

Goosebumps broke over my skin when Nick raised his head and his eyes locked into mine.

He runs his eyes over me like I was sashaying to him naked, his eyes darken, and my heart is beating faster. My palm was suddenly so sweaty.

A thousand or so butterflies are in mid-flight in my stomach, my nipples peaked, reminding me of their ache and tenderness.

No man had ever, ever made me feel this way, usually if I saw a man I considered handsome or found attractive.

My fight or flight instinct would kick in, and paranoia would set in. That would make me give the guy a wide berth.

But those negative feelings never show up when I'm with Nicklaus. When I'm in his presence, the logical part of my brain just shuts down.

It's really frustrating, and I won't lie and say I liked it as much as I hated it. I don't like the thought that I can't control my body when it comes to him.

“Good morning, Sir.”

“Morning, sit down and have breakfast, we have an hour and a half before we can leave.”

“Good morning, Logan.” He only grunts. How very charming. Not.

I sat down in the chair on Nick's other side; Logan was seated on the other side, while Nick sat at the head table.

He and Logan chatted about things I didn't understand, but I was too busy eating to care. Nicklaus' eyes always find their way to me, his dark eyes glinting with something I couldn't understand. Is he laughing at me?

I suddenly became self-conscious. Is there something on my face? Did I do something? Did I burst a zip again?

I looked down at my pants and saw it was zipped all the way, and even if it wasn't, Nick wouldn't have been able to see it, since I'm seated.

I tried to assure myself it was nothing, but as Nick kept staring at me while he drank his black coffee leisurely. I became restless, and my appetite was suddenly lost; I was only playing with my food.

So when Logan got up and left the living room after his phone rang, I decided to ask.

“Sir, is everything okay?”

“Yes, why wouldn't it be?” he drawled.

He was staring at me with those beautiful dark, intimidating eyes of his, the ring on his middle finger—his wedding band—glinting as he sipped his coffee.

His face was clean-shaven, his sinful lips soft and oh so kissable. I stared as he licked his lip. Our eyes connected, and I guiltily averted my gaze.

What is wrong with me?

“Do you like the place?” I asked, trying to cover up my embarrassment of getting caught staring at his mouth, as I twirled my fork in the scrambled eggs on my plate.

“Why wouldn't I?” he asked, arching his dark brow.

“Because it wasn't what you expected, I noticed how you looked at it; you don't like it.” He grinned.

“It wasn't what I expected, that's true. I was merely surprised, but it was a good surprise.” I smile, feeling a little relieved that he didn't hate my choice of accommodation.

“So, you're saying you liked it?” I picked up my coffee mug with the now-warm coffee instead of the hot coffee I'd made earlier.

“Oh, I like it very much, let's just say it's every man's—wet dreams.”

I choked, spewing coffee all over my white suit. It was the way he dragged the last two words in a low and husky voice, as he stared at me with those dark, sexy eyes, though his face was innocently blank, that made me choke.

Nicklaus was suddenly on his feet, helping me wipe my clothes with Kleenex while his other hand patted and rubbed my back. Tensed, I pray I was mistaken that it wasn't what I thought.

God please!

“Andrea, are you okay? Looks like you have to change, you're wet,” he drawled again, his eyes glinting.

Oh my god! Could it be my dream wasn't really a dream? No, no, no, no, no! God, please no.

“Did you?” I stuttered, thinking of how to ask the question bothering me.

“Did something…?”

“Did something what?” he asked.

Andrea, what are you trying to ask? Um boss I want to know if you suck on my nipples while I was humping you in my sleep? I shake my head.

“It's nothing.” His lips twitched.

“Go change quickly, we will wait for you in the car.” I didn't have time to panic, so I scrambled to change. My mind was a mess and the confusing thoughts in my head are driving me crazy.

Five minutes later, I joined them in the same SUV that brought us here—dressed in a black pencil skirt, white shirt, and black blazer, as my white pantsuit was ruined with coffee.

I tried to look everywhere, but at Nick as the car drove us to Sydney Central, I had a sneaky suspicion that my dream wasn't a dream at all.

But if that's the case, how come there wasn't a sign that Nick actually slept in the same room as I?

Fortunately, the conference had not yet started. For the next few days, we were swamped; the meetings lasted for four days, longer than I had expected, and I was forced to sit through it all, taking notes on Nick's side.

Every day, our driver would come in the morning, take us to the conference hotel, and then take us back.

I slept alone in the master bedroom, while Nick slept in the extra bedroom. I tried to change rooms with him since he's the boss, but he insisted I stay in the master bedroom.

Poor Logan was forced to sleep on the couch in the living room. I suspect he likes it. As a bodyguard, I'm sure he's used to sleeping in odd places.

The conference meeting was finally over this afternoon, which was Thursday. There's an after-party or reception tonight.

When I came out of my shower around 9 pm, a floor-length red halter top gown was on the bed waiting for me. A pair of golden four-inch stilettos with their matching clutch bag was close to the gown.

I smoothed on my body lotion, pulled on a black thong over my thighs, then put on the dress. My back was completely bare, starting from my lower back to my shoulders; as such, I was braless.

I twisted my long strawberry hair in something resembling a chignon—I'm not sure I had accomplished that, though—at the nape of my neck. Making my neck looked even longer than it actually is