Chapter 24: POUNDING FASTER

GRACE

I let out a sharp breath. “Alright. I’m listening.”

He just stares at me blankly.

“Like… right now?” he asks. “Can’t you at least sit down?”

“No.” My voice is firm. “I’m fine. Just talk before I change my mind.”

He licks his lips and slides a hand into his pocket. “So… where do I start?”

I frown. Is he serious?

“Why are you asking me that?” I snap. “Start from the part that matters. And I’m not bluffing about walking away.”

He exhales. “Fine. Dominic stole Samantha from me. That’s what destroyed everything completely between us.” His jaw tightens. “He didn’t just take her. He broke her too. And he broke me with it.”

I stare at him, words failing me for a full minute. I suspected something, but not this. This is more worse.

“Your brother stole Samantha from you?” I finally ask. “I thought she was older than you. And your mum said she practically grew up with Dominic.” I shake my head. “Are you making this up?”

He drags a hand down his face before meeting my eyes again. “I’m not lying, Grace. Dominic and Sam were just friends at first. I liked her, yeah, even with the age gap. She was… bright. Everyone adored her.” A bitter smile tugs at his lips. “Everyone except my brother.”

He pauses, then continues. “We dated and I was going to propose after college. I had just one year left.” His voice lowers. “Then she broke up with me. Out of nowhere then came back months later completely shattered.”

My chest tightens. “So you’re telling me you’ve both been at each other’s throats all this time because of Sam?”

“No,” he snaps quickly. “Not anymore. He’s the one who refuses to let it go.”

I shake my head. “That’s not how it looks to me. You’re the one who hasn’t moved on, Nick. You keep provoking him. Every single time.” My voice hardens. “And look where that’s gotten us. Sam doesn’t deserve the two of you tearing each other apart over her.”

He steps closer, exhaustion written all over his face. “You’re right. She doesn’t.” His voice softens. “And I swear to you, that part of my life is over. I’m not in love with her anymore.” He hesitates. “I was just scared he’d do it again. And I let that fear ruin us.”

I stare at him, and the feeling won’t leave. It feels like he’s not telling me everything. Like there’s something heavier sitting beneath his words.

“Why do I feel like there’s more, Nick?” I ask quietly, my eyes searching his face.

He doesn’t look away. Instead, he closes the gap between us, his fingers wrapping lightly around my arm. Before I can react, he presses a soft kiss to my forehead. His breath warms my skin.

“I’m hiding nothing,” he murmurs. “That’s all there is.”

I swallow. “I’m still mad at you for not trusting me,” I say, my voice lower now.

“Look at me.” He lifts my chin, slowly and carefully, until my eyes meet his. “I don’t just love you, Grace. I trust you. I just… get scared.” His voice drops. “Especially when I see the way you look at him. It makes me feel like I’m losing you.”

My chest feels heavy. Maybe I’ve been seeing this wrong. Maybe I’ve been too harsh. And truth be told, I feel partly responsible too.

I try to look away, but his thumb brushes my jaw, keeping me there.

“I know you still love me,” he whispers. “Please don’t push me away.”

His gaze is steady, full of things he’s never been good at saying out loud. And the truth settles in me slowly, I do still love him. I never stopped.

“I need time to think,” I say, still trying to ignore my feelings, though my voice has lost its balance.

He doesn’t move. He just watches me, like he’s waiting for permission he’s afraid to ask for.

“Nick…” I breathe.

He leans in, slow enough for me to stop him, but I don’t.

His lips meet mine gently, unhurried, like he’s afraid of breaking the moment. I close my eyes, my hand curling into his shirt without thinking.

For a second, everything quiets down. All of my thoughts and the scream in my head.

Just like that, he pulls away.

“I’m sorry, Grace,” he whispers. “I should’ve asked first.” He hesitates, searching my face. “Do you want me to kiss you?”

I don’t think. I nod immediately. That’s all he needs.

His lips find mine again, this time deeper, more urgent, like he’s afraid the moment might slip away if he doesn’t hold on tight. I kiss him back just as fiercely, all the feelings we buried under every single argument and fight finally breaking free.

It feels surreal. Like two broken worlds finally colliding and fitting together.

His hand slides to my waist, pulling me closer, while his other hand cups my face with a tenderness that makes my chest ache.

“I love you, Grace,” he murmurs between kisses.

I smile against his lips.

He pulls back slowly, resting his forehead against mine, breathing me in like he’s grounding himself. Then, without another word, he scoops me up effortlessly, holding me close as he carries me toward his room.

I don’t protest. For once, I don’t even want to.

The second we reach his room he drops me gently on the bed, his weight hovering above mine.

My eyes slowly close as he leans closer, but I don’t feel his lips on mine like I expect. When I open them, he’s staring at me with a wide grin on his face, like a man under some ridiculous voodoo spell.

“What?” I blurt out, frowning because now I’m starting to feel embarrassed.

He lowers his head and locks eyes with me again, still grinning.

“I can’t believe we’re actually doing this, Gracy. Honestly, it feels like a dream I don’t ever want to wake up from.”

I roll my eyes, even though my cheeks burn. “Really? Do you have to kill the mood?”

He wrinkles his nose. “Looks like someone can’t wait to have me all to herself.”

I laugh. “Alright. Can you stop being so full of yourself and just kiss me before I change my mind?”

I protest but that’s a lie because I'm not.

“Oh, Gracy, you wouldn’t. I’m a very active man right now. Especially now that you look…”

He doesn’t finish. He just leans closer and crashes his lips against mine.

The strong scent of his olive cologne fills my nose as I let myself drown in the pleasure of this moment.

I moan softly into his mouth as his hands slide up my thighs, slowly… higher… to the sensitive skin close to my core.

Oh God.

He stops halfway, but he doesn’t pull away. “Are you sure you want us to do this? You know I can wait, right?”

“Yeah… I’m sure, Nick.” My voice trembles as he trails soft kisses down my neck.

His hand barely reaches my panties when his phone rings on the nightstand. But Nick doesn’t stop. His hand moves further, slipping inside me and my back arches like bolt lightning tearing through my skin.

“Mmm!” I moan softly. “Nick…” I breathe against his ear.

“Does it hurt?” he asks gently, pausing just a little but not stopping his teasing kisses.

“Just a little…” I whisper. “Don’t stop.”

He circles my belly button and sucks at the skin just above my cleavage with his warm tongue. A slow gasp escapes me.

Then his phone rings again.

At this point, it’s too distracting. My mind can’t focus anymore. I slide my hand down and lift his chin.

“Can you just take that? It seems urgent.”

His eyes twinkle with heat. “Nothing is more urgent than this. I want you. Now.”

He starts pulling at my bra, but his phone doesn’t stop vibrating.

“Okay.” I push him lightly. “That’s not going to stop. Just take it.”

“Oh, God,” he groans, staring at me like a sulking child while I chuckle softly.

He lifts his weight off me, crawls down the bed, and picks up his phone.

He glances at me and smiles. “Can you give me a minute?”

I nod once. Then he leaves the room.

NICHOLAS

My heart skips when I see Samantha’s name on the screen.

Definitely wrong timing.

And I shouldn’t even be picking up her call. But ignoring her in front of Grace would look too damn suspicious.

I stop in the living room and bite my lower lip, hesitating for a second before finally answering.

“Hey,” I breathe into the phone, resting my free hand on my hip.

“Good evening, sir.” A man’s voice answers.

I pull the phone away from my ear to confirm the caller ID.

It’s Samantha’s number. Who the hell is this?

“Uhm… may I know who’s on the line?”

“Officer Maddock speaking. Is this Mr. Nicholas Santos?”

I frown. “Yeah. What’s wrong?”

“Your girlfriend is currently at our station. Do you mind dropping by? We won’t be releasing her unless someone shows up to post bail.”

I switch the phone to my other hand. “Wait a minute. Samantha’s at your station? For what?”

Ignoring the fact that she must have told them I'm her boyfriend.

He exhales. “I’m afraid you’ll have to come down here to discuss that.”

I rub my forehead. Does this have to happen now? God, Samantha. You’ve got to be kidding me.

“Alright,” I say finally. “I’ll be there. Just tell me where.”

He gives me the address and hangs up.

I inhale slowly, wondering how I’m supposed to bail that girl out without making Grace furious again.

Or worse. Suspicious.

I square my shoulders and walk back to the bedroom.

GRACE

Nicholas walks in after what feels like forever. His face isn’t as excited as before.

“Something wrong?” I ask, sitting up.

He doesn’t answer immediately. He just smiles. But I know Nicholas. That’s not his real smile. That’s the one he wears when something is definitely wrong.

“Nick. We agreed. No more keeping secrets, right?”

He looks at me and nods. “That’s right.”

He walks to the chair and picks up his shirt.

“Are you going somewhere?”

“Yeah,” he says quickly. “I think they found a lead about the fire at your place.”

I frown. “I thought that was just an electrical issue. And why would they call you so…”

He cuts me off with a kiss. “Jeez, Gracy. You think too much.” He chuckles lightly. “I’m just going to check on them and come back quickly, alright?”

“I still think I should go with you.”

He straightens up. “And I think you should sit here and wait for me. Let’s not drag this, okay?”

I nod slowly, even though I still want to argue. But Nick has this strange way of winning arguments without really trying.

Just like now.

He winks at me before leaving the room.

The moment the door clicks shut, I lean back against the headboard.

Nick wasn’t lying about something… right?

I wave the thought from my head and lie back down, breathing in his scent from the blanket.

He never stopped using the cologne I chose for him from the very beginning. It’s funny how Nick sticks to the smallest details, like the scent I casually mentioned was my favorite. And now he never stops wearing it.

A strange tingling feeling crawls inside me as I roll toward the edge of the bed.

That’s when I see Nick’s phone. I bet he dropped it while rushing out.

I pick it up and stare at the screen. And just like that, my heart starts pounding in my ears.

No. No, I can’t be seeing this right.

I stare again at the last call he received.

Sam?

Wait. Did Nick lie to me?

My heart starts pounding faster than ever as I keep staring at the screen.