Someone Like You (5 page)

“Yeah.” He smiled. “What do you want to do? Go to my place or back to theirs?”

It was clear what he’d prefer. Even without having known him for long, she still

could read the signs. “We can follow them if you’d like.”

“You’re not too tired? You don’t want to get changed or something?”

“I’m fine.”

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“Great.” He squeezed her hand and off they went, signalling to the other couple

in the car parked opposite them that they’d follow.

* * * *

It took a good thirty minutes before they finally parked in front of a large house

set in an even larger garden. Leah stared at her surroundings and gulped. She was so

out of her league. But then, she should have expected it. She was dating Apollo

Hamilton after all.

“Come on, babe, let’s go. We’ll leave the bags in the car, just let me know if you

need something, ‘kay?” She nodded as she stepped out of the truck and smiled faintly

at Mia. The woman who could be her twin. Well, if she was a few years younger but

still… This was freaky. She felt a shiver of apprehension run up her spine and forced

herself not to react. Stop being stupid, Pearson, she admonished herself. Maybe both

men had the same taste in women? What did she know?

Nothing apparently, she thought to herself as she stepped into the house and

followed the laughing trio to the kitchen. They all took seats, as if they’d done this a

hundred times before, and she stood in the doorway feeling out of her depth.

“Come in, Leah, come in. I’m sorry, we’re babbling like crazy and you’re probably

wondering where you’ve ended up.” Mia gestured towards her, a wide smile playing on

her lips. “So how did you meet Nick?”

“Mia!”

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“What? I have the right to know.”

“No, you don’t,” her husband countered. “Leah, you don’t have to tell her

anything. She’s just being nosy.”

“Hey!” Mia slapped Kevin on the shoulder. “Be nice.”

“I am nice,” the dark-haired man replied, wriggling his eyebrows as he patted her

butt. “Always.”

“Kev, not now,” his wife admonished.

Leah looked at Nick, only to spot the frozen smile on his face. It didn’t last long

however, and he was back to his cheery self before she could wonder why he’d looked

like that. He gestured her forward and she obeyed, more because she had no idea what

else to do. The other couple was talking in hushed voices and she tried to hear what

they were going on about, but Nick’s hands were suddenly palming her waist, dragging

her forward until she was standing between his legs. And just like that, he kissed her.

She had no idea what she was doing here, in this house. With him and his

friends, feeling so out of her depth. And the damn guy found nothing better than to eat

her mouth! She tried to pull away but his hands slid up until they were cupping the back

of her head, holding her into place. His tongue twirled around hers, his chest hard

against her soft breasts. She felt herself fall under his spell, leaning more and more

against his tall frame. He seemed to like that as he sucked on her tongue, dragging a

surprised moan out of her. And that’s when he stopped.

He pulled away from her and propped his elbows on the counter at his back,

sending a quick smirk to his friends while he was at it. And she stood there, wondering

what the hell had just happened and why she felt as if she had been used.

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“So,who is she?” Kevin asked as soon as they’d stepped outside.

“My girlfriend. Didn’t I already tell you this?”

“Come on, Nick, you’ve seen what she looks like.”

“And?”

Kevin sighed as he stared at his friend. “Don’t be like this. She could be Mia’s

twin!”

“I did say I wanted someone like her, didn’t I? It’s nothing new.” Nick ignored his

friend’s disbelieving look and walked towards the other end of the terrace.

“You’re still in love with her, aren’t you?”

Nick whirled around. “What?”

“Mia, you still love her. I thought you were past it, Nick.” He didn’t answer, forcing

Kevin to step closer and add, “I know it was my fault that you got stuck in the middle of

our marital problems, but Nick, it’s gotta stop.”

“What does?” Nick didn’t look at him, his gaze stuck on the horizon. His hands

were clasped on the railing in front of him so tightly his knuckles went white.

“You’ve gotta let her go. She’s my wife.”

“I know that! She’s my friend as much as you are, that’s all.”

“No, Nick, don’t you see? You’re dating someone who looks just like her! You’ve

never liked curves before and now look at your girlfriend!”

“So, what? My tastes have changed. I have changed.”

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“You have and that’s a good thing but man, please stop thinking about Mia.”

Kevin took a deep breath before saying, “She wanted to be the one to tell you this

but…she’s pregnant, Nick.”

That made him react all right. Whirling around, Nick looked at his best friend, fear

in his eyes. “Mia’s pregnant.”

Kevin nodded. “She’s due around Christmas. You do see how this changes

everything, don’t you?”

“Yeah,” came the strangled sound.

“I’m sorry, Nick. I know you thought it’d happen again, but it won’t, man. It just

won’t.”

Unable to hide what was going through his head, Nick stalked off, ignoring the

older man’s shouts. He needed to be alone. He needed to think.

* * * *

Leah sat on the bed, her eyes unseeing. Nick had been gone for hours and no

one knew where he was. She’d been asked if she wanted one of them to drive her to his

house, to wait for him there. But she didn’t know the place, had never been there. It

would just feel weird to be in his house on her own. So, she’d opted to stay here

instead, in this house where his best friends lived. She didn’t know what had happened

with Kevin, but the conversation had ended with Nick running away. Oh God, she

prayed for the dozen time, please make sure he’s all right. She hoped he hadn’t fallen

somewhere or hurt himself. The couple, albeit friendly, had forbidden her from going

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after him, telling her he needed to be alone. That he’d had news he needed to digest

first –whatever that meant.

She listened to the sounds of the old house creaking around her, wondering what

she should do. It was the middle of the night now, and she was still sitting here, unable

to sleep. She’d retrieved both their suitcases from Nick’s car and had even changed into

the nightie she’d intended on wearing for him. Although she hadn’t been sure she’d

have the courage to sleep with him straight away, it was a comfort somehow to be

wearing it now, waiting for him. Hoping…

A shuffling sound made her head jerk up. What was that? It sounded like

something was being dragged outside her door. What the hell? Panic rose inside her.

This wasn’t a horror movie just waiting to happen, right? Shoot, she really had to get her

imagination under control!

That sound again! A gasp left her throat and she found herself clinging to the

bedspread underneath her. She was scared, pathetic as she was. “Nick?” she couldn’t

help but call out.

The sound stopped abruptly.

Then the handle turned and the door opened.

Her breath hitched, shadows forming in the doorway. Shadows that suddenly

revealed a dishevelled Nick.

“Thank God!” she cried out, jumping to her feet and rushing to him. “Are you

okay? What happened? Nick!” She threw her arms around his neck and hung on tight.

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He stood there, unmoving, until she finally realized something was wrong. Really wrong.

“Nick?” she repeated. “Nicky? Talk to me.”

He shook his head as if coming out of a deep torpor, his eyes focusing on her

face. “Baby?”

She closed her eyes. “Thank God.” She opened them again just in time to see

his face harden. Two seconds later, she found herself flat on her back. Her nightie was

pushed up her thighs, his fingers harsh on her soft skin. “Nicky?”

He drew a breath at the sound of his name and it was as if a dam had collapsed.

He became a whirlwind: taking his clothes off, pushing her further up the bed, spreading

her legs open as if they’d done this before. But they hadn’t!

She should say something, she knew. But he appeared crazed and somewhere

inside her, she realized he needed this. She still didn’t know what had happened during

his conversation with Kevin, didn’t know what’d happened to make him react in such a

way, but he was hurt. That was clear as day.

So when he dragged the thin strap down her shoulder and arm, revealing a pale

breast, she didn’t say anything. When he bit on her nipple, hard enough that it hurt, she

didn’t say anything either. She just held his head against her and let him have his way

with her.

He needed this. He needed her.

So be it.

It was only when he thrust into her, her insides dry without any pleasurable

foreplay, that she winced. Her back arched as if her body wanted to move away, but

Nick didn’t even notice. He was too busy pumping inside her, getting himself off whilst

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she lay underneath him. She grabbed his shoulders and held on, her eyes never leaving

his face. And when he stilled, eyes closed, lips parted, she watched him come. He

strained above her, his face a rictus of pain and pleasure mixed together.

It was only when he groaned out a name, the name of his best friend’s wife, that

she realized that maybe, just maybe, she shouldn’t have come here in the first place.

* * * *

Nick came back to himself as he slumped onto the soft body spread underneath

him. He could feel her breath against his neck and knew he was too heavy, that he

should move. But he couldn’t. Not yet. She felt too good.

He loved being close to her like this. Had always relished it. She’s pregnant, a

tiny voice clamoured inside his head. Hold on a second. Kevin had said it’d never

happen again so what was she doing here?

He drew himself up onto his elbows and looked down at her. Only the bedside

lamp was lit, the rest of the room in darkness. He blinked but no, the hair curling around

the pillow wasn’t exactly the right color. Her eyes were shut but he could clearly see the

tears tracking their way down her cheeks, spilling into her hair. “Leah?”

She snorted. Her eyes opened, and she stared straight up at him. “So, now you

remember my name?”

He drew back, appalled. “I…I…” He climbed off the bed and looked around him.

This was the bedroom he usually stayed in, but now there were two suitcases. He could

see them clearly now. His and…Leah’s. Fuck! He turned around to see she’d moved to

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her side, her back facing him. He could easily imagine what she was going through right

now. He’d used her. He’d fucked her as if she was another woman. Had even cried out

Mia’s name, he was pretty sure of it. “Fuck!” he repeated but this time out loud. “Leah?”

“Go away, please Nick.”

“No. Just…let me explain.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” she mumbled into her pillow. “I understand quite

clearly.”

“No, you don’t. You can’t. You don’t know anything at all.”

“I don’t wanna know. I just…Let me go to sleep and I’ll head home in the

morning.”

He couldn’t deal with the other couple on his own! That was the first thing that

went through his mind. He needed her here, he needed her support and her affection

and…he needed her as a buffer too. He needed to show them he was past it, that he

didn’t love Mia anymore. That he understood she was Kevin’s and always will be. And

he knew that. He did. His heart just needed time to accept it. “I’m sorry, Leah. I’m so

sorry. Please forgive me.” He sat down on the side of the bed and laid his hand on her

back. “Please.”

She shook her head, refusing to turn around and hear him out. So he did the only

thing he could think of: he seduced her.

* * * *

She was weak.

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He’d settled behind her, his body spooning hers as if he had every right to be

there. As if he hadn’t just taken her, as if he hadn’t just cried out another woman’s

name. And yet, she hadn’t pushed him away. Oh, she knew she should. She wasn’t that

stupid. She now understood the look that’d swept across his face earlier in the day: he

loved his friend’s wife. He loved Mia.

So why was she here? Why had he pestered her until she’d agreed to a date with

him? Why was he so bent on her being his girlfriend if he loved another? Thoughts left

her head as his lips brushed the spot where her neck met her shoulder. Her back

arched at the intentional caress, her fingers tightening around her pillow.

His mouth travelled up the length of her neck until it stopped briefly near her ear.

He whispered, “Let me love you.” before biting the lobe for a few hot seconds. Her lips

opened on a silent moan, and she was quite proud of herself when she realized she’d

kept it inside. She didn’t want him to know how he was affecting her. It was just too

easy. Far too easy.

Except his hand found a way beneath her arm, cupping her left breast from

behind. She’d put her nightie back to rights when he’d pushed off of her, but the

material was so thin that she could clearly feel the warmth of his palm. Her nipple

beaded. Sweat formed around her hairline.