The Romance of Nick and Layla (Parts 1-3) (31 page)

"Great, let’s go."

"God, whatever." I entered the inside again and headed straight for my bedroom. Nick was right behind me. All of a sudden I felt myself being lifted up into the air and then set down on the bed with Nick on top of me.

"You said if I kissed your ass first..."

"I was being sarcastic."

"Well I took you up on it so now you can follow through."

"Get off of me."

"No."

I couldn’t move. He had me completely stuck. "I’d really hate to knee you in the crotch."

"So would I. Come on, Layla. You’ve kissed me a million times before. What’s different now?"

"What’s different is that you’re forcing me to do it."

"You know what I remember most about our marriage?"

"Is this a rhetorical question?"

"The harder we fought, the better we made up."

"I’m not having sex with you."

"Oh but you want to."

"Which is why I’m not going to kiss you."

"Because then you’d have sex with me?"

"Your chances of me sleeping with you ever again are slim-to-none after this escapade tonight." I tried using my hands to push him off of me but he instead pinned them over my head.

"Layla, I want you to prove to me that you want to work things out with me. Because though you say you do, you haven’t given me any indication that you actually want to follow through on it. All I’m asking for is a simple sign that you mean what you say. I’m not asking you to marry me. I just want you to kiss me."

"When I’m ready."

"I could be eighty five years old by the time you decide you’re ready."

"You’re the one that said you’d wait."

"No, I said I’d wait for you to make your decision. You’ve made it. You agreed we’ll work things out and see where it takes us. I’m assuming that, given the right circumstances, you’d take it as far as possible, even into marriage. All I’m asking for you to do is confirm what you’ve promised me."

"Or else?"

"Or else nothing. We agreed. We have a pact."

"And you agreed that we could take things slowly."

"No, I agreed to letting things happen naturally. That doesn’t necessarily mean slowly."

"And so you want me to kiss you to prove that I’m good on my word? My promise alone isn’t good enough?"

"Maybe not. Maybe I need you to show me that you’re serious."

"You have me pinned down on my own bed. If I weren’t serious you would have gotten a crotch-full of my knee and an eviction notice already."

"Just answer one question for me."

"Is this your final question or will there be more? Because I’d like to get to bed before the sun rises."

"Final question. How can you say you love me but refuse to show me you love me?"

"Because showing you that I love you doesn’t mean I have to be forced into kissing you."

"All right. I’ll let you go. But until you kiss me, I’m not going to leave you alone."

"You never leave me alone."

He got up off of me and I was finally free to move about. I got up from the bed and gave Nick an evil look. "Is there anything else you’d like to add to this conversation before I mentally block you out?"

"Just one thing. I love you. Even when you refuse to kiss me I still love you."

"You don’t have to tell me everyday that you love me. I know already."

"Do you? Because sometimes I wonder."

I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. It wasn't often that Nick made me speechless, but in that moment he had me totally and completely speechless.

Chapter Forty-Three

I was feeling the most wonderful things. My skin was tingling with delight and there was an incredible pleasure coursing through my body. I could almost hear myself moaning but it didn’t sound like me. There was something warm over me. A blanket?

Am I dreaming? Oh but it felt so good. There was something warm and wet on my chest. Making circles. Lovely, amazing and tantalizing circles across my flesh.

And there was that moaning sound again. Was that me? It sounded distant, yet so close. My head fell back and my eyes opened. I didn’t know I had stucco ceilings. Wait a minute....

I looked up and found the source of my dream. A shaved but still blonde head was face down on my chest. "NICK!" I yelled.

"Ow! My ears!"

"What the hell are you doing?" I sat up and instinctively covered my body with the sheet.

"I’m waking you up."

"Why?"

"You used to like it when I woke you up like that. And from the sounds you were making I’m pretty sure you still do."

"You are unbelievable!"

"This would be a lot easier if you’d just stop being in denial. Look at you, your face is flushed and your skin is warm."

"You were trying to take advantage of me!"

"Is that what you call it now?"

"Yes!"

"Well I call it trying to make love to you."

"Call it what you want but don’t do it again!"

"What’s your problem, Layla? Now you can’t even let me touch you?"

"It’s different when you touch me without my permission! They have a word for that."

"Seduction?"

"Sexual harassment!"

"That’s two words."

Jesus. "I’m too tired to fight with you now."

"Good." I was growing sleepier and therefore made no attempt to stop the sheet from being tugged from my body. I felt the same warm, wet sensation on my skin and realized Nick was kissing my neck. My eyes fluttered closed and my head fell an inch to the side. I felt my hands touching something. Skin. Warm, naked skin. "Layla?" My eyes opened only enough to see Nick’s face. He was leaning in to me and I could feel the warmness growing closer to my lips. My head collapsed a little more into the pillow and I was out like a light.

I smelled roses. My eyes opened again and upon turning my head towards the nightstand to see what the time was, I was instead met with a vase overflowing with pink roses. There must have been at least three dozen of them. I sat up and took a closer look at them. No card. I looked up at the dresser and there was another five dozen pink roses aligned in a row of three vases.

There were roses in the bathroom. Lining the hallways. And upon entering my living room I could have sworn I had just stepped into a flower shop. They were everywhere.

"Look munchkin, it’s your mamma." Nick was sitting on the couch watching a football game with Tyler in his lap.

"Where did all these roses come from?"

"Tyler picked them out."

I looked towards the kitchen and there were dozens upon dozens of more roses. "Nick..."

"Honestly he picked them out! I took him to the florist and he pointed at the pink rose. So we ordered a few."

"A few?"

"Well, maybe a few dozen."

It was hard to pick a feeling and just go with it. There were so many. A feeling for every dozen roses. "Is this your way of trying to get me to kiss you?"

"No."

"Good."

"That would be the spa day I’ve arranged for you and dinner tonight at your favorite restaurant. And then if I don’t get at least a peck on the cheek I’m just going to have to buy you a new car."

"Are you trying to buy me or something?"

"Shit Layla, there’s no way I could afford you."

"Don’t cuss in front of the baby."

"What? He likes it! Say ‘shit’ Tyler!" he laughed.

I walked up and clamped a hand over Nick’s mouth. "Don’t cuss in front of the baby. If I have to tell you again I’m going to spank you."

"Promise?" he mumbled from behind my hand. I removed it and swatted the back of his head lightly.

"What has gotten into you?"

"Nothing. You might want to get changed Layla. The limo will be here in twenty minutes."

"The limo?"

"To take you to the spa? It’s like I’m talking but as soon as the words come out they fall to the ground."

"Am I still asleep?"

"I don‘t think so. You‘re much nicer when you’re asleep."

"Ha ha. Seriously, why are you doing this?"

"Well obviously I don’t turn you on by just my looks alone so I’m trying every other way I know possible."

Oh, please. "Your looks are what made me talk to you in the first place."

"And then I won you over with my sparkling personality?"

"Did you say we’re having dinner at my favorite restaurant?"

"Indeed."

"Okay. And just so we’re clear, you’re doing all of this for a kiss?"

"I’m dedicated."

"Apparently." I leaned over the back of the couch and smiled at Tyler. "What do you think, Tyler? Should Daddy get a kiss?" Tyler smiled and made a cooing noise. "Want to give it to Daddy for me? Come here." I leaned in and kissed Tyler. He giggled and cooed some more then looked at Nick.

"Where’s my kiss munchkin? Can I have my kiss?" Nick leaned in and kissed Tyler. "Thanks little man. Tell her that I’m still waiting for my real kiss."

"Hey." I put my hands on Nick’s forehead and leaned his head back so he was looking up at me. "Thank you."

"You can give me an advance on that kiss if you want?"

"You’re positively relentless."

"How can you refuse a handsome man?"

"Because this lady’s got a serious case of morning breath."

"Yeah and it’s blowing right into my face. You might want to brush your teeth before you try speaking to anyone."

"You’re such a nerd!" He puckered his face at me like a little kid. I let go of his face and walked to the other side of the couch. I put my arms around Tyler and rested my head on his shoulder, looking up at Nick. "You’ll watch the kid until I get back?"

"Oh yeah. We’re gonna pop open a few beers and talk about women during the commercials."

"Nick, I swear to God... if Tyler’s first word is ‘shit’ I’m going to hurt you."

"But imagine how funny it would be."

"I’d rather not. I’ll have the cell on if you need me."

"Ever had phone sex in a spa before?"

"Just once. Please make sure Tyler eats and is burped and changed."

"Hey finish what you were saying..."

"Later! Bye my love. Be good for mommy, won’t you?" I kissed Tyler once more then stood up. I winked at Nick before making my way back to my bedroom to change.

Ten minutes later I had managed to make myself look half decent in jeans and a button-up blouse. With a pair of gigantic Chanel sunglasses resting on my head and a new Louis Vuitton purse looking very pretty on my arm, I was ready. I went into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water and smiled when Nick and Tyler both turned around to look at me.

"Hey, I think I’m going to get a mani-pedi while I’m out too."

"I have no idea what that is but good luck with it."

"Manicure and pedicure." I got my bottle of Evian and walked to the couch. "Hey, can I tell you something before I leave?"

"You’re welcome."

"Besides that."

"I love you too."

"Besides that too. Tyler needs his diaper changed."

"Crap!"

"Yes it is. Okay I’m leaving. Oh, and hey..." I leaned over the couch and when Nick turned his head to look at me I finally gave him what he wanted. It was on his forehead but still, a kiss is a kiss.

"What do I have to do to get you to kiss me woman?"

"Goodbye, Nick!" I went outside to greet the limo driver and was surprised to see the one and only Jess Brown emerge from the back of the limo. "Hey! What are you doing here? Oh my gosh did Nick call you?"

"I have to admit, Layla, that Nick had no problem talking me into going on a spa escapade with you."

"I can’t believe he did that!"

"He said it was part of his plan to have you finally kiss him, or something like that. What’s up with that?"

I looked at Jess. I could feel that my mouth was dropped open.

"Are you catching flies or something?"

"Nick is.... incredible."

"Well honey if you don’t kiss him I’ll do it for you. He absolutely insisted that I go and have a spa day with you, all on him. Honestly, if that doesn’t warrant a kiss then you’re a tough bitch."

"It’s a good thing I’m not paying for you to give me therapy anymore."

"No shit."

"Um... tell the driver that I’ll be out in a minute. I forgot something in the house."

"Sure you did. Go on and kiss your man!"

I smiled at her and ran back into the house. Nick was mid-stride, holding a diaper in his hands when he looked up at me. "Did you forget something?"

"Yes." I placed my hands on his face and pulled him into me for a kiss. His arms wrapped around me and his mouth opened and I was only too happy to feel the sweet sensation of his tongue connecting with mine. How the hell could I have forgotten what this feeling was like? And why did I wait so long to feel it again? It was two minutes of sheer bliss. And when I pulled away I had the biggest, goofiest smile on my face.

"See? See what you were missing last night?"

"Well that, Mister Hudson, is a mistake I won’t be repeating tonight. I gotta go. I do love you."

"How can you not?"

"I’m going!"

"What was it like?"

"Fourteen months without a kiss?"

"Yeah."

"I almost feel sorry for myself." Jess and I were laying on our stomachs with our faces pressed into a towel-padded hole. Two women were massaging our bones into delightful putty.

"It was good?"

"No. It was amazing."

"Honestly Layla, if a man half as good looking as Nick woke me up by making out with my chest, I would have never fallen asleep on him."

"I was tired! We were up until nearly one in the morning arguing."

"I swear you two have the strangest relationship."

"I know."

"I think you’re cured."

"Is that your professional opinion?"

"It’s my opinion as your best friend."

"Well I’ll take that with more authority."

"See? Getting my doctorate was unnecessary."

"Oh shut up."

"So what are you guys doing tonight? Besides the obvious?"

"The obvious?"

"You know, getting it on like crazy."

"Jess!"

"I wouldn’t bother denying it if I were you."