Duplicity 2 (Duplicity New Adult Romance) (4 page)

“Holly,” said Gribben, his voice low and calm. “I think we need to have a little chat, don’t you? About you and Nick.”

I hesitated, wondering what he was getting at. Nick hadn’t exactly been forthcoming with details about our sex life when introducing me to Gribben the day before.
 

“Nick? I don’t know what you mean,” I stuttered.

“It’s okay, Holly. I know you both want to protect me. Now, don’t you think we should have this conversation in private?” Gribben glanced around at the pedestrians walking by.
 

His face softened. “Come on,” he urged. “I’m sure we’re all going to get along just fine.”
 

I sighed, wishing I had spoken to Nick last night. What would he want me to do? The problem was, I’d told enough lies already. I didn’t really see the harm in talking to Gribben. He seemed like a nice man, and he deserved to know the truth, which was that I had no bad intentions towards his daughter.

 
“Fine,” I relented, as he led the way across the street to his vehicle.

The purr of the motor was barely audible as we drove off. I sank into the leather seat, thankful for the luxurious transport instead of the L. The fright of almost being wiped out had winded me.
 

Gribben was watching me. He let out a heavy sigh, and I felt sorry for this man, who was so close to losing his daughter. I tried to imagine how my father would feel if it were me lying in the hospital in a coma, and tears pricked my eyes.

“It’s obvious what Nick sees in you, Holly,” said Gribben, after a long pause. “You’re a very beautiful woman. And feisty, too.”
 

“Thank you, Don, I … ” He was making me feel uncomfortable. My face flushed.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to
 
embarrass you.” Don raised his hand in apology. “Holly, I know you’re with Nick.”
 

Don bowed his head, and took a deep breath before continuing. “Nick’s a fantastic young man, and I know the day will come for him to move on with his life, but now’s not the right time. He’s making a big mistake, and so are you.”

I shook my head, refusing to believe Gribben, despite the fact that my own father had said something similar, when I’d broken the news to my parents about leaving London. My mum and dad weren’t happy about the situation at all.
 

“Don, no. I would never hurt Nick. I just want to help him.”

Gribben chuckled. “You’re not helping him, Holly. He’s just using you to mask his pain, don’t you see that? It’s you who will get hurt. You’re not the first woman he’s been with since the accident. I understand he needs a physical outlet, but you’re just a distraction. Believe me, he loves Sarah, always has, always will. Get out now before he breaks your heart.”

Physical outlet? Is that all Gribben thought I meant to Nick? Not the first? My head was swimming and I was glad that I was sitting down.

Gribben reached his hand out to me, but I recoiled as far back as possible into the seat.

Tears were streaming down my cheeks.

“It’s not true, it’s not true,” I pleaded with Don, willing him to agree with me. He sat in silence, watching me with pity in his eyes, while I sniffled. Gribben offered me a clean folded handkerchief, which I accepted.
 

When I’d got myself together, I turned to Gribben. “Can you stop the car please? I’d like to get out if you don’t mind.”

“Of course, Holly. I don’t want to keep you against your will.” Gribben tapped the glass screen behind the driver, and the car pulled to a stop. The driver got out and opened my door.

I turned and looked at Gribben. “Thank you for the ride, Don.” My mother had always taught me that good manners cost nothing.

Gribben nodded, a polite and gracious gesture. “You’re welcome, Holly.”

I felt his eyes boring into me as I walked away.

***

It took me a while to get my bearings and figure out how to get to work from where Don Gribben’s car had dropped me off. I decided to walk a few blocks to clear my mind.

Why was I so worried about what Gribben had said? Did I believe him when he said that Nick was using me? I was so confused. When I was with Nick everything felt so right, but doubts were creeping into my mind. If I hadn’t been honest with Nick, then it was possible that he wasn’t honest with me either. After he had told me about Sarah, we had promised not to keep secrets from each other.
 
I was guilty of not keeping my side of the bargain. Was he?

And now, it was more important than ever that I knew where I stood, because the future was going to be something that Nick hadn’t expected, something that we had never even discussed.

My decision about what to do rested on how Nick really felt about me, and I vowed to find out once and for all.

Even though I was late for work, I didn’t skip the coffee run. Or tea run, as it had become. I got a weird feeling in the coffee shop like someone was watching me, and I glanced around. But it was empty apart from someone behind a newspaper in the corner, the early morning rush having abated. Most people would be at their desks by now, which is exactly where I should be. I hurried across the road, careful this time to look both ways.

And that’s when I saw him, my heart leaping at his familiar saunter. He looked up and saw me, his face breaking into a grin as I threw myself at him. I pushed him against the wall, only yards from the main Cathwell’s glass facade.

“Whoa, steady on you crazy girl,” he laughed as I plonked my lips on his in a noisy smacker. “So have you forgiven me for last night? I’m so sorry, Holly. I feel terrible about being late and leaving you on your own. I’m sorry you missed it. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” He rubbed his unshaven chin.

My heart melted as I threw my arms around his neck. My plan was perfect.
 

“You know what, Nick, we should just forget about work, get a hotel room, and make love all day. What do you think?”
 

My heart was racing at the thought of him undressing me, taking me every which way, and then declaring his undying love for me. After which we would live happily ever after. Of course.

Nick just threw his head back and laughed. “I’d love to do that, Holly. But you know I can’t skip work.”
 

I stuck my bottom lip out in a pout. He traced my lip with his finger.
 
“Tonight, Holly, I promise. I will cook you dinner. And you will undress for me, until you’re wearing nothing but the diamonds in your ears. And I will smother you with kisses and make you scream in ecstasy with only my tongue, until you beg for mercy.”

“Oh Nick,” I murmured. “Only your tongue? And then what? You’re making me crazy right now.” I sucked his finger that was still on my lip.
 

“And then,” Nick continued, his expression deadpan, “I will make you scream again, this time with this,” and his hand reached for mine, bringing it to his groin. I could feel his hardness, ready for me, and I sucked in my breath as my tummy flipped.

“Mmm, you’re on,” I murmured, my face reaching up in search of his lips. His rough chin chaffed my skin as his mouth met mine, only for a fleeting moment. If only we weren’t standing outside work …

“Come on,” he scolded, and grabbed my hand. I matched him stride for stride as we walked towards the entrance of Cathwell’s. Inside the lobby, the receptionist called me over.

“See you later, babe,” said Nick as I turned towards the reception desk, whilst he walked on past to the elevator.

The receptionist handed me a large brown envelope. “This was delivered for you just a little while ago, Miss Martin. Just sign here to confirm receipt, please,” she said, pointing to the white sheet on the desk.
 

“Thank you, Donna,” I smiled taking the envelope and signing the page. Something made me hesitate.

“Do you know who delivered this?” I asked, trying to be casual even though my heart was pounding.

“No, I’m sorry. They didn’t say.”
 

The envelope weighed as heavy as my heart.

CHAPTER SIX

True to his word this time, Nick arrived at my desk not long after 6PM to take me to his place for dinner.

“Shall we?” he bowed.
 

“Yes,” I giggled. The thought of seeing Nick tonight was the only thing that had carried me through the day. The contents of the envelope were unexpected and vague, and I had no idea what to make of them. I would need to speak to Nick about it. Along with everything else.

Outside, the rain was bouncing off the sidewalk. Nick hailed a cab and bundled me inside. His place wasn’t far away, in a Midtown co-op with a nattily dressed doorman. It was a great central location, but I preferred my leafy environs in Williamsburg.

“Hungry?” asked Nick, inside the cab. “Because I’m hungry for you.”
 

He reached one arm around my shoulders, and I snuggled in close to him. I was soaked through, despite only having been outside in the rain for a few minutes.
 

Nick went on, “We really need to get you out of these wet things. I’m sure I can help you with that.”

I smiled, looking over at him, but alarm bells were ringing inside me. Don Gribben had said I was just a physical outlet for Nick. I tried to shake the doubts in my head. So what if Nick liked sex? Jeez, show me a virile thirty something man that didn’t. He was hardly a sex addict.
 

“Are you okay?” he asked, looking worried. “You’re shivering.”

“Just cold,” I replied, shrugging. “You’re right. I need you to warm me up.” He squeezed me closer and kissed my forehead.
 

“So what are you cooking me for dinner?” I teased, having learned by now that Nick’s culinary skills were limited. “I hope it’s not bacon and pancakes.”
 

“Hey,” joked Nick. “You know I only make breakfast to impress the chicks.”
 

I glared at Nick.

“Well, it worked on you, didn’t it?” he kidded.

I pulled away from Nick, knowing that he was only having laugh, but it didn’t sit very well with me today. Anyway, we’d just about arrived at his place.

He reached in his pocket for cash as the cab pulled over. The sound of the rain pounding on the roof of the car was like a ricochet of bullets. I wiped the steamy window. It was a busy area still filled with rushing people wrapped up against the weather. I pulled my collar up for some protection from the weeping sky, ready for a sprint over to the building.

Nick stopped to chat to the doorman on the way inside. For someone with such a reserved exterior, I was learning that Nick was really a big, kind, gentle softie. At work he had an air of authority that no-one would dare undermine, but outside work he had an easy friendliness with people close to him. Little gestures, like asking after the doorman’s family, revealed his heart of gold.

Upstairs on the 26
th
floor, Nick opened the door of his condo and in we went, removing our wet coats and footwear in the hallway. It was a lovely place, but no matter how much Nick tried to put me at ease there, I felt like an intruder.
 

Sarah’s touch was everywhere, as if she had just popped out and would be home at any time. Making love in their bed—it just wasn’t right. Last time, we did it on the sofa.
 

My heart was racing as I started to panic, scared at how Nick might react to my news.
   

 
“You’re shaking again, I’m going to run you a bath,” said Nick. “Here, get those wet things off or you’ll catch a chill.”

I obliged, letting Nick undress me and wrap me in a robe that he fetched from the bathroom. I could hear the gush of the water as he started the taps running. I sat on the sofa, legs curled beneath me, while he opened a chilled bottle of wine, half filled a glass, and reached across to hand it to me. My stomach lurched.

“No, I’m fine, thanks,” I grimaced, waving it away.

Nick set the wine down.

“What’s wrong, Holly? You’re acting really weird. Look, I’m sorry about last night, okay? If you’re going to give me a hard time about it, fine. I’ll let you. I deserve it.” He smirked, that cheeky smirk I remembered so well from the first time I saw him.

“C’mon, go for it, Holly,” he goaded. “You know you want to. Give me the best you’ve got!” He raised both fists in front of his chest and jiggled them around as if to protect himself.

I couldn’t help but smile.
 

“Right. That’s better,” he said, bending down to lift me, and he carried me into the bathroom. The bath was almost full, the aroma of the scented bubbles filling the air.

Nick untied my robe, and I let it fall to the ground. His intake of breath was audible as he viewed my nakedness.

“You are a goddess,” he said, his hands running down my contours, then stopping on my waist. A bolt of electricity shot through me as I came alive at Nick’s touch. My body belonged to him.
 

He kissed my shoulder, nibbling upwards towards my neck, and I groaned. My desire was palpable.
 

I reached out to loosen his tie, and he flung it over his head. I unbuttoned his shirt, pulling it off his shoulders as his mouth reached mine, and his hand found the wetness between my legs.
 

His fingers slid inside my folds, finding my clit, then flicking away to tease me, then back again. He pushed me up against the wall, and pressed his hardness into me, as I undid his belt, and then his zipper. Without saying a word, Nick let his trousers fall and stepped out of them, kicking them out of the way.

I pulled at the elastic at the back of Nick’s waistband, wanting his shorts off, to claim his hardness for myself, for him to take me right there, standing up.
 

He helped me pull down his underwear, revealing his erection, and stood facing me with lust in his eyes. I gazed at his magnificent form in wonder. His body was lightly tanned with a smattering of golden hair. His chest was lean but chiseled, his abdomen flat.
 

The strong muscled forearms that had carried me here, now pinned me against the wall while he bent down and sucked my erect nipples, sending tingles through my nerve endings. I wanted him so bad, but he was going lower, and I widened my legs until his hot mouth was on my sex.