Page 19 of Nick: His to Claim

“No kidding. I was just talking to him the other day,” Nick remarked, straightening up from the bar and stretching, his big body appearing deceptively relaxed.

“How do you know Tim?” Maggie asked, not ready to make eye contact. Shoot, the first name that popped into my head, andhe has to know him personally. Tim had asked her out several times after Jim died, but she’d always refused.

“Tim was the real estate agent who handled the deal for my new office,” he informed her softly. “He also happens to be getting married next month. I imagine that slipped his mind when he asked you out.”

Maggie quickly walked to the sink and ran the cold water. What she really wanted was to stick her head under the faucet and hope she drowned. Instead she reached for a glass.

“I know that,” she told him after taking several large gulps which nearly threw her into a choking fit. Damn. Turning around she caught the grin on Nick’s face that said better than words he didn’t believe her. What was it they said about,if it wasn’t for bad luck… ?

Maggie was nothing if not stubborn, and at this point she had nothing to lose. If he was going to catch her in another lie, something that she seemed to do a lot when it concerned him, it may as well be a whopper.

“Maybe I’m going to be his last fling before he ties the knot,” she smiled as his grin faded remarkably fast to be replaced by a fierce scowl.

“The hell you are,” he growled, advancing on her with a determined stride.

Maggie’s hand flew to her throat, and she unconsciously backed up a step. Her high color could have been caused by anger, but Nick had the feeling it wasn’t. One hand settled in the shinning curls at her nape, and the other slid around her bottom lifting her clear off the floor. Backing up, he leaned against the bar, and settled her firmly into the cradle of his thighs. His tight worn jeans and her thin dress left little to the imagination.

Hard and hot, soft and melting, she allowed herself one ineffectual push on his chest before the blue fire promise in his eyes forced her to surrender, and she let her head drop back. Thekisses he trailed from her ear to the top of her breasts were like flashes of heat lightening. The roaring in her ears drowned out any sounds of children in the other rooms, and the rocking of his hips had her whimpering in need within seconds.

Never had desire come so quick and fierce as it did with Nick. He was so much of a man that everything female in her responded without reason. The strong arms that held her suspended were also gentle. As her fingers threaded through his hair, she pulled his lips to hers. She knew no matter how many years separated them, how many arguments, how many problems, she would always be forced to respond to him. Yes, Nick was a dangerous man, capable of making her forget almost everything… everything except the young man standing in the doorway watching the ravishment of his mother.

Struggling wildly Maggie whispered the one word guaranteed to gain her release, “Jason”.

Setting her down, Nick’s hands smoothed her dress back into place while shielding her with his body. Taking several deep breaths, he strolled to the breakfast bar, arranging himself on the opposite side from where Jason was standing. Looking into his son’s blazing eyes, Nick felt like a teenager caught red-handed and made a mental note to go lightly if and when the situation were reversed. Glancing at Maggie was a mistake. The guilt on her face wasn’t reassuring, and he steeled himself for the angry words he knew were about to come. Running a hand through his hair, he faced Jason.

Jason watched the two adults frozen in time. The tension in the room was incredible, but he was old enough to understand where at least some of it was coming from. Hey, he watched movies, and not all of them were ones his mother would approve of.

Straight-faced, he approached Nick at the bar and watched closely as he unconsciously slid a finger around the collar ofhis shirt. Slowly taking an apple from the fruit bowl, Jason calmly tossed it into the air and caught it several times. Finally, snatching it out of the air, he grinned and took a large bite.

“You guys should be more careful,” he said crunching happily. “I could have been one of the kids,” he added with a wink and left the room whistling.

Maggie’s breath came back in spurts and gulps. She was shamed by what her son had witnessed with such apparent unconcern. It wasn’t every day that his mother was just about having sex standing up in the kitchen. She and Jim had never been especially affectionate in front of the kids, preferring to keep that side of their marriage private. Surely, Jason had been shocked and mortified by her behavior.

Maggie searched around for her hair clip, purposely avoiding eye contact with Nick. Did he think she indulged in this sort of thing on a regular basis?

Nick said nothing after Jason left the room. The stern set of his jaw when Maggie finally glanced at him from under her lashes let her know, better than words, it was time to retreat.

“Well,” she breathed, smoothing her dress and straightening her hair. “I guess I’d better be going.”

“I don’t think so,” Nick responded sharply. Apparently being caught in such a compromising situation by his son hadn’t done anything to improve his mood. “Get upstairs and change your clothes.”

“What?” she asked incredulously.

“You heard what I said,” he stated very calmly for a man who stood like a mountain, arms crossed and feet planted firmly in her path. “But just on the chance that you didn’t get it the first time, I’ll repeat myself. Get upstairs and change. You’re not going anywhere tonight.”

Maggie’s jaw dropped open, and she snapped it shut just as quickly. Even for Nick, this was pretty high-handed.

“Exactly who do you think you’re talking too?” she demanded, her arms crossed, her toe tapping in agitation.

Nick approached slowly, his calm slipping with every step. He bent down until they were almost nose to nose. The fire in his blue eyes warned her, but it was not in her nature to back down, although she did take a step back.

“Lady, you wore that dress tonight looking for trouble, and you found it right in your own kitchen. I will not be a party to your littlefling, and I certainly won’t babysit so you can enjoy it. Now get yourself upstairs and change before I do something I’ll regret for all of thirty seconds, and you’ll regret every time you sit down for the next week,” he growled furiously.

Maggie gasped and jumped back, instinctively putting her hands behind her back to protect her already cringing butt.

“How dare you tell me what I can and cannot do,” she shouted, sorry that she’d started the whole thing. “Besides, you don’t understand. I wasn’t going to?—”

“I understand a great deal more than you think,” Nick told her as he grabbed her arm and turned her towards the living room doorway. “I’m not about to sit back and allow you to make a fool of yourself,” he continued, giving her a sharp swat on her bottom to encourage her on her way.