The Billionaire's Salvation

MIDNIGHT SNACK

Vanessa paced her bedroom for two hours. With her head feeling as if it were going to split into a million pieces, she lay down and surprised herself by falling asleep. When she'd awakened at eleven-thirty, her stomach was growling like a black bear.

“Sorry, sweetie,” she murmured, rubbing her stomach. The idea of that dinner going to waste nearly made her sob. Nicklaus had told her to call Wendy, the housekeeper, if she needed anything, including a snack, but Vanessa couldn’t imagine imposing at this hour. She felt weird disturbing someone just because she'd abruptly left dinner and was now hungry a few hours later.

Dressed in an oversized t-shirt that was dubbed as her nightgown, she quietly crept downstairs to the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and peered inside. She found the leftovers and turned around letting out a shriek.

“I’m glad you got back your appetite,” Nicklaus said, startling her so much she almost dropped the container she was holding. Swearing under her breath, she managed to save the dish. Her heart racing, she backed away and closed the refrigerator door.

“I didn’t think you would be down—” She broke off when she saw that he was shirtless, his pyjama pants riding low on his waist. His chest was a work of art - all chiselled with an intricate tattoo taking up almost seventy-five percent of it. Her mouth went dry.

“I heard a noise,” he said casually as if he didn’t know that seeing him half-naked took her breath away.

She needed to keep it that way she told herself and locked her gaze on his forehead. “I was hungry and decided my dinner shouldn’t go to waste.”

He moved closer to her and pulled the dish from her hands. He put the dish in the microwave and started to warm it up.

Vanessa tried very hard not to allow her gaze to dip across his naked shoulders, but she didn’t quite succeed. When the meal was hot, he directed her to a seat at the table.

Twenty minutes later, she’d polished off a reasonable portion of chicken, bread and two brownies he’d found for her to eat.

She leaned back in her chair and stretched her legs. “That was delicious. Thanks.”

His gaze enigmatic, he gave a slight smile. “You’re welcome. Not bad for a future husband.”

Vanessa blinked and then smiled. “You’re awfully persistent,” she accused.

"As cliche as it may sound, time is money. I hate wasting time. When I see something I want I just go after it."

"And damn the consequences?" she questioned. 

“We may as well get this on the table. I’m attracted to you,” he said as a matter of fact.

She opened her mouth to comment, but her throat closed up and she didn’t know what to say anyway.

“I’m not entirely sure why, to be honest. You are not my usual type and we met under dire circumstances. However, I can’t help the way I feel,” he said. “Rest assured, this won’t be a problem between us. I am a big boy and can control myself. I don’t want you to feel awkward or scared around me. If this agreement is to work between us, we will need to trust each other and I’ll need you to be comfortable around me. I just want to put my attraction to you out there so if ever the time came you felt the same, you’d know I’d be interested."

 He gave her t-shirt clad body a slow perusal. "We would be great in bed.”

Vanessa gaped at him, sure he was joking, for he couldn’t possibly be saying what she was hearing and he definitely couldn’t be suggesting that they eventually share a bed. She said as much.

“Yes,” he said.

“But I’m pregnant,” she blurted out. “And with your father’s baby. Would you honestly want to sleep with me knowing that your father was there first? Wouldn’t that be weird?”

“You didn’t sleep with me father. The bastard raped you and if he hadn’t died in that accident, he would still be dead because I would have killed him for touching you.”

The vehemence with which he said that led her to believe that he was dead serious. The sudden anger on his face was further evidence.

Nick turned his face from her as he tried to reel in his anger. He didn’t know how he would ever get over what his father had done to her. After watching two minutes of the footage Mark had procured of that night, Nick had smashed his computer. He couldn’t comprehend how a human being could do that to another human. His father was a monster. That was the only explanation he could come up with. 

No woman should have to go through what Vanessa did.

He took slow breaths to calm himself and tried to focus on something else that would serve as a distraction. 

Turning his attention back to Vanessa, he allowed his gaze to travel down her slender neck to her breasts which were hugged snuggly by her t-shirt. He then lowered his eyes to her legs, then all the way back up to her mouth, making her feel as if a hot wind had blown over her. He gave a short laugh as if the joke was on him. “I would definitely take you to bed, Nessa. Matter of fact, if it was under different circumstances and I wasn’t sure you are still skittish because of the rape, I would take you to bed now.”

Vanessa blinked several times to clear her mind. All of a sudden her body had gone cold then hot.

She felt as if he’d licked her all over and his nickname for her made her feel special inside.

"Nessa?" she parroted.

"Yes, Nessa. We will be sharing a house together and hopefully eventually become man and wife. So I figure we should be less formal with each other. I like it...I think the nickname suits you - all sweet and innocent. I would love for you to call me Nick."

"Nick," she whispered, trying it out on her lips.

"Yes, just like that. Always say my name like that," he requested.  

Deciding to be as honest with him as he was with her, Vanessa admitted her budding attraction.

“I think I'm attracted to you,” she told him. “I’ve found myself looking at you and feeling…out of breath. But I don’t believe I would want to sleep with you or any man for that matter. Your father was the first time I’d have s*x and will most likely be the last,” she said in all honesty.

“That, my sweet Nessa was not s*x. And when you are ready I will show you what it truly means to be with a man. I know what you’ve been through and I will be patient with you. There is no pressure so you have nothing to fear.”  

She stood and whirled away, feeling hot and bothered all over. The feelings alien to her.

He snagged her wrist, pulling her against him when she stumbled. Her hand fell against his chest and she felt his heart against her palm, his heat all over her.

Looking into his hard, sensual gaze, Vanessa felt a shiver run through her. Somehow, deep inside her, deeper than her bones, she knew that if she slept with him, he would consume her.

Before either one of them could test the theory, she fled once more to her room.