Suddenly Beautiful (Entangled Covet) (16 page)

Chapter Thirteen

Wow, Tor at her door was the last thing Nikki had expected tonight. Their phone conversation the night before had been brief. Of course, she appreciated his effort, but at the toe-dipping pace he seemed to be wading into their relationship, she hadn’t been one hundred percent certain he was interested in her much beyond sex.

But Tor racing to her house like her white knight did all sorts of things to Nikki’s insides.

She’d told him she loved him. That was something she hadn’t planned on doing until she had a good foothold in their relationship—
if
that ever happened. But the moment had seemed right, and she thought he should know that she wanted more out of life than just a sexual fling.

When she’d said the words it had looked like he was going to choke on his own saliva. But he hadn’t bolted, and he did pull out an “I don’t deserve you.” It wasn’t a declaration of love, but he hadn’t run screaming out into oncoming traffic. She’d call that a win.

Self-preservation had kicked in then, and in a brilliant moment she’d thrown in that she wasn’t wearing panties. He’d instantly taken the bait.

All the way to the bar Tor had touched her. His hand resting on her hip kept making a southern journey to cup her ass. And if she had to be honest, she wasn’t certain she was going to make it through dinner if he kept fondling her like this.

As they approached the restaurant, a flash popped and the familiar click of a camera erupted. Herbert Longberger stood in a doorway of the next building, his camera trained on them.

“Son-of-a…” Tor wrapped his arm around Nikki and hustled her into the restaurant. “How the hell did he know we would be here?”

“This is one of my favorite places. He’s probably been asking around.”

“I’m going to kill Demetria,” he muttered.

Once inside, Nikki grabbed his hand and held on to it as she wove her way through the after-work crowd. Heads, male and female, turned and followed their progress. This was the first time she’d been to this place since her makeover. Never before had she gotten this much attention. Hopefully Tor was noticing it as well.

Creed and Stacey agreed to meet. Funny enough, they said they couldn’t promise anything. That if the conversation dragged, they’d make their excuses and cut the night short. Nikki was confident that once Stacey got a look at Creed, she’d be in for the entire evening. And seriously, what was not to love about Stacey? She was a hot Hispanic attorney with more curves than the Alaskan Highway and beautiful brown eyes you could drown in. Not to mention the whole demigoddess gig that Nikki was sure gave her an extra boost of sexy.

Creed’s messy blond hair was the first thing Nikki zeroed in on. “There he is.”

Tor interlaced his fingers with hers and gripped her hand a little tighter. She repressed a smile at his possessive gesture and gave his fingers a gentle squeeze. Creed was scrolling through his phone and drinking a beer. When
she
buried her nose in her phone it was usually to avoid making unwanted eye contact. He appeared to be actually working.

“I’m so sorry I’m late, Creed.”

He looked up and gave her a pearly smile, rising from the stool. “No problem. I’ve only been here a few minutes myself.” His gaze slid to Tor and down to where their hands were joined. His smile widened. “Hey Tor, I didn’t realize you’d be joining us.”

“I hope you don’t mind me crashing your get-together.” Tor stepped forward and laid his arm loosely around Nikki’s shoulder. “I stopped by Nikki’s apartment earlier, and she invited me along.”

“Great.” Creed winked at her, letting Nikki know everything was cool, and then gestured to two of the four stools. “Please sit.”

“Thanks.” She sat and Tor claimed the stool next to her, which conveniently put Creed at the farthest point from her. Tor’s knees brushed against hers, and he settled his hand on her thigh. Trying not to think of the devious things she knew he was going to attempt, she focused on Creed. “What time is it?”

He checked his phone. “Seven fifteen.”

“Hmmm, I wonder where Stacey is. She’s usually crazy punctual.” Nikki reached into her bag and pulled out her phone to check for a text. “Yep, she’s on her way.”

“Stacey?” Tor asked.

The optimistic curiosity in his question made Nikki smile. “My best friend. She’s meeting us here.” She grabbed Creed’s hand and gave it a little shake. “And we’re so excited about that, aren’t we, Creed?”

The creative director rolled his eyes. “Nikki is playing matchmaker.”

“That’s a great idea.” Tor’s words sort of burst from him in an eruption of agreement, as if he suddenly realized what the get-together was all about. Then he repeated himself. “That’s just really, really great.”

“Wow, you’re
really
excited about me meeting Nikki’s friend,” Creed said. “Maybe even more than I am.” Though he didn’t smile, his joking undertone was apparent. “Hey, you’re single, aren’t you?” Creed continued. “If it doesn’t work out with me and Stacey, then maybe you could date her, and I could date Nikki. It would be a nice little foursome.”

Nikki bit her lips and looked at Tor, waiting to see what he would say.

“Sorry, but I’m seeing someone.” He tilted his head toward her and ran his hand along her shoulder. “Aren’t I?”

“Most definitely.” She leaned in and gave him a soft but quick kiss.

“Holy crap, I’m fifteen minutes late and you’ve already got all the good-looking guys corralled and tethered.” Stacey set her bag on the floor and held out her hand to Creed. “Since she’s making out with him, I assume you’re Creed.”

As he took her hand, he slid off the stool, his eyes wide and jaw slack. “I am. And you’re obviously Stacey.”

“In the flesh. It’s nice to meet you.” She let go of his hand and climbed onto the stool in between Nikki and Creed. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I need a drink.”

“How could I take that the wrong way?” Creed asked.

She rested an elbow on the table and leaned her chin against her hand, giving him a sultry look. “By not buying me a drink.”

He mimicked her pose. “Let me guess, you’re a vodka tonic gal.”

Stacey lowered her arm and gave Nikki a look of approval. “I like him already.”

“I told you.” Nikki gave a little wave of her hand. “Oh, and in case you were curious, I’d love a glass of Riesling.”

“Let me.” Tor stood, his mood quite a bit happier now that Stacey had arrived. “Another, Creed?”

“Sure, thanks.”

After Tor left, Stacey turned a wide-eyed expression on her. “What the hell is going on? I thought you were going to dangle the carrot.”

Nikki glanced over her shoulder to make sure he was out of hearing range and then back to Stacey. “I know, but he showed up on my doorstep as I was leaving. I couldn’t just tell him to get lost, so I asked him if he wanted to come along.”

“Why not say you had other plans? Now he knows you’re putty in his hands.”

“I know.” She’d tell Stacey about Tor rushing to her aid when Creed wasn’t around. No need to drop the demigoddess bomb on him before he and Stacey’s relationship ever got off the ground. Nikki shrugged. “But I think I’d rather know if it’s going to work out or not. I’m not great at playing games.”

“Obviously.” Stacey turned to Creed. “She’s too good for her own good.”

“It’s not a bad trait to have.” His gaze tracked down her torso and back to her face. “I, on the other hand, could never be accused of that.”

“I just bet you couldn’t,” Stacey said.

Nikki knew that look on her friend’s face. She was interested—very interested. Tor arrived before she had to suffer through any more of their sexual innuendos. Before sitting, he scooted his chair a few inches closer to Nikki’s and when he sat, their legs and hips lay flush against each other. The familiar warmth of desire stirred inside her. Being here with Tor felt right, like they were meant to be a couple—like they actually were a couple.

Over dinner the conversation split. Creed and Stacey fell into a discussion about philosophy, and she and Tor were left to make small talk of their own. Determined not to speak about work, their topic turned to likes and dislikes, which quickly turned to desires and fantasies.

Tor’s exploring fingers added an extra layer of exhilaration to the conversation. Accommodations for dinner were intimate and the tablecloth long enough to hide any activity going on below board. With expert skill, his fingers found their way under her dress. Each glorious inch he gained sent ripples of pleasure up her thighs to her core.

Their conversation slowed since she was having a difficult time concentrating on what he said and Tor was preoccupied with gaining ground. Her body tensed when he drew precariously close to that most joyous of places between her legs. His fingers skimmed her feminine lips, and it was all she could do not to moan. She spread her legs, letting his fingers work their magic.

He stared at her, watching her expression as he gently stroked her clit. This was never going to work. Another few seconds of this sublime torture and she’d be writhing in her chair. She laid her napkin on the table and pushed her chair back. “I need to use the restroom.”

“All right,” Stacey said, giving her a cursory glance and turning her attention back to Creed.

Tor smirked and leaned back in his seat, watching her walk away. Damn, the man was making her crazy. Screw dessert, all she really wanted was to get him back to her place and do dirty, glorious things to him. She checked her makeup in the mirror. Perfect as always since her demigoddessness had kicked in. She took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure, and opened the bathroom door.

Tor waited just outside, his body lounging against the dark rich panels of the dimly lit hall. “I’m ready to go.”

The argument that it wouldn’t be polite to duck out so early was instantly quashed by the intense look of desire in his eyes. She nodded. He held out his hand, and she took it.

He led her out of the restaurant. Just as Nikki passed the glass partition, she caught Stacey’s eye and her friend gave a little finger wave. All seemed good with her and Creed, not that Nikki had been worried after their initial meeting and obvious instant attraction.

The cab ride back to her apartment had her feeling like she was in college again. It was all she could do not to hike her skirt up and do Tor right there in the backseat of the taxi. He sat next to the window and she sat pressed against him. His fingers caressed her inner thighs while he kissed her senseless.

When they pulled up at her apartment, he tossed a hundred dollars at the cab driver. “Keep it.”

Before the driver could thank him, Tor was dragging her from the car. Once in the elevator, he backed her against the wall like he’d done the first night they’d been together.

“I’m beginning to really like elevators,” Nikki said.

“They are quite convenient.” His lips nipped at her ear, his tongue burning a trail down her neck. “But I think I’d rather have you naked in bed right now.”

With those words, the elevator shot to the seventh floor and the doors opened. All the way down the hall he kissed her, guiding her backward toward 7B. When she began to search for her keys, he waved his hand and the click of the dead bolt unlocking sounded.

Nikki stopped kissing him. “That’s also convenient—and slightly disturbing.”

“Yeah, you should really add some extra security to your apartment or you never know who might show up in your house.”

She licked her lips. “Hopefully it’s you.”

He pushed open the door and scooped her into his arms. Nikki gave a little squeak of surprise and clung to him. Once inside, he gave the door a quick kick and mentally locked the dead bolt again. He carried her through her dark apartment to her bedroom, where he laid her on the bed.

For the next ten minutes he undressed her, which was pretty amazing since she wasn’t wearing anything but her dress and heels. She ached for him, but the way he worshipped her body, stroking, kissing, and admiring nearly every inch of her, made the wait worth every agonizing second.

After he discarded his clothes, he joined her on the bed. His skin felt so good against hers. The hard planes of his body molded to her softer curves. He slid his knee between her legs and rested his hand on her stomach. “I think we need some ambiance.”

She really hoped he didn’t want to do it with the lights on. “I have candles.”

“Perfect.” With a wave of his hand, he lit the four votives she had placed around the bedroom. And with another wave, he turned on her stereo. Soft music wafted from the tiny speakers. “That’s better.”

“For somebody who doesn’t like to admit he’s a demigod, you sure are working your magical mojo tonight.”

“Maybe I’ve finally found a reason good enough to use it.”

“Well then, maybe I’d better return the favor and show you a little charm of my own.”

His hand dipped between her legs. “Yes, please.”

He lowered his head and kissed her, slow and deep. It was the kind of kiss she’d read about in romance novels. The kind of kiss that caused her to yearn for more. The kind of kiss that stripped away inhibitions and made her give everything her soul had to give.

Bliss-inducing caresses and tender words accompanied their passion. Wrapped in each other’s arms. Sitting face-to-face. Up against the wall. Nikki lost count of all the fabulous positions he twisted her into that night.

At the end of their lovemaking, she fell asleep with Tor curled around her. All those years of wishing and dreaming were no comparison to having the real thing next to her. The strength of his body and the safety she felt, knowing he was beside her while she slept, was something she hadn’t counted on. Everything was perfect. Almost too perfect.

Chapter Fourteen

Nikki opened her eyes and screamed.

A large man sat on the small slipper chair across from her bed, his body dwarfing the delicate green seat. He was staring at her. No, more like glaring at her. She sat straight up in bed, tugging the sheet up to her chin.

“Who are you? Where’s Tor?” She scooted her back against the headboard. “Tor!”

“Save your breath.” The man’s voice sounded like water rushing over rocks, smooth and powerful. “I sent him home where he belongs. Not here, bedding my daughter.”

Some of the fear bled out of her. Not much, just the part where she realized it wasn’t a psycho killer who had broken into her home, but her father, Ares. His long dark hair hung to his shoulders and his green eyes stabbed her with fatherly disapproval, even though he didn’t look older than forty. Her outrage at him barging into her house was tempered only by the fact that he could kill her without even flinching.

Still, a little part of her wanted to have her say before she embraced death. “Oh, now I’m your daughter? Where the hell have you been for the past twenty-nine years?”

“You dare speak to me in that tone?”

Now that she thought about it, having her say
was
worth dying for. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, sending vibrations along her skin. “You dare enter my house uninvited.”

He stood, his massive body blocking out the entire corner of her bedroom. “Uninvited? I don’t need an invitation. I am the god of war. I go where and when I please.”

Her gaze narrowed. “Like hell you do. Get out.”

“I won’t!” He crossed his arms. “I will stay as long as I see fit.”

“Fine.” Obviously she wasn’t going to be able to force him out, but remaining in bed put her in a vulnerable position. “At least shut your eyes while I get out of bed.”

“So you can beat me about the head with the baseball bat you have hidden in the closet? I don’t think so.”

“Tempting, but no. I just want to get dressed since I’m naked beneath this sheet.” She lifted a single brow. “Now shut your eyes.”

He hesitated a few seconds, and then said, “I will turn around, but I won’t shut my eyes.”

“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes. “But don’t look.”

His stance was ramrod straight, but he turned and faced the wall. He looked like an enormous child who had been sent to corner for a time-out.

Nikki scooted out of bed, taking the sheet with her. Just because he was her father didn’t mean she trusted him not to look. There wouldn’t be enough soap in the world to scrub the skeeviness of that memory away.

With one hand she held the sheet around her, and with the other she worked her robe onto her shoulders, slipping her right arm into the sleeve. Once she was certain the robe covered all her girlie bits, she dropped the sheet, shoved her left arm through the hole, and cinched the belt around her waist. Not bothering to tell her father he could turn around, she marched out of her bedroom and into the kitchen.

It took about a minute before Ares’s footsteps pounded down the hall. He loomed in the kitchen entrance, glaring at her, but Nikki ignored him and focused on getting the nectar of her life brewing. Damn him for showing up this morning. She’d wanted so much to wake up next to Tor and maybe fool around a bit before taking a shower and going to get breakfast.

“Why are you here?” She braced her arms against the edge of her kitchen island. “Didn’t Tor’s mom tell you I didn’t want to see you?”

Ares entered the kitchen and mirrored her stance. “Of course she did. She tells me everything.”

Nikki snorted. “I doubt that.”

“She reveres me.”

“Right.” Nikki yanked the nearly empty pot out from under the coffee stream, emptied the contents into her cup, and turned back to him. “So why are you here?”

Some of the bluster left the mighty god of war, as if he was at a loss for an explanation. “I don’t need a reason to see my own daughter.”

She clutched her coffee mug and stared at him, not acknowledging any of what he’d just said. Even if the reason he was there was something as stupid as his big, fat ego, she wanted him to say it. Silence stretched between them and still she didn’t move.

“Fine,” he said, straightening. “I wanted to find out why you didn’t want to meet me.”

Was he really that much of an ignoramus or just that vain? Probably a lot of both. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because I’ve spent my whole life wondering who my father is and you’ve never bothered to make an appearance.” She held up a finger. “Oh wait, and let’s not forget the part about being a demigoddess.”

“What is time to a god? You’re barely out of diapers. Besides, I’m here now.” He held out his arms as if she should be honored to have him there. “That should please you.”

She rolled her eyes again and walked into the living room. “Yeah, remind me to thank you for showing up in my bedroom and zapping my boyfriend home.”

He followed her into the room. “He should not have been here. You’re not married or even betrothed.”

Nikki tucked one foot under her and sat on the couch. “Right, because you and my mother were betrothed when she got pregnant with me.”

He lowered himself into a chair, balancing on the edge with his hands propped on his knees. Though she hated to admit it, he really did look like a god, and completely out of his element. “It’s not the same for gods. We’re forced to dally with humans because we’re immortal.”

“Whatever you say.” To be honest, she didn’t care that he hadn’t married her mother. Azzura probably wouldn’t have been faithful to him anyway, no matter how good-looking he had been. Then Ares would have gotten pissed because she cheated on him and he would have turned her into a pillar of salt or a swan, or something stupid like that. “Let’s get one thing straight. You have not been in my life and just because your ego is a little bruised, doesn’t mean you can pop in anytime you want and control my life.”

“That’s exactly what it means.” He leaned an elbow on his knee and pointed a finger at her. “That is my price.”

Okay, it was way too early in the morning for her to try and decipher his crazy. “What are you talking about?”

“For the honor of my presence, I require a price. That is my price.” With a kingly air, he leaned back in the chair as if it had all been settled.

“First of all, I never asked for the honor of your presence. As a matter of fact, I distinctly said no to the honor of your presence.” She took a sip of coffee. “Therefore, I don’t have to pay your price.”

The look that crossed Ares’s face nearly made Nikki laugh. His brows drew together and his shoulders sagged. “You must pay.”

“No, I mustn’t.” She set her cup on the end table and leaned forward. “You can’t force me to accept you.”

“Insolent!” He stood and paced the short length of the living room. “You are just like your mother, petulant and stubborn.”

“Yeah, that must be where I got it from.” She shook her head. “What do you want from me?”

He stopped and pivoted to face her. “With you and Toraos getting married, I thought it best we meet. As you know, Aphrodite and I share a special relationship.”

Nikki held up her hand. “Back this truck up a second. What did you say about Tor and me getting married?”

“Of course you’ll be wed. No daughter of mine will be sullied by some womanizing gigolo.”

She stared at him and then burst out laughing. “I’d hardly call Tor a womanizing gigolo.”

“Fine, then he won’t have any trouble doing the right thing.”

Before she could reply, her door flew open and Tor stood in the entrance. Nikki flinched from the look on his face. Anger, worry, that complete encompassing terror when a person realizes someone they love is in danger and they can’t reach them. Behind him stood his mother, her head bobbing up and down over his shoulder, trying to see inside the apartment.

“Tor.” Nikki jumped to her feet and started across the room but Ares transported himself to stand between them. “Get out of my way.” She shoved him, but he didn’t budge. “Move it,
Dad
!”

“Ares, you can’t force her to listen to you.” Aphrodite said, pushing her way inside the apartment. “Trust me, I know.”

Her father’s green gaze, so like her own, bore into her. He pursed his lips, inhaled, and stepped to the side. Nikki edged past the towering man and walked to Tor, who scooped her into a crushing hug.

“Are you all right?” He ran his hand down her hair, cupping the back of her neck. “I was so worried about you when I woke up in my own bed.”

“I’m fine.” She leaned back and looked at him. “Rushing to my rescue again? You’re making a habit of this.”

“I can’t help it.” He brushed the hair from her face. “I don’t know what I would do without you.” He bent and kissed her, relaxing his hold. “Now, there are a few things I need to talk to Ares about.”

“It’s all right, Tor.” She laid her hands against his chest. The last thing she wanted was a confrontation between the man she loved and an angry god. “He was just leaving.”

“No, I wasn’t.” Ares crossed his arms and widened his stance. “I will stay until I choose to leave.”

“It’s all right.” Tor gripped her shoulders and set her to the side. “We need to get a few ground rules set.”

“What’s that, boy?” Ares seemed to grow several inches taller. “You got something to say to me?”

The apartment door clicked shut behind Nikki, and Aphrodite moved to stand beside her, wrapping a motherly arm around her waist and giving Nikki unspoken reassurance that her son wasn’t about to die.

“Yes, sir.” Tor stopped a few feet from the powerful god. “I realize Nikki is your daughter, but if she and I are going to be together, we need to know that you’re not going to pop in whenever you feel like it.” Tor turned and looked at his mother. “That goes for you, too.”

Aphrodite sputtered at her son’s command but didn’t have much of an argument to follow up her outrage with.

Ares was a different story. His expression turned thunderous. “You dare dictate to me when I can see my own daughter? It seems you need a lesson on who is truly in charge, boy.”

He fisted his hand and raised it toward the ceiling. The low rumble of thunder echoed through the apartment and suddenly Nikki was afraid that her boss and new boyfriend was about to meet his end. Electricity skittered along her skin, like the time she’d taken out the mugger. Could she defeat the god of war? Probably not, but she did have one thing on her side.

Stepping in front of Tor, she shoved her hands out in front of her. “If you hurt my boyfriend and destroy my apartment building I will…” She struggled for a suitable threat. “I will never see you again.” The breath stopped in her chest, her body tensed and ready for her father’s retaliation. His gaze burned into her. Real flames flickered where his pupils should have been. “I mean it, Ares, I will never willingly allow you to enter my home again, and…I’ll make sure you’re the laughingstock among the other gods by publicly shunning you.”

That stopped him in his fiery tracks. His gaze narrowed on her, and he slowly lowered his fist. “Do you hear this?” He looked at Aphrodite. “Such insolence.”

Before Tor’s mother could speak, Nikki cut in. “Yeah, well, ignoring your child her entire life will do that. Now put your fists away and sit down.” She propped her hands on her hips. “Sit or git, it’s your choice.”

Silence blanketed the room. Surely he would smite her for her back-sass, but damn it, the man couldn’t just barge into her life and start bossing her around. Ares lifted his chin an inch, sniffed, and walked to the nearest chair, perching on the edge like a king on his throne.

Nikki let out a silent sigh of relief and walked to the couch. “All right then, maybe we can talk things through like civilized gods and goddesses?”

Aphrodite eased into the floral wingback, looking like a queen in her elegant white pantsuit. Tor sat down next to Nikki and twined his fingers with hers. He looked devilishly handsome, if not slightly disheveled, in a pair of jeans and T-shirt. He must have thrown on the first thing he could find and called his mother.

A week ago, Nikki’s life had been a boring routine of work and reruns. This morning, she was hosting a god summit, one of whom just happened to be her father. She repressed a smile. For some reason this felt right.

“I demand you marry my daughter,” Ares said. He glared at Tor, as if expecting an argument.

“With all due respect, sir, I will ask your daughter to marry me when I feel the time is right, not because you dictate it.”

“This isn’t the twelfth century,” Nikki said. “Tor and I just started seeing each other. Things like this take time.”

“Preposterous. He has deflowered you and he must make it right.”

Telling the god of war that that ship had sailed long before Tor didn’t seem like a wise move. Luckily Aphrodite intervened.

“Ares, darling, let the kids work things out for themselves. I can assure you Toraos has nothing but the utmost respect for Nikki, as do I. He would never do anything to purposely hurt her.”

“Yeah, and I can take care of myself.” Nikki glowered at him. “After all, I’ve been doing it all my life.”

He let out a frustrated grunt. “I will allow a short period of courting—five years at the longest.”

Gods really didn’t have any concept of time, but far be it from her to rain on his imperial parade. “That sounds fair.”

“I won’t need five years, sir.” Tor turned to Nikki. “I said I would ask her when
I
felt the time was right.” He scooted off the couch and knelt in front of her. “Nikki, over the past few days I’ve realized just how important you are to me. I can’t bear the thought of not having you in my life…” He paused. “Even if it means putting up with being turned to stone, growing a tail, or whatever else you’re going to do to me when you get angry. I love you, and I want you to be my wife.”

Nikki’s heart leaped to her throat, cutting off her air and rendering her speechless. He had said he loved her. Butterflies of excitement did loops in her chest.

Tor took her hand and rubbed her palm with his thumb. “Will you marry me, Nikki Triano?”