Chapter 9 Forbidden Cravings

My heart skipped a beat. I glanced back inside, where Stella and her friends were still deep in conversation.

Taking a deep breath, I slipped away quietly, making my way to the park close to the hotel I and Chris were staying.

When I arrived, Nicolas was waiting, pacing anxiously. He looked up as I approached, his expression a mix of relief and tension.

"Melissa," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Thank you for coming."

I crossed my arms, trying to steady my racing heart. "Nicolas, what is it? What do you want to talk about?"

Nicolas took a deep breath, his eyes locking onto mine. "Melissa, I've been thinking about us, about everything that's happened. I can't stop thinking about you."

I took a step back, feeling a mix of desire and confusion.

He nodded, his face strained. "I mean it."

I glanced around, the park eerily quiet except for the occasional rustle of leaves. "What do you want me to say, Nicolas? That I feel the same? That I've been torturing myself with thoughts of you?"

Nicolas moved closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "Do you? Do you still have feelings for me?"

My heart pounded in my chest, every fiber of my being wanting to tell him the truth, yet knowing the consequences. "I... I don't know, Nicolas. I'm with Chris. He loves me."

"And I love Stella," Nicolas said, his voice breaking. "But it doesn't change what I feel for you. We have to figure this out, Melissa. We owe it to ourselves."

Before I could respond, a shadow moved in the corner of my vision. I turned quickly, my heart leaping into my throat. Chris stood at the edge of the park, his face a mask of shock.

"Melissa?" His voice was a mixture of confusion and shock . "What's going on here?"

I froze, unable to find the words. Nicolas turned, his expression shifting to one of guilt.

"Chris, this isn't what it looks like," I started, but Chris shook his head, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"It looks like you're meeting your best friend fiancé in secret," he said, his voice shaking. "Why, Melissa?"

Nicolas stepped forward. "Chris, we were just-"

"Just what?" Chris interrupted, his voice rising. "Why are you both meeting in secrecy?"

I stepped toward Chris, a lie quickly forming up in my head. "Chris, we were just discussing the surprise bridal shower we had planned for Stella."

Chris eyes widened, taking a step back. "Oh, that makes total sense. Sorry I sounded odd."

Nicolas sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's alright. I will be taking my leave now." Then he turned around and left.

As Chris and I walked back toward the hotel, I couldn't help but feel the weight of my lie pressing down on me. The relief on Chris's face should have brought me comfort, but instead, it only added to my guilt.

"Sorry for jumping to conclusions," Chris said, his voice softening. "I guess I just got a little paranoid."

"It's okay," I replied, forcing a smile. "I understand."

Back at the hotel, Chris suggested we take a stroll through the gardens to enjoy the evening. As we walked, he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. I leaned into him, trying to focus on the comfort of his presence.

But my mind kept drifting back to Nicolas. The intensity of his words, the look in his eyes – it all haunted me.

"Melissa," Chris said, breaking the silence. "I know planning a wedding is stressful, but you seem really tense lately. Is there something else bothering you?"

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "I guess I'm just overwhelmed."

Chris stopped walking and turned to face me, his expression full of concern. "You can talk to me about anything, you know that, right?"

"I know," I whispered, looking away. "Thank you for being so understanding."

He smiled, pulling me into a hug.

Later that night, as Chris and I prepared for bed, he pulled me into his arms. "I love you, Melissa," he whispered. "More than anything."

"I love you too, Chris," I replied, my voice barely audible.

Chris took a slow, deep breath, he then leaned over and pressed a kiss to my lip. The kiss grew in intensity within seconds.

Chris then retreated long enough to toe his shoes and socks off and push his pants the rest of the way down. I followed suit and was naked as he was. He pressed a kiss on each of my breasts. Then softly, back to my mouth.

"I want to make you feel so good ," he promised.

He touched me gently, spreading me open and slipping a finger just inside. "Trust me."

I placed one hand on the side of his face and stared deep into his eyes. Something inside of me seemed to relax. "Okay."

He fit his mouth to mine again, tasting my tongue and my breath, and he didn't stop. For ages, he kissed and touched me, until I was all softness in his hands. Only then did he pull his fingers from my flesh and place himself there instead. With his lips still pressed to mine, he pushed inside, exhaling hard at the gripping heat.

Fully buried inside me, he tore his mouth from mine and opened it against my throat, eyes closed. I guess it was too intense for him to look at me right that moment, too pleasurable and hot.

He moved inside me in slow, short strokes, grinding up against my clit with every pass until I started to wrap herself around him, groaning and urging him on.

"That's it Mel," he urged me. "Take what you want."

"Yes-"

"Take it all, baby."

My legs tightened around him and my hands dug into his ass, holding him where I wanted him.

"So fucking sexy," he whispered as I pushed my hips up into him.

He learned my rhythm, figured out which tilt of my pelvis was an invitation to thrust and which a plea to stay still and buried deep.

"God, Nicolas, I'm..." I paused mid sentence realizing my error.

Chris froze.