He looked at Noel, who took the time to smile, dark brown dessert all over the lower half of her face. It was obviously chocolate, but it didn’t make the visual any less disturbing.
Nick closed his eyes, pretending the creamy center was lemons instead of mushy, ripe…
Nope.
Nick got up from the table, wiping his face with the napkin offered to him by one of the high schoolers running around to all the quitters. He watched Noel devour the pie, using her tongue to lick the plate clean.
He probably shouldn’t tell her how erotic he found her pie eating skills. She’d think it was weird.
Finally, she whooped, holding her plate in the air for inspection. The fire chief, Brendan Kline, placed a medal around her neck and handed her an envelope. Noel took a napkin on her way back to him, dancing the whole way as flecks of chocolate custard plopped to the cement ground with every move.
“That’s sexy, right there.”
“Yeah? Wanna clean me up?”
Nick laughed, looping an arm behind her neck and bringing her in for a messy kiss. He smacked his lips. “Mmmm, yum. Why couldn’t I get chocolate mousse instead of banana cream.”
“You trying to say the only reason you lost is because you can’t swallow a little banana?”
Nick took the napkin and wiped it along her cheeks and chin. “I am saying you got mad tongue skills, but so do I. If I’d only gotten a better flavor, I could have showed you.”
“Oh, I vaguely remember how good you are with your tongue.”
“Vaguely?” He snorted in disbelief.
“Maybe tonight you could demonstrate again. Refresh my memory.”
Nick caught the gleam in her good eye and wiped his mouth with the last clean section of the napkin. “Come on, you gorgeous pirate, before I forget where we are and commandeer your vessel.”
“Hmmm, keep up with all that and you’re gonna shiver my timber.”
“What the fuck,” he laughed.
She exploded with mirth. “Sorry, I was trying to be all brown chicken brown cow and failed.”
“Eh, it kinda works for me.”
“Does it?” she whispered, clinging to the front of his shirt as he dipped his head to kiss her.
“Yeah.”
“Mmmm.”
Nick’s hands slid over Noel’s back, stopping just short of gripping her ass and pressing her into his hard cock.
“Gross, get a room, you two.”
They broke apart to find Gabby and Drew standing in front of them, arms wrapped around each other. The white bandage was still in place over the bridge of Gabby’s nose, but the skin under her eyes had faded to blue, yellow, and green swirls.
“Whoa, Gabby,” Nick said, at a loss.
“I know, I look badass, right?” Gabby grinned.
The two women hugged and Drew ran a hand over his shaved head with a grin, focused on Nick. “I am just glad they made up. If I had to hear about another reality show crap fest, I was about to run for the hills.”
Nick knew Drew was lying through his teeth by the way he watched Gabby, his gaze tender. It was obvious Drew loved his woman and would watch anything she wanted as long as it made her happy.
He could relate. Nick knew if Noel asked him to sit through some ridiculous bullshit, he’d do it with a smile on his face. But he would have done it when they were just friends.
“Thank you by the way,” Gabby whispered. “Because of Amber’s flying hands, I got a little taken off the top.”
“What?” Drew and Noel cried unanimously.
“Oh geez, I was just kidding. My mother would kill me if I altered the body God gave me.”
“She still doesn’t know about your tat—”
“Shh!” Gabby silenced Noel with a hand over her mouth. “Remember your oath. To the grave.”
Nick cocked a brow. “What’s this?”
“You aren’t the only person to ever get a secret tattoo,” Noel said with a wink.
“What, Nick has a tat? Lemme see.”
Gabby reached for Nick, but Drew picked her up against his chest. “How about we not try to undress other guys in public.”
“In private then?” Gabby smirked.
“Woman, can we get through the honeymoon before you try to bring other men into our bedroom.”
“Why’s everything gotta be about sex with you?” Gabby sheepishly grinned at Noel. “Such a perv.”
“Same with this one.” She jerked a thumb in Nick’s direction. “Just a few minutes ago, he—”
Nick covered her mouth with his hand. “I think we need to separate them.”