Gage's lips crashed down on Nicole's; he wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her off the ground. Nicole's hands instinctively went to his neck, her fingers wrapping around him as she deepened the kiss.Without breaking the kiss, Gage walked over to the table and gently set Nicole down on the edge. He pulled back slightly, his eyes locking onto hers as he grasped her legs and spread them apart.Nicole's eyes fluttered closed, her head tilting back as she let out a soft moan. Gage's hands roamed up her thighs, his touch sending shivers down her spine.As the tension between them built, Gage's lips claimed Nicole's once again, their kiss growing more passionate and intense.The kiss deepened; Nicole's hands moved to Gage's T-shirt, her fingers grasping the hem as she helped him pull it off. Gage's chest was revealed, his muscles defined in the dim light.Gage's hands moved to Nicole's back, his fingers deftly unhooking her bra. The straps slid down her shoulders, and Nicole felt a
Nicole's eyes fluttered open; she was met with Gage's piercing gaze. He was staring at her, his eyes burning with intensity. Nicole's cheeks flushed, and she bit her lower lip, feeling a flutter in her chest. Gage's eyes dropped to her lips, and he moved closer, his face inches from hers.Without a word, Gage's lips brushed against Nicole's, sparking a flame that had been simmering between them. Nicole's smile grew, and she leaned in, deepening the kiss.As they kissed, Nicole pulled back, her eyes locked onto Gage's. "We neither want to be in a relationship nor can suppress our needs," she whispered, her voice barely audible.Gage's eyes burned with intensity, his lips curling into a smile. "So what do you propose?" he asked, his voice low and husky.Nicole's smile grew wider, and she leaned in closer. "Friends with benefits, just sex without any relationship boundaries."Gage's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't pull back. Instead, he deepened the kiss, his tongue exploring Nic
Nicole sat on the counter, and Gage turned to her, his eyes burning with intensity. He leaned in, his face inches from hers, and whispered, "I promise."Nicole's eyes locked onto his, and she whispered back, "I promise too."Their lips met in a passionate kiss, the tension between them palpable. They were so lost in the moment, their surroundings melted away, leaving only the two of them.As they kissed, Gage's hand slid under Nicole's T-shirt, his fingers caressing her breast. Nicole's grip on his face tightened, her fingers digging into his skin as she deepened the kiss.Gage's touch sent shivers down Nicole's spine, her body responding to his caress. She felt a surge of desire, her heart racing with excitement.The kiss grew more intense, their lips moving in perfect sync. Gage's hand continued to explore Nicole's body, his fingers tracing the curves of her breast.Nicole's breath caught, her body arching into Gage's touch.Just as Gage and Nicole were getting lost in their passion
Nicole was eating breakfast, and Ashley turned to Nicole with a sly grin. "Nicole, you were drunk last night, so I'm guessing something might have happened between you and Gage by mistake," she said, her voice laced with curiosity.Nicole's face flushed, and she quickly shook her head. "No, no, nothing like that happened," she said, her voice firm.Ashley raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Well, then, by the way, take my word for it—Gage is a good boy. Your type, too," she said, her voice dripping with amusement.Nicole chuckled and shook her head. "Yes, but we're just good friends, Ash. That's all."Ashley's grin grew wider, and she let out a playful chuckle. "Yeah, yeah, everything starts with 'just friends' only," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.Nicole rolled her eyes good-naturedly, a smile still playing on her lips. "You're impossible, Ash," she said, shaking her head.Ashley's grin faltered for a moment, and she glanced at her watch. "Okay, I'm going to be
They stood there, wrapped in each other's arms; Gage rested his head on Nicole's chest, his ear listening to the gentle beating of her heart. They were still standing at the kitchen counter, where their passion had ignited just moments before.Nicole's fingers absently stroked Gage's hair, her eyes gazing up at the ceiling. "This position was good," she said, her voice soft and contented.Gage's voice rumbled against her chest, "I liked it too. We should have taken some more time."Nicole's fingers continued to stroke Gage's hair, her touch soothing and gentle. "No, it was fine for now," she said, her voice filled with a sense of satisfaction. "I need a shower; I'll go."Gage lifted his head, his eyes locking onto Nicole's. For a moment, they just gazed at each other, the connection between them palpable. Then, Gage nodded, his face breaking into a soft smile. "Okay, I'll join you in a bit," he said, his voice low and husky.Nicole smiled back at him, her eyes sparkling with amusement
Ashley sat at her desk, her eyes fixed intently on her laptop screen as she worked diligently to prepare for her boss, Lucas Brooks', arrival. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, typing away with a speed and accuracy that came from years of practice. She was so engrossed in her work that she didn't even notice the time passing.Just as she was finishing up a particularly important report, her gaze flickered up to the laptop screen, which displayed a live feed of the office lobby. She caught sight of Josh, her colleague, walking towards her office, a bright smile spreading across his face. Ashley's lips curved upwards in response, and she waved at Josh through the screen.Josh chuckled and waved back, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He knocked on the doorframe, and Ashley called out, "Come on in!"Josh ambled into the office, his long strides eating up the distance. "Hey, how's it going?" he asked, dropping into the chair opposite Ashley's desk.Ashley pushed her glasses up the br
Nicole walked down the hallway; she noticed Ashley standing by the elevator, her eyes red and puffy from crying. Her hair was disheveled, and her shoulders slumped in defeat. Nicole's expression changed from curiosity to concern as she quickened her pace towards Ashley."Ashley, what's wrong?" Nicole asked, her voice soft and gentle. "Are you okay?"Ashley's eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Nicole. She tried to speak, but her voice cracked, and she burst into tears instead. Nicole immediately opened her arms, and Ashley fell into them, sobbing uncontrollably.Nicole held Ashley close, rubbing her back in soothing circular motions. "Everything is fine, Ashley. Tell me what happened," Nicole cooed, trying to calm Ashley down.Ashley's sobs slowly subsided, and she pulled back, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. "My boss... he... he yelled at me in front of everyone," Ashley stammered, her voice shaking. "I made a mistake on the project report. There were so many errors
The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room. Nicole was busy in the kitchen, sipping her coffee and checking her phone for any important messages. Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and Nicole's heart skipped a beat as she wondered who it could be.She wiped her hands on a towel and made her way to the front door. As she opened it, a bright smile spread across her face. Standing on her porch, looking handsome and charming, was Gage."Good morning, beautiful," Gage said, flashing his famous smile.Nicole's cheeks flushed, and she felt a flutter in her chest. "Good morning, Gage. What brings you here so early?""We are going on vacation," Gage said.Just then, Ashley walked into the room, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Vacation?" she exclaimed, her voice husky from sleep. "Did someone say vacation? Oh, please tell me it's true!"Gage chuckled and held up his hands. "Wait, wait, let me explain. I have a surprise vacation planned for us, and I'd love
The beautiful summer day, casting a warm glow over the lush green gardens where the wedding ceremony was taking place. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the soft chirping of birds could be heard in the distance.Nicole, looking stunning in her white wedding gown, stood at the entrance of the aisle, her father's hand holding hers. She took a deep breath, her eyes shining with happiness, as she prepared to walk down the aisle to meet her groom, Gage.She began her walk, all eyes turned to her, and a collective gasp of admiration filled the air. Nicole's father, beaming with pride, smiled at her, and she smiled back, her eyes sparkling with joy.As she made her way down the aisle, Nicole's gaze swept across the crowd, taking in the familiar faces of friends and family. Her eyes landed on Mr. Harrison, Gage's father, who was sitting in the front row, a huge smile spreading across his face.Nicole's heart swelled with affection as she looked at Mr. Harrison.
Nicole felt a wave of disappointment wash over her as she hung up the call with Mr. Harrison. She had been hoping that he would know where Gage was, that she could finally talk to him and make things right. But now, it seemed like she was back to square one.She walked over to a nearby bench and sat down, feeling defeated. She buried her face in her hands, trying to process her emotions. Why did she always have to make things so complicated? Why did she always have to push away the people she loved?As she sat there, Nicole's mind began to wander back to Gage.She suddenly remembered something that made her heart skip a beat. She quickly grabbed her bag and stood up, her mind racing with possibilities. Without hesitation, Nicole walked back into the airport.****The sun was setting over the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the small island that Gage owned. The island was a private sanctuary, a place where Gage could escape the chaos of the world and find solace in nature. And
The plane taxied down the runway; Nicole's mind was a whirlwind of emotions. Gage's words from the book kept echoing in her mind, reminding her of the depth of his love for her. She couldn't shake off the feeling that she was running away from something precious, something that could have been hers if only she had realized it sooner.The thought of Gage giving his heart to her, and now, unknowingly, giving her a part of himself through their baby, was almost too much to bear. Nicole felt a pang of guilt and regret, wondering how she could have been so blind to Gage's feelings.Suddenly, she stood up, her movements abrupt and decisive. The flight attendant, caught off guard, hurried over to her. "Ma'am, please sit down. We're about to take off."But Nicole didn't listen. She grabbed her bag and began to walk towards the exit, her eyes fixed on the door. The flight attendant tried to stop her, but Nicole pushed past her, determined to get off the plane."Ma'am, you can't just get off th
Nicole stepped down from the stairs, her eyes fixed on the floor as she made her way to the front door. Her dad, sister, and Lucas were all standing in the living room, watching her with a mix of sadness and understanding.Ashley walked towards her, concern etched on her face. "Nicole, do you really want to go?" she asked, her voice soft.Nicole nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. "I need to go, Ash," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Now that Mom is gone, this house just feels empty. I'm not used to being here without her. I need to get out of here and start fresh somewhere else."Her father, Henry, walked towards her, his eyes filled with compassion. "We understand, baby," he said, his voice gentle. "We'll miss you, but we understand that you need to do this."Nicole's eyes overflowed with tears as she hugged her father tightly. It was a moment of closure, a moment of healing, and Ashley couldn't help but feel a sense of joy seeing her sister and father reunited like
Nicole stepped up to the microphone, her eyes scanning the crowd of mourners gathered to pay their respects to her mother. She took a deep breath and began to speak, her voice calm and steady."My mom was an incredible woman," she started, her words echoing through the silence. "She was a great wife, a great mom, and a great person. She had every opportunity to leave us, to start a new life after our dad left. But she chose to stay with us, to raise us on her own, and to give us the best life possible."Nicole's voice cracked slightly as she spoke, but she continued, her words pouring out from the heart."As a daughter, I have to admit that I failed my mom. I never understood her, I never appreciated her sacrifices, and I never thanked her enough for everything she did for me. She always put Ashley and me first, always prioritizing our needs above her own. And yet, I repaid her by being selfish, by running away from her when she needed me most."Nicole's tears began to fall, streaming
The doctor emerged from the room; Nicole and her father stood up, their hearts racing with anticipation. They walked towards the doctor, their eyes fixed on his face, searching for any sign of hope.But the doctor's expression was grim, his eyes cast downward. He seemed to be struggling to find the words to say."Doctor?" Nicole asked, her voice trembling with anxiety. "What's going on? How's my mom?"The doctor didn't respond, his silence hanging in the air like a heavy weight."Doctor, please," Nicole asked again, her voice growing more urgent. "Tell me what's going on. Is my mom okay?"The doctor still didn't respond, his eyes fixed on the floor.Nicole's anxiety turned to desperation, and she reached out and grabbed the doctor's collar, her hands shaking with fear."Tell me!" she demanded, her voice hoarse with emotion. "What's going on with my mom?"Her father intervened, gently prying Nicole's hands off the doctor's collar."Nicole, honey, stop," he said, his voice calm and soot
Nicole drove to the hospital; she couldn't help but think about the events of the past few days. Ashley and Lucas had just left for their honeymoon, and despite Ashley's initial hesitation to leave her mother's side, Nicole had assured her that she would take care of their mom. Nicole had reminded Ashley that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and that she should go and enjoy her honeymoon with Lucas.Now, as Nicole drove to the hospital, she was filled with a mix of emotions. She was worried about her mother's health, which seemed to be deteriorating by the day. She was also thinking about Gage and the secret she was keeping from him. She was happy to be carrying his child, but she was also consumed by guilt for not telling him about the pregnancy.As she thought about Gage, Nicole's mind was filled with conflicting emotions. A part of her wanted to reach out to him, to tell him about the baby, and to see if they could work things out. But another part of her was hesitant, fea
Nicole took a deep breath and began to explain the situation to Ashley. "Ash, you know how Gage and I were in a friends with benefits agreement? Well, things got complicated. Gage fell for me, and I...I couldn't deny that there was something between us. Something that I couldn't connect with Jack."Ashley's eyes widened in surprise, but Nicole continued. "I know it's not fully Jack's fault that he didn't trust me. I never let him get close to me, not really. But with Gage...it was different. His touch, his kiss... it melted me, Ash. I couldn't deny it, no matter how hard I tried."Nicole's voice cracked as she remembered the pain she had felt. "And then Jack broke up with me, which hurt me, Ash. He said things that cut deep, and I realized that I deserved better. That's why I agreed to go to Paris, to get away from all this mess."Ashley's expression softened, and she reached out to take Nicole's hand. "But now...now you're pregnant with Gage's child," she said gently.Nicole nodded,
Ashley stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her wedding veil as Nicole sat on the bed, watching her with a warm smile."You look beautiful, Ash," Nicole said, her eyes shining with happiness.Ashley turned to her, her face radiant with excitement. "Thanks, Nic. I'm so nervous. What if I trip on my dress? What if Lucas forgets his vows?"Nicole laughed, getting up from the bed to give Ashley a reassuring hug. "You'll be fine, Ash. You've been preparing for this day for months. And Lucas loves you; he'll never forget his vows."Just then, there was a knock on the door. Nicole walked over to answer it, expecting it to be one of the wedding planners or maybe Lucas himself.But when she opened the door, she was shocked to see Gage standing there, looking handsome but somber in his suit. They stared at each other for a moment, the tension between them palpable.Nicole's heart was racing as she tried to process why Gage was here. They hadn't spoken since she slapped him, and she had been