Bravo 🤍

Four

7 months ago

Nikki wakes up to the sound of her apartment door shutting as she groans. She sits up in her bed just in time to see Lucas enter her bedroom with a tray. "Luke?"

He grins, setting the tray of food beside her on the bed. "Joyeux anniversaire, Nichole!"

She groans again, pulling her blanket up over her head. "Luke... we exchanged keys in case of an emergency. My birthday is not an emergency."

"Come on, Nik! It's your birthday. I have the day off. Call in sick." He pulls the blanket off her as she grimaces at him. "You're cute when you're sleepy." He smiles as she blushes slightly and he brings his hand up to push back some of her unruly blonde curls.

"You made me breakfast?" She asks, changing the subject as she glances from the tray, back to his big blue eyes.

"I did." He grins widely as he watches her sit up. "Le pain au chocolat, des fraises, et café au lait. Nothing fancy."

"It's perfect, Luke. Thank you." She brushes her hands through her hair as Lucas watches her. "Stop it."

"What?" He looks around the bedroom, confused before looking back at her.

"Watching me. You're making me nervous."

He laughs, standing up from the bed. "Come over when you're finished and showered."

"Lucas, I have to work."

He sighs, resting his hands on his hips. "And? It's your birthday. Have you taken any days off since you moved here?"

"Well, no..." She blushes as he laughs, raising his brows at her. "Fine! It better be worth it."

He grins at her relenting so easily. "Bonne fille." He winks at her before turning to leave her apartment.

***

Nikki enters Lucas's apartment just as he leaves his bedroom, buttoning a light blue shirt. "Here I am." She curtsies in an olive-green sundress and flats as he grins down at her. "How do I look?"

"Tres jolie, Nikki." He runs his fingers gently down her bare arm as she shivers under his touch. "Do you have a jacket?"

"Okay." He laughs as she turns and disappears out of the apartment. He meets her back in the hallway as she steps out with a black jacket.

"Now, I know you have weekends off, but I never see you going anywhere." He offers her his arm and she hesitates before hooking her own through his. "I want to take you sight-seeing with a proper Parisien."

Nikki giggles, stopping at the bottom of the stairs. "Aren't you from Nice?"

Lucas laughs, opening the door for her to step outside ahead of him. "Well, I've been here a lot longer than you."

"Fair point. Lead the way then."

***

"First up is Champs-Élysées for some window shopping?" He smiles as Nikki grins up at him, looking around with her eyes wide.

"Everything around here is so pretty. I can't believe it."

Lucas grabs her hand, both of them looking down at their hands before he begins to lead her down the street between the shops, slowly. "Even after being here for so long, you don't really get used to it." He stops in front of a small patisserie and motions for her to sit at a small table outside.

Nikki smiles up at him when he comes back with a box, a plate of macarons and a cup of coffee. "Thank you!"

"Sit and eat your macarons. I'll be right back."

She grabs his hand as he turns to walk away. "Wait! Where are you going?" She asks as he only winks, kissing her hand before walking away. She people watches as she eats her cookies and drinks her coffee before watching Lucas walk back up to her with a small bag that said Prada on the outside.

"Happy birthday, Nikki." He sets the beg in front of her and kisses her cheek before taking the seat beside her.

"Lucas, no." She shakes her head, staring at the bag before trying to push it back toward him.

"It's for you. I came and bought it the other day. Come on, I insist. Please."

"Ugh... Lucas." She sighs as he laughs and she pulls a small box out of the bag. She sets the box on the table, opening it to find a yellow, gray and white square silk scarf with a New York skyline in the middle. "Oh, Lucas, it's beautiful!"

"New York is your home, right?"

"It is!" Lucas watches her run the silk through her hands before placing it delicately back in the box. "Thank you, Luke. It's too much, but I love it." She leans toward him to kiss his cheek but he turns, making her plant a kiss on his lips. They both hesitate for a moment before Lucas brings his hand up to her cheek.

He kisses her again, intentionally, just running his tongue over the seam of her lips before pulling away. He clears his throat, grabbing the silk box and placing it back in the bag along with the box of macarons. "For later. Come on." He offers her his hand, helping her to her feet.

***

Nikki stops outside her apartment door, leaning against the doorjamb as Lucas smiles down at her. "Thank you for today, Lucas. I had a really great time with you. Thanks for making me play hooky."

"Hooky?" He chuckles, quirking a brow with a smirk.

"American term." She blushes as he nods. "When you skip work or school. Anyways, thank you."

"You're welcome, Nik." He watches her fiddle with her bag before turning away from him to open her door. He hesitates before following her inside, grabbing her waist as she sets her bag on the table, pulling her to him. She whimpers against his mouth just as he presses his mouth to hers. They shrug their jackets off, letting them fall to the floor before he lifts her, their mouths still connected. He carries her to her bed, pulling back slightly, hovering over her.

"What?" She watches him squeeze his eyes shut, sighing before pulling away to stand up.

"I..." He groans, helping her to her feet, running his fingers through her hair. "I want to. You have no idea. But I'm about to leave for filming. I don't want to sleep with you and then disappear."

"Oh..." She shrugs slightly, leaning into Lucas's hand as he places it on her cheek. "I understand," she offers, disappointed as he groans again. "You should just go then. Thank you for today."

"I had a great day with you too." He leans down to kiss her once more before turning away to scoop up his jacket from the floor and leave her apartment.

Nikki groans, laying back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. "Fuck."