My husband

OUR SECOND DATE 2

The mocking smile on Nichols's face only served to increase Rachel's mortification. She never expected to find him here and remembering her father questioning about her coming into the bakery, she knew very well how he had found out where she'd be.

Her embarrassment wasn't even from dropping her bag and acting like a zombie...well maybe a little...but it was mainly from her not knowing why she felt like a little kid caught colouring the wall with crayons.

Self consciously, she bent to pick her purse and straightened just as slowly, she noticed irritatedly that Nicholas hadn't even moved an inch from his perch in the corner. She was absently grateful that he had had the sense to sit far away from the patrons of the bakery and not chased them away with the vibes coming off him, although a small voice told her they were probably the ones that chose chairs away from him.

Everyone seemed to be looking at them now, even though they were pretending not to. Parker the baker and salesman was paused mid pulling out a cupcake from the transparent shelves for a customer who didn't seem to mind the delay as she was also watching and waiting. Jessica, Vivian's replacement for about 2 months had her pencil poised over her notepad, her planning long forgotten. The designers Martha and Elis at their section had stopped wearing a wedding gown unto a mannequin , the customers eating in too seemed like they weren't breathing. It even seemed like someone had reduced the volume of the soft music that was always played in the shop.

Swallowing carefully for the fear of choking from the excitement of seeing him and the repercussion she knew her ignoring him would bring she mustered a weak smile.

"Nicholas, you didn't tell me you'd be coming in today" she said through gritted teeth, trying not to make her anger show after she saw the warning look Nicholas threw her.

Oh, of course, she almost forgot...they had an audience.

"Come here baby" he said, standing, his voice deceptively soft, Rachael's breathing tripped, did he just call her baby?. Her foolish heart started dancing faster feeling like it was in her throat, she felt her legs carry her towards him, she didn't even realise she was walking until her thigh bumped the table he was sitting at.

He closed the space between them and drew her into his arms, burning his nose in her neck, he smoothened his palm down her back sending shivers of shocked delight down her spine.

Rachael sighed and relaxed against him enjoying being in his arms, she noticed rather happily that the top of her head fit right under his chin and that he smelled even better when she was closer to him, his body heat enveloping her.

Shamelessly she became aware of the steady throbbing that had started between her legs, she noticed that her breathing was coming out choppy and that her rock hard nipples were enjoying very much their contact with his chest.

"You silly woman, you never learn do you?, you could have made it easier on yourself but you ignored my fucking calls, I'm here now, I dare you ignore me and see what I do to you" Nicholas growled in her ear.

Every nerve ending in Rachael's body stood on high alert, the unmistakable threat sending her body instantly rigid, she slipped her arms from around him and he released her slowly, she looked up at him staring into his electric blue eyes that looked coldly back at her, a fine tremble worked it's way through her body.

In a much louder voice he said "I figured I surprise you baby" he smiled brightly, Rachael grabbed the front of his T-shirt, the man was absolutely stunning when he smiled "seeing as you are I obviously did"be continued and then laughed, rich and deep that she felt it against her knuckles clutching his shirt. The male customers joined in and Rachael knew then that it was all for show, she didn't know what she was thinking imaging it was anything but.

"What are you doing here Nicholas" she whispered fiercely

"You are going to turn around, smile like a good little girl and tell that guy behind the counter you're going for a late breakfast at central park and you'd be gone the rest of the day. Don't cause a scene Rachael, you don't want to know what I'm going to do to you if you did" he whispered back

Dumbfounded,Rachael just kept staring up at him, how dare him?, he was supposed to be begging, apologizing for his rude behaviour the other night, not acting like he was going to bite her head off, she opened her mouth to snap at him only for him to growl in her face

"Don't test me"

Very much intending to let him win the battle and not the war, she unclenched her fist, patted his chest sweetly and turned her back to him. She felt him follow behind her as she headed for the counter.

"I'd be having a late breakfast at central park Parker, close up at the end of the day, I won't be coming back in today" she smiled

Parker nodded and Rachael knew that Nicholas had his gaze levelled on her baker

"Have a nice day everyone" she called as she tried to walk at a measured pace.

Once outside she quietly let Nicholas usher her into his Jaguar and watched him round the car and fold his length into the drivers sit.

**** **** **** **** **** **** ****

Nicholas concentrated on driving and tried to ignore the ball of confusion sitting in his car. Just now in the shop, she had acted so sweet when he had called her to him,he enjoyed her being in his arms, he admitted begrudgingly that she fit perfectly in his arms, her skin was so soft and her scent, lord...she smelt like she looked, a perfect fucking ray of sunshine right then, he had had the good mind to be gentle on her until he remembered how good at acting Vivian had been, Rachael had looked at him the same way she had on the way to the restaurant on Saturday, the look made him weak in the knee and if that didn't anger him. He had growled at her like a dog with an injured paw and he was very displeased that it had brought him no satisfaction whatsoever.

He could literarily feel her stewing and he let her, he wouldn't have expected any other reaction after how he treated her, but he knew it couldn't be helped, she would never make him a weak and spineless man.

Finding a free parking space, he parked and cut the ignition.

"You can't keep doing this" her voice was very low and when he glanced at her he saw that her brown eyes were glassy.

"You keep talking about being polite but you're anything but to me... Have I offended you before now?, you're the one asking to marry me, you should be begging not threatening me" she continued her voice beginning to rise steadily " You're very rude to me....maybe we shouldn't..."

Nicholas felt a strong feeling he wouldn't admit as fear grip his heart, she didn't want them to get married?, what woman wouldn't want to get married to him?, but then he remembered what cunning beings women could be so instead of placating her like he knew he should he heard himself saying instead.

"I have shifted the wedding dates Rachael, we'd be married in two weeks, the invitations would be sent out once you give me the list of your guest...."

"What?" Rachael hissed, her face red, her brown tear filled eyes going rounder

"I'm not calling off the wedding, the whole world know about us now, we would get married and enjoy the benefits very we...." She cut him off

"You mean you will enjoy the benefits?, I don't benefit...."

"You'd be benefitting from this too.." Her gasp stopped in short, he wondered what she thought he was going to say, but when she just kept staring at him he continued

"You'd be getting me".