Break The Bed(16)
Who is Sabrina Newton? This lucky girl is the object of gorgeous rocker Nick Falcon's affection. Only it seems, she doesn't want him! Nick was very candid last night on The Graham Norton Show, stating that despite being unsuccessfully married three times in the past, he was ready to turn over a new leaf. If only Sabrina will let him!
Come on, London! Let's convince the lovely lady to give Nick a shot!
She strangled back a laugh. He'd done it. He'd really done it. He had her good and trapped. She was almost ready to give in to him. But this also smacked of bullying, didn't it? She'd been told what to do her whole life. For once, she wanted to make her own decision.
Just then there was another knock at the door.
She opened it, expecting to see Marley again. But it was a waiter with an enormous cart.
"Room service!"
"But I didn't order anything."
"Mr. Falcon thought you might need sustenance."
She stepped aside as he rolled the cart into the room. He lifted tray after tray, revealing an absurd number of breakfast dishes.
"It's too much!"
The waiter nodded proudly.
"He ordered the whole menu."
Her mouth opened as the waiter bowed and headed for the door.
"Wait- your tip!"
"It's been taken care of Ms. Newton. Oh, and if I may be so bold, date Nick!"
She stared at the door after he closed it behind him, then back at the food. This was just the start of it, she was certain.
She picked up a fork and started lifting trays. She better eat something. She was going to need her strength.
It was going to be a long day.
Chapter 31
Nick
"You want another one!“
The crowd roared.
"I said, DO YOU WANT ANOTHER ONE!”
The screams from the Wembley Stadium were so loud you could hear them straight across town. Hell, you could probably hear them in Liverpool.
He grinned and signaled to the band. They were the regular blokes he toured with, mostly the same he’d been with for years. Not a studio band, but a get up on your fucking feet and scream kind of band.
Nick was on fire tonight. All the pent up frustrations of the past few weeks were fueling an aggressive performance. It was exceeding anything he'd ever done before. He had the crowd eating out of his sweaty, callused hand.
"Alright, but just ONE FUCKING MORE!"
They launched into one of his old songs, one of the best songs. The one about finally getting your hands on the woman you wanted. This was one song he could really relate to. He unleashed his sexual energy through the song and out onto the crowd.
He knew she was waiting in the wings. It was giving him an incredible boost, knowing she was there. Watching. Wanting him. Whether she wanted to admit it or not.
It's a good thing Sabrina hadn't asked him to stay the night with her tonight, because he would have taken her up on it. Oh yes, he would have gladly spent the night in her bed. And then he'd just have to convince her to let him stay in it.
This way was easier. They would have dinner together. They would eat, and talk. He wanted to know more about her. And then he would lay down his ground rules. She was going to be his. She would be going on the extended tour to Asia, as well. She would make herself bloody available to him whenever he bloody well wanted!
He sang his heart out. When the song was over he ripped his sweaty shirt off and threw it into the crowd. Then he left the stage to collect his prize.
But she wasn't there.
Marley was smiling at him, clasping his sweaty shoulder as they walked to the dressing room. A throng of decidedly young looking girls stood outside, preening for him. He ignored them.
"Send them home."
Marley nodded and whispered to the security guard in the hallway. Nick leaned over the makeup counter and stared into the mirror.
"Where is she?"
"She already went back to the hotel."
"When?"
"The minute it was over, mate."
So she had stayed. She had been there to watch at least. That had to count for something, right?
Marley shifted on his feet uncomfortably.
"So, do you want me to get the girls back?"
"No, mate. Let's just call it a night."
Chapter 32
Sabrina
Sabrina opened her eyes slowly. It was only 5 AM. Why was she up? It must be nerves, she decided. She had to do prep work for Paris. They left in thirty-six hours. She sat up and screamed.
A strange man was in her room.
No- it wasn't a stranger. It was Nick.
"Jesus!"
"Shhhhh… do you want the hotel security to show up?” His eyes twinkled. “The paper would have a lot of fun with this.”
She shook her head vehemently.
"What are you doing here, Nick?"
He grinned at her.
"I'm abducting you."
She just stared at him, not sure what to think. He'd broken into her room. Then again, he hadn't actually done anything once he was in there.
Apparetly, he’d just… watched her sleep.
"What time is it?"
"It's early. I can never sleep after a show. It's too bad you didn't make your offer last night. I would have taken you up on it."
He smiled at her sensually.
"But I would have ignored your silly rules."
"Nick, I'm tired. How did you get in here anyway?"
He lifted an eyebrow.
"A good pirate never tells."
She giggled and clasped her hand over her mouth. He was ridiculous. A force of nature really.
"Pirate? So wait, you’re a pirate now?”
He nodded and climbed onto the foot of the bed, fishing around under the sheets for her ankle.
"Arrrrr!"
She kicked at him as he grabbed her feet, tickling them.
"Stop! Eeek! Nick!"
He lifted his hands and she glared at him. He was sitting on her bed, grinning at her roguishly.
"You're very ticklish, aren't you? That's a good sign."
"Sign for what?"
He just wiggled his eyebrows at her suggestively. She glared at him.
"It's 'Yar'"
"What?"
She sighed and sat up.
"Pirates say 'yar' and 'ahoy'. Zombies and mummies say 'arrrr.'"
"You're quite the authority on this, aren't you?"
"I babysat in high school."
He grinned at her.
"I wish you would have babysat me. I was such a bad boy. I could’ve used a right spanking.”
She pushed herself out of bed and padded into the bathroom, ignoring him. He was craning his neck to see as she shut the door.
"There's still time.”
Chapter 33
Nick
Nick waited patiently while Sabrina showered and changed in the bathroom. He had almost hoped she might ask him to join her but no such luck.
At least she was going along with his scheme. There was hope. If he could show her the London he knew, maybe she’d soften up a bit.
He ordered up two coffees to go. He'd remembered how she liked it; black, with half a packet of raw sugar. That was a first for him. He'd had trouble remember his ex-wives birthdays, let alone their likes and dislikes.
Everything about this was a first if he was honest with himself.
He had a grand day planned for them. They'd start with breakfast at E Pellicci in East End. Then they'd go to the park and Camden Market, all the places he would hang around in his youth, causing trouble. Then he was taking her home.
By Tube.
All incognito.
He wondered what she would think of it all.
She came out of the shower looking fresh as a daisy. She had on tight worn in jeans and a oversized black t-shirt. She pulled on a black motorcycle jacket.
He handed her the coffee and she smiled gratefully.
"Thanks."
"Come on then, love."
"Where are we going?"
"I'm showing you London. My London."
He pulled her out into the hallway and waited while she checked that her door was locked three times. He rolled his eyes and cracked a smile. She was so adorably persnickety.
She stopped when they passed the elevator banks. He grabbed her hand and pulled her down the hall to the service exit. When you were mega-famous, sneaking out through the staff exit was the only way to go unnoticed.
"We're not taking that elevator. We're taking this one."
He pushed open a door at the end of the hallway revealing the less than pristine service elevator. Inside was one of the doormen waiting in full livery. He held out a shopping bag.
“Good morning.”
Nick returned the greeting, ushering Sabrina inside. He opened the shopping bag and smiled. He handed her a plain khaki baseball hat and a pair of cheap sunglasses. She stared at the items in her hands.
"What's this, Nick?"
"Your disguise."
He grinned and pulled out a checkerboard cap and red sunglasses. He gave the doorman a look.
"Is this the best you could do?"
The doorman shrugged and hid a smile. Sabrina was laughing at him as he pulled on the cap and glasses. She reached out and touched his head.
"Wait- you still have your tags."
He grinned at her goofily as she pulled the tags off and stuffed them into her jacket pocket. That was nice. She was nurturing by nature. The sort who would make a good mum.
The random thought of her holding a baby suddenly overwhelmed him. Not any baby though. His baby.
His voice was soft when he thanked her.
"Thanks, love."
He handed the doorman a couple hundred pounds as they left. The man smiled broadly and whispered to Sabrina as they hustled out of the elevator.
"Date Nick!"
Chapter 34
Sabrina
Sabrina watched as Nick joked around with the owners of the cafe he'd taken her to. It was incredible. It had been there since 1900 apparently, and in the same family the whole time.