CHAPTER 79: AN INVITATION (2)

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Georgia’s POV

Seeing the guilt written all over Nick’s face, how he blamed himself for coming too late to stop Raymond, made me say the unthinkable: I dared him to erase the memory. To override Raymond’s touch with his own. Even if nothing truly happened, the remorse in his eyes was unbearable.

It reminded me of when he leapt off that ship and climbed onto the liferaft just to get to me. Back then, I didn’t understand it. But now, after catching glimpses of his past, the puzzle pieces were starting to fall into place.

Nick still carried the weight of my brother’s death like a curse on his soul. Even when the court cleared him, it was never enough. And now, I was beginning to see why.

It wasn’t the truth that haunted him; it was the doubt. The whispering, judging stares of people who never really knew him. People like Raymond, who fueled that guilt like gasoline to fire.

And yet here he was, apologizing. For what? For risking his life to save mine?

Maybe it had something to do with what Oliver and Vicky said—that Nick had planned something all along. But what exactly had he done? To what extent? And why did it make him think he was unworthy of forgiveness?

I would get to the bottom of it later. Right now, all I wanted was to take that weight off his shoulders—even just for a moment. The burden he never deserved but wore like armor.

When his lips crashed into mine, I felt it in my bones—this wasn’t about lust. This was a man reclaiming what he thought he’d lost. A desperate, aching kiss full of silent pleas and unspoken truths.

And I met him with everything I had—every ounce of me, fire, and defiance pulsing through me.

But just when I was about to drown in it...

A knock echoed from the door.

"Damn it..." Nick muttered, pulling back with a clenched jaw before standing up to check who it was.

"Nick, the police are here. They’ve rounded up all of Raymond’s men. They want to speak with you and Georgia before they leave," Oliver’s voice called through the door.

Nick’s jaw tightened, his expression hardening for just a second. "Alright, give me a second, I’ll be right there," he called back, then shut the door quietly, his attention shifting back to me.

He turned, reached for my hand, and pulled me into his chest without a word. His arms locked around me in a firm, grounding embrace, one I didn’t know I needed until I felt his heartbeat against mine.

"Go freshen up," he murmured near my ear, his voice low and intimate. "I’ll talk to them first while you get ready."

I nodded, reluctantly stepping back. "Okay. I won’t take long."

He gave me a final squeeze before walking out, closing the door behind him. The sudden silence felt deafening.

I grabbed a dress from the new clothes Vicky had prepared for me and headed to the bathroom. As soon as I caught my reflection, I froze. My face looked wrecked, makeup smudged from tears, strands of hair sticking to my skin, eyes still red from everything that had just happened.

I didn’t even try to fix it with cosmetics. I just washed my face with the cleanser on the counter—probably Vicky’s—and let the water cool my flushed skin.

The woman staring back at me in the mirror looked different. Still shaken, still raw—but also stronger.

I slipped into the dress, ran a brush through my tangled hair, and straightened my spine before leaving the room.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Lewis," one of the officers said as I stepped into the room. He had the air of command, the team lead, no doubt.

"Good afternoon, officer," I replied, steadying my voice.

Before I could say anything more, a familiar arm slid around my waist... Nick’s. Possessive. Protective. His presence at my side was sudden but grounding, and I caught the flicker of recognition and curiosity in the officers’ eyes as they glanced at the gesture.

"How are you holding up?" the lead officer asked gently.

"I’m alright. Thank you for everything you’ve done today," I said with sincerity. "I’m really grateful."

He gave a small nod, then his tone shifted into something more official. "We just want to confirm, did Mr. Davis use any other weapons to threaten you, aside from the firearms his men were carrying?"

I took a breath. "No. He didn’t point anything at me directly. No weapons."

"Understood." He turned slightly, gesturing toward a female officer who stepped forward. "This is Officer Medina. She’s from our Women and Children’s Protection Division. Would you be comfortable giving her a more detailed statement for our records?"

"Of course," I said, nodding. "I’m more than willing."

She smiled politely and glanced around until her eyes landed on the dining table. With a gentle wave of her hand, she guided me toward it, giving us a semblance of privacy while still remaining in view of the others.

Once we were seated, she switched on a voice recorder and began her questions. I didn’t hold back. I told her everything I remembered—from the moment Raymond stepped onto the island, the shift in his behavior, to the terrifying moment he pinned me down on the floor of the hotel suite, where Nick found us.

Her eyes never left mine, but she didn’t interrupt, just listened with a calm patience that made it easier to speak. It didn’t take long.

When we returned to the group, the lead officer approached me once more.

"Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Lewis. If anything else comes to mind, no matter how small, please don’t hesitate to contact us."

"I will," I assured him. "Thank you for being here. Really."

As they turned to leave, Oliver approached us.

"I’ll go with them to work on the case. Be back in time for dinner, so don’t you dare eat without me," Oliver said, tossing a wink at Nick. "And I want an expensive bottle of wine waiting."

Nick chuckled, shaking his head as Oliver strode out the door.

"We’re heading out too," Liam said shortly after.

Nick checked his watch and gave his brother a nod of approval.

Vicky slung her bag over her shoulder and turned to me. "Do you want us to pick anything up while we’re out?"

I smiled. "No, I’m good. You’ve already spoiled me with more than enough."

She laughed softly. "Alright, then. Fingers crossed there’s no delay, we’ll be back before dinner. See you later!"

I didn’t get what delay she was talking about, but I didn’t pry. The door closed behind them, and the suite fell quiet.

Too quiet.

The stillness wrapped around me, unfamiliar and strangely heavy. I stood there, feeling momentarily adrift, no campfire needed to keep going, no need to look for food and water, just silence and the coolness of the room’s air conditioning.

Then I felt it.

A familiar set of large, warm hands slid slowly up my sides, his touch unhurried but sensual. A strong chest pressed against my back, and his chin rested on my shoulder like he owned the spot.

"Finally," Nick murmured against my ear, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down my spine. "We’re alone again. Can we finish what we started?"

Before I could respond, his lips brushed the side of my neck—light, teasing kisses that ignited sparks beneath my skin.

"Where are Liam and Vicky going?" I asked, trying to sound composed, even though my heart was already thundering.

"I sent them on an errand," he said, his voice husky, his tongue flicking against the shell of my ear before he began to suck gently on the curve of my neck. "They’ll be gone a while... long enough to continue what we were doing earlier."

His hands slid from my waist with sinful purpose.

And I knew exactly where they were headed.

I looked down, breath hitching as his palms cupped my breasts, fingers skillfully exploring as if he had every right to claim what was his. My body betrayed me in an instant.

Everyone was gone.

And there was no one left to stop him.

Not even me. No, I wouldn’t dare. Not when what he wants is something I wanted too.

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