Promises had been broken, feelings still alive with two lovers determined above the turbulent waters to survive.

There was a clearing in the skyline, a flower springing forth from the ground that made the fighting and strain worth it. Nicky and I had been through a lot more than most but we held on. I had made a vow to him that I'll stay when he gave me the chance to leave. And he had made a vow to me that he not only meant but kept.

The gates of the prison flung open and ignoring the temptation to break out into a full sprint proved challenging. I fought the urge and opted to bounce on the balls of my feet whilst holding Eva's hand squeezing it tightly. He walked towards us and though there were bags around his eyes they did nothing to chase away the light in them that influenced the tears to form in mine.

Eva flung her arms around him, though she was a short woman he bent down meeting his mother halfway. Aunt Elle followed slapping his cheek in an affectionate manner that made him chuckle. She released him and the once distilled waters within me rippled at the smile thrown in my direction.

He wasted no time coming to stand before me, disassembling the pain from the past weeks. Placing a hand on his chest, he lowered his head placing his lips on the side of my neck, "I'm back, my little gazelle," he growled wrapping his arms around me. I settled into his chest nuzzling against the fabric of his shirt that held remnants of his cologne. The smell offered solace to me when he wasn't near and I often wore his shirts on those days. "I'm glad you're back," I confessed.

He pulled away laying a kiss that held more sweet nothings of its own, making me forget where we were so much so I grew embarrassed when a throat cleared that made us pull apart. "We aren't in the mood to get a preview of how you guys made my grandchild," gagged Eva whose face scrunched up making Aunt Elle chuckle. "Don't mind her," her sister chimed in ushering us to the car where Leo and Daniel were waiting. I was glad they were both there after what they did. If it hadn't been for them, Joseph and even Sonny's help the matter wouldn't have been resolved.

We arrived back at his home where Eva had suggested we throw a little welcome back party for him. Although he seemed the same, there was something about him. When Sonny along with Joseph came towards him Nicky seemed apprehensive to greet the two men. But he eventually did and told me he'd be back as he went off to converse with other people who came by to welcome him back.

It hadn't been long since he returned and I was already breathing easily. I was laughing more knowing he was close and it was refreshing to see people in a better mood. Even Aunt Elle and Joseph seemed to be getting along but Eva had been keeping a safe distance from Sonny which was for the best.

She had confided in me about their history after some time and without her needing to tell me I already knew Nicholas had no idea which was the way she wanted it to remain. The last thing she wanted was to make Nicholas suffer by taking away the only father figure he had even if she had issues with him.

As the day drew to a close, more champagne bottles were popped, more drunken speeches from Leo that involved thrilling anecdotes. It went from being a great day to a great night.

Soon Leo's very body was being held by a few of the other men as they walked out allowing Nicky and I to have a moment to ourselves. It was nearing midnight and by then Nicholas had moved off to a more secluded area and after bidding good-bye to Eva, I followed the same path which he went and found the man of the hour drinking straight from a bottle of champagne. "Did you not enjoy yourself?" I asked closing the door behind me sauntering towards the bed where he sat hunched over looking to be in deep thought.

"Just needed a second to breathe... I kind of wanted a quiet day," he mumbled gulping down more of the alcohol. And as a woman in need of his attention I reached out taking the bottle from his hand and took a seat on his lap jumping to the opportunity to touch him the way I truly wanted to. Each day he had been away was agonizing but he was back somehow appearing more beautiful and alluring to me than ever. Leaning forward I kissed him, savoring the faint taste of Pinot Noir on his tongue.

I had been dying for a taste of liquor especially in those stressful times but he was happy to allow me to indulge whilst his hands landed on my backside squeezing it gently. No doubt the bulge in his pants was profoundly stimulating. "Just because the party is over doesn't mean we should stop celebrating," I whispered grinding my hips against his erection. He groaned placing open mouthed, sloppy kisses that made the very room spin the more I grew excited.

Flipping us over his movements grew frantic, impatient to quench the simple need that had been building within us for weeks. With nothing separating us, no one to tell us to stop I whimpered when I felt the straps of my dress get pulled from my shoulders.

His sinful tongue swivelled around my skin drawing a foreign language against it making me feel winded and unable to put up a fight when he pulled the garment away. My underwear was the next to follow and his smile widened taking in the new changes to my body that had me blushing profusely at his reaction to me. Discarding his clothes quickly I giggled like a school girl seeing him nearly tripping on his feet trying to remove his pants so fast.

"Come here," I purred cocking a finger to usher the Boss towards the place I needed him most. There were nights often spent where the act of self pleasuring had taken place to sate the hormonal harassment and when his jaw clenched as he advanced upon me I knew he felt the same. "You don't have to tell me twice," he cooed yanking my ankle pulling me close to his body. Instead of accepting the simple act of just lying on my back I flipped us over catching the man off guard by taking charge.

With him below me, I reached down grasping his hard girth in my hand, "L-Liyah..." he moaned, eyes rolling to the back of his head at the way I kneaded him until I shifted sinking down upon it.

The room was filled with our curses and moans from a union long overdue as he gripped my waist that moved at a stuttering pace. "Shhhiiiitttt!" I whispered digging my nails into his shoulders and when he made a move to try flip us over I pushed him back down. It was a move that made the man release a sound akin to that of a caged animal dying to be set free. "N-No, Nicky..." I whined looking down at him seriously, "I want it slow tonight." Just as the confession spilled, his face contorted in pleasure as I continued rotating in a slower pace dying to savour the moment and make it last.

He gathered his composure giving me a dark look that made my walls grow more slick with moisture, "You forget your place," he growled running a tender hand over my stomach to cup my breast. He sat up wrapping his mouth over the nub to suck it gently throwing the sassy response I wanted to give out the window. He wrapped an arm around my waist shifting forward to hit my spot at an angle that twisted my tongue and toes. The pace had remained slow but his strokes were hard and deliberate. His tongue worked sinfully against my chest demanding me to not think but only feel.

Looking down at him with him buried so deep in me, he released my globe and his lips stretched into a grin that had me falling apart. And that time I allowed him to push me onto my back to get his own fill that ended with him landing on to me spent but still a victor in fulfilling a conquest in which he was the predator and I was his prey.

***

Stretching in the tangled sheets my hand landed onto the cold empty space next to me. Turning in confusion I rubbed my eyes adjusting to the predominantly dark room. The only light came from the fireplace where Nicolas sat close nursing a glass of scotch. He was focused on the flames that crackled, his expression thoughtful that would later on reveal a man facing a deep dilemma.

His gaze switched over to me when he heard me sit up and he walked to the bed. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?" he asked joining my side. He placed his glass on the table to put both of his hands on me. Instead of answering I chose to ask what he was thinking about. He placed his eyes back on the flames momentarily distracting me as the flames illuminated inside his eyes that held secrets of their own, "Just trying to figure some things out."

"Elaborate," the demand although light was sufficient enough to have the man spilling his inner thoughts. It meant a lot to see him growing more comfortable with opening up more to me. There are times when we as humans hesitate to showcase the darkness that often lingers inside us afraid no one will stay.

But in all the darkness Nicholas showed I was willing to be there. "The fight isn't over, but as of late I've begun questioning who the real enemy is..." he responded, his brows furrowed in concentration. I took note of the sudden uncertainty he was feeling. I leaned forward running a hand through the side of his face hoping it would unwind the doubt that was keeping him from getting a good night's sleep. "Why do you say that?"

Pursing his lips eventually after reflecting upon the question he replied, "Whilst I was in jail I came across someone who could potentially change all I thought I knew," and though he was opening up that night I could tell he was being vague on purpose by choosing his words carefully.

Admittedly I wasn't too happy about it when I grumbled out, "Baby..." I gave him a pointed look which caused him to smile. "I know I need to offer a better explanation but I'm going to need you to give me time to work out the details before I go out tossing theories that may actually not mean anything," he explained. When I didn't say anything still looking quizzically at him, he leaned forward pecking my lips lightly, "pleeeaaassseee," the request had me reluctantly dropping the subject for now. But he couldn't stop me from wondering what it was and for a second I thought back to his earlier behavior.

I glanced back to find him taking a sip of his drink. He looked daunting, drenched in a place where the dark and light fought for dominance. And I took him in feeling a possessive side emerge inside me at the sight of the hickeys littering his neck that stood as proof to the fact he was mine.

"Keep looking at me like that and I'll have you limping for the rest of your life," he teased reaching out to squeeze my bare thigh. "I've never been scared of you, baby. And if I'm being frank I never will," I taunted leaning forward to playfully bite his shoulder blade.

He chuckled pulling me in to settle by his side and I laid comfortably with my head on his chest staring at the fire, "Speaking of scared I was thinking... maybe you should go visit your parents for a while and finally tell them about the new addition to the family," he suggested placing a hand on my belly. I took in a deep breath knowing that the announcement was long overdue, "I can always call them, besides would it really be a good idea for us to be apart right now?"

The fingers under my chin coaxed me to look up at him and without him having to say it the decision over whether or not I'd go had already been made. "We're past the point of just calling. Besides with everything that's happened I think you could use the break. All the stress you must have gone through can't be good for your state."

In a way he was right, I had been dying to get an escape from the constant anxiety haunting me and when my parents were with me for a moment they were a good distraction. "Fine," I agreed, "I'll go but I don't want to be away for too long other than a few days." He nodded his head, I'm sure he was glad I hadn't been too difficult, "Of course... it's like I said before I can't survive that long without you. Daddy needs his loving," he smirked leaning forward to nuzzle his head between my neck and shoulder making me chuckle at the name.

"I'm not calling you that," I declared pulling his lips away from my neck. The last thing I wanted was to allow his mouth to work wonders and coax me to call him a name I used to call my father. The pout he wore was childish bringing out a light-hearted side of him that had me relieved to have him back.