3. The Date

Nick smiled over the memory, of how well Belle had taken his double life. He had changed not long after the incident, sneaking back to her condo to explain everything about his heritage, the Pack and their rules.

"I know you..." Her words echoed in his head.

"Of course you do." He replied setting down his glass and resting his hand on Belle's fingers, feeling tendrils of electricity shoot up his arm. 'How long had it been since I've felt like this about someone?' He asked himself.

He normally had at least two girlfriends on the go at once – but they only held his attention as long as they could sexually satisfy him, once things became too familiar – he'd look elsewhere. He smirked subconsciously and continued to think. 'Only Annabelle Smart.'

A sound caught his ears, Belle's heart beat starting to race, as he watched her cheeks flush with colour and her fingers start to tremble.

"You know what." She smiled coyly, pulling her fingers back slowly. He met her look. "I feel like dancing – isn't there a Club not far from here?"

"A couple of blocks over." He replied casually sitting back in his chair. "I can drive us over there."

Belle wagged her finger at him and clicked her tongue. "I'm not getting in a car with you." She crossed her arms stubbornly. "You've drunk too much - I'm being selfish and putting my own safety first here." She gave a half smile, mocking him.

Nick let out a resigned sigh knowing she wouldn't back down. "Alright." He chuckled, waving for the server to bring the cheque.

They got outside, and Nick went over to the Valet station as he said a few quiet words to the valet parker slipping him a fifty.

"It's sorted – I'll get my car tomorrow." He gave her a smile, taking her hand and pulling her into him in a kiss.

Hesitating at first, Belle felt herself soon relax into his embrace and surrendered willingly into the kiss, wrapping her fingers around his neck reluctant to have him let her go.

She gasped as they pulled apart. "Wow…" She gasped. "What was that for?"

Nick let out a bark of a laugh. "I just thought I'd get it out of the way now, so you're left with a good impression." That all too familiar cheeky smile on his face.

Belle raised a brow. "Left with an impression?" She asked quizzically. He simply laughed again and escorted her down the road in the direction of the club.

They walked to the club arm in arm, as Belle went to stand at the end of the queue Nick tugged her onwards and walked straight to the doorman. She saw him shake the bouncers hand and saw another bill deposited as the doorman let them through. He led her though the dark corridor squeezing her hand as the bass from the music filled their ears.

"It's not too loud for you is it?" She asked leaning into him as they were let into the VIP lounge. He gave her one of his sexy smiles and shook his head at her concern wrapping an arm around her waist.

Sitting down at a booth in the corner of the VIP lounge, they continued to talk about what had happened to themselves in the last couple of years.

She giggled listening to a story about what Clay had done the previous week as the conversation paused enough to let them hear the music.

"Dance with me." She smiled seductively leading him to the centre of the dance floor. She started to move in time with the music letting it take control, as Nick pulled an arm around her from behind, pressing his body against her back, his other hand resting on her hip.

*******

At around two o'clock in the morning, the pair were both danced out, but resigned to kissing each other in their private booth, heated hands wandering before Nick let go with a heavy sigh.

"Do you fancy getting out of here?" He asked, stroking his hand up her thigh. "We could head back to mine… for a night-cap?" He suggested.

"I'd love too." She replied grinning as her cheeks flushed with alcohol and frustrated lust.

During the time they had been inside the club, it had been raining steadily. Puddles lined the streets as water still poured down from the sky. Ever the gentleman, Nick shook off his jacket and held it above her head to protect her from the rain. He gave her a childish grin as he cheekily squeezed her rear and then hailed down a cab.

Twenty minutes later the taxi pulled up outside the Sorrentino estate. "Here will be fine, thanks." Nick said paying the driver, looking up at the sky as the rain had eased off. Belle climbed out the other side.

"Oh, great…" She murmured as the Taxi pulled away. "You'd think the guy would know if he stopped in a puddle wouldn't you."

Nick turned around to see a large puddle between the gates to his house and across the road with Belle currently in the middle of it.

"I really don't want to think about what this is doing to my Jimmy Choo's." She whined, trying to work a path towards the house. Before she realised what was happening, she was being picked up and slung over Nicks shoulder, as he carried her up to his driveway.

With a squeal of protest she gave up with a huff. "And here I was thinking romance was dead…" She tutted, to which he just responded with pulling her back down to her feet, with a kiss starting off soft, but turning much more passionate, it left her gasping for breath, as he led her into the house chuckling.

Once inside, Nick headed straight for the fridge and retrieved a couple handfuls of food. Belle giggled at him. "Never ceased to amaze me how much you guys can put away."

"It's because we can work it off so quickly." Nick mumbled with a mouthful of food as he gave her a slap on the rear as she turned away.

"Bully." She huffed, giving him a flirtatious look as she walked into the open plan living room.

Out of his line of vision, Nick heard her sit down on the leather sofa and take her shoes off.

"Do you want anything to eat?" He asked.

"No I'm alright… I could do with a drink of water though if you're offering." She called back. "My head's still spinning." She smirked.

Two minutes later Nick remerged with a plate full of cold ham, cheese and fruit. He handed Belle a glass of ice water, waking her from studying a photograph of himself with Antonio, as she removed her earrings to place them down on the side table.

"So… how is the Pack?" She asked breaking the silence.

"They're okay. Dad's at Jeremy's at the moment for a few days." He said stuffing some grapes into his mouth.

"So we have the house to ourselves?" She mused, stopping him halfway putting a slice of ham into his mouth. "There's a lot of mischief you can do with an empty house if I remember correctly…"

Nick set down the plate. "Such as?" He asked rising to her bait as he leaned back into the sofa, seeing what she could offer. Belle simply shrugged and got to her feet.

"Finish eating first. I can wait." She walked behind him on the sofa and stroked a hand through his hair.

He caught her by the arm and nuzzled her wrist making her heart flutter. He took in a deep breath leaning his head back into her chest and closing his eyes.

She kissed his forehead as she stole a strawberry from his plate and walked off - Her bare feet padding softly on the carpet. Nick took her advice and resumed his late night snack.

Once he had finished eating he set off in search of her. Following her scent to the second reception room, she was overlooking some more family portraits including groups of the pack and one or two of Jeremy's portraits hanging on the wall.

Nick turned on a CD in the player, turning the volume down to set the mood. He walked up behind her and stroked his finger across her bare shoulder, sweeping away some of her hair to kiss her skin, he traced a line with his lips up her neck to nuzzle into her warm flesh.

She sighed relaxing into his touch as he wrapped both his arms around her waist, tracing circles with his thumbs. She started to sway in time with the soft music, as they danced together for a minute or so, just enjoying one another's company without interruptions.

"You smell great…" He whispered sending Goosebumps down her arm. He appreciated the fact she smelt only of herself, a conscious effort not to put any perfumed products on her skin. The only lingering smell was that of the strawberry scent residing on her lips.

She gently tugged his hands away and at the slightest whimper from his lips she turned to face him.

She hypnotised him with her gaze. Hazel eyes flecked with gold, holding a dangerous transparency which appealed to Nick's wolfish side for their animalistic tendency to change with her emotions. With her aroused state the colours saturated her irises in such a luminous colour, Nick felt an overwhelming urge to state his claim on her, kissing her fiercely.

As they pulled apart she moved her arms up to around his neck and laid her head against his chest, listening to the beat of his heart and the distant sound of the music for a few seconds. Nick hooked his finger under her chin to pull her mouth close to his.

Their lips touched tentatively, taking a moment to breathe and to feel the heat rising off of their flesh and their pulses quicken. Belle stifled a giggle as her cheeks flushed red feeling his erection through his trousers. She pulled him to her then kissing him softly as his hands settled; one on the small of her back, and one on her rear giving it a playful squeeze.

In response she gently pushed herself against him inducing a noise similar to a purr in his throat. At that point he withdrew leading her to the large white sofa, and laid her down against him, hardly breaking contact with her lips.