Chapter 78 - Somebody to hold

Diana laughed at her, shaking her head.

''And besides, you're dating, why don't you continue with your present… ''

''Diana, I don't know why you're so opposed to me liking Nicklaus, do you hate me? Why won't you support me for once! And besides, I'm not my sister, we're two different persons. He wouldn't judge me for the crimes of my sister. ''

Mia tried to defend herself but it seems Diana wasn't ready to let her off so soon;

''Hmm, interesting, but you forgot that prevention is better than cure. But don't mind me, anyway; Nicklaus may not judge you that way. ''

Mia didn't even know what to tell Diana anymore, she didn't know why she was adamantly trying to stop her from chasing Nicklaus.

''You know what I'm going to bed, Richard, we'll talk tomorrow; Diana, I'm locking you out, go look for another room. ''

Mia exclaimed, standing up, she walked towards the stairs,

''Hey! That's my room, don't you even dare! ''

Dian exclaimed as she ran after her.

''Rich, goodnight, don't mind my rant, okay? ''

''Just go to bed already. ''

Richard smiled as he watched her walk up the stairs with Mia.

…

Tiana led Nicklaus into the room and shut the door behind her. Nicklaus turned to her when they entered the room, a passionate gaze in his eyes.

He raised his hand to her face, pushing some strands of her hair behind her ear. Tiana's heart slammed against her chest as she watched him carefully; his touch on her skin sending shivers down her spine. At that moment, there were different sensations coursing through her. She didn't want him to touch her that way because she hated him, but she couldn't deny the fact that her body was responding to his touch, and with the way his mesmerizing eyes gazed at her, she was almost falling for his charm.

''Beautiful, ''

F.u.c.k…

Tiana clenched her jaws, trying to prevent the blush forcing its way up her neck to her cheeks. He always called her beautiful, but this time she didn't know if it was her brain playing mind games with her because his voice sounded s.e.xier. She mentally cursed herself for having no control over her body. The soul was willing, but the flesh was weak, very weak.

Nicklaus closed the gap between them, rubbing his thumb on her cheeks;

''What did you call me earlier? ''

He wanted to hear it again, he wanted her to say it again, he wanted to be sure that she called him that, and he was not just hearing things.

''When? ''

Tiana asked; even though she knew what he was referring to. She had called him that because she wanted to calm him down; because he was staring at Richard like a wounded lion, she didn't want to imagine what his next action would be.

''Earlier, downstairs, what did you call me, can you say it again? ''

Tiana smiled cutely;

''Baby… ''

She spoke with a sweet tone, making Nicklaus face to dye red instantly. Nicklaus looked away from her, trying to control the blood surging to his face.

What the hell is this woman doing to me?

A few months back, he would have been repulsed if someone called him that, but now, he didn't know why he was feeling like a prince who was crowned king to a vast kingdom.

''You don't want me to call you that? I thought you would like it, but I'm sorry if I overstepped… ''

Her words stopped at the tip of her lips as he pulled her into his embrace.

Tiana's heart skipped a beat; although she was intentionally saying what he wanted to hear; she didn't expect him to hug her suddenly, her eyes widened in shock.

''I love it. And I want you to always call me that, okay? ''

Nicklaus spoke tenderly; his voice carried a hint of love and tenderness. Tiana could hear his heart beating rapidly against her ears; his masculine scent wafted into her nostrils, blocking her sense of thought momentarily. For a few seconds, she forgot that she was angry with him and she let herself get drunken by his cologne; not wanting to leave his arms.

''Okay? '' Nicklaus asked again, and Tiana nodded her head. ''Okay. ''

''Let's stay like this for a while. '' Nicklaus spoke again. This time, his voice sounded sad. His arms hugged her closer and he heaved a painful sigh.

She was the only person who had seen this side of him, the sad and helpless side of him. She was the only person who had seen him let his guard down. Nicklaus wished she would be by his side forever, he wished she would be the ear that would listen to his ever saddened moments, the person he could tell his story to, the person who would see that he wasn't as strong as he masks himself to be, the person who would hold his hand when everything was so hard.

Throughout his life, he had always been alone. Masking his pain alone, it was so f.u.c.k.i.n.g hard but he didn't have anybody to tell. But now he had her.

This was the first time he had hugged her and he never knew there was a comfort hugging someone could bring. For a few minutes, it was as though his whole pain was taken away.

He closed his eyes as he cherished the moment, everything else becoming silent and insignificant.

Tiana fluttered her eyes as his arms hugged her as though she was his oxygen. She didn't know what to even think.

She didn't know how everything became so sober. She didn't know why, but the way Nicklaus hugged her, she felt he had so much bothering him, as though he was clouded with so many sad thoughts.

She wondered what would make him so sad, but she couldn't think of anything bad that happened recently; not knowing what else to do; she raised her hands slowly and hugged him back.

The only thing that she could think about was the fact that he was so lonely; that would explain why he was almost hugging her breath away.

But it wasn't anyone's fault, even she. If she was given a chance, she wouldn't be by his side.