Trouble in Paradise by Three Way

"Ariana, don't put so much pressure on yourself. You're an amazing mother.

"By the way, the hospital called. We can take Tabitha to pick up her report tomorrow, and she can start her treatment immediately.

"I think that the hospital environment might feel stifling for her, so I arranged for the therapy team to come to our home instead."

I looked up at him, my voice choked with emotion. "Thank you. You've thought of everything."

Nicholas sighed and sat beside me. "She's my daughter too. What are you thanking me for?" He put an arm around my shoulder, his warm palm gently rubbing in silent comfort.

...

The next morning, when I opened my eyes, I was startled to find myself staring at Nicholas' face.

I blinked and opened my eyes again, only to see the same scene the stubble on his face was so clear I could almost count the individual hairs.

in bed, pulling the blanket off him and exposing his

Seeing everything was intact, I let out a heavy

I lightly knocked my own head. I couldn't even remember how I ended up asleep in the study last night. We were just talking, but at some point, I must have fallen asleep. Suddenly, a large hand slid around my waist. Nicholas' voice, low and husky with a teasing lilt,

that nothing happened between

onto the bed. In one swift motion, he flipped over and pinned me beneath him. His long eyelashes, like soft, feathery

I pushed against his shoulders, but he didn't budge. Instead, he leaned down, making me shut my eyes in

which came first. I heard him murmur, "If

toward the first

on his hand, my mind

issues between us-Claudia, Nelson, Tabitha, Cory-each of them should take precedence over anything between me and Nicholas. If I forced myself

would spiral into

against

and I