CHAPTER 123: WILDCAT

Georgia’s POV

The moment my eyes fluttered open, a sharp pain stabbed through my head, and sunlight poured into the room, blinding me.

Then it hit me.

Nick.

I turned to my side, expecting to find him tangled in the sheets with me, but the bed was empty. Instead, a rhythmic pounding reached my ears, thud after thud, echoing in perfect sync with my throbbing headache. It was coming from the backyard, right outside my window.

I sat up slowly, only to realize I was wrapped in nothing but a robe, and what happened last night came crashing back into my mind.

Oh. My. God.

My gaze darted to the wall clock. Almost noon. No wonder my head felt like it was splitting—I barely slept. Nick had kept me up until sunrise, his relentless body pressed to mine again and again. Not once. Not twice. But so many times I lost count. The man wasn’t human—he was a machine, insatiable and determined to wring me dry.

I slid out of bed, wincing as my muscles protested. Every step screamed at me, like I had been thrown into a 10k marathon without ever stretching.

My thighs ached, my hips throbbed, and oh, hell—the sticky reminder between my legs made me pause.

Last night’s reward. His reward.

My breath hitched, and nerves twisted in my stomach. God, I really hoped my calculations had been right, or this little "bargain" might come back to bite me.

Another loud thud jolted me, worsening the pounding in my head. Groaning, I shuffled to the window and pushed it open.

And there he was.

Nick stood shirtless beneath the sun, his skin glistening with sweat, every muscle in his back flexing as he swung a hatchet into thick branches. His body moved like raw power and precision wrapped into one—broad shoulders, rippling arms, sharp focus.

My lips curled into a smirk. Damn him. He was actually keeping his end of the deal.

I hurried into the bathroom for a quick shower, still biting back a grin as I dressed. After popping a paracetamol, I finally made my way downstairs.

Katie sat on the living room floor, surrounded by coloring books, her little brows furrowed in concentration.

"Good morning, Aunt Georgia!" she chirped without looking up, her crayons moving across the page.

"Good morning to you too, young lady," I said playfully, leaning down to plant a kiss on her head before straightening with a smile.

From the living room, I caught sight of Wendy setting up the dining table. She looked up, her face softening in relief. "Oh, you’re awake! Are you feeling okay, dear?"

Her tone made me pause. I frowned, tilting my head. "I’m fine... why do you look so worried?"

"Nick said you had a fever last night and couldn’t sleep right away." Concern filled her voice as she set the plates down. "He told us not to disturb you—that you needed rest. He figured exhaustion must’ve taken its toll after you finally relaxed at home. Are you sure you’re alright now?"

Fever, huh? My lips almost twitched into a grin. If only she knew... Nick wasn’t wrong about the heat radiating from my body, but it sure as hell wasn’t from being sick. I had been burning up for an entirely different reason—like a dog in heat, and he had been the one to fan the flames until I was begging for more.

"Yes," I said smoothly, keeping my expression composed. "I just took a tablet before coming down. It’s nothing but a little headache." Which, technically, wasn’t a lie.

"I’ll make some soup for you," Wendy insisted, her voice maternal, "that should help ease your headache."

She then added almost casually, "Nick is with Ella out back. Ella stopped by to help clean the garden. She knew it was grown wild, almost like a forest. But since you were still sleeping, she pulled Nick into helping. I hope that’s alright."

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it. "It’s more than fine," I replied, smirking at the thought. "He already promised me last night that he’d help clean up the greenhouse and the garden today."

The memory of how I’d made him promise sent a delicious shiver down my spine, heat curling low in my belly. My muscles still ached from his "negotiation," but damn if I want to go out there right away just to see him sweaty and shirtless again.

"I’ll go check on them," I said, my steps light as I headed for the back, anticipation curling through me.

The moment I pushed open the back door, sunlight spilled over the yard, and I spotted Ella crouched by the blueberry bush in full-blown gardening gear.

"Thanks for coming," I called out, already smiling. "We really need all the help we can get."

She looked up, squinting at me before shaking her head. "Girl, you need to hire a gardener next time you go off disappearing. This place is a jungle."

I chuckled, planting my hands on my hips. "You know I don’t let just anyone touch my garden."

Ella’s lips curled into that wicked little smirk I knew all too well. Trouble.

"But you do trust that guy to handle your garden, huh?" Her eyes flicked upward, mischief sparkling.

I caught her meaning instantly, but I lifted my chin with feigned innocence. "Which garden are you talking about? I’m here supervising him. Not the same thing as hiring someone to handle it while I am gone."

Her laugh was too loud, too knowing. "Please, Georgia. You know damn well which garden I’m talking about—and you need to tell me everything."

Heat licked up my cheeks, but I refused to give her the satisfaction. "Not a chance," I teased, brushing past her, my eyes locked on Nick.

"Nick! You okay up there?" I shaded my eyes from the sun, drinking in the sight of him—shirtless, muscles flexing as the hatchet swung, sweat sliding down his body like something out of my dirtiest daydreams.

"Yeah, almost done," he called back, voice rough and commanding. "Stay back, it’s dangerous here."

Reluctantly, I retreated toward Ella, though my gaze clung to him like a magnet.

"Tell me," she pressed, voice dripping with mock-innocence. "Is he a good gardener? Did he... fertilize you well?"

"Ella!" I hissed, swatting at her arm. "My god, stop it. I don’t know what you’re talking about."

She doubled over laughing. "Really? Then how do you explain the long red marks on his back? Don’t tell me some giant wildcat got to him in the middle of the night?"

My breath caught, my heart stuttering in panic.

Oh. Shit.

Did I... do that to him last night?

*******

Thank you Kris_K16 for the Golden Ticket!