I've seen all of your recent comments and votes, just know that I appreciate them so so much! I know that many of you would like it if I updated my story a lot more frequently than I do, trust me I'm really trying to write as much as I can. With endless university assignments, my over-involved family and babysitting my baby nephew. The time I have to myself is limited.

I am  working on the next chapter so just hang tight!

Happy reading, Sade xx

____________________________

BEING WOKEN up by a dull ache in your neck wasn't the most pleasant way to start the morning, especially when Nicolas was rising from one of the most peaceful nights rest that he has had in a while. A big yawn escaped as he slightly stretched his arm in attempt to bring the life back into his body. His eyes squinted as they tried to adjust to the sharp light before him. This was odd, he thought, Lisa always closes his bedroom blinds before she leaves. He opened his eyes and looked around and noticed that he was not sleeping in his room, in fact he wasn't even sleeping on a bed! His eyes widened and the realisation of where he was dropped on him like a load of bricks.

He then gazed down and saw Charlottes snuggled close to his chest, his left arm circling her back. Nic took a moment to study her features. The peaceful look on her face as she slept, the small smile on her lips, the shadow of her lashes which brushed the tops of her cheeks. The bun which her hair was gathered in last night had now fallen into loose strands which framed her face, the sunlight enhancing the honey tones in her hair colour.

The memory of last night played back in his mind. How she would laugh till she had to gasp for air when a particularly humorous scene came up which automatically triggered his own laughter or how she would unconsciously search for his hand to grab when a scene got more intense. It gave him this odd feeling that he didn't quite understand why but it was almost as if he craved it; the feeling of comforting someone. To be needed. To be her saviour in a time of struggle or to be her comfort when she was feeling uneasy. He has never felt this feeling in his previous relationships. Actually using the word 'relationships' was a stretch, they were more like partnerships of convenience for both parties involved and were comprised of a more lust versus love factor.

Love?

Nicolas shook that thought out of his head and abruptly stood up from the sofa, completing forgetting about the sleeping Charlotte for a second.

Her head quickly dropped to the seat of the sofa, removing the warmth her pillow provided, or so she thought. Charlotte opened her eyes to a blinding stream of sunlight causing her to let out a soft hiss.

What on Earth was going on?

Once she could finally see where she was, she took in the scene before here. The crumpled blankets and pillows, the tray of half eats snacks and Nic standing in front of her; his faced housed a look similar to a child who was caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Her eyes zoned in on a small wet patch on his shirt and it took a moment for her that to link the look on his face. Charlotte stood up in such haste that her foot got tangled in the blankets and she let out a shriek as lurched forward.

Nicolas immediately stretched his arms out to catch her.

The thud of their hearts beating seemed to echo through the now quiet apartment. Eyes locked, mouths ajar; his arms protectively secured around her waist and hers wrapped tightly around his neck.

"Am I interrupting a moment here?"

Their head snapped to the direction of the voice. There stood Max with a mischievous smirk on his face, "I can always come back in like an hour?" He said while looking down at his watch, "Or less. I don't know what type of situation Nickie is in."

It was Charlotte who was knocked out of their state of reverie first. She slowly loosened her limbs from around his neck and made an attempt to take a step away from him which proved unsuccessful as his arms were still circled around her waist.

Max's gaze unintentionally drank in her appearance and that seemed to snap Nicolas awake as he gently stepped in front of her to obstruct his little brothers view. This action only caused Max's smirk to widen.

The three of them now stood awkwardly in the living room.

"Does anyone want some breakfast?" Those words left her lips before her brain processed what she was asking.

"I don't know about you but a stack of pancakes would go hard right about now," Max said as he rubbed his hands together eagerly, "Unless Charlotte's in the mood for something else that's hard..."

Now it was Massimo's turn to be hit upside the head.

It didn't even take Charlotte 20 minutes to make on a pot of coffee, cut up some berries and mix on the batter for the pancakes, as requested by Max. Her in Nigella Lawson was peaking through. The brothers sat quietly at the counter, watching her flitter around the kitchen like it belonged to her.

Nicolas couldn't express the feelings he was experiencing watching Charlotte move so naturally in this environment. It seemed so instinctive to her and that alone made him feel some sort of peace in the depth of his heart.

Max on the other hand was so amused at what he was seeing. He had never seen his brother look so natural in such a domestic setting. He didn't even have this sense of comfortablility in their childhood home. It made him think of the last breakfast they shared at home and he couldn't help to compare his elder brothers aura now to then. Nicolas's posture was rigid, face void of emotion as him and their father talked about some business related deal. Now, Nic seemed relaxed, at ease almost. When he watched Charlotte it was as if he wanted to memorise her movements.

"I'm actually here playing messenger. Our dearest Madre has requested both of your presence at a family dinner she's throwing tonight." Max informed the pair as Charlotte slid the final pancake

"Mamma could've just se-"

"She said that she would have messaged you but you would just pretend not to see it again, which by the way papa heard so Charlotte; if at any time during the course of the night you see our dad whack Nickie upside his head just know that he deserved it."

Max dived straight into the stack of pancakes before him but not before drenching them in syrup. Charlotteon the other hand instantly felt full after just having a sip of her coffee.

___________________________

NB - Max's full name is Massimo in case that confuses anyone.

Please feel free to comment and don't forget to vote if you've enjoyed reading 💖