Here is an outtake from “The Man in the Black Suit,” featuring Acacia and Nicholas. This was originally written and posted in 2019.
Enjoy, SR.

Nicholas rolled over, half asleep. Instinctively, he reached for Acacia.

She was gone.

He blinked against the darkness, lifting up on an elbow to survey the silent studio.

Acacia was standing in a pool of grey light that shone through the kitchen window. She was wrapped in a blanket, her feet and the lower part of her shapely legs exposed.

Nicholas pushed the covers aside and slid across the bed, wincing as his bare feet came in contact with the cold floor.

“Are you all right?” He crossed the room quickly, not just because he was naked. It had been a long time since Acacia had slept fitfully. He was concerned about what had driven her from his arms.

Acacia turned. Her mouth widened into a smile and she opened her arms.

An invitation.

Nicholas stepped into her embrace and slid his hands over her curvy backside. She wrapped her arms and the blanket around him.

“Mon coeur.” His voice was husky. “You can’t sleep?”

“Look outside.” She inclined her head toward the window.

Nicholas turned and saw snowflakes floating in the air. He followed their trajectory, momentarily mesmerized as they fell to the courtyard below.

Thick snow blanketed the ground. The accumulation was unusual for Paris. Acacia’s courtyard had been transformed into a secret winter kingdom.

“It’s so beautiful.” Her hand slid upward to his chest to rest over his heart. “Is there enough to build a snow man? Or have a snowball fight?”

“If it doesn’t melt before morning.” Nicholas kissed the top of her head. “It’s the middle of the night. Come back to bed.”

“But the snow,” she protested. “You forget – snow is foreign to me.”

“I haven’t forgotten.” He lifted her chin, his dark eyes searching hers.

At six-foot-three, Nicholas was very tall. Acacia was six inches shorter and always looking up at him.

He caressed her cheek and bent to touch his lips to hers. “Give me a minute.”

He moved from under the blanket and walked over to her dresser. He opened the drawer she’d gifted him some time ago.

Acacia followed. “What are you doing?”

He sat on the edge of the bed, holding underwear and a pair of socks. “Getting dressed.”

“Why?”

He smiled. “I can’t help you build a snowman like this.” He jerked his chin toward his bare chest. His physique was lean and well defined.

Acacia followed his gaze, blinking at his chest. “It’s the middle of the night.”

“Mon amour, it might melt before morning. I don’t want you to miss your chance.”

Acacia pulled the blanket more tightly around herself, still staring.

Nicholas gave her a puzzled look. “You don’t want to go?”

She stepped in between his knees and looked down at him. “You’d go outside with me? Now?”

He nodded.

Acacia looked surprised, then pleased. She gave him a slow, sweet smile that nearly broke his heart.

She dropped the blanket to stand naked before him. She touched his face tenderly and pressed her mouth to his.

Nicholas pulled her closer, returning her embrace.

“What about the snow?” he whispered.

“Later. What I want at this moment can’t wait.” She kissed him again, her tongue teasing his lower lip.

Nicholas made a noise and deepened the kiss.

Her mouth was warm and inviting. Despite the coolness of the air, their naked bodies transmitted heat as they came into contact.

His large hands slid to her backside. He eyed her breasts. “You’re cold.”

“Not for long.” She straddled him, placing her knees on the mattress on either side of his hips.

His hands smoothed up to her waist in order to steady her.

Nicholas kissed her collarbone and the tops of her breasts. He cupped her with both hands, his thumbs taunting her nipples. Then he took one of them into his mouth.

Acacia looped her arms around his neck and shifted forward. She kissed the skin below his ear and nipped the edge of his earlobe.

In response, he drew her nipple deeper into his mouth.

She rolled her hips and pressed his head to her breast.

His hand slid between her legs, gently exploring. He murmured his approval against her nipple.

She positioned him under her and slowly sank down, taking him into her body inch by inch.

Nicholas groaned as she adjusted her position, sliding closer so her breasts brushed against his chest. He clasped her hips and bowed forward, capturing her other nipple between his lips.

Acacia began to move up and down, her rhythm even and determined. He assisted her with his hands, pushing and pulling.

She rolled her hips again and gasped as he drew on her breast.

“Kiss me,” he whispered.

She fanned a hand to the back of his neck and kissed him firmly, their tongues playing with one another. Up and down. Up and down. Her pace began to increase.

Nicholas thrust up, a rough exhalation leaving his chest.

“I’m close,” she panted, clutching his shoulders for balance.

“Fly,” he rasped, squeezing her hips.

She arched backward, her eyes closed. Nicholas grunted and lifted his hips, speeding his movements.

Then, all at once, pleasure overtook her.

Acacia repeated her movement, even as Nicholas continued thrusting. He quickened his pace until he shuddered beneath her.

When he finally stilled, he mumbled an oath. His grasp on her hips eased and he hugged her against his chest.

Acacia relaxed in his arms, almost weightless.

A short time later, Nicholas held her hand as they descended the staircase to the ground floor. Gerald, one of his bodyguards, escorted the couple to the rear entrance of the building.

“When is Rick on duty?” Acacia asked about her favorite bodyguard.

“Not until the fifteenth.” Nicholas smirked. “He’s spending Valentine’s Day with Diana.”

“Oh really?” Acacia’s eyes widened.

“Apparently, she’s teaching him Spanish.” Nicholas placed his hand at Acacia’s lower back and followed her outside.

She stopped a few steps into the courtyard, gazing up at the falling snow. The sky was like lead and the Latin Quarter was very quiet. Acacia fancied she could hear the snowflakes as they moved.

She closed her eyes and inhaled. The air was frigid and sharp and reminded her of peppermint.

She felt something cold and wet on top of her head.

She opened her eyes to find Nicholas standing over her, sifting a handful of snow over her curls.

“Come on, Brazil.” He grinned. “You owe me a snowball fight.”

Acacia bent to the ground and gathered some snow. She threw it at his face.

Nicholas dodged and grabbed her by the waist, lifting her.
She shrieked and began to laugh as he spun her around. She clung to his shoulders for balance.

Nicholas joined her laughter. And when he finally stopped spinning, he brought his nose within an inch of hers.

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” he whispered.

“Thank you, xodó.” She pulled his head closer and kissed him.

Fin.