Illusion of Ecstasy by Nicole Loufas
(2nd Dose in the Thizz Series)
Publication date: December 1st 2016
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult
When Dani discovered the cash hidden in her attic, she had no idea the problems it would bring. With the help of the Marino’s, Dani is able to launder her father’s dirty money, but their help comes with a price. Her relationship with Matt.Not wanting to hurt Dani’s future or freedom, Matt removes himself from the equation to keep everyone safe. But when it’s time to go home, he has to decide which is more important – watching his little sister grow up or returning to the girl of his dreams.
Nick is determined to make good on all the bad he’s caused, and has finally accepted his role as a Marino. Fate doesn’t make it easy for him. Especially, when he returns from Europe to find Dani is falling apart. With Matt out of the picture, Nick contemplates a future with the only girl he’s ever loved.
In the conclusion to Thizz, A Love Story, follow Dani, Matt, and Nick on a soul-searching journey into adulthood. The Illusion of Ecstasy explores the emotional tribulations they encounter without the help of thizz. How to deal with real emotion becomes the biggest obstacle of all on their road to maturity.
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Nick
and I circle each other for a few minutes. I wait for him to make the
first move. He always makes the first move. To my surprise, he just
keeps circling and smiling. Finally, I go for it. I lunge, and he
falls against the padded headboard. Wood cracks. I keep wailing on
him with the pillow. Nick grabs me around my knees and takes me down.
He tries to pin me using a move I taught him. He has no chance. I
arch my back and twist my body. Before Nick can take his next breath,
I’ve got him flipped over. We’re both breathing heavy. I hold
Nick by the neck, not too hard. I don’t want to hurt him. Not
really. I’m lying on my back, my arm wrapped around his neck as
he’s lying beside me, sort of in front of me. I feel his hand tap
out at the same time the screen on the front door squeaks open and
then slams shut.
Nick
starts to laugh when Dani appears in the doorway.
She
takes in the room. The comforter on the floor, the sheets askew. Nick
in my arms. She’s trying really hard to keep a straight face. “Am
I interrupting something?”
“Just
working out some aggression,” Nick jokes and breaks free.
I
want to ask what she’s doing here, but I suspect Nick had
everything to do with it. The phone call, changing the sheets, it
makes sense now. That thoughtful motherfucker.
“I
can come back later,” she teases and breaks into a huge grin. Her
face lights up. She only beams like this when she’s high. There is
only one person who could’ve given her pills.
Nick
jumps off the bed and wraps Dani in his arms. He pulls back and
kisses her on the forehead. Her eyes flutter closed, and all I can
think is—karma is a bitch.
******
“Are
you touching my girl?” Matt asks with phony exasperation.
“I
was thinking that maybe I could keep this area.” Nick swirls his
free hand over my thigh. “You don’t need it, do you?”
I
bite my lip to hold in the traitorous grin trying to escape. I’m
not with Nick. That doesn’t mean I don’t find him attractive and
I still care about him. Falling out of love with Nick has taken a lot
longer than falling in love with him.
I
slap Nick’s hand away and shrug Matt’s arm off my shoulders.
“First of all, I’m not some piece of real estate you can divvy up
for your own personal use. I’m a human. I say who gets what and
when.” I cross my arms over my chest and try to look like I’m in
control.
They
look at each other and silently agree on something. Nick and Matt
have a twin-thing. They always know what the other is thinking.
“Ok,”
Matt says. “Who gets what?”
*******
I
lock the gate and pause for a second to prepare myself for whatever
is about to happen. The realization that I’m going to spend the
night alone with Matt slaps me across the face.
I
go back upstairs and find Matt standing in front of the living room
window. He turns at the sound of my footsteps on the hardwood floor.
The expression on his face makes me nervous. I turn from the hallway
into the kitchen to avoid the intense look in his eyes.
“There’s
no food here, but we can raid my mom’s wine rack downstairs. I just
need to go to my apartment and grab my toothbrush,” I ramble.
Because rambling feels safe. “We can stop at Golden Boy and get a
pizza on our way back.” I open the refrigerator hoping to find a
bottle of courage sitting on the top shelf.
“Are
you hungry?” he asks.
“Uh,
not really.” I close the door and we lock eyes.
He
looks sexy as hell leaning against the doorframe. Pizza and my
toothbrush are the last things on my mind as he steps towards me.
“Me
either,” he says.
He
reaches for my hand and pulls me into his arms. I try not to think
about what this means or what will happen tomorrow.
He
leans in and kisses me. Even though our lips touched in the past; the
emotions I’m feeling right now weren’t fueling that moment. This
kiss wasn’t instigated by a dare. We have no audience. Nothing
holding us back. I relax into Matt’s arms and let this thing
between us finally take over.
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