We were at a different place than the charming little bistro from the other night, but no less romantic, and I felt my shriveled insides soak up the heat of Nate’s frank admiration. I toyed with the stem of the wineglass, choosing my words with care. For the first time in years, I didn’t feel cold.
“Are you sure you want to talk about this? It’s okay with me if we don’t.”
“Isn’t that what we’re going to this group for?” I couldn’t tell if Nate was being genuine or sarcastic. “To let out all the feelings we’ve been keeping inside?”
“I guess.” My fear was once that happened, the real me would fade away. I had no idea who I was, aside from the man who’d loved Jared, but now I doubted even that. “As I mentioned, I lost my best friend six years ago in a car accident. A van crashed into his cab and killed him.” My lips trembled at his horrified expression as he stared at me.
“I’m so sorry.”
I didn’t find out for several days after the accident that Jared and his son had died. A small article in the Sunday newspaper caught my eye as I was turning the pages. I had no one to talk to, no one to spill my guts to, to free the incredible grief that overwhelmed me. Frisco was angry that I’d started up with him again, and hadn’t spoken to me for weeks. I mourned Jared’s death by myself and wished I’d died as well.
“It was terrible. One day he was here, and we were laughing and having dinner, and the next he was gone.” I blinked, furious at the hot tears burning my eyes.
“That’s terrible. How did you meet?”
Shocked, I jerked my gaze up to meet Nate’s eyes. Did he suspect…? But no. It was a normal, natural question. My insides twisted up in knots. I should tell him the truth. Lying was no way to start a friendship.
“It was about ten years ago, and, um, I was in a bookstore…” The words meant nothing and tasted bitter on my tongue.
The couple of times I’d met Nate, he hadn’t struck me as a man who needed to say pretty words to get what he wanted. The strength of his will was evident in the set of his shoulders, the hard curve of his generous mouth, and his piercing gaze, so when he reached over the small table and took my hand, rubbing his thumb over my palm in soothing circles, I could only stare stupidly as my body responded to his touch.
“It’s hard to lose someone you’ve cared about for so long. It’s like losing a piece of your history. Someone who shares your memories.” His gaze grew contemplative and unfocused, and I imagined he was thinking of his father.
“I’m sorry if I brought up unpleasant memories. I-I didn’t want this to be a night filled with regrets and sadness.”
His lips ticked up in a slow, heated smile. “What kind of night did you want?” When I didn’t answer, he tightened his hand around mine and signaled for the waiter. “Check, please.”
* * *
The moment we walked inside his house, Nate had me flat up against the wall. His hot mouth covered mine, and I willingly accepted his velvety tongue, sucking it hard.
“Fuck, I want you. What’ve you done to me? I can’t stop thinking about you.”
My heart jumped, but I couldn’t form words. My brain had shut down to anything other than the pleasure melting my bones. Nate pinned my hands over my head and pressed fierce, hard kisses down my jaw and neck. I tipped my head up.
“Am I ever going to make it past your entrance?” I panted.
“Do you want to?” But he knew the answer. His hips rotated against mine, and I repressed a whimper as fire shot through me. “Come upstairs with me.”
Not a question, but a direction, and one I willingly accepted. Hand in hand, we walked through the hallway and up the stairs. Before we entered the bedroom, Nate took my face between his hands.
“The first time I saw you, I wanted you under me.” Then he kissed me, pushing his tongue into my mouth.
I’d sworn I wouldn’t fall for lines like that again, but something about Nate made the cliché ring true, and I sucked his slick tongue again. The pressure of his lips on mine woke me up. I’d lived in a trance for years until he touched me. My skin was itchy, hot and tight. I could kiss Nate forever. I hadn’t ever felt so in the moment as I did right now.
We walked into the darkened room, and I stood waiting, my body humming, breath coming in short, hard pants. Keeping his gaze locked to mine, Nate undressed me with sure, steady fingers, and when I stood before him naked, I felt devoured by the intensity of his gaze. He quickly stripped off his own clothes, leaving them in a heap on the floor.
“Damn.” He traced the dark lines of my tattoos with his fingertips—the point of a feathered quill meeting a sword, the rising sun—before laying his large, warm hand over my pounding heart. I’d gotten them after studying medieval literature and reading about the knights of King Arthur’s round table. I swayed toward him, and he pulled me down with him so we sprawled on the huge king-sized bed. The comforter slid beneath my back, and Nate straddled me, his thick cock resting warm and alive on my thigh. My stomach clenched tight.
“I never would’ve guessed that under those conservative suits you were a wild child.” He pressed his lips to my chest, his tongue leaving a wet trail as he licked. “Do you want to get wild with me, Press?” He latched on to a nipple and sucked while he grasped my cock in his hand and rubbed. Soft skin shifting over strength. Desire flooded through me, and I grew frenzied under his touch. I wanted to concentrate on his lips and teeth, nibbling and teasing my nipples, driving me wild, but how could I, with his strong hand fisting our cocks, our precome mixing together, creating a sticky, creamy slide.
“That’s it, baby. God, you’re beautiful. Wanna taste you so bad.” His hands moved harder and rougher. My eyes fluttered closed, and I let the boiling-hot lust take control.
“Oh,oh.” I shot into his fist and felt him spurt, his hot come mixing with mine.
“God,” he choked out, his hold on our cocks tight, milking the last bit of pleasure from us. I could hear his unsteady, harsh breaths in the silence of the room and opened my eyes to find that disconcertingly piercing gaze on me. With deliberation, he put his sticky fingers to his mouth and licked them clean.
“Mmm, you taste as sweet as I imagined.”
