It was the sort of kiss I’d spent too many hours dreaming about. Hard. Passionate. Fiery. And everything I needed. He took as good as he gave. When his hand splayed against the small of my back, bringing my body tight against his, I could feel the truth. He was hot and hard and heavy against my stomach and I had never felt sexier. I wasn’t standing out there alone. At least not with this.
I heard the moan and I couldn’t be certain if it came from me or from Nate. Maybe it was me. It probably was. The moment my lips parted, his tongue darted in my mouth and began caressing mine. He tasted exquisite. Like mint and man. I never wanted to stop.
When the first cold rain drop hit my forehead, I pulled back. Reluctantly. Gasping for air, I took another step, needing a moment to get my breathing back under control and my heart from bursting through my ribcage. Damn, the man could kiss! Lifting my finger to my swollen lips, I couldn’t tear my eyes from him. He looked edible, and I was fucking starving!
I don’t know if it was a minute or a month while we stood there, steps apart, our gazes undeniably locked together. “We should get out of this rain,” Nate suggested, stretching his hand out in front of him.
Part of me didn’t want to take it. It was too damn dangerous. He was too dangerous. I couldn’t trust my traitorous body in his presence, that much was clear. The other part of me was desperate for the connection again. Some kind of contact. Any type of contact. Without a word, I dropped my hand in his, and instantly the current zipping through me was almost enough to make me stumble. More than almost. If it hadn’t have been from Nate’s firm grip I would have landed on my ass in the mud puddle I tried delicately to step over.
Fifteen minutes later I was sitting in the back of a booth in the quiet country pub, digging into my chicken parmigiana and chips. I usually didn’t eat like this…like I hadn’t seen food in a month and wasn’t entirely sure when I would again. It was almost as if I was shovelling it in as fast as I could. Absolutely nothing lady-like about me tonight. With a mouthful of food, I dropped my knife and fork on my plate with a clatter and leant back, taking the time to admire the man in front of me. He was doing exactly the same thing. Wildly stuffing food in his mouth, barely pausing to taste it. When Nate glanced up and caught me staring, he winked before poking another chip in. I don’t know why it turned me on, but I found myself wiggling in my seat.
Grabbing another chip, I bit off the end and glanced around. It was exactly what you’d expect from an old, small town country pub. Photos of yesteryear lined the walls. Plaques proclaiming winners of local football and bowling competitions. A poster advertising cigarettes that I was willing to bet was older than me. The ugly green carpet was faded and worn, the huge timber bar dented and aged. This place looked it’s age but it wasn’t dirty. Despite the dated decor, it was clean and tidy and obviously loved. Over in the corner, by the lone pool table, a couple of guys stood around shooting the shit. One lent on the pool cue while the other took a hearty swig of his beer. By the way he was rocking on his feet, I’d say it wasn’t the first one he’d had tonight.
“Was your dinner any good?” Nate asked, bringing my attention back to him.
“Yeah, it was. Yours?”
“Steak was cooked to perfection.”
“That’s good. Most places can’t do a steak right.”
“Well, here is definitely not one of them.”
“Good to know.”
“For?”
“Next time.”
He smirked at me. A mischievous, devilish smirk that made me realise the mistake I’d made. It seemed like all I did these days was put my foot in my mouth and say the wrong thing. Over and over and over again. I didn’t need his help in getting into any more embarrassing situations. I could find my own way there. Fuck, I was like the Pied Piper. I could lead anyone to Humiliation Central. I was the freaking mayor of Humiliationville.
“I didn’t mean—” I began to backtrack, but he silenced me with his hand.
“I’ll bring you here any time you want, Josie.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah. Oh.”
Holy. Shit.
That’s it. I was done. So fucking done. There was something about Nate. I’ll admit I may have watched him for months keeping my distance, but I never thought we’d end up here. I didn’t want to date. I didn’t want a man in my life. Well, other than Derek, of course. But Nate, Nate had trouble written all over him. Quickly, and without him even realising it, he was breaking through my defences. Defences that had taken a long time and a lot of tears to build up.
“So Josie…twenty questions?”
“Twenty? Seems like a lot. How ’bout five?”
“Five’s not enough. Ten?”
“How ’bout five now and five next time?”
“So there’ll be a next time?” He looked hopeful. He was cocky and slightly arrogant, but somehow he pulled it off and made it look sexy as hell.
But I couldn’t make this easy for him. If he wanted to get to know me, the real me, then he’d get it. The sassy, bitchy, cynical me. “Depends on your answers.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.”
