The guy’s Mother Hen bit was getting really old, really fucking fast.
“I had three beers over four hours and then switched to water.” Nate glanced at his watch. “That was two hours ago. I’m fine.”
“What about your cooler?”
“Keep it.”
“Nate—”
With that, Nate walked out the door, slamming it shut behind him. He was still steaming about his and Kole’s conversation two hours later while sitting on the bar stool at Bucky’s, sipping on a beer he’d paid to damn much for.
To his surprise, the woman from last night was at the bar when he’d first walked in. Less surprising was the fact that she’d gotten up without saying a word and walked out the door the second she saw his face.
Since then, Nate had been scouring the room, looking for someone who caught his eye enough to approach. It was ladies’ night, which meant there were plenty of hot women to choose from. Some had even come on to him.
They’d flirted, and he’d reciprocated. Normally, that would have led to them going back to the woman’s place—he never brought them to his apartment. For some reason, though, the idea of meaningless sex wasn’t quite as appealing as it had been last night.
He didn’t want a relationship. That mostdefinitelywasn’t the issue. The problem was Nate didn’t know what he wanted anymore. Whatever it was, it was pretty clear he wouldn’t find it in this bar tonight.
To hell with this.He stood, threw a ten down to cover the one drink he never finished, and left.
Once back at his apartment, he took a quick shower, not wanting the smell of smoke from Kole’s fire on his sheets. When he got to bed, he lay there for what felt like hours.
Nate tossed and turned, trying to think of anything other than golden eyes and honey-colored hair. Eventually, he gave up the fight.
“Fuck it.”
Knowing he’d never get to sleep if he didn’t find a way to relax, Nate decided to take matters into his own hand. Shoving the elastic waist of his boxers down below his balls, for better access, he wrapped a hand around his hot, pulsating cock and began to stroke.
Starting out slowly, he thought of Gracie’s beautiful, smiling face. Laying back on his pillow, Nate closed his eyes and smiled back, imagining what it would feel like to run his fingers through her long, silky hair.
Before long, he saw himself leaning in and tasting her lips with his tongue. He began pumping his swollen shaft more forcefully as he fantasized what it would be like to feel her naked body beneath his. To slide into her delectable heat.
Nate’s dick jumped beneath his palm. His breathing picked up and sweat began to bead on his forehead as he imagined them in a different position. He moved his fist up and down with more urgency as he envisioned Gracie lying on her back with her legs lifted and spread, his face nestled between her thighs.
Then, in his mind’s eye, he dove in. The essence he knew would be sweet coated the tip of his tongue as he licked her body’s most sensitive flesh.
“Ah, shit,” he panted out, the familiar tingling in his spine telling him he was close.
Nate’s balls tightened and his cock became impossibly full. His entire body shook with the need for release and a loud grunt escaped his throat as he jerked himself into blessed oblivion.
Despite his earlier convictions, it was Gracie’s name that fell from his growling lips as he came. And after he cleaned himself up, Gracie’s smiling face was the last thing he pictured before finally falling asleep.
Chapter 2
Gracie stood in the middle of her living room and smiled. She really liked how everything had come together.
She’d been a little skeptical at first. After all, who signs a lease agreement for an apartment they’d never actually seen in person? But, living across the country in Maryland, Gracie hadn’t had a lot of options.
Kole and Sarah had offered to let her stay in their spare room until she found a place, but they’d just bought their first house and were busy with work and planning a wedding. The last thing they needed was her getting in the way.
So, she’d done some online searching and found a few places that fit her needs, wants, and budget. After closely inspecting the pictures from the ones she liked, Gracie had chosen this place. And she loved it.
The open floor plan made it appear even bigger than it actually was. The kitchen was sleek and modern and the living room’s floor-to-ceiling windows offered a great view of the spacious balcony, which overlooked downtown Dallas.
Speaking of downtown…
Gracie glanced at the large clock she’d hung behind her couch less than an hour ago. Crap. She needed to leave now in order to be on time for her date.
