At first, Nate didn’t reciprocate, and Gracie feared she’d made a terrible mistake. Just as she started to pull away, he cupped the back of her head with one hand and pressed his other at the small of her back.
Taking over, Nate began to kiss her back forcefully, his lips pressing against hers with a hunger matching her own.
Exhilarated by the fact that he wanted her just as badly, Gracie took things a step further. Using the tip of her tongue, she traced the seam of his mouth, enticing him into letting her in.
Nate grunted as they tasted each other for the first time, the sound making her even more aroused than before. As their tongues danced and twirled together, Gracie became bolder with her movements.
Closing the remaining few inches left between them, she pressed her hips against his. Wearing nothing but a towel, it was easy to feel his jean-clad erection against her lower belly. Slick heat began to pool between her legs as she imagined herself setting it free.
Sliding her hand in that direction, Gracie’s fingers had almost made it to Nate’s belt buckle when he stopped her. Placing the hand that was once against her back over hers, he pulled his lips free, abruptly ending the kiss.
Their panted breaths mixed together as Gracie tried to figure out what had just happened. It didn’t take long to get her answer.
“I’m sorry, Gracie. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“What? Kiss me back?” Gracie teased.
She waited for him to make some sort of joke, but the look of regret on his face said he was one hundred percent serious. Her heart sank inside her deflated chest.
“Oh, um…” She licked her lips, hating that she still tasted him there. “I think I’m the one who should apologize. I thought you wanted—”
“I did,” he answered quickly. “I do.” Nate took a couple steps backward, raking a hand through his hair.
Even when it was messy, he looked sinfully delicious.
“You’re a very attractive woman, Gracie,” he remarked.
Just not attractive enough.
Mortified, Gracie became focused on her bare feet so she wouldn’t have to look him in the eye while he let her down easy.
“Hey, look at me.” Nate used his thumb and forefinger to lift her chin, forcing her to make eye contact despite her efforts to the contrary. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Don’t doubt that for a second, sweetheart.”
Oh, God.Had she actually said that out loud?
She closed her eyes and regained her composure. Doing her best to salvage what was left of her dignity, Gracie moved out of his reach.
“It’s fine, Nate. I’m probably all hyped up on adrenaline or something. Really, it’s fine.”
“Gracie…”
Trying to pretend like nothing happened, she purposefully made her voice overly cheerful.
“You said the food’s ready, right? Because I amstarving.”
Yeah, she knew it was lame, but it was the best she could come up with. What she really wanted to do was crawl into a hole and never come out.
Thankfully, Nate didn’t push the subject. “Uh, yeah. I’ll go warm it up while you get dressed.”
“Perfect.” She gave him her best,everything is finesmile. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
After giving her a final, assessing look, Nate left the room, quietly closing the door behind him.
Growling at herself, Gracie turned and plopped face down onto the bed. She lay there, wallowing in self-pity for a few more seconds before sitting back up and pulling herself together.
Once she was dressed, she went into the bathroom and used a brush she’d found in one of the vanity drawers to tame her still-damp locks. There was nothing more she could do to try and look any more presentable—not like it would matter, anyway—so, she took a deep, calming breath and went to find Nate and the food.
She wasn’t lying when she’d claimed to be hungry. With only a bit of cash she’d had stashed away in her apartment, she’d been very stingy on what she spent money on these past few days.
