Nathan lets out a surprised laugh.“Yeah, it really is.”
We fall silent, both of us settling into the couch and leaning our heads back.Given Nathan’s revelation, this seems like the perfect opportunity to tell him about Mila’s and my plans to quit On the Go and start our own travel business.I’d convinced myself the reason I haven’t said anything to him or Mum is because I want to have everything worked out.The truth is, I’ve been a coward.Just like I’ve been a coward from the moment I returned to Honeywell and didn’t tell Mum about my suspension.
From the corner of my eye, I see Nathan’s head turn in my direction.“I know you’re leaving.”I barely have a chance to open my mouth to ask how he knows when he holds up a hand to stop me.“It may not be tomorrow or next week or the next, but you’re going to leave.That’s…that’s who you are, Fiona, and I don’t mean that in the same way I used to, with negativity and hurt attached.But you’re here now, and despite the voice in my head shouting at me to end whatever this is, I can’t.Not yet.”
He holds out his hand, and I place my palm in his.His long, calloused fingers close around mine, and he tugs until I climb onto my knees and straddle his lap.It’s still shocking to me that this is Nathan’s idea.He’s the most sensible, practical person I know.He’s never been prone to recklessness.And yet that’s how this feels: reckless.
He brings his mouth close enough to mine that I can feel his breath on my lips.“Stop thinking, Fiona.”Without waiting for a response, he presses his lips to mine.His hands move to my hips and then my ass.He yanks me closer, eliminating the space between our bodies, and making it clear how much he wants me.
I rock against him, trying to alleviate some of the ache between my legs.In the last week, Nathan has satisfied that ache with his fingers and his mouth, but I want more.Needmore.
I break away from our kiss, and Nathan’s lips chase mine.With a breathless laugh, I give in and kiss him again.The next time I pull away, I plant two fingers over his swollen lips.“I remember you saying something about a bed that night in the treehouse.”
He wraps his fingers loosely around my wrist and kisses my fingertips, then nips at them.“I did say that, didn’t I?”
I climb off his lap and take his hand, letting him lead the way upstairs.Instead of going into the first room on the right, we continue down the hall to the primary room, which was once his grandparents’ and then his mother’s.An image of his childhood bedroom flashes through my mind.The last time I saw it, it was that of a teenage boy on the verge of becoming a man: basketball and hockey paraphernalia everywhere; posters of his favourite sports teams; clothes strewn across his desk chair and spilling out of the laundry basket in the corner.
Nathan’s room now is all clean lines and tidy order.My eye is drawn to the large bed, with its dark green comforter and elaborately carved wooden headboard.I recognize it immediately as Nathan’s handiwork.The nightstands on either side of the bed are his work too, along with the dresser.I smile to myself, imagining him moving into this room when he and Liam renovated the house, and building all his own furniture.
I drop his hand and move further into the space, spinning in a slow circle.His cedarwood and mint scent is strong in here, mixed with the faint scent of clean laundry.Everything is neat and orderly; considering he didn’t know we’d end up in here tonight, I’m guessing he keeps it this way.
When I face him once more, there’s a wry twist to his lips.“Does it meet your approval?”
“I mean, it can’t compare to the living time capsule that is my childhood bedroom, but it’ll do.”I move closer to him and loop my arms around his neck.“It’s beautiful.Veryyou.”
“Are you saying I’m beautiful, Fiona?”
His tone is teasing, but there’s no denying it: Nathan Holbrook is beautiful, inside and out.“I am.”I lift up on my toes and kiss his raised eyebrows.From there, I trail my lips down his nose before planting a kiss on his now-smiling lips.
We stumble toward the bed, laughing against each other’s mouths as we peel off our clothes.I lie back on the bed and get comfortable as Nathan rummages around in his nightstand for a condom.When he joins me on the bed, my mouth goes dry and then starts to water.Over the last few weeks, I’ve noticed the ways Nathan has filled out since we were teenagers, but nothing compares to seeing him like this: naked, kneeling between my legs, and bathed in the moonlight that shines through the open curtains.
His gaze is like a physical weight as it rakes over my body.Just before our eyes meet, he wraps his fingers around his thick, hard length and gives it a couple of slow pumps.My whole body flushes at the sight.One side of his mouth ticks up as I attempt to close my legs to ease the ache there.
Nathan releases himself and moves to hover over me, pushing my legs wider.His fingers glide up the inside of one of my thighs, trailing higher and higher until I’m squirming.When his hand finally moves between my legs and his fingers find my clit, I release a shuddering moan.
“Is this what you want?”he asks, his voice deep and gravelly.
I nod frantically, unable to form words.Nathan watches my face as his fingers move in tight circles, just the way I like.He dips his head and nuzzles my neck, placing light kisses there before trailing his lips over my collarbone and between my breasts.I cry out when he takes a nipple between his teeth and tugs, then soothes it by covering my breast with his mouth.
My greedy hands roam over his body, touching him everywhere I can reach.When my hand skates around his hip and goes for the hard length pressing against my belly, his fingers circle my wrist to halt my progress, all while he continues to lavish my breasts with attention.I let out a groan, and he smiles around my nipple before releasing it with a quietpop.
“Nathan, I need you,” I say, the breathless words running together.
He nods once, and sits up to open the condom.I move with him, taking it from his hand and rolling it on myself.His eyes are dark and hooded, the blue-grey nearly swallowed by his pupils.I kiss the pulsing muscle in his jaw, then plant a kiss on his lips before lying back down.He moves with me, but before I can guide him into place, he covers my hand with his and rubs the head of his cock over my clit.I gasp and arch against him, and he does it again and again, his fingers locked tight over mine.
“Nathan,” I say, my voice embarrassingly close to a whine.His quiet laugh tickles my lips.I catch his bottom lip between my teeth and give a light tug, satisfaction zinging through me when he growls.This seems to do the trick because he releases his hold on my hand and lets me guide him down until he’s at my entrance.
I move my hands to his hips as he eases inside me, stretching and filling me in a way that’s both familiar and completely new.It’s like my body recognizes Nathan’s body, and my racing heart remembers the thundering of his.For one horrifying moment, tears prickle my eyes.The sensation subsides when Nathan’s gaze locks on mine, grounding me in this moment.
I lift my hips, and he begins to move.Our bodies find a rhythm, moving on instinct.That familiar-yet-new feeling returns; Nathan’s scent and the feel of his skin are familiar, but the way he pivots his hips is new.I remember his heavy breath in my ear and the way he checks in with me and kisses me, but the sounds he makes are new.He used to hold back his moans and groans, and admitted once that he found them embarrassing.He doesn’t hold back now, though, and those sounds spur me on, getting me closer to climax with each thrust.
It’s like the past and present are colliding to create something brand new and equally incredible.When a voice in my head reminds me this is temporary, I tell it to shut up and focus instead on the myriad sensations coursing through my body.Those sensations build and build, pleasure coiling tightly in my lower belly until it reaches a pinnacle and radiates throughout me.
I cling to Nathan as I ride out my orgasm.His movements are fast and jerky now.With a final hard thrust and a prolonged moan, he goes still above me, his face the picture of bliss.
He collapses beside me, breathless.A second later, he lifts back up on one elbow and kisses me, long and deep.His eyes are glazed, and he’s wearing a dopey smile when he pulls away and tells me he’ll be right back.When he’s finished in the bathroom, I take my turn, then crawl back into bed beside him.
He pulls me into his arms, and I settle against him with my head on his chest.I wait to see if he’ll speak, but all he does is kiss my forehead and tangle his fingers in the ends of my hair.Within a matter of minutes, his fingers have gone still, and his breath has become shallow and even.
