After cleaning up the trash from our meal, Nat pulled her camera out, practically bouncing at the chance to immerse herself in the event.
This was Nat in her element. I watched her talk with people and film a couple talking about their favorite Oregon viewpoints. I took a photo of her as someone offered a telescope for her to see Saturn’s rings before the event started. When I showed her the image, her eyes went glassy.
That had me taking a dozen or so photos of her doing various things: standing in front of the mountain view, our food strategically arranged on a Starlight-themed paper plate. Our sticker-covered water bottles. Her looking out with her binoculars, the happiest smile on her side profile. She was absolutely stunning.
She thanked me profusely each time, and it had me wondering how often people helped her with her job. I pictured her with selfie sticks and tripods trying to get a shot of her for her brand, as she’d put it. There were so many artistic and vivid portrayals of places off the beaten path and people she’d met in various towns, but as she’d told Jordan during their hangout, photos of her had higher engagement, so she interspersed them.
I’d seen firsthand the amount of time Nat put into her work. It was impressive, the way she’d taken on Starlight as well. She did both without breaking a sweat. She’d told me that she had a system she stuck to because of her ADHD, and it obviously worked for her. She put so much work into getting things right, even if this was technically abreakfrom her normal routine.
Nat looked invigorated as she lowered herself onto our blanket. We were probably minutes from the beginning of the event. She swiped through photos of people and the surrounding area on her phone. She lit up as she told me stories of her new friends. “This is Cameron and Sarah. They’ve been married for more than forty years and live three hours away, but this was the spot they met during a solar eclipse in the 1980s. I’m going to post about their story this week. Aren’t they the cutest?”
She waited for my answer, which I realized I hadn’t given her. I gave her a quick smile in response, hoping that was enough after realizing I hadn’t even seen the photo. I’d been looking at her.
The stars sprinkled out of the night sky, fading out to make room for other miracles, but I was focused on this one, right here.
The gathered crowd appreciated the sky in a nearly reverent silence. Nat leaned backward, placing her hands behind her, and touched one of mine. Instead of pulling away quickly or apologizing for it, she wrapped her fingers around my palm and squeezed, turning to smile at me. I felt small in this universe and in this moment, but no matter how small I might be in this world, I had the power to make Natalie Breckenridge smile, and that was all I needed.
I wanted to be the reason she brought out that smile even more.
Nat shook beside me, and I saw the goose bumps on her arms. I reached into my backpack and pulled out a sweatshirt, which she gratefully accepted. I also pulled an extra blanket out and placed it over our legs.
“Thank you, Jack. This is perfect.”
The word didn’t do it justice. In the silence, as dozens of us gazed upon the passing comet, I found myself questioning what everything meant. Because the last thing I learned about myself when it came to Nat was that I couldn’t get her out of my head. Not her laugh, not her ability to bring me to my knees, and definitely not the way she looked when she was filled with unadulterated joy.
That was the thing about Nat. She was unforgettable.
TWENTY-FIVE
Jack
Still feeling light and excited,I took a step into our living quarters, forcing my thoughts back to my mental checklist. Heat: it shouldn’t get too cold tonight, but there were blankets, chopped wood, and kindling for the woodstove. Pillows: check. Gallon of water: check.
Suddenly, Nat’s hands were on my hips, tugging me backward.
Soft, sweet lips smashed against mine as she pulled me closer. I caged her against the door, instinctively gripping her waist. She kissed me once on the lips, then planted a luxurious kiss on my jaw before pulling away. Her gaze took me in, grazed down my body, then moved back up to mine.
I knew that look. She had a clever idea, and whatever it was, I was ready and willing to play it out.
“What are you up to, princess?”
Her hands were still on me, her lips a breath away. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
Nat slid down the door to her knees. My throat went dry, and every nerve bunched together at the action. What a magnificent sight.
“Nat, you don’t need to?—”
“Oh, but I do.” She brazenly winked at me as her hands found the button to my jeans. She paused as if waiting for me to push her away or urge her forward. She continued her path at my nod. There was nothing I wanted more than for her to keep going.
My boxers and jeans hit the floor a moment later. She looked back up at me and opened her mouth slightly as her hand wrapped around where I needed her most. I was grateful for the door. The sturdy wood kept me upright as I leaned my forearm against it, because when Nat licked the underside of my cock, I swayed. Fucking swayed. As if my dick had never been touched before. My knees felt like jelly, and then, as if she knew exactly what she was doing to me, Nat did it again. There was a slight hum as she licked up the evidence of my arousal, swirling her tongue around the head. And the way those big brown eyes latched on to mine had me. Mercifully, she took me into her mouth then, giving me a couple of strokes as she sucked.
I gently tucked her silky hair back before stroking her cheek as she set our pace. “Nat, shit, that feels so good.”
This feisty, gorgeous woman was on her knees for me. Holy fuck. Maybe the keychain in my pocket really was lucky, because there was no way I deserved this.
Her enthusiasm sent shivers up my spine. With uneven breaths, I forced myself to remain still and go at her pace. I took in the way her purple nails made a pretty fist around the base as she bobbed up and down the length of me, her tongue making my blood pump wildly.
Without thinking, I dipped my hips forward, causing her to gag slightly. My brain wasn’t capable of conscious thought, or I would have remembered the fact that her head was trapped against the door. I almost apologized, but she kept sucking, even as her eyes watered. She grabbed my ass and pulled me closer. The action was primal communication. She was okay. She wanted more.
