Page 40 of Freefall

I’ve come to realize that Nate’s jealousy is a double-edged sword. It makes for some pretty hot claiming sex. Read: our first time after he threatened my midterm project partner with bodily harm if he so much as looked at my bare shoulder. I was pissed about that, and I intended to continue being pissed about it, but then he seduced me. Or maybe I seduced him. Either way, it was the best sex I’ve ever had in my life.

But I’d be lying if I said his possessiveness didn’t concern me a little. Sometimes it feels light and playful like a few moments ago, but other times, like right now, it borders on controlling.

The truth is I don’t always want to be in control. I’ve been the one making decisions and cleaning up messes for years now. When I’m with Nate, I don’t have to be the level-headed adult. I can be myself. I can stomp my feet and pretend to hate his need to control all I want, but you know what? It feels pretty damn nice to not have to think for once.

“Dani.”

Nate’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. No matter how many times he says it, the nickname always brings a smile to my face. “Yeah?”

He leans in slowly. “Do you want to know all the things I’m about to do to you, or do you want to be surprised?”

“Surprised?” I repeat.

“Good choice.”

Before I can say anything else, he snatches my hand and leads me through a heaving mass of bodies, the thick scent of cologne, perfume, and sweat making me light-headed as my wings slap into almost everyone we pass. Nate doesn’t care. He pushes past people until we come to a staircase and leads me up.

When we make it to the top, he slowly backs me up until my ass hits the wall. “Are you sorry?” he asks, tucking a strand of hair away from my face.

The raspy words shouldn’t make my stomach clench in anticipation. They shouldn’t make my spine tingle, and they absolutely shouldn’t make my clit pulse, but they do.

I shake my head. “Not even a little bit.”

His eyes turn from slate to dark granite. “You will be.”

One minute I’m gazing into depthless obsidian and the next the world turns upside down, and I’m staring at his firm, black denim-clad ass. Did he really just throw me over his shoulder?

“Nathan!” I squeal as he walks into a nearby bedroom. I can’t see anything, but I hear the moans. We definitely just interrupted a hookup in progress.

There’s an alarmed screech and then a man’s voice. “Dude, what the hell?” Then some cursing. Shuffling. More cursing. Then the door slams and it’s quiet.

Nate deposits me on the mattress. “Did you just kick people out mid-fuck? And am I lying on a communal sex bed?”

He doesn’t answer. He just chuckles, whipping his mask off and tossing it on the floor. “They were just starting. I don’t think they got to the exchange of bodily fluids.” He nudges my knee. “Now spread these pretty legs for me.”

I sit up on my elbows. “No.”

“No?”

“Maybe if you ask nicely,” I taunt.

“Harper,” he warns. “You are seriously testing my patience, and I barely had any to begin with.”

Plastering my gaze to his, I slowly part my thighs, just enough for him to get a glimpse and realize that…

“Jesus Christ… you’re not wearing fucking panties?”

For the record, I would not recommend wearing fishnets without underwear. It’s not the most comfortable setup, but I couldn’t help doing it for what I had hoped would lead to this exact moment.

I hear it before I feel it—the sound of material ripping in half. When he’s satisfied with what he sees, he kicks my legs wider, the act making me wetter. Closing my eyes, I brace myself for whatever comes next. His fingers, his tongue, his cock…but nothing happens. Then I feel the mattress dip next to me, and when I open my eyes, he’s sitting there on the bed, running a hand through his hair.

“Nate?”

He moves his hand to my thigh. “I need to know this is all okay with you. Even when you say it’s not.”

That’s not what I was expecting him to say.

“It’s okay with me. I like playing these games with you,” I assure him.