Page 98 of Freefall

I climb out of the car, smooth the front of my dress, and finally look up. That’s when it hits me. This is a first for us. Meeting family. Of course I’ve met Emory, but that was under very different circumstances. I have no idea how close Nate is with his cousin, but this feels like a big step regardless. Allie’s words from the other night ring out in my head.

Nate’s secret girlfriend.

I guess they did know about me in a sense, but he never introduced me to his family, and I never introduced him to mine. Now here I am about to meet his cousin, and I don’t even know how he’s going to introduce me. Friend? Fuck buddy? Baby mama?

None of those labels feel quite right, but before I can think about it anymore, the matte-black front door swings open.

“You coming in?”

My gaze snaps up. Nate leans against the doorframe, one shoulder braced against the wood. He’s wearing dark jeans and a gray henley.

His voice is low and rough enough to send a shiver down my spine. The words remind me of similar ones I spoke that day we met in the parking lot back when I thought I had the upper hand. I was so fearless then, so unshakable. Now the man says three gravelly words, and I melt into a puddle at his feet.

“Y-yeah.” I gesture vaguely toward the neighborhood. “I was…admiring the view.”

His lips twitch. “Oh yeah? Is it up to your standards?”

I narrow my eyes, my shoulders relaxing at the playfulness in his voice. “I guess it’ll do.”

“Good.” His gray eyes darken as he crooks a finger. “Come here.”

And damn if my feet don’t start walking toward him at his command before my brain can catch up. The second I step onto the porch, his hand slides around my waist, spinning me around and pushing me up against the doorframe. Instinctively, I brace my hands on the wall as Nate reaches behind me, bunching my dress up in the back. He smooths his palm over my ass before slipping a finger under my thong. I feel the sting before I even register that his hand left my body.

The sound of slapping flesh echoes across the cream-colored walls.

I don’t have time to react before his mouth is at my ear, his warm breath skating across my skin. He smells like cedar and clean soap, the scent making me dizzy as he whispers. Each word feels like another slap against my sensitive flesh. “That was for the date comment.”

I open my mouth to say something. Anything. Instead, a tiny, humiliating whimper slips out. His grin is instant, dark and satisfied, but then a door clicks shut somewhere in the house, and Nate’s smile disappears just as fast.

He smooths my dress back into place before gently turning me around, his hand lingering at the small of my back. I know I should look, but my eyes are still hopelessly glued to Nate.

“Sorry, cuz.” A lazy voice drifts toward us. “Did I interrupt something?”

I finally manage to tear my eyes away from Nate long enough to see the man standing in front of us. He’s tall, with dark brown hair like Nate's, though his is maybe a shade or two lighter, and his eyes are the brightest shade of green I’ve ever seen. He’s wearing ripped black jeans with a chain hanging from one belt loop and a faded charcoal T-shirt that stretches across his broad chest.

Apparently, looking like a cover model for a romance novel is a prerequisite in this family.

“You going to introduce me to your friend?” he asks. “Or do I have to do it myself?”

I glance at Nate, and it’s only then that I realize he’s been watching me check out his cousin. His jaw flexes, barely enough to notice, before he looks back at the man in front of me.

“Harper.” His voice is clipped. “This is my cousin, River.”

River flashes an easy smile and steps forward. “It’s nice to meet you, Harper.” He holds out his hand. Black leather bracelets circle his wrist, and a silver ring catches the light on his index finger.

I reach for his hand, but instead of shaking it, he tugs me forward into a hug. “Sorry,” he says with no hint of remorse, leaning close enough for only me to hear. “I’m a hugger.”

I laugh, wrapping my arms around him for a quick second.

The hug lasts exactly one beat too long, and suddenly there’s a firm hand circling my wrist. Before I can process what’s happening, I’m pulled backward, stumbling straight into Nate’s chest.

River takes one look at the murderous glare Nate’s sending him and grins.

“Riv,” he says darkly, but River’s smile just widens as the two men stare each other down longer than necessary.

“Come on,” Nate finally says, taking my hand and threading his fingers through mine. “I thought since it’s so warm, we could have dinner on the back patio.”

He leads me through the living room and kitchen to a set of lanai doors that open onto a small courtyard. White lights are strung overhead, and there’s a sparkling infinity pool off to the side.