Protect Me(63)

I slowly make my way to my bedroom where Nate is still passed out on top of my comforter. His body is perfection. Nate is sprawled out wearing nothing but his dark gray boxer briefs which conform perfectly to his powerful thighs. Just above the underwear is that delicious vee, sprinkled with sandy blond hair. My tongue actually starts to tingle as I imagine tracing the lines of that vee with the tip of my tongue.

“Are you going to gawk at me all afternoon or are you going to get in bed with me,” Nate mumbles without so much as cracking an eye open.

“How did you know I was here?” I ask, curiously.

“I could smell you,” Nate says. “You smell like sugar and coffee mixed with your shampoo. I could find you anywhere just by your scent,” he says, still not opening his eyes.

I walk over and slip onto the bed, snuggling up close in his embrace. “That’s so sweet, and only slightly creepy,” I reply with a small laugh.

“It’s true. I will always find you, Lia,” Nate says as he turns us both on our sides, his front to my back, and wraps his arms tightly around me. Somehow, I don’t think he’s talking about my scent anymore.

“What are your plans for the rest of the day?” I ask.

“Well, I need to run to St. Charles and pick up the tux I rented for the Gala on Saturday, and I was hoping you would come along with me and we can grab a bite to eat. We need to head to the mall, but there are several great little seafood places right along the river that Avery keeps raving about.”

“I can do that,” I tell him, pushing my rear back into his groin. The result is exactly what I was hoping for. Nate groans against my ear as he grinds his very instantly hard erection against my ass.

“You’re an evil, evil woman, you know that?” he asks as he bites the back of my neck.

I gasp with pleasure as he soothes the mark with his warm tongue. Before I know it, I’m flat on my back and Nate is hovering over me, kissing me with mind-blowing passion. It’s the kind of kiss that makes you forget your own name, but what came next definitely had me remembering Nate’s name, or more accurately, yelling it. Twice.





*****




Nate talks the entire trip to St. Charles, telling me about his night and the two calls they had back-to-back. As much as I enjoy hearing about his day and his work, my mind keeps going back to that odd feeling I had when I entered my apartment. It’s the second time in a month I’ve felt unnerved when walking into the apartment. My gut churns as I start to wonder if it’s time to move on. I fear that the only way to get past this feeling is to pack up my car and head to the next city. Wherever that is.

“Hey, what’s the matter? You look like you’re lost in your own head right now,” Nate says from the driver’s seat.

“Sorry. Just thinking,” I reply.

“About what?” he asks, bringing our linked fingers up to his lips.

“Nothing,” I say, not wanting to tell him about the strange feelings I’ve had lately or what that potentially means for him and me. Leaving Nate and what I feel for him behind in Rivers Edge is going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Hell, there’s no way I can leave what I feel for him behind. I will carry the pieces of my broken heart with me forever.

“Don’t do that. Don’t shut me out, okay? If you don’t want to tell me, just say that. I know you have things you’re still dealing with so I don’t want to pry or push. Just know that I’m right here, and I’ll help and support you however I can. Okay?”

“Thank you,” I choke on the lump in my throat.

We’re quiet for the remaining few miles to St. Charles. We decide on dinner first and pull into a large parking lot behind a slew of restaurants and shops. Nate throws the car into park and walks around to help me out.

“I mean it,” he says as he pulls me against his body and places a soft kiss against my lips. “You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, but I’m right here. For you.” Nate adds another kiss to punctuate his sentence. I could get lost in his kisses and his embrace for the rest of my life.

I nod in reply, not able to get the words out. Thank you just doesn’t seem like enough. Maybe because what I really want to say is I love you.

“Come on,” Nate says while linking our hands together. “The Fisherman’s Wharf is up this way. Avery says that’s the place she always goes to with Maddox.”

I follow Nate to the big red wooden door and we step inside. My taste buds are alive and my mouth starts to water as the scent of fresh seafood hits me in the face as we breach the threshold. I walk up, with Nate, to the hostess stand where a petite, pretty woman stands. She openly checks Nate out, letting her eyes linger a little too long on his chest.