Protect Me (Rivers Edge Book 4)(30)

       
           



       

I used to love to dance. Back when Garrett and I first started dating, I  used to love to get dressed up for dinner or a party and dance the  night away under the big sparkling lights of the banquet hall or hotel.  But after his love turned violent and physical, the events became  tainted. They were a chore, a requirement. The smiles were forced or  fake and the fun and excitement completely void. Dancing became  something I avoided.

Now, wrapped up in Nate's protective arms, I feel the joy of the act  again. Nate sways perfectly in time with the beat proving that even big,  strong men do have rhythm.

"I have a surprise for you," he says, pulling my tighter against his  chest. Tighter against his chest and against his growing erection.

"Does it have something to do with the hello I'm receiving from your pants right now?" I ask with a chuckle.

"Maybe. I can't help the way my body reacts to you. This happens every  time you're in the room with me, every time I think about you, and just  about every time I take a breath," he says.

"So, you walk around in a state of arousal all day long?" I ask with a smile.

"Basically, yep," he says as he kisses me on the forehead.

"I bet that makes for some awkward moments. The grocery store. Dinner with your family. Work with the guys."

"Now do you see my problem?"

"So what are you going to do about this problem?" I ask coyly.

"I have a bag packed for both you and me out in the trunk of the Mustang  and a tent pitched along the creek bank in my spot. I want to take you  camping tonight," he tells me.

I look up into his wide blue-green eyes and ask, "Camping?"

"Yeah. The only way to take care of my problem is to make love to you.  Over and over again. Maybe even for days on end. I need to take you  somewhere you can't get away from me that easily," he adds with a smile.

"Sex in a tent under the stars? Sign me up, cowboy," I tell him with a huge grin.

Nate pulls back and makes a grab for my hand. "Nate! We can't go now," I tell him as he starts to steer me towards the exit.

"Bullshit we can't. The most beautiful woman in the world just agreed to  one of my top five fantasies. Screw Jake and his wedding. He'll get  over it. I'm out of here," he says over his shoulder as he pulls me  stumbling behind him.

"Uncle Nate," Brooklyn says as she blocks the entrance to the tent. "I  want to dance," she says excitedly. "We always dance," she adds.

"Bean and I danced the night away at Maddox and Avery's wedding and she  made me promise her a dance tonight," Nate tells me as he releases my  hand and bends down to pick up his five year old niece.

"How can I turn down an offer like that?" he asks the adorable little  blond in his arms. Nate is walking back out to the dance floor as I turn  to make my way back to the table that is now vacant, since all of the  other couples are still dancing.

I watch Nate twirl his niece around the dance floor as she throws her  head back and laughs dizzily. I can't contain the smile that spreads  across my face as I study them together. Someday, Nate is going to be an  amazing father. You can see it in the way he interacts with Grant,  Bean, and Ryder. My gut tightens and my heart speeds up as I wonder what  it would be like to have that … with Nate.

I'm lost in my own thoughts when I feel a tap on my shoulder. Startled, I turn to face Nate's brother, Will.

"Hey, you look so lonely over here by yourself. Care to dance?" he asks  with a smile as he extends a hand down to me. Will has a friendly,  boy-next-door appearance that is enhanced by his glasses, and I can't  help but smile as I take his hand. He leads me to the floor that I just  vacated with Nate and pulls me in close, but not too close. Will remains  a respectable distance from me. It's the kind of slow dancing you would  do with your own brother or father.

"Enjoying yourself tonight?" Will asks with a smile.

"Absolutely. It was a beautiful wedding and reception," I reply as he  spins me towards Nate and Brooklyn. "No date tonight?" I ask.

"Uh, no. My new boss has me working crazy hours lately so I didn't have any time to secure a date," Will tells me.

"New boss?"

"Yeah, we call her Cruella because she's bitchy and abrupt and none of  us like her. She's been there since March, I guess," he tells me.

"Hey, keep your hands above the waist, little brother," I hear Nate state sternly from behind me.

"Don't worry, big brother. Lia has been trying to talk me into going out  back behind the tent to make out, but I wouldn't do that to you," Will  teases which makes Nate growl. It's deep and possessive and gets the  exact result Will was going for.                       
       
           



       

"He's full of it, Nate," I say with a smile and a wink.

"Bean here was just telling me that I was her favorite uncle, Will,"  Nate says as he spins the little girl around in a quick spin.

Brooklyn laughs while Will comes back and says, "Of course she did. She knows you'll cry like Ryder if you don't get your way."

"Not true. Tell him, Bean," Nate says with Brooklyn.

"Just put these chumps out of their misery, Bean, and tell them once and  for all that I'm your favorite uncle," Travis says as he joins the  conversation while dancing with his wife.

Brooklyn looks around at the eager faces of her uncle's before she says, "Jake is my favorite uncle."

Shock is evident on the faces of Nate, Will, and Travis. "What?!" all three say at the same time.

"You heard her, a-holes. I'm her favorite," Jake says with a satisfied smirk.

"Can't be true, Bean. I thought we were buds," Nate says with a big pouty face.

"I'm sorry," Brooklyn says. As soon as Jake and Erin dance towards the  other side of the floor, Brooklyn turns to her three remaining uncles  who are all standing dumbfounded in their place and says, "Uncle Jake  paid me ten bucks before the wedding to say that."

The look on their faces is priceless. All three burst out laughing and  continue on with their dancing. Nate plasters a huge kiss on Brooklyn's  cheek before handing her off to Will.

"Trade me," he says before taking me into his big, strong arms. Being  snuggled against Nate is my safe spot. Nate may have the creek bank, but  I have him. Wherever he is, that's my spot. Right there next to him. I  snuggle in as close as possible and can't help but wonder just how long I  really have him. Nate made it clear that he's not looking for the  happily ever after. Marriage and kids aren't in his future.

But is it in my future? For the longest time, I've thought … no. Now, I just don't know.

We dance to several more songs including fast ones before Nate starts  pulling me towards the entrance of the tent. We wave our goodbyes to his  family and friends, kiss the new bride and groom, and head out, hand in  hand.

The mid-August night sky is bright and clear. Brilliant stars are  everywhere giving it a romantic glow. Nate leads me to the Mustang where  he removes a couple of duffle bags from the trunk.

"I just grabbed what I thought you'd need for the morning," he says with a look of concern.

"As long as I have clothes to wear tomorrow morning, I think I can manage until I get home to shower," I tell him.

"Well, we're actually going to have to be up and back here at eight. Mom  is cooking breakfast for all of us and then Jake and Erin are going to  open their gifts. We can use the shower at the house, though," Nate  tells me.

"That's fine," I say before placing a gentle kiss on his lips. "We'll  worry about that part in the morning. How are we getting back there," I  ask as Nate starts to lead me towards the shed.

"ATV," he replies and points to the big machine sitting next to the even bigger mower.

"Really? I've never been on one," I confess as Nate throws the bags on  the rack at the back, and hops on. He slides all the way forward and  gives me just enough space to slide between the bags and his body.

"It'll be a slow ride. If you want, sometime I'll take you back on the little trails we have and we'll tear it up."

"I'd love that," I reply before I can think too much more about it.  Chances are, I'm not going to be around for any future rides.

Nate fires up the machine and I grab a hold of his tuxedo shirt tucked  in around his waist. I feel his muscles ripple against my hand as I hold  on tight and press my boobs firmly against his back. I feel him tense  against me before he says, "You better wait until we get to the campsite  before you start that. Otherwise, we're going to hit a tree."

"Well, we wouldn't want that," I purr in his ear over the noise of the  four-wheeler. "I better hold on, huh?" I ask as I reach down and grab a  hold of his growing erection. I hear Nate suck in a deep, hissing  breath. "Okay, I'm ready now," I tell him sweetly.