Protect Me (Rivers Edge Book 4)(32)

Neither of us says a word. This time it was different. We both know it,  but neither one really knows what to say about it. This wasn't sex. This  was Making Love. This is everything I've never had before and  everything I've ever wanted. Nate is everything I've never had and  everything I've always wanted.

"My mom ditched me when I was very young," I tell Nate out of nowhere.  Probably not the best pillow talk after mind-altering sex, but it feels  right to tell him the rest of my story.

Nate rubs my back in a comforting gesture so I go on. "She got pregnant  in high school, not too long after my grandma passed. She rebelled  against life, I guess, and ended up with me. I don't even know my  father. Hell, I'm certain she doesn't either. I've seen her a handful of  times, but never when I needed her. I don't even know where she lives  anymore," I confess.

I feel Nate's strength as he pulls me even closer to him. He doesn't say  anything; just remains quiet as if waiting me out. And that's when my  story really spills free. I've never told anyone about my mom and what  it was like growing up without her. Or the fact that my grandpa looked  at me as a nuisance, a bother. It was easier to say the words than I  thought it would be. I guess much like the day I told Nate about  Garrett.

When I'm done, I don't feel dirty or worthless. I don't feel shameful or  sorrowful. I feel freer than I ever have. As if telling him I was  unwanted somehow lifted the weight I didn't realize was sitting on my  chest.                       
       
           



       

"Thank you for sharing that with me," he whispers as he continues to  stroke my bare skin. "You are without a doubt the bravest and strongest  person I know, Lia. Never forget that, okay? Know that you have survived  a great ordeal, but don't let it define you. Learn from it and move  forward, but don't forget it. It's a part of you, but doesn't depict  you. You are greater than your past," he says in the night.

I don't reply. I can't. Words just won't come anymore. I just lay there  and hold him, letting his words soak in. I am greater than my past, and  for once, I see a future within my grasp. It's right there, dangling  like a beautiful diamond pendant.

As the warm August night under the star-filled sky and Nate's warm body  lure me towards sleep, I consider saying the words that are sitting on  the tip of my tongue. Those three little words that I swore I would  never say again. Never would I give my heart to someone. Never would I  give someone the opportunity to destroy me. Even though I know that Nate  and Garrett are as different as night and day, I can't help but keep  that little part of myself closed off.

Someday, maybe.

Right now, I will just live in this moment with him, in his arms.

It's the safest place in the world.





Chapter Nine


Nate




I had a hard time falling asleep last night. The night had been  absolutely perfect. The wedding was great, sure, but my time with Lia  after we left the reception was magical. Yeah, I said it. Magical.

I told her things - the truth - while I made love to her. I know it  freaked her out - shit, it freaked me the hell out. It was written all  over her face as she fought the emotions. She looked so happy and scared  all at the same time. The tears gathering in her eyes almost gutted me.  So, I didn't say anything else for the rest of the night. I couldn't. I  was afraid I was going to declare my love and send her running for the  hills. So I kept that shit to myself and just held her as tightly as I  could while she slept. Besides, I can't exactly tell her yet if I don't  know what it all means myself.

Lia stirs next to me. It was comfortable enough outside that I never  moved us inside the tent. As long as we had the blanket to cover up with  and our bodies were pressed against one another, we didn't need the  shelter. We only needed each other.

I run my hand down her naked side and around to the soft globe of her  ass. Damn, I love her body. Lia rubs her nose against my neck and grinds  her core against my hip leaving a trail of wetness. Fuck yeah.

I not-so-gently pull her on top of my body so she's straddling me. Her  brown hair is wild from sleep and hanging down around her face and her  makeup is a mess. She looks just as beautiful in the early morning light  as she did last night under the stars. My cock is painfully hard as I  watch her and memorize every part of her. Her face. Her smile. Her body.  I want it all committed to memory where I can pull one out at the drop  of a hat and be with her.

"Good morning," she murmurs with a small smile.

"It will be in a few minutes," I say with a cocky smile as I grip her hips and move her around on my rock hard dick.

"Hmmm, this is one hell of a way to wake a woman up," she says as she rises up on her knees a little.

"You're lucky I let you sleep for as long as I did," I reply as I prepare to enter her again.

Lia reaches over and grabs my wallet, removing a little foil package  from within. She makes quick work of sheathing me before positioning  herself above me. She lowers herself down, taking me all the way in. The  feel of my beautiful woman surrounding me, riding me to oblivion, is  the last thought I process for the next twenty minutes.





*****




My entire family is already at the house when we get up there from our  little camping excursion. I take Lia's hand in mine as I lead her  towards the back door. When we enter, Mom, Avery, Josselyn, and Erin's  mom, Jane, are busily whipping up breakfast. I can smell sausage and  bacon frying, as well as the sweet scent of waffles and maple syrup.

"Good morning," Mom says as I place a gentle kiss on her check.

"Morning," I reply as Lia offers her own, "Good morning."

"We're going to shower real quick," I tell my mom as I lead Lia out of  the kitchen and towards the stairs. The sounds of kids and male laughter  is pouring from the family room. I do my best to not draw attention as  we head up the stairs.

"About time you decided to join us, douche. Mom was going to send one of  us down there to find you, but none of us wanted to risk seeing your  lilywhite ass naked," Jake thunders from the entryway of the family room  with a cocky smile.                       
       
           



       

"My ass is perfection, Jake, or so I'm told," I holler over my shoulder  as I wink at Lia and continue to make our way up the stairs.

I enter the first room at the top of the stairs. "This is the nursery  room for the babies," I tell her. "It was Avery's old room and there's a  small bathroom right there," I say as I point to the closed door. "You  can take a shower in there. I'll be across the hall in the guest room  using the other bathroom."

I take a quick shower in my old bathroom and head across the hall to  check on Lia as soon as I'm dressed. I knock softly as I open the door.  The sight before me is breathtaking. Lia is wearing a towel, standing  next to the bed, and pulling out the clothes I packed for her. Her wet  brown hair is combed through and hanging down her back. My fingers  tingle to run through the wet locks.

"What?" she asks with a concerned look on her face.

"Nothing," I reply and clear my throat. "You're stunning."

A small smile spreads over her lush lips. My legs move entirely on their  own as I stalk towards her, taking her towel-clad body against my own.

"I'd give my left nut to be able to explore your body right now with my tongue," I whisper against her ear.

Lia's breath catches in her throat. The throat that I crave. I run my  hands up the smooth column of her neck, longing to trace the path with  my tongue. How is it humanly possible to want a woman as much as I want  her?

"Later," I say, mostly to myself. "Get dressed quickly before I say  screw it and rip that towel from your body." I step back, knowing that  if I don't let go of her in that instant, I never will let go of her. I  quickly turn around, adjusting the tightness in my shorts, and walk  towards the door.

As I reach the door, something hits me in the back. A towel.

I turn around just in time to see a flash of bare skin disappear through  the bathroom doorway. The door closes with a definite latch as the lock  engages.

Probably a good thing. Otherwise, we'd be very, very late for breakfast.





*****




My family is in jovial spirits as we all gather outside under the warm  morning sun as Jake and Erin open gifts. Both are smiling from ear to  ear and I'm assuming it has nothing to do with the presents on the table  next to them. I want to tease him and ask him what happened to my  cocky, bed-hopping brother I knew and loved. The one who swore he would  never settle down and get married. But as I watch them steal glances and  pass each other knowing smiles, I know exactly what happened. He fell  in love. And Jake fell hard.