Real Men Don't Break Hearts(26)

“We’d better get this place clean.” Fired up with purpose, her grandmother took hold of the twins. “Come on, you two. Let’s get you washed up.” She hustled them out of the room.

Ally turned to Nate, all too aware that his hand was still on her shoulder, that her body was vibrating like a plucked harp string, and that she desperately longed to touch him. The longing heightened to hunger as he closed the distance between them until his chest brushed against the front of her T-shirt, sending her senses into a flurry.

“I guess I should be going,” he murmured.

“Thanks for staying with me.” She could barely get the words out. “You managed to distract me from worrying.”

“Glad I could help.” He grinned and tucked a stray curl behind her ear, the backs of his fingers brushing her cheek, making her mouth dry. “You know where I live. I’ll be at home later on if you need a little more…distraction.”

Her heart leaped like a rabbit. He was distracting, all right. So distracting she might do something crazy if she wasn’t careful. “I—I’ll be all right.”

His finger flicked the lobe of her ear. She could have stepped backward if she’d wanted to, but she didn’t. Couldn’t. She was caught by the kindling heat in his eyes, and when he wrapped his arms around her she couldn’t protest but instead yielded to the lure of his body.

He lowered his head. “Good, but I’m not sure I’m all right,” he murmured right before his lips came down on hers.





Chapter Ten

Nate’s kiss was like nothing Ally had expected. For days she’d been fantasizing about what it would be like to kiss him, but the reality was a hundred times more electrifying. His kiss was firm, warm, and confident, but he held her loosely, allowing her plenty of opportunity to pull free if she wanted. But instead of stepping back like the sensible person she’d always been, she wrapped her arms around him, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him back like the brazen tart she’d never been. His mouth lured her, more enticing than anything she’d ever tasted, and when he deepened the kiss she found herself parting her lips, eager for everything he offered, tingling with the stunning delight of it all.

His hands roved slowly over her back, igniting flash fires across her skin, and the heat leaped up, lighting a furnace between her thighs. As his lips skimmed over her neck, she heard herself moaning with pleasure, and when he hovered on the pulse at the base of her throat, the moan became a growl. Was this really her, clinging to him, arching her back just to press herself closer to his body, mewling like a sex kitten? She pulled back a few inches, shocked at her behavior.

“Don’t stop now.” Nate’s hot espresso eyes glinted as he drew her toward him again.

She put her hand over his chest to stop him. The hard thump of his heart caught her attention. It felt as though she was holding his heart in the palm of her hand. Heat radiated off his body—a seductive, sexual magnetism, echoing the fire pounding inside her. He wanted her just as much as she wanted him. Why her? She wasn’t his type. She wasn’t flirty or ravishing or stunningly beautiful. But it didn’t seem to matter. To him or to her. Not when his hands were roving over her back nonstop and his eyes were all aflame. Not when her heart was hammering in unison with his. She’d never experienced such a mutual, spontaneous combustion of desire before. She’d always thought herself a grounded person, not one to be swept away by passion, but in Nate’s embrace she’d turned into someone unrecognizable. And it had just been a few kisses! What would happen if they took it further?

“You’re thinking too much again,” he murmured.

His velvety voice tied her nerves into knots. “And you’re taking advantage of me,” she whispered.

“Yeah, right. We’re standing in a sea of Legos with your granny and the twins just down the hall, and I’m taking advantage of you?” He traced his fingers slowly down the length of her spine, sending delicious thrills right through her bones. “I’d say you’re the one taking advantage of me, kissing me like that and knowing I can’t very well follow up here.”

“You started it.”

“And I’d be very happy to finish it if you’ll let me.” His voice dropped. “Come over to my place later on. You know you want to.”

Yes, damn it, she did. She didn’t want to stop touching him. In fact, she wanted to undo his buttons and open his shirt so she could ogle his body and run her hands and mouth over his chest and bite him and make him moan, too, and lose all control…

She snatched her hand away. “No, it’s madness.” Jerking herself free, she thrust her hands into the pockets of her jeans to conceal their shakiness.

Nate exhaled. “I warned you what would happen if you gave me that dewy-eyed, kiss-me look again.”

She couldn’t deny she’d given him that look and more. But the truth was, the way she responded to him scared her. It might be all commonplace to him, but she wasn’t used to this instant conflagration of raging sexual lust. Especially not for a guy like Nate. He was a bonfire. He’d scorch her, consume her, and then move on to the next thing.

“The tension got to me,” she said. “The waiting and the worrying. I didn’t mean to kiss you like that, and—and it won’t happen again. I’m sorry if you got the wrong impression, but I’ve no intention of…taking it further.”

He studied her for a few moments, making her squirm. He looked like he didn’t believe her, and for a second or two she thought he might try to kiss her again, and her heart raced at that idea. But instead he let her go, picked up his jacket, and slung it over one shoulder.

“Okay. I never press my attentions where they’re not welcome.” He sauntered toward the hallway. “Have it your way. For now.”

She hurried after him as he made for the front door, trying not to notice how broad his shoulders were, how snugly his trousers fit across his lean hips and butt. She hadn’t expected him to give up so quickly. Didn’t she want him to give up?

“Thanks for keeping me company this afternoon. I, er, appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome.” Out on the porch he paused one more time. She thought—hoped?— he might repeat his invitation to visit him later that evening, but all he said was, “See you later, Ally.”

The afternoon sun gilded his cheeks, bronzing the column of his throat and flecking his hair with amber highlights. The sheer audacity of his handsomeness made her heart tumble, but he was too dangerous for her. She muttered good-bye and watched him leave, wondering at her utter confusion.

…

When Brian and Jess no longer needed her, Ally drove home. She took a long shower, cooked herself scrambled eggs, and put on some music as the setting sun painted the sky vermillion. But she couldn’t relax. The music, her book, the TV—nothing could hold her attention. She crisscrossed her living room back and forth while an argument raged inside her head.

Her sane, logical side was quarrelling with a part of her she’d never known existed until recently. A reckless, hotheaded part that wouldn’t shut up. You wanted to change your life, take a few risks. Well, here’s your chance. Live a little; have some fun, like Jess told you. And besides, you can’t stop thinking about Nate. Can’t stop reliving those hot, incredible kisses…

Stop. What was she thinking? She couldn’t have a fling with Nate.

Could she?

So what if it was only temporary? She could handle that if she went in without delusions. She knew what Nate was—a footloose stud who’d never be domesticated—and as long as she remembered that she’d be okay, she wouldn’t expect anything more. Hell, she didn’t have a single expectation of Nate.

She circled the room one more time. It was too stuffy in here. She had to get out, get some fresh air. The keys were in her palm before she could think, and a second later she had slammed the door shut. She headed out of town, telling herself a long drive would clear her thoughts. But the rebellious part of her seemed to have taken control of her body, because after twenty minutes of circumnavigation, she found herself parked outside Nate’s house.

Oh, God. She was really going to do it. She was going to knock on his door and say…what? She had no idea. And why hadn’t she changed into something a bit more inviting than these raggedy old jeans and oversized T-shirt? A bit of lipstick and mascara would have helped, too. But then again, she didn’t want to look too obvious, did she?

Anxiously she finger-combed her hair and tied one corner of her T-shirt to make it fit better. That would have to do. Not giving herself time for second thoughts, she climbed out of her car, hurried up to the front porch, and knocked on the door. Light glowed from behind the drawn shutters at the windows, and she could hear an old Beatles song drifting out from somewhere. She held her breath as Nate opened the door.

“Hey.” The corners of his eyes crinkled up. Barefoot in jeans and a casual checked shirt, his ebony hair a little mussed, a pencil in one hand, he didn’t appear the least bit surprised to see her on his doorstep.

“Hey.” She tried to match his nonchalant grin, but it wasn’t easy when her body was twitching with nerves.