Fringe Benefits (12 page)

Standing, Nate offered his hand to help Dani up. Unable to stop himself, he gathered her into his arms for one more kiss. When he tried to step back, she clung to him.

“I need to ask you something,” she said.

“I really should go.”

“Are we still going to the homecoming dance?”

She’d blurted the question out so quickly, he’d had a hard time understanding what she’d said.

“The homecoming dance? Of course.”

“You don’t have to wear a tux or anything…”

“Good thing since I don’t own one. Not even a good suit.”

“A dress shirt and tie would be fine.” She grabbed the tie he’d dropped on the coffee table and let it dangle from her fingers. “Maybe you could even bring a couple more for after the dance. I’m sure I could find a way to put them to good use.”

“You could?” His voice cracked like an adolescent’s when she pressed her palm against his chest.

“Absolutely. Have you ever seen my four-poster bed?”

Nate wasn’t sure why he was so damned nervous. They were only going to chaperone a school dance, not elope. Hell, he hadn’t been this jumpy when he’d taken Carrie Rooney to the senior prom. Or when he’d lost his virginity to Kat.

It wasn’t as though he and Dani had enjoyed many official dates, especially now that they lived in the same house. But their cozy arrangement had been perfect for them to get to know each other. Every meal, every run, every night sitting side by side and grading papers gave them another chance to talk, to share. He spent more time upstairs than down and learned a lot about her, and she’d seemed generally interested in finding out more about him.

One thought kept torturing him, which was probably the root of his anxiety. It kept his heart pounding and his body responding.

Was tonight
the
night?

Perhaps he was jumping the gun because he wanted her so badly. Perhaps he was allowing his cock to take the lead instead of listening to his brain. Or perhaps Nate had reached the level of emotional intimacy that he’d desired and was finally ready to plunge into physical intimacy.

Tonight was
definitely
the night.

“I love dancing,” he commented as he helped Dani don her heavy cloak.

She’d opted to wear a deep blue dress, a wraparound that had short sleeves and hugged her curves. The color complemented her pale skin and hair and set off the enchanting blue of her eyes. The cloak she’d pulled from the closet was a surprise. He hadn’t known anyone who wore such an old-fashioned garment.

After he draped it over her shoulders, he nuzzled her neck. “Love that perfume, but it’s not your usual Angel. What is it?”

She turned to face him, laying her palm against his chest. “Sometimes I’m a Coco Chanel girl.”

He covered her hand with his. “Classy.”

“You look pretty classy yourself. Love the tie.” Picking up the end, she slid her fingers over the silky material. “In fact, I love
all
your ties, especially the ones I see when we’re not at school.”

Her flirting made him smile, and he stroked her arm, petting her like a cat. “Thanks. Who knows? If things go well at the dance, maybe I’ll show you some more of my ties.”

He loved how her breath caught, much as his own did when he pictured her on her big bed, naked, arms open and raised in invitation. Or bound to the headboard.

If he kept thinking like that, he was going to be damned uncomfortable the whole night.

“I’d like that. A lot.” Dani let out a little sigh before she dropped his tie. “We should probably get going. Meet you there?”

“Do we really have to go in separate cars?” Nate asked. “Seems kinda silly. You know if we’re really gonna do this relationship thing—”

“Are we?”

“Are we what?”

“Going to do this relationship thing?”

It was his turn to sigh. Her question was so disappointing, he wanted to grab her and shake her. “What exactly do you think I’ve been trying to do for all these weeks? Just get you in bed? Damn, but I thought you knew me better than that.” He shook his head, a bit disgusted at his burst of anger.

At least she had the good sense to look contrite. “Fine. You drive.”

He closed his eyes for a moment, pinching the bridge of his nose and settling his temper. The question and her terse order were just a couple more of Dani’s attempts at anticipating everything that might happen so that she could prepare herself.

Opening his eyes, Nate brushed his knuckles against her cheek. “You know so much about me now, probably as much as anyone ever really has. Which means it’s time for me to turn your question back on you and ask you this… Now that you know me, the
real
Nate Ryan, do you want to do the relationship thing with me? Do you want to be with me and only me?”

“To be your girlfriend?”

“For want of a better word, yes. Do you want to be my girlfriend?”

“What about school?”

“Dani, you worry too much. But if it’s that important to you, we’ll keep this between us. No gossip. No ‘I’m your boss.’ Only you and I—and the Ladies and guys—know. Okay?”

A small smile lit her face as she laid an index finger against her cheek as though giving the question deep thought. “Hmm… let me think about it.” The teasing lilt of her voice softened her implication that she might refuse him. “How about I tell you my decision after the dance?”

“You’re going to decide based on my dancing skills?”

She shook her head and patted his chest. “I’ll let you know when I see you in my bed. Naked.”

*   *   *

Normally, Dani despised chaperoning Douglas High dances.

Although there were codes about the students’ clothing—no strapless dresses, no bare midriffs, no miniskirts, and guys had to wear dress shirts and ties—the principal had never set down rules about how the kids danced. The faculty had begged and pleaded, but there wasn’t a single written rule about what happened on the dance floor.

Whenever she’d helped keep an eye on things, Dani spent far too much time breaking up couples who were bumping groins. The worst was twerking. At least that’s what the kids called it. To her, it looked like simulated sex. The girls would bend forward while the guys pressed their pelvises against the girls’ asses.

As she watched Nate separate yet another young couple, she felt ancient. When had she become such a prude, one of those old ladies who fretted over young women not being “ladies”?

Then again, she couldn’t remember ever being so blatantly sexual when she’d been that age. There might have been some close dancing, a boy holding her in his arms and perhaps getting a little too busy with his hands, but leaning forward and rubbing her butt against some guy’s crotch? In front of the whole world?

Never. She’d had a hell of a lot more self-respect than these girls seemed to have, and it took every ounce of her self-control not to tell them they didn’t have to dance like that to get a guy’s attention.

Nate was sidetracked by a student asking him something, and she watched his easy manner with the young woman. Dressed in a sky-blue button-down shirt and dark blue trousers with a silver and burgundy striped tie, Nate probably had no idea how appealing he was. The girls at Douglas had taken notice from his first day on the job. Many nurtured crushes, a rather dangerous part of being an attractive male teacher in a high school.

Being his mentor, she’d shared some wisdom, letting him know to avoid any situation where he was alone with a female student. All it took was the
hint
of impropriety, and Nate’s career would be over.

Dani wasn’t about to let that happen to Nate.

He strode across the gym floor, shaking his head. “The way these kids dance is killing me.” He took his place at her side, clasping his hands behind his back and rocking on his feet. “I can’t wait ’til this ends.”

Her stomach did a little flip-flop, and she leaned closer to rub her shoulder against his. “I’m looking forward to it, too. I’m ready to go home.”

When he tried to take her hand in his, she avoided him and shook her head. People would see them, and then the gossip would begin. They might be consenting, unattached adults, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to have their names bandied about as people—teachers, students, and parents—speculated on their relationship.

Did you hear Ms. Bradshaw is dating Mr. Ryan?

Mr. Ryan’s got the hots for Ms. Bradshaw!

They were holding hands at the homecoming dance!

A slow song mercifully brought Dani’s troubled thoughts to an abrupt halt.

Nate squeezed her hand. “Wanna dance?”

“We shouldn’t.”

“Why?” he asked.

“You promised, Nate. Just us. Only us.”

He stole away her worries by dragging her toward the empty hallway that led from the gym to the locker rooms. “One song, sweetheart. Just one. Dance with me here, where it’s only us.” His hands settled on her waist and he began to sway with her to the notes of the love song.

She put her hands on his shoulders to let him lead her through the dance. It felt so damned good to be there with him, even better to let the world fall away, leaving behind nothing but the two of them.

*   *   *

Nate held Dani’s hand the whole way home, hoping he’d read her mood correctly. The anticipation was exquisite, making him smile and savor the feel of her hand resting in his. He’d been living in her home long enough that it felt so natural to pull alongside her black Civic in the garage. She got out of his car before he could come around to open the door for her.

He did manage to get to the door leading to the kitchen before Dani, so he swung it wide and let her inside. He helped her take off her cloak, and he hung it on one of the mudroom pegs. Since he hadn’t worn a coat, he led the way to the kitchen.

Every night before he headed down to his own suite, he stopped in the kitchen to kiss her good night. Then she’d head upstairs as he headed down.

But what about tonight?

Where had all his confidence gone? He was suddenly so rattled, he was amazed his hands weren’t shaking. He should be sweeping her into his arms and carrying her up to her bed. She’d let him know in many ways that she was ready for this step.

He let out a little snort. Dani had been ready
weeks
ago. Or at least she thought she was. Nate was the one who’d put on the brakes. He’d been reaching for more than her body.

He wanted her heart.

“What?” she asked, her gaze searching his.

Since she had to be referring to his snort, he just shook his head.

Leaning back against the island, she kicked off her high heels. When she’d had them on, they’d been eye to eye. Now that she had to look up to keep their eye contact, she seemed a bit more vulnerable. And oh so sweet.

Nate gave in to his growing desire and embraced Dani, settling his mouth on hers and kissing her the way he’d dreamed of all evening. He swept his tongue into her mouth, loving how responsive she was, how she rubbed her tongue over his as she reached her arms around his neck and tangled her fingers in his hair. Her soft moans urged him on. Splaying his palms against her back, he slid them down until they covered her shapely butt. Then he pulled her tight against his hard cock.

Damn, he wanted her. Her scent intoxicated him, making his head swim as he kissed her long and deep. She gently tugged at his hair, her way of telling him how much she enjoyed what he was doing to her.

Their ragged breaths mingled when he broke away from the kiss. “Dani… do you want to—”

“Oh yes, I want to.”

Her words sent a jolt straight to his groin. With a growl, he picked her up, cradling her against his chest as he rested his forehead against hers. “I want to, too. I bought some condoms.”

“Where are they?”

“In my bedroom.”

“Well, then”—she gave him the sexiest smile—“why don’t we head downstairs? I’m ready to answer your question.”

He quirked an eyebrow. “Which question?”

“Whether I’ll be your girlfriend or not.”

“And?”

She framed his face in her hands and kissed him. A short, no-nonsense kiss. “Yes, Nate. I’ll be your girlfriend. Now make love to me.”

Every cell in Dani’s body came alive.

Nate had carried her down the stairs into his suite, holding her tight. He acted as if she didn’t weigh anything. Not a shock since she’d seen the sleek muscles in his chest and arms. Once he’d passed through his living room and into his bedroom, he’d kicked the door shut behind them. Then he’d put her on her feet, flipped on the small lamp on his nightstand, and started working at removing her dress.

She kept getting in his way as she tried to take off his tie and unbutton his shirt. She wanted to be skin to skin with him, to run her fingertips over his chest, to kiss every inch of him.

Between tugging on each other’s clothing and helping with their own, they got undressed. Dani drank in his sleek form, from his blond hair to his sculpted chest, over his rippled abs, and finally taking in his cock. Nestled in a patch of light brown hair, it was long and thick and more than any woman could want. She wrapped her fingers around him and stroked, loving the satin skin and how it covered the hardened flesh beneath.

He closed his eyes and let his head fall back. “That feels so damn good.”

She’d never been shy during sex, knowing that only by showing and telling her partner what made her happy could they both be satisfied. So she decided to take ruthless advantage of his temporary blindness. She dropped to her knees, took his erection into her mouth, and reached between his legs to squeeze his soft sac.

Nate muttered something incoherent, spread his legs a little farther apart, and spiked his fingers through her hair.

Dani ran her tongue around the swollen head as she stroked him, enjoying the pleasure she was giving him—enjoying the pleasure touching him gave her.

“Stop,” he said, gulping for air. “Please.”

Looking up at him, she laid her cheek against his muscular thigh and smiled. “Are you sure? I mean, do you
really
want me to stop?”

He nodded, gripping her upper arms and helping her to her feet.

“I won’t even ask if you liked it.” She put her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts against his chest. “Because I know you did.”

“Smart lady.” He held her close, teasing her with nibbling kisses until she couldn’t wait a moment longer.

She kissed him with all the passion he inspired, tickling his lips until he opened them so she could drive her tongue into his mouth. As their tongues exchanged caress after caress, she rubbed herself against his cock.

Breaking their kiss, Nate jerked back the quilt and then swept Dani into his arms. He set her in the middle of his bed. His eyes raked her from head to toe, setting her heart to pounding. “I feel like I’ve waited a lifetime to see you like this.”

“The view from here’s pretty good, too.” She returned his perusal, taking in the handsome man who was about to become her lover.

He opened the drawer of his nightstand and pulled out a small box. After opening it, he plucked a condom loose and threw the box aside.

“Let me.” She held out her hand.

After he handed her the silver packet, he knelt on the mattress next to her. The package was a pain to open, so she finally used her teeth, tossing the wrapper toward the nightstand and then unrolling the condom over his erection.

Nate stretched out at her side before rolling her to her back and running his tongue over her neck, licking and nibbling his way down her chest. His tongue swirled around one of her nipples, forcing Dani to let out a moan. Then he took the hard nub into his mouth and suckled.

Heat ripped through her, zinging from her breast to her core. He teased and taunted one nipple before switching to the other and continuing his exquisite torture. This time, when he drew her nipple deep into his mouth, his hand moved between her thighs.

She opened up to him, tunneling her fingers through his hair and arching into him. His fingers delved between her folds before one sank inside her, making her tug hard enough on his hair she wouldn’t have been at all surprised if she’d yanked out a few strands. An added second finger had her bucking off the bed in rhythm with his thrusts.

Kissing his way back up her body, he settled his mouth on hers just as his clever fingers found her sensitive nub and started to rub. She dug her heels into the mattress, raising her hips and wanting nothing more than for him to be deep inside her.

“Slow down, sweetheart,” he whispered in her ear. “We’ve got all night.”

“I want you now, lover.
Please
.”

*   *   *

Dani’s ragged plea swept away what fragile self-control Nate had held. He rose over her, roughly separating her thighs with his knee and settling against her core. Still, he didn’t lunge inside. He cradled her face in his hands and kissed her. “You’re so beautiful.”

“Nate…”

“I mean it, Dani. You’re beautiful and I want you more than I’ve ever wanted another woman.”

Tears brimmed her eyes. “Oh, Nate… I understand now.”

“Understand?”

“I know why you wanted to wait, why you wanted us to get to know each other first. It makes this better…
so
much better.” She opened her thighs wider, rubbing against him. “Make love to me.”

Everything in his senses was Dani—the taste of her lips, the light in her eyes, the heat of her body. He thrust inside her. She let out a gasp, so he stilled, worried that he’d hurt her.

Then she wrapped her legs around his hips and caught his bottom lip between her teeth. He kissed her, lost to all but giving her pleasure and finding his own. He pushed into her tight heat, again and again. Just when he feared he’d beat her to the finish line, she caught and held her breath. A moment later, she cried out as her body clenched around him.

Nate surrendered, letting the orgasm race through his body and mind as he drove into Dani one last time, feeling as though he couldn’t get as close as he wanted to be. He whispered her name over and over, still pushing into her in small strokes before he collapsed in sated exhaustion, using his trembling arms to keep from letting his weight rest entirely on her.

Slowly coming back to earth, he reluctantly left her body. After a quick trip to the bathroom, he slipped into bed beside her and flipped off the light. Hauling her into his arms, he loved how she snuggled up against him, pillowing her head on his shoulder.

“Was it worth all the time you invested in getting to know me? Was it everything you’d hoped?” Dani whispered.

The worry in her voice touched him deeply. Giving her a squeeze, he smiled in the dark. “And more. How about for you?”

“It was great, but”—she kissed his chest—“we’ll just have to keep practicing until we get it
perfect
.”

*   *   *

Nate woke up with a smile on his face, hungry for Dani. But when he rolled to his side to take her into his arms and kiss her awake, he found nothing but cold sheets.

His first thought was that she was in the bathroom. The door was shut, but there wasn’t any light peeking out from under the bottom. Nor were there any sounds.

She’d left.

Throwing his legs over the side, he ran his fingers through his mussed hair and glanced at the clock. Five minutes before they usually went for their Sunday morning run. He scrambled to find something to wear, hoping she would be waiting for him out front—hoping that she hadn’t run away because she was upset about something.

Last night had been the best sex of his life, but women could get a little…
weird
afterward. While she had been very vocal about enjoying herself, he couldn’t help but worry that something he’d said or done had made her go.

Grabbing a hoodie from a hook on his way through the mudroom, he breathed a sigh of relief when he found her stretching in her typical spot on the driveway.

He jerked on the hoodie. Instead of asking her why she hadn’t stayed in his bed, he made chitchat. “Kinda chilly this morning.”

Dani gifted him with a smile. “Yep. Autumn is definitely here.”

Thankfully, there was nothing awkward in the exchange. “What made you decide to run this morning?”

Subtle one, jerk. Why not come out and ask why she was gone when you woke up?

They were still the same people they were before last night. Or at least he hoped so. That had been his goal—that they’d know each other well enough that sex wouldn’t change things.

She shrugged. “You were snoring like a chainsaw, and I was wide awake. Besides, I’m a creature of habit.”

“That you are, sweetheart.” When he lunged forward to stretch, a yawn made his whole body shake. He hadn’t slept well, unaccustomed to having someone else in his bed. Dani was a restless sleeper, her constant movement something he’d have to get used to if they’d be sleeping together often.

As though reading his mind, she stepped closer, mimicking his lunge. “Last night was great. Sorry if I kept you up after, though. I’ve been told I flip and flop a lot.”

He thought about lying to her. “Just a little.” Damn if he didn’t yawn again.

“A helluva lot more than that. Beth won’t even share a hotel room with me anymore. None of the Ladies will. Of course, that always means I have privacy on our trips.”

“You were fine, Dani. But I am a little punchy.”

“I’m tired, too.” She stood and yawned as well. “I’m not sure if I’m up for a run this morning or not.”

Since Dani was an animal when it came to long runs, Nate frowned. “Something wrong?”

“Nope,” she replied sweetly. Then she moved closer and took his hand. “I was just thinking… Maybe we could try a little different kind of workout this morning. An indoor workout.”

Arching an eyebrow, he waited for her to explain.

“I thought we’d go up to my room, get hot and sweaty, and then share a shower. Might be a nice change of pace.”

As if he needed to be asked twice. He took her hand and dragged her back to the house.

They worked their way upstairs, discarding pieces of clothing along the way. By the time they reached her bedroom, he was down to his briefs while she fumbled her way out of her tight jog bra.

He’d seen the pink ribbon tattoo under her breast last night. He moved to her and traced it gently, then looked up. “Ink?”

“Beth, Jules, and I all got one to show support for Mallory a while back.”

Just one more reminder of the caring woman Dani truly was. Nate bent his head and briefly pressed his lips against the ribbon. “It’s beautiful,” he murmured.

A thought sobered him. “Shit. I need to run downstairs real quick and grab a condom.”

She grasped his arm when he tried to go. “Before you do that, maybe we should have a quick talk about… things.”

“Things?”

“You don’t need a condom. I’m on the pill.”

His heart skipped at the thought of enjoying Dani’s body without a condom between him and her wet heat, a pleasure he’d never known before. “I got tested for you.”

“You did?”

He nodded. “When I figured… when I
hoped
… things would get serious between us, I went to get tested. I wanted to be able to tell you that I was clean. Got a great report card, too.” He winked at her.

“After my last… um… Anyway, I had a test, too. Aced mine as well.” She put his hand on her breast.

Nate’s cock twitched in response.

“I’m fine with no condom if you are,” Dani whispered.

He answered her by swooping down to draw her nipple between his teeth, loving how she arched into him and held his head. After lavishing one breast with his attention, he shifted to the other, trying to be just as thorough. A soft purr rose from her chest.

She’d been so daring last night, and he was ready to return the favor. That, and he had such an overwhelming need to know
all
of her. Lifting her by the waist, he walked to the bed and set her down. Then he fell to his knees and roughly forced her thighs apart before burying his face against her core.

*   *   *

Dani let out a throaty moan and held on to Nate’s hair to keep herself grounded. The sensations he sent ripping through her—his tongue sliding between her folds, tickling her sensitive nub, delving into her—were almost more than she could bear. She drew her knees up, not even trying to stop the feral sounds spilling from her lips.

This pleasure was one she’d seldom been able to enjoy. The men she’d slept with had acted as though gifting her with this kind of intimate kiss was costing them dearly. Not Nate. No, he loved her so thoroughly she quickly found herself rising to a crescendo. Everything inside her tightened into a knot that was ready to unravel.

“C’mere, Nate. Please…” She tugged hard on his hair. “I want you.”

He stopped long enough to say, “No. Like this.” Then he became more intense, more insistent as he sucked gently on her bundle of nerves.

Dani gave him what he wanted, letting the waves of pleasure wash over her.

Nate kissed his way up her body, running his tongue around her navel and laving each nipple.

When she could finally draw a decent breath, she sat up on her elbows, her face close to his as he leaned over her. “That was amazing.”

“You’re amazing.” After a quick kiss, he took her hand and helped her to her feet.

Her legs trembled as she whipped back the quilt. “My turn to have fun. On your back, mister.”

“Anything the lady wants.” He crawled to the center of the mattress and flopped on his back. “What next?”

Crawling toward him, she smiled. “Now I’m going to make love to you.” She wrapped her fingers around his cock and stroked him.

His head fell back against the pillows. “That sounds like a wonderful plan.”

She loved his teasing and how easily they’d become comfortable with each other. He’d been right in insisting they develop the relationship first. She would never have felt so free with a man she didn’t know as well as she knew Nate.

“Thank you,” Dani said before she gave him a slow, lazy kiss.

When she finally pulled back to look into his eyes, he had a bemused expression on his face. “What are you thanking me for?”

“For caring enough about me to insist we wait to do this.” After she straddled his hips, she eased herself down on his erection until she’d taken him inside her.