Salvation (35 page)

He dried my face with great care and handed me the water.
“
Drink this.
”
Then he loosened my hair, running his fingers through it like a comb, before taking great pleasure in peeling me out of my soaking dress. My fiery ardour had been put out like a flame as I coughed again, not caring about my appearance as I settled on a towel to dry off.

We demolished the fruit salad and drinks between us. Nate had his camera and occasionally took pictures. He was an accomplished photographer, talking me through what he was doing. To the naked eye the landscape was lovely, but when he showed me how he
’
d captured it on camera, I was stunned by its beauty.

“
Let me put some on your back,
”
Nate said after I
’
d finished rubbing suncream over my arms and legs.
“
Your skin is so delicate and fair. I don’t want you burning.
”
I handed it over and sat cross-legged on the towel, tucking my hair to one side whilst he positioned himself behind me. I sighed, relaxing into his touch as his hands slid over my skin, massaging with precision.

“
I have something to ask you, Kara.
”
The importance in his voice made my head turn. Nate
’
s hand stilled on my lower back.
“
My parents are having a party in a few weeks for their wedding anniversary. I want you to accompany me.
”

Excitement swirled in my stomach. It was another clear sign Nate viewed us as more than a fling.
“
As your date?
”
I teased, holding back a smile.

“
You seem confused. Let me explain.
”
He settled beside me, his body aimed in the opposite direction so we faced each other.
“
You
’
re my girlfriend. I expect you to be all my dates in the future.
”

His words hit me with force. All I could do was stare at him, speechless.

“
Will you come?
”
he asked anxiously after a few minutes.

I grinned.
“
Absolutely.
”

His lips grazed mine.
“
M.I.N.E,
”
he spelt between kisses.
“
What does that spell?
”

“
Yours,
”
I replied cheekily.

Nate
’
s mouth curled into that sexy half smile that made his cheek dimple.
“
That
’
s my girl.
”

“
Your turn,
”
I told him, shifting to kneel. I patted the space in front of me and waited for him to move. I ran my hands over his bronzed skin, unabashedly feeling every muscle and sinew before I even got the lotion on him.

“
When you
’
re ready,
”
he murmured with amusement. I squirted some into my palms and rubbed them together, then set to work on his skin, all the while thinking how easily I was falling for this smart, good-natured man who appeared to be a little bit taken with me as well. My barriers had been up for so long I wasn’t sure anyone would be able to break them down. Nate kept proving time and again that he could, and was more than up for the challenge.

“
Tell me about your past,
”
I urged with trepidation.
“
Relationships,
”
I clarified, when he peered at me strangely over his shoulder.

He shrugged and looked away.
“
Not much to tell.
”

“
I don
’
t mean
all
your conquests. Only the significant ones.
”
I smoothed my hands over his shoulders and down his arms, purposefully letting my chest brush his back each time I reached down, desperate for his touch any way I could get it.

“
There hasn’t been that many,
”
he said dryly.

“
I doubt that.
”
I
’
d seen how women reacted to him
—
knew how I did. And when the subject got raised at the bar, he pretty much confirmed my suspicion that there were any number of women willing to share his bed.

“
I
’
m won
’
t lie and tell you I was a saint.
”
Nate cleared his throat and changed positions, drawing his legs in and resting his arms on his bent knees.
“
I
’
ve had a couple of serious relationships, but lately I
’
ve only casually dated. They were never under the illusion it would become anything more.
”

That was debatable. It was impossible to think women could date him and
not
become infatuated.
“
You
’
re saying you
’
ve never had one-night stands?
”
I shoved his shoulders gently so he leant forward, enabling me to reach his lower back.

“
I didn’t say that. Men can separate emotions from sex far easier than women. But
—”
He turned to me again once I
’
d finished, his brow knotted.
“
I haven’t slept with every woman I know, or had hundreds of sexual partners. I
’
ve always been careful, if that
’
s what
’
s concerning you?
”

“
All done.
”
I tossed the lotion back in the bag and stretched out on the towel, propping up on my elbows.
“
Why didn’t the serious ones work out?
”

“
They just didn
’
t.
”
He drank some water and moved closer. He traced a line above the top of my bikini bottoms from one hip to the other, chuckling softly when he saw the way my skin pebbled in reaction to his touch.
“
What about you? Why hasn’t someone so stunning been swept off their feet already?
”

Crap.
I asked for this.

“
I don
’
t know,
”
I admitted timidly,
“
perhaps I haven’t met the right person mentally strong enough to do it.
”
He deserved more, but I wasn’t quite ready to relive my shame.

“
Here
’
s what I think.
”
He relaxed and stretched his legs in a pose that copied my own.
“
You need emotional intimacy with a man before you get physically intimate with him. Otherwise, you
’
d have screwed me sooner than you did.
”

“
Well, of course.
”
I nudged shoulders with him.

The warm, appreciative palm sliding beneath my hair and around my nape made my skin tingle.
“
I
’
m glad you made me wait. A man should earn the right to experience the pleasures of this glorious body after experiencing the delights of your mind, not be served it on a plate.
”

I rested my head on his shoulder, appreciating the reassurance that waiting had been the right thing to do.
“
And there was obviously a fucking stupid man who let you leave England,
”
he finished. I took my eyes off the horizon and looked into his wise eyes.
“
Right?
”
he asked with a raised brow.

I broke eye contact, nodding slowly.
“
He really messed with my head.
”

“
If I ever meet the fucker, I
’
ll shake his hand,
”
he muttered stiffly.

“
Why?
”
I snickered.
“
I
’
d probably punch him.
Hard.
”

“
For setting you free so you could enter my world and knock me off my feet.
”

“
God, they taught you well at charm school.
”
I laughed and shook my hair out behind me, tipping my face to the sun.

With a small smile, Nate turned away. A few minutes passed, then,
“
This would make a great photo.
”

Tucking my chin into my shoulder, I discovered him holding the camera to his eyes, his wide grin all I could see of his face.
“
I don’t think so.
”
I tried blocking his view with my hand, but he moved back out of reach.

“
Let me take one,
”
he begged,
“
for when I
’
m away next week.
”

For someone who usually remained so controlled, Nate could destroy me when his guard slipped and a glimpse of weakness was revealed. I stared down the lens, completely possessed by the brilliant man behind it, and heard the shutter whir.

“
Too late,
”
he said, showing me the candid snap.
“
I
’
ve taken it.
”
Then he showed me the others he
’
d taken whilst I
’
d sunbathed earlier. I gaped, having no idea he
’
d been doing it.

“
When you look like that,
”
he murmured, acknowledging the silent question in my eyes,
“
you leave me no choice. You
’
re incredibly photogenic.
”

Nate lay back, taking me with him, and held the camera in front of us. With his lips to my temple, he took another. This time, the lens was focused on the two of us.

NATE
’
S dismissive comment to his brother made me laugh. They were chatting on the phone in a way that reminded me how much I missed talking to Liam. We
’
d had email and text contact, but I hadn’t heard his actual voice in a while.

“
You
’
re only jealous it wasn’t yours,
”
Nate provoked. I continued dragging my fingers through his hair, massaging his head as he lounged with his back to my chest on the sofa. It was difficult deciding which view to look at
—
the shimmering ocean catching the setting sun, or the half-dressed man currently wrapping my limbs around his waist.
“
So, I
’
m bringing my girlfriend to the party next month.
”

“
Your
what
?
”
I heard his brother
’
s shocked remark through the phone myself.

“
You heard.
”

I ran my nails over his scalp, grinning, and noticed a fine scar cutting through his hairline. The subsequent expletives and laughter that ensued showed the teasing Nate was receiving.

“
What about you?
”
Nate asked him, his hand curving my knee.
“
No one succumbed to your charm lately?
”

I imagined Nate to be very different in male company and was interested to see how he interacted with his family who were clearly important to him.

“
Jesus, Will!
”
Nate cried, startling me.
“
You
’
re gonna get yourself into some serious shit one of these days.
”
He let out an exasperated sigh and ran a hand through his hair, forgetting mine were there. He caught them and folded my arms across his chest.

Their conversation faded into the background as I daydreamed out the windows.

“
Like you wouldn’t believe,
”
Nate murmured dreamily, twisting to face me. His eyes and smile were filled with affectionate pride. He laughed and said,
“
No chance. Kara won
’
t be interested once I tell her the shit I know about you.
”

Whatever his brother
’
s response, Nate met it with a warm laugh.
“
I
’
m off. Go play with your toys.
”

And he hung up.

“
GIVE me that over an alarm clock any day,
”
I panted, my body still trembling. Nate had woken me this morning with his hands and mouth moving tenderly all over my body, bringing me into consciousness in the most wonderful way. Then, he
’
d cradled me tight beneath him and made love to me with achingly slow, savouring movements. The orgasms that rolled through me were equally as languid, but nonetheless powerful or intense.

“
You said I could wake you.
”
I felt his grin.
“
I wanted to give you something to remember while I
’
m away.
”
His hand stroked up and down my bent thigh, his breath warm and shallow against my ear.