Salvation (59 page)

“Next fucking Friday?” He pulled me to a stop again, his hand gripping my forearm. “Were you just gonna get on a plane and hope I didn’t notice your absence? Because, honestly? I’d notice. I
always
notice.”

“It’s only for two weeks.”
Only—
like that made everything sound better. In truth, I was dreading being apart from Nate. I’d barely managed five days when he was on the East Coast. So much had happened since then, so many more feelings had developed between us, I wasn’t sure I could survive without him.

“I hate the idea of being apart for that long, too.” I manoeuvred his hand until I’d linked an arm through his and resumed walking. “I’ve considered cancelling more than once.”

“Do it. I won’t be separated again, I told you that.”

I sighed and angled my head to rest on his shoulder. “I have to see my father. This is always a tough time for him.”

“Give him a holiday. Bring him here to visit you instead. I’d like to meet him.”

“The tenth is mum’s birthday…I promised I’d be there.” I appreciated the tender kiss Nate placed on my crown, his silent demonstration that he understood my reasons for having to go back. He smacked the button when we reached the crossing, shifting restlessly, both hands in his pockets. He might’ve understood, but he hadn’t forgiven the unintentional omission. I rocked on my heels as we stood, silent, waiting for the lights to change.

“Who are you flying with?” Compassion now smoothed his previously irritated edge.

“Would you believe it if I said Star?”

An unexplainable emotion flickered in his eyes as he regarded me cautiously. “Take the jet.”

“No!” I snickered.

“Take it,” he snapped, leading me briskly across the street. “Leave when you want, come back sooner.”

“I’m not taking the private company jet, Nate.”

“It’s mine,” he stated. “Like you.”

I shook my head. “I’m not an asset, unlike the jet, which is.” We stopped outside a coffee shop that was still open. I wasn’t sure if the offer was serious, but when I caught the determination in his eyes, I knew he meant every word. And he was expecting me to take him up on it.

“Seriously,” I insisted, curling windswept tendrils of hair behind my ears, “you arrange that, I won’t be impressed. Let me travel commercial.”

Even with his disapproval, Nate still looked so damned hot. I could never stay mad at him because each time I saw him, I melted. The light breeze had blown his hair into that bedroom style I loved waking up to, and his skin had a healthy outdoor glow. His white Henley top hugged his shoulders and biceps, and the jeans showcased lean legs and that seriously fine arse.

I stepped closer, linking my arms through his and wrapped them around his waist. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” I said, kissing the hollow of his throat. “I was going to, but the longer I left it, the harder it became to broach the subject.”

“I’m pissed off, Kara.”

With my lips to his neck, I worked slowly up to his mouth. I’d let both of us down and it made me feel shitty. “How can I make it up to you?”

I felt the tension leave him as our bodies pressed together. Succumbing to my blatant attempt at distraction, he snaked his arms around my shoulders and let his forehead fall to mine. “I’m trying to stay mad at you,” he murmured.

“Two weeks, Nate. Then I’m back. No more trips,” I assured unequivocally. There was no need, but I stood on tip-toe and kissed his nose.

“You’ll miss the annual gala dinner I’m hosting.”

“I meant to ask you about that.” My calendar had gradually been filling up with social functions, presumably by Nate’s assistants, and this one had caught my eye. It was obviously important, so I hadn’t wanted to raise it with him until he knew I wouldn’t be going. “What’s it for?”

“A fundraiser for families affected by alcohol related accidents.” He rushed the words out, glossing over them and their significance. My brow furrowed, not understanding the relevance of such a charity to Nate.

His shoulders dropped as he stepped back out of our embrace. As he blew out a breath, those eyes turned grey, filling with sorrow. “Too many people I’ve loved have lost their lives because of alcohol.” Turning, he began walking to the door.

“Hey,” I whispered, pulling him back. The questions over what he
hadn’t
said hung heavier than the words he had. I rubbed his arm, urging him to open up more.

Nate’s jaw tensed. The fact his gaze was on my mouth worried me. Why couldn’t he look me in the eye? “A friend…” he started quietly, then choked up. He shook his head and spoke again, this time more firmly. “My grandparents were killed by a drunk driver. I set up a charity in their honour.”

My chest cramped with his pain, his grief mixing with my own. Suddenly, his obsession with my safety made sense. Losing loved ones in such tragic circumstances had made him the overprotective man he was today. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.

Nate’s hands curled around my nape. “Let’s go home. Our time together is limited. I don’t want to waste another second out here.”

Respecting his privacy, I didn’t push him to elaborate. Clearly he wanted to erase his sad memories in other, more physical ways. “Patience,” I breathed, my pulse quickening at our close proximity. With one last kiss, I pulled him into the coffee shop. “All good things come to those who wait,” I assured him, eyeing up the massive slab of tiramisu behind the glass counter.

With a swift playful smack on my backside, Nate ordered. And just like that, I was forgiven.

FOR NINE IN the evening, my apartment block was unusually quiet. Nate wouldn’t be with me for at least another hour, so I’d decided to take a long soak in the bath.

My day had been hectic. Deadlines were looming and plans needed putting in place to cover my upcoming absence. I was still racked with guilt over not being entirely honest with Nate sooner about my trip away. Nate had been edgy on the drive into work. I thought he was still annoyed with me, he blamed it on having to attend the dinner meeting he was currently at. I’d opted to spend the night at my place. I needed to start thinking about our trip away this weekend.

My eyes flew open at the sound of the intercom. It was too early for Nate, so thinking it was one of the neighbour’s visitors, I ignored it, hoping they’d ring the correct one sooner rather than later. A few minutes later my phone vibrated behind my head:
ARE U HOME?

YES
I replied to Nate:
IS THAT YOU DOWNSTAIRS?

OPEN UR DOOR

I shot upright, sloshing water everywhere. “Crap,” I muttered, stepping out. I mopped the mess with a towel then wrapped it around me as I hurried to the door. Footsteps dashed up the stairs and a few seconds later, Nate appeared.

“Hey.” Happiness danced in his eyes.

“I should probably give you a key to this place.” Letting him in with a wide smile, I locked the door behind him.

“You sure?” He started to grin. “That means we’re getting serious.”

“It would have saved me getting out the bath,” I said, adjusting the towel. “I wasn’t expecting you this early.”

“Try keeping me away,” he murmured, eyes running the length of my body. Pulling the edge of my towel until I fell into him, he tilted my chin and touched his sweet lips to mine.

“I’m soaking wet.”

His eyes narrowed, his smile both sexually arrogant and challenging. “Is that an invitation?”

One finger trailed down my neck, across my chest, lower over my belly until he reached the apex of my thighs. I swallowed hard. Something trickled down my inner thigh, and honestly, I had no idea if it was water or something else. I was incredibly turned on from the slightest of touches.

Nate spread open the towel with his fingers and cupped me. “Jesus,” he muttered harshly, taking a deep breath, “you weren’t lying.” Held captive by his darkening eyes, I couldn’t move or break the spell. His middle finger circled my opening, drawing the wetness from inside me up over my clit and down again. The slow, deliberate lick of his lips caused a tight pull low in my stomach.

“I brought dessert, but it’s gonna have to wait.” He left me a trembling mess of need and stashed the take-out box in the refrigerator. “You look far tastier.” He grabbed my hand and took me to the bedroom, pausing briefly to look at the bed before continuing into the en-suite.

“How come you’re so early?” I asked, watching him survey the romantic candlelit space. It was warm, steamy and humid, the air sweetly fragranced with almond oil.

“My prospective clients would leave early, too if this magnificent sight awaited them at home.” Turning, Nate curled a hand around my face, his fingers sliding into the roots of my tied-up hair. “Is the water still warm?”

“Hmm,” I nodded. My anticipation notched up another gear.

“Get back in,” he urged, peeling off my towel. His eyes widened, his chest inflating as he sucked in a deep breath. Tossing it onto the vanity, he sauntered into the bedroom and shrugged off his white dress shirt. His grey trousers quickly followed.

It was a tight squeeze as Nate slid behind me, legs straightening either side of mine. I laughed. “Don’t think my bath was designed for two tall people.”

With a contented murmur, Nate pulled me back against his chest and wrapped one arm around me. I watched his throat work down a sip of wine before he placed the cold glass against my lips and tipped it up.

“How was dinner?” I asked, my voice breathless and aroused all at once.

Nate smiled knowingly, twisting to set the glass behind him. “Let’s not talk about that right now.” He kissed my neck, massaging my nape and shoulders. The slickness of the oily water aided his firm, yet sensual movements.

Sighing, I pushed back against his chest, needing his hands elsewhere. My breasts were heavy, yearning for his caress, so when he took my cue and cupped them, I let out a small moan of relief. “Seems you and I are getting married,” he murmured into my hair, brushing my erect nipples with both thumbs.

“Apparently so.” My head rolled back against his shoulder. Mai had suggested the very same this morning when she confronted me with that annoying online blog again. There was a picture of us outside the jewellers—allegedly shopping for rings. “How do they know exactly where to find us? It’s like we’re being followed…”

“I have my suspicions we are,” he said tightly.

“We are?” I craned my neck to look at him. “Who by?”

“Let me take care of it.” Nate sensed my fear and slid his arms around me, holding me tight whilst pressing reassuring kisses to my shoulder. “First, I have to take care of you.”

With his fingers gripping my jaw he took my mouth. Tasting me with gentle licks, expertly teasing my tongue with his, it quickly turned into a more urgent embrace.

His left hand followed the curve of my breast, running down over my stomach and pressing between my legs. I could barely open them in the confined space, but I was so greedy for his touch that I brazenly lifted one leg and settled it on the rim of the tub.

All my inner muscles tensed around his middle finger as he pushed inside me, gliding in and out, rubbing the inner wall, sending waves of ecstasy throughout my body. Thoughts of inaccurate reporting went out the window. I wanted the hard cock pressing against my spine inside me.

I reached behind me but before I could touch him, Nate lifted me, straightening his legs and forcing mine to bend and come down either side of his. My heart was racing. This was going to be a fucking and I wanted it desperately.

“Yes,” Nate hissed as he drove into me. I wobbled and cried out, my entire body tensing. “Take it,” he muttered roughly.

I knew he’d never harm me, and because I had that knowledge I was safe, I relaxed. Leaning forward, I started to move, my hands on the bottom of the tub working with his hands at my waist to gain a quick rhythm and keep me supported.

“Kara,” Nate moaned, his grip tightening on my flesh. He started thrusting his hips, meeting me as I sank down. This position gave me an entirely new sensation, different to the other times he’d taken me from behind. I was in control of this one, I could dictate where I wanted him.

And I needed that. Needed to regain some of the confidence that had slipped away after not giving him the honesty I held in such high regard from him.

His wet hands slid up my spine to my shoulders and urged me to lean back into him. One hand cupped my breast, the other lowering to rub my swollen clit. My orgasm was building fast, so quick I struggled for breath. I arched my back, hands on the sides of the tub for leverage.

“So good,” I whimpered, my head falling back next to his. I spiralled out of consciousness as the powerful orgasm took over and crashed through me. I screamed out, not caring who heard.

“Keep going,” Nate growled into my shoulder, “make it last. I want you still screaming my name when I come.” His finger circling my sensitive clit ensured it did, wringing every last drop of strength I had out of me.

Water sloshed around us as I brought Nate to his own ferocious climax. With a final thrust he stilled, his cock jerking as he emptied into me. His groan of release echoed around the tiled walls as his teeth sunk into my shoulder.