Instead, she just goes back to her work, smiling like she knows something about Nathan I don’t.Whatever it is, I don’t have time to worry about it.I need buy plane tickets for Atlanta.NATHAN“So,” I say, as I readjust my legs on the tiny plane for the millionth time. It turns out Nicole’s not just from Atlanta. She’s from small-farming-town-Atlanta. Like we got to Atlanta, and had to transfer onto an even tinier plane, because normal size ones don’t fly anywhere close to where she lives.At least the weather is supposed to be in the sixties. It will be nice to get a break from New York’s harsh winter cold.Nicole looks over at me nervously. She’s sitting by the window. The morning light makes her face look radiant. Like an angel up in the clouds.I ignore the pull to reach out and touch her, just to see if she’s still as soft as she looks.“Is there anything I should know about your parents, Nicole?”“They don’t like city boys,” she says.I bite back a smile. “And I’m a city boy?”
If Kiera comes home someday with a fiancé she’s known less than a month, I’ll be suspicious too.Fuck, I hope Kiera never does anything like what I’m doing right now.The conversation turns to Nicole, and I relax. I drape my arm over the back of her chair, happy to fade into the background while she enjoys time with people she loves.It’s kind of fun to see Nicole in her childhood home. It makes her look younger, more rebellious. I can imagine her up in her bedroom, wearing those big headphones she likes, listening to her favorite music and plotting her escape to New York.Unfortunately, that makes me think of where I’ll be sleeping tonight, which is not a thought I feel comfortable having in front of Nicole’s dad.I try to focus on the conversation instead.“I’m glad you gave up that idea of running your own company,” Bill says. “That’s too much responsibility for a girl your age.”Nicole tenses next to me, but she keeps her voice light. “You run your own business.”“It’s not the sam
I’m about to pull back when Nicole murmurs, “Don’t make me leave, Nathan.”My heart trips over itself.She’s dreaming about me. And in the dream, I’m turning my back on her.“I won’t,” I promise, stroking her hair. “I won’t, sweetheart.”“The purple dinosaurs will get me,” she says. And then she mumbles a string of truly unintelligible words.So maybe it doesn’t mean anything that she’s dreaming about me. Maybe it doesn’t mean anything at all.But I don’t pull away. Instead, I fall asleep, cradling her against my chest.NICOLEI wake up with a heavy masculine arm draped over my waist, and the drowsy warmth of someone strong and solid at my back.Nathan.The memory shoots through me as I remember where I am and who I’m in bed with. I give myself one moment to savor all that luxurious, masculine heat at my back. I’m only human.Then I try to slip away.It doesn’t work. Instead, Nathan tightens his arm, pulling me flush against him, instinctively nuzzling into my neck. I shift against hi
“I think we did everything,” I say. “It’s a small town.”Also, the longer we stay out and about pretending to be a couple, the more confusing this gets. I’m showing him real things I care about, and he’s really listening. All the while his hand is spread on the small of my back. Or his fingers are looped in my belt loop. Or his hand is holding mine.It’s like the engagement ring isn’t enough for Nathan. He’s constantly claiming me with little touches that let the world know I’m his.I hate it and I love it at the same time.“I want you to get to spend time with your parents,” Nathan says. “But keeping up the lie in front of them is...”“Draining?” I say.Nathan nods.I wrack my brain for something else to do. Something private, where neither of us will feel the need to act quite so well.“There’s a movie theater,” I say. “How do you feel about old buildings that smell like buttered popcorn?”“Very positively,” Nathan says.He pays our tab, then we head out. His hand is back on the sma
“Yes,” I say. I want it all, the sweet pain, and the gentle torture. “Please, Nathan. Please.”The second please tips him over some kind of edge. “Fuck. We need to leave. I need you naked.”“Yes.”“I need to taste you. Fuck you. Touch you.” He slips his free hand between my legs and cups me there. It’s hot and wrong and possessive, and I definitely regret wearing jeans. This time I’m the one sucking his neck, as he rubs me through my pants, and his stiff cock presses into my ass.I can’t believe I can have six months of this, I think.And then I remember we can’t. We can’t cross that line, or everything blows up in our faces.Maybe Nathan could. Maybe Nathan could have sex with me once, and then go back to treating me like a friend.But I can’t do that. I’m not built that way.And I’ve never regretted that fact more than I do right now.I pull back. “Nathan. We have to stop.”“Right.” He brings us both to our feet, his hand slipping into mine like it belongs there. “Let’s go find some
She’s got a point. But I’m not going to admit it. So I get out of the car, knowing she can’t have this argument in front of her parents.I’m not above playing dirty.We head inside and make small talk with her parents. Then I head upstairs to pack my stuff, figuring Nicole will want to stay downstairs and keep chatting with her mom.Instead, Nicole breaks away and follows me upstairs to our room. Once we’re both inside, she shuts the door firmly behind her and hisses, “Your expectation is totally sexist. How would you act if I said you couldn't have sex with other women?”“I’d see that you’re being practical and agree,” I say calmly. I fold my clothes and tuck them neatly into my suitcase. “Trying to see other people while we’re dating each other is just too messy. If we’re serious about getting what we need to out of this engagement, we can’t have sex with other people.”Nicole crosses her arms. “Really. Mr. Playboy can go six months without sex.”When she puts it like that...The im
I pick up the box, drop the vibrator in it and storm downstairs. I march down the spiral staircase, across the living room, and throw open the door to his office.Nathan looks up from his laptop, brows drawing together. “Nicole? Are you ok?”“What the hell were you thinking?” I demand. “Giving me that...” I struggle for the words.He frowns, like he’s genuinely confused. “Is it the wrong brand? Or flavor?”“Flavor?” My voice has risen an octave. “The flavor is not the problem, Nathan.”He scowls. “There’s no need for theatrics. I don’t know how you’ve interpreted my fulfilling your request as an insult. It’s been a long day for me—”“I didn’t request this.” I drop the box on his desk. “It’s a gross violation of personal boundaries.”“Oh, for goodness sake.” Nathan opens the black box, irritated. “It’s just...” His voice trails off as he sees what’s inside. Maybe now that he’s seeing it in real life, Nathan’s realizing what a bad idea this was.I stand with my hands on my hips, feeling
And then he crushes me to him, burying his head in my neck as he hugs me and breathes. Like he’s relieved. Like it’s not just pride or logic that’s making him possessive. Like he cares.I stand there, stroking his hair.When he does speak, his voice is gruff. “So there’s no one else?”“I’m all yours,” I try to joke. But he doesn’t laugh. Maybe because there’s too much truth in my words. Maybe because there’s too much relief in his touch.He starts to release me, reluctantly. “If you don’t want...we should...”I rise up on my tiptoes and kiss him. I know what he’s going to say, but he’s driven all logic from my brain with his touch, his mouth, his scent. I crave him, and I’m rapidly losing my will to walk away.He kisses me back, like an alcoholic who’s been offered one last drink. His hands are so tight on my hips, I wonder if I’ll bruise. If I’ll walk around all week with the marks of Nathan’s desire on my skin.I’m dizzy with want when Nathan finally shoves me away. He sinks back on