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
I gasp.And then his mouth is on me, and I lose the ability to think. He’s moaning as he eats me out, stopping only to murmur things like Mine and Good girl and Yes, sweetheart, just like that.When he slides his fingers inside me, I lose control and grab his hair, holding him where I need him as he ruthlessly destroys my world. Until the pleasure can’t build anymore, and I tumble over the edge, gasping as I come.I blink, dazed, as Nathan pulls back and rises to his feet, letting the cool air rush in between us.“That wasn’t for me?” I ask. He may have destroyed my last functioning brain cell, but I’m pretty sure there’s no way he enjoyed that more than I did. I don’t think anyone’s ever enjoyed anything more than I just enjoyed Nathan eating me out.He presses his thumb against my bottom lip, and I can smell myself on his hand.“Trust me,” he says. “I’m selfish in bed. You’ll enjoy yourself. But at the end of the day, you’re my treat. Understand?”I wrap my lips around his thumb and
“Here. Wear this instead.” He strips off his shirt and puts it on me. His knuckles brush my bare stomach as he buttons up his shirt. It’s a sweet, chivalrous gesture. The kind he’d make if this thing between us was real.It also means I get a good look at his chest, and hot damn.He’s lean and strong, with dark hair dusting his chest and leading down to the jeans slung low on his hips.I almost ask him to take his pants off so I can see the rest of him too. Fair is fair. Nathan’s seen all of me.Instead, I tug the hem of the shirt lower to cover more of me. “This is silly. You could just give me my clothes.”“Afraid I can’t.” Nathan’s face looks gravely serious. And then he cracks a smile. “I’ve got plans for us. And none of them involve you putting your clothes back on. Remember, I’m selfish.”My stomach flutters and my body pulses.I stretch, feigning nonchalance. “I don’t know. I’m pretty tired. Maybe I’ll just take my shiny new vibrator and go back to bed.”“You know, a less secure
“I must sound so whine-y.” She forces a laugh. “I can take all the snow days I want when I have my own company, right?”“Right.”But those future snow days won’t be with me.I never mix business with pleasure. It’s one of my most important rules, right up there withnever gamble.But before I know it I’m deleting the message I was going to send to Kay and typing out a new one.Let everyone know there’s no work today. Tell everyone we lost power to the building. The servers are down too, so no need to work from home. Tell everyone to take the whole day off, and we’ll see them on Tuesday.Kay’s response comes quickly. It’s just to me, not my dad.I just got to the office. We definitely have power.I type back,Then you should probably go home before we DO lose power.For a moment nothing happens. And then I get a winky faced emoji from Kay, along with the comment It seems like falling in love has been good for you.I’d call her out on that inappropriate comment, but since I just asked her
A second later, Kiera pops up. She gives me a thumbs up to show she’s ok. And then she goes back to crossing the field, this time more carefully.I glance at Nicole. “You’re good with kids.”She shrugs off the compliment. “I used to babysit my little cousins back in Texas. Girls Kiera’s age want to test out being a little more independent. And they’re normally tougher than their parents think.”“You mean tougher than their dads think,” I say.“Nicole slides her gloved fingers between mine. “I like that you want to protect her from everything, Nathan. And I think Kiera does too. It’s one of the things that helps her be so brave.”“You think?” My voice sounds gruff, even to my own ears.Amelia smiles up at me. She double checks Kiera isn’t watching, then sneaks a kiss. It’s sweet and chaste. Like freshly fallen snow.Then she pulls back, and we both start walking after Kiera, holding onto each other to avoid slipping on the packed snow.My chest feels weirdly warm over Nicole’s words.I
“Yes,” Nathan answers.“Are you ever going to for-real marry someone new?” Kiera asks. “Like how Mom married someone new?”I stop walking. I know I shouldn't eavesdrop. But I can’t make myself walk into Kiera’s room before I hear Nathan’s answer.At last Nathan answers in a low, soft tone. I can hear the smile in his voice. “I don’t need to ever get married again, Bug. I’ve got all the family I need right here.” And then Kiera’s giggling and shrieking, like Nathan’s tickling her.I stand in the hallway and make myself take deep breaths until I’m sure my face looks normal.Rationally, I know that’s the right answer for Nathan to give. Kiera and Nathan are a unit, a perfect little family in their own right.I’m glad Nathan has that.But a tiny part of me feels disappointed. I know it’s ridiculous to feel that way. Casual sex isn’t going to magically turn a fake relationship real.But the way he looked at me tonight...No, I tell myself sternly. I need to stop seeing things that aren’t t