“Do you have kids with her?” I whisper.
“Hell no!” He shakes his head and looks down, then back up at me. “I was fighting back then, and she was what we call a ring bunny.”
Bile rises in my throat. “I know what a ring bunny is.”
“Yeah, well, I was twenty and stupid, and she wanted a fighter on her arm.” He shrugs. “I rarely speak to her.”
“Why was she there today?” I ask.
“She comes around when she wants money.”
“You support her?” I ask incredulously, and his gaze whips up to mine at my tone.
“No, not anymore.”
“What does that mean?”
“I helped her out for a while.” He frowns and looks down again, clearly uncomfortable.
“How long is awhile?” Do I really want to know this?
“Until I met you.” His eyes meet mine again, and they soften, and there’s the man I know and love.
“Why?” I whisper.
“Because if I keep giving her money, she’ll never leave, and I don’t want any skeletons from my past fucking this up.” He takes a deep breath and eyes me warily.
“Well, apparently, she’s still coming around,” I shout.
“I told her no. You heard me. I said it in front of you for a reason.”
“Did you sleep with her until you met me, too?” I ask.
“On occasion.”
Fuck.
“Baby, I cut all ties with her when I met you. I’ve told you, you are the only woman I’m interested in.”
“She has your name.” I blurt it out before I know I’m thinking it. This is killing me.
“She never changed it.” He shrugs again, looking lost.
I take a moment and just look at him, this handsome, smart, sexy man. I don’t want another woman to have his name. It means that he once belonged to her, legally, and it tears me up inside.
“Look”—he rubs his forehead again—“I’m sorry that you found out about her that way. It was shitty. But it was nothing. She is nothing to me and has been for a very long time. I helped her out because I felt responsible for her, and I slept with her because she was convenient. I don’t feel about her the way I feel about you. I never did.”
I watch his face, his eyes, and my stomach starts to settle. He’s telling the truth. Thank God.
“You guys can come out of hiding,” I call out, and Luke and Natalie emerge from the hallway, hand in hand. I smirk at them.
“Hey, I had to make sure you didn’t need me to kick his ass,” Luke says with a grin.
Nate laughs. “You could try.”
“You okay?” Natalie asks quietly, and I nod.
“So, the shower is tomorrow afternoon at my place.” I stand and walk over to Nate, kiss his cheek and run my fingers down across his jaw, reassuring myself that everything is right again.
“Do you need help setting up?” Natalie asks.
“No, I’m having it done professionally. I hired a party planner.”
“For a shower?” Natalie asks, her eyebrows rising.
“I have a demanding job, Nat. And it has to be perfect, so, yes, I hired it out.” I grin at her and do a little happy dance. “I’m so excited!”
“I think I might have some work to do.” Luke’s eyes are wide, and he runs his hand through his hair.
“Oh no, you’re coming.” I point my finger and glare at him.
“This is really a chick thing,” Nate says.
“Whose side are you on?” I ask.
“Luke’s,” he states matter-of-factly. “It’s a chick party.”
“He’s the daddy.” I plant my hands on my hips and glare at both of these stubborn men while Natalie laughs. “He has to go. Besides, my brothers and parents will be there, along with his family, too, so it’s a co-ed party.”
“Will there be pink?” Nate asks.
“The baby is a girl. Of course there will be pink.” I look at him like he’s being ridiculous.
“Chick party.” Nate sneers.
“A chick party that you’re now going to,” Luke interrupts.
Oh no. My panicked eyes meet Natalie’s, and she offers me a small smile.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea…” I look around the room and over to Nate, and he’s frowning at me.
“Why?” Nate asks.
“I don’t know if I’m ready to introduce you to my family,” I whisper.
“Why?” he asks again.
I shrug. “It’s kind of soon.”
“You just called me your boyfriend ten minutes ago.”
“I just didn’t know what else to call you.” I shrug and turn away, and then find myself pinned to him, his hand twisted in my hair and the other at the small of my back, pressing me to him, and his mouth—oh, that mouth—is on mine, kissing me urgently. Then, just as fast as he started, he releases me and backs away.
“Oh my,” Natalie mutters.
“Be there at two,” Luke tells him with a smug smile.
Chapter Twelve
I’ve been quiet all through dinner. Nate and I ordered pizza after returning to my house from Nat and Luke’s. We threw in an action movie and settled on the couch in the loft with our cheesy, delicious pizza and a couple of beers.
But I can’t stop thinking about the scene in his office earlier today. If he didn’t tell me about an ex-wife, what else is he hiding?
While Nate watches the movie, I clear our plates and tuck the leftovers in the fridge.
“I’m going to take a shower,” I murmur as I walk past him on my way to my bedroom.
“What’s wrong, Julianne?” He catches my wrist and pulls me down next to him.
I shrug and shake my head. “I’m not sure I know.”
“Bullshit. You’re still pissed about today.” He frowns as I pull my hand out of his and scoot away from him, needing to distance myself just a bit.
“I’m not exactly pissed, as much as still a little confused and disappointed. Why didn’t you tell me you have an ex-wife?” I eye him speculatively, and he pushes his fingers through that glorious black hair, swearing under his breath.
“Honestly, I didn’t think about it.”
“Look, I get that she was a long time ago. I believe that you haven’t slept with her since you met me, and I’m not accusing you of anything like that, Nate. But it was not a good feeling to walk into that office and see a beautiful woman with her hands all over you, not after everything we’ve shared over the past week. So, yeah, I’m still on edge about it.”
“I apologized and explained.”
“Yes, you did. What else are you going to have to apologize and explain about, Nate? What other dirty little secrets are you hiding?” I get up off the couch, needing to get into the shower and away from him for a few minutes, but he snags my hand again.
“Don’t fucking run out on me again. I don’t have any secrets from you. She is not a secret. She’s just part of my past.”
I look down into his silver-gray eyes and soften a bit. His face is tight with worry.
I pull my hand out of his grasp again, and he scowls, about to say something, but I brush my fingertips down his cheeks, hold his jaw in my hands and look at his face. I can feel my own war of words and emotions playing out in my head, moving across my own face. Finally, Nate takes my wrist in his hand and plants a kiss in the palm, looking up at me.
“Talk to me,” he whispers.
I straddle his lap and rest my bottom on his knees. He links my fingers in his, and I stare down at them, resting in his lap between us.
“Hey,” he whispers again, “Julianne, talk to me.”
I look into his eyes and whisper, “I guess I finally realized today how much you could hurt me.”
“Oh baby.” He pulls me against him, wraps his arms around me, and I bury my face in his neck, breathing in his clean, sexy scent. “Same goes here. Watching you walk out of my office today, knowing that I’d hurt you, not knowing where you were… It tore me
up. I am sorry. I promise, no more secrets.”
He kisses my hair, and I kiss his neck, his smell intoxicating, and I just know that I need him, right now.
I nibble up to his ear, pushing his beautiful hair out of my path. His hands glide down my back to my ass, and he pulls me more tightly against him, pushing the erection in his slacks against my core.
“I need you,” I whisper into his ear, and fire surges through me as he growls in response. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I nibble my way down his jaw and kiss him, lightly at first, just teasing his lips with my own. My eyes are on his, blue to gray.
He pushes one hand into my hair, tilting my head and directing the kiss, taking it deeper, as he spreads his other hand across my lower back, pressing me more tightly against him.
I sit back and pull my blouse over my head, and Nate makes quick work of my bra. When my breasts are freed, he takes one swollen, puckered tip into his mouth and pulls gently, then pays the same attention to the other breast. I can’t help but lean back, pressing my center harder against him.
Finally, he stands, sets me on my feet and strips me of my pants and thong. I help him out of his work shirt and pants, and then he lifts me, his hands under my ass. I wrap my legs around his waist and continue kissing him with a desperate fervor. I can’t get enough of this man’s mouth. It’s magic.
Nate walks us over to the wall, and as my back hits the cool surface, he lifts me slightly and rests the head of his cock against my opening.
“I can’t take it slow this time, baby. I want you too much.”
I clench my legs around his hips, pulling him into me, and he accepts the invitation. He pushes all the way in, hard, and the combination of his large cock and that amazing piercing is almost my undoing.
“Fuck, Nate,” I whisper, and he grins against my mouth, and then leans back to look into my eyes. He pulls back and slams into me again, then stills and watches my face. I’m panting, my cheeks flushed with lust. “If you do that again, I’m gonna come,” I whisper.
His grin widens, and he pulls back, then slams back inside me even harder, and rotates his hips in a circle, grinding the root of his cock against my clit, and I come apart at the seams, my body shuddering and clenching, my blood on fire, screaming his name.
“You needed that?” he whispers and plants tiny, sweet kisses all over my face, across my cheeks, down my jaw, my nose.
“Hmm,” I respond.
“Open your eyes.”
My gaze finds his, and he’s smiling at me gently, brushing stray strands of hair off my temples.
“Are you okay?”
I kiss his lips softly. “I’m okay.”
“Good, because I’m not done.”
I realize that he’s not only still inside me, but he hasn’t come, and he’s as hard as ever. My eyes widen, and I tighten my arms and legs around him as he pushes us off the wall and starts to walk up the stairs, his hands still supporting my ass.
“God, you’re strong.” I run my hands through his hair, loving that he can carry me so effortlessly.
“You’re just small, baby.”
He carries me into my bedroom and pulls back the duvet. He climbs onto the bed with me still in his arms and lays me down on the cool sheets, his body hovering over me.
“You needed it rough, but I need this.” He laces my fingers in his and brings both of our hands above my head and starts to move inside me again, slowly, pulling all the way out and pushing all the way in again in a slow, easy pace.
His lips are driving me mad, nibbling the sides of my mouth, right under my ears, sending sparks through me and down my spine.
“Faster,” I whisper, but he just smiles lovingly down at me and shakes his head.
“No, just like this.”
He’s worshiping me with his body, showing me without words what I mean to him, that he’s sorry for earlier.
I pull my legs up his sides, and he shifts so I can rest my calves on his shoulders without letting go of my hands, and he leans into my legs, pushing even farther into me.
“Oh, Nate.”
“Yes, baby.”
This slow pace is killing me. I tighten my inner muscles around him, and he clenches his eyes shut. With each stroke, I clench around him, as hard as possible, until finally he starts to speed up.
“So fucking tight…”
Our hands are still locked together above me, my legs on his shoulders, and he picks up speed, thrusting harder and faster, sweat rolling down the side of his face. I feel his body tighten, and I know he’s about to surrender to the climax building in him.
“Come, babe,” I whisper, and his eyes snap open.
He kisses me hard and cries out as he comes, rocking his pelvis against mine as he releases into me.
“Oh God, baby.” He lets go of my hands, letting my legs down, and buries his fingers in my hair. I wrap my legs around his waist and run my hands down his sweat-dampened back. He’s kissing me gently, our breathing slowly returning to normal. He pulls back just slightly so he can focus in on my eyes and says, “It’s only you, Julianne. It will only ever be you.”
***
Nate’s in the backyard overseeing the crew setting up the tent for today’s party, and I’m more than a little bemused. How did this happen? How did this amazing man muscle his way into my life and start helping me handle things?
And why doesn’t it scare the shit out of me?
I put the finishing touches on my makeup and approve of my soft gray, wide-leg slacks, white button-up blouse and wide black belt cinching my waist. I’m wearing my black Choos, and my hair is in a loose chignon, makeup simple. Birthday diamonds wink at my ears.
God, I love fashion.
Once downstairs, I survey the kitchen and grin. There is always too much food at our family parties, and today is no exception, but the whole kitchen and dining area is full of soft pink and gray. Puffy tissue paper pom-poms hang from the ceiling, and the linens on the table and breakfast bar match. My dining room table boasts a gorgeous display of pink, frosted cupcakes stacked on several tiers, and the top tier is an eight-inch round cake frosted in white and covered in delicate pink flowers.
I walk out into the tent that is now an extension of the house and gasp. Oh, it’s so pretty out here.
The party planner brought in heaters for the tent. It is spring in Seattle, after all. A faux floor has been laid so we don’t have to walk on damp grass. There are tables and chairs scattered about with more pink and gray tablecloths, and long pink, gray and white sheets of fabric are draped from each corner of the tent and gathered in the center. More softly colored tissue pom-poms are suspended over the tables. White Christmas lights are woven through the fabric, giving the space a sweet glow.
Alecia, my new party planner, is getting a big, fat bonus.
“Are you happy?” Nate asks as he wraps his arms around my middle from behind and kisses my neck.
“It’s so beautiful. Natalie will love it.”
He smiles against my neck. “You’re beautiful.”
I turn and gaze up at him, running my fingers through his soft black hair. He’s wearing a gray button-down, fitted shirt and black slacks. His sleeves are rolled up, giving me glimpses of that sexy tattoo.
I want to lick him.
“You don’t clean up so bad yourself, you know.” I smile and brush his lips with mine. “They’ll be here soon. Are you ready for this?”
His smile fades as he sees the apprehension in my eyes. “Yes.”
“They’re going to like you. After they beat the crap out of you.”
That brings the smile back, and he laughs. “Why are they going to try to beat me up?”
“Because you’re a man, you’ve had your hands on me, and they love me. And I think it has something to do with owning a penis. It makes men want to beat the shit out of each other. I’m thinking about doing research on it.” I shrug, trying to look nonchalant, but I’m really nervous.
Really. Nervous.
“Have they always beaten up your boyfriends?” he asks.
“I’ve never given them an opportunity.” I shrug again. “I don’t bring men home to meet them.”
“Why not?” He runs his knuckles down my cheek.
“No one’s ever deserved to meet my family before.”
His eyes flare, and his hold on me tightens. “Julianne, I…”
“There you are!” My mom bursts through the back door of the house and into the tent, her arms open for me.
Gail Montgomery is a petite blond woman with a big heart and loud laugh. She’s happy, kind, and I want to be her when I grow up.
“Hi, Mom!” I pull out of Nate’s embrace and wrap my mom in a big hug.
“Your father and I pulled up at the same time as Will and Matt. They drove together.” She swings her eyes to Nate and smiles wide.
“Mom, this is Nate.” I smile reassuringly at Nate, but he’s already kissing my mom’s hand and laying on the charm.
Why am I surprised? This man charms people out of millions of dollars every day. He’s going to be fine with my family.
“Mrs. Montgomery, what a pleasure.”
My mom melts and gets a gooey look on her face, and I can’t help but smirk.
“Well, hello, Nate. Please, call me Gail.”
“Why is it so fucking pink in here?” Will pushes his way into the tent, hands on his hips, glaring at me.
“Because, douche bag, Natalie is having a girl.” I punch him in the arm before I kiss his cheek. “I owe you,” I whisper.
He looks down at me with a frown. “Huh?”
“I’ll explain later. I have someone I want you to meet, and I want you to be nice.”
Will isn’t really the one I’m all that worried about anyway.
“Will, this is Nate McKenna.” I step back and bite my lip. My brother is taller than Nate by a good three inches and is wide-shouldered, muscled, and strong. He’s a freaking football player, for the love of Moses.
We have the same genes, so he’s hot in a he’s-my-brother-and-he’s-gross-to-me-but-all-of-America-wants-to-bang-him kind of way.
It runs in our family.
“I enjoyed last season,” Nate states as he holds out his hand for Will to shake. Oh, he’s good.
With Me in Seattle Bundle One Page 47