“Nah, I just wanted to see you in a dress like that.”
“Well, I guess I can’t fault you for that since I feel the same way about seeing you in a tie.”
He reaches across the table and takes a chip, scooping up some salsa before he puts it in his mouth.
“So is this our place now?” I ask as I look out over the dark horizon.
“They do have excellent tacos.”
“They are pretty amazing.”
Nate took us to the same Mexican restaurant that we came to the first time we went out. We’re sitting on the roof again, my jacket doing little to keep me warm as goosebumps form on my skin. “I really like the place, but I wish you would’ve told me to wear pants,” I tell him, smiling so he knows I’m not mad.
“You’re cold?”
“A little. It’s not too bad though,” I say as a gust of wind makes me shiver.
“Here, take this.” He stands up and strips off his jacket. He walks over to me and lays it over my legs, the jacket warming me instantly as it blocks my legs from the breeze. “The weather forecast said it was supposed to be warmer tonight. Guess they had it wrong. Better?” he asks, leaning in close to me.
“Much better. Thank you,” I tell him, leaning in for a sweet kiss. He moves back to his side of the table and sits down as I smile, unable to hide my happiness.
“What’s that smile for?” he asks me, reaching across the table to take my hand.
“That was just really thoughtful.” The words make him smile before he asks how my day was. “Very productive,” I answer, moving on to tell him about my lunch with Rachel and my decision to try out for the showcase.
“If the audition is in a few weeks that’s right around the time of my test,” he tells me.
“Yep. I just have to decide what style of dance and choreograph something epic. No big deal,” I say with a laugh.
“Have you thought of what you’re gonna do yet?”
“Well, the theme of the showcase is renewal, and I have an idea for an interpretive dance that I’d do with a partner, so I’m leaning toward that. Ballet will be too competitive and even though I’m good, my form is nowhere near where it used to be. The dancers auditioning in that category will be more technically accurate. Interpretive dance will give me more freedom. The first step is to find a partner, and then I have to come up with something incredible if I want to get the spot. I need a powerful song and choreography to match.” I look up at Nate to see his arms crossed as he listens to me. “This is all kind of boring for you though, huh?”
He grins and shakes his head. “Absolutely not. You should see the fire in your eyes when you talk about it. Even though I don’t know anything about dance, your passion makes me feel excited about it.”
My heart sways toward him, beating like it wants to fly from my chest. “Well, that’s a pretty great thing to say to someone, Nate.”
“I meant it,” he says, his thumb tracing across my knuckles. “Plus, my certification exam is the same week as your audition, so when I pass and you get the spot in the showcase, we’ll celebrate together.”
“How do you know I’ll get the spot?”
“I’ve seen you dance, Jenna—you’ll get the spot. But the Jenna I’ve come to know doesn’t need reassuring.”
I laugh and wave him off with my free hand. “That’s very true. But if I do get the spot, I think a little reassurance may be necessary considering the personal nature of the dance I want to do.”
“And what is it that you want to do?” he asks me, his voice quiet. The sounds of the restaurant fade as I look at him, his undivided attention meaning everything to me.
“I want to dance about heartbreak and healing.” It’s one of the more common themes, especially in interpretive and lyrical dance, but it’s something I’ve never done. As many times as I’ve danced on stage, I’ve never choreographed and danced something so personal. I’ve always played a character, but in this performance I’ll be living out my own emotions. It’s thrilling and terrifying at the same time.
“You’ll do it beautifully,” he replies, the sincerity in his voice making my heart clench.
“Thank you, but I have to get the spot first.”
“Like I said before—you will.”
Wanting to move the conversation along, I clear my throat before I ask him, “So when do you have to start studying like crazy?”
“Starting tomorrow, I’ll have daily study groups. One of the girls in the group made a study schedule and it’s pretty intense. We’ll be meeting every evening until the end of the month when I take the test,” he says, sighing as he shakes his head.
“Looks like we’ll both be pretty busy over the next few weeks,” I reply sadly. We just got together and the honeymoon phase is in full effect. But instead of spending an inappropriate amount of time in bed together, our schedules are going to keep us too busy to enjoy the newness of our relationship.
“Didn’t you say you still wanted to take things slow between us?” he reminds me.
“I did,” I agree. “But I know all of the prep I’ve got to do the audition is going to take up any free time I have. We won’t be taking things slow, Nate. They’ll be at a stand still.”
“We’ll still see each other, just not as often as we have been,” he assures me. “And tomorrow our lives may get a little hectic, but we still have tonight.”
His attempt to distract me works. Instead of thinking about all the nights I’ll be alone in my bed over the next few weeks, I start to think about the night in front of me—and I definitely won’t be alone in bed tonight.
***
The hall light casts its dim glow into Nate’s room. The room is silent, neither of us saying a word as I slide his jacket off his shoulders and let it drop to the floor beside me. His eyes are on mine as I flip his collar up and loosen his tie until the knot comes undone. My fingers move down his shirt, sliding each button through its hole as I go, and when I’m done my eyes flick down to see his shirt falling open. My gaze leaves his so I can watch my hands as they travel up his body. My fingers dip into the ridges of his abs, my palms smooth over the light dusting of hair on his chest, and my nails softly scratch over his shoulders before they trace down his back.
“The memory of tonight has to last for weeks, Nate.”
I can hear the smile in his voice when he says, “Don’t you think you’re being a bit dramatic?”
“I never claimed that I wasn’t.”
He laughs, making the muscles of his body work in time to the sound before it fades. “Well, if you want tonight to be memorable, I can make that happen.”
His voice sounds like pure sex and it makes my body heat at the thought of letting him take over, but last night I spent the entire night letting him own my body. Tonight, I’m going to be the one taking charge and making those memories happen.
My hand begins move around his to the front of his jeans as I look him in the eyes. “As much as enjoyed last night, I’m looking to make this night memorable for you. I’ve got more than enough material for my spank bank, but you need a few more things to think about when you’re missing me over the next few weeks.”
He throws his head back to laugh, but it turns into more of a moan when I reach down and cup him through his pants. He tilts his head down to look at me, pressing his hips forward as I gently squeeze his erection. Clearing his throat he asks, “So what kind of material are you going to give me?”
Not only does he like to talk dirty, he likes me talking dirty to him. He’s patient, thoughtful, confident and just the right amount of freaky—this man couldn’t be more perfect. I bite my lip to hold back a sweet smile. This isn’t the time or place for sweet.
“Well,” I say as I slowly release his button fly, “I’m going to wrap my lips slowly around that cock of yours and see how much of you I can fit down my throat.”
He groans as I release the last button and let his pants drop to the floor. I slide my hands into his boxer briefs and pull t
hem down, my body moving with them until I’m kneeling in front of him. My gaze is fixed on his cock as I circle my hands around the base.
Nate’s hips flex as I leisurely work him with my hands, the frustrated moans letting me know that I’m driving him crazy. I lean forward and let my tongue slide along his length from base to tip before I swirl it around the sensitive head, making him growl with pleasure. One of my hands slides down to gently massage his balls, tugging on them slightly and making him moan. My lips wrap firmly around him as I start to suck, my tongue sliding along the underside of his cock as I move down until he’s touching the back of my throat.
Pulling back a bit, I relax my throat before I push forward again, taking a little more than half of him as my hand continues to stroke. I work him in and out of my mouth, taking more and more each time. I don’t think there’s any way I’ll be able to fit his entire length in my mouth, but that doesn’t stop me from trying.
I fuck him with my mouth, sucking and licking, swirling and bobbing until he’s pumping his hips. With his hands tangled in my hair, he loses control and comes in my mouth, murmuring curses as his taste explodes over my tongue. I swallow his release, loving that I was able to make him lose his mind like that.
When I let him pop from my mouth, I smile up at him. He looks down at me, his eyes heavy and his grin lazy and satisfied. I run my hands over his muscled thighs as his body relaxes. When he opens his eyes, his smile grows. “I definitely enjoyed making that memory.”
My laugh is throaty as I stand and start to unzip the side of my dress. “Well, let’s make some more.”
Nate watches me as I strip, still standing there with his shirt open and his pants around his ankles. When I’m fully naked, I climb up and kneel on the bed. “Are you going to join me?”
He shakes his head as he steps out of his pants and takes off his shirt. “I’d like for you to give me more material.”
I raise an eyebrow in question, my eyes following him as he moves to the nightstand and takes out a box of condoms. He stands at the foot of the bed, his eyes roving over my naked body. His cock starts to harden again as his hand wraps around the base.
“Show me what you’ll be doing on those nights when we won’t be together.”
His request makes my center clench and my skin tingle. I let my hands slide up my thighs and over my stomach until they’re covering my breasts. I massage them, my thumbs skimming over my nipples as Nate’s hand starts to slide up and down his shaft.
“You want to watch me touch myself?” I ask, my voice throaty with arousal.
“Absolutely.”
“You wanna know something, Nate?” I ask as one hand trails a lazy line down the front of my body.
“What’s that?” he replies, not taking his eyes off my hands as it slides over my belly-button.
“You’re kinda kinky.” My hand stops right before it slips between my legs, wanting him to look at my face when I say the next part. When his eyes flick up to mine, I finish my thought. “But I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
He smiles, the satisfied look on his face making my heart beat fast. My hand continues on its path, not stopping until two of my fingers slip inside. I grind down on my hand, the heel of my palm pressing against my clit as I moan in pleasure.
His speed increases as he pleasures himself to the vision of me pleasuring myself. I press my fingers against my g-spot before I slide my fingers out and up to my clit, rubbing in circles as my knees to start to shake. His erection strains for release as he jacks off, but there’s no way I want him coming anywhere but inside me. His hand stills when I stop, and when he sees me reach for a condom, he moves on the bed quickly, lying on his back so I can roll the condom over him.
With my back to him, I put my feet flat on the bed and slide down onto his shaft until he’s fully engulfed in my heat. Leaning back, I rest my hands on his chest as use my legs to move my body, riding him fast and hard. Each time I sink all the way down, I gasp at how big he feels inside of me.
He groans his words coming out choppy as he says, “Fuck, you’re so tight.”
I smile, praising myself for each and every kegel I’ve ever done as I squeeze him even tighter inside of me.
He moans another curse as he pistons up into me, his hand sliding over my hip to rub my clit. The pressure of his fingers and the friction of his length against my walls bring on an orgasm so intense it makes me scream. My body rolls in pleasure as he holds me down on him, his body tightening as his own orgasm crashes through him.
I bend my elbows and let my body fall to his chest as I catch my breath. His arms fold around me as he places open-mouth kisses on my neck, and we lie there completely sated …
For the moment.
He guides me off of him and onto the bed next to him. He gets up to take off the condom and then comes back and cuddles next to me. I curl into him, my leg moving over his and bumping against his still hard cock. “You’re like a machine.” My hand start to trail down his stomach, but his fingers wrap around my wrist, stopping me.
“You know we can just lie here and enjoy being together, right? We don’t have to fuck just because I’m hard.”
I smile at my ever-thoughtful Nate. “I know.”
“And I also want you to feel like we’re more than this. I know that you’ve limited your past relationships and kept them strictly physical, and I don’t want that to happen with us.”
My heart starts to race. Is that what he thinks I’m doing? I don’t want to make him feel like I only said I’d try this so I could get into his pants. I’ve made references to how I feel, but it sounds like he needs to know that I’m not hesitating anymore and that I’m all in.
“That’s not what this is at all,” I affirm as I lean over his chest to look at him. “I thought I made it clear that’s not what I want anymore. And if not, let me make it clear right now—you’ve made me want more. I crave the connection we have, and not just the physical one. I told you earlier you make me happy, but it’s not just who we are together. It’s the way that you blocked the sun from my eyes on the pier. It’s the way that you made me realize how much I wanted to dance again. It’s the way you look at me and just see me.”
I take a breath to steady my voice. “You make me happy.” He beams, his eyes looking into mine and penetrating my soul. “All the walls are down, Nate. I’ll tell my friends about us if that will make you feel better. I guess I’m a big enough girl to deal with the potential backlash from keeping it from them, even though it’ll suck,” I tell him, wanting him to know I’m serious.
He shakes his head. “You can do that when you’re ready,” he offers. “So the constant fucking is really just that insatiability you’ve mentioned before?”
I nod. “I mean, you can ask the other guys I’ve fuc—”
“Don’t!” he exclaims, cringing at my words. “Don’t ever reference fucking another guy while we’re naked in bed together. Actually, ever. Don’t mention it ever.”
I wince. “Sorry, I won’t do it again.”
“Good,” he mutters. “And now that I know it’s just because I have a needy girlfriend …” His hand lets go of my wrist, giving me silent permission to keep moving toward its original destination.
When I grip his cock, his breath catches in his throat and he reaches over for a condom, tearing it open with his teeth and holding it out for me to put on. When I’m done, he flips me over and fucks me like the machine I’ve come to know.
Late at night, when we’re both completely exhausted, Nate curls around me. “You make me happy, too,” he whispers quietly, though his words are strong and sure, making my soul glow.
It’s a simple statement, but it means everything. I may have thought it was a possibility, but now I have to acknowledge it as a certainty—I’m falling love with Nate.
Chapter 18
Nate and I knew we’d be busy, but we both severely underestimated how crazy our month would be. Time flies by in a whirlwind of classes, choreography, a
nd very few nights spent with Nate. Coordinating two very busy schedules is tough work, but Nate and I are making it work.
***
Day 1
Me: I asked Ben if he would be my dance partner. He said yes!!!
Nate: Ben?
Me: Yeah, the guy who performed the interpretive dance with me. We work well together :)
Nate: I didn’t get to meet him at the performance, did I?
Me: Nope, but he saw you ;)
Nate: What does that mean?
Me: Let’s just say that it seems Ben and I have the same taste in men
Nate: He thought I was cute?
Me: I believe the term he used was fuck-hot…
Nate: Haha… no he didn’t
Me: He did :)
Nate: Do you agree?
Me: You know it… And I’ll show you later ;)
***
Day 6
Nate: I don’t really care what smoothie you get me, but it can’t have bananas
Me: You don’t like bananas?! That’s one of my favorite fruits
Nate: I’m allergic
Me: No you’re not
Nate: Buy me a smoothie with bananas and I’ll have the hives to prove it
Me: You’re serious?
Nate: As a heart attack
Me: I just learned something about you that I didn’t know :) Tell me something else
Nate: I’m also allergic to dust. Your turn
Me: I’m scared of clowns
Nate: Me too, but only the hobo looking clowns. They’re creepy
Me: They’re ALL creepy
Nate: Lol… okay… what else?
Me: I won’t go on portable carnival rides
Nate: Really?
Me: Yeah… I just feel like they’re going to crash or something
Nate: They’re perfectly safe, but I’ll make sure not to plan any dates to the fair
Me: Good. Because I hate cotton candy, too.
Nate: No…
In My Bed Page 20