by Anna Blakely
“Go on,” Connie prompted.
“Yeah, honey.” Nate’s voice had turned low. Sexy. “Go on.”
Even though Gracie knew it was all part of their twisted game, she couldn’t help but love the way he sounded just then.
“Well, I should have been looking where I was going, because the next thing I knew, this car was headed straight for me. It was clear it wasn’t going to stop for the red light.”
“Oh, my gosh. So, what happened next?”
“Let her tell the story, Con, and you’ll find out.”
Gracie laughed softly and then looked at Nate again. With their eyes locked, she said, “The handsome man from across the street saved me.” She smiled. “He pulled me into his arms and back onto the sidewalk just in time for the car to miss me. Then, he held me there for what seemed like forever, making sure I was okay.”
“And I knew right then,” Nate chimed in. “I needed this woman in my life.”
“Oh, how romantic!” Connie exclaimed wistfully.
“Romantic? This poor young lady was almost killed. Was the dumbass driving the car texting? I bet he was. Everyone’s always texting and driving these days. I swear nearly every driver I pass is looking at his or her phone instead of the road.”
“But what a story they have to tell.”
“Yeah, the story of how she damn near became road kill.”
“Larry!”
“I’m just saying.”
As the other couple continued their bantering, Gracie’s entire focus remained on Nate. His gaze bore down into hers so deeply it felt as though he was touching her soul.
She was still trying to decipher whether or not the emotion behind his eyes was real or part of his act when the skies opened up, breaking whatever spell she’d been under.
Rain began to pour down on them in sheets. Connie and Larry said their goodbyes and began walking as fast as they could back to their place.
Gracie stood and reached for the food, but Nate grabbed her hand and started to pull her toward their cabin.
“But, the food,” she glanced at the bench now behind her.
“Leave it,” Nate ordered gruffly.
Blinking against the rain, Gracie struggled to understand the expression on his face. He almost looked upset, but for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why.
She had to walk double-time to keep up with his long strides, and as they covered the remaining distance to their cabin’s porch, she desperately tried to figure out what she’d said that had him so upset.
Nate threw open the door and pulled her roughly inside. Slamming the door shut, he locked it then turned back to her.
The cabin was dark, but light from the porch lamp shone through the window behind him, allowing Gracie to make out his tall silhouette.
Standing there, sopping wet and dripping all over the wood floor, she had to know what she’d done wrong.
“What did I do?” she whispered softly.
Nate shook his head slowly. “I can’t do this.”
Her heart dropped. “I tried sticking to as much of the truth as possible, just like you said. I’m sorry.” She started to turn away. “I thought my story was—”
He reached for her forearm and pulled her flush against his chest. “Perfect. Your story was perfect. You…” he swiped some wet strands from her face. “Jesus, Gracie. You are fucking perfect.”
Her pulse spiked and her knees shook. “But, you just said you can’t do this.”
He spun them around and pushed her up against the door. “I meant, I can’t keep looking at you and not touch you. I can’t hear that beautiful fucking laugh of yours and not want to swallow it up with my own breath.” He cupped her damp face with both hands. “I can’t be around you another second and not do this.”
Nate slammed his lips against hers with such force her head would have banged against it had he not slid one of his hands around to protect her.
Always protecting me.
For all of two seconds, she considered asking him about his hands-off rule. Then, he slid his tongue into her mouth.
Kissing him back with the same level of passion and desire, Gracie gave as good as she got. She allowed her hands to begin their own exploration, reaching for the bottom hem of his T.
Her insides did a major happy dance when Nate broke away just long enough to pull the shirt up and over his head. He leaned in, his mouth continuing its delicious assault, as she began to slide her fingers against his hard, bare chest.
Gracie felt his sharp inhale when the pads of her fingers gently rubbed across his taught nipples. Loving how reactive he was to her touch, she ran her fingertips over the tiny nubs again.
He must have decided all was fair in passion and sex, because Nate pulled away suddenly and tore her t-shirt from her body. He then expertly released the clasp on her new bra and slid the straps off her shoulders and down her arms until it fell onto the floor beside them.
“Holy God,” he exhaled loudly as he stared. “You truly are beautiful.”
Wearing nothing but her panties and a pair of yoga pants, Gracie reached for his chest again.
“So, are you,” she whispered honestly.
Nate’s eyes moved from her bare breasts to her shadowed gaze as he gently filled both his hands with her firm globes. He kissed her again as he kneaded the sensitive flesh, and when he leaned down and sucked one of her solid nipples into his mouth, she moaned.
“Oh, Nate.”
Rather than verbally respond, he flicked her nipple with the tip of his tongue. Gracie cried out from the torturous pleasure, so naturally, he did it again.
An electric line of pleasure ran from her nipple straight down to her clit, causing her hips to push toward him on reflex.
“Patience, sweetheart.” Nate smiled as he moved to the other breast. The hot, wet heat from his lips and tongue were nearly enough to set her off.
“No patience,” she panted. “I need you.”
Sliding her right hand between their bodies, Gracie found the object of her desire and gave it a squeeze.
Nate sucked in a breath, followed by a guttural moan. In a surprisingly fast move, he positioned both wrists above her head.
Pushing them gently against the door, he shook his head. “Touch me like that again, and this is over before it even gets started.”
“Please, Nate,” she begged shamelessly.
With the most intense look she’d ever seen from him, he stared down into her eyes and vowed, “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll always take care of you.”
Before she could overthink the promise he’d just made, Nate transferred both wrists into one of his large fists and began sliding his free hand down the front of her body.
Purposely taking his time, he teasingly traced the space between her breasts. Then, moving his hand down further, Nate followed an invisible line down over her flat stomach to her elastic waistband.
Gracie’s heart felt as though it would fly out of her chest as the anticipation built deep within her core. Thankfully, Nate didn’t wait any longer before dipping his finger beneath the lace edging of her panties.
She cried out when he touched her most treasured flesh for the very first time. They’d only just started, yet she was already about to explode.
Tracing her slit from top to bottom, Nate began moving his fingers as though he’d already mastered the art of pleasuring her body. His mouth moved over her jaw and down to her neck as he slowly inserted his index finger into her core.
Moaning again, Gracie didn’t think about whether or not she was being too loud. In fact, Nate seemed to like it, because he grunted against the pulse point on her neck before pushing a second finger inside her tight sheath.
Gracie spread her legs farther. “Oh, God. That feels so good.”
He remained silent, but began moving his fingers in and out at a faster, harder pace. His teeth scraped carefully against the skin on her neck, and Gracie cried out again when he gave her a little love bite.
> “More,” she begged. “Please. Give me more.”
Nate pulled his mouth away and yanked his fingers free.
“No.” She started to shake her head in protest, but stopped herself when she realized he’d only separated their bodies in order to remove her pants.
In one, smooth motion, Nate hooked his thumbs in the sides and shoved both them and her panties down her legs. With him squatted down in front of her, Gracie lifted her feet, one at a time, to allow the garments to be removed altogether.
Falling to his knees, Nate’s face was directly in line with the apex of her thighs. Gracie thought she should probably be embarrassed. She wasn’t.
Knowing the pleasure this man was about to give her superseded any inklings of shyness or embarrassment she may have normally felt.
Nate sensually ran a hand up the side of her left calf, lifting her leg when he got to her knee. He placed the leg over his right shoulder and then used his fingers to open her up to him completely.
“Ah, baby. You’re so wet for me, aren’t you?”
Unsure whether or not it was a rhetorical question, Gracie silently nodded her head.
“I can’t wait any longer.” He looked up at her from between her thighs and smiled.
Mother of all that’s holy. It was the most erotic scene she’d ever witnessed.
Then, he said, “I have to taste you.”
Her insides clenched with anticipation as he leaned his head in and ran his tongue along her opening. Unable to control her body’s reaction Gracie bucked against his face.
“Oh, shit. I’m not going to last long, Nate.”
She felt him smile against her most sensitive flesh. “Just means there’s time for more after this one.”
Did he mean multiple orgasms? She’d never had that happen to her before. Honestly didn’t think they actually existed.
“I can’t. I mean, I’ve never…”
“Relax, Gracie.” His hot breath hit her slick folds, making them contract again. “Told you before. I’ll take care of you.”
Pressing his mouth against her, Nate used his tongue to lick and fuck her pussy with perfection. Occasionally, he’d work his way up to her clit and slowly roll his tongue around the swollen bundle of nerves.
He’d bring her just to the edge of explosion and then pull away, repeating the torturous cycle until she thought she’d die if she didn’t get release.
“I can’t take it anymore. Please.”
He shoved two fingers into her channel again. Moving them in and out slowly, she could hear how wet she was as he said, “Tell me what you need, Gracie. I want to hear you say it.”
“I need to come. Oh, God…please make me come.”
He moved his fingers faster, then. Pumping them into her body with more force than before. She was almost there. She just needed…
Nate leaned forward and sucked her clit between his lips. As he did, he flicked it with his tongue over and over again. The sensation, coupled with the thrusting of his fingers, proved lethal.
Gracie exploded. She cried out his name as her head flew back against the door, and she could actually feel the rush of her arousal coating the fingers still moving inside her.
Tiny, white dots flashed behind her closed eyes, and she felt as if she were flying.
By the time she came down from her erotic high, Nate was sliding his hand free from her body. Carefully, he moved her leg from his shoulder and placed it back down so she was standing on both feet again.
He stood before her. Through heavily-lidded, satiated eyes, Gracie was rendered speechless when he held up the fingers that had just been inside her and sucked them into his mouth.
Savoring the last of her arousal from his hand, Nate licked his lips and moaned. “Delicious.”
“That was,” Gracie tried to talk. “I’ve never felt so…” Her heavy breathing and muddled mind prevented her from completing her thoughts.
“That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Nate stated sincerely.
Gracie smiled. “Now, it’s your turn.”
Nate moved in closely and cupped her face with his hand.
“You need to be sure, Gracie. There’s no turning back from this.”
Leaning forward, she licked then nibbled his chin. “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my entire life.”
Without giving it another thought, Nate bent down and swung her into his arms.
Letting out a little squeal, Gracie started to laugh. “What are you doing?”
Walking toward the room she’d been sleeping in alone, Nate’s voice rumbled low.
“Taking you to bed.”
Chapter 12
We should stop. Hell, they never should have started.
The thought ran through Nate’s head on loop as he carried Gracie to the bedroom at the end of the hallway.
He’d been sitting there, listening as she told the story of how they’d supposedly met and fell in love, and all he could think about was how badly he wanted the story to be true.
Nate didn’t bother trying to worry about what that meant. Yeah, he should be focused solely on protecting her, but come on. A guy could only take so much, and he wasn’t a fucking saint.
The way Gracie had looked at him while sitting by the fire was all the proof he needed. She wanted him, too.
After seeing her come apart in his arms the way she had just now, Nate didn’t know how he’d ever get enough of her. Or ever let her go.
Laying her gently down onto the bed, he went to the duffle bag sitting in the corner by the window. Nate opened the new box of condoms he’d brought with him and pulled out one of the square, foil packets.
Setting it on the bedside table, he looked down at the angelic beauty staring back at him. Gracie’s delectable, naked body was splayed out like an offering, and he had no idea what he’d done to deserve her.
With a tiny smile, she looked to the packet then back to him. “Planning ahead?”
Nate began working his belt buckle. “Condoms have a multitude of uses in the field.”
“Oh, I see. So, you didn’t buy those with this in mind?”
“Didn’t say that,” he grinned.
Pulling his belt free, Nate released the button on his damp jeans and slowly lowered his zipper. Gracie’s eyes slid down to his hands.
Her lids were still heavy from the release he’d just given her, their golden brown darkening with excitement as they continued to follow his movements.
Her chest rose and fell a little faster and Nate about lost it in his pants when her tongue began to run along her bottom lip.
Damn. If just watching her watch him like that nearly set him off, he’d have to proceed with extreme caution. Otherwise, he’d end up embarrassing himself.
Pushing his jeans and boxer briefs down together, Nate kicked them aside, uncaring of where they landed. Gracie’s sudden intake of air went straight to his aching groin, and he grabbed hold of his cock, giving it a squeeze to help stave off his impending release.
Nate’s hips jerked back a little when his fingers pinched the swollen head. The sensitive skin there was already becoming slick with moisture.
“This first time’s gonna be quick,” he warned her. The mattress dipped as he knelt onto the bed. Hovering above her, he used his elbows to keep his weight from crushing her. “We’re talking a few minutes. Maybe even seconds.”
Gracie giggled. “Well, I’ve already gotten mine, so the rest is all about you.”
“Wrong,” Nate shook his head. He used a finger to brush some hair from her forehead. “I plan to make you come again,” he leaned in for a short kiss. “And again,” his lips left a trail across her jaw. “And again,” he whispered into her ear just before pulling the perfect lobe between his teeth.
She moaned and he smiled. Nate had always thought her laugh was the most beautiful thing he’d ever heard. However, the sounds of pleasure coming from her now, a result of his making love to her, damn near caused him to erupt.
Her hands pressed against his chest, and he went with what he knew she wanted. Rolling flat onto his back, Gracie leaned over him and kissed him.
The taste of sweet chocolate was still present on her tongue as it began swirling and dancing in perfect rhythm with his.
Nate had never been big on just lying around and kissing, but with this woman? He’d be perfectly content doing nothing but this for the rest of the night.
There were no complaints from him, however, when she began to move her lips down the length of his body.
With an evil grin, she looked up at him and said, “My turn to taste.”
Leaving small, loving kisses as she went, Nate watched as Gracie slowly made her way over his rippled abs...and lower.
Ah, hell.
He wasn’t sure if he’d survive, but prayed for at least a few seconds before releasing the massive explosion currently building in his groin.
His hips shot off the mattress as a sudden, wet heat hit his throbbing dick. Moaning loudly, Nate used one fist to clutch the bedding beside him and the other to gather some of Gracie’s hair as she ran her tongue over the tip before taking more of him in.
Due to his generous size, most women he’d been with had trouble getting past the first few inches without gagging. Gracie, however, lowered her head until he felt himself hit the back of her throat.
“Jesus,” Nate exhaled loudly then moaned again. He felt her smile around his solid shaft.
His sounds of approval must have spurred her into action, because Gracie began sucking and licking with a little more force, then.
She fisted the base as much as her small fingers would allow, and when she began pumping even faster, that familiar tingling in his spine warned him the end was near.
“Nope.”
In one fluid motion, Nate pulled her off and spun them around so he was on top, once again.