“Around seven?”
She pondered his question. Natasha had set dinner for 7:30.
“Make it six,” she suggested.
“What are we going to do with the extra time?” he drawled.
“We’ll think of something,” she assured, visualizing something very appealing.
“I’m already thinking of something.” His roguishly spoken words had her breath catching in her throat. “I miss you.” Her audible sigh caressed him. He could see her, feel her and taste her.
“I miss you, too. I wish you were here now.”
“So do I,” he groaned.
“We can survive for a few more hours.”
“Eight long hours to be exact.” He sighed.
“Did you have to tell me that?” she echoed his previous groan.
“Sorry,” he hopefully suggested. “We could meet for lunch.”
She was sorely tempted, but one glance at her cluttered desk made her refuse.
“I’d love to, but I’m swamped with work,” she regretfully declined. “Daddy’s going to fire me if I don’t start taking care of business.”
“I doubt that, but I understand.” Nathan sighed again. “I’ll see you tonight, then.”
“I can’t wait.”
“Me neither. Bye, baby.”
“Bye,” she echoed as they reluctantly rang off.
She placed a hand on her heart, willing it to slow its rapid pace. He missed her. He couldn’t wait to see her again. She wished she had taken him up on lunch, but she knew she had made the right choice; she had a lot of work to do. Besides, they said absence made the heart grow fonder!
Refocusing on her computer, she tried to force her thoughts away from the man she loved and back on work. The man she loved—what wonderful words those were. The only thing better would be to hear him admit that he was in love with her, too.
Chapter 11
“Nathan, stop it,” Marcy seriously scolded as his hands continued to pull the dress off her shoulders.
“Stop what?” His eyes danced mischievously as he gently bit into her bare shoulder, sending shivers down her spine.
“We’re going to be late,” she insisted, pulling his hands from her waist and turning to face him. “Don’t you dare kiss me again,” she warned. This was the third time she had repaired her lipstick.
He ignored her and pressed his mouth to hers. Her hands rested on his shoulder before twining around his neck as she kissed him back. Their tongues engaged in a tantalizing game of hide-and-seek. As his hands moved to her back and pulled the zipper of her dress farther down, she pressed against his shoulders until he released her lips.
“What?” He faked innocence as his lips settled in the crook of her neck.
“Nathan, it’s after seven.” She fought him and herself. “We have to go.”
“They’re newlyweds. Do you really think they’re going to be on time?” he rationalized, hands entangling in her hair and pulling her lips back to his.
“Nathan...” Her words were muffled against his lips. Lord, he could kiss!
“I love your mouth. It’s so soft and sweet and...” He lowered his lips toward hers again, but she avoided him.
“Baby, we’ve already done this.” She glanced at the rumpled bed before returning to stare into his dark, dangerous eyes. “Several times.”
“Practice makes perfect,” he argued, nibbling at her lips.
“We’re already perfect together,” she said and sighed as his tongue touched hers.
“Mmm, show me how perfect we are,” he invited as his mouth ravaged. His hand caressed her bare back.
“Later, baby, later,” Marcy promised, using every ounce of strength she possessed to push out of his arms and reposition her dress on her shoulders before trying to refasten it.
“Here, let me help you,” he offered, walking behind her.
“Help me put it back on, not take it off,” she chided.
“Oh, all right,” he grudgingly obliged, sliding the zipper up and releasing her.
“You are terrible.” She smiled as he kissed her palm.
“But you want me—” his eyes sparkled “—don’t you?”
“Very much,” she agreed, retrieving her hand and turning to face the mirror to fix her lipstick for the fourth time. “But now we have to go,” she firmly responded, turning from the mirror to face him.
“If you insist,” he acquiesced with a sigh. Why did they have to have dinner with anyone tonight? He would settle for just having her for his appetizer, main course and dessert.
“I do.” Despite her resolve, she leaned toward him for a kiss, but then suddenly pulled back knowing it wouldn’t end with a mere kiss.
He smiled at her and held out her coat, which she slipped into. He kissed her cheek before opening the door and following her out.
“I’ll be good for now, but later, I’m going to be very bad,” he promised as they stepped into the elevator.
“How bad?” she thoughtfully asked.
“Very.” He nearly growled the promise, walking determinedly toward her as the doors closed.
* * *
“I’m sorry we’re late,” Marcy apologized to Damien and Natasha when she and Nathan entered the restaurant around 7:45 and were shown to their table.
“No problem. We just got here ourselves.” Damien’s eyes narrowed when Nathan sat down close to his sister, familiarly draping his arm across the back of her chair.
“Good.” Marcy smiled up at Nathan before refocusing her gaze on her brother and his wife.
“What kept you two?” Natasha smiled knowingly, and Marcy steeled herself not to blush.
“I was having some trouble with my...zipper,” she truthfully responded and glared at Nathan as he chuckled softly.
“Ah, I see,” Natasha responded, glancing happily at the two of them before turning her eyes to encounter the jaw-clenched profile of her husband. She placed her hand over his, and his face relaxed somewhat as he kissed her cheek.
“So what have you two been up to?” Marcy asked and as everyone laughed held up a hand. “Strike that!”
Nathan ran his fingers down Marcy’s bare arm and then back up again. He felt her shudder and pulled her closer. Damien’s eyes narrowed as he studied the overt intimacy between the two.
Feeling her husband’s tension, Natasha decided it was the perfect time to make their announcement. “You’re probably wondering why Damien and I invited you to dinner tonight.”
“We thought you just missed us.” Nathan tore his eyes away from Marcy to smile at his sister.
“True, but there’s another reason.” Natasha beamed.
Marcy noticed for the first time that she was positively radiant. She wondered...
“Natasha, are you...?” Marcy stopped herself, not wanting to finish that sentence in case she was wrong.
“Am I what?” Natasha’s smile brightened.
“Dami?” Marcy glanced at his ecstatic face and knew what she was thinking was correct.
“We’re going to have a baby,” he confirmed for her.
“That’s wonderful!” Marcy was out of her chair and hugging them both.
“Congratulations.” Nathan shook Damien’s hand and kissed his sister’s cheek.
“Have you told the grandparents?” Marcy asked as she resumed her seat, sitting on the edge leaning toward the happy couple.
“Yes, earlier today. They’ve already named the baby, decided what school he or she will attend and what his or her career will be.” Natasha smiled tolerantly.
“Yes, they would.” Marcy laughed.
“I’m happy for you both,” Nathan responded. He could see her as a mother with Damien beside her as if he had always been there and always
would be—just as he could see Marcy always beside him.
“Thank you.” Natasha smiled at him through happy tears. “Oh, I need to go and fix my face.”
“I’ll go with you.” Marcy grabbed her hand as they walked away laughing and crying excitedly.
“Women.” Damien smiled lovingly as they left.
“They are a necessary evil,” Nathan agreed.
“Yes, they are,” Damien agreed and lost the battle he had been waging with himself since Nathan and Marcy had arrived. “So, Nathan, what’s going on between you and my sister?”
“Damien, I know you’re worried about Marcy, but she’s a grown woman, not a child. I think she can handle her affairs very well on her own,” Nathan coolly replied. He wasn’t going to discuss his feelings or relationship with Marcy with her brother.
“How not so subtly you tell me to butt out.” Damien smiled despite himself. He liked him. If he could only shake this feeling that he was hiding something—something that was going to end up hurting Marcy.
“I wouldn’t use those words, but since you did, yes,” Nathan agreed.
“I don’t want my sister hurt. Surely you can understand that.” Though his face had relaxed somewhat, his tone was still hard and unbending.
“Of course I can. It’s not my intention to hurt her.” Nathan met his intense eyes without flinching.
“The road to hell is paved miles deep with good intentions,” Damien coolly reminded.
“I know,” Nathan agreed. He more than anyone knew that only too well.
“What are you into?” Damien’s candor obviously surprised Nathan.
“Nothing illegal, I assure you.”
“That’s a relief—somewhat.” Damien continued to stare at him with piercing eyes and received a purposefully noncommittal gaze in response. “I have this feeling that I just can’t shake.
“What’s that?”
“That you’re hiding something.”
Nathan shrugged. “I’m not.”
The two men stared at each other intensely. Nathan appeared truthful, but Damien wasn’t buying it. He didn’t quite trust him, and that was a problem since he and his sister were now romantically involved.
“You’re lying,” Damien bluntly accused.
When Natasha and Marcy return from the powder room, they sensed tension. Their men were silently staring at each other intensely.
“Dami, I hope you didn’t do what I think you did,” Marcy warned.
“That depends on what you think I did,” he coolly replied as Natasha resumed her seat beside him.
“Dammit, Damien, you already played the big brother scene at the rehearsal dinner,” Marcy hissed as she sat down beside Nathan. “Now you need to back off!”
Natasha covered Damien’s hand with hers when he opened his mouth to angrily respond. “We are not going to have an argument in public, so you two will stop this right now,” she softly yet firmly ordered.
They knew she meant business. Though he wanted to pursue this, Damien didn’t want to upset his pregnant wife; neither did Marcy. Therefore, they acquiesced and remained silent.
“That’s better.” Natasha smiled, satisfied.
“I’m sorry, Natasha, but I’ve lost my appetite.” Marcy suddenly stood. “Nathan, will you take me home?”
“Of course.” He also stood and possessively took her hand.
“Marcy, don’t leave,” Natasha implored.
“I think it’s for the best, Damien, and I will simply glare at each other all evening if I stay,” she predicted. “You have wonderful news to celebrate. Have a nice dinner.” She kissed Natasha’s cheek, totally ignored her brother and preceded Nathan on the way out.
“Damien Johnson...” Natasha turned angry eyes on him.
“He’s sleeping with her,” he tersely accused in his defense as he watched them walk away.
“That’s their business,” Natasha calmly replied. “Did you say that to him?”
“No, all I said was—” He began to defend himself, but she held up a hand forestalling him.
“I can imagine what you did say. I also understand your concerns,” she admitted.
“You do?”
“Yes, but you were wrong to interfere. It’s Marcy’s life, and she has the right to make her own decisions.” She gently kissed his stiff cheek.
“She’s my sister,” he stated, as if that justified everything. She smiled at him tolerantly.
“And he’s my brother, but I respect his privacy—just as you need to respect Marcy’s.”
His jaw clenched. “He’s hiding something.”
“Maybe, but it’s not up to you to find out what it is.”
“Natasha, I can’t—”
“Babe, Marcy’s a grown woman—a grown furious woman,” she corrected.
He sighed. “I know. Are you angry with me, too?”
“No, I love you more than I could ever be angry with you.” She kissed his lips.
“I’m sorry about ruining your dinner party,” he apologized, arm going around her shoulders pulling her close.
“It’s never a hardship spending an evening alone with you.” She touched his cheek gently. “You don’t have to apologize to me, but perhaps you should to Marcy,” she suggested.
“She’s not going to make it easy,” he predicted.
“Serves you right.”
“You’re supposed to be on my side.” He tweaked her nose playfully.
“I am,” she promised. “In fact, I know two people you can worry about all you want.” She placed his hand on her flat stomach, and his face relaxed.
“I think I can handle that very well,” he promised as he kissed her. “I love you both.”
“We love you, too,” she reciprocated. “Now feed us. We’re starving,” she ordered, and he laughed as she intended.
* * *
“Marcy it’s okay. Damien was just doing what any big brother would do.” Nathan tried to calm her down as she angrily paced in her apartment.
“How can you defend his deplorable behavior?” She turned furious eyes in his direction.
“Because I understand it.” Nathan grabbed her shoulders to keep her still. “So do you.”
“What are you hiding, Nathan?”
Her question surprised him. As if burned, he released her shoulders and turned away from her.
“You said you would wait until I could tell you,” he reminded.
“I know, and I meant that.” At her words, he turned to face her again.
“Then why are you asking me now?” He rubbed his chin, and she smiled.
She walked over and placed her hands on his chest. “Because I’m sure that’s what Damien asked you.”
“He did.”
“What did you tell him?”
“To mind his own business.” She placed a hand on his chin, checking one side of his face carefully and then the other. “What are you looking for?”
“A bruise,” she said and chuckled. “You mean he didn’t hit you?”
“No—” he smiled slightly “—but I’m sure he wanted to.”
“I’m sorry.” Her hand cupped his cheek.
“Don’t be.” He covered her hand with his. “He reacted the way I would have if you were my sister.”
“Perish that thought!” She made a distasteful face, and he laughed. “You’re not on the run from the law, are you?”
“No.” he smiled dryly.
“Then whatever it is, it can’t be that bad,” she decided.
He wished he could tell her she was right. Instead, he kissed her lips gently and then walked toward the door before he gave into an ever-growing need to confess everything to her about his job, including information regarding his imminent de
parture—something he knew he couldn’t do, but Lord he wanted to be honest with her as she so effortlessly was with him.
“Where are you going?” She placed a staying hand on his arm.
“Home.” He smiled as she purposefully shook her head no while pulling him toward the hallway.
“I don’t think so.” She placed butterfly kisses over his face as they danced into the bedroom.
“What do you have on your mind, Marcy Johnson?” His lips played with hers, all thoughts of leaving forgotten.
“You’ll see,” she promised, jumping slightly as thunder sounded in the distance and lightning flashed briefly. “There’s a storm brewing outside.”
“Inside, too,” he promised, hands going around her waist, pulling her close.
“Mmm,” she whispered against his neck while eager hands dispensed with his jacket, tie and shirt. “If you left, I’d be worried about you getting home safely.”
“We can’t have that.” Focused hands unzipped her dress and slid it down and off her body to pool at her feet.
“Besides, you promised me you’d be very bad tonight,” she reminded.
“And I meant it,” he vowed into her mouth.
They quickly stripped off the remainder of each other’s clothes and then fell across the bed, limbs entangling and mouths meeting and dancing. He forgot the reasons why he should stay away from her; he forgot everything as her soft body melted invitingly around his.
The freak thunderstorm outside began to rage in concert with the tempest they were creating within each other. Thunder clapped loudly in unison with the thudding of their hearts, and they pressed closer. Lightning flashed, echoing the movement of their hands as they caressed and explored. A sudden torrential downpour of rain pelted against the windowpanes as strong and sudden as the tidal wave of emotions washing over them. The fury of the storm matched their own frenzy as they sought to deny the laws of physics and merge their two bodies into one.
Nathan reclined on his back, and Marcy straddled his hips, hands resting on his muscled chest. Her back arched elegantly as a streak of lightning illuminated the room temporarily. Unable to stand the small distance between them, Nathan’s hands pulled her down until she was lying across his chest. They sought to quench the destructive fires blazing brightly inside, threatening to quickly reduce them to spent ashes.
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