“What is it?” I clasped both his hands and he pulled me into a tight hug. New Yorkers rushed by us, grumbling their annoyance at our position in the center of the sidewalk.
Nate held me close, a hand braced on my lower back and the other clasped at my nape, keeping me pressed firmly to him. He whispered in my ear, so low I could barely hear him. “I want to show you everything, Camille. Give you the world. Experience life with you.”
I gasped and pulled back. “Nate?”
“It’s true. Your innocence, your love of life, of every new thing…it’s intoxicating. I want to drink it whole. Bathe in it. Remove my clothes and swim naked in it. Letting the goodness wash away all that came before the moment you entered my life.”
Instead of a reply, I kissed him. Slow, deep, in the middle of the New York City street. The bells, whistles, horns, city noise all disappeared as I entered the world of love. I was falling in love with him.
***
Christ! It wasn’t possible to feel this much so quickly. Or was it? All I knew was that having my sweet Camille’s lips on mine, holding her within the security of my arms, I was happy. Not happy as in, “Yeah, I’m happy my team won the game.” or “So happy you got that deposition in on time without any errors.” No this was all over, from the soles of my shoes to the very tip top of my hair, “I’m never going to have anything better than this woman right here,” kind of happy.
The feeling was so new to me, I held onto my woman tighter, never wanting to let her go. Instead of pulling away, she clung to me, nails digging into the skin of my back as I plastered her against me. Finally, I pulled back, gave her a small peck on the lips, gripped her hand and walked towards the theatre.
“Okay, we have a few choices. We can go sweet with Mamma Mia!” She shrugged. “We can go tough with Rocky.” I punched the air playfully and watched her nose crinkle, immediately knocking that off the list. “Or, we can go sexy with Chicago.” I waggled my eyebrows. She gave a coy smile. “Chicago it is!” I said with a laugh. Her eyes lit with excitement, and she did the cutest thing I had ever seen. She jumped up into the air and spun around, her green dress flowing around her in a cloud of color. My God the woman was ethereal.
“I take it you like that idea?”
She hugged me tight and kissed my cheek. “I’m so excited!”
If she had that response to everything we did, I would go a long way towards planning outings as often as our schedules allowed. I wanted nothing more than to see that smile adorn her beautiful face and those emerald eyes alight with glee. Knowing I put that look there made me feel like a king.
We got our tickets, sat at the bar, and had a couple cocktails prior to the show. We were early, but she didn’t mind. Camille was perfectly content to sit and talk with me the entire hour before the show started. My girl wasn’t high maintenance and went with the flow. I was beginning to believe she was the perfect woman.
We held hands, and I made a point to touch her throughout the show. Nothing overt or unsavory, just a sweep of my thumb along her bare neck, a tickle to the knee, a kiss to the ball of her shoulder. It was refreshing to be giddy and enjoy a show with a woman. No pretenses, no ulterior motive, just being myself while out with the world’s most beautiful woman. And she was just that. Beautiful. In all the ways that mattered most. Camille was kind, laughed a lot, sweet and innocent in so many things. I felt a roaring sense of protectiveness coupled with an overwhelming desire to expose her to all the wonderful things she’d never experienced.
When the cast took their bows, I watched her profile. Her smile was the biggest I had seen yet. She clapped so loud and hard I worried she’d bruise herself.
“What did you think?” I asked as we made our way out of the theatre.
“What did I think?” She grabbed her skirt with one hand, my hand in the other and swung them both, almost skipping down the street. “It was incredible. Amazing. Wonderful. Sad. Exciting. Sexy. Oh, just everything!” she beamed. She was happy, alight with joy. I wanted to capture this moment. With great stealth, I pulled out my phone, tugged on her hand, aimed, and, when she turned around, I clicked. Her multicolored waves were flowing around her face, her cheeks were a rosy red, lips a bit swollen from the kiss I’d stolen in the dark at the end of the show, and her eyes were shining. She was a goddess.
“Not fair! My phone doesn’t have a camera,” she pouted.
“What? All phones have cameras!” I scoffed.
She shook her head. “Not mine. Mine is just for calls and text. No frills, but it works just fine.” She patted her purse as if petting the head of her most trusted furry friend.
“Where to now?” she asked as I put my arm in the air at the edge of the street. Before too long, a yellow duckling pulled to the edge of the street. We entered the taxi, and I held her near.
“My flat. I’m going to cook for you,” I whispered then nuzzled the side of her cheek, trailing my nose along the fine column of her neck. Her scent was strongest here and I adored it.
“You’re taking me to your house?” Her tone clearly expressed trepidation.
“Precious, nothing that you don’t want to happen will happen. I assure you.”
She took a deep breath. “No, I trust you.” She turned her head and her eyes captured mine. The green around her irises were as dark as the sun, setting over the city landscape. “I want you to cook for me…and, possibly more.” The last part was a whisper. I heard every word. My prick tightened in my jeans, and I moved to adjust.
I took a deep breath and stared into her eyes. “I will cook for you. You will eat, drink and if it feels right…we’ll consider more.”
She smiled and leaned in for a kiss. I let her control this kiss, forcing myself not to burrow my hand into her hair and crush her to me. I wanted her to know that I valued her trust and that even though I wanted to shag her more than I wanted my next meal, I’d wait for her to be ready. When it happened, everything would change. I could only hope it changed for the better.
Her lips held mine, and her little tongue shot out and licked my bottom lip. I opened my mouth in a groan. She took advantage, tentatively dipping in for a taste. She was delicious. Tasted of almond and cherries from the mixed amaretto she drank earlier. It made me so thirsty I wanted to drink from the well that was her kiss all night long. Camille deepened the kiss moving closer to my body until she was practically sitting in my lap. I didn’t mind. The more of her touching me the better. Her tongue danced along mine, a sensuous tango with little flicks and nips of her teeth to accentuate her desire.
We were so busy making out in the back of the cab, I didn’t realize the carriage had stopped moving.
“Hey love birds! We’re here. Whad-da-ya say you pay up and move your sexy time to your own space, eh?” the cab driver scolded us in a thick, New York accent.
Camille’s cheeks pinked instantly. She held her hand over her lips and got out of the cab. I paid the man, tipping extra, and ushered my girl into the building.
“You live downtown?” she surveyed the area. “We’re so close to AIR Bright!”
I smiled. “Living in the city has its conveniences. One being, Stone, Walker, & Associates is just down the street. I walk to work unless it’s raining or I have clients to meet.”
“I have to take a train to work. I enjoy it though. Gives me some quiet time I’m not used to having.”
“Oh yeah? Why’s that? Because your roommate and her son are loud?”
“Sort of. I’m looking forward to finding out what you’re cooking for me.” She nudged my shoulder with her own, catapulting me into moving.
We rode the elevator up to my floor making small talk. I opened the door to my flat and took her jumper and hung it on the coat tree. When I turned around she had entered the main living area and was spinning in a slow circle, her mouth open, a wondrous look plastered across her lovely face.
“Wow, this is amazing.” The last word came out sounding like two words “Auh-Mazing.” Something about her lovi
ng my home sent my heart thudding in my chest like a bass drum.
“I’m glad you approve. I’ll give you the tour.” I held her hand and showed her the spare rooms, the den, my home gym, each of the three bathrooms and the wine closet. I brought her to the master bedroom. Instead of entering, I opened the door and let her look in. I didn’t want her to feel I brought her here to get her into bed. I genuinely wanted her to feel comfortable in my space and enjoy a home cooked meal with me.
Once she hemmed and hawed over each room, I brought her to the kitchen to one of my high back stools at the bar. “Fancy some wine?”
“Yes please.”
I served us both wine and then got right to work on the chicken marsala I had planned to woo her with.
“So who designed your place?” she asked.
“Actually, I did. But I’m having my brother’s girlfriend, London Kelley, redo the entire thing. You know London.” She nodded. “I’m looking for something a bit more sophisticated.”
“Really?” Her jaw hung and her eyes widened. “It’s so magnificent. If I lived in a home like this I’d never want to leave.”
“Thank you. I think it needs a woman’s touch and, since a woman has never lived here, it feels too bachelor pad.” I poured the pasta into the boiling water and took a sip of wine.
“So you’ve never lived with a woman?” She must have regretted asking. She gasped after the words escaped her pink lips.
I laughed. “Never met a woman I wanted to share a living space with. Until now maybe.” I crooked an eyebrow in her direction. Her eyes widened and her face paled. “Relax love. I’m not asking you to move in with me.” Her entire body visibly relaxed which I found adorable. “I can’t help saying though that I enjoy seeing you sitting in my home, drinking a glass of wine, me preparing a meal for you.”
Camille lowered her eyes but her smile gave away her pleasure. “I like being here. It feels comfortable. I worried that it wouldn’t.”
“Why’s that?”
“I told you before. I don’t have much experience…with um, men. I haven’t dated really in the last few years.”
The word “years” struck a chord. Tyler had said he dated Camille years ago. She just confirmed that she hadn’t dated in years.
“When was the last time you were on a date?” I did my best to soften my gaze and leaned over the counter to get closer to her.
She took a deep breath, blowing a few wisps of hair from her brow. “Can we talk about something else?”
I shook my head. “No, Precious, we can’t. How long?”
She pinched her lips, looked away, then finally spoke, “Five years.”
“You haven’t been with a man in five years? How long ago were you with Ty?”
Camille’s shoulders tightened. She lifted her glass to take a sip, then responded through her glass. “Five years.” were her muffled words.
“Ty was the last man you were with?” I jolted as she bit her lip, clenched her hands into fists, and nodded. Christ. Fuck all!
“I told you I wasn’t very experienced,” Her voice was so low I could barely hear her.
“Camille, is Ty the only man you’ve ever been with?” My tone was clearly shocked, because for fuck’s sake, I was shocked. I couldn’t imagine such a beautiful woman only having been touched by one man. And of course the fucking sod was none other than my best mate.
“Is it really that big of a deal?” she asked, pulling a long lock of hair into both of her hands rubbing it delicately between her fingers.
I placed my hands on the granite counter and took a cleansing breath. Was it really that bad? Yes. It was womanizer Ty who’d taken her virginity so carelessly. I knew that based solely on his vulgar reply to my text last week. Regarding the inexperience, no, that was a blessing. She was practically untouched. Heat built at the base of my spine spreading heavily to my balls and cock. Through the afternoon I was trying to keep it together but just the thought of being with such an innocent had me hard as the countertop.
I glanced at the lovely Camille. She worried her lips with her teeth and held her hands so tight her knuckles had turned white.
I wove a path around the bar, slid my hands to her waist along her thighs to push her knees wide apart. She gasped as I pressed in between her open legs, caging my body exactly where I wanted to be. Her skirt was safely guarding her modesty but this close, I was able to fully gage her feelings.
“It’s not a big deal. I’m sorry I asked. That was uncalled for. You tense up when I mention Ty’s name.” Again her shoulders tightened. I cupped each side of her neck, rubbed the area where her shoulders met and massaged the tension until she was a wet noodle in my arms.
She groaned and tilted her head back. I took that as an offering of her delectable neck. I placed long slow kisses from the tip of her chin down the underside along the front of her neck to the hollow between her clavicles. There I dipped my tongue and swirled it, tasting her. Her hands slowly became more inquisitive, her nails dragging along the bare skin of my forearms, driving me insane with lust. My sweet Camille had no idea what she was doing to me. If we didn’t stop soon, I’d have her laid out bare on my kitchen counter. She deserved better than that. So much better. Camille deserved to be worshiped, and I planned on doing just that.
Chapter 9
Nate pulled away and slid his hands along my arms from the ball of my shoulder down to my fingertips. Chills raced along the skin he caressed. With a sweetness that could only be seen in his eyes and the tilt of his head, he brought my hands to his lips and proceeded to kiss every finger.
With a deep breath and a calming sigh I answered him. “It’s really okay that you asked. I put it out there. I’m embarrassed that he was the man I gave myself to but it was a very brief relationship. It only lasted a little longer than a month and ended poorly. He’s not a good man. Not like you are.” I held his hands, and repeated his motion kissing each of his knuckles instead.
When I looked up, I was surprised to see a glacial, icy glare. “What do you mean he’s not a good man, Camille? Did he hurt you?” He said through clenched teeth.
“Nate, it was a long time ago. I barely remember. Right now, I want to focus on us, you and me. Tonight.” At that moment a buzzer went off. For a few long moments, Nate ignored the blaring alarm. “You’re going to burn our dinner and then how are you going to woo me with your cooking prowess?”
His features softened and a coy grin melted the anger from his face. “You’d be surprised at my abilities, Precious. Cooking is but one of my specialties.” He waggled his brows and placed a sweet kiss to my wrist, then moved from between my legs to manage the rest of the dinner duties. Instantly, I missed having him there. His warmth had seeped into my skin and straight through to my soul. Who knew that dominant, Alpha, Type-A personality, Nathaniel Walker, would end up being a gentleman? That was a most pleasant surprise.
I was certain that his aggressive, confident nature would flow into his relationships, but he was treating me like a lady, being the perfect…well, the perfect man. Not pushing, or taking advantage as he had when we first met. It would be all too easy for him to steamroll his way into my panties. I almost wished he would push a little harder. I wanted to let go, be with him in all ways. He’d had me on a slow burn since the moment we spoke on the phone two weeks ago. Watching him cook, move around his kitchen, all tight muscles and strong arms had my body tingling in places it hadn’t in so long. Every time Nate put his fingertips to my skin, it electrified, sparked, turned on something that had long sat dormant.
We ate his home cooked chicken marsala paired with the most scrumptious caprese salad I’d ever had at the bar in his kitchen. He asked about my online schooling and whether I enjoyed working for Hank. I explained that I was holding out hope that at my six month review, I’d get a raise and full medical benefits. He frowned at that information. Probably something he’d never had to worry about. What I didn’t share was that if a raise and benefits occurred, I’d be able to
afford to quit stripping at Gems, which was the ultimate goal. It would also give me more time in the evenings to work on my studies, allowing me to get through my coursework quicker. As was my new habit, I made sure to change the subject back to him so he couldn’t barrage me with questions about things I wasn’t prepared to answer.
Nate told me more about his family and how happy he was that his brother Collier had found his soul mate in London, Hank’s sister-in-law. He shared the experience they had a few months prior when Collier almost died the night of Hank and Aspen’s wedding in a nasty car accident. Then after medical tests, found out that her best friend Tripp, who I hadn’t met yet, was a match and gave him a kidney.
“That is wild! I can’t believe that. And you say Collier and Tripp weren’t close?”
Nate shook his head. “Quite the opposite actually. The two men barely tolerated one another,” he laughed.
“And he still donated his kidney to him?”
Nate nodded and took a bite of his pasta and chicken with a huge grin on his face. I loved that smile. It could make any dark day brighter. “Wow. I can’t imagine what that must have been like for London. And now they’re the best of friends?”
“Yeah. It all worked out aces!” Nate stood, went to the fridge and pulled out some fresh pears. He set them on the cutting board and started slicing.
I got up from my chair and moved around the counter. “Can I help?” My arm brushed his and he smiled. He sliced a piece of pear and held it up to my lips.
“I was going to make a pear dish that would rock your world.” His eyebrows rose as he focused intently on my mouth. He brought the pear close to my lips. I licked them and watched his jaw tick. “Open.” His words slithered down my spine and settled between my thighs.
Grabbing his wrist I pushed his hand down. He dropped the slice of pear. “I’m not hungry for food.”
He placed his hands at my hips and brought his pelvis hard against mine. I could feel the distinct outline of an erection along my stomach. “What are you in the mood for, my love?” I closed my eyes, and let those words give me courage.
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