by V.K. Sykes
Holly snapped open her eyes to the startling warmth of the morning sun streaming in her window. Her body instantly tensed up again, and her jaw felt sore. She’d no doubt clamped her teeth together half the night. She’d been doing that regularly since the mess with Lance Arnold started.
Still, the tension was bearable and the fear no longer immediate. Not with Nate camped out in her house. She hoped he was still sleeping, but didn’t count on it. Every night he’d been prowling around the house, grabbing bits of sleep here and there as he kept watch on the street and yard. And he never complained, so quietly devoted to her safety and happiness that it choked her up just thinking about it. He’d even done some repairs around the house, claiming that he needed something to do to stave off boredom when she was at work.
It had been just three days, but she was already getting used to having Nate Carter in her house and by her side. And it scared the hell out of her that he might soon be gone.
Not that his leaving wouldn’t be a good thing in important respects, because it would mean that Arnold was no longer a problem. Surprisingly, neither she nor Nate had seen the slightest sign of him, despite his threats and despite the court case. The hospital lawyer had told her that Arnold had actually shown up at court, sitting quietly through the hearing and then apologizing profusely to Detective Rich for calling Holly. He claimed again that he was just upset over Tyler, and swore that he wouldn’t call her again. As infuriating as it was, there wasn’t a darn thing Rich could do about it except issue another stern warning to leave her alone.
They expected the judge’s order within the next day. The lawyer had told Holly not to be concerned at the delay, since it reflected the judge’s jammed calendar and massive workload, not the probability of success. Judges almost always endorsed the recommendations of a panel of physicians over parents’ objections. And once the ruling was issued and Holly performed the surgery, there wasn’t really much point in Arnold harassing her any longer. If things went according to plan, the jerk should be out of her life sooner rather than later.
Which would mean Nate would be gone, too. And that would be horrible, because having him in her life on such a constant basis reminded her all over again why she’d fallen in love with him in the first place. He was smart, kind, funny, and a perfect gentleman, not once coming on to her. Not that the magic didn’t still resonate between them. It did, and they were obviously fighting like crazy to keep their hands off each other. The repressed sexual energy in the little house could have powered the entire block for a month.
But, at the same time, he’d taken care of her with such careful and tender determination that her heart had slowly opened to him all over again.
Holly sighed and rolled out of bed. She could have used more sleep, but she wanted to see Nate before he left town for a few days, ordered back to Ottawa to finish his rehab assignment. Slipping on her robe, she headed downstairs and made for the kitchen. After pouring herself coffee, she picked up the paper at the front door and brought it into the living room. She tucked one leg underneath her and settled on the couch to read the headlines.
Twenty minutes later, Nate clumped down the stairs, sports bag in hand. He looked fantastic in a cherry red golf shirt and faded jeans, his black hair still wet from the shower. God, just thinking about him naked under the shower spray made every hormone in her body sing.
“Good morning, sleepy,” she said with a little quiver in her voice. “How about some breakfast?”
“Just a cup of coffee,” he said, heading toward the kitchen. “I’ll grab something quick at the airport.”
She followed him, already missing him, already wishing he didn’t have to leave. “What time will you get to Ottawa?”
Nate poured coffee into a mug. “If I can get in the air by eight, I’ll be on the ground before eleven. That’ll put me at the ballpark before noon.”
“Why do you have to get there so early?” Holly asked, hoping she didn’t sound too pathetic. Rather than going commercial, Nate had decided to fly his own plane. He was slated to pitch the second game of today’s doubleheader, scheduled for a six p.m. start.
His eyes scanned her, flaring with sexual heat as they lingered over her bare legs, but he also looked watchful and concerned. “I want to be there for the first game. It would be disrespectful to waltz in like some big shot, just in time to pitch the second. I know some guys do that, but I think it sucks.”
She smiled. Even his reasons for leaving early were honorable.
“And you’ll be back before noon tomorrow, right?”
“You know it. I’ll head out first thing. That should get me back here around eleven.” He ambled toward her, mug of steaming coffee in hand. He reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I still feel like crap for leaving you like this. I probably should have told Dembinski to shove it.”
He frowned, obviously worried. As much as she loved him for it, he needed to focus on his flying and his game.
“Nate, stop stewing. Everything’s been taken care of. I’ll take a taxi into work, spend the day at the hospital, and then Maddie will pick me up for dinner with her and Jake at their place. They’ll bring me back here after dinner, and I’ll lock up tight and go to bed. And tomorrow morning you’ll be back. It’ll go by in a flash.”
She smiled up at him, but anxiety pulled at her. If only she felt as confident as she sounded.
“I still wish you’d stay over with Maddie and Jake,” Nate grumbled. “Or, let Jake camp out here overnight. He’d be happy to do it.”
She shook her head. “I’ll be fine. But if my nerves get too fried, I can always change my mind and stay with them.”
“That would make me a happy man.” He tweaked her hair, then turned and set his mug down on the kitchen counter.
“I want you to stop worrying about me,” she said. “Just go up there and pitch a great game.”
He made a grimace. “Yeah, right. I’ll probably give up ten runs.”
“I’ll kick your butt if you do,” she warned. Holly slipped her hand into the crook of his arm as she walked toward the door with him.
“Be safe,” she said softly. “Please concentrate on your flying.”
“Always,” he said. “You be safe, too.” He slung the bag over his shoulder and grabbed the doorknob. “I’ll miss you,” he added softly.
She dropped her gaze as a lump started to form in her throat.
A second later, he dropped his bag and put his arms around her, pulling her hard against him. He pressed a hungry kiss on her lips.
She gasped at the shock of it. Instantly, his tongue slid between her lips, and she didn’t resist.
In a heartbeat, the blazing kiss melted the last remnants of her resistance, and weeks of anguished longing flared through her limbs. His presence these last few days—all that wonderful masculinity focused solely on her—had finally battered through her emotional barricades. She couldn’t say no, or put up even a token fight.
Holly made a soft, whimpering sound as he gently pushed her against the wall. His body covered hers, every long, lean inch of him setting her on fire. Everywhere, he felt as hard as stone, and his erection nudged insistently between her thighs. That contact point sent a flash of desire straight to her brain, vaporizing all rational thought.
Murmuring against her lips, he leaned into her, his brawny chest rubbing her suddenly aching breasts. His hard, solid strength made her acutely aware of her own femininity, and her desire to give in to his hunger. Then he grasped her hips and pulled her firmly against his erection, and suddenly she couldn’t breathe.
“Nate,” she whispered in a squeaky voice as he smothered her face in kisses. “We shouldn’t do this.”
“Oh, yes, we should,” he growled. “I’ve been going crazy without you.”
The low, sexy rumble of his voice sent a creamy rush of moisture to dampen her thighs. Still, she pulled back a bit, staring at him. Her heart thudded with anxiety and so much yearning that she actually got woozy. She was j
ust about to push him away when she saw the vulnerability in his eyes and the longing etched in the lines of his face.
“I want to be with you so much,” he whispered, “it’s killing me.”
She saw only truth in him, and a longing that matched her own. She couldn’t say no, at least not in this moment.
“Me, too,” she said, and her voice broke. “I want you, too.”
Something fierce swept over his face, and he seemed to swarm all over her. Both hands went under her bottom, lifting her as he pushed a muscular thigh up to spread her, his jeans-clad leg making hard contact with her clit. She cried out as waves of forbidden pleasure coursed along her nerves. Biting down on her lip, she closed her eyes, letting herself be swept along with the tide. Already, spasms were gathering deep inside as he nudged his leg against her soft, wet flesh.
“That’s it, baby,” he said in a raspy voice. “Just let yourself feel.”
She had no choice but to feel—she was drowning in sensation. Some part of her brain screamed at her to stop, but she couldn’t deny herself any longer. She had to be with Nate again, even if this was the end. Holly wanted this last memory of the magic they once had, to offset the heartache and pain.
Letting her head drop against the wall, she gave herself to him. She draped her hands over his shoulders, clutching to keep her balance. One of his hands kept her balanced on his thigh, while the other swept up over her breast, roughly pushing aside the silk collar of her robe. Then she felt a tug and she heard the ripping of fabric. Her eyelids sprang open and, shocked, she glanced down.
Nate had shredded the top of her short nightgown, thin cotton and delicate lace no match for his powerful hand. Her heart slammed into her throat at the feral look on his face as he gazed at her breasts. His tanned, sinewy fingers shaped and kneaded them, a stark contrast to her plump white flesh. When he rolled one stiff nipple between his fingers, she moaned, almost lightheaded at the strength of her arousal. Instinctively, she pushed down, grinding her throbbing clit against his thigh.
His gaze snapped up to her, his eyes heavy-lidded and sensual, flaring with a ravenous heat. He nuzzled her mouth, his tongue slipping hotly between her lips as he continued to play, rubbing her nipple with his calloused palm. Liquid heat shot straight to her groin, and she could feel herself starting to come.
Holly clamped down hard. She wouldn’t do it without him. If this was the last time, she wanted him deep inside, driving into her with all the passion he had in his powerful body.
She broke away from the hot, oh-so-wet kiss, panting. “Nate. I need you inside me. Now.”
He didn’t even answer. He just eased her down off his leg to put her feet on the floor, then, surprisingly, he turned her to face the wall.
She gasped and pressed her hands onto the wall to maintain her balance. When his hands went to her ass, flipping up her robe and short nightgown, she shuddered. The cooler air hit her skin, increasing her sense of vulnerability and excitement.
“Oh, Nate,” she moaned. “Hurry.”
“Hold on,” he said in a deep, shaky voice.
She heard the rasp of a zipper, and then his hands were back on her bottom, sliding down over the globes and between her legs. His fingers probed her wetness, and he made a rough noise low in his throat. He used one knee to gently move her legs further apart. She spread them wide and pushed herself into his pelvis, loving the feel of rough jeans rubbing against her bare ass. Then his cock came thick and hard between her folds to nudge her clit. With a cry, she almost climaxed on the spot.
Nate gave a breathless laugh and then his hands grasped her hips, lifting her. He fit his cock against her opening and, in one smooth movement, surged all the way into her, pressing her into the wall. He felt huge this way, overpowering, and she could barely breathe.
He stilled for a few moments, letting her get used to him. Then he began to move. Not gently, either. Neither of them wanted that, and she didn’t have to tell him. They were connected by a frantic sense of urgency, a visceral desire that wove them together in a matrix of sexual and emotional need. He set up a pounding rhythm, sending shock waves through her body and rippling along her nerves. He drove her hard, using hands, pelvis, and cock to lift her on to her toes, clutching the wall as she fought to maintain some semblance of control.
But she couldn’t. With a sob, her head fell back onto his shoulder, and she let him take over. Murmuring rough, exciting words of passion into her ear, Nate made love to her. And it was love, not sex, she could tell. She could feel it in the way he caged her with his body, as if he would never let her go. She could hear it in the desperate note of his voice as he told how much he wanted her.
Holly recognized it for what it was, but did he?
Then one hand moved across her belly, slipping low between her thighs, and her thoughts scattered. Delving through her nest of curls he found her clit, stroking and rubbing gently as he pounded into her. Her body practically convulsed, and she threw her arms out against the wall, screaming. Her orgasm crashed through her and her channel throbbed around his cock, milking him as her flesh contracted with brutal, glorious intensity.
Nate surged up, crying out, and shudders began rocking his body as he came. She whimpered, his climax sending a second throb of contractions rippling through her body. They panted together, pressed into the wall, both barely able to stand as their mutual release rolled through them. If not for Nate propping her up, Holly would have slid off him and down to the floor. As it was, all she could do was turn her damp cheek to the wall and let him hold her up as she struggled to catch her breath and restore her sanity.
After a minute, Nate sucked in a wavering breath and slowly pulled out. Holly winced and bit her lip as he carefully eased her to the floor. He kept a firm hold on her hips until she could steady herself on her feet. Then he gently turned her around and leaned with her into the wall, resting his forehead against hers.
“Jesus, Holly,” he managed in something of a croak. “That was fucking unbelievable.”
Still dazed, she was about to agree with him when her eyelids snapped open. Panic charged through her. What the hell had she just done? “Nate,” she gasped. “We didn’t use a condom.”
He gazed down at her from under heavy eyelids, arousal still darkening his eyes. He looked so damn sexy that she could hardly think. Then anxiety reasserted itself and she tried to push away.
“But you’re still on the pill, right?” he said.
She finally managed to get out from under him. “Yes, but I’ve only been on it less than a month, remember? I started after we began...” She fastened her robe with trembling hands. “Accidents can still happen in that first month.”
He shrugged, not looking concerned at all as he got himself back together and did up his zipper. That made her furious, which seemed a better response than all the other emotions swirling through her head.
At least for now. She’d have to sort out the rest of this mess later.
“Aren’t you worried?” she demanded.
“No,” he tossed over his shoulder as he headed to her bathroom. She waited for him by the front door, fuming. The taps in the bathroom went on for a few minutes, then off, and he reemerged, looking remarkably cheerful.
Holly drew in a big breath, trying to calm down as he came to her. “That was insane. We can’t do something like that again.”
He rolled his eyes. “Calm down, Holly. Everything’s going to be fine.” He picked up his bag. “We’ll talk about it when I get back.”
She crossed her arms and glared at him, feeling at a terrible disadvantage. He looked perfect again, and she was a rumpled mess. “No, we won’t,” she snapped. “This was a mistake that can’t happen again. And we’d better think about you moving out. This isn’t going to work.” But even as she said it, her heart clutched in her throat. Now that she’d been with him again, she couldn’t stand the idea of him leaving.
His eyes narrowed in warning. “That’s not going to happen.” He looked bi
g and threatening, and he made her knees go weak with desire and love.
You are an idiot, Holly Bell.
She firmed her jaw. Time to push back.
“Nothing’s changed between us, Nate. You know it and I know it.”
“Oh, yeah? For such a major brain you can be kind of dumb sometimes, because everything’s changed,” he said. Then he grabbed her chin, planted a quick kiss on her mouth, and slipped out the door.
Holly watched him stride down the walkway toward his car. As he turned to climb in, he pointed a finger at her as if to say you’re the one. Unable to help herself, she gave him a weak wave as he got into the Aston Martin and closed the door. With a throaty rumble, the car took off down the street. Holly followed it for a few seconds, then slowly slid down the wall until her butt hit the hard, wooden floor.
Nate was right. Everything had changed, and that scared the crap out of her.