I knew it was a sexy dress, but hearing what it did to him, feeling how I affected him, was eye-opening.
Nate paused for breath, resting his forehead to mine and cradling my nape.
“
You have no idea how alluring you are, have you?
”
I shook my head. I didn
’
t, but I was beginning to get an idea.
“
That
’
s such a turn-on,
”
he murmured, his voice uneven.
“
It
’
s all I can do to stop myself from fucking you, right here, right now, regardless of where we are or who we
’
re with.
”
Nate
’
s greedy mouth covered mine again, absorbing my gasp into his hot mouth. The thumping bass from the music vibrated against my back, a similar rhythm to the thudding of Nate
’
s chest against mine. His hand skimmed my hip as it travelled up to my braless breast. His thumb brushed the erect nipple, his groan sending a shudder through his body as his lips touched my neck, collarbone then lower.
“
Nate, stop!
”
I jerked his head away before he reached my breast. Scorching eyes flared back at me, whilst his chest heaved with rapid breaths.
“
I can
’
t stop this,
”
he panted, closing in again.
“
Give me what I need.
”
“
Excuse me?
”
I dodged his mouth.
“
You want to have sex here?
”
I cried.
“
In front of everyone? A dirty little quickie in the corridor!
”
I craved his touch like I needed to breathe, but I didn’t want it here, not like this. I ducked under his arm and made for the gap in the curtain.
“
I knew this was a mistake.
”
“
Wait!
”
Nate caught my wrist. Glaring at him, I couldn’t make sense of anything. His eyes were still wild with lust when he closed them and quietly said,
“
Don
’
t say that.
”
I deflated, upset at the way he
’
d made me feel.
“
I thought I was more important to you than that?
”
“
I didn’t mean
—”
Nate folded me into his arms.
“
You could be so good for me, Kara, but you have to open up. I
’
m drowning in feelings for you and need a sign. Anything to show me you
’
re feeling it, too. Give me something.
”
My indignation left me in a rush. The way Nate regarded me so adoringly with those gorgeous blue eyes made me ache. I brushed my lips over his.
“
I feel it.
”
My admission was so quiet I wasn’t sure if he
’
d heard me. But the release of tension in his frame confirmed he had.
“
Come home with me tonight,
”
he suggested, tracing the line of my neck with his thumbs.
“
We don’t have to make love. I just need to hold you, feel the heat from your body next to mine.
”
“
I can
’
t. Mai
’
s staying over. It
’
s not fair to abandon her.
”
She wouldn’t mind, but as much as I wanted to spend the night with Nate, I wasn’t the type of girl that dropped their friends for a man.
Nate stepped back, keeping me at arm
’
s length.
“
Do you want to be with me?
”
“
You know I do,
”
I said shyly, running my hand down the buttons of his shirt until I reached his belt.
“
I want this, so much. I can
’
t stop thinking about you. Every goddamn minute I
’
m awake, you’re in my thoughts. I can
’
t sleep.
”
He laughed quietly, tipping his head to the side.
“
Even in the few hours I do, I dream about you.
”
I trailed trembling fingers along his jaw, completely in awe of his honesty and openness.
“
But you
’
re hesitating,
”
he added.
“
Why?
”
“
What happens when all this goes wrong? You
’
ll be okay, you
’
ll simply move on to someone else. Trade in the new girl from the office for a better model.
”
Nate
’
s brow wrinkled.
“
You think I could forget you that easily?
”
I shrugged.
“
More than I could you.
”
“
You think?
”
he repeated flatly.
“
Well, look at me.
”
I gestured at my body, hoping he
’
d understand.
His gaze dropped the length of my body, then his lips curled.
“
Oh, believe me, I do. Every chance I get.
”
“
I
’
m being serious,
”
I tutted, batting his hand away as it slid over my arse.
“
So am I. If I could, I
’
d spend every second of the day with you. I wouldn’t let you out of my sight.
”
“
A man like you couldn’t possibly stay interested in me,
”
I mumbled, sagging against the wall.
“
You mean a man who
’
s living and breathing?
”
He stepped forward and caged me to the wall, one hand either side of my head.
“
I mean a man whose life is this.
”
I pointed over his shoulder to the event in full swing the other side of the curtain.
“
Glitzy parties, and an army of pretty girls all vying for his attention.
”
“
This isn’t my life,
”
Nate said despondently,
“
this is my job. Don’t mistake them for the same thing.
”
I lowered my eyes away from his impassioned gaze.
“
I
’
ve made poor judgements of people before, laid myself wide open and suffered the consequences. You wouldn’t understand.
”
“
Hey.
”
He bent down to my line of sight, tilting my chin up with his finger, drawing my eyes back up.
“
I understand more than you think. Trust me on this, I
’
m right where I want to be.
”
The arms that were already too familiar wrapped around me, holding me like they never wanted to let go.
“
This is all I want,
”
he murmured into my hair,
“
you and me. Don
’
t pay attention to anyone else.
”
And I believed him because nothing else mattered, was important, when I was safely in his arms, where I belonged.
I agreed to meet Nate back at the table and made my way to the bathroom. Being thoroughly well ravaged had mussed me up. Having unsuccessfully trying to locate Mai, I returned to the table and found the two of them deep in conversation. All the humiliating stories she could tell him flashed through my mind as I rushed over.
“
Hey,
”
Nate greeted me, placing a hand on my lower back. He slid a fresh Martini in front of me.
“
Thank you.
”
My eyes darted between the two of them, concerned by Mai
’
s impish smile.
“
Don
’
t mind me,
”
I said, urging them to carry on.
“
Oh, we
’
re done,
”
Mai said, sipping what must
’
ve been her sixth drink,
“
think he
’
s got the message.
”
She gave Nate a conspiratorial wink and picked up her clutch.
“
I
’
m going for a smoke.
”
I watched her stagger off.
“
She
’
s scheming,
”
I muttered under my breath, sliding the olive off the stick with my teeth.
“
She
’
s watching out for her friend,
”
he corrected cryptically, rubbing my back reassuringly.
“
I like her.
”
“
She can be an interfering pain in the backside, too, but don’t hold that against her.
”
“
She
’
s enjoying herself.
”
Nate took a sip of the iced clear liquid in front of him.
“
Too much.
”
I swept the table and took in five empty Martini glasses.
“
Getting a ticket to this party will be the highlight of her life. She
’
s in her element that you and I are dating now.
”
Nate tucked me into his side and lowered his head to keep our conversation intimate.
“
Is that what we
’
re doing?
”
“
I thought so.
”
I glanced sideways.
“
Aren
’
t we?
”
His hand flexed on my hip.
“
Just wanted to make sure you understood that,
”
he said, nuzzling my ear.
“
Tell me when I can see you again.
”
“
I don
’
t have any plans tomorrow.
”
I found myself rubbing my face against his, the intimacy making my breath catch at how good it felt to be this close.
Nate
’
s hand glided up my spine and brushed my hair aside, then settled at my nape.
“
I
’
m out of the office all day,
”
he murmured,
“
and I can
’
t cancel dinner with my sister again.
”
“
Again?
”
Nate laughed softly.
“
Mel needs managing appropriately. Cancelling because of you again will really piss her off. But,
”
he said, turning me into a swift kiss,
“
I
’
m definitely seeing you Friday. No excuses.
”
My stomach fluttered, my entire body longing for his touch. I was missing him before we
’
d even said goodbye.
Mai returned, eyes gleaming brightly, the effects of alcohol and successful meddling agreeing with her. She took her ringing phone from her bag and said,
“
Fuck off, babe, you
’
re a real dick with double-standards,
”
in the sweetest, most insincere voice. The pent up resentment she held against Mitchell always came out when she
’
d been drinking. Hearing her snipe was our cue to leave before she humiliated us all.
“
I should get Mai home,
”
I told Nate, finding him engrossed in me and oblivious to Mai
’
s rising voice.
His expression dropped.
“
You really have to leave?
”
“
You can do without her causing a scene.
”
I kissed him, hoping to cheer him up.
“
Thank you for inviting us, I
’
ve had a great time.
”
“
I
’
ll have Ross bring the car to the rear.
”
Nate made a quick call whilst I indicated we were leaving to Mai.
“
Asshole.
”
Mai abruptly ended the call and knocked back the last of her drink. Nate
’
s brow rose at Mai
’
s pleasant description of her fianc
é
.
“
Everything okay?
”
I asked her.
“
Everything
’
s
awesome.
My fianc
é’
s a two-faced jerk. My best friend
’
s hooked the hottest bachelor for miles, ruining any chance I ever had. And I
’
ve just been hit on by a guy with more hair on his chin than his head,
”
she said sarcastically.
“
What
’
s
not
to love about life?
”
“
Bald men are supposed to be more virile,
”
I joked, tucking her phone into her bag and taking her hand. I was the last person to encourage infidelity.
“
Oh,
”
she swayed,
“
in that case
…”
Mai tried feebly to go back as Nate helped steer her to the exit.
“
If you
’
re not happy with your fianc
é
, don’t cheat,
”
Nate offered sagely, propping her up as we waited for the lift.
“
Calling off the engagement and walking away is more dignified.
”
The wise words of advice hit a nerve and stirred something in my soul. That small insight into Nate
’
s beliefs, standards, expectations, filled me with hope. How could he shred me so easily with a few innocent words? Nate glanced over, and when those smoky eyes latched onto mine, I knew he understood me more than I appreciated.
Nate came with us to the rear exit of the hotel. He held me back whilst Ross helped Mai into the Mercedes.
“
Don’t ever feel like you
’
re competing with any other woman,
”
he reiterated, giving me one last delicious kiss goodbye.
“
Because believe me, you
’
re gonna win hands down
every
time.
”