Nate
’
s edginess had gone, his whole demeanour brighter as we shared breakfast in bed. After a good night
’
s rest he was back to his old self. It was impossible to fake the searing intensity in his eyes when we
’
d made love, the strength of his feelings so powerful I
felt
them in his touch. I only hoped being back here, in the cold light of day, had afforded him some clarity and the opportunity to put his worries aside. For a while, at least.
I lazed in bed and finished my coffee. Nate was in the shower, singing a Bruno Mars song so loudly I could hear him, even though he was in the master suites
’
second bathroom I didn’t even know existed.
“
You sound happy,
”
I noted when he entered the bedroom. His body dazzled me, his chest shimmering with remnants of water. I set my mug on the tray and moved it to one side.
“
I feel superb.
”
He rolled his shoulders and stretched, gifting me a breathtaking smile. The tiny white towel wrapped around his hips slipped lower down his groin.
I crawled over the bed and slipped out to stand in front of him, pulling on a robe to cover up.
“
I
’
m so glad you
’
re here, Nate.
”
His hands curved my throat, his forehead lowering to mine.
“
My moonshine,
”
he whispered, eyes closing.
“
Moonshine? Isn’t that a potent concoction, so strong, one taste and your world will never be the same again?
”
He pierced me with a deadly serious stare.
“
Exactly.
”
I pushed back, expecting more, but Nate looked like he
’
d said too much already. Not wanting to dwell on it any longer I pressed a swift kiss to his mouth, then headed towards the en-suite.
“
Can we go shopping today? I want something new for lunch tomorrow, and I
’
d like your opinion.
”
“
Out to impress?
”
he called.
“
This is a big deal,
”
I said in a break between brushing my teeth.
“
I don’t want to embarrass you.
”
“
That could never happen.
”
Nate leant into the doorframe, studying me intently.
“
But I
’
m not about to pass up the opportunity of a private striptease.
”
My brow raised, my mouth curving. He loosened his towel and placed it in a concealed laundry chute. My eyes wandered over his magnificent body, recalling how good it felt against mine. Nate eyed me in a similar fashion. He smiled, that sexy half-smile capable of doing strange things to me.
“
Maybe I can treat you?
”
he asked.
“
You
’
ve spent far too much already.
”
“
I want you to know how important you are to me.
”
Uncertainty flickered across his face. From what I
’
d learnt of his past, I thought he was keen to avoid shallow women at all costs. I wasn’t sure why he considered it an appropriate way to express his feelings to me.
“
I don
’
t need gifts to know,
”
I insisted.
“
You
’
re doing fine without all that. Honestly.
”
“
I am?
”
It broke my heart seeing such a self-assured man lack confidence where it mattered. I finished rinsing and dried my mouth.
“
You are.
”
“
I can put it in a fancy gift box if it makes a difference?
”
he drawled. Ignoring him, I took my new toiletries over to the shower.
“
If I didn’t have money, would you still have difficulty accepting my offer?
”
I stopped untying my robe.
“
No.
”
He frowned.
“
Why not?
”
“
Nate, it
’
s because you
do
have money that makes it an issue. I
’
d hate for you to think I was taking advantage.
”
“
I know you
’
re not.
”
He shook his head, his mouth set in a thin line.
“
I have far too much for one person. Where
’
s the good in having it, if I can
’
t share it with people I care about?
”
I shrugged, unable to give him a reason. His wealth did bother me, but I had to accept it if I wanted a future with him. I came from a middle-class background. Liam and I were fortunate to have had a private education, but our parents had worked tirelessly for everything they had.
I
’
d
worked hard. I caught his eyes as he moved towards me.
He
’
d worked hard for it, too.
“
Okay,
”
I conceded.
“
Thank you.
”
“
My pleasure.
”
Nate kissed my forehead.
“
I
’
ll call ahead, get everything arranged.
”
UNDER the pretence of combing my wet hair, I faced the closet opposite and followed Nate as he moved gracefully around it as he dressed. I
’
d missed that body. Missed admiring it, caressing it
…
succumbing to it and all the pleasures it gave me. As much as I didn’t want us to be all about the sex, the past day had taught me I coveted the connection as much as Nate.
“
I know that look.
”
Leaning into the doorframe, jeans his only item of clothing, Nate crossed one ankle over the other and ran a hand casually through his hair. He cocked his head to the side, mouth twisting into a smirk.
My cheeks reddened at being busted ogling him.
Again.
“
What look?
”
I asked, turning back to the mirror.
“
The one on your gorgeous face.
”
He came in and cuddled me from behind.
“
I can assure you, the feeling is entirely mutual.
”
His lips brushing my lobe made me weak. I watched him move along my shoulder, his arms closing harder around me over the towel.
“
But we have an appointment shortly with a personal shopper.
”
I was about to protest about how unnecessary that was but thought better of it. Besides, what girl doesn’t enjoy being treated like a princess once in a while? I followed him into the closet to dress when he released me.
“
Do you have enough room for your clothes?
”
Nate asked as he slipped a blue and white gingham shirt from a hangar.
“
Plenty. It
’
s only my stuff for the next couple of days.
”
“
Leave them here. I
’
ll move my belongings into the second closet.
”
He straightened the hem and moved over to his accessories.
“
I only need a drawer or something.
”
I shrugged, brushing him aside so I could retrieve my underwear from the drawer.
His mouth curved.
“
An entire closet is too much?
”
“
A little,
”
I said, laughing at his grand gesture.
“
Thank you anyway.
”
Nate came to me, clear eyes studying me, both appreciatively and warily. I nestled into his hand when he cupped my face.
“
I don’t think you understand what you mean to me, Kara,
”
he said quietly.
“
I do.
”
At least, I was beginning to.
“
I
’
m not sure.
”
He curled a damp strand of hair around his finger.
“
I want to give you the world.
”
“
I
’
ve already got it,
”
I said, tugging him closer by his shirt.
“
I
’
ve got you.
”
With leisurely licks of my tongue, I explored his mouth as if it had been weeks, not hours since I
’
d last tasted him. Toying with him, seeking out the spots that made him moan, I
’
d come to learn I could knock him off centre just as easily as he did me.
AUDREY, the efficient blonde personal shopper at Nordstrom, had selected five outfits for me, complete with co-ordinating shoes and bags. All my style, but more vibrant in colour than my choices of late. I tried the first one, a Michael Kors one-shouldered dress in cerulean blue. It was exquisite, but Nate insisted I try them all before deciding. Each one became my new favourite until I had no idea which to choose. That all changed when I put on a printed orange Roberto Cavalli dress.
“
This one?
”
I mouthed whilst Audrey fussed around me.
From where he lounged in his armchair in the huge dressing room, Nate
’
s adoring eyes met mine. The way his mouth half-curved from behind his hand gave me my answer. I knew I
’
d found the one.
En-route back to Nate
’
s after lunch, we stopped at a luxury boutique that stocked couture lingerie. For some inexplicable reason, the sight of him browsing racks of luxurious intimate apparel made me blush furiously. I tried persuading him not to buy them
—
he had, after all, spent a fortune on my outfit
—
but he didn’t listen.
He selected numerous co-ordinated sets
—
underwear and nightwear
—
and bought them all.
“
Not sure what I
’
m gonna enjoy more. Seeing these
on
you or taking them
off
you,
”
he purred in my ear when he thought the shop assistant couldn’t hear. Her smirk, as she packaged them up, told me she had. Nate
’
s grin confirmed he
’
d actually intended her to.
WE took advantage of the late afternoon sun by hiking up into Runyon Canyon Park. It was only a short distance from iconic landmarks and the hustle and bustle of the colourful city, yet I always felt a million miles away from it up in the hills.
“
You
’
ve quite a pace on you.
”
Nate stood, hands on hips, watching me as I stretched using the back of a bench for support. My skin was damp with sweat, making me wish I
’
d worn a crop top and shorts rather than the hot pink tank and black Capri leggings.
“
Go hard or go home.
”
I shrugged and swapped legs, clasping my ankle behind me.
“
Excellent attitude,
”
he purred in that sexy whisper and took a leisurely swig of water from the bottle. His windblown hair was wet, his brow and temples dotted with perspiration. Dressed all in black, his muscles pumped so the thick veins coursing through his body were pronounced under his skin, strength and sex emanated from him in waves. Lust knotted my stomach.
“
Fancy a race?
”
I took the bottle from him and gratefully gulped the still chilled water. His brows rose above the rim of his sunglasses.
“
How about we run to the end?
”
I challenged.
“
Such confidence, Miss Collins.
”
“
I
’
m fast, baby.
”
A predatory smile crept across his face. He removed his Aviators and placed them next to the water bottle on the bench.
“
So let
’
s make it interesting.
”
Lifting the edge of his t-shirt, he wiped the sweat from his face.
I stepped forward, placing my palms flat on his torso, brazenly touching the compact slab of muscle.
“
How?
”
I didn’t stop, even after Nate dropped his t-shirt and rested both arms on my shoulders.
“
If I win, I get to be inside you
whenever
I want,
wherever
I want.
”
“
Seriously? And that
’
s different to any other day, how?
”
He gave me a wolfish smile.
“
I
’
m not always with you when I want you.
”
Oh.
The sensual growl of his voice reawakened my libido.
“
You want me to be at your beck and call? Use my body for your own sexual gratification?
”
I
’
d accused Nate of wanting me purely for sexual reasons, but being with him that way, experiencing that intimacy was something I was beginning to crave as much.
“
I wouldn’t put it quite like that. Hopefully, you
’
d enjoy me equally as much.
”
A thrill ran through me. Part of me wanted to tell him he
’
d won already, and to claim his prize there and then, on the bench overlooking the sprawling smog hazed city of Los Angeles.
“
And me?
”
I asked, lips brushing his.
“
What do I get if I win?
”
“
Me,
”
he said simply with a shrug,
“
to do with as you wish.
”
“
Sounds like a similar prize to me.
”