Chapter 23
Olive
Arumbling under my cheek rouses me. Disoriented, I blink my eyes open.
Warmth presses into my face as I shift my body from the weird angle I’m lying in.
A strong hand grips my hip as the realization hits me that I’m squished against Nate’s side, with my leg slung across his middle and my head on his chest. I slide my leg down his body, and it brushes something very hard.
A deep groan vibrates against me as my thigh slips farther down.
The hand not gripping my hip grabs me behind the knee to still my retreat, causing heat to blossom in my stomach.
He turns slightly so that his thigh slips between mine, moving his leg, and it grazes my core.
A moan slips involuntarily from me at the small amount of friction.
I lift my head and meet Nate’s lust-filled gaze. Before I can take another breath, our positions switch, and I’m on my back, staring up at Nate’s handsomeness. His eyes rove over my face as he presses his hips against mine. My lips part as a gasp slips out.
“Olive, I want you so fucking bad.”
There’s no hesitation in my answer. “Please, Nate.”
His lips take mine in a bruising kiss. Despite my concern about my morning breath, he doesn’t seem to care, and my lips part to allow his tongue to explore mine.
I bite his lip lightly as I search for the friction my overly sensitive clit so desperately needs.
When his lips rip off mine, his eyes are wild with desire.
“Slight problem.” His voice is tinged with desperation. “I don’t have a condom, but I get tested regularly and don’t have anything.”
“I don’t either, and I’m on birth control.” I wrap my legs around his waist and circle my hips, pulling a moan from both of us. “Nate, I need you inside of me.”
Sitting back on his feet, he breaks the hold my thighs have on him with his abrupt movement. His impressive erection strains the fabric of his boxer briefs with a noticeable wet spot on the front. Nate grips my pajama pants, pulling them off my already writhing body.
He groans while his hands run up the outside of my legs. “No panties. I’m glad I didn’t know that last night.” His intense stare that’s fixed between my legs makes my skin flush.
My body arches as his fingers gather my wetness and rub gently on my clit. Nate leans forward, one hand planting on the bed next to me, the other continuing the ministrations on my pussy. His lips fasten around my nipple, his tongue wetting the fabric of my shirt.
“I should’ve taken this off of you before I touched you,” he mumbles against my breast. I moan when two fingers slide inside me. “But now that I have my hands on you, I’m not wasting a goddamn second.”
His fingers twist inside of me, rubbing on the most sensitive part.
Nate’s lips move from one nipple to the other, his palm rubbing against my clit.
Moaning, I squirm under his skilled touch.
He releases my nipple, the wet fabric clinging to each of them, further heightening the sensation.
Giving me one more deep kiss, he shifts back onto his feet.
The sensation of his fingers slipping from my wetness has me making a noise of disappointment. “Nate, I’m so close. Please touch me again.”
“I know, baby. But I need you to come with me inside you.” He pulls his boxer briefs down, and my breathing picks up as his hand runs up and down his shaft a few times.
Shuffling forward until he’s close enough to run his tip up and down my slit, he gathers my wetness.
I hold my breath when I feel the pressure at my opening.
He plants one hand beside me once again as he locks eyes with mine.
We both groan as he slowly pushes inside, his girth stretching me.
The pleasure of him is suffocating. Once he’s fully seated, he settles his weight on top of me.
He brushes my hair back from my face so lovingly that my breath hitches in my chest.
I roll my hips the best I can under him. With his pelvis pressed perfectly against my clit, my fingers dig into his back. “Nate, I’m going to come.”
He shifts his hips a few times, causing me to pant in response to the stimulation. “Olive, yes. Please come on me so I can fuck you.”
He captures my lips again, our tongues toying with the other. The movement of both our hips has me exploding in just a few more moments. I tear my lips from his as a moan tears from my lungs.
“Goddamn, Olive. You’re going to make me come just from your orgasm gripping me so tight.
” Nate starts to piston his hips against mine.
He wasn’t lying about how close he was. With a sexy grunt, he pulses inside of me as he fills me.
He slumps against me briefly before rolling us so that he’s on his back and I’m sprawled on top of him.
His hand runs up and down my spine as we catch our breaths. The feel of his skin is soothing, and I relax further into him. When he slips from me, I feel our combined release drip between my thighs. I have no doubt he feels it.
“Nate, I’m making a mess.”
He presses a kiss on the top of my head. “That isn’t a mess. That’s so fucking hot. Give me a couple of minutes, and we can make an even bigger one.”
I smile against his chest, and my eyes drift closed.
The steady beat of his heart and the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest calms me.
This certainly isn’t how I thought this weekend would end up, but I can’t say I regret letting Nate stay with me last night.
I have no idea what to make of this, but I take a few moments to soak in every second.
After making good on his promise of another round, he drags me from bed and into the shower.
“This shower is too fucking small,” he mumbles from behind me as he lathers my hair.
His fingers run along my scalp, dragging a small moan from me.
His voice sounds pained when he says, “Please don’t make that sound again.
This shower is barely big enough for us to shower in, let alone fuck you in. ”
I giggle as I turn to rinse the shampoo from my hair.
Tipping my head back, I look at his face.
My heart stutters when what I can only describe as a look of pure awe graces his expression.
I feel worshipped each time I’m with this man.
Like I can let go of the insecurities I have over my life and my body.
I can forget that my life is a mess and that I fear I will be alone forever.
He finishes washing every part of me and goes to kick me out of the shower.
“I don’t get to return the favor and wash you?” I raise my hand to grab the shampoo.
He grips my wrist gently to stop me and presses a quick kiss to my lips. “If you put your hands anywhere near my body, I’m definitely fucking you in this shower. And I’m legitimately fearful for one or both of our lives if we attempt that.”
I roll my eyes, agreeing to let him finish showering alone.
Quickly dressing in jeans and a t-shirt, I go to start coffee, all with a smile never leaving me.
My mind wanders back to the man in my bathroom.
I’m so surprised at the ease with which I feel around him in such a short amount of time.
As scary as it is, my heart races at the unusual feeling of hope that fills me when I think about our blossoming relationship.
But he doesn’t know the whole story of my life yet. That could change quickly once he hears that. Now might be a good time to tell him everything, even if a small part of me wants to pretend I have a normal life a little while longer.
Arms wrap around my waist as I’m pulled into Nate’s solid chest. Goosebumps trail down my arms when he kisses the side of my neck, his stubble tickling my skin.
“You want to take these to the couch?” His question reverberates through my back.
“Sure.” Anxiety makes my stomach flip.
I pour our coffee and add cream to mine before following him to the couch. As I curl up at the end, Nate sits right next to me. Pulling my knees toward my chest, I tilt my legs so they’re resting on his thigh. His strong arm wraps around them.
Rubbing my calf, his eyes are unsure as he looks at me.
“What?” I ask, getting the feeling he wants to say something but is holding back.
“Olive, I—” He clears his throat. “I don’t know where your head is at when it comes to us, but I want to try.” He gives me a look filled with so many emotions. I have a hard time deciphering which one is prominent. “I want to see where this goes.”
His simple confession warms my heart. I don’t want to fight against this anymore. It may hurt like hell when it ends, but I just can’t bring myself to care. I want to experience his affection, even if only for a short time. My palm slips around his neck, and I pull him to me.
He buries his fingers in my hair, and he closes the rest of the distance when his lips find mine.
My body tingles with a very unfamiliar joy and lightness.
Against them, he whispers, “I’m assuming this means you feel the same.
If not, don’t tell me yet. Let me pretend you do for just a little while longer. ”
I laugh until I can’t when his lips consume mine. Leaning into the kiss, I revel in the rightness of it.
Pulling back with a small smile, Nate runs his thumb over my bottom lip. “And no more running. You want to be done with me, you tell me to my face. Got it?”
I bite my bottom lip before releasing it and agreeing. “No more running. I promise.”
Relief plays across his intense gaze before his eyes cut to the door. “Your brother isn’t about to walk in here and catch me feeling up his sister, is he?”
My face falls.
Well, that didn’t last long.
I suppose I can’t pretend any longer. I don’t want to lie to him. I suck in a deep breath before taking a sip of coffee to give myself a few more moments to gather my thoughts. “My brother won’t be coming back here, at least not for a while.”
Nate shifts so he can face me. His hand grips my thigh in silent support. It’s comforting to have him near. I just hope it lasts.
“Benny is in rehab.”
Nate’s eyes soften. His lips, which I love so much, push down into a frown. “Rehab for what?”
I close my eyes and lick my lips. When I open them, my eyes lock onto his. “Drugs. He doesn’t really discriminate when it comes to what he uses, but his preferred one is heroin. My brother is a drug addict.” I shake my head sadly and explain, “This isn’t the first time he’s been in rehab.”
Nate takes the cup from my hand and sets it on the coffee table. Wrapping his arm around my shoulder, he pulls me into his chest. My head rests on his pec, my arm going around his waist. “Olive, I’m so sorry to hear that.”
I toy with the hem on his untucked button-up shirt. He’s dressed in his suit from last night, sans his jacket. “I am, too. That’s why I flew home last week. He relapsed, and I had to get him into treatment.”
He squeezes me tighter, lips finding my hair. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
I shake my head against him. “Nate, this isn’t something you drop on someone you don’t really know.”
“You know me,” he growls.
I push myself up so I can look into his eyes more seriously. “Not really. Nate, I didn’t want to burden you with this. It’s a lot to deal with. Trust me.”
Pulling me back down to his chest with a grunt, he says, “You’re right.
I understand why you would be hesitant to tell me.
” His hand runs over the side of my head, trailing down my back, and I relax into him again.
“I can’t imagine how hard this is on you.
I’m sorry you’re having to deal with all of that. It means a lot that you told me.”
I swallow down the emotion bubbling through me. He isn’t running away yet, but hearing about Benny is very different than dealing with Benny at his worst.
And then there’s the stuff with Marcus and the money. There’s no way I’m telling him about that.
His fingers toy with the ends of my hair as I stay cuddled against him, listening to his strong heartbeat under my ear. My conflicting emotions about opening up to Nate roil through my system. But I try to hold on to hope above all else. That maybe this time will be different.