Chapter 24 #2
Everywhere you turned, there were men with muscles so big they looked like they bench-pressed cars for fun.
Nate rested his arm casually behind my stool. He wasn’t touching me, but he was close enough to make me squirm in my seat.
Jax squinted his eyes over his beer. “You two kids are looking all cute and cozy.”
“Don’t start,” Nate warned, but Jax just stared back at him.
Jax either knew what was going on, or he was figuring it out.
I curled my fingers around my glass, pretending I wasn’t hyperaware of his eyes on us.
The conversation shifted to their upcoming game. To anyone else, this would look like nothing more than a casual group hangout. Reporters and players crossed paths all the time.
Except this wasn’t just a random run-in. Nate was sitting on the stool next to me. Every time his knee would brush up against mine, it made my pulse do stupid things that it had no business doing in a bar full of witnesses.
This was exactly why mixing business with pleasure was such a terrible idea.
I forced my attention back to my drink.
“Ember.” Jax leaned forward, giving her a smile so perfect I bet he practiced it in the mirror on a daily basis. “Are you having fun, or did she drag you out tonight against your will?”
She glanced at me, pretending to think about it. “There was a little manipulation involved.”
He sat up straighter and grinned. “Well, if that’s the case, then I feel it’s my responsibility to make sure you have a good time.”
She picked up her wineglass, not seeming even the slightest bit impressed. “Do you use that line on everyone?”
He leaned back on his stool. “Only when I see a beautiful woman who looks like she would rather be anywhere else but here. I feel a little compelled to look out for you.”
“Don’t I feel special,” she said flatly.
“Jesus.” Ryder nearly choked on his beer.
Nate slid his hand along my thigh and rested it there. No one could see under the table, but I sure could feel him. Every so often, his thumb would move, and every time it did, it made it harder for me to keep up with the conversation around me.
He tapped my leg and motioned to the back hallway. “Meet me upstairs.”
I blinked at him. “Now?”
“Yes, and don’t make it obvious. Give me a head start.”
Then he stood. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think this was his plan all along.
I waited a couple of minutes and slid off my stool. “I’m going to the bathroom. I’ll be right back,” I said to the table, but they were all too busy debating if kangaroos could hop backward to hear me.
Listening to them was part entertaining and part alarming. I could understand now why the coaches needed the patience of a saint to deal with them.
The hallway upstairs was dark, with a row of doors lining one wall.
Nate glanced up as soon as my feet hit the landing.
“You know, asking a woman to meet in a dark hallway is a little suspicious.”
He huffed out a laugh. “Yet you still came.”
“Is everything okay?”
“I just needed a minute alone with you.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me to his chest. His forehead hovered near mine, and his eyes moved over my face. “You look pretty tonight.”
I looked down at my black sweater and dark jeans that I paired with high-heeled boots. “Thank you for saying that. I only changed about ten times.”
I expected him to laugh or smirk. Instead, he watched me carefully. “I told Jax and Ryder. I hope you’re not mad.”
I could tell he was concerned that I might not be happy about that. Seeing how worried he was caused something warm to settle in my chest.
I shook my head, letting him know it was okay. “It’s fine. Ember knows, so it’s only fair that you told your friends.”
Although I was a little concerned about Jax keeping his mouth shut, but Nate trusted him, so that made me feel better.
Relief flickered across his face so fast it made me smile. “They weren’t the least bit surprised.”
“Wow.” I pressed a hand to his chest. “We are really terrible at this sneaking around thing, huh?”
He laughed. “I wouldn’t say terrible, but we need to do a better job of convincing other people.” He looked at me, and for a second, I thought he would say something smart, but his expression softened. “For what it’s worth, I’m really bad at pretending when it comes to you.”
I glanced down the hallway before looking back at him. “Maybe we should take advantage of being up here all alone then.”
His hand snaked around my waist. “Careful, I’ve been trying really hard to behave tonight.”
Despite where we were, my body instinctively leaned into him. As if he could sense what I was thinking, he backed me up against the wall, placing his palm on the spot next to my head.
I licked my lips as his gaze burned into mine. “I appreciate the effort, Nate, but maybe you should stop trying so hard.”
He wasn’t the only one struggling tonight. Every brush of his hand, every lingering touch, chipped away at my self-control. I wasn’t sure I had much left.
His eyes flickered to my lips before moving up to my eyes. The sound of music and people nearby should have been enough for me to stop this. This was dangerous and reckless, but I couldn’t look away from his face or get my body to move. I was barely holding myself together.
“Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to not be able to touch you in public?” He brushed his nose against mine, and a moan slipped past. “I’ve been thinking about you all damn day.”
“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you either,” I whispered as he settled his hand against my neck. His touch and his words did something to me. I stood there, holding his gaze, and begging him to hurry up and kiss me. I wanted to take advantage of this moment while we had it.
He angled his head and without waiting another second, his lips were on mine.
The kiss was tender at first, as if he were trying to keep himself in check.
My tongue met his, stroke for stroke, while my brain forgot every coherent thought I had.
I wasn’t even sure who kissed whom first. I was so lost in him that I stopped thinking about who could see us until I heard the sound of someone closing a door nearby.
He went still against me. “Did you hear that?”
I looked over his shoulder, thankful that I didn’t see anyone. “I think we’re pushing our luck.”
His forehead rested against mine. Both of us were breathless and a little dazed. “Probably.” His thumb brushed slightly against my cheek. “God, I hate feeling like we have to sneak around.”
A reluctant sigh slipped out of me. “It’s just temporary,” I said, feeling frustrated by my own words. I wished we could be a normal couple and not have to worry about all the bullshit.
He leaned in one last time and kissed my lips. “We should probably head back downstairs.”
I nodded. “I’ll go first.”
As I walked back downstairs, I couldn’t help but think how strange it was that we were just starting and already running out of patience.