Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Nadia looked at herself in the mirror and wished Cerise was there to give her fashion advice.
She had no idea where Mitch was taking her to lunch.
All his message said was that he’d be by at eleven and to dress casually.
Casual she could do, but she’d still would’ve liked a little guidance as to whether they were headed to a restaurant or bar.
With her having to work, she assumed he’d be taking her to one of the places in Kerrville.
Going to Hunt would take too long and there weren’t a lot of food places that hadn’t been affected by the tornado.
The doorbell rang, and she gave herself one last look.
Jeans, shirt and her cowboy boots would have to do.
No doubt Cerise would’ve tried to get her to put on something sparkly or glittery.
When Cerise got out of hospital, Nadia made a promise to herself that she’d let her friend glitterize her for one occasion.
Smiling she strode down the hall and pulled open the door, her breath catching at the sight of Mitch.
Heat swarmed through her and desire punched her low in the stomach.
He was the quintessential Texan cowboy. Faded blue jeans that hugged strong legs, the tips of his black cowboy boots peeped out from beneath his jeans.
He was wearing a red button-down shirt, with the sleeves rolled up, enhancing his strong forearms. On top of his head was a black cowboy hat.
When she met his gaze, his eyes crinkled in the corner and his lips spread into a lazy grin, as if he enjoyed her appraisal.
If guys could check out women, she could totally check out Mitch. “Looking good there, cowboy,” she said cheekily, licking her lips wanting nothing more than to kiss him.
Mitch tipped his hat, his eyes tracking the movement of her tongue. “Why thank you, ma’am.” He exaggerated his Texan accent and she giggled.
A second later she was swept up in his arms and crushed against his chest. She definitely wasn’t going to complain about being held by Mitch.
It was what her body wanted the second she’d opened the door.
His lips crashed down on hers and she wound her arms around his neck, moaning as his tongued dueled with hers.
Nadia had no idea what had come over Mitch, he seemed to be different, but still the same. Which made no sense. But there seemed to be a happiness in him that she hadn’t seen before. She hoped it was because of her.
Mitch’s hands roamed down her back, cupping her ass, forcing all thoughts out of her mind, leaving behind awareness, attraction and desire.
All things she wanted to act on. She pressed herself closer, as if she wanted to get inside of him.
She jolted at the brush of his fingers across the bare skin of her back, unaware that he’d pulled her shirt from her jeans.
How she wanted to drag Mitch down to her bedroom, rip his clothes off and have him sink into her ready and willing body.
Never before had she had this intense attraction to a man.
Sure, she’d experienced lust and a desire to have sex with guys, but there was something different about what she was feeling with Mitch.
A deeper connection. A truer connection, perhaps.
A connection that had been decided by the fates long before they’d met.
Now she really was getting fanciful. Maybe the lack of oxygen to her brain was affecting her thought processes. Still she liked to think that they were pre-destined to be together.
Mitch trailed his lips from mouth, down her jawline, nibbling at the sensitive flesh between her neck and shoulder. She shuddered and bit her lip to stop the groan of pleasure from escaping.
Nadia closed her eyes and gave herself over to being held in Mitch’s arms. She would happily skip lunch and feast on him instead.
“I want you, Mitch.” She voiced her inner thoughts.
Mitch stiffened in her hold and she mentally cursed herself for breaking the spell. A second later he relaxed and dropped his forehead to hers. “I want you too, Nadia, so much. This wasn’t what I had planned when I came to pick you up. But you look so beautiful I couldn’t resist.”
Nadia knew exactly what Mitch was talking about.
She’d been smitten by him the second she’d opened the door.
“Well, if we’re both in agreement that this is what we want, why don’t we take this to my bedroom.
” Her forwardness should’ve shocked her.
In the past, she’d never come out and told them what she wanted when it came to sex.
With her past sexual encounters they’d progressed from kisses, to caresses to the bedroom.
She’d always gone with the flow, because she’d wanted to sleep with them, but not with the strength that she wanted to sleep with Mitch.
Everything in her clamored to get naked with him.
To trace every line of his body. Find the places that made him moan.
Find out if he was ticklish around his ribs.
Most of all she wanted to connect with him in the most basic of ways, so that he wouldn’t be able to remember his life before they’d slept together.
Whoa, slow your roll, girl. We’re good, but not that good.
Her inner voice was true. She wouldn’t want to wipe out his past, because that was what made him the person he was now. PTSD and all.
“As much as I want to do what you want.” His murmured against her ear. “I’ve got something special planned.”
Disappointment flowed through her, which was kind of silly considering she hadn’t given much thought to sleeping with him today.
All she’d been excited about was to spend the time with him, before she had to go to work and face countless acts of people doing silly things, unnecessary accidents and other tragic events that could work their way into the ER.
However, Mitch had organized something nice for her. When was the last time someone had done that for her? Too long ago to remember.
“Okay.” She’d tried to inject some lightness into her response, but even to her own ears it sounded lackluster.
Mitch hooked a finger under her chin, lifting it so that she had to meet his gaze.
Desire still stormed in their depths and she shivered in response.
“Don’t believe for one second that I don’t want to forget all about what I’ve planned, but I want to do this right with you Nadia.
You’re becoming important to me and I want to make sure I don’t mess this up. ”
How could she get angry and annoyed when he said something like that?
She couldn’t and she didn’t want to. “How can I refuse when you put it that way.” She reached up and stroked his cheek.
“Thank you for making me feel special.” She finished by going up on her tiptoe, pressing her lips against his for a brief kiss.
“Lead on Mr. Mitch. I’ll gladly follow you. ”
Nadia’s hand gripped his a little tighter as he led her down the rocky path to the blanket he’d set up earlier.
Over his shoulder was the cooler bag he’d grabbed from his truck.
After he’d pulled off the road onto the dirt track on the east side of his parent’s ranch, she’d picked that they were going on a picnic.
She’d clapped her hands in excitement when he confirmed her suspicion.
“How much farther do we have to go?” she asked. There was no complaint in her voice. Her question was pure inquiry.
“Not much farther, we’re at the border of my parents’ land. We won’t be disturbed down here.”
“You know I don’t think I’ve ever asked what you do. I’m sorry, Mitch, that’s really rude of me.”
He squeezed her hand a little tighter. “It’s not like we’ve had much chance to get to know each other well. What with PTSD attacks, tornadoes and concussions, we’ve kind of been pre-occupied.”
Nadia laughed. “Yeah, that’s true.”
The sound of the bubbling creek became a little louder and as they rounded a bend, Nadia stopped beside him, yanking him back a little. He glanced over ready to ask if she was okay, but swallowed the words, he didn’t need to ask. All he had to see was the look of delight on her face.
He took a second to take the scene in front of them, from Nadia’s perspective. He’d seen it on many occasions and was used to the beauty of the little treasure in the quiet corner of his parents’ property.
With the recent rains the creek was running over the rocks at a quick pace. The tall trees created shade, which was desperately needed in Texas during summer. The blanket under the tree with a good view of the creek.
“It’s so beautiful,” she said quietly, almost like she was worried that if she spoke too loudly it would break the tranquility of the area.
“It is. It’s at least an hour’s ride on a horse from the main ranch house.
I used to come out here when I was a kid.
I loved the peace of it all.” He’d lost count of how many times he’d ventured down here to sit and watch the water flow since he’d returned home.
He considered this his spot. Being so far from the main house and the guest houses, no one ventured out here.
Mitch was grateful for that, he’d hate to think that this slice of heaven would get spoiled by people traipsing all over it.
“I can understand why you’d come here. I feel instantly calm. It’s going to take a lot to get me to move from here and go to work.”
Mitch nuzzled her neck. “Maybe I can talk you into taking your shift off?” That hadn’t been his plan, but it was one he could get on board with.
“Don’t tempt me, but I’m still new I’ve got to make a good impression. Plus, I don’t want to let people down by not showing up. They’ll be short staffed and the wait will be extra long for every—.”
Mitch placed his fingers over her lips, stopping the flow of words. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have suggested it. You make me wish for things that I haven’t thought of in a long time. Things I don’t think I deserve.”
Her eyes softened at his words. “Oh Mitch, you deserve to be happy and wishful.”