Fight With Me (27 page)

“That’s kind of… awkward.” I scrunch up my nose and look up at him.

“Why?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. I don’t mind doing the shopping.”

“Julianne, buying groceries is part of her job. It’s fine. Besides, if you’re going to live here with me, you need to get used to it.”

I look up at him again and search his face. He smiles and kisses me lightly. “I can’t wait to have you here, permanently.”

I grin up at him, and none of the nervousness or fear at the prospect of living with Nate settles in my belly. Instead I’m excited and happy at the thought of being together.

“I’ll start a list tonight.”

Chapter Twenty Eight

“What do you want to do tomorrow?” I ask, basking in post-orgasmic bliss. We are cuddled up in bed, the blankets wrapped around us, my head on his chest. Nate’s fingers are thrumming up and down my back.

He fucked my brains out in the shower, and then dirtied me up again when we got to the bed.

I’m not complaining.

“How do you feel about going down to Pike’s Market? I’d like to get some fresh produce and cook for you tomorrow night.”

“Sure, sounds fun. I love downtown.”

“You’re moving in with me.” He whispers and I grin.

“I am.”

“Tomorrow.” he says simply.

I giggle and kiss his cheek. “I think I have some phone calls to make, some packing to do, and you and I need to talk about logistics.”

“I’m ready for your things to be mingled in with my things. Your clothes in our closet, and you, in our home, every day.”

“God, you say the most sweet, mushy things to me, babe.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I. This is new to me.” I run my fingers through his impossibly soft, long black hair and sigh. “It feels like we’re moving really fast.”

“No, Jules, we’re playing catch-up. I’ve wanted this with you for the better part of the last year. I screwed up last summer with you. I won’t let you go again.”

“I’m not asking you to let me go. I don’t want you to let me go.” I kiss his chin again. “I love you so much. It feels fast, but it feels right. I want those things too.”

I sigh and bury my face in his neck and breathe him in. He wraps his arms around me and hugs me close, and I know, without a doubt, this is where I want to be; in his arms, for the rest of my life.

“Go to sleep,” he whispers and kisses my hair.

***

“Ready?” Nate asks, smiling down at me. We just stepped onto the sidewalk outside his building, which happens to be just a few blocks up from the market and waterfront. We’re going to walk down today.

He’s delicious in faded blue-jeans and a long-sleeved, white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up his forearms. The weather is finally warming in the early summer sun, and we’re taking advantage of it today.

“Ready,” I confirm and he twines our fingers as we stride toward downtown at a casual pace.

“You look beautiful today,” he murmurs and kisses my hand. I’m also in blue-jeans, black ballerina flats, and a red tunic top cinched at my waist with a thin black belt.

“Thank you. So do you.” I lean my head on his warm, muscular shoulder, then kiss it, as we wait at a crosswalk. “So, what are we shopping for today?” I ask.

“Greens and veggies for a salad and fresh lobster.” He pulls our linked hands around to the small of my back and leads me across the street, watching for crazy drivers. I love how he protects me, and watches out for me, while still making me feel like we’re partners.

“Sounds delicious.”

“Anything you want to grab while we’re here?” he asks.

“Tiny donuts and Starbucks.” Pike’s Market boasts the very first Starbucks café ever built, just across the street from the vendors. There is also a booth that serves delicious, fresh tiny donuts that melt in your mouth. They are both must-haves when I visit.

“Let’s do that first.” Nate’s hand tightens around mine as we descend the steep hill leading down to the Market.

When we reach the cobblestone street below, I take a deep breath and look around. This is the heart of Seattle. Business men and blue collar guys, families and couples, and people of all shapes and sizes and colors. There are musicians on the sidewalk, singing and playing instruments for change, and they are incredible, drawing quite a crowd.

I love the sights, sounds and smells.

“I’m so glad you suggested this.” I smile up at my man. “I haven’t been down here in ages, and I love it.”

“Me too.” Nate kisses my forehead and leads me into Starbucks. We order our drinks and wander through the market, starting at the end with my tiny donuts, so we can munch on the hot, soft goodness while we wander.

“SALMON!” Someone yells, and a large gray salmon goes sailing through the air in front of us. A man in orange pants held up with brown suspenders catches the fish and throws it back to the guy in the same outfit behind the fish counter.

Nate and I smile at each other, and watch the fish throwing show for a few minutes, sipping our coffee and eating our tiny donuts, soaking up Seattle.

More fish sail back and forth, the men yelling and putting on a fun show. Nate and I pick out two large lobsters, and they are packaged in a box with a handle for easy carrying.

With his hands full of lobster and coffee, I push a bite of donut in his mouth and we continue through the market, winding through a sea of people. It’s impossible to shop at Pike’s Market in a hurry. There are too many people, especially on a weekend.

Nate and I choose our salad veggies and he buys me a gorgeous bouquet of fresh tulips and gerbera daisies.

“Thank you, babe. These are gorgeous.” I bury my face in them and breathe in their sweet fragrance and smile up at him.

“Like you.” He kisses my nose, tosses his empty coffee cup in a nearby garbage, and presses his hand on the small of my back, leading me out of the Market and onto the sidewalk.

I look up and freeze.
Fuck.

“What’s wrong?” Nate asks and follows my stare. “Shit,” he whispers.

Not twenty feet away from us is Carly from the office. She’s turned away from us, looking at a hand-made scarf. She pays the vendor and turns her head our way, and her eyes catch mine. I hold my breath, just waiting for her to say something, but she doesn’t. Nothing in her expression changes, and it’s as though we’re strangers. She gathers her shopping bags and walks in the opposite direction of us without looking back.

“She saw us,” I whisper.

He kisses my forehead and nuzzles my ear with his nose. “Don’t worry,” he whispers.

Suddenly, a little brown-haired boy about three years old stops in front of Nate, crying, and looks up at him. “Daddy?”

“Hey, buddy.” Nate sets the lobster on the ground at his feet and kneels before the little guy who is obviously lost. “Are you looking for your daddy?”

The boy nods and continues to cry. Nate pats his little shoulder reassuringly and smiles gently. “What’s your name.”

“Bwian.”

“Brian?”

He nods again. “Okay, Brian, let’s find your daddy.”

Nate hands me the lobster box and takes Brian’s tiny hand in his and looks around. He doesn’t have to look far as a panicked-faced man comes running over to us.

“Brian! You can’t wander away like that!” He pulls the boy up into his arms and kisses his cheek and smiles ruefully at Nate. “Thanks. I swear, you turn your back for a second…”

“No problem,” Nate smiles back. “I’m glad you found him.”

I’ve taken in the whole scene with a bit of awe. Nate is so easy with kids. They just seem to be pulled to him.

And for the first time in my life, the thought of having kids doesn’t scare the shit out of me. Nate would love us, protect us, and just be… Nate.

Could I be a wife and a mom full time, not consumed with work?

Maybe.

Nate turns back to me and smiles, takes the lobster box out of my hand, and laces our fingers together with his free hand. “Ready to head home?”

Oh. My. God.

Yes. I could definitely make a family with this man. And it renders me speechless.

“Baby?” He frowns when I just stand here, staring at him.

I shake myself out of my trance and grin. “Yeah, I’m ready. Let’s go home.”

Chapter Twenty Nine

“Wake up, baby.” I’m on my stomach and my arms are under my pillow, cradling my head. Nate brushes my hair off my face and kisses my cheek.

“What time is it?” I mumble.

“Six,” he murmurs and kisses my shoulder. Mmm… that feels good. I’m not ready for Monday.

“I don’t want to get up.” I keep my eyes closed.

“I know,” he whispers and runs the flat of his hand down my spine to my ass and back up again and I groan. Nate kisses my cheek and nibbles my earlobe, and my body comes awake. “Grab the pillow, baby.”

I pull my arms out from under the pillow and grip each end in my fists. I open one eye and gasp at the sight of my sexy man, long black hair loose, tribal tattoo down his right arm and another down his left side, looking all sleepy and sexy and
mine.

“You’re sexy,” I murmur.

“I want you,” he whispers.

“I’m right here, ace.”

He plants a wet kiss on my shoulder and whispers in my ear, “Don’t let go of the pillow.”

One of his hands glides back down my spine to my ass, and he strips the covers off me to the end of the bed. He moves between my legs, pushing them apart with his knees, braces himself above me with his fists on either side of my torso and kisses his way down my back to my ass.

“Nate,” I whisper.

“Yes, baby.” He licks and nips each of my cheeks and slides a hand up my inner thigh, finding me wet and waiting for him. “Fuck, Julianne, you’re so wet.”

“I need you inside me, babe.”

“You’ll have me. You can let go of the pillow.”

I do and he flips me to my back and then covers me with his long, muscular body again, kissing me deeply and passionately, as if he can’t go another minute without his lips touching mine.

I wrap my legs around his hips, the soles of my feet resting on his thighs and push my fingers into his hair.

“Grip the pillow again,” he whispers against my mouth, but I shake my head no.

“Nate, I need to touch you this morning.” I do. I can’t explain why, I just need to have my hands on him.

He pulls back a bit so he can look at my face, his bright gray eyes searching mine. “What is it?” he asks.

“I don’t know, I just need to feel you.”

“Okay, baby, touch me all you want. I love it when you touch me.” He kisses me again, more gently this time, working that talented mouth over mine and sinking onto me. He lowers his torso, letting me feel his weight. “I’m right here,” he whispers.

I wrap my arms around him and run my hands up and down his back, from his ass to his long thick hair, and back down again, while I rub his thighs with the soles of my feet. I can’t stop touching him, rubbing myself against him. “You feel so good.”

“Let me make love to you, baby.” He nibbles my lips, along my jaw line and over to my left ear. I tilt my head, giving him easier access to this sensitive spot, and he licks under my ear where he knows makes me crazy. “I love how you smell, Julianne. So soft and clean and sweet.” His teeth clench gently onto my ear lobe and I squirm under him. “You feel so damn good, sweetheart. So smooth and firm and small.”

His words are intoxicating me, making love to me as thoroughly as his body is, and I feel my heart rate speed up and my breathing quicken.

“Nate,” I whisper.

“I can’t get enough of you.” His hips start to move in a slow circle, rubbing his hard, thick cock along my folds, the silver ball of his apa massaging my clit, and I arch my back, pushing against him.

“Nate, I need you.” I grip his firm ass in my hands and pull him against me, almost coming undone at the sensation of his long shaft rubbing my lips and the head of his cock, along with the piercing making my clit pulsate, an orgasm working its way through me.

“So beautiful,” he whispers against my neck and pushes his forearms under my shoulders so he’s cradling me, his hands cupping my neck and fingers pushed up into my hair. He holds on and pushes harder, faster, rubbing himself against me. “I love making you come like this.”

“Oh God,” I whisper. Our voices are soft, we’re panting quietly, making love almost reverently. I feel tears pool in my eyes and I close them, the tears spilling down my temples.

“Shh, baby, don’t cry.” He settles his lips on mine again, rubs them back and forth, caressing me and then kissing me sweetly, softly. “Come for me, honey.”

I come apart, silently, my body quaking and pushing against him. He deepens his kiss and pulls his hips down, finding my opening with the tip of his sex and pushes into me, so, so slowly, letting me feel the apa as it slides against the walls of my pussy, and he fills me so completely. He sinks into me to the root of his amazing cock and stops.

“Open your eyes.”

His gray eyes are on fire, looking down at me with such love, and I feel more tears leak out of my eyes.

“Your eyes are the most brilliant blue I’ve ever seen, and they’re even bluer when I’m in you. I love it when you look at me like this.”

“How am I looking at you?” I whisper and push my fingers into his thick hair, loving how it feels to have my head and shoulders cradled in his arms and his body draped over mine, filled up with him.

“Like I’m all you see.” He whispers back to me.

I run my fingers down his face and cup his cheeks in my hands, looking him square in the eye, not paying any attention to the tears on my face.

“You are all I see.”

He growls softly and kisses me desperately; his pelvis begins to move, slowly pulling in and out of me.  I grip his ass in my hands again and I feel the orgasm building up in me once more. He must feel it too because he moves faster, and pushes into me a bit harder with each thrust.

“Let go, Julianne,” he murmurs.

“Come with me,” I whisper.