Salvation (29 page)

Dragging me in for another kiss, we moved towards a sweeping staircase.
“
I want you naked,
”
he growled, tugging my bottom lip between his teeth.

“
Hmm,
”
I murmured my agreement, already working on loosening the buttons of his shirt as we headed up the stairs.

“
You turn me on so much. I
’
ve never craved someone as strongly as I do you.
”
Nate pulled the tie of my dress until it fell open. Both hands found their way to my breasts as a low rumble shook his body. I was crying out for his touch, longing for him to make love to me.

I tugged open his shirt and pressed my mouth to the base of his throat, over his collarbone and along his shoulder. He grappled with the cuffs and shrugged out of it. I lost my footing trying to walk backwards up the stairs and slipped, taking Nate with me.

“
If you wanted missionary, you only had to ask,
”
he said gruffly, his smile against my mouth.
“
That had to hurt.
”

I laughed, taking a minute to breathe. To look at him. To slow the uncontrollable passion down and appreciate being together again.
“
I
’
m fine.
”

Nate sat back on his knees a few steps lower and spread my dress open with both hands, eyes ablaze as they ran over me.
“
Three days,
”
he muttered, sliding my panties down my legs.
“
Far too long without your sweet taste.
”

His mouth was on me, hands pushing my legs wider. He teased my clit with flicks of his tongue, moaning his satisfaction. One hand dived into his hair, the other reaching for support from the iron filigree balustrades beside me. It was a potent image, seeing him feast on me, worshipping me with his mouth the way he did with the words that came out of it.

Hearing the unrestrained groans that told me what I did to him, how much I affected him, I shuddered with the first swell of orgasm. My head dropped back and my eyes closed as the quickening grew and took over. Then his mouth was gone.

“
Wait,
”
I panted,
“
don
’
t stop!
”

Nate reared over me, eyes wild with passion.
“
I want you in my bed,
”
he rasped, freeing me of my dress. With an arm beneath my arse, slipping off my shoes as we went, he carried me the last few stairs to his bedroom.

A small sound, like a whimper, escaped my mouth as my need for him became unbearable. He unclipped my bra and my heavy breasts sprung free as I shrugged it off and let it drop to the floor.

Cool fabric caressed my burning skin as I hit the bed. Nate covered me with his body, still clothed from the waist down and kissed me slow and deep. I arched my back, moaning into his mouth when my nipples brushed his bare chest.

“
I
’
ve missed you.
”
Nate
’
s hands were in my hair, holding me still, lips moving over my face and neck. He lifted his hips when I reached for his belt, frantic to get him naked. I shoved his trousers over his arse, my hands sliding over it and urging him closer.

Nate rose and stripped by my feet. Gloriously naked, his beauty was breathtaking. My eyes drifted hungrily down to his cock.
Three times
. Three times he
’
d had his mouth on me, and not once had I enjoyed the same pleasure. I sat, deciding I
’
d waited long enough to taste him.

I stroked my fingers down his hard length, head to base and back again, watching it stir, feeling him throb in my hands when I curled my fingers around him. I could hear Nate
’
s breathing gradually becoming deeper and rougher. Before I took his cock and placed it right where I wanted to, I allowed my gaze to rise.

Hair that only a short while ago was neatly styled, now fell over his flushed forehead. Unfulfilled need blazed in those smoky eyes, and his sinful mouth was open to accommodate uneven gasps. His immense restraint was wavering with every breath.

“
Later,
”
he growled, stepping back.
“
We both need to come, and I want it to be when I
’
m buried inside you.
”
Seeing his hands fist his cock, watching him roll the condom he took from his pocket down his thick length so blatantly sexually as his eyes fixed on me made me wet. He had me completely enthralled by the show.

Nate sat on the bed, tugged me onto his lap and sealed his mouth over mine. The slower he kissed me, the more he made my heart soar.

He guided the head of his cock over my opening, using my arousal to slide inside. I lowered, curling my arms around him, and buried my face in the crook of his neck.

“
Slow,
”
he breathed into my shoulder.
“
I want to feel every move you make, every inch as you claim me, taking me in like you can
’
t get enough.
”

“
I can
’
t.
”

Nate
’
s hands settled around me. I tipped my head back to see his face and began to move at an excruciatingly measured pace. I felt every slide in and out, every time he hit the hidden spot only he had ever reached. And I saw Nate feel it, too.

His eyes were dark, glassy, and expressing a million different emotions so clearly I was overcome.

“
Nate.
”
I said his name helplessly. He was already inside my mind. With every caress and deliberate movement we made, he was entering my heart. When we made love, Nate made me feel cherished, wanted, courageous, and a little bit like
me
.

I craved that. I craved this.

“
Let it all go,
”
he encouraged.
“
Let me in. Own me.
”
Nate held my nape, his right hand on my hip.
“
I
’
m yours, Kara. All yours
…”
His lips worked over my shoulder and down to my breasts.

My throat tightened.
“
So good,
”
I sobbed, eyes closing as an orgasm simmered low in my belly.
“
You
’
re too much.
”

The strands of Nate
’
s hair entwined in my fingers were damp with the sweat from my body as I clung to him. Alight with all the sparks and tingles he could induce in me, I was near mindless with the urge to come.

I picked up the pace, hips churning against him. A low groan from Nate in my ear made me shudder, the effect scattering throughout my body. The exquisite feeling of my orgasm reached my groin, gradually spreading through every single cell of my body. I clawed his back, the powerfully lean muscles straining beneath his skin.

“
Open your eyes, baby. Show me.
”

I did. Nate saw me come undone, his wide gaze filling with wonderment. It was made all the more powerful, my thoughts buzzing with the intensity of those hauntingly expressive eyes as they glazed in ecstasy, fluttering briefly when his own release took over.

“
Kara.
”
Raw waves of euphoria spread across his face, hips pumping up hard into me. My forehead fell to his. His breath hot and heavy, feathered over my flushed face.
“
This will never be enough for me.
”

I tightened my arms and legs, crushing him to me so hard I could barely breathe. The strength of our connection, the way we
’
d made love, had shaken me once again. All my vulnerabilities came to the forefront of my mind. Sexually we were compatible, still, as much as we both enjoyed it
—
needed it
—
there had to be more to us. I wanted to know him, learn all about him as a man.

“
You okay?
”
he asked quietly, tracing my collarbone with his fingertips.

Nodding, I touched his cheek, expressing how much I valued our relationship in that simple touch of adoration. This time, there was none of the apprehension, no worry or uncertainty. Elation and contentment shone brightly in his eyes, his smile was warm and sated. I collapsed onto the bed beside him and stretched my aching limbs.

“
I
’
m gonna lose my mind over you.
”
Nate pressed a kiss above my navel and stood.

All too conscious of my nakedness, I grabbed a rumpled grey cashmere comforter from the upholstered ottoman bench at the foot of the bed and covered up. A slight frown wrinkled his brow. He dismissed his thoughts with a shake of the head.
“
Are you hungry?
”

“
Starving,
”
I said, lifting up onto an elbow.

“
I
’
ll go wash up, then I
’
ll feed you.
”

I admired his incredible body, still flushed and carried with immense poise and grace, move across the room and disappear down a small passageway.

Alone, I curled into the luxurious blanket. The bedroom was minimalist, with two traditional light grey suede armchairs facing the bed, and two smoky glass topped bedside tables the only pieces of furniture in the vast room. I scrunched the downy wool to my chest and let out a sigh.

Being with Nate gave me such an intense high, I worried the low would be too devastating for me to handle. I
’
d been with Stuart for two years and our break-up had ruined me. Two weeks with Nate, and I knew I
’
d be wrecked if it ended now.

I heard Nate finish in the en-suite and shuffled down the passageway with the blanket still tight around me. I found him in a massive walk-in closet.

“
God,
”
I said quietly, using the wall for support. Grey drawstring pyjama bottoms hung low on his hips, drawing my eyes to his pelvis dipping below the waistband. I tucked some hair behind my ear, hot and bothered by the sexy sight in front of me. Nate shoved a drawer shut, eyes twinkling with wry awareness.

“
That for me?
”
I nodded to the navy t-shirt in his hand.

“
Um
…”
Nate pursed his lips, cocking his head in careful deliberation.
“
Nah, I don’t think so. I prefer you naked.
”
He shrugged it on, his smile wicked when the cotton cleared his head.

“
Now you tell me.
”
I backed away as he prowled towards me.
“
And there I was, hoping you were interested in my brain.
”
Even though I tried passing it off, the cautious look Nate gave me said he knew I believed there was an element of truth in his statement.

“
I
’
m interested in
you
,
”
he said when he reached me. He peeled the top back off and handed it over.
“
Every precious part of you, inside and out.
”

Nate was straightening the bedcovers, waiting to take me downstairs when I came out from the bathroom.
“
Do you want to order in or have something from here?
”
he asked as we headed downstairs. He collected our discarded clothes from the staircase along the way and deposited them in the laundry room.

“
You cook?
”

He shrugged.
“
A little.
”

“
Then it would be rude to turn your offer down,
”
I said, following him into a breakfast room.
“
Maybe you can teach me? I
’
m terrible.
”

We ended up in a vast contemporary chef
’
s kitchen. High-end stainless steel appliances were built-in to the chic carpentry of the units, a modern contrast to the period parquet flooring running throughout.

Nate set his phone on the thick white quartz countertop, opened up some wine and told me to get comfy. I settled onto one of the two white leather swivel barstools tucked under the large kitchen island that housed the stove and marvelled as Nate busied himself with preparing dinner.

Nothing sexier than a man who can cook
, I told myself.
Especially one doing it half-naked.

The conversation was easy between us as we ate a delicious warm lamb salad. When my bowl was empty and my belly full, I sighed contentedly, washing the last mouthful down with some wine.

“
So,
”
Nate began,
“
want to discuss what
’
s going on in your head?
”

“
Pardon?
”

He set his fork down and wiped the corners of his mouth with a black linen napkin.
“
I
’
m trying to understand how you can switch from being so open, so sure about us when we
’
re making love, yet decidedly uncertain of where we
’
re headed the rest of the time.
”

I watched his fingers drift along my bare arm as I spun the stem of the crystal goblet.

“
I see it in your eyes, Kara. The bareness of your soul when I
’
m deep inside you makes me crave you all the more. Uncontrollably so. Your vulnerability draws me to you. But when we
’
re like this,
”
he said, gesturing between us,
“
a shield forms around you to stop me getting close.
”

The direct, albeit accurate observation, made me uncomfortable. I let go of the glass and clasped my hands in my lap, my whole body tensing.

“
Are you happy?
”
he asked quietly, his left hand settling over mine. I held his curious gaze, way out of my depth.