by Jodi Linton
He didn’t wait to hear her response but instead silenced them both by pressing his mouth to hers, claiming her in a devastating kiss. No hesitation. Pure want.
Instantly she hitched her legs around his waist, and they went crashing back into the wall. She tasted better than an ice cream cone during a hot summer day. Without a thought, he crushed their mouths together. He tugged at her hair, and her head lolled to the side, opening her up to a more consuming position. His mouth searched out her neck, nipping and sucking along her skin.
He lowered his head and placed openmouthed kisses to her neck, her shoulder, and collarbone, outlining a map from her lips to the swell of her breasts. Slowly, passionately, he worshiped her body.
Like a real romantic.
Her hands flew to his wide shoulders to anchor her body. He reached between her legs, burrowing his face into the crook of her neck. Lower, lower, heat stormed through the scant space between them. When he really thought about it, through the years there hadn’t been anyone else but Hannah. It’d always been her. Always. All his happy memories were of her visiting the ranch, her smiling at him at the Lawson family parties, and her looking up at him inside Frisky Business.
He’d fallen hard for Hannah. Even so, she wanted a fun time, nothing more. But if fun was all he’d get Nate would take it. He’d take Hannah anyway he could get her.
Pushing her shorts down her thighs, he slid aside the tiny scrap of fabric keeping her concealed from his touch and nudged his finger at her opening. “I can stop if you want me to.”
Her entire body shook. “No-no. Never stop.”
Nate slipped a single digit deeper and pumped. “I wouldn’t dare leave you hanging. I always make good on my deals.”
In a blink, she scaled her hand down his abs and into his gym shorts. His gaze flipped up to hers, and he ached to feel her touch. She circled her hand around his length until he shook against her body and thrust at her palm. She slid her hand up and down his arousal, and he felt the thrum between his thighs pulse stronger. “You’ve made me believe that it’s okay to be exactly who I am.”
That was all he needed to hear. He reached inside his gym shorts and tenderly grabbed her wrist before he lifted her arms to his shoulders. “Now it’s my turn,” he muttered and pressed his chest firmly against hers.
With her arms looped around his neck, Hannah deepened their kiss, sealing the deal on his obsession. This woman was everything. She could be his partner in crime, his friend, and she could be his lover. His. Nate slid his around her body and cupped her round ass.
She sighed, squeezing her thighs tighter around him. “Y-yes. Oh, God, yes, Nate.”
“Fuck. I want you.” Nate growled.
He walked them to the bed and laid her back on the mattress. Then he followed suit, straddling the woman he had every intention to worship, proving to her that they could have a serious relationship. He nudged a knee between her thighs, pushing them farther apart.
Nate kissed her chin, then her neck, leaving a trail of love bites until he reached the swell of her cleavage. He gently slipped the straps of her tank top off her shoulders and found himself rewarded with supple, perky breasts encased by a lacey purple bra. He’d always been a boob man, and Hannah’s were simply perfection. He grabbed the hem of her shorts, sliding them down to bunch around her ankles so he could indulge in a glimpse of heaven. Just as he suspected, Hannah had chosen to drive him mad with lust by wearing matching lingerie.
“I think you should know those panties are a very rare brand,” she said.
“Rare, you say?” He slipped his finger underneath the lacey garment and twisted it to the side. “Like how rare are we talking here?”
She whimpered. Seductively. Her leg slid up his calf and hooked around his waist. “Like rare as a two-for-one Sassy Outlet sale. I had to fight for those suckers, and it wasn’t easy.”
“I’m sorry to say, Hannah, but these panties are headed for extinction,” he growled against her mouth as he ripped the lacy fabric off her body. He rubbed his knuckle at the spot he knew she needed him the most, barely grazing the sensitive flesh. “Fuck. I should’ve revisited our kiss way before the porn shop. Why did it take an embarrassing incident to get me here, with you? Again.”
Hannah arched toward his touch. “I think we should really consider investing in a porn-shop matchmaking service. It could be the new fad.”
“I think you might be the smartest woman I’ve ever known.” He carefully pushed her panties down her legs, then undid his zipper. He fished the condom from his pocket and rolled it on. “Having a brain is damn sexy. I promise.” Nudging at her opening, he looked her in the eyes and said, “Fuck. I need to be inside you. I need to feel you. All of you.”
Her cheeks blushed. “You, Nate, I think I might be addicted to you.”
That was all he needed to hear.
He plunged inside her, listening to her beg more, more, Nate so loudly his entire body shook. White-hot heat blew through him. He thrust, and she matched him hip lift for hip lift. His resolve to take it slow evaporated the moment she started chanting his name. Without a second thought, he seated himself deeper inside her. She gasped, and he made sure to show Hannah how addicting she was to him with each thrust, kiss, and indecent whisper. Again and again.
Chapter 7
Hannah plucked a champagne flute off the tray when the waiter waltzed past. If someone had told her a few days ago that butterflies would flutter in her stomach when Nate Fox gave her a wink, she’d have asked them what intergalactic planet they were from. Yet the fluttering continued. And the feeling was perfection. Romantic.
Not exactly the way she planned things to transpire between them when the fake engagement deal had been shaken on, but she wouldn’t change a thing. She knew, without a doubt, that tonight she’d tell Nate he was more than an addiction.
That she was smitten.
The guy in question, rocking a tux better than James Bond, slid a heated glance down her body before accepting his drink from the bartender and walked across the dance floor.
Nate stopped and smiled at her. “You look amazing tonight.”
She grabbed his tie and tugged their bodies together. “I think you might be giving me a run for my money.”
That cocky smirk she’d grown to adore returned. “I promise to not wear the tux to bed tonight if you promise to wear a graphic tee, minus the bra.”
“I’ll agree with your proposal, and I’ll agree to not wear my panties, too.”
He snorted. “If you’d asked me seven days ago if I would be calling Hannah Lawson my girl, I would’ve asked if it was April Fools.” Nate cupped her cheek, his gaze so intense she felt the butterflies swarm again. “Will you dance with me?”
She lifted on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I couldn’t think of a better way to end our trip.”
The band caught the attention of the wedding guests, but Hannah only had eyes for the sexy guy gearing up to crush her body against his. She placed her empty flute on a nearby table and surveyed their surroundings. The bride and groom stood across the way greeting guests, wearing matching linen outfits and smiling at each other. She wanted that. No. Hannah wanted her and Nate to have their save-the-date day. No more faking it. But a true romance. And to start off on the right foot in Austin she had to give him back his ring. Because that was the old them, the ones playing games, not the Nate Fox giving her bedroom eyes as if she was the only woman in room.
She reached for her ring finger, but when she went to slip it off Nate pulled their bodies together and spun her out onto the dance floor. His smell, his touch, his flirty whispers had her entranced. He twirled her under the twinkling lights and Hannah didn’t want the moment to end. They might have only spent a week together after years of being apart, but it felt as if their past had never happened. Now they were together and nothing else mattered.
And she knew without a doubt she’d fallen in love with Nate.
His cool gaze lowered on her. “This
weekend, Hannah,” he paused to kiss her forehead. “It has been amazing. The wedding was not at all what I expected.”
“Not much into weddings, I see.” She looped her arms around his neck. “Don’t you want to settle down one day and have a family to share your success with?”
“I’ve been focused on getting Fox Chrome off the ground. Not much else,” he said, capturing her waist in strong arms and tugging her closer. “Actually this wedding weekend was my first real vacation in a while. But I do like the company. I like you.”
She touched her lips to his chin. “I like you too.” More like I’m crazy about you.
But before she could voice her feeling the song ended and Nate stepped away. He smiled down at her, softly brushing a curl of hair behind her ear. “Would like another drink? I’ll go battle my way through all the pink tulle and order you one.”
She nodded. “How about I met you at the bar in ten? I need tell the bride and groom congrats anyways.”
His lips touched hers, and warmth soared through her system. “Ten minutes. I’m holding you to it Hannah.” Then he winked and left her side.
A few moments later after Hannah had told the newlyweds they looked amazing she made her way toward the back bar. There was Nate in his tux and Sally, the maid of honor, wrapped in his arms. Blond hair spilled against his chest, and she felt the champagne from earlier roll in her stomach. I solemnly swear not to fuck this up, he’d told her. Well, good job Nate on fucking things up.
A chill wound up her spine. All things considered, it didn’t feel good watching the maid of honor—a supposed friend—locking lips with Nate in front of all one hundred wedding guest before escaping to the bathrooms. The whispering amplified, and Hannah couldn’t help but feel small like the way Henry had made her feel in the past.
Hannah swallowed and spoke up. “There you are Nate. And Sally, it’s always good to see you again.” Her fake fiancé, the guy she’d hoped to make something real with, turned to look at her. Concern etched his brows. “Looks like you got the drinks and found new drinking partner.”
Nate shuffled around the maid of honor and reached out to touch her arm, and she jumped. “Hannah, this is not what it looks like.”
God, he’d really uttered the lamest excuse known to women worldwide.
Words escaped her. She wondered why Sally would betray her when she seemed so happy that she’d finally found someone.
“You’re really going there, huh?” Hannah was conscious of all the people watching their pissing match and wished she didn’t have to dish their dirty laundry in such a public form.
Sally fidgeted with her headband. “I told Nate that we couldn’t kiss since he was engaged, but sometimes a man wants what a man wants, you know?”
Oh, she knew alright.
Nate ran both hands through his hair. “Let’s go somewhere more private to talk. Okay?”
Hannah looked at Sally then at Nate. She inhaled sharply, unease coating her throat. Just like always, she’d made an utter disaster of everything. He might know exactly what to whisper in her ears, and he might make butteries tumble in her stomach, but Hannah understood she couldn’t be another man’s doormat. She knew what had to be done. She met Nate’s gaze and tried to smile. “Oh, Sally, I wouldn’t worry too much about kissing an engage man since Nate and I where never engaged. What I would worry about is the fact that you ‘re a bitch.”
Sally stared at her openmouthed. “You were never engaged?”
She felt like someone had taken a fist to her gut as she took in Nate’s sad expression. “We were just having fun, isn’t that right Nate? It looks like our adventure has ended.”
He reached for her, but Hannah jerked away. “Hannah, don’t do this…”
Before Nate could sweet talk out of her senses, Hannah fled through the banquet hall doors, hoping like hell there was a Greyhound bus station nearby.
Chapter 8
Poker chips flew across the kitchen table.
“Benny boy for the win, suckers.” Ben Kelley, the third wheel in their weekly poker games and local high school football coach, smiled innocently as he raked his winnings into the pile in front of him. “I told y’all two fools back in college that I was the poker king.”
Nate sipped on his beer, ignoring the barb. If sucking at poker was the least of his worries he’d be the first to jump up and hand Ben all his chips, but it wasn’t. He sucked at relationships as well.
Days had bleed into weeks since Hannah had fled the banquet hall and he’d chased her out the doors only to discover she’d left the hotel. It’d taken him a few quick phone calls to find out she had bought a bus ticket and headed back in Austin. Without him. He’d even stopped by her apartment, but her roommate had kindly slammed the door in his face. It seemed Hannah wanted nothing to do with him, and why would she? She’d caught the maid of honor trying to suck his lips right off his face. Sheesh. His brilliant plan to fake an engagement had blown up in their faces, leaving her mortified in front of her friends.
So much for making good choices.
Nate had tried to do the right thing, but it’d only gotten him seated at a poker table, drunk again.
“Do you have any vodka?” he asked, staring at both guys’s wide curious expressions. “The beer isn’t cutting it anymore.”
Jack placed a hand on the beer Nate had started to reach for. “I’m cutting you off. You need to talk this shit out, since we both know more alcohol won’t fix your problems. Have you even tried to contact Hannah again?”
Nate gave Jack a deprecating look. “She won’t talk to me. End of story.”
“Moping around like a girl isn’t going to solve your problems,” his business partner added. “I saw the spoils of last weekend’s pity party, and let me tell you it did nothing for your manhood.”
Of course Jack had to catch him watching 27 Dresses. Alone. More than likely the dozen chocolate wrappers had done him in.
He flipped a poker chip under his hand. “She mailed me back the ring so as for solving my problems, I’m pretty sure there’s nothing to solve. She’s done with me.”
Jack threw his hands in the air. “Whoa! You got Hannah a ring?”
Nate eyed his business partner. “It was all for show, I guess. Now can we move to our game and drinks?”
The feeling constricting his chest was not something a guy discussed with his bros. Besides, it didn’t matter that he considered Hannah the one, since it seemed she pushed him away and moved on with her life. It was damn time he did as well.
Ben looked at Jack then at him. That crazy glint in his eyes that Nate knew meant trouble sparkled brighter than a firecracker. “I go away to football camp for a month and come back to the Gossip Girl.” Then Nate watched the lightbulb click on inside Ben’s head. This was when both his eyebrows raised in thoughtfulness before he awarded his surefire southern boy momma advice. “You need to Jerry this Hannah chick.”
“Huh?” Nate and Jack both responded.
Ben folded his arms across his chest. “Jerry McGuire her down lovers lane, Nate. The whole you-complete-me bullshit with balloons,” Ben said. “Women love balloons. Big, colorful ones.”
Nate stared at his friend. “Please don’t tell me you’re still calling that Love, Lace and Nightcaps hotline? We both told you they just want to empty your bank account.”
Ben shrugged. “I can call whoever I want. Tell him, Jack.” Jack stayed silent, so Ben continued. “Besides, this came from the mouth of my high-and-mighty older sister. We need to trust Claire on this one and have Nate Jerry McGuire Hannah.”
Nate looked at Jack to rein in the craziness, but instead of gaining a supporter he saw Jack actually high-fiving Ben. Shit just got real. He rubbed a hand over his jaw, feeling the overgrown beard that was starting to make him look like a Chia Pet. “I need a razor.”
Jack slapped his cheek. “Whoa, man. I think a bird could call that beard home.”
“What if she won’t hear me out?”
“Yo
u could always adopt a pet bird,” Ben said.
Nate scowled at his friend. “Asshole.”
“To Jerrying this romance.” Jack and Ben clanked their beers. “And razors.”
Seven A.M., and Hannah was already eyeballing a coffee stain on her boob. The last couple of weeks had blown monkey balls, but she was strong. She could make it through another uneventful Monday. Right? She had to erase Nate from her life. He’d made her look like a fool at the wedding. Still, he’d called and shown up to her place, but Willow—the super-fabulous roommate she was—helped Hannah stay firm. No Nate Fox. Period. It was time to map out her life, one rocky road at a time. First order of business was to start a new day by teaching four year olds their ABCs.
She clutched her coffee mug in her hands and stepped out into the hallway, nodding at the music teacher as she walked toward her classroom. Resigned to another so-so day, Hannah pulled opened the door and stepped inside.
The room was dark and quiet. She could do this. She could go about her day as if Nate hadn’t swooped in and stolen her heart.
Breathe, Hannah. Smile and do what you’re damn good at, making kids happy.
She ran a hand up the wall and flipped on the switch. A strangled gasp caught in her throat at the sight of two dozen balloons floating in the air.
“Surprise, Ms. Lawson,” a fitful of squeaky giggles welcomed her.
Nate peeked around the balloons. “You complete me.”
Hannah grabbed the balloons, pulling them lower so she could look Nate in the eyes. “Did you just Jerry McGuire me?”
“Ben and Jack told me it was a good idea.”
“Jerry McGuire or the balloons?”
“Both.”
The balloons floated to the ceiling, and Hannah found herself facing Nate, the man who’d occupied her thoughts for the past two weeks. The guy she’d been in love with since she was thirteen, and would always love. Damn he looked good. And she wasn’t supposed to buckle to that sexy grin so suddenly, but she felt her knees turning to jelly. Go figure.
