“I am looking forward to meeting Gabe. Maybe he can give me some tips on my house. I hope you don’t mind, I brought my book to show him and Sam. I got the idea from her.”
“I’m sure they’ll enjoy that.” And having something other than hassling me to talk about would be good. “Have you been out to see your house?” I kept wondering if she ever visited it and would find out what was being done.
She shook her head, “I’ve seen it a few times already. I don’t need to see it again until I’m ready to get it fixed.”
I hoped that she’d like what she saw when she did. It was a risk to fix her home without her input, except her book was the input. But I also knew Gabe was adding some additional touches based on her desire to make everyday living easier for her parents. I hope she liked them.
I parked behind Will’s Audi again. I noted Mitch’s motorcycle, as well as Gabe and Sam’s SUV, were already there. Inwardly, I groaned. They all wanted to be there to see me arrive with Hallie.
“You okay?” she asked.
“Just getting ready to be hassled.”
“How do you want me to play it?”
I looked at her. How much of us was play for her? Was she having any sort of feeling at all? “Just be normal. Oh…and remove the ring,” I replied as I took mine off and put it in the change holder of my car. She put hers in too. “We’re just dating tonight. No fake marriage.”
“Got it,” she smiled, and I couldn’t help myself, I leaned over to kiss her. “What was that for?”
“I just felt like it.”
She unsettled me, and yet, at the same time, brought me peace.
Her smile was even brighter. Maybe she felt something after all. But now wasn’t the time to figure it out.
I took her hand as I led her up the front walk and into the house.
“Oh, Nate, you’re here,” My mom breezed into the foyer, “and, finally, I get to meet your friend.”
I gave my mom a quick hug, “Mom, this is Hallie Thorne. Hallie, this is my mother.”
Hallie extended her hand, but my mother pulled her into an embrace, “It’s so lovely to meet you, Hallie.”
“You too, Mrs. Sloane.”
“There’s the drug dealer,” Gabe sauntered into the room, wearing a smirk. He studied Hallie, and if he weren’t married, I probably would have slugged him for looking over my woman. Well, not my woman…shit.
“This is my brother, Gabe. He’s inbred.”
Hallie smiled and held out her hand, “Nice to meet you.”
“You’re behaving, aren’t you Gabe?” Sam rushed into the room. “Hi, Nate.”
“Sam. This is Hallie. Sam here is trying to domesticate my brother, but as you can see, she has her work cut out for her.”
Eventually, we made it out to the back deck where Hallie met Will and Mitch. They too gave her a thorough look over that made me want to throttle them. They were both single but had no business looking at her like that.
Fortunately, Mitch was at the grill while Will got me a beer. Hallie told Sam about her book, and after getting it from the car, the two of them were in the house going through it.
“So, what happened to that rule about not dating your employees?” Mitch asked as he flipped a burger.
“Have you taken a look at her?” Will said.
I shot him a look, “Stop ogling her.”
Will grinned, and Mitch snorted.
“He’s been bitten by the lovebug,” Will said.
“Shut up,” I grumbled, but holy shit I was sure I had.
“Must have been all those late nights working on the IPO. She's traveling with you on the dog and pony shows?” Will asked.
I drank my beer. They didn’t really want to know the answers. They just wanted to razz me.
“I feel for ya, man,” Gabe sat in the lawn chair next to me. “Wait...actually...not so much - if I remember correctly, you hassled me about Sam.”
“Then I deserve it from you, but not from those two assholes,” I nodded toward Will and Mitch.
“Nate. Language,” Mom’s voice came from the kitchen window.
“How does she hear that?” I shook my head.
“They’ll get their turn,” Gabe said with confidence, sipping his own beer.
“Bite your tongue, Gabe,” Will said.
The dinner went well. Hallie fit right in with everyone. While they didn’t miss a chance to embarrass me, my brothers were nice to Hallie. When the topic of the IPO came up, I told them where we were in the process, and Hallie chimed in about my presentations.
Will poked me in the ribs, “She’s got it bad for you, bro. I hope you don’t break her heart.”
I stared at him like he’d gone nuts.
Will nodded, “She looks at you and talks about you like a woman in love.”
“How would you know love?” I gave him a hard stare. Will was like me - a confirmed bachelor and lover of women.
“I’ve got eyes. I remember mom and dad, and Gabe and Sam drip with love.”
I shook my head. Hallie didn’t have it bad for me. Sure, she liked me. I doubted she’d be having sex with me otherwise. But that didn’t mean she had it bad for me. This was all fake. I was the one whose feelings were muddled, not hers.
The ring of a glass being clinked by a utensil pulled me away from Will’s crazy assessment.
Gabe stood, “I have an announcement.”
What the hell?
Gabe looked down at Sam, and in his eyes, I saw what Will seemed to think Hallie had for me. Gabe loved Sam down to his soul. We hassled him about it at first, but now Sam was family, and all of us were happy for him.
Sam smiled up with that same love, then she looked at all of us, “Gabe and I are having a baby.”
The whole table erupted in cheers and congratulations.
“Took you long enough,” Will said to Gabe. “I was worried your little swimmers weren’t working right.”
“God, tell me Will knows about birth control. Otherwise, Washington D.C. is littered with little Will Sloane clones,” Sam shot out with a smile; she’d learned quickly to take it and dish it out.
“See? That’s why I married you,” Gabe said, giving her a kiss.
It was sweet, and for the first time in my life, I envied him and his relationship with Sam. I looked over at Hallie, who was smiling. She was beautiful. Would she look even more radiant if she were pregnant as Sam did? My heart did a strange roll in my chest at the idea of Hallie carrying my child.
On the drive home, my mind was in a whirl as I began to realize this nutty feeling in my chest had to be love. It terrified me even as it thrilled me. What would Hallie think if she knew I had feelings for her? Could I convince her to continue our relationship beyond the IPO?
“You okay?” Hallie asked.
“Yes, just happy for Gabe and Samantha.”
“That was wonderful news. I was honored to be a witness to it. Your brothers do pick on you a lot, but you all pick on each other, and I can see the love there.”
It made me feel good that she could see that. We did hassle each other, but we loved each other. Family was important to me.
Once home, I thought about taking a swim. Perhaps the physical activity would help settle the crazy buzz of emotion keying me up. But as I watched Hallie’s fine ass make its way up the hallway to her room, I knew the only physical activity I needed was her.
I caught up to her, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her back against me. I kissed the back of her neck, “Thank you for doing this tonight.”
She wiggled her ass against my dick, bringing him to full staff, “It was my pleasure.”
“I want to give you pleasure.”
“Mmm, I think that could be arranged,” she turned in my arms and kissed me, while I maneuvered us to my room and worked her dress off. I dropped to my knees, needing to taste her sweet pussy.
“Nate,” she gasped, and her fingers gripped my head.
Need like I’d never felt before
rushed through my body. It wasn’t just a physical need for release. It was something more intense and powerful. Something deeper. I needed to possess her. To make her mine. But I couldn’t tell her that. For one, it sounded sexist, but two, it was too close to telling her how I felt, and I couldn’t bring myself to do it. At least not in words. Not yet. I couldn’t even say the words to myself. But I could show her what I was feeling through my touch.
I stood, kissing her thoroughly as I moved her to the bed. She lay back, her lush body strewn out like a fine piece of art, “You’re so fucking beautiful.”
Her smile was sweet, “You make me feel beautiful, Nate.”
I grabbed a condom from the drawer and started to sheath my dick, not wanting to stop to do it later.
“Nate. I’m on the pill.”
My gaze snapped to hers.
She nodded, “Several weeks, in fact.”
My brain was short-circuiting, “You sure?”
She laughed, “Yes, I’m sure I’m on the pill.”
I shook my head of lust fog, “I meant you’re sure you want to do this without a condom?” After all, I had a reputation. I’d always used a condom. Always. So I knew I wouldn’t be putting her at risk healthwise.
She nodded again, a faint blush heating her breasts and cheeks, her voice barely above a whisper, “I’m okay with it if you are.”
Several thoughts and emotions converged in my brain. First, there was a swell of emotion that she trusted me. Despite my reputation, she trusted I wouldn’t do anything that would put her at risk. Second, I trusted her too. She wasn’t a woman to lie. She wouldn’t try to trick me into a pregnancy.
As I looked at her lush body, my body flooded with arousal at the idea of being inside her without a barrier.
I joined her on the bed, at first laying over her. Torso to torso. Thighs to thighs. I felt her under every inch of me, and it was fucking perfect. Well almost perfect, but that would come shortly once I pressed inside her.
I kissed her again, my tongue dancing with hers. She had the softest, sweetest tongue. I kissed her jaw and down her neck. I took my time as I was determined to taste every inch of her body. When I was done, I’d have discovered everything about her. Her body would be imprinted in my mind and soul.
I sucked on one nipple and then the other, loving how her body arched to offer me more. She was so responsive to everything I did to her. It was like playing a musical instrument, and the sounds she made as I played her were the sexiest, most beautiful music.
I worked my way lower, kissing her hip bone, leaving her belly button. Then I moved to the gorgeous nest of ginger curls.
Pushing her thighs open wider, I took in her sweet pink pussy, wet just for me. I dragged my tongue through her plump pink lips, loving the taste of her, “You taste so sweet, Hallie. I can’t get enough.”
“Yes, Nate,” she urged me on, her voice breathless.
I was determined to make her come, at least once, maybe twice, so I devoured her with my mouth. Sucking, licking, thrusting, flicking, all of it pushing her up and up until her body contracted and sweet pussy juice coated my tongue. Wanting more, I started over again until she was writhing and gasping under my mouth.
She came again, hard with a loud cry, “Nate!”
To hear my name escape her lips was like heaven. Letting her catch her breath, I continued my journey down her body. I gently sucked on her inner thigh, leaving a small love mark. I kissed behind her knee and down to her ankle. I made the return trip along the other leg, stopping at her pussy again to give it kiss, before moving back up her body.
I was so fucking hard now, chances were good I was going to come the minute I entered her body. I settled my hips between her thighs as I took her hands in both of mine and brought them over her head, “Hallie.”
She opened her pretty green eyes and stared back at me. I kissed her, this time soft and sweet.
When I lifted my head again, she reopened her eyes. With my gaze holding hers, I nudged the head of my dick into her, “I want to go slow, but it’s quite possible this will be quick.” When it came to Hallie, I didn’t have as much control as I’d have liked. As many times as I’d had her, it was still always a surprise when I was unable to rein in my need.
“I want you, Nate.”
A part of me wanted her to mean she wanted me the man, but I understood she only meant my body. I pushed in, gritting my teeth as her hot tight pussy gripped me.
“Fuck, so good,” I gasped as inch by slow inch I slid inside her.
Finally, I was completely inside her. Our gazes held. It was like every part of me was now a part of her. Body. Mind. Soul. I was lost in her. No doubt about it. I loved her.
She squeezed my hands, and I wanted to believe she was feeling it too. The power of this moment. I could have stayed there forever, except my dick had other ideas.
I withdrew and pushed in again, trying to keep the rhythm slow and steady, wanting to draw this out as long as I could. But with each slide inside her, the friction grew, and the need for release with it.
“More, Nate…please more,” she begged, who was I to deny her.
I picked up the pace, moving quicker, deeper. Her hips rocked up to meet mine as together we sought ultimate bliss.
“Fuck…I’m going to come…” I couldn’t wait any longer. My dick was going to explode.
“Yes…now…I’m coming,” her voice was ragged with moans. Her body arched up to me as her pussy clamped down hard and tight on my dick. A blinding white light blasted behind my eyes as my orgasm shot through my body.
I let out a loud feral growl as I pumped inside her. I felt possessed by her. Our bodies moved in sync until the last bit of my cum emptied inside her.
As I lay over her, my heartbeat thundering against hers, it became crystal clear that while my goal had been to make her mine, the truth was, she’d just made me hers.
So Happy and Yet So Sad
Chapter Fourteen: So Happy and Yet So Sad
Hallie
How was it possible to be blissfully happy and incredibly sad at the same time? Both emotions whirled through me as I lay in the dark in the early morning the night after Nate touched me in a way I’d never been touched before.
I wasn’t a virgin when I met Nate, and while I wouldn’t say I had a ton of experience, I had enough to know the way he touched me last night was different. Not just different from the way he’d touched me before, which had been many different ways. What he’d done to me last night had been so completely different from any of the few other men I’d been with. It was the perfect end to a perfect day. A day in which I fell even deeper in love with Nate, and therein lay my problem. As happy as I was with him, I knew falling for him was only going to lead to heartbreak. While I believed Nate enjoyed his time with me, I also knew that our time together, at least our intimate time, would come to an end. Even if we continued a sexual relationship after our fake marriage, eventually, he’d lose interest and move on. He may not be a shallow horndog as I’d once thought, but he wasn’t a man who wanted to make a long-term commitment in his personal life.
But it was hard to keep my emotions in check. The day before had been perfect from start to end. I’d woken and found him out in the pool, swimming, as I did nearly every morning. His gloriously naked body gliding through the water. When he got out, all his beautiful ornate tattoos glistened as the sun shone down on his slick wet chest. I wanted to run my tongue over every inch of him.
We ate breakfast on the porch, and he asked me what plans I had for my house. I showed him the new additions to my house book, and later that morning he drove me to a home improvement store where we gathered additional paint swatches, flooring and backsplash samples, and more. It was so sweet, and at the same time sad because all this stuff was for when our charade was over, and I was in my own house again.
Later, as we drove to his mother’s home, I was nervous as a woman in love would be when meeting the family. I wanted his mom and brothers to like
me, which was ridiculous since all this was fake. While at his family’s home, I’d learned more about him, and I fell even harder and deeper for him than I’d already had. There was definitely more to him than just building a successful business and womanizing.
His brothers liked to pick on him, but he picked back, and underneath it all was love and respect. I suspected that raising four boys wasn’t easy, but his mother did so with grace. It was clear all her sons adored her. Their father’s absence was felt as well. Pictures of him adorned the home, and I could see Nate and his brothers all took after him with their dark hair and eyes, broad shoulders, and even the tattoos.
Yes, this house was full of love from everyone, including me. I wasn’t pretending about my pride in him when I shared how well his presentations for the IPO were going. Or when I looked at him talking privately with his mother, and a powerful swell of emotion moved through me. It was clear now that I’d fallen head over heels for him. I loved him.
Feelings weren’t something people could control. All I had power over was how I responded to those feelings. As much as I wanted to see where they’d lead, I had to remember that my relationship with Nate was a business deal. A deal with benefits.
Last night, he’d taken advantage of those benefits in a way he never had before when we arrived home. If I was a woman prone to romantic notions, I might have thought Nate was making love to me. His kisses and touches were so soft and tender. The way we were connected - our hands, our bodies, our mouths, it was like two souls fusing into one.
Fortunately, I was smart enough to know not to believe in a future with him. But that didn’t take away from the disappointment I felt, or the realization that while I knew this was just sex for him, for me, it was more. I’d fallen in love with my fake husband.
I watched him as he slept beside me. I studied the intricate detail of the tattoo on his pec. It appeared to be angel wings with a date about two years ago. It had to be in honor of his father and was yet another item to add weight to the depth of my feelings for him.
I drew the sheet down his body, marveling at his long thick cock. It was hard, and I wondered if he was dreaming about me. Some dreams could come true. I moved down and licked the tip of his dick.
Her Hero Boss Page 11
