Clearly she’d never really needed Nate’s help today.
“She’s fucking brilliant,” Max whispered in Nate’s ear. “She’s got these people eating out of the palm of her hand.”
A flush of pride ran through Nate and he beamed as Paige handled another prickly question from the crowd. “Now you know what I was talking about. She’s different, special.”
Max nodded. “She is. Don’t mess this up, mate.”
As she was taking a sip for her water glass, she caught Nate’s eye and smiled. A smile intended just for him alone. Even in the midst of all this, she’d remember him.
“I’m the luckiest man alive.”
Don’t fuck this up.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“Don’t look at the paps,” Nate warned Paige as they slipped out of the venue and headed for the limousine. “Just smile and look at me. Act like they’re not there.”
They were supposed to meet Max and his parents for dinner but first they had to navigate a labyrinth of photographers who had apparently realized she was here with Nate. They were like sharks smelling blood.
Nate’s arm was around her shoulders protectively as they strode through the gauntlet, flashbulbs making a strobe effect that almost blinded her. She leaned more heavily on Nate as he was taller and could see through the throngs of people.
“I was so proud of you today, love,” he whispered in her ear as they climbed into the vehicle, reporters yelling questions that they had no intention of answering. She’d answered more than her share this morning. “You didn’t really need me but I’m glad I was here.”
The door closed and the limo sped off, leaving the crowd behind. Every tense muscle in her body began to relax and she went limp on the seat, her head lolling back and her eyes closed. “I’m fucking exhausted. If I never say another word to anyone ever again it would be perfect. I am completely talked out. You’re going to have to do the heavy lifting at dinner with Max and his parents. I’ve talked more today than I have in the entire last thirty days combined. This extrovert shit is for the birds.”
His silence had her opening her eyes. Normally Nate was a chatterbox. He looked confused.
“You seemed like you were having fun today. You were magnificent during the Q&A and your fans were in heaven during the signing. You laughed and chatted with them, took selfies. Are you saying you didn’t have a good time? You did so well.”
It wasn’t unusual for an extrovert to not understand what being an introvert really meant, but there was no better time than now to educate him. If they were going to be in any kind of relationship, he needed to get this.
“I like people just fine. In small doses and small crowds. I can absolutely be Paige Mitchell and be onstage and performing when I need to be. I can take a million selfies with my readers and answer all their questions. But you need to know that sucks out every bit of energy that I have. I don’t recharge with people. I can only recharge in solitude.”
Stunned, he simply nodded and digested her words. “I have to tell you no one would have ever known that you weren’t one hundred percent comfortable up there. You had me fooled.”
She didn’t say what came immediately to her tongue – that he was so used to being in superficial situations that he was in the habit of not bothering to look any deeper. But that was a cheap shot and she didn’t really know if it was the truth. He’d certainly looked past the veneer with her.
“I’d like to thank the Academy,” she teased. “Seriously, I can do it. I told Helen that. I just don’t enjoy it like you do. I will say it’s nice to have you hold my hand through this. I can’t even imagine doing this on my own.”
He leaned down to rub their noses together. “Glad you gave us a chance?”
“For more reasons than one.”
Pure, unadulterated exhaustion wasn’t going to get her out of dinner though. After meeting Karen and Timothy, Max’s parents, she’d agreed to this meal and she would see it through. They were lovely people and sharing the next few hours with them wasn’t going to be that bad. She only had to keep herself together a little longer. Then she could crawl away to the bubble bath, a book, and a cup of hot chocolate.
It might not be a bad idea to skip the appetizer and dessert courses.
* * *
“So you don’t base your characters on real people?” Karen asked with a laugh. “That’s kind of disappointing. I was hoping to be written into your next book.”
Dinner with Max’s parents was going well. “I make it a point never to base a character on anything more than a physical resemblance to real people. Their personality quirks are all their own.”
The plates were cleared and Paige took the opportunity to excuse herself and visit the ladies room. She was fixing her lipstick when the door swung open and Nate strode in like he owned the joint. The bathroom. Tossing her lipstick back into her purse, she gave him her best mean look which had put Jason back in line more than a few times. What in the hell was Nate doing in here? Had Max pissed him off again?
“Can’t you read? This is the ladies’ room. You can tell by the picture of a stick figure in a skirt on the door.”
His blue eyes had darkened dangerously and instead of replying he dragged her into one of the stalls, clicking the lock behind them and then pressing her up against the door. His body seemed to take up all the space in the small cubicle and her own body roared to life immediately, responding in its now predictable manner. Stiff nipples. Heat between her thighs. Racing heart and a little sweaty. Their kisses had grown increasingly urgent since that first one, and they’d found themselves making out like teenagers on more than one occasion. But they had yet to make love, something Paige was anxious to rectify.
“What are you doing?”
“If it’s not obvious I’m doing it wrong,” Nate growled in her ear, right before he bit down on the lobe, sending a shiver down her spine.
Her knees went weak and she was grateful for his arm supporting her waist as his lips nibbled at the cord of her neck and down to the collar of her dress. She mewled in protest when he lifted his head but he didn’t relent, his gaze hot and full of lust.
“I had to sit there all day and watch you. So sexy and confident. So fucking gorgeous. Then even tonight I’ve had to play the sweet suitor when all I’ve really wanted to do is bend you over the nearest flat surface and fuck you until you’re screaming my name. You’re mine and I’m yours and I want everyone in the world to know that.”
The breath was knocked from her lungs and she was glad she didn’t have to reply because forming actual, real words at the moment would have been impossible. Instead she let her kiss say everything she couldn’t. His hand slid under her dress and up the quivering flesh of her thigh, his fingers discovering her naughty secret that was only going to throw gasoline on this raging fire.
“You little minx,” he groaned, his voice like ground glass. “You’ve been walking around all day with no knickers. If I had known…”
“I couldn’t wear any,” Paige confessed. “They would have ruined the line of the dress.”
“That’s got you in big trouble, baby girl. You have no idea.”
She might not but it was becoming clear fast. Those long, skillful fingers had found her wet and ready, stroking her clit as one digit slid easily inside of her, quickly joined by a second. She couldn’t keep down the gasp that escaped from her lips nor the gush of honey that drenched his hand.
“That’s a good girl. Can you come on my hand? Come for me, sweets. Can you, love?”
Her brain was becoming increasingly muddled as her arousal went into overdrive. The tension in her lower abdomen kept building until it was almost unbearable. He held her there on the brink, her fingers digging into his biceps, a sheen of sweat covering her skin.
She cried out his name when she tumbled over the precipice, something inside of her snapping free. Riding his fingers to the end of her climax, she reached up and pulled his head down, fusing their lips together until
the last moment. When it was over Nate pulled his hand from her sensitive core, lifting his fingers to his lips and slowly licking them clean as he gazed into her eyes.
“Sweet. I can’t wait for more.”
It was so good she wanted to cry. But she wouldn’t. She had no doubt she was already a mess, her makeup ruined. She could barely stand and speak and this man had been the entire reason. He was smiling triumphantly now, male pride evident in every line of his too gorgeous face.
She reached up and straightened his crooked tie. “How fast can you eat dessert?”
He leaned down so their mouths were mere millimeters apart.
“Darling, I’m going to take great delight in having every inch of you for dessert. Tell them you have a headache and let’s get out of here.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
It felt like Nate had waited years but it was only two hours later when he threw open his front door, sending it sailing into the wall with a bang. Practically carrying Paige over the threshold, he impatiently pushed her up against the wall as the door swung shut with a resounding click. While one hand slid up her thigh and under her dress, the other reached out and flicked the lock on the door, effectively shutting out the rest of the world. Finally it would be just the two of them.
“I can’t wait to get you stripped naked and under me,” he growled into her ear. Her hands slid down his spine and gripped his ass cheeks, fingers digging into the muscles. His cock hardened painfully and he knew without a doubt their first time together was going to be fast and hard.
A seductive giggle escaped from her swollen lips, courtesy of his kisses in the limo on the way back and she gazed up at him, her expression promising sin and heaven all at the same time. Her pupils were blown wide and when her tongue snaked out to wet her lips he couldn’t hold back the groan that tore from his throat as he captured that mouth with his own. The kiss rocked him inside and out, his knees turning to jelly as their tongue tangled and played.
Her deft fingers worked on the buttons of his shirt, sliding against his bare flesh and he simply couldn’t take it anymore. Bending at the waist, he hauled her over his shoulder in a fireman carry and sprinted up the stairs as she shrieked and laughed at his impatient antics.
“Have you lost your mind?” she asked as he dumped her on the bed before tugging at his own clothes that were most definitely in the way. She was kicking off her boots and tossing them aside. “You could have dropped me on my head.”
“You’re as light as a feather.” Nate tore at the rest of the buttons, a few of them flying across the room and hitting the walls and floor. Throwing the useless fabric down, he went to work on his belt.
“Easy there, big guy. You’re going to take out an eye at this rate.” Paige dropped to her knees in front of him, her smaller fingers covering his own. “Let me take care of this.”
Her voice had dropped to a husky tone and the blood surged through his veins, creating a roaring sound in his ears that drown out all extraneous noise. His lids grew heavy as she unzipped his trousers and pulled them down, his cock springing free. He hadn’t bothered with undergarments today either. Her hand wrapped round the base and her head dipped to lick at the head. Not able to stop himself, his fingers curled into her silky hair, tugging at the strands and holding himself steady, otherwise he might have collapsed from the sweet pleasure that was running through him. Her mouth worked its magic, the heat finally forcing his eyes shut as he surrendered to her skillful ministrations. He’d never had it this good.
When the pressure in his lower back became too much he moaned her name and reluctantly pulled away, immediately missing the warm cavern of her mouth. He stood there for a moment, overcome and disoriented. He wanted to rip her clothes off and give it to her hard and the other part wanted to take his time and savor the moment.
Fuck it. Fast was going to win. His cock was in charge. Later his brain might get a vote too but right now he’d deprived that organ of any blood flow.
Paige seemed to be reading his mind. She’d moved to sit on the edge of the bed and was sliding her dress over her head, a smile playing on her lips. “I’ve been thinking about this all day too.”
“Really?” Nate dropped to his knees and reached up to help her pull the dress over her head, leaving her in a lacy beige bra that pushed up her breasts in a tempting manner. “You naughty little girl. So randy when you were supposed to be working. Tsk, tsk.”
Her hand went to her back but his fingers were already there, pinching the hooks and tossing her bra aside, his gaze feasting on the gorgeous body he’d bared. Her skin was a pale gold, perhaps from the Florida sun, and her curves were perfectly formed for his touch. She was petite but not too delicate. Slim but not skinny. Her breasts were round and full and topped with dusky pink nipples that begged to be tasted. Her firm thighs were pressed together but he could see a hint of moisture on the skin, glistening and beckoning. Letting him know in no uncertain terms that she wanted this as much as he did.
“Like what you see?” she asked, her tone a little shy. He could see the uncertainty there in her eyes and he wanted to take it away now and forever. She was perfect, and right now she was everything. “It’s been a long time since anyone has seen me, you know, naked and all.”
He pushed her legs apart and took up residence between them. “Love, if I liked what I saw any more this would all be over and I would have disgraced myself quite embarrassingly. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life, and I’m a lucky man.”
He punctuated each of the last words with a kiss to her quivering thighs, his shoulders pushing them even farther apart. She lifted up from the mattress and looked down at where he was perched between her legs, her eyes wide with surprise.
“What are you doing?”
He gave her a wicked grin. “You ask me that quite a lot, love, and I’ll give you the same answer. If you don’t know then I must be doing something wrong.”
* * *
Nate was doing every single, solitary thing exactly right.
Nibbling a path up the flesh of her inner thigh, his nose nuzzled her clit and the sensation almost sent her flying off the mattress. It had been a very long time since she had felt a man’s breath that close to the most sensitive part of her. Her heart pounded against her ribs and she had to take a few breaths before she could speak.
“You don’t have to do that just because I did.”
She didn’t expect him to and she sure as hell didn’t want him doing anything out of obligation. That was the worst feeling in the world.
He lifted his head, his eyes narrowed as his gaze stroked up and down her body. “I know that.”
Shifting on the bed, she tried to press her legs together but he was firmly lodged between them. “So, you know, you don’t…have to.”
“I know.” He rubbed his chin, still regarding her closely. “But I want to. Is that okay? Do you not like this? If I do something you don’t enjoy just tell me to stop, love.”
He’d completely misunderstood and it was all her fault. “No, I like it, it’s just I don’t want you to feel like you have to.”
His finger ran up her drenched folds and then circled her swollen clit, dragging a tortured groan from her lips. A coil of arousal tightened in her belly and her fingers fisted the bedclothes. “When was the last time a man had his mouth on this sweet spot, love?”
That finger was drawing patterns through her folds, sliding over and around the one place she needed him the most, making it extremely hard to concentrate on his question. What did he say again?
“A long time,” she finally rasped. “Years. Noah didn’t like…”
She didn’t bother to go into any detail, sure Nate could figure it out for himself. If anything his grin became more evil, far more diabolical and for a moment she wondered if she should grab her clothes and make a run for it. Luckily it was far too late.
Two long digits were pressed into her, finding the sensitive spot on the inside as his mouth began
to work on her clit on the outside. He lapped at her with the flat of his tongue until the room spun and the world tilted on its axis. White heat swept through her veins as she fell over the cliff, calling his name over and over and riding his mouth until he’d wrung every ounce of pleasure she had to give him in tribute.
She lay there in a sweaty heap, still buzzing from the havoc he’d wrought as he fumbled in the bedroom drawer. She heard the crinkle of plastic and the snap of a condom before he came down on top of her, his body so much larger than her own. It made her feel feminine, delicate, and rather protected as well, although the thought was silly. She was well capable of taking care of herself but at this moment she was happy to give into his dominance.
His cock, long and thick and steel-hard, nudged at her entrance and she braced her hands on his shoulders, closed her eyes, and waited for his invasion.
It didn’t come.
She opened her eyes to find him looking down at her, straining to hold back. The cords of his neck stood out in stark relief and a muscle ticked in his jaw. He was being patient. For her.
“Are you sure, love?”
Her chest tightened with an emotion she wasn’t sure she should allow herself to feel. This man…this gentle and sweet man who sometimes made her crazy with frustration…he was holding himself in check. At times he was the most self-centered asshole she’d ever met but at an intimate moment when he could have taken almost anything he wanted…he did this. A lump rose in her throat and her answer came out choked.
“I’m sure. I want you, Nate.”
They may have been the truest words she’d ever spoken.
He entered her slowly, giving her ample time to get used to being filled after such a long dry spell. Her walls stretched to accommodate his size and for a moment she wasn’t sure she could take all of him but he paused, letting her catch her breath before pushing in to the hilt. With every delicious inch inside of her, she began to move her hips in a slow sway as he pulled out and then thrust back in. Over and over, they found their rhythm. Slowly at first, but then building up speed until he was riding her hard and fast, each stroke running over that spot inside of her that sent her closer to the edge.
A Kiss For The Cameras Page 14
