Chapter Twenty-Two
Alice
“These are fabulous.” I’m in a fancy jewelry store downtown, trying on amethyst earrings from Pippa’s newest collection, and they are just beautiful. I like to reward myself when I seal a new deal, and today I managed to convince one of the most popular San Francisco bands to play in Blue Moon twice a month. I’ve been after them for years; persistence pays off. Amethyst earrings are a totally acceptable reward. As the designer at Bennett Enterprises, Pippa will probably kill me when she sees me wearing them, insisting I don’t have to buy anything she creates because she can just gift them to me. She doesn’t understand. Buying them feels like I worked for them, and deserve them. “I’ll take them.”
Watching the vendor pack them, I fight to stifle a yawn, and it’s not even seven o’clock in the evening. Running three restaurants is very different to owning one, or even two. It’s not only more work, but different work. Nowadays I’m more often on the phone with potential partners and advertisers than in the kitchen or talking to customers. Some days I’ve even taken to working from home in the mornings since all I do is talk on the phone.
Dividing my time between three locations seems to be counterproductive, and I have to do something about it. I don’t have the energy to plan that course of action though, so I just put it off and continue on the hamster wheel like I’ve been doing for months now.
“Thank you for stopping by today.” The vendor hands me the small bag, and then I’m out the door. Despite being bone-tired, I smile, taking in the commotion around me in Union Square. It’s buzzing with people of all ages, taking leisurely strolls or striding with purpose, and I’m soaking in the beautiful August evening.
There’s also another reason behind my smile—I’m meeting Nate in about half an hour. It’s been almost two months since he first asked me out that night in Blake’s bar. He’s cooking for me tonight, and I’m over the moon. He’s been spoiling me until now too with quick dinners or breakfast, and I love being pampered almost as much as I love spoiling him.
But when I arrive at Nate’s apartment later, he’s in a bad mood. He prepared a delicious dinner, pork chops with Gouda cheese and salad, and I try to make small talk, but he’s been replying with monosyllabic answers to most of my questions. I don’t like it, and I like the scowl on his face even less.
After we’re done eating, we clean up, returning to the table to finish our wine. I’m waiting patiently for him to share with me what’s bothering him, but my patience expires after exactly one hour of scowls and one-word answers.
“Why are you so pissed off?” I ask.
Nate’s scowl deepens. “Just issues.”
Uh, if you think I’m gonna be satisfied by that, the joke’s on you, buddy.
Crossing my arms, I face him with my chin held high. “Nuh-uh, nope. This isn’t going to work.”
Alarm flits on his face, replacing the scowl. “What?”
“You not sharing things. If you’re in a bad mood, I want to know why. If something I did is bothering you, tell me. If—”
“It has nothing to do with you.”
I nod as the small knot of tension at the back of my neck melts.
“Well, whatever it is, you can tell me.”
“I’d just ruin your mood too.”
“Your bad mood is ruining mine anyway, so spill it.”
The corners of his lips lift in a small smile. Now we’re talking. I swear I’d dance naked on tables if it would make him happy. I’m in such deep trouble.
He leans back in his chair, playing with the glass of wine in his hand. “Remember what I told you about Mom? About her troubles with her mortgage?”
“Yeah.”
“I still can’t convince her to let me help her. Talked to her today, didn’t get anywhere. She’s unbelievably stubborn.”
My chest warms, as if I’ve just hugged a puppy. I love that he wants to take care of his mom. “She passed the trait on to you.”
He sips from his wine absent-mindedly. Then he focuses, as if an idea suddenly struck him.
“Would you mind talking to her?”
His question shocks the hell out of me because Nate never asks for help. For as long as I’ve known him, he’s never reached out to ask for anything, not of me or any of my siblings.
“Sure. I’ll talk to her.”
“Thank you, Alice. I thought maybe having someone who isn’t me talking to her might change her mind.”
“Should I call her?”
“How about paying her a visit?”
“I’d love to. I haven’t seen her in years.” My mind is already reeling with arguments I could use to convince her, and my throat prickles with unease. When it comes to family matters, I’ve always been better at delegating such issues. For example, Pippa is the best person to calm Sebastian’s and Logan’s fears of becoming fathers. Logan is the best person to convince Daniel it’s okay to change gears when your initial plan isn’t working out. But this is important to Nate, and I’ll do my best. It’s a good thing we’re heading out to visit her in person; I’ll have the opportunity to take in her body language as I feel out the situation. I swear my heart grew in size because my man asked me for help.
Since we’re both done with dinner, I rise from my chair, heading to Nate and straddling him. He runs his thumb over my mouth, splaying his hand wide on my neck and jaw. When he looks at me, something in his expression tips me off that he realizes this is a big step for him, and for us. That this requires another level of trust. I lean into his touch like I’m starved for affection, even though goodness knows I shouldn’t be. He showers me with attention and caresses every chance he gets—and I make sure he gets lots of chances— but the more I receive, the more I want.
“Talked to my mom today too. She and Dad are planning a big picnic two weeks from now, on Saturday. You’re invited, of course.”
Nate grins. “Ah, and I assume everyone will be there?”
I nod. “You’re not going to escape the questioning rounds, I’m afraid.”
“They like me already.”
“Aha! That line of thinking will get you into trouble, mister.”
“I can take whatever they throw at me. Or fire at me. It’s gonna be a firing squad out there, but I can handle them. I know your family, and I won’t disappoint them. Their approval is important to me too.”
“I’ll talk you up, tell them all about this lovely dinner and how you take care of me and make me smile.”
“Interesting how now you withhold all those negative traits you always tease me with.”
I huff, kissing his forehead before patting his shoulder. Clueless man. “I want my family to approve of you, not cut your balls off.”
“I know them—”
“Shit!”
I’ve no idea how I managed it, but I’ve knocked Nate’s glass of wine off. Its content spilled right onto me, and I’m soaked. Great! Red wine doesn’t wash off.
“I can throw this shirt away,” I mutter. “Do you mind if I shower now?”
“Only if I can’t join you in that shower.”
“Always with the dirty mind.”
“Always,” he confirms.
“No, you can’t join me.” Leaning in, I whisper, “You wait for me in the bedroom.”
***
Nate
Standing in the doorway of the bedroom with a towel wrapped around her fifteen minutes later, Alice is every man’s dream come true. I smile, remembering the way she pushed earlier, determined to get me to talk. In the past, I felt the need to permanently keep my guard up, not let anyone in. With Alice, opening up felt surprisingly easy. In fact, what I want to do now is tear down any walls she might have.
A few drops of water drip down her legs. She’s not tall, but there’s enough of Alice to feast on for hours at a time, which is exactly what I intend to do.
“Lose the towel.”
“Giving me orders again?” she asks with sass in her voice.
“Yeah. I am.”
Cocking a brow, she turns around, and just when I think she’s about to flip me the bird, she lowers her towel slowly, revealing just a morsel of skin at a time. Damn this woman; she’ll make me explode in my pants. She lowers it just enough to give me a peek at the crack of her ass. Fuck, she’ll be the death of me.
“Come here.”
She drops her towel completely, and I take one good eyeful of that round and perfect ass before she swoops around, heading in my direction. She stops right in front of me and I grab her ass with one hand, turning her around so her back is to me. Then I stand up from the bed, push her hair to one side, and start kissing her neck and shoulder, trailing down her spine as I lower onto the bed again. My mouth descends further and I press my hand on her back, pushing her forward. She immediately understands and bends forward. The motion brings her ass up, which is just what I wanted. Parting her cheeks, I lick her crack once.
“Oh fuck.” She shudders and I grip her hips with my hands, steadying her. I want to discover her limit so I can take her over the edge every time. Alice straightens up and I turn her around yet again, needing to see her face. Then I pull her between my open thighs. Now we’re talking. I run my other hand along her thigh until she shudders and rubs her inner thighs together almost involuntarily—a sign that wet heat rushed down between her legs. I want to worship this woman for the rest of my life. I’ll never get enough of her.
“Open your legs for me, Alice.”
She does what I say. She’s between my open thighs, my cock right between us, begging for attention. I press my thumb on her clit while sliding two fingers inside her opening.
“Nate.”
My name on her lips is such a powerful trigger that I barely resist pulling her in my lap right now. No, first I’ll take care of her. While kissing her torso, her taut waist, and the underside of her breasts, I curl my fingers inside her, searching for the tender place that will undo her. The G-spot isn’t a myth; it just takes patience and dedication to find it, and I have both. When she arches her hips slightly forward, dropping her head back, I know I found it. I press with my thumb on her clit at the same time my fingers work the tender spot inside, and my woman begins to unravel in front of me. The first sign is when she grasps my shoulders, and it’s not just for support. How do I know? Because she digs her nails into my skin, showing me she likes it.
“I want you.”
Unhitching my lips from her skin, I pull back. I want to see her expression when she explodes, which should be just about now. “I want you to come once before I’m inside you.”
“Nate, I—”
Moans replace her words and my hard-on twitches as I rub its head against her inner thigh. Just imagining her wet heat squeezing my cock nearly has me losing control, but I hang in there, watching her, drinking in her beauty and sensuality. She shatters beautifully, spasming around my fingers. With my free arm, I secure her just as her knees buckle. Her entire body rides the wave of the orgasm, arching and shuddering against me. Her cries of pleasure are music to my ears. I wait until she regains some of her composure.
“Now ride me, Alice.”
Breathing in and out, she manages a weak smile. “Give a girl some reprieve, will you?”
“No, you’re tight now. You’ll like it. Trust me.”
When I’m certain her knees are strong enough to support her, I let go, lying on the bed instead. Licking her lower lip, Alice straddles me, resting her knees at my side. When she slides over me, I damn near black out.
“Alice. Fuck. You’re so tight, babe.”
“Oh my God!” She stills with me inside her, opening and closing her fists, breathing frantically.
She’s so tight I’m about to come right now, but damn if I will. My golden rule is that my woman has to come first, but if I can give her seconds, so much better.
Alice slides with careful moves, and if I died now, I’d go a happy man. Her breasts bob up and down every time she rises and lowers herself. I cup one in my hand, kneading it, then tease the nipple with my palm. In response, she squeezes me good with her inner walls. My self-control hangs on a thread. I breathe in through my nose, staving off the orgasm, doubling my efforts when Alice whispers, “So close. I’m so close.”
When my balls tighten, I push myself into a sitting position, gripping her hips and guiding her in my own rhythm. A white-hot flash licks up my spine when she tightens around me even more. I lick between her breasts, taking one peak in my mouth, then moving on to the other. Alice slips a hand between us down to her clit.
She knows what she likes and isn’t shy about it. My hands are everywhere, cradling her head, guiding her hips, slamming her against me hot and wild. I’m a desperate man now, searching for the beautiful oblivion and ecstasy only an orgasm can offer. My entire body craves the release, even as I enjoy the pure torture from being buried to the hilt in this beautiful woman. She makes gorgeous sounds I want to eat up. I meet almost every moan of hers with a groan, trying to contain myself until she’s there.
When she is, she explodes beautifully for a second time, writhing and calling my name again and again. My own orgasm hits me seconds later in a violent rush, radiating from the tip of my crown down to every cell. It’s the kind of pleasure that goes bone-deep and doesn’t let go, demanding everything I have.
Only when we’re both completely spent do we collapse on the bed, Alice still on top of me, resting her nose in the crook of my neck.
“You are a goddess. And I’m going to remind you every day.”