THE FARMHOUSE ADJOINING the Lonely Oak vineyard had been extended and converted into a luxury twenty-five bedroom boutique hotel with spa. The vibe was French Provincial with authentic vintage furniture imported from the Loire Valley. Impeccable and elegant, but warm and inviting, decorated in nude tones with pale gold accents.
The bedroom alone was bigger than most hotel rooms, with a huge open fireplace and seating area. A wrought iron chandelier dripping with cut-glass beads hung from the exposed wooden beams—frankly, I wanted to take it home. It was gorgeous. The pièce de résistance, however, lay the other side of arched windows—lush hills covered with grapevines, miles upon miles in every direction you looked, interspersed with the last violets of lavender.
Even after our morning bedroom workout, Nate still had enough energy to drag me on a run in stifling heat. It was a great way to explore the impressive surrounding landscape belonging to the family. And with Will joining us, I was the luckiest woman alive, running alongside two seriously fit men working up a sweat.
“What are you opting for?” Nate asked, strolling into the lounge after his shower. For the past fifteen minutes my head had been stuck in the Spa Menu, deciding on a treatment.
“I’m spoilt for choice.”
“Have whatever you want.” He lifted my bare outstretched legs and joined me on the country style sofa. “My treat.”
He smelled deliciously clean and was dressed in a fitted navy collared shirt and graphite grey trousers. “Do you really have to work? I feel guilty being pampered while you’re in the office.”
“It shouldn’t take long. Will needs me to cast an eye over some business contracts.” He opened up the calendar function on his mobile phone. “We also need to ensure everything is sorted for tonight.”
“Anything I can do?”
“No.” He patted my knee. “I might join you if we’re done in time.”
I returned the menu to the table and took a few grapes from the fruit platter. “Not sure how I feel about another woman’s hands all over your body,” I noted, popping one into his mouth.
He chewed and swallowed, smirking. “Not sure how I feel about one touching you either. Can I watch?”
Laughing, I stood to collect my essentials from the bedroom. “How can you still be so horny after this morning?” I called out, shoving my purse into a white crocheted summer bag.
I jumped when Nate’s hands found my ribs, a brief stop on the way down to my backside. “For you,” he murmured into my ear, “I’m horny all the time. Your ass is looking particularly pert in these tiny white shorts.”
“That’s what you said first thing, right before you sank your teeth into it.” I turned in his embrace, halting his enjoyment. “Hate to think how sexually frustrated you’d be if I wasn’t here.”
“You better believe it.” And with a killer of a smile, he kissed me.
THE outdoor swimming pool was a relief to the intense heat of the midday sun. I sat on the edge and dangled my legs in the sparkling water, awash with a happiness and contentment that had eluded me for a long time. A few middle-aged couples, shaded by cream sun umbrellas, lounged on cushioned sun loungers sipping drinks served by two sprightly young girls in conservative knee-length shorts and white polo shirts.
One woman stopped briefly to chat as she passed to collect a towel from the cabana, asking if I was Will’s guest. Her shock upon hearing I was with Nate tickled and pleased me. It backed up Nate’s admission there had been no one serious in a while who had earned an invitation here.
With my appointment in ten minutes, I stood. Sadie and Mel were strolling towards me. “Kara.” Sadie’s arms spread open as she approached. “Nate told us we’d find you out here.”
“Lovely to see you both again.” I returned her warm embrace.
“Mom,” Mel said as she finished draping towels over two beds, “you take the lounger next to Kara. I can’t lay beside her with a body like this.” She wore large, dark sunglasses, but I could tell she was giving me the once over. Here we go again.
“That sarong is pretty.” My compliment was a cautious one. We hadn’t spoken since the lunch date, and I wasn’t sure where we stood.
Then with a genuine smile, she kissed both my cheeks. “Thanks. I won’t be taking it off for sure.”
“Are you kidding me?” I scoffed as the three of us moved back to the loungers. “If I look anything like you post-babies, I’ll be delighted. You have a fantastic figure.”
“You should see her dress for this evening,” Sadie gushed, clasping Mel’s hand. “She looks wonderful.”
Dressed in a pale blue cover-up and large floppy sunhat to shield her ageless skin from the sun, Sadie looked terrific herself.
“Shit!” Mel exclaimed as she flopped onto a bed. “I forgot my hat and I’ve just gotten comfy.”
“Here.” I tossed her the straw hat off my head. “Use this. I’m about to visit the spa.”
“Excuse me, I must say hello to Angela and David.” Sadie gave a hesitant wave to one of the couples.
“You didn’t invite their daughter did you?” Mel sat and peered over her sunglasses.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Melanie.” Flustered and awkward, Sadie gave me a tight smile and hurried away. The air around us had thickened with tension.
When Sadie was at a safe distance, Mel muttered, “If I see that bitch a day before I die it’ll be too soon.” She picked up the drinks menu and studied it. “It’s a shame you’re heading off. Hoped we could bond over a cocktail or three.”
“I would’ve liked that.” And I meant it. Her opinion of me had clearly shifted and it genuinely made me happy. “Let’s do it tonight.”
“Sounds perfect. In the meantime,” she said, tipping her face up to the sun, “I’m gonna kick back and make the most of my kid-free time.”
With a wave, I left her soaking up the sun and headed to the spa for a spot of pampering.
ALMOST five hours later I floated into the suite. My plan for a basic massage was thwarted when I arrived at the spa and discovered Nate had booked me an array of treatments. For starters, I was scrubbed head-to-toe with sea-salt, then massaged into a state of bliss with a cashmere lotion mixed with real twenty-four carat gold leaf, leaving my skin with a satiny sheen and silky softness. I was served lunch and champagne, then had deluxe manicures and pedicures, before being whisked away to another room where my hair was washed and styled in cascading waves, channelling Old-Hollywood glamour.
I entered the bedroom just as Nate’s shirt cleared his head and landed on the chaise. “I’ve just spent the entire afternoon in heaven,” I announced, approaching him. He turned, hands sliding into his trouser pockets. Placing my palms on his bare chest I swept my lips over his. “Looks like I might still be there.”
“You certainly look like heaven,” he murmured.
“My skin feels like it, too.”
“Can I check?” He tugged the sash of my robe until it fell open. Laughing, I batted his roaming hands away. “Your laugh sounds like heaven.” He cupped my throat and ran his nose under my jawline. “And you smell like it. That only leaves one more sense to check out.”
I offered my mouth for him to taste. Instead, Nate angled my face away and sucked on my neck, moving until he found the sensitive spot below my ear that made me shiver. “I already know how good you taste…how good this tastes,” he muttered, fingers pushing between my legs.
I squeezed my thighs together. If he succeeded in getting into my panties, I wouldn’t be able to say no.
“Shower with me,” he asked, dragging his teeth along my jaw.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to settle for a kiss. This perfection,” I pointed to myself as I stepped back and retied my robe, “has taken hours of effort and a lot of your money. There’s no chance you’re mussing me up.”
He stood there, his semi-erect cock straining against his fly and watched me with narrowed, amused eyes as I flopped onto the bed. That look was in his eyes, where I just knew he wanted to devour me. If it hadn’t been for the doorbell ringing, the entire afternoon would have been a waste of time. “Expecting company?”
“Room service.” Nate went to answer the door. A few minutes later, he returned carrying an ice bucket and two flutes.
“Nothing can surpass the French for true Champagne.” Draping a white napkin over his forearm with flair, he showed me the bottle—Moët and Chandon Dom Pérignon 2003 Rosé Champagne. “Can I pour you a glass, Mademoiselle?”
Laughing, I pushed off the bed. “Have a shower—a cold one—then we’ll drink it together.” I set about removing his clothing and ushered him into the bathroom.
Being able to watch Nate dress behind me as I added the finishing touches to my makeup in the dressing room mirror was a treat. When he eased his legs into black tuxedo trousers without underwear, I smirked. “You’re going commando tonight?”
“Hell, yeah.” His grin was cocky as he pulled on his white shirt. “Adds a bit of spice to these black tie events. I’ve always done it.”
My core contracted at the idea of spending all night with him, knowing that beneath the suave exterior of his Tom Ford tuxedo was a deliciously naughty man. I went into the closet to retrieve my gift. “I bought you a present.”
He looked up as he finished fastening his watch strap. “You did?”
Nodding, I offered him the black box. “Hope you like them.”
Nate took it and sauntered to the bed, sitting down before he opened the lid. My heart raced as I waited with bated breath. He fingered the contents, then after inspecting more closely, lifted his head. His expression was my most favourite of all. The look of love.
Completely disarming me with his smile, eyes spoke to me the way only his ever could. He didn’t have to say it. I knew.
“Help me put them on?” he asked, walking towards me.
“Sure.” With a relieved smile, I took out a platinum cufflink, engraved with our entwined initials, and fixed them one at a time to his French cuffs.
“I’m such a lucky bastard,” Nate said, clasping my face and kissing my forehead.
“You are.” I took a minute to appreciate him, then asked, “Can you help me into my dress?”
“That just sounds so wrong.”
I fetched the gown and handed it over. His breath hitched as I stripped off, eyes devouring me as he crouched by my feet. Using his shoulders for balance, I stepped into it and turned so he could fasten me up. His lips pressed softly up my spine as he fastened the bodice, trapping his kisses against my skin.
We both stared in silence at our reflection in the full-length mirror. When I caught his gaze, there was a dark, salacious glint in his eyes. I swallowed and asked, “What do you think?”
Nate shook his head, hands resting on my hips. “I have no words.”
“Is that good?”
“You’ve stolen my breath away,” he murmured, clasping my hands and entwining our fingers. “Absolutely enchanting.”
I felt exactly the same. Nate hadn’t got his jacket on, and his hair was a disorderly wet mess from his shower, yet he still looked utterly gorgeous. “Tell me what you see,” he urged.
“In you?”
He laughed softly. “No, in you. Do you see what I do when you look at yourself?”
I studied the person staring back at me quietly. I did look pretty, but that had more to do with the exquisite couture dress I wore and the hours of attention I’d received at the spa.
“Well?” Nate asked.
“I see a shy woman, still a little self-conscious, all too mindful of her misgivings, but hiding it well with a pretty dress.”
His mouth thinned, his head shaking, saddened and disappointed as he turned me to face him. “Know what I see?”
I shrugged.
With the tips of his fingers brushing my cheekbones, he implored me to believe his next words. “A truly remarkable woman, whose inner strength and beauty has no bounds. A woman finally free from the constraints of her past, who knows who she is and is ready to embrace that person. Someone who lights up my world brighter than the stars in the night sky, offering me the chance of a future I never thought I could have.”
The words he spoke radiated bright like a light from those captivating eyes. I let out a soft sigh of sheer happiness. Raising my knuckles to his lips, he kissed them before planting a sweet kiss on the underside of my right wrist. “And someone who’s wrist is a little too bare.”
“Pardon?” I followed him with tear-filled eyes as he removed something from the in-room safe.
“You’re not the only one who came bearing gifts.” A long red jewellery box was between slender fingers when he returned.
“Nate, you’ve given me more than enough already.”
He popped the lid and waited. When I saw the contents, my hands flew to my mouth, stifling my gasp. “This is far too much.”
“Nothing will ever be enough for you, Kara.” Nate carefully slipped the delicate bracelet out and draped it around my shaking arm. Pink and white pavé diamonds glittered on my wrist.
I sucked in a breath to steady my speeding heart, and tried to halt the sob bubbling inside. It was no use. Staring at the bracelet—at Nate—in outright shock, a tear I desperately didn’t want to fall tracked over my cheek.
“See this, right here,” Nate said softly, brushing the lone drop away, “is exactly why I adore you. When you let down that guard and let all your raw emotion out without apology. Things matter to you. I just want to wrap you up, nurture you, cherish you forever.”
“I don’t want to cry.” Disappointed, I swiped at my tears. “My makeup is ruined.”
“At least I’m ruining it for the right reason. Mai will be pleased.” He removed his white pocket square and started dabbing at my eyes.
“What’s she got to do with it?” I sniffed.
“I was issued a stern warning. Smudge your lipstick, not your mascara.”
I snickered. “One of her insightful gems.”
“If I did,” he went on, “said she’d bust my kneecaps, total my car, and force Riley to poison my coffee. She’s fierce. I was pretty intimidated.”
I sniggered. Inside that tiny frame of hers lived a massive heart. For the first time, I actually considered Mai as a best friend—a sister I never had. “And you took a threat, from that tiny thing?”
Nate shrugged with a smile. “I indulged her, allowed her to think she’d bothered me. There’s a difference.”
“Thank you. I love it.” And to show how much, I hauled him close and pressed my lips to his. The kiss quickly deepened. I relished the devotion in his touch, the profound love that made my stomach flutter. I was completely lost to him. A life without him didn’t bear thinking about.
He was the last man I would ever fall for again.
I drank in the finished product, rooted to the spot. The bespoke tuxedo formed Nate’s lean frame immaculately, accentuating his trim physique. Nothing, however, could detract from the savage beauty of the man wearing it. With the cut lines of his closely shaved jawline, lightly tanned skin glowed with an inner peace, and his eyes shone the brightest blue. Flawlessly well-groomed, his hair had been smoothed back, much like the night of the Acacia party. I literally thought I might have to pick my jaw up off the floor.
“You look so…” I tried regaining some sense. Finally, I managed a feeble, “Handsome.”
Nate’s lips curved as he straightened his sleeves, pulling so the cufflinks were exposed.
“But something’s missing.” I hitched up my dress and removed my lacy panties. His mind quickly caught up. This was going to drive him wild, possibly over the edge.
“There.” I arranged them neatly in his pocket so their identity was concealed and gave it a pat. “Perfectly co-ordinated.”
“Jesus, Kara!” His growl rumbled through my alert body, the hand grabbing my bottom sending spurs of heat over my already flush skin. “Knowing this fantastic ass is bare and I’m wearing the offending garment like an accessory is too much. Fuck,” he rasped, lowering his head, “I can smell you on me.”
I ran a hand over his chest, down to his groin, cupping and fondling his cock. “And to think there’s nothing beneath this?” I bit my lip, glancing up. “You really know how to tease me.”
“That makes two of us.” Our bodies pressed together, my hands trapped between us. Fiery lust was replaced with a tender intimacy. “How do you grow more beautiful every time I look at you?”
My gaze lowered to his shoulder. His adoration and genuine heart still confounded me. A man who could have any woman he wanted had chosen me. I was who he’d fallen in love with.
“Now, if your hand stays where it is, we won’t make it to this party.” His voice had that gruff rasp that got me hot and feeling wanton and sexy, because there wasn’t the uncertainty over exactly how good his promises of fantastic sex were anymore. I knew. And, I knew what made him even crazier for me was when I came out of my shell and unleashed the seductive temptress inside. All I could think was fuck the party, let me drag you back in there and do all sorts of naughty things to you.
“Those thoughts making you blush,” Nate murmured, clasping my hand and heading to the door, “keep having them. Every time I glance at you, I’ll enjoy knowing you’re thinking of me and how hard you’re gonna make me come.”
Flushed with embarrassment yet full of feminine empowerment, I followed him into the hallway.
The lounge bar was full of family and friends, all resplendent in their finery. Nate never let me out of his sight, proudly introducing me to the other guests as his girlfriend. One hand was constantly on me, either around my waist, gently caressing my shoulder or firmly linked in my own. His touch calmed me in what would otherwise have been a nerve-wracking experience.
“Mel, you look fantastic,” I told her when she arrived. Wearing a floor length black one-shouldered gown, her light brown hair was styled high on her head to highlight a swanlike neck.
“Spanx” she confided with a wink.
“Oh, yes,” I laughed. “Me, too.”
“That’s exactly what I should be giving you for being such a naughty girl,” Nate growled into my ear. I’d never been into that kind of thing, but had to admit, with him in charge I couldn’t fail to get excited by the suggestion. He smirked and fondled his newly acquired pocket square.
I was relieved when we were asked to take our seats for dinner.
“YOU and Will organised all of this?” I asked Nate quietly as we finished our vichyssoise, one of my favourite soups.
“Why are you surprised? You told me I had the whole wining and dining seduction mastered to perfection.”
The dinner setting was one of the most romantic I’d seen. Fairy lights twinkled on clipped miniature hedges and topiaries lining a rectangular stone terrace. Seven round tables draped in fresh white linen had been set for eight, all with individual heaters to ward off the night chill. The table centrepieces were large pillar candles in glass bowls, decorated with lavender and herbs that fragranced the air.
“Hope you’ve brought that appetite of yours.” Will, sitting on my right, patted my shoulder and winked as the main course was placed in front of us—a Provençal style sea bass with steamed vegetables. “I’ve definitely worked up a hunger.”
“Have you been in the gym?” I asked, sipping my champagne.
“Kara.” With a lewd grin, Will shot me a narrow-eyed glance. “Her name’s Bethany, not Jim. Male on male shit—not my thing.”
I promptly choked on my bubbles which made him howl with laughter. Even Nate grinned. Luckily, the rest of the table didn’t hear. Thomas, Sadie, Mel and David were in deep conversation. According to Nate, Bethany was a nice, well-behaved girl, and Will’s go-to-date for special occasions such as this. One you share with the family and not the boys—his words, not mine. I’d been speechless when he confirmed it had actually happened before. The pouty brunette seemed a little put out by the fact I was sat between easily the two most attractive men in the room and not her.
By the time dinner was over, the corset of my dress was definitely snugger. I’d been drinking since early afternoon in the spa and the warm fuzz of alcohol was also threading through my veins.
“Once again you haven’t let me down.” Will nodded an acknowledgement to my empty plate.
“Hell would have to freeze over before I left any of that Clafoutis. So bad for me, but so good.” I wiped the corners of my mouth with the napkin and set it beside my plate.
Nate’s arm immediately came back around my shoulders when I sagged into the back of my chair. He leant closer, turning his head away so no one could hear, and murmured, “You look so damn beautiful. I can’t take my eyes off you.”
It was true. Even during the times he couldn’t physically look at me, he was connecting through touch, as though his fingers could convey what he was so desperate to see with his eyes. Had it been anyone else I’d have found it suffocating. But I loved knowing Nate needed me that much. I felt exactly the same.
“I noticed,” I whispered back, “and I like it.” Shy, I bit my lip when I caught Mel observing us. “Even if you are just protecting your investment,” I pointed out, jangling the bracelet so the precision cut gems sent shards of light bouncing across the table.
Nate drew his head back. “You are far more precious to me than any piece of jewellery.” He pressed warm lips to my wrist, then worked his way back up to my ear. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten you’re gloriously naked beneath this dress.”
Everything deep inside clenched at the husky tone and implication of his words. “Nor I you,” I replied, stroking his thigh.
His fingers were blindly toying with the bracelet. “I need to fuck you so badly.”
“Shhh.” I placed a finger to his lips, hoping he wasn’t heard. I doubt he’d have cared if his broad grin was anything to go by. I stroked his face, following the strong, smooth jawline with my fingers. Then I leant in and kissed him. I wanted more but was conscious of the eyes watching us.
“Put her down, man.” Will pushed out his chair and stood. “Mom wants us up front.”
A large sandstone sculpture framed with an iron arbour separated the dining area from the dancing section. Behind that, a stage for the band waiting to play. Nate, his parents and siblings, stood centre stage in front of us all. As the eldest son, Nate gave the speech.
The consummate professional was present, but his demeanour and words were relaxed, full of respect and admiration for his parents. “You inspire me. Give me hope that everyone has a soulmate, and to never take it for granted if you’re fortunate enough to find them in this life,” Nate continued, bringing what had been a humorous, lighthearted speech to a close on a more serious note.
He turned to his parents, both teary-eyed to his left. “Dad, if I make my future wife half as happy as you’ve made mom, I’ll be doing my job as her husband.”
Thomas acknowledged Nate’s sincerity with a pat on his shoulder. Nate cleared his throat, then the entire focus of his speech altered. He glanced up, intense blue eyes locking me firmly in their sight. The air thickened, like the calm before an impending thunderstorm. The crackle of chemistry was instant, like someone had flicked on a switch.
“Dad always told me, when you find the one who resides in your head—the one you can’t go a second without thinking about, the one you’d lay down your life for—never let her go. Because she is the one who will forever live in your heart.”
Enraptured, love bloomed inside my chest. Bethany offered a dreamy sigh of awe, but I was too caught up in the man of my dreams to respond. Suddenly, the world shifted, righted itself, then started spinning again, smoother and more purposeful than before.
He talked to me, heat firing from his eyes. Mere seconds passed, yet it felt like time stood still. Will shuffled closer and spoke into Nate’s ear. Nate took a minute to compose himself, then straightened, turning to his parents. “You are each other’s forever. I love you both.” He raised his glass high in the air, voice breaking with emotion. “Happy Anniversary.”
I scrambled for my champagne and stood on shaky legs, toasting Thomas and Sadie. Everyone gave a rousing round of applause as they stepped onto the dance floor while the family returned to the table. “That was beautiful,” I said to Nate when he joined me again.
“That last bit was for you.”
I waited for him to lower the champagne flute from his mouth before kissing him. “I know.” Resting my head to his, we watched his parents dance in a contented silence, arm-in-arm. The way they moved across the black tiled floor so easily, and in perfect synchronisation, reminded me of being a young girl and watching my own parents dance.
I felt Nate tense before he muttered under his breath. “Christ.” The couple I’d seen at the pool earlier were making their way over. His mouth thinned as he greeted them stiffly. “Angela. David.”
“Nate, so lovely to see you again.” The woman’s smile was tinged with shame. Mel watched with caution whilst Will looked like he was ready to jump in at any moment. Their concern baffled me.
“Yes, it’s been a while.” Nate brought me into the conversation. “This is my girlfriend, Kara.” Then he turned to me. “Angela and David are old family friends.”
I reached out a hand to each of them. “Hello.”
“My, she’s a pretty one,” David said, clasping both sweaty hands around mine. Nate’s vice-like grip on my waist tightened possessively. The tension between the three of them was strained, the atmosphere decidedly cold. The older couple fidgeted awkwardly as an uncomfortable silence descended upon us.
“So, we’ve heard a lot about you again lately,” Angela started cautiously, almost afraid. I would be too if I was on the receiving end of the withering glare Nate gave her. “Will we see more of you, too?”
“Highly unlikely,” Nate replied stiffly.
Angela recoiled, but quickly regained her demure composure. “Thank you for giving her another chance.”
Nate snorted. “Like I had a choice.” He glanced over his shoulder, ignoring Angela’s genuine gratitude. “Please excuse us,” he addressed them both. “I’d like to dance with the love of my life.” With a diplomatic goodbye, he ushered us onto the dance floor to join the other guests.
“Why the frosty atmosphere?” I asked, nodding to the couple as I settled into his hold.
“No reason.” We began to sway in time to Van Morrison. There was no mistaking the way Nate held me so close demonstrated his familiarity with my body. The slow, almost indecent movement of his hips pressing his groin to mine. The one hand resting on the curve of my backside, the other stroking the exposed skin on my back. Our synergy was perfect, like we’d been dancing together for years—the way we were in bed together. The longer we danced, the more the strain eased from his highly strung frame. Nate leant his head to mine and began to sing.
“I love when you sing to me,” I murmured, closing my eyes.
I felt his smile. “You’ve noticed?”
“Every time.” I took a long inhalation, his heady scent making me sway as much as he did, leading me in the slow dance. As the song finished, he dipped me in one last extravagant move that had the crowd clapping. With anyone else I’d have been thoroughly embarrassed, but in Nate’s arms I was invincible. He urged me back into his frame, holding my hand to his chest, the other wrapped around my waist.
“The love of your life, huh?” I repeated, his earlier statement filling me with contentment.
“My forever.” And in case I needed further reassurance, he dipped his head and kissed me. My hand broke free and slid up his chest to join the other at his nape. The hand that came to the back of my head held me in place as the innocent meeting of lips turned more amorous. My tongue flicked out, mapping Nate’s full lips, searing them to memory before losing them as he opened his mouth. His tongue was quick to find mine, the sweetness of black cherries coating the heat of his kiss.
Love overflowed between us as Nate staked his final claim of me. Everyone and everything around us disappeared.
“I can’t believe we just did that in front of everyone. In front of your family!” I buried my face in his neck.
“They’re lucky it’s all they witnessed.”
I pulled back. His face was flushed, eyes bright. He gazed at me like I was all that existed in his world. All he could see—all that mattered.
I needed us to be alone, away from the distraction of guests and music. I didn’t want to share him, or our precious time, with anyone else. For a little while, I wanted him to be mine.
I took a deep breath. “Can we go somewhere quiet?”