Part 17 (2/2)
”Oh.” Her gaze dropped to focus on the dark stubble ringing his oh-so-kissable mouth.
”You were sleeping so peacefully; it would've been criminal to wake you.”
She tried to subtly slide her leg off his arousal, but his hand cupped her kneecap, stilling it.
”Last night was amazing, Lauren-you're amazing.” He stroked his palm up her thigh and squeezed her bottom. ”Your trust and openness means a lot to me.”
Something cold twisted down her spine, and she repressed a s.h.i.+ver. Early morning light fell onto his tousled hair, and his face was boyish and relaxed. Would she destroy this haven by admitting she only trusted him with her body? With the here and now?
He must've sensed her stiffen, as he slid his other hand up her back and gently gripped her shoulder. ”This doesn't have to be the awkward morning after, you know.”
”This is light-years beyond awkward.” She tugged the sheet around her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.
”Why?”
”We agreed on one night, remember?”
He c.o.c.ked his head and shot her a charming smile. ”I don't recall signing on a dotted line.”
”It can't work between us.”
Even as she said the words, another ripple of ice slicked down her backbone and settled low in her stomach. How could she risk wanting more with a man who would leave forever in a month's time? ”You're always on the move.”
And she and Drew needed to stay hidden where it was safe. Where her heart was safe.
His smile slipped a notch. ”True. But I'm not moving anywhere far from you in the next few weeks.” He tugged her mouth down to his, brus.h.i.+ng his lips feathery soft across them. ”And Lauren? You know we're not done working this out of our systems.”
This what? What exactly was this thing they had to eliminate from their systems? l.u.s.t? Love?
She pondered that for the second it took for Nate to roll her onto her back and distract her from further doubts with firm, hot lips.
The opportunity to spend more time with Lauren couldn't have worked better if Nate had planned it.
For the last week, he'd snuck around like a teenager. Each morning at dawn he'd leave Lauren warm and loved up in her bed, and creep back down to the garage. Not that he was complaining. Much. But seeing her for only a few hours every day wasn't enough. He'd gotten greedy, especially as he and Todd had resurrected the worst sections of his house.
He stuffed a handful of paint selector cards in his back pocket then left the garage and climbed the outside stairs. A scrabble of claws on wooden decking and Java's blocky body appeared, his tail a wagging blur.
”Hey, mutt.”
The dog sneezed, shook himself and leaned against Nate's legs as he stopped to scratch Java's ears.
”No more biscuits; I already fed you on the way downstairs earlier.”
The back door banged open, and Drew bounded out, dressed in a Superman tee s.h.i.+rt and carpenter jeans, toy tools slotted into the pants' many pockets. ”I'm ready, Nate! I'm ready!”
Nate chuckled and swung the boy onto his shoulders. ”Whoa. It's only half seven, and the hardware store doesn't open until nine.”
”You gotta eat breakfast.”
”I know, I know. Quack, quack, kid.”
Drew giggled and flopped forward, his tiny hands locking onto Nate's ears as Nate exaggeratedly ducked under the lintel.
”Most important meal of the day, right?” Nate asked him.
With her son wrapped around Nate's head like an octopus, he walked into the warmth of Lauren's kitchen.
”Morning, Nate.” She stood at the counter pouring coffee, her bed-rumpled hair now combed smooth and her eyes sparkling and alert-at least they both got some sleep last night.
”Morning, Lauren,” he replied and added a wink. Only two hours ago, she'd bitten his shoulder to m.u.f.fle his name as he'd rocked her to mindless bliss. ”Sleep well?”
She blushed and slitted her eyes. ”Like a baby.”
Nate turned and hooked Drew off his shoulder, flipping him over on the way down in a summersault, which made the boy scream with glee. How many times had Nate's father done that to Nate as a kid? Countless-and he always demanded more.
Sure enough, Drew flung up his arms. ”Again, again!”
He complied twice more then set Drew back on his feet. ”Coffee and breakfast first, little mate. I'm famished, for some reason.”
Lauren grinned at him and rolled her pretty hazel eyes. ”You're a bottomless pit.”
”Guilty.” He sat at her dining table and pulled the paint samples from his jeans. He spread them between the bowls and cereal boxes already set out. ”Good job on getting the breakfast stuff ready, Drew. You've earned your trip to town today.”
”Yay!” Drew grinned proudly and turned to his mother. ”Can I watch cartoons until Nate's ready?”
She nodded, and the boy vanished through the archway into the family room. The theme from SpongeBob SquarePants blared out moments later.
Nate's gaze immediately locked back on Lauren as she moved around her kitchen. Barefoot and wearing b.u.t.tery-soft jeans and a blouse made from filmy stuff transparent enough to see the clingy tank top below, she mesmerized him. Ribbons of morning sunlight streamed through the French doors, dancing over her toes as she moved about. What he wouldn't do to have his camera right now. He found himself staring sappily at her turquoise-painted toenails and the tiny gold toe ring winking in the light as she walked toward him.
G.o.d, he was losing his mind over this woman.
”Anything you particularly like?”
The toes stopped beside his chair, and he jerked his head up to see two steaming mugs of coffee.
”Oh yeah-put down the cups.” He wanted to wrap his arms around her waist and nuzzle the sensitive spot just below her belly b.u.t.ton.
”I meant the paint colors, silly.” Laughing, Lauren backed away. She put a coffee next to his samples as she took a seat opposite.
She softened the tiny rejection by stretching her long legs under the table and running a toe up the inseam of his jeans. Witch.
He glanced down at the stack of paint samples. The colors all looked the same to him. Blonde, Misty, Bistre, Fog-how could you like or dislike any of them? His stomach did a little hippity-hop in response to the stroke of her feet. Reaching down, he snagged her ankle, running a knuckle of his other hand along the soft arch of her foot. She tried to pull away, but he tightened his grip and tickled her more.
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