Part 55 (1/2)
”Right.” The rain falls onto the pavement and I focus on the earthy smell of the damp ground rather than Nate's scent, which reminds me of my face pressed against his chest the other night. I'm mortified about the drunk situation still; but buried inside is how I liked Nate holding me: protective and strong. I'm disgusted with myself at the thought. I don't need either from a man. No way. I look after myself.
But the memory of his protectiveness and the way my body can't forget being close to his won't leave, creeping into my thoughts when I'm least expecting it. Now, the awareness of Nate's presence leaves a fizzing sensation in my stomach.
I've never stood next to somebody before and felt them, even without touching. Not Ethan, not even my first boyfriend, Cole. With Nate, my heightened senses pick up on his breathing, the proximity of his fingers to mine, and of my face to his chest.
”Are you cold?” he asks.
”Cold? No.”
”You're s.h.i.+vering.”
”Oh. Um. A bit cold.” I look up, straight into the eyes of a man my hormones are battling and failing against. When I see the same reflected back, my pulse quickens further.
”Your hands?” He takes one and holds my fingers between his, rubbing them.
Nate's touch launches a surge of insanity through my body as I look at his mouth and really, really want to know what his lip piercing will feel like against my lips.
Not good.
”Your hands are cute,” he says and lifts one up. ”Tiny.” He holds his large palm against mine. ”Soft.”
”You're strange,” I say in a low voice.
”You're beautiful.”
Breath rushes out of my parted mouth as if he's. .h.i.t me in the chest. ”What?”
”You're beautiful.” He grins. ”And remember I said you'd see through me if I talked bulls.h.i.+t. What do you think? Am I?” He releases my hand and points at his face.
What do I think?
I think he's scrambling my ability to process words. Nate has to be teasing me, but there's a strange intensity in his green eyes.
”I don't know what to think,” I say.
Nate reaches out, touches my cheek, and flicks a look at my mouth.
OhmiG.o.d.
Nate Campbell is going to kiss me.
In public.
I need to tear my eyes from his or I'll be sucked into this moment, but I can't look away. I don't want to.
Nate moves his fingertips to my lips and traces them gently before tipping my chin upwards. Time slows as his mouth nears mine and the rain and cold are edged out by my one focus: Nate's lips.
”Nate, I ”
In a sudden movement, he drops my chin and steps back, swearing under his breath. My heart thumping arousal continues but confusion joins.
”What's wrong?” I ask.
”We should go. The rain's slowing.” Nate looks at the sky, at the ground, at anywhere but me.
What the h.e.l.l?
”Right. Okay.”
He side glances me, a troubled pull to his brow. ”Sorry.”
”Don't be. You don't want to be seen kissing me in public.”
”Yeah. That.”
When he strides ahead of me across the square, I hurry to catch up, unsure if he's trying to escape the rain or me.
13.
FLEUR.
We s.h.i.+ver in the cold and Anne grumbles at me about our place in the queue. I knew Ruby Riot were big but this is crazy. We've queued twenty minutes outside the Ruby Riot concert and the door still isn't in sight.
”You do realise if you'd asked Nate, he would've given you tickets or put you on the guest list,” Anne says.
”I didn't tell him I was coming.”
”Why the h.e.l.l not?” she asks, and shoves me in the arm. ”Fool!”
”I haven't seen him for a week or so. He's busy with the band and doesn't come to the group at the moment.”
Since the confusing almost kiss last week, there's been no word from Nate. Neither twin has been around. I guess they're busy with the alb.u.m. This stings after his persistence over taking him to lunch. For some reason I feel like I went on a date and was burned. Which is ridiculous; I'm annoyed I read too much into the situation.
Anne shuffles from foot to foot. ”What's the deal with you two?”
”What do you mean?”
”I saw Nate coming out of your bedroom last weekend and he refused to leave until he saw you again.”
”Did he?” Refused to leave? ”He helped me home when I was drunk. Put me to bed.”
”To bed? With a Campbell twin? Fleur!” Anne makes a mock gasp.