Page 10 of Full House

CHAPTER FOUR

She’d lost her mind. That’s the only reason she could think why she was speeding through the streets of LA in the passenger seat of Nate’s sports car.

After she’d delivered her bombshell, things seemed to happen with a mixture of warped speed and slow motion. His hand, reaching for hers, seemed to take forever for their fingers to touch. But then in a flash, they were at his car, and he was depositing her into the passenger seat. His endless stare as he pulled the seat belt across her lap, not broken until the soft click of the latch shattered the spell. Then sonic speed, again, as he got in the car, turned over the engine, and took off out of the lot. All without a word spoken.

And now, as he deftly navigated them up a winding road, a look of concentration on his face, they still said nothing. And for the life of her, Victoria had no idea what to say to fill the silence.

She looked through the window, curious, as they drove deeper into a gated community. She hadn’t known where Nate lived but wasn’t surprised he had a ritzy Beverly Hills address. Actually, she didn’t know much about Nathan Reed the person other than what she’d learned over the past few days. Not something she was proud of at the moment, considering their destination and the fact she knew they wouldn’t really be having a drink and going over their lines. But she was okay with that because never in her life had she felt the chemistry with another person as she felt with Nate. From their first meeting, she’d felt his pull, and it had only grown stronger the more time she’d spent with him. And for however long this attraction between them lasted, whether it be just for the night, a week, a month, or the duration of their working relationship, she would throw caution to the wind and enjoy the time they spent together. Because what she felt for Nate, that didn’t happen with just anybody, and she’d be a fool to pass it up. She just had to remember to keep her emotions out of it. It would only be a fling.

He pulled into a windy drive before stopping in front an impressive house. Putting the car in neutral, he set the parking brake, climbed out on his side then came around and opened the door on hers.

She gave herself a pep talk as he took her hand, pulled her from the car, and led her up the stairs to the front door. And that’s when her brain turned to mush. Because as soon as he pushed the door open, she’d barely had time for one complete breath while he deactivated his alarm before the door was slammed shut and she was pressed against it, Nate looming above her for all of one second before his lips were on hers.

Greedy. That was the only way to describe his kiss. His lips pulling at hers. His tongue forcing its way into her mouth, claiming and possessing. His teeth, nipping and biting.

Warm fingertips grazed the bare skin at her waist as his hand dived under the hem of her shirt, his other hand landing on her jean-clad hip.

He pressed her harder against the door, his pelvis grinding into hers as his hand slid up to cup her breast. He swept a thumb across her nipple through the lacy fabric of her bra before pinching it between two fingers, sending a tingle straight to her center.

Closer. She needed to get closer. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pushing her chest into his palm, silently begging him for more.

With a show of strength, his hand at her hip moved under her ass, lifting her, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, anchoring herself fully to him.

Then they were on the move. So fast, Victoria couldn’t take in her surroundings as he carried her up a flight of stairs and into a darkened room. She landed with a thump, her back to a bed, Nate following her down.

He buried his face in her neck, his lips trailing kisses up to her ear. “I haven’t been able to get you out of my head all week. You don’t know how many times I’ve envisioned you just like this.”

His lips started roaming again, down her neck and chest, following the deep vee of her t-shirt. She was panting and needy and unknowingly echoed aloud the little voice in the back of her head that wouldn’t shut up. “I don’t know what’s come over me. I’ve never done this before.”

She felt Nate stiffen then slowly raise his head to look her in the eyes. “What?”

She replayed her words and realized his confusion. Shaking her head, she explained, “I didn’t mean I’ve never done this before, but that I’ve never slept with someone I’ve known only for a week. I’ve only been in two relationships. One in college and one that ended badly a couple of years ago. I made them both wait. Months. Well, to be fair, I was a virgin with the first guy, so that was understandable, but Chad? I honestly don’t know why I held out so long. Maybe I knew, deep down, he was an ass.”

Nate planted his face in her neck, chuckling. Crap, she’d been rambling. She only did that when she was nervous. Taking a deep breath, she admitted, “I’ve ruined the mood, haven’t I?”

Nate raised his head, capturing her face between his palms, all humor gone from his expression. “First, let’s get one thing straight, my dick anywhere in the vicinity of you, I’m always in the mood. But note, in the future, you and me in a bed, it’s only you and me in a bed. You want to rehash old relationships, I won’t like it, but I’ll do it. Just not when I’ve got you under me with my dick rubbing against your pussy. Understand?”

She understood, but one thing he’d said had really popped out. “In the future?”

“Yeah, you couldn’t possibly think one taste of you would ever be enough for me.”

“I wasn’t sure. Like I said, I’ve never done this before.”

“Trust me, sweetheart, we’ll be doing this a lot more.”

She reached up, wrapping her fingers in the hair at the back of his head. “So, I didn’t ruin the mood?”

His mouth claiming hers was the only answer she got.

≈≈≈

Her heat, her taste, her soft little moans—it was something he could grow addicted to—and not for just a little while. He hadn’t lied to Victoria, but he hadn’t been exactly truthful either. When he’d implied they had a future, he knew she’d thought he’d meant short term, and he didn’t dissuade her. He hadn’t wanted to scare her. Hell, he was scared enough for them both.

He didn’t know what the future would bring, but he did know, he saw Victoria as his. He’d been around the block enough times to know something special when he saw it. Even if it had only been a week.

He wouldn’t call himself a player or a manwhore, but growing up in the industry, he’d had his fair share of women, especially in his younger years. He’d grown more selective as he’d grown older, and lately, that selection had grown even slimmer still.

He wasn’t a saint, but he’d also never lied or led women on. They’d known what to expect from him, but he wanted Victoria to expect a whole lot more. He couldn’t explain it—this deep wanting he had for her—but sometimes in life, a guy knew. And he knew Victoria was the one. But, as he’d said, he didn’t want to scare her. So, he’d keep that a secret for now. Though there was no way in hell he’d be letting her escape through his fingers.

---