Page 84 of Blindly Yours

“You’re just saying that becauseyouwant to be the one who’ll make me happy.” I poke him in the chest.

He moves his hand over mine and it makes my heart jump. Then he closes his fingers around mine and smiles. “I want nothing more than to make you happy, but it’s still your choice.”

I bite my lip and tug his hand down into the space between us, holding it tightly. “Until you, I never met anyone who cared so much. About me. Like…in depth.”

He cocks his head to the side as he rubs his thumb across my knuckles. “Really?”

I shrug and look down at the place where our skin touches. “Yeah, I mean, there’s always fancy dinners, exotic trips, expensive gifts. Lots of…things. My relationships have been built onthings. Did he buy me a gold bracelet? That must mean he’s falling in love. Did he take me to Paris and show me off to his rich diplomat friends? That must mean he’s proud to be with me. He approves. Hisfamilyapproves. That must mean he’s a good match.” I sigh and meet Nate’s gaze again. “It’s always about the optics of the match. It has to look good on paper.”

Nate nods slightly, processing what I’ve said. His eyes are kind and understanding, even though I know he’s not familiar with any of this.

“I’m so tired of men who try to prove their worth in gifts.” I sigh. “They think buying me flowers is the ticket to success. But I don’t want the flowers. They mean nothing to me. I just want to sit and talk about absolutely nothing and everything that matters. But that’s too much effort for them. They want something measurable. Money is easy for them. Money can be measured, but connection can’t.” I shake my head and groan as the memories surface. “And God,please, if I have to date another guy who’s afraid to get his hands dirty becausethey might stain his shirtI’m going toloseit.” I turn Nate’s hand over in mine and trace the calluses. “These.Theseare a man’s hands.”

Nate chuckles and flexes his fingers. “These rough things?”

“Yes,” I breathe. “They’re…sexy.” I fight back the blush because I’m being honest and I don’t want to lose this moment. It feels good to be open with him. “I want to watch you chop wood and dig holes and…fell trees.”

Nate chuckles. “Well, that can be arranged.”

I look into his eyes, sparkling with admiration and totally invested in what I’m saying. I love the way his gaze tears me open in the best way. “What’s it like to not care about what it looks like on paper? What’s it like to simply care how itfeels?” I plead quietly.

The corner of his mouth turns up and he squeezes my hand. “Like this, Rose. It feels like this.”

And then he kisses me. Smooth and fluid and without hesitation. His lips are warm and sure against my own as his hands slide to my waist. I grip his broad shoulders, tracing the cords of muscle built from hard work, taut beneath my touch, and I find myself rising to my knees to close the space between us.

He exhales against my lips and grips my waist tighter as I press myself firmly into him. Frenziedly.Desperately.I can’t grasp enough of him. Can’t breathe until we’re closer. Nate responds in equal fervor, hooking his hands behind my knees and dragging me across his lap until I’m straddling his legs and our chests are rising and falling heavily against each other.

It’s dangerous…in a sense…losing myself like this with someone whose world is so different from the one that’s been painted for me. It’s forbidden, almost.

And I love it.

We’re kissing like teenagers, completely unhinged and frantic to run our hands over every inch of each other. Nate’s fingers grip my hips and then slide up my back, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. And when he wraps his arms around me completely and runs his tongue against my lip in an eager invitation, I grin and open my mouth to sink deeper, tasting him. I’m throwing every bit of hesitation out the window, and it feels so…right.I can’t even remember what it’s like to kiss anyone else because kissing Nate right now is my whole world.

Without a thought, I roll my hips against his and he lets out a shallow groan as he captures my bottom lip between his teeth. It’s just for a second, and not enough to cause more than a sting, but I moan. I actuallymoaninto his mouth.

The sound of it stuns me back to reality and I break the kiss, breathing hard as I rest my forehead against his. We need to slow down. This is new. Still so new. I need more time to process.

Nate takes a deep breath, plants one last gentle kiss on my lips, and then pulls back to look at me. His eyes, still glazed, watch me with a hint of concern.

But I smile at him and wipe a smudge of lipstick from the corner of his mouth. “I just…” My voice is breathier than I expected. “…don’t want to move too fast.”

He nods and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Of course. Neither do I.”

I sit back on his thighs and rest my hands on his chest.God, it’s firm, and broad, and ugh….“It’s hard not to,” I laugh.

He smirks and takes my hands in his. “We can move as slow as you want. No pressure at all.”

“Thank you,” I say quietly.

His expression is so warm. So understanding. So patient.

“But…A+ performance there though…” I grin, climbing off his lap and tucking myself into his side to focus on the movie again.

“I was wondering if you were still keeping up with the spreadsheet. I’d like to see it.” He drapes his arm around me. “But where can I go from here if I’ve already received top marks?”

“Remember, there are extra credit opportunities.”

“Ah, I forgot about that. Well, I’ll wait patiently for those to become available.”

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