Page 61 of Shift Change

His finger pressed deeper as I pulsed around it, and the overload sent a sharp, gorgeous ache all through my body. I whimpered and shook, helpless as the last pulses slowed into dribbles and the heat spread low and sweet inside me. When it was over, I sagged against the mattress, gasping like I’d just sprinted up a mountain. The afterglow wrapped around me, warm and heavy, and I closed my eyes against the sheer intensity of it.

He took his time licking me clean before crawling up the bed. After a leisurely glance at the clock, he grinned. “What did I tell you? Five minutes, babe, and that includes the time it took to clean you up. We have plenty of time to make it downstairs.”

He gave me a kiss, and when he drew away, our eyes locked. I moaned yet again. “I don’t know how to thank you. I never felt anything like that before. It’s because it was you.”

He traced a finger across my cheek. “That’s how it was for me too. You’re opening up a whole new world for me.”

“Me too. Now kiss me again.”

* * *

Nate and I were inhaling turkey and all the fixings like we hadn’t eaten in a week. The whole meal was pure magic: golden bird, fluffy potatoes drowning in gravy, and stuffing that deserved a fan club. Across the table, Nana beamed at us like we were the main attraction in the Thanksgiving Day parade. She loved feeding people, and we were giving her one hell of a show.

While I cleaned my plate, I couldn’t help worrying about how much she’d spent on our visit. Nana didn’t believe in doing things halfway, especially when it came to holidays, and I knew all the food hadn’t been cheap. Thankfully, I’d thought to withdraw an extra thousand dollars when we stopped at an ATM yesterday. Regardless of what the financial guy said when we met Tuesday, I was helping her. Period. Since she’d never accept money if I tried to hand it to her, I’d already slipped it inside a thank-you card and planned to leave it on her nightstand. She rarely went upstairs during the day, so she probably wouldn’t find it until bedtime. By then, we’d be gone, and it would be too late to argue.

“This is the best stuffing I’ve ever had, Nana.” Nate groaned around a mouthful, almost as if it physically hurt to chew something so good. “And this cranberry sauce? It’s definitely not from a can. I feel like I’ve finally met the real thing.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying everything so much,” she said. “I make the cranberry sauce with orange in it, which I think makes it special.” She glanced at me. “Chuck’s always loved it.”

“Mm-hmm,” I managed, swallowing a bite of mashed potatoes and green beans.

When Nate and I had eaten enough to swear we wouldn’t need another meal for days, Nana smiled. “Don’t say that until you’ve had your pumpkin pie.”

“Gosh, I forgot about that.” I patted my belly and glanced at Nate. “You’ll be able to eat it, I promise.”

After we cleared the table, Nana served dessert and coffee in the living room, and we sat in the same places as the night before. Nate and I made a fuss over the pie and polished off two slices each. By the time we set our plates on the table and slumped against the couch, we both had bellies as big as a fifty-year-old who’d never exercised a day in his life.

“Do you really have to leave today?” Nana asked. “You’re more than welcome to stay another night. I’d love it if you did.”

“We’d like to stay,” I said, “but we can’t. We’re playing Miami tomorrow night, and Coach scheduled practice for nine-thirty in the morning.”

“My, that seems a little excessive since it’s a holiday.”

Nate leaned forward. “It does, but it really isn’t. We always have morning skate on game days, and since we weren’t there today, we need to work off all this food and get our minds back on hockey. Miami’s tough.”

“And mean,” she said. “I’ve rarely seen a team with so much nastiness.”

Nate grunted his agreement. “Them and Boston. I don’t like Boston for many reasons, especially how they treated one of our teammates.”

I turned to Nate. “What happened? Which teammate?”

“Brody. I’ll tell you about it on the way home.”

It must have been bad if he didn’t want to say it around Nana, so I let it go and asked her about her weekend plans.

“Before I answer that, I forgot to ask how long you’ll be living together.”

I glanced at Nate before answering. “Not sure. I guess I need to start looking for my own place.”

“Probably. You never want to wear out your welcome.” Her eyes didn’t match her words. Instead of serious, there was a glimmer of… what? Mischief?

“Chuck can stay as long as he wants.” Nate wrinkled his brow and looked at me. “I have too much space for one person. I’m lonely, and I enjoy having you there. I’d love the company if you’d like to stay.” He swallowed hard. “Unless you want to go, I guess.”

“I don’t. I like living with you, and…”

“Then at least wait until after the holidays. You’re more than welcome.”

Nana put on a big smile. “Sounds like you’re in agreement. That’s grand.”

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