Page 6 of November is for Nate

I took that as a good sign as I loaded two plates with the makings for a proper Thanksgiving dinner. Ruby didn’t cut corners and had sent back enough food to last for days. The microwave would only fit one plate at a time, so I heated up the first and looked for a wine opener to uncork the bottle of white wine she’d tucked into the bag.

“You don’t have to go to so much trouble.” Ainsley stood by the sink, looking more relaxed than she had when we first arrived. “I can feed myself, you know.”

“No doubt.” I chuckled. She was the most independent woman I’d ever met. “It’s okay to let people do things for you every once in a while. Or is that a lesson you still haven’t learned, my little firefly?”

Her eyes widened at the mention of the nickname I used to call her.

“Sorry, that slipped out.” I bit down on my lip and cursed myself for crossing that line.

“Nobody’s called me that in years.” Her voice came out soft and sad.

I crossed the kitchen and put my finger under her chin to tip her head back. Locking my gaze with hers, I searched her eyes for a sign that I was about to make a big mistake. All I saw was a desperate need that rivaled my own.

“I’ve missed you, firefly,” I whispered.

She took in a shaky breath. “I’ve missed you, too.”

Knowing I had no right to her, I lowered my head and captured her mouth with mine.

CHAPTER6

AINSLEY

The moment our mouths touched,the years between us disappeared. I clung to his shoulders as the torrent of feelings I’d been holding back broke free. His presence invaded my senses. My fingers brushed over the soft flannel shirt as the scent of sun and pine flooded my nose. His whiskers scraped my cheek. Then he slid his tongue into my mouth. My blood heated. I hadn’t been with a man since I’d given myself to Nate. My brain might have been trying to forget him all of these years, but my body remembered.

My knees gave way, and I sank into him. He reached down and scooped me into his arms without breaking our kiss. The rational part of my brain tried to put on the brakes. I’d barely been able to piece myself together the last time he left me. There was no way I’d be able to survive this.

Even knowing that, I wanted him.

“It’s you, Firefly. It’s always been just you.” He mumbled the words into my mouth. I didn’t know if I could trust anything he said, but I wanted to believe him.

The microwave dinged, but he was already carrying me up the narrow flight of stairs. He eased onto the bed with me still in his arms. I didn’t want to let go, didn’t want to break the connection we’d forged.

“Your pants are wet,” I whispered into the darkness.

He shifted to hover over me while he worked his jeans down his legs and kicked them onto the floor. I couldn’t believe we were about to do what I thought we were about to do. I’d never been a big risk taker. Opening myself up to Nate again would be the riskiest thing I’d ever done.

“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” he said. I knew he meant it. Nate might look invincible, but that tough exterior covered up the most gentle heart.

A hollow ache pulsed deep within my core. I wanted him. Wanted him with a desperate need I couldn’t explain. So I slid my hands between us and started to unbutton his shirt.

“Ainsley…” The raw emotion in his tone tugged at my heartstrings as I worked his shirt down one arm, then the other. With nothing separating my hands from the sculpted planes of his chest, I ran my fingers over the fabric. He shivered. Goosebumps popped up on his skin.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” I needed to know he wanted me. Needed to hear him say it out loud, to admit that he’d made a mistake when he cut me out of his life. I wanted to know he regretted it.

“It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted.” He pulled back enough to meet my gaze. The dim light from downstairs shone just bright enough for me to see the regret in his eyes. There would be time for talking, but for now, seeing his pain was enough.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and reached up to kiss him. It seemed that was all the encouragement he needed. His hands skimmed up my sides and back down again, then found their way under the hem of my sweatshirt. I hissed in a breath at the first touch of his palms against my skin. I’d forgotten how much he could make me feel. My heart pounded as blood whooshed through my ears.

He worked my shirt over my head and took his time kissing his way down my body, each touch of his lips adding a spark to the fire burning deep in my core. By the time he reached the cleft between my breasts, I couldn’t take any more.

“I need you, Nate. I need you, now.” My body hovered on the edge already, and I wasn’t about to let myself go until he was seated deep inside me. It’s what I craved. The only thing that could fill the empty place inside my soul.

He kissed down my belly. “I don’t have anything with me, but I’m going to make you feel so good, baby.”

“No.” I cupped his cheeks with my palms and tried to pull him back up my body. “I need you inside me.”

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. “I haven’t been with anyone since you, Firefly.”

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