Page 140 of Reputation (Tempt)

I was filled with relief, joy, exaltation. It was the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

His thrusts came harder and faster as he reached between us to rub my clit. I cried out from the intensity of it. The flood of sensations.

“Oh god,” he moaned. “Emerson.”

Our movements were more frantic. Our breathing ragged. All our feelings laid bare. There were no more lies. No more doubts. There was only us.

I felt…liberated.

My toes curled, my muscles tensing. And then my body took over, riding my pleasure higher and higher until it exploded. Until I called his name in ecstasy and stars burst behind my eyes. It felt like the high of a good workout. A race won. All the best things in the world.

Nate followed behind, grunting out his release until we were both sweating and spent.

After we’d showered and climbed back into bed together, he held up my left hand, and together, we admired my ring. “Do you know why I selected a red diamond for your engagement ring?”

“I always figured it was because it was rare and expensive—a statement. But I secretly told myself it was because you know I love the color red.”

“That’s part of it. Red diamonds are so rare, there’re less than thirty true red diamonds in existence.”

My jaw dropped, and I stared at my engagement ring with even greater appreciation.

“And as you know, this diamond was part of my mother’s collection.” His voice rumbled over me, his chest warm beneath my skin. “She always said to find a woman who was like a red diamond. Incredibly rare and able to withstand intense pressure.” He took a deep breath. “You’re the woman she envisioned for me. You’re the only woman worthy of this ring.”

“She…what?” I asked, propping myself up on his chest to look at him. His eyes were full of such love and devotion that it overwhelmed me. Oh my god. I was going to start crying all over again.

He nodded, a smile on his face as he tucked my hair behind my ear. “She would’ve loved you, and she would’ve loved for you to wear this ring.”

“Well, I love her jewelry, and I’m honored that you’ve shared that part of her with me.”

He flashed me a mischievous smile. “Wait until you see the vault.”

I jerked my head back. “What the hell is ‘the vault’? Nate Crawford, have you been holding out on me?” I teased.

He stood, pulling on some boxer briefs before holding out his hand. “Come ’ere.” He grabbed my wrist and gave a gentle tug. “Come on.”

I wrapped his shirt around me and followed him to his closet. He pressed a button, and it revealed a keypad that had been so seamlessly integrated into the wall, I would’ve never noticed it. He typed in a code, and then I could hear the barrels clicking into place like a vault in an old bank-robbery movie. The door opened, and the lights in the room automatically turned on.

I followed him inside. “Whatisthis place?”

“There’s a panic room that way.” He indicated to a door. Inside was a mini kitchen, couches, and a TV.

“I thought…” I tilted my head. “I thought the panic room was in the gym.”

“It is, but that’s mostly for staff or as a backup to this one,” he said.

“Wow.” I nodded slowly. “Two panic rooms.” That was concerning. “Have you ever had to use them?”

“Only once,” he said. “It was a false alarm. But Jackson doesn’t like to leave anything to chance.”

I nodded. I’d seen how thorough Jackson and the team from Hudson Security were. They guarded this place like Fort Knox, even if they were excellent at keeping a low profile.

“And this—” Nate opened the second door “—is the vault.”

The shelves were covered in black velvet, necklaces and bracelets and rings and even tiaras on display. All glittering beneath the spotlights that illuminated them. It was like an art gallery for rare gems. A treasure trove. It had been here all this time, and I’d never had a clue.

I walked over to one of the necklaces, afraid to even touch it. Rows and rows of diamonds. And that was justonenecklace. One of many. Beneath them were even more drawers of jewels and gems. All of the highest quality.

And…Holy shit.I couldn’t even fathom how much this was worth. Assuming there were other pieces like the Marie Antoinette necklace—priceless seemed like such an inadequate term.

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