Page 92 of Fighting Words

“My developmental editor?” He laughs like the idea is utterly preposterous now, and I open my eyes again to see he’s tugging his hands through his hair. “It’s beyond that, Summer! By now, you must know the truth. You must feel it. From the first night I met you, I was immediately attracted to you, but there was Andrew and my writer’s block, and all of that aside…” He swallows and steels himself. “I wasn’t eager to get into another relationship with an editor.” His brows furrow, and it’s like the emotion is bleeding out of him now. All of this has been pent up for so long. “But what I feel for you is beyond that. I c-can’t stop this. I’m not going to keep holding myself back.”

It’s impossible to keep my chest from filling with hope.

“Nothing else matters anymore, Summer. I’m dying here. I’m—I’mgoing mad.”

My hands start to tremble at my sides. This is all so overwhelming. I’m not used to this. With Andrew it was never…

I start to curve around him, but Nate doesn’t let me pass. His hands grab my arms and he centers me right in front of him, lowering his face so that our eyes can meet. “And if I was ignoring you, it’s because I thought I was doing the right thing giving you space.”

I immediately drop my gaze.

“Summer.”

I stare down at the floor, focusing on the wood grain.

“Summer,” he says again, harder this time.

I have to look at him, and so I do, with no shield or sword.

“I thought I was doing the right thing leaving you alone the last few days…but now I’m not so sure.” His gaze flits between my eyes like he’s desperately searching for answers. “I wish you would talk to me.”

My lips part, but I can’t yet reply.

He groans and leans in, letting his face press against my hair. “What am I supposed to do here? I’ve been trying to fight against this. I know you need to get back to your life, know you just got out of a relationship and you’re here—god—you’re here to work and I’ve put my hands all over you when I never had the right to. I should be apologizing. I should have told you about Elaine. I’m sorry.I’m sorry.”

I stiffen, and he sighs.

“No apologies then?” His voice is growing louder, more demanding, as he pulls away to look at me again. “What do you want? Tell me, Summer. You went on your walk and you said you have your answer, so tell me.Tell me—”

Without another moment’s hesitation, I turn and rise up onto my toes and kiss him. Our mouths press together and every anxious thought, all the fury and tension of the last few days drift away like curls of smoke. We’ve abstained and been so good, but wrapping my arms around Nate’s neck and pressing my body against his feels like falling back into the most delicious bad habit.

Nate grips my hips and draws me to him, possessive to the point that I whimper. The realization that he’s been wanting this too—that he’s been suffering right along with me—sends a heady cocktail through my veins. Adrenaline, desire, bone-crushing need…it threatens to buckle my knees. This feeling is so beyond comprehension.

For once, I give in fully as Nate’s hands rise up my back, coasting along my sides, skimming my ribs and my breasts until he finally takes a firm grip on my neck and pours into me with his kiss. My heart flutters as my hands fist his shirt.

I need him even closer somehow, his naked skin pressed against mine.

The thought barely takes hold and then I’m already undressing him, yanking up his shirt until he has to help me get it the rest of the way up and off. I’m not shy about touching him. His chest and arms and abs, those sloping muscles above his shoulders. I bend and kiss him, right above his heart. Then I move lower, skimming my mouth across his stomach.

“Summer.”

My name falls on deaf ears. I close my eyes and taste his skin; already I know where I’m headed and what I want to do. He’s so hard beneath his jeans, and I stroke him through the worn denim.

This is for me as much as it is for him. I was never overly eager to give this gift to Andrew. I did it occasionally because it seemed like what I was supposed to do, but never because I was desperate for it, not like now. I want to have as many experiences with Nate as I can. I want to know what it’s all supposed to feel like withtheperson.

Fear lances through me, but it’s too late to ignore the truth I’ve known for days. If this all falls apart, there will be no easy end. I’m in love and I’ve already started to believe in the fantasy of Sedbergh and Nate and a life beyond the one I’ve always lived.

I taste my way down Nate’s toned stomach. I fill myself with his scent. He showered earlier so his soap lingers faintly on his warm skin.

I unbutton his jeans and push them down, and I look up to see Nate bewitched. His blue eyes are so soft andwanting. His lips are parted just enough for him to suck in a breath as I lean forward, holding eye contact as I taste him. I grip his length in my hand and stroke him as my mouth closes around the tip.

Nate is mine in this moment the only way any person can belong to anyone.

His fists hang limp by his sides like he’s scared to move, to break this spell between us. I’m not some fragile thing and I prove that to him, taking him farther into my mouth and sucking until my cheeks hollow out and a heavy groan spills out of him.

Nowhis hand goes to the back of my head. He applies just enough pressure to let me know he’s dying for more, but I don’t play by his rules. I’m the one on my knees and I refuse to rush this—torturously slow will have to do, and as his jaw tightens and his teeth clench, as his eyes spark with passion, I can’t help but pull back and smile.

“You’re wicked,” he tells me, reverently stroking my jaw. I lean over and snatch his thumb between my teeth, just the same way he did to me the other day. OnlyIbite until he hisses and leans down, hoisting me up off the floor and carrying me away from the door.

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