Elle
Get your ass in gear, Elle. Claim that man.
Hmm, interesting. Apparently, Ava’s voice was now in my head. Voice of reason? More like the voice of the devil. Still, I was trying to locate my lost confidence and move myself around the island.
I took a step, then another, and before I knew it, I was toe-to-toe with Nate.
“Hey.” I gathered all my courage, but my gaze locked on his socks. Specifically, I noted the script on them.Carpe the fuck out of that diem.
Well said, socks. Well said.
“Hey.” He stepped in front of me and watched my gaze.
I nodded, trying to confirm I was exactly where I wanted to be.
Nate placed a finger under my chin and lifted it up so he could meet my gaze. “Glad you decided to move over here.”
I slid my toes across his foot. “Apparently I’m working on seizing the day.”
Nate slid his hands to my hips, tugging me closer to him. “Are you now?”
Come on. You’ve got this.“Yes, I am.” Tilting my head to the side I nodded at one of his hands. “Looks like you are too.”
“Just trying to follow your lead, Elle. I want you to be in the driver seat here.”
I felt a tug of indecision as my stomach rolled with nervousness.
“Talk to me, Elle. What’s going on in that beautiful brain of yours?”
For the past month I’d fantasied about a moment like this. I mean, the instant attraction when I saw Nate had quickly morphed into awhat ifscenario. But I liked Nate, I mean reallylikedhim. While Ava was happy to date casually, I preferred relationships. But I hadn’t had one for ages. And for whatever reason, Nate seemed too good to be true. I was tongue-tied around him, especially when we first met. Nerves that I hadn’t felt for years flooded back. I had no idea what to do with this.
“I was just thinking about something else I like about romance books.” I gathered all my courage and stared into his eyes. They looked like melted chocolate right now and were locked on me.
“What’s that?” he asked as his hands caressed my sides.
I felt my face flush even as I knew I was going to say it. I thought about my grandma, as bold as they come, telling me that I’d regret only the chances I didn’t take. Time to take one. Past time, actually.
“Sex scenes.” I bit the corner of my lip and watched for his reaction. I wasn’t disappointed.
Nate groaned. “Shit, Elle, do you know what you do to me?”
“What?”
He pulled my hips flush with his, and I could feel him, rock hard, against me. Damn.
One of Nate’s hands moved to lightly touch my hair, playing with the ends as he seemed to work to control his breath. “Elle, would you be okay with me kissing you?”
My heart beat louder than a bass drum. “I’d be pissed if you didn’t.”
“I’m so glad to hear that.”
I held my breath for a moment as Nate smoothed a thumb over my eyebrow before letting his hand drop down to tilt my chin in his direction.
“Elle, breathe.”
As my breath whooshed out, he dipped down and his lips met mine. Holy hell. At first, they were soft, gentle. His teeth captured my bottom lip as they sucked it into his mouth, then let go. Then his tongue traced the seam of my lips before I parted them, letting him in.
The kiss began to build as my hands roamed from his back to his front. I tugged his shirt out so I could slide my hands up his stomach and to his chest. I considered throwing a leg around his hip and pulling him closer but thought that might be a bit much. Nate moved his lips down my neck, sucking in a spot gently, right at the nape. Then, just as I began to pant, he pulled away.
