AllFreeNovel
Share Us
No. Yes! Maybe. All three answers must flash across my face based on the way he chortles. It’s an amazing sound. It’s pure joy mixed with this deep tone that caresses me in all the right places.
Nate continues, “No masks. No hiding. Instead of waiting months, or however long it takes to really get to know someone, lets start there. The more I see the real you, the more I like you.”
Warning bells are going off in my head. IT’S A TRAP! SAY, FUCK NO! THEN RUN AWAY! And take his socks with you to remember him by. See? I can’t say shit like that out loud. He’ll run away screaming.
My heart is hammering hard, slamming into my lungs and making it hard to breathe. Nate is right there, so close I can feel the warmth from his breath slip over my lips.
He tips his forehead forward and presses it to mine. “You’re over thinking this.”
“You haven’t thought about it enough.”
“Life is short. This cuts out all the crap and just leaves us with two real, raw people.”
“Have you seen raw people? They’re a mess.”
“I know and I trust you.” He leans a little closer and presses a kiss to the tip of my nose. “I’ll tell you what I’m thinking, uncensored, if you agree to do the same. Would you like to hear a secret?”
I swallow hard wishing he’d press his chest to mine and ravage me. Instead, I barely move and can’t seem to get my voice to work. I’m terrified that my breath smells like dead hamsters. He doesn’t seem to notice. Maybe he has an olfactory issue and can’t smell anything? It’s not fair because he’s perfect, already showered and dressed with that cologne that makes me want to slide my hands all over his naked body and lick him from head to toe.
See? I can’t say that to him. If I did, who knows what would happen.
“There’s this little spot at the nape of your neck that has this silky soft skin combined with this beautiful curve that I’ve been dying to taste again.” He trails his finger over the spot, making me shiver.
“I don’t think this is a good idea.” I try to sit up, but he won’t let me.
“Ask me anything. I’ll tell you.”
I’m watching his face, looking into his eyes and I know he’s serious. The pit of my stomach is in a free-fall, and this makes me feel too vulnerable. It’s exhilarating and intimidating at the same time. I press my lips together, suck in a deep breath, and decide to jump.
“Okay, I’ll bite. Why’d you leave me the night we met? The phone rang, and you dropped me and walked away.” I try to avoid his eyes when I’m asking him because it still bothers me. I felt like trash that night after the way he treated me.
“My father died. I was in that hotel room waiting for the call. He was working up in New York and got in a nasty accident. An eighteen-wheeler hit his car—he flipped. I knew I’d have to go up there, but I didn’t want to be on a plane when he died. It’s stupid, I know. I’d gone to the hotel because I didn’t want those memories in this house. I went a little stir crazy, so I headed to the bar to get some fresh air. I’d been sitting in the room all day. That’s when you came over. Between the incident in the bathroom and then again at the bar, I didn’t know what to think of you, but you had my full attention. I wanted to spend the night with you and forget everything, but it didn’t work out that way. I should have never taken you back with me. I’m so sorry, Kerry.”
Nate sits back on the bed and rubs the heels of his hands over his eyes, before dropping them and glancing at me.
“I’m sorry. I had no idea.” I push up in the bed and lean back against the headboard. “Ask me anything. It’s AMA day with Kerry Hill. All crazy. All the time.”
Nate glances at me from under dark lashes. His hands are folded together, and his legs are hanging over the edge of the bed. “That first day when you walked into the men’s room, why were you crying?”
I smile, but it falls swiftly. “Ah, yeah. That day was rough. I got text-dumped by my boyfriend. He'd promised me forever, but I hadn't been here a week when he said it was over. He met someone else.”
Nate nods slowly. “And from what you said before, it sounds like the other woman is your mother?”
I pinch the bridge of my nose and nod. “Yeah. They’re arriving today. I’m supposed to act like it doesn’t bother me even though it feels like I still have two knives lodged between my shoulder blades.”
“So, you seriously were looking for sex with no strings attached that night in the bar?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you find it? I mean after that?”
I shake my head. “No. I keep getting turned down. It’s like a guy can smell the crazy coming his way. I never had a chance.”
“That’s not it.”
I glance over at him. He sounds so certain, so sure there’s another reason. “Really? After the sock dance of sexiness, you're still convinced it’s something else.”
He grins and laughs. “Yes, with one hundred percent accuracy. I know why guys won’t go near you, even in sweats. It’s simple, and it’s amplified by the fact that you have no idea.”
