Nathan sprinkling kisses over my body.
My stomach clenched at the memory.
“Penny for your thoughts?” I was so lost in the memories of last night that I didn’t notice when Nathan entered the bathroom until he stepped into the shower with me.
“Um...” My words died in my throat as I unashamedly checked him out. Nathan was naked, towering over me like a Greek god with water cascading down his body.
He could’ve asked me what the first letter of the alphabet was and I still wouldn’t have an answer for him at this moment.
My brain seemed to have stopped working properly.
Nathan chuckled in response before he moved in closer, sucking up every bit of oxygen in the room.
“Good morning.” He dipped his head low enough to brush a kiss against my lips.
“Good morning.” Thank goodness Nathan had wrapped his arms around me or else I was afraid I would melt in the shower.
“I woke up and you were gone. Can’t say I wasn’t disappointed.” Nathan skimmed his lips against my neck and shoulder.
“Sorry. I wasn’t sure how to handle this morning,” I muttered, my voice betraying a hint of unease.
Nathan’s lips continued their trail, soft and lingering against my skin as he responded with a quiet chuckle. “You don’t need to apologize for wanting time to process.” His voice was low, and soothing, like everything was okay. He pulled back just enough to look at me, his eyes glinting with that usual confidence, but there was something tender in his gaze now.
Something I hadn’t quite expected.
I looked at him, still trying to find my footing after everything that had happened between us. “It’s just that all of this is new to me. I wasn’t expecting this.” I gestured vaguely between us, feeling the heat of his body so close to mine.
Nathan nodded, understanding flickering across his face. “I get it.” He placed a finger under my chin, tilting my face so I had no choice but to hold his gaze. “But I want you to know something. You don’t have to have all the answers right now. We’re figuring this out together, okay?” I exhaled slowly, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease. His words were like a balm for my overactive mind. Maybe he was right. Maybe there didn’t need to be an explanation for everything.
“I guess I’m just worried about what this means,” I admitted quietly, my fingers tracing absentmindedly over his chest, the warmth of his skin grounding me.
Nathan’s hand slid down my back, his touch gentle but steady. “What this means?” His jaw was tight, the muscle ticking as he held himself in check. There was no smirk, just quiet dominance written all over his face.
“I think I know, but…” I tried to make it sound playful, but the words came out thin, like they couldn’t hold up under their own weight.
Because yeah, he was saying all the right things, touching me like he meant them, but what happens when we land back home? When the normal routine set in and the reality of who we were outside this little bubble hit us?
It was one thing to feel wanted here, wrapped in steam and skin and the warmth of his voice. It was another to know if we’d still feel wanted when there were no hotel walls and no rainy nights.
Nathan's jawline ticked. “You think?” he repeated, his voice a low, velvety drawl. The way he said it made me feel both scolded and utterly captivated. “Let me make this very clear for you, Elise. You’re mine. Every inch of you, every thought, every breath. You belong to me now.”
His words shouldn’t have felt so electrifying, but they did.
“Nathan…” My voice wavered, caught between the heady mix of his intensity and my own hesitation.
He leaned in closer, his lips hovering over mine, his breath warm and intoxicating. “There's no going back. Not after last night.”
My heart skipped a beat, the weight of his words settling heavily between us. I found myself leaning into him, as if my body craved the very thing my heart wasn’t sure I could handle.
Nathan pulled back slightly, just enough to meet my eyes, his thumb brushing over my cheek in a gesture so tender it almost made me forget the edge in his voice moments ago.
“What about work? You’re still my boss for another few days, Nathan. How are we supposed to—”
“Keep this professional?” he interrupted, a dark smile playing on his lips. He leaned back against the wall, pulling me with him. “Let me guess, you’re worried about appearances?”
I nodded, swallowing hard as his hands settled on my hips. “Yes. People will notice that things have changed between us. They already suspect something is going on ever since my video was uploaded.”
Nathan tilted his head, studying me with a mix of amusement and something dangerous. “Do you think I care about office gossip?”
