Page 46 of Sight Unseen

“So to what do I owe the pleasure?” I enquired as I sat in my chair and slurped my drink. “Not that I’m complaining of course.” I picked up my cell phone sitting on the side table, peered down and sighed. Yep, it was on silent. I switched the ringer back on.

Nate’s eyes stared to one side of the room, as if he couldn’t face me, which was weird. His face flushed. I wondered why he seemed so uneasy.

“The other night, I was rather out of it. I’m sorry you had to put me to bed. I made you feel bad, I remember that.”

“Nah. It was fine. I was surprised you’d overindulged to the extent of being comatose, but everyone deserves a moment of excess.”

Nate murmured softly, “You’ve been avoiding me.”

I didn’t know what to say so I kept quiet.

Nate’s lips twisted and he took a deep breath. “The date with Blu was great but when he wanted to”—his voice caught—“you know—”

Nate,” I interrupted, my throat constricting at thinking I might have to hear a story of Nate and Blu’s failed sexploits. “You don’t need to explain. In fact, I’d rather you didn’t.”

Nate huffed. “Why don’t you want to hear about it? We’ve talked about our sex lives with other people before.”

I stood, and went to stare out of the window to the beach beyond. “I know, but this time, I don’t want to, okay?” My voice was sharper than it needed to be and I winced. No doubt Nate would pick up on it. There was a noise behind me and before I knew it, Nate was behind me, his hand on my waist.

“Cody? I’m dying here. I have no idea whether I’m about to fuck things up. Can you turn around and look at me?”

My heart was beating so fast, I thought it might take off and fly around the room in panic. I turned around and lost my breath. The catch in Nate’s voice, the words he’d spoken— nothing prepared for me the look on his face. It was a look of both fear and determination, and more than that, it was a look I’d seen only once before.

“I heard you the other day,” he said softly, his brown eyes staring at me with such intensity I lost my breath. “When you thought I was sleeping. I was out of it but not that out.”

Jesus, he heard me? What the fuck am I supposed to do now?

“I had no idea you still felt that way. I’ve had some time to think and I need to tell you something.”

I couldn’t speak as his fingers trailed gently down my cheek. I closed my eyes, soaking up the feeling of those warm, tender hands cupping my jaw, running through my hair, tugging at my ponytail.

“God, I love your hair like this,” he whispered.

The moment froze in time; two men with years of hot and needy between them.

When he leaned forward and touched his lips to mine, breath warm and sweet with lemonade, I fell into the moment, tumbling and rolling with emotions flooding me. I knew there’d be no going back this time.

Kissing Nate again was a dream come true.

I’d waited twelve years for this moment.

To be in Nate’s arms again, his breath mingling with mine as our lips met and our hungry mouths sought each other out.

He tasted like everything I’d ever wanted. He was the breath in my body, the beat of my heart and the warmth of a summer’s day.

This man was mine, but first, I had to make sure it was what he wanted. Remind him of what he was doing; make sure it wasn’t a game.

I didn’t want to be hurt again.

The first time had been painful enough.

I needed to be sure this time.

Chapter 9

Nate

The moment my lips pressed against Cody’s I heard his breathy gasp and felt the way his body moved unconsciously against mine. Thank fuck, I’d made the right decision.