Page 51 of Sight Unseen

I reached up and cupped Cody’s face. My family could go screw themselves. After all these years, I was starting a relationship with someone I’d loved since we were kids. “So can we agree that it’s in the past? That what happened twelve years ago matters but doesn’t define who we are now? We’re together now with a chance to make it better. Can you live with that? Please?”

Cody’s hands covered mine. “I still think there’s something you’re not telling me. But for now I’ll let it go. When you’re ready to tell me more, if there’s anything else to tell… Maybe I’m making too much of this. Either way, I’m here. Deal?”

“Deal,” I agreed with a huge sense of relief as I stroked the hard chest beneath my hand, reveling in the soft intake of Cody’s breath as I found skin between the buttons of his loose shirt. “You were really good at hiding how you felt from me, too. I really thought you’d grown past it.”

We stood quietly for a few minutes, Cody pulling me closer.

“So, to be clear. Are we, like, an item now? You know, in a relationship that doesn’t involve the words ‘best friends’?” Again with the insecurity in his voice. And I’d put it there.

I moved away and drew his face down to mine. “Yes, that’s the plan. Now shut up and kiss me already. I need a little more convincing.”

Cody’s talented mouth rocked my world. His beautiful, eager mouth stole my breath and my sanity. He gave everything when he kissed me and I took it deep into my heart.

The feel of his body against mine got my senses swimming; the scent of him imprinted on my skin; his hands cupping my face as he kissed me were warm, strong and possessive. The world outside shut down until all I heard were the sounds of our breaths and the buzzing delight in my head. When my fingers found the skin of his belly, his moan of pleasure shot into my mouth and filled up my hungry, needy body.

I belong here, in his arms. This is what I’ve been missing.

When we drew apart, Cody said, “Hell, Nate.” His voice dreamlike. “If that’s what kissing you is like, imagine the sex we’re going to have. We’re gonna need a stronger bed. Not right now, because first, I want to get used to this idea of you and me as a couple. But later…” He shivered. “Later, I intend on fulfilling every fantasy I’ve ever had about you. It’s going to be awesome.”

I laughed, a little disappointed there’d be no sex yet, but I understood why.

Then Cody drew me in for another thirsty, gut-wrenching, cock-hardening kiss and I was lost.

Chapter 10

Cody

Being in a relationship with Nate was weird. Seriously weird.

It was like slipping into old, comfortable and familiar clothes that made you feel warm and fuzzy, mixed with something sexy and tantalizingly different. I hadn’t wanted to cheapen anything we had by falling into sex straightaway, no matter how frustrated I was. I wanted to make sure we were both committed. Sex could blur our new relationship, and I’d been burned before after our sweaty indulgences. But Christ it was tough, and I knew I couldn’t hold out much longer.

Nate’s kisses and sly touches had made me rock-hard in one second flat, and I’d been seriously struggling not to pin him to the floor and do dirty, nasty, wonderful things to every inch of his luscious body.

And the bastard knew the effect he had on me.

So I stood now, days later, watching him work in his light-filled studio. I had a boner the size of the Coit Tower and was as rigid as steel from the constant self-denial.

Things had been a little awkward. The transition from what we’d been to who we’d become hadn’t been easy for either of us. Sure, we still joked around, teased each other, and in that respect, it wasn’t so different.

It was the rest of it that made me take a deep breath. It was sitting together on the sofa, not knowing whether to snuggle up or not. The fact Nate chose to hold my hand when we were out in public, wherever we were. The times I’d brushed some stray crumb from his beautiful lips and not have to drop my hand right away. When he held onto my arm as we walked together, and brushed his hands against my skin in erotic gestures of possession.

Nate liked to tease. Yesterday morning he’d held out a piece of mango and told me to eat it, let his fingers rim my mouth in the most pornographic way possible, which had floored me and I’d had to force myself not to forget the go-slow program.

Yep, my man was a deluxe bitch. He was ready for the physical relationship whereas I… I wanted to find the right moment to make it special for us both.

Engrossed, watching Nate put the final touches to a set of three beautiful conch shells he’d created with such intricate detail, I was blown away. He shouldn’t have doubted whether his art was still exceptional. These pieces were destined for an exhibition at Artisana next week and I couldn’t wait to sell them to a deserving buyer. A buyer with plenty of money because Nate deserved the best price he could get for his work.

He sensed me watching him, and turned to face me, his face alight with satisfaction and his brown eyes sparkling.

God, he was gorgeous. Seeing him like this, back at work, doing what he loved—I said a silent prayer of thanks to the universe. I couldn’t imagine my life being any better.

“Hey, babe. Good day at the office?” He grinned and turned back to his sculptures, face rapt.

I moved over and brushed his cheek. “Yeah, not bad. We sold that Manuela Riposte sculpture you loved, the one of the guy on horseback? A good customer of mine in Brazil bought it for his private collection.” It had been a busy but profitable Saturday.

I moved away, not wanting to distract him from his work.

“Uh-huh.” Nate lovingly pressed creases and ridges into the last shell. “That was a fantastic piece. Glad it went to a good home.”