“You know Mixed Martial Arts?” He asks, his eyebrows raised almost to his hairline.
“Nate, I have four older brothers and a father. Not only did they all teach me how to protect myself, they made me sit and watch that crap or play it on the xBox all the damn time. It’s much to their dismay that I wear makeup and love pink.”
“So, you’re a badass, Miss Montgomery?”
“I am, Mr. McKenna.”
“Wanna prove it?” He’s smiling again, delighted with me, and I’m smiling back at him. Who knew sitting and talking with Nate could be so easy?
And who knew we’d have so much in common?
“Right now?”
“No, tomorrow. Come to the gym with me.”
“I don’t know,” I shake my head. “I might really hurt that pretty face of yours.”
“You think my face is pretty?” He kisses my knuckles, one by one, then leans over and kisses my cheek.
“You know your face is pretty.”
“I know your face is pretty.”
“It’s just a face,” I respond and shrug. I have always received a lot of attention because of my face, and my body. It’s just genetics.
Nate narrows his eyes at me, his mouth forming a hard line. “Julianne, your beautiful face is only out matched by what’s inside you.”
What the fuck? No one, no man anyway, has ever said anything about what’s inside me. Unless he was referring to his dick.
I gasp and feel my eyes go wide. This is why I’m drawn to him. He completely throws me off kilter.
“Well, aren’t you the charmer?” I ask, trying desperately to lighten the mood.
Nate smiles again. “So, are you coming with me or not?”
“If you think you can take me, sure, I’ll come with you.”
“Did you bring workout clothes?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“So…” I look around his beautiful apartment. “Did you decorate this yourself?”
Nate laughs and I feel the pull in my belly. I love his laugh. “No.”
“It suits you.”
“You think?” he raises an eyebrow and looks around at his beautiful home.
“Yeah, it’s masculine, but inviting, and comfortable. And the kitchen is sexy as hell.”
“Sexy, suits me, does it?” He asks and kisses my knuckles again, sending shivers down my back.
I shrug and raise an eyebrow. “You have your moments.”
“Well, speaking of my sexy kitchen,” Nate rises gracefully from the couch and pulls me with him. “How would you like some dessert?”
“Dessert?” I echo, lamely. Watching him walk is making me crazy. He’s so graceful; he clearly takes care of that body. I can’t wait to see what he can do at the gym tomorrow.
“I have chocolate cheesecake.” He smiles back at me and I gasp.
“That’s my favorite.”
“I know.”
“How do you know?”
“Because at every business dinner you always order it for dessert.” He motions for me to sit on a stool at the breakfast bar and pulls the cheesecake out of the fridge.
He pays attention to what I order at dinner?
“So I was a bit of a foregone conclusion tonight then?” I cock my head to the side and smile sassily at him and can’t help but enjoy watching him squirm.
“No, nothing you do is expected, Julianne, but I was hopeful, and prepared, just in case.” He cuts the cake and pulls two white dessert plates out of a beautiful dark mahogany cabinet. He joins me and we dig in.
“Oh, Sweet Jesus, that’s good.” I lick my fork and close my eyes. Diving back in for a second bite, I notice that Nate isn’t moving. “What’s wrong?”
“You are so sexy.” His eyes are burning with lust, and my body starts to hum under his hot gaze.
“I love chocolate,” I murmur and take another bite. “It’s my vice. I don’t drink much, I’m not big on junk food, but chocolate is not safe from me. If you don’t hide that cake, I’ll have it polished off by morning.”
“I don’t mind as long as I get to watch you eat it.”
I laugh at him as I take another bite and he digs into his own piece. He nods appreciatively and licks his lips.
Oh my, those lips. He’s so good with those lips.
“Am I seriously sitting in your kitchen eating chocolate cheesecake?” I ask. I can’t believe I’m here. “If someone had told me this morning that this is where I’d be tonight, I’d have told them to seek medical attention.”
“Is it that much of a hardship?” he asks, and I can hear the hurt in his voice.
Oh no! I don’t want to hurt his feelings!
“Not at all, just a surprise. This is just the last thing I expected.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” he murmurs, looking down at his plate, then he turns that hot gray gaze back to mine.
“Me too,” I reply and take the last bite of cake. “Feed me cheesecake like this, and I’ll never leave.” I laugh and gather my empty plate and take it to the sink, rinse it and place it in the dishwasher. Nate joins me, taking care of his dishes, and then leans back against the counter, watching me.
“My fridge will now forever be full of chocolate cheesecake.” He smiles warmly and heat slowly spreads through me at his flirty statement.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” I quip and hop up to his on his counter, dangling my feet and watching him. God, he’s a sight to behold. I love seeing his hair hanging loose, and I definitely want to see more of that tattoo.
I wonder if he has more of them?
I lick my lips at the thought of exploring that hot body in the light. Yes, I know exactly where I’ll be sleeping tonight, and it’s not in the spare bedroom.
“That’s a promise I can keep, honey. I didn’t want you to leave last time.” He frowns and crosses his arms over his chest. “Speaking of, why did you?”
Oh. We’re going to have this conversation now.
“I couldn’t deal with the morning after regrets.”
“What morning after regrets?”