Fringe Benefits (18 page)

She let out a heavy sigh and laid her head against Dani’s shoulder. “I know that.”

“Connor?” Jules yelled.

“Yeah?” his reply came from down the hallway.

“Can you please go put Emma’s car seat in Dani’s car?”

A few moments later, Connor marched down the corridor, carrying a gray car seat. “Sure thing, Red.” He held out his hand to Dani. “The keys to your chariot, m’lady?”

She took her keys out of her jacket pocket and laid them on his palm.

After Dani was accosted by the Wilson twins, giving them hugs and kisses even as she scolded them to be nicer to Emma, she was finally able to leave. Connor showed Nate how to buckle Emma into the seat; then he waved good-bye as they pulled away.

“Did Robert give you the key?” Nate asked. Since it would be easier to take care of Emma at her home, they were heading to the Ashfords’ place.

“I can use the code on the garage door.” Dani glanced in her rearview mirror. “Ready to go home, munchkin?”

“Yay!” came the reply from the backseat. “Home!”

Dani was exhausted. She picked up the last of Emma’s toys and set them in the large, wooden toy box Robert had hand carved for his daughter. He’d probably set about making another one for his new child.

The Ashford family was going to add a new member.

Now that she’d had time to think, Dani was genuinely happy for Beth and Robert, and she found herself sharing her friends’ delight at having a baby on the way.

After a last quick check on Emma, who was sleeping comfortably in her toddler-sized bed, Dani headed to the spare bedroom, the one they’d occupy until Beth came home.

Nate was already in bed, dressed only in boxers and a T-shirt with his back propped against the headboard. He was grading papers while reruns of
The Simpsons
played quietly on the flat-screen TV. “She’s finally asleep?”

Dani nodded. “Robert said it’s up to us to take her to day care tomorrow or not.”

“I’m fine with your choice,” Nate said. “Almost done with the research papers, so I’m caught up. For now. We’ve got tons of time left on fall break. Wanna take her to the zoo?”

“Brookfield?”

“Sounds good.”

“That’s a little bit of a drive…”

“Then we could just stay home. Emma’s got more toys than most stores stock.” His smile always hit her like a warm caress.

Crawling into bed beside him, Dani wanted him. Now. But being as they were in the Ashfords’ home, she wasn’t sure if it would be proper.

Nate set the papers aside, dropped his red pen on top of the stack, and then gave her another dimpled smile. “You’re really good with her.”

“Thanks.”

“I mean it. Most people have trouble being patient with kids, especially two-year-olds who have questions about absolutely everything.”

“Emma’s pretty smart.”

“I noticed. She asks some awesome questions. Can’t believe she’s only two.”

Dani stretched out on her side of the bed; then she ran her fingers over his ribs. Still afraid of what the future would bring for them, she needed him to make love to her, to show her that here and now he still wanted her, still belonged to her.

They needed to have a serious talk. His declaration of love had finally settled in her mind, and with that acceptance came panic. They knew so little about each other. If they didn’t discuss a long list of things that affected their future, their relationship would be doomed before it ever began.

Finances
. She had a nice nest egg set aside for retirement because she had an eight-year head start on him. In another seven years, her mortgage would be paid off. Then she could really start squirreling away the savings. What were Nate’s plans for his money? Would they pool their resources or keep separate accounts? Did he even have a savings account or an IRA?

Career goals.
Dani held a master’s degree in educational administration. She was biding her time until the next principal in the Cloverleaf school system retired or moved on so she could start pressing the superintendent to promote her. She even kept an eye on other districts within driving range to keep all her options open. Did Nate also want to be an administrator one day? Was he even thinking beyond surviving his first year as a teacher? And what happened if she became a principal in the school system where Nate taught? Hell, what if he had the same aspirations? She’d never known a couple who were administrators in the same school corporation. It simply wasn’t done.

And family
. She had no intention of changing her mind about having children. Once she’d made that choice, she’d felt as though a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders. So committed to her decision that she’d considered having her tubes tied, she couldn’t help but fret that Nate would regret marrying her since it would mean the end of any chance of him being a father.

He blanketed her body with his, kissing her and helping her to scatter her worries. For now. Easing back as he held his weight up on his elbows, he looked into her eyes. “I want you.”

“I want you, too.” Dani pressed her palms against his backside. “I don’t want to wake up Emma.”

“She’s sleeping like a drunk after a bender,” he replied before kissing her again. “Besides, Robert and Beth obviously make love with Emma in the house. Parents have to adapt, but they find a way. In fact, I’m
sure
of it.” His devilish grin made her smile in return. “After all, they made a baby.”

She ground her hips up against his hard cock. “Then make love to me.”

“Gladly.”

When Nate kissed her, Dani could forget everything. All the fear for their future was lost to his kiss, to his touch. He stroked the inside of her mouth with his tongue before rubbing it against hers. She loved how he growled deep in his chest.

Flipping off of her, he stood and whipped his shirt over his head and then wiggled out of his boxers. His erection was too tantalizing to ignore, forcing Dani to her hands and knees so she could move closer. She wrapped her fingers around his penis and licked the crown before she swallowed his length as far as she could.

Nate slid his fingers into her hair, holding her right where she wanted to be. He ever so lightly moved his hips in rhythm with her taking him deeply into her mouth. Then she eased back as her lips and teeth caressed the silky flesh that covered his thick cock. Content to love him that way until he came, she let out a mewl of disappointment when he pulled away.

“I didn’t want to stop,” Dani said.

“I want to be inside you when I come.” Nate crawled past her and then flopped on his back. “I want you on top. Fuck me, sweetheart.”

His words and gruff tone sent heat straight to her core. Quickly shedding her nightshirt and panties, she straddled his hips. His hands settled on her waist before sliding up to cup a breast in each hand. He pinched her hardening nipples before leaning forward and taking one into his mouth and suckling.

She dug her fingernails into his shoulder as she arched her back. A moan of pleasure fell from her lips before she bit her bottom one, not wanting Emma to wake and disturb their interlude. Thankfully, the monitor remained quiet.

Nate shifted to her other breast, the roughness of his unshaven face adding to the sensations he sent racing over her body. This wasn’t going to be one of their lingering sessions. No, as desperate as Dani was to feel him deep inside of her, and the way he seemed to be every bit as frantic, this would be fast and rough. Exactly the way she liked it.

He held his cock up as she rose over him, rubbing it between her folds before he plunged inside of her. A moan of pure ecstasy rose from deep in his throat, a similar sound coming from her. Every time they were intimate, she couldn’t help but believe they were meant to be together. Despite all the obstacles, despite the struggle they faced to make a future together, here they were entirely compatible. Here, they were true mates.

Cupping her neck, Nate pulled her down, kissing her as she flattened her breasts against his lightly furred chest. The cadence he set sped up and she didn’t resist the tightening in her body that signaled she was close to release. Squeezing him strongly, she let the coil contract, every nerve, every muscle preparing for climax.

He came first, clenching his fingers into her hips as he chanted her name with each thrust of his hips. Dani was a moment behind him, the heat of his essence bathing her insides, forcing her own orgasm.

*   *   *

Nate turned off the light after they’d both cleaned up and crawled back into bed. His mind and body were content. Each new day he spent with Dani only convinced him more that they belonged to each other.

Dani snuggled up against him, hauling the blanket over them. “That was wonderful.”

He kissed her forehead. “Damn right. But then again, isn’t it always?”

She rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. “I sure think it is.”

“I mean it, Dani. Every single time we make love, it just gets better.”

Before she could say anything, his phone vibrated, skittering across the nightstand. He snatched it up and let out an exasperated sigh. Another text from Kat. At least Dani couldn’t see the screen since he held it in the hand of the arm he had wrapped around her. A quick couple of touches yielded Kat’s latest appeal.

good night love you

All the flattery that had first accompanied her quest to win him back had become pure frustration. If she didn’t let up, Nate would have to either keep lying to Dani or tell her about the kiss. For all her strength and fortitude, deep down Dani was insecure where their relationship was concerned. He’d worked so damned hard to earn her trust. He wasn’t about to shatter that precious trust simply because Kat had thrown herself at him.

Women were funny about some things. He’d learned that lesson the hard way—by watching his mother struggle in her relationship with Mark. After a couple of great dates, Mark hadn’t called for several days. Each hour that passed without hearing from him made Jackie more restless and forced her anger higher. A guy would’ve just picked up the phone and called to say, “What’s up? Haven’t heard from you in a while.” Instead, she’d put herself through hell, refusing to break down and contact him first. Turned out Mark was conflicted, feeling like he was betraying his dead wife by falling for Jackie so quickly. One call would have fixed the problem, or at the very least prevented a ton of worry.

So why couldn’t Nate open his mouth and tell Dani about Kat?

Because she would be distraught, and the weeks of helping Dani realize that he could be reliable would be washed away in one great wave.

His conscience niggled at him.

You kissed her back. You loved the attention
.

Plus the day Kat had walked away, Nate had sworn that he’d always be there for her if she changed her mind. He’d been so young, so naïve, and so convinced his first love would be his only love.

Dani taught him otherwise simply by being the wonderful, loving person she was. What he felt for Kat was easily eclipsed by the strength of his love for Dani.

Before he could pop off a quick text, saying the same thing he’d already told Kat every time she’d reached out to him—that he wanted her to leave him alone—Emma’s voice filtered through the monitor. “I wanna drink.”

When Dani started to stir, Nate patted her shoulder. “Stay in bed. I’ll get her this time.” He pulled his arm from under her, dropped his phone on the nightstand, and winked. “You can get her if she wakes up at three in the morning.”

“Who texted?” she asked as she grabbed his abandoned pillow and hugged it to her chest.

“Just my mom.”

“Something wrong?”

“Nope. She’s been checking in a lot lately. Probably miffed we didn’t stay very long.” He shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant even though lying was so against his nature.

He headed to get Emma a drink of water.

*   *   *

Dani stared at the phone, trying to talk herself out of picking it up and reading the text, knowing she was fighting a losing battle.

Nate was lying. She had no doubt about it. Did he realize that he tugged on his right ear whenever he fibbed? Not that he did it often, but even when he lied about something as simple as whether she looked good with bed head, he gave that earlobe a pull.

That, and ever since they returned from Indiana, he was fielding a slew of text messages. His phone sounded every hour or so. Sometimes more frequently. He always said it was his mother. Or Mark. Or his brother, Patrick.

So why didn’t she believe him?

That damned right ear.

Through the monitor, she heard him whispering to Emma, probably patting her back to help her get back to sleep. Angry at herself for being suspicious, Dani picked up his phone. It wasn’t locked. Quickly checking his text messages, she found what she’d feared the most. A string of texts from Kat that stretched the length of the screen no matter how far she scrolled. Words of love. Promises for the future. Pledges to bear his children.

Before Dani could find the courage to read any of Nate’s replies, she heard him bid Emma good night and start back toward the spare bedroom.

Frantic about being caught snooping, Dani set his phone back on his nightstand and lay back on the mattress. Her heart was hammering and her mind was whirling. What was she supposed to do now?

If she confronted Nate, she’d have to admit to two sins—invading his privacy and not having faith in him. Somehow she felt the latter would be a greater crime than the former. Trust was everything to him, and he’d spent all their time together helping her learn to depend on him, to believe in him. To love him.

And then what had he done? He’d turned around and lied to her.

He crawled back into bed, but this time, Dani didn’t roll into his arms. She kept her back to him, hugging herself and fighting a cross between fierce anger and abject sorrow. If she faced Nate, she’d either shout at him or start weeping all over him. Neither would be helpful, so she held tight to her emotions and tried to find some calm in the storm. Only then could she figure out what to do.

She’d trusted him. With her heart.

Had she made the biggest mistake of her life?