Salvation (9 page)

Gentle slopes gave way to higher cliffs the further we went along the waters
’
edge, until a point in the distance where the rocky terrain stretched out and met the ocean.

“
There are some great hiking tracks up there.
”
Nate
’
s voice startled me from my daydream. He pointed ahead to the headland I
’
d been admiring.
“
The view from the top is unbelievable.
”

“
I can imagine. Do you go up there often?
”
I curled a strand of windswept hair behind my ear.

“
Sometimes. It
’
s a great place to clear your head,
”
he said wistfully.

We stopped and sat, partly shaded by the massive boulder. I stretched my legs out and leant back on my hands. The beach was a place I always found soothing, somewhere to sit for hours daydreaming, letting time pass me by.

“
You
’
re very quiet,
”
Nate said, mirroring my pose. His fingers grazed mine, but neither of us moved.

“
I think I
’
m being seduced by the view.
”

His lips curled, as though thinking of a private joke at my expense.
“
I had a feeling you
’
d like it here.
”

I smiled wryly.
“
I
’
m sure I
’
m not the first you
’
ve brought here to impress.
”

Hurt flashed across his face, and I instantly felt guilty.
“
It is wonderful, though,
”
I quickly added.
“
Thank you for showing me.
”

He smiled softly.
“
Ever surfed before?
”
He nodded to a small group of people bobbing up and down on boards in the ocean, trying to catch a wave.

“
No, I don
’
t like going too far from shore.
”

He tilted his head as his lips turned downwards.
“
Can you swim?
”

“
Yes,
”
I nodded, shielding my eyes from the sun
’
s glare.
“
I
’
m just scared not knowing what
’
s swimming around me.
”

Nate
’
s genuine laughter prompted a wry smile through my embarrassment.
“
Don
’
t let fear of the unknown hold you back,
”
he reasoned. It was an apt statement, considering our circumstances.

“
Would you let me take you out there?
”
He bumped shoulders with me.
“
I
’
ll keep you safe.
”

I giggled at his playful nature.
“
We
’
ll see.
”

“
If Mel lets me take my little goddaughter out there, I must be trustworthy, right?
”
he grinned.
“
Though, come to think of it, that
’
s our secret. She
’
d probably kill me if she knew.
”

It was difficult reconciling the ruthless businessman with a carefree young man, a doting uncle with a strong presence in his family
’
s life. It was another layer of normality I hadn
’
t anticipated.

“
I can
’
t believe how quiet it is.
”
I lowered onto my forearms and tipped my head back, savouring the warmth from the setting sun.

“
It
’
s a great place to escape from unwelcome attention or prying camera lenses.
”

Nate quickly turned away when I caught him studying me intently. Tucking my chin into the nook of my shoulder, I watched him survey the ocean, blinking in the sunlight.
“
Do you get that a lot?
”

“
Occasionally. I like to keep my private life exactly that
—
private
. Being photographed at events and so on is all part of the job. So far, I
’
ve managed to keep other stories out of the spotlight.
”
Nate moved into an upright position, folding his arms across his bent knees. His voice roughened.
“
The interest in my personal life pisses me off at times.
”
He shrugged his broad shoulders, his loose shirt rippling in the breeze.

“
You
’
ve been labelled one of the most eligible bachelors in the country.
”
I sat, brushing sand off my hands.
“
What, or
who
you
’
re doing has to make for some interesting stories for the tabloids.
”

Nate turned sharply, examining me with questioning eyes.

“
Plus, I bet you take a great photo.
”
I smiled nervously back at him.
Well, that
’
s one way of telling him how hot he is.

Nate scanned my face suspiciously, then nodded in the direction of his house.
“
We should head back.
”

He stood, offering both hands to help me up. That familiar spark spurred through our fingers, scattering the same rush of heat up my arms and across my skin as the first time we touched. Nate hauled me up a little too heavy-handedly and I stumbled forward. My hands went out, fingers curling around solid biceps that flexed at my touch. I blinked up, taking a deep breath as I met his gaze.

Standing in his arms, close enough to see the fire blazing in his eyes, caused a riot of sensations to weave through every part of my being. He was just so
…
there.

“
Kara,
”
Nate whispered, reaching for my face.

“
Don
’
t.
”
I shook my head, pushing him away. I started off back to the house, needing the distance to clear my thoughts.

“
You okay?
”
he asked softly when he caught me up.

“
Give me a minute. I
’
ll be fine.
”
I smoothed both trembling hands over my neck, trying to ease the imaginary pressure. Even though I
’
d panicked, I longed for Nate
’
s touch on my skin. Gentle fingertips that could banish the last of my demons. There was no explanation for my body
’
s reaction to him. The more I tried fighting the attraction, the stronger it became.

The stroll back was in silence. The rolling swell of the ocean was therapeutic, lulling repetitively back and forth, easing my mind. By the time we reached the path I
’
d regained my composure.

Nate cautiously slipped his hand into mine to help me back up, and I accepted his silent reassurance without a fight. The rush I got from that tiny connection
—
our fingers entwining together
—
made me reluctant to let go as we crossed the lawn. He was taking control, luring me in, and my resolve was weakening.

“
Look at this.
”
Nate turned me to face the ocean. Dusk settled across the sky as the sun melted into the water, the lights of a plane taking off from LAX twinkling in the distance. Streaks of orange and gold blurred into the blue haze of the ocean in the most spectacular sunset.

“
Wow, it
’
s so pretty.
”
A shiver of excitement ran through me when I caught the darkness in Nate
’
s eyes. My hand gripped his harder as the effect of his command surged through me.

“
Fuck, I can
’
t hold back any longer.
”
Nate tugged me closer, cradling my face as he angled his, and pressed soft lips to mine. They were warm, burning me, pushing heat through my body and setting me on fire for him. I let out a small moan when he grazed his teeth over my lower lip.
“
More,
”
he rasped, exerting a little more pressure.
“
Give me more.
”

My hands went to his hips as I surrendered, unable to resist him any longer.

He tasted divine, his mouth sweet, his tongue hot and tender as it licked into mine. One hand came to my lower back, pressing me into his solid frame until there was nothing between us. His heart raged against my chest, the same frantic rhythm as my own.

This was what I unknowingly needed. What I
’
d been waiting for all afternoon.

He kissed confidently, skilfully, and took his time not to rush, knowing there would be plenty more chances to discover me again. Lost in him, I found the hem of his shirt and without thinking, slipped my hands beneath it. The tensing of his torso and the small shudder and groan that moved through him had me wanting to explore more. With fingertips either side of his spine, I slid my hands up, feeling the defined muscles of his back, picturing it in my mind.

Nate
’
s hand moved over the curve of my arse and gently squeezed, pushing me into him so I felt his erection.

“
No!
”
I jerked away, lowering my eyes to the ground.

“
What
’
s wrong?
”
he rasped, barely audible through rapid breaths.

“
I can
’
t do this.
”
I covered my face, mortified by my actions. Nate peeled my hands away, forcing my eyes up to meet his. My heart was pounding furiously as I took some steadying gasps of air.
“
God, I
’
m sorry.
”

“
For what?
”
Nate anxiously ran a hand through his hair.
“
Doing what you
’
ve tried denying you wanted from the moment we met?
”

This had to stop now before we both got carried away in the heat of the moment.
“
I
’
m not sleeping with you.
”

The corners of those enticingly blue eyes creased as his smile reached them.
“
Have I asked you to?
”

“
No, but
—”
I felt stupid standing here in front of him, conscious of the mixed signals I was giving. Having my hands all over him and kissing him back so responsively
—
he must know I wanted him.

“
I
’
d be lying if I said I didn
’
t want to. But if that
’
s all this was about,
”
he murmured, eyes gleaming mischievously,
“
we
’
d have tangled up my bedsheets hours ago.
”

The way he stared at me with such conviction, along with his sureness of himself, and us, excited me.

“
You can
’
t deny the attraction, Kara.
”
His fingertips grazed my cheek as he tucked a lock of hair behind my ear.
“
You want it, too. Otherwise you wouldn
’
t be here.
”

Nate was right. I
had
come back for more. I was lost, struggling with my emotions.
“
Everything about you is so
…
overwhelming.
”
For the first time in almost a year, I
’
d found someone I was actually interested in. But Nate wanted nothing beyond sex.
“
You know this can
’
t work. We
’
re expecting completely different outcomes.
”

His expression softened as he ran a thumb along my jaw.
“
You took the words right out of my mouth.
”

I frowned as I scanned his face, noting his own bewilderment. Why continue the pursuit if he didn’t think we
’
d work out?

“
I don
’
t want to become a woman whose face you won
’
t even remember in a few weeks
’
time.
”

“
You never could be,
”
he assured quietly.
“
You
’
re the only woman I
’
ve considered having more with in a long time. I know I came on strong at the beginning. It was a mistake, I realise that now.
”
His expression saddened his eyes.
“
But, uncomplicated is all I
’
ve known lately, all I
’
ve allowed myself to have. It
’
s difficult to change that overnight.
”

I turned, wondering why Nate believed he was so unworthy of emotional intimacy, and faced the ocean. His hand crossed my back and settled on my hip, his head nuzzling mine. The breeze blew over me as I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. The salty sea air blended with the woody hues of shower gel from this complicated man beside me.

“
Listen, I
’
m away on business the next few days. Use our time apart to really think about what you want.
”

I
’
d do nothing
but
think about him.
“
I do like you, Nate.
”

“
That
’
s good to know,
”
he said playfully, tucking me into his side.
“
Hate to think you kissed men you
didn
’
t
like that way.
”

I was grateful we had the long drive back to the city before having to say goodbye.

“
Are you still okay with the top down?
”
Nate asked as he climbed into the car.