Stupid Cupid (6 page)

Nathan Reynolds was a man on a mission.

Over the next few weeks, getting to know everything about me had become a religion to him. He quizzed me incessantly about the most mundane things, such as my favorite color and my best subject in school. I learned that he loved to play guitar and really did have a beautiful singing voice, which I had the pleasure of hearing night after night as he sang his daughter to sleep.

After our bedtime story, of course.

It had become our little ritual, and while Annalise was still afraid we were moving too fast, and that I was becoming too attached, my nights with Nathan and Arwen were some of the happiest I’d ever known.

“You look so happy,” Nathan whispered. He was sitting in his usual spot on her bedroom floor with his sketchbook in his lap. The only sound in the room was our relaxed breathing, his daughter’s soft snores, and the scratching of his pencil against the paper.

Shifting on the bed, I ruffled Arwen’s curls and sighed contently. “I am very happy. Do you know what would make me even happier?”

“What’s that?”

“If you’ll show me whatever it is you’re drawing.”

Nathan grinned shyly, his eyes never leaving the paper. “It’s not done yet.”

“You keep saying that.”

“Because it’s true.”

“You’ve been working on it for weeks. Since our first dinner, actually.”

He hummed and continued to draw. I loved watching him work. He was always focused—so determined to catch every little detail in whatever his subject might be. I loved the way his brow would crease whenever he’d have to erase a line, and I loved how the tip of his tongue would just barely be visible as he worked on a particularly detailed part of the picture.

I loved him.

And I loved his daughter.

Was it too soon to tell him?

Probably.

I carefully climbed out of bed and placed Arwen’s favorite stuffed animal in her arm, tucking the blanket around her. Leaning down, I kissed her forehead.

“Sweet dreams, baby girl.”

When I turned around, Nathan was standing next to the door. His eyes were soft and warm as he moved closer to the bed. After kissing his daughter’s cheek, he reached for my hand and slowly led us out of her room, closing the door behind us.

“It’s ready,” Nathan said softly.

“The picture?”

He nodded.

Grinning like a kid at Christmas, I tried pulling him toward the living room, but he wouldn’t budge.

“In here,” he whispered, and my stomach did somersaults as he led me to his bedroom. I’d never actually seen his room, only passing it on my way to Arwen’s each night. The room was definitely masculine, decorated in deep chocolate and hunter green. The king-sized bed was facing the mounted plasma screen, and sliding glass doors revealed a pretty terrace. A love seat was nestled in the corner, and that’s where Nathan led me. Once we were settled, he handed me the sketchbook.

“First page.” His voice trembled slightly.

“You don’t have to show me, Nathan.”

“I want to. It’s just . . . it’s quite possibly the most meaningful sketch I’ve ever drawn, so I’m a little nervous.”

Very slowly, I lifted the cover of the sketchbook, my eyes instantly filling with tears when I saw the image on the page.

It was Arwen’s bedroom, and she and I were nestled in her bed with a storybook in my lap.

I quickly wiped my cheeks. The last thing I wanted was to ruin his beautiful drawing with my sentimental tears.

“Do you like it?” He sounded so uncertain, as if there was some way I wouldn’t absolutely adore it.

“I love it.”

A heartbeat passed—a mere second—and that’s when I heard his sweet voice.

“I love you.”

I smiled down at the picture and then into his beautiful blue eyes. His love was obvious. If I ever doubted it, all I’d have to do is look at this drawing. I could see it in every detail. Every line. Every stroke of the pencil.

“I love you, too.”

A million emotions crossed his face before he reached for the sketchbook. He took it out of my hands and placed it on the floor. Pulling me into his lap, he gazed sweetly into my eyes, wiping away what was left of my tears. He kissed me tenderly, holding me close as his hands stroked up and down my spine.

“I left my door open, hoping it would help me resist the temptation to carry you to my bed tonight.”

Smiling, I trailed my fingers through his hair. “Yes, that would be a very bad idea with a seven year old just across the hall.”

Nathan dipped his head, gently kissing along the column of my throat. I groaned softly.
Oh, how I wish he’d closed the door.

“Tomorrow is Friday,” Nathan murmured against my skin. “Arwen is spending the night at Grandma’s house. I was thinking . . . we could have a sleepover of our own.”

My entire body tingled with excitement.

“I think that’s a great idea,” I whispered breathlessly.

Your kiss makes me weak . . .

Your love ignites my soul . . .

“I never thought I’d say this, but I think your sappy greetings are giving me a toothache,” Annalise said with a grin.

She was peeking over my shoulder, which was something I usually despised, but today was Friday. I was in love with a man who loved me, and we were having a sleepover.

Nothing could spoil my day.

By the time the cab dropped me off in front of Nathan’s apartment, I was bouncing with nervous energy. With my overnight bag in hand, I made my way up the stairs, waving at the sweet doorman and hurrying toward the elevator. By the time I knocked on his door, I was vibrating with anticipation.

The door swung open, but I wasn’t greeted by the man I loved. Instead, it was a smartly dressed woman who looked to be in her fifties. She beamed at me with her pretty blue eyes.

This has to be his mother.

“You must be Jada,” the woman said, smiling warmly. “I’m Nathan’s mom, Evelyn.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

I swallowed anxiously as she ushered me inside.

“We’re getting a late start. Nathan is helping Arwen with her suitcase,” she said, glancing down at my own bag in my hand. Her lips twitched—a trait—which had been passed down to her son. I felt the blood rush to my face, but she simply smiled.

Suddenly, Arwen bounced into the room with Nathan following close behind with her suitcase. She rushed toward me and I leaned down, hugging her tightly.

“Hi, Jada!”

“Hey, sweetheart. All ready for your sleepover?”

Arwen nodded excitedly. “We’re going to the zoo tomorrow.”

“That’ll be fun!”

The intercom buzzed.

“That’s your driver,” Nathan said, handing his mother the suitcase and all but pushing her towards the door.

She smirked at her son before turning to me.

“It was very nice to meet you, Jada.”

“It was nice to meet you, too.”

I managed to hold back my laughter until the door closed behind them.

“Eager, Mr. Reynolds?”

“I’m so sorry about that,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “They should have been gone an hour ago, but she had a late meeting and—”

I took a step closer to him. “It’s okay.”

Sighing deeply, he wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me softly.

“Yes, I’m eager,” he whispered.

I grinned. “Me, too.”

“Would you like dinner? I could make something . . .”

Always a gentleman, but the last thing I wanted was food.

Slipping my hands beneath his shirt, I felt his stomach muscles tighten. He inhaled sharply, gripping my waist a little tighter as my fingers crept across his skin.

“Jada, I have to be honest with you. It’s been . . . a long time.”

I lifted his shirt over his head, letting it fall to the floor.

“For me, too. Since my divorce.”

He seemed relieved, and my admission gave him the courage to pull me by the hand and lead me to his bedroom.

We took our time, slowly undressing and gliding our hands along each other’s heated skin. Every touch was gentle and soft as we caressed, discovering one another for the very first time.

“I love you, Jada.” His voice was rough and low, filled with a mixture of anxiety and eagerness.

“I love you, too.”

Taking the lead, I tugged him toward the bed. It was all the motivation he needed, because suddenly, I was being pressed against the mattress as his body hovered above me. With my heart racing, I pulled his face to mine, kissing him deeply as our hands roamed. Touching. Exploring. Memorizing.

Nathan dipped his head, burying his face against my throat as his hand stroked one breast, and then the other, making me groan. I writhed beneath him, desperate to have him closer, as he trailed his hand along my stomach. When he finally reached my heat, he kissed me deeply, swallowing my moans as he teased me with his fingers.

“Please say you’re ready,” he whispered roughly.

“I’m so ready . . .”

Nathan raised himself and reached for something on his nightstand. I heard the rip of the foil, and I smiled.

“I hope you have more than one of those.”

“I bought a box,” Nathan said, grinning down at me. I giggled as he nestled himself between my legs, and I arched impatiently, desperate to have him.

“This is going to be too quick, baby.”

“We have all night,” I reminded him, smoothing the hair away from his face.

His blue eyes were blazing with desire as he shifted his hips, groaning loudly as he buried himself inside me. I grabbed onto his shoulders as we began to move. Yes, it was going to be fast, but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was the way he was looking at me—as if nothing mattered except that we were finally together like this. As if I was all that mattered in the world. As if I was his reason for taking his next breath.

Nathan groaned my name as his thrusts became frantic, and that was all it took to make me shatter beneath him. I clutched his shoulders, and he shuddered in my arms, holding on tight as our bodies surrendered.

It
was
quick, but that didn’t make it any less incredible.

But what was most amazing?

We still had all night.

“I can’t believe it’s been a year,” Annalise said as we gazed at the decorations.

The ballroom was once again decked out for our annual Valentine’s Day bash. This year’s theme was
Roses are Red
, but somehow, a certain winged cherub had still managed to make an appearance tonight—in the form of helium balloons hovering above our heads.

Despite the most incredible twelve months of my life, my distaste for Valentine’s Day hadn’t really changed much. But even I had to admit that all the hoopla, and yes, even the Cupids, were a little easier to endure when you had a loving husband and a beautiful daughter showering you with love each and every day.

“Have you told him?” Annalise whispered.