Then he takes my hand and leads me to the couch. We sit down next to each other. I curl up my legs beneath me, but I keep my hand in his.
“It just happened so fast,” I say. “I always had this crush on you, but I never thought anything would happen. But then it did, and it was amazing, but it just wasn’t in my plan.”
Nate nods and smiles down at me. “And you like to stick to your plans, right?”
I nod and shrug. Now that I’ve cried a little and expressed my turmoil, I feel much better.
“Cynthia, I understand there are elements that were sudden and a bit inappropriate,” Nate says. “But I really care for you, and I want you to be able to express your real feelings.”
“Thank you,” I say. “It can be hard for me, I guess.”
“You expressed yourself well enough the other night.” Nate’s low tone make the hair on the back of my neck rise up. It’s not fear, but excitement.
“You made me feel so comfortable,” I say. “I didn’t think my first time could be that good.”
This was something I never could have admitted over text or over the phone, but with Nate’s solid arm around me, and his kind eyes focused on me, it’s easy.
Nate smiles. “I’m glad it was good for you. It was good for me too.”
I lick my lips and look up at him. I had assumed he enjoyed it since he reached climax, but I hadn’t been sure how much he enjoyed it. I figure he’s had plenty of sex in his life. I probably don’t even rank in the top 10. But I am curious.
“Really?” I ask. “I thought you’ve had so much experience, it wasn’t that big of a deal for you.”
Nate shakes his head to stop me. “It was a big deal. I knew it was the first time for you, but also I wanted you so badly. I’ve wanted you for ages.”
I feel a zap of warmth between my legs. How can he turn me on this much just by sitting on a couch and telling me he wanted me? Is it possible that I turn him on just as much? He makes me feel so beautiful and desirable, it’s almost overwhelming.
Nate leans over so that his mouth is close to my ear.
“You and I have something special,” Nate says. “The other night – I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.”
I squeeze his hand. “Me neither.”
Nate leans back and grins. “See? How hard was that to say?”
I let out a giggle.
“You didn’t have to send that text,” Nate says. “In fact, you had better never send me a text like that again.”
I blink up at him as I try to figure out what he’s saying. We’re not really a couple now. I may be innocent, but I know there are a few more conversations that would need to happen. But he seems to be implying that we’re something. And that we will definitely be sharing a bed again. Very soon.
“I can tell you have more questions,” Nate says. “Spit it out.”
I blush at how easily he can read me. “So what comes next?”
Nate tips up his head and examines the ceiling, as if he’s thinking hard about it. I want to reach out and run my finger along his jawline so I can feel his prickly beard.
“I know you’re graduating soon, and leaving for medical school,” he says. “But I was thinking we could enjoy the time we have.”
I furrow my brow. So he’s not proposing a relationship, but it sounds like more than just hooking up.
“I know it doesn’t fit into any plan.” Nate taunts me with a crooked smile. “But there are a lot of things I’d like to do to you. To teach you. You like to learn, don’t you?”
My breath leaves my lungs in a rush. His words seem to light a fire in the pit of my stomach. Whatever he wants to teach me, I want to learn it. Desperately.
Nate snakes his arm around my back and pulls me closer against him. “Well?”
“Yes.” My voice is barely a rasp so I clear my throat. “Yes, that sounds good.”
Nate raises his brows. He slips his other hand out of my grip and places it on my thigh. “You’re sure about that? You’re not going to send me another text tomorrow suggesting we never do this again?”
“I’m sure.” I’m confident in my words.
He’s right. The text message was my attempt to suppress my real feelings and desires. But Nate is offering me a better option. I’m comfortable with him. I don’t have to hide anything when I’m with him. I can be totally honest. He understands what I want, and now I see what he has in mind.
He’s right, it’s not part of my plan. Even so, all I want in this moment is for him to make love to me again. I’m so aroused that I want to tear at his clothes.
Nate places his hand beneath my chin and lifts my face so I’m looking him in the eye.
“It was very bad of you to deny your feelings, Cynthia,” he says. “You wanted more from me, but you said you didn’t.”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I’ll tell you the truth from now on.”
An electric thrill courses through my body. His voice is dangerous, and it leaves no doubt that he’s in charge now.
“You can always tell me how you feel,” Nate says. “But never send me a text message to hide your feelings, ok?”
“I know,” I say. “I won’t do it again.”
Nate leans forward and presses a gentle kiss against my lips. “I need to make sure you don’t misbehave like that again.”
I nod, my eyes wide with excitement.
He opens his mouth, and I hang onto every word he says.
“I think you need to be punished.”
Chapter Sixteen
Nate
I don’t think, I just act. I can tell the moment I tell Cynthia that she needs
