Retribution (Secrets & Lies #3)(40)
“Sounds good,” Nathan rasps before coughing again. “I missed you.”
“I missed you,” I inform him, finding enough strength somehow to help him inside. “Come, let's get you down and to bed.”
Nathan collapses into bed as soon as Katrina and I lay him down, sweat dotting his forehead even though it's chilly in his room. “Come on, let's get him stripped down, his shirt is soaked,” I tell Katrina, who nods and begins unbuttoning the shirt he's wearing. “He's burning up.”
“I'll send Jackson and Carson to town, they can get some medicine,” Katrina says as we peel back the shirt to reveal four angry red scratches on his chest. “Ouch, he got tagged good.”
“Is he going to be okay?” I ask nervously, and Katrina nods.
“He'll be fine. Best guess is, he pushed himself to exhaustion, trying to cover his tracks and get out safely. He needs sleep, some decent food, and the most important, medicine,” Katrina says, helping me with his pants and stripping him down to his boxer shorts.
“What's that?” I ask, and Katrina chuckles. “Penicillin?”
“He needs some TLC. Think you can provide that?” Katrina asks.
I nod, yawning. “That I can do.”
The sun is down when I wake up, and the first thing I see is Nathan's eyes looking at me, tender and loving. “Welcome back.”
“How long was I asleep?” I ask him, and he smiles, kissing my forehead.
“We both have been out about twelve hours. I woke up earlier and used the toilet, and Katrina got me two pills and some soup,” he says quietly. I notice he's still holding me though, and I feel warm and protected. “But I told her I needed some more bed rest and came back.”
“Everyone has questions,” I say. His fever is gone, and under my hands his skin feels smooth and amazing. “Although I think Carson's happy with his new truck.”
“Used, actually, but I hope he is,” Nathan says, his fingers stroking up and down my back. “But their questions can wait until morning.”
“I understand. You must be exhausted still,” I whisper, stopping when Nathan shakes his head. “What?”
“She had a gun on me,” Nathan says, his hands still stroking my back. “And what I saw... I don't want to remember. When I was running, Isis shooting at me, I could only think of one thing.”
“What?” I ask, unable to breathe under the intense fire in his eyes.
“You,” he whispers. “Being with Isis, I was reminded how... just how dirty she made me feel. Running away, thinking of you, I could only think that with you. You make me feel... clean.”
Nathan lowers his lips to mine, and we kiss, tender at first, but with growing intensity. His hands clutch at me more strongly, and at the first touch of his tongue on my lips, I open to him, warm tingles running down my body. Nathan rolls, pulling me on top of him in the narrow bed, my body burning as I press against him.
“'Lissa,” Nathan whispers as he kisses to my neck, his lips tracing my throat and causing me to moan. I've never felt this, it's amazing, and better than any dream or fantasy I could have ever imagined. Nathan's hands lift the back of my t-shirt and caress my back, each thrilling pressure a world I've never explored before. My body is waking up, warmth filling me between my legs, and I gasp when he kisses to the hollow of my neck, my hands grabbing the rail of the bed above our heads.
“I’m so glad you came back to me,” I whisper, sitting up to look down at him. The scratches on his chest have faded from an ugly red to a light pink, and I trace them, tears coming to my eyes, along with a deep anger. “Did that bitch do this to you?”
Nathan nods, but takes my hand and lifts it to his lips, kissing my fingertips. “It doesn't matter now. 'Lissa... I know now what I want to do.”
“What?” I ask, and Nathan swallows deeply.
“I want to stay with you the rest of my life. And I don’t want to hold back anymore.”
There's no words needed and I nod, reaching down and pulling my t-shirt over my head, followed by my bra. I'm nervous at first for some reason, I've never been nervous about showing my body before, but this time, I want Nathan to approve of what he sees.
I shouldn't have worried, as Nathan smiles, and between my legs, I feel a growing firm pressure as he hardens underneath me. I slide my hips a little and he moans lightly, more of a deep hum in his chest. It feels wonderful, and I do it again, echoing him this time. “Nathan,” I gasp, realizing what it is I'm feeling.
“I know,” he says. “And anytime you want to stop... we stop. No pressure.”
He brings his right hand up and strokes my face with his fingers, his eyes still burning with intensity.
“No more regrets,” I reply. His thumb brushes against my nipple and I gasp, electricity jolting through me as my body wakes up. My hips move again, Nathan sitting up and kissing me again before he trails his lips down my throat, capturing my nipple in between his lips.
I'm in heaven as I feel his hardness between my legs and his mouth sucking on my breast, his hands supporting my back as I hold onto his neck, pulling harder and harder with every nibble and lick of his tongue on my stiff, aching nipple. “Good, so good,” I moan thickly, lost in a haze of desire. “I never knew how good.”