Justice Falling (Falling #3)(10)
“Siblings aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, you know?” His smile showed an adorable dimple on one cheek almost hidden by the dark swath of hair from his goatee and mustache. My heart sped up as I studied his face. Men like him graced the covers of magazines and dated perfect model types whose biggest worry was whether their handbag matched their outfit. I was not that girl. Yet, here he sat at a table with me. For how long? Once he knew about Tanner and about my other job, he’d be gone as fast as my first love. Tyler -- the man that screwed me over in more ways than one.
“You sound like you speak from experience.”
He nodded. “I do. You’ve met my brother, Collier Stone.”
“That’s right! The little mix-up.” I looked down at my hands, regretting the accusatory way I’d spoken to him yesterday.
Nate’s finger tipped my chin up. “Eyes, Precious. I like to watch your eye color change as I speak to you. It’s mesmerizing.” Once more, my face heated. “You’re so lovely when you blush,” he whispered over the table.
The waiter took that moment to return with a variety of nibbles that ended up being an array of meats, cheese and fruit. “I hope my choice is okay,” Nate said. There was enough to feed an army but in dainty little plates with multi-colored dips that I assumed were mustard or honey. “Shall I explain them to you?” Nate had obviously ordered this before.
I shook my head and smiled at him. “I like surprises. There are so few in life.” I picked up a slice of salami, added a square of white cheese, dipped it lightly into the first saucer, and then took a bite. Sharp cheese coupled with the tang of the mustard and salt from the meat mingled with each other to provide a scrumptious pairing. I licked my fingers and nodded. “You should try that combination. Here, let me make you one.” I danced in my seat a bit, excited at finding a good mix on my first try.
As I put the trio together, it dawned on me that Nate wasn’t speaking. I looked up and found him watching me intently. His eyes blazed with a heat so hot I could almost feel it across the table. “What?” I asked sounding more breathy than I intended. The man just did something to me.
“I like watching you. You’re incredibly beautiful, Camille.” He said my name in a way I’d never heard before; soft, sensual and filled with desire. I took a deep breath, licked my lips, and then held out the offering to him. Instead of taking it, he leaned forward and took the morsel into his mouth letting his lips graze the tips of my fingers. The bolt that rippled through me at that miniscule touch shifted up my arm spreading through every limb, awakening something that I thought was long gone. “You were right. Meat, cheese, and you…bloody delicious.”
My skin burned. “So, tell me more about your brother?”
“Brother and sisters,” he corrected and my eyes widened. Wow. That’s a lot of family. “One half-brother, Collier, which you’ve met.” I nodded remembering keenly the blonde God-like man that handled a lot of our legal needs. Collier Stone was another stunning man. Long, lean, with a perfect structure. He had blonde layered hair, chocolate brown eyes, and was deeply in love with Aspen’s sister, London Kelley. “My sisters are Emma and Ella. Emma works for Collier and me as the office administrator. Ella is married and lives back home in London with her husband and son.”
“You must miss her terribly. I know if I had a sibling, I’d want to be near them always.”
“Would you?”
I nodded emphatically. “Of course. I find that people with large families take those people for granted. I don’t have any family to speak of except my s-…” I stopped instantly, realizing my mistake.
“Except your what?”
“Um, my roommate, Jin.”
“Tell me about this roommate Jin. What does he do?” Nate’s shoulders tightened and chest seemed to broaden.
“Jin is a she, and she’s my best friend.” Nate visibly relaxed. “She does this and that. Anyway, tell me about why you came to the states.”
Nate slowly took a bite of a pear and leaned back. His suit coat flared out, his dress shirt stretched across his body. I could just barely see the ridges of taut muscles through the fine fabric, but it was enough to spark my libido. With great effort, I bit back a groan that bubbled up. I wished I could see more of his body. His gaze shot to mine catching me looking my fill. Immediately, I looked down and away.
“Eyes.” His demand had me lifting my gaze instantly. “Don’t ever be embarrassed about looking at me, Camille. I enjoy your eyes on me. Especially if you like what you see,” he grinned. “Do you Camille?” His voice was low, gravely, as if he gargled with a box of rocks. “Do you like what you see?” He asked boldly.
I was transfixed. His gaze, the way he looked at me literally held me captive. Taking what he wanted, he owned my vision. I nodded then whispered. “Yes. What I can see of it.”
His hand held mine over the table. He turned it over and brushed his thumb across the silky skin at my wrist sending shivers of excitement in every direction. “Would you like to see more of it?”
I closed my eyes and imagined him naked, hovering over me, so close to entering me…the loneliness in my life disappearing. A moist sensation tickled my palm. When I opened my eyes again his lips pressed into the center of my hand. He kissed along the soft patch of skin where my thumb and hand met and bit down. A hot poker of lust speared though my arm down my chest to settle hotly between my legs.