Redemptive (Combative, #2)(28)

Then I yanked on his arm, pulling him to me, and I had no idea what I was doing, but I had to do it.

“You all right, Bailey? You don’t look too—”

Before he could finish, my mouth was on his… unmoving. He sucked in a breath, taking mine with it and I pulled back, my cheeks flaming with embarrassment. I covered my face with my hands just as I saw him licking his lips. “Bailey,” he said, removing my hands and pinning me with his gaze. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted to do that?”

“How long?” I squeaked.

“Too long.”

My eyes closed as he moved in on me. His lips on mine were warm, soft, just like his touches. They were everything I’d expected, everything I’d been afraid to want. He smiled against my lips and pulled away. “Relax, Bailey. I won’t hurt you. I promise.” And at his words, I knew it was true.

He placed his hands gently on my bare thighs, slowly sliding them higher.

I tensed even more, my heart racing, my need building. He didn’t go for my lips this time. No. It was worse. He went for my neck, his mouth opening slightly to suck, lick, and kiss me there. I moaned, my fingers back in his hair, gripping tight while he moved a hand under my shirt and to the small of my back. With my legs around him, I tilted my head back, giving him better access and his mouth moved higher, and higher, until he was on my jaw, closer and closer to where I wanted him. I tilted my head down, brushing my lips against his. “You good?” he whispered.

Whatever sound I must’ve made was answer enough because he pulled me closer until my center was pressed against him. Then he captured my mouth with his, his tongue darting out, running slowly between my lips, begging for access.

I wanted to touch him, kiss him, taste him. I wanted all of it. All of him.

And when his tongue slid against mine, I gave into my wants. My needs. He cursed into my mouth as I pushed myself into him. With both his hands on my waist, his fingers dug into my skin, and I pulled back, gasping for air. He didn’t. He moved to my jaw again, and down to my neck, his tongue leaving a trail of wetness as he moved to my shoulder. He used his teeth to shift the loose collar of my shirt lower, lower. Kissing my chest, he licked, sucked, and then kissed again. His teeth ran softly across my collarbone, and I threw my head back in pleasure, stars flashing behind my closed eyes as I panted his name, over and over while I moved my hands to his firm chest. It was too much, and it wasn’t enough. I didn’t know whether to push him away or to beg him for more. His mouth moved down to the top of my breasts as my hands went to the hem of his shirt, lifting the fabric so I could feel every single dip of his abs, something I’d wanted to do for so damn long.

My back arched, inviting him, and he moaned against my skin, one arm around my waist, the other leaning on the mirror behind me. His hold was firm, safe, as he kept me in place. He thrust into me, just once, but f*ck was it— Bang, bang, bang. “Nate!”

“Fuck off!” Nate shouted back.

I covered his mouth with my hand and shook my head at him, trying to contain my laughter. “Don’t talk to him like that.”

He pulled my hand away and kissed it once before straightening up. Tiny yelled, “What the f*ck are you doing? We’re gonna be late. Benny’s already blowing up my phone.”

Nate rolled his eyes. “Hang on!”

“You said that ten minutes ago!”

Nate’s shoulders dropped with his heavy exhale. “I have to go,” he said, kissing me once. “I’ll be back before you need your insulin. I put your vitamins next to your lunch in the fridge. Don’t forget to eat. Have them at the same—”

“I got it.”

I pushed him away and jumped off the counter. Gripping his shoulders, I turned him around and pushed him toward the door. “Go!”

With one hand on the knob, he faced me, his gaze pinning me in place as he leaned forward. He settled his hand on the back of my head and pulled me to him, placing a chaste kiss on my forehead. “It’ll be good, Bailey,” he murmured, his tone distant.

“What will?”

“You and me, bella ragazza.”

*

I paced. I cleaned. I showered. Cleaned. Showered. Cleaned some more. It was by far the slowest day in the history of days. I thought maybe I could sleep, make time tick without me counting down the seconds, so that’s where I found myself, in my bed tossing and turning when I heard the front door open and the familiar beeps of the alarm. I practically jumped out of my skin and out of the bed. I was excited, nervous, anxious… all of it, all at once.

My hand froze on the doorknob as I tried to calm my breathing, tried to settle my pulse.

“Bailey?” Nate shouted.

I didn’t respond; my mind racing with too many thoughts… what if he regretted this morning? What if things became weird? What if he wanted me gone? What if he wanted sex and— Before I could finish my thought, he knocked on my door and pushed it open, startling a little when he saw me right behind it. And then he smiled—that rare but perfect smile—and I lost my mind and my breath and my heart in his single display of emotion. “Why didn’t you call out when I said your name?” he asked.

“I—”

“I was worried.”

“About what?”

“That maybe you left.”

“I wouldn’t leave.”