“I think I might have some work to do.”  Luke’s eyes are wide and he runs his hand through his hair.

“Oh no, you’re coming.”  I point my finger and glare at him.

“This is really a chick thing,” Nate says.

“Whose side are you on?” I ask.

“Luke’s,” he states matter-of-factly.  “It’s a chick party.”

“He’s the daddy.”  I plant my hands on my hips and glare at both of these stubborn men while Natalie laughs.  “He has to go.  Besides, my brothers and parents will be there, along with his family too, so it’s a co-ed party.”

“Will there be pink?” Nate asks.

“The baby is a girl; of course there will be pink.”  I look at him like he’s being ridiculous.

“Chick party.” Nate sneers.

“A chick party that you’re now going to,” Luke interrupts.

Oh, no.  My panicked eyes meet Natalie’s and she offers me a small smile.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea…” I look around the room and over to Nate and he’s frowning at me.

“Why?”

“I don’t know if I’m ready to introduce you to my family,” I whisper.

“Why?” he asks again.

I shrug.  “It’s kind of soon.”

“You just called me your boyfriend ten minutes ago.”

“I just didn’t know what else to call you.”  I shrug and turn away and then find myself pinned to him, his hand twisted in my hair and the other at the small of my back, pressing me to him, and his mouth – oh, that mouth – is on mine, kissing me urgently.  Then, just as fast as he started, he releases me and backs away.

“Oh, my,” Natalie mutters.

“Be there at two,” Luke tells him with a smug smile on his face.

Chapter Twelve

I’ve been quiet all through dinner. Nate and I ordered in pizza after returning to my house from Nat and Luke’s. We threw in an action movie and settled on the couch in the loft with our cheesy, delicious pizza and a couple of beers.

But I can’t stop thinking about the scene is his office earlier today. If he didn’t tell me about an ex-wife, what else is he hiding?

While Nate watches the movie, I clear our plates and tuck the left-overs in the fridge.

“I’m going to take a shower,” I murmur as I walk past him on my way to my bedroom.

“What’s wrong, Julianne?” He catches my wrist and pulls me down next to him.

I shrug and shake my head. “I’m not sure I know.”

“Bullshit. You’re still pissed about today.” He frowns as I pull my hand out of his and scoot away from him, needing to distance myself just a bit.

“I’m not exactly pissed, as much as still a little confused and disappointed. Why didn’t you tell me you have an ex-wife?” I eye him speculatively and he pushes his fingers through that glorious black hair, swearing under his breath.

“Honestly, I didn’t think about it.”

“Look, I get that she was a long time ago, I believe that you haven’t slept with her since you met me, and I’m not accusing you of anything like that, Nate. But it was not a good feeling to walk into that office and see a beautiful woman with her hands all over you, not after everything we’ve shared over the past week. So, yeah, I’m still on edge about it.”

“I apologized and explained.”

“Yes, you did. What else are you going to have to apologize and explain about, Nate? What other dirty little secrets are you hiding?” I get up off the couch, needing to get into the shower and away from him for a few minutes, but he snags my hand again.

“Don’t fucking run out on me again. I don’t have any secrets from you. She is not a secret, she’s just part of my past.”

I look down into his silver-gray eyes and soften just a bit. His face is tight with worry.

I pull my hand out of his grasp again and he scowls, about to say something, but I brush my fingertips down his cheeks, hold his jaw in my hands and look at his face. I can feel my own war of words and emotions playing out in my head, moving across my own face. Finally, Nate takes my wrist in his hand and plants a kiss in the palm, looking up at me.

“Talk to me,” he whispers.

I straddle his lap and rest my bottom on his knees. He links my fingers in his and I stare down at them, resting in his lap between us.

“Hey,” he whispers again, “Julianne, talk to me.”

I look into his eyes, and whisper, “I guess I finally realized today how much you could hurt me.”

“Oh, baby.” He pulls me against him, wraps his arms around me and I bury my face in his neck, breathing in his clean, sexy scent. “Same goes here. Watching you walk out of my office today, knowing that I’d hurt you, not knowing where you were… It tore me up. I am sorry. I promise, no more secrets.”

He kisses my hair and I kiss his neck, his smell intoxicating me, and I just know that I need him, right now.

I nibble up to his ear, pushing his beautiful hair out of my path. His hands glide down my back to my ass, and he pulls me more tightly against him, pushing the erection still hidden in his slacks against my core.

“I need you,” I whisper into his ear and fire surges through me as he growls in response. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I nibble my way down his jaw and kiss him, lightly at first, just teasing his lips with my own. My eyes are on his, blue to gray. He pushes one hand in my hair, tilting my head and directing the kiss, taking it deeper, as he spreads his other hand across my lower back, pressing me more tightly against him.

I sit back and pull my blouse over my head and Nate makes quick work of my bra. When my breasts are freed, he takes one swollen, puckered tip into his mouth and pulls gently, then pays the same attention to the other breast. I can’t help but lean back, pressing my center harder against him.

Finally, he stands, sets me on my feet and strips me of my pants and thong. I help him out of his work shirt and pants, and then he lifts me, his hands under my ass. I wrap my legs around his waist, and continue kissing him with a desperate fervor. I can’t get enough of this man’s mouth. It’s magic.

Nate walks us over to the wall and as my back hits the cool surface, he lifts me slightly and rests the head of his cock against my opening.

“I can’t take it slow this time, baby. I want you too much.”

I clench my legs around his hips, pulling him into me, and he accepts the invitation. He pushes all the way in, hard, and the combination of his large cock and that amazing piercing are almost my undoing.