Heart Shaped Spotlight

"Who have you sold them to?"

Nate dramatically looked over his shoulder both ways, while I rolled my eyes. Then he leaned forward and whispered a string of famous bands and singers that made me gasp.

"Holy shit," I whispered.

"I may have just broken a couple of NDAs, but it's worth it to see that look on your face," he chuckled.

The way his eyes were practically glowing every time he looked at me was starting to turn my insides to a big sloppy puddle. We moved to the couch, his arm around me casually again, but the warmth I was feeling from his touch was a bit less casual.

"How did you get your job?" he asked, his fingers trailing up and down my shoulder in a way that made me quiver.

I shrugged slightly, not wanting to disturb his arm. "A few college courses, a bunch of online courses, and some technical certifications. I wasn't sure what industry I wanted to work in, but radio was one that had a lot of challenges. The normal office IT stuff, plus broadcasting, sound tech, archiving, all sorts of weird things."

"So you just applied, and were the chosen person?"

I smirked. "I think I was super lucky, actually. As I was waiting for my interview, I saw another guy leaving, looking like he may have been a tech. He was awkwardly hitting on Kim, the receptionist."

"Do you think she filed a complaint and made sure he wasn't hired?"

I laughed. "I don't think Kim has ever filed a thing in her life. I bet she just snapped those manicured fingers and told her Uncle Gary, the station manager, that she didn't like the guy."

"Oh, so it's that kind of business."

"Yeah. Family-owned, family-run, and family rules. Gary's brother runs a sister station in Vancouver, and keeps threatening to send me out there to straighten things out."

Nate grabbed my hand excitedly. "So if Hemlock and Emeralds end up based in Vancouver, you could transfer out there?"

My heart sank, and I felt myself starting to lock up. My fingers began to twitch.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry, baby," he said quickly. "That just flew out of my mouth without thinking. I would never really ask you to move for me."

“Don't you think you should be focusing more on your career than a brand new relationship right now?" I ask quietly. "I mean, I appreciate all of this attention, but I don't want to distract you from what's really important."

Nate's expressive gray eyes stared at me as if I'd lost my mind, and his fingers reached up to touch his necklaces in a weird nervous tick. "If you don't realize how important you are to me, I haven't been very clear," he said gently. "I don't want to frighten you. I don't want to pressure you. I just need to be with you. Okay?"

I began to nod, but his lips were already crashing against mine in a seductive, ferocious kiss.

Every time Nate kissed me, I felt like I was entering a new dimension. I was able to grab the back of his hair without thinking. My movements were instinctive, and for once I didn't have to overthink everything to pieces.

My hands skimmed over his tight black t-shirt, exploring his muscled chest. His scent invaded my senses – a warm, manly smell. His tongue slipped between my lips, and I pulled him closer, needing to taste him. Feel him. Experience his strangely intense energy.

I was so lost in his kiss that it took me a second to realize his hand was slipping into the front of my dress, caressing my left breast gently. I couldn't stop the tiny moaning gasp that overcame me. He shifted to nibble at my earlobe, his hand circling my breast completely, exploring my skin as his thumb brushed across my nipple.

"Do you want me to stop?" he breathed into my ear.

"Never," I said.

Nate pulled back to look at me with confusion in his eyes. "You're not nervous, baby?"

I think I surprised him by laughing. "I'm always nervous. That's my default state. But I want you. I want… Everything."

Those blazing eyes locked on mine, his grin making me feel a flush of heat in my lower hips. The shoulder of my dress and my bra strap were pulled down on one side as he ducked to suck my nipple

deeply. His little sound of pleasure caused ripples of lust up my spine. As my head fell back, I could feel warmth and wetness starting to gather in my core.

The pad of his thumb trailed down the center of my bottom lip, pulling my mouth open before he kissed me so deeply I felt like I was going crazy.

Just as I felt like I couldn't control the moaning welling up inside me any longer, Nate stood up, taking my hand and leading me across the room to the bed.