She blows out a breath. “He better.”
I shake my head at her as she battles to keep her eyes open.
When Nate comes to a stop, he hops out and heads toward us as Clay goes inside.
“Would the little princess like a carry? You look tired.”
Izzie nods, holding her arms up. Nate picks her up, his eyes flitting between Izzie and me.
“We need to feed her quick before she drops off.”
“I’m on it,” he states, saluting me and motioning for me to follow him.
We walk over the patio and into the kitchen where Clay is sitting at the wooden island; Nate places Izzie down on the stool next to Clay and walks over to his refrigerator. I sit down next to Izzie letting her rest her head on my shoulder, running my fingers through her damp hair.
I watch as Nate pulls out ingredients before turning toward me. “Sandwiches okay?”
“I want pancakes,” Izzie whispers. Even her voice is tired.
“It’ll take Uncle Nate too long to make pancakes, Izzie.” I look down at her. “If you have a sandwich then you could go and have a little nap sooner.”
Her eyelids droop again before she tilts her head a little. “’Kay.”
When I turn back to face Nate he’s already making the sandwiches, moving with ease around his kitchen. You can tell he uses it all the time. His hands are sure as they grip the end of the knife, and I watch fascinated at the way his muscles ripple with each movement.
They don’t stray off him as he walks over, placing plates in front of each of us before taking a seat next to me.
Flutters dance in my stomach as he grins at me and picks up his food, taking a bite. Everything he does is enthralling.
We all eat in relative silence, Izzie able to manage half of hers before she slumps forward.
Taking the last bite of his sandwich, Nate slides off his stool and picks Izzie up like a baby, cradling her in his arms. “I think you need a nap, little Isabel.” He looks up from her at me. “I’ll be back in a minute, I’ll put her in the nearest guest room.”
“Okay,” I reply, staring after them as he walks through the door.
As soon as they’ve gone, Clay jumps down, taking his empty plate to the sink. “I’m going to find the library,” he tells me, not giving me time to answer as he disappears.
I stare out of the window for a while before standing up and clearing the plates away, about to wash them.
“You look good standing in my house.”
I spin around, seeing Nate leaning against the doorjamb. My throat clogs with emotion and it takes me several attempts before I manage to whisper, “I love your house, it feels like...” I hesitate, not sure if I should say it or not but ultimately decide I want to be honest with him about how I’m feeling. “Home.”
“Play your cards right and you could be spending a lot more time here,” he says, straightening up and moving toward me. He doesn’t stop until our bodies are touching and he’s pinning me with his hips against the counter. My breath catches, his hands wandering up my arms and stopping on either side of my neck as he dips forward, coming to a complete stop a hairsbreadth away from my lips.
“I’ve been waiting all day to do this,” he breathes out before he slams his lips against mine.
Me too, I think, moaning when his teeth sink into my bottom lip.
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pull him closer, lifting my chest up and relishing in the feel of him pressed against me. His hand threads through my hair, tugging slightly as a groan vibrates out of him, spurring me on even more.
Heat builds between my thighs, a slow burn turning into a roaring flame as I feel his hardness press against me at the same time his tongue runs alongside mine. His hand slides between us, undoing the knot I put in the towel at the lake and causing it to drop.
“Nate.” I throw my head back as his hand spans the side of my waist, his thumb rubbing back and forth underneath my breast. My chest heaves, wanting him to move his hands a little higher as he plants kisses down my neck and back up to my mouth.
I get lost in him, in all of the sensations. I need more of him, I need him everywhere, but when a bang comes from somewhere in the house, I pull back.
It’s too easy to become adrift when he’s near, forgetting what and who are around.