Broken Hill Hearts (Broken Hill High 4)

He runs his knuckles down the side of my face as though I’m the most precious things he’s ever laid eyes on. “I’m sorry,” he murmurs. “You’re right. I am disappointed. The whole point of us not being together is so you can have a chance at a proper future. With me, you’re throwing that away, but now you’re throwing it away all by yourself.”

My eyes drop to his chest. “I know.”

“How’s this going to look for college?”

“You don’t need to remind me, Nate. I’ve already had mom curse me out about it. I know exactly what I did, and honestly, after that bitch set the boat shed on fire, she deserved it. I don’t regret it.”

“Really?”

“Well… I regret getting caught. I should have taken her down off school grounds and let her have it. Besides, I don’t see you sticking to your vow of taking her down. One of us had to do something.”

“Pulling out a chunk of her fake extensions is not what I had in mind.”

“Then what do you have in mind?” I demand. “We found out nearly two months ago and that bitch is still walking around as though she’s Queen B.”

“Just be patient,” he tells me. “I promised you that I would handle it and that’s exactly what I intend to do. Have I ever broken a promise before?”

“Uh, yeah,” I scoff.

“I meant have I ever broken a promise to you?”

“No.”

“Good, now let’s get out of here.”

“Huh?” I grunt. “You have to go back to school.”

“Says who?”

Excitement starts to bubble up within me until I remember the damn list. My excitement deflates like a popped balloon. “I can’t,” I tell him. “Mom gave me a list of chores to do and she’ll be checking that each one is done. You may as well go. I’ll be stuck here for eternity.”

He shakes his head as his hands come down on my waist. “I’m not going anywhere.”

I lean forward and press my lips to his. “You know,” I tell him, grinding myself down onto him. “Watching you storm in here like that got me pretty hot.”

I feel his smile against my lips as he begins to harden beneath me. “Really?”

“Big time.”

“Well, then what kind of gentleman would I be if I didn’t take care of my girl’s needs?”

I kiss him deeply as his hand wraps more firmly around my waist. He lifts me off his lap before laying me down on the couch, not once letting his lips move from mine. He bunches the fabric of my shirt up and over my body, and I know I was only in his arms last night but having his hands on my body is something else entirely.

Knowing this is going exactly where I need it to go is giving me all sorts of satisfaction. I’ve been craving this intimacy with him for way too long, and for him to pull back now would be torture.

I grab his shirt between my fingers and slide it up his smooth skin. He helps me to rip it over his head and before I know it, the shirt is carelessly dropped behind the couch. His body comes down on mine and having his warm skin against mine is breathing life back into me.

I need more. I need him to make me whole again.

Nate reaches down between us and wastes no time sliding my sweat pants and underwear down my legs. I kick them off my feet while unbuckling his belt.

His pants are gone a moment later and just before my patience completely runs out, he slides into me.

One hand is securely laced through mine, the other is tangled in my hair. My leg is hooked over his hip while my other hand is curled around his back, feeling the strong muscles beneath his skin as he moves.

This will never get old. Not with him.

I’ve never felt anything so consuming.

I’ve been screwed by Nate Ryder a million different ways and in a million different positions, all equally as incredible, but this is not one of those times. This is something more. This is Nate Ryder making love to the woman he can’t live without.

This is life. This is love. This is why all the girls around the world read romance books. This is what they’re looking for. A love like this.

As his fingers tighten around mine, he’s telling me he misses me.

As his lips move against the sensitive skin on my neck, he’s showing me he’s sorry for hurting me.

As his eyes bore down into mine, he’s bearing his soul to me.

And as he gives me the most unbelievable pleasure known to man, he’s promising me a love worth waiting for.

Chapter 7

“Tora?” mom yells through the house. “I need coffee.”

I groan and let out a low sigh. I guess I’ll be making a run to Carter’s Coffee House. My suspension is nearly over and mom has been milking it big time. Any tiny little thing she wants, she gets.