Something Nate had set about proving all week long.
Much of that proof of love had been physical, and I swear to God I’d lost five pounds from all the activity. Not that I was complaining.
The bouncer at the doors to Club 39 smiled wolfishly at me, giving me a chin lift as I passed him with a secret smile. My secret smile wasn’t for him, though. It was for Nate. After Angus had asked me to work a little later that night, I’d called Nate to tell him to meet me at the bar rather than picking me up. This meant I got to make an entrance for him, but it also ensured that we actually went out, rather than becoming distracted by each other in the bedroom. It was important that we went out tonight, since it was the first night we’d be spending as a couple with our group. Despite not being able to drink, even Joss would be there.
‘You’re coming?’ I’d asked, surprised when she’d called me to confirm the time.
‘Hell, yeah. Nate Sawyer brought to heel. Yeah, that’s definitely something I want to see for myself.’
‘I haven’t brought him to heel,’ I’d argued.
‘Olivia, he’s been screwing anything that moves for as long as I’ve known him. I’ve wanted a woman to throw him off course since the first night I met him. Nothing on this earth will stop me from witnessing him drooling over you.’
I’d laughed, not wanting to disappoint her by telling her Nate wasn’t the drooling kind.
When I walked into the bar I zeroed in on my friends sitting around a table and began to stride toward them, my heart picking up pace at the sight of Nate laughing at something Cam was saying to him. As if he sensed me, Nate turned slowly and as his eyes drank in the sight of me his expression was as close to drooling as I’d ever seen it.
He stood up as I neared, coming around the table toward me.
My welcoming smile was suddenly lost in his hard kiss as his strong arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me against his body. I kissed him back, my fingers curling lightly in the hair at his nape. When our lips finally unlocked, I raised my eyebrows. ‘That was some hello.’
Nate’s hooded eyes were trained on my mouth. ‘That’s some dress.’
‘Your favorite color.’
‘On my favorite person.’
I smiled and gave him another quick kiss. ‘Should we sit down before we cause a scene?’
‘Or we could just go back to your place,’ he suggested, caressing my hip.
Although I shivered with delight just at the thought of it, I pressed a hand against his chest and leaned back. ‘I think we can afford to take a tiny little break from the bedroom for a few hours to spend time with our friends.’
‘An hour.’
‘Three.’
‘An hour and a half.’
I chuckled and shrugged. ‘Okay, two.’
‘Two hours.’ He gave me one more quick kiss and let go of my waist, only to take hold of my hand. As he led me over to share his seat with him I felt all my friends’ eyes burning into us.
After I took my seat I looked around at Ellie, Jo, Joss, Braden, Adam, and Cam, and I had to bite my lip to stifle my laughter. They were staring at Nate as if they’d never seen him before.
‘It’s a manwhore miracle,’ Joss breathed, her eyes wide.
I giggled, nudging my shoulder against Nate as he glared at her.
‘Seriously.’ Ellie smiled. ‘I don’t think I actually believed it until I saw it with my own eyes. Nate loves Olivia.’
Nate’s glare grew darker, but the girls didn’t seem to notice.
‘I knew.’ Jo smirked at them. ‘I knew he fancied the pants off her all along.’
‘I’m just glad he’s finally met his freaking match.’ Joss grinned smugly at him.
‘He did go through a lot of women to find her,’ Ellie added. ‘It was a long time coming.’
‘Men,’ Nate suddenly growled through clenched teeth, ‘control your womenfolk.’
While Braden, Cam, and Adam laughed, enjoying Nate’s discomfort, I attempted to restrain my amusement. It was very hard for me. But it was fun to see someone as laid-back as Nate get wound up over a little teasing.
When Joss opened her mouth, obviously ready to deal out more teasing, Nate cut her a deadly look. ‘Liv needs no more reminders about my … colorful past with women, so can we all shut up and talk about something else, please?’
The group shared gleeful little looks but did as they were asked, and we started discussing the renovations Joss and Braden were making to Ellie’s old room in their apartment. They were turning it into a nursery, and once they knew the baby’s sex Jo, Dad, and Dee were going to help with the decor.
‘I’m getting another round.’ Nate turned to me. ‘Want to come up to the bar with me?’
I told him yes, still holding his hand as he pulled me through the crowd to the bar. As we waited I leaned into him, squeezing his hand in mine. ‘Babe, you know I don’t care about your past hookups, right?’
A muscle in Nate’s jaw ticked as he looked at me. ‘I just don’t need people reminding you of it.’
‘Why does it bother you so much?’
He seemed genuinely surprised by my question, as if somehow it should be obvious. ‘It took me weeks to convince you what I felt for you was real, Liv. I don’t need my past messing us up again.’
Wow. Nate was worried about losing me?
Pressing against him, I gave my head a little shake. ‘Nate, those women didn’t mean anything to you. They’ve never worried me.’
‘You sure?’