Strip Tease (Protect and Defend 1.50)

He thrust them at her. “They’re for you. I wanted to congratulate you on your success tonight.”

“How did you know I’d be a success?” She accepted the bouquet, burying her nose in the fragrant blossoms and breathing deep.

Shrugging, he thrust his hands in his pockets, watching her with that familiar intense gaze. He was gorgeous, clad in a dark blue button up shirt and charcoal gray trousers, the color and fit of his clothes only emphasizing the sheer size of him. She longed to wrap her arms around him and never let go.

But she held herself in check, admiring the flowers instead, fingering the pretty blooms.

“You’re good at what you do. You’re focused and courageous and full of great ideas. You talked about it all the time. I knew you would do a great job,” he finally explained.

Janelle pressed her lips together. “I did bore you with all the details, didn’t I?”

“You never bore me, Janelle. I thought you knew that by now.”

The serious expression on his face, the smoldering heat in his dark brown eyes left her breathless. “Why are you here Nate?”

“I missed you,” he said simply.

“And?” She wanted, needed to hear more.

“I didn’t like the way things ended last time we were together.” His expression grew solemn. “I acted like an ass. I’m sorry I came over that night and pushed myself on you.”

“I’m not,” she murmured and his eyes lit with renewed fire. “And you didn’t push yourself on me. I wanted it. I wanted you.”

He took a step closer. “I never used you to get to Ginger. It may have started out like that, I’ll be honest. Coming around, trying to talk to you, needing your help in finding her. But once it shifted into more—intimate territory, it wasn’t about finding Ginger at all. It was about you and me. Together.”

Her entire body ached with wanting to touch him and she took a step forward as well, his warm masculine scent washing over her, making her dizzy with need. “Really?”

“Yes.” Another step and he was so close, she could reach out and touch him. “It’s only been about you. It always has. I’ve fallen in love with you, Janelle.”

She threw herself at him so hard, she dropped the flowers, but she didn’t care. Slipping her arms around him, she held him close, reveling in his warmth, his strength. “I love you, too,” she murmured against his chest, squeezing his tight.

How she thought those words would be so hard to say, but they tumbled out of her with ease. He embraced her with those strong arms, held her gently and she’d never felt so loved, so protected.

“We can make this work, babe. I know we can.” He pressed his lips to her forehead in a gentle kiss, his mouth lingering, his hands smoothing up and down her back.

She’d never felt so cherished.

She’d never believed so strongly before.

And when his mouth met hers, she knew there was no place she’d rather be.

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