Quadruplets Make Six

“Really?”

“Yeah. He wouldn’t have played with you if he didn’t.” I took my remote and turned the television on.

“Nice.” He looked around my room.

There really wasn’t much. The couch was large and brown, my rug was fluffy and brown, and I had book cases that didn’t match, but somehow went together. My television was the second most expensive thing to the rent.

“You want to watch a movie?” He shrugged his broad shoulders. I would rather watch him in front of me, dressed in dark wash jeans and a black hoodie.

“Sure. You don’t mind staying?” I asked him gingerly.

“Nope. And you still have to tell me what’s bothering you.”

He disappeared into the kitchen before I could deny him. In a few minutes, I heard popcorn popping and could smell it too. I surfed through my On-Demand selection and settled on some old action movie. I wasn’t really much for watching a movie, especially not with a view like Nate.

Was it weird I just had sex with his friend, yet I was fawning over him still? I kept thinking about it, but tried to leave my mind free and relaxed.

Minutes later Nate was next to me with a bowl of hot popcorn and two beers. I didn’t even know I had them.

“So, what’s up?” He placed his hand gingerly on my knee and gave me an inquisitive look. Well, it was more sexy than inquisitive.

“I just…it was really nothing.”

I didn’t want to admit that I was paranoid or something.

“Is it because Alex got jumped? I thought you just came from his place.”

I literally froze mid-breath as I looked at him and felt my cheeks flushing. Did he know we had sex? Well, I wasn’t about to ask him.

“No. I was just at the grocery store and I felt like I was being followed. But it was nothing. I was…being silly. I didn’t even want to call you because I didn’t want you to worry.” I blurted.

He chuckled softly and shifted me closer to him. His arm went around my shoulder, ribbed with muscle, and I felt a tingling sensation all over my body. It was different than Alex; I felt naturally happy with him, and with Alex I just felt safe. I mean, I felt safe then too, but more carefree than usual. They each had their own effect on me.

“Rose, I’m glad you called. I want you to always feel safe.” He arched his brow and smiled softly at me.

“Thanks.”

He licked his lips softly, his eyes drifting down my face like he was studying me. Suddenly I was breathing heavier, my body hotter. When I met his deep, bright eyes again, I knew I was in deep shit.

Chapter Fifteen: Nate

Rose had this way about her that I didn’t know how to place just yet. She was gorgeous, of course. The kind of beauty she didn’t even have to work for, and barely even knew she had. I liked how secretly confident she was. She knew her worth and her ability, but didn’t want to flaunt it at the same time. It told me she was smart, and not just because she was a nurse.

I hated how she felt like she was being followed, but glad she had called me. I almost forgot who I was around her, but still knew I could protect her because of how my job trained me. I just kind of wished I didn’t have to. I wanted to be in the moment with her, not constantly glancing at the window, flinching when I heard noises outside the door.

Not even the guns blazing in the action movie we were watching could distract me. Rose was tucked under my arm and the vanilla, flowery scent of her hair matched her perfectly. Sweet, and so perfectly edible. Granted, I hadn’t tasted her yet, but I damn well wanted to.

“You didn’t have to stay. I think I was just being a little paranoid.” Rose spoke softly to me, her voice a little more than a whisper. I held back a snicker at the absurdity of it. I would never hesitate to be there for her when she needed me. The reality of that was a little scary, but I wasn’t going to shy away from it.

“You don’t need to thank me, Rose,” I said back. I pressed my lips to the top of her head softly. She stirred slightly and pressed her body closer to mine.

I could only barely feel the swells of her breast on her right side on mine. I willed my dick not to get hard about it, only because I didn’t want to assume anything. Much as I wanted to fuck her right into the couch.

“I know, but…this whole thing, it just feels like I’m underestimating it.”

“Yeah?” I tilted my head and tried to get her to look at me. Her eyelids twitched, and she twisted her lips around as she stared at the television, clearly not watching what was on it.

“I don’t know. It sounds silly. It’s just when I followed Parker down that trail I expected to find a dead squirrel or something. He literally hunts those things. But instead I found…I don’t even know what I found.”