Page 69 of Fireworks

Chapter Twenty Three

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Nate

For the third morning in a row, I got to wake up with the scent of strawberries and peaches in my nose. Wrapping my arm around her waist, I pulled her closer, taking in the intoxicating smell of her. We already decided on the story I was going to feed Asher. The plan wasn’t to stay the whole night. I was supposed to get back to his apartment before the sun came up and say I met a chick at the bar, and we went back to her place. Asher wouldn’t question it based on the number of girls that were around when he took off. I knew it was wrong to come here. She was like a drug, and I just couldn’t get enough.

“You should get going, shouldn’t you?”

Clearing her throat, it still held a raspy tone to it. With a dissatisfied grunt my arms squeezed tighter around her, wishing the world outside this room could fade away.

“I can wait another minute.”

Nuzzling my face into her neck, I inhaled her; fearing how long it would be before I could hold her again.

“Nate.”

I felt her swallow hard as she spoke my name with uncertainty. Rolling onto her back, I pushed her hair behind her ear. She was so damn beautiful even when she just woke up. There was hesitation in her voice as she looked over at me.

“What are we doing?”

The corner of my mouth tilted up.

“I believe it’s called cuddling. There may be a more technical term, but how should I know?”

Expecting at least a little laugh, I was met with disappointment in her eyes instead.

“You know that’s not what I mean.”

My hands ran through my hair, roughing it up more than it already was. That was the million-dollar question, one I didn’t have the answer to. The first thing that came to mind was that we were putting me in danger of Asher finding out and him putting me in the hospital. It was the most logical answer, but I knew that’s not what she wanted to hear or what she meant.

“What do you think?”

Her eyes stared back at me, a brief flare of aggravation twinkling in them. She’s looking for answers and all I was giving was more questions.

Her lip was drawn in between her teeth as she struggled to speak again.

“Am I just a story you’re going to tell?”

Ouch. That sobered me up to the reality of how she saw me quicker than I expected. She had been around me my whole life. She wasn’t blind to how many girls I’d talk about with Asher, or she saw lusting after me when we lived at home still.

“Katie…”

Tracing my finger down the side of her face, I leaned in kissing her forehead.

“You are so much more than that. Trust me darlin’.”

A smile crept over her face.

“Can I ask you something else?”

Nodding, her face got serious again. I tried my best to not kiss her again and give her time to speak.

“What happened in the food store with Asher?”

Falling back onto my pillow, I wasn’t ready for this line of questioning so early in the morning. As much as I was enjoying her body close to mine, there was a slight amount of regret not slipping out before she woke up.

“I don’t know. I just told him that the kid cheated on you.”