Page 48 of Suddenly Beck

‘Bye, Nat!’ she calls over her shoulder as she throws her head back and laughs loudly.

‘Um… bye, Mel,’ he calls tentatively from behind the door.

I kick the door shut and turn to face Nat, who’s biting his lip and trying not to laugh. ‘Do you think she knew I was here?’ he asks innocently, eyes sparkling with mirth.

I can’t help it, I start laughing, releasing the knot of tension in my chest as I stumble back against the wall, still holding the shopping bags, but the more Nat and I look at each other the harder we laugh.

‘Oh my god.’ Nat finally drags in a deep breath, wiping the tears from his eyes as he shivers, and I realise he’s still soaked to the skin.

‘Come on,’ I say pushing back off the wall. ‘Let me get you a towel and some dry clothes.

‘Okay,’ he says shyly, and I want to fasten my mouth to his all over again, but he shivers again, and I still have a handful of God knows what my mum has brought me. ‘Here.’ Nat reaches out and takes two of the bags from me. ‘Let me help you with those. Where’s the kitchen?’

‘Just through there.’ I nod toward the open doorway. He steps back and lets me lead the way, but as he follows me into the room, he stops and stares.

‘This is supposed to be a kitchen?’ he says dubiously.

‘It will be one day,’ I laugh easily. ‘I’ll get around to it at some point, but I don’t cook much, so it’s not a priority. I’ve got a microwave, so I’m sorted.’

‘A microwave?’ He blinks. ‘Beck, you’re killing me. The only thing a microwave is good for is popcorn, and even then, only in an emergency situation.’

I find myself grinning as he sets the bags down on the beige counters and tries not to cringe. ‘I think you’re a bit of a kitchen snob, Nat.’

‘I don’t even have it in me to deny it.’ He shakes his head as he starts unpacking the food, turning his head, and seeing my eyes fixed firmly on his gorgeous firm arse.

My gaze lifts to his, and his eyes heat once again. ‘As much as I want my mouth and my hands on you right now, Nat, I think we should talk.’

‘I know,’ he sighs. ‘Are you hungry?’

‘I could eat.’ I nod.

‘I’m starving,’ he replies. ‘Why don’t I see if I can make something for us in this hell hole you call a kitchen, and we’ll talk.’

I nod, knowing that cooking comforts Nat, and I’m willing to bet he feels as unsettled as I do right now. This is all new to him, but for me, it’s completely thrown me out of my comfort zone. I’ve had plenty of hook-ups, but I was never looking for anything serious. I enjoyed the physical release and then was more than happy to walk away.

But what happened with Nat just now, was beyond anything I’ve experienced. He almost brought me to my knees and that was just from a kiss. I’m playing with fire by getting involved with Nat, and there’s no way I’m walking away unscathed. I need a minute to step back and think. I want him more than anyone or anything I’ve ever known, but it won’t come without consequences, and I’m not sure either of us can afford the price tag.

‘I’ll just get you a towel and some dry clothes,’ I murmur absently as he moves around the kitchen, opening cupboards and familiarising himself with everything.

‘Okay.’ He looks up at me and smiles.

My heart gives a good hard knock against my ribs, and I practically run into the mud room adjoining the kitchen and run my fingers through my hair in frustration. What the fuck am I doing? There’s no way this thing with Nat can end well. Sucking in a deep and shaky breath, I reach into the dryer and pull out a clean towel and rummage through the clean laundry basket sitting on the counter to find a t-shirt.

Heading back out into the kitchen, I stand and stare at Nat. He’s peeled off his wet socks and tucked them neatly into the converse he seems to favour. He’s also pulled off his wet t-shirt and bundled it neatly on top of his shoes. He’s standing in front of the cooker in nothing but jeans, his wet hair curling madly. His body smooth and gleaming, and damp with the scent of warm summer rain. For a brief, insane, moment, I want to walk up and wrap my arms around him, settling my chin into the crook of his shoulder as I press against his back and kiss his neck tenderly. The thought is such a shock to the system, I almost take a step back to regain my equilibrium. That cosy little intimate scene is for lovers and about a million miles from what I want.

He turns and smiles. ‘That for me?’

‘Oh, uh,’ I clear my throat remembering the towel in my hand, which I hand to him.

‘Thanks.’ He reaches up towelling off his hair and drying his chest.

‘Here.’ I hand him the blue t-shirt that matches the colour of his eyes. ‘I haven’t got any clean jeans or anything down here, but I’ll just go and…’

‘It’s fine.’ He grins. ‘I think you and I both know if my jeans come off neither of us is getting any food.’

‘You may have a point,’ I concede as my mouth curves, and as he pulls the clean t-shirt over his head, I catch a glimpse of a silver pendant on a thin, delicate chain nestled at the base of his throat then it’s gone.

‘Take a seat, this won’t take long.’ He lifts a pan down and sets it on the cooker.