19. Nate

NINETEEN

NATE

I pulled open the heavy wooden door, letting the fresh spring air rush inside. Though the restaurant space was still very much a work in progress, I wanted to bring Tabby here this evening for a private celebration dinner. She had finished her final exams and completed her spring semester today. She was in the homestretch of school and the pregnancy. After the baby was born, she’d return for one single class and her capstone project before graduation. Growing a human and acing her classes, my woman was a superstar.

While the menu wouldn’t be finalized for a while, I’d asked Collin to see what he could whip up for us, especially since I wanted to make sure the menu had items that Tabby loved, and I figured this would be an easy way to make that happen. Collin agreed and said he’d create a few tasting dishes for us.

Tabby stepped through the doorway, glancing around to take in the bare-bones interior. The drywall was all up and waiting to be painted “dark sienna,” a deep red, almost brown color that Collin and I finally agreed on yesterday. The floors would get done after that, and then we’d install all the seating. Although, the kitchen was the first thing completed on the list because they needed to rework some wiring. I’d also asked them to take a look at the HVAC system at Walt’s and was told I’d need to invest in another one sooner rather than later, which kept me up for a few nights until Tabby was scheduled for her third ultrasound. Then I let it go.

She was my priority, with this new venture coming in second. I could worry about the heating and cooling of Walt’s later, once I had the first two babies settled.

Collin poked his head out from the kitchen, offering me a nod before he made his way to us in a white chef’s jacket, his hair pulled back in a little ponytail and a dish towel thrown over his shoulder. “Tabby, how are you?”

“Good.” She absently cupped her hand around the bottom of her belly, something she’d started doing recently, and every single time, it made me smile. “Something smells delicious.”

He gestured to the small table I’d set up with padded folding chairs. “Have a seat. I’ll bring out the first dish in a few minutes.”

“First dish?” she murmured.

Putting her favorites on the menu was my little surprise.

“What do you think so far?” I asked after we were both seated, and I poured us water.

She coasted her gaze around again. “I think it’ll be great.”

“Someplace where a person could drink a glass of wine and have a nice meal?”

She slanted her head, brows narrowed. “What?”

“That’s what you said.”

“When?”

“When I asked what kind of place you’d go to. You said a quiet place where you could have a glass of wine and a nice meal.”

It took a moment, but then she understood. “You…” She looked around again, searching for something—I didn’t know what—and pointed to the floor, jaw hanging loose as she stared at me for a few seconds. “You…are doing this because of something I said?”

I nodded. “Walt’s isn’t your scene. I want you to have somewhere to go that’s quiet with some good wine, tasty food, and you can read your books.” I laughed. “Which I still can’t believe you read.”

Tabitha Reynolds, evil queen, liked historical romances with men in kilts.

“First of all,” she started, “my books are swoony and fluffy and perfect when I need a break from the real world.”

“Hey.” I held my hands up. “You do you.”

“And I can’t believe you’re opening a whole new restaurant because of something I said.”

I leaned my elbows on the table. “Why?”

“Because…” She shook her head. “That’s a terrible reason to start a new business.”

“It’s not. You should know by now I’ll give you whatever you want.”

Obviously flustered, she opened and closed her mouth yet formed no words. I couldn’t help but smile. “Even before I realized how I felt about you, I still wanted to make you happy. That’s all I want to do, Tab.”

She dipped her chin slightly, still so uncomfortable with hearing the truth, and I reached for her hand, prepared to make her real uncomfortable with what I actually wanted to say. But before I could, Collin appeared at our sides with a few dishes.

He set three small plates down in front of us, gesturing to each one. “For your appetizers tonight, we have a fresh spring salad with pears, candied pecans, and a bit of goat cheese, which I already looked up,” he said, turning to me, “and she can have it, so don’t start your shit.”

Tabby hid her soft laugh behind her hand. I didn’t.

Collin went on. “It’s dressed with a fig balsamic vinaigrette. The next is seared dates wrapped in bacon with aged balsamic, and last are the mushroom caps with lump crabmeat and herbs, served with a lemon-butter drizzle.”

Tabby lifted her gaze to Collin, clearly impressed. “This all looks so good. Thank you.”

“I’ll be back to check on you in a few minutes,” he said, leaving Tabby and me to try the dishes. She seemed to enjoy each one, but when I asked which one she liked best, she pointed to the dates. Collin took note and cleared our plates, returning with another three plates. “I would like to use all locally sourced produce for specials and sides, but these three dishes are pretty standard fare. We’ve got braised short ribs cooked in a rich Bordeaux wine sauce served on top of polenta with roasted baby carrots and a sprinkling of gremolata. The middle is a pan-seared duck breast with a tart cherry reduction, parsnip puree, and sautéed wild mushrooms. The last one is a classic. Panko-crusted chicken breast topped with house-made marinara and melted mozzarella, over al dente spaghetti with fresh basil and shaved Parmesan.”

“Wow.” She pointed her fork at me. “Did he tell you chicken parm is my favorite?”

Collin shrugged, not caring to hide his growing smile. “Enjoy.”

Tabby dug in enthusiastically, starting with the chicken parm. “You know I love Tony’s, but—” she nodded toward the kitchen “—that man is magic.”

Satisfied with her reaction, I helped myself to a bite of the duck. I’d never had duck before, but I would hunt Donald and Daffy myself if they tasted this good. The short ribs were just as good. This time, I knew what her favorite would be but asked anyway.

“They’re all so delicious,” she told Collin. “The chicken parm is my favorite because it always is, but the other two are just as good.”

“No notes?” he asked, earning a laugh.

And I could admit a tiny claw of jealousy picked at the soft space between my ribs that I didn’t make her laugh. Someone else did. That was my job.

“No notes,” she affirmed.

“So easy to please,” Collin joked, lascivious grin in place.

“All right. Enough hitting on my woman.” I handed him the plates. “Go get our desserts.”

He leaned down to stage-whisper to her, “He’s always so pushy.”

“You’re telling me.”

Once Collin was back in the kitchen, I curled my hand around Tabby’s chair, pulling it right up against mine. “You better watch it, princess. I’ll fuck that attitude right out of you.”

She deliberately licked her bottom lip. “Promise?”

I huffed, draping my arm around the back of her chair, before calling out toward the kitchen. “What’s taking so long? We gotta wrap this up.”

“It’s literally been thirty seconds.” She giggled.

Mission accomplished.

By the time Collin returned, I’d already decided which position I wanted to try. Actual penetration was getting more difficult with her bump, but Reddit was my friend, and I found a lot of good info on there. Unfortunately, Tabby wasn’t up for it every morning anymore, but I was ready and willing whenever she needed me. And if the placement of her hand on my thigh meant what I thought it did, I was ready to get the fuck out of here.

“All right,” Collin said, marching back out with three ramekins. “We’ve got crème br?lée with fresh berries and a shortbread cookie. Chocolate lava cake accompanied by salted caramel ice cream and candied hazelnuts, and an upside-down caramelized apple tart served warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and a drizzle of balsamic reduction.”

The responding moan Tabby let out had my dick going rock hard, and I really, truly could not care less about dessert, but I shoved it down my throat so we could get out of here quicker. Collin joined us, asking Tabby all kinds of questions about school, just to torture me like the son of a bitch he was.

After twenty minutes, I couldn’t take it anymore. I tossed my thank-you over my shoulder and practically dragged Tabby out of there. I needed to get home. Needed to feel her skin against mine and hear those soft moans escape her lips.

At home, I quickly let Lucy out then tugged my lady upstairs, not bothering with the lights. The moonlight streaming in through the windows was enough. I pulled her into my arms, my mouth finding hers in a hungry kiss. She tasted like chocolate and caramel, and I couldn’t get enough.

I roamed my hands over all the curves and swells I loved, especially her breasts. God, they were so big and sensitive, and I spent a lot of time worshipping them after lifting her dress off her. She’d never been much for dresses, but she’d said she wasn’t comfortable in anything else lately.

I didn’t mind. Made for easy access.

Tabby tangled her fingers in my hair, pulling me closer, deeper into the kiss, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to have her on her feet much longer, so I sank my fingers beneath her underwear, sliding two fingers over her clit. That first breathy gasp made my skin prick with goose bumps.

This woman was mine .

Every laugh, every gasp, every smile, every damn flutter of her lashes was mine, and I would show her exactly why.

I traced my tongue down the line of her neck, curling my fingers into her until she groaned and trembled, her fingernails digging into my arms. “Oh, please,” she whined, already losing it, and I eased her back to the bed, sitting her down but never removing my hands from her. “Nate.”

“Yeah, princess?”

“I want to come.”

I sucked on her nipple. “So, come. Come all over my fingers. I’m not stopping you.”

She splayed back on a mound of pillows, and I took advantage of the new position, peeling her underwear down her legs with my free hand. Naked and beautiful, she shone like a goddess in the moonlight.

“Let go,” I rasped over her other nipple. “Let me hear you. Feel you. Come on.”

A few more strokes of my fingers inside her, and she finally fell, her inner muscles gripping my fingers tightly, and I didn’t waste time shedding my jeans and T-shirt. She reached for me, tracing the lines of my tattoos as I kicked off my boxer briefs to hover over her.

As much as I loved to admire and adore her body, she liked to take her time with me too. Something I wasn’t about to stop. So, I held myself up above her, steady and patient as she tickled and teased me with her fingers and tongue, sucking on a spot below my shoulder while playfully scratching at my nipples.

When I couldn’t stand it anymore, I urged her to her side, her ass at the edge of the bed, then lifted her top leg, opening her up but still keeping her comfortable. A real pillow princess now.

With one hand holding her leg up and the other twisting at her nipple, I slowly entered her. She was tight, wet, and warm, and I had to fight the urge to thrust into her hard and fast. I wanted to savor this, enjoy these fleeting moments when it was still only the two of us.

I moved lazily, my hips rocking against hers, listening for every hiccuped breath, making sure she could feel every inch of me because I could certainly feel every ripple and contraction of hers.

She gripped the sheets, her eyes closed, and I shifted forward slightly, skating my hand up from her breast to below her throat. “You okay, princess?”

She nodded. “Fe-feels so go-good.”

“Yeah, it does.” Well worth the little bit of research it had taken to find a good position. “You know how fucking good you feel? Every time with you. It’s always so good. If I didn’t have to go to work, I’d do this all day. Fuck this sweet little pussy until you screamed my name. Over and over, all day long. Hm? What do you think of that?”

She nodded, mumbling something.

“Didn’t quite catch that.” I brought my hand down to where we were connected, circling her clit. “You need to speak up.”

She sucked in a sharp breath. “Make me come. Make me come hard.”

I increased the pressure, the speed, the tingling and heat in my spine building until I was there too. She panted my name, her muscles convulsing around my cock, milking it for all it was worth. Greedy little thing.

I emptied myself into her, continuing to move slowly in and out of her, not wanting to release her yet. Enjoying this hazy middle-of-nowhere bliss too much, but she didn’t seem in any big rush to move either. With her leg still wrapped around my middle and my fingers still trailing all over her, we stared at each other, our chests rising and falling at the same rate, our breaths synced.

When I finally did pull out of her, I cupped my hand over her pussy, because it was mine and I liked the idea of keeping my come inside her.

From her irritated yet amused puff of air, she liked it too.

She was mine, I was hers, and I loved anything that proved it.

After a few moments, she shifted, telling me, “I have to pee.”

I helped her up and then chuckled as she waddled to the bathroom, knowing she didn’t like the cleanup. But she’d have to get used to it.

I’d be coming in and on her for the rest of our lives.

Couldn’t put the beast back in his cage now.