Page 31 of Fractured

“Nick?” I hear her murmur between kisses. I can’t pull away yet. “Nick?” I don’t want to stop kissing her, but the polite thing would be to answer.

“Yes?” My voice is strained, gravely.

“Take me home?”

Jumping up with her in my arms as if my pants have suddenly caught fire, I look down to ensure we have her shoes and quickly head for the front yard.

“Where are your car keys?” I ask, thinking I should be the gentleman and drive her car home.

“No, you drive. I can ask Mel to help get my car” she answers against my neck, arms wrapped tightly around it as I practically jog to my car.

“Okay.” Stopping briefly, I squeeze her body against me in order to kiss her again. I continue to walk down the road, looking for my car nestled between the fifty others along the curb’s edge.

“Where on Earth did you park?” she laughs.

“In Maryland apparently,” I snort.

“I can walk, Nick. It’s okay.”

“No. You’re not walking on that ankle,” I bark, knowing I’m thrilled to have an excuse to continue carrying her. I finally see my Audi up ahead and squeeze between the cars to place her by the passenger door momentarily. Opening the door, I go to pick her back up, and she places her small hand on my arm.

“Nick. I can hop into the car.”

Good Lord, I’m lost to this woman. I grab ahold of her face with both of my hands and begin to kiss her with abandon. I can feel her arms slide up my back as I dart my tongue into her sweet, wet mouth. Dropping my face to her throat, I continue to kiss and lick as I inhale her tropical scent. Pulling back, I rub my nose along hers and place gentle kisses onto her forehead. We stop to catch our breaths, and I watch as she slides into my car. I have to fight to get the door shut before readjusting my junk. I’ve never been so fucking hard in my life.

Trying not to look too eager, I slow my pace as I walk around to the driver’s door.Keep it cool, Nick.Opening the door, I slide in and reach for my keys. Jesus, if I can make it to her house without blowing my load, it’ll be a miracle. I turn to see her beautiful face in profile, looking down at her hands, a bashful smile across her features. After starting the ignition and backing out, I reach for her delicate hand and bring it to my lips. I cannot stop touching this woman.

We drive in silence for about ten minutes before I can’t take it any longer. “You look stunning, Kat. Honestly. You’re radiant.” Letting go of her warm hand, I reach up and run my fingers through her silky tresses. “God, I love your hair.”

She whispers in return, almost too quietly to hear, “I wore it down for you.”

Holy shit, Jake was right.Sitting up taller in my seat, I reach for her hand again and almost place it in my lap until I remember the monster that’s waiting there. Thinking better of it, I kiss it again and lie our entwined hands across her thigh. I’m almost shaking with want for her. I need to warn her. I’ll probably only last mere minutes before I explode. I don’t want her to think I’m a one-pump chump, but I’ve waited and dreamt of her for so long-

“Nick?”

“Yes?”

“I’m a little nervous.”

Squeezing her hand a little tighter, I think to myself.Me too, kitten, me too.

The car grows quiet as we get closer to the hospital, and I realize I have absolutely no idea where I’m going. “Uh, Kat. I don’t know your address.”

Giggling, she squeezes my hand. “You’re doing fine. I’d tell you if you weren’t going the right way. Just take the next exit.”

She continues to offer directions, often pointing with the hand I’m holding. I feel like that fifteen-year-old boy holding hands with his school crush. It’s almost maddening how happy I feel right now.

We pull into her drive, and she advises she can enter the home through the garage keypad. I scold her not to get out of the car without me and jog over to the passenger side door. As I open it, she grabs her strappy shoe, and I bend down to scoop her back into my arms. As I lock the car, I carry her over to the keypad and allow her to enter her code. Walking into her small single-car garage, I carry her up the steps into her home. It’s quaint but stylish. I instantly feel at home here. Finding a comfortable couch as I walk into her den, I again sit with her draped over me. She reaches up to run her fingers through my hair, and I cannot hold back the moan that betrays how very close to the edge I am. I feel her soft lips laying kisses along the stubble of my neck, below my ear. She’s breathing into my ear, stroking my other cheek with her soft hand.

Reaching down, I untie the laces and remove her remaining shoe. I can’t help but slide my hand up the length of her soft skin from her ankle to the back of her leg, my fingertips teasing the hem of her tiny shorts.

“Nick?”

“Yes?” I breathe into her ear.

“I need you.” She sighs.

“Where’s your bedroom?”

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