Page 23 of Natalie's Nighthawk

“You were worried about me?”

“Well … yeah. Briefly.” An adorable rosy blush colored her cheeks. “But I think most of the worry stemmed from not knowing exactly what you do.”

“I can understand that. Tell you what, I have a session to teach tomorrow morning; how ‘bout you come to the complex in the afternoon, and I’ll give you a tour and explain our operation to you. Then maybe you’ll understand more about search and rescue.”

Natalie’s face lit up. “That sounds great. I’d like to learn about what you do.”

Her smile was infectious. He couldn’t help smiling, pleased she was eager to learn his business. They arranged to meet at two the next afternoon as the waitress delivered their pizzas. After taking a bite and savoring the unique blend of spices, he thought about the worry he’d caused her. He knew his work could be dangerous at times. Not as dangerous as a deployed soldier, but some rescues could be treacherous.

The rescue of those teenagers today had been tricky work, especially with winds pushing them into the side of the cliff. If he hadn’t had confidence in his team or his equipment - which they meticulously inspected after each use - he could see how an outsider might think his work was dangerous. But that was why his Nighthawks trained daily, preparing themselves for any and all situations.

Still, he’d hate to cause Natalie to worry unnecessarily every time he went out on a rescue. Showing her around the Nighthawk complex would certainly help alleviate some of that. He hoped.

“So, I have this insane desire to learn everything about you,” he grinned. “You’ve … um … never been married, right?”

“That’s right.”

“But you said you were engaged once. Can you tell me about it?”

Graham watched as her expression changed from open and happy to completely closed-off and shuttered; darkness clouded her eyes. “Umm … the usual, I guess. He wasn’t who I thought he was.” He could tell there was more to the story than that. Something had happened to put that look into her eyes. It was hard to pinpoint, but it almost seemed like fear. Had she been abused? If that were the case, Graham would love nothing more than to hunt the bastard down and give him a taste of his own medicine.

“Well, I guess it’s good that you found that out before you went through with the wedding,” he stated.

She gave him a small smile that she tried to hide behind her drink, not quite making eye contact with him. Graham decided to let the subject drop. It was clear she wasn’t ready to talk about it, but the day would come that she would share everything with him. He was sure of it. Just like the day would come when he would share everything about himself with her. Even his dark parts.

They left the restaurant and strolled along the bluff, enjoying the last few rays of the sunset over the lake. At an overlook they leaned against the rail, letting the sound of the waves calm them. Graham inhaled deeply, the fresh, clean lake air filling him with peace.

“I can’t believe I’ve never visited this town before. It’s so peaceful here.”

Natalie smiled. “I love it here. I couldn’t imagine living anyplace else.”

“Could you imagine if I had visited here and we ran into each other on the sidewalk?”

“Do you think we’d recognize each other?” she quipped.

“If you were smiling, I would definitely have recognized you in an instant,” he confessed, placing his palm against her cheek, his thumb sweeping across her lips. “I have never forgotten this smile.”

Sweeping a curl of long dark hair out of the way, he exposed the creamy smoothness of her delicate shoulder that he so longed to taste. His hand moved of its own accord, tracing the line of her collarbone with his calloused fingertips. He drifted closer, lured into her captivating gravity.

A shuddering breath escaped as his fingers glided over her skin, hypnotized by her lavender scent filling his senses. His hand traveled higher, over the slope of her jaw, until he was cupping her cheek. The heat of her deep blush radiating into his palm as she leaned into it. Her hand grasped his wrist, her nails digging into his skin. His muscles tensed with the desire to crush her to him.

His eyes were drawn to her lips, mesmerized as her tongue slowly traced the Cupid’s bow. His cock twitched, straining against his pants. He angled closer until only a whisper of space separated them. His gaze flickered from her lips up to her eyes, dilated with desire until the black pupils nearly obliterated the emerald of her irises.

Unable to resist the pull, he brushed his lips against hers, allowing them to linger longer than might have been appropriate. He pulled back slightly and met her eyes, seeing his hunger reflected in them. She smiled, and that was it. He was starving for more of her.

“Shit, Natalie,” he murmured, and her eyes flared. He brushed his thumb across her lower lip. Her tongue reached out to trace its path. All his blood rushed south, his cock aching in its confinement. He wanted her, more than he had ever wanted anyone.

Taking a hesitant breath, she started to pull back, dropping her eyes shyly until he took her face in both hands. “Wait,” he rasped. Bright eyes widened as his lips crashed to hers again. As it had twelve years ago, her gasp of surprise allowed him entrance, and he delved right in to savor her.

It was just as he remembered. Just as powerful. Just as phenomenal. Their tongues reacquainted themselves, and he slid his hands to the back of her head into her hair. Silky strands tangled around his fingers. As he tilted her head to plunge deeper, a soft moan escaped from within her, a sound that resonated in his gut.

Voices nearby reminded him they were in a public place, forcing him back to his senses. He pulled back and stared down at her, his fingers still twisted in her hair. He was sure the heat shining in her eyes mirrored his own.

Natalie must have heard the approaching voices too and stepped back slightly. He let his fingers comb through her long dark strands until they dropped to her shoulders. Running his thumb across the smooth skin of that bare shoulder in a soft caress, he willed his cock to relax before he embarrassed himself.

“Darn people,” she muttered. “Can’t they tell we’re having a moment here?”

Graham couldn’t help himself. He threw his head back and laughed. “I know … right? Damn inconsiderate of them.” He dropped his hands from her shoulders and took her hand before she could pull further away. “Come on. I’ll walk you home.”

---