Page 5 of Natalie's Nighthawk

“Not all of them.”His intense blue eyes met hers as hebrusheda finger down the paint streak on her cheek, the corners of his mouth curling into the sexiest grinshe’dever seen.A furious heat rushed through her body.

The wind picked up again, blowing a few dark strands of hairthat had escaped her bun againto tangle in his fingers. He fingered a strand gently before dropping his hand.

“Guess you’ve never had that first kiss either.”Hegazedacross the lake. Shefelttheblushexplode across her cheeks.This was not a conversation she wanted to have with the hottest guy in school.Though she was fine with never having had a boyfriend, it was still embarrassing. “I remember my first kiss,” hemused. “I was so nervous. Thought I was going to screw the whole thing up.”

That surprised Natalie.Heseemedthe consummate ladies’ man.So confident when it came to dealing with the opposite sex, it amazed her to think that he could be just as insecure as the rest of them.

A rumble of thunder in the distancewas followed byastrongergust of wind rollingthrough again. The dark cloudswerealmost upon them. “We’d better go.” Was that disappointment she heard in his voiceor was sheprojecting her own feelings onto him?“Looks like we’re going to get dumped on.”

He stood,and she followed suit,bringing the blanket with her,foldingit as they walked to theMustang. “You know,Chickadee…I could do it if you want,” he saidaftershe placed the blanket in the trunk. Confusedat whathe’djust called her,she tilted her head to look at him.

Shedidn’tunderstand what he wanted to do.“You know…be your first. Your first kiss, I mean.” Hesoundedflustered.

She chewed on her lower lipasanunfamiliartingletraveled throughherbody.She wondered why he would make such an offer, what his motive might be.

“I won’t tell anyone. I promise.” That made the decision even harder. On one hand it would be nice to get the first kiss out of the wayso that when she did meet somebody worthwhile, shewouldn’tbe so nervous about a simple kiss.

But on the other hand, this was Graham, the most popular guy in schoolwho could very well be making fun of her. But it would bereally nicekissing him. A dream. Oneshe’dhad for a long time. He could make her fantasy come true today.

Her thoughts were adisorganizedjumbleof trying to fathom his motive.

Hecupped hercheek, drawing her eyes to hisas electricity shot through her bodyfromhis touch. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

His ice-blue stare was intense.She swallowed past the lump that had suddenly formed in her throatas hernerves quaked,causing her knees to weaken.“Okay,” she muttered,eyes widening as it dawned on herwhatshe’dagreed to do.

He grinnedthatkiller sexysmile thatmade her body quickenand leaned closer to her,the atmospherearoundthem cracklingwith energy. The wind whipped up,andNatalie slowly closed her eyes. Then she felt his lips gently on hers, his hand still on her cheek. It was a sweet kiss. A chaste kiss.A fleeting touch of lipsaccompanied with a spark of awareness.

Thenit was over.Feeling disappointed, she opened her eyes as hepulledaway from her.He stared at herwith wide eyes;lips parted slightly.He appeared stunned at whathe’djust done.Shelowered her head in embarrassmentandstarted toinch backfrom him, but hesuddenly reached out andgrabbed her face with both hands.

“Wait.”Hiseyesglistened with anicyheat.

Then he leaned in again, his lips crashingdown on hers. At the sudden feel of his tongue along the seam of her lips, she gasped,allowing him to slip inside her mouth.Their tongues dueled,sliding against each other.Her heart was a wild thing, blood rushingrecklesslythrough her veins.He had one handonthe back ofher neck beneath the messy bun in her hair;theother hand slid down to the small of her back. Her arms hung uselesslyat her sides untilshecame to her sensesandwrappedthemaround his neck. With just the gentlest of pressure, he pulled her closer to himso thattheir bodiesweretouching from breast to pelvis.She wanted to soak it all in, breathe in his intoxicating scentuntil every moment, every touch had been committed to memory.

Nataliewas in newterritory as his tongue did magical things in her mouth.Shewas floating yet heavy all at once. His mouth on hers wasexquisite. Her heart fluttered like the wings of the birds she loved drawingandfeltas ifitwouldburstfromher bodyin flight. Shehadn’tknown thata simple kiss could be this wondrous.

Aloud metallicthunkbrokethe spell. They stepped apart, both confused by the sound,breathing heavilyas they stared at each other.Then came anotherthunk. And another. Hail!

The storm had finally caught up to them. Laughing as they were pelted with tiny chunks of ice,Grahamslammed the trunk closed,and they raced into the car. “I guess mother nature is trying to tell us it’s time to go home,” he joked.

Suddenly shy around him again and slightly embarrassed by how her body reacted to that kiss,Nataliecould only manage a small smile.

Present Day

She closed her eyes briefly as the memories swamped her, opening them again just as Graham reached the building and entered through a door to the right of the conference room.Breathe!A shiver chased through her body. She had to get her jitters under control. He’s a friend. Not a god. Oh, but that body!

Stop it!She wasn’t helping her kids by fantasizing about the one man who could rescue them.

Cautioning herself to keep breathing normally, she heard the blonde say, “In there.” And then he was there behind her.

“What’s this all about,” he started to ask David. Then, “Maddie?”

“Hi, Graham.” Her sister greeted him first, allowing Natalie more time to get her frazzled emotions in check. Hearing that smooth voice again after all these years was messing with her composure. He returned Maddie’s hug, and that’s when he noticed her, his dazzling blue eyes slamming into hers.

“Chickadee!” Before she knew it, she was in his arms in an overwhelming hug, and all the control she had been struggling for vanished. She was right about the body. He was all hard, toned muscle. The outdoorsy scent of him filled her senses as he squeezed her tight.

“Chickadee?” Natalie heard Maddie’s whispered question to David. How could she have forgotten the nickname he’d given her all those years ago. It made her heart soar that he hadn’t forgotten.

“Long story,” Graham replied to Maddie as he released Natalie while never breaking eye contact with her. She viscerally felt the absence of his heat as he stepped back from her. His intense gaze checked her over. “You haven’t changed a bit,” he said as he reached up and lightly touched her chin, turning her head slightly to the left. “Except, no paint.” He softly ran his fingertips down the side of her right cheek, and she had to stifle a moan as the feeling of his calloused fingers on her skin turned her insides to jelly.

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