Page 82 of Exposed

“You forgot one thing though,” he said softly.

She looked up at him and frowned. “What?”

He led her over to Ethan and stopped a few feet short of his knees. Ethan didn’t lift his head, but his shoulders flexed. Nate cleared his throat and slowly, Ethan raised his chin. Fire still burned in his deep blue eyes, so much like hers, but it was more like the glow of an ember rather than the raging fire of barely-checked violence he’d shown before.

Nate pulled her closer to his side. “I love her, Ethan. I’ve never felt this way about anyone in my life. She’s right, I tried to fight it, but all I did was lose myself.” His voice turned rough and tears sprang to Maddie’s eyes. “Your blessing would mean the world to me.”

Her fingers stiffened on his pec. He lifted her hand and pressed his lips to her knuckles, assuring her that whatever Ethan’s response was, it didn’t matter.

Ethan made a low guffaw and pressed his back into the chair. His eyes came to her first. “Is this true? You love him too?” Disbelief wrinkled his brow and spiked her temper.

But Nate had managed to keep his in check, so she could too.

“Yes, I love him.”

He blew a long breath from his lips and his body sagged along with it. He shifted his feet under him and stood. “You don’t need my blessing. You didn’t have it when all this started.” His eyes shifted to Nate and his lip tucked in.

“Just take care of her, okay?” He leaned forward, cupped the back of Maddie’s head, and pressed a kiss to her brow. “Call me when you get home.” He turned and strode to the door.

Nate’s hand dropped hers and he followed him. “Dude, wait.”

Ethan’s steps slowed and he turned around. His face had lost the hard glint, but his body remained tense.

“Are we cool?” Nate rubbed his hand over the back of his neck.

Ethan surveyed him, his expression unchanging and unreadable even to her.

He lifted his shoulder. “Like I said, you don’t need my blessing. You’re adults.” A twitch started at the corner of his eye. “If you hurt her, I’ll fucking kill you,” he ground out. His mouth twisted as if he debated whether to continue. “But if you make her as happy as she says she is… we’re cool.”

Nate’s teeth flashed in a big grin. He threw his arms around Ethan’s unmoving form. “I love you, bro… But I love your sister more.”

Ethan’s frown deepened as he slapped Nate on the back. Ethan had finally come around, and it hadn’t even ruined their friendship.

Maddie’s heart soared, but all she wanted right now was to kick Ethan’s ass out the door and throw herself into Nate’s arms.

“You’ve got nothing to worry about,” Nate assured him. Ethan grunted, lifted his hand in a wave, and slipped out the door.

Her cheeks stung as her smile spread wide. She went to Nate, locking her arms around his neck and lifting her legs to his waist. He pulled her up, settling her comfortably in his arms.

“That wasn’t so bad,” he said softly. His eyes sparked mischievously at her.

She swatted his chest. “I told you. We could have started this months ago.” Her tone was chastising and playful, but what she’d said was true. They’d wasted time. Time that could have been spent together.

Nate’s face grew somber, his eyes softened. “True, but I’m just happy we’re here now. And when we get home, I hope you know you’re moving out of that fancy ass condo and into my shabby one.”

Maddie laughed, and Nate tossed her on the bed. She squealed as she hit the sheets and he tumbled down after her.

“Well, maybe we could move into mine. It does have underground parking, a hot tub, and there’s that huge glassed-in shower we could get a lot of use out of.”

Nate’s eyebrows rose. “Damn. You had me at the underground parking.” His teeth nipped her ear and she turned into him. It didn’t matter where the hell they lived. All that mattered was that they would finally be together.

Forever.

EPILOGUE

Nate lifted hisphone for the tenth time in the last ten minutes. Where was she? She should have been done by now. Disappointment spread through him. Dammit, if she’d tanked it, he’d have to put on a good front. She’d promised to call the minute she got out. What if she’d been too upset to call and come right home?

He lifted the vase of two dozen pink roses and froze. Had he jumped the gun with the flowers, wine, and chocolate? Shit. If she came in disappointed and he had all this celebratory crap, she’d be even more upset.

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