Page 56 of A Lot Like Forever
“No rush. We have to get the kids dinner and I’ll take Harrison over to Chloe’s. He can go down there. Then I want to get ready.” Hope grinned. “Between being a mom and a vet, I don’t exactly get the chance to get all dolled up very often.”
“I’ll come over with Nate, then?” Faith asked.
“Perfect, see you soon.”
Hope left and Faith turned back to Nate, backing away when he stalked toward her. “No,” she insisted, shaking her head.
Nate pounced, launching forward and grabbing for her. Faith spun around and tried to run, but he had her, throwing her down on the sofa and slamming his hard body down on top of hers.
“You’re not going anywhere yet,” he mumbled against her lips.
“I have to go get ready,” she protested, trying to wiggle away from him and not even moving an inch.
“Just let me get to second base then,” he whispered. “We don’t need to go all the way.”
She laughed at his old-fashioned terminology, deciding to just give in to him, because resisting him was futile when he was so strong and determined, especially when her body was betraying her by wanting to grind into him. She could pretend all she liked, but she didn’t really ever want to turn him down. “I don’t even know what second base is these days.”
“Then just lie back and let me show you.”
Faith should have said no, pushed him away. She loved that Nate was big and strong, that his body was heavy over hers, that he could lift her as if she was no more than a featherweight. He might be holding her down, but if she told him to let go he would so immediately. But what was a few minutes of play before she headed upstairs to change? If they were only on limited time together, she needed to make the most of every second.
* * *
“I can’t believe we’re the ones at home looking after the kids and they’re out on the town,” Ryder grumbled.
Nate laughed. “Missing the single life?”
Ryder shot him a filthy look. “Let me think. Do I wish I was still partying all the time instead of coming home every day to the most beautiful goddamn woman in the world? Not to mention a kid who melts my heart every time I look at her? Ah, that would be a definite ‘no.’ ”
“Yet you want to moan about being the one to stay home tonight?” Nate said dryly.
“He’s just scared shitless that Chloe’s out on the town without him and other guys could be hitting on her,” Chase said. “They all looked smokin’ hot tonight.”
Ryder downed his beer and stood up. “That’s it; I’m going. They shouldn’t be out on their own.”
“They’re grown women, Ryder, not little girls in need of a big bad guy to protect them,” Nate said, flipping the top on his beer and sitting down at the table across from Chase. “Besides, it’s nice to just hang out the three of us. Like old times.”
“You’ve got no idea, Nate,” Ryder growled out. “One day when you finally get rid of the rocks in your head and actually let someone crack open that rock-solid heart of yours, you’ll get it.”
“What, so suddenly because I’m not married means I don’t know how to protect a woman or want to care for her?”
“Well, do you?” Ryder asked. “Because you’ve got a pretty awesome fricking woman living under your roof right now and you’re still giving us that bullshit about not wanting to commit.”
“Easy,” Nate warned, leaning deeper into the chair and trying to keep his cool. He’d thought coming here would mean some time not thinking about Faith.
“What, I can’t bring up Faith? She’s been living on the ranch for the better part of a month now, Nate, and she’s out with our wives tonight.” Ryder shrugged. “Seems pretty stupid that we have to act like she doesn’t exist.”
“I said back off, Ryder,” Nate growled.
“Knock it off, you two,” Chase interrupted, standing up and giving them a sharp stare. “You okay, little man?”
All the anger Nate had been feeling toward Ryder disappeared the moment he turned around and saw Harrison standing there. He was standing with his worn rabbit hanging from his hand.
“Daddy, can you come cuddle me?”
Chase was already around the table and bending to scoop his boy up. It still amazed Nate that his brother had taken to parenting so readily. He hadn’t even known he had a son until almost a year ago, and now he was married and in full-on daddy mode. They’d bonded immediately and Chase loved hanging out with his son, spending as much time as he could showing his son the ropes around the ranch, how to ride, just enjoying being a father.
“You guys kiss and make up. No fists flying while I’m gone,” Chase warned, carrying Harrison back to bed. He had his legs and arms looped around Chase, eyes already shut now his head was against his dad’s chest. Harrison looked almost too big to be cuddled like that, but for his sake Nate hoped he didn’t realize it for a long time yet.
