“Please eat, Kitten.”
“Nate, I–”
“How about a negotiation, then?”
I lift a brow.
“Funding for your shelter for the next five years, and my promise to you that I will immediately begin looking into starting our very own foundation to be able to direct our charitable donations where they’re most needed.”
My heart flutters in my chest.
“All you have to do…is let me spoil you.”
His hand at my waist squeezes and my thighs press together.
“You won’t get better terms than that.”
“Want to bet?”
He chuckles. “Kitten, I’d give you the fucking moon if I could pluck it from the sky. But you’d have to let yourself enjoy its glow.”
I lick my lips and look down at the mouthwatering tart that smells like sweet onion and absolute perfection.
“Open for me, Kitten.”
I do.
Nate feeds me a bite and flavor explodes on my tongue. I can barely take in how orgasmically delicious it is—sweet, rich, and complex, every taste blending perfectly together. When my tongue darts out to catch a flake of pastry on my lip, Nate watches it through hooded eyes.
“It’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever tasted,” I whisper.
He smiles. “Was that so hard?”
The door opens again, reminding me that we’re not alone. I practically leap off Nate’s lap and back into my seat as the chef enters with our second course, a frothy asparagus soup with crusty pieces of baguette to dip in it.
Nate chuckles once the chef is gone. “That embarrassed to be seen in my lap, Kitten?”
I duck my head. “Not embarrassed, just…don’t want to make you look bad.”
“You could never do that.” He puts his hand on my thigh and warmth spreads through my skin. He edges his chair next to mine, so close that our feet intertwine. When he offers me a piece of bread dipped in silky, creamy soup, I open my mouth and let him spoil me.
33
NATE
Once she let herself enjoy it, Cat loved our meal. Almost as much as I loved feeding her little bites of duck breast and crème brûlée, watching her eyes roll back when she tasted something especially delicious.
Now that dinner’s done, I want to see her make that face again back in our hotel room.
She stays close to me as we walk through the main restaurant, her fingers woven with mine. A few men look at her, their eyes drawn to her beautiful face, glowing with happiness. I pull her hand up to brush my lips over her knuckles, letting them know that she’s mine.
I don’t know how I got this lucky.
As soon as we’re in the restaurant stairwell, I can’t resist stealing a kiss. I feel Cat’s lips curving upward, like she’s so happy that she can’t stop smiling even while I kiss her.
She’s incredible. Beautiful, smart, and so, so kind. Her selflessness makes it easy to trust her. I can’t remember the last time I trusted someone so quickly—maybe ever. Her essential goodness shines out of her so brightly, she couldn’t hide it if she tried. It makesmewant to be better.
I wrap my hands around her waist, pulling her tighter against me like I could absorb her goodness that way.