Lost and Found

Chapter Twenty-Five

Nate’s stomach rolled. “Uh…no. No, Mom.”

Still holding Krissa’s hand, his mother looked up at him. “But…oh.” She slowly released Krissa. “Oh.”

Nate saw the flush creep up Krissa’s face. “I’m married to Nate’s friend Derek,” she said. “Derek Hallson.”

“Oh, of course, I remember Derek! What a charming smooth talker that boy was. Still is, probably.” Mrs. Cowan chatted brightly apparently trying to cover her blunder.

“Yes, he is,” Krissa agreed. She glanced at Nate.

“I’ve been staying with them for the last month or so,” Nate told his mom.

Her brows slanted down. “Oh. You’ve been home for a whole month? And never came to see us?”

Guilt smacked him in the back of the head just like his mom used to do when he was a kid. “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I’ve had some problems and I didn’t want to be a burden to you guys.”

“Nate.” His mom’s voice was firm. “How could you possibly be a burden? We haven’t even seen you since…since Lauren died.”

Nate glanced around at the other guests. “This isn’t really the place to be talking about all this.”

“You’re right,” she immediately said, linking her arm through his. “Show me these pictures.”

So Nate led his family through the gallery, along with Krissa, talking about the photographs hanging on the walls and the stories behind some of them.

By ten o’clock almost every picture hanging had been sold. Nate’s mind reeled from the money he’d just made. Greg beamed and shook Nate’s hand vigorously as they prepared to leave. Only a few guests remained, including Nate’s family.

His mom still had the guilt trip thing down pretty good. “How long are you in L.A.?”

“We’re going back to Montecito tomorrow.”

Her face drooped. “Oh, no! Without even seeing us!”

Nate glanced at Krissa. “Krissa has business to get home to, and a husband.”

“Well, at least have breakfast with us. I need to know what’s going on with you…you’ve been so out of touch.” Her eyes reproached him, her head tilted, her mouth pouting. He couldn’t help but smile.

“I’m sorry, Mom, but we can’t.”

The disappointment on her face grabbed at his gut and twisted it.

“Nate.” Krissa spoke beside him, voice low. “You should have breakfast with your family.”

He glanced at her. “But you need to get back…”

“A few hours is no big deal. Go ahead.”

“But…you…”

“I can entertain myself for a few hours.”

“You’re welcome to join us, Krissa,” Nate’s mom said, her gaze moving back and forth between them. Krissa met his gaze and he felt her encouragement.

Nate wanted to say no. “Okay, then.”

They made arrangements to meet the next morning in the restaurant of the hotel where he and Krissa were staying. When everyone had gone, Nate turned to Krissa. “I guess we should go.”

Her eyes met his. He knew they were both thinking the same thing, both thinking about what was going to happen next. His skin tightened and tingled and his groin ached. Sex with Krissa had been in the back of his mind all night, adding an edge to the excitement he’d been feeling.

“Yes,” she said.

He let Krissa drive to the hotel, averting his eyes from glaring headlights. They let the valet take the vehicle and walked through the elegant lobby. The boutique hotel’s décor was retro-chic, with fifties-style furniture sitting atop shag carpet. Dark wood paneled the walls, and floor lamps with huge cylindrical shades provided ambient light.

“That was fun,” Krissa said with a sigh as they walked into their room. She set the little envelope she called a purse on the dark wood dresser.

“It was unbelievable.”

“Are you glad you came?”

He nodded slowly. “I guess so. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be. Except…sorry about my family showing up.”

“Don’t apologize. It’s nice that they came. Didn’t you know they were coming?”

“I put them on the invitation list, but that was six months ago. I’d forgotten all about it.”

“Nate?” Krissa perched on the edge of a chocolate brown tub chair.

“Mmm?” He shrugged out of the jacket, laid it over the back of another chair.

“Have you really not talked to your family for two years?”

“I’ve talked to them.”

She gave him a look, chin down, eyes up.

“On the phone,” he continued, undoing the button of the white shirt he wore loose and untucked under the jacket. “A few times.”

“Nate, that’s awful.”

“I know.” He removed the shirt.

“Why?”

“I just couldn’t face it all. After Lauren died.”

“But Nate…they’re your family. Family can help at a time like that. Why would you cut yourself off from a support group like that, when you were going though something so tough?”

Because…the words stuck in his throat. He stared at her, so beautiful in the glow of the floor lamp beside the chair. It cast a circle of illumination around her, gleaming off her dark hair, her glowing face, making her the focal point of the room. “I know it was wrong,” he said hoarsely. He ran a hand through his hair. “I had my reasons. Do we have to talk about this now?”

He moved closer to her. “There are other things I’d rather be doing.”

Her pupils expanded, darkening those green eyes watching him.

“Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?”

“You are totally deflecting me.”

“Yes, I totally am.” He reached for her hands and drew her out of the chair to stand in front of him. Their bodies brushed together. She gazed at him wide eyed. “You look gorgeous. I love this dress.” He fingered the silky bow between her breasts. “If I undo this, will the dress fall off?”

She laughed softly. “No. There’s a zipper on the side. The bow is just for show.”

“Ah. I kept wondering about that all night.” He slid a finger under the top edge of bodice, felt the swell of her breast, hear her soft intake of breath.

“It was fun to get dressed up for a change.”

“Doesn’t Derek ever take you out?” He murmured the words against the side of her warm, fragrant neck. She shivered against him.

“Yes. Sometimes. Usually business things.”

He pressed his mouth there in an open-mouthed kiss, drew her flesh into his mouth in a gentle suckle. She gasped.

She put her hands on his chest, let her head fall to the side as he kissed her neck, shoulder, dragged his tongue across her collarbone.

“You taste so good,” he murmured. “And smell good. And feel good…”

She muffled a giggle. “Thank you.” She threaded her fingers into his hair and held his head as he kissed her throat. His lips paused over the pulse beating there, a quick excited flutter, her blood pulsing through her veins. He sucked the flesh gently into his mouth and she gasped. “Are you a vampire?” Her fingers tightened in his hair.

He laughed. “I vant to suck your blood.” He drew a little harder, but quickly released her, not wanting a big embarrassing hickey there in the morning for his family to see. They probably had enough ideas about what was going on between them.

He licked her throat, nipped at her jaw, drew his tongue across her soft bottom lip. A moan vibrated inside her throat. Her fingers scraped across his scalp, sending tingles showering down through his body like sparks. His hands cupped her breasts through the dress, the thin silk a fragile barrier between them.

“I was so proud of you tonight,” she said, head falling back. His hands roamed over body. “You’re so talented, Nate.”

“So are you.”

“No I’m not. I have no talent for anything.”

He drew back and frowned at her. “What? Don’t be crazy.”

She smiled faintly and shook her head. “I’m just being honest. You know me—jumping from one job to the next.”

“You obviously have a talent for what you’re doing now. Big new clients. Gemini. The city of Santa Barbara. Krissa, be proud of yourself, of what you’re doing.”

She stared at him wide-eyed. Blinked. “Thank you, Nate. No one has ever said that to me before.”

She had to be kidding. She was so smart and caring and warm. Everyone loved her.

He shook his head, kissed her tenderly on the mouth, trying to show her with actions the feelings he couldn’t put into words. He wrapped his arms around her, kissed her deeply, felt her arms slide around his neck. He wanted to be closer to her, as close as they could be. He shoved the dress up around her hips, and with his hands beneath her ass, he lifted her against him. She wound her legs around him, clutching his head as he carried her like that to the bed.

“Nate!” She gasped as he tossed her onto the bed and she bounced gently on the creamy duvet. Her skirt was up around her hips, exposing her long sleek legs and a flash of black lace panty. Her mouth was swollen, eyes sparkling, hair mussed.

“Christ, you’re sexy.” His fingers went to the button of his jeans.

“Oh, stop.” She rose onto her knees, watching him.

“Huh?” He stood there bare-chested, fingers at his fly.

“I want to undress you. I’ve never done that.”

“Oh.” He smiled. “Okay.”

She scrambled off the bed, brushed her hands over his chest, lingering to rub over each nipple, and sharp sensations moved over his skin at her touch. Urgency rose in him, the need to take her immediately, to be inside her.

Then she undid his pants, lowered the zipper slowly, and gently pushed them to the floor. He stepped out of them, pushing his socks off too and let her touch him through the soft cotton of his briefs. His erection throbbed and stretched the fabric. He gritted his teeth, closed his eyes as she went to her knees in front of him.

“Krissa.”

“Mmm?” She laid her cheek against his hard cock, eyes closed. Fingers stroked, then she kissed him through the cotton.

“I can’t take…much more…we have to make sure…”

“Oh, but I don’t want to rush!” She stroked him again, pressed her nose there and took in a big breath. Fuck! Pressure gathered and built in his spine, his balls drew up tight.

If he came before he got inside her…

He reached down and hauled her to her feet. He grabbed handfuls of the dress and hiked it up, found her little thong underwear and with two fingers, yanked hard and ripped them on one side.

“Nate!” Her shocked gasp inflamed him even more, his blood surging hot and urgent through his veins and especially into his dick. So close, so close…he threw her down onto the bed, wishing he could be more gentle, take his time, but Christ, his orgasm was building higher and he was dangerously close to coming.

He came down over her, roughly, shoving her dress up, pushing into her hot pussy. She was wet, thank God, and her cries of surprise, her hands clutching at him, urged him on.

He pushed into her once, twice, three times and then he exploded, heat and light surrounding him, her wet warmth hugging his cock. She lifted her legs, clenched his hips with her thighs, and he felt the sting of her fingernails on his ass as she pressed up to meet his orgasm.

“Krissa. Krissa.” He poured himself into her in hard, hot jets, shuddering through a blinding climax. There wasn’t even time to make her satisfied, and he always tried to make sure she came first. He grunted and gasped through his release, the vague thought flickering through his mind that he’d make it up to her later. But right now—he was out of control, lost, buried balls deep in her, shooting his seed into her—and he loved it.