Picking up her bag, she headed to the kitchen and the kettle. A cup of tea was supposed to remedy lots of things. Hopefully her indignation was one of them.
The buzzing doorbell echoed through the apartment. ‘Molly, it’s me. Nathan,’ he added in his don’t-fool-with-me attitude. ‘I want to talk to you.’
Well, guess what? She didn’t want to talk to him. Filling the kettle, she pushed the ‘on’ button.
‘I know you’re in there.’
Who let him into the building this time? Seemed he charmed everyone he came across. Except her. No, even her, when she stopped trying to resist him.
Buzz. Knock, knock. ‘Molly.’
Persistent. No surprise there. Back to the door, growling into the speaker, ‘Go away, Nathan. I have nothing to say to you right at this moment.’
Except that you’ve upset me, and stirred me in ways a man hasn’t in a long time.
‘You want me to shout until the neighbours come out to see what’s going on?’
‘Go for it.’ She huffed at the peephole.
‘Let me in.’
Definitely louder, and he wouldn’t stop there. Another huff and she wrenched the door wide. ‘You’re not coming in.’
‘Fine.’ He leaned a shoulder against the doorjamb and concentrated his entire focus on her.
The cheek of him, so damned sure of himself. She stabbed his chest before she put her brain in gear and jerked her hand away. ‘You think you can say what you like to me and get away with it.’
‘Wrong, Molly. I know I’ll never get away with anything around you.’
Her mouth dropped open. Hurriedly closing it, she swallowed hard. What did he say?
‘You don’t take any bull from anyone and, for some reason, especially from me.’ His mouth twitched. ‘I like that.’
Again her jaw dropped. Again she slammed it shut, jarring her teeth in the process. This wasn’t going according to plan. Not that she’d had one other than to keep Nathan out of her apartment. ‘Right. Fine. You’ve had your say so kindly remove yourself from my doorway so I can close the door.’
He didn’t move a centimetre. ‘I haven’t told you why I’m here.’ His eyes were locked on her as though seeing right inside to every thought crossing her confused mind. ‘Can you spare me a couple of minutes?’ That couldn’t be a plea. Could it? His eyes were dark, his mouth soft.
Nathan was making it hard to stay uptight and focused when he looked at her like that. This was probably the biggest mistake she’d made in a while, but she stepped back, holding the door wide, and nodded, once, abruptly.
‘Thanks.’
The tenderness in his gaze made her shiver. Had he done an about-face? If so, why? No, he wouldn’t have. Molly headed into her lounge, where she remained standing. To sit would give him a height advantage. The kettle whistled, clicked off. She ignored it.
Nathan stood before her, not so close as to dominate her but near enough that she was fully aware of him. Heck, she was aware of him all over the ED, so there was no way she could ignore him in her apartment even if she shut herself in the bathroom.
He reached for her hands and said, ‘I’m very sorry for doubting you. I had no right to do that. Or to criticise you. If I could take those words back, Molly, they’d be gone already. Not thrashing around inside your head.’
He understood her too well. Now he’d stunned her. Nathan Lupton had said sorry—to her. The tension fell away, leaving her wobbly, with a spinning head and racing blood. Somehow her fingers had laced with Nathan’s. ‘Accepted,’ she whispered. What else could she do? Being offside with Nathan wasn’t what she wanted. Not now, not ever if possible.
His gaze remained fixed on her. The coffee shade of his eyes had lightened to tan with hints of green and black. A smile was growing on his lush mouth.
Heat expanded in her stomach, spreading tentacles of longing throughout her body, knocking at her heart, shimmering into her womanhood, weakening her knees.
‘Molly?’ Nathan’s hands took her face to ever so gently bring her closer to his mouth. Those full lips brushed her quivering ones, apologising and teasing. Then he pulled back to again lock eyes with her. Heat sparked at her, set her blood humming, lifting her up on tiptoe.
As her mouth touched his she fell into him, winding her arms around to spread her hands over his back, pushing her awakened nipples against his solid chest. She breathed deeply. Nathan. His name reverberated around her skull, teasing, laughing, giving.
Oh, yes, giving. His mouth was devouring hers, his tongue plunging deeper with every lick. Hands skimmed over her arms, her waist, then held her butt tenderly while stroking, firing her up to the point of no return. Molly hesitated, her mouth stilled. Did she want this? Stupid question. Her mouth went back to kissing him hard, demanding more, sharing everything.
Then Nathan raised his head. ‘Molly?’ Disappointment knocked behind her ribs when he took her hands and held them tightly between his. ‘I think I’d better go while I still can.’
Thump, thump went her heart. He was right. The next step would be in the direction of her bedroom, and despite feeling comfortable and safe with Nathan, she wasn’t as ready as that entailed. Sure, they could make out and have fun, but the sun would rise and then she’d have plenty of misgivings to deal with. This man had got closer to her than anyone in a long time, but it had happened so fast she needed to pause, take a breath, and think about what she wanted. ‘You’re right. It’s too soon for me.’
He squeezed her hands gently, brushed his lips across hers, and stepped back. ‘Me, too.’
CHAPTER EIGHT
MOLLY WAS WHACKED. Every muscle ached, and she’d thought she was fit. Lifting the kettle to fill it took energy she didn’t have. That afternoon’s basketball game had been tough. She’d worked hard to justify Coach’s belief in her. They’d barely won—surprising considering the opposition team was ranked seventh compared to their second slot in the competition.
Pride lifted Molly’s spirits further. Not once had she failed to take a catch or run the length of the court bouncing the ball. She’d made most of her shots count, taken some intercepts without too much difficulty. Yes, it had been a good game, and now she was worn out.
Work had been busy beyond normal all week, making everyone tired and scratchy. Though Nathan had remained friendly and easygoing with her. There’d been no more kisses or time together away from work, but lots of laughs and friendship. A very normal week for most people, and she couldn’t ask for more.
Her bed looked so tempting since she’d changed the sheets and straightened up her room. The washing machine was humming in the kitchen, the pantry had some new food on the shelves, and her newly washed hair was under control. Not that that would last, the curls being the unreliable nuisances they were.
Sinking on the edge of the bed, there was no holding back the smile splitting her face. Or the soft, warm feeling settling over her. Yes, it seemed she was getting up to speed with returning to a normal life, and she had Nathan to thank for some of it. That man made her feel special. She only hoped she’d given some of the excitement and wonder back.
Without thought, she sprawled over the bed, her head snug on her pillow as she kept running images of Nathan through her mind. Laughing over something silly, stitching up a cut in an old man’s arm, kissing her. They were more than friends now. But were they becoming a couple? Hardly.
The ringing phone woke her. Scrabbling around the top of her bedside table, her fingers latched onto the instrument just as the ringing stopped. Damn.
Then it started again. Nathan’s name blinked out at her.
‘Hi.’ She scrubbed the sudden moisture from her eyes. It was only a phone call.
‘Hey, Molly. How did the game go?’
Man, she loved that voice. Over the phone it was even more gravelly. ‘It was awesome. We won.’
&nbs
p; ‘So you’ll be out celebrating. Though it does sound rather quiet.’
‘I’m at home. Some of the girls were going to a wedding and the rest of us had other things to do.’ She hadn’t, but she’d fallen in with the general consensus that one weekend not celebrating wouldn’t hurt.
‘Bet you’re exhausted. But I was wondering if you’re up to meeting my mob. They’ve descended upon me without warning, and I need some backup.’
‘You didn’t know your family was coming to visit?’
Nathan’s laugh was a short hoot. ‘The day any of my sisters tell me they’re on their way I’ll buy a lotto ticket. All the nieces and nephews are here too, I might add.’