Touch me

"So, um, does this mean you'll stay?" I ask and my stomach settles when I feel him chuckle against my cheek.

"Yeah, I'll stay, baby." He kisses my hair once more and I pull back. Nate grips my chin in his fingers and tilts my head back. "You are mine."

A slow smile spreads across my face. "Ditto."

"Jesus you're beautiful."

I'm suddenly cradled in Nate's arms and he's fumbling with the keys, unlocking the front door, and carrying me inside. He sets me down in the foyer, closes and locks the door, and stalks toward me slowly as I back up toward the stairs.

"Do you know what you do to me?" he asks, his voice low and rough, his eyes narrowed and his hands in fists at his sides.

"What?" I ask breathlessly.

"You make me want things I've never wanted before. You make me want you. You make me fucking hard."

My heels hit the bottom step and I climb the stairs slowly, backward, unable to stop looking at him. I get about five steps up when he mutters, "Stop."

He unbuttons his shirt as he climbs the steps below me and peels it off his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. He reaches the fourth step and is eye level with me. I'm gripping the handrail for balance, mesmerized by his beautiful gray eyes. He's still not touching me, yet my skin is humming in anticipation.

"Touch me," I whisper.

He leans in and brushes his lips across mine, lightly, and pulls back again, watching me.

"Please touch me," I whisper again.

His eyes travel from my hair, over my face, down my dress to my shoes and back up again. "Sit on the stairs," he commands.

I frown, and he narrows his eyes. "Sit."