"f.u.c.k, Nate." I whisper and he grins against my mouth, and then leans back to look into my eyes. He pulls back and slams into me again, then stills and watches my face. I'm panting, my cheeks are flushed with l.u.s.t. "If you do that again, I'm gonna come," I whisper.

His grin widens and he pulls back, then slams back inside me even harder, and rotates his hips in a circle, grinding the root of his c.o.c.k against my c.l.i.t and I come apart at the seams, my body shuddering and clenching, my blood on fire, screaming his name.

"You needed that?" he whispers and plants tiny, sweet kisses all over my face, across my cheeks, down my jaw, my nose.

"Hmm," I respond.

"Open your eyes."

My gaze finds his and he's smiling at me gently, brushing stray strands of hair off my temples.

"Are you okay?"

I kiss his lips softly. "I'm okay."

"Good, because I'm not done." I realize that he's not only still inside me, but he hasn't come and he's as hard as ever. My eyes widen and I tighten my arms and legs around him as he pushes us off the wall and starts to walk up the stairs, his hands still supporting my a.s.s.

"G.o.d, you're strong." I run my hands through his hair, loving that he can carry me so effortlessly.

"You're just small, baby."

He carries me into my bedroom and pulls back the duvet. He climbs onto the bed with me still in his arms and lays me down on the cool sheets, his body hovering over me.

"You needed it rough, but I need this." He laces my fingers in his and brings both of our hands above my head, and starts to move inside me again, slowly, pulling all the way out and pushing all the way in again in a slow, easy pace.

His lips are driving me mad, nibbling the sides of my mouth, right under my ears, sending sparks through me and down my spine.

"Faster," I whisper, but he just smiles lovingly down at me and shakes his head.

"No, just like this."

He's worshiping me with his body, showing me without words what I mean to him, that he's sorry for earlier. I pull my legs up his sides and he shifts so I can rest my calves on his shoulders without letting go of my hands, and he leans into my legs, pushing even farther into me.

"Oh, Nate."

"Yes, baby."

This slow pace is killing me. I tighten my inner muscles around him, and he clenches his eyes shut. With each stroke, I clench around him, as hard as possible, until finally he starts to speed up.

"So f.u.c.king tight..." Our hands are still locked together above me, my legs on his shoulders and he picks up speed, thrusting harder and faster, sweat rolling down the side of his face. I feel his body tighten and I know he's about to surrender to the climax building in him.

"Come, babe," I whisper and his eyes snap open. He kisses me hard and cries out as he comes, rocking his pelvis against mine as he releases into me.

"Oh, G.o.d, baby." He lets go of my hands, letting my legs down, and buries his fingers in my hair. I wrap my legs around his waist and run my hands down his sweat-dampened back. He's kissing me gently, our breathing is slowly returning to normal. He pulls back just slightly so he can focus in on my eyes and says, "It's only you, Julianne. It will only ever be you."

Nate's in the back yard over-seeing the crew setting up the tent for today's party, and I'm more than a little bemused. How did this happen? How did this amazing man muscle his way into my life and start helping me handle things?

And why doesn't it scare the s.h.i.t out of me?

I put the finishing touches on my makeup and approve of my soft gray, wide leg slacks, white b.u.t.ton-up blouse and wide black belt cinching my waist. I'm wearing my black Choos, and my hair is in a loose chignon, makeup simple. Birthday diamonds wink at my ears.

G.o.d, I love fashion.

Once downstairs, I survey the kitchen and grin. There is always too much food at our family parties, and today is no exception, but the whole kitchen and dining area is full of soft pink and gray. Puffy tissue paper pom poms hang from the ceiling, and the linens on the table and breakfast bar match. My dining room table boasts a gorgeous display of pink frosted cupcakes stacked on several tiers, and the top tier is a small eight-inch round cake frosted in white and covered in delicate pink flowers.

I walk out into the tent that is now an extension of the house and gasp. Oh, it's so pretty out here.

The party planner brought in heaters for the tent. It is spring in Seattle, after all. A faux floor has been laid so we don't have to walk on damp gra.s.s. There are tables and chairs scattered about with more pink and gray table cloths, and long pink, gray and white sheets of fabric are draped from each corner of the tent, gathered into the center, and more softly colored tissue pom poms are hung, suspended over the tables. They even thought to weave white Christmas lights through the fabric, giving the s.p.a.ce a sweet glow.

Alecia, my new party planner, is getting a big, fat bonus.

"Are you happy?" Nate asks as he wraps his arms around my middle from behind and kisses my neck.

"It's so beautiful. Natalie will love it."

He smiles against my neck. "You're beautiful."

I turn and gaze up at him, running my fingers through his soft black hair. He's wearing a gray b.u.t.ton down, fitted shirt and black slacks. His sleeves are rolled up, giving me glimpses of that s.e.xy tattoo.

I want to lick him.

"You don't clean up so bad yourself, you know." I smile and brush his lips with mine. "They'll be here soon. Are you ready for this?"

His smile fades as he sees the apprehension in my eyes. "Yes."

"They're going to like you. After they beat the c.r.a.p out of you."

That brings the smile back and he laughs. "Why are they going to try to beat me up?"

"Because you're a man, you've had your hands on me, and they love me. And I think it has something to do with owning a p.e.n.i.s. It makes men want to beat the s.h.i.t out of each other. I'm thinking about doing research on it." I shrug, trying to look nonchalant, but I'm really nervous.

Really. Nervous.

"Have they always beat up your boyfriends?" he asks.

"I've never given them an opportunity." I shrug again. "I don't bring men home to meet them."

"Why not?" he runs his knuckles down my cheek.

"No one's ever deserved to meet my family before."

His eyes flare and his hold on me tightens. "Julianne, I..."

"There you are!" My mom bursts through the back door of the house and into the tent, her arms open for me.

Gail Montgomery is a pet.i.te blond woman with a big heart and loud laugh. She's happy, kind, and I want to be her when I grow up.

"Hi, Mom!" I pull out of Nate's embrace and wrap my mom in a big hug.

"Your father and I pulled up at the same time as Will and Matt. They drove together." She swings her eyes to Nate and smiles wide.

"Mom, this is Nate." I smile rea.s.suringly at Nate, but he's already kissing my mom's hand and laying on the charm.

Why am I surprised? This man charms people out of millions of their dollars every day. He's going to be fine with my family.

"Mrs. Montgomery, what a pleasure." My mom melts, and gets a gooey look on her face, and I can't help but smirk.

"Well, h.e.l.lo Nate. Please, call me Gail."

"Why is it so f.u.c.king pink in here?" Will pushes his way into the tent his hands on his hips, glaring at me.

"Because, douche bag, Natalie is having a girl." I punch him in the arm before I kiss his cheek. "I owe you," I whisper.

He looks down at me with a frown. "Huh?"

"I'll explain later. I have someone I want you to meet, and I want you to be nice."

Will isn't really the one I'm all that worried about anyway.

"Will, this is Nate McKenna." I step back and bite my lip. My brother is taller than Nate by a good three inches, and is wide-shouldered, muscled, and strong. He's a freaking football player for the love of Moses.

And we have the same genes, so he's hot in a he's-my-brother-and-he's-gross-to-me-but-all-of-America-wants-to-bang-him kind of way.

It runs in our family.

"I enjoyed last season," Nate states as he holds out his hand for Will to shake. Oh, he's good.

"Yeah? Why's that?" Will asks and shakes his hand.

"Well, we kicked Green Bay's a.s.s, you didn't get injured, and you helped me win a bunch of money during the playoffs. Next season looks promising." Nate replies.

"He can stay," Will declares and goes back inside to find food.

One brother down, three to go.

And my dad.

I need a drink.

Nate winks at me and slides his arm around my waist. "Stop worrying," he whispers.

"I'm not worried." I lie.

He laughs and I lead us back inside so I can put some music on. Will is eating a bowl of spinach dip with corn chips and talking with our brother, Matt. Matt is the most laid back of my brothers, and I know he'll be polite to Nate. Matt gestures for Nate to join them, and I breathe a sigh of relief while I plug my iPod into the sound system and bring up the playlist I made for today.

Adele starts to croon about finding someone like you and I turn as Nat and Luke walk into the room.

Well, Nat waddles.

"I love this song," she says as she hands Luke her coat and hugs me close. She's adorable in a black maternity dress and black flats.

I rub my hands over her belly and laugh. "You play Adele for this baby way too much. She's going to be born bitter and angry at men. Give the poor girl a fighting chance, Nat."

"Hey, Adele is brilliant."

"I agree, but start the baby out with something more optimistic."

"It's beautiful in here," Natalie kisses my cheek and I grin.

"I know. Alecia, my new bff, is brilliant. Wait until you see outside." I glance over at Nate, to make sure no one has killed him and hid the body, but he's joking and eating with Matt and Will and my dad and Luke have joined them, and my dad seems relaxed and cool.

Maybe this won't be so bad after all.

"Nate seems to be enjoying himself," Natalie murmurs.

"So far, so good, but Caleb's not here yet."

"Oh," she says.

Yeah. Oh.

"Come on," I grab her hand and pull her out into the tent.

"Oh, Jules, this is just..." she stops and takes in the pretty party room and bursts into tears. "I love you so much."

"Nat, don't cry. Don't cry." I hug her close and rub her belly.

"I'm not sad; I'm so f.u.c.king hormonal I cry during Doritos commercials." She sniffs and wipes the tears from her cheeks. "This is really wonderful. I have a crush on Alecia now."

"Me too," I laugh.

We wander back inside and I see that my eldest brother, Isaac, his wife Stacy and my niece Sophie are here. I scoop the sweet baby girl into my arms and blow kisses in her neck, making her giggle.

"Hey, Nate!" I call across the room and motion for him to join me. He excuses himself from the guys and joins me, placing his hand at the small of my back.

Isaac frowns and eyes Nate up and down, and I roll my eyes.

"Nate, I'd like to introduce you to my oldest brother, Isaac, his wife Stacy, and my gorgeous niece, Sophie."

Sophie immediately holds her arms out to Nate to hold her and he responds without hesitating, bracing her on his forearm, and spreading his other big hand along her back to hold her steady.

Oh my.

"Wow," Stacy says with a laugh, rubbing her own round belly. She'll be having their second baby in just a few months. "That's a first. Soph's been going through a stranger danger phase lately. She doesn't usually go to anyone she doesn't know."

"I'm good with kids." Nate shrugs and smiles at Sophie. "Hey, gorgeous." Sophie squeals with delight and slaps his cheek.