After our breathing slows and our bodies relax, Nate raises himself off of me and unties my wrists, then flips me over, brushes the hair off my face and kisses me sweetly and softly.

"Are you okay?" he asks, settling his weight at my side and cradling me in his arms. He pulls the duvet up around us.

"Hmm..." I answer.

"I need some verbal communication, baby," he chuckles. "I need to know that you're okay."

"I'm fine." I open my eyes and gaze up into his beautiful face. My hand glides up his tattooed arm, over his shoulder, and I run my fingertips down his stubbled cheek. "More than fine," I add.

"You didn't tell me to stop," he murmurs.

"I might have killed you if you stopped."

"I didn't hurt you?" he asks, his gray eyes worried and searching mine.

"Stop worrying about hurting me, ace. I'm not made of gla.s.s. You didn't hurt me." I kiss him gently, then bite his lower lip and lave it with the flat of my tongue. "I think I have a new taste for being tied up." I smile up at him shyly and he laughs.

"I think I have a new taste for tying you up," he responds with a delighted grin.

"What are we doing this weekend?" I ask with a yawn.

"It's a surprise."

"Can I have a hint?" d.a.m.n, he wore me the h.e.l.l out. I can't keep my eyes open.

"We're not staying here," he responds and snuggles me more firmly against him.

"Where are we going?" I whisper.

"You'll find out tomorrow. Go to sleep, sweetheart." He kisses my forehead and I fall into a restful sleep.

"You don't need to bring all of this c.r.a.p." Nate and I are standing in his bedroom with my suitcase open on the bed.

"Are you going to tell me where we're going?" I ask, hands on my hips.

"No."

"Then I need all this c.r.a.p." I glare at him, secretly delighted with him, and enjoy the view. He's pulled his hair back, is wearing a white t-shirt under a black sweater and dark blue jeans. His arms are crossed over his chest, making his biceps flex.

Yum.

"Julianne, I want to take the bike."

"Okay, tell me where we're going and I'll downsize my stuff."

"I'm not telling you where we're going."

"Then how do I know what I need? Let's take the car. It's called compromise, ace."

He sighs, rubs his face with his hands in exasperation, and glares at me when he sees my smile.

"Why are you grinning?"

"Because you're hot when you're frustrated with me."

Nate chuckles and shakes his head. "Fine, bring all your s.h.i.t. We'll take the Mercedes."

"See? That wasn't so hard." I tap his cheek playfully as I walk past him to the bathroom to gather my toiletries.

"Wait, you have more s.h.i.t to pack?"

"Yep," I call over my shoulder.

"Jesus," he mutters and I laugh.

"Okay," I shove everything in my suitcase and zip it up. "I'm ready."

Nate picks up his overnight bag, which is much smaller and weighs far less than my bag, grabs the handle of my rolling suitcase with his other hand, and ushers me out of the room.

"Let's go."

Chapter Twenty One.

Nate pulls his shiny black Mercedes SUV into the parking lot of his father's gym and throws it in park.

"What are we doing here?" I ask.

"I have to run in for a second to talk to my dad. Wait here?"

"Okay."

He leans over and swiftly kisses me, then hops out of the car, leaving the engine running. I watch his fine form stride through the front door of the building and sit back to wait.

Where is he taking me?

Clearly we're not going far because we're driving and we both have to work Monday morning. Maybe he's taking me to Portland for the weekend? That's only a three hour drive. Or maybe up to the little resort town of Leavenworth? Or the San Juan Islands?

There's so much to do here, it could be anywhere.

I check my phone and send Natalie a text, letting her know we're going somewhere out of town in case she tries to reach me and I don't have cell service.

Just as I finish with the text, Nate climbs back in the car.

"Okay, ready?"

"Sure. Everything okay?" I ask.

"Yep, just needed to check in with Dad for a minute." He smiles over at me as he pulls out of the lot and toward the freeway.

"Okay, so are you going to tell me where we're going?" I pull his hand into my lap and lace our fingers.

"The beach."

"Really?" I feel the face-splitting grin on my face. "I love the beach!"

"Good." He kisses my hand and lays them both in my lap again. "I have a beach house in a newer little town called Seabrook. It's about a half hour north of Ocean Sh.o.r.es."

"You own the house?" I ask.

"Yeah, my dad and I do. He uses it too."

"I like your dad." I really do. Rich has been nothing but sweet to me since the first time Nate took me to their gym.

"He likes you too."

"Can I ask you a question?" I bite my lower lip, nervous to ask, and he glances over at me, then back at the freeway. Traffic is pretty light this morning on Interstate 5 South.

"Of course, anything."

"Where is your mom?"

Nate signals and changes lanes. "She died when I was seven."

"I'm sorry," I murmur.

"Don't be." He squeezes my hand and smiles rea.s.suringly. "It was a long time ago. She had breast cancer. It's been just dad and me ever since."

"He never remarried?"

"No," he shakes his head and frowns. "I know there have been women, but he never paraded them around me. I thought he might remarry after I was grown and gone, but he seems content with the gym and dating here and there."

"What was her name?" I ask quietly.

"Julie," Nate responds softly and I gasp. "My dad called her Jules." He looks over at me, his eyes bright.

"Is that why you don't call me Jules?" I ask.

"Partly," he shrugs and changes lanes again. "I don't have a weird fixation on your name or anything, baby. I've slipped up and called you Jules a few times."

"I know, it makes me smile, but I like that you call me Julianne."

"You do? I thought you hated it."

"I hate it when other people call me that, but it's different with you."

"Honestly, honey, I just think your name is beautiful, and it suits you." He kisses my knuckles again and I melt.

d.a.m.n, he says the sweetest things sometimes.

"Are you getting all mushy on me, ace?" I ask, trying to lighten the mood.

"Never. I'm a man."

I laugh and squeeze his hand. "You're my man."

"And only yours, baby."

"This is incredible!" I climb out of the car and stand facing the beautiful light blue two-story home with lots of large windows and a wrap-around porch. There are tall evergreens surrounding the house, and I can hear the waves crashing on the sh.o.r.e on the other side.

"I was expecting a small beach cabin." I turn back to Nate and grin as he pulls our bags out of the back of the SUV.

"I know it's bigger than I probably need, but it came up for sale last year and I s.n.a.t.c.hed it. This is a new community, and the real estate is a good investment." I follow him up the steps to the front door. There is beautiful outdoor furniture on the porch, and the door is a wide pine door with an oval frosted gla.s.s window that has a beach scene etched in it.

"I also work with a rental company and they rent it out here and there for me, as well as I donate time to charity auctions."

He unlocks the door and walks in ahead of me. "Make yourself at home."

"Wow." The s.p.a.ce is large and open, and was clearly professionally decorated in a beachy theme, but in a subtle, non-annoying way. The furniture and art work are in shades of white, blue and gray. There is a magnificent stone fireplace in the center of the s.p.a.ce with logs all set up and ready to light.

The kitchen and dining room are in the back of the house, facing the incredible views of the ocean. It's overcast but mild today, and the water is a deep gray-blue, beating up the sh.o.r.eline. I can't wait to get out there.

"Come on, I'll give you a quick tour."

"What's up with you and s.e.xy kitchens?" I ask, pointing to the truly s.e.xy kitchen. It boasts all white cabinets and cupboards, black granite countertops, and stainless steel, top of the line, appliances. The s.p.a.ce is large, with plenty of counter s.p.a.ce. The adjacent dining area has a long black table with seating for ten.

"I need good kitchens to cook in." He shrugs and I grin at him. "Let's go upstairs."

There are three good-sized bedrooms with an en-suite bathroom for each, along with a s.p.a.cious loft, complete with a pool table, and the master suite, which I immediately fall in love with.

"Oh, this is spectacular." I walk straight to the French doors that open out to a covered balcony and walk outside, breathing in the salty air and looking out at the water. There is a one hundred and eighty degree view. "This, right here, is my favorite part."

Nate walks up behind me, wraps his arms around my middle and kisses my neck. "This is what sold me too. There is gla.s.s to enclose this, but I like hearing the water and feeling the breeze."

"Oh, don't close it in. It's perfect." He smiles against my neck and I turn in his arms, hugging him close. "I love it."

"I love you," he responds and tips my chin up to meet my gaze. "I love you," he repeats, his voice and eyes raw, and I feel tears p.r.i.c.k the corners of my eyes.

"I love you, too."