Incest/Taboo Bring on the Wonder

Later that evening, she sat on Nate's lap on the couch in the living room, with a movie playing on TV, and recounted Lance's visit to her office. At first, Nate was angry that Lance would presume so much, and a little frightened of what Lance might do or say.

"I know what you're thinking, Nate." Lizzie looped her arms around his shoulders and kissed the tip of his nose. "I was thinking the same thing when he first came in."

"What?"

"That he was going to threaten to tell on us." She wrinkled her nose at the phrasing but Nate knew what she meant. "But I remembered that he'd never met anyone in our family, probably wouldn't have a clue who our father is or anything."

"How can we be sure of that? I mean, he knows my full name."

"So?"

"So, Whittenberg isn't exactly a common name like Smith."

Lizzie shrugged again. "True. If he'd wanted to extort money or something, I think he would have just come out and said it. Or he'd have come by to do that right after he discovered the truth."

"You think so?"

"Sure. Why wait to cash in?"

Nate snorted and shook his head. "I think you're right. Lance doesn't need the money anyway."

"No?"

"No. He made some sound investments with the money his grandfather left him and he's pretty much set for life." Nate smiled at her. "Hell, his grandkids will be set for life, too."

"Wow." Lizzie looked off into space over Nate's shoulder. "Maybe I should call him up and see if he'd like to give it a go again."

Nate sputtered in mock outrage and tickled her sides until she shrieked with laughter. They struggled for a few seconds but Nate could feel Lizzie give up. She loved play-wrestling with him and having him pin her down or pull her arms behind her back. Nate didn't mind indulging her in something that was so much fun for him as well.

He grabbed her wrists and pulled her arms low behind her back. She met his gaze, her eyes dark and shining with desire. He leaned close enough that they could feel each other's breath but he didn't kiss her. She moved her chin up, trying to bring their lips together but Nate pulled his head back out of reach.

"Nate..." she whined and tried again.

Nate tightened his hold on her wrists and held her back. Instead of giving her a kiss on the mouth, he dropped his head and brushed his lips on her neck. She let out a sigh and dropped her head back to give him room. He smiled against her skin and pressed a hot, moist kiss to the fluttering pulse just under her chin. Then he pulled back.

She looked down at him, blinking her eyes. "Why'd you stop?"

"Did I stop?"

Narrowing her eyes, she strained forward, tugging at her arms. "Nate. Don't tease me."

"Maybe you deserve to be teased."

"Why?"

"Because of all those naughty texts you sent me today." He brought their faces close together, nose-to-nose. "And the pictures."

Her mouth tilted up at the corners. "Naughty? Me?"

"Yes, you."

She giggled, a bright sound that always lifted Nate's spirits. He'd had a long day at the office and when Lizzie had first told him that Lance came to see her, his immediate reaction had been panic. He'd been afraid that she'd say she couldn't do this with him anymore and that she was going to move back in with Lance. A few minutes later, without her even having to explain, Nate realized how foolish his panic had been. Still, the adrenaline that had dropped through his body in a rush now left him feeling light-headed.

"My naughty little sister," he murmured and kissed her.

She moaned against his lips.

Only in the quiet solitude of the house could they say things like that and feel no shame or fear. While wrapped up in each other's arms, hot and aroused, they could say whatever they wanted, whatever they felt, and never worry about what might follow.

What followed was quiet and yet, they could each hear the pounding of their hearts. They could feel the tremor in their touches and knew that love fell from their lips with every breath. Words didn't need to be spoken in such moments as these.

Some time later, he lifted her into his arms and carried her upstairs to bed. She was almost limp in his grasp and had only enough strength to keep her nose rubbing over the skin of his neck. As he got them both into bed, he kissed her face all over, tenderly returning her kiss and her whispered words of love as she drifted off to sleep.

He watched her face in the dim light of their room. Her dark lashes made little half-moons on her pale cheeks. Her lips were pursed, like always as she slept. The dark swirls of her hair spread across his pillow and hers. Nate picked up one strand and rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger. He pressed it to his lips and whispered three more words to her. She smiled in her sleep and nestled closer to him. Nate opened his arms and held her close to his chest, smiling when she didn't stop moving until her nose was against his throat.

Yes, he loved making love to her and loved how they made each other feel. But he loved her smile, her sweet heart and he loved her, the woman, more than life itself and would give up anything to make her happy and to keep her in his life.

Otherwise, life just isn't worth living.
​

****​

EIGHT MONTHS AGO

If Lizzie had turned up wearing nothing but fishnets and high heels, announcing her intention to join a traveling drag queen revue, Nate would not have been more surprised. Her kiss turned him inside out and would have knocked him on his ass if he could move. Shock kept him frozen in place as Lizzie moved her lips on his.

She stopped after a few seconds of him not responding and stared, tears filling her eyes. "Nate, I--"

Her words broke something inside of him. Maybe the last of his restraint. Or sanity. He grabbed her arms and brought their lips back together. The shock was gone, erased by a hot rush of adrenaline and pounding desire. That she was his sister faded to the back of his mind and he wrapped her in his arms. Her lips parted on a moan and he shoved his tongue inside to slip and slide around hers.

And just like that, they were entangled. Their arms were tight around each other and their mouths locked together. Nate rubbed his hands up and down her back, squeezing when he got to the top of her beautiful ass. She shifted closer, as if it was even possible. He felt like she was already crawling inside of his body.

His blood was on fire and his skin tingled everywhere. Where he touched Lizzie, the tingling intensified and every time her tongue pressed to his, he felt his groin tighten. If they continued this way, he was going to come in his pants like an adolescent boy. Then Lizzie pressed her pelvis to him and he groaned.

He lifted his lips from hers and looked into her face. She was flushed and her breath puffed over his lips in short bursts of warmth. He had to kiss her again. After that one, he needed another. And another. Then he turned them around so he could push her back against his desk. She threw a hand out to brace herself and it wasn't until then that he realized how forceful he'd suddenly become.

With her whimpering moans filling his ears and her other hand tugging at his hair, Nate was going out of his mind. He jerked her hand out of his hair and held it at her side. With his other hand, he started to pull up her skirt. She watched his face, her eyes dark with the same desire roaring through his blood.

He managed to get his hand under the black fabric and bit back a moan at the feel of her silky smooth skin. She wrenched her hand from his grasp and reached between her legs, where he was tracing lazy, wide circles on the inside of her thigh. She closed her fingers around his and pulled them up. All the way up to where she was warm and so wet for him.

They kept their eyes focused on each other's face the entire time. While he stroked her once and again over the damp fabric of her panties. When he slipped two fingers beneath the silk and her skin, they both caught their breath, but never looked away from each other's eyes. Nate stared into her beautiful face and fell in love with the way she looked at him.

He leaned close and captured her lips in another passionate kiss as he started to stroke her. He lapped at her mouth, tasting and teasing her while he rubbed his knuckles up and down her wet lips. She gasped and twitched beneath his touch and he reveled in it. He fell in love with making her twist and move under his touch. From that moment on, he vowed to always be the one to make her move and sound like this, to undo her.

"Nate, please." She moaned and pulled her lips from his. Her head fell back as he pressed further beneath her panties. He wriggled his fingers between her lips, delving inside and he dropped his head to her shoulder as he felt the first squeeze of her body around his. Before she was lost to her climax, Nate took his fingers out and struggled to get his pants off. It was tricky since he didn't want to stop kissing Lizzie to do it.

She rose to meet his kisses, her legs closing around his hips and pulling him close to her. He kissed her, nibbling at her lips and sucking her bottom lip between his teeth, all while trying to push his pants down. At last, he was free, his hard cock in hand. She reached for him, her little fingers closing around his stiff length and he pumped his hips into her hand.

"I need to be inside you, Lizzie."

She nodded and brought her hands up to his shoulders. He grasped her hips to lift her to the desk where she was at the right height. He reached under her skirt, pushing the black material up and away. Then he all but ripped her panties down her legs and without another thought, plunged his cock into her body.

For a moment, they stopped. They held still and struggled to catch their breath. This whole time, they'd barely looked away from each other's eyes. Nate couldn't stop staring at her. He'd never be able to look at her the same way again. Or himself. He stared into her blue eyes and fell in love.

He moved then, bringing their bodies together before sliding back. He did it again and smiled when her breath caught. Her hand crept up his shoulder to the back of his neck. Nate bent his head and kissed her. She kissed him back, a little gasp escaping her when he moved again. She bit down on his lip and he stopped moving for a second.

"Nate..."

He squeezed his eyes shut, blocking out the pleading look in her blue eyes. And he started to fuck her then. He dug his fingers into her hips to hold her steady as he pounded into her.

God, she felt good. So perfect and snug. He wanted to freeze this moment, the way she looked, the sensation of his stiff length sliding into her body. He wanted to stop time right here and never change the way they were looking at each other. All because he knew in the back of his mind, even through the rush of his impending orgasm, that when this stopped, nothing would ever be the same again.

But he came, the tidal wave of emotion and physical release overwhelming him so that he saw stars for a second. She tensed around him, her pussy milking him after he'd exploded inside her, drawing out the sensations of his climax.

For a long while after they were spent, neither of them spoke. Nate was afraid to move and disturb the moment. He was a fool.

This wasn't a moment between lovers, new to each other, new to a relationship together. They were siblings and he still had his dick inside of his baby sister.

"Oh God."

He lifted his head at the sound of Lizzie's voice. She wasn't looking at him.

"Get off," she whispered.

"Lizzie..."

"Get off!" she shrieked. "Get off, get... get out of me! Now!"

Nate jerked away when he heard the panic in her voice. She shoved him hard in the middle of the chest until he straightened and backed away. He stifled a groan as he slipped free of her, surprised to feel himself still semi-erect. Lizzie scrambled off the desk and fumbled as she pushed her skirt back down over her hips. She still wouldn't look at him. Nate felt lost without her beautiful blue eyes on him now as he tucked himself back in his pants and fastened them.

Nate reached for her hand, wanting to feel her skin again. She twisted away from him with a cry, raising her eyes to his face at last. They glistened with unshed tears and Nate had the urge to hit something, anything to make her stop looking so stricken.

"Don't touch me!"

"Lizzie, please--"

"Don't!" She dodged his reach again and headed for the door. She paused there and looked over her shoulder at him. "I have to go."

"Go where?"

She shook her head and walked out. "I just have to go."

Nate hurried after her but she raced down the stairs and out the front door before he could catch her. When he yanked open the front door, she was already in her car, driving away. Glancing around, Nate saw that she'd grabbed her purse on the way out. He stood in the doorway and stared at the street. After a few minutes, he backed into the house and shut the door.

After three days, Nate was out of his mind with worry. It got worse when he came home on the fourth day and saw that Lizzie had been at the house. She'd come back long enough to empty her room of all her clothes and personal belongings. When he'd seen that, he rushed down to her studio to see if she'd taken anything from there. She'd taken her current sketchbook and a few packages of charcoal and pastels but left the rest. Nate stood in the center of the room, looking around at the blank and filled canvases, the easels and rags, and wondered if he'd ever see her in the middle of the chaos again.

He couldn't focus on work or anything else while he worried about Lizzie and if she was OK. He could call her at work, or drop by, but he was afraid that would create a scene and he knew Lizzie wouldn't want that. He couldn't call his parents to see if they'd heard from her, because they'd want to know why she'd left and not told him where she went. Not something he wanted to discuss with his family. He still wasn't sure what had happened between them. Oh, he knew what had happened in his office and every time he thought about it, he got goosebumps and an erection. What he didn't know was why it had happened. He'd been denying his growing attraction to his sister for some time, not even acknowledging it to himself in his most private thoughts. His sudden, intense jealousy over Lance had made him face the truth. The truth was also that he hadn't thought there was ever a chance she could feel the same thing for him.

That interlude in his office had proved him wrong in that at least.

Turning away from Lizzie's art room, he walked to the kitchen and made a small dinner for himself. It all tasted like sawdust and he ended up throwing away half of it.

Feeling lost and worried, Nate paced through the house, jogged around the block, and checked his cell phone and answering machine at home for messages. Several times.

Where is she?

****

Lizzie was in Lance's bed, struggling not to picture her brother while Lance moved within her. She bit her lip every time she felt words coming up, afraid that she'd beg Nate to do her harder or faster. Instead, she turned her face away from Lance's and tried to urge him on. She thought if she forced herself to respond, maybe she could eradicate the images and sensations she'd obsessed over since running away from Nate.

Lance murmured something in her ear but she was concentrating too hard on trying not to think about Nate. Lance started to move faster, his movements becoming uneven. She squeezed him tighter with her arms and legs and made the noises of appreciation she'd learned he enjoyed. A few thrusts later, he was done.

Lizzie let him finish inside of her and he rolled off her a second or two later. She stayed on her back, breathing hard and rubbing her stomach, damp with sweat from both their bodies. Lance stayed still for a minute before getting up and peeling the condom off to dispose of it. He smiled over at Lizzie who managed a weak smile in response.

"Are you thirsty? I'm parched."

She nodded. "Yeah. I could use a drink."

He tossed her the sweatshirt of his that she'd taken to wearing around his house. He pulled on some shorts and led the way out of his bedroom. In his kitchen, he poured her a drink and one for himself.

Lizzie didn't think she was giving anything away but Lance walked over to her and bent to give her a quick kiss.

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah. Sure. Why wouldn't I be?"

He sighed and kissed her forehead before taking her hand. He took her into the living room and sat down with her on the couch. "Come on. It's time you told me what happened."

Lizzie's heart skipped a beat and she pasted a confused smile on her face. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, you showed up on my doorstep almost a month ago now. You begged for a place to stay and moved half your belongings into my guest room." He paused and brushed some hair back from her face. "You come to my bed every night and we have a great time but it always feels like you're not really there."

Lizzie had to look away. She couldn't stand the kindness and concern in his eyes, not when she'd been so selfish. She'd been using him for far too long, without ever giving him anything in return.

"I'm so sorry, Lance."

His face fell, the friendly, concerned smile disappearing. "Was it something I did?"

She reached for his hand, clasping it in hers. "No. You're great. I've always enjoyed spending time with you. I just don't think we... We don't belong together."

"It's only been a month. How can you know for sure?"

The look on his face was so hopeful it damn near broke her heart. She hated to be the one to hurt him but she couldn't keep lying to him. Or herself, for that matter. She didn't need another month or even another night to figure out why she couldn't get Nate off her mind. "I just do. Sort of like you know when you're in love." Like I am, with Nate.

Maybe one day she could figure out when it had happened, but for now, she could be honest with this man.

"Lance, you've been great, letting me stay here and all." She shook her head and squeezed his hand. "But you had to know I was never going to stay for long. It's already been too long."

"I don't want you to think that I don't want you here."

"No, it's not that. You definitely haven't made me feel unwanted." Color flooded her cheeks when she considered how wanted he'd made her feel. Lizzie would have to be made of stone to not respond to his attentions. No matter how Nate dominated her thoughts and feelings, Lance was still a sexy man and she was a weak, selfish woman.

She looked down at the glass in her hands and fought back tears of shame. Not for the first time, she felt like she'd betrayed Nate by staying here with Lance and doing all they'd done. She shouldn't have run away after that night in Nate's office. And she damn sure shouldn't have slept with Lance the first time, or any of the times that followed. She'd hoped it might help her erase what had happened with Nate. She was a fool.

"I have somewhere else to go. I don't need to stay here any longer."

"Elizabeth." Lance lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. "You know you can stay as long as you need to. You don't have to sleep with me."

Lizzie let out a weak laugh and leaned over to hug him. "Oh, Lance. I'm so sorry."

He hugged her in return, patting her back. They didn't say anything for a while, just held each other and stared into space. They finished their drinks and made their way back upstairs to go to bed. To their separate beds.

Lance followed Lizzie to her guest room and stood in the doorway. She faced him and tried to smile.

"I'll see you in the morning, OK?" he said. "I've got an appointment around ten and I'll probably be gone for a few hours but we can talk when I get home."

Lizzie couldn't meet his eyes. "Sure."

He studied her face and she wondered if he could tell that she was planning to leave tomorrow. They wouldn't be having dinner together or talking when he got home.

"Good night, Elizabeth."

"Good night, Lance."

The man turned and walked to his room, leaving Lizzie alone with her thoughts. She stripped the sweatshirt off and tossed it on the floor at the foot of the bed. Then she crawled into bed, shivering as the cool sheets brushed against her bare skin. She turned her mind to Nate and to what she could say when she saw him again. She hoped and prayed that he'd speak to her again, maybe even let her move back in. She could only hope that he would still feel for her what he had that night a month ago.

Her body began to warm at the memory. The way Lance touched her was enough to get her turned on. But what had happened between her and Nate had been so much more. It had been hot and wild. All-consuming. Life changing.

Lizzie twisted beneath the covers, rubbing her thighs together as moisture gathered at the apex of her legs. The way Nate had looked at her when he'd been inside of her body flashed in her mind's eye and she let out a low moan.

She fell asleep a short while later, hot beneath the sheets and sated by her own hand and the memory of her brother making love to her.
​

****​

PRESENT DAY

Lizzie woke up on Saturday morning and reached out with one hand. The bed beside her was empty. Frowning, she rubbed her eyes and opened them to confirm that Nate wasn't in bed with her.

"Nate?"

She sat up, rubbed her eyes a bit some more and squinted around herself. Sunlight streamed in the window, lighting up the room and keeping her from opening her eyes wide. She yawned and climbed out of bed to go to the bathroom. After that, she grabbed a shirt from Nate's closet and wandered downstairs to find him.

"Nate? Where are you?"

There was no response as she reached the bottom floor and walked to the kitchen. No Nate. She did a turn through the dining room, the living room and down the hall to her studio. Of course, he wasn't in there. His aversion to ordered chaos kept him from there unless she was in it to protect him.

The thought put a smile on her face, and she forgot about her search for Nate as she stepped into her space. She picked up a brush and walked over to stand before a blank canvas. It had been some time since she'd painted anything. Her last several works had been charcoal and other than that, she'd only churned out a few half-hearted pastel drawings.

An image danced behind her eyelids and she chewed on her bottom lip as she considered the blank canvas before her. And just like that, she was gone.

Colors spilled out of bottles and mashed together on a palette. Her brush dragged in pleasing sweeps across the once blank canvas until her mental image began to take shape and life. The only sounds in the room were her breathing, the scratch and hiss of her brushes on the canvas, and the occasional bird call outside in the back yard.

She didn't stop working on the canvas before her until her stomach grumbled in protest. With a sigh, she stepped back and rubbed her forefinger and thumb together. They were each coated in a different color of paint, and mixing them together produced the shade of violet she was looking for. She made another mark or two and stepped back. Her stomach rumbled again and she rubbed a hand over it.

"Crap." She realized too late that she'd rubbed a paint spattered hand all over Nate's shirt. She looked down to see she'd already decorated the shirt with splatters of paint and the odd swipe of a finger or palm. With a laugh, she turned to see Nate standing at the doorway. "Oh, there you are."

"Here I am." He grinned and walked into the room. "How long have you been in here?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. Since I woke up?"

He laughed and put his arms around her. "Well, I left you fast asleep at about seven this morning and I suspect you slept until at least eight, maybe nine."

She frowned as she hugged him back. "You make it sound like I always laze in bed all morning."

"Not all morning. Just half."

She poked him in the ribs and he squeezed her tighter. "Shut up and kiss me."

He obliged, bending his head and claiming her lips in a kiss that left her weak in the knees. Her toes tingled as he traced her lips with his talented tongue and flicked inside in a teasing move. She parted her lips, eager for more and he gave her what she wanted. The kiss turned hotter in seconds.

His hands moved down her back to lift the hem of his shirt to reveal her bare bottom. He moved his lips to her ear and licked the outside before blowing warm air over it, sending a shiver all the way through her body. A weak moan escaped her and Nate stroked his fingers over her ass.

"Do you realize you've ruined another one of my shirts?" His whisper stirred the hairs over her ear, tickling her and making her shiver again.

"Another one?" She smiled and met his lips for another tasty kiss. "I don't recall ruining any others."

"The light blue one. And that nice lime green one that you liked so much."

"I didn't ruin them."

He slapped one palm against her ass. "Don't lie."

She shuddered as his hand connected with her bare bottom. He knew what that did to her. He didn't strike hard enough to hurt. Just enough to make her tingle and to make the heat that was building inside her spill over.

"I wasn't lying--"

"Lizzie..." He rubbed a palm over the cheek he'd just smacked.

Lizzie clung to him, all but hanging in his grasp as he lifted the hand, threatening to bring it down again. Maybe threaten was the wrong word. When it was something that she enjoyed so much, it was hard to call it a threat.

"Nate, please."

"Please, what?"

He lightly patted her bottom and started rubbing it. Lizzie twitched and arched against him. She wanted more than a soft rub or stroke. The longer he held and touched her, the more she wanted him to throw her down on the window bench and drive her crazy.

"You going to stop making up stories?" He patted her ass again and she almost crawled up to link her legs around his waist. "You going to admit you've ruined more than one of my shirts?"

"Yes, Nate. I did. I got paint all over several of your shirts. Not just one."

"Good girl." He slapped her ass and she cried out, soaking wet in an instant. He did it again and she lifted one leg then, hooking it behind his knee.

"Nate, I need you."

"You need me where?"

She looked at him, took in the sight of his tousled dark hair and wicked dark eyes. She pulled his hand away from her backside and moved it to her front, to that wet spot between her legs. He split her wide with his fingers and shoved two inside her.

"God, Lizzie. Have you been this wet all morning?"

She laughed. "No, you've made me wet, just by being here."

He chuckled and kissed her flushed cheek. He trailed kisses across her face and down to her lips. He worked his fingers in and out of her, his other arm sturdy across her back. When he kissed her mouth, she licked his lips and kissed him back, pouring all her love for him into it.

She never did anything by half-measures.

Nate lifted his lips and kissed the tip of her nose. Lizzie blinked and looked into his face. The intense desire was still there, in his brown eyes, but it was tempered by the look of total adoration that she'd also become familiar with.

"I love you so much, Lizzie."

Lizzie's face softened into a smile. "I love you, too."

He nodded and leaned close to kiss her again. "I know, sweetie. I know."

It was then that Lizzie's stomach reminded her of her hunger again. This time, Nate heard it and gave her a pointed look before withdrawing his fingers from her body.

"You forgot to eat breakfast, didn't you?"

She gave him an impish smile and shrugged.

"Lunch, too, I bet."

"Maybe."

Nate laughed and turned her around. He smacked her bottom one more time to urge her out of the room. "To the kitchen, woman. I'll make you something to eat."

She threw a playful pout over her shoulder but preceded him out of the room. They walked to the kitchen and she stood aside as he went to the fridge. She checked the time on the stovetop clock and her eyes widened when she realized it was after one in the afternoon.

"Wow. I was in there for a while."

Nate smiled at her as he carried a container to the counter. "I figured. I got back to the house at about eleven and checked on you then but you were deep in artist mode. If you hadn't stopped when you had, I would have carried you out of there no matter what."

"Oh really?" Lizzie crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows. "You could have tried."

He smirked. "Baby, I could have done almost anything to you in there."

Heat flooded her body as she thought about how she'd been seconds away from begging him to do just that.

"Now, you want a sandwich or some leftovers from last night?"

She chose the leftovers and went over to the sink to wash her hands while he spooned some of the food onto a plate. She scrubbed the paint from her fingers and lifted her face for a kiss when Nate moved past her to heat the food in the microwave.

"Thank God you were here to heat up those leftovers." She gave him a crooked smile. "I don't know what I would have done otherwise."

He waved a fork at her. "Don't mock me, woman, or I'll let you starve next time."

She laughed and snapped the towel in his direction.

Lizzie loved this time with Nate, when they were able to joke and laugh and be themselves around each other. They'd had this before that first night she'd thrown herself at him.

When she'd graduated from college, her first thought had been about finding somewhere to live. After many years of growing apart as young adults, she'd been unable to think of anywhere else to go except Nate's house. She'd always loved her brother, in that way between siblings. They got along now that they were older and she actually enjoyed spending time in his company. Years ago, when she'd been a teenager, her brother had seemed like an awful stick in the mud. As she'd grown, she'd come to appreciate his sense of humor and she often found his advice to be informed and objective.

Nate had offered her a place to live until she could get on her feet and she'd jumped at the chance. Weeks after moving in with him, she'd found work with the publishing house as a temporary assistant to a senior art editor. Once they'd seen her work and let her contribute on a few jobs, they'd offered her a permanent position. It had come with a significant increase in wages but she'd remained living with Nate, even though she could afford a place of her own after that. She wanted to stay because she enjoyed living with him. Long before she'd realized her attraction for him, she knew she liked being with him. Perhaps that was one of the many reasons why she fell in love with him.

Looking back over the time she'd spent living with him, she could now see all the moments that made her fall in love with him. It wasn't one moment, it was many. All adding up gradually over time until she could no longer deny her feelings for him. One of the most poignant defining moments had to be when she'd come home in tears from a disastrous third date with a guy she'd thought was all right.

Nate's first question had been, 'Who am I stabbing in the eye?' Knowing her brother had about as much violence in him as a butterfly, Lizzie's tears had turned to laughter, his exact intention. Then, she'd recounted the evening and what had transpired.

At some point during the date, the conversation had turned to kids and whether or not they each wanted them. Lizzie, never one to lie, had been forthright and explained about a childhood illness that had led to her inability to conceive. At first her date had been sympathetic and the conversation had moved on. It was only later, when he suggested they have sex without a condom that she figured something was wrong.

He'd argued that it didn't really matter, since she wouldn't get pregnant. She'd replied that condoms protected against disease as well. His response had been to laugh and take her into his arms for an unwanted kiss. She'd kneed him in the groin and said that she wasn't interested. The worst thing about the entire night had been his parting shot. He'd asked who would want to be with a woman who couldn't even do the one thing women were born to do.

After explaining everything to him, Nate had asked where this guy was so he could commence with the eye stabbing.

Later, her memory of that evening gave her a secret thrill, knowing that Nate had only been half-kidding with his threat. At the time, Lizzie had been tired and only wanted to go to bed. Nate had kissed her on the forehead, given her a hug and promised to make pancakes for breakfast in the morning.

Maybe she'd fallen in love with Nate because he kept her well-fed. She was certain her hips had widened an inch and her clothes started fitting a lot more snug since she'd moved in with her brother.

"Here you go. Eat up." Nate deposited the plate with her leftovers on the table in front of her.

Famished, Lizzie dug in and was almost done before Nate sat down with his own meal.

"Wow. Maybe you shouldn't starve for your art."

She laughed as she glanced down at her empty plate. "I didn't mean to. I just got caught up with my painting."

"I know what you're like." Nate winked at her as he continued to eat.

"And where were you off to so early this morning, anyway?"

He kept his eyes down, on his plate, but Lizzie could see the corners of his mouth curl up in a smile.

"Nate..." Her tone was one of warning.

He chuckled and glanced up at her. "Can't I keep anything a secret from you?"

"What could you possibly want to keep a secret from me?" She carried her plate to the sink and turned to face him, one hand playing with the top button of her shirt. "How could you keep a secret from me?"

Nate's gaze was drawn by her tone. As he stared at her, he worked the food around in his mouth and swallowed with effort.

Lizzie smiled and undid the button in her fingers. She moved down to the next one, while her other hand drifted down to toy with the hem of her shirt.

"I'm not going to tell you, Lizzie."

She lifted her eyebrows and flicked open another button. His eyes drifted to the fingers lingering around the third button, the button situated between her breasts.

"I have ways of making you talk, Mr. Whittenberg."

A strangled laugh escaped him and he moved his fork around his plate in an effort to pick up some food. He missed.

"I don't think you want to test me." Lizzie popped another button and took a few steps closer to him. "I can be very persuasive."

"I am aware of that." His dark eyes glittered as she moved closer.

Lizzie perched on the edge of the table, nudging the plate in front of him with one hip. The shirt gaped at her chest but she didn't look down to see how much was being exposed. From the way Nate's gaze lowered, she figured it was just enough exposure.

"Nate." She reached out with one hand and stroked her fingers down the side of his face, enjoying the scrape of his stubble on her fingertips. "Handsome, clever Nate. Tell me."

He exhaled and lifted his head. "No. It's a surprise."

Lizzie sat back. "A surprise? My birthday isn't until March."

He smiled and managed to spear some of the food on his plate. While he resumed eating, Lizzie studied his face. He glanced up with a smile after a few moments.

"You're not going to tell me anything?"

He shook his head. "Then it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?"

She huffed out a sigh and started to do the buttons up. "Have it your way, Nate."

"Hey, wait a minute." He laid his hand over hers, stopping her from covering up. "I wanted dessert."

She laughed and tried to bat his hand away. He stood up, catching both her hands in his and tried to pull them down to her sides. Still laughing, she struggled and twisted in his grasp. Their playful fight upset his plate and it fell to the floor with a clatter, though it didn't break. They stopped and looked down at the mess his remaining food had made. Then their eyes met again, their lips came together and the food was forgotten.

Nate took hold of each side of her shirt -- his shirt -- and ripped it open. Lizzie gasped and started to laugh as buttons scattered on the floor alongside the food. Nate covered her laugh with another deep kiss, his tongue thrusting in time to the motion of his hips between her legs.

His mouth moved across her face to her ear where the combination of his wet kisses and hot breath had her begging for more. He laughed, the deep sound rumbling through her body from his.

"What was that, Lizzie?"

"Please, Nate."

"Please, what?" He drew his mouth away from her ear and licked her lips as she gazed at him with foggy eyes. "Please kiss you? Or suck on your neck?" He punctuated his questions with the matching action. "Or touch you?" At this, he stroked up the inside of one thigh until he cupped her wet heat.

"Yes!"

"Yes, what?"

"God, I need you. I need you to make love to me."

Nate pulled his hand away as his mouth descended on hers again. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him close. She loved the feel of his hot body against hers. She craved it. She needed him like she needed the air she breathed. Emotion rolled through her like a tidal wave as he freed himself from his pants and claimed her.

She cried out his name and pressed her face to his neck as he moved in her. His hand swept up to her hair where he clenched his fingers in the long strands. His other hand clutched her hip as he thrust himself into her, over and over.

The heat built between them and Lizzie lost herself to the sensations. She felt every inch of Nate inside her and every beat of his heart against her chest. Making love to him was all-consuming and she knew to the very fiber of her being that she could never give it up. She could never give Nate up.

"I love you, Nate."

"God, I love you." His words died on a groan and he jerked inside of her, coming hard.

Lizzie wrapped her legs around him and held on as he pumped himself into her. He lifted his head after a moment and kissed her, his lips warm and soft. She sighed in contentment with his hands on her and their bodies joined.

"Come on, sweetie." Nate stepped back. He helped her to her feet and led the way upstairs to their shared bathroom. "Get yourself cleaned up and ready."

Lizzie giggled and hugged him when he turned to her. "Ready for what?"

"I told you." He kissed her once more. "It's a surprise."

He left her in the bathroom with a swat on the ass that made her laugh.

"How do I know what to wear?" she called out as she started the shower running.

Nate grumbled something from the bedroom and she looked over in time to see him stalk past the bathroom door towards the closet. He grumbled some more as he shuffled through her hangers.

Lizzie laughed and walked out to the bedroom. "What are you doing?"

"Didn't I tell you to get in the shower?"

She put her hands on her hips and scowled at him. "One surprise doesn't give you the right to boss me around."

He faced her with a grin. "It will after tonight."

Lizzie tried to remain stern but he looked so pleased with himself that she had to laugh. She took her shirt off and walked back into the bathroom to get in the shower, leaving Nate to pick out what she was to wear for the mysterious surprise.

A few hours later, she was dressed in a simple, plum-colored cocktail dress, make up applied and hair styled and she had exhausted all her quizzing angles. Nate remained tight-lipped for the rest of the day. No matter which feminine or run-of-the-mill wiles she used, he wouldn't tell her anything. In all honesty, she liked it. She enjoyed the playfulness between them and loved seeing Nate so pleased with himself.​