Over the next two hours, we ate, drank the entire bottle of wine, talked, and laughed as though we'd known each other forever. It was the most at home I'd ever felt on a date, but it shouldn't have surprised me. Nate was like no one I'd ever known.

So, when it came time to pay and leave, I couldn't help but frown at the little folder containing the check as I wished there was a way to prolong the night. At least we still had the drive home. Picking someplace out of town had been a stroke of genius.

"Let me get that." Nate reached for the folder, but I drew it back.

"Why should you pay?" I asked.

"You planned everything and drove. It's only fair." He shrugged as though it were no big deal, but there was zero chance of me letting him spend a dime.

"I asked you out, so I planned things, and I'll pay."

His eyes narrowed. "Fine, but I'm planning the next one, so I'll pay for that."

There he was again, mentioning a future for us as though it were obvious. Flutters filled my chest. "Sounds good."

After settling the bill with Ginny, Nate and I headed to my car, holding hands as we strolled through the night air. When he released me to circle to the passenger side, I immediately missed his touch, and the realization made me pause.

I'd never been one for holding hands or any form of public displays of affection. They weren't conducive to keeping my private business private. But with Nate, I'd done it without thinking.

Standing beside the car, I watched Nate take the last few steps to his side. Like everything else about him, his confident stride added to his appeal. Could everyone see how perfect he was, or was it just me?

Nate caught me staring and lifted his eyebrows. "Everything alright?"

His question pulled me from my thoughts, and I gave my head a quick shake as I took my keys from my pocket. "Sorry." I unlocked the car. "I zoned out for a second."

"That's okay." He shrugged and opened his door, sliding his tall frame gracefully into his seat while I took my spot behind the wheel.

As we moved away from the curb, I pointed to the stereo. "Why don't you find something you like?"

Once he was satisfied with a station, he relaxed with his palm resting on his thigh. Reaching over, I curved my fingers around his, and Nate automatically responded with his thumb moving over my knuckles in a tender motion that sent a wave of affection through me.

The forty-five-minute ride wasn't nearly long enough, and for the first time in my life, I regretted missing all the traffic. Why couldn't there have been some road work to slow us down?

Instead, too soon, I parked in a spot beside Nate's building. I shut the engine off and exited the car at the same time as him.

When he glanced over the car at me, he smirked. "Coming up?"

"Just walking you to your door, like a good date." That was something people did, right? It wasn't the fact that I wasn't ready to watch him walk away.

"Okay." Nate tipped his head toward the building's entrance, and I followed him to the empty lobby and then onto the elevator.

The metal gate closed, and as we rose to the fifth floor, the space around us seemed to shrink. How was this the same huge elevator I'd been inside twice today when now there hardly seemed to be room for the two of us?

Everywhere I looked, there he was. Long legs stretched out before him as he leaned on the wall. His cologne filling my head as the silky waves of his hair begged to be touched. His full bottom lip slipped between his teeth as he focused on the floor and appeared to repress a grin.

He knew I couldn't peel my eyes off him. Still, knowing he felt my stare, I couldn't make myself look away.

My pulse rushed in my ears, drowning out the hum of the elevator until I became so focused on Nate that our abrupt stop on the fifth floor made me flinch. He chuckled softly before straightening and leading the way down the hall to his door.

He pulled his keys from his pocket and unlocked the door but didn't open it. Instead, he turned to me, saying, "I had a great time."

"Me too."

Nate lifted his hand, trailing it along my jaw before brushing over the short hair at my nape, guiding me closer. As he lowered his mouth to mine, I welcomed his gentle kiss, gripping his waist, silently asking for more.

His arm curved around my shoulders, holding me close as his tongue slid over mine, teasing a moan from my throat. My heart beat wildly in my chest as my fingers dug into the muscles of his lower back, and still it wasn't enough.

Turning, I pressed my hips into his and he pulled me with him as he crashed into his door with a muted thud. He smiled against my mouth, nipping my mouth and deepening our kiss. I held him tighter, molding my body to his, and tingles shot through me as I felt how badly he wanted me.

God, I wanted him too. Images of things I'd like to do with him flashed through my mind, but I struggled through the sexual fog, searching for any coherent thought. I hadn't planned for this, and I knew there was a reason, but at the moment, nothing seemed more important than the way he made me feel.

No. We should stop.

But I'd never had a first date that went well and didn't end in sex. Of course, I'd never had a first date go this well. Hell, I'd never enjoyed any date so much, no matter how long I'd known the guy.

Everything about this was different. Nate was different. I wanted more of him, but not just now, no matter how good this felt. I wanted the kind of more that lasted longer than one night, and rushing things might give him the wrong impression.

So when he drew back a second later, and said, "Would you like to come inside?"

I focused all my willpower, kissed him one more time, and put a sliver of space between us. "I definitely would, but not tonight. When can I see you again?"

His eyes brightened, as though he liked my answer. "Soon, I hope. Why don't you call me tomorrow and we'll figure it out?"

"Okay, I will."

Dipping his head, he pecked my cheek. "Night, Joby."

"Goodnight." I stepped back as he went inside and shut the door, then I listened for the click of the lock before returning to the elevator with an added bounce in my step.

Thanks for reading! 💜