Torque by Gillian Archer (10 ebook reader txt) 📕

“Do you still feel that way? I thought, if anything, what we just did in my bedroom proves we’re compatible as fuck.”

I gulped. The intensity in both his eyes and his words shook me. I tried to lessen my nervousness by joking. “I think I’m too much of a feminist to get a ‘property of’ tatt.”

“I’m serious. I want you to know that I’m serious about you. This isn’t a hookup. I’m in. With you. I won’t be dating anyone else. And I hope neither will you. So why shouldn’t we tell my family about us?”

He was serious about me?! I swear I would’ve melted into a puddle of goo at his feet if he wasn’t still holding me up. I took a shuddering breath and set the lettuce down so I could touch him too. My arms wrapped around his neck and I tipped my head back so he could see that I was serious. “I’m in too, but this is going fast. We’ve only technically been on one date. And I don’t want your family all up in our business because you know they would be. I’d like to keep this between us just a little bit longer.”

“Fine.” Nathan dipped down and gave me a kiss. “As long as you’re okay with what we’re doing. That’s all I care about.”

I didn’t think it was possible, but I melted a little bit more. He was everything I ever wanted in a partner. Plus he’d given me an amazing screaming orgasm. I knew it was too soon to say the L word, but it was tickling at my lips. I burrowed into his arms. I just wanted this moment to last forever.

We got maybe a whole minute of cuddling in before the oven timer’s crazy beeping had us flinching and scrambling to turn it off.

The moment was ruined, but at least now we could eat.

And a few minutes later, we sat down at Nathan’s tiny bistro table with heaping plates of pasta and salad that even the huge glops of salad dressing Nathan had applied couldn’t cover up its missing ingredients.

Not that Nathan seemed to mind. He was making little groans and moans that made it hard for me to look away from him.

A different kind of hunger distracted me now.

I’d hardly had any time to trace my tongue over the sexy lines of his tattoos. Or make him moan like that because of what I was doing with my mouth. I wanted to tie him to a bed and play out every dirty fantasy I’d had about him. And given my rich knowledge from all my romance novel reading, I had so many I wanted to try.

“…not like it?”

“What?” I jerked back into the present where Nathan was giving me a concerned look. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“I said this dinner is amazing. Do you not like it?” He tipped his chin toward my untouched plate. “You haven’t had a bite.”

“No. No. It’s good. See?” I shoveled up a huge bite and stuffed it into my mouth to prove my point. And instantly regretted it. The hot pasta burned my tongue and the roof of my mouth so much that my eyes watered. But I still bravely chewed and swallowed like my entire mouth was not on fire and gulped some water to help put out the flames.

“Right.” Nathan averted his eyes and gave me a minute to calm down as he continued to eat. Finally he cleared his throat. “Um, so what’s going on with your job? You said something earlier that had me wondering. Worrying, really.”

I sighed. “I guess you haven’t heard the news lately?”

“Nah, it’s always depressing. I try to avoid sad shit. What’d I miss?”

“They’re cutting the state’s budget again. You remember they did it last year too, but word is they’re making even deeper cuts this time. And libraries are a popular mark. A lot of politicians don’t see the value in a place that deals in books. I think one of the state senators even said something about how no one goes to libraries anymore since everyone reads on their mobile devices, so why should the state spend millions of dollars to keep us afloat?”

“That’s bullshit. Tons of people go to libraries.” Nathan cocked his head as his forehead wrinkled. “Don’t they?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, they do. Libraries are the cornerstone of societies. We have a huge story-time audience for local preschoolers. We help people find jobs through our free computer access program. People can use our computers or books to explore medical research or get lost in amazing stories, while at the same time, we provide a place for public gatherings. During recessions, people depend on their local library.”

“Whoa. Okay.” Nathan raised his palms like he was being held at gunpoint.

And I realized that somewhere during my impassioned speech I’d leaned forward and was punctuating my sentence by stabbing my fork at him. My cheeks flushing, I dropped my fork with a clatter and sat back in my chair. “Sorry. I just get so irked when people—mostly our lofty state representatives—don’t see the value of libraries.”

“No need to apologize.” Nathan’s eyes twinkled as he picked up his fork and stabbed at his salad. “You getting all passionate about your work is hot.”

I sighed as his eyes cruised over my breasts. Of course that was where his mind went. So freaking annoying. Men never took me seriously. Why should this one be any different?

“And I happen to agree with you.”

“Wait, what?” I blinked in confusion.

“What? You made some very good points. I never really thought about it, but where would I go if I suddenly couldn’t afford Wi-Fi or my data plan, and I needed to find a job? They should be giving you guys more money, not slashing your budget.”

“Oh.” I swallowed hard and mentally apologized for my unkind thoughts about him. Nathan really was different. “Thank you. I just wish our state reps