Love in Lockdown

The Blush

Paul was in his usual posture, sitting slumped towards his computer, his face too close to the screen, when Paige stepped into his office. She cleared her throat as she perched on the edge of the chair in front of his desk.

‘You’ll have such a hunchback when you’re older Paul.’

‘Just adds character.’ Paul sat up and adjusted his cuffs as he turned to face Paige. ‘How is everything after the Halfway Party? Guests happy?’

Paige’s nerves eased as she realised Paul didn’t know about Nate. One of the things Paige admired about him was how direct he was. Of he wanted to speak to her about something, he would dove right in.

‘Very. Breakfast was quiet though. I think everyone is still recovering in their rooms.’ Paige relaxed back in the chair and released the breathe she didn’t know she was holding.

‘Well, that will make this job much easier. I need you to knock on all the doors and let them know Queensland Health will be conducting follow up tests to ensure we can still come out of quarantine next week. Everyone has to stay in their room until they are tested.’ Paul leaned forward and passed a printed guest and room list across his desk. ‘You’ll need to check them all off and drop the lost back when you’re finished.’

Paige picked up the list and stood to leave.

‘And Paige, you’re coping okay?’

Unable to lie, Paige smiled and gave a small nod.

Paige had finished the third floor and was halfway through the fourth. She had been relieved to have a task to keep her mind of Nate, yet she found herself getting closer and closer to his room. With each door, Paige’s heart beat a little faster.

She finished the fourth floor, finding everyone where they should be, and was on her way to the fifth floor. With each room she cleared she came one room closer to Nate. He’d made Paige promise to leave her number but she had been so flustered she’d forgotten.

Two doors away and her body was tingling with nerves and anticipation. One door away and she was sure she was going to dissolve, until she found myself standing outside Nate’s room. Paige knocked lightly, steadying herself with a slow breath as she heard movement on the other side.

Nate swung the door open wearing nothing but sweats, his hair disheveled and stubble shadowing his jaw. He didn’t speak as he saw Paige but his eyes flashed with something that scared her as much as it excited her. Neither one moved for a moment, before Nate leaned forward enough to check both directions of the hall before wrapping his arm around Paige’s waist and pulling her inside in one swift movement.

Paige opened her mouth to protest and found his lips pressed against hers with a force that made her forget what she needed to say. Her back found the wall and he used it to help him increase the depth and force of the kiss. One of his hands pressed into her lower back, tethering her to him as his other hand roamed her body. He broke the kiss, moving his mouth to kiss along her collarbone, his hand massaging her breasts through her dress.

The fabric of Paige’s dress felt too thick and she wanted more of him against her skin. Paige let her fingers explore the toned chest that had taken up so many of her evening thoughts.

Nate moved his mouth even lower, pressing his lips against her other n****e, teasing it through the dress.

‘I’ve been thinking about your taste all morning,’ he hummed the words against her n****e sending electric shocks to her centre. A soft moan escaped the back of Paige’s throat, encouraging him to go further. His hand glided from Paige’s lower back to her thigh where he found the hem of her dress. Working it up to her hips he traced the edge of her underwear before working his fingers under the lace.

The last part of Paige determined to do the right thing went silent as Nate slipped two fingers further down and into folds of her centre before resting to place the most devilishly painful pressure on her c**t.

Paige moved her legs open and she sucked in my bottom lip to keep from crying out as he bite a n****e through her dress while his fingers entered her, his thumb finding the place his fingers had just been. Paige’s moved her hands to his shoulder and neck, holding firm to keep her upright as her legs buckled.

‘Nate,’ Paige breathed out his name as she let her head fall back against the wall. She was tethered, permitting herself to be powerless as Nate’s mouth on her skin calmed the restlessness she’d been fighting for days.

Nate’s mouth found hers again and he kept the kiss gentle while intensifying his pace between her legs. She was lost in the pleasure as it built but it wasn’t enough. Paige matched his movements her my hips and he groaned into her ear, his voiced ragged.

‘Good girl.’ At his words, his hand moved to push her over the edge with the quickening of his thumb, dancing, circling and flicking her bud as his fingers thrust inside her again and again. Paige didn’t recognise the sound that escaped her as she felt myself convulsing against his fingers, her thighs shaking as he placed delicate kisses along her neck.

His hand slipped from her underwear and Paige pulled her dress down from her hips, feeling suddenly vulnerable. Nate’s eyes still held a wicked glint as he placed his hands on the wall either side of her.

‘You didn’t leave your number.’

‘I forgot.’

He leaned forward to place another kiss on her lips, and Paige was surprised by how delicate it was in contrast to the coiled tension of his body. There was too much space between them and she stepped forward to press her body to his. He groaned as she moved her hips into his hard length. She wanted him to lose control the way he had ripped hers away just moments ago. Paige no longer cared about being caught out, she just wanted more of this, more of Nate.

Running a hand down his stomach, Paige maneuved her fingers under the waistband of his sweats. Just as her fingers were about to make contact, he stopped the kiss, pushing away from Paige and the wall.

‘I won’t be able to stop myself with you Paige. We can’t go further right now.’

His voice was gravelly and Paige loved she had that effect on him. The front of her body felt cold without him pressed against her, except for her face which was burning. She moved my hands up to hide the flush and he stopped her wrists, drawing her hands back down by her side.

‘I worked hard for that blush, let me enjoy it.’ Nate leaned forward and delicately kissed her cheeks. ‘I love making you flustered.’

They stayed like that for a few breaths, just facing each other, fingers entwined. Something in Paige softened and she knew this wasn’t just a passing attraction for her. She’d already given part of herself over, and it scared her more than chaos of the outside world.

Someone knocked on the door and reality came crashing back.

‘Cleaning service. Can we come in?’

Nate pulled Paige to him before she could flee for the bathroom. ‘I’m just dressing after a shower. Can you do the next room first?’

He called through the door. The woman agreed and moved on to the next room. Nate let his lips gently graze against hers and Paige remembered herself and why she was there.

‘I’m checking the rooms to make sure everyone is present for the testing.’

‘So you didn’t just come to see me?’ There was a playfulness to Nate’s tone, and Paige let herself soften into him.

‘It just made it easier.’

‘You need to go?’ She wanted to say no. She wanted to stay in that room with Nate all day, tempting him to lose control.

His expression turned serious as he looked down into her eyes. Had he seen what she was thinking? Did she want too much?

‘What’s wrong?’

His brushed his fingers down one of her cheeks. ‘Absolutely nothing.’