Pull (4 page)

‘It’s snowing.’

She looked again and saw a few, scattered snowflakes
falling haphazardly through the air.

‘If it had done this yesterday it would have
officially been a white Christmas,’ she said.

‘Christmas is overrated. The best things come on
Boxing Day.’

Danny’s finger trailed down the back of her neck and
she turned around with her heart ramming against her ribcage. He
was so close she could smell him but it wasn’t aftershave she
detected. It was something else. Something much more primal and
intoxicating. She breathed in, letting it go to her head like a
drug. His eyes danced around her face and he leaned even closer,
his hands resting either side of her body on the rail behind
her.

‘I’ve another question. How the fuck is someone like
you single?’

Claire’s breathing quickened. His lips were
centimetres from hers and she was fighting with everything she had
not to close the gap, to hold onto the anticipation for just a
moment longer.

‘Because that’s the way I like it. I can do what I
want, when I want. And it’s less complicated.’ She’d been asked the
question many times in the past but, for the first time, her answer
sounded hollow. ‘I’m going to break the rules here by asking you
the same question. Why are you single?’

‘Breaking the rules is always more fun anyway,’ he
replied and a shot of desire ran through Claire’s body. The way he
was looking at her, she’d let him break whatever rules he wanted.
‘I’m single because that’s the way it’s had to be.’

A frown momentarily flickered across Claire’s face.
The only other rule of their game was honesty and she knew there
was more to his answer than he was letting on, but with his heat
radiating onto her, she brushed it aside. She was too worked up to
care.

Danny tilted his head. ‘What if I said that it was
really two-nil to you?’

‘I’d ask where the other point came from.’

He slowly lifted a hand to brush her hair away from
the side of her face. ‘You’re the first girl who’s got my attention
enough for me to want to meet.’

The unexpected compliment made Claire’s stomach
flutter. When she’d looked through Danny’s profile, she’d assumed
he’d probably racked up dozens of Tinder-related bedpost notches
but, as she looked back at him, something in his eyes told her he
wasn’t lying. She didn’t even know him. They’d only just met, but
she was already drawn in by him, addicted to his presence, and they
hadn’t even kissed. Almost unconsciously, she hooked her finger
into the top of his jeans and pulled him closer. It was a move she
was well practiced in. She nearly always took the lead, but as she
pressed her lips onto his, Danny’s hands curled around her waist
and the tingles shooting up and down her spine made her breath
hitch in a way that had never happened before. She slowly broke
away and opened her eyes, feeling drunk from the delectable feeling
of his lips being on hers.

‘So, you think Christmas is overrated?’ she asked,
trying to control the overwhelming need to kiss him again.

He nodded, his hands moving down the curves of her
hips and waist. ‘I do. The presents part is fun, though. Thanks for
mine. I do love cake.’

Claire shivered as a gust of wind penetrated the
wall of heat around them and her skin bloomed with goose bumps.
‘You’re welcome.’

He slid his hands down over her shoulders and bare
arms leaving a blazing trail of heat behind his touch. ‘I think
it’s time for yours.’

Her heart sped, knocking in her chest as he kissed
her again, moving in closer until she was backed up against the
rail. She lifted his sweatshirt and slid her hands underneath. He
flinched under her touch as her fingers stroked the taut abs she’d
fully expected to find and she couldn’t stop the moan escaping her
lips as she found the trail of hair leading down into his jeans.
Her entire body throbbed as he pressed into her, his hands in her
hair as hers spanned his broad back under his sweater.

The air of sex he carried around with him, the
rough, yet tender way he kissed her, the way her body was reacting
to him – it was dangerous. As they hungrily kissed on the terrace,
the cold air nipped at her skin, delicious against the heat his
touch seemed to generate. Everything about the way she was
clutching onto him and pulling him closer should have been a clear
sign to leave, but with each kiss he trailed along the side of her
neck, she reminded herself that this was her choice. She didn’t
want this night to be the only time they’d meet. She wanted more -
more of
this
. Despite the short time she’d known him, she
already knew he’d be impossible to follow up. She’d known it the
moment she’d looked into his eyes after he’d given her that
surprise point.

She groaned as he pulled away, frustrated at their
sudden lack of contact, until he kneeled down and lifted the hem of
her skirt. His fingers trailed the length of her thighs as he
hitched her skirt up around her waist and she tipped her head back,
trying to catch her breath. The freezing wind blew around them but
Claire’s body was on fire as he lifted her leg to hook it over his
shoulder. Her body shuddered as he softly kissed her through the
black cotton of her knickers, teasing her. She gripped the rail
behind her with both hands. Going by her ragged breath, he
should’ve put in his profile that he came with a health
warning.

She arched her back as he slid her knickers to one
side, his fingers delicately brushing against her. Claire looked up
at the snow speckled sky. Danny had been right. All the best things
came on Boxing Day.

THE END

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When Selina gets dumped in a viral YouTube video,
there's only one thing she can do: withdraw her savings, quit her
temping job and leave. Vowing never to fall for guys like her ex
again, she swaps London for Ibiza and finds herself volunteering in
Colinas Verde. With its alternative, relaxed lifestyle, sunny skies
and deep blue sea, it's the perfect place to start her backpacking
adventure and forget the humiliation she left behind. If only it
weren't for Alex.

Berlin born Alex is travelling solo, and with good
reason. In the wake of a promising rock climbing career cut short
due to injury, he's left a trail of disappointment and broken
hearts behind him. Determined not to make the same mistakes again,
he opted to volunteer in sleepy Colinas Verde over hedonistic
Southern Ibiza and with only one week left, it was a choice that
paid off, until Selina showed up. 

New housemates Selina and Alex are both determined to
change, but in a place where people come and go and relationships
are intense, old habits die hard.

Two backpackers. One week. What happens in Ibiza…

Release date: Summer 2015

After writing Together Apart, it became clear to me
that I needed to revisit Claire – the sassier, sexier version of
Sarah. The Pull series was born out of a conversation with friends,
when one admitted she’d never felt butterflies about a man. The
idea for a series of short, magazine style stories examining the
modern world of dating was an inevitable conclusion and I have to
say thank you to my Cauldron Ladies. You know who you are.

As usual, a big thanks goes to my writing buddies,
Caroline Batten, Janny Peacock and also Kitty/Kat French. Huge
thanks also to my fabulous Wattpad followers who have encouraged
and lovingly pestered me for updates. Thank you also to my army of
proofers who pulled in at short notice: Tracey, Sinead, Kelly,
Krisson, Trisha, Tammy, Arnaud and Shirley.

Lastly, but by no means least, the readers. The
reception to Together Apart has been overwhelming and without it,
Claire would never have come into being. Thank you for all your
support, tweets and Facebook messages. I love you all.

Cover design: Najla Qamber Designs.

In January 2014, Sheffield born Natalie Martin
decided to leave her corporate job in London and experience the
world - heading off on travels that would take her as far as
Cambodia, North India, Goa, and Thailand, changing her outlook on
life for good. Whilst travelling in India, her debut novel Together
Apart, became a No.1 bestseller on Amazon charts. Love You Better
is her second full length novel and is due for release on 1st
October 2015.

Natalie's base is now London, but she is very much a
modern day nomad, never quite knowing where she'll end up next. A
trained Yoga instructor and lover of all things French, Natalie is
still traveling and indulging in her three loves: writing, yoga and
surfing.

Natalie is represented by Jon Elek at United
Agents.

PULL

Book One of the Pull series

By Natalie K Martin

Distributed by Smashwords. Copyright 2014 Natalie K
Martin

All rights reserved. No part of this e-book may be
reproduced in any form other than that in which it was purchased
and without the written permission of the author. This e-book is
licensed for your personal entertainment only and may not be
re-sold. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

http://www.nataliekmartin.com

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