Two Wrongs, One Right

by Katee Robert

  And then he was gone, leaving her blind and vulnerable as he did God knew what. She bit her lip, trying to stem her need to question him. He would make this good for her—for both of them.

  As if in reward for her patience, Nathan stroked her back. “There are so many things I want to do to you, it would take years to accomplish them all.”

  The sheer tide of want almost sent her over the edge. It was more than her needing him to make her orgasm again, so much more. She wanted those years— wanted their verbal sparring, the feeling of safety he created whenever he was around her, the sex that was so hot she thought she might never get over it. “I want that. So badly.”

  Nathan’s hand stilled on her body. “You do?”

  The future between them shouldn’t exist, not with her gallery in Seattle and his in Spokane, not with her family between them, not with their mutual trust issues and a million other reasons why they shouldn’t be together. But here, in this moment, she didn’t care. All she knew was she missed him more than she missed the dry, hot summers of her hometown, more than her nana’s homemade lamb stew. More than anything.

  The future was something to worry about tomorrow.

  He pulled her up, her back to his chest, her hands trapped between them, and cupped her breasts.“You’d give us another chance?”

  “Nathan—” She gasped when he rolled her nipples between his fingers. “You said no more talking.”

  “I did, didn’t I?” He reached down and cupped her, the possessiveness of the gesture making her heart leap. “Then we won’t talk anymore. But tonight, you’re mine, totally and completely.”

  It wasn’t a question, but she answered anyway. “I’m yours.”

  He maneuvered her back down onto the bed and spread her legs. In this position, she couldn’t have moved if she wanted to. He could do anything he wanted to her and she’d have to take it.

  She wanted to take it.

  Chelsea moaned when she heard him rip open a condom wrapper, then again when his fingers dug into her thighs, just this side of painful. Half a breath later his cock pressed against her entrance. She thought he would slam into her, but he worked deeper in small strokes until he was sheathed to the hilt. Only then did he withdraw completely. “Tell me again.”

  Chelsea tried to arch, to take him in again, but he easily held her in place. Desperate, needing him inside her, she nodded against the bed. “Yours. I’m yours, Nathan.”

  He slammed into her once, twice, three times, and then she was coming, her cries filling the room. But he didn’t stop. He kept driving into her as he slipped a hand down her stomach to press against her clit, ruthlessly shoving her into another orgasm.

  Just when she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, that she might actually die from too much pleasure, he shuddered, his fingers gripping her hips with bruising force.

  She loved every second of it.

  Tonight, there were no complications. Tonight, she was Nathan’s, mind, body and soul.

  13

  Chelsea woke up feeling as if she were living in a dream. Her entire body ached from the things she and Nathan had done last night, which would have tempted her to stay in bed for as long as possible if not for the whirling of her thoughts.

  Nathan had told her he wanted a future.

  She had told him she trusted him and that she wanted one, too.

  Unable to lie still, she tried to slip out of bed, but he muttered something in his sleep and wrapped his arm more fully around her body. The temptation to melt back into his warmth was nearly overwhelming, but she wanted a few moments to herself in order to think. “Nathan, I have to get up. I’ll be right back.”

  Once she was free, she paced once around the room, her gaze landing on her cell phone. With a glance at the bed, she picked it up and thumbed it on. There was a text from Danielle.

  I hope you’re having trouble walking from all the sex you’re having. Call me with an update when you can!

  Chelsea shook her head and opened her e-mail. What she saw there chased all amusement away. Interview questions, the subject line read. Taking a deep breath, she opened the e-mail. Even knowing it was coming, she still felt like the floor was dropping out from beneath her feet as she went over the questions. Tell us about your gallery. What kind of art do you sell there? Is there any special man in your life? Plans to be married or have a family?

  Had she really forgotten her reason for coming down here this weekend? Her gaze landed on Nathan. With the sheet wrapped around his waist he looked like temptation personified. But it was more than that, and she knew it. Her words from last night echoed in her head. I trust you.

  She needed some air.

  She threw on the first articles of clothing she came across—panties, a bra, a pair of shorts, and a T-shirt Danielle must have gotten too much amusement over packing because it was pink and read, I like Big Booty Bitches. Normally she would spend a little more time to find a suitable shirt, but Chelsea couldn’t risk Nathan waking up and questioning where she was headed. She grabbed a pair of flats she didn’t recognize from her closet—another item from Danielle’s shopping spree, apparently—and her phone, and then slipped out the door.

  She headed down the back way so as to avoid running into anyone she knew. Even with the early hour, people were milling about, tending the grounds and carrying what looked like decorations for the wedding. She glanced at her shirt. Maybe she should have taken the time to change.

  As if summoned by her very fear, a familiar blonde came into view. Elle perked up when she caught sight of Chelsea. “Hey.”

  “Morning.” She didn’t know what to say to this pretty woman who’d wanted her husband so badly she had attempted to slip into bed with him. She wanted to hate Elle for that fact alone, but she couldn’t. Damn it. “You’re up early.”

  “Yeah.” She shrugged. “I needed a little time to clear my head. This place is good for that.Why are you out here alone?”

  Without Nathan. Chelsea forced herself to smile. “For a similar reason. I have…a lot of things on my mind.”

  “I see.” Elle lifted her chin, blue eyes searching. “Nathan is very important to Gabe—to both of us.”

  So this was the true reason she’d been approached. Even though it had been phrased carefully, there was no mistaking the other woman’s meaning—she wanted to know Chelsea’s intentions. As much as she didn’t want to discuss her wavering plans with Elle, she could understand why they’d be protective of Nathan. After all, he and Chelsea had a terrible knack for hurting each other. “It wasn’t—isn’t—my intention to hurt him.”

  “That’s the funny thing about intentions—they rarely mean anything in the long run.” She twisted her hands in her flowing skirt. “I’m not going to harp at you about it, but maybe think about that a little bit before you go through with whatever it was that brought you here in the first place.” With a little smile, she walked away, leaving Chelsea staring after her, more conflicted than she’d been to begin with.

  She didn’t want to hurt Nathan, but she also wasn’t sure that their being together was the best option for either of them. God, how had this gotten so mixed up? She’d come here with a very clear goal in mind, and now everything was all topsy-turvy.

  The air hit her face, borderline chilly because of the early hour. She looked around and chose a direction at random, needing the space to think now more than ever. The brochure she’d gone over half a thousand times since she’d received the invitation to the wedding said there were several miles’ worth of hiking trails surrounding the hotel.

  Perhaps a hike was just the thing she needed to clear her mind.

  Nodding to herself, she followed the signs to the trails and chose one at random. She’d just walk for a while and then find a place to stop and call Danielle. Her best friend would know just what to say to make her feel better—or significantly worse. It was hard to tell in this situation.

  As she walked, she tried to picture what Danielle would say. Stop thinki
ng so much and just go with it. She sighed.That wasn’t helpful. Frowning, Chelsea dug deeper. Yes, she’d had sex with Nathan but, despite planning to keep control, she’d lost her head entirely. The things he’d said to her, did to her, how he’d touched her in a way she’d never thought possible.

  He’d said he still loved her.

  Danielle’s voice rose, as if she were standing next to Chelsea. What’s so wrong with that?

  “I’ll tell you what’s wrong with that,” she told the trees lining the hiking trail.“He left me eight years ago, and he brought me here to blackmail me. And then he agreed to sign the divorce papers.”

  Maybe so, or maybe you’re too chicken-shit to admit the truth—he really does still love you. And maybe the only reason he agreed to sign the papers was to get you to stay.

  “What am I supposed to do?” She threw up her hands. “Look at me. I’m walking through the woods, talking to myself as if I’m insane.”

  She pulled out her phone and wanted to scream when she saw the complete lack of reception. Of course there would be no service when she needed it the most. Without her best friend to talk to, she wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do. Nathan wanted more than this weekend, but was she able to give that to him?

  Do you trust him?

  “Yes.” The truth rocked her to the core. It wasn’t what they’d had before, but maybe that was a good thing. He was older now. More responsible.Apparently hell-bent on proving that he’d never betray her trust again. She’d fought with him this weekend, yes, but in the end, she’d given herself over to him time and time again. It wasn’t a step she’d take if she didn’t trust him, at least a little.

  So where did that leave them?

  They’d spent the last eight years creating lives that didn’t involve each other. If they tried this again and it didn’t work out, she ran the risk of backsliding to those horrible months when she’d first moved to Seattle. She’d lost more weight than was healthy, and she’d slipped into a lethargic depression. It was only meeting Danielle and having the other woman steamroll her into getting back out into the world that had saved her from years’ worth of sadness. Before she met Danielle, she was half a wine bottle away from buying her first cat.

  Had she ever quite moved on, though?

  Chelsea knew the truth before she even finished the thought. No. She hadn’t moved past her relationship with Nathan. If she’d truly left him behind as she kept claiming, she wouldn’t have shown up here in the first place.

  Except she had.

  She shook her phone, lifting it above her head as she turned in a circle. “Come on, come on.” The only response she got was a flatline where there should be bars. “If I survive this weekend, I’m canceling my phone subscription and getting a different company instead.”

  Pain shot through her foot in response. Chelsea took another step, the heel of her flats scraping along skin already worn through. Ouch. Foolish of her to take off walking in shoes she hadn’t broken in yet.

  Chelsea looked around. How far had she gone while she was running from her own thoughts? It couldn’t have been that far, could it? She licked her lips, suddenly aware of how thirsty she was. Ready or not, she didn’t have much of an option about heading back to the hotel. If she kept going, she would rip her heels up even worse than she already had.

  The very last thing she needed was for Nathan to end up rescuing her. Pushing herself to her feet, she took a careful step, biting back a whimper. Nathan will always come for me. But would he really?

  He hadn’t eight years ago, but he was here now, and he’d offered her a chance—a real chance—last night. Was she going to cling to the hurt from the past and run the risk of sacrificing a potential future? Could she ever truly get past the betrayal of him leaving her like he had?

  When she compared the fear of pain with the possibility of a future with Nathan, which one was the safer choice? But maybe that wasn’t the best way of thinking about things. She’d taken what she thought was the safer route when she’d run from him before.

  Perhaps now was the time to try the less-safe path.

  When Nathan had woken alone, he hadn’t been too worried. Chelsea wouldn’t have taken off without her stuff—not to mention it’d be hard to do so without her car keys, which were still lying on the desk across the room. Once he was satisfied she hadn’t pulled a runner, he got dressed and headed downstairs for some food.

  From the way Ian jumped up from his table, it was obvious he’d been waiting. Again. Apparently their conversation before hadn’t been enough to set his best friend’s mind at ease. Nathan filled his plate and took the seat opposite Ian. “We’ve got to stop meeting like this.”

  “It’s the only way I can get some time alone with you. Between all the activities and your wife taking up all your time, we’ve barely had a chance to talk.”

  “You mean, aside from ambushing me with Gabe yesterday?”

  Ian shrugged, completely unrepentant. “He’s worried about you. I’m worried about you. We finally found some common ground—like you wanted us to.”

  “Not exactly what I had in mind.” But Nathan laughed. He had to, since he’d been badgering both Ian and Gabe to find some way to get past their instant dislike of each other. He just hadn’t figured they’d do it by ganging up on him.

  “Beggars can’t be choosers.” Ian made a show of looking around. “Where exactly is your blushing bride? When we had that conversation about you making things right, I hadn’t realized you were talking about your wife. How the hell did that even happen, anyway?”

  It felt good to finally give it voice after so many years of silence. And he’d have to have a conversation with his big brother before long, too.“We dated in high school, though we kept it secret because her family wouldn’t have approved.” Still wouldn’t approve if her being so desperate for a divorce was any indication. “Gabe never knew it went beyond being friends. He was working so much, he only saw her here and there.”

  “Secret high school relationship sounds so Romeo and Juliet.” Ian grabbed a napkin and wiped his mouth.

  “So what went wrong?”

  Nathan took a deep breath. This part never got easier and, after last night, a different shade had been applied to the whole debacle, leaving everything to cruise so much closer to the surface. “We had a future we both wanted, and I decided the best way to provide for her was to take a stint in the Army. Things had started to go wrong before then and she felt like I betrayed her by enlisting without talking about it first, so while I was in basic, her family made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. When I got back, she was gone.”

  Ian shook his head. “Why wait this long to get ahold of her?”

  “I always knew where she was. But…” He took another bite and chewed slowly, still grappling with the differences between reality and his perception of what had happened all those years ago. “I thought she didn’t want to be found.”

  “I guess. So what’s the plan? Because I know you have one—you wouldn’t have invited her here without it.”

  Nathan finished off his plate. “I win her back.” “Simple and to the point.” Ian toasted him with his orange juice. “I wish you the best of luck. Is there anything I can do to help?”

  He smiled. Ian would do whatever he asked, no matter what it was, and Nathan would do the same for him. The bond between them had been born in the Army, but it had lasted after they both moved back to civilian life—though Nathan had done so years before his friend. “Nah, not right now. But if that changes, I’ll let you know.”

  “Cool.” Ian glanced at his phone. “I’ve got to get going. Roxanne has me hauling around stuff for the wedding. It’s pretty crazy how they’ve managed to transform the amphitheater.”

  The scene from last night flashed through his mind, of Chelsea rising above him as she rode his cock, the stars a beautiful backsplash around her. “I’m sure it’ll be great.” But not as great as it had been with her. Nothing could compare to that.

/>   “I’ll talk to you later, yeah?”

  “Yeah.” He waited for Ian to leave the room before he rose and headed for the opposite doors. Maybe a walk was just what he needed to clear his head, since his talk with Chelsea left him with more questions than answers.

  Yes, she had said she missed him and had even gone so far as to say she trusted him, but he wasn’t an idiot. She’d said the latter while in a compromising position. Just because she’d agreed didn’t mean it would fix everything between them.

  He felt like the entire world had shifted without telling him, and he wasn’t sure which way was up anymore. He’d spent the last eight years blaming Chelsea for not having the courage to stand up for them, eight years sure that her family was the main reason behind her leaving him, when the blame lay solely on his shoulders.

  God, how was he ever going to make that up to her? He’d told her he loved her, that he’d never betray her trust again, and he meant it, but would she believe him?

  Nathan picked his way around the hotel. Their time in the amphitheater had more than proven there was a chance of making things right. They’d finally cleared the air, finally talked about their shared past and the mistakes they’d made.

  There wasn’t a better time to strive for a shared future than right now, and he’d crawl over broken glass to make sure it happened.

  A flicker of pink caught his eye. Nathan looked up and froze as Chelsea stumbled out of the trees near the sign leading to the hiking trails. Her hair might have started the morning pulled back, but now half of it hung around her face, and she carried a pair of shoes in her hands.

  Was she barefoot?

  “Chelsea, stop walking.” God only knew what was on the ground between the trails and the hotel. They kept the place spotless, but that wouldn’t stop some asshole from leaving broken glass around.

  She looked up and, even from this distance, he could see tear tracks down her face. Even crying, she managed to look noble. Most women at least had the decency to get blotchy or sniff a little bit. Not Chelsea. “Nathan?”