by Blue Saffire
He had come to accept that there were more than a few married women in membership at the club. He had taken other partners at the club over the years but Vanessa had become a comfort. They had even ventured a date or two outside the club a couple of times. It was the nagging instinct he had about her that stopped him from trying for more with her.
He liked the way their relationship was. Besides he knew he didn’t have those types of feelings for her. It had been seven years since they had met and started their arrangement. He knew if she was the one he would have known by now.
Nate was cool with the occasional email to set up time at the club. It worked well for his busy life and it meant fewer questions about his work. Briggs Security was Nate’s life and the woman that managed to be in his life would have to understand that.
That was another reason dating was difficult. His life was devoted to the safety of the Mairettie family, Bobby Mairettie especially. Then there was his own empire. He’d built an empire that seemed to run itself, but he had put in a whole lot of work to get it to flow that way.
It was not that he hadn’t tried to date in the past seven years, he’d tried a few times but his work always got in the way before things even took off. Other times he just hadn’t been interested in the women he’d chosen to date. Nate may have been dominant when it came to sex but he didn’t want a woman that he could run over in everyday life. However he was not one to be run over either.
He wanted a woman he could spoil and protect but who wouldn’t be afraid to tell him what she wanted and how she wanted it. He wanted a challenge in his woman just like his career was a challenge. For Nate that made a woman a perfect fit. He was a lot like his best friend so he understood Paige and Bobby. They challenged each other and made each other better for it. There were no weaknesses in their relationship because they gave each other strength.
Nate remembered reassuring Paige that she and he would never be good for each other because of this very fact but he knew it was a lie. He was just trying to get her to see how perfect she was for his best friend. Truth be told he wasn’t surprised he was drawn to her identical twin. Paige would have turned his head if she hadn’t belonged to his best friend.
Nate excelled with challenges, which took his mind to the pint sized villain that had been running through his mind for the last three days. Just thinking about her got his blood pumping.
Nate thought about going back to the house to talk to Rita about his warring feelings, but his sister had said she was tired. Nate figured she had enough on her plate with the broken engagement and worrying about her friend Anton. She was probably worried about how his life could possibly be falling apart because they called the wedding off.
Nate was still in shock over the story his father had told him only a few hours ago. Nate felt for Rita. He had a feeling his sister and father were still holding a lot of the story back from him. Nate stopped and looked up at the stars. It was a beautiful night. The salty breeze filled his lungs easing his thoughts for a brief moment.
His family was expanding but it was changing in so many other ways and Nate wasn’t sure if he would be able to handle it all. There were always new variables being thrown his way. Things James, Earl, and Thomas held back from him until they felt they were need to know. It drove him crazy.
His father and uncle had been relying on him so much more over the last three years. However, they were still holding important details to themselves when they were busy meddling. He knew the extra responsibilities were because they were ready to retire. He was happy Jas would be coming home to be at his side.
Kelly has been a big help since she and her husband moved back to the States. Having Rita home would be a help as well. It was time that the team came closer together. From what Nate could see it looked like the Mairettie family was starting to move closer together and settling now anyway.
It was another reason Nate knew he needed to settle down and start a family. The next generation would need to be able to take over the family business. Nate frowned up at the sky. Do I really want this for my children? He thought to himself.
He loved what he did. He was one of the best at it. He’d been a little distracted with Rita and her drama these past few weeks and that was the only reason Whitney had pulled off her stunt. He’d have to get his shit together though.
Nate sighed. His rounds for tonight were over. He wanted to take advantage of walking the beach one more night before they returned home to the real world tomorrow.
Soon enough he would be back to not only watching his best friend’s back but also running the empire he had built on the side. Justin would be quite busy in the coming weeks. He was both Nate’s personal assistant and the head of the IT team for Briggs Security. Nate swore the kid could hack into someone’s brain if he needed him to.
Nate started for the jetty to have a seat and watch the waves. That was when he noticed the small figure out by the shore line. They were sitting with their knees bent and it looked like their head was on their knees.
Nate ran over in his head who he didn’t have an account for. Mentally he came up with two. He hadn’t seen Marcus but the figure was not large enough to be him. He groaned when he realized Pam’s door had been closed so he wasn’t positive she was in her room.
The closer he got he knew that was exactly who he was looking at. He wasn’t in the mood for the verbal sparring with her right now with his mind all over the place. He was close to just letting her have this part of the beach to herself. Only something in her posture gave him pause. From the time he met this woman she was nothing but a confident fire cracker. However at the moment her shoulders were slumped.
Nate moved forward and watched as she reached for one of two bottles she had sitting next to her and took a swig. Nate then knew something was off. Pam had done little drinking every night leading up to the wedding. Nate hadn’t seen her hit anything harder than some fruity drinks, and he would know he had been watching like a hawk.
Nate took a seat next to her in the sand. He clearly startled her, causing her to rush to wipe at the tears cascading down her cheeks. Only it was no use as more tears replaced them. Nate nudged her shoulder with his and reached for the bottle she had been drinking from taking his own swig.
“I told you if you wanted to get to know me all you have to do is tell me you want me,” Nate teased. “There is absolutely no reason for you to be out here crying over me.”
“Oh shut up,” Pam chuckled and sniffled. “I wish my life was that simple.”
Nate didn’t miss the sadness in her voice. His heart ached to do something about that sadness. He felt his own heart twist in his chest. He wanted to take her pain for his own. Nate mentally squirmed. He had no idea why this woman made him feel this way, but he was starting to realize he needed to do something about it.
“Why don’t you tell me why it is not that simple?” Nate said before taking another swig and handing the bottle back to Pam. He looked into her tear filled eyes and lost his breath. She was gorgeous even with soaked cheeks and red eyes. He couldn’t help himself. As she took the bottle from his hand he reached for her face with his free hand and wiped away her tears.
Pam leaned into his palm as several emotions crossed her face. After a moment of contemplation she shrugged her shoulders and took a long gulp of the hard liquor. Nate watched as she wiped her mouth with the back of her little hand.
“I really do miss my sister but that is not the reason I am moving to New York,” Pam sniffled. “I needed to get away. I can’t be there when he returns.”
Nate stiffened beside Pamela not sure he wanted to hear the rest of her story. He found that he was crazy jealous when it came to this little woman. Anytime she hinted at another man it made him see red. It was what solidified his decision to dismiss her the first night they met. Tonight Nate decided to stay calm and listen. It was clear she needed a shoulder to cry on.
“I have no idea how I got here. You know,” Pam snorted. “I never though
t I’d be that chick. I can’t believe I let him make me that chick. I’m just so angry with myself.”
Pam started to sob and Nate reached to pull her into his side. He had to ignore the fire that ran up his arm and blazed into the depths of is groin. Touching this woman was dangerous and hazardous to his health. He suppressed the call of his body and rocked her a little until she relaxed in his arms.
“What chick exactly do you think you are?” Nate quizzed.
Pamela felt the shiver that ran through her body as his deep voice washed over her. It was like his voice reached into her bones and loosened something in her soul. Pamela didn’t want to feel this way. It was her stupid feelings that got her to where she was at thirty two. She was the strong one so why was she feeling so weak right now.
“I don’t know why I’m about to tell you this but I’ve dealt with it on my own for long enough. I just feel like I can’t breathe anymore,” as if to prove a point she drew in a deep breath and released it. She wiped away more tears and began.
“His name is Luca. I met him when I was twenty five. We had the perfect relationship at first. I’d been so naïve when I met him. I thought it was great for me to just have a relationship that didn’t take too much of my time. We met in London. He was visiting his cousin Uri.
“I met them both in a club. Luca was the younger of the two and he was so charming. I fell for it all, the lines, the promises, you name it. Oh God and the sex. I’d only really been with my high school sweetheart before Luca. Let’s say he taught me that Joshua had no idea what he was doing.”
Pamela laughed and Nate grunted in response. “I’ll be the first to admit Luca turned me out. I mean I dated a lot before then but I just never slept around. That’s not how Peyton raised his girls,” she said with a warm smile as she thought of her father. “Anyway, I guess I lost my mind when Luca gave it to me the right way. I accepted that he lived in the States and he could only come to see me once a month for a week or two at a time.
“I felt special. He had Uri see to all my needs whenever he wasn’t around. Uri stepped in and helped me really get my business off the ground. Everyone sees him as a brooding asshole but Uri became the brother I never had. I owe so much to him.
“For seven years I let Luca come and go as he pleased and I had convinced myself that it was what I really wanted anyway. To be free to do as I pleased and build my career without distractions. I told myself I was happy.
“A year ago,” Pam choked the words out and paused to collect herself taking a swallow of liquid courage. “About a year ago Luca started to become even more distant. He went from calling me every night to going weeks at a time without calling or answering one of my calls. I know the time zones made our calls difficult but we had always managed before then.
“I’d asked Uri if there was something wrong but he reassured me that Luca was fine and in time I would understand. I trust Uri so I went along as if nothing was wrong. Well a few months went by and I found out I was pregnant. Luca just shut down. He claimed he had to rush back home for business and that he would return as soon as he could. Two months went by and he didn’t return.
“I’d gotten really sick and I didn’t know what to do so I called Uri. By the time he arrived at my flat I had passed out in the kitchen floor. I lost the baby. Uri stayed with me for two weeks taking care of me before Luca returned.
“He looked relieved. I mean he really looked relieved. It was then that I realized we never talked about a future together. We never planned for more. I had been with this man for six years and he never introduced me to any of his family other than Uri and he never once mentioned our future.
“And still I stayed with him,” Pam looked Nate in the eyes then looked down at the sand beneath them. “A month ago he shows up for his monthly visit to tell me he won’t be making them anymore. He wouldn’t be able to come to me as often, because for four out of the seven years we were together he was engaged to someone else. He claimed it is an arranged marriage but he was engaged none the less.
“He knew all along we had no future but he strung me along. I thought he loved me. I thought I loved him. We may not have talked about our future but he always made me feel like the world revolved around me. In the end he was just a liar.
“I gave my heart and body to a liar. My skin crawls every time I think about it. I can never get those years back, but worse of all I don’t know the touch of another man the way I know his.
“I fear his touch branded me to never be able to truly enjoy the touch of another. I just wish…I wish I could erase him from my body, my mind, and my heart. I’m even too embarrassed to tell my own sister about all this.
“He made me that chick,” Pamela put her hands to her face and growled into them.
Nate’s head was spinning. It was more than the alcohol. His heart broke for this beautiful woman sitting before him. She was strong to have gone through so much and to decide to just walk away. So many women he had come across would have taken it all just for the security of having a man. No matter the consequences or the man’s demands.
He wanted to give this woman what she was asking for. He wanted to erase this Luca. He knew he was the man for the job. Flashes of all the ways he wanted to erase Luca from her body filled his head.
Pamela must have been thinking the same thing because before Nate knew it she was looking up at him hopefully. That vulnerability returning into the depths of her eyes and not just in her words and tears, his need became strangling. Nate reached to brush his thumb over her soft bottom lip and she leaned into him.
It was all the answer he needed. He bent his head towards hers and took her lips in the passionate kiss he’d been dreaming about. His first taste of Pam was like a pass to enter heaven. Her small hands cupped the back of his head and he lost all sense of gentle and teasing. He took her mouth with a deep groaning kiss that had Pamela’s toes curling.
He pulled away from the kiss and smirked smugly at the awe and wonder he saw in her eyes as she lifted her fingers to her lips. Yeah, this game is over, Nate thought to himself. It’s time I claim what’s mine.
Nate stood on his feet. He reached a hand out to Pam. “I’ll grant your wish Baby,” Nate said silkily. “Give me tonight, I promise when I’m done you won’t know his touch and I doubt you will even remember his name. Cause I’m that dude, I’m that dude that will destroy that pussy and brand my name all over that shit.”
Pam’s breath caught in her throat and her mouth felt like she was going to drool all over herself as it watered. This man had been tempting her since she first laid eyes on him. She thought about his offer. If anyone could erase Luca she had a feeling it would be Nate. She wanted it to be Nate.
Pamela pushed aside her doubts and fears. Luca had taken enough of her life. She wanted the giant standing before her and she was going to have him.
Chapter Three
“Baby, what are you doing,” Bobby laughed at his wife. “Get over here.”
“Bobby, hold on. Just give me one second,” Paige said with a glowing smile on her face.
Paige moved around the room to light the last of the candles and then rushed over to the iPad resting on the dresser. She bit her lip as she scrolled through her list looking for the right one. Bobby watched his wife becoming more and more impatient but wanting to humor her on their special night.
“Seriously Baby, what are you doing,” Bobby lifted a brow at Paige.
“I want to make this night special. If I left it up to you I’d be naked before my back hits the mattress. Just give me one. More. Second,” Paige punctuated each word with a tap on her iPad as she found the list she was looking for.
Pamela had loaned her the speaker just for this night. Paige couldn’t believe she let Pam talk her into doing this, but she was committed now. Bobby gave in and sat back against the headboard as he watched his blushing bride prepare her little seduction.
Only he was sitting up straight and leaning forward again as soon as Tweet’s Oops f
illed the room. Paige did a slow sexy pivot and placed one foot forward landing on her toes. She started to gyrate her hips and reached for the tie of the white silk robe that was concealing her lingerie.
Bobby’s mouth fell open as he watched his wife become a temptress right before his eyes. Paige rolled her body as she let the robe slip to the floor. Bobby’s eyes widened and he growled as the lace teddy came into view. It was hardly two pieces of scrap barely covering her breasts and her mound in the front. Paige rocked her hips and turned in a circle, dropping down low when she had her back to her husband.
She straightened enough to be bent over at the waist showing her soaked center to the starving beast still frozen in place watching with hungry eyes. Paige made her cheeks clap like her crazy sister instructed her. When she heard the loud rumble from Bobby’s chest she smiled with pride.
Feeling empowered Paige let her hand slide across her cheeks before standing up straight and turning around again with a hip rocking shimmy. She was really getting into it now. She moved her hands around to the front to squeeze her breasts and licked her lips as she locked eyes with her husband.
Bobby was barely restraining himself. When Paige’s right hand slid down the center of her exposed skin and slipped into the panty part of the teddy Bobby snapped. Paige moaned as her fingers plunged into her soaked flesh. Bobby ripped at the drawer string of his pajama pants and kicked the pants from his body.
Paige had her head thrown back as she continued rocking to the music and bringing herself pleasure. She didn’t see Bobby crawling down the bed toward her like a large panther ready to pounce. By the time she sensed him and opened her eyes she was face to face with lust filled grey eyes that promised she was going to pay for this torture.