Starts With a Bang (Redemption Ridge #7)

Chapter Twelve

Dom

I couldn’t recall the last time I’d submerged myself in a bathtub, but I was probably under the age of ten, and it had likely occurred against my will. I’d taken the “God made dirt, so it doesn’t hurt” mantra to heart as a kid. My mother had likely exhausted every creative way to lure me into the tub. Sven helped me rediscover how fun it could be to get dirty and showed me how wonderful a leisurely bath could feel, especially for tender, previously unexplored body parts.

White LED candles of various heights and widths surrounded us. Their light—soft and flickering—mimicked the real thing without posing a fire risk. I reclined against the freestanding copper tub while Sven lounged against my chest. I watched the dance of candlelight on his skin as I lazily stroked his arms, his chest, and his lower belly. Whenever I neared a ticklish spot, Sven wiggled in my embrace. The friction of his backside against my groin tried to arouse my dick from its deep slumber. I was nearly certain that two powerful orgasms were my limit for the day, though it was proving to be the season of miracles.

“I could stay here forever,” Sven said dreamily.

“The water will eventually get cold.”

Sven tsked. “Ye of little faith.” The world-weary sigh that followed might’ve been overkill coming from anyone other than Sven, but it made me smile. My education was seconds away, so I lay there without comment or defending myself. “You drain some of the cooled water and top off with more hot.”

I pressed a kiss to his temple. “I stand corrected.”

“Good. I plan to keep you here all to myself. Not even Helen would barge into our bathroom to drag us out.”

I snorted but didn’t bother correcting him. Nana would stop at nothing to get her way. It was no wonder she and Sven had bonded immediately. Like recognized like. I rested my head against the rim of the tub and closed my eyes, willing to let Sven take absolute control of our bathtub. “I’m at your mercy, Captain.”

A companionable silence washed over the bathroom, broken only by an infrequent ripple of water as one of us shifted in the tub. I lost track of time and had nearly fallen asleep when Sven bolted upright. I pried one eye open and studied him. He tilted his head back and sniffed the air.

“Smell that?”

I blinked and willed my brain to wake from its post-climax slumber. I sniffed the air, too, and registered one of my favorite aromas from my childhood. Tomatoes, garlic, and basil. A wicked smile spread across my face as I studied Sven’s excited expression. Well played, Nana.

“Dom, what is that divine aroma?” As if on cue, Sven’s stomach growled loudly.

Other than snagging a few cookies for quality control, we hadn’t eaten since breakfast. A quick glance up at the skylight revealed a darkening sky. It was almost dinnertime. I sat up and wrapped my arms around Sven’s waist. I laid a trail of kisses across his shoulder and up his neck, stopping at his delectable ear.

“You’re in for a real treat,” I whispered.

Sven turned his head and met his gaze. “Beyond what we experienced in here?”

I pursed my mouth and pretended to consider the question. “Equal value but completely different categories. One fed our soul while the other will nourish our bodies. Nana is making her famous chicken Parmesan. It smells like there’s about thirty minutes left to dinner. Mom will have set up a charcuterie board filled with dozens of snacks to tide everyone over.”

Sven sniffed the air again. “A life-affirming day.”

Maybe I should’ve felt insulted when Sven launched himself out of the water like a magnificent dolphin, but I sat back and enjoyed the view of his slick body. He’d nearly toweled himself dry before I followed his lead but at a slower pace. That bath had gone a long way to ease the ache of bottoming for the first time, but I wouldn’t be sprinting toward anything. Sven looked over his shoulder when he reached the door and froze.

“Are you hurting?”

I shook my head. “I’m just a little tender.”

He worried his bottom lip between his teeth, and I dropped my towel on the floor and strolled toward him, dripping water in my wake. Snagging him by the towel around his waist, I pulled Sven into my arms. I kissed his mouth until he released his lip and kissed me back. I chased thoughts of hunger and worry from his mind, leaving him panting softly when we parted.

Cupping his face, I said, “This minor discomfort is a beautiful reminder of how it felt when you slid inside me for the first time. No regrets.”

Sven exhaled a relieved sigh and left my ass in the bathroom to fend for myself. “I’m going to see if my favorite Nana needs help with dinner.”

He’d already dressed and left the room before I dried off and cleaned the mess I’d made on the floor. Chuckling, I got ready for the evening. I was thankful to have a few minutes to myself to process the momentous events of the day. I wasn’t sure when Christian would want to talk to me, but I figured sooner was better if we had any hope of resuscitating our relationship and salvaging the holiday vacation. We’d never go back to how things were before Emerson Baker entered our lives, but we could forge a new path if both of us were willing. Christian indicated he was ready to put in the work. I had to understand his betrayal, and that required an uninterrupted and uncomfortable conversation I hadn’t been willing to entertain until now.

My cousin was nowhere in sight when I rejoined my family in the great room. As promised, Sven was in the kitchen with Nana. She held up a spoon as he leaned forward to sample her special marinara. Sven’s eyes rolled back in his head, and he moaned loudly. It reminded me of some of our more intimate moments, and I wriggled on the couch. The subtle movement caused a slight sting in my ass, so I sat still. Sven dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around Nana’s waist.

“Run away with me,” Sven pleaded.

“Christ, not again,” I called out. I hadn’t meant to joke about Emerson leaving me for Christian, but the words were out before I processed the thought.

The world screeched to a sudden halt, and all eyes swiveled toward me. It was probably a good thing Christian wasn’t there to overhear my comment. Janet slapped a hand over her mouth, but I couldn’t tell if it was to stifle a laugh or a gasp. Dad blinked owlishly from the opposite side of the massive U-shaped couch, his book dangling from one hand. Mom narrowed her eyes as if that could help her read my thoughts. Sven popped up like a cork, and his mouth couldn’t seem to decide if it wanted to stay open or shut. I shrugged and reached for the television remote.

“He has jokes.” Of course, Nana was the first to recover from shock.

And the world rushed back into motion again. Dad went back to reading his book. Janet, Mom, Nana, and Sven worked on dinner. I found Die Hard.

“And now it’s Christmas,” I said to no one in particular.

But the comment triggered a debate that had become as classic as the movie. Was Die Hard a Christmas movie, or was it a movie that took place at Christmastime? I ignored the debate and enjoyed the movie since I’d already declared my stance. I picked up enough of the conversation to know that the verdict was split down the middle between the two camps. Dad, Janet, and Mom were adamant that Die Hard was not a Christmas movie. Sven and Nana agreed with me. Three versus three.

“Hung jury,” I declared.

Another round of debates ensued, each one making another pitch, only louder. The noise prompted Christian to join us with a puzzled expression on his face as he tried to pick up on the various threads of conversation. Then he noticed what I’d put on the television.

“And now it’s Christmas,” my cousin said.

A chorus of cheers and boos filled the house. I held up a fist, and Christian bumped it as he passed. He plopped down on the couch and curled a leg under him. As hard as I tried to watch the movie, my gaze kept wandering back to the kitchen, where Sven seemed so at home with my family.

“Dom,” Christian said. “Think we could have that talk now?”

It was better to rip that Band-Aid off. I’d allowed the wound to fester long enough. I tilted my head to the back door. “Let’s check out the fire pit. It might be nice to sit around it later and drink warm beverages.”

“Sounds great. I’ll grab our coats.”

A fancy propane fireplace sat in the middle of the pit. Christian opened the cabinet underneath and fiddled around until flames rose from the glass rocks on top. He pushed a few buttons, and the fire climbed higher.

Who should speak first? Christian was the one who initiated a conversation, so shouldn’t he be the one to break the ice? I kept my mouth shut and let him find the words to speak when he was ready. I checked the rest of the patio setup while he toyed with the fireplace remote. There were several patio heaters situated around the seating area to help ward off the cold. I turned a few of those on and removed the covers from the chairs. The cushions were dry but cold beneath my ass. Considering my previous activities, the chill felt good.

Christian eventually sat down. He planted his elbows on his knees and stared at the fire for several moments before he turned his head and met my gaze. “I loved Emerson first.”

It wasn’t the conversation starter I expected. “Excuse me?”

“Fuck.” Christian blew out a frustrated breath and scrubbed his hands over his face. “I’m sorry.”

“To be clear, what are you apologizing for? Sleeping with my husband or starting this conversation with a combative remark?”

“I didn’t sleep with Emerson while you were married,” Christian said. At my pointed look, he cleared his throat. “Well, I did, but not until after you’d officially separated. What you walked in on that day…”

“Was you in bed with my husband.”

“Cut the shit, Dom,” Christian growled. “We were both dressed and above the covers. I’d just helped him make the bed after the furniture store delivered it. Emerson said he needed help setting it up because you wouldn’t make time for him. We’d just flopped down to see how it felt.”

I snorted. “Bet Emerson told you a lot of things that weren’t true.” I held up my hand when Christian opened his mouth to respond. “I know what I saw, Chris. You were lying so close together. Barely a foot separated you, and you were holding hands. I recognized the expression in Emerson’s eyes as he stared at you, and you—”

“Looked like a besotted fool.”

“Yes.”

“Because I was,” Christian agreed. “And I had been since the first day I met Emerson in college. We became inseparable friends immediately, but I always wanted more. I brought him home to meet my family over the holiday break a year later so he could get a look at the future he could have with me.” Christian inhaled, and his nostrils flared. “I just didn’t expect him to find that with you.” The raw sadness in his voice tugged at my heart.

“I didn’t know.”

Christian nodded. “The two of you only had eyes for each other.”

“If I’d known, I wouldn’t have pursued him,” I said.

“And I think you believe it,” Christian said, staring into the flames. “You probably would’ve tried to deflect his interest, but Emerson had made up his mind about you the instant your eyes met. He’d have never let you go. Knowing I’d never have him for myself, I settled for what I could have. I stood up for you at your wedding and cried in private for my lost dreams. I forced myself to date and try to find someone else who sparked that same fire inside me.” He smiled sadly. “I even came close a time or two, but Emerson always reeled me back in.” Christian turned and looked at me. “There was never anything physical between us. Em just knew the perfect things to do or say to ensnare my attention and hold it. Next thing I knew, I was blowing off dates and forgetting important anniversaries with boyfriends to spend time with him while your career was taking off.”

“Sounds like Emerson.”

“Pretty sure I realized how unhappy he was in your marriage before either of you did. He started inviting me to do things with him he’d normally ask you to do. Museum openings and curated events he’d set up. That kind of stuff. When I pressed him about why he hadn’t asked you, he’d just say you were busy or that you didn’t like artsy kind of stuff.”

“I didn’t, but I attended those things anyway because he was my husband. I worked long hours to pay our bills so he could focus on obtaining his master’s degree and PhD. When you love someone, those are the kinds of sacrifices you make. But Emerson had to always be number one. He resented my time away, even though I did it to make his dreams come true.”

Christian shook his head. “Nothing is ever good enough for him. I think that’s why he pursued me. He wanted to hurt you.” He swallowed hard. “I want to believe I didn’t encourage his attention, but I was too consumed with him to consider your feelings.”

“That’s usually how affairs work,” I replied. “And you engaged in an affair with my husband. Emotional cheating still counts. I won’t let you off the hook for that. I am sorry that I unknowingly hurt you in the beginning, Christian, but you intentionally stabbed me in the back. We must acknowledge that if we hope to have some kind of relationship someday.” I waited for the denial to come, but it didn’t.

Christian held my gaze. “You’re absolutely right. I’m sorry for how I betrayed you. I’ve regretted it every day since. Laying the blame solely at Emerson’s feet would be unfair. I encouraged his anger and outrage anytime he complained about your marriage, and it enabled him to treat you poorly. I can’t expect you to forgive and forget. Hell, I don’t think I’ll ever forgive the role I played in destroying our family.” Christian looked over his shoulder toward the house. “I wasn’t paying a bit of attention to my mother’s mental and physical decline. I have so much to make up for, and I’m not even sure where to start.”

“This conversation is a good place,” I told him.

Christian looked at me with a mixture of hope and disbelief in his expression. “Hardly.”

I held up my palms. “I’m not making any promises. You and I will have to take this one baby step at a time. I think your mom needs you the most right now. Dissolving my six-year marriage was complicated enough, so I can’t imagine how overwhelmed she is right now.”

“I won’t let her down,” Christian said. “She can count on my full support.”

“Mine too. I’m going to give her some advice on how to ensure John won’t hide assets from her divorce attorney. They’ll hire a forensic accountant to make sure he hadn’t already engaged in underhanded tactics since he’d apparently planned to leave her.”

“I always hated being an only child, but thirty-seven years is a big age difference between siblings.”

“Better than becoming a father again in your sixties,” I said.

“I can’t even imagine,” Christian said. Then he chuckled and shook his head. “I loved my mom’s line about Dad not affording the nanny once she got through with him. I hope she takes him to the cleaners and uses the money for a fresh start.”

“And what about you?” I asked.

Christian puffed out his cheeks and exhaled. “There’s no future for Emerson and me.” He slapped his hands on his thighs and rubbed them back and forth. “I’ve known that for quite some time. Emerson got his thrills from hurting you and watching our family splinter. When he didn’t get you back this morning like he’d planned, Emerson came back to our room like nothing happened. He didn’t know I’d overheard the conversation and tried to gaslight me when he learned the truth. I want to say I immediately fell out of love with Emerson after I heard him admit he wanted you back.”

“That’s not how the heart works,” I said.

“Nope. Like with us, I will have to rebuild my future a step at a time. I’ll block his number and sever all ties once I move out and find a place to live. Maybe I can find someone who will actually love me.”

“You deserve a better relationship than your parents had,” I told Christian.

“And you deserve a love like your parents have.” He nodded toward the house, and I followed his direction. Sven stood at the island with one arm around Janet and the other around my mom. I couldn’t hear what he was telling them, but they were laughing hysterically at his antics. “Seems to me you’re already off to a good start this time.”

I smiled as I watched my family. Nana walked over to Sven and fed him a bite of something. He didn’t propose again, but he appeared to sway a little. “Yes, I am.”

Christian slapped his knees and stood up. “Think I’m going to head upstairs for a little while. I’m not very good company tonight.”

I wanted to tell him that moping alone in his room wouldn’t help, but I’d done that for several months after my marriage to Emerson ended. Who was I to lecture anyone? “I think Nana mentioned something about playing euchre later.”

Christian grimaced. “Does Sven know how vicious she can be?”

I chuckled. “He’s about to find out.”

“Best to see what he’s made of now,” Christian said. “See you later.”

“See you.”

I stared at the fire, enjoying the play of flickering flames. The door opened several minutes after Christian went inside. I glanced over my shoulder and watched as Sven approached. “Hey.”

“Hey yourself. Is it okay if I come out?”

I tugged Sven onto my lap and wrapped my arms around him as soon as he landed. “Better than okay.”

“How was your chat with Christian?” Sven asked.

“It was a start.” I turned my head to rest my cheek between Sven’s shoulder blades.

“Anything is possible,” Sven said.

“You make me believe that’s so.”

Sven turned sideways on my lap so he could see my face. “I can’t take credit for the miracles of the holidays.”

I cupped his face and pulled him closer. “It’s the miracle of Sven.” And I let my kiss convey the magic he introduced to my soul.