Chapter 7
Dinner tonight had been strange.
It wasn’t exactly uncomfortable, but something felt off, and Des didn’t help.
I really need to talk to Nathan about dirty talk at the table. It should be off-limits, just like phones.
Oliver, Addy, and I had spent most of the time talking about the live-action Disney princess movie that’s coming out this summer, and that evolved into a discussion on which princess we like the best.
I’ve always been partial to Ariel, while today, or in that moment at least, Addy chose Elsa, and I can’t say I was at all surprised when Oliver chose Belle.
“Which pajamas were we thinking tonight? Elsa or maybe Rapunzel?” I call back to Addy, where she plays in the tub, still in my line of sight from just inside her room.
“Rapunzel!” she calls back without missing a beat, and I hear the water splash onto the floor.
“Keep the water in the tub, silly girl.” Her giggles ring through the room, like music to my ears.
“Sorry, Mommy.”
I grab her nightgown and head back, careful not to fall on my butt. Bath time is always an event with Addy; she loves it. The bubbles, splashing, toys, and now what she calls the princess treatment.
It’s silly; all I’m doing is taking care of her, but I can’t help but love it too.
Time with just us, girl time where I blow-dry and braid her hair to stop it from looking like a rat's nest in the morning. Des had raved about how much of a genius I was the first time he saw me do it. Told me he wished they’d had me sooner; it would have saved them hours of getting ready and lots of tears before school.
I wish the same, though not just for her sake. Selfishly, I wish I had never wasted all that time with Carter. Here with them—Addy and the guys—I didn’t know it was possible to be this happy.
What I thought was happiness with Carter was nothing more than complacency and fear that nobody would ever want me the way he did.
That still frightens me, that one day they might wake up and see me for what I am—a nameless nobody.
They swear it won’t happen, that they want me forever, but even if it does, I can’t stop it, so I might as well enjoy every moment until then.
“Why do you like Ariel?” Addy asks as I braid her hair for bed, and I take a moment to think about the answer.
“Well, when I was younger, I liked her because she had red hair like me, and then eventually I liked her because she’s a mermaid, and I always wanted to be a mermaid.”
“Hm, I think I’d rather be able to make it snow than swim. I can swim in our pool anytime.”
I finish off her braid with a chuckle before I gather her up in my arms and give her a squeeze.
“Well, when I was a little girl, Elsa wasn’t a princess yet.” Her little mouth drops open in shock, and I can’t help but chuckle again. “But even if she were, I still would pick Ariel because I’m not a fan of the cold. I’d much rather swim in the ocean and enjoy the sun and the beach.”
“I like the beach too, Mommy,” she says, turning to face me with a pout. “I know you do, honey. Just because you like one thing doesn’t mean you can’t like another.”
Her face lights up. “Like how you love Daddy and Des and—”
“Did you pick a story for Oli to read to you tonight?” I interrupt her, hoping to change the subject.
It’s not that she’s wrong, but I’m not sure how to have this conversation with her, or if it should even be me who has it.
If she notices my discomfort, she doesn’t comment on it. Instead, she takes off into her room, our conversation forgotten. She’s back a second later with her book of five-minute stories we got a month ago on an outing.
She has to be getting to the end of them, and I make a mental note to check out the other books she has and her reading level tomorrow.
Maybe a trip to the bookstore wouldn’t be too bad?
All I can picture is Carter hidden behind the shelves, ready to take Addy.
Nope, never mind, we can order them or something.
“Alright, princess, let's get those teeth brushed and into bed before Oli gets here.” I take the book from her so she can brush, and we do a little silly dance while she uses mouthwash, then I scoop her up and carry her over to her bed.
She giggles and wiggles as I dance and spin us through the room, and my heart is so full it could burst.
I collapse back onto her bed, and she quickly crawls up to scurry under the covers to hide from the tickle monster.
Spoiler alert, it doesn’t work. A little blanket can’t stop the tickle monster.
The sound of a throat clearing has me looking toward the door to find Oliver standing just inside the room, watching us.
I can’t say I blame him, considering the fact that I’m currently standing on the bed over Addy with my hands up and in tickler position.
I probably look even crazier than it sounds to him.
With a nervous giggle, I let my arms drop to my sides before I drop down onto my knees beside Addy.
“I love you, princess. I hope your dreams are as magical as you are.”
“I love you, Mommy.” She already sounds tired, and I know she won’t make it through more than half of her story tonight.
I kiss her head as I climb out of the bed. Pulling the covers up to her chin, I brush a bit of stray hair that escaped during our playtime and smile down at her, and nearly lose my balance and crash into Oliver.
“Whoa, careful.” Oliver catches me, his hands gripping my biceps firmly to keep me upright, before a tiny giggle behind me pulls me from my thoughts that are quickly turning inappropriate.
“Oh gosh, I’m sorry,” I say in a rush, stepping away from him and his very warm hands that feel so right on my skin.
“Sorry,” I say again as I rush from the room with my face feeling as though it’s about to catch fire.
“Good night, Kat.”
I almost trip over my own feet as I turn back to face him, but he’s not looking at me. He’s making himself comfortable on the bed beside Addy, and I’d almost let myself believe I misheard until his eyes dart up to meet mine a moment later.
It only lasts a moment before he turns his attention back to the book, but it feels like it means something.
Right?
Maybe I’m just delulu and hope it means something, but I’m going to pretend it does for now.
“Good night, Oliver,” I whisper back, letting myself watch them for another minute before I slip out the door.
They're so stinking cute I could watch them all night. They’re all so amazing with her, honestly, but I’m sure it would be weird for me to stand there all night. Besides, I have plans.
Just thinking about it makes my cheeks heat, and when I press my hands to them, I feel the warmth.
Crap, I’m not even with them yet. How am I going to survive this being a regular thing?
I make my way back to my room quickly, more than a little excited, if not a tiny bit nervous as well.
This morning, Nathan had left me a box, a present, on the table next to my already prepared cup of coffee. I’d tried to tell him it wasn’t necessary, but he insisted, only to tell me it couldn't be opened until tonight.
Despite my best efforts, I’ve thought about that box all day.
The last time Nathan gave me something, it was a very expensive necklace, and with the size of this box…
Ugh, just thinking about all the things it could be has me walking faster, and I’m back to my room in no time.
The box sits on my dresser where I left it, feeling larger than life.
I blow out a breath and give myself a quick little pep talk before I cross the room to stand before it.
Even the box is beautiful, sleek black with a deep purple glittery ribbon tied in a bow.
I take a deep breath and pull on the bow, lifting the lid before I chicken out.
Black tissue paper fills the box, neatly folded over the contents to hide them. A single piece of white paper sits atop, bright like a beacon in comparison.
A present for my queen, or tonight, my queen, is a present I plan to unwrap.
I’ve taken the liberty of picking your outfit.
Get dressed and head to my room.
Hang your robe behind my door and light some candles.
Get comfortable. I’ll meet you there at nine thirty.
Be a good girl and keep your hair down.
x Nathan
I whip around to look at the clock on my nightstand.
“Shit!” It’s already nine ten!
I turn back to the box and the note in my hand, scanning it again to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
Nope, that’s it.
Setting the note aside, I rip into the paper, no longer having the luxury of delaying.
Oh my god.
The fabric, or lack of it, is soft beneath my fingers, and I feel my eyes go wide.
This can’t be all of it, right?
I set the scrap of fabric aside and quickly pull out the rest of the paper, searching for more, only to find a small silk robe. I keep looking, but that’s it.
It takes me a second to get it situated to see what it is, and don’t get me wrong, it’s cute.
It’s a full-body piece, I think, in the same shade of purple the ribbon was, minus the glitter. It’s almost completely lace; the top just looks like any other bra with cute little rhinestone hearts on the straps and a bow in the center.
And then it turns into something I’ve only ever seen in movies. The same sheer, lacy fabric on the bra hangs down to cover at least some of the stomach area, you know, where there isn’t a large slit with yet another rhinestone heart.
At the waist, it’s tight before flaring out into a cute little skirt, and I mean really little because the crotch of the bodysuit is visible under it.
And as if all of that isn’t enough, straps hang from under the skirt, secured to fishnet stockings.
It’s cute, really; I’m just not sure how it will look on me.
Chewing my lip, I look at the clock and curse again when I see how much time I’ve wasted.
9:17
Well, I guess there’s no time to second-guess; the last thing I want to do is upset Nathan. He went through the trouble of setting all this up; the least I can do is try it on. If it looks terrible, I’ll just leave the robe on and explain.
I nod to myself, convinced my idea will work out as I strip down and pray I can figure out all the straps and holes of this outfit in time.
It takes longer than it should have, longer than I’m proud to admit, to get everything situated. The number of holes I’d put my foot into before I found the right one doesn’t even seem possible until I realize there’s a cutout in the panties.
Just thinking about it makes my cheeks burn, but I don’t have time to dwell as I move back to the dresser to grab the robe and silently thank the heavens he thought to give me one.
There’s no way I could walk around in this, even if Addy is asleep; hell, she could be gone for the night, and I still couldn’t do it.
I throw the thin, smooth material around my shoulder, shoving my arm in as I move back toward the door, only to stop short.
Wow.
I stand across the room from my floor-length mirror, in complete and utter disbelief that I’m actually looking at my reflection.
I’ve got to hand it to Nathan; he did a great job with this.
I feel… hot.
With a smile tugging at the corner of my lips, I pull the robe tight around my waist and tie it off before quickly heading out of my room and down the hall to his.
I don’t have far to go, thankfully, but even still, I can’t stop myself from nearly running, my head on a swivel, worried I’ll run into someone.
When I get in his room, closing the door behind me, I let out a sigh of relief and give myself a moment to calm down before I start moving again.
9:26
Crap!
I hang up the robe and rush over to his dresser, and despite my time crunch and the anxiety I’m feeling from it, I can’t help but smile as I find candles all over the room, a box of matches next to the biggest one on his dresser.
I’d mentioned I loved candles, the smell, the vibe, and how they could make anything feel romantic.
Clearly, he’d been listening; I’m not used to that.
By the time I’m done, the clock reads 9:29, and I rush to climb up onto his bed, folding my legs beneath me and folding my hands in my lap. I try to even my breathing, but it’s useless.
I’m so anxious that the second I hear movement outside the door, my heart pounds so fast I fear it might very well break through my chest.
The door swings open, and Nathan stands in the doorway for a moment, the light of the hall illuminating him in a way that makes him look godly and takes my breath away.
“Always so perfect.” His voice rolls over me like a physical caress, causing goosebumps to break out over my arms and legs despite the warmth of the room.
He moves into the room, already unbuttoning his sleeves as he goes, and I eat up his every move, desperate for attention as I sit alone on the bed, digging my nails into my thighs to keep from fidgeting.
“It would have looked better in red,” Alex says from the door, a smirk on his lips that lets me know he doesn’t really give a shit what color it is.
I hadn’t even realized he was here, so focused on Nathan and his larger-than-life presence.
‘Nathan can share.’ Alex’s words ring out in my mind, and suddenly I can’t look at him, instead turning my gaze down to my lap as my heart pounds so loudly I’ll be shocked if they can’t hear it.
What have I gotten myself into?