Chapter Twenty-Eight #2
“No.” What didn’t kill me made me stronger, and I was done being a victim. I suspect Ocean knew that, too. I didn’t realize I was nuzzling his hand until his thumb fell to my lips. “Thank you.”
“You don’t ever need to thank me, Vengeance.” He scooped me from the floor, and I immediately felt horrible for ruining his expensive suit with my sweat—so horrible I lay my head on his shoulder while he carried me out.
“Coby’s mad at you,” I warned him groggily.
Ocean chuckled and gave me a squeeze. “I noticed when she yelled at me for half an hour, but thanks for the heads up, Vengeance.”
“Don’t be mean to her, okay? She just doesn’t want me to get hurt.”
He shook his head. “I would never mistreat her. And I don’t want that either.”
I lifted my head to stare at him in disbelief. “You hired me to protect her. The day will come when it’s either me or her,” I warned. “Coby’s more important to you. She’s more important to me.”
I looked up in time to see Ocean shut his eyes and inhale. “Please stop saying that, Hunter. It’s not true.”
“But it has to be. Coby deserves to be the only thing that matters to you. As her best friend, I don’t want anything less, so please believe I’m not saying this out of jealousy.
I want you to understand that this marriage will be real for Coby and for you.
Once you both say your vows, promise me you’ll let go of whatever you want from me. Let me go… for Coby.”
Ocean’s teeth were clenched as he stared straight ahead. “Like you, Hunter, if I could promise that and mean it, I would,” he said as he climbed the spiral staircase. “You deserve more than a lie. I will never let you go. I will never let Coby go. It’s the only promise you’re going to get from me.”
“How can you be sure the three of us can work?”
“I’m not, Hunter. Love has never been a sure thing.
It changes faces every day, and it’s not always pretty.
Coby and I took a leap of faith while you’re still standing on that ledge waiting to see what happens.
You’re never going to stop being afraid of the fall.
You just have to choose if you want to fall alone or with someone you love. With people you love,” he corrected.
I stared at his profile. “Are you trying to tell me you love me?”
Ocean’s gaze cut toward me before darting away. “I’m trying to tell you I’ve been falling ever since you first tried to kill me.”
And now he was putting himself on the line, hoping I’d follow…
“The last man I trusted to love me unconditionally wanted to sell me for poker chips.”
His grip on me tightened. “I know.”
“And the last man I trusted to just be a friend tried to—”
Ocean’s steps faltered. “What?”
I sighed heavily. “Let’s just say that he wanted more than he was owed, and I found myself running again.”
At least I hadn’t been alone that time.
I’d taken Coby with me.
“Hunter—”
“Where are we?” I cut him off to change the subject as I looked around and frowned. “This isn’t the way back to the cabin.”
My mental map was already coming in handy.
Ocean was scowling now as he climbed another set of stairs to the second level without answering. I knew he wasn’t upset with me, but the rage seeping from his skin gave me goosebumps anyway.
He didn’t stop until we reached a wing tucked away from everything and a room with double doors facing a large window at the opposite end of the hallway.
He set me on my feet once we were inside, and I didn’t realize it wasn’t just any bedroom until it was too late.
The masculine decor gave it away, but when he shed his suit jacket and tossed it on the bed, it left no room for doubt.
“Ocean, what—”
“Hey, bestie!” a welcome voice called out. “Did you have fun?”
I followed the sound to the open balcony doors, where Coby was sitting at a small table set for three, the orange glow of the setting sun beyond her.
Relief carved its way into my chest at seeing her here.
It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Ocean to be on his best behavior. The problem was that I didn’t trust myself. As exhausted and sore as I was, I still wanted to use and be used by him.
“I got my ass kicked,” I confessed as I stepped onto the large balcony and dropped into the seat across from her. Ocean gallantly lifted the lid off my plate and then took the seat that faced us both with his back to the railing.
“You?” Coby said in disbelief.
We were both temporarily distracted when Ocean removed his cufflinks and began rolling up his sleeves to reveal muscle-corded forearms.
I cleared my throat and looked away from all that arm porn. “Abel’s good.”
“You’ll be better,” Coby said with total confidence. “And then you’ll kick his ass, and I’ll be there to watch.”
That’s why she was my bitch. It’s too bad I wasn’t shit, lusting after her fiancé.
My appetite fled as foreboding washed over me, but then my empty stomach gave a painful clench, reminding me I hadn’t eaten today. It didn’t help that the food looked amazing.
“What’s wrong, Hunter?” Ocean was staring at me as if he’d read my mind.
I stared at my plate. “Is it possible to be hungry but too tired to eat?”
“I think so,” Coby answered as she happily devoured her zucchini ravioli. She looked beautiful today in her sweater dress and fishnet tights, while I looked and felt beat to shit.
I felt my appetite waning again.
“Come here, Vengeance.”
I looked up to see Ocean pushing back his chair, but not to stand. He sat there and waited for me to obey. I directed my confused frown in Coby’s direction, who stared at me encouragingly while nibbling on a carrot. Standing on shaky legs, I went to him.
Ocean took my hand and pulled me into his lap.
As soon as I felt his hard thighs underneath my butt, my skittish gaze flew to Coby again.
She smiled softly at me, and it felt like I was dreaming.
“You two have to be the weirdest couple I’ve ever met,” I grumbled.
Coby giggled, and Ocean snorted before lifting the silver dome off his plate. My mouth watered when I saw the braised short ribs on a bed of rice and carrots. He picked up his fork and knife, cut off a piece, and lifted the meat for me to eat.
I hesitated only a moment before leaning forward and accepting the offering. The flavors immediately exploded in my mouth, and I hummed my amazement.
“Oh, my God,” I moaned.
“Good?” he asked me.
My skin flushed for some reason. “Yes.”
“Want some more?”
I greedily nodded, so he speared another piece for me. Bite after bite, he patiently fed me, and I was too hungry and exhausted to be embarrassed about it.
“What about you?” I asked after half the plate was almost gone.
“I’ll eat when you’re taken care of,” he told me.
Coby finished eating, having gotten a head start while Ocean hunted me down, so she stood and announced she was going to shower.
I frowned after her as she left the balcony, leaving Ocean and me alone.
I stared off into the distance, so Ocean started eating from his plate and mine.
“Want some wine?” he offered between bites.
“Ocean,” I shifted on his lap to face him when I heard the shower turn on inside the room. “What’s going on?”
Sighing, he placed his fork and knife down.
I actually felt a little guilty about not letting him finish, but not enough to deny myself the answers I needed.
“You won’t be staying in the cabin after tonight.
There’s a winter storm coming. You and Coco will be safer and more comfortable in the main house.
Coby sleeps in my bed, but if you prefer, I can have a room prepared for you… ”
If I prefer…
That meant it wasn’t the first option being offered to me.
Curling his fingers with mine, Ocean lifted my hand from my lap and kissed the back of it. “Is that what you want?”
I didn’t answer right away because I didn’t know what I wanted. “You said if I prefer…”
“I did.”
I gulped. “What’s the alternative?”
Ocean sat back and rested his cheek on his fist as he stared at me. “My bed, Hunter.”
My stomach dipped.
On cue, an off-key rendition of “We Belong Together” by Mariah Carey suddenly came from the direction of the bathroom.
Neither Ocean nor I reacted because it meant falling out of this bubble erected around us.
“You want me to sleep in your bed with you and Coby?”
“Yes. But only if you want it, too. I don’t want to make you feel unsafe.”
“I feel safe,” I blurted. “I don’t think you’ll hurt me.”
Ocean stiffened under me.
Oh, hell. What had I done?
“No, Vengeance. I won’t,” Ocean confirmed. And then he trailed a finger down my arm. “Not until you ask me to.”
I squirmed in his lap, and all I could think was that it was a bad day to be going commando.
“What’s the matter?” Before I could make some excuse, his hand slid up my thigh until it cupped my center. “Is it your pussy?”
“Yes.” What? What, what, WHAT? “I think you know you’re making me wet, Ocean.”
“Kiss me, and I’ll make it better, Vengeance.”
I didn’t give a damn why I shouldn’t when I pressed my lips to his. I wasn’t thinking at all. All I could do was bask in how wrong it didn’t feel.
We kissed as if we had all the time in the world. We kissed as if we belonged. Coby was still singing in the shower while Ocean’s middle finger massaged my slit through the leggings.
My best friend was happy with a man she should despise, a man neither of us should trust, but one we couldn’t seem to resist.
We were screwed.
“Shit,” he grunted. “You’re making a mess, baby. I’d better check it.” Ocean pulled his hand away and tapped my thigh. “Stand up.”
I swallowed down the knot in my throat and obeyed. My legs were trembling as Ocean slowly peeled off my leggings like he was unwrapping a birthday gift. I felt my panic rising at how far over the line we’d crossed and grabbed his hand.
“It’s okay,” Ocean cooed as he gently pried my hand away. “It’s okay. Let it happen.”