Chapter 35
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
JAMES
The journey was torture, made even worse by an accident on the highway pushing our journey to nearly four hours.
We didn't talk.
Not even once.
Even when we pulled over for gas, we ordered separately for food and coffee.
Petty Pam and Petty Pete.
That's what we should rename ourselves.
Because we were both being stubborn and petty over something that wasn't even that bad.
As soon as the car rolls to a halt outside his house, I am opening my door and moving to the trunk to get my case. I don't bother getting his. Just drag mine along the sidewalk before bumping it up the steps and letting myself into his house with my own key.
“Nate?” I hear Brooke call out.
“His name is Pete.” I call back and she pops her head around the door frame, a confused expression on her face.
“Pete?” her brows knit, eyes moving behind me as the front door slams.
“Petty Pete,” I shrug a shoulder up and hear the exasperated sigh that passes through him.
“Well, your name must really be Pam then, aye?” he walks towards me, and I beam a huge smile at him.
“Happy to rename myself that.”
“Oh God,” Brooke rolls her eyes as she walks towards the both of us, grabbing me and pulling me into her. “Ugh, I missed you.” She squeezes me a little tighter.
“Missed you too,” I smile, hands pressed between her shoulder blades.
“How was Jeff?” Nate asks, and Brooke lets me go, turning her body to Nate.
“He was fine,” she smiles, “he is such a sweet, docile cat,” her grin widening.
“Docile?” Nate raises a brow, “He is a terror.”
“Must be the owner.”
“Maybe he doesn't like that you see him as a possession rather than a loving companion,” I shrug a shoulder and move towards the kitchen to get water.
“Oh for fuck’s sake,” I hear Nate's tone switch, his voice floating down the hallway.
“What the hell has happened?” Brooke follows me into the kitchen, Nate closely behind her.
“You may as well tell her your version of the story because no doubt you will just but in at every second if I say even one bit out of sequence.”
“You're right,” I slam the bottle of water on the work surface, “I would.”
Brooke's eyes flit between the both of us.
“Nate wouldn't dance with me at the wedding,” I begin, my fingers still wrapped around the bottle.
“First mistake,” Brooke points out as she sits herself on the center island counter, perching herself ready to watch the drama unfold.
“He doesn't like being touched,” and I watch as his jaw tenses, his cheeks more prominent as he no doubt grinds his back molars.
“Right,” Brooke just glances at him, swipes her eyes over his body then focuses back on me.
“So, there was a very kind young gentleman that would dance with me.”
Nate snorts air through his nose like a bull.
“We danced, his hands were on my body and Nate came over all angry and shit cos he didn't like this man touching what was...” and I pause, removing my hand from my bottle and air quote, “ his. ”
“Possessive, I like it,” Brooke leans forward and holds her fist out to spud Nate, which he does, looking very confused.
“But he then went on earlier to his friend and his wife that I am his...” I glare at Nate, “What was it? Your possession, that I belong to you...” and I cross my arms against my chest.
“Ohhhh you were doing so well,” Brooke sighs as she jumps off the counter and gives Nate a narrowed gaze. “Anyway, I am going to head off, what time are you leaving tomorrow?”
Nate sighs, turning around to look at Brooke.
“Flight is at eleven-twenty in the morning, but don't stress, as long as you turn up at some point tomorrow,” he gives her a soft nod and she returns it before walking down the hallway.
Moving past him, I catch her up and give her another cuddle.
“You going to freeze him out for much longer?” she whispers into my ear and I can feel her lips pulling into a soft smile.
“Maybe,” I push her off me gently, my own smile pressed against my lips.
I walk her to the front door and see her out, she places a kiss on my cheek before turning and walking towards her car. The want for a catch up with Heidi and Brooke was more of a need than a want at this point.
Closing the door, I feel Jeff rub up against me, a soft purr vibrating through him. Lowering myself down to my knees, I run my hand across his head and down his back before his tail slips through my hand.
“Did you have fun with auntie Brooke and auntie Heidi?” I find myself asking him, expecting him to reply.
“I'm sure he did,” the devil himself floats down the hallway and I notice his shoes before anything else. Off white sneakers, black stripes down the sides. He looks hot in anything, but a suit will always be my Achillies heel when it came to Nate.
Slowly looking up at him, his hands are fisted into his cargos, head tilted to the side as he looks down at me, a cocky smirk pulling on his lips.
“You look pretty on your knees, wife .”
“Shame this is the only time you'll see me on them,” I give a sarcastic grin before pushing up from the floor and dusting my hands off.
He opens his mouth as if to say something but soon slams it closed again.
“Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to unpack and have a nice, long bath,” slipping past him, I grab my case and make my way up the stairs not looking back at him once.
Closing my bedroom door, my heart is racing in my chest.
I knew I was being a little more dramatic then I needed to be but I kind of wanted to make him sweat.
Was that so bad?
Truth was, I loved the possessiveness, it's hot as hell, but what I don't love is being paraded around like I am some trophy, a possession... it's not about that for me.
Show me off because you want to show me off, not because someone else has given me attention and you're trying to make a point.
I huff, sitting on the edge of the bed for a moment, fingers locked together.
I needed to hang with the girls, and as much as I would love to be able to speak to Connie and the gang about this, I don't feel like I am there yet. Don't feel overly comfortable doing that now.
I didn't know them very well and I don't really want to sit there and moan about their friend. Their loyalty will always lie with Nate. I knew that.
So going to them with something that he did just didn't sit right with me.
Slipping my hand into my purse, I grab my phone from it and open up my group chat with the girls.
Me
I know it's so last minute and you have been at Nate’s all weekend, but any chance you guys are free for dinner tonight? I need a chat x
I sigh as I send it. There is so much I want to tell them but because of the stupid contract, I can't.
Letting my phone fall into my lap, I cover my face with my hands.
I rushed into this.
I know I did.
I was so desperate for his help, and maybe, as silly as it sounds, his protection.
Rune wasn't going to come looking for me, his dick was getting wet in plenty of pussy's no doubt. One thing that man never had an issue with was gaining ladies attention.
Always had eyes on him.
Made me feel like shit.
But I felt proud as punch being on his arm.
Realisation settles into my chest, heart slowing for a moment as I drop my hands into my lap, the back of them resting on my phone.
He paraded me around like a possession... I was just too blind to notice.
Yet when Nate talks about me like an object, it sets off a rage deep inside of me.
It's a trigger point.
Almost a trauma.
And I wouldn't even mind being paraded around by Nate, I mean... if you searched hot as fuck in the dictionary, he would be under there.
Nate Spencer.
Also look under; handsome, gorgeous, drop dead gorgeous, hottie, adonis God, God.
My phone vibrates and my fingers fumble to swipe it up.
Heidi
Sounds good, do you want to come to us? Dinner out? Us to you?
Brooke
Yeah, just let us know what works for you.
I blink for a moment, lifting my eyes.
Did I want to go out? Or did I want them to come here?
Take out sounds amazing.
I didn't really want to get dressed up.
But then did I want the fear of Nate listening in on a conversation that I may or may not have?
Letting my thumbs dance across the screen, I agree that I will book a table at Nobu for seven and will meet them there.
I can taxi it down, they live over the other side of Manhattan to me and Nate, so I don't want them to come past the restaurant just to get to me when it's easier for them to meet me there.
Placing my phone on the side table, I push up and pad across the spacious hall to the main bathroom and turn the faucet on, filling the large, oval tub with the hot water, I slip back into my bedroom and root through my dresser to grab some pyjamas.
The New York air seems a little cooler than the Hamptons and I have no idea why, but I feel cold. I pinch a tee and long pants with little pink bows dotted across the thin, cream jersey material.
Padding back towards the bathroom, I reach for some bath salts and bubbles off my shelf of toiletries and slip them into the bath, the honey and oat aromas filling the room and instantly making me feel a little more at ease.
I look over my shoulder and the partly opened door and my heart jack hammers in my chest.
Why do I feel guilty all of a sudden going in on Nate?
I am hot headed; my temper can just switch up to one hundred in such a little space of time.
Turning my head back around, I watch as the levels of the bath water rise, the bubbles getting dangerously close to the top when I finally snap into it to turn it off.
Placing my pyjamas on the heated rad, I hang my white fluffy towel up on the towel rail then reluctantly close the door.
I would kick off if he came in, but I kind of wanted him to come in.
Tugging at my hair elastic, I run my fingers through my aching scalp.
I am driving myself insane.
Constantly battling with inner thoughts and I have no idea what I want or what I want to do.
Peeling my clothes from my body, I toss them straight into the laundry hamper.
Dipping my toe into the hot bath, my body tingles before goosebumps scatter across my body. I slowly lower myself in and feel the mood that has been hanging over me like a dark, thunderous cloud slowly get eclipsed by sunshine.
Sliding further under the water, until everything is covered apart from my head, I close my eyes for a moment and play over the last twenty-four hours.
The wedding.
The rage sex.
More sex.
Morning sex.
Argument.
My eyes ping open. It wasn't actually an argument. More just a clash of opinions. I just wanted to make a point and for some reason I find myself dragging it out far longer than I really needed to.
How the hell are we going to last a week on a remote island, with all of his friends, if I cannot see past his comments?
Would it make it better if he apologised? Maybe. Maybe not.
I'm as stubborn as a mule and from the little time we have actually known each other, he is stubborn too.
I was a taurus, it was in my make up to be stubborn.
Maybe he was too?
Who knows.
But I didn't want to fight with him, but just maybe we needed some space. Maybe we needed some time out from each other. We have lived in each other’s pocket continuously for the last few weeks and to be honest, we both probably could do with a break.
I feel like so much has happened in such a short amount of time that neither of us have had a second to really breathe.
Sucking in a breath, I slip under the water and enjoy the silence for just a moment.
Pushing out, I fill my lungs with oxygen, eyes opening as I look around the room then wipe the excess water off my face.
Turning my head to face the door, I see the handle twist.
My fingers curl around the edge of the bath, holding my breath as I see his head pop around the door.
Instant relief washes over his face, his eyes flitting between mine.
“I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
I nod softly, pulling my eyes from him and steadying my breathing as my manicured toes pop out the water before I run my big toe around the faucet head.
“I'm going out with the girls tonight,” I half whisper into the room, my eyes focused on my foot.
“Oh...” and I hear the disappointment in his voice, “no problem, I could do with losing myself in work for a bit anyway, got a company to look into and all that...” he pauses, and I finally look at him, giving him a soft smile. “Enjoy your bath,” he nods and before I can even respond he is gone, the door closing softly.