13. Nathan
NATHAN
Fred had let Nathan know a beautiful redhead had shown up and he’d let her into his place.
He’d sat staring at his steering wheel in the parking garage for several minutes trying to figure out what he should do.
Grab her the minute he walked in and drag her to his bedroom?
Be a normal person and ask why she was there when she hadn’t come to the game?
In the end, he’d ignored her, walked right by like he didn’t even care.
Like she was a piece of furniture. Decidedly not a normal way to go about things.
She couldn’t hear how fast his heart was beating or tell how he held his breath when he passed her, afraid of what he’d do if he caught scent of her fucking perfume.
Nathan heard her reaction when she saw the bruise.
If she’d been at the game she would have known exactly when it happened.
Sixteen minutes into the second period, distracted again by the fact she wasn’t in the seats he’d reserved for her.
Realizing she really meant what she had said about this just being sex.
Annoyed he let himself hope she’d be willing to recognize that it could be more.
“Nathan,” her hushed voice came from behind him, laced with concern. “Are you alright?”
“It’s nothing,” he said gruffly, stepping out of his pants and briefs before tossing them over with the rest of his clothes. He didn’t look back before walking into the bathroom and sinking into the tub.
Even with his back to the door he knew she was standing there now. Then he heard fabric sliding over skin.
“I’m not really in the mood, Octavia,” he said, resting his head on the edge of the tub and closing his eyes.
“That’s fine.” The water moved as she stepped in.
Opening one eye, he watched her slowly lower herself opposite him, pulling her knees up and resting her chin on them, just above the water.
His cock took notice but he stayed where he was, made no move to reach for her.
“What happened?” she asked, her voice rippling across the water.
“Took a hit.”
“That’s obvious.”
“Was distracted,” he said, tipping his head back and closing his eyes again, trying desperately to focus on the heat of the water.
He needed to relax and that wasn’t happening with Octavia across from him.
He felt his muscles tense, coiled like a snake, prepared to strike if only his mind would release them.
He heard her take a deep breath, the water moving gently along with it. The question was obvious before she even asked. Why was Nathan Albertson distracted?
“You didn’t come,” he breathed out, willing his body to relax.
“You got hurt because I didn’t come to your game?” She sounded surprised.
Nathan groaned. He didn’t want to have this conversation now. He was tired, his body felt years older than thirty-four, and he was frustrated, sexually, with her, with himself, and with his brother. “I didn’t have my head in the game. It’s not your fault, it’s mine.”
“Well, I didn’t think it was my fault,” she said quietly. “I kind of resent the fact you thought I’d think that.”
“I didn’t say I thought that, Octavia.” He sighed. “I was disappointed but I didn’t expect you to ignore me completely. I’ve got a lot on my mind these days, you’ve been a good distraction.”
“A good place to eat out at?” The smile in her voice was obvious and he allowed his own smile to spread.
“You read the interview?”
“Reluctantly,” she admitted. “Were you distracted during those games too?”
“Yes.” He finally looked at her, really looked. “But in a different way. That was a beneficial distraction. A play well get a reward kind of thing.”
“So I’m a distraction and a reward?” Her eyebrow raised quizzically.
Yes, he thought.
He felt like she was testing him. Seeing how long he’d be willing to wait for her to realize there was something more between them than just physical.
He felt it, he couldn’t imagine that she didn’t.
He’d had a couple of just sex arrangements in the past. They’d always been in-season ways to blow off some steam.
Always with someone who was just as disinterested in more at the time as he was.
Nathan had assumed that’s what this would be.
He and Octavia would meet up once in a while, fuck, and forget about one another until the next time.
The thing was, he hadn’t stopped thinking about her since the elevator that first night. She was one of those drugs that got you high and addicted after the first hit. He wanted her all the fucking time and not just in bed. He wanted to be near her just as badly.
“You’re everything,” he finally said.
“Don’t…” Octavia stuttered.
“Don’t what?”
“Say things like that, Nathan.”
“You’d rather I lie?” he asked, closing his eyes again because he couldn’t bear her looking away from him while she denied what they both knew.
“Yes.”
“Lying really isn’t my style, Autumn girl.”
The water moved violently as she stood. Don’t move, he willed himself. Let her leave. You aren’t in the mood for any of this right now.
He heard her wet feet smack against the tile, the towel across her body, the rushed redressing, fabric silent on her damp skin.
Nathan’s mind went into panic mode. What if she never came back? What if tonight could have changed everything for the better and you’re sulking? What if? What if? What if?
He was out of the tub before he even realized it.