Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
Campbell
It’s morning, and my face is pressed against the shower wall. Warm water rains onto my skin as Durban’s driving into me from behind.
I could use this kind of wake-up each morning.
His punishing grip is on my hips, but I love the bite of pain. I hope there are marks when he’s done, so I can wait in the back of the pavilion with his brand on me. While the couple is dancing during the reception, I’ll remember last night and how tenderly Durban held me as we danced.
“Yes.” I’m almost there. He hasn’t played with my clit yet, and I haven’t been bold enough to touch myself. It’s like he’s on a personal mission to get me off without any other stimulation outside of his cock.
It’s working.
He tips my ass up until I’m on my tiptoes, but I’m wedged so tightly between him and the shower wall that I wouldn’t fall if my feet lifted off the ground.
“You’re getting close,” he growls in my ear. “I can feel you fist me with your cunt.”
“Oh God, yes.” Tension coils hard inside my belly. Compact and pulsating. I’m ready to blow as if last night was nothing but a primer.
What we did in the pickup changed me. I’ve never been so close, so in sync with a guy. Then he said he’d get me through the wedding. When he fucks me like this, I can’t contemplate if that’s all he wants. He’s got me out of my mind, and that’s just where I need to be right now.
He bends his knees and slams into a spot that shatters my world. My cries echo off the walls. The pleasure is blinding. I have to squeeze my eyes shut and let myself go. He really is the only thing holding me up.
“This’s right.” His hot breath gusts across my ear. “You’ll feel me inside you all through the ceremony.” He pumps into me, and my orgasm doesn’t stop. “And all through the night.”
I want to feel him inside me forever.
Warm water hits my skin and drips into my open mouth, but I drink it down, gasping and swallowing through the detonation that was my climax.
“Fuck, Belle.” He rams into me one last time, melding us together as he spills inside of me. I can feel my pussy flexing around him, keeping him as close to me as possible.
“Goddamn, Belle. How does it get better every time?” He rubs his hands up and down my sides, finally concentrating on my hips. “Shit. Your skin’s turning red.”
“Good.” I give him a lazy grin over my shoulder. “It’ll be perfect under my very functional dress tonight.”
His returning smile is sly, and he grabs a washcloth. The way he cleans us both up is another turn-on, making the fading thrum between my thighs gain strength.
Will I get this again?
This can’t be the end of hanging out with Durban at his house, waking up to him, slow dancing under the stars. He has to feel this too. I’ll keep my hope stoked all day so I have the guts to talk to him after the reception is over.
He shuts the spray off. Steam fills the bathroom.
After we dry, and I’m dressed in my clothing from last night, I finger-comb my hair out.
My parents won’t be home when I go change and do my hair, so I’m not worried about explaining where I was.
They might think I left early to prep for the ceremony.
I squint into the foggy mirror. Am I passable if my parents are home after all? I’m not sure what I’d tell them about who I was with. Pleading the Fifth might work. I’m an adult. But I was also last seen with Durban, so Daddy might jump to completely accurate conclusions no matter what.
Then what would I say?
Daddy, I love him, but I have no idea if he feels the same way. Give me another twenty-four hours, and maybe I’ll know. Wait until your brother signs off on the land so the bride and groom don’t get upset that I literally fucked around during the events I planned for them.
“Hungry?” Durban asks, twining his arms around my waist from behind. He’s in jeans and a shirt, and his hair is spiky from the shower. I like this unkempt side to him. I’m the only one to see it.
“Yes.” My answer comes out softer as doubt about our future sets in. I lift my chin. It’s the last day. I’m not wavering now. “But I’ll grab something at home. I don’t dare be late today of all days.”
January wants me on hand once she and the bridesmaids start getting ready. I want to be across the state. Across the country. Best I can do is across the lodge.
He eases back and spins me around. “I can make a quick breakfast.”
“No, it’s fine.” I flatten my hands on his shoulders. “I appreciate you taking care of me these last few weeks.”
Uncertainty passes through his dark eyes. “No problem. It’s been . . . fun.”
My nervous giggle echoes loudly in the bathroom. “Is that what it’s been?”
“It’s been—”
An annoying chime starts in the bedroom, and I groan. “That’s alarm two. I think I missed the first one.”
I peel myself away from him and rush to grab my phone off the nightstand on the far side of the bed and silence the alarm.
He steps out of the bathroom, the towel still around his shoulders. His hair’s not combed neatly to the side yet. “Do you think after the reception we can talk?”
My heart creeps into my throat. I really do need to get going, but I can’t leave this hanging. Does he sound hopeful, or is that my wishful thinking? “About what?”
He’s hesitant, his jaw working. “Our arrangement.”
I rise on my tiptoes like anticipation is lifting me on a butterfly’s wings. “Yes?”
His brows are drawn together, and he stuffs his hands in his pockets. That’s not the stance of a guy ready to confess his love. Another buzzing fills the room.
“It’s mine.” He picks it up and does a double take at whatever’s on the screen. His expression goes blank, and he clicks the button on the side to silence it.
My third alarm goes off, and another awkward chuckle leaves me.
I’m entering mindfuck territory, and I have a job to do today.
My personal life needs to take a back burner.
Today, I’m going to be there for my family in a way I never have been before, and I can’t do that if I’m late yet again.
Besides, a ping comes from his phone. Whoever is trying to reach him is tenacious.
“You can take that. I really have to get going.”
“It can wait. I’ll walk you out.”
And confuse me some more? Turn my hope all topsy-turvy? I can’t handle that before walking into January’s wedding takeover. “It’s fine. I can pick up my stuff before I go.” I left a mild whirlwind of towels in the bathroom.
“Leave it. You don’t have time.” Another ping and his cheek twitches.
I hope everything’s okay. Perhaps it’s Iverson, and he’s too uncomfortable to answer while I’m here? I take him up on the tidying offer and scurry toward the door. Wedding first. Talk later. It’s been my mantra for enough days. I don’t have much longer to wait.
I almost blow him a kiss but that seems like something lovers do. Official lovers. I throw him a finger wave and rush out.
I push my damp hair back and duck into the mudroom. Where are my boots?
Right. They’re still in the garage. My cheeks flush at the memory, and I bite my lower lip when I smile. I nailed my head and we both laughed. It was silliness I haven’t experienced with a guy, and it was with Durban, of all people.
I carry my boots in so I can go out the front door. When I have one almost on, I huff out a breath. My phone. I left it in the bedroom. Ditching the boot, I rush through the house. The bathroom door is closed and his scruff trimmer is running.
Just as I grab my phone and turn, his phone screen lights up from where he must’ve tossed it on the bed.
My horseshoe necklace is lying next to it.
Crap. Did I really forget that too? Regardless, Durban’s got my back.
Smiling, I lift it, trying and failing not to look at the screen.
The chain stays dangling between my fingers.
Two missed calls from Natalie and two texts.
Natalie: Can we talk?
Natalie: I got offered that job in Bozeman.
Horror flushes through my body like a frigid autumn drizzle, and I curl my hands around my necklace. He’s been talking to Natalie?
She’s moving to Montana?
Are they even broken up?
My gut says yes, he wasn’t lying about that, but embarrassment nearly chokes me.
I’m so foolish. I got my hopes up, and he was just biding his time until Natalie graduated.
And of course, she realized she fucked up because he’s an amazing guy.
Here I am, a hopeless romantic. Who else would take an agreed-upon fling and make it into a fairy tale without the guy ever knowing?
His trimmer clicks off, and I jolt. I spin and sprint to the door on the balls of my feet, trying to be as quiet as possible. I was made a fool of once, and I won’t let it happen again. I can leave this arrangement with my head held high.
He told me once that I shouldn’t be blamed for taking a man at his word, so I won’t.
The tears gathering in my eyes say otherwise, but I blink them back as I slip out the door and run to my car, boots in my hands.
I’ve got a shit show I’m in charge of, and I’m going to do a damn good job of running it.
Hot tears roll down my cheeks, but I’m going to exit this situation with my head held high. Once I’m behind the wheel, I punch out a text to Durban. My heart breaks with each word, but it’s done.
I reverse and drive away from his place for the last time. I won’t be planning their wedding.
Durban
I walk out of the bathroom. The engine of Campbell’s car fades. I should’ve walked her to her car, given her a goodbye kiss, and pumped her up about the rest of the day, instead of cleaning up the towels, but I didn’t want her to worry about them.
I can’t believe I almost made her late by talking about us. Today will launch her career and help her family, and I almost made it about me.
My phone pings, and then starts ringing. Shit. I don’t know what Natalie wants, but we have no business together anymore.
I don’t look when I answer. “Hey, we do need to talk, and it’s about you not calling.”
“Whoa,” Haven says. “I can send smoke signals, but it takes too long.”
“Shit. Sorry. Thought you were Natalie. She’s been trying to call.”
“Why?”
“Good question.”
“Okay,” he says, like he wants to stay far away from the situation. “Do you have time to lend a hand? I’ve rounded all but one asshole steer that got out. He thinks he’s outsmarting everyone when he’s dumber than the rocks he thinks he’s trapped in. We need horses and ropes to get him out.”
“Yeah, I can be there in ten.” I hang up and see more notifications.
I hit Campbell’s first and read it three times, my stomach sinking lower each time until it slams to the floor.
Campbell: In case tonight’s too hectic, I wanted to say thanks for everything. You fulfilled your end of the deal. No more cleaning up my messes. See you around.
What the hell? Thanks for everything? See you around?
The back of my throat burns. She’s done with me?
A ping sounds just as another message from Natalie appears. Why the hell is she trying to get a hold of me now? I need to figure out my Campbell situation. The Natalie one is done.
Natalie: We should talk.
Her timing sucks, but then it always did.
Just another thing I ignored when I was with her.
I read her earlier messages. She got offered the job in Bozeman, and thought I’d care?
A missed call too? Why the hell has Natalie resurfaced?
Is she missing how she strung me along until I was no longer convenient?
I told Campbell once I wouldn’t do that to someone. I know exactly how it feels.
Does Natalie have some sixth sense that I’m moving on? We’re over and have been for weeks. She breaks up with me and then contacts me, like I should be diving for the phone? I deserve better than that.
After being with Campbell, I can look back on my relationship with my ex and see that it was one-sided. I put in all the effort, and that’s not what I want. I deserve to have someone champion me as much as I support her.
Grinding my teeth together, I punch out a message.
Me: There’s nothing to talk about. We’re done.
Natalie: It was a stressful time, but it’s over now.
It sure as hell is.
Me: So are we. Don’t call or text me anymore.
I stuff a hand through my combed hair. Does Campbell mean what she said?
Fuck. I’ve got a brother waiting and a steer to rescue, but I’d ditch them both to talk to Campbell.
I’ll see her at the reception. I can’t intrude on her day. We’ll have plenty of time to talk after her job is done and her uncle signs off on the land.
My gaze lands on the bedding, and something tugs at my brain. I frown, waiting a beat. The necklace. I need to bring that with me to return to her. I found it on the bathroom counter and laid it by the phone so I wouldn’t forget.
It’s gone. Frowning, I search the blankets, growing more frantic by the second. It was right here. I didn’t move anything but my phone, and it’s not like someone else could’ve taken—
Shit. Did Campbell come back for it when I was in the bathroom? Did she see the messages? Does she think I’m getting back with Natalie?
The pit in my gut knows she saw them. Every word. She practically gave me her blessing. Thanks for everything. See you around.
Goddammit.