Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
RHETT
“I’m sorry about Gina,” I said, while handing Natalie a glass of wine. After the reception, we went back to the hotel and packed up our shit. We lucked out and caught a late flight home, because I could sense that Natalie didn’t want to spend a second longer in that city than she needed to.
“You don’t need to apologize. I know you wouldn’t have gone after Levi if he hadn’t provoked you.”
My fingers ran up and down her arm. “Yeah, but you and Gina were close. Maybe once she calms down, she’ll reach out.”
Hopefully, she’ll have a better attitude.
It’s only been a day, but I was still holding out hope that Gina would come to her senses. Her anger might have been justified, but if she was going to be pissed at someone, it should have been me. I might have thought Gina was a selfish bitch, but she was still somebody important to Natalie. It made me angry at how loyal my wife was to her friends, especially when they didn’t deserve it .
“Maybe.” She sighed. “At least we don’t have to hide anymore. We don’t have to pretend that we barely know each other. Once we talk to our families, we can just be Rhett and Natalie.”
“Do you really think Levi is going to keep this news to himself?” I asked, kicking my feet up on the coffee table. I didn’t see how this was going to be good for us.
She sipped her wine. “Probably not. That’s why the sooner we get this out in the open, the better. I meant what I said, Rhett. I love you. No matter what happens, that’s not going to change.”
I leaned forward to press a kiss to the side of her head. “What do you think is going to happen?”
“Well, for one, your family will likely hate me. And Beau, I don’t want to even think about what he’ll do. Hell, the whole world might have an issue with us being together, but I don’t care. I’m committed to making this work.”
She had no idea what those words did to me. Every second we were together, I fell harder and harder.
I threw an arm around her shoulder. “You know I don’t care what people think, right?”
She rested her head on my arm. “Yes. I wish I could be more like you. I wish I didn’t care so much.”
She obviously was thinking about Gina.
I tugged her against my chest. “You’re perfect just the way you are.”
“You think I’m perfect, huh?”
I smirked, running my hand up along her cheek. “I know so, and I’m never wrong.”
She shook her head. “You’re crazy.”
I stared into those baby blue eyes that I loved so much. “Crazy for you.”
She snorted. “And cheesy. ”
I tightened my arms around her. “I like holding you. It makes me feel useful.”
She cried all the way back to the hotel yesterday. Never in my life have I felt so helpless. I was a guy, and I was used to fixing things. If my tire was low, I put air in it. If the TV wasn’t working, I could figure out why. Hell, I could even hang drywall if someone asked me to. If there was a problem and I didn’t know what to do, I could write a check to someone who did. But this wasn’t something I couldn’t solve or fix.
She lifted her head. “I know we still have to deal with our families. But oddly enough, I’m looking at the bigger picture.”
I kissed the top of her head. “Speaking of families. How do you feel about meeting mine?”
She closed her eyes. “I’m dreading the thought of it.”
I laughed. “I promise, they’re not that bad.”
“Somehow, I find that hard to believe.”
I leaned in, my mouth fighting a smile. “I think I’m going to have to loosen you up a bit before you meet them. You are way too tense.”
Gently, she pulled on my shirt. “What did you have in mind?”
I darted my tongue out and teased her lips before she opened for me. My hands coasted up and down her arms. Our lips met, soft and gentle at first, but when Natalie moaned into my mouth, I gripped the back of her head, making her squirm. I wanted her to keep making those noises. It spurred me on, knowing I could do this to her, and it sucked that I had to stop.
I slowed the kiss and backed away from her mouth. “There is a lot more where that came from, but first, I want to feed you. You’ve barely eaten anything since yesterday. ”
She threw her head back against the couch. “You’re seriously thinking about food right now?”
I pulled on her bottom lip. “Don’t pout. It’s my job to take care of you now. If I have to withhold sex from you, I will. So, please eat something so I don’t have to do that because I really like having sex with you.”
“Fine,” she grumbled. The woman was absolutely adorable. “But you better make it worth my while later.”
“You are a big fat cheater!” she yelled, looking at the dice. “I know for a fact that you flipped it over when I went to get a glass of water.”
Maybe if she had eaten more of her dinner, I would have played by the rules. Honestly, though, this was a hell of a lot more fun, so I didn’t feel an ounce of guilt.
“How dare you accuse me of cheating. You’re just jealous because I got a Yahtzee three times now, and you had to cross it off your list.” I gave her a shit-eating grin, not bothering to mention that she also had to cross off four of a kind. “Now, lose the pants, sweetheart.”
She huffed. “No.”
She had already shed her socks, shirt, and sweatshirt. I thought playing Yahtzee with a twist would help her relax a bit. Whenever we crossed something out, we had to remove an article of clothing.
“Those are the rules you agreed to.”
She crossed her arms. “I should have said no to this stupid idea when you proposed it.”
I rubbed at my jaw, keeping my gaze fixed on her lace bra that hid absolutely nothing. “Can you prove I cheated?”
She held my gaze. “You are an asshole. ”
I leaned forward. “Drop. The. Pants.”
She took a deep breath and skimmed her eyes over my chest. She had no idea the level of self-control I was exercising at that moment.
Natalie glanced away, biting her bottom lip. Something in her expression caused me to pause.
I pushed the game aside and reached for her. “What’s that look for?”
She looked away. “Nothing.”
Bullshit! Why the hell was she so nervous all of a sudden?
“Look me in the eye and tell me it’s nothing.”
“It’s stupid.”
I pulled her down in my lap, hoping she would tell me what was going on in that pretty little head of hers. “Why don’t you let me be the judge of that.”
She rolled her lips together and took a deep breath. “This is humiliating, and I can’t believe I’m actually admitting this out loud, but you’re Mr. Perfect without a flaw on his body, and I’m just me, with dimpled thighs and a soft stomach.”
What the hell? I had no idea how to respond, so I cracked a joke because she was crazy if she believed that.
“You think I’m perfect?”
She smacked my chest. “You know damn well that you don’t have to worry about how you look.”
My face turned hard. “That’s what this is about?”
“You date models or women who don’t have a single flaw on their body.”
I leaned forward and ran my hands along her thighs. “Let’s get something straight right here and right now. I don’t give a fuck about anyone else. I couldn’t even tell you the names of those women you see on my Instagram. They were nothing to me but a way to pass the time. You have no reason to be self-conscious, not with me or anyone.” She started to pull away, but I gripped her legs, stopping her. “You’re not going anywhere until you admit that I’m right.”
She looked down at her lap. “I know you mean that, but I hate feeling that if I wasn’t enough for Levi, how am I supposed to believe that I’ll ever be enough for you?”
“This is crazy. I’m the one who should be worried. When I look at you, I don’t just see a beautiful woman with a great figure. I see your kindness, and I feel your empathy. Your ambition is sexy as fuck, and your sense of humor puts a smile on my face every God damned day.” I cupped her face in my hands, wiping away a tear that leaked from her eye. “Up until you, nothing in my life mattered. Maybe that’s why I never took it so seriously. There have been lots of people who have come and gone, and you are the only one I can’t live without.”
She rested her head on my shoulder. “You always know how to make me feel better. You make everything okay.”
I kissed the top of her head. “I’ll always remind you of how amazing you are.”
She leaned closer, and her eyes softened. “Thank you for loving me.”
“Always.” I winked.
Her fingers slid into my hair, pulling me closer and taking my lips with hers. Natalie’s hands started moving over my chest and arms, like she was exploring every inch of me. I hoped to God I put whatever fears and doubts she had to rest. The woman was my reason for breathing. She was my everything.
She pulled back and brushed her fingers across my face. “Do you still want me to strip for you?”
My eyebrows bent in confusion. “Hell, yeah, I do.”
She stood up and slowly started sliding her leggings off. My jaw ticked when she lifted her knee to pull the fabric past her feet. This playfulness was such a contradiction to how she was a few minutes ago. She was giving me whiplash, but there was no doubt in my mind that she was absolutely perfect for me. Life with her would never be boring, that was for sure.
“Natalie, please tell me this is going where I think it’s going. I’m so turned on right now that if I don’t get to touch you in the next second, I might die.”
My chest rose and fell, watching her slip her hands inside the waistband of her panties and slide them off, completely exposing herself to me.
“Here you go.” She held out the thong and dangled it along her fingers. “I’m going to bed, and I really hope you’ll join me.” She threw them in my lap and sauntered away.
I chased her into the bedroom. She squealed when I lifted her up and threw her over my shoulder.
“Put me down. You’re going to throw your back out.”
“Please.” I rolled my eyes and dropped her on our mattress. “My gym bag weighs more than you.” She grinned while I took another step forward. “And to be clear.” I pulled my shirt over my head and started removing the rest of my clothes. “I totally cheated at Yahtzee.”
“I like a man who is honest.” She licked her lips with a hungry look in her eyes.
I moved over the top of her and ran my stubble over her soft cheeks. “I’ll always be honest with you, baby.”
I crashed my lips down to hers, gripping the sides of her face. I needed to touch her everywhere. I couldn’t stop. The woman was gorgeous, and the fact that she was questioning it was mind-blowing. I never understood why women put so much pressure on themselves to look perfect. Sure, I had a six-pack and was blessed with good DNA, but those features didn’t make me any different from millions of other guys.
I moved my hands slowly over every dip and curve, loving how she felt under my palms. I wanted to take my time and appreciate all of her. My lips were everywhere. My hands went to her exposed breast. She moaned when I sucked a nipple in my mouth. “You are perfect, Natalie. You are beautiful way beyond your physical appearance.” I glided my hands down her sides, and I threw a leg over my back. “Don’t ever question that again.” I slid my finger in and out of her while her hand gripped my cock. We were both drawing pleasure from each other, but I needed to be inside her.
She smiled up at me. “You really do have a big, soft heart.”
I braced my tip at her entrance and filled her completely. “I told you before, there is nothing soft about me.” I moved, keeping my eyes on her the entire time. I’ve had my fair share of sexual encounters, but this felt different. It felt like I was making love. There was no other way to describe it. I had no idea it could feel this way.
Natalie grabbed on to my arms as I continued to rock inside her with this insane need to send her over the edge. I gently pulled back and kissed her slowly. I wanted her to feel everything. I wanted her to watch me move over the top of her and love every single second of it.
I was giving her a piece of myself that I’d never given anyone before. It made me question how I had been able to live all these years without her.
My jaw tightened as I pushed deeper. We both came together. Neither one of us spoke. We allowed our emotions to do all the talking.
I tucked her against my side, giving in to the exhaustion. My heart felt lighter, but my mind was still racing with worry. Tonight felt like the calm before the storm.
Our families would have to accept this because I would not allow their disapproval to tear us apart.