Chapter 8
RINSE, REPEAT, REGRET
NATALIE
It was Monday morning, and Will was coming over to talk. I wasn’t sure what more there was to say about my divorce, but a little chat wouldn’t hurt. At least, that’s what I told myself.
The truth was, I felt nervous. Not because I didn’t want to talk, but because I couldn’t stop thinking about Will.
I wanted him in my bed, plain and simple.
It had been months since I’d been with anyone, and my body ached with the kind of longing that was impossible to ignore.
But this wasn’t just physical—I craved Will.
Anytime I saw him, my body went into autopilot, unable to resist the pull.
But he had a girlfriend. A serious one, apparently, if he’d brought her to school. I needed to get him out of my head.
As if on cue, I got an email from Lucas.
Subject: Project Details
Hey!
Would you meet me at the restaurant later this week so I can introduce you to Jasper, the chef? We can go over more details for the project at the site. And perhaps after, you would let me take you to dinner Friday night at Broadway? 7 PM?
Lucas
A date with the charming Brit. Maybe that’s exactly what I needed to break this spell.
The clock snapped me back to reality. I was running behind and had to get the kids to school and get back in time for my meeting with Will.
He arrived right on time at 8:30. The doorbell rang, and I rushed to answer it, my pulse already racing. When I opened the door, there he was, standing on my porch with that perfect thick blond hair and those annoyingly piercing blue eyes. He held up two coffee cups.
“One vanilla latte,” he said, handing me one with a perfect smile.
“Thanks,” I said, smiling back. “Come in.”
I led him to the kitchen, where he leaned casually against the counter. His presence filled the room, and I couldn’t stop stealing glances at him.
“So, how was your weekend?” I asked, trying to keep things light.
“Great,” he replied. “Carter and Chase had a soccer tournament.”
“How’d they do?”
“Carter’s team took the championship,” he said with a proud grin. “Chase’s team made it to the semifinals but fell short. How was your weekend?” He asked.
“Farmer’s market, baseball, dance, the usual,” I said, shrugging.
He was watching me closely, his gaze lingering. The tension between us was impossible to ignore. I could feel it simmering just below the surface, like a spark waiting for oxygen.
“So,” I blurted, desperate to break the silence. “How’s your girlfriend?”
Why did I ask that?
He looked momentarily confused. “She’s fine,” he said slowly. Then, he tilted his head. “But aren’t we supposed to be talking about you?”
I felt my cheeks flush. “I guess that’s why we’re here,” I said softly.
“I wish you’d told me,” He said, his voice low. “I would have been there for you.”
“I know,” I said, my throat tightening. “But I needed to handle it on my own for a bit.”
He stepped closer, his gaze never leaving mine. He reached out and gently touched the tip of my nose with his finger, a playful gesture that sent shivers down my spine.
I parted my lips slightly, silently begging him to kiss me. His finger traced the bridge of my nose, then my lips. I couldn’t resist; I nipped at his finger lightly, eliciting a small smile from him.
His finger continued its path, moving down my chin to the top of my cardigan. Slowly, deliberately, he unbuttoned it, one button at a time, until it hung open, revealing the black lace bra I’d worn beneath it.
His fingers brushed down my stomach, tracing delicate lines that made my body quiver. His hand paused just above my waist. I should care about the mess this could make. But, all I could think was don’t stop. Please don’t stop.
“I shouldn’t do this,” he murmured, though his actions betrayed his words.
Then his hand slipped beneath my waistband, his fingers teasing me, tracing along my edges. My breath hitched as he moved lower, finally sliding one finger inside me.
I gasped, my hands instinctively reaching for him. I unzipped his pants, freeing him, and he was already hard and ready for me. Without hesitation, his hands moved to remove my leggings and panties. He lifted me onto the counter, his lips crashing into mine as I wrapped my legs around him.
In one swift motion, I guided him inside me, a sharp gasp escaping my lips as our bodies connected.
The world around us blurred, every thought dissolving until only the feel of him remained.
We moved together with an urgency that bordered on frantic, the rhythm between us instinctive and unrelenting.
His hands gripped my hips, fingers digging into my skin as he drove deeper, the intensity of it sending heat rippling through me.
His mouth found my neck, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin before he trailed hot, open-mouthed kisses down to my collarbone.
I arched beneath him, my nails raking down his back, desperate to pull him even closer.
“God, you feel incredible,” he rasped, his voice thick and ragged. The praise sent a rush of pleasure through me, a heady, dizzying thrill that made my pulse race.
My legs wrapped around him, pulling him even deeper, every thrust igniting something dark and consuming within me. His movements grew rougher, our bodies colliding with a force that left me trembling, the friction between us exquisite and unbearable.
He shifted, angling his hips just right, and I shattered. My body tightened around him, pleasure tearing through me with a ferocity that left me gasping, clutching at him as if he were the only thing keeping me tethered to the earth.
But he didn’t stop. He drove into me harder, his own control unraveling as he chased his release. I could feel the tension building in him, the way his breathing grew ragged, his muscles flexing beneath my touch.
I dug my nails into his shoulders, the pain mingling with pleasure as his pace grew more desperate.
His name spilled from my lips, a broken plea that only seemed to drive him wilder.
His mouth found mine, our kiss messy and scorching, our breaths mingling as we pushed each other past the edge of reason.
When he finally came, his release was raw and shuddering, his body pressed tightly against mine as if he could somehow fuse us together. We clung to each other, the aftermath leaving us tangled and breathless, our hearts pounding in sync.
He pulled me close, his forehead resting against mine.
“I miss you like crazy,” he whispered.
“Me too,” I admitted, my voice barely audible.
We stayed like that for a moment, holding each other, neither of us wanting to break the spell. Eventually, we pulled ourselves together, slowly getting dressed.
“I don’t have to be at The City Center till around 12:30,” I said.
“Same here,” he replied.
“Want to take a shower?” I asked, a playful smile tugging at my lips.
“With you?” he said, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes,” I said, laughing.
We made our way upstairs to my oversized bathroom. I started the shower, and steam began to fill the room as the water warmed. When we stepped into the stall, the heat of the water felt like a second skin. Will pulled me under the spray, his hands finding my waist as droplets cascaded over us.
His mouth found mine, the kiss deep and unrelenting.
My fingers found their way into his wet hair, tugging gently as the water ran down our faces.
His lips roaming from my neck to the hollow of my throat, lingering there as if he couldn’t get enough.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured against my skin.
I leaned back against the tile, gasping as his hands slid down my body.
The slickness of the water only heightened every sensation, making me more sensitive to his touch.
He knelt in front of me, his hands gripping my thighs as his mouth moved between them.
The steam curled around us as I arched into him, my hands braced against the wall for support.
When he rose again, his eyes locked on mine, and he lifted me effortlessly, pressing me against the cool tiles. I wrapped my legs around him as he entered me, the contrast of the cold tile and the heat of his body almost too much to bear.
We moved together, the rhythm slow at first, then faster as the tension built. The water washed away every thought except the way he felt inside me, the way he held me like I was the only thing that mattered.
We both reached the edge, our breaths mingling in the humid air. When we finally let go, it was like the world stopped spinning, leaving only the sound of water hitting the tile and our ragged breathing.
We stayed under the spray for a moment longer, laughing softly as he helped rinse the shampoo out of my hair. It was easy, intimate, and felt like a glimpse of what could be—if only.
As we stepped out of the shower, we began to dry off, reality creeping back in.
“I just made you cheat—twice,” I said, the guilt creeping into my voice.
Will turned to me, his expression serious. “Natalie, I want you. But I need you to be on board with everything I come with. I want someone who’s ready for all of it, for me, my kids, everything.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. “What about your girlfriend?” I asked quietly.
“Blake,” he said, finally saying her name. “She seems willing to do it all. She wants the role.”
Hearing her name made my stomach flip. It felt too real now, too raw.
“Will, I’ve told you before, I can’t be a stepmom. I can’t take that on.”
He ran a hand through his hair, frustration etched across his face. “Then what the fuck, Natalie? You bring me here, seduce me, but you don’t want anything more?”
Tears filled my eyes. “I don’t know why I let this happen,” I said, my voice cracking. “My body and soul want you, but I don’t know how to make it work.”
He stepped closer, his hand cupping my cheek as he wiped away a tear. “I still love you, Natalie,” he said softly. “I want all of you. But if you can’t deal with my children and trying to make it work, I have someone who does.”
His words were a dagger to my heart. “I don’t know what to say, Will.”
“Call me when you figure it out,” he said, his voice heavy with disappointment.
And then he walked out the door, leaving me standing there, shattered.