Infraction (16 page)

He growled, stood up, and then leaned across the table. His fingers grabbed hold of
my jaw, pulling me toward him. Lips pressed to mine, pouring passion into them, biting
my lower lip as he pulled back.

His thumb swept across my bottom lip, then the back of his fingers caressed my cheek.
“I’m trying to be good here, baby, but if you keep this up I will pull out my cock
right here, onlookers be damned.”

“You should know by now that whenever you want me I’m yours.”

He took my hand in his and brought it to his lips, placing light kisses. “I know,
baby, and don’t think I won’t take full advantage of it in the future. In public,
in private, I’ll take you when I want.”

I wiggled in excitement for that day to come. He sat back down and stared at me with
a heated look.

As we worked on our dinner, conversation flowed, fingers caressed, and happiness surrounded
us. It was the lightest I’d ever felt.

I wanted every day to feel like this.

The outdoor heaters kept the chill out of the fall air, along with the wine in our
system. Nathan no longer objected to the wine since I wasn’t on any medications that
could have bad interactions with it.

“Come on,” he said, getting up from his chair and walking over to me.

“Where are we going now?” I asked as he scooped me up in his arms.

He smiled at me and kissed my forehead. “Dessert.”

“The bedroom?”

He laughed out loud at my comment and shook his head. “No, I have something else planned
before I take you there and have my wicked way with you.”

Nathan carried me down a small path toward the pool house. The lights were off, a
soft glow was created by a candelabra sitting on a small table with a bottle of something
and a covered plate. There was a double-wide padded lounge chair covered in blankets
that Nathan sat me on before pulling the blankets around me.

He then pulled the cork off what turned out to be champagne. He poured two glasses,
handing one to me, then sat down under the covers next to me. It was so romantic,
and nothing I could have foreseen happening to me in my life. I sipped the bubbling
wine while he pulled the plate and a couple of napkins over. He took the cover off,
and I licked my lips in anticipation; there were chocolate covered strawberries filling
the dish.

He picked one up, placed it at my lips, and I bit into it, the juice from the berry
leaking out and dripping down my chin. Nathan took care of it, his head leaning down,
tongue lapping at the trail, following it back up to my lips where he kissed me.

I grabbed one and mimicked him, placing it in front of his mouth. He flicked his tongue
at the end and smirked at me before biting into it.

I wanted to be the berry.

I leaned forward and kissed him before he was even done, catching him by surprise.
He moaned against my lips and leaned into me, his fingers caressing my neck.

His lips moved against mine, his tongue seeking mine as a strong, slow pace settled
over us, and it was different than any other time. His strong hands held the feverishness
of his touch, but they were lighter, almost reverent, as they moved along my skin.

“Feel how much I want you, how much I need you. It’s all for you, baby, only for you,”
he whispered, planting kisses along the length of my neck.

It was petting, making out, warming up. Normally we were so worked up that we passed
the bases and exploded. He was taking over my body, wrapping me in his warmth, his
love.

We stayed under the stars cuddled under the blanket, reveling in each other deep into
the night. We were enjoying being together without anything holding us back for the
first time.

C
HAPTER
16

F
inally, after so long, my cast was off. My ankle was very stiff, and I’d lost some
muscle, but I could walk on my own, shower without the blue boot, and my freedom returned.
I couldn’t keep the smile off my face as we left the doctor’s office, regardless of
how much cave woman leg hair was revealed under that damn thing. Nathan was chuckling
at me. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close as we walked to his
car.

“If I’d known it would make you this happy I would have ripped that damn thing off
of you weeks ago. It got in the way,” he whispered in my ear, nipping at my lobe.

“Mmm, yes, but we managed just fine.”

He smirked at me. “You didn’t get knocked in the head by it multiple times. Really
ruins the mood.”

I swatted at his arm. “It didn’t seem to stop you regardless. And seeing as you had
a lobotomy, no harm done.”

We stopped in front of the car and he pulled my body flush with his. “Yes, well, I
was inside you for the first time in over two months. Do you really think anything,
including the ending of the world, could have made me stop?”

I smiled up at him, biting my lip. “Come on, let’s go home.”

“Excited about something, baby?”

“Yes! A shower without the blue boot!”

He stared down at me, balking. “A shower?” He pouted.

“Yes, but you know very well what can be done in the shower.” I winked up at him.
“Thanks to all those handles you installed.”

His eyes darkened, his fingers clenching. “Shower it is!”

I giggled, yes giggled, at his excitement and got into the car.

Life had taken a definite turn for the better. I was happy for the first time ever.

I had freedom since my cast was removed and was in physical therapy to help gain back
strength in my leg. It was incredible to be able to walk on my own and get around,
doing everyday simple tasks I took for granted before.

My next step was to drive, and I couldn’t wait to do that again.

I’d already planned how it was going to go, but I hadn’t told Nathan. I turned to
him after work on a Friday before sitting down for dinner. “I’m going car shopping
tomorrow.”

“Sounds good. Let’s eat,” he said, pulling my chair out for me.

“Without you.”

He held his breath and looked at me in what seemed like slow motion. “Why?” The word
was drawn out.

“I want to do this with Andrew. You know I love how possessive you get, but I need
to focus on buying a car tomorrow, not worry about how worked up you might get when
a slick car salesman gives me a look that has nothing to do with desire and everything
to do with making a sale.”

“I wouldn’t –”

“You would, and you do. Andrew’s more reserved and doesn’t react like you do. Even
if he did, it wouldn’t matter, because I don’t feel that way about him.”

“What way?” He frowned, holding onto his anger, trying to tamp down his natural reaction
to go off.

“The way I feel about you. If Andrew gets jealous, oh well. I mean, I don’t want him
to feel that way about me, but if he did –”

“He does.” Nathan’s lips twitched.

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “It doesn’t matter. What I’m saying is I can’t focus
on buying a car; not if you’re going to try and claim me during the test drive to
prove something that doesn’t need to be proved. I’ve already discussed it with Drew,
he’s done the research for me, he’s knowledgeable about cars, and I trust him.”

“I don’t.” His hands gripped the edge of the table, knuckles white from the force.

“You should. He’s done nothing to warrant your distrust.” My voice went soft, and
I made it as soothing as possible. I reached out and touched the back of his hand.
“Please, don’t fight me on this. It’s not a big deal.”

“I want to be a part of these types of things in your life,” he said, his eyes pleading
with me.

“And you will. But this one I need to be as stress-free as possible.” I gave him a
sympathetic smile. “Please, trust me.”

“I do.” He blew out. “I’m trying to trust him.”

I opened up his hand, releasing it from the table and leaned my head against his open
palm. “Drew and I were a long time ago, and it was nowhere near the depth of us. I
tried to open up to him, but he didn’t understand.”

“He never will, because he’s never had to go through something terrible.”

I kissed the inside of his hand. “Let’s talk to him about this tomorrow. Give him
ground rules.”

“Give him a cup because he’s gonna need it if he gives you any look I don’t want.”

I shook my head. It was never going to change, no matter what I said. “Men.”

“I’m serious – I’ll kick him in the nuts so hard he won’t be able to sit in any damn
car you choose to test drive.”

“I’m sure you will.” I kissed his cheek, sat down, and he dished up my plate for me
so we could finally eat.

Andrew showed up the next morning, smiling and radiating with excitement.

Nathan was the opposite.

“Hey, we need to talk for a minute before we leave to go do this,” I said.

He nodded, then gave Nathan a wary look. “What’s going on? Did you punch a hole in
her bedroom wall?”

“No.” I smacked Andrew’s arm. “He would never do that to my place.”

“I don’t do that anymore, anyway,” Nathan grumbled.

“Yeah, whatever. I’ve heard you’re still doing that shit and smoking, which I don’t
like. Lila, don’t forget you quit smoking for a reason.”

I rolled my eyes. “Will you stop, already? We’re not discussing any of that. Quit
trying to meddle. Just listen for a minute.”

“Fine. What do you need to say that’s so important it’s keeping us from getting your
new car?”

“Sit down, please,” I said, motioning to the couch.

Andrew stood rigid in place. “No thanks. I’ll stay here.”

“Jesus,” Nathan gritted, crossing his arms over his chest. “You see… I told you he
wasn’t going to listen to you.”

“I’ll listen to anything she has to say as long as it makes sense.” Andrew flexed
his biceps, which wasn’t as impressive – he was so skinny.

“Sit.” I pointed at the couch.

Andrew finally did as I asked, heaving an annoyed sigh as he did.

I stood between both of them and took a deep breath. Nathan took a seat across from
Andrew, glaring at him.

“I love you, Nathan, and only you,” I said before turning to Andrew and speaking
to him. “I’m so happy with Nathan. I love our friendship, but that’s all it will ever
be. I hate seeing the two men most important to me duking it out all the time. This
fighting is making me not happy. Do you really want me to be
not
happy?”

They both stared up at me and looked at each other before speaking at the same time.
“Okay.”

“Keep your hands off her,” Nathan said, leaning forward and holding his hand out,
offering it to Andrew.

Andrew grinned, taking Nathan’s hand. “Hurt her again, Thorne, all bets are off, and
I will kick your ass. I may even run over it with her new car if the mood strikes
me.”

They both laughed and the air seemed clearer.

Men were strange creatures. I didn’t get it, but it worked, and I was able to leave
without worrying about Nathan being upset.

We spent an entire Saturday visiting car dealerships, trying out all the cars Andrew
had formed in his list.

By the end of the day, he had me shelling out way more than I’d anticipated, one and
a half times what I’d paid for my Malibu. I called Nathan to get his opinion, and
he agreed with Andrew.

The car buying expedition was what brought Nathan and Andrew’s friendship back together.
Their concern for my safety guiding them to find something they deemed best for me.
They were back to having lunch together a couple times a week.

“Tell me why I just spent forty grand on a car?” I asked Nathan as I filed away my
loan paperwork the following weekend.

“Because it’s a safe car, a good car, a really cool car, and insurance gave you ten
grand for your totaled one,” he said, wrapping his arms around my waist before continuing.
“That and it has tinted windows and a large back seat, making it real easy for me
to do very naughty things to you.”

I gasped in mock surprise. “You want to defile my new car?”

He shook his head, his lips ghosting across my skin. “No, I want to christen it by
fucking you like the good little slut you are, in it. I want those seats dripped wet
with your slick come, that’s what your car needs, and it’s what I need.”

I was looking at my car in a whole new light after his words.

Time was flying by with as busy as we were. Work was, as always, hectic. Adding to
our couple’s therapy, my physical therapy, Nathan’s kickboxing, and my art classes
and our dates out of town every weekend – there wasn’t a moment to breathe!

Busy, but every free moment we had was spent with each other. Always touching, the
physical dependence we had on one another was staggering at times.

Every night, we made dinner together, and I was even teaching Nathan how to cook.
We became very domesticated, and I had to admit it was…nice. More than nice. It was
bonding on a whole new intimate level.

It was hard to be locked together in the office all day and unable to tell him I loved
him, or kiss him, or ravage him – one of my favorite things. Just talking was difficult.
I couldn’t wait for the day when we would be free to express our feelings at any time.
In order to do that, one of us would have to leave, and I wasn’t ready for that yet.

Jack was close to rolling out the new policy, but we weren’t safe, even under the
new rules. We both knew time was winding down, but what we didn’t know was how long
we had to make any decisions.

It was a month after our first official date that a large arrangement of flowers was
delivered to my desk. Unfortunately we weren’t alone when the delivery was made; Caroline
and Tiffany were also in the office.

I pulled the card from the bouquet and opened it up. My heart swelled while I read
the words, while listening to Caroline gushing about the bouquet.