“Okay. That’s not too much to ask.” I propped myself up and a sharp spike went through my head. Nathan may be right about postponing the bed gymnastics. “Help me, please.”
He grasped my pillow, and moved it and me against the headboard. He placed it on my lap and then himself on top of it. His weight was comfortable and solid on top of me, soothing better than an Advil.
“I meant what I said about starting over—despite knowing it’s not that simple between us anymore. If you won’t marry me...”
Nathan shook his head. Once.
“It means you’ll have to focus on finding someone else,” I finished. “I’m sure you can find a girl who’d marry you just for the privilege of being Mrs. Prince, but it’s too much to ask her to watch you be in love with someone else all summer. Most women can deal with being business partners. Not a lot want to be second best.”
“What does that mean for us?”
“I think it means—and this is me going for full honesty—that we’d keep it quiet like me and Preston.”
“You and Preston,” he repeated slowly.
“He and I talked about everything.”
“Does he know about Malcolm?”
I cringed as I did at every mention of his name. “I told him my story but said it was someone else’s. Afterward, we talked about this summer and what we both wanted. He has to marry Delilah. He said it’s not right to expect me to stay away from other guys since we can’t have a future together.” I tapped the tip of his nose. “But you want some more truth? I made peace with not having a future with any guy a long time ago. What was the point of hoping when Mal would never stand by and watch me be happy with someone else?
“It’s a handful of times I ignored that question for a guy I knew was worth it. Two of those times were you.” I lifted my shoulders. “I want to be with you, Nathan. Even if we only have the summer. Even though I’m falling for Preston too. In spite of you walking off this island with someone else. It’s you.”
I finished on a wave of uncertainty. Preston was his best friend and I was essentially asking him to share me. “Say something.”
Nathan pushed up his lips, eyes rolling to the ceiling. “Okay.”
“Okay? Okay what?”
“Okay,” he said. “You want me. Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Okay.”
“We have to stop saying that word,” I burst out.
He chuckled. “You can share me with every damn guy here, Belle. If it’s really cool with you and Preston, then it’s cool with me too.”
“Nathan, think about this. It’s not the exes-with-benefits package. I don’t want us to be like we were before. It may not be fair, but I can’t handle any less than the real thing.”
“Good because your ass was getting it.”
I let out an exasperated groan—though a smile quirked my lips. “It’s going to hurt when we say goodbye for a third time. Likely knock us on our asses for good.”
“It killed me to say goodbye to my dad, my grandmother, and, in many ways, my mom. But I wouldn’t trade a second with them for less pain now. It’s how you know you had people in your life who were worth a damn. There’s a lot of lonely bastards out there who’d give anything to have someone to miss. And every single one of them would line up to have their heart broken by you.”
I sniffed, eyes welling up. “I don’t feel like I’m offering you something that’s worth it. You’ve taken on enough pain to last twelve lifetimes.”
“Exactly.” Nathan laced my wringing hands through his. “Aren’t I due one last summer in love with you?”
Tears ran down my cheeks, catching and racing down the happy curve of my mouth. “I will need a rain check on the hot, monkey sex. My head is killing me. But count it down, in the next couple of days, I’m going to screw the mess out of you.”
“I accept these terms.” Nathan’s nose skimmed my chest, moving up to capture my greens in his browns. “Feel up to a kiss?”
“I think I can work through the pain—”
Nathan ended my sentence on his lips. Cupping his neck, I opened myself to him, tongues tangling to scramble my aching brain. Shivers rippled up and down my flesh, awakening the parts of me impatiently waiting for Nathan to finish what we started on the balcony. He pressed against me, digging his erection into my leg. As always, our bodies were in sync.
I rubbed him through his jeans. Nathan broke our kiss with an audible pop.
“Just can’t keep your hands off me, can you?” He pecked me just under my bandage. “If you don’t behave yourself, I’m sleeping on the chair.”
“I’ll behave.”
Nathan laid us both down and tucked the covers to my chin. I hid my smirk in my pillow as I wiggled my ass against him, teasing a groan.
“Fuck. I’m in for a long night.”
I WOKE ALONE THE NEXT morning.
“Nathan?”
Blearily, I sought the clock and noticed a slip of white beneath it.
Belle,
Hitched a ride with Hendrix into town to get a new phone. Didn’t want to wake you. We’ll keep misbehaving when I get back.
Three sentences and I was grinning like a fool.
Nathan was very firm the night before—in and out of his pants—and wouldn’t let me take things further. He held my wandering hands to my chest, kissed my shoulder, and whispered sweet things in my ear until I fell asleep.
The only thing sweeter would’ve been waking to him next to me. I’d make that happen tomorrow morning.
A knock lifted my head.
“Belle? Belle, are you awake?” Rosalie called through the wood. “We’ve brought up your breakfast.”
“One second.”
I went to the bathroom, slipped on a robe, and ran a quick brush through my hair. I opened the door to we.
Carter walked in behind Rosalie, carrying the tray.
“Scrambled eggs, fruit, and toast,” she said. “The doctor recommended simple meals until you’re back on your feet. How are you feeling, Belle?”
“Much better. Thank you.”
I followed as Carter set the food out on the balcony. I thought I saw him looking at me over the tea mug. I flicked to him but he was fixed on his task.
“Of course you’re excused from events for the rest of the week. Your team will handle the remainder of the party preparations.”
“I did get the deejay,” I said. “Booked and set to arrive an hour before the party. I’m sure I’ll be fine by Friday, so I can help with the setup.”
“You mustn’t push yourself.” Rosalie glanced at Carter pouring the hot water. “Belle, can we speak over here for a moment?” She led the way to the opposite corner of the room. “I want to apologize personally for what happened yesterday.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“I take responsibility either way.” She gestured for us to sit on my bed. “Choosing a partner is usually a private process. The average person doesn’t have dozens of people watching them make one of the biggest decisions of their lives. I understand and I try to give you as much freedom and privacy as possible. As a consequence, I wasn’t there to intervene.”