Torrid Affair(74)

“Ten years I’ve waited to do this,” he said in a low husky voice.

I opened my mouth to respond, but Nate swept in and planted his lips flush on mine. It was soft at first, his lips playing against mine. But we both grew hungry, and in the blink of an eye, a spark that refused to die became a burning fire. I opened my mouth for him, and his tongue swooped inside. Nate’s hands ran up my body and gripped the nape of my neck. It was gentle, yet firm. Tender, yet desperate. It was everything I’d craved in the last ten years.

My hands pressed against his chest, and his heart raced under his T-shirt. I deepened the kiss and ran my hands through his hair. Nate kissed my lips, my cheek, my neck. Neither of us could get enough of the other.

It was the way it had always been between us.

We both needed more.

I felt everything from one simple kiss. I felt alive. Parts of me that Julian had destroyed were coming back. I wasn’t spineless, and I refused to be beaten down.

When Nate pulled away, we were panting. I wanted more, but we couldn’t. I shook my head.

“Don’t,” he said. “Don’t run away now.”

“We can’t do this.”

“Ten years ago I had a choice to make, you or her. You begged me to choose you and I didn’t. For ten years I’ve lived with the wrong choice.” Nate framed my cheeks. “I let you get away once, Brie. I won’t do it again. I’ll fight whoever I have to, but if I’m who you want to run into the sunset with, I’m in. All in.”

I bowed my head and pressed it to his lips. “You have a family, Nate,” I cried. “This isn’t college.”

“No,” he spoke softly against my skin. “This is about making our own happily-ever-after.”

I pulled back from his arms. “I need to go.”

“Okay. I’ll let you go, but only because this is what you do. You need to think things through before you make your decision. But know that I’m not changing mine.”

I nodded, and he kissed me one last time before I turned around and walked away. When I reached my car, I was finally able to breathe. Nate was offering me everything I wanted, but there were other parties involved this time.

Primarily, a child.





Chapter 28





Nathaniel


One kiss changed it all.

I let her slip from my hands once before. I’d be a fool to let that happen again.

It took one touch for me to spiral back in love with her. Back to a love that had never disappeared. It was as though my heart had hit the pause button on me and Brielle. She was back in my life and I couldn’t stay away. I’d tried, but my heart pulled for her.

I needed everything from her. Her love. Her smiles. Her laughter. Her genuine kindness for Caleb. I needed to protect her.

For the past ten years I protected her from afar. I figured it was best. Fate had dealt us a crappy hand and kept us apart so I stayed away from her and hoped Julian provided the happiness she deserved. I was wrong. I was dead fucking wrong. She was miserable, and I felt I was to blame. The life she lived wasn’t a life. She was in constant fear of the man who vowed to protect her.

It was now my turn to not let her run. I vowed I’d be the man she needed me to be.

My decision was made. I couldn’t force her to leave Julian, though, not when she was so hurt by him. She would have to make that decision on her own. But my mind was made up. For the past ten years I lived the life I’d always wanted, but with the wrong person. Delaney wasn’t the woman I loved.

I couldn’t stay in a marriage that was failing. I couldn’t pretend to love her anymore. Neither of us was perfect, but over the years our differences had become battlegrounds. Her patience with Caleb was thin. She wanted to be involved in society clubs and I preferred to be home with Caleb.

We’d grown apart. I’d stayed with her because of Caleb, ten years too many. Now it was time to live for what I wanted. And I wanted Brielle. It was that simple.





Part III





Brielle


I didn’t know how or when the affair began. But it was torrid and ugly. I hurt everyone I’d ever loved. I became the worst version of myself, but never felt more alive.

I lied. I cheated.

I savored being with Nate.

Julian was the reason I died inside.

Nate was the reason I had a pulse.

I had no fucks left to give. No guilt left to feel.

Julian was an abuser. He didn’t deserve me.

Nate was the man I loved. I didn’t deserve him.

But I didn’t care because I was lost in the fake reality he and I built.

I was destined to fuck up everyone’s life.





Chapter 29





Brielle


After my encounter with Nate, I needed a moment to gather my thoughts so the first thing I did was give Julian a piece of my mind. When I arrived home, he was on the couch watching television. I marched right up to him, grabbed the remote off the coffee table, and shut it off.