She tilts her head back and scans my face. I remain impassive, and when she sees I’m not giving in, she scowls, releasing me and dragging me back to our chairs. The beach is mainly empty except for some shell collectors and one group of guys setting up a volleyball game. I catch their ogling as we pass with my very irritated Claire ranting incoherently. A surge of jealousy spikes inside when one of them openly rakes his eyes over her. Then I think about how ridiculous we look. A petite blond, with a killer body in a black bikini, hauling a man my size behind her, attached wrist-to-wrist. His eyes meet mine, and he jerks his chin in approval, smirking.
When we get to the chairs with our towels, she chooses the one closest to them and plops down, huffing. I scoot my chair close, lie back, and situate us so our hands are pressed to my thigh.
“Sun, sand, fresh air. Relax and try to enjoy,” I advise, closing my eyes and ignoring her death glare.
“Oh, I’m going to relax and enjoy,” she fumes.
I begin to doze, feeling her fidget and smiling to myself. She has no idea, but I’m cataloging every glare, every argument, and every piece of resistance for when the time is right.
“Are you going to sleep?”
“I’m resting, you should try it.”
“Okay, I will.” She shuffles again and settles.
After a bit, I hear the volleyball game going and the cheers become noisier. Then the whistling starts, growing louder and louder. The ball hits somewhere close, and a man’s voice apologizes, Claire softly giggling. This happens a few times, and an uneasy feeling stirs in my gut. When it happens again, I open my eyes and turn my head to the side.
Red-hot anger boils in my blood, and murder comes to mind. I lunge over, covering her now naked chest with my own.
“What the FUCK?”
She gasps, her blue eyes smoldering. “I’m relaxing and enjoying getting some sun without tan lines.”
“Where is your top?” I don’t wait for her answer, seeing it draped over the top of the chair.
I snatch it and grasp the back of her thighs, linking her legs around my waist. Whistles fill the air when I surge to my feet, bringing her with me, and march toward the building.
“I’m a pretty easy-going man. Steady, levelheaded, generally relaxed. You’ve just unleashed the beast, baby, and you’re going to pay for it,” I bite out, the vision of her tits on display filling my head.
“Bring it on,” she challenges.
I grind my teeth, trying to find calm before we hit her condo. Nothing works. She wanted the Bennett brother treatment; she’s about to see exactly what her stunt did to me.
Chapter 7
Claire
Finally!
It was bold, it was ballsy, and it was the most provocative decision I’ve ever made, but removing my top was the only thing that came to mind to shove him over the edge.
These last few days have exp
osed a side of Mathis that I never knew was possible. Nothing could have prepared me for the avalanche of emotions I was capable of. It didn’t take long to break down my resistance and crush all the years of heartache and heartbreak.
The pain of leaving him was nothing compared to reliving all the years apart and the perceptions in my mind of our relationship. Saying them out loud to him seemed pointless, but he disagreed, urging and demanding I tell him everything. I gave in and ripped my soul open, talking and crying until my voice was hoarse and throat was raw. There was a part of me that expected him to be horrified, but his reaction was completely opposite.
He didn’t let me go. Even when I begged and pleaded to get some space, he cradled me close, soothing and loving me in a way that healed my pain.
Then he took over. He told me everything on his mind, apologized profusely, and promised there would never be anything this fractured between us again. His heartfelt confessions paired with his unwavering declarations of love and obsession—I never stood a chance.
And that was it. I no longer had doubts or concerns. It’s crazy how fast my mind and my heart went from one extreme to the other and pieced back together. The familiar lovesick feelings are stronger because now I know I had lived with my own misguided sense of righteousness.
Done. Over. Disappeared into thin air.
I didn’t lie to him this morning; he can trust me not to run away. Because, just like the first night all those years ago, I know there is no other man for me.
The morning he snuck into the condo feels like a lifetime ago, and with all my insecurities bared, I’ve craved the intimacy between us.