Chapter 7

Seven

Nick

" A re you sure about this? I don't know if this is a good idea."

"Trust me. It'll work," Ethan says. "Monica is hot. There's no way Chloe will be able to ignore her being all over you." Monica is a friend of ours who went away to school in Arizona, but she's back to visit for the week. While there's never been anything even remotely romantic between us, there's no denying how beautiful she is. Ethan talked her into doing some heavy flirting with me tonight to make Chloe jealous. What Chloe doesn't know, is that Monica actually found her mate at school a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately for us, he has other commitments, and he's not joining her here in Pinewood until tomorrow night.

"It seems a little mean, if you ask me," Monica says as the three of us find a place to sit around the fire.

"Chloe has been a little mean," Ethan says.

"She's not mean," I say, feeling the instinct to defend her.

"Dude, she's been dragging you through the mud since you saw her at the graduation party Saturday night." It's true. She has. But I'm not incapable of seeing why she's having such a hard time with this. "Look," Ethan says, "you've apologized. You've fucked. You're mates. It's time to get the fuck over the past and move on."

"Wait, so she still hates you, but she slept with you?" Monica asks.

"Something like that," I say, shaking my head and throwing a stick into the fire.

"It doesn't sound like she hates you at all," Monica says.

"She told him she loves him, but then she took it back the next day," Ethan says.

"Okay, I'm obviously missing something here," Monica says. "What did you do to her?"

I sigh and shake my head.

"He took her virginity at prom, walked out on her, and then didn't speak to her until a year later when he found out they're mates a few nights ago," Ethan says, like it's no big fucking deal to air my dirty laundry.

"What the fuck, man?" I say, punching him in the arm.

"Oh," Monica says, nodding. "I understand why she's been mean."

"Look, I fucking regret it, but I can't take it back. I've done my best to say I'm sorry."

Monica looks at me and sighs. "You did a stupid thing, but I know you're a good guy, Nick. You're one of the few guys I'd agree to hang all over while my mate is in another state, which he wasn't thrilled about, by the way. But, I want to help you get your girl."

I nod. "Thanks, Monica."

"I'm going to lay it on thick. Are you good with that?"

"Yep, let's do it. I really fucking hope this works."

"Look who just showed up," Ethan says.

Monica stands and says, "I'll be right back. I'm going to get a drink. When I get back, we'll see if we can get Chloe to show you how she really feels. "

Chloe

"Is he here? Do you see him?" I ask Mia when we arrive at Kate's bonfire party.

"He's straight across from us, sitting next to Ethan," Mia says.

"God, he looks good." He's wearing a pair of faded jeans and a dark blue shirt that clings to his sculpted chest and arms. His blonde hair is a little extra wavy on top tonight. He's always so effortlessly sexy. "Do I look okay?" I ask, turning to Mia.

"Girl, please. You look amazing." I wore my tiny jean shorts with a tank top, but there's a chill in the air tonight, so I threw a little flannel shirt over the top, leaving it unbuttoned and tied at my waist. "And, you've been noticed," Mia says. "He's staring at you. Actually, I think he's glaring. Honestly, I can't tell if he wants you, or if he's pissed off at you," she says with a light laugh.

I turn around to look, but what I see isn't what I was expecting. Monica Taylor, who is two years older than me, and totally, drop dead gorgeous, walks over to them. Nick and Ethan both stand and greet her with huge smiles. Ethan hugs her, and then Nick picks her up in a big hug, swinging her around. Not only that, but when he sets her down, she lingers with her arms around his neck, and he leaves his hands around her waist. He smiles down at her as they clearly have a close, intimate conversation.

My blood is boiling.

"Oh," Mia says.

"What the hell is she doing here?" I say, crossing my arms. "Shouldn't she be in Arizona?"

Mia shrugs. "I guess she came back for a visit. I wouldn't read too much into it," Mia says. "They never dated or anything." She takes my arm and pulls me along. "Come on, let's go get a drink."

While we're standing at the drink table, I position myself so I can see them without making it obvious. Monica is sitting between them with her arm looped around Nick's. He laughs as she whispers something in his ear, and I think I feel a blood vessel pop in my forehead.

"Here you go," Mia says, handing me a cup. "Let's go find a place to sit."

"Look at her," I say when we sit on a bench across the fire from them. "She's all fucking over him. Has he decided to move on? Is that what's happening here?"

"Stop," Mia says. "He's not really doing anything. She's the one touching him. I'm sure if you went over there you'd have his full attention."

"I shouldn't have to go over there. If he's as devoted to me as he says he is, he shouldn't be letting some other girl hang all over him."

"Uh oh," Mia says, looking down into her cup. "Maybe don't look over there right now."

My mouth drops open and I gasp when I see Monica slide over onto Nick's lap. She crosses her legs and drapes her arms around his neck. He's all fucking smiles while she leans into him and laughs. Then he puts his hand on her fucking thigh. Oh, no. Huh uh. That's it. I can't take it anymore. I set my cup down on the ground and stand up.

"What are you doing?" Mia says with wide eyes.

"He's mine. I'm going over there." I walk with purpose around the big circle toward Nick. When I'm about halfway there, he says something to Monica, and she gets up and leaves. Wise choice, lady. Ethan sits with a smirk on his face, and Nick looks up at me when I stop right in front of him. "Do you mind telling me what the hell you think you're doing?"

Nick frowns and shrugs. "I'm sitting with my friends at a bonfire, just like you."

"Oh, really? Was Monica Taylor just being your friend while she was draped all over your fucking lap?" I feel the tears reaching the surface. I see a look of satisfaction on his face until a couple of tears trickle down my cheeks. "You know what, Nick? Whatever. Do what you want," I say as more tears fall, and I walk away .

"Chloe, wait," Nick says, and I hear his footsteps behind me. "Chloe." I ignore him and keep walking. "Chloe, stop," he says, reaching me and taking hold of my arm. He turns me around to face him. "Talk to me."

"Talk to you about what? About how you decided to move on?"

He sighs. "Chloe, I haven't moved on."

"It sure as hell looked like it," I say, wiping tears away.

"You gave me the impression yesterday morning that you didn't care. You said we were a big mistake. If we were such a mistake then why the fuck are you so jealous right now?"

"I'm not…I—" I can't hold it in any longer. I put my face in my hands and let out a hard sob.

Nick releases a heavy sigh and pulls me into his body, wrapping his arms around me. "Shit. Don't cry, Chloe." He pulls back and raises my chin. He wipes away my tears and kisses my forehead. "Baby, don't cry. I'm sorry. It was a stupid idea."

"What was a stupid idea?" I ask as I calm my breathing.

"Monica. Ethan talked her into flirting with me. He thought it would make you jealous, and then you'd know how you really feel. You don't have anything to worry about. Monica found her mate a couple of weeks ago. She's harmless."

"You were trying to make me jealous?"

"Yes. Once again, I'm sorry," he says, shaking his head.

Some of this is my fault. I've driven him to this by pushing him away. "No. Stop apologizing. I think I'm the one who should be apologizing this time."

"But I just?—"

"No, Nick. You keep telling me how sorry you are for everything, and I…I believe you."

"You do?"

I nod. "And, I'm sorry I said telling you I love you and sleeping with you was a big mistake. That's not how I really feel. I'm just scared, Nick."

"I know you are," he says, pulling me into another hug and kissing the top of my head. "And I get why, but I promise it'll be different this time, Chloe. I didn't mean to hurt you with the whole Monica thing. I just?—"

"You just wanted me to see what was right in front of me."

"Do you?"

I pull back and look up at him. "I already did, Nick. I wanted to talk to you tonight even before I saw Monica all over you. I know my birthday is in two days, but I don't want to waste any more time. I want to be happy with you now."

"You do?" I smile at him and nod as I look into his eyes. He lifts my chin and kisses me gently. "And you're sure this time?" he asks with a smile.

"I've never been surer of anything."

He holds my face with both hands and leans down to kiss me. Brushing his tongue past my lips, he deepens the kiss as he releases a low growl. "Come here," he says, pulling me by the hand until we reach a large log out of the way of everyone else. He pulls me down to sit on his lap, and this time it's me wrapping my arms around his neck, and it's my thigh that his hand is touching. He rubs his hand up and down my thigh, while his other hand rubs my back and occasionally grips my hair as he kisses me. We must sit and just kiss like this for at least a couple of hours. When we look back at the party, the fire is dying, and there are only a few people left.

"Oh, God. I forgot about Mia."

"I think she's occupied," Nick say nodding his head toward Mia making out with a guy from Nick's class.

"Oh, good," I say with a little laugh.

"Did you drive?" Nick asks.

"No, I rode with Mia."

"I'll take you home."

"Okay, I'll just text her and let her know." I text Mia and see her break her lips away from her make-out buddy long enough to text me a thumbs up .

Nick

Chloe and I walk hand in hand back to my Jeep, where I open her door for her, and kiss her before I close her inside. I'm finally getting everything I want. I get to start my life with Chloe Harper.

When we get to Chloe's house, I open the Jeep door for her and take her hand as I walk her up to the front door. "This was a good night," I say, leaning down to kiss her.

"Um, it doesn't have to be over," she says, looking up into my eyes. "My parents went to a gala in Denver. They won't be home tonight." My dick throbs in my jeans at the thought of being with her again. She takes my hand and starts to pull me toward the front door. "Do you want to come in?"

Fuck, yes. Of course, I want to go in, but I shake my head. There's a gnawing in my gut, and while it doesn't feel like she'll change her mind this time, I don't want to risk it. Everything is so fucking good right now. "I think we should call it a night."

Chloe frowns. "You do? Are you sure?"

No, I'm not fucking sure. I want to take her upstairs and fuck her while she screams my name the rest of the fucking night. I nod. "I think we should wait until your birthday…until you feel the bond."

"But, why?" she asks with a frown. "It's not like we haven't already done it."

I sigh and shake my head. "I don't want you to change your mind again." I don't think I can take it if she does that to me again. "I want you to be sure, and once you feel the bond, I'll know you're sure."

"But, I'm sure now."

"I promise if we wait, I'll make it special for you. Let me make up for everything that's gone wrong."

"You can make up for it right now," she says with a pouty face.

"I want to take you out tomorrow night," I say, trying to change the subject .

"Okay," she says with a smile. "We can do it then too."

With a sigh, I grin at her persistence, but I shake my head. "No, Chloe."

She frowns and crosses her arms. "Well, I'm not a big fan of that word."

I laugh and pull her in for a hug. "Goodnight, Chloe."

She pulls back then wraps her arms around my neck before she pulls me in for a scorching hot fucking kiss. Her tongue tangles with mine, and I groan as I hold her body tight to mine. When we pull away, we're both breathing hard, and looking into each other's eyes.

Fuck me. She's beyond hard to resist. I shake my head and laugh a little. "I need to go home."

"Ugh. Fine," she says, dropping her arms.

I pull her back for one more gentle kiss. "I love you, beautiful."

She smiles and says, "I love you too."

"I'll see you tomorrow."

She nods. "See you tomorrow."

I can't stay a second longer. I have to turn and walk away now. There are no words for the amount of self-restraint I'm showing right now, but I know it's the right choice. The next time I sleep with Chloe, there will be no question that it's forever.