Page 90 of Broken

“Whatever you decide to do, Nathan, we’re here for you,” Mason assures me, giving Drake a pointed look.

“We always have your back, bro,” Drake adds.

A heavy sigh rushes out of me. “I know.” I also know what I need to do next. Dragging this thing out is only hurting both of us, and as much as I want to hate Mel for what she did, I can’t seem to find it in me. I make myself a silent promise that I’ll fix it tomorrow.

But for tonight, I just want to sit here with my brothers and pretend that life is exactly like it used to be.

Tomorrow is a new year. A new start.

Chapter

Forty-Nine

MELANIE

Ipad along the hallway, fresh from my shower and planning to grab some snacks and watch TV in my room—which has pretty much been my evening routine for the past three weeks—when I hear a knock on the door. I’m not expecting anyone. Tyler stayed out last night with some guy he met at a New Year’s party, and he already told me he won’t be back until tomorrow. I pull my bathrobe tighter around myself as I head to check it out, wishing I’d put on my pajamas. I hope it’s not my asshole brother. Although he’s stayed out of my way since our encounter over two weeks ago.

I check the peephole, and my heart stops beating. Without thinking about why he might be here, I wrench open the door. “Nathan?” I manage to gasp, even with my heart caught in my throat.

He tips his chin at me. A light dusting of stubble covers his square jaw, and although it seems impossible, he looks more handsome than ever. Clearly our breakup isn’t affecting him at all. “Can I come in?” he asks.

I step back, opening the door wider. “Sure.”

He steps inside, and his masculine scent invades the space around me, bringing up a whole host of memories. I swallow down the regret that balls in my throat while he closes the door behind him. The soft click of the lock sends goosebumps prickling along my forearms. Being alone with him isn’t good for my health.

Nathan’s deep voice cuts through the silence. “Is Tyler home?” He looks past me, a frown furrowing his brow.

I fidget with the tie on my bathrobe. “No. He’s out.”

He continues to look past me, avoiding my gaze.

What is he doing here? “Did you want something, Nathan?”

His dark eyes finally burn into mine. He sweeps the tip of his tongue over his bottom lip, and my heart rate spikes. Without another word, he takes a few steps closer, and I feel the heat of his body in every cell of mine.

“Mel.” My name is a pain-filled groan from his lips, and it feels like my throat is closing up. I can’t do this.

Before I can take my next breath, he closes the remaining distance between us, and I find myself sandwiched between him and the wall. The solidness of his hard chest against mine and his breath dusting over my forehead cause a shiver to run the entire length of my spine. With his eyes boring into mine, he strokes a hand over my hipbone and along my ribcage, leaving a trail of fire in his wake.

My lips part on a gasp. I should tell him to stop, but I can’t. Instead, I wrap an arm around his neck, tugging him closer. He kisses me. It’s all-consuming fire and passion, and I’m powerless to stop him. Powerless to stop my heart from aching at the way his solid warmth envelops me and the memories of what we had. What we lost. Because he is everything.

I curl my fingers in his hair, and he groans into my mouth, pressing his hard length against my stomach. Heat floods mycore. His kiss grows more fervent, his tongue lashing against mine as he takes what he wants from me. And I take just as much. I slip my free hand inside his jacket, skating it over the soft cotton shirt that covers his toned abs.

Breaking the kiss, he pulls back to stare into my eyes.

I blink, panting for breath. “Nate.”

His hands slide to my hips, down my thighs, and before I can take another breath, he’s yanking up my robe, exposing my panties. He runs his nose over my jawline while his hands move higher, dangerously close to where I need him most. “Say that again.”

“Nate,” I moan.

Using one hand, he frees his belt from its buckle and unfastens his zipper. “This whole goddamn building is gonna know my name by the time I’m done with you.”

My breath stalls in my lungs, and white-hot anticipation spikes through my core. My fingers join his, fumbling with his pants. I reach inside his boxers and wrap my hand around the base of his shaft, and when I squeeze, he sinks his teeth into his bottom lip. His eyes roll back in his head, and his fingers dig into the delicate lace of my panties. The sound of tearing fabric makes me shiver with excitement.

After smacking my hands out of the way, he lifts me, his eyes still boring into mine as he wraps my legs around his waist and presses the crown of his cock at my entrance. My heart drums a wild rhythm, and aching need throbs between my thighs. I wrap my arms around his neck.

We shouldn’t do this. I can’t survive losing him again.

---