Page 94 of Fighting the Tide
“Out.Now.”Each word is spat from between my teeth as they grind together in potent rage.I don’t care how angry she is.I am literally vibrating with the need to pummel her date into mincemeat.Whatever she sees as she scans over my face has her getting out of the vehicle and mumbling an apology to Jeremy.
“Are you seriously leaving with this old man?”It’s as if molten lava is being poured over my body as heat invades every pore.I dart forward with every intention of burning him to ash when Colette jumps in front of me, her hands pressing to my chest.
“Stop.Nolan, look at me.”Her voice is like honey as it coats over the inferno igniting my skin.“Please, look at me.”I break my glare from Jeremy’s haughty face and look down at her, the tension leaving my muscles at her fearful expression.“I’m coming with you, okay?”
I wrap an arm around her shoulders and drag her into me, my glare returning to Jeremy from over her head.I hope he sees the warning and stays away because I can’t be held accountable for my actions when it comes to Colette any longer.I have never been a fighter, certainly never fought over a woman before, but that’s all changed in the last few days.I hate to make comparisons, but Brooke is the only other woman I felt crazy about, and I never lifted a finger to fight for her.I let Sean Clark rail her while I watched for fuck’s sake and still managed to walk away with my sanity intact.Yet, here I am, barely hanging on by a thread at seeing Colette kiss Jeremy.
Colette guides me back to the Range Rover and pushes me into the driver’s seat, but I don’t release my hold from around her shoulders.Instead, I drag her in against me and between my legs as her gasp coats my neck.“Don’t do this again,” I warn her, my mouth hitting her ear.
“Do what?”she breathes out and pulls her head back, our lips nearly touching.
“Trying to make me jealous of these little boys.I’m a grown man, Colette, and I will swallow every one of them you use as bait.”Her exotic eyes widen with surprise as she drags her tongue along her bottom lip, leaving behind a glistening trail just begging for my kiss.
Jeremy pulls out of the lot, his tires kicking up gravel as he goes, but it doesn’t break the hold Colette’s eyes have over me.Her body fits perfectly against mine, as if she was made to be there, and her scent is my very own aphrodisiac, the combination of freesia and ocean doing something to my insides.“What does this mean, Nolan?”Her words are whispered, and the warmth of her breath fanning my face has me hardening against her.She feels it, and as soon as she does, her body arches into me.
“I need the results, Colette.Please understand that.I just need you to wait a few days for it.Can you do that for me?”My lips brush against hers with each word, eliciting a moan from her chest.
“Okay,” she gives in as I straighten from the seat and put a little distance between us.“Then what?”
“You know that depends on the results,” I tell her gently as I run a finger down her cheek.“The way I’m feeling, the things we’re coming so close to doing, I won’t feel right about until I know.Do you understand that?”My fingers curl around her jaw as my thumb pushes up under her chin, forcing her to look me in the eyes.I’ve never felt so feral for another human being.My blood has never pumped so fiercely through my veins at the sight and smell of another person.If those results come back and I’m Colette’s father, I will fling myself from the top of that lighthouse and meet Brooke in those crashing waves.
“You want me to stay away from Jeremy?”Her brow quirks upward.“Then you need to stay away from Cassie.”My hand tightens around her face because I know all of this was in retaliation for what she thought she saw at my house last night.
“Do you usually run along the beach late at night, Colette?Or were you coming to see me?”I can’t help myself as I bend down slightly to run my nose along hers.I want so desperately to flick my tongue out and taste her skin, knowing it would be the sweetest thing that’s ever been inside my mouth.
“I always run along the beach,” she tells me, her sweet breath heating my skin.“That hasn’t changed because you’re back, Nolan.”
“I don’t like you running on the beach late at night,” I say as I release her jaw, forcing myself to take a step back.
“Why?Is it because I may catch you with a girl on your back porch?”Her hands hit her waist in a defiant stance, and fuck me if my cock doesn’t twitch with the sight.
“No.”I take a deep breath, trying to calm the fight before it starts.“You never know who’s on the beach at night.It’s dangerous.”
She moves toward my passenger side and chuckles.“Nolan, you are the most dangerous thing on that beach nowadays.”She opens the door and gets in, closing it swiftly behind her.She doesn’t know just how accurate she is.
The fairy lights twinkle along the inside of the large white tent, giving the space an ethereal glow.Small tea lights decorate the tables and white hydrangea balls hang on strings over our heads.Avery and Monica went all out and their backyard looks like something straight out of a fairy tale.
Both of my best friends are dressed in flowing white dresses, the material airy and light, and both looking beautifully happy and in love.Pink champagne is offered throughout the tent in crystal flutes along with trays of hors d’oeuvres.
Everything is perfect, but nothing holds a candle to Colette.She has her hair down in a straightened sheet, the silky tresses nearly touching her ass, and she’s wearing a short, black cocktail dress, highlighting the legs I wish were wrapped around my waist at this moment.Her shoulders are on display in the pretty strapless number, her sparkling skin illuminated by the soft light over her head.She must feel my eyes on her because every few minutes, her gaze finds me and a small smile coats her plump red lips.
“You should just pull her inside and pick a room.”Avery’s voice startles me, nearly knocking the champagne out of my glass.“Just not my son’s.”
“Can you stop?”I hiss and look around us, hoping no one can overhear her.She’s been slurring her words for the last hour and I’m not sure she’ll make it much longer.“Looks like Monica will be tucking you into bed early tonight.”
“Naked.”She snickers and I can’t help but join in with her.“Cassie has also been watching you.How surprised were you when she showed up on Kasen’s arm?I can’t believe he came at all.”
“I had a feeling he would.”I shrug and drain the rest of my glass, placing it on the table in front of me as Avery falls into a seat.“He doesn’t want to look like he’s still salty about you stealing his girl, and he wants to keep an eye on me around Cassie.”
“Yeah, I did that, didn’t I?”Her head falls into her hand as she watches Monica laugh with a few guests across the yard.Her contented sigh makes me envious as my eyes once again land on Colette.She’s already watching me as she takes a sip from her flute, the slim column of her throat working with the swallow.“She’s underage and shouldn’t be drinking,” Avery murmurs, and I hum in agreement.
“I’ll keep an eye on her.It’s still her first one,” I promise as she curls her hand around mine, making a peaceful noise.
“Thank you for being here, Nolan.It wouldn’t have been a celebration without you.”Her words bring warmth to my chest as I bring her hand to my mouth and place a kiss to her warm skin.
“There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t face for you, Monica, and Elijah.”Avery knows just how important she and her family are to me.They are all I have left in this world.
“I didn’t want to force you to be here, but I’m glad Monica did.I think you have an opportunity for a restart, a real chance at a happy life, Nolan.Colette is young, but I can see that pull between you two.It’s similar to mine and Monica’s.That’s a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.Don’t ignore it.”She pulls her hand from mine to wipe the moisture from beneath her eyes.
