Easton

She shrugged. “I never had the time. I find water a little intimidating. You never know what’s lurking beneath. I help out at camp and have been here since I was fourteen. It’s how I know everyone. Doesn’t mean I like to join in with everything. Thank you for teaching me though. I don’t be taking any dips in the lake or anything.”

“You’re not going to go streaking?” Easton asked.

“Hell, no. Running through the water naked is so not my thing.”

He laughed.

As fast as he started to laugh, it died. Like a switch went off in his brain that told him to not be happy.

“What is it?”

“It’s nothing important. I’ve got to head back home soon.”

“And you don’t like home?” she asked. They didn’t talk about their life away from camp. She was happy about that. It wasn’t like she had much fun waiting for her at home. Her parents had a lot of expectation from her. It was nothing but exhausting work and planning. Everything she hated.

“I don’t like any part of being home. It sucks. There’s no point talking about it.”

“I know it can suck to be around your parents.”

He snorted. “Believe me, I know.”

She reached out, taking his hand. “While you’re here, you don’t have to think about any of that. You’re here with me, and they don’t matter. Cut off your feeling of home, and just embrace what you have now.”

****

Present day

With her second cup of coffee resting on her knee, Scarlett stared at the front door waiting for when Liam arrived.

She woke up to an empty house with a single note from Liam letting her know he had a few errands to run and he’d taken Junior to school.

Last night couldn’t be avoided.

He’d made her come multiple times, and to thank him, she’d passed out.

What did this all mean?

Their relationship wasn’t supposed to be about sex, or anything. This was … ugh, she didn’t know what it was.

She sipped at her steaming cup of coffee, and her nerves were completely and totally shot. In all the years she’d been married to Liam, not once had she ever been nervous about talking to him.

She heard his car pull up onto the drive, and her hands began to shake.

Gripping the cup tightly, she waited, and the door opened. He wore a crisp white shirt and a pair of black pants. His hair was a mess, but for some reason on Liam, it always looked great.

“You’re awake, and from the look in your eyes, you’re not happy, which is shocking.”

“Did you not want to talk to me this morning? Is that why you didn’t wake me up?”

“Whoa, okay, I didn’t exactly anticipate this being a smooth conversation, but I’m not avoiding you.”

“It feels like it. I didn’t even get to say goodbye to Junior,” she said. “You know I love to wish him a good day. It’s part of our routine.”

“Routines are designed to be broken. Is there more coffee?” he asked.

“Yes.”

He walked away, but she wasn’t done. Following him into the kitchen, she put her cup down on the counter.

“Did you not enjoy last night?” he asked.

“You know I did. You know I enjoyed it multiple times. This is not the point. We don’t have a sexual relationship.”

“And we can change that.” He turned toward her. “There’s nothing in the rule book to say we can’t make changes or decide to do something different.”

“We have rules in place to protect each other,” she said.

“From what?”

“From heartbreak and … everything. I can’t think of it all right now. I’m confused, okay? I thought you wanted a man in your life.”

“I do. I’ve never lied to you. I find both men and women attractive. It shouldn’t come as any surprise that I want you.”

Scarlett stared at him, shocked. “You’re only seeing this now? After five years of marriage? We’ve shared a bed.”

“Do you even remember how we started to share a bed?” he asked.

“When we had guests and for Easton so he wasn’t confused.”

“Wrong. Sharing a bed didn’t start for those reasons. You came to live with me after we were married as per our agreement.”

“I remember.”

“You screamed during your sleep. You’d have these horrible nightmares about your ex and what he’d done to you.” She tensed up. “I couldn’t take it, so I started to sleep with you. You’d wake me up screaming. I’d come to your room, settle you down, and fall asleep. We did this for nearly three months, before I just started to sleep in the same bed. Whenever I wasn’t there, you’d have bad dreams. It’s one of the reasons I either took you and Junior with me on business trips, or I made sure all business could come here. We started sharing a bed.”

She’d completely forgotten about the nightmares. The attack of her ex had scared her, but little by little, Liam had given her back herself.