Chapter 29

The One Where Confessions Are Made

A R I E L L E

After I’ve said goodbye to Raven, I head back to Nate ‘s bedroom, noticing that he isn’t in bed. In fact, light shines from his attached bathroom and I saunter over to it, curious as to what he’s doing. I put my hair up in a messy bun as I do so, giggling to myself when I see him.

I find him leaning over the massive bathtub, pouring some sort of liquid soap into the water. It isn’t long before bubbles begin forming and I lean against the door casing to watch him as he collects some towels and turns on some music that hums lowly in the space. He’s even taken the liberty of lighting a candle on the vanity.

He sings along to the song, probably not noticing that I’m standing directly behind him. He fucking dances and sings around the room, until he sees me. But he doesn’t stop. In fact, he dances towards me, grabbing my hands to pull me in the direction of the tub.

“Care for a bubble bath?” He questions, holding me close to him while running his thumb along the carotid artery in my neck.

My pulse goes fucking crazy under his touch, and I’m sure he notices because he smirks to himself.

“A bubble bath, hm?”

“Do you have something against them?” He brushes a stray strand of hair off my neck, leaning down to press a kiss to my jawline. He trails downwards, hooking a finger into his shirt that I’m wearing, exposing my shoulder to him that he presses his lips against.

“No,” I admit, deciding to keep to myself that I think it’s fascinating how soft he’s gone on me.

He cups my jaw in his hand, lifting my chin to press a gentle kiss to my lips. “You were perfect tonight.”

“You weren’t so bad,” I confess.

I’ll acknowledge that the threesome was interesting. It was fun spicing things up and it’s always good to see Raven, but something felt ... off? I’m not sure how to describe it, but it didn’t quite feel how Nate and myself usually feel when we’re fucking.

I’m not sure. I think I’m overthinking things, but it felt like it should have been sexier, more fireworks should have gone off. Fuck, it should’ve basically been a porno in here and it wasn’t. I’m not even sure if I’m making any damn sense, but it didn’t feel right, anyways.

I mean, don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it but I think I much prefer when it’s Nate and myself.

Did I really just fucking say that?

Maybe I’m the one who’s gone soft.

The whole time the three of us were together, I found myself looking at Nate more often than Raven. I was focused on his touch, pleasing him, I was focused on him despite that third person being there.

Nate chuckles, pressing his lips to mine again.

“You know,” I start while Nate ‘s hands reach for the hem of his shirt. He lifts the material off my body as I continue, “I didn’t miss you touching my piercings.”

The required time for them to heal hasn’t happened yet, but I think that was his point. He’s been so good about wanting so badly to play with them and not touching them that I think he was testing the waters. Not that I mind, because it’s nice to know if they’re healing properly since it seems like fucking forever.

He smirks, glancing down at my bare chest. “You didn’t, hm?”

I shake my head, “Nope. You know you’re not supposed to yet.”

“I’m sorry,” he mumbles, kissing me. “I’ve been bad. I deserve a spank, yeah?”

I laugh, giving him a playful shove. He chuckles with me, stumbling a step or two backwards. He wastes no time in hooking his fingers into the top of his boxer-briefs, swaying his hips to the music as he yanks them off and lets them fall to the flooring.

I roll my eyes playfully, laughing at his teasing.

He moves to the tub, standing in the hot water and turning to extend a hand. “Come, my girl.” He signals for me to walk towards him and I do so carefully, stepping over our clothing.

“There’s been a lot of that tonight,” I tell him, referring to both coming and the new nickname of being his girl. He laughs softly, amused with the joke.

Not sure where the nickname came from, but it’s fairly new and it’s kind of fucking cute.

Nate sits himself in the bathtub, dipping his hands in the water before reaching up to run them down my thighs. He carefully instructs me to sit between his legs so that his chest is pressed against my back.

His hands drag upwards on my thighs underneath the surface, as he hums along to the song. I relax into the warm water, lulling my head back against his shoulder while closing my eyes.

His lips press against my temple, hands moving higher in the water so that he’s cupping my breasts in his hands, nipple piercing between each finger. I would scold him for touching, but we’re in clean water and he’s already touched them once, so frankly I don’t fucking care.

I’m over waiting.

“You’re fuckin’ gorgeous, you know that?” His voice comes out as only a whisper and I open my eyes, twisting my neck to look at him.

He’s not looking at me, though. He’s staring at his hands as they finally play with my piercings. I bite my lip when he pinches the left one, enjoying the action more than he likely realizes.