“Are you just going to ignore your body?”
“Yes.”
“But—”
“The dream.”
“Beau—”
“Celeste, this is about comfort. It isn’t about sex for a distraction.”
“How about I tell you about the dream, then we have sex?”
Beau’s chuckle rumbles against my back.
“How about you tell me about your dream and let me comfort you until you fall back asleep?”
“My plan is much more fun.”
“No. You’ve been through a lot. I’m not using your vulnerability to get laid. You need to rest, and we need to conserve condoms.”
“Ah. Is that the real issue?”
“No. Your well-being is the real issue. You don’t need another guy taking advantage.”
I rub against his erection. “I actually like it when you touch me, though.”
He moans before chastising me in an aroused voice. “Dammit, Celeste. I will be a gentleman and you will tell me your dream. End of negotiations. No more bargains or deals.”
“You sound like a lawyer.”
“Because I am.” He kisses my ear. “The dream.”
“Fine. It was more of a memory. He’d texted me during the day saying he’d signed the divorce papers. I asked him when I could get them, and he said he’d let me know. He called me, damn near midnight, to meet him at a secluded spot we used to visit when we were dating back when I still liked him. He likes to toy with me; he’d make plans with me just to stand me up. I hung up in his face to ensure he’d show. He did, with the intention to beat me back into submission. I had a taser and a gun which thwarted his plan. He threw the papers in the back seat like I told him. Once I was back in the car, he attacked it—”
“You didn’t lose control of your car, did you?”
“No. I drove off; he followed me and rammed my car with his truck. I threw the taser out the window before I went under. I don’t know if water affects it, and I wasn’t about to find out. I was somewhat prepared. I figured if he ever tried to kill me, that would be how he would do it.”
Saying it out loud must have released my pent-up frustration because the tears I’d been holding since he rammed into my car came just as fiercely as the rain outside. Beau placed the tissues in front of me and held me close, kissing me and offering words of comfort until I couldn’t cry anymore.
Beau turns me in his arms and hugs me like someone was trying to take me from him. I don’t realize he’s angry until he speaks.
“What’s the asshole name?”
I don’t want his name on my lips, especially not in Beau’s comforting presence, but his tone left no room for argument.
“Weston Chesterfield.”
Beau
Weston Chesterfield?My body goes hot and cold. I hate him. We went to high school together. Weston was one of the entitled brats who got off on wielding his parent’s power. That man never worked for anything in his life. He was also one of Sara’s tormentors until I had aconversationwith him in the locker room. Weston is a spineless coward. I’m not surprised he would take a woman as beautiful as Celeste and try to damage her.
Fury pinged through my body; that asshole will not get away with this anymore.
“How long were you married?”
“Well, being that my signed divorce papers are now one with the ocean, I’m still married to Satan. Next week will be seven years, unfortunately.”
