Chapter 5: Wedding Night Temptations

After a day together—driving through Chicago, grabbing coffee at our old haunt (which he didn’t remember)—I realized Nathan wasn’t just confused. He still understood plenty. Especially the words 'wedding night.'

He blushed the whole way home, color creeping up from his collar. Wouldn’t let me hold his hand, and at dinner—takeout Thai—he’d rather miss a dish than risk brushing my fingers.

It didn’t feel like he was out of it. It felt like he’d lost his grown-up composure, replaced by an unfiltered honesty. All those MBA manners gone, just the raw Nathan beneath.

We dated almost a year, then he dumped me out of nowhere. Now I’m supposed to play house with him again?

Only now did I realize: I never really understood him. All those nights together, I was just skimming the surface.

At ten, after his shower, Nathan emerged in pajamas, hair damp, steam clinging to his skin. Seeing me on his bed, he startled, then tried to cover his embarrassment by tugging his pajama top lower and glancing away. 'Don’t you dare!' he warned, voice high and defensive.

I arched an eyebrow, looked him up and down, and asked slowly, 'Which aspect are you referring to?'

Nathan’s face turned crimson, his grip on his waistband white-knuckled. 'Don’t even think about it!'

I squinted, amused. 'Say it again, tough guy.'

He stuck his neck out, fierce and stubborn, and repeated himself. I smiled, stepping closer, each footstep echoing on hardwood.

Nathan stood his ground, jaw set like a martyr. But when I raised my hand, he snapped his eyes shut, bracing like a kid at the doctor.

I laughed quietly, low and rough. My hand landed on the back of his neck, fingers threading through his hair, pulling him into a kiss. He froze, then his lips parted in shock.

I pinned him to the wall, thumb on his Adam’s apple, tongue prying his mouth open. He tasted like toothpaste and Nathan—familiar, addicting. He could only endure, hands fluttering at his sides, breath hitching as our bodies pressed together.

When he was trembling, clutching my shirt, I let him go, stepping back, lips tingling. 'Still going to scold me?'

Nathan stared, dazed, at his own body, then up at me, eyes wet and confused. He was heartbreakingly cute.

I tossed him a pack of tissues. 'Go take care of yourself.' I turned to the guest room, pulse pounding in my ears.