Atlantis (3 page)

Chapter Five

             
Sloane was rendered speechless when Nate opened the door with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. Water beaded off his chest and arms, his hair was disheveled, and he smelled like clean, like soap and man. It was a heady combination that had her forgetting why she'd gone to his house in the first place.

             
"This is a nice surprise," he said, stepping forward and kissing her on the forehead. "You coming in?"

             
"Yeah." Sloane stepped inside. "I'm glad you're home," she said.

             
"Me too." He smiled. "I like it when you're around and just stop by."

             
"Well, I did call first," she reminded him.

             
Nate laughed. "Right. You said there was something important you wanted to talk about."

             
Sloane nodded. She tucked her hands into her pockets and rocked on her heels. Suddenly, she didn't want to have that conversation anymore. "Yeah, but can we talk about that later? Right now," she took her hands out of her pockets and ran them down his bare, wet chest, "I want you to make love to me." Sure, they'd had sex last night, but it had been so long since they'd made love—the kind that was slow and soft and intense.

             
He raised a brow. "Really?"

             
"Yes." She licked her lips. "Please, Nate, I just want to be with you."

             
"Then let's go." He took her hand and led her into the bedroom. Slowly, Nate removed each piece of her clothing, kissing every inch of her bare skin as he did.

             
Sloane's body erupted in goose bumps at the feel of his lips and hands on her body. "Oh, Nate," she whispered.

             
He scooped her up into his arms and carried her the short distance to the bed. Laying her flat on her back, Nate yanked on his towel, letting it fall to the floor. Sloane's breath caught in her throat at the sight of him, naked and ready for her. His body was fit and muscular and totally gorgeous. She often wondered how she'd gotten so lucky to have him as her boyfriend. He climbed onto the bed and leaned down to capture her lips and tongue in a slow, erotic dance of pleasure.

             
Nate fumbled in the nightstand for a condom, which he deftly rolled on before spreading her legs with his knees and settling between them. He deepened the kiss as he entered her. "This what you want?" he murmured against her lips as he worked his cock deeper and deeper inside of her.

             
"Yes," she moaned. Her hands clutched his shoulders, her fingernails digging into his hard flesh. He filled her so completely it bordered on painful, but in a good way. His lips barely left hers as he slowly, skillfully thrust in and out of her with languid, controlled movements. He left her lips and kissed her neck, nipped at her collarbone, and sucked a nipple into his mouth. Sloane arched into him and tucked her feet under his ass, riding the motions of his hips.

             
"God, Sloane, baby, you feel incredible. So good…" he groaned.

             
Sloane's body tensed, and then relaxed momentarily as she succumbed to her orgasm. She writhed beneath Nate, luxuriating in the feel of him swelling inside of her, giving in to the pleasure he so easily gave to her. She cried his name repeatedly, and then she blurted out, "I love you." As soon as the words passed her lips, she regretted them. Neither of them had ever said that before, and she didn't know how Nate would react. They hadn't been dating that long.

             
"I love you, too, Sloane," he said as he collapsed on top of her, his face buried in her neck.

             
She smiled, thrilled with the fact that he'd said it back to her instead of freaking out. Sloane felt slightly better about telling him that she wouldn't be around for his birthday party. If he loved her—and he just said he did—then surely he'd understand. Nate rolled off her and lay beside her, pulling her to his side. She rested her head on his chest and draped her arm over his stomach. Sighing with content, she snuggled closer to him.

             
Nate kissed the top of her head. "I really like it when you're home." He laughed.

             
"Yeah, speaking of being home," she said with a nervous laugh. "I just got my schedule for next month."

             
"Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?"

             
His question didn't surprise her. Since they'd started dating, every time Sloane got a new schedule, she'd share it with Nate so that they could make plans for the time when she would be home, which wasn't often enough. "Yes. I have to leave the day after tomorrow." Nate yawned. He always liked to cat nap after sex. Sloane thought it was cute, but right now she hoped he would stay awake long enough to talk to her. 

             
"Where to this time?" he asked.

             
"California." She traced circles on his chest, her fingers gliding over his soft dusting of chest hair.

             
"For how long?" He yawned again.

             
"Three weeks." Her heart banged in her chest as she waited for his response.

             
Nate removed his arm from around her and sat up. "Three weeks? That means you'll miss my birthday."

             
Sloane sat up and looked at him. "I know. I'm so sorry, Nate. I tried to reschedule so that I could be here, but there's no possible way."

             
Without a word, he got out of bed, rummaged through his dresser, and pulled on a pair of gym shorts. Sloane felt the sting of tears in the corners of her eyes. She wanted to ask him to come back to bed, to beg him to understand, but she remained silent, waiting for him to speak.

             
"Tell them you can't go," he said, turning around to look at her.

             
"You know I can't do that, Nate." Sloane got out of bed and started to put her clothes back on. Having this type of conversation while naked seemed…weird. She started to feel better once her shirt and panties were on. "I begged Geraldine to reschedule some of our interviews, but she refused. You know how she is." Sloane pulled on her skirt and zipped it up.

             
"We've been planning this for two months, Sloane! Two damn months!" he shouted.

             
She cringed at the tone of his voice. She'd never seem him angry before, and she decided rather quickly that she didn't like it one bit. "I know hon." Sloane walked up to him and reached for him.

             
Nate jerked away. "So, what? I'm supposed to go to my own birthday party alone? Do you have any idea how stupid I'll look?"

             
Sloane swallowed the urge to cry. "You won't look stupid, Nate. People know we're dating, and people know that I travel a lot. Nobody is going to care."

             
"I care, Sloane!" he yelled, pointing at his chest. "If I wanted a part time girlfriend, I'd hire one."

             
His words stung, and she lost the fight to hold back her tears. They coursed unbidden down her face. "Is that how you see me? As a part time girlfriend?"

             
"It seems like that's all you are. You're never home for more than a few days at a time."

             
Sloane hastily wiped her tears. Her anger slowly reached its boiling point. She could feel her face getting warmer by the second, and her heart rate steadily increased. "You knew what my schedule was like when we met. You said you were okay with it. You said it didn't matter as long as I spent what little time I had at home with you."

             
"Yeah, well, I can't handle it. I don't like it, Sloane, and not being at my birthday is the last straw."

             
She took a few steps back, away from him. "What are you saying?" Oh, God! He couldn't be breaking up with her, could he? He'd just told her he loved her. What kind of guy would tell a girl he loved her, and then break up with her moments later?

             
"I'm saying that things need to change or we're over."

             
Her jaw hung open in shock. "You want me to choose between my career and you?" Nate simply crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her. "That's not fair!" she shouted.

             
"Neither is you missing my birthday." He turned away from her and put on a shirt. "I'm telling you right now, Sloane. If you aren't here to go to my party with me; then I'm going to go with someone else."

             
She huffed in disgust. "Go to hell!" Sloane grabbed her things and stormed out of his apartment. Thankfully her tears had stopped. She was too pissed to cry.

             
"Sloane!" Nate called after her. "Shit…Sloane! I'm sorry…please, Sloane!"

She ignored him and continued to walk away. Thoughts swirled through her mind as she walked to her car. He was being so selfish. Had he always been that way? Sloane shook her head. Granted, she was tired of being gone all the time, but she couldn't just quit. Modeling was her life, her livelihood. Besides, it wasn't her choice alone to make. There was Candice to consider. The two of them were a team. If Sloane quit, Candice would be left in the cold. Although, Candice was irritated by how much they were forced to work, too. It might not hurt to mention the idea to Candice. And maybe they didn't have to quit. Maybe they could just cut back a little. Yeah, like Geraldine would let that happen.

Sloane got in her car and let out a frustrated scream. Why did everything have to be so complicated? Work stuff aside, what the hell was up with Nate? Would he really take another woman to his birthday party? The thought made her irate. Nate was her boyfriend. There was no way in hell she was going to let another woman get her claws into Nate. Not that she was going to him know any of that. The jerk deserved to worry for a little while. Plus, she wanted to see if he'd call her and apologize first.

Chapter Six

             
"Sloane? What are you doing here?" Jason asked, ushering her inside his house. "Sorry, girl, but you look like hell. What's going on?"

             
She sniffled. "I need a drink, Jason. Actually, I need several drinks."

             
He tsked. "That bad, huh?"

             
With a nod, she said, "Got a few hours?"

             
Jason laughed and flung his arm around her shoulders. "For you I have a lifetime, doll. Come on, let's get some alcohol, and then you can tell me everything."

             
Sloane followed him through the living room and into the kitchen. Jason was wealthy, thanks in part to the inheritance his father had left him, but it was also thanks to several savvy investments he'd made at a young age. But despite his wealth, he didn't flaunt it. His house was small and cozy. It was beautifully decorated, too. Jason had done it himself. Yeah, it was totally cliché that a gay man was good at interior design, but it was also totally true. In fact, Jason was so good at it, Sloane had given him carte blanche to decorate her apartment when she'd been in London for two months. She'd come home to a completely redecorated apartment that she loved.

             
"Wine or wine cooler?" Jason asked.  

             
She scrunched up her face. "Is that all you've got?"

             
"Sorry, love, if I had known you were coming over, I would've gone shopping. I hope you don't expect me to feed you. The food selection is even worse."

             
Sloane laughed. Drinking wine always gave her a wicked headache and wine coolers weren't any better, especially considering she had to drink double the amount to just get a buzz. "Wine, I guess. You do have red, don't you?"

             
"I'm not a heathen, you know." Jason grinned as he opened the refrigerator wine cabinet and pulled out a bottle.

             
She watched as he got out two glasses, uncorked the wine, and poured it. Jason was handsome in a boy next door sort of way. He had wavy blond hair, piercing blue eyes, a clean shaven face, and dimples. His upper body was muscular, and he had a fantastic ass. Not to mention he was the sweetest guy she'd ever known. If he wasn't gay, and if he wasn't her best friend, she would definitely date him.

             
Jason handed her a glass. "Drink up, and then start talking."

             
Sloane drained her glass and held it out for a refill. Jason obliged. "Can we sit out back?"

             
"Sure, but quit stalling."

"Deal. Bring the wine. I'm going to need it." Jason grabbed the open bottle of wine and led her outside to the back porch, which overlooked the most inviting pool she'd ever seen. It was a lagoon style pool with a hot tub at one end and a rock wall at the other. Plush lounge chairs surrounded it. They each took a seat. Taking another sip, Sloane put her head back and closed her eyes for a moment. She sighed. "Nate and I had a fight."

              "About what?"

             
"Geraldine gave us our new schedule and we have to leave the day after tomorrow for another three weeks. I'm going to miss Nate's birthday party and he's pissed about it." Jason nodded and took a drink. He looked thoughtful, as if he wanted to say something but was afraid if he did, Sloane would be upset. "What?" she asked.

             
"I can understand why Nate's upset," he said slowly. "Twenty five is a big year. He's been planning this party for two months."

             
"I know," Sloane whined. "But what am I supposed to do? I asked Mom if we could reschedule a couple of our interviews and she refused. You know how she is."

             
"I do." He refilled his glass, and then hers. "But this is your life, Sloane. How long are you going to let your mom run it?"

             
"She's not running my life, just my career."

             
Jason cocked a brow and shook his head. "And your career is your life, love."

             
Sloane didn't know why, but she had an inexplicable compulsion to defend her mother, even though Jason was right. "It's not my whole life."

             
"Oh really?"

             
"Shut up." She laughed.

             
"Okay, we'll come back to your mother. Right now, tell me what happened with Nate."

             
"I told him I wasn't going to be here for his birthday and he flipped out, told me that if something didn't change, we were over. Then he said if I wasn't around to go with him, he was going to take someone else."

             
Jason nearly choked on his wine. He wiped his mouth with his fingers. "He said that to you?"

             
"Yeah." Sloane downed the rest of her wine just so she wouldn't cry again. And Jason's scrutinizing gaze wasn't helping matters, either.

             
"Then let him take someone else."

             
Sloane jerked her head and looked at Jason, her shock unmistakable. "What?" Why on earth would Jason take Nate's side on this?

             
"If he's stupid enough to give you an ultimate like that then just let him take someone else. He'll realize what he lost by being a dick to you."

             
She turned back in her seat and contemplated what Jason just said. Was he right? If she called Nate's bluff and let him take another girl to his birthday party, would he realize how much he loved her? How much he wanted and needed her? Or would he like a girl who was around all the time? Either way, it was risky. The entire situation sucked. She loved Nate. And she thought he loved her, too.

             
"Now, about your mother…"

             
"No, we're not finished talking about Nate yet. I can't let him go with another woman. What if he likes her better than me?" There, she'd voiced her fear. It didn’t make her feel any better to say it aloud though. If anything, it made her feel weak and needy and pathetic.

             
Jason shifted in his lounge chair so that he could look at her. "I see it this way. You either let Nate to whatever he's going to do or you stand up to Geraldine and stay here for Nate's party. But it's clear that you can't have both. He made it clear what his intentions are, and he doesn't strike me as the type of guy to go back on his word."

             
Once again, Jason was right. Nate was nothing if not honest and dependable. If he said he was going to do something, he did it. "I'd love to stand up to my mother, but if I do, what happens to Candice? This isn't just my career that I'm dealing with here."

             
"Candice is a smart girl. I'm confident she can make it on her own. You don't have to leave for another day. Talk to your sister. She might be on the same page as you on this."

             
"You think?"

             
"Yes." Jason held up the bottle of wine. "More?" Sloane nodded, and Jason refilled her glass. The bottle was now empty. "You know, if you fire your mother, you could hire a new manager who would be more willing to meet your terms. It would be the best of both worlds."

             
Sloane had fantasized about firing her mother. In fact, she and Candice had talked about it numerous times. But, it was there mother. Their relationship was strained as it was. Firing her would guarantee that they never spoke again. And where would they find another manager? Neither she nor Candice knew anything about the business side of things. Geraldine had always handled all of it—since they'd started modeling at age two. 

             
"Care if I get another bottle?" She stood.

             
"Help yourself."

             
She went inside and this time got dry white wine. Having drunk half the first bottle on her own, she was feeling the effects. Things didn't seem so hopeless anymore. Jason always knew how to make her feel better. He was good at it, and she'd be lost without him. He's the reason she stayed sane during her times away from home. All she had to do was call him and he'd fill her in on everything that was going on. "So, how are things with Liam?" she asked as she walked back outside and took her seat.

             
Jason waved his hand dismissively. "Liam is so last week." He held out his glass and Sloane filled it to the rim. "He was too clingy. There's a guy at the coffee shop that has been flirting with me though."

             
Sloane smiled. Jason went through boyfriends like she went through shoes. "Do tell."

             
"He's tall, dark, and handsome. He always has my coffee ready when I get to the counter. This morning he wrote his phone number on my cup holder."

             
"Have you called him?"

             
"Not yet. I don't want to seem too eager." He laughed. "But I'm definitely going to. His name is Carter. He's single, has one cat, and he's working his way through business school."

             
She giggled. "Only you would have that much information about someone you've never been on a date with."

             
"I do my homework." He winked.

             
Sloane sighed and yawned. It had been one hell of a day. All she wanted to do was curl up in Nate's arms and fall asleep. Her jovial mood disappeared. She stood and stumbled slightly. "I have to go find Nate. I have to apologize and tell him I love him, tell him I don't want him going to the party with another woman."

             
"You're not in any shape to go anywhere."

             
"I'll call a cab," she said, setting down her glass and looking around. "I want to be with Nate. I have to make things right."

             
"Good luck. Call me if you need anything." Jason walked her to the door and kissed her on the cheek before she left.

             
The ride to Nate's apartment building seemed to take forever. Sloane stared out the window, her mind racing and her eyes soaking up the scenery. She loved the city. There was no place on earth like New York City. It was so full of energy and excitement and possibilities. It was such a shame she didn't get to spend more time here, enjoying what the city had to offer. It would be nice to wake up some morning and take a walk through Central Park with Nate.

             
The stuff Jason said to her raced through her mind. He was usually right about a lot of things. Was he right about this, too? If she and Candice decided to hire a new manager, then they could set some ground rules. Sloane could be here for Nate's birthday party. Candice would be allowed to take her final exams. The more Sloane thought about it, the more excited she became. Plus, if they weren't constantly fighting with their mom about their schedules, the three of them might be able to have a normal relationship.

             
As the cab came to a stop in front of Nate's building, Sloane decided that she would tell him her plans, and hopefully he would give her a little time to put them into action. Sloane paid the cab driver and got out. For the first time in a long time, she felt confident and excited about the future.