Vivian Arend - Rising, Freestyle

Derrick rose to his full height, which let him peer down at Nathan with a rather intimidating presence. “Shut. Up. That’s the farthest thing from what I’m suggesting. God damn it, I’m just—” He turned to slam a fist on the surface of his desk. “Fuck.”

He shook his head and dragged a chair over, collapsing onto it as he leaned his elbows on the desk. Nathan waited, ready to bolt, still wondering how the hell this turn of events had happened. He hadn’t dreamed it though—Derrick had suggested he let Melanie know he was attracted to her.

Derrick made eye contact before speaking quietly. “She’s been self-conscious of her body since the accident. You saw some of that in the gym the other day, but it’s not just a cosmetic issue. The questions she used to get from the public are annoying, but it’s deeper than that. Some asshole insulted her the first time she attempted sex, and until I came along, she’d been letting her sensuality get buried by fear.”

“Shit.” The urge to go and rearrange the idiot’s face flashed white-hot. “Who was he?”

“Doesn’t matter.” Derrick pointed a finger in his direction. “What is important is the fact that you turn her on. She’s had this major crush on you since she was a teen, and if you had shown disgust in her body and scars, the impact would have been devastating.”

Nathan frowned. He’d known about the crush. Kind of been counting on getting to take advantage of that attraction now that they were both grown-ups. “What’s wrong with her body?”

Derrick grinned, and the anxiety level in the room dropped. Maybe this wasn’t going to end in physical violence. “Exactly—there’s nothing wrong, but you’re probably the only other guy she knows who sees her and not some mass of scarring.” He gestured to the chair next to him and Nathan sat. The conversation was unbelievable, and yet made perfect sense.

“That’s a screwed-up thing to do to a woman. Melanie went through hell and back physically recovering from the accident. I’d like to find out who the jerk was and make sure he knows better than to hurt someone like that ever again.”

“I agree, but at the same time, it’s more important to be there for Mel, as satisfying as administering justice would be.”

They stared at each other, the gentle sounds of the small town making their way in through the open window. The conversation turned in a new direction, as if there was a connection between them. No longer were they were on either side trying to get Melanie’s attention, but on the same side, buoying her up. Nathan took a deep breath. “Now that I’m over my shock, can you try that again? What exactly do you want me from me?”

“I’m not suggesting you do anything you don’t want. I’m not telling you Melanie will even agree. The only thing I’m saying is that as her friend, and more, I’m fine with you letting her know how attractive she is. Even if that includes things of a mildly sexual nature. I’m going to be there one hundred percent of the time, but this could be something that helps get her past a tough part of her recovery.”

Nathan shook his head. “The whole idea is bizarre. I mean, it makes sense, but it’s not anything I’ve ever heard of before.”

“I know, but I think this relationship between Mel and me has the potential to be long term. I’d far prefer to have her face this side issue of her body image with you, someone she trusts, and now, than have her carrying the hurt for longer and have to deal with this shit somewhere down the road.”

“You’re still a fucked-up bastard, you know that. Right?”

Derrick laughed, slapping his hand on Nathan’s knee. “Trust me, I was the first one to realize that.”

Unbelievable. Nathan paused, realizing this was one of those moments where he could head down two different paths and his world would be totally different because of his choice.

Only this time, the decision wouldn’t only affect him.

Derrick rose to his feet. “We’ll be two days in the bush. Just—act natural.” He grinned at Nathan. “Sweet-talk her like you’ve been doing.”

Bastard. “Are you going to tell her what you told me?” Nathan couldn’t imagine how to even start that conversation. This one had been freaky enough.

Derrick raised a brow. “When it’s needed, yes, but for now, I’d like to just play it by ear. What do you say?”

There was no way he was turning down this opportunity. Nathan let his grin loose. “I’d say Melanie is going to damn well know that she’s an attractive woman by the time we get through with her.”

Gumby: A novice climber.

Melanie rolled her head, stretching the tight muscles in her shoulders in an attempt to loosen them. After the drive to the trailhead, the hike, and setting up in their remote campsite, she’d thought they’d take it easy for a few hours, but no… Immediately after lunch Nathan hauled out his camera equipment and started gushing about the light being perfect.

Three hours later, she was praying for clouds.

“Freaking slave driver.”

Derrick laughed and dropped his hands on her arms, rubbing in more sunscreen while at the same time pressing so perfectly on her muscles he dragged a groan from her lips. “Nathan’s not a bad guy. Not when it comes down to it.”

She gave him the evil eye. “You’re not the one doing one-hand hangs for half of eternity here, dude.”

“Yeah, yeah, life sucks, doesn’t it, sweetheart.”

She swung at him, and he ducked, grabbing her around the waist and twirling her in a circle until she shrieked with laughter. “Put me down, oh my, Derrick, stop it.”

Nathan peeked from behind his tripod, broad grin firmly in place. “Okay, recess is over, children. Time to get back to work.”

Melanie gave him her middle finger, then stuck out her tongue. He retaliated by snapping a picture, and she rolled her eyes. “You did not take a picture of that.”

“Got one of you flipping me the bird as well. I think I’ll blow it up to portrait size and give it to your parents for Christmas.”

She stuck her fists on her hips. “Hey…”

He clicked off another shot and she gave up.

“Jackass.”

“Monkey.”

Melanie spun on the spot and returned to the rock where they were bouldering, her chin held high, letting her hips wiggle as she walked.

She couldn’t believe it. Aching muscles or not, she was having the best time ever. It was like a flashback to her climbing days. Joking around and just hanging out with her buds. Nothing serious to accomplish and lots of new routes to try.

While he’d made her pose and not simply lounge around camp, Nathan had been pretty low-key about the whole picture-taking thing, compared to how closely he’d directed them back in the climbing gym. She’d even forgotten he was there as she and Derrick worked one section of the new route—arranging where they had to touch in order to go along the same path. Following a route had always been her favourite climbing activity.

This afternoon, she and Derrick were bouldering. No ropes, nothing farther off the ground than six or seven feet—low enough to stop her anxiety levels from flaring. Just a wonderful, tough physical challenge.

They’d started at the bottom edge of the huge rock, where a section of the base had caved away years ago. The first hand and footholds they chose placed them face up toward the overhang, butt and back only twelve inches off the crash mat they’d brought with them for safety.

If she fell making the first moves, she wouldn’t fall far. And she had lost her grip, a couple times, until she’d figured out how to use the proper leverage to get around the corner and cling with her fingertips to a protrusion that had barely enough space for two fingers. That allowed her to use her stomach muscles, haul up one leg to a hold, cantilever herself to the side and finally make it to the vertical wall to work the next section.

Nathan cut in. “Hurry up, guys. I’ve got all the pictures I need of you on that hunk of rock. How about getting to the new territory?”

Melanie wrinkled her nose at him. “It’s not as easy as it looks, Nathan.”

He shrugged. “Whatever.”

Oh really? His smirk lit a spark inside—one that wanted to challenge his cocky grin. She had aches in all the right spots, her muscles nice and warm. Melanie paused as she realized she hadn’t thought about her scars once in the last couple hours, not even when she’d heated up enough she’d stripped down to her sports bra. The rush of excitement that washed over her made the dare burst out. “I bet you can’t do it.”

He lowered the extra camera he’d been playing with while waiting for them to carry on. “You’ve made all of three moves, monkey. Not like it’s a huge challenge yet or anything.”

“Oh, brother, are you in for it now…” Derrick muttered.

Melanie set her fists on her hips and smiled sweetly. “Put your money where your mouth is. I bet you can’t do this route, not even if we show you an easier way.”

Nathan sneered. “I’ll offer chocolate if I can’t.”

Oh God, he was so going down.

“Right this way.”

Derrick stepped aside and Melanie gestured Nathan forward. He crawled under the overhang willingly and grabbed the handholds.

“Your feet go to the right… Yup, that one. And the other over here.”

“Here?”

She giggled. Nathan was tall enough once he did touch the holds he was going to have a hell of a time getting his ass off the mat. “Perfect. Now, lift your hips.”

He flexed his muscles and managed to get into the first position.

“Impressive. Now go for it.”