Not long after we got in, she took a call from Emma. When she hung up, her look at me was off.
"What happened?" I asked.
"Emma said you cleared out those haters, handled the people behind it, pulled every photo and topic off the net." Natalie watched me, emotions in her eyes so faint they barely showed. "Thanks, but..."
"But?"
Her fingers tightened at her sides, gripping hard, like she fought for calm distance. "But it wasn't necessary, Richard. Every singer deals with haters. I can handle it, or at least my company..."
"What can you handle?" I cut her off. Sometimes she seemed like a kid, and usually I liked that, but not now. "Natalie, admit it—without being Mrs. Winston, you're just putting yourself and the baby at risk. Only I can root out the problems, make sure they don't come back."
I stood, closed in, hands bracing her chair arms, trapping her between me and the table.
She tilted her head up, blue eyes flashing stubborn, cheeks pink. "What're you doing?"
I leaned down, breath ghosting her sensitive ear. "You said thanks. Honestly, I prefer something more... substantial."
I scooped her up in one fluid motion, my mouth crashing back onto hers as I carried her toward the bedroom. Natalie gasped into the kiss, her arms wrapping around my neck instinctively, fingers tangling in my hair. The rain pattered against the windows, a distant rhythm that matched the pounding in my chest. Her body pressed against mine, warm and yielding, every step heightening the tension between us.
By the time we reached the bedroom door, our kisses had turned frantic—tongues battling, teeth nipping. I kicked the door shut behind us, not breaking contact, and lowered her onto the bed. She looked up at me, eyes dark with need, lips swollen from my assault. "Richard..." she breathed, but I silenced her with another deep kiss, my hands roaming her curves.
I pulled back just enough to strip her clothes off, efficient and hungry. Her shirt went first, tossed aside, revealing the lacy bra that did nothing to hide her hardened nipples. I unclasped it with a flick, exposing her breasts, full and inviting. My mouth watered at the sight. Then her pants— I tugged them down her legs, taking the panties with them, leaving her bare and beautiful on the sheets.
Natalie shivered under my gaze, not from cold, but from the heat building between us. I knelt between her thighs, eyes locked on her slightly rounded belly, a reminder of the life inside her. Leaning down, I pressed my lips to her small abdomen, soft and reverent at first. The skin there was warm, smooth, and I trailed kisses across it, feeling her muscles twitch beneath me.
"Oh God, Richard..." she moaned, her voice hitching in a way that told me this was hitting her hard. Something about kissing her there amplified everything. Her hips bucked slightly, seeking more.
I noticed—how could I not? Her breaths came faster, her body arching into my touch. Grinning against her skin, I kept kissing her belly, my tongue darting out to taste her, while one hand slid between her legs. My fingers found her slick folds, already wet and ready. I teased her entrance, circling her clit with my thumb, slow and deliberate, building the pressure.
She writhed, hands fisting the sheets. "Fuck, that feels... so good." Her moans grew louder, body trembling as I worked her with expert precision, my mouth never leaving her abdomen. The combination drove her wild—kisses on her belly making her hypersensitive, my fingers plunging in and out, curling to hit that spot inside her.
Natalie bucked harder, gasping. "Richard, please... I need you inside me. Now."
I chuckled low, still kissing her soft skin, fingers not stopping their rhythm. "You're just out of the hospital, baby. You sure you can handle me tossing you around?"
She met my eyes, bold and desperate, cheeks flushed. "Then use your mouth on me. Make me come that way first."
Damn, that directness turned me on even more. I didn't hesitate. Shifting down, I spread her thighs wider, burying my face between them. My tongue flicked out, tasting her sweetness, lapping at her clit with firm strokes. She cried out, hips grinding against my mouth as I sucked and licked, devouring her. One hand gripped her thigh, the other slipped back to her belly, rubbing gentle circles there to heighten the sensation.
Natalie was a mess of moans, her body quivering, building toward the edge. I added fingers again, thrusting deep while my tongue worked her relentlessly. "Come for me," I murmured against her, the vibration sending her over.
She shattered, crying my name, waves of pleasure crashing through her. I didn't let up until she was spent, limp and panting.
Only then did I strip off my own clothes, cock hard and aching. I positioned myself over her, guiding into her slowly, gently. She was so wet, so ready, enveloping me perfectly. I moved with care, thrusts deep but tender, savoring every inch. Our eyes locked, her hands on my back, nails digging in just enough.
"Richard... yes," she whispered, meeting my rhythm.
I kept it gentle, building us both up slowly, kissing her lips, her neck, her belly again between thrusts. The connection was intense, raw, her walls clenching around me. When she hit her peak, arching and gasping, I followed right after, spilling into her with a groan, our releases syncing in perfect harmony.
We rode the waves together, bodies entwined, hearts pounding.
In the peak and fade of our release, Natalie buried her face in the pillow, voice muffled.
"Richard," she said my name, "you always fix everything, right? One word from you, and no one dares mess with me or get ideas."
My fingers lingered on her smooth back, tracing lazy circles, soaking in the silky feel and this closeness. I hummed, figuring it was her nod to how I handled threats.
"But, Richard," she turned her face, one eye showing, no gratitude there—just heavy exhaustion and... disappointment? Shit, I hoped I misread it. "Have you ever thought about what I actually like? What I need?"
