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‘This is for you, Nat,’ he says. His voice is low and tender as he passes it to me.
He’s not making this easy for me. I planned on withdrawing from him. Being distant is the best way forward, I decided. But this throws me off-kilter, and he’s already melting my carefully constructed defences I put in place after the newspaper article hit me so hard.
I reach to take it and our fingers brush, and I draw away quickly. Holding the gift in my hands, I thank him. Daisy runs back and hugs him, saying she loves it.
‘Look at my dolly, Nathalie,’ she says, waving it about. ‘Why don’t you open your present too? I wonder what Daddy got for you.’
I’m clutching onto the small package, reluctant to open it and see what’s inside. What does your boss who you slept with buy for you when he’s away with his new girlfriend?
My fingers shake slightly, and I try to calm myself as two pairs of Rochester eyes stare at me, urging me to open the gift.
Fumbling with the wrapping, I slide it off to reveal a black velvet box.
I raise my eyes to Sebastian’s, and he says, ‘I noticed it in the window and knew it was perfect for you the second I saw it, so I went back to get it.’
Flicking the box open, I gasp at the exquisite blue stone twinkling in the box. ‘My favourite stone. How did you know?’
‘I didn’t,’ he says. ‘But it complements your eyes.’
‘It’s called topaz,’ I tell Daisy, trying to normalise the moment but feeling overwhelmed that he should buy me such an obviously expensive and personal gift.
I carefully unfurl the piece from where it nestles on the luxurious padding and, holding it up, I see it’s a necklace.
‘It’s white gold,’ Sebastian says. His eyes are boring into me as he waits for my response.
The reaction I want to give him is one that’s off-limits. I’d love to throw my arms around his neck like Daisy did. I’d love to kiss him and relax in the safety of his arms. But I can’t do that and I’m holding myself in check, because if I don’t, I’m frightened he will see the emotions he’s awakened in me, and I’ll lose control and break down. I must keep it together and maintain my distance, or I’ll be lost. Again.
Daisy is watching us. She may be only five years old, but she’s observant.
‘Put it on, Nathalie,’ she pleads. ‘Please, I want to see the pretty necklace.’
Sebastian steps closer to me and says, ‘Here, let me.’
I pass him the delicate white gold chain and he spins me around and I feel his firm hands on my neck. His fingers ignite me like touchpaper, and I inhale sharply.
‘There,’ he says. ‘Let’s see.’ He turns me around to face him and we’re flush against each other. The fire erupts between us like it always does.
I step backwards and take a breath, trying to calm my pounding heart. His eyes draw mine back to his, and I say, ‘Thank you so much. I love it. How thoughtful of you.’
His smile is genuine, and I see how pleased he is that it’s a hit.
‘What do you think?’ I ask Daisy.
‘It’s so pretty, just like you. Isn’t Nathalie, pretty Daddy?’
‘She is. Absolutely stunning,’ Sebastian says, and his words are like cool silk calming my feverish skin. Every sense is on alert, and I long for his hands to touch me again.
I move towards the mirror and take in my flushed cheeks and the gleam in my eyes. He’s right. The topaz stone is a perfect match for my eye colour, and the white gold shimmers in my reflection. The emotion builds and tears well in my eyes, no matter how I fight to hold them back.
And suddenly he is standing behind me, watching me in the mirror. He sees the tears, and I glimpse a flash of pain in his eyes, which look more grey than blue, as he studies me.
‘Sorry,’ I say, wiping my face. ‘I’m being silly.’
‘Why the tears, Nat?’ he whispers so close to my ear that his breath brushes over the sensitive skin on my neck, and I shiver. Desire courses through my veins and I’m desperate for him to hold me. I never want this moment to end.
‘It’s just that no one has ever bought me such a beautiful gift,’ I say, trying to push back the emotion and stop the tears, but they’re spilling out of my eyes faster and won’t stop as he looks at me.
I’m embarrassed and look away.
