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Natalie nodded. “Yes, I think I am.”
My gut churned in anticipation. I stood, helped Natalie to her feet, grasped her hand and escorted her to the front counter where I settled the bill. With my hand on the small of her back, I guided her to my truck.
“What about my car?” She asked.
There was no way I was letting her out of my sight. “We'll pick it up later.”
“Okay.” She slid into the passenger seat and gave me directions to her apartment.
~*~
Natalie’s hands shook as she pressed her key into the lock, turned the handle and invited me inside.
I glanced around. Soft lamplight cast a glow over the room. The unit was spotless and homey with huge, overstuffed chairs, chunky wood furniture and colourful scatter cushions. The third-floor apartment had a view over the city and a myriad of lights twinkled, competing with stars in the night sky.
I crossed to the large floor-to-ceiling windows and stood admiring the skyline. She stepped up alongside me. Her voice was soft when she spoke. “I never tire of the view. Even during the day, when I'm not working, I love to watch people scurrying about their business down there.”
I turned to face Natalie. Her huge brown eyes drew me in like a bee to pollen. I felt like I could drown in the chocolate pools. Lowering my head, I captured her lips.
She wound her arms around my neck, and I deepened the kiss. Our tongues tangled and teeth clashed. There was almost a primitive urgency about it all. When she pulled back and our eyes met, hers shimmered with lust.
I stepped closer but she tensed as I popped the buttons on her jacket. I frowned, her sudden change in demeanour had me confused. She had mentioned a relationship with someone named Paul so affection couldn't be something new for her. Why the fuck did my skin crawl when I think of another man touching the lady? Why did I burn with jealousy?
As I reached to peel the jacket from her shoulders, she pushed at my chest almost frantically. My eyes locked on hers and she must have seen my confusion.
“Come and sit down. I have to tell you something before this can go any further. After you hear what I have to say, I won't be upset if you decide to leave like others have.”
What the fuck was she talking about?My cock danced in anticipation and now she was telling me, I’d probably want to leave?
She gathered my hand and led me to a chair where I sat.
Natalie dropped to her knees in front of me, her hands locked together so tightly that her knuckles were the colour of snow. I reached for her hands and gathered them into mine. They were small and soft. I nestled them onto my knees.
Natalie swallowed hard while I wondered what was going on. Her face was pale, and she shook with nervousness. I caressed her knuckles, hoping to give her the courage to continue with what she needed to say.
“Would you like a drink...coffee?”
“No, talk to me, baby. I promise I won't judge you. I know from your actions in the church that someone has hurt you badly.”
“You're right, but maybe it's a thread you'll wish you'd never pulled when you hear the truth about my life. Please listen to what I have to say before you judge me because it's a long story. I have never talked to anyone about this, but I want you to know even though I don't understand why.”
“I'm listening.”
“I was seven years old when my father dumped me on my grandparents. He said he couldn't deal with me any longer because I was inhibiting his life. My mother had died in an accident when I was five years old. Over the following two years, I began to understand about the whores he kept bringing home and I didn't like it, so I acted out. I didn't want my mother replaced. So, I became a giant pain in his arse. Tantrums, disobedience, answering back...I did it all. I pushed him too far and one day he packed me up, took me to Esther and Frank's home and dumped me on their doorstep.”
“What did your grandparents say?”
“They weren't there. They had gone out for the day, so I sat on the front steps with my suitcase and a raggedy old teddy bear, from seven in the morning until they got home at nine that night.”
“Your father didn't call them first?”
“No.”
“Did he know they weren't home when he left you?”
“Yes, he knocked at the door. When no one answered I thought he would take me home and everything would be okay. I begged him not to leave me, promised I would be as quiet as a mouse, and wouldn't cause any more trouble. I just wanted him to take me home. He refused. He didn't even kiss me goodbye, just turned his back, got into his car, and drove away. I never saw him again.”
“Bastard. What kind of man does that to his own child?” My heart ached for her. I couldn't understand how anyone could treat their child in such a horrible way.
