I wake up with my hand led on Nate’s chest, his arm around me and my leg swung over the top of his.
I blink a few times to rid myself of the blurriness and I allow myself a few moments to bask in the beauty of what we did last night.
I asked Nate to make love to me, and he did. And it was the most magical experience of my life.
He made me feel like nothing else mattered, like I was his whole world. I’ve never been made to feel so special, and it’s given me food for thought.
I gently disentangle myself from him, careful not to wake him as I crawl out of the bed. I take one of his T-shirts from the chair in the corner of his room and put it on, breathing in his scent and the aftershave he wears.
I take one last look at him and leave his room, making my way downstairs to the kitchen. I start the coffee machine and try to ignore the pain that is searing through my heart at what happened at Purity last night. How that man had his hands on me, how he hurt me, how he made me feel disgusting in every way imaginable. If it hadn’t been for Nate, I don’t know what I would have been like. He took care of me, made me feel like I mattered, and he ultimately made the hate that I have harboured for him for so long disappear.
I’m done with hating him.
I’m done with fighting against what I feel.
And as much as I dislike the way in which we became a couple, I can finally feel my anger seeping away. I have no idea why that guy attacked me last night, but I presume it was because of who my husband is… and yes, if it wasn’t for Nate then that probably wouldn’t have happened, but I can’t take away from how he looked after me and how when I saw him, I ran straight into his arms, taking comfort from his embrace.
There is no denying that Nate appears to have become my security blanket, and I have mixed emotions about that. I don’t want to be someone that depends on a guy for the rest of my life, but with being married to him, I don’t know if I have the option of not depending on him.
I brew the coffee and place my mug underneath the nozzle, filling the cup. Placing the palm of my hand on my cheek, I suck in a breath as it hurts to touch. I’m yet to look in the mirror, but I know that there will be a bruise and that my neck will probably look horrendous.
I turn the coffee machine off and carry my cup to the kitchen island, taking a seat on one of the stools and staring out of the kitchen window. It’s sunny outside, a picture of perfection as I look at the gorgeous garden that stretches on for what seems like miles and miles.
This whole house is to die for, and I’ve never really taken time to appreciate it before. The kitchen is all marble worktops, clean white walls, grey cabinets and grey floor tiles. It’s so very Nate in every way imaginable, reflecting the darkness that he harbours inside of him.
Although, I’m starting to question that darkness. I mean, there is no doubt that he is ruthless when it counts, but with me… he’s different, and the more time goes on, the more I’m seeing something else inside of him… I just don’t quite know what it is yet. A softness? A kindness? A desire to be more than some crime lord?
I sip my coffee, almost burning my tongue because it’s too hot, when I hear footsteps behind me, and then Nate’s arms are wrapping around me from behind, his chest against my back, his warmth surrounding me. I put my cup down and place my arms on top of his, and I let out a sigh.
“Good morning,” he says, his voice sounding husky from just waking up.
“Morning,” I say, all breathy and shit as I bask in the feel of him surrounding me.
“Have you been up long?” he enquires.
“No, just a few minutes.”
I let myself sink back against him, feeling some of my tension melting away just from his touch alone. One of his arms move and comes to my face, his fingers lightly gripping my chin as he turns my head until I’m looking right at him.
His eyes roam my face, stopping on my cheek for a second before moving down to my neck. I see his jaw clench and I move my hand up and place it on his holding my chin.
“I’m fine,” I say quietly with a small smile.
“That’s not the point,” he grates out, leaning down and placing a light kiss on my lips before moving away and to the coffee machine. I admire his ass in his grey joggers. What is it about a guy in grey joggers that gets a woman all hot and bothered? He’s also not wearing a top, showing off his broad back and shoulders, all defined and hot as fuck.
He turns around and catches me staring, a smirk appearing on his face. I roll my eyes and turn away, resuming sipping my coffee now it has cooled down a little bit.
Nate joins me a few moments later, taking the seat opposite me and blocking my view of the garden. “So, we need to talk about last night,” he says, his eyes looking all serious.
Oh boy.
“Okay,” I reply feebly. I want to see where he goes with this, and whether he means what happened between us or what happened with the guy who cornered me.
“The guy from Purity,” he begins, and I feel a little disappointment hit that he doesn’t want to discuss what happened with us, but at the same time, there is a little relief too. I mean, I have no idea what last night means for our relationship, but I know something has shifted and I feel it deep inside of me.
“He was working for a woman called Jessica who used to work for me. She disappeared the day that the photos of you showed up, and I have no doubt that she is in on whatever is being planned, and she is trying to fuck with me by using you.”
Oh. Wait. A woman used to work for him? The thought has me feeling something close to jealousy, and before I can stop myself, I say, “Did you fuck her?”
