Tender

Natalie

“What?” I breathe harshly
“I...I can give you a baby Natalie...”
“Y-You’re sick you know that” I whisper, my hands trembling
“No wait...” he murmurs
“What kind of game is this?”
“It’s not a game...”
“You expect me to believe that after...?”
“Yes”
“I...” I shake my head stunned “I..I don’t believe this...”
“Just hear me out...”
“N-No...”
“Natalie...”
“What are you playing at?”
“I’m not playing at anything”
“I don’t believe you”
“Natalie...”
“What’s in it for you?”
“Nothing...”
“Now I know you’re lying...” I go to get into the cab, I shriek as I feel his fingers close over my wrist how had he moved so fast?
“Hayden!”
“Hear me out...Please...”
“I...”
I pull away sitting in the cab, he holds the door, kneeling in front of me with pleading eyes
“Think about it Natalie...we both know why he took the money of me...”
“Don’t...”
“To give you what you really wanted...a baby...”
“I know...”
“Only he can’t can he?” he whispers urgently
I look at my hands twisting them furiously
“Tell me I’m wrong...it’s his fault you can’t get pregnant...isn’t it?”
“It’s no-one’s fault...”
“But you could have a baby if...” he grabs my hand I tighten my muscles at the shooting feeling of awareness that fills me
“Yes” I whisper looking away
“He can’t do that for you Natalie...how long have you been trying?”
“These things take time...”
“Months and months?” his gentle tone is my undoing, as I feel the ever-ready tears slip down my face
“Why are you doing this to me?” I whisper
“I’m not doing anything Nat...I...” he trails off, squeezing my hand
“Do you enjoy torturing me is that it?...it is isn’t it?”
“No Nat” he murmurs
“What’s in it for you?”
“Nothing”
“Liar”
He sighs
“OK..” he shrugs “I’ll admit it I want you Natalie”
“Don’t...”
“And you want me don’t you...” he whisper softly stroking my hand gently “What’s the harm?”
“What?”
“It’s a good thing for both of us...”
“How do you...?”
“Don’t you see? We both get what we want...”
“What, you get me?” I scoff
“And you get your baby” he cajoles “What do you think” I look at him with a sigh what should I do? I’ve already betrayed Marcus enough, but I don’t love him...I love the man in front of me pleading with me to have a baby with him. If I did...well I would always have a part of him wouldn’t I? a part of the man I loved...surely that would make getting through the days easier without him. I just don’t know what to do.