Tender

Natalie

“My God”
“What?” he murmurs urgently grasping my hands squeezing them gently “Nat?”
“You’re serious aren’t you?” I gulp as it finally sinks in
“Yes...” he murmurs with a gentle smile, that melts my heart, he was like the Hayden of old the one I knew...the one I could trust
“B-but why?” I bluster in utter confusion
“I told you Nat...”
“I don’t understand...” I shake my head
“Why it’s simple...” he shivers slightly and it strikes me that we are out in the pouring rain, me half in half out of a taxi. I blush as I look at the taxi driver who is eyeing us with a wry grin
“Uh...Hayden...”
“What?” he murmurs, looking at me I shift my eyes to the driver. It is like a veil lifted from his eyes. He shakes his head cursing, hauling me out of the taxi before I can protest
“Hayden!” I shriek as he hands the driver some money
“We need to talk about this Natalie...and certainly not in the middle of the street”
“Hayden!” I cry again, as the taxi takes off tyres screeching
“Come inside...you’re frozen” he murmurs softly, and like a lamb to the slaughter I follow
“Here...” he murmurs leading me back into the apartment “why don’t you have a shower?” he murmurs “warm yourself up”
“But...”
“I think you left some clothes here” I flinch at his words; I can’t bear to look at him. A silence grows, heavy and ominous
“I’ll...uh...dig them out for you...”
“Right” I whisper as he stalks into the bedroom. With a sigh, I drop my coat onto the nearest chair walking with shaky legs to the bathroom
I click on the shower, leaning my head against the cool tiles for a moment, as if that would clear it. With a deep sigh, I strip, stepping under the warm spray, the tension ebbing slightly almost immediately. I reach blindly for the shampoo, pouring a generous measure into my hand I lather it up rubbing it into my scalp with brisk fingers stepping under the spray again, I giggle as I feel the suds slide down my back, rinsing my hair until it is literally squeaky clean. I scramble blindly for a towel, only to find it missing I shriek as I find Hayden standing there holding it
“HAYDEN!” I shriek blushing; God knows why I think as I desperately try to cover myself he’s certainly seen it all before
“Don’t!” he mutters huskily
“What?” I splutter grabbing the towel
“Hide yourself from me” he murmurs “Nat!” he calls as I stalk to the lounge “Don’t...” he trails off barrelling into me as I come to a stand still as I see what is lying on the table
“Nat...”
“I...” I mutter trying to shake free of his grip
“It’s OK Nat...”
“What the hell...?” Dear God what was he going to do
“Don’t be scared,” he whispers against my ear
“How can I not be?” I manage to squeak trying to walk forward on trembling legs
“I won’t hurt you...I swear I won’t”
You already have is on the tip of my tongue
“No, but you’ll hurt Marcus”
He sighs
“But we’re sorting that aren’t we?”
“Payment in kind?” I sneer wanting to jump into the shower again
“It’s not like that and you know it,” he murmurs
“Do I?”
“We both want this...” no question in his tone...he knows worse luck “why fight it?” he murmurs
“But...”
“Let me give you what he can’t” he groans against my hair turning me his lips scorching my cheek. Cursing myself for my weakness I slide my arms around his neck, closing my eyes so I won’t see the gleam of triumph in his gaze I mutter the only answer I can give
“Yes” I breathe huskily
He exhales sharply, giving the illusion he had been holding his breath
“Thank you God” I think I hear him mutter before he presses his lips to mine and all else fades into oblivion