Natalie knew it. Charlie knew it.
And the expression on Javier’s face as he patted the horse’s neck told her that even he knew it. Man and horse were one.
Jealousy, hot and painful, sparked in her chest. She’d had Charlie since he was born, loving him almost as much as she’d loved Alejandro. But seeing the two of them, Natalie knew that she would have to give Charlie to Javier. It was only right.
Feeling weak, she sat down on the bench, her whole body trembling both from watching them ride as well as from the ravages of the stomach bug and lack of food.
All of that was before Javier walked up from the stables after handing Charlie off to a stable hand. Javier gave adequate attention to Charlie before leaving, but the stranger took over as Javier looked up the hill, spotting her sitting on the rickety bench.
When he was in front of her, she could see the excitement still singing through him. “He’s yours,” she whispered, biting her lower lip to keep herself from crying.
Javier’s only response was to lift her up into his arms. “How are you feeling?” he asked, carrying her back into her house.
“I’m fine,” she told him, looking away. His dark gaze was too intense. She knew where his mind was going. The thrill of a fast ride was almost foreplay, she knew from experience. His body was pumped up, but she wouldn’t go there. Not just because she was exhausted and hungry, but because…well, because she couldn’t!
“I need to shower. Then…”
Javier walked into the bathroom and lowered her feet to the floor. He bent over, turning on the water, testing it to make sure it was the right temperature, then reached to remove her sweatshirt.
“I can do this myself!” she insisted quickly, holding her hands out to ward off his assistance.
“I’m here to help,” he quipped, his eyes teasing, but he thankfully backed away. “Leave the door open in case you need help,” he ordered and walked out of the bathroom.
Natalie leaned against the wall, relieved that he was willing to give her privacy. The man was a force of nature, she thought. She ignored his command, closing the door before pulling her clothes off. Stepping into the shower, she breathed a sigh of relief as the warm water washed away the remnants of the previous twenty-four hours.
Natalie was rubbing her body with the soap when she realized that her inner thighs were sticky. Confused, she cleaned herself off, and gasped when she realized what must have happened. Javier hadn’t used a condom!
Yes, they’d been frantic last night. And no, she hadn’t thought about contraception either. So she couldn’t blame him.
Closing her eyes, she berated herself. Hadn’t she learned her lesson the last time?! She should know better than to even…her body was…
Natalie closed her eyes, leaning against the cool tile of the shower wall as she contemplated what she’d done, what might happen. Her mind was too fuzzy to count the weeks since her last period, so she shook her head and lifted the shampoo bottle.
It didn’t matter. If there were consequences from last night, she’d deal with them, just as she’d done the last time. She could handle whatever came her way.
This was not the end of the world.
Drying off, she rubbed the towel over her body, biting her lip to stop the weakness from lack of food.
But when the door opened abruptly, she gasped and pulled back, trying to hide her nakedness behind the towel. “Get out!” she shouted.
“I brought you clean clothes,” he informed her, stepping into the bathroom. His dark eyes moved up and down her figure, barely hidden with the small towel. “It isn’t like I haven’t seen all of you before,” he pointed out, leaning against the door after laying the clothes down on the toilet.
“Javier! Get out!” she snapped again.
“No,” he replied, almost conversationally.
She glared at him, wishing she had the strength to push him out. But no one pushed Javier around, he was too big and too powerful, in too many ways. “Fine!” she snapped and wrapped the towel around her. She grabbed the clean clothes and tried to walk out of the bathroom. But he stopped her with a single hand around her waist, pulling her against him.
“We’re going to talk, Natalie. Get dressed. I have food for you in the kitchen.”
With that command barely out of his mouth, he kissed her hard and fast, then released her to walk away.
Natalie’s first thought was that she was glad she’d just brushed her teeth. Her second was that she really didn’t want to hear anything he had to say. Discussions with Javier turned into a list of commands and she was too furious with him right now.
Grabbing the clothes he’d brought her, she pulled on the underwear and bra, noting that they weren’t particularly sexy, although she blushed at the idea of Javier going through her underwear. She remembered the sexy bits of nothing he’d bought her when she’d been with him last time, all the silk and satin, the barely-there lace. She’d loved dressing in those pieces, loved the way his eyes would fire up as soon as he saw her in the sexy items.
Her underwear now was plain, serviceable cotton. Not a single sexy item to be found anywhere. She’d left all of that behind when she’d left his castle and his life. Had she replaced any of it? No way! What would be the point? At first, she’d been too devastated by his rejection of her to even think about being with another man. And then, her body had blossomed with her pregnancy, with Javier’s son. It had been all she could do to pay her bills and provide a home for Alejandro. So the option of buying something sexy hadn’t been possible. Now…now with the issue of a special school for her son, for HIS son, and the massive expense that would pose, sexy bits of nothing were further out of her reach.
Maybe someday, she thought. Perhaps in the very distant future….
Well, that wasn’t for today, she told herself as she pulled on the cotton bra. But her fingers were shaking out of hunger and…desire. She couldn’t get the clasp closed.
When the door opened up, she spun around, her arms covering breasts that weren’t yet contained by the cotton bra. “What are you doing?” she demanded, glaring up at him and trying not to blush as his dark eyes moved over her figure. “Get out.”
“I was concerned. You were taking too long.”
She refused to let her heart melt even a smidge because of his words. He wasn’t concerned, she told herself. He was more likely impatient waiting for her.
“I’m fine. Just…leave,” she repeated, her voice softening at the possibility that he might care just a little. It was silly, but...
“Turn around,” he ordered, but he didn’t wait for her to follow his order. His strong hands moved to her shoulders, spinning her around carefully. Natalie couldn’t stop the gasp when she felt his hands on her back. With efficient movements, he attached the clasp. Unfortunately, his hands then moved upwards, pretending to adjust the straps, but Natalie knew his touch too well. He was touching her simply because…because the man loved to touch. He loved to explore her skin and her arms, her body.
“What are you doing?” she demanded, wishing her voice sounded stronger, that her body would stop trembling with anticipation.
“I’m fixing your bra,” he explained, but his head was lower, closer to her ear. “I wouldn’t want anything to be twisted, causing you discomfort, Natalie.”
Her breath caught and her body almost swayed into his. But she caught herself just in time, grabbing the sweatshirt and pulling it over her head. “I’m fine,” she said yet again, even though they both knew that was a blatant lie. She wasn’t fine. She was starving, trembling, and completely aware of him as a man and a former lover.
She had to emphasize the “former” part of that equation versus the “lover” aspect. This man was in her past. And what was worse, she remembered Javier’s father, Juan Pablo’s threat, to take her son away if she ever contacted Javier again.
This didn’t count, she told herself. She hadn’t contacted Javier. He’d invaded her life.
Thankful
ly, he pulled his hands away and took a step backwards. “The doctor said you should stick with bananas, apple sauce, toast, and rice.”
She turned around, staring up at him with wide eyes. “Doctor?” she quipped.
He shrugged and glanced outside of the bathroom. “I had a doctor come by to examine you earlier today.”
Natalie thought back. Vaguely, she remembered hearing voices, feeling a hand on her forehead. But she hadn’t woken up enough to really understand what was going on. “You called a doctor?” she asked, her body cringing. “But I can’t afford a doctor!” she gasped.
He glared at her, his hands on his hips. “Natalie, you were sick. I wasn’t going to risk your health.”
“But…”
“Don’t worry about the expense. I took care of it.”
He walked out of the bathroom at that point, heading towards the kitchen.
She followed on his heels, furious with him for being angry with her. “No, you won’t. I take care of my bills. Whatever the cost, I’ll handle it,” she told him, although how she was going to do that on her teacher’s salary, she had no idea. Maybe the doctor would take a payment plan. Maybe she could skip lunch for the next few weeks, pay the doctor a few dollars a month. She had no idea what a house call from a doctor would cost, but she guessed it was pretty expensive.
Javier wasn’t listening. His long finger pointed to her kitchen table. “Eat!” he commanded.
Looking over at where he was pointing, her eyes widened. “What in the world?” she whispered. Her kitchen table and every inch of available counter space was covered with bananas and jars of organic applesauce, as well as whole wheat toast. She normally purchased bananas at the grocery store for Alejandro since they were his favorite fruit. But she limited her purchase to four or five bananas, about all she could afford and pretty much all he could eat within a week.
But there were about fifty bunches of bananas on her kitchen table and more on the countertop. There was a veritable mountain of bananas! Looking around, she realized that there were maybe thirty jars of applesauce and twenty loaves of bread.
Natalie couldn’t help it. Seeing the enormous pile of food, her hand lifted, covering her mouth as both horror and amusement hit her at the same time. “Um…well…”
“What’s wrong?” he demanded, his hands fisting on his hips. “Why aren’t you eating?”
She had to chuckle, it was also hard to not be charmed by his concern and his exuberance in helping her to recover. “Um…yes,” she stammered and grabbed a banana, knowing it was the best thing for refueling her body. “Thank you so much for getting…all of this for me.” her eyes wandered over all the food, wondering what she was going to do with what looked to be two hundred bananas.
He continued to watch her as she bit into the banana. His dark eyes were so intent, she felt self-conscious as she ate. “Um…don’t you have some place to be?” she asked, thinking that Hayden should be dropping Alejandro off pretty soon. She didn’t want Juan Pablo to think that she’d introduced Javier to his son behind his back.
But then, why would Javier care? He’d already told his father that he didn’t think she was pregnant and, if she was, the baby wasn’t his.
Then again, why risk it? “You have to go,” she told him, for what felt like the millionth time.
He shook his head, leaning his hip against the countertop. “We have business to discuss.”
Natalie’s heart sank. Charlie. After seeing her wonderful stallion with Javier, she knew that he would be the ideal owner for her friend. “Yes. About Charlie.”
“I’m not buying Charlie,” he told her. “That isn’t what we will discuss.”
Her eyes widened as her stomach muscles tightened. He didn’t want to buy Charlie? But…what was she going to do? Alejandro needed a stronger education. He was floundering in his preschool, getting into trouble since he wasn’t challenged in any way. The teachers were doing their best but…
“Um. Well, if you don’t want to purchase Charlie, then we have nothing to discuss,” she told him, turning away and covering the half eaten banana with the skin, unable to swallow as fear for her son’s future choked her.
“Finish eating,” he ordered, lifting his hands to cross them over his chest.
“I’m not hungry.”
“You’re famished. Half a banana isn’t adequate for having missed the last four or five meals.”
She shook her head, her anger rising up as it seemed to do whenever this man was around. “Javier, you’re not in charge of me. You can’t order me around. Thank you for helping me, even though it wasn’t necessary, but get out. Now!” she snapped and pointed towards her front door.
He shook his head. “We’re not finished, Natalie.”
She was afraid he was going to say that. After last night, she’d suspected that he would go down that road. Rubbing her forehead, she lowered her gaze to the floor, trying not to blush at the memory of how she’d practically attacked him last night. “Look, about the way I acted…”
“I want you as my mistress,” he interrupted. Moving closer, he leaned into her. “You’ll have a monthly allowance,” and he named an amount that was twice her annual salary as a teacher. “In addition, I’ll take care of all of your living expenses while we are together. I’ll provide you with an apartment and a car, which you can keep after we’re finished.”
She gaped at him, shocked at how much he was willing to spend on her. Then again, he had never been cheap. The man had spent outrageous amounts of money on her before. And she’d left all of it behind. All the clothes, the jewels, everything. She hadn’t wanted it if she couldn’t be with Javier. And his father had been very clear, she couldn’t have Javier. He hadn’t wanted her so she’d moved on.
“You’ll have to travel with me this time though. Not all the time, but when I want you, I expect you to be there.”
Natalie couldn’t believe what he was saying. Surely, he was kidding. “You want a whore,” she whispered, feeling like he’d just slapped her in the face.
He shook his head. “Don’t think of it in that way.”
She lifted her chin, feeling sick but in a different way now. “Really? How should I think of it? You’d expect sex.”
“Naturally.”
“And you’d be paying me.”
His jaw clenched with her interrogation. “I’d be providing you with an allowance.”
“Let’s not quibble with semantics, Javier. You’d be paying me a salary. Would you also give me a title? Maybe make me an employee of one of your companies? I could be a tax write off! That would save you a bit, wouldn’t it?”
She could see his anger starting to bubble, but it was nothing compared to the hurt she was feeling now. “Maybe, if I’m really good in bed, you’d buy me a few baubles? If I learned a new sexual trick, you’d take me on your yacht?”
He growled only moments before grabbing her by the upper arms and pulling her closer. Even in his rage, he didn’t hurt her. Javier would never hurt a woman. She knew that so she didn’t fear his anger. Only the pain of his words, the humiliation he was spinning her way.
“I will not be manipulated again, Natalie. You can accept this arrangement or not at all.”
She jerked out of his arms and stepped backwards. “Thank you for your generous offer,” she spat. “But I’m no one’s whore!” She moved away from him, wanting to lash out at him, hurt him as badly as he was hurting her. “Get out, Javier. Get out and don’t ever come back!”
“Natalie,” he began but the front door burst open. She heard Alejandro’s voice calling to her. “Momma!”
She quickly turned around, just in time to catch her son as he threw himself into her arms. “Hi, love,” she greeted, lifting him into her arms. “Were you good for Ms. Hayden?” she asked, kissing his chubby cheek.
Alejandro couldn’t answer. He was staring at the tall man standing in their kitchen. His dark eyes, so similar to the stranger’s, watching, taking it all in.
&
nbsp; Another voice jerked her attention away from the staring match between father and son. “Natalie? I brought…” Hayden called out, but she came to a skidding halt when she saw the scene in her friend’s kitchen. Immediately, Hayden glanced from Alejandro to Javier, then back again. “Oh my!” she gasped, eyebrows lifting.
There was a long moment of silence as Natalie and Hayden stared at Alejandro and Javier, both of whom were staring only at each other. It was as if nothing else in the world existed for those two.
Natalie had always known that her son was the spitting image of Javier, only a younger version. But looking at the two now, she could see that the resemblance was more than striking. Apparently, Javier’s DNA was a bit stronger than she’d realized because the two were practically twins, at different ages. Even their facial expressions were identical.
Natalie shifted Alejandro’s weight to her hip, and turned to Hayden. “Thanks for your help. You were a lifesaver last night. I can’t thank you enough for taking care of Alejandro while I was ill.”
Hayden continued to glance back and forth between the two males, barely blinking. “Are you okay? This seems to be a…tense situation.”
Natalie took in both of them again, her heart sinking further. “I’m fine,” she whispered, praying that she was right.
“Okay,” Hayden said, patting Natalie’s arm. “But if you need anything, I’m only a phone call away.”
Natalie might have smiled, she wasn’t sure. All she knew was that Alejandro and Javier were still staring at each other. She didn’t think either had blinked.
Hayden patted Natalie’s arm again, then walked out.
Spanish Passions (Friends Forever Book 2) Page 4