by O. E. Boroni
With his hand cradling my head to keep it in place, he increased the intensity of his kiss, drinking me in with a desperation that showed more than anything, his need for an escape. Eventually I dragged my lips away from his and lifted myself to sit astride his hips. Grabbing my t-shirt, I pulled it over my head and flung it away just as he came up to me and cupped my breasts. His mouth soon replaced his hands while I cradled his head in my arms, my head tipped back as soft moans escaped my lips.
When he was done with his assault, he lifted his legs off the couch and rose with me, my legs around his waist. I continued kissing him until we reached the bedroom, and there he laid me gently on the bed. His gaze held mine as he took of his pants and then came to lie beside me. I immediately went into his arms.
"I've dreamt of this moment for so long." He said, and it made me blush. "Hope you're ready."
"I am." I replied, and kissed him.
Nathan
I woke up a few hours later with Nora still in my arms and immediately, my brain began to critically analyze what I'd let happen. First of all my head felt cleared, as if all the dolor that had prevented me from making sense of anything in the last week had been replaced by a strange calm. I still felt the pain in my chest and I doubted that it would be subsiding anytime soon, but for the moment I chose to ignore it and focus on the beautiful woman that was asleep in my arms. I was a little unhappy that I'd allowed things to progress as far as they had since the plan had been to wait until we'd gotten married, but I couldn't even regret one second of it. She’d blown my mind without even trying.
She was meant for me. From the moment I'd laid eyes on her I knew that there was something I needed that I would only be able to find with her, and with each day that we were together she unknowingly proved to me that my intuition had been right. I softly stroked her hair as I stared down at her. I realized more than ever that I was so goddamn lucky to have her, but at the same time it terrified me that I would someday become so distracted that I would forget that.
I had been in hell these last few weeks. I still was, and I couldn't believe how easily she'd been able to bring me back to my senses, just by being present. I softly pushed her hair away from her face and leaned down to plant a soft kiss on her cheek. She stirred then and it made me smile.
My self-sabotage had to end today. I believed that I’d allowed myself enough time to come to terms with what had happened, so now it was time to deal with it. Today I would move back to my apartment and leave behind all the sorrow that I had been sure was going to end me a week ago. I was now prepared to live with the pain, and that was the state that I’d used my time away to be able to attain.
Tears filled my eyes then, but I immediately pushed them back. Life was indeed so cruel. The bone-crushing chill I felt in my heart made me feel like I'd lost everything but as I watched the beautiful woman in my arms, I also felt like I'd gained the whole world. I could only hope that the warmth she provided would be just enough to keep the cold at bay.
Her bare body was still pressed against mine and it made me want to get a taste of heaven again, but I didn’t want to wake her up. Moreover, I had a lifetime of this to enjoy so there was no need to harass her just yet. It didn’t take me time to fall asleep again, but I woke up earlier than she did and moved my things back to my apartment.
On my last run, I picked up the ring I'd gotten from a small town in Paris about four years earlier and brought it back with me to the hotel room. I placed the box by her nightstand and left the room to make some phone calls to my office. The sun was already rising so it was time to get to work, but I didn't want to wake her up so I kept my voice as low as it could go and reworked everything I'd missed so far back into my schedule with my assistant Matthew. By the time we were done I was sincerely terrified because there was so much to do. But at the same time, I was glad that I would be occupied. There would be little time to think about the disaster that had just turned my life upside down in the past week.
Lenora
When I woke up, I knew instantly that I had overslept. The reminder of the meetings that I had lined up for the day made me groan aloud, and I hoped that I hadn’t already missed any of them. I was also reminded of what had happened last night. The soreness between my legs brought some pretty vivid memories to mind that instantly set my entire body on fire, all over again. As I reminisced about them, I became incredibly amazed by just how far I and Nathan had both come.
I needed to talk to someone so I finally opened my eyes so I could reach for my phone. However when I turned towards the nightstand, I met a cherry wood engagement ring box waiting for me.
For the longest time I just stared at it, and then without taking my eyes off it, I picked up my phone and speed dialed Carlie.
"Hey, thank God you called." She said immediately the call connected. "I made some changes to the collection we agreed on yesterday and I've sent it to your email. Please review them before the meeting today so Dorothy can make the necessary adjustments. What time are you coming in?"
I remained silent as I stared at the box.
"Hello? Are you there? What's going on?”
"I'm staring at my engagement ring box." I told her.
"Are you referring to the one Damian gave you? Because if you are I can help you destroy it."
"It's not." I told her and she became silent.
"I'm getting Elisa on the phone.”
"No!"
"Why?"
“I’m not sure.”
"Well, have you opened it?"
"No."
“Open it and send me a picture. When did he ask you?"
“About two weeks ago.”
"What? You've been engaged for almost two weeks?
"Not really, I just said yes, officially, last night."
"You bitch!" She accused. "I'm getting Elisa."
A few seconds later, Elisa came on. "This better be important. I'm changing a diaper and making breakfast at the same time. Don't ask me how. What's going on?"
"Lennie got engaged two weeks ago." Carlie said.
"What!"
"That's not true Elisa. He asked me two weeks ago but I just officially said yes."
“Are you crazy, why didn't you say anything? After what I've gone through for the both of you. Tell Nathan he's dead when I see him."
"Guys, please calm down."
"Elisa calm down.” Carlie said. “Lennie, first of all open that box and send us a picture of the ring."
"You haven't opened it? “Elisa asked. "C’mon, do it right now."
"Fine." I told them. "Relax, it's just a ring."
"Sure." Carlie said sarcastically.
I placed my phone aside after putting it on speaker, and slowly opened the box.
"So?" Carlie called impatiently. "How is it?"
"Carlie chill.” Elisa said. “You know what Lenora, show it to us when you get to work."
"Elisa!" Carlie yelled and we both burst out laughing. Just then however, I heard the door to the suite click open and for some reason, I instantly jumped back into bed and pretended that I was asleep.
It was only when I heard Elisa and Carlie calling my name through the speaker that I realized the extent of my foolishness. But by then he’d already come into the room.
"Hey girls." He greeted and took his seat on the edge of the bed beside me. For a moment they both went silent too. Elisa spoke first.
"Nathan." She called in a high pitched voice.
"Hi Nathan." Carlie said.
"Any idea why Nora is pretending to be asleep?" He asked.
"No idea.” Carlie said.
"We'll get going,” Elisa said. “Carlie say goodbye."
"Sure.” She said. "But Nathan, there's a ring box beside Lenora, it's probably open. I need to examine the ring inside it before she comes to work today so can you take a picture with your phone and se-" I shot up from the bed.
"Carlie!" I and Elisa both yelled.
She giggled. "See y'all later." She said, an
d hung up.
"Bye guys." Elisa said. "And congratulations by the way."
"Thank you." He said, but his eyes were already on me.
"Hey." I greeted and held the covers more firmly above my chest. "T-thanks for the ring."
"You're welcome." He said and leaned forward. I wasn't sure what he wanted to do so when his lips met mine it was awkward at first but I quickly recovered. Things escalated pretty quickly and before I knew what was happening, I had forgotten about the sheets I'd been holding up to my chest. When he finally let me up again, I exclaimed.
"How do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Make things get so easily out of hand."
"That's on you babe."
I sighed. "True, maybe I'm just weak."
He took the ring out of the box and held my left hand. Then he got up from the bed and lowered himself down on one knee.
"You don’t have to, you've already..." I began but he shook his head.
"I do. I know a lot has happened these past few weeks, and I'm sorry for the way I handled it. I'm sorry for shutting you out, but I can't promise that it won't happen again because it's just the way I handle difficult things. But now that we’re together, I will do my best to make sure that you never feel like a stranger with anything that concerns me. I love you with all my heart and just as I told you, life will happen, and today I want to promise you that I will be prepared to handle it with you. I might not always do that in the best way but I will try my very best."
"Wow, you keep on lowering my expectations." I joked and he smiled.
"I just want to always be honest with you."
"You’ve always been.” I said. “Right from that terrible day at the park in London, and that's one of the major reasons why I love you. Plus are you happy that you got what you wanted in the end?”
“What do you mean?”
“I want to be able to have a long, insanely crazy, and fulfilling life with you.” I said, mimicking the words he’d said to me thirteen years earlier. “I should say no just to spite you."
"Please don't. I can't handle that right now." He said, and then realized that it was probably putting pressure on me. "I mean you can…"
"Yes..." I said and leaned forward to kiss him. "Enough with the constant no’s and yes. It's official now."
"Thank you.” He said and slipped the ring onto my finger. "Lenora Grace Baker, thank you for agreeing to share your life with me.”
"Thank you for deciding to share yours with me." I said, and fought the tears that rushed to my eyes. He got up and pulled me into his arms and for some reason I couldn't hold them back anymore. I started sobbing. That went on for longer than I was proud of and when I was done I said to him.
"I'm erratic, on the border line of crazy sometimes."
"I'm aware." He said.
"So don't you dare bail on me or get pissed.” I warned. “Well you can get pissed but not for longer than a day."
"Yes ma'am."
"You're stuck with me now. Remember you asked me to marry you, so no leaving or turning into an asshole."
"Yes ma'am."
"I mean it. And I'm sorry to say this but I just have to. And I know you won't ever but the day you hit me for whatever reason, will be our last day together. You know where I'm coming from, and I do not want to go back."
"I do, but promise me you'll always share your heart with me especially when you're unhappy."
"I will. I know where you're coming from too."
He kissed me again. "Now let's move back to my apartment."
"Really? Have you moved your things?"
"I have. It's time to get back to real life."
"It is. Don't be scared, I'm here."
He smiled down at me. "I'm counting on that."
"But why did you move here in the first place?" I asked.
"I didn't want to mess up my place."
I gave him a dry look. "Really?"
"Really,” he affirmed and I smacked the side of his arm. “Then why didn’t you stop me from cleaning it yesterday?"
"I would have still cleaned it before I left. Anyway I just didn't want to soil the memory of my place with whatever pain I wanted to let out here. Especially since I'll be staying there for longer than I'd initially planned."
"Oh yes, that's true. You renewed your contract. Why didn't you tell me?"
"It slipped my mind."
"Of course it did. You're too sly for your own good. Anyway let’s make this our first tradition. When we’re going through really tough times, lets rent a hotel room and make all the bad, angry memories there, instead of bringing it to our home.”
“Sounds like a great idea.” He said and leaned forward to kiss me.
"Are you going to work today?" I asked.
"No, I'm working from home. I need to handle some things here first."
"Okay. I have a meeting in an hour and I have no idea how I'm going to make it."
"I'll drive you home." He said and took my hand to pull me up.
« CHAPTER 9 »
Nathan
Walking into Nora's apartment gave me a sort of eerie feeling. The last time I'd been here, I’d stormed out angrily after finding out that she'd lied to me about being paralyzed. Now that I was back, I couldn't believe how much had changed. We were now engaged, I’d lost my father, and a mother I hadn’t spoken to since I was eight years old was in a coma and fighting for her life.
At these thoughts, I felt my strength deplete so I quickly pushed them away and made a note to myself to stay out of my head. That would be the only way I would come out of this intact, so all I needed to do was just to keep my eyes and heart in front of me.
Nora ran straight into her bedroom to get ready while I went to her kitchen to put something together for her to eat. I found some potatoes and eggs so I made her a Spanish omelet. When I was done, I didn't want to give my mind the chance to premeditate on what I had to do today so I switched on the television across the room to watch the news from my network.
Soon she was out with her shoes dangling from her hands, and her purse under her arms.
"Come and eat." I told her, and she hurried over.
"I'm too late." She said, "Please put a bite in mouth."
I did as she asked but as I watched her chew and try to put her shoes on at the same time, I was scared that she would choke. So I got up from the stool and sat her down. I gave her the fork while I took the bright green heels from her, and bent down so I could help her put it on. Immediately she protested.
"Nathan…" She called and pulled her leg away. I looked up at her. "Enjoy it now, it might not happen for another five years." I said and immediately she shot both of her legs out and dangled them in front of my face.
Amused, I put the shoes on as she ate and buckled it up. Her phone started ringing then, so she answered it. "I'm running a bit late so start without me.” She said. “I'll be there in about twenty minutes.”
She jumped down from the stool then and was about to run off when I caught her by the waist and pulled her to me. I brought my lips to hers and gave her a deep kiss. It didn't take long before the purse dropped from her hands. Lacing her fingers through my hair, she pulled my head down to hers and kissed me with a fervency that surpassed my own. I eventually had to stop because I knew she was running late.
It had been intended as a goodbye kiss but anymore, and she would have to cancel her entire day because there would be no way that I would let her go. I pulled my mouth from hers and immediately bent down to get her purse from the floor.
"Fuck." I heard her exhale loudly, and it made me smile. With both hands on her hips, I traced her curves as I stood up while she held my head and started to pull it to hers but I quickly placed the purse between us.
"You're late." I told her.
She frowned and took it from me. "I'll get you back for this." She said and started walking backwards. "Could you stop by the office later today?" She asked.
"Sure. But why?
"
"I'll tell you when you get there."
"Okay." I said and she hurried out the door.
I sat down to finish her meal and for a few minutes, allowed myself to think of what I had to do that morning. I was going to the hospital to see Elizabeth, and I dreaded it. I could still hear the screeching of the car tires just before the car had knocked her down, and could remember it as vividly as if I was reliving the incident.
The moment I'd turned to see her flung into the air and deposited on the ground, it’d felt like all the life had been drained out of me. I couldn’t move, so I’d just stared, frozen at what had happened. I automatically started to walk back towards her but the moment I took a step forward I knew that if I went any further, I would be walking into an emotional grave that I doubted I would ever be able to pull myself out of.
In my heart, I’d thought she was dead and I wasn’t ready to deal with that. For a very long time there had been no emotional attachment to her, but I knew that getting involved at that moment would have re-opened old wounds that I wouldn’t have been able to handle- I hadn’t even buried my father yet. So I'd managed to convince myself that there was nothing my presence there would have done anyway, and walked away.
Now, I was grateful that she was still alive, even though I’d lived the previous week thinking that she wasn’t, and now I needed to see her. I was sure everyone around me still thought that I didn't know who she was but it just proved that they didn't know me very well. I knew exactly who and where my mother was and I had known for a long time. I brought out my phone to be sure of the hospital address that my assistant had sent me and was on my way.
When I arrived, I was directed to her room and eventually came to her door. No one was in the room so I went in and stood at the foot of the bed to watch her.
The last time I'd seen her before the incidents in the funeral home had been in Nora's hospital room, when Damian had attacked me. I knew she was there but I'd refused to look at her and later on, pushed her out of my mind just as I'd been doing ever since I'd searched for her ten years earlier. Now that she was here and fighting for her life, I knew that I didn't want her to leave. Despite the way she'd hurt me and our family, she was still my mother and I had wonderful memories of her.