You Are My Air: Breathless Book 1

by Samantha Wolfe

  "What's this charity dinner you were talking about?" I asked curiously.

  "Well, my mom works for the Spencer Foundation and there's this dinner I have to go to next weekend," she said in annoyed resignation. I had heard of the Spencer Foundation before. They were a big contributor to the hospital I worked at. "She's been badgering me about bringing a date for weeks now."

  "I could go with you," I suggested, surprising myself.

  "Really?" she asked, incredulously. "Are you sure? I don't want to freak you out by having to meet my family this soon. My mom is a bit a handful, and I don't want to scare you away."

  "Sweetheart," I said calmly. "I deal with drug addicts and mentally ill people everyday. I think I can handle your mother."

  "You say that now, but you haven't met her yet."

  "I'll be fine," I assured her. "I'll go with you. It's a win,win. You get a hot date, and your mother will get off your back. Right?"

  She smiled radiantly at me. "Okay." I didn't know how much making her happy would affect me, and the unexpected flush of pleasure that came over me left me feeling stunned. I pulled Natalie in against my chest and held her tight. She laid her head on my shoulder and immediately everything felt right in my world. I felt my heart suddenly well up with pleasure.

  "I have to go home soon," she whispered. "I need to feed George, and I have plans with Maggie tonight."

  "Is that your friend from the race?" I asked, feeling a deep disappointment come over me. I didn't want her to go.

  "Yeah," she answered with obvious disappointment too. It made me feel a little better. "We're having a girl's night."

  "Ah," I replied. "I was going to beg you to cancel your plans, but now you have to go. I don't want to be the guy who pisses off the best friend in the first week of a relationship."

  "You're pretty smart, you know that?" she said as she lifted her head to look at me. "I'm going to miss you though. Maybe I could see you tomorrow?" she asked hopefully.

  "What are you doing for lunch tomorrow?" I asked her before I could chicken out. "I'm going to my mom's house. Would you want to go with me?" I couldn't believe I was asking her to meet my family already, but if I was going to meet hers, I might as well have her meet mine too. I was pretty sure they'd like her just as much as I did. That, and the shocked look on all their faces would be priceless. It would be nice to not be badgered about my lack of a girlfriend for once.

  "I'd love to meet your family, David." Her smile widened with genuine excitement, and I felt that pleasurable feeling in my heart again.

  We finished our breakfast shortly after that, then I drove Natalie back home. She tried to lure me into her bedroom, but I reminded her about the merits of delayed gratification again. I wanted more time then we had to worship her body properly. She was understandably disappointed, but I assured her it would be worth the wait. I said good-bye to George as he rubbed his massive body across my legs, then kissed Natalie, lingering longer than I planned. I was a second away from dragging her to her room, when she broke the kiss first with a wicked knowing smile and ushered me out the door.

  I spent the drive back home wondering about the state of my sanity since I had turned her down for sex. Especially now that I knew how incredible it was with her, and I was left alone with just fantasies to occupy my mind. I hoped to God that I could talk her into coming to my place after lunch tomorrow. I knew I was going to spend the rest of the day missing Natalie and waiting impatiently until I could see her again. It was going to be a long twenty-four hours.

  Chapter Seven

  Natalie

  "Maggie!" I tried to yell over the loud dance music. "We should go. It's getting late!"

  "We can't leave yet!" Maggie yelled back. "Trevor hasn't shown up yet!"

  I groaned in annoyance, tired of yelling at her over the pounding beat blasting across the dance floor. We'd been dancing and drinking for hours now, and I started out having a good time, but now I just wanted to go home. Trevor, the guy Maggie was messing around with lately, was a real flake, and I was beginning to wonder if he was even going to show up. I was really getting annoyed that our girl's night out was now revolving around waiting on some guy to turn up and make me the third wheel.

  "Let's have some more shots!" Maggie suggested, and I was so sick of all the rude people trying to stomp on my toes that I nodded. I'd do anything to get off the packed dance floor for a few moments.

  We headed over to the bar and ordered a few shots of Stoli. I had just downed mine, enjoying the burn as I swallowed it, when Maggie let out a loud squeal as Trevor swept her into a hug from behind. I groaned again. All I could think was that I could be with David right now. Maggie spun around and for a few moments they were all over each other. Trevor was a good-looking guy, but he wasn't boyfriend material. He wasn't very bright and didn't take anything seriously. He was also chronically late for everything. Of course, Maggie wasn't looking for a boyfriend, just great sex, and Trevor must have been amazing in bed to make her spend time with him. I turned back to the bar and ordered another shot. My buzz was fading, and I needed it to shed my irritation with my best friend.

  "Hi, Natalie!" Trevor yelled when he finally realized I was here and managed to pull his attention away from Maggie's cleavage. He looked nice enough tonight I supposed in his black pullover and jeans. His short blond hair was in a messy tussle that looked like he had spent entirely too much time fixing it.

  "Hi, Trevor!" I replied, forcing a smile on my face that I was pretty sure didn't actually reach my eyes. Thankfully, that was all the conversation he expected. He turned his attention back to Maggie.

  "Let's go dance again, Nat!" Maggie yelled as she grabbed my hand and dragged me out onto the dance floor once more. Maggie and Trevor were all over each other again, and I was left to fend off the groping hands and stomping feet by myself. Yet again, I wondered why I was even here when I could have had an amazing night of crazy hot sex with David instead.

  A half-hour later they were still grinding against each, and I had enough. I told Maggie I was going to the bathroom, but I really just needed a break from all these people. I headed for the lady's room and continued right past the long line stretching down the hall. I turned a corner and found a quiet spot where I could hear myself think. My three inch heeled boots were starting to kill me, and my legs felt hot and sweaty under my leather leggings. I was wondering why I had decided wearing a black blazer over my green silk cami was a good idea. I also realized I was really buzzed, hot and bothered, and missing David. On a whim, I pulled my phone out of the small black clutch dangling from my wrist. I brought up David's number and called him even though it was just past 1 A.M.

  "Natalie?" David's smooth sexy voice asked sleepily.

  "David," I said his name in such a needy pathetic tone that it would have embarrassed me if I was sober.

  "Are you alright, sweetheart?" he asked me, his voice sounding concerned and wide awake now.

  "No, I'm not," I blurted out, then I told him in length about how horrible my night was going, and how much I missed him.

  "Are you drunk, Natalie?" he asked with amusement when I finished speaking.

  "Yes," I confessed, my voice strained as I fought not to cry. Apparently, I just reached the blubbering pathetic point of my drunkenness.

  "Do you want me to come get you?"

  "Yes." My voice sounded even more pathetic this time as a small sob escaped my lips.

  "Shh, don't cry, sweetheart," he said in a calm soothing voice. "Where are you?"

  I told him which club I was at, and he told me he would be here in twenty minutes. The relief I felt almost made me lightheaded, of course the vodka might have had something to do with that too. We ended the call, and I waited in the now shorter line to use the restroom, then went back out to find Maggie and Trevor again. They were completely oblivious to the fact that I had been gone, so I wandered over to the bar and took a seat in the one empty stool I could find. I ordered a screwdriver, and sat sipping at it fo
r a while as I scowled at Maggie and Trevor still dry humping to the music. I was so focused on my annoyance that I didn't notice someone was standing next to me.

  "Hey, beautiful," a confident male voice spoke.

  I looked up into the face of a tall attractive man with short sandy hair and dark eyes. He had dark brows and a killer smile, but I got the feeling that he was a player and seriously full of himself just from his overconfident demeanor alone.

  "Hi," I said with little inflection, hoping he'd take the hint and go away.

  "Your legs look so fucking hot in those leather pants," he told me as his smile widened. I rolled my eyes, but he didn't seem to notice.

  "Uh, thanks," I said as I started scanning the area, looking for David. I really wasn't in the mood for this right now. I just wanted to go home with David.

  "They'd look even better wrapped around my face," he said suggestively as he leaned in closer.

  I looked up at him in indignation. "Are you fucking kidding me? That's your pick-up line? Has that ever actually worked for you?" My voice was rising angrily.

  "Damn girl, you're a real fucking bitch!" he snarled as his face filled with disgust. "Do you ever get laid?"

  I stood as rage surged through me, and pulled my hand back to slap that disgusted look right off his face, to drunk to worry about the consequences. Suddenly, a hand grabbed my wrist firmly, stopping me mid swing. I turned my rage on whoever had just touched me and tried to slap them with my free hand. I didn't land that blow either, and the next thing I knew David was standing in front of me gripping both my wrists, looking at me with his sexy furrowed brow and his mouth set in a tight line.

  "Are you done?" he asked in that scary calm voice that made my knees weak.

  "David?" I blurted out as my anger dissipated.

  "Good luck with that bitch," the jerk behind me told David. David's eyes focused past me and turned deadly.

  "You need to move on," David said with cold menace, his eyes glittering frighteningly. I didn't hear anything behind me, but after a moment David's eyes focused back on me and softened as he let go of my wrists. I glanced behind me and saw that the jerk was long gone.

  "Natalie," he said gently, drawing my attention back to him. "Are you okay?"

  I nodded and stepped closer to him, and he drew me into his arms, his mouth next to my ear. "What were you thinking, trying to slap that guy?" I could hear a hint of amusement in his voice.

  "He was a fucking asshole," I grumbled out. David laughed. I pulled my head back and glared at him.

  "I know that," he said trying to mollify me. "But I don't think trying to hit him was the best strategy here."

  "He deserved it." I continued defending myself, which only amused him more.

  "I know that too, sweetheart." His smile widened then turned serious again. "I just don't want you to get hurt. You didn't know what kind of guy you were dealing with. What if he had hit you back?"

  "I'm sorry," I told him, my voice wavering as I suddenly felt like crying again.

  "Shh, Natalie," he said gently as he pulled me against his chest again. "I'm not angry. I just want you to be safe."

  "I want to go home," I said pathetically. He stepped back to look at me again, cradling my face in his hands.

  "Okay," he said.

  "Natalie!" I heard Maggie yelling my name, and I looked over to see her walking up to us with Trevor in tow. "What's going on? Is this guy fucking with you?" She turned a glare on David then recognized him with widened eyes. "Uh...Hi."

  "Hi," David told her with a nod and an easy smile. "I was about to take Natalie home if that's alright with you. I think she's had enough fun tonight considering she just tried to assault somebody."

  Maggie looked questioningly at me. "Nat?"

  "I hope you don't mind, Maggie," I told her with an apologetic look. "I called David to come get me, so I wouldn't ruin your night." Maggie glanced over at Trevor, then back at me with a sheepish expression as she realized she had been ignoring me since Trevor had shown up. It made me feel a little better, but I still didn't want to be here anymore.

  "That's alright, Nat," she said apologetically. "Call me tomorrow?" I could tell there would be an apology coming later.

  "I promise," I assured her with a nod then gave her a quick hug. I didn't even bother acknowledging Trevor at all as David officially introduced himself to Maggie. I was feeling too drunk and bitchy to pay much attention. Then David put an arm around my waist, walked me out of the building, and out to the parking lot. I stumbled along with him, babbling the whole time about how hot he was and how great he was in bed. He just nodded along with a smug look on his face. When we got to his car, he settled me into the passenger seat and buckled me in as I told him how much I loved his big cock. His eyebrows shot up, and a huge smile lit up his face at that comment. He got in next to me and started the car, deftly fending off my hand as I tried to touch the big cock in question. "Natalie, stop. I need to drive," he told me firmly as he placed my hand back in my own lap.

  "I want to suck your big cock," I slurred as he pulled out onto the road.

  "Maybe later, sweetheart," he said with a laugh as I watched him drive. He looked really hot when he drove.

  "I really like you," I told him with a huge idiotic grin as my head slumped onto the headrest.

  "I really like you, too," he answered in an affectionate tone as he reached over and took my hand.

  I smiled and turned my head toward the blurry indistinct road ahead. "Why do people even try to drive like this?" I blurted out of nowhere. "I can't even see the road." I squinted and leaned forward trying to see out of the windshield better.

  "I don't know, but I'm glad you're not," he said as he rubbed his thumb in small circles on the back of my hand. The pleasant sensation lulled me into a stupor. I think I might have passed out for a bit, because the next thing I knew David was leaning over me, unbuckling my seat belt, and coaxing me out of his Audi.

  The trip up to my apartment was a fuzzy blur. When the elevator opened on my floor, David ended up scooping me up and carrying me to my door. He set me on my unsteady feet just long enough to unlock the door then carried me to my room. He took off everything but my bra and panties, warding off my groping hands again the whole time. He tucked me under the covers then disappeared long enough to bring me some water from the kitchen. I stared up at him as he sat on the bed next to me and held the glass, so I could take a drink without spilling it.

  "I'm going to go home. Okay?" he said as he set the glass on the nightstand then brushed my hair out of my face. "You need to sleep it off now."

  "No!" I whined, grabbing his hand and holding on to it tightly. "I want to have sex."

  "I'm not having sex with you while you're this drunk, sweetheart." He shook his head with a wry smile. He tried to get up again, but I wouldn't let go of his hand.

  "Please," I pleaded as I tried to fight back the tears that started flowing anyway. "Could you stay and hold me? I don't want to be alone anymore." I sobbed as I gripped his hand.

  "Natalie, stop," David whispered. He wiped my tears away with gentle fingers, his eyes soft and indulgent. "I'll stay, but no sex. Okay? Will that make you happy?"

  I nodded jerkily and sighed in relief. I smiled as I watched him undress down to his boxer briefs and slip under the covers. He wrapped his arms around me, his body a warm solid wall behind me, then I snuggled back against his chest with a sigh and passed out.

  **********

  I groaned when I woke up. My head hurt, and my mouth felt like it was filled with cotton. I had to pee too, but my throbbing head didn't think moving was a good idea. The only good thing was that David's warm body was curled up against me. I was lying on my back, and he was on his side facing me. His arm was draped across my upper chest, his chin and lips touching my shoulder. He was sound asleep, his breathing slow and easy.

  I'd never seen him asleep before, and I stared at his beautiful face for several minutes, studying his strong nose and long lash
es, and marveling that he was here with me. He told me yesterday that he hadn't had a girlfriend since his broken engagement a year and a half ago. Somehow, I was the one to change that. It blew me away.

  When I had walked in on his phone conversation yesterday, and overheard him telling this Jenny that I was special, and that he couldn't see her anymore I was touched. However, the fact that he was sleeping with her made me need to clarify what was going on. I wouldn't be just another sex partner. I wanted more than that, and I wanted David all to myself. It was a relief to find out he felt that way too. Part of me still worried that I was fooling myself thinking a confessed man-whore could change, but it didn't sound like he had been that way before this Paige woman broke his heart. I hoped his heart was healed enough to handle what was going on between us. He held so much power to hurt me already, and this time if things didn't work out I knew it would hurt like hell.

  David's eyes fluttered open and focused on me sleepily, then a smile eased its way across his lips, lighting up his blue eyes. "Good morning, sweetheart," he mumbled. "How are you feeling?"

  "Like shit." I moaned.

  "I bet." He smiled knowingly. "Do you have any ibuprofen?" he asked. "I could get it for you."

  "No, I can get it myself," I told him. "I have to get up to use the bathroom anyway." I reluctantly got out of the bed, used the bathroom, and took two ibuprofen. When I came back out, I found that my spot on the bed had been taken. George was now sprawled across my side of the bed, shamelessly making David pet him with soft chirps and head butts to his hand.

  "I see I've been replaced," I said with a smile as I stopped next to the bed.

  "George and I have a lot in common," David told me with a wide grin. "We both like you."

  "You still like me, even after last night?" I asked as I ran my fingers through George's fur, brushing David's as he did the same. George was in feline heaven.

  "Definitely." He nodded, a sly grin on his face. "I learned all kinds of things about you last night."