"David, I..." she began angrily, but he interrupted her.
"Diana," he said in exasperation, "I don't know what you want from me. You tell me you want me to put myself out there, but as soon as I do you assume I'm letting someone take advantage of me. Which is it? Do you want me to be alone, or do you trust me to figure this out for myself?"
"I...I..." Diana stammered out, her anger deflating into a fragile tone. "I don't want you to be alone."
David's face softened as he stepped closer to his sister and put his hand on her shoulder. "Then trust me, Diana. Please. You know how hard this is for me. Just let me figure this out for myself. Okay?" Their eyes locked for several long moments, a silent communication passing between them like I had never seen before, even with my own brother.
"Alright," Diana finally said with a nod. She turned toward me with an apologetic expression. "I'm really sorry, Natalie," she said with sincerity. "I don't know what came over me. Can we just blame it on pregnancy brain?"
"It's okay, Diana," I told her with a wan smile. "I understand. I have a brother too, and I'd kick someone's ass for him in a heartbeat."
She nodded with relief then smiled. "If you'll excuse me, I really need to use the bathroom again." She nodded toward the bathroom door behind me. "This kid is tap dancing on my bladder again."
"Sorry." I stepped out of the way and let her pass. I watched her waddle into the bathroom and shut the door, then I turned toward David. He took my hand and pulled me with him out into the family room, away from the bathroom door.
"I'm sorry about that," he said quietly as he pulled me into a hug. I sighed into his embrace, his arms felt so right around me. "I swear my sister isn't usually like this. She's just worried about me and hormonally challenged right now." His mouth twisted wryly.
I smiled back at him, but I couldn't help wondering what exactly had happened with this Paige, to make his sister react to me this way. I didn't know I could hate someone I had never met this much, or that I could feel so protective of a man I barely knew.
"Thanks for standing up for me," I said gratefully.
"Your welcome, sweetheart," he whispered then brushed his lips against mine in a gentle kiss. The slight touch of his lips on mine ignited an instant desire inside me, and it uncoiled itself from my core and filled me up. Our eyes locked together, and I watched his eyes darken as he fed off the desire radiating out from me.
"The things you do to me, Natalie," he said softly with a disbelieving shake of his head. His arms tightened around me. We were interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat. We turned our heads to see Baba in the doorway of the kitchen, smiling knowingly at us.
"Vona vasha povitrya, chy ne tak?" Baba asked in Ukrainian again, meeting David's eyes.
He looked annoyed and uncomfortable yet again as he answered her. "Tse zanadto rano hovoryty , Babusyu."
"Ya bachu tse, chomu ty ne mozhesh?" It was yet another question.
"Baba, stop with the Ukrainian already." David switched back to English, his voice exasperated. She shrugged unperturbed by his irritation. Whatever she said, he certainly didn't like it.
"Your mother sent me to tell you it's time for dessert."
"Okay," David answered her. "We'll be there in a moment." He waited until she left the room, then closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh.
"What was all that about?" I asked him curiously.
He opened his eyes and gave me a pained look. "Baba, much like my sister, is way too involved in our relationship. She's just trying the opposite tact. She's trying to rush us along to the happily ever after."
"Oh," I said in surprise, my voice coming out a little freaked out.
"We don't have to listen to them, Natalie." David's face returned to the serene calmness I was coming to count on. "We can do this as fast or as slow we want. I really like you, and I want you to know that I want to see where this is going between us."
I nodded. "Me to, David."
He hugged me tight, and I took comfort from his words. It wasn't a crazy declaration of love, which would have freaked me out, but it was a commitment of sorts. I'd take it for the comfort it offered me, even if, deep down, I suspected our relationship was already more serious than either of us was really ready for. I had absolutely no problem living in denial with him for a while longer.
**********
"What are you doing tonight?" David asked in his smooth sexy voice as soon as I answered his call. I had just gotten home from work on Wednesday, and I was staring into the freezer looking at my pathetic collection of frozen dinners.
"You?" I asked wickedly, hoping that would be the case. His answering laugh made things down low in my body contract with need.
"Besides that," he said. I could tell he was smiling from just his voice alone.
"Well, I really had my heart set on this sad looking frozen dinner I was just about to pull out of the freezer," I told him facetiously. "Unless of course, I get a better offer, but it better be good."
"How would you like to have dinner with some friends of mine?"
"A nerd like you has friends?" I asked wryly as I closed the freezer and leaned against the kitchen counter.
"It's shocking isn't it?" he asked scandalously.
"Are you going to tell them you're bringing me or do I get to be a surprise again?" I couldn't resist ribbing him about Sunday.
"Ouch," he blurted in mock injury. "You're not going to let me forget about that are you?"
"Only until you do something else dumb."
"Well, that shouldn't take long." He laughed. "I am a guy after all."
"Who are these friends you speak of?" I asked in a formal tone.
"My best friend Sydney and her husband, Jensen. He was in the 10K with me."
I paused in surprise. "Your best friend is a woman?" I couldn't hide my suspicious tone.
"We're just friends, sweetheart," he reassured me. "We've never been anything more. Sydney is like a sister to me. In fact, she's the one who insisted I invite you over tonight."
I paused again, not sure how I felt about this revelation. I wasn't usually a jealous person, but the thought of another woman spending time with David really bothered me.
"Natalie," David said in an understanding voice. "I've known Sydney for five years. I have no interest in her in any way other then as my friend, I promise. I have dinner at their place every Wednesday, and I really want you to meet them. I think you'll like them both."
"Are they nerds like you?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Well, Sydney is a bit of one," he said with amusement. "Jensen is definitely not a nerd."
"Okay then," I said. "I'd love to meet your friends."
"I'll pick you up." I could hear how pleased and excited he was about this. "Is six too soon for you to be ready?" I glanced at the clock. It was almost five thirty, and I had more than enough time to change and freshen up.
"I'll see you at six."
"I can't wait to see you again, Natalie." His voice got a little rough as he said my name.
"Me too, David," I whispered into the phone. "I miss you."
"I miss you, too," he said with affection. "See you shortly, sweetheart."
"Bye," I said breathlessly and ended the call. I sighed deeply. I hadn't seen David since Sunday night, but he had called me on Monday and Tuesday night. We had stayed up much too late talking both times, ending each call with hot phone sex that only left me needy and wanting more. In those three days, I learned two things. One, my feelings for him were a lot deeper than I cared to admit, since I thought about him constantly. And two, sex with him had turned me into a sex-starved maniac, which meant I'd been a hot and bothered mess since Sunday. Between both, I was afraid of how I'd react when he showed up here in thirty minutes. I'd either be a blubbering idiot or jump his bones in the hallway.
I pushed myself away from the counter with a sigh and hurried into my room, heading into my closet to find something to wear tonight. After a few minutes
of glaring at my wardrobe, I picked out a slouchy gray sweater and skinny jeans, then dug out my gray suede boots. I dressed, and spent a while freshening up my hair and makeup. I ended up having ten minutes left to wait so I curled up with George on the couch and watched the local news while I waited. By the time David knocked on my door, I was a bundle of nerves and not really sure why.
I leapt up and hurried to the door to answer it. He smiled broadly when he set eyes one me. "You look beautiful, Natalie," he said, and before I could decide between the blubbering or the bone jumping, he stepped forward and swept me into his arms and kissed me. The kiss was mind-blowing and toe-curling, and it left me panting and completely out of sorts when he finally ended it. His eyes were a dark stormy blue, filled with need and want. "We'd better leave before I get carried away."
"Definitely." I fought to keep my hands from wandering down his body from where they were wrapped around the back of his neck. He stepped away, and I took a moment to admire how his broad shoulders filled out the black long sleeve Henley he was wearing. I grabbed my purse and took his hand as he led me into the hall. I had a lovely view of his ass filling out his jeans.
By the time we got to the car, my libido was a little under control, and we chatted about work and other trivial things as he drove. It was so good to be with him again. I loved his calm reassuring presence. No matter how jangled my nerves or how much I was worrying about something, he always made me feel calm and relaxed.
Eventually, we pulled into a complex of industrial looking condos. We pulled into a driveway next to a green pickup and a blue sedan. David helped me out of his car like he usually did, then led me to a door to the right of a one-car garage and rang the doorbell. A moment later, the door opened revealing the dark-haired guy that I remembered from the race, dressed in jeans and a green T-shirt. He was maybe an inch taller than David, but more muscular. He wasn't quite as imposing as Ford, but damn close. He smiled after he opened the door, which instantly changed the intimidating demeanor I remembered into something welcoming. His green eyes were open and friendly as he looked at me.
"Hey," he rasped out in a low rumble. "It's nice to meet you officially, Natalie. I've heard great things about you." He stole a glance at David after that last remark, a sly twist lifting a corner of his lips. David managed to look a little embarrassed, which amused me to no end. "I'm Jensen." He reached his hand out, and I shook it, pleased with his firm self-assured grip. "Come on in, Sydney is just about done cooking dinner."
Jensen led us up some steps and turned into the kitchen on the right, just past a short hallway that led to another part of the condo. The walls were mostly exposed brick with dark-red cupboards, and a beautiful dark wood floor. The room smelled amazing and I was looking forward to eating whatever it was that I was smelling. I could hear bluesy music playing low somewhere else in the condo.
A curvy petite woman with long wavy dark hair turned from the stove and gave me a welcoming smile. She had large vivid gray eyes that softened with adoration as she glanced at Jensen. He came up to press a gentle kiss to her temple. The deep connection between the two of them was immediately evident, and I'd never seen a man look at a woman the way Jensen looked at his wife. It transformed this fearsome man into this soft affectionate being who obviously worshiped the ground she walked on. It was beautiful, and I realized that this woman was absolutely no threat whatsoever. Sydney and Jensen only had eyes for each other.
"Sydney, this is Natalie." David placed a warm hand at the base of my spine that almost gave me the shivers.
Sydney's smile was wide and genuine as she approached me. She looked adorable in jeans and a pink v-neck sweater. She reached out and shook my hand in a firm grip. "I'm so happy to meet you." She turned her smile on David for a moment. "You guys can go ahead and have a seat at the table. Dinner will be ready in a moment."
"Thanks for having me over," I told her, then threw out my next comment to gauge her reaction. "It's nice to see that this nerd has some actual friends."
Sydney's eyes widened at my comment, then she smirked at David. "I like her already."
"Me, too," Jensen added with a smirk of his own as he looked at David with unconstrained glee in his eyes. "For once I'm not a victim of all the sarcasm dished out around here."
"Don't worry." I gave Jensen a wicked grin. "I'll get around to you eventually."
"Watch out, Jensen." David smiled affectionately at me. "She's a whole lot meaner than I am."
"I have a bad fucking feeling that the three of you are going to end up ganging up on me." He scowled at each of us in turn.
"But you make it so easy, baby." Sydney patted Jensen's cheek. His scowl faded into a soft smile immediately at her touch. "Now sit down. It's time to eat."
Jensen, David, and I took a seat at the kitchen table, and Sydney carried a dish over and placed it in the middle of the table. "I hope you like chicken enchiladas."
"It's looks wonderful." I breathed in the heavenly smell. "I'm kind of jealous. I can't cook worth a damn."
"Well, thank God, I'm not the only one," Jensen said with a smirk. "At least you won't harass me about it that like these two do."
"Let me guess." I returned his smirk. "You end up doing the dishes all the time."
"You got it. Here and at David's house," he said in mock exasperation. "You'd think there'd be some fucking gratitude for that."
"I got your back," I told him. "I'll help you do the dishes tonight."
"Good," Sydney added, "maybe there'll be a little less whining about it tonight." Jensen scowled at his wife, but she smiled back at him, completely unaffected by it.
"I don't whine," he said with indignation. "I complain. There's a huge fucking difference."
She patted his cheek again. "Keep telling yourself that, baby." They stared at each other for a moment, both of their faces softening. They were adorable together.
"How long have you two been married?" I asked as Sydney took each of our plates and served the enchiladas.
"Three and a half weeks," Jensen announced proudly as he looked at his wife with adoration again. No wonder they were all warm and fuzzy, they were newlyweds.
"Wow," I said. "Congratulations. How long have you been together?"
"Almost five months now," Sydney said a little sheepishly.
I tried not to, but I ended up staring at them in shock. After witnessing first-hand the mess that was my parent's relationship, I couldn't imagine marrying someone in such a short amount of time.
"The best five months of my life," Jensen added with a huge grin.
"It was a whirlwind. I know," Sydney said to me as she noticed my stunned expression. "But he's the one. I knew from the second I laid eyes on him." She looked over at her husband with a gentle smile that he returned. "Anyway, that's enough about us." She looked at me with interest. "I want to know about you, Natalie."
The rest of the meal was filled with easy conversation and a lot of laughter. David was right. I did like them. They were both so genuine and open. I could see why David was close friends with them, and if things worked out with David like they seemed to be, I was looking forward to being friends with them too.
After dinner, I helped Jensen with the dishes like I promised, while David and Sydney harassed us from where they sat at the table watching. At least until Jensen had enough, and told them if they weren't going to help they could get the fuck out of the kitchen. I had been shocked at first by how much profanity Jensen used, but he was so friendly and easy to talk to that I didn't even notice it after awhile.
David and I spent another hour or so after that chatting with them in their living room, that was also decorated in warm soothing earth tones. I can honestly say I had a great time, and I was looking forward to seeing them again. While we all talked, David sat close to me on the sofa with his arm around me, unashamed to show me affection in front of his friends. It warmed me up inside, and made me impatient to get David back to my place, so he could show me a lot more.
I slowly became more and more aware of David's body so close to mine as he started rubbing small circle on my shoulder with his fingertips. The heat between us grew exponentially until David announced that he needed to take me home since we had work in the morning, and we needed to get some sleep. From the look on Jensen's face, he didn't believe that anymore then I did. I had no intention of sleeping when I finally crawled into my bed tonight, and I didn't plan on being there alone either.
David and I said our good-byes then he led me out to his car. Once we were both sitting in his Audi, he reached over and cupped my face in his hands and looked at me with dark needy eyes. He kissed me. He was fierce and demanding as his tongue pushed into my mouth, and he took what he wanted. When he finally pulled away my lips felt swollen and my body thrummed with desire. "Can I stay with you tonight?" he whispered breathlessly.
"Please," I answered him, and my voice was just as breathy as his.
"Good." A smile pulled at one corner of his full lips. He kissed me briefly once more then started the car and drove us to my apartment while the sexual tension between us grew thicker with each passing moment. We couldn't get there soon enough, and I couldn't wait for him to unleash all of it on me.
Chapter Eight
David
I felt like I couldn't breath as I drove us back to Natalie's apartment. I don't think I ever wanted a woman this badly. She was all I had been able to think about for the last three days. I kept thinking about her body and how good it felt to be inside her. I kept missing her, wanting to talk to her and hold her. I needed Natalie so much it hurt, and it terrified me. It almost felt like an addiction, and I was in withdrawal. I tried to stay away from her until next weekend to give myself the space and time I needed to adjust to our new relationship, but it had been killing me. Talking on the phone and masturbating with her hadn't been enough, hadn't even been close to what I needed. When I called Sydney, and she suggested I brought Natalie over for dinner tonight, I had jumped on the opportunity, calling Natalie before the fear took over, and I talked myself out of it.
You Are My Air: Breathless Book 1 Page 16