Three months had passed since the fateful night between Natalia and me. Ever since we said we loved each other, I'd told Natalia those words every day.
My phone vibrated with a text from Natalia. "Get back here immediately." At first it worried me. She was just telling me last week that her mother had been upset with her for dating someone and not focusing on Juilliard. Of course, that wasn't true. Yes, we were now in a relationship, but together we worked hard. Madame Dampier announced that we were the best partners in her classroom, making us lead in the piece we'd be doing at the end of the semester.
"Is something wrong with your mom?" I texted her back.
"No, silly. Though something will be wrong if you don't get back here soon."
I was just coming back from Wren's. Natalia had plans to be with Kingsley for most of the day.
I hadn't talked to Aubrey since I rushed out of her hotel room. She'd tried to get in touch with me, along with my father, but I hadn't picked up their calls. My mother relayed both Aubrey's and my father's messages to me. She wanted me to forgive them, but I think in the back of her mind, she knew it wouldn't ever happen. The scheme they pulled almost cost me Natalia, and that wasn't ever going to be okay with me. Natalia was the love of my life, the girl who changed me for the better.
I knocked on Natalia's door, waiting for her to answer. I had a feeling she was planning something, by the cryptic look on her face this morning when we woke up. I asked her about her plans and she replied, "Oh, nothing. Probably going shopping with Kingsley." I knew she was lying by her answer. She never went shopping with Kingsley. She and I both agreed that Kingsley's style was vomit-inducing, and it would take a real patient person to go to a mall with her. Someone like Wren.
I found out Wren was dating Kingsley the night I invited him out to dinner with Natalia and me. Natalia jumped from her chair when she saw him walking into the restaurant.
"Wren! What are you doing here?" Wren's shocked face looked from Natalia and then to me, finally putting the pieces together.
"Fuck. You're Samson's girlfriend and Kingsley's roommate. Shit!" Wren looked nervously between the both of us.
"Kingsley? How do you know her?" I asked Wren.
"Umm ... " Wren stammered, "Well ... "
"Kingsley and Wren are dating," Natalia jumped in.
My jaw dropped. I swear I felt it hit the table.
"Wait, you're Samson's best friend?" Natalia asked, completely baffled.
"Yeah," Wren looked at Natalia and smiled. He then looked at me. "I've been dating Kingsley for awhile now."
"I can't believe this. One, that's disgusting. And two, you're just now telling me you're dating someone?" I was dumbfounded. Yes, Kingsley was hot, but her looks couldn't ever make me forget about her poisonous attitude.
"I've heard you two don't get along, but for the sake of Natalia and me, you'll have to."
Kingsley and I still hated each other, just not as vocally as before.
"Finally, you're here!" Natalia roughly pulled me into her room. All of the overhead lighting was turned off, and there were candles lit on every open surface. The room smelled of lavender and vanilla. I lifted my eyebrow in question. "Sit," she instructed, pushing me down onto her made up bed.
She stood in front of me, her body covered in a familiar brown trench coat. I'd bought Natalia the Burberry jacket one afternoon when we went shopping. She refused to go into Burberry with me again, so I ran in and came out with the coat. I told her that if she didn't wear it, I would wear a seashell necklace every day for the rest of the year. She grimaced at my comment and jerked the bag from my hands. She hadn't worn it once, until now.
"I wanted to show you something." Natalia began slowly unbuttoning the buttons, stopping at the last button.
"What's going on, Brooks?"
She grinned down at me seductively and peeled off the coat, revealing a skintight black romper with pink ruffles along the trim. I felt my heart stop from the vision in front of me. A few weeks ago, I told her how hot I thought it was when girls surprised their boyfriends with lingerie. She laughed, saying that it was stupid to spend money on lingerie when it only stayed on for a few minutes. She declared she would never do something like that. Now, here she was, standing in front of me looking like the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.
"Going back on your word?" My arms reached out to grab her waist, but she stepped back before I could touch her.
"I figured I'd prove to you how right I am," she said sweetly.
"You're never right," I teased. I reached farther this time, grabbing her and pulling her onto my lap. Her legs straddled me as she peered down into my eyes. Natalia's beauty entranced me more every day. Staring at her then, the light from the candles casting a soft glow across her face, she looked flawless. Every part of her body screamed for me to touch it. My lips found the soft spot on her neck. Her breath hitched, as my tongue traveled down to her collarbone.
"I love you, doll," I whispered, nipping her earlobe lightly. She moaned loudly, her hands pulling the back of my shirt and lifting it over my head. My hands followed the curve of her side, traveling down to her outer thigh. I caressed her leg, feeling the defined muscle beneath her smooth skin. We began to kiss. It started off slowly, but quickly sped up. Her tongue assaulted my mouth, moving rapidly around my own.
It took me less than three minutes to rip the delicate material from her body.
She was right. Lingerie was pointless.
Natalia stayed, straddled on my lap, as I slid my fingers into her, feeling her warmth coat them. She threw her head back in ecstasy. Her breathing quickened and she moaned my name. I adored the way she said my name as her entire body melted around me.
I laid her down on the bed, the sheets now rumpled from the activity. Natalia's body was perfect, and I loved every part of it. From the mole she had above her belly button to the pale scar she had on her upper thigh. To me, every part of her was impeccable. I placed my weight on top of her, slowly sliding into her. Our breathing matched, and I began moving my hips back and forth, going deeper inside.
The feeling I got every single time I was with Natalia this way was unreal. She was my addiction and I never wanted to be cured. I looked down at Natalia, her arms above her head, and my hands entwined in hers.
"You're my life, Natalia. I want to be with you forever."
"I thought you could never know the outcome of a relationship? How can you say you want to be with me forever?" she asked, a small smile on her lips.
"I've never cared about the outcome of anything until now. You're my everything."
Her dark brows scrunched together as she looked intensely in my eyes. The nearness of our bodies wasn't enough, and she pulled me forward, pressing her lips to my temple.
"I love you, too, Samson."
The End.
If I thanked all of the people that helped get me here, it would probably be longer than this story, so I’ll keep this as brief as possible.
First off, I want to thank my family. With your support, your encouraging words, and your love, you’ve helped in each and every one of my pursuits (and there have been a lot of them). I wouldn’t be the person I am today without any of you. I love you.
Zachariah: You’ve read every word I’ve ever written and have held my hand the whole way. I feel so lucky to have you in my life. Thank you for every smile.
Nina: We met because of our love for books and look where we are now? If it weren’t for your support, I don’t think this book would exist. In such a short time, you have become one of the most important people in my life. Thank you for everything.
Mireya: You’ve been there for me when I felt like deleting this entire story and giving up. It was your encouragement and support that made me a stronger person throughout this process. You’re an incredible person. I can’t wait for you to blow everyone away with your talent.
My friends: There are many names that pop into my head as I’m writing this. Angie: My amazing best f
riend. I’m in awe of your talent. Your work on this cover is exceptional. I hope we have many more years of music talk, girly T.V. shows, and concerts. Jen & Renee: I wake up each day thankful to have you in my life. We may not talk every single day, but no matter how much time passes, we’ve always been able to pick up right where we left off. I’d also like to mention the people who have given me so much encouragement - Rhea, Trish, Fred, Kyla, Laura, Julie, Dani, Molly, Steph, and Jessica: I can’t even put into words how special you’re to me. I love you, all.
To every single one of my beta’s. You guys read In the Air when it was just a baby, and now it’s all grown up. You helped polish this story, and I will be forever grateful. A special thank you to Erin and Jovana (you girls know why).
Bloggers: It all started with The Indie Bookshelf. You girls are all extraordinary. I’m so happy to have met you. I’ve always said that if it weren’t for the bloggers spreading the word about authors, then we’d be nowhere. You’re the heart of the reading world. Thank you for giving “In the Air” a chance.
Lastly, I want to thank you, the reader. Your support means everything to me.
There is some truth in this book. Aspects of my personal life have been poured into my words. With that being said, I’d like to dedicate this book to my dad. I know he’s looking down on me and celebrating. I hope I’ve made you proud, Dad.
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to hear your voice again.”
I'm a brand new author on the scene. In the Air is my first novel. I'm originally from Chicago, but have been living in Indianapolis for a few years.
I love supportive people and have been blessed with meeting so many of them lately.
Remember to read the books you love, support the authors you love,
and do without the negative people in your life.
Connect With Me
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Review In the Air on Goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17189096-in-the-air
In the Air is also available in print.
Coming Late Summer 2013
“The wound is the place where the light enters you.” Mowlana Jalaludin Mohamad (Rumi)
I stare out the window at the endless sky littered with clouds, some big and puffy, some thin and streaked, some resembling scattered dots of marshmallows . “Clouds are made up of wind, that’s why the plane ride can get turbulent whenever we enter a cloud,” I remember a pilot telling me once. Once. When life was simpler, uncomplicated. Or was it ever? If I close my eyes long enough, would I be able to see her face in the clouds?
“A heartbreaking story about living with the mistakes of the past, falling in love, and making the right choices."
In the Air (The City #1) Page 17