3. Chapter 3
NATALIE
The party continued, and not one soul knew of my confrontation with Alex. Or maybe I hoped no one saw me talk back to the billionaire doctor. Carla would ensure I lost my limbs and, ultimately, my career if she heard I messed up.
I weaved my way through those on the dance floor, desperate to step out the door and feel the cool evening breeze on my face. His face, tone, and voice, and how hed looked at me, somehow made my stomach feel like a fireplace.
My heart raced faster as I caught a glimpse of him following me. His tall frame quickly found me in the crowd with an intense gaze one could mistake for an assassin following a target.
As I approached the door, his warm and sweaty hand grabbed my shoulder, and I shrugged it off, adding pace to my steps. But he cornered me quickly and pulled me with a magnetic force I never knew existed to a quieter corner by the entrance.
It all seemed reasonable to oblige, given that it was much quieter there and away from the guests prying eyes. The dim lighting gave us shade. So I leaned on the wall, hoping the cold would wash the steam off me.
Before I could steady my breathing, he leaned forward, his body radiating the heat that I tried to escape.
Because you like the art, it does not mean you will like the artist.
His eyes pierced mine, and I could see something undefinedperhaps anger. I couldnt help but argue inwardly that it was the same way I looked at chocolate.
He stepped closer, and I acted tough while I prayed; he did not hear my heart pound.
You do not want people to see this scene, Dr. Carter, harassing a scared girl.
All along, hed said nothing. This time, he cradled my face in his hands; his thumbs brushed my cheeks and ran slowly over my lips. The action probably met his mission because he withdrew and looked me in the eye, his hands now on the wall, locking me in.
Anger, frustration, and desire built up in me as the rest of the world faded away, leaving just us in the hot, intimate position. What did you do that for?
Oh, that?
He played dumb, and I sighed, regretting the minute I saw Carla at my job interview.
Just tracing the anatomy of the second woman in the world who hates me.
Just two? There must be more.
Well, just two spits in my face.
Who is the first?
At that, he withdrew entirely and slid his hands into his pockets.
Let me take you home, " he motioned to his car outside. It is unsafe out there for a beautiful lady like you.
I smiled, not at the compliment but at the weak attempt to flaunt wealth and buy a change of heart. Thank you, my knight-in-shining armor, but I will be just fine walking home.
You are impossible, you know. He walked out towards his car, said a few words to the driver, and returned to offer a hand.
I just remembered I have no surgeries for the next 6 hours. I want to take a walk, too.
I left him hanging and walked into the night, my heels scratching the tar violently. Being feminine was very stressful to me, and I was not in the frame of mind to keep up the faade, so I bent to take off my heels.
Before I could finish, he walked closer and offered to take the last straps off. I obliged, not passing up the chance to feel his electric touch again. He did not return the heels after my legs were free of them, and I became worried that his hands would get dirty from the soles.
It was quiet as we walked down the road; we barely talked, except when he asked if my house was far down the street. Then we heard a noise down an alley to our left. There was a figure crouching and waiting to spring into action.
Shh, he hushed me and stepped closer to the entrance. Instinctively, Alex threw one of my heels at the figure when he heard it scrambling over bottles and tins.
It was just a cat, he laughed. His deep-throated and contagious laughter echoed in the alley, and I joined him.
He either began to feel more relaxed around me or thought I needed extra protection because he took my hand in his. Whatever it was, the gesture pushed him to start speaking.
Her name was Sarah. I call her my nemesis.
Who? The cat? I burst into laughter again, hoping he would join, but his severe, deadly expression was plastered.
The first
His current expression, coupled with how withdrawn he was when I first asked him the question, told me it was a past hurt.
You dont have to talk about it if you dont like it.
He continued anyway. She was everything I wanted in a lady. Smart, beautiful, and a vixen when necessary.
That must have been nice. What went wrong?
Well, since you like to jump to conclusions, she slept with an associate of mine and pinned the pregnancy on me.
I remember that was all over the news. I squeezed his hand reassuringly. It must have been a lot to take.
Yes. But it didnt end there. I mean, I wish it did, but sometime later, I met her again to deliver the baby, and I lost it.
On purpose? My eyes threatened to pop from their sockets.
No. I was still battling the betrayal and hurt, but I did not notice that the baby was in fetal distress.
He continued, vaguely aware that I was in shock at the revelation.
Today, the memory of that day still haunts me, and while I decided to stay out of relationships, I canceled every delivery and C-section from my schedules.
Some other doctors should have...
We were just starting then. There was no one available.
I wish I could turn back time, though.
Speaking of time, its my house oclock. I smiled, trying to lighten up the mood. You could come in and wash your hands and stay for coffee if you want.
When I entered the kitchen, my bare feet turned cold on the marble. I could feel him watching my every move as I reached and measured the coffee beans, and my actions became more deliberate to get his attention off my back.
You dont strike me as one who drinks coffee.
Why? I asked, grinding the beans, trying desperately to keep my voice casual.
Because it feels like you can get energy by pissing people off.
Is this your usual routine and line when you pick girls up? I asked my hands akimbo.
The kettle soon began to hiss. I quickly poured the water over the grounds and bent over to smell the sweet aroma of the dark liquid. I did not realize hed walked closer behind me, just enough to smell my hair and the coffee.
Im afraid I lost my routine after you confronted me.
Why, then, are you still in my place? I poked the tension between us, unaware of the result. I mean, I was in my house with Alex Carter, the same Alex who ate women to survive.
The room fell silent with palpable tension, and, with one sudden movement, he spun me to face him.Youve got me all wrong, he said.
Have I? Or...
The words stuck in my throat because he kissed me. First, softly, like he was tasting warm coffee, lips barely brushing against mine, and then like he had discovered a hotter and more intense taste.
My heart raced. This was definitely not how I pictured this night in my head, but his intoxicating pull melted my resolve to push him away, out the door, and out of my life.
Instead, I found myself kissing back, leaning in, and sliding my hands up to grab his frame. When I finally broke the kiss, I was caught in a web of wanting to pull away and wanting to give in wholly.
The intensity of the kiss made it hard to reason clearly, so I reached for the only barrier to exploring this new-found feeling. Eagerly, he tore away every piece of clothing on him and unzipped my dress in one swift motion.
Soon, Alex Carter stood stark naked before me. His rock-hard chest felt like a wall against my hands. I looked down at his enormous member throbbing and let him guide my hand to it.
Ive never I began to say, but he retook my lips in what seemed like a reverent kiss and murmured my name into my mouth.
I felt mad, overwhelmed with the urgency to calm this desperation. His warm touches reminded me of reality, but his tender kisses and patterns traced on my skin sent me back to cloud nine each time.
He lifted me into the air quickly, so I grabbed him desperately. My breasts were hot against his broad chest, and wet panties were clinging to his groin.
He navigated our way in the dark to my room and laid me slowly on the bed. I protested again, but he raised a finger to my lips, swiped my panties, and laid on top of me, kissing his way inside of me.
You are I felt him pause with the restricted entry, and I claimed his lips again, afraid the question would ruin the mood.
Sweet and painful thrusts followed, and soon after, wholly consumed by the moments intensity, I matched his thrusts with a vigor that I never knew I had. Tears, sweat, and moans, we were one.