Julian #2
The song finishes and Holding Out For A Hero comes on next.
I can tell Pea is in charge of the music, she is a sucker for 80’s.
But apparently so is Natalie as Pea throws a hairbrush to her to use as a microphone as they start their duet.
It’s nice to see them happy. Pea doesn’t have many female friends from what I know of, she spends most of her time with us and the only living member of her family she has left is her cousin, Ziggy.
We’ve never met him, but she’s spoken about him a few times.
And I know Natalie doesn’t have many people in her life.
As I watch them dance around my living room in some shorts and loose tees, I’m so glad they found each other. I think they’ll be good for one another.
I pick up Nico and swing side to side while the two women dance around us.
Looking closer, I can see that Natalie is wearing one of my tops, one that went missing a few months ago.
Pea likes to rob our clothes - especially after a job.
She says it’s because they’re comfortable to wear after a shower.
I close my eyes and try my hardest to not think of Natalie wearing something of mine.
She never did when we were together, I offered many times.
But she always refused - after reading her diary and seeing how her ‘uncles’ dressed her up in their shirts and had her do aftercare for them I understand why.
Pea plucks Nico from me, using him as her dance partner, not like he cares, he prefers to dance with her anyway.
Natalie saunters toward me and starts her performance.
We’ve danced before, normally slow, sensual dances.
But this is different, this dance is fun, unexpected and has my heart thumping hard enough I’m sure she can feel it.
Exaggerating her movements as she spins around me, her hand glides over my chest. I wait for the perfect lyrics and sweep her up in my arms as soon as Bonnie Tyler sings “I need a superman to sweep me off my feet.” she giggles and poses as I spin on the spot.
We carry on dancing for the remainder of the song.
Never taking my eyes from hers as we spin around the room.
The hairbrush now thrown on the sofa as I take both her hands in mine.
As the song ends, I lift up one of her legs and dip her.
We are both breathless and caught up in each other's gazes. Fuck I could kiss her right now . I probably would have done if I wasn’t reminded about Pea's presence by her whoops and applauding.
“Whew, I think these two won the dance competition , don't you Nico.” Pea laughs as she drops to the sofa.
“I’m still king of pranks if they win right?” Pea nods, “okay. You two win. I’ll get the trophy.” He runs past us and up the stairs.
“Don’t tell me you have an actual trophy.” Pea laughs.
“Nico made it.” I nod.
“You two have rhythm. It’s almost like you’ve danced together before.” She chuckles.
“We have.” Natalie replies without thinking and slaps a hand over her mouth.
She runs from behind me to the kitchen, quickly followed by Pea. Her voice bounces off the hall walls. “Nat, when did you and Dante have time to dance?”
I follow them into the kitchen, Natalie on one side of the island, Pea on the other, the latter pointing towards the former’s face. Both of them slowly move around the island in tandem.
“It doesn’t matter.” Natalie shakes her head and takes another step to the left. I wince as Pea sprints around one of the corners, Natalie manages to jump out the way just in time before Pea can grab her.
“Come on… tell meeee.” Pea sulks, poking out her bottom lip.
“Nope.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s none of your business.” I interrupt . I get a glare as an answer.
“Did you dance while she was in the medical room?” She starts to question me. I refuse to answer so she turns her attention back to a very embarrassed Natalie.
“Did you?” Pea steps closer to her.
“No.” Natalies voice is quiet as she takes a step back.
“Then when?”
Natalie continues to step backwards away from a questioning Peacock until her back hits my chest. I instinctively wrap my arms around her middle and pull her closer.
“You two have gotten close over the past week huh?” Pea raises her eyebrows playfully.
“Pea…”
“Dante…” Her eyes narrow. I pull Natalie behind me.
“Is - is Natalie the woman you dated all those years ago?”
I can’t lie to her. “Yes. But Julian doesn’t know so…
” She opens her eyes and glares at the two of us.
I step in front of Natalie in a protective stance, unsure of what Pea is about to do.
Natalie's hand glides up my back and she starts moving her finger.
Writing something against my skin under my top.
Ti amo.
Just like I did with her whenever I was comforting her. I swallow down the lump in my throat. “Pea, no violence, not in here.”
“Dante, move.” She exhales. I shake my head.
“Bull told me about her medical history, I’m not going to do anything.
” Natalie's finger keeps delicately scratching the letters into my skin.
Burning her feelings deep into my soul. “Do you still love her?” I bite my lip and look away from her questioning gaze. “Holy shi-ugar.”
“Papa, Auntie Pea said a bad word!” Nico sneaks up behind us and hands Natalie the ‘trophy’.
Which is a cardboard tube covered in glitter.
I remember the chaos that followed after Nico made it.
He accidentally knocked the glitter pot off the table, right onto Jerry-Lee who was laying beside the chair.
He jumped up and shook his fur, spraying glitter everywhere.
Glitter that I’m still finding and clearing up seven months later.
“I did not.” Pea feigns shock. “How could you say such a thing?”
“I think because you said a naughty word and are teaching me bad things you should make me a milkshake.”
“I think it’s past your bedtime.” Pea argues back.
“I think a milkshake sounds good.” I say. “How about you make us all one Pea. You know, for being a bad influence on my son and all.” Natalie leans her head on my shoulder blade and I feel her body shake with her laughter.
Pea’s eye twitches. “Fine, but I want all the tea later.” She points between me and Natalie before heading to the kitchen with Nico following her out.
I reach behind me and take her hand. “They’re going to be a while .
Come with me.” I whisper and pull her along with me as I head up the stairs.
She twists her fingers around mine, her thumb strokes along my skin like she did before.
I stop at the top of the stairs, taking her to my bedroom will be a bad idea so I turn toward the bathroom and lock the door behind us.
“Why did you do that?” I walk her back until she is pressed against the countertop.
I cage her in with my arms, yet give her enough space to escape if she wishes.
God I hope she doesn’t, I hope she chooses to stay here.
“Do what?” She whispers. “Oh, you mean this?” Her arms go around my back and she starts writing again.
“Yeah.” I breathe, closing my eyes and relishing the sensation. “Fuck, that feels good.” She writes it three more times before pulling her hand away. I miss the contact, but don’t show my disappointment.
“Why do you think ?” she whispers close to my ear.
I grab her waist and lift her onto the counter before spreading her legs and stepping between them.
Getting as close to her as I can without feeling like she’s trapped.
I glide my fingers up the bare skin of her calves.
She may have more scars than before - both physical and mental - but she’s still my Nat.
My strong, kind, considerate woman. Still just as beautiful now as she was back then too.
Her skin bumps under my touch, I smile knowing I still have such an affect on her.
She moans quietly as I run my fingers up her thighs.
“Dante.” My name escapes her lips in a whisper.
“Why did you do it?” I ask again, I need to hear from her own mouth the reason why. “Do you still have feelings for me, Nat?”
“Yes.” Her legs wrap around me, pulling me even closer. Our bodies connect in the best way, our chests move in sync as we both take slow deep breaths. “I loved you then and I love you now. But it’s so complicated.”
“I know.” I hate to admit it, but she’s right. This whole situation is fucked up.
“Julian, he won’t let me go will he?” I shake my head. “I thought not.”
“We can leave.” I say quietly, “we can run. Me, you, and Nico.” She huffs out a laugh.
“We can’t. Julian needs you, Dante.” And there it is, the truth I didn’t need to hear. “And you need him. You are like brothers, remember.” I did tell her that once as a fleeting comment. “I can’t come between you, if anyone has to leave it should be me.”
“No.” I take her chin and lift her face to look at me.
“Please gattina, don’t leave me again.” Without taking my eyes from hers, I take her hand and place it against my chest. “My heart won’t be able to heal from another shattering.
” I blink back the tears. Since hearing Julian say she wanted to give things another go with her ex my brain has been in overdrive.
How I've longed to hear that over the years. And now she’s saying she wants to leave again before even giving us another shot.
“I never said I was leaving.” She gives me a small smile. “I just said that if someone has to leave it should be me. You two need each other. None of you need me.”