36
ONWARDS this seemed to become a bit of a tradition every time we visited. And again, a new bottle of whiskey for him and my Dad to try. They were working their way through all the brands around the world.
Mum hugged me and then took Nate’s hand, dragging him into the kitchen to get him a drink. Nate felt so comfortable with my parents now, he made himself at home and didn’t need me by his side. My Dad hugged me and guided me to the kitchen.
“How is my little bug?” He greeted me.
“I'm good, Dad,” I finally admitted with a breath of relief. We followed Mum into the kitchen, before she dragged Nate into the living room and introduced him to Brie, James and also Nana. James shook Nate’s hand and my sister just smiled. They had previously met and it wasn’t a good first impression of Brie.
My eyes shone as I saw my Nana on the sofa, she must have a day pass from the nursing home. It was good to see her, she was fragile but looked in good health which was so good to see.
“Nana, this is Nate. Gi's handsome boyfriend,” Mum announced, embarrassing me. He crouched down and took my Nana’s hand, before she pulled him in for a hug and kissed his cheek. Nate was surprised but went with it.
“Hey Nana,” I smiled, giving her the biggest hug I could without breaking her fragile frame.
“My darling. You look beautiful as ever,” she smiled, cupping my face. Brie scoffed. I have to admit I was always Nana’s favourite. I spent so many summers at her house, making memories, but also just helping her with chores when she needed.
We were really close until she had a fall and had to be moved to a care home. At first it was hard but she settled in well and she enjoys daily activities and the company of others rather than being in a lonely big house. I hadn’t visited her as much since she moved there and it made me feel guilty.
She tapped the chair next to her and asked Nate to sit beside her. She then began to fire questions at him and give him advice all while she doted on me.
Brie glared at me, pissed that no one was giving her any attention. That it was all about me and Nate. She hated it.
“Nana, did I tell you me and James are ready to have a baby?”
“That's good, dear,” she replied, before turning her attention back to Nate.
Brie continued, “Also, James just got promoted to the head of his company!” She boasted, looking at me sarcastically.
“Congratulations mate.” Nate smiled, looking towards James, which encouraged both the boys to speak to each other. This was the longest I had seen James off his phone. Dad ushered the men to the BBQ outside to start the cooking and to try the new whiskey.
“How's your job, Gi?” Brie smirked, as she crossed her arms over the chest. “Didn’t your company close a month ago?” FUCK.
My mum’s eyes widened at me, I hadn’t told her. I should have known that Brie would find out and expose it. Malicious bitch. A smug grin on her face.
“Yeah, that's true, I've been taking some time to myself before my next move. My company lost a lawsuit and had to close.” I shrugged like it was nothing. Work wasn’t everything and I knew that now.
“Oh, honey. I know work was something you focused on,” Mum comforted me.
“It was, but I quite like this time. I'm finding myself, enjoying my relationship. I feel good.” And for once it was the truth. I felt content with who I was at this moment and where I was in life.
“Good for you darling,” Nana praised, always in my corner. Brie grumbled when her sabotage failed.
We joined the men outside when they called us for food, we sat on the outside table which Mum and Dad had set up earlier that morning. The talk of football or cars featured as the main topics amongst them. We had salad, potato salad, all kinds of meat, corn on the cob, a true feast of whatever could be put on the BBQ. We sat and spoke about anything and everything. We were all enjoying the day and having a laugh. That was until Brie tried her shit again.
“How’s the mental health sis?” Brie piped up. The whole table went silent and all eyes fell on me.
“Good, why?” I asked. It made the atmosphere awkward.
“Brie,” James sternly whispered. She shot him daggers before focusing back on me. If there was one thing I had never seen, it was James speaking up to Brie. He usually just let her say whatever she wanted, lost in his phone or emails for his job.
“Just wondering if Nathan has had to send you to a counsellor yet? Can’t be easy with no job. Being stuck at home while your man provides for you? I thought you were against that.”
I took a breath, letting my eyes meet everyone that stared back at me, my parents seemed embarrassed looking at each other, Brie looked smug awaiting for my reply, Nana and Nate looked annoyed and James looked disappointed in Brie. You could cut the tension with a knife.
A part of me wanted to launch myself across the table and beat the shit out of her, but the other part of me won out. I put my food down and focussed all my attention on her. Composing myself as my blood boiled beneath the surface. I needed to defend myself but in a way that I didn’t ruin this dinner, this time with my family.
“It’s all good, thank you for asking” I smiled, not taking my eyes off her. “But I don’t see how it’s any of your business what my situation is. I can provide for myself and my mental health is better than it's ever been. Maybe I should ask you how your marriage is?” I diplomatically replied, hinting towards the fact she often tried to mask whatever shit was going on behind closed doors. I knew Brie, I knew when things were falling apart; she was a terrible actress. I felt bad, putting James in the firing line, but the look in his eyes confirmed my suspicions.
“All good,” she swallowed, looking away from me to chew on a piece of steak. Not so cocky now Brie. Her eyes teared up, evidence that I’d hit a nerve, but I wasn’t going to be treated like shit anymore. I could hold my own and I needed to stand up for myself. I was done with taking her shit, I had put up with it long enough.
“Good. Anything else?” I proceeded ready for the next bitchy remark, she refused to meet my gaze. The table was still quiet, not sure how to recover from mine and Brie’s spat, no one wanted to get involved. Real truths were coming to light that even though my life was a mess, I didn’t doubt that Brie’s was a lot messier right now. Brie remained a lot quieter the rest of the day.
Nate praised me at how diplomatically I handled my sister and commented that maybe I could become a lawyer with that tone and stare.
James and Nate talked a lot, sometimes about work even though they were different sectors, they had a lot to discuss and learn from each other. But all I could think about was going back home and snuggling with Nate.
Later that evening, I wanted to stop by my apartment; check the mail, swap over some clothes and give it a quick hoover to get rid of those little dust bunnies that wanted to come live here when I wasn’t. The fact was, I had pretty much moved in with Nate.
I collected my mail, letting myself in the familiar apartment. I breathed in the smell of my home, not as fresh, but it still smelt of me, like a comfort. I sat down to open the unexpected brown envelope, it looked official. I was anxious hoping it had nothing to do with Mr Cato, or was I going to be evicted?
It was from Angelina and the company. Nate watched me closely, concerned as he couldn’t see the content, just my reactions. I pulled out the file, attached was a piece of paper that looked like a cheque. My eyes immediately drew to the figure written on there with my name on top. This is a mistake. There were way too many zeros.
I read the legal letter attached, explaining this was in fact correct, it was compensation from them and Mr Cato. My hand flung to my mouth, this was life changing. I looked up at Nate who had a tiny smile. I was guessing he knew exactly what this was. HOLY SHIT!
“Nate, you knew about this?” his smirk gave it away.
He chuckled, nodding at me.“Who do you think made them add that many zeros?” I couldn’t believe it. He did this for me.
“Do you know what this means?” I asked him.
“That you can buy me an expensive dinner for a change?” he jested, I swatted his chest. I could do that but that wasn’t what I meant.
“I can start my own company!” I chuckled, this was the limitation holding me back and there was no way I would have let Nate help me set up. I screamed in excitement. “But I don't even know where to start.”
Anxiety suddenly drowned out the excitement as realisation hit, the dream was close, it now became daunting.
“You'll need this…” Nate said as he walked to his briefcase he had brought in from the car and placed it on my kitchen island, pulling out a brown A4 envelope. My hands were shaking, as I took it, the same matching envelope. Confusion washed over me and I carefully opened the letter, worried whatever was in it was going to jump out at me. I pulled out more paper to find a list of contact names, emails and businesses. I skimmed the list and found one name I recognised; Samuel. My eyes lit up; if this was what I thought it was, then I already had a business.
“I contacted a lot of clients and your previous business ventures. I explained to them that the company had fallen. I explained that you had branched off to start up a marketing company yourself and that's when Samuel took a risk. He trusts you Gi. He convinced many more clients to follow. Business is set. I assured them you have the best lawyer in the business,” he explained sitting beside me. I couldn't believe my ears.
“Wait? What? I don’t have a law-”
“I have a couple of startup lawyers, trained by the best of course,” he pointed to himself, “and let's just say a cheaper fee than most. It’s sorted.” He took my hands in his, “You can do this. All these people believe in you...your dream is here. This is your baby.” I was lost for words.
“You did all this for me?” I asked, surprised
“Of course, I would do anything for you. I will give you the world. Whether you ask for it or not. I will give everything to you in a heartbeat,” he expressed, his hands gently cupping my face as he looked into my eyes. “Everything you ever want, need or dream about it's yours,” he meant every word.
He made my heart race, he wasn't the same Nate I had met last year in Barcelona, he was… grounded, vulnerable, full of raw emotion. My God, I wasn’t sure if it was possible to love this man any more than I already did.
I tossed the paper to the side and crashed my lips on his, lifting myself over him so I could straddle him. He kissed me back with the same intensity as his hands snaked around my waist. He pulled me closer to him, getting my body against him. My hands wrapped around his neck pushing his lips into me more. We calmed our kiss and placed our foreheads together catching our breath.
“I love you, Nate”
“I love you too, sweetheart,” he said, caressing my cheek softly. “I'm not the same man I was last year,” he said, repeating my own thoughts, “I owe you everything, Gi.”
“You don't owe me a thing,” I smiled, looping a small curl at the nape of his neck around my finger. He did the same to me as a curl dropped to the side of my face. He took a deep breath before he kissed me again, softly planting kisses all over my cheeks, jawline and neck.
A small moan escaped me as he caught a sensitive spot, sending electric sparks all over my body and chuckled as my body melted into him. He kissed the same place and this time decided to make his mark. Kicking it up a notch, his teeth grazed the area on my neck, then brushing his lips over it, the warm air giving me goosebumps. He pressed his mouth to it and gripped the piece of flesh between his teeth sucking on the spot to make a tiny bruise.
“Ouch,” I chuckled. He growled, releasing the skin and continued the trail of kisses as he ran his hands down my sides, positioning me so I could feel him getting hard beneath me.
“You drive me insane, I want you so much,” he admitted as he began to move my hips against him. I can't help but meet his eyes. His hands rested on my thighs as I slowly grinded in sync with him, watching him squirm beneath me.
He kissed me through my t-shirt. My nipples hard from the arousal, he noticed clamping his teeth on them through the fabric. I gasped, picking up the pace to tame the aching between my legs. His head fell back on the sofa as he moaned at the friction of my movement.
I climbed off, sinking to my knees on the floor between his legs, rushing to set him free. My eyes seductive, as I took him out and began to stroke him gently, teasing him with my touch before opening my mouth.
He shuddered as my tongue ran its way up and down his length before I took him in my mouth. His moans escaping with every stroke, every lick, feeling him get harder and harder in my mouth, almost like stone. His hands slid to my hair, grabbing a chunk tightly, as I sucked the life out of him. He used the fistful of hair, pulling, to guide me where he was most sensitive, before he turned animalistic.
A growl rippled through him as he pulled out of my mouth and grabbed me by the waist, urgently, as he slid my pants down to drag me back onto his lap. He eased me onto him until he was deep inside. I began to ride him rough, hard and fast just as we both liked, making us both cum in just a few short minutes. Euphoria.
Both breathless and covered in sweat, he tried to catch his breath as he pushed a stand of hair behind my ear and caressed my face. The love in his eyes differed from the predatorily lust that overpowered our intimacy.
A few hours later, after many more rounds and a shower, we climbed into bed and snuggled close; it was 3am.
His phone rang beside him, it was the first time he had picked it up that evening. To be honest we had shut the world out, just enjoying an evening of rough, passionate sex.
“I have 12 missed calls,” he said weirdly, as he checked his phone. “From Ivy.” Alarm crossed his face and he became worried sitting himself up in the bed.
She was on her honeymoon, why 12 calls? Was she okay?