“No.” He glanced over his shoulder out the window. “Sun’sclimbing.” He looked back at her, a piercing, sorrowful expression on his face.
“You’re not going to tell me.”
He drew her to him and pulled the coverlet up, draping itover them like a shroud. She sighed against him, relishing his smooth, warmskin against hers. After a beat, his voice rumbled through his chest, vibratingher cheek. “You make me feel things I haven’t felt in a long time, Natalie.Things I didn’t want to feel again. It’s a lot to take in all at once. Give metime.” He kissed the top of her head. “I want to get there.”
The earnestness in his voice made her ache for him. Did shewant him to get there? Yes.
Because she loved this man.
The realization didn’t hit her like a tumbling brick wall.Rather like the creeping warmth of a heated blanket that seeps into your bones.I love you nestled in her heart.
“I’m off today. What do you want to do before dinner atMom’s?” he said with a chuckle.
She peered up at him.
He arched a considerable eyebrow. “Today’s Sunday. Potlucknight?”
“Right. I got distracted. What do you want to dotoday?”
He shrugged. “I was thinking we could do Naked Day.”
A laugh burst from her. “Naked Day?”
“Yeah. We hang out naked. You cook naked, we eat naked, we watch John Wick naked. Naked Day.” There was thatdevilish grin again. “We’d be doing our part for the planet. Fewer clothes towash.”
“If I’m fixing you bacon for breakfast, I’ll need an apron,”she purred in his ear before nipping his earlobe.
His hand traveled to her ass and squeezed. “I’m loving bothof those ideas. Being fed and you in nothing but an apron.”
She tiptoed her fingers over the covers to his groin, toyingwith the erector set tenting the coverlet. “There’s the proof,” he added, hisvoice husky. “Maybe we should work up a bigger appetite?”
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, and she wantonly draggedherself over him.
“Drewbert.”
“Calling about tonight, Nat.”
T.J. had rolled on top of her, mumbling about distractingher while his hands caressed her skin and his talented mouth worked over her,leaving icy-hot tingles with every touch.
“Uh, can I call you back?” She bit her bottom lip to holdback a moan.
“Just tell me this. Is Mom pulling my leg, or are youbringing him over?”
Every muscle tensed in response; her stomach contracted.T.J. lifted his head, hazel eyes staring at her, brows furrowed, mouthing,“Everything okay?” She nodded vigorously and gathered herself upright. With a deep inhale, she answered Drew.“Yes, I am.”
T.J. slid his long legs off the bed, catching up his boxersand pants on his way to the bathroom. She let out the breath she didn’t knowshe’d been holding.
Drew’s voice, tight and flinty, shocked her back intobreathlessness. “In that case, I won’t be there.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I don’t want to be under the same roof as thatdick.”
“He’s not a dick,” she hissed.
“Have you completely lost your mind? Shanstrom’s facing alawsuit. Maybe criminal charges. Even if he isn’t usingyou, he’ll pull you down with him.”
Natalie’s head jerked back as though he’d physically slappedher. “You’re wrong!”
“No, little sis, he’s wrong. Wake the fuck up!”
Hands trembling, she disconnected, tears stinging her eyes.T.J.’s approaching footsteps had her swiping her lashes. Pants on, he stood inthe doorway with a questioning look.
“No Naked Day, huh?” Her stab at humor died on the quaver inher voice.
“I’ll do whatever you want, sweetheart, but I have a feelingNaked Day is the last thing on your mind right now.” His voice was warm, fullof empathy.
She shook her head and cursed herself inwardly for the tearsstill building behind her eyes. “Just an everyday brother-sister fight.”
“Because?”
“Because he’s an asshole,” she spat. “Do you mind if we skipMom’s tonight?”
Concern etched T.J.’s features. “Your call. I got you,whatever you want to do.”
“I want to forget it. Let’s have fun today. Maybe take Fordfor a hike?”
Though he looked unconvinced, he played along. Bless him.When he left the room to get Ford, she quickly texted hermom.
Can’t come tonight. Love you. xxxooo
Then she texted Drew that Mom was all his tonight. As shehit send, a hiccupping sob squeezed her chest.
.~* * * ~.
T.J. had no idea what passed betweenNatalie and her brother that morning, but after she brushed off his repeatedquestions, he let it go. Ignoring his own warning systems, he immersed himselfin Natalie World. It was a wonderful place to be—all sugar and spice—and for aweek, he floated in its silky warmth like being carried along Willie Wonka’s chocolate river.
Wrapping himself up in Natalie and Ford was a balm, calminghis mind and soothing his soul, and it resurrected memories he’d thoughtextinct. Sweet ones, where his mom brushed his hair from his forehead andplanted a kiss there, then told him he was a good boy and that she loved him.Loving Natalie had pulled that from him, and as long as his defenses remaineddecommissioned, he was safe, oblivious, and drunkenly happy. And it wasn’t justthe mind-blowing, scream-from-the-rooftops sex. That was all bonus.
By the end of the week, though, his fortifications beganramping up, taking on the form of the damn Oompa Loompas singing out that he was a greedy bastard living ina fantasy world. Though he had no way of predicting when the skate would drop,Natalie would leave.
The inevitability curdled his stomach.
Sharing a beer with Wheelie Mark and Nelson one eveningwhile Natalie ran long on a project, T.J.’s mind took a familiar detour to thehorror show that defined his life. Air and space are wasted on you. That’swhy your mother left.
Mark’s voice floated into T.J.’s consciousness and stalledhis descent into Misery City. “Man, I was a ball of hate. Didn’t help that Igrew up pissed off. I had to do something.”
T.J.’s focus lasered in.
“My therapist said, ‘Meditate! Do yoga!’ I figured only chicksdo yoga, so why not?” he chuckled. “That’s how I met Carla. She was theinstructor. I came on to her from day one, and she shut me down every time.God, I was a dick! I’m surprised she didn’t kick me out of the class. I finallyasked what it would take for her to go out with me.”
T.J.
