“The bathroom is all yours.” I smiled back and dug into my bag. I didn’t have any pajamas. I was wondering if I should just crawl into bed with my pants on. The floor is where I belonged. I’ve slept on worse.
“All I have is t-shirts and boxers,” I said. I was about to add that the floor was the best solution when Natalie cut in.
“That’s fine,” she said, “panties and t-shirt are all I brought as well. Didn’t figure I was going to be gone too long.” I looked in my bag not seeing anything particular as the idea of her panties ran through my stupid brain. Blue, pink, white, and all other colors of the rainbow entered my mind. I heard her walk to the crib as I grabbed a t-shirt and dopp kit and headed quickly to the bathroom. With the door closed, I could think.
There was crusty blood under my nose and stubble from a day without a shave. My hair was a disaster from sleeping in the back of the car. Normally, I wouldn’t care, but there was a woman I had to share a bed with. I started the shower and broke out my shaving gear. I reached into the shower to test the water. It was a perfectly warm temperature. I turned it colder and climbed in and let the chill wash the thoughts of panties from my mind.
Natalie lay still on the right side of the bed when I emerged from the bathroom. I almost laughed at myself for shaving and combing my hair. She was a lot easier to look at covered in sheets and a blanket. Only her angelic face was showing. So much easier on my heart. I crawled carefully into the left side of the bed, trying not to disturb her sleep.
“They’re blue,” Natalie whispered.
“What?”
“My panties,” she clarified, “they’re baby blue.” It took a moment for me to realize that Stinky had narked me out.
“I’ll sleep on the floor,” I said as blood flooded my face. I began to rise when Natalie rolled over and reached for my arm, holding me back.
“I like how you see me,” Natalie stated softly.
“I’m sorry,” I said, “I can’t help it.”
“Stay,” Natalie said, “I feel safe with you near.” I relaxed back into the pillow, shocked at her words. “I just need to get some sleep; then we can talk about it.” She half pulled half scooted closer to me. Her hand released my arm, and she reached across my chest. “There, we can keep each other warm,” she whispered. I lay unmoving, trying not to over-breathe or do anything that would endanger her arm moving. A moment of courage allowed me to lay my far hand over hers and lightly grasp her palm. I smiled when her fingers curled around mine. Natalie was asleep in minutes. I laid awake for over an hour staring into the darkness, loving the feel of her hand in mine.
The sun had barely cracked the horizon when I woke. Natalie had rolled away from me in the night. I missed her hand but smiled that it had been there in the first place. I sat up slowly, letting her get as much sleep as possible.
My groin was still sore but more uncomfortable than non-functional. The soreness in the small of my back had disappeared, and there was a smart, gorgeous woman wearing baby blue panties in my bed. Life was coming up roses. I pulled my legs up into the Indian position to stretch out my groin. It burned a little, more warm than pain. I rubbed the insides of my thighs, loosening up the rest of tightness.
“Getting busy over there,” Natalie chuckled, “I could leave for a moment if you need some privacy.” I turned with a panicked red face to find her head cocked in her hand and wearing a cocky smile.
“My legs…” I stammered, “I mean, I pulled something…” Natalie laughed at my struggles as I defended the unnecessary. “Am I that easy to tease?” I asked as my smile grew.
“You’re still nervous around me,” Natalie said, “it makes it so easy.”
“I’m not good around smart women,” I admitted, “I always feel a bit behind the eight ball.”
“What about smart men?” Natalie asked, “do they fluster you when you sleep with them?” I laughed at her attempts to dig deeper. Her mind moved so quickly, I knew I would have trouble keeping up with the banter without more practice.
“Only the ones who wear baby blue panties,” I replied. That got a chuckle out of her.
“Have you been thinking about my panties all night?”
“Pretty much,” I answered truthfully, “It’s Stinky’s fault. The little tattle tale.” I liked the way that Natalie was looking at me. Deep comfortable eyes and a warm smile. There was no fear or apprehension a woman of her caliber should be feeling with someone like me this close to her.
“What has she told you about me?” Natalie smiled as she spoke.
“Nothing,” I said with surprise. I looked over at the crib. The little traitor has never let me see one thing about Natalie. I hadn’t tried, but you think I would see what I needed to see. “It’s a little unfair when you think about it.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Natalie continued, “maybe she thinks I need an advantage.”
“What would I see?” I delved, not expecting an answer. I just wanted to set Natalie a little off kilter as she had me.
“That I find you attractive as well,” Natalie said, not missing a beat. It threw me off kilter.
“Why?” I asked. The question came out of my mouth before I could stifle it. It sounded unconfident, something only an idiot would ask. Natalie’s eyebrows raised as she pondered the question.
“Why not?” she retorted.
“You’re a lawyer,” I argued against myself, “I’m unemployed with no college degree.” Natalie smiled, waiting patiently for me to finish. “I don’t even own a suit. I wouldn’t know where to take you to dinner or could afford it if I knew. I would probably embarrass you at the first party you dragged me too.” I took a deep breath and let a million other reasons float away and just summed it up, “We come from different worlds.”
“Are you finished?”
“Well…yes, I sighed, “That’s the gist of it.”
“No suit, huh?” Her faux pondering made me rethink my argument.
“It’s a metaphor as well as the truth,” I insisted, “it means I am not ready for your world.”
“Metaphor is a really big word for someone so uneducated,” Natalie joked. She was toying with me again, but this time, my anger was climbing. She knew exactly what I was talking about. We could never be a we.
“You know what I…” Natalie moved quicker than I thought her capable of. Just as I was reaching my boiling point, her hands wrapped around my neck and pulled me down to her. I almost pulled back when her soft lips touched mine. Luxurious lawyer lips yanked the anger from my body and replaced it with something non-thinking. Social standing disappeared as her tongue tickled my upper lip. I could feel her smile as I let myself go, my hands roaming her curves over the covers. She cocked her leg, letting me run my hand down that magnificent thigh I had seen last night. So soft with a hint of firmness that begged to be squeezed. My hand ran back up, lightly finding her baby blue encased bottom. She giggled into my mouth, enjoying my uncontrolled exploration.
A grunt from the crib broke the spell. A second grunt, followed by Stinky’s tell tale gurgling had me flopping onto my back.
“Damn,” I said to the world. Natalie was laughing as the smell began to fill the room. She rolled on top of me and kissed me hard. I wrapped my arms around her, enjoying the feeling of her t-shirt encased breasts pushing into my chest.
“Counselor, I wanted it noted that I tried to warn you off,” I said with a grin. I had no intention of holding back anymore. She was way too desireable to be given another chance.
“Duly noted,” Natalie agreed and kissed me again, “I changed the last diaper,” she laughed, “this one is all yours.”
“You crack the windows,” I said, sitting up, “and I’ll brave the sewer butt.”
It only took a few minutes to clean the smiling Stinky. It took a good fifteen minutes to clear out the smell. I donned some pants and found a dumpster to toss the diaper in. I came back into the room to find Stinky in Natalie’s arms. Natalie’s smile was incredibly attractive.
“I love how you see me,” Natalie said. Her hand was covering Stinky’s bare foot. Trying not to think was impossible. I immediately imagined Natalie in various stages of undress and then beneath me in bed. I moved quickly and snatched Stinky from her arms.
“She’s not a toy,” I said, trying to find cover for my thoughts, “and I can’t stop thinking about you.” Natalie stood smiling and moved into my personal space. Her hand found mine and brought it to Stinky’s foot. The tingling began, and my mind opened.
There was so much wonder in our shared thoughts. I could see how Natalie saw me, better than I was and oh, so much more virile. We made love in our minds, so intimate and very naughty at the same time. My breath caught in my throat as her carnal images warped into mine. I broke the connection before my body betrayed me.
Natalie’s eyes were all dreamy and fixed on mine. I suspected mine were no different as I caressed her lips with mine. The desire we felt was no longer hidden behind self-imposed barriers. It was Stinky’s laugh that broke the spell. She thought we were playing and waved her arms at the fun. Natalie broke our kiss and laughed with Stinky, which only encouraged Stinky more.
I laid Stinky on the bed and began tickling her. “Was that us, or is she doing it?” I asked as Natalie sat on the opposite side of Stinky.
“Does it matter?” Natalie responded. She reached up and lovingly stroked the side of my head. I leaned into her hand. I looked into her eyes and knew I didn’t care how it happened. Natalie was what I wanted in life. If it was all Stinky, then I was addicted, heart and soul.
“No,” I replied, “it doesn’t matter at all.” I leaned over Stinky and kissed Natalie. Stinky loved the kissing game.
Chapter 11 – Sam
“Those guys at the truck stop,” Natalie said as she sipped her coffee, “they weren’t government and didn’t seem to care about things like laws.” I finished chewing the bite of the breakfast burrito I picked up at a drive-thru. We had already decided to stay another night in the motel to recover and get our barrings.
“They knew about Stinky,” I said, “they were apprehensive about hurting her, almost a fear of what would happen if they did.” I took another small bite as I thought. “They were just two of many, that much Stinky showed me. It was just chance we picked the stop that they had staked out. I think every road out of Flagstaff was being watched.”
“So, someone with a lot of money but less political pull,” Natalie surmised, “maybe criminal.”
“Or big business,” I added, “I did sense they had little concern for our well being.”
“I thought you were going to kill that guy,” Natalie said. There was a curiosity in her eyes as she spoke. The matter-of-fact tone she used was cover for finding out my intentions.
“He was hurting you,” I admitted, “Stinky and anger don’t mix well.” I took a sip of my coffee as Natalie watched me carefully. She deserved the truth. “If you hadn’t stopped me, he would have died.”
“I’m glad I could stop you then,” Natalie said, reaching out for my hand. I let her take it. There was forgiveness in the way she held me. “The way it drained you scared me. I guess Stinky wasn’t meant for aggression.” Stinky smiled in my lap at the mention of her name. She had been trying to get to my burrito, so I knew she was hungry as well.
“I don’t know if it is aggression or just forcing results,” I pointed out, “she has a flow, and if you go outside of it, you pay a price.” I absently wiped my nose, “bloody nose, headache, and exhaustion. Maybe worse if you go too far.”
“I don’t get headaches when I see you,” Natalie said with a sly grin. I smiled back remembering what was in her mind last night. I took another bite of my burrito. Stinky’s eyes followed it to my mouth and reached out with gusto to try and grab it. “Someone else is hungry,” Natalie pointed out. I nodded as I chewed watching what I could only describe as a jealous face on Stinky.
Feeding Stinky was the usual battle. Neither Natalie or I were as skilled as Rose at getting the maximum food into Stinky’s mouth. Stinky was getting quicker and becoming more insistent on helping.
“Do you think she knows when we bond?” Natalie asked as she tried to get the spoon out of Stinky’s grasp.
“Maybe…probably,” I hedged. I was following up with a washcloth trying to keep the bulk of the food off her clothes. We would have to get better at feeding or buy some bibs.
“What happens when she gets older?” Natalie continued her thinking. I stopped for a moment and looked at Stinky. She was intent on eating, the one time when smiling was not in her repertoire. Her focus was on the jar of mashed carrots, a single-minded desire. What happens to those desires when she gets older.
“I don’t know,” I admitted, “if she could control her power, she could probably rule the world if she wanted too.” At that moment, her innocence didn’t make it a scary thought. Thinking out into the future, it was frightening. Natalie stopped feeding and looked at me.
“We don’t have a clue what we’re doing, do we?” Natalie asked rhetorically.
“Maybe they know in Portland,” I suggested. Stinky grunted at the lack of attention. Natalie smiled and began feeding again.
“How do you know we wouldn’t just turn her over to a cult or something,” Natalie commented, “you have no idea who that lady was or why she had Stinky.”
“She seemed sincere,” I countered, “but you could be right. I do find it hard to believe that her last words would condemn Stinky.” I thought about it and the way Natalie shifted the conversation. She was trying to convince me of something. Something she had already concluded.
“There’s a reason we’re in North Dakota and not Oregon,” I observed. I said it softly, without accusation. Natalie nodded and stopped feeding Stinky again.
“I wasn’t sure Portland is the right place or the right people,” Natalie admitted, “anymore than the government or whoever else wants her.” She paused for a moment, and when I didn’t speak, she continued. “I wish we had more to go on before we just hand her over.”
“You have a career,” I reminded her, “you can’t just drop everything, and I am not capable of raising Stinky alone. We have to find a more permanent solution. It’s our best bet.”
“I quit my job,” Natalie said, then quickly began feeding Stinky again. She was concentrating on Stinky, trying hard not to look at me as I absorbed the shock.
“Wh…why?”
“Stinky has a way of showing you things,” Natalie said, “I was climbing the ladder because that’s what everyone told me I should do and I was good at it.” She refilled the spoon, and with excited verbal support from Stinky, weaved her way through Stinky’s overactive hands. “It’s not what I wanted. I love being a lawyer; I just don’t want to be a starched one.” She paused again and looked at me. “And I want other things. Things a sixty hour work week won’t let me have.”
My mind was reeling. I thought I had unintentionally thrown away my life and here was a woman who purposely threw it away. Money and prestige were my hopeless dream, and she made it seem like a bad movie. I wiped off Stinky’s chin and one of her hands.
“Does your mother know?” I asked. Maybe Rose could talk some sense into her.
“She agrees,” Natalie said as she reloaded the spoon again, “she always knew I was unhappy.” Natalie tried to come in high to avoid Stinky’s grabby hands. Stinky looked like a starving baby bird as the spoon neared.
“I would have told you yesterday,” Natalie clarified, “but you were kind of out of it. Mom didn’t like the idea of Portland anymore than I did.”
“Three against one,” I chuckled. Natalie gave me a confused look. “Three girls and me,” I clarified, “I’m out numbered.”
“I’ll go to Portland if you insist,” Natalie said, shaking her head, “it’s you Stinky loves.”
“She doesn’t know what love is,” I said, shrugging off her statement.
“Sam,” Natalie said while she fished the last of the carrot out of the jar, “she loves you unconditionally. I know it, my mom knows it, and so does everyone else she bonds with.” Stinky fought for control of the spoon and Natalie relented, making sure she didn’t swallow the whole thing. “She trusts us because you trust us. She loves you deeply.” I was staring at Stinky, trying to fathom the foolishness of someone trusting me. Of someone loving me. From what I could see, Stinky only loved food. I pushed away from the table and stood. I was breathing harder than necessary.
“I…can’t,” I stuttered, “I’m a fuck up. I’ll screw her up and make her bad or something.” I’d die for her, but I didn’t have the skill to raise her. I grew up with piss-poor role models. She would end up like me.
“Or you could just love her back,” Natalie said, “since you already do, it shouldn’t be that hard.”
“That’s your plan,” I argued, “ruin a perfectly good child by leaving her in my hands. All the people in the world and you pick me.”
“I didn’t pick you,” Natalie laughed, “she did.” Orange covered lips started laughing with Natalie. Stinky was taking Natalie’s side and using her cuteness against me. I huffed and puffed trying to think of a new reason why it was an asinine idea. Natalie’s smile was eating into my argument, making me think I was worthy. Her confidence in me was almost painful.
“She needs a bath,” I said, trying to retake control of the conversation. I lifted Stinky into my arms and started toward the bathroom. “You’re not helping, you little stinker,” I whispered. A chuckle from Natalie informed me she overheard.
Stinky was sitting up pretty well on her own now. My hand was still there in case she faltered, but I let her play in the two inches of water unhindered. Splashing was her favorite, at least, before it got in her eyes. I tried not to laugh when she responded to the invasion by rapidly sucking in her breath. I cleared her eyes with a dry washcloth, and she went on playing.
“Most men get nine months to work up the courage.” I turned my head to find Natalie leaning against the door frame, that damn smile weakening my resolve again. “you jumped into daddy mode without warning.” I turned my head back to Stinky, not wanting Natalie to know how scared the word ‘daddy’ made me. Dads are saps. Stinky smiled at me as she played. I was a sap.
“I’ve never had anyone rely on me,” I said, “it’s terrifying.” I looked back to Natalie and her confident smile. The look of a lawyer who was making her case. “What if I screw it up?”
“What if you don’t?” Natalie said, using my own indecisiveness against me. I had to smile at her. All that intelligence bundled into such a pretty package.
“You’re not going to let me weasel out of this,” I observed. Natalie’s smile grew as she shook her head no. Portland was shelved. I turned back to Stinky, who had just splashed water all over my t-shirt. “We’re going to need some things for you,” I said as I lifted warm water in my hand and let it run down her back. Stinky splashed again and thought it was funny when I flinched. I had a little water war with her, splashing her back as she proceeded to soak us both. I would have to work on her aim.
“You have no idea how sexy you look right now,” Natalie said. I turned in time to see her leave the bathroom. A sap playing in the tub with a baby is sexy? I smiled to myself remembering her thoughts about me. I had no idea how those visions correlated with the current soaked version of myself. Women were a damn mystery.
“How do you feel about naps?” I whispered to Stinky, “I’d only need an hour or maybe two. Think of it as payment for turning my life upside down.” She splashed hard and started laughing. It looked like an immediate nap was not on the agenda.
Natalie went shopping while I watched Stinky. A car seat was a must. Driving for a day without one was a sin we wouldn’t repeat. More food, diapers, wipes and other baby necessities were on the list. We were chewing through cash, so we decided risking Natalie’s credit card We made the assumption that the thugs hadn’t acquired Natalie’s name. They weren’t all that bright and most likely didn’t even get the license plate. It was a risk, but we weren’t about to start robbing banks. The car seat alone would have drained our cash resources severely.
Stinky was building muscle. She would rise on her knees, her butt high in the air, and wiggle forward and backward. She was on the cusp of mobility. She could already roll over, but now, I saw a determination in her eyes. I was both proud and terrified at her progress.
“She’ll be crawling in a day or two,” I told Natalie when she returned. Her arms were full of bags. I could tell she enjoyed herself. The lady liked to shop.
“Can you tell her to hold off until we find a place?” Natalie joked.
“I can’t seem to tell women anything these days,” I laughed. It shocked me when Natalie went on her toes and quickly kissed my cheek. It was just a peck, but it held an apology and a promise. I hadn’t meant anything by my remark. Maybe she thought it best to acknowledge how things had resolved and to make sure I knew she meant the best by it. I took the bags from her arms with a smile and put them on the small table.
“I found you some shirts,” Natalie said, “if you don’t like them, I can take them back.” I wasn’t sure how I should feel about that. Having her dress me seemed a little too domestic. She stilled at my expression. “Don’t look to deep into it,” she added, “I just didn’t want you to start smelling.” I immediately and self-consciously smelled my armpits. She snickered as she started to go back to the car for another load of bags.
“I got it,” I said, moving quickly past her. My pits didn’t smell bad, at least, they didn’t to me. I was out of clean shirts, but I could have washed them in the sink. I went through an internal argument about the shirts as I retrieved the other bags. By the time I returned, I had sorted it out in my head.
“Thank you,” I said, “for the shirts.” Worst case, I could stall some laundry. I still had two clean pairs of underwear and socks.
“You’re welcome,” Natalie said, quite proud of herself. It pleased me that she was happy. I couldn’t remember the last time I was the reason someone was happy. We started shifting the baby stuff from the plastic bags to Stinky’s diaper bag. Stinky gave a little grunt when she spied the food jars and raised her butt up high, almost like she was going to take off after it. “She’s getting strong,” Natalie commented.
“We won’t be able to leave her on the bed anymore,” I said as I moved closer in case Stinky decided to take that first lunge.
“She can’t be on this carpeting,” Natalie instructed, “we’ll need to find someplace to rent. A medium sized town in need of a lawyer. It shouldn’t take me long to get licensed in any state.” I sat on the bed and stared at her as she continued to unpack. She slowed then stopped, “What?”
“We?” I asked.
“You think I would let you raise Stinky alone?”
“But…”
“I like you,” Natalie continued, “you like me. Stinky let us skip all that silly courtship crap. Tell me you aren’t planning something tonight.” My eyes widened. “If you weren’t,” she shrugged, “I was going to.” She went back to unpacking as if that was all the needed saying.
“Are you a control freak?” I asked. My smile stalled the flash anger that appeared on her face. She looked at me a moment and laughed.
“Yes, but I can compromise.”
“I live by the seat of my pants,” I admitted, “but I can compromise.”
“We need each other,” Natalie continued, “and Stinky needs us both.” She bent over to retrieve something from a bag on the floor. I watched her curves move seductively in her jeans. A woman I never thought would give me the time of day was informing me we were moving in together. I should have been running full speed away, but my only desire was to be with her. I loved her strength and really loved how her jeans fit. She smiled when she caught me gawking. I turned back to Stinky.
“Are you sure I can’t interest you in a nap?” I said rubbing her back. Stinky smiled, thinking I was playing.The bed shifted as Natalie sat down next to me. A shiver ran down my spine when I felt her hands on my neck. I turned, and she let her lips prove she meant what she said. I wished Stinky would take a nap.
We had sandwiches for dinner as we watched the national news. Flagstaff was unraveling for the government. The lack of an epidemic, and Stinky and my disappearance, were making the government look ineffectual. People were beginning to question the supposed outbreak. Members of the CDC were second guessing it themselves. Politicians were beginning to talk of independent investigations.
“Do you think they will stop looking?” Natalie asked.
“No. They’ll just change their methods.”
“Then we just have live low,” Natalie continued, “everything in my name.”
“I can probably build another identity,” I added, “I know some people who do that sort of thing.” My criminal past had some benefits.
“We’ll need a name for Stinky as well,” Natalie said, “she can’t go on as Stinky forever.” We both looked at Stinky, who was sitting calmly in my lap. She realized we were paying attention, and she became lively, moving her arms up and down and grunting. The only name that fit her was Stinky. She seemed to like it. Another name would confuse her.
“It has to be something pretty and special,” I said, “I don’t want her forgotten as a Jane or Sally.”
“I have a name,” Natalie said, “I was saving it, but Stinky could use it. That’s if you like it.”
“Shoot.”
“Teegan,” Natalie replied. She paused as I pondered the name, “It’s Gaelic. I think it means ‘little poet’.” I nodded as I let the name sound itself out in my head. I tried it out in anger and tenderly. It was a pretty name. I couldn’t remember ever meeting a Teegan.
“Teegan,” I said out loud. Stinky jumped at the word and made with the arms. “You like that?” I asked Stinky. I think I could have called her poop, and she would have been happy. She just liked me paying attention to her. “I think she likes it,” I said to Natalie, “and I think it’s perfect.”
“Teegan,” Natalie smiled.
“Teegan,” I agreed. We just promoted ourselves to full parent status by naming her. I gave up wondering if I would be a good father. I now had no choice.
It took another two hours to get Teegan to bed. I wondered how real parents did it. The desire to get Natalie alone was building and yet, Teegan insisted on playing. Natalie took her shower first and exited the bathroom in her oversized t-shirt. I again wondered what color her panties were. It would be very satisfying to find out.
Teegan eventually closed her eyes, fighting sleep all the way. I carefully placed her in the crib and gave what I knew now was her nightly kiss on the forehead. I then took the quickest shower of my life. I left the bathroom wrapped only in a towel.
“What color tonight?” I asked as quietly as possible. The smile on Natalie’s face grew, but she didn’t answer. She looked so delicious laying on the bed, her right leg slightly cocked, and there was desire in her eyes. She reached out as I neared and pulled the towel from around my waist. There was no shyness in her movements as she caressed parts that have been lonely for way too long. I ran my hand softly along her thigh, raising the t-shirt as I went. She bit her bottom lip as I discovered she wore no panties. Soft curls met my eyes. “So beautiful,” I breathed as I climbed in next to her. I reached over her and doused the last light.
I slowly explored her curves, finding what generated moans and where she was ticklish. If I barely touched the back of her knees, a soft feathery caress, I could generate the most wonderful giggle. I stashed that knowledge away for future torture and continued my discovery. She loved the attention I gave her breasts. My lips found a wonderful home there, climbing from the valley and conquering the peaks. She lightly guided my lips and cooing when I found what excited her most.
Her control faltered when my hand traveled between her legs. I loved how I could make her back arch, her moans caressing my ears and exciting my mind. I closed my eyes and remembered the images I had seen, her imagined first coupling. I found her lips and joined them with mine. Her breathing came in gasps, adding a fever to our kiss.
I moved between her thighs and felt her smile against my lips. Her hand guided me, teasingly finding her entrance. It caused me to groan louder than I intended.
“Shhh,” Natalie warned with pride at the response she caused. I silently laughed into her lips causing us to lose our rhythm. She giggled as one mood was replaced by another. Both so enjoyable, I wasn’t sure which I preferred.
When we joined, humor was replaced by pure pleasure. Natalie wrapped me in her legs and pulled me tight. The closeness was intoxicating. My body wanted to move yet my mind found solace in her arms. I framed her head with my hands, our lips millimeters apart, I looked into the most beautiful eyes. I couldn’t believe I held her there; our bodies joined and she wanting it as much as I.
“Heaven,” I whispered. It came unbidden and without thought. It was the only word that made sense. Natalie’s smile in the dim light exploded in my eyes. Passion replaced thought as our lips met again. We traded breath and sound as our bodies found a rhythm, our song. It was so much more than the lust I had felt in the past. It was deeper, more intense, always on the verge of perfection but each peak showed me another, something higher to climb.
Natalie’s body began to shake as she pulled me closer. Her lips a hair’s breath from my ear she whispered, “together.” When her lips closed on my ear, I reached the end of my endurance. Something primal supplanted reality as we shared a perfect togetherness. An unexplainable moment that only we could understood completely. I held her; she cradled me as our bodies strained in unison.
I collapsed into her laughter as reality slowly returned. “Shhh,” I chuckled, kissing across her forehead. I was still trembling, trying not to crush her as my muscles struggled to regain control.
“It was better,” Natalie breathed with surprise. I tried to relieve her of my weight, but she held me tight, not wanting to separate. It was rather nice, so I stayed.
“Better?”
“I knew…well Teegan knew.” Natalie regained her breath, “I just thought…” She grabbed my head with both her hands and pulled my lips to hers. The kiss was a mix of desperation and passion. She pulled my heart into that kiss. I lost all resistance as we shared what little individuality we had left. The most beautiful woman in the world ruined me at that moment. I could only be worse without her.
“Better,” I agreed. Natalie reached up and wiped my forehead, moving some sweaty hair to the side. “Is it us, or her?” I asked. I was overthinking, but Teegan was such a powerful drug.
“I don’t care,” Natalie replied, her smile spreading across the room. “I’ve never felt so good in my life, and I know I don’t want it to end.” There, naked in that bed, she wasn’t out of my league. We were a perfect match. Separating was no longer an option.
“Family than,” I said, “though you’re a lot sexier than a mother ought to be.”
“How sexy?” Natalie asked with laughter. Her hands were moving lower, tickling what should be exhausted.
“Very sexy,” I whispered as my drive began to reawaken. For the first time, I had no desire to roll over and fall asleep. I wanted to see Natalie shaking and out of control again. I wanted to be the cause of it. I simply wanted more of her.
It was another hour before we finally slept.
Chapter 12 – Sam
The sunrise brought with it a new life. Natalie and I found reasons to touch, the distance between us was minimized, and kissing preceded and ended most conversations. Even morning breath failed to stall our affection. We just held our breath and locked lips. We kissed again once our teeth were brushed. I have crushed on women in the past, only to be disappointed once we consummated our affections. Before, the sex was the pinnacle and destroyed the rest of the relationship. With Natalie, the opposite occurred. She was better, we were better, once physicality had entered the equation. Sex was the frosting on an already tasty cake. And how I loved that cake.
“Where should we go?” I asked as I finished packing. I had yet to think past Portland, and now it was time.
“We’re pretty close to Bismarck,” Natalie suggested, “who would look for us there once winter sets in?”
“We would have to keep each other warm,” I added, bouncing my eyebrows. Natalie smiled, and Teegan bounced in her arms in agreement.
“A big fire and a soft couch.”
“A little wine and a comforter,” I added. I couldn’t believe I was getting aroused by simple conversation. I could picture Natalie there in wooly socks and nothing else as we made love before a roaring fire. “Bismarck it is,” I agreed. I lifted Teegan from Natalie’s arms, so she could finish packing her things. That earned me a welcomed kiss.
After I finished loading the car, I went to the office to turn in the keys and check out. The place was so old, they still used physical keys and had no in-room checkout. It would have been quaint if everything didn’t look so rundown.
“Checking out of 203,” I said to the woman behind the counter as I fished the keys out of my pocket. When I looked back up, I saw that she was sporting a deep bruise on her left cheek that road up around her eye socket. She was about my age, long dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. Her eyes were hollow, almost as if she hadn’t eaten a good meal in months.
“How was your stay?” she asked, her smile denying that anything was amiss.
“Fine,” I said, placing the keys on the counter. I tried not to stare, but the bruise was the foremost thing on her face. I thought it might have been a bad birthmark or maybe a skin condition. The shading to an ugly green at the edges spoke of a fist, not nature. She ignored my eyes and pulled out a card in Rolodex. No computer for this dive.
“That will be 79.80 for the second night,” she said sweetly. I moved for my wallet, then stalled.
“I left my money in the car,” I lied, “I’ll be back in a moment.” She nodded and turned to return the keys to one of the drawers.
“All set?” Natalie asked as I poked my head into the backseat.
“I think that the lady in there was beaten,” I said as I unbuckled Teegan, lifting her always smiling face next to mine.
“It’s not our business,” Natalie pointed out as she exited the car.
“No,” I agreed, “but I’m tired of things not being my business.” Natalie leaned into me and kissed my lips. It was filled with passion and zero condemnation. It was permission and agreement. I handed her Teegan and entered the office. Inside, a large burly man in a Pittsburgh Steelers t-shirt waited next to the bruised woman. She was no longer smiling.
“79.80 you said?” I asked pleasantly.
“Yes,” the woman said quickly. She flinched when the man next to her raised his arm and put it on her shoulder.
“I thought Betty here had let you skip out,” the man grunted with an uneducated tone of authority. I disliked him less every second I was there.
“Always think the worst?” I asked in my most condescending voice. I enjoyed the way his face scrunched up. I knew he would wait for my eighty bucks before he dealt with any perceived disrespect. I counted out four twenties and placed them on the counter. Betty began pushing buttons on a cash register that was as old the motel.
“Would you like to come with us?” Natalie asked, moving toward Betty. Natalie had Teegan’s arm in her hand. I smiled knowing the truth was now evident. Betty stopped pushing the buttons and looked up in confusion. “You don’t have to stay here, hell – you aren’t even married to him,” Natalie continued. Betty’s mouth moved, but no words came out.
“Ain’t none of your business, bitch” the man said. He moved from around the counter quicker than I had expected such bulk could move. The word ‘bitch’ filled me with stupidity. He was way to big for me to take, but my hand moved of its own accord. I guess he thought me incapable of such a move. I connected with everything I had and caught him in his jaw. The results weren’t impressive. It felt like my hand took the brunt of it. Betty screamed.
I took a shot to the gut, followed by a flurry to the face. I had no idea how I was still standing, but there was no way he was getting to Natalie. I swung wildly, throwing my body at him to lesson his reach. I saw his lip bleeding which gave me some solace as he tossed me into the wall. It felt as if I hit a rock, but stand up I did.
I looked up as a series of uncontrolled grunts seemed to explode from the man’s mouth. A flurry of feet where connecting with such enraged speed, I thought they would tear him apart. He dropped to his knees, and Natalie’s foot connected with his head, sending it into the counter with a sickening thud. Natalie moved forward, blood streaming from her nose, and raised her foot high.
“No!” I yelled. Natalie slowed and looked at me. Her eyes lost their anger, and she lowered her foot. Her legs buckled, and she sat heavily on the ground with Teegan sitting in her lap. I moved to her side, using my shirt sleeve to clean the blood flowing from her nose.
“I’m sorry,” Natalie said hoarsely, “he enjoyed it. He was going to hurt you permanently.” Betty came around the counter crying. She stepped over the man, without a thought and knelt next to Natalie. Natalie tried to smile, but it came off weakly. I relieved Teegan from her arms. “You have to leave,” Natalie told Betty, “he’ll just beat you again. He likes the power.”
“How do you know?” Betty said and then completely broke down. Natalie was struggling to keep her eyes open. I knew what she had gone through. I needed to get her back in the car and far away from here.
“Show her,” Natalie whispered. I nodded. I rose, bringing Teegan up with me. I reached down, ignoring my new bruises, and brought Betty to her feet as well. She didn’t want to look at me; her tears were a mix of fear and shame.
“I have to get Natalie to the car,” I said softly, “can you hold my daughter for a moment.” I smiled, not to sooth Betty, but because I had just called Teegan my daughter. It felt right and not the least bit strange. Betty nodded, steadied herself, and reached out. I placed Teegan in her arms. “She likes it if you hold her hand,” I added. Betty did just that. I watched as the truth took her.
“Oh, my!” Betty exclaimed as her possible futures flashed through her mind. “Oh… oh” Betty continued as a smile replaced her tears. She kneeled down to Natalie, “I want what you have.”
“He’s mine,” Natalie coughed with struggled humor, “find your own.”
“We have to leave,” I said, helping Natalie up off the floor, “we can take you with us,” I jerked my head toward the unconscious man, “or you can stay, maybe call the police.” Betty looked at the man on the ground and then at Teegan who was smiling as usual.
“It will take me about a minute to pack,” Betty said, “everything I own will fit in a duffle. There are things I need to do.” Betty smiled at Teegan’s enthusiasm, “Lots and lots to do.”
“Let’s get these two in the car,” I said, “and we get the hell out of here.”
I laid Natalie down in the backseat and tried to make her comfortable. “You did good, baby,” I said, kissing her sleepy lips. She smiled weakly and murmured something I could only guess at. Her eyes closed and I knew she was fast asleep. Teegan had serious kickback when she was used aggressively. I winced when I stood back up, my guts hurting like they wished to no longer be next to each other. I walked around the car and took Teegan from Betty and deftly buckled her into the car seat.
“I’ll be right back,” Betty said and practically ran back to the office. I sat on the edge of the backseat looking at my sleeping love as I absently played with Teegan. I loved her. She would have killed that asshole to stop him, but my words broke through and ended it. I wondered if she felt the same thing when I had taken out the two goons.