We stood silent for a while and then Jay stood and took something from his backpack, handing it to Nate “Happy birthday for yesterday.”
He smiled softly at his dad, as Nate took the card and gift. “Thank you” he grinned.
“At least I get to give it you in person this year” Jay smiled and they locked eyes for a second, each saying lots without words.
Nate opened the card and then unwrapped the gift. It was a pair of gold cufflinks with ‘Dad’ engraved beautifully into each and Nate stared at them for a long time, his breathing slow and steady as Jay’s hand came across the table to cover his Dad’s.
“Bit of a shitty birthday though, eh?” Jay said with a huff.
“Actually, having you both here overshadowed the shit” Nate said as he shrugged and smiled to himself and then stared at us both in turn, “We won’t let him win, I promise” he said sternly and determinedly.
Jay and I shifted our gaze out of the window, both of us not quite having the heart to dispute Nate’s words.
***
It was Sunday which meant mine and Beth’s’ weekly get together but it was my turn to cook and to be honest I was happy for the distraction, working in the kitchen taking my mind off things for a while.
Beth arrived and took one look at me as she entered the kitchen through the rear door. “What the Fuck?” she gasped and I lowered my eyes. “James?” she breathed, her chest heaving as she bit her lip as I nodded slightly.
She turned to Nate and narrowed her eyes as he was stood by the fridge. “And where the hell were you?” she demanded.
“Beth!” I warned but she shook her head.
“You are supposed to be taking care of her. Look at her!”
I grasped her arm. “It wasn’t Nate’s fault Beth, he got to us before anything bad happened” I told her angrily as Nate looked at the floor and shuffled his feet.
“Before anything bad happened, look at the fucking state of you, obviously something bad had already happened!”
Her eyes widened. “What do you mean ‘us’?” she asked quietly and I turned away, knowing how she would react.
“He got to Jay first” I whispered.
“WHAT!” she squealed, her chest heaving. She adored Jay and vice versa, he was the baby she never had and they had both nurtured a great love for each other.
I bit my lip and Nate came over to me and slipped his arms around my shoulders. “Beth” he cautioned as he took in her anger.
“Where is he?” she wheezed and I gestured to the lounge and as she disappeared through the door Nate enfolded me in his arms.
“She always did have a way of saying things” he sighed.
“She’s right to be angry at me Nate, I didn’t protect him” I shrugged and he scowled at me.
“Don’t, Liv” his lips brushed over mine as my phone rang and he picked it up, checking the caller display as he passed it me, “DC Yale” he huffed.
“Hi, Mandy” I greeted.
“Olivia, how are you?” she asked and I could hear the concern in her voice. “I’m okay, any news?” I asked eager to get it over with.
I heard her sigh which confirmed that no, there was no news or sightings of James. “I need him caught, Mandy” I said angrily, “He hurt Jay and that’s not something I want to witness ever again. I need him caught.”
She repeated her deep sigh, “I know Olivia, we’re trying our best, I promise. I need to get a statement and photograph your injuries, is there any chance you can nip into the station today?” she asked hesitantly.
“Can’t you do it here?” I asked moaning at the thought of spending yet another day in the police station. I had internal knowledge of every crack in the walls, every single scuff marks on the doors and nearly every bloody officer in that place after all the time I spent there years ago.
“I can’t Olivia, I need the medic to take a look at you and document all your injuries. I promise I’ll rush you through so you’re not here too long” she apologised.
“Okay” I relented and sighed, “Can we make it about 3, I have lunch to do?” She confirmed the appointment and ended the call as I stared out of the window.
Nate took my hand, his thumb skimming over my sore knuckles from the shower door. “I’ll come with you” he informed me and I nodded as I busied myself with finishing the lunch, “And then you’re moving back into mine” he added firmly.
***
We both kissed Jay goodbye as he set off back to university and we headed for the police station. “Please be careful Jay, stay with your mates at all times” I told him as I gave him a final hug.
Nate handed him an envelope as he also embraced him and Jay frowned at him “It’s nothing, but wait until you get back to open it” Nate winked and then gave me a flick of his eyes.
Jay laughed and nodded as he climbed into his car “See you guys later, and Mum, don’t leave Dad’s side.”
He drove off as a tear dropped onto my cheek.
Nate arms settled around my shoulders. “He’ll be fine Liv, he’s sensible and I don’t think James even knows which uni he’s at.”
I sighed and shook my head “He didn’t know where I live and my phone number but it didn’t stop him finding out, did it?”
Nate placed my bag into his boot and climbed in the car. “Come on, let’s get this over with” he grumbled. I knew it was hard for him, knowing what I was going to have to go through at the station and that he wouldn’t be allowed to go into the interview room with me.
I grabbed his hand and turned to him “Nate, it’ll be fine, I promise. I’ve done this before and it’s not so bad.” I forced a smile and he nodded but I could tell he knew I was lying to protect him.
He set off and was silent all the way to the station, the quiet was making me nervous and I was quite moody by the time we got there.
As we walked through the doors to reception he took my hand but I shook it off, I was annoyed at him for making me feel guilty for upsetting him and making him worry. I felt as though it was an effort for him to be there for me, awkward for him to walk into a police station and his mood made me feel accountable for having to bring him here.
He tried to take my hand again as I walked over to the front desk and I glared at him. “Liv?” he questioned with a frown and I just shook my head at him and turned to the desk duty sergeant.
“Hi, Olivia Adams to see DC Yale” I smiled and he gestured to seat in the waiting area, “Take a seat and I’ll let her know you are here” he smiled warmly.
The waiting area consisted of two chairs and a couch so I chose a chair, not having the nerve to sit next to Nate without starting an argument.
He narrowed his eyes at me and leaned over to whisper “Liv, what’s wrong?”
I rolled my eyes and scoffed. “Don’t Nate, not here” I hissed and he glared at me.
“What?” he said quietly as his eyebrows hit his hairline and I shook my head at him and turned away.
He rose from the couch and came to my side, squatting low next to me he tried to take my hand but I refused to let him. “Baby, what have I done?”
I huffed and glared at him, “If you didn’t want to come with me Nate, you should have said, I didn’t mind coming on my own but you said you wanted to come with me.”
He frowned. “What are you on about? I told you I’d come” he said but looked a little shamefaced and it confirmed my thoughts on him being embarrassed to be here.
“Well I’ve got enough on my plate without having to cow down to your bloody mood Nate, just go home if you’re ashamed to be here.”
I was pissed now, I could read each of his thoughts in his face and it hurt that he was more bothered about being in a police station then being here to support me.
“Liv…” he started but Mandy walked through the double doors and smiled at me. “You wanna come through Olivia?” she gestured with her arm for me to follow and Nate got up to come with me.
“Don’t bother Nate, go home and I’ll see you ther
e later” I snapped and the hurt in his face was visible now but I had enough emotions running through me without guilt adding to it.
He stood with his arms by his side as I walked passed him and followed Mandy.
I saw his hand reach towards me but he dropped it and bit his lip and then the doors shut behind me as I felt alone for the first time in weeks.
Three hours and lots of tears later I walked back through the doors and Nate was still sat on the couch. He lifted his head and his eyes met mine, his body was stiff and his jaw was tight. I couldn’t read his emotions from his expression and I wasn’t sure if it was anger, guilt or shame that coursed through him.
Mandy touched my arm as I walked towards Nate. “You’ve got my number Olivia, ring me for whatever” she said, a worried expression fixed in her features.
I nodded. “I have you on speed dial” I laughed slightly and she grinned at me, “You take care and I’ll be in touch” and she turned and disappeared through the door.
Nate rose slowly from the chair, strolled towards me and sighed, “You ready?”
From his tone I could tell it was anger that drove him, and after three hours of hell I was more than ready for him.
I glared at him, “Don’t bother Nate, I’m going home.” I fumed and stomped towards the door, I needed air and wine desperately and if I didn’t get it soon I was going to kill somebody.
“You’re not going home, Liv” he hissed and I scoffed, turning sharply “Well it’s obvious you don’t need the trouble I’m bringing with me and to be honest Nate, I don’t need an argument along with shame, embarrassment, fear and bloody exhaustion I’m feeling at the moment.”
He narrowed his eyes and took my wrist tightly in his grip. “Get the fuck off me, Nate” I bristled at his touch as he pulled me towards his car, opened my door and lifted me into the seat, quickly shutting his door before I could get back out but as he moved round the car I clambered out.
I was now really angry at his attitude, how dare he treat me like a bloody child. “Fucks sake, Liv!” he thundered, climbing back out and catching me up as I was walking away, “Will you just get in the fucking car!” he seethed, gripping my arm.
Gritting my teeth and trying to rein in my temper I turned to him “I don’t need this, Nate. I have been through hell the last 48 hours and I don’t need to be made feel guilty for it. Just let me go because to look at you at the moment hurts like fuck, to think that I made you ashamed and embarrassed because of me, really fucking hurts!”
I was gasping for air, so bloody angry at him and he stood there gaping at me. “I’m not ashamed, Liv” he tried but I could read the lie in his words.
“Nate, you’re making this worse, just let me go. I can’t bear to look at you at the moment. I want to get fucking pissed and I wanna do it alone, just go.”
I saw a taxi pulling in the station car park and flagged him down. “Liv, baby please” Nate was desperate now and he gripped my hand. “Baby please, I’m not ashamed, I’m just bloody angry because there’s not a damn thing I can do to help you” he declared and tightened his hold on me.
I shook him off, “Tell me the truth, Nate. Tell me you weren’t ashamed at walking in a police station, tell me that wasn’t the reason you were seething all the bloody way there?”
He stood silent and I scoffed, climbed in the taxi and told the driver to drive, for the second time that day I left him stood there with his hands clenched beside him.
CHAPTER 27
Opening my front door, I walked slowly into the hallway. Fear coursed through me, my hands sweating and my breathing laboured as I shakily checked each room.
Terror was holding me up and when my search found the house empty I locked both doors and climbed the stairs, making my way to the bathroom and turning on the shower I slipped out of my clothes and stood studying myself in the mirror.
My face was a train crash, covered in cuts and bruises and my body was thinner than I remembered.
I noticed the new wound that covered my breast; a new one to add to the others and I traced it with my fingertip, angry at its red appearance against my pale skin. “What the hell do you see in me Nate?” I asked myself and stepped into the shower.
I set the water hotter than usual, needing to wash away the day’s events and scrubbed myself sore, now angry with myself for letting James come between me and Nate.
Shampooing my hair I started to calm down, guilt rearing its ugly head and making me second guess Nate’s mood today. I thought it was shame and anger in him but what if it was hopelessness that was marring his features, making him ashamed of himself not me, but I asked him and he remained silent, if that was the case wouldn’t he have defended himself?
I slid down the tiled wall, my bottom hitting the floor with a thud as I drew my knees up and hugged them. “Oh God Liv, your life is a bloody nightmare girl” I sighed and rested my forehead on my knees, gulping in large breaths and refusing to cry again. I needed Nate, simple.
As though he heard me, the shower door opened and there he stood, staring down at me with a look of anger still across his face. I raised my face to look at him and smiled sheepishly, wary of his mood as his breaths were heavy and his fists were still clenched in rage.
“When the fuck are you gonna do what I tell you?” he growled and I gulped as he started to unbutton his shirt, his eyes fixed firmly on mine as he kicked off his shoes.
He lowered his trousers and shorts together at the same time as slipping out of his shirt and then stepped in the shower, bending down and pulling me up the wall.
We stood, eyes locked for a long while, trying to read each other and the only sounds were our heavy breaths and the trickle of the water. Eventually his mouth crashed over mine and he kissed me with a raw passion, his rage and love clashing together as his lips controlled me, his tongue searching for mine as his hot breath mingled with my own.
I grasped his hair firmly, pulling him further into me as I rocked my hips against his raging erection and his hands came down and cupped my backside, as his cock slipped between my thighs and his bar rubbed against my clit, making me yelp and swing my legs around his hips.
Positioning himself at my entrance he skewered me in one angry thrust, growling loudly and biting my shoulder he thrust again.
The pent up rage turned into a violent passion that both of us needed and wanted. “God, Liv” He grunted as he pounded into me, both of us clung to each other, our animal groans and moans filling the cubicle as our love making became primal. His fingers dug into my arse as I clawed at his back and sucked on his neck, my teeth digging into his skin with each hard drive.
His cock swelled as he shouted my name, his climax as violent as his lovemaking, sending me into my own ecstasy as I screamed and tightened around him, the white pleasure taking my breath and making my heels dig into his thighs.
He jerked every drop into me as he rested his head on my shoulder, panting and holding me tight.
“Baby, I’m sorry” he whispered and I embraced him tighter. “Me too, Nate” I breathed, kissing his head and twirling his hair in my fingers.
He pulled out and lowered me to the floor, cupping my face and kissing me tenderly “I’m so sorry, Angel” he repeated and I smiled softly to him, cupping his cheek in my hand, “I know.”
He sighed and stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel round his hips, his body still wet from the shower and my eyes took in the magnificent sight, god this man was fucking glorious. He gave me a lazy grin “Like what you see, baby?” and I licked my lips, my arousal peaking again, I couldn’t get enough of this man.
I exited the shower and walked to the bedroom; dripping everywhere as Nate had took the only towel from the bathroom.
I quickly got dressed and skipped down the stairs, waiting patiently beside the front door. He came down the stairs and took my hand, leading me out of the front door and into his car. “Ready now?” he asked, narrowing his eyes. I beamed at him and nodded, my mood had heightened and I w
as feeling a lot more light-hearted.
“Yep, let’s go to yours and you can fuck me raw” I grinned as his eyes widened and his jaw dropped, “Feeling horny Baby?” he chuckled.
I winked at him, “How can you tell Nate?” I asked as my hand cupped his ready for action penis. He groaned and floored the accelerator.
***
Sunday evening saw us both huddled together on the sofa in front of the roaring fire and television watching old reruns of a comedy show. My mood had darkened a little as I had text Jay to see if he arrived okay but as yet had no reply.
“Baby relax, he’s probably not heard his phone and gone straight round to Jess’s” he reassured me as his hands came up to my shoulders, his thumbs digging into my tense muscles.
“Jesus Liv, you’re so tense. Lay on the floor” he said, his voice low as he gestured to the rug in front of the fire and I sunk to the floor, laying on my front and resting my head on my folded arms.
Nate pressed up against me; his mouth brushing my ear, “Take off your clothes, Angel” his voice was low and husky, my core clenched intensely.
I smiled and rose to my knees, my eyes never leaving his dark hooded ones as I slowly stripped out of my jeans and t-shirt, leaving myself in just a white lacy bra and thong.
Laying back down I could hear Nate’s heavy breathing as I patiently lay waiting, my arousal already soaking my knickers.
Angel (NSC Industries) Page 27
