His to take

10. Fated Meeting

Charlotte

I waved Elizabeth goodbye and turned to look around. I had Forever 21 and Gap closest. A few blocks’ walk would take me to Zara and Shein. Well, time to start. When I told Elizabeth I needed a dress shirt, I was serious. I actually only needed a dress shirt. But there was a sale at GAP and I ended up getting more than a dress shirt. I already had what I needed and more when I walked out of the store but Elizabeth was probably still busy so I decided to go window-shop at Zara and what do you know? They also have something of a sale going on. It was my lucky day. There was a Sephora right next door and I could not resist. They, however, were not on sale and even though I could spend five dollars each on twenty items I did not need, I could not bring myself to spend a hundred dollars on one item so I bought a lipstick in a shade of pink that made my face look brighter and walked out.

It was dark outside and a slight wind was blowing. I was glad I had pulled on when of the sweaters I bought earlier. I started to walk back down to Forever 21 where Elizabeth had dropped me so she would have to look for me when I saw him. What was Nathan Harold doing in this environment? There was an older woman with blonde hair, several shades lighter than mine, in front of him and she seemed to be screaming at him. Now, I know eavesdropping is bad and everything but nobody would have been able to stop themselves from peering closer. They were too engulfed in the conversation to notice me.

“…to stay away from us” She said

“I am just trying to help ma’am. Arthur did a lot for me” He replied t=in an effort to calm her and that enraged her more

“Don’t you dare mention his name. Don’t you dare!” She screamed and a few people turned to look at them. They did not notice.

“Ma’am…”Nathan started but then she slapped him across the face and I gasped. What the hell? I started to walk closer even though I had no idea what I was going to do. Something told me I was going to confront her but why would I do that? I did not even know what was happening.

“I will repay every single cent you hear me?! Stay away before I sue you” She said and walked away.

Nathan stood on the side walk shoulders slumped, hands fisted. His shoulders relaxed like he was letting out a breath and then he turned…and saw me standing right behind him. Crap.

“Hey” I waved awkwardly. What was I supposed to say after being caught eaves-dropping?

He did not reply. He just continued to look at me. I think he is trying to figure out how much I heard. Not like I heard enough to make sense of anything. When the staring became weird, I spoke again. “I think I am just going to go” I tell him and continue to my destination

“Stop right there” He commanded and I scoffed under my breath and continued walking. Who was he to tell me what to do?

“I said stop” I stopped then. Not because of what he said which annoyed the hell out of me but because he held my wrist. I turned sharply to glare at him but when I saw his face, my annoyance dissipated to be filled with concern.

He looked so different from every other time I had seen him. He had bags under his eyes and a little dirt on his face. It took me a moment to realize he was wearing the same clothes as yesterday. He also looked like he could use some food.

“Are you okay?” I ask out of simple human compassion but his eyes hooded

“What did you hear?” He asked and his voice was hard and cold.

“What do you mean” I ask using my best shocked voice. His hands tightened slightly on my wrist

“What. Did. You. Hear. Charlotte?” He asked and I tried to yank my wrist away because he was cutting off my blood supply but he held on tight

“Let go” I tell him but he looked unyielding “Let go or I am going to scream” I threaten and he looks around us for a moment. Just when I think he is going to let go, he pulls me with him until we reach an underground parking lot. Now you might be thinking the exact same thing I thought about in retrospect ‘Why didn’t you just scream?’ Well, I have no idea.

He pulls me to a car that I do not recognize and all but slammed me against the door and put his hands on either side of the door caging me in with his body. “What the f**k did you hear?!” He yelled and I jumped a bit

“Nothing” I answer immediately enunciating the answer. “What was I supposed to hear?” I ask and his face looked stoic

“You were standing right there and you did not hear anything?”

“Nothing that made sense” I explain and he sighed then moved back a bit his hands were still caging me though “Are you okay?” I ask again because he really did not look okay. His eyes searched mine as mine did his, and I was not sure what he was looking for. “What?” The word had barely left my mouth before I could not say anything anymore due to the fact that my mouth was now covered by his. My shopping bags dropped from my hands.

Holy mother of wild kisses!!! He was good. His lips moved smoothly over mine capturing my lips again and again and then sliding his tongue gingerly into my mouth to explore. They tasted of mint, like he just brushed, and hard liquor. But not enough to be drunk on. One thing was certain, this was not what first kisses were made of. I did not feel butterflies or a choir of angels singing. I felt electricity, sharp and intense rip through me and from the slight trembling that rocked him, he must feel it too. One of his hands slipped into my hair and the other went around me to pull me closer. He did not seem to want to sleep with me since he was only semi-aroused but the way his mouth was now toying with my tongue was giving me ideas. Ideas that should definitely not be in my mind, I realized as my eyes snapped open. I put my hands on his shoulder and pushed him with all my might. He did not even bulge. Instead, his hands moved away from their previous residents and pulled my hands away from me pinning them to my sides. Our lips parted for a moment but with a growl, he moved closer so I was pushing against the car forcefully and he was pushing against me.

I want to surrender. Who wouldn’t when they were being kissed like their kiss held the key to life. But I couldn’t. I would not let myself be used like this. When his lips captured my bottom ones and sucked, I pressed down hard. With my teeth. He moaned and pulled away sharply. “What the f**k?” He asked putting a finger to his bleeding lip and I glared at him

“That is meant to be my line ass hat” I tell him and he blinked like he was just realizing what was happening.

“You should go” He said moving back from me as if he expected me to actually leave

“I don’t think so. Not until you apologize” I tell him arms folded and he raised a brow in amusement

“Apologize? For what?” He asked

“Pulling me down here for a start and that kiss. I could have you sued for s****l assault” I tell him and he laughed

“In case you did not notice, you kissed me back” He argued and my hands started to itch. I wanted to scratch it by throwing it at his face, fisted.

“I pushed you away and you did not move”

“While kissing me back. You should give clearer signals” He said and started to walk away. I was going to follow him until I realized he was getting into this car.

This was not his car. His car was black and sedan styled. I think it was a BMW. This was a blur sports car with the undeniable logo of Aston Martin. I entered into the passenger seat when I heard the engine roar to life.

“What are you doing?” He asked

“Apologize” I said simply

“You have got to be kidding me” He groaned

“Do I look like I am joking?” I ask him and he sighed angrily

“Get out of my car”

“No” So it was his car? Man, it sure was good to be rich. Focus Char, I told myself. “Apologize”

“I have a better idea” He turned off the engine and slid out of the car then came to my side and opened my car door. I refused to move and let out an inhuman screech when he bent down to carry me out of the seat and set me on my feet expertly avoiding my shopping bags which lay forgotten on the floor. If I had left them here I think I would have run mad.

“What is your problem?!” I ask him and he shrugged “Are you drunk?”

“Let’s assume I am” He pressed me against the door again “You can have your revenge?”

“Excuse me?” I ask and he raised that stupid brow again in anger. I want to shave it off. “I do not want to kiss you”

“I think we both know that is a lie”

“If you are horny go to your girlfriend or a bar or something?”

“I would but you seem to want to keep me all to yourself so…”He shrugged and I finally gave in to my urge and punched him. Or tried to anyway since he caught my wrist when it was barely halfway up his face

“You always resort to violence” He chuckled finding me amusing and I throw my other fist at him. He caught that too

“Apologize” I repeated and he let go of my hands

“No” When formally I was sure he did not apologize because it would hurt his ego, now he was not apologizing solely to tease me. Well, two can play that game. I slipped from underneath his arms and opened the backdoor of his car shoving my shopping bags in it. Then I walk back and opened the passenger door and got in “What do you think you’re doing?” He asked

“I am not leaving you alone until you apologize” I whip out my phone and sent Elizabeth a quick text telling her I met a work colleague

“I will take you somewhere” He said and bent down so he was eye level with me. I did not look away which seemed to make him happy “Try not to run”

“Bring it on Ass hat” I tell him back and he smirked happily. A part of my mind knew I was being stupid but he needed to learn manners and who better to teach him.