Days of Darkness

Chapter 15

"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 d**g.

"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, n***d 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.

.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 s*x 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. s*x 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, b***h" the man said. He moved from around the counter quicker than I had expected such bulk could move. The word 'b***h' 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."