Blackbird Page 7
His dark eyes looked at her in the reflection. “So what you think?”
“It’s great,” she said softly, smiling.
Nate kinked his head to the side. “Just great?”
“It’s a tattoo of a moustache, how much greater can it be?” She laughed.
Nate smiled. “I suppose you’re right.”
Claire smiled back, not able to take her eyes from his.
The more she looked at him, the more she felt the urge to turn around and kiss him till she couldn’t breathe. He was breathtakingly handsome.
She watched his eyes move over hers seductively, and although she was fully clothed she felt naked to his gaze. He was taking her in inch by inch.
He casually placed the tips of his fingers on her shoulder. She drew in a deep breath. His touch might have been soft but it sent an electric current through her.
She watched him in the reflection, his eyes focused on her chest which was pounding up and down, his fingers now tracing a path down her arm. She was vaguely aware that they were still in the tattoo parlour but it wasn’t until she heard Layla clear her throat that she returned to the moment.
Claire quickly turned to Layla. A smug grin was plastered on her best friend’s face. “Finished?”
“Yeah, let’s go,” Claire said quickly walking to the front counter.
Nate followed close behind her. When they reached the counter he bent down and picked up a piece of paper from underneath the counter and handed it to her.
“Here’s some information about the aftercare of your tattoo, please read it carefully and don’t go swimming for at least two weeks.”
Claire took the piece of paper and skimmed through it. “So how much do I owe you?”
Nate shook his head. “It’s on the house.”
Claire looked at him confused. “Why?”
“Consider it a gift.”
“Okay. Well, thanks then. I’ll see you around.”
Nate smiled, turned and walked away.
“He likes you,” Layla murmured.
Claire grabbed Layla’s hand and pulled her towards the door. “Yeah well Dave likes me as well,” she said conclusively.
Claire’s attention focused back on Nate. He was looking at her, different emotions crossing his face as he remembered how they had met.
His eyes moved to her hips and his hands quickly moved to her denim pants. He pulled them down just enough to expose her tattoo.
“I did this on you… You’d lost a bet…Why didn’t you tell me?” He looked back at her, anger filling his eyes.
“I…I was going to, but then I thought it was the best way to keep our relationship professional.”
He stepped back from her on his strong leg, creating distance between them. His eyes looked around the room, searching for answers. He looked back at Claire now. “How dare you! You had no fucking right to keep that from me!”
Claire couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “How dare I? You’re the one who knew I had a boyfriend! You’re the one who kissed me at the club!”
Nate looked at her, his face stunned. “What…”
Claire watched as Nate remembered what had happened that night after she got a tattoo. His face changed as he remembered everything.
“That’s the thanks I get for saving you?” Nate asked bitterly.
Claire’s mouth dropped open, as she thought back to that night.
Claire tried to push herself through the crowd to her sister.
Tonight was meant to be a great night. Stella hadn’t been out with Claire in forever and she’d finally agreed to come out.
Claire knew the night wasn’t going well when Stella seemed to down as many drinks as she could get her hands on. By the time Tristan turned up, Stella was almost passed out and Tristan had to carry her out of the club. Claire had tried to follow them, but the crowd was too big and she ended up being pushed into the corner of an alleyway with no way out.
“You look so sexy in those heels,” a deep voice called. Claire turned quickly to see a man watching her closely.
“Do I know you?”
The man smiled at her. “No. But you will,” he said, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her close.
Claire tried to push him off with her arms. “Get off me!”
But the man wasn’t listening. Instead he pushed Claire hard against the brick wall. His grip on her wrists was strong as he held her hands behind her back. “There, there, I promise to be nice,” the man whispered into her ear. She could smell the alcohol and cigarettes on his breath.
Claire frantically looked around for anyone nearby, but the crowd that had been there only moments ago was now far down the street. This situation was quickly getting out of her control and she needed to get out of it now!
“Look, you need to get off me right now or…or I’m calling the cops.” Claire said weakly.
The man laughed at her. “By the time they get here, I’ll already be done.”
If Claire hadn’t been panicking before, she was now. Without any further hesitation she bought her knee up fast and hard into the man’s groin. He leant forward moaning and she felt the grip on her hands loosen. She quickly lurched forward, trying her best to escape when she felt a sharp pull on her hair.
“You think you can get away that easy!” the man growled at her.
“Get off me! Somebody, please help!” Claire screamed at the top of her lungs, desperately calling for someone, anyone to help her. There was no way this dick was going to do anything to her, she sure as hell wouldn’t let him.
“She said get off her!” a familiar voice called.
The grip on Claire’s hair vanished. She turned to see Nate’s fist connecting firmly with the man’s jaw. Grabbing the man by the collar of his shirt, Nate pulled the man’s face close. “What the fuck were doing!” he asked menacingly.
Nate didn’t see the man’s fist come up to hook him in the face, causing his head to snap backwards and Nate to fall to the ground. The man, seeing his opportunity, quickly ran down the street.
Claire rushed to Nate. “Are you okay?” Claire asked, as she stood in front of Nate her hands holding his shoulders.
Nate held his hand to his face. “That bastard!”
“He’s gone,” Claire said , brushing her hand over the spot where the guy had hit Nate. It was bleeding and a bruise was fast developing
“Are you okay?” he asked, pulling himself up off the ground, Claire helping him to stand.
“I’m fine.”
Nate touched her face with his palm. “Did he hurt you?”
She looked into his eyes, the eyes of a man who had just saved her. To think of what could have happened if he hadn’t turned up frightened her.
“He didn’t hurt me,” she said quietly.
“Good,” he said, cupping the side of her cheeks with her hands.
His look of concern quickly changed to a look of desire. Hunger burned in his eyes.
She was suddenly overcome with awareness of how close they were, their bodies nearly touching. Moments ago she had been in her worst nightmare. Now she was in a different kind of dream, one in which she didn’t seem to have any control over her feelings.
Nate eased his head down, his hot breath warming her cool lips. “Say yes,” he breathed.
There was no thinking, no thoughts of what this meant and the consequences of her actions, just Nate. “Yes.”
Nate kissed her hard and rough, tasting her for all she had. She welcomed his passion, her lips forcing their way on his. He pushed their bodies against the wall, their lips still locked.
She felt his tongue part her lips, desperate to gain entry. She moved her own tongue to match his rhythm, devouring the pure taste of him.
Her body moved against him, her hips grinding his. His hands gripped her ass. She wanted him more than she had ever wanted anyone before. But this was fast, too fast.
She broke the kiss, pushing him back so they were still close but not touching, their brea
thing hot and heavy. “Nate…”
“What the hell?”
Nate and Claire turned their heads quickly to the voice.
Dave.
Claire quickly moved to create a larger space between her and Nate. Nate instead moved closer and wrapped his arm around Claire. “So let me guess, boyfriend?”
Claire swiped his arm away and moved towards Dave. “I can explain,” she pleaded.
Dave ignored her and looked straight at Nate. “Who the hell are you?”
“The name’s Nate, and I just saved your girl. She was just showing me her… gratitude.”
Dave moved quickly and swung a punch at Nate hitting his jaw. Nate spat out blood all over the pavement as he steadied his body.
She jumped in front of Dave, putting her hands on his chest. “Stop, Dave! He didn’t mean anything by it!”
“What the hell is he talking about then?”
Claire had never seen Dave so angry before. It was scary, even for her. “I’ll tell you later. Forget it about it, Dave. It’s nothing, he’s no-one.”
“No-one, hey?” Nate stood up and spat out more blood, missing her feet just slightly. “What, I’m not good enough for you? I didn’t get that impression two minutes ago when your tongue was down my throat.”
“Shut up, Nate! You’re making this worse. Come on, Dave, let’s just go,” she said grabbing his arm and pulling him away.
Dave was furious and it took all her strength to pull his attention from Nate.
“Please, Dave, he’s not worth it,” Claire pleaded.
Dave looked down at her then back at Nate. “You’re right, he isn’t.”
Dave turned his body and walked with Claire, leaving Nate behind them.
“I might not be worth it, but at least I don’t cheat.” Nate called.
Claire felt her heart drop. The thought that she was had just kissed someone like Nate made her sick. She knew in that instant that she hated Nate. Hated who she had become around him. Hated that it had been Nate who saved her, not Dave. Hated the words that came from his mouth. Hated the truth in his words and the pain it caused.
“I knew this was a mistake. I can’t believe I fell for this shit again,” Nate hissed through his teeth.
Claire’s eyes stung with the tears she was unwilling to let fall. “Me! I did nothing!”
“So kissing me is nothing?”
“You kissed me!”
“I may have started the kiss, but you kissed me right back. Do you even care about me?”
Nate tried to walk closer to her, but his leg held him back and she was grateful. Any closer and she didn’t know what she would do.
“I’m so glad this is the last time we’ll see each other because I never want to see you again!” Claire yelled, walking over to the bedroom door. “And you’re right, there’s nothing between us. I could never be with someone like you.”
She walked through the door, tears streaming down her face.
“Of course you wouldn’t! I’m not good enough, right?! I’ll never be good enough for you!” Nate called out behind her.
Claire couldn’t listen to him a moment longer. She fled through the apartment door and down the stairs as quick as she could.
Claire cursed herself for falling for him again after everything that happened. How could she let herself get like that around him? She had a boyfriend! And she never let her emotions get the better of her. Claire hated herself for what she’d done. She hated herself for who she’d become. She had never in her life cheated on anyone before and now she had done it twice. She wasn’t a cheater, she hated cheating.
This would never happen again, Claire promised herself. She couldn’t lose herself like this and go against everything she believed in for someone, even if it was Nate.
CHAPTER SIX
One Month Later
Claire had always considered Sunday to be her sleep in day, her do nothing kind of day. So when Claire’s phone rang at seven in the morning she ignored it. Whoever it was could wait until she was properly awake. Five more calls later however, it became evident the person calling her wasn’t about to give up.
“Hello,” Claire answered, her voice croaky.
A deep male voice replied, “Hey, is this Claire?”
“Yes. Who is this?”
“It’s Nate.”
Claire froze. She hadn’t spoken to Nate in weeks. After that night she had been too angry to talk to him. What had happened between them was wrong on every level.
“Do you have a minute to talk?” he asked.
Claire glanced to her side. Dave was lying next to her his naked body uncovered. He was still sleeping soundly. Grabbing the sheet, Claire tugged it around her naked body and quietly stepped out of bed.
“Yeah, just hold on a second,” she whispered.
She crept over to her bedroom door and opened it as quietly as she could, doing her best not to wake Dave. Once outside she hurried down the hallway and the stairs to the lounge room.
“Can you talk now?” Nate asked
Claire, curling up on the soft leather couch, took one last look at the stairs behind her, making sure she was still alone. “Yeah.”
“How have you been?”
“Okay,” she replied. She didn’t know how to respond. The last month had been full on for her because of the move and what had happened with Nate. “Look Claire, I’m going to cut to the chase. I don’t like how we left things and I would really like a chance to talk to you about it. I tried seeing you at your unit, but apparently you’ve moved.”
Claire remained silent
“So I tracked down your number…the one you gave at the tattoo parlour.”
Nate’s confession should have made Claire upset, but it wasn’t so long ago that she did the same thing to find him.
“The paparazzi were getting too crazy at the unit so we’ve moved to a house now with better security.”
“Well, that’s good then, I’m glad you’re at least safe. What are your plans this morning?”
“Well I was sleeping…”
“Can we catch up, maybe have some breakfast together?”
“Uh, I don’t think that’s a good idea Nate…”
The last time they’d seen each other it had been a total mess.
“Please Claire, just give me a chance.”
“I can’t…”
“Why, because of what happened?”
“Yes because of what happened, and everything else that happened between us. What happened was wrong Nate, it shouldn’t have happened. I’m not that girl, I don’t cheat.”
The problem was, she was that girl. She had cheated. Twice. The worst part was when she told Dave. She had watched his face turn to pain with heartbreak. Claire had spared him the details of who she kissed, claiming it was just some random man. And for some crazy, unknown reason Dave had forgiven her. She knew in that moment that she would do everything in her power to never be put in a situation like that again, to never let herself go so far as to kiss another guy who wasn’t her boyfriend. Dave had forgiven her and she owed him the respect and trust he deserved.
“What happened was wrong, I know that. All I’m asking is a chance to let me explain myself.”
Claire considered what Nate was asking. She didn’t want to jeopardize her and Dave’s relationship, but in all honesty she missed Nate. She missed his cheeky comments, his friendly smile, his sarcasm….She missed talking about their travel dreams. Dave wasn’t that interested in traveling or the kind of adventure Claire craved. That was something she shared with Nate.
“Okay,” she agreed. “But don’t make me regret this, Nate.”
“I won’t, I promise.” Nate said cheerfully. “I’ll text you the name of a café I like and we can meet there in half an hour if that’s okay?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Okay, great, I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay, bye.”
“Oh, and Claire?” Nate said quickly.
“Yeah?”
The realization that she had just agreed to see Nate in half an hour kicked in. Claire didn’t know what to think, what emotions to feel. Anxious? Nervous? Angry?
Nate had managed to push all her buttons and make her question her life. She’d never met anyone like him before. He infuriated her, yet excited her. She found a level of comfort with him that she’d yet to find with anyone else, including Dave. Dave. Was this fair to Dave? Seeing him again after everything? Was she going against everything she’d promised by seeing Nate again? She didn’t know the answer, but she was hoping in meeting Nate, she might find it.
***
Claire turned the corner of the street and the tiny little café came into view. Her heart started to race as she spotted Nate sitting at one of the outside tables by himself. She could easily turn around now and make a run for it, forget he ever called. Life might be easier for her if she did. But when did Claire ever like it easy?
The closer Claire got to Nate the more she remembered just how good-looking he was. She found it amusing to see two nearby girls, probably in their early twenties like her, staring at him and giggling between themselves.
It wasn’t hard to understand their infatuation with Nate. It wasn’t like he was not easy on the eyes, because let’s face it, he was very easy on the eyes. His gorgeous looks weren’t the only thing about him that lured you in. It was the way he carried himself- so powerful and commanding. He was strong and confident. A man who led, not followed. He was everything a girl wanted in a man…but he was not for Claire, and never would be.
Nate’s dark brown eyes met Claire’s as she approached his table and took a seat.
“You came,” he said.
“I did.”
She tried to avoid his eyes, pretending to look at the menu. She had come here with one intention - of hearing him out - and she was afraid that if she looked into those seductive eyes of Nate’s, she would forget what that intention was. The waitress approached them and placed two plates in front of her and Nate.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I ordered for you.”