Chapter 10

UNEDITED

Low and a bit lazy we're Nikolai's eyes. He turns himself from the door after locking it and brings all his attention to the woman in front of him.
"Baylee." He whispers as he slowly stalks her way. He had a look that was like hunger. Like he was the hunter, and she the prey.

Trapped like a deer caught in headlight was she, wide-eyed and completely frozen. She wasn't prepared for the skilful art that was Niko. Her resistance was low at this point. She was so confused about this situation and didn't want him to confuse her more with his touch.

Subtlety, she gasps when her back hits the wall. She hadn't even realized that she was moving. "Wha..." she mumbles.

He comes near and traps her with his large body. "Leaving without my promised conversation?" His hands reach out and cover the tops of her shoulders. They slowly glide their way up along her neck and cup her head. He lets out a breath. "Don't."

She could see in his eyes that the alcohol was affecting him. Her palms settle on his chest. "You need some coffee."

"I need some of you." He leans down and grazes his cheek against hers, then drops a soft kiss between her shoulder and neck. "Hmm..." He hums "You always smell so damn good."

All the pours on her body lifted. Her eyes roll back into her head. Her arms loosened and curled themselves around his neck. "Niko." She whimpers.

"Why don't you want me, baby?" He lays another kiss.

God those words pained her. So much hurt, need, and curiosity in one statement.

"It's not that I don't want you." She admits.

"Then why?" He lifts his head to penetrate her eyes. "You know how crazy I am about you. You know that I would do anything for you." His hands were slowly traveling, caressing her hair, and stroking her neck with the backs of his fingers.

"I'm afraid." She breathes heavily.

He inhales her scent deeply. "Of being cherished?" He kisses her cheek.

She couldn't hold back anymore. She pulls him into a kiss. A kiss that was sensual meaningful and passionate but was also a distraction. One that he was going to accept for a while.

He moans as she explores his mouth snaking one of his arms around her waist and pulling her closer. She took the lead, gently licking and teasing his soft lips. When he decided to take the lead, his fingers folded into her hair and forced her head back. He trails kisses down her neck and grazes his teeth on her column. "Come home with me tonight." He requests.

"I..." Her eyes opened. She felt like he was killing her buzz. "Can't."

"Why?" He pulls back to look into her eyes.

"Niko." Her high was gone. She tries to get away from him.

His hands suddenly fly to her face, cupping her cheeks and forcing her to look into his eyes. "Why?" He asks again. "Why at the first problem in our marriage did you flea?"

She pauses for a long moment. "You know why?"

"No, I don't." He drops his hands. "I know that I would face every problem with you head-on."

"That's why people's marriages suck Niko. When they have issues they keep working at it over and over, living in the cycle. Instead of ending a marriage that doesn't work and moving on."

"People stay together because they love each other."

"Tell that to my mom and dad."

"Do you compare the whole world to your mom and dad? Your brother and his wife? What about them, you think they are doomed?"

"No." She shakes her head. "Look at Jacob, he fell out of love with Clarissa."

"Just stop! Stop comparing other marriages and relationships to ours."

Was he yelling? He never yelled.

"I wanna spend my life with you." His hand comes back up to cup her cheeks. "I wanna give you the world. I..." He stops when someone knocks on the door.

She maneuvers her way out of his grasp and opened the door. It was a guest looking for their bag. "Excuse me." Baylee gets the hell out of there
~~~

Clarissa and Jacob, on a Tuesday afternoon, had to meet up at a local park. It was for Emmie's first day of little league soccer practice. She was running around the field not knowing what she was doing. All the kids were. It was too cute.

Jacob, with his arms folded, was standing a mere two feet from her. He didn't acknowledge her, he just kept a mean scowl on his face. Something must have happened to put him in a bad mood she suspected. She said hello and awkwardly continued to watch Emmie.
Her little girl picked the ball up with her hands and threw it. "You can't do that Hunny!"

"Kick it, Emmie!" Jacob makes a C by his mouth and yells. Emmie didn't seem like she was hearing.
He suddenly digs into his pockets and pulls out his phone wallet and keys. "Hold this." He drops it all in Clair's unexpected open hands. He ran across the field to where his little girl was. There, he began to show her how to kick and which way to go.

A loud laugh escapes Clarissa's vocal cords when Emmie does exactly as he asks. She kicks the ball super hard but ends up kicking it towards the sky. She didn't know how long it had been since she laughed that way. Then... Jacob's phone vibrated in her hand. Without thinking she looks down at it. A drop of rain fell right on the name Regina "Coming over later?" The text said.

A completely neutral expression plastered on her face but, her heart sank. Clearly, he was with Regina, clearly, he had moved on, and clearly, she was an idiot. At this point, she felt numb. How much more could she be hurt?

"Mom!" Emmie yells while running to her. "Dad is mad."

Jacob was close behind shaking his head. He reaches out and takes his things back from Clarissa.

She stoops in front of her little girl and wipes dirt off of her cheeks. "I think it's time to go. Say bye to Daddy."

"Bye Daddy." Emmie waves as they begin to walk to the parking lot.

Jacob didn't notice any change in Clarissa, what he did notice, was the text that came in. "Shit." He mutters. Could she have seen it? What is he a dummy, of course, she saw. He follows his daughter and ex-wife to the car. Clarissa buckled Emmie in and when she shut the door her forearm was grabbed by Jacob. You can't be upset. We're not together, and you have a."

"I'm not upset." She didn't pretend that she didn't read that text. She pulls her hand free from his.

His jaw clenches. He was taken aback by her sudden emotionless manner. Like she didn't care. With her new boyfriend, why would she? He grabs her forearm again and spins her back from turning away.

Her brows join in confusion. She tried to pull her hand free but his grip was tight.

His focus shifts from her to the car and his daughter and then back to her. Suspiciously, he glares at her before asking "Where are you going in such a hurry?"

"What's it to you?"

"Feisty." He drawls. He didn't know she had a feisty side. "I like it."

"Let go."

"Not before you tell me where you're taking my daughter in the middle of her soccer practice."

"Home Jacob. Where else?"

"Don't take her home because you're upset with me."

"I'm not upset with you."

"Then why are you suddenly rushing off?"

"Because it's going to rain."

As if on cue, drips of water drop all around like an uneven tapping. His grip on her involuntary grows tighter. "So..."

"We're getting wet." She cuts him off. The rain was rushing down on them now. He pulled her arms trying to escape but he didn't release. He angrily stared down at her.

"So you don't care."

"What? About what?" She tilts her head down and inspects her wet jean shorts and a white soft shirt to see through the wetter it became. Her black bra and flat tummy were on display.

Using his index finger, he lifts her head back up.

"Regina texting me doesn't bother you?"

"No." She lies.

"Just some time ago, you were in my office wanting to give our marriage another chance and it doesn't bother you that I'm texting another woman?"

"It's none of my business."

"The same woman I told you I didn't cheat on you with. You're not even a little curious? Did you ever really want me?"

"Jacob." She scolds. "Stop this." Her lips start to tremble.

"Why?" He clenches his jaw. Here he was going crazy with thoughts of her and she was moving on. "Let me see your passion, Clair." He drawls. "Get angry. Yell at me. Demand answers."


"I'm cu.. cold."

His eyes close, and his fingers loosen. He didn't know what he expected from her.


~~~~~~~~~~~

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