Chapter 10

Sabrina feels Nathan's hand tighten on her.
He lets out a low growl. "Why do have to question everything?"
She squeaks when he flips her and pins hands down. "You're my wife, isn't that reason enough?" He didn't give her a chance to respond. He pulls her arms around his neck and kisses her harshly.


She automatically, like she was in trance, lets him take advantage of her mouth. He feels her response and tightens on her even more. At first, he was a little rough, sucking and applying ample pressure, but then he slows down and starts caressing his lips with hers. He pulls her hair out of its ponytail and tugs it back. He then rises and looks into her dazed eyes. "I want you, Sabrina." He dips low and nuzzles her neck. "Bad." He adds in a whisper.

The spell she was under, was suddenly broken. She pushes. "Nathan, I can't."

He lifts his head. "Are you afraid? I promise... I'll be gentle." He caresses her cheek.

She pushes off his arm and rolls off the bed. "I'm not some random girl you're never going to see again." She pauses catching her breath and puts her restless hands on her hips. "You can't ignore me for more than a year and then expect me."

He cuts her off. "No, you're not." He agrees.

Just then a knock came from the door and interrupts.

"Go away! He shouts."

Sabrina's heart starts to hurts when she hears Emmie's cry.
She looks from the door to Nathan. Saying to him have pity on the little girl with her eyes.

He swears under his breath and moves to open it.
Dylan, Alyssa, and Emmie were about to leave.
They were all dressed in nightwear and had sad little faces. When Emmie notices the door, she smiles and excitedly runs into Sabrina's arms.

Nathan cocks a brow.

"They've been sleeping with me every night you’ve been gone." She explains.

He lets out a sound of frustration and closes the door. He then moves into the closet and comes back out while putting on a t-shirt. "I'm going to finish up some things in the office." He slams the door on his way out.

She lets out a breath she was holding in. She felt less stifled when his huge presence wasn't around. Her brain was always fuzzy around him. She was happy to be interrupted. She didn't know how much longer she could resist him. She had to face facts here, he suddenly wanted her because she became a woman in his bed. It was like a moth to a flame.

"Auntie Sabrina, do you have a bottle of water for me for me in case I wake up thirsty again?" She was brought out of her thoughts by Dylan. He was waking up every night thirsty.


"Yes, hun, I got a bottle on the nightstand for you."
She tucks them into bed putting Alyssa on one end and herself on the other end. She knew she was forcing Nathan to sleep near her, but she didn't want to inconvenience him anymore.
Emmie kicking might irritate him even more than he already was.

She lets herself relax. She closed her eyes and then what did she see? Lola sitting on Nathan's lap satisfying what she clearly wouldn't. He takes her, throws her on his desk, rips off her clothes, and passionately kisses her. Her eyes burst open. She literally became sick to her stomach. She gets up and runs into the bathroom vomiting her dinner.

With heavy breaths and an empty stomach, she sits on the floor pondering. He wants sex. You won't give it to him. What do you expect a man to do Sabrina?
She was making herself sicker at the jealousy she was feeling. She didn't know where this was all coming from or what was going to happen, but she couldn't risk falling in love with him. He would destroy her when he gets bored.

She rinses her mouth and goes back to bed. After Clarissa told her about her parent's loveless marriage. She was more determined than ever to stay out of Nathan's way. He deserves better than to just have to accept his unwanted wife.

~~~

Two hours later she still couldn't sleep. She twists and turns, and tries not to think about Nathan with another woman.
He's not yours, don't start thinking like he is, and it won't hurt.
The door creaks open and a light appears. Nathan's large frame forms a shadow on the wall. She freezes not wanting him to know she was still awake. She hears the sounds of him taking off his shirt. Then she feels his weight on the bed. He lays next to her, shifting a couple of times before settling in a comfortable spot.

She listens to his breathing and wondered if he was with Lola or if he really was working in his office. He turns again, and the light breeze from his arms moving hits her nose. It smelled like soap. He couldn't possibly be having sex and coming back smelling like the body wash in their bathroom. With that thought, she sleeps.

~~~


The next morning she heard the bell ring as she pushed the shelter doors open. It still reeked of paint but, looked amazing compared to when she first walked in.
She walks to the back where Tony was sitting at her desk with a cordless phone in one and the other, a pencil. When she hears Sabrina enter, she looks up. Her nostrils were flaring, and she was about to snap the pencil.

Uh oh, bad news.

Tony mostly listens then says "I understand." to the person on the phone. She hangs up and lets out a sound of exhaustion.

"What's up?"

"The bank is taking away the shelter." She leans back in her chair.


"What? How could they do that?" She picks up a barking dog to quiet him down and stokes him silent.

"This is a nonprofit organization, and with no donations. I didn't have the money to pay the taxes on this place." She puts her palms on her forehead. "We've been here for over twenty years. It used to be me, my dad, and my sister. My mother passed early in life. My dad was a vet to the local hospital. Then he passed away too. Once that happened Donations from all the rich around here completely stopped. My sister married and moved a plane ride away. I, on the other hand, made this my life."


She puts the dog down and grabs a large bag of dog food. She starts putting them in bowls. "That's why you're applying for a loan?"

Tony nods her head. "I was trying to take out a second mortgage on this place. I took out the first one to pay off the back taxes and used the rest of it back toward the loan. I started applying for a second loan when I was almost out of money. The bank won't give me a second no matter what my credit score is. I ended up becoming extremely late. I have taken a night job cleaning the private school and have been paying it." She lets out another exhausted breath. "All this time, they have been excepting my late payments. Now they're saying. If I don't pay the entire amount in thirty days. They are selling it the highest bidder. As a matter of fact, I think they might already have an offer."


Sabrina had just set cat food down and was about to open a cage when she froze. Nathan, But why? What did he gain? She knew it couldn't be his father. He long ago stopped working and spends his entire day in his study.

Tony stands up and sticks her hands in her pocket. "I don't have that kind of money."

No, but Sabrina knew who did. "I'm sorry Tony."

Tony waves her hand dismissively. "It was going to happen sooner or later. I just need to figure out what I'm going to do with these animals." She was looking around at all of our hard work gone to waste.

She was heartbroken. Why does Nathan have to push for this place? What does he want to do with it?

The rest of the day passed slowly.
The two worked in quiet. No one spoke because neither of them knew what to say. Then as Sabrina was about to leave.

"Sabrina," Tony calls her. " Is it your husband?"

She swallows and shakes her head. "I don't know."

"I hate to ask you this but, if it's Alden Enterprises. Can you get him to withdraw his offer?" She turned off the lights and walked to where she was standing in front of the door. "You care about the animals too don't you?" She looks to her for hope.

"Yes, of course, I care." She felt a little pressured and guilty. She should, as Nathan's wife at least try. Where would all the animals go? Not only that. She wanted to help Tony keep this place going. "I'll try."
~~~

Sitting in the back of the limo she pulled out her phone and texted Nathan.
"Are you going to be home tonight?" Sent.

After a minute *ding!* "What kind of question is that? I live there don't I?"

She was thinking about what to say when her phone dings again.

"Why?"

She bites her lips and hits reply. "I would like to ask you something." Sent.

Ding! After a second. "I'm going to be late tonight. Would you like me to call you when I get a moment?"

The car pulls up in front of the house. She waits until she reaches her room to hit reply. "No, I'll wait." Sent.

She puts down the phone and heads straight to the shower to wash off the smell of dogs and cats off herself. When she comes out, she picks the phone off the sink. There's a text message from Nathan. "Is something wrong?"

She hits reply. "No." Sent.

She dressed in a big t-shirt and tights and was blow-drying her wet hair.

She turns off the blow dryer. Ding! Text from Nathan. "What's this about?"

He was really curious… Did he not have any patience?
She had no idea what or how she was going to tell him but it sure wasn't in a text.
She hits reply. "I'd rather wait till you get home to talk about it." Sent.

The moment she turns on the blow dryer.

She turns it off and picks the phone back up.

Nathan's cell- "You're making it hard for me to focus on my work."

She hits reply. "Sorry, I told you there's nothing wrong."
She waits before she starts the blow dryer this time.

Ding! "I'll be home in two hours."


Within two hours Sabrina eats dinner and was followed by Dylan and Alyssa to bed. She listens to them talk about their adventures of the day. They went house hunting with their parents. They yapped about which one they liked and didn't, and fought over which bedrooms they would take. Emmie fell asleep in the car and was taken to her room. Sabrina put a kids' movie on to wined them down and ended watching it herself. All three of them fell asleep cuddled up close.