Chapter 5
They drove for what felt like hours.
The scenery flashed by her so quickly; it all became one sheet of blackness punctuated occasionally by oncoming car lights. Turner stold frequent glances at her, but Watson chose to ignore them, not yet ready to acknowledge what was happening.
The last couple of days had been complete and utter Hell as each detail she discovered about Priscilla's life seemed to echo a part of her painful past, even when there appeared to be no obvious connection. She had immersed herself in the case, fighting tooth and nail to catch the killer, only to find that there really was no logical explanation to her murder. If Priscilla hadn't walked into that coffee shop and reconnected with Reeve, she would still be alive. Something about that just didn't sit well with Natalie.
Natalie Watson believed in justice, in karma, in everything happening for a reason, and usually she could draw from her pool of moral resource and ethical wisdom to extract some understanding and meaning from each case she closed. However, just like she could never find a reason for why her mom was so brutally torn away from her family, Natalie couldn't fathom any explanation for what happened to Priscilla.
Thinking about the case brought her back to the present, and she glanced over at Turner, realizing he was a prime example of bad things happening to good people.
He'd lost his way years ago and still blamed his family's death on his arrogance and ego; and yes, perhaps his showmanship and thirst for praise had something to do with Red River Killer's motivation, but ultimately it wasn't Turner who killed two innocent people, it was Red River Killer.
Her heart suddenly constricted for an entirely different reason, and before she could stop herself, her hand covered the one resting over the clutch. Turner didn’t look at her for the reset of the drive, but he kept his hand wrapped around hers. Periodically he gave it a gentle squeeze, letting her know in his own way that he was right beside her and wasn’t going anywhere.
She almost dozed off when the car pulled up into a clearing and the first thing she saw were stars...millions and millions of stars against the dark blue backdrop of the sky. She literally sucked in her breath.
"It's beautiful," Watson murmured, staring out the window as Turner cut the engine, "how did you find this place, where are we?"
Her inquires made Turner smile and he tenderly brushed his thumb over her knuckle, "I used to come here sometimes..." His voice trailed off as he watched her, "it's just a few miles out of the city, but it felt like all of Portland was in the palm of your hand, didn’t it." Watson looked at him then, seeing the nostalgic smile on his face and the faraway look in his eye. She just nodded, not really knowing what else to say.
Her heart ached for him as she envisioned Turner spending hours in this very spot, blaming himself for everything that had gone wrong. It made her problems seem very small and she suddenly felt uncomfortable even talking anymore. Her shoulders stiffened and she almost wanted to pull her hand away...
"I know what you're thinking, Watson and trust me." He stopped, his eyes searching hers out, "whatever is bothering you, it's just as important. You haven't rolled your eyes at me once today."
And he was back to his old playful self again.
The armor was put strategically in place and was strangely comforting. Watson could handle the aggressive, sarcastic, and sometimes irritating Turner, but not the vulnerable, difficult to reach Turner, who seemed to be coming out more often lately.
"I've just been too distracted with this case, but I promise I'll make an extra effort to be annoyed by you come Monday." She quipped back, hoping her response would quell his uncertainty about her well-being.
It didn’t, but Turner was not the type to push when it came to her and they lapsed into a pleasant silence. They still held hands; the warmth was too comforting to lose.
Natalie closed her eyes, trying to block out everything she was feeling, clear her mind, and let herself indulge in the company of the man beside her. Her thoughts didn't give her respite. Images from her past swirled in her head, flashbacks of her brothers crying, her father yelling, her mother's funeral, all jumbled together, until she could't take it anymore.
Suddenly, she felt desperate for oxygen and pushed the car door open, letting the cool summer air fill her lungs as she leaned against the SUV, trying to keep the tears at bay. Turner was beside her in a second, this time notions of personal space and professional decorum were the last things on his mind as he rested both hands on either side of her face and searched for a semblance of lucidity in her eyes.
His breath tickled her cheek and Watson managed to calm down long enough to be overwhelmed by the amount of concern and panic in his eyes. He looked positively startled and she had to smile at the lack of composure the usually suave man displayed. It was then that she realized the depth of his feelings for her, lurking behind the evident worry in his eyes.
It was just as much a moment of vulnerability for Turner as it is for her, but instead of it overwhelming and suffocating her, it gave her a sense of clarity, a moment of understanding and peace so deep, Watson did the only thing that seemed logical.
The first touch of her lips sent his mind into a tailspin. Sensations he hadn't experienced a long time sent spindles of pleasure through his entire body, even though his mind could't fathom what was happening.
She pulled back abruptly, ready to apologize, but when she saw his cobalt eyes glaze over with desire, she knew she just did something they could't take back. There was a brief moment of hesitation, but when the shock faded, Turner drew her closer. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into an incredible slow, mind-numbing kiss. He slipped his hands inside her jacket, caressing her sides, devouring her mouth like a man dying of thirst.
The fluidity and ease of their movements didn’t surprise him. He had always known somehow, someway, that she would be the perfect fit for him, body and soul. The perfect fit for the way he is now. She was the only one who could challenge him and care about him the way that he needs.
Watson melted into his embrace, reveling in the strength and enormity of his body pinning her to the car. She felt safe, cared for, and incredibly turned on. In just a few short moments, Natalie learned that Eric Turner kissed with his entire body.
He didn’t use just his lips or his tongue or his hands, but all of it, all together to pull her under his spell. She sighed into the kiss, oscillating between her need for oxygen and her need for him. When he buried his hand wrist deep in her hair and playfully nipped at her bottom lip, Watson wasn't sure she cared much for breathing anymore.
Her scent intoxicated him. His senses were aware of her softness, her warmth, and the incredible way she fit right into his arms. It seemed like forever and he didn’t want it to stop. He wanted to lose himself in this woman, having finally given in and being no longer afraid, he wanted more. His desire for her became so overpowering, he had to pull back, otherwise he won't be able to stop.
He told her before that he would never seduce her over a meal and this scenario went along with that. When it happened, it will be perfect, because Natalie Watson deserved nothing less.
Reluctantly, Watson broke the kiss, but found that Turner didn’t go very far. Instead of pulling away, he leaned in further, his hand was still around her waist while the other rested besides her head. He placed soft kisses on her neck and his breath sent goosebumps down her body, awakening nerve endings that had been dormant for far too long. She was not sure what to expect now.
She made the move and she didn’t regret it, but she was terrified, because there was still so much more beyond them to consider. Not just their jobs, but everything else. She was acutely aware of how his wedding ring caught the moonlight, sparkling in her line of vision.
There was a weight in her chest now, but she held on to the man in her arms desperately, trying not to think of the worst possible outcome. After all, he still hadn't looked at her or said anything. She wondered if he could be drowning in guilt and hating himself. Watson would never forgive herself for that.
However, when she tried to speak, Turner looked up and before she could muster a syllable, he placed his finger on her lips and smilesd at her, "Just don't say anything," He whispered, kissing the corner of her mouth and smiling against her cheek, "words will ruin it."
She listened, settling in his arms and understanding from the steady rhythm of his heart and the way he lovingly stroked her hair, that Turner didn’t regret anything. All of the sudden, Natalie realized something that had been apparent all along.
Turner was no longer an opponent in this game they kept playing. It was damn good to have him on her side...