Strung

“I don’t want you to. I just want you by my side as inspiration when I save myself.” Because I knew better than she did… it didn’t work that way. People didn’t save other people. You could only depend on yourself. Look at Alec. He was still trying to save me and what did that get him? A game of Go Fish and blue balls.

“Please, Nat.” I wasn’t against begging.

I reached out and cupped her chin, gently pulling her head closer to mine. Her eyes flickered with interest. Something was holding her back and I wasn’t about to let that something keep me from her.

I tried again, “Help me be better. I need you in my life, Nat. You’re like my sunshine, my air. I can’t explain it, I just know I’m lost without you.” My lips grazed her cheek then lingered.

“Don’t make me regret this, Demetri.”

My entire body felt free. “Really?” My smile felt so real.

She nodded.

“Do you want breakfast?” I pushed away from the bed and held out my hand.

She took it and mumbled, “I’m starving.”

Chuckling, I lifted her into my arms. “I bet you are. Though a little bird told me you ate quite a bit of Swedish Fish last night.”

“I’m going to kill Alec!” she yelled. Aw, how cute, she thought she stood a chance against that much muscle. Good luck.

I threw my head back and laughed. “I should have warned you how he plays Go Fish.” Or any game for that matter.

“He’s an animal!” she yelled as I carried her down the stairs. I wasn’t ready to let her go yet, and I wanted Alec to see that I’d taken the higher road.

“Heard that!” Alec fired back from the kitchen.

I laughed and set Nat down on her feet and went to the fridge to pull out the contents for a kick ass omelet. I could do this. I could do normal.

“Morning, sleepy head. Did you know you snore?” Alec said, not looking a way from the skillet.

“I do not!” Nat defended.

“Do to,” Alec and I said in unison.

“You were drunk!” Nat punched my arm.

Laughing, I answered, “Drunk, sweetheart, not deaf.”

She glared.

“She’s crazy when she’s hungry,” I said under my breath as I quickly grabbed a plate and piled some fruit on it as a peace offering to the grumpy bear.

Alec finished making the eggs and handed me the plate. I’m going to go for a run, I’ll see you guys later, kay?”

I carried the plate to the table.

“Is he okay?” Nat nudged me just as I’d taken a huge bite of food.

“Who? Alec? Of course, he’s fine. Why wouldn’t he be okay?” Why did she care about Alec?

“I don’t know.” She nibbled her lower lip. “Did you guys talk this morning?” She shifted in her seat and stared at the food like it was going to start speaking to her.

“Yeah.” I said, slowly dropping my fork and looking at her. “He told me I was an ass, and that I was going to lose the best girl in the world if I didn’t get up to the room and grovel. Naturally, I knew all that before he mentioned it, but still.”

She seemed satisfied with that answer. We joked around through breakfast and put the dishes in the dishwasher.

“I should go.” Nat started heading towards the door.

“Stay.” I placed the wet dish on the counter and walked around to pull her into my arms. My mouth found hers, bestowing a gentle kiss across her lips, one that held a promise I couldn’t convey with words. That she could trust me, that I could be different, that with her I could be anything.

“I can’t.” She sighed and shook her head as I rained kisses down her neck.

“Why?” My lips moved against her skin.

“Because!” She pushed away a grin spreading across her face. “I have a ton of homework and some of us have to work for a living.”

“I work.”

She tilted her head to the side. “According to you, you’re taking a much needed break right now.”

Damn it. “True, but I still work.”

“Fine, you work, but that doesn’t change anything. I still have to go to my part-time job, and I have to fit in a run sometime today and do homework.” Her eyes flickered to the clock on the wall; she looked a bit stressed. So I gave in.

“Fine,” I grumbled. “Where do you work?”

“Seaside Taffy.”

Smirking, I asked, “Do you wear cute little outfits and give out free samples?”

She rolled her eyes. “This conversation is going downhill fast.”

Oh she had no idea how fast I could make the conversation go downhill. I was the king of turning the car. “Always.” I chuckled. “Sorry, no more sexual innuendos. Okay, go get ready for work, do your run, and we can hang out later.”

She nodded. “Aw, you’re learning so fast.”

“Do I get rewarded for good behavior?” Hey it never hurt to ask!

“And then he defaults.” She sang.

“Crap.” I crossed my arms and pouted and was surprised when Nat suddenly wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me.

She kissed me.

Holy shit.

I didn’t know what to do with my hands or legs or mouth. Everything turned to jelly. It was like a first kiss, and then I parted my lips and tasted.

So. Damn. Sweet.

I kept my hands at my sides even though it was the last thing I wanted to do and tried to keep my body in check.