5

Sucking in a breath and roughly pushing me away again, Nathan raked agitated fingers through the natural messy tangle of his hair, making it even messier. He gave a low growl, before hissing, “Because I'm bad news baby and because you have no idea what the fuck is good for you. No idea of the fucking things I've done…things I’m going to continue doing. No idea of the fucking things I've been through, or have fucking chosen to do. You have no fucking idea of who the hell I really am…and moreover, YOU DON’T FUCKING WANT TO!

“Who are you trying to make believe that bullshit Nathan…you or me? I’ve seen your good side and your dark side, so, I’d say I know you pretty damn well!” I hissed.

Nathan snorted, before sneering, “No, you don’t! And as for you seeing my dark side—hardly—you don't know a fucking thing about my dark side…the secrets I hold, and furthermore, you don’t want to, I can assure you of that! Believe me, baby, when I say, you have no clue who I am. Truth to tell, I’m pretty goddamn sure it would scare the shit plum out of you if you did. In fact, I got a fucking whopper of a secret that would make you see me as the monster I am! Let me lay it out on the line here—I'm not, nor have I ever been who, or what you think I am.”

A few seconds of silence passed, before, voice abnormally calm, he murmured, “Actually, it'd be best if you stayed the fuck away from me altogether!” Afterward, stepping back, he turned and stomped out of the barn.

A glutton for punishment, I followed Nathan out of the barn and stood watching, as jerking the door open to his pickup, he climbed in behind the steering wheel and fired the engine to life before throwing the pickup in reverse, he stomped on the gas. 

The pickup lurched in response to the harsh treatment before it shot backward on the drive before slamming on the brakes, Nathan jerked it around in a one-eighty, and buried his foot in the gas pedal.

What had just happened? I wondered. What…the…fuck, had just happened? Nathan was insisting that I didn't know who the hell he even was? 

Hell—I knew he had secrets! From day one, it had been obvious something powerful ate at him way down deep inside, and he'd always been a little mysterious, with a dark, dangerous, edgy personality.

~~

Shaking myself out of the memories, I gave an inward laugh at just how just little control Nathan had had when I’d set it in my head that he would indeed fuck me, no matter his words that it would never happen.

Needing something to work out the restlessness pumping through my system, I pulled on a pair of yoga pants and a tank top, then, grabbing my purse and car keys, I slammed my way back out the front door. My footfalls, as I made my way toward my pickup, showed the frustration running rampant within me.

Minutes later, pushing my way through the doors of the Bureau's gym, I drew to a stop at seeing the broad, sweaty shoulders and back of the man on the lateral pull-down machine. Even if the full sleeve on his left arm hadn't given him away, the silky, finger tempting, Espresso shot through with Caramel locks, would have.

From where he sat, Nathan watched my reflection through the mirrored wall as he let out a slow breath, his features unreadable.

With an inner shrug, I continued the rest of the way into the gym, staring back at him, before murmuring, “Look, can’t we manage to at least be friends?”

He sat silent, still watching me through the mirror. Finally, he ground out, “Dammit, don’t you get it?” he breathed, agitated.

Shaking my head, tears springing to my eyes, I whispered, “No, Nathan—actually, I don’t get it—I don't get any of what has happened to us!” Then, making  my way over to where Nathan continued to sit on the piece of equipment, stiff and motionless, I stretched out my hand, “Friends?”

After a few seconds Nathan heaved a sigh, then stretching out his arm, he grasped my hand murmuring, “Yeah. Sure.” Afterward, climbing off the machine, he stood staring at me for several seconds before turning; he stomped off towards the men's dressing room, grumbling to himself, “I am so fucked!”

~~

Later that evening, I stared at Minx, who had attended Texas A&M after graduating high school, as she informed me we were hanging out at the Lizard Lounge. Afterward taking my hand, she marched across the entryway and up the staircase, then into her bedroom. 

Making her way over to her closet, she pulled something out of its depths before tossing it in my direction, exclaiming, “Ho,’ clothes tonight bi-atch!”

The dress she'd tossed at me was a black, cross-back mini that would leave my back bare and my ass close to the same. Its design clearly made to reveal a hell of a lot more skin than it covered.

Holding it up for inspection, I inquired, “So, we whorin' tonight, Lovey?”

Minx’s laughter filled the room as she replied, “Damn right we are! I'm in need of me a nice, large, candy cane.” Then, eyeballing my yoga pants she teased, “Sweetness, I'm in some serious need of some cock hook-up, cause that damn ba-donka-donk of yours, is lookin’ way the fuck too fine, and I'm damn tempted to bite it!”

I choked, then, we both burst out laughing as Minx was pure, one hundred percent heterosexual.

Two hours later, we were strutting our stuff on the way out of Minx’s apartment on six-inch heels toward her car. Showered, shaved, and plucked, as well, wearing our makeup a little more dramatic than usual, we finished off our ensemble by straightening my hair with a flatiron and placing curls throughout Minx’s.

A short time later we were bumped up against the bar, and Minx was shouting over the music, “What's your poison tonight, slut?”

After the day I'd had, I shouted, “Tequila, with a beer chaser to begin with.”

Minx tossed a wink in my direction and then turned to the bartender, giving him our order. It was still early enough that the club wasn't too busy yet, and it didn't take the bartender long to return with our drinks. 

Picking my shot up off the counter, I licked the salt off my hand, downed the Jose Cuervo, then bit and sucked the lime that had accompanied it. Feeling the burn of the alcohol as it settled within my stomach, I gave a grimace exclaiming, “Another!”

Minx, holding her own drink, observed my actions, then raising an eyebrow, asked, “That bad today, huh?”

Setting the used lime aside, I picked up my new shot; giving a snort. “You have no idea.”