Chapter 7

My alarm went off and I reached onto my bedside table, searching for my phone. When I didn't find it, I groaned as I rolled over to search my blankets for it. My hand hit a body and I screamed as I scrambled backwards. A figure sat straight up.

"What? What?"

I sat up to stare at him. "Raul?"

He let out a breath. "Tasha, are you-"

He was cut off by my phone ringing. He quickly found it and held it out for me. I cursed when my mother's name scrolled across my screen. I answered it.

"Mom? Are you okay?"

"Yes, why don't you and your little friend come join me for breakfast?"

I glanced at Raul. "What friend?"

"The one in your bed."

"Mama, it's not like that. We-"

"Come to breakfast."

She hung up and I stared at my phone. What in the hell just happened? I got up and ran to the bathroom. I quickly showered and got dressed. I came back out into my room and froze when I saw Raul.

"You're still here?"

He nodded. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"I thought men left after a one night stand."

He got up to slowly approach me. He tilted my face up and pressed his lips against mine.

"You are not a one night stand." He took my hand and gestured to the door. "Shall we?"

I led him down to the dining room where my mother sat in front of pancakes and bacon. She pointed to the chairs.

"Sit."

Raul pulled my chair out and I flushed, before taking another one. He sat next to me.

"Mom, I can explain-"

She held her hand up and I stopped talking.

"I'm very sure about what this is. You're 18 and you're exploring things and trying to figure out what you like, but let me tell you that jumping from man to man is not a good thing."

I looked at the table. "I'm not jumping-"

Her hand came down on the table hard. "Save it, Natasha Rae. I saw the mayor and you in the hallway yesterday. Now you have this one in your bed. Have you even thought about pregnancy? Have you thought about S.T.D.s? Have you thought about anything?"

"Mama, I… no, ma'am."

"What happens if you get pregnant? We can't afford a child," she snapped.

"With all due respect, ma'am, if she got pregnant we would help-"

She cut her eyes at me. "We? Are you letting yourself be shared? Just how many men are you fucking?" I sat silently, wishing she would hurry up and finish berating me. "Do you even want kids?" She turned her glare on Raul. "Do you? Or any of the other men? I know I didn't want kids, not even at 22. I wasn't ready-"

I jumped to my feet with tears in my eyes. "What are you saying? I wasn't wanted?"

"Natasha, that's not what I meant."

My hands fisted at my side. "No, maybe not, but it's exactly what you said." I turned my back on her. "All I know is that if I had a child, they would be wanted even if I wasn't ready."

I walked out of the room, pausing when I heard her address Raul.

"Don't let her make the same mistakes I did. She needs to be better off, before she even considers a child. If you care about her at all-"

"Let me make something very clear to you. We all care very much for her. We will honor any choice she makes. She's not you. Don't put your regrets off on her."

He came out of the room and as soon as he saw me, he opened his arms. I hurried into them and he held me tight. He rubbed my back while I cried into his shirt.

"Shh, sweetheart, it's okay. Just breathe. We got you."

My mother came into the hallway. "Natasha-"

I pulled away from Raul to leave the house in a hurry. I kept moving until I was standing in front of the town hall. I hesitated outside. I glanced up at the window that I knew was in Timothy's office. I sighed and turned around. Tony stood there with Jamie and they both had their arms crossed over their chests. Anger poured off of them in droves and I gulped.

"Morning-"

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, why…," I stopped talking. "Raul told you, didn't he?"

Tony nodded. "Don't listen to her, Tasha. You are not a mistake and you are very wanted."

Jamie walked past me to open the door. "Are you coming?" I hesitated again. "Please, love, come with me. Let's go work. It'll get your mind off things."

I entered the building and he put his hand on my back to guide me up to the second floor. He left me standing in a large lobby. There was nobody there to tell me what to do or where to go.

"Natasha, will you come in here please?"

I shook my head, even though I knew he couldn't see me. Suddenly, his door opened and Timothy stood there.

"I would like to talk to you. Please, come here," he repeated softer.

I eased past him and went to his desk. I bent over it and he slammed his door. I jumped and looked up at him. He locked his door, before coming back over to sit in his chair. He put his hands on my hips and pulled me onto his lap. He tucked my face into his neck and wrapped his arm around my waist. He put his chin on the top of my head.

"Listen to me, Tasha, you are amazing and there isn't a better woman out there for me. For any of us really. There's a reason none of us have taken wives. You're the smartest, most capable woman this town has to offer. Your mother may not have been ready for you, but that's her problem, not yours. She had choices. She chose to have you and to keep you. She should not have said what she said to you."

I closed my eyes as he spoke and fidgeted with his tie.

"You don't have to be nice to me," I muttered.

He laughed. "I have watched you for a year take my mother's abuse. Anybody that can put up with that woman is a superhero and more than deserves to be loved."

My hand stilled. "What?"

He sighed. "I love you, Tasha. We did not just decide you would be cool to fuck. We all care about you and now you are giving us the chance to show you."

"This is just about fucking," I whimpered.

"Yeah, keep thinking that."

I climbed off his lap, blinking back tears. "You can't say that to me."

He leaned back in his chair. "Well, I did. What-"

Someone knocked on his door. "Mr. Waterman, the new girl is late. Would you like me to find another?"

He got up to stomp over to the door. He turned the lock and jerked the door open.

"Natasha is in here. I was giving her a run down of my schedule for the day." He looked back at me. "Natasha, this is Mickey. She's going to teach you everything you need to know. You may go."

I hurried past him to the very pregnant woman standing on the other side of the door. She narrowed her eyes on me. She went back to her desk and pointed to an extra chair,

"Sit, we have a ton of stuff to go over. Mr. Waterman eats right at 11 AM and he wants me to leave at that time, so he can see what you pick up in these few hours."

I nervously looked at the clock. 9:05 AM. That left two hours to learn everything I needed to know. Well, fuck. The next two hours were spent electronically filing paperwork, answering calls and getting Timothy whatever he asked for. When Jamie walked in with a covered plate, Mickey got up. She narrowed her eyes on me.

"That's my cue to leave. Don't let the office fall apart. I will see you in the morning."

Jamie handed me the plate and watched Mickey walk out.

"She doesn't seem like she cares for you very much."

He picked up a pen and ran the back of it down my chest, stopping where my shirt was buttoned. I swallowed nervously. He leaned down until his lips were just a breath away from mine.

"Better go feed the beast, before he eats you," he murmured, his lips touching mine with every word.

I closed the distance between us and pressed my lips fully against his. He cupped my face as he kissed me back. He chuckled and pulled away.

"Go on, now. I'll see you later, beautiful."

I got up as he left. I knocked quietly on Timothy's door.

"Enter!"

I pushed the door open and stepped inside. He looked up at me and broke into a huge smile.

"Tasha!"

The way he said my name made my heart beat faster. I took a step back out to scan the lobby. After making sure nobody was there, I shut his door and locked it. I sauntered over to his desk and placed the plate in front of him. I lifted the lid off. He caught my wrist and tugged me down onto his lap.

"How was your morning?"

"Rough. She doesn't like me very much."

He chuckled. "She doesn't like that you are so much more beautiful than she is. Have you eaten? Raul said you missed breakfast."

"No, I haven't eaten."

"Well, eat. There is enough here for two."

I pushed the tray away. "I'm in charge right?"

"Until tonight, yes."

I got up and grabbed his tie. I used it to pull him up. I kissed him, before bending over the desk. His hand came down on my ass rapidly three times. I jumped and looked back at him. He smirked.

"The rest of your birthday spankings, since I forgot the other night."

I pushed back against him and yanked on his tie hard. He was forced forward, his hands landing on the desk beside me. I pushed back against him and slowly rotated my ass against his crotch.

"I'm in charge and I think I want you to be inside of me," I panted. "Now. Right now."

He put his lips against my ear as he lightly pushed against me.

"Your wish is my command, darling."