Raw Burn (Touched By You) (3 page)

He collapsed against her, holding her wrists
. Still partially standing, leaning against the bed between her thighs, he rested. He breathed heavily in harmony with Natalie, his heart rate slow to quiet. She was the sexiest woman he’d ever known, or ever would. The more he had, the more he wanted of her. The raw burn she ignited in him threatened to burst them into flames, and he saw no promise of easing the craving he felt, deep within his heart and soul.

Natalie’s ca
reer had taken off so fast she never had time to prepare for it. With the help of Tanner and Dani, relationships were formed and deals written. Even with Susan, her new assistant, the work load increased beyond comfortable levels. Some things required personal attention, despite Tanner’s plan that a lot could be handled by someone else. The truth was that she was overwhelmed with the sheer velocity of expansion, even with Susan’s assistance.

One afternoon, Natalie emailed her design school to let them know she was permanently resigning. The idea that she could find the time to get a degree at any time in the foreseeable future was ludicrous. The degree was never going to happen, and s
he had to face that fact. With the growth of her company as it was, the last of her concerns was education.

She talked with Tanner about all she had to contend with. He smiled, knowing what it took to run any business, even a small one. And hers was small, compared to Clarke Luxury Brands. She put her foot down about travel. She absolutely must see her operations in Paris and Lon
don, and Moscow not long after.

Tanner didn’t resist this time. He’d been restructuring his comp
any over many months to be sure he didn’t have to handle the majority of the daily concerns. As a result, his very sharp assistant, Aaron Bader, would do that job along with an expert team that Tanner had hand-picked. For that reason, he remained calm when Natalie unburdened about trying keep up with her company’s growth, and the need to travel.

His response was merely, “I’ll go with you.” And Natalie was glad. She didn’t want to go alone, and valued his support. But more than that, she couldn’
t take the pain of being apart.

She replied with, “I’m glad you are able to do that. I need you.” That was music to Tanner’s ears.

Travel plans were roughed out. There were no immediate trips to her boutiques required. But over the next few months, they’d fit in any that were. Tanner refused to allow her to panic, instead planning and structuring, just like he did for his own company.

Stress had just about reached a peak for Natalie when
she got the call from her doctor that she’d been anxiously waiting for. Biting her lip and holding her breath, she braced for the news, trying to convince herself that she could handle it either way. But knowing she couldn’t, not really.

“The results are negative. You are not pregnant, Natalie. At least now right now.” The doctor
’s words echoed inside her head. Immense relief washed over her, mixed with a melancholy that she didn’t expect. Now was not the time for a baby, but still she felt she’d lost something. Having a family was something she wanted someday. However, she had no idea how that fit in her life with Tanner.

The doctor
explained that her periods could be erratic from the stress she was under, the details of which she’d shared with him during her visit for the test. He understood that she needed to travel often, and had a company to run, but he advised that she take time for herself too.

“Balance is important,” he said as if it were the easiest thing in the world to achieve.
She agreed, but somehow that didn’t seem like a lifestyle that she was destined for.

Relief flooded her,
after hearing from the doctor that the test results were negative. She took several deep breaths and paced around the room after the call. Conflicting emotions haunted her, and she couldn’t let go of the feeling of motherhood that fast. She’d begun to imagine what it would be like, and placing her hand over her abdomen, she remembered the good feeling of thinking she might be pregnant. Now there was just emptiness.

Permanency was still beyond reach with Tanner, and
in her estimation, bringing a new life into the world required more stability than they had. Yet, naturally it thrilled her to think of having Tanner’s baby. Would the baby look like him, and have his beautiful blue eyes? Would it be a boy or a girl?

Agitated, N
atalie paced back and forth, a meager effort at letting out the pent-up emotions she’d held inside for too long. Tears followed the fleeting relief, and her chest constricted. In no condition to hold back, she sobbed freely, sad for the loss of the baby that never was and even more, for the one that may never be.

The
ir new home was nearly done. Natalie stopped by to survey the results. She was meeting Tanner to make a make a list of any final items that needed to be done, and expected him to arrive shortly.

The first thing that caught her eye
was the new piano. The Chiocciola designed by Paolo Fazioli was made from sycamore and maple in a stunning geometric design, exquisitely outlined with ornamentation of ebony wood and mother of pearl. She sat on the padded seat and struck a few of the ivory keys, just to hear the beautiful sound. She couldn’t wait to listen to Tanner play.

She walked through,
checking the renovations, and stepping out on the various terraces to admire the views. Just as she turned into the library, her phone rang. Expecting it to be Tanner saying he was on his way, she was surprised to hear Andre on the line.

“Natalie?”

“Yes.”

“We are on the way over. I don’t want to alarm you. Tanner is in the back
seat. He’s asleep right now.”

“Asleep
?”

“We were in a minor traffic accident
….cab driver didn’t notice traffic had stopped and plowed into the limo, damaged the rear bumper. Judging by the impact he must have been going over thirty miles an hour. It was a pretty good impact. The cab driver’s air bags deployed…said he wasn’t hurt…didn’t have any passengers.”

“An accident?
Is Tanner alright?”

“Yes, yes. He’s fine. He didn’t want to worry you, so wouldn’t allow anyone to call. He seems ok
ay. He claims he is fine, but he’s in the back seat, asleep now. I put up the privacy panel so I could call you without him knowing. He might be upset at me. But I didn’t want you to be caught off guard. He’s a bit rumpled, and has a headache.”

“Oh no, h
ow far away are you?”

“Just a couple of miles; we
should be there very shortly. We would have been early, but were delayed by this mishap. Insurance will cover the damage, and no police came to the scene since there were no injuries. Otherwise, we would have been much later.

When we arrive
, I’ll let you come out and wake him up.”

As soon as the limo pulled up
, Natalie ran out before Andre called for her. She’d been waiting outside, frantic with worry. Tanner woke up when Natalie placed her hand on his cheek. He looked groggy, but had no signs of serious injury. At least not that she could see. Andre followed him to the house to be sure he was okay then waited with the limo. Natalie noticed the damage to the rear bumper.

Fortunately, some of the new furniture they’d bought had already been delivered. She took him into the living room and he sat on the
new sofa, leaning his head back. Natalie got him some water, and sat down, anxious to hear the whole story.

“It was just a mi
nor accident. I’m really fine…just a bit of a headache. But now, seeing you, it’s nearly gone,” he smiled.

“Oh, don’t give me that. You need to see the doctor.”

“No, you’re making too much of this.”

“I can’t help it. I pan
icked when I saw you lying in the back seat. I’ve never thought of anything happening to you. But if it did...” Tears welled in her eyes.

Tanner sat up and wrapped his arm around her. “It’s okay, baby. I’m okay.”
He held her for several minutes, giving her time to see that everything was alright.

Natalie knew she was overreacting, but something might have really happened to him. Her realization that he was vulnerable, just like anyone
, rattled her. He was her life, and she couldn’t bear the thought of harm coming to him. She placed her palm on his cheek, and pressed her head against his chest.

The idea
that Natalie worried about him was reassuring. Not that he wanted to see her distressed, not at all. But it never occurred to him that she’d react as she had. Really, he’d never thought of it either way. Having confidence in his strength, and still young enough not to be concerned with physical weaknesses, it was a new experience to be cared about in that way.

Oddly, the situation provoked a new perspective, and Tanner was stunned at his own though
ts. The strength of their union and power of the love they’d found with each other, begged for something more permanent - sharing life’s good and bad, all of it. Conceiving of life without Natalie was impossible. He could no longer drift into another relationship, should his current one cease to satisfy.

The direction his mind was taking him was unc
omfortable, certainly more uncomfortable than any insignificant rear-end accident. The pain he was feeling had nothing to do with a physical impact. It was an emotional tidal wave, and he shifted in his seat causing Natalie to sit upright.

“What?” She said,
trying to read the look on his face.

Desperate to shift the focus, h
e pulled her over to the piano, and sat on the bench to play. “Here, let’s try out this new piano. I want to see if I can tell a difference in the sound. I’m so used to the antique piano at the cottage.”

Natalie stood, leaning against the piano, looking down at him.
Sometimes he was a mystery. When he should be recovering, his focus was on the quality of the piano. Men, she’d never figure them out. She guessed he was unfamiliar with his own vulnerability, and didn’t like her babying him.

The real source of
his discomfort was swept aside the instant Tanner closed his eyes, lost in the melody of the song. Chopin’s “Nocturne” rang out from the Grand piano, surrounding them with the classical music. As he played, he moved with the tune, the notes vibrating through his body, his fingers doing his biding. He played one exquisite song after another, and Natalie loved listening.

The
last song ended, and Tanner opened his eyes, all signs of infirmity gone. For a moment, he sat unmoving as if in respect for the beauty of the music. Natalie watched, not moving a muscle, looking at his chiseled form, his deep blue eyes, and his incredibly kissable mouth. He had to be the sexiest man alive.

Tanner stood and took her into his arms, kissing her sweetly over and over, like she might disappear if he let her go. He lost his hands in her thick hair, and
ran his hot tongue down her neck. He nibbled her earlobe and tugged at it. His love for her had never been more evident than in this quiet moment, alone in their new home.

Natalie kissed back
with equal fervor, and the felt rock hard muscles defining his masculine body. She squeezed and stroked over his handsome physique, unable to get enough of him, ever. Male pheromones, like a sensual cloud, pervaded her senses and heated her body, his scent more precious than the air itself.

S
omething in the mood was different. No words needed to define it. Their kissing and touching was loving and sweet. Tender actions spoke what words could not. Natalie only hoped she was getting the right message.

Once again, Tanner was annoyed. Dressed for the theater, Natalie looked daring. Oh, she was gorgeous, no question. That was
precisely the issue. The last thing he wanted was for every man in sight to be drooling over her. He’d asked Leona to take her shopping, but her headstrong personality was a challenge. Her wardrobe hadn’t changed significantly, if at all.

“That neckline is too low,” he admon
ished.

Natalie looked at him de
fiantly. “I like it,” she said.

Tanner
frowned. The deep v-neck in the front showed, not only the tops of her firm breasts, but the sides, as well. Such was the deep cut of the front of the dress. And the back wasn’t much better, cut down past her waist to expose her low back, very low.

“It exposes too much. And it’s tight,” he said, eyeing the stretchy black fabric that left nothing to the imagination.

Natalie let out a sigh, exasperated. She had risen to a level of confidence in her sexuality that allowed her to be proud of her body. She thought that was a good thing. And too often designs were inhibiting or dowdy. Just not fun.

“Well, I don’t think so,” Natalie argued. “We are going out and I want to look my best.”

Tanner grabbed her arm, and pulled her close. “You go too far,” he stated in a deep, threatening voice, making Natalie wonder if she’d pushed too hard. “Go change.”

“No,” she said, a
nd looked into his harsh stare.

“Yes.”

Natalie shook her head, still holding her ground. She was a woman and had a right to look sexy if she wanted to. Tanner was just going to have to learn to deal with it.

The silence was heavy. Natalie didn’t move a muscle, even though
butterflies raced in her belly. Tanner’s jaw clenched and he ground his teeth.

He stormed out of the room.

Radio City Music Hall in Rockefeller Center did not disappoint. It wasn’t called the Showplace of the Nation for nothing. Tanner had gotten tickets to Rodriquez, a singer-songwriter whose bootleg albums pushed him into notoriety in South Africa, although he disappeared after that. His resurgence made quite a story, and Natalie looked forward to hearing his inspirational music.

Their seats were in the orchestra section, right in front. Rodriquez sang many of his top hits, like
“I Wonder”, “Crucify Your Mind”, and “The Establishment Blues.” His warm, folksy style was captivating. Natalie glanced over at Tanner, and he seemed to be engrossed in the performance. Although, he sat stiffly with his arm around her, and she knew she’d pay later for her transgression. For now, she was glad she wore the risqué dress, thoroughly enjoying herself.

Then
Rodriguez started into “I Think of You”, and Natalie’s heart warmed. In his rustic voice, he sang: “Brings memories…of your smiles, your easy laughter, of your kiss, those moments after…..”  The sweet love song filled the room.

Tanner
ran his fingers down the front opening of the offensive dress, over the soft inner side of her half-exposed breasts. With one arm over her shoulders, he tightened his embrace. His other hand teased her nipples through the thin fabric.

But he didn’t stop there. His hand slid over her lap and under the hem of her tight dress. Brazenly, she’d worn no underwear. Almost as if he knew, he slid his hand up her thigh and across her bare sex.

Natalie gasped quietly, her clit instantly hard. Fortunately, the concert hall was dark and all the people around them were focused on the performance. But the idea that the lights might suddenly go on, revealing Tanner’s intimacy, was a thrill.

“Spread you legs,” he growled in her ear and she complied.

“You’re wet,” he whispered a little too loudly, and Natalie blushed in the dark.

His fingers pinched th
e outer lips of her pussy, and he jostled his hand creating the arousal he sought. Natalie leaned back against his arm, and he squeezed her left shoulder, holding her steady.

“If you defy me, and wear clothes intended to flaunt your sexuality, I’m happy to comply.”

She winced, knowing he was still angry.

His hot fingers, slid along her wet slit, oh so slowly and teasingly. She suppressed a whimper, but squirmed in her seat. She’d ceased to care if anyone was looking, intent on the pleasure Tanner could give her.

With his head against hers, he licked her ear and swirled his tongue under her jaw. Weak with sensation, she spread her legs more, and Tanner took advantage. With one finger he massaged her clit, and a deep groan escaped her lips before she could suppress it.

“Yes, baby,” he whispered in her ear, his hot breath like a caress, distending her nipples against the fabric of her dress. “You’ll come in public, since you are so bold.”

Natalie pressed her head against Tanner’s neck and slid over in her seat, as close to him as she could. The music from the stage continued to boom against the walls of the music hall, drowning out her panting.

A whimper escaped her lips when he pinched her clit, very gently but perfectly.
Two fingers tapped over her apex, and she felt a hot sensation from head to toe. Tap, tap – tap, tap – tap, tap. She was losing it. The release, almost within her grasp, had her tensed and waiting.

P
ushing her out of control, Tanner stroked her cunt and fingered her clit, controlling her emotions and her pleasure. Twice he stopped just before she could come, and the pain of delay, stabbed her. She ached for the release he could give, if only he would. A horrifying thought crossed her mind that he might not let her come, as punishment.

But that thought was banished as soon as he swirled his fingers in her wetness, caressing and arousing her until she had no choice but to let go. Clearly, seeing her come in a crowd of people despite any shyness she may harbor, meant more to him than punishment at that moment. The
embarrassment was overshadowed by the illicit reward of orgasm in public.

His taunting of her wet cunt, and fingering of her clit continued, but more gently, as
she came with huge force that could not be subdued. She clenched and shook in Tanner’s embrace, panting with her mouth closed to stifle the sound.

At her peak, Tanner parted his lips and placed his mouth over hers, swallowing her screams. The fury of the orgasm shattered her with its potency, all the more explosive
in response to her efforts to subdue it due to the profound lack of privacy.

She slumped against Tanner, and he held her in his secure embrace. The music continued
, but Natalie was unable to regain her interest in the concert. She closed her eyes, and Tanner held her with one arm across her lap holding her hip, the other around her shoulders.