Tangled Web (9 page)

There was nothing sweet and gentle about this kiss.
 
This kiss was full of passion, desire and
pure want.

I threw my arms around his neck and as he straightened up,
my feet came off the floor.
 
Nathan
wrapped his arm around my waist to support me while his other hand tangled in
my hair.
 
As he began walking us in the
direction of my bedroom I tightened my fingers in the back of his hair and
poured all the passion I had for him into that kiss.
 
As the bed hit the back of Nathan’s legs he
didn’t stop.
 
He went down backwards with
me landing on top of him.

I pulled my lips away and slid my legs on either side of him
so I was sitting more comfortable.
 
His
hands came up to grab my head and pull my lips back down to his.
 
I giggled against his lips as he did
this.
 
I could kiss this man all
day.
 
As Nathan’s phone started ringing I
went to pull my lips away his hand tightened in the back of my hair.
 

“They’ll go away.” He gasped, sucking my tongue back into
his mouth.
 
Thankfully his phone stopped
and immediately started ringing again.
 
“Damn it.” He groaned.
 

I laughed at the frustration in his tone.
 

He brought the phone up to his ear.
 
“Walker,” he briskly said.
 

I loved his sexy boss voice.
 
I brought my hands up to his chest and gently rubbed.
 
I couldn’t stop touching him now that we’d
decided to try whatever it was we were doing.
 
Relationship?
 
Arrangement?
 
I wasn’t sure what title to give it.

I was so lost in rubbing his chest, his next words made me
stop quickly.
 

“Sorry, Mom.”

 
Mom?!
 
Holy crap!
 
I went to get off him but his hand tightened around my thigh.
 

“Stay there,” he silently mouthed to me.
 
“I’m not working today.” This was followed by
a frustrated sigh.
 
“Yes, I’m with
Chloe.”
 

That shocked the hell out of me.
 
I couldn’t believe he told his mother about
me.
 

He laughed at the expression on my face.
 
“I’ll ask her and we’ll see.”
 
He smiled at whatever she said.
 
“Okay, bye.”
 
He threw the phone up by my pillows.
 
“What are you doing tonight?” He placed his hands on my hips.
 
As I frowned he sat up bringing my chest
level with his head.
 
“My mother has
invited you to a family dinner.”
 
I
laughed as he said this and his face dropped.
 
“She’s not like the rest of my family,” he whispered sadly.

I immediately felt terrible.
 
I realised too late that he took my laughter as a negative response to
seeing his mother.
 
“I know that,” I
whispered, brushing his hair back from his forehead.
 
“I just know how your father and brother will
react.” I kissed his lips to reassure him.

“So let’s get it over with,” he whispered, sucking my bottom
lip.
 
“Then we can work on yours.”
 

His chocolate brown eyes were staring up at me and weakening
my resolve. “Fine.” I relented.
 
Then a
wicked thought crossed my mind.
 
“As long
as you help me cook lunch.”
 
He nodded
quickly.
 
As he leaned up to kiss me I
quickly pulled back.
 
“Great.” I
cheerfully stood up.
 
“Let’s go
shopping.”
 

He frowned as I stepped away from him. “No, let’s stay here.
Come back here,” he said, tapping his thighs.
 

I must have stared too long at his very enticing lap as he
let out a chuckle.
 
I looked up at him
and noticed he was grinning as if he’d won.

“No,” I said, grabbing a fresh pair of jeans, underwear and
top.
 
He sighed behind me which caused me
to grin.
 
I slipped into the bathroom and
performed the quickest change of clothes in my life.
 
As I opened the door Nathan was sitting on
the end of my bed smiling.
 
He held his
hand out and I quickly went to him.
 
“Ready?” I asked, entwining our fingers.

“Sure, let’s go, angel.” He smiled, kissing the back of my
hand.
 

I grinned, bouncing over to collect my boots.
 

He chuckled as he followed behind me.
 
“Someone’s excited about cooking,” he teased,
sarcastically.

“I love cooking.” I slipped my jacket on and zipped it up.

“I can tell.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
 
“Let’s go shorty.”

I laughed as he led me out the door.

It was safe to say that grocery shopping was not on the list
of Nathan’s favourite things to do in the world.
 
Nathan was currently weighed down with bags
of fruit, vegetables and everything I’d need to make my gorgeous spaghetti
bolognaise.
 
I’d also decided to make a
dessert for our dinner with his family tonight.
 
I may not be the perfect girl they imagine for their son but I knew I
could make stunning desserts.
 
I’d use
whatever cards I could.
 
Luckily enough I
had always gotten on very well with Sylvia Walker.
 
Ever since Mom walked out on our family,
Sylvia Walker always had time for me and Chase when growing up.
 
Even when our fathers stopped getting along,
Sylvia never forgot about us.
 
To this
day she sends us birthday cards.
 
She was
a wonderful woman that not even Chase could hate.
 
It had been several years since I had seen
Sylvia and I was looking forward to seeing her again.

“Over here now Nathan,” I said, pointing to a stall a few
yards down the road.

“Dear Lord, woman, how many people are you feeding?” he
whined.
 

I giggled when he said this.
 
As I turned around I realised my shopping may have gotten a little out
of hand.
 
He was loaded down with so many
bags of food.

“Aw, my poor baby.” I leaned up to give him a quick
kiss.
 
He grinned at this, leaning down
to meet my lips.
 
Suddenly my phone
started ringing and so I pulled away.
 
When
I looked at the display I groaned.
 
“It’s
Chase.”

“You should answer it,” he replied, nodding his head
encouragingly.
 

I turned away from him, bringing the phone to my ear. “Hi
Chase.” I tried to inject extra cheer into my voice.

“I just spoke to Louise,” he said, disappointment in his
tone.
 
“She told me what you’ve been up
to.
 
Or rather with whom.”
 

I was immediately pissed.
 
I had kept my mouth shut about her and Chase but the second she can she
sells me out to my brother.

“Tell Louise to keep her nose out of my business,” I
snapped.

“Louise doesn’t lie to me,” he said with a cocky tone.

“I didn’t lie,” I shrieked.
 
“I’m sorry if I don’t tell you every little thing I do but who I date is
nothing to do with you!”

“It is when it’s Nathan fucking Walker!” he yelled down the
phone.
 

I went immediately silent.
 
I didn’t like it when Chase was angry.
 
It scared me.
 

“Whatever’s going on… I want it finished by the time I get
home.”
 

How dare he try telling me what to do?
 
I knew he wouldn’t be happy but this was
ridiculous. “You’re being overly dramatic. I’m not going to break it off just
because my big brother told me to.” I injected a dose of sarcasm.
 

He sighed angrily down the phone.
 

“If you can’t accept my decisions,” I calmly continued,
“then I can respect that.”

“I can’t, Chloe.
 
You’re making a mistake.”
 
The end.
 

Chase could be so stubborn.
 
I’d have to give him time.
 
I’m
sure my father would have a similar reaction.
 
I slipped my phone in my pocket and turned around to Nathan.
 
Who was no longer alone.

A man in a grey suit talked to Nathan and from here it
looked as if they were arguing.
 
As I
approached them I noticed Nathan looked tense and extremely anxious.
 

“Nathan,” I whispered as I approached.
 
Suddenly the person he was arguing with
turned around and looked shocked when he saw me.
 
I walked straight past him and wrapped my arm
around Nathan’s waist.
 
I leaned up and
gave him a quick kiss on my lips.
 
Nathan
hummed against my lips and smiled down at me.
 
I looked at the man across from us.
 
I had a feeling who it might be but I waited for Nathan to confirm it.

“Well?” Adam asked.
 
“Aren’t you going to introduce us?”
 

Nathan frowned when Adam said this. “Chloe, I’m sure you
remember my brother Adam.” Nathan gently placed his hand on my lower back and I
relaxed.
 

I looked at Adam and he was smirking for some reason.
 
I smiled stepping forward, extending my hand.
“Hello Adam.” I smiled.

“Hello Chloe.” Adam took my hand in his and pulled me
towards him.
 
“I’m sure you remember me.”
He smirked, kissing my knuckles.
 

He may have looked and acted like a gentleman but I wasn’t
fooled.
 
Adam didn’t look much older than
Nathan but there was a subtle difference.
 
He was also a little more muscular.

“Not really,” I said, blushing.
 
“I don’t really know much about your family
as I’ve been out of the country for a few years.”
 
I wanted to make it clear that I didn’t spend
my whole time thinking about the Walker clan.

“I see.” He nodded.
 

He had an evil glint in his eye that I really didn’t
like.
 

“Although you seem to know enough about my younger brother
here.”
 

He was trying to make me uncomfortable.
 
This was just one of the many Walker’s I
would have to go up against.

“Definitely.” I smirked, wrapping my arm back around
Nathan’s waist.
 
As I looked up at Nathan
he grinned down at me.
 
“Ready to go?” I
asked.

“Sure.” Nathan grinned, leaning down to give me a kiss on
the lips.
 

We kept it short due to our audience member.
 
As I made my way past Adam I started to grow
nervous.
 
Adam seemed to have a way of
staring straight at you and seeing your weaknesses.
 
I wanted to be as far away from him as
possible.

“It was lovely to see you, Adam,” I said, passing him
quickly.
 
His grin told me he knew how he
was making me feel.

“I’ll see you around, Chloe,” Adam whispered.
 

I speed-walked the entire way down the block, all the while
feeling his eyes on me.

Chapter Seven

“Can I take you to lunch?” Nathan asked, when we were a block
away from the apartment.

I turned on him scowling. “Nathan. I just spent money on
food for lunch.
 
I was going to cook for
you.”
 
I was whining and being a bitch
but I couldn’t help it.
 
Seeing Adam had made
me worry.
 
If the rest of Nathan’s family
was like Adam, how were we ever going to be okay?

“I know, angel, but I’d like to treat you,” he said,
wrapping his free arm around my waist.
 
“Why don’t we take these in and we can spend the rest of the day just me
and you before dinner tonight.”
 

His beautiful brown eyes were staring down at me.
 
I think he was starting to catch on that I
couldn’t say no to him when he looked at me like that.

“Okay,” I conceded, “but I’ll need to be back in time to
make the dessert for tonight.”
 

“Are you going to make extra for me?” He grinned.
 

I rolled my eyes as he said this. “If you’re a good boy,” I
teased.

“I’m never a good boy.” He leaned down to kiss my lips.
 
He winked as we parted.

“Then there’s your answer.” I winked back.
 
This caused him to pout and I giggled.

He handed the shopping bags to the concierge.
 

“Would you mind popping them up to the apartment, please?”

“Of course, Miss Johnson,” the concierge agreed, smiling
back at me.
 

I smiled in return and turned to find Nathan scowling. “What’s
the matter?” I was concerned there was something bothering him.
 

Nathan pulled me to him by sliding his arm around my waist
and resting his palm very close to my ass. “Come on, angel.” He led us
forward.
 
“Let me take you to
lunch.”
 
As we stepped outside Nathan
pulled me towards him and pressed his lips to mine while holding me against the
outside wall.

“What are you doing?” I gasped, looking at all the people
walking past.
 
No one seemed to be
watching but you could never tell.

“I’m kissing my girl.” Then his lips were back on mine,
gently parting my lips and slowly sliding his tongue into my mouth.
 
He kissed my lips again gently and rubbed the
tip of his nose against mine in an Eskimo-style kiss.
 
It was the sweetest thing ever.
 
“Just me and my girl,” he whispered, placing
his lips back on mine.
 

With this kiss I surrendered to him.
 
I’ll admit that some part of me surrendered
to him the moment we met.
 
Being in his
arms I realised that it wouldn’t take much for me to surrender the rest of
myself to him.

As I leaned back to look at him, I pouted teasingly.
 
“I thought you said you were going to feed
me.”
 

He narrowed his eyes playfully at me and kissed my pout. “Come
on then, angel.” He took me by the hand.
 
“Let’s go feed my little monster.”
 

I grinned at this. Considering I was dreading seeing Nathan
again and just wanted to escape him every time we were together due to our
families, I must say that I was glad that Nathan never let me escape too
far.
 
For the first time I was glad that
Nathan came to my door this morning.
 
My
day with Nathan was going great so far and if this was what being with Nathan
would be like I was happy with our decision to try this.

Nathan certainly knew how to treat a lady.
 
He was currently in the middle of cutting
into the biggest piece of chocolate cake I think I’ve ever had.
 
I had originally ordered a chicken salad in
the local deli restaurant down the block from my apartment.
 
Nathan insisted I had to try the desserts as
I was too thin and he stated that I needed to gain a little weight.
 
I remember the way he looked at me.
 

“I need you to bulk up, baby.
 
I want to fuck you hard and I’m afraid I’ll
break you.”
 

Fuck me.
 
I wanted to
go straight home after that comment.

Once our chocolate cake arrived, Nathan insisted on feeding
me.
 
I didn’t complain.
 
Just as Nathan lifted the fork to feed me
across the table I heard a female voice clear her throat.
 
I looked up and Nathan scowled.
 
Sophie was standing there with her hip cocked
to the side.
 
Why the hell was she here?

“Chloe, dear, how are you?” she asked, with fake cheeriness
in her voice.
 

I wasn’t stupid.
 
I
could see the way she was glaring at Nathan’s hand holding mine across the
table. “Fine, Sophie.
 
As you can see,
Nathan’s taking good care of me.” I smiled.
 
That wiped the fake smile off her face.
 

She tried to make out she was innocent and on my side but
Chase had made it obvious that Sophie was only ever on Sophie’s side.

“I can see that.” She smiled.
 
“Would you mind excusing us?
 
I have a little something I need to clear up
with Nathan.”
 

That pissed me off immediately.
 
Was she for real?
 
I was shocked she would be so open about it
and expect me to actually leave my table for her.
 
I cocked an eyebrow at her.

“No Sophie.”
 
I
smirked when Sophie looked sharply at Nathan.
 

“If it’s business, make an appointment with my
assistant.”
 

She glared at him when he said that.
 

“I can’t see that it would be business, however, as any
business deal we had is finished.”
 
He
took a sip of his coffee and tilted his cup watching the liquid swish against
the rim.
 
“At the moment, the only thing
you could want at this table would be to speak to your cousin.
 
As you just rudely asked her to leave the
table, obviously that’s not the case.
 
So, right now, you’re disturbing me and Chloe and I’d appreciate you
going away so I can resume my evening.”
 

Fuck me.
 
His boss
voice was on and it was still sexy as hell.
 

Sophie flushed with embarrassment.
 
She glared at me one final time and stormed
towards the exit.

Nathan smirked at me and quickly lifted the fork for me to
try the dessert.
 
I leaned forward,
parting my lips and he slid the fork in between my lips.
 
I wrapped my lips around the fork and he slid
it back out of my mouth.
 
I slowly chewed
the chocolate cake, moaning as I did.
 
I
couldn’t help it.
 
That was the most
gorgeous piece of chocolate fudge cake I’d ever tasted.

“Fuck,” he whispered, staring at my lips.

“What?” I giggled, wiping my mouth.
 
I wouldn’t be surprised if I had chocolate on
my lips.
 
As a true chocoholic I’m always
messy when it comes to chocolate.

“I love that sound.” He smiled.
 
He offered me another piece of cake.

As he slid the fork into my mouth he was staring at my lips
again.
 
The way he was biting his lip
made me want to do things no girl should be doing on her first date.
 
I also had to remind myself that we were in a
public place.
 
I licked my lips to make
sure there was no chocolate left on them.
 
As I did this his eyes darkened and his teeth bit roughly into his
bottom lip.

“Why aren’t you having any cake?”

He smiled when I said this and speared another piece of
decadent cake.

“I’m enjoying feeding you too much.” He smirked.
 
“I’m also enjoying the fact every person in
this room knows what I’ll be doing to you later.”
 

I looked around quickly.
 
Apart from a couple of people occasionally looking our way we weren’t
attracting the kind of attention he was talking about.
 

“I’m especially enjoying watching your mouth every time you
lean forward for a piece of cake.
 
All
the while imagining something else sliding in between your lips.”
 

I choked when he said this.
 
I took a quick very unladylike gulp of water and wiped my mouth with my
napkin.
 

Nathan was rubbing his bottom lip with his thumb, smirking
at me.

“I don’t know what kind of girl you take me for, Mr. Walker.”
I smirked.
 
“I’m not like any kind of
girl you’ve had before.” I put my napkin down.

“I know.” He smirked, extending the fork.
 

I waved him off.
 
I
literally couldn’t eat another thing.
 

“Are you ready?” he asked.
 

The way he said it sounded as though he was asking so many
things at once.
 
Am I ready to go?
 
Ready for the next part?
 
Ready for everything to follow?
 
Ready for him?
 
I could answer all of these questions with
one word.
 
Absolutely.

“I’m ready.” I blushed.
 

He quickly stood up and extended his hand for me to
take.
 
I quickly grabbed my jacket and
purse and left our table holding Nathan’s hand.
 
As we passed the counter the waitress was there with our bill.

“Was everything to your liking this afternoon?” she
questioned, taking Nathan’s credit card off him.

“It was lovely.
 
We
both especially liked the chocolate cake.” He smirked, looking down at me.

“Compliments to the chef,” I said, blushing.
 

She smirked as she handed Nathan’s credit card back to him. “I’m
happy to hear that.
 
Please come again.” She
smiled politely.
 

“Oh, we will.” Nathan chuckled.
 

As I exited the building I placed my purse in between my
knees and quickly slid my jacket on.
 
I
went to untuck my hair from underneath my jacket and Nathan’s hands were
already there, unsheathing my hair from beneath my jacket, caressing the back
of my neck with his thumbs.

“Thank you,” I whispered.
 

He wrapped his arms around my waist and laced his hands in
front of my stomach. “Everything okay?” he whispered, nuzzling my ear.
 

Was everything okay?
 
Sure, apart from the major freaking out I had going on.
 
I was waiting for something to go wrong.
 
Our families knew we were together.
 
Sophie now knew Nathan was no longer on the
market.
 
Two hurdles and we were still
standing.
 
I was sure the next bump we
had would be the thing that would begin to form cracks.
 
I just couldn’t help but wonder what would be
next?

“Y-y-yes,” I stammered.
 
“Just a little nervous, I think.” I chuckled.
 
I walked forward which caused Nathan’s arms
to loosen from around my waist.
 

Nathan grasped my wrist and pulled me towards him.
 
He walked me to the nearest wall and pressed
my back against the wall.
 
He wrapped his
arms around my waist and leaned into me, kissing my neck. “What do you have to
be nervous about?
 
Hmm?” He nuzzled my
neck.
 

I moaned out loud.
 
I
think Nathan had figured out my weak spot.
 
I didn’t even notice if we were attracting attention.
 

He leaned back to look at me.
 
“It’s just me.” He gave me a quick kiss on
the lips.

I nodded at this and began leading him in the direction of
the apartment.

We entered the elevator to take us up to Chase’s apartment when
my phone began ringing.
 
Before I even
pulled my phone of my purse I knew who it was.
 
I looked at the screen and saw Chase’s cheeky smile looking back at me.
 
I looked at Nathan.
 

“You can answer it,” he offered.
 

I quickly pressed the decline button. “That’s okay,” I said,
shaking my head.
 
“It’s just Chase.”
 
I tucked my phone back in my purse.
 
Thank
you Louise for dropping me in it
.
 
As
I set my purse back on my lap, my phone started vibrating again.
 
Hopefully he’ll go away.
 
I smiled at Nathan, embarrassed.

“Persistent, isn’t he?” He smirked, sliding closer to me.

“Protective.” I sighed.
 

Nathan leaned forward, placing his hand on my cheek.
 
He smirked when I said this.
 

“He warned me to stay away from you.” I grinned.
 

He chuckled. “Instead, you run straight to the big, bad wolf.”
He grinned.
 
He immediately pounced,
moulding his lips to mine.