“Will you be okay if I take a quick shower?” Justin asked as they entered the house. He still felt all gross and sweaty from the short practice they’d had at Johnny’s followed by a spontaneous game of basketball.
She looked around as she followed him in. Everything was pretty much the same as the last time she’d been there except this time he hadn’t had a chance to tidy up and there were a few things scattered around, nothing major.
“Yeah I’ll be fine, gives me a chance to snoop,” she joked.
“I’m really not that interesting.” He may have been a celebrity, a big singing star but deep down he was just a regular guy.
She turned around and smiled at him. “I’ll be the judge of that.”
His eyes widened in shock. Was she flirting with him?
“Just make yourself at home.” He waved his hand around the room. “Help yourself to anything in the kitchen, put the television on, there’s some movies over in that cupboard there, whatever you like.”
“Go get your shower Justin, I’ll be fine.”
He watched her while she took her jacket off, laying it across the back of a chair before he decided she was okay and went upstairs.
Natalia walked out into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. She noticed the pool outside and decided to go check it out.
Walking across the kitchen she opened the door and stepped out into the warm afternoon air.
She kicked off her shoes and sat down on the edge of the pool. Cautiously she dipped her toes into the water, testing the temperature before plunging her aching feet and lower part of her legs in.
She sighed contentedly, leaning back on her hands as she directed her face towards the sun. It danced across her closed eyelids and it felt like heaven.
It was the first time she had felt relaxed all day and she was going to take a moment to just enjoy doing nothing at all.
The only sound she could hear were those of the chirping birds and the gentle lapping of the water as it hit the side of the pool. It could have quite easily sent her to sleep.
She lifted her arm and squinted down at the watch on her wrist. 4.15 p.m. She didn’t need to be home for a few hours yet.
She had been planning on going to the dance studios as she usually did. It was usually her release. Some people went for a run, some would work out at the gym. She danced. Today though she was feeling lazy and didn’t think she could be bothered to move. The chance to spend a little more time with Justin…well that appealed to her as well.
She heard the shrill ring of the telephone coming from inside the house. After a moment when it didn’t stop as she thought it would have she pulled herself up and walked back to the house, careful not to slip, as her feet were still wet, as she stepped onto the tiled kitchen floor.
She figured Justin would have picked it up upstairs but obviously he hadn’t and it hadn’t switched to the machine yet either.
She looked at the phone and debated whether to pick it up. She should ask, she decided.
She moved towards the door that led to the living room. “Justin,” she shouted. “Do you want me to answer the phone? It’s been ringing for a while n…”
She stopped abruptly.
There he was.
He was standing right in front of her.
Wet.
Wrapped only in a towel.
She realised she was gaping and quickly shut her mouth. Her eyes raised from his chest to his face and their eyes locked. Her breathing quickened as she tried to remember what she had been saying.
I was in the garden, the phone was ringing, I came in here and…shit he looks good.
She groaned unconsciously and he looked back at her suspiciously.
Stop it Natalia, stop it!
Their eyes remained locked for a moment before he seemed to remember that the phone was still ringing. She sucked in a breath as he sidestepped her, his arm and chest brushing her arm as he moved around her.
She could feel the dampness left behind on her skin as he snatched up the phone.
“What?” His voice held a note of exasperation.
“Well hello to you too.”
“What do you want Chris?” Justin asked with an exasperated sigh.
“Why didn’t you answer the phone, man?”
“I did answer the phone you dumbass, I’m talking to you aren’t I?”
“It took you long enough to answer didn’t it? I didn’t think you were there.”
“Then why didn’t you hang up?”
“Because I knew you were there duh! I was there when you and Natty Nat Nat made plans remember?” he said cheerfully.
He didn’t shout at Chris, as he would have liked to for the simple reason that Natalia stood not five-foot away from him.
“The phone upstairs is broken.”
So that’s why he’s down here, she thought. And like THAT.
“Is there a point to this conversation at all Chris?” He was seconds away from hanging up himself. He loved the man but at times he could willingly wring his neck.
“So what did I interrupt? Huh? Huh? HUH?” he asked excitedly before bursting into laughter.
Justin was beginning to understand the purpose of this phone call. It was to piss him off. Funnily enough it was working too.
He watched Natalia move over to the breakfast bar and take a seat. She looked up at him but when she realised he was looking back at her she quickly averted her eyes.
“I’m hanging up Chris,” he warned.
“Chill out dude, I just wanted to know what time practice was tomorrow.”
“You called for that?” he asked in disbelief.
“Uh huh.”
Yeah likely story, he thought.
“Why didn’t you call one of the others?” he asked. He already knew the answer though.
“Well they didn’t have company like you.”
“CHRIS!” Justin growled.
“Bye,” Chris squeaked quickly before Justin was left listening to the dial tone.
“Ugh!” He slammed down the phone.
“Problem?” she asked quietly.
He looked at her, really looked at her. She was biting her lip nervously. He’d seen her looking at him earlier. She’d been caught off guard. She hadn’t had any time to plan a getaway or think of a smart comeback. He had the upper hand this time and she’d been left stumbling over her words.
He slowly walked towards her and stopped when he was right in front of her. The stool she was sitting on was high so she came up to his chin but she was looking directly at his chest again.
He stood in that position for a while before taking a seat on the stool next to her, scooting it closer. They were now facing one another.
He reached out and brushed her hair away from her face. He felt her tense immediately and he reached out a finger, slowly running it up and down her neck. “No problem.”
His voice betrayed his nervousness.
She cleared her throat. “Justin,” she shakily asked. “Justin what are you doing?”
She shuddered as he brushed the spot behind her ear.
She looked down. At that moment she realised he was still in just a towel and she breathed in deeply through her nose trying to give herself strength, Lord knew she needed it with Justin standing there like that.
“What am I doing?” he asked. “I’m not sure,” he admitted. He kept his eyes on her and she was slowly becoming hypnotised by him. “But I think we need to face up to some things.”
“We- - we do?”
He nodded slowly and she watched his head bob up and down, up…and…down.
He cupped her cheek. “Yeah I think we do,” he said softly.
He leaned closer and he saw her start to panic. “Don’t fight this,” he whispered before his lips closed over hers.
He sucked the breath right out of her and there was no way she could fight him, fight the feeling of him kissing her. There was nothing she could do but respond.
With shaky hands she grasped his arms to steady herself. Was that him trembling too?
He held the back of her head with his other hand, stroking her hair gently.
He needed to breath, they both did and he reluctantly pulled back, their foreheads resting together as they both breathed heavily.
He waited for something, a slap, a scream. She’d responded to the kiss but he was still unsure, and as he looked into her eyes he knew she felt the same.
“You okay?” he asked.
She didn’t speak but she did nod, it was all she could manage, making him relax a little.
He didn’t know what to say now and he’d just realised he was sitting there in a towel, which made him feel even more stupid, even more vulnerable. He didn’t want to leave her now though and risk her retreating back into her shell again.
“Did you want that?” he asked. It wasn’t the best question to ask but it was the only answer he wanted. He needed to know if she’d wanted it as much as him. Until that moment he hadn’t even realised he’d wanted it that bad.
She stared at him for a long time, not saying a word.
He was beginning to think the worst when she finally spoke.
She drew all the courage she could, perhaps drawing strength from Justin. Looking at him though she just knew she had to tell him the truth whatever the consequences later. “Yeah I think I did,” she said almost shyly.
The surprise registered on his face. He honestly didn’t think she would admit to it. She had pushed him away every step of the way so far, dodging him with smart remarks and quick escapes. She was the master of avoidance and secrecy but for once she seemed to be letting him in.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
Still nervous she looked down but realising what it looked like she was looking at she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushed. “You should probably get dressed.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Will you stay while I get changed?” he asked. He didn’t want her to leave just yet.
“I’ll be here.” She gave him a small smile, which he returned.
He stood up and straightened his towel. He bent down and kissed her once more before walking away.
“Justin?” she called when he was out of sight.
He walked back to the doorway of the kitchen so he could see her. “Yeah?”
“Can I change my mind about tomorrow night? I’d really like it if I could go out with you,” she said. “And the guys,” she added as an afterthought.
Chapter 16
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