Whisper Destiny

Chapter 19

~ Catherine ~

"How about sex?"

Natasha blurted out.

She then quickly added, "We both have needs. I do! But I'm not sure about you." Her voice was timid, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Her question made me pause. She has a point here. For me, I didn't mind pleasing myself, and I could keep myself busy enough to ignore those needs. But for Natasha, it would be selfish to bind her to me without addressing that aspect of her life.

I looked into Natasha's green eyes, but only for a brief ten seconds before she turned away, her shyness evident.

"What are you suggesting here?" I asked, trying to involve her in making an option. This would affect her more significantly than me.

"I thought you were smart enough to figure this out when accepted this plan," She retorted, her tone sharp. "Don't you think this is one of the main topics we need to sort out?"

"Honestly, I don't mind pleasing myself" I replied boldly, making her eyes widen in surprise.

"But, I'd be selfish not to consider your needs" I continued, truly considering all the options that we have.

I closed the distance between us, close enough that I can see her green eyes clearly. It's so green, vibrant like a forest in spring, held me captive. Leaning in, I whispered softly, my words meant only for her ears, "I really don't mind if you ask me nicely to have sex with me"

I watched as goosebumps prickled her skin, a silent acknowledgement that my words affects her. But before I could gauge her reaction, she abruptly stood up, putting space between us.

"Are you crazy?" Her voice was sharp, cutting through the changed atmosphere. "Didn't you hear what I said earlier? I'm not gay, and I despise you. Don't talk nonsense, it will never happen, not even in your wildest dreams."

"Is this a deal-breaker for you?" I inquired, my voice soft but weighted with the gravity of the situation. Yet, deep down, I already knew the answer, dreading the inevitable conversation that would follow.

"I think so..." Natasha's response was hesitant, her uncertainty lingered in the air between us, palpable and heavy.

"Then, we must find a mutual agreement. You may seek companionship elsewhere during our marriage, but do it discreetly. I cannot tolerate unnecessary attention from the media, it's one of the reasons I accepted this proposal. And..."

I paused, feeling Natasha's gaze piercing through me as she turn back.

"And what?" Her voice was edged with mixture of curiosity and skepticism.

"And, I need to be informed in advance about the person you choose to engage with intimately." I stated firmly, bracing myself for her reaction.

"Are you out of your mind?" Natasha's incredulity was clear, her tone sharp with disbelief. "Why would I need your approval or inform you beforehand to sleep with anyone. I'm not in high school anymore!"

"Because, it could indirectly impact me." I explained, my voice still remain calm. "And as I said, I don't want to attract unnecessary attention from media, and..."

"I don't want a repeat of what happened between you and Nicholas. I need to protect our families" I continued, my words trailing off as I saw the shock register in Natasha's eyes.

"Don't ever assume and underestimate me, that I can't take care of myself." She shot back, her defiance evident in every syllable. "And no, I disagree!"

With heavy sigh, I realized we were back to square one now. The very first time I could not hide my frustration in our conversation this afternoon.

"Natasha, please try to understand. I've tried to be fair and accommodating. But, if we can't find common ground on this issue, then I don't know what else to say." I paused, waiting for her response, but she just remained silent, her expression unreadable.

"Fine," I said, resigned to our inability to reach a compromise. "I'll inform Noel and Emmette our decision."

"Wait..." Natasha's voice halted me mid-motion.

"How would you know if purposely I'm doing it behind your back? Do you plan to hire someone to follow me around 24/7?"

Her words prompted a moment of introspection. Did Nicholas resort to such invasive measures in the past? Despite my inclination to be in control all the time, I couldn't fathom invading someone's privacy to such an extent. It was unethical, a violation of trust, unless under extreme circumstances.

"Natasha, you will be my wife..." The word felt foreign on my tongue.

"Why would I do that to you" I responded, my voice laced with sincerity. "You're your own person, and I have no intention to taking away your freedom, especially after we're married."

I paused, carefully selecting the words to convey the depth of my feeling, "I choose to trust you. I trust that you will respect our agreement. But, if that is ever broken..." my voice trailed off, the weight of the word hanging heavy between us.

"It's either you still want to proceed with the marriage, or you want me to let you go," I offered, presenting the ultimatum, "I'll let you decide. I'll give you power to control this relationship, Natasha. Even though you know that I always like to be in control"

In that moment, I saw something shift in Natasha's eyes, a glimmer of resolution mingled with vulnerability.

I gave her the space she needed to finalize her decision. It dawned on me that this was the first time we'd engaged in a face-to-face conversation, for more than five minutes, without her dismissing me.

"Okay..." her voice barely above whisper, slow enough that I almost miss it.

"Let's proceed. But we need a contract" She state firmly.

A wave of relief washed over me at her decision. It felt as if the weight of my worries from the previous night had been lifted. But of course, I still keep my wall high.

Despite the uncertainty of the future, I felt a newfound sense of assurance that we could navigate it together.

"That's what my expertise is for. I'll have the contract ready soon" I confirmed.

Standing up slowly, I extended my hand to her, a silent gesture to seal the deal between us. Like what I always do when completed a negotiation. Natasha approached me cautiously, her hand meeting mine in our first skin-to-skin contact.

A knot formed in my stomach, very unfamiliar. But I quickly ignore it, not wanting to dwell on it.

"And just so you know," I added with a playful winked, a surged of unexpected playfulness coursing through me, "I really don't mind at all if you want to sleep with me. Just ask me nicely" Natasha withdrew her hand immediately.

Little did they know, Noel observed their interaction from afar, her motherly instincts guiding her understanding of the situation. Though she couldn't hear their conversation, she recognized the significance of Catherine's presence in Natasha's life.

As a mother, she understood Natasha's stubbornness all too well, but she harbored a deep trust in Catherine's wisdom and patience. She believed that Catherine possessed the power to influence Natasha's decisions, not just today, but in the days to come.

With each passing moment, Noel's hope grew stronger. She envisioned a future where Catherine's influence would transform not only Natasha's decisions but also their relationship as a whole. She placed her faith in her instincts, trusting that Catherine and Natasha would mend each other's hearts and find solace in their shared destiny.