Never Dare A Duke

Chapter 10 (New Beginning)

 Chapter 10

                                                (Unexplained Explanations)

            It had taken Candice two minutes in total to strip off the dress and pull on her own jeans. She relaxed as the familiar fabric brushed against her thighs and fell just below her ankle. She sighed as the car hummed to life and listened to the angry temptation her stomach was sending her. It was her own fault for not letting herself trust any one. The only explanation she had for herself was that; that’s how she was raised. She had been deterred by her own mother for years before she started to cook for herself and Anthony. Every day would be a new act, a new hysteria and maybe that’s why her father left them. He couldn’t take it anymore. Hell; there were someday when she wanted to pack her bags and run herself but then she would look into her mother’s helpless eyes and the sweet dimples, and mop headed Anthony who was only seven when they were abandoned. That was the only thing keeping her glued to that small house. That and the few, happy memories. Candice closed her eyes and took in the fresh air of the cool night.

            The stars were out and dark clouds swiftly swayed towards and around the full moon. As if responding to the breeze the flowers buzzed with their enchanting fragrance mixing in with the spicy, earthy scent of fresh rain. She could get used to this.

            “Put on your seat belt.” Nathan interrupted her thoughts and began to drive rapidly through the emptied streets. Candice kept her eyes on the road, peaking every now and then towards Nathan. She couldn’t tell if he was angry or disappointed. All that could be made from his grim face that he was clenching his jaw; and his eyes stayed put towards the roads and signs in front of him. He was a mysterious man. Although most of his antics and life was posted daily in the magazines and elite newspaper he was still a hard man to figure out. He didn’t come across as nice or humble but nor did he come across as completely cold and arrogant. He was a perfect mixture of both; smooth and charming during the day and heartbreakingly dark and handsome at night.

            Candice shifted in her seat taking in his profile and wondered when the last time he’d laughed was. She’d seen him numerous time smiling into the camera; a business like grin and nod that entitled an accomplished deal but never him laughing.

            “Is there something wrong?” he asked feeling Candice’s eyes burning through him. He had tried to forget the moments they spent in bed. It was a mistake and he had to forget making sure that never again would their paths cross after this. Nathan had regretted every minute of it and wondered if she had thought the same. They both fell into the deep hole of their desires and now here they were sitting beside each other with only few words to spare on each other’s behalf. How could he have let this happen? If he couldn’t make the situation much easier he shouldn’t have been making it more awkward.

            “Are you always this grim?” she blurted out before she could think it through. His shoulders relaxed as if a great burden have lifted from it. Nathan didn’t want to discuss the even that happened that day. He wasn’t going to go back to it and nor would he remind her or himself what he had said to her afterwards.

            “What do you mean?” he asked feeling satisfied that she wanted to forget it as well.

            “I mean; when was the last time you laughed?” she asked swiping the few strands of her off her face. He watched her skin glimmer under the dull light of the moon. If it wasn’t for the hand rest between them and he wasn’t traveling fifty miles per hour ; he would have been kissing her. He shook his head and tried to calm the sudden lightening that went straight through his blood. He wanted her; there’s no denying it but he could suppress that urge. No problem there he lied.