Babysitting

ChapterTwelve

I glared at Kerrie from across the kitchen, jealousy bubbling in me whenever she touched Nathaniel.
I kept my mouth shut though. For the past two weeks I've been keeping my mouth shut.
For the past two weeks I've been going to dinner with Nathaniel every night.
For the past two weeks the jealousy in me had been increasing.
"Lucy, could you pass the soda?"
My eyes flickered to Nathaniel as I pursed my lips.
I grabbed the bottle of soda, walking to the dining table and slamming the bottle onto it. I shot the pair an overly fake smile while rolling my eyes before walking out.
I had no clue how much longer I could deal with this. I was tempted to just call off whatever this thing between Nathaniel and I was.
"Is Kerrie being disgusting again?" Alex asked as I walked into the TV room.
"Kerrie is the evil witch when I play barbies," Kira chirped, stretching out her glitter slime.
Alex and I laughed. I sat between the two sisters.
"I can't deal with the sight of her," I spat. "When she touches Nathaniel, it's like... It's like... Ugh, I don't even know."
"Did he tell you why he can't get rid of her?" Alex asked and I nodded. "I think that it's bullshit."
"This thing between us will go nowhere if he continues hanging onto her," I muttered, folding arms.
"Hey," my head shot up, a scowl forming on my face. "She's gone."
"What you're doing isn't fair, Nathaniel," Alex sighed. "Luciana also has feelings and I'm sure it's not the best thing to watch the person you like being like this."
Nathaniel swallowed, his lips turning down slightly.
"Could we rather talk about it alone?" His voice was low as he spoke.
I sighed, getting up and following him to the kitchen. I spotted Kerrie's glass which had a bright pink lipstick stain on it and I stared at Nathaniel's lips, a tint of the same color on the corner of his mouth.
"I'm not going to do this," I hopped onto the island. "Call it off with her or we're done."
"You know I can't, Lucy," he frowned. "If I lose any more shareholders and clients because of her, I'm going to rip my hair out."
I shrugged.
"Fine," I scoffed, hopping down again. "You and her will have a wonderful life together."
He stepped in front of me to stop me leaving the kitchen, his tall frame towering over me.
I glared at his torso, gritting my teeth.
"Get out of my way, Nathaniel," I hissed.
His hand came up and rested on my upper arm. I flinched slightly as electricity shot through me.
"Please don't give up just yet," I looked up at him, his blue eyes flickering with rejection.
I tore my gaze away from his, butterflies coming alive in my abdomen.
"I don't want to feel like I'm the side hoe," I murmured. "And I'm starting to feel cheated on. You say you like me and you treat me like I'm special but you're fucking around with her."
"I'm not fucking around with her, Luciana," he said, frustration evident.
"Yeah because the lipstick on your mouth is just my eyes deceiving me," I spat, glaring up at his beautiful face.
His other hand shot up, touching his mouth then lowering his fingers, the smudge of pink being left behind on the tips.
"She came onto me," he said, placing his other hand on my shoulder.
I scoffed, shoving his arms away from me and pushing passed him. I felt strong arms clamp around my waist and I was then being turned and lifted into the air. Before I knew it, his lips were on mine as he placed me back onto the island so we were more leveled.
My body reacted immediately as fire poured its way into me from his lips. My hands reached up, encasing themselves in his thick hair and pulling him closer. His arms tightened around my waist as he pushed his lips harder against mine. I opened my mouth, allowing our tongues to meet and I almost moaned at the minty taste in his mouth.
I felt his hand travel up my back and then fist into my hair, tugging down slightly so I had to tilt my head. I opened my legs, allowing him to step forward and deepen the kiss.
After a few seconds, I broke away, panting and his lips traveled along my jaw.
"You can't give up," he nipped the base of my jaw. "Not when we've just started."
"I won't," I breathed, my eyes closing as his lips found mine again.
He kissed me roughly, his hand tightening in my hair as his other hand gripped my waist.
"This is obviously Rated R."
Nathaniel ripped himself away as heat filled my cheeks and we looked at Alex in shame.
"I'm glad it was me and not Kira that walked in on you two," she mused, getting a bottle of water from the fridge. "You should get a room. Baby making can't happen in the kitchen."
She laughed at herself before walking out again.
I saw Nathaniel's chest expand before he turned to me, desire written all over his features.
"Could we take this to the room?" He asked.
My cheeks heated up more as I hopped down from the island, looking down to hide my face.
"As much as I'd like to, no," I told him. "Not until you've stopped seeing Kerrie."
"You've got to be kidding me, Lucy," he sighed. "I'm not seeing her. I do have business with her and the fact that she likes me makes it easy for her."
I frowned, looking up at him.
"Oh because she seduced you oh so successfully all those times that I've heard you two going at it?" I snapped. "When I walked in on you guys? The fact that you called her a weekly fuck back in the mall? I wasn't born yesterday. I can see an obvious attraction."
"Fucking hell," he ran his hand through his hair angrily and I suddenly remembered how it felt in my hands.
It was everything I imagined and more. His hair was softer than I expected and he allowed me to tug on it.
I wrapped my hand around his neck and yanked him down to my height before pushing my lips onto his. He reacted as soon as we made contact and opened his mouth, our tongues dancing once again.
He placed his hands on my butt, lifting me until my legs were wrapped around his waist. He grunted as I pushed myself closer to him, our bodies molding.
"Lucy," he moaned against my mouth.
I pulled away slightly, allowing him to talk.
"I want you, please," his eyes begged me and I released my hold on him, sliding down until my feet hit the floor.
"No," I snapped. "Work for what you want."
I stepped away from him, folding my arms as my glare settled on his face.
"I really just don't know how," he sat on one of the bar stools. "I'm going to lose everything for something that I don't even know will last. What can you do that will make me believe that this is going to last? That giving up a good partner will be worth it?"
I averted my glare, my lips turning down at the sides and my eyebrows furrowing.
"I can't prove to you that it will last or it will be worth it, Nathaniel," I murmured. "Can't you tell her you found someone else? Surely she would understand."
"I'm glad you think that," he scoffed.
I pursed my lips, looking at him through the corner of my eye.
"What if I bought a shit ton of shares?" I piped up.
Nathaniel laughed hard.
"You think you have enough money to buy all the shares I might lose?" He laughed. "You have high hopes. You would never have enough money for that."
I frowned. It deepened the more he laughed.
"I'm thinking of ways," I snapped. "It's a lot more than you're doing. Fucking ass."
I stomped away from him and to the elevator.
I heard him padding after me and climbed into the elevator after me.
"I don't think it's worth it," he spoke. "You're such high maintenance and your emotions fluctuate all the time. I can't deal with it. Thanks for helping make my decision."
I looked up at him, a lump forming in my throat as I saw him place his phone by his ear.
"I-" he cut me off by holding up his hand as he smiled.
"Hey," his voice came out smooth. "Would you like to go over a few things over dinner tonight?"
A knot formed in my stomach and my nose stung as tears fought their way into my eyes.
"That's great, I'll pick you up around five? We'll hang out for a bit before hand," he laughed slightly. "Okay, see you then, babe."
He pulled the phone away from his ear just as the elevator opened.
"Consider yourself forgotten," he smirked, walking out and going to his bedroom, closing the door after him.
I breathed out, shaking slightly as I walked to my bedroom. I closed the door, sliding down against it.
I was shocked at how he could call her so quickly after we just had an argument about it and I had told him I wouldn't give up. I was even thinking of ways to help!
Was I really that high maintenance?
I swallowed the lump in my throat, a few tears sliding down my cheeks. I felt too hot so I stripped from my shirt, getting up and laying on my bed. I kicked my shoes and socks off, leaving me in just my sweatpants and my bra.
I rolled over onto my stomach, placing my arms over my head. Closing my eyes, I focused on my breathing.
He was only doing this to be a dick, he didn't mean it surely. I was positive he felt what I had felt when we were kissing.
"What am I going to do?" I whispered, a silent sob shaking it's way through me.
My temperature seemed to rise and I took the hair tie off my wrist, twisting my hair into an unfashionable topknot to get it off my neck.
I yawned, my eyes burning as tears continued dripping onto my cheeks and pillow.
I jolted when I felt fingers running up and down my spine.
"Relax, it's just me."
"Go away, you have a date," I spat, suddenly feeling very conscious that I was almost half naked.
"Your skin is burning, are you feeling alright?" His fingers found their way to the back of my neck and goosebumps raised along my skin.
"Stop touching me please," I curled in on myself. "You made it clear that you've forgotten about me already."
"You've been crying," he stated, pressing his palm flat on the small of my back.
"Obviously," I snapped.
I tried ignoring the feeling of his skin touching mine but it was electrifying, almost as if all my nerves were on end wherever he placed his hands.
"I'm leaving now," he sighed.
I turned my head away from him, fresh tears welling in my eyes.
"Have fun," I muttered resentfully.
"I regret calling her," his fingers left my back and made their way to my wrist. "I'd much rather be with you."
I peeked at him, meeting his sad eyes.
"Then stay, please," I begged.
He shook his head, swallowing.
"She'll ruin me, Luciana," he sat up, emptiness filling my body as his touch left me. "I've worked too damn hard to throw it all away when I don't even know if we could be together. Or if we would last."
I nodded, digging my face into my pillow again, the tears finally escaping my eyes.
"Wait up for me. I swear I'll be home before eight," I heard him say and the bed shifted. "I won't do anything with her."
I sighed inwardly and nodded before I heard my bedroom door shut.
I rolled onto my back, placing my palm on my forehead. My skin was burning as my stomach flipped.

***

I checked the time again. It was almost eleven.
I sighed, throwing the blanket off of my legs and standing up. I had waited almost three hours for some asshole to come home. The least he could've done is sent me a text saying I shouldn't wait for him.
I switched off the light in the TV room before walking to the kitchen.
I heard a car door shut as I crossed the entrance and I rolled my eyes, walking faster.
I peeked over my shoulder as I heard the front door close and immediately stopped in my tracks.
His shirt was halfway unbuttoned and his hair was messed up, his lips swollen and red.
"Wait up for you," I called out. "You won't do anything with her."
His bloodshot eyes snapped up to me and he scowled.
"I didn't say I wouldn't do anything with other women though," he stalked over to me and my mouth popped open.
He shoved passed me and walked to the sink, placing his mouth under the faucet and letting the water run into it.
"Wow," I snapped. "You're a bigger jerk than I realized."
"Yeah and you're Miss Perfect, sorry I forgot," he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, straightening up.
"How much did you drink?" I murmured.
"Like it fucking concerns you," he rolled his eyes, stepping closer to me. "Sorry that I went over my limit, mom."
"Is that blood on your lip?" I asked, folding my arms.
"I knocked the fucker out," he grinned, swaying slightly.
"Why?" I raised a brow.
"I don't actually know," his smile dropped. "He got one punch in on my mouth, though."
His hand sluggishly moved to rub his lips.
"Did you have sex with someone or is your state from your fight?" I sighed.
"Uhm," he thought for a moment. "She came onto me."
My heart dropped.
"And I tried pushing her off..."
He looked like he was struggling, as if he couldn't remember. A thought seemed to cross his mind.
"Then the guy came!" He continued. "He said I'm being an asshole cause I didn't want her to jump my bones. He punched my face and I got angry."
I sighed in relief, a small smile fluttering onto my face.
"I hit him a few times and Kerrie pulled me off. He was out cold," he seemed to sober up. "I dropped her back at her house and declined her invite to stay. I went to a bar."
His eyes widened slightly.
"I told you I would be home at eight," he looked at me appallingly. "Oh shit, Lucy, I'm so sorry. Time escaped me."
I smiled bigger, shaking my head.
"Why are you happy?" His voice was strained.
"You stick to your word, huh?" I hopped onto the counter as he nodded. "Come here."
He obliged and stepped in between my legs. I gently placed my lips over his and moved back again just in time to catch his wince.
"It hurts but I really want to kiss you," he murmured, squeezing his eyes.
"We'll wait till you're better," I placed my palm over his chiseled cheek.
He shook his head and roughly captured my lips in his, kissing me with urgency.
I tired pulling away but his hands caught the back of my head, fisting their way into my hair.
"Please," his voice was muffled against my lips.
I sighed one last time before obeying him and kissing him back with just as much urgency.