Malice

-21

-Reagan- 

I could hear Nathan the next morning from down the hall playing with Kennedi. Her laughter touched my ears as I stood in the closet and dried off from a shower. I would have to go back to work today after taking two days off to deal with John's crap. But not anymore. They were settled now. I told myself last night that the only thing I would be discussing with John ever, was Matthew...and those fucking divorce papers. And I would make it perfectly clear that he needed to keep his hands to himself. 

I would write it down and stick it on his fridge if I had to. After I had fallen asleep last night-alone-I had dreamed of John. Not good dreams either. Dreams of him hurting people...dreams of him hurting me. It dawned on me that I would forever be his number one victim except he would never get the satisfaction he desired where that was concerned. 

Their laughter and play quieted. I was pulling up one lace top thigh high when Nathan appeared in the closet and leaned against the doorframe. It annoyed me to watch him watch me. "Sleep good?" I asked, scowling at him and putting as much sarcasm as possible into the question. Really, I couldn't believe he would say something like that. It was something my asshole husband would have said. 

Nathan sighed before he came all the way into the closet to stand in front of me. "I'm sorry." With his apology, he pulled me close. I rolled my eyes when his hands grabbed my ass. Little too late for that, buddy. 

"Well, I'm offended." Which was a total crock of shit. If I said it out loud maybe I would believe that there hadn't been lust and attraction there when John had been touching me. I had to pull away from Nathan or I would just tell on myself. I'd never been such a good liar and he-like John-could read me very well. 

I kept my back towards him as I stepped into a black skirt. But he was there again, wrapping me up in his arms. What had I been thinking letting John have complete control over me like that? Nathan didn't deserve it...and I almost opened my mouth to tell him about it. Don't be stupid, Reagan. You still want to marry him, right?  "I'm sorry." He said again but this time it was into my ear. His rough, deep voice sent a shiver down my spine. 

I turned around in his arms and ran my hand across the tight muscles that were hidden under his shirt. "Yea, you big, sorry, asshole." I bit my lip and looked up to meet his gaze. His brow twitched, a smile touched his lips and I stepped onto my tip toes and kissed him deeply. He relaxed, kissed me back and I could feel him grow behind his jeans. "You owe me." I whispered against his lips. 

"Mmm," He groaned and prolonged the kiss. Actually pinned me against the shelve of shoes, so that I could feel his erection against my belly. The long fingers of one hand slid into my hair and the others easily went between us and under my skirt. Sure, we had fifteen minutes to get down and dirty in the closet but Ken was awake. 

And before any of that could go further, she was walking clumsily into the closet, in her jammies. 'Momma', the word left her in an adorable squeal. Nathan's genes had clearly won. She was raven haired and her eyes swirled hazel. To see her smile warmed my entire soul and I picked her up when she reached us. "Hi baby," Her skin was soft against my lips as I kissed her cheek. 

She went on to babble. "Want me to take her to daycare?" Nathan asked, joining the embrace, planting his own hiss on her forhead. 

"No. I'll take her. I have time." 

From there, he took her from me to feed her breakfast while I finished dressing.

~

"The riverside view is my favorite part about the entire property." The showing was coming to and end as I stepped up to a huge bay window and stared out at the rushing waters half a mile from the backyard. The cottage style house was on the edge of the city and the view from the living room was perfect. If only Nathan and I had found this place when he decided to sell his two bedroom for something to better accomodate the four of us.