BEING THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE

chapter three

Nathaniel turned around after hearing foot steps from behind him, the axe he use to cut fire woods held firmly in his hand Tiana stop and step back, he smile  "Hey it's you" he said lowing the axe,
"Were you expecting some one else?" Tiana ask
"No, expecting no one at all, but what are you doing here, by the way, is it month end already, don't tell me that you are  here to collect the rent money?"
Nathaniel tease
Tiana look up at him, he smile,
"You know you haven't been here much over two weeks right I'm not expecting any rent until the end of April"
"I know that's why I'm surprised you're here, ah let me guess you are checking in right" he said with a smile,
Tiana stood there looking at his well groomed body thinking he must work out a lot his chest has hair alright but nothing she imagine, it was in small amount laying on his body down to is low cut jeans like a neatly spread bed, her eyes wondered down lingering for a while then back to, to his face he smirk at her,
"You always checked in on your tenant, or it's just me getting special attention?" he ask
Tiana look but didn't respond, she had no reason to be here, none except to see him she was sure he was making it on his own he's a growing man, how old it was hard to say for being his attractive does not come with a age tag, she was lusting feeling it deep within her inner thighs,
"Want to give me a hand with these?" He ask picking up a portion of the woods a long with the axe, Tiana nod, he wait for her to gather the others and follow him in through the kitchen door, she look around it's like nothing was moved from it's place things were clean just the same,
"Thank you, ah am, miss stone" he said
"Tiana, please just call me tiana" she said
Nathaniel smile, "I do like the name Tiana!" He said with a smirk "pretty name  just like the woman who has it,
Tiana shyly look at him
"Now that we are on a first name basic you can call me Nate" he face her on turning fully, she took a step back, he took a step towards her, she step back more and was backed up against the counter, he held her hand in his  he held it in a tight grip grin at her, Tiana was more nervous now pull her hand away,
"I just recall I had told you to check in on me is that why you came?" he smile once more as he walk  out to the carport  she followed him out, he took a seat on a long chair near a small  table kept on the carport where he has some things on it, Tiana notice his chains two of them looking like some  soliders wore in the military, she thought maybe it was just something design to look like it, she could only see the back of them and couldn't tell if a name was on it,
She saw him reach down beside him took up a small box made from sharpen sticks, he left it on the small table, he went down once more this time he came up with a small bag fill his hand with something looking like corn grain it was when she saw the rat cage in the box,
"What!?" She asked herself expressively she step back a little bit in order to distance herself from the rat she hate rats with a passion, they are like demons, what on Earth pushed him to be petting the rat, she backed up a bit more look at him with a watchful stare as if he was some sort of nut case, his back was to her the strong muscles in his back and upper body vibrates while he pet the rat, he turn his head to look at Tiana with a smirk, "it's lonely over here" he said getting up to closer himself to her, "don't judge me, I'm not you who have a man and a family, a man got to do what a man got to do" he smile turning back to the little box this time he didn't sit
"Who said I'm being judgemental?" Tiana ask
"Your eyes" Nathaniel said
"It's just that I hate rats"
He chuckled, lean against the table looking at her,
"Someone's greatest enemy can actually be someone's else best friend, "so how many kids are there?"
"Two" Tiana answer over the lump in her throat,
He nod,
"I should go" she said hanging her head as she rub her palms over each other
"You're leaving so soon I was starting to actually appreciate your company, are you shy?" he ask
" reached a finger to push back her clump of blonde hair that falls to hide her sexy cheek bone,
Tiana move back a little, "why should I be?"
"I don't know you got a reason?"
"No" she said
his finger came back to her face  brushes her skin and she shiver his finger came across her lips rubbing them for awhile she stood there let him his finger part her lips to get in her mouth it was rest on her tongue she close her eyes  took a deep breath it circles her mouth gentle, he took her hand and take her finger in his mouth,  her eyes pop open and look deep in to his eyes as he suck on her finger, pulling it in and pushing it out,
She took another deep breath even harder than before, "I should go" her words Trimble as she speaks them,
"Don't leave just yet" he said
"Really I should go"
"Come back and check in again, real soon" he whispers with a smile leaning in to kiss the side of her mouth sucking it dragging his teeth on her skin, Tiana moan, he lift her dress rubbing between her thighs rubbing it up and down, she  grit her teeth, her skin felt so good under his palm Tiana hasn't had this much fiscal touch in a long while but was  too afraid to let it, his finger part her under wear play over her opened as he  rub on her clitoris, tiana caught his hand moving it from her, he  smiles at her making  the heat inside of her more unbearable, she hurry to get out of there for if her  husband find out he touched her in such a way, he'll kill them both, and to find out she actually like it,
Nathaniel lean on the wall watching her cross the street she just got to her gate when the two kids  came he saw them share hugs before they went inside he think on his daughter or his son who would be five by now he wondered if it would be two  they too would have but it's no chance to find out now, he went in side to start his fireplace it wasn't cold but he needed to feel that fire another fire burning than the one he just started inside of him, he sigh took a deep breath then sat on the sofa lucky for him he wasn't so easy to have an orgasm for he sure would on himself, he relax close his eyes and for sometime he just have thoughts.
"So how was school?" Tiana question the children
"Fine" the both answer they all turn their heads at the sound of the bike roaring in the front yard, the children quickly grab their bag pack and rush in to homework as they both sat on the living room floor, Tiana move to the kitchen to start prepare food the front door open and close with a hard bang Tiana believe the entire neighborhood to hear,
"Where is your mother?" His heavy voice ask
"I'm here" Tiana said coming to the kitchen door, she wasn't expecting him to be so early today he's home late most of the evening especially since of late,
"I'm hungry" he said
"I'm making din"
"Making?" He harshly ask getting up off the chair, "I work hard when I come home I'm expecting to get food"
"I wasn't"
"Shut up" he slapped her hard across her left cheek,
"Mom!" the children shout jumping off the floor,
"Go back over there" he warn with a point of his finger,
"Finish your home work" Tiana said crying silent tears both children has started crying she wish she could comfort them
"Go to the kitchen now I'm hungry" Aran said demandingly Tiana ran quickly into the kitchen trying to move as fast as she could, she was trimbling when she took the food to him fifteen minutes later, he look up at her then at the food he pulled her down to him by a clump of hair, "let this be the last day I  come home through that fucking door  to wait on dinner"
Tiana nod,
"What, what I didn't hear you"
"Yes I hear you"
He push her and she trip, she pick her self up and went to the kitchen, she serve food and call the children
Rihanna came in and hug her, "I'm sorry mom" she cried
"It's not your fault" honey" she said hugging them both, "it's not your fault either" she said to niccane kissing them both with her bloodshot lips, she sat to watch them eat while at the table her husband called,
"Hey woman bring a hot beer" he called out,
Tiana got up moving to the counter, Rihanna walk behind her, "mom you know you don't have to do all the things he said"
"I know honey, but it's better to do it"
"Where the shit is that beer woman, am I to get it my ass self?". Aron's voice echoes
Tiana look at her children, "I'm coming" she shout out going to the living room, "let your children go to bed now" he demanded
"It's not yet their bed time, they always get to watch family time" Tiana tries to make her says count,
"Shut up, bitch" Aran throw the beer on her face, Tiana grasp on feeling the liquid as it wet her skin and run down her chest,
"There'll be no more family time, as of today they eat and go to bed"
"But why Aran? They haven't done nothing" Tiana said
"No but you have, that is why they are going to be punish" he poke her chest with the empty bottle, "theyvget punjsh for your wrongs, And who are you to question me ah, It's not like you got a say in this house, the reason for you being here, is to clean the house, cook my food and fuck me when I want you to fuck me" Tiana face turn up his words brought more tears of all the things she have done for this man she was expecting him to be a bit more great full, "why the tears don't tell me you believe there was something else, get the hell out my face" he said turning her back to him, using his foot to push her, Tiana run to the kitchen took the children's hand pull them out the kitchen,
"What happened mom?" Rihanna ask looking at the way her mother was looking,
"Nothing honey it's just that you have to go to bed"
"Mom we haven't watched family time" niccane said
"It's ok baby just do what I say"
Rihanna look at the angry face of her father as they went on by to their room Tiana see to their freshen up she sat down to read them a story, half way through it, a loud bang came on the door,
"Woman, get the hell out here now" he said
Tiana got up look at the children then walk to the door, by she open it her husband hard fist came across her cheek bone sending her in the door jam, Tiana scream, Rihanna jump out of bed rushing to her,
"Go to your bed" Aran demand his daughter,
"No I won't leave mom"
"Listen" Tiana said Rihanna crawl back inside her room looking back at her mother,
"Don't set foot back out the door again, or there'll be consequences" Aran slam the door, Rihanna knew he would flag her her has done it before and she didn't really want to go through that again,
"Get in there" Aran push Tiana ahead of him in their bed room kicking the door close, he started undressing himself, Tiana's eyes wondered over his body, she saw that he had got himself a new tattoo on his upper right arm, if look like an hark, first he got a snake now this, when she first saw him he got a bike on his chest, he then got the snake it kept growing with his size for he then got something on his back covering almost the whole back, he make his way towards her, her shattered lips Trimble as he came to her, "get naked I want to get my Grove on" he chuckled Tiana took a while before moving to his command
"What am I to take your damn cloth off myself, move it woman I'm waiting"
Tiana got off the bed to remove her cloth wiggle out her under wear Aran slapped his palm between her thighs gathering her flesh in his palm, "mm-mm" he said showing her on her back slapped her ass before getting on her, the weight of him sank into her a long with the pressure of his manhood as he slam into her she cried in pain sinking her fingers in the spread her teeth tightly gritted together, Aran came on rapid wetting her belly he got up leaving her, going to the bathroom, she thought it was to take a shower but he came back shortly, she use her dress to hold his sperms  and went to the bathroom, she soak herself in a nice hot bath crying herself to comfort,
Some how she wanted to get out of this she started thinking of running waiting until he wasn't home like that book she read when that woman had to run from her husband with her daughter she couldn't for she would never be able to start over she had nothing no money no plans she knows no where, she grew up right here in fort Collins right across the street she has only met Aran right here, the day he came to start building this house, it was love at first sight for he was everything a woman would want he has money he has class, class she didn't know where went he only have luxury now, luxury she has to be paying hard times for,
Nathaniel stretch as he came on the carport, the first thing he saw was his landlord two children, he never really saw them up close but he saw them a few times with their mother, they were walking together down the road as if they were going off to school, it's his first Tim seeing them walking by themselves  walking down their mother was sure to walk them even if she never went back for them,
Tiana for two days didn't come out for her face was swollen her husband had given her a hard beaten for after her warning not to let him come home and dinner wasn't prepared, time had catch up with her for she had to attend a p.t.a meeting which she had to see her children class teachers Tiana tried to explain, but wasn't given the chance,
Nathaniel saw the bike ride out soon after the children left five minutes later a woman came,
Clover wasn't shock at her friend sight just wondered why she let him beat her such way that too in front of the children,
"You should leave him" clover said
"I thought about it, you think I haven't thought about it, but I  can't and do what with my children?"
"You can come and stay with me"
"That's too much you have your own life"
"I know you don't want to leave all this but one day you'll find better"
"No body wants a woman with two children"
"You can't determine that Tiana"
"Oh yes I can, I don't know what to do" she cried,
Clover hug her tightly for comfort, comfort she didn't find it was really too much to bear,
For sometime clover stay with Tiana she later got up to leave as it was getting late and her children will be home from school too, she step out the front porch and look across the street she noticed a Chevy truck, but never took notice until she saw the sexy male figure, "ooh, ohh girl I've never seen a guy so sexy" she cried out, running back into the house, "you never say that you got a new tenant, one so hot too"
"I didn't?"
"No!"
"Must have slipped me"
"It slipped you alright, he's sexy"
"Why you lust when you're already married to a sweet mate like Marc?"
Clover giggle, "just because my husband is sweet doesn't mean another man isn't sweeter, as for you, you need to start looking for the next sweet guy for your husband isn't anymore"
Tiana smile at her friend,
"So what's his name?"
"He said to call him Nate"
"So you rent a guy your home and you only known him as Nate? I'm going, call me ok"
"I'll do that"
She left the house and Tiana decided to start dinner,
"Nathaniel was mowing the lawn when he saw the woman came out his landlord home it was the same woman from this morning he saw her looking his way she wave at him and he did it in return, he watch her walk up the road, he wondered if everything was alright with Tiana he remembers her name he wanted to cross the street to check, it was how much he find himself falling for her she was sweet in such away but sad he wondered if it was her husband who wasn't treating her right, he remembers the evening he came he stood watch until she went back he saw her watching him a few times, but didn't pay much attention to him, he saw the two kids walking up with a few other kids he didn't want to stop by with the kids there so he continues to mow the lawn, they saw him and wave he smile and wave back,
Two days after he saw them going off to school, no mother it was becoming obvious something was wrong, he got in his truck catch up with them and offer them a ride, they took it because he is their mother's tenant, Rihanna told him, he nod and smile, "that's wise" he told them, "so how do you know I can be trusted?" Nathaniel ask
"For you seems like a nice man"
He giggle, "looks can be deceiving, and you barely know me"
The little girl look at him he smirk, they both were in the front of his Chevy truck, this was the first time seeing them up close, they are two sweet kids none look like their mother by the way, guessing they got their looks from that dude their mother marry, he wondered if he was worth having her, he brakes at the bus stop and wait by his truck until their bus came he was just about to get in when a woman about his wife's age if she was still a live , she came up smiling, before giving a smile he wait to see what it was she wanted,
"Hi you must be that new guy that lives in the neighborhood"
"Probably one of them I want to bet a new guy came in the neighborhood almost every day"
She giggle, "you live in the home of Mrs Fletcher's"
"Mrs Fletcher's?" He ask
"The pretty blonde hair lady who's your land lord"
"Oh" she's speaking of Tiana, he thought, he knew her name to be stone, oh she's married as Fletcher, oh I see" he thinks that must be it,
"I must be the one" he told her,
"I noticed you brought her children to the bus stop, she is sick?"
"You're asking me, is she"
"Her husband owns a factory in Grand junction, you probably saw him riding a huge bike,
Nathaniel nod
Roomers has it that he's cheating on her and that he beats her"
Nathaniel straighten up he felt his stomach turn he hate hearing those things especially to Tiana the second woman that as captured his heart, and this was no joke, he didn't ask much questions about it,
" only heard it I'm not sure if it's true I know him well but I don't know her personally but  if it is so that he beats her it's their business he's her husband, who knows what she has wrong him"
Nathaniel narrow his eyes at the woman,
"You didn't tell me your name, and by the way, I'm Cecilia, Cecilia cole"
"Maybe the next time I saw you I can tell you my name I'm sure by then we'll know each other better" he turn to get in his van, he was closing the door when she came up,
"There's a bar in Wyoming on park road, I work the counter every Friday night I get a break in between, I hope you stop by one of the night" she touch his cheek, "I promise to have something special waiting for you" she whispered with her lips on his ear, he start his truck drove off leaving her, he couldn't get it out of his head what she had said about Tiana's husband beating her, he hope it's just roomers and useless gossips for he didn't want to start a fight in such a quiet neighborhood, he is here to keep a low profile and give his home time to refurbished, Nathaniel father had left him a big house in Colorado springs close by Ogden salt lake City Utah, it was a great place where the lake leads into the ocean, he has a yacth on the lake nothing big but comfy enough but he had been out in the woods for so long he needed some place else other from on the water, it's why he get the place to rent, he knew his wife would have wanted them to set sail soon as they break from the military, it would have been nice sailing with her they would be together and have their own private time by the pop of both their eyes they would make out, his wife was ready to ride him at any time he missed that he miss having sex he felt he haven't have real sex since Alex, he screw around now and them nothing serious, he thought about Tiana once more and what that other woman had said about her husband beating her gave his face a twist, he curse and frown, he got back and his ego urge him to went knocking when he did the man towering three foot three over him came to the door, he had to lift his head to see his face not only was he tall he was chaptin big almost like a mountain,
"Can I help you?" Aran ask
"You probably know I'm living in your wife's house I'm here to talk with her"
Tiana heard his voice and came where she could  heard but not be seen
"I have an idea, so you want to see her, why?"
"When a person became one's Tenant they can see them for concerned issues"
"I'm her husband"
"I don't mean to be rude but when I checked it was miss Stone's name was on the rent list so can I speak with her?"
"You maybe right her name is on the list, but I call the shots and I'm telling you you can't talk to her now, it's not possible, we're busy"
"Busy doing what?" Nathaniel ask
"What I do with my wife in my house isn't none of your business, but I was fucking her before you came, now if you excuse me I will like to get back to that" he said, stepping back to close the door in Nathaniel's face but before he could he brace it with his hand,
They stood looking at each other before Nathaniel let go then walk away he was going through the gate when Aran went out on the porch Tiana saw when Nate turn to look at Aran who form gun from his fingers motioning to Nate as if to be sending a treat making popping sounds, Tiana saw Nate shook his head she saw too when her husband show him the gun he have for his protection since he is a business owner, she saw Nate's face twist confusedly, Nathaniel was starting to think his gun was illegal then he remembered that woman had said he own's a business, she saw Aran did something real childish stick up his middle finger, the sign they say means fuck off, Nate shook his head held up his hand then walk away.
Tiana was sitting in the bed room when Aran came in,
"So you got a new friend" he said,
Tiana swallowed her spit, "I don't know what you're saying"
"You don't know ah" Aran said bending over her, "you don't fucking know what I'm talking about, if he should fucking come back here I'll shoot him" he said slapped her lightly on her already swollen face,
Tiana grit her teeth for it hurts still thought it wasn't all that swollen any more,
"You should warn him I will dig him out that house so fast, faster than how he got here, if he dears to challenge me again"
"He probably just wanted to talk"
"He dear to challenge me and you're defending him"
"I'm not defending him" Tiana cry out quickly
"Fucking bitch" he said toss her hair, he then went out on the front porch from the bed room Tiana could hear him calling work saying he isn't coming in today, she later came from the bedroom to find him sitting in the living room,
"Fix me a sandwich" he said when she went by him,
Tiana could only do what he wants and asked she took the sandwich then went back to start dinner she cook with tears thinking on the ruthless life she's living praying for a way to get out of it,
"Fucking no!" Aran big voice vibrate
Tiana rush into the living room from the kitchen, she got a glimpse of Nate at the door, she couldn't believe he came back, now Aran was more angry, Tiana hope that he didn't think of passing blows on Nate pour Nate won't be able to stand up to him, he's such a small guy to Aran,
"What problem you have with me seeing your wife?" Tiana heard him ask
"She's busy"
"Too busy to talk, I came three days a go you said the same thing"
"You should leave my house, I'm warning you, go crawl back in the hole you came from, I can call the cops here have you arrested for trespassing"
Nathaniel chuckled, he knew once he call in the cops they'll know him and as he said he's here to keep a low profile, he didn't want to start a big fight in such a quiet neighborhood such as fort Collins, Nathaniel didn't want to walk away with out seeing her but he left,
In the evening he saw the two children and stop to talk with them, aware that he was being watched, he has the feeling it wasn't their mom but their father, he soon came busting out the door "get in the house now" he roar the two kids quickly wave to Nathaniel and ran off,
"Stay away from my family" Aran told him, Nathaniel cross the street to the house going in his bag for his safe key the little safe he kept two guns in it's been a long time since he cleaned them up and decided to do so now he sat on the car port where he could see the house, no one came out from the children went in, he was fustratingly angry now at that man he wants to just go over there pull his gun and end it right there, he spend half his night restless, for he didn't feel good about the whole situation,
The phone in the living room rang about nine the morning he was laying on the floor reaching up he answered, at first he heard nothing but soft breathing the way it makes him feel he knew it could only be Tiana, unless it is his wife's ghost, for only those two women gave him such a sexual feeling,
"Hello" he said sitting up,
"Nate" she call him,
"Tiana" he said, "tell me that you're ok"
"I am you shouldn't have to pick a fight with him Nate"
"I'm not scared of him just tell me that he isn't hurting you"
"He's not"
Nathaniel could tell it was a lie through her teeth,
"Ok I'm glad to know"
"You came to see me why?"
"I was making sure you were okay"
"Ok, I'll see you" she hang up sat at the table, it was very hard for her she wondered why Nate became so concerned she remembers him touching her lips the way his finger came in her mouth, he left her with a nice feeling, she wish to see him really she did.
Clover called up Tiana she was going out shopping and wanting to know if she needs anything and they could go shopping together, Tiana's face wasn't too bad but it has a little bruise on it she didn't want to go out any way, so she bypassed the invitation,
Nathaniel sat on the bar stool next to the big dude he noticed it to be Tiana's husband but he sat anyway, "a tequila" he said Aran turn to look at him Nathaniel head was on the bartender who's back was to him she turn and he saw it was the same one from the other day, Cece something if he remembers well,
"You made it" she said as she hand him his tequila,
"You said I should come right, besides I'm home sick"
She giggle, call another girl to cover for her then came around taking his hand they went out side and he went to the truck, they were sitting inside when he saw the man came out he knew he was looking out for him but he was looking to get screw some thing he haven't since he got here,
After a hard one he drop her at her place and went home it was late but the light was still on in Tiana's window, remember he saw her man at the bar wondering if he didn't got home he then saw it went out and went inside,
Saturday he drove out to his home to check on how things were going, things were coming on real fine moving faster than he had expected,
Sunday while in church, he saw Tiana with the two kids and the woman who visited her the other day three other kids and a man he didn't see the giant Tiana marry he went over to talk to to them he haven't seen her for a while today she didn't look as pretty today as the other times she look down, the woman smile at him "I'm clover I saw you the other day"
"Yes you did, I saw you too" he smirk,
"So I could hire you to mow my lawn?" She grin
Tiana bounce her
"What I'm asking"
"Don't listen to her she don't need to have her lawn mower, mow, her husband does all that"
Clover giggle, Nathaniel look from one to the other"
"Would you like a ride home?" Nathaniel ask
"No, thank you anyway"
"Of course you need aride it's a good distance from here, what if you don't get another ride today is Sunday"
"I know but it's better I don't"
"Ok" Nathaniel said walking away,
"You turn the ride down"
"My husband won't be pleased they kicked it off the other day, he came by to talk to me and Aran was upset, I saw him threatening him then when he came he said he is going to call the cops, it didn't seem he wanted that"
"No body wants to have a running with the cops, as for your husband, he must be a shame to let him see you the way he felt you after each beat"
"I don't want him to hurt Nate"
The way she said it clover look at her, "oh so you like him you actually like him" clover said
Tiana said nothing to clover only to call the kids then left walking with them slowly to the bus stop.