Page 10 of Elusive Embrace

“It was nice to see you, bookworm,” Matt says. He reaches out and gently lifts the bookworm pendant dangling from my necklace.Shit. Of course he noticed.He was always someone who paid attention to everything.

I should really have given the necklace back to him when we got divorced. I gave him the wedding and engagement rings back even though he didn’t want me to. But this necklace. I justcouldn’t. I wanted one thing to remind me of our time together. Just one piece of happiness.

Chapter 3

Matt

Natalie doesn’t reply, justgives me a small smile and returns to the arsehole.What is she doing with a wanker like that?And this is not just a jealous ex-husband talking. I can smell a possessive bastard from a mile away and this guy might as well have peed a circle around her to mark his territory.

I watch as she perches awkwardly on a stool, hands clasped around her glass. She looks tired and I know her well enough to know she hates being here. If that idiot knows it too he doesn’t seem to care. He sinks a few balls before messing up an easy shot. His mates give him a hard time and although he takes it with a smirk there’s something in his eyes that says he’s not too happy about it.

Nat seems to sense it too. He stands next to her and when he drops his hand on her thigh she flinches. It’s quick, but I catch it.

“Matt, we’re leaving,” Ryan pulls me from my thoughts.

“Coming,” I reply. My eyes are still locked on Nat but there’s no point of hanging around here. I lost every right to get involved in her life when I didn’t give her the small thing she wanted from me.

“So that was your ex?” Ry asks as we climb the long lane leading to our houses. Unlike his FMR mates Ryan wasn’t born and raised in Fellside and he’s still considered a newcomer even though he’s been here for a few years. He isn’t really up to date with the village gossip, and there was a lot of gossip about me and Nat.

“Yup.”

“You don’t want to talk about it.” It’s a statement, not a question.

“Not much to say. I cocked it up.”

“Other woman?”

“No,” I snort. “I’m not a cheater, never have been. I thought what I had to offer her was a better life but I didn’t realise we could have had a good life if I’d just made more time for her.”

Ryan doesn’t say anything and we walk in silence until we reach the end of the lane.

“Well, good night then,” he says before heading up the short path to his cottage.

“Night.” I reply and push the gate to my garden open.

“And Matt, that guy, her… boyfriend, he seems like a wanker.”

I laugh, “Same thought I had. But good to know that someone neutral thinks so too.” Ry gives me a grin before heading inside.

Egon and Venkman are waiting for me and I spend half an hour giving them all the belly rubs and cuddles they demand, considering that I had abandoned them when really they were expecting our usual evening program of me powering myself out on my indoor bike and then for them to fall asleep on me whilst I watch some mind-numbing TV.

When the cats have forgiven me I head to the shower. Maybe some hot water will wash away the dark cloud that the interaction with Nat left behind.

I step under the spray and let the hot water cascade down my body, steam swirling around me until I can barely see my own hands in front of me.

She looked good. But she also looked different. The light was gone from her eyes. But it could just have been a tough week at work.

I squeeze some shampoo into my hand and spread it through my hair. I rub hard, harder than I need, until my hands clutch at my hair and I let out a loud growl.

I really thought it would be easy if we ever ran into each other. I was convinced I’d moved on. But tonight proved I haven’t, not even close. It seemed like she has, aside from the reaction when she saw me and she’s still wearing the necklace I gave her. Why is she still wearing it?

“Stop it. STOP IT!” My voice echoes from the bathroom wall. I need to let it go. I have no right.

I lean back and close my eyes. The image of her is as clear as if she were standing right in front of me. Her dark hair curling around her shoulders. Her hazel eyes. And her lips, the top one thinner but the bottom lip plump and soft. Her body, with curves in just the right places.

Dropping one hand, I reach between my legs and squeeze my dick.

I close my eyes and imagine Natalie stepping into the shower with me. The dark triangle between her legs glistens under the spray and her nipples harden.

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