Page 51 of Titan

She sighs. “White, if you don’t mind. I had a chicken burger for supper so I guess it should be white, right?”

We both chuckle softly. I’m smiling just from speaking with her, and I close my eyes and inhale, feeling like such a monster for staying involved with her when I know in my heart I should just walk away.

But I can’t.

“I’ll be right over.”

“See you.”

I end the call and exhale heavily. I know I shouldn’t do this, but I need some affection and to lose myself in her body.

I go to the bathroom and have a quick shower, brush my teeth and dress in clean clothes. Then, I check in on my father, whose lying on his bed, his new wife at his side holding his hand.

“If you can spare me, I’m heading out for a few hours,” I say. “I’ll be back later. If you need me, you can get me on my cell.”

He nods. “Got yourself a woman?”

“Yes. At least, I think she’s mine. Still working on it.”

“See you tomorrow,” he says. “We have lots of work to do.”

“We do.”

I close the door to his bedroom and go down the stairs to the main floor. The men have moved Ethan’s body to a refrigerated truck they have and will keep it there until we bury him.

I say goodbye to Clarence and then take my Denali to Natalia’s place, which is not too far from my father’s house near Central Park. On the way, I stop at a liquor store and by a bottle of white wine.

The neighborhood where Natalia lives is bohemian, made up of a lot of student residences and old brownstones, with coffee shops and other boutiques, art galleries and clothing stores. She lives in an old brownstone with her grandfather and brother. I ring the buzzer and she lets me in. I climb the stairs, bottle of wine in hand.

The door is already open, and she smiles when she sees me.

I enter and close the door behind me. Then, I hold up the bottle of wine. “A gift for my lady.”

She takes the bottle from my hand. “You know what they say. Beware of strangers bearing gifts…”

“I hope I’m not really a stranger. Not anymore at least.”

I follow her into the kitchen, where she removes a bottle opener from the drawer, and I stand behind her, so close that I can feel the warmth of her body. She reaches up and takes out two glasses and I put my arms on the counter, trapping her from behind. I kiss her neck, enjoying the scent of her perfume. She smells flowery and womanly at the same time, her hair freshly shampooed, and some kind of perfume on her neck. Whatever it is, it makes me want her even more and I imagine taking off her clothes, one piece at a time.

Slowly, so I can take in her deliciously curvy body.

She turns around and I step away. I want a drink, but at the same time, what I really want is her.

I take the bottle from her, take the bottle opener and place them both back on the counter. Then, I take her in my arms.

“More than wine, I need you,now,” I murmur, my desire for her mixed with recent grief making me impatient for the comfort of her body against mine.

I kiss her, and she seems a bit startled at first, but then her body melds against me, her breasts pressing against my chest, her arms slipping around my neck. I kiss her even more deeply and she kisses me back with almost as much passion as I feel.

“We better go upstairs,” she says, her voice sounding aroused. “In case my brother comes home early…”

“Lead the way,” I say, and she takes my hand and does just that.

Thisis what I need.

This might help wash away the terrible previous twenty-four hours.

At least until tomorrow rolls round…

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