A woman's dilemma - Episode 51

 

Daniel:

  I caress the gentle dip on Claudia's chin and release a long sigh. This isn't how I pictured the night going. She mumbles sleepily and turn her face away from me. I put my hand back to the steering wheel. I look up at the dark sky. I don't want this day to end like this hence this plan I've put up.
"Where are we?" I hear her groggy voice  and prepare myself for what I know is coming once I tell her where we are.
"I thought I'll show you the Hollywood sign. It's a beautiful sight up the mountain." I tell her softly.
"Wh... what?" She sputters.
"You were sleeping so soundly and I didn't want to wake you. We're almost there." I put in. She is silent for a few moments so I take my eyes away from the road to look at her. She's scowling deeply.
"I..."
"Stop the car." She says calmer than I know she feels.
"Claudia, just give me a chance. Just a few minutes." I press down on the accelerator to get us going faster.
"I said stop the car!" She screams. I tighten my hands on the steering wheel. I knew I'll go through this much. I know the woman I'm dealing with after all.
"Claudia.."
"Shut up! And stop this car."
"I am sorry but you're stuck with me until I get everything I want to say out." I tell her frankly and click all the locks in place. I hear her scoff loudly but keep my face to the road.
"Stop. This. Stupid. Car!" Each word from her lips are punctuated with a hit to my shoulder. I swerve a bit off the road but manage to get the car in line.
"Claudia I'm driving here. We're going to be in an accident if you don't stop."
"Stop?! This is kidnapping! Get me out of here!"
"Would you listen to me?" I ask her.
"No." She snaps without a minute thought.
"I thought as much." I tell her and press on the accelerator more.
"I told you to stop!" Her hands cover mine on the steering wheel as she struggles with me.
"Stop! What are you doing?!" I scream at her. She doesn't let up but struggle harder.
"Ok! Okay! I will stop!" I yell, completely frustrated with the stubborn woman.
"Now." she insists and I grumble but move the car to a stop by the side of the road. I click the doors open and she jumps out before I can unhook my seatbelt.
"Claudia!" I yell after her as I alight as well. She walks to the road and put a hand out for the few vehicles passing. I reach her and take the hand she has out.
"Let go!" She yanks her hand out of mine and I try not to let that hurt too much.
"What are you doing?" I ask her softly.
"Trying to get a ride home." She put her hand out again and I take it down, not letting it go as I pull her to face me. She looks above my head stubbornly.
"I'll take you." I tell her. She looks ahead like she isn't listening to me.
"Did you hear me? I said I'll take you to the hotel. I promise. Claw.."
"Don't you dare call me that!" Her voice breaks at the last word as she turn away from me to hide her face from me.
"Don't hide that face away from me." I tell her. She shakes her hand from mine and starts to walk away. I follow behind her.
"Claw!" I yell from behind her. She turns around suddenly with flaming eyes.
"You jerk! You stupid a*shole! I told you not...." I can't resist the urge anymore. I dip my head and crash my lips to hers. She stands frozen for a few seconds. I intend to break the kiss before it gets wild but when I hear the small noise she lets out of her throat I groan and place a hand behind her back to press her into me more. I brush my tongue against the seam of her lips.
"Open for me, baby." I growl against her lips, I'm stun when her tongue dip into my mouth instead and she plunder my mouth in a hot kiss. She takes absolute control as her hand wrap around my neck and she moans into my mouth. I swallow all her sounds of pleasure and take everything she has to give.
  Harsh light shine on my closed eyes before the loud blaring of a truck's horn snaps Claudia out of our hold.
"Don't.." A hot slap cuts my words off as Claudia shoot daggers at me with her flaming eyes. We remain in a stare off for long moments, both our chest moving with the intensity of our harsh pants.
"I'm out of here." I hear her mutter before she walks past me to the car. I follow after her but when she beats me to the driver's seat and gets in, I stop short.
"What are you doing?" I ask slowly. She gives me a smirk just before I hear the ignition turn on.
"Claudia?"
"Hope you get a ride home." She throws out the window before she puts the car in motion. She isn't planning on leaving me here is she? I watch the car slowly move into the road but then it starts sliding down the hill. She doesn't know how slopy this road is?
"Claudia!" I scream and run after the car.
"Help! I can't control the car!!" Her panic voice comes out of the car on a pant.
"The brake isn't working!" She screams to me as I try to keep up with the speed of the car down the road.
"Swerve! Swerve! Back it up against that pole!" I point to the tree behind us. She looks to me bewildered as she checks the pole in the mirror and turns back to shake her head at me.
"Make sure you're buckled up!" I instruct her. I see her fumble with belts.
"In 3" I scream so she can hear me. The car is much faster than I am no matter how fast I try to keep up.
"I'm scared." She's crying I feel gutted for now being able to do more but instruct her.
"3!"
"Oh God."
"2!" I gauge the distance to the pole.
"Now! Now!" I scream as I stop running. I see the determination on her face before she turns the steering and back the car. I watch with my heart in my mouth. The crash is loud and I can hear Claudia's scream too. I rush to the car which the back is now mangled up. Claudia's head is on the steering wheel as I get closer. Why isn't she getting up?
"Claudia! Claudia!" I pull the door with great force and it comes open just Claudia's head comes up.
"I almost died!" She sobs out as she throw herself at me. I catch her and help her unhook the seatbelt digging into her chest.
"Shhhh. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry." I rub her back but let her cry against me. I know how scared she must have been. I wasn't even in the car and I felt like my heart will drop from how fast it was beating in my chest.
"You scared me, baby. I thought I was going to lose you before I had a chance to get your heart again." I murmur into her hair. She wraps her legs around my waist and relax all her weight on me. If she heard what I said about getting her heart again, she doesn't give me any clue. Her sobs dies down to quiet sniffs in a few minutes.
"You can let me down now." She mumbles but doesn't make any move to stand on her own.
"Let's see if you're hurt." I say gently as I carry her to the front of the car and drop her on the hood of the car. She quickly wipe her tears when I start to study her face.
"I'm not usually a cry baby." She says with a tilt of her chin. I try not to laugh because it's not the time for that.
"Of course I know that. I'll just check you for a bruise." I tell her as I roll her trousers legs a little bit up.
"Does anything hurt?" I ask her as I caress the bare skin of her legs. She takes in a sharp breath and pulls away from my touch.
"I'm fine." She says. There's a faint blush on her cheeks and I know I'm getting to her. This gives me immense hope that maybe I'll be able to get her to trust me again.
"How are we going to make it to the hotel now?" She asks forlornly.
"We'll find a way." I try to sound sure but the road has just about cleared up. There's no car driving down the road anymore and it's gotten dark.
"Are you sure? The sky looks like it's going to rain as well." It's like the sky was just waiting for her to acknowledge the clouds because as soon as the words leave her lips, the sky opens up and the rain pelt down on us. Claudia squeals at the cold water.
"It's cold!" It's getting us wet so quickly.
"Come on!" I wrap my hands behind her knees and her back and pick her up.
"What are you doing?" She asks. I don't answer but carry her into the front seat of the car and get in with her.
"We should be dry in here." I tell her.