A woman's dilemma - Episode 53

 

Claudia:

 I wrap my hands around myself as the cold water splash us inside the car from the broken windows. The windshield is still intact but the rain still comes in and so does the cold wind. The car wouldn't start and It's completely dark outside. There's also no cars out on the road. I shiver a little . We're stuck.
"You cold?" Daniel speaks from the side and I shake my head.
"I can see you shaking from here." He says softly. I ignore him and blow hot air on my fingers.
"Don't be stubborn." He says and I throw him a hard look. He doesn't cower down though.
"This is your fault." I say and he nods.
"Let me make it better." He says.
"Don't bother." I look away from him and try to relax in the cramped driver's seat. A squeal is stolen from my lips when I feel cold hands grab my waist.
"Daniel!" He pulls me up and hauls me into the backseat of the car.
"The window isn't broken back here." He says. I note that it's not so bad back here even though the back windscreen is mangled up. I start to relax until I see him start to move this way too.
"What are you doing?!"
"I'm freezing my ass out here." Before I can protest, he maneveurs me so he's sitting against the door with his legs sprawled out and I'm on his lap.
"Daniel!" I yell at him.
"It's comfortable like this and warmer." He argues.
"Not for me." I say stubbornly as I scoot to the far end of the car and sit close to the door. I can't have him touching me and messing with my head

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/a-woman-s-dilemma

. I have a boyfriend who's waiting for me in Nigeria. He's probably worried that he can't reach me since there's no network up here. I shiver again when a cold wind blows into the car. Is LA supposed to be this cold?
"You'll feel much better cuddled up with me." Daniel says from his side of the car. I cuss him out in my head and turn away from him to hug my knees. My teeth clattering in my mouth.
"Come here!" His strong hands grab my waist and pull me unto his lap as well.
"Let me go!" I struggle in his arms but he holds me down to his chest. My back feels scalding hot from his chest.
"Your clothes are a bit wet as well. I don't want you to get sick because of me. Can you just stay still? Let me keep you warm." He pleads as he holds on to me. Old feelings squeeze my chest and I have to shake my head and struggle harder. He's having none of it though. He's much stronger and keeps me in place.
"Why do you hate being so close to me this much?" I bite my lips hard to stop the answer from slipping off my lips.
"Why?!"
"Because you make my heart beat!" I snap at him. This shuts him up and me as well. I cuss myself out in my head for saying that. Remember Benjamin. He doesn't deserve this. I start to move away from him this time that his hands aren't on me but the jerk's hand creep up my back stilling me in place.
"What are you doing?" My voice is completely shaky.
"You make my heart beat too, my Claw." He says softly as his hand crawls up to settle around my neck from the front.
"Daniel..."
"No. You make my heart freaking pound. I missed you." He says. I close my eyes to the feeling he's drawing from me.
"You left me. Freaking paid me off. Do you miss someone you throw away so easily?" I ask. I expect him to explain but I only feel his head rest against my spine.
"I'm sorry baby. Not a day goes by that I don't miss you." I want to say I missed him too but I can't.
"You paid me off." I say again.
"For too long I've not been able to find a woman that wants me for being me. They all want something. Money. Fame. Connection."
"And you thought I wanted money."
"Let me finish." He says. I frown but shut my mouth up.
"When I saw your text about the money I should send to you, I was gutted. It was like a slap to my face. It was like the universe was making a mockery of me for trusting a woman again."
"You asked me for the bank details. You gutted me first. You slapped me first." I argue.
"I didn't." He says simply and I frown.
"You can't lie to me! I have the text message to prove it. It was so completely out of the blue that it hurt more than it should have. I should have deleted the message soon after but I saved it to remind myself what a waste of affection you are. Trying to pay me like some prostitute...."
"Tina sent that text message." He cuts me off and my mouth hangs open.
"What?"
"I remember she asked me out that very night. We were supposed to talk about why she left with your friend's husband. She said she was in love but I remember seeing the helplessness in her face. Imagine my shock when she called me a few days ago and told me of how she manipulated the both of us. She sent the text." I shake my head. That can't be true.
"Why would she do that? What would she gain? Because I accused her? Why?"
"She said she was trying to protect me. You were poking the snake's hole and putting me in the cross fire. I don't even know what that means." My eyes soften when I hear this. Poking the snake's hole. Whose hole was I poking back then? Francis? Why would she protect her brother from the man she's been living with for months now?
"This is crazy." I breathe out. I bury my head in my palms and sigh deeply.
"You didn't send the text." I say quietly. What does this mean? That we've been apart for eight months because of something this twisted? Where does that leave us now?
"You have to believe me. I wouldn't be here in Los Angeles for a joke. I left my job. My mother. To mend things with us." He says quietly. I may be confused but one thing I'm sure of is that he's not lying. I pull my face out of my palms when something hits me.
"Wait, you knew I'll be in Los Angeles? How?!" His eyes shines and his lips curl up a little. I quickly connect the dots.
"The vacation! You did that!"
"Tina did it actually. She wanted us to make up. I do not know why she thought to do this now after so many months but who cares? I am so happy to have you in my arms again. To have this hope that there's hope for us. To be able to touch you." His hand loosely around my neck slips up to my chin. He murmurs my name softly and my heart drops on his lap. He turns my face to him and he brushes my lips lightly. We're so close, his breath fans my face and there goes all my thoughts. My confusion. My wariness.
"I love you, Claw. Too much." I gasp at his words. His eyes moves to my lips as his finger slips into my mouth. My tongue brush against it and the groan he lets out scrambles my brain and burns a few circuits.
"I've got to taste you again." He says and before I can consent or argue, his head starts to dip slowly. I want to taste him again so bad. My hands settle on both of his cheeks and I hold him a breath away from my lips. I close my eyes and breathe him in.
"Daniel.." I say like I'm pained. Benjamin's face crawls behind my closed eyes and I actually let out a sob.
"Claudia what's wrong. Are you okay?" I don't let go of his face or open my eyes. I breath him in for a few seconds as tears fall down my eyes.
"Claudia...." His hand touch my face softly and I open my eyes to him.
"It's too late.

Read " Set me free " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. This is too late." I let my hands down and let my head hang between us.
"Claudia look at me. We can make this work. You want me. I can see that. please let me in. Here." He touches a finger to my chest and I inhale a deep breath.
"Can I rest on your chest tonight. I don't want to talk anymore." When he starts to argue, I put my head against his chest and lie against him.
"Please." I say through the sob in my throat. He doesn't say anymore thankfully and his hand comes around me to hold me tight. I let my eyes fall close to savor​ this feeling. Just for tonight. Reality can come crashing in with the sun tomorrow.