***Note from Author: After many weeks of internal debating, I have decided to post my own short story for the first time on Literotica. Any asterisk means internal thought. I would love to hear from you! Any feedback would be appreciate it. ****
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Nathan rubbed the back of his neck and glared at her. He kept tapping his finger on table between them. The only sign he was slowly losing control. Sandra had learned he was a man who exercised control over all aspects of his life including his emotions.
*Please don't ask anymore...*
A chilly black silence engulfed them, making her uncomfortable. Sandra shifted in her seated. Waiting. Glancing out the window she saw the city below was slowly winding down. The buildings illuminated the night sky like dancing stars.
"I gave you the chance to be honest," his voice was civil yet odd. She looked at him, rubbing her chest to calm her racing heart.
*Please just drop it...*
"Nathan...I-"
"Enough," he stood up, smiling without warmth. She accepted his hand and stood to face him. A sense of unease went down her spine. Did her answers give her away?
"You know what I find interesting," - he cupped her chin and tilted her head back - "in this heat you're wearing a sweater."
The summer heat was unbearable in the city. She always wore light dresses but this past week she choose to wear cardigans. Damn him for noticing the one time she didn't want him too.
"The office was cold," she averted her eyes as the lie rolled easily off her tongue. How did she get here? Lying to the man she loved.
"Look at me," his grip on her chin got stronger until she looked at him. "Take off your sweater."
The sound of her heartbeat thrashed in her ears and a lump formed in her throat. She needed to distract him, to make him forget. But nothing came to mind.
"Sandra, take off your sweater...now." his eyes were hard and assessing.
She took a step back, out of his grasp. She tried to keep her control, however, fragile it was. Glancing at the door, the thought did occur to her to run but that would have been childish.
"Sandra-" she choked back a gasp of pain when he grabbed her arm.
"Nathan-"
He stepped up to her and started to unbutton her cardigan, slowly peeling it off her shoulders. She swallowed, her face heating and eyes welled with unshed tears as the bruises came into view.
His lips thinned and nostrils flared, his gray eyes darkening. "What happened?" His voice was calm. Too calm. He wasn't going to drop this, not now.
"Nathan, listen I took car-" she rushed, stumbling over her words.
"Who?"
"Victor...he said...you'd never believe me over him..." her voice slowly faded out, a single tear rolled down her cheek.
Victor and Nathan had grown up together. Like brothers. The bond they had was strong. She had met Nathan after college. Who was she to come between such friendship?
"You're my wife," - he dragged his hands through his thick hair - "you should have come to me!"
"I didn't think you would believe me," - she lifted her chin and placed her hands on her hips - "anyways, it wasn't me who was crying when I left."
When Victor had attacked her, she'd been able to defend herself. He'd tried to make her feel small and irrelevant but while she had walked away with bruises, she left him with a broken nose.
"I see," - a small smile tipped the corners of his mouth - "I have to make a call but when I get back I want you on the bed...naked." his finger tenderly traced the line of her cheekbone and jaw than he was striding out the room.
"Nathan, please don't do anything foolish," she called after him.