Contractual Obligation: The Trilogy (13 page)

Michael was so preoccupied with building his new business, he barely noticed Natalie anymore. Making love, the thing most newlyweds did non-stop, felt like something of the past. How was that even possible? But between all the stress, her pregnancy, the quickie wedding, and now MD Insulators getting started, Michael breathed, slept, and ate work. They never had a normal relationship, certainly not a traditional wedding, and now life was starting without them.

Their bubbling chemistry that started this whole thing was rapidly spiraling down the drain. Their sizzle had turned to fizzle, and Natalie felt more like an old married couple than a newlywed. They’d only married a short bit ago, and she was already coming into her fourth month of pregnancy.

She was due to get her first ultrasound, and wanted him to be with her. He promised he’d show, but when she was called back
for the test, he still wasn’t there. She wanted to wait, but knew he wasn’t coming. Her heart was broken. She didn’t want to experience this entire pregnancy alone. She walked out with a due date, but still no husband by her side.

Her baby was a tiny three inches long. Natalie tried to wrap her head around it, but seeing that itty, bitty image on the screen melted her heart. How could you love a tiny bean so soon? She’d grown attached, knowing that tiny bean was her child.

The nurse was telling her details about fingernails and toenails, and about how the baby’s bones and muscles were starting to form. It was fascinating. She needed to know more. Natalie picked up a couple of pregnancy books on the way home, ready to curl up and read about the upcoming second trimester she’d just entered. At least it would be a good distraction. She was hurt and angry that Michael never showed. He promised he’d be there.

When he came home, he saw the look in her eyes. Regret washed through him. “I should have called. I got tied up in a meeting. We’re wrapping up final details. I couldn’t leave. You understand, right?”

She said nothing.

“I’m trying to get this business off the ground at record speed. I’m doing this for you, for us, for our family. Don’t give me shit over working my ass off.”

She said nothing.

“Fine. I’m sorry I missed the appointment.” He huffed into the kitchen, frustrated to get the silent treatment. Couldn’t she see how hard he was pushing to get things moving? There were so many details to juggle, so many things to consider. Even the simplest project like finding office space and manufacturing space… it was so much more than she even realized. He settled in with self-righteousness and made himself a snack.

When Marcus suggested they cut corners, Michael was horrified. He fought him tooth and nail, not wanting to start in business this way. It would save them a lot of money and the company would be off the ground faster. Sure, they’d be in the marketplace quicker, but cutting corners was trouble.

Marcus wanted to use the same chemical Bowman Industries had used, a known toxic chemical that under certain temperatures let off toxic fumes. Marcus’s work around was that they would put it in writing – making companies acknowledge this was a possibility, and sell at a lower price. It would take the liability off them, and their turn around would be quicker.

Natalie had no clue what he was up against. He couldn’t talk to her about this stuff. She wouldn’t get it. He had more important things to do than go to an ultrasound appointment. There would be others.

He was focused on building his business back up. He brushed her off. He wasn’t good with commitment anyway, she knew that. He married her, he loved her, but he couldn’t be caged. He had business to handle, and goals. If she was looking for him to be some romantic all the time, he had bad news for her. That just wasn’t him. She knew that right? She knew what she got herself into when she met him. Okay, that sounded cold. He realized how much he sounded like his father.

Standing up from the table, he walked back to the sofa and sat beside Natalie. With sincerity, he said, “I’m sorry, I should have been there. There’s no excuse. I was focused on business, but this was important. Tell me about your appointment.”

Natalie looked at Michael, not expecting the apology. She accepted it, and told him about what she’d seen and learned. She hated that he missed it, and honestly was still a little bitter, but he apologized and truly seemed to mean it. Holding a grudge wouldn’t help either of them.

She knew he was under a lot of pressure, but today was important. She needed him there, needed to know he was by her side. Lately she’d felt alone, because the only thing he focused on anymore was building a company. MD Insulators was his mistress now, and she was insanely jealous.

In bed that night, Michael stared at the ceiling. He hadn’t touched Natalie sexually in way too long. They were both more than aware of that. He wanted to reach out and hold her, caress her, but her body language was closed off. He knew she was still upset with him for not showing up today. He allowed her that; it was his fault.

Liability, knowledge, risk…the words filtered through his brain. If they knowingly use the toxic chemicals and got into bed with companies that knowingly put their employees at risk, how could he sleep at night? Sure, he’d make a quick buck, find a loophole, but where was his integrity?
Success meant turning a profit, not sleeping well at night
.

“Natalie,” he prodded softly. “I have an ethical dilemma. Can I get your thoughts?”

Her soft snoring answered him. She’d already fallen asleep. It was just as well. He didn’t need to burden her with this. When it came down to it, it was probably best she didn’t know the details in case he did go ahead with the plans. Marcus was pushing for an answer, and as much as Michael hated it, he knew Marcus would get the final say. There was no easy answer, not one that would appease both of them.

Maybe they could get started that way, and once they’d earned back some money, they’d change the formula, do it the right way. It was a compromise, but one that might work. He hated the idea of starting in shady territory, but he wanted this to work, and he needed Marcus on his side. He was backing most of this. Michael needed MD Insulators to succeed. His future depended on it.

Lying to himself made it better. He slept soundly, accepting he would give in to Marcus’s demands to cut corners. He’d push for a correction once they were making a profit. That way he’d know they’d be making the ethical choice, just a little later than he’d have liked.

Natalie curled into him, still sleeping, early the next morning. Michael rolled toward her, wrapping his arm over his wife’s body. She was toasty warm, mostly burrowed under the covers. He loved the feel of her soft skin, and her breasts had swelled as her body was changing. He let his finger graze her skin, barely touching her. As Natalie stirred, she slowly opened her eyes, seeing Michael next to her.

A small smile, and then his finger drifted to her breast. Gently teasing her skin with a delicate touch, he shifted the covers down, revealing her fuller body. His finger circled her darkening nipple, and he gently squeezed it. His morning erection spoke to him, something it hadn’t done in too long. He wanted his wife, and on seeing the look in his eyes, she nodded. They tangled together, enjoying a tender moment. Entering her, Michael groaned, her warmth enveloping him. As they finished their morning activities, Michael rolled out of bed to take a shower. Natalie watched her husband head to the bathroom. He hadn’t touched her like that in ages. She’d missed it so much.

Natalie got out of bed and surprised him in the shower. Michael smiled on seeing her, and welcomed her with open arms. Another round of sensual loving and the couple felt renewed. Stepping out of the shower, Michael pulled a towel off the rack and wrapped it around his wife, gently blotting the water from her skin. “I’m sorry I haven’t been myself lately. The pressure has been eating at me.”

Natalie looked up into his eyes, and reached up to stroke his cheek. “It will all work out. You’re a good man. Just do what’s right, and everything will fall into place.” Her soft smile still made him weak in the knees some days.

Do what’s right.
The words stung. He knew he was about to cut corners in a way he shouldn’t. He couldn’t tell her. She wouldn’t understand.

The one thing that Michael could rely on to draw the stress out of him, like a syringe pulling out poison, was climbing into bed with his wife. He felt guilty that it had taken him so long to come back to being a generous and warm lover. He’d let business pull him into being a steely man.

Her body was changing. She had softer curves, and as she filled out, it was doing something to his libido. She’d always been slender from her modeling days, but the extra weight she now carried from the pregnancy aroused him. She was voluptuous, her hips more rounded, her belly now showing, and her breasts swelled with a lushness that spoke to Michael’s sex drive.

As Natalie watched her profile change, she’d stare into the mirror feeling huge. She’d never seen her stomach protrude this way, and she was only half way to her delivery date. Her hips were getting wider, and her breasts were changing, too. She traced one of her nipples that was slowly darkening, examining each and every inch of her new body. How Michael found her attractive during this time was beyond her. She was thankful he was enjoying the changes, but after modeling and being so body conscious, this new shape felt huge.

Pulling on her underwear, she cried. She’d have to rely on granny panties and maternity clothes, stretchy fabric that would allow for her changing figure. How could she be sexy if she was round and plump? And yet Michael was more attentive than he’d been in a while. They hadn’t even been together that long, barely married a few months, and
this
is what turned him on?

He’d cup her breast, squeezing it gently, raving about her newer, fuller curves. They were at an impasse; he liked how her body was changing, but she felt less and less attractive every day. She didn’t mind being pregnant, though the earlier morning sickness was no treat, but the idea that their child was growing inside of her was fascinating, and she felt a bond she couldn’t explain. It’s just that she wasn’t used to looking this way, round in too many places.

Michael left his frustration at work that day, because if Marcus pushed the issue one more time, he was going to snap. He’d already agreed to do things how Marcus wanted, even though it felt shady. Now he was pushing to cut a few more corners to save money. This wasn’t how Michael planned to start his business, on shaky ground. Only with as much money as Marcus Grant invested, it wasn’t Michael’s business, it was their business. MD Insulators may hold his initials, but it was Marcus’s golden pockets that paid the bills, along with the loan they only secured because of Marcus.

Natalie had been on her feet for too long, working at the diner. He wanted her to quit, to be able to take care of her, and now that his business was getting started and the business loan had
come through, he pushed for her to stay home. She wasn’t ready to give up the little bit of income that was helping. What if things didn’t work out, then what? Working as a cashier at a boxed diner wasn’t exactly her dream, but it gave them a little bit of cash, and right now every bit helped. She’d quit after Michael’s business picked up, and after she gave birth. For now, there was no reason she couldn’t ring the register, checking people out. It was certainly nothing like the modeling jobs she had. She felt silly for even complaining about the catalog work. She was paid a lot more for a few hours of time.

Michael found his wife on the sofa, her feet up, and worn out from standing all day. She was curled under a blanket, flipping through a magazine.

“Hey, babe,” he said, leaning down to kiss her forehead.

“Hey
.” She barely looked up as her eyes scanned the latest trivial bits of an article she was reading on skin care.

“Want me to make dinner
?”

“I brought stuff home from work. There’s a take-out container in the fridge, turkey and mashed potatoes. You just have to pop it in the microwave.” She was no gourmet chef, so for now that was as good as it got. Take out was a luxury, but she got a discount at work.

Natalie shook her head, remembering their dates at Frost and the Iverson Grill. They were places they could no longer afford. She smirked at the idea of eighteen dollar martinis, with others ranging up to twenty-six dollars. It was insane that they could charge so much and people pay it. Twelve dollars seemed so high when she went to cheaper places, when back home a martini cost between eight to ten dollars. She rarely treated herself to those anyway. Besides, most of her drinking was done before she was legal. Now that she was pregnant, it was a thing of the past. Natalie lingered on how much money was wasted on the luxury end. People throwing away money like it will never run out, and yet here they were, unable to afford those same damn martinis they were drinking just a few months ago.

Heading into the kitchen, she wanted to remind Michael to take the food out of the foiled container and transfer it to a microwave safe plate. He got lazy about that kind of stuff, and they couldn’t afford to replace a microwave right now.

Walking in, she found him leaning against the counter, waiting for his food to finish cooking. “Do you want me to plate some up for you?”

“I’m not really hungry. I nibbled on some pretzels earlier.”

“Make sure you’re eating enough. You have a baby to feed.”

“If I eat any more, I’ll look like a house pretty soon.”

“You look amazing,” he said, pulling her into his arms. “Take care of yourself and the baby. No starving, okay?”

She rolled her eyes. She’d eat, but she wasn’t putting mashed potatoes in her mouth, they’d just settle on her hips. “I’ll have a little bit of turkey, but only the white meat.”

“At least it’s something.”

As her breasts pressed to his chest, he enjoyed the lushness of her body.

Natalie pulled away to dig out silverware and a spare plate. “I’ll sit with you.”

It was too late; food was no longer on his mind. Feeling her against him had given him other thoughts. He’d eat later, but he was more interested in building up his appetite even further. He wanted to feel her naked skin against his body, leisure in her curves and warm skin, and make love to his wife.

Michael whispered, “Let’s go to bed.” His eyes were on her, and he couldn’t look away. His arousal was growing, as was something else.

Natalie’s long brown hair fell loosely around her shoulders. She wore it pulled back so often now, that seeing it like this added fuel to the burning fire inside. She looked like a sexual kitten, and he was ready to pounce.

“Michael, what’s gotten into you?” Arching an eyebrow, she blushed at seeing the lust in his eyes. She was feeling anything but sexy tonight.

“Let me take you to bed,” he growled under his breath.

“Now?”

“We could do it right here,” he teased, moving in closer and pulling her back into his arms.

Natalie looked at her husband, and finally gave in. She was happy to for the attention at this point. “Come on, tiger.”

Hand in hand, they headed down the hallway after turning off the microwave. Dinner could wait. Michael wanted dessert first.

They barely made it through the bedroom door. Michael’s hands were pulling at Natalie’s clothing, wanting it off as quickly as possible. Her breasts were forced into a bra that didn’t fit properly anymore. She was holding out as long as she could and still using her old bras. Each breast was squeezed into its cup and overflowing with flesh. The effect made them look even larger, as the small bra could barely contain them.

Reaching around, he unhooked the bra, the fabric loosening around her. Shrugging it over her shoulders, he helped her remove it. Cupping a breast in his hand, he closed his eyes, enjoying her warm, soft bosom. Lowering his head, he teased her, helping her get to the same lustful spot he was in. Soft moans escaped her lips as he flicked her nipple, his tongue rolling and teasing her in slow swirling motions, before his lips closed over her and sucked her in.

Natalie’s hands were in his hair, pulling his head closer as he tempted her with his passion. Her hands moved to his jaw line, and pulling him back up to her, their mouths found one another, heated kisses filling the moments between them. The urge to be naked was too strong, and as Michael kissed his wife, he was tugging at his belt, then his zipper. Kicking off his shoes, he was shifting out of his pants, slipping away from his wife’s mouth for only a second, before cupping her face and pulling her closer. Their mouths were on each other as the need and desire mounted.

“You’re so sexy,” he murmured, lost in the moment.

“You’re just saying that,” she whispered, “I’m huge.”

“You’re gorgeous.” He took her hand, and placed it on his erection. “This doesn’t lie.”

Pulling back, he looked into his wife’s eyes as his hand brushed her hair from her face and pushed it behind her shoulder. “Gorgeous,” he said kissing her forehead. “Gorgeous, do you hear me?”

She gave a small smile, grateful she didn’t turn him off as her body grew and changed.

Tearing off the rest of their clothes, the couple stroked and caressed one another, finally climbing onto their bed together. His fingers knew her well, and could play her like a finely tuned instrument. His touch was tender, and while his own desires were mounting, he wanted to take care of his wife’s needs first.

Natalie’s back arched up as Michael drew an orgasm from her, his hands knowing exactly how to please her.

“Oh, Michael,” she groaned as the wave of pleasure washed through her body.

She rolled up on her knees and dropped her elbows down to the pillow. She was anxious to feel him enter, feel him filling her up.

Michael knelt between her knees, penetrating his wife, letting out a low moan as he entered her.

Michael’s own peak was coming at him quickly, and as he thrust and bucked into her, he finally grunted loudly and dropped to the bed, needing to recover from the moment of lust.

Curling into one another, soft whispers bounced between them, words of love as they drifted on the high of their orgasms. Dinner was waiting in the microwave. It would remain there a little bit longer. Michael couldn’t get enough of his wife tonight.