Enchanted

Chapter1

Natalie pulled back from Brody's kiss sure if she wanted to slap him or continue. She wanted someone to hold her and tell her it would be all right, but it wasn't Brody who she wanted.
Pressing her fingers against her lips, she tried to hold back her tears. "Tell me you want this. Don't want to be with someone who'll take away the pain," Brody pressed as he bracketed her arms with his strong hands, trying to seduce her into taking away his pain as he moved his hands harshly up over her shoulders to her chest and tearing her blouse as her breath quickened.
Taking it as a sign of consent, he moved to quickly unfasten the front closure of her bra before she'd refuse him.

"If she does it isn't you?" John's voice said from the doorway, and undertone of anger in it.

"Private conversation," Brody shot back unashamed, as Natalie looked at the man who held her heart with panic shining in her eyes as she pulled her shirt hastily close.

"Then you should have locked the door or were you hoping that it would be Jessica who would walk in on you instead?" John asked as he came into the room and pulled the door closed behind him. , his fist balled at his sides. "Why didn't you wait for me?" he asked focusing his attention on Natalie and purposely ignoring Brody to try to keep his temper under control.

Swallowing, Natalie looked at him uncomfortably: "I went to the police station. Saw you had made your decision and it wasn't me."

"What?" John asked, then shook his head: "Marty, had your letter. She kept it from me till after midnight. When she finally gave it to me, I read it and I let her know that… well, since she had already read it she knew what I would do, that's why she didn't give it to me to begin with… What you saw was me kissing her goodbye."

"Funny, isn't that what you told her about what she walked in on us doing on the mountain?"

"If that were true, why have I been running all over town trying to track you down?" John shot back.

Brody laughed: "Clearly she doesn't you anymore!" he said looping his arms around her waist.

John rolled his eyes: "Clearly her self destructive streak has kicked in," John corrected automatically.

"Clearly she's still in the room and doesn't need either of you two jackasses speaking for her!" Natalie said angrily as she pulled out of Brody's hold with disgust. "I can make my own decisions!

"Damnit, Natalie!" John started. "You don't have to pretend.
I saw all you had to drink for dutch courage.
How could you think I wouldn't come?"

"She doesn't want you!" Brody all but crowed.

Wheeling on Brody, Natalie glared at him: "Don't you DARE presume to tell ANYONE what I want! You don't know me well enough to Brody!
I'm not Jessica!
I can make my own decisions.
I can make my own mistakes, and I can live and deal with them and the repercussions!
I want JOHN," she added as she shot the man in question a look over her shoulder and then turned her attention back to Brody. "Brody, that kiss was a mistake.
A drunken, stupid mistake that should have never happened.
I need to…. John and I need to talk."

"Then leave," Brody said angrily, heading to pour himself another drink.

John laughed at him harshly: "You put the moves on my woman and you're telling me to leave? I don't think so!
We're not the ones who are leaving," he told Brody, to Natalie's surprise, as well as Brody's. "We're using your apartment so we can talk without being interrupted and can straighten things out.
You can use my place for the night."

"You think you can order me around in my place?" Brody asked angrily, spoiling for a fight.

Natalie sighed tiredly: "Please, Brody? We have no place to go. We need to... I don't know…"

"His place is down the hall!"

"And Marty has a key and can walk into it at any time she wants to.
I am not putting her or Natalie through that.
Besides you need to sleep this bender you're on off.
You can do it at my place.
Let's go.
Natalie, hit the shower to sober up. I'll grab you something you can change into from my place," he said trying to remain calm as he pulled Brody after him and shut the door behind him to give her some privacy.

Swallowing, Natalie sunk to the edge of the bed and wrapped her arms around her, trying to pull the ragged edges of her shirt together.

She had to admit, the idea of the shower sounded good and she wanted to wash away Body's touch and scent, but she knew she'd only end up smelling more like him, or at best, Jessica if she gave into the urge, but how could she let John touch with Brody's touch still dirtying and degrading her?