Chapter 4 Prisoners Attracted

Warmness! That was the only word that I will ever use to describe the moment, I held little Nathaniel's hand in mine. It was something I was missing since the second Serena declared her heartbreaking decision of stepping out of my life as well as my home.

But after spending few minutes with that little kid, I couldn't just make myself strong enough to part away. Thus, I decided to take him along with me. Because let's just accept it that after being dependent on someone for my breathings as well as calmness, I no longer can accept this sudden loneliness. And I knew that I just can't abandon this small man who might have a shelter to live in this big cruel world.

Maybe now I can save someone's life like my Serena saved mine.

But then if she saved me from my own demons of solitude, then why did she think pushing me back into them once again made sense?

Why?

One word that held so many answers, but only if she will even consider me worthy enough to explain her actions. But I guess I was a material, who was discarded without even being used.

"Fish!!" Nathaniel's excited squeal brought me out of my trance. Pulling out of my hand, he ran towards the small aquarium that was kept in the foyer of the building in which I lived.

I never knew that the shell of my thoughts was so strong that I had walked all the way from the bridge to my home which was three blocks away, yet the stinging feeling didn't cease to vanish away.

Maybe that's how every broken person feels! "Yeahh!! Fishhy. Come, come!"

A smile formed on the corner of my lips as I took slow steps towards that little bundle of Joy who was lost in his own bubble. He was running his small fingers on the glass of the aquarium as the fishes inside were swimming in between the castles and other stuff.

It was a really heart-wrenching moment in my opinion when you see one homeless kid being so happy over such a small thing, but none of us know that these small things are just so big and meaningful for those who never get to see them.

I still can see how overwhelmed he was since the moment I offered him to come along with me. The way his small face lit up with a big smile was a shred of evidence that how much struggling his life was on the streets and now when he was been given the chance to get home, he wanted to grab it.

"You like this?" I inquired sitting down on my knees beside his little body. He instantly turns towards my side, nodding enthusiastically.

Ruffling his silky hairs, I suggested, "We will take this inside tomorrow. Then you can play with it, all day. How does that sound?"

"Very good!" He replied and then to my utter surprise, he kissed my cheek lightly.

Once again that feeling of love seeped inside my life at that moment with his just small gesture and I couldn't stop it from progressing further.

I vowed a few hours ago to never let that one word catch me again, but once again in just a matter of hours, I found myself getting trapped into it. The feeling was confusing as well as shocking, but I don't know why, I am not made to push this thing away from me.

But the most surprising part of all this was that I didn't feel like pushing this kid away. Instead, I felt like I have to protect him from being exploited. I felt as if I owed him something.

There was a sudden pull in my heart for this little guy which forced me to act protective towards him.

How shocking it is that with few people, we are not able to create a pure bond despite living our entire life with them, and with some people, a second is enough to create that bond!

Scooping Nathaniel in my arms, I made my way towards my home which was on the ground floor of the building. He was jumping all the while in my arms. His small soft arms wounded around my neck gave me some ticklish feeling in my nape and I couldn't help but once again remember her.

Because whenever she was in my arms, her soft touch made me felt ticklish. The irony wasn't lost that she was indeed a baby. My baby girl, whom I adored to no lengths and for whom I even crossed all the boundaries, yet I was the one at lost.

"So, Nathan, from today onwards this is your home." I announced as I stepped inside my luxurious apartment. His eyes went wide in amazement as he took in every inch of the place.

I let him down as he wandered around, making him feel at home. The place wasn't much big, but it wasn't even small. It was spacious enough for anyone to enjoy themselves and not feel suffocated. The interior was done simply since I wasn't a fan of shimmer and shine. I loved the simplicity and thus, I made sure that my home presented my personality.

"Do you like the place?" I inquired fetching a glass of water for him. Turning around he gave me a soft smile which was straight from his heart. I can sense the gratitude in his eyes from the tears that were almost threatening to spill, but he surprised me right there when instead of showing me his emotions, he covered them with a big smile.

And there it was again, another similarity this child and I have. One being: We both were orphans. There was no one for us and others, well we both knew how to cover our emotions up.

"You called me Nathan?" He suddenly interrogated me with a frown on his forehead.

"Amm…I think Nathaniel is too big, so in short it's Nathan. I won't call you that, If you don't like it". I explained my reasoning instantly. I didn't feel like upsetting him on our first day together.

"I love it. But what should I call you?" Walking up to me, he inquired curiously. His fingers tapping on his chin, as he thought like a businessman.

I lowered myself to his level with some strong Emotion in my eyes but as I saw in his cobalt blue eyes, which were staring at me deeply, I knew what right I have to give him.

Keeping my hands on his both shoulders, I stated, "Call me Dad! Can you?"

My voice came out as a mere whisper and I was shocked that it held such a strong plea. Maybe I was trying to find myself, one family, through him. A family I dreamt with her, but it was all gone. Deep down burnt and buried. All that was left were some ashes.

He stared at me for a while then called slowly as if weighing the words. "Dad!!"

I pulled him in my arms, letting the whirlwind of emotions out in full speed since the second I found myself all alone in this wide world once again.

"Dad, are you crying?" He asked pulling back from my hold. I froze for a second at his maturity. How easily he accepted me and how easily he caught me but that's how kids are now, aren't they? Way too fast for any adult to understand.

"No little man, I am so happy. I am not crying. So, will you like to eat some Mac and Cheese?" I immediately replied not wanting him to dwell on my emotional turmoil but avoiding my words, he wiped my tears with his little fingers. Then to my utter shock, he kissed my forehead taking me completely off guard.

"When I was on street, I saw a kid crying then a big man kissed his forehead after wiping his tears". He explained his own actions. Maybe he thought that I might scold him, but little did he knew that these small pecks were my life.

Whenever her luscious lips touched my skin, my entire body used to get on fire. The way she used to kiss away my frowns, the way she used to wake me up in the morning with a forehead kiss, the way she used to kiss away my pouts, the way she used to lick my fingers when I fed her cheesecake.

And then as I was dwelling on her pecks, the time of our first kiss flashed right there and then bringing in the most annoying as well as the best night of my life.

Past

Never for once in my life, had thought I that I will be spending an entire night with a frustrating female in a prison. But now looking around that disgusting-smelling place I realized that the thing was happening for real. And to say that I was beyond furious would be an understatement because I was seething in a rage since the second those cops threw us in that small prison. It was a small local prison situated on the street for nuisance like we caused tonight by creating a scene in a public place. Thus, due to the minimum number of cells, they threw us in one cell for a night. How ridiculous! Pacing around the small place, I threw angry glares at the spoilt brat of a woman who was simply shrugging her shoulders as if she had a Guinness World Book record of attending prison in nights.

"Honestly, if you were not a woman, I would have murdered you by now!" I snapped sitting on the small bench beside her. Her head snapped in my direction and I got the clear opportunity to look straight into her eyes. Oh! Her beautiful eyes but never ever I was telling her that, her eyes were the prettiest eyes I have ever seen in my life. Who wants to raise the ego of a hungry bull?

"Oh, Hello Mr., What do you think I am? A damsel in distress who will beg you to leave me then get over yourself dude, I can very well kill you right at the moment, but you know what, I don't want to murder a D graded body.” She spoke with an attitude showing me her index finger. I had the small urge to laugh at her empty threats because I can see the fact that she was calculating her words in her head. Maybe trying to weigh their gravity.

"And how do you know my body is D graded?" I inquired with an amused expression. Her eyes went wide as I began undoing the zipper of my hoodie to show her the body which she thinks is D graded. Never for once in my life, anyone has insulted my physique and there, came this annoying woman who just openly humiliated my workout capabilities! How dare she?

"What the hell are you doing?" Standing up, she lashed at me; loud enough for the occupants of the opposite prisons to hear.

An evil smile crossed my face as I finally removed my hoodie as well as pulled over my T-shirt, out of my head. I stood in front of her in my all glory with a proud smile on my face.

It has been years since I reacted this way because, after that unfortunate day, I didn't even glance at girls, forget about bothering of their opinions on my looks. But all of a sudden, I didn't know, what happened but I didn't like her arrogance.

I wanted her to know that I was far better than what she might get. But the only thing that bothered me was, why did I care about what she thought about me? Her eyes became wide to the size of Panda, but I saw her gaze roaming over my chest to my abs.

"Enjoying the view, are we?" I teased taking a step closer to her. She gulped a lump down her throat then, gaining back her confident composure, threw angry looks at me.

"Asshole, get away from me. Because with this state, the cops might think that you are trying to take advantage of me, so now do you want to spend your rest of months here?" She warned as well as threatened me with a smirk playing on her lips.

"Aren't you way too arrogant for your own little self?" I put on my T-shirt back and she heaved a sigh of relief as if she were holding her breath all this while.

So, I did affect her in a way!

"As if you aren't one now, aren't you?" She questioned back with an attitude laced in her tone. I can see, she was always up for a challenge. Something I found amusing yet interesting. And then there was another fact that, unlike other females, she was headstrong to not throw herself at me. Thank heavens because I hated that kind of attention now. I shook my head and laid down on the bench because I can't really stand all night fighting with this spoilt brat in name of a woman.

"What the? Do you think yourself to be Joseph Morgan to occupy the whole damn bench?" I heard her yelling near my ears. I felt as if someone blasted a bomb in my ears.

Damn her shrilling voice!!

Sitting up straight, I looked right in her hypnotizing eyes, but ignoring the pull, I retorted sarcastically, "And why will Joseph leave his damn place for you? I don't think he is divorcing Persia White yet so forget that you have a chance!"

If looks could kill I was sure she would have buried me six thousand feet under the ground with those smoking sexy eyes. Did I just call her sexy? Control Price Control!

"You!" And before I can understand the reason behind her screeching, she jumped right at me, punching on my jaw and chest. What?? She was on my bloody lap. Like seriously! Can this day be any more adventurous than this?? "God, you crazy woman get off me!"

"Damn help me someone!" I yelled trying to dodge her attacks at me, but I was afraid that if I pushed her away, she might fall on the ground and hurt her pretty self.

"Guards take this lunatic out before she murders me!!" I yelled in full form holding her wrist with both hands.

And that is when we realized our tantalizing proximity. I can feel her body against mine while her heavy breathings blew against my lips.

We were staring into the other's eyes forgetting all about the anger that was circulating us a few seconds ago.

I still held her slim wrists in my stronghold while she tried to get rid of me, but I wasn't making it any easier for her. She bruised my jaw, and I was sure, it was turning blue by now because I felt her ring hurting me which she punched me through her fists.

The woman was sure hormonal and crazy, but she was hell strong otherwise who punches a stranger like that.

"Stay still or else I'll push you on the ground!"

But before she can reply, we heard an angry roar from the opposite side of the prison.

"You Romeo and his mad Juliet, do you people want to get killed in the middle of night? Trust me, I will be too please to do that to those who ruin my sleep by shouting their lungs out!"

She turned her head around to see a big man standing inside one of the cells holding a knife. I controlled my laughter because the look that came across her face after taking a good look at the huge black man, was simply hilarious.

Getting off my lap, once I loosened my hold on her wrist, she stood up on her feet giving apologetic looks to the man who was passing her an evil look, which stated: Do not mess with me because I say what I am capable of doing!

I stood up beside her and scared she scooted a little closer to me almost touching my arm.

"Why have they... allowed him... to keep a knife?" She whispered stammering a little for the first time since our meet.

"Why Ms. Daredevil, scared are you?" I couldn't help but mock her finally enjoying this scared face of hers.

In reply she stomped her foot on mine, making me wince, and then pushing me away, she sat down on the bench frustrated. I sat beside her making sure that the opposite party was no longer looking at us.

"So, you are scared of something finally! What a good hour it is!" I spoke trying to annoy her.

Turning her head in my direction she gave me a fake smile, replying arrogantly, "Oh so like looser men's, you were trying to find my weakness!"

And there we go back to square one!

"But tell me why they would allow him to keep a knife?"

"Are we making normal conversation here?" I can't help but ask since her tone was really curious.

"Well, I don't think I want to die from a dirty knife that too in front of an asshole like you, so a conversation won't be bad now. Will it?"

There was a small twinkle in her eyes which I found very intimidating because it showed the level of her sarcasm with the way she blinked her eyes.

"You really are something, aren't you?"

"So finally, you got that Serena Waldorf is a girl of her own world!" She boasted not realizing that she just told me her name.

"Serena!" I whispered her name softly, and some sense of belonging came over me. It felt so right to take her name as if only I have the right to say it.

"Well Serena I guess he might have hidden the knife somewhere or someone here might have given him because we never know with prisoners now, do we? And now when we are doing names, so it's Daniel Price for you!" I answered her previous question as well as introduce myself to her.

She gave me an amusing smile as if she were extremely pleased with my answer but then she shrieked, "Omg!! Holy Jesus. You are Daniel Price!"

"The Daniel Price. The one and only owner of the Price Inns!" She jumped on her place and kept on shrieking as if she got a lottery ticket. I looked at her confused not understanding the deal.

So, what if I was the owner, it wasn't like I had horns on my head. I stood up in my place, not understanding anything as she kept on jumping like a kid and before I can inquire about the matter, she did something which left me frozen. Cupping my face in her hands, she slammed her luscious pink lips on mine!! Someone just tell me, I am dreaming.