our relationship was as much for him as for me. He arranged an immediate adoption after my mother’s untimely death. I became Steven Tanner Clarke, heir to the Clarke Luxury Brand fortune.
I didn’t care about the wealth or the inheritance. I was a child. I had become used to an abusive situation. And, as William told it, time was required for me to trust my new circumstances.
Being a child, I don’t recall many of the details, but the feeling of loss when my mother died has never left me, ever. I don’t think it ever will. I wanted to save her, but was unable to.
William was a knight in shining armor, and came to my rescue. We developed a father and son bond. The fact, that he wasn’t my natural father, never affected my admiration and respect for him. In fact, it may have been greater. After all, he willingly took on the responsibility of raising me. And, he knew how I felt about him.
The adoption was a thorn in Gabriella’s side. The idea that an adopted son would inherit the fortune drove her insane. To William, being adopted didn’t make me any less his son. I was his son, and he treated me as such, in every way.
He married Gabriella in an attempt to give me a mother, which he felt I needed. He confided to me once, not long before he passed away, that he’d never loved Gabriella. She was beautiful and intelligent, and he thought to give me a stable home life, with both mother and father. I’m sure he knew it didn’t work out as he’d intended.
I have to face that I’m my father’s son. Biologically, Ken was my father, and I’m his son. He was prone to violence as my early life can attest to.
I want to tell you….I will…what I mean is that I’ve never let any of the violence inherited from Ken Cassel impact my life. For a time, I thought I’d lost control. Until, I found out the story about how I abused Salina that time in North Dakota, was a falsehood, put forth by Gabriella as part of her vendetta against me.
You, of all people, are in touch with my urges, my desires. May they never hurt you, baby. That would be my worst nightmare.”
Tanner went silent. He’d said what he’d needed to say. Natalie shared the knowledge of his past. She knew about him, and still loved him, which she’d told him many times.
He’d had a taste of love, other than a mother’s love, from Natalie, a brave, loyal, warm-hearted sensual woman.
Tanner had known for some time that Natalie was his obsession, but could he love? Did he love her?
Everything was new to him. His own feelings were foreign to him. If only he could love Natalie as she loved him. She deserved love, the love of a man, complete with the intimacy that came with it.
Tanner’s doubts engulfed him. Am I able to give love? He wasn’t sure.
17 – Tanner’s Talent
The confession on the trip to the cottage had left Natalie quiet. Her feelings for Tanner were more entrenched, after hearing the touching story of his childhood, than they’d ever been. His sincerity impacted her. He’d trusted her enough to share his pain. Could he trust her enough to share his pleasure? Could he love her?
Talking it out was a big step. She was glad he’d decided to take her away to his country cottage, and glad he’d confided in her. He wasn’t alone. He didn’t have to fight his demons by himself. Maybe if she could convince him of that, he would be able to release all the love he held inside, that he’d probably held inside ever since his mother had died, ever since he thought he’d failed to protect her.
And , likely, from that early childhood failure was convinced that he didn’t deserve a woman’s love. Or, was it that his ability to love closed off, a normal protective mechanism after the loss of someone as dear as your mother?
Natalie was sure Tanner could cast aside his inner demons. He’d be able to share intimacy with her. Or, she
I didn’t care about the wealth or the inheritance. I was a child. I had become used to an abusive situation. And, as William told it, time was required for me to trust my new circumstances.
Being a child, I don’t recall many of the details, but the feeling of loss when my mother died has never left me, ever. I don’t think it ever will. I wanted to save her, but was unable to.
William was a knight in shining armor, and came to my rescue. We developed a father and son bond. The fact, that he wasn’t my natural father, never affected my admiration and respect for him. In fact, it may have been greater. After all, he willingly took on the responsibility of raising me. And, he knew how I felt about him.
The adoption was a thorn in Gabriella’s side. The idea that an adopted son would inherit the fortune drove her insane. To William, being adopted didn’t make me any less his son. I was his son, and he treated me as such, in every way.
He married Gabriella in an attempt to give me a mother, which he felt I needed. He confided to me once, not long before he passed away, that he’d never loved Gabriella. She was beautiful and intelligent, and he thought to give me a stable home life, with both mother and father. I’m sure he knew it didn’t work out as he’d intended.
I have to face that I’m my father’s son. Biologically, Ken was my father, and I’m his son. He was prone to violence as my early life can attest to.
I want to tell you….I will…what I mean is that I’ve never let any of the violence inherited from Ken Cassel impact my life. For a time, I thought I’d lost control. Until, I found out the story about how I abused Salina that time in North Dakota, was a falsehood, put forth by Gabriella as part of her vendetta against me.
You, of all people, are in touch with my urges, my desires. May they never hurt you, baby. That would be my worst nightmare.”
Tanner went silent. He’d said what he’d needed to say. Natalie shared the knowledge of his past. She knew about him, and still loved him, which she’d told him many times.
He’d had a taste of love, other than a mother’s love, from Natalie, a brave, loyal, warm-hearted sensual woman.
Tanner had known for some time that Natalie was his obsession, but could he love? Did he love her?
Everything was new to him. His own feelings were foreign to him. If only he could love Natalie as she loved him. She deserved love, the love of a man, complete with the intimacy that came with it.
Tanner’s doubts engulfed him. Am I able to give love? He wasn’t sure.
17 – Tanner’s Talent
The confession on the trip to the cottage had left Natalie quiet. Her feelings for Tanner were more entrenched, after hearing the touching story of his childhood, than they’d ever been. His sincerity impacted her. He’d trusted her enough to share his pain. Could he trust her enough to share his pleasure? Could he love her?
Talking it out was a big step. She was glad he’d decided to take her away to his country cottage, and glad he’d confided in her. He wasn’t alone. He didn’t have to fight his demons by himself. Maybe if she could convince him of that, he would be able to release all the love he held inside, that he’d probably held inside ever since his mother had died, ever since he thought he’d failed to protect her.
And , likely, from that early childhood failure was convinced that he didn’t deserve a woman’s love. Or, was it that his ability to love closed off, a normal protective mechanism after the loss of someone as dear as your mother?
Natalie was sure Tanner could cast aside his inner demons. He’d be able to share intimacy with her. Or, she
Similar Books
