Chapter Nineteen
The air around them crackled with electricity, their eyes were locked on one another as they both took in the enormity of the situation.
Nathan’s heart was pounding wildly in his chest, the sound echoing in his ears and he wondered if Haley could hear it, too. Looking at her standing before him, he took in her kiss-swollen lips and the way her teeth were nibbling on the bottom one, the pretty blush that was colouring her cheeks and going by how her chest was rising and falling with each breath, he was sure she was experiencing the same feelings that he was.
His hand reached out and released her hair from the scrunchie that was holding it up, threading his fingers through the silky strands as he directed her mouth back to his. The kiss was soft and tender but with a promise of what was to come. He parted his lips when he felt her tongue seeking entrance and he couldn’t help but moan when she flicked the tip of it along the roof of his mouth.
The sensation of her blunt fingernails raking along his scalp and down the back of his neck were sending tiny little shockwaves throughout his body and his fingers gripped her hips, pulling her in even closer to him. One of his hands moved around to her back and he slipped it beneath her T-shirt, caressing her soft skin, slowly working his way higher until he once again reached the clasp of her bra. Even though she had told him what she wanted, there was still a hesitation residing within him as he wondered whether this was really what she wanted.
“Do it… I want you to,” Haley whispered by his ear a short moment later and it was all he needed to hear.
After popping the clasp, he then splayed his fingers wide, spanning her back and holding her close to him as his lips once again found hers. His free hand moved to her butt, giving it a gentle squeeze before he slipped it under the waistband of her jeans and lightly stroked his thumb along her skin.
When the kiss broke several minutes later, Nathan kissed down the slender column of her throat, sucking on the base of it upon his arrival there. Feeling a tugging on his shirt, he drew back slightly and looked into his wife’s face. “Are you okay?”
Haley smiled shyly back at him and nodded her head. “More than…” she said quietly, adding, “I was, uh, actually trying to get your shirt off.”
“Oh, well, by all means,” he teased, taking a step back so that she had more room to accomplish her task.
“Nathan…”
“What?” Cupping her face between his palms, he said, “I need to know that this is really what you want, Hales.”
“It is,” she quickly told him.
“Then show me.”
Haley hesitated for a moment before her fingers found the hem of his polo shirt once more and she slowly drew it up his body, revealing his bare skin to her gaze. When he raised his arms to aid her, she pulled it up and over his head, letting the garment fall to the floor before she placed her palms flat against his chest, feeling the beat of his heart beneath them.
Pushing herself up onto her tiptoes, she found Nathan’s mouth again and kissed him harder than before, her hands stroking all over his back and shoulders, her fingers revelling in the feel of his warm skin.
“Hales…” Nathan gripped her waist even tighter as he lost himself in the kisses they were sharing. He slowly inched her top up and he smiled against Haley’s lips when he felt her arms raise up and he broke away from her for just the length of time it took for the garment to clear her head. As soon as it did, his lips were once more fused with hers and his fingers slid the straps of bra down her arms before that joined her T-shirt on the floor.
A deep moan escaped Haley’s lips when she felt his large hands cupping her bare breasts and her hold on his shoulders tightened. The moan turned into a gasp when he began gently massaging them and she felt the sensation travel straight to her core. When the need for air became too strong to ignore, she pulled away from him and panted against his neck, her breath coming in short pants as she fought to get it back under control.
Her eyes met his and she saw everything she was feeling for him reflected in them and she felt her lips curve upwards. She pressed wet, open-mouthed kisses along his jaw-line while her fingers idly toyed with the hair at the nape of his neck.
Nathan’s fingers hovered over the waistband of her jeans, leisurely grazing along the skin there and he felt the tremble that ran through her. He slowly began lowering the zipper, giving her ample time to change her mind and he unconsciously held his breath as he waited for the words to come. But they didn’t. Instead, the breath caught in his throat when Haley began doing the same to the zipper on his pants. The sensation of her lips trailing down his throat and across his collarbone while her fingers lightly caressed his abdomen was beginning to drive him insane. While he loved that they were taking their time, a part of him desperately wanted to throw her down onto his bed and show her just how much he wanted her.
When he felt Haley’s hand slip beneath the waistband of his boxers, he quickly covered it with his and stilled her movements. Lacing their fingers together, Nathan smiled reassuringly at her as he walked her backwards and sat her down on the edge of his bed. The flush that was colouring her skin gave away her nervousness and in an attempt to dissipate it, he tangled his fingers in the thick strands of her hair and tipped her head backwards, his lips finding hers immediately. Easing her further back until she was lying down, he lowered his body onto hers without breaking the kiss.
Haley revelled in the feel of Nathan’s naked chest pressed firmly against hers as his mouth moved over hers, his tongue slipping between her lips to tangle with hers. Her hands roamed all over his back and shoulders, feeling the muscles sliding beneath his warm skin.
Breaking the kiss, he buried his face in her neck and breathed in her scent for a moment before pushing up onto his forearms and looking into her eyes, their foreheads resting together. His smile matched the one she was wearing and he couldn’t remember a time he had felt happier or more relaxed.
“You feel so good,” he whispered against her lips before kissing them again, his touch maddeningly light as he trailed his forefinger in the valley between her breasts.
She couldn’t speak. Her gaze was locked on his as he watched her intently but eventually the sensations became so strong that she couldn’t help close her eyes, her head tipping further back as he pressed kisses along her throat and neck, shifting his position so he could cover even more of her.
“N-Nathan…”
“Are you okay?” he immediately asked.
Haley nodded. “Uh huh… Don’t stop…” Her skin felt electrified and was tingling in all the places that Nathan’s fingers and lips touched. Reaching a hand behind her, she grabbed a fistful of pillow, clenching it tightly as the sensations threatened to overcome her. When he moved up her body and his lips fused with hers again, she wrapped her legs around his hips, wanting to feel him as close to her as she could.
Cupping his face between her palms, she shyly whispered, “I-I want you, Nathan. I need you.” The smile he gave her melted her into a puddle and she pressed her mouth to his urgently, kissing him with everything within her. She practically purred when she felt his long, talented fingers trail down her stomach and slide beneath the already opened waistband of her jeans.
Nathan watched her slowly come undone as he continued to touch her and after several minutes had passed, he began removing the remainder of her clothing followed by his own. He couldn’t tear his eyes off of her and the picture she made lying on his bed, her hair fanned out behind her on his pillow. His fingers were literally burning with the need to touch her and he gave in to it.
Haley forced herself to keep her eyes on him as he settled himself on top of her and when he smiled at her, she released the breath she hadn’t realised she was holding. Their lips met in a series of soft, fleeting kisses before the passion once again took over and they began devouring each other, sucking on each other’s tongues and nibbling on lips. She could feel a certain part of him pressing against her and while she still felt nervous and apprehensive, she also felt exhilarated and couldn’t wait for them to take that final step.
She mewled against his mouth when she felt his fingers stroke her intimately and she involuntarily began undulating her hips, wanting more of the delicious friction she was experiencing. Her head tossed on the pillow while her fingers clenched his shoulders, sliding along the smooth, sweat-slicked skin.
“Please…” she begged, needing and wanting more.
Dropping another kiss onto her lips, Nathan stretched and reached out his hand to his nightstand, opening its drawer and fumbling around inside it. He silently cursed when he came up empty.
“Nathan?”
Sighing loudly, his shoulders slumped dejectedly, he looked into her pretty face and told her the bad news. “I haven’t got any protection. I-I’m sorry, Hales. I wasn’t expecting this,” he said gesturing between them, “to be happening…at least not yet. I’m so sorry.”
Haley trailed her fingers along his cheek. “It’s okay, Nathan. I’m--”
“No, it’s not okay. I wanted this to be special and now it’s spoiled… It’s just, I, uh, I never bring anyone back here.”
Her eyes widened and she regarded him curiously. “But this is your home.”
“Exactly,” he told her. “It’s my home, my refuge and I wanted to keep it that way.” Touching his forehead to hers, he rubbed his nose against hers and continued, “The women I dated…I told you they were just that, just dates and, uh…”
“Sex,” she finished for him.”
“Yeah,” he answered sheepishly. “It either happened at their place or in hotels… I never brought them back here. I know it probably makes me sound like a bastard but--”
“No, it doesn’t. It actually makes sense. And, if anything, it makes what’s happening between us even more special. That you would open up your home to me and make me feel so welcome. I love you even more for that, Nathan.”
Kissing her mouth for what felt like an age, he finally drew back and gave her the biggest smile. “God, how did I get so lucky? Although the fact that I’ve got you in my bed completely naked and I’ve got no condoms doesn’t make me feel that lucky at this particular moment in time,” he half-kidded.
Giggling, Haley wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her, parting her legs so he could fit between them more comfortably and hooking them around his hips.
“Hales…”
With her mouth right by his ear, she whispered, “What would you say if I told you I was on the pill?”
Lifting himself up so he could look into his eyes, he stared at her hopefully. “Are you serious?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I’m, uh, on it to help regulate my cycle. You’ve always been careful…before, I mean?”
“Always,” he stated. “I’ve never taken any chances.”
“Good,” she replied, her smile widening as the heel of her foot stroked up and down the back of his thigh.
“Are you sure? As much as it pains me to say it, I’m willing to wait. I don’t want to push you into anything you’re not ready for or make you feel like you have to do this tonight.”
“I know and you’re not pushing me into anything. I want this…I want you.” Her skin flushed as she confessed, “I-I never thought I’d want anyone as much as I want you, Nathan.”
Before she could say anything else, Nathan’s mouth had seized hers and he was kissing her furiously, pouring every little ounce of love and affection he felt for her into it. His hands touched every inch of her that was within his reach and she did the same to him and when he eventually felt that she was completely ready, they took that final step together and became as one.
* * * * *
They lay together in comfortable silence, basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking, their bodies entwined as they both wanted and needed to feel the other’s touch and warmth.
“How are you feeling?” Nathan asked quietly, his arm was wrapped around Haley’s shoulder and his fingers were trailing up and down her bare arm.
“I’m fine,” she replied, glancing up at him shyly. Her face felt warm and she was sure she was blushing yet again.
“Yeah,” he drawled before adding, “You definitely are.”
“Nathan!”
“What? I’m just agreeing with you, Hales.” His arm pulled her even closer as he leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head which was resting upon his chest.
“Was I--”
“You were amazing,” he quickly interrupted. “It’s…it’s never felt like that for me before.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know… I felt like we were completely connected or something. Maybe that sounds a bit cheesy; I’m not always that great at putting things into words,” he admitted.
“It doesn’t sound cheesy at all.” Shifting her position, she propped herself up on her elbow and looked into his face which was turned towards hers. “What you said about us being connected? That’s what it felt like for me, too. I could feel your heartbeat in time with mine…same as with your breathing. It was like we were in sync or something.” Her blush intensified and she looked away. “God, now who sounds cheesy, huh?”
Wrapping his hand behind her neck, Nathan pulled her head down towards his and he met her lips and kissed her softly. “Well, we’re a perfect match then. We can just be a cheesy old couple.”
“Hey, less of the old. Well, for me anyway,” she teased, squealing when he suddenly turned over and pinned her down with his weight. “Nathan!”
“I’m going to make you pay for that,” he told her, his eyebrows wiggling suggestively which made her break out into laughter, the sound of it making his heart feel light as a feather.
“You promise?”
“Hell yeah,” he replied, leaning down to take her lips in another kiss.
The intensity of it quickly grew to epic proportions and all that could be heard for the remainder of the night was the sound of harsh, panting breaths and deep, long drawn out moans which, much later on, once again turned into the sound of light, tuneful laughter as the young couple made the most of their first proper night together as husband and wife.