A/N: Just a short snippet. I'm trying to get a handle on these two as a romantic couple, before I attempt something longer. No spoilers or references to any episodes.

Expectations

by LillyPilly

He's different than she thought he'd be in bed. Once they actually make it to bed, which they do... eventually. They slip between the sheets together and Sophie finds she just wants to wrap herself around him, to feel him against her, skin to skin, pressing close with no air between them. She supposes she thought that's what he would want, too. That after so many years, the long dance between them, the look-but-don't-touch rule of pseudo-relationships, well it makes sense to her they should pull each other close and not let go.

Nate has other ideas, she quickly finds. He keeps pulling away just to look at her. He runs his hands down her body, slowly, watching for her reaction as his fingertips trail over the peak of her breast, when his palm strokes lightly along her inner thigh. It's maddening, it's not enough, and she reaches for him again, finding his mouth with hers. When he returns the kiss she sinks her fingers in his hair and tangles her legs with his and it goes on long and deep like that. Until his hands run up her arms to her wrists and he pulls her hands from behind his head and pins them to the bed, holding her in place.

She arches under him, craning up to chase his mouth as he draws away from her.

"You're very impatient." His voice is low and just a little amused.

She flops back, huffing in annoyance. Of course she's impatient. "Well I mean we've only been putting this off for ten years -"

"Eight," he interjects.

"- No rush, right?"

"Exactly."

"I was being sarcastic!"

"I wasn't."

She shifts under him, tugging at her arms as he looks down at her, still smiling. She's glad he's so amused, but she's tired of being held at arm's length. "What?" she demands.

"It's just -- you're just so beautiful, have I ever told you that?" he says, not a hint of pretense in his voice.

And she melts.

"Oh you don't fight fair," she says quietly. She sighs as his lips touch, so softly, just barely brushing the skin between her breasts, over her heart.

"Well," he murmurs, "Just look who I'm up against." His chin drags lower and he presses another kiss just below her ribs.

She doesn't even notice when suddenly his hands aren't holding her wrists down any more, they're cradling her hips instead. His next kiss is at the soft skin of her lower belly and she has other things on her mind.

Later -- much, much later -- he's asleep, head tucked under her chin, his arms wrapped around her. She can feel his breath against her neck, light and even. She strokes a hand gently over his hair, holds him a little tighter. Tonight, he was all hers. And he was right after all, it was worth taking their time.

fin.

Comments/criticism welcome!