Hey everyone! Thank you so much for all the reviews/follows/favourites that have come in since my last update and for sticking with this story.
I had big plans to get stuck in during my Christmas break and get a lot of writing done but it just never happened and 2018 has been a whirlwind already. Cannot believe it's almost March and a year since I started writing this! I hope you decided to stick with it because I intend to wrap it up v soon.
WARNING: This chapter should be M rated but I didn't want to change the rating for the whole story.
Hope you enjoy – let me know in the reviews/private messages!
"So, any big plans for tonight?"
Natalie stiffened, pausing for the briefest of seconds as she packed Owen's overnight bag. She almost felt like it was a test.
"Will and I are going out for dinner." She replied as coolly as she could. "Y'know, we haven't really had the chance to properly talk about this."
"Oh we don't have –"
"Yes." Natalie interrupted. "Yes we do – but only to make a few things clear. I will never, ever forget Jeff, we had an incredible 5 years together, he gave me my son, and I couldn't be more grateful. But he's gone Helen and I don't want to live the rest of my life alone, I don't want Owen to grow up and leave me with nothing other than my job to keep me sane and I don't want him growing up without a father figure in his life because he deserves one. So, trust me when I tell you that I did not bring Will into his life on a whim, I really believe that he and can make this work." She took a breath. "I want it to work but I also want you to know that Will is never going to replace Jeff, I'm never going to erase him from Owen's life – but I need you to accept that Will is, hopefully, going to be a big part of his life. I want you to be okay with that."
After several minutes of silence, Helen finally looked up. "I don't want Owen to grow up without a father either – and if you think that the best person to make you both happy is Will then I'll accept it. I will try my best with it but, it might," she inhaled deeply, "it might take need some time."
Natalie smiled. "Thank you Helen – for trying." She zipped closed the little rucksack on the table and smacked her hands onto the tabletop. "So, when are you bringing him back?"
Their first Owen-free date had been a resounding success. They'd had dinner at a fancy, and altogether too expensive, French restaurant over which they'd talked about the hospital, their friends at the hospital, journal articles they'd read, they'd discussed sport (mainly baseball and hockey) and even attempted to plan where they would go on their next childless date night, as the cab drove them back to Natalie's apartment.
"I've had a really good night, Nat." He's smiling and tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. And she's smiling back as they both edge towards each other, lips meeting for a slow, gentle kiss.
"Me too." Nat returns, grazing her nose against his, pressing closer, inviting him further in.
"We should definitely do this again - I know Erin would love to take Owen for us."
Us. It sent shivers down her spine.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead before moving to extricate himself from the tangle of limbs on her couch. He'd only intended to stay for a half hour, share a glass of wine with her before kissing her goodnight and retreating (respectfully) back to Jay's. But it was almost two hours later and they were still curled on the couch. "I should probably go."
Natalie froze momentarily. Four dates was still quite early - but they'd managed to navigate through both their complicated pasts, her mother in law and baby son. She knew him well enough to know that he was too much of a gentleman to make the first move so soon but given everything that had happened she didn't want to hold back.
So, as he made to leave, she pressed more firmly against him, sliding her arms around his neck and pushing him into the corner of the couch, pressing her mouth to his.
The distraction allowed her to get a knee on either side of him, straddling him. They broke apart, slightly breathless, lips swollen. Natalie's eyes were dark as she pressed her torso against his. "Stay."
Fuck. How did she manage to straddle him?
And then they were making out, deeper and with intent, and as she ground herself purposefully into him he knew that if she kept this up, his restraint would falter.
"Natalie," he groaned, "Mhmm, Nat, Nat, if you keep doing that I'm not going to be able to stop."
She pulled away grinning, her eyes glittering. "What if I don't want you to stop?"
He pulled back slightly, moving his hands to push her hair from her face. "You sure?"
Ever the gentleman. She had to admit, it was more than a bit of a turn on.
"William, I have never been more sure." She kissed him slow and deep. "I want this. I want you."
Fuck. He was gonna lose it.
"You have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say that."
Nat squealed as Will's arms tightened around her and he stood up, taking her with him.
"Despite that, our first time together will not be on the couch." Balancing her carefully he teased a hand along her thigh. "I want to do this properly."
"Well then Dr Halstead," Natalie grinned, "take me to bed."
He carried her carefully to her room, pressing kisses to her lips and neck as he did, enjoying the vibration of her moans against his lips. Once in her bedroom, he placed her back on the ground before turning her around and pulling her flush against his back. He pulled her hair to one side, sliding the straps of her dress from her shouldesr and brought his lips to her bare skin, trailing kisses slowly up her neck.
"Will, mhhhmmm, that's nice."
"You sure?" He checked again.
"Yes Will, please, don't stop." She exhaled heavily as he sucked at the sensitive skin at the junction of her neck and shoulder. She tried and failed to suppress a moan, but the feel of his lips was so good.
"Nat." Her name was a whisper on the back of her neck. She felt his hand on her zipper, felt the cool evening air pouring in from the open window against her skin as he inched the dress open. Natalie grinned at the sound his groan as he realised she'd gone bra-less. Hands on her waist, pulled her tight against him, ground himself against her. "Do you have any idea what you do to me?" She was about to tell him she could feel it when his hands moved to her shoulders, pushing the straps off her arms, allowing the dress to pool at her ankles. Turning her slowly, he took her by the hands as she stepped out of the dress towards him. Her dark hair was cascading over one shoulder and she was naked but for her panties. He couldn't help but grin as he drank in her toned belly and thighs, the curve her breasts; he reached out a hand, gently tracing the silvery ghost of a stretch mark with his fingertips. Their eyes met and for the first time she looked almost nervous - yet, with his next words, her fears were gone. "You're so beautiful Natalie."
Wordlessly she pressed herself against him, kissing him hard on the mouth as she set to work on the buttons of his shirt, ripping the bottom out from where it was tucked into his jeans. It was a hard-fought battle to keep her focus, especially as his hands were all over her. One hand in her and the other toying with a nipple, Will smirked as he elicited a moan from her. But with him distracted Natalie was free to work on his belt, within seconds his jeans were at his ankles and he was freed from the confines of his boxers.
Will groaned as Natalie wrapped a hand around him and kissed him hard on the mouth, she couldn't help but think he was a lot more than she'd expected.
Distracted, he couldn't react fast enough to stop her dropping to her knees.
"You don't -"
"I want to."
And then she took him in her mouth.
She'd barley got started when he was pulling her off.
"Nat, Natalie I'm not gonna last if you keep doing that." He groaned as she bobbed her head along his shaft one more time. "Please Nat, I want you."
He shuddered involuntarily as she flicked her eyes up to meet his, lips still wrapped around him.
She stood back up again slowly, cocking an eyebrow. Waiting to see what he did next.
Will tucked a stray hair behind her ear and walked her backwards till she met her bed.
"Lay down."
Obediently Natalie, sat down and scooted herself up the bed, holding her breath as he moved over her. He pressed a reverent kiss just below her belly button before gently pulling off her underwear, leaving her fully bare.
She sighed as he trailed a hand up her body, traced the curve of her breast.
He brought his lips to a nipple, as he reached between her legs, finding her soaked. The groaned in unison.
"Jesus Nat."
"I told you I wanted this."
"You weren't kidding."
She looked him in the eyes. "So what are you waiting for?"
"In my wallet -"
"I've got it covered." Nat reassured. "So long as your good?"
"Of course."
"Well then." He chuckled at the smirk on her face. "Let's go." She teacher up and pulled his lips down to meet hers in a heated kiss. It gave him time to consider the fact that he'd never actually trusted another woman to "have it covered", not even Nina. He fleetingly considered going for a condom anyway but the thought was gone as quick as it appeared.
This was Natalie, he trusted he implicitly.
"Please Will." She moaned against his lips. "I want you."
She reached between them and guided him with a gentle a hand, taking her cue he pressed forwards.
Natalie inhaled sharply as he pushed inside her. "Will, oh my god, Will."
He was scared to speak, for a moment he focused on catching his breath, slowing his heart rate, to make sure he didn't lose it there and then.
She felt so good.
"You feel so good." Natalie moaned in agreement.
Bringing his lips down to meet hers, he began to move.
He lost himself completely in the feel of her, the way it felt to be in her, the way his skin burned as her hands caressed his chest and back and wandered down, how much closer they got when she wrapped her legs around his waist. He groaned between kisses and was so distracted that he wasn't ready for the moment Nat dug her heels into his back and flipped them.
Natalie laughed at the shocked look on his face, shaking her hair out of her face. "This okay?"
"Absolutely perfect." Will shuddered, hands grasping her hips as she started to move again. With Nat in control, the pace was faster, more purposeful. He could feel a familiar tightening of his muscles and he tightened his grip on her in attempts to slow the pace. "Nat, I'm so close, you need to slow down."
"Can't." She gasped out, tilting her head back. "Me too."
Moments later they fell, almost in perfect sync.
Thank you so much for getting to the end of another chapter – please, please leave reviews! I want to know what your thoughts are!
Ps – the next chapter will involve swimming with a certain toddler.