Author's Note: Thank you guys for the reviews and please keep them going because I'm debating on whether on not to keep this story on this board. So if you want to keep reading it on ff,net let me know. I hope you enjoy this chapter. :)
Chapter Twelve "Illusions vs. Realities"
"Illusions commend themselves to us because they save us pain and allow us to enjoy pleasure instead. We must therefore accept it without complaint when they sometimes collide with a bit of reality against which they are dashed to pieces."
Sigmund Freud
The storm outside continued to rage and the rain never ceased while the young lovers laid wrapped in each other's arms. They had found their own world yesterday afternoon and never relinquished it until the wee hours of the morning when sleep would no longer be patient.
It was nearly noon before Nathan began to stir, realizing his movements were limited by the beauty lay draped across his chest. Memories flooded his mind from the day before and he could feel his need for her grow at just the thought of what had transpired.
They had made love hard and fast in the ballroom, neither able to control themselves and begging for release. The could have allowed reality in after the first encounter, but it seemed they both ached to stay in their world for as long as they could. With just a single kiss of affirmation Haley climbed on top of him and took the control. It was slow, intense, and mind blowing.
Looking up at her in all her glory was breathtaking. She was confident, sensual, and knew how to give them both the ultimate pleasure. She owned her sexuality and brought him to heights he'd never experienced with anyone before and doubted he ever would with someone other than her.
After their second round they had dozed off for a couple hours and he'd awoken to find her taking him in her mouth. It was the single most erotic experience of his life. He returned the favor on the ballroom steps and had her screaming his name the whole way through.
They had taken to his suite after that and had remained there for the rest of the night making love until dawn. Whenever they did doze off in between sessions he always remained inside her, not wanting to lose the connection with her.
Sadly today was a new day and with it brought such uncertainty. He wanted to hold reality off as long as he could though. Allowing it in would bring consequences and he knew the guilt would send them both spiraling. Not ready to deal with that he closed his eyes and let sleep carry him as far away from reality as possible.
Haley could hear the rain pelting against her balcony doors as she struggled to wake up and not drift back off. She rubbed herself against the warm muscular body next to her and smiled. She had never met someone who could match her thrust for thrust, or stroke to stroke, if you will. It was like they had been making love for years and knew ever inch of the other's body and what gave them the most pleasure. She couldn't remember when she had gone over the edge so many times before. It was as if the more they got from each other the more they craved. Giving into the lust only intensified the need.
In the back of her mind she knew what they had done would come crashing down upon them, but the one thing Haley had mastered in life was denial. She knew it was selfish and cowardly, but she was going to relish in these emotions for as long as she could. All the questions and analyzing would come later when and only when she could hold off no longer.
Her hand traveled down his chest until she reached her desired destination realizing he was more than ready for her again. She was taken by surprise when he grabbed her wrist and in a flash had her pinned beneath him on her stomach. He grabbed her other wrist and put them together above her head, halting her actions to gain the control back. He kept one hand wrapped around, her tiny wrists holding them in place while his mouth slowly kissed a trail down her back stopping on her right cheek.
He smirked. "Now, I could never get tired of biting into this," he remarked as he playfully bit at her red apple tattoo causing her to giggle.
In an instant he guided himself into her and she gasped at the sudden action. Within no time she had lifted to her knees and Nathan's eyes never left that tattoo as he brought them both back into their world.
About two hours later they emerged from their joint shower wrapped in huge white terry cloth robes. Nathan lit a fire in his bedroom and sat in front of it with his back against the couch. He guided Haley in between his legs and wrapped his arms around her as she leaned back into him.
They were both aware they were just creating an illusion for themselves. They weren't carefree and unattached; they couldn't just go from friends to lovers and never look back. There was an elephant in the room and both had avoided it at all costs, that is until said elephant came crashing into their illusion via a telephone call.
Nathan let his line just continue to ring, knowing in his gut who it was. He prayed he had turned the machine off, but Lucas's voice filling the air gave him his answer.
"Um, hey, Nate, it's Luke. Hey, I've been trying to get a hold of Haley and can't reach her on her cell or her private room line. I heard you guys had some bad weather and I just wanted to make sure you were alright.. So, anyway…"
Haley turned and nodded to Nathan, answering his silent question. He reluctantly untangled himself from her and picked up the phone.
"Hey, Luke, I'm sorry I was in the shower," he rattled off the first excuse in his mind which wasn't entirely a lie.
"No problem, dude. I just wanted to check in on you guys and check on that gorgeous piece of ass I call my fiancée:"
Nathan rolled his eyes at Lucas's possessive remark. "She's fine. I think she's still passed out in the lounge room. She fell asleep watching a movie and I didn't want to wake her," he lied, but then again after fucking your brother's fiancée, a lie isn't so bad.
"Alright, well, I have get back to a meeting. Tell her I'll check back in later."
"Will do," Nathan agreed.
"Thanks, bye."
Nathan hung up the phone and hesitantly looked over at Haley who was looking down, playing with her hands. He slowly walked towards her and sat beside her, but this time keeping distance between them.
He sighed, and she finally looked up and met his eyes. They both just stared at each other and tears began to fill her eyes. She let a single drop fall and he instinctively wiped it from her cheek. Haley grabbed his hand and held it against her cheek.
"I don't want to wake up, Nathan," she whispered and slipped off her engagement ring laying it on the marble hearth of the fireplace.
He smiled and kissed her softly. "Neither do I."
He untied her robe and spread it apart. For the rest of his life he'd remember this moment. The moment she had chosen to be with him. Even when reality was upon them and they only had a short time left, she chose him.
By the light of the fire they surrendered to each other once more and to their illusion for as long as they could hold on.
Two Days Later…
You hungry?" Nathan asked after they had caught their breathe and regained their senses.
Haley sat up on top of him and kissed him sweetly. "Famished." She smiled and kissed him again before climbing off him despite his protests.
She walked to his dresser and picked up her brush she had brought in the day before and combed through her hair slowly.
Nathan watched her every move. He got up and walked to her. He stood directly behind her wrapping his arms around her. They both stopped and smiled at their reflection in the mirror.
"Hey, how about we head down to the kitchen and see if we can find anything substantial." He nuzzled her neck and breathed in her intoxicating scent.
She let a content sigh escape her lips. "You mean chocolate-covered strawberries, whipped cream, and champagne aren't substantial?" she giggled laying the brush back down. She turned around in his arms wrapping her arms around his neck and stood on the tips of her toes to kiss him tenderly.
He smiled against her lips. "Well, I can definitely tell you what I ate and drank those things off of was very substantial." He smirked.
"I would have to agree, but those sheets are done for." She kissed him again.
He squeezed her right butt cheek. "Let's go, Apple Bottom, before you make me lose my concentration."
"Don't tempt me." She winked and went to slip on her pale blue satin robe that had also found its way to his room.
Nathan slipped on a pair of workout pants before he picked her up and placed her on the bed..
"What are you doing?" she laughed.
He stood in front of her. "Hop on," he instructed.
"Aw, you're going to give me a piggy back ride." She squealed and did as instructed.
"Only because if I don't you'll be bitching about how cold your feet are on the tile."
She pinched his arm in response.
"Hey now, remember I could drop you on your ass on this cold floor."
She leaned in to whisper in his ear, "Only if you warmed it up after."
"Watch that mouth or we'll never make it there."
"Promises, promises." She nibbled his ear, causing him to groan and her to giggle.
They finally reached the large kitchen and Nathan sat her down on a near by counter.
He went to the fridge and grabbed some eggs, cheese, pre-sliced mushrooms, and ham.
"Are you cooking for me?" she asked, astonished.
"Only because I'm starving so don't be too flattered," he teased her.
He sat the ingredients down beside her and grabbed a skillet. He got a bowl and began mixing everything together as Haley nibbled on the cheese and ham. She fed him a few pieces and the pair shared tender kisses every so often.
A little bit later Nathan had made one gigantic cheesy omelet. He poured some cranberry juice into one large glass and pulled a bar stool up to the counter beside her.
She smiled at the gesture.
"So you just gave up?"
He laughed and fed her a bite of omelet. "I just realized sharing things with you makes everything taste better, too."
She grabbed the fork and fed him this time, grinning from his admission.
They sat in a comfortable silence and took turns feeding each other and just getting lost in each other's eyes. Finally, Nathan put the dishes in the sink and walked back in between her legs.
Haley scooted to the edge and ran her fingers through his hair. Nathan ran his hands over her smooth taut thighs inching higher and higher. He pecked her lips once, twice, and then lost count. In no time at all their desire took hold of them. Nathan pressed himself into her and Haley slipped her robe off and tossed it to the kitchen floor. In one swift motion Nathan's pants joined the robe and they were one again.
They couldn't stop, it was as if each passing minute only heightened their need for the other. Even when they weren't having sex, they had to be in constant contact. Always touching, kissing, and just in general, being together. The last seventy-two hours they had been inseparable, however, the fear of what was to come still remained locked away in the back of their minds.
After coming back down they held each other close, neither wanting to be the first to let go.
Nathan whispered huskily in her ear, "How about we try out the Jacuzzi tub in my bathroom. I think it's jealous, the shower's been getting all the attention."
She smiled into his neck. "Mmm, sounds like heaven."
Nathan swooped her over his shoulder and slapped her bare ass.
"Nathan!" she squealed and laughed the entire way to his bathroom.
Haley played with the bubbles in front of her as she relaxed against Nathan's broad chest. She felt him tracing soft circles on her bare stomach and tilted her head back to meet his lips in a lingering kiss.
"This was the perfect idea, Nathan," she sighed contently.
"Hmm, I think I'm a damn genius." He nibbled her ear.
Haley giggled. "You are so humble, Mr. Scott," she remarked as he playfully bit at her neck.
"Tell me something no one else knows?" he asked her out of nowhere.
She leaned back to look at him, "Like what?"
He shrugged. "Just something you thought you could never tell anyone."
"Only if you tell me something first."
He kissed her nose. "Alright, let's see… Well, I've never told a girl I loved them."
"You've never told them or you've never loved a girl?"
He looked down at her expectant face. "Both," he confessed. "They all always seemed to fall short of what I wanted or needed."
"I know what you mean," she spoke softly.
"So, it's your turn. What dirty secrets besides apple tattoos does Miss James have?" he smirked.
She thought about saying something meaningless, but something inside her wanted to open up to him and confess something she couldn't even tell Jake.
"Sometimes I blame myself for Caleb's death," she revealed quietly.
He held her even closer if that was possible. "Tell me why."
Tears welled in her eyes. "Um, the day before Caleb…passed away, he called and said he was too swamped with his boards. He was in his last year of med school, and that he didn't think he could make it." She paused as the tears spilled down her cheeks. "Anyway, I went into full bitch mode, complaining about he could not make me attend this party without him and I needed Jake and him by my side just like every year. That we hadn't seen much of each other lately and I missed him. I laid on the guilt and like always he gave in to me, saying he could see that pout all the way across the country." She smiled briefly at the memory. "If I hadn't begged him he wouldn't have even been in California or in that c-car..." Her voice broke at the last word and just held on to her even tighter.
"Why have you been carrying this around with you for so long?" he asked softly.
"I guess in the back of my mind I thought my parents might blame me, too, or if I said it out loud it would really be true."
"Hey, look at me." She reluctantly tilted her head and met his eyes. He kissed her lips. "You know deep down it wasn't your fault and if Caleb was the kind of man I have been told about there is no way he would ever want you thinking that. He loved you Haley, and if he had to pass away I know coming home to see you would be the way he'd want to go."
She kissed him tenderly with tears still running down her cheeks. "Thank you," she whispered.
"Anytime," he whispered back and pulled her into a deep kiss.
They held each other and stole sweet kisses for the next hour, just enjoying being in the moment.
They moved from the tub and being tired from their previous activities crawled into to Nathan's bed and fell asleep in each other's arms.
An hour later Haley woke up with her stomach rumbling and decided she'd he'd downstairs and treat him this time. She slowly untangled herself and had almost made the getaway when he latched onto her hand.
"Mmm, where are you running off to?" he asked, his voice groggy from sleep.
"To fix you lunch if you must know," she proudly claimed.
"Should I be scared?"
She huffed and pretended to be offended, looking anywhere but at him.
"Aw, come here." He yanked her back on the bed and their lips met in a smile before they kissed.
Twenty minutes later Haley convinced him they could fool around in the kitchen and to meet her down there. She winked and blew him a kiss before she grabbed her robe and made her way down the stairs and through the house. She couldn't keep the smile off her face the entire way.
Passing by the main entryway she stopped dead in her tracks when she heard the door being opened. Her heart pounded in her chest at the thought of who it was. No matter who it was, it was reality coming through the door.
Haley plastered a smile on her face when Jake and Brooke came bursting through the door.
They ran to hug her, almost knocking her down by their enthusiasm.
"Oh, James, we've missed you so!" Brooke gushed and squeezed her tighter.
"Yeah, Hales, and you don't have to tell us how much you've missed us. You must have been so bored without your Jakey." Jake winked.
"Uh, yeah," she stammered. "What are you guys doing back so early?" She tried to hide the utter disappointment out of her voice.
"Well, we have some news, but we want to wait for Nathan to share." Brooke grinned.
"Yeah, where is he, Hales?"
Haley tried to think fast. She had to get to Nathan and let him know they were here.
"Um, I think upstairs. I'll go get him." She rushed out and made her way to the stairs, but she was too late.
Nathan froze at the top step looking down at a fearful looking Haley and a way too happy Jake and Brooke.
"Dude, I know we're tight, but do I have to see you in your boxer briefs," Jake laughed out loud.
Brooke turned and noticed Nathan. "Ew, Nathan, put some clothes on. Damn, I don't need to see any outline of my cousin's package." Brooke shut her eyes and turned away.
"Sorry, I didn't think anyone was down here." He tried to cover.
"Well, Haley could have been and I'm sure seeing one Scott penis is enough to already scar her for a lifetime."
Jake noticed Haley blanch at Brooke's comment, but left it alone.
"Brooke, fuck off. You're so damn dramatic." Nathan rolled his eyes, mumbled he'd be back, and went to put some pants on.
"Damn, he's in a pissy mood."
Haley, letting her disappointment get the better of her, snapped at Brooke. "Who the hell can blame him, Brooke?" Haley bit out and stormed off into the kitchen.
"What the hell, Jake?" Brooke looked to him for answers.
He just shrugged and kissed her temple.
Haley took a few deep breaths and almost shouted out when she was suddenly grabbed from behind and pulled into the butler's pantry.
She whipped around and was relieved to find Nathan. "Jesus, you scared the crap out of me." She held her hand over her heart.
"I'm sorry. I just had to talk to you away from Dumb and Dumber."
"Nathan, what are we going to do? I thought we had more time. It's like all off a sudden we have to go back to normal and I thought I'd have at least a few more days to figure it out," she rambled.
Nathan pulled her into his arms and held her as tight as possible. "We'll figure it out," he tried to calm her nerves. "I know we haven't really talked about this, but we could still have a few more days. We'll just have to be careful." He leaned her back and looked into her eyes.
"I don't know." She stepped away from him.
"Haley, can you honestly look at me and say you could stop today, right this minute?"
He lifted her chin towards him and forced her to look at him. "Can you?" he asked huskily and had her up against the door and his tongue in her mouth before she even had a chance to react.
She couldn't even fight it if she wanted to and as soon as she gained her bearings she went at him with equal force and became an all too willingly participant. They only broke apart when breathing became a necessity.
"No, I can't." She smiled up at him when she caught her breath. He pulled her to him one last time and kissed her forehead tenderly.
"We better get out there," he sighed.
She slipped her robe from her shoulders and exposed her chest to him. Then quickly covered herself back up and secured her robe.
"What the hell did I do to deserve an even more severe case of blue balls?" he smirked.
"I just wanted to keep them fresh in your memory in case we have to wait longer than usual before our next encounter." She winked.
"Trust me, Hales, that memory is permanently imprinted in my brain." He smacked her ass and made his way to the door.
"I'll head up the back stairs and come out the front."
They quickly kissed and went their separate ways.
Haley walked through the kitchen to the main dining room and nearly ran smack into Jake.
"Damn it, Jake!" she slugged him in the arm.
"Ow, James, what the hell?" he rubbed his arm.
"Sorry, I'm just a little jumpy what with the bad weather we've had for the last couple days." She smiled to reassure him.
"Okay, I'll buy that for now just because I'm in such a good mood. Now march that fine ass upstairs and put some clothes on before I start having my lesbian fantasy with you and Brooke again." He grinned at the thought.
She rolled her eyes and laughed. "Once a perv always a perv," she sing songed and made her way up the stairs.
Jake watched after her, knowing something was up and he had a feeling his predictions had all been right.
Brooke wrapped her arms around him from behind and rested her head against his back. "What's got you so tense?"
"It's nothing, Dimples," he reassured. In his heart he knew it was far from nothing, but all he could do was sit back and pray he didn't have to watch Haley break all over again. Once in his lifetime was all he could bare.
Ten minutes later Haley and Nathan sat on a couch in one of the formal sitting rooms, looking expectantly at a nervous looking Brooke and Jake.
"So, I guess you guys are wondering what our news is?" Brooke eyed them and they nodded.
Jake squeezed her hand tight. "We're getting married!"
Haley and Nathan looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Brooke gave them a heated look. "What the hell is so funny?"
Haley halted her laughter long enough to answer her. "Jake, who would call me in the middle of the night, saying he had a nightmare he got married, says he's getting married."
Nathan spoke up. "And you, Brooke. I remember many family dinners with you ranting and raving that the only reason to get married is for money and that you had money already, therefore you would never have to," he supported Haley's defense.
Brooke huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.
Jake turned to her. "Come on, Brooke, it took me a while to even convince you I was serious," he reminded her.
She cracked a smile at that.
Jake turned to Nathan and Haley. "I know it sounds crazy, but sitting around the dinner table with my parents the other day I looked over at Brooke and it happened. She stuck her tongue out at me during one of my dad's marathon lectures and it just hit me. Every other girl would be kissing my parents' asses, but she was making sure I was entertained. I knew right then in there and that night I proposed."
Flashback
Jake hopped up in the middle of his dad's lecture and grabbed Brooke's hand ignoring the protest's from his parents.
Brooke's giggles filled the air. "Usually I throw out an excuse before ditching my parents."
He looked back at her smirking and kept pulling her with him.
They finally reached the outside and he lead her to the rose garden of his family home.
When they came to a stop he turned to her with her hand still encased in his.
"This better be good Jagel..." She was cut off by his lips on hers.
Brooke moaned into his mouth and fell into his arms. He finally released her after a few minutes and Jake watched her eyes slowly flutter back open.
"Not that I'm complaining, but what brought that on?" she asked, still a little dazed.
He answered her by getting on one knee in front of her.
Brooke looked on in shock as he grabbed her hand in his.
Jake noticed her confusion, but carried on. "I know this is sudden and believe me I'm the last one that ever thought the words would ever leave my mouth, without the help of a gun to my head at least." He nervously laughed. "You just had me hooked from the moment I met you. You're gorgeous, funny, caring, and you live life the way it was meant to be lived. I want to go to exotic places with you, boring dinners, get arrested, break all the rules of society, anything and everything. I just want you by my side through it all." He looked up with hopeful eyes to her.
Brooke couldn't believe what he was saying to her. In fact, it was too good to be true and it pissed her off. "You are such an ass, Jake. Normally, I find your jokes amusing, but this is just low even for you."
She wrenched her hand out of his and stormed into the house leaving a stunned and equally pissed off Jake behind.
Hours later, Brooke laid in bed, staring at the clock. Jake hadn't came after her and she was starting to wonder if he ever was. It was two a.m. and she had no idea where he was. Just as she tried to shut her eyes for the millionth time that night the door creaked open. She quickly shut her eyes and pretended to be asleep.
Jake quietly walked over to where she was asleep and knelt down in front of her.
"Brooke, I know you're awake. You can't bullshit me," he whispered in her ear, chuckling.
She opened her eyes. "Well, don't flatter yourself thinking it was because of you. It just so happens I had a marvelous sex dream about Dr. McDreamy and it was so amazing I couldn't go back to sleep," she lied and turned her back to his shit-eating grin plastered on his face.
"Aw, Dimples, look at me, please? I didn't mean to laugh at you. I just want to show you something," he pleaded.
Reluctantly, she turned back to him. She spotted something shining in his hand, but in the dark couldn't make it out.
Jake reached over and flipped on the lamp and she gasped.
In a black velvet box sat a ring with an at least five karat, fancy-pink, emerald cut diamond with white diamond tapered baguettes on the sides, set in white gold. It was exquisite and she couldn't take her eyes off it.
"When you didn't believe me I was hurt at first, but then figured I probably wouldn't have believed me either. So, I knew I had to make you see I was serious," he explained.
"How?" she managed to get out, indicating the ring.
"Well, you'd be surprised how accommodating Harry Winston is when you have money like ours. He called one of his associates and they met me on Rodeo Drive and I had the store to myself. Took me a while, but when I saw this I just knew it was you. Your favorite color is pink and I knew you'd want the perfect size ring you could wear at all times without it getting on your damn nerves. I remember you bitching about Haley's being too big when she let you wear it for a day." He laughed.
She looked at him with tears in her eyes. She couldn't believe he had picked out her dream engagement ring to perfection. In that moment when he explained why he picked it she knew he was it without a doubt in her mind. He never acted like he ever paid attention, but this ring proved to her that when she spoke it mattered to him. She had never felt that with any other guy. They always said all the right words, but never truly knew her or the little things.
He took out the ring and gently took her hand. "Let's see if this works the second time around. Brooke Penelope 'Dimples' Davis, will you marry me?"
She nodded yes as the tears ran down her cheeks and as soon as he slipped the ring on her finger she jumped off the bed into his arms, knocking him on his back.
She laughed and looked into his eyes. "I love you, Jake, and a million times yes, I'll marry you."
He grinned up at her and they sealed it with a kiss.
End of Flashback
Haley ran to them and hugged them both, trying to hold back the emotion she felt.
Nathan chuckled and walked up to give his congratulations, too.
Haley stepped back to look at them. "Oh, you guys, I'm sorry I didn't believe it, but I can't think of two people more perfect for each other," she declared and hugged them again.
Nathan hugged Brooke. "I'm really happy for you, Cuz," he whispered in her ear.
Brooke smiled. "I hope you find the same happiness, Nathan," she whispered back to him.
"Brooke, let me see the ring," Haley commanded, laughing. Brooke stuck out her hand. "Oh,
Davis, it's so you and so perfect," Haley gushed still admiring the ring.
Jake whistled loudly to gather everyone's attention back to him, where he always liked it. "Now for the second surprise." He grinned and brought Brooke close to him again. "Pack your bags because in an hour we are headed to Las Vegas, baby!" He shouted the last part.
"Vegas? You mean you're getting married, like, now?" Haley asked, shocked.
"Hell, yes!" Brooke proclaimed. "We don't want to wait a second more than we have to. Besides, we want to do this before our parents get involved and try to stop it or prolong it."
Nathan nodded in understanding. Brooke's parents would freak and both sides would have their lawyers in a war working on pre-nups.
Haley understood, too. The pressure of a society wedding was something she wouldn't wish on her worst enemy.
Nathan turned to Jake. "So why didn't you guys just stop in Vegas on your way back?"
Haley started to tear up at that question and Jake pulled her close.
"Hales and I pinky swore at eight years old that we couldn't get married unless the other was there. Well, married or become President of the United States, but you get the drift." He kissed the top of Haley's head.
Brooke turned to Nathan. "Besides, I needed someone to walk me down the aisle and I guess having you do it wouldn't be so horrible," she teased.
"Ah, I feel so special." He hugged her from the side.
"So you guys go get ready because we need to leave for the airport in, like, twenty minutes." Jake checked his watch.
"Twenty minutes!" Haley shrieked, grabbing Brooke's hand to rush her up the stairs, leaving the amused guys behind.
Nathan turned to Jake. "Guess we better get ready, too."
Jake nodded and they made their way up the stairs after the girls.
Jake had almost turned off to his hallway before he stopped and turned to Nathan.
"Hey, Nate? I have a feeling that the line was crossed." He paused "You don't have to answer, just remember everything that's at stake. Not just in regards to Haley, but with you as well. Even if you're sure, keep in mind she may not be at least yet."
Nathan sighed. He knew he couldn't expect Haley to walk away from everything after only a week with him. Honestly, the thought of destroying his brother wasn't something he was sure he could live with either right now.
He looked Jake in the eye. "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. No matter how hard I wish it didn't."
