This chapter is kind of lengthy...probably the longest I've written thus far. That's just because I had a lot to cover and I could have split it into two chapters, but then it would have fucked up my chapter timeline and I didn't want that to happen, lol. The next two chapters are two of the most important chapters out of the entire story. I'm really excited to get to them! I'm pretty proud of this chapter. The words seemed to flow so easily and I think this is the fastest I've ever written a chapter.
Also, this chapter gets pretty heated. I didn't plan for it to get as heated as it did, but my fingers apparently had a mind of their own. I'm sure y'all won't mind ;) I promise that Naley sleeping together for the first time is right around the corner. It's closer than you think, I promise. Enjoy!
"Please tell me you're going to be back in time for my party tonight."
"Yes, I will be back in time for your party, Brooke," Haley laughed. She plopped the last bag of luggage in the trunk of Vivian's car, before readjusting the phone to her ear. "We're actually on our way to the airport right now."
"Perfect." Brooke released a sigh of relief. "Is there any way that you swing by my place as soon as you land?"
Haley could perfectly picture Brooke's expression as she said that. Her cheeks would be lifted in a cute and innocent smile, her dimples staring her square in the face. She'd be batting her eyelashes swiftly, like a pair of butterfly wings.
"Why exactly?" Haley wondered, propping a hand on her waist. Hearing the front door of Vivian's house open, she looked over her shoulder to see Quinn descending the steps. In her hand was Lydia's old and ratty carry on bag.
Haley heard a bunch of rustling. It sounded like plastic wrapping, like she was opening a package of some kind. She then heard Brooke grumble something about how she shouldn't have bought so many decorations and that it was going to take years before everything was done.
"Because I still have so much to do and so little time," Brooke whined, exhaling dramatically. "I am famous for my New Year's parties. People are counting on this party being a banger."
"I was actually planning on stopping by Nathan's after I got back," Haley explained. She grabbed her mom's bag from Quinn and placed it in the trunk next to her own.
Brooke whined and Haley knew she was pouting. "Please, Haley? I know you miss him and I'm not trying to take you away from him, I just need your help. Please? I'll never ask you for anything ever again."
"Brooke," Haley began to protest.
"Does the phrase 'hoes over bros' mean anything to you?" Brooke pouted further. "Please, Haley, I desperately need your help."
Brooke Davis wasn't the type of girl to ask for help. She could be over-bearing sometimes, begging Haley to wear an outfit that she didn't want to or dragging her to some party or social event she didn't want to be at. But when it came to planning her own parties or her own ideas, Brooke preferred to be in the driver's seat. Her independence was something she prided herself heavily on. She must really be desperate if she was resorting to asking for help.
"You so owe me for this," Haley mumbled into the phone.
Brooke squealed excitedly and Haley swore she could hear her clapping her hands together. "Oh my God, thank you so much. You're the best, Tutor Girl! Have a safe flight and I'll see you when you get here. Bye!"
Haley laughed to herself as she hung up her phone, sliding it in the back pocket of her jeans. Now she just had to find a way to tell Nathan...
"What was that all about?" Quinn inquired, shutting the latch to Vivian's trunk. "Something about a party?"
Haley nodded. "Yeah, my friend Brooke is having a New Year's Eve party. She was just calling me to ask if I'd help her set up once I get back."
"Ahh, high school parties. I remember those days," Quinn sighed, looking off into the distance as if she was reminiscing every little detail.
"What was that, like, 10 years ago?" Haley taunted with a wink.
Quinn gasped, bumping her hip into Haley's. "Watch it, you!"
Their banter was interrupted by Lydia's loud laughter. They glanced back at the house to see Vivian and Lydia walking towards them, talking animatedly about something.
Haley smiled at the sight. This trip had really done wonders for Lydia. She was smiling a lot more and laughing a lot louder. She hadn't touched a single drop of alcohol since they arrived and hadn't asked to drink either, which was another bonus. Lydia was taking her recovery very seriously and Haley couldn't have been more delighted. In retrospect, she knew she should have never doubted her mom. Lydia James was a lot stronger than she gave herself credit for and even the mighty fall sometimes.
Being surrounded by family always made Haley feel better. Her family was an eccentric group, full of various types of personalities and senses of humor. They were so full of life and happiness, even in the midsts of drama and heartache. The size of her family made things interesting, as well. There were so many kids running around, all different ages. Haley swore that they sometimes needed two houses to fit everyone.
Holidays were never a dull occasion and it was a shame they couldn't get together more often.
"Mom's first treatment is coming up, right?" Quinn asked, interrupting Haley's thoughts.
"Yeah, this upcoming Monday," Haley confirmed.
"You better call us and let us know how it went, because Lord only knows that she'll forget."
"Don't worry, I'll keep you updated."
"I can't believe that we already have to say goodbye," Vivian murmured sadly as she approached Quinn and Haley. "It seems like I was just picking you up from the airport yesterday."
Haley rolled her eyes lightheartedly and waved her hand dismissively. "Come on, Viv, don't start all that sentimental crap."
Vivian dabbed underneath her eyes with a fake handkerchief, ridding her face of her make-believe tears. "I can't help it. It comes with the territory of being a mother of two small children who are growing like weeds."
"I seemed to have skipped that phase, thankfully," Lydia piped up, pursing her lips.
"Liar!" Quinn accused, point a daggered finger at Lydia. "You cried every time we grew an inch and always gave us the same lecture about how you were going to start force feeding us coffee to keep us small."
Lydia tossed her head back, a joyful and bouncy laugh erupting from her. "Okay, okay, you caught me."
The three girls laughed joyously.
"In all seriousness," Haley began once the laughter had died down. "I'm really going to miss you both. It was nice being transported back in time for a little while."
"I agree," Quinn said, wrapping one arm around Haley's shoulders and the other one around Vivian's. "This 'only seeing each other on important holidays' thing is just not cutting it anymore."
Vivian leaned her head against Quinn's, her lip jutting out in a small pout. "We'll have to plan to get together again...and soon."
"Sounds like a plan," Haley asserted. "Just as long as we decide on meeting up somewhere else. It's too cold here."
"James family vacation to the Bahama's sounds perfect to me," Lydia said with a wink.
~x~
I have job for you tonight. 1 am. My place.
Nathan clenched his phone tightly in his hand. His jaw was locked and his teeth were pressed together. The fingers on his free hand drummed nervously against the counter top. He'd been back in Damien's good graces for a while, but this was the first time Damien had given him a "job." That word could mean an abundance of things and every one of those possibilities made him anxious.
It also meant that Damien did truly trust him again. That was both a good thing and a bad thing. It brought him one step closer to bringing Damien down. Doing jobs for him again meant that Nathan would have access to his files and to his "business." However, it also gave him more opportunities to screw up and a bigger chance at causing an even a bigger problem if he got caught.
This was all becoming way too much, way too fast.
To make matters worse, his nightmares had returned. Only instead of dreaming of the mistakes he made in the past or the house fire, he was dreaming about Damien pressing that gun to his head. He swore he could still feel the cool metal pressing into his skin, the circular barrel leaving an indent. His dream cut off right when Damien's finger curled around the trigger. He'd jolt awake, drenched in a cold sweat and with a racing heart.
"You're looking a little red in the face," Lucas joked as he walked into the apartment. Jake was right behind him and he was carrying a case of beer.
Nathan half smiled, though the action didn't reach his eyes.
Jake swung the case of beer on to the counter. "I know that look, what's wrong?"
Instead of explaining with words, Nathan slide his phone across the counter. Lucas and Jake read over the text, frowns forming on their faces.
"A job? What kind of job?" Jake asked, handing Nathan his phone back.
Nathan shrugged his shoulders and licked his lips. "It could mean anything from making a delivery to…killing someone." His voice cracked over that last option.
"Killing someone?!" Lucas bellowed out. His eyes were wide and his fists were clenched, resting against the counter. "Damn it, Nathan. I knew this wasn't a good idea. You're either going to get your ass thrown in jail or get yourself killed."
Nathan closed his eyes and gave a quick shake of his head. "I doubt that Damien is going have me kill someone. He usually likes to do that himself. Sick bastard."
"I seriously do not understand why that fucker isn't in jail," Jake commented. "There's no way daddy's money can get him out of murder charges, too."
"You'd be surprised," Nathan mumbled bitterly.
He'd only met Damien's father once. He was a prestigious man, one that always wore a suit and an expensive watch, most likely a Rolex or a Diagono. He owned the best cars, but never drove them himself. He had a driver for that. People were terrified of him, too. He always wore such a grim look on his face. His eyes were always ice cold, no sign of life or remorse, kind of like Damien. Whenever he walked into a room, people parted like the Red Sea. It wasn't hard to figure out how Damien was let off the hook so many times.
"Are you sure there isn't something else you can do?" Lucas questioned seriously. "Can't you just go to the police with what you know and let them take it from there?"
Nathan shook his head. "I don't have enough. I'd be dead before I even walked through the door. The best option I have is getting all the proof that I possibly can and hoping that it's enough to arrest him right away."
"And what if it's not? What if it's all for nothing?" Lucas argued. He didn't mean to second guess his brother, but the high intensity of the situation was starting to get to him. He just wanted Nathan to be safe.
Jake sighed heavily as he squeezed Lucas' shoulder. "Look, the most important thing is that we stay positive. There's no point in jumping down each other's throats with 'what if's' when there isn't any reason. Okay?"
"You're right. Sorry," Lucas apologized, running a hand over his face. "Let's just talk about something else."
Nathan cleared his throat and sat up straighter in his seat. "Actually, there is something I wanted to talk to you guys about."
"What's up?" Jake pondered, hoisting the case of beer off the counter. Walking over to the fridge, he popped it open and slid the case in. "Remind me to take that when we go to Brooke's. She'll kill me if I forget it."
"Noted," Lucas mumbled. "What's on your mind, Nate?
Nathan took a deep breath. He expected to feel a surge of apprehension—the sweaty palms, the racing hard beat, the twisting stomach—but he felt nothing. He actually felt…kind of calm.
"Basketball," He stated simply.
Jake's eyes grew in size. "Basketball? Are you feeling okay? Did you hit your head on something?"
Lucas' face lit up. His earlier frustrations over Damien evaporated. "I've been waiting for you to bring up Haley's Christmas gift. You really gonna go for it?"
Jake looked between Lucas and Nathan, confusion marring his features. "Someone want to fill me in?"
Lucas smirked and leaned over the counter, clasping his hands together. "Haley came to my mom's house about a week and a half ago, asking us to help her get Nathan back on the basketball team. Keith made some calls and Coach decided to give Nathan another chance. Haley gave him his old jersey as a present."
Jake appeared stunned. He opened his mouth to say something, only to close it a moment later. It took a couple of more seconds of silence before he seemed to get his bearings. "Does this mean what I think it does?"
Nathan lifted his shoulders in a small shrug. "This feels so weird to say, but I'm actually considering it. I want to hear what you guys think, first."
"You should do it," Jake said with not even a second of hesitation. "The team needs you and I think deep down, you know that you need us, too."
Nathan chewed on the inside of his cheek as he mulled over Jake's words. He knew Jake was right. Basketball had always held a part of him that no one and nothing else could touch. There was a part of him that felt empty without it. In the past, he could never admit that to himself. The words would get lodged in his throat or hit a roadblock in his mind.
It was different, now. Everything was different.
"It's okay to still love it, Nate," Lucas said gently and Nathan's heart skipped a beat. Maybe that was the real sign he was looking for. After all, that was exactly what he needed to hear.
"I…I know that," Nathan mumbled.
"Then what's stopping you?" Jake asked.
"I'm not sure," Nathan answered honestly. "I've gotten so used to hiding my love for the game, because it felt like the right thing to do. Now that I'm moving away from that, I'm scared."
"You know that no matter you decide, we'll support you, right?" Lucas reminded him. "We've always got your back."
Nathan smiled gingerly. "I know."
"Alright, we need to stop. This conversation is getting way too…girly for me," Jake quipped and faked gagged.
"Oh, shut the fuck up."
~x~
Haley took one last glance in the mirror, making sure that everything was just how she wanted it. She smoothed her hands over the light peach skirt she was wearing. It was considerably shorter than something she would normally wear, the hem stretching to just the middle of her thigh. However, it matched perfectly with the black halter top she was wearing and it wasn't too often that she found an outfit that she really liked. Her hair cascaded over shoulders in their natural waves and her make-up was light.
She actually felt really confident in how she looked, something that also didn't happen all that often.
The party was already in full swing, the music thrumming loudly and the alcohol flowing freely. It'd taken Haley, Brooke, and Peyton a good four to five hours to set up. Brooke had really over done it with the decorations, buying everything from streamers to noisemakers to center pieces. Haley wasn't sure that she'd ever seen so much glitter in her life. People seemed to really like the set up though, sending compliments Brooke's way at any chance they got.
Brooke wasn't lying when she said she was famous for her New Year's Eve party. People were practically lined up down the block starting at seven and the party didn't even start until nine! It was a miracle that Brooke's neighbors hadn't called the cops on her, especially when her attendees were rudely blocking their driveways with their cars and their bodies.
Haley's phone abruptly dinged, tossing her out of her thoughts. She smiled when she saw it was a text from Nathan.
I'm on my way. I can't wait to see you.
Her heart fluttered as a kaleidoscope of butterflies took flight in her stomach. Words could not accurately describe how much she missed him. She couldn't wait to kis—
"I'm just saying, no one should ever wear that color purple," Brooke complained, her heels clacking against the hard wood as she walked into her bedroom. The red cocktail dress was wearing shimmered in the light like a million diamonds and contrasted perfectly with her tan skin.
"I thought it was kind of pretty," Peyton commented, plopping herself down on Brooke's king-sized bed. In typical Peyton-fashion, she opted out of wearing a dress. Instead, she had on a pair of dark washed jeans and a ribbed tank-top covered in silver sequins.
Brooke hovered over her vanity and quickly reapplied her lip gloss. "Yeah, you would, because it closely resembled the color black. I heard witches tend to be really obsessed with the color of their souls."
Peyton laughed and Haley rolled her eyes. Their banter never seized to amaze her.
"I am so not ready to go back to school," Brooke groaned, throwing all of her make-up back in its respective bag. "I only have two weeks to find a new cheerleader and the thought of sitting through auditions is nauseating."
"I'm sure it's not that bad," Haley said, joining Peyton on the bed.
"Oh, no, it's terrible," Peyton said with a laugh. "I swear some girls only try out just to make fun of us."
"Still haven't changed your mind, Tutor Girl?" Brooke asked, a hopeful gleam in her eye.
Haley bit her bottom lip as she shook her head. "I'm telling you, I wouldn't be any good at it. I'm a natural born klutz. I can't really dance and I have zero cheerleading experience."
"We'd teach you all that you need to know," Brooke tried to persuade. "Come on, Haley, live a little! At least give it a try, and if you don't like it, you can quit."
Haley sighed heavily, crossing her arms over her chest. "Why do you want me to be one so bad anyway?"
"Because it would make our lives so much easier," Peyton answered for Brooke.
"If I say that I'll think about it, will you leave me alone?"
"Yes."
"Then, fine, I'll think about it."
"Perfect. You excited to see Nathan tonight?" Brooke pondered, shifting the tone of the conversation.
"God, yes," Haley rushed out. "I feel like I haven't seen him in years."
"Hasn't it only been a week?" Peyton asked incredulously, arching an eyebrow.
"Yes," Haley whispered sheepishly. A light blush painted Haley's cheeks. She really was turning into one of those pathetic girls who were overly obsessed with their boyfriend.
"Oh, P. Sawyer, don't be bitter. You'll find love someday," Brooke tormented, throwing a wink at Peyton.
"Well, what about you, Brooke? Are you finally going to plant one on Jake at midnight?" Peyton taunted back, smiling in satisfaction when Brooke narrowed her eyes.
"Oh, I was wondering the same thing," Haley chimed in.
"I just might," Brooke declared triumphantly.
"It's about damn time!" Peyton declared, clapping her hands together. "Because I gotta say, that little cat-and-mouse game you guys have been playing was starting to get sickening."
"Oh, really, Mrs. Lucas Scott?" Brooke shot back.
Peyton didn't even flinch. "You're gonna have to try harder than that if you want to get a rise out of me."
Brooke chose to ignore her, peeking at her phone instead. "Speaking of the boys, they're here!"
Haley's heart was hammering with excitement as she descended the stairs. Her eyes frantically searched the crowd of people for any sign of Nathan. Like a moth drawn to a flame, she sought him out in record time and a wide smile broke out across her face. He was standing by the doorway, his back to her. He must have just walked through the door, because he still had on his leather jacket.
Sneaking up behind him, she stood on the tips of her heels and covered his eyes with her hands. "Guess who?" She whispered into his ear.
Nathan reached up to grab her hands, a slight smirk ghosting on his face. "Beth? Sarah? Lacey? One of my other girlfriends?"
Haley dropped her hands and narrowed her eyes. "That's not funny."
Nathan laughed as he turned around to face her. He didn't waste a second more and pulled her into his arms. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling deeply. It felt so good to hold her again. The peace he so desperately craved, but only felt around her, returned. "God, I missed you so much. Don't ever leave me again."
Haley wrapped her arms around his neck and giggled. "I won't, I promise."
Nathan pulled away from the hug, only to cup her face in the palm of his hands. Leaning forward, he seized her lips in a searing kiss, quickly opening his mouth over hers to swallow her moans. Her fingers gripped the ends of his jacket and pulled him closer. It felt so satisfying to kiss her again.
When air became an issue, Haley reluctantly pulled away. Her head was spinning from the intensity and her knees felt a little wobble-y. Kissing Nathan always had that effect on her, but it was even worse now—something about an addict having that first taste after a long dry spell.
Nathan banded his arms around her waist and held her close. He let his eyes trail over face and down her body. She was absolutely glowing. Her brown eyes shining back at him, her hair framing her face perfectly…she was hell on the heart. "You look beautiful, Haley."
"Thank you," She replied quietly, blushing like she always did. "I'm sorry I couldn't come over after I landed. Brooke was like a chicken with her head cut off over this party and I really didn't want to leave her hanging."
Nathan shook his head. "It's okay, really."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive," Nathan declared honestly. "How are things with your family?"
A loud cheer from the crowd made them both jump. Shaking her head and mouthing "not here", she laced their fingers together and pulled him towards the kitchen. Trying to have a conversation in the middle of a party was basically like trying to have a conversation in the middle of a concert.
Once they were in the kitchen, where it was significantly less crowded, Haley plopped down on one of the decorative stools, Nathan moving to stand between her slightly parted legs. "It was really nice and actually really relaxing. I think it was a good healing experience for my mom. She really opened up to us kids and I think it helped us all understand a little bit better about what she's going through."
Nathan smiled, brushing his fingertips along the curve of her cheek. She did seem a little…lighter. The worry lines and bags under her eyes were like faded shadows on her porcelain skin. "Good, I'm glad. You know I'm still here if you need anything, right?"
"I know. Thank you," Haley hummed. "What about you? Did anything exciting happen while I was gone?"
"Actually, yes," Nathan said, taking in a big gulp of air. "I, uh, went and saw my parents."
Haley's eyes widened and she reached for his hand, lacing their fingers together and squeezing them gently. "How'd that go?"
He licked his lips insecurely. "Good…surprisingly. It was one of that hardest things I've ever had to do. It felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest at some points, but after I left, I felt really good. Kind of like I was liberated for something that was holding me back."
Haley caressed his cheek, her eyes shining with admiration. "I'm so proud of you, Nathan."
A warmth laced through his veins. That wasn't a phrase that he'd heard very often and coming from her, it meant everything.
"Haley! Come here! I want you to try something," Brooke shouted from deeper in the kitchen, interrupting them.
She glanced over at Nathan apologetically. First, she bailed on him because Brooke needed help decorating and now, she was being dragged away from him again. Surprisingly, he didn't seem the slightest bit annoyed.
"Go ahead. I'm gonna go find somewhere for us to sit."
"Okay," She pouted, kissing him quick. "I'll come find you in a few."
~x~
There were so many people in Brooke's basement, even more than the first party Haley had attended of hers. She tried her hardest to squeeze passed people without bumping into them rudely, and she only failed a couple of times. It was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from a couple strands of blinking white Christmas lights hanging from the ceiling.
Nathan said that he was going to find a seat somewhere, but she hadn't a clue where to begin looking. Curse Brooke for having such a big house. Maneuvering her way through another crowd of people, started to walk towards the bar. Maybe if she stood on one of the stools she'd be able to see better. However, she didn't make it much farther.
She let out a sharp squeal when two hands gripped her waist and pulled her down. Her back collided with something hard and two arms reached to wrap securely around her midsection. She immediately relaxed when Nathan's cologne surrounded her and burrowed herself further into his chest.
"Hey, baby," Nathan purred over the loud music, pressing his lips softly to the side of her throat. A smirk appeared on his face when she visible shivered.
Haley tilted her head back to rest on his shoulder. Her heart beat was finally starting to return to normal. "You scared me."
He laughed huskily, a sound that made goosebumps prickle on Haley's skin. "I didn't mean to. I'm sorry."
Haley twisted in his arms so that she was sitting sideways in his lap. She curled her arms around his neck and shook her head at the playful glint in his eyes. "No, you're not."
Nathan settled his hands on her waist. His thumb dipped beneath the hem of her black halter top, rubbing small circles into her skin. "You're right, I'm not," He said, the corners of his mouth raising into a more prominent smirk.
Haley rolled her eyes, but smiled back at him. She then let her eyes roam over his face for a moment. His hair was a little disheveled, probably from his nervous habit of running his fingers through it. He looked exhausted, his eyes drooping low. Moving her gaze southward, she couldn't help but appreciate the way the navy-blue sweater he was wearing hugged his body. He really did have muscles in all the right places. She couldn't exactly tell, but she was pretty positive his dark wash jeans were resting low on his hips. Damn, her boyfriend was sexy.
Raising her eyes to meet hers, a deep blush dusted her cheeks when she realized she'd been caught. Nathan's eyes were dancing with amusement and a single eyebrow was arched.
"Like what you see?" Nathan teased lowly. His hand slipped farther beneath her shirt and rested against the small of her back.
Haley trembled at the contact and buried her head in the crook of his neck. Her cheeks were flaming hot—a mixture of embarrassment, the heat in the basement, and the alcohol coursing through her veins. "Always," She mumbled, causing Nathan to chuckle.
Time slipped by as they just laid in each other's embrace. There were hundreds of people around them, dancing to the beat of the thrumming music. They were laughing and singing loudly. Haley could vaguely feel a few girls shooting daggers at her, but she didn't care. It was like all of those people were miles away and the only person she could focus on was Nathan. Being able to touch him again after a week was liberating.
To most people, a week wasn't long, but to Haley it was an eternity.
"Are you having a good time?" Haley asked, breaking the silence. She knew that parties weren't Nathan's favorite thing in the world and she wanted to make sure he was okay.
Nathan squeezed her against his chest. "I am, now."
Haley giggled and leaned forward to press a loving kiss to his cheek. "Charmer."
Nathan chuckled as he tucked a piece of wayward hair behind her hair. "How about you? Are you having a good time?" It didn't escape him that Haley seemed more mellow than she usually was at parties. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were slightly glassy, as well.
Haley nodded, causing Nathan's chin to brush the top of her head. "Yeah, especially since Brooke had me try this mixed drink she made. It was so good."
Nathan tensed beneath her. Haley wasn't much of a drinker and it worried him that she drank tonight. He knew she could handle herself and it wasn't about not trusting her. He was more worried about her turning to alcohol to numb the pain the last few weeks had caused her. He knew, first hand, how easy it was to be sucked into that kind of mayhem.
Haley sensed his change in mood almost instantly. Sitting up, with her eyebrows furrowed, she cupped his cheek. "Baby, what is it?"
Nathan covered her hand with his own and gently squeezed it. His tongue felt heavy in his mouth as he tried to come up with a way to express his thoughts in a way that wouldn't offend her.
"Nathan?" Haley prodded him. His silence was starting to make her nervous.
Sighing, he squeezed her hand once more and brushed his lips against the inside of her wrist. "I know this sounds silly, but I'm just worried about you. These last few weeks have been tough on you and then you said you were drinking. I feared that—"
"That I would turn out like my mother and drink away my pain?" She said lightheartedly. It felt oddly satisfying to joke about something like that now.
Nathan shook his head vigorously. "No, it's not that. I just didn't want you to feel like you had to shut everyone out. I…I know how easy that option might seem and I'm sorry."
Haley's heart fluttered at the sentiment and at the concern in his tone. She smiled at him and rubbed her thumb along his cheekbone. "I appreciate it and I see where you're coming from. But I only had a half of a glass and it was just because Brooke begged me to try it."
"You only had half of a glass and you're already buzzed?" Nathan laughed, shaking his head.
"I'm a lightweight," Haley giggled. A weight slid off her shoulders when the color of his eyes shifted from concern to playful again.
"Clearly."
Curling against his chest again, Haley placed the softest of kisses to the base of his throat. One of her hands slid up his shoulder and into the thick strands of his hair. She kissed her way up to his ear, mumbling into his skin. "You know, you're pretty sexy when you get all worried like that."
Nathan's grip on her hips tauten. A shudder ran through him at her ministrations. Haley was the more reserved one out of the two of them, so any time she decided to take initiative, it quickly started a war of desire inside of him. "Oh, really?"
"Yeah," Haley purred into his ear. Her hand dropped from his hair and trailed down his chest. Her tiny fingers began to rub small circles across the hard planes of his chest, while her lips continued to work on his neck. She's not sure where the sudden bravery and need appeared from, but she wasn't going to question it. Nathan's sharp intakes of breath were only spurring her on further.
"Haley," Nathan groaned softly. He didn't care that they were in a crowded room and that everyone could see them, but he knew that completely sober Haley would die of embarrassment. He jumped when he tiny hand made contact with his belt buckle and she wasn't stopping there. His blood felt like liquid fire, but he knew he had to stop her before she took things too far.
Gently, he grabbed her hand. "Hales, babe, you gotta stop."
Haley backed away just enough so she could see his face. It suddenly felt like someone had dumped a bucket of cold water on her. Her surroundings became crystal clear and a deep blush burned on her cheeks. She couldn't believe that she let herself get so…brazen.
"I…oh my god, I'm sorry. Did…did you not want me to?" She stuttered, completely embarrassed. She preferred to stay ignorant about Nathan's past. The less she knew, the less she had to compare herself to. But that didn't stop the thoughts of doubt to creep up in her mind every once in a while—like maybe the reason Nathan stopped her was because he was thinking about another time a girl touched him like that and that she did it better. It was ridiculous, but her thoughts had a mind of their own, literally.
"Of course, I did," Nathan quickly recovered. He could see the insecurities written all over her face and was silently cursing himself for provoking those.
"Then, why did you want me to stop?" Haley mumbled shyly.
Nathan motioned towards all the people at the party with his hand, palm facing outward. "I didn't think you wanted to give everyone a free show."
Haley's cheeks flamed further. "Maybe we should get out of here."
"Good idea."
~x~
Hand-in-hand, they walked up the stairs to where all the guest rooms were.
"Are you sure Brooke doesn't mind us being up here?" Nathan asked with a smirk on his face. It amused him to see how eager Haley was to get him alone.
"I'm positive," Haley replied a little shakily. It was so out of character for her to be sneaking off at party to go…make out with her boyfriend. Maybe it was the fact that they'd seen each other in a while. Or maybe it was because he just looked so damn good. Or maybe it was the buzz. Whatever it was, she was basking it in.
"In here."
As soon as the door to the guest room was shut and locked, Nathan pulled Haley in his arms. His lips were on hers with a fierce intensity. The slightest hint of alcohol was mixed in with Haley's unique taste. She matched his pace, her lips demanding over his. The way they were kissing…it was like neither one of them could get enough.
"Not being able to kiss or touch you for a week was complete torture," Nathan mumbled into her mouth, before kissing a trail of fire on her jaw and down her neck. "And then the way you were touching me down stairs? Fuck, that felt amazing."
Haley fell limp against him. She was clutching on to fistfuls of his shirt, a lame attempt at trying to keep herself upright. Every time she kissed him, she swore could just die. Was that normal? Was it normal to feel such a need and want for someone that it physically felt like you were on fire? Would it always be like that? God, she hoped so.
"Nathan," She whimpered when he nipped at the base of her throat. His hands were buried in her hair, gently yanking her head back.
"You're so damn sexy," Nathan murmured hoarsely. He could never get enough of her. The taste of her skin, the smell of her hair…she was so damn addicting. He was so completely entranced by her and there wasn't anything he could do about it. He expected to feel the urge to run, but it wasn't there.
He kissed his way back up to her lips and swallowed down her breathless moans. It wasn't until the sting of alcohol on her tongue shook him back to reality. It was much stronger than the first taste and a cold sweat broke out on his skin. Don't you dare take advantage of her. In response, he gently slowed down their kisses. Cupping her face in his hands, he pressed a chaste kiss to her lips, before pulling away slightly.
"Are you okay?" He asked softly, pressing his forehead against hers. Her eyes were still closed and her kiss-swollen lips were parted.
"I'm perfect," Haley said softly. Her lips curled into a soft smile.
"I…I don't want to take advantage of you," Nathan admitted quietly.
Haley's eyes popped open at that. Her forehead was creased in concern. "You're not. Nathan, I had a few sips of one drink. I'm coherent enough to know that I want to make out with my boyfriend."
Nathan chuckled as he backed away from her, settling himself on the edge of the bed. "I know, I'm just making sure."
Haley shook her head as she walked over to him and stood in-between his legs. She then wrapped her arms around his neck, scraping her finger nails along the nape. "You worry too darn much."
Nathan smiled sheepishly, resting his hands on the back of her thighs. "So, I've been told."
She pressed her lips to his in a gentle and quick kiss. His body was tense against hers and his eyebrows were furrowed in concern. Nathan wore that expression often and it pulled on her heart strings every time. Softly, she brushed her fingers over the wrinkles on his forehead, hoping to smooth them out.
"I think I know something that'll take your mind off things," Haley cooed quietly.
"Yeah?"
Haley nodded. The thought had popped into her head a couple of moments ago and now it was all she could think about. She'd been wondering how she was going to tell Nathan about what her and Brooke talked about earlier, and this seemed like the perfect way to do it.
"What would you think about me becoming a Ravens cheerleader?"
Nathan's eyebrows shot up and smirk curled on his lips. "A cheerleader?"
A shiver sliced down Haley's spine when she watched Nathan's eyes darken. Gaining a little bit of confidence, she surprised Nathan by placing her knees on either side of his hips, straddling him. His hands fell to her hips to steady her, his eyes wide with shock and arousal. She was on a roll today with surprising him.
"Yeah, you know, a cheerleader," She murmured, grabbing his hands. She moved them up to her sides, brushing over the side of breasts.
"The one that wear those tight tops."
Slowly, she inched his hands down to the edge of her skirt. Then, she pushed them under her skirt and rested them on the inside of her bare thighs. Goosebumps rose on her skin when his calloused fingers nipped at her smooth skin.
"The short skirts."
Nathan swallowed hard. His breathing was erratic. Her husky voice, sultry narration, and domination were quickly making him hot. He always knew his girlfriend was sexy, but damn. "I don't think you have any idea what you're doing to me right now."
Haley glanced down, her eyes sparkling with mischief and a smirk on her face. "Oh, I think I do."
Nathan laughed coarsely. "What's the catch to you narrating this cheerleading thing that is quickly becoming fantasy of mine?"
A low swirl of desire pool in the pit of her stomach. His eyes were raking over her appreciatively, causing her insides to melt. Haley leaned forward and clasped her hands around the back of his neck. "You join the basketball team and I'll join the cheerleading squad."
Nathan was stunned. His mouth was drier than the Sahara and there wasn't a clear thought in his head. All he could picture was Haley in a cheerleading uniform, cheering him on from the sidelines. He pictured her in the tight top and short skirt that she described a few moments ago and his brain short circuited.
Haley felt a surge of pride at leaving him speechless. It also fueled her with a grave confidence. Pressing her lips to the shell of his ear, she purred into it. "And just think, I'll paint your jersey number somewhere on my body, for everyone to see. Like my arm or my cheek. Or maybe I'll put it somewhere that only you're allowed to see."
He snapped. The little self-control he had evaporated at record speed. Grabbing her hips, he yanked her down onto the bed and cloaked her body with his, his lips moving passionately over hers. One hand buried itself in her hair, while the other roamed the length of her body.
Haley's yelp of surprise quickly morphed into a breathy moan. Her hands scrabbled for purchase down his back, her nails clawing at his sweater. They'd made out hundreds of times, but it never started off this intense or this…desperate.
"You taste so good. It drives me crazy," Nathan mumbled, dragging his lips across the curve of her jaw and down the column of her neck.
Her hands were in his hair. She was breathing heavily and a thin layer of perspiration was slicked on her skin. A sharp gasp tore from her throat when Nathan grabbed her leg and hooked it over his hip, pressing her harder into the plush mattress.
The soft grind of his hips against hers and his roaming hands made her feel like she was about to combust. He seemed to find the most sensitive spots on her skin and knew just how to manipulate them to drive her crazy. One moment his hands were massaging her breasts through her shirt and the next they were teasing her inner thighs. If she felt this good just from this, she knew she might actually die when they made love.
Nathan's heart lurched in his chest when his fingers brushed against the bow on her halter top. Her skirt was already bunched around her waist and it would have been so easy to just yank it loose. Her whimpers and moans weren't doing much to quell that urge. If he didn't stop them soon, he feared what would happen. She deserved more than this.
But it was hard to think clearly with her smooth thighs pressing around his waist. Her skin tasted phenomenal and he craved more of it. She was touching him in all the right places—her nails digging into the cords of his stomach and dipping below the belt loops on his pants.
"I want you so much," Haley panted. She increased the speed and pressure of her hips, earning a low groan from Nathan.
"You know how much I want you," Nathan declared, thrusting his hips against hers to drive his point home.
"Oh, God, Nathan, please," She begged, tossing her head back and arching her back of the bed. Nothing in her life had ever felt this good and she didn't want to stop. The apprehension was still there, but it was the good kind. It wasn't fear…it was anticipation. "I need you."
Nathan felt himself grow impossibly hard. Her lust laden voice and gaze were quickly sending him over the edge. The only layers that remained between them were Haley's panties and his jeans and boxers. It would have been so easy to strip down and to sink into her. To give her what she wanted…hell, what they both wanted.
But they couldn't. Not like this.
He forced himself back down to Earth. Taking in a few deep breaths, he attempted to control his raging libido. It was a few minutes before he felt stable enough to slow things down.
He gripped her hips to still them. His heart was racing in his chest and his body was still screaming at him to continue. Stopping what they were doing was one of the hardest things he'd ever had to do, but he prided himself on being able to put Haley's needs before his own.
"Our first time isn't going to be in Brooke's guest room, with hundreds of people right outside that door," Nathan said through heavy pants of air.
Haley whimpered, her hands squeezing his shoulders. The cloud of lust that had invaded her every sense faded away, only to be replaced by a sea of warmth. The tender way Nathan was looking at her had butterflies flapping wildly in her stomach.
"I don't need candle light or roses, Nathan," She breathed out, palming his cheek. "I just need you."
He leaned into her touch. He smiled that smile, the one that was only reserved for her. "You deserve more than just some hook-up at a party."
"I would never see it that way," Haley countered.
Nathan exhaled deeply. "I know, and it's not because I don't want you…believe me, I do. So much. But you mean a lot to me, and I want to do things properly."
"You're way too sweet to me," Haley marveled, dropping her hand from his cheek. His attempt to cool things down by being sweet only made her want him even more. Sexy and sweet was a dangerous combination. "But does that mean we can't do other…things?"
Nathan cocked an eyebrow. "What did you have in mind?"
Haley smirked in a way that she hoped was seductive. Her hands were shaking terribly as they slowly traced down his chest. The fabric of his sweater was soft against her fingertips. All she could think about was how badly she wanted to make him feel good.
Nathan was watching her with curious eyes and she bit her lip in response. When her fingers came in contact with his belt buckle, her stomach lurched. Taking one last calming breath, she scooted her hand lower and cupped him through his jeans.
He inhaled sharply and dropped his forehead to her shoulders. His body suddenly felt like a livewire, sparks shooting through his veins. "H-ales, what're you doing?"
She remained silent as she slowly moved her hand over him. He was so hard beneath her palm, the coarse fabric of his jeans barely muting the feel of him. He was panting loudly in her hair, an occasional moan slipping past his lips. He was gripping the pillow beside her head, the veins in his arm protruding.
She wasn't touching bare skin, yet him felt like he was seconds away from exploding. He almost swallowed his tongue when he felt her hand on the buckle of his belt. The sound of the metal clanking together as she undid his belt was loud in his ears. He stopped breathing when she threaded his belt out of the loops and popped the buttons on his jeans.
"Shiiiit," He hissed when she encased him in her tiny hand, slowly working him over. Forcing his head up, he rested his forehead against hers and pried his eyes open. Haley was biting her lip, a sure sign that she was nervous.
"Don't s-stop," Nathan begged, letting her know that what she was doing was perfect. His lips parted above hers, their hot breath mingling together.
Haley squirmed beneath him, not daring to take her eyes off of him. She didn't have a clue what she was doing. Sure, she heard stories from her sisters and some of her friends, but she'd never done something like this before. She was surprised at how warm he felt, like silk wrapped over steel.
Judging by the expression on Nathan's face and the look in his eyes…she was doing something right. It was so damn empowering.
"Faster," He pleaded. "D-do it, faster."
When she complied, Nathan hissed another expletive. There was something so erotic and sexy about seeing him like this. His head was tilted back, the muscles in his neck straining deliciously. His eyes were scrunched and his mouth was hanging open. He was breathing heavily, his chest heaving.
"That feels so fucking good," He grounded out. He could feel the end encroaching quickly and he couldn't stop the rock of his hips even if he tried. "Shit, Hales, baby, I'm gonna come."
A few more twists of her hand and he fell over the edge. His body gave out as he moaned her name. He collapsed beside Haley so he wouldn't crush her. Glancing over at her, he watched as she reached over to grab a Kleenex, cleaning her hand off. He'd be lying if he said that was the first time he'd ever been touched like that. However, he'd never felt so completely sated before.
"Happy New Year, Nathan," Haley said innocently, curling into his side.
"If only every new year started like that," Nathan joked, his breathing finally returning back to normal. He curled an arm around her waist and held her close to his chest.
"Play your cards right, and you just might," Haley teased back. She smiled when he laughed. "Was…was that okay?"
Nathan frowned at the uneasiness in her voice. He brushed his thumb under her chin, tilting her head up to face him. "It was amazing," He promised.
"Good enough for you to decide to try basketball again?" She asked with a scrunch of her nose.
Nathan chuckled a little, before growing serious. "I think I'm gonna give it a try." It surprised him how easily he was able to say those words. He didn't stutter and he didn't have to force himself to say them either.
Haley perked up. "Really?"
"Yeah," Nathan confirmed. "But it's not because of what we just did, although, that was quite convincing."
Haley just rolled her eyes.
"I've been thinking about it a lot," Nathan continued. "I feel like I owe it to myself and to my dad to give it a try again. No regrets, right?"
"Right." Haley agreed with a smile. She couldn't accurately describe how happy it made her to hear that Nathan was going to play again. "Looks like I'm gonna be a cheerleader, now."
"You don't really have to do that if you don't want to."
"A deal is a deal."
~x~
Nathan awoke to his phone buzzing continuously in his pocket. He ignored it the first time. And the second. The third time it started to buzz, Nathan groaned. Groggily, he fished around in his pocket. Once he found it, he pulled it out of his pocket and squinted against the bright light.
We're out back.
You better not have told anyone about this.
Twenty minutes, Nate.
"Shit!" Nathan shouted, causing Haley to stir. He only had fifteen minutes to make it Nathan's before he screwed. Without even thinking, jumped up from the bed, jolting Haley awake.
"Nathan?" She asked, clearly dazed. "What's wrong?"
"I have to go," He rushed out. As he was buttoning up his pants, he anxiously searched for his belt. When he finally found it, his hands were shaking as he tried to secure it back around his waist.
Haley furrowed her eyebrows, running a hand through her unruly hair. "Now? It's late. Come back to bed."
"No," He barked unintentionally. He cringed when caught a glimpse of the shocked expression on Haley's face. Her eyes were wide and she coiled back like he'd just slapped her. He swallowed hard. "I'm sorry, baby, I just…I have to go."
"Where?" She repeated. She was more awake and there was a clip of annoyance in her tone.
"Just go back to bed, Haley," Nathan murmured as evenly as he could, his eyes doing another sweep of the room. Where the fuck did he put his shoes?
"Not until you tell me where you're rushing off to," Haley insisted, crossing her arms over her chest.
Another minute ticked by and Nathan still couldn't find his shoes. He felt his phone buzzing in his pocket again. And then again. Looking at the time, he panicked when he saw he was down to ten minutes. As if God was finally on his side, he spotted his shoes.
"Are you going to answer me?" Haley asked, her annoyance warring attitude.
"It's not any of your business. Lay off," Nathan snapped, heading out the door. He refused to look back. He knew the look on her face would surely kill him.
"Natha—"
He heard her calling after him as he practically ran out of the guest room. It took an immense amount of strength to not turn back around and crawl back into bed with her. The feeling of guilt was pulling at the pit of his stomach. He didn't mean to snap at her and he hated that he let himself lose his patience with her. It wasn't her fault that he fell asleep. It wasn't her fault that he was in such a shitty situation.
He tried his hardest to force those thoughts out of his head as he drove. He couldn't let his guilt distract him from whatever Damien wanted him to do.
Nathan was sure he'd broken every traffic law known to man and still managed to be five minutes late. A block of fear weighed heavily in the core of his stomach as he jogged towards the pool house. He could clearly picture Damien holding that gun again and he prayed to God that, that wasn't his fate. He'd never known Damien to fly off the handle at something as simple as being late, but Nathan's circumstances with him were anything but normal.
"You're late, Scott," Damien snipped as soon as Nathan barreled through the front door. He didn't look up from the clipboard he was holding. He seemed to be counting something in his head. A single pen was resting behind his ear and an un-lit cigar was dangling from his mouth. He was in business mode. He only got like that whenever he was preparing to send out a large shipment for delivery.
"I'm sorry, I—"
"I don't have time for excuses," Damien cut him off. "You're delivering a couple of grams of weed to a customer down on the south side. Tim is already waiting in the car out back. The guy's address and what he owes are sitting on my desk. You'll only got a half hour to make this run before you have to make another one. It wouldn't be wise to waste another second."
Nathan wasn't going to test that statement. Instead, he just rushed back to Damien's office. He was grateful for the fact that it was shipment week. Damien was always distracted during that time. He got off easy and small sliver of tension melted off his bones. He had to be better, because next time, he might not get that lucky.
His hands were still shaking as he picked up the piece of paper with the customer's information on it. It slipped through his fingers and floated under Damien's desk. He dove to the floor to grab it, but froze when something shinny caught his eye.
It was a lock box of some sort, stuffed in the very corner of his desk, surrounding by a bunch of cardboard boxes and filing cabinets. There was a label across the top of it, but it was hard to see. By some unexplainable force, Nathan was drawn to this lock box. Inching forward, he squinted his eyes to read the label.
Files- Eighty-Six.
Nathan's breath hitched in his throat. "Eighty-Six" was Damien's code for all of the people or "customers" that wronged him and he had to punish. Nathan had heard rumors that Damien kept files on all the people he harmed, mostly for bragging rights and trophies. But he thought they were just that…rumors.
If that lock box really contained those rumored files, then that meant there had to be a file on him and his family in there. If there was, that could potentially be just the right amount of evidence that he needed to finally free himself of Damien. That, and his stupid logo.
He had to find a way to get it open.