I'm Not Your Husband!

I'm still not pleased with this chapter, but I hope some of the readers are. Thank all readers and repliers. I adore you.

Chapter 9

In the kitchen, Haley cleaned the juicer and discarded the orange peels. Resting her elbows on the counter, she watched the warm breeze make the vanilla curtains dance.

"Ding!"

The toaster oven sounded and Haled walked over and removed four bagel halves, placing them on a clean plate she had found in the dishwasher.

Her mind wandered to the events of the previous night and Nathan. Haley's relationship with Mr. Scott was constantly peaking and ebbing. She wasn't sure what direction their sleepover would lead to.

Thinking of his own morning meal, Nathan strolled down his hallway, fast approaching the galley. It was amazing he didn't have a sever hangover after the light drinker got sloshed at Jennifer's party. He was starving, but there had been no headache or vomiting. Thank God!

Halfway to his destination, he heard it:

Good morning, good morning, good morning to you

Good morning, good morning, good morning to you

Our day is beginning, there's so much to do

So, good morning, good morning, good morning to you

His face lit up like a star and he couldn't pry the full blown smile from his lips. "Haley's still here!" He shouted inwardly not longer hurt by the absence of her small frame when he awoke from his slumber. He had assumed she had slipped home to avoid an awkward encounter. Their relationship was different now, leaving him confused, anxious and pensive. However, he was going to take advantage of her presence.

Running back to his bathroom, Nathan flossed and brushed his teeth before a quick shower, towel drying his fuzzy mane and donning a pair of navy loose fitting drawstring pants before returning to previous journey.

He took longs strides and was practically giddy as he neared the kitchen. Haley now hummed the songs melody softly. A musical tone rang through the air and he tried to place it. Peeking into the eat-in room, he saw Haley facing away from him. Her hips swaying as she frolicked over to her purse on the counter to retrieve her cellular phone. The disruptive device shut up after she pressed a button and gave a greeting.

"Lucas! It's eight o'clock in the morning!"

Quickly, Nathan backed out of the room, hoping he hadn't been spotted. Yes, it was rude to eavesdrop, but he didn't trust Lucas Roe with Haley. Shamelessly, he could admit his jealousy and insecurities to a certain extent, but it was also general concern for his close friend. At least, that's what he had convinced himself of.

Haley leaned over the counter, one hand on the phone the other palm pressed stressfully across her forehead so her long hair shielded her pretty face. Her head was throbbing and her temper rising, but she tried to remain calm. After all, she did leave abruptly last night, so Lucas deserved some answers.

"I've been worried sick, Haley! I tried calling you all night!"

"I'm sorry, Lucas but something came up. A friend needed me." She said somewhat honestly.

"More like Naked Nathan!" Mr. Roe charged back. "Everyone knows you guys left together, Haley! You made me look like a complete idiot!"

"Gawd! You're not an idiot!" She was started to get annoyed by his whining. "He was in a bad situation and in no condition to drive."

"One of those horny women you work with were going to give him a night to remember, heaven forbid, Haley! It's not like he has many options!"

"Yes the hell…" She cut off her passionate defense of Nathan, not ready to fight that battle so early in the morning. "It wasn't like that! He would have done the same for me!" She argued instead.

"Fine, I respect your loyalties but once you got home you could have called and let me know you were alright."

Haley raised a brow before stammering.

"I, my, I, well, I turned off my cell before we left the party. I was tired and trying to handle Nathan. The last thing I need was our co-workers or friends chiming in."

Nathan wound his neck through the kitchen door and spied on the blond beauty. She was wearing one of his white undershirts. The side of her breast showing as the tank sides hung low on her short stature. Her bikini bottoms were a new edition to her attire since they had fallen asleep in the wee hours of the morning. They showed brightly through the white shirt. He remembered her asking to wash her clothes last night, which consisted of her two piece and shorts. By the time he had freshened up last night, she had stolen one of his wife beaters and was in the other bathroom, singing in the bathtub. His thoughts only lingered to her naked, wet skin temporarily because he had to duck back out of the room as she swiveled during her telephone chat.

"Since you're up, how about letting me in? I picked up your favor whole wheat bagels and blueberry smear." Lucas bribed.

"You're at my house?" Haley gulped.

"Yes, Honey." Lucas chuckled. "Come eat breakfast with me."

Chewing on her bottom lip, Ms. James sprung from the counter, causing Nathan to press his body flush against the wall of the hallway. His heart raced at the thought of her finding him.

She paced, took a deep breath and rolled her eyes.

"Lucas, I'm not there." She said softly, closing her eyes to brace herself for the fallout."

"You're, you're not?" He vexed sputtering. "You, you spent the night at Scott's?" His voice cracked and she winced at the pain it was laced with.

"Yes." She confessed. "Nathan asked me to stay."

A pregnant pause crackled between them.

Meanwhile, Nathan's ear's perked up at her side of the conversation.

"You slept with him?" He barely said above a whisper.

"He needed me." She explained knowing the feeling had been mutual.

"Damn it! I needed you too!" Lucas yelled. "Maybe I should come over there and we could just have a threesome. That way you can appease everybody, Haley!"

"Lucas Roe don't you dare disrespect me! I'm not one of your groupie sluts! I don't have to and won't put up with your shit!" She struck back. His words had ripped her like the sharpest sword.

Nathan was tempted to march in the kitchen and find out just what "Lucass" had said to hurt Haley, but letting him self-destruct was so much better.

"Whether we actually had sex is personal. You're not my boyfriend!"

"Damn straight, Hales." Nathan whispered in the corridor blushing at the memories of some of last nights indiscretions. Haley always knew how to make him a happy boy and he thinks she had a pretty good time too. Suddenly, fear set in and he began to pace. Maybe Lucas really knew how to satisfy her. Why else would she be interested in that jackass?

"You said you guys slept together. What else does that mean?" He growled before coming to a realization. "Oh."

"Yeah, oh!" She sassed. "Lucas, you should think long and hard before wanting another relationship with me. I'm not a woman that's going to put up with petty jealousy and little boys pissing contest."

Nathan's eyes shot wide. "Well that went my shot" He pouted knowing he had already become extremely possessive of Haley. Slapping himself on the head he recalled his thoughts. No only was he now ass-backwards-crazy for the gorgeous female on the telephone, but he had lost complete interest in Jennifer.

"I'm not going to stop spending time with Nathan." She clarified. "Lucas, how do we know us dating will even lead to anything more? Maybe old feeling just surface because you aren't dating anyone else right now"

Nathan crossed his fingers, hoping Haley's blatant brush off would work. He highly doubted it, this guy was holding on like a leech!

Haley twisted the collar of the shirt during the silence. Lifting the hem, she brought the clothing to her nose and sniffed it lightly. A glorious smile consumed her face. It smelled like Nathan's soap, his body, his sham…

"I'll give you space or anything else you want, Haley. I have to go back to Ohio today. Hopefully, I see you there in two weeks."

"I won't string you along, Luke. I have some serious life decisions to make, if they include you I'll let you know by then." She said very formally.

Again, dread ran through Nathan. He knew his Haley would get sick of his drama and indecisiveness soon or later, but was that now limited to fourteen days?

"I'll miss you. I love you, Haley." Lucas said with strong conviction.

"Don't make me cry. The time will fly by, Luke. I promise."

"I've got to go." He choked suddenly. "Bye, Baby."

Thankfully, he hung up before she had to respond. She shut the phone off before placing her head on the cool counter and shouting. "You can come out now!"

Guilty, Nathan shuffled into the kitchen and behind the unhappy beauty whose upper body was spread over his counter space. He wanted to hold her, but the sight of her skimpy bikini snugly covering her bottom as his shirt rose high and her naked breast underneath his shirt made him nervous and slightly aroused. He kept his distance, sliding his hands in the pocket of his loose running pants, making sure everything down there remained calmed.

"Hales, I don't know the much of the history or problems between you and Lucas. Truthfully, I hate the guy. But, if you want to be with him, I'll accept it and be happy for you.

Her head lifted and teary-eyed, she flipped her hair away from her face so she could get a clear view of his handsome features.

"You could give me up that easily?" Her voice was hoarse and hurt. "I thought you were my best friend?"

"And you're mine." He sounded back. They were both lying to themselves if they couldn't admit it was a hell of a lot more . "I just want you to have everything you deserve, Hales. You're incredible, smart, funny, and beautiful …. Damn you're beautiful. You are the open door to the world for me. If Lucas is that for you don't let him go. Fight for what you want, what you need, Hales."

Out of the blue, he was kissing her at a slow romantic pace. One hand sweeping over her lower back, the other's fingers raising the shirt she wore as he stroked the flesh across her left hip bone. He lifted her from the ground with the muscular arm strapping her back, his hard appendage grinding against the apex of her thighs. Her body jolted with lust and desire for him as he rested her on the edge of the counter, trapping her. Then one of her flip flops fell to the tile with a loud snap!, breaking the moment.

Backing away, Nathan nearly dropped Haley. She got her footing, bracing herself against the dishwasher trying to gain oxygen.

"I…. We….Hales, it's just that…" He rambled breathlessly to the frustrated woman.

"Don't tell me we're back to this!" She stressed. "What was last night, because you were certainly invested Nathan Scott?"

"I know, alright! It was amazing; Haley, but it made me want more. You consume me and I can barely stop myself."

"Then don't!" She threw her hands up in the air, before bringing them down around her like she was centering herself. Nathan closed his eyes; completely turn on by her simplest gestures. "You think I don't know your have little experience or that I care. I don't, Nathan. You don't have to be afraid with me, ever."

Bashfully, Nathan turned a shy eye, stuffing his hands in his pockets and staring at a design in the tile. If he couldn't please her, he would never get over the humiliation. But his hunger for her desperately needed to be quenched. The way they explored each others bodies, made out until they were practically dry humping and share acts of foreplay only added fuel to all consuming forest fire he recently discovered he was carrying for a woman that literally terrified him.

"It's still early. You're plane doesn't leave until six. I'm going back to bed!" She told Nathan through tense eyes and a stiff frame. "Finish your breakfast." She storm a few feet away, trying to shove her feet into her shoes.

"Haley." He called out to her, but she waved him off with a possible one finger salute thrown in. She stalked back over to him, staring him straight into his cobalt oceans that had put her in this predicament in the first place.

"Either step up or shut up, Nate!"She dared as a staring contest ensued.

"Nathaaannnn!" Haley came out of her daze with a high pitched squeal as her hair swung below her, almost reaching the floor. She was hanging over Nathan's left shoulder and he was making a mad dash to the bedroom.

"Let's see how many times, I can make you scream my name." He chuckled.

Pamela