I'm sorry, y'all. I've been having a hard time updating because I have some issues with depression and sometimes it's just so hard to motivate myself. Blergh. But I won't bore you with my lame personal life lol. I promise, I'm still here and I'm still carrying on with these two! I just apologize for being so slow. I hope y'all enjoy. Thank you all for being so patient and dedicated to this story. 3
The next few weeks carried on with no news. Realizing it was possible they might never receive any solution from Leland on the subject of their working together, Adrian and Natalie had settled back into their daily routines.
After a particularly stressful, long day, Adrian entered Natalie's house, trudging into the living room and plopping down on the couch.
"Hey, sweetie," Natalie greeted him, coming round from behind the couch and sitting down beside him. "What's wrong?"
Adrian sighed.
"Today was difficult," He began, taking in a deep breath and rubbing his pinky finger across his eyebrow. "I know the man we confronted today killed that woman," he began, referencing an ongoing case he had been discussing with her. "But he's unbelievably arrogant. It's so frustrating because we just don't have enough evidence yet to arrest him, but I know he's the guy."
"Oh, honey," Natalie replied softly, leaning in and wrapping her arms around him. "You'll get it. You always do."
The two stayed like that, the silence enveloping them as Adrian focused on the feeling of Natalie's arms around him. After a few minutes, his body had relaxed, the tension melting away, and the frown leaving his face.
"Wow," he muttered, causing Natalie to look up at him.
"What is it?"
"It's amazing how much better it makes me feel just to be close to you."
Natalie felt her breath catch in her throat, unable to help the feeling of pride and exhilaration it gave her to hear such an intimate admission from him. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to remain level, knowing that he'd had a difficult day and now was not the time for what she was feeling.
"That's wonderful, Adrian," she replied softly, leaning back in and tightening her embrace as she nestled her face against his shoulder.
Her breath tickled Adrian's neck, causing him to tense up slightly as he noticed that the room had suddenly seemed to get very hot. Not one to miss a beat, this shift in body language didn't go unnoticed by Natalie. She realized maybe now was just as perfect a time as ever, lifting her head slightly to kiss Adrian behind the ear. Sensing this was okay, she proceeded, nibbling softly at his earlobe. Adrian sighed, closing his eyes instinctively and wrapping his arm around her waist.
"Natalie..." He began softly, trailing off.
"You okay?" She asked, glancing up at him.
He nodded, though his body was still somewhat rigid.
"You don't look okay," She quipped with a giggle.
She got up from the couch and faced him. Reaching out, she slipped his sweater off of him, leaving him in just his undershirt.
"Wha-" He began, caught off guard.
"Don't worry," she reassured him with a smirk, moving behind him and placing her hands on his shoulders. "You need to relax," she instructed, and began to massage him.
"Oh, Natalie," he sighed, immediately loosening up. "God, that feels so good."
"Good," she responded with a smile, continuing.
After a few minutes of this, with no sound other than Adrian's soft, contented groans, Natalie was suddenly finding the room very hot as well. Being in charge of Adrian's physical pleasure was quite fulfilling and she wasn't ready for it to be over yet. Letting go of his shoulders, Natalie slipped her arms around him, leaning down and kissing his neck.
"You like this?" She whispered in his ear, causing him to inhale sharply.
"Yes," he replied hastily, holding his breath.
Natalie smiled, feeling confident she was moving in the right direction.
Moving around the couch, she came to face him, her skirt hitching up slightly as she straddled his lap. Adrian tensed up slightly, not uncomfortable, just simply startled by this new form of contact.
"I said, you need to relax," she teased, winking at him as she squeezed his shoulders.
"Kind of hard to do when you're, you know..." He said, gesturing towards his lap and smiling slightly.
Natalie giggled, taking his face in her hands.
"I love you," she whispered, kissing him softly.
"I love you, Natalie," he replied, a smile spreading across his face.
"You know," he continued, tentatively easing his hands onto her thighs, his fingertips slipping just beneath the hem of her skirt, "I've completely forgotten why I was having a bad day."
It was now Natalie's turn to tense up, surprised by Adrian's boldness. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm, though her body was alive with anticipation. Moving his hands just slightly higher, Adrian rubbed his thumbs gently back and forth across the smooth skin of her thighs.
"God," she began, closing her eyes, "Adrian," she breathed, her voice dropping to a whisper, "You're driving me crazy."
He withdrew one hand from her thigh and placed it on the back of her neck, pulling her to him as he kissed her slowly and deeply. Unable to help herself, Natalie moaned softly into Adrian's mouth, causing his hips to buck up. Natalie gasped as she became aware of the beginnings of his unmistakable sign of arousal. Again, unable to control herself, she pressed herself down hard against him, overwhelmed by how intoxicating it felt to be close to him in this way. Adrian stifled a groan, the pressure of Natalie against his lap causing him to suddenly feel lightheaded with pleasure.
"Nat-" He stammered, still not quite ready to fully speak.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I got a little carried away," she blushed, laughing softy.
"Natalie, why are you apologizing? It's not a bad thing, I just..." He paused, forcing himself to take a deep breath to calm himself. "I'm just...nervous," he confessed, his voice growing quiet.
"Sweetie, if you're not ready for all of this yet, it's really okay, I promise. Just tell me what you need."
"I just...I don't think I'm quite ready," he admitted quietly.
"Hey," she began, sliding carefully off of his lap and curling up next to him, "It's okay."
"I just," he continued, closing his eyes and sighing in frustration. "Believe me, Natalie, I really want...this," he gestured between the two of them. "I just- it's been so long and I-"
"Listen," she assured him, reaching out and resting a hand on his cheek, "It's okay. I love you, Adrian."
Wrapping her arm around him gently, Natalie leaned her head against his shoulder.
"Don't worry," she continued, "We have all the time in the world."
