Chapter Twenty-Five –You're Like Perfection

The rain was hitting them hard and Nathan tugged on her hand pulling her up the steps with him. He let go of her hand, grabbed the spare key from under the rug, and opened the door. He held it open and waited for her to get inside before he closed it and locked it. He didn't want anyone interrupting them and he prayed that his brother would just stay home and not come to check on him.

Haley was still panting from their run. He followed her down the hall and into the bathroom. Once he reached it she was already drying herself off and she tossed him a towel. He wiped his face and then his arms as he watched her dry herself. Their clothes were soaking wet and no matter how much they dried themselves off, it wouldn't matter. They would still be cold from the wet clothes.

It was seconds later when she finally lifted her eyes towards his.

Their eyes locked and Nathan was in front of her in an instant. His lips landed roughly on hers, his hands held her face to his. Their fierce kiss was taking over everything in him. His hands moved everywhere. Finally, they settled on her waist. He gripped it a second later before lifting her up and placing her on the bathroom counter. Her legs parted and he settled himself between them before deepening the kiss.

He could feel them melting together, her warm lips and hands making his body ablaze. He didn't know how she did it. He didn't know how she was the only one to make him feel this way, but she was. She was the only one that could make him feel this good. His eyes rolled to the back of his head as she wrapped her legs around his waist, bringing him in closer to her.

Her fingernails raked over his scalp before she moved her hands down. He felt her small soft hands on the bottom of his stomach. Her fingers rubbed him softly before he felt her lifting up his wet t-shirt. They broke away and she tossed it across the bathroom. Even through her heavy panting she was smiling.

He needed to be touching her. As he tried to calm his breathing he leaned down and kissed her neck softly. Pushing her hair out of his way, he trailed kisses down her neck and settled on her weak spot. He heard her moan and his hands moved to her thighs as he started rubbing them softly.

"You still haven't answered my proposal," Haley muttered breathlessly as she gripped the muscles in his back. He continued kissing her, smirking against her skin.

He moved his tongue along before sucking softly on a patch of her skin. Her hands moved from his back and it was seconds later when he felt her hands on his chest. He continued kissing her neck until he felt her small hands pushing his chest away.

Reluctantly, he pulled away. He lifted his head up before their eyes locked. Her brown eyes suddenly looked a little worried. He smiled softly before moving his hand up and pushing a loose piece of wet hair behind her ear.

"Well…?"

"Hales," Nathan started carefully. "We don't have to do this. This isn't –I don't want you to think that you have to do this. I was being such a stubborn jerk before. I should've respected the way that you felt about marriage. I do respect how you feel. I love you. I don't want to pressure you into anything that you don't feel comfortable doing."

She smiled before wrapping her arms around his shoulders and pulling him closer. Her forehead landed against his softly and she closed her eyes.

"That right there is the reason why I want to marry you," Haley declared.

"Why?" Nathan asked confused.

"The way you love me," Haley answered in a whisper. "The way I love you. Even after all these years it won't go away. It'll never go away. Each and everyday I'll always find myself wanting you more than the day before. That's how it always is for me, Nathan. Even when I didn't want to want you, I still did."

"I've always wanted you." His hands moved up her arms as he started rubbing them softly up and down, trying to warm her up. "That'll never change. We don't have to do this. Being with you is enough for me. It'll always be enough. You're all I want. Nothing else matters. You don't have to prove anything."

"But I want to marry you," Haley insisted as her eyes snapped open and she pulled away from him so she could get a better look at his face.

"Haley, –"

She shook her head. "I was so scared that we'd end up hurting each other again. I thought that maybe one day you'd realize that I'm not enough for you or –"

"Hales, you're more than enough. You're everything," Nathan stated in a serious tone.

"I was scared, Nathan. I didn't know what to expect. I never know what to expect from you. That never happens to me. Only around you. You make everything else just fade away and you make me feel beautiful, and special, and wanted." Her hands reached up and she gently rubbed her fingers across his cheek, his eyes snapping shut at the contact.

"You are," Nathan nodded.

"Before, I was just terrified to be vulnerable with you again. Last time…it just hurt so much to lose you and I never want to feel that way again. And when you told me to leave for the tour I felt that way again…like this huge part of me was missing." He noticed the pain flash across her face and he flinched.

"Baby, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it. You know I didn't mean it."

"You don't know how much I want you," Haley muttered as her hands moved up his chest, his hot skin leaving her hands on fire.

He sighed. "Hales, you have no idea! You…" Her giggling made his eyes snap up to hers. She grinned innocently at him and it made his insides turn to jelly.

"I think I have a pretty good idea," Haley replied glancing down between them. His eyes followed hers and landed on the bulge in his pants. His very painful erection was poking out against her leg. Her hands landed on his cheeks as she moved his face to look at her.

God, the things he wanted to do to her! He was sure that once they finally went all the way it was going to take at least a month locked up in this house for him to do all the things he wanted to do to her. Maybe, even longer. He smirked. She was killing him.

"I want to wait," Haley muttered nervously.

His hands had stopped rubbing her thighs. "What?!"

"A normal response," Haley giggled as she rolled her eyes. "I mean it, Nathan. It'll be so special and perfect. It'll be everything. Just what you are to me, Nathan. Everything. I want to be your wife the first time we make love. I want to know that you're all mine and I want you to know that I'm all yours."

"I'd never pressure you."

"I know that."

"I've waited for you forever. And I'll wait until you're ready."

She smiled happily. "Does this mean…?"

"On two conditions," he held up two fingers, "One, you let me propose. It's a guy thing, Hales. I'll never hear the end of it from the guys and Brooke. Even if we live to be a hundred they'd still never let it go that you proposed to me. Besides, I kind of wanted to be the one to…you know, sweep you off your feet." He smiled shyly.

"I swept you off you're feet, huh?"

He shrugged. "Maybe."

"I'll give into your first demand because I love you too much to let those insensitive idiots hold this over your head forever."

"Thank you," Nathan smiled. "I'll always know though. It's not every day that the girl of your dreams proposes to you in the pouring rain looking all sexy."

"You'll remember?" Haley asked happily.

He nodded. "One of the best moments of my life, Hales. I'll never forget it."

"Good."

"It'll be our little secret," Nathan chuckled.

"All right, I've given into your demand. What else is it that you want? Man, you're bossy when asking a girl to marry you."

He rolled his eyes. "I'd really love to meet your family. All of them." Sure he had met her parents before but he wanted to meet all of them.

Her face fell and panic filled her eyes.

"Unless, you don't want me to," he quickly rushed out. "But it'll be hard to hide a husband, Hales. I mean, they'll find out eventually."

"It's not that," Haley shook her head. "No, I want you to meet them, Nathan. It's just –"

"They hate me," Nathan guessed.

"No, they don't hate you."

"Hales," Nathan muttered knowingly.

She looked at him guiltily. "Well, maybe a little. It's my fault and it's not all of them I promise. My parents love you and Quinn and Viv do too."

"But everyone else?"

"Brad seems to be coming around. He's the one that told me to go for it with you again. He told me to follow my heart and it lead me here in Tree Hill to you," Haley replied.

He smiled. "I guess I owe him one."

"I'm sorry," Haley whispered.

"Hey, it's ok. Nothing I can't fix. I know you remember how much Lucas and I hated each other and now look at us. Don't forget about Peyton. She hated me once upon a time and I fixed that. I can fix this, too. No big deal."

"Once they get to know you, they'll love you, I know it."

"Of course they will," Nathan smirked. He leaned in kissing her lips softly. So her family didn't like him. Big deal. He expected that much. This was nothing he couldn't fix. He would be the most charming, polite, perfect boyfriend ever. They'd see how much he loved Haley and then they'd like him. He just knew it or at least he hoped. Her family just had to like him. He was sure that her brother Mark would be the hardest.

She pulled away from his lips smiling. "Does this mean…?"

"I have to ask you first," Nathan muttered with a chuckle.

"But we're getting married!" Haley said excitedly as she wrapped her legs tighter around his waist pulling him more into her.

He shook his head. "After I ask, silly girl."

"But we're still kind of like engaged. I'm not going to have to like wait forever, will I?"

"It'll be soon, promise." Forever, he thought. No, he couldn't wait that long. No way. His body ached for hers in a way that he couldn't understand. He couldn't wait until she was his wife and he could make love to her any time he wanted. There was no way that he was waiting long to ask her. His heart wanted to be connected to hers forever. In every way possible.

And when he proposed he wanted her to never forget it. He wanted to get down on one knee and have a ring. He wanted it to be perfect.

She smiled at him while looking down at his hand holding hers.

"Hales, it's not going to be now," Nathan chuckled. "I can come up with something better than this, you know. I want to sweep you off your feet."

"You already have," Haley grinned.

He shook his head. "You know what I mean. This is something that you're going to remember forever. You're going to tell this story over and over again. Don't you want it to be a good one?"

She thought about it for a second. "Yeah." She nodded.

"So do I," Nathan agreed. "I want to do this the right way."

"As long as the end result is me being your wife then I'm ok with that."

"Oh, you'll be my wife all right," Nathan chuckled. "I can't wait."

"Me either," Haley muttered breathlessly before pulling his face towards hers and smashing their lips together. She kissed him hungrily, that burning sensation taking on new heights as his hands roamed her body. "I can't believe we're getting married!"

"I can't wait for our wedding night," Nathan declared between kisses.

She giggled. "Oh yeah?"

He pulled away moving his lips to her neck. "I'm going to make you feel things you've never felt before." Her fingernails dug into the skin of his back at his words. "It's going to feel so good, baby. I swear. You'll be begging me not to stop." His hands moved up to her breasts as he started kneading them roughly over her wet shirt.

"Nathan," Haley whimpered.

He groaned. "I love the way you say my name when I'm making you feel good. I wish you could feel what that does to me."

She bit her bottom lip as her hands roamed the muscles in his back. "That feels so good."

"I know," Nathan muttered, not stopping. "Fuck, I want you!"

She nodded pleasurably. "I want you more."

He moved his lips back to hers kissing her passionately. Her hands were on his neck and pulling him closer to her. He slanted his head slightly as he slipped his tongue into her mouth. She moaned when their tongues touched and his hands moved to grip her ass. He squeezed it roughly.

"What are we doing?" Haley asked breathlessly as he pulled away from her lips. He moved to her neck.

"Kissing," Nathan muttered against her skin. "I can still kiss you. I have to kiss you."

"Don't stop," Haley nodded as she held him to her. She moved her head slightly giving him better access as he nipped and sucked on her skin. Her eyes snapped shut. This felt so good.

"So not fair," Nathan pouted as he pulled away.

She was panting. "What?"

He glanced down at his naked chest. "I think we should even out the playing field here."

"What do you mean?"

"Lose the shirt, baby. It's only fair," Nathan smirked as he reached for the bottom of her shirt. He lifted it up slowly as she held her arms in the air. "I don't want you to get sick with these wet clothes on."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm sure that's it."

"Oh it is," Nathan grinned wickedly. "I'm worried about your health here, baby." He licked his lips as he tossed her shirt down to the floor. "You feel better don't you?"

Sucking her bottom lip between her teeth, she nodded. "Come here." He started kissing her again, his hands roaming over her chest. He moved his hands until he pushed inside of her bra and brushed his fingertips against her bare breast. She moaned into his mouth and he repeated his actions. He moved his lips back to her neck as she held him to her.

"It won't be long, Hales," Nathan promised. He slowed his kisses on her neck. He pulled away seconds later, taking a step back. He was pushing this too far, he knew. If they didn't stop soon he wouldn't be able to.

"What's wrong?" Haley asked.

He shrugged before grinning. "I need a cold shower."

Her face turned a light shade of pink as she smiled guiltily. "Me too."

He chuckled before walking over to the shower and turning on the water. Then he moved skillfully around the bathroom gathering towels, soap, and shampoo for her. He set everything up for her before walking back over and wrapping his arms around her.

"I'll let you, uh…yeah, I'm going to use the other one. Keep the mystery alive," he grinned before wiggling his eyebrows.

"Fine."

He kissed her softly on the lips. "But I promise, baby. I'll be getting wet thinking about you." Then he was walking out of the bathroom and she blushed a deep shade of red. She just didn't know what she did to him. He grinned as he rushed towards his upstairs bathroom. He needed the longest cold shower in the history of cold showers.

~***~

Once he was dressed and picked up his mess, he made his way to his bedroom. She was already lying down and he smiled as he turned off the light and got into bed with her. He laid down on his chest and turned his head to face her. She smiled at him and he smiled back before reaching over and rubbing her cheek.

"Hey."

She grinned. "Hey. How'd that shower go?"

"It would've been better if you joined me," Nathan muttered playfully.

"You could have just asked," Haley replied.

"Damn," he cursed before pushing closer to her. He brushed his lips against hers softly a few times before pulling away and smiling at her. Had it only been two hours ago that she showed up at Lucas's door? His head was still spinning from the high that he was currently on. He didn't want it to go away. He tossed his arm around her waist.

"I could just lay like this forever," Haley sighed before placing her hand gently on his cheek.

He smiled in contentment. "Uh-huh."

"Do you think that they're worried about you?" Haley questioned.

Knowing his family, they were. But they hadn't called yet and they hadn't come over. That had to be a good thing. Maybe he should give them a call and let them know that he came home. But if he called then they would want to know why he left and then he'd have to tell him. He knew that he should call but he wanted Haley a little longer to himself.

"Probably," Nathan muttered. "They'll get over it."

"Should we call them?"

"Do you want to?"

"I don't know."

"They'll want to talk. Peyton and Brooke will want to see you. You see where this is going?" Nathan asked grinning.

"You're right," Haley agreed.

"We'll see them tomorrow."

"Yeah," Haley nodded. "And it's late."

They were smiling at each other. His eyes moved from her perfect lips before moving up. Their eyes locked. Then he lost himself in her brown orbs. He could feel his heart slowly pounding in his chest. His stomach was doing flip flops.

"I've missed you," Nathan told her. "I'm really sorry about the way that I acted before you left. You know that I didn't mean all those things I said to you, right?" His face was nothing but apologetic.

"I know."

"I was being such a jerk, Hales. And I'm sorry that I didn't answer your calls. That was such a jackass move. I was just so hurt that you left. This whole time that you've been gone everything has just gone by in a blur. I just haven't been myself. I'm so sorry that I hurt you. Please forgive me."

"I do."

"I don't ever want to be apart from you again. I mean it," Nathan muttered. His eyes were glued to her face. He waited for her to answer. When she didn't right away he started rubbing her back. "What are thinking?"

"It's nothing," Haley muttered shaking her head before closing her eyes.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Nathan asked with uneasiness. He could tell by just the look on her face that something was obviously bothering her and she didn't want to say. It was driving him nuts. He hated when she was this way. He wanted to calm all her fears.

"I…"

"Tell me," Nathan demanded.

"I just –I have to leave tomorrow afternoon. I have to be back before the show in Austin. I wasn't supposed to leave but I did anyway. I just had to see you. You weren't answering my calls and I was worried. I wasn't supposed to leave. They'll be pissed when I'm not on the bus in the morning. But Mia promised that she'd cover for me and as long as I'm there when they arrived tomorrow in Austin then everything should be fine."

"Oh."

"I don't want to go but I signed a contract, Nathan. I have to be there. It's not just my name on the line its Peyton's too."

"Yeah, I know."

"It's only three more weeks," Haley pointed out.

He nodded. "Only three weeks."

"I wish I didn't have to go," Haley added. "But I have to."

"Yeah," Nathan agreed. "What time do you leave?"

"My plane takes off at two."

"Ok." He closed his eyes as he continued rubbing circles on her back. She just got here she couldn't leave. He didn't want her to go. But then again this was her dream and he wanted to support her no matter what. No matter how selfish he wanted to be about the whole situation. He didn't want her leaving him.

He hated himself for feeling that way but he did.

It's not like he could just keep her here forever. She was destined for greatness. He decided to support her no matter what. He loved her and he wanted her to be happy more than anything. Singing made her happy. Shouldn't he want her to have everything she ever wanted? He did.

"You know we never really had the chance to talk about the tour. How was it? Tell me everything, Hales. I want to know everything."

She smiled. "It was so amazing, Nathan. It's like a whole different world on the road. Every night is a new city and a new crowd. I remember this one night we were in Savannah and that was the first night that people in the crowd started singing along to one of my songs. That was just so exhilarating. It was amazing."

"It sounds like it," Nathan grinned.

"But I realized that it didn't matter if I didn't have you. None of it mattered without you."

He could feel his heart pounding in his chest.

"Nathan, there wasn't a moment when I was away that my heart wasn't with you here in Tree Hill."

"Mine has always been with you."

"I'm sorry it took me so long to realize that," Haley apologized.

"But…you did have fun, right?"

"Yeah, I loved it. I loved every night of it. But I want you to know that there was never a night when I loved it more than I loved you. I can walk away from the music, Nathan. I don't need it, but I need you. I know which one I can live without and I can't live without you."

"I'd never make you choose."

"I know that," Haley whispered. "It's just everything is all happening at once. And I'm really excited about where my life is heading but I'm more excited about us. I really want to focus on us right now. I mean music will always be there. I just, right now, I want us with no distractions. I mean, we deserve that, don't we?"

"We do," Nathan agreed.

"So after these three weeks are up I want to take a break from music. Maybe plan a wedding," Haley grinned as she tapped his cheek.

"That sounds perfect."

"It does," Haley nodded. "I just hate that I have to leave so soon."

"It's only three more weeks."

"I know. It just seems like a lifetime when I think about being away from you," she smiled sheepishly.

"It'll go by fast."

"I hope so," Haley muttered. "I wish that you could come with me."

"Really?" He hadn't thought about that before. Could he leave? He had the team to think about and his family. Then there was work. But then again this was Haley, his future wife, asking him to go with her. How could he say no to that? It would make her happy. It would make him happy. He didn't want to be apart from her.

"I know it's crazy," Haley sighed. "You've got the team and work to worry about. It's just this stupid thought that I had. It's just me not wanting to be away from you. Forget I said anything."

"You know, Lucas is just as much in charge of the team as I am," Nathan pointed out.

"He is," Haley agreed.

"I'm sure that he could fill in for me at work," Nathan continued.

"He is your brother."

He grinned. "I don't think he would mind helping us out."

"You don't have to do this, Nathan. I know I'm asking for a lot."

"I don't want to be away from you either," Nathan stated as he pulled her hand up to his lips and kissed it softly.

"So you want to come with me?"

"I'm in need for a vacation," Nathan nodded. "Besides, it's only three little weeks. Lucas can take care of things while I'm gone. It really isn't that big a deal. I want to be with you. I want to experience this with you. I want to go with you."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm going with you," Nathan declared.

"You're coming on tour with me," Haley smiled excitedly.