This is just delightful indulgence! Hope you enjoy!

The First Kiss

It was the middle of the day. Trying to get any work done in the office was just a ridiculous waste of time.

Elizabeth's lips. His lips… on her lips. Her breath …breathing into his mouth. Nothing but her lips, then her eyes - and what her cheeks would feel like in his hands…His hands through her hair…his hand pulling back her hair, pulling her so gently toward him and

"Nathan are you ok"

"Yes,"…he cleared his throat, coming back to reality.

"Of course." Nathan felt his heart racing, his whole body wet with sweat under his red surge. He caught his breath. Nathan smiled at Elizabeth. He was completely consumed, completely resigned to being any kind of productive human today. The tension in the air between them the last few weeks had been unbearable.

His desire to kiss her for the first time was burning like a raging wildfire. Being in her presence was simply insufferable.

"You're staring and smiling, and...

"Was I now, sorry…Elizabeth."

Nathan was still trying to recover from his daydream. As he came back to reality, he tried not to look at her lips. And the way her hair fell over her face, and how her eyes sparkled, and how…her lips just parted. This was getting ridiculous. Being in her presence, in the state of their current relationship, was simply insufferable. He was now desperate to show her his whole heart. His desire to kiss her for the first time was burning like a raging wildfire.

She glanced at him curiously.

"Elizabeth" he smiled and looked down at her, knowing what he needed to do. He could not wait another day to touch her lips.

"There is something I've been meaning to show you…for quite some time now"

"OH," she smiled at him curiously.

"Come ride with me?"

Elizabeth looked up at him with surprise, and curiosity.

"Shouldn't you be doing your rounds."

"Trust me Elizabeth, we all will be better off after this excursion."

Nathan gave Elizabeth a leg up onto his horse. Rather quickly and determinedly, he mounted the horse riding behind her. He could wait no longer to show her his heart. It had been many years of loving Elizabeth from afar. Waiting and praying for what he knew what meant to be. Now was their time. Now was the RIGHT time for them. The pain and frustration of not being able to show his love for long was over. No more waiting. No more dancing around.

Nathan grabbed the reins from behind Elizabeth and they took off quickly, with urgency.

With a slight jolt of the, Elizabeth fell back into his arms as he directed his horse to move quickly. Nathan felt her in his chest. The smell of her hair, her perfume. He was about to lose his mind. He leaned close to keep her secure on the horse, and to let her feel his closeness and security. Nathan felt her lean back on him slightly. She turned her head slightly to smile at him. Those lips. The beautiful pink color of them against her perfectly white teeth.

"You know you look absolutely beautiful riding a horse." Spoke closely into her ear.

"Nathan… she smiled and blushed."

Elizabeth seemed a bit lost for words.

"Where are we going?" She glanced back him smiling "...I didn't exactly make plans for an outing"

"Not far."

"Elizabeth, I have something to show you, that simply can't wait."

"Oh…I see." She looked at him seriously.

"It shouldn't take too long."

But he knew he wanted it to last all day. Their first kiss, it would be hard to end it

He was tired of trying to find reasons and excuses to be in her presence. It was time for their relationship to move forward. He had given her time and space to distance herself and her heart from Lucas. He was so relieved that she followed her heart.

Nathan continued to enjoy her presence from behind her on the horse. He led them out of town a bit, to a place where Nathan often came to think... to get a way. A place high up on the hill above the town. He was simply DONE with all the interruptions!

"Here we go." He slowed down the horse and came to a stop at the top of a hill. His favorite spot where the trees gave way to a beautiful view of the town, the mountains. Wild grasses and wildflowers blew in the breeze. The midday sun shined brightly.

"Down we go" As he jumped down and then held his hand to help her down. She nearly fell into his arms.

"Nathan, what's going on?" What is it you want to show me?" As she adjusted herself down on the ground, not putting much distance between them.

"Elizabeth, I've waited so long…and I…can't wait another minute.

"For what? Nathan, you're making me nervous. Is everything ok?"

"Elizabeth, from the moment I saw you, I've dreamed of you. I know things between us have been… confusing and you've been afraid of losing everything…again. But Elizabeth, what choice do we have. Stopping what there is between us would be like trying to stop an avalanche. Elizabeth I'm… in love with you. And, if I haven't gone completely crazy, I believe that you love me too.

"Oh Nathan" She simply smiled and stepped close to him, taking his hands.

"Was there something you wanted to show me?"

Nathan took in Elizabeth's intoxicating smile. Those lips. Those eyes sparkled under those long thick lashes. His heart began to beat out of his chest. He felt the world begin to spin beneath his feat. He fought to keep control.

"Yes."

Not able to wait another second, he pulled her face into his hand, feeling her hair, tugging at it gently. His mouth came down on hers with such force and urgency. So quickly, as he felt her lips, there was an unmistakable jolt of electricity. It was as if the stars had aligned perfectly and the heavens and earth resolved a harmonious chord. Nathan no longer felt himself inside his own body. The wind blew, seeming to lift them both up as the earth spinned. Her lips, that felt just as perfect as he had dreamed, parted slightly and he felt her warm breath exhale into his mouth sending another jolt of electricity into his stomach. With one hand cupping her face the other hand found her waist and pulled her closer. The feel of her closeness sent another rush of heat through his entire body. He felt as if he could not breathe. He was going to have to end this kiss soon for more reasons than just needing to breathe. He exhaled into her lips causing her to sigh so sweetly, seemingly with desperation. His lips caught her bottom lip and slowly pulled apart from her mouth. His eyes stared down at her eyes, still closed. He watched her chest rise and fall quickly, slowly opening her eyes.

They were both completely lost for words. Completely lost in each other's eyes. Although he kept her close, Nathan resisted the urge to feel those lips on his once again.

"Elizabeth, I'm so in love with you. You are the most beautiful, strong, the most incredible person I've ever known. I don't want to waste another moment, not showing you how much I care for you."

"Nathan." Elizabeth smiled, still staying in his arms. "I've waited so long for this moment. I'm so glad to finally… get things out in the open. My heart and soul have longed for this. For you. I have ached to feel you near. There's no stopping what this is… and what it will be. I've come to understand recently that love is worth any and all pain that will come as a result. It is such a rare gift." A rare gift that I've been given once more. I've overcome so much, I'm much stronger. Pain and suffering in this life are inevitable. Let's just hope that we will have each other through it all. And if not. I believe there was a purpose and a plan all along."

With that he took her hand, "Shall we." giving her a leg up on the horse.

Elizabeth simply grinned with a look of pure happiness, pure delight.

"We shall."
_

Next will be the first kiss from Eliabeth's POV! Coming soon!

If you would like to read more I have written a story called "Past Present Future" which is a story that looks to Elizabeth's past with Jack and forward to the future with Nathan.