Always Love

By Lindsey

Having love in your life can make up for many things you lack. If you don't have it, no matter what else there is, it's not enough.

She smiles at him softly before whispering, "Thanks for calling...'night." He watches after her for a moment before calling her name, breaking the peaceful silence in the room. She turns around immediately at the deep sound of his voice, "Yeah?"

"Stay with me tonight."

Relief washes over her and a ghost of a smile forms on her lips, "Oh, I was hoping you would say that..."

They share a smile and she turns to close the door. Turning back to him, she feels a million different things coursing through her- relief that he had asked her to stay with him, excitement of what was to come..and the way he was looking at her right now was enough to make her melt. She never wanted him to look at her any other way than how he was in this moment, like she was everything he could ever imagine wanting- the only thing he would ever need.

She instinctively moved closer to where he still sat motionless on the bed. She felt like she had no control over her own body, she had to be close to him, needed to be close to him. It had been far too long since she had been with him, felt him touch her, his body pressed against her own.

She felt her legs hit the front of the bed and looked up at him, her small legs in between his long ones. She swallowed the lump she felt forming in her throat at the look of want in his eyes.

"I..." She tried to form a coherent thought but then she saw his blue eyes flicker to her lips, her breath hitched and her voice suddenly got caught in her throat.

"I love you, Haley." Her eyes flew up from the spot on the floor she had been staring at and she met his stormy blue eyes. His voice was calm, he seemed completely content with his declaration, and her heart began racing in her chest.

She opened her mouth to return the sentiment, wanting more than anything to tell him again how much she loved him, but his hand reaching up to pull at the zipper on her jacket stopped her cold.

He pulled it down slowly, his eyes never leaving her own, and she was sure he could hear her heartbeat pounding loudly in the silent room. He pushed it off her shoulders, letting it cascade to the floor, before reaching out for her, wrapping his strong arms around her waist to pull her further against him.

His lips founds hers instantly, knowing every curve of her mouth like she knew his, and she brought her hands up to run her nails through his shaved head. A low moan left his mouth at her action and she smiled against his soft lips. His warm hands found their way to the hem of her tanktop and he began running his hands over the naked skin of her tummy. She whimpered softly at the feel of it and slowly pushed her tongue into his mouth, needing to taste him.

He groaned loudly, abruptly standing up and turning her so he could push her onto the soft bed. She fell onto her back and he followed, his hard body pressing against her fully, and she nearly screamed aloud at the contact. His mouth left hers and she subconsciously followed his head as it continued to rise. She finally forced her eyes open, looking at him questioningly, a slow smile forming on her lips when she saw he was removing his shirt.

"I love you." She blurted suddenly, realizing she had never said it back, not aloud anyway.

He chuckled softly, obviously having heard the slight panic in her already shaky voice. He lowered himself back onto her, letting his head fall into the crook of her neck before whispering, "I know.."

She felt involuntary tears forming in her eyes and she desperately tried to blink them away, not wanting him to think she was upset. What she was feeling at the moment was so far from upset, or lonely, defeated..all of the emotions she had felt during the past few months, it was all gone now. Everything was forgotten but the feeling of pure joy she felt being wrapped in her husband's strong arms.

He leaned up pressing his mouth to hers, demanding entry that she willingly gave him. She felt herself go limp in his arms as he sucked on her top lip and then preceded to nibble on her bottom lip lightly. She reached her hand above her head, desperately searching for something to anchor her but before her hand could make contact with anything, she felt Nathan's large hand intertwining with her own, pressing it deep into the mattress.

She felt something cold touching her chest and pried her lips away from his long enough to see what it was- his wedding ring. There was the ring that symbolized so much of their past, their present, everything they'd experienced together, hanging from a simple gold necklace. All this time she'd thought...and it had been with him all along.

She reached a trembling hand to touch it, glancing up to take in Nathan's reaction. He was simply staring into her eyes intensely, waiting to see what she would do next.

"You.." She began to whisper but was unable to finish as a nearly inaudible sob escaped her lips. She brought it up to her lips, kissing the gold band softly, before leaning up to place a lingering kiss on his lips.

"I wore it every day, Hales. It was always with me." He spoke confidently, wanting to reassure her that he had never left her. He had tried in the beginning but it had been pointless. He couldn't get her to leave his heart and he realized now he had never wanted her to at all. "Every day.." He whispered huskily, as he began placing sucking kisses along her slender neck.

Another sob fell from her lips and his head shot up at the sound, but she quickly reassured him with a tremulous smile and small kiss. "I'm okay. I just..all this time, it was there. I wanted so much to believe that you loved me enough, that you wouldn't be able to go through with the divorce when it was time but..." she shrugged her shoulders helplessly as a single tear slid down her cheek. "Some days I couldn't help but feel like maybe it really was over. That I'd broken something that just couldn't be fixed-" She whispered sadly.

He shook his head to stop her, pulling her hand from her side to place a gentle kiss in her palm. "Never. It'll never be over. Deep down I always knew that I couldn't live my life without you- that none of it would be worth it without you."

She sighed softly, releasing a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding.

"Kiss me, Nathan."

He smiled down at her easily, running a hand over her damp cheek and through the long locks of her hair. And then his mouth was on hers again, hot and demanding, successfully taking her breath away. She felt his lips leave hers and she immediately grabbed his head to bring him back to her but he had already began placing wet kisses along her collar bone.

He pulled at her tanktop frantically and she helped him guide it over her head before he began sucking and biting at the exposed flesh peaking out from her lacy white bra. "Oh God, Nathan..." She breathed out, trying to catch her breath.

She wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, molding their lower bodies together completely. He bit his lip at the feel of her and began unbuttoning her jeans, pushing them down her legs frantically. She took his hands and guided them to the back clasp of her bra, eager to feel skin on skin for the first time in what seemed like forever. He obliged her, tossing it behind him, forgotten as his eyes took in the site of her.

"God, you're so damn beautiful." He mumbled to himself, bringing her back into his arms. "So beautiful." He repeated more clearly, the husky tone of his voice combined with his intense gaze causing her to blush.

Before she could speak, he was attacking her lips again, whatever she had been planning to say suddenly leaving her mind and all she could see was him. All she could feel were his warm hands on her skin and it felt so good, it felt right.

"Nathan..." She moaned his name softly. "Nathan, we need something..do you have something?" She mumbled into his neck in between kisses. She ran her tongue over his pulse point and he growled into her ear.

"I- Yeah, in the..the drawer." He stumbled over his words, his breathing completely irratic.

"Okay." She smiled, giving him a small kiss before pushing at his chest slightly so she could move away from him.

His eyes followed her every move as she turned to lean across the bed, so she was able to reach the drawer. His eyes traveled over the smooth skin of her naked back, instinctively reaching out to touch her. Her head turned quickly toward him at his touch and he shook his head at her, "Don't move," He ordered huskily.

She looked at him confused, taking in the look on his face and the blatant lust swimming in his blue eyes. His fingers ran along her spine slowly until he reached her lower back, moving his thumb over the '23' tattoo there. He leaned in slowly, his eyes never leaving her back, before placing a sucking kiss on her marked skin.

Her eyes fell closed and she bit back the moan she felt bubbling in her throat. When she felt the softest brush of his tongue, she abruptly turned over unable to take anymore. She threw a leg over his waist, stradding him, leaning down to kiss him hungrily.

"I need you, so much, Nathan...God, I love you." She whispered softly, wrapping her arms around his neck to hold him tightly against her. He ran his hands up her back, dragging them through her tangled hair.

"I love you too, Hales. You are my family. The only thing I need in this world..I just, you're everything, Haley." He whispered, his voice cracking with emotion.

Her eyes burned with unshed tears but she pushed them back, giving him a vibrant smile that he returned.

Always Love.

The End

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