Romance Melting the Ice

By now I hope you've all realized I had this story finished. I'm sorry for the panic I caused. I should have phrased my earlier disclaimer a little differently, as in: This is my last completed story for a while. Surely you know me well enough by now to know that I'd never start posting something that's incomplete. Ah well.

Here's the ending of Hayden and Natalie's story and I hope you'll enjoy it.

"Hayden, there you are."

Hayden turned at the familiar feminine voice. He smiled down at Regan, Craig's lovely wife. "Yeah, here I am. What can I do for you?"

She arched an eyebrow at him and Hayden felt like he was being chastised. "What are you thinking, leaving that gorgeous creature alone for half the night?"

Yes, definitely chastised.

Hayden shuffled his feet as a flush crept up his neck. Regan moved closer and put her hand through his arm. They moved a few steps away from the roulette table and Hayden asked if he could get Regan a drink.

"I don't need a drink, Lindy." She still sounded miffed with him. "I came to tell you that your date decided she'd had enough of being ignored and decided to leave."

"What?" Hayden stopped in his tracks and stared down at her.

"You heard me. Craig took her outside to get a cab."

"Why didn't she tell me?" Hayden wanted to drop Regan's arm and run from the building.

Regan gave him a narrow look that made him uncomfortable. "She didn't know where you were."

So all of Hayden's efforts to keep his hands to himself had backfired. He'd been avoiding her because if he'd spent much more time close to her, smelling her, feeling her body warm under that stunning dress, he'd have hauled her into a closet hours ago. He'd have made love to her until they both couldn't see straight.

"Shit. I have to go get her."

Regan nodded. She dropped her arm from Hayden's and jerked her chin towards the main entrance. "They went that way."

Hayden wasn't listening. As soon as Regan released him, he took off across the ballroom, moving as fast as he could. He reached the front steps outside just as Craig was turning away from a cab.

"Craig!" Hayden bounded down the stairs.

His captain turned away from the street and the cab drove off.

"No! Natalie!" Hayden ran past Craig like an idiot onto the street.

Craig grabbed his arm. "Lindy! For Christ's sake, get off the road!"

"Was that Natalie?"

"Yeah. She wasn't feeling well so she asked me to get her a cab." Craig pulled on his arm until Hayden returned to the sidewalk with him. "Are you all right?"

"I can't believe she'd just leave." Hayden looked after the cab.

"Well, you weren't around when she said she was feeling sick."

Hayden stared at Craig. If Regan's words to him were any indication, Natalie wasn't feeling ill. She was most likely ticked that he'd practically ignored her all night. He felt even worse. "I have to go talk to her."

Craig studied him in silence before nodding. "Be careful."

Hayden wasn't sure if he meant be careful on the drive, or be careful with Natalie. He fully intended to do both.

He hurried away, looking for the limo he'd hired. On the way to the university, he wondered what he could say to make it up to Natalie. He couldn't believe he'd been so stupid. He should have tried harder to be with her.

I'm a grown man, for crying out loud, he thought and shook his head. I could have controlled my urges for a few hours.

He stewed over his mistake all the way to NYU and leapt out of the limo almost before it had stopped moving. He spotted Natalie right away. Her cab must have arrived only seconds ahead of his limo. He called her name as he jogged across the lawn after her.

"Natalie! Please, wait."

She stopped and turned, nervously backing up until she recognized him. "Hayden? What are you doing here?"

"Regan and Craig told me you'd left," he said as he came to a stop in front of her. He drew in a deep breath and clenched his hands into fists to keep from reaching for her. She had a guarded expression on her face and didn't look entirely pleased to see him there. "Why didn't you come find me? I would have brought you home."

She lifted her chin and met his gaze directly. "I didn't think I should have to search for my date."

Hayden winced. "I'm sorry, Natalie. I didn't mean to leave you alone."

She arched an eyebrow at him and the corner of her mouth curved up in a smile. "All night?"

"At all," he agreed. He noticed the chill in the air then and took note of the way Natalie had her hands shoved into her jacket pockets. "You're cold. Come on, sit in the limo with me for a bit."

"Why?" She sounded tired and that made Hayden feel even worse.

"I want to talk to you. I want to apologize."

"So apologize."

She met his gaze steadily and Hayden felt his body react to her expression. He'd always found her attractive, but with the color in her cheeks from the cold and the flash in her eyes, she was devastating.

"Aren't you cold?"

"A little."

Hayden didn't know what to say. All he wanted to do was pull Natalie close and kiss her. At the moment, he didn't think she'd be too receptive. He mimicked her pose, pushing his hands into his pockets.

"I'm sorry, Natalie." He looked up to see the same closed expression on her face. "I should have spent more time with you tonight."

"You should have."

They stared at each other. Hayden sighed and reached for her, deciding he wanted to risk it. She let him touch her and Hayden moved closer.

She peered up at him, her eyes shadowed. "Why were you avoiding me all night?"

Hayden cringed inwardly. "I wasn't avoiding you."

Her eyebrows went up and her lips curved into a smile. "What do you call it then?"

Encouraged that she wasn't pushing him away or scowling at him, Hayden smiled in return. "I don't know. Self-preservation?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Hayden sighed and gave Natalie's shoulders a squeeze. "Do you mind if we sit in the limo? Just for a few minutes. I swear I won't take you anywhere."
Natalie didn't resist but she didn't say anything as they walked back across the lawn to the waiting limousine. Hayden undid the buttons of his tux and turned to face Natalie but she wasn't looking at him. He hadn't realized until then that he'd upset her so much.

With her face turned away from him, he took a moment to admire her. It made him smile. He couldn't not admire her. In spite of the distance between them this week, he wanted her even more than that first night.

Her dress was perfect, her hair tantalizingly lifted from her bare shoulders and her lips had looked enticingly kissable all night long. She turned her face towards his and he couldn't stop himself. He reached out, closed his hands on her shoulders, and drew her close for a kiss.

She stiffened in his arms at first, then melted against him. Hayden had enough presence of mind to raise the partition between them and the driver before he parted her lips with his tongue and took the kiss deeper.

Natalie was swept away by the heat of Hayden's kiss. She sagged against his hard body and gave a little sigh of pleasure as his lips moved on hers. All the hurt and her self-conscious doubts from the evening faded and all she knew was the stroke of his tongue.

His hands moved from her shoulders to slide down her back, hauling her closer. She went into his embrace, winding her arms around his neck. She tipped her chin up and gasped as Hayden moved his mouth down her throat, laving gentle circles on her skin. He reached the collar of her jacket and stopped. Natalie wanted to lean back to give him room to pull the buttons apart but Hayden cupped her cheek in one big hand, forcing her eyes to his.

"What?" She was confused and felt drugged from his kiss.

He grinned and pressed a brief kiss to her lips, keeping his gaze on hers. "I didn't bring you here to kiss you."

"You didn't?" Why the hell not?

"Well, I sure wanted to, believe me. But we need to talk."

Talk, right. She blinked at him and cleared her throat. Pulling her arms away, she shifted back from him and tried not to clench her fingers together. "OK. Right. You were going to tell me why you avoided me all night."

Hayden sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. The motion left several strands of hair hanging over his forehead and Natalie longed to brush them away. Everything about Hayden, even this state of frustration, drew her in. How is this even possible after such a short time?

"I didn't think I was avoiding you that much," he began. "The first couple times I just got pulled away by different people. Then every time I found you again, you... you looked... so amazing..."

His voice dropped several octaves and Natalie shivered. When she looked into his face, she saw his eyes narrow and heard the increase in his breathing. Her body reacted to his desire, flushing with heat, and it made her squirm in her seat.

"I had to stay away from you, Natalie. If I'd had my hands on you for too long tonight, I'd have taken you in a dark corner."

His unashamed admission gave Natalie a jolt. So did her own reaction. All she could think was, God, yes.

Her blood roared in her ears and she felt her body swaying towards Hayden. He opened his arms and she fitted herself against him. He was so warm, burning her through her jacket and his. His breath was warm on her forehead and somehow he managed to work his hands under the bottom of her coat. She felt the warmth of his palms through the satin of her dress and shivered.

"I didn't want to push you." Hayden's voice was husky, his accent more apparent. "I didn't think you'd like me trying to seduce you all night."

Natalie couldn't stop the giddy laugh from escaping. She clapped a hand over her mouth when Hayden gave her a wounded look. "Hayden, you don't need to seduce me. Me wanting you is not a problem."

All of sudden, he seemed to take up all the space in the limo. Natalie knew they'd been sitting close but he felt closer, larger somehow. He loomed over her, his sexy blue eyes darkening as he gave her a crooked smile.

"Then what's wrong?"

The question was different. She knew he was done apologizing and she'd accepted it. Now he wanted to hear her explanation.

Maybe a more mature woman wouldn't have reacted like I did tonight, she thought, taking her bottom lip between her teeth as she nervously looked away.

When she brought her eyes back to Hayden's, she was caught up in his intense gaze and couldn't speak for a moment. "I wanted us to get to know each other better before we take the next step." She blushed furiously as she heard her own words. "I know we've already... done that, but I just... oh, God. You must think I'm an idiot."

He chuckled and grasped her shoulders. He held her upright when she tried to bury her face in his chest. She wanted to disappear.

"So basically you're saying you don't think we know each other well enough yet?"

She shrugged, unsure herself if that was the whole problem. Another thought occurred to her and she looked into Hayden's face. "You... it didn't seem like you... had a hard time... resisting me."

Almost immediately, she regretted voicing the thought. It sounded terribly immature to her own ears and so contradictory to her other concerns. He must think I'm such a jerk.

"Are you serious?" His eyes bored into hers and Natalie wriggled in his grip, unsettled by his intent gaze. "Natalie, avoiding you tonight was the hardest thing I've ever had to do."

"What?"

He shook his head. "I told you. All I wanted to do was drag you into the coat closet and push your dress up. I wanted to feel your skin and feel your legs around me again. God, you know how close I came to doing it anyway?"

He jerked one hand back through his hair, leaving even more of it dangling over his forehead. His gaze dropped to her throat and the pulse fluttering just under her chin. He dragged his fingertip over her chin, down her throat and yanked at the first button on her coat. Natalie gasped as he moved swiftly on to the next one. Before she'd even registered what he was doing, he'd opened her jacket and shoved it back off her shoulders. Instead of allowing her to slide it off, he caught her arms behind her back with it, holding her captive.

"Do you know what I want to do to you now?" His voice was hoarse and his eyes were so dark.

Natalie felt moisture explode between her thighs and bit her lip to keep from moaning. It shouldn't be possible for a man to make her respond like this, so fast, so wantonly. But here she was, arching away and offering her bared throat to him. She felt his breath brush her skin and she shuddered, feeling the teasing caress like a sure stroke inside her body. Then his lips touched her and she held her breath. She wanted to feel more of that, more of him. Getting to know each other be damned.

"Do you know what you do to me?" As he spoke, his lips brushed her throat. She felt the rasp of his beard and her nipples hardened.

He moved one hand up to grasp her chin and pulled her face down so he could look into her eyes. Natalie was spellbound by the look on his face. She'd never seen him look so serious, so intent.

"Do you know I've never wanted another woman as badly as I want you right now?"

Natalie felt her chest constrict and had to close her eyes to hide the sudden sheen of tears. His words touched her, stirred something deep inside of her.

This can't be happening, she thought as she bit her lip. We've only known each other a week. How can he mean it?

As his mouth opened on her neck again, and she felt the pulse of his tongue against her skin, she decided she didn't care. For now, her desire was overwhelming and she wanted to give in to it. "Mmm, Hayden..."

Hayden froze with his mouth at her throat when she throatily spoke his name. Then he released her arms and moved his hands around her waist, hauling her body right up against his. Natalie clung to him, lowering her mouth to his. They dissolved into a passionate kiss, tongues stroking each other and bodies straining.

Natalie slid her hands from his shoulders to his chest and pushed them inside his jacket. She shoved his jacket off and he let go of her just long enough to shed it. Then his arms were back around her waist and he held her close as he expertly caressed her tongue with his. One hand slid up to hold the back of her head, to keep her trapped as he ruthlessly plunged his tongue over and over into her mouth.

She writhed against him, wanting to feel more. His heat was searing her through her clothes and she fumbled at his shirt buttons. She wanted to rip the shirt open and lay her palms flat on his smooth chest. Her fingers slipped on another button and she made a sound of protest. Hayden pulled away and looked down with a laugh.

"Here." He brushed her hands away and undid each button.

Natalie didn't wait for him to part the shirt. She yanked each side open and touched his hot skin, gratified by his responding shudder. Her eyes lifted to his as he reached for his tie. He loosened it and tossed it beside his jacket on the floor of the limo. She kept her eyes on his as she touched his bare skin and slid her hands over the contours of his muscles.

Something flickered in his eyes and she gasped when he grabbed her hips. He bore her down to the floor as he closed his lips on her throat again. His tongue caressed her skin and Natalie gasped for breath, her hands struggling with the catch on his pants. She worked the button free at last and scraped the zipper down far enough to get her hand inside. When she brushed her fingers against his straining erection, Hayden groaned, the rumble sending a delicious tingle through her body.

He lifted himself above her and narrowed his eyes as she smiled impishly up at him. As she gave his full length a stroke over the cotton of his underwear, he started to bunch her full skirt in his hands. Her eyes popped wide open when she felt the first hot touch of his fingers on her bare skin. Her hand froze on him as shifted, shoving more of her dress out of the way. He lifted an eyebrow at her and tugged her panties down. Natalie choked out a laugh, a small piece of reality sinking through the haze of her lust.

We're in the back of a limo!

Then Hayden was moving one hand between them, pushing his pants and underwear down. Natalie let her breath out in a slow moan and helped him until she felt his rigid member brush her hand. With a swiftness that left her breathless, Hayden scooped her up in his arms and knelt on the floor. Natalie found herself in his lap and felt the urgent pulse of his cock between her thighs.

Hayden's hands closed on her thighs, lifting her, and she reached down to circle his erection. The first touch of him at her damp opening stopped them both for a moment. Natalie stared into Hayden's eyes and struggled to catch her breath. This was all happening so fast. Then Hayden pushed up as he jerked her down and they both let out startled moans.

For a second, neither of them moved. Their faces were so close together and Natalie could smell the tang of alcohol on his breath. His heady masculine musk overpowered that and Natalie inhaled deeply, intoxicated with all of Hayden. His body moved against her and he sank deeper inside.

"Hayden..." she gasped his name, breaking their gaze as her eyes fluttered shut.

He moved again, lifting up as he pulled down on her legs. One arm lifted to wrap around her back. Natalie felt his lips brush hers and parted her own, welcoming his wet, demanding kiss. They rocked together, finding a slow, steady rhythm that left Natalie trembling in minutes. She writhed against him, thrusting her pelvis forward, desperate to feel more. Hayden's fingers dug into her thigh and she broke from their kiss. She threw her head back and arched away from him as he pushed up. He thrust hard into her for several strokes, taking her right over the edge.

As she was moaning and pulsing with her orgasm, she felt herself being lifted and she clung to Hayden, not wanting to let their bodies part. He chuckled darkly and Natalie opened her eyes just as he set her down on the limo floor. He touched her cheek with one hand as she was still thrumming from her sudden climax. Then he kissed her, keeping his eyes on hers. She lifted her hips in silent plea for more. He obliged, maintaining his grip on her thigh.

He angled her body up and pushed deep into her. Natalie moaned, beyond caring about how she sounded, how she looked. Hayden's body over and inside of hers made her feel so good. She felt like she was burning up and didn't care. If Hayden was the one taking her there, she would go without a fight.

He tilted his head and thrust his tongue into her mouth as he pushed into her again. His pumping hips increased in speed and his grip on her thigh started to slip. Natalie hooked her foot behind his leg and lifted her hips, meeting his rapid thrusts as much as she could. Her breath whooshed out of her with each pump of his body into hers, so forceful was his movement. She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him back, sliding her tongue around his as she met him stroke for stroke.

Hayden made a strangled sound low in his throat and slapped both hands down to the floor on either side of her head. He pushed hard, his thrusting erratic, frantic, as he rushed them both towards a stunning end. They came together and Natalie felt his teeth close on her bottom lip as he came apart in her arms. She had the dim thought that it might hurt in the morning but with him pulsing deep inside of her, it was very hard to care about any consequences.

After a minute, Hayden eased out of her and sat back against one of the side seats with a dazed expression on his face. Natalie propped herself up on her elbows and smiled at him. She couldn't even fathom what she looked like - with her skirt rucked up around her body and her face raw from his beard - but Hayden looked like she felt.

He met her gaze and smiled. He reached a hand out towards her and helped her up to sit next to him. She went into his embrace with a sigh, gladly settling against his chest. She felt his lips brush over her hair and turned her face to nuzzle her nose into the open collar of his shirt.

"I'm...I can't believe we just..."

Natalie giggled and lifted her head to kiss his cheek. "Me either." She savored his deep chuckle and let out a contented sigh.

"I swear I didn't bring you back to the limo for that, Natalie."

"I know. It's OK. I wanted to."

"Good." Again his chuckle rumbled in his chest and against her cheek. "So you're not upset that we broke your rule?"

"My rule?" She sat back and looked into his face. He looked concerned and there was a pink tinge to his cheeks that made Natalie think he was maybe even a little embarrassed. "Oh, Hayden. I think I should never have suggested it."

"Really?"

She shrugged. It was her turn to feel embarrassed. "Well, I think it's obvious that we... that we're... attracted to each other."

"I'd say so."

Natalie met his eyes and couldn't help but smile at his playful grin. "I think I suggested that we wait to... I thought you only wanted me because of what Sidney said."

Hayden's eyes widened and his eyebrows shot up. "What?"

"That night at the restaurant. When you told me what Sidney said, my first thought was that was why you wanted to see me again."

"What, because I thought you were easy?"

Natalie flinched at his words and tone. He sounded upset and she couldn't blame him. She realized now that it had been a terrible assumption to make. He'd been funny and nice to her the night they met and he'd given her no reason to think he was that much of a cad. Her thinking that about him was as bad as him repeating the gossip about her.

"I'm sorry, Hayden." She pressed her hands to his chest and met his eyes as heat warmed her cheeks. "I shouldn't have and it was wrong."

He still looked a little hurt but he offered her a crooked smile as she apologized. "I guess we both handled things badly from the start."

Natalie let out a nervous laugh and nodded. "I guess we did. That's why I wanted to start over, with no assumptions, no mistakes."

"Natalie, no relationship is ever that easy." He rubbed his palm against her bare back above her dress. "We can't just start over every time we say something stupid to each other."

Natalie nodded. She knew he was right and maybe she'd been coming at this the wrong way from the start. She'd been intimidated by his career and his age, and even his incredible sex appeal. She might not have admitted it, even to herself, but she'd thought he was too much for her to handle. She was younger and less experienced and she'd let that affect her judgment of him. It wasn't fair to either of them.

With a gentle tug, Hayden pulled her close and kissed her forehead as she rested her cheek on his shoulder. She offered him a weak smile, still feeling inadequate for this amazing man. She would have to find a way to get over her own hang-ups and give their relationship a chance.

"Uh, Hayden?"

"Hmm?" His lips were moving over her hair again and he was breathing her in.

"You said relationship." She knew she might sound immature again but she didn't want to make any more assumptions.

He grinned and nodded. His hand slipped up to cup the back of her head. "I did."

"Does that mean you're...?" She let her question trail off, losing her nerve.

"If you'll have me, I would like to be your boyfriend." There was a teasing glint in his eyes and Natalie smiled in response. He wasn't mocking her with his formal words and he'd known what she wanted to know without her having to say it.

He might just be the man of my dreams, she thought with a giddy laugh.

"I'll have you, Hayden. Do you want me to be your girlfriend?"

"I thought I'd proven that a few minutes ago?"

They laughed together and Natalie hugged him close, burying her nose in his throat. She inhaled his masculine scent and sighed happily. She wasn't sure how long they remained like that, still rumpled from their lovemaking, but she would have happily stayed in his arms for decades.

"I suppose I should walk you inside." Hayden broke the silence after a few minutes.

"I suppose you're right."

Natalie pulled herself up onto the seat and accepted her underwear from Hayden with a blush. She wriggled into them and straightened her skirt as best as she could. Hayden buttoned his shirt and pulled his jacket on. He didn't bother with his tie and shoved it into his pocket. Natalie was buttoning her coat as Hayden got out of the limo.

They were quiet as they walked, arm-in-arm, to her room. He insisted on walking her all the way to her door and she smiled up at him when they got there.

"I had a great time," she said and grinned when he laughed. "I did! You've made up for it in the last hour."

Hayden pulled her close and tipped her chin up with one finger. "I'm glad." He kissed her, a light, teasing stroke of his lips on hers and then he stepped back. "I'll call you tomorrow."

"OK." She opened her door and tiptoed quietly inside. Turning back, she whispered 'goodnight' to Hayden and watched him walk down the hall. Then she closed her door and leaned her shoulder against it, letting out a satisfied sigh.

Although Hayden and Natalie gave up on trying to keep their hands off of each other, they also spent a lot of time together without getting physical. Luckily - or maybe unluckily - Hayden's job and Natalie's classes kept them from spending every waking hour together. When Hayden went on the road with the team, they talked on the phone nightly. If he was in New York, they'd get together on weekends whenever they could. Timing was difficult, especially since Natalie had exams to worry about once December rolled around.

Hayden did his best to be supportive and he didn't push for too much. Instead, he savored the days and nights they were able to align their schedules. When she could go, he got her tickets to home games as well. He didn't tell her, but he wished she could attend all the home games. She'd think he was being silly but he knew he played better whenever she was in the crowd. She truly had become his lucky charm. It was a dangerous thought for a goalie to have and he kept it to himself.

On a day early in December, he was just getting back to New York from a road trip into Eastern Canada when his phone rang. Seeing that it was Natalie, he set his bag down just inside his front door to answer.

"Hello, Natalie."

"Hi." She sounded tired and Hayden's heart went out to her. She'd been working so hard getting ready for her finals. "Are you home?"

"Yeah, I just walked in."

"Great. Can I come over?"

Hayden grinned, pleased that she was the one asking for a change. He didn't like to think he'd begged her every other time, but he'd come close, that's for sure. Not that there's anything wrong with that, he told himself. "Of course. I'll order something in for dinner."

She laughed but even that sounded tired. Hayden ached to put his arms around her to offer what comfort he could.

"Don't you ever cook?"

"When do I have time to learn how to cook? I'm busy playing hockey."

"Hmm, maybe I'll have to give you some lessons."

An image of Natalie standing in his underused kitchen wearing nothing but lacy panties and an apron flashed through his mind. He swallowed with difficulty and ran a hand through his hair. "Maybe," he replied hoarsely.

"I just need to finish up a paper and then I'll grab a cab. I can be there in an hour."

Hayden glanced at the clock and nodded. "All right. I'll have dinner ready when you get here." Just like he'd wanted, his joke got another tired laugh, then they ended the call.

True to her word, Natalie walked into his place in just over sixty minutes. She gave him a weak smile and Hayden didn't hesitate to pull her into his arms, heavy winter coat and all. She smelled just as fantastic as he remembered and his body reacted to her immediately.

They no longer worried about wanting each other physically. In addition to learning how to please each other, they'd shared many other things together; family history, embarrassing stories and plans for the coming year.

"Oh, thank you, Hayden," Natalie said, her voice muffled against his chest. "I needed that."

"I'm happy to help." He put his hands on her shoulders and bent to look into her face. "What's up? You don't usually want to come over on a weeknight."

She laughed as she unzipped her jacket and pulled off her scarf. "Don't I?"

Hayden hung everything up for her and pulled her close again for a kiss. She melted against him with a little sigh that sank right into his bones. In the past month and a half, he'd become seriously addicted to this woman and all her little noises.

"Come eat," he suggested as he pulled back with a smile. "I made Thai!"

She laughed and poked him in the ribs. "You did not!"

"Well, I ordered it."

They sat at the kitchen table and Hayden handed her a plate. He tried to draw her into conversation but she seemed more hungry than chatty. After they were done, she helped him tidy up and Hayden decided he didn't want to stay in the dark. He wanted to know what was wrong so he could make it better for her. It might be terribly macho and bordering on obsessive, but he cared for her and he wanted to make her happy.

So while she was facing the kitchen sink, wringing out a dish cloth, he moved behind her and slipped his arms around her waist. She stiffened for a second before relaxing back into his body. He dropped his chin to her shoulder and turned his face so his nose brushed her neck. Her responding shiver brought a smile to his face.

"Natalie, tell me what happened to day to bring you down."

She sighed and shook her head. "Nothing happened."

"Natalie..."

She turned in his arms and smiled at him. He saw the lines around her mouth and the dark circles under her eyes and still, she was absolutely beautiful. His stomach gave an involuntary flip when she lifted onto her toes to kiss him.

"Honestly. It was just a busy week and I failed my practice exam for one of my courses."

"That sucks." He didn't know if that was the right thing to say but it made her smile. "But it was just a practice?"

"Yeah. Madison told me I was overreacting and she suggested I take a break."

Hayden had to laugh at that. "So you're here because Madison told you to come?"

"No!" She protested and laughed with him. "I came because I wanted to see you." She paused and lowered her lashes.

Hayden bit back a groan when he saw her start to nibble on her bottom lip.

"I missed you."

"I missed you, too. I don't care what made you come over tonight, as long as you're here. That's all that matters."

She looked up at him again and opened her mouth to speak. He stopped her, laying his lips over hers and kissing her instead. She moulded her body to his and Hayden dropped his hands to cup her bottom, dragging her even closer. He wasn't sure how long she clung to him like that, her tongue teasing his, but he would have happily stayed like that all night long. She gave her hips a little thrust, bumping against him and he jerked his head up, sucking in a breath.

"What are you trying to do?" His voice came out as something resembling a growl and she smiled impishly at him.

"I'm trying to relieve my stress," she replied in a matter-of-fact tone. "Don't you want to help me with that?"

Hayden narrowed his eyes at her and bent his head down, as if to take her lips in another kiss. He watched her pupils expand and felt her soft exhalation as she parted her lips in anticipation. At the last moment, he moved his lips away, caressing her cheek and moving on to her sensitive ear lobe. She let out a sound, something halfway between a sigh and a moan, and Hayden wrapped both his arms around her waist.

Then he lifted her off her feet, holding her against his body as he turned them. Natalie held on to his shoulders, pressing her lovely breasts against his chest and she opened her mouth on his neck. Hayden had thought he could make it to the bedroom but he stopped at the kitchen table, resting her back on the edge. She looked up at him, a startled look on her face.

Before she could speak, he claimed her lips in a fierce kiss. His tongue swept inside and slid over hers, taunting, teasing. Natalie moaned, her fingers clenching and gathering his shirt into her hands. Hayden shoved a thigh between her knees, nudging her legs apart and he stepped close. He dropped a hand to her backside and pulled her against him, letting her feel what she'd done to him with just a few kisses. Then he bit down on her lower lip and opened his eyes to see her mouth open wide to take in a gasping breath.

He grinned and released her lip with a sucking noise before moving down her cheek and the smooth column of her throat. He turned his face and rubbed his bristly chin against her skin, knowing how much she liked it. Her response was a full-body shudder that rocked him to his very core. She was so responsive with him, every single time. He couldn't get enough of her. If it was possible, he'd have her like this every night.

As he enjoyed the flavor of her skin, tracing featherlight kisses across her collarbone, he felt her shift. She ran her hands down his torso and began to bunch his shirt in her hands, jerking up. When her warm fingers first brushed his stomach, he flinched. Her hands stopped moving on his body and he drew back to look into her face. As they stared at each other, she bit her lower lip and moved her hands lower, to the clasp of his jeans.

Hayden reached over his shoulders and hauled his shirt off as Natalie managed to open his jeans and slide his zipper down. Instead of reaching in, like he'd assumed she would, she scraped her fingernails up over the ridges of his abs. She kept her eyes locked on his as she slid her palms up his body, over his chest and around to the back of his neck. He shivered when he felt her fingers slide through his hair, tickling his scalp. Her eyes dropped when he slipped his hands beneath the hem of her shirt. He looked down and watched her, watching him.

"Do you like what you see?" he asked in a hoarse voice.

Her eyes flicked back up to his face and he bit the inside of his cheek when he saw the aroused flush in her cheeks. "Of course, but that's not why I was staring at you."

"No?" Hayden leaned close and planted a kiss on the upturned corner of her mouth. Her smile widened when he pulled away.

She shook her head and pulled on his neck until he leaned down and obliged her with a sweet kiss. While he was distracted by tasting her lips, Natalie slipped off the table and turned them around so that Hayden felt the table pressing into the back of his legs. She pulled out of the kiss, settling back on her feet. Hayden reached for her but she batted his hands away.

"Natalie-"

"Don't move," she ordered, holding a finger towards his chest.

Hayden was startled by her command but felt his lips curling up in a grin. He decided he liked this demanding side of her. He liked it even more when she took hold of his jeans and underwear, tugging them down as she sank to her knees in front of him. He barely had a moment to register what her intent was when he felt the first hot stroke of her tongue on him.

"Natalie, oh God!" He groaned and threw his head back when her lips wrapped around the tip of his straining erection.

Her hands stroked him in time with her mouth and he felt her tongue stroke along the length of him. Hayden panted as he struggled not to take hold of her head and thrust. She was driving him insane, slowly but surely insane. She pulled back and licked at the head and Hayden jerked against her before letting out a strangled moan.

"Natalie... s-stop..."

She didn't for a long second and Hayden wondered if she was trying to kill him. Then she leaned back, releasing him with an audible sucking noise and gazed up at him through dark lashes with an innocent smile.

"You want me to stop?"

He nodded, incapable of forming words. Bending at the waist, he grasped her shoulders and pulled her to her feet. She didn't resist, rising and going into his embrace. He slanted his mouth over hers, ruthlessly plunging his tongue into her mouth.

He moved one hand between them, frantically jerking at the button of her jeans. She helped him and in a second he was able to slip his hand inside. He found the damp crotch of her panties and pressed, eliciting a shuddering moan from her.

"How do you like that?" he growled into her ear as he licked her flushed skin. "This is the same torture you just put me through."

Her laugh was a little strained and a lot breathless and Hayden thrust his hand into her long, thick hair. He angled her chin up and nibbled on her swollen lips, teasing her with a stroke of his tongue. He continued to play with her, pressing and stroking his fingers of the thin fabric of her underwear until she was moaning, begging him to stop.

He pulled his hand out of her pants and pushed at the waist of her jeans until they fell over her hips to slide to the floor. Then he spun her around so she was resting on the edge of the kitchen table again. As he looked into her darkened eyes, she licked her lips and Hayden narrowed his eyes. He grasped the elastic of her panties on either side and yanked them down and off her legs. Keeping his gaze on hers, he cupped the back of her knees and moved between her thighs.

She sucked in a sharp breath as he brought his rigid length against her damp core. He shoved his hands under her shirt, wanting to feel the warm skin beneath. She reached down and pulled her shirt off over her head. Hayden's eyes flickered over her bared chest and he leaned forward to lap at her skin. She reached behind with one hand to unclasp her bra but Hayden didn't wait for her to do that. He pulled the cups of her bra down, releasing her breasts into his palms.

Without hesitation, Hayden leaned down and closed his lips around one perfect, taut nipple. Natalie moaned, arching her back and pressing more of her silky flesh into his mouth. He slid one arm around her waist to hold her against him. His cock pulsed against her center and they both moaned at the sensations that were beginning to overwhelm them.

"Please, Hayden," Natalie moaned in his ear, her fingers tangling in his hair.

He didn't need to be asked twice. He dropped one hand to take hold of himself, guiding the tip to her moist lips. She spread her legs wider with a gasp, arching, desperate to bring their bodies into full contact. He grinned wickedly down at her, teasing her by pressing the barest inch inside of her and no more.

She groaned and reached for his hip with one hand. Her legs lifted and hooked behind his thighs but he resisted, pulling out. "No!" she cried and her fingernails grazed the skin at his hip.

"Patience, Natalie," he murmured and kissed her, easing his tongue between her lips until she melted against him once more.

Then he thrust, sinking all of his hard length into her molten center. He froze, almost coming apart in that instant. She was so sweetly taut around him, her chest heaving against his and her lashes fluttering. He kept his lips on hers, continuing to tease as he held himself still inside of her. She moaned into his mouth and moved her hips. Hayden felt the slide of her body around him and he bit back a curse.

She was so amazing, so hot, all he wanted to do was pound into her, to lose himself in all her wet heat. If he did, he wouldn't last two seconds and he was determined to make this about her.

"Don't," he ground out, barely lifting his lips from hers.

She opened her eyes and he stared into the dark orbs. "Please, Hayden. I want to feel you."​