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The last day before school started turned out to be unbearably hot. Being out on the field under the scorching sun was nearly impossible to endure, especially after such a long break.
Sure, they'd started showing up for practice two weeks before summer ended—Coach Martinez had insisted—but it had felt more like a game than real training.
Not everyone even bothered to show up, and those who did were still too affected by the lingering sense of summer freedom. The girls moved slowly, lazily kicking the ball around and laughing most of the time.
Even the strict coach wasn’t able to reign them in completely. To be fair, he didn’t really try. These early practices were more for show than anything else—a way to burn off the last of the lazy giggles before September arrived.
Natalie wasn’t much different from the other girls, though she was a bit more focused on the game. Simply because mechanically dribbling the ball across the field helped take her mind off the brutal heat and the sticky sweat covering every inch of her body.
Strangely enough, the distraction of laughter and goofing around seemed to take even more energy and stretch out the time. And she just wanted to get it all over with quickly and leave her body under a cold shower for the rest of her life.
She didn’t yell at Van when she missed the ball, and ignored the fact that Shauna wasn’t even trying to follow the game, her eyes glued to Jackie, who’d pulled off her shirt and was running across the field in a soaked crop top.
Natalie just kept kicking the damn ball, rolling her eyes so hard that anyone paying close attention could’ve noticed.
Amid the chaos of shouting, laughter, and voices, she didn’t immediately notice someone sneaking onto the once-empty stands.
“Whoa.” Mari whistled, staring at the bleachers. “Is that Travis?” There was confusion and a strange surprise in her voice.
But Natalie froze, not even turning around yet—just hearing the familiar name.
“Yeah.” Jackie joined in with Mari. “Since when do they come back from Catholic camps looking like that?”
Natalie knew exactly where she’d find him. He always sat in the same spot. She hoped she managed to keep it indifferent enough—not to give away the desperate longing to see him burning in her chest.
The girls were right — his biceps had definitely bulked up, and his old T-shirts were now a bit too tight. Natalie tried not to linger too long on his arms, rushing instead to meet his gaze. His eyes were still the same — big and warm, still looking at her with that hazy, thoughtful expression. She rarely managed to read what was on his mind.
But right now, he was happy to see her — she knew that for sure by the way he shifted slightly on the bench. She understood how that felt, pressing her palm hard against her thigh, hands on her hips. She so badly wanted to wave at him. To do something, anything, since she couldn’t just get up and run to him right now.
But even that, she couldn’t do.
A sharp whistle shattered the spell.
“What are you standing around for?” Coach Martinez shouted, shifting his gaze back and forth between the stands and the field. He waved irritably at Travis, but the boy didn’t hurry to move.
“Let’s go, practice isn’t over.” The girls grumbled as they reluctantly returned to the game, quickly forgetting about the guy in the stands.
But not Natalie.
She so wanted to steal one more glance at him, smile, and feel that warmth in her chest again. She didn’t know when he’d come back.
In two months, he’d called only a couple of times. The camp wasn’t big on phone calls or contact with the outside world in general. They were allowed to call home once a week, but the phone was kept in the camp director’s office, so there was no privacy.
Travis said they sometimes managed to slip out of the camp. A gas station a kilometer away was where they bought alcohol and cigarettes, and there was a payphone too. But such trips were too risky to do often.
Maybe he called more often, but she just couldn’t answer. She only had a landline phone at home, in the hallway. At least she hoped that if she’d missed calls, it hadn’t been too many.
When she finally dared to look again, Travis was already gone. And a black emptiness spread through her chest. Though she knew they would meet later that evening, that he’d only come here to let her know he was back. But the hours of waiting and forced indifference felt more unbearable now than the long weeks of separation.
There he was, so close, at home, but still not with her.
Natalie didn’t quite realize how the practice ended, but the final whistle was definitely a relief. They all rushed into the locker room together. And there, amid the usual chaos, she no longer had to hide her hurry — but she couldn’t deny herself a long shower. Utility bills still hung over her like a heavy burden, so she still couldn’t afford to skip free unlimited showers.
Entering the locker room from the showers, she quickly wanted to return. The girls had already started gossiping and sharing the latest news. Natalie ignored the chatter and began changing clothes.
“I heard Travis got involved with some girl,” Mari said. “My mom says she’s some kind of tramp, and that’s why the coach lost it.”
Natalie clenched her jaw so hard it made her temples ache. God, Mari could be such an idiot.
“Flex with a girl?” Lottie laughed in mock surprise. “Now that’s a stretch. Has anyone even seen her?”
“No idea,” Mari went on. “Rumor is she lives in the trailer park.”
At those words, Natalie’s breath caught for a second.
She hoped the conversation would die off quickly — but she knew better.
“Natalie, have you heard anything?” Lottie turned toward her. Natalie was lacing up her boots too tightly.
“Maybe she’s one of your neighbors?”
“I don’t know anything.” Natalie stood up from the bench, smoothing down the hem of her short dress with her palms.
“Aww, come on,” Jackie whined. “That’s no fun, Natalie. Try to think. Maybe someone said something?”
Natalie grabbed her bag from the floor in a sharp motion, shoving the rest of her stuff inside without care.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” she snapped, looking around the locker room. Most eyes had already turned to her. “There’s less trash talk in your moms’ book clubs than in this damn place.”
Swinging her bag over her shoulder, the metal buckle caught on her tights, sending a long run snaking up her leg, disappearing under the hem of her dress.
“Shit,” she hissed. “Get a fucking grip, seriously.”
She practically stormed out of the locker room, but slowed near the exit just long enough to glance at Van. Natalie knew she knew — and doubted she’d talk — but still, she checked. Van gave her a small, almost imperceptible nod, as if to say you’re good, go. And so Natalie finally left.
Maybe she’d overreacted — but gossip had never interested her anyway. Not about other people. Not even once. No rumor in the world had ever told the full story.
No one really cared, anyway. The truth was always way less scandalous.
Once outside, Natalie tried to catch her breath and wrestle her anger down.
She dug a crumpled pack of cigarettes out of her bag and fished one out. It took her two tries to light it. The frustration and bitterness still buzzed loudly in her head.
They didn’t know anything — none of them.
She was automatically a teenage whore, a junkie, and an alcoholic until proven otherwise. Just like every girl growing up in her part of town. No one from the nicer neighborhoods ever cared to ask what it was actually like. They didn’t care about her real story.
The truth? She’d never done anything stronger than weed. And alcohol?
Let those rich bitches try living a day in her world and not hide in a bottle sometimes.
This had always been her life — and maybe, yeah, maybe she was ready to wreck it if it came to that. But not his. Never his.
And that’s what made it hurt the most — hearing people talk like some drunk slut was dragging the coach’s son down with her.
Even if they didn’t know it was her yet… it didn’t make a damn bit of difference.
She didn’t have gas money this week, so walking home was the only option. It pissed her off — stretched out the wait even longer.
He was probably already waiting by her trailer, since she hadn’t seen him around the school yard. Which, honestly, was for the best. Out of sight meant safer.
It still felt weird thinking of her home as a safe place, but ever since Vera left, it had become exactly that.
The moment Natalie realized her mom wasn’t coming back, she’d cleaned the place up.
She’d thrown out the trash, cleared the clutter off the kitchen table, and turned it into an actual workspace. And surprisingly, over the summer, she’d caught up on almost all her subjects.
The strangest discovery of all?
Schoolwork was so much easier when there was space for her at home — and no drunken bodies to step over.
She truly, deeply hoped her mom wouldn’t come back.
Things were cheaper without her around anyway.
The second she caught sight of the trailer park, Natalie broke into a run.
Her place was still a good way off, and the strap of her heavy bag dug painfully into her shoulder, but she didn’t care.
She didn’t have the patience left.
The thought that Travis might not be there yet — or worse, that he wouldn’t be able to sneak out tonight — made her stomach twist with dread.
So she focused. On her breathing. On the movement of her legs. Like she always did on the field. Like she always did to clear her head.
She didn’t care about her dress riding up as she ran. Fuck it.
What did it even matter?
By the time she hit the slope down toward her trailer, she could already make out a familiar figure waiting near the door.
“Travis!”
A wide grin spread across her face as her legs carried her even faster.
He turned around, his whole face lighting up, and started walking toward her quickly.
“Trаv!”
She threw herself into his arms, dropping her bag to the ground and nearly knocking him over. But he caught her — arms around her shoulders, lifting her feet right off the dirt.
“Natalie,” he breathed into her neck, his hot breath searing against her skin.
He held her like that for a while — tightly, like he was afraid that if he let go, she might vanish into thin air.
Like he needed her body close to his with a kind of quiet desperation.
Even when he set her back down, he didn’t let go completely — his fingers kept tracing her forearm gently, as if he needed at least that one small point of contact to stay grounded.
“I missed you,” he murmured.
“I missed you too.”
Natalie let herself look at him now, really look — without the nervous glances or second-guessing.
Still, her eyes snagged on his lips a second too long, and she coughed quietly before finding his gaze again.
Brown eyes. Still warm. Still searching.
He was doing the same — watching her, tracing every inch of her face like he was afraid it might change if he blinked.
They were close.
Something like soulmates, maybe. People who had spent too long looking for each other while standing only a few steps apart.
Their connection had flared fast — maybe too fast — burning through the space between them before they had the chance to become friends.
And the rumors, as always, had jumped ahead of the truth.
Because they weren’t lovers. Not yet.
They’d never given themselves a label — simply because they didn’t need one. It felt good, being together.
They had handed each other the keys to every locked drawer and cabinet in their souls without hesitation.
And what happened that last night before they were separated — it had felt entirely natural.
Inevitable, even.
Because when your souls are already bare, what’s the point of being shy about your bodies?
But his father — her coach — had a very different opinion.
He wasn’t even supposed to be in town.
And yet, somehow, he came back early and barged right into Travis’s room without warning.
That night, nothing really happened.
They had kissed.
She’d barely taken off her t-shirt and shorts when her small, quiet sanctuary imploded — drowned in a flood of yelling and slammed doors.
Coach had screamed, grabbing her by the arm and yanking her off the bed.
Travis screamed back, jumping up and trying to stop him. Uselessly.
Coach had shoved her out into the hallway in nothing but her underwear, didn’t even bother to toss her clothes after her.
And the last thing she saw before the door slammed shut was Travis, eyes blazing, catching his father’s wrist mid-swing — just as the man raised his hand to slap him.
She stood in the hallway, shaking from the shock.
When Travis’s little brother came running up to her and threw a blanket over her shoulders, she broke down crying.
“It’s okay. It’s okay,” the boy kept repeating. “Come with me. It’s gonna be alright.”
He led her to the other end of the house.
“Don’t cry. It’s gonna be alright.”
She wiped her tears into the fabric of the blanket, glancing back more than once.
Behind the closed door, the shouting still hadn’t stopped. Two voices, rising and crashing against each other.
“He’s gonna be fine,” Javi tried to assure her, gently ushering her into his room.
Just a few minutes later, she slipped out the back door — wearing Javi’s clothes.
She had wanted to go back in, to do something, anything to help Travis.
But the sound of those shouts, the fury in them, triggered memories she couldn’t handle.
Memories that drowned her in panic.
And Javi kept saying, “Don’t. You don’t have to.”
So she ran.
The next day, Travis didn’t come to see her.
And a few days later, Javi showed up with her things and told her that, as punishment, Travis had been sent off to some Catholic camp for troubled teens.
Not once, in any of their rare phone calls, had they brought up what had almost happened that night.
And now, here they were — face to face with everything they’d chosen to freeze in time and ignore.
But that no longer seemed possible.
“Uh.” Natalie ran a hand through her slightly sweat-damp hair.
“Wanna come inside?”
Travis nodded and picked up the forgotten bag from the ground, following her toward the trailer, waiting patiently as she fumbled with the keys.
Once he stepped over the threshold, he looked around in surprise, taking in the space like it was the first time he’d ever really seen it.
“It looks… different,” he said, stumbling a little over the words.
“Cleaner? Less like a meth den?” She laughed, watching the way he exhaled — clearly relieved that she’d said it first.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s fine.”
It was the truth. Her place had looked awful before.
So now his surprise came across more like a genuine compliment than an insult — and she didn’t take it personally.
Travis dropped the bag by the door and wandered further in, taking in the kitchen, the workspace she’d set up — books and papers stacked high, notebooks spread out across the table.
He let out a quiet laugh.
“You do know it’s still summer break, right?”
Natalie sat on the countertop by the stove, swinging her legs as she sifted through a box filled with various tea bags.
“And you do know you can keep studying past ninth grade?”
Travis laughed again, stepping closer to her.
“God, I’ve missed this.”
He repeated, stopping just a meter away.
“Want some tea? I have raspberry.”
Natalie pulled out a mesh tea bag and reached toward the kettle.
“Nat.”
Travis placed his hand on the countertop near her knee — almost touching, but not quite. He tilted his head, trying to catch a glimpse of her face, but she remained focused on her tea.
“Nat.”
“What?”
When she finally let him catch her gaze, her heart was already pounding hard. They really couldn’t put this off any longer. She was truly scared it would all end badly again.
The closeness of his hand to her body did nothing to calm her nerves, but she absolutely didn’t want him to pull away. Quite the opposite. She wanted to feel his warmth closer, more—wanted to keep that warmth near her forever. She blinked, looking at him quickly, almost nervously, but didn’t look away. Frozen in anticipation. She didn’t know exactly what she was waiting for, but she felt the electricity between them couldn’t disappear without a trace.
When Travis moved his palm to her cheek, Natalie felt his breath brush her lips—and patience was gone. She just leaned in, pressing her lips to his first. Travis answered the kiss without hesitation. Fast, awkward, and messy—but with the same genuine desire she remembered from their first and only kiss.
His fingers trembled, tangling in her hair, and with every touch, Natalie felt a warm flush bloom across her pale face.
Their kiss deepened, their movements faster and more insistent. The last thing Natalie wanted was to break the moment, but anxiety buzzed traitorously in her head, screaming at her to stop.
Travis stopped just a second before she asked. She knew that had definitely made him nervous. She didn’t want him to think he’d done something wrong.
“No, sorry, it’s fine,” she said, running her hand through her hair, tossing strands over her shoulder. “It’s just… are you sure this is a good idea?”
“If you don’t want to, Nat…” He stepped back half a step, and her whole body ached from his absence.
“I do.” She surprised herself with the honesty of that admission. Saying it out loud wasn’t as hard as she thought. “It’s just that your dad kept you hidden from me for two months.”
Travis covered his smile with his palm, trying to look a little more serious.
“Maybe from me?”
“What?” The question was ridiculous. She never even allowed herself to think of it that way. Protect her from what? It was almost laughable.
“Natalie, he’s obsessed with that damn football. He’s crazy.” His hand touched her skin again, covering hers. “He went nuts when he found out I was messing with his star player’s head.”
She couldn’t believe that could be true. He’d never mock her, but blaming herself had long become a habit—the go-to explanation for all her troubles.
“You’re saying if Laura Lee were in my place, he’d react the same way?” Maybe it sounded a bit harsh, but she didn’t care.
Travis rolled his eyes theatrically and groaned as if disgusted.
“God, gross.” He stuck out his tongue, pretending to vomit. “Why’d you have to make me picture that? That’s awful.”
Natali smiled too, but still kicked him lightly. “Cut it out.”
“I mean it.” He got a bit more serious, but mischief still danced in his eyes. “I don’t really believe I could mess up your football career.”
She shook her head, biting her lip. She didn’t want to voice her version of why they’d drifted apart—not now, not when he was looking at her like that. With hope, with something she still didn’t dare call love.
Travis was still holding her hand, as if unsure about moving forward. Not because he didn’t want to, but simply because he didn’t know what to do with himself. Nat could feel his palm trembling slightly, how he tried not to show it. So she leaned in, throwing her arms over his shoulders and spreading her knees just a little wider, as if inviting him to come closer. She traced her thumb along his neck and couldn’t hold back a shaky sigh as she watched him arch his neck toward her touch.
He moved hesitantly forward, stepping between her legs. They both laughed awkwardly when their knees bumped together.
“Kiss me again.” Natali said, and she didn’t have to ask twice.
Travis brushed her chin briefly before kissing her again. This time a little slower, more careful, testing the boundaries anew.
She dropped her hands, reaching for the edges of his t-shirt, gripping the thin fabric tightly. Travis froze slightly, and she felt it—something between a flicker of fear and excitement. Natali lifted her eyes, waiting for permission, and pulled the fabric up, sliding the shirt off to reveal his bare torso. And damn, arrest her—but the girls had been absolutely right about his shape. She said nothing, but the curious gaze wandering across his chest spoke for itself. Travis watched her just as silently; she could feel it. And no, she wasn’t ashamed.
With confidence, she traced her fingers across his stomach, feeling the muscles tense under her touch, and Travis started breathing heavier than he had a minute ago. She continued exploring, letting her fingers wander, and he let out a soft sigh. It sounded more like a moan—slightly confused, as if he hadn’t expected someone’s touch to affect him so deeply.
“Are you okay?” she whispered, not pulling away.
“Yeah. It’s just… I’ve never…” He swallowed nervously, and she quickly nodded.
“I know.” They never talked much about his experience, but she understood everything perfectly and knew she wasn’t wrong. “It’s okay. Everything will be fine.”
She traced a delicate path of kisses from his chin to his lips, drawing them into a new kiss.
Travis gently placed his hands on her waist, cautiously gathering the short dress in his grip. Nat shifted in his hands, craving more, covering his palms with hers as if to say, “You can,” and whimpered softly when he squeezed her tighter. A warm wave of arousal pulsed stronger between her legs with every movement of his.
That gave him confidence: one hand slid lower along her hip, lifting the hem of her dress. He glanced toward the bed, then back at her.
Nat caught his gaze beneath half-closed lashes. “I think we’d be more comfortable there.” She said softly, almost a whisper, waiting for his reaction.
Travis wrapped his arms around her, carefully cradling her under the knees and back. Lifting her with ease. She gasped in surprise.
“So, now you’re going to brag about your biceps all the time, Catholic?”
He flushed, embarrassed, and Nat found it absolutely endearing.
“Complain all you want.”
She fell silent at the sharp contrast in his tone — and how genuinely hot he sounded right now.
Travis laid her down on the bed gently, almost too cautiously but with a new kind of confidence. Nat didn’t look away, even as the old mattress creaked slightly under her weight. Travis didn’t break eye contact, hovering over her. He wasn’t planning to stay in that position long.
Yielding to her touch, Travis leaned back, stepping away the moment she lightly pushed him on the shoulder. Nat spent a few moments admiring the tousled boy before slowly, confidently swinging her leg over him, settling on top and finding support by resting against his chest.
He smirked, but in his eyes flickered something untamable — almost wild. Still unsure, but growing bolder, slowly transforming from a flicker into an untamed flame.
Her hips settled on either side of him, and at first she moved carefully, as if getting used to how it felt. How it felt with him.
A new moan slipped from his lips — rougher, more uninhibited. His fingers dug into her hips like they were the only thing holding him in this world. Nat moved again, savoring the sounds he made.
“So good?”
She already knew the answer — in the way his fingers squeezed her skin and the fabric of her dress tighter, in his half-lidded eyes, in his husky moan. But she wanted to hear it. Leaning in, she froze just a millimeter from his lips, not quite kissing him.
“Yes, Nat, fuck.”
He instinctively shifted his hips, trying to press closer. “Yes.”
She brushed her fingers lightly over his lips, slow and deliberate, savoring every touch. Shivering at every cautious caress from him. He fiddled with the zipper on her dress, hastily pulling it down. Nat let out an involuntary chuckle.
“Don’t rush, it’s okay.”
Travis helped her pull the unbuttoned dress over her head and, tossing it onto the floor, let his hands glide along her body—not touching, but so close that an electric thrill of longing surged through her. A greedy, aching hunger for touch.
She looked at him almost pleadingly, gasping when his fingers brushed her ribs, tracing the edge of her red bra. Now his gaze roamed over her. For a second, she felt almost self-conscious — but only for a moment.
“Fuck.” Travis licked his own lips and swallowed hard. His pupils dilated, turning his brown eyes a deep, dark black. He reached for her back, fumbling for the clasp of her bra, utterly lost.
Natali caught the hesitation immediately and reached back too, deftly undoing the small fastenings with two fingers.
“It’s okay, you’ll learn soon enough,” she whispered right into his ear, slipping the bra off her shoulders.
Instead of answering, Travis just pulled her tighter to his waist, pressing her chest against his torso, awkwardly littering her neck with wet kisses. Gentle, afraid to hurt her.
Natali placed her hand on the back of his neck, pulling him closer. Her whole body was screaming for more. And he obeyed, pressing his lips harder, sucking the tender skin. Natali was almost certain he’d leave marks, and just the thought of his impressions on her skin made her moan long and low, digging her fingers into his shoulders.
She let her trembling, desire-filled hands slide down to the belt of his worn jeans. Reluctantly, Travis left her neck and helped with his own buckle. Natali lifted her hips, giving him room to pull off his clothes.
He yanked his jeans off a little more roughly than he meant and snorted irritably, causing Natali to smile softly.
“Do you have one?” she asked.
Travis shook his head awkwardly. “Sorry.”
With that same warm smile, Natali slid off the bed.
“It’s okay, I’ve got one.” She headed to the dresser, pulling off her panties as she went, tossing them in the pile with the rest of their clothes.
Travis tried not to think about how she had condoms so easily accessible in her drawers. Of course, he knew he wasn’t her first, and he also knew all her past boyfriends had been outright jerks and assholes. But the mere presence of condoms didn’t make him feel any more confident.
Natali came back to the bed, swaying her hips playfully, and Travis’s nervousness shifted into pure desire. A clear, full desire to feel her with every inch of his body. He sat down, grabbing her hand and pulling her back into his arms.
“Whoa.” Natali breathed out, dropping down onto her knees right into his strong arms.
“Whoa.” Travis echoed softly, gently turning her face toward him. Her loose hair tickled his skin, stirring the thirst inside him even more. He leaned in, kissing her collarbones, alternating between tender touches and greedy, almost biting kisses. Natali moaned against him, but the tension hadn’t left her limbs, and her wide-open eyes scanned the bed like she was calculating something.
Travis lifted his head, studying her face.
“You okay?”
“Completely.” Natali seemed to surface from her thoughts, a playful note shining again in her voice. She placed her hand on his chest once more, pushing him back onto the bed, this time a bit more insistently. But Travis was less yielding now. He leaned back, propping himself up on his elbows, looking at her with a challenge, with newly found confidence.
Natali liked that smug look, but even more she liked wiping that expression off his face, showing him every time that this wasn’t all, that there was more to come.
“We can do anything, Travis.” Natali winked.
She watched with bliss as his face filled with a new wave of mixed surprise and pleasure when she touched him lower, putting on protection deliberately slow and unhurried. He flinched—not from shame, but his whole body tensed in anticipation of more. He reached again to pull her closer, but she squeezed his wrists, pinning them to the mattress.
“I’m not done yet.” She whispered, making his eyes widen and his chest rise heavier. He shifted his gaze from his pinned wrists to her face. She looked at him with a challenge.
And he wasn’t about to give up.
As soon as she lowered herself back onto him, he suddenly lifted up, caught her in his arms, and flipped them over, catching Nat off guard.
“Hey!” She gasped, pressed against the already rumpled sheets, not even trying to pretend she didn’t like it.
“You said—anything goes.” He smirked boldly, biting at her neck and moving lower.
Nat arched toward him, filling the space between them with her sweet moan. But the next moment, she tried to take control again—pushing him, flipping them over, throwing a leg over, putting herself back on top.
“Cute.” She whispered playfully, slowly lowering herself onto him, moaning in sync with Travis, who was blissfully sprawled beneath her.
“But don’t think you’re the boss here.”
It got harder for her to speak with every thrust; her words grew less coherent, turning into a loud mix of moans and heavy sighs.
She leads them, feeling how quickly he picks up the pace, moving to meet her. His hands still hold her, caressing and pulling, making her hold her breath one moment and burst out with a new moan the next. Every movement resonates inside her clearer and stronger. She feels his body tense, his broken breath tearing from his lips. She knows he’s already on the edge, because she’s almost there too.
“Trav…” she calls out, shouting his name like a prayer. And he answers with a hoarse, guttural groan, almost a roar, grabbing her by the waist so tightly she loses the rhythm, loses control—leaving only the pleasure in which she completely dissolves.
“Nat…” He bites down on her name, sinking his teeth into her chest.
“Please…” Natalie manages to moan just before he shudders violently, clutching either the sheets or her with his hands, making the last thrusts inside her.
He presses his forehead into her shoulder, catching his breath, still pulsing inside her. Nat reaches down with her hand to help herself, trembling from the charged tension and agonizing incompleteness. But Travis catches her hand. She whines in protest.
“Are you?”
“Almost.”
“Let me help.” He asks, running his fingers along her skin. And she just guides him, showing how to please her. It takes only a few circular motions before she lets out one last breathless moan and, breathing heavily, collapses onto the sheets beside him.
As their breathing calms and their bodies—still sweaty and flushed—slowly settle, they lie there staring at the ceiling. Both looking a little disheveled and somewhat lost, not quite sure what comes next.
Travis was the first to move, rolling onto his side. Nat shifted closer, pressing into him, their fingers intertwining.
“How are you?” he asked, lazily kissing the back of her head.
“More than okay.” Natali lifted his hand to her lips, kissing his knuckles. “But do you really think we can handle this?”
He shrugged.
“You said it: we can do anything. So maybe we can try.”
Outside, night was slowly falling. From nearby yards came the distant barking of a dog, and a branch of a dead tree scraped unpleasantly against the window. Out there, everything stayed the same — but between them was something entirely new. Untamed, fragile, something they wanted to keep like a promise or a confession.
Yes, they would manage.