Author's Note: I'm sorry that I haven't updated in so long! Life has been pretty crazy, but I had a sudden surge of inspiration and wanted to write a new chapter for this story. WARNING: THIS CHAPTER IS RATED M. Thanks for reading, and I hope that you all like this chapter!

Disclaimer: Don't own it.

Haley found herself staring at the picture of Nathan and Lucas's broken family once again. So many horrible things had happened to his family and it just didn't seem fair. All Haley wanted was to make him happy again.

She felt Nathan's arms wrap around her waist from behind. Looking over her shoulder, Haley saw that Nathan was looking at the picture before he looked down at her.

"Nathan…" Haley said quietly.

Nathan shook his head and led her over to his bed, where he sat down. Haley sat down next to him, taking one of his hands in both of hers. He looked down at their hands before he looked up at her.

"His name is Jake," he finally said quietly. "My brother. I'm sure that Luke has told you."

Haley didn't say yes or no. She just squeezed his hand comfortingly between hers and then gave him a smile when he covered her hand with his free one. He had that look in his eyes again… the one he had at the Rivercourt, right before he kissed her. Butterflies immediately appeared in her stomach as he lifted one hand and slid it around the back of her neck. After another pause, Nathan pulled Haley forward, covering her mouth with his.

Haley let go of Nathan's hand so that she could wind her arms around his neck. She shifted closer to him, but no matter what she did, it wasn't near enough. Nathan solved that problem for her by easily hauling her into his lap so that she was sitting sideways.

His tongue teased her lips open, one hand threading into her hair. Haley wasn't exactly comfortable twisting around so that she could kiss him, so she managed to turn on his lap without too much difficulty. She ended up straddling Nathan, allowing him to bring a hand down to the small of her back so he could press her closer.

Nathan took his lips from Haley's only to reattach them to her neck. He found her pulse point, nibbling on the skin there before smoothing it over with his tongue. He sucked on the patch of skin after, and Haley's head fell back. Her fingers had been knotted in the hair at the nape of his neck, but it was impossible not to keep from touching him. Over his t-shirt, Haley's hands moved over the strong muscles of his arms and back as his lips continued a burning trail over her neck and back up to her jaw.

His lips sought hers again, and as they kissed, Haley slid her hands under Nathan's t-shirt. Her fingers ghosted over rippling muscles, and Nathan groaned a little against her mouth. She could feel his hardness against her, and she ground her hips into his a little bit. He slipped his own hand under her shirt, his warm palm and calloused fingers wreaking havoc all over the skin of her back. His hand kept moving up until it brushed the clasp of her bra. Finally, Nathan pulled away from her, leaving Haley gasping for breath.

"Hales," Nathan murmured, the nickname falling easily from his lips. "I don't… I don't want to make you do anything that you're not…" He kissed her softly before pulling back and searching her eyes. Finally, after a long moment, he said, "If I don't stop soon, I won't be able to." His lips tilted up then. "You have that much of an effect on me, Haley James."

Haley smiled as she rested her forehead against his. "Well it's a good thing that you have that much of an effect on me too, Nathan Scott. I want to."

Nathan's eyes grew wide, his hips jerking up a little bit under her at her words. Haley giggled a little as she leaned forward, pressing kisses to the side of his face before she reached his ear. She took his earlobe between her teeth, tugging gently.

"I want to," she repeated in his ear. Haley's hands grasped the hem of Nathan's shirt and tugged. Getting the hint, Nathan let her pull it up and over his head. She took a moment to appreciate the magnificent upper body of the man beneath her before she kissed him again.

Haley had no idea where this confidence was coming from. She had only ever slept with one guy before, and that had been in her sophomore year of college. He had been her boyfriend since freshman year. The relationship hadn't lasted, and Haley hadn't been in another one long enough for it to get sexual. Something about Nathan just made her brave.

They kissed for a few minutes before both of Nathan's hands slipped under her shirt. He traced little patterns on her back before pulling her shirt over her head. His eyes darkened at the black lacy bra she was wearing, his fingers spreading over the back of it as he pulled her to him again. He distracted her with his mouth, so when Haley felt his large hand cup her breast, she moaned, arching into his hand.

The thin material of her bra didn't do a lot to hide the way her nipple pebbled under the thumb Nathan brushed over it. She arched into his hand as he trailed his kisses down to her collar bone. Haley's hands continued to move over his back as Nathan pressed a hot, open-mouthed kiss above the line of her bra.

With one hand, Nathan expertly unclasped her bra. He slowly pushed the straps off of her shoulders before removing it completely. He stared at Haley for so long that she started to blush, from her cheeks all the way down her body. Before she could say anything or cover herself because she was suddenly embarrassed, Nathan spoke.

"Haley…" he whispered. His eyes lifted to hers. "You're beautiful."

His statement only caused Haley's blush to intensify, but in a good way. He was looking at her with such reverence, as if she really was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Nathan leaned forward and kissed Haley softly once, twice, three times. He trailed his kisses down her jaw and down her neck, stopping to nibble and then sooth over his tongue. His mouth continued downwards as Haley's grip tightened on his shoulder. His mouth closed around her nipple at the same time as one of his hands came up to cup her other breast. Haley gasped, her fingers leaving Nathan's shoulder to lock in his hair instead.

He kissed his way over to her other breast, his mouth closing on that nipple as his other hand came up to fondle the opposite breast. Before Haley could realize what happened, Nathan flipped them over on the bed. He kissed his way down her stomach and it was all Haley could do to breathe as she fisted the sheets in her hands.

Nathan's fingers paused on the button of her jeans, and he looked up at her. Biting down her bottom lip—she honestly feared that she might explode if Nathan didn't do something about it and fast—she nodded her head. The slow burn that had built in her stomach when they first started kissing was now nearly a burning inferno. No one had ever made her feel like this before. His touch set her on fire, and he was the only one that could put it out.

With a flick of his wrist, he unbuttoned her jeans and slowly began to pull them down her legs. Nathan deposited them on the floor next to the bed before he grabbed one of her feet. He pressed a kiss to the arch of her foot and then her ankle, moving up her leg. When he reached her hip, he pressed a lingering kiss there and then his tongue traced the top of her underwear.

"Nathan," Haley suddenly gasped. He looked up at her, staying perfectly still. He waited for her to speak, and it was the look in his eyes that gave her the courage she needed. "I… It's been a while since I've done this. Just… please be gentle."

"Haley," Nathan said. He climbed back up so that he was lying next to her. His hand cupped her face, his thumb rubbing along her cheek. Leaning forward, he kissed her tenderly and Haley felt it all the way to her toes. Then Nathan pulled away and sat back, rolling over onto his back and looking at her.

"Nathan?" Haley questioned, her brow furrowing.

He reached for her hand, tugging her towards him. He pulled her down for another kiss. "We'll go as slow or as fast as you want to," he mumbled against her lips. "But you set the pace. We'll only do what you're comfortable with."

Haley stared at him with wide eyes. How had she managed to find a guy that was so perfect? He was willing to go as slow as she wanted to. The thought alone made her want to jump him then and there. With only a few words, he had made her feel so comfortable.

Nathan laid back and watched Haley, waiting to see what she would do next. Biting her lip once again, Haley crawled up Nathan's body and pressed her naked chest to his as she kissed him. She kissed his neck, grinning as she sucked on his skin. She was positive that he had given her at least three hickeys. It was the least she could do to return the favor.

Haley returned her mouth to his, straddling his lap and pulling him up to meet her. Her hands went down to his belt, tugging on that until it was free. Then she got to work on his pants. True to his word, Nathan still didn't move other than to kiss her when she had his jeans unbuttoned. So she pushed him back once again and tugged on his jeans until they were all the way off. Feeling a little braver, she tugged his boxers off at the same time.

She gently dragged her fingers down his length. She heard him inhale sharply, so she did it again before closing her fist around it. His hips jerked up into her hand, but he forced himself to be still. Haley looked up at him.

"It's okay, you know," she said. "If you want to…" Haley looked down at his hips, and Nathan swallowed hard before nodding his head. She moved her hand again, and Nathan suddenly reached down and grabbed her wrist.

"I'm not going to last much longer if you keep doing that," he said huskily.

"Oh." Haley bit her lip before she slung her leg over his hips. She leaned down and kissed him, quickly becoming frustrated when he didn't touch her. Taking matters into her own hands, she grabbed his hand and guided it to her breast. She was glad when Nathan got the hint and started massaging her breast. She moaned, grinding her hips into his.

"Nathan," she moaned again. She guided his hands down to her hips and to the band of her underwear. She lifted her hips as he pulled them off, but she didn't let his hand go. Instead, she placed it between her legs.

"Touch me here," she whispered, her cheeks flushing a little bit. "Please."

Nathan actually smirked before he slid his hand between her legs, through her wet folds. Haley gasped and then cried out when he slid a finger into her. Her hips bucked in time with his pumping hand, and when his thumb pressed down on her sensitive numb, she came.

Breathing hard, she leaned down to kiss Nathan. She could feel him hard against her thigh and she pulled back, giving him a questioning look. Knowing what she wanted, Nathan reached into his bedside table and pulled out a condom. He handed it to her, wrapper and all.

Haley pulled the wrapper open with shaking fingers. She bit her bottom lip as she sheathed him with the condom before she raised her hips, positioning herself over him. Keeping her eyes locked on his, she sank down on him. They both groaned as Haley's hips stilled, getting used to the feel of him stretching her in the most delicious way possible.

After a moment, Haley raised her hips again. She put Nathan's hands on her hips and encouraged him to help lift her up. They found their rhythm, breaking the silence with load moans and gasps interspersed with the chanting of each other's names.

It wasn't long before Haley was going over the edge again. Nathan followed her right over and she collapsed on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed a kiss to her forehead as he pulled a blanket over their naked bodies.

Haley woke some time later to the feel of fingers tracing over her tattoo. A moment later, she felt lips on said tattoo. She smiled and looked over her shoulder to see Nathan grinning down at her.

"Morning, sleepy head," he said.

Haley stretched, noting how Nathan watched her appreciatively. "Morning," she said around a yawn. He leaned forward and kissed her bare shoulder, pulling her into his arms again. Haley rested her head on his chest over his beating heart when a thought suddenly occurred to her.

"Nathan," she said quietly. "Did you ever get tested for HCM?"

Nathan tensed under her, and Haley started tracing her fingers on his chest. It was a long time before he relaxed and even longer before he answered her.

"Yeah," he finally said. "It was a fifty-fifty chance. Lucas had it. I didn't."

"Then why did you stop playing? You were amazing last night, Nathan. I can tell that you love it."

Nathan shrugged his shoulders. "A lot of reasons, I suppose. Luke couldn't play anymore. It had always been me and him, you know? Even when we didn't leave with each other anymore. Basketball had always been our thing. It had been hard to play it after Jake… after Jake died, but we managed. When Luke couldn't play, it just didn't seem fair. Jake couldn't Luke, couldn't, but why could I? What made me so special?"

Haley continued to smooth her hands over his chest, trying to offer him comfort. Finally, she said, "Nathan, I can't tell you why you're the only one who can still play basketball. It's… it's just the way life works sometimes, I guess. I don't know why I'm the only one in my family with any musical ability. I don't know why my older sister is the only one who's the only one who is a champion swimmer. My brother is a fantastic artist." Haley dropped a kiss to his chest. "It doesn't mean that it's fair or that it's okay." She traced a heart over his heart. "I just wish that you would realize that you don't have to punish yourself because of what happened to them."

Nathan's arms tightened around Haley. After a long moment, she heard him speak, his voice just above a whisper. "Jake died on the bridge."

Haley sat up and stared down at Nathan in shock. "What?"

"Thirteen years ago." Nathan's eyes closed tightly. "That girl who got her shoes stuck in the track? That was Peyton. And when Jake went back to get her…"

"Oh. Oh my God." Haley pressed a hand to her mouth. Now she understood why Nathan was so obsessed with that bridge. "Nathan. I'm so sorry."

He finally opened his eyes and looked down at her. He gently pulled her forward, pressing his lips to hers. Then he wrapped her in his arms and held on tight. She held him right back.

Author's Note: So there was nice, long-ish chapter for you guys. It had some fluff and some angst. I hope that you all liked it!