PART VI

"Nathan! We're engaged!" Haley squealed happily as they walked the boardwalk of Myrtle, their arms wrapped tightly around each other.

Nathan laughed, happy to see her so happy. "I know. Does it seem real yet?" The night air clung around them, the sea breeze whipping along the coastline.

Haley turned her head into Nathan's shoulder, her face tilted towards his, her smile wide. "Not yet. But I don't think I could be any happier." She pressed her lips to his, licking softly at his mouth. "I love you."

Nathan smiled against her lips, "I love you too. So much."

Haley pulled away abruptly, stepping in front of him to twirl happily. "We're getting married! Can you believe it?" She spun again her arms stretched over her head.

"I've wanted to marry you for awhile now and I have a hard time believing this came as a complete shock." He smiled again, the mood electric.

Haley smiled wistfully. "Well I had hoped it was coming, so no, it wasn't a shock, but you certainly took me by surprise. A good surprise."

"For once, I get you to admit a surprise can be good." He moved closer, his hands skimming over her hips.

"Oh, I doubt that will be the only time. In fact," she giggled as his fingers roamed beneath her sweater, "a lot of things can be good." She leaned up, stretching completely to meet his lips, hungry for his taste. Nathan's lips met hers instantly, pulling her flush against him as they stood still on the boardwalk, their bodies leaning against the guardrail. Haley felt the rough wood of the fence against her back where Nathan's hands were riding up her sweater, as Nathan's body moved between her legs. She could feel him against her, lean and hard, his back strong under her roaming hands. "God you feel good." Haley nipped at his lips, alternating between teasing kisses and long, soulful embraces, wanting him completely, wanting to celebrate this moment, sear it into her brain.

Nathan pushed back at her, her soft curves meeting him, knowing exactly how she would feel and wanting her even more for it. His hands were all over, forgetting that they were in public, forgetting everything around him as he lost himself in her, in them, in forever. His fingers moved against the smooth skin of her back, moving to finger the strap of her bra, teasing at the clasp. Haley's breath hitched and she bit lightly on his lip, her own hands wandering to the front of his jeans, feeling him hard against the zipper.

The sounds of a group of teenagers giggling had them tearing apart, their breaths shallow and fast, and their pulses racing. Nathan leaned his forehead against hers, letting out a breath shakily. Haley giggled, burying her head in his chest as the crowd passed; embarrassed at almost losing all control, yet relishing in the power it gave her.

She wanted him, here, now, regardless of time or place, maybe even more because of it. Nathan drew in a breath sharply as Haley's hands moved back to his zipper, tracing the outline of him softly. "Hales." His voice came out on a moan.

She looked up at him innocently. "What?"

Nathan struggled for his voice as her fingers continued their exploration, his mind dividing in a thousand different directions. His body longed to join with hers, to feel her hot and wet, surrounding him, while his mind tried to grasp for control, tried to delay them until they could be inside. He stepped back sharply, putting distance between their bodies as he struggled to control his body. Haley's looked at him questioningly.

"We're engaged." Haley looked at him, her face a mixture of confusion and happiness. "I just think the first time we make love as an engaged couple should be special. No matter how much I want you right now, it doesn't seem like the right way to celebrate. I want to be with you, all of you, but not like this. At least, not right now."

Haley's face broke out in an electric grin, her eyes sparkling. "How'd I get so lucky to get a guy like you?" She moved closer to him again, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist.

"Just by being you." Nathan hugged her tightly, the entirety of his world there in his arms.

"Shh! Hales, do you want the whole house to know we're home?" Nathan admonished her quietly as they climbed the rickety old stairs of the Victorian. They had raced home from the boardwalk, eager to be together, and silently thanked God that the lights were all out. But now she seemed to find everything hilarious.

Haley laughed quietly at his tone. "Sorry." She followed him quickly up the stairs, trying to avoid all the old creaky spots that would signal their arrival home.

They made their way into the hallway, the open doorway of their room in plain sight before all the lights of the hallway flicked on and Lydia and Jimmy rushed out of their bedroom. Haley lunged herself at her mother, jumping up and down happily, their squeals resonating in the small hallway.

Jimmy shot a look at Nathan over the heads of his wife and daughter, gave him a grin. Lydia and Haley stood in the center of the hallway, arms wrapped tightly around each other as they cried happily, the octave of their voices rising drastically. Taylor and Quinn popped their heads out of their rooms then, seeing their mother and sister wrapped in a happy embrace, before they ran over to join them. The four women stood in a circle, each trying to talk over one another, grabbing at Haley's hand, admiring the ring. Jimmy and Nathan moved to one side, letting the women talk, Jimmy wrapping an arm around Nathan's shoulders.

"Congratulations, Nate. I would assume by the piercing squeals that Haley said yes."

Nathan laughed at the sight in front of him before looking at Jimmy. "Yeah, she did." He grinned happily.

"Welcome to the family Nate. Are you sure you still want in after witnessing this?" Jimmy gestured to the still hugging women.

Nathan took in the look of sheer joy on Haley's face, "This is my family." Jimmy clapped him on the back appreciatively before the women broke from around Haley and Lydia grabbed Nathan in a tight hug.

"Oh Nathan! I'm so happy for you two!" Her eyes were alight with tears when she pulled back. She grabbed his chin in her hand, brought his face closer to her level. "You're a good man Nathan Scott, and I'm proud to call you a part of this family."

Nathan's face broke out in a grin and he hugged her happily. "Thank you Lydia. That means a lot to me."

"Okay, okay, enough of this lovey family stuff." Taylor spoke up. "We have to let these two celebrate!" She leered at Nathan and then Haley. "Mom, did you bring any earplugs?"

Haley blushed and Nathan groaned, but Lydia just smiled happily. "Of course I did, I sleep with your father, don't I?"

Lydia laughed as Jimmy grabbed her into a bear hug, the four kids grinning. "I think we need to leave these two alone, enjoy your first night as an engaged couple, and ignore Taylor." Jimmy all but shoved his daughters into their rooms before dragging Lydia back into their room, leaving Nathan and Haley alone again.

Haley smiled shyly at Nathan. "Come here." Nathan moved quickly to stand in front of her, his hands pulling at the belt loops of her jeans. He drew her back into their room, closing the door with a resounding click.

The air was cool as the breeze whistled through the cracked window, the room drenched in moonlight. Looking at her there, across from him, Nathan wasn't sure he had ever wanted her as much as did in this moment, knowing she had just agreed to be his wife. They were going to be forever. Nathan had never felt this kind of freedom; knowing that someone loved you so completely that they were promising to be with you forever. It was liberating. She looked at him then, her eyes big and loving, her hair around her face in soft waves. He crossed the room in two long strides to pull her tightly against him, his lips soft and pliant against hers. He licked at her, pulled at her, savoring the taste of her as his hands fisted in her hair, kept her mouth tight against his. Their tongues met sweetly, the easiness of being together settling around them. He wanted this to be slow and sweet, for them to remember each and every single detail. He wanted to take her, feel her reach her breaking point, to take her over and over, to join them completely.

Haley's hands locked around his waist, pulling their hips together, his erection digging into her, her hips moving to sway against him. Nathan pushed them back, Haley's legs hitting the edge of the bed before he pushed them back, his body covering hers completely. He was on top of her, over her, around her as their mouths continued to take slow, deliberate kisses, even as their hands rushed to feel skin. Haley's hands trailed up his stomach, scratching at the hair that disappeared into his jeans before she pushed the cotton of his polo up, giving her a view of his tanned chest. Haley broke her mouth from his, fastening her lips against his chest, pushing him back to move over him.

Nathan looked at her then, his eyes struggling to stay open as Haley's mouth closed around his nipple, biting at him with her teeth. His hands fisted in the bedspread beneath him as Haley's mouth continued to swirl around his nipple, her teeth and tongue pulling at him, his hips arching to feel more, to take more control. His hands moved to the bottom of her sweater, impatient to see more of her, to feel more of her. Haley stopped, sat up to flash him a grin, before pulling her sweater off completely. Nathan grinned back, his hands automatically flicking over her nipples, watching her head fall back, her lids closing heavily. He felt her through the satin of her bra, loving the feel of her in his palm, but wanting to feel her completely, to feel her soft and hot flesh in his hands. Nathan sat up abruptly, his mouth diving for hers as she sat low on his hips, his mouth no longer slow and sweet but instead demanding and forceful, as his hand worked the clasp of her bra. The satin fell away, the rosy shade of her nipples all he could focus on. He gave her one slow smile before his mouth descended and he feasted.

Haley responded instinctively, her head falling back, the column of her neck long and lean. She drew in a shaky breath, exhaling it on a long soulful moan as Nathan's hands splayed across her back to pull her even further into his mouth, his tongue lashing around her. Haley's hips moved rhythmically, grinding against his painfully as the pulls of his teeth and tongue echoed lower. She wanted to feel him inside her, filling her, stretching her. She wanted him long and hard, slow and steady, completely. She felt a frenzy of emotions within her, never wanting him to overtake her so completely, as she did now.

Nathan let go of one nipple before moving to take the other, knowing how Haley relished in this kind of attention, how she responded. He felt her jerk against him once, her body bucking wildly against his mouth and hands, her own hands moving in between them to undo the button of his jeans. Nathan's head snapped up to lock gazes with her, his hands moving to her hips, to lift her. She got on her knees then, dragging down the zipper of his jeans, pulling the denim around his hips, freeing his erection for the constraints of his pants, before taking his jeans off completely.

She smiled wickedly, standing to lower the zipper of her own pants, loving the way his eyes stayed on her, his mouth hungry for her. Kicking her jeans to the side, her fingers ran along the band of her panties, his body pulsing at the sight of her.

His words were rough, his eyes dark. "Come here." Haley moved towards him again, her hands running along the lines of his chest and shoulders, while his mouth placed open kisses between her breasts. His hands caressed her, his thumb flicking back and forth across her nipple, as Haley moved her hands flexed on his shoulder. Pushing him back against the bed, hovering above him, watching his eyes take him in, Haley moved her hand into his boxers, pulling the cotton from around him to take him in her hand. Nathan's head flew back against the pillows as he felt her hot hand slide along the length of him, feeling him rigid and strong against her hand. She bent her head low, her hair playing against his thighs as her breath fluttered across his head. He strained to keep his hips still, to let her take him into her mouth, while his instincts longed to push himself up, to feel her mouth warm and wet around him, a preview to her soft folds.

Haley gave him one last look, saw the strain and restraint in his features before she dipped her head lower and took him in completely. Her mouth ran along the length of him, her teeth scraping at the hard flesh. Nathan gasped loudly, his hips bucking slightly, Haley taking more of him within her mouth. She began to move up and down in a slow bob, her hair swinging, and layering around her face. Nathan pried his eyes open, a shock of feelings racing within him, but he wanted to see her face. Wanted to see what she was doing to him, the emotions she sent hurtling inside him. He reached out to tuck the hair behind her ear, only pausing her efforts briefly before she went back to tasting him. She ran her teeth back up, biting at the tip of him before her tongue darted out to lick at the moisture that had collected there.

Her hands moved lower, cupping him in her hand, slowly caressing him as his moans grew louder, his body straining to keep himself feeling this longer. She took him in her mouth again fully, her mouth continuing to lick and suck, the pressure of her hands on him had him losing all control, his body jolting, his hips bucking into her wildly as he emptied himself completely. His arm thrown over his eyes, his chest heaved as he felt her move over him, her body hot as she came to sit on his hips, the moisture of her soaking through her panties.

Nathan opened his eyes then, saw the smirk across her face, before pulling her down to kiss her, to taste himself on her lips. He rolled them over, cradling her beneath him, his hands moving to scratch at her belly, his tongue running low across her. His hands moved to feel her through her panties, felt the silk wet through, his fingertips running along her opening as she gasped loudly. She moved under him, wanting to feel him, he raised her hips up, hoping to feel the pleasure he had felt only mere moments before. Moving his fingertips beneath the band of her panties he inched the satin down, her curls hiding those soft folds.

Settling himself between her thighs, he gave her his trademark smirk before his mouth descended on her flesh, his tongue circling the inner most part of her. Haley gasped, a million flashes of light exploding beneath her eyelids, her hands fisting in his hair, keeping him hard against him. She could feel his tongue circling, sucking low on her, his breath hot. He moved his hands along her thighs, feeling her skin quiver under his touch as his tongue licked at her clit, felt her reach the edge, her passion breaking beneath him.

"Nathan!" His name came out on a long moan, her voice rough with passion and longing.

Nathan raised his head slightly, his eyes locking on hers. "You taste so good Hales." His fingers moved within her, flicking at the sensitive bud at the core of her. She seized again, her hips bucking wildly and she wrestled with the tight fist of pleasure low in her belly.

"I want you Nathan. Now. Fill me." She spoke on ragged breaths, the need to feel him inside her completely overtaking her.

He didn't need to hear that twice, but longed to join with her in the same ferocity as she did. He raised her hips, pausing only to kiss her long and hard before he slid into her, his body like velvet steel. Haley's soft folds clenched around him instantly, responding to the feel of him against her; his body rubbing against hers. Haley's mind overloaded in the feelings, her body moving automatically in their rhythm; his body hard against hers as his fingers locked with hers. She moved her hips, changing the angle and Nathan drove in deeper, pushing himself to the hilt, the colors behind his eyes growing luminescent. They were driving to the brink, filling up on each other as their bodies slid against one another, the sweat a slight cover to their skin. Nathan trailed a hand between them, feeling the skin of her belly before moving a finger within her, pressing on her clit with his thumb, feeling her become unhinged around him.

Her body bucked, moved, pulsed around him and he felt her center milk him as she rode the wave of ecstasy. Haley's moans were loud in his ears, spurring him on as he continued to drive into her, his body sinking in completely, losing himself in the rhythm. Another spasm ripped through her body and this time he joined her, his body losing control, pushing harder and faster, awaiting that release. He pushed in hard, Haley grabbing his butt and pulling him in completely and he felt his body rock, felt him lose everything in that one moment.

Nathan kept moving, kept pounding Haley into the bed, wanting to keep the feeling going, wanting the connection to continue. Haley's hand trailed along his back, feel him slow and settle between her thighs, his body resting on hers completely.

His weight was upon her, the solid length of him pinning her to the bed and Haley turned her face into his neck to kiss him, to taste the salt of his sweaty skin. Nathan breathed heavily into the bed, his body relaxed under her hands.

"I love you Nathan." She whispered quietly, her mouth mere inches from his ear. She felt him shift, felt his head turn to kiss her jaw.

"I love you too Hales." He moved slightly, knowing his weight was too much for her.

She grabbed at him, stilling him. "No, stay. I like feeling you." She nestled into him, enjoying the hot feel of him on top of her. "You were right, you know?" She angled her head to look him in the eye.

"I often am." His breathing slowed, his body relaxing, sinking into the aftershocks of pleasure. "What was I right about this time?" He raised himself on his elbows to see her better.

"That we should celebrate being engaged. This was a lot better than anything on that boardwalk could have been." Nathan shifted, moving onto his side, pulling her even with him.

He kissed her sweetly, licking at her lips. "Well I think we'd have to experience it on the boardwalk in order to make a fair comparison. But I'd have to say that was pretty damn hot." He chuckled against her neck.

Haley snuggled, the breeze from the still open window causing goose bumps to break out along her sweat laced skin. Nathan pulled the sheet up around them, burrowing them in, his arms tight around her as he settled into the sheets. Haley's hand moved to play with the hair that fell across Nathan's forehead.

"I can't wait to start out life together Nathan. I've wanted this since I was sixteen, and now that it's really here. I just can't wait."

Nathan smiled. "Me either. But you know, we have been living our life together for the last five years. Especially after we moved in together."

"I know. But this time we're making a commitment in front of our friends and family. We're promising to be together forever. We're choosing each other. Doesn't that make it more?" Her eyes sought out his.

"We've always been more. You've always been more to me than anyone else in my life. And you're right. I love you more everyday, and I can't wait to really start out lives together. As Mr. and Mrs. Scott."

"Mrs. Scott." Haley sang happily. "Haley Scott. That has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"

"Like it was made for you." Nathan kissed her sweetly, his mouth pecking at hers.

"You are so sweet." Haley moved straighter in bed. "We have so many people to call. Luke and Peyton. Karen. Brooke. I can't wait to tell everyone. How many people did you tell?"

"Just Luke and Peyton. They helped pick out the ring. And I did promise them we'd call them, but that can wait." He closed his eyes.

Haley moved on, ignoring his request for sleep. "Oh and we have so many things to plan. We have to pick a date. And I have to pick a maid of honor. Do you think I have to pick one of my sisters, or could I pick Peyton? I don't want Quinn or Taylor to get mad. And what do you think about a church wedding, or outdoors. We seem like more outdoors people, don't we?" She began to ramble on, her mind moving a mile a minute.

"Hales." Nathan tried to cut in, his efforts fruitless.

"What do you think about a summer wedding? June is a popular month. But what if it's really hot and then you're stuck in a tux and it's like 100 degrees out. And the humidity! Oh, you know how that puffs up my hair. I don't want bad hair in all our pictures."

"Hales!" His shout brought her out of her reverie, her eyes questioning.

"Sorry." She shrugged sheepishly. "I guess we have time to figure all that out, don't we?"

"Yeah. And we'll figure it all out. Don't worry, it'll be perfect.

Haley snuggled into his chest, feeling his arms move around her. "I love you Nathan."

"I love you too, future Mrs. Scott."

She giggled again. "Mrs. Scott."

Nathan laughed, feeling the power of their love surround them. His eyes grew heavy as he heard her breaths slow and even. Haley and him, together. It was a real fine place to start.

The End

Look for the final part of the trilogy- the wedding, in What Love Really Means