Eye for Love - Natalie & Rafael's First Time

The First Time - Rafe's POV

Claire and Jack are gone now but Claire was definitely insinuating something before they left.  And I've got a pretty good idea about what that is...

"So... what was that?" I asked Nat.  I can tell by her discomfort right now that she knows exactly what Claire meant.

"Just Claire being Claire."

She really is a terrible liar.  But she's even more obvious about that right now.  She's... nervous?

"You know I can tell when you're lying, right?"

Nat takes a deep breath and stammers out a response.  "Claire just seems to think... that you want...". Another deep breath.  "...to sleep with me."

"Where did she get that idea?"  I know she can't read minds.  Since Nat moved back home, my desire for her has been insane.  And it's only gotten worse lately.  Fuck, I want her so bad right now.  And I may not have been as discrete in that as I thought.

"I mean, you almost kissed me last night - at least I think - she doesn't know about that but she does know about what you said yesterday.  Before we went onstage."

All I could manage to say at that point was "Oh... That."  I shouldn't be surprised that Nat told her - they tell each other everything.  But I don't love the idea of Claire knowing how badly I want Nat.  Claire has given us nothing but hell for years and this sure as fuck won't help that.

"She's wrong, right?"

Not in the slightest.  Nat's really perceptive so I'm honestly surprised she didn't pick up on that herself.  Or maybe she did and doesn't want to believe it...

"We said we weren't going to cross lines anymore.  And that's a pretty big line."

It's a big line but can she really deny the sexual tension between us?  Last night at the show, god, she was giving me those "come fuck me" eyes.  But maybe she's in denial about that because she's scared of admitting what she wants to do, too.  Only one way to find out...

"The thought... might... have crossed my mind."  Smooth Rafael.  Stammering is sure to get you laid.

She replies with only one word - "Oh."

Okay, maybe she doesn't want to.

"Don't worry - I'm not going to cross the line.  Unless you... want to?"  Where the hell is my confidence right now?  I've never been this nervous around a woman before - and this is hardly my first time.

"I don't know what I want." She says.  But that look she gave me last night tells a very different story.  And the tone in her voice now gives away her true thoughts.

"Claire keeps getting in my head."  Now that I can believe.

Now there was a pause in the conversation and the tension in the air was thick.  I was starting to feel like I crossed a line by even mentioning my thoughts until Nat took another deep breath and said what I had been hoping to hear all night.

"But the thought has definitely crossed my mind, too."

Definitely.  The thought has definitely crossed her mind.  She uttered those words and I lost all self-control.  I immediately closed the distance between us.  I'm not holding back tonight, not after that word.

I repeat the scene from last night after the show... before I cowardly walked away.  I gently lift her chin so she's gazing into my eyes.

"Natalie..."

"Rafael..."

I usually prefer Rafe.  Even from my exes.  But something about the way it rolled off her tongue in a sultry tone...  When we met, I never imagined Nat would be the one to do this to me but I've come undone.  She wants this as much as I do.