Muscle Memory

Chapter 5

HALEY

The city lights blurred past as Nathan drove, his hand warm in mine, his thumb tracing idle circles against my skin. The quiet between us wasn't uncomfortable, but it was charged with anticipation. My heart was still racing from the intensity of our kiss, from the way he had looked at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered. I squeezed his hand, needing the connection, needing to know this was real.

Nathan glanced over at me, a soft smile playing on his lips. "You okay?" he asked, his voice low and intimate, like we were sharing a secret.

I nodded, though my heart was pounding. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just... trying to wrap my head around all this."

"Me too," he admitted, his grip tightening on my hand. "But I know one thing—I'm not letting you go this time, Hales."

The conviction in his voice sent a shiver down my spine. This was Nathan, the same guy I'd known for years, yet there was something different about him now — something more certain, more grounded. I liked it. A lot.

I looked out the window, watching the lights flicker and fade as we moved through the city. "I can't believe this is happening," I said, more to myself than to him.

Nathan squeezed my hand again, bringing my focus back to him. "It's happening," he said firmly. "And I'm not going to screw it up."

I turned to face him, my heart swelling with emotion. "I don't want to mess this up either, Nathan. But I'm scared... scared that we're rushing into something because it feels familiar, because it feels safe."

He pulled the truck to a stop at a red light, turning to look at me fully. "Hales, I get it. I really do. But this... what's happening between us, it's not about going back to what was familiar. It's about starting something new, something we both want."

I searched his eyes, looking for any sign of doubt, but all I saw was sincerity. I took a deep breath, letting his words settle over me. "Okay," I whispered. "Let's see where this goes."

The light turned green, and Nathan's smile widened as he shifted the truck into gear. "That's all I needed to hear."

We drove in comfortable silence for a while longer, the tension between us slowly building again, a magnetic pull that neither of us could ignore. When we finally pulled up to his place, my heart was pounding all over again. I had been here before, years ago, but it felt different now — more intimate, more significant.

Nathan killed the engine and turned to me, his eyes dark and full of intent. "You ready?" he asked, his voice husky, filled with the same need I felt coiling inside me.

I nodded, my breath catching in my throat. "Yeah, I'm ready."

We stepped out of the truck, the cool night air doing little to calm the heat simmering between us. Nathan took my hand, leading me to his front door, the quiet click of the lock as he opened it sounding louder than it should have in the stillness of the night. He pushed the door open, letting me step inside first, and I could feel his presence close behind me, his warmth seeping into my back.

The moment the door clicked shut, everything shifted. Nathan was on me, his lips capturing mine in a kiss that was more intense, more urgent than before. I responded instantly, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him closer, needing to feel every inch of him against me.

"Nathan," I breathed out between kisses, my voice shaky with desire.

"Hales," he murmured, his hands sliding down to my hips, gripping me firmly as he walked us backward, guiding me toward the living room. "I've wanted this for so long... wanted you for so long."