His name was Nathaniel

66

The weight of the evening had finally settled, leaving the apartment quiet and still. Nathaniel sat on the couch beside Adaliya, his breathing steady now, his earlier tears long gone. His face, though still flushed from the emotions, was calm, his usual composure slowly returning. His cheeks had taken on a soft rosy hue, and the quietness in his demeanor reminded Adaliya of a child—a fragile, vulnerable side of Nathaniel she had never seen before.

She found herself smiling to herself, stealing glances at him as he sat there, looking almost too innocent for someone who had just poured out his deepest fears. He looked peaceful, almost like he had let go of some of the weight he had been carrying.

Nathaniel noticed her smile and raised an eyebrow. "What?" he asked, his voice softer now.

Adaliya shook her head, the smile still on her face. "Nothing... You just seem so... quiet. And your cheeks are all red."

Nathaniel chuckled lightly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, well... I guess crying does that."

They sat in a comfortable silence for a moment, the tension from earlier finally ebbing away. But as the night grew darker, Adaliya knew that Nathaniel would have to leave soon. And for some reason, the thought of him leaving felt heavier than it should.

"How long are you staying?" she asked quietly, already knowing the answer would disappoint her.

Nathaniel sighed, glancing at the time. "I have to leave tomorrow morning. I've got a meeting back in the city."

Adaliya's heart sank a little, though she tried not to show it. She nodded, understanding that his responsibilities pulled him in so many directions. Still, the thought of him leaving so soon after their emotional breakthrough left her feeling... hesitant.

She bit her lip, debating with herself for a moment before finally speaking up. "You know, if you want... you could stay here tonight."

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by her offer. "Stay here?"

"In my bed, I mean," Adaliya clarified, feeling her cheeks warm with nervousness. "... I mean, just to sleep. If you don't want to leave yet."

Nathaniel studied her for a second. "Are you sure?"

Adaliya nodded, her heart fluttering in her chest. "Yeah, I'm sure."

Nathaniel's face softened into a warm smile, and he nodded. "Alright. If you don't mind, I'll stay."

Despite her outward calmness, Adaliya felt her nerves spike. She had never been this close to a man, let alone shared a bed with one, and even though this was just Nathaniel, her heart raced at the thought.

Nathaniel stood up, stretching his arms above his head before casually reaching for the hem of his shirt. Adaliya froze as he pulled his shirt over his head, revealing the lean, sculpted muscles of his chest and abdomen. His body had become more defined and Adaliya could only stare in a mix of awe and panic as he undressed without a second thought, leaving himself in just his boxers. How tables have turned

Nathaniel, completely unaware of the effect he was having, neatly placed his shirt and pants aside and glanced at her. "Everything alright?" he asked, noticing her sudden silence.

Adaliya snapped out of her trance, quickly looking away as her cheeks burning with embarrassment, thanks to her darker complexion he wasn't able to see the embarrassment in her face.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine," she stammered, trying to play it cool. But the image of his sculpted body was now permanently etched in her mind, and she could feel the butterflies in her stomach fluttering wildly.

Nathaniel shrugged, completely oblivious to her flustered state, and walked over to the bed. He pulled back the covers and slid in, settling against the pillows as if this were the most normal thing in the world.

Adaliya stood frozen for a moment longer, trying to regain her composure. It's just Nathaniel, she told herself. Just sleep. Nothing more. But the nervous excitement that surged through her was hard to ignore.

With a deep breath, she climbed into the bed beside him, trying to act as natural as possible. The bed felt impossibly small now that they were both in it, and Adaliya's heart raced as Nathaniel shifted closer to her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her gently into him. He spooned her, his chest pressed against her back, his body warm and solid.

Her breath caught in her throat, her mind racing. This kind of closeness was foreign to her, and yet, it felt... comforting. She could feel his breath on the back of her neck, the steady rise and fall of his chest against her, and though it made her pulse quicken, there was something undeniably peaceful about it.

Nathaniel, seemingly unaware of the storm of emotions swirling inside her, murmured softly, half-asleep already. "I've never done this before," he admitted, his voice low and groggy. "Being this close to someone."

Adaliya's heart softened at his words. "Me neither," she whispered, a smile tugging at her lips despite her nerves.

The room fell into a comfortable silence again, but just as Adaliya started to relax, Nathaniel's sleepy voice broke the quiet.

"You know," he mumbled, his words slurred with exhaustion, "I'd love for you to carry my children someday."

Adaliya's eyes widened in shock, her entire body stiffening at his words. His children? Her mind raced as she processed what he had just said. Did he really mean that? Her heart pounded in her chest, and she couldn't stop the flurry of questions that suddenly flooded her mind.

"What did you just say?" she asked quietly, turning her head slightly to look at him.

But when she glanced back, Nathaniel's eyes were closed, his breathing deep and steady. He had already fallen asleep, completely oblivious to the bombshell he had just dropped.

Adaliya lay there, staring at him in disbelief, her mind spinning. His words echoed in her ears, and though they surprised her, she couldn't help the small smile that crept onto her face.

Butterflies fluttered wildly in her stomach as she settled back into the bed, Nathaniel's arm still wrapped protectively around her. She didn't know what tomorrow would bring, or what his words truly meant, but for now, she allowed herself to enjoy the closeness they shared.

As the night wore on, Adaliya closed her eyes, letting herself drift off to sleep, her heart still fluttering with the weight of Nathaniel's sleepy confession.