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Staking Her Claim - COMPLETED!	By : pensfan100 Category: Casts RPF > Star Wars (all) > Star Wars (all) Views: 8994 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I do not know the people I am writing about in this fanfiction. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
Title: Staking Her Claim
Author: pensfan100
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Natalie takes drastic measures to claim what’s hers.
Disclaimer: No money involved here. Just plain old daydreaming!

Chapter Five

Natalie glanced around the lobby before scurrying to the registration desk. Even though it was barely daybreak and the lobby was empty she wasn’t taking any chances. She knew Hayden had been looking for her late last night and her cell phone registered numerous missed calls from him. Finally, she’d shut off her phone and buried herself snugly under her covers, a smile on her face as she basked in the knowledge he was after her.

Sneaking to the desk she leaned over and tapped the shoulder of the erstwhile desk clerk, and her partner in crime. Spinning around he greeted her with a huge smile.

“Hel…mmph!”

“Shh!” Natalie cautioned in a stage whisper, gingerly removing her hand from his mouth and fixing him with a warning glare. “Do you want to wake up the whole hotel?”

“Oh. Sorry!” He whispered back. “How’s it going?”

“Is my taxi here?”

“Should be outside waiting for you,” he grinned. “Need any help with your bags?”

Natalie glanced down at the small case with a wry grin. “No. But here.” Rifling in her pocket she extracted a white envelope and handed it to the curious clerk. “Please make sure Hayden gets this. It’s very important that he doesn’t leave this hotel without getting this, LaRue.”

“No problem,” LaRue broke in to another toothy grin. “I’ll put it right here in his message box this very second. See? He can’t get out of here without getting it. This is fun. Very cloak and dagger. If my boss saw me doing this he’d have my hide! I love it.”

The two snickered and Natalie extended her hand.

“Thanks, LaRue. I won’t forget your help,” Natalie smiled. “I’m going to owe you big time.”

LaRue grinned back. “I don’t know why, but you’re welcome all the same. Tell me, does he have any clue about what’s going on?”

Natalie threw back her head and laughed. “Oh, he has a clue all right. See ya.”

LaRue waved as she hurried across the lobby and out the door to the waiting taxi. When she was gone, he turned and stared a moment at the stark white envelope poking out of the room box, curiosity eating him alive. She was beautiful and funny and smart and…

“I sure hope this guy is smart enough to not let that one get away,” LaRue murmured to himself.

“Who?”

Startled, LaRue jumped, his head whipping around to find his morning replacement strolling up to him.

“Oh, nothing,” LaRue shrugged, remembering his promise to keep quiet. “Glad you’re here. I’m so tired I think I could sleep propped against the counter. Listen,” he pointed to the message box, “make sure that the guy in Room 515 gets that envelope. It’s important.”

“No problem,” his coworker shrugged. “I haven’t lost one yet.”

“Well, there are two in the room. Hayden is the one to get the envelope, not Tove. Got that?”

“Sure.”

LaRue yawned, visions of his bed beckoning, his eyes already drooping now that his shift was over.

“I promised he would get it.”

“He’ll get it! Give me a break. I have never messed up. If he doesn’t come down, I’ll call the room and leave a message.”

“All right,” LaRue nodded, knowing he could trust Daniel. He was so dedicated to his job that LaRue found it easy to kid him about it. Fortunately, Daniel was good-natured and just took it in stride. They had a good working relationship because the competition to be the best kept them sharp. LaRue knew he wouldn’t let him down. “Good night.”

“Uh, good morning.”

“Whatever.”

“Excuse me.”

LaRue looked over the counter at the blonde, assessing immediately she was not in a nice mood. Her curvy body encased in a white halter top and lime green short shorts LaRue gaped a moment then took in the pouty mouth and narrowed eyes and straightened.

“Sorry. May I help you?”

“I’m checking out. Call me a taxi for the airport. I have a plane to catch.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And stop calling me ma’am! I’m not an old lady,” Skylin groused, tossing her head.

“Yes, ma’am…I mean lady…” At the glare, LaRue stammered more. “I mean…” Frantically, he searched the screen. “Ms. Martin. The first plane out leaves at 7…”

“I’m well aware of that,” Skylin snapped. “It won’t be that long of a wait. Just get a taxi here.”

LaRue glanced at Daniel who nodded as he set the phone receiver back in its cradle.

“It will be here momentarily.” When she didn’t thank him, LaRue continued. “I hope you enjoyed your stay with us.”

Skylin snorted. “Huh! Not likely! This has been the worst vacation ever!”

Horrified, LaRue gasped. “I am so sorry!”

“It’s not the hotel, so stop worrying,” she grumbled.

The bellman signaled to the desk that the taxi was there then turned and wheeled her luggage outside.

“Your taxi is here, ma…uh, Ms. Martin.”

Skylin turned away and headed for the door, her steps ginger and stiff. Every other step echoed with a groan and LaRue and Daniel watched silently as on stiletto high heeled sandals she inched her way across the lobby floor. Eyebrows raised in question, they looked at one another and shrugged.

“She walks like an old woman,” LaRue whispered.

“Who cares?” Daniel whispered back. “She’s built like a Greek goddess!”

“I wonder what happened?”

“Too much of a good thing apparently,” Daniel nodded decisively.

“Windsurfing.” They chorused, nodding sagely. And with that, turned back to their work, LaRue’s mind drifting once again to the bed that awaited him.

***

It was easy to get checked in and settled. Natalie smiled to herself as she thought of how many times it seemed she’d done it already. Only a couple times in and out of this airport, but memories of her first entry now filled her thoughts. That first day she had teetered back and forth mulling over her rash, but determined plans, her stomach somersaulting at the realization of what she intended to do. There wasn’t much to go on…a few phrases spoken, a smile in her direction. Her lips tilted into a ghost of a smile as her hand slipped into her pocket and felt the smooth, flat stone, slip easily over her fingers. Hayden had gone hiking one weekend when they had been filming Revenge of the Sith in Sydney and grinned at her as he strolled into the makeup room, his eyes still heavy with sleep. Even though she had been in a committed relationship her stomach had done that curious flip it seemed to always do when he focused that smile her way.

“You certainly look happy for such an early call time,” Natalie remarked, smiling back at him as Sharon fussed with the curls of her wig.

“Do I?” He countered, throwing himself into the seat next to her, swiveling it in her direction.

“Yes, you do,” she had teased. “Had a hot date this weekend again?”

Hayden had thrown his head back and laughed. “Hardly. I mean, not that it wouldn’t have been hot, but I went hiking with Nick and Jerry on Saturday and had a blast! I didn’t know rock climbing could be so strenuous. Froze my tail off, but it was worth it. Wait till you see the pictures I took. Absolutely beautiful.”

Natalie had laughed as he’d rambled on, glad inside that the shy, quiet boy she’d first met had stepped out of his shell for her and shown her what an amazing person he was.

“Oh!” Hayden had sat up straight, fishing in his pants pocket, a mischievous grin on his face. “I forgot. I have something for you.”

“Really? What? A diamond necklace?”

Hayden had pulled a face at their long standing joke. Their first time in Sydney they had spent a lot of time together to ease themselves into their roles, deciding hanging out would strengthen their chemistry on the screen. One evening they had sat up playing cards into the wee hours of the morning and somehow got into a discussion about birthdays and gifts. The more expensive the gifts, the less personal they seemed.

“Tell you what,” Hayden had grinned as she rolled her eyes over the diamond necklace a boy from Harvard had given her, “I’ll never give you anything for your birthday that costs more than ten dollars. If I can get it for free, I will. That way, you’ll know I put a lot of thought into it.”

The idea of trying to outdo one another with thoughtfulness as cheap as they could get it warmed her heart and she’d readily agreed to the challenge. But, he’d scored first when he’d given her the photos he’d taken and painted of her. The thought and realization of the time and effort he’d put into it instead of the money meant more to her than anything she’d ever gotten from a guy before. It had been extra hard to find something for him, but she’d finally taken to rummaging through yard sales in her parents’ neighborhood and found an old hockey stick. It cost her a whole fifty cents. With careful planning, she’d managed to attend a Rangers/Maple Leafs game at Madison Square Garden and gotten the Leafs to sign it for her. Hayden, knowing that she knew little about hockey, nor cared to find out in spite of his goal to educate her, was thrilled. And so the contest had begun.

Curiously, Natalie watched him pull his fist out of his pocket.

“Now,” he had leaned forward, “I have looked high and low for a birthday gift for you and I’m a few weeks late, but when I saw this, I immediately thought of you.”

Hayden had reached for her hand and opened her palm. Slowly, he relaxed his fingers and laid a light blue oblong, smooth, robin’s egg stone in her hand, speckled with dark blue chips. For a long, quiet moment she’d stared at it, turning it over and over in her palm, the glassy smooth texture soothing to her skin.

“It’s a wishing stone,” Hayden had cleared his throat when she’d been silent too long. “Now you’ll never need to wait for birthday candles when you need a wish.”

Over and over, Natalie had turned the stone, the lump in her throat at his determination to stay true to their pact stinging tears in the back of her eyes. Lifting sparkling eyes to his, she’d shaken her head at him and given him a watery smile that erased the worried crease of his brow.

“It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever gotten, Hayden,” Natalie had declared when she could trust herself to speak. Leaning towards him in spite of Sharon’s clucking at her to sit still she’d hugged him tightly around the neck. “Thank you. You always give me the best gifts.”

As she ran her hands over the texture of the stone she remembered wishing on it repeatedly through her plane trip to the Caribbean. It had been a horrible gamble to be so bold, but their last phone call before the awards had left her with an epiphany of what had been happening to her little by little ever since they’d met. Frantically, she’d arranged their seating for the awards show only to be thwarted by an overblown, ambitious starlet who was ready to take advantage of Hayden’s recent trip to the ‘partyside’. Desperate measures to save him and claim what was rightfully hers had driven her to do something she would have never believed herself capable of. Her gamble had paid off and victory was close at hand.

“Well, well, well,” a saccharine voice dripped over her shoulder. “Leaving so soon?”

The voice grated over her spine like fingernails on a chalkboard. Turning, Natalie looked up at her nemesis.

“Yes, I have things to do,” Natalie smiled at Skylin. “You’re leaving, too?”

Skylin pasted a tight-lipped smile to her face and tossed her hair back. “Yes, I have an audition my agent insists I go to. It’s for a movie with Brad Pitt and he wants me to read for the female lead. Says I’m perfect for it! I wasn’t going to go, but Hayden insisted I not miss such a chance just because of him. Poor baby. But he’ll be home soon and we’ll be together in no time.”

Fingers clenched around the stone. Liar.

I wish you’d go, you lying bleached, booby witch.

“That’s nice,” Natalie nodded. “Good luck.”

“Thank you.”

“I suppose Hayden has work to do still on one of the islands.”

Skylin’s head reared back an inch and she looked at Natalie in confusion. “How did you know about that?”

Natalie smiled sweetly. “Oh, I saw him on one of the other islands. He certainly works hard to get what he wants.”

A flicker of doubt crossed Skylin’s perfect features. “You saw him?”

“Hard not to. He was all over the place.”

Skylin’s head jerked as an announcement blared over the loudspeaker.

“Oh! That’s my flight! Well, goodbye. I hope we meet again sometime. I’m sure we will since we both have Hayden in common.”

Natalie bit her tongue, the cool stone in her palm calming her. She smiled.

“Have a good flight.”

“Thank you. Bye.”

As Skylin limped to the gate, Natalie allowed a victory grin to stretch her mouth.

“Well,” she breathed aloud to herself, “too much windsurfing will do that to a novice.” Natalie watched Skylin drag herself onto the plane and stood at the window until the plane taxied away and lifted into the crystal blue sky. “Over my dead body you’ll come near Hayden again. Bitch.” A man standing nearby at the window glanced over at her talking to herself. She threw him a jaunty smile. “Beautiful day, isn’t it?” And, humming happily to herself, turned the stone over once more and walked to her gate, a happy bounce to each step.

***

“Hayden, you have to go!” Tove exclaimed yet again. “You heard Marty! They want you on this picture!”

Hayden shrugged and threw the rest of his clothes in his suitcase.

“Hayden! Don’t be stupid! She’s just a girl! You can see her when she gets back to the States!”

Hayden’s hands stilled, his body frozen in motion. “She is not just a girl,” his voice clipped, eyes on his suitcase. “How many times do I have to tell you that?”

Tove sighed and ran agitated fingers through his hair. “I know she’s not just a girl. Forget I said that. But she’d understand the enormity of this chance, wouldn’t she?”

“See this paper?” Hayden whirled on his brother, shoving the paper in his face. “She left this for me earlier today. She’s gone.”

“Gone? You didn’t tell me that! If she’s gone, then you can go to LA and find her right after the meeting. Hell, take a red eye to New York! I don’t care. What is it?” Tove asked as Hayden shook his head.

“She’s still in the Caribbean, Tove,” Hayden explained, folding the paper into his pocket. “And she’s waiting for me.”

“How do you know? That paper had no words on it. Just numbers.”

“Coordinates.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing,” Hayden sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed, shoulders slumping. “Tove, I have to do this. I know work is important. You don’t have to keep badgering me about it. But, she is more important to me than work.”

“It’s only been a week…”

“It’s been years,” Hayden interrupted, his voice low as if speaking to only himself. “I realize that now and I’m not going to LA.”

“But…”

“I said…I’m. Not. Going. Now, if you want to get in a fistfight about it, fine. But short of knocking me unconscious you’re not getting me there.”

Tove searched the dark, angry flush on Hayden’s face, his voice soft as if he was afraid of startling a deer. “Are you in love with her?”

The quiet question screamed through Hayden’s soul. Confused, he looked at the floor. Was he? Was there a time when he wasn’t? Was she stringing him along? No, he felt she wasn’t. Without a doubt his heart knew this was deeper. The first time they’d met triggered an invisible connection that had transferred itself onto the screen and made friendship with her so easy. But there were unanswered questions that he couldn’t hide from any longer. And those answers scared him for they could make or break what he had with her. But they had to be answered and he couldn’t put it off any longer.

“If I am, it is her business, not yours,” Hayden looked up at Tove. “I can’t do anything until Nat and I settle this once and for all.”

“You sound scared,” Tove sat down on the bed beside his little brother.

“I am scared. Scared as hell,” Hayden choked a laugh. “Because when the dust clears I will either be the happiest guy on the planet or the emptiest. Now that I think about it, I can’t believe she was brave enough to come down here and…well, you know. It has to mean something, but what? It’s time for me to face my own questions and begin or end this once and for all. You’ve got to understand. I can’t explain it any better. I need your support, not your resistance.”

Long moments ticked by as they sat side by side in silence, Tove digesting Hayden’s words. Business was business and this was too good to pass up, but it was clear Hayden was going to walk away. For him to do that, his feelings went far deeper than Tove had realized.

“Ok, fine,” Tove sighed, leaning his hands on his knees. “You need to call your agent. He’s not going to be happy about this. We might lose the whole deal to produce the picture. You realize that?”

“I don’t give a damn. It may be selfish, but I just don’t care.”

Tove nodded. “All right. You’d better get on the phone. You’re going to be on it a while trying to smooth all the feathers you’re going to ruffle. Roger Delahaye is not a director to be trifled with, but if you’re willing to take that chance, I’ll stand by you.”

“Thanks, Tove,” Hayden stood up and hugged his brother.

“I just hope it works out for you in the end.”

“So do I,” Hayden murmured, “so do I.”

***

In the distance the crash of waves breaking to shore lulled her body, even as her mind zipped in frustrated anxiety. Natalie checked her watch mentally noting it was only a minute later than the last time she had checked it. Hands raked through her hair as she jumped to her feet and paced.

Where was he? Shouldn’t he have on Antigua by now? Soon the sun would be setting and he’d had all day to find her and get here! Was it possible he wasn’t coming? Had he decided to chase Skylin down and apologize after what that conniving little witch had pulled? Did something important call him away? If so, wouldn’t he have phoned her? She jerked the cell phone out of her pocket and peered at the screen. No calls missed. She’d been checking for hours, her finger hovering over his number constantly while she dithered back and forth whether to call him or not. Had she overplayed her hand? Had she left things between them until it was too late?

Over and over as time stretched on the doubts and fears tumbled through her thoughts, her stomach in constant upheaval dampening her appetite for food even as her stomach protested with a fierce growl. The thought of food nauseated. If Hayden didn’t show up soon…

“Where are you?” Natalie whispered to the silent room. Tramping over to the window, she looked out at the beautiful sunset, the setting postcard perfect. It would be perfect, if Hayden were here. “Oh, who are you kidding, Nat. You two wouldn’t even be looking at the stupid sun!”

A ragged sigh rushed from her. Retracing earlier steps, she paced into the bedroom of the little villa, threw herself on the bed and stared at the ceiling. As the incessant thoughts tormented her she turned her head, eyes catching sight of the wishing stone on the little night stand. Rolling over she picked it up and flung herself on her back, holding the smooth talisman above her. Fingers rolled it over and over and childishly she closed her eyes.

“I wish Hayden would get here soon,” she murmured. “I wish he were here right now. I wish I wasn’t so worked up. Please bring him here. I wish…”

Her soft voice trailed off. Natalie shook her head at her nonsense and rolled onto her side away from the sight of the sunset and looked at the wall, the stone resting in her upturned palm, the whoosh of the surf drifting through the open patio doors. She forced her mind away from her thoughts and concentrated on happier times with him. Eventually, the memories lured her into an exhausted doze as the sun raced to quench the ocean’s thirst for another day.
***

“Thanks,” Hayden slapped the money in the driver’s palm as he jumped out of the taxi, lugging his suitcase behind him so it bumped against the door.

“Hey, be careful, man,” the driver’s brown face broke into a wide smile. “This is my living!”

“Sorry,” came the sheepish apology.

“You sure are in a hurry.”

Impatient eyes strayed to the villa door as Hayden listened to the man with a distracted ear. The man chuckled.

“Sure must be important.”

Hayden struggled to look back at the driver. “Very important.” Unable to help it, he grinned.

“Ah!” The man nodded with a laugh. “A beautiful woman.”

“A VERY beautiful woman,” Hayden agreed heartily.

“And a very impatient young man,” the driver laughed. “Enjoy your stay!”

“Thanks.”

The driver pulled away, his laughter fading with the breeze coming in from the ocean, but Hayden had forgotten all about him as his long strides ate up the ground and he reached the door. The phone calls, the angry egos, it all added up to hours of wasted time. It had taken forever, or so it seemed, to extricate himself from the wishes of others, but he’d done it. Marty wasn’t used to being told no by Hayden, but he had glimpsed another side of him, one that would not budge. Finally, when Hayden couldn’t take it anymore, he’d said, fine, but I won’t be there, and hung up.

The director, on the other hand, practically looked down his nose at Hayden clear from California but Hayden stood firm. He apologized and told the director he would understand if the director chose to use another actor, but it was just impossible for him to meet with him at this time. It was personal, and nothing would drag him away from it. From the way the call ended, Hayden had a sneaking suspicion the guy had actually been impressed with Hayden instead of ticked off. Go figure.

The ocean swallowed the sun with a gulp and in the sudden twilight, Hayden yanked the key out of his pocket. Clumsy fingers finally inserted it into the keyhole. Quiet and smooth, the deadbolt released and the door gave way. He stepped into the dim interior, his suitcase trailing behind him.

Loathe to turn on any lights, Hayden kicked his shoes off and moved with caution through the small, but airy villa, his barefeet quiet on the tiled floors. Overhead, ceiling fans circled in lazy rhythms and he shook his head as he considered the discrepancy of a locked front door but open windows. Still, the sea breeze filtering through was refreshing, its caress stimulating to his senses. Inside, his heart thumped a little out of beat, the stresses of the phone calls and the mystery surrounding Natalie’s actions wearing on him, tearing at his mental fiber, even though all the signs pointed in the positive direction. After recent events how could he ever go back to being ‘just friends’ with her?

What am I doing? He chastised himself as he found the closed door he assumed was the bedroom. Things have been great. Why am I psyching myself out like this? I have no reason to believe things will suddenly take a 180. Squaring his shoulders, he turned the doorknob and walked into the bedroom.

***

What was left of the twilight was rapidly fading into night, but the moon rising high promised to light his way. The silhouette of the figure on the bed compelled him closer and, heart in throat, he stopped beside the bed and gazed down at Natalie, her chest rising and falling in slow, even breaths. A faint smile touched his lips at the sight. One hand rested over her hip, the other palm up beside her cheek, the fingers lightly curled inwards. Tendrils of silky hair brushed over her cheek and with a finger, Hayden wound them around his finger and lifted them away.

Moonlight dusted her shoulders with a luminescent glow, smoothing them to a pale gold and his fingers itched to graze the silky skin. A gauzy peach nightgown, etched with a smattering of flowers clung lovingly to her petite form, the tiny spaghetti straps barely holding it in place, the shadowed cleavage inviting his attention.

His body stirred in swift, desperate need and he shook his head. How was any human male supposed to resist this naughty angel? She had bewitched him. He was sure of it. In a matter of days, from the moment that dress had slipped from her shoulders he had been lost to anyone else but her. Maybe he had been lost the first time he’d looked into her eyes and she’d tried so hard to get him to talk. Shyness had frozen his tongue. He’d been so stunned by how beautiful she really was! Hayden sat down careful not to disturb her sleep. Want shot through him, his blood heating as he bent his head to press his mouth against the fluttering pulse at her throat. Any doubts plaguing him melted away at the taste of her against his tongue. His mouth kissed the curve of her shoulder, then the line of her throat and grazed the tender skin below her ear.

Natalie stirred under his ministrations and woke, the clean, male scent that was Hayden causing her to breathe in and sigh. She rolled onto her back, her hand sliding under the pillow and smiled at him through sleep-laden eyes. An arm braced on either side of her, he stared down at the welcoming sight and lowered his head again. The moment his lips brushed hers, languid arms wound around his neck and held him close while lips opened beneath his as his tongue swept across hers setting off stings of desire in the pit of her belly. The continued deepening of his kiss sent her heartbeat soaring. Arms loosened their hold, her fingers grasping at his shirt, bunching the material as she tugged and yanked it, anxious to rid him of the offending garment and feel the heat of his skin fused to hers.

Frustration whimpered from her and Hayden released her from the kiss watching her through amused, slitted eyes. Higher his shirt rode until it could not pass his shoulders. Helpless eyes begged and a silent chuckle stretched his mouth. Relenting, he sat up, his hands grabbing over his shoulders, hoisting the shirt up and over his head. As his head popped free, she sat up, her hands scrabbling for the shirt, tearing it down his arms before he had a chance to do it himself. Eyes widened at her bold, urgent moves and met the unbridled passion glittering back at him. One hand cupping the back of her head, he moved in kissing a path from her cheek to her ear in an attempt to calm her down. Had she thought he wasn’t going to come to her tonight?

She shivered as his tongue licked beneath her ear and traced behind it. A gasp escaped her and her fingers dug spasmodically into his bare shoulders.

“Shh.” His whisper soothed into her ear.

Easing away, he brushed her mouth in parting and felt her breath still. Eyes wide, moist lips parted and inviting she stared at him as if afraid he would vanish if she blinked. He couldn’t help it. He smiled, one side of his mouth crooking in wicked intent. Breathless, she watched him as one finger crooked under a strap of her nightgown and pulled it over her shoulder. Slowly, he moved closer, dipping his head, his hair brushing her cheek, his lips tracing along her shoulder, following the path of the errant strap. Natalie’s head dropped back, her hand twining into his hair. Desperate to ease the ache at the apex of her thighs, she squeezed her legs together, but when his tongue dragged along her skin above the gaping bodice of her nightgown her body reacted, softening, growing moist in delicious anticipation of his possession.

Hayden lifted his head fixing her with that dark stare as his finger hooked under the other strap and began to draw it slowly over her other shoulder. Head heavy, she rolled it back, her lips parting to drag in an unsteady breath, his name forming soundlessly on her lips. As she brought her head forward, his mouth whispered over hers, his tongue snaking across her lips as if licking his name from her.

“Shh.”

Eyes flew to his, but his were already averted, his face stark with a dark hunger as the bodice of her nightgown gave way, exposing her to him. Gentle hands threaded her arms free of the straps while his eyes remained on the hard tips of her breasts tilting up to him as if in supplication. Without lifting his head, his eyes shifted up to snare hers. Natalie swallowed the lump strangling her throat, her mouth drying. He moved towards her, forcing her back onto the pillow, hovering over her by mere inches, his forearms holding him steady.

“Hayden…” the whisper barely left her lips.

“Shh.” He commanded, his lips nudging the corner of her mouth, sucking his name away from her.

“Shh.” He nuzzled his nose against hers before kissing the other corner of her mouth.

“Shh.” He gently nipped at her lower lip.

Along the satiny material, his hand glided over her hip and onto her waist now bared and pressed against his heated skin. A groan of tense need trembled along her lips, but he easily silenced her, covering her lips in a slow, voluptuous kiss just as his hand cupped the soft skin of her breast. The two actions combined sent her body jerking against his and her mouth widened as his tongue took from her what he wanted. Hands clenched fistfuls of hair in reaction to the wild sensations ricocheting through her. She kissed him back, her body arching, trapped into stillness by his pinning her into immobility. Around her legs the swath of material tangled and halted her attempt to widen her legs and take him into the cradle of her hips to assuage the building need flaming within.

Hayden angled his head changing the pressure and intensity of the kiss, deepening it, demanding more of her. Hands flat against his shoulders slid lower, relishing the feel of his skin against her palms. The scent of her arousal filled his nostrils and a low, pleased growl rumbled in his chest. Deeper and deeper he kissed her, swallowing her noises of entreaty, his intent to drive her as mad with wanting him as he was mad with wanting her. The sounds of their lovemaking swirled around him, the heavy, frantic breathing, the slither of her silky nightgown, the moans and groans of pleasure, the damp skin sliding along each other’s. He wanted more. He wanted it all.

By the time he broke the kisses she was gasping, her hands clinging to his shoulders. Reluctant to leave her lips, but eager to not leave an inch of her untouched, Hayden’s head lowered, stringing kisses down her throat, his tongue laving over the delicate hollow. Lips brushed the tops of her breasts while his hands curled decisively around her nightgown and eased it lower over her hips. By the time his mouth opened over one hardened nipple, her body was screaming for release. As the warmth and wetness of his mouth engulfed it, Natalie cried out arching into the slick swipe of his tongue, a million stings of sensation singeing her nerve endings. Suckling her deep into his mouth Hayden felt her fingers tangle again into his hair, her fractured cry of desire turning him painfully hard.

In a daze of sensation, Natalie lifted obediently at the impatient tug at her hips. The gown slithered over her thighs and the mouth tormenting her breast released her from its torture, whimpering a protest from her. Hayden reared to his knees and drew the nightgown away from her, tossing it over his shoulder to the floor, eyebrows rising in wicked delight at her lack of underwear.

Spurred by his act of nonchalance, Natalie sat up, fingers grabbing at his pants, yanking ineffectually at the button and zipper. Hands gently batted them away and her eyes fastened onto the fingers doing the honor for her. After a moment her hands slid up his abdomen and chest luxuriating in the flex of muscles responding to the friction of her palms. As his hands pushed his pants over his thighs, she dwelled on the strength of his desire for her, heat trickling from her in answer to the power springing long and hard between his legs. She pulled him down, spreading her legs to cradle him. Helpfully, her legs curled beside his hips, her feet pushing at his pants until they were at his ankles where he kicked them away. Except for the erratic beating of the pulse at the base of his throat and the evidence of his rigid shaft pressing impatiently at her entrance, she would have believed him unmoved.

Hayden’s head swam at the feel of her naked against him. Soft and pliant, her body called to him, sang to him to come to her. The smell of her, the taste of her…it was too sweet to describe. Even in the darkness, he knew her cheeks were flushed with wanting him and he could feel the dampness on her skin and knew it matched his. The restless movement of her limbs as she tried to shift and relieve the tension lured and tempted him to end things quickly, but he refused. Tonight, he wanted to remember every movement and recall every sigh as she gave herself to him. Dizzy with his control over her he cupped her cheek with one tender hand coaxing her liquid eyes to his.

He moved just slightly and her breath caught because suddenly he was there, the weight of him pushing for access. A moment later he backed away and she moaned in disappointment, eyes on him. He pushed again, allowing his shaft to slide over her, coating itself with her juices, the length massaging over the blood engorged button. The upward thrust of her hips joined with her audible gasp sang to him. Again, he moved, then again, each time sliding over her with more and more ease as he spread her desire over himself. Lips pinched tightly together, Natalie whimpered as he kissed along her jawline, turning her face to meet his lips when he didn’t move quickly enough for her.

Hurry! Please! She cried out in her mind, almost delirious with the agony. Twisting her hips she tried to force him to take her, but he pressed her hips to the bed and grinded against her sensitive nub, taking her lips in slow, succulent appreciation, making love to her mouth with unhurried pleasure. Heart racing she panted against him her need for him gaining speed.

Suddenly, the kisses changed, grew harder, more desperate and she gave herself to him, meeting him mouth to mouth, legs drawing higher along his hips to grant him entrance. His lips grasped and pulled at hers his tongue dancing, twining around hers in the act she wanted most of all. Rough hands pulled her farther under him and she eagerly obeyed. The tip of him slid unerringly just inside her, the sensation so intense Hayden released her mouth, groaning against her kiss swollen lips gritting his teeth to halt himself from slamming into her. Natalie slid her tongue across his bottom lip and he lifted his head to gaze into her passion glazed eyes. Ever so slowly, without taking his eyes from her, he slid into her, determined to give her all the pleasure he could. Fighting to not roll his eyes back into his head, he watched hers grow large as she trembled in his arms. Natalie cried out as he filled her and he dipped his head to softly muffle her cries.

“Shh.” He fed into her mouth.

Frantic eyes, wet with tears, opened to his.

“Hayden…I…”

“Shh.” He countered again, drawing the backs of his fingers along her cheek.

His hips began to move, setting a slow, tortured pace that inflamed both of them. The tight, slick heart of her tightened every time he drew back, massaging him and calling him to return. She was so wet and warm he thought his heart might stop from the pressure of denying his release. Natalie moved with him, her hips lifting to meet his lazy thrusts, eyes lifting to his, tears spilling from her eyes. Hayden placed his lips to them drinking the salty liquid, taking them as his due and her proof of the depth of her emotion for him.

“Shh.” He quieted, then kissed her with more urgency, hitching his hips a notch faster.

Natalie moaned against his mouth and followed, winding her fingers into his hair her breath mingling with his as their lips barely touched. Hips writhed against his as she undulated to the dance he led. Her legs slid down, her feet resting on his flanks as the tempo increased, a tingling, sizzle vibrating through her. Heart erratic she began to open up more and more, giving herself up to his command. Never had she been made love to like this! The feel of his cock, hard and strong inside her rushed her to the precipice, only when he allowed it. Every time she started to fall, he pulled back, nuzzling her mouth, slowing their movements, encouraging her to taste him on her tongue, be aware of them as one.

His body began to shake with under the strain of restraint. Hayden growled but could not stop the urgent snap of his hips, her body rocking under the pressure. Natalie squirmed against him in encouragement as his hands slid under her rear to position her more favorably. When her mouth released his on a tortured groan and her head fell helpless to the pillow he drove harder into her, racing her back to the peak, wanting, no needing her to come around him, give him what was his and his alone. He was giving her all of him and he would accept no less in return.

He had her there, right there, teetering on the edge. Wild eyed for one second, she met his heavy lidded gaze, the possessive, hungry stare sending her into a free fall. Reaching for him she sealed her mouth to his and screamed into it, her body shaking uncontrollably as she came hard, her tunnel convulsing and contracting, stealing the breath from her, her arms banding around Hayden as he continued to stroke into her rushing her back to the top before she could fall to earth. Again she came, nails biting into his skin, shivering as she lost sight of earth and knew nothing but the feel of him, the smell of him, the heart of him. Lifting her legs, she linked them around his waist and squeezed.

Before he could stop it, his seed roared out of him, locking his body in painful ecstasy, stealing his breath away as he jetted into her, the actions of her body encouraging him, milking him for more. He shouted in response as her teeth sunk into his shoulder and he rode her, giving more than he thought possible, his body, his heart, his very soul leaving him and taking up residence inside her, maybe forever, he wasn’t sure. For a second all went blessedly blank, then his body heaved against her once more then dropped onto her, her arms holding him close, their hearts hammering against each other.

Into his neck Natalie panted, her breath hot against his sweat-slicked skin. Hayden shivered uncontrollably in her arms in the aftermath and she ran fingers into his hair, pressing him as close to her as possible. A woman’s smile curved her lips as he continued to shiver and gasp into her neck, his chest rising and falling in painful labor. He lay in complete exhaustion, burrowing his face deeper against her. And she held him, the smile widening, even as tears blurred her vision. She didn’t know what had the greater impact, the actual act or this blissful aftermath when he lay incapacitated but still buried deep inside her connected bodily and spiritually. Had two people ever worshipped one another so completely?

Hayden groaned into her neck and tried to move but she tightened her arms and legs refusing to let him leave her. That was fine by him and he remained where he was, his body recovering at a snail’s pace. It felt like there were no bones in his body. He was jelly, but, oh, it had been worth it! It made up for any bad days in his life since birth. He would gladly walk across hot coals or lay on a bed of nails to be with her like this every night of his life! Tears slipped over her cheeks, down her neck and over his lips, but he didn’t worry. They were happy tears, tears of reaction. Who wouldn’t cry after such an out of world experience? Hell, he felt like crying himself! But he was so damned tired and content he couldn’t do it.

“Natalie,” he groaned into her skin. “Natalie, what am I going to do with you?”

Struggling to his forearms he lifted weighted lids to gaze down at her. One finger wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and he smiled tenderly. He tried to lift himself away but she made a noise of protest and clamped her legs around him again forcing a tired chuckle from him.

“Don’t you think it’s time you told me what this is all about?” Hayden asked. When her eyes shifted shyly from his, he bent and kissed the corner of her mouth. “We can’t spend our lives not talking to each other, much as I’ve liked talking with our bodies.” A wry smile spread as he saw her wrinkle her nose. “Barely a week ago you swept into my hotel room and turned my life upside down. The moment that dress dropped I was lost. I thought it had all been a dream! Imagine the look on Tove’s face when he told me you’d really been there. Imagine mine!”

“Have you slept with her?” Natalie blurted, eyes on his.

“Who?” Hayden frowned a moment before his eyes widened in understanding. “Oh. No. But that’s neither here nor there.”

“Really?” Natalie looked skeptical.

“Really. Though I would have if you hadn’t shown up,” he admitted. Natalie grimaced in distaste, the show of jealousy surprising him. He lightly flicked her nose. “You have room to talk. It’s bad enough I know you were with that Latin Lothario. Do you know how much I loathe that guy? How hard it was to be around you in Sydney when I knew you were nuts about him and he was treating you like crap? I suffered through it. Now that I know what he had…”

“Never like this, Hayden,” Natalie cut in, her voice still breathless from his loving. “Nothing in my life was ever like this. Ever.”

Blue eyes searched brown for long moments. “Talk to me, Nat. Why me? Why now? How am I supposed to just get on a plane and fly away from you? You can’t expect me to just chalk this up to experience and go on with my life. I can’t do that. I can’t go back to, ‘Hi, Natalie, how are you?’ You’ve totally ruined my life if you expect me to do that.”

“No! Oh, no, Hayden!” Natalie laid a hand over his mouth to stop his words.

He stared down at her distressed face, his voice soft. “Then tell me what this is all about.”

Pressing her lips together, she slid her hand under the pillow and pulled it out in a fist. Hayden waited patiently, eyes on her fist. Finally, she rolled the stone into her fingers and held it up.

“This.”

The wishing stone! Hayden grinned, remembering how he’d found it and thought it perfect to give to her. Any other girl would have thought it cheap and stupid, but not Natalie. She was his favorite person to buy a birthday present for because it took a lot of thought and no money. Everything they got one another was fun and special, even silly sometimes, but never dull. When he’d given it to her she had hugged him so tightly he could barely breathe! His eyebrow cocked questioningly.

“I wished for you.”

“Me?”

Natalie sighed, loosening her legs so he could move, suddenly needing the space. Carefully, Hayden lifted away from her and moved to her side, one hand propping his head up, the other taking the stone from her and turning it over. He watched her link her fingers together, a sure sign she was uncomfortable.

“We were talking on the phone…shortly before the awards show,” she explained, drawing in a deep breath and releasing it to ease the tension in her body. “I don’t know what happened, but when we hung up I suddenly…suddenly…”

“Suddenly what?” Hayden prompted, enjoying her squirming.

“I just,” she sighed, “just realized that it was you! All this time it was you.”

“It was me what?”

“You know,” she shook her head in frustration. “You! It hit me like a lightning bolt and I felt so stupid! We were friends! I would never think of you as anything but that and suddenly there it was, the answer to what was wrong with me. I didn’t have you. And I had no right to have you. But, maybe I could do something about that.”

“So you arranged to sit by me at the show,” he nodded, his heart skipping at the thought of her trying to maneuver a way to be with him.

“And it didn’t work,” Natalie scowled, turning accusing eyes on him.

“Hey,” he held up the hand holding the stone, “I had nothing to do with it. I was the innocent party on both counts! Had you just come to me and told me I’d…”

“You’d what?”

“I don’t know,” he shrugged, smiling ruefully. “I honestly don’t know. In hindsight, I prefer the way you grabbed my attention in my hotel room much better.”

“I was so scared,” Natalie admitted.

“You couldn’t tell,” he chuckled, running the stone over her belly. “You looked pretty confident to me! I was so sure I was dreaming, I convinced myself not to wake up!” He laughed and rolled to hover over her. “Not to be crude, but you literally blew my mind! I was a walking talking mess after that! Skylin showed up and I was tap dancing all around her to get to you! When I found you’d left I almost went insane. And when I did catch up to you you wouldn’t talk to me!”

“I didn’t know what to say,” Natalie grimaced, stroking a hand through his tousled hair. “I was afraid you’d think me nuts, but maybe you would understand my body.”

“We have no problems communicating on that level,” he agreed.

“I just kept wishing on the stone.”

“And here I am.”

“And here you are,” she echoed, her voice wobbly.

Hayden cupped her cheek and pressed gentle, slow kisses to her kiss swollen lips, his own a little tender. A little sigh whispered from her, her arms curling around his neck.

“Hayden?” Natalie whispered.

“Mm?” Hayden mumbled, focused on kissing the tender skin of her neck.

“I may be in love with you,” she murmured, her voice a little shaky.

Hayden halted his progress, lifting his head to gaze down at her, his heart skidding to a halt. Worried eyes glittered up at him as he looked at her for several seconds in silence.

“There is no maybe,” he insisted, his voice husky and low. “You either are or you aren’t.” When she didn’t speak and he didn’t move he added, “And I’m not going back to what I was doing until you make up your mind.”

The smile that broke over her set his heart beating again. Happiness replaced the worry in her eyes.

“I am,” she affirmed softly.

“You are what?”

“In love.”

“With?”

“With you.”

“Say it.”

“I am in love with you.”

Hayden tilted his head pondering her answer. “Now say it again, only with my name this time.”

Natalie smiled shyly at the look in his eyes.

“I love you, Hayden Christensen.”

With that, Hayden lowered his head and went back to working his lips down her neck to where her pulse fluttered. Natalie shifted at the pleasurable sensations tingling down her spine and pulled on his hair. Hayden lifted his head.

“Yes?”

“Don’t you have anything you want to say?”

“I thought I was saying it,” he grinned at her teasingly. Playfully she slapped at him until he wrestled her hands away and pinned them above her head. “Now, if you’ll just keep those pesky hands to yourself I’ll say it loud and clear, but it may take a while.”

“Take all the time you want,” she murmured, tugging on her hands. “But give me my hands back so I can touch you.” He laughed appreciatively and released them only to have them run over his body in a very possessive manner. “Mine. You are all mine and mine alone.”

Hayden chuckled and rolled over settling her above him. “In that case, you’d better stake your claim before anyone else does.”

Natalie’s eyes narrowed threateningly on him at the statement then rubbed herself suggestively against him. In no time at all he was groaning, his member hard and throbbing again. Natalie moved, taking him inside her and clenched her muscles around him, riding him slowly.

“Ahhh…”

“You’re mine,” she whispered, leaning over him one hand on each side of his head.

Hayden moaned in agreement. Before she knew it, he grabbed her and rolled, pinning her under him and stroking into her in a most insistent way. She gasped and he smiled wickedly at her.

“Let’s not waste all this time on talking,” he chided, “when we have the lovely, seductive sounds of the surf and the palm leaves, and those arousing noises you make when you’re beneath me. Talk, talk, talk. Is that all you ever do?”

And except for the sighs and gasps and moans, there was no more talking for a very long time.
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Staking Her Claim - COMPLETED!