"Make a right turn down there," Nate directed.

"Down where?" I was annoyed. It felt like we were driving in circles around endless winding roads with every tree looking the same.

"Right there, you can't see?"

We were beginning to sound like an old married couple.

"You try driving in this. It's coming down hard right now or can you not see?" I gripped the steering wheel, trying not to reach over and choke him.

He shook his head. I could tell he wanted to respond with something rude. I turned down the street and saw the vintage-looking motel at the end of the road with two cars parked in the entire lot. I parked in front of the main office. Nate grabbed the spare umbrella in the backseat & ordered me to stay put while he went inside. I was tempted to drive off and leave him stranded. Maybe his dearest Sydney could pick him up off the side of the icy road. But I sighed and leaned back into the driver's seat, remembering to call Andrea and let her know the bad news.

Ring ring...

ANDREA: Hello? Liv, where are you?
ME: Funny story. That severe storm rolled in a little earlier than expected. I don't know if you...looked outside. Aaaand they closed the bridge saying it got too icy and unstable which- I mean, I don't know why they have an unstable bridge in the first place-
ANDREA: Get to the point.
ME: Of course. Long story short, we're stranded until it lets up and they re-open the bridge.
ANDREA: Are you kidding me? What about the keg?
ME: Fuck the keg, Andrea. Are you serious? How about a 'Oh well, stay safe guys'...none of that huh?
ANDREA: (sighs) Yeah...sorry. Well keep me posted and find a hotel or something.
ME: Yeah we found a motel called The Blue Deville. I wonder if that's...French.
ANDREA: Oh. Ew. That's where men went in the 50's to cheat on their wives.
ME: Oh...fun fact. Okay Nate's coming back, I'll text you.

Nate came up to the window holding a stack of towels and washcloths and told me to park all the way down to the second to last room. He decided to walk down even though the icy rain was coming in sideways.

I waited for him to unlock the door and then I hopped out, running inside. He switched on the lights and it's like we stepped into a time machine back to 1958. Clearly this motel either never cared to redecorate or they never made enough money. I'm betting on both.

"Great, one bed...again," I sighed.

"You'll survive," he replied.

"Will you? You know, since I'm a bitch and all."

He shook his head. "Sorry about callin' you that."

"It's whatever." I walked over to the TV and turned it on. The signal was screwy and there were only 5 working channels. Not to mention my phone barely had enough bars to allow me to go on my apps. And of course there was absolutely no WiFi. And the icing on the cake is that neither of us have our phone chargers. "This is it...this is where I die."

"Should've brought a book," he smiled like a smartass, pulling his small paperback copy of The Giver out the inner pocket of his jacket.

"Well I did but it's not exactly...here."

"That's too bad." He sits down on the bed with one leg up and one hanging off, opening his book to his previous spot.

I sat down in the retro-looking swivel chair by the table that was surprisingly comfortable. I kept sighing as I looked around for something to entertain myself with. It was raining too hard to go out and get the keg. But it's not like I needed anymore alcohol. Nate seemed pleased with himself and his book. Our speaking terms were wobbly. I got up and walked around, looking at the vintage artwork that hung on the walls. The wallpaper was yellow-striped and faded. When I went into the bathroom, it was decent to an extent. No counter space and a very small medicine cabinet, but it's not like we had any belongings anyway. They at least provided us with a small bar of soap and tiny bottles of lotion & shampoo; the only upgraded thing about this establishment.

"Rain, rain, go away," I sang quietly as I walked to the front window. I felt his eyes on my back and I turned to look at him, he quickly looked back at his book. I looked back outside and watched the rain pound on the concrete and the car.

"Do you think we'll ever get along, Liv?" He asked out the blue.

I turned to look at him and leaned against the nearest wall. "I'd like to think so. You never know. But where do we begin?"

He shrugged. "Get to know each other? Here, ask me a question about myself and vice versa, we have to answer truthfully."

"Okay." I thought back to a random question I had a while ago even though I wanted to ask about Sydney. "What's your grudge against hospitals?"

His eyes fell, leaving mine. "Damn," he whispered to himself. "Besides the germs?"

"Besides the germs."

"Okay," he sighed. "And I'm sure this will answer a lot of your questions. Before Mya, there was Jackie. When I first met her she was always happy. But one day, everything just crumbled for her and she lost herself. Multiple reasons...life shit. She started harming herself, burning her arm with the ends of cigarettes she chain smoked. She would piss me off so much because she wouldn't let me help her. I wasn't enough for her. Her parents figured she just needed to go to church and I was always like nah, that's not it. Hospitals never kept her on hold for too long. She was on hella medication."

He started to get emotional. He gulped a lot as his breathing began to sound shaky. The tears were trying to come but he fought them so hard.

"I was at work one day and she wanted me to come over so bad. I told her my shift didn't end until 4 that day. Two hours later I get a call from her friend saying Jackie had slit her wrists in the shower & they were waiting on the ambulance. And I remember running, because I didn't have a car. I ran and I was crying on the way there because the girl I loved was slowly slipping away."

I sat down next to him, full of sympathy and placing my hand on his as he finished his story.

"When I got to the hospital, they told me there was barely anything they could do to save her. It was too late. I remember my entire world came crashing down. She didn't even leave a fuckin' note. I remember being angry at her, angry at God, angry at her parents, angry at the doctors. Everytime I cried, I smashed or broke something like I was the Hulk. She fuckin' left me here by myself when she was all that I had! The only person that fuckin' cared and understood me. So being in hospitals remind me of her and what she did. That was only a year & a half ago."

"I'm so sorry, Nate. I had no idea," I spoke quietly. I never knew what to say to people that felt grief.

"How could you have known? I know you only took me there because you cared." He looked deep into my eyes.

"I'm just not sure why you wanted to go to Big Mike's, though."

"He's studying to be a doctor. He already knows how to stitch."

"Oh. Well...now it's your turn to ask me something."

Neither of us acknowledged the fact that my hand was still on his. I was comfortable and I'm guessing he was too.

"Okay," he cleared his throat. "Why don't you think you're beautiful?"

I was nearly rendered speechless. "Uh...I...I don't know."

"I just gave you all that for my answer and now all you say is you don't know?" He held back a smile, his dimples show anyway.

"I guess because I didn't grow up thinking I was acceptable enough for society."

He slipped his hand out from beneath mine to massage his shoulder. "That's all, huh?"

"And...I see the type of girls that guys look at...it was never someone like me, well, who I used to be. Sometimes I still feel big, I was so used to that body."

"Let me break it down for you, Liv...Olivia." He licked his lips. "You shouldn't associate being ugly with being...bigger. And you shouldn't depend on whether or not a dude looks at you to rate your own beauty. And I...I gotta realize that about women too. And can I be honest with you?"

"Sure," my voice cracked.

"Your body wasn't the first thing I noticed and liked about you. It was the way you talked to me with your little comebacks," he chuckled. "It was a turn on."

I laughed a little, looking away to hide my bashfulness.

"Ah shit," he said. "I left my aspirin in the car."

"You can't go out there right now, Nate," I warned.

"I have to, I get bad migraines sometimes. It'll be quick," he hopped to his feet. "Just hit the button to unlock the door, aight?"

"Okay." He didn't see, but I put on a devious smile. I peeked out the window as he ran to the car, tugging on the locked door. I giggled and pressed the button to unlock it, but quickly locking it again. He was getting soaked. Chunks of fallen ice were rested on top of his head and his black long-sleeved shirt.

"Liv, quit playin'!" He shouted from outside.

"It's not working?!" I joked. I finally allowed him to open the door and get his pills, locking the car back.

He rushed back inside, dripping wet and looking at me with a slight anger. I looked up at him with innocent puppydog eyes.

"I was pressing it, I swear. I guess it just needs a new battery," I lied.

He exhales through his nose as I stare at the wet shirt clinging to his pecs. After walking past me, he takes his shirt off. Water raced down from his wet hair and down to the dip in his back. I couldn't help but stare and think some very unholy things. He turned around and walked toward me, getting very close to me.

"You wet?" He asked, throwing me totally off balance.

"W-what?"

Suddenly he rings his shirt out over my head, laughing at me as I gasp at the frigid feeling. I run for the bathroom and he chases me. I turned on the faucet and start throwing whatever water my hands could accumulate in a quick moment. He reached in and threw some right back at me. We laughed and shouted, having a genuinely good time.

"Great, now I'm soaked," I told him.

"Then take off the wet clothes," he said, finally backing off.

"Wh- no," I laughed. "It's daytime."

"What does that even mean?"

"I don't..."

"You don't what?"

"...I don't want you to see me."

"Why don't you want me to see you? Because you don't love yourself?"

I nod my head in shame as I look down at the old carpet.

He got close to me again. "Tell me everything you don't love about yourself. Let it out once and for all. But one at a time."

I was hesitant as the list grew in my head. "Well...sometimes I wish my top lip was a little more plump like my bottom lip."

He leaned down and takes my top lip between his. "That lip?" He spoke in a seductive tone.

"Y-yeah...and my arms aren't toned enough," I continued.

He takes my arms and wraps them around him. "Mmhmm, what else?"

I gulped. "My cheeks..."

He smirked. "Which ones?"

"...The ones on my face," I squinted.

He kisses both of my cheeks. "What else?"

The way he looked at me & the way he held me made the moment so right. I saw through him and I liked what I saw. He was trying to help me, piece by piece. Nate being Nate, he was the only person I actually trusted. Beneath all of our arguments were layers of agony, care, & lust.

I wiggled out of his arms and stepped backwards. We looked at each other in silence. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Slowly, I unzipped my jacket, dropping it to the floor. Nate started taking deeper breaths and I knew this because I was studying the fuck out of his abs like they were one of my finals.

Next I took off my shirt, revealing my bra & stomach stretchmarks. Then, with hesitation, I took off my jeans. I was entirely self conscious of the stretchmarks on my thighs too. And even though my body practically melted in half with the weight loss, there was still a little cellulite left. My body wasn't exactly in pristine shape and I realized that this was probably why before, I didn't have sex for a while. And when I did, it was usually in the dark. Everyone looks good in the dark.

But the lights were on and there I was, standing before Nate in my underwear. He moved back toward me and turned me around until I faced the large mirror next to the bathroom door.

"Look at her," he spoke quietly. "Just look at her. Tell her you don't hate her. Tell her she's beautiful. Tell her that no matter what, her skin, her flesh, it doesn't define her."

I tried so hard not to cry right then & there. I shook with emotion and tears rolled out anyway. He was forcing me to face my demons, something I've been meaning to do for a while.

He kisses my shoulder, whispering 'Tell her' against my shivering body. This was a whole different side to him and he was stripping away my shield to see the other side of me. I looked at my half-naked body, trying my hardest to find the beauty in it, and I cried harder once I began to see the girl I used to love.

"I'm sorry," I told myself through the tears. "You're not worthless. They're not talking behind your back. And you can do anything. You can rule & conquer if that's what you really wanted to do, Liv."

"Tell her why," he demanded, his jaw clenching.

"Why?"

"Yeah. Go ahead, she doesn't have all day."

I chuckled a bit as I thought. Then my eyes met the mirror again. "Because you're strong...and I love you most."

Nate nodded. "Say the last part again."

I took a deep breath. "I love you most."

"You knew this all along, you know why?" His hands graced my shoulders and he got close to my ear. "All those times you stood up for yourself? That was a sign that deep down, you loved yourself. I saw it. I just needed you to realize."

I smiled as I continued to gaze at my body. "Thank you, Nate."

He smiled back and walked over to the window to look outside through the horizontal blinds. It was still pouring. I finally peeled my eyes off of myself. I wouldn't say that I'm fully cured, but I'm headed in the right direction. I do love myself. Especially now that I'm comfortable to stand like this before him and not cover myself up.

I turned around toward him and he stopped looking out the window to look me up & down. Still in silence, I undo my ponytail and let my hair fall onto my shoulders. He purses his lips, slightly smirking and flashing those lovely dimples again. He leans against the wall and hangs his thumb on the pocket of his black denim jeans, shifting his weight to one leg. The way he's looking at me right now is undescribable. Even the scar on his abdomen doesn't take away from his beauty.

I keep my eyes on him as I lay down on the bed. I close my eyes and run my fingers up & down the middle of my stomach. Feeling my own flesh and taking the time to appreciate how it felt, it was part of the process. I felt sexy all by myself but I wanted Nate to see. I wanted him to drool at the mouth with hunger. My eyes were still closed and I didn't know how Nate was reacting to me feeling my body. That is until I felt the bed move beside me. I opened my eyes to see Nate on his side, looking me in the eyes. His eyes travel lower and he puts his hand on top of mine, moving with me as it still went up and down my stomach. His hand soon did exploring of its own.

"Tiger," he whispered as he traced every stretchmark.

I reach up and run my fingers through his messy hair. "Lion," I whispered back. It got a little laugh out of him.

He bit his bottom lip and slowly lowered his face to mine. He caressed my face softly with his. Our noses brushed across each others. We might as well have been a lion & a tiger the way our faces nuzzled with each others. His hands were so gentle; a complete opposite from my initial impressions of him. He could've gone in for the kill at any moment and I would've welcomed it. But he didn't. He composed tranquil emotions with his fingertips up & down my torso, across my neck, and onto my thighs. A high in itself. His lips still haven't find mine yet and he ever-so-sweetly kisses my neck. He raises one of my thighs after he nestles between them. I feel him kick his shoes off at the foot of the bed. He stops kissing my neck to hover above me. He licks my bottom lip, followed by a kiss.

"What do you wanna do?" He asks while moving a bit of hair out of my face.

I said nothing. Instead, I reached down and tucked my fingers along the hem of his Calvin Klein's. His smile cocked to the side and he reached into his back pocket, pulling his wallet out. He takes out a condom and raises his eyebrow at me to make sure I'm sure.

I'm more than sure.

He undressed me fully and I undressed him. After he put the condom on, he took the time to make sure I was ready; kissing me wherever he saw fit while rubbing his fingers over my most sensitive spot.

"You're killing me," I whispered with a slight laugh. His hands were miracles.

"Has to be juicy enough," he smirked. "Let's see..." He surprised me. I squirmed while I was wrapped around his two fingers exploring my wetness. "Yeah, you're ready."

I was eager to have him inside me and my wish came true within seconds. It was magical with the sound of the rain and ice tapping onto the cars outside and hitting the window. No music. Just the torrential weather and his orgasmic moans in my ear.

I dug my nails into his back everytime he went deeper. I loved how much he took his time with me...in every way. He made sure I was comfortable, sliding pillows under my back so he could hit my spots better. His mouth became very familiar with my body. The scruff on his face tickled. I truly didn't mind it even though he wanted to shave it.

"F-Fuck," he whispered. He lowered down and kissed my neck as he continued to stroke. "I'm almost scared to put you on top."

"Why," I breathed.

"Because I don't wanna finish before you," he chuckled.

"I guess you better up your game," I devilishly grinned up at him.

"Don't look at me like that lil mama," he said followed with an aggressive kiss. Keeping up with the aggression, he whisked me up & forward, turning us around so that I was now on top.

I took charge. Both of us has ruffled hair. He tried to keep his eyes on mine instead of my breasts, biting his lip every single time. His mouth stayed open and his eyes squeezed shut sometimes. I concentrated on how he felt, how stiff he was. I felt that sweet relief as I came undone, trembling as I continued to bounce on it. He saw his chance and couldn't hold it anymore. He gripped tight onto my thighs as he came, one hand eventually grabbing the sheet and pulling it off the bed. That had to have been the sexiest thing I had ever witnessed.

The icy rain continued to fall as we laid there, exhausted especially since we haven't had any food in hours. My eyelids were heavy and he was already fast asleep. He even slept through my fingers tracing the tattoos on his chest. His arm was around me and I didn't even feel his fingers twitch or anything. We really went crazy on each other.

Then it lingered in the back of my mind, the thought about us. Now what?

________

Author's Note: This was lengthy! (No pun intended...or maybe). I have to have a drink after writing this one, I feel some type of way, LOL. No update until Saturday! I have some imagine requests to take care of on Tumblr. Way too many. So re-read if you must and tune in Saturday night!! Love you guys.

Don't forget to vote & comment!!! xx