Before starting, I want to let you know that thanks to your awesome suggestions, I narrowed the choice of Anastasia and Nate's ship name. Now, you tell me between Nastasia, AnNa, and Nana (though, the last one is the one I like the least because it means 'Chick' in French 😅)

"Merde, merde, merde!"

"Cursing in French again? What is happening?" Nate chuckles, his mood lighter since the moment he has passed the doorstep and has glimpsed this blond ponytail, and when Anastasia looks up from her phone, her shy smile appears like a ray of sunshine on this rainy day.

"My train got canceled because of the weather." She glances back at the torrential rain almost splashing their feet despite the canopy above, and a wince replaces her smile in front of the dark clouds threatening to worsen the storm at any minute. "I guess I'm stuck here."

"I can drive you! I was going home anyway," he suggests so easily, his chocolate eyes shining with kindness.

"Oh–"

"And don't say that you don't wanna bother." His confident tone instantly brings flashbacks of her recent dream in her mind, and of course, the blood is quick to follow to her cheeks as she avoids his piercing gaze.

"Staying alone in that big building during a storm is creepy." He takes a look at the imposing front door, the words 'We serve and protect' almost mocking him as he is once again playing with fire. "With my car, we will fly there in no time."

These arguments and his softer voice make her lift her head, and he is glad to find back the soft hazel in her eyes. "Okay, then..." She bites her lower lip, offering him a smile – if that's a smile, because he's never known a smile could blow him away more than the howling wind around.

"Wait a minute, don't move." He holds up his index finger before running under the pouring rain and leaving her with her mouth open, and too many flashbacks...

It is exactly word for word what he has told her on their first encounter, and she gulps trying to push back the as vivid memories of what has happened after. 

It can never happen again, she reminds herself when Nathaniel is already back with his shiny car, stopping it right in front of her, and a smile tickles her warm cheeks as she notices how close to the building he has pulled over, heroically making sure that not even one raindrop can get to her.

Why does he have to be so irresistible? The door opens before she can even start to consider the question, and she quickly gets in, deciding it is safer to not answer this right now, when she is confined in such a small space with him.

Although the vehicle isn't that small, and inside, it is as modern and gleaming as outside, white soft leather seats welcoming her, along with the typical smell of new expensive cars. From the sparkling white everywhere and all the newest high-tech commands, this car must not be older than six months and probably costs twice her house, she deduces. 

Though she is not one to be impressed by shiny cars and new gadgets; all this modernity and luxe, all this white with only a few touches of shiny light grey here and there reminding the body of the car, it only makes her feel out of place.

If truth be told, she is out of place. She shouldn't be here, and it's all kinds of wrong, knowing everything that has happened between them. Yet she can't help the warm sensation in her stomach, which she puts down as thankfulness for Nathaniel always heroically saving her.

"Natha– Nate," she stammers, the syllables of his full name echoing too much like the moan from that steamy dream, and she even wonders if she will ever be able to pronounce it again.

It has now been a few days, but she is still haunted by the vivid images of him between her thighs making her scream his name, and her skin is burning as much as when she has woken up under his penetrating gaze. That look... it is always like he can pierce through her, and right now, if he does, he will see only one thing... She averts her eyes down instantly on that thought.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. It's nothing!" He smiles, almost chuckling at how she always thanks him for what feels so natural for him.

"Still... thank you." She peers up, though her gaze doesn't travel farther than the steering wheel, and Nate notices it immediately, just like he catches the discreet tension on her delicate features and her thin fingers fiddling with the strap of her bag.

She seems so uncomfortable, clearly shunning him, and it makes his stomach drop. She has every reason to; after all, the last time they've seen each other he's pushed her away, letting her walk away with guilt and too many weights on her small shoulders, and he hates himself for that.

Yet it has been the only thing to do, the only right thing to do. Why does the right thing feel so wrong? This question is arising more and more these days, and he still has no answer. 

He doesn't even know what to say to make it right in this instant, his mouth opening and closing before he lets out a shallow sigh, resigning himself and restarting the car.

However, his attention and all his thoughts are still directed towards Anastasia, and out of the corner of his eye, he notices each of her faint fidgety movements, particularly the jump she makes when the belt fastens around her tiny waist, his stomach plummeting lower with it.

"This is your first time?" He just wants to make her at ease, but he realizes it might not be the best way with the double meaning of his words, especially in their situation, as her doe eyes widen at him. So he quickly adds, "I mean, in a flying car." 

For him, it's usual, but he knows so many people have never been in one, and he is sadly very aware of their many differences.

"Er... no, I went once or twice when I was in France," she replies, her voice hoarse and tense because of the takeoff, and also for plenty of other reasons.

"Don't worry, I'm used to driving it. You're with a pro!" He offers her a wide grin and puts his hand on her knee for a second before pulling it away faster, surely feeling the same sparks that the light touch is sending all over her thigh.

She shifts nervously on her seat to dissipate them along with all her dangerous fantasies and memories coming back at the slightest push, but it seems impossible as just the feeling of his dark gaze on her is tickling her skin and her mind. 

Each time he glances at her, each time she is tensing and fidgeting more, and each time, it makes him look at her more. It is an endless and dangerous cycle, and they haven't even taken off.

The takeoff of course accentuates all of his with a few jolts, which make her grip the handle tighter, but she still notes how smoothly he operates the car despite the terrible weather, and also all the glances he's stealing at her.

"You can relax! I'm–"

"A pro?!" Her laugh surprises them both as much as the gust of wind that shakes strongly the car.

Though while the jolts don't last and he is quick to regain control of the vehicle, the tickles at the corners of her lips remain.

Strangely, she isn't scared, probably because she trusts him more than she would ever admit, and she is starting to like the thrill it is sending down her spine, like riding some kind of rollercoaster with many more ups and downs, and also more dangers.

"Are you making fun of me?" He pretends to be offended, the twinkling glance he is throwing once he has steadied the car not making his act convincing.

"No, I wouldn't dare!" she finishes in another burst of laughter as the car jumps once more, and almost as irresistibly as the clouds they can glimpse through the windshield are blown away by the wind, her flowing laugh is pulling his.

Like some magical formula or unsolvable physical law, the combination of their imperfect and so different laughers is creating a special lightness in the confined space, and in no time, every tension is annihilated, the only thing remaining in all her nerves being the echo of his baritone laugh. 

However, when their eyes meet again, the tension comes back as fast in all of her nerve-endings, and as if struck by lightning, their laughs die down in empty breaths, which are clashing in the closeness. It only lasts a second though, because another gust of wind jolts them back to reality.

The silence falls louder than thunder between them again, and Anastasia tries to focus on the dark sky in front to steady her racing heart while she prays the ride will go fast. It is not that she doesn't like being around Nathaniel. It is quite the opposite; she might like it too much, and she can't stop the flashes of her forbidden dreams as she feels his piercing gaze casting glances at her.

"I saw you the other day," Nate breaks the silence, as she seems so far even in this confined space, and he can't stand it. "When you defended your colleague."

This instantly pulls her back closer, making her look up at him.

"You were really impressive, and it was courageous. Not a lot of people would have dared." He nibbles on his lip as if holding back all the other praises and compliments coming to his mind, and also his proud smile. 

Him, who never goes into a subject and talks much, he could spend hours listing her qualities, and maybe just the rosy shades climbing up her cheeks along with a smile when she humbly averts her gaze down could inspire him a million words.

"Thank you." 

"You'll be a great lawyer."

She tries to fight the tickles at her smile and in her stomach, but it is impossible. He really uses the words that tug straight at her heartstrings, and without even trying, just... naturally.

While he is concentrated on the lane, she takes the opportunity to observe him more attentively, how firmly he is holding the wheel and fighting the wind stronger and stronger. She wonders if it has been the only time he has watched her without her knowing, if he thinks of her as much as she does. No, probably not, she shakes that thought away as a new jolt hits the car.

"Are you okay?" he asks when he narrowly regains the control of the vehicle.

"Yes, I'm with a pro." She smiles, now relaxing; she doesn't even know how.

No matter how hard her conscience is fighting, Nathaniel always manages to break down her walls, smoothly almost sneakily.

Her eyes follow the movements of his calloused hands operating expertly the commands like it could give her an answer, or maybe it could be in his blue military printed sweater, since she is following the patterns too carefully, yet she only finds that it lets guess his powerful muscles under too easily and highlights the brown of his curls and in his eyes before she trails up to his gaze on the sky ahead, and his forehead slightly creased and hidden by a few wet curls falling over. 

He is really the mix of a sweet angel and a powerful god, as tempting as the devil; that is the only thing she concludes.

So she puts her mind to blank, staring at him peacefully, soothed by the steady sounds of the tempest outside.

Sadly, 'peacefully' seems something impossible when they are together, and even the weather is there to remind them as her 'peaceful contemplation' is interrupted by the flashes of the dashboard screen and a beeping sound that becomes deafening in the small space. Though the most frightening might be the tensions appearing for a brief second on Nathaniel's strong features and the quiet 'shit' escaping his lips.

'Itinerary impossible. Danger. Tornado coming.'

Anastasia understands the curse word as her eyes widen at the message on the screen, and she realizes the extent of the tempest and the unsteadiness of the situation. Well, she can't see much through the windows, but the hazy sight of misshapen threatening clouds, stripes of heavy rain, and blasts of wind that blur it all is clear enough.

Once again she has been in some kind of trance because of Nathaniel and she has forgotten the world outside and the dangers, and once again it comes back to kick her in the stomach as she feels the shrinking of fear there.

"We need to find an emergency shelter."

Nathaniel's controlled voice makes her turn her head to him as he is typing quickly on the dashboard.

"Unless you know another road?" He pauses his fingers, calmly waiting for her answer.

"Er... yes... bypassing the city, by the hamlet of the Apple Trees Grove, but it takes longer," she replies, her breath running as short as the time they have. "But I don't know..." She tries to swallow the panic that is spreading to her throat and making her voice so hoarse.

She is used to the unpredictable changes of weather, and she has seen so many tornados in her short life that she doesn't count them anymore, yet she has never been in a small flying object, in the air, during any of them, and right now, a bad feeling is twisting her stomach like... a tornado.

"Okay, it's tight, but possible. I'll try to go fast." His tone and his movements as he types on the control board are unwavering despite the jolts of the vehicle, and she doesn't know how he can be so serene in this situation. 

There, as he swiftly turns the wheel and does a U-turn, speeding away, she recognizes the trained soldier, the brave hero who never panics and always acts fearlessly.

"Don't worry." He throws her a quick reassuring glance before focusing back on the flying like a true hero.

She smiles, keeping her eyes on him as his calm and controlled behavior is such a contrast with the tempest outside, and her muscles are slowly relaxing again, invaded by a warm quietness because she trusts him, once again.

Though she has barely got rid of the shivers of dread that the same 'Warning' message freezes her again.

"Non?!" she gasps, already losing her breath as her heart is picking up the same pace as the beeping sounds, and her muscles tense up more when she hears Nathaniel mutter,

"Fuck, and there's nothing around."

She swears she sees a flash of worry in his eyes for a second, something so foreign in those warm chocolate shades, though he quickly hides it with a confident and focused look on the screen.

"I'm sorry, it's all my fault... If you hadn't helped me once more, you would be home right now."

"No, it's not your fault!" He stops all his movements for a second, turning to face her frown and bore his intense gaze into hers as his hands are still gripping the wheel tightly. "You couldn't have known, and we'll find a shelter, don't worry. We'll be fine." His voice is soft, yet firm as if he was swearing on oath because he can't stand the guilt and fear shadowing her delicate features, and because he's promising himself that he won't let anything happen to her.

The times he has saved her just in time and the 'what would have happened if he had come in too late?' are always there in the back of his mind to haunt him, and they are coming in the front as he focuses back on the control board with his heart thumping faster and faster.

"See there's one just around the corner." He points on the screen map, giving her a small reassuring smile, and although she notices the tensions from his jaw to his shoulders, it helps her relax enough for her to nod.

In this instant, as he maneuvers the flying car against the stronger and stronger wind, she is really thankful for the government's well-organized system and rules which allow everyone's safety, and it reminds her one of the reasons why she wants to defend the law, even if she keeps breaching it lately.

Cliffhanger!! 😁 Do you think Anastasia and Nate will get to the shelter in time? And will they be fine? (you gotta wait for next chapter...) Don't worry, Ana is with a pro! 😉 

Let me know what you think will happen 😉, and vote if you liked this chapter! 

Also, we got to see more of the climatical changes and unpredictable weather happening in this future; this seems scary, right? So take care of our planet and sort your waste!

Finally, for the ones who still haven't, don't forget to follow me and add the story to your reading lists/library, so you can be the first notified when I update new chapters (that you won't want to miss 😉)