Zoe sighed, tilting her head back against the wall savouring the first draw on a real cigarette in a few days; the electric replacement in her office bin made no comparison. She turned slightly as she felt a presence behind her, Max.
"Long shift?" He asked, looking slightly wary; her moods could be erratic when she was stressed.
"I've never felt so old and tired" she smiled, taking another draw of the cigarette.
"no come on" he argued back smirking.
"In don't start being nice to me, not now Max" she smiled, she was used to his cheeky attitude she didn't need romantic stuff now.
"Well, I was going to say terrible but there you are" he smiled, as he walked away.
Zoe's heart sank as he walked away, she needed him now, more than ever "listen, thanks for today" she called after him "I do owe you"
"Like I said, I'm keeping a list" he replied, heading in his previous direction. Something in his brain told him walking away wasn't the right thing today, he figured she'd probably need a stiff drink and a cuddle, even if she hated cuddling. He turned back around "Zoe, I think you look amazing"
She watched him as he paused before turning back to face her, she could see the cogs whirring in his brain, wondering whether to leaver her or not. "Drink?" She asked him "back at mine?" She took one last breath and threw her cigarette on the ground stubbing it out with her favourite stilettos.
"I'd like that" he smiled, waiting for her as she headed back inside to grab her coat. He could sense Connie watching the exchange, she turned away and blushed as he raised his eyebrow at her nodding to the taxi where Guy sat "Night Mrs Beauchamp" he called after her, smirking as she ignored him.
.
Zoe sat on the couch, Max's arm wrapped around her, her head resting on his shoulder. She hated cuddling, it was something she'd only ever done after sex, with men she'd been firmly in a relationship with, but tonight it seemed apt. She took a swig of the vodka on the rocks in her hand and sighed, there was no need for talking tonight.
Max watched her from the corner of his eye, he bent down and kissed her head gently trying to let her know he was here for her; this grown up relationship stuff was completely new to him.
Zoe finished her drink and stood up, taking Max's hand and leading him to her bedroom, she undressed herself, and then him, leaning up to kiss him and dragging him back to the bed; allowing him to settle between her thighs.
Their kisses were full of understanding, they exchanged all the words that they never spoke. Their coupling was slow and deliberate, the slow and gentle movements unlike their normally furious bouts of sex. The only sound in the room were Zoe's sighs as she came closer to the place she wanted to be.
"Max!" She called, kissing him again; it was one of the few words she had spoken all night and it said everything it needed to. He returned her kisses with vigour.
She turned in her side and nestled into his chest "thank you" she whispered into the darkness "for being here" she clarified.
"Night Zoe" he whispered kissing the back of her neck.
"Goodnight Max" she whispered into the darkness, his shallow breathing told her he was already asleep.