Chapter 1

He took her coat off the stand and held it up for her pulling it on to her shoulders and bending down to kiss the side of her neck "Ready?" She turned and looked back at him "Yes, let's go."

He grabbed both cases as she opened the front door rummaging in her bag to check for what he thought must be the fourth or fifth time that they had their passports.

"They are still in there" he was grinning as he loaded the cases into the boot

"What?" She looked up slightly confused.

"Molly every time I have seen you check this morning and last night they were there" He laughed and opened the car door tilting his head quickly to one side. "Come on we need to get going we need to be at the airport by 11 at the latest."

"it's not like you haven't checked too smart arse, I saw you as I came down the stairs." He laughed and shook his head as they pulled away.

Molly had butterflies, her first holiday with Charles and despite everything she had tried over the last few weeks to persuade him he had refused to spoil the surprise by telling her where they were going.

Just over a couple of hours later they were walking towards the British Airways check in area in Terminal 5 at Heathrow. Charles was striding ahead with the luggage trolley Molly couldn't help but fall a few paces behind gazing at her surroundings. The only other airport she had ever been to before this was Brize and that was more like a motorway service station than this giant greenhouse that she was currently in.

She jogged a bit faster to catch him up and linked arms as they came to the far end of departures, he stopped and reached onto the trolley to open his flight bag. He passed her a beautifully wrapped square package. "Go on open it" She pulled slowly at the red ribbon and unfastened the paper to reveal a travel guide book for New York City.

"Bleeding hell Charles you are kidding right?"

Charles stopped and grabbed her by her waist pulling her in to him, he kissed her and stroking her forehead whispered "Molly Dawes will you do me the great honour of accompanying me to New York for the next seven days?"

Molly squealed with delight "Yes...yes...you secretive bleeding cockwomble"

His grin was wide and mischievous "Come on then Dawesy, the Big Apple here we come"

He scooped her onto the luggage trolley and like a big excited kid whisked her towards the first class check in as she held on for dear life laughing and giggling with him as they nearly knocked a concierge over, Charles feigning a straight face and apologising profusely as Molly desperately stifled more giggles.

God she made him feel like life had started over, like he could wipe the slate clean and really start living life again. The last few years had made him feel like an empty shell, apart from Sam even his army life had only been fulfilled out of a sense of duty. That was until Molly Dawes had arrived and grabbed his heart in her fist and been squeezing it ever since, there had been times when it felt like she might rip it right out of his chest but they had made it this far and he couldn't and didn't want to imagine a life without her now.

He was brought back from his thoughts by the stewardess offering them another drink.

Molly was sat across from him revelling in all the freebies that first class flying bestowed, she looked like a kid in sweet shop she was wearing practically everything from the travel pack including the pyjamas. Charles had found this both amusing and endearing as they were flying mid afternoon but she had insisted it would stop her clothes from getting crumpled and that she could chill out whilst she watched the movie.

As they entered the arrivals hall at JFK Charles was scanning along the line of people as though he was looking for someone, it was Molly that saw him first "Why has that bloke got your name on a card?" Charles kissed her cheek "You'll see." Charles walked over to the man taking Molly's hand and still trying to steer the luggage trolley.

The man stepped forward "Mr James welcome to New York sir my name is Joseph and I will be your driver today, the car is just outside let me help you with that." He led them both out to the front of the arrivals building where a small limousine was waiting he opened the doors for them to get in and then loaded up their bags.

Charles had arranged for them to stay at The Four Seasons in Midtown, one of his old officer colleagues had moved into the hospitality business and he had managed to pull a few strings to get them a suite and the driver to pick them up at the airport. He wanted to make this week special for them and had used his years of planning skills to research the best places to visit and things for them to do to make the most of their time there.

Joseph took the scenic route from JFK heading for the Brooklyn Bridge to cross to Manhattan so that Molly would get her first view of the city from the bridge, it would mean a longer drive from Downtown to Midtown but it meant they could take in some of the sights along the way.

Charles took hold of Molly's hand as she gazed out of the window, she turned to smile at him. "Have I told you that you are something else Charles James you don't really do half measures when it comes to surprises mate do you?" He raised his eyebrow and grinned, stroking the inside of her palm with his thumb.

"The best is yet to come Dawesy."He leant across and kissed her behind her ear biting her lobe playfully.

"I can't wait to get you back to the hotel seeing as you didn't want to join the mile high club earlier."

She slapped his arm playfully and then suddenly she was utterly transfixed by the mass of tall buildings coming into view glistening in the last of the early evening sun surrounded by the river on their own little island. They looked like a skyscraper Lego village from the bridge, she thought, so different from anything she had seen before not that she had seen that many places other than London, Afghan and Bath until now.

Charles pointed out into the Hudson bay "That's the Statue of Liberty."

Molly squeezed his hand "It all looks amazing Charles, I am so excited, thanks for this, thanks for all of this."

They eventually arrived at the hotel, they had weaved their way up Manhattan through the sea of yellow cabs Molly had been content just to watch the city go by, different things and people to see on every block the Lego City from earlier had now become life size and she could no longer see the top of the buildings as she craned her neck to get the best view from the car window occasionally getting her phone out to try and take a picture.

Charles put his hand over her eyes as they left the elevator on the 50th floor and guided her along the corridor making her promise to keep her eyes closed as he opened the door with the key card. He took her hand and walked her across to the floor to ceiling windows covering the entire corner of the suite. He opened one set of doors that led onto one of two terraces and led her to the edge of the balcony. She was aware of the cool air hitting her face and the sights and sounds of the city kicking in again.

"Open your eyes" she was met with the most breathtaking view of Central Park on one side and Park Avenue on the other.

Charles heard the door and left her to take it all in, once the bell boy had gone he moved their cases to the dressing room they could sort that later he was more keen on them getting out of their clothes rather than beginning unpacking any.

He poured two glasses of Champagne and began running the luxuriously oversized bath. He went back out onto the balcony and moved behind her putting his arms around her waist and his chin on top of her head looking out into the distance with her, it really was the most amazing view.

"I have run us a lovely bath, the Champagne is on ice, so do you think I could persuade you to come in and test out that very big bed in there Dawesy?"

She giggled and took his hand. "Lead the way, you're the boss."

They emerged from the bathroom both wrapped in fluffy white robes. Charles flopped down onto the bed propping himself up on one elbow and patting the space beside him, he was ignoring the growing fatigue from the flight and giving it his best shot to persuade her into round two.

He didn't really need to try too hard she was overwhelmed by how bloody gorgeous he looked stretched out on the bed, she knelt beside him and began to slowly tug at the tie on his robe pulling it open to reveal those beautifully toned abs and she was in no doubt that he was ready for round two. She slipped her own robe down off her shoulders and leaned down to kiss him biting his bottom lip playfully, her gaze never left his as she picked up the half full champagne glass from the side table slowly pouring it down his chest, her tongue deliberately trailing a path down his body. He stroked her back as she licked and kissed his skin and he let out the inevitable groan as she reached her ultimate destination.

They lay breathless for a few minutes afterwards, this was the first time she had ever used that particular move and he had been surprised by her new found boldness. He had pleasured her in that way many times but she had never took the initiative to do the same and he had not wanted to push it but after that he really hoped it wasn't a one time thing.

Molly cheeks were flushed she was also suddenly acutely aware it was the first time she had done this with Charles, she didn't know why she hadn't done it before and felt slightly embarrassed now for some strange reason. His reaction suggested that he really hadn't minded it at all and it had made her feel even more horny than usual being in control.

It was Charles who eventually broke the silence "We should come to New York more often." She stayed quiet and then her grin turned into a giggle, Charles began to laugh with her as she rolled towards him her hands covering her face and muttered "Cheeky bugger."