"You're beautiful, you know" Nick murmured as he watched Zoe reappearing into his bedroom from the en suite. His eyes trailed over her body, sweeping the gentle curve of her waist and the flare of her hips currently wrapped in his shirt. He had been astounded when she'd appeared on his doorstep three weeks ago, having flown from Holby City to Michigan in a state of spontaneity after waking out of her job.
"Is that right?" She laughed, running a brush through her wet hair. She looked over at him with a raised eyebrow "I think you just want me to take this towel off" she winked at him, wiggling her bum slightly as she dropped the towel and pulled her underwear on.
Zoe's phone buzzing on the bedside table drew his attention away from the show she was putting on "you're going to have to answer them eventually" he sighed, noting 'work' appearing on the caller ID; this just added to the numerous texts, calls and emails she'd been ignoring from the other staff members, especially Tess.
"No, I don't" she sighed, crawling back into bed with him; it surprised her how easily they had fallen back into the routine of being a couple. They went on dates, acted like any other regular couple and never mentioned the fact that Zoe had walked out on her job. She had appeared at his door in tears, clutching a bottle of vodka she had bought a duty free and repeatedly apologising. He had immediately taken her in his arms trying to calm her down enough to tell him what happened. He had listened and drank with her as the whole story of her losing her grip on the department spilled out, and when she apologised for letting him down he had cupped her face in his hands and kissed her; more passionately than he ever had and told her that she could never let him down. "I came here to get away, if, and when, I'm ready I will call them but for now you have me naked and in your bed, make the most of it Mr Jordan" she giggled as he rolled on top of her and kissed her. "I've missed you" she whispered. She couldn't believe how much she had missed the man currently inside her; he was more than the love of her life, he was her best friend and greatest confidante.
"I've missed you too, darling. I've missed you too" he whispered, kissing her gently. "You should let Tess know where you are, at least. You could be lying in a ditch for all they know" he tried to reason with her, stroking her side lightly.
"Yes, I know" she nodded "but I know what they must think of me, they think I'm a failure" she whispered, not quite meeting Nicks eyes.
He guided her chin up to look at him "You are not a failure" he told her, deadly serious in his tone "you are the most beautiful and intelligent woman I have ever met" he whispered as he moved his face closer to her and kissed her again. "You know" he whispered "I think it's time we went home"