"The emotion that can break your heart is sometimes the very one that heals it..."

― Nicholas Sparks, At First Sight

He pulled away, unsure how to proceed and cursing himself inwardly for being so awkward. Awkward around people, story of my life he thought. His tie was askew, his sweater unbuttoned and his breathing rapid. Embarrassed, his eyes cast downward as he struggled for words.

"I'm sorry, Dory. I'm. Um. I've-"

"It's okay, Spence. Please don't apologise." Her left hand was still entwined in his hair, which she now moved to tip his chin up so their eyes met. Her other hand had dropped from his chest when he'd pulled away and she left it where it had fallen in her lap. She searched his eyes and saw confusion and something else there. Fear? Shame? Patting his hand with her left, she repeated, "It's okay."

Dory rose from the sofa to give him space. She made her way into his kitchen, blaming herself for spoiling their evening. Obviously, he wasn't ready to further their relationship, she thought. Assuming we have a relationship, she conceded. They'd had a spectacular time at the Smithsonian. Spencer knew it well, and had explained many of the exhibits to her. It was wonderful, like having her own personal tour guide. Another visit, next time to the Air and Space Museum had already been planned. They'd had lunch at a cozy Italian restaurant and a lovely hour long walk back to his apartment through the park. He'd reached for her hand and held it the entire walk. They'd kissed before, she though. He couldn't be freaked out by kissing. Sighing, she reached for the kettle, filled it with water and turned it on, intending to make tea. She took a pair of mugs from one cupboard and several boxes of tea from another. She turned around to head back out to the living room to ask Spencer which kind of tea he'd prefer and bumped into him, as he'd followed her into the kitchen.

He immediately reached his hands out to steady her, which drew her into his arms. Their eyes met and he tilted his head down to kiss her. She tossed the two boxes of tea onto the kitchen table and closed her arms around his neck in one swift motion, returning his kiss fervently. He pulled back enough to speak.

"I'm sorry, Dory, I just-" he paused and licked his upper lip and Dory timed it such that she captured his tongue with her lips as she renewed the kiss. The rest of his sentence was lost and he couldn't help but laugh a little. She released him from the kiss-finally-and ruffled his hair with one hand as she spoke.

"Tea?"

"Herbal." He took her hand out of his hair but continued to hold it. "Thank you."

"Sugar?"

"No thank you."

"Really? From the one who puts some coffee in his sugar. You don't want sugar in the tea?"

"Smart ass." He pulled her in close and kissed her again. She took a chance and opened her mouth slightly, giving him the opportunity to explore. Tentatively, his tongue found its way into her mouth and her hands wound their way around his neck and into his hair again. She balanced her own desire against his apparent nervousness and fought to let him control the depth of their connection. A flood of warmth coursed through her as his tongue dipped around hers and against her teeth and lips. Her breath caught in a sharp intake as she felt one of his hands move from around her waist down along her rear end. He heard it and immediately removed his hands and released her from the kiss, apologising yet again as he did so.

"I'm sorry, Dory. I-"

"Stop!" she commanded. "Stop apologising." Dory gave the kettle a death glare when its high-pitched whistle interrupted her. She busied herself for a moment, putting tea bags into the mugs and pouring water into them then turned to face him once again, "Spencer, we obviously need to talk about this."

Casting his eyes downward again, he nodded in agreement. She added sugar to one mug then picked both up, handing the sugarless one to Spencer. Taking his other hand in hers, she led the way back to the sofa where they sat down. Spencer sighed. Dory put her tea down on the coffee table, took his mug out of his hand and set it down as well. She reached over and kissed him on the cheek, then tipped his head up so their eyes met.

"So, tell me please. What is this all about?"