She steps out of the shower and dries herself thoroughly before pulling on the grey Oxford t-shirt Harry's lent her to sleep in. The cotton is well worn and soft against her skin, and the size much too large for her. The sleeves almost come down to her elbows and the hem to mid thigh, and it makes her realise just how large Harry really is compared to her. She slips into her clean knickers which, unfortunately, are just a pair of plain, black ones that she'd grabbed from her locker at work. In fact, most of her knickers are plain, practical and rather boring. She's going to have to go shopping tomorrow, she thinks with a smile as she dries her hair with the travel hair-drier she'd also remembered to take, realising that a man with as little hair as Harry was unlikely to have one. Then she brushes her teeth, again with a toothbrush from work, and with one, last, nervous glance in the mirror while fighting the urge to look at herself critically for too long, she leaves the bathroom.

When she steps into the bedroom, the bedside lamp is on and Harry's already in bed under the covers, so she quickly scurries across the floorboards and slips under the duvet, pulling it all the way up to her chin as she shivers from the change in temperature.

"Cold?" he asks softly, turning onto his left side to face her.

"Yes," she replies. "It's the temperature change. I'll be fine in a moment."

"I should have adjusted the heating," he murmurs. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be silly," she admonishes lightly, reaching her hand towards him.

He takes it in his and brings it up to his lips, pressing a soft kiss against her fingertips. "Ruth," he whispers, "I want you to know that having you here, with me, makes me feel... jubilant."

She smiles and shuffles closer to him, feeling her nerves dissolve with his declaration and after seeing the joy so clearly written all over his face. He lifts his right arm to allow her to come close before he encircles her with it as she rests her head on his left, upper arm, nuzzling her face into his neck and tangling their legs together, delighting in the feel of his warm skin against hers. She feels him start as her cold feet come into contact with his calf and chuckles softly, murmuring a quiet apology.

"Are your feet always this cold?" he asks as he wraps both arms around her and pulls her closer.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" she grins happily as she drapes her own arm over his side to rub his back. "You'll have to wait and find out, won't you?"

"I look forward to it," he chuckles.

She sighs in contentment as his warmth seeps though her and his smell envelops her. He has such a wonderful, masculine scent, and it's such a delight to be surrounded by it now. It makes her feel safe and relaxed, content and happy, as well as a little aroused.

"Mmmmm," she hums a little while later. "This feels wonderful. I could get used to this."

"Please do," he smiles, pulling her closer still so that she's flush against his body and she has to fight hard to stop her thoughts from dwelling on the feel of him against her and suppress her rising passion. They're quiet for a little while and then suddenly he murmurs, "I can't believe you're really here, Ruth. I fear I might be dreaming."

"Would you like me to pinch you?" she grins as she moves back a little to look at him.

"No, thank you," he chuckles.

"What about this?" she asks before she presses her lips against his softly and then more firmly as he responds, sliding one hand into her hair, cradling her head as he pulls her close. He hums in satisfaction as they deepen the kiss, his chest vibrating against hers with the sound and causing her to lose the battle to keep this chaste and control her arousal as desire explodes inside her. She moans softly, running her left hand down his back to the hem of his t-shirt before bringing it back up under the material, feeling his warm, soft skin for the first time. How long has she waited to do this? To touch him, feel his hands on her body, his lips against hers? Too long... far too long.

His hands become bolder too as the heat rises between them, running up and down her back under her borrowed t-shirt several times before he shifts his weight, rolling her onto her back and leaning over her, his right hand slipping forward to caress her stomach. She moans again, sucking harder on his lower lip as his hand glides higher, his fingertips gently caressing the lower part of her left breast and then slowly venturing higher. It's when his hand cups her breast and his thumb rubs against her hardened nipple that she has to release his lips, a gasp of pleasure escaping her as the sensations become overpowering. "Harry," she moans softly. His hand's pushing her shirt up now and soon his mouth replaces his thumb, sucking gently on her areola, his tongue rubbing against her, making her groan and pant with want. He slips his leg between hers, bending his knee so that his thigh presses firmly against her pubic bone, and as his mouth and hands continue to caress her breasts, she begins to grind herself against him, moaning in pleasure.

Her left hand is already tangled in his hair, pulling him towards her as she arches her back to meet him, but needing to pull him closer still, she begins to lift her other hand that's trapped between their bodies, and almost immediately, it comes into contact with his erection, now straining against his boxer briefs and pressing into her hip repeatedly with increasing insistence. She strokes him gently with her thumb causing a low groan to escape him and slips her fingers round him, marvelling at how thick and hard he is and feeling the heat of his skin even through the thick cotton of his underwear. She tightens her hold on him as he sucks harder on her nipple and she tugs firmly upwards, causing him to release her breast as he groans heavily at the sensation and then whispers her name. He licks her breast again, sending jolts of pleasure straight through to her already molten core and making her begin to see stars, her whole body beginning to hum and vibrate with an intense pre-climactic energy.

"Harry, wait," she gasps and takes several deep breaths as he stills and raises his head to look at her. "I'm sorry," she breathes. "It's just that you wanted to wait, and if you don't stop now, I won't be able to. What exactly are we doing here?"

"I don't know," he sighs, shaking his head to clear it and pulling back a little as he closes his eyes for a moment. "You're so beautiful, Ruth, and so very responsive and passionate. I just... I got a little carried away... I'm sorry; you're right. We should stop." He pulls back a little further, pulling her t-shirt down over her body once more before kissing her lips softly and rolling onto his back, taking deep breaths to calm his racing heart and tame his raging desire.

"If you no longer want to wait, Harry," she murmurs softly as she turns to face him, "we don't have to. It's entirely up to you. I don't mind either way."

"No," he replies, rolling over to face her again, "I want to do this properly. I've never felt like this before, Ruth. You've bewitched me... heart, body and soul. The way I feel about you, it's... I can't find words to describe it... You're special and I want to do the right thing. You're the love of my life, Ruth, and I plan on staying with you and loving you until the day I die."

She smiles softly, feeling the tears prickle the back of her eyelids as his words surround and overwhelm her. She doesn't trust herself to speak, so she raises her hand instead, cupping his face and softly stroking his freshly shaved cheek with her thumb before she lifts her hand again and gently traces the contours of his beloved face with her fingertips, from his eyebrows to the corner of his eye down to his chin and up to his lips. He watches her quietly, his eyes shining with love, and when her fingers slide up to his lips, he kisses her fingertips softly. "What did I ever do to deserve you, Harry?" she whispers. "I'm not sure I deserve to be loved so completely, so unconditionally, so steadfastly, not after the things I've done, the way I've treated you..." her voice breaks and the tears begin to slide down her cheeks as swiftly she rolls away from him, attempting to escape to the bathroom.

Harry, however, is very quick when he wants to be, and before she's even managed to roll all the way over, his arm shoots out to stop her, pinning her to the bed as he murmurs, "Don't go. Please, don't go." She hears the hint of panic in his voice and stills, realising what he must think and feeling a pang of guilt that she's made him so insecure. She doesn't say anything, but she bring her hand up to rest on top of his as it lies across her chest and feels him relax a little and move closer, wrapping his body round her, spooning himself along her back and pulling her against his chest, holding her close as she silently weeps.

"I think, Ruth," he murmurs after a little while when her tears slow, "that perhaps we deserve each other. Neither of us is perfect, but we see in each other all the good things that we don't see in ourselves, and each of us feels like they're the lucky one. I don't believe there is anything you would do that could make me love you any less. You're a brilliant, kind, loyal, compassionate, caring person, Ruth, and you'd never hurt me intentionally. I know that. Do you have any idea how rare that is, especially in a spook? Do you have any idea what it means to me to know that you love me? Me, Ruth. After everything I've done... killed people, made countless morally reprehensible decisions, cheated, lied, hurt, damaged. The list is endless... You've seen me at some of my worst moments. You know me, really know me, and yet you love me, you want me, you..." He stops, his voice cracking with emotion.

She turns in his arms then, catching a wayward tear with her thumb as it slides down his cheek and running her hand through his hair as she gazes at him adoringly. "You're a rare man, Harry Pearce," she murmurs. "You hold one of the more powerful positions in the Security Services, and yet the power hasn't gone to your head. You make tough decisions every day, always trying your best to do the right thing. You try so hard to protect everyone, from total strangers to those you care for and love, and are willing to give up so much of yourself for their security. And of course, sometimes you make mistakes and, because the stakes are so high, people get hurt and sometimes they die. And yet you don't give up trying despite the guilt you feel, the toll it takes on you, the sacrifices you've had to make... So the way I see it, how could I not love you? What is there not to love?"

She leans in to kiss him, pressing her lips against his softly, tenderly, repeatedly as her fingers gently caress his neck, but when she feels her desire rekindle, she pulls back, knowing that, in their current, emotional state, they won't be able to hold back. "Let's sleep, Harry," she suggests.

"Yes," he agrees and kisses her lips softly once more. "Let's sleep." He rolls onto his back, pulling her with him and wrapping his arm around her shoulders when she moves closer and rests her head on his shoulder. "Goodnight, Ruth," he murmurs, pressing a soft kiss against her forehead and switching off the light.

"Goodnight, Harry," she smiles and shuffles even closer, cuddling up to him and sighing in contentment as she closes her eyes and slowly drifts off to sleep.