Life's Hard
Chapter 1
The sun rose one Sunday morning and both Horatio and Zoë returned to Zoë's house after a week off enjoying the sun on the Island of Capri, just off Italy. They both arrived early that morning, exhausted and in need of sleep. They scrambled in with their suitcases and placed them in the hall before heading straight upstairs and having a very quick shower before climbing into bed for a rest after a night of travelling. Zoë rolled over to Horatio and looked up at him tiredly with a smile.
"I think you picked the best destination I could have asked for, that was the best holiday I've ever had." She grinned and then placed a small light kiss on his lips.
"I have to say the same, I think that will be on our list to visit again." Horatio smiled as he kissed her back.
"I agree, I've been to Italy a few times, but that place was absolutely stunning." She grinned as she relaxed into his arms. "And being with you just made it even better." She added with a small cheeky smile as she glanced up at him. He chuckled a little and looked into her chocolate brown eyes. 'That really was an amazing week, hopefully it will have relaxed her enough so she doesn't experience anymore blackouts.' Horatio thought to himself.
"You'll have to wear those bikini's more often…" Horatio grinned as he very delicately pulled her top up and began to sensually stroke her side with his fingertips without even realising it. A wide grin appeared across Zoë's face as she looked up at him, raising an eyebrow. She wrapped her leg around his and placed her head back down, next to his.
"How are we going to announce our news?" Horatio asked softly, looking down at her, feeling her breath gently hit his shoulder.
"I was thinking dinner again?" She asked as she lifted her head and looked up at him.
"I like the sound of that, shall I book a table for this evening?" Horatio questioned and another smile appeared across Zoë's face.
"That would be fantastic, not too late though, I think we both need an early night." She grinned cheekily at him.
"How about 6.30?" Horatio questioned as he pulled her top up a little more.
"Sounds perfect to me, got a restaurant in mind?" She questioned softly as she put her head back down in the pillow feeling absolutely shattered.
"I have one in mind, but you'll have to wait and see." Horatio grinned softly as he lifted his head a little and placed a sensitive kiss on her forehead. She smiled at him and then lifted her head once more to place another kiss on his lips.
"I'll ring when we get up." Horatio said softly and Zoë nodded as she slowly exhaled and moved a little closer to Horatio.
"Okay handsome." Zoë said softly as she exhaled softly again and closed her eyes as Horatio continued to gently brush her side. She was quickly whisked away into a pleasant dream while Horatio too was also whisked away into a pleasant dream.
Both Horatio and Zoë woke later that morning at 11.30am as the alarm clock beeped at them. Horatio looked down at Zoë who had obviously fidgeted a lot and managed to turn in the bed, using Horatio as a pillow, sleeping horizontally across the bed.
"That was either a really good sleep, or a really bad one." Horatio said with a smile as he looked down at her.
"It was really good actually, but I don't know how I managed this…" She said with a smile as she sat up and turned to face Horatio.
"Hmm, I don't think I can give you an answer either." Horatio grinned as he too sat up as he placed his hand on her thigh as she crossed her legs.
"Urgh no, we've got unpacking to do…" Zoë sighed as she remembered that two full suitcases waited for them downstairs.
"Thank you for reminding me." Horatio sarcastically said with a wide grin.
"No problem." She said as she pulled her top down and then shuffled over to the edge of the bed and got up.
"Okay, we can eat and then unpack, or unpack and then eat?" Zoë questioned. "No we can't, we have to unpack and then go to the shop." Zoë grinned.
"It looks like that is decided then…" Horatio said as he also got out of bed and got a t-shirt and joggers. They exchanged a smile and then walked out, Zoë first. Horatio's eyes dropped to her ass as they walked out. They got downstairs and Zoë took a hold of her suitcase.
"I'll do it sweetheart." Horatio said softly as he strolled over to her.
"I can do it Horatio, thank you though. You've got your own to carry." Zoë said softly as she lifted her suitcase. Horatio exhaled, knowing he wouldn't win the argument so left it at that and picked up his suitcase. They dumped the suitcases on the bed and began to unpack, putting most of the clothes in the washing. Horatio put some washing on as Zoë got changed. Horatio quickly changed himself while Zoë did her hair, he quickly rang a restaurant to book a table while she finished her hair off.
She turned to him with a smile. "Ready?" She asked softly and he nodded at her with a smile and walked out after her, again, looking down at her ass in her skinny jeans. She picked up her handbag and began to walk out.
"Inhaler, Zoë." Horatio reminded her as he picked it up from the table and held it out.
"Thank you Horatio." She said softly as she took it from him and dropped it into her bag. They walked out and climbed into Zoë's car. Horatio put the keys in the ignition and they then drove to the shop.
They quickly returned and Zoë put the shopping away while Horatio put the washing into the dryer. Horatio then sent round a message to the team to let them know that he'd booked a table. He instantly got all of their replies back, saying that they could all attend. Zoë's phone then beeped at her and she pulled it out of her pocket.
'Hey, hope you both had a lovely time? I take it some news is in order later?" Ryan had texted her. A smile appeared across Zoë's face as she read the text. Horatio walked over to her, having seen her grin and stood behind her as he wrapped his arms around her waist and stomach, reading the text himself, he already knew that it was Ryan that had texted her.
'We both had a fantastic time, thank you! You'll just have to wait and see. Z x' She wrote and then pressed send as Horatio chuckled a little and then turned his head and lightly kissed at her neck.
"What are we going to do now?" Zoë questioned as she placed her hands over his on her stomach.
"Whatever you want" HeykksHoratio said as he exhaled and she felt his breath roll over her neck.
"How about we put a film on, then it'll be time to get ready for dinner?" She asked softly and looked around to him.
"Sounds like a plan" Horatio said softly and then let go of her as they walked through to the living room. They both sat on the sofa and Zoë shuffled over to Horatio and took hold of his hand as she flicked through the channels to find a movie they both liked. He tenderly played with her fingers and then followed her arm up with his eyes as a smile appeared across his face.
"What are you grinning at?" She questioned as a smile appeared across her face, seeing his grin through the corner of her eye.
"Nothing" Horatio replied with a smile as she clicked on a film and then looked round to him.
"Hmm… that grin is telling me that you are thinking of something… and it's probably naughty." She said with a smile as she moved closer to him as he lifted his left hand and placed it around her. He continued to play with her right hand with his right. He chuckled a little and then quickly kissed the side of her head as she snuggled down and made herself comfortable with Horatio. They spoke a little throughout the film but mainly enjoyed watching it whilst Horatio played with her fingers and hand.
Before they knew it the film was over, Zoë flicked the TV off and stood up with Horatio.
"I'm going to have a bath, I think." She smiled sweetly as they walked upstairs.
"Want some company?" Horatio questioned a little shyly as he placed his hand on her back as they walked towards their bedroom.
"Hmm, I don't think we'd both be at the restaurant on time if we did share the bath…" Zoë grinned softly. Horatio chuckled, knowing it was true and nodded at her.
"I'll see you in a moment beautiful." Horatio said softly as he dropped his hand from her back to her ass.
"I'll see you in a moment." She grinned as she walked down the hall to the main bathroom. She ran herself a bath while Horatio got in the shower. Horatio got out quickly and changed into a suit and shirt before walking down the hall and into the bathroom.
"Just checking that you're alright" Horatio said softly as he entered and she glanced back over to him. She gave him a smile and nodded at him.
"I'll be out in a moment." She said softly and Horatio nodded at her and then closed the door behind him as he walked downstairs and tidied the kitchen and wiped the sides down. Zoë quickly appeared in the kitchen wearing a crisp charcoal grey suit with a cream top and long necklace accessory with her jacket sleeves pulled up to her elbows. Horatio looked her up and down with a smile and then admired the curls in her luxurious hair. He couldn't help himself but he just stared at her, wanting her.
"You look beautiful." Horatio said sincerely, stunned. She gave him a shy smile, a little confused by his extreme response.
"It's just a suit Horatio… something I wear almost all the time." She grinned at him as he stood there, still admiring her. Horatio took a deep breath and looked her in the eyes.
"Yes, but something seems a little different." He said entranced by her.
"It doesn't look too scruffy with the sleeves pulled up, does it?" She asked softly as she looked down at herself.
"Not at all beautiful, it's perfect." He said exhaling.
"You don't look so bad yourself." Zoë said as she walked over to him with a smile. Horatio exhaled a small chuckle and then looked down.
"I'm in love with that dark purple shirt as well. That was a good buy." She grinned as she placed both hands on his chest and smiled up at him. He saw her eyes sparkle and he smiled at her, losing himself in her eyes.
"Anyway handsome, we should be off otherwise we'll be late." She grinned as she dropped her hands from his chest and looked into his entranced eyes.
"Horatio?" She questioned when she didn't get a response from him.
"Sorry beautiful" Horatio said as he snapped himself out of it.
"Not a problem, I was just saying that we should be off otherwise we'll be late." She said as she placed her right hand on his left arm. Horatio nodded at her and then stepped closer to place an amorous kiss on her lips. She was taken aback by the amount of heart and emotion he put into the kiss. She placed an affectionate kiss back on his lips and then took a step back to look into his eyes. An involuntary smile appeared across her lips as Horatio also began to smile at her, making deep eye-contact with her, silently talking to her. She placed another kiss on his lips as she stepped forward and took a hold of one of his hands.
"We need to go." She said softly as she broke from the kiss and held her face inches from his, gazing into his radiant eyes. He nodded at her and they both took a step back, trying to break the intense connection between the both of them. They walked out into the hall and Zoë picked up her handbag as she pulled a pair of heels from the closet while Horatio slipped his shoes on.
"Ready?" She asked as she looked back over to him.
"And waiting" he smiled.
"Yours or mine?" She questioned softly as she opened the door.
"Mine?" Horatio asked softly and she nodded as Horatio closed the door behind them and they walked over to his car.
"You know, we should really designate a car as the main car and do something with the other…" She said with a smile as they got into his car.
"That would be a good idea." He said softly as he clicked his seatbelt into place.
"Well, you seem to drive a lot more than I do, so you have your pick of the cars." She said with a smile.
"I like them both equally." Horatio said as they reversed off the driveway.
"Well, that doesn't help does it?" Zoë grinned as Horatio chuckled a little and focused on the road. He let go of the steering wheel with one hand and placed his hand on Zoë's thigh.
"Are you nervous?" Horatio asked softly as he began to rub her thigh softly.
"A little" she said softly and then placed her hand over his.
"You're hiding it well." Horatio said softly with a smile as he glanced over at her.
"That'll be a different story when we get there." Zoë grinned as she gripped his hand a little.
"Don't worry about it sweetheart." Horatio said softly.
"They probably already know what our news is anyway." She grinned at him.
"Hmm… possibly" Horatio said with a small smile as he very quickly glanced at her. He pulled his hand from her leg as he took a sharp turning and focussed back on the road.
They continued to talk with each other and then pulled up at the restaurant.
"Okay, now I'm a little more nervous, but I think the excitement is slightly more overwhelming." Zoë said with a grin. Horatio smiled at her as he placed his hand around her lower back and planted his hand on her waist.
"Horatio, I love this restaurant!" She said as she looked at him as they approached a luxurious restaurant on the beachfront.
"I would have dressed up if I had known we were coming here." She said softly as she placed her arm around his waist.
"You're dressed perfectly, beautiful." Horatio said with a smile. They heard another car pull up and turned to see.
"Pretty boy's here early." She grinned softly as they turned and watched Ryan hop out of the car and walk towards them as he beeped his car locked.
"Hey" she grinned as they walked over to him.
"Hello to the both of you." Ryan said with a smile as Zoë gave him a soft hug. Both Ryan and Horatio shook hands and gave each other a manly nod.
"How are you? How's your week been?" Ryan questioned as he looked at them both.
"It was absolutely amazing, thank you." She grinned looking up at Horatio.
"How are you and how has your week been?" She questioned as she moved closer to Horatio as he placed his arm around her lower back again.
"I'm good and the week has been okay, definitely different without the both of you though." Ryan grinned.
"And I must say, you're looking very nice this evening, Zoë." Ryan said softly with a smile, admiring her outfit.
"Thank you, Horatio said the same, but I always wear suits, the only thing different is the sleeves and necklace." She grinned.
"Well, that must be the finishing touch then." Ryan said softly and Zoë chuckled a little as another car turned up.
"What's the occasion then?" Ryan asked softly.
"You'll find out soon enough." Zoë grinned as Horatio very gently rubbed her waist.
"Hey" Eric called loudly as he approached them. They all greeted him back, Zoë gave him a hug, Horatio a hand shake.
"Shall we go and stand near the entrance, so we're not in the middle of the car park?" Horatio suggested softly and they all nodded, thinking it was a very good idea. They all walked over to the entrance, with Zoë in Horatio's arm.
"Just Alexx, Frank and Walter to go" Zoë said softly and they then all began to talk again.
"Just how much sun did you get Zoë?" Eric questioned, seeing her dark tan.
"A whole week's worth, nothing but sun and refreshing drinks" she said with a grin as she placed her hand around Horatio's lower back.
"I can see that, I hope you both had a great week." Eric said with a smile.
"Indeed we did." Horatio said with a smile. Frank then turned up and greeted everyone. Alexx and Walter were not too late after and they were seated at the table Horatio had reserved. The waiter took their orders and let them settle down.
"What's the occasion this time?" Eric asked with a grin, looking at Horatio, then to Zoë.