Chapter 2

True to his word, it hadn't taken them long to pack. The drive to her small cottage hadn't taken much longer. She opened the door, dropping her keys into a bowl by the door, "It's not much. But it is home." She pointed down the hallway, "Second door on the left. There's only the one bath."

He nodded then made his way to the bedroom. She watched him unsure of why she'd invited him. Her friend Ellen would say it was her need to fix everyone. Turning into her sitting room, she straightened while she waited for him to return.

She was folding a throw when his voice filled the room, "You wouldn't happen to have anything to drink would you?"

"Tea, milk, orange juice…"

"Something stronger?"

"Is that really wise?"

"Doesn't a condemned man get a last wish?"

"You're not condemned, Robbie."

"Exiled then? One last hurrah."

Rolling her eyes, she finally smiled, "Fine, a drink."

"Or two."

She passed him walking to the kitchen. Returning a few moments later with a bottle of wine and two glasses, "A bottle and not a drop more."

He took the bottle from her, "A bottle each?" Holding out the glasses, she shook her head as he poured. He put the bottle on her coffee table and took the glass she offered. They clinked glasses and he took a deep sip from the glass, "You have good taste Dr. Hobson."

"Are you ever going to call me Laura?"

Draining his glass he filled his again, "Are you going to open another bottle…Laura?"

She sat on her sofa, tucking her legs under her. "Why do we need another bottle, Robbie?"

He sat next to her, stretching his legs out, crossing them at the ankle. "Why not?"

"Because flying with a hangover isn't fun."

Drawing deeply from his glass he laughed, "I never have a hangover and with the quality of this wine I doubt I would if I could."

"She wouldn't want you to be like this."

Anger crossed his face, "How do you know what she'd want?"

"I met her, I knew her a bit. She'd want you to be happy, not like this."

"Well she's not here." He drained his glass again, filling it.

"What do you miss the most?"

"Everything."

"No, that's not true." He glared at her and she met it easily, "What do you miss the most?"

Moments ticked past, neither spoke. Finally, in a quiet voice, he responded, "Her touch. No one touches me now. And I don't mean sex, just a touch. When you touched my hand at the bar, it was the first time anyone had deliberately touched me in over a year."

Reaching across the empty space, she took his hand. "I didn't know, Robbie."

He turned his hand over in hers, lacing their fingers, "Neither did I, until you did it."

"I'm sorry." Looking down at their still linked hands, "Does this help or hurt?"

Taking a deep breath he let his head fall back onto the sofa, "It helps."

Silence filled the room Laura continued to drink from her glass while Robbie ignored his. His breaths evened out, she saw his glass begin to dip. She set her glass on the table then moved to take his. Their hands were still clasped together as she moved over him. She took his glass setting it on the table behind him.

Turning back to him, she reached past his shoulder, leaning in close. Her hair brushed his skin. He moaned, nuzzling into her. His free hand reached up to stroke her cheek. Laura froze, unsure what to do. Without thinking, she turned to him. Their lips brushed. She sighed as he pushed into her, his hand moved to her hair.

She opened her mouth, his tongue invading it instantly. She could taste the wine on his tongue. Wrapping her free arm around his neck, she sat in his lap. He pulled at her hair, breaking the kiss, attacking her neck as she pulled desperately at him.

She stood, pulling him with her, marching backwards. His lips never left her neck. His hands reached for her shirt, tugging it from her pants. At the door to her bedroom, she paused for a moment, wondering if this was a mistake. The look of raw need in his eyes, pushed any doubt from her mind. Never wavering from his gaze she lifted her shirt then discarded it.

He followed her into the small bedroom, unbuttoning his shirt as he stalked toward her. His eyes devoured her as she stripped. In a flash he closed the distance between them, pushing her back onto the bed. He stripped his trousers then joined her on the bed.

His hands traveled the length of her body, savoring the feel of her skin. It had been so long since he'd touched flesh. Greedily he kissed her skin, consumed her. Arching her back, she pushed up to him, giving into the sensation.

It was a furious coupling; one borne of need and want. It didn't last long and at the end of it they were both sated and exhausted. Robbie collapsed alongside her, breathing hard. Neither quite knew what to say. They lay side by side staring at the ceiling.

"Robbie?"

He sat up, pulling at covers, "I'm sorry, Dr. Hobson, Laura. This shouldn't have happened."

She pulled at him, "Robbie, don't. I haven't any regrets." He turned to her, doubt filling his eyes, "Stay, we don't have to do anything else. But let me hold you, provide some sense of comfort. I don't expect anything. You can leave in the morning and this will have just been a night of comfort between good friends."

She could see the indecision on his face. Moving slowly, she softly touched his face. An almost inaudible cry escaped her lips when he turned into her touch, his lips caressing the inside of her wrist. She pulled him to her, wrapping her arms around him. He melted into her touch letting her pull him into the bed. She wrapped her body around him, caressing him lightly as his breathing evened out and he fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. Only when she was certain he was asleep did she allow herself to sleep.