This chapter should have been set in Niles' real life, but I thought, the story needed a change of pace [I think because what is happening between these lovely characters is by far, much more interesting ;)]

You have to know that what happens in this chapter take place several days after last chapter.

Again, hope you like it and reviews and comments welcome

6 - Life isn't so bitter after all

- Don't look yet, Niles –

- Ok –

He never liked this; being blindfolded. That made him feel helpless and silly. But maybe this time would be different. Yeah, with her it would be different.

- We'll have to walk a little more –

- Hey and why didn't you bring my surprise to the cabin? Daphne, I feel like a fool -

- Because it isn't an indoor surprise. And stop whining. I'm here and I won't let anything happen to you. So trust me and carry on. – She replied with mocked annoyance.

She was right. With her, nothing bad could happen. He trusted her more than anyone. And besides, he was starting to enjoy being guided by her. She was behind him, her body perfectly moulded to his. Her soft hand taking his, and her left arm wrapped around his waist. Her left hand rested lightly on his belly. The feeling of her warm breath on her neck made him tingle all over.

Maybe, if he walked slowly, he could keep the sensation longer.

- We're here – she said moving away from him. – I'll take the blindfold off. –

Sunlight blinded him and it took him several seconds to get used to it.

- Do you like it? She asked with a sudden tone of shyness.

He smiled. She had prepared a picnic beside the lake. A lot of food was displayed over a light blue blanket: a bowl of pasta salad, a jug full of lemonade, strawberries, a delicious chocolate cake, etc

He turned to her and took her hands – I love it. –

She smiled timidly and got a little closer to him. – You're always doing wonderful things to me. I thought it was time to turn the tables -

He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her forehead tenderly. She caressed his arms and then covered his hands with their own.

- Thank you – he said, kissing her softly

- I wanted to make a special meal for us – she explained while taking his hand and guiding him to the blanket.

- So, would it be correct to assume this picnic as a… date, Miss Moon? – he asked with a twinkle in his eye.

- But not any date. Our first official date -

________________________________________________________________________________________________

They talked and laughed over lunch.

When they finished Niles lay down on the blanket while Daphne rested her head on his belly. Sun was beginning to shine over them.

- Niles, would you like to go for a swim? Day's getting hot. –

- That would be nice. But I'd like to stay here for a while if you don' mind.

- Sure – she said closing her eyes. A couple of minutes later, a thought came up in her brain.

- So, apart from your mum, no one has come here ever before me, right?

- Yep – he answered burying his fingers in her mane.

- And, didn't you want having more friends here?

He was silent for a while, trying to understand why she was asking those questions now. Maybe, she wanted to know more about him. – Well, sometimes I craved for someone to talk or play to; but normally, I was quite content to be on my own –

- What about now? Would you like anyone else coming here?

- No – He answered without any hint or doubt or regret.

- No? – she was surprised. – People usually get tired of being around the same people. I thought you would want a change –

- That happens when you're in love. You don't need or want anyone else around –

She raised her head and stared at him with wide eyes. –

- What did you say? –

Niles began to panic silently. Was it right to let that out so soon? Maybe she thought he was going too fast. Well, there was no way to turn back now. He sat up and cupped her cheek with his hand, caressing her face with his thumb.

- Yes Daphne, I love you –

She smiled broadly and looked into his liquid blue. It wasn't fair that he remained unaware about her feelings.

- I love you too Niles. Very much. -

She kissed him gently at first and he responded to her advances. They both leaned on the soft blanket. Passion was beginning to grow. They made out for a long time before letting their hands explore each other.

- Daphne, God I…. – he couldn't find words.

She smiled sweetly and kissed him hungrily. She opened her mouth and he could explore the sweet depth of it causing her to moan softly. She slipped her hand inside his t-shirt and caressed his soft chest hair.

He pressed himself against her, letting her know that his desire was truly genuine.

- Niles – she whispered while Niles kissed leisurely her neck. He couldn't hear her as he traced her earlobe. – Niles, please –

- Yeah? – He looked at her and saw raw desire in his brown eyes.

She traced his lips with her thumb.

- Niles, you never showed me the cabin's upper floor – she said mischievously

- Well there's only a small studio and a bedr… - smiled broadly before changing his playful expression to a feigned serious one - Where are my manners? May I show it to you? –

- Of course –

When they reached the bedroom he didn't let her say anything as he covered her lips with their own and kissed her deeply. He took her in his arms and carried to the bed.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

A couple of hours later, the rays of late afternoon that went through from a gap of the curtains lit the sheets that covered the two lovers

She opened her eyes finding herself disoriented for a moment in an unknown bedroom. When she realised where she was, she let a tiny smile form in her face. With a sigh of fulfilment she raised her head from her lover's bare chest.

Her smile widened when she looked at him. He was still asleep, his chest slowly rising and falling and the look of his face was full of tenderness and love.

She kissed his lips softly and he stirred before opening his eyes. The sight of Daphne's face looking at him and the feeling of her naked body pressed to his made him smile.

- Hey – his voice rasped with sleep

- Hey – she said kissing his chest lightly

- How do you feel? –

- Never been better – she answered snuggling to him

- I'm glad. –

The feeling was too overwhelming to express it with words, so they stayed there in silence relishing in their intimacy and the contact with each other.

Daphne's mind was turmoil. She had met Niles less than a month ago. In many aspects, he was almost a stranger. She barely knew facts of his life outside that place.

But at the same time, she felt a powerful connection with him. As if she had known him all her life. The first days she was a well-mannered man and a nice companion. Then he turned into a faithful friend, the best friend, she thought. Feelings changed and she started to see him, not as a friend, but as man, a wonderful, sweet, and thoughtful man who was making her see that real love was possible between two strangers. But that wasn't all. That tender love hid also a lustful side and she soon found out a very sexy man who made her feel as a whole woman. With him she learnt the true meaning of desire

She felt happiness overcoming her and a sudden realization emerged in her mind. She wanted him to know that she belonged to him, no matter what happened.

- I wish we hadn't to leave this place – she whispered hugging him tightly

He sighed and intertwined his fingers with hers. He wanted that more than anything. He knew that life there wasn't real, but he was so happy…

- Yeah. I'd love to stay here forever… with you –

He felt a rush of love when she placed herself on top of him covering his body with her own and kissed him. He caressed her back gently.

- Have I told you how beautiful you are? - He asked nonchalantly while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She grinned and caressed his face lovingly.

- Yeah, several times hours ago –

He blushed a little remembering the moment of passion and Daphne couldn't help but melt at the sight of his lover's face turn into a delightful shade of scarlet, so she kissed him sensuously.

He kissed her back and rolled on top of her. With mounting passion he kissed her lips, her cheeks, her neck….

He knew he couldn't get enough of her, of having her in his arms, kissing her, touching her, feeling her; of being at her side. Although they only had those precious little moments in that corner of paradise, he had the intention of making her very happy every second of them.

He looked at her and saw a woman who truly and deeply loved him for who he really was, not because of who he was supposed to be.

- I love you Daphne – he said quietly

She smiled at him. – I love you too Niles. –

She rolled to her side with her back pressed against Niles chest, his arm wrapped around her waist and their legs entangled. No words were spoken for a couple of minutes as Niles planted small kisses in her shoulder and neck.

- Niles? –

- Yes? – he mumbled

- We never went to the lake after lunch –

He laughed – Yeah that was the original idea, but I think what we did instead was much better –

- Oh definitely. But you know, after what happened in this bed, it's kind of hot in here and I really need to cool off –

Although he was quite contented with spending the rest of the day in bed with that beautiful woman in his arms, he liked the idea of taking a dip in the lake. He got up from the bed and started rummaging inside the wardrobe.

- Sure. Why don't you go for your bikini? I think I have my swimming trunks over here. I just… - He couldn't end the sentence as Daphne grabbed her arm.

- What? – he asked startled. She grinned wickedly

- Niles, don't worry. We're not going to need them – she said taking his hand and leading him outside.