The sun was shining, and although there was an autumn chill to the air, it was a beautiful day. As they walked through the park, the conversation flowed easily and the more they talked, the more common interests they unearthed. Henry kept glancing down at Elizabeth's dainty hand in his, their fingers tangled together as if they were meant to fit all along and he couldn't quite believe how things were panning out. He had been in somewhat of a daze from the second he'd picked Elizabeth up for their date the night before and she'd pervaded his thoughts ever since.

He was already teetering on the edge of the rabbit hole as she opened up to him about her past, trusting him enough to let him in…Sharing the darkest aspects of her life. And then as soon as his lips met hers, he fell head first down it and couldn't be happier. Elizabeth aroused him mentally, emotionally and good god alive did she arouse him physically. His mind had been filled with visions of her legs until he'd caught sight of her in her pyjamas… And then there was no stopping his imagination.

As he glanced once more, his eyes met hers and he literally struggled to catch his breath for a second or two. They were the most incredible shade of blue, like cerulean pools sparkling in the sunlight and he was pretty certain he'd never seen anything so beautiful.

A tiny simper tugged at the corners of her mouth, slowly spreading across her face until her features were illuminated but the warmest of smiles. It was then that he truly noticed her beauty. The contours of her cheekbones, the soft waves of her hair as it tumbled across her shoulders and the radiance of her skin as it flushed against the cool breeze.

Their gentle stroll had petered out and they were stood, gazing at each other, unable to move or look away. It had been so long since either of them had felt this way and it was intoxicating. Henry felt an innate need to protect her and in turn, Elizabeth felt safe in his presence. She knew without any shadow of a doubt she was falling for him and very quickly which both excited her and terrified her in equal measure.

Elizabeth shivered as the breeze picked up, giving Henry the perfect opportunity to wrap his arms around her. Something he'd been wanting to do ever since they'd left her apartment. She snuggled into him and he placed a gentle kiss against her temple.

"I think you could do with something hot inside you." As soon as the sentence left his lips he regretted it. Even more so when Elizabeth began laughing.

"Oh my god… Coffee… I meant coffee." His protests only made Elizabeth laugh louder which would have been a beautiful sound had Henry not been so mortified.

"It's okay Henry.. I believe you. There's a really sweet little cafe on the other side of the park. Come on." She couldn't help but smirk at the crimson shade creeping up his neck and onto his face. "You're very cute when you're embarrassed."

The cafe was fairly busy but they managed to snag themselves a little table in the corner, which was rather fortuitous as they were both pretty lost in each other. Elizabeth wrapped her hands around the warm mug, inhaling the rich coffee aroma.

"I love this place. I usually come here on a Sunday morning to read, although I haven't really had that much time lately…. It's so peaceful and the view of the park in the summer is breathtaking."

"Maybe we could spend some time here tomorrow morning? If you'd like to, that is?" He knew it was presumptuous, but he wanted to spend every minute he could with her. He was completely smitten.

"Oh… You mean after I've had something hot inside me?" The smirk on her face made her look positively devilish, yet another expression Henry loved.

"No… I'll come and pick you up...Oh jeez… I meant coffee… I'm never going to live this down, am I?" Henry hid his face in his hands, which allowed Elizabeth to move closer to him.

"I'm curious about something Henry." She gently moved his hands down, holding them in hers "This thing we're doing… Me and you… Is it an exclusive kinda deal?" Her tone was soft and melodic.

"Oh god yes… I mean.. Of course.. If that's what you want?" He hoped to god that's what she wanted.

"It is… Because I kinda like you a little bit Dr McCord… And I'd like to hope you don't proposition too many other girls like that?"

"Seriously Elizabeth…. I didn't proposition you…. Stop teasing me." He was pretty sure she was joking, but embarrassment clouded his judgement.

She lowered her voice and leaned in closer "Ohhh… That's a real shame… Because it's definitely something I'd be interested in exploring when the time is right… But if it's not on the table…" The way she was chewing lightly on her bottom lip was incredibly distracting and Henry felt himself gravitating towards her.

"Well, we shouldn't discount anything just yet…. It's good to have options Miss Adams." Their lips were tantalizingly close and her warm breath on his face was sending shivers down his spine.

"You look like you want to kiss me…. Do you want to kiss me Henry?" He'd never heard a more seductive sound and Elizabeth was pretty sure she'd never flirted like this in her life.

He slowly closed the gap and pressed his lips softly against hers. His hand cupping her face as she eased into the kiss. They quickly found a rhythm as if they'd been practicing for years, the gentle dance of their tongues exploring each other. The excitement of what was starting between them taking over.

"Hmmmmm….. I'll take that as a yes then." Elizabeth moved back slightly, unable to contain her glee.

"It's certainly something I could get used to doing…Shall we head back to yours? I really should get going." Henry took hold of her hand once more as they headed across the park.

Once back at her apartment, Elizabeth felt disappointed "Do you really have to go?"

"I have some marking I need to get finished… But I could bring some Chinese food later and we could watch a movie or something?"

"Or something huh? Have any ideas on what that might be?" That damn smirk of hers was going to be the death of him for sure.

"They say it's always the quiet ones you have to watch… You're trouble Miss Adams." He wrapped his arms around her, her mischievous nature enthralling him.

"I'll let you into a little secret Henry… I'm not all that quiet." She had no idea where her words were coming from but there was just no stopping them. And the more stunned Henry looked, the worse she got.

"Chinese sounds perfect… I may crawl back into bed for a while. Someone woke me really early this morning and I'm exhausted."

Henry placed a chaste kiss on her lips and headed out the door "See you later Professor."


The phone buzzed on the bedside table, reverberating through the wood and stirring Elizabeth from her sleep. She reached for her glasses and blinked a few times to focus on the screen.

I hope you're sleeping well.

Can't stop thinking about you

See you later…

Henry xx

She read the message several times and felt like a teenager again. The butterflies in her stomach were dancing around and the permanent smile on her face was showing no signs of dissipating any time soon. Henry made her feel safe and respected yet sexy and desirable all at once and it was an onslaught to her senses. She had shut herself down for so long, unable to feel anything but pain. The guilt of what had happened to Aaron the prominent emotion amongst so many other negative thoughts.

And then she'd crashed into Henry McCord, quite literally, and he was finding a way through. Making her believe that it was okay to feel happy, to feel hopeful… God, should she dare think that she could actually be in love again. She let out a shaky breath as her mind got itself a little out of control and went to type a reply to Henry. Before she could send it, her phone rang and she smiled as she answered.

"Hey Isabelle…. What took you so long?" Her tone was light as she awaited the interrogation.

"So… No desperate phone call either last night or this morning which I'm taking as a very good sign… Although I'm mortally offended that you didn't feel the need to call me with details." Isabelle had a way of covering everything with a humorous veil. But when it came to Elizabeth, her protective instincts always kicked in.

"What details are you expecting?" As if she didn't know

"Ahhh… There are details then? Spill and don't leave anything out."

"Let me get up and make some coffee and I'll fill you in."

"What do you mean get up… Where are you?" That had peaked Isabelle's attention.

"I'm in bed." She knew that one simple statement would have her dear friend floundering.

"BESS…. Good girl… I'll let you get back to him… But I'm serious, I want details later or we're no longer friends."

"Isabelle…. I'm alone."

"Ohhhh… You did the deed and then kicked him out? I'm so impressed… All my years of teaching you have finally paid off…Tell me everything."

"Oh Isabelle… He was magnificent… The four or was it five times last night and then again this morning was just… Oh god." Elizabeth was a pro at deadpan.

"Holy shit… Are you serious?"

"No! Of course I'm not… But that's what you wanted to hear so I thought I'd indulge you."

"So you didn't have sex with him? Not even once?" The disappointed tone amused Elizabeth no end.

"No… But he did come over this morning and make me breakfast. And if his kisses are anything to go by, I don't think we'll have an issue with the rest when it happens."

"You know you're not funny, right?... That was outrageously unfair and you now owe me dinner and several drinks to apologise… I don't forgive easily."

"You know you love me Isabelle… And I promise you'll be the first to know when it happens."

Isabelle laughed down the phone and then went silent for a second "Bess… I'm so happy for you… You have no idea how good it is to have you back." She didn't really do emotion, and sure as hell didn't like showing it… But Bess was different. "And I love you.. Even if you are incredibly mean to me at times. Speak soon."

"Love you too… Bye."

With the phone still in her hand, she deleted the rather bland message she'd intended to send to Henry and typed out what she was really thinking

You've been on my mind a lot too!

Can't wait to discover what the 'Or Something' might be?

And don't forget the food… After all, I do need something hot inside me, right?

Elizabeth xx

She cringed a little as she sent it. But Henry had awoken something that she couldn't seem to tame, nor did she really want to. And wherever this relationship was about to take them… She was all in.