On tumblr when I posted these I had posted them as two parts, but decided to go ahead and post both "Heats" together. I don't think you'll mind ;oP

"Heat"

That Friday...

He had been back in Dublin since two o'clock, but Tom purposefully dawdled, going to his publisher's and lingering in the city center until he was almost positive that he would have missed Sybil and Suzy, coming home from school. He hated that he was doing this—purposefully trying to avoid them both, especially when he missed them both quite desperately—but he reminded himself over and over that…this was for the best. He needed to put some distance between himself and his neighbors, he was becoming far, far too attached, and he honestly didn't want to push Sybil into something she wasn't ready for, if ever with him.

It broke his heart, because God help him, he loved her, but that was just it…he loved her and he loved her too much to hurt her, even by accident.

The snow was as thick as he remembered it being before he left for Kilkenny, but the temperature was a great deal colder. He pulled his older, worn coat just a bit tighter to his body, missing his newer one, but grateful that at least he knew Sybil would be warm enough. By the time he finally returned to the building that housed his flat, it was dark outside.

…And it was dark inside as well.

Tom frowned as he entered, noticing that the emergency lights were on in the corridor, but nothing else. His suspicions were confirmed when he reached his flat and tried to flip a switch…

The power was out.

"Feck, it's freezing," he swore, his eyes widening as a cloud of hot air could be seen leaving his mouth. How long had it been like this? But more importantly…how were Sybil and Suzy? The thought of his neighbors, huddling together for warmth, shivering from the cold…

He'd deal with his broken heart later. He left the flat and in just a few strides was standing outside her door, knocking on it and wondering if he was hoping they would be there, or learn that they were out, and had gone to a hotel or something to "wait out the cold"—

The door opened and Tom's heart flew up into his throat.

"Tom?" Sybil whispered, staring up at him with wide eyes.

He forced his eyes to look away from her face (still so clear and beautiful, despite the darkness around them) and took notice of the layers she was wearing, as well as his coat. "I just got back…" he explained, rubbing his hands together. "When did this happen?"

Sybil sighed and wrapped her arms around herself. "I'm not sure…it was fine this morning, but when I got back from taking Suzy, it was out, and that was two hours ago—"

"Wait," Tom's brow furrowed. "Got back from taking Suzy…?"

Sybil pressed her lips together and nodded her head. "Yes, one of her classmates invited her to a sleepover yesterday," Sybil explained, a smile curling at the corners of her mouth. "It's her first…not to mention the first time since we came to Dublin where she's spent the night someplace else," she looked down somewhat sheepishly. "It's good though, don't you think? I mean…she's making friends, and that's good!"

Tom was still taking in this news. Suzy wasn't there, Suzy was spending time with other children, and yes, that was good, but…that meant Sybil was here, shivering all by herself—not that she couldn't take care of herself, of course! But…despite the boundaries he told himself and told himself he needed to put up and observe and obey, there was still that desire, that need to…to protect her, even from something like the cold.

"Tom?"

He looked down and felt his breath catch in his throat at the way Sybil was looking up at him, and despite the shadows that surrounded them, he knew it wasn't his imagination, the…desire he saw in her eyes. Desire, but also…something else.

Oh God, dare he hope…?

"Tom…" she repeated his name again and took a step towards him, closing that little space between them. "I'm glad you're back."

He swallowed and nodded his head, but he didn't dare trust his voice right now.

"Won't you come in?" she asked, her eyes never leaving his.

There was the answer he wanted to give her, and the answer he believed he should give her. "I…" He remembered the last time the two of them had been standing like this, ironically in the doorway of her flat, though he was standing where she was then. He remembered holding her, feeling her shape against him, smelling her hair, tasting her lips…

He remembered the yearning in his blood, how he wanted to desperately be closer to her, as close as two people could physically be, and even then he knew it would never be enough.

And he remembered what happened when Suzy called out to Sybil, how the kiss had ended and how she had avoided his eyes, before making it clear that it had all been a "mistake".

"…I'm not sure that's a good idea," he sighed, taking a step back.

But Sybil followed him. "Please…" she whispered, looking up at with pleading eyes. "Please…I want you to."

I want you to. There so many meanings that could be taken from that.

"Sybil—"

"We can keep each other warm," she kept going, blushing deeply at the insinuation of her words, but there was no denying what it was that she was suggesting.

Keep each other warm; he was suddenly feeling rather hot just now.

He wanted to. God in heaven, he wanted to. But he knew his heart couldn't survive the heartbreak that would follow once she realized the mistake it was, just as she had come to that realization after their kiss.

"Sybil, I…" he lifted his hand to touch her cheek. "You have no idea how I wish I could—"

She reached up and grabbed the lapels of his jacket, tugging him down until her lips found his, pressing them feverishly against his, which was the perfect description because he suddenly felt heat flooding his body. He couldn't help but moan as she pressed herself against him, and his arms soon found her again, moving around her, pulling her closer, and when he moaned, she took initiative, her tongue sliding inside his mouth and stealing his breath. Not to be outdone, Tom responded, his own tongue meeting hers, and deepening the kiss even further.

They started to gasp for air, and when their mouths parted, their brows remained pressed together, and he felt Sybil's breath, hot against his throat as she whispered, "Please don't go. I've missed you so much—both of us have—and ever since that night, I haven't stopped regretting what I did…" He stiffened at this and lifted his head, looking down at her and searching her eyes for meaning.

And his heart rose with such hope when she clarified, "…I shouldn't have let you go."

He swallowed, the emotion rising in his chest. His hands rose and held her face, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears as she gazed up at him. "Mo stór…" he murmured, his thumbs reverently caressing her cheeks.

Sybil smiled and he could feel the heat of her blush warming his palms. "So…will you stay?" she asked him once more.

Tom didn't answer…at least not with words. Instead he kissed her again, and smiled against her lips as she gasped when he swept her up, before carrying her into the flat and kicking the door shut behind them.

It was freezing outside, but Sybil would never know. The cold that enveloped the dark room couldn't penetrate her, not now, not when she was wrapped and enveloped in the warm, muscular strength of his arms.

She kept her eyes closed, but she smiled as she felt the heat of his body radiate through hers, his chest pressed against her back, his arms around her waist, and his lips…

She giggled at the feel of his lips making sleepy kisses to the back of her neck where his face was buried.

So this is what it feels like, she found herself thinking. This is what it feels like to be safe, to be treasured, to be…loved.

The first time had been fast and desperate, that desperation only growing with every step Tom took towards the bedroom. They hadn't even managed to get under the covers. They pulled and tugged at the various layers they were wearing, until finally Sybil had managed to get Tom's trousers loose, push her knickers down, and help him roll the condom on, the both of them laughing between kisses at their clumsy fingers, and then gasping when their bodies finally made contact. It was quick and over in less than five minutes, to which Tom blushed and looked rather embarrassed by, but Sybil held his face, tenderly ran her fingers along his cheek, before pulling him down for long, deep kiss, before murmuring, "we have all night…"

The second time was much, much better (not that Sybil didn't think the first time was good, but compared to the second, that was much better). They managed to peel all the layers off, and snuggle down beneath the blankets, no longer feeling any cold in the room, just wonderful, passion-fueled heat that kindled while they took their time exploring each other's bodies, first with fingers, then with lips, and Sybil shattered multiple times in Tom's arms before they finally joined once again.

It was beautiful. And now, Sybil understood why it was called "making love". As they recovered, Tom tenderly brushed the hair from her face and asked her if she was alright. She blushed and smiled and nodded, before murmuring, "perfect", which earned a grin from him that was quickly followed with a kiss.

It wasn't an exaggeration. Sybil's only other sexual experience was with Suzy's father, and that had been far from perfect.

Suzy…

Sybil burrowed a little further under the blankets as she thought about her daughter. Things were different now between herself and Tom, different in a good way, but different none the less. Her movements must have stirred him, because she felt him shift slightly, his head rising a bit, but only so he could kiss her temple, before relaxing once again on the pillow. He didn't say anything, and Sybil had a feeling he was waiting for her to speak. She turned in his arms until she was facing him, her head now pillowed on his shoulder. "I was thinking about Suzy…"

Tom nodded, as if expecting this. He looked down at her, his hand rising to brush her cheek as it had done so many times since they had first kissed that evening. "What do you want to say?" he asked. She could hear the reservation in his voice, the uncertainty of what she was going to suggest, perhaps worrying that she would tell him "we can't say a word, we must pretend like this didn't happen".

She hugged him a little tighter before finally answering, "well…not to inflate your ego, but I don't think she'll be disappointed to learn that her favorite babysitter is now 'mummy's boyfriend'…"

She felt Tom stiffen and Sybil looked up, worry now clouding her eyes. Oh God, had she said something wrong? Didn't he…didn't he want…?

"So…we're not going to hide then?"

Sybil swallowed and looked deeply into his eyes. "I…" she took a deep breath. "No, I…I don't want to hide."

Tom cupped her cheek, and then lowered his head to kiss her, and Sybil moaned softly against his mouth, a smile pulling at the corners. "Good," he whispered against her lips. "I don't want to hide either…and I would be very, very honored to be the boyfriend to Suzy's mummy," he chuckled.

Sybil blushed but giggled back, though a frown did follow. "It will be tricky, though," she sighed. "Meaning…" she blushed and nibbled her bottom lip. "I don't know how frequently we can have our own…sleepovers…" she confessed. "I mean, I…I want to bring her around to our relationship gently, does that make sense?" God she hoped it did, she knew she was stumbling over her words, and she still felt very vulnerable, referring to what they had as a "relationship", but this wasn't a one-night stand with a complete stranger; this was Tom, who had and remained being a wonderful friend to them, and the attraction and emotion she felt for him had been growing steadily, she knew that. But still, based on her past, it was in her nature now to be careful and "proceed with caution".

"I understand," she heard Tom reply, and a sigh of relief left her then as she saw the warm, loving smile on his face. "Sybil…I love Suzy, I do," he murmured. She knew that; even a blind man could see that. "But you're her mother, and I respect your decisions, and…we'll go slowly. When she comes home, let's go somewhere, the three of us, and…we can tell her together?"

Sybil smiled at the thought, blushing and sniffling back her tears. He was so good; how had she gotten so lucky? Especially considering all the bad luck she had endured in the past…

"…There's no rush. I live right next door," he chuckled, though he did sigh as he ran his hands down her naked back. "But I won't deny, I will miss this. But I know it's not forever," he was quick to add. "And…your happiness, yours and Suzy's are all that matter—"

Sybil stopped his speech with her lips, kissing him deeply, and pushing herself closer, until she was straddling him. "Let's not waste the time we have then," she whispered, before reaching over to the bedside table for a new condom.

Tom laughed and nodded his head in agreement, but before their passions got the better of them, he held her face in his hands and looked deeply into her eyes, before murmuring, "Suzy isn't the only one who I love…I hope you know that."

Sybil gazed down at him and felt her emotions overflow. "I do," she whispered, before bending down to kiss him fervently. "And she isn't the only one who loves you either."