As they walked through her front door Cal turned to close the door behind them as Gillian made her way through to the kitchen, kicking her high heels into a corner as she did. He smirked as he followed her movement and out into the kitchen. Her wine rack sat just above the fridge and she reached precariously up to pull a bottle down from it.

"Red I presume?" she asked, balancing on her tip toes. He chuckled and answered yes as her hand wrapped around the neck of a bottle which she had already decided before looking at it that they would drink. She wasn't going back up there again. Turning around she saw that he wielded a corkscrew and had placed two glasses on the kitchen top.

"Allow me," he said in his suavest tone and he took the bottle from her, uncorking it expertly. She picked up the two glasses and he followed her through to the living room.

OXOXOXOXOXO

About an hour later, Gillian sat with her back to the arm of the sofa and her legs outstretched across his. His hand absentmindedly stroked up and down her leg as they laughed and chatted together. Cal had half expected things to be awkward – two friends on a date – it could have ended terribly he knew but this wasn't. In fact this was possibly the best and most relaxed he'd ever been on any social outing.

Placing his empty glass down on the table, he took her foot in his hands and softly massaged them, hearing a soft moan erupt from her throat. Loosening his grip, he looked up at her.

"How's your back, luv?" She smirked, remembering their earlier incident in the video room.

"Why? Have you got healing hands?" she teased.

"Well, I'll give it a go. Come here." He guided her up towards him and signalled her to sit in between his legs. Then slowly he let his hands fall onto her shoulders and gently massage her shoulder blades through her dress.

"How's that?" he asked though he had an idea of her answer. She simply nodded and moaned lightly again and he wondered if he couldn't be undone just by listening to her. As he moved his hands more to work on her shoulders, he leaned forward and placed a soft kiss to the base of her neck, feeling her shiver under his lips, the feel of lips on skin caused the bone underneath to react. And then he couldn't do anything else but continue kissing her. His hands ceased their actions completely and instead trailed down her back and wrapped around her front as he turned his head and kissed her neck, her collar bone and the space just below her ear.

For her part, she didn't protest at the sudden seizure of pressure on her shoulders. Instead she let one hand fall onto his where they were clasped in front of her stomach and the other to his thigh where she traced circles through the fabric. He groaned at even the slightest touch of her hand on him and gently bit her earlobe, loosening his hands around her waist.

"I should probably go," he whispered suddenly. He felt her ministrations on his thigh falter.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because if I don't go now I never will." He placed a kiss to the back of her neck, again drawing a shudder from her. In all honesty he hoped she'd tell him to stay. He hoped she'd just give him free run to do as he liked with her and bloody hell but he had a number of things he'd like to do with her. But this wasn't like being with anyone else. And while he might successfully turn anyone else's reluctance into submission, he would not do that to Gillian. He felt her slipping away from him and he hid his look of disappointment. She stood up and turned to face him. He looked at her and nodded, moving to stand up.

Suddenly he felt her hand on his shoulder, pushing him back into the couch. He grinned up at her as she balanced on one knee between his legs, leaning down and kissing him softly.

"I know you don't want to but I think we should take it slow," she said running her tongue over his bottom lip. He grinned at her as he caught it between his teeth, drawing her into another kiss, simultaneously pulling her down on top of him.

"You know you're right about that. I don't want to go slow. But for you luv, I'll go bloody backwards…" he leaned forward and nipped her lips with his again. She tried to push herself off him but succeeded only in grinding against him. He groaned loudly.

"You keep doing that luv and I'm going to leave here embarrassed." She smiled down at him before releasing herself from his grip and standing up. He took a moment just to look at her, to take in the sight of her before he too stood up.

Together they made their way to her front door, he checking his pocket to ensure that he had his keys. Before she opened the door, she stepped in close and kissed him softly.

"Goodnight Cal," she smiled and he suddenly realised that it had been a long time since he'd seen that smile beam off her face. It made him feel immensely proud that he was the one that had put it there. He took a breath, allowing his hands to settle on her hips.

"You know what I miss about England? Sometimes? Times like this?" She shook her head and gave him a quizzical look. He pulled her close to him, their bodies touching, their lips mere centimetres apart.

"I miss our…far more agreeable form…of goodnight kiss." He smirked before landing his lips on hers, tongue seeking entry straight away, deepening the kiss. Cal let one hand trail up her back into her hair while the other held in her place at the small of her back. When they broke they were both breathless. Silently he reached and opened the door, kissing her once more, briefly on the lips. He stepped outside the door watching her, still unable to speak.

"Cal?" she called as he was turning away. He looked back, eyebrow raised.

"I think I quite like your English customs." On that note, he grinned back at her, laughing quietly to himself.

"Goodnight luv."