Author's note: I have kept this T rated, just.

Nothing had been settled but Tommy knew that he had been right to ask her to marry him now. Barbara would look for evidence of his love, or lack of it, to convince her head and he was determined that she would find nothing that did not point directly to what lay in his heart. As they walked silently hand-in-hand along the path from the tunnels he was imagining their life together. Barbara would want to stay with the Met at first but once they had children Tommy wanted to spend their time in Cornwall and London. He rather fancied the idea of them both giving up work and focussing on the family and the estate but he would have to involve Barbara in everything as his partner otherwise she would be frustrated and feel trapped. He liked the idea of sharing everything with her. Helen had had no interest in the estate but he thought Barbara might simply because it was a part of him. She may not know much about country manors, horses and property but he would start to talk to her about it now, build up her interest and knowledge slowly. He thought of two or three things that she would be able to provide counsel on even now.

At the fork in the path they decided that walking down to the old Moorish Castle was easier than returning to the cable car. The yellow solid block of the old 12th century structure dominated that side of the hill as the dappled light fell across it. Its British flag proudly waved in the light afternoon breeze that was sweeping across the rock. With his decision made Tommy chattered happily about its history; more invasions and sieges and stubborn British resistance.

"Tommy, perhaps we could come back tomorrow?" Barbara asked, "it's been an intense day." She had trouble concentrating on anything but his proposal. His infatuation with her was hard to dismiss. The way he had kissed her was not casual. There was something real between them. It had obviously been pent up on both sides for a long time and it would go further. They both needed that but she had no idea if it would burn out after one night or one week of passion. Eventually though it would, for him at least. She smiled at him and wished she had his childlike innocence and belief in love.

He glanced across at her and could see how tired she looked. "Of course."

They walked in comfortable silence down the hill then back along the cobbled streets to the apartment. It was not quite three o'clock. "Do you want me to make some tea?" Tommy asked.

"No, I think I'll take a nap. Are you still okay to go tonight? I'd like to if you don't mind."

"So would I," he replied with huge smile.

They stood awkwardly at the door to her room. Barbara was scared inviting him in would give the wrong impression but she also wanted to sleep snuggled close to him. He kissed her tenderly but not passionately.

"Will I wake you just before eight?" he asked as he brushed a strand of hair from her face.

"Yeah," she said slowly, "are you tired?"

Tommy could sense she was trying to ask him to stay but did want to say outright that nothing further was being offered. He was not especially tired but suspected he had slept more than Barbara last night. "A little but I rather like the idea of you curling up in my arms and sleeping while I watch." Barbara raised an eyebrow. "Yes, it sounded less ominous in my head," he added sheepishly.

Wordlessly Tommy followed Barbara into the room. She pulled of her boots and jumper and looked across at Tommy who had stepped out of his shoes and had removed his shirt. As she watched he unbuckled his jeans and let them fall to the floor then climbed into bed. Taking his lead she removed her jeans and slipped in beside him and nestled into his shoulder. After another loving kiss she was asleep before he had finished telling her he loved her. He held her close and thought again about how serene it would be to do this every night.

Since Helen had left him Tommy had become accustomed to fragmented rest but with Barbara beside him sleep came easily. He slept for about an hour before he dreamt he was a labrador in front of a fire having his tummy rubbed by Barbara and was surprised to wake and find her hand softly caressing his stomach. The barest smile crossed his lips and his eyes clamped shut as her hand wandered torturously slowly over his hip and thigh. She snuggled closer and let her hand rest on the top of his leg. Tommy began to regret staying with her. If they were already lovers they could make love and still attend the dance but not for their first time, not for what he had planned. He had to behave but if she moved any closer she would know exactly where his thoughts ran.

Barbara was half asleep and blissfully unaware of the affect she was having on Tommy. She revelled in the opportunity to touch him and get used to the feel of his body. She knew that tonight would be special. She was happy that Tommy would be her first real lover not just because it was him but also because his reputation indicated he was very talented. Her only fear was that she would disappoint him. This might be a once in a lifetime opportunity and she wanted him to at least have a memory of a pleasant evening. She sighed loudly.

Tommy felt the tension in her hand before she sighed. "What's wrong?" he whispered. She jumped and tried to remove her arm but he stopped her. "You can tell me anything you know, you can trust me."

"I do trust you, you know that. I'm not good at this."

"This being?"

"Relationships and you know...being like this."

"You've put up with me for years so you are good at our relationship and being like this is rather wonderful." He snuggled closer then kissed her. His arm had been over her waist but now he ran his finger down over her thigh as she had done. When it reached the hem of her shirt he lifted it and ran his hand back up to her waist feeling the velvety softness of her skin. Her soft moan of pleasure encouraged him and he began to explore the contours of her back. His kisses moved to her neck and as his lips discovered areas that made her wriggle joyfully Tommy forgot his intentions and began to make love to her.

Her apprehension eased to be replaced by an urgent need to feel his body close to hers. His skillful hands made her skin dance and his lips aroused her in ways she had not known were possible. With every kiss and every touch she could feel the strange sensation of her body opening up to him.

It did not take Tommy long to remove her shirt. He could stop but he sensed that Barbara could not. She lay back with her arms wide and her ankles spreading with every kiss. It was not the way he had planned it but perhaps it was better this way. She was nervous and just discovering her sexuality. Tonight when they made love again he suspected she would want to explore that discovery but for now she needed reassurance. He took care to check that she consented before he removed her bra. He had never thought of breasts as being guileless before but as he admired Barbara's before he began to kiss them he thought of hers as being innocent and unspoiled.

Tommy rolled over onto his back and pulled her on top of him grinning broadly. Now if she wanted more she had to reach down and kiss him. "I love you Barbara!"

"I love you too Tommy," she said easily before she leant down towards him determined to create special memories for both of them.

An hour later they lay kissing, their legs and arms still wrapped around each other. Tommy was conscious that he was hungry and that Barbara wanted to go to the dance otherwise he would happily have continued to make love to her. He felt no pride in having slept with tens of women but nothing had come close to the wonder of Barbara. She had gifted her body and her soul to him in a way that had humbled him. It was the first time that his ecstasy had been accompanied by his tears. He had no words to describe how he felt. It was new and overwhelming. "That was the best hour of my life," he whispered honestly.

Barbara laughed softly. "It was definitely mine but you don't have to say that you know. Thank you Tommy."

"I mean it. I have never felt so loved and wanted. I think I searched for that for years, in all the wrong places of course, but that..." Tommy was struck by the fear that Barbara had not felt the same unity, the oneness. "That was...you make me feel...as if everything past was totally irrelevant, as if I was whole and unbroken, as if I found a half of me that I never knew was missing."

Barbara felt her face redden. She understood because she had felt it too but she had not dared to think he might feel that way. She had dismissed it as sexual inexperience. It was as if at one point they had ceased to be to individual bodies but had somehow merged into one. "Really?"

He leant up on his elbow to look at her more closely. Her hair was wonderfully dishevelled; he had done that and it made him smile as he remembered. Her skin was flushed and her smile was broad. He hoped he had done that too. "Oh yes, very much so." He kissed her again with every ounce of love that he felt.

Barbara's head began to spin and she thought she might pass out. When he broke away she gulped in air like a drowning victim. "Do...you...do...that...to every woman?" she panted, "no wonder you were such a successful Cassanova!"

Tommy sat upright, wounded by her words. "How can you say that? I'm trying so hard to show you how different this is, what we can be together. When are you going to stop being so scared and believe that I love you?"

His voice was harsh and Barbara knew she had gone too far. She had felt his love unmistakably, not just in that kiss but in the way he had gently made love to her. Unlike her other solitary encounter every tender touch and kiss had been for her. He had made her pleasure paramount but it had been beyond physical. He had worshipped her and she had believed that at that moment the universe revolved around her. "Yes," she answered slowly as she sat up to face him.

Tommy inhaled with exasperation. "It wasn't a yes or no question."

"That wasn't the question I was answering," she said deliberately before her face broke out into a broad grin.

"Then what were..." He paused when it dawned on him what she might mean. He raised his eyebrow quizzically at her in confirmation.

"Yes, if the offer's still open." Barbara barely had time finish her sentence before his lips her on hers. They might be a little later than they had planned to the dance.