Kate couldn't help by chuckle at Martin's vain attempts to cover up his slip of the tongue. Far from being upset or annoyed by his faux pas, as he'd obviously imagined she would be, Kate found it quite charming. She was pretty sure that he hadn't actually meant to ask her to stay the night, he might have been thinking it and somehow the filter between his brain and mouth had failed dramatically. It might have been presumptuous, or even possibly insulting, coming from any other man, but somehow coming from Martin it was actually terribly sweet.

He looked so mortified that she reached out to take his hand in order to reassure skin on his fingers was ever so slightly rough, probably from his job with the van. She held his hand, his long fingers intertwined with her own, and rubbed the back of his hand with her thumb gently. He'd accidently mentioned being 'a bit rusty' and she silently wondered how long it had actually been since someone had held his hand, hugged him, kissed him. Looking at him now she couldn't understand how someone wouldn't want to; she certainly did.

Even so, she hadn't been prepared for his reaction to her quip about the sofa. He had stared at her bewildered for a few seconds and then suddenly reached forward to push his lips against hers, bringing his free hand up to her cheek. The kiss was chaste, lasting just a few seconds, but it had taken her totally and blissfully by surprise. He pulled back, dropping his hand away again.

"Sorry. I...just wanted to." He breathed the words more than spoke them, looking at her searchingly for a reaction.

She realised she was holding her breath and let it go slowly, her heart hammering in her chest.

"Martin?" She looked at him.

"Yes." He sounded hesitant, fearful, but held her gaze.

"Do you think you could do that again?"

Martin looked surprised at first, but then a smile started to play across his face. He lent forward to press his lips to hers again this time less hesitantly, bringing both of his hands to rest gently just above her waist and pulling her ever so slightly closer. The kiss was still innocent, but lasted longer and when he pulled back he didn't move away. He paused there, looking into her eyes, seemingly waiting. The tension was almost palpable and Kate couldn't resist moving her head slightly toward him to almost brush against his lips again. He didn't need another hint and immediately moved to kiss her again. This time the kiss was more insistent as he moved his lips on hers, firmly but gently. She responded without even thinking, pulling him in closer to her, her hands grasping his t-shirt. The kiss persisted growing ever more urgent with every passing moment. Martin kissed her with a pressing need, like it was last kiss he'd ever have, or perhaps, Kate wondered idly, the first kiss in a long time. As it went on he grew more and more in confidence and Kate found herself completely lost in the moment.

Martin Crieff was truly a magnificent kisser.

She brought a hand up to rest on his shoulder before caressing the bare skin at the nape of his neck with her fingers. Martin let out a small groan and pressed to kiss her harder. The movement caught her off-guard and she was pushed backwards. Martin pulled back suddenly, stopping her from falling further with a firm hand around her back.

"Oh God, I'm sorry." He said breathlessly. "I didn't mean to..." He was clearly embarrassed at having nearly pushed her over.

She cupped his cheek tenderly, equally as breathless as him, but grinning. "You really don't need to be sorry."

"I didn't mean to get...carried away." He confessed. "It's just..." He looked at her sheepishly. "It's been a while since... well it's been a while since I did this." He finally got the words out and looked slightly relieved to have said it. "I know I'm probably not very good." He didn't look embarrassed when he spoke, just honest.

Kate's heart melted "Martin." She paused. "You are so much better at this than you think you are."

She leant towards him again, smiling conspiratorially "And I have something to confess...it's been quite a while since I did this too."

Martin looked at her with surprise. "But you're so beautiful." He said innocently.