I would like to thank all of my readers for their patience while I was struggling with this one. I know I should take it as a compliment that you all love this story so much, but instead I felt pressured and I don't write well under pressure. It went up to the point that I felt nauseous when I opened the word file because I was asked about updates on this every single day for weeks. Writing is supposed to be fun. I don't get paid for this. I have university and a job and other hobbies. And I love it that people ask for updates cause they like my story so much but this time it felt really, really nasty and it made me write other things in secret because I was afraid to get in trouble cause I wasn't updating Empire. Please, don't freak out if I don't update for a bit. Yes, I sometimes take the time to write other things because I want to and that's ok because it is supposed to be fun, not a chore.

Chapter 11

Clara was the first to step out of the bathtub, followed quickly by Pete, who reached for the towel and wrapped it tightly around her. He dried her off in careful, rubbing movements that seemed more like a caress. When it was her turn Clara took the towel from him and swept it over his chest and shoulders, realizing now that her hands were trembling. Pete's hands reached for her arms and the towel fell to the floor.

"Oh," Clara let out a tiny, insecure laugh, "I can't believe I'm actually nervous."

"I take it as a compliment. Though it really is quite odd, seeing you almost jumped me last time," Pete said with a wicked smile.

"Well, when you take things slow there is more time to think and actually get nervous," Clara explained.

"Then let's not wait any longer," Pete placed a soft kiss on her hand and took Clara by the hand, slowly leading her through the living room into the bedroom.

Once they were inside the bedroom Clara suddenly had no idea what to do next. It was so much easier for her to just go with it, like she would have done that day in the living room when Pete had failed. But this, taking it slow, was unsettling her a little.

Pete sat down on the bed, still naked. He watched her with a smile as she stood awkwardly in front of him, not knowing whether to cover herself or not. His erection was standing between his thighs and at the sight of it Clara was reminded again of how much she wanted him, how much her own sex was itching for him to be inside her.

Suddenly her determination had gotten hold of her again and Clara walked up to Pete and in front of him she went down on her knees. She placed her hands on his knees and let them wander over his thighs, slightly scratching his skin with her nails. Her hands reached the base of his shaft and wrapped around him tightly. Under her grip Pete shifted slightly in anticipation. She brought her head down and licked across the tip, a sharp hiss escaping through his teeth as she continued to lick along the shaft of his erection. Clara glanced up and noticed that Pete has closed his eyes, a peaceful look on his face. She could barely imagine what it must be like to be touched like this for the first time after 10 years.

She opened her mouth and slowly closed her lips around his tip, her tongue still playing alongside as Clara sucked him into her mouth. Pete winced at the sudden change in sensation and his hands wandered to the back of her head, his fingers playfully burying themselves in her hair. She sucked him gently, careful not to apply too much pressure. Pete moved against her, pushing his cock inside her mouth and Clara could hear his breathing quicken each time the tip broke through the barrier she created with her lips. His breaths soon turned into a series of groans that made Clara shudder and burn with want. She wanted so much to reach down and touch herself while she pleasured him with her mouth, but the insides of her lips were already becoming sore. Her own sex was tingling so much with unsatisfied lust that she couldn't supress a moan coming from the back of her throat.

Maybe Pete had sensed it, because his hands were leaving her head and wandered to her waist, gently pulling Clara away from him and onto the bed. He turned Clara onto her back and knelt over her, pressing a long and gentle kiss to her aching lips, pushing his erection deliciously against her sex that was now throbbing with desire. She pushed her hips up to meet him, but Pete held her down and instead began to trail her neck with kisses, moving his lips downwards, stopping only to pay a little more attention to her breast. Clara winced and drew in her breath as he sucked her nipple. She reached for his curly, grey hair and pulled him back up to her lips.

"Do it," she whispered breathlessly, "Fuck me."

Pete raised his head and looked at her, a smile on his face.

"Say please," he teased her, running a finger across the wetness of her aching clit.

"Please," Clara begged quietly and closed her eyes.

A moment later she could feel his tip pushing against her entrance and Clara opened her legs a little further, ready for him to finally thrust inside her.

She let out a soft groan when he entered her, more gently than she had anticipated. Pete gasped as she clenched around him. He pulled back and pushed back inside her again, slowly establishing a rhythm that Clara countered with the movement of her hips. Pete grunted as he pushed inside her, his breath ragged and hot on her lips. She hooked a leg around his waist to allow him better access and they rocked together, his erection hitting right into the centre of her lust. Clara pushed her head back into the pillow and bit down on her lips to supress a moan.

"God, Clara," Pete panted, his breathing accelerating even more, "I'm sorry."

His thrusts were becoming uncoordinated and Clara knew he was beyond the point of return. With another loud grunt he pushed inside her a final time before he grew still and Clara could feel his hot semen spread inside her.

His body fell into the pillows next to her and Pete covered his face in his hands.

"I'm so sorry, Clara. I'm sorry I didn't last," he said sincerely, still slightly out of breath.

Clara turned around and wrapped her arm around his chest.

"It's okay," she whispered softly, "You actually did very well. For the first time in 10 years."

Clara chuckled a little and placed a kiss on his lips.

"I wanted to make it better. For you."

She took a deep breath. "You were great. Really. This time was all about you. We can make it about me the next time, okay? You really have nothing to be sorry for."

Pete sighed. "Okay. But just so you know. You were absolutely amazing," his lips formed a big smile and he pressed a passionate kiss to her lips.

OOO

When Clara woke up in the middle of the night the bed next to her was empty. She felt Pete's side of the bed but it was cold and she could hear the faint sounds of the typewriter coming from the living room.

She grabbed the nearest piece of clothing she could find, one of Pete's shirt and covered herself with it before she stepped through the door.

Clara found Pete like she had expected, sitting under the light of his desk lamp, carefully typing on his typewriter.

"What are you doing?" Clara asked sleepily, "I thought you wanted to take a break from writing today."

Pete turned around abruptly and Clara realized she had startled him. He quickly covered his typewriter with his chest.

"Clara, why aren't you in bed?" he asked.

"I woke up and you weren't there. Come back to bed, Pete. Your novel can wait til tomorrow."

"Uhm," he said reluctantly and Clara immediately knew that something was up, "I just need to write this idea down. I'll be back in 10 minutes."

There was something so odd about his voice that made her entirely certain that Pete was lying to her. Whatever he was writing on that typewriter right now was anything but his novel. Yet Clara knew better than to start an argument at this time of night.

"Okay. Please hurry," she said simply and walked back to bed with a strange feeling in her stomach.