Thank you to all the reviewer. Your comments are the motivation the people telling the story need. Without an audience the performance isn't validated.

M Warning - Some scenes are of a sexual nature.

Chapter 13

"I'm telling you Ruth. We have to do something about this. They are literally terrorizing poor Scarlet. I've seen them use guerrilla tactics from Che Guevarra's book. She's going to have a nervous breakdown."

Harry was standing in the middle of the living room, hands on his hips and a stern tone to his voice. Hiding her face between the pages of the book she was reading, Ruth did her best not to laugh out loud. He was glaring at Fidget who was now on the sofa licking himself and paying very little attention to Harry's raving, which was greatly insulting to the man.

"Harry…" Ruth didn't raise her eyes from her book knowing that if she looked at the outrage on the face of the love of her life, she would totally lose it. This was a recurring theme in their conversations. Harry ignored her interruption and kept on ranting.

"I'm serious. I've seen tactics less effective from CO19. Fidget is a master strategist." He started pacing pointing a finger at the culprit now busy liking his paw and brushing it against its face.

Ruth didn't take his outburst with much consideration knowing he just needed the distraction. "Harry…"

But he wasn't finished. He stopped in front of her, now pointing his finger at her as if she had mentored the cats on chasing methodologies. "And Muggles with its cute little whiskers and big green eyes… he's… he's… "

"Harry…" She tried yet again, taking her eyes off her book to look at him with a deep sigh.

"What?" He looked at her expecting her most sincere apologies on behalf of her cats.

Ruth has been home for a week now. It had been a glorious, filled with joy and love. They were home and happy. Home. The house was his but it was home to them. Living with Harry was nirvanesque. She loved him more every day, with every little things she discovered about him. The way he jumped out of bed in the morning ready to face the day while she was still trying to wake up. The way is sang off key in the shower, so adorable; the look on his face when he puffed and huffed with indignity as she would tell him he was trying to get one by her and it wasn't working. Just the cutest face on him. They teased, laughed and love together.

At this moment Harry was complaining about the cats' behaviour towards Scarlett. However they both knew that Scarlett had lost some weight and was a very happy dog.

"Harry, they are not master minds or masters of anything but the litter box. They are just cats…"

He couldn't stand that she wasn't taking the situation seriously. "But Love, I just can't stand looking at poor Scarlet and seeing them…"

"Then don't" She tells him in a gentle tone.

"Don't what?" He replies being his argumentative self.

"Don't look at them." She didn't care about the whole situation. Harry was being territorial and Scarlett was higher in the hierarchy of house pets, being a dog and his, but her cats didn't seem to have gotten the memo and that didn't go well in his order of things.

"That's all you intend to do, let your ninja cats abuse a poor little defenceless dog."

She knew too well what the problem was and it had nothing to do with cats and dogs and all to do with the fact that Harry was without a purpose.

"Harry, you're missing work and having something to do to keep you busy, so you distract yourself by seeing conspiracies and potential attacks… from OUR cats."

The 'you're cute and adorable' smile she gave him cut him in two. With that smile she made anger or insecurities vanished into thin air. It made him calmer, more centered. Every damn time.

"Ruth… you're looking at me like you look at Muggles when he's being cute. I'm serious." He was faking at being angry now.

"Mon Coeur, what can I say, you are sweet and delightfully adorable." She was trying to get his blood running, she knew those were challenging words.

"I AM NOT." Now he was huffing with all his might. "Can't you be serious for a minute. I'm the head of counter terrorism at MI-5. I don't do sweet." He stood over her, his chest out and his hands on his hips in a defying posture.

"But you are, pout and all… you're so adorable I want to squish you." She gave him the biggest, teeth showing, lips spread to the point of hurting smile.

She wished she could have taken a photo of Harry's face at that moment. He was gobsmacked, insulted and somewhat thrilled that she'd want to squish him. It was the strangest expression on his face and she had brought it up. She couldn't believe that this incredible man was hers.

He leaned over and kissed her, couldn't resist the call of her eyes.

"You're not playing fair, Sweetheart. How can I argue with you when you're smiling at me like I just gave you the world. It's very distracting you know.

She pulled him to her, kissing him, her hands playing with the hair grazing his neck.

He needs a hair cut, I wonder if he would let me cut them for him.

Harry pulled himself from the kiss, sat down on the sofa and had her on his lap in seconds.

They were relaxing and she thought it was time to breach a somewhat sensitive subject.

"Harry, I know you love me and I have no doubt about it... but..."

She gently took his face between her hands and kissed him gently, softly, with all the love she felt as if the kiss was sealing their heart together.

Before the kiss could lead anywhere, he pulled back from her embrace and gently pushed her head against his chest closing his eyes again. She felt safe within the circle of his arms, secure in his love.

"That I do." He whispered against her ear while softly rubbing her back.

She remembers her first day back, coming from the hospital with Harry, Graham, Catherine and Malcom had helped to bring all his and her things they had gathered in months spent there. It had been a fun day. They had dinner together, sitting around the table, constant teasing and telling of stories all the way around. Ruth loved whenever Harry's children came over. It was nice to feel like a family again. She hadn't had one in so long. After that first day, she had spent the week resting under Harry's watchful eye. She had not been allowed to do anything. It felt like he was afraid that without a doctor or a nurse next door she was going to fall apart.

More importantly, Harry hadn't kissed her properly. He had kissed the top of her head numerous times, her nose, her cheeks as well, her lips very chastely a few times and once her shoulder. She missed his kisses and he needed a distraction from the supposed jungle warfare going on with their pets.

Looking at him she lifted her arms to the back of his neck and pulled him to her. "Come closer Harry. I've got something to tell you."

He leaned over a little and she took his mouth with hers, brushing his lips with her tongue, grazing his tongue with her teeth, gently biting it while her hands went to his hair. After what she felt like a very short time, he pulled away yet again.

Ruth wasn't going to back away. Ruth pushed him gently against the back of the sofa and moved closer into his arms, her cheeks against his beating heart. Her hand started drawing little things on his chest while his finger, which could never stay still, started tapping along her neck and shoulder.

"Did you know that in ancient time, in some cultures, the belief was that when a couple kissed they would exchange a small part of their soul with every kiss." Her lips went to his throat. He was wearing a dark blue shirt, top three buttons undone and a pair of black jeans, low enough on his hips to make them entrancing and made his butt look so… so very good. Her fingers started undoing more buttons, her hands caressing the skin they uncovered.

Harry hoarse voice came up. "Ruth, what are you doing?"

"If you're asking then I'm not doing a very good job of it. I'm trying to seduce you Harry." The growing bulge in the front of his pants was telling her she was indeed doing a very good job. "You said I should do what I feel like doing. I feel like kissing you, here and now, mon Coeur.

He pulled away. "Isn't it time for your exercise. The physiotherapist was adamant about that. Your legs won't get better if you..."

She interrupted him by kissing him again. Harry was more than willing to indulge her but he was still cautious. "Ruth… are you sure. What if you're not well enough to… "

"Harry if we want to move forward you have to stop asking me if I'm sure every five minutes. I trust you and I know if I ask you to stop you will. I know you would never force yourself on me. You too have to let go. As for being well enough, I'm a grown woman, capable of making decisions for herself and her own wellbeing."

"I'm just not sure about this. You just came out of the hospital. What if…"

She put her hands on his cheek forcing him to look into her eyes she said with a smile "Mon Coeur, if you deny me, I'm going to be very disappointed, sad even depressed and positive thinking is essential to healing. You wouldn't want to impend my recovery now, would you Harry?"

While speaking, her fingers kept undoing the buttons of his shirt until they had free range of his chest. He grabbed them and pull away yet another time.

She couldn't stand, wouldn't stand for it. "Harry, seriously, you've got to stop this. If you keep this on, I'll end up believing you don't want me and I'll feel hurt." Her eyes told him more than her words that she was already hurting from his rejection.

Pulling her to him he embraced her tightly. "I'm so sorry my love. I never intended to hurt you. I'm sorry… I'm just afraid… I've been afraid… I can't lose you again. It hurts too much." His eyes were teary and she could still see how devastated he had been.

She lovingly circled his shoulders and kissed him lightly. "Mon Chéri, mon adoré, don't you see it hurts already. We have to move on from this. We have to claim our lives back. Don't hurt just be with me, in the moment. I want us to win and claim what should have been ours years ago. I want that very much."

She kneeled straddling him and leaned over him closing her eyes. Her lips on his lips were making it hard for him to think, let alone to speak as his brain was scrambled by his desire to never stop. Her tongue invaded his mouth, rolling against his, roaming and discovering his mouth, his lips… and still her fingers were playing havoc with his sanity. Her voice was throaty against his ears and her lips were now moving down along his neck and downward towards his chest. Her warm wet mouth found his nipples and as she nibbles on them, grazing her teeth on the hard little bud, her hands were going all over the upper part of his body. His shirt was gone he didn't know where… and had taken his control along with his capacity to think.

"Hells bells woman, you make me forget my name. I love you Ruth, more than I ever imagine possible. I want you, so badly. Every touch, your hands on me, your lips, they set me on fire."

His hand going through her hair pulling her mouth to his, pulling on her jumper divesting her of it and doing the same for her bra.

"Beloved, you are a Goddess, so beautiful. Your skin is like porcelain and your breast are perfect. I want to taste you, all of you."

"Kiss me Harry." She whispered her voice hushed with wanting him.

Not one to deny the love of his life, he crushed her against him and took her lips in a mind-blowing kiss. It had been a while for him and right now his biggest fear was ending the performance before the main character had even come into play. The feeling of her nipples brushing against his chest and stomach, all over. Hurling the blood from his brain to his penis, he felt himself throbbing with wanting her and he was getting harder with every little whimpering sound that crossed her lips. She was playing the role of temptress like she had written it. She bit one of his nipples just hard enough to elicit a moan from him.

"Bloody hell, Ruth. I'm going to come before I get out of my pants."

He moved her up until he was at face level with the most alluring breast he had ever seen. He kissed her along her collarbone tasting her, memorizing the texture of her skin with his lips. His mouth went down between her breasts and he got a whiff of her smell. She smelled of wild flowers and wind. Slowly he moved along, kissing and nibbling all over her chest being careful not to move onto her breasts as he had every intention of driving her so wild with desire that she would break apart at the first touch of his mouth on her nipples.

She grabbed his hair, her head backward and her eyes closed. She was so beautiful lost in pleasure. "Mon Coeur, please."

"My love… you're so beautiful, stunning. I want you so much I could cry." His lips went to her shoulders kissing and licking the skin going down unto her arm, to the palm of her hand while his hand was gently kneading her stomach.

She let out a whining moan telling him without words that this was torture. He stayed on course and discovered her skin with his mouth. He kissed every part of her chest until all that was left were the magnificent globes of nerves and flesh.

He took her left nipple in his mouth, trying to get as much as he could and rubbing his tongue over it, making it as wet as he could then sucking gently until he released it in a popping sound. He lifted his eyes to her face and almost whimpered. Only she could arouse him so much doing so little. Her head backwards, her eyes closed and her mouth slightly opened she looked like she was in a rapturous trance.

Harry knew he had to get his control back. His hand caressing her breasts gently, he took her down from the high he had created in her, his lips kissing her neck, pepperring kisses all over her face. After a while, they just sat on the sofa, enjoying each other's skin, warmth, knowing they had taken the first step in their physical relationship.

Harry, always the tactician, had set a plan and ultimate objective: to drive Ruth to the brink of insanity, to have her beg for more, up to the point where not being together would be a worse faith than death. He wanted their first time to be special, full of love and desire...

God he wanted her so very very much.

By the end of their second week home, Ruth felt stronger. Every afternoon was spent with the physiotherapist, who assured her she would regain complete use of her legs. She was still using the walker most of the time but they had tried to use a cane at the center and she was getting the hang of it. She expected she would walk unaided soon. He had also advised her to see a psychologist for the trauma, which she had done and it was helping.

She had session with Dr. Lisa Barnes twice a week, right before the physio session as they were in the same center. Most of their conversation had been about her relationship and how difficult it was for her to let go, to be the woman she wanted to be, she knew was inside her but never had the courage to become.

Ruth's identity had mostly been about her intelligence. That's what she was known for. Her insecurities about her looks had not been adress because her confidence in her intellect was never in question. She got by on her brain not her body. Dr. Barnes had discuss with her the root of her doubts and had suggested some exercise. She had one to do tonight and they would discuss it at their next session.

Tonight was the 'seduction under fire'. Ruth had to make herself unattractive and try to seduce Harry. Without him knowing that he was her test bunny.

Wearing pink flannel pyjamas she had bought for the sole purpose of the exercise, fluffy slippers in the shape of cats, which were adorable but not really sexy, her hair were tucked on the top of her head with a large black clip. She was on the sofa reading, waiting for Harry who was making cups of tea in the kitchen.

How do I get there? It's never been hard to turn Harry on, but I've never really done it with purpose. How do I turn him on looking like this?

Harry came in the room, put the two cups on the table and leaned over her to take her lips in a gentle kiss.

She thought her best bet was simply to talk to the man. Talking about their love always concluded in sex. Would Dr. Barnes think that she made it too easy for herself?

Harry sat down beside her and took her on his lap. It was something he did without thinking. Whenever they were alone and sitting, he'd pick her up and put her on his lap, as if she weighed nothing, like she would do when petting her cat. He was petting her.

She could have been insulted to be treated like a pet, but she wasn't. It was his way of being with her. He wanted her close to him, under his hand. It reassured him, put him at peace knowing she was safe and he was available to give her whatever she might need. It brought a large smile to her lips, every time.

"Harry, can I ask you something? He kissed her hair and relaxed deeper against the back of the sofa. "Whatever you want my love, I have no secret for you."

She lifted herself to gaze into his eyes but they were closed. "I… I know you love me. I believe it, but what do you feel… for me."

He opened his eyes, his eyebrows set in a surprised frown. "Never one for easy question. What brought this up Ruth. I thought we were pass that." He breathed deeply and let the breath out into a sigh. "How can I put what I feel for you into words." His hand caressing her shoulders he took a few minutes to think before he spoke again.

"Stimulated interest and boundless curiosity, cognizance of how life with you would be, awareness of light chasing the darkness away, excitement when I touch you, delight when I see you, contentment, happiness, all of the above and much much more." He lean over her and kissed her forehead. "I never thought I would feel any of these emotions, to feel them all together is overwhelming sometimes."

"You… what do you feel for me." He asked as he kissed the tip of her nose.

"I can't name emotions but I can tell you how it feels." She waited a moment to let a thought gather and come out.

"Remember the tummy ache." He nodded as she went on with her eyes gazing deeply into his. "Sometimes, just seeing you or being in your arms, I feel a whoosh that comes up from my toe and down from my head to meet in the middle and make my stomach ache. I hear your voice and I shiver. I feel your lips on mine, my legs go weak and my mind swirls. When you come into a room, I know before I see you, it's an electrical current going through my body making the hair on the back of my neck straightening up and I know you are close by. Sometimes… when I'm not with you… sometimes… I think I made you up. Then I see you and I know I didn't… then I feel the whoosh invade my body and the ache joins it and the need to touch you, kiss you… be with you. It's… it's… It's the most wonderful and intense feeling."

He was moved to tears by her words. He never thought he could be love that way… that much. He doesn't deserve her love but he couldn't live without, now that he knows how it feels.

"I love you so bloody much Ruth that you take my breath away and make my heart stop."

He kissed her with everything he felt. Every single emotion, every iota of the love he felt went in that kiss and Ruth felt her body warmed up to the point of burning.

When he pulled away she could see all the desire he had for her in his darkened eyes.

"Take off your top, Ruth."

She was a little shocked. He had never been demanding with her, coaxing her into being with him physically. Her shyness had always won over the desire to show herself openly.

"I want to see you... see what's mine." He delivered the words tightly in a harsh voice that told her he was very close to losing control.

Wow... already!

She moved to straddle him and very slowly she unbuttoned her top, one button at a time keeping her eyes on his. He was breathing hard and focused on the skin unveiling for him. She shrugged her shoulders letting the fabric slide along heer arms to fall on the floor behind.

Harry's gasp and the heat in his eyes made her nipples hardened and her breathe came out shallow and fast.

"Yours. You are such a caveman, my caveman."

He growled at her his hands going around her and crushing her bare breasts against his chest.

I made him growl. In my pyjamas, my hair a mess, stupid slippers... I made him growl. Yeah Dr. Barnes. If I can turn him on wearing the most unsexy clothes I own, then she's right, I have nothing to worry about... I can take care of my caveman, I can hold on to him.