Thank you so much for the reviews, guys! I'm glad you're enjoying this fic as much as I enjoy writing it! After some people have suggested it to me, I decided to get a ko-fi page (FF net doesn't allow links but you can find the link on my Tumblr, which is in my bio), so if you want to show your love for my fics by buying me a coffee, I would greatly appreciate it :)

Chapter 14

Clara found it increasingly difficult to focus on her work when she felt the need to check her phone every five minutes. More than 24 hours had passed since she had sent John her phone number and he hadn't replied yet. No message. No e-mail. No letter. Not even a carrier pigeon. She was even beginning to regret having left his flat in such a hurry and there was the possibility that he might be mad at her for that. Why else would he fail to reply?

With a groan Clara slipped the phone back into her pocket and looked at the vending machine in front of her. She stuck a couple of coins in the slot and selected a plain, black coffee, knowing that she would need all the caffeine she could get if she wanted to at least get some of her work done.

"Damn, I'm too late."

Clara shot around and looked straight into the face of a young man who was smiling down at her. She had seen him around the building and every time she had caught him staring at her.

"Too late for what?" she asked bluntly.

The man smiled. "To buy you a coffee of course. Here, let me," he said and bent down to retrieve the coffee from the machine before he handed it to her. "Careful, it's hot."

"I should hope that it is," Clara mumbled and took the coffee from him.

"So, what do you say?"

Clara looked up at him and obviously she was missing something because she had no idea what he was talking about. "Mh?"

"I'd like to buy you a coffee some time," he said, smiling broadly.

"Uhm," she spluttered hesitantly. She didn't want to go out with him. Not really. Her love life was already complicated enough and she didn't even know this man. "I'm busy."

The man chuckled. "I meant after work."

Suddenly the phone vibrated in her pocket and Clara almost jumped at the sensation. She drew the device out of her pocket and looked at the display. John. Finally. But then she became aware that the man was still waiting for an answer to his question.

"Yeah, uhm, sorry. I'm very busy," she said and made her way past him and out of the cafeteria.

Once she was back in her office, Clara instantly put the coffee down and took her phone back out, reading the message John had sent her.

Here's my number. Feel free to use it, for business or personal matters.

John

Clara looked at the words and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed about its content. Yes, he had replied and yes, he had given her his number, but the message seemed cold and distant. Maybe he really was mad about the other night and her sudden disappearance. She should probably listen to Amy and make a step in his direction, show him that she liked him. So Clara replied instantly.

Hey John, glad to hear from you :) I feel like cooking tonight. Do you want to come over for dinner?

Clara

A smile spread across her face when his reply came immediately.

I'm gonna need your address for that ;)

John

Clara texted him the address and put her phone away, feeling good about herself at last. He wasn't mad at her and she had a date tonight. But before that she still had some work to do.

This time Clara was wearing underwear. She had selected a nice skirt and top, combed her hair and powdered her nose, determined to make a good impression on him. Tonight it wouldn't just be about sex, tonight she would cook for John and show him that she liked him. Couldn't be so hard, could it?

When the doorbell rang, Clara made her way through the corridor, but not without throwing one last glance into the mirror. She nodded approvingly towards her own reflection. She could do this.

John granted her a shy smile when she opened the door and Clara couldn't help but notice that the shyness looked quite adorable on John. But then she spotted the rest of him: he was dressed in a dark pair of plaid trousers with a hoodie thrown over a faded t-shirt. She snorted.

"Didn't have time to get dressed today?" Clara asked, smiling at him.

His faced turned into a frown in an instant.

"Sorry," she mumbled, "I didn't ask you here to bicker. Please, come in."

John followed her inside the flat and looked around curiously, just like she had done in his apartment. Right now he was probably judging every single piece of furniture.

Then John burst into laughter and started to approach her book shelf, reaching for the silly ceramic owl that she had picked up on a whim and that was now serving as a bookend.

"Did your grandmother decorate this place?" John asked, still laughing.

"Put that back," Clara snapped at him and tore the owl out of his hands to place it back on the shelf, "You can't just touch my stuff without asking."

At that John snorted. "Excuse me, I believe the last time we met you touched me without asking."

"Oh, come on," she rolled her eyes in annoyance, "Don't act as if you didn't want the exact same thing. You couldn't wait to get me into bed."

He shrugged and eventually nodded in response.

"Besides," Clara added, gesturing towards the owl, "I think he looks a bit like you. The resemblance is uncanny."

John laughed in reply. "That's rich, coming from a person with inflatable eyes. Careful, they might pop."

Clara groaned. "John, why are we doing this? I asked you here for dinner, not so we could be at each other's throats!"

"You started it," he stated.

"Yeah, but you were all too happy to play along and ooh-"

Clara uttered a sound of surprise when John suddenly leaned forward and their lips clashed in a kiss. He hooked his arms around her waist, pulling Clara up to his body and she could instantly feel her anger give way to something that came very close to arousal. John kissed her hungrily and in return Clara parted her lips to let him in, their tongues continuing the battle when for a moment they couldn't throw insults at each other.

Eventually Clara started running out of breath and she pulled away to look at him. His intentions were written all over his face and Clara wanted nothing more than to give in.

"What about dinner?" she asked breathlessly.

John shrugged. "We're gonna be hungry after the workout."

"Good point," she agreed and went up on her toes to kiss him again.