Harry jumped to his feet behind her and watched her incredulously. She picked up the packet of cards and turned to face him.
"What?" she asked in mock innocence. "You are always the one telling me to be careful on first dates!" she laughed.
"This is a date?" he asked.
"Do you want it to be?" she chuckled.
"Yes, I do," he said seriously and watched her face to interpret her reaction. He was relieved to see her smile remain, a happy, unforced and comfortable smile.
Harry took a step towards her; she definitely was perfect: they could really do this, be friends; share a joke; laugh together and be lovers. This really was going to be a moment that changed his world forever, and for once he would be glad when it lasted longer than ten seconds.
"I am unquestionably and undeniably in love with you," he said catching her hand lightly in his.
"What because I'm going to beat you at top trumps?" she replied.
"No, because you're in love with me too and I can finally stop pretending that being friends with you, is enough for me," he replied watching her mouth all the while and moving closer and closer to her.
He waited, their eyes locked together, lips less than a couple of inches apart. He had waited for years; he could wait for her now. So he did just that; he closed his eyes and waited.
Instead of feeling her reach towards him and kiss him, he felt her hand lightly touch his chest and she began to walk, circling around him. The feel of her hand on his chest was calming and arousing at the same time; an anchor that proved whatever she was doing; she wasn't running away, she was just taking her time. She trailed her hand across his chest, around his arm and over his back. She stopped behind him and whispered,
"I was wrong about you Harry."
He didn't reply but leant his head back against hers.
"I accused you once of being good at taking things apart, but not so good at putting them back together."
"I remember," he mumbled his eyes still shut fast.
"It's not true Harry, you have put me back together and more than once. I have never trusted anyone the way I trust you."
Harry squeezed his eyes shut even tighter aware of the magnitude of her confession. He remained perfectly still, although part of him wanted to grab her, hold her tight and kiss her as she had never been kissed before, but he knew instinctively that sudden movements and holding her tightly were not what she needed; so he let her continue, and hoped his stillness would reassure her of his intention to never run away from her again.
Having made it round to the right hand side of his body she trailed her fingers down the length of his arm and squeezed his hand in hers.
"Everything tonight Harry, you, everything has exceeded all my expectations, there is no comparison Harry, you are leagues above the rest," she explained and let go of his hand and drew her hand back up his body and over his chest.
Harry didn't really understand all she was doing but he was acutely aware of the effect it was having on him, part of him was still cool and calm, willing to let her take the lead but the other part was literally trembling with desire, all that stuff he had thought earlier about being able to wait, it wasn't true. His entire being was burning to pull her into his arms, and make love to her until they were both sated and exhausted.
He tried to concentrate on his breathing, slow and steady but she was so close to him, every breath seemed to inhale more of her perfume and more of her.
This journey or whatever it was she was on was obviously important to her and so he listened and let her words melt the remaining doubts and fears he harboured deep within his heart. He had decided that she would set the agenda for the night; that he would just provide the props, so he let continue her strange orbit. She reminded him of a cat, turning round and round on a cushion before finally finding the best position to sit in, but once chosen remained totally contented.
"You are not second best, Harry," she said, her breath tickling his ear "I choose you. Above anyone else, I choose you," she declared and came to a stop.
"Do you believe me?" she asked her voice low and husky.
"I do," he replied.
It was a long time to stand with your eyes closed, he felt like he was losing his balance and he yearned to open them, to read in her face what she was thinking and not just rely on her words and touch. But now she was no longer trailing her finger tips across his body, she had reached up and was unbuttoning his shirt. Instinctively he took hold of her hands to stop her, his eyes snapping open.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Celebrating," came the seductive reply.
He raised his eyebrows at her begging her to explain, but without trying to scare her off.
"I thought you wanted me to open all of my presents," she said stepping even closer towards him and replacing her hands on his shirt buttons, "so I'm opening one."
"I wasn't aware I was on the table," gasped Harry as she deftly removed his shirt.
"This was always on the table," she proclaimed.
"Wouldn't you find the bed more comfortable?" he said cheekily.
But she had continued with her unwrapping and the time for talking was over.
"Nikki!" he had time to gasp before his impatience overtook him and he initiated the passionate kiss they had both been anticipating for so long.
With Nikki in his arms he didn't care how far down the path he fell, because they were together, they would always be together. He had a purpose and a companion and a lover; surely things didn't get better than that?
"Harry?"
"Hmm?" he mumbled into her skin.
"I love you."
Ok, so maybe they did.
Be kind…you know I do angst better than fluff. One more to go my lovelies and then that's the end.
