Right.. so this idea was proposed by Kat and it works perfectly in this fic! Dedicated to her off course;) Sorry for the delay.. I've skipped forward a few weeks.
Carla was busy getting herself ready for Tracy's birthday party. It was being held in the Rover's.. and that was the only reason she was going, for a few drinks and to see Peter who'd she'd been spending a lot of time with recently.
She'd seen Simon a few times briefly and they'd been getting along well, only Simon didn't have any idea that Carla was going to become his.. somewhat kind of step mum in the next few months.
She did herself up, opting for a mid thigh length black dress, clinched in the middle, accessorised with chunky silver jewellery and heels. She wished she didn't have to hide her affection for Peter but she knew for now.. this is how it'd have to be.
'Hey handsome' Carla whispered quietly into Peter's ear as she entered the pub, joining him at the bar.
Peter felt a shiver of excitement rush down his spine as her skin brushed his, her voice silky and seductive, her words slipping from her tongue like sand through his fingertips.
She smiled slightly at the way he seemed silenced by just her presence, chucking at the way he'd gone rigid and self conscious.
'Relax big boy, no one's going to hear' she said, straightening up and looking up at Stella as she came to take her order.
'Glass of red thanks' Carla said as Stella's eyes flickered between the pair and she went to get a glass.
'You look nice' Peter muttered, very aware of the many people surrounding them in the pub.
'Nice? I was hoping for a bit better than that!' Carla said as Peter laughed nervously.
'You look beautiful but I'm trying not to rouse anyone's suspicions!' he said as she shook her head, smiling at Stella and handing her the money for her wine.
'You need to chill out, I bet I could do more than whisper a few compliments in your ear and no one would notice..' Carla said with a smirk.
Peter felt himself twitch in his boxers just at her words, her effect on his growing more each day.
'I don't know about that..' he said as Michelle entered the pub, spotting Carla and making a beeline for her.
'Hey babe' she said, kissing Carla's cheek and nodding at Peter.
'That's my queue to leave, enjoy the party ladies' Peter said as Carla began to feel annoyed at the way he was dismissing her advances and being so against her speaking to him. They were friends in people's eyes, why should it matter if they spoke?.
'Hi' Carla said, coldly to Michelle.
'Well don't throw a party for me.. god' Michelle said as Carla sighed.
'Sorry' Carla murmured, picking up her glass.
'You got glammed up then' Michelle said noting Carla's slick, sexy appearance.
'Thought I ought to make en effort, that's all' she said, sitting down, looking at Peter from the corner of her eye, glaring at him when he did the same.
'Doubt I'm going to stay long if I'm honest, bit tired' Michelle yawned as Carla nodded, 'Me neither probably, this is a bit dull' she said.
'Yeah, well, I thought I'd come for a drink and a chit chat with you then head off' Michelle said as Carla nodded, drinking her wine.
Carla got up, 'going to the toilet'. She smiled at Ken and Deirdre as she passed the, gently tapping Peter on the shoulder as he spoke to Sally who was wittering on about something or another.
Sally got the hint, turning away to bore someone else.
'Anyone would think you're avoiding me' Carla said, looking directly into Peter's eyes.
'I'm not..' he said, trying to avoid her eyes, the way she was looking at him was intense and more than the way a friend would look.
'You are, we can talk you know.. people aren't going to know we're together' Carla said as Peter hissed for her to be quiet.
'Someone could hear!' he said as she sighed angrily.
'No they won't, stop being so ridiculous, I just want to talk to you, we haven't spoken all day' Carla said as Peter looked down.
'I'm sorry, I was busy, off course I want to speak to you but what with everything that's happened I still think we need to be careful, we'll go public when the time's ready' Peter said as Carla rolled her eyes.
'Woah, I wasn't saying let's announce our relationship, I just said stop acting all awkward and distant' she said.
'I'm not! Peter said as Ken came over to see them.
'Hi, Carla, how are you?' Ken said as Carla leaned back a little.
'Hiya Ken, I'm alright.. you' she said, glancing at Peter who's cheeks had reddened slightly.
'Carla was just going to the ladies' Peter said, slipping past them, leaving Carla even more annoyed and dumbfounded.
'Sorry, I'll let you go' Ken said, narrowing his eyes a little at the way Peter had left so soon.
'Yeah.. I'll catch you later Ken' Carla said, heading into the toilets.
Tommy grinned as he saw Carla standing at the bar alone, looking beyond gorgeous, as usual. He licked his lips, walking up to her, leaning against the bar beside her.
'Alright gorgeous' he said, as Carla kinked an eyebrow and looked at him as though she was about to laugh.. but then she saw Peter's gaze on her and Tommy and she smirked.
'Mm, I'm alright, bit lonely stood up here all on me own though..' she said as Tommy chuckled.
'Let me buy you a drink then.. keep you company' he said, moving in slightly closer to Carla who gave a flirtatious giggle.
'Mm, please, a vodka and coke please' she said as Tommy nodded, gesturing Tina over.
Tina looked at Tommy, and then at Carla, knowing too well what Tommy was like and the way he was with Carla.
'No chance mate' she mouthed a Tommy before getting them their drinks.
'So.. you enjoying this party..?' Tommy asked, trying to strike up conversation with a sultry brunette.
'Not really.. you?' Carla said with a snigger.
'Nah, bit dead really.. there are better things we could be doing' he said boldly making Carla silently choke on her drink at his forwardness.
'Oh really.. like what?' she said, leaning in and whispering in his ear, her eyes locked on Peter's jealous stare. Peter watched her, feeling his insides twist in knots at the sight of another man getting close to her.
When he couldn't take anymore, he walked forward, giving Tommy a stern look and putting his hand on the small of Carla's back, surprising her. 'Carla, mind if I have a word?' he said, interrupting the pair.
'I do actually' she said as Peter chuckled.
'Well.. it's important' he said steering her away from her admirer...
'I don't want to talk to you' Carla said, speaking through the intercom of her flat, knowing it was Peter.
'Let me up, Carla please' Peter said as she shook her head.
'No, I'm busy' Carla said bluntly.
'Well I have keys.. remember you gave them to me.. ' Peter said as she growled.
'Well you better not use them, I said I'm busy' she said.
'Carla, we need to talk' Peter sighed, leaning against the wall outside Carla's block.
'No, you want to talk' Carla said, biting her lip in frustration.
'Let me in' Peter said firmly, responded by a moments silence before she finally buzzed him up.
Peter pushed the door open, finding the living room empty. Carla walked into the room, ignoring Peter as she went to the kitchen, squatting down and making a face at the food in her fridge before going to her cupboard and pouring herself a glass of wine.
Walking over to her, Peter stood and watched her intently.
'Carla' he said, warily.
'What?' she said coldly.
'Oh don't be like this, I'm sorry.. I'm sorry for pushing you away, I'm just no good with these things' Peter said.
'No, you're shit' Carla quipped back as Peter bowed his head.
'I'm not ashamed by you.. god who would be, you're beautiful, funny.. kind, it's just I'm not ready to let everyone know about us, if the situation was different I'd bloody show you off to the world, but for now I need a bit more time' Peter said as Carla blinked back tears.
'Don't cry..' Peter said going up to her, alarmed at her suddenly emotional state.
'I love you so damn much and I don't know why' she mumbled, unsure of why she was crying.
Peter chuckled nervously, using his thumb to brush away her tears. 'And I love you.. more' he said with a smile, pressing a tentative kiss to her damp lips.
Carla reached out, hugging him tightly to her as though he'd disappear any moment.
'What's gotten in to 'miss hard as nails' tonight' Peter teased affectionally, running his hands through her hair, giving her a soft smile.
'I don't know! You.. you're like a flamin' drug..' she said as he shook his head, cupping her chin.
'I think you could do with a bit of tlc huh' Peter said, taking her hand, cocking his head to the side, gesturing towards the bedroom.
Carla smiled cheekily through her tears, managing a sniffling laugh as Peter grinned.
'That's better..'.
