"Will you stop it," Michelle ordered her friend. "You keep looking at your phone, like, every ten seconds."

"Sorry," Clara answered, jabbing her fork into some lettuce. "I'm just so excited to see him."

Michelle had decided to take Clara out for lunch in an effort to distract her from checking updates on John's flight, but Clara just couldn't stop herself. She knew she should have asked to work from home today, but had decided that being in the office might help her concentrate more; she couldn't have been more wrong. She had barely gotten anything done today and now she couldn't even focus on her friend at lunch.

"More like you're excited for the sex that is finally going to happen. And by God Clara it better finally happen."

"Michelle!"

"What!? You've been wanting to tangle in the sheets with him for months and I've been wanting you to fuck him since we saw him at Scaddabush. It's what we all want! I swear, if you come back to work on Monday and you two haven't done it, I will drag your skinny ass back home and lock the two of you naked in your bedroom."

"Wow! I had no idea you felt so passionately about my love life," Clara chuckled.

"I know how long it's been for you and I just think you could benefit from a good shag, as you would call it, or a weekend of shagging."

"Alright, can we please stop talking about my love life?"

"Only if you turn that phone over and stop looking at it. You know he's in the air because he called you from the plane this morning and his flight doesn't land for another five hours."

"You're right, sorry," Clara said, doing as Michelle asked. "I will now give you my full attention."

"Thank you."

"Besides the sex isn't likely to happen tonight anyway," Clara replied looking down at her salad.

"You're impossible," Michelle groaned.

"I'm just saying, he's going to be jet lagged. Landing at six here is eleven at night in London. And I don't want him falling asleep during our first time."

"Alright, I'll give you a pass for tonight."

Michelle finally let the subject drop and they started talking about their weekend plans. Clara hadn't really planned anything for her and John to do, deciding instead to leave it open ended, but Michelle was going to a pub with Gary and some other friends to watch hockey and invited Clara to bring John, who wasn't entirely sure John would be interested, but thought it might be fun. She told Michelle she'd let her know and the two finished their lunch before heading back to work. Friday afternoons were always a difficult time to stay focused and today was extra difficult. Clara was practically counting the seconds until she was free to leave.

John had flown to Toronto a lot in the past few months and this flight was probably the longest by far. He was so anxious and excited to physically be in the same space as Clara that it seemed like time was standing still. He looked at his watch and saw that the plane should be touching down in about forty-five minutes, then by the time he made it through customs, baggage pickup, and then a cab ride to Clara's, he was about another two and a half to three hours away from seeing her. He started thinking about that moment and how all he wanted to do was scoop her up in his arms, hold her tight, and not let her go until it was time to leave; and this time there would be no going back to an empty hotel room at the end of their nights.

Clara finally got home from work and immediately checked the status of John's flight for what was likely the thousandth time that day. It looked like it was still on time, which meant she still had a couple of hours to get ready for his arrival. One of the things she thought about while at the office was finding space for John to unpack. He likely didn't want to live out of a suitcase for the next nine days, so she immediately got to work clearing out a drawer and reorganizing her closet. When she finished she checked the time again and was frustrated that she had only killed about thirty minutes of her time. She looked around her room and started thinking about how she would be sharing it with John and it suddenly got real just what would be happening here; maybe not tonight, but definitely soon and she thought it would be nice to make her bedroom a little more romantic. She started by ripping the sheets off her bed and replacing them with a fresh set of slate grey, Egyptian cotton ones that matched her black damask duvet. Once her bed was made, she finished it off with a bunch of throw pillows in varying shades of greys and different textures. She then glanced around, realizing that she needed to work on the lighting and was sure she had the perfect idea, but needed to get some things from her storage closet in the kitchen.

An hour later, she stood back and admired her work, basked in the warm glow of candles and white fairy lights that she got out of her Christmas decorations. She had spread one battery operated set across her dresser and then thought she might as well continue the motif in the living room and hung some more sets around the room. She put out a few more decorations and candles and realized she had just enough time to have a quick shower and freshen up before John arrived.

The traffic on the highway was frustrating John to no end; he was so close yet still so far away from feeling Clara's embrace. He was a little exhausted, but hoped that maybe he might be able to have a shower once he got there to wake himself up, so that the two could have a nice evening without him falling asleep on her. The longer he sat in this sea of cars moving at the speed of a sloth, the more tired he was getting.

John: Hey beautiful. I'm currently in a cab, but traffic is bad.

It was about five minutes before he got a response and they had only moved about fifty feet.

Clara: At least you're on the ground :) Do you want to eat when you get here?

John: I'm actually not too hungry because I ate not that long ago on the flight. Unless you want to get dinner.

Clara: Nah, I've got leftovers I can eat. I just wasn't sure if I should wait for you.

John: Eat, otherwise you might be starved by time I get there.

Clara: K. I'll go do that now. See you soon xx

"Any chance we can get off this highway?" John asked the driver, starting to feel more impatient to get to Clara.

Clara had just finished washing her dishes and putting them away when she heard a knock. Before answering it, she quickly gave herself one last look over to make sure her hair and makeup were still good.

"Hi!" Clara exclaimed, throwing the door open.

John didn't say a word, but instead just gave her a wide smile before stepping inside, putting his luggage down, and then closing the door behind him; all without taking his eyes off of her. Then with one long stride towards her, he pulled her into a passionate kiss, lifting her up off the ground.

He took her breath away as he walked them into the living room and Clara thought he just might ravish her on the spot, until her feet touched the floor again and she found herself in John's tight embrace.

"Now that was a hello," Clara said, nuzzled against his chest.

"I had an eight hour flight and an hour cab ride to think of what I wanted to do the moment I saw you, so I hope it was good."

"That was better than good."

"Oh oh, I'm going to have a hard time topping that next time then." John let her go and walked back to the entrance to get his bags.

"Do you want to unpack?" Clara asked.

"Do you have space for that?"

"I made some. Thought you might not want to live out of your suitcase while you're here," Clara answered as she walked towards her bedroom.

When they entered her room, John was surprised to see how spacious it was since this was his first time in it and how warm and inviting it felt. The lighting did not go unnoticed and he loved the romantic feel.

"So you can put your stuff in here," Clara stated as she pulled out the top right drawer of her dresser "And there are a few hangers in the closet for you."

"This is perfect. Thank you."

John laid his suitcase on the floor and set his garment bag on the bed before opening it to take out his suit and hang it up.

"Do you mind if I take a shower in a bit? I feel the need to rid myself of airplane smell," John asked as he bent down and opened his suitcase.

"You don't smell like that at all, but no I don't mind. Just make yourself at home. I don't want you to feel like you need to ask me for anything."

"Noted," he replied as he laid a toiletry bag on the bed and then started moving clothes from his suitcase to the empty drawer. "I really didn't expect you to do this."

"Well I wanted you to be as comfortable as possible. Besides, you can't live like that for nine days." She motioned to the floor. "Which reminds me, does Jenny know where you are?"

"She does." He continued moving his clothes.

"And she didn't question you staying in Toronto for so long?"

"She did."

"And what did you tell her?" Clara wanted to know what she should say if Jenny should happen to call while John was here and was getting frustrated that he wasn't elaborating.

"The truth."

"What?" Clara exclaimed, shocked, until John stopped what he was doing and looked at her with a smile.

"Well I didn't give her details, obviously. But I told her I have some meetings at the beginning of the week and that since the Cyber Canucks Christmas party was on Saturday, I decided to stay. Then when she questioned me about leaving today, I told her that I wanted to get over my jet lag before Monday. All of which is true. She never asked where I was staying, which is the only thing I would have had to lie about."

He went back to emptying his suitcase and Clara couldn't get over how this really didn't seem to bother him.

"How do you do that?" She asked.

"Do what?"

"Be so blasé about this."

He put the last of his clothes in the dresser and closed the drawer before he walked over to Clara and placed his hand on the side of her arms.

"I'm sorry if it seems that way because I'm really not, but Jenny is an adult and she's going to need to accept our happiness when the time comes to tell her. For now, I really just want to focus on us and discover where this is going without thinking about her. Can we agree to not talk about her again, while I'm here."

Clara smiled up at him and nodded. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to keep bringing her up, but I'm just worried about it."

"I know, and I promise you I will take the brunt of her wrath when the time comes, so you don't need to worry about losing her." John placed a light kiss on her forehead.

"Thank you, and yes, no more talk of Jenny."

"Good, because when you bring up my daughter it takes my mind off of where it should be, which is on you and the things I plan on doing with you."

"Oh yeah, what sort of things were you planning on doing?"

"For starters this," John said as he leaned down and kissed her, slowly and sensually.

All thoughts of Jenny flew out of Clara's mind as she focused on John's hands that were trailing down her arms, leaving a path of electricity on her skin. One thing had become very clear to her, this man knew how to kiss and she couldn't help but wonder what else he was good at.

"And I'll show you the rest later," she heard his raspy voice as his lips pulled away from hers. "You did buy…"

"No," she answered, cutting him off. "I went on the pill when we got back from our trip, so there's no need unless you want," she trailed off.

"No," he answered quickly, eager to know that nothing would stop them now.

"Good," she smiled at him. "But I thought you might be too tired tonight."

"Being here with you is giving me a second wind and once I have that shower I'll be even better."

"Well then, let me show you where to find the towels."

John grabbed his toiletry bag off the bed and followed Clara to the bathroom where she showed him where to find everything and where he could keep his stuff. She left him to clean up and went back to her room where she decided she would change out of her t-shirt and jeans and into something sexier. She searched through her lingerie drawer until she found the negligee she had bought in Niagara-on-the-Lake and quickly changed into it as she heard the water from the shower start. She looked around the room and thought the only thing that was missing was some music, so she went and got her phone from the living room and searched for the perfect playlist to set the mood even more. After listening to a few, she chose one called love ballads, thinking you can't really go wrong with that. She connected the music to the speakers in her room and then looked around feeling confident that the mood had been set.

John got out of the shower and reached for the white towel Clara had given him, and dried his hair before wrapping it around his waist. He wiped the fog off the mirror and looked at his reflection, grabbing his chin and turning his head from side to side, looking at his five o'clock shadow. As he lathered his beard with shaving cream, he started thinking about what was about to happen and as much as he wanted this, the nerves were creeping back into his mind again. He knew Clara was attracted to him, but it was hard to shake his insecurities. He hated how one minute he was fine, flirting with her, but then the next he was back wondering why she could possibly be attracted to him.

He finished up and realized that he hadn't brought a change of clothes with him, so he'd have to go back to her room wearing only the towel. He stepped out of the bathroom, expecting to see Clara in the living room, but the room was empty. He heard the faint sounds of music coming from behind the closed door of her bedroom and started to wonder what awaited him inside. He inhaled deeply, psyching himself up again, but no deep breath could have prepared him for the sight he saw when he opened the door. Clara was lounging on the turned down bed, surrounded by pillows, wearing a black silk negligee that somehow managed to reveal and conceal so much at the same time. Her breasts were covered, but black lace trimmed both the top of the bodice and the bottom hem that stopped just above her knees. She was absolutely breathtaking.

Clara's stomach was a bag of butterflies, fluttering, desperate to be released. She had never done anything like this for any man and hoped that John would appreciate her alluring pose while she waited for him to return from his shower. When he opened the door and saw him wearing only a towel with a freshly shaven face and his hair still damp, she nearly leapt off the bed at him. She was trembling with anticipation and knew once their flame got lit an explosion the size of Mount Vesuvius would erupt.

John just stared at her, basked in the warm flickering light of the candles, unable to formulate the words that were running through his mind. He wanted to tell her how gorgeous she was. How he wanted to explore every inch of her stunning body. But nothing came out of his mouth as he opened it, except, "Wow."

"I hope this is okay?" she asked, her voice quivering slightly.

"It's wonderful," he answered, still not with the words he wanted.

"Good," she said with a sigh of relief.

"Everything is just so, so…" He glanced around the room then looked back at her "Perfect. You're just so beautiful."

He hadn't moved from where he stood when he walked in the room and Clara wondered what her next move should be. It was clear that they were both feeling a little nervous and in order for this to get started one of them would have to make a move.

"So, are you going to join me?" She asked.

"Right," he said, suddenly very aware that he was only wearing a towel and nothing else.

Clara saw his expression change and knew he was now worried. She knew the insecurities he had and it wouldn't surprise her if they were seeping back into his mind.

"Talk to me John. What are you thinking?"

He shook his head, amazed at how she could read him. "I just can't believe that someone as gorgeous as you would want someone like me."

Clara got off the bed and walked over to where he stood.

"I've never wanted anyone as badly as I want you right now; as badly as I always want you." She stepped into his embrace, placing her hands on his bare chest, feeling his heart racing. "I've told you before and I'll continue to tell you, no man has ever, and I mean ever, made me feel the way you do."

She placed light kisses on his chest as she trailed her hands down his torso until she reached the top of his towel.

"Please, John," she implored, looking up at him.

They stared into each other's eyes, neither of them blinking. How could he deny her what she wanted when he wanted it just as badly. He could feel every beat of his heart and knew he had nothing to fear with her, that he was just being foolish. He had been dreaming about this moment since he had shown up on her doorstep to ask her out, and to be honest likely longer; there was no way he was going to let his self-doubt get in the way of what they had both been yearning for. He continued to look her in the eyes and nodded his head, seeing her exquisite smile before feeling her hands tug at his towel, leaving him exposed in every way as it landed on the ground.

This was the moment. The moment he let every thought, every fear, everything go. He captured Clara's face between his hands and kissed her as if he was never going to kiss her again. Their lips and tongues were clashing together as her hands slid from his waist back up to his chest and around to his back. She was so wrapped up in the feel of his lips that she didn't notice his hands had left her face and were now running down her sides to reach for the bottom of her negligee. She felt the silk move against her skin as he dragged it up her body, briefly breaking their connection as she raised her arms and he removed the garment. Their lips were locked again and their bodies pressed together before her lingerie hit the floor.

Clara hadn't been lying when she told John she had never wanted anyone as badly as she wanted him. The feel of his skin against hers made her tingle with anticipation as she could feel his erection rubbing against her stomach and his hands roving over her back. She moaned as his mouth moved from hers and began exploring her neck, a place he had discovered she enjoyed having kissed. She felt as if she were floating until she realized John had swept her up and carried her to the bed.

He took a moment to take in the beauty that was displayed before him. The light from the candles danced over her skin casting a warm glow, drawing him in like a moth to a flame. As he settled over her and continued his assault on the spot where her shoulder and neck met; their bodies entangled as one. He hungered for her as a starving man desperate for a meal and he knew he wasn't going to be able to take this slow. He tore his mouth away from her neck and pushed down her body, desperate to taste more of her.

Clara moaned loudly, as John turned his attention on her breasts, ravaging them as no man had ever done before. His hands felt as if they were all over her, caressing and kneading every place he touched, inflaming her arousal even more. She was aching to feel more of him and reached down taking his erection in her hand and began stroking.

"Oooooh," John gave a breathy groan at the sensation of having Clara touch him where no one else had for a very long time and he knew if she kept going the way she was he wouldn't last much longer.

"Clara." The r in her name rolled off his tongue with a raspy desire. "I need you."

"Then take me."

John reached between them stroking her core to find her more than ready for him and continued his actions as he could see from her expression how much pleasure he was giving her. He would need to remember this for another time because he was desperate to plunge deep inside her. He positioned himself at her entrance and slowly eased in, allowing them both to savour this moment. Their eyes locked as he moved inch by inch until they were finally fused together. He wanted to stay like this forever, her legs and arms wrapped around him, while he was buried deep inside her, but he needed more. He needed to feel her quiver and come undone, and he needed to find his release. He kissed her fervently and began to move with undulating thrusts. He was heady with lust and wasn't going to last for long, but knew they had all week to explore and discover this new found intimacy, so he didn't hold back.

It had been a long time since Clara had felt the touch of a man and she didn't want this moment to end, but she could feel her climax building with each vigorous drive of his pelvis. She grabbed at his back, moving in rhythm with him as their bodies began to glisten with sweat.

"Oooh Clara, I can't," he panted, in agony at trying to hold on, but so desperately wanting to let go.

"It's okay," she answered breathing just as heavily.

He picked up his pace until he felt Clara pulse around him and her body shake as she gave a loud scream of release and he followed shortly after with a throaty groan. He pulled out of her and flopped down next to her on the bed, trying to catch his breath. Clara rolled on to her side and smiled at seeing John's euphoric expression.

"I'm sorry," he huffed.

"For what?" She questioned, surprised.

"I really wanted our first time to last longer than that." He turned on his side and ran his hand over the curves of Clara's side, stopping at her hip.

"That," she leaned forward and gave him a soft kiss on the lips. "Was perfect. I honestly don't think I could have handled much more than that right now."

She nuzzled into him as he wrapped his arms around her and rolled back over on his back.

"Me too, but I do plan on a more thorough exploration after some rest." He yawned.

"Sounds like we're having a weekend in bed then." Clara sat up, pulling the covers over them and cuddling back into him.

"I can't think of anything else I'd rather do," John replied, turning his head and giving her a tender kiss on the forehead.

They continued sharing tender kisses while enjoying their relaxing cuddle until Clara heard John's breathing change and knew he had fallen asleep. She shifted out of his embrace to go to the washroom and then to turn the lights off in the rest of her flat. When she returned she smiled seeing John asleep so peacefully in her bed and knew this was a site that she could very quickly get used to seeing all the time. She blew out the candles and got back into bed, snuggling back into John's side, who while still asleep wrapped an arm around her and pulled her in tighter. There was no doubt in her mind that she was falling hard for the man next to her and she couldn't help but wonder if he was as well.