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Chapter 15: I Need You and You Need Me

"I still can't believe you managed to collect some of my clothes without me noticing," Rachel commented as Eddie interlocked her arm with his own.

They now stood at his car, grabbing any of their bags from the boot which would be needed.

Eddie chuckled at the mixed expression on Rachel's face, one full of both disbelief and awe, "it was when you were on the phone, ordering a takeaway."

"Ah… good thinking Lawson. I'd like to know how you achieved that in the space of what? Two minutes."

They chuckled simultaneously as Eddie purposefully brushed the back of his hand against Rachel's.

"Don't underestimate me Mason, I'm full of surprises."

Rachel seemed to glow with happiness at Eddie's nod towards the way he had planned out this evening. It just seemed to emphasise how breath taking the full thing had been so far, and Rachel felt a sudden urge to express her never ending gratitude.

"I might have already said it Eddie, but thank you. Tonight has… truly been wonderful. I really wouldn't have it any other way, than being here with you."

"I can second that, and the night's not over yet," Eddie grinned, stepping closer to her slightly. He had to resist the temptation to drop the bags he was holding and wrap Rachel up in his embrace. This was something that he managed with the knowledge that he could fall asleep tonight holding her in his arms.

Rachel simply mirrored Eddie's expression, bringing her own hands to rest on the lapels of his jacket. This somewhat made up for the contact he so very much longed for.

"I meant what I said Rachel," Eddie continued, "you deserve all of this so much. I hope that… I can make you feel as happy as you deserve to be… everyday. If I can do that, and be with you, then I know that the rest of my life will be wonderful, and entirely purposeful."

Much like Thursday evening, Rachel couldn't hold back the swell of emotional tears which controlled her eyes. Eddie noticed this, and his soft and loving expression was only accentuated.

Now he did let his hold drop on one of the bags, bringing his newly free hand up to brush away any remnants of salty residue.

Perhaps to anyone else, the way in which they were with one another only a handful of days after declaring their love, would seem slightly crazy. The truth was though, their feelings had run deep for a far longer time than four days, something that both parties were aware of. After being introduced, within several weeks of working together, Rachel and Eddie had fallen head over heels for one another. Those feelings had never disappeared, they had always been present in their minds. It was just, for a long time, they weren't able to express them in the way with which they longed to. So now, every moment was to be grasped, and they were simply basking within the extraordinary atmosphere that rose whenever they were together.

Rachel seemed to shiver slightly under Eddie's touch, with his hand still remaining cupping her cheek. This was an involuntary reaction, one which had everything to do with the feel of his skin on hers and nothing to do with the slight breeze which was now in the air.

"I hope that I can make you as happy as you make me Eddie."

He moved his hand down to caress her neck as he drank in Rachel's words, "Rach, don't you see that you already make me the happiest man alive?"

Rachel closed her eyes for a brief moment, hoping to savour Eddie's heartfelt words and this fantastic memory. To hear that she made Eddie just as happy as he made her, brought Rachel an insurmountable sense of delight.

Rachel rested her head against Eddie's shoulder for a minute or two, before she shifted her position so that she and Eddie were linking arms. Within a few seconds, Eddie had once more taken a hold of their bags and they were making their way back into the building.

With their belongings collected, and key card for their room in hand, the couple began to locate where they would be staying. After realising it was on the top floor and several flights of stairs up, Rachel and Eddie didn't fancy climbing up an abundance of steps after their filling meal, so decided to take the lift.

As the lift doors shut, both parties came to the realisation that they were entirely alone for the first time this evening. Rachel couldn't resist it as they shared a teasing glance, and leant forwards slightly to press a kiss to Eddie's lips. It was short yet deep and meaningful, portraying perfectly just how much they longed for one another. They pulled away and rested their foreheads together, unable to refrain from letting out the laughter which was building up inside of them. Eddie glanced down at the side of Rachel's face, planning on inching his lips towards her jaw to emanate loving kisses. He longed to feel her skin beneath his lips.

Just then though, the lift came to a halt, beeping to signal that the doors were about to open. Rachel and Eddie broke apart slightly upon realising that this was the floor below theirs, so undoubtedly, someone would be joining them in the lift. Sure enough, the door opening revealed an elderly couple who offered a slight smile before entering. The faces of both Eddie and Rachel were flushed a light pink, considering a different scenario that the man and woman could have walked in on.

As the lift pinged once more, both couples stepped out of the lift, heading in opposite directions. One glance was all it took for Rachel and Eddie to end up in fits of giggles.

"God, Eddie," Rachel laughed, "I feel like one of the kids at school!"

He nudged her slightly with his elbow, "we aren't that bad."

Rachel quirked an eyebrow as they arrived at their room, stopping to step forwards and unlock the door. She found herself fumbling with the key card as Eddie stepped behind her to wrap his arms around her waist. As he leant down to nuzzle into the side of her neck, Eddie's warm breath on her skin proved too much for Rachel. Giving up with unlocking the door, she partially turned her head around to flash Eddie a smile and spread her palm across his cheek. From the look on Eddie's face, undoubtedly he was aware of the way he was affecting her. Also apparent though, was the edge to his expression which revealed that Rachel was having a similar influence on him.

Taking one final grasp at her tenuous self control, Rachel turned to successfully swipe the key card across the door. Opening it she turned back around to face Eddie, but fully now. He couldn't hide his smile as Rachel pulled on his jacket and backed them up into the room, all the while exchanging in a passionate kiss. Neither Eddie nor Rachel chose to acknowledge the sound of the door as it slammed shut, attentions perfectly fixated on one another. Rachel smirked when she ducked her head to plant a trail of kisses across Eddie's jaw. He groaned slightly and Rachel wasn't sure if that was a result of the loss of her lips on his own or because of the way her mouth was gently brushing across his skin.

After a moment or two, it appeared that Eddie couldn't take Rachel's teasing any longer, and he gently nudged her face back up to his waiting lips. Rachel swiped her tongue over Eddie's lower lip, and his mouth parted, allowing her entrance. Their tongues danced in a way which they had become accustomed to now. All the while, their insatiable need for one another only heightened. Eddie shifted his hands from Rachel's hips, skirting them up her body. He wanted to feel every precious inch of her, and had this in mind as he ran his hands under her jacket to remove it. Rachel rolled her muscles and Eddie felt it, he felt the sensation beneath his fingertips. She shrugged the jacket off and Eddie couldn't take her taunting anymore. He glanced down at Rachel's neck, with all the intentions of his earlier gaze when stood in the lift. Except now, Eddie followed those desires through, leaning down to connect his lips with the crook of Rachel's neck. She groaned, her head tipping back as a way of urging him on to continue. He did just that more than willingly, nipping along her collarbone with his teeth the second his mouth reached it.

Eddie was so wrapped up in the scent of Rachel's perfume drifting towards his nose, and the softness of her skin that he was caught off guard as her hands moved towards the buttons on his shirt. She undid them with speed, and Eddie reluctantly broke his hold on Rachel's hips to help her remove his shirt. Bringing their lips back into contact once more, Eddie reached round to the back of Rachel's top, undoing the zip before inching the clothing upwards. She arched her back to assist Eddie with pulling the top over her head, before speedily adjoining their lips together once more.

Meanwhile, Eddie pulled Rachel flush against him, with the skin on skin contact sending their visions cloudy. Seemingly it was a chemical reaction, one that had been fizzling away with all evening spent together. It was Eddie facing away from the bed, so Rachel backed him towards it. Pushing Eddie down onto the fresh sheets, Rachel joined him by clambering atop of his body. They both knew just how special and phenomenal this was going to be, having cherished the events of Tuesday and Thursday evening. Although, it seemed their feelings strengthened more and more each time, and this would be no exception.

After kissing for several moments, Eddie wrapped one leg around Rachel, manoeuvring her and himself so that her weight was now beneath him. She was sending him wild, the contrast between the white linen sheets and Rachel's slightly flushed skin was almost too much to bear.

She smiled at him, recognising the gulp travel down his throat that he had swallowed. For Eddie, Rachel's grin only reinforced the reality of the situation. This wasn't just one of his dreams, the love of his life was truly here with him, in flesh and blood. He absolutely adored her, and intended to transfer every ounce of that into his actions. Eddie returned the smile briefly, before allowing his lips to partake across her chest, cherishing the way her body arched towards him involuntary, and also the manner with which her nails grazed across the side of his neck. It was unmistakable, their need for each other was equal - Rachel needed Eddie, and Eddie needed Rachel. Certainly in far more ways than one.