"Kissing knuckles"

Chapter 4

A/N: I'm so happy you enjoy this fic. Thank you for the reviews! I've got chapter 4 for you here :)

She stepped into his house, shivering, and handed him the pizza boxes.

"Do you have something like that for me too?" Cora asked and pointed at Robert's sweatshirt. He chuckled and shook his head in amusement at her request.

"Otherwise, I have to sit on the couch with my coat on," she remarked as she bent down to open the zip on her boots. Her stiff fingers struggled a bit with unzipping the shoes. She looked up at Robert with a grin. He looked totally relaxed in his sweatshirt; his eyes looked a bit sleepy, and his hair was slightly tousled. Holding the pizza boxes casually in front of him, Cora had an amusing thought.

"You'd make a great pizza boy, Robert," she suggested and couldn't suppress a light chuckle.

"For real? A pizza boy?" Robert repeated her suggestion. He didn't seem entirely convinced by that.

"But really, Robert. It's freezing in here. You need to turn up the heating," Cora insisted. Robert rolled his eyes at this.

"Cora, you're just a frosty butt, my dear," he teased and took her coat from her hands to hang it on the coat rack. "And look, you're even wearing a jumper warmer than mine!" he exclaimed as he saw what she was wearing. The turtleneck of her brown knit jumper reached high under her chin and the sleeves were slightly too long, so that she clutched them like glove puppets. She casted her eyes down, and her lashes brushed the colours cheeks. Avoiding his gaze, she scurried to the heating and turned it up, far too high in Robert's eyes.

They entered the living room together and sat down on the large settee. Robert placed the pizza boxes on the coffee table and reached for the remote to switch off the telly. Cora made herself comfortable on her favourite spot on the settee and started explaining her choice of pizza.

"I brought you pizza prosciutto. I didn't know if you'd want some of my tuna one," she opened the boxes and the smell immediately filled the room.

"Ham is great. Thank you, Cor," he replied when he took his first slice of pizza. She smiled at him pleased and watched him eating the piece in no time. Then she started eating hers. After the first bite, however, she thought differently.

"Oh! I need your help with something!" Cora remembered and started rummaging in her bag. Robert craned his neck to see what she had there. With her head still engrossed in the depths of her bag, she explained, "I need your advice on some purchases." She finally pulled some garments from her bag.

"Alright…" Robert mumbled. He suddenly seemed less interested. Cora turned around, assorting the lacy pieces of clothing on her lap. Her eyes wandered to him briefly. She sensed his lack of curiosity and inhaled deeply.

"Robert, I need advice from a friend on some clothes I bought. Would you be so kind and be that friend?" she spoke. She tried to avoid making puppy eyes at him or batting her lashes.

"Of course. Go on," Robert replied, and a warm smile appeared on his face as soon as he noticed her expectant demeanour. Cora turned her attention back to the fabric in her lap and continued explaining.

"I've bought new underwear, but I still have to choose which to keep." She felt Robert shifting on the settee next to her. Of course, he was all ears now.

"I have this black bra. Lots of lace. Slight push-up." She held up the described item and put it down on the settee cushions between them.

"Then there is this navy one. Fancy lacing. Still comfortable." The navy blue bra landed atop the black one.

"And this cream-coloured bralette. Super comfortable. Classic clasp. But nearly no padding." She looked up at his face and saw that he was still taking in all the information. She joined him examining the items.

After a moment of silence, Cora said, "You're right. The black one isn't really to my liking. And it's quite uncomfortable, you know?" She stuffed the black bra back into her bag.

"But I think I should show you how the others fit. Otherwise we can't come to a decision," she added. Robert nodded slowly. He didn't seem to know how this worked, giving someone advice on new shopping.

"Alright, if you say so," he remarked.

Cora started to pull out her jumper, which she had pushed into the waistband of her trousers. She threw the pullover on the floor. Now she was sitting in a top next to him on the sofa. She took off the top as well. Robert wondered what she would do next. This was supposed to be something innocuous between friends. But after all, things between them were already rather convoluted anyway. Cora now changed the bras faster than Robert was able to follow. He couldn't recall ever seeing a woman changing her underwear this quickly. But then, he didn't think a woman had done this in front of him at all. Putting underwear off and on, yes. But this had always been two different acts. Cora sat in front of him in the navy bra now.

"Yes, this looks good," Robert commented. That much he could see. She changed into the cream-coloured bralette. Robert watched her in the fine garment for a moment and nodded finally.

"I'd say the cream one. I think I can handle that clasp much better," he stated thoughtfully.

"Robert! I'm asking you as a best friend!" Cora retorted with an amused grin grazing her features. A chiming laugh followed. She shook her head at him.

"Oh, yes, right," Robert scratched the back of his head.

"Whatever. Let's continue eating our pizza. It's much too cold to sit here in underwear anyway," Cora concluded and changed back into her things. "I can make a decision later."

Robert was happy to be done with his task and took a hearty bite of his slice of pizza. Cora grabbed some of her pizza as well and snuggled against his side. She pulled up her legs and leaned her back partly against his chest. He put his arm around her. For a while they ate in silence.

"I'm glad you're here," Robert stated after a few minutes. He heard Cora's continuing chewing and wasn't aware of her sheepish smile. The warmth of her body pressed comfortably against the front of his body and he felt at ease.

"I'm sorry I was so sensitive earlier. I really did overreact," her voice was quiet, and her head was tilted slightly forwards. Her munching had ceased. Did she feel bad?

"No, don't be sorry! You didn't do anything wrong. We will just be a little more careful in the future," Robert hurried to say. His hand, resting on her hip, stroked her reassuringly.

"So, you think that guy really doesn't know us?" Cora inquired.

"I don't think so. He is no danger to us," Robert promised. Cora tucked her head into the crook of his neck. Her warm, flowery scent wafted into his nostrils. He inhaled deeply a few times. She resumed eating her pizza and Robert was fascinated by how long she managed to nibble on one single slice.

"And how did you know I was in need of pizza this evening?" Robert asked.

"Well, I didn't leave you any time to buy new groceries the last few days," Cora reminded him. "I checked your fridge last time, and I have to say it looked quite sad in there," she chuckled.

"Well, it is quite sad here without you," Robert uttered before thinking about it. He didn't want to pressure her. He pressed his eyes close as he scolded himself inwardly.

"Oh, is that the case?" Cora asked in mock surprise, lifting her head to turn to him. "Then you're pretty lucky to have me here with you now." When Robert opened his eyes, he saw her grinning face in front of him.

"Oh, I am!" Her adorable nose wrinkled sweetly as her grin grew wider, and Robert couldn't help but place a peck on the tip of her nose. Cora emitted a bright giggle that revealed her upper teeth.

"You have something there," Robert remarked.

"Where?"

"Well, there," he pointed to her teeth. She scratched between her front teeth with the nail of her index finger.

"Is it gone now?" she asked and showed him her teeth expectantly.

"Not quite. But I can help you," Robert suggested. His arm sneaked tighter around her waist and he leaned forward to press his lips on her parted ones. She didn't pull back, so he brushed his tongue across her front teeth. Cora knew that he'd played her. There was no tuna left between her teeth, but she let his tongue sweep over them slowly all the same. Her hand reached for his cheek and she was glad that they had both finished their pizza slices. She pressed her front against his body and engaged his tongue in a more fervent kiss. Robert's back sank into the cushion with her weight on his chest.