Author's note: Sorry for the delay. I've been busy, and my iPad died, probably from overuse...

Barbara half-smiled then bit her lip. "What are we doing? We're going to ruin everything. You're my boss, my friend, I can't…" She walked to one of the windows. "I can't sleep with you."

Tommy stepped behind her. Despite wanting to comfort and reassure her, he sensed putting his arms around her would panic her. He laid one hand softly on her shoulder. "I'd never force you to do anything you didn't want to do. We already agreed we weren't going to make love tonight."

He watched her reflection for a response. She simply closed her eyes. "I mean I can't sleep in that bed with you. I… should have packed pyjamas. I'll sleep on the couch."

"You'll do no such thing. I have an extra t-shirt that will swim on you. I'll stay in my boxers and another t-shirt and we'll be perfectly respectable. The bed is huge. If you need to, you can have one side and I'll take the other."

"Is that what you want?"

"The clothes, yes. But I would prefer we slept closer. I have an insane desire to cuddle you."

Barbara laughed. "Like your teddy bear."

He dared to rest his other hand on her hip. When she didn't freeze, he kissed her neck. "If that's what you want to be, then you can be Grrr."

"Grrr?"

"Grrr was my teddy's name when I was young."

"Isn't it a bit kinky for me to become your teddy?"

"No. I loved Grrr more than anything. It's highly appropriate." He nuzzled further into her neck eliciting a shiver and a low moan.

"Oh… that's not playing fair."

"Why not?"

"Because you're good at seduction. I'm not."

"Just touching me is seductive. You severely underestimate your talents. But we're both tired, and it's nearly midnight, so I'll dig out that t-shirt while you have the first shower. Then you hop into bed, and while I shower. Find a spot you like and put my pillow wherever you want me."

When he returned, Barbara was in the middle of the bed with an empty pillow next to hers. Tommy smiled as he climbed in and wriggled across under the surprisingly light duvet. "This is snug," he said as he settled beside her.

"I'm sorry if I've disappointed you."

He rolled on his side and stroked her cheek. "Never. We've got the rest of our lives together. Besides, this is nice. Just being together is enough Barbara, and when you're ready, well..." He tickled her. "We can have some fun."

Barbara half-heartedly tried to wriggle out of his grip. "This would never have happened if I hadn't leapt onto your lap in that stupid ride."

"Yes, it would. Maybe not this weekend but it would have happened."

"Seriously?"

"Haven't you noticed my attempts at wooing you?"

Barbara's face moved so close to his that he had to move back slightly to keep her in focus. "No. When?"

He laughed. "So much for me being good at seduction."

When Barbara's lips brushed against his cheek, he wondered if he should kiss her, or wait for her to reach his lips. Before he could decide, Barbara kissed him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer as the kiss become more intense.

Barbara woke alone. The bed was cold around her. Her mouth went dry. She tried to swallow. Tried to breathe. Lying in his arms had been so comforting, and now he had gone.

"Ah, you're awake," Tommy said as he entered the room carefully balancing two cups on a small platter. "Coffee?"

Relief washed through her in a wave of heat. "Ta. I thought you'd left me," she blurted out more to her surprise than Tommy's.

He shook his head as he put the platter on the table beside the bed. "Never. I woke up and thought we might need some breakfast. I've found muffins and marmalade in the kitchen for when we're ready."

As if in answer, Barbara's stomach growled. They both laughed. "That sounds lovely," she said, although her mind wandered elsewhere as she accepted the coffee.

Tommy slid under the covers next you her and sipped his coffee. "Hmmm, not bad for plunger coffee."

Barbara tasted hers. It was creamy and rich. "Beats the instant stuff I have for breakfast."

"I know. You make lousy coffee."

"Thanks very much."

"I have to be honest, don't I?"

"Not that honest." She took another sip. "So what are we going to do today?"

He grinned at her. "That depends. What would you like to do?"

His eyes told her exactly what he would like, but Barbara was still wary. "Let's have breakfast then explore the village."

Tommy nodded. "sounds perfect."

Their first stop was the chocolate shop next door. Sweet aromas of caramel, vanilla and warm, dark chocolate wafted through the door. Barbara selected enough to fill the double-tray box, and Tommy eyes watered when he saw the till. Still, they both loved chocolate and he would ensure they weren't wasted.

"Wait here," he said, "I'll put these in the cottage for later."

He was less than five minutes, but Barbara was outside eating a long chocolate bar by licking it in an entirely subconscious but highly alluring way. He was glad that the village wasn't large, and their walk would be short. Within ten minutes, their stroll had taken them onto the path that led across verdant fields to a small stream.

"The water's so clear," Barbara exclaimed as Tommy helped her down a rocky step. "Look you can see fish over there."

Their eyes were level, and her lips looked soft and inviting. Tommy couldn't care less about the stream. He thought of the way she had devoured that chocolate bar. His promise of taking things at her pace was becoming harder to keep, but he could hardly make love to her here, and kissing her would be far too tempting. "It's a chalk stream, they're always shallow and clear and..."

Barbara had silenced him by leaning up and kissing his cheek. Tommy heard himself exhale in a long, slow breath. "I don't care about the stream," she said, "are you planning to make love to me today?"

Tommy spluttered then grinned at her. "That would be very nice."

"Very nice?"

"Well, I expect it will be mind-blowingly fantastic actually, but I don't want you to feel pressured."

"I don't."

He watched fascinated as she turned to look around. He would be game if she were, but he was also aware that being their first time, it should be somewhere totally private where they could spend hours exploring each other's desires. This would be lust heightened by the threat of being caught. "But not here. It's too public."

"What about later this afternoon? We could grab lunch at the pub then go to the cottage."

"It's not something you make an appointment for, Barbara. It has to be spontaneous. Like when you kissed me last night."

"Yes, but we didn't do anything last night."

"You sound disappointed."

She shrugged. "A bit, but I was more scared that we might."

"Come here." He opened his arms. "Come on. I won't bite. Not yet."

Barbara rested her cheek on his chest. Her warmth spread across him as he felt her body melt against his. "I don't know what I'm scared of."

"I think I do. You're scared it won't work between us and that you'll be left with less than we've had up until now."

"Yeah."

"And you're scared that it might work and you will finally have to let down your inner-most defences and be completely vulnerable."

She looked up at him. "How did you know that?"

"Because they're things that frighten me too, only I know they won't happen." He kissed her forehead. "I know we will be perfect for each other. In bed. In life."

"How can you know that?"

His arms tightened their grip. "Because we love each other, and that overcomes so many obstacles in life. You just have to forget the fears and surrender to your feelings. Trust me, Barbara, I'll never let anything or anyone, including me, hurt you."

"Tommy..."

He gave her the wickedest of grins. "Say it again," he said as he nuzzled into her neck. "Call me Tommy."

"Tommy... oh... oh, good... Let's go back to the cottage."

Tommy glanced at his watch. It was almost eleven-thirty. Lunch could wait.

Tommy couldn't stop smiling. Barbara's damp body was lying across him with her head face down in his armpit. Her snory breath tickled his side in a way that made it hard for him to resist the rising need to roll her over and make love for the fourth time. But he let her sleep. The light outside was beginning to fade. They would have to get up soon and go to the pub for dinner.

"Tommy?"

"Yes?"

"I had the most delightful dream," she said as she inched up his body.

"Oh, yes?"

"It's a bit naughty." She rang her fingers through his hair and pulled his head down so she could whisper in his ear.

His eyes went wide. It was a long-held and secret fantasy that he had never mentioned to a soul. "Are you sure?"

"It's nearly twilight. The garden is private. No one can see, and if it gets cold we can come back inside in front of the fire."

Tommy needed no further convincing. "You grab the pillows. I'll get the chocolates."

Barbara laughed as his naked bum disappeared out the door. Heavy footsteps echoed as he ran down the stairs. She had surprised herself at how easy making love with him had been. Once she had allowed him to remove her shirt, she had forgotten about all her fears. Love and lust had met in the fieriest of ways, on the bed, in the shower, and again pressed up against the window. Now she wanted him outside in the cool air, making love in nature, at one with the earth. But first, she wanted to make good use of those chocolates. She stopped up a few pillows and followed him.

He met her at the base of the stairs and held up the chocolate box. "Don't you ever try to tell me again that you're bad at sex, or that you're not the most seductive temptress in England."

She scurried in front of him then turned and beckoned with her finger. "Does Tommy want to eat his dessert? It's just chocolate... and me."