A/N… "Large streams from little fountains flow, Tall oaks from little acorns grow" - David Everett….This seems perfect for this story and it's one of my favorite quotes. I hope you're all enjoying this so far and thank you as always for your reviews…. Please keep leaving them as they make me smile! And we all need to smile a little more xxx
Elizabeth sleepily rolled over, her eyes still closed and her hair covering most of her face. She had slept right through the night without so much as stirring and a huge grin appeared as she recalled what had happened between the sheets and who had been keeping her warm all night. She opened her eyes to get another look at him and was rather dismayed to find herself alone.
She lifted the duvet to see if she'd dreamt the whole thing but nope, she was definitely naked and her clothes were strewn around the room where Henry had removed them the night before. She sunk back down into the bed and pulled the covers over her head with a groan. She'd so wanted to spend some more time with him and see if there was anything there and she definitely heard him say he really liked her. Obviously that just wasn't that case after all.
She was just drifting back off to sleep when the door opened and scared her half to death. She peered out from the confines of the comfy quilt and saw Henry standing there grinning at her in just a t-shirt and boxers.
"Good morning sleeping beauty. You really did crash out last night. You must have needed the sleep and you have the cutest little snore." He sat on the edge of her bed and leaned in to kiss her but she pulled back.
His face dropped and a look of realisation crossed his features. "Oh! Well that's awkward. I'm sorry Elizabeth, I've seriously misread the situation, I thought… Oh it doesn't matter. I'll get dressed and leave you to it." He tried to stand up but Elizabeth tugged his arm.
"I didn't kiss you as I need to brush my teeth. I don't want to put you off that quickly with morning breath and I do not snore" She was smirking at him. A mix of her own relief that he was still there and at how ridiculously cute he was. "Close your eyes while I grab a shirt."
Henry leaned across and lifted the sheet, peeking at her naked body "Oh hell no…. You're not getting out of this bed yet. I have a promise to keep." He dragged his shirt over his head and snuck back under the sheet, eliciting a yelp from Elizabeth as his cold hands made contact with her warm skin.
"Arrrggghhhh, Jesus Henry, your hands are freezing." She was squirming under his touch and giggling. "What the hell have you been doing?"
"Oh sorry, the water hasn't warmed up. Had to have a cold shower but I guess I really didn't need it." He rolled on top of her and she could feel his erection pressing against her stomach through his underwear.
"Henry McCord…. What are you planning to do with that?" She was grinning up at him as arousal coursed through her body.
"I'm going to make you scream as you come so many times you'll never want to let me go." He was placing featherlight kisses against her neck, making her sigh with approval.
As she pushed his boxers down with her feet and pulled him in for a kiss she whispered against his lips "I'm starting to feel that way already."
Henry's eyes blinked open and he glanced at his watch. He then looked down at the girl currently wrapped in his arms and felt a warmth rush through his entire body. He didn't do casual encounters and he certainly didn't indulge in random sex with strangers, it just wasn't his style. But whatever was happening between him and Elizabeth, it was making his heart skip a beat.
He kissed his way from just behind her ear, all down her neck and onto her bare shoulder. Her skin was warm and she smelt delectable. He stopped to look at her for a second before running his fingertips down her arm.
"Elizabeth… Time to wake up…Hey there sleepy?" She was still fast asleep and was not even remotely stirring so he blew softly in her ear and spoke a little louder "Elizabeth? Wakey wakey."
"Hmmmmmmm, what time is it?" She turned in his arms and buried her head back down in the pillow.
"It's almost 4pm, we've literally been in bed all day."
"I didn't hear you complaining." Her voice was laced with sleep and she let out a little chuckle "I'm starving." She was making absolutely no attempt to open her eyes and a devious grin crossed Henry's lips. He reached under the covers and tickled her side making her writhe against him and screech "Fuck Henry, that's just mean."
"It got you to open your eyes though. You could literally sleep through anything. So, what shall we do for dinner?" He slipped out of bed and pulled his boxers back on, followed by the rest of his clothes as Elizabeth stayed unmoving in the bed.
"You want to take me for dinner? Like a date?"
"Well, I think after what we've been doing repeatedly since last night, I at least owe you dinner Elizabeth. And yes, I would love to take you out on a date. That is if you are planning to move at any stage?" He looked over and she was still sprawled out in her bed, wrapped in the sheet not moving at all.
"It's just so comfy here but I guess I do need to have a shower as I got kinda sweaty. Oh hell, the water is going to be bloody freezing." She pulled the covers over her head again and refused to get up.
Henry sat on the bed and tugged them back down. "Here's a suggestion. Why don't you grab some clean clothes and you can take a shower back at my place? I have plenty of hot water and I need to go and get changed before we eat anyway."
Elizabeth looked confused. "You have your own place? You don't live on campus?"
"I have an small apartment about a 10 minute walk from here. It's nothing special but it suits me. I have my car here as it was freezing yesterday so we won't have to walk unless you want to?" He was lacing up his sneakers and Elizabeth suddenly looked incredibly concerned.
"Oh shit! Are you a teacher? Have I spent all day fucking a teacher? Oh crap… Ohhhh crap. Can I get kicked out for that? Oh fuck! What have I done! What have you done?." She was in complete freak out mode and Henry couldn't help but find it amusing.
"Yep… I'm the youngest professor they've ever had here at UVA. I'm quite the sensation in the religion faculty. This really isn't going to look good for either of us to be honest. We could both be in a lot of trouble." His game face was so good Elizabeth looked as if she was about to burst into tears at any moment.
"Really? Oh god…. What are we going to do? I swear I didn't know. I won't tell anyone about this. We can just pretend it never happened and then there won't be any problems. Please Henry…. I can't get kicked out… I just can't." She was practically pleading and Henry suddenly felt horribly guilty.
"Hey, I was just kidding. I'm a religion major in ROTC which is why I get to live in my own digs. I swear I'm not a professor. We're perfectly ok."
Elizabeth looked at him for a minute and then thumped his square in the arm "You fucking asshole. Do you have any idea how worried I was just then? Jesus Henry… That was a fucked up thing to do." She drew her knees to her chest and buried her head "Asshole."
"I'm sorry… And you have one hell of a punch on you. Let me make it up to you with dinner… Please Elizabeth? You know you can't resist my boyish charm and amazing good looks." She looked up and he was smiling at her.
"Fine. But close your eyes while I get dressed. You don't get to see any of this again." Her tone softened "Henry… You swear you're not a teacher?"
"I promise you I'm just your bog standard student with many hidden talents…. Just like you." He placed a kiss on her cheek and got up "I'll go wait in the lounge while you get ready. And Elizabeth…. I'm sorry for being an asshole."
Having freshened up at Henry's apartment, the pair were now waiting for their pizza to arrive as they sat in the local pizzeria. Elizabeth hadn't eaten anything other than cereal for almost 2 days and was practically ravenous. Henry had been a little worried that they would find out they had absolutely nothing in common but as they chatted about the usual topics such as music, films, college, classes and which type of ice-cream was superior, he realised that Elizabeth Adams may just be his perfect woman.
Elizabeth had unknowingly been concerned about the same thing. Clearly, they were beyond compatible physically, but that would never be enough to sustain a relationship, at least not long term anyway. However, as she listened to him enthuse about theology and the beautiful architecture of UVA, she could feel her guard starting to slip a little, which terrified her. She didn't like getting close to anyone. Being a loner suited her well as it meant she never got hurt. It also meant she never really lived either, but that was a small price to pay to keep her heart intact. She was staring into his eyes as Henry spoke, zoning out a little as she noticed those beautiful green and orange flecks again. They were drawing her in and she could no longer hear what he was saying, she was merely staring into paradise.
"Elizabeth?" Henry's voiced snapped her out of her reverie.
"Huh? She was now feeling a little embarrassed. "Sorry, I didn't quite catch that."
"Are you going home for the holidays? Most people have already left… I was wondering when you were setting off?" Henry immediately noticed her expression change as she stared out of the window. "I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?"
She didn't answer him immediately. She hadn't even thought about the holidays all day and now she suddenly felt a pang of loneliness starting to creep back in. "I'm not going anywhere for the holidays. I'll just be staying on campus." She was hoping he wouldn't ask her to elaborate, but unfortunately, he did.
"Don't you go and spend Christmas with your parents? They must miss you? Do you have any siblings?" His voice was light and airy and he carried on eating his pizza while he waited for her answer.
She took a deep breath and screwed up her face "My parents are dead. They died in a car accident 4 years ago and now it's just me and my brother. I don't spend time with him because he blames me for not being in the car too. UVA is my home right now and that's just how I like it." She blurted it all out so fast Henry barely had time to digest what had been said.
He sat silently for a second and then reached out to take her hand. "I need to make a quick phone call and then I'm going to take you to get the best hot chocolate you'll ever taste. Sit tight, I'll be back in a minute or two." He left her sitting there in a bit of a daze. She was so used to the fake sympathy and the pitying looks that she was quite taken aback by his response.
He returned about 5 minutes later "Are you ready to go? I promise you, you are going to find this hot chocolate practically orgasmic."
They walked along the street in silence and Henry weaved his fingers between hers. She looked across and he had the warmest smile she'd ever seen. There was no pity or sadness…. Just Kindness and her stomach flipped.
They sat on a bench in the freezing cold December air drinking their hot chocolate as, according to Henry, it was the only way to fully appreciate it and then they took a slow walk back to Elizabeth's room. Her heart sank with every step as she knew she'd not only be alone again, but she'd have to say goodbye to Henry. That was something she really wasn't ready to do. But it seemed the bubble had burst and reality beckoned. She took a breath and opened her door, getting ready to say goodbye. But Henry had other ideas.
"Right…. Grab enough stuff for a couple of days and any work you need to do." Henry had a way of being so matter of fact about everything and she was once again, utterly confused.
"Why? Where am I going?"
"You're coming to stay with me for the holidays. I have hot water, a kitchen and it will be a hell of a lot warmer than here too. And don't worry, I'm not being presumptuous. I will take the couch and you can have my room. You are not spending Christmas alone Elizabeth, I just won't have it."
Elizabeth was staring at him in disbelief. She could feel tears starting to sting at her eyes but she wasn't sure why. "Are you sure? Aren't you going to see your family?"
"Not anymore. I would much rather spend my time getting to know you. Now grab your stuff and let's go home."