Henry sighed and glanced over at the clock for what felt like the millionth time since he'd crawled into bed….4.37am… The red numbers cutting through the stark darkness of his bedroom. He turned onto his side and suddenly the overwhelming scent of her perfume filled the air around him. She had only been in his apartment for one night, but he could sense her presence everywhere. And he missed her.
Henry gave up trying to sleep and dragged his tired body out of bed, padding through to the kitchen in the vain hope that coffee would clear his foggy head. He lifted a mug from the wall cupboard and noticed the chocolate cake sitting untouched on the side. The cake that Elizabeth had promised to share with him if he did a good enough job decorating the Christmas Tree. He could still hear her laughter as she'd said it. No matter how hard he tried, she never left his thoughts and all he could see when he closed his eyes was her beautiful face.
He had only known her for a few days, but Elizabeth Adams had made one hell of a lasting impression on him and he was starting to realise just how much of an idiot he'd been. Why hadn't he gone after her? She was clearly upset and if he'd just stopped her leaving while he had the chance she could be curled up in his arms right now. He had to go and talk to her and bring her back. The thought of her stuck in that tiny room all alone over Christmas was more than he could comprehend. If she didn't want him as anything more than a friend, he could at least be that for her. Although, god did he hope she wanted more. Everything about her made his heart and soul come alive and he had to make her his.
Elizabeth was curled up in the middle of her bed, the quilt engulfing her tiny frame as warm tears soaked the sheet. She didn't want to cry. She felt stupid for doing so. She hated not having control over her emotions, it made her feel so weak. But yet the tears just kept on coming whether she liked it or not. A relationship of any kind was not what she'd been looking for. She had been totally prepared to spend the holidays alone. It's what she was used to and it suited her just fine. She had never really flitted in anywhere and had spent most of her short life continually looking in from the outside. It had always felt to her as if she was invisible to everyone around her no matter how hard she tried and it seemed to be the case yet again.
But then Henry McCord had come along . If he'd just left her to slip on that bloody ice, maybe she'd be unconscious now in some hospital bed rather than trying to work out all of the muddled thoughts swirling around in her tired brain. She had known this guy for a few days, that was all, so why the hell did she have an ache inside her that she couldn't get rid of. She missed his goofy smile and the way he chuckled to himself without realising he was doing it. And the feel of his lips against her skin was etched in her brain. He was gorgeous yet kind. Funny yet compassionate. Childish yet so intelligent. He had been a tiny flicker of light in the darkness she'd been surrounded by for so long…. And she missed him. The problem was, she was starting to feel things that scared her and he clearly didn't feel anything other than possibly pity and a misplaced sense of friendship towards her so this was just the way it had to be. She had to forget him.
Elizabeth looked at her clock…4.37am…. She knew damn well that sleep wasn't going to happen any time soon but her brain was far too muddled to do any study. She wracked her brain thinking of what she could do with herself and recalled the little coffee shop about a 10 minute walk off campus opened at 5am so she got herself dressed and headed out into the cold December darkness.
The snow was beginning to fall as Elizabeth left her block. The paths were incredibly slippery underfoot and the bitter chill was permeating through her oversized puffer jacket. Her bobble hat was pulled down so far it was almost covering her eyes completely and she was starting to wonder what the hell she'd been thinking coming outside at this time of the morning in the middle of winter.
She gripped the strap of her bag tightly and took smaller steps, hoping to god she didn't fall. That little scenario a few days back had been what was now causing her inability to sleep and to get the ridiculously hot wannabe marine out of her head. She certainly didn't need any other knight in shining armour coming to her rescue. One of those had been more than enough for one week.
As she rounded the corner near the coffee shop, her foot slipped a little on the ice but she managed to keep her balance, smiling to herself - Nice try winter, but you're not getting me this time! Unfortunately, the rather cocky celebration currently taking place in her head was somewhat short lived as her other foot slipped and she started falling, unable to grab onto anything to stop herself.
"We really must stop meeting like this Elizabeth. For god sake stop wearing those stupid converse and buy yourself some snow boots." Henry's voice startled her more than the fall as she found herself in his arms once again.
"Henry! What are you doing here? It's like 5am, why are you out? And could you let go of me please?"
He released his grip on her and she moved away, not able to fully look at him for risk of him being able to see right through her. She needed to put this guy and her feelings for him behind her, but how could she do that if he literally kept sweeping her off her damn feet.
"I could ask you the same thing. You really shouldn't be walking around on your own at this time of day. It's not safe Elizabeth. Any unscrupulous miscreant could be lurking." Henry's concern for her safety was evident.
Elizabeth couldn't help but smile at his comment as she raised a brow at him "Yep, you're right. There are some right dodgy characters lingering near coffee shops waiting for girls to slip up."
"Your brain never rests does it Elizabeth. You always have an answer for everything." His jovial tone changed to one of sincerity "Can I buy you a coffee so we can talk? I need to say a few things and I was actually on my way to see you."
"The coffee I'll take but I don't think we have anything left to talk about Henry. We had a bit of fun.." Henry smirked at her "Ok. We had a lot of fun together but that's all it was. Sex is just sex, however good it is. Let's not get it confused with anything else."
They sat in the quiet coffee shop and Elizabeth still wouldn't look Henry in the eye. She was warming her hands on the mug and absentmindedly playing with the sugar dispenser, aware that he was watching her and the tension between them was uncomfortably heavy. Neither one of them had spoken a word since they'd sat down and the silence was almost deafening.
Henry had waited long enough. She may not like what he had to say, and she certainly didn't seem all that receptive, but it was now or never. "I really like you Elizabeth! And not just because the sex was amazing… And god was it amazing… Like...life changing, insanely amazing.."
Elizabeth finally looked up at him and couldn't stop the grin now creeping across her lips. "I think I get it Henry. The sex was good."
Henry continued, "I want to be your friend because the relationships that last forever are the ones where you are best friends as well as lovers. And I want to be your best friend and lover and anything else you'll let me be…. I just want to be with you Elizabeth because I think I'm starting to fall for you in a very big way and I hate the smell of pine."
"Huh?" Elizabeth tilted her head as she looked at him. She was trying to process everything he'd said but all she could remember was the last bit "Why are you telling me about your hatred of pine?"
"I have the worlds largest Christmas tree currently engulfing my apartment, taking up every inch of space and filling the air with that god awful smell. I am not a big fan of Christmas and that's the first tree I've ever actually bought myself. I did it because I wanted to see you smile. I wanted you to have a proper Christmas… with me." He reached across and took hold of her hand "So, you see…. I want so much more than mere friendship, but it's a good place to start. I'm sorry I let you walk away last night."
"You did all of that yesterday just for me?" Why Henry? You know nothing about me. How can you possibly be falling for me when you don't know who I am?" She so desperately wanted to crawl into his arms and never leave, but she had learned to be wary of everyone, never trusting anyone who got too close.
"I know that your eyes sparkle when you're happy. I know you've been through more than most people do in a lifetime yet you still have the kindest heart. I know that you are so incredibly intelligent yet you don't seem to realise it. And I know I can't wait to spend all the time you'll give me discovering the rest." He let go of her hand and gently placed his fingers under her chin, tilting her head so she'd look at him "Please come back and spend Christmas with me?"
Elizabeth moved her head away and sat back against the seat. "Why did you pull back every time we got close? You say you want to be with me Henry, but you were making it pretty clear you weren't interested. I don't have time for silly games."
"I was worried you'd think I'd only asked you to stay so we could sleep together, and that's not the case at all. I wanted you to feel comfortable but it seems I managed the opposite."
"I do feel comfortable with you Henry. And I actually think that's kinda sweet. If I come back, maybe we should abstain from the physical side of things until we know each other better."
"Whatever you want is fine with me. But I do have one request?" Henry stood up and held his hand out, pulling Elizabeth up from the seat and wrapping his arms around her.
"And what might that be?"
"I still get to kiss you?" He was kinda hoping she'd just dive right in and kiss him so was a little disappointed when she removed herself from his embrace and pulled her coat on. "Is that a no?"
Elizabeth smiled and hid her blonde hair under the cute bobble hat and tangled her fingers between Henry's "I'm really tired. Can we maybe go back to yours and get some sleep?"
Henry took a deep breath and squeezed her hand. At that moment he realised he'd pretty much do anything she asked.
As they walked through the door and disposed of their heavy winter coats, the soft glow of the multicoloured fairy lights wrapped around the tree gave the apartment a romantic feel. That hadn't been the case for either of them the night before, but now that they were standing together in the lounge, gazing at each other as if they'd just met for the first time, everything that had gone before was suddenly forgotten.
Elizabeth moved towards Henry and pressed her lips against his. It was soft and gentle to start with, almost experimental in a way. It felt as if this was their first kiss. All the others had been during the throws of passion so this felt different.
Elizabeth's fingers weaved through Henry's hair, holding him in place as his arms wrapped around her. She could feel his tongue brushing against her lips and opened her mouth slightly to let him in. As their mouths moved together effortlessly, tasting each other. Teasing each other, Elizabeth's stifled moan made Henry smile against her lips. It also made him aware of how aroused they both were and this is not what she wanted.
Henry broke the kiss and caught her gaze. "I'm sorry. I don't want us to get carried away when I know it's not what you want. But for the record, that was one hell of a kiss." He watched her intently as the twinkling lights made the blue of her eyes shine brighter than he'd seen before. It was almost as if something had suddenly sprung to life within her and it was mesmerising.
"I think I may have been a bit hasty." Elizabeth didn't elaborate. She just stayed in his arms, looking so deep into his eyes it was almost as if she was looking right down into his soul.
"Hasty? About coming back here? Don't make a definite decision right now, please Elizabeth. Just get some sleep and we can talk about it some more later. I really do want you to stay. Please say you'll sleep on it?" Henry was more than aware he was almost pleading, but truly didn't care.
Elizabeth smiled at him and nibbled on her lip "That wasn't what I meant Henry. I was talking about you and me…. And what we get up to." Her fingers moved to the hem of his sweater, brushing against the bare skin underneath. "Maybe we need to rethink this a little." Her lips had found their way to his neck, leaving a trail of soft, warm kisses "We don't want to be too hurried in our decision."
Henry closed his eyes and revelled in the feeling of her lips against his skin as she continued to place kisses down his jaw. His untouched stubble proving to be quite the turn on for her as her hands now slid under his sweater and settled on his abs.
"Elizabeth! I don't want you to get caught up in the moment and then regret going back on what you wanted." His argument was weak at best.
"I haven't regretted any of the other times so I promise I won't start now." The first rays of morning light had begun breaking through the blinds as they stood together. "What say we start this day the right way in that comfy bed of yours?"
Henry leaned in and kissed her again "Are you sure this is what you want? I can't risk you walking out again Elizabeth! I like you too much." He was so softly spoken and for the first time, Elizabeth let herself believe that someone could genuinely like her for everything she was.
"I'm sure….. Let's go to bed." She took hold of his hand and dragged him towards the bedroom…..