"I will get glasses, you can sit down if you want?" Robert pointed towards the living room.
Cora nodded and settled herself on the sofa. She pulled her legs up and hugged a pillow. It gave her a safe and comfy feeling. She could hear Robert humming. He was having a good evening and here she was to ruin it with her mood. Maybe she just should go home. She was just getting up, when Robert put his hands on her shoulders.
"Are you comfortable?" His hands were softly needing her shoulders.
Cora sank back, she liked this very much. His touch calmed her down. She looked up and smiled. "I am."
"Good" Robert brushed her cheek with his finger. "Do you want some champagne?"
Cora knew it was better not to drink. But the encounter with Anthony earlier today, made her want to forget what was happening. She nodded in agreement.
Robert walked around the sofa, handed her her glass and sat down next to her. "This is a really good year." He said holding up his glass.
Cora smiled. She didn't have any clue when it was good champagne or not. She didn't drink it much.
"To our second Michelin star." He toasted her glass and took a big gulp of the liquid.
Cora did the same, she never really liked the taste of it, but there was enough alcohol in it, to numb her down.
"You seem to like this very much." Robert said, when Cora finished her glass and he filled it again.
Cora only smiled.
Robert leaned in a little closer. "This means we need to work on new menus." He said, touching her cheek with his lips, but not kissing her.
"I can just add a second star into the logo. It isn't to much work."
"Oh." Robert sunk back. "I was hoping for some more working time together."
Cora put her hand on Robert's leg. "We can always do that."
It brought an instant smile on Robert's face, and Cora couldn't resist the urge to kiss him. She turned her body and leaned in on Robert. She felt his lips open for her. His taste was irresistible, he tasted like mint and something else, she couldn't place. His lips were slightly wet and incredibly soft.
She climbed on his lap and faced him. Her hands on his face, softly stroking his cheeks. She felt his fingers digging a little deeper into the flesh of her lower back, where he had rested his hands.
Robert was overwhelmed by Cora's move, her floral perfume aroused him. He gently stroked her back with his hands. He tried to kiss her, but Cora held him at distance. He glanced up and caught a cheeky smile on her face.
She gave him his glass and took her own. She drank it at once. Robert saw her swallow the liquid, then she licked her lips.
"You are not drinking?" She asked, looking at his glass?
Robert was mesmerized by Cora who was sitting on his lap. He couldn't believe this was happening. Especially not because Cora had seemed to be on a different planet with her thoughts. He brought the glass to his lips and finished his glass.
Cora had already filled hers again, and was ready to fill his. She still had that cheeky smile on her face. Without a word, she filled his glass again and put it away. Before he could protest, her lips touched his neck. It caught Robert by surprise, when he felt the tip of her tongue. Her hands were roaming over his chest.
Robert carefully moved his hands over Cora's back, slowly he moved them to her shoulders and pulled her closer. Cora moved with him and leaned into his chest. He felt her warmth beaming into him. Cora had moved her kisses up and reached his lips. Hungry she placed hers on his.
He turned both of them so they were laying down on the sofa. Robert was hovering over Cora, her eyes were closed. Her eyelashes, resting on her cheekbones. She was so incredibly beautiful he thought. He softly kissed her chest, just above her breast. She was wearing a low cut t-shirt, and it showed just enough to make him wonder how beautiful she must be in full. He kissed her neck, very careful, making sure his hands stayed low. He felt her let out a deep sigh.
When Robert looked up he saw Cora had opened her eyes and was now looking at him. He wasn't sure what he saw in them. He stopped the movement of his hands.
"Do you really want this?" He asked.
Cora nodded, but Robert saw she was fighting against her fear again. He sat back up, and slid down next to Cora, who curled up her legs and he saw a tear role over her cheek.
With his thumb he brushed it away. "Don't cry, it is alright. We don't have to do anything. I know we are moving fast."
"It's not that."
Robert was surprised by her response.
"Anthony was at my home this afternoon."
Robert stopped his thumb which was brushing her arm and stared at Cora. "No wonder you were miles away. What did he do?"
"That's the confusing thing. He was bringing a peace offer."
"Please tell me you didn't let him in!" Robert said in a low tone.
Cora coloured. "I didn't really have a choice."
"What!" Robert exclaimed. "Of course you have. He has no right to come to your home! You can get him arrested."
"I don't want that." Cora said timidly.
"CORA! Have you gone mad? You can't let him into your life again, not after all that happened."
Cora cowered when Robert raised his voice. "I spend a lot of time loving him, I can't just forget that."
"It doesn't matter how much you have loved him. Cora he beated you into the hospital, twice. He hurt you a lot, how can you even consider getting back with him?" Robert was getting angry.
"I didn't say, I'll go back to him." Cora's voice got harder now.
"Cora, I don't get you!" Robert said.
"Robert, he was standing there. What could I have done? Kick him out? You know what his reaction would have been!"
Robert realized he wasn't being fair. He got mad for no reason. It bothered him that Anthony was once again the reason, they stopped being romantic. He was dying to discover her more, then just these kisses. But he knew Cora needed time, a lot of time.
"I know." He said in a much softer voice. "I am sorry, but thinking of Anthony makes me so incredibly mad. You deserve so much better."
Cora gave him a soft smile. "You are sweet for saying this. Can we forget Anthony for a minute and continue what we were doing?" Cora moved her hand under Robert's dress shirt.
She caught Robert by surprise again. "Why don't we just enjoy the rest of the champagne and watch a movie or just listen to music?"
Cora nestled her body against Robert's who had leaned back into the sofa. "I am happy with that." Her fingers were playing with his chest hair and Robert was fighting the urge to rip off all Cora's clothes. He wrapped his arm around Cora and kissed her temple.
He felt Cora relax again, via his phone he put on his playlist he made specially for Cora.
She looked up when Spiegel im Spiegel from Arvo Pärt came out of his speakers. "This is such a beautiful work, how did you know I love this one?"
Robert kissed Cora's temple once more. "I took a good look at your classical music collection last time I was at your place."
Cora chuckled, she rested her head on Robert's shoulder. She lowered her hand and wrapped her arm around his waist. "Thank you for understanding me." She said.
Robert's free arm rested on Cora's arm, which was wrapped around him. His fingers playing with the little hairs on her arm. "This is nice." He mumbled into her hair.