A/N: Okay, I'm hoping you guys will love this chapter, I have to say, I do. I think it may be my favourite that I have written so far (and I'm on chapter 10...!) As always, please please let me know your thoughts. Reviews are always the best :) Hoping this seems realistic...I can honestly see this happening (well like 90% lol) so I hope you can too (maybe one day oops). Enjoy!

Chapter 5.

"Wow, someone looks dapper." Domino sauntered into the bedroom in the only way a pregnant woman can.

"Thanks" he smiled nervously in her direction as he fastened his tie.

She took a seat at the dressing table next to him, filing away the stray beauty products scattered on the desk.

"Um…look Dominio" he was serious "I just want to let you know that uh...Blake's gonna be there tonight. Complete transparency."

Her fast paced organisation came to a grinding halt. She took a moment to reflect. Was this important information she should consider carefully or was it just a passing comment?

"Oh. Um...okay."

He could hear vulnerability in her voice, not something he was used to from her. He knelt down in front of her and grabbed her hands from the dressing table. "Hey, it's not a big deal. I may not even see her, I just wanted to tell you, so you knew and hopefully were okay with it. I say that because I promised I'd go tonight and it's a really great charity Dominio, so I hope you don't mind me going."

Why hadn't he told her before about this?

"So you only heard tonight...that she's gonna be there?" Domino was looking into her lap with her hands twitching slightly in his grasp.

Fuck. Why hadn't he told her sooner? Double fuck. Seriously Penn why didn't you tell her sooner? He shrugged away at his thoughts before they went into overdrive.

"Uh, no, the other day. My agent told me, you know...word of warning and um...I was trying to find the right time to tell you.."

She wasn't sure whether to be unimpressed, worried or just...thankful he was being honest with her. She'd had to deal with a few run ins with him and Zoe in the past, which somehow never bothered her. She had never been the jealous type, but dealing with him and Blake, this was new to her.

"Okay...well thank you for telling me babe. I...have to say, I'm a little shocked. I mean, it's weird for me. Besides, you two don't really speak...and now twice in a year? Just...weird. Fucking weird." She couldn't help but feel confused, almost, resentful, why was this happening? Why did the universe keep throwing her husband in the path of his ex girlfriend?

"Thanks." He kissed her hands and then her stomach. "I gotta go!" he spritzed some cologne in his direction and made his way to the door. Her eyes quivered at the sight. Why did he use cologne? Was it for her?

"Just...tell me, if you guys talk. Okay?" She really meant it too.

He swayed his head almost mockingly, as if her question was laughable.

"Of course I will. Bye."

Loud chatter filled the stylish entrance hall. To be honest he wasn't used to being surrounded by so many well dressed people. He'd long abandoned a life of sparkle, glamour and high society. He felt out of his comfort zone, however, his ability to talk to anyone about just about anything was an asset he'd fortunately carried for some time now.

The chatter with his latest companion was wearing thin. The suave gentleman took this as an opportunity to make an escape. "Can we get you another?" The man's eyes indicated to the last few drops of champagne resting in the pit of his glass.

"No, I'm good. Thank you." The man moved away leaving a lonesome Penn with no aim but to let his eyes wander round the room.

Fuck. There she was.

Her long blonde locks rested over and around her breasts which were greatly exposed by the plunging maroon coloured chiffon dress that covered her tall frame. He swallowed hard. He hadn't seen her looking like this in the longest time. He couldn't draw his eyes away, they were glued to her like teenagers to gaming consoles.

Before he knew it she was wandering towards him. Purposeful and alluring.

"Hey…" she breathed in his direction. With each greeting they shared the connotations were changing. Intensity multiplying. Want increasing.

She laughed that teenage, giggly laugh she had and his brown eyes sparkled at the sight. They were sitting now and had been for some time. They'd found themselves on a table surrounded by other well dressed individuals, some flat out boring people, some rather lively ones who had clearly consumed far too much drink, of the acholic variety of course, and there were those that kept to themselves, seeing the pair were having a far too gooder time to want to socialise with any of the other guests.

"I can't believe you remember that!" She giggled, her fork shielding her mouth of food from the public view.

"How could I not, the image of that rather large, fat hairy guy will be embedded in my brain for all of eternity." he chuckled a familiar chuckle, genuine and warm. A smile dancing all over his face as he spoke.

"That dude sure was furry." she said matter of factly swallowing on a bite of salmon. "Here, try this" she lifted her fork, taking a piece of salmon with it and waving it aggressively before his lips. She barely gave him a chance to respond, physically or otherwise before she rammed it into his mouth.

He raised his eyes alarmingly at the intrusion. He chomped, he contemplated.

"Wow. That is…I totally should have ordered that shouldn't I?"

"Yes. Yes you should have." She nodded mockingly at his retort and took another sip at the champagne sitting patiently in front. "Mhm, do you remember that lobster we had, at that restaurant in Thailand?"

Reflection fuelled his thoughts and he was transported back to that night. The music. The view. The restaurant. The food. That dress.

"Yeah...that was...the best lobster I've ever tasted. Talk about an amazing night." His lips curved into what looked like a small smile...his eyes told a different story.

"It was...pretty incredible. I mean, the whole night was." She smirked, treading on dangerous territory, something a sober Blake would have resisted. But she was far from sober and she was almost enjoying playing with fire.

He pursed his lips in a twisted grin, he knew exactly what she was referring to. He nodded, slowly, considering his response. "I can't disagree with you. But, let's be honest, Blake most of them were." His words were so matter of fact. So painfully honest. So almost...tragic.

Her cheeky expression had rapidly morphed into what could only be described as a look of desolation; her eyes glossed over and her brain was deeply absorbed by the tales of faded memories.

'Most of them were'. He was wrong. They all were.

She gulped. She didn't know if she was enjoying this conversation or whether quite frankly she should be anywhere but inches from his body.

A loud tinkling chime sounded and all eyes were on the auctioneer. He muttered some words neither of the pair paid much attention to at first.

"And the next item we are presenting to you all tonight is this wonderful mahogany clock from the early 1900s…." the auctioneer's excitable monotone was drowned by the sound of Blake whispering in his ear. The fact her lips were only a mere few centimeters away from him sent shivers down his spine. "I think you should bid on this, I can totally see it in your place."

He turned to face her dramatically, forgetting how close her face was to his and wishing he'd kept his eyes on the auctioneer. Feeling dangerously pleased with the new found proximity, he responded playfully, "How do you know what my apartment looks like?" His eyes searched hers, his face poised awaiting a response. He'd be lying if he said a part of him didn't want her and him alone in his place right now. Fucking wine, he groaned to himself.

"Well, I just imagine it would go with your stuff. I do know you, you know." Her retort was confident, her eyes trying to beat the battle his had begun.

Stop looking at her, he told himself quickly. He tore his eyes away from hers, they were persuasive, demanding, tempting.

"You do…" he took another well required swig of alcohol. Downing a large proportion in a sizable gulp.

"Wow. Steady on there, Penn" she teased.

"I need it." he explained, allowing his eyes to meet hers again. They surveyed each other for what felt like minutes. The room could have emptied and they still wouldn't have noticed. For the first time that night they were engrossed. They had totally succumbed to temptation's dangerous mercy. And dangerous it was.

"$1,000. Any more bidders?...Going once, going tw-"

Blake threw the bidding card brashly into the air, almost knocking her drink in the process. "$1,200" she declared confidently.

"Are- are you kidding?" He remarked jokingly, his eyes still latched to her face.

"Relax. I'll pay for it" she pushed her slim hand against his bicep, sending his body to this side in the process.

He looked at her sarcastically, light humour mixed through the lines of his face and the curl of his lips. He hated how much he wanted her to do that again. Or maybe, leave her hand there for a little longer.

"You make me laugh." He blurted. His rationale was slipping.

She gazed over at him, his genuine, crooked smile sending her heart into overdrive. How could things change so quickly she wondered. She honestly hadn't thought about him in years, not looked back in years. How could in what felt like the blink of an eye, this man go from being an almost complete stranger to someone, she was so nearly...longing for.

She swallowed hard as the words continued to ripple through her consciousness. A domino effect ensued and as realisation hit harder and harder her throat began to dry and her smile began to fade. How could she respond to that? What words could meet her desire to remain on safe territory with her husband but yet still allow her to enjoy her indecorous evening with her ex.

Their eyes locked once again as they searched for understanding, a mutual craving, equal lust.

"$1,700, any more bidders? Any more….going once, go-"

Somehow Blake was able to multitask in this moment. Her whole body fixated on the man next to her, apart from her ears, still thick deep in the auction.

Throwing her bidding card in the air for the second time she sealed the deal. The clock was hers, his.

"You really bought that for me?" It was more of a rhetorical question, of course he wouldn't allow her to pay.

"Well...actually...it's growing on me. I think I'll keep it." She shot an almost provocative glance his way and she wasn't sure his lips had moved from their suggestive grin.

"Well, what if I want it?" His lips were playful but his eyes were serious.

"And why is that?" She moved her elbow to rest on the table as she delictly planted her chin into the palm of her hand, her eyes scanning his, begging him to continue their game of suggestion.

"Because...it has sentimental value now."

She swallowed hard once again and her eyes widened slowly as the enormity of his words sunk into her soul.

"I tell you what, you buy me the clock and I'll get something for you. Then that way we can both have something sentimental to take away from tonight…" he offered matter of factly. Both of them ignoring the fact they were seriously over the line at this point.

"Okay, deal." She reached out her hand, her fingers twitching in anticipation.

He shot a cheeky smile her way and met her hand with his. Their fingers and palms clasping desperately together as they stared eagerly into each other's eyes.

It was the end of the evening now, numerous attendees had left the building and Penn and Blake were the only two left at their table. "Wanna go for a walk?" he tilted his head in the direction of the door and smiled warmly at her. The pair lifted from their seats and headed for the exit where he placed his hand on the base of her back leading her out of the building.