A/N: I figured some people might feel short-changed if they didn't get to see how that date played out ... So, call this a little interlude - next time, the past and all the complications that brings starts to raise its head ... Enjoy! ;)


Eleven

"Make yersel' at home, pet …"

His place wasn't exactly a palace, but it was better than the raucous clubhouse, so Chibs had opted for heading back there after they'd finished their meal and strolled through the dusky streets to where they'd parked up, her hand caught in his. And she didn't seem to mind, taking their surroundings in with polite curiosity before slipping off to freshen up in his bathroom and giving him the chance to put some music on low and crack open another bottle of wine.

He was too damn old for jumping through hoops to try to impress a woman, but still … He found himself more concerned with not wanting to completely fuck this up than he'd like to admit. So he'd tried to do what he could to make sure the place didn't scream neglected bachelor pad and, so far at least, she didn't seem to have any complaints. And, sure enough, she shot him a little smile as she returned to find him waiting on the couch, drinking in the sight of her approaching, his gaze trailing slowly upwards from the heels that put a little sway in her step.

Fuck, how had this even happened?

Between the club's various business interests over the years, from Cara Cara to Diosa and Red Woody, and the pull it seemed to have on a certain type of woman with a penchant for danger, he wasn't unaccustomed to being surrounded by attractive company – women who wore their sexuality like a weapon. Croweaters and escorts, porn stars and hookers. Women who flaunted everything they had in the pursuit of what they wanted.

In one way or another, he was used to women hardened by the hands life had dealt them. Not this. Not pretty little paramedics with no idea the effect they could have on him. Well, maybe not quite no idea …

"Thank you for tonight," Eden murmured, settling comfortably on his lap, her fingers toying absently with the end of his scarf.

"The pleasure was all mine, darlin'," he replied, meeting her soft kiss and letting it melt into another and then another, his hand sliding into her long, loose hair to hold her close as her lips parted under his.

He knew he should be careful, guarded against letting anyone get too close – for their own sake as much as his. But it had been a hellish ride for as long as he could remember, losing so many people he loved and in the most horrific of ways. Now that there was finally, finally a glimmer of light on the horizon … It was hard to let that go. If he was honest, he needed some kind of sign that life was still worth living, rather than just surviving.

Maybe it was selfish to put that on someone like her, but … how could he be expected to resist? Especially when she was in his arms and seeming hellbent on making him lose his senses.

"Got a perfectly good bed goin' to waste upstairs, ya know," Chibs managed, with a little grin, sitting back against the plump cushions of his seen-better-days couch and raking a hand through his silver-streaked hair as Eden tried to straighten her dress and get her breath back.

She laughed at that, swatting lightly at his chest. "Careful, Telford, or I'll think you're only after one thing."

"You started it, love …"

"True," she admitted, reaching for her wine glass and taking a long sip before settling back on the couch, this time beside him, but with her legs draped over his lap. "What can I say? I think it's the accent."

"Aye, I get that a lot," he grinned wryly, his hand absently caressing her bare knee.

"Oh, you do, do you? Bring a lot of girls back here then?" Eden teased.

"Actually, no," he shrugged. "Not here."

"Lot of clubhouse dates?"

Knowing she was only kidding around, making conversation, rather than trying to pry into past relationships, Chibs smiled ruefully. "Not a lot o' anything ya could call a date."

Sensing the explanation for that might lead them down a dark path, littered with everything piled on his shoulders that he'd probably rather forget, even just for one night, Eden dismissed it with a little tilt of her glass in his direction. "Well, I guess I'm honoured then," she said softly. "We should do it again some time."

"Yeah? I mean, yeah, that'd be great, lass – if you think you still want to hang out wi' an aul' grease-monkey like me ..."

She pretended to have to think about it, but he could see the moment the thought struck her, spoiling her little charade by lighting up her green eyes with excitement.

"Oh, can we go out for a ride sometime?" she asked eagerly, inadvertently filling his head with thoughts of her on his bike, pressed tight against his back and with her arms wrapped around him.

"Oh, aye," he nodded, a slow, suggestive smile tugging at his lips. "I'll take ya for a ride …"

"You've got a dirty mind, Telford," she sighed, in mock exasperation.

"You started it …" he tried again, making her laugh, even as he swiftly liberated the wine glass from her hand to set it aside before pushing her down on the couch for a long, hot kiss.


One thing led to another, as they tended to do, and they ended up having sex right there on the couch in the flickering light of a few candles Chibs sparked to life with his lighter, cursing softly when a tiny flame licked at his finger.

Both of them were still half-dressed when they finally dragged themselves out of their own private world enough to realise just how much the night outside had deepened.

"Still a waste o' a good bed," Chibs mumbled, grinning around the lit cigarette in the corner of his mouth when Eden lifted her head from his chest to pretend to glare at him. "Well, it is …"

He tried to protest when she slipped away from him, to stand just out of his reach, now barefoot and with her dress all askew.

"Come on then, Filip," she said, her tone half expectant, half challenging. "Take me to bed."

He raised an eyebrow at that, enjoying her little showdown and lazily taking a drag of his cigarette as he tucked his free arm behind his head to consider her from where he still sprawled on the couch. "Aye, maybe in a minute, lass …"

Her dress slipped to the floor, leaving her in tiny scraps of delicate black lace their earlier impromptu coupling hadn't allowed him to fully appreciate.

"No, now," she said sweetly.

Not entirely certain he hadn't just dislocated his jaw, Chibs reached to stub out his cigarette in the ashtray on the coffee table and then, in one swift move, was on his feet and hoisting her over his shoulder. "Don't forget, love," he growled, grinning at her little squeak of surprise. "You started this …"


"Oh, Filip …"

His name on her lips, in soft, breathless moans, would never fail to ignite a fire in him – as if any help was needed in that department when she'd already gotten on her knees and taken his cock in her mouth until he'd had to practically beg her to stop, unsure if he'd manage to see out a third round without losing the power of his legs. And he was out to prove he was right when it came to making the most of the comfort of his bed.

Knowing there was no danger of interruption was certainly a bonus, letting him finally take his time with her and slowly getting her naked so he could thoroughly explore every inch of smooth, lightly tan skin. To him, and he didn't care that he was quickly proving to be biased, she was fucking perfect.

She kissed him breathlessly as he rocked into her slow and deep, his hands slipping under her to pull her closer, her legs settling around his hips as they found their rhythm. His lips trailed down her throat, the scruff of his beard grazing over her skin.

"Feel good, darlin'?" he managed to ask gruffly, as her arms wrapped around his neck and she arched helplessly under him.

"Fuck, yes," Eden groaned. "Please, don't stop …"

Chibs couldn't deny the flare of masculine pride he felt at hearing that, or the gasp of pleasure he drew when he thrust harder in response. He could feel her body tremble against his, tiny beads of sweat breaking out on them both as they lost themselves in each other. He needed that escape.

But something told him they both did.

He pressed hot kisses anywhere he could get his mouth, on her breasts, her shoulders, her throat, letting her hold him close as they moved together.

"Gorgeous …" he growled, letting the pace slow again in exquisite torture, his strong hands roaming over her.

He'd already discovered how her stomach muscles would flutter at the lightest of touches from his fingertips, the tiny lotus tattoo that graced her ribs, and how her breath would catch in her throat when his mouth closed over her nipples in turn to tease the tender buds.

He realised he wanted to learn everything about her - and he was only getting started.