Let's dance to the music

Chapter Four

The second dance passed the same as the first but when it was over, the band went straight into a slow song and the couples around them moved closer to one another, swaying to the music. Almost without thinking Harry had smoothly spun Ruth towards him so that she ended up pressed against him. Instinctively her free arm slipped around his waist and the other had found its way to rest between his shoulder blades, while he had moved his hands so they clasped her waist. She looked up at him, suddenly uncertain, and his look had been a question too. Wordlessly asking her if this was okay, if they should continue. In reply she rested her head against his shoulder and he knew he had his answer.

Midway through the song she lifted her head and he saw the question in her eyes, had understood that the spell that had seemingly woven around them so far that night had been dented "Harry" she whispered " What are we doing?"

He knew what she meant but he found he couldn't formulate an answer, he didn't want to fully break the spell, so he simply said "We're dancing Ruth, just dancing."

She opened her mouth, perhaps to say something, but she stopped when his hand moved from her waist back to her shoulder. The strap of her dress had slipped down again and he traced the path it had taken with the tip of his finger before coming to rest on the strap itself. Then he pushed it up to the place it belonged very, very slowly. His finger lingered before it travelled up again, this time tracing the length of her jaw, and then his hand gently cupped her chin. Slowly, taking his time, giving her time to pull away if she wanted to, he lowered his head, bringing his lips to hers.

Like the night around them the kiss was warm and easy, long and languid and Harry felt Ruth press closer to him, slide her arm up and around his shoulders to caress the back of his neck. His hand at first stayed on the small of her back before moving up slightly to where her dress began and beyond, feeling the smooth skin of her back underneath his hand. Her mouth had opened under his and their tongues slid against each other, teasing tasting, dancing, inviting each other.

When they finally drew apart she returned her head to his shoulder as he rested his head on top of hers and they continued to slow dance until the band stopped playing and the couples around them moved away. As they stood swaying together Ruth whispered to him "The bands stopped playing Harry; there's no more music."

He didn't answer for a moment before he pulled her closer and whispered in her ear "I think that I will hear music for the rest of my life Ruth, I don't think I will ever not hear music but as you have pointed it out it might be time to go."

Sighing deeply Harry took her hand and they walked silently back to the hotel. They'd seen no one they recognised on the way back,had been seen by no one. Harry felt confident enough to keep hold of Ruth's hand as they entered the hotel and by mutual silent agreement Harry led Ruth to his suite. Neither had spoken, perhaps Harry ruminated they were both frightened that the spell that had rewoven itself as they walked through the silent streets of Paris would be broken once more if they spoke. Ever the gentleman Harry opened the door and stepped aside to allow Ruth to decide if she wanted to enter. She moved to the centre of the room and he followed closely behind, closing and locking the door. Crossing the room slowly towards her never breaking eye contact his first act when he was once again close to her, was to again push the strap of her dress up, just as he had in the park.

A wry chuckle passed her lips "Isn't that supposed to be going the other way?"

She'd spoken in jest but he looked at her seriously. "Is it?" She's looked surprised at his question. "I need you to be sure about this Ruth, I want you to understand how important this, you are to me. I need you to know that this means so much to me. I don't want you...or us...to do anything that you might regret. I care deeply about you Ruth and I hope that you might care a little about me. As far as I'm concerned this will not be, could never be a one night stand."

"I'm not going to regret this Harry." Her voice was low and husky. "God, if you knew how long I've wanted to do this..." Even as she spoke her fingers were busy unbuttoning his shirt. He was startled to realise that the slight touch of her nimble fingers had spurred him into action. His lips found her temple first moving down her cheek slowly before finding her mouth again. Just as in the park there was no desperation, no hurrying, just a slow burning of passion as their tongues danced together once more.

From there it had been a natural progression as clothing had been shed amid kisses and caresses interspersed with words of affection and admiration. As Harry laid a now naked Ruth on his bed his breath caught in his throat and he had to take a moment to calm himself.

"Is everything al-right Harry?" she muttered "I can go if this isn't what you want..." and she'd made to get off the bed.

The movement more than her voice had snapped him out of his absorption and he leant into to kiss her passionately his arms around her as he pulled her as close to him as he could.

"Don't ever imagine that I will regret anything that occurs between us Ruth" he said "You are my safe haven, the object of my passion and my adoration. You make me a better man than I could ever hope to be."

And he had buried his face into her neck sucking avidly at that special place where he could feel her pulse thundering. As they rose to that pinnacle that all lovers find together and just before he crashed down emptying his life force into her, he uttered in his head the words I love you Ruth Evershed for he knew it was to soon for him to say them out loud to her.

And now as she slept soundly he started to plan what his next move would be. To plan how he would keep her. He regretted that they hadn't gone to her room because it meant she would have to get up and sneak along the corridor, at least she had her own room so no one would be missing her. Tomorrow he would fly back with her, making sure they sat together on the plane and then he would engineer it so she rode back to the Grid with him for the de-briefing. That would give him ample time to ask her if he could see her tomorrow night. At her place he thought, yes a take away, a bottle or two of good wine and Ruth in his arms. He sighed and allowed himself the luxury of imagining that that fantasy could become the norm.

He was not stupid or naïve enough to think they didn't t face many obstacles but he had never been so determined to make a relationship work. She stirred in his arms as he gently captured her lips once more,his body stirring making ready to catapult them once more to the special, private place they had found together.