The Sleepover

It was 11 by the time they left and as they reversed out of the driveway Marissa looked at Ryan.

"Promise we can come back here."

"Sure next weekend if you like. I usually spend my weekends here unless I have something special on."

"Good. But I don't like the thought of you having anything on but me. Am I special?" she teased.

"You know you're special." He smiled at her.

They drove in silence for a while, each with their own thoughts. Although both would have been surprised at how similar those thoughts were. They were both starting to have some concerns about how things would be once they got back to the 'real world'.

Marissa's phone started to ring. She looked at it and answered. "Yeah Summ"

"Where are you guys? I thought you were leaving the Cohen's just after us?"

"We did. Um... but we sort of got waylaid at hom… I mean Ryan's." she said stopping herself before it came out. It had been about to slip out so easily. If only it was her home too, she thought.

"Waylaid huh. I bet that wasn't the only thing getting laid." Summer teased. "Haven't you two had enough?"

Marissa smiled looking at Ryan. "Never."

"Well how far away are you?"

"We've only just left Newport. Why?"

"Well…it's just… we've been waiting for you. We were wanting to go to bed… if you know what I mean… and I don't think it's fair that our sex life is suffering while yours is obviously ….flourishing? Is that the word?" she suggested. "At this rate Seth will be asleep before you even get here."

"Sorry Summ. But I don't think the car can all of a sudden sprout wings."

"Well…how about you stay at Ryan's for the night. I'll lend you some clothes in the morning and then you can just come to work with me."

"Sounds fine to me. I'll just see if Ryan minds." Even after the weekend they had spent together she still felt a bit strange asking to stay with him.

"As if he is going to complain about having you in his bed for an extra night…. Although maybe he needs to recuperate?" Summer suggested.

Ryan turned to look at Marissa. "Is there a problem?"

"Um Since it's getting late, Summer and Seth were going to go to bed and she was wondering if it would be alright if I stayed with you for the night and then went to work with her in the morning?"

"Sounds great to me" he smiled.

Marissa smiled "Okay Summ…I'll see you in the morning."

---

Marissa fell asleep on the way back and when Ryan reached his apartment they managed to get into the garage with no incidents. There were a couple of photographers at the front entrance but Ryan drove straight through to the carpark security entrance and as they had hoped, nobody recognised the car so no one followed them.

Ryan parked the car and came around to help Marissa out. He opened the door.

"Hey sleepyhead. We're here."

Marissa looked up at him still half asleep.

"Come on. I'll help you or do you want me to carry you?" he asked.

"I'm fine." She said. But as she tried to get out of the car, she stumbled and he caught her. He put his arm around her and she lent against him.

He steadied her as they rode to the penthouse in its private lift. As he opened the door she tried to look around her but she was still half asleep.

"Come on. I'll help you to bed."

She hesitated. Suddenly unsure as to where her bed would be. Would he want to share his bed with her or would he want her to use a guest room? Even after all that had happened between them over the weekend she was still not sure about where things stood. It was like they had been to some fantasy land and they had now returned to real life. She was basically awake but decided to pretend to be still asleep because she didn't want to make the choice awkward for him.

Ryan didn't hesitate. He put his arm around her and escorted her into the main bedroom. Even with her eyes only half open she could see that it had the most amazing view of the surrounding city. Ryan pulled back the covers and sat her on the edge of the bed and slowly removed her clothes. She knew she was exhausted and needed sleep and yet every touch from him sent an electric shock through her. When she was completely naked he lay her down and then pulled the covers over her. RYan divested himself of his clothes and a few seconds later she felt him hop in the other side of the bed and snuggle up to her. He curled himself around her and she drifted off to sleep with a smile etched onto her face.

---

They were woken in the morning by the phone and it was Summer to warn them she was on the way up with some clothes for Marissa.

"I guess one of us is going to have to meet her at the door" Ryan said.

"Well given your state of dress, I think it better be me." Marissa smiled.

"Why? You're no better."

"Yeah. But I'm not letting her see you like that. I'm selfish. I want to keep you all to myself. She might get ideas if she sees you like that. I know, I certainly do…. so who could blame her?" Marissa smiled as she got out of bed. "Do you mind if I just borrow your shirt for a minute?"

"Go right ahead. But I'm warning you. You do remember what happened the last time you wore my clothes?" he said thinking back to their kitchen counter efforts at Newport.

Marissa turned and smiled seductively at him. "Why do you think I asked? I'm counting on it" she turned towards the door "…. I'll be right back."

She stopped and turned back to him "Um… Where's the front door?"

"I forgot. We didn't actually have time for the tour last night did we? Someone was a little out of it." He smiled.

"Well …you tired me out...It was a big weekend…It wasn't really my fault." She replied making excuses.

"Don't try to put all the blame on me." He replied looking at her in his button down shirt, still naked underneath. She looked sexy as hell and all he wanted to do was pull her back in to bed with him.

"Okay. Maybe I was a little to blame too but… again…how do I find the door?"

"Just turn right and go to the end of the hall and you'll be in the entrance foyer." He smiled looking at her beautiful legs disappearing up in to his shirt.

She smiled and moved back out the door, knowing his eyes were still upon her.

Marissa made her way to the front door and opened it just as Summer emerged from the lift.

"Here you go. I figure one of these should fit. If you have any problems just come on down to our place and we'll have another look."

"Okay, thanks Summ."

"No probs. But we need to leave about 7:30 to get to work on time. Do you think you can tear yourself away from lover boy by then?" Summer asked, teasing her friend.

"Well it'll be difficult. But I'll try." Marissa smiled.

"Okay. So I'll meet you in the car park."

"Yeah sure. I'll see you then."

Marissa closed the door and made her way back inside and placed the clothes on the sofa in the lounge and then went back into the bedroom. Ryan was lying on his stomach looking out the floor to ceiling windows at the amazing cityscape in front of him.

"What are you up to?" Marissa asked.

"I was just admiring the view." He smiled turning his head to look at her.

She looked down at him. His naked arms and torso making her stomach do belly flops. The sheet was draped loosely over him but was barely covering his bum. Marissa walked up and pulled off the sheet so she could have a good look.

"Now so am I" she smiled as she slowly started to unbutton Ryan's shirt she was wearing. She took it off and held it at arm's length hooked over the end of her finger. She dropped it on the floor, knowing he was watching her every move.

"I hope you are planning on coming back to bed?" He said as he reached for her.

"But I don't seem to be tired any more." She replied innocently.

"I'll do my best to fix that." He said as he pulled her in to him.

---

After they had showered and dressed, they were in the kitchen having coffee and bagels when Marissa looked at her watch. And said "I'd better get moving I have to meet Summer in the car park at 7:30."

"Okay …. Well not okay. I'd rather just stay here with you for the whole day but I guess you're right. But what about after work? Do you have any plans?" he asked.

"No. Why…have you got a suggestion?" She smiled thinking to herself she hoped it was indecent.

"Well…how about you come back home with Summer after work and I'll cook you dinner?"

"Sounds good to me." She smiled, knowing it would give her something to look forward to all day.

"And maybe you could drop past the hotel and pick up some of your things and then… you know…. if you are feeling tired you could always stay the night." he suggested shyly.

She smiled. "Okay. Sounds good. But I really have to be going or Summer and I will both be late. I'll see you tonight." She gave him a lingering kiss and grabbed her bag and walked out the door.

Ryan watched her as she left, unable to remove the smile from his face. He couldn't wait to see her again.

---

Ryan left for work a short time later and as he stepped out of the lift onto his office floor he made his way past Annabel.

"Good morning, Annabel."

"Good morning Ryan. It looks like someone had a relaxing weekend." She suggested noticing the smile on his face.

Ryan realised he was going to have to watch this smiling thing. It was a dead set giveaway apparently. First Seth and now Annabel. But he didn't know if relaxing was the word to describe his weekend. It had probably been more physically exerting than any weekend in the last couple of years. But he certainly wasn't about to share that with Annabel.

"It was very… 'pleasant'" he replied thinking back to his earlier conversation with Marissa. "How was yours?"

"Same as usual… But thanks for asking?" she smiled thinking that was the first time he had ever asked. Ryan never asked personal questions about her life. Maybe he was starting to think of her as more than just an employee.

"Okay well I'd better get to work. I know I have a lot to do." Ryan replied as he moved towards the door of his office.

"Yes. I left the documents on your desk for your meeting this evening."

"Ryan looked at her puzzled. Tonight?"

"Yeah. Those government officials are flying in from Washington DC to see you and you said the only time you could fit them in was at 5 tonight."

"Damn." He frowned "I made other plans."

Annabel was stunned. Ryan never made plans without checking with her first. What was going on with him? "I think it may be too late to reschedule them. They are probably already on their flight, and you have already moved the meeting a couple of times."

"Yeah I know. I'll have to meet with them this time. The project is too important. I'll just have to cancel my other plans."

"Did you want me to do that for you?" Annabel asked.

"No I'll take care of it myself."

Ryan walked in to his office and closed the door.

He looked at the documents in front of him and knew he couldn't postpone the meeting. Too much was riding on it. He was just going to have to miss out on seeing Marissa tonight. He picked up his phone and dialled her number.

After a number of rings it went to voicemail and he listened to her greeting and smiled amazed at the amount of pleasure he got just from listening to her voice. He waited to leave his message.

"Yeah Riss it's me. Look I'm really sorry but I forgot I had a meeting this evening…. I'm not sure I was thinking straight on the weekend….I'm going to have to postpone?...Um... I'll talk to you later."

He couldn't believe how disappointed he was at the thought of even 1 night without her.

He sat their looking at the phone and thinking back over the weekend. And felt terrible about letting her down. He wondered if she would be as disappointed as he was. And he made a decision.

He pushed the page button on his phone. Annabel immediately answered. "Yes Ryan. Did you want your coffee now?"

"Umm yeah that would be great. But also, could you give me the number of the florist we use?"

"If you need to send some flowers, I can do that for you."

"No. Thanks…but I'd rather do it myself. If you could just get me the number?"

"Certainly. Right away." Annabel replied. She knew it wasn't Kirsten's birthday or Summer's as she had them in her diary to remind him. So just who was he sending flowers to? The little green monster of jealousy was sitting on her shoulder as she wrote the florists number on a post it to give to Ryan along with his coffee but then she reassured herself that he had shown more personal interest in her this morning than he had in a long time, if ever.

She took in his coffee and the number and placed them on his desk.

"Are you sure you don't want me to look after this for you? I know you have a lot on your plate at the moment."

"No I'm fine……but thank you, I probably don't tell you enough how much I appreciate all you do for me."

She beamed as she made her way back to her desk. He definitely was different this morning. Maybe things were really looking up for them.

Ryan dialled the florist. "Hi. I'd like to get some flowers delivered."