Sorry about the long delay for this one! Real life has been too real lately. Hopefully it will be a shorter break for the next chapter.

Thanks for hanging in!

--

"Not fast enough Luke! Do it again!"

Rupert watched as Luke reset the obstacles set up in the gym, ignoring the glare from the young man. He knew what it was. He'd spent every night this week with Alex, and somehow they all knew it. Luke hadn't been shy about telling him how hypocritical it was to tell Luke he could never have a normal life, all the while sneaking around having one himself. Rupert took it all without comment.

He couldn't comment. He didn't know what to say. He knew shouldn't be seeing as much of Alex as he was, but he couldn't stop himself. And it hardly felt normal. Like a life. At first it had just been the sex , but it didn't take him long to figure out that that wasn't all that had been missing from his life. He wanted more from this woman, he knew. He just wasn't sure how much. Or if she felt the same way.

At least Luke had the smarts not to give him grief in front of Mina and Ruby, but he was sure Mina knew anyway. It was only a matter of time before she said something. Or did something. She wouldn't let him off. As bad an idea as he thought it was, Mina was worse. Too many years of disappointment, he supposed. But he was involved now, and he didn't want to stop it.

Rupert sighed to himself as Luke finished the training course for the third straight time. He was getting better. He needed Luke to get better faster. Too bad he still had so much to learn.

"That's enough."

Luke turned and nodded, his face glistening with sweat. Rupert knew he wanted him to say something, to tell him he'd done a good job. "That was better Luke. You're really starting to improve." But not fast enough. He needed Luke to be more dedicated to the cause. "Go home and get cleaned up. We're meeting Mina at the Stacks in about two hours."

"Tonight? You've taken every other night off this week, why tonight?"

"You're the one who wants to research that missing child case. We'll cut out after a couple of hours and you can go to whatever party you had planned later."

Luke sat on the mat and pulled off his shoes. "Hot date again Galvin?"

"What I do with my free time, what little I have, is none of your business. You need to stay focused on your training."

"I will if you will."

Rupert turned. "What the hell does that mean?"

Luke recoiled slightly, sniffing. "It's just that for someone who has a tendency to go on about how I can never have a life, you seem to be enjoying yours quite a bit."

In one step Rupert was nose to nose with Luke. "You have no idea what I am or am not enjoying. And until you understand the seriousness of your own situation I suggest you mind your own business. There are creatures all over this planet who want you dead. Maybe you should try to focus on that."

For a few seconds Luke stood his ground. "See you at the stacks, then."

As he turned and walked out Rupert stared at his back. He was going to have to do something about this.

–

"Rupert it's Alex." She didn't have to tell him. He knew her voice, looked forward to it. Even over the telephone it went straight through him. "Have you got time for a late dinner?"

He looked at his watch. Just after nine. "I can be there in half an hour." He flipped his phone shut, shoving it back in his pocket as he wandered out of the aisle of books he'd taken refuge in and sat down next to Mina at the research table.

"Begging off early again Rupert?"

He grunted. He didn't want to talk about it with her, already knowing what she'd say, what she thought.

"Rupert, this is every day this week. Do you think that's wise?"

"Wise? What do you mean?"

"Well you've been with her every night for a week. She might get the wrong idea, Rupert." Mina leaned over, whispering, her tone mock conspiratorial. "Think that you're forming a relationship."

"Don't worry Mina. Her daughter's coming home on Saturday and she won't have time for me any more. It's really just a temporary distraction for both of us." He smiled reassuringly, but all he could think about was Alex Drake. Even thought she hadn't talked about it, Rupert knew she hated that Molly was gone, that her ex was moving on. He could feel how vulnerable she was every time he touched her. It only made him want her more.

He thought about how she felt lying beneath him, how she'd cling to him when they'd finish, her arms and legs wrapped around him so tightly he was sure she'd never let him go. He was sure he didn't want her to.

"So can we all leave then?" Ruby's popping gum interrupted his thoughts. "I mean, if you're leaving then we don't have to stay, do we?" She looked around, her face a question.

"Nope." Rupert pushed his chair away from the table and stood. "Luke has a bit more studying to do. I, however, am leaving." He got as far as the door and turned around. "Don't forget Luke. I'll be picking you up at 10:30 tomorrow morning. Meet me after your class lets out. We have an appointment."

Luke sighed heavily, slamming his book closed as the heavy door swung shut behind Rupert.

--

"Alex it's almost midnight. Are you sure you want me to stay?" They'd had dinner at a bistro a few blocks from Alex's house and had walked back.

As Alex dug into her purse for keys Rupert stood behind her, his arms around her waist, idly kissing the top of her head. "Yes, I'm sure. I've quite enjoyed this week you know." She laughed. "I can't remember the last time I spent a week in bed with a man. I'm not in any hurry to end it."

"Well, to be fair we haven't spent all week in bed. You go to work. I've done some research." They entered the hall and he spun her around gently, pulling her closer. "If you want to spend a whole week in bed I'm game."

"That sounds nice." She tilted her face toward his and he couldn't resist, kissing her deeply as she melted against him.

"Tell me when" he mumbled against her lips.

"Can we go upstairs now, schedule later?" She bit his lip gently, pulling him toward the stairs.

--

Alex inhaled sharply as her legs hit the edge of the bed. Rupert pulled her against him with one hand around her waist as the other tangled in her hair, pulling her into a kiss. She loved the way he kissed her, like it was an end in itself, there was nothing else he'd rather be doing. She hardly noticed when he unbuttoned her blouse, only the low rumble in his chest as his hand slid over her breast brought her back.

They'd spent every night together since Molly had gone away. She hadn't intended it, but it just seemed to happen. She'd shown up unannounced at his hotel room twice, they'd had dinner, and she'd stayed the night. She couldn't remember any man she'd ever been with making her feel they way he did. She could feel how much he wanted her, needed her, with every touch. Even when he had nothing to give, when all he could do was take from her.

She knew it would end soon. Molly would come home, she'd have her responsibilities. She couldn't spend her nights naked in someone's arms. She would miss him.

"This for me?" He murmured

This morning, she'd even anticipated seeing him, managing a matching bra and knickers for the first time in what felt like years. She giggled.

"Maybe." She grabbed his shoulders as he pushed her trousers smoothly over her hips.

"You're too good to me" he growled, kissing her as they moved together onto the bed.

"You know, for this to work you have to take off your clothes too." She tilted her head back as his lips trailed across her neck, down over the curve of her breast.

"'M busy." He reached behind her, unhooking her bra as she arched her back, pressing herself against his shirt. "You undress me."

His mouth, hands explored her body as she tugged at his buttons. She tugged as he nipped at her flesh, kissing down her belly until all she could do was pull his shirt over his head as he pulled her knickers down over her ankles.

"Oh, god, Rupert" Alex gasped as his mouth covered her, his tongue exploring, tasting, teasing until she couldn't think straight. "Please don't stop. Don't ever stop." She pushed her hips against his mouth, desperate to finish, but instead he pulled away. "Don't...Rupert..." She heard him chuckle as he kissed quickly up her body, his tongue snaking into her mouth.

Frantically she pulled at his belt, unfastened his trousers. She needed him, wanted him. Reaching into his boxers she felt him, hard and hot. He groaned as she squeezed, as he pushed his trousers down, as he sunk into her. Alex pulled him tighter as he thrust once, twice, again, harder and harder until he pulled out. "Roll over" he growled.

She let him guide her onto her belly, shivering as he kissed her shoulder, her back. As his hands moved over her flesh, gripping her by the waist as he pulled her to her knees. She heard him grunt as he entered her again, moving slowly at first. A glance over her shoulder and she saw him – head back, eyes closed, moving against her, inside her, pulling her hard against him as he thrust deeper. He groaned louder, muttering words she couldn't hear. Alex shook when he reached for her clit, as if suddenly remembering she was there, carefully teasing until her body rocked and she knew he was close too. He moaned louder, thrust faster, gripped her harder until he exploded, falling onto her back, slowly pulling her to the bed, holding her tight.

She nestled against him, feeling his sweat against her back, his mouth open on her neck. He held her tighter. She turned slightly when he mumbled, reaching back to run her hand through his hair..

"Rupert?"

"Said I love you Alex." He kissed her shoulder, and she felt his breath, warm on her skin as it slowed, as he snored lightly in her hair.

Alex swallowed. What?

–-

Rupert woke disappointed, his arm curled into empty sheets. He waited a few minutes for her to come back to bed, then swung his legs over the edge and pulled on his pants. He knew Alex had to work today, but he had hoped they'd have some time together before they had to separate. He was pulling his shirt on when she came back into the bedroom, towel wrapped around her and wet hair hanging over her shoulders.

"You're up early." He hooked an arm around her waist as she walked past him, planting a kiss on her forehead.

"Early meeting." She placed his hands against his still bare chest as he pulled her closer. She couldn't help kissing him.

"How about a late night then? I can meet you here, or you can come to my hotel when you're done with work."

"I don't know Rupert. Molly's coming home tomorrow and there are so many things I should do. I need to go shopping, do some washing."

"OK." He let go of her, sitting back down on the bed. "I can come here. I like it here. Less like being in a hotel." He smiled at her.

"Rupert" She wasn't sure how to do this part. "Maybe we should take the night off." She sat down next to him.

Oh. "Why? It's the last night we'll have together for a while. You don't want to see me?"

"It's not that, it's just...Molly knows I've been on a few dates, but I haven't told her any more. It just seems like too much all at once. With her father getting remarried so soon after the divorce. I want to be able to give her time to adjust."

"So you haven't told her about me."

Alex shook her head, her mouth set in a line. "I haven't. I'm sorry."

Rupert was silent as he buttoned his shirt.

"Rupert, I have no idea where this is going. And it's important that her life be consistent. I can't have a string of men move in and out of her life. I need to know first. To be sure."

He chewed the inside of his mouth. "A string of men. Is that what I am?"

"No, no. That's not what I meant. In fact there haven't really been any men." She wrung her hands nervously. "Only you."

"Then what are you worried about." He stood up, rounding on her. He tried not to shout. "I'm not going anywhere Alex." He paused. "Unless you want me to."

"No, Rupert. I don't. I just think I need more time. For Molly. You do understand, don't you?"

"No." He picked his jacket up off the floor, shrugging it over his shoulders.

"Please Rupert. Her birthday is on Thursday. I just want it to be special. For it all to be about her. The divorce was hard on her and I don't want her to feel like she has to share her birthday with the new person in her mother's life the week after her father remarried." She stood up and put her hand on his arm. "Just give me until after that. She's going to need some time to adjust. I just don't want to ruin her birthday. Please."

He looked wounded. Maybe she wasn't ready for this. Maybe they weren't.

"I'll go then." He turned and walked through the bedroom door. "Don't want to be in your way."

Alex watched him walk out the door, waiting a moment before throwing on her dressing gown and chasing after him. "Rupert! Please don't leave angry."

He stopped at the front door, turning around slowly as he pulled it open. "I'm not." He stared at the ceiling. Disappointed. In himself? Maybe. "Maybe you're right. Maybe it isn't such a good idea."

"Rupert I do want this. It's just, so fast. And I have to think about what's best for Molly."

"Yeah." He avoided her eyes, but let her put her arms around his waist. "I'm not good at this." He finally looked at her.

"I know." She tilted her face toward his. "I'm not either." She wriggled closer, kissing him gently. "I think we both just need time."

He couldn't help kissing her back, holding her face between his hands. His arms moved around her as their kiss deepened, their tongues working to bring each of them together. He didn't want to go.

"You both do know the door is open?"

Alex broke away. "Evan!" She glanced at Rupert, his rumpled morning after appearance, coupled with her in her dressing gown. Then at Evan standing on the porch. He was going to have a million questions.

Rupert stood for a second, then, freeing his hand from around Alex stuck it toward Evan. "Rupert Galvin." He smiled.

Evan looked momentarily flustered. "Sorry Alex. I didn't mean to interrupt." He turned to Rupert. "Nice to finally meet you. Alex has told me about you. I've been wondering when she was going to bring you out of hiding."

"Evan is, uh, my godfather. And Molly's." She nervously explained. "Evan raised me after my parents died."

"Oh. Well." He kissed Alex on the cheek. "I'd better go. Great to meet you Evan. I hope we see each other again soon." Rupert looked pointedly at Alex as she tried not to glare at him.

Evan looked at Alex too. "So do I."

–-

Evan followed Alex back into the house. "So how often have you been seeing him?"

"Evan I am 33 years old. I don't have to tell you every time I go out on a date."

"That looked like more than a date Alex."

"I have to go to work." She turned and started up the stairs, stopping after a few steps. "Why are you here so early anyway?"

"Oh." He reached into his jacket pocket and removed an envelope. "I picked these up for you and Molly."

Alex took the envelope and looked inside. Two tickets to Mamma Mia! in the West End.

"They're for Sunday night. I thought she might want to go. You two could go together, I mean after a week with Robert she might like the night out on the town."

"Oh Evan, thank you. She'll love it." Alex hugged him. "She's been nagging me to go."

"I actually didn't think you'd still be home. I was going to drop them off."

"Would you like to come over tomorrow for dinner after Molly gets home? I'm sure she'd love to see you too."

"I would, but I'm going away for the weekend. Maybe I'll come by during the week." Alex nodded. "Alex, I'm only asking because I care about you. What's going on with this man? Rupert Galvin. Is it serious?"

Alex sat of the step, wrapping her dressing gown around her tight. "I don't know. We're kind of still in the discovery stage." She looked away slightly embarrassed. She hated talking about dating with Evan. It made her feel like a teenager again. "But I like him. And I think he likes me too."

"He's a bit older than I expected. He must be ten years older than you."

Alex shrugged, ignoring his concerned look. "Maybe. It hasn't come up. I don't care, either. He's much nicer than any of the men I've ever dated in my own age group." She stood up. "We'll just have to see what happens. Now I have to get to work. I'm late enough as it is."

–-

Two days later Rupert lay awake in a hospital bed, absentmindedly eating the grapes Luke had left behind. He hadn't called Alex to tell her he'd been injured even though he'd wanted to. He knew she would be with Molly, making the most of their reunion, just happy she was back home. She didn't need him to distract her.

He was being released today and he could call her later, after he got back to his hotel room. He'd been so busy since he last saw her that he hadn't even been back to his room to sleep. The idea of it suddenly made him feel unbearably lonely. Maybe that was why he hadn't gone back. He didn't want to. He wanted to be with her. Only he couldn't tell if she felt the same way.