Author's note: It's getting colder so it's time to get back to the cottage. Oh, and something to eat would be great.
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The sun now wasn't beaming enough anymore to give some warmth so they stood up and left the dog's beach. Most of the other people already had left. Hand in hand Thomas and Barbara went through the narrow streets where the sun didn't reach anymore. In the shadows it was awful cold and the wind blew icily around every corner. Here and there they stopped in front of a shop and they bought some selection of handmade fudge.
"I love butter fudge!" Barbara mumbled around a mouthful of it.
"Will you ever stop talking with your mouthful?" he teased her.
"Not when it comes to private matters. Only when it's absolutely necessary. Like dinner with Lords, you know. Oh, wait..." she ironically added.
Thomas raised an eyebrow and shook his head. He was about to repeat something but then spotted a shop window.
"Look!" Thomas pointed to a souvenir shop. "We go in there."
Inside the shop you could find everything a tourist might want: wooden maritime signboards, handmade rope things, ship models, oil paintings of the sea, miscellaneous shells, postcards, towels and...
"Bath salts!" Thomas said joyful. "For that bath I've planned to be having with you."
He chose a variety of little flasks to have the choice later on.
Barbara blushed but smiled all the same. She herself was looking forward to that bath. In the oversized stand-alone bathtub they both would have plenty of space. She imagined sitting there, with a glass of champagne in her hand, the beautiful view of naked Thomas in her eye, surrounded by some candles...
Candles!
She searched for candles. She found that sort of shops really annoying and overexpensice but a proper Tesco* was out of reach. To hell with those anchor, rope and lifebelt designs. They'll make romantic illumination anyway. And we definitely won't look at the candles.
She put some candles on the counter and smiled at Thomas who was paying. That was the reason she didn't care about the prices of the candles.
He smiled back. Oh, it's going to be very romantic tonight. he thought.
Thomas secretly also bought something small. He put it in the bag without Barbara noticing it.
"Thank you, Sir. Enjoy your evening." the girl behind the counter wished them somewhat automatically when they were leaving the shop.
Oh, that we will! Both knew where that bath very likely would lead them to.
It was now quite dark and Barbara was reminded of having indeed wintertime. There were no more people on the streets but a few. It seemed that Barbara and Thomas were the only ones taking their own sweet time.
Barbara stuffed her hands back into the pockets of her coat. The piercing cold went up her legs.
"It's going to be romantic, that bath." Thomas said smiling at her. "With candle light and champagne... You know what I've found? Behind a facing in the bathroom there is a fireside. We can relax in the tub and listen to a crackling fire."
"Sounds warm."
"Sounds hot." Thomas turned Barbara around and moved her gently against a nearby wall. "I'm so looking forward to it." he whispered onto her lips.
"...same here..." Barbara mumbled between kisses. She had her eyes closed and put her hands on his hips.
When she opened her lips his tongue explored her mouth and played with hers very slow and gentle.
They had to come up for air at some point.
"Wha' did I say 'bout patience, Tom?" Barbara breathed and made no move to stop their kissing.
"...forgot." he whispered and touched her lips with his again.
"'evening!" a loud voice startled them but Thomas just raised his head into the direction of the passing man and politely replied "Good evening, Sir."
Grinning he returned to Barbara's lips. "Now, where was I?"
"You were talking about a hot evening, but my feet are getting cold. I'm hungry and..."
Thomas interrupted her with a kiss.
"...and you're way too impatient." she continued.
He kissed her again.
"...please!" Barbara croaked. "When you're not stopping this immediately, I freeze on the wall and starve to death."
Thomas chuckled but let her go. He took her hand and twirled her around.
"...love ya!" he laughed. "Fish'n'chips?"
"Sounds extremely good."
Around the next corner they found a takeaway shop and ordered their dinner. Huddled to one another they waited in front of the desk.
Then eating silently they went on into the direction of the cottage.
With the sun set and the darkness of the evening all warmth of the day was gone now. Their fingers went cold eating the food. Thomas suggested to warm up in the pub but Barbara just wanted to go home to the cottage and take a long hot bath.
"Patience!" Thomas said chuckling when he consumed the last bites of his dinner.
He burrowed in his pocket.
"Look what I've found on the beach." Thomas presented her a heartshaped stone as big as a two pound coin.
"Oh, that's lovely." Barbara mumbled around her last mouthful of chips.
Thomas stopped and because she still had the paper wrappings of her food in both hands he put the stone in her coat pocket.
"Keep it safe." he smiled. "It's a little reminder. If back in London and you feel like missing me you just have to hold it."
"Oh, Thomas..." Barbara smiled back deeply stirred and defenceless with both hands still busy with the paper, so she just lifted her lips to his when he put his hands on her waist and kissed her again.
He is so cute. she thought dreamily. What have I done to be blessed with him?
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Author's notes: Keep your eyes open, the next might be another seperately published M-rated episode.
*Tesco - my favourite supermarket chain in the UK. Love it! I also love Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrsions, Somerfield and the coop around the corner. ;-)