Here is the next chapter a little quicker than expected Forgot to say in the last post but thank you so much for you great reviews… they really help in keeping my focused and writing!

Chapter Five

Half an hour later, Ruth found herself perched rather awkwardly on the edge of Harry's sofa. She had found herself powerless to refuse his adorably stuttered invitation for dinner at his house, as he had bought everything he needed anyway and the "bloody supermarkets always pack too much for one". She had even somewhat enjoyed his poor attempts to dodge innuendos and suggestive comments during the car ride thus far. However, now she was actually in his house (with him) waiting to eat Christmas dinner (with him) any previous confidence or control seemed to have abandoned her completely.

He had ushered her quickly into the house, out of the cold, and insisted on making them both a cup of tea while she 'made herself at home'. Looking around the large living room Ruth could not help but smile to herself as she thought just how at home she would like to make herself. To make herself at home in his house. To make herself at home in their house.

Her wandering musings were halted as her eyes fell on the large bookcase in the corner of the room. Softly, she padded over and began analysing his collection. She ran her finger along the bumpy spins, noting the average classics, a few gardening related texts, the '101 Greatest Cricketers of Our Life Time' and then she saw it.

"Not much of a collection I'm afraid" offered Harry, proffering two steaming mugs of tea in the doorway.

She smiled back at him as he set the tea on the table and joined her by the bookshelf. "This book Harry, where did you find it?"

He moved closer to her, on the pretence of seeing the book in question. He swallowed hard as he felt the emotions pit in his stomach at the memory of reading that book endlessly to Catherine and Graham as children. He was about to begin to explain this justification for his owning a rather well read copy of 'Famous Five- The Entire Collection', when he noted the tears shining in her mesmerising eyes.

"Ruth?" he questioned, tenderly brushing his fingers down her arm.

"It's nothing Harry, it's just… Oh God this is embarrassing!"

His fingers reached the bare skin of the back of her hand and rested there momentarily, pleading with her to look at him. She did.

"It's just, my father used to read these to me." She smiled at him through watery eyes that became increasingly clouded as she reminisced. "I would tell him that one day I was going to have adventures and solve crimes just like the Famous Five." She let out a dry laugh at the irony of it. "And I guess I have!"

"He'd be proud of you Ruth."

Her eyes suddenly latched to his with undeniable clarity. For a moment he worried he had pushed to far. She had never spoken much of her father, but he knew they had been close. He knew that his death had been the curse of her first, and deepest, crack in her severed heart. He braced himself to be told not to speak of things he did not understand, to not assume things that were impossible to know. However, she merely turned her hand slowly under his and allowed their fingers to blindly entwine.

"Thank you, Harry," she whispered, emotion heavy in her voice.

After a moment of silence, she suddenly realised that she was stood in her boss's house holding his hand, crying and seemingly decided that this was perhaps not the most dignified way to spend a Christmas Day. Instantly she pulled her hand away and pushed the book into his free hand. Moving to push past him she spoke as calmly as she could.

"This… erm… diner Harry, is there anything I can …"

"Ruth." He caught her hand and rekindled his touch on her. She stopped butterflies exploding in her stomach at his renewed touch and his soft breath dancing against the nape of her neck. She felt him take a step closer behind her. She wanted nothing more than to lean back and feel his broad chest hard against her back, but instead she had to make do with his fingers softly caressing her hand.

"You should take it." He was whispering so close to her ear that an involuntary gasp escaped her.

"You should take this." He continued, his other hand snaking around her hip and offering the book she had previously taken from the shelf. She lent slightly into him, letting him know that the contact his arm had made was well received.

Slowly she turned her head to the side so she could meet his eyes.

"I couldn't take it Harry. It wouldn't be right."

"Call it a replacement Christmas present."

"Replacement?" The fact that the book had now been dropped on to the chair and his hand now rested lightly against her stomach had rendered her limited to one word answers.

"Hmm" he conceded, delighting in the small shiver she gave as his breath vibrated against her lips. Slowly he drew his hand up to her new scarf and he began to pull it away from her neck. "I'm rapidly going off the previous one."

With that the scarf fell to the floor and Harry's head suddenly dipped and his lips pressed lightly on to the newly exposed skin.

This time her gasp of pleasure rode so entirely through her that she felt her knees buckle and she finally allowed her body to fall back against his. He let out a low chuckle into her neck at her reaction. "I take it you agree then Ruth?"

"Hmm" she muttered happily. "Harry?"

"Yes?" she growled, rising his head and allowing his teeth to graze her tender earlobe.

"I'm not hungry anymore." As she spoke she locked her eyes with his and they told him, under no uncertain circumstances, just how much she wanted him.

He laughed softly, a desire flaming in his hazel eyes. "Really? Because I'm absolutely ravenous." And with that his lips finally caught hers in a hungry and passionate frenzy.

Thinking maybe an epilogue to go or maybe another chapter of fluffy goodness first. Not too sure? Hope you enjoyed anyway x