In the morning Ruth was tired from lack of sleep, but her demons had faded back into the darkness of the night. At work she was tired, so much so that she didn't notice Harry watching her through the blinds. About an hour later he came out and dumped a massive pile of folders on her desk. "I'm sorry, but I really need these sorting through."

"Great," she said darkly.

"Ruth…"

"No, its nothing," she said looking at him. "Bad nights sleep." She checked to make sure no one was listening. "You're allowed to give your analyst work you need doing, you know."

"I know," he said, a hint of a smile on his lips. "I'm meeting the Home Secretary. It'll probably be a long one."

"Okay," she said smiling. Casually he dragged his fingertips over the back of her hand in parting and she shivered at the touch. So quick she was only sure it had happened by the tingling in her skin. She smiled at his retreating back before turning to the massive pile of work she had to do.

Ruth came to with a jerk as her doorbell rang. She knew who it would be without even looking. Harry had never arrived back on the grid after his meeting. Which meant Ruth had spent a rare Harry free day at work. She opened her front door and found him there, holding a bottle of chardonnay in his hand. "Come in," she said smiling. He followed her into the kitchen where she got two glasses. "What have I done to deserve this welcome?"

"I wanted to apologise," he said.

"Harry, I'm your analyst. You have to be able to give me the work you need doing," she said, going through to the living room with a corkscrew. "However boring and unnecessary it is."

"Well…" that wasn't really what he was apologising for. He'd wanted to apologise for bringing up the subject of Lucy's father, when Ruth was clearly uncomfortable talking about it. But he also didn't want to bring up the subject again as she seemed to be much happier tonight.

"You're going to stay and share the wine right?" she asked easily. Harry realised he'd been hovering by the doorway.

"Yes of course," he said, sitting next to her. "Did you get through all the files?"

"I don't think we should talk about work," she said quietly but firmly. "Work should be left at Thames House, and in our private time, we should just… be," she finished her voice soft and gentle.

"That sounds fair," he said. She took a sip of her wine and then turned to him. She kissed him gently. She tasted sweet and the hint of wine on her lips was delicious. "Mm," he murmured, his lips still on hers. She pushed him flat on his back on the sofa, still lip locked. He held her tightly, his hands on her waist as the kiss deepened. His hand slipped under her shirt, and up across smooth warm skin, fingers following the lines of her ribs. He reached her bra and squeezed her breast lightly, making her moan quietly.

"This… it isn't why I came over tonight," he said in a ragged breath between kisses.

"I know," she agreed breathlessly, smiling as she kissed him again. She pushed her hands under his shirt, sliding across his stomach and then his chest.

"God your hands are cold," he whispered. She laughed lightly but kept stroking his skin sensually. Her thumbs brushed over his nipples lightly as Harry tried to wrap a leg around her but he misjudged it. Suddenly Ruth felt herself lose her balance. She squealed as she tumbled to the floor, laughing. "Are you all right?" he asked concerned.

"Yes," she said, noticing for the first time that Harry had got her blouse completely undone. "I don't think my sofa was designed for that!" He grinned boyishly at her and she felt her heart miss a beat. Harry grabbed the blanket from the back of the sofa and lay on the floor next to her, covering them both up. He looked deeply in her eyes and stroked her face with his thumb, tracing the arc of her eyebrow. She smiled at him, wondering what he saw in her.

"Harry, stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you see… something more than me."

"I think you're beautiful," he said, making her blush. He leaned in to her closely and planted a soft and gentle kiss on her lips. He sneaked his hands to her hips and held her close against him. He held her so gently and caressed her skin so lovingly that she felt a deep yearning for him.

She bit her lip hard for a moment. "I have a bed upstairs," she said quietly.

"No," he said just as quietly. "I don't want to rush you."

"I wouldn't have suggested it if I didn't want it," she said. She reached down and stroked his erection gently, his arousal pushing against her thigh. "I have a bed upstairs," she repeated, her blue eyes on fire.

"Are you sure?" She didn't reply. Instead she smiled and got up. She pulled what was left of her blouse off and let it fall to the floor. She blushed as Harry admired her chest, and then she turned, leading the way to her bedroom. Harry followed.

Ruth wrapped herself up in a bed sheet and got out of bed, leaving Harry sleeping in her bed. Pulling the sheet over her nakedness, she looked out of the window across the darkness of London. Her body was tender in a way which told her she'd been well loved. It had never been like that for her before. She wasn't completely stupid, she knew what sex was supposed to feel like, it just had never been that way before. While at university she had started a couple of ill fated relationships, mainly with the purpose to find out what sex felt like when she was a willing participant. Because this was her intention, neither relationship had lasted very long. Sex had always felt good, but never like it did with Harry. He cared that his partner was enjoying herself, as much (or maybe more) than he was. He had touched her and kissed her exquisitely. There was no doubt he was skilled in the bedroom, but to her it had felt like more than him going through the motions. She hoped she wasn't mistaken.

Suddenly Harry turned over, his arm finding the empty bed. "Ruth?"

"I'm here," she said.

"Are you okay?" he asked hoarsely.

"Mm," she said honestly. "Just thinking."

"Its late," he said. "Come back to bed." She smiled, and then she did, allowing Harry to scoop her up against his warm chest as she closed her eyes.

Thank you for all the reviews for the last chapter. Really made my day. I hope this happier one is more enjoyable!