Chapter 13

I held Emily's hand once we were in the car, gently rubbing my thumb over her knuckles. It made changing gear interesting and fun, but I was damned if I was going to let go of her. She's gone a little quiet after what she told me. No one had told her she was beautiful? Fucking hell. She was beautiful inside and out. I picked her hand up and kissed her knuckles to get her to smile. She rested her head back on the headrest and smiled at me. Bingo. Mission accomplished.

'Charmer'.

I punctuated the drive to the pub with idle chit chat about my work day. I kept it simple, paperwork, people I didn't like and being bored. It wasn't a lie, I hated my current assignment. Emily told me about how she'd ended up having to rewrite Pandas timetable as she'd booked herself to teach 3 classes at the same time on one evening alone. We pulled into the pub car park and I parked up, turning to look at her as she spoke.

'She's such a ditsy blonde. I swear to god, she's a brilliant teacher, just useless with the other stuff.' She laughed affectionately, her smile lighting up her face.

'She does look a little, what was the word you used? Kooky?' I realised as I said it that I hadn't told Emily that I'd checked out the web site for her dad's gym. Oops... She looked a little startled.

'When have you met Panda?' She took her hand out of mine and I instantly missed the warmth and security of it. I reached across and retrieved both of her hands, cradling them between mine.

'I've not met her Ems. Don't panic, but I have got a confession to make.' She went to talk and I shhhhed her with a finger over her lips. 'I sorta missed you a little so I checked out your dad's gym website. It was on your business card so I wasn't being weird or creepy. Sappy bastard that I was, it made me miss you a little less.'

I moved my finger from her lips and looked at her, hoping against hell she didn't think I was a freak. Looking at the growing smile on her face that lit up those big brown eyes, I reckoned I'd done ok.

'Really? You're so lovely and yeah I'd go with sappy too. How the hell are you single?' Her hands left mine and her fingers were suddenly tracing patterns over my cheeks. My eyes fluttered shut at the contact. I felt her lips on my cheeks moving rapidly towards my lips as I mumbled 'Well, I was hoping I'm not going to be after tonight'. And then I put all my attention into kissing her senseless, trying to show her that I really did think she was a beauty no one could ever compare to.

We came up for air after a few minutes of locking lips. It seemed like I could never control myself, my lips or my hands around her and the feeling was definitely mutual. Yup, I'd have to tell Tony he was right. I kissed the tip of her nose and raised an eyebrow.

'You ready to eat then?'

We spent hours in the pub, laughing and joking and really getting to know each other. Telling stories of exes from hell. Mine obviously was Sue. The lunatic who stole my dog, and hers, the crazy, lying cheating, bitch she split up with 6 months earlier. (Shit! I was really going to struggle with keeping my real job from her). The hesitant touches from a few days previous were more confident. I'd acted like the bloke (Emily's words) and paid and we were sitting drinking coffee after eating our puddings, holding hands over the table laughing as Emily was telling me about her dad's obsession with keeping fit when she was younger.

'I swear, he'd make mum make us eat these awful power meals. Aubergine and broccoli soup and the like. James, my younger brother used to call them bollocksy wank shite. Mother used to go ape and as punishment, dad would make him do pull ups.' She started laughing. 'He was 10 years old, how the fuck he didn't have a six pack I'll never know, the amount of punishment he had to do'.

I laughed with her. 'So, where is this infamous brother of yours then?'

She smiled sadly. 'He lives with my mother. After my dad managed to lose everything on his first gym venture, my parents split up. I stayed with dad and followed him into the family business and the others went with mum to her mum's in Malaga. Kate only came back three years ago to get married to this so called fantastic guy. We've tried rebuilding our relationship ever since.' She rolled her eyes at me. 'As you've probably gathered, it's a bit difficult at times.'

I quirked a corner of my mouth up. 'Really? I hadn't noticed'.

She laughed and hit me gently on the shoulder. 'Only my dad and James really accepted my sexuality. Kay's only recently started accepting I'm not just trying to cause a scene and be different. My mother would burn me at the stake. I don't think she'll ever truly accept me.'

I moved around the table and sat next to her, putting my arm around her shoulder and kissing the top of her head. I repeated my earlier statement and meant every word. Their loss was my gain.

'I'm guessing I'd better let you get home then, you've got early starts all this week haven't you?' I nodded into her hair knowing she could feel me and then stood up dragging Emily with me.

'Yeah, come on Cinderella, your carriage awaits'. Swinging our joined hands between us we walked to the car. Emily tugged me against her as she leaned back on the car, putting her arms around my neck and pulling me down.

I had a fraction of a second to see those brown eyes darken even further before her lips were on mine and I was drinking her in even further. I managed to find a fraction of space under her shirt and grazed my finger nails over her skin, rubbing my thumbs over her hip bones, this time it was Emily who let out a groan and I took the chance to gently deepen the kiss further. My tongue gently traced her lips quietly asking permission to enter. She met my tongue and traced my lips with hers. It was getting very hot, very quick, and it wasn't right. Not the kissing, that was fine, just not here in a car park and not with a lady like her. I wanted to try and do this right dammit.

I reluctantly drew away, nibbling at her bottom lip as I went. Emily immediately started attacking my neck, which was at just the right height for her smaller frame.

'Ems, Ems, this isn't right, not here babe.' She opened her eyes, finally looking up at me from underneath her long eye lashes and gave me a rueful grin.

'I know Naomi, but Jesus, I can't control myself around you. My hands and lips just go off on their own merry way.' She ran a shaking hand through her red hair. 'Would it be too bold of me to say the date went well and can I see you again very soon?'

'Saves me asking you' I laughed. 'Yes, and I know what you mean. My body seems to just react to you. I meant it when I said I was shy. I am. Just not around you I guess' I leaned in and gave her one final kiss on the cheeks. 'Come on Cinders, let's get you home.'

We held hands again the whole time I drove her to her flat. As I parked outside the door to her block she looked at me and explained she'd love to invite me in for a coffee, but didn't think she could keep her hands off me and didn't want things to end up in the bedroom too quick. I smiled. She was so damned cute. I was willing to wait for her you know. I've had my fair share of one night stands, but this wasn't one of those. This was something more serious, with the potential for so much more. Of course I told her most of this in my usual uncool stammering way

Somehow the kissing started again, but with less fervour than earlier. It was more of a promise to carry this on when we were both ready. I made sure she got into her flat ok and drove home with the promise I'd call her tomorrow.

I sent Tony and Effy a text telling them how it went. It was pretty simple and direct. (Like me yeah?)

"It went well. I fucking rock at this romance stuff. We're going out again".

Today was a good day. No, scratch that. Today was a fucking mint day. I think I floated to bed. As I was nodding off to sleep my phone buzzed at me. I checked the message.

"Thanks for tonight Naoms. It was amazing. I just thought, if I'm Cinderella, does that make you my Prince Charming? XXXX"

I sent her a quick reply

"I'll be anything you want me to be beautiful lady. I had an awesome time tonight, can't wait to see you again. Sweet dreams XXXX"

Yup, I fucking rocked.