A/N - Sorry for the delay in getting this chapter out, but it's a nice, long one so I'll hope you'll forgive me. Things are getting heated!
Chapter Nine
It was nearly 7pm and Clara was rushing to put in her earrings and swipe some lipstick on before the Doctor arrived to pick her up. Just as she was about to slip on her heels, her phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's me," said a gruff Scottish voice.
"I'm nearly ready, I promise…"
"Clara, I'm really sorry, I can't go out tonight."
Clara sat down on her bed and frowned.
"Oh. Why? What's wrong? Is everything ok?"
She heard him sigh. "Roland is sick - I think it's just a tummy bug, but he's got a bit of a fever and is a bit upset and clingy - I just don't want to leave him with the babysitter tonight. I'm really sorry. You were probably all ready and looking forward to it and-"
Clara cut him off. "Doctor," she said "It's ok, these things happen." She heard him sigh again. "Roland needs you and I completely understand."
"You're fantastic, do you know that?" She could hear the smile in his voice.
Then in the background, Clara could hear the soft cries of Roland.
"Look, I'm gonna have to go, but I really am sorry - I'll make up for this soon, I promise."
With that, the Doctor hung up. Clara kicked off her heels and took the pins out of her hair. She'd been looking forward to going out tonight but of course she understood that Roland came first. Just as she was getting changed back into jeans and a button-up shirt, she had an idea. She grabbed her keys and left.
A short while later, she was standing outside the Doctor's door with popcorn and wine and some old films. When he opened the door, the Doctor smiled broadly. She'd never seen anyone so happy to see her before.
"Hello," he said, "This is a nice surprise."
"I thought I'd bring the date to you," said Clara, holding up the popcorn and wine.
He laughed, then looked down at his black jumper with the holes in, dark jeans and colourful socks poking out the bottom. "I don't think I'm dressed for a date,"
Clara stepped closer to him and tugged at the collar of his jumper, bringing head down so her lips just touched his. "You look perfect to me," she whispered.
The Doctor smiled against her mouth and kissed her bottom lip. "You'd better come in then,"
He backed away and let her through, his hand smoothing over her lower back as she passed, guiding her in.
Clara had never been in his living room before but it was exactly how she imagined. A chocolate brown, cosy looking leather sofa and arm-chairs, blankets across the backs; mahogany bookshelves that seemed to go on forever adorned with books and photos; a record player that was spinning a Leonard Cohen album softly; a TV on the wall and a wooden coffee table littered with more books, mugs and newspapers. There was also a piano and guitar in the corner, which surprised Clara - he'd never told her he could play. She made a mental note to ask him about it later.
Unless you looked closely, it'd look like any other bachelor pad. But Clara noticed the lego stacked in the corner, the framed drawings on the wall, the colouring books and crayons on the table, the Thomas the Tank Engine backpack and a tiny pair of shoes by the chair. These little elements of Roland made her smile.
"Sorry, I didn't have a chance to tidy up," said the Doctor, flitting around to pick up mugs and plates and carrying them to the kitchen next to the living room.
"It's ok, I came over unannounced," she said "Plus, you have a five year old but it's already tidier than my flat in here,"
The Doctor chuckled as he entered the room again.
"Sit down, make yourself at home," he said "Apologies if you find any stray crayons - we had a bit of a monster colouring session this afternoon,"
Clara sat, slipping off her shoes as she watched the Doctor put away some robots and toy cars.
"Where is the little sick person?" asked Clara.
"Oh, he's just in the bath," His eyes widened. "Actually, I better go make sure he hasn't drowned or anything."
He rushed out of the room, making Clara chuckle. Then he stuck his head around the door again.
"Wine glasses are on the side, I'll be back in a second," He winked and smiled boyishly in the way that made Clara tingle.
A few minutes later, Clara was leafing through one of the newspapers, sipping her wine whilst she waited for the Doctor to return.
"Someone wanted to say hello,"
Clara turned and saw the Doctor carrying Roland on his hip - he looked adorable in blue spaceship pyjamas and he had slightly damp hair from the bath.
"Hey buddy, I heard you were poorly - how are you feeling?"
"I had a sicky tummy, Clara," he said in a small voice, cuddling into his Dad's neck. "But I haven't been sick since lunchtime now,"
"Well, that's good news. I'm sure you'll feel much better in the morning. Has your Dad been taking good care of you?"
"Yep. We did colouring and read stories and played robots,"
"That's just what I like to do when I'm poorly," said Clara with a smile.
"Right, come on Roly-Poly, let's get into bed. Say goodnight to Clara," said the Doctor, jiggling Roland on his hip.
"Goodnight Clara," he mumbled, voice already thick with tiredness.
"Goodnight Roland,"
The Doctor put him down. "Go and get tucked in and I'll be up in a second,"
Roland tottered off down and climbed up the stairs.
The Doctor leaned down, his arms bearing his weight on the back of the sofa next to where Clara was sitting.
"Sorry, I've left you all alone since you've got here,"
Clara touched his forearm. "Doctor, stop apologising."
"I know, but-"
Clara reached up to cradle the back of his head, scratching his scalp lightly and pulling him down a little to kiss him gently.
"Go and tuck your son into bed," she whispered with a grin, mouth still close to him.
"Five minutes and I'm all yours," he replied, nipping at her bottom lip lightly. He moved away and went back upstairs.
"OK, he's finally asleep." It took a little longer than five minutes, but the Doctor eventually appeared in the doorway again. "Sorry, he's just a bit restless, but he'll be alright,"
The Doctor sunk down on the sofa next to Clara, smoothing his hands over his face and sighing. Clara suddenly thought that he was probably extremely tired and she should have left him in peace tonight.
"Shall I go?" she said, leaning forward to put her glass on the table, "You're probably exhausted and I should have called before coming round,"
The Doctor caught her wrist, turning her back to him, a soft smile on his face. He cupped her cheek gently.
"C'mere," he whispered.
Clara leaned into his hand and into his kiss as he tipped his head to the side and curled his hand around her neck. He felt warm and tired as his lips brushed hers and she just wanted to sink into him and never let go. Her fingers found the tiny holes in his jumper and it made her smile against his mouth. He rested his forehead against hers.
"Please don't go," he muttered. Clara caught a glimpse of his vulnerability again. Maybe he needed her more than she realised. If this was the first relationship he'd had since his wife passed away, since Roland was born, then of course he'd be insecure, worried, fragile. He was afraid she would leave him. She gripped his jumper in her hands.
"I won't," she whispered, leaning her face against his "I won't."
He sighed and trailed his hand from her neck down her arm. "Want to watch a black and white film now?"
She smiled, back to joking around again. "Only if it's got Jimmy Stewart in it,"
A few hours later, the credits on Mr Smith Goes To Washington started to roll. Clara was tucked into the Doctor's side, his arm around her and their legs outstretched and tangled together on the coffee table.
"Isn't Jimmy Stewart great?" She said, not moving from her position, her hand toying with holes in his jumper again. "So charming and handsome,"
"Do you have a crush on Jimmy Stewart?" he asked, looking down at her with a smirk.
Clara smiled and then shifted, drawing her legs up and over his lap so she was straddling him. The Doctor also shifted, his feet back on the floor and his hands instinctively going to her hips. Clara rested her arms on his shoulders and leaned closer, watching his pupils dilate.
"Not as much as I have a crush on you,"
The Doctor closed his eyes and tipped his chin up, desperate for her lips but she kept them just out of reach. He felt good underneath her and Clara wanted to etch everything to memory. His hands moved to her thighs, brushing over her bottom which made her gasp in surprise. She dragged her thumb over his bottom lip and touched the creases at the corners of his eyes.
She loved being this close to him. She could smell his citrusy aftershave, the wine on his breath, and the distinctive warm, comforting smell that was purely him. She could take in all of his beautiful face - the lines on his forehead, the faint shadow of stubble on his chin, his thick eyebrows and thin lips, and gorgeous grey locks. He opened his eyes and looked at her looking at him, their eyes locked and saying more than either of them could possibly know.
"Kiss me," he murmured, and with that she gave into him. Her mouth met his in a deep, heat-filled kiss, her hands slid into his hair. When she moved, she rubbed against him in a way that made them both groan; denim on denim, the Doctor already hard against her. Clara rolled her hips and he growled, biting her lower lip gently and wrapping his arms around her tighter.
"God, you're so sexy, do you know that?" he said hotly, his Scottish accent more pronounced in his arousal.
Clara slowly trailed her nose down his, making him hold his breath in anticipation.
"I really want you, Doctor," she whispered, her hands now sneaking underneath his jumper, pushing it up and feeling the warm skin underneath. He let her take it off and he blushed when her eyes roamed his chest - he's slim but defined, with brown hair dusting his chest and stomach, a thick line from his belly button disappearing below his belt. Clara could see in his eyes that he was worried about his looks, his build, his age. To assuage his fears, Clara touched his soft stomach, fingertips ghosting up his sensitive sides and then palms smoothing up his chest. She leaned in and kissed his collar bone, his neck, his chin.
"You're perfect," she said.
In response, the Doctor kissed her mouth again, hard, his long fingers now unbuttoning her shirt, letting it hang loosely from her shoulders. His hands explored the new skin and stroked up her back, keeping her close to him as she pushed her hips against his. Clara reached for his belt buckle, but then…
"Daddy! Daddy!"
A small voice from upstairs wrenched the pair back to reality and the Doctor groaned, resting his forehead against Clara's. She chuckled and cupped his face in her hands, her thumb dragging over his bottom lip.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
Clara peppered his mouth with kisses, hands sinking into the soft hair at the back of his head. "It's ok" she said "It's ok." She sighed and pulled back to look at him, his hands at her waist again, his thumbs stroking her hip bones.
Then another small cry came from upstairs. "Daaaddy!"
They both chuckled wryly. Clara kissed him. "Go," she said, climbing off of his lap, immediately missing the warmth that radiated from him.
He caught her hand. "Will you still be here when I get back?" he said sincerely.
She nodded, smiling reassuringly. "Of course I will,"
The Doctor shrugged on his jumper again and ambled up the stairs to see to Roland. Clara sat back against the sofa with a sigh, buttoning up her shirt again. They probably shouldn't have let things get so far with Roland sick and just upstairs, but by God did it feel good. Now Clara had felt his hot skin under her palms, felt his arms wrapped around her bare back, felt his hardness pressing against her through their jeans, she wanted it more than ever. She wanted him more than ever. She pressed the heel of her hands to her eyes, trying to fight the urge to slip her hands inside her jeans and do something with the arousal that had built from sitting in his lap.
He drove her crazy, turned her on like no-one had before and could make her hot with one sweeping gaze; but he was also gentle and kind and loving and made her laugh. All she could think about was him and what their future would look like - the three of them. Yep, Clara was quite sure she was completely in love with him.
When the Doctor returned, Clara was lying on the sofa, the wine making her eyes droop a little. The Doctor dropped in behind her, quickly tangling their legs together and wrapping his arm around her waist. He put his head in her neck and pulled her tightly against him.
"Hello," she said with a smile, settling into his warmth. "How is he?"
"He's ok - just bad dreams so I sat and talked with him until he fell asleep again."
Clara linked her fingers with his in front of her stomach.
"You're such a good Dad," she said "It's so clear that he's completely besotted with you."
"Thank you," he said sincerely, placing a kiss in her neck.
After a few moments, Clara took a deep breath and then spoke quietly. "He's not the only one who's besotted,"
She felt the Doctor still, his face still in her neck. Then his nose stroked along the skin and he tightened his grip around her.
"Do you mean that?" he whispered "Good God, I hope you do,"
"I mean it," she said "Of course I mean it,"
She was sure that she felt the Doctor sigh in relief as he settled his head behind hers, breath warm on the nape of her neck.
Just as sleep was about to overcome them both, Clara heard the Doctor say, "Me too."
Thanks for reading!
Balancing writing with work is not fun. Hopefully I'll have another chapter for you soon. I think there will be another 2 or 3. Thank you for your lovely reviews :)