"Stop it Tommy, I can't" she said breaking away from him as he tried to deepen their kiss.

"Sorry! I thought you..."

"I do," she cried, "it's just that..."

Tommy looked at her puzzled but put his arms around her and held her close to him. This weekend had taken them both by surprise. "It's okay Barbara. We have the rest of our lives, we don't have to rush."

"I'm sorry," she said plaintively.

Still holding her tightly Tommy stroked her back and laid his head on hers. "Don't fret Barbara."

Everything he said only made her feel worse. He was not only being gentlemanly, he was being very loving. He was everything and all she ever wanted but she was too embarrassed to tell him she had no experience in these things. She thought it would be fine but when it had come to it she was afraid of disappointing him.

She nodded. It did not seem fair to him but she certainly did not want to be alone. "Tommy, it's not that I don't want to kiss you because I do."

He frowned at her again unsure why if she wanted to she did not just do it. "What you afraid of? I can stop at any point. You can trust me never to push you Barbara, I promise."

She pulled away from him and leant against the wall looking at her feet. "I'm afraid of doing it wrong and disappointing you. I'm nearly forty and I've never kissed anyone. How hopeless does that make me?"

Tommy was shocked but instantly understood her reaction and felt a wave of protectiveness and love wash over him. He was trying to sound sincere and truthful but it came out somewhat pompously. "It does not make you hopeless at all. It makes me very privileged; to be your first."

Barbara cocked her head and looked at him. "You're joking? Is that some male pride thing in deflowering the virgin? Well I don't quite fit that category either," she said angrily.

Tommy could see that old habits had returned. She was embarrassed and so attack was her chosen form of defence. He would be patient and work through this with her. "This is not about pride, male or otherwise. This is not about sex. If you choose never to kiss me or never want us to make love then I still want to be with you. I still want to feel the way you made me feel last night and today. If I wanted sex or physical comfort I could have any number of women. I've had plenty but not one of them has ever made me feel loved the way you do."

The honesty of his claim was almost brutal. She wanted desperately to rush into his arms but she was still scared. His words, glorious though they were, only frightened her more. "One or two have," she said with a bitterness that surprised them both.

"No, they haven't actually. Not like this." Tommy took a chance and embraced her. "You've always made me feel special. You love me with a fierceness that no one else can. I need that. I need to feel loved."

"That's at odds with your last statement. What if I can't ever...you know?"

"I don't mean physical fierceness Barbara. I mean the way you hold on and never let me go even when I am being impulsive and stupid, and the way you will tell me I'm wrong. You'll work it out. WE will work out the rest. In the context of the last few minutes this might sound odd but I was hoping to repeat last night. I promise I won't push you but I understand if you can't for some reason. Will you come to bed with me and hold me like you did last night?" He kissed her on the cheek and extended his hand.

Barbara looked at him. He was smiling softly but his eyes clinched the deal. She was beginning to understand that he did actually love her, it was not just loneliness or need. That created a whole range of other problems but tonight she was happy to ignore them. She took his hand and let him lead her to his room.

Tommy glanced at the clock. It was almost two o'clock and Barbara was still snuggled peacefully into his chest. He needed the bathroom and the harder he tried not to think about it the more he needed to go. He extricated his arms and legs from her vice-like grip trying hard not to disturb her. She stirred and rolled over allowing him to escape. When he returned she was standing at the window looking at the stars. "I'm sorry Barbara. I didn't mean to wake you."

She did not answer him and he moved up behind her and put his arms around her. He rested his head on her shoulder. "A penny for your thoughts."

"Could we try that kiss again Tommy?"

He thrilled at the sound of his name. He had waited so long for her to call him Tommy and now it sounded as if she had never called him anything else. "Hmm," he said as he began to kiss her neck, "of course. Just relax and let your instincts lead you."

With his arms still around her he could feel her tense when he kissed a particular spot on her neck. He moved his lips away and back several times, each with the same result. He repeated it on the other side with even more success as Barbara emitted the odd stifled groan of pleasure. He released his grip and she turned to face him. He knew she expected him to kiss her but there was no rush. He began to kiss those places on her neck again then slowly kissed his way up her neck and throat.

What Tommy was doing was not relaxing; quite the opposite. It was exciting in ways she had not anticipated. She tried hard not to make any noise but sometimes it was impossible. Surely you're not supposed to enjoy this as much as I am? Her body ached for his touch but as he began to kiss her face Barbara tensed. The moment of truth was approaching but she really wanted this to be good for both of them. She wanted a night to remember with joy and she wanted this to be a night Tommy would never forget either; she could not just be another momentary diversion.

Her lips were soft and eagerly kissed him back. Tommy held her close and stroked her back with a gentle, regular rhythm. He kissed her face and her lips with gentle kisses and paused to allow her to do the same. He could sense her nerves were lessening but he still waited before he tenderly began to part her lips. She did not flinch and after a while started to respond. Her hand came up from his waist and she ran it through his hair sending shiver across his stomach. He groaned and she smiled under his lips.

Barbara was enjoying kissing him. She could smell his earthiness and feel his desire. He murmured as she ran her fingers through his hair and his lips were more insistent. Tommy pulled away and began to kiss her neck again. Every time she nuzzled into it an invisible string seemed to tug deep inside her. The more he tickled and kissed her there the greater her need for him grew. He was caressing her arms and her side but she could tell he was avoiding anything overtly sexual. He was letting her dictate the pace and the activity. She had had one sexual encounter fifteen years ago so she was not afraid of that part. She just had to get past the next bit.

Tommy put his hands either side of her face and stared into her eyes. It was reassuring to know that he was concerned. "I want this so badly Barbara," he whispered softly, "but I'm scared too. What if you don't like it?"

"Oh Tommy how could think I won't? Do you know how long I've dreamt of this?"

"Exactly," he said as he kissed her lovingly, "but I might not be as good as the imaginary version."

Before she could answer Tommy was kissing her again. This time his mouth was angled in a way that it was natural for her mouth to be open. She went rigid as she felt his tongue tentatively bridge the gap between them. It touched hers and she pulled hers back to get out of the way. His followed and she realised he was seeking it out. It was a strange slippery sensation but it pulled hard on those strings. Barbara felt a surge of desire and pushed back against him. He tasted sweet which contrasted perfectly with his earthy scent that she realised was his aftershave that had heated up in their passion. He followed his instructions and closed her eyes and followed her instincts. He explored her mouth and then withdrew encouraging her to explore. When she did he groaned audibly. Barbara stopped thinking she had done the wrong thing but his hands implored her to continue.

Kissing Barbara was divine and Tommy was pleased that at least that was a better word than 'nice' even if if was woefully inadequate to truly describe his pleasure. She was kissing him with an enthusiasm that threatened his promise that he could stop at any time. He broke away and held her. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"Wonderful," she replied dreamily, "I had no idea it could be like this."

Neither of them could stop and Tommy slowly edged her towards the bed where they fell awkwardly, still kissing. They chuckled and whispered endearments and encouragement as their hands and lips began to traverse each other in a slow, pleasurable survey. "We can stop whenever you say," Tommy kept repeating.

Barbara did not answer until his lips kissed her scar. "No Tommy we can't stop and neither of us want to."

Dawn erupted through the window with intense golds and reds that lit up the room. Tommy swore, remembering he had not pulled the curtain. They had been asleep less than an hour and today could wait. He untangled his legs and arms and rose from their bed and quickly pulled them shut. As he returned to cuddle he gave her a quick, tender kiss and she instinctively began to kiss him back. This was not what he had intended but as her hand tickled an erogenous zone on his back that she had discovered last night and her naked groin pushed against his, Tommy knew that they were not going back to sleep for some time.

The new lovers finally rose in the early afternoon when hunger for sustenance won out over their hunger for each other. Tommy heated some soup and was surprised when Barbara stayed standing to eat it. He raised his eyebrows then smiled cheekily. "Really?"

"Yes, I'm a little tender" Barbara replied blushing. "You forget it's only been used twice before and that was fifteen years ago. You're insatiable!"

"That's not quite how I remember it," he said as he stood up and embraced her. "A certain young lady I know kept making love to me like no one else ever has. How could I resist?"

Barbara smiled at him and Tommy melted in a way he had never expected. A tear ran from his eye. "I love you Barbara."

What? The sincerity of his voice shocked Barbara more than the words. "I'll bet you say that to all your women."

She was trying to make light of it but her words stung Tommy. "No, I don't! This is not a game Barbara. I thought you would have realised from last night how I felt. I thought telling you would be special and for some inexplicable reason I thought you might feel the same way."

Tommy turned to leave the room. If anyone had asked him on Friday morning if it were possible to fall in love in two days he would have laughed at them but it had not really been two days. This had been coming for years and yet Barbara thought she was just a conquest for the weekend. If she really understood him and loved him how could she possibly think that?

"Tommy wait. I'm sorry." He turned to look at her and could see how scared she appeared. He wanted to rush back and embrace her but he allowed her time to speak. "I never dreamed you would say that. I never thought you could ever feel that. I love you more than life itself and after last night I can't imagine going back to our old lives. I'm glad I'm sitting that exam because I couldn't bear it if they shipped you off somewhere without me."

She was looking down at her feet again and when he lifted her chin to kiss her he saw the tears rolling down her face. "Good. Now that we have that settled I only have one other question," he said as he kissed her.

"Whatever it is the answer is yes," she cooed back after the most tender and loving kiss that they had shared.

"Ah good, I'm glad you want to do the washing up."

Barbara hit him playfully on the arm and grinned at him. "I must try that trick when I need paperwork done."

Tommy kissed her again then whispered in her ear, "my real question was 'will you marry me'?"