He allowed me to slide my lips gently over his. Sensing his eyes fluttering closed I took it as a good sign. My mind had been going in circles and tormenting me with the idea that this time he had really left me for good, that nothing I said would convince him to come home.

He gave a faint whimper which confused me because I didn't think I was hurting him. I moved closer to him and placed my hand along his thigh, stroking him comfortingly before moving my hand further to the waistband of his jeans.

He pulled away slightly and I followed his movements, deepening the kiss and trying in any way possible to make it more pleasurable for him. I wanted to give him a reason to stay. I was desperate.

Every day without him was the worst I had ever experienced. I'd felt like I couldn't catch my breath for even a second, like all the air had been taken away from me. I had hesitated in a horrifying limbo of wondering whether he hadn't called me because I hadn't called him and he really did miss me after all and we were both just too stubborn for our own good; or whether he really didn't want to see me.

I took to watching him, trying to determine if he was as broken without me as I was without him. Typical that Martin should welcome him with open arms, keep him from me, encourage him to leave me. No doubt every night he would assure Tim that he was making the right decision, that our relationship was toxic to him, that he was worth more.

He spent most of his time alone but once I saw him outside the chemist talking to another man. I wanted to scream in rage. Who was he? Had they just met? What was he saying? Why was Tim laughing? Was he flirting with my Tim?

"Ivo," Tim said as he broke away.

"It's not going to work. I'm sorry."

"Don't say that," I replied irritably and kissed him more forcefully. I knew he would be like this. He was such a little tease. He didn't seem to fight me off. He just seemed more interested if anything, his hand reaching up to caress my cheek with his other hand placed on my chest.

I embraced him as I guided him to lay down on the sofa, my hands smoothing over his chest under his shirt as I continued to kiss him, tracing his upper lip with my tongue. I had definitely missed this. He was so beautiful; captivating. I wanted to ravage him but he was so thin now. He felt like he would break under the lightest touch.

"I'm still crazy about you," I whispered. "You're even more beautiful than the day I first saw you."

He seemed to become awkward at my saying this but I didn't really mind. If he did decide to leave then I had to say it, even if it became the thing that made him leave.

"Tim," I sighed as I pulled his shirt from him, his arms becoming tangled. I persevered.

He was shivering slightly now as I fiddled with the button on his jeans.

"Ivo, let's just talk."

"We can talk later."

He squirmed out from underneath me and stood; his back turned to me.

"No, Ivo. We're talking now."

The leather of the sofa groaned as I turned to sit properly in it. I watched Tim's back move slowly as he breathed.

"Tim."

"We're finished. I mean it."

"Tim, you're being irrational. I'm only trying to make you understand."

"Make me understand that I'm dependent on you and that it's okay because you love me? Make me understand that it's okay for you to hit me when things don't go your way?"

"You know that's not what happened," I sighed angrily.

"You tried to drown me!"

Tim always was so paranoid.

"Tim."

I was getting flustered now. He always knew just how to rile me.

"No Ivo. That is what happened and I don't want to see you anymore."

"Tim," I moved to stand just behind him. He didn't move away. Out of fear or excitement I'm not sure. I leaned in and kissed the back of his neck at the top of his spine. He visibly shivered.

"I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you."

I kissed further along his neck to under his ear and he sighed gently, leaning into me slightly.

"Ivo, don't."

"Please Tim, forgive me."

I kissed further along his neck, making light nips every now and then as I wrapped my arms around his waist, pulling him to me. His hands clasped over mine and he had to balance himself.

"Please."

I moved to unbutton his jeans and he let me, allowing them to slide to the floor and leaving him in his boxers. A pair that I had bought for him no less.

"We're bad for each other," he said breathily, seeming anguished.

"We were, not anymore. We'll be better. We'll see a counselor, anything you want."

I knew that would interest him, much as I was loathe to the idea he had mentioned it once before during one of our earliest arguments. When I reflected on it I realised just how much Tim had been trying to salvage things. After everything with my sister he had been trying.

"Martin will be expecting me back."

"Screw Martin."

It came out rather muffled as I breathed in the smell of Tim's hair. It was a different shampoo than the one we had here and it angered me.

I slid my hand into his boxers and he groaned.

"Mmmm, Ivo."

He pulled away suddenly.

"You promise?"

"Anything, anything you want."

"You won't hurt me anymore," he asked hesitantly, his forehead burrowed.

"Never," I replied sadly. "I love you."

Giving a brief nod, he pressed himself against me and kissed me hungrily.

"I love you too," he breathed.