A rumble of thunder and the sharp crack of lightening awoke them, the room illuminated an eerie cold yellow before the black of night replaced it, the air was heavy but cold, laced with the anticipation of the next growl of thunder.
"Are you awake?"
Max slipped an arm about her waist, wrapping himself around her from behind and pulling the covers up over their shoulders.
She pressed back into him, the warmth of his body against her making her smile into the darkness. She closed her eyes again.
"We seem to attract these storms."
She murmured, feeling his breath on the back of her neck, his face nuzzled against her shoulder.
"A sign?"
He smiled, kissing the soft skin where her hairline met her neck, she shuddered and a trail of goosebumps fluttered across her legs.
"God, don't. If anything it's a sign of what today's going to be like."
She rolled over to face him, relaxing into his arms, resting her head against his chest, listening to the soft thumping rhythm of his heart.
"Pull a sickie."
He whispered into her hair, loving how it fell against his lips as he spoke.
She squeezed him.
"Don't tempt me. I'm already behind enough as it is..."
She dragged her fingernails along the length of Max's back, stopping on his hip to draw lazy circles, he drew in a long breath, inhaling the smell of sex an alcohol.
"I thought you were in charge?"
He rested his forehead against hers, smoothing her hair away from her face.
"Whatever gave you that impression?"
She asked, closing her eyes again, relaxing into his touch.
At some point during their conversation she must have nodded off again, because the next time she woke, she awoke to the rain, heavy and rhythmic with it's steady incessant beating on the glass behind the curtains. She stretched slowly, yawning and running a hand over her face, wiping the sleep from her eyes.
She checked the clock on her bedside table. It was nearly seven. She turned to find the space next to her vacant. She sat up, pulling the duvet up to cover her and listened for Max. She heard the familiar noise of her fridge door opening and closing and the pattering of bare feet on the stone floor.
She yawned again, her whole body stretching once more, pushing away the tension and aggression, relaxing each muscle in turn. She reluctantly slipped the bed covers away and took her dressing gown from the back of her bedroom door, wrapping it tightly about herself and making her way downstairs to the kitchen.
She found Max in the kitchen peering into her freezer.
"Morning."
She smiled, laughing as he jumped, turning and smiling apologetically.
"What are you looking for?"
She asked, padding over to him and looking into the drawer he had open
"Food."
He answered simply.
"Do you actually own any?"
He asked, closing the freezer door and pulling her in towards him for a hug. She wrapped her arms around his waist and tucked her head under his chin.
"I usually order in."
She spoke against his chest, her breath against the bare skin beneath his t shirt.
"You don't have any food?!"
He laughed, placing his free hand on his empty stomach.
"Chocolate...maybe..."
She smiled as he took hold of her by the forearms and stood her at arms distance.
"Chocolate you say."
His fingers slipped to briefly intertwine with her own.
"Where is it?"
He asked, following her as she made her way to the cupboard above the sink. She opened the door and reached up, feeling along the top shelf before producing a bar of unopened Green and Blacks chocolate.
She passed it to him, an idea causing a smile to flicker across his lips.
"You go and sit down I'll be in in a minute."
He began to unwrap the chocolate as he spoke, turning his back on her as she left the room, making herself comfortable on one of the sitting room sofa's.
She flicked the television onto rolling news and pulled the throw from the top of the sofa over her as she curled against the pillows. She listened to Max humming to himself in the kitchen, she didn't recognise it. She heard him open and close several cupboard doors and the clatter of pots and pans.
"How do you turn your oven on?"
He called through, peering around the corner, saucepan in one hand.
"Turn it on at the wall?"
She replied, craning her neck to see him over the top of the sofa.
"You've never used this have you."
He said, gesturing with the saucepan, smiling as she shook her head.
He disappeared again, she channel hopped until she found the local news, watching the weatherman present varying degrees of rain and thunder across the country.
She dozed while Max busied himself, the clinking of mugs and Max's voice roused her.
"Here we go."
He sat down next to her, holding out a mug for her to take, she looked at it suspiciously before tasting it.
"Chocolate?"
She asked as he took a sip. He nodded.
"It's not as good as I'd make at home...but it'll do."
He lifted her legs with one arm and placed them across his lap.
"How did you manage this?"
She asked, raising her mug, sipping the hot, creamy chocolate, it lacked the spices of the previous night but was outstanding none-the-less.
"Secret."
He winked.
"What time are you in this morning?"
She asked, wriggling her toes so that they slid underneath his t-shirt and against his bare skin. He rested a hand over them.
"Nine, you can give me a lift if you want."
He trailed his fingers up and down the skin of her calves.
"I'll give you a lift, but Max you know we can't tell anyone about this?"
His fingers paused.
"I know."
He said quietly.
"If Connie finds out it will only give her more ammunition, and I can't handle all of the nursing staff..."
"I know."
He said again, reaching out to brush her cheek.
"So what is this anyway?"
He asked, relaxing back, watching her, smiling.
"This...?"
She broke eye contact, unsure of what to say.
"Do you want to see me again or is this just a one time only thing?"
He asked, his smile lessening, an edge of seriousness in what he was saying.
She raised an eyebrow.
"I'd have thought that would have been obvious."
She pushed her feet further against him, digging a heel gently into his lap.
"Careful!" He placed a hand on her feet, catching her amused expression.
"Can I take that as a yes or were you trying to castrate me?"
He asked, crossing his legs so that she couldn't do it again.
"You can take that as a yes."
She breathed, sipping the last few mouthfuls of chocolate.
"Now come and get ready, I'm not having you making me late."
Thank you everyone for your reviews. I love reading them throughout the day whilst I'm knee deep in nappies with toddler's hanging off me like Christmas decorations.
I will update at least twice again tomorrow for you. I hope you're all still enjoying it! Please feel free to send me more reviews to get me through a long day tomorrow x