A/N - Just a quick note to say if my stories disappear, it's the site NOT me! The stories I have posted are here to stay because I have realised I have as much right to post them as anyone else. Now that's out the way - Enjoy x

The last rays of the late afternoon sun splintered through the scattered clouds and enveloped Elizabeth in a way she was certain she had never felt before. Her bare shoulders felt warm to the touch and the gentle breeze tickled her face ,but it was more than that. She could feel it radiating from within her. As if every fibre of her being was sparking back into life after being hidden in the shadows. She felt — Happy.

Closing her eyes, she let the feeling wash over her. She couldn't quite recall a time when she'd felt at peace. There had been an inner turmoil that tugged at her soul persistently for as long as she could remember. After her parents had passed away, a huge part of her had surrendered to grief and anger. It was a part of her she had never quite managed to regain and the void left behind was substantial.

There had been fleeting moments of contentment but nothing that ever felt permanent. It had always seemed as if any happiness would be short lived so she couldn't allow herself to bask in it. She kept so much of herself back to cope with the constant disappointments that life kept throwing her way, she wasn't even sure she knew who she was any more.

There was a deep rooted guilt she had been carrying around with her for a long time. A lot of it was to do with not being in that car with her parents had perished at the side of the road. That led to the secondary guilt she felt at not being there for her baby brother when he needed her the most. And then there was her failed relationship with Simon. The heaviness of it constricted her and she couldn't free herself from its clutches.

Both her high school and college boyfriends had been nothing but a distraction. A way of diverting her emotional feelings into physical ones for short periods of time in a vain attempt to feel something other than numbness. But the truth was, she had never been a particularly sexual person and the empty, unsatisfying relationships had only compounded the issue.

When Simon entered her life, Elizabeth had honestly believed that he was the one. The love that would last and turn contentment into happiness. The one person who she could be unequivocally herself with and he would love her no matter what.

And then she had walked into that bedroom, laid eyes on him with another woman and her hopes for her little piece of heaven had shattered around her like cascades of jagged confetti, leaving scars she wasn't sure would ever heal. And that's when that relentless guilt had consumed her once more. It was her fault that Simon had looked for comfort in another woman's arms. She had held too much back from him and he couldn't cope with it. He deserved to be with someone who wasn't so — Broken. So, she had retreated completely back into herself and that's how she wanted to stay.

She had zero interest in another relationship, but then Henry happened. Five weeks had passed since they'd first met and things were going well. Their first date had been simple yet elegant. He had taken her out for dinner to the sweetest little Thai restaurant and the conversation and laughter had flowed so easily, the connection between them so natural. They had taken a walk and she could feel the soft buzz from the wine while Henry quoted Tennyson. When his fingers had tangled with hers and they'd kissed in the moonlight she could have sworn her knees were about to give way. That first date had led to several more and they were now on date number six, an afternoon picnic in the park and it was idyllic.

Henry was watching Elizabeth intently. She had been very present with him all afternoon, but as she lay on the blanket with her eyes closed, he could see the little crease in her forehead appear and he knew she had thoughts dancing around in her head. He could tell she wasn't all in with him and it concerned him deeply.

He ran his fingertips over her shoulder and she turned her head to the side. A wistful smile tugging at her lips as her eyes sparkled in the sunlight.

"Hey you." Her voice was soft and melodic "what's up?"

"You're gorgeous — You know that?" He leaned in and kissed her softly, unable to fight the urge. His hand splayed across her stomach, pulling at the fabric of her dress. Moving to her side and then sliding under her back as the kiss deepened.

With a solid hand to his chest, she pushed him back "Woah — I don't think so! My body is off limits for now, remember? Your rules, your choice." She raised a disapproving brow and then smirked "Although rules are meant to be broken."

Henry had presented a compelling argument for them abstaining from sex until they knew each other better. She didn't really see the point as that horse had well and truly bolted the first night they met, but she reluctantly agreed when he'd talked her through his reasons. However, that was after their first date and quite honestly — She was so over it already.

"Can I… " Henry brushed the hair away from her eyes "Can I ask you something?"

"No need. The answer is a resounding yes. You can absolutely take me back to yours and do as you wish with me." That cheeky smile was enough to make him do anything she asked, but he had a different agenda.

Henry chuckled, "I'm being serious."

"So am I." Elizabeth could see in his eyes that whatever he needed to know was clearly important to him. "Okay - Okay! What can I help you with?"

"What did he do to you? The guy who hurt you — What happened?"

Elizabeth pushed herself up and looked at Henry. She had managed to share very little with him so far, keeping him just far enough away so as not to render herself too vulnerable. She had never taken him to her apartment, he was still under the impression that she worked for a software company as a data analyst and she'd even given herself her mother's maiden name when he'd asked, keeping herself just far enough out of reach to be knew she wasn't being fair, but it was the only way to ease herself into this.

""Henry — I really don't want —"

"Elizabeth! I have my ass sticking out of a rabbit hole here and you're holding back. I just want to understand why you won't let me get close."

"I'll let you get as close as you want if you come back down here."

"Please? Just talk to me."

She sighed, dragging her fingers through her hair. It was a fair request. He was intelligent and observant and of course he could tell she wasn't fully invested.

"Fine" She swallowed thickly "Simon and I were together for three years, actually it was nearer four I think. We had what I thought was a great relationship, a lovely apartment, we'd talked about having a family one day and I was even convinced he was going to propose." She huffed and shook her head "God I was so stupid."

Henry handed her the half empty glass of wine that was nestled by the side of the picnic basket "Will this help?"

She took a mouthful and nodded before forging on with her sorry tale.

"So — I had been working really long hours and I wanted to make it up to him. He always said he didn't mind but we hadn't had a date night for months and I wanted to surprise him. I got home from work early one day and found him fucking the girl from the apartment next door, In our bed no less. And I'm telling ya — Those sheets were expensive."

Henry couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped. Humour as a defence mechanism wasn't lost on him.

"So yeah — He seemed more annoyed that he'd been caught than remorseful. Almost as if he blamed me for interrupting them. And honestly, from what I saw — He appeared to be far more attentive to her needs than he ever was to mine. I moved out and the rest as they say is history." Her eyes had glazed over and the hurt was etched across her features.

"The thing is though Henry — It was my fault." She finished the wine and handed Henry the glass, nodding towards the bottle. "I wasn't there enough. I took him for granted and screwed myself over in the process."

Henry poured the remains of the wine into her glass "I hope you took the sheets."

The laughter that erupted from them both helped to lighten the atmosphere a little.

"You know it's not your fault — Right? He clearly didn't know how lucky he was to have you Elizabeth. You didn't do anything wrong, he just didn't value you."

"Well that's the story of my life. Other than my parents, I'm not sure anyone ever has."

Henry brushed her cheek "I value you."

She knew he did, She could see it in his eyes, So why did she feel like she was stuck in quicksand. Not wanting to go back but unable to move forwards.

"I just need time Henry. I know that's a cliche, but it's the truth. I'm still hurting."

Elizabeth waited for Henry to speak, To respond to everything she'd just said. But he remained silent. Packing the stuff away in the basket and then pulling her up off the ground. "You know what you need right now?"

"I can think of a few things that would be very welcome." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Do you ever think about anything else?" His smile was so charming

"It's rare. So tell me — What is it that I need right now?"

Henry slid his fingers into hers and kissed her. The slow, languid sort of kiss that heightened all her senses "You need Ice-cream."

Elizabeth studied Henry as he licked the mocha fudge from the tiny plastic spoon. He was extremely charismatic and his intelligence was a real turn on. But there was more to him. There was an air of mystery about him that she couldn't quite work out, and that bothered her. She was a CIA analyst, she could get a read on almost anyone — Yet Henry had her baffled.

Henry looked up and met her eyes "Why are you staring at me?"

"I'm not staring, I'm observing. There is a distinct difference Henry."

"Well what are you observing?

She wanted to piece it together, but his smile was far too distracting, throwing her completely off her game. "Oh nothing — Was just thinking maybe we could go back to yours and watch a film. I'm not quite ready for this date to be over just yet."

The television flickered in the corner, the only illumination in the darkened room. The film had long been forgotten as a gentle kiss had morphed into a rather passionate exchange on the couch.

Elizabeth was flushed and breathless as she pulled back "Henry — If this goes any further, I'm not gonna be able to stop."

Henry pushed himself up, shaking his head "I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself."

"Never apologise for wanting me. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it" She sat herself up and adjusted her dress "But this is what you wanted and I agreed so we have to stop." She needed to cool off so excused herself and headed to the kitchen for a glass of water in the hope it may extinguish some of the flames. What the hell was her body doing.

"Tell me honestly though —" Henry leaned against the doorway "Do you really want to stop?"

Her eyes narrowed as she glared at him "Don't Henry!"

"What? I wasn't —"

"Yes you were. You know exactly what you're doing . Citing philosophers and poets in that voice of yours. I'm really far gone this time Henry and I need to calm down so just — just — Fuck off a minute."

Henry smirked at her "Did you really just tell me to fuck off? He moved across the kitchen towards her "That's not very nice."

"I'm serious." Her own smirk devalued that particular statement. "Maybe I should go."

"No — I don't want you to go. Stay with me tonight?" Henry was altogether too close to her now.

"I thought I could do this Henry. I mean — sex isn't everything, right?! But I'm struggling to control myself. I've tried, I really have but — You've hexed me or something."

Henry chuckled "I've done what?"

"You've put a weird spell on me or some shit. My body won't listen to my head when I'm around you. I want you all the time — It's not normal." The little crinkle in her forehead was back and Henry couldn't help but find it endearing, and also highly amusing.

"Don't laugh at me Henry. It's not funny."

"It's a little funny. I feel the same way when I'm around you. I can't even look at you without wanting to rip your clothes off so if I've hexed you — You've hexed me right back."

Elizabeth smiled "Really?"

Henry gripped her hips and trailed wet kisses down her neck "You're exquisite." His teeth grazed her collarbone "And enticing." And the feel of his tongue on her throat made her squeal "And so god damn sexy."

Elizabeth was about two seconds away from losing it completely. Her whole body was craving his touch. He made her feel out of control and she wasn't sure if that scared her or aroused her further "Henry — Stop messing with me."

"I'm not messing with you. Tell me what you want." His words were a mere whisper against her skin. "Because I don't want to stop tonight."

"I want you. That appears to be my constant physical state these days" Her eyes had slipped shut and her hands were gripping the kitchen side, the feel of his lips against her skin impossible to ignore. "But you said —"

"I said we should get to know each other and we've made a really good start today. So can I please take you to bed now?"

What was he doing to her? Was he just testing her or was he serious. She couldn't think straight and she didn't trust herself with him. She had always been a 'Take Charge" kinda girl, always controlling what happened but Henry was flipping everything she knew on its head. She had never felt unable to stop before, not even with Simon. She had never lost control and what was going to happen if she did.

"You know it's ok to yield to your own desires, right?" Just when Henry thought he had her figured out, she would act in a way he wasn't expecting. "You might like it."

Elizabeth huffed out a stunted laugh "I don't relinquish control very easily, it scares me. And the way I feel when I'm around you is terrifying."

"Why?" God this woman was beyond complex but so intriguing.

Her response came as a mere shrug.

Henry grabbed hold of her hand and gently tugged her towards the bedroom.

"So does this mean we're finally gonna —"

Henry flashed her a wicked grin "You're going to let yourself go — And I'm going to help you do it."