Chapter Seven

Ella

Would it ruin everything if I told him I love him?

We've only known each other a few weeks, and he'd probably think I'm mad. Hell… sometimes even I think I'm mad. Let's face it, when we first met, we didn't exactly hit it off, did we? We bickered and fought and antagonized each other… endlessly.

But over the last few weeks, that's all changed. It's changed so much that when he said he wanted to kiss me, I had to offer as much encouragement as I could. The kiss itself was everything I could have hoped for. It was magical and intense, romantic and passionate. I was carried away on a sea of need, and I whispered his name, wanting more, I think. That was when he asked me to call him ‘Mac'. I know he'd already told me that all his friends call him that, but there was something about the way he said it… like it mattered to him, and I decided there and then, there's no way I'm going to call him ‘Blake' anymore. I didn't tell him that, of course, but when we started kissing again, I put my hands on his face, letting my fingers twist back into his hair… in the hope he'd realize how seriously I was taking this… and him.

Of course, the takeout had to arrive not long after that, interrupting us, but I needed to let him know I didn't welcome the interruption… just in case he decided against picking things up again.

And it seems he got the message.

Had I expected all this, though?

Had I thought he'd look into my eyes and tell me I could change my mind? I had no intention of doing so, but he was so considerate… so caring, it took my breath away. That had to mean something, didn't it?

Had I thought my heart would become his… just like my body? I suppose I should have guessed. I was half-way to falling in love with him already. If I hadn't been, I'd never have let things go as far as they did. But that feeling… that wondrous, heavenly feeling of being his and his alone… that was beyond my wildest expectations. It made me realize he's not just the right man. He's the only man.

He's moving so gently inside me, and I'm grateful for that. I moan, raising my hips a little higher, wanting more of him. It may have hurt to start with, but now it feels sublime.

"You feel so good." His voice seems deeper than usual and I smile up at him, raising my hands and caressing his taut biceps, before moving them up and over his shoulders and then down his back, letting them come to rest on his perfect ass. His eyes widen as I pull him into me, enjoying the way he stretches me with every stroke, and he sucks in a breath. "Are you trying to make me come?"

"I don't know. Am I?"

I pull him in again… a little harder this time.

"I—It feels like it."

He closes his eyes, groaning a little louder. I'm not sure if that's a good thing, and because I don't want this to end yet, I let my hands drop to my sides.

His eyes pop open, and he smiles. "Wise move."

"Was it?"

He nods his head. "That felt amazing, but I was struggling to hold on."

He reaches down, taking my hands in his, one at a time, and brings them up beside my head, pinning them there. That feels good, and I can't help sighing and parting my legs a little wider.

He smiles. "My turn now."

"Your turn to what?"

He bends his head, his mouth right beside my ear. "To make you come." I shudder and, holding my hands in place, while keeping up a slightly faster pace, he traces a line of kisses from my ear, along my jaw and down my neck, across the top of my breasts and finally, to my right nipple, which he licks and then bites, oh so gently. That seems to be all it takes, and I feel that familiar quivering deep inside me, bucking against him as my orgasm takes hold and rocks through me. I keep my eyes open long enough to see his expression change, his eyes closing and a look of perfect ecstasy crossing his face as he swells inside me. His howls and my screams mingle, the noise filling the room. Just when I think it's all too much, my pleasure ratchets up another notch and I lose control. Nothing exists but what he's doing to me… how it makes me feel… and I let it take me, and consume me, until eventually, it fades and I realize my hands are no longer trapped, and Mac's arms are tight around me.

The words, ‘I love you' are poised on my lips and, even though I'm breathless, I open my mouth to say them, just as he whispers, "Stay? Please?"

What does that mean? Is he talking about tonight, or forever? I might be in love with him, but that doesn't mean he feels the same way, and I don't want to read too much into a simple invitation. Even so, I need to know.

"The night?" I ask, not daring to raise my expectations too high.

"Yes." He smiles and I smile back. It may not be ‘I love you'. It might not be ‘forever', but the smile on his lips and the look in his eyes feel like the next best thing.

The Chinese food stood up remarkably well to being kept warm for just over an hour, and once we've eaten it – in bed – Mac clears away all the cartons, taking them downstairs, before he comes back up and climbs into bed beside me. He pulls me across, closer to him, and I lie in his arms, my head resting on his toned chest.

He feels so good, and although it's only been an hour since he made me lose my mind, my body is humming with need again. I want him, but I don't know how to ask, or what to say.

"Is everything okay?" He leans away from me just slightly, and I look up at his concerned face.

"Yes. I was just wondering…"

"Wondering what?" he asks.

I guess there's no point in prevaricating. "When we can do that again?"

His face clears, and he smiles. "Eat Chinese food in bed?"

I slap him, just gently on his chest. "No… silly."

"Ahh… you mean you want to know when we can make love again?"

I nod my head, smiling at the way he said that, and he throws back the covers, revealing his erection. I can't help gasping. It's even bigger than I'd thought, and I tear my eyes away from his masculine perfection and look up into his eyes.

"Did that really fit inside me?"

"It did." He leans down and kisses me, cupping my chin with his hand as he whispers, "Like it was meant to be."

Oh… God .

My lips tremble as he kisses me. Can it be that he feels the same way I do? Am I daring to hope too much?

He pulls back, gazing into my eyes. "I've got a question for you."

"Oh?"

He nods his head. "Are you sore?"

"I don't think so."

He doesn't say another word, but sits up slightly and turns away, reaching over to the nightstand. When he turns back, he's holding a condom, and I lean up and watch avidly while he tears into the wrapper and then rolls it over his erection. I'm mesmerized by the way he touches himself, studying his fingers as they stroke his length, from base to bulbous tip. I'm so entranced, I yelp in surprise when he leans over and grabs me, moving me on top of him, although I instinctively part my legs and straddle him as he sets me down.

"I liked the way you kissed me downstairs," he says, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

" I kissed you ?"

"Okay… I started it, but I liked what you made of it."

I can't help smiling. "I liked it, too."

He nods his head. "Care to make something of this?" He tilts his head toward his erection and I gaze on it for a moment or two, spellbound, until he says, "Need some help?"

I smile at him, and he places his hands on my ass, raising me up, then reaches between us, positioning the head of his erection right at my entrance. I don't need to be told what to do next, and I lower myself down, sucking in a breath as he stretches me.

"Take it slowly," he says, letting out a slight groan.

"I need to. You're so big."

His smile widens. "Unless I'm much mistaken, you don't have anything to judge that by, do you?"

"No. But you seem big to me." I lower myself a little further onto him, proving the point.

"Has it occurred to you that maybe you're tight?"

"I don't know. Is being tight a good thing?"

"In this situation, it's a fabulous thing."

"And I'm gonna assume you've got something to judge that by?" I'm not sure I like that thought. In fact, I'm pretty sure I hate it, but I finally settle onto him, swiveling my hips to get comfortable.

"Yeah, I have." He rests his hands flat on my thighs, like he feels the need to hold me in place, and looks into my eyes. "Do you want to know about it?"

"Your past?" He nods his head and I shrug my shoulders, wondering if now is the best time to have this conversation, or if we should even have started it. "I don't know. Do I?"

"If not knowing is going to make you look as doubtful as you do now, and make you worry, and imagine all kinds of things that aren't there, then maybe you do."

"How did you know I'm worried?"

He sits up so his chest is crushed against my breasts, his arms coming around me as he dusts his lips over mine. "Because I can see it in your eyes."

"I'm not sure if that's good or bad."

"It's good…"

"That I'm so transparent?"

"You're not transparent. You're open, and that's how it should be. We're not supposed to have secrets."

He's right. I'm in love with him, and I'd like to think he feels something for me, even if it isn't love yet. And that means there shouldn't be any secrets between us. "Okay… tell me."

"Don't sound so scared. There's nothing much to tell." He rests his forehead against mine for a moment and then leans back, although he keeps a tight hold on me. "First, I have to say, I don't sleep around. I never have."

"I'm glad to hear it. So… how many women have you slept with, other than me?"

"Eight."

"Over how many years?"

"Fifteen."

I nod my head. That seems reasonable to me… a lot more reasonable than my brothers, who probably used to get through that many women in a month.

"Were any of them serious?" I ask.

"I suppose you could say three of them were, in that we dated for more than six months."

"And did you live with any of them?"

"Yes. One. Her name was Moira."

I pull back just slightly. "D—Did you love her?"

"No." He shakes his head, as though he wants to make the point doubly clear.

"You mentioned having a girlfriend before you left England… was that Moira?"

"Yes, it was."

"I remember you saying she didn't want to come to the States with you… which I'm guessing means you asked her?"

"I did."

"But you didn't love her?"

He sits up a little straighter, holding my body tight against his. "No… but she loved me. And before you accuse me of being big-headed, she told me that herself."

"All the time?" I haven't said the words myself yet, and I suddenly hate the thought of someone else dripping them into his ear.

"No. She only said it once, just before I left. She begged me to stay and told me she loved me."

"It didn't make you want to give up your plans?"

"Not at all. I'd accepted the job over here. I'd made up my mind and wasn't going to change it. Sorry if that sounds ruthless, but I felt like she was playing games. She'd never mentioned love before, and it all seemed a bit contrived. It certainly made my departure a lot messier than it needed to be."

"Why did you ask her to come with you if you didn't love her?"

"It felt like the right thing to do at the time. I may have made it sound like I just abandoned her at the end, but it wasn't like that. It wasn't that simple. We'd been together for quite a long time, and I guess I felt obliged to ask her, out of loyalty, if nothing else. The thing was, she had family… parents, sisters, uncles, aunts… there were dozens of them, and I think I knew, deep down, she'd never leave them."

"That was a risk, wasn't it? What if she'd said ‘yes'?"

"Then I'd have brought her with me."

"And fallen in love with her, eventually?"

"No. I don't think love works that way. I think you either know, or you don't… which is why I didn't believe her when she blurted it out like she did."

He leans in and kisses me, his lips skimming over mine in the gentlest of caresses.

"Is that it?" I murmur. "There's nothing more to tell?"

"That's everything. You've got nothing to fear from my past… I promise." He gazes into my eyes and flexes his hips, making me gasp as I feel him deep inside me. I raise myself up, then sink down again, groaning as I cling to his shoulders and grind in to him.

"God… that's good."

I repeat my movements, over and over, harder and harder, while he holds on to me, supporting my every move. I want to see him better, though, and I want him to see me, too. So, without disconnecting us, I release his shoulders, and sensing that I'll have more control if I'm crouching, rather than kneeling, I adjust my legs, bringing them up and placing my feet flat on the mattress, my knees bent. He watches, tilting his head, as I lean back, resting my hands behind me, on his legs.

He gazes down at the place where we're joined, shaking his head. "That looks incredible… you look incredible." I'm about to move, but he puts his hands on my thighs, stopping me. "I've got this." I hold still, and supporting himself on his arms, he raises his hips, impaling me.

It's glorious, and as he increases the pace, I realize I don't just want him to see me… I want him to see the real me. So, I balance on my left arm and bring the right one around in front, my fingers finding my swollen clitoris.

I'm a little nervous. What if he's shocked? What if he thinks badly of me? It's too late to go back, though, and I circle my middle finger over and around myself, my fears evidently unfounded as his eyes mist over slightly and he whispers, "Oh… fuck… yes…" under this breath.

He takes me deeper, slamming into me as I rub myself, abandoning my insecurities in favor of passion… of love.

It doesn't take long before I feel my orgasm build, and as though he can feel it too, he takes me even harder, pushing me over the edge.

"Oh… yes!" I throw back my head, screaming his name. He keeps moving, unrelenting, and I clamp my legs together, struggling for control.

"No… let me see you." He takes his weight on one arm, placing his other hand on my knee to part my legs, then holding them open as I ride out the waves of pleasure, breathing hard, until I'm spent, and I collapse onto my back, between his legs.

Without giving me a moment to recover, he slides out from under me and kneels up and over me, entering me afresh.

"Oh, Mac… please."

"Please what?"

"Take me?"

He smiles. "Gladly."

He kneels back, grabbing hold of my ankles, and holds them wide apart, lifting me off of the mattress slightly, as he slams into me. The muscles in his arms and shoulders flex as he takes my weight, but he doesn't show any signs of strain and just stares down into my eyes.

"Rub your clit again."

I lower my hand between my legs, finding my exposed nub, and brush my fingers over it. I moan softly and he smiles. "Do you like watching me?"

"I love watching you." He tips his head slightly, holding still inside me. "I take it this is something you've done before… by yourself?" he says and I nod my head, blushing, as he puts my legs up on his shoulders, leaning over so his lips are nearly touching mine. I might be almost bent in half, but I'm surprised that I'm a lot more comfortable than I would have thought. "Don't be embarrassed." He kisses me. "I love that you know your own body… and that no-one else does, except me."

"I love that too." He smiles and starts to move again, making me yelp and move my hand away, up to my mouth, in shock. "God… that's deep."

He pulls back slightly and stops. "Too deep? We can change position, if you want?"

"No… I like it down here."

He smiles, taking it more gently. "Is that better?" I nod my head and he builds a slow, steady rhythm, being careful not to go too deep… not to hurt me. "When was the last time you touched yourself?" he asks.

"About thirty seconds ago."

He chuckles. "No. I mean before that."

I move my hands up, caressing his biceps as they contract and relax in time with his movements. "To be honest, I can't remember. I've been too tired to think about anything but work for the last few weeks."

"Hmm… I know what you mean."

I'm not sure I do, and I clasp my hands around his arms, as far as my fingers will go. "Do you… um…?" I nod downwards, hoping he'll understand, and he smiles.

"Are you asking if I masturbate?"

"Yes."

"Why do you want to know?"

I stare up at him. "Because I want to watch you, too."

He grins. "In that case, you'll be pleased to hear that I do."

I can't help laughing. "And when was the last time for you?"

"Ages ago. I would have thought that was obvious."

"Why?"

"Because I didn't last as long as I would have liked earlier. It's been a while and my staying power wasn't what it could have been."

"Really? I can't say I noticed."

He leans over, kissing me again. "Then you'll have to take my word for it. I'll last a lot longer this time." I suck in a breath at the thought of this going on… and on… and he gasps.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's just all your muscles tightened then."

"And that's a good thing?"

"It's an excellent thing. It's like when you come, and you grip my cock, from base to tip."

"I do?"

"Yes. It's the best feeling in the world."

I'm not sure what he means by that. Is he saying it feels like that all the time… with everyone? Or does he mean it just feels like that with me? I don't know… and I can't think how to ask. He stops moving, gazing down at me and frowning, and then he lowers my legs, dropping to his elbows.

"Why have you stopped?" I ask.

"Because you look confused."

"I do?"

"Yes. And before that confusion puts you off what we're doing, I'm just going to say… it's never felt like this, Ella. What I just said about the way you make me feel, and what you do to me… I wasn't speaking in general terms, but in very specific ones… about you. Does that help ease your confusion?"

I nod my head. "The best feeling in the world?" I whisper.

"The very best there is."

He puts his arms around me, one behind my back and the other beneath my ass, holding me close, our bodies entwined as he moves inside me again. I'm so tempted to tell him I love him, but somehow it doesn't feel so necessary anymore… or at least not so urgent. If he can see my confusion, surely he must be able to see my love… and to feel it, too. I'm not holding anything back, and I don't think he is, either.

He raises my ass up slightly and swivels his hips, and I stop thinking and just enjoy the sensations he's creating… the tingling and throbbing at my core as he tips me into yet another orgasm. I cling to him, riding it out, pleasure rocking through my body.

"More," I whimper. "Please, Mac… give me more."

"You want more?" He leans up, staring down at me.

I've barely come back down to earth, but I nod my head and he kneels up, pulling out of me, and giving me no time at all to recover before he flips me over onto my front. My hands are caught beneath me, but he doesn't give me time to free them. He grabs my hips, pulling me up onto my knees. My ass is in the air, my shoulders pressed into the mattress, and he leans over, his front to my back.

"Tell me if this hurts… okay?"

"Okay." I feel a quiver of anticipation run through my body as he straightens, moving closer, and pushes my legs apart with his own. I feel defenseless, but I like it, and I let out a low groan of satisfaction when I feel him push inside me… yet again. He goes really deep, making me feel fuller than ever, and when he's buried as far as he can go, he stops.

"How's that?"

"Perfect."

"Sure? It doesn't hurt?"

"No." I rock back against him, just to prove the point, and he grabs my hips again, holding me steady, and after just a second's pause, he pulls all the way out of me, and then slams back in. I cry out, but he must be able to tell it's a cry of pleasure, not of pain, because he repeats his action, harder, faster, deeper. Even though I can't see him, there's something about this… about the way he's controlling my body. I love it, and how it makes me feel… like I'm his, which I am, of course.

"Tell me you're close." It sounds like he's talking through gritted teeth.

"W—Why?"

"Because I need to come."

"Then come."

"No… not before you do."

He reaches around me, his fingers finding my clitoris, although I'm not sure I can do anything about it. I know I said I wanted more, but I'm so tired. "Sorry, Mac. I can't. I've already…"

He hammers into me, really hard, stealing my breath and my words, his fingers working over me. "I need to feel you come again. I need you to give yourself to me… all of you. Now."

There's something about his words that gets to me. It's like he knows how I feel, and I forget my exhaustion, and do as he says, giving myself to his magical touch… his urgent need.

"Yes… yes… yes…"

I can't manage anything more coherent as he drives me on, into ecstasy.

"Oh, fuck… yeah. I'm coming…" His voice is strangled, filled with emotion, and he stills, swelling inside me, and then lets out a loud roar, which surrounds and envelops us in what has to be love. It must be. Nothing else could feel like this.

Finally, he collapses on top of me, spent, and then pulls us over, so we're lying, my back to his front, still joined, both breathless.

"Sorry about that," he murmurs, his arms tight around me.

"Why? Why would you be sorry?"

"Because I went a bit caveman on you at the end."

I chuckle. "I'm not complaining."

"Good. I don't think there's much I could have done about it." He kisses my neck and shoulders, and I twist around slightly, looking up at him. He smiles, then kisses my lips, slowly pulling out of me. "I won't be a minute. I just need the bathroom."

I nod my head and watch him walk to the stairs, disappearing down them. My body aches, but I shift back up the bed a little, my head resting on the pillows, and I straighten the covers, pulling them up over me, just as Mac returns, the smile still etched on his lips.

"You look so good in my bed." He climbs in beside me and I snuggle down, my head on his chest as he wraps me in his arms.

"This feels nice."

"Hmm… it does."

He kisses the top of my head and I listen to his heartbeat as my eyes flutter closed.

It's the sunlight on my face that wakes me, and I blink a few times, remembering where I am.

I'm at Mac's place, in his bed, and I can't help smiling as I stare across the expanse of his apartment to the windows beyond. It's very open-plan here, so although we're upstairs in his bedroom, the main wall, which is made entirely of glass panels, lets the morning sunshine into the entire apartment. We're not overlooked, though, and I gaze at the clear blue sky for a moment or two, stretching my arms and legs, my muscles aching, and my smile widens, as I recall all the things we did together last night… all the things we said.

"Are you awake?" I turn to find Mac staring down at me, his deep blue eyes fixing mine, as he reaches out, cups my face and leans in to kiss me. "I'll take that as a ‘yes', shall I?"

I chuckle and snuggle up closer to him. He puts his arms around me, kissing me again, only this time, he deepens it, his tongue finding mine, and despite the aches, my body's already humming with need for him.

"Shall I make us breakfast?" he asks, pulling back eventually. "Or are you not particularly hungry again?"

"Not especially."

He licks his lips. "I'm so glad to hear that."

He leaps out of bed, grabbing my hand and pulling me with him, and he drags me to the stairs, leading me down them and toward the front door, stopping short of it, and taking me into the bathroom, on the right.

Inside, he guides me straight to the shower, switching on the water, and turns to face me, bending his head and kissing me, yet again. I bring my arms around his neck, my body crushed against his, and he cups my ass in his hands, pulling me onto his erection. I sigh in to him, and he groans, swiveling his hips as the water cascades between us.

After a few minutes, he pulls back, tilting his head, and without a word, he reaches for the soap. I feel a little disappointed. I guess I'd hoped for something more than a wash, but I watch as he lathers up his hands, and then, without taking his eyes from mine, puts the soap back, and lowers them.

"You wanted to watch me… remember?"

He places his hands around his arousal, soaping it up, and then moves his left one away and leans back against the wall, his right hand stroking along his length. I stand, mesmerized, noting that every time he reaches the tip, he gives himself a gentle squeeze, and that he sometimes twists his hand just slightly, too. I raise my eyes to find he's staring at me, breathing hard.

"Do you want to join in?"

"In what way?" I'm not sure if he wants me to touch myself, or him, but he answers the question by reaching out and taking my hand, placing it around his erection, and then putting his back on top. He starts to move again, groaning as he guides me, and then he removes his hand and leaves me to my own devices. I move closer, standing slightly to one side and lean up to kiss him while he puts his arm around me, my breasts pressed hard against his chest as I pump him, harder and harder.

"Oh… fuck… I'm gonna come." I increase the pace, squeezing a little more firmly, and he lowers his hand, grabbing my ass. "Please, Ella… Yes!" His body tenses, he throws back his head, his erection hardening and thickening in my hand and then it jerks, jets of fluid spurting up the opposite wall in long, thick streams.

His chest is heaving as he struggles to breathe, but he's barely finished, when he lowers his head, his eyes boring into mine. I'm about to ask if it was okay, when he picks me up and turns me, slamming me up against the wall. Then he grabs my hands and pulls them up above my head, holding them there with one of his, while the other moves straight down between my legs. I spread them, but he kicks them a little wider apart, inserting a finger inside me, which makes me gasp, as he leans in.

"You're so wet."

"I know. I want you."

"You can have me… later. But for now, I need to make you come."

He adds a second finger to the first and then uses his thumb against my clitoris, rubbing hard, then circling more gently, the contrast driving me wild. I arch my back and he leans down, capturing my nipple between his teeth. I feel like I'm being consumed by pleasure, as though it's all around me, in every breath I'm struggling to take.

"Please, Mac…" I'm so close already.

He applies just a little more pressure with his thumb and I fall headlong into a mind-blowing, breath-snatching orgasm, my body surrendering to him. Sensing my predicament, he releases my hands, putting his arm around my waist to hold me up, until I've calmed sufficiently to take my own weight, although even then he doesn't let me go. He just pulls his fingers from me and raises them to his lips, licking them while staring into my eyes.

"Stay?" he whispers.

"I already did."

"That was just one night. I mean… stay."

Is he asking what I think he's asking? I'm too scared to ask if he means forever, just in case he doesn't. The disappointment would be too much. "Do you mean for the weekend?"

He pauses for a second or two and then nods his head, and although I smile and nod my agreement, I can't help wishing he'd said ‘forever', instead.

***

Mac

What a weekend…

When we got back to my place on Friday night, I don't know what I was hoping for… other than a kiss, perhaps. The last thing I expected was for Ella to respond in the way she did, for that to be her first time, for her to want to stay… and for that to be the best two days of my life.

But that's exactly how it's been.

Her responses have been incredible… not just to our first kiss, but to everything, and I've revelled in her enjoyment of every sexual encounter. There's no doubting her enthusiasm, which is adorable, and although she sometimes gives away her inexperience, I love the fact that she knows her own body. She knows what she likes and isn't afraid to ask for it… or simply take it.

Watching her bring herself off was incredible. It's something I've done with previous partners, but it's never felt like that before. Like everything else with Ella, it's special… and very different.

That's why I asked her to stay. Not just on Friday night, after our first time, but on Saturday morning, in the shower. She'd just made me come – spectacularly – and I'd brought her to orgasm, but I wasn't ready to let her leave. It wasn't just about the sex, either. I'd loved sleeping with her, holding her, kissing her… everything about her. When she asked if I meant for the weekend, I so very nearly said, ‘No, forever.' I would have meant it, too… even though I know it wouldn't have been long enough.

I want more than that.

As it was, I just nodded my head, knowing it was too soon for ‘forever', just like it's too soon for ‘I love you', which is the other thing that's been on my lips almost all the time. I've dropped a few hints about how I feel, because I want her to know, although I've tried not to be too obvious about it, just in case she's not ready to hear something like that. The last thing I want is to scare her off… except sometimes I wonder if she's just as ready for love as I am.

Every so often I catch something in her eyes; a look, or a smile that makes me wonder…

What would she have done if I'd revealed my true feelings… if I'd asked her to move in with me? She'd probably have said I was mad. Just a couple of days ago, we were little more than work colleagues, and now we're… well, I'm not sure what we are. We haven't talked about it, although I know this isn't casual for either of us. Ella made a point of telling me she'd waited for the right man, and that she hoped I was him. Then, on Saturday morning, after we'd finished our shower, I made some breakfast, which we ate in bed. Full up on toast and coffee, she was lying naked in my arms, and she looked up at me and frowned slightly.

"How are we going to handle this at work?"

"Handle what?"

"Us."

That meant there was an ‘us', and I couldn't help smiling. It was only a little over twelve hours since we'd first made love, less than an hour since I'd asked her to stay, and already she was thinking beyond the weekend. She was looking to a future… with me.

"That depends. Do you want everyone to know, or would you rather we kept it to ourselves?"

"Would you mind if we kept it to ourselves? We've only got another five weeks of recordings."

I came down from my high with a bump. "What are we going to do after those five weeks?"

Her frown deepened, and she tipped her head. "Do we have to ‘do' anything? I mean, the studio has the option to renew our contracts for another season, but that doesn't affect us, does it?" She'd said it again. It was just two letters, but when put together as a word, they meant everything. "We can still keep seeing each other, and if there is a second season, we can decide if we want everyone to know about us then, can't we?"

I don't think I've ever felt as happy as I did at that moment. "Of course we can," I said, holding her tighter.

"So, can we keep things to ourselves… just for now?"

"If that's what you want. Although I'm not sure how easy it's going to be, hiding how I feel about you from everyone else." That was one of those not-so-subtle hints, which made her smile and lit up her eyes… making me wonder.

I rolled her onto her back, raising myself above her, and she gazed up at me. "It'll be much harder for me," she said.

"How do you work that out?"

"Because you're an actor. You can pretend."

I leant down, brushing my lips against hers. "I never pretend with you… and besides, I'm not that good an actor." She giggled, and I deepened the kiss, swallowing that perfect sound.

Since then, we haven't talked about ‘us' at all. We've been too busy enjoying ourselves.

I ought to feel exhausted, but I don't. I've never felt so alive in my life.

That's not surprising, though, is it?

I'm in love.

Now we're back at work, doing our best to behave ‘normally'.

That means Ella's in the kitchen, preparing whatever it is we're working on today, and I'm sitting at the table, editing my novel. I don't have my lines yet, because we haven't had our production meeting, so Gavin hasn't written them. But I'm not making a great job of doing any editing, either. I'm too preoccupied with staring at Ella. She's chopping something, her head bent, focused on the job in hand, and I smile. Beneath her apron, she's wearing exactly the same clothes as she was on Friday, because she hasn't been home since then. My smile widens as I recall her panic yesterday morning, when she realised she had nothing to wear to work today.

"I'll have to go home."

We were still lying in bed, contemplating a shower, and there was no way I was letting her go anywhere.

"We can wash your clothes. Nobody's gonna notice if you're wearing the same thing as you wore on Friday."

She looked up, her brow furrowing, less than convinced.

I leant in to her, lingering over a gentle kiss.

"Don't go."

I knew perfectly well that she wasn't talking about leaving for good, or even necessarily for the rest of the day. She could have gone home, collected some clothes, and then come back again, and for a moment I wondered if she was going to suggest that. I could have suggested it myself, and said I'd go with her, but the thing was, I didn't want to.

"Please, Ella. Stay here… with me…" I was about to add ‘forever', but she pulled back and looked up at me, the emotion in her eyes silencing me. The air around us stilled, and then she clasped my face in her hands and kissed me so damn hard it took my breath away.

I'd have loved to prolong that kiss, or turn it into something more, but I knew that, if we were going to get her clothes washed and dried, I needed to get them into the machine. So, I reluctantly broke the kiss, gazing down into her flushed face.

"I'd better put your clothes on to wash."

"Oh… okay."

"Don't go anywhere."

She smiled. "I won't."

I got up, grabbing her clothes, and took them downstairs, putting them into the washing machine. Then I made a pot of coffee, deciding that our shower could wait a while longer, and carried two cups back up the stairs. When I got there, Ella was lying on the edge of the bed, on her side, facing me, and I wandered over, noting the smile on her lips as she eyed my erection. I'd only just put the cups down when she reached up, wrapping her hand around my cock, and I stood still, letting her stroke me for a while, before she shifted down the bed a little and leant forward, taking me in her mouth. I hadn't been expecting that, and I gazed down at her, holding still, while she bobbed her head back and forth, her perfect lips wrapped around my cock

"Have you done that before?" I asked, surprised by the rasp in my voice.

She released me, looking up. "No. I've never done anything before. I told you, I was waiting for the right man."

I smiled. "Me, you mean?"

"Yes."

"In that case, it was worth the wait. You're very good at that."

"I assume you have something to base that judgement on?" I recalled our conversation on Friday night and crouched down beside her.

"Yes, but we're not going to talk about my past anymore. I told you, you've got nothing to fear from it, and none of it matters… not now."

She nodded her head, a smile touching her lips, and I stood up, turning to walk around to the other side of the bed, just as she grabbed my cock.

"Can I have some more?"

"Of course, if you want."

She didn't say a word, but took me in her mouth again, and without thinking, I flexed my hips. I was about to apologise when she groaned and took me a little deeper.

"Do you like that?" She nodded, and I placed my hand behind her head. "Do you want me to take your mouth?" Her eyes widened, sparkling, and she nodded again. I stepped a little closer, using both hands on her head to hold her steady as I started to move. I took care not to go too deep, but the sensations were incredible, made better by her keeping her eyes fixed on mine, as she moaned out her pleasure. "Touch yourself… make yourself come," I said, and she didn't hesitate, but parted her legs wide, exposing her pussy, as she moved her hand down, rubbing her clit. That sight was almost too much for me, and I slowed my pace, giving her time, until I knew she was close, her breathing erratic, her fingers moving more ferociously over her swollen nub. I sucked in a breath, holding back… holding back, until I knew I was almost there. "Ella… I have to stop. I'm gonna come." I released her head and went to pull out of her mouth, but she gazed up, shaking her head just slightly, and took me deeper, my cock hitting the back of her throat as I let go, the pleasure almost tipping into pain. Almost. She came at the same time, writhing on the bed, and squealing as she swallowed me down.

I was close to collapse, struggling to breathe, and grateful I could kneel up on the bed and push Ella back into the mattress as I leant over her.

"Just so you know, I've never done anything like that in my life."

"You haven't?"

"Not to the same extent, no."

"You mean you've never…?"

She stopped talking, and I smiled at her inability to say the words, although I nodded my head. "I mean, I've never come in anyone's mouth, Ella."

"Why not?"

"Because no-one's ever wanted me to… until now."

She frowned, like she didn't understand, and then tipped her head to one side. "Does it make a difference?" she asked.

"It makes all the difference in the world."

"In a good way?"

"In the best way. Thank you."

She seemed surprised. "Why are you thanking me?"

"Because you're you, and you're everything I've ever wanted, or ever will want." I kissed her then, swallowing her gasp, and the memory of the look on her face makes me smile, even now…

"Why are you smiling?" Ella's voice brings me back to reality. She's staring at me, a tomato in one hand, and a small knife in the other.

"I was just thinking about you."

"And what's so funny about me?"

I get up, put down my iPad, and wander over, taking the knife and tomato from her hands, as I put my arms around her. "I wasn't smiling because you're funny."

"You weren't?" she says, gazing up at me.

"No. I was smiling because you make me so damned happy, Ella."

I think she was expecting me to tease her, and she blinks a couple of times, then swallows. "You make me happy, too."

I close the gap between us, kissing her hard, and she responds in an instant, her hands wandering up my back, over the too-tight black t-shirt. I let mine roam south, to her backside, resting them there and pulling her onto my erection. She lets out a low, satisfied moan, grinding her hips in to mine, just as the door crashes open and we leap apart.

"We'll use the meeting room." Kennedy is the first to enter the room, but she's talking to Ruby, who's behind her, and doesn't seem to notice Ella and myself straightening our clothes, or that I move right up to the island unit, using it to hide my very obvious arousal.

"Good idea." Ruby nods her head, even though she's checking something on her phone.

They're both smiling and, for a moment, I feel a little nervous. Kennedy's smile is inclined to do that to me, and she doesn't take her eyes off of me as they walk over. Fortunately, she stays on the other side of the island unit, fluttering her eyelashes as she looks me up and down.

"Can we help?" Ella says, moving a little closer to me.

Kennedy gives her a slight glance before returning her gaze to me. "Not really. I just wanted to let you know we'll be getting together on Wednesday to celebrate the airing of the first show."

I couldn't be less interested. "Is that when it goes out?"

She frowns. "Yes. At five. The schedules were sent round a couple of weeks ago."

"I must have missed that," I say, putting a sufficient level of nonchalance in my voice. Kennedy's frown deepens, like she can't understand my attitude to such a momentous event in her calendar, but what she doesn't realise is, I've been busy falling in love.

"Hmm… me too." I look down at Ella as she speaks, and she smiles up at me. The glint in her eyes makes wonder if she's been busy falling in love, too.

I hope so.

Kennedy seems quite cross now, and huffs out an exasperated sigh. "You both have to be there." It's clearly not optional, and we nod our heads. "I want the entire team to watch it together."

"The entire team?" I hadn't understood that was what she'd meant, and my stomach lurches.

"Of course." She glares at me, her earlier fluttering eyelashes a thing of the past. My acceptance is presumably a foregone conclusion, and without another word, she turns and leaves. Ruby follows, although I'm not sure why she was here in the first place, and once they're gone, I let out a sigh of relief, although it's tinged with fear.

"Are you okay?" Ella places her hand on my arm and I turn to face her.

"Not really."

"What's wrong?" She looks concerned, and I move closer, pulling her into my arms.

"The one great advantage of working on the stage is that you never have to watch yourself perform."

"Is this the first time you'll have seen yourself acting, then?"

"Yes. Even when I was in the commercials, I avoided seeing them."

"I'm sure it'll be fine." She looks up, tilting her head. "You're really good, you know?"

"Thanks. I'd just rather not have to see myself on the screen."

"I'll be there. I'll hold your hand."

"How? We're not supposed to let anyone know we're together."

She chuckles and stands up on her tiptoes, planting a kiss on my lips. "Don't worry… I'll find a way."

"Does it seem like today's been a lot easier than usual?" I ask as we clear away. We certainly got a lot more done. The production meeting was done by early afternoon, and Ruby announced as everyone left that the crew will be joining us first thing tomorrow, rather than waiting until after lunch.

"Yes." Ella says. "But that's probably because we're working on salads. Making dressings is a breeze compared with just about everything else we've done so far."

"Hmm…" I wander up behind her and put my arms around her waist, leaning in and kissing her neck, smiling as she moans and rocks her head back. "You don't think it's because there's no tension between us anymore?"

"Tension?" She turns in my arms, looking up at me. "Are you talking about when we first met?"

"In a way, yes. You have to admit, it was difficult."

"But I apologised for that. I know I said some things that…"

I raise my hand, placing my fingers over her lips to silence her. I've done this before, and just like the first time, her eyes widen. This time, though, I move my hand again, cupping her face and stroking her lips with my thumb.

"I'm not talking about our misunderstandings, Ella. I'm talking about the sexual tension… the fact that I wanted to kiss you from the moment I first saw you, and that after we'd resolved our differences, I wanted so much more."

"You did?"

"Yes. Why wouldn't I? I thought you were the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen."

She chuckles. "That's funny."

"Why?"

"Because I thought the same thing."

"That I was the most beautiful woman you'd ever seen?"

"No, silly. That you were the most beautiful man I'd ever seen."

I move a little closer, so our bodies are touching. "Did you want to kiss me, too?"

"No." I lean back slightly, unable to hide my disappointment. "But I wondered what it would be like to be kissed by you."

I smile, pulling her close again. "I hope I haven't disappointed?"

"Not at all."

"And did you want more, too?"

"I don't know that I was experienced enough to understand what ‘more' entailed. But I know I wanted to find out."

"With me?"

"Naturally."

I tip her head back, covering her lips with mine. I keep the kiss a lot more brief than I'd like, knowing someone could walk through the door at any moment, and I pull back again, looking down into her eyes.

"Would you like to come back to my place?"

She nods her head with irresistible enthusiasm, and it occurs to me that, if I keep asking, and she keeps saying ‘yes', we can turn this into forever without even trying.

"I'll need to go home to get some clothes," she says, after just a second's pause. "I can't keep wearing the same outfit every day."

That sounds like she's thinking of forever, too, and I nod my head in agreement. "Okay. Why don't I take the bus back to my apartment and meet you there later on?"

"Perfect. I'll probably be about an hour behind you." She leans up, kissing me, and I take a chance, deepening the kiss for a moment or two before I release her and she smiles up at me, breathless and beguiling.

We finish clearing up and gather our things together.

"Shall I leave before you?" she says.

"No. It doesn't matter if we leave together. We've done it before."

She nods her head, and I open the door, letting her walk out ahead of me. There are a few people in the corridor and we take care not to walk too close to each other, until we get to the elevators, where we join two other people, who are also waiting, and I turn to Ella.

"I'm not in the mood for this. I'm gonna take the stairs. See you tomorrow."

She frowns slightly, like she doesn't understand, and I give her a surreptitious smile, before turning away and heading for the stairwell. I had a good reason for doing that, but I wish now that I could have explained it to her. She looked so confused, but I don't even have her number, so I can't call her to justify why I parted from her before absolutely necessary.

I make my way down, ignoring the sign above the door that says ‘lobby', and continue on to the one that leads to the car park. I can't leave Ella in the dark, not knowing why I did that.

I yank open the door, heading out into the fume-filled space and curse under my breath when I see her car pulling out and heading for the exit.

Damn… I'm too late.

I just hope she still comes over later and doesn't think I meant it when I said I wasn't in the mood, and I'd see her tomorrow… because not only do I not have her number, but I've got no idea where she lives, either.

I get off the bus, feeling a little dejected and wishing I'd been stronger…

As I start the short walk back to my apartment, I wonder what I'll do if Ella doesn't come over. I can't contact her, so I guess I'll just sit at home by myself, worrying… until tomorrow. God, what an awful thought. It's not one worth contemplating, and as I turn into my street, I realise I could be over-reacting. She could be at home, packing a bag, still feeling a little confused, but willing to come over for an explanation, if nothing else.

I stop in my tracks.

If that's the case, I need to get us something to eat. We ordered in over the weekend, both of us too busy enjoying each other to bother with cooking, but I'd like for us to cook together tonight. The problem is, other than bread, milk and a few other essentials, my fridge is almost bare, and my cupboards aren't a great deal better. There's certainly nothing at my place Ella would be willing to eat, let alone cook.

I turn around, going back onto the main road, and picking up my pace. I daren't risk getting home too late. After what's just happened, I can't think of anything worse than Ella arriving at my place to find I'm not there.

There's a small supermarket – or grocery store, as Ella would call it – down here on the left, and I quickly decide the easiest thing is going to be for me to buy the ingredients we were using today, so we can recreate one of the dishes she showed me earlier. It's not very original, but I don't have the time or the ability for anything radical.

I grab what I need, hoping I got it right, and rush through the check-out before dashing home. There's no sign of Ella, or her car, and I let myself in, hook up my jacket and unpack the groceries, before quickly running upstairs to change out of my overly tight t-shirt and into a white one of my own, just as the doorbell rings.

I hurry back down and open the door to find Ella standing there, a holdall in one hand and a bag of groceries in the other.

"Here… let me."

I take the groceries and then her hand, pulling her into my apartment, and kicking the door shut, before I grab her holdall and put it down on the floor, bending to place the groceries alongside it.

As I stand, she looks up at me, and I reach out. She backs away, though, looking up into my eyes.

"What did you mean when you said you weren't in the mood? And why didn't you want to ride down in the elevator with me?" she says, sounding so hurt my chest contracts, my breath catching in my throat.

"I did. And I would have done… but I'm not strong enough."

She takes a half step back, frowning. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about not being in the mood for standing next to you and not touching you… not claiming you. I'm talking about being in a confined space, like an elevator, and not taking you in my arms and kissing you, or in some way giving away the fact that you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. It's about knowing my limitations, Ella. I'm…"

"Stop talking." Her voice is little more than a whisper, but I do as I'm told, and she stutters out a breath. "Now, kiss me. Please, Mac… just ki—"

I grab her and pull her hard against me, capturing her lips with mine, cutting off her words as I devour her, turning us both and walking her backwards until she hits the wall. We break the kiss, only to pull off each other's tops, and I undo her bra, releasing her breasts into my waiting hands. She unfastens my jeans and I do the same with hers, both of us kicking them off, along with our shoes.

"Condom," she murmurs into my mouth.

"Wallet." I pull off my boxers, finding my wallet in my jeans pocket, and pulling out a condom, while Ella removes her knickers, throwing them to one side, her eyes on fire as I roll the condom over my cock. She looks up at me, unsure what to do next, so I lift her, hooking her legs over my bent arms, and lower her onto my erection.

"Oh… God." She grinds out the words, her eyes closing as she adjusts to the penetration, and she leans back against the wall. I hold on to her, and with my hands on her backside, I pull almost all the way out, and then ram home. She screams in delight, opening her eyes again and letting them lock with mine as I take her, harder and harder. I feel her body shudder and convulse, and I know she's losing control, coming hard, her loud scream of, "Yes, Mac… Yes…" filling the apartment.

That was quicker than I'd expected, but I want more… much more, and as she falls on to me, struggling for breath, I take her weight, turning, and carrying her into the living area, where I lay her down along the couch, kneeling up and giving her just a moment before I take her ankles, parting her legs wide, and start to move again.

"Touch yourself."

"You think I can come again? After that?"

"I know you can… now, touch yourself."

She moves her hand down, letting her fingers play across her exposed clit, and I watch, bewitched. I part her legs a little wider and she gasps, her nipples hardening, her legs tensing. She's close again already, and I hammer into her.

"I'm coming, Ella…" I give her fair warning, but she doesn't need it, and as I let go deep inside her, she tips over into a wild orgasm.

As she calms, her body still twitching, I lean over, sucking air into my lungs, and kiss her.

"I'm sorry."

"What for?"

"For what happened earlier… by the elevator."

She reaches up, cupping my face with her hand. "You don't need to be sorry. I understand now."

"I know, but I won't let it happen again. No matter how tempting you are, I won't let my weakness around you get the better of me. I'll try to be stronger."

She lets her hand drop, her fingers dusting over my arm, resting on my bicep.

"I don't think that's possible, is it?"

I smile and kiss her again. "I don't know… but one thing's for sure…"

"What's that?"

"Before we leave here tomorrow morning, you're going to give me your mobile number. I was going to call you, or text you, to explain and to let you know I hadn't meant to abandon you. Only I couldn't, because I don't have your number."

"I don't have yours, either."

"We'll put that right before the morning, but for now, I need the bathroom…"

She nods and I slowly pull out of her, straightening up and gazing down on her perfect body for a moment or two before I help her to her feet, and take her in my arms, just briefly, giving her a kiss, and then make my way to the bathroom.

Once I'm finished, I come back out again and notice her bag and groceries, still lying on the floor. Her bag can wait for now, but I pick up the groceries, cradling them in one arm as I wander back to the couch. Ella's sitting now, and looks up at me as I approach.

"What did you buy?" I ask.

"Something for dinner."

She sits forward, and I chuckle, holding out my hand to her. She takes it and I pull her to her feet and lead her into the kitchen, dumping her bag on the work surface before I open the fridge door wide and let her look inside at the salad and chicken breasts I picked up at the supermarket.

"Great minds think alike," I say.

She looks up at me and laughs, throwing her arms around my neck as I close the fridge door again. "Were you thinking of cooking?"

"God, no. I was thinking I'd help you cook… or try to."

She brings her hands between us, resting them on my chest, and looks up at me. "That sounds more like it."

"I know my limitations." I kiss her forehead. "So, what were you planning on making for dinner?"

"I bought the ingredients to make spaghetti with asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes and chicken."

"Wow… that sounds amazing."

"I wanted something that tastes good but is quick to prepare."

"Oh? Is there a reason for that?"

"Yes. But we've kinda covered that already."

I grind my hips into her, letting her feel my arousal. "Given my weakness for you, do you honestly think once will be enough?"

She bites on her bottom lip, gazing up at me through her eyelashes. "I hope not."

I can't help smiling. "I guess we can have dinner, and then…"

"And then what?"

"Then I'll take you to bed."

"Yes, please." She leans up to kiss me and as I deepen the kiss, I wonder if she has any idea how much I love her.

"What are we going to cook?" I ask, breaking the kiss eventually. "The pasta, or the salad?"

"The salad. The pasta will keep until tomorrow."

I pull her closer, my hands on her backside, my cock pressing hard against her. "You're thinking of coming here again tomorrow, are you?"

A shadow of doubt crosses her eyes. "I—Is that a problem?"

"Of course not. I'm teasing, Ella. You're welcome to come here any time you like. In fact, you can come here all the time, as far as I'm concerned." Does that sound too much like ‘forever'? I don't know, but her eyes widen, and her smile returns.

"I'd like that."

"Good."

I don't care what it sounds like anymore, and I touch my lips to hers. She pulls back after just a few seconds. "Shall we cook?"

"I think you're being a little optimistic with your pronouns, but I'm happy to help."

She nods her head and I open the fridge again, pulling out all the things I bought, while she puts her ingredients inside. Once we're done, she turns to me, tilting her head to one side.

"Do you have honey and wholegrain mustard?"

"Of course I don't… but I bought some." I open the cupboard beside us, and she smiles up at me.

"Well done," she says, going over to the oven to turn it on.

"Don't congratulate me. I just went with the recipe you were teaching me today. It wasn't rocket science."

"No. But at least you remembered it."

She comes back and reaches down the honey and mustard, along with the oil, white wine vinegar, salt and pepper, and while she sets about preparing the chicken, I open the bottle of wine I bought.

"I got some wine, too," she says, looking up as I pour two glasses.

"I noticed, but mine's chilled."

She smiles, taking the glass I offer her and we clink them together, both taking a sip before we put them down on the work surface.

"Do you want to make the dressing?" she asks.

"Sure."

I step up beside her.

"Can you remember how it's done?"

"I think so." I find a small glass bowl and then realise there's a problem. "Oh dear… I don't have any measuring spoons."

"You surprise me," she says with a smile. "As we're not making a tv show, we'll do it by eye."

"Really?"

"Yeah." She moves closer, taking the oil. "If you pour it in for a count of three," she says, doing exactly as she's said, "that's roughly equivalent to three tablespoons."

"Okay."

She looks up at me. "So… how much vinegar do we need?"

"One tablespoon."

"Wow… you really were paying attention."

"I always pay attention. I have to remember it all… and besides, I enjoy learning from you."

She smiles and repeats the process of measuring out the vinegar.

"Now, you can add a teaspoon of mustard and a twist of salt and pepper."

I do as she says, stirring it all together, while she mixes up honey and mustard, and coats the sliced chicken with it, before spreading it out on a baking sheet and putting it into the oven.

"For someone who doesn't cook, your kitchen isn't badly equipped, you know?"

I stop stirring and look over at her. "I can't claim any credit. A lot of these things were here when I moved in. The previous tenant was from Europe as well, and they couldn't take everything back with them, so they just left it here. The dishes are mine, and the glasses and cutlery, but all the cooking equipment is inherited."

She smiles, shaking her head. "Somehow I'm not surprised."

I give the dressing one last stir. "Do you want to taste this?"

"If you like." I fetch another teaspoon from the drawer, dipping it into the bowl and holding it out for her. She lowers her head, tasting the dressing, but I pull the spoon away a little too quickly and a little of it trickles onto her chin. She reaches up to wipe it away, but I drop the spoon onto the work surface and take her hands in mind, holding them behind her back, as I step up close, my body against hers and bend my head, licking the dribble of dressing from her chin, with just the very tip of my tongue. I feel the shiver rush through her and flick my tongue against her lips, delving inside and kissing her. She arches her back, her breasts hard against my chest, and I take her hands in one of mine, bringing up the other to cradle the back of her head.

"I told you," I whisper into her mouth. "I can't be in confined spaces with you. Not without losing control."

She pulls back slightly, looking around my kitchen. "This isn't that confined."

"It's confined enough for me." She chuckles and I kiss her again.

"Shall I get on with the dinner?" she asks, breaking the kiss eventually, both of us a little breathless.

"I think you'd better."

It doesn't take long before everything is ready, and Ella plates up two chicken salads with the dressing I made, and we eat in the living room, staring at each other. The food tastes great, but I know we're both impatient to be elsewhere, and as soon as we've finished, I clear away, and come back to her, taking her hand in mine and pulling her to her feet.

I grab her bag as we pass, and then lead her up the stairs… straight to my bed…

"Do you think we'll always shower together?" Ella asks, looking up at me as I wrap her in a towel before taking one for myself.

"I hope so."

She smiles, her eyes sparkling and my cock twitches at the memory of her bending over, her hands resting on the tiled wall, while I hammered into her, the water cascading over us, as she gazed at me over her shoulder, crying out for more.

"Why does it do that?" she says, looking down at my hardened cock, her eyes wide.

"Do what?"

"Twitch."

"Because it's thinking."

She smiles. "You're assuming it has a mind of its own?"

"I know it has a mind of its own… at least sometimes. I can't seem to control it, anyway… not around you." She giggles and tips her head.

"What's it thinking about?"

"You, with my cock in your mouth."

She moans and leans up, kissing me briefly before she whispers, "W—We don't have time…" a stutter in her voice, and leaves the room. I wrap the towel around my hips and follow behind her, sensing her regret and matching it with my own, although I can't help admiring the sway of her body as she climbs the stairs ahead of me and then watching as she bends over her holdall, pulling out a couple of tops, before she stands up straight, holding them in front of her, like she's trying to decide which one to wear.

I smile, and she frowns at me. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I walk over to her. "I just like the fact that you brought more than one top."

"Why?" she asks, tipping her head to one side.

"Because it suggests you intend to stay for more than one night."

She looks at the tops, and a blush creeps up her cheeks. "I—It wasn't that. I just couldn't decide which one to bring."

I take the tops from her, throwing them onto the bed, and pull her into my arms. "Hey… I don't mind. Bring as many of your things as you like. I want you to feel at home here."

She relaxes and leans up, kissing me, her towel falling away. I let mine drop too, and for a moment, we hug and kiss, our hands roaming.

"W—We can't," she says, pulling back again, just as her fingers wrap around my cock. "We're already running late."

I know she's right, and I reluctantly step back. "We'd better put some clothes on, before this gets out of hand."

I walk over and pick up one of her tops from the bed, handing it to her.

"I'm wearing this one, am I?"

"I'm going to picture you naked whatever you wear, so…" She chuckles and takes the top, turning to bend over her holdall again, and I groan. "You can't tell me we don't have time and then tempt me like that." I run my hand over her backside.

"I need to get my underwear."

"I need to be inside you."

She stands, turning around again, and I notice the pale blue bra and matching knickers she's now holding, as well as the top. To my untrained eye, they look expensive, but I guess a lot of her clothes are quite refined and delicate… and her underwear is no different.

"Can we pick this up again later?" she says, tilting her head, with a teasing smile on her lips.

"I guess so, although I'll probably go insane."

"And you think I won't? I want you too."

I smile at her. "I know."

"How?"

"There are a few signs."

"Such as?"

"Well… your nipples are rock hard." I pinch them between my thumbs and forefingers and she squeals, throwing back her head. "And your pussy lips are swollen." I reach down, rubbing my fingers through her folds, and she sucks in a breath. "And you're wet… soaking wet." I insert a finger into her and she parts her legs, rocking her hips forward. Using my thumb, I rub her clit, and she drops her clothes, putting her arms around my neck and holding on.

"Mac… please…"

I press a little harder, add a second finger to the first, and brush them against the front wall of her vagina. She bucks against me.

"Do that again, Mac… whatever it was… do it again."

Her muscles tighten around my fingers as I repeat the action, over and over, circling my thumb, and she shudders against me, her body surrendering to ecstasy. Her juices flow over my hand, dripping to the floor as she clings to me, trembling and whimpering.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

She nods her head and looks up at me. "That was… so good."

"I know. I felt it."

"What about you, though?" she says, biting on her bottom lip.

"We don't have time for me."

"Then we'll make time."

She drops to her knees, gazing up into my eyes as she takes me in her mouth, although she doesn't move, and I think I know what she's waiting for, flexing my hips to check I'm right. She moans, nodding her head, and I smile down at her.

"Do you have any idea how good you look?" I whisper, and she sighs, reaching up to cup my balls as I slide back and forth. I'm careful not to go too deep, but what she's doing is too much. There's a tingling at the base of my spine, which is enough of a warning, and I slow my movements. "I—I'm gonna come, Ella." She squeezes my balls, and it's more than I can take. With a low groan, I let go down her throat, my legs barely able to take my weight as she sucks me dry.

She pauses for a second, then leans back, releasing me, and I pull her to her feet.

"Was that okay?" she asks. "I wasn't sure if I should touch you."

"You can touch me any time you like. What you did was perfect. It was better than perfect. But I'd have been happy to wait. Just watching you come is all I need, Ella. It's…" I struggle to find the word, and she smiles up at me.

"It's magical," she says and I nod my head.

"Yes, it is."

"I know. I feel the same."

She smiles and I hold her for a moment longer, relishing the feeling of her body, soft and warm, against my own, before I let her go.

"We need to get dressed," I say, and she nods her head.

"Unfortunately, we do."

I might love watching her come, but I can't watch her dress. I wish I could, but regardless of everything we've just done, I know that just the sight of her will drive me crazy. There's no way I won't be able to stride over to her and take her clothes straight off again. So, for the sake of our sanity, I turn away. I can hear her, though, moving about the room, as I pull on my jeans and I have to smile.

I love having her here.

When we're both ready, we go downstairs, gathering our things together, and putting on our jackets, before I grab my keys and we head out the door. We're holding hands, and I lead her to the top of the stairs.

"Is there a reason we're not taking the elevator?" she says, frowning up at me.

"Yes. You're way too tempting."

We're halfway down before she stops, pulling me back, and she tilts her head. "Is that why we took the stairs yesterday morning?"

"Yes. And it's probably why we'll be taking the stairs every morning."

"What about the evenings? I mean… on Friday, we were still just friends when we came up here, and last night, we arrived separately… so what's going to happen tonight, and every other night, come to that?"

I smile, thinking about coming back here with her ‘every other night', and I lean in closer, my mouth beside her ear. "Wait and see…"