Roman Holiday

New beginnings

"Yes Tom?" She looked up at him, her heart in her mouth, pulse racing.

"I am going away filming to Australia for a while at the end of September," he began and she gasped, feeling utter sadness coursing through her. Not again, she couldn't bear it.

She put her hand to her mouth, a little 'no' escaping. She tried and  failed to suppress the urge to cry and he shushed her gently. " my love please, I wasn't finished, please don't get upset." He kissed the escaped tear from her cheek.
" Darling, I lost you once and I don't intend to repeat the performance, I promise. So before I go any further, I would like you to consider two things. " he looked at her and smiled. She was shaking still but now a little flicker of hope lit her eyes.

He took her by the hand and led her back to the table, sitting her down and moving the other chair round to be next to her.  Sitting, he took both her hands in his and paused, gathering his swirling thoughts. Taking a deep breath, he said,

"I would like to spend the summer - all the summer - with you. We can stay here in Rome or we can go anywhere you would like. I don't care, as long as I am with you. We can rent an apartment, live together or apart, whatever you would like. I just want to be with you darling. " he smiled and kissed her softly.  She nodded, a flood of joy and relief replacing the fear.

"You said two things?" She could barely speak, her emotions spilling over. He nodded.

"Yes I did, didnt I?"

"I love you Jess, with all my heart. If I could tell you nothing else, every day for the rest of my life, I would be content. If I could do nothing else but hold you every day for the rest of my life, I would be content. In short Jess, if I could simply exist in your world every day for the rest of my life, I would be content.  Be with me my love, for the rest of my life."

Jess began to shake, her eyes brimming with tears as she realised where this was leading. Slipping off his chair onto one knee and looking into her eyes, into her very soul, he whispered,

"Darling, I know its quick, but I also know...oh to hell with fine speeches, Jess will you marry me? "  he closed his eyes and waited, not even daring to breathe.

For a second she paused, just looking at him, memorising the exact moment. She felt the tears fall and her smile grow as wide as her love for him.

"Yes, yes I will!"

"Oh my darling girl, thank you!" He grabbed her and kissed her and he was crying too now. Pulling a box from his pocket he opened it to present her with an emerald ring.  Hands shaking on both sides, he slipped it on.  Then suddenly he leapt up and leaving her sitting shocked on the chair, yanked the door open and ran into the street.

"SHE SAID YESSSSSSSS!" He yelled at the top of his voice.  Jess got up and went to the door in time to see him standing in the middle of the street, arms wide, head back.  Laughing so hard she thought she might hurt herself she shouted to him.

"Tom! Come in you nutcase! You'll get arrested for breach of the peace or something!"

" I don't CARE!" He cried "Jess Munroe wants to marry me. SHE SAID YESSSSSSS!"  He spun in a circle, arms out, shouting.

Now a few lights here and there were beginning to come on as people wondered who the drunk and shouty Englishman was.  Jess dashed over and dragged him back,  closing the door with her foot as they kissed their way back inside. 

As they stood in the dimly lit room, Jess traced her fingers over Tom's chest, feeling his taught muscles beneath his shirt. She looked up at him, her eyes burning with a desire she had never dared hope would be satisfied. As she reached again up to kiss him, her fingers began to undo the buttons on his shirt.

"Not here Cara" he said softly. His hand closing round hers, "not here." Without another word, he scooped her up into his arms and looked at her " show me where" his voice low and hoarse with desire.

She guided him through the kitchen and upstairs to her room. It wasnt big, but for tonight, it was theirs. As they sank onto her bed, they paid no attention to the front door opening and closing.

As they undressed each other, lips and hands equally busy on skin, they ignored the creak on the stairs.

As they lost themselves in a world of passion, they were oblivious to the couple now cuddled up in their own bed content to have seen the light from under Jess's door, seen the shadows on the carpet. They were young once too.

Later, as Tom and Jess lay spent in each other's arms, he wondered how he got so lucky. She had forgiven him. She had agreed to marry him. Was it somehow all too good to be true? Did he truly deserve a happy ending? Did he deserve her?  As he looked at her sleeping form, cuddled into him, his heart swelled with unimaginable love for this beautiful, forgiving woman. But despite that, something inside him made him uneasy.

He would have his answer soon enough.