Feelings

A Feast for the Eyes

Jeez, he was nervous. It was like auditioning for Thor all over again. All nerves and nausea. Emma had smiled and smoothed his collar down like he was off to the first day of school.

"Do you have your phone? Your keys?"

He nodded, patting his pocket. "A clean hanky?" She grinned, and he swatted her hand away playfully.

"Give over you little monster!" He laughed. Then he paused and looked at her as she walked to the front door, jacket in hand. "Where are you off to?"

She smiled and winked. "I'm away to see an old friend - you remember Gemma? Well, she's invited me for dinner and a stay over." She paused, hand on the door. "For the best, really. Don't think me being here tonight would be appropriate for either of us!" She winked theatrically, and Tom snorted.

"I'm quite sure you don't have to worry. There won't be any jiggy in THIS flat tonight." He sounded very convincing, and she almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

"Get away with you. You'll be here pawing each other. I guarantee it. How far you go? I don't know, and frankly, I don't WANT to. I'll text you in the morning, give you fair warning. Have fun." She blew him a kiss and left.

Tom looked at the time. 6.30pm. He was a little early, but that didn't matter. He would rather be waiting than run the risk of making yet another bad impression. He grabbed his jacket and locked the door. Pausing for a second, he took a deep breath and then headed off.

As he arrived at the corner of the street, he could see her standing. He stopped, wanting to memorise this moment. The moment when she would look up and see him. For who he really was, not who everyone wanted him to be. She was, quite simply, beautiful. Not just what she wore, trendy but no slave to fashion, she wore a patterned floaty dress, chunky boots and a leather biker-style jacket. Her hair was in a pony tail that she'd pinned up, revealing her neck - a neck he longed to feel under his lips. She was standing, fiddling with the strap on her bag distractedly. He looked at his watch and saw she, like him, was fifteen minutes early. He smiled, that in itself spoke volumes.

Slowly he walked towards her, waiting until she turned. With about 10 yards to go, she looked up and her smile would have split the sky. His heart - and stomach - lurched and he smiled back. Holding out his arms, he walked up and she hugged him.

"Hi" she breathed as she felt his arms warm and welcoming around her.

"Hi - you're even more beautiful this evening." he said softly as he pulled back and took her hand. The way he said it, so definite, so factual, made her blush.

"Oh I don't know about beautiful, but I did try. Not much to work with I'm afraid!" she looked down at their hands. "Shall we go before I start to believe my own hype?" she giggled slightly and he thought it was the most delicate sound he'd ever heard.

"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, "he paused and she looked up, an eyebrow raised, "but that's my opinion and you'll never change it. Now, come one, let's eat. Since we were both early, that gives us even more time together." he kissed the back of her hand and they walked away.

As they made their way up the street, Sophie became aware that someone was taking photos. She tried to pull her hand away but Tom held it firm. "No" was all he said, not looking at her "Not this time." He walked on, eyes ranging around as they walked until he spotted the photographer. He paused at the side of the road before they crossed and looked down at her. Without saying another word, he bent and kissed her softly.

"Oh!" she let out a little breath and before he pulled away again, he whispered "There, that should keep them busy for a little while. Give us time to ourselves." he winked and she smiled. "sometimes it pays to play them at their own game... and I get ALL the benefits" he stood up. "Come on, not far now."

The restaurant was small and cosy. The food was good and the wine delicious. They ate and drank and chatted. There was no temptation to hurry. An unsaid promise of all the time in the world gave them a chance to relax.

"I have to face facts Tom, I can't be unemployed forever. I have to find another job, much," she paused and sipped her wine raising the glass in a mini toast "as I'm enjoying being a lady of leisure!"

Tom smiled, and raised his own in acknowledgement. "I might have something for you there. If you'll allow me? " he looked at her carefully. The last thing he wanted to do was tread on her independence. Sometimes though, it wasn't what you knew, but who.

She nodded, mouth full of food. "Mhmm" she swallowed "sorry, yes, any and all offers considered up to and including life model! Rent's due shortly and I really don't want to eat into my savings any more than I already have." she put her knife and fork down. "Tom? Can I ask you something?"

"Of course darling, anything. We have no secrets. Not any more" he winked and she laughed softly.

"What, " she paused "what would you have done if I'd said no?" she wasn't doing this out of spite, she just wondered. It had been eating away at her that he might simply be choosing her through a need to get back at Melissa. If not with Sophie, with someone else.

"No? Well," he put down his cutlery and grasped her hand. "I would have pestered you until you relented. No was not an option. " he smiled then put his head on one side, raising an eyebrow. "Why? You regretting your decision?" he knew she wasn't but he was curious.

"I - oh I don't for a minute. No. I just, well, if I'd said no would you have gone back to Melissa? Given she's, well, HER?" she shrugged and Tom realised just how vulnerable her heart really was.

"Sophia." he used her formal name and she looked at him slightly startled. "Sophia, you are a beautiful woman. You are warm and caring, beautiful to look at and beautiful to know. You are strong and you don't take any shit from anyone. From me especially I am glad to say. God knows I need a strong woman like you to take me down a peg or two. I spend all day with those film luvvies who just blow smoke up your bum and try to make you think the world owes you a living." he looked at her and something struck her about what he'd said.

"Like me?" she felt the heat of his hand on hers go straight to places that she didn't even know were linked to hands.

"Yes." he stared at her, his lips parted slightly, his tongue running over them in the signature fashion a million memes had captured. "I need YOU. In every way a man needs a woman."

"Oh." was all she could say. All she could think about was feeling those lips on hers. That tongue on her skin. She swallowed thickly and exhaled. "Oh my." Without a further word, Tom rose and went to find the waiter. He paid the bill and walked back. He held out his hand and she stood, the waiter bringing her jacket. As Tom helped her on with it, his fingers brushed the back of her neck and she felt the electricity surge. His thumbs pressed gently on the nape of her neck and she had a fleeting image of him doing that as he sat behind her, the two of them naked. She couldn't help but moan almost silently, almost. Tom heard her and his body reacted, making him burn.

"Coffee at mine?" his voice was husky and full of repressed desire. She nodded, taking his hand and feeling it shaking almost as much as hers, she whispered softly.

"Yes. Please."

They both knew drinking coffee was the last thing they would be doing.