In His Eyes

Not Again....

"Beth?" He shouted through to her as she made some more tea.

"Yes? Everything ok?"

"Yeah, you got plans for later?" He stood up and walked through to where she stood stirring the mugs. He leaned against the countertop, phone in hand, suspiciously sneaky smile on his face.

"No. Nothing other than staring at you just in case you disappear into the ether again!" She laughed and blushed delicately. Tom's heart leapt. This was perfect. 

"Don't you worry darling, I'm going nowhere without you." He put his phone down and hugged her from behind, arms snaking around her waist, chin on her shoulder.  She put the spoon down and twisted to face him, cocooned in his arms.

"Good. I fully intend for you to have to surgically remove me!" She giggled.

"Oh? And from which body part would that be? Do I get a choice?" He winked at her, and she flushed scarlet. He smiled wickedly. "Well, I suppose I'll have to compare where you're the most comfortable if I'm to be saddled with you!"

"Oi! That's cheek!" She pretended to be offended, grinning broadly.

"Hmmmmm, cheek...." he stroked her cheek gently. Then gently, he kissed it and pulled back. "Yeahhhh nice... but I have nothing to compare it to." He shrugged, still holding her tightly.

"Good grief, the cheek just trips off your tongue, doesn't it!" She said with a smirk.

"Hmmm, tongue, eh?" Instinctively, he licked his lips, and her eyes flew to his mouth, watching, her own lips parted slightly.  Suddenly, it was incredibly warm in the room.

"Oh!" She breathed."Oh my." He bent towards her, and his eyes flicked from hers to her mouth and back.

"Oh my indeed." He said softly, his breath dancing over her lips.  Slowly, agonisingly slowly, he touched his lips to hers. He let out an involuntary groan as a feeling he could barely control swept over him.

His tongue ran along her bottom lips, teasing and tasting. It was her turn to moan softly. They pressed their lips together, with growing passion.

He suddenly broke the kiss, panting hard. "Oh, Beth, I'm sorry.  I - I just - I had to stop - I was afraid if I kept going, I'd take things somewhere you're not ready for." He rested his forehead against hers. "Please darling, dont worry, in all this? You are in charge. I promise."

Beth smiled and reached up, stroking his beard, the feeling under her fingers all at once calming and comforting and yet hot as hell. 

"Darling, I trust you completely. I know you would never do anything to hurt me. Emotionally or physically. Let's take a moment. Catch our breath, ok?" She kissed him softly on the lips, relishing their velvet warmth. Then, as she pulled back, she added, "You were asking about tonight before we... got distracted." She winked, and this time it was Tom that blushed.

"Oh God. Yes. Sorry. Well, given we have agreed there's nothing on other than us getting to know each other more intimately, how about we go for dinner?"

"That would be lovely, are you sure? I mean, what if someone sees us?" Her words were full of gratitude and nerves. Was he prepared to admit to the world already?

"Ah well, I didn't say 'out' now, did I?" He wagged a finger at her. "I have - we have - been invited for dinner. Somewhere private, that means we can just relax and eat with people who understand completely."

Beth was curious and more than a little nervous. "Where? With whom?"

"London. Someone - and I'm.quoting here.- You've always wanted to meet? He's very cute, apparently!"

Beth's mouth hung open, "No!"

"Yes!"

"Don't tease me."

"I'm not love, I promise. He asked me the other night, and I think this is the perfect opportunity. " he kissed her forehead. "You'll love them, Sophie is a beautiful person, inside and out." He paused, "but - and I know I'm biased - not as beautiful as you, darling."

"Ohhhhh!" She felt her chest tighten, and although it should have been impossibly cheesy, she couldn't help but be moved. Hugging him tightly, she spoke into his chest. "Thank you, you've no idea how much that means. That you're keen to show me off to your friends."

He pulled back, brow furrowed. "Show you off? Darling, you're not a new possession. You're a warm, lovely, beautiful woman who has chosen to grace me with your affection and company.  What I'm doing is showing to my friends that I'm finally worthy of such a compliment. I'm so proud to be able to tell them."

She reached up and kissed him softly.  "Thank you, darling. No one has ever paid me such a beautiful and heartfelt comment."

They released each other, and Tom walked to the door. "Let me pop home and get changed, I want to look my best for you, I'll phone Ben and get changed. Dont worry about what to wear," he winked."I already know you have impeccable taste!"

"Oh you!" She laughed and threw an oven glove at him as he departed, blowing her a kiss.

"Ben?" He smiled as he walked along the road. "Hi! Yes, how are you doing?  Good thanks... you know that dinner invitation... yeah. Is that ok? Great. Yes... I'm bringing someone. Yes, a woman. Yes, she's real, you cheeky sod." He laughed and walked up his steps, stopping at his front door. "Her name's Beth, and I think she's my... forever." he stopped, thunderstruck by the admission. "Thanks, man, see you later."

He opened the door and walked into the hallway. Wow.  That was an admission and a half. It made him elated and terrified all at once.  As Bobby trotted down the hall to him, he bent down and rubbed the little dog's head. 

"So, there's someone you need to meet Bobs. Her name is Beth, and she lives along the road."

He sat on the hall floor, his heart racing and his face split by a smile to start the day. "And I love her."