Making Jane Proud

Chapter 35 - Trials and Tribulations

It had been a long day – a long week really – and Tom was more than happy to be almost home. Not that it hadn't been a good day, it had - a great day, in fact - but because they'd been filming today on a Saturday, he had missed his regular Skype date with Ellie. She wouldn't have been able to talk to him this morning either, as it turned out, as she was travelling to Agra for the weekend with some friends from school, but they'd arranged to chat tonight instead and he was looking forward to seeing her. She'd been gone eight weeks now and some days it seemed like an eternity. He was already counting the days until he would see her at the Christmas holiday period.

Approaching the flat, he dug in his backpack for his keys, running through in his mind where he had left his laptop and hoping Ellie had managed to stay awake for their call; it was after midnight over there now and if she'd had a tiring journey she would be having trouble keeping alert. He pictured her as she looked when she slept; bright hair sticking up every which way, porcelain skin luminescent in the soft glow of moonlight, the edges of her mouth pulling up in a small half smile. God, he missed her, much more than he had ever thought possible. Missed her with a physical ache that never quite went away.

Closing the door behind him, he dumped his bag on the nearest chair and just as his nose registered that the place smelt different, he noticed two more oddities; a few candles had been lit and placed randomly on the table and kitchen bench, and there was something on the floor near the kitchen, heading towards the bedroom. Picking up a sample, he was astonished to find the soft delicateness of rose petals. He wasn't sure whether to be intrigued or alarmed; a burglary seemed unlikely in light of the candles and flowers, yet the only person with keys to the flat apart from he and Ellie was his sister. Surely Em wasn't using his flat for a romantic tryst without asking him – that would be beyond the pale, even for her.

He moved cautiously toward the bedroom, not wanting to see or hear anything untoward if it should indeed involve Emma, but found the door open and a sight awaiting him he was loathe to believe without rubbing his eyes to check they were working correctly. Heart pounding wildly, he moved further into the room as silently as he could, holding his breath. Sound asleep beneath the covers, one arm flung out across the pillow and the other tucked under her sleep-flushed cheeks, a small smile on the edges of her mouth and her long lashes looking like spiders against her soft complexion, was the woman he'd been thinking of. Stepping closer, he saw she had left a large handwritten note on the pillow beside her – his pillow. 'Wake me' it read.

For a moment he just stood there, drinking in the sight of her in his bed – their bed. He should have known it was her as soon as he smelled the rose petals, he thought.

Then leaning down carefully, he placed an arm either side of her to steady himself and began to place small, soft kisses to her eyelids, nose, cheeks and jaw. His senses were in overload; she smelt so good and her skin felt soft and warm against his lips. He kissed her again as she began to stir, eyelids fluttering and mouth widening to a sweet, sleepy smile.

"Ellie," he whispered, suddenly finding it incredibly difficult to breathe as he looked into her deep, unblinking emerald gaze.

"Hello Tom," she whispered back, alabaster arms now reaching behind his head, pulling gently to bring his face closer so their lips could become reacquainted. In all his memories of her kisses, none had been as tender, as luscious, as perfect as this moment and he lost himself in the feel and taste of her until his lungs screamed for air.

"Darling, what...how..." Words weren't coming easily, but she understood.

"It's half term but I wasn't sure until the last minute that I'd be able to make it, so I didn't mention it," she smiled.