In Duffs We Trust

Part 7 Tango With Confusion

Tom followed Claire inside as she locked the door behind her. He took in the small apartment and smiled at her attention to detail.

"I'm going to change, I'll be right back" Claire spoke making her way up the staircase.

Tom walked around the apartment removing his jacket and setting it aside. He moved to the very large entertainment area which held a huge flat screen TV as well as tons of movies and books. His eyes caught some photos and looked closer. Claire had pictures of her and Tom when he was first starting out as an actor. He looked much older now but the one that caught his eye the most was the one of them sitting in the park and Claire was smiling at him her eyes full of love. Tom felt his lungs constrict. Had she always loved him? How had he not known in all these years. Tom ran his hands through his hair and turned to see she had placed a book on the couch. He moved picking it up. It was Hamlet. One of his favorite Shakespeare plays and also the same copy he gave to her for her birthday many years ago. He flipped to the title page and written in his hand it read...

To my greatest fan
Love Tom

He had to tell claire how he felt.

Claire stripped off her dress tossing it aside before slipping into a pair of small shorts and a tank top. She wiped all her makeup off and removed her contacts placing her small black framed glasses on her face. She felt better and was glad she had asked Tom to stay the night. She quickly remembered she had a pair of pajama pants that she had picked up for him as a gag gift. She smiled and grabbed them as she made her way down stairs. As Claire reached the bottom step she saw Tom looking at the book he had given her.

She blushed at the knowledge that he might know how she felt. If she was being honest with herself she had always loved Tom. But he never saw her as more than a friend and she had learned to except it. She cleared her throat and saw Tom look up.

"What ya got there?" Claire smiled at him.

"Nothing" he chuckled setting the book back on the couch.

"I have something for you" Claire smiled at him and handed him the small bag.

"For me?"

"Yep, why don't you go get comfortable and I will make some tea?" she encouraged.

Tom nodded and slipped upstairs to change.

Claire grinned to herself as she put the kettle on, pulling cups and saucers down. She pulled the tray and added some cream and sugar. She had just shut the fridge when she looked up to see a shirtless Tom in his new gift.

Claire busted out laughing at the current attire.

"I have to say love. I am in awe. Loki pajama pants?" he grinned.

"Perfect gift is it not?" she challenged.

"Only you could pull this off" Tom laughed.

The kettle whistled and Claire poured it into a tea pot before taking the tray and heading to the living room.

Tom couldn't believe she had been so funny yet sincere in her gift. If he had to admit it was the best gift he had ever received. He watched as she moved to the living room tray in hand and admired the way her shorts hugged her delicious bottom. He swallowed the ache to touch her and sat down beside her as she fixed his tea. She remembered exactly how he liked it black with two sugars. He took the cup from her hands and she smiled.

"You remembered"  he smiled.

"Always" Claire smiled fixing her own.

Claire took a small remote from the coffee table and hit a button. Adele began to play softly her newest hit Hello.

"How are you feeling?"  Tom asked setting his cup down and looking at her.

"Better than I thought I would honestly. Thank you for staying with me" Claire spoke softly.

"You know I would do anything for you" Tom said back.

"Tom?" Claire asked.

"Yes Claire" he said back meeting her eyes once more.

Claire looked at him for a moment before deciding to take the plunge. She stood and held out her hand to Tom.

"Will you dance with me" she grinned.

Tom chuckled and stood taking her hand into his. Claire moved them over to the bay window where they could move freely. Tom looked nervous and Claire took his hand placing it around her waist. She slid her other hand into his and Tom immediately relaxed pulling her flush against his body. The movement was honest enough but Claire could stop her breath from hitching as her breasts pressed against his hard chest. She lifted her eyes and met his. The slowly moved to the beat as the music seem to call to them both.

The song seem to call to them both and Claire felt in that moment she needed to tell Tom exactly how she felt. She lifted her eyes to meet his. She started to speak only to be haunted by Tom's lips on hers. Claire instantly melted into his embrace wrapping her arms around his neck craning her neck to deepen the kiss. Mere seconds seemed like eternity until they both pulled away breathless.

Claire pulled back and met a heated pool of deep blue eyes holding her firmly in place. Claire knew exactly what she wanted to do. Something she had only dreamt about. She took Tom's hand into hers and pulled him to the stairs. Tom followed knowing exactly what she and he both needed.

Each other.

Authors Note:
I'm fairly certain you all know where this is going. However I will go beyond that in the next chapter to come. Stay tuned........