C'mere (Paul Banks fanfic)

Fireside

They entered his apartment shivering. The snow on their clothes had melted in the lift and their coats, hats, scarves and gloves were dripping wet now. Paul gestured Rhi to take them all off.

- I'll lend you a sweater I guess, let me put these in the dryer...

She obeyed without hesitation. She was freezing and her nose ached from the crying.

- Do you know how to work a dryer? - Rhi asked. Against all odds, the thought amused her.

He grimaced.

- Not... really, but it can't be that hard, c'mon. Wait just a sec... - He turned on the heat and the fireplace. - Sit, I'll be right back.

Rhi went to sit by the fire. Soon, she stopped shaking and began to feel much better. She couldn't imagine how bad she looked with runny makeup and a red nose. She pulled out a little mirror and tried to clean out her face with a paper napkin. When she put everything back in, she noticed her phone going off over and over. Around 20 missed calls from Lee. She rolled her eyes and turned it off. She then proceeded to put her purse aside.

She still didn't know why she'd call Paul, but she didn't regret it in the slightest. Some minutes ago, she felt lost and defenceless. Now she was warm and at peace. Paul came back with a triumph look on his face and the NYC hoodie he had worn to that long forgotten disaster of a meeting with Aiden Wilson in his hand. He gave it to Rhi, who put it on immediately. It smellt of him, it was certainly too big for her, but she felt so well.

- How did the dryer behave? - She inquired. - No risk of fire?

- I'm apparently a natural. - He answered. - Would you like something warm to drink? I sure as hell do.

- If it's not too much of a hassle for you... - She accepted.

He smiled and walked out again. Rhi thought she could've done without beverages, she just wanted him to hug her again. "Oh, come on, this is not the time for such nonsense", she scolded herself.

He came back after a couple of minutes holding two cups of cocoa with numerous marshmallows each. He gave one to Rhi and sat by her on the rug. They both leant on the cushions and drank in silence.

- Feel better? - He asked cautiously after a while. She nodded. He smirked and added, very slowly. - That dude is an absolute idiot.

Rhi bit her lips.

- I'm sorry I just called you out of the blue... I didn't even ask if you were busy... - She whispered in an embarrassed tone, leaving the mug on the little tea table behind them.

- It's fine. I wasn't. It's a happy coincidence I was home today...

- What were you doing? - She inquired casually.

- Just writing some songs... - He answered, staring at the flames.

- Some excellent indie rock? - She teased and they both chortled.

- Hopefully!

He gave her a conspiratory look. She was a bit flushed from the heat the fireplace radiated. Her reddish cheeks contrasted beautifully with her big jade eyes which were still a bit swollen. That made her look all that more adorable. She looked down, shyly. His stare was so intimidating.

- You're so perfect, why would anyone hurt you like that? - He meditated, as if to himself.

- Oh shush. - She whispered, chuckling.

- If I had a shot with someone like you, I wouldn't blow it. And if I did, I'd be a total douche too, and I'd deserve to die. - He insisted emphatically.

- Someone like me...? - She repeated in a puzzled tone.

- Beautiful, smart, talented, sexy, funny... I can go on.

- Please don't. - She laughed. - You're just trying to make me feel better.

He turned to see her with a serious face, leaving his cup on the floor.

- I am not. - He assured.

Rhi sighed. His eyes looked perfectly clear with the fire reflecting on them. If her sentimental situation hadn't been so precarious, she would've loved to... she licked her lips.

- I forgot to ask you if the chocolate was any good. - Paul asked suddenly. He needed a distraction from that incredibly appealing mouth of hers.

- It was great. - She replied. - The marshmallows gave it a little something extra...

- Good. I'm not a particularly experienced cook either... - He confessed, grimacing.

- You're really getting out of your comfort zone because of me today, aren't you? - She lamented.

He shrugged.

- It's my pleasure. - He commented, laying down on his cushion.

- I'm such a burden! - She grumbled, burying her face in her hands and collapsing on his side.

He grinned at her.

- Don't be such a ham. I'm happy I can help you... you know you're important to me. I had been waiting for your call like crazy... I didn't expect it to be like this, but hey, a weird call is better than no call at all, right?

She opened her fingers over her face just enough to show her eyes.

- Thanks so much. - She whispered.

- It's chill.

- And I'm sorry.

- Jeez, stop apologising. Sorry for what?

- For this...

With a quick movement, she took his neck attracting his face towards hers and kissed his lips eagerly. He didn't resist, he wanted this as much as she did, her lips were even softer than he remembered. He leant on her, surrounding her body with his strong arms. She thought she could melt any second when his tongue wandered inside her mouth and his hands slid under his own hoodie, which she was wearing. His lips were sweet from the cocoa and she felt blissfully breathless from the delicious smell he seemed to emanate. She pulled him with both hands, biting and licking his neck and caressing his lower back dimples under his shirt. He groaned, his hands gliding underneath her blouse now.

Rhi moaned, surrounding his body with her legs and frantically searching for his pant's button in order to undo it.