*Many thanks to sendtherain for beta'ing.

*I own nothing. No copyright infringement intended.

Chapter 16 -

Sun filtering in through the slightly parted drapes of the large window woke Iris from her contented sleep at around 9am the following morning. After she accepted the fact that she'd be staying awake rather than drifting back into the best sleep she'd had in a long time, she turned to the other side of the bed and frowned when she saw Barry wasn't there beside her.

She stretched her arm just to make sure her eyes weren't playing tricks on her, but the only evidence that he'd been there was the indentations on the pillow and mattress.

That was, of course, until she looked up and saw a figure likely belonging to him standing in the doorway wrapped in a white bath robe talking to a man standing in the hallway. When she saw the silver cart of delicious breakfast assortments sitting just inside the door, she put two and two together and concluded he was tipping the room service staff.

"Thanks again," Barry said with a nod and turned around after shutting the door.

"You know," Iris said, making him jump a little when he realized she'd been awake. She bit her bottom lip and stifled a giggle. "I never thought a man in a bathrobe would be such a turn-on, but…" She gave him a once-over. "Look at you, changing my mind."

Barry's grin was sexy as hell; her heart raced.

"I'm sure it's the food," he said, wheeling the cart over to her side of the bed.

She licked her lips and eyed all that was before her.

"I think I might want it all," she said honestly.

Barry laughed.

"Well, that's all right. I'll just eat you up then instead," he said, sidling close to her on the bed and kissing her shoulder.

She looked at him and felt the lust growing in her but tried to shrug it off.

"No, we'll have none of that," she said, nonchalantly as she reached for a plate of pancakes.

He pouted. "I thought you just said me in a robe was a turn-on."

"Oh, it is, but-"

"Aren't you getting wet?" he murmured in her ear.

"Getting wetter by the second," she mumbled to herself, but of course he heard it.

He reached across the almost nonexistent space between them and cupped one sheet-covered breast in his hand, thumbing his way across the nipple gently as he started to kiss his way across her collarbone.

"No, no, no, no, no!" She tried to inch herself away, but with a tray of food on her lap and the cart of remaining food to her right, it was near impossible. When he reached her neck, she practically purred.

"Okay, okay," she said, her eyes closed and lips parted in pleasure.

"Yeah?" he grinned, proud of his victory.

"Pancakes or waffles?"

He blinked. "Huh?"

She opened one eye to look at him.

"Do you want pancakes or waffles?"

Dejected, he leaned back on the bed frame. He hadn't won after all.

Though, reluctantly he had to admit that he was starving for actual food and not just the juices his girlfriend's body produced.

He grinned suddenly, pleased to be about to take her off guard again.

"What?" she asked, her lips twitching in a smile.

"French toast and orange juice, please."

She laughed, her eyes twinkling, but she retrieved the requested for items.

"You're something else, Barry Allen."

"Something good?" he teased, taking the items from her.

She softened and looked sincerely into his eyes.

"Something wonderful."

He smiled, leaned forward, and with the purest intentions he'd had in the last five minutes, sweetly kissed her on the lips before returning to his breakfast.

…

After breakfast, Iris peeled herself off her side of the bed, taking the sheets with her to cover the front of her body, and leaving – she realized belatedly – her backside entirely to Barry's view. He followed her with his eyes, and she felt it. Felt his gaze burning into her back, her ass, her legs.

"I'm going to take a shower," she said, determined to make it to the bathroom without him pouncing on her. As if that would be such a bad thing. Her inner self rolled its eyes.

As predicted, she was slightly disappointed he hadn't come between her and the door but figured her bladder would thank her later. However, as soon as she'd washed her hands and then turned on the shower, she felt a slight chill on her backside and turned to see Barry inside the bathroom with her.

"I didn't even hear the door open," was all she could think of to say.

He smirked and walked towards her slowly.

"I'm sneaky like that." She put her hand on his chest to stop him. "Quiet as a mouse," he whispered.

She looked at him, unabashedly smiling.

"You're actually quite loud."

His mouth dropped.

"Says the one who came screaming last night."

She scoffed. "Will you always hold that against me?"

He smirked, took her hand on his chest and placed it around his neck instead.

"Oh, yeah."

And then they were moving as one, backing into the shower. Or so Iris thought.

"Shower's the other way, baby," she said between kisses, almost feverish with the intensity of them.

He'd never been kissed like this before, he thought. And he'd been kissed a lot.

Maybe it was because he was in love, and she was in love with him. Maybe that just made every action between them a thousand times better.

God, he couldn't wait to make love to her.

"We're not going to the shower," he mumbled into her mouth.

"We're not?" The confusion in her voice didn't keep her from kissing him. "I should turn it off then."

Barry pulled away momentarily and shut it off for her.

"Such a gentleman," she said, batting her eyelashes before asking, "Where are we going?"

He nodded to the bath-sized whirlpool next to the shower, and she gasped softly, having not really even registered it before.

"Is that- wait a minute." She frowned.

"You can't wait to do it in there, and you know it."

Her jaw dropped. "I-"

He turned on the water. She didn't stop him. When it was filled nearly to the top, Barry turned on the jets and helped her step inside. Then he settled himself on the built-in seat and pulled her to him. Slowly, she lowered herself on his very ready erection and moaned at the contact of water around and in her as well as his hard cock.

"We are going to get water all over the floor," she said, as she started moving up and down slowly.

He smirked and pulled her down for another steamy kiss.

"It's okay. I'll pay the bill."

She moaned and gave herself over to the pleasure he offered.

"I love you so damn much," she muttered, rising and falling faster by the second.

"Oh, fuck," he whispered, holding onto her hips to steady her. "Fuck, that feels good. I love you, too."

The water slapped against them and spilled over the side. Barry would definitely be getting a high-priced bill later for the water damage done to the room below them where thankfully no one had been staying, but it was worth it, he decided. It was all worth it.

…

After making in love in the whirlpool, they were exhausted but decided taking a shower was probably in the best interest of both of them. So, they did, then dressed themselves and decided to take a walk on a pleasantly warm day in the city.

Their fingers intertwined and swaying slightly, Iris couldn't ever remember being so happy. She turned to look at him every so often to see if he was feeling the same thing she was. She couldn't tell, but she hoped he was. She couldn't imagine him not. They'd been so in sync since he'd showed up unexpectedly early the day before. There was only one thing that might break the spell, and she wasn't going to bring it up. That was on him now.

"What?" he asked, a twitch to his lips, and she knew he'd caught her staring. She was glad he couldn't see her blush.

"I'm just really happy," she said, and he softened.

"I'm really happy too." He brought their hands to his lips and kissed the back of hers.

"Should we go somewhere or just…walk into oblivion?"

"Oblivion, wow, that sounds intense."

She jabbed him with her elbow, and he laughed.

"Well, it does!" he defended.

She rolled her eyes, and he pulled her to his side, hugging her with a quick peck to her forehead.

"I love you," he said, then pulled back to look into her shining eyes.

"You keep saying that," she pointed out. "Are you afraid I don't believe you?"

He shrugged. "I say it because I want to, because it's true, and…" He licked his lips. "Because I don't want to forget what you look like whenever I tell you."

"Barry."

"I don't want to forget anything about you."

She turned completely towards him.

"You're not going to forget me. Just like I'm never going to forget you. We're meant to be together, remember? No matter how…unlikely that seemed at our first meeting."

His laugh was strained.

"You have to go soon, don't you?" she asked, breaking her promise with herself.

He nodded. "In two hours."

Her heart dropped. Two hours. She swallowed hard.

"Well, two hours is better than five minutes, right?"

He laughed again; this time it was less pained.

"It's definitely better than five minutes."

He kissed her again and again and again, until someone in a passing car whistled at them from the street. They parted, and Barry leaned his forehead against hers.

"I miss you already."

She felt a teardrop hit her cheek and knew it had come from him.

"Barry…" She soothed. "I'm right here."

He gulped.

"Here." She pulled back and tugged at his hand. "Come with me."

…

They were at the lakefront within half an hour. The sight stole Barry's breath, which surprised him, since he'd been all over the world and seen far more majestic views than this. He'd never really stopped to look though. It had always been part of a mission. This had nothing to do with a mission. This view entirely connected to his love for Iris. He would never forget it, and it would always make him think of her.

"It's beautiful, right?" Her voice interrupted his thoughts.

He nodded, then looked at her.

"You're beautiful."

She smiled, then took both her hands in his and faced him.

"You're not so bad either," she teased, but he remained serious.

"Iris… Will you marry me?"

Her eyes widened, and she dropped their hands.

"I… what?"

He grabbed her hands before she could back away.

"Look, I know it's too soon. We've only known each other for three weeks and seen each other for half that time. I don't have a ring. I haven't met your parents. And you don't know anything about my job, because I have trust issues, and I want to keep that part of my life separate from us. At least for right now. But…" He licked his lips. "Nothing has ever felt more real to me than you, than us. And I…I need some reassurance that you're not going anywhere every time I have to leave. You're such a catch, Iris. Any guy would be lucky to have you. And I-"

She squeezed his hands and used the momentum it took to go up on her tiptoes and kiss him.

"I'm not going anywhere, Barry Allen." She sank back onto her feet. "You have to trust me on that or this thing between us will never last."

He gulped, the last three words stuck in his brain on repeat.

She reached up to cup his face in her hands.

"But I believe it will. I don't need a ring on my finger to know that no one else will ever take your place when you're away. Just like I don't need to worry about you wandering."

"You don't," he said. "I would never."

She nodded and smiled. "Good."

"So…you won't marry me?" he asked, a little crushed.

She looped her arm through his as they started to walk again, and smirked.

"I didn't say that." Her eyes twinkled when she looked at him. "Ask me again sometime, and I'll give you my answer."

His heart beat faster.

"You're amazing, Iris."

She smiled. "Right back at ya, Barry Allen."

Overjoyed and feeling more loved than he ever felt possible, Barry held Iris tight and allowed her to take him on her little tour of the lakefront. By the time they reached the hotel again, they would hardly have any time left, but they made the most of their little Heaven, because God knows when they would see each other again.