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Softly, he closed the door, making sure it was shut to before relinquishing the tight reign he'd been holding on his laughter. A small Mutley-like snigger escaped and then, before he knew it, his jacket was at his feet and her hand was, unwittingly, on top of his as she reached for the door.
Her breath hitched at the fleeting contact, but her anger saw her through. "If you're going to laugh," she spat, "then at least have the guts to do it publically like everyone else. Don't pretend to be so noble."
"I'm not laughing at you, Ruth. It's just a bit absurd, that's all. You have to admit, it couldn't happen to anyone else."
"Because I'm such an idiot?"
It was clearly a rhetorical question, and yet he couldn't let it go unanswered. Her hand still rested on his, almost forgotten, but as he removed his own fingers from the metal door panel she tugged her own away as if burned.
"No," he began, softly. "You're just a magnet for trouble."
She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply through her nose. How was it that it didn't really matter what he said at all? Whatever words he chose always seemed to make it better. She gave a small, snort and shook her head at herself, "You're probably right."
"I generally am, Ruth," he responded and she could hear the amusement in his voice even if she couldn't quite make out his smile in the darkness. She watched him as he stooped to the floor and collected his jacket. Her breath caught in her throat as she felt his fingers fumble against hers seconds before the soft material of the jacket was pressed into her hand. "Will you stay?"
She swallowed nervously and hugged the jacket to her chest as she whispered she would. Harry gallantly turned and walked towards the couch allowing her the space and time to slip his jacket back on properly. She'd almost made her way over to the couch when stray beams of light startled her as they were being moved around the Grid.
"Looks like they found the torches," Harry said, shaking his head as he watched Jo smack Zaf in the arm for shining the torch in her eyes. "I'm never going to live it down am I?" she groaned upon seeing Zaf stick his torch down his shirt in an imitation of her glowing underwear.
Ruth shuffled onto the sofa and they both watched for a few minutes longer as their younger colleagues moved on to entertaining themselves by pulling scary faces in the beams of light.
"At least I'm no longer needed as a source of amusement," she said, happily, and turned her gaze to Harry.
"Or as a light source," he teased and was glad to see her smile at him.
"Very funny," she muttered as she stuck her tongue out at him, playfully, "I thought you brought me in here to put a stop to the teasing?"
"I did," he whispered as he leant in closer to her, "but you're just so delightful to tease, Ruth."
Her heart seemed to stop for a second and then smash frantically against her chest as his words sank in. He was so close to her she could feel his warm breath washing against her ear and she had to bite her lip to stop from sighing in disappointment as he moved away from her.
"I…am?"
"Yes." This time his voice seemed to come from other side of her. The fluttering of her eyelids and the darkness of the room had caused her to miss his movement, but the clink of glass let her pinpoint him at his cabinet. "Drink?"
"At this hour? Whilst on duty?"
He could picture the raised eyebrow she would be giving him, and smiled a little to himself.
"You can't see what I'm pouring."
"No, but I know you."
"I'm insulted," he sulked, and she could tell he was pulling a feigned, petulant pout. "It happens to be mineral water…this time. I'm not that much trouble."
"Well," she said, quite unaware of where her sentence was leading her until it was too late, "I do attract trouble."
Suddenly, the realisation of her sentence hit her, and an endless sort of silence seemed to stretch on until she broke it with an audible gulp.
"Quite," he whispered.
"Mmm."
"The question is, do you like trouble?"
"I … um … I mean, well, it's dangerous, isn't it, trouble?" She was rambling, now, and well aware of it. It was too late to backtrack, and in a way she didn't even want to, but she couldn't quite process what was happening fast enough to cope with it. In a desperate madness, she stood, pivoted on the spot and ran her hands through her hair.
"Yes, Ruth," he chuckled. "The intrinsic nature of trouble tends to imply a sense of danger…but it can be thrilling if you're open enough to try it."
She inhaled sharply, aware that he was gradually walking towards her. In the darkness, every sense was heightened, and she could hear the soft footfall and practically feel the air move as he did.
"T..tr…try…" She was no longer sure whether the conversation was purely about danger any more or a mixture of things. Perhaps, even, something else entirely.
"Yes, try."
Oh God! He was right in front of her, the smell of his cologne, the feel of his breath, his chest resting against the lapels of his own, chivalrously donated, jacket.
"I'm, um," …inarticulate, incomprehensible, scared witless… "I'm not…"
"What?" The pout of his lips around the w pressed his mouth into fleeting contact with hers. "Brave enough?"
She nodded, her nose rubbing against his.
"I beg to differ," he purred. "You're wearing glowing underwear; I'd say that was definitely a brave choice."
She laughed, softly, and he caught her parted mouth between his own. Caught off guard for a split second, he felt her body tense and he lightened his kiss, teasing his bottom lip against hers until she reciprocated. He kissed her softly and slowly, savouring the taste and feel of her lips against his. She sighed, contentedly, against his mouth and the small, involuntary sound was his undoing. He swept his tongue inside her parted lips and reached up to cup her face as he kissed her with a passion that was all consuming. Her hands made their way to his chest, her nimble fingers exploring the soft material of his shirt and the warm skin hidden underneath as his mouth on hers removed any thought that wasn't about touching him, wanting him, loving him.
"Mmm…Ha…mmm," she tried, and failed, to catch his attention in snatched breath between kisses. "Harry."
"Mm?"
"Stop."
He did, abruptly, and she wondered if her words had sounded different to her intent. Gently, she leaned forward and brushed her lips once more over his.
"Sorry," she whispered, "it's just…" She finished her sentence with a brief look towards to flashlights outside.
"They can't see in."
"I know, but…"
"…it's too close for comfort. I know." He took her hand and led her to sit beside him in comfortable silence on the sofa.
"I didn't want to stop," she ventured, after the longest time.
"I didn't want you to."
"Then maybe we c-could..." she trailed off, embarrassed, and he gave her hand a small squeeze of encouragement. "Later, I mean, not here, we could, um..."
"Pick up where we left off?" he asked, directly in to her ear, and smiled when he felt her shudder.
"Yes," she whispered, breathlessly, relaxing slightly when he raised their joint hands to his mouth and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles.
"That depends," he murmured, his warm eyes meeting her startled ones across the darkness.
"O-on?"
"On who bought you your underwear," he clarified. His voice was still soft and his fingers still caressed hers but she could hear the slight undertone of insecurity that laced his words.
"A very annoying yet well meaning friend presented me with it ages ago, Harry." She turned slightly and trailed the fingers of her free hand down his cheek, "It's not from a boyfriend, if that's what you've been imagining?" She briefly brushed her lips against his as he gave an embarrassed nod and happily allowed him to deepen the kiss for a moment or two.
"And you had no idea it glowed in the dark?" he asked, playfully, as he pulled back from the kiss.
"It said "Light Up Your Love Life" on the label – I thought my friend was just making a general hint…not a very, very specific one!"
"Well, you must remember to thank your friend someday," he replied, very seriously.
"Oh?" She feigned innocence.
"Oh yes, I think her buying you that bra might be about to pay off big time."
"Mmm," she mumbled, rising from her seat to leave; if they were to stand any chance of maintaining self control all day then she should probably leave now. "Perhaps the embarrassment was worth it then." She gently nibbled on his bottom lip and then slowly pulled away leaving him rooted in his seat.
"I'll make sure it was," he promised, as he heard her begin to slide the door open.
She smiled, cheekily to herself; "and Harry?"
"Yes?"
She made sure the door was all but closed behind her again, and whispered her parting shot from the safety of outside. "It's not just the bra that glows."
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