Lion and Lace [Tom Hiddleston]

Episode 6

I can feel his warm sweet breath on my face and his thought-disrupting scent in my head. The sound of my own heartbeat is so deafening I'm surprised I can hear anything else, but I do.

"Rebecca." He breathes my name and it's like a plea, a prayer and a curse all at once. It pulls me in and the distance between us is closed.

And then those beautiful soft lips are kissing mine.

My heart is about to leap out of my chest and into Tom's, I'm sure he must be able to hear it. And then everything stops, nothing outside of our bodies exists. Tom's soft, warm, open mouth easily covers mine and for a few seconds we are frozen, afraid to move for fear the other might put an end to the assignation. I lean into him and bring my other hand to the back of his neck, pulling him against me in wordless permission. He moves his long fingers along my jaw, sliding them into the side of my hair while his mouth closes over mine, sucking sweetly on my bottom lip before he opens to engulf me all over again.

I'm dizzy and spinning, lost in his scent and his warmth and his taste, the delicate touch of his fingers ghosting over my skin. I feel him pull back and I draw him closer, flicking my tongue lightly over his lips and I'm sure I hear a tiny moan escape his throat. Our tongues dance a slow Bolero and Tom's fingers drift over the skin of my neck, covering my spine in tingly goosebumps.

After a few minutes fingers still and tongues slow and the outside world starts to seep back in. I don't want to break the kiss, I don't want it to end, I don't want to deal with the fallout or forget the perfection that is his glorious sweet mouth. Tom rests his forehead on mine and I keep my eyes closed while I lick my swollen lips. My hand is still on his neck, his fingers still in my hair, and I wonder if I just hold on how long I can keep him right there.

"I should take you home," he whispers, and I'd really like to gag him. "It's late and you have work tomorrow."

There's nothing for it but to nod and stand up on my legs, which I'm not sure are going to support me.

He packs my gear into the car and the ride back to my hotel is silent and just a little awkward. When we're almost there the magnitude of the evening dawns on me and a few silent tears fall down my cheeks in the darkness. When Tom pulls into a space outside the hotel I'm surprised that he shuts off the engine. He turns to me and puts a gentle hand on my leg.

"I feel like I should say something, but I don't even know where to begin. I'm sorry, but I'm not sorry. Becca?"

He takes my hand and rubs his thumb over my knuckles. His hands are warm and soft, strong but gentle, and I'm staring out the window trying to lose myself in the sensation.

"Darling, please say something."

I rub my eyes and look down at our joined hands and shake my head.

"What's- I mean I know what's wrong, but... I am sorry, I should never have put you in this position. Please don't cry."

"You didn't, my relationship isn't your responsibility, Tom. I should be sorry, dragging you into this when I have nothing to offer you."

"Becca, what I said... I can control my impulses, I assure you. We can. It was improper of me to say anything,-"

"Everything you said, I feel it too. I am drawn to you, Tom. You seem to have your own gravitational pull and no matter how hard I try I can't ignore my attraction to you."

"What about Na-"

"Don't, Tom. Please don't say his name." I'm not angry, I just can't hear it.

"I'm so sorry," he whispers. "Can I walk you up?"

I shake my head, not trusting my self control that far. "I'll let you know when your proofs are ready."