Count On Me

Part Forty One

He had deciphered that much in the few minutes that he'd been in the bathroom. That was how this worked, buy a drink, brief chat, agree on location - his or hers, then off to do the deed. It made him feel sick.

"Sorry Mike, but I have to leave...I have responsibilities these days."

His friend's jaw dropped, slack, for several long moments.

"But they want us, Oscar."

He shrugged, "but I don't want either of them." He stood. "Sorry if I am not being true to form, but I really have changed."

Mike jumped to his feet, "shit. Oscar...look." He nodded in the direction of the two women slinking like happy cats across the room, before he'd have loved it, now to him, it looked calculating, contrived.

Grabbing his jacket, he clapped Mike on the back, "have fun! Maybe they'll both entertain you."

Then much to the other man, and the approaching women's chagrin, he marched out of the building.

The taxi seemed interminably long. Then he fumbled with the lock at the front door. When he was inside he kicked off his shoes, then took the stairs two at a time. At the top of the stairs, he opened the door to Lizzie's room, then sighed. There she was, curled up under the duvet, her hair spread across the pillow, her eyelashes sweeping onto her cheeks. Serene and beautiful.

He wasn't lying, all he wanted was to lie near her, hold her, feel her skin against his. Kicking off his clothes, he stripped down to his boxer shorts, then pulled the duvet back, sliding in beside her. It was only a couple of nights since they'd set the world alight in this very bed, but it seemed like an eon ago. Curling up behind her, spooning against her, he felt her stir. But as his hand slid around her waist, her own fingers moved to sit on top of it, holding him tight, at the same time, her pelvis wriggled back into his.

His body sprung to attention, but he wasn't there for sex, he was there for this, warmth, companionship...belonging. For the first time in a long time he wanted this, he wanted her.

Those thoughts filled his head as he closed his eyes and fell asleep with the scent of her filling her nostrils.

Lizzie was hot, as she tried to open her eyes; she became aware of a weight across her body, her chest struggling to open with each breath. Wriggling, she then felt a huge protrusion against the cleft in her buttocks, and warm breath on her neck.

With a grunt, she managed to roll over, to find Oscar, fast asleep beside her, around her. She had no memory of him coming home, no memory of him sliding in beside her. She took a few deep breaths whilst she tried to decide what to do about him.

But then her eyes drifted to the blonde locks, a little too long, falling into his eyes, his elegant straight nose, the stubble darkening his jaw. He was beautiful; there was no denying that, she just wished he came with instructions, and a safety net. Because without either she feared that every decision with regards to Oscar Wicker was the wrong one.

"Hey," he breathed, his eyes not opening.

She stifled the giggle that caused, then hissed, "what are you doing here?"

He grunted a reply, "sleeping."

"I get that! But why here."

He smiled, eyes still tightly closed, "because it's where I wanted to be all night."

"I'm not here for you to shag when you're pissed."

The smile became a laugh, "shag you? I'd do that sober. And I haven't even tried that."

She wriggled her hips against his, "really?"

He opened an eye and studied her, "my body has distinct ideas about you, but that wasn't what this is about."

That more than piqued her interest, "really."

He nodded, eye closing again with a grunt of relief, "really. I was out talking, drinking...and I knew that there was nowhere I'd rather be, than here with you."

She swallowed nervously, "I haven't agreed that I want you like this."

He waggled his eyebrows, which could have been menacing if he wasn't still almost asleep, "well I'm here. And I don't feel you pushing me out."

"We're not having sex."

Oscar responded with a nod, "of course not..." He fell silent after that, his breathing deepening as he fell asleep again. Or so she thought, but as she settled back against the pillows, his arms tightened around her, and he added, "...yet!"