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December 24th - 8:15 AM

December 24th - 8:15 AM

December 24th - 8:41 AM

December 24th - 8:41 AM

December 24th - 8:41 AM

The sound of the front door creaking, opening and slamming shut echoes through the quiet house, followed by the soft pad of quick footsteps up the stairs, the kind that sound in a hurry and urgent all while still remaining soft enough to put her at ease. She should be surprised he’s home already, given that minutes ago they were still texting, but she’s come to understand Colin over the past twenty-three days and really, the fact that he was texting her the whole way while walking home does kind of seem on brand for him. Well, either that or Hyacinth has let herself in again, which—-Well, could be an option considering Colin didn’t reply in the group chat? Or maybe she’s come to apologise to Colin for accidentally adding Pen to it in the first place? In fact, maybe this whole Christmas invite was just one colossal mistake and—--

Her thoughts are cut off by the sight of a slightly puffed blue-eyed boy pushing the door open, hands filled with a cardboard coffee tray with two takeaway cups and a brown paper bag balancing on top. “Sorry, I thought this was maybe the kind of conversation we’d be better off having in person?” he breathes, followed by a sheepish smile, “I also might have spilled your coffee on the way”

“So you admit it’s coffee then?” Penelope finally responds, her voice smaller than she expects as she wraps her arms around her knees, pulling his blanket tighter around her like a cocoon. “I would have thought for sure you’d die on the hot chocolate hill” 

Colin’s smile softens as he sets the tray down on the nightstand. “Are you implying I’m stubborn, Penelope?”

Pen raises an eyebrow, her lips quirking slightly at the side. “I’m not sure it was an implication as much a direct statement of fact,” she teases gently, gasping somewhat as Colin drops the coffee tray on the bedside table before he crawls onto the bed, hovering over her.

“So rude” he whispers, teasingly, his face inches from her own. “Can’t a guy just get a drink for his girlfriend without being insulted?” The words slip from his mouth almost effortlessly, and it would feel like a line, if not for the way the tips of his ears turn a little more pink, the flush spreading faintly across his cheeks as well. 

Penelope sucks in a breath, her eyes widening slightly as she swallows, her own blue eyes getting caught with his. “You said it again” she murmurs, a small puff of air falling from her lips as she keeps her gaze steady on his. “The girlfriend thing”

“So I did” Colin chuckles, but the tick of his jaw betrays him, his pupils blowing a little wider as he swallows. “Is that—” he pauses, taking a moment, his gaze scanning her face in a way that has her flushing, “Is that okay?”

And it’s kind of ironic the way he’s the one asking her if that’s okay as if there is a universe around where anyone would answer anything but yes to someone like him, someone who grew up in one of the most well-respected by name families in London, someone who surrounded themselves with the kind of affluent people most could only dream of, who travelled the world, who had experiences that people write about— someone who lived. But that’s why she loves likes him, not the fancy stuff, that she couldn’t care less about, but the way he’s exactly who he is— sweet, kind, vulnerable, humble, and all around wonderful, despite living a life where he really could afford to be anything but. 

Penelope nods, unable to find her voice for a moment as she tries to register the question he’s asking. Girlfriend. He wants to know if it’s okay to call her his girlfriend. He wants to be her boyfriend. She takes a small breath, her legs slipping from their curled position to slide further down the mattress, so she can shuffle her body back against his pillows allowing him more room. When she finally does speak, it comes out more like a whisper. “More than” she begins, her lips curving up into a small smile as she watches the way he hangs on each of her words, “As long as this is another one for one thing, of course. A girlfriend for a boyfriend, you know? Keeps things fair”

Colin’s lips twitch, his features monetarily lighting up before he attempts to school them back into something that looks more nonchalant. It doesn’t exactly work. “Well, I suppose we wouldn’t want to be anything less than fair here. That would be a bit of a disservice”

“Oh it would be terrible” Penelope grins, her eyes dancing with amusement as she meets him for another round of what has somehow become one of their favourite games. One for one, indeed. “A big step back for equality, surely” 

“You’re right,  I’d essentially be trying to stop feminism in its tracks” Colin smirks, his eyes never leaving hers.

“You’d never be able to see your sister again, what with her love of feminist literature” Penelope volleys back, fingers twitching to feel him again as his weight settles over her. 

“Then again–” Colin hums, a thoughtful expression taking over his face. “She does always take the last piece of cake” 

“Hmm…” Penelope exhales, biting her lip as her hands finally slide up to his waist, gently stroking the slither of skin sticking out between his pants and shirt. “Well I’m not sure I can beat cake”

“To be fair” Colin begins, a puff of hot air releasing from his lips as he feels her fingers. “Not many people can”

“I guess it was fun while it lasted?” Pen whispers between them, her hand pushing up under the thin material to run delicately over the defined muscles of his stomach.

“Best, what— fifteen seconds? Of my life” Colin chokes out, his pupils darkening as he watches her carefully.

“Well, we always knew you couldn’t last long” Penelope reasons, her hand drifting down suddenly until she’s just above the band of his track pants.

Colin’s expression shifts instantly, his mouth dropping down into mock surprise before he brings his free hand up to tickle her, his fingers wasting no time latching on to her side. “Too far, Pen.” he grins, shaking his head faux disappointedly. “And here I was thinking I more than proved my endurance just last night”

Penelope shrieks, throwing her head back as she tries to squirm away. “Did you? I uhh—” she breathes, bursting out another giggle, “can't remember it? Must not have been that—-” another laugh escapes her, “memorable”

His eyes narrow playfully, his hand stilling to grip her hip firmly under his fingers instead.

“Going to give you one last chance to correct that statement, Pen” he warns, though his tone is more teasing than serious.

It feels less like warning and more like a challenge—and Penelope has always loved a challenge.

“Or what?” she asks, tilting her chin up definitely, even as her cheeks flush pink.

His grin widens, slightly wicked and full of promise before he leans further into her, his lips hovering just over hers. “Or this” he whispers, his eyes staying locked on hers before he starts to pull back, as if to prove a point.

Penelope’s hands dart up gripping his shoulders. “Oh no, you don’t,” she says, her voice breathless but firm. “You didn’t let me finish my sentence before”

He lets out a low chuckle, moving to bracing himself with his forearms on either side of her head. “Well aren't you bold this morning,” he murmurs, his voice softening into something deeper. “Go on, then”

“I was just going to say that my boyfriend, on the other hand—” Penelope's voice wavers, her breath hitching slightly before she finishes, “He was plenty memorable.”

Colin freezes for the briefest of moments, his chest rising and falling as her words settle between them. His eyes darken, a glimmer of something playful yet dangerous flickering in them as he sucks in a slow, deliberate breath. 

“Boyfriend?” he murmurs, his voice dropping lower as he leans forward, his nose brushing against hers. His lips hover so close she can feel the heat of his breath against her skin. “There’s a boyfriend, is there?”

Penelope bites her lip, a small, teasing smile forming as her fingers trail up the line of his neck. Her touch is light at first, a whisper of sensation across heated skin, before she tangles them into the soft curls at the nape of his neck.

“Yeah,” she breathes, her lips brushing against the corner of his mouth, meeting him at his own game. “You might’ve seen him… tall, like double my height, brown hair, blue eyes….” She pauses, her grin widening as her fingers tug gently at his curls. “Has this very weird obsession with elves on shelves.”

Colin’s mouth twitches, his eyes darkening slightly. “Oh, you meant the ridiculously good looking one?”

“Yes,” she replies, her voice more suggestive than she means it to be. But it’s hard not to when she’s tugging on his hair in a way that makes his chin lift and she can feel the weight of him settled between her thighs. “The one with the abnormally sized ego,”

“Right, him,” Colin murmurs, his lips brushing against hers as he speaks, his voice almost sounding like gravel, “So it was memorable with that, that’s what you’re saying?”

Her smile softens, unable to look away. “Yeah,” she whispers. “He was pretty great.”

Colin tilts his head, pressing a slow deliberate kiss to the curve of her neck. His lips lingering there, warm and soft before he trails his way to her earlobe. When he speaks again, his voice is low, teasing, and in a tone that goes straight between her legs.

“Which part exactly was pretty great?” He mumbles, his hand sliding down her side. His fingers skim lightly over her ribs,, tracing the curve of her body with maddening precision. “Was it the part where he did this…” he questions, his palms shifting its direction in favour of travelling up towards her breasts, his finger grazing over her nipple. “Or was it the part where he did this?” Colin’s voice drops even lower, his hand moving once again, this time to slide down her stomach, fingers wasting no time slipping down to gently stroke her hip bone, the exposed skin there tingling under his touch.

Penelope's breath hitches, her hips instinctively arching up to his touch. Damn this stupid boy and his stupid hands. She really was done for. “I—I—” she begins, her voice shaking slightly as he hums against her neck, his teeth grazing lightly against her pulse point. “I think it was all of it,”

Colin doesn’t miss a beat. “All of it, hm?” he questions, his fingers inching lower until she can feel them gently slipping down her pelvis, as he shifts his knee between her legs to spread them wider. “That’s quite a compliment, isn’t it?”

And it’s kind of a good thing her underwear are still tossed on the ground where they left them last night, because if not, well— they’d probably be drenched right now from the way he was looking at her alone. 

He continues before she can get a word in. “I think I’d like to hear more about what exactly made it so memorable—- You know, for science” 

Penelope’s breath catches in her throat as Colin’s fingers dance teasingly along her inner thigh. “For science, huh?” she manages, voice more wrecked than she’d like to admit.

Colin’s lips twitch against her kin, his amusement barely basked as he trails soft kisses along her jaw. “Purely for science,” he confirms, his tone a mix of teasing and intent. 

Penelope tries to focus, though his proximity and the slow, maddening way his tongue lingers makes it almost impossible. “I don’t know if my boyfriend would like me talking about this with you even if is for science” she continues, her voice uneven. “Also, I’m kind of monogamous, I’m afraid, unlike–” 

Her words dissolve into a gasp as Colin’s lips find that same sensitive spot just below her ear he found the night before, the very one that never fails to undo her. Her fingers tighten reflexively in his hair, pulling him closer as a soft sound of her own escapes her lips.

He lets out a low groan, his breath hot against her skin and then just as quickly as it all started, it stops, his fingers stilling on her thigh before he pulls away. 

Penelope blinks up at him, her mind foggy as she tries to catch her breath, a small pout momentarily forming against her lips until finally, it falls when she gets sight of him. 

He looks kind of stressed, his expression suddenly serious as his eyebrows knit together, his hand still resting motionless on her leg. “Wait,” he exhales, his voice rough as he swallows. “I don’t want to date other people. You know that, right?”

It takes her longer than she wants to admit to catch on to what he’s really asking, but it’s kind of hard to get her brain to work when he’s looking at her like that, his pupils blown wide and his lips turned down into a frown that somehow still looks sexier than anyone has any right to be. 

“What?” she finally manages to exhale, her eyes roaming over his face as she goes back over his words and then back over the ones she spoke before them. Shit, “Wait, Colin—” she begins, her own lips turning down into a frown as she reaches her hand up to rest on his forearm. “I was just kidding, playing along with the bit, you know?” Her thumb strokes his skin. "I know that’s not how this is, I promise”

Relief floods his features, his shoulders sagging as his hand brushes her knee. “Good” he breathes, leaning into her touch again as the tension eases from his posture. “I just— I don’t want there to be any confusion, Pen, and I know the way we met and what happened with Marina the other night—”

“Col” Pen pulls him down, their lips colliding in a way she hopes leaves no room for confusion– hesitation, or doubt, fingers fisting the fabric of his shirt as she tugs him closer towards her, desperate to lose track of where he ends and she begins. 

It takes Colin all of two seconds to return the kiss, his hands sliding to cradle her face as he pulls her closer yet again, his lips moving against hers in a way that has her toes wanting to curl. 

And curl they do, for the next ten minutes it’s all tongues and hands and kisses that feel like they’re setting her alight from the inside out and the sheer intensity feels like it consumes her, every touch, every brush of lips against heated skin like a promise and plea all at once until finally the fury softens, the urgency of before easing into something deeper, slower. 

Their kisses become languid, tender explorations rather than demands. His hands, once gripping her waist with fervour, now trailing gently along her sides as if he’s memorising every inch of her while her fingers slide from his hair to rest lightly against his jaw, tracing the strong line as she pecks his lips softly.

When they finally part, it’s Colin that speaks first, his eyes dancing with amusement as he mumbles the words against her lips. “I can’t believe you called my ego abnormally sized.  A guys gonna get a complex here” 

Penelope lets out a breathless laugh, her forehead resting against his for a moment as she looks up at him, her chest still heaving from the kiss. “Luckily for us both, that’s not the only abnormally sized head I want to focus on” 

Colin’s breath hitches, his brows shooting up before his mouth curves into a slow, wicked grin. “Well,” he drawls, his voice deepening as he tightens his arms around her, “that was cheeky”

“It was also true” Pen giggles, her head tilting just so as she runs her tongue against her bottom lip. 

He groans, the sound low and guttural as his head drops forward, his lips brushing against her shoulder. “You are killing me, Pen” and then, as if to emphasise his point, “Slow and sure death, love” 

Hey laugh softens in a playful hum, her fingers tracing the back of his neck as she tilts her head further, catching his gaze. “There is something I haven’t been able to do yet” she murmurs, her voice dropping to a whisper. 

Colin’s eyes snap back to her own, his breath coming out quicker as his eyes darken. “Oh?” he prompts, his hands sliding down to rest against her waist. “And what, exactly, might that be?”

Penelope’s lips curve into a mischievous smile as she leans closer, her lips brushing against his as she speaks. “Show you just how much of a good girlfriend I can be” she purrs, her fingers sliding down quickly to curve around the waistband of his pants. 

“Fuck” Colin grunts, his eyes widening as a mix of desire and surprises crosses over his face as he looks down between them watching as she shimmies his pants down his legs with rapt attention. She’s almost got them to his knees when he grunts again, his voice coming out sounding like sandpaper. “I really don’t want to stop you” he begins, his jaw tense, “but I really need to tell you that you do not have to this if it’s not what you want”

She uses the moments reprieve to flip them over, smirking as he gasps. “Uh huh” she begins, her fingers slowly moving away from his pants in favour of sliding his shirt over his head, “and I know that and hear you, however—” the words still on her lips as she runs her gaze down his tone chest, starting at his neck and moving all the way down to the V of his pelvis practically begging her to remove whatever thin scrap of fabric is holding him away. “I want to”

Colin groans, lifting his hips up to help her shimmy the rest of his clothes down, his eyes locked on hers the whole time. “God, Pen, you have no idea how long I’ve wanted this”

Penelope snaps her eyes back up to his, her lips parting in surprise of her own as his words go straight between her legs. She bites her lip, leaning down to kiss him once softly before sliding her body down the length of his until she’s slotted between his thighs. 

It’s impossible not to lick her lips at the sight of him, his girth and length and the fact that it’s all Colin, enough to bring her to her knees. Colin. Her Colin. Her boyfriend, Colin. She wraps her fingers around his shaft, reveling in the warmth and the way it twitches at her touch, Colin letting out a low hiss as his hips jerk slightly. 

“Pen,” he breathes, his voice strained.

“Shh” she interrupts, leaning forward so her breath ghosts over his length as she looks up at him through her lashes, blinking wide and innocent. 

It has the desired effect, Colin’s eyes darkening with desire as his chest rises and falls in rapid succession, and honestly, Penelope has never seen anything hotter in her life. 

She starts slowly, pressing soft kisses along his shaft, revelling in the way his muscles tense beneath her touch as his face contorts, until finally, she makes her way to the tip, tongue swirling around the head of his Penis as she keeps her eyes locked on his, wild and blown. 

“Pen” he exhales, his voice rough with want, but the words die on his lips as she parts her lips, taking him into her mouth, inch by inch, her hand working what she can’t fit. “Fuck”

And It's empowering, knowing she's reducing a man she spends so much time sparring with to a mess of nothing, knowing that he’s hers, spread out, naked, and entirely hers. The thought makes her shiver. 

She hums around him, the vibrating sending what she can tell is a sudden through Colin’s body as she sets a steady rhythm, alternating between long, slow strokes and quicks shallow ones, her tongue tracing patterns along his length. Colin’s fingers tangle in her hair, not pushing or guiding, just holding as if she were his anchor. She fucking loves it. 

“God, Pen” he groans, his voice horse. “Oh good—that feels so good”

His praise sends a thrill through her, spurring her on as she hollows her cheeks, taking him deeper until he breaks out with a strangled moan that makes her core throb with want. She can feel him trembling beneath her, fighting to keep his hips still as he stumbles over half words and pleas and moans from the depths of his chest.

And it’s the most beautiful sight she’s ever seen. 

His pupils are completely blown, barely a trace of blue around the edges as his mouth falls open panting, his fingers clutching the sheets below him. “Pen—-fuck”

It spurs her on further, the way he’s reacting, the fact that she’s doing it, the way he’s calling out her name from his lips, and suddenly she’s desperate to see him come undone, to be the one that does it.

She doubles her efforts, her hand moving faster as she works him with her mouth taking him as far back into her throat as she gets him, until finally he’s gasping and letting out the kind of moan that has her wanting to memorize the sound forever.

“Pen,” his voice is strained. “I’m—I’m close. You should—-”

But she doesn’t stop, instead increasing her pace, her eyes locked on his as she takes him as deep as she can. Colin’s head falls back against the pillow, a low guttural moan escaping his lips as his hips buck involuntarily. 

“Oh god Pen—” He chokes out, his whole body tensing as he reaches his peak.

She wants him to come down her throat. She wants to taste him. 

Penelope holds steady, a hum of a moan taking place around him until she feels his fingers tighten in her hair, his hot release following instantly. She works him through it, licking him again until he shivers from the sensitivity, his body twitching in response. 

Colin’s chest heaves as he catches his breath, his eyes glazed and unfocused. “Holy shit,” he mutters, voice wrecked, as she crawls back up his body to join their lips.  “That was— Pen, you are—”

She doesn’t let him finish. 

Their tongues can do the talking anyway. 

Eventually, the urgency softens into something slower, sweeter. Penelope pulling back just enough to press her forehead to hers. “I can’t feel my legs,” she confesses, her voice a little breathless but teasing.

Colin chuckles, his hands sliding up and down her back lazily. “Good. Means I did something right,” he quips, but the softness in his tone gives him away. He’s looking at her the same way she knows she’s looking at him, like it’s love. 

“Movie time?” He asks, after a few minutes, leaning forward to peck her lips before he shifts, rolling out of the bed with an ease that makes her blush all over again, his toned backside causing another wave of want to roll through her. He was going to be the death of her. 

“Movie sounds good” she flushes, unable to keep her eyes off of him as he walks to his desk to grab his laptop before bringing it back to the bed, crawling in beside her as he tugs her body into his so she’s the little spoon she was always going to be. 

“Good, because you’ve got to make it up to Hugh Grant” He whispers, kissing behind her ear as he reaches forward to press play on Notting Hill. “Make the English as proud as you just made me”

They lie tangled together, his body wrapped around hers as the movie plays, the sounds of soft laughter, little comments and kisses taking up the room until finally the credits are playing on the screen, Colin glancing down at her with a soft smile.  “Is it really cheesy for me to say that I could stay like this forever and be happy? 

“Definitely cheesy” Penelope teases, rolling her body until her cheek is resting against his bare chest as the corner of her lips tugs up into a soft smile. “But also, very very cute.” She brushes her fingers over his jaw, “Though I'm not sure they can Uber Eats directly to your bedroom, even with your connections. 

Colin chuckles, the sound vibrating beneath her cheek as he adjusts his arm around her shoulders. “I don't know, there's got to be some perks to having Ant as a brother. Feels like something he could organise. Besides, he's still on my shit list after the other night. It's only fair he makes it up to us.”

“Come on, a wise person might say we actually owe him one” she rebuts, her eyebrows wiggling as she taps his nose. 

He pokes a finger into her side, causing her to giggle. “That wise person must also be deranged,”

Penelope gasps with mock offence and sits up a little, smacking his chest with a light thud. You've got to admit it ended up pretty well, I mean…” she gestures between them. “Look at us now,”

Colin rolls his eyes but pulls her closer, tucking her snugly against his side again. “You’re not meant to defend my brothers, love. That’s basically treason.”

“Not even Greg?” She challenges, her tone innocent.  

It’s not even really a surprise when he launches the surprise attack, his fingers darting to her side as she squeals, dissolving into laughter. 

“Stop! Stop! Okay, okay, I'll take it back!” She gasps between giggles, squirming against him.

He finally relents, letting her catch her breath, though his grin is entirely too smug. “That’s more like it”

“Speaking of your brothers….” She starts, sitting up slightly and brushing her hair out of her face.

“I’d rather not”

“Shh.” She nudges his shoulder, trying to sound stern. It doesn’t even nearly land. “I’m trying to be serious”

Colin smirks, propping himself up on one elbow to watch her. “You look very serious right now”

“Yeah,” she deadpans, “Seriously fucked”

He bursts out laughing, his grin widening. “Now who’s not being serious?”

“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself,” she admits, her lips twitching in amusement. “But, uh, I did want to ask about the group chat”

Colin frowns, sitting up slightly as his brows pinch. “Group Chat?”

“The one with your family about Christmas day?” Pen tries again, her eyes fixed on his expression as it continues to shift in confusion. “They added me to it,” she quickly adds, as if that will make it clearer. “While you were out and well— All these messages started coming in?”

Colin’s eyes widen, a flicker of panic flashing across his face and it takes everything in her not to spiral from his expression alone. “Shit. What did they say?” he asks, eyes still locked on hers as he gives her hand a gentle squeeze. Okay, so no spiral is necessary. “I kind of ignored the whole thing, had bigger things on my mind—”

Penelope tilts her head somewhat amused. “Like getting a puppy?”

He rolls his eyes, leaning closer. “Like talking to my girlfriend about getting a puppy.”

Her cheeks flush instantly, the word hitting her right in the chest. “Yeah, I’m not going to get tired of hearing that one.”

“I don’t know,” Colin teases, brushing his fingers along her jaw. “I think most people eventually want to trade the word girlfriend for another title after a while”

She smacks his chest, lightly narrowing her eyes. “Gosh, you’re like a walking golden retriever sometimes.”

His eyebrows wiggle mischievously. “Is that your way of saying yes about the puppy?”

She ignores him.

“You’re doing that thing again”

“What thing?”

“That thing where you make me want to kiss you”

“Oh dear,” Colin murmurs, leaning in with a smirk. “That must be terrible”

Penelope doesn’t reply—leaning in to kiss him instead, a sweet soft brush of their lips that Colin happily returns. When she leans back it’s with a slight pout. “I can’t come for Christmas” a breath, and then “Not that you–uh–even actually invited me, but—”

“I would have” Colin assures her, another squeeze to her fingers. “If you wanted to come, I mean”

Penelope smirks, her lips quirking up as the words tumble out before she can stop them. “I think we’ve established I have no issues coming —” she wiggles her eyebrows “anywhere with you”

Colin groans playfully and taps her nose. “Naughty” before his face contorts to something a little more sobering. “Did my family totally freak you out?”

“Not totally” she begins before she quickly backpedals. “I’m just teasing you, Col. I wasn’t freaked out—not about that, anyway”

“But there was something?” He asks, his voice softening with concern. 

“Well…” she hesitates, her fingers idly tracing patterns on his chest. “We hadn’t had the conversation yet, so a little? I may have worried that you were freaking out about it” 

“And now?” Colin prompts, watching her closely.

At this, Penelope finally grins, the words nothing but true as she speaks them. “Now, I realise you’re so far gone for me you’re probably planning out future children as well as the name of our next dog”

Colin groans, flipping back against the pillows with a grin. “So that’s a yes on the dog?”

“Shh” she rolls her eyes, but her smile is undeniable.

“I’m just teasing, love” Colin says, leaning up to kiss her again. When he pulls back his voice is quiet but certain. “I’m not freaked out. Maybe I should be, considering how fast all of this has happened, but I’m somehow not. If anything it feels… exciting?”

“That’s definitely one word for it,” Penelope agrees, with a flush, her tone light. 

Colin continues before she can add anything else, the tops of his cheeks more pink than they were a minute ago. “Blame it on growing up with a family where your mum constantly reiterates the importance of great love coming from friendship,” he says softly.

And it’s enough to cause the butterflies to take flight again, to bring that word hurdling to the top. Serendipity. Fate. God, she’s fallen for him. She’s so in. all in. 

“Uh— I mean, it's a good foundation right?” he adds.

“Yeah,” she says quietly, nodding. “It’s a good foundation”

Colin leans in pressing a kiss to her forehead and she really really wants to say it.

But first, she needs to know—-

“When do I lose you again?” the question thankfully sounds more light than it feels. “To the thrills of travel, I mean” she confirms, her gaze lifting to meet his.

“I have to leave for two weeks after New Year's,” Colin replies, watching her carefully.

“I suppose that’s not so bad,” she says, though her lips twitch at the thought of already being away from his arms.

“Then back for a week,” he adds.

“I really like that part,” she blushes, smiling. 

“And then I’m in Japan for another four,”

Fuck.  It hurts already.

“Shit—” she whispers, pausing to rally her enthusiasm, “I mean, that’s really exciting. I heard they have dinosaur hotels in Japan. Please tell me you’re staying at one of those?” The words feel slightly thin as they escape.

“I wasn’t—” Colin begins before his lips twitch up, eyes sparkling as he lends closer. “But what if we did? I’ve got a few days in the middle of that trip to explore. What if you came for a few days, and we did it together?”

“You want me to fly to Japan?”

“I want you to be with me,” he says, no hesitation in his voice. 

Penelope's heart clenches, his words causing her to bite her lip. He wants her to come to Japan. He wants her to come with him. And more than that, she wants to come too. “Can I—-” she begins, her breath catching in her throat as their eyes meet again, his gaze soft and more vulnerable than she expects. “Can I think about it? I really want to— I just don’t know how work will take it.”

Colin releases a breath, the tension in his shoulders easing as his lips curve into a soft smile. “Yeah— Of course, whatever you want.” he murmurs, “It’s a really good thing we’re so good at texting, though”

“And phone calls,” she adds with a grin. “Kind of prepared us for this whole long-distance relationship thing.”

Colin doesn’t reply right away, his gaze locked on hers, something warm and unspoken flickering in his eyes. Without a word, he reaches out, his hands finding her waist and gently pulls her closer, the shift catching her off guard. “For now,” He whispers, leaning in to press his lips to hers. “Long distance for now.”

This time the kiss starts slow and deliberate like he’s savouring the taste of her, one hand sliding up her back pressing her closer still, while the other cups the side of her face, his thumb brushing over her cheek in a tender caress.

Penelope melts against him, her fingers tangling in the hair at the nape of his neck as she tilts her head, her lips parting to deepen the kiss, a soft sigh falling from her lips as he responds instantly, his tongue slipping forward to tangle with hers. 

Time seems to stand still as they explore each other with slow, sensual kisses, Penelope’s body feeling dizzy with desire as she runs her hands over every inch of skin she can get to. Over his firm abs, feeling the muscles contract under her fingertips, up his neck, his pulse thumping steadily under her thumb, across his jaw, the contrast of his stubble causing her to gasp as it comes into contact with her heated skin. It’s everything about him, his smile, the way his eyes watch her so tenderly, the way his hands roam over her body, sure and firm. 

His lips skim down her neck, gentle kisses brushed against her throat until he’s slipping his mouth down to claim her nipple, drawing the little bud between his lips, before moving to the next one. One for one, after all. 

Penelope arches into his touch, a soft moan escaping her lips as he lavishes his attention on her breasts, and really if this is what it’s like to make love, then she knows, that she’s never really done so before. Four years with Alfie and an almost engagement and it never, never , felt like this. Her fingers tighten in his hair, holding him closer as waves of pleasure course through her body, every brush of his lips and flick of his tongue sending sparks of electricity dancing across her skin.

His hands slide down to her hips, gripping firmly as he pulls her even closer against him, the length of him pressing against her thigh as her body thrums with anticipation. Slowly, deliberately, he begins to move against her, creating a delicious friction that has her gasping for breath.

“Colin,” she whimpers, her voice breathy and filled with need, only to further fall when he slowly slides his hand between her thighs, two fingers dipping between her folds as his rough voice cuts into the silence around them “Love, you are so wet” and his words, his words are like dirt and coffee and cement on a hot day and every other descriptive word to describe what it sounds like to be overcome.

She whimpers at the words, her eyes fluttering shut as emotion overcomes her, because fuck, she’s in love with him. She’s so fucking in love with him she can barely look at him for fear of the words falling out of her mouth. She’s so in love with him she can see everything he spoke about and more, she can see birthdays, and Christmas and puppies and holidays and a wedding and—-

His fingers move with expert precision, teasing and stroking as Penelope’s hips buck against his hand and she’s lost in the sensation, every nerve ending alight with pleasure as Colin’s lips find hers again, swallowing her moans as he continues to play her body like some perfectly learned instrument. 

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmurs against her skin, peppering kisses along her jaw. “So perfect” and Penelope can barely form coherent thoughts, let alone words, his movements only one part of the reason why. 

His fingers curl inside her, finding that spot that makes her see white and she cries out, digging her nails into her shoulder as she clings to him, the feeling of Colin’s gaze watching her intently, taking it to a whole new level. 

“Need you inside” She manages to whimper between thrusts of his fingers, as she writhes against the soft sheets. 

Slowly, almost torturously so, Colin straightens up, his fingers slipping from her dripping folds to take hold of her hand, guiding it to his length. “I need you to see what you do to me, Pen. How much I want you” he whispers, against her lips as her fingers tremble around him. “Never felt this way before. It’s never felt like this”

She’s about to respond, about to say something when he suddenly flips their positions, rolling onto his back before he lifts her up over him, positioning her so she’s straddling his waist. And then he’s speaking again. “So fucking pretty”

And it’s a good thing really that they’re already naked and don’t need condoms because Penelope doesn’t think she could wait another moment. She hovers above him, her thighs trembling with anticipation as she feels the tip of him brush against her entrance, Colin’s hands gripping her hips and steadying her as their eyes lock.

“Ready?” he asks softly, his voice rough with desire but still filled with something that kind of feels emotional despite itself. 

Penelope nods, unable to find her voice as she slowly sinks down onto him, gasping at the stretch and fullness. 

Colin groans, his fingers tightening on her hips as she takes him inch by inch until he’s fully sheathed inside her.

The sensation is overwhelming, almost too much, yet not enough at the same time, and God, she just wants all of him, wants everything he’ll give her, for as long as he’ll do so. She thinks maybe, from the way he’s looking at her, his gaze tender and warm and something else entirely that feels like a promise— that he feels that too,

Slowly she begins to move, rocking her hips experimentally as Colin’s hands guide her gently, encouraging her as they both find a rhythm that feels good until he’s drawing his hips back to push deeper as she braces her hands on his chest, his heart thumping under fingertips.

“God, Pen,” Colin groans, his voice broken with pleasure. “You feel so good, love, so good”

His words almost take her out, the way he’s so responsive but encouraging as if he needs her to know how much she means to him— It’s what makes him, him— It’s what she never dared to dream she could have.

Penelope increases the pace, rolling her hips in a way that spends sparks of pleasure shooting through her body as Colin matches her, thrust for thrust and really that would be enough to have her seeing stars and falling off the edge, but it’s Colin and he’s perfect so suddenly his thumb is pressing against her clit between them, circling agonisingly slow as he picks up his speed, the dual combination causing her to cry out before she can even figure out what’s happening. 

And it’s kind of beautiful, the way that there is nothing between them but pants and groans and whispers of names passed between lips that are almost touching as their bodies build towards release. 

Pen rolls her hips again, Colin’s thrust hitting deeper and causing her head to fall to his shoulder where she nips at the freckles he has there. The movement snaps something in Colin, a sudden intensity coming over him as he uses one hand on her hip to help guide Pen’s body up and down, the other hand threading into her hair to hold her head to the side, allowing his lips to attack her neck right under her ear.  

Pen lets out a cry, her eyes closing as she feels him meet her with thrusts that are at just the perfect angle to have the friction against her sensitive nub driving her closer to her own orgasm. She can’t remember the last time she was confident enough to ride her partner, but Colin whispering how beautiful and sexy she is between them and the build-up of friction against her clit is making this beyond anything she’s ever experienced. 

Penelope feels herself nearing the edge, her muscles tensing as pleasure builds within her. Colin’s thrusts become more erratic, his grip on her hip tightening as he senses her climax approaching. “Let go, love” he murmurs against her ear, his voice rough with desire, “I’ve got you”

His words combined with a particularly deep thrust, send them almost careening over the edge, her body shuddering as Colin drops one hand from her ass to slide between them, moving his thumb to circle her bundle of nerves. He speeds up again and again, drawing his hips back and rocking them forward until the pace is so steady and urgent that she forgets how to breathe. Her reaction is enough to take him to the next level, his chin tilting forward as his mouth drops to wrap around one of her nipples, his teeth grazing in a way that has her falling over the edge, his name escaping from his name in a shape and loud cry as her body spasms around him. 

“Oh fuck, Pen, Fuck, yes.” Colin gasps, holding her hips as he stills, his own orgasm slamming into him. She feels the way he tightens, pulsing inside of her and then the release, everything filling her up in a way that has her whimpering with pleasure as they both catch their breath.  

When she feels like she can finally breathe she pulls off, both of them whining at the loss. 

She’s positively drained, her eyes beginning to feel hooded as they lay against the covers, limbs tangled together, a comfortable silence between them.

“Nap?” he asks, voice absolutely wrecked. 

“Nap” she whispers, tucking her head against her chest.

December 24th - 8:36 PM

<3

FIN