Once I had showered, I headed out to the deck. Slow music was serenading through the speakers, and Tudor was in the Jacuzzi, head back and lapping up the heat.

I slid in next to him, causing him to stir and hiss through teeth. "I approve of the attire." Or lack thereof!

He handed me a glass of bubbly, and we clinked our glasses with an obligatory 'cheers'.

He didn’t meet my eyes. “Tudor!”

He jerked at my shriek and spilt his drink in the water. He looked completely on edge. “What?”

I shook my head in anger. “You didn’t meet my eyes! Bloody hell, it must be the only time since I’ve met you that you haven’t bored holes into these peepers!”

He started laughing. “I love looking into your big chocolate eyes, but why are you getting all worked up about it now?”

I let out a frustrated ‘Argh!’ “Because, if you don’t make eye contact when you toast then you get seven years bad sex,” I nodded with wide eyes and pursed lips, conveying the seriousness of the situation.

Tudor lunged for the bottle of prosecco, filling our glasses to the rim. “Quick, quick, Sunshine, look deep into my eyes… not around them but right at them. You ready...? Cheers.”

I giggled, clinking my glass against his. “Cheers.”

I moved to sit opposite him and placed down my glass, still euphoric at our newly-expressed relationship status and how relaxed he seemed to be in my presence.

Tudor set down his drink, standing slightly so I could catch a glimpse of the left, tattoo-laden cheek of his arse. He sat back down, and his arms dropped under the bubbling water, where I felt fingers grip my feet and move upwards as he grasped my ankles, making me yelp, pulling me forward through the water until I was situated on his lap. "There, that's better." He seemed very pleased with himself.

My eyes pulled tightly into a squint, trying to expel the water. "You could have just asked me to come over to you. You didn't have to dunk me." I scolded.

He intertwined his fingers around my back and answered, "Now where's the fun in that? Now come here, I've missed your lips. And I want to cash in on our seven years of good sex."

I leaned in close, nipping his mouth before allowing him to engulf me. After several heated minutes, I pulled back and stroked his shaved head. "Tudor?”

He smiled in suspicion. “Yes?”

“Since we met, I’ve had these feelings for you, and now, well, I feel a lot more. Having you here, with me, is just..." I stared off towards the sky unable to finish that sentence.

He smiled and kissed the back of my hand. "Me too, gorgeous."

I didn’t look his way, causing him to pull a frown. He put his finger on my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. "What is it?"

"Well, we have slept together a couple of times now–”

“And will do so again, soon,” he interrupted.

I play-punched his arm. “… and agreed to be exclusive. But I feel I don't know anything about you really. How bad is that? I'm acting like a right slut!" I pressed my head down on his shoulder, and banged it repeatedly, groaning, “My father would kill me!” like a mantra.

I heard chuckling beneath me. "I for one am glad you are slutty with me, only me, and you're mighty good at it too. But I disagree on you not knowing me. I am more myself with you than I am with my own family. You make me happy, something I haven’t been in such a long time. You make everything better. You make me a better man. Does that sound a bit cheesy?”

I shook my head and hugged him hard as I batted my lashes, acting coy.

He grinned at my playful antics. “And as for not knowing the details, here's your chance."

I raised my head so quickly that I almost got whiplash. "Really?"

"Really," he affirmed.

"Okay. Mmm... let’s start easy. Favourite colour?"

"Blue. Yours?"

"Pink. Favourite movie?"

"Spartacus. Yours?"

"The Breakfast Club. Favourite food?"

"Pizza. Yours?"

"Same, or fish and chips, or a Sunday roast, or pancakes – bugger it, I have a long list!"

He laughed at me and announced that it was his turn. "Biggest turn-on in a man?"

"Monogamy, muscles, shaved heads and tattoos." He smiled and punched a celebratory fist in the air.

I ignored it, "You?"

"Mmm, let me think. I suppose a five o'clock shadow and a defined chest?"

I tweaked one of his ni**les.