Time After Time

I fell in love with you the moment that we met

And til the end of time, I never will forget

I lose it every time I'm close to you
Kylie soddin' Minogue. Well, she was cute for a dwarf, but Dennis hated her songs. So why was he smiling as he went into the kitchen and wrapped himself around Sharon, who sang along right up until the moment she felt his breath against her ear.
"Alright?"
"Mmmm."
Under your spell, you know there's nothing I can do.
He kissed her neck and she whimpered as his lips came against the dying red mark that lay there.
"Don't."
"Does it still hurt?"
"No. Just, don't."
He blinked steadily. Aha, he was right then.



"Sharon-"



Catching her hand as she moved away, she came against his chest from an unintentional spin, and suddenly they were dancing, right there in the middle of their kitchen.
Please stay, my babe

Who knows when we'll dance again?



"What happened between you and Kate then?" she asked, not even thinking to pull back from him. Dancing had become second nature now.
Pushing out a small sigh, he replied; "Right, I didn't flirt with her, I didn't touch her, I didn't kiss her-" Ouch, that was a lie. Ah well, he wasn't gonna show himself up by correcting himself now "-and I didn't sleep with her."
Sharon blinked at him in astonishment and Dennis was relieved to see a smile emerge from the corner of her mouth. "I didn't think you had, but it's nice to know."
"So.... what....?"
"She's guessed though hasn't she? About you and me?"
"Yeah. Yeah, she has. Oh baby, don't look so scared; she said she was happy for us."
From no matter what to no regret

I'll do all that I can just to get you

To stay, my babe.

Who knows when we'll dance again?
Her arms fell away from around his neck, and she sighed heavily. "Yeah right. Just like Vicki's gonna be happy for us? Like Dad?"
I don't wanna say goodbye

But who knows where we'll be after tonight?
"Hey, hey! Stop! This isn't about them. Kate knows that, she won't say anything. I know it's gonna be hard, I know, but I love you, and that's all that matters."
"Promise?"
"Swear it." As she smiled, almost in relief at him, he let the urge to dive on her lips overcome him and kissed her fiercely, sucking on her bottom lip and finally meeting her tongue.
Slipping her hand into his, she pulled gently, but all she received in reply was a moan against her kiss, so she pulled back and heard another, the annoyance evident in the sound.
"There's.... there's no-one here..."
"So....?" he coaxed, knowing she had more to say.
"So.... what do you think?" she grinned, her eyes sparkling tellingly as she took his lips again.
Dennis knew perfectly well what he was meant to think. Take her upstairs, make love to her.... But the stairs were a trial he was loathe to face when the urgency of the moment beat inside him so desperately, when he couldn't bear to be away from her insistent mouth for more than a second.. So he kissed her deeper, his tongue flooding her mouth, making her whimper and moan. She came against the door with a squeal of pain that he siphoned away, and she suddenly realised she wouldn't be leaving this room at all as he began to pull at her dress, whispering how much he wanted her.
She couldn't form the words to reply before he was inside her, pushing her harder against the door as he thrust. On her part at least, it wasn't so much want as need.
There's nothing stopping us

You don't have to go

The night is young for us

There's more we need to know

I lose it every time I'm close to you

Under your spell, you know there's nothing I can do.

The morning sunlight was barely strong enough to penetrate the curtains, but still Dennis awoke at the inane hour of eight and found that Sharon was no longer lying beside him. He groaned in frustration as he rolled over, the warmth she had left behind enveloping him. He was missing her already, her perfume still lingering in the air, teasing him. And he wondered, just for a moment if he was dreaming. Was Sharon his? Had he really held her in his arms all night, or was he so desperate for that to be the truth that he had imagined it? Groaning again as he pulled himself up, resting on his elbows and wiping the sleep from his eyes, he reasoned that was probably right. Why would she want him?
You only hold me up like this

Cos you don't know who I really am

Sometimes, I just want to know what it's like to be you.
But as his vision cleared, he saw red smears on the pillow next to his. His eyes snapped open in alarm. Was that blood? With a huge, heaving sigh of relief, he realised it was lipstick. Sharon's lipstick. And they weren't smears - they were words, clumsily formed ones at that, but this was lipstick for Christ's sake, what was he meant to expect other than this desperate scrawl?
LOVE YOU.
It hit him square in the chest. He wasn't dreaming.
We're sleeping through all our memories

I used to waste my time dreaming of being alive

(Now I only waste it dreaming of you)
He leapt up and pulled on clothes he barely registered, looking over his shoulder at the pillow and grinning like a loon before rushing out of the house and sprinting across the Square. Not a single greeting registered, though many came. He rushed straight to the club, and found practically everyone that was on the books stringing up fairylights and blowing up balloons or putting centrepieces on the tables.
"Leigh," he murmured, tapping the girl with the long blonde ponytail on the shoulder. She turned obediently, and Dennis smiled. She was cute, about twenty and had been working here for about four months - it was only recently she had stopped blushing every time Dennis spoke to her. "where's Sharon?"
"Office." she replied, passing a balloon up the ladder to Guy. "She's trying to work out what dress to wear tonight."
"Right, thanks."
"Dennis?"
"Yeah?"
"Tell her the black one. She looks incredible, but she didn't believe me."
"Right, OK. Thanks, Leigh."
He smiled at her and noticed the tiniest flush of her cheeks as she turned away. Laughing quietly, Dennis lifted his hand and knocked on the door.
All that met him from within was an aggravated cry of "Oh for fuck's sake! Leigh, get in here, this is so not working!"
So Dennis slid into the room, squinting against the artificial light. There was Sharon, evidently having been here for hours and not realising that daylight was here. She was trying to yank up the zip of a lilac dress, all its folds sweeping down to the floor. He gawped for a moment and then drew attention to himself by flicking off the light. Sharon looked up with a huff and said "Hmph, you don't look much like Leigh to me."
"Don't tell me you're disappointed?"
Her features softened, giving way to a smile. "No, of course not-" And in the same breath, she screamed, pulling at the zip again and stamping her foot. Dennis laughed, and she glared at him. "Bloody hell Dennis, why didn't you tell me I was so fat?"
"Because you're not!"
"Well, this zip ain't going anywhere is it?"
"Hey!" He rushed over, planting an encouraging kiss on her shoulder. "Just relax OK?" Her shoulders immediately sank. Dennis took the zip from her quivering hands and slid it with ease the rest of the way up. "There."
"Oh finally!" she gasped, throwing her head back and pulling her hands through her hair before meeting his eye again, flinging her arms helplessly before they slapped against her thighs again.
"Well? What do you think?"


He looked her up and down appreciatively. But Sharon barely noticed.
"It's not right is it?"
"It's not that.... just - the black one?"
She stared doubtfully. "It's backless."
"So? You'll look gorgeous."
"Don't look at me like that!" she warned, suppressing a smile as she saw the way he was looking at her; trying to plead and only succeeding in undressing her with his eyes.
"Go on. Try it again. For me?"
Smirking at him, she pulled down the zip and the dress pooled at the floor. Dennis looked her up and down again, his eyes sparkling with untold lust, particularly at the sight of her bare breasts. "Of course, you could always stay like that-"
"Don't push it Dennis!"
"Then don't tempt me!"
And he settled back against the wall, happily observing every moment of her hips, every curve and every look that came his way as she stooped to pick up the dress and then slipped into the black one, hiding one slender leg and then the other, before sliding it like a glove up over her hips and then her breasts, pulling the halterneck strap over her head and straightening it against her shoulders. She shook her head, and her hair tumbled down and the curls at the ends bounced lightly as they reached there too. Bringing down her hands, she smoothed out imaginary creases and, finally satisfied, showcased the dress to her lover.
"Well?"
When he didn't say anything - he didn't quite know how to do this vision justice, she apprehensively turned on the spot, and Dennis suddenly understood what Leigh had meant. The dress clung to her in a way that drew all attention down the flawless sweep of her tanned back and then to that beautiful behind. The definite wiggle she had perfected as she walked made sure you could not hope to remove your gaze, unless tempted further by those deliciously long legs, and Dennis definitely was. He just didn't know where to look first. It almost constituted torture.
"Well.... I-" He finally began, but when Sharon realised there was nothing more to come, she glanced over her shoulder and saw those wide eyes and that beautiful gasping mouth, all directed decidedly lower than her gaze.
"Glad to see you approve darlin'. So is this one it then?"
And she turned round, hoping that he'd manage at least a one syllable answer, but he was too captivated by the way the halterneck strap meant her breasts were held to even manage that in one breath.
"Y-Y-Yes. Definitely."
Beaming, she rushed at him, crushing herself against him as his mouth mashed with hers, each of them desperate to be the first to take the other's mouth. With that battle lost, Sharon forced Dennis' legs apart, pressing her knee into his groin and delighting in the moan that that brought forward.
Turn off the lights and turn off the shyness

Cos all of our moves make up for the silence
"Did you get my message?" she panted, pulling mere millimetres back from the lips that weren't prepared to let her go.
And, oh, the way your make-up stains my pillowcase

Like I'll never be the same.
"Yes." he told her, his hands sliding under her dress and his fingers slipping past her sodden underwear and against her throbbing clit. "Question is, are you getting mine?"
As he worked harder against her, she released a desperate moan, tilting her head back against the wall and revelling in the pleasures he was choosing to bestow upon her. She was pretty much helpless, bucking against his fingers.
"Jesus! Mmmm, Dennis, what are you....ohhh! God, that feels so-"
And as she tried her best not to scream, biting down hard on her lip, Dennis nuzzled at her neck, his fingers sliding in and out of her easily, lubricated liberally by her wetness. Sharon gasping out her orgasm translated into the shuddering in his groin as her knee flinched continually against him.
I've got headaches and bad luck, but they couldn't touch you, no

I've got headaches and bad luck, but they couldn't touch you, no

I'm not trying.... you only hold me up like this.
As she recovered - Dennis rather upset to hear her moans die away - she kissed him fiercely, making him wince as she bit down on his lip rather than sucking it gently to permit the admission of her tongue to his mouth, clinging to him as he did to her, his glistening fingertips lifting her a fraction away from the wall and into his arms, being the only thing that stopped the ridges of her spine making uncomfortable contact with the rough surface of the wall she was steadied against. The gasp he heard from her as he moved back from her told him she would never be done with his lips, anticipation stirring inside.
"Happy Valentine's, Sharon."
Turn off the lights and turn off the shyness

Cos all of our moves make up for the silence

And, oh, the way your make-up stains

Like I'll never be the same.


It was Dennis who left first, silencing Sharon's protests by telling her that she had a lot to organise for the ball and he had something to go do anyway. It didn't help being reminded that the night she had been planning since the New Year celebrations were over was in less than twelve hours. She'd shouted at more people than she cared to realise and was only just stopped clambering up a ladder to secure the lights to the wall herself by Guy insisting she go and get a cup of tea from the caff - the air was apparently going to do her good. She doubted him massively, and gave him an odd look as she left... she was sure she'd seen the glimmer in his eye in another face.
As she staggered through the market; cursing as she stepped right into the potholes fumbling with her purse, there came the revving of an engine that purred with ease as it rattled down Bridge Street. Sharon nearly jumped out of her skin as a voice behind her, preceded by evident slowing up, said
"Ever wondered what it feels like going seventy miles an hour with the wind blowing through your hair?"
Guffawing, Sharon straightened her back and let his voice wash over her. Before she could turn, she heard a low whistle from the traders behind her. Her stomach wriggled in anticipation - what could they see that she could not?
"What's this Dennis - mid-life crisis mate?" Martin cried out. The amusement was evident in the tone of his voice. Sharon could bear it no longer, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. So she turned round, and immediately realised where else she had seem that glimmer. Her jaw fell without her even realising. Dennis chuckled and observed her features, leaning a little to the side.
There he was, confidently astride a motorbike, resting against the gleaming handlebars, bemusement playing on his lips. Something stirred deep in the pit of Sharon's stomach as she registered the weak sunlight bouncing off the leather jacket hanging off his back. Oh God....
"Dennis!" she began nervously, aware that at least three dozen pairs of eyes were on her at this moment, "What the hell is this?"
He laughed again and swung his leg round the structure to the floor in a moment. Sharon flinched, he seemed way too at ease. He stepped around her, leaning close, his breath sweeping up her neck.
"This.... is part of your present."
"My...?" she stammered as he drew back. "What makes you think I'm gonna...."
"I was joking about the seventy miles an hour!" he grinned, settling back against the bike, folding his arms across his chest, the leather straining over the definite muscles in his arms that made her stomach wriggle again. "I meant eighty obviously!"
"No way! No fucking way!"
He snorted out another laugh, resting his chin against his chest.
"Where the hell did you-"
"S'Tony's." he shrugged. He straightened up and came fowards, leaning in towards her ear, whispering "C'mon baby, don't you trust me?"
"Why should I?"
"Because you know you wan' a ride."
Staring at the floor and knowing that a smirk to rival his was fighting its way across her lips, she shook her head, dispersing a throaty laugh. "If I break my neck..."
"You won't - I'll protect you I promise."
"Hmm.... that's what I was afraid of..."


Their onlookers burst into spoteneous rounds of applause as Sharon lifted her leg over the bike and settled herself. God, she never thought she'd have been so glad to be wearing trousers - this was uncomfortable! But still she smiled across at Dennis, waiting for him to join her. He grinned, and she caught a flicker of suggestion in his eyes. She suddenly felt nervous, not just because she was going to find herself wound around him, scared for her life, but because she didn't know what he was taking her towards.
"Ready for this?" he asked her, suddenly so close that the warmth of the sunlight dancing across his jacket was burning deliciously into her own skin.
Shaking her fringe from her eyes, she glanced at him nervously. "You do know what you're doing right?"
"I'm not gonna hurt you! Just enjoy it.... and hold on!"



So they roared out of the Square, Sharon unable to help but feel that something was going to go wrong. Her spine instinctively went rigid, and she tried to ignore the inquisitive looks of her friends and neighbours.... after all, wasn't suddenly becoming her own brother's decoration a bit off? She couldn't really bring herself to think on that much as they picked up speed. God, she was scared, and at the same time, she was so excited. He'd been right - she had always wondered what this felt like. Pretty good by all accounts.
As they left Walford behind, her shoulders seemed to relax of their own accord and she nestled against his back, her arms wound tight around his hips, and her fingers drumming lazily into his lap, and it made her giggle as she received little gasping moans in response to her restlessness.
"Mmmm, I like this." she murmured. He felt so warm, and although she was snuggled up to him like she couldn't have a care in the world, every turn made the knot in her stomach tighten and her legs twitch, adrenaline pounding through her much like the blood in her ears, that were in turn bitten by the force of the winds rushing past them - and quite logically, through her hair, lifting it from her shoulders like streamers. The sensation was.... it was incredible, and she wondered why she had only just bothered to chase the experience.
Without a thought in her head, Sharon leant back, her hair tumbling down her back as the wind swept over her face, almost kissing her skin; viciously of course, her eyes watering, but the adrenaline did not give.
Straightening her back and squealing as they rounded another corner and leant precariously to the left, she realised that her hold around Dennis' middle must have been uncomfortably tight. Breathing deeply in and out, she told herself to relax, a little - perhaps a little more vocally than she had intended as a laugh bubbled from Dennis' lips. Whacking him playfully with the back of her hand and silencing him, she edged further up against him, kissing just below his frozen ear.
"I love you y'know."
"Really?"
"Yep."
"Even when I do.... this?"
He leant forward, and they seemed to be going at least twice as fast almost instantly. Screaming in surprise and delight at the same time, not knowing which would win out; she clung desperately on, aware that her nails were clawing at his hips and taking just a moment to conclude that it was his own fault!
"Stop it! Dennis, you bastard!"
He laughed. "Awww darlin', I thought you loved me?"
"I'll love you a lot less mangled!"
"Charming!"


He was somewhat reluctant to slow up, even though he knew he had to now. Sharon however seemed to breathe a sigh of apparent relief, and got off in a moment. But she wasn't about to protest or run so it seemed. She stared at Dennis, her big and beautiful eyes glittering. He scooted back and she took up his position, grasping the handlebars. His thumbs dug in just above her navel as he splayed his hands across her stomach, encouraging her to lean back against him.
"Ignition's there, Sharon." He spoke warmly into her ear, his warm breath tickling her lobe. But she was too content in his arms to even register it.
"Mmm, funny!"
"Y'know, you make an incredible biker chick."
"A chick?" she echoed scornfully. "Dennis, when I was a chick, you weren't even hatched."
"Ah. True. I keep forgetting I'm your toyboy, see-" He sighed dramatically. "Christ, I feel so used."
"Oh, my poor baby! Gratuitous sex is such a burden isn't it?"
"Completely."
She tilted her head back against his chest and he beamed down at her as she asked;
"Wanna stop then? I'd hate to think-"
"Then don't." he cut in quickly, pressing his lips down on hers. First time he'd ever kissed anyone upside down - it didn't work out too well either, and Sharon was giggling almost immediately. He wasn't far behind her, chuckling as he straightened his back.
"Love you." he said gently, pushing the hair back from her face.
"Don't lie to me Rickman. I know what you really want me for now don't I?"
"Well yeah, but...." he began awkwardly, before reverting to the blistering smile that exploded across his lips and made Sharon's stomach flip. "....I love you."
"Oh, get lost!" she laughed, elbowing him in the stomach.
"Whattya gonna do? Hitchhike? Motorway's about a mile that way Sharon, good luck in them shoes!"
But he knew she wasn't going to make any effort to move, tightening his grip around her and rocking her playfully side to side, causing the bike to wobble dangerously and for Sharon to squeal.
"Dennis! Stop it.... for God's sake!"
"Fine - you coming then?" He dropped a kiss on her head and lifted his leg, standing up. He turned and offered Sharon his hand so she could wriggle off. So there they stood, in the middle of a car park, clutching one another's hands. He was gazing intently at her, the sunlight playing on his face. He was making her nervous.
"What?"
He dropped her hands as he smiled back at her, his own hands coming up and framing her face, whispering; "So incredible." before his mouth came against hers, his tongue teasing apart her lips for a moment. As he pulled gently back, she fell slightly forwards, groaning at the injustice.
"C'mon, I wanna show this place...." And he put his arm protectively across her shoulders. She stood frozen for a moment, and he stared questioningly at her, waiting for her to speak, but she smiled, shaking it away and slipping her arm underneath his jacket, able to feel all the muscles in his back press against her.


As they went across the car park and entered the garden, Sharon looked up, surveying her surroundings and not being entirely sure whether to be amazed or annoyed.
"Dennis....?" she began slowly, looking at him out the corner of her eye.
"I know..... just another pub right?"
"Well..." She struggled for the words. She hadn't been expecting to be overwhelmed or anything, but....
She stopped herself. She was being so ungrateful. He obviously had his reasons, and from the outside, it was extremely pretty. For February, the flowerbeds were extremely bright, pinks, purples, red and oranges just a few of the colours that leapt out at her, rockeries peppering the vast lawn, that itself stretched out towards the quaint little building itself. The tables were set out, the parasols billowing a little against the gentle winds, This, in turn, drew Sharon's attention to the stairs leading up to a little terrace that was evidently a lot newer than the rest of the building. A couple more tables were set up there too, giving you a fantastic view of the rest of the grounds, presumably so parents could spy on their kids on the swings.
"Wanna drink?"
"Yeah, go on."
And they walked up towards the pub, passing a little group of women hunched over red wine muttering about being Internet widows. Sharon smiled bemused as she ducked under Dennis' arm through the door, feeling his arm come heavily against her shoulders again as they stepped into the pub. Instinctively, although she did not mean it, she pulled away, trying to shrug off his arm. But he would not let up.
"Sharon, relax, no-one in here knows who we are.... it doesn't matter.... no-one's gonna judge us alright? We can do what the hell we want."
As he squeezed her shoulders, she let out a sigh of relief and smiled. God, she felt stupid. He was right, of course he was.
"I'm sorry baby."
"S'alright. What you drinking?" he asked, leaning against the bar.
"Surprise me." she replied sweetly, stepping back. "I'm just gonna go to the little girls room."
And she weaved her way across the room, glancing back at him as she came to the door of the ladies. God, he really was beautiful. Even if she was to forget the way his hair always looked like he'd just dragged himself out of bed (which of course, had more often than not been the truth these past couple of weeks!) and the way it curled perfectly around her inquisitive fingers, there was still those twinkling eyes, those ever smirking lips, always daring you to kiss him. The way he was leant across the bar meant that his jeans were straining over his perfect arse, and it was true, it was perfect, and Sharon knew that she wasn't going to be the only person there that couldn't help but admire it.
Was she mad, wanting to make it look like she wasn't with him? Rushing into the toilets and staring determinedly at her own reflection in the mirror, she decided that, undoubtedly, yes she was! So she stood tall and turned around, the door creaking in protest as she slid out into the comforting familiarity of the pub. The familiarity of the beaten carpet trapping the smoke so that it was always around you, the smell of stale ale soaked into the very foundations of the place, the buzz of undecipherable chatter, and clanking of glasses.... everything about it was familiar except the people. Dennis was right.... they didn't know who she was, they didn't care... they weren't going to judge her.
She reached out, her fingers brushing against his arm and catching his attention. The half smile stretched out as he realised it was her, straightening as he turned to face her.
"Alright?"
"I will be."
Confusion washed over his beautiful face, adoration beating against Sharon's chest, and, framing his face with her hands, she forced herself against his lips, drawing him in close. He had to lean foward to keep with her, his arms coming up from his sides to hold her tight and as he replied, biting down on her lip just enough so she would wince into his kiss and impart her lips. But she had already figured his plan and claimed dominance first, taking his mouth and slowly probing his tongue with hers.
She heard the astounded clunk of pint glasses crashing down on the tables. But there was no silence, nothing to make her spin go rigid with fear as it would have if she had been stood in the bar of the Vic. In fact, what came was a loud whistle of appreciation for the spectacle that made her laugh gently, sending teasing pulses through his mouth.
As she edged back, she saw that his eyes were closed, savouring the moment, shaking as though he was just that little bit stunned. God, why was he so perfect?
"Wh-What was that for?"
She smirked.
"Because I can do what the hell I want."
"Oh really?"
"Uh huh. And I want.... you."

Climbing into ones of the benches on the lawn, Dennis dug his elbows into the table, staring across at Sharon, who was swirling her finger lazily round in her cocktail, her shoulders hunched, enjoying the albeit weak rays of the sun.
"Mmmm, this is so nice. Thanks for bring me here darlin'."
"Yeah...." he muttered, lowering his eyes. "S'Just a pub."
"No! How can it be "just a pub" when I get to snog your face off in front of all these people?"
"True!" he mused, coming closer and closer to her lips as he leant over the table. "That wasn't a bad moment was it? Highlight of my day in fact."
"Ohhh, I bet it was!"
The corners of his mouth lifted so far up that it seemed as though he was going to manage to split his own lips, but instead, busied himself by scuttling his hand across the table and curling it around her hand, entwining their fingers and squeezing gently.
Crimson creeping into her cheeks, she ran her tongue around her own lips and said, "You... er, you look really good you know."
"Think so do you?"
"Ohhh yeah!" she shot back, gently sucking in her cheeks, and raising her other hand to lazily trace circles in his sleeve with her fingertip. "There's definitely something about a bloke in leather!"
"Knew it." he grinned, clicking his fingers triumphantly. "You're a biker chick through and through!"
"Guess I could be!" she giggled, slurping the liquid from her fingertip.
"As long as you're mine...."
"You didn't think I was gonna leave you unattended did you? Dennis, you'd have been having it away with everyone in that bar if you'd leant any further forward!"
Bowing his head, he let out a shuddering laugh. "That really don't bear thinking about, darlin'."
"Put a pretty image in your head though di'n't it?"
"I was alright with the one in front of me!"
"Oh really?"
"Yes, really, but now I can't bear to look at you... you're sick."
"Mmmm. And that is exactly why you love me!"
And she flicked a few droplets of the cocktail at him, leaning over and wiping them against his nose laughing.
"Christ, you're so juvenile!" he cried, flapping her away.
"Oh, I am? Then maybe you should stay in your own room tonight eh?"
"Oh no." he murmured, shaking his head. "No way."
"Then tell me you love me."
Cracking his knuckles and making Sharon wince, though her smile did not falter, he straightened up and countered, "Tell me you'll sleep with me."
She slumped back, laughing hysterically. Her face was flushed, and she was undecided what to do with her hands, flapping them about as she tried to regulate her breathing and then covering her mouth to smother the sound. "You're awful! It really is about sex for you isn't it?"
"No. No, it's not, but you have to admit, it's pretty damn good-"
She nodded, swallowing a whole new wave of blasting laughter, trying to compose herself. "-even if you do say so yourself!"
Winking, he knocked back the rest of his drink, slamming the glass down again. "Want another?"
She stared at him, raising her eyebrow suggestively as she lifted her glass and glugged back the remainder of the liquid questioning "Who can resist Sex On The Beach?" before pushing her glass towards him. He took it, swinging his leg over the bench.
"I don't know, fancy a trip down Southend to find out?"
"Not funny!"

When he got back, Sharon had wandered across the lawn and was settled on a garden swing, just off from the kids play area, kicking off gently from the floor and wiggling her toes as she moved.
"Having fun?" Dennis teased, gesturing that he had the drinks, setting them down on the ground and flopping down next to her, his arm falling across her shoulders.
"I am now." she replied, nestling against his chest, swinging her legs up alongside her and leaving the force of movement to the tapping of Dennis' foot as they moved forwards and then back.
As she sighed heavily, Dennis looked concernedly to her, pulling her closer. "What is it?"
She dropped her hand against his thigh, tracing patterns with her fingertip. "Nothing... it's just... this is too-"
"Rusty?" he offered, noting the creaking of the structure.
She gave him a tight smile. "-too perfect. I wish it could be like this all the time..."
"Oh, baby, I know." He took her hand, entwining their fingers and kissing her hair. "One day eh?"
"One day soon?"
"Name your day. Can't wait to tell everyone..."
"Don't say it like that." she whispered weakly. "It's not gonna be easy."
"I know that too. But as long as I have you, I can take it. I can take anything."
"Oh I don't know." she continued, teasing him. "Pauline's pretty lethal with a frying pan-"
His laughter drifted over Sharon like silk, awakening her every sense and making her skin tingle.
"Let her try."
"I couldn't. She'd hurt you, and I love you too much to let anything happen to you."
Dennis could feel his cheeks flush as she dropped her head into his lap, wriggling round onto her back, shrieking as the swing moved beneath her, but smiling up at him as she settled, her stomach flipping as those beautiful eyes searched her face.
"I don't know what I did to deserve you." he murmured lovingly, pushing wisps of hair back from her face.
"Well maybe you'll just have to do it tonight eh?"
He groaned, lifting his hand from Sharon's hair and scrunching it into a fist. "The Ball!"
"Yeah...?" she said slowly, before letting out a nervous laugh. "Dennis, you knew that-"
"I don't wanna.... bloody hell... the dancing...."
"Hey hey, what happened to feeling like "that bloke outta Dirty Dancing"?"
"Shut up!" he smirked, pulling on strands of her hair. "I... I... dance with you.... I don't wanna be making a fool of myself with random bloody strangers!"
"Oh, but you're the club's biggest attraction!"
"Piss off!" he laughed.

"Well darlin', are you blind? You can dance! They're gonna love you!"
"I don't want them to love me... I want you to."
"You know I do."
But he ignored her, pouting. "I won't get to dance with you will I? Between being your "biggest attraction" and making it look like I'm into every woman there when she only wants me for my cock-"
"Well don't we all?"
"Stop it!" he demanded, pulling on her hair again as she creased into fits of giggles. "Dirty cow, I meant cocktails!" He was trying to sound angry, but he gave himself away with the look on his face, his lips stretched out into a smirk as he tried to hold back a burst of laughter.
"Course you did baby. But you and me both know that they ain't the only thing you can shake!"
"Sharon!"
Striking her lightly on the top of her head with the flat of his hand, she sang out an exaggerated "Owww!" as she struggled into an upright position.
"I... wanna be able to touch you and not have to worry about it... I mean, the other night, they were all wasted-"
Leaning forwards to retrieve her drink from the ground, Sharon gulped some back, gasping. "Agh - and they will be again if you're dishing these out!"
"Oh no, see-" he reached over and pulled the glass from her hand, cheekily taking a sip himself. "Sex On The Beach... well it's reserved for special people..."
She rolled her head back, cackling. It was infectious, and soon he was shaking with laughter too.
"You are such a dirty bastard!"
"Yeah well-" Tucking strands of her hair lazily behind her ear and revealing her lobe, he leant close and murmured "-it's just as well you're a special person."
"Oh well, I am honoured!" She pulled back from his arms, swinging her hair across her shoulders, raising a moan from behind her.
"See what I mean? How am I meant to spend all night with you tonight and not touch you when you look as good as this?"
Before she could question him, she felt his hot mouth kiss its way slowly down her neck, and instantly, the moan that had previously been his came from her own mouth, deep and lustful.
"So.... you wanna dance huh?"
"Maybe." he mumbled, not moving from his occupation against her skin.
"C'mon then!" She pulled on his hand and rose. He reluctantly let her pull him up and lead him across the lawn. She smiled as they weaved their way between the tables, people looking up with interest from their drinks and apparently muttering about the pair of them to their companions. They hadn't been forgotten just yet then. Sharon looked over her shoulder at Dennis, who was amused to find that having a woman kiss you in public (even when they didn't know she was your supposed sister!) could generate so much behind-the-hand gossiping.
But still he let her lead him, his gaze caught half between the grass he was covering as he walked and admiring her behind. Realising she was pulling him up the stairs towards the deserted terrace, nerves stirred in his stomach. She was gonna put them both on show... again. Kissing her publicly didn't worry him, nor had the idea of dancing before now, but these were strangers.
Oh f*ck, oh f*ck, oh f*ckity-f*cking-f*ck!
He tried to concentrate of something other than the inveitable, instead watching the delicious swing of her hips as she climbed the stairs, her hand gently sweeping up the banister.
He stepped up onto the terrace, taking in an apprehensive breath of air and rolling his shoulders back. Sharon was looking out across the whole lawn, laughing quietly to herself before spinning on her heel; and tilting her head flashed him just the smallest flicker of a smile, more suggestive than anything she had said or done all day. Dennis felt his stomach drop as she stepped up against him, the pads of her thumbs pressing into his jacket as she pulled him forward, bruising her lips against his.
"Wait here."


Sharon disappeared into the bar, leaving Dennis to shuffle nervously from one foot to the other, trying to dispel the idea that everyone down on the lawn was watching him. He didn't even dare raise his eyes from the floor, preferring to root pointlessly round in his pockets and wonder what it was Sharon was doing and when she would return. She was, he thought, not for a moment doubting her cruellness, probably going to gather an audience that consisted of everyone within a five mile radius, so she'd be an hour at least.
But she returned almost immediately, softly calling his name. As softly spoken as she was however, it didn't stop him whirling round in alarm, the knot extremely prominent in his stomach.
"Sh-Sharon... what's going on?"



A gentle laugh bubbled from her lips. "Well... if baby wants to dance, baby's gonna dance."
She strode across the terrace, lifting his quaking hand and slipping her fingers through. As if it was by some instinct now, his other hand seemed to fall against her hip. Gazing up into his face, she saw a nervous flicker of a smile.
"Uh... I know I haven't seen that film as many times as you have darlin', but I'm pretty sure that that ain't the guy..."
She stretched up on her toes and left a kiss just below his ear, whispering, "Shut up. Dance with me."
She nestled into his arms, swinging her hips, and was pleased to feel him move with her, their gazes not faltering from each other. He guffawed into her hair as he heard the otherwise gentle song float out onto the terrace, amplied massively by the abilities of the jukebox just off from the bar. Of course!
Pulling her hand high, she span underneath, her gaze still coming round and locking with his. She was totally capitivated by him.