Believe in This

“I lied, I’m not as in shape as I thought I was. Can we please stop and rest?”

Coming to a stop at the sound of Benedict’s labored breathing, I turned around to find him crouched over with his hands on his knees, attempting to catch his breath. Glancing up to see if I had stopped, he immediately walked over to the nearest bench and collapsed onto it. It took him a few minutes but eventually he caught his breath, regaining his ability to talk.

“How do you do this? We’ve been running for nearly an hour and I’m exhausted. We still have to make it back to the flat.”

“Whenever I get stressed I just put my shoes on and take off. Not only is it a stress reliever but it’s a great form of exercise. So I figured we could get lunch before going back.”

“Can we walk there?”

Laughing at his pleading tone, I nodded my head and we started on our journey to the small café just outside of the park. Sitting at one of the window seats, I ordered a water and Caesar salad while Benedict decided on a club sandwich with juice before we were left to wait for our food.

“So, our dinner reservations are for seven tonight.”

“Oh, I totally forgot about dinner. Well that gives me plenty of time for a shower and a nap. I miss having Matt around, he’s such a good cuddle buddy.”

Benedict seemed to be contemplating something for a few minutes before speaking, “Well I may not be the Doctor but I do believe I am in possession of subpar cuddling abilities.”

“You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into Mr. Cumberbatch. I am always in need of cuddling.”

“I’m up for the challenge.”

There was a gleam in Benedict’s eyes I couldn’t decipher as I looked at him, something that was slightly irritating to me as I prided myself on being able to decipher a person’s emotions. When we arrived back at the flat, both of us retreated to our rooms to wash the sweat off of our bodies. I opted to towel dry my hair instead of getting out a blow-dryer, putting on a large t-shirt and pair of leggings for comfort. Grabbing my Kindle I wandered into the kitchen for a bottle of water before settling down on the couch, having grabbed a pillow and blanket from my room beforehand. I had just turned on my Kindle when Benedict wandered in with his own book in hand.

“Still in need of some cuddling?”

Smiling widely at him, I nodded my head, my heart hammering nervously in my chest at the thought of being so close to him. I lifted my blanket up to allow him to slip under it and get settled. With a bit of maneuvering, Benedict was lying on the couch with my head resting on his shoulder and one of his hands draped across my back. The two of us settled down, my Kindle garnering my attention and Benedict’s book his own. I barely managed two chapters before my Kindle lightly landed on Benedict’s chest and my eyes closed. Later that night, after I begged Benedict to tell me where we were going and received no reply, I got all dressed up for our dinner. I chose a sensible pair of flats to go with my dress and slipped on my coat before meeting Benedict in the foyer.

“I hope this will suffice. I didn’t exactly know what to dress for since someone won’t tell me where we’re going.”

“You look gorgeous. You could wear a burlap sack to dinner and it would more than suffice.”

“You sure do know how to flatter a lady Mr. Cumberbatch.”

“Not just any lady, Ms. Hughes.”

Benedict hailed a cab outside of the apartment block to take us to dinner, pulling up outside of Laguna & Kitchen Bar. Taking my hand as we exited the cab, Benedict led me inside the restaurant, letting the hostess know he had a reservation. When he pulled my seat out for me at the table, I realized he was the first man to treat me so well and as far as I knew, we weren’t even on a date.

“So tell me more about your show? I do apologize for our celebration dinner not being much of a celebration.”

“That’s behind us, Ben. Anyway, I’ve been texting Melanie trying to get the exact details down. I’ve been putting sets together on my Mac in my spare time. We’re supposed to meet with the owners of the club on the twenty-eighth to review the exact details so hopefully I’ll have everything planned out by then. I’m excited though I’m sure as the date gets closer I’ll be more nervous than excited.”

“You’ll be perfect. I know you will. Not to sound like a creep or anything but I was on set when you were filming those dance scenes. I’ve never seen anyone able to move like that.”

A mirror wasn’t even needed to show me the blush I just knew was gracing my cheeks at Benedict’s words. It didn’t help that his hand came to rest over mine on the table, the feel of his fingertips on the top of my hand sending jolts of electricity through my nerves.

“I have a confession to make.”

Benedict looked down at the table sheepishly for a few seconds before moving his eyes to meet my own.

“I owe you an explanation for the other night. I don’t want you to think that you did anything wrong. I let my emotions get the best of me and acted like a complete and utter tool. Seeing the way that waiter treated you got under my skin and instead of letting him know I took it out on you and basically made you have dinner by yourself.”

“Benedict, its fine. I forgive you. As terrible as it sounds, women are used to men like that. Men like that treat women like pieces of meat who are just objects to fulfill their desires.”
Shaking his head, Benedict laced his fingers through mine before continuing on.

“No, it wasn’t just the fact that he probably treats all women like that, it was the fact that he was treating you like that. Charlotte, I realize that we haven’t known each other for very long but every day I get to know you a little more and every day I find myself falling for you faster than I can comprehend. I’m well aware that since Olivia and I ended things I’ve been labeled a playboy and womanizer by the papers but that’s not who I am. I’ll admit that after Olivia and I ended our eleven year relationship I went on a bit of a spree but it didn’t take me long to realize that those women didn’t care for me and who I am as a person, all they cared for was my name and the reputation that precedes it. That’s not who I am and I would be honored if you would give me the chance to prove it to you.”

The thought and emotion Benedict put into his speech was enough to make me cry but thankfully I managed to keep my emotions in check. God only knows if that was an ‘I would like us to be more than friends speech’ what an actual proposal from Benedict would be like.

“Yes, I don’t even know how to answer that but yes.”

The smile that lit up Benedict’s face was immeasurable as he brought my hand up to his lips, pressing a kiss to my knuckles. It was perfect timing because just as he did the waitress arrived at our table ready to take our orders. Benedict only let go of my hand so that the two of us could eat as we sat across from each other, talking of our pasts, who we longed to work with, and our aspirations in life. Instead of catching a cab straight back to the apartment I persuaded Benedict into a walk through the park. Wrapping his arm around my waist, Benedict had a firm but loving grip on me as we walked across the canal bridge.

Stopping in the middle of the bridge, I leaned up against the railing watching my breath appear before me in the freezing air. Coming to stand before me, any other gaze besides Benedict’s would have made me nervous but I felt anything but under his eyes.

“Would it be terribly forward of me to kiss you right now?”

Shaking my head I looked into Benedict’s eyes, “I would be offended if you didn’t.”
Leaning into me, my eyes were locked onto Ben’s lips as they slowly lowered to my own combining just the right amount of gentleness and aggressiveness. His tongue slowly met with mine battling for dominance, the feel of his lips against my own feeling like home. Time became meaningless as we stood there on that bridge, Benedict’s hands warming my body as they slid beneath my coat onto my waist. Finally parting from each other, Benedict’s hands remained on my waist, his forehead resting against my own as the two of us attempted to catch our breath.

“You sure do take my breath away Ms. Hughes.”

“The feelings mutual.” I breathed, letting out a little laugh.

Holding hands the entire walk back to the flat, I couldn’t help but have a little skip in my step, feeling immensely happy and content.

Unlocking the door Benedict turned to me with a smile, “My lady, would you allow me the honor of escorting you to your room?”

“Certainly good sir.”

Stepping into my room, Benedict’s hold on my hand pulled me back into his chest, his arms wrapping around my waist once more as his lips latched onto my own.

As we parted, I listened to the words he whispered a smile appearing on my face as he did, “My dear Charlotte, parting is such sweet sorrow.”

“That I would say goodnight till it be morrow.” I replied.

Benedict pressed his lips to mine once more before letting go of my hand, allowing me to shut the door slowly shooting him one last smile before it was completely closed. It was a few seconds later that I could hear his feet gliding down the hallway and the sound of his own door shutting.

I don’t even remember going through the motions of getting ready for bed. There was no recollection of my shower, brushing my teeth, braiding my hair, all I could think of was how amazing and unexpected my night had been. Needless to say, I went to sleep that night with the biggest smile I could muster on my face.