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Enjoy chapter 5!

I was nervous, but this had to be done. I had to this.

Clutching his hand, I lead Tommy up the set of stairs at the bow to the first class deck. I stopped at the gate to the entrance and looked at Tommy over my shoulder.

"First class, huh?" he questioned, looking apprehensive, which was strangely out of character for him. "Are you planning on sneaking me in?"

I flashed a coy smile and walked past the gate. "Tommy, are you afraid to enter the shark-infested waters of first class?"

He smiled with amusement. "Of course I'm not."

"Well, I assure you, no one is inside. They should be at dinner around this time."

With that, I entered the indoor promenade with Tommy. I took a corner and opened the glass door to the area where the first class passengers would descent for dinner. The room was large, with arm chairs, small sofas, and end tables set against the oak paneled wall. As we walked further inside, the ceiling and pillars that supported it seemed to disappear. Standing before us was the Grand Staircase, the focal point of the room, where the passengers gathered before dinner to make a huge entrance in their best evening attire.

At that time, however, no one was around but Tommy and I. I let his hand slip from mine as I walked to the stairs, my heels clicking on the marble floor. The staircase rose up majestically with wide, sweeping steps and intricate gilded ironwork on the railings. One of those railings went down the middle, splitting the staircase into two sections. At the foot of this stood a bronze cherub that held an electric torch. There was a landing about ten steps up, where the staircase branched off to the right, and then to the left. On either side was a balcony that looked out. The wall in front of the landing featured a clock set against an ornate carving of two women set in the oak paneling. Thomas Andrews, Titanic's shipbuilder told me on the first day of the voyage that it was named "Honour and Glory crowning Time." To top it all off, the ceiling just above the stairs had been eschewed for an ethereal white dome that allowed the natural light to pass through during the day, then was lit up at night to show off this shiny architecture.

Tommy took a few steps up, ran his fingers across the center railing, and gazed up at the massive dome that had just been illuminated for the night.

"Well what do you think?" I asked as I watched him take in the beauty of the staircase.

"I think I feel like a piece of garbage standing here," he joked.

I laughed and climbed up the left side of the stairs. Tommy was on the right. We met at the landing. "Come on," I said as I took his hand once again.

We ascended up to the right balcony and I opened the door to the hallway where my stateroom was located. When I found the door, I fished around in my purse for the key. I pressed my ear to the door, searching for any noise inside.

"Perfect," I spoke. "They must be gone for the evening." I unlocked the door and stepped inside, turning on the lights.

"This is my cabin," I said. "We're in the main living area."

"Wow," said Tommy, seeing in the mahogany walls, gold-plated molding, and insanely expensive furniture. "This entire room might be bigger than the house I grew up in." His fingers touched the small gilded clock sitting on the mantle of the fireplace, then toyed with a few flowers in a vase nearby.

I smiled but didn't say a word. Instead, I pulled his body towards mine, grabbing him by the back of the neck and kissing him passionately. I caught his gaze motioned with my head, saying "Follow me," just above a whisper.

I walked down the hall and opened the door to my bedroom. Allowing both of us inside, I quietly shut it. My heart started to beat faster as I removed my scarf and dropped my purse on the vanity. Tommy took his hat off and placed it on the bedside table.

I removed my shoes and stockings, then slipped my dress off my shoulder, leaving me standing there in just my corset and slip dress. Tommy stared at me, his eyes never leaving my body. I blushed and grinned involuntarily.

"Would you mind?" I asked, turning so my back was facing him. "I can't unlace this thing by myself."

"Lorena," he teased. "This isn't how a proper lady like you should act."

"Screw being a proper lady." I pushed my hair over my left shoulder.

I felt him lightly take hold of the strings on the back of my corset. His warm breath tickled my exposed neck, then his mouth kissed the tender flesh. I closed my eyes and moaned with content. Slowly, he unlaced the corset and I felt my body being released from that dreadful contraption. I breathed with relief and let my shoulders fall down.

"Jesus Mary and Joseph!" he exclaimed while he examined the corset. "This thing is a death trap. How can you breathe in this?"

I snatched it from his hand and giggled. "I can just barely manage. But that's the point. Everything in my life is controlled, including my breathing." I left a small peck on his lips. "Now stay here. I'll only be a minute."

Slipping out of my bedroom, I entered the washroom down the hall. I dropped the corset on the tile floor and took off my slip and the rest of my undergarments. I grabbed the long, black lace robe that went with one of my dressing gowns and put it on my naked body, using my hand to hold it closed in front of me. I caught a glance at myself in the mirror and sighed. This was it.

I returned to my room and noticed that Tommy had been looking at a small handheld mirror by the vanity. He saw me come in and his jaw nearly dropped from his face while he scrambled to set the mirror down.

Leaning against the doorframe, I smiled in a flirtatious manner and raised an eyebrow at his reaction. I walked over to the bed and turned down the sheets and duvet. Then, I grabbed Tommy by his shirt and with a come hither stare, brought him over to my bed. Pushing him down on it, I unbuttoned his vest and his shirt and slipped them off of his body. His torso was just muscular and alluring enough with a slight hint of a tan; he was a farmer after all.

My breathing was growing heavier when I stood up and slowly drew the robe from my body. "Now, Mr. Ryan," I said. "Are you going to show me just how good an Irishman is in bed? Because my husband, an Englishman was lousy in the sack." I winked and let the robe fall, exposing my nudity.

Tommy was blushing and grinning like a nervous child. Usually, I was the one doing that job. "Yes, Ms. Lorena, I believe I will show you."

I climbed into the bed and crawled next to him, tearing off the rest of his clothes, seeing his body for the first time. I pulled the sheets over us and moved myself closer to him, as close as I could get. My hands explored his bare chest, running through the hair on it.

He wrapped an arm around me. "Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked.

I looked up at him and laced his fingers with mine. "Yes," I whispered.

I planted small kisses on his hand before I went for his mouth, lightly brushing my lips against his. The kisses grew more passionate, as our tongues toyed with one another. We moaned in pleasure and his hands caressed the curves of my body.

"Tommy…" I breathed out while he gingerly got on top of me. My legs spread apart and wrapped around his.

I closed my eyes and let my head roll back. "Do it," I whispered. "Do it."

We caught each other's gaze and seductively stared right through each other before I brought his head down, sending his lips crashing down on mine.

The two of us were both breathing heavily, our skin dewy with a layer of sweat after our rendezvous.

"You didn't disappoint," I said.

"I told you I wouldn't," he replied, smiling back.

I giggled quietly and moved myself on top of him, planting small pecks on his lips. He snaked his strong arms around my back, pulling me into a tight embrace.

"Do you know how incredible you are?" he asked after catching my eyes.

I blushed and a wide grin grew across my face. "You're lying."

His eyes glinted in the low light. "I mean it. You're an amazing woman. You're not a-" He struggled to find the words.

"An egocentric elitist snob?"

"Yeah, let's go with that."

"Well you're not a filthy, drunken passenger from steerage."

Tommy flashed that wonderful, glowing smile of his. "I appreciate the compliment."

I lowered my face down to kiss him, but the sound of the front door opening made my head jolt up in surprise.

"Shit!" I muttered under my breath, burrowing my head in his neck. "We're not alone anymore!"

Quickly but quietly, I ran out the bed. "Come on, get dressed. We have to get out of here!" I whispered to him. Rifling through my wardrobe, I found the easiest thing to slip on; a pale blue silk morning dress with an overlay of lace tulle that attached to the bust then separated, flowing away from my body. The sleeves were scalloped and reached my elbows.

I shot a quick glance at Tommy as I dressed. He struggled to get into his pants with great speed, tripping and nearly falling over. I started laughing and put my hand over my mouth to shut myself up.

Once we looked decent enough to leave, I silently opened my door and poked my head out into the hallway. Seeing no one around, I grabbed his hand and ran out, cutting through the parlor and exiting the cabin, running like the wind.

"Keep running!" I yelled to Tommy as we flew down the hallway of the B-Deck, zipping past the shocked and confused passersby.