Christian's POV

Sighing, I splash myself with the freezing water from the faucet. Until that moment, today had been going so well. Everything was back on track, until then.

Tonight was the night of the business awards, we won, obviously. And even I have to say that Zainabs acceptation speech went down pretty well. Things are finally good between our families, the lies and grievances all aired out, well, the public ones at any rate. And I could pretend that when James placed his arm around me, told him he was proud of me, I returned the love that broadcast from his eyes. I managed to hide my recoil as Amira suggested us four did a double date, so she could get to know "my man" a bit better. I didn't smirk as Amira sat on Syed's lap, and I almost believed it when I told myself it didn't hurt when he kissed her.

But the way he looked at me! I wince as the ice cold water rushes over my face.

We were sat around the sofa, James' arm around my back. Ian slouched over Jane. Amira sitting like a princess on her knights knee. It was a game of happy couples, and Syed never met my eyes.

"I better go" James said "I've got a really long day tomorrow, and I'm really tired"

"Too many late nights?" Syed asked, looking at me for the first time.

"Something like that" James responded. As he kissed my neck I smiled. A game of happy couples.

"I bet" Ian had smirked, and the room laughed.

Ian laughed, as he always does at his own jokes. Jane laughed, warning him of the alcohol he had drunk. James laughed in that embarrassed little boy way he does, when he's really not embarrassed or little. Amira laughed in that high pitched ladylike giggle.

But Syed sat like a stone, just staring at me. As soon as I looked at him I could feel his jealousy hit somewhere deep inside me. All I could see was the gorgeous sensual face he pulls as he comes undone, because even that, for me, is a turn on.

Normally it's the thing that irritates me most about guys, at that moment we all look like animals, and it's not something you want to see. But with Syed, that face he pulls….God! I splash a third round of water onto my face.

Of course he looked away, he always does. So as soon as I said goodbye to James, I came here. Because Syed doesn't want to do this, and whether I do or not has no bearing. Syed wants to be married, he wants to be the knight with his princess on his knee, and I can't fight that.

I'm with James. I do really like the guy, he's a great person, he's just not enough. It's like before I met Syed there was this small gap beside me in my bed, which I didn't particularly notice, unless it was a cold night. I almost noticed the way someone didn't squeeze my hand when something upset me, and the way there was no one to wrap their arms around me when I was being pretty awesome.

After Syed, the gaps larger, he reminded me of what I'm missing, his hard body next to mine as we slept, the way he held my hand after the attack, his laugh when he's impressed with me. It's like he's made room for someone in my life, but there's no one else that can fit there, no one but him.

But he doesn't want me, so James is second best. Apparently, according to Jane he's perfect, and maybe he is. The sex is great, and I don't see Syed's face every time I close my eyes in that moment. And James is still one of the best men I've ever met, one of my closest friends. I wish I could want him.

"You OK?" Syed asks as he stands propping himself in the door way. Tonight is the first time I've ever seen him in a suit, a dinner jacket and bowtie, he looks like a secret agent, dangerous and sexy.

"Peachy"

"You don't look great"

I smirk, not exactly what he was thinking earlier. "Thanks"

Syed pulls a face, and takes a step forward, maybe he looks a little like a penguin, if penguins were sexy. At thinking that, I study myself in the mirror, maybe I have gone mad. Syed closes the door, and I refuse to look at him. This isn't happening again. I can't keep fighting the man, and I'm not the sort of guy who goes back for more rejection.

"You were right, what you said" Syed whispers, his voice low.

I act as though I haven't heard him. "Your Mum made a great speech tonight"

"I am jealous, it does hurt"

"And you know I don't give compliments to Zainab that easily" I continue pretending, even if my voice comes out a little tighter than I would like.

"When I see you look at James, the way you used to look at me when we alone and you were about to kiss me." Syed swallows, his jaw tightening, "Gut wrenching pain I think you said."

Syed places his hand on my cheek and it feels like he's burnt me.

"What are you doing with him?" He asks.

I smirk at the question, I could quite easily give details, spend a while doing so, and watch that gorgeous way he gets flustered. But I resist.

"It's right, and relaxed. With him there's no guilt, no jealousy, no arguments"

"No passion?"

Syed strokes his thumb over my lips, and I can taste him.

"Remember Christian?" A delicious smile lights over his mouth and his eyes show me he's back there, in my embrace, writhing in my bed, our exquisite ecstasy filling him. "I can't forget" He whispers.

His thumb circles over my lips and I grit my teeth as I realise he's pushing me to the edge. For once in our relationship he's pulling all the moves, and I'm too weak. I push his hand away, the way he's done to mine, too many times.

I attempt to leave, telling him where we stood the last time I checked.

"You did this Syed, you chose Amira"

"I didn't" Syed's voice is small and sad, I wasn't expecting that. He makes me stop, my hand rested on the door handle. The last thing I want to do is hurt him.

"I couldn't finish with her but I didn't choose her" He says as though there's a difference.

He places his hand on my back, between my shoulder blades, my skin stings alive again. "I'd choose you. If this was fair, I'd choose you every time"

I breath heavily as I tell myself I don't feel the very impact of his words, and I'm not coming alive under his touch. But his hand causes a wild fire inside me, spreads through my veins, and all I can sense is him.

"I just want a little patience" He breathes, his voice is so sexy and low, I loose myself.

Syed's POV

"I couldn't finish with her but I didn't choose her" I say, hoping he can understand.

He doesn't move, so I allow my hand to trace down his strong back, feeling the taught skin flex beneath my touch. I step into him, breathing in his familiar scent, loving the way I can feel it resonate through me.

"I just want a little patience" I breathe, pitching my voice to the level I know he loves.

"How can I be? When you make me feel so desperate"

His lips suffocate me, burn me with our infatuation. I caress my hands down his perfect body as I push him into wall, the passion too strong. I run my lips down to that perfect little v between his shoulder bones, and taste him. I never thought I could want anyone this much. I've missed him incredibly and it's only been a week since we were last together.

My mind fills with the memory of my hand on his heart as I feel it beating just for me. My eyes meeting his, and him knowing exactly what I want. His hands on my back, in my hair as he pushes me backward over the cold metal catering table.

I kiss him harder as the memory excites me, and I bite down on his heated skin, I feel him hiss, and I lick over the mark.

"I hate that I love you" I hear him moan.

The words stop me, there's an intensity to them that chills right through me.

"You love me?" I ask as I look into his eyes.

He grabs my face and drowns me in his kiss. His lips hard against mine, his tongue fighting with me for submission. He flips us around and presses into me, I can feel the evidence of his desire already against my thigh.

As I succumb to the moment I realise I've known for a while. I don't know when, but at some point as I nursed him back to his cocky confident self, our hearts connected. This became a lot more than infatuation a while ago. I kiss my way to his ear, needing to tell him. I feel him draw a rapid breath as I nibble and lick across his ear, I know he likes that.

"I love you too" I whisper, and feel my heart smile.

His lips greet mine again, already famished. He pushes into me harder and I moan in ecstasy, lost in him.

"Sssh" He whispers pulling away.

I open my eyes, and the sight of my parents bathroom is almost enough to tear the dream from underneath me. I was so lost inside him I thought he were back in his flat.

I feel him reach a hand down, cup and massage me through the tightening material of my trousers. What does it matter? Where ever we are at least we're together. I bend forward for his lips, but he stands back, massaging me again, harder this time and he grins broadly as another moan breathes over my lips.

"Syed? Are you OK in there?" I hear my Mums voice ask and panic stills me.

But one look at the mischievous glint in Christian's eye, and one more squeeze of his hand is enough to make me moan again.

"I'm coming in" she says.