I heard your voice in my dreams

"He’s fine, and London was perfect as always." Lara smiled softly to herself and sighed as she thought about London. "You know, I forgot how much I love that city. It’s so beautiful there. The lights and the sounds and the people… It’s all so amazing. It’s the most incredible city in the world." She bit down on her bottom lip and smiled again. It was nice that Jake asked about her brother. Most people didn’t do that. Then again, they rarely knew how close to him Lara was. It wasn’t like they got to know her enough to find out about it. "And he is. I think I needed to see him. He helps me… He helps me remind me of me." Some people may have judged Lara for needed her brother so much and for relying on him the way she did, but…she didn’t care. Alex was the only constant in Lara’s life, and he always had been. Needing him was instinctual to her. She didn’t feel the need to lean on him constantly and be completely dependent on him, but he had to be in her life somehow. That was just how Lara needed to live. Her smile widened when Jake kissed the top of her head. It was a little gesture, simple a sweet. It was one that she should have shied away from, but she was far too tired to realize that, and it felt too nice. With a light laugh, Lara looked up and pressed a quick, lazy kiss to his lips and grinned. "That’s pathetic."

Jake watched and listened as Lara spoke of London. He couldn't think of an analogy good enough to reflect how she felt about the city, but he could tell that she'd be back over there again, as soon as she could. "You seem happier. It's good. You know, you should visit more often, if you can bear parting from me for so long. It does you well, London does. And boy does it make you more agreeable. Or maybe that's the jet lag." Jake chuckled softly, and the smile never left his face. Seeing Lara like this was heart warming, and eye opening. Jake had literally found the secret to her happiness, or part of it. He'd have to send Alex a thank you letter. Lara's lips barely met his as she laughed, probably too much effort for her to lift her head up. "What can I say? Without you in my life, I become a pathetic slob." He grinned and kissed her again, that was still definitely okay, before slipping out of her grip and moving to the tacos. "Speaking of pathetic slob," he brought the plate back over to the lounge, slipping his arm once more around Lara's delicate shoulders, "let's see you try and eat these tacos without making a mess. You can crash here after food too, no worries."

Lara couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at her lips as Jake wrapped his arm around her. Hers instantly went up around him as well. He was warm and familiar. He smelled nice. He smelled like him. She’d never admit it to anyone, not even to herself, but she’d missed him a lot, and she was more than happy to be seeing him again. Her head rested on his shoulder as the two of them walked over to his couch. She sat down next to him and curled up into him a little. “Hi,” Lara breathed as she closed her eyes and placed her head on his chest. The only real human contact she’d had while in London had come from hugs and linking arms with her brother as they’d walked to shops and restaurants. Having someone close like this again felt nice. Lara wasn’t used to going weeks without this, not since Jake had come into her life anyway. Sure, the months leading up to that after her last disastrous relationship had been completely isolated ones, but…she was actually getting used to getting close to someone again. “How’d you hold up while I was gone? Did you fall apart with longing and miss me so much that it hurt? If you say yes to that then I will laugh…” Lara yawned and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I will laugh so hard.”

Feeling Lara back with him was.. it was nice. Jake had missed her petite frame, her luscious hair, and that barely there sweet scent that was probably a mixture of shampoo and perfume or something light. His arm wrapped tighter around her shoulder as she curled into him. She fit so snug under his arm, and her head was a warm, comfortable presence on his chest, he had to close his eyes for a second, just to appreciate how wonderful it all was. "How was London? Is Alex well?" Jake's smile stretched across his face as he leant down to kiss the top of her head. He really had missed having Lara around. Nobody presented themselves like she did. Her fierce personality, her beautiful looks, and her, sometimes, very fragile heart all melded together so perfectly in Lara, they made her strong and feisty, but also sweet and kinda sassy. Even just saying hi was enough for Jake to have.  So of course her little sassy, and incredibly cute, tired jab was fantastic. "Well if that's the case... then I'l let you in on a secret." Jake lifted her head so she could see his face scrunched up his face in mock pain. "It was absolutely terrible. I missed you so much I couldn't leave this seat. There's a groove of my ass here now." He was joking, of course, but not about missing Lara. Because he did. Miss her. A lot more than he'd say. 

Lara sighed as she collapsed down onto her couch and pushed her suitcase aside. It was way too big for her to handle all on her own, but she’d been gone for two weeks, and there wasn’t anyone else. She was used to travelling with her brother or with one of her friends. They’d help her. Travelling alone sucked. Truthfully, she’d considered not even taking the flight back. Lara just felt so at home in London. She felt free and alive. She felt like herself, and it was wonderful. Almost wonderful enough to keep her there. Alex had convinced her to go home though. He always seemed to manage to get her to do the right thing. Running a hand through her hair, she forced herself to stand up again and began making her way to Jake’s front door. Never in a million years did she think that she’d be spending her first night back in town with him, but it didn’t seem like such a bad deal. There’d be tacos involved, and she couldn’t say no to those. Knocking a few times on the door, she leaned against the door frame and waited for Jake to answer.

The moment Jake and Lara had stopped calling, he'd dialled for delivery tacos and they had arrived in the nick of time. He would have made them for her, but he didn't have the time on his hands, especially since she hadn't eaten for so long. she might have been small, but Lara liked to eat and Jake didn't like the thought of her going without food. Honestly, he'd missed her a lot while she was gone, not that he'd admit that to her. He missed her smile, and her sarcasm, and the way her tiny little body held so much enthusiasm, and energy.. and anger. Jake didn't know if Lara would return, he knew how much her brother meant to her, the tickets he'd gotten her had been the best thing he probably could have done, but there was the thread of worry that she'd stay in her home country. And Jake wasn't sure what he would do if that had been the case. How do you explain to someone you aren't supposed to care so much about that them leaving you was... too harsh. But at least he didn't have to worry about that. He had just finished setting up the tacos on a plate for Lara when he heard a knock at the door. Jake's blond hair shook as he jumped, racing to answer it. He waited a few seconds before opening, just to not seem overly eager, before pulling the door to reveal a travel weary Lara leaning against its frame. He gently wrapped his arm around her before she could get in, just a quick hug, and allowed her to use him as a substitute door frame, before moving her to his lounge. "Hey."

After Hours || Jake and Lara

"I think you’re a little too tired, because that made no sense whatsoever." Lara shook her head and laughed. She hadn’t laughed like this in a long time. She hadn’t had fun like this in a long time. In fact, it had probably been years. Sure, she’d had fun back home with friends in clubs and whatnot. There had been fun with different guys that had never made any effort to stick around, but there had never been fun with a guy like this. Lara couldn’t even remember the last time she’d been cuddling in bed with a man. Some part of her wondered if it had ever really happened at all. Most guys left quickly after they got what they wanted, or she left quickly after she got what she wanted. There had never been anything sweet and affectionate like this. It was unheard of for Lara. If anyone that knew her from back home had seen her then, they’d wonder where their friend went. They wouldn’t understand why she was laughing and curling up and eating in bed with some random guy. They’d be wondering why Lara hadn’t kicked him out yet or if she was planning something that required him to stay. The last thing on their mind would be the idea of Lara actually enjoying Jake’s company. That wasn’t like her. She rolled her eyes as she took another bite from her slice. "I don’t think it’s a competition."

"Or you're too tired, and I make perfect sense but you don't understand it." Jake stopped when she laughed and turned to look at her. He brushed a thumb over her cheek as he cupped her face, eyes smiling. "That was one of the most beautiful laughs I've ever heard." He was going to add, 'from an Englishwoman that eats too much pizza,' but he decided to throw caution to the wind and just say what he thought, no covering up. As a man who loved smiles and laughter, to see and hear that from Lara was pure magic. He'd seen her mad, seen her cry, seen her so pissed off with him that Jake was sure she would murder him, but to see the light in her eyes from a smile and the joy in her face from a laugh, he had no words to describe it. Jacob could feel the faked dismissive annoyance towards him in that eyeroll, so he moved closer to Lara and smiled, pressing a pizza sauce dipped finger to her cheek. "No, it isn't. Because I'd win."

After Hours || Jake and Lara

Lara reached to the bottom of the bed and grabbed a small black blanket there. She pulled it back with her and wrapped it around her body, tucking it under her arms before leaning back against the headboard and glancing back over at Jake. For the millionth time that night, all that Lara could think about was how much she liked seeing him in her apartment and, more importantly, in her bed. He just seemed to fit there. He looked right when he was there, but Lara had a feeling that she’d think he looked right as long as he was by her side. She giggled softly when Jake kissed her nose. It was such a sweet, soft little gesture that Lara found herself wanting to experience over and over again. Lara leaned over and pressed a kiss to his shoulder. “The more pizza you bring me, the bigger chance you’ll have of being a hero to me. It’ll be like a point system. Remember that.” Scooting closer to Jake so that their arms were touching, Lara laughed once and shook her head. “That depends on how good the pizza is. If it’s good enough then maybe I’ll be nice and let you service me again.” She smirked over at him and grabbed the box that was passed to her. After pulling a slice out, she pushed it aside and curled into Jake. Lara took a large bite out of the slice, letting out a satisfied groan and leaning her head back as she closed her eyes. “I love pizza again.” She smiled at the man next to her. “Thank you for this.”

Jake hadn't even noticed the blankets on the bed until Lara grabbed one. He was completely oblivious to what adorned the bed, except for Lara. The blanket looked cute around her, like she was small and safe. And happy. He closed his eyes as she giggled, sighing as she pressed her lips to his skin. He was so happy, so content in that moment, he could forgo the pizza, forgo working, forgo everything he had to stay there. He wouldn't, the moment wouldn't stay special forever, but it was a nice thought to think he'd found a moment just like that. Even nicer still to think there may be more to come. "I'm good at scoring points. I'll learn your favourite and surprise you with it sometime, and then I'll be the highest scorer." He wasn't exactly making sense, but there was pizza in his hand, and a beautiful woman by his side and everything felt good, and he was in a slight daze because the pizza was so good. Turning to look at Lara as she groaned, Jake couldn't suppress the smile that tugged at his lips. He leant over and pulled the box to rest on his legs, easier for her to reach, but still allowed them to stay close and, for lack of a better word, cuddle while eating. "Thank you for sharing this pizza with me, although," he smirked and started on his second piece, taking a large bite and swallowing almost whole, "I think I'll still eat more than you."

After Hours || Jake and Lara

Lara’s smile widened as Jake walked back into her bedroom and looked at her. She felt so naked under his gaze, and it wasn’t just because of the fact that her clothes had been torn off in a haste and were strewn about through the hall and around her bedroom. She felt like she was herself when Jake was looking at her. All of the layers of herself that she hid under melted away, and Lara was the girl that she was and had always been at her very core. She was smart and soft and sweet and fiery. There was nothing that was hurting her. Lara felt like she was almost glowing when he looked at her. She let out a sigh of relief when he crawled back into bed with her. The last thing she wanted in that moment was for him to just stand there and not be close to her anymore. Having him close was like having room to breathe. It was like someone was making life a little bit brighter and a little bit easier for her. She smiled softly against his lips when he kissed her and laughed when he spoke. “Don’t get too used to it. Unless you plan on getting me pizza on a more regular basis. Please feel free to get used to it then.” Lara wasn’t aware of how that sounded at the time. It sounded like she was committing to having him around more often. It sounded like she wanted to have him around more often. Truth be told, that was exactly what Lara wanted, but she was more focused on the hunger churning in the pit of her stomach again to realize what she wanted. She reached for the open box of pizza and pouted when Jake pulled it away from her. “You’ve already serviced me, jackass. Just let me eat.” She whined before letting out a frustrated sigh.

Jake's entire body had relaxed when he was back next to Lara. He felt right, it felt right, being with her like this. His heart was grinning, smiling so widely it almost hurt his chest. He just felt so good. At Lara's side Jake felt home, as corny as that sounded. He was where he wanted to be, and where he didn't want to leave. He hadn't taken his pants off once he'd arrived back into the bedroom, but he wasn't fussed, if they were going to come back off, they'd come back off. "But I want to get used to being a hero. That's like every little boys dream. To be the hero." He grinned wider and kissed Lara's nose quickly. "I know a few after hours pizza places. Maybe I will bring you pizza more often." The thought of being able to do that for this beautiful girl, being able to do something for her that she wanted, and often, it made Jake smile again. He'd lost count of how many times he'd smiled tonight, but his face was going to hurt tomorrow, that he knew. Lara's pout was adorable, not that he'd tell her that, and he let out a bellow of laughter at her words. "Somebody's feisty when they're hungry. It spoils all the fun. If I let you eat now, can I service you again later?" He didn't wait for an answer, passing the dark haired woman a box of pizza an sliding himself up in the bed slightly to eat better. He didn't mind if she said yes or no to the service, for now, he was just going to eat.