Rachel's PoV

Rachel had an amazing time with her friends from office at Sam's. The bar visit and then the walk back to her house with Marc all was etched in her memory.

Although Marc conveyed that his house was on the way, it was his way to spend more time with her. He walked her home to keep her company and have hers.

Rachel was still bad at reading people. While Anna was an open book, Finn a man with the enthusiasm of a boy; it was Mark who was still a puzzle to her.

More so than anyone else was Ethan. She wondered about the reason for his presence, the reason for his travel to the past. He wouldn't tell her anything and she was a shy and meek person to simply up and ask. She decided to come up with a plan that would help her get to know the reason of Ethan's visits.

Sitting in the office, earlier than anyone, these were the thoughts that ran through her when she thought about last night.

"Good morning Rach" Marc's elated voice traveled to her as he walked into the bay.

"Good morning Marc. Up so early"

He shoved his bag to a corner and stretched. "Thought of giving you company before you drink three whole cups of coffee in an hour's span."

Rachel smiled at the fact that he remembered it from yesterday. Her trash can mystery solver.

"So do you have coffee on you or should I get it?"

"Oh I have it?" he placed a steaming cup of coffee on her table. Taking one to his side he sat on the chair and relaxed before taking his first sip.

Rachel watched his expressions. Eyes closing while a soft smile appeared on his face.

"Try it. I am sure you would love it."

She picked her cup and tasted the coffee. 'God.. where was this place all my life', she thought to herself.

Closing her eyes she swirled the hot taste of rich coffee with slight bitterness and little sweetness as the roasted beans did the magic. This was her perfect coffee combination.

"Where is this place? I want to know.."

Marc swung a polite no to her. "Sorry I can't tell you that. It's my secret place."

"Why won't you tell me about it?"

"Because then you will tell Anna; the BBC channel, who will post it on Instagram and who has almost a million followers and all of who will swarm there and I won't get my cup in time."

"Wow.. Thorough due diligence for a cup of coffee you did there.. Seriously tell me.. please... please." Rachel made her classic puppy eyes, pleading, knowing it worked with almost everyone. "I promise I won't tell Anna."

"Really.. if you think you won't tell Anna then you don't know Anna's hold over you to promise that."

She protested further. "I swear.. I will not be tempted.."

"What will I get if you tell her?"

"What do you want?"

"A date with you.." Marc immediately replied to her question, stating his intentions.

"Pretty loaded you had that answer ready there, Marc." she mocked him.

"Well, I know my odds and I play them." he smirked, replying.

And as excited as she was about the bet, she deliberated her part. "Fine.. deal.. And if I win..?" she waited for him to accept her part of the challenge too.

"You tell me.. what do you want.."

As loaded was Marc's answer for the date, so was hers. " I want to meet your horse.."

"But he is at the farmhouse!"

"Well, we all would love a weekend break.." spinning on her chair, she spoke.

"Fine deal.." he revealed his classic mysterious smile. "Shall we spit on it?"

She laughed at the implication. "No let's just do the non-gentleman's handshake."

"The place is Philly coffee.."

Quickly pulling her phone she said, "Let me search for it..."

"You won't find it on google.." he handed her a pamphlet of the place he which was referred to. "It's an up and coming neighborhood."

Her beautiful doe eyes sparkled when she smiled, "Fine.. Take me there after work today.."

"Done.." Marc nodded. "And do tell me your preference in eating.. I would have to select a place for the date."

"Haha In. Your. Dreams" she said that with the expressions of a five year old.

'God I can be childish sometimes'; she laughed on the inside at her own behavior.

He smiled while she said it. Turning back to his desk, he continued his charismatic smile. She could see it in his reflection on the opposite glass.

She had rarely seen Marc smile like this. Anna was the dramatic one while Finn, the funny one. Marc was yet to be figured out. But his smile made her feel him to be opening upto her.

With the sound of stilettos clacking on the marble floor both Rachel and Marc become aware of Anna's presence. She quickly walked inside the bay, disheveled clothes and a blazer in hand. She grabbed Rachel's hand and pulled her inside an empty meeting room.

"Wow wow.. you will spill my coffee" Rachel carefully balanced her cup.

Anna serious tone came across. "We have bigger problems."

She looked at Anna; a sad look on her face and run down mascara.

"What happened?" Rachel's concern was visible over her entire face. "Babes.. are you alright.."

"I slept with Finn" Anna replied in a sad tone.

"Wow really"

"It's bad.. isn't it?' Anna sighed.

"No no it's not.." she tried to pacify a nervous Anna while grabbing tissues from the box to wipe her face clean. She narrated the incident while Rachel clean up her makeup residue and made her look presentable.

"We were drunk and the driver took me to my apartment first but then Finn told me he had whiskey and so we asked the driver to take us to his apartment."

Rachel murmured. "Ohhh stupid driver!"

That made Anna laugh. "I know right."

Anna relaxed when Rachel chimed in, blaming the driver and not judging her.

"And then we had drinks and then..." she hid her face with her hands and lowered herself into her knees.

"Anna... look at me.. Come on look at me." she peeled Anna's hands off her face, while making her look. She had to convince her that nothing wrong had happened. "Two things.. okay.."

Anna straightened up, knowing Rachel was conducting casualty checks now.

"First.. Did you use protection or something..." Rachel's concerned face waited for Anna to reply.

She nodded, "I am on pills.."

A sigh of relief washed over her when she spoke "Good so we are safe there.. Now.. and don't take it the wrong way.. Do you like Finn?"

"Yes... but I never..."

Interrupting Anna's thoughts, Rachel said, "Aaa aaa aaaa No no.. No self doubt.. tell me yes or no."

A blush later, she answered with a nod.

Patting Anna's head Rachel said "You liked someone and although you were under the influence of alcohol, you slept with him.. Big deal."

"It isn't?" she looked at Rachel with puppy eyes for assurance.

"No it isn't babes.. You are an adult and it's fine.. don't beat yourself about it."

Finally a smile through all the chaotic thoughts later, Anna said an okay.

"Now cheer up.." Rachel knew what her colleague felt and went though and wanted to ease her blow. Handing her the coffee cup, she conveyed the next plan of action "Now take a sip of this.. And goto the ladies room. I have a spare shirt which you can wear."

Anna smiled before taking the coffee and sipping it. "Hmmm... This is so good.."

And just like that the girl talks began again, "I know right. Marc has a secret place he got it from.."

Shit.

Anna tapped her fingers together and playing her mind over the 'secret' word which was revealed and trying to find if she herself knows something.

"Which one?"

"I can't tell you.. I have a bet with Marc. I can't afford to lose."

With another set of puppy face and eyes, Anna tried her best to convince Rachel. "Please please please.. What do you have to loose.."

The bubbly, happy Anna was back. The one who could break even the toughest of the spies to divulge their secrets.

"A date.. I have to go on a date with Marc if I lose."

Yet as determined as Anna was, she didn't budge. "Please please I swear I won't tell anyone."

"Nope.. you can't be trusted Anna." Rachel pulled her hands across her face, shielding from Anna's cute assaults. "Nope nope.."

Pulling the hands off her face, Anna forced Rachel look at her. "What's so bad in going on a date with Marc?"

Her question was to the point, which Rachel didn't want to acknowledge. She wasn't one of those girls who went on dates as such, she also took Marc's date dare as a fun play till Anna's question made her to face reality.

She knew that it isn't bad or wrong in any way but the knowledge about her future life with Ethan and all the information he gave her made her to rethink every decision that she might take.

She wondered if living in the present, worrying about her actions affecting the future a good thing. Drawing a deep breath, she took the plunge.

"Philly's coffee."

The answer was liberating as if she opened new avenues for her life just by the reply.

"Yes yes I knew you won't be able to resist my charm..." Anna rolled her fist and swung it sidewise, enjoying her victory.

Rachel was content as her little bet distracted Anna enough to forget about last night. She picked up her cup and walked to the lady's room while Rachel grabbed the spare from one of her drawers.

Leaning back on his chair, Marc addressed Rachel with a goofy grin. "So.. Anna was carrying the cup."

"Yes yes. You win"

Marc pumped his fist in the air before a smirk appeared again around the corner of his lips, "What did I tell you.."

Pushing his chair back in place along with Marc on it, Rachel spoke, "Don't gloat... I did it to make Anna feel better"

"About what?"

"About last night.." Finn stood at the bay. Turning around, they spot him behind.

Trying to make him feel included, she greeted him with a "Hey there..."

Finn pointed his finger over to Anna's abandoned bag before talking. "Guess Anna told you.. huh."

Rachel nodded in affirmation after which Finn took a seat leaning back, reeling over the happenings of last night.

Pulling himself back up again, he talked. "Guys I think I have found the one."

He held Rachel's hands and looked at Marc, who seemed to be looking partly confused and the rest in amusement.

"What" Rachel blurted. Marc stayed calm at this ongoing event, still unaware of what his friends did.

After Rachel conveyed the gist, Marc finally caught up.

"Finn, it was one night. How are you so sure she is the one?" Rachel looks at both of them while speaking, hoping Marc would chime in to convince Finn, who instead has taken a backseat enjoying the unraveling.

"Anna is perfect.. She is just.." Finn sighed.

"Perfect", Marc completed the statement as Finn nodded at him.

There was one being, Anna, who wasn't aware of all this and who seemed to be flipping out over last night, yet another one, Finn, was apparently falling for her.

Rachel thoughts roamed to the fact that life worked in mysterious ways.

"I have to take your leave guys. But feel free to not talk about it once Anna is back" instructing them Rachel walked back to Anna.

"What took you so long" was her first question.

"Well the bet that I lost, Marc was gloating about it and then.."

Anna continued, "Finn came?"

Rachel's silence screamed affirmative.

"And how is he doing.. is he all worried like me or is he playing it cool" with a concerned look on her face, Anna wanted to know about the man whom she spent last night with. She wanted to know if he only seemed charming or was really a genuine person.

"Well he is doing well. I mean better than you. But you don't have to worry about anything. You are doing great too."

Anna quickly got done with her dressing before both move back to the cubical. The rest of the day went fine with ounces of awkwardness from Anna and Finn but they managed to survive it somehow.

By evening all of them left for the day. Although Marc had offered Rachel to show the coffee shop, she had to take a rain-check. There was just too much work on her plate before the investors meet.

She would even have to work from home and thus carried a bunch of files while Marc accompanied her all along.

"Why do you have to walk me back.. I stay in a safe neighborhood"

A blush arose on his cheeks when he answers. "I know.. I like your company.. And if you mind then.."

"No I don't.."

Words fell out from her mouth before he could even finish his sentence. Once in front of her apartment, Marc waved her with his trademark smile before walking back. His gesture warmed her heart.

Rachel got inside the apartment and without any further search found Ethan sitting on the couch as usual.

"Marc walked you today too?" he questioned

Smilingly, she answered, "Yes.. Are you jealous?"

He pulled her closer.

She dropped the files onto the couch stared into his emerald green eyes which gazed back at her, unwilling to let go of her body or her sight. His scent was musky and intoxicating. Something which wafted into her nose immediately, making her want to stay this way; being held by him; being close to his strong chest.

"What do you think?"

His voice was a whisper as he leaned closer to her. She closed her eyes, waiting in anticipation. Instead he held her face and kissed her closed eyelids. Her heartbeats were fast enough, now felt like pounding onto her ribs with every passing second. Every touch of his sent a pleasure shock wave throughout her body.

His gesture of kissing her followed by her forehead left her mouth slightly ajar. He took his thumb to gently run over her lower lip while she slowly open her eyes. His touch was enough to make her feel tremors between her legs. His eyes glued onto her while running his thumb through the rim of her lips. He then took it towards his lips and kissing it.

She couldn't handle the sight anymore. The vision of being kissed while not being actually kissed was making her ache. She wanted to have him and couldn't breathe anymore with the tension running between them.

"You taste sweet.. Can I taste you without my thumb playing a role" he whispered.

She didn't know what to say anymore. He wanted to kiss her, so did she. But her voice seemed to not cooperate as she gulped down the saliva formed in her mouth with all the foreplay. He looked at her, gazing down her throat and the bobbling of her throat muscles. It was enough to convey what she wanted.

He pulled her closer while kissing her lower lip and she tasted him for the first time. Her eyes closed with the feeling of his soft lips, touching and playing against hers. He gently bit her lower lip while tasting her and his tongue played onto her supple lips, waiting for permission to enter.

Slowly opening her mouth, she welcomed him. The taste of fresh mint and whiskey envelop her as his tongue played against hers. He gently lowered her onto the couch, kissing her neck and she turn her head slowly to give him access.

A moan escaped her while feeling like her skin was being lit on fire.

She closed her eyes again as he kissed her neck and nibbled her lobe while holding onto her. She could feel his erection through his pant. Her thoughts roam wild.

'God he is turning me on so bad. What do I do.. I don't want to do something stupid. I still haven't lost..'

But his caressing over her skin was only turning her more towards wanting him.

"God.. you are breathtaking.." he whispered in her ears.

Taking a deep breath, Ethan slowly rose from over her, gesturing his hand for her to hold.

"Where are we going" she questioned his untimely reaction.

"Bedroom"

She walked behind him as a puppy followed its master. Anticipating that they would sleep together, her heartbeats rose. He turned to her and smiled, probably knowing her fears.

"Let's just cuddle for a while.. I want to take it slow"

In all her years of listening to others talk about men, she has never heard of anyone saying things to be taken slow.

She nodded and got in the bed following which Ethan came in, hugging her from behind. She fell back onto his hard chest with his hands wrapped around, giving her the warmth that she craved for.

"Do we still.. do this in the future.. Cuddle?"

A deep intake of breath, exhaling which he answered, "Aa.. yes"

 //// ////

Author's notes 

Hello all you beautiful people 

Are you enjoying the reading 

What do you think is the reason for Ethan's visit? 

And do you think Marc and Rachel will have a date after how future Ethan reacted? 

Let me know in the comments 

Your comments mean the world to me

Happy reading

Love

S