The Musician

The soft light of morning creeping through his curtains woke the sleeping man. He shifted and stretched, his hip coming in contact with something warm. He smiled lazily as he looked down at Hannah, sleeping peacefully next to him. She was so beautiful. With her hair fanned across the pillow and her small hand resting against her forehead, she looked like a girl. A beautiful girl.

He kissed her temple gently and slid from the bed.

He would have been a fool if he hadn't enjoyed the night before. It was great, endless sex. And Hannah had been everything he had imagined she would be. So, why did he feel so weird about it all?

It had felt so right then, but now, he was having morning-after regrets. She would get hurt in this relationship. He had the knack for ruining every woman's life who bothered to care. How could he have done this to her.

He put some water on to boil and took a seat at his table to try and sort through his thoughts. The tabletop was scarred badly. It was an old table. His mum had given it to him the day he had moved into his own apartment. God, that wasn't so long ago. And look at him now.

Only eight years ago, he had moved away from home. Only five years prior he had started filming his first big movie. Only last month he had met the woman of his dreams. 'Stop thinking like that.'

A pair of slender arms wrapped themselves around his shoulders and a pair of soft lips kissed his ear. "Good morning." Hannah's voice was husky and he could feel his blood rising yet again. He was insatiable for her. He turned his head, catching her mouth in a 'Good morning' kiss. She groaned against his lips and knew he was lost, yet again. He pulled her into his lap and was pleased with her moan of pleasure as she felt his arousal. He'd have to wait to tell her why he had to leave her.

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He was insatiable to her. She had to have more, no matter what happened. Hannah groaned herself, brushing her naked body against the warm male one at her side. She felt completely content, almost like a cat full of warm cream. Orlando kissed her forehead and she brought her chin up for a kiss on the mouth.

They were like rabbits. She giggled at the thought. "What are you so amused by?"

She giggled again. "If we're not careful, we'll have a passel of baby bunnies running around."

"What?"

"Never mind. Just shut up and kiss me." He obliged her and Hannah smiled. He was practically wrapped around her little finger.

She was in love with him. She had come to that conclusion completely in the early hours of the morning as she climaxed for the second time and heaven was shown to her for a split second. Oh yes, she loved him. And that could be very dangerous indeed. Her thoughts drifted then, just like they always did. She thought again of her daughter.

"Hannie, love, what are you thinking about?" She felt lips brush her temple.

"Nothing. Don't worry about it Orlando."

"Alright."

They fell silent. The only sounds in the room were the slow breaths of its occupants and the whine of the fan overhead. Soon, Orlando drifted back to sleep in the warm cocoon of Hannah's arms.

Hannah didn't sleep though. She knew she had to leave. Maybe for a while. Unwrapping his arms, Hannah stood and looked down on Orlando. She kissed his cheek softly before she turned and called for her cab.

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The following days were some of the longest in Orli's life. He had an audition for a play his good friend Atti was helping with on the Friday before his birthday, and call-backs would be the next day, Saturday, if he made it, which he was hoping he would. He needed to do some more stage work. And he might even be able to get a place for Hannah in the pit.

Thinking of Hannah, Orlando smiled slightly into the cell phone his shoulder was holding up to his mouth.

"Yes Mum, I know my birthday is in three days. I'm well aware of that, just like I have for, oh, the last 24 years." He finished filling the pan in front of him with water and put in on the stove to boil. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so rude, but mum, I know. Yes, I'm going to call Sam as soon as I hang up with you. No mum, I did not invite THAT girl. I haven't talked to her in a few months. I don't even think I have the right phone number any more. ALL RIGHT! I'll pass the message on. Love you too Mum." Sighing, he shut the phone and cut the line. His mother really did mean well.

The doorbell rang loudly twice and he wiped his damp hands on the towel around his waist before answering it. Hannah twirled prettily for him in her patterned skirt. He grinned as he pulled her in and shut the door.

"Hello dear. What a nice frock you're wearing. You shouldn't have."

"I know, but I feel so bad already for having to miss your birthday on account of a recording session. It makes me feel so inadequate as a girlfriend." Hannah slipped her arms around his neck and pulled his lips down for a quick kiss.

"No, I meant you really shouldn't have. It really is pointless since I'm going to strip it off your gorgeous body in a half an hour anyway."

"ORLANDO! Such talk! Is sex the only thing that matters to you?" Her words were harsh, but her tone and the twinkle in her eyes were pure mischief. Orlando pinched her butt lightly.

"You know it honey." For the first time, he noticed the brightly wrapped present in her hand. It's obnoxious blue and green stripped bow clashed horribly with the orange wrapping paper, and he smiled, knowing it was meant to make fun of one of his favorite shirt/tie combos that she hated. "So, what did the great musician get me for my birthday?"

She giggled and moved the package out of his greedy fingers. "Not now. Now, we need food. Fooooooodddd Mr. Bloom." Poking him lightly, she turned and made her way to the kitchen. "Mmmm, something smells good."

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Hannah was a pasta-holic. Orlando was glad for that. Not everyone like his Shrimp Fettuccini Alfredo, but Hannah loved it. And he loved her even more for that. As he watched her devour the slippery noodles, he had the strange feeling that something very spectacular would happen that night.

After she finished the very last of his food creation, Orlando lead her into the living room, where they could cuddle in front of the fireplace he had stoked for the special occasion. She brought her present in with them, and as soon as his butt touched the cushions, she thrust the package into his hands.

He tore eagerly at the thing, after giving it a few experimental shakes of course, and was a little down fallen to find that it was a box within a box. And the second box was considerably smaller than the first.

"Is this some sort of tease love?" He gave her an accusatory glare.

She just pushed him gently and motioned to the box. "Go on. There's more than a box."

He gave her one last look before taking the top of the second box off.

There was a full thirty seconds where Orlando just stared at the paper in the box. He didn't move, didn't say a word. Just sat there, staring down blankly at the box in his hand. Finally, when it began to sink in, he whooped loudly and jumped up from the couch yelling his joy.

"YES! MAN U!!!!" He grabbed Hannah and twirled her around the room, loving the girl even more!

"Oh my god! You found Man U tickets! Oh my god this is unbelievable! This game has been sold out for months! And you got me tickets!" He squinted harder at the fine print before holding Hannah's head between his hands and kissing her hard. "And they're box seats too. Lord, you spoil me honey!"

She was giggling through the whole thing. "You have no idea how hard it was to keep that secret from you."

"But, how did you get them?"

"Connections my dear Bloom. Connections and a lot of ass kissing. Just use them wisely."

For the first time, he counted the tickets. He went crazy again as he counted all eight of them. "Wait till I tell my mates about this one. Atti is going to go nuts." He stopped his happy rant and looked down at her. "God, I love you more than ever. You're so good to me. Please, tell me what I've done to deserve someone like you Hannie."

She just smiled back at him, and he kissed her again. True to his word, it only took him a half an hour to get her skirt off.