Back in the club, I head over to everyone, and we waste no time in getting back onto the dancefloor. When an unfamiliar song comes on, we take that as our cue to head over to the bar for another drink. Mark has been looking at Leila like a lost puppy all evening, so as the boys queue for the drinks, I ask her "Have you spoken to Mark yet?"

"No, and I don't think I will... what is there to say, really? His silence has spoken more than any of his words."

"He's been looking at you all night and you have a right to find out why he's been such a prick!"

She sighs and adjusts her dress a little.

"Just go over there and ask him to come outside for a talk – what's the worst that could happen?"

She nods, standing a little taller and walks over to him. I watch as she leans into him, and he nods emphatically.

A few minutes later, Pete brings over my drink and asks, "What was that all about, with Leila and Mark?"

I raise my cup to him in a cheers motion before taking a sip. "That, my friend, was some much-needed closure."

He wraps his hand around the back of his neck, looking a little awkward. "Yeah, I always wondered what happened between them."

"Yeah, so does Leila."

"Do you think that, maybe... she might like me?" Pete asks, sweetly.

I nod and smile. "I do... but with you going away to uni –"

"Yeah, I know, worst timing in the world and all that!" he says, jokingly and I laugh a little.

"There's no harm in trying, right?" I say, and Pete smiles.

"So, what happened with Ben?"

I think for a moment, deciding against telling him the full story. "I told him he was missed."

Pete nods, placing a hand on my shoulder and squeezing it lightly. "Yeah, he is."

Leila and Mark head back in around five minutes later and I immediately grab her and pull her back outside to get the lowdown... and smoke again.

"Well? What happened?" I ask, placing the cigarette tip in my mouth and bringing the lighter to the end.

She exhales. "I asked him what happened, and he said that the relationship was moving too fast for him, and he got scared, basically."

"Really?!"

"I KNOW! He said he still likes me and wants to be with me, but with uni coming up, it just doesn't make sense, timing wise."

"Well then, fuck him. If that's how he feels, he's not the man for you." I say, giving her a hug.

"You know, when you went out with Mark, Pete asked me if you like him... I think he might have feelings for you." I say, lightly.

"But he's going to Bristol!" Leila replies hotly.

"I know... but if you're into him, there are ways to make these things work... if you wanted to. Don't be so quick to reject him." I say, and she nods.

As I'm finishing my cigarette, strong arms wrap around my shoulders, and I spin around in a panic to find Ben standing there.

"What the..." I say, so surprised by his presence.

"I changed my mind... can't miss Pete's send-off, can I?" he says, his deep voice making every hair on my body stand. He looks gorgeous in a simple black t-shirt, dark blue skinny jeans and boots. His hair is, as always, sitting messily to the left, and my heart is racing at the sight of him.

"Hey Leila, just wanted to say sorry for sending you lots of messages on Instagram... not my finest hour." He apologises, bringing her in for a small hug. My chest constricts.

"It's cool – this one's difficult to forget, eh?" she says, jokingly and I roll my eyes.

"Shall we head back in?" I ask, hoping to quell some of my nerves with more alcohol.

"Sure," he says, raising his arm in the direction of the club to allow me to lead the way.

When we reach the others, the boys erupt in joy when they see Ben with us.

"What the fuck, man?!" Pete shouts audibly over the music.

"I couldn't miss your send-off now, could I?" he says, briefly glancing at me with those intense green eyes. I immediately reach over to my drink and swiftly down it in one. Ben grabs a round for everyone and we all head back out onto the dancefloor. He looks so happy and at peace with his friends, and I think back to when I first met him. He seemed so dark, so brooding... he really has changed.

As we dance, he brings himself in to my neck and says, "You got a minute?" My body is electricity as his hot breath touches my ear, and I agree. He takes my hand and leads me down and round to the toilets by the stairwell, where it's slightly quieter.

"Are you ok?" I ask, leaning against the wall. He runs his hand through his hair and shakes his head.

"I just wanted to tell you again how sorry I am... for everything."

"Ben, it's fine..."

"No, it's not. You mean so fucking much to me, Holly. I've let you down too many times, but I won't do it again. I want to be there for you, like you've been for me. Like a proper fucking boyfriend would be."

I let go of a breath I didn't even realise I was holding and look into those beautiful eyes. They look so sincere, so open, that I can't help but smile. He takes my hands, pulling them up, behind me and against the wall, kissing me deeply. My inside liquify and my legs turn to jelly at his touch. I didn't realise just how much I missed him, how much my body ached for him, until he was on me. Feeling more whole than I've felt in months, I melt into his kisses and as he lets go of my wrists, I bring my hands down and run my fingers through his hair.

When we stop a few minutes later, my head feels like its whirling and my desire is pooling.

"We should go back..." I say, pulling away.

"OK..." he says, kissing me gently on the forehead. He holds my hand as we walk back into the club and my mind is reeling.

***

The night continues on, and everyone has an amazing time. Pete and Leila seem to be getting on really well, seemingly forgotten her previous dramas with Mark. When it's time to leave, we all boo and make our way into the night.

Ben has not left my side since he arrived, stroking me, wrapping me tightly in his arms and making it clear to everyone around us that we're together. Except, we're not, really... not yet.

"Do you want to come back to mine?" he asks quietly, and I nod without question. He smiles, brings my hands to his lips and I melt. I let Leila know that I'm planning on heading back with Ben for a bit and she chuckles, and nods. Pete has his arm around her shoulder at the station and they look so cute together. When we get off the train, I have a sneaking suspicion that Leila isn't going straight home either, but I'll save that conversation for another time.

A short cab ride later, we make it back to Ben's home and waste no time in heading straight to his room.

As soon as the door closes, he pushes me against it and hungrily kisses my lips. I moan and lick his lips, trying to prize them open. When our tongues brush against one another, he groans into my mouth, setting my body on fire.

"I fucking need you so much," he says, voice gravelly with want.

As we continue kissing, he expertly unbuttons my shirt and slides it down my arms and onto the floor. I palm at his t-shirt, pulling it up and over his head to see his broad, sexy shoulders and tattooed body. He's perfectly defined, and I can't help but run my fingers over some of his inked art, admiring this beautiful man standing before me.

Unhooking my bra, Ben takes each of my nipples into his mouth and licks and gently bites each one. I continue moaning, wrapping my fingers in his hair, and pulling it gently. Lifting me into his arms, he moves me over to the bed and as I lay back, he unbuttons my jeans and pulls them off.

"I've not stopped thinking about you, every single second of every fucking day." He says, kissing his way down my stomach before centring himself between my legs. He rubs his thumb over the damp panties and my breath hitches. Sliding them to one side, he teases me with his finger, rubbing over my sensitive spot and making my back arch off of the bed.

"Please, Ben..." I plead, wrapping my fingers in his hair.

A cheeky laugh escapes his lips as he finally pulls the pants off and onto the floor, His eyes are so dark and full of desire, I can barely see the green around his pupils. As he flicks his tongue over me, I let out a guttural moan from deep inside. His mouth tenderly licks and sucks my most sensitive spot, and he gently slides a finger inside me, perfectly circling and moving in and out. As I come undone, I grab at the sheets around me and call his name, which makes him groan. When he comes back up, he gently kisses me on the lips, and I can taste the sweetness on them.

Ben lays on the bed and I take no time to unbutton and remove his jeans and boxers. I stroke his full length and admire the beauty that is him. I take him into my mouth, swirling my tongue up and down him, using my hand at the base to build a rhythm. He moans and calls "oh fuck" so many times, and it turns me to on to hear how much pleasure he gets from my mouth.

I straddle his hips and slowly slide him inside me. He brings himself up to a sitting position and slides his hand into my hair, pulling my lips to his. He gasps into my mouth and grips my hip with his other hand as I move myself on top of him. Getting closer, he starts to move himself along with me, never removing his lips and tongue from mine.

"Are you close, baby?" he asks, and I nod.

"Good, I want us to come together", he says, before kissing me deeply again. This is so different from our previous experiences, so much more intense, loving, desperate somehow.

I gasp low, guttural noises as I come around him and his face fills with pleasure as he spills inside me. When we're finished, he holds me in his arms and kisses me again.

"That was incredible" he says, laughing lightly.

"It really was" I agree, laying my head on his shoulder. After our breathing slows, I stand and go to put on my clothes, but he pulls me back over to the bed.

"Come here, you," he says, pulling me in next to him.

"But I need to make a move, my parents will be wondering where I've got to..." I insist and he wraps himself around me.

"Two minutes, I just need two minutes..." he says, squeezing me lightly and kissing the back of my head.