Lauren toddled down the stairs gingerly. Her head was pounding and all she wanted right now was a glass of water and a paracetmol. Quietly she went straight into the kitchen and got what she needed. As well as that though she wanted to go and sit down in the living room but shame prevented her movements. She couldn't believe what she had done the night before. She had kissed Joey. She'd given into temptation and kissed someone she couldn't have. Wouldn't have. A loud audible groan left her lips. It was so wrong what she had done, but even through her drunken stupor it had felt so right.
She didn't know how long she had been stood there supporting her weight on the surfaces but that voice she wanted to hide from resonated from behind her bringing her out of her musings and she turned to face the source of them. "Lauren" He said quietly hovering in the doorway not knowing how close he should stand to her.
"Morning…" She half whispered her body tense as she looked at the boy.
"How are you feeling?" He asked sheepishly visibly seeing how distressed her actions from last night were making her.
"My head and hand are killing me!" She answered honestly looking down on her split knuckles which had swollen up considerably and still had dried crusty blood covering them. He spotted the angry markings and threw caution to the wind and stormed across the kitchen grabbing her hand and studying it. She jolted at the feel of his skin on hers and tried to pull her hand away as she did last night but he caught a tight hold of her wrist halting her movements.
"Sit!" Joey spoke up pushing her down into the kitchen chair whilst he grabbed a tea towel and soaked it under the cold water. Sitting down opposite her he grabbed her hand again and dabbed at the wound causing a string of curses to escape Lauren's lips. "Sorry!" He replied attending to the wound a bit more tenderly.
She watched him clean her hand, how careful he was not to hurt her, how gently he twirled her hand in his. And as every fibre of her being screamed for her to rip her hand from his grasp, she found herself unable to do so. Unable to abandon the heat that was coursing through her, unable to pull her lingering and hungry gaze away from him. They sat in continued silence their eyes occasionally meeting for the smallest of seconds before Lauren diverted her gaze awkwardly as memories of the night before flooded back to her. And even though she shifted her gaze she could feel his eyes burning into her, almost forcing her to look up at him once more. "Lauren… What happened last night…" Joey began but instantly Lauren pulled her now bandaged hand back and stood up placing a distance between them.
"Don't Joey. It was a mistake. A stupid drunken mistake that shouldn't have happened!" She growled keeping her voice low as to not wake her sleeping family who were oblivious to the events unfolding downstairs. "I don't know what I was thinking! Actually I wasn't thinking because I was drunk!" She said looking everywhere but at him. He too now stood, arms crossed tightly across his chest mixed emotions flickering across his face.
"Lauren-" He said but once more she cut across him with her ramblings.
"I don't know what came over me. You're my cousin. It's disgusting, it was stupid!" She continued on her tangent pacing the kitchen. She hadn't seen him move towards her until he was stood towering over her his face filled with anger and confusion.
"What if it wasn't stupid!" He blurted out firmly and his words instantly halted her movements. Her eyes widened in shock as she was almost paralyzed to the spot. He moved even closer to her, knowing that he shouldn't, but he had no control over his limbs. "Have you ever thought of how I feel throughout this?!" He asked anger slipping through his words. He hated not being in control, he used girls, they had to work to be with him. But she didn't. And he didn't know what he was feeling. But it was something he had never ever felt before. He lifted his hand a brushed a loose strand of hair back behind her ear his hands leaving invisible burns on her pale face. "I didn't respond as much, because you were drunk and didn't want to take advantage!".
"Joey-" She practically squeaked out not knowing what to do. She was trapped between him and the work top his arms locking her there.
"Just listen to me for once Lauren. Yes it's wrong. It's so wrong, but you can't help the way you feel. And neither can I!" He growled out. His voice hadn't softened, it seemed to get more angry as he spoke. What was wrong with him?.
Lauren's mind was in overdrive as she tried to process the words. He was telling her he felt the same. That he cared for her, like she did him. He was so close she could feel the heat coming off of his skin, transferring onto hers. But his face looked so stricken, so torn, so angry. "What makes you think that I feel for you?" She challenged matching his anger with her own, he was trying to intimidate her into an answer. An answer she didn't even know truly herself.
A cocky smirk played on his lips. "You made that pretty obvious last night when you kissed me and said how jealous you were of Lucy!" He growled back his face only inches from her own.
"Are you forgetting I was drunk!" She bit back trying to push her way passed his arms, the closeness getting too much to handle. But his grip on the surfaces that trapped her was too strong and she was pinned between him and the solid worktops.
"Drunken mind speaks a sober heart Lauren!" He retorted instantly getting closer to her with every word. "I'm not good at this!" He said through gritted teeth as he tried to calm his raging emotions. "And you're not making it easier for me!" He continued and ever so slowly his face and posture began to un-tense.
"Oh so you want me to be easy do you!" She snarled back taking his words completely out of context. She didn't know whether she was coming or going. Whether to slap him or kiss him.
"That's not what I'm saying Lauren!" He said his anger picking up once more. He moved his arms from the surfaces and instead took a hold of her forearms gripping them roughly. "I-… I" He said but he couldn't get the words out. So he decided that actions speak louder than words. He leaned forward and crushed her lips with his own. It wasn't gentle in the slightest, it was rough and aggressive, yet she responded almost instantly with her own fierceness. He pushed her back against the counters hard as his assault on her mouth continued. His hand went through her hair whilst hers gripped his shoulder blades and the nape of his neck pulling him closer. It was as if all the pent up tension between them was being unleashed in this one moment.
Any coherent thought or witty retort that she had in her head had flown straight out as soon as his lips smothered hers. She wanted him, she shouldn't but she did. And now she knew for certain that he did too. He was kissing her, he made the first move. She could feel his tongue skate along her bottom lip and she instantly granted him access as their tongues danced and battled with each other, both trying to dominate the kiss. His hands tugged at her hair roughly whilst her nails dug deep into the skin of his shoulder causing a light groan from him. She smiled into the kiss not believing she was getting this reaction out of him.
His hands roamed from her hair down to her waist forcing them even closer together. Finally though the need for air became too much and they both pulled away Joey resting his forehead on hers looking down into her eyes. Neither could speak as they sucked in lungful's of air. Lauren looked up at him and the anger had gone from his face. His cheeks were flushed from the lack of oxygen and his eyes were filled with lust and longing. The kiss was like none she had ever had before. It was so passionate. She panted lightly finally getting her breath back. But as soon as her muddled mind regained its senses that voice returned. Incest. . Disgusting. Wrong. So wrong. The elation had gone from her body and dread swam around her instead. She'd let her guard down. Let her mask slip, and now she was open, vulnerable. Cousin. Family. Blood. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
"I'm sorry!" She whispered out before pushing him away and doing what she always did. Ran. She ran through the house and straight out the front door ignoring the sting of the harsh cold wind on her hot and swollen lips. Joey bolted after her determined not to let her run away like she had last night. He slipped his shoes on and practically jumped the stairs. In the distance he could see a flash of raven hair disappear around the corner and he pursued her relentlessly. "Lauren!" He called loudly after her ignoring the glances he was getting off the people setting up their stalls. "Lauren please!" He yelled again starting to finally catch her up.
Lucy was opening the café when the speeding figure of her ex friend bolted past her. She watched her go anger filling her body, but that surged when she saw Joey barrelling through the square calling after her. He never chased her. Ever. But what was it that made him be chasing her like a mad man. Her curiosity was peaked. What was going on?.
She had no clue where she was running to. She just had to get away. Away from him. But he wouldn't let that, his voice was getting closer and closer to her every single time he called out. She couldn't deal with it. Not this feeling. It was unnatural. Forbidden. She side stepped down one of the narrow lanes hoping to get rid of him but he was closer than she thought. Before she knew it a pair of strong arms were wrapped around her waist and she was spun around and forced up against the grubby wall of the dark passageway. "Just stop!" He said to her, that firmness there again. His hands had a hold of her arms once more, restricting her movements. She wasn't getting away again. No way. "Listen to me!" He said a bit more softly this time and she relaxed under his touch finally.
"We can't do this Joey!" She said quietly as if someone would hear them. "It's not right. We're cousins, your dads my uncle. We have the same blood!" She practically whispered once again not daring to look at him.
"I know it's not right. To everyone else though. But to me it's right and I know that it's the same to you! That's all that matters!" He said his voice filled with a conviction she'd never seen him show. He moved in closer, filling her personal bubble. "This is between us. No one else. We're grown adults who can make our own decisions!" He added on determination lacing his dulcet tones.
She met his eyes once again. His words were so empowering, so emotional. And she knew that he meant every single word of it. It was like talking to another man. Gone was the hard man, bad boy façade he strolled around cockily with. He was completely stripped down, open and expressing exactly what he felt. Her hand lifted to his face and rested on his lightly stubbled cheek. "Do you mean that?" Lauren questioned insecurely. She knew his reputation, knew what he was like when it came to girls. There was no way she was going to be just another notch on his bedpost. "How you feel about me? Do you mean it?!".
He just smiled at her and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. It was such a simple gesture, such an intimate gesture. He pulled her into a tight embrace his big arms swamping her small frame. Finally she allowed herself to really relax into him, mould herself into his chest. "I may mess girls around Lauren. But I wouldn't do that to you! All I know is what I feel for you is something I've never felt before. For anyone" He spoke strongly arms tightening around her.
They stood there for god knows how long, wrapped up in each other's arms. So it was official, they were going somewhere that was frowned upon. The wrong path. But they knew that they could never fight what they had. "We'll take it slow, and keep it between us yeah! I don't wanna jump straight in at the deep end and ruin it!" Lauren spoke her voice muffled by his t-shirt.
"We'll take it as slow as you want" He said back calmly resting his head on top of hers. He had tasted the forbidden fruit so to say. And he most definitely liked it.
0o0o0o0o0o
Lauren was sat in hers flicking idly through the channels. Joey had walked her back and then had been called away for an hour before he had to start his trial afternoon in the car lot with her dad. He didn't tell her where he was going, just gave her a quick chaste kiss in the hallway and then he took off. So here she was sat all alone bored out of her mind. She tried to focus on the tv but her brain was just replaying the mornings events. They had done it. Her instincts had been and he reciprocated her feelings to him. She didn't know what they were exactly. Whether it was lust or something more but she judged it was the latter. Was it the thrill, the danger of what they had that attracted her so much to him? These questions were driving her completely insane.
The shrill beeping of her mobile snapped her attention back to the land of the living and she picked it up checking the message. Come to the park please!. Why was Joey at the park, why wasn't he in work? With a groan she chucked on her leather jacket and headed out of the house making her way down over to the park which was a short distance away. She expected to see him sat there waiting for her but he wasn't. Instead he was handcuffed to the small water spraying flower an angry look on his features.
"What the hell?" Lauren said eyebrows raised in amusement and confusion as she approached his suited and booted form.
"They threw the key over there somewhere!" Joey spoke pointing to the bench which was along the wall. Lauren said nothing as she made her way over to it and picked up the small silver key.
As she approached him again the key in one hand she stopped a foot away. "I'm not uncuffing you until you tell me what's happened?" She challenged staring at him intently. Joey groaned and rubbed his face with his free hand.
"Lucy found out that I kissed Whitney a few weeks ago! She wanted to get back at me for that and for breaking up with her" He said sheepishly and colour instantly flooded Lauren's face. He had kissed Whitney. Her best friend. Seeing the change in her demeanour he instantly went on the apology. "It was nothing Lauren, Tyler had done my head in and I thought I'd get back at him by doing that!" He said his voice laced with panic.
"You did what?! You really think that much of yourself don't you! Think you can get any girl you want, is that what it is with me?!" She growled back. She didn't know why she was angry. It was well before anything remotely happened between the both of them, but those insecurities that plagued her were coming straight to the fore front.
Joey scoffed at her hand reached for the key but she stepped back holding it up just out of his grasp. "Lauren just un-cuff me please and we can talk about this. If you don't un-cuff me then you're dad is going to fire me and I really need this job!" He pleaded with her. "I'm sorry, if that's what you want to hear okay!" He said moving forward again but still she was out of his grasp.
"You don't mean that!" She growled angrily. A tense silence filled the space between them a quiet battle of wills. Finally though she stepped forward and reluctantly began to un-lock the solid steel. He moved closer to her than necessary and lifted his hand pushing the hair behind her ear tenderly as he had done earlier on in the day.
"I do. I'm sorry okay!" He said softer. She could feel the anger melting away and his gentle touch. Finally she met his eyes his hand still on her face. "Okay… You should get to work! I'll meet you later or something!" Lauren said about to walk away from him but he grabbed her arm holding her back.
"Thank you. Honestly it was nothing okay! You… you're special Lauren!" She nodded at him and sent him a half hearted smile before heading back to her house, Joey sprinting the other direction towards the car lot. She couldn't believe his nerve. Yes it was a while ago, but the fact that he did that to Lucy made her think would he do the same to her. But then his words were ringing in her ears. 'Special' They were filled with a kindness, a vulnerability she'd never seen him express when he was with the blonde. So with a loud sigh she headed off to the Vic. She needed a drink.
As soon as Lauren entered the Vic she was instantly greeted by Whitney who was sat at the bar talking to Fatboy. "Hey Whit!" Lauren smiled sitting down next to her friend who sent her a warm smile.
"You alright Lauren?" She grinned turning away from Fatboy who had been called away to serve one of the punters. Lauren nodded and decided to come straight out with it.
"Just saw Joey at the park. You kissed him?" She asked trying to hold out the bitterness in her voice. She couldn't let on anything about their secret liaisons.
Whitney cringed and gestured for Lauren to keep her voice down. "Actually he kissed me! And was acting all cocky about it!" Whitney said quietly looking at Lauren through narrowed eyes.
"You've got a boyfriend. And he, well at the time he had a girlfriend. How the hell did that happen?" She continued to prod following suit and keeping her voice low.
"I didn't ask him to do it!" Whitney growled back accusingly. "He was bad mouthing Tyler and wanted to prove some stupid point and kissed me! But I pushed him away!" She added slightly angered at her friends accusations.
Lauren scoffed loudly unable to stop herself. "You've got a boyfriend Whit! You could have easily stopped him from kissing you.." She growled at her friend jealousy consuming her. She was about to continue but stopped when she could see a very pissed off looking Tyler stood behind Whitney, arms crossed across his chest. Whitney followed Lauren's eyesight and as soon as her eyes landed on her boyfriend she froze up completely. "Tyler I can-" She began to plead her case but he cut across her.
"Save it Whit!" Tyler said hurt lacing his voice as he turned on his heel and stormed out of the vic.
"Thanks for that Lauren!" Whitney yelled at the tall brunette causing everyone in the pub to turn and look at the scene before them. With that Whitney sprinted out of the pub after her boyfriend leaving Lauren sat there, all alone once more.
0o0o0o0o0o
The hours had wore on and after being sat with her mother in the Vic telling her all about the fallout with Whitney she had decided to call it a day. "I'll be home in about an hour or two, your dads shutting up the lot now and coming to meet me, you got your key?" Tanya asked kindly glad that her daughter had told her about her current dilemma. She was so proud of the child she had produced, so intelligent, kind. Lauren nodded at her mum and with a light wave she left the pub and was about to head over to the house but decided to go and check on the R&R to see if Joey was about. They really needed to talk about what had happened throughout the day.
She made her way down into the noisy club and scanned her eyes for the handsome man but finding no sign of him she was about to turn and leave when she felt someone grab her arm. She turned and smiled lightly thinking it was the one she was looking for but instead she was met with a small group of lads who had obviously had way too much to drink. "Leaving already darling!" The one who had a hold of her arm drawled. He looked at her with a predatory gleam as did his other pals.
She yanked her arm from his grasp and scowled at him. "Yes, and I ain't your darling!" She grumbled back turning to leave once again but this time he grabbed her arm a lot more forcefully tugging her back so she was right in front of him.
"Come on, let me by you a drink. Loosen you up!" He slurred trying to move in for a kiss but before he even had a chance she punched him hard and took a step back from him, eyes blazing.
The man whipped around instantly and stepped forward menacingly. "Bitch!" He growled about to strike out at her but as he pulled his hand back a large body stepped in front of Lauren and floored the boy before he could even move. "JOEY!" She cried out grabbing his arm and pulling him back stopping him from attacking the boy again.
The boy he had floored stumbled to his feet and went for Joey but his friends held him back, obviously frightened of the other man. "Who the hell do you think you are?!" The drunk man yelled across the music trying to get at Joey. "Can't help that the ladies love me!".
"She said she didn't want a drink, or get loosened up as you said. Now get out!" Joey snarled his stance strong and protective, almost completely blocking the girl from their predatory eyes. Lauren still had her hand on his arm just to make sure he wouldn't lunge forward. The bouncers turned up and grabbed a hold of the group of boys ushering them out of the club forcefully.
Finally Joey turned to look at Lauren checking her over to make she was okay. Without speaking he took her hand and quickly slipped them both through to the back office. "Did they hurt you?!" He asked looking at her arms and he could see some faint red scratches where his hand had gripped her. His face contorted angrily. "I'm gonna kill him!" He growled angrily turning to leave and look for the boy but Lauren stepped in front of him placing her hands on his chest to push him back a little.
"I'm fine Joey, he's the one who's gonna be suffering in the morning, a punch from me and a punch from you!" She said reassuringly to him eliciting a small smile onto his angry face which was slowly ebbing away.
"Remind me to never get you angry!" He chuckled lightly cooling off from the confrontation. She smiled at him her anger at him from their minor spat in the park long forgotten. She couldn't believe how fast he had jumped to her aide.
"You've been warned!" She laughed and only then did she realise her hands were still on his chest and she brought her hands back down to her sides.
"Why was you here?" Joey asked curiously. She had come on her own, and she didn't seem to be distressed.
"I came to look for you actually, me and Whit had a falling out. I confronted her on the whole kiss thing, and Tyler overheard!" She groaned sheepishly bowing her head slightly. She really hadn't meant or planned for Tyler to know and couldn't help but feel guilty for that. She didn't intentionally want to hurt her friend. "So I hope your hand isn't hurting too much because it wouldn't surprise me if Tyler will come looking for you tomorrow!".
"He's nothing I can't handle!" Joey spoke back calmly nodding at her. A small cocky grin came to his face and Lauren raised an eyebrow at him. "What?!" She said wondering what he was smirking at.
"You confronting Whitney as you put it. Jealous are we!" He winked and she slapped his arm playfully.
"Says the man who had just floored someone for me. Marking your territory are we!" She mocked playing him at his own game. Joey just rolled his eyes at her, he loved the banter that flew between them. She challenged him at everything with her fiery nature. He was sure that was one of the elements that drew him to her. Most girls he had been with had been doe eyed airheads who did anything he asked. But she was different, so different. She had her own mind, her own voice, her own opinions.
With a quick scan around him to make sure no one was looking he closed the gap between them and kissed her in one quick movement. She jolted surprised by his actions but smiled against his lips. Pulling back from him her own eyes looked around. She couldn't see anyone, and the only sound that hit her ears was the blaring music. "What if someone walks in?!" She laughed as he backed her up so she was leaning up against the wall.
"I think it's quite exciting really!" He laughed capturing her mouth with his again. He just couldn't stop himself from kissing her. He didn't want to stop kissing her. Once again though she pulled back away from him looking up into his dark hungry eyes.
"It won't be exciting if we get caught!" She began slowly peeling herself away from him and her position against the wall. "We've got to be careful. To us this is fine, but to other people… It's, It's wrong okay!" She said and he looked a little hurt at her words, like a wounded puppy. She moved closer to him and pressed a quick chaste kiss on his lips. "I'm not saying it is. You know how I… how I feel about you, we just can't take silly chances okay!" She added softly.
He nodded knowing that deep down she was right. Didn't mean he had to like it though. "Alright. Come on then, let's head back to the house. I just finished my shift when I came to rescue you!" He laughed nudging her sides and she scoffed loudly at him as he opened the office door for her to step out before him.
"Oh my very own knight in shining armour. You think way to much of yourself Joey!" She chuckled slapping him before they both headed out of the club. They walked in silence across the square just enjoying each other's company, but the fleeting moment was broken when from nowhere a figure slammed into Joey sending him flying to the ground. Lauren went to help him when she felt a pair of arms grab her and hold her back. "JOEY!" She called out wrenching forward only to be pulled back to whoever was holding her.
Joey was wrestling a man on the floor and she could only yell as loud as possible when another boy jumped in and started to kick her boyfriend. Cousin. "Not so hot now are you pretty boy!" The guy yelled and she instantly recognised the voice. The boys from ten minutes previously.
Joey though didn't seem very fazed. He threw the boy that was on top of him off and jumped to his feet launching himself at the other boy. Lauren reacted instinctively and threw her head back straight into whoever was holding hers jaw. The grasp on her loosened and she heard a loud crack and the person howled in pain. She ran towards the blonde boy who was getting to his feet and pushed him away from Joey but got a solid back hand in the face for her efforts sending her straight to the ground as well, her head connecting with the cold concrete heavily.
Joey spotted Lauren go down and a wave of adrenaline rushed over him. He threw his fist out hitting one of the boys as hard as he could and he crumpled to the ground rolling around clutching his face. He ran over to help Lauren to her feet and pull her out of the way but he was forcefully pushed to the ground again. "Don't you touch her!" He yelled as a hard kick was sent straight into her stomach. Her body seemed to lift a foot off the ground before she fell straight back down, pain racking her side.
"OI!" A loud shout from just outside the pub hit their ears and several footsteps came rushing their way. In a swift movement the group that had jumped them took off running in a hefty sprint. Joey staggered back up to his feet and took a hold of Lauren wrenching her up to her feet. When they looked up they could see Max, Jack and Ray barrelling towards them. Several people were filing out of the pub, hearing the commotion.
"Are you okay?!" Joey asked worriedly looking at the cut and bruised girl who was shaking in his grasp. She nodded her head still winded from the kick and he wrapped a supportive arm around her waist. They watched as Ray sprinted past them still following the group.
"Lauren? Joey?!" Max half cried grabbing a hold of his daughter worriedly. "What happened?!" He yelled panic filling his voice as he took in the state of his daughter and nephew.
"We're okay!" Joey said speaking for the both of them as he sent a fearful glance at the girl who was clutching onto his arm. Before he could speak a flash of blonde appeared in front of them.
"Lauren darling!" Tanya cried horrified taking her daughters bloodied face in her hands. "Come on let's get you two back to the house!" She said ushering them towards the house. No matter how much Max and Tanya tried prying her from his grasp he refused to let go. Ray appeared alongside them breathing heavily.
"I couldn't catch up to them I'm sorry!" He apologized and Derek and Jack thanked him for helping. They walked past the people who were hanging outside the pub with open mouths.
"I'm okay!" Lauren winced scrunching her face up lightly. She looked at Joey who had a nasty cut on the side of his head which had a fair amount of blood dripping from it. "Are you okay?!" She asked him quietly her hand still clutching his arm tightly.
"Yeah, you're bleeding!" He said softly noticing the blood coming from her lip and forehead. She shrugged gingerly and they tuned out the people fussing around them, sharing a knowing look of worry.
In a minute they were pushed into the living room and Joey placed Lauren down on the settee carefully noticing how tense she was as he did so. A flash of pain went across her features and his anger was well past boiling point. "Max go and get me cloth and some water!" Tanya barked as her and Alice sat down in front of the cousins. "What happened?! Are you okay? Where are you hurt?" She asked worriedly her motherly instincts in overdrive as raised her daughters chin to inspect the marks.
"I'm fine mum, Joey took the brunt of it!" Lauren said through gritted teeth looking between the people in the room.
"Joey what happened?!" Alice asked looking at her older brother with caring eyes.
"These guys were hassling Lauren in the club, they were getting carried away so she punched one of them, then I got there and got in a fight with them. When we came out they must have been waiting for us and attacked!" Joey groaned his head throbbing from the several blows he had received.
"Jesus, I'll call the police!" Jack said pulling out his phone but Joey abruptly stopped him. "No it's pointless, there's nothing they can do and they won't be around here again!" He said and Jack hesitantly listened and placed his phone back in his pocket. Max entered the room a bowl of water and some cloths and handed them to Tanya. Alice and Tanya split the rags and began to wipe away the blood of their families face. Joey felt Lauren's entire body wince as Tanya dabbed the wet rag against the gash on her forehead from where she hit the curb head first. His hand instinctively grasped slowly for her wrist, a small amount of comfort but comfort none the less.
"I'm sorry I couldn't do more to stop them hitting Lauren Max!" Joey said to the man who was pacing angrily around the living room running a hand across his shaven head.
"Joey shut up. You had two of them kicking and punching you, if it's any consolation I think I broke one of their noses!" Lauren said half heartedly causing Tanya to stop wiping her face. "Well I had to get them off me somehow. So I headbutted him" She added on not knowing why they were all looking at her with strange expressions.
"That's not the point Lauren, you could have gotten seriously hurt. The both of you could!" Max growled his pacing continuing. "I swear if I get my hands on them I'll wring their necks!". Joey turned his head to look at her a mixture of horror and pride on his face. That's my girl.
0o0o0o0o0o
Night had completely fallen and now everyone had retired to bed. Even though she had taken two painkillers for the pain in her head and ribs she just couldn't sleep and so with a quiet groan she slipped out of bed, making sure not to disturb her sister who was sleeping soundly in the bed opposite of her and she crept down the stairs.
It was all quiet but she knew he wouldn't be asleep. Popping her head around the door she found her thesis to be right. He was lying across the settee, wide awake but lying in almost complete darkness, the only light being the moon creeping through the front window. He heard her coming in and instantly stood up walking towards her. She shut the living room door quietly and as soon as she did he pulled her to him, loosening his grasp when he heard a hiss of pain escape her lips. "How are you feeling?!" He asked pulling back and looking down at her.
She smiled at him her lip cracking at the movement but she knew she needed to reassure him. "I'm fine. Looks like you were right!" She said to him and he stared at her curiously. "Before those idiots jumped us, you were saying how you were my Knight in shining armour! Looks like you were right" She laughed quietly into his chest inhaling his musky cologne scent which was now only a faint aroma, but she could smell it.
She could feel his chest reverberate as he laughed quietly with her. "Well you did your bit as well wonder Branning!" He teased his hands rested around her gently. "Headbutts, breaking noses!" He whispered as too not wake the others in the house. Pulling apart he led over to the settee to sit down and once again a pained expression filled her features as she sat down. "Lemme have a look!" He ordered and pulled up the hem of her t-shirt slowly. When he did he realised why she was wincing so much. An angry black and purple bruise covered half of her left side. He brushed his fingers across it gently, so gentle that she barely felt his touch. "I want to kill them!" Joey growled protectively. Whereas his face had more damage done to it than hers, her torso had taken a nasty hit.
"Honestly Joey it's fine, just sore that's all!" She reassured once more touched by his fussing but seeing no need for it. Gritting his teeth lightly he let go of the t-shirt and she placed her hands over his. "It's fine! I'm fine!" She continued making sure he knew even though he was still upset about it. Sighing in the silence she leaned forward this time holding back the pained groan that wanted to escape and kissed his lips quickly. As she pulled back he seemed to spring up from his crouched position with her hastily putting his mouth back over hers pushing her backwards so she was leaning back against the sofa. One of his hands instantly threaded through her hair as he sat himself down alongside her. His other grazed along her side careful not to touch her injured ribs. She responded to the embrace nipping at his bottom lip eagerly but he decided to slow it down, feeling her sore and split lip beneath his own and the last thing he wanted to do was to hurt her.
But she seemed to feel otherwise and worked at his lips aggressively and he complied with her wants instantly. He tried to say no to her but the red blooded male in him surged to the forefront and he succumbed to her intensity. Both fought to dominate the kiss and in the heat of the moment Lauren moved from her spot and straddled his lap the groan of pain being masked as a groan of pleasure. His hands gripped her hips tightly tugging her towards him so nearly every part of their body was flush together. Hers were clawing through his hair and along his solid chest and both could feel the want they both held for each other. The embrace was getting more heated by the second but it was broken when the noise of someone shuffling upstairs practically blew them apart.
Lauren climbed off Joey in a flash trying to get her breathing under control. Both waited in silence panting heavily and listening out for anymore sounds but none came. Joey looked at Lauren a twinkle in his eyes at the adrenaline he felt and she sent one back of her own an awkward laugh escaping her lips which were red and swollen. He leaned over again. "You need to go to bed!" Joey whispered between light kisses and Lauren nodded and got to her feet. Before she went she gave him a lingering kiss, savouring his taste and then headed towards the door. "Goodnight!" She smiled at him before slipping out of the door and back up the stairs.
"Goodnight!" He whispered quietly to himself before lying down on the settee. He couldn't get her out of his mind, and their moment was burned into his retinas. There was no way he'd be able to sleep after that.
So again another one down. As I've said before, most of the interactions the two have they will have in EE as well, but I've put my own spin on them as you can tell. I hope you are all thoroughly enjoying, because I love writing this.
Peace out.
Gwen.