The next morning Lauren walked into the café. By the time she had got up Max and Joey had gone to work, as had Tanya, and Abi and Oscar had gone to sixth form and school leaving her all alone. Her mother told her the night before that she wasn't going to go in so she could keep an eye on her daughter but Lauren had relented and said she was fine. So deciding to get out of the house and wanting nothing more than a coffee she went to the one place she knew she wasn't welcome.
Walking in she was glad to see that Lucy was in the kitchen area cooking some food so she slipped past and scanning the area she found Alice sat in the one of the corner tables. Slowly she made her way over and pulled out the chair opposite. "Lauren!" Alice chirped at her cousin giving her a quick hug though it was sort lived as she heard a small groan leave her lips. "Sorry!" She apologized sheepishly but Lauren waved it off. "How are you feeling this morning?!" She asked sweetly taking in her cousin's appearance. The cut on her forehead was already scabbing over but a crude bruise surrounded it standing out severely on her pale skin. Another bruise ringed around her left eye and her lip was swollen and sore making her look as if she'd gone a few rounds with Tyson.
"Sore but I'll be alright in a few days!" She smiled back her lip cracking once again. "Looks worse than it is honestly!" She reassured patting Alice's hand lightly. She knew how rough she must have looked, no matter how much make up she put over the markings it just didn't seem to cover it. She shifted her position a little her side aching painfully as she did so and she grimaced slightly.
"You sure you should be out. You should be resting!" Alice said kindly. She had been so worried when she had seen her brother and cousin hobbling away and towards the house.
"Alice it's okay. I'm in more pain lying around!" She laughed quietly her hands drumming on the table. "So what are your plans for today, anything interesting?!" Lauren asked deciding to get off topic as soon as she could. Talking about her bruises seemed to make them hurt more.
Alice took a sip of her tea and put it back down. "Nope, Dad wants to do something with me for lunch and that's it really!" Alice shrugged and Lauren smiled at her.
"Oh how fun, food with Derek!" Lauren shuddered eliciting a laugh from the short haired girl who had quickly become a very dear friend of hers. She was about to speak again when she looked up and could see Whitney and Lucy chatting up by the till. It was then that only Lucy seemed to have spotted her and they locked gazes. She could see Lucy's face wince and this prompted Whitney to turn around and look at who Lucy was. To say Whitney looked horrified was an understatement. In a flash she had scurried over to the table standing in front of Lauren.
"Oh my god what happened?!" Whitney said concern filling her voice which surprised Lauren as yesterday they had parted on very bad terms. Lauren didn't know what to say and thankfully Alice decided to speak up.
"Her and Joey were attacked by a group of boys last night!" She said to the raven haired girl who was studying her face intently.
"Are you okay?!" Whitney asked her voice filled with the tenderness of a best friend. Lauren nodded at her and diverted her gaze to the floor not knowing how she should act towards the girl. She didn't know whether to act like nothing had happened or not. "Actually Alice I think I am going to lie down, my ribs are killing me!" She excused and pushed herself out of her seat and towards the door of the café. She walked past Lucy who's eyes bore into her and she couldn't tell whether Lucy was pleased at what happened to her or shocked.
"Lauren wait!" Whitney called after her jogging out of the café to catch up with the taller girl. "Please!" She pleaded and jump in front of Lauren halting her movements.
"What Whit?!" She asked crossing her arms across her chest and looking at her friend.
"Can we talk?" She asked and Lauren sighed and nodded and went and sat on the bench in the square. "I know you didn't mean to tell Tyler about the whole Joey thing, you were just looking out for me that's all!" She admitted to her bruised friend.
"Yeah I was, I'd never purposely get you into trouble with him. How are things there? Did you work it out?!" Lauren asked hesitantly not knowing if she wanted to know the answer. She was the reason Lucy and Joey split, and she didn't want the same to happen to Whitney and Tyler.
"He's good. I explained it all, he really hates Joey though. Hoping they don't bump into each other anytime soon!" She shuddered not even wanting to think of the brawl that would happen between the men. "So you were jumped. Why? Who were they?!" Whitney asked curiously, she hadn't heard anything about it until she'd seen the girl.
"Group of boys tried coming onto me in the R&R, I punched one of them and then Joey got involved and got them kicked out. We left the club and they were waiting for us, and well the rest is history!" Lauren answered simply deciding that her friend deserved to know seems as she was genuinely concerned.
"Oh my god, you're lucky it wasn't worse!" Whitney cried out not believing what she was saying.
"It would have been if my Dad, Jack and Ray hadn't come out of the pub to see what was happening!" Lauren winced unconsciously her ribs throbbing as she moved. Whitney flinched not wanting to think of the alternative, she looked bad enough as it was. "So…" Lauren said changing the subject and letting a small smile come onto her face. "We good?".
Whitney smiled and pulled her friend into a one armed hug. "We're good!".
The day had worn on and Joey was now sat in the small office filing away all the paperwork for the car he had just flogged. Max was incredibly pleased with his new junior sales executive, noticing how he had a natural flare to selling the vehicles, especially the women which had made them both laugh. If only he knew that the only woman Joey had his eye on was his daughter. So now there he was, sat on his own whilst Max had gone down to one of the garages in Stratford to negotiate for some new cars.
He leaned back in his seat stretching his hands behind his head and putting his feet up on the table. As he began to relax he heard a quiet knock at the door and opening his eyes he was met with the smiling face of Lauren. "Working hard I see!" Lauren said sarcastically shutting the door behind her. He laughed lightly and pulled his feet down watching her approach a small paper bag in her hand. "Brought you something to eat, look like you need it!" She continued to tease as she handed him the bag but instead of grabbing the bag he grabbed her wrist and pulled her straight onto his lap in the chair.
"Joey!" She squealed at the unexpected movement and she slapped his chest in mock scolding. He smirked at her cockily and she rolled her eyes at the look. He thought so much of himself she muttered inwardly but her thoughts were cut short by his warm lips over hers. Neither of them could stop kissing each other whenever they were close, it was an impulse, an instinct and they couldn't get enough of it. The stolen moments made it all the sweeter.
Lauren pulled back from him smiling dopily. "We need to be careful. What if my dad walks in?!" She said and he could pick up on the fear in her voice.
"He won't. He's down in Stratford, only left about 15 minutes ago. Won't be back for at least an hour!" He smiled peppering her neck and jaw with light kisses. He could feel her trying to resist his touch but she was failing epically as she clutched a hold of the lapels of his suit.
"Still what if someone comes in!" She said trying to hold herself together but she was losing her control as his lips worked her neck and jawline, hands tightening around his clothing.
"Stop thinking so much" He laughed between kisses continuing his work. "No one is going to come in so calm down!" He added looking at her a confident grin on his face before capturing her lips again. This time she wasn't as reluctant and allowed him to take control for a change. He pulled her right across him so she was straddling him on the chair and she couldn't help but run her hands across his chest and onto his shoulders. Without even knowing what she was doing her hands grabbed a hold of the lapels and slid the jacket down his arms and he flicked it off quickly. His hands were making quick work of her own leather jacket and he threw it onto the desk exposing more of her soft skin. She could feel him getting harder beneath her and so with every piece of will power she had she pulled away.
"We can't!" She said breathlessly jumping off of him and chucking on her jacket. "Not here!" She added on not ready for all that. Not yet. She still had her reservations about everything, still had that nagging voice at the back of her head telling her it was wrong, and until she quelled that she knew that physically she could never go that far until she was sure that this was right.
Joey just nodded, disappointed but understanding where she was coming from. It wasn't something they could rush into and he respected her so much more for her words. She wasn't afraid to say that she didn't want to go that far with him yet. He slipped his own jacket back on and stood walking her towards the door. "It's okay Lauren!" He smiled kissing her very softly to show that he meant it. "We'll take it slow like we said!" He added on and she nodded back at him leaning forward into his open arms. The two pulled apart and he pushed her hair back off of her face. "Thank you for coming by and for the food!" He said opening the door and letting her out.
"It's fine, I'll see you at home yeah!" She grinned jumping down the small step she sent him a wave and strolled off flicking a few looks over her shoulder, a knowing smile on both their faces.
The Brannings were sat around the dining table. For once there was no arguments, no yelling. Only laughter and joking around. Joey was sat next to Lauren and couldn't help but continually brush his leg against hers under the table causing her to blush lightly and kick him back. "So how are you enjoying working for him?" Tanya laughed looking at Joey who stopped his movements and turned his attention to the blonde.
"Well he ain't that bad as a boss!" Joey laughed causing the other's to snigger and Max gave him a pointed yet humorous look.
"Oi you have to be nice to me, I'm the one paying into your bank Joey!" Max laughed back tucking into his food.
"And he's the one who's got to put up with you, I think he's suffering more!" Lauren laughed at her dad who just rolled his eyes at his daughter. He couldn't help but notice that she was happier, perkier, not as snappy as usual. Once they had all finished food Tanya took all the dishes out and it was Lauren's turn to wash up this week. She groaned loudly not wanting to do it but her mood changed when Joey offered to help her out.
So there they were. Joey washing the dishes whilst Lauren wiped and put them away. "Who knew I would have got you under the thumb so quick!" Lauren sniggered at Joey who responded by flicking up the dish water straight at her.
"I am not under the thumb, just doing my bit!" He chuckled back continuing on with the washing. He hadn't felt this content, this much at home in a very, very long time. "Cause I'm a nice hardworking guy, you're the lazy one!" He bit back and she just whipped him with the tea towel the loud snap reverberating around the kitchen. He jumped at the contact and instantly turned around. "Right that's it!" He said quietly and threw a cup full of water over Lauren who cried out, before she could make any more noise and draw attention to them he closed the gap and kissed her silencing her squeals.
She laughed into the kiss, not being able to believe his antics. She wished he didn't have this hold over her. This control. She could be angry with him, yet he'd find a way to make her completely dissolve and crumble into his embrace. "I swear you want us to get caught!" She mumbled onto his lips, knowing she should stop but being unable to do so.
"I just can't help myself" He muttered back between kisses his hands knotting themselves into her damp hair. Their moment was once again broken by the shrill sound of Tanya's voice. "You finished out there yet, we're gonna chuck a film on!". The two pulled apart and Joey kissed her forehead gently and cupped her face. "Come on!" He grinned and half pushed her through the kitchen door the two of them unable to stop their laughter.
Once the film had finished everyone seemed to have gone to bed. And as usual the last two awake were Lauren and Joey. Both were sat on the settee, Lauren tucked tightly into his side whilst his arm was slung around her shoulders holding her close. Her head rested on his chest and the sound of his gentle rhythmic heartbeat was lulling her to sleep.
She couldn't believe they had got to this. Never in her wildest dreams did she ever predict that she would fall for him. Her cousin. She'd had her choice of guys, but they were always emotionally unavailable, and so she decided that one night stands would be the wisest option. Tyler, Darren, a string of other's who's name she didn't even know. And then he comes along, all cockiness and arrogance. Playing the big man, the hard man who uses girls, just as she had used guys. And it's him who captures her heart, the one man who was completely off limits, supposedly untouchable, he was now all hers.
"Tonight's been great hasn't it?!" Joey mumbled tiredly and she nodded against his chest.
"Yeah, I think my parents love you more than you they do me!" She scoffed quietly burying herself closer to him, absorbing as much warmth as she could from him. She never wanted to leave his side, she was that comfortable.
"For now. They won't when they realise that I'm with their little girl!" Joey shrugged trying to sound humorous but she could clearly hear the worry in his voice. Seeing his minor distress she turned her head to look up at him.
"That won't happen because they're not going to find out. Not for a long time!" She cooed back reassuringly. She didn't even want to think of her family's reaction if they ever found out. It would rip them apart.
"I don't want to hide this forever!" Joey said truthfully and she looked at him with tired eyes. "I want to be with you Lauren, and I want people to know! I want to show off my girlfriend to people, I want to be able to kiss you in front of everyone. That's never gonna happen around here is it?" He said softly and her eyes glazed over at the sweetness of his words.
"No it's not. If anyone found out… Well my dad would kill you, then me. My mum would probably never speak to me again, our friends wouldn't want to know us. And I want to show you off as well Joey, I want people to know that you are all mine!" She spoke changing her position so she had slid further up his side and they were practically head to head.
"Well how about… In a few weeks, we'll save up some money and we'll get away from here for a while. Just me and you, away from our families. Away from everyone. Maybe we could go and stay with my mum for a bit?" Joey said and Lauren's eyes widened. She was sure he was joking but as soon as she gazed into his brown orbs she knew he was serious.
"You want to run away together?" Lauren said hesitantly. She wanted to be with him, more than anything. And it couldn't hurt, a few weeks away, just the two of them. Free to do anything they wanted.
"It's not exactly running away babe, more like… a cooling down period. They'll find out eventually, because the rate we're going this isn't going to be hidden for long. And when they do, we can just up and leave, leave them behind us until they come to terms with it!" Joey said strongly. Lauren's breathing had gotten much deeper than before as she took in his words. And again, her resolve crumbled away.
"Who knew you were so sweet?" She smiled at him caressing his face gently.
"So is that a yes, shall we do it!" He asked, conviction filling his voice. He could see the torn expression on her face, she was confused, and filled with mixed emotions. But then after a few moments of deep thinking, a smile creeped onto her face.
"Yeah… Let's do it!" She smiled unable to say no to him. She wanted to be with him, she knew that straight away. And she wouldn't let anything prevent that. He smiled widely at her and took her up into his arms, kissing her with as much passion as she had seen him show. She was an adult now. She made her own decisions. And she wanted to be with him. More than anything in the world.
When Lauren awoke the next morning she was greeted by packed bags at the bottom of the stairs. She looked at them confused as to who would be going anywhere and made her way into the living room where her mother was bustling about and placing things into another small hold all. "What's going on?" Lauren asked a loud yawn escaping her lips.
"Your dad is taking me for a romantic night out in London, fancy restaurant, posh hotel! So you've got the place to yourself" She said chirpily as she busied herself with placing what she needed into the bags.
"What about Abs and Oscar?" Lauren asked hiding the smile that was trying to force itself onto her face.
"Oscar's going to your nan for the night and Abi's staying over one of her mates house from Sixth form! So no parties tonight, I'm trusting you!" Tanya said pointing at her daughter, as the smile she had tried to contain came out full blow. That meant that in the house tonight there would only be her and Joey. Alone.
"I won't I promise!" Lauren beamed back at her mother as she sat herself down.
"Look at you. Am I missing something?" Tanya pried curiously, seating herself down opposite her daughter and staring at her intently. She seemed different. She seemed happier, calmer, less angry, and content. Something she hadn't seen from her daughter in a very long time. And her mother's intuition was telling her that it had something to do with a boy.
"What you on about?" Lauren laughed awkwardly praying that her mother wasn't going to say what she thought she was.
"Well look at you. You're glowing!" She smiled at her daughter who had to fight to stop the blush creeping onto her cheeks. Before she even knew she had replied that Branning wit that she had inherited came out. "Must be Whitney's fake tan!" She said and her mother laughed loudly at those words.
"No not that kind of glowing. I love you but you are a miserable git most of the time, but recently all I've done is see you smiling. And you haven't been biting mine or your dads head off! Is there a boy involved?" Tanya chuckled and she got one out of Lauren too.
"Nope there's no boy mum. I guess… I don't know I've just grown up!" Lauren shrugged playing to cool. She did not want her mother to even get an inkling into the fact that there was a boy involved. One particular boy.
"I'm proud of you, you do know that don't you!" Tanya smiled at her child and took her hand squeezing it gently. "The way you've turned out, how fast you had to grow up because of the cancer. And I will never forget everything that you did for me!" Tanya smiled lovingly and walked around the table pulling her up to her feet and hugging her tightly. "I love you!" She murmured and her Lauren smiled lightly, grasping her mother tightly.
"I know mum. I love you too!" She said pulling back from her and giving her the best smile she could. "Well you better get yourself ready, don't wanna keep dad waiting now do you!" She said ushering her mother out of the room and upstairs to get ready. When she was left on her own she couldn't help but smile. Things were working out better than she planned.
The day had wore on and Max and Tanya had left an hour ago. Abi had come and gotten her things and gone over her friends, so now Lauren was sat on the settee anxiously awaiting Joey's arrival. As soon as her thoughts went onto him though she heard the key turn in the door.
"I brought us some food!" He grinned entering the house and holding up the bag of Chinese food. She grinned at him and sauntered over. "I was hoping to close up early so I could cook you a romantic meal, but there was so many customers today!" Joey groaned and kissed her gently placing the food down on the table.
"Aww you wanted to cook me food. Just full of surprises aren't you?" She giggled at him wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him deeply.
"You have no idea!" He spoke between kisses as he swayed back and forth with her. "I'm a very good cook, call me a domestic god!" He laughed nibbling at her neck tenderly.
"Oh here comes the head swell!" She said seriously but the moan of pleasure that escaped her lips took away the novelty of the sentence. He just laughed at her and continued his assault of her neck, his hands gripping her waist tightly. His lips burnt hot trails on her neck, collarbone and jaw until they got back to her lips, and she attacked his own fiercely. She was pushed quite roughly up against the table, causing the food containers to tip over but neither cared.
Her hands gripped a hold of the lapels of his suit jacket and slid it down his arms throwing the silky material to one side. Her nails scraped across his shoulders and chest as his own tightened around her hips pulling her right to him. Their tongues battled for dominance of the kiss, clashing like fire and ice. Joey lifted Lauren up, her lips never leaving his. Both knew what was going to happen, and both wanted it. She wrapped her legs around his waist tightly securing herself so that she wouldn't fall out of his grasp, not that he would ever drop her.
Slowly he made his way out of the living room and navigated them up the stairs expertly, leaving the spilt food on the table. There was only one thing he was hungry for, her. Eventually they made it to the bedroom and Joey lowered her down onto the small desk her legs still tightly around his waist. She grabbed at the collar of his shirt and worked at the buttons revealing his toned and ripped chest. Again she slid the white shirt off of his body and couldn't stop her hands from skating along the plains of his abs. She had never been so aroused by any man.
Joey decided that she had far too much clothing on and so his hands ran up her thighs, catching the fabric in his fingers and tugging it up. In one quick movement her dress was in a heap on the floor, their lips only apart for a second before they clashed once again. Lauren again took control of the kiss and practically ripped open the belt and trousers, bringing him to only be in his underwear just as she was. As the kiss got heavier she could feel him pressing hard onto her leg and so slid off the desk and led him across the room to her bed with her lips. He eased her down gently onto the bed his hands working of their own accord and trailing up and down her porcelain skin. "You sure you want to do this?" He asked breathlessly looking down at her lastingly. It was too late for them to stop now, far too late to pull apart.
Lauren smiled up at him and wrapped her hands around his head to the nape of his neck pulling his lips forcefully back down to hers. He got his answer.
Sun streamed into the bedroom and the light caused Lauren to stir and groan inaudibly. Joey who had been awake for ten minutes laughed at her reaction as she turned over and snuggled back into his side, his chest a pillow for her head. The reverberation around his chest seemed to have awoken her more than the light had. "Morning sleepy" He smiled down at her as she cracked her eyes open and looked up at him as she began to come around. A lazy smile came to her lips as she stretched out.
"G'morning" She got out after the yawn and he leaned down and kissed her lightly. They both knew that after last night they had jumped over that line by miles with both feet. But now, neither cared. Lauren's insecurities about the two of them had been kissed away by him, and the content radiated off of her. She was done worrying what other's thought. She cared for him, he cared for her. She loved him, and she hoped that he loved her, not that she would tell him first. Though she was sure he had mumbled it breathlessly to her as they made love last night. "What time is it?" She groaned rubbing her eyes tiredly.
"About 9 I think babe" He grinned back his hand making small circular patterns on her exposed back, her skin warm and soft.
"Still early then!" She laughed lightly letting her hand rest on his solid chest as she drummed her fingers rhythmically. "Joey…" She said hesitantly and sat up a little, pulling the duvet up with her to keep some modesty. "Last night… Last night made me realise, how I much I care for you!" She said stopping herself from saying the L word. It was far too soon to say that.
He smiled at her and leaned forward placing a soft kiss on her lips. "Me too!" He smiled pushing her back down and rolling her onto her back, resting his own weight on his elbows above her. "So seems as I didn't cook you food last night, I'm going to make you breakfast!" He grinned and kissed her again before jumping out of the bed and chucking on his pants and jeans.
He stood for a second and just stared at her as she lay curled up in the blankets, her own eyes on him and a small smile on her face. "Right I'm gonna get the breakfast going, have a nap. I think I wore you out last night!" He laughed smugly and she rolled her eyes at him.
"I think you'll find it was the other way round Joey!" She scoffed and he shook his head at her, walking back over to the bed and leaning down so he was practically hovering over her. He just chuckled heartily and kissed her softly.
"In your dreams!" He winked at her and headed out of the room. She watched him go her eyes still staring at the doorway and a smile graced her face. If only he knew she mumbled inwardly as she snuggled deeper into the warm duvet instantly missing his warmth, that it wasn't only her dreams he had wormed his way into, but her heart as well.
So my lovely's here's another one for you all. I honestly hope you're all enjoying this, I'm writing it all for you. Again sorry about the very long wait for this one. A little thing called life happened as you all know! Tell me what you think all! Peace out!
Gwen
