20th April 2013. I really like this chapter... and I hope you do too. Enjoy!

Chapter 10.

Joey and Lauren had made their way back to Walford later that evening. They walked back to number 5 and tried to ignore the few people who stared at them. "Have you heard from Lucy?" Joey asked once they were in the lounge.

Lauren pulled her mobile from her pocket and checked. There was a text message. "Everyone can make it. We're meeting at seven." She looked at him, "Are you okay with me telling them everything?"

"Well, you're not going to go into intimate detail, right?"

"No way...!" Lauren said, her cheeks reddening. "The girls might want more information than some of the guys... but I'll keep it strictly PG, don't worry."

"Are you going to tell them about what happened in the New Year?" he asked.

"Are you okay with me doing that?" Lauren asked him gently.

"They're your friends, I've no problem with them knowing about it... but if you could leave out... you know, my weaker moments that would be appreciated."

"Do you not want to appear soft in front of my friends?" she asked, teasing him gently. "Don't worry Joe... I know you're a hard man." She whispered, climbing onto his lap, her hand settling on his length. "You prove that to me all the time..." she said.

"Lauren... your parents," he said.

"Will never know," she said.

"Are right behind you..." he corrected her, a somewhat pained expression on his face.

Lauren looked at him, wide-eyed and lowered her head to his chest. She realised where her hand was still placed and pulled it off him as if she'd been burnt. "Oh god..." she whispered.

She heard the door at the far end of the room close and Joey kissed the top of her head to indicate they'd left the room. She collapsed against him, leaning against him fully, "Uh, babe... that's not really helping me with the problem you created."

"You know a part of me is glad we're moving out. We might get some privacy at your house." Lauren muttered.

"You think?" he said with a chuckle.

She lifted her head, "You think we won't?"

"Babe, we're going to be living with my mum and sister. That's two women who like to know everything about everything. I'm still surprised I managed to keep you hidden from them for as long as I did. You are going to be quizzed every minute of every day, baby... all under the pre-text of finding out more about you." He said gently.

"Is it too late for us to get our own place?" she moaned.

"Way too late, baby girl." He whispered in her ear.

"Kill me now." She whimpered.

"Never going to happen, babe," he sighed before kissing her.

"Joe..." she moaned, "I want you..."

"Why don't we go and get ready for tonight?"

"Abi is upstairs working on her homework..." she reminded him.

"I was thinking that maybe we could have a shower..." he said.

"And you say you're not clever..." she said softly. She got to her feet, holding out a hand towards him, "Come on then, lover boy." They walked up the stairs, Joey walking close behind Lauren, his hard length pressing against her body as he used her to shield his 'problem'. "You wait in the bathroom, I'll go and get us some towels." She told him gently.

"Babe... don't forget..."

"I know... bedside table." She winked at him, seeing his face flush slightly. He was so adorable at times.

Her sister was sitting at her desk when Lauren walked into the room and Lauren ignored her. "You're moving out?" Abi asked softly. Lauren stayed silent, picking up towels for the two of them to use. "I can't believe mum and dad are letting you go." She said, "but I'm forgetting, Lauren can do nothing wrong." she said bitterly.

Lauren couldn't stay silent any longer so she turned to face her sister, "I don't know what you're so pissed off about, Abs. You're getting everything you want. You're going to have this room to yourself. I'm going to be gone. You won't ever have to see me again... so congratulations."

The door opened to their room and Joey stood in the doorway, "You okay, babe?" he asked her softly, having heard the raised voices and becoming concerned about Lauren.

"Oh, it's boy wonder to the rescue..." Abi muttered.

"Abi, I don't know what your problem is with me but Joey is a guest in this house and he doesn't deserve your attitude. He's done nothing wrong. Nor have I if we're getting down to the nitty gritty of it. The only person who's done anything wrong here is you!" Lauren shouted loudly. Her sister said nothing, "Don't you have anything to say, Abigail because apparently you seem to be unable to keep your mouth shut about everything else."

"Lauren? Abi?" It was Max and he stood just behind Joey.

Lauren spun around to face the door and saw her father. She was furious and she needed to get out of this room before she did something she might regret. She walked over to her bed, very aware that Joey at least was watching her. She was hoping her father wasn't but given how her day was going so far... it was more than likely he was. In her current mood though she wasn't that bothered either way. She wanted her boyfriend and it wasn't like they were doing it in front of anybody. Given all the thoughts whirling round her head she opened her bedside table and pulled out a condom. She slammed it shut again then thought better of it and got a second one out just for the hell of it. She stalked over to the door and grabbed Joey's hand, dragging him behind her as she continued into the bathroom. The door was slammed shut behind them and locked loudly.

"You know it's a real turn on when you're standing up for yourself, Lauren Branning." Joey whispered to her. He pushed her back against the door, his mouth ravaging hers as he ground his hips against hers. His earlier 'little problem' could no longer be classed as little. His mouth moved to her neck and she giggled as he moaned against her skin. "It's even more of a turn on when you're standing up for me," He whispered.

Lauren's hands moved to his jeans and she undid them as he continued to kiss her. Her hands eased them off his hips and pushed them down his legs. His boxers were quick to follow, "I see what you mean, baby." She said, her hand brushing past his erection. "Do you want me to take care of that?" she whispered. He moaned against her throat, "I'll take that as a yes, shall I?" She pushed her hips against his, trapping his cock between their bodies and bringing another moan to his lips. She turned him around so he was now leaning against the door and she sank to her knees before him. She pushed his jeans further down his legs and eased them off, shoving them to one side. She rose up on her knees and kissed his hip bone, "I don't get to do this enough..." she breathed against his skin.

"Do what?"

"Look after my man..." she murmured, her eyes looking up at his face and meeting his. "Do you like me looking after you, baby?" she said as she kissed across his toned stomach.

"You know I do, babe." He sighed.

She sat back on her heels and looked up at his face, "You weren't lying yesterday, were you?" she said coyly.

"Babe?"

"You really are my big man, aren't you?" She winked up at him. Her hand stroked his length as she watched his face.

"Babe... your dad is probably right outside this door." Joey said quietly.

"You really think he's going to have hung around so he can hear us have sex? I don't think so. It's bad enough that he knows we're doing it and I'm sure he saw me in my room. There's very little chance he hung around to witness it... especially after what he saw earlier," she said to him gently. She lowered her eyes until she was watching her hand move on him. She moved forward and kissed the tip of his cock. She pulled it into her mouth and began to move on him, her hands moving to cup his balls tenderly. She took him further in her mouth, feeling him hitting the back of her throat and she moaned softly. His fingers brushed through her hair and his thumb brushed the side of her face. She sucked on him a little harder, feeling his balls tightening in her hands. His head banged back against the door, twice and then he was pulsing in her mouth and she swallowed it eagerly. She licked him clean once he was done and then moved away from him, looking back up at his face.

Joey looked down at her, her face was slightly flushed, her eyes were shining and her lips were full. She'd rarely looked more enticing than she did now. "Do you know how much I want you now?" he asked her. She shook her head. "I owe you something first though, baby girl."

"What's that?" she whispered.

"Strip..." he told her.

"Now who's being forceful?" she asked him.

"Me. Do you like it?" She nodded her head. "Do I have to ask you again?" She shook her head and scrambled to her feet. Her skinny jeans were the first thing to go, followed by the rest of her clothes until she was in just her underwear. "And the rest..." he whispered hoarsely.

"Joey..." she said softly.

He stalked over to where she stood, "When are you going to believe that you are the most beautiful girl in the world?" He lifted her chin to look into her eyes, "That picture that I liked at your show... the one made up of the photos of you. Do you know how stunning you were in that photo you showed me?" He took her hand in his, "I'm thinking of it now." He pulled her hand towards him, "Can you feel how the thought of that photo is affecting me, baby girl?" he said, his voice dripping with desire. She nodded her head, her eyes fixed on his, "When we walked in here you were so confident. It was practically oozing from you. The way you were with me is the confident beautiful girl that I love seeing. Yet as soon as I ask you to reveal yourself to me, the confidence evaporates. And I don't understand why. Explain it to me, please."

"I'm not used to guys thinking of me that way..."

"Babe, we've been going out for more than a year. Have I ever given you the impression that I don't think you're beautiful?" She shook her head. "You told me that picture was supposed to represent how when I look at you, you felt beautiful. Well, I'm looking at you now... and I have been since we came in here, so why do you doubt me?"

"I don't know, Joe. I can't explain it." She whispered.

"Will I ever be able to convince you?" he asked her softly.

"I don't know." She lowered her head, "I'm sorry." She whispered.

"Can I touch you?" he asked her gently.

"Please..." she breathed.

"I have an idea..." he whispered. "I want you to see what I see..." he told her. "Turn around." He said. She silently did as he asked. "Can you see yourself in the mirror, baby girl?" He stared at the reflection of both their faces, looking deeply into her eyes.

"Yes." She whispered.

"Tell me what you see..."

"A slightly strange looking dark-haired girl and a gorgeous guy."

"You have a very warped view of the world, Lauren." He breathed into her hair. His hand brushed her hair over one shoulder and he kissed her other cheek. Next he moved to her bra and unhooked it with ease. It was soon dropped to the floor to be forgotten by both of them. "I want you to watch yourself in the mirror, babe." He told her softly. "I want you to see what I see when you come; how gorgeous you look in that moment as I see you fall apart because of something I've done. It makes me so happy to see you that way." His voice got deeper as he spoke the words to her. "I want you to believe me when I say how stunning you are; how you turn me on with every little thing you do. Can you do that for me?" he whispered to her. She nodded at the mirror. His hands brushed over her skin softly. One moved higher and cupped a breast, a thumb brushing over its peak. The other moved lower and slipped into her knickers. His fingers brushed over her intimately and she squirmed against him. He pushed a finger into her and she moaned slightly. "Does that feel good, babe?" he asked her.

"Mmm..." she said.

"Open your eyes, baby girl." He told her, watching as she opened her eyes and looked in the mirror. "That's it..." he crooned softly, "See how your eyes have darkened so they look like melted chocolate. Your face comes alive when I touch you; there's an inner joy that shines from within you and the sight of it alone makes me almost come." He pushes a second finger into her and her head rolls back and rests on his shoulder. "Baby..." he whispers, his fingers freezing within her until he has her attention. "Look in the mirror, babe." He reminds her.

"Joe..." she whimpers. She turns her head and kisses his neck.

"Come on, baby girl..." he coaxes, his hand rising from her breast to brush the side of her face and he kisses her lips tenderly.

"I want you, Joe..." she pleaded.

"You've got me..." he replied.

"No, Joe. I want you..." she said urgently. She reached behind her body and her hand gripped his cock. "I want you..." she repeated.

"Oh, right." He moaned as her hand tightened on him. "Your wish is my command, babe..." he said softly. "Give me a sec," he whispered. He left her near the sink and walked away from her. Once he was gone Lauren leant on the sink in front of her, trying to calm herself. She heard the ripping of the foil wrapper and she knew he was sorting out their protection. He walked back up behind him and she looked at his face in the mirror. She could see the desire in his eyes. She went to turn and face him but his hands on her hips stopped him. "Stay..." His hands moved to her knickers and he pushed them quickly down her legs and she kicked them off. "You need to be able to see your face, babe," he reminded her in a whisper as he stepped closer to her again. He thrust his length inside her, their eyes locked on each other. His hold on her hips tightened and he moaned at the tightness of her on him. "Are you watching, babe?" he asked her. She nodded her head, biting her lip as he thrust against her a couple of times. She leant forward slightly, supporting her weight more on the porcelain in front of them both. Each stroke within her met more resistance than usual but brushed against all the right places as he continued to move. He could see the desire blossoming on her face as he pushed into her and he hoped she could see how stunning she was. "What do you see, baby girl?" he asked her softly.

"Me and you..." she gasped.

"Can you see yourself? Are you seeing what I do every time I look at you?" he said. She didn't answer him, a small frown on her face as she stared at their reflections. He pushed himself into her harder and she gasped. His hands moved back to their previous positions, cupping a breast and pressing against her clit. He moved his left foot and nudged her feet further apart and she moaned, feeling every little thing more intensely. She was leaning much more on the sink now and her legs were shaking. "Your face is starting to glow, that beautiful sexy expression that only I will ever see. Your eyes have darkened even more but manage to shine so brightly when they look into mine. You're so beautiful, Lauren. It makes me want to do this all the time. The way you make me feel makes me believe we could do this all day, every day." He whispered in her ear, leaning forward so he was leaning again her back. His movements became smaller but had just as much impact and the touch of his fingers, pressing against her clit made her tighten quickly on him. "So nearly there, baby girl. Don't forget to watch..." he reminded her. His hands tweaked her nipple and her clit and she cried out his name, coming strongly. He could see she was fighting to keep her eyes open as she watched their reflections. He was fighting his own battle as he fought to hold back his own peak, keeping his eyes fixed on the mirror. After a few seconds though he lost the battle and he came, one of the strongest orgasms he'd had in a while as he saw the realisation on her face in those last few seconds.

All that could be heard in the room was the sound of their breaths, the inhale and exhale of oxygen as they tried to calm back down. "I saw it, Joe..." she whispered. "I really saw it..." The sound of tears was in her voice as she spoke and he pulled her against him.

"Let's shower..." he told her softly, pulling away from her briefly to dispose of the condom. He nudged her gently into the shower, turning on the water and getting it to temperature before moving them both underneath it. She clung to him as they stood in the flow and he wondered briefly just how the discovery she'd just made would affect her. He lifted her head so he could look at her face and kissed her forehead. "I love you baby girl," he told her softly. She rested her head on his shoulder and he soon heard the sound of her quiet sobs, feeling the shaking of her body as she cried in his arms. His own heart broke at hearing and feeling the devastation pouring from her. He knew this was about much more than what had just happened between them. The last thirty six hours were finally catching up with her. He washed her hair gently as she began to calm down and then his own, wishing there was something he could do to help her through this.

*JL*JL*

Lauren was stunned by what Joey had just made her face up to. In those few seconds she'd been able to see what he was describing to her. Now she truly believed what he told her and if he was telling her the truth about that she found it very hard to think he'd lie at any other time. All those times he'd told her she was beautiful suddenly meant so much more and were easier for her to believe. It was as if, in the last hour or so Joey had managed to fix a little part of her. She wondered if he realised how much he'd done for her.

*JL*JL*

Joey put towels around both their bodies after turning off the water. She was still leaning against him and she hadn't said anything since before the shower. He pushed her down so she was sitting on the toilet seat and then gathered up their clothes (and the unused condom). He took her hand in his and pulled her out of the bathroom and back to her bedroom. Abi was still sitting at the desk working. "Out..." he said firmly to her.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard." He almost growled.

"Who do you think you are, telling me to leave my own room?" she said indignantly.

Joey stared at Lauren's sister, a look of disgust on his face. He glanced back at Lauren and could see her standing forlornly near her bed, looking completely lost. He turned back to her sister and saw her also looking at Lauren, "This is your fault. You've done this. So do us the courtesy of leaving us alone now so I can try and fix what you've broken."

"I'm doing my homework." She protested.

"You've been working in here all day. Give me an hour and then we'll be gone for the evening." He said. He wasn't going to back down from this and he hoped she realised this.

"Fine." She said, although she looked like it was far from fine. She slammed her books and folders shut on her desk and then left the room.

Joey walked back over to Lauren and he pushed her down onto the bed, pulling her into his arms. They lay like that for some time. Joey's hand gently brushed through her damp hair and he kept his lips pressed to her forehead, almost as if he was hoping she'd become aware again from his touch. After twenty minutes he felt her begin to move very slightly. "Thank you, baby..." she whispered.

"I didn't do anything, Lauren."

"You did..." she whispered, turning her head and pressing her lips to his chest. "What time is it?"

"Just gone six." He told her after glancing at a clock.

"Oh god... I need to get ready." She pulled herself away from him and then leant down and kissed him deeply on the lips. "Get dressed, babe." She whispered against his mouth. She stood up and walked over to her wardrobe.

He got to his feet and stood behind her, "Wear something that's easy for me to take off, babe." He whispered to her, his hand slipped between the towel round her body and his fingers brushed over her body, settling briefly on her clit before pulling away from her. "I'm going to want to be able to get to you quickly when we get home tonight. Something tells me I'm going to be ready for more after this evening."

Lauren shivered in his arms but continued looking through her clothes. She had been about to select her favourite pair of jeans to wear but given what he'd just said, she changed her mind and instead chose a short skirt that she knew showed off her legs nicely. "Go and get dressed, babe... We need to leave soon." She said, watching as he turned back to the bed. She smirked and then slapped his bum which made him turn back and kiss her passionately. He was gone after a few seconds but it left Lauren breathing deeply and feeling a little lightheaded.

TBC

A/N: So the longest chapter so far. I've decided I quite like a feisty Lauren (and so does Joey, of course)... but there's something about seeing her completely vulnerable that I like too. And that seems to bring out the best in Joey too. Bless him! Well, this chapter had it all. As well as Joey standing up to Abi. Anyway... because it's the weekend (and because I can) there will be a second chapter today. Aren't you lucky? Back later...