Massive apologies for the delay in posting. Thank you so much for sticking with me so far, I am loving writing this story and love that you seem to be enjoying it? If not please let me know... or you could just say nice things, that's good too!! xx

Chapter 13

Alex finally dragged her gaze away from her reflection to turn the bath taps on, letting the bathroom fill with hot steam.

On reaching the flat she had discarded her jacket and dress from the night before and stood naked before the bathroom mirror.
She stared at the face reflected back for so long that the familiar features no longer made sense, no longer recognisable as her, just a group of shapes crowned with a deep red smudge below her hair line.
Alex entered a state between fear and acceptance, something she had fought ever since she had awoken on the barge all those months ago. When she ran her fingers over the small scab that formed on her skin she felt numb, as if tracing the edges of jigsaw pieces, working out her next move.

Once the bath was full of bubbles and hot water Alex climbed in, sitting with her knees up against her chest, her arms wrapped around them as she tried to make sense of what was happening.

It was all too much, first Chris and now the pain in her forehead.

The two things were separate, she told herself. Chris isn't real, the pain is. If 2008 was trying to push its way through Alex would be ready, so distracted by the bloom of her love for Gene she had almost forgotten to look for messages of late.

But not anymore. She mustn't allow herself to forget.

Wiping wet hands across her face, as if to dilute all her confusion into the bath water around her Alex heard the front door slam. She dunked her head quickly under the surface of the water, sending a tidal wave out of the bath and sloshing across the bathroom floor.

"Oi! Watch me bleedin' shoes!!" Gene laughed as Alex emerged from the foam, spluttering the liquid from her lips.

"Oh pipe down, It was no where near you." She bit back at him testily. She turned to see Gene's shoulders droop, and recognised the exhaustion and stress in his face and her heart melted.

"Don't be like that Bols, it's been a bastard of a day and I really can't row with you. Especially when you're all lovely and soapy"
He moved to the side of the bath and kissed her deeply on the lips, his hands moving over her wet face and hair.

"Come on tell me what you know then madam"

He took the shampoo bottle from her hands and lathered up her hair as she talked. Alex felt tears prick in her eyes, not since her Mum had died had anyone done this, this soft and nurturing action that made her feel so safe.
When he was done, her hair conditioned, soft and fragrant she stood up in the bath and Gene wrapped a warm towel from the radiator around her body and lifted her, carrying her to the bedroom.

She lay back warm and comfortable as he kissed her deeply, pushing his suit, shirt and trousers away from his body, hearing them slither onto the pile of her clothes that had been abandoned on the floor what had felt like days before.

Their hands moved over each other's exhausted bodies, touching and caressing, their mouths always kissing. Alex felt blissful as he entered her, her body cocooned against pillows and sheets, his heavy comforting weight as his body covered hers.

They moved slowly, in a dream like state, Alex wasn't sure if she felt her orgasm or whether she dreamt it as she fell asleep, Gene still inside her, his dosing head on her shoulder as they slept, their bodies still connected.

Xxxx

She woke, her eyelids fluttering as she realised he was still inside her. He hadn't rolled away but slept right there. Looking at his beautiful sleeping face where it rested on her shoulder, she traced light kisses on his lips, her hands in his hair as he stirred and woke.

"Hi" The word barely audible, as he smiled at her, his mouth claiming hers. Slipping his tongue between her welcoming lips Gene kissed her deeply, his hands either side of her head as he took his weight on his elbows.

Alex wrapped a leg round his waist bringing her hips closer to Gene's body and the sudden movement leapt him into action. His large hand held her arse cheek so he could begin thrusting into her, at first softly but as she crooned in his ear, murmuring his name over and over his efforts were renewed.

"Mmmm Gene, yes, my God, Gene oh God Gene so good…"

As he sped up Alex thrust her body to meet his, rolling him over so she could ride him. Leaning forward to hold onto the headboard Alex's nipples brushed Gene's eager mouth, his tongue and teeth delicately worrying the taught flesh, heightening Alex's pleasure as she ground herself against his hard length.

"Oh God Alex, oh shit Bolly, yes" A garbled mix of all the names he called her fell from Gene's lips as tried to hold on. "Please Bols, oh God please" He barely knew what he was pleading for, only that she wouldn't stop, that she would always be here.

Gene had never felt able to express how she held his heart between her hands, that he felt lucky every time she walked into the room and smiled just for him.

She made him want to be worthy of her, he wanted desperately to deserve her.

As she cried out, Gene felt her spill over him, her body tightening around him, her body thrown back, exquisite breasts thrust up, her full lips parted and the heady sensations that filled his every pore pushed him over the edge and he came, pulsing inside her.

"Do you know, Bols..." Gene growled into hair wild locks as he curled up against her body, moulding her back to his body, "...I'm ever so glad I sent you home. The lads don't deserve a floor show like that!" Alex felt his arm tighten around her as he chuckled darkly to himself and began to snore.

Home, thought Alex as she looked around the messy bedroom, unable to sleep, the evidence of their hectic lives together scattered on every surface.

This is a small flat above a restaurant that too often smells of garlic, whisky and cigarettes.

This isn't my home. No matter how much I want it to be.

xx