Chapter Thirty-Five

Lauren followed Joey into his flat apprehensively, his words"You don't know what I expect back yet" were running over and over in her head. She closed the door behind her, a worried frown on her face.

Joey shrugged of his jacket and draped it over a chair before he walked over to Lauren. He reached for the buttons on her jacket and undid them slowly, slipping his hands inside to sit on her waist as he pulled her towards him for a kiss she was all too willing to give. He smiled at her as she eased her coat off her shoulders, draping it over his on the chair. He took her hand and led her to the sofa and they sat down.

'So I thought maybe you and I should have a little talk about things'

'What things?' Lauren asked him unnecessarily. She already knew what he wanted to talk to her about and if she was being honest she'd rather be back at the flat being force fed fish than about to be having this conversation with Joey. She folded her hands in her lap. She felt stupid for believing his lies the night before. She should've remembered the person he was…a self-centred man whore…he would never be interested in her. She folded her hands in her lap, hoping he was just quick, like pulling off a plaster.

'Well, sex mainly' he said to her. Lauren flushed, closing her eyes. 'Okay, it wasn't the conversation she'd been expecting but it was almost as bad.

'What about it?' she asked quietly. He could see Lauren had tensed up as soon as he mentioned the word sex.

'Well, I thought it would be a good idea to talk about what you have or haven't done' he told her 'Just so I know not to try something you might not like….' He left the sentence unfinished.

Okay, this conversation was so different from what she'd expected him to say. It sounded like he was really interested in more than a one night stand with her. It gave her hope that she wasn't as bad as Jake has told her. Her curiosity was piqued by his words too. 'Like what?' she gave him a sideways glance

'Okay…. For instance….Have you ever given anyone a blow job?' Joey asked her.

'No' she shook her head as the blood rushed to her face. She took a deep breath and stood up, walking to the window and peering outside. Joey got up and walked up behind her, sliding his arms around her waist, pulling her back against him, careful of her arm.

'There's no reason to be embarrassed, babe' he said his voice close to her ear. 'There's so much more to sex than just the actual act itself' he explained 'what about foreplay?' he asked her gently 'what we did last night?' he added when she didn't answer.

'No. Jake's not really into anything like that, not with me at least' she said to him softly. 'When he wants sex with me, which is rarely, it's painful and uncomfortable and over in about five minutes. I just lay there…' she trailed off and looked down 'I pretend I'm somewhere else'

'Is he always on top?' Joey asked her softly.

'Yes' she whispered.

'With you facing him?' he asked her, Lauren frowned, wondering what he meant… she nodded her head.

'So what we did yesterday…you on top was a new experience for you?' Joey asked her.

'Yes' she said again quieter this time. Joey fell quiet, thinking about how this beautiful woman he had in his arms hadn't been worshipped or desired the way she should've been, the way she deserved to be.

'Don't worry, babe. I'll show you everything there is to know' he told her softly. His lips grazed her neck gently and she felt relieved the questioning seemed to be over… For now at least. In fact the conversation had reassured her about many things.

*JB*JB*JB*JB*

Later that night Ricky and Lauren were behind the bar when Joey came in. You're late mate' Ricky called out as Joey ducked into the staff room.

'Yeah who says?' Joey called back.

'Me!' Ricky shouted back 'have a hot date did we?' Ricky shouted winking at Lauren.

'If you must know I fell asleep' he said as he walked into the bar. He looked around to check and to make sure they'd done everything they needed to before the club opened. 'I think we need some more spirits' he glanced at the optics. 'Ricky give me hand' Joey said heading towards the cellar.

Lauren stayed behind the bar and started to restock the plastic stirrers for drinks. The boys were laughing when they came back up to the bar. Lauren busied herself with the beer mats, picking up a new box and trying to open them one handed. Ricky cheered as she finally opened it and they flew all over the floor.

'Oh for fucks sake!' Lauren cursed loudly as she bent down to pick them up one handed.

'Ricky will do that' Joey said to her with a smile 'come with me a second'

Lauren stood up with a sigh 'thanks Ricky' she said softly, turning to look at him.

'Anytime, honey' he gave her upper arm a gentle squeeze as she moved past him.

Lauren followed Joey into the staff room and he closed the door and leant against it. 'Are you okay?' he asked her softly.

'Yes, I'm fine' she replied softly. 'What were you and Ricky laughing about?' she asked him.

'We weren't laughing about you if that's what you're thinking. Ricky knows nothing about us and he never will' he told her. 'We were laughing about Sharon. Ricky said she dropped a bottle of vodka in the club earlier and Denny was there and she let out a torrent of swearwords which Denny then repeated back to her and asked her what they meant…Ricky said he's never seen Sharon so flustered before in his life, Apparently she went bright red and scolded Denny for repeating those words and shooed him home' he told her 'Grandma Dot is babysitting him tonight, Uncle Jack's taking her out and we were laughing because knowing Denny he's going to give grandma Dot a coronary when he repeats the words he learnt this afternoon' he said with a grin.

'But what about your bet?' she asked him worriedly. 'Won't you have to tell him something about that?'

'The bet is off' he told her sincerely 'besides, he knows I don't get mixed up with married women' he told her 'what happens between you and me is private and stays between the two of us, trust me okay?' She nodded her head, letting out a relieved sigh. 'Were you worried I was going to say something?'

'Maybe, yeah' she nodded her head and she looked up at him 'I'm sorry…' she felt guilty for doubting him. It as a guilt that had been gradually increasing ever since earlier that day.

'Don't be' Joey told her 'I can understand why you thought I might. But like I said it's between you and me' he told her softly. 'We should get back to the bar before Ricky throws a hissy fit. Is your arm okay?, I mean it's not hurting?'

'It doesn't hurt' she shook her head with a smile.

'If it starts to, you tell me okay?' he told her firmly.

'Okay' she smiled at him, Joey reached out and stroked her cheek, cupping her chin with his fingers and raising her head for a quick kiss.

'I'm going to talk to Jake tomorrow about Thursday' he promised her as he led her back to the bar.

AN: Thank you for all your reviews…. I thought I would surprise you all tonight with another chapter! I wonder if Jake is going to agree to go out with Joey…if he does that who's going to be watching Lauren to make sure she doesn't get up to no good? And Joey wanted to have a sex talk with Lauren…how mortifying! But still he seems to be interested in her though despite her answers….I wonder what he's up to! Leave me a review.