Chapter eleven:
Lying beside the body of a man who had once only existed within the darkest depths of Rose's memory seemed to be illusive. A curious hand snaked from the entwined fingers of Jack's to touch his scarred chest now fully visible to her in the bright morning sunlight. The warmth through the partially curtained window caused her to be sticky and clammy and so she used her leg to move the blanket away exposing her pale, naked skin to the room. It was a strange sensation; one would have never imagined lying in bed naked even perhaps just a day before.
Her cheek lay against his shoulder, feeling warmth and the slow rise and fall of his breathing was rhythmic and peaceful. It was enough to lull her back to sleep if it wasn't for her eyes, ever intent to see his body. The after effects of the war which would remain forever upon his chest and back were evident. They were littered, small and puckered. Yet the rest of his body was so strong, so lean and tan. Hair tickled at her fingers as she ran them down the length of his torso stopping just below his naval adjacent to his hip. Perhaps that was the most intimate part of him below that. The part reserved for her. The part she wished to take in her hand, to explore and to love.
It was beautifully serene to be with him. Sharing a bed. Entwined bodies. Joining hands. Just the way that lovers did. It was the normality which one was craving all along and not just for herself but for another. A home, a bed and a life. The quietness about her was different to the hustle and bustle of London life. Even rising at dawn, traffic outside would be heard and the other boarding house residents rising either to work or returning from a hard night drinking in the public houses. The sounds were familiar to Rose and so she had grown used to them, welcoming them to echo about her as a reminder that she wasn't alone in the building. In the world. Outside, horse drawn carts would deliver fruit and vegetables to the market. Motorcars would honk their horns as they passed. Folk exchanged greetings as they went. Life was busy...always. Never once did she stop to sigh or to think. Now, the silence penetrated her head. There was no echo. No sound. Faintly, perhaps the sea was washing up against the rocks outside the cottage.
With a long exhale, Jack groaned and then suddenly, he was aware of her presence as he kissed her hair and stroked his hand over her forehead ever so lightly. Neither spoke, maybe neither were fully awake or perhaps just having the body of another beside them was a new notion.
It was a little while afterwards that Rose awoke with Jack's hand at her breast and it was then that a million fractured but treasured memories came teaming back to her. The damned storm. The lightening. The sea. Them, naked in the surf with only the other for warmth. Turning in his arms, her eyes met his own and, in the sunlight, gleamed cornflower with that twinkle of something in them.
"Rose-''
He shifted, pulling her legs over his hips to hold her bottom in his palm. His voice was wavering.
"What is it?"
A small smile crept, pulling at one side of his face which this morning bathed in light was more tanned than she had seen.
"I have never shared a bed with another in my life." He watched as she gouged him. "I have never been in bed with another. Never woke with another by side and now, now I don't think I ever want to be waking without you next to me again."
It could have been sleep deprivation. It could have been lust. Or just Jack and the sincerity of his wonderful words but Rose pushed herself up to sit astride him, then lowered herself so the pressed chest to chest and she could bury her face into him. To catch his scent. His realness. Him.
"Oh, I love you." She muttered, half a whisper and muffled into his skin. It was said more to herself to aloud, but he heard and cupped the back of her head and stroked his fingers through the length of her hair.
This was now the reality.
Some hours later, the sun remained out. The storm having cleared away the clouds and a lovely, bright day had emerged.
Like a postcard, the Brighton rollercoaster at Hove Garden's sat, sprawled out before Rose like a giant invitation. The two beers sat well within her stomach for now, without feeling an ounce of anything but steely determination. The flush of her cheeks revealed that the liquor had caused it, but combined with the heat of the sun, Jack could only feel blessed for the weather they had experienced. The storm of the evening before had settled at some point after they had found the old cottage. It was thatched roof, with a quaint approach. An old iron gate from the road and old-style windows which had to have been fitted during Victoria's reign. It had an attractive blue brick on the outside with the charming rustic feel. Inside, it contained only five rooms; a quiet living room with wicker furniture, a small kitchen and stove and then two bedrooms, one slighter larger than the other. The bathroom was to the right of the master bedroom, containing a single tub and toilet facilities. Jack had promised a friend who had married that week to ensure that it was fully locked and secure as he and the new bride went to honeymoon in the Emerald Isles. They had arrived just before dawn and as the morning had come, it had brought clear, blue skies and leaving behind any reminders of the storms of the previous night.
It was almost like a new day had come. A new start of some sort. The pressures had disintegrated along with the storm and the air was wonderfully warm and less stuffy to breathe in.
''That's the West Pier right there.'' Jack pointed ahead, clutching her right hand within his own, ''this is the Palace pier. Can you see the clock tower? The West Pier was busier before the war, now there's a funfair at some times of the year. See down the jetty just how crowded it gets this time of year?''
Craning her neck, Rose shielded her face with her hand to see the throngs of people gathered about in certain areas. Her white linen dress billowed as she walked, its light material cooling against her legs.
''Yes. What are they doing?''
''Fishing mostly, I would think. I met a guy in the war from this area, he was a fisherman and would tell me how great it was to be out on his boat, taking in the fresh air with nothing but time to think and fish to seek.''
''It sounds idyllic.'' She turned to him. ''Were you not a fisherman in your days as a 'Jack of all trades?''
''Actually, I worked on a squid boat in Monterrey.''
''Did you catch much?''
Jack laughed loudly. ''Not much. They let me go after about two months. I wasn't one to sit and watch for the damned catch to pull at my rod.''
Rose turned back to the coaster, her eyes beaming at the sight of it. Now that the sun shone, it had penetrated their souls and chipped away any remains of ice for good.
''Is it like the one you saw in California?''
''Hell no! Santa Monica was taller, perhaps wider.'' Jack pulled his sunglasses down to the edge of his nose before pushing them back up as he examined the fairly small rollercoaster before them.
''Perhaps that was why you spent your time vomiting then, darling.'' Rose teased, her tongue peaking from her swollen lips in an attempt to provoke him to laugh. Jack raised him brow, and discreetly lowered his hand from her spine to her backside where he gently squeezed it despite been in a crowd of people.
''I will take you there myself to test out your stomach, shall I?''
''Well, I have been waiting ten years. I went on the rollercoaster myself in Santa Monica. Several times after a few beers. I was perfectly fine."
"Is that right?"
"Yes. I never managed to cast up my stomach either."
"I do remember you telling me how you had a cast iron stomach."
The casino and band stand stood at the edge of the pier. The two-story brick building was at the centre. It had a wooden ramp leading up from the sandy beach to the entryway at centre. The roof of the building was flat and had an open observation deck. Four towers were visible, one on each corner, and a sign over the arched entryway identified he building as a casino. A man was standing near the entrance, and another was visible in the foreground at right. Several benches were in the sand in front of the casino, and British flags flew from the top of the building.
''What's over there?'' Rose asked, pointing to the Ferris Wheel at the edge of the park. She stood tall and proud; a bright red in colour with yellow cars.
''That's the wheel,'' Jack narrowed his gaze at the spiral of the coaster with a smaller wheel in comparison, but still, big enough to make he and Rose look like ants.
''It's wonderful, how far could we see from up there?''
''Across the water so far, I would say.'' Jack placed her under his watchful gaze, watching as she gawped with awe at everything about her. With her hand still tightly in his, he smiled. "Do you want to ride it?"
With a slight look of nervousness, Rose pressed her lips together to suppress the grin that she did when one was up to mischief.
''Yes, of course!''
''We haven't got to the rollercoaster yet!'' He pointed back the way which they had come.
''Yes, I should begin with the smaller ride and then perhaps work my way up!''
Rose didn't know if it was the cheap beer, the excitement of the day or the fact that the electric atmosphere was coursing through her veins as well, but she was more than ready to experience newer heights.
"Are your feet sore yet?"
"No," she said, shaking her head.
They had been walking for hours; starting out walking along the sand, the length of the pier and then taking a liquid lunch at a public house or two and then walked through the park and the shops, stopping only to buy their tickets.
The tall brightly coloured wheel towered overhead, Jack sensed her apprehensiveness for just a second, until he took her hand in his own.
''Are you nervous?''
''A little.''
"Why do you want to ride it, then?"
"Because it looks beautiful!" she said so fiercely.
As they boarded their car, Jack went first, helping Rose up into the seat to join him. If she was dreadfully frightened, she never let on and simply stared out towards the throngs of people all vacating their lives for just a few hours in the sun.
As the car began to rise up in the air, Rose's face turned paler than ever. But she peered over the side at the view across the ocean, encircled along the western rim by high rises. The car rocked a little as the wheel stopped and started, letting more people climb on below them. Rose jumped, grabbing his thigh. Her fingernails dig into his flesh even through his trouser but Jack put his hand on top of hers and massaged gently until she relaxed.
To distract her, Jack started to speak, "You know the first Ferris Wheel in the world was built in Chicago?''
"It was?"
"Yeah, for the World Exposition in... I'm gonna say ... 1893? They were trying to show up the Eiffel Tower."
Rose raised an eyebrow. "The Eiffel Tower is hard to beat.''
"Yeah." Jack grinned. "But it doesn't move."
They were almost at the peak and the motion stopped once more, and they looked out over the water. The sun was sinking down. The whole sky was turning orange, the clouds grey as smoke and the sun like a burning brand above the water. The waves lapping the shore were deep indigo, tipped with peaks of white. It looks so unearthly that they were both silent, just staring across the view.
"Look," Rose jumped, pointing. "A star."
The star was faint, just glimmering into being in the darkest strip of sky. How had a full day suddenly passed them by, just the two of them. How could walking about, their hands joined, as though they had always been lovers pass so many hours passed?
Jack turned to Rose. The sunset glow was burning on her skin, painting it gold. Her eyes looked lighter than usual-pale as green could be, and gleaming beneath her dark lashes. Her lips were parted. Jack leant across to kiss her. Right as their lips met, the wheel swan into motion and they plunged down, down the other side of the circle. With the slow motion of the movement, their hearts rose up in their throats. To keep their mouths pressed firmly together, Jack took Rose's face between his palms as she slipped her fingers into his hair, threading through in a needing way. The outside world was forgotten, as his tongue was welcomed into her mouth as he claimed her as his own, in the most wonderful way. The kiss was different; erratic. As in the midst of their passion, Jack grasped Rose's thighs to pull her closer to him and in one motion, she cocked her legs either side of his hips to straddle his lap.
''You're crazy,'' he whispered against her cheek, pushing her hair from his face to kiss her neck, her ear and the tops of her décolletage.
''You made me so.''
Her lips went to his again, biting at him, sucking away and causing the arousal of something which both had kept at bay for a number of hours. He slid his hands from her cheek, to her hair and then down to cup at her behind, thrusting her further into his lap. The kiss went on and on. The motion making the little car rock back and forth. With his arms wrapped tightly around her, it felt as though nothing could harm them, even if they tumbled one hundred feet.
The experience seemed to awaken something inside both of them, and created a longing for them to remove every barrier between them and act only on the instincts which seemed to take over their entire bodies. Feeling his arousal beneath her thin white dress, the way which he moved against her as though he was gaining some sort of relief from feeling himself there against her. Her lips parted as his tongue explored her mouth once more, and it was hard to think of anything other than their own desires.
It was on the third go around the wheel that both managed to turn their attentions to the beautiful surroundings of a summer's day at dusk.
It was when he saw the sparkle within her eyes that he knew just how she was built for this world, with him.
''Are you all right?''
''Yes.''
The whole world had disappeared around them; nothing but the car full of sunset light and their two bodies wrapped together.
''I love you.''
Rose nuzzled into collar of his shirt, taking in the scent which she knew so well, that she wore herself on her from the amount of time she was within those arms which made her feel so admired, loved and needed. Her head rested against the crook of his neck; content was the only feeling which was within her at that second. The sea air was intoxicating, the view of the lovely dusk and then his arms, causing goose bumps to prickle at her skin just from his touch.
''I love you, too.''
Once before, together, they had witnessed a sunset. A dusk. One which had changed their fate entirely. Despite the time spent apart between that moment and this, it all seemed to shatter and fade away leaving only the present to concentrate upon.
''The cottage is wonderful.''
''It's simple. Quaint. Just how Richard told me. When he married Lisa, I said I would come to ensure it was locked away. I never had plans to stay.''
Rose pulled herself back to view his face. He had tanned during their time walking about and the shadow of stubble had grown darker and her hand went to it, feeling the wonderful prickle.
''It's everything that I want in a home, Jack.''
Exhaling, slowly, Jack felt her relax into his lap more. ''A cottage by the ocean?''
''Yes. To wake each morning, with the ocean, with the warm rays of the sun. What could be better than that?''
''Well, this is England, so the sun would probably shine three or four times a year.''
Rose laughed, shook her head and then rested back against him. ''Yes, but there are always other coastlines. Other beach's.''
''Will you not remain in London?''
As soon as Jack had asked the question, the car jolted to a stop, and the attendant pulled the door open.
''I know you're on your honeymoon, mate, but c'mon can we 'ave less of the touching and feeling on my wheel.'' The Cockney nodded his head, with a raised brow at catching Rose with her legs striding Jack.
Rose would have argued that it wasn't yet her honeymoon but her cheeks were already tinged pink.
The ride was over.
Yes, I have been to Brighton. Yes, I am aware there was not much of a rollercoaster back in the 20s but apparently, it had a brilliant nightlife and I just wanted to get that in there. This is heightened for effect of the story.
Thank you for reading.