They spent the rest of the evening, playing charades, talking and eventually, after they had tidied up, they lay on the sofa, with Alice lying between Matthew's legs and leaning on his chest. He ran his fingers through her hair as she played with the hair on his chest.

"This has been lovely Matthew, thank you. I've never had a Christmas like it."

Matthew leaned down and kissed the top of her head, "me either sweetheart but, I have had the best day…thanks to you."

Alice looked up seductively and said, "the day isn't over yet so…"

"Alice, you really are something else! You are different to all other women I know but you are so smart and funny and sometimes, you don't even know it and…you're lovely." He looked back at he and said, "come on then. You can't tease a man and not deliver!"

They helped each up other from the sofa and Matthew harumphed; Alice looked at his leg and said, "it's painful, isn't it?"

"It's fine. Come on."

"Let's do the toilet thing and we'll meet back in the bedroom. I have an idea."

Matthew looked at her questioningly and said, "Oh yes?!"

"Not like that…well…" she smiled over at him.

"Trousers off Matthew!"

"Jeez Alice, a man likes a bit of foreplay not just…"

Alice kissed him and said, "this is foreplay now trousers off!"

She had him lay on the bed, bringing out the oil she had collected from her bathroom.

"Eh…what's that?"

"Don't worry Matthew, I am a doctor. I know your leg aches and part of that is because you spent the day on the floor…for me. So, let me do this for you. Lie back, close your eyes."

Matthew did as she asked and Alice knelt on the bed next to him, rubbed the oil onto her hands to warm it up, then onto Matthew's right knee and leg. She could hear him making noises at her ministrations, but they were not of pain and she liked hearing him enjoy what she was doing.

Fifteen minutes she looked up at Matthew asking if he was ok and if his leg was feeling better; he nodded and said, "feels so much better, thanks sweetheart." She noticed he never opened his eyes and as she looked back to her hands on his leg she noticed she had done more to his body than soothe his leg.

"Matthew?"

He opened his eyes and moved his head to look at her, "yes?"

Alice pointed at his nether region and said, "I see you enjoyed that then?!" She laughed and stopped what she was doing.

"Well, you have healing hands, doctor! Come on, I think I need your healing hands elsewhere!" he pulled her up for a long sensuous kiss, helping her take her nightdress off and throwing it to the floor and as he did, Alice unbuttoned his pyjama top, casting it aside.

They made love long into the night then fell asleep in each other's arms.