Chapter 18

The first thing she felt when she woke up were the strong pair of arms holding her and the rise and fall of his chest. Smiling, she glanced up to see John still asleep, looking more peaceful than she'd ever seen him before. His tousled hair was messier than usual and his chest was as comfortable as the pillow beside her. Clara had no idea how she had gotten this far, how her first day at the group had lead to sleeping with her own dance partner but it had been a surprising and unpredictable journey. One that she wanted to continue for as long as possible, just so she could be near him and the art she loved. Everything had been more dramatic in the last few months than some years of her life and somehow it attracted her.

She slipped out of his embrace, collecting her clothes from the floor and putting them on before settling back. She watched him until he woke, a dazed look as if he didn't know where he was, and then the sudden grin as he stared at her in his bed.

'Good morning.' He smiled, his voice husky and provoking that flutter in her chest once more.

'Morning,' she replied, caressing his cheek lightly. If she could, she would spend eternity right there, frozen for that split second in time. That was the effect he had on her.

He suddenly looked down, confused and wrinkled his nose. She could never tell what he was thinking. So unpredictable, but that was why she liked him so much.

'Why did you put your clothes back on?' He asked, eyebrows knitted together in unfathomable question.

She laughed, her head settling above his collarbone.

'Why do you wanna know?' She teased, cocking an eyebrow for his amusement.

'Because we haven't finished here yet.'

'Oh, haven't we?'

She moved from her position, instead straddling him, hair falling like a waterfall over her head, playing with his hands.

'No, we haven't.' He whispered, his grin seeming to become wider with each moment that passed.

She finally reached down to his lips and this time she was determined to keep control of the situation as he had done last night. Clara kept him there, so he was unable to move anywhere. With a smirk she bit down on his lip, making him growl in return. She loved frustrating him this way. His hands came to hover at her ass but that was all the freedom he had.

'You're so annoying.' He told her, when she eventually let him take her clothes off again.

'You love it.' She retorted, pressing another kiss to his lips but quickly drawing away.

'Just come here.' He moaned.

She shook her head, staring down at his pleading face, wanting nothing but for her to surrender to the heat of his body.

'You're so impatient.' She said, but relented at last and pulled him into a long, lingering kiss that took his own breath away. Hands roamed down the curve of her body and Clara couldn't help the way he looked at her affect her actions. Again, they sunk down into the bed and ravished in each other's body.

John spun her around until they reached the door to the bookshop, an hour late but smiling brightly anyway and finally dressed. Together they walked to the studio, both getting stuck into performing their dances over and over again until they were dripping with sweat and collapsing into each other's arms to make up for the hour lost and yesterday's abrupt leave.

John had kept out of Missy's way, taking Clara's immediate advice to ignore her presence in the building and concentrate what they were doing. He started smiling a lot more and forgetting about Missy and her competition and she was immensely proud of him.

With what they had shared already John admitted their dances were even sexier and better, which only made Clara work even harder to make them all perfect. Especially with the tango and rhumba they couldn't help a small kiss just to accentuate the sensual spirit of the dance, to make it even more authentic. By the time they parted for lunch Clara was exultant and confident, even happier than usual. She had persuaded John to interact with everyone else than just her and as she glanced over at him she saw him actually taking part in a conversation with both Sarah Jane and Donna.

It didn't take long however before he came crawling back to her. Clara had been talking to Amy, Rose and Martha when suddenly his arms slipped round her waist and his chin rested on her shoulder. She looked at him with disbelief in his eyes. She could see the three girls exchange bewildered looks before John had whispered in her ear.

'You're meeting me by the river at 10 o'clock, alright?' He said.

'Why, are you planning something?' She whispered back. He quickly waved her off, which only made her more suspicious. And then a little louder, 'We need to get back to practice, Baby.' He said, breath tickling his ear as his hand reached for hers. A smile spread on her face and she raised her eyebrows at the girls. Eventually she turned her head to reply.

'Lead the way, Johnny.'

He pulled her along with him and they ran down the corridor to their studio, and away from everyone else. Clara wanted to find out why he had told her to meet at the river of all places, but she didn't question. It was John after all.

As soon as she stepped into her flat she was reminded of the mess of sheets that hadn't been made, the cups that were still left out on the drain and the clothes still hanging out the laundry basket. Clara cane to realise just how much this show and all the dances were taking over most of her life, leaving only minimal room for the little things. Not to mention John's tedious schedule.

Despite all of that however, she allowed herself to smile while her brain daydreamed off into a universe where nothing really went wrong. And then she reminded herself of what he'd whispered, meeting her at a river. Endless and random possibilities ran through her mind but she couldn't decide on one. Instead with feet aching and mouth continuously yawning she retired to bed before setting an alarm.

She opened an eye, staring fixedly at the phone buzzing at the sound of the alarm call. Groaning, she glanced at it, only then remembering it wasn't the next morning but late in the afternoon. She took a long drawn and well needed bath, easing her muscles after countless exercise. Her decision when it came to dressing took longer than usual, picking out a shirt or a skirt and throwing it back into its drawers. She had no idea why she was now so cautiously choosing what to wear but with a glance to the clock she didn't have much time.

Clara walked to the river, the same one they had shared that picnic, and she was still in the dark about what he was doing. As she neared closer she saw him by the water, barefoot and shirtless. What he was doing she had no idea. Yet she still couldn't help marvel at his chest that glinted in the light of the moon and on the reflection of the river as he walked toward her. He looked like an angel carved out if marble, curls fluttering slightly in the wind.

She raised her eyebrows at him in confusion, and he took both her hands in his.

'I've had enough of the studio,' he explained, slowly pulling her into the centre of the clearing, 'This is much more beautiful and scenic, I couldn't help picturing the both of us dancing like this, in the light of the moon, but when everything's darker, it's the most idyllic setting for all of our dances.'

'Seriously?' She said, 'you can't stop thinking about dancing, can you?'

'Nope. And I can't stop thinking about you either. Perfect combination.'

And then for the umpteenth time that day, he lead her into the tango right there and then. And somehow he'd been right, the whole peaceful and serene location affecting the pace and flow of each transition, and while looking into his eyes she could see that they had perfected it beyond perfection. Everything was exactly how it should be, and Clara still couldn't tear her hands away from his chest. As he spun her around she could see everything in such vivid tones and it only made everything as much more picturesque as it already was.

There they were, those two figures dancing in the clearing, and every time they touched she developed that tingling in her stomach. His gaze didn't shift the whole way through, fixed on hers like they were glued to the spot. As they danced their way through the tango, the rhumba, the salsa, the mambo and their showcase, Clara was positively sure this was where she always wanted to be. In his arms, dancing with him, no matter where it was. As she was launched backward in that final position Clara swore her heart had stopped for at least half a minute as they both stared at each other, breathing heavily but relaxed in each other's grasp. Clara's palm rested on his cheek and John bent his head down to kiss her. He straightened her slowly so she was standing upright once more and her arms quickly came to wrap round his neck. She was so enraptured by him she hardly noticed when he had lifted her up as high as she would go and they both started laughing. As soon as she was set down they embraced, John's face nestled in her hair and Clara's nose nuzzled into his shoulder while everything was still silent except for the light rippling of water.

'John, you have no idea how much difference you've made in my life already.' She said, withdrawing to look at him dead in the eye. Clara was shocked the words had come out of her mouth, and so seriously too, but she couldn't deny they were the truth.

'Well, hopefully you'll stay with me because I personally have had the time of my life.'

'Did you seriously just quote Dirty Dancing to me?' She laughed.

'I seriously did.'

She shook her head at him but squeezed his hand tightly as she pulled in closer for another reassuring hug.