Chapter Twenty eight

John would have liked to make love to her there and then but she was clearly stressed and he wanted her in the right frame of mind for tomorrow. Gently he suggested she bathe first and then he would try and relax her to sleep. She had protested that it was too early but after he had reminded her they needed to be up with the dawn chorus the following morning she agreed.

When she was scrubbed pink and exfoliated she lay down again on her stomach and John began to work his magic on her. He poured a small amount of scented massage oil in his hands and rubbed them together to warm and spread the oil. Rose was still damp and he worked the water in to her skin with the oil. In short order she was sighing deeply and due to a super human effort on his part he manage to keep the massage from becoming sexual. He wanted Rose to have a good nights sleep and he was intending to massage her until she was snoring.

When he was sure she was asleep he stood back and watched her. Her features were in repose and she was snoring softly. He covered her gently and went through to the rooms shower room to wash his hands free of the oil. His own body had been turned on by stroking Rose's and he found his hand wandering to his shaft. He smiled as he allowed his senses to be filled by what he was doing and he entered the shower stall knowing how this would end.

He allowed the warm water to wash over and relax him before taking himself to the inevitable climax and he grunted as he found his release. He wasn't entirely sure what his fiancé would make of his behaviour; she had been appalled that first time but then things had been very different. He washed away the evidence and decided that one day he would ask her what she thought about self pleasuring but for now he needed to sleep. Tomorrow would be a big day and he was worried how he was going to cope in a plane again. That first time had been horrendous. The pressure had made his head hurt until he thought he was going to suffer an aneurysm; not something he was keen to experience again. He had kept his fears to himself; Rose needed to close that part of her life away if they were to have a future together and she didn't need to be worrying about him. He had survived that first time and is head bothered him far less now than it had back then.

When he was dry he slipped in to bed beside Rose. He was naked and spooned with her naked body to share her body heat. She murmured in her sleep and he whispered, "Shhh." in her ear before allowing sleep to creep over him.

The alarm clocks shrill beeping disturbed his slumber and when he blearily opened his eyes he was surprised to find Rose fully dressed and seated on the bed just looking at him.

"Good morning." she said brightly. "Come on time to get up!"

"Well you are more chipper than I anticipated."

"I slept really well but woke up before the alarm so I decided to get ready."

"Are you driving us?"

"Mum asked David if he'd take us to the airport."

"That was good of her, and good of him to agree. It's very early."

"Stop grumbling and get dressed!"

"I'll grumble if I want to. Where are my pain killers?"

"In the bathroom cabinet. Are you in pain?"

"No but I want to carry some on me today."

"Why?"

"I wasn't going to say but I remember my last plane journey a little too well." he replied with a grimace.

Rose's face creased with worry,

"Oh my God. I'd forgotten! I'm surprised you remember anything about that you kept blacking out."

"You held my head in your lap."

Rose nodded, "It was hard to see you in so much pain. It will be even harder now… Do you think that will happen again?"

"I hope not but I want to be prepared if it does."

Rose retrieved the tablets and put some in her own pocket before handing him the rest to carry,

"Just in case you can't get to them I have some as well."

"My head is so much better now I'm hopeful that I am fretting over nothing."

"I hope so too. You need to get ready David will be here soon."

"Give me ten minutes and I'll be with you."

Ten minutes later they left the room and went through to the kitchen for a quick caffeine injection. Jackie was there with Tony and she wished them both a pleasant trip and urged Rose to keep in contact with home. As coffee mugs were downed the sound of a car on gravel alerted them to David's arrival. All four went back out to the large hallway and John picked up both of their bags as Rose kissed her Mother and brother goodbye.

"Give Dad my love too."

"I'm here so you can give it to me yourself." said Pete as he descended the stair case and then to John, "You look after my little girl and yourself and when you get home tomorrow we'll get stuck in to those wedding plans."

"Yes Sir, I mean Pete. I'll look after us both and we will be home before you know it."

Jackie and Pete waved them off and presently they arrived at the airport. Their flight was an early one and although John still harboured some trepidation he was hopeful that they would return tomorrow both with clearer heads.