strong � I�ll let you go your way. Love is gone, there�s no point in going on, and your pity now, would be more than I
could bear. So I�m gonna be strong � I�ll pretend I don�t care. I�m gonna be strong and stand as tall as I can. I�m
gonna be strong and let you go along, and take it like a man. When you say it�s the end, I�ll hand you a line oh I�ll
smile and say don�t you worry it�s fine. And you�ll never know darling after you�ve kissed me goodbye, how I�ll break
down and cry. Cry. Cry. Cry���
June watched him from the door, the way he reached for her body as he woke then finding her gone contemplated getting up but deciding against it. She had been up for a couple of hours, went for a long walk to fetch the papers and enjoy a little of the Sunday morning on her own for a while, it was nice just to get some time alone every now and then.
Her hands were cold, but he didn�t mind � as they ran up his legs, over his shorts to his stomach. Her mouth just grazing over his skin, so gentle and teasing in a subtle way. His hand reached down and caught hold of her shoulder. �June�� He asked questioningly, eyes still closed, hand grasping at her skin as her hands removed his shorts.
�Hmmm�� She moved up to look at him, smiling and kissing his mouth,
�What do you think you�re doing to me?�
She manoeuvred her body on top of his, positioning her legs between his. �Well I was considering making love to you,� Her fingers tracing the outline of his mouth. �We haven�t in a while.�
His arms came round her waist to hold her tight against him. �Somebody keeps falling asleep��
�Sorry about that.� She smiled, kissed him again and now he was fully awake, his mouth responding just as he always did, so attentive, so fervently. His hands sliding down her body, her naked body� Jim wondered how many times he could feel a thrill at the thought of having her there with him naked. That smoothness to her skin, that creaminess that drew him in. Turning her onto her side so he had better access to the rest of her body, his mouth drawing its familiar path down her neck, along her collarbone down between the valley of her breasts. But she was pulling him back up, eagerly wrapping her leg over his, her hands tight around his back pressing him into her. She could hear his mumbled voice as she kissed over his chest, her hips grinding into his, her body already swaying in anticipation. Sometimes she hated the way her body so naturally responded to this, uncontrollable, and the way she would shake and her voice becoming nothing more than hoarse cry of pleasure. But now, now it didn�t matter because he knew all of it and he seemed to rather enjoy the fact it was all down to him� He took hold of her face. �Too soon�� He started to say as she urged him forward with her knee digging in his leg.
�I�ve been thinking of this all morning�� Utter certainty as she took control and slid down onto him, stilling for a second to watch his reaction. He had smiled and kissed her open mouth, just slightly, just a brush of the lips � but so much affection. And so slowly moving against him, that tension in her stomach, warmth spreading throughout her body and his mouth whispering next her face�
�Twice in one morning is not bad for an aging man�� She draped her body across his, moving his arm up over the pillow and spreading his fingers with her own. �Not bad?� His smile was slow and deliberate. As was her kiss, she couldn�t stop wanting to kiss him this morning. �Mmm, I�m enjoying myself though.�
�I should think so.� His hands came to rest at the base of her spine as she lay on top of him, her eyes already beginning to close. �This is the way to spend a Sunday.� She mumbled.
�Going to sleep now?�
�Just for a while, papers are downstairs, if you want to read.�
�Think I�ll stay here.�
�Alright��
* *
When June awoke she was lying on her side again, she could feel Jim�s body pressed tight against her back, his hands linked around her stomach. She reached down to tangle her fingers with his and he smiled and kissed her shoulder. �I thought you were going to sleep all day.�
She glanced over at the clock. �Lunchtime already��
�Erm, we kinda skipped breakfast, you certainly were exhausted.�
She turned over onto her back; Jim let his arms slip from her stomach to just rest against her as she moved. �I haven�t been sleeping too well.�
�I�ve noticed. Up at five making tea isn�t a good sign.� She had settled on her back now, closing her eyes and enjoying the sensation of his hands smoothing along her skin, one up her leg to her thigh the other just stilling beneath her breasts. Something oddly comforting yet sensual about it, the feel of him touching her, that strange invasion of another touching your body and yet even though he held her every night it still felt very new and more than welcomed.
�You know we won�t be doing this next week.�
He was kissing her shoulder again, gently, down her arm. �At your brothers.� He mumbled.
�Mmm, not with children running about and a million fun things to do.� She almost clapped her hands together in mock glee.
�Oh come on, I bet you love it when you get into it, wearing Santa hats and singing carols.�
�Oh yes regular choir member I am � I only sing in the shower as you very well know.�
�And the car - with some persuasion.�
She opened her eyes and titled her head to watch him, her hand reaching up to lift his chin. �Hmm, I think I should begin to limit your access to me, you�re beginning to know me far too well.�
His hands were instantly around her waist lifting her up and twisting her round to lie almost on top of him. �Now that�s supposed to be a good sign in a relationship.�
She couldn�t help but touch his face, that warm smile. �It is.� She kissed him slowly, moving herself fully on top of him and reaching her arms down to wind around his back, pressing herself as close to him as she could.
�I do love you June.�
She smiled at his open adoration; he looked so innocent lying there with his eyes closed, lips still slightly parted awaiting her next move. �I know you do. Shall I take you out for lunch?�
�No, I�m quite happy here.�
�Then shall we think about getting something to eat, I�m starving?�
�You�re never hungry.� He opened his eyes now, loosening his grip on her waist so she could move and folding his arms behind his head.
�I know strange isn�t it.�
She climbed out of bed, for the second time that day, and padded across the bedroom to find her dressing gown. �Anything in particular you fancy?�
He sat up in bed, a boyish tilt to the way he held his head. �I could name a few things.�
�And I thought you would have had enough for today�� She smiled as she brushed her hair.
�Just making up for the past few weeks.�
�All couples go through stages like that � don�t they?� She hesitated.
�Don�t ask me, how do I know what couples do, I�ve never been in one long enough to find out.�
�Hmm, I think you�re just being naturally evasive�� She sighed. �Anyhow, put something on and come and help me downstairs.�
�Surely you can manage a sandwich.�
�Oh very funny, besides you just took over the cooking, I didn�t force you. And since you�ve taken over the kitchen I don�t know where a thing is.� She mumbled as she made her way downstairs, greeting Toto who was lying on the kitchen chair warming himself in the steady stream of sunlight weaving it�s way through the glass panelled door.
* *
June stretched her toes and rubbed her feet together, squirming on the couch trying to create more leg space for herself.
�Don�t do that, you�re knocking the paper.�
�I�m squashed up.�
�You have all the room.� He laughed incredulously.
He was right; he was sat in the centre of the sofa with June�s legs going straight over his lap as she lie reading her book, settled back with all the cushions supporting her head.
�Well I want more�� She glared at him over the top of her glasses.
�Spoilt you are.�
She broke into a smile and removed her glasses, something slow and deliberate about the way she did that, almost knowing he had no choice but to stare. �Yes, I know, used to having whatever space I choose to have.�
�Well young lady I think we should teach you to share.�
�Mmm I think I�d enjoy that lesson.� Her book abandoned on the coffee table now in favour of prodding Jim�s leg with her foot.
�I am trying to read you know.�
�Yes.�
�Important to catch up on the days news.�
�Yes.�
He folded the paper and placed it in his lap, watching her leg bend and her knee nudge at his groin area. He drew a breath and leant his head back against the sofa for a second, then returned his eyes to her mischievous face. �Fancy a bath?�
�Yes.�
�I like this �yes� business, wish you were always this co-operative.�
�As if I�m ever difficult.� She pulled her legs from off his and slipped down off the sofa, shaking her head as she stood up. �I�ve gone all drowsy lying there for so long. I�ll go get a drink, you want anything?�
�Glass of water will be fine.� He tidied the sofa, straightened the cushions and replaced the papers neatly on the coffee table and made his way upstairs.
Due to June�s house being quite old she was lucky in the fact she had both a large bathroom and kitchen, something Jim had lost out on with his flat. She teased him about the re-arrangements he had made to the kitchen but he had really enjoyed every second of it, the space to actually live in for a change. He left the bath filling; dropping in some of the fragranced stuff in bottles she had adorning the shelves in there. He had offered to empty them all away but she had refused saying she bought them for a reason, though what the reason was Jim never got to find out. He glanced through the curtains in the bedroom, noting the fact it was only 6.30 at night and yet already dark and misty, he had wondered about the possibility of doing some improvements in the garden this Spring, ready for the Summer, perhaps even expanding - a conservatory maybe. Garden furniture at the very least so they could sit outside on warm nights, didn�t look like she went in for any gardening. Well, it was only in his head at the moment, not even mentioned it to her. Sometimes she got so wound up by any suggestion of things moving forward for them that he had learnt the art of restraint � letting things lead their own way, he wasn�t in doubt over her feelings for him and that of course was the most important thing. But at times her almost dismissive attitude drove him crazy. She�d been funny with him for the past month, in fact longer than that. Ever since the �children� discussion she had sort of shut down on him, on them. That�s why today had been such a joy, just having her all to his self, the real June.
He closed the curtains again and undressed, noticing Toto curled up amongst the sheets on the bed. He would have to be moved later or Jim could see himself being regulated to the couch. He returned to the bathroom, stopped the tap and dipped his toe in to check the temperature. Perfect, he climbed in and settled back closing his eyes. He could hear June climbing the stairs, could see her in his head fussing over the clothes he�d abandoned on the floor.
�Someone was in a hurry.�
He smiled to himself and rubbed his face.
June placed the glasses on the edge of the bath. �You could have lit candles.�
�Damn it woman I�m not perfect.�
�Hey!� There was a slight edge to her voice as she leant over the bath, but he could tell she was smiling. �Don�t make me turn the cold water on you.�
He listened to her finding the candles out of the bedroom and lighting them, delicately placing them on the windowsill and switching off the light. Her dressing gown being hung on the back of the door and finally she stepped into the water. Sitting forward and her head dropping down as her body adjusted to the temperature, he placed a hand on her back and ran it down her spine and she involuntarily shook at the sensation.
�Lean back.� He whispered, reaching for a sponge.
She did as he asked, her eyes suddenly heavy and her body eager to rest against his. He submerged the sponge then brought it up to drip the water across her stomach. �People would hire you out for this kind of treatment.�
�I don�t give it out to anybody.�
�I should hope not.� She giggled.
�Oh you know what I mean.�
�I do, and I think it�s very sweet of you to wash me.�
�Don�t think I�m enjoying this at all you know, it�s only so I can get the favour returned.�
With some difficulty June turned herself over, her hands wandering down beneath the water and her face pressed against his chest kissing all the way up to his neck, the slightly soapy taste to his skin. �Don�t worry, you�ll be thanked.� She smiled, raising herself out of the water to kiss his mouth.
She settled back down against him, closing her eyes and her mind beginning to drift. The idea of him warm and aroused when she got him out of the bath and into bed, suddenly she didn�t feel quite so tired anymore.
�Been quite a perfect day hasn�t it.� Jim sighed unaware of her plans for him as he closed his eyes and prepared for a bit of a sleep.