The sunlight on her naked back was glorious, straight down her spine causing her to stretch like a cat bathing in the heat. Her hand opened and reached out for Jim but found only sheets. She leisurely opened her eyes not accustomed to the early morning brightness, somehow in the night she must have kicked the sheets off as they were gathered just at the bottom of her body, barely covering her.
Her face was flat against the mattress, only one pillow left and that was on the other side of the bed to her. Her arms were draped out to her side, her body felt heavy from too much sleep. She lifted her head just enough to see the thin white drapes blowing in the breeze and Jim sitting out on the balcony. She opened her mouth to speak and found her throat was too dry, swallowed and groaned as she lay there.
Jim jumped up and came to the side of the bed watching her. �Well, I thought you�d never wake.�
�What time is it?�
�Erm, 11.20.�
�What? I haven�t slept this late in years.�
�I do believe you managed almost two bottles of wine to yourself last night.�
�I suppose � a bottle and half.�
�Coffee?�
�Please, I can smell orange.�
�I had them for breakfast, can�t eat anything too heavy in this heat.�
�Mmm.� She groaned again, rubbed her forehead and turned onto her back.
Jim watched, smiling and taking in the sight of her completely naked and blissfully unaware of how good she looked.
She opened her eyes and looked up at him, ruffling her hair. �What? You�re staring at me. Do I look awful?�
�Not at all.� He was grinning like a fool. �I�ll go get your coffee.�
�Alright, and some aspirin if we have any. Please.� She added lifting a sheet up to cover herself.
*
June couldn�t believe she�d actually fallen asleep again on their journey, her head resting against Jim�s shoulder as the bus made its way into the town centre. People packed in like sardines and a terrible smell of bodies getting too hot and uncomfortable. So she�d closed her eyes, just for a second, but her head had tipped to the side and found the comfort of Jim�s shoulder and she was asleep within seconds.
�June� we�re here.� He shook her arm gently to wake her.
�Where, where are we?� She mumbled rubbing at her face.
�The bus has just pulled into the town centre, come on we need to get off.�
He pulled her up, half carrying her down the bus along with the large bag she�d insisted on bringing filled with �everything they might need for a day out�. Her words made him laugh, towels and snacks and sun cream and spare change. She always planned everything meticulously, unlike him who would have happily set off with nothing but a cap to keep the sun off his head.
Once off the bus he walked her over to a low wall and sat her down, opening the bag and taking out a bottle of water and handing it to her. She took a long drink, her eyes closed, her head tilted backwards.
�How you feeling? Hangover kicking in?�
�I told you, I don�t get them.�
�Liar � you drank enough last night to��
She held up her hand to stop him. �Please don�t rub it in.�
She watched his smile, shaking his head and fastening the bag again � kneeling in front of her, watching each move she made like some attentive servant. He felt guilty about the argument last night, she knew that, but she wasn�t about to let him off lightly � besides the attention felt good.
�It was too hot on that bus.� She said wearily.
�Tell me about it � can you believe those people have to travel like that every day?�
�They must get used to it.�
�I guess. Makes you glad to get a lift to work doesn�t it.� Jim got up and stretched his arms. �So you ready to make a move? According to the pamphlet the market is only on until lunch so if you want to get some shopping done first that�s fine by me. I was thinking somewhere nice for lunch, something cheap after last night�s extravagance.�
June snapped her head up, shielding her eyes so she could see him properly. �I said I�d pay for that.�
�No, my treat. We could try one of these small caf�s along the edge � they look nice enough.�
June followed his gaze, taking in the busy street, separating the tourists out from the actual residents. A fountain marked the centre of the square, seats and people gathering there to sit and read the paper in the sunshine. Another line of people moving down towards what she assumed must be the market area, and Jim was right, the tiny outdoor caf�s did look nice, welcoming.
�I could do with a cup of coffee, let�s do that first, then we can shop.�
�Alright, that�s fine by me.� He held out a hand and helped her to her feet.
�Do I look ok? I feel a bit worse for wear.� She was fussing with her hair.
�You look fine, your eyes still a bit sleepy but apart from that � gorgeous.�
He kissed her cheek, tossed the bag over his shoulder and gripped her hand setting off down the cobbled road.
* *
They sat in the afternoon sunshine, June with her legs stretched out, her dress pulled up to expose her skin to the heat. Her head titled back, her body relaxed. Jim watched her as he sipped his orange juice; refreshing and much deserved after the hard day he�d endured.
What should have been a simple morning�s shopping and taken them the majority of the day, but he had to admit they did get some pretty good stuff. He�d even splurged out by purchasing a gorgeous necklace for June, a reminder of their holiday he�d said as he presented her with it on the bus on the way back to their little village. She�d politely squeezed his hand and given him a quick kiss, she was still very much aware of them being observed, whether it be by strangers or not.
After they�d wearily, and very slowly it must be added, climbed the hill up to their apartment they�d dropped their bags on the floor and June had gone straight out to the balcony, collapsing into one of the chairs. Jim hadn�t been far behind, just getting them a drink and following her out.
�Do you think we should put the shopping away dear?� He said sarcastically. �We must have been back over an hour now, just lazing here.�
�I�m tired- don�t even talk to me.�
Jim laughed. �Does that mean you want to stay in tonight?�
She shook her head. �I don�t know yet, let me see how I go. I�m getting too old to get drunk and then force myself out into stifling heat AND shop��
�I�ll remind you of that next time you order wine with dinner then shall I?�
�I�m sure you will.� She dropped her legs from the chair they were resting on and forced herself to stand up, wandering back into their bedroom.
Jim followed, closing the doors behind him. June removed her sunglasses and looked across at him.
�Any point unpacking these things, may aswell just put them straight into the cases.�
�I agree.� Jim finished the last of his juice and found his case out, laying it open on the floor and kneeling in front of it with the packages around him, trying to work out how on earth they would possibly fit.
�Oh don�t put my gift away though, I want to wear that.�
He looked up at her and smiled, she was taking her dress off, and he leant back on his ankles and folded his arms. �You�re not helping?�
�Oh I will � just, I just need to lie down for a minute or two.�
She fell down onto the bed; her eyes already closed and tugged the sheets up to cover her body. Jim returned to his packing then after a second or two a bra flew out of the bed and landed on the floor by his feet. He couldn�t help but laugh.
�Be a dear and switch the light off now Jim, I�m too tired.� She murmured.
He bit his lip to stop himself from laughing again, if only he could turn the sun off for her.
* *
The storms woke June, a heavy rain pummelling the roof, she shot up in bed rubbing her eyes and scanning the dark room.
�Jim?� She whispered.
The bedroom door opened and the light cut across the floor.
�You�re awake.� Jim smiled, moving towards her and sitting down on the bed.
�What time is it?�
�Almost eight. You slept for a good few hours.�
She rubbed her head, still heavy from sleeping in the afternoon. �Sorry, what have you been doing?�
�Reading your book.� He reached across her to turn the lamp on. �Couldn�t do much else when it started raining.�
�Sounds a bit violent.�
�It is, I ventured out earlier, visited the local rep. Apparently their hoping it will pass over in the next 24 hours, so afraid you�re stuck with my company til then.�
She shrugged. �Not too bad.� She lay back down in the bed. �Did you get anything to eat?�
�Well we still have plenty of bread, but I did get some milk and erm, something for sandwiches�� There was a tone to his voice she recognised � that child in him.
�What?� She drawled looking up at his grinning face.
�Well they happened to stock chocolate spread down there, my favourite brand too � only with foreign writing.�
�Chocolate spread! We come all the way out here and you buy English food.�
�I can�t help it, it�s in my nature. Besides I�ve been eating local delicacies for the past few days � that�s good enough isn�t it?�
She turned onto her side and rubbed his leg. �Oh I suppose so. Am I gonna get some then?�
�Sure, I�ll go prepare dinner.�
�Prepare dinner�� She shook her head and closed her eyes, she may have been asleep all afternoon but somehow she still felt a little tired.
*
�June�� Jim�s voice sounded warm, concerned even. �Are you sure you�re feeling alright?�
�Fine.� She yawned as she hoisted herself up in the bed, leaning back against the pillows Jim had built up for her. �Just a heavy head.�
�Sleeping all afternoon will do that to you.�
�Mmm, I suppose, I got coffee too?�
�Of course � there you go.� Jim handed her a mug and positioned the plate between them, piled high with sandwiches.
June slurped her coffee and giggled. �I�m not sure I�m �that� hungry.�
�I am though.� Jim picked up a sandwich and chewed on it. �Great these you see, not quite main course or dessert � a combination meal.�
�Jim� you dwell on things just a little too much.�
Nevertheless she relented and started eating one herself. She settled back against the cushioned wall and listened to the rainfall outside, an eerie faint light to the room from the weak bedside lamps.
Jim noticed her silence; he was watching her again, just as he had done all day, like some overly concerned parent. �Some holiday ey, sitting here eating sandwiches whilst it rains out.� He commented.
�Hmm, I don�t mind, we�ve had a good week, one afternoon of poor weather isn�t too bad.�
�June, I wanted� I wanted to apologise for last night.�
�Forget it.�
�I can�t, I was stupid, I feel stupid.�
�I rather enjoyed it.� She smiled rubbing his arm.
�I wasn�t talking about that, in the restaurant that man � I couldn�t stand the thought of you��
�Jim, I told you there was nothing there. I was angry because of how you spoke to me, how you�ve been with me.�
He put his half eaten sandwich down. �I know, these past couple of months I�ve been � well, I don�t know.�
�Distant, you�ve been very distant, I was starting to wonder whether or not you thought we had a future. I mean I know all relationships alter � can�t remain in the honeymoon stage forever. But you, you�re so evasive about things, or you have been. Like when I�m speaking you�re not listening. I can�t bear that Jim, if you don�t want to be with me I�d much rather you just tell me, just let me down than drag this on and on.�
�Of course I want to be with you. I couldn�t not be with you, not now � we�ve been through so much.�
June allowed herself a little smile, looked down at his fingers gripping her hand and swallowed. �Well, I�m glad to hear it.�
Jim turned to her, his eyes wide, eager. �I feel like there�s so much I should tell you, like I�m not even beginning to scrape the surface of our relationship. You�re right I have been evasive, distant, cold, a complete idiot � call it what you like, it�s all true. But I�ve never felt like this before, when I first kissed you, those many months ago, it all seemed so simple back then. Like I just wanted to spend some time with you, time outside of work and the restrictions. Then the more time I was with you the more I wanted, I don�t even know when I crossed the line and realised this wasn�t just some casual or ordinary relationship. I screw things up June, I get it good then I screw it up, and I don�t want to do that with you.�
She longed to touch his face, show him she appreciated his sincerity, unfortunately with a mug of coffee in one hand and a sandwich in the other she could only smile, and perhaps laugh a little at her predicament.
�Why couldn�t you just tell me that earlier � instead of letting it drag on? Jim you seem to think that your problems are �your� problems, like I don�t figure in it when I do. I�m supposed to help, offer support, comfort � whatever. That�s what being in a relationship is all about. You bottle things up far too often.�
Jim hugged her, tightly and clumsily. �Jim, you�re spilling my drink, you�ll stain the sheets.� She giggled pushing him back.
�I�m sorry, I�ll let you finish your dinner in peace.�
�Why thank you, and thanks for the little talk too.� She finally placed her mug down on the side and finished her sandwich, smiling as she ate, just a little more comfortable with things than she had been a few minutes before.
Jim was pleasantly silent for at least five minutes. Had even stopped staring at her, so she could eat without feeling like she was on show. But all good things come to an end.
�I rather enjoyed last night too.� He smirked.
�Ohhh so NOW you wanna talk about the sex then.� She couldn�t help but dissolve into laughter.
�What�s so funny?�
�Jim Carver you can�t be still and silent for more than a few minutes � the most peace I get is when you�re asleep.�
�You�re complaining?�
June lifted the plate from the bed and deposited it on the floor. Leaning over him and finally holding his face in her hands.
�Would I ever complain about you?� She kissed him slowly and deeply. �And as for last night, well you were quiet then.�
�I know, I er, didn�t mean to take liberties��
�Liberties? My, could you be blushing? That�s a first.� She had manoeuvred herself on top of him, sitting in his lap. �I have to say it was nice to be woken by you kissing me.�
She leant down to whisper in his ear. �But don�t ever tell anybody I said that, they�ll think I�ve turned into a right sap.�
Jim�s trademark smile lit up his face, as his hands circled her waist. �A right sap � really? Marvellous alliteration I must say Ackland.�
�You don�t even know what that word means.� She squirmed as he tickled her waist.
�I�ll have you know I was very good at English at school.�
�Yes but they still had slate boards then��
�Oh and I suppose we wrote with broken down rocks too right.�
�Well if you insist, then I�ll agree.�
�Why you�� He lifted her up and twisted her onto her back, pulling at the sheets; he�d forgotten she was practically naked under there.
He was still tickling her waist and she was screaming with laughter and pushing at his hands. Soon his mouth was kissing down her stomach, his hands slid behind her back lifting her body up to him. Her arms were spread out above her head, her eyes closed, the laughter fading replaced by pure pleasure as his mouth continued across her stomach, his fingers cradling her waist making her squirm, he knew she was extra sensitive there.
She dropped a hand to touch him, just for the contact, she found his arm and ran her nails across the skin until he was licking her fingertips and she was moaning his name. He knew all the right moves now, knew every nuance of her body, how it would react to his touch. She really didn�t mind if they weren�t having mindless exerting sex as soon as they got in from work anymore; that was then, it was amazing and it was exhausting and inspiring and it could never be replaced. But this, this was better because now he really knew her. And as her feelings for him deepened every day making love to him became much more than a physical thing.
But right now, Jim was intent on making it purely a physical thing. Her head shot up as he licked her thighs, he looked up at her and smiled. Placing a hand on her stomach so she would lie back down. He stripped her of her underwear and moved up her body, kissing all the way up over her stomach and between her breasts. Lingering on her neck, he could feel her legs wrapping around him as she pushed her body up to his.
He lifted his face to look at her. �Eager aren�t we.�
�You started it.� She giggled, for the first time realising she was naked whilst Jim remained fully dressed. She tugged at his shirt.
�Oh no, not this time.� He smiled, a mischievous glint in his eye.
He kissed her mouth, hard and insistent and held her hands, spreading her fingers and laying her arms above her head. Then he returned the kiss down her body, low moans escaping from her and gasping breaths as he continued his domination of her body. Spreading her thighs with his hands and stimulating with the merest touch of his tongue.
She was squirming beneath him now, begging for release as he continued to tease. Loving the sweet fragrance of her thighs, the soft creamy skin that he could bury his face in and sleep forever. He felt his own need growing but was determined to make this last, to make tonight last. Her body felt so alive, so full of heat as she whispered incoherent words to the air, right then he could find no greater pleasure than making her completely fulfilled.
He swore he felt her abdomen tense as her body stilled, froze almost, the wave of warmth creeping through her blood stream, then she quite vocally confessed her orgasm. Jim rested against her body, giving her time to recover her breath, for her body to calm down a little, before moving back up to lie by her side.
�Enjoy that?� He traced patterns over her chest with his fingertips.
She opened her eyes slightly to cast a sideways glance at him, and bit down on her lip. �What do you think?�
�I think, these marks�� He kissed the red blotches that had appeared on her chest. �And this flushed face.� He kissed her forehead. �Prove that you did rather enjoy it.�
�And you?� She said huskily, turning onto her side. �I think it�s time I repaid the favour.�
* *
...continue...