Mad Woman✓

30. Up in the air

I do what she wants anywhere, backseat of the car and up in the air

   TAYLOR

As soon as we get back to the house, I strip out of the tight green dress and change into sweatpants and a T-shirt of Joe's. I quickly put the last few things I want to bring back to New York in my bags and suitcase before dragging them down the stairs.

The plane is leaving before midnight and it's already ten-thirty. "Joe!" I call out, "You ready?" "Yeah, wait a second!" he calls back from the kitchen.

I sigh and run my hand through my hair, "Hurry up!"

"Yeah, yeah..." He jogs toward me and hands me a napkin. "Open it and eat it", he says. I look inside and chuckle when I see a doughnut, "Thank you. Do you not want-" "I just had the other one. Very hungry. Ready to go?"

"Yeah." He takes my bags from me and tosses them over his shoulder. We both take our own suitcases and walk to the car that is outside waiting for us. He holds onto one crutch but doesn't use it.

There are a few paparazzi, but not as many as I had anticipated. Thank goodness..

I keep my head down and drown out their questions as I walk to the car. Joe walks in front of me, holding my hand tightly.

Once we are sitting in the backseat of the car, the driver turns around to look at us. "There's a lot more of them at the end of the street, do you want me to take a detour t'wards the airfield?" "That would be nice, yes, thank you", Joe nods.

He puts his seatbelt on and entwines our fingers again. He softly squeezes one, two, three times. I squeeze back, smiling at him.

He uses his index and middle finger of his free hand to slightly lift my chin. He looks me in the eyes and drops that hand to my neck.

I place my own free hand on his chest and he leans in, leaving less than an inch between our lips. "I am so relieved today is over", I mumble, "I hope it won't cause more rumours, though.. They could-" "Sshh, don't even worry about that.." he mumbles. My hand slides down his chest a little, resting low on his ribs, "Everything will be fine, I promise." "I love you", I mumble.

"You don't even know", he breathes. He slides his hand up to touch my cheek and the feeling of butterflies in my stomach increases.

"I love you so much.." I begin to say, but my words are cut off by his lips pressing onto mine. My eyes flutter shut and he kisses me so incredibly softly..... I don't think we've ever kissed this.. warmly before.

Yes, it's passionate.. Yet so soft.. Just a kiss, no sex, no hair pulling, no gasping for air... Just.. us. His tongue slowly moves over my bottom lip and I could cry from the amazing feeling in my stomach right now.

He pulls back and rests his forehead on mine.

I feel stupid for saying it, but the words already left my mouth.

"That was my favourite kiss. Like, ever."

He lets out a breathy laugh, "Yeah?" "Hmm", I nod. "I thought you were into the harsh teeth clashing kisses, rough sex.. Being a mad woman.. All that."

"I thought so too", I mumble, "But maybe I'm more like sixteen-year-old me than mad-woman-me right now."

"Alright", he whispers, kissing my nose, "Maybe I am too.. Because even though I loved the harsh and rough and nasty stuff.... I really fucking did, you know.. But I have always been more into sweet kisses and softness and fluffiness.."

"Then why aren't you soft and fluffy with me?" I ask him, leaning back a little, and looking into his eyes.

"Because I knew you needed the roughness, the wild stuff... You needed it to.. kind of, I don't know.. I noticed it the night we met.... How you shoved me against the wall, so rough and just wanting to.. to fuck, really.... You needed it to let go sometimes, I think... Let go of the stress, to drown in the.. Uhm.. rougher feelings. Like sex out in the open, underneath a freaking tree seemed to really help", he chuckles.