A Saviour

Fifteen

"Belle... the sooner you're in bed the faster Santa will come." Kate used the line once more even though her daughter had no idea or concept of what it meant as she ran round the apartment in her pyjamas. She was freshly bathed, and giddy after seeing all of the Christmas lights. Johnny's idea was incredibly special to Kate and the trio enjoyed their little adventure out after dinner. They had been completely misled by the toddler who was yawning the entire drive home but now seemed to be full of energy once more. Johnny jumped out of the kitchen startling Belle who chuckled and picked her up. "I've got ya munchkin. Now we need to calm down ready for bed time don't we? Otherwise Mumma is gonna get angry and we don't want Mumma to get angry. Not on Christmas Eve." Johnny said in a cute voice as Kate lent against the doorframe to the living area. She admired him so much, and couldn't believe she only had known him for a little over 6 months. God they had only been dating for a little over a month and he was already throwing himself into bedtime routines and nap times. She wondered if it was all going a bit fast but seeing him with Belle distracted her once more. "So what are we leaving out for Santa then darling?" Kate wandered over to a content Belle in Johnny's arms. Belle remained silent, and watched as her mother opened a kitchen cabinet pulling out a bottle of bourbon. "Maybe a slug of this?" She shrugged to both Johnny and Belle. Johnny smirked as Kate poured a little into a glass and put it on a Christmas plate alongside the biscuits specifically labelled Santa before taking Belle from his arms. The petite woman carried her toddler and the plate over to the makeshift fire place. Johnny held back watching from afar, "Remember what I told you Belle, if you're on the good list then Santa is going to come and leave a load of presents under the tree for you. Of course you've been a good girl, you're the best thing that ever happened to me aren't you so that puts you at the very top of the good list doesn't it?" Kate said quietly to her little girl but Johnny heard. The woman bent down and put the plate down, and kissed her daughter's head, before sitting her down next to the plate, she turned to grab her phone and spotted Johnny already snapping photos. How did he always know what she was thinking? She beamed as she spotted him smiling before he said "Stay right there." He ran off to the master bedroom grabbed something and ran back, it was his camera. He snapped a few photos and asked Kate to look at Belle and make her chuckle, which she did within seconds with a few funny faces. Johnny snapped away for a few moments. Kate smiled appreciatively to Johnny, silently thanking him. He had no idea how much that tiny gesture meant to her as she picked Belle back up and handed her a bottle of milk from the island before getting the little girl cosied up sat on the couch.

A short while later, Kate had decided it was way past Belle's usual bedtime and she had to go to sleep. "Belle, say goodnight to Johnny." The little girl threw her arms round the man before leaving a sloppy kiss on his cheek. She still had her bunny and her doll under her arms as she pulled back and he ruffled her curls. "Goodnight little Princess. Sweet dreams." Kate smiled as she scooped Belle onto her hip and said "I'll be 5 minutes, make yourself at home Johnny." He smiled at how normal this all felt and lent back into the couch. He checked the time, it was 4:30am in Paris, he ideally wanted to stay awake long enough to FaceTime his children when they awoke on Christmas morning so set an alarm for later in the evening just in case.

Katie soon returned and wandered into the kitchen, she pulled out a bottle of wine from the fridge and poured two glasses before wandering over to the couch. She handed Johnny one as he put his phone to the side. "Merry Christmas." She raised her glass and he clinked his with hers as she sat down beside him. "If I fall asleep wake me at 10:30 I'll call the kids. Although I anticipate they'll be waking Ness up way earlier than that." Kate smiled and nodded appreciating how much his children meant to him. "No problem." Kate said as she sipped her wine. "I think you succeeded in creating an extremely magical Christmas Eve for Belle, you should be proud." Johnny said making Kate smile. "Thank you, I couldn't have done it without you. You've helped out so much recently with her. I feel bad." "Darling, it's not an effort. I love her company, she's a good kid. I'll do whatever I can for you both whenever." Kate smiled appreciating the sentiment. "I just know this isn't the norm when dating so I do really really appreciate it." "Well I appreciate you and Belle being in my life especially after everything." "Johnny, I've always believed you, and not just because I work for you or on behalf of your image, but because I know what a real victim looks like."

Later on, Katie was dragging bags of gifts out her bedroom, and placing them under the tree. Johnny seemed to be adding to the pile which confused her as he had already dropped gifts of for both her and Belle a few days prior. "What are you doing?" "Well I picked up a few more bits for you both this morning before I came over." "Johnny! You shouldn't have. I'm afraid my gifts to you will be nothing compared to what you've got us." "I never give to receive darling." Kate smiled as they placed the presents where they needed to be, and then the woman stood and went over to the plate left for Santa. "Are you a bourbon man?" "I am.. when the occasion suits, why?" "Wanna be Santa for me?" Kate giggled and he nodded slowly approaching as she held out the plate and glass to him. He sipped the bourbon before taking a biscuit. "How come you've got a bottle of bourbon but don't drink it then?" "I do drink it but not often. It was my Dad's favourite drink and so it reminds me of him." Johnny smiled before raising his glass "To those who can't be with us." He took a sip and Kate smiled trying to hold back tears. She resumed her work before quietly putting little gifts in the stocking on Belle's bedroom door. "I got a little something for Lily-Rose and Jack in your bag of gifts I'll guess we will have to wait until they are back now?" Kate said to Johnny who beamed. "That was very thoughtful, thank you. I'll be sure to tell them when I call them shortly."

"Again, I'm sorry I can't be with you guys. I miss you more than you could ever know." Johnny said to his phone where his two beaming children clad in pyjamas and were sat by a Christmas tree. "We miss you too Dad but I'm so glad you're with Kate and not alone." Lily said. "Has Belle woken up yet?" Jack asked. "No!! It's just gone 10pm here, so she won't be awake for a while but I'll be sure to send photos if it's ok with Kate." "Yes do that!! We would love to see her!" "Ok well go get ready for Mass. If you're late your mother will kill you! I love you both lots." "Love you too Dad! Bye!!!" Johnny smiled and hung up his phone, before grabbing his cigarette tin. "Do you mind if I go smoke?" "Not at all. You know where the key is?" "Sure do. I'll be sure to put it up high after unlike last time." Johnny was referring to a week or two prior where he had gone out onto the balcony and returned only to leave the key in reach of little Belle, thanks to Kate's quick reactions no harm was done though.

The next morning, Kate laid awake in Johnny's arms. She had woken with a lot on her mind about the day ahead. Although she was excited, she was a little anxious too. As she got comfortable she must have accidentally woke Johnny as he began whispering to her and kissing her neck all with his eyes still closed though. "Merry Christmas my darling." "Happy Christmas Johnny." Kate whispered back as she rolled onto her back and then her side to face him. He obviously sensed this and opened his eyes slowly brushing hair out her face. His gorgeous brown eyes stared into her ocean blue ones as he lent in and captured her lips. After sharing a kiss he pulled back "I think I might unwrap my first present to myself right now.." "oh yeah, and whats that?" Kate asked giggling, she knew she wasn't the best flirt but she tried. She silently thanked the lord she had chosen to sleep in a little satin slip last night as opposed to her usual cami and short sets. It made her feel elegant and sexy, especially as he grabbed hold of the satin near her thighs and slowly push it up to her waist, his fingertips dragged along her skin painfully slow. He eventually pulled it over her head and discarded it, as he rolled onto his back and pulled her on top of him. The sheets acting as a perfect curtain around them, however it did make things get hot and steamy rather quickly.

Kate immediately kissed Johnny passionately, his arms circled round her petite body, and his hands rested on her rear, pulling her flush with his body. He heard her gasp and smirk in between kisses as she felt how turned on he was already. Since the first time sleeping with Johnny, a whole new side had awoken within Katie. She had always enjoyed sex up until she was forced to commit sexual acts by her ex. However the need and desire to please and pleasure Johnny seemed to have reignited that spark within her. She trailed her lips down his jaw and neck, finding the exact spot where his shoulder met his neck and sucked gently, careful to not leave a mark but hard enough to make him groan and wriggle below her. She did the exact same to the other side, and knew it was getting him worked up as one of his hands trailed up her sides and began groping her chest.