A Parisian Fairytale

Chapter Thirty Four

Johnny's skilled hands worked her shoulders for a while before he could feel her finally begin to relax. She moaned quietly hoping he hadn't heard but he did and smirked. "Your shoulder muscles are so tense. Have you been extremely stressed?" He asked leaning into her right ear. His soft voice made goosebumps appear on her skin. "Ummm.." she didn't want to say yes but he knew her answer. "Stupid question. Sorry." He said before retreating. She lifted her hand to cover another yawn and he lent back. "Lay down." She turned her head. "What?" "Lie down.. it will be easier on your shoulder muscles." She licked her lips before saying "It's really ok... I don't expect you to give me a full back massage." "Well I know you don't expect it, but hey, you've clearly been stressed. You need it. Allow me." She nodded silently before manoeuvring onto her front and half laying on the small couch. Johnny did his best to straddle her bum and lean up on his knees but it was a tight squeeze, he lent over her back before somehow managing to completely roll off her and onto the floor. "Fuck." She heard him mutter before he chuckled. Belle turned her head and saw him on the floor and belly laughed too. "Are you ok?" She giggled. "Yeah I'm fine.." he said sitting up. "Couch isn't made for two." He smirked. Belle nodded and sat up taking his comment as a sign the massage was over, she held the slip to her chest as she manoeuvred the straps back onto her shoulders. "Come with me." He said holding his hand out and leading her into her bedroom. Her eyes widened before he guided her to lay on her front in the middle of the bed. He disappeared into the en suite before returning with a bottle. "Is it ok to use this?" Her eyes widened it was a bottle of expensive moisturiser but she nodded. He once again straddled her bum and sat up on his knees before sliding his fingertips under the thin spaghetti straps. She shuffled until it was off and was essentially topless laying face down. He warmed some of the lotion into his hands before beginning to ease her aching muscles.

He worked as best he could with the little knowledge he had, until he felt her body completely relax. He watched her face as her head was to the side and her eyelashes constantly fluttered battling sleep. Their conversation had dropped off and he smiled. He was glad she was this relaxed, clearly she hadn't been in a while. By the sounds of it she had been working extremely hard since they had ended whatever they had and he knew he was partially to blame. He couldn't believe he thought that negatively of her but then again after being treated so badly previously, he understood that his mind had jumped to the worse scenarios. "Belle?" He whispered. He didn't get a response. He wasn't surprised when he looked at his watch and saw it was just before 3am. He gently climbed off her, and manoeuvred the straps of her slip back onto her shoulders. He gently lifted her and moved her to one side of the bed and tucked her under the sheets. She was half awake mumbling but not making any sense. "Thank you Johnny." She said sweetly as she nuzzled into the pillow. "You're welcome." He said kindly. "Please don't go... stay here. It's ok." She said softly still with her eyes closed. He sighed before looking at the empty side of the bed beside her. "Ok.. I won't go." He said pulling the sheets up around her and kissing her forehead. He walked round to the other side of the bed, emptied his pockets of his phone, cigarette tin, and ditched his watch and bracelets before kicking off his boots and laying on top of the covers. He unbuttoned his shirt further giving him more movement and ditched his belts before trying to get comfortable. He shuffled for a while before turning his head to the right and seeing Belle cosied up, her sweet pink lips slightly pouted. Her long eyelashes fluttering in the world of dreams, and her hands clasping onto the sheet. He was mere inches away from her and his body knew it. He hadn't felt this light or tingly since he last saw her and he cursed himself. They were over weren't they? Then again, she had confirmed she did not want and wasn't back with her ex. He sighed loudly before clasping his hands across his middle hoping to succumb to sleep but it failed to come.

Annabelle woke up desperate for some water, her eyes fluttered open and battled with the daylight flooding through the window. She was angry at her previous self for not closing the drapes. She shuffled slightly before realising she was trapped in the sheets. Opening her eyes fully, she saw her head was resting on Johnny's chest, and his right arm was slung around her tightly. He was snoring slightly and looked comfortable even though he was outside the bedding. What a gentleman she thought. She spotted the bottle of lotion on the bedside table alongside some of his personal possessions and smiled, he had massaged her last night easing her pain even though they were nothing more than acquaintances now. She enjoyed being in his arms more than she cared to admit. It felt wonderful, it filled her body with butterflies. It warmed her heart, all the typical movie and romance novel cliches she could think of. This is what had been missing with Dan, and to think of it, any other man she had been in a relationship with. She didn't want to give up her position for something as inessential as water so closed her eyes once more urging her body to savour the moment.

Johnny was awoken rudely by the LA sunshine pouring into the bedroom disturbing his slumber. He opened his eyes and was shocked. Annabelle was lying on his chest. Her arm loosely thrown across his torso, and his arm was betraying him too holding her close to his body. Her hair was sprawled out and he could smell her sweet scent. He closed his eyes and reopened them. Was this how it was meant to feel? Could they make it work? Would she ever forgive his behaviour? He didn't dwell, instead choosing to savour the moment and pray that when she awoke she wouldn't be angry with the position they were in.