there goes my heart - j.s

chapter twenty five

"Come with me. She'd love to meet you after hearing so much about you, I'm surprised she hasn't come here herself just to see you." I take a gulp of tea then turn to place the mug down on the coffee table.

Joe and I are lazily slumped across each other on his couch. I lay vertically on his lap, my head on the arm rest. His fingers trail softly and subconsciously up and down my thighs. Joe has been staring into the distance, a faint smile pressed into his lips, but as I speak, he turns his attention to me. By the time I've finished speaking, a grin lights up his face.

"Really?" His cheeks are tinged pink which makes me smile more. I'm tempted to reach out and stroke them; feel the warmth radiating from his skin. But instead I fiddle with a loose thread on my jumper.

"Really. Please come with me, then soon as we get back, we'll proper move in together."

"Ok, of course I will. I'd love to meet your mum, see who raised you to be so wonderful," he says with a wink. This makes me roll my eyes, smiling fondly.

I sit up and cup his beautiful face, then kiss him softly, he smiles into the kiss and I hum against his lips. The sun has long since set and the usual evening sounds of London murmur in the background. Caspar is away this evening so the flat is silent except for the whirring of the heater.

Joe's lips leave mine and navigate down my neck, and the feel of his soft lips on my sensitive skin causes me to suck in my breath suddenly. I moan slightly, my lips pressed together and then grin sheepishly. Joe chuckles, swiftly laying me back down and hovering on top of me. His lips reconnect with mine and we melt together. Each soft swipe of his tongue leaves me more breathless than before. My teeth catch his bottom lip and Joe moans into the kiss. My heart skips a beat. Fuck, this goddamn boy.

I try to talk in between kisses, but I can hardly focus, my words distracted and mind clogged by Joe's touch. "Joe, I should probably-" another kisses cuts me off. "I should probably... call my... mum..."

I trail off as Joe kisses just below my jaw, where he knows my skin is overly sensitive. Oh fuck it, I can call her tomorrow morning, right now, Joe is consuming my mind, and I'm totally fine with that.

Joe scoops me up and carries me to his bedroom, laying my down onto his bed. My hands find their way underneath his shirt, roaming his warm skin, wanting to touch and grab at every inch of him. Suddenly there's too many clothes between us, and I need to be somehow closer to him. Slowly but surely, I tug his shirt off and he takes off mine.

Outside, London buzzes quietly with nightlife. People live their own separate lives, and go about their evening. I know what the sky looks like at this time, a deep inky blue, wispy purple clouds and if you look properly, glittering stars.
But inside, the heater is on and the flat is empty except for us. It is warm and safe and gentle. Joe is pressed against me and time has slowed down yet again.

We're in our own little world, and I could stay here forever.

—

I wake up the next morning enveloped in Joe's arms, my head on his naked chest and my legs intertwined with his. For a minute I bask in the heat of his bare skin pressed against my equally bare skin. I listen to his heart beat and realise the fact that it is in sync with mine. Although his skin is pure warmth beneath my touch, my bare shoulders and arms are still chilly. Trying, and failing, not to wake him I pull the duvet up under my chin. At my movement, Joe stirs.

"Sorry, didn't want to wake you, just got chilly," I murmur, tracing circles with the tip of my forefinger on his bicep. I feel his muscles flex as he shifts slightly.

He yawns, "no it's alright, it's time to wake up now anyway."

"Let's not get up quite yet though, I'm enjoying just laying here, doing nothing."