Glamping ~ Joel Dommett

Christmas Eve

A/N: Hey everyone! If you didn't read the book description (hey, I don't either) then this is the SEQUEL TO 'CAMPING'. This book will not make any sense whatsoever unless you have read my first one :3

This is only a short part to ease into the story but I hope you enjoy!

Sam xx

The fire roars, embers and ash making my eyes water and fizz, but I don't care, I'm too caught up in the moment to even think about it.

It's Christmas Eve and the two of us are in a small cottage in Norfolk. It's freezing out, as to be expected at this time of year.

Joel is in the kitchen making two cups of tea whilst I relax on the squishy burgundy sofa, a woollen blanket snuggled around my pale shoulders.

The cottage doesn't have a television but does have WiFi (thank God) but we spend most of our time out and about, drinking in local pubs and taking walks in the luscious green forests.

"There you go sweetheart." Joel hands me the mug of boiling amber tea which I take with a smile. "Now, what do you want to do today." Joel sits down on the soft sofa beside me, his dressing gown loose around his shoulders. "We could go to the beach and freeze to death, or stay here and-"

I place a brochure onto his lap. "I want to go to Holkham. It's a stately home about fifteen miles East from here. It has its own beach."

Joel sighs and flicks through the leaflet. "I was hoping we could have a lazy day." He rests his head on my shoulder. I know exactly what a lazy day means, and I'm not ready for that yet.

"We did nothing yesterday or the day before that." I chuckle, pushing his head off of my blanketed skin.

Joel nods. "Okay then, we'll do that if you like, but we'll need to get up now." Joel stands and pulls me up, twirling me around on the squeaky floorboards and sealing the space between us with a kiss.

I smile and push him away, "Cheeky, you said we needed to get up."

Joel smirks lopsidedly and I leave him to change into a hoodie and jeans.

:-:-:-:

"Please tell me that's the last photo?" Joel comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

I turn around to face him, my camera hanging from a tight black strap tied at my neck. "I promise."

We walk away from the gorgeous stately home with its pasty yellow walls and golden embellishments and head off towards the sandy beach, owned by the same family. I wish I lived in a mansion and had my own beach. Bloody spoilt these people are.

It's quiet today, not many people are around because it's Christmas Eve. We have the entire beach to ourselves.

There's a vast amount of seagulls sat on the light shores, the foamy water bubbly and foaming at the tips, tickling the sand fondly. I pass my camera to Joel. "Can you take a photo of me running down the beach? At the birds?"

Joel laughs out loud, his breath visible in the air.

The ends of his beard are getting all icy and his cheeks rosy. "We can go back to the cottage after." I offer to which Joel nods and pulls the camera strap round his shivering neck.

And then I'm off, down the shore, running at the gulls with great velocity. My hair whips behind me, flicking my shoulders, the sand flailing about in the wind and getting into my dark watery eyes but I keep going, the birds flapping about in terror and swooping up at the velvet sky, disappearing into the tranquil clouds.

I pause at the waves, shivering and trembling due to the creeping chill.

Joel catches up with me, wrapping his jacket round my shoulders and handing back the camera. "I got it." He grins, referring to the picture. It better be good; there's no way I'm doing that again.

We go back to the cottage and Joel runs me a bubbly bath.

I slip off my clothes and slide into the soapy liquid hearing a tap on the door. "Calla? Can I come in?"

"Yes." I sink further down into the bath, allowing the bubbles to cover me.

Joel enters, carrying a glass of burgundy wine.

He passes it over and sits on the toilet seat, smiling cheekily. "That looks warm, can I join-"

I freak out inwardly. I don't think I'm ready for that kind of intimacy just yet. "Joel honey, I'm on, it's all gross in here. I'll run you one after." I smile and he nods wearily, bending down to kiss my forehead and leaving the bathroom.

I sip my wine and fumble for my phone, logging onto my Instagram.

I see that Joel has tagged me into a photograph; the one he took of me earlier:

The caption is: When @callatheokayactress scares away all the birds in Norfolk. #shescaresmetoo

I chuckle and put my phone away, feeling extremely lucky and very relaxed.

:-:-:-:

Joel is taking a bath and it's nearing eleven so I take myself off to our bedroom.

It's huge with a high, high ceiling with vast wooden beams and a triangular roof.

The bed is a four poster one with a curtain draped over each side. I feel like a Princess when I get in it and I've never felt like royalty before.

I slip off my slippers and snuggle down into the enormous pillow, pulling the duvet around me gingerly. It'll be Christmas tomorrow. Our first Christmas together.

The door opens and I'm joined by a shirtless Joel. He rubs his eyes and tumbles into bed next to me. "Goodnight my lovely." I whisper, kissing his cheek fondly before placing my head down against his chest.

Joel chuckles and starts stroking my hair and I fall asleep to the rhythm of his heart thumping against his chest and the sound of his soft breathing lifting up my hair.

Link to photograph: https://www.pinterest.com/explore/old-man-young/