One

Chapter Twenty-Four

"Good morning my love. Sleep well?" Joe leaned across to kiss Dianne's forehead. "Why are you smiling so much so early?"
"No reason. I just like the pet name," she said with a giggle. Launching her body forwards, Dianne pushed Joe onto his back and laid on top of him, cuddling into his neck. "In answer to your question, yes. Did you?"
"Jesus Dot, are you trying to kill me?!" Joe coughed slightly, all the wind having been knocked out of him when Dianne landed on him. "But, yes I did," he answered after hearing her giggle. They sat in silence for a moment just enjoying having time to cuddle properly for the first time in a while. "What do you want to do today?" Joe asked, stroking his hands over Dianne's back.
"I think we should just have a chilled day. I want to enjoy a full day of being like a sloth before pro tour," Dianne said after a few seconds thought.
"Okay," Joe nodded, "so we could go for a walk this evening, you know, to get some fresh air."
"Nah."
Joe laughed softly. "Dot, we need fresh air, my love."
She shrugged her shoulders against his body. "I'll consider it." A loud grumble pierced the silence.
"Was that your stomach?!" Joe gasped slightly and pushed Dianne off him when she nodded her head, laughing. "You need food in that belly!" Poking her stomach, Joe attacked her sides, tickling her as she giggled loudly and rolled around. Somehow, Joe found a new patch of skin and tickled it, catching Dianne by surprise so much so that she rolled straight off the bed and onto the floor. Joe being Joe immediately launched into the protective boyfriend mode and ran round to her, holding his hands out. "Are you hurt?"
Dianne who was laughing too much to talk properly simply shook her head as she managed to get a "no," out. Taking a deep breath, Dianne stopped laughing and looked up at Joe. "You're so protective, I'm surprised you haven't tried to wrap me in bubble wrap."
Rolling his eyes, he reached down and grabbed her hands, pulling her up into him. "Are you sure you're not hurt? Did you hit anything against the bedside table or-"
"Joseph. I'm fine," Dianne interjected, trying to be firm. "I promise."
"If you're sure.." he said uneasily. Ever since he had dropped her in front of a packed out O2 crowd and actually hurt her neck and back, Joe had been extra cautious.
"I'm sure." Dianne pulled him from the room by his hand. "I'm hungry and I need a coffee."

"Breakfast my love."
"Thank you handsome," Dianne said with a smile as Joe placed a plate holding an avocado and scrambled egg bagel down in front of her, complete with a heart made of ketchup. Joe slid into the seat next to his girlfriend and they both tucked in, hungrier than they realised.
"How many days till pro tour rehearsals?" Joe asked after some silence, covering his mouth with his hand as he chewed.
"Uh." Dianne turned to look at Joe and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't do maths. I know the date but that's about it."
"What's the date then?"
She did know the date, she'd just forgotten it. Dianne turned back to face her breakfast, looking at Joe out of the corner of her eye before cramming the last bit of her bagel into her mouth.
Joe burst out laughing and leaned across to kiss her temple. "I love you so much," he chuckled.

Breakfast eaten, coffees drank, the couple tidied the mess away together as they always did; complete with the usual bum squeeze from Joe and the bum slap from Dianne. With the kitchen spotless, they walked over to the other side of the room and Joe flicked the projector and tv box on before dropping onto the sofa, snuggled together in the corner. Placing her leg over her boyfriend, Dianne forced him to sit back into the cushions as she curled into his side with a happy sigh. Joe hands wrapped around her small body and pulled her onto him so he cuddle her easily. Dianne sighed again, a shy smile on her face as Joe's hands stroked from her neck to her back and back up again. His finger traced lightly over Dianne's bare skin where her top and ridden up, and she shivered at the new contact, goosebumps immediately shooting up on her skin.
"Are you cold?" Joe asked in a soft whisper.
"No." She shook her head against his chest. "You just have a power over me, I can't help it."
He leaned back, a look of happiness tinged with smugness on his face. Joe knew all too well he had a 'power' over here. One kiss in the right place on her neck sent her weak at the knees. One hug from behind when she was in a bad mood melted it away and one finger tracing over her skin was enough to force her whole body to erupt with goosebumps. But it wasn't just Joe with all the power and Dianne knew it. Her soft touch, her kisses and her hugs from behind all did things to Joe but the worst of all was when she found the pulse spot on his neck. One kiss on it got a small moan out of him immediately, although Joe would never admit it. He didn't really care that she could make him blind with one kiss in the right place; he was just happy that, after months, years even, he had finally found his dream girl. Dianne was definitely that dream girl. She was gorgeous, that was noted the first time he saw her, she was funny and always knew how to build him up when he would knock himself down constantly. She was smart, although she never believed it, her brain being filled with complicated steps most could only dream of perfecting yet she did it with such ease. Her stage presence had pulled Joe in even further. She seemed to glow on the dance floor, the expressions she pulled were always perfect and the routines she was able to complete with little effort left Joe stunned every time. Joe loved her heart. She was kind and thoughtful, always willing to put her own needs aside for Joe's benefit- something that annoyed him when she was ill or upset. She would still try and help him in every way possible even after Joe would tell her to rest. There was not one thing Joe could say he didn't love about his girlfriend, which he supposed was a good sign.
"What are you thinking about?" Dianne's soft voice broke into his thoughts as her hand cupped his chin, scratching his stubble lightly.
"You, just you." Reaching for her hand, Joe held it tightly and, bringing it to his lips, kissed her skin delicately. "Have I ever told you how much I love you?"
"In ways other than words," Dianne winked, a cheeky grin on her face. "You know, I've still got a hickey on my collar bone from that day. I think you gave me one in the same place like five times. I've had to conceal it every bloody day."
"No way!" Joe burst out laughing but quickly stopped at the look on the redheads face.
"It's not funny. You've no idea how much I got teased for it by Amy, Chloe and Leanne."
"Where is it?" Joe asked. He watched as Dianne pulled on the collar of her jumper revealing the small, purple mark on her skin. "I'm proud," he joked, "I've made that last ages!" Dianne kicked him. "I guess I deserved that."
"Yes you did. I might give you one in a really obvious place so all the boys can see.."
Joe groaned. "Please don't. They'd be way worse than the girls."
"Oh please," Dianne scoffed loudly. "You have no idea what girls are like, clearly."
"Are you forgetting I grew up with a sister?"
Dianne raised an eyebrow and rolled her eyes. "And you're forgetting I grew up with two brothers. Trust me, I get it worse. Boys see it as some achievement."
Joe gasped. "It is a achievement. Especially for me!"
Huffing, Dianne pushed herself off Joe's body and sat cross-legged opposite him with a fake-angry pout on her face. "Is that all I am to you? A prize or something?" She teased, a smirk settling on her small face.
Rolling his eyes, Joe crossed his arms. "Don't be silly. Of course not. You're everything to me, you know that."
"Hmm." Dianne leaned forwards and crawled back over Joe's body, attaching her lips to the pulse spot on his neck.
A moan instantly sounded in Joe's throat as he rolled his head back. "I didn't think you actually meant you were going to do it."
"Joseph," Dianne whispered into his neck, letting her lips drag along his skin. "I mean everything I say."
"You keep saying you're gonna shut the cupboard doors..ow!" Dianne had nipped his skin between her front teeth sharply at his words.
"You go careful," she muttered, "I can leave marks all over you if you want, make your life difficult.
"Go for it," Joe dared, thoroughly enjoying himself.
"Fine." Dianne sucked hard on his neck before shifting slightly, moving her lips to another spot. "You're gonna regret this."