Mia woke with a start, heart hammering, mouth dry. Another nightmare, same as the others: She was trapped in a huge, empty grey house. No matter how hard she tried she couldn\u2019t find a way out. Eventually, she gave up and collapsed on the floor, resigned to the fact she would be alone there, forever.<\/p>\n
She sat up in bed, allowing her breathing to regulate and her rational mind to kick in again. The eerie green glow from the bedside clock told her it was 3:14am.<\/p>\n
Too early to be awake.<\/em><\/p>\n She pulled back the covers slightly from the other side of the bed and felt relief flood through her. Johnny. He was still here. She didn\u2019t know why he wouldn\u2019t be, but she just couldn\u2019t shake the feeling that she was going to lose him.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve only just got you,\u201d she whispered to the sleeping figure. \u201cPlease don\u2019t go away again.\u201d<\/p>\n He rolled over, still asleep, and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. Mia smiled and closed her eyes, eventually falling back into a dreamless sleep.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning sleepy head.\u201d<\/p>\n Mia groggily opened her eyes. Johnny was sitting on the edge of the bed, grinning at her. She wiped the sleep from her eyes and stretched.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat time is it?\u201d she mumbled.<\/p>\n \u201cNearly ten.\u201d<\/p>\n Mia groaned. \u201cYou should have woken me up.\u201d<\/p>\n He leaned down and kissed her gently. \u201cBut you look so at peace when you\u2019re asleep,\u201d he whispered. \u201cI couldn\u2019t possibly disturb that.\u201d<\/p>\n His skin felt cool and damp, and he smelled like shampoo with a hint of chlorine. He had nothing but a white towel wrapped around his waist. He\u2019d obviously had his morning swim in the hotel pool and was showered, almost ready to start the day. Mia grinned back at him, a familiar warmth glowing in her chest and, for about the millionth time, marveled at his divine body. Sunlight streaming through the cracks in the curtains emphasised his toned abs and muscled arms. His skin had a hint of golden tan from the times during the last week they\u2019d actually managed to leave the hotel room.<\/p>\n From where she lay, Mia ran a hand lightly over his chest, her fingers tingling where they connected with his skin. She pushed herself up to sitting, the white sheet falling from her naked torso. Johnny leaned forward and gently cupped her breast with his hand, lowering his head and kissing it slowly, seductively. Mia inhaled sharply, feeling her heartbeat quicken and the warmth in her chest spreading downwards. She ran her fingers roughly through his hair, forcing his mouth harder onto her nipples until she couldn\u2019t tell if she felt pleasure or pain. She let out a small moan. Johnny lifted his head, bringing his lips to hers, his hands to either side of her face, kissing her deeply and ferociously.<\/p>\n \u201cI love you so much,\u201d he whispered, between kisses.<\/p>\n Mia gently pushed him away, a smile playing on the corner of her lips. She knelt on the edge of the bed, next to where he was sitting.<\/p>\n \u201cStand up.\u201d<\/p>\n The towel did little to cover his excitement for her and she tugged it, throwing it to the floor. She roughly pulled him onto the bed, so he was lying on his back, and kissed his toes, his knees, his firm stomach and broad chest. She pinned his hands above his head with her own, straddling him. Very slowly, she slid him into her, moving gently, rhythmically, until neither of them could bare it any longer and they clutched at each other, their bodies convulsing in the most beautiful pleasure they could possibly imagine.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n The bed was littered with half empty plates from a tapas feast Johnny had prepared. Plump, juicy tomatoes with buffalo mozzarella drizzled in olive oil, warm bread, cured meats and local cheeses. They\u2019d spilled food on the sheets and there were crumbs everywhere.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the beauty of living in a hotel for a while,\u201d Johnny said, brushing crumbs onto the floor. \u201cWe don\u2019t actually have to clean anything up.\u201d<\/p>\n He stroked Mia\u2019s head gently, watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest. She seemed as though she were somewhere else entirely.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you thinking about?\u201d he said gently.<\/p>\n She wrapped her fingers around his, looking thoughtful before answering. \u201cI was just wondering what happened,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cWith what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWith you. Why are you here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo see you,\u201d Johnny said. \u201cAnd Willow and Ana too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut why now?\u201d<\/p>\n He shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s like I said. I didn\u2019t want to live a lie anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut what about\u2026\u201d Mia paused. She didn\u2019t really want to bring this up, but she knew they had to talk about it one day. \u201cWhat about Cecelia?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat was never serious,\u201d Johnny said. \u201cI told you. I was just doing it so her family wouldn\u2019t disown her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoes she<\/em> know it wasn\u2019t for real?\u201d<\/p>\n Johnny hesitated for a second. \u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo she knows you\u2019re here? She knows about us?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell… Not exactly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJohnny!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? I didn\u2019t even know there was going to be an us!\u201d he said. \u201cYou weren\u2019t exactly forthcoming in your feelings, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan you blame me?\u201d Mia said. \u201cGiven everything that I know about you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that supposed to mean?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not exactly a saint, Johnny.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not fair!\u201d he protested, sitting up in bed. \u201cSo I had a few indiscretions, but I\u2019m here now. I love you<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know you do,\u201d Mia said slowly. \u201cBut you\u2019re going to be a father. To another woman\u2019s child. How do you think that makes me feel?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you think it makes me<\/em> feel,\u201d he replied, exasperated. \u201cLook Mia, I don\u2019t love Cecelia, I never have and never will. I\u2019ll agree that it\u2019s a fucked up situation, but we\u2019ll make it work. I know we will.\u201d<\/p>\n Mia nodded thoughtfully. \u201cSo what happens now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe go home,\u201d Johnny said. \u201cStart over.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHome?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, back to Melbourne.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut\u2026\u201d Mia\u2019s head reeled. \u201cI can\u2019t go back there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have a job, a house\u2026I don\u2019t have anything there anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll have me,\u201d Johnny said.<\/p>\n \u201cI know, but\u2026\u201d she trailed off.<\/p>\n \u201cBut you don\u2019t know if I\u2019m enough,\u201d he finished bitterly.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not it at all,\u201d Mia said quickly. \u201cIt\u2019s just\u2026 well\u2026 I can\u2019t be in Melbourne right now. I think it\u2019s important for me – for us – to have a fresh start. To be somewhere without all the\u2026 history.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a nice dream, Mia,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I can\u2019t exactly pack everything in and leave. I have a business, a house. A kid on the way.\u201d As soon as it was out he immediately regretted the last sentence.<\/p>\n \u201cAs if I needed reminding,\u201d Mia grumbled. She pushed herself off the bed and pulled on a robe, crossing her arms in front of her chest. \u201cWhy can\u2019t we go somewhere new? To give us a real chance?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t think we can do that in Melbourne?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d she said. She looked closely at him. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t think you do either.\u201d<\/p>\n Johnny stood up, walking over to Mia and putting his arms on her shoulders. \u201cYou understand why I can\u2019t leave there though?\u201d<\/p>\n Mia nodded, blinking back tears. \u201cAnd you understand why I can\u2019t stay?\u201d<\/p>\n Johnny shook his head, his shoulders slumping. \u201cIt seems we\u2019re at a stalemate again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt seems so,\u201d Mia said sadly.<\/p>\n Johnny pulled her into his arms again, hugging her tight. \u201cIt shouldn\u2019t be this hard, should it?\u201d<\/p>\n No<\/em>, thought Mia, as tears started to run down her face.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Mia woke with a start, heart hammering, mouth dry. Another nightmare, same as the others: She was trapped in a huge, empty grey house. No matter how hard she tried she couldn\u2019t find a way out. Eventually, she gave up and collapsed on the floor, resigned to the fact she would be alone there, forever. 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