"Stop laughing you awful man!" Issy rubbed her forehead and brought her hand back, slapping it on the steering wheel.

She was driving a stolen car, well it wasn't stolen stolen, but Frank the Security guard didn't know John had swiped the keys from behind the front desk and now here she was driving a:

Lincoln back to the Lake with the possible threat of Larceny hanging over her head.

Lovely.

But that wasn't why John was laughing...

"I'm sorry" he giggled "But it's fucking hilarious Isabelle"

"You are a mean, mean person, stop laughing. You're making me feel terrible"

John sobered for a few seconds and Issy drew a quiet breath of grateful relief, he may have passed the phase...

He hadn't.

He was just thinking something up to continue his teasing of the woman beside him. A woman that was neat, tidy, correct, a bit of Cyn he supposed ... proper. Oh, she had all her wonderful sides and endearing moments, and could entertain his whims well. Sex was great and often, banter off the charts ... but she had a miniscule Achilles' heel of propriety and correctness. Thus why, this funny business was indeed funny; hilariously so.

John dug around in the glovebox in front of him....

"Congratulations Isabelle! you've just been censored by the US board of Stick in the Mud Inc" John pretended to offer her a 'certificate.'

It was a registration slip from the glove box but it served its purpose. Issy bat the offending page away and near growled at John's highly amused, I'm so clever face. "You're a very naughty gurrl Isabelle. I knew you had it in you, just took my bad influence and voilà! Here we have exhibit A" John pointed at Issy as she rolled her eyes "Miss Isabelle..... aka Gieselleeeee, censored for pornographic material!"

John started laughing his head off, again. Absolutely cracking up, curled up, knees drawn to his middle, one arm latched across his stomach, laughter.

It was kinda nice actually- John's happiness, not Issy's publishers request for a partial rewrite of her manuscript.

Maybe it got a bit too true to life.... John had said it made his toes curl and he was pretty rev'd and randy after reading it over, checking for mistakes, offering alternate positions ... Issy had placed a full stop on the last chapter only three days before they had driven back down to New York and the bed had gotten a thorough work out either side of the journey. John even wanted to go 'parking' in some derelict parking area he had remembered passing on the way north on his last trip. To 'create some vehicular rock'n'roll'. But, out and out porno... ugh.

Thank god it didn't go straight into print!

"That's it, stop that rot Isabelle"

John caught Issy's bottom lip. The pouting lip was soft between his fingers and he tugged gently, letting it go when a tiny smile pulled the corners of her mouth upward.

"You're thinking again" He stated sagely; then he chattered away with all his wisdom and wise-ness exploding from within "Bloody dangerous that sort of thought of idle thinking. Thinking gets you into trouble or turns you into a sad sack of dreary emotions. Laugh girl, it's bloody funny and look... nothing happened, no one got hurt, no one read it bar me and that Lori lass and some muddy stick. Now you go back to the lake and adjust those scenes of you and moi in between the sheets to something a little more PG"

"...For the sticks in the mud"

"Exactly, for the sticks in the mud" John gazed out the window, dragging the winder round and round til the window was fully open and fresh air flooded the car, whipping past his ears. Bloody brill. He turned back to Issy wondering. Her hand was trying desperately to capture wayward locks as it flicked around her face

"It. Was. Me.... Wasn't it Isabelle?"

"What? Hang on" Issy wound her window down a couple of turns and the equilibrium of the air flow saved her slightly from the unrestrained strands of hair slashing at her face. Sorting that, she caught John rootling about in her hand bag, what for, she didn't know... "What are you doing?"

"I was looking for this!" John held up a hair tie and leaned over toward Iss to gather up what he could of her locks into a severely lacking side ponytail "There... that should do the trick"

"Thank-you..." Issy attempted to look at her reflection in the rear-view mirror.

"Ah no you don't, it's working, doing the job as such. It's not quite the quality hairstyling of Vidal Sasloon or whatever that hair blokes name, or place, is called.. but it works" John rubbed Issy's cheek and watched her drive.

He didn't mind anymore, let anyone drive him about now, was shit at it so why not get someone else take the wheel and Iss seemed to enjoy it, the road stretching before her and home in her eyes "So me? Or some other Tom, Dick or Harry?"

"Oh what? Oh, the book. You of course, I think"

"You think! Blow to my slightly inflated ego why don't you lady"

"It was us I guess. You are pretty... um knowledgeable in that department"

John held out his hand for Iss to shake "Pleased to meet you. Professor Fucker, at your service"

"Johnnnn" Issy warned with more than a tug of a smile flirting around the edge of her lips.

John grinned back, happy he was sorting her out for once and not the other way around. "Scholar Sexier?"

"Please stop"

"That's not what you usually say... Educator Eaterouta"

"Oh. My. God!"

"That's more like it luv!"

"John..."

"A little more of a breathlessness in the moan darlin' " John paused then mimicked Iss "Johhhhhnn" Bettering her 'Johnnnn' in a breathless, trying to be sexy, moan.

Now it was Issy's turn to cackle with joy at his wonderful silliness and all while, John sat side on to her position, running his hand over her hair, fiddling with the mess of a ponytail.

****

"Don't you throw that lot away, that's my go to notes for lonely one on one time"

Issy held the pages of offensive material over the garbage can in the kitchen, she had tossed up pulling out a pair of sewing scissors to dispose of it. She was still thinking whether to or not when John caught her wrist.

"What one on one time?"

"Well One. I might be having bowel issues and need to fester on the loo for a bit....
Or two, when you're mad at me sometime...and that's bound to happen isn't it...
Or three.... when you're on your, you know... the dark, dark days of the month ....
That one actually, sort of covers issue number two 'cause you know how the fair, much more beautiful and wonderfully smart set, get when it's the dark, dark, dark days of the month" Johns voice comically dropping downwards, low and sinister for each time the dark days were uttered from his lips.

"You can't brighten up your words with pretty compliments to cover up you still calling me...... essentially moody, John"

"No harm in trying. I do think you are beautiful and fair and wonderfully smart if it helps soften the blow though"

He kissed her lips, stunning her momentarily, he thought happily. Her eyes sparkled into his own and her lips fell open with a sigh.

Yep, definitely stunned.

The pages were tugged free of her fingers and John folded them in quarters, tucking the offending sheets in the back pocket of his jeans.

"You only think...." Issy grumbled with a curse under her breath.

"Is it... Is it... now, Isabelle....?" John shivered his body a little and Issy smacked his arm.

"Why don't you test me and see if I'm super dark dark days shitty or if I'm just normal sunny days shitty" Issy walked into the kitchen, pulling the fixings for tea toward her, the milk still stood on the counter from unpacking the esky.

Kettle full, Issy tapped her foot waiting for Johns interrogation to ascertain her shittiness level.

"Is that some international language of men? I mean woman do get tired and down in the dumps emotional from our cycle occasionally. No understanding from you lot though, no warm wheat bag for our cramping stomachs or aspirin to help ease the pain. No, it's just grab the wooden cross and wave the garlic about the area to try and drive the evil away!"

"Finished?"

"I don't know. Depends what the date is, doesn't it"

"It's pretty terrifying though. Mood swings and jumping down throats.  What am I saying..... Tearing men apart, limb by limb"

"Poppycock" Issy opened the door to the deck and let the dogs in, the whines and scratching at the screen for attention finally wearing her down.

"True- some girls get pretty vicious" John turned his attention to Max "Hello Maxxy lad, been good... any single ladies about?"

"From experience?"

"Yea I guess..... I'm stepping into quicksand here aren't I....?"

"Pretty much"

"Sorry Isabelle I shall halt my mouth before I fall right in alright. Now, sit down, you drove. I'll do the tea, fix a wheat pack, offer asprin, massage your smelly feet and run you a big bubbly bath- forgiven?"

"Well take back the smelly feet and I'll think about it"

John led Issy back to the seat he had just vacated and walked, with Max and Ben shadowing him, the few steps to get a pot of England's finest on to brew.

The teapot was his favourite white china.

No, not from China. Oh no, no, no ... this precious table necessity was pinched from Joe's café as a lark in early '63 and it showed its character nicely... Marginally bashed about, with bits of it's own china missing from the tea spout and the area around the lid. Yep his very best china for our Isabelle's brew it was.

"Can I come and jump in the bath with you?"

"I don't know John.... is Scholar Sexier joining us?"

****

Bone weary from the drive the bath was bliss. Issy sank down under the bubbles and sighed with delightful contentment at all the deliciousness of heat seeping into her skin. The tension from the long drive, the manuscript, all fading into nothingness........................

She rested, and relaxed.

Ahhhh.... Bliss.

John clapped his hands together!!

The smacking sound cracking in Issy's ears making her eyes fly open in shock.

And there he stood, starkers and proud, bent slightly over the tub, peering into the bubbles most likely catching the odd glimpse or two of heavenly round dark pink nipples and lots, lots more flesh, just ready for the taking.

"Ready for the tuition luv? Shift up a bit or you'll get my tackle slapping you in your eye as I step in to possy meself behind you"

"You are so romantic" Issy giggled while rolling her eyes. She shifted though, whatever would she do if she lost her sight.......

"Christ did you add more hot water. I feel like a bloody lobster getting boiled for a seafood dinner!" John squiggled about a bit to get comfy and brought Iss back against his chest.

"Just hush and mellow out will you"

"Hippy"

"Shushhh"

"Arrrrr" He breathed, raising Isabelle with him as his chest inhaled a lungful of steam and scented bath soap.

"See, nice now, isn't it"

"I should start squealing like a flaming lobster"

"Shushhhh, your messing with my relaxation"

"Arrrrrr Isabelle I'm not sure if this counts as relaxation, but ..... may I massage your areola?"

Issy smiled and wiggled her shoulders feeling his chest strong and hard behind her. She decided to give into his chatter "Why yes indeed kind sir that would be perfectly lovel- mmmhmm. Ohhhh Heyyy there, mister scholarrr mister, I said yes to the top ... not tail"

"I didn't want the other hand missing out"

"You're so multi.... ohhh dextrous"

"I know. It's a gift"

"Look at your red thighs"

"Now, have a gander at my lobster colouring, you just look deliciously pink. The water was hot with a capital H. It's ok now though..." John continued chattering. "Although...I have no feeling left in anything that should actually be felt with feeling..."

John sighed, Issy moaned then sighed, then John sighed heavier again.

Loads of sighing going on!

"Thanks for sticking with the demented man behind you by the way"

"And so, he drops into the conversation the pivotal night we shared. All while intimate touching occurs ..... You doOhhh feel ok now don't you?"

"Like a new born babe, babe" John shifted his body a little to open Issy's legs wider to his wandering fingers.

One of the only ways he could let his guard down was to do something else and today it was Issy he was doing. A shame he was so gutless but he didn't think she was minding all the digit play though, her heart rate was through the roof at the moment. "I agree. I do need to sort out the Dakota entrance, parking, timing, whatever to get me through the night. And it is just that. The nights."

"Mmmmhmmmm"

"Are you listening to me?" John laughed quietly beside her ear as he touched her, kissing down her neck, resting his lips on her silky soft skin, his fingers sweeping over her below the surface as she squirmed for more.

"Mmmmhmmm"

"Anyway, like I was saying before you interrupted by mmmhmmm-ing me"

Issy coughed a laugh out, glancing up behind her into his smiling eyes, he grinned and gave her a few moments respite, a one-armed cuddle to his chest made her grin back then smirk as a nipple was pinched gently.

Her rested attitude, let his words flow easier.

"If that didn't scare the crap out of you nothing will. I just... I don't know. It all got a bit much, you know. The chill in the air, the lampposts, the shadows, the quiet streets..." John grimaced but still kissed the top of Issy's head "I sound soft.... I've definitely gone soft"

Gripping Johns arm Issy shimmied up and regained some composure, his fingers had disappeared back to hold her in a tight cuddle, her left hand rested over his and her right held his thigh squeezing slightly "You're not soft John, you're human.." Issy felt his breath exhale like he had been holding it forever "You... You are real and human and... and imperfect, just like the rest of us. And because of that, you're closer to my ideal man than I ever thought could be possible ...and I bless every day since... every day John. Since I turned my jeep at that set of traffic lights to kidnap you away with me"

"I am honoured you kidnapped me too"

Issy pushed his hands away from her stomach and managed to not face plant into his chest as she turned about to kneel in front of him. The water was cooler now, perhaps Johns ideal temperature she mused as she steadied herself with fingers curled over the edge of the deep clawfoot bathtub.

"I'll be better with you holding my hand, I just need to remember to grasp it" His eyes cut through her with a mixture of thankful emotion and remorsefulness.

Issy cupped his chin holding onto his gaze, smiling softly, showing her own touch of melancholy that sat in her heart.

Time paused as the bathwater rippled. Both falling deeper into the other.

Johns rabbit hole of dreams, Isabelle's light at the end of her tunnel.

Letting the sadness go, she touched his cheeks with fingertips pressed tenderly and finally she gave in to need. Leaning in slowly to touch his lips with her own, to show him her love ....

Radiating the sunshine she held within, for him.