Chapter 7

If Perpignan airport seemed large to Josette, then Stansted, whist quite small by international standards, seemed huge. She clung to Stephen's hand during the journey along the long moving walkway to the baggage reclaim carousels, then kept a hand on the luggage trolley as they moved slowly through the human traffic to the long stay car park exits.

The journey was not without incident. Josette's darting movements as she absorbed all the new experiences attracted several smiles and approving glances. The glow in her face and eyes that had become familiar to her family were something special to people enduring the familiar weariness of long distance travel. The clinging top and wraparound miniskirt turned heads. One man drove his luggage trolley into the wall as they passed, much to the annoyance of his irritable wife.

It's cold, Josette whispered as the winds of Essex whipped round her bare legs. Stephen wrapped his windcheater round them both until the Pink Elephant bendy-bus arrived to take them to the car park. The sea of thousands of cars parked in serried ranks drew a breath of wonder, but Fran knew exactly where the family Volvo was parked and the luggage was soon stored in the car's capacious boot before they edged out into the late afternoon traffic and the two hour journey home. Josette had long since curled up for a nap under Stephen's arm before the car approached the relatively anonymous four-bedroomed detached estate house that Fran and Stephen called home.

"Home" said Fran, as she turned the ignition off, and the big engine died. "You turn the electricity on Stephen; I will turn on the water. Take a case with you as you go in."

Josette carried her case and joined Stephen in the hallway. Lights appeared the instant Stephen flicked the main switch behind the door and as the fridge/freezer hummed to life, so did the rest of the house.

"Have a look round, Josette" if you want while I visit the loo", Stephen said. "There isn't much to see."

Josette first went into master bedroom, obviously Fran's room from the feminine colours of curtains and wallpaper and the patchwork bedspread. She noticed that two feminine perfumes had been used in the room. One quite floral - Fran, she decided, and one more musky. Much more Frédérique, as she smiled quietly to herself imagining the memories this room had of the two women she had become fond of. She smelled the two pillows. Frédérique had been on the right. She was right handed, so from that side she could minister to Fran' needs all the better. She crept out with a smile, just noticing the en suite at the side without intruding there.

The next bedroom had been converted into an office for Fran and perhaps Stephen. Books on running a business filled a small bookshelf. Phone, fax and computer and its peripherals sat silent on fixed benches round two sides of the room.

The lingering floral perfume Fran used still emanated from the padded office chair. This was definitely Fran's office.

The next door revealed a family bathroom with a corner Jacuzzi, bidet, basin and WC - all in classical white. The walls were bold regency stripes in gold and maroon. This was much more the colours she associated with Stephen. She rubbed the fluffy white towel across her cheek, before moving on.

The next bedroom was clearly a guest room. Twin beds in neutral colours, each with a simple wooden headboard, then a vanity unit, chest of drawers, a long mirror on the door of a walk-in wardrobe. Small TV and shelf of well thumbed paperbacks.

This was an anonymous room. She did not linger there and moved swiftly on to the last bedroom which had to be Stephen's

A three-quarter bed with a strident blue quilt cover dominated the room, but whatever colour the wall may have been was irrelevant as they were covered by posters local soccer stars, leggy pictures of members of girl bands, and the clutter of school timetables, Post-its, and the dross of a busy lifestyle.

Josette hardly noticed the untidy area devoted to computer and midi-sound system, but just lay on the bed taking in the ambience until an ethereal wail drew her down the stairs.

Josette had not heard a whistling kettle before, but could see that the strange noise came from the kettle as Fran lifted it off the stove and poured the scalding water into a large dark brown teapot.

"Found your way around yet?" laughed Fran as she recognised the light footfall entering the kitchen. "Would you like tea or coffee?"

"Have you got any lemon?"

"Yes, in the fruit bowl"

"Then I will have tea."

All three sat round a small breakfast bar sipping their drinks. "I haven't said, 'Welcome', yet." Fran said as she stretched across and brushed Josette's cheek with her lips.

"I am pleased to be here", Josette replied in a very French accent. Seeming even more French in the English Midlands.

Just then she shuddered. "You are cold, aren't you." Fran said.

"Yes, just a bit, but the tea has helped."

"Stephen, look in that box of your clothes I was putting ready for the 'poor and needy'. There is that red jumper in there that was always too small for you. It would look good on Josette"

After rummaging for a couple of minutes Stephen reappeared with the red jumper and Josette gratefully put it on. The sleeves were a little too long but it was fine otherwise.

"Have you brought any warmer clothes" Fran asked.

"No, I though being August it would be warm."

"This is warm" Fran laughed. "Why do you think people go to the Languedoc for their holidays?"

"I know", she said finally. "We will have a meal at the superstore cafeteria and then do a bit of shopping to stop this girl dying of cold."

The car had not had time to cool down before the three were off again to the nearest superstore complex. Josette was wide-eyed much of the time and being unfamiliar with the delights of English cafeteria cuisine, ate the salad that was chosen for her by Fran.

Josette came into her own when they moved on to the clothing store.

"This is my treat" Fran said, "for making Stephen so happy."

Josette settled down to some serious shopping. Each item was displayed to Stephen and Fran as it was tried on and discarded. Eventually when the 10pm shutting time was fast approaching. Stephen stifled a yawn when Josette had whittled the choices down to two jumpers, a pair of slacks and a matching pink Gortex jacket. She was on the point of discarding one jumper, when Fran grabbed a couple of pairs of tights as well, got out her Credit card and paid for all the items.

"You wait until she starts to ask your advice about lingerie, Stephen." Fran said with a chuckle. "Maybe you will be able to keep your eyes open for that! However many hours it takes!"

Fran was kissed very firmly on the cheek, by a delighted Josette and quickly they retraced their steps to the car with Josette sporting one jumper and the weatherproof jacket.

The cases were still in the hallway when they returned. Josette carried hers up to Stephen's room and put in on the floor.

"I didn't think you would sleep in the guest room." Fran laughed, "and neither did Jeanne but please use the chest of drawers in the guest room to store your things. I don't think there is enough room in Stephen's room to store your clothes and his."

"Can I have a bath, I am rather dirty after travelling", Josette questioned.

"Of course" Stephen said, "I might even join you!"

Fran disappeared off to her room as 11pm struck on the hall clock. Midnight French time she thought, those kids should be in bed. The water was starting to get cold now and Stephen and Josette had been warmed and gently buffeted by the jets from the bath. Wrapped in fluffy clean towels they dried off and tiptoed into Stephen's room, snuggled down naked under the duvet and into each other's arms to fall asleep almost immediately.

"Goodnight my love" "Bonne nuit mon cher"

Waking up to birdsong was not as familiar to Josette as it was to Stephen, but it was unique for Stephen to wake with a small hand wrapped round his morning erection.

"Bonjour chérie. Have you found what you were looking for?"

Josette pulled Stephen over onto his back; slid over him and kissed him passionately.

"Hmmm, what a way to start the morning!"

Then sliding smoothly down, Josette impaled herself on the erect organ and as she moved just a little up and down; she teased Stephen's nipples with her tongue, teeth and lips.

"Sheeeesh... that feels, I don't know what. My nipples are on fire or something. Oh! Gawd... I cannot hold on any longer." And Stephen found for the first time, and probably not the last, that his nipples were definitely an erogenous zone.

As he shrank inside her she moved up and straddled his waist; then, resting on her arms dangled one nipple, then the other across Stephen's lips. He ran his tongue round one nipple before running it gently along his teeth. His hands roamed her buttocks and explored her cleft, holding her labia closed and he ran his index finger of the other hand through the labia and the unshrouded clitoris that he knew nestled between.

Josette had never been silent during their lovemaking in the magic valley, but her carnal cries rent the air here as elsewhere. At that moment she neither knew or cared that Fran had been awakened rudely by them.

Stephen rolled Josette onto her back and slipped into her already moist vagina. Almost immediately he raised himself on his arms and indicated to Josette to close her legs. Then he wrapped his legs round her hips. Not a great deal of movement was possible in this position, but every part of her was in intimate contact with his moving flesh. With clitoris, vulva, vagina and labia all stimulated simultaneously the effect was soon obvious.