Lauren's POV

It had been two weeks since Joey and I decided to keep our relationship but as a secret. He was now living with Alice and Derek at number 23. He hated living with Derek but it was the only way he could keep an eye on Alice.

So far our attempt of secrecy was going quiet well. I mean sure I would like a bit more than stolen kisses and rough sex done in minutes but to everyone else we were just cousins who got on really well.

I was on my way to the café for a coffee when I noticed Alice carrying one to many minute mart bags.

"Hey Alice, give me some." I said as I took a few bags off of her and began walking to her house.

"Thanks." She replied.

As we got to number 23 I walked into the kitchen to put the bags on the worktop when a topless Joey emerged from the stairs.

Was he tempting me to do him in front of his little sister on the kitchen table because believe me, I so would!

Joey must have noticed me staring at him as he smirked that sexy smirk of his and whispered in my ear as Alice had her back turned.

"Mouth closed babe." He whispered.

"It wasn't opened Branning" I responded.

"Not from what I saw." He smirked.

"What are you two whispering about?" Alice asked, reminding us of her presence.

"I was just telling Joey he should put a shirt on, he doesn't want to blind all the naïve girls does he?" Okay so I might have told a lie, his physique was worth dying for!

"Well you're the first to tell me that." He said as he chuckled in amusement.

"First of the day I assume." I quickly replied back.

Joey was about to speak but was interrupted by Alice.

"If you two weren't related you could be the perfect couple." Alice stated whilst putting the shopping away.

I smiled at Joey as he smiled back. I only paid attention to the latter part of the sentence as the first part was the haunting thing. Maybe we needed to show everyone else how good we are together, it could pass as cousin bonding, before we make the 'reveal.' Although part of me doesn't want to tell anyone. I quiet like the thrill that comes with kissing your cousin with your parents upstairs.

"Right well I'm off to the cafe." I announced my exit.

"Wait up I'll come with you." Joey said.

"Hurry up then" I had to literally stop myself from pecking him on the lips.

As he closed the front door I linked my arm through his, something we could do in public.

"The perfect couple." Joey repeated with his lips pulling up at the sides.

"Do you think we are?" I asked.

"Course babe, we get each other and there is always this connection that doesn't leave, if that doesn't spell perfect I don't know what does." He said honestly.

"I think it spells love." I smiled; I still couldn't believe he loved me, what did I do to deserve him?

We walked into the café to be greeted my Lucy. Great. I did like her; I just didn't like her flirting with my boyfriend.

"Alright Luce, 2 coffee's please." I ordered.

"Whitney was saying how we should all meet up later at the Vic for lunch, you're welcome too Joey." Lucy added.

"I'll see if I'm not doing anything." Joey replied back. I think he wanted to tell Lucy he wasn't interested but it was failing, should I help him out or not? I mean I would love to see Joey annoyed by Lucy.

"He means he'll come." I added, grinning at Joey.

"But-"He started.

"Erm no buts, once I have filled you in on the Branning history we can both go."

Joey sighed in defeat.

"That's not going to take all morning is it Lauren? I mean I already know some stuff." He asked, he may have known about me but not in detail or about the rest of the family.

"So you know our uncles ex wife swapped a baby for her dead one?" I tried not to sound blunt but it was the truth and as much as I wish James was still alive for Uncle Jack, Ronnie shouldn't have made Kat and Alfie grieve like that.

"What?" He asked shocked which caused me to laugh.

"Exactly, now go on sit down." I told him.

We sat at the booth next to the window.

"Let's start from the beginning…" I said.

By the time I had finished I had practically left Joey speechless.

"Wow, can all that really happen to one family?" He said.

I scoffed. "Apparently so."

"Is that why you drink?" Joey asked softly.

I nodded. "The alcohol is the only thing that can numb the pain, it just helps me forget about all this drama going on, it's the only thing that's there for me, and the only thing I know won't run away." I began opening up slightly.

"I won't run away Lauren." He said as he placed his hand on mine, which was resting on the table.

"You say that now but everyone does eventually in one way or another." I looked down at our now entwined hands. He squeezed my hand almost in reassurance.

"Why would anyone want to run away from someone as special as you?" He smiled.

I looked up at him to notice nothing but love in his eyes.

"And as for the alcohol, I also have a way to take your mind off of things." He said.

"You do, do you?" I smirked. I loved how we could go from talking about something so serious to talking about sex. Whatever he did, he made me smile and could always cheer me up.

"Well, Abi is with Jay and mum and dad are out so you can show me what your genius idea is over there." I said as I bit my lip.

"I'd be happy to." He said as we got up and began making our way to number 5.

Joey's POV

As we were going to number 5 we were spotted by Lauren's friends, actually most of them were becoming my friends as well.

"Hi Lauren, hi Joey, you coming in with us." Poppy said cheerfully as she motioned to the Vic door. I had never seen her in a bad mood.

"Erm, yeah." Lauren answered as she looked at me with a disappointed look in hers.

"I'll have to make it up to you later." I whispered in her ear before going to the Vic.

Surprisingly everyone was already there and I found myself sitting opposite Lucy and next to Lauren.

Fatboy came up to us.

"Right, who's paying for the first round?" He said.

"That'll be you." Whitney said as we all laughed.

"The usually yeah? What about you babygirl?" He asked Lauren.

"Yeah just coke please Fats." Lauren answered proudly. I didn't know how much she used to drink before, she had told me it was quite a lot but I had never seen her in a drunken state but to be honest I wouldn't want to. I'm glad she now doesn't feel the need to drink. A part of me is beyond happy that I may be the reason why. She had changed me to. I could be myself around Lauren and not the bad boy player that everyone see's.

A while later Fatboy appeared with our drinks and Lauren had to scoot over to make space. As she moved closer to me I noticed she smirked as her foot began rubbing up and down my leg.

"2 can play at this game." I said quietly to her so only she could hear.

"What do you mean?" She said looking up at me innocently. I'm surprised people didn't notice out close proximity or question why my arm was placed so it was behind her.

She then started to drink her coke and I took this to my advantage as I placed my hand on her inner thigh and slowly began crawling my fingers up. I knew she was slightly ticklish there. She almost spat what she had been drinking which caused her to start coughing.

"You alright Lauren." I asked with a smirk on my face.

"Fine." She said with a hint of mischief in her eye.

"Tyler can you pass me that glass please." Lauren asked and as she leaned over me she rested one of her hands on my privates gently, obviously it was under the table so no one saw. Her sudden move caused me to sit up straight.

Throughout the night we were both teasing each with the others oblivious until Lucy had began flirting with me. I was answering her back as bluntly as I could and at first Lauren look amused as I was struggling to speak as she laced her fingers through mine and placed our joint hands on her lap. Although she now began to look slightly annoyed.

"So when are you going to look for someone new." Lucy said. At this point Lauren chose to speak and I could tell she was jealous but she tried her best to hide it.

"Luce, he just said two weeks ago he was in love with his girlfriend, is there something you don't understand about that." Lauren said.

"You mean ex." Lucy said smugly.

"Actually we're back together." I corrected.

"Well she can't love you that much if she ended it with you?" Lucy said.

"I get why she did." I said as I squeezed Lauren's hand as her eyes looked saddened.

"It aint none of your business anyway Luce." Lauren snapped.

"What's your problem anyway Lauren." Lucy replied. These two were starting to get into an argument.

"Well for starters you're flirting with my cousin who has already mentioned multiple times that he aint interested and is taken."

"Exactly cousin, you're acting as if he's your boyfriend or something." Lucy sniggered.

"Plus you're my mate and I don't want to see you make an embarrassment of yourself in public." Lauren said in a caring tone which pissed off Lucy even more as anger flashed through her eyes.

Before she could speak Poppy interrupted.

"Right well I'm off, got to go work." She said as she pecked Fats on the cheek.

"Yeah I'm going to head off as well, my dad wants me to run some errands for him, and you wouldn't mind helping would you Joey, you could get to know the family a bit more." Lauren used as an excuse.

"Yeah sure." I said before the three of us left. We left with Poppy to look less suspicious.

Once we had got into Lauren's empty house she shrugged her jacket off before walking into the living room.

"I never knew the green eyed monster was making an appearance tonight?" I smirked.

"I couldn't help myself Joseph." I loved the way she said my name. "At first I thought it would be a laugh but that obviously backfired when my best mate was flirting with my boyfriend."

"Well whatever the reason, I find jealous Lauren sexy." I said as I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her close to me.

"Do you know what else is sexy?" She asked rhetorically as her hands rested on my chest. "A topless Joey." She added.

"I thought that was a sight for sore eyes."

"I may have told a slight lie."

"You know naughty girls get punished." I said as I began to place pepper kisses all over her neck just to suck on her sweet spot which caused her to moan slightly.

"Punish me then…" She said seductively.

I focused my attention on her lips before mine came crashing down on hers. Her hands snaked around my shoulders as she began to rake her fingers through my hair. She knew this turned me on. I rolled my tongue across her bottom to lip to ask for entry which she gladly gave. Our tongues began fighting for dominance as Lauren became almost desperate as she pulled me even closer to her, if that was possible.

"Joey." She said breathlessly between kisses. "I…Love…You."

"I love you too." I said with honesty in each and every word.

"Make love to me" She whispered against my lips. I looked into her eyes and the passion in mine must have reflected through hers because we both wanted and needed the same thing right now. Each other.

I needed no further encouragement as our lips were moving in sync once again, only this time we weren't rough and the only thing I could feel was passion. I lifted her up as she wrapped her legs around my waist. I began taking us up the stairs as her lips never left mine whilst she began to unbutton my shirt. I knew which one her room was as I had been her once or twice before doing the same activity.

After we had got rid of each other's clothing I placed her gently on the bed with her wavy brown locks of hair floating around and covering the pillow she looked like a goddess and I took a moment to adore her before I did exactly as she asked… Make love to her.

AN - I'm sorry this wasn't up yesterday but I was fasting and feeling faint. To make it up for you I made this chapter longer than planned ;D its only a bit of a fluffy chapter but I think it was needed. From now on I will reply to all reviews so please review as they encourage me to right as I am a bit stuck on what to do next chapter so any idea's are welcome :)