“I think she should go to the hospital to be checked out.”
Ava nodded in agreement. “But she doesn’t want to go.”
“Mrs Hobbs,” Lance spoke softly, his frown deepening when the old lady smiled at him in a vacant way. “You need to go to the hospital; you’ve had a nasty bump on your head.”
“No dear, if I go they'll keep me there until I die.”
“I promise you, I will not let that happen.”
She looked at him, still troubled. “But that's what happened to my husband. He never came home.”
Ava knelt down by her side. “He wasn’t well, and they couldn’t make him better. But you just need them to look at your head and X ray your wrist.”
Mrs Hobbs began to cry, Ava put her arm around her and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll come with you.”
She turned to Lance. “Shall I call an ambulance?”
“No, it'll take forever for one to get here. I’ll carry her to the truck and drive you both to the hospital.”
“Are you sure it’s not too much trouble?”
Lance looked at her as though she was talking gibberish. “I told you, anything you need, and anyway, Mrs Hobbs is like part of the family. We'll keep the blanket wrapped around her, and you had better get some clothes on.”
It was only then that Ava realised she was still in her nightshirt, no wonder she had been cold standing at the door. As she headed for her room to get changed she tried to get control of herself, the events of the night threatened to leave her in floods of tears, and she had to be strong for her aunt.
“Grab an overnight bag too, just in case,” Lance said as she came back into the room.
He had her aunt in his arms, holding her as though she were no heavier than a three year old. Now her aunt wasn’t a large lady, but she was no lightweight either. Lance must be very strong, and she caught herself thinking how nice it would be the one in his arms. Then her thoughts sobered again and she grabbed a bag and shoved some toiletries and a change of clothes into them for her aunt.
In no time they were organised in the truck, Ava sat in the middle with Lance in the driver's seat and the old lady leaning against a pillow with a blanket wrapped around her. Then they began the long silent drive to the hospital, each wrapped in their own thoughts and fears. For Ava the journey was consumed by the closeness of his body and what she would like him to do to her when they were alone.
***
Lance pulled up outside the hospital and went inside to get a nurse. Ava sat talking to Aunty Jo, telling her where they were and not to worry.
“The hospital? Already? Thank you Ava, my head is throbbing and my wrist does hurt. Stupid old fool, I should have put the light on.”
Ava sighed with relief, her great aunt sounded lucid now, hopefully everything would be fine. She looked out of the window and saw Lance returning with a couple of nurses and a gurney.
“Hello, Mrs Hobbs. I hear you’ve had a fall?” one of the nurses asked.
“Yes, but I can walk, I don’t need to lie on one of those.”
So began three hours of questions, examinations and X rays. It was two o'clock in the morning before they decided that she should be kept in for observation. By then Mrs Hobbs was exhausted and when Ava kissed her goodbye the old lady was already almost asleep. With one last glance back at her great aunt, Ava walked down the corridor to where Lance stood waiting for her.
“She’s settled for the night. I’ll ring in the morning to see how she is, and hopefully bring her home later tomorrow.”
“And how are you holding up?” Lance asked.
“I’m OK,” she lied, her hand brushing tears away from her eyes.
“Hey, come on. She’s a fighter; she'll be home before you know it. Don’t think that plaster cast is going to stop her.” He held her tenderly in his arms, no expectation of anything other than the desire to give her comfort.
“What would have happened if I hadn't been there?” she buried her head in his warm chest, breathing in the comforting scent of him.
“But you were there, so let's be thankful she's going to be fine and there's no concussion, and go from there.” He pulled her along the corridor, and she was thankful for his strength because she had none left. “Let’s get you to bed.”
He bundled her into his truck, and wrapped the blanket around her, she dozed as the street lights passed them by, comforted by the dark when they hit the country roads taking them home.
Ava must have slept, because it seemed like no time at all before she felt his arms around her and the cool night air on her face. He lifted her up out of the truck and carried her to the cottage, at the front door he lowered her so she could unlock the door with the key she had stowed in her purse. Pushing the door open he paused briefly to shut it again before carrying her up the stairs.
Taking her to her bedroom he set her down and began to pull her shoes off.
“I can do that, you’ve helped so much already.”
“It’s no trouble; I’ll get you into bed and then head off.”
“Lance,” she said so quietly she wondered if he would hear her.
He looked up. “Yes.”
“Will you stay with me?”
“If that's what you want, of course.” He continued to help her undress, turning around while she took off her bra and pulled her night shirt over her head.
Ava lifted the covers and slid into her bed, the sheet cool against her skin. Lance went over to the chair in the corner and sat down. He was being a gentleman, reading nothing into her request other than her wanting him to watch over her.
However that wasn’t what she wanted, she was too tired to fight the attraction between them. The last few weeks had worn at nerves and she had come to the conclusion that this was just as bad as living with her parents constantly digging at each other to her. There was no peace, no respite in her need for him.
She wanted him next to her, to feel his body against hers, what else happened between them remained to be seen. His consideration for her feelings, of staying away no matter how attracted he felt towards her, that had made her see him in a different light. She could no longer tar him with the same brush as her parents. He had given her what she had needed most, space.
“Lance,” she said, lifting the covers and inviting him into her bed.
He sat and looked at her, not sure what to do. “You're tired, I’m fine just here.”
“I want you to hold me; I’m tired of fighting it.”
“Ava, we’ll talk in the morning, you need to sleep.”
“Don’t make me beg you, Lance.”
“If I get into your bed I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep my hands off you,” he said roughly.
“I’ll take my chances.”
He got up and crossed the short distance to her. He stopped briefly and stripped his clothes off before sliding in next to her. His arms went around her and he pulled her close, and for the first time in a long time she felt at peace, this was where she belonged, safe in his embrace.
Ava could feel his warm breath on her neck, and then his lips grazed her cheek. She lifted her chin and found his lips, the stress and exhaustion of the night swept away with the first fluttering of desire in her deep inside her. He deepened their kiss, sliding his tongue between her lips, and further, to stir her desire for him.
She pressed her body against his, and felt his arousal pressing against her. Was this the night she would give herself to him, and lose her virginity? Ava feared if she told him of her innocence he would back off, and that was something she couldn’t bear. Now she had lowered her barriers to him, she wanted him to take her and teach her what it was to be a woman.
His hand slid under her nightshirt, and caressed her body, stroking her skin and making it inflamed with need. Her sex ached for him, but he moved upwards instead, his thumb running along the curve of her ample breast. She gasped against him when he moved higher and skimmed her nipple with his palm.
She pressed hard
er against him, opening her thighs to rub her mound against him. He broke their kiss and in one smooth movement flipped her onto her back and slid between her thighs. His hand grabbed her panties and pulled so hard the fabric ripped and he pushed her night shirt up over her stomach and spread her thighs wide.
Ava could barely breathe as he leaned forward and his tongue licked the whole length of her slit. Her knees raised and she arched her back, thrusting herself forward into his face, her hands gripping the sheets tightly. Lance flicked his tongue over her clit before sliding it inside her sex.
She swore she saw stars, they grew brighter as he pushed inside her deeper, before withdrawing so he could insert his finger instead.
He pushed inside her, his first finger joined by another, they worked in and out of her, steadily thrusting deeper. Ava felt him press against her membrane, and he paused, his whole body filling with tension.
“Please don’t stop,” she whispered.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“I’ve never been surer,” Ava said, meaning every word. She had never thought she would want someone as much as she wanted Lance at this moment, and it seemed so right for this to happen now.
Lance began to move his fingers in and out of her, guiding her towards the peak of her pleasure. He spread her inner walls with his fingers, gently brushing the thin membrane, while his mouth covered her clit and sucked hard.
Ava writhed under his touch, unable to stand it, but wanting more all the same. Her hips bucked, thrusting herself forward, the wave of pleasure hit her and her sex throbbed and pulsed. It was in the throes of pleasure that Lance pushed deeper and tore her innocence.
A stinging sensation filled her, but Lance gave her so much pleasure with his mouth and fingers that it quickly subsided and instead her body was rocked with tremors so powerful she cried out as though wounded. Never having experienced a man doing these things to her before meant she had never experienced an orgasm so strong.
Lance held her thighs so she could not clamp them shut, her body so overwhelmed by his touch. His mouth grew softer, and his tongue slid gently over her clit while her climax faded. She wanted to turn over and hide under the covers, she felt so exposed to him both physically and emotionally.
At last he released her, his mouth placing butterfly soft kisses along the insides of her thighs. Ava’s breathing was so rapid she might have spent the last ten minutes running rather than writhing in the throes of pleasure. Her sex still throbbed, and there was a soreness she put down to Lance breaking her innocence, yet she knew he had done his best to make it easy for her.
He slowly worked his way back up her body, kissing and stroking her, taking his time so she could recover her composure. When he moved along her collarbone and up her neck she felt the stirrings of arousal again, and wondered whether he would penetrate her with his stiff length now.
These thoughts made her aware of him again, of the feel of his rigid cock pressed against her thigh. She had never touched a man down there before; the thought of him frightened her. Would she be able to please him in the way he had her? His experience was obvious, and she presumed her lack would be just so apparent.
Yet the way he felt about her gave her confidence. If he wanted her that much he wouldn’t care if her hands lacked experience, and if he mocked her for it she would surely lose all the love she felt for him, and that would be an end to the whole unbelievable affair. So she reached for him and wound her hand around his cock, feeling him stiffen in her grasp.
She tentatively moved her hand along his length; he nipped her neck with his teeth, showing his appreciation. More sure of herself she slid her hand up and down his length more firmly; his hips thrust forward pushing him harder into her hand.
She moved her other hand down to cup his balls while she pumped up and down, his breath hissed in his teeth, and he ground himself forward harder. Her hand slid over the head of his cock and she felt the first of his seed leaking out, she used it to lubricate his length, allowing her to move more easily over his skin.
Her fingertips pulled and squeezed the tip of his cock, an act he seemed to enjoy, before sliding down his whole length again. Lance thrust his hips backwards and forwards in a steady rhythm now, and Ava knew this was what he would do when he was buried inside her sex.
It was something she longed to experience, she wanted to ask him to penetrate her now, but she didn't have the nerve, and then his cock jerked and his seed spilled from it, covering her hands.
He groaned loudly, thrusting frantically forward, her hands lightly scratching his balls, which sent him wild. Ava did as he had done, draining every last drop from him before she allowed him to rest, with her once again wrapped in his arms.
While his breathing returned to normal she got up and went to the bathroom to wash her hands, when she returned he welcomed her back into his arms with a kiss. She turned to him and kissed him, and then whispered, “Will you make love to me now?”
He stroked her arm and then kissed her neck. “I don’t have any protection, and I guess you aren't on the pill. If we do there's a good chance you'll get pregnant. Is that what you want, Ava?”
She lay still in his arms, disappointment washing over her. “Don’t you want me?” she asked him, knowing it was a stupid question.
“Don’t say that Ava, you know I would take you right now this very minute, but there's your career to think of. I need to know what you want to do. For me it's easy, I would put a child in your belly tonight and marry you tomorrow, but this is your choice.”
She clung to him, her disappointment giving way to the exhaustion that her arousal had kept at bay. There was no way she was ready to make a decision tonight about bearing his children.
It was so ingrained in her own beliefs that children were not something she wanted; she knew it was not a thing she could decide now. Ava felt blessed to have a man who understood that, and didn’t force her into what he so badly wanted.
Instead she fell asleep in his arms, while he whispered, “We always have tomorrow, and the rest of the days after that.”
Ava wondered how he could be so sure their relationship would last forever. Soon she would learn his most precious secret, and then she would understand. If it didn’t push her away from him instead.
Chapter Three
When she woke the next morning she was alone in the bed. Panic took hold of her; he had gone, left her without a word, or a note. She sat up, promising herself she wouldn’t cry, not over a man. It was hard for her though, she had put what little trust she had left into her feelings for him.
Sitting with her face in her hands, trying to get a grip of herself she heard sounds coming from downstairs, and then the smell of breakfast cooking. He hadn't left her, he was still here. Her mood shifted completely and she grabbed her robe and practically ran downstairs.
“Morning,” Lance called as she was halfway down.
“Good morning,” she replied, slowing herself down to a more dignified pace when she entered the kitchen.
“Eggs and bacon? There's toast on too.”
“Thanks, anything I can do?” she asked, smiling at the domesticity of the scene.
“Pour the coffee, and then get the cutlery out,” he said, checking the eggs. “Did you sleep well?”
“Yes thank you.” Feeling safe in his arms she'd had the best night’s sleep she could remember for a long time. “What time is it?”
He glanced at his watch. “Nine thirty.”
“I’ll ring the hospital at ten and see how Aunty Jo is. Do you have to rush off to work?”
“No, I rang Davy and told him something had come up. He'll run things for the day.” He glanced over to Ava. “If that's OK with you? I thought you'd want to go and see your aunt later, and you'll need help bringing her home.”
“No, that would be fantastic, thank you.” She blushed at the way he made her feel, the happy person she used to be seemed almost to have come back when he was around.
“No problem
.” He grinned then. “I can just imagine them all taking bets on where I am. I haven't missed a day of work for five years.”
“Sorry I’ve made you break the habit.” Although they both knew she wasn’t.
“I’m not.” He came over and put a plate of food in front of her, kissing her cheek. She turned and met his lips with her own, and only the smell of the breakfast in front of her made her want to break it.
“Did you tell them about Aunty Jo?”
“No, if I did they would put two and two together, and I didn’t know how you would feel about that.” He sat down and started eating.
“So what will they think you’re doing?”
“I’m sure they'll think I’m with a woman somewhere.”
“Is that a usual thing? You being with a woman?” Ava couldn’t believe the words had come out of her mouth. “I’m sorry; it’s none of my business.”
He'd stopped eating and looked at her earnestly. “I can’t deny I haven't bedded my fair share of women, especially when I was younger, but not for a long time. I’d given up on finding my mate, and as I got older brief flings just didn’t do it for me, you know?”
No, she didn’t know, never having been with a man before, but she understood what he was saying, in truth most of her girl friends were promiscuous, Ava was a bit of an oddity to them. Then her thoughts latched onto the word he'd used to describe her.
“Why do you call me your mate?” She didn’t expect the answer she got.
“Because that's what you are, my mate. I know you can feel it too, we're linked in more ways than you could believe.”
“OK, that sounds plain scary, like you belong to some cult or wacky religion.”
He put his fork down, studying her face as he spoke. “Do you deny what you feel for me? In the last couple of months I’ve stayed out of your life, but you said it yourself, you were tired of fighting it. I can’t explain to you exactly what it is. But later, I can show you, and I hope you can understand.”
“Show me?” Ava asked.
“Yes, but not now, later, let’s get your aunt sorted first.” He ate his breakfast and Ava asked him no more about it.
Waiting For Curves Page 3
