by Rye Hart
“No going to sleep,” he said. “I’m not finished with you yet.”
The mattress moved as he got on the bed near my feet. His warm kisses started making their way up the inside of my legs. My clit began to tingle. His hand caressed my inner thigh, moving dangerously close to where I wanted him to be. I spread my legs to make room for him.
“Caleb, please,” I moaned and arched my hips. “Stop teasing me.”
He chuckled at my need. Then one of his fingers slipped inside me, and another started playing with my clit. My body writhed beneath him as the tingling grew stronger. His finger moved in and out as my juices flowed. Then, he put two fingers into my hot pussy, stroking me inside until a zing that traveled all the way to my fingertips told me he’d found my sweet spot.
“Right there,” I moaned. “That’s it.”
“You’re going to come for me again,” he said with determination.
Hearing his voice sent chills through me. His kisses got further up and reached the sensitive part of my inner thigh. I took a short breath in and tried to hold still. I screamed out his name when he buried his face in my pussy, licking my clit and making me tremble. My body exploded in the strongest orgasm of my life as wave after wave of release crashed over me.
“You’re so fucking hot when you come,” Caleb said.
I opened my eyes to look at him. The room was spinning from a combination of too much drinking and crazy beautiful orgasms. My body was more relaxed than ever before. I put my arms above my head and stretched.
Caleb moaned at the sight of my body stretching before him. He pushed me further up the bed and moved on top of me. His cock slid inside me, and I wrapped my legs around him so I wouldn’t put pressure on his injured leg. He pumped in and out to the sound of our bodies slapping together. I clawed at his back while he pounded me into the headboard.
“Put your legs on my shoulders,” he demanded.
I moved my legs to his shoulders while he continued to pump into me. The change in position allowed him to get deeper. I gasped when his cock found my sweet spot. I clenched my legs together, and he moaned as my pussy and thighs tightened around him. A mind-numbing deliciousness radiated from my clit all throughout my body. The sensation took over, and there was nothing else in the world. I was right on the edge.
“I’m going to come again,” I said too loudly because I couldn’t believe it.
“You can do it, baby,” Caleb said in a sexy, breathless voice while pumping faster. “Come for me again.”
His voice sent me soaring over the edge as my pussy squeezed his cock in a powerful orgasm. I wiggled underneath him to keep him positioned just right while my pussy continued to spasm, and the wonderful feeling lingered. He pushed deeper into me and let loose a guttural groan. His cock jerked inside me as I felt the heat of his own orgasm fill me. He shuddered and adjusted his hips.
My body was shaking with pleasure, and he was covered in sweat. He finally collapsed, facing me, wrapping me in his arms.
I grinned and buried my face in his chest. He held me close, kissing my head and running his fingertips down my trembling spine. I passed out, still drunk and entirely satisfied. This was exactly what I needed, to finally let myself be free.
The next morning arrived sooner than I liked. The sun seeped through the curtains, blinding me and making me groan with pain. My head ached but not like it usually did. This was the unpleasant ache of a vicious hangover. I didn’t mind. It had been worth it.
Caleb and I woke up together, still clinging to each other. He grinned and kissed me until we were both ready to move. I had to work that day, so I couldn’t linger. I said my goodbyes and quickly got dressed, hurrying home to take a shower and get ready.
It wasn’t until after my shower that I realized I had a missed call from Dr. Anderson’s office. Dread flooded my stomach as I saw the notification flashing across the screen. I could barely move my fingers to check the voice mail, and when I held the phone to my ear, I was shaking so badly I thought I might never stop.
“Hi, Miss Jones,” a woman’s voice rang out. “This is Leslie from Dr. Anderson’s office. I’m calling because Dr. Anderson received your test results this morning and he’s asked for you to come in today. Please call us back at your earliest convenience so we can get an appointment scheduled as soon as possible. Thank you!”
The voice mail ended, and I stared down at my phone, still shaking. Dr. Anderson received my test results and wanted me to come in. I knew what that meant. For good news, they told you over the phone with bright voices and happy attitudes. For bad news, they insisted on seeing you in person.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN - CALEB
Tara left in a hurry the next morning, but I didn’t mind. We had a therapy session scheduled for later that day, so I knew I would see her again soon. I was still flying from our night together, the memory of her begging me to fuck her still fresh in my mind. It felt incredible to be inside her again, but even more incredible to spend the entire night by her side. I never wanted to let her go, and when she left that morning, I had to fight the urge to go with her.
Instead, I spent the morning thinking about her and watching movies. My leg was starting to feel like normal again, but I knew I shouldn’t push myself too hard. I used my crutches to get around the apartment, wanting to rest my leg for PT. Tara took a lot out of me the night before. Our sex was strenuous in the best way. I wouldn’t have changed a single thing, but it did leave my leg sore.
When it was finally time for my therapy session, my mom arrived at my door to drive me. I was going crazy not being able to drive myself, but I knew it was only a matter of time. My leg would be healed soon, and then my life would get back to normal. Only now Tara would be a part of it. That thought kept a smile on my face the entire way to the hospital.
“What’s got you so happy?” my mom asked, glancing at me with a frown.
“Nothing,” I said, shrugging. “Just in a good mood.”
“Uh huh.” She didn’t believe me, but she didn’t push it. My mother wasn’t stupid. She knew how strong the connection between Tara and me was. She saw it firsthand all those years ago, and unlike Darren, she didn’t try to fight against it.
We got closer to the hospital, and my mood stayed high. After last night, I didn’t think anything could bring me down.
“I know this isn’t any of my business,” my mom said suddenly. We were pulling into the PT building parking lot. She glanced over at me with a furrowed brow. “But are things between you and Tara? I mean, is something happening between you two again?”
“Mom,” I said. “Do you really want to talk about this?”
“I guess not,” she said with a sigh. “But I’m worried about you. And her. Things didn’t end well last time.”
“And whose fault was that?” I asked sharply.
“Darren was just doing what he thought was best,” Mom said defensively.
“It wasn’t his place then, and it isn’t your place now,” I said firmly. “Whatever is or isn’t happening between us, it doesn’t concern you, okay? Please, leave us be.”
Mom nodded but still looked worried. I leaned over to kiss her cheek before I climbed out of the car.
“Just be careful, okay?” she called out. “That’s all I’m asking.”
I nodded and hurried inside the building, eager to see Tara’s face. We’d been together just hours before, and already I missed her. I missed her pale blue eyes and her adorable button nose. I missed the way her cheeks flushed when I kissed her lips. I missed the sight of her hips swaying seductively as she walked toward me. I could already feel my desire growing as I walked over to her desk.
Tara was leaning down, scribbling furiously on a chart in front of her. She didn’t see me walk up, but there was no one around, so I slid my hands over her shoulders and leaned down.
She jumped and spun around. I kissed her cheek and moved over to her earlobe.
“Hey sexy,” I whispered.
“Hi,” she
said, laughing nervously and pulled away from me.
I adjusted my crutches and moved back to let her stand up. When she did, her eyes darted around as if she were worried we would be seen. No one was in the room, though, so I leaned forward to kiss her. She let me but pulled away quickly.
“That’s all I get?” I asked. “Come on, after last night I think I deserve a little more.”
“What?” she asked, her eyes dazed. “Oh. Um, I’m sorry.”
She kissed me again, but I barely felt it. Her mind was somewhere else. She was distant again, but this time, it felt different. She wasn’t just pulling away from me. It was like she was pulling away from everything. Her eyes were glazed over, and when I asked her what was wrong, it took three times before she even heard me.
“What?” she asked.
“I said, what’s wrong?” I said again, louder this time.
“Oh.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, I’m just distracted today.”
“I can tell,” I said with a laugh. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head again. “Just a little foggy today. My last few patients were pretty wearing.”
“Do you want to skip my session?” I asked. “We can always reschedule for tomorrow and go grab some food instead.”
“Nice try,” she said, smiling and leading me toward the bars.
I rested my crutches against the wall like last time and walked over to the bars. This time, Tara let me walk myself. She didn’t offer her hand as I stumbled my way between the bars. I was surprised, but when I looked at her face, I saw that she was barely paying attention to me. Her mind was a million miles away.
My session progressed normally. I walked across the bars a few times while Tara mumbled words of encouragement. She wasn’t into it, though, and I could tell. Her entire body was tense, and she kept glancing at the clock, just waiting for my session to end. I tried not to be offended, but I was getting tired of her pulling away from me.
We had sex again, and already, she was distancing herself. It pissed me off.
“Look,” I said when the session ended. “If you regret last night, just tell me.”
“What?” She blinked. “Caleb, what the hell are you talking about? I don’t regret anything about last night.”
“Then, what’s going on with you?” I demanded. “You’ve been somewhere else. It’s like you’re not even here.”
Tara sighed and closed her eyes. She rubbed her forehead, and when her eyes opened again, they were swimming with emotion. She opened her mouth to speak but never got a chance to explain. The door to the PT building swung open with a bang. I jumped and spun around to see Darren walking toward us.
The same suspicious expression was on his face. I’d grown to know it well, and after everything that happened with Tara that day, I didn’t have time for it.
“Can you give us a second?” I asked. “Tara and I were just in the middle of something.”
“No,” Darren said flatly. “Your mother got pulled in with a patient, so I need to take you home. I don’t have all night, so let’s go.”
“Okay, in a minute,” I said, turning back to Tara.
“Unless you want to walk, let’s go.”
I was livid as Tara handed me my crutches and Darren led the way toward the parking lot. He climbed behind the wheel while I struggled to put my crutches in the backseat, then fell into the passenger seat with a sharp pain in my leg.
“Thanks so much for the help.” I snapped once I slammed the door behind me.
“I’m giving you a ride, aren’t I?” Darren asked. His voice was sharp and juvenile. I hated how much he acted like a child sometimes.
“What the fuck is your problem?” I demanded.
“Don’t talk to me that,” Darren hissed.
“Darren, I’m not a child anymore, okay?” I said. “I’m twenty-seven years old, and if you have something to say to me, then just fucking say it already.”
“I want you to stay away from Tara,” Darren said bluntly. “I don’t like how close you two have gotten since she moved back to town. It’s not healthy, and it’s inappropriate.”
“Why?” I asked. “Because it makes you uncomfortable.”
“Don’t you remember what happened last time?” Darren demanded. “Don’t you remember how much you hurt her?”
“Whose fault was that?” I snapped. “You sent me away to military school because you couldn’t stand the thought of me being with your daughter. You were so terrified that what we had might have been real, that you couldn’t deal. You sent me out of the state just to keep us apart.”
“And it was obviously the right decision,” Darren said. “Considering how long it took her to get over you.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked, his words catching me by surprise.
“Nothing.” Darren sighed and shook his head.
“No,” I said sharply. “You started this conversation, now finish it.”
“You destroyed her,” Darren said. “You broke her heart, Caleb. She spent years trying to get over you, and now that she finally has, you’re back in her life. You’re just going to hurt her again.”
“You don’t know that,” I said.
“Don’t I?” he asked. “Your reputation isn’t exactly a secret. I have a few buddies down at the fire station. I know the kind of man you are.”
“You don’t know anything about me,” I said. “You never did.”
Darren continued to lecture me the entire way back to my apartment. I tuned him out; my mind focused entirely on Tara. I had no idea how much I’d hurt her when I left town. I thought I was doing the best thing for everyone by not putting up a fight. I was trying to protect her, and instead, I did the opposite.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN - TARA
I could barely keep myself from breaking. After Dr. Anderson gave me the news about my illness, everything passed by in a blur of terror and confusion. I was scared to death, worried that my fear would somehow exacerbate things and make me sicker. It wasn’t a logical fear, but it was there, lingering in the back of my mind and preventing me from engaging in my day.
I had cancer. A rare form of brain cancer that caused my headaches and vomiting. It wasn’t yet advanced, but it was so rare that the oncologists weren’t sure how to proceed. After Dr. Anderson gave me the news, he brought in two oncologists who talked to me about my diagnosis. I barely heard anything they said. My mind was spinning.
Nothing felt real. For days after my diagnosis, I walked around in a fog. I hadn’t yet told anyone about my cancer. The fear of what was happening to me was too real to face. I preferred to push it away, pretend like it didn’t exist and instead focus on other things. The only problem was, I couldn’t focus on anything. I was so foggy and distracted that I let things slip through the cracks.
My last PT session with Caleb was a mess. I barely remembered what we did. When he left that night, I knew he was angry with me, but I couldn’t feel it. I couldn’t feel anything. He had a check-up with Dr. McGee the next day, and I missed it. Caleb told me about it a week ago, but somehow, it slipped my mind, and I didn’t show up. It wasn’t until the next morning that I realized I’d missed it.
I felt like shit about myself. Not only was I failing at my job but I was failing Caleb, who was the most important person in the world to me. I hated how confused he must have been. He didn’t know about my cancer, and I didn’t want him to. Still, I couldn’t just let things fall apart between us because I was sick. I refused to let that happen.
I took off work early and picked up some Chinese takeout. It was Caleb’s favorite, and I knew he’d love it. As I drove toward his apartment, I thought about what I would say. I couldn’t tell him the truth. Not yet. Instead, I had to explain my behavior without outright lying to him somehow. It wouldn’t be easy, but I was determined to try. My heart was racing as I walked up to his front door and knocked softly. I could hear his footsteps inside, and when the door swung open, I smiled.
&nb
sp; It was my first genuine smile in days. Seeing Caleb was enough to ease my fears for just a moment. He frowned when he saw me, glancing down at the takeout containers in my hands.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
“Dinner,” I said, holding up the food. “You interested?”
“Sure.” He shrugged and moved aside.
I walked through the door and sat down on the couch, arranging the takeout containers on the coffee table. Caleb walked over to join me. He wasn’t using his crutches. Instead, he was moving slowly. I gasped when I saw him.
“Where are your crutches?”
“Dr. McGee says I’m doing well,” Caleb said. “My check-up yesterday was great.”
“I’m sorry I missed it,” I said softly. Caleb just shrugged, so I pushed ahead. “What exactly did he say?”
“He thinks I’ll be back to normal in another month,” Caleb said. “He wants me to pick up the PT a bit. He said he sent his recommendations down to your office.”
“Oh,” I said, nodding. I didn’t remember if I received anything from Dr. McGee, and that made me feel even more guilty. “Well, that’s really great.”
“It is,” he said. “It’s great.”
“I know I said I would be there,” I said. “I just got distracted with work and time got away from me.”
“It’s probably for the best,” Caleb said.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
He sighed and sunk onto the couch beside me. He shook his head slowly from side to side. I frowned at the look on his face. I’d never seen him look so serious.
“I had a conversation with your father,” Caleb said. “Well, he had a conversation with me.”
“What the fuck did he say this time?” I asked, my anger already boiling to the surface. With everything I had going on, I didn’t have the patience to deal with my dad’s bullshit.
“He wants me to stay away from you,” Caleb said. “Same shit as before.”
“I don’t know why he keeps doing this,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m an adult. This is ridiculous.”
“He’s worried about you,” Caleb said softly.
