by Garcia, Amy
“Ok? I didn’t talk to David last night like you asked me to.”
“Yea? Seriously? You didn’t?”
“No, Mia, he was sleeping, his nurse said he had been given a sleeping pill. Why? What’s going on? Merry Christmas, by the way.”
“Oh yeah, Merry Christmas. Sorry, it’s just that Evan totally freaked out like majorly freaked out when…”
She interrupts me, “Hold on! Backup! Evan ‘freaked out’? What are you talking about? Mia! Is he awake?!” Crap I didn’t call her last night.
“Oh shit, Gabby! I’m so sorry. Yeah, he woke up right before I was going to bed. He ripped the esophageal tube right out of his throat!”
“Oh God, is he ok? Does he remember anything? Can he talk?”
“Ah, yes on all accounts.” I hear a sigh of relief creep through the phone waves.
“Thank God. I had a feeling something was coming. I don’t know what exactly, but the atmosphere in his room yesterday was different.”
Now that I think of it, I felt that too, but I ignored it with so many other things on my mind I brushed it off as nothing. “Me too, I couldn’t even take my sleeping pills last night, it was like part of me knew he was almost here.”
“I figured it was a twin thing, maybe it’s a bonding thing? Like we sense that extra band or wave of communication between us because we love him so much.”
“Maybe.” I want to delve deeper into this topic, but I seriously have to use the facilities, and it can’t wait a minute longer!
“Ok, Gabby, when are you coming? I’ve got to pee, and I didn’t want to walk past David’s room if you had already talked to him, I need to go.”
“I’m up; I’ll be dressed and out the door in fifteen minutes, we can be there in twenty-five.”
“Ok perfect. See you soon. And Gabby?”
“Yes?” The excitement of the conversation quiets and my next words are composed and exultant “He’s back.” I whisper
“I know, honey, it’s a miracle.” And it is. We have been given yet another chance to make this right, to have forever together, and nobody’s taking it away from us. This time we will conquer his tumor, his past, and our demons. No more fighting ghosts.
I don’t take more than two minutes, but when I return I sense the tension in the room immediately. Evan’s temper is simmering, threatening to boil over and scorch anyone within a mile’s distance.
“What’s wrong?”
“That fucking nurse, is what’s wrong. She refuses to listen to reason. I need to get out of here. I can go home. I’ve got a fucking hospital in my house for Christ sake!”
“You think you’re going home? Don’t you think you should think this through a little? I know how much you hate not being in control; believe me I do, but…”
“Gonna cut cha off right there, lady. I’m going home today, period.”
Sighing heavily, I close the door and shove a chair under the door handle like I’ve seen in the movies. Hospital doors don’t have locks, so I improvise. I have his attention though. He’s eyeing me carefully as I move to the drawer where the nurses keep their supplies.
“I’ll make you a deal, I remove some of those things and give you what we both know this is really about and you stay a couple more days to make sure it’s safe for you to be cared for at home, Ok? Ok.” I answer for him and set a few things on the bed. Frankly, I’m a little surprised that worked but I’m still waiting for an argument or some resistance, it never comes.
I take his catheter out, stop his IV fluids, but leave the access port, in case he needs something intravenously. I also leave the leads on his chest that monitor his blood pressure. The nurses will be in here instantly if that’s turned off. They can see it from the nurse’s station. It takes me less than five minutes to bring him back to thinking rationally.
Curious eyes follow me while I clear the mess away. “You have barricaded us in, what’s next on your agenda, Mrs. Lawson?”
“I told you, compromise,” I say with a sly smile crawling onto the bed straddling his hips. “You sure everything’s in working order here?” I say wiggling over his already hard cock.
“Yes, perfect order.” He takes my hips and thrusts himself upward raising me onto my knees.
“You’re lucky I did a range of motion exercises all the time while you were unconscious, do you feel weak?”
Tilting my head, I tease him, but I really did give him a workout three or four times a day, moving his arms and legs to keep him from becoming stiff. In turn, I was usually sore from the effort. I’m not complaining now.
“Give me that smart mouth,” he growls and raises up to face me, sliding his hands around to cup my ass. He jerks me against his chest and covers my mouth with his. I could do this forever, the feel of his tongue on my lips, tracing and sucking, nibbling and then moving to my ear where his breath warms my skin and raises goosebumps at the same time he whispers, “I love you, Mrs. Lawson,”
Moaning, I reply “I love you too, thank you for coming back to me,” I breathe nearly panting with need. The ache at the core of my body is so prominent it’s painful to restrain myself.”
“I will never leave you, baby. Something in your soul always calls me home, back to you.”
I work at untying the ugly scratchy hospital gown at the back of his neck, ripping it out from between us. I toss it aside to the floor and push him back down on the bed. He lays back with his hands behind his head eating me alive with his eyes. I slide my hands over his defined abdominal muscles one by one savoring the sight of him naked under me, real, alive and alert. My God, this is actually happening.
The intense pull between us brings tears to my eyes, and I pause to appreciate the moment. He laces his fingers with mine, sensing the depth of my emotion he pulls me down until my cheek is against his chest.
“It’s going to be all right now, baby. I’m back; you can stop worrying. I know this has been hell. I promise you, from this day forward, it’s going to be me getting well for you. Anything you want, anything I need to do, I’m in 100%, no hesitation. This tumor is going leave my body and the evil side of me will go with it.” His voice is choppy and broken from being intubated, but his words couldn’t be clearer. He’s making promises he may not be able to keep, though. That’s a worry I can’t return to him, it’s mine, but if he’s on board 100% like he says he is, I know we can do this.
Warm legs tangle mine, and suddenly I’m on my back under him, our hands still together but over my head now. I’m helpless, unable to move, and I love it. I never imagined I would be able to surrender and trust a man with my body but with Evan it’s natural and easy.
“You believe me,” he says. It’s a statement, not a question and he’s right as always.
“I believe you,” I repeat his words with sincerity. He rains kisses beginning with my mouth which has a direct line to the aching center of my body that craves to have him deep inside of it. He’s an addiction, and I’ve been clean for weeks, I need him now, as untimely and inappropriate as it may be, I have to have him.
He rocks his hips into me, my body responds instinctively arching toward him I feel the thick hardness of his cock between my legs, but I’m still dressed in sleeping pants and a tank top.
“I need to feel you against me.” He removes one of his hands continuing to hold both of mine with the other. He pulls the drawstring on the waistband of my pants pushing them down. I wiggle them the rest of the way off as he catches the edge of my tank top with his thumb and slowly drags it up, watching as my breasts are exposed. He hovers before lowering to suck and tease each one into hard pebbles of sensitive nerve endings.
“You’re going to make me come,” I pant. He looks up giving me his tell-tale smirk and continues to cover me with titillating tender kisses. He slides his tongue across my tummy dipping it into my navel which lands a direct hit of an electrical shock between my legs. I’m soaked. I need him right now, and he’s dragging this out, playing
with me.
“Please,” I beg and whimper, but he knows what he’s doing, he knows what I need, and he’ll give it to me no holds barred at the exact right moment. Returning his mouth to mine he still has a free hand to work with and he slips two long fingers into me pausing when I sharply gasp
“Oh God, Evan!” My eyes are closed tight; head pushed back into the pillow gritting my teeth. He knows he’s taken this almost too far when he drags his fingers out, and over my clit spreading the wetness over my sex and onto my belly.
“I need you too, so much, my Mia.” He allows the weight of his cock to glide lightly over the folds of my sex before he enters me finally, slowly; almost carefully he pauses and lingers inside of me.
“Ahh, Miiiaa, my God. It’s been too long, you feel so fucking good, so wet. I could stay like this forever.” I open my eyes to see my fantastic husband frozen in ecstasy with his face tilted toward the ceiling, his jaw clenches, muscles rippling. He takes a deep breath, and I worry about the side effects of his self-extubation, but as always, he knows what I’m thinking.
“Stop, I’m fine,” and to prove it, he slides out and thrusts into me deep, shoving my body up the bed. I don’t want or need for anything but this. He is everything to me. No one else could evoke the feelings that he does. He fills my heart so completely. There is no room for anything else, just him.
I could easily come at any second, he’s brought me to the edge so quickly, but I too want to stay this way forever. I concentrate on individual aspects of the experience instead of allowing it to consume me. His eyes are now locked with mine, and I can see the familiar ring of purple around his irises, the sharp green that sparkles like crystal. No one I’ve ever known has had eyes this color. He continues to pump in and out, sliding to the very tip, teasing and then burying himself in my pool of desire.
I can’t distract myself any longer. “Evan,” I say his name with anticipation and warning. “I can’t…I can’t wait.”
“Don’t, just let go,” he says breathlessly as he picks up the pace pinning me to the mattress. He is in control, and it feels so fucking good to let him have it
“Ahhh God, Evan!” I come and free all the tension of weeks of worry, desperation, and fear. Deep abiding love and adoration pours from my body through my orgasm. I spasm around him wildly like an out of body experience. My soul watches as my body responds to his every movement, his every touch. Before I’ve had time to come down from my high, he releases my hands and slides my legs up over his shoulders penetrating and filling me fully. He rides out the storm, our bodies slapping together with an animalistic frenzy until he comes with a roar. Every muscle locks up, sweat trails down his rock hard chest over the mounds of muscle to mix with the ocean of desire between us. There must be a bigger word than love for this, an undiscovered adjective that would adequately describe what this is. I wish I could put into words the way this man makes me feel. The all-encompassing, passionate totally adulated way he treasures me; it’s overwhelming, devastating, absolutely addictive.
We exist because of each other, for each other, the two halves of a whole again complete. We can conquer anything, even a deadly brain tumor, resistant surgeon, crazy pasts with threatening demons. Together, we got this.
My handsome, satisfied husband sits relaxed in his hospital bed watching our families interact, opening gifts and eating food catered by his beloved restaurant. He is happy. For one blissful moment in time, he is enjoying himself. I’ve even seen him smile, more than once. Everything he wants is his and I yearn for us to enjoy this feeling long term instead of just temporarily.
I make my way to his side, stepping over Kylie and Tanner, who are playing with their new and very expensive toys, thanks to a certain overgenerous man.
“You’re too much ya know that?”
“What? I gave them Christmas presents,” he shrugs “You’re very extravagant Mr. Lawson.”
“Come here.” He pulls me down next to him on the bed lacing his fingers with mine and kissing my temple. “What else am I going to spend all of my money on? They are my family now; they may as well get used to it.” He relaxes into his pillows, and I roll my eyes. Nuzzling his face into my hair he whispers, “Where are your rings?”
“In my pocket.”
“And why aren’t they on your finger?”
“I thought we should tell them together.” He tugs my face to him with a finger under my chin.
“Are you all right with this?”
“Well I don’t have a lot of choice in the matter now do I?” That didn’t come out right, and it’s confirmed by his high brows and wounded expression.
“You would like not to tell them? Or you would like not to have to tell them?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, I want to be married to you. I would, however, have liked to have been aware that I was marrying you. And a wedding would have been nice too.”
“You want a wedding? I will give you a wedding, anything you want. And I apologize for deceiving you but I had to be sure you were taken care of if…”
“Don’t, you’re going to be fine. Tricking me into marriage wasn’t necessary but I’m perfectly happy being Mrs. Lawson.” He pulls me even closer wrapping both arms around my shoulders for an affectionate squeeze.
“What are you two lovebirds talking about over here?” Sage calls from across the room. Evan and I look at each other and then back at the crowded room full of family who suddenly simmer down and focus their attention on us.
“I…we, actually have something to share with all of you.” Sage scoots the edge of her seat excitedly anticipating our news, the kids stop playing, my mother freezes with her fork halfway to her mouth and her eyes dart to my tummy and back to my eyes, I don’t even think she realizes she’s done it.
“No mother, not that, it’s not even possible!” Evan is lost not having noticed my mother's indiscretion he scowls at me in confusion.
“Just tell her,” I say with a sigh and pull my rings from the pocket of my jeans and slide them back on their proper left ring finger.
“Oh! You’re engaged, and at Christmas how romantic!” Mom gushes but Evan doesn’t allow her to misunderstand for long.
“No, Chanelle, we’re married.” I hold up my banded hand and wiggle my fingers while silence floods the room. Sage gasps and raises her fingers over her lips in surprise my father’s smile is blinding and the kids who are completely uninterested return to playing. “Wha… why, when?” Sage stutters and Kevin unfazed congratulates us both. “Way to go, sis, I didn’t even have to put on a monkey suit, damn I love you!”
“Mia wants a wedding and this gorgeous woman gets whatever she wants.” He smiles down at me lovingly and covers my mouth with his laying a smoking hot kiss on me right in front of every member of my family and his.
A light rap on the door draws everyone's attention in the opposite direction, and I gently press my hand against Evan’s chest so I can see who’s joining our holiday celebration.
It’s David, fucking hell it’s David! Standing just inside the door dressed in regular clothes albeit just running pants and a sweatshirt but looking much better than I recalled him looking yesterday. This guy is either clinically insane or is on a death mission coming in here interrupting our holiday celebration.
“Excuse me, I don’t mean to intrude…”
“Then don’t.” Evan has gone stiff next to me and before I can say another word he’s nudged me off the bed standing next to him while he swings his legs off of the mattress, feet on the floor and hands gripping the sheets on either side of him. He looks like he could launch himself across the room at David any moment; I can hear his heart thudding in his chest, see his pulse pounding on the side his neck. He has no hold on me so quickly I hop over the wrapping paper and opened gifts scattered on the floor until I reach David.
“Can we speak in the hall, please?” He all but ignores my request and steps around me making his way into the room brazenly; stupidly
this fool has just entered the lion's den, what is wrong with him?!
“I’d like to speak to Evan actually, please forgive me, I wouldn’t intrude on your celebration but I’m leaving the country tonight, and I’d like to say goodbye,” David announces looking around at my family most of which don’t know him by sight, only name.
“You’re leaving?!” I say with a hint of hysteria building in my voice. “You’re not well enough to go yet, no no, you should get back to bed.” I pull on his arm before thinking it through; panic has ahold of me now. David turns to me looking at my hand on his arm with question, and I snatch it back as if I’d been burned.
“Mia? It’s going to be ok, you can come with me if you like, we can go home to Seattle where it’s safe.”
What the hell? Is this man delusional? Suddenly Evan is behind David, breathing down his neck, nostrils flaring with every breath, he is vibrating with fury and I’m surprised he hasn’t put hands on him yet but my guess has our family in the small confines of his hospital room has him holding on to some of his sanity, but only just. God damn it this demented psycho is going to kill my husband without laying a finger on him!
“Gabriella, escort everyone to the waiting room at the end of the hall. Now,” he commands without taking his eyes from David, who is now turning to face his attacker toe to toe.
I watch as Gabby ushers the children first through the door saying something about having cookies down the hall. She is followed by Kevin and Sage. Simone is quietly trying to explain who David is to my parents and encourages them to follow the rest of the group away from danger.
God love my parents, they aren’t budging. Mom approaches Evan from the side carefully making sure he knows she is there like she’s dealing with one of dad’s many stray animals that he drags home. “Evan dear, shall we get you back to bed, I believe this man has wandered into the wrong room.” Mom gives David a death glare like I’ve never seen; she’s warning him off, giving him an imaginary out and effectively trying to save his life.
“Chanel, this doesn’t concern you, go with the others,” Evan orders and amazingly my mother listens but she’s not leaving without me. She takes hold of my hand and pulls me along with her out the door.