Healing Her Heart

by Kimberly Smith

  7

  Edwin sat beside Denise as their host, Wallace Brigman drove and explained the layout of the obstacle course to them. Wallace had helped Denise train for her tests to become an agent in the FBI. Since that time Wallace had opened a facility that offered a variety of obstacle courses for fun. It was open to the public or courses could be rented for private events.

  The course he was showing them, was a new addition and wouldn’t be available to everyone for a week or so. Edwin and Denise were testing the course and would provide their opinion on it after they were done. It didn’t look difficult to Edwin. He was in great shape. He was sure that he would complete Denise’s test of his manhood with flying colors.

  She had told him in her text, the day before, to come dressed for a workout. Edwin wore a grey tee shirt and loose-fitting black shorts that hung down to his knees with white socks and sneakers. Denise was wearing a white tank under her hoodie and brightly colored floral yoga pants with sneakers.

  Wally, as Denise called him, stopped the Jeep Wrangler and got out. “This is your starting point.” He was pointing to a rock-climbing wall a few yards from them. “You’ll climb the wall, and at the top, you’ll take the zip-line down to the course. Your goal is to get the flag at the end of the course and bring it to where I’ll be standing. Whoever hands me their flag first wins. The only help you will have will be at the base of the rock-climbing wall, the top of the wall and at the end of the zip-line. They will help you get in and out of the safety harnesses. You must attempt each obstacle at least three times before you can skip it and move on to the next one. This is not a timed race. Any questions?” He handed them both a set of fingerless gloves. “Good Luck.”

  “Yeah, what do I win if I beat her,” Edwin asked glancing at Denise as she took off her hoodie and placed it in the jeep.

  “A tee shirt that proclaims that you won the new mud course and bragging rights,” Wally said with a chuckle, before getting back into the Jeep and driving away.

  “That’s not good enough,” Edwin said to Denise as they started walking towards the wall. “I think the stakes need to be higher. I need some incentive.”

  Denise smiled as she strolled along beside him, “You want to make a bet on the outcome.”

  “Yeah. If I win, you have to explain these rules you have about dating, and you have to acknowledge that we,” Edwin put emphasis on the word we. “… are dating.” Edwin guessed that Denise wouldn’t agree to his terms. He was wrong.

  “Okay, and what do I get if I win?”

  Edwin hadn’t expected her to agree so readily. “I don’t know. What do you want?”

  Denise turned to face him as they reached the wall. She knew what she wanted. She wanted him, naked and at her mercy. “If I win, I get you. No strings attached anytime I want.”

  Edwin squinted an eye at her quizzically, “So, if you win, we have sex?” Denise nodded. Edwin didn’t see how he lost in the scenario. “What’s the catch?”

  “I said no strings. That means we are not dating. It’s just about sex.” Denise had run most of Wally’s courses, so she knew what to expect. She was ready for this and she was determined to win.

  Edwin stood thinking for a minute. “Deal,” he said holding out his hand to her.

  Denise shook his hand, “Deal.”

  **

  Getting to the top of the rock wall wasn’t as easy as he thought it would be, even with the handles that had been strategically placed to assist the climber. He and Denise made it to the top at almost the same time. They quickly switched into the zip-line harness and helmets, with assistance from Wally’s staff. Denise was still putting her helmet on when Edwin grabbed the handles and jumped off the wall, racing through the treetops.

  He reached the bottom only a few seconds before Denise. The first part of the ground course was a maze of rubber tubes that they had to crawl through. To his surprise, the tubes were irrigated and slippery. Edwin had a hard time getting traction. Once he got the hang of moving, he tried to move quickly. There was no way for him to know how Denise was doing, but he had a slight head start, and he didn’t want to lose it.

  He found several dead ends and had to crawl backward and try a different route. Once he could see daylight ahead of him, he moved quickly. He got to the tunnel exit and stood, shielding his eyes against the light. Once he was able to see clearly, he found Denise dashing across the sand pit ahead of him.

  Determined to catch up with her, he made a mad dash to arrive at the next obstacle, a twelve-foot high wall with a knotted rope hanging down it. Edwin grabbed the line high above his head and planted his right foot on the wall and tried to pull his body upward. His shoe slid down. He tried again, and the same thing happened. He glanced up at Denise who was near the top of the wall. Her shoes dangled across her shoulders, and Edwin realized that she was barefoot as she reached the top. She grinned down at him and stuck out her tongue.

  That little sneak, he thought as he removed his shoes tying them together by the shoe strings. He stuffed his socks inside and tossed them over his shoulder and began his climb a third time. Now that he was barefoot and had traction, he moved as fast as he could to the top. Once there, He straddled the wall and positioned himself to go down the other side. The rope attached to this side had knots as well. The thing he noticed as he watched Denise putting her shoes on, was that instead of a bed of sand, there was an air mattress. Edwin was determined to catch up to Denise and to win their bet. He dropped his shoes and was satisfied that the airbed wasn’t shallow. He swung his legs over and moved half-way down before letting go of the rope to free fall to the bottom.

  The next obstacle was a long plank of wood, sitting over a shallow pool of water. Denise was carefully making her way along the wood, but it looked as if she were having some balance issues. Edwin climbed up, and when he had his balance, he started to cross to the other side slowly with his arms stretch from side to side. He moved carefully, but quickly. He and Denise neared the end of the plank, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw his competition falter and then fall. Which meant she had to go back to the beginning. In his cockiness he wobbled, putting too much weight on one side and fell into the water.

  Denise roared with laughter.

  The second time, they both made it across to the next obstacle, the minefield. A cargo net was stretch from the end near them to the other side of a mud pit. Their goal was to navigate under it, on their bellies, to the other side without hitting a mine. Instead of blowing up when activated, these mines would release a paintball. Edwin was doing well crawling through the muck when he heard, “Fuck a duck!” He glanced over to see that Denise had red paint on her hand and the side of her face. He laughed and continued. He was close to the exit when he hit a mine and was squirted with paint. Denise laughed and hit another mine.

  By the time they made it out of the minefield between the two of them, they had set off several mines. They went through the next few obstacles with better success, swinging across a pit of mud on a long rope when Edwin slipped and fell, landing in the mud pit.

  Denise had landed on the other side of the pit when she heard the splash and looked back. Edwin was groaning and was holding his side. She let go of the rope above her head, rushing to him. “Jesus. Are you okay?” She moved his hand aside to see how bad he was hurt, lifting his shirt.

  Edwin wrapped his arm around her flipping her over in the mud, kissing her. Denise resisted only for a moment. Her resistance melted away as he nibbled on her lips, teasing her with his tongue. She stopped trying to push him away and slid her arms around his neck gripping the back of his head. She moaned as Edwin slipped his hand between them squeezing her breast. As much as he like the sound, he pulled back looking into her eyes. He leaned close to her, placing his hands beside her body. In her ear, he whispered, “We kissed.”

  Before Denise could protest, Edwin pushed himself up grabbing the rope, propelling himself forward and over the pit. He yelled out, “That makes this a date!” Edwin
didn’t bother to look back. There was only one obstacle left. He smiled as he jumped into the water where his flag floated on a small buoy in the center. He swam to it, snagging the flag from its holder.

  Wally pronounced him the winner, and he finally turned to find Denise swimming towards the edge of the pool with her flag in hand. She presented her flag to Wally. “You cheated.”

  She didn’t sound angry. She had a slight smile on her face.

  “I didn’t hear anyone say that cheating wasn’t allowed,” Edwin said pulling her into his embrace. “We are dating. Now you say it.”

  Denise rolled her eyes at him, mumbling under her breath. “We are dating.”

  Edwin cupped his ear, “Did you say something? I can’t be sure of what I heard.”

  Denise looked him in the eye. “We are dating.” There went another rule. Never ever admit that it’s more than sex.

  **

  After giving Wally their opinion about the course, He led them to the shower stalls to clean up. It was at the back of the main building, a large room with several rain forest shower heads and drains in the floor. Wally explained that they could rinse the majority of the mud and paint off without getting undressed. When they were done there, they would move through to the next room, which was private and housed individual shower stalls and attached dressing rooms. He’d placed the clothes that they had brought with them there. “I’ll meet you out front when you’re done,” Wally said leaving them.

  They stood a few feet apart while the water rained down on them. “I can’t believe you cheated,” Denise said kicking off her shoes and trying to get the mud out of her hair.

  “It was worth it,” Edwin said removing his shoes and coming up behind her, helping her with her hair. Most of the mud and paint had run down the drain. He turned her around and slid his hands down to cup her butt, lifting her. Denise wrapped her arms around Edwin’s neck and her legs around his waist, smiling as his lips grazed her jaw. Her skin tingled as he teased her with his tongue, running it along her jawline and down her neck.

  He carried her into the smaller shower area, setting her on her feet. He turned on the water, finding the right temperature before turning back to look at her. “Arms up,” He said with a slow smile. Denise raised her arms above her head. Edwin grabbed the bottom of her shirt pulling it up and off. Denise had never been nervous about nudity, but at that moment her heart beat as if she were a rabbit out running a fox to safety. Her breath was coming in shallow bursts.

  Edwin slid his hands around her waist and up her back, unclasping the back of her bra. Denise shivered as his warm hands slid the straps from her shoulder. Denise’s eyes were locked on his. Her lips parted when his index finger traced a circle around one nipple and then the other. He lowered his head flicking his tongue over them. Denise closed her eyes, letting air flow from her lips. “Oh, she moaned as he sucked one nipple in his mouth while rolling the other between his fingers.

  Edwin released her nipples wanting to taste her sweet lips again. He slid his hand into the back of her yoga pants, squeezing her ass. Pressed against him, Denise reveled in the size of his desire for her. Denise tugged at his shirt, pulling it up. She wanted to feel his skin against hers. Edwin released her mouth, sliding his hands out of her pants long enough for her to get his shirt off. He pushed his pants and underwear off.

  Denise pressed her lips together as she took in his massive erection jutting out towards her. “Touch me,” Edwin said his breathing matching hers. Edwin sucked in air as her hand engulfed him. He pressed his forehead to hers loving the feel of her hand stroking him. He groaned so deep that it could be called a growl when she ran her thumb over the head of his hardness.

  Edwin pushed her hand away, bending and yanking her pants down. Denise stepped out of them and found herself lifted into Edwin’s arms. His mouth plundering hers savagely, He spun around putting her against the wall of the shower. Denise dug her nails into his shoulders as he nudged himself into her opening. Edwin took his mouth from hers groaning with delight. “Oh God yes,” Denise said softly next to his ear. Edwin filled her. “Fuck me.”

  Edwin pulled out slowly, then slammed against her. Denise moaned, and he repeated his movement over and over, increasing his speed, gripping Denise tightly as she moaned in his ear. It didn’t take Denise long to get to the precipice of her climax. Edwin felt incredible sliding in and out of her. She squeezed her pelvis as her orgasm broke her open, spreading outward. “Oh, fuck yeah,” she screamed out between gritted teeth! Edwin shuddered as his orgasm met hers with force and intensity. They clung together catching their breath as the warm water rained down on them.

  8

  After leaving Wally and the obstacle course behind them, Edwin followed Denise to a restaurant for lunch. It was a casual dining place. They grabbed a table in the back and waited for their server to come to get their order. Edwin had grabbed a menu and was looking it over. “They have several vegetarian and vegan meals.”

  Edwin smiled over the menu at Denise. “You chose this place with me in mind?”

  Denise tried not to look at him. She could tell he was smiling. He slid his hand into hers and pulled it toward him. “It’s not a big deal.”

  It was to him. Denise remembered that he didn’t eat meat and she’d picked a place that offered a vegetarian menu. “It is to me.” Denise met his eyes, and he smiled warmly at her. Their server came and took their order. When she had gone, Edwin took Denise’s hand again. “Tell me about these rules you have.”

  “It’s not as bad as you make it sound.”

  “How many rules are there?”

  “A dozen or so.” Denise toyed with the salt shaker avoiding his eyes.

  “Okay, what is rule number one?”

  “Denise set the salt shaker down and leaned back meeting his eyes. “Rule number one is, not to engage in flirty behavior unless you are certain that you can control the outcome.”

  Edwin thought about it. “By controlling the outcome, you mean…?”

  “I mean that I have to stay in control of where that flirting will lead. I broke that rule with you that day in my room when you nicknamed me Ms. Lewd. I tried to get the control back with the note I left for you.”

  Edwin listened to her rules and asked questions as they had lunch. He realized that she’d broken about six rules up to that point. Denise refused to tell him the remaining rules, but he intended to find out what they were. Why do you feel the need to have these rules? What’s so wrong with loving someone and letting someone love you?”

  “It’s just not for me.”

  Edwin watched the change come over Denise as she thought about his question. She had been playful and forthcoming until he asked the last one. Now she was closing him out. He wanted to know. He wanted the answer to his question, but he also knew that if he pushed too hard, she would shut him out completely. He wasn’t ready for that, not by a long shot. “Okay, so no declarations of love. Is it okay for me to want to hang out with you?” She smiled at him. “I mean, we are dating. That came from your own lips.”

  Denise threw her napkin at him, smiling. “Only because you cheated, you bastard.”

  Edwin reached across the table holding her hand. “All’s fair in love and war.”

  “I’ll remember that going forward,” Denise said rolling her eyes.

  “Is there more planned for our date today?”

  “No, I didn’t think of anything else. By the time we get back to the city, it’ll be dinner time, and I have plans with Felicia and her family.”

  Edwin smiled wickedly, raising one eyebrow at her, “I can think of a few things to do, but you’d either be late for dinner, or you’d have to cancel.”

  Denise shook her head, grinning. She was sure that she knew what he was thinking, but she couldn’t cancel her plans. They paid their bill and walked outside. At her car, Edwin kissed her until she felt light-headed. “Drive safe. If you have trouble sleeping tonight, I can come give you some special medicine.” He
kissed her again before opening her door for her. Denise got in, started the car and waved as she drove away. She’d broken too many rules, and she didn’t plan to break anymore.

  **

  Edwin arrived home to find Ash in the family room watching some show about music history. “Hey,” she said as he joined her on the sectional sofa. “How was the date?”

  Edwin sighed as he thought about Denise and their time in the shower. “It was great. When she said it was a test of my manhood, she wasn’t kidding.” He recounted the competition and showed her the tee shirt he won.

  “Oh, by the way,” Ashley grabbed the remote, turning down the sound. “Grams called. She’s coming to visit soon. She wants to surprise Mom. She should be here before the big party. Are you going to bring Denise?”

  Edwin hadn’t given any thought to his parent’s anniversary party. They had one every year at a hotel in the city with hundreds of their closest friends and business partners. He had never enjoyed the party much. His parents spent the evening rubbing elbows with the wealthy, trying to make the right connections to propel their business or influence the correct elected official. The last few years had been about Edwin making the right connections for his career. Tiffany had been his date, and she was happy to steer all conversations to what was profitable for them both.

  She was a lot like his mother. Smart and ambitious. She knew how to charm and finesse people into doing what she wanted, and Edwin had been no different. When she decided that she wanted Edwin, she charmed and finessed him right into a relationship that was headed towards marriage. Edwin’s mother had encouraged him, and he’d gone along with it, until a few days before he was set to leave with Doctors Without Borders.

  By that time, he had gotten to know the real Tiffany well and she wasn’t the person she presented to everyone else. She was mean at times, petty even. She was also self-centered and rarely thought of anyone other than herself. Edwin had started to distance himself from her once he realized that she was quietly telling people that she was sure that Edwin was going to propose to her.