by S. E. Rose
“Sorry…I…no…and yes…my brain is just taking a little…,” I blank on the word before remembering it and continuing, “…long to process. I think there’s a TV in the living room, although I’m not sure if there’s a DVD player or cable box or if there’s a smart TV we could use my online accounts to watch a movie.”
“Well,” he says. “I could bring you back to my house. I have a movie room.”
Of course, he has a movie room. Had I seen the movie room the other day? I frown, trying to remember. I nod my head. “OK.” Now he’s frowning.
“Let’s stay here for a few days,” he says. “I think you need to rest more.”
I ponder his statements for a bit and then nod. I do. I definitely have at the very least a mild concussion.
He picks me up before I have a chance to say anything else and carries me out to the living room, setting me down on the sofa. He walks over to the TV, finds the remote and turns it on. It does have cable. He sits down next to me and we flip through some channels. We settle on an old favorite of mine, “French Kiss,” and I snuggle up to him on the sofa as we watch it. At some point near the end, I think, I drift off into a pleasant sleep. When I wake it’s later in the afternoon and I realize I’m in my bed. I blink and am greeted by sparkling green eyes.
“Welcome back, sleepy beauty,” he murmurs. “How’s my patient?”
I stretch and notice there’s ice on my ankle. “Good,” I say.
“You’ve missed lunch. How about dinner?” he asks, gazing into my eyes. “I can make us something.”
“I don’t even know what I have,” I mumble.
“Well, let’s find out, shall we?” He laughs a little and picks me up, carrying me to the kitchen.
“I’m not making very good use of those crutches,” I say sarcastically as we pass them. They are leaning against the wall of my bedroom next to the door.
“Well, I don’t want your arms to get sore too,” he says and then he’s setting me down on a chair in the kitchen as he pops open the refrigerator door.
“Well, you have bread, cheese, wine, chicken, and salad.” He closes the door. “This calls for takeaway. How about Chinese or Indian?”
“Chinese food, Peking duck,” I respond.
“Alright, the lady wants Peking duck, so Peking duck it is.” He pulls his phone out and presses a button, he must have them on speed dial. I can’t help rolling my eyes, typical bachelor. I wait for him to finish.
“So you order lots of Chinese carryout then?”
“Perhaps,” he says. “It’ll be here in thirty minutes. I know the owner and he can bring it on his way home.”
He feeds Hagrid, sets the table, and waters my garden and then comes back in carrying the food. It smells delicious and I suddenly realize that I am famished. I dive in and eat way more than normal. When I finally come up for air, I realize he’s watching me, an amused look on his face.
“Hungry?” he asks.
“Perhaps,” I say, mocking him.
“Perhaps,” he repeats. “Fortune cookie?”
I take one from his hand and open it. “All your dreams will come true,” I read.
He arches an eyebrow. “Really. Mine says be mindful of injured women who still look devastatingly beautiful.”
Now I’m the one with the arched eyebrow. We both start laughing and I toss my fortune on the table.
Picking it up, he reads it. “Be leery of bad business practices. I guess we ought to not start any business ventures this week.”
I take his fortune from his hand. “You will see clearly after the rain.” I look at him skeptically. “Well, that could happen every fifteen minutes around here.” We both break out into laughter.
“Tired?” he asks.
“A little,” I admit. He bends down to pick me up and plants a soft kiss on my forehead. My fog clears a bit and I realize the electricity between us is still there. I wrap my arms around his neck as he carries me back to my bed and lays me down before crawling in next to me.
He runs his finger over the bump on my head and I stiffen slightly. It’s still a bit sore. He brings his lips just above it and kisses me and then kisses just below it. Then he trails kisses across my cheek and jawbone and then his lips brush mine. He lingers for a moment as though he isn’t sure what to do. I lean forward pressing my lips to his. He pulls me onto his lap, caressing my face in his hands as he kisses me lightly at first and then his tongue makes its way into my mouth mingling with my own.
I lose track of time as we kiss. The universe around us disappears and all I feel is him. His hands skim down my body and I’m lost in him, in us. He pulls back suddenly. “Laura, I’m not sure we should be doing this.”
“I am,” I say, leaning in toward his mouth.
“Your ankle and your head…,” he trails off and moans slightly as my lips touch his.
“Yes, they are still attached. So we’re good,” I say, smiling against his lips. He slowly pulls my shirt over my head and slides my yoga pants down, taking extra precautions around my sore ankle. Once the offending articles are removed, he plants a soft kiss above the color on my ankle and then continues trailing kisses up my leg. I can feel his breath through my cotton thong. He’s wearing a cotton gray t-shirt with a university logo on it and he peels it off, tossing it on the floor beside my clothes. He undoes the top button of his jeans and slowly pulls down the zipper. He watches me intently as he removes his jeans and boxer briefs. He runs his fingers between my legs. I know my panties are wet and I can tell by his smile that this pleases him. He takes one hand and lifts my ass a bit and starts pulling my now drenched thong down my legs. When he has them off, he puts them to his nose and takes a deep breath.
“You smell like heaven,” he says as he lays them to the side. I know that I am blushing now, but I don’t care. My desire is pushing all other thoughts, and pain for that matter, out of my head. He carefully moves my injured leg to the side propping my foot and ankle on a pillow. Then he pushes my other leg out so that I am spread eagle before him. He crawls up between my legs, his eyes fixed on mine. Damn, he looks so sexy. His eyes are so intense. “Every square inch of you is so damn beautiful.”
I turn a darker shade of pink and he smirks, trailing his fingers along my chest and up to my cheeks.
“What?” I breathe, curious as to why he’s smirking.
“Nothing,” he murmurs against my breasts. “I just find it fascinating that I can make you blush so easily.” And with that he grabs my nipple between his teeth and I give a cry. He suckles at each of my nipples before slowly moving down to my belly placing wet kisses on me as he goes. He runs his tongue around my belly button and then runs his nose through my trimmed trail of pubic hair before I feel him on me. His tongue dances around my most sensitive flesh and then it pushes into me. I try to push against him, but it’s challenging with the use of only one leg and I tense as I inadvertently move my ankle. He stops.
“Laura, if you aren’t going to comply, then we can’t do this. I’m not going to make your injuries worse,” he sighs against my opening. “Promise me, you’ll stay still.” He lazily trails his finger over my wet folds, and then hearing me breathe a “yes” he inserts it. I moan and start to grind my hips against him, but he presses me down with his other hand and glares at me. I look down at him and give a “but it’s oh so hard” smile to which he just shakes his head. He stills his finger inside me.
“Don’t stop! I promise I’ll be good!” I practically scream, using all my willpower and meditation skills to not squirm against him. He pushes a second finger inside me and starts to move them again. His tongue finds my clitoris again and I start to get lost in the sensations between us. I’m so close when he pulls his fingers out of me. I hear the rip of the condom packet and then his fingers are replaced with his cock. He glides it in slowly as if afraid he’ll rip me in two, and once he’s satisfied he’s gone as far as he can, he gradually pulls back out until just his head is inside me before plunging deep. I moan as
I run my hands through his hair, pulling him to me. My good leg wraps around his waist.
“Hold on a minute,” he says, stopping as he grabs another pillow and lifts me with one hand as he pushes it under me so that I’m tilted up toward him. “That’s better,” he says and then continues his deep thrusts. The incline only deepens his thrusting and I can no longer hold back. I explode around him, my body clenching him as I orgasm. I can feel his mouth on mine and his tongue searching my mouth. I can taste my arousal on his tongue and feel his fingers pinching my nipples as he continues to pound into me through my cries.
Then he pulls me up so I’m sitting on his legs, my legs splayed out on either side of him. My injured ankle still propped on the pillow. He thrusts in me even deeper than before and I grip his shoulders trying to steady myself. We find a rhythm and he keeps thrusting hard and steady against me.
“Come with me, baby!” he cries out as I feel him enlarge inside of me. This pushes me over the edge and I cry out too as I feel myself squeezing him. He collapses onto his forearms making sure to not put his body weight on my bad leg.
I reach up to his face and pull him down crushing our lips together. “God, I missed you!” I moan into his mouth.
“Not as much as I missed you,” he whispers, pulling back and looking into my eyes. “I’m really fucked aren’t I?”
I look up at him, not understanding. He just shakes his head and pulls out of me while flopping down on my bed. He arranges me so that he’s behind me and I’m lying on his chest, my leg still propped up on the pillow. His one arm is wrapped around my shoulders and his other arm traces patterns on my belly and over my breasts.
I don’t remember falling asleep, but I do. Somehow, Jack has this effect on me or perhaps it’s the remnants of my concussion. In either case, I drift into a sleepy after-sex coma and dream of green eyes and dark hair.
Chapter 19
Laura’s Playlist: “Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day
I feel his heat and hear his heart beating before I open my eyes.
“Good morning, love,” he says, kissing the top of my head. His fingers are tracing the line of my scar above my ear.
“Good morning.”
I can tell it’s early and I also know he’s going to get up and leave me shortly to go for a jog or walk or whatever the hell he’s doing this morning. I can see early morning mid-summer sky above the water out my window. The sun will soon be coming over the horizon, but in this moment it is giving way to gradual shades of blue. I lean forward and kiss his chest and I lay my head over his heart, my chin digging into his skin as I look up at him, the sleep not quite having left my eyelids which still feel heavy under my morning fog.
“How is it that you’re so damn gorgeous even at this hour?” he asks as he slides tendrils of hair behind my ears.
“I guess it’s a gift,” I mutter, letting my heavy lids close over my eyes as I enjoy the feeling of his hands in my hair. “I need a bath.”
“Wait for me then,” he murmurs. “We can take a bath when I get back.”
“Or you could skip your jog,” I whisper, opening my eyes and batting my eyelashes at him.
“Nice try,” he says. “But this old man needs his physical activity.”
Taking a moment to check my ankle which actually is feeling much better today, I quickly sit up and straddle him gripping his upper arms. “I can give you some physical activity.”
“Well, when you say it like that.” He laughs and flips me on my back in a quick fluid movement. Running his hand over my sex and feeling that I am more than ready for him, he grabs a condom, rolls it on and plunges into me, thrusting hard until we both cry out.
He pulls out of me and gets up, tossing the condom in the trash as he throws on running shorts and ties the laces on his sneakers.
“Not enough physical activity for you?” I say with a smirk.
He leans over and kisses me. “I’ve got to do this, but I promise I’ll be back before you know it.”
And with that, he’s gone. I sit on the bed taking in the view and decide that today I need to start getting around. I put my boot back on and stand up trying to put weight on my bad leg. Nope, that’s not happening. So I hobble over to the crutches and make my way to the kitchen. I make myself some tea and go and sit on the back patio. If I can’t get to that damn rock, then I may as well meditate here. I do for several minutes and then sip my tea. I check my phone and see I have missed texts from my kids. I text them back and email a progress report to my agent and editor and then use the camera on my phone to look at my head. The bump is definitely going down now, but I have a small bruise there although it’s mostly covered by my hairline. I set the phone down and look out at the rolling waves as I take another sip of tea.
It isn’t long before I see Jack coming down the path. He’s jogging and he looks delectable. I find myself licking my lips. Jesus Christ, what is wrong with me? Fuck it, I’m allowed to have fun. I can see his face more clearly as he turns off the path toward the cottage. He doesn’t look happy.
“Laura, why are you here?”
“What do you mean? I’m living here.” I look at him with the “don’t even try it, mister” look, but I can see that isn’t working.
“I told you I’d be right back.”
“Was that supposed to be code for ‘don’t move from the bed’?”
“Yes.” He gives me a stern look.
“Well, message not received,” I say, picking up my tea again. My ankle is propped up on another chair and I glare up at him.
“Laura, let’s get one thing straight. I am here to take care of you and you need to be a cooperative patient.”
I laugh, laughing like I haven’t in a very long time. I stop when I see he is not amused.
“Sorry. You have to understand that compared to other injuries I’ve had, this is really not that bad. In fact, I’m feeling much better today, so that’s a good thing.”
He groans and runs his hands through his hair. “Woman, you’re driving me mad.”
“Bath?” I say, ignoring his comment. I stand and before I can even grab my crutches, he’s lifted me up and is carrying me back through the cottage into the bathroom and deposits me on the chair while he turns on the water. “I guess that’s a yes.”
He pulls off his shorts and promptly rids me of my clothes before placing me in the bath. I lie back on his chest and take a deep breath.
I hear him take one too. “Sorry,” he mumbles against my hair as he begins to wash it. “I’m just worried about you.”
I turn and look at him. “I’m not made of glass, Jack. I will be fine. I am capable of taking care of myself…although I’m thoroughly enjoying your pampering.” I close my eyes as he massages my scalp with the shampoo. I feel his lips come to mine and I kiss him, allowing his tongue access to mine.
“Well, I’m thoroughly enjoying pampering you, my love,” he says against my lips.
“OK, well, now that we’ve established that. It’s day three and I really would like to get out and about today,” I announce. “I’d like to go to town and maybe we can go to your place. I could use a change of scenery.”
“As the lady wishes,” he agrees with a grin as he rinses my hair and starts applying the soap to my skin. He massages and caresses me.
After some post-bath indulgences, we are dressed and ready to go. I give Hagrid extra food just in case I forget later and we are off to town.
He makes me get this ridiculous handicap shopping cart. I glare at him the entire time we shop. He’s taken me to the larger grocery store. I see him occasionally containing a smile. I know he’s enjoying this, apparently too much. My kids would be in stitches watching this unfold.
I make him stop by Mal’s before we leave town. He lets me down in her store and I call out to her. Mal rushes out of the back room and runs around the counter to reach me. She throws her arms around me, and gives me a big squeeze.
“Oh, I’m so glad you’re up and about.” Sh
e smiles at me and kisses my cheek. “This means you’ll be able to come for some pub time later this week. You know, you still haven’t done trivia night yet.” She winks at me, but her smile fades as her eyes meet Jack’s.
“Jack, how nice to see you,” she says rather formally. He nods at her, but remains silent. I look between them knowing that there is a history there and I haven’t yet been privy to all of it and decide that today it is better left alone.
“What can I do you for?” she asks. I order three types cheeses and a loaf of French bread. I promise to call her later in the week and then Jack carries me back to the car. As we approach, I stop him. “Let’s grab a late lunch, then we don’t have to worry about food tonight. I can just bring some of the bread and cheese over.” He agrees and I’m whisked into the pub.
After a delightful meal, we head back to the cottage. We drop off my goods at the cottage and Jack packs me an overnight bag. He actually lets me go to the bathroom by myself. I freshen up and get to do all my bathroom activities that have been put on hold for three days. After a few minutes, I finally finish grooming myself.
“Ready?” he asks impatiently.
“Yep.” I smile and lean down to give Hagrid a pet before Jack carries me out to the car.
“Jack, really, I can walk,” I say, mumbling my disagreements as we walk across the gravel.
He puts his face to mine and smirks with a wink. “I know.”
I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
“So I’ve been told,” he grins as he slides me into my seat.
And we are off toward his home. I watch him as he drives and, without looking at me, he reaches across and grabs my hand, placing it under his as he shifts the gears of the car. We’ve taken long enough at the cottage that it is now looking like 5:00 p.m. in the afternoon yet it’s nearly 11:00 p.m. at night. I call it the Michelangelo time of day. The puffy clouds look almost pink from the angle of the sun and the sky is a beautiful light shade of blue. I lean my head against the window and stare out at the evening sky. And for the first time since I’ve been back, I really miss my kids. So many nights we sat out on our deck watching the sky turn into night and so many times I talked about the colors of it as we watched the blue darken and stars come out and fireflies light the trees up like little sparkling Christmas tree lights.
