by Joanna Blake
"Does that hurt?"
He shook his head and I went back to focusing on what I was doing.
It was important to get the blood moving with a brisk rub but not to overstimulate the tissues. Adding the magnesium and castor oil would only increase the benefits.
I tried another angle that had me kneeling on the floor between his thighs. I was so focused on what I was doing that it took me a moment to realize how heavily he was breathing. Gabe let out a low growl and I froze. I just happened to glance down at that moment.
Gabe was hard.
Not just a little hard either.
His massive cock was pushing up, clearly outlined against his worn in jeans. I could see the thick, long shape of it. I could feel it giving off actual heat.
To call it a bulge would be an understatement. It wasn't even a tent.
It was a mountain.
"Gabe!"
His eyes were closed.
"Hmmm... that's nice Tabby... keep going..."
"But- you're- I can't!"
He cracked one eye and looked at me.
"I'm what?"
"You're erect!"
He just shrugged like it was no big deal.
"It's natural."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means I'm relaxed. Nothing more. You know, when you are a nurse, this sort of thing is going to happen. Old guys. Sponge baths. Teenagers. Guys get wood. It's natural."
He leaned back and closed his eyes again.
"That's what I meant."
I was still between his legs on the floor. I felt stupid. But he was right- it wasn't that crazy that a massage would create... arousal. It didn't mean it was because of me.
Slowly, I reached out and started rubbing him again. He made a low sound of appreciation. Then another.
Then he groaned like I was doing him!
"Hmmmffff... fuck, that feels good, baby..."
"Gabe!"
My cheeks were bright red. He was making sounds like he did when we were in bed together. When we'd- when he'd- oh!
I was so embarrassed I almost left the room. But I wouldn't be doing my job then would I? He had to eat and take his pills now.
And I couldn't leave him here alone. I was getting paid to be here.
Gabe knew it too.
He was trying to prove a point or something. Prove that we couldn't undo what had happened between us.
But all he'd done was make me feel like a whore.
I stood up and walked across the room, trying to hide my tears. I put his pills into a small cup and waited until I heard the sounds of him eating. Then I carried the cup over and set it down.
I didn't meet his eyes. I didn't sit down. I went to the bathroom like a coward. I splashed cold water on my face, not looking at the mirror. I was afraid of what I would see. I sat on the edge of the tub, praying for strength.
And waited.
And waited.
When I came out Gabe was standing by the sliding doors. He was using the walker this time though, keeping his injured leg slightly bent. I frowned, realizing he must have been showing off with the cane earlier.
For me.
I shook my head. He didn't need to do that. He knew what he was. Who he was. He was strong.
Not like me.
I still had everything to prove to this town. The world.
Myself.
"You okay? I thought you fell in."
He was facing me, using the walker to come closer. I skittered around him to get his tray. I had meant to ask him why he was off his pain meds, but I didn't.
I wasn't a very good caregiver.
Not today.
I managed to avoid talking to him the rest of the day. He tried. He even tried to touch my arm when I brought him a protein shake a few hours later.
I exhaled in relief when I heard his mother come in a little early. This hell could be over a little sooner then. I could escape and lick my wounds. I wonder what advice Jackie would have for me now.
The moment the clock struck five, I ran.
Gabe
I stared out the window, my jaw clenching as Tabitha ran down the path outside toward the street. She was running away from me. Because I was an idiot. A fool.
A fool who couldn't control his urges. Even when I'd told her I would.
I saw her slide into her car and wipe furiously at her cheeks.
Shit. She was crying.
I felt like the biggest creep in the world. And I knew she was not coming back here. There was no way. I'd fucking blown it.
And then the best, or worst, thing in the world happened. Good for me. Bad for her.
I watched as she turned the ignition again and again.
Her piece of shit car wouldn't start.
I grabbed my jacket and keys and went outside. The walker was a hell of a lot easier than the cane, especially on uneven surfaces. I could keep most of the weight off my thigh. Or if I was feeling strong, I could just use the walker as backup.
I stood up straight, determined not to look like an old man.
"Tabby."
She had her arms crossed where she rested them on the front wheel. Her shoulders were shaking slightly. She wasn't crying prettily, for attention. She was bawling her damn eyes out.
I hated seeing her like this. Seeing how badly she'd been hurt by the world.
And I'd made it worse.
I knocked on the glass and she jumped.
"Hey."
She blinked at me, wiping her tears away. She covered her face with her jacket, blotting her cheeks. Then she rolled down the window.
"It stopped running again?"
She nodded, her pretty face flushed and pink from crying. I decided then and there to get her a new car. Hell, I'd give her mine until the new one came.
Right now though, I saw an opportunity to get her alone.
"I'll give you a ride."
She was about to refuse me when she thought better of it. She said 'okay' in a small voice. I had to stifle a laugh when she locked the door. Like anyone would steal that heap of junk.
"Are you working tonight?"
She shook her head numbly. I could tell she had had more than enough. I wasn't going to push her to talk about us. She needed some TLC.
Luckily, I had plenty of that to go around. At least, where she was concerned. I got into my car and was able to get the walker into the back without her help.
Damn, the stupid thing might be ugly, but it was versatile.
I started driving towards the water. Tabby looked around as we pulled onto the coast road.
"Where are you going? I thought you were driving me home."
"I thought we could both use some air." I smiled at her. "And something to eat."
"Gabe..."
"I'm not taking no for an answer, Tabby."
She chewed her lip and sat back, staring out the window. I drove all the way down to the edge of town and past it. One town over was my favorite place to eat. The best damn beach shack on the Eastern Seaboard. And it was open off season.
This was the kind of place I wanted to open up. But... someplace a little warmer.
I was pretty sure they didn't have places like this anywhere else on Earth. I should know, I'd traveled enough in the service. But more than anything along the rocky coast line, this little lobster shack made me think of home.
Tabby was quiet as we walked inside. I was really getting the hang of the walker. It was better than the damn chair, that was for sure.
I liked moving on my own steam.
Still, if I was normal- if I was whole- I'd have my arm around her. Hell, I might carry her everywhere. She'd be a nice little bundle.
I grinned. As soon as I could walk again, I'd have to try that.
The smell of wood polish and lemon and fresh seafood hit us the second we were inside the door. It wasn't packed, but it was always busy, even in the off-season.
The place was simple but classy. Or at least, classic.
&nbs
p; Sure, there were some nets and buoys on the wall, but it was kept to a minimum. The place was warm and inviting, with dark polished wood and comfortable looking booths lining a wall that overlooked the sea.
"I love this place."
She looked up at me, her huge dark eyes surprised. Since I'd been in the chair this whole time, I'd been looking up at her instead. I realized this was the first time I'd been taller than her since high school.
Well, except when we were laying down.
She looked good from up here. Small, and sweet. And tasty.
"I've never been here."
I shook my head.
"Come on. You're gonna love it."
We were seated by the wall of windows overlooking the large deck. It was closed for the season, but luckily, they stayed open indoors all winter. It was the only seafood place around here that did.
But since they were famous for their hot chowder, they made it work.
We got our menus and ordered. Well, I ordered, and Tabby gave me looks and clucked her tongue to convey her opinion. I ordered and then unordered a soda. I got her a white wine and two pound lobster. She made a noise and I amended it to a one and a half pound.
I got a two pounder for myself.
And steamers. And sides. And a cup of chowder for us both.
As soon as the waitress left, Tabby leaned forward.
"Gabe! It's too expensive!"
I just smiled. I could afford to spoil her. And I was just getting started.
"Haven't you had lobster before?"
She nodded.
"I've tasted it. But I never had a whole one."
"You're going to love it. Just relax Tabby."
She looked so worried. It was freaking adorable.
"I don't want you spending all your money on me."
I leaned back in my seat.
"I did well for myself, sweetie. I saved my money. You don't have to worry about that."
"But you want to open a business. That's expensive."
I grinned. I liked this side of her. She cared about my future. But I could afford to take my woman out for lobster. And more. I was going to spoil her rotten, whether she liked it or not.
"I'm good. Stop worrying."
She chewed her lip while the waitress brought our drinks.
"Is this what you meant? When you said you wanted to open your own place?"
I nodded, taking a sip of my water.
"Yeah, but down coast. Maybe as far as the Carolinas."
Her eyes were wide.
"I've thought of... going down there. Or west."
"California?"
She shrugged her slender shoulders. I did my best to ignore her cleavage. It was a nice view sitting across from her like this, and I wasn't talking about the ocean.
"Maybe."
"You really want to leave don't you?"
"Yes."
I looked away, then back at her. I knew my heart was in my eyes. She saw it too.
"Maybe we could leave this place together. Did you ever think about that?"
She was staring at the table.
"I try not to- think about things that are out of reach. It's easier that way."
I grabbed her hand and squeezed it. I waited until she looked at me.
"I'm not out of reach. I'm right here"
Her mouth opened and I stared at her soft lips.
"You're the one who keeps pulling away."
"I don't know the rules, Gabe. I've never done this before. Any of it."
I grinned at her wolfishly.
"I know. And I'm damn lucky to be the one who gets to teach you."
She blushed and I felt a shot of lust go straight to my groin.
"I didn't just mean that."
She nodded softly.
"I know."
The food came soon after and I had fun feeding her, and watching her savor the food. She was in awe of it, the freshness and quality. They cooked everything from scratch here, and with the simplest ingredients.
No farmed fish, or GMO corn. And they'd even started using organic ingredients. Old Betty came out and said hi, and told us all about it.
She beamed with pride as I introduced Tabby as my girlfriend.
"Wow, you really must come here a lot."
I laughed.
"Yeah, I do. Or I used to. I still get a Christmas card every year."
"Everybody loves you. They always have."
I stared at her, realizing how good I'd had it. I had been kind of a golden boy. In this town anyway. I never had an enemy. I never had something I wanted and couldn't get.
Except her.
But what I really wanted to know was if she loved me. If she thought she ever could.
Because what I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, was that I was in love with her.
Tabby
"Come on, let's stretch our legs."
I gave Gabe a startled look. It was chilly on the water, but the night was clear. He smiled sheepishly.
"All three of them."
I let out a startled laugh. He really had a funny sense of humor. And I had to admire that he never felt sorry for himself or complained, even with everything he'd gone through. And I knew he must feel cooped up in that house.
"Okay, but not far. You shouldn't overdo it."
He nodded and we started down the walkway to the marina. There was a boardwalk about fifty yards long that led to the docks. It was probably not exactly open to the public, but it also wasn't the sort of place where people locked gates or front doors.
Plus, Gabe seemed to know the area well, and he wasn't concerned at all either.
I decided that if he wasn't concerned, then I wasn't going to be concerned either. I was through worrying about every little thing. So much was out of my control anyway.
Gabe stopped and slid his arm around my waist.
"Are you warm enough?"
I nodded, pulling my zipper up to my neck. It was chilly, but too beautiful to pass up. Besides, I knew he couldn't walk on the sand. So this was the closest he'd gotten to the water in months.
I wasn't going to deprive him of his 'vitamin sea' as he called it.
The man was a water lover, to say the least.
I guess you had to be, if you were going to join the Navy.
"Do you miss it? Being in the service I mean?"
He gave me a swift look.
"I do. I miss the guys. The ocean. The order of everything. But I think the timing was good in a lot of ways. I was ready for a change."
He winked at me.
"And I don't just mean meeting you."
"Meeting?"
"Well, meeting you again. It's not like we really had a chance to get to know each other back in high school."
I nodded. I knew what he meant. We'd been separated by so much back then. He cleared his throat.
"I wasn't just after- well, you know."
"Really?"
I cocked an eyebrow at him. I knew he wanted to be with me now- to date me- or at least he said he did. But back then, he was a horny teenager.
"Yeah. I really liked you Tabby." He smiled sheepishly. "You were mysterious. And so beautiful it made my head spin."
"I was?"
"You still are."
"If you say so."
"You seriously don't know the effect you have on men?"
I frowned and looked at my feet. I did that whenever he brought up something that made me uncomfortable.
"I know most guys act like they have a right to touch me. I hate that."
Gabe’s hand tightened on my waist. His voice changed, just like that. It was cold. Hard. I shivered, realizing I would never want to piss him off.
"Has anyone touched you Tabby?"
I shook my head. He looked furious. His eyes were blazing.
"No. But- well, plenty have tried. Like at the bar. Nothing more than that.”
"You swear to me? I'll be happy to put a beat down on anyone who's hurt you."
"They just gr
ab. That's why I carry pepper spray."
He let out a whoosh of air. The wind blew past us, whipping my hair around my face. We were facing each other at the end of the pier, all the way out on the ocean.
"I'd like to pummel every guy that made you feel uncomfortable."
"I can handle myself, Gabe. I've had to for a long time." I smiled to soften the serious turn our conversation was taking. "But I guess I wouldn't mind if you punched a few of them."
He laughed and smiled at me and then I was in his arms. I could feel the walker between us. He must have too, because he cursed the 'damn thing'. But he didn't stop kissing me.
"God Tabby, you are amazing."
He kissed me until we were both shivering. But not from the cold. From the excitement of almost-first-kisses and honesty and getting to know someone you really liked. Then he stopped, staring down at me in wonder. His knuckles rubbed my cheek tenderly.
"So soft..." He kissed me again. "Let me come home with you, Tabby. I promise I'll be good..."
I laughed.
"That's what I'm afraid of!"
But I nodded in agreement anyway. I couldn't turn back now. I knew I was already lost.
"Okay. Let's go."
Gabe
Her house smelled like lemons. That was the first thing I noticed as I stepped into the small house where Tabitha had grown up. The outside was rundown, which was not surprising in this neighborhood, and it was small. But it smelled amazing inside.
Pretty much everything Tabby touched smelled good.
I looked around the cramped living room. It was neatly organized and sparkling clean, but out of date with a floral sofa and chair with doilies on the arm rests. You could tell an old lady had lived here for a long time.
There were no signs that a young girl had lived here, though it was obvious Tabby had been busy. There were boxes along one wall, and what looked like shipping supplies.
That's when it hit me.
She was really leaving.
Leaving this town, and unless I was smart, leaving me.
Not on my watch, dammit.
"Sorry about the mess."
I shook my head.
"It's not messy at all."
"Oh, it is. There are boxes and stuff. I'm just trying to get organized. And make sure I keep the stuff that really mattered to Gran. Things to remember her by."
