Sunny's Hope

by Nola Cross

  “You know I’d love that,” he said. “But I promised Peggy I’d be home a half hour ago.”

  She crinkled her nose. “I guess I’m just going to have to be a big girl.”

  “Or you could come home with me.”

  She stared at him for a moment. “Could I?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “What will we tell Spencer when he wakes up in the morning and I’m there?”

  “What about the truth?”

  “The truth?”

  “That you’re sad and worried, and you need to be with friends.”

  Chapter 5

  The bedside clock said a quarter past two when Sunny came awake. For a moment the unfamiliar surroundings panicked her. Then she felt the warm bulk of Ben’s body against her back and heard his quiet breathing and remembered where she was. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she could pick out some of the details in the room—the dresser, the closet doors, the chair upholstered in a subtle gray plaid.

  It was her first time upstairs in his home, her first time seeing this room. No doubt Corinne was responsible for the décor. Like the rest of the house, the furnishings and colors were understated, refined.

  This place could do with a little lively color.

  Sunny tittered silently at her own joke. What would Ben’s dead wife think about him being with an African American woman? For that matter, what would Corinne think of her husband moving on with his life, period? Was she watching them tonight from some heavenly other-dimension? Did she approve?

  “Hi up there, Corinne,” she whispered. “Don’t worry. I won’t be touching your man tonight.”

  Ben had waited in the car while she ran into her house and grabbed her toothbrush and PJs, and opened a can of food for the cat. When they’d arrived at his house, Spencer was already in bed asleep. While Ben took Peggy home, Sunny poked around in his kitchen and found the bottle of Riesling he kept in the fridge. Thank goodness she hadn’t filled the prescription for pain medication the doctor had given her. She wasn’t much of a drinker, but tonight a glass of wine was the only thing that was going to get her to sleep. Without it, too many bogeymen inhabited her imagination, ready to fill her head with memories of the accident and every possible grave future scenario.

  They spent the evening watching television, cuddled together on the couch, neither of them saying much. When she filled a second glass, Ben quietly got up and took another bottle from the pantry and put it in the fridge to chill. They munched on cheese crackers and baby carrots with ranch dip. They held hands. When the late news came on, Ben stood and stretched.

  “Come on. I’ll show you the guest room.”

  The wine had made her warm and sleepy. Perfect. “I don’t want to sleep in the guest room.”

  His brows rose and he grinned. “All right.”

  “Don’t get any ideas, friend. I just don’t want to be alone.”

  “Can’t blame a guy for being hopeful.”

  She gave him a brisk punch to the shoulder, but both of them knew he’d only been teasing. His respect for her was evident in everything he said and did. She couldn’t remember when a man had ever made her feel so cherished, so safe.

  They both wore their nightclothes to bed. Sunny changed from the stiff brace she had to wear during the day to a softer, smaller cervical collar. After a sweet, chaste kiss goodnight, she had turned on her side and quickly dropped off to sleep.

  Now her head was throbbing, probably from the two glasses of wine. She slipped out of bed and into the bathroom, where she drank a big cup of water and took some ibuprofen she found in the medicine cabinet. She winced. Maybe she should reconsider filling that prescription for pain meds.

  When she returned to the bed, she saw Ben had turned on to his back. She crawled in facing him, but was barely able to make out his profile in the dim room. Snuggling up close, she let her gaze drift over the strong line of his nose, his firm lips and chin. His light-colored hair, mussed with sleep, stuck up in endearing wisps from his scalp.

  You must have been a darling little boy.

  An unexpected wave of tenderness washed over her, and it was all she could do not to reach out and stroke his cheek. The stress and pain of the last two days had torn them apart in some ways, but now she could see that it had woven them more closely together in other ways. They’d come through something terrible, and their relationship had survived, seemed to have gotten stronger even, surpassing sexual attraction and simple friendship, and promising something more complex and enduring.

  Of course, Jasmine’s road to recovery still lay ahead. No doubt that would put a strain on many areas of both their lives. Anxious questions tumbled through her head. How long before her daughter came fully awake? Would she be impaired, and if so, how badly? Would she ever be completely normal again?

  Would Ben get tired of her need to focus on her daughter’s care? And if Sunny was fully involved in Jasmine’s therapies, her recovery, would she have any emotional energy left for a love life with Ben?

  She sighed, suddenly overwhelmed and sad. Things had looked so promising for them. She longed to go back in time to that afternoon at the snow park when he’d pulled her close and kissed her with such heated passion.

  “See anything you like?” Ben’s voice was a quiet rumble in the dark.

  Sunny gave a squawk of surprise. “You were awake all this time?”

  “I woke up when you left the bed. I guess I’m not used to people coming and going at all hours.”

  “I would hope not.”

  A few seconds went by.

  “I’d like to get used to it, Sunny.” He rolled on his side so they were facing each other. She felt his fingers graze the side of her face. Even though she couldn’t see him clearly, she guessed there was a mischievous light dancing in his blue eyes.

  “What are you saying, Ben?”

  “Only that it feels right to have you here beside me.”

  “Oh. Yes.”

  They were silent. Sunny tried to pry her mind open far enough to consider the implications of his statement. She couldn’t begin to field all the questions that arose. On top of all the unknowns surrounding Jasmine’s health, it was just too much. Too soon.

  “I can’t think about that right now,” she finally said.

  “That’s all right. There’s no rush. I’m not going anywhere.”

  The quiet promise in his words brought unexpected tears to her eyes. Wasn’t this guy almost too good to be true? His quiet reassurance filled her with a renewed sense of hope. With Ben as her champion, she could go forward. Together they could face anything.

  “Ben?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Will you make love to me?”

  “What about your neck?”

  “We can be careful.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “I’ll let you know if I’m uncomfortable.”

  “Come here then,” he whispered, and pulled her close.

  In the dark, his lips found hers, moving gently but with purpose on her mouth, and his hand coasted slowly down her body and back up again, finding her breast.

  “Yes,” she murmured as he caressed her flesh, through the soft layer of flannel at first and then with her top pushed up. His hand was warm, possessive, arousing and soothing at the same time. Eventually her sensitive nipples responded, pebbling against his palm, and she couldn’t stop the low moan that curled in her throat.

  “You like that?” He pressed a kiss to her hairline as his hand continued its explorations. Soft pinches and tugs made her squirm with pleasure.

  “Mmm. Yes. Don’t ever stop.”

  Finally his fingers slid down to the waistband of her pajamas. “These have got to go.”

  She helped him push them down and away, leaving her satin panties in place. As his lips slowly feathered along her brow and cheekbone, his hand cupped her mound in a proprietary way. For a full two minutes they lay like that, his lips traveling with great care over her fa
ce, at last arriving at the corner of her mouth. He brushed his lips across hers a time or two and then deepened the kiss. His tongue swirled into her mouth, surprising her with its power and intensity. At the same time, his fingers curved down over her mons, pressing her thighs apart.

  Sunny whimpered and let her legs fall to each side, longing for his touch. Ben’s fingertips skimmed over the crotch of her panties in a slow-motion tease, back and forth, again and again. Delicious tongues of heat flickered through her core. She felt the satin dampening as her body flared open.

  Her breath hitched. “That’s. So. Lovely.”

  And then he pushed the little strip of fabric to the side and Sunny cried out as flesh contacted naked flesh. Unerringly, he parted her and found her swollen bud. She lay back, unmoving, allowing the glorious spark and sizzle of growing sensation to take her away. She forgot everything but the skillful strum of his fingers on her most sensitive part. Her awareness shrank down to the tension building there, her hips rising of their own accord to push wantonly against his hand.

  His middle finger slipped inside her, stroking, calling to her body. Again she cried out.

  “Let go, my love,” he whispered, then took her lips once more in a rough kiss.

  Sunny’s climax rolled over her like a summer storm, electrifying waves lighting up every nerve, every pore. She struggled to breathe as she kissed him back, a helpless pawn of the elements. The storm raged and pulsed, spinning her to the very edge of the sky.

  Finally her body quieted. A wonderful warmth stole over her.

  “Thank you,” she murmured.

  “You’re welcome.” He pulled the covers up around her, tucking them close under her chin.

  “What about you?” she said after a moment. She drifted in a hazy glow, waiting for his answer.

  “I’m good.”

  She chuckled. “You can say that again.”

  He laughed too. The throaty, joyful sound took her by surprise. Somehow they were laughing together here in the dark, even though the future was still so cloudy. They had managed to find an island of happiness in the middle of all the doubt and pain.

  She had thought before that she was falling in love with him, had even told him so. Now she knew it for a fact. Knew with every fiber of her being that he belonged in her heart.

  “I want you inside me,” she whispered. Not waiting for his response, she pulled her panties off and reached for him. Her hand closed around the firm shaft of his erection still hidden in his pajamas. Wordlessly, she stroked him, letting the soft, nubby fabric slide along his length. He groaned in appreciation. When she reached inside the waistband, he gave a happy sigh and pulled her into another deep kiss. As his tongue moved between her lips, she brought him to a fully hardened state.

  “Take off these PJs, will you?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” His voice was husky with need. He pushed back the covers and shucked off his pajama bottoms.

  As soon as he was undressed, she threw her leg over him and lifted herself to straddle him. As she maneuvered, a sharp pain stabbed through her neck and shoulder. She froze, grabbing at the collar she had almost forgotten she wore.

  “Oops. I guess that’s not such a great idea.” Gingerly she slid off him and eased herself down once more on to her back. “Do you mind doing all the work again?”

  “I wouldn’t exactly call it work. You sure you’re okay?”

  She loved the note of true concern in his voice.

  “I’m fine. I just have to remember I’m not some kind of professional circus performer right now.”

  “Wait. You’ve been holding out on me? What are we talking? High wire? Trapeze? Trapeze could be very sexy.”

  She giggled as he rose above her, stopping to rain little kisses on her jaw just at the edge of the collar. Her laughter turned to a gasp of pleasure when he lifted her top to suck her nipples again, taking time to bring each eager tip to a peak of pulsing arousal.

  “God, yes!” She was already so wet and ready, and when he prodded the V at her thighs with the head of his cock she rocked back and opened wide for him, wrapping her legs around his hips. He slid all the way home in a single stroke, nestling deep into her body.

  Neither of them moved for several seconds. She wished she could see his face clearly, look into his eyes. She felt again that profound sensation of rightness, holding him inside of her, allowing him to fill her so completely. She had no doubt they belonged together.

  Does he feel it too?

  Ben dipped his head and placed a kiss in the valley between her breasts. She heard him take a long, slow breath.

  “You smell like I imagine Eve must have smelled.”

  “What? Where do you come up with this flowery stuff?”

  He had begun to move inside her, creating a lovely warm friction where their bodies rubbed together. She gave a contented sigh.

  “You don’t like being told you smell like Woman?” He growled the last word like a caveman might, startling her into a new fit of giggles. She’d never had sex like this before: explosive physical tension interspersed with playful banter. She never wanted it to end.

  “I love you, Ben.”

  “I. Love you. Too.”

  He stroked harder now, faster, the motion tugging at her in all the right spots. She let out a low moan as her world began to spin. Her body was gathering again, her energy swirling outward from her core. Just as she let go with a wild cry, she felt his thigh muscles bunching and sensed he was approaching the edge of his own orgasm. In a moment he stiffened and she heard him groan with satisfaction.

  He collapsed against her, his breath coming quickly. “That never gets old,” he said, gasping. “How’s your neck? Are you all right?”

  “I’m great. Perfect.”

  Chapter 6

  When Ben pulled the rental car up to the curbside parking at Portland International Airport on Saturday evening, his parents were already waiting, their bags mounded on the sidewalk.

  “There they are!” Spencer crowed from the back seat. “I hope they brought me a present.”

  “Now, Spence, you know your grandparents love you. They don’t need to bring you something every time they go away. Just be glad to have them back.”

  “I am glad, Dad. I hope they brought something for Jasmine too.”

  Although Ben had described the dark green rental sedan to his folks in their last transatlantic phone conversation, they didn’t recognize the car until he got out.

  “Mom! Dad!” He waved across the top of the car.

  “Ben!” Before he could reach his mother, she raced out into the street. They ended up sharing a frantic hug in front of his car as traffic behind them came to a full stop.

  “I’m so glad to see you,” she said, kissing his cheek for the fifth time.

  She looked great, tanned and happy. In her late fifties, trim and straight, Beverly Stillman could pass for mid-forties, easy. His dad, not so much. Thirty years at a high-pressure job as a stock trader had made Edgar Stillman old before his time. Still, Ben thought his old man looked much more relaxed than usual. Maybe this extended vacation would inspire him to retire early.

  He headed for the rear of the car with the first two bags. “Go ahead and get in. I’ll load everything up. Mom, why don’t you hop in the back with Spencer.”

  “You brought Spencer with you?” She gave a happy shriek. The tinted back seat windows had prevented her from seeing her grandson in the dark car. She immediately got in beside him. His dad grabbed the other two bags and brought them around, setting them on the pavement at Ben’s feet.

  “Nice to see you, son. Great to be home.”

  “Did you have fun?”

  “It was very interesting.” With that, the older man got into the passenger seat, leaving Ben to finish stowing the bags. In a moment they were on the way to their southwest Portland neighborhood. His parents’ home was only blocks from his, and actually very close to Sunny’s as well.

  In the back seat, his mom and Spenc
er kept up a non-stop chatter about their trip.

  “I saw real castles, Spencer. Wait until you see the pictures I took. And the pyramids in Egypt. They were amazing.”

  “Wow. How about camels? Were there camels and stuff?”

  “Yes, camels too and beautiful Arabian horses.”

  “My friend Jasmine has a horse. His name is WonderTales Pony.”

  “Really?”

  “Yep. She’s sleeping right now so I took WonderTales Pony to the hospital so she can cuddle him.”

  For once his mom seemed to be at a loss for words. Finally she asked, “She’s sleeping?”

  “Yep. I tried to talk to her but she didn’t even know I was there.”

  “I see,” his mom said.

  Ben spoke over his shoulder. “You remember I told you about the accident we had last weekend? The reason I’m not driving my SUV?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “I didn’t tell you all the details. My new friend Sunny was with us, and her daughter Jasmine. They were both injured.”

  “Oh no!” His mother leaned forward. “I didn’t realize it was that serious of a crash. Are you and Spencer all right?”

  “We’re fine, fine,” Ben assured her. Like most mothers, she was a worrier. The less said the better sometimes.

  “Jasmine’s head got hurt,” Spencer piped up, “and now Sunny is sad. She has to sleep over at our house so she can be happy.”

  Ben felt the skin on his neck prickle with heat. Sunny had ended up spending the last four nights in his bed. There hadn’t been any way to hide her presence at the breakfast table from Spencer. Ben had debated whether to coach him on what he should and shouldn’t say to his grandparents about it. Finally he’d decided it was probably better just to take his chances that the topic wouldn’t arise. What were the odds, after all?

  So much for going with his gut.

  The long stretch of silence that followed Spencer’s innocent disclosure told him his sexually-conservative parents were struggling with the news. Eventually his mother chose to focus on Jasmine.

  “The little girl is still unconscious?”