Shared Redemption

by Michel Prince

  “July tenth, I think,” I lay back in the recliner and fought the urge to rush back into the spare room and sweep Kiri up in my arms. Why did Dilana have to hit her in the back of her leg? It’d be so much easier if I didn’t have to look at that backside. But then I’d have to see her looking at me. Her eyes liked to follow me around the room and when I looked back at her she wouldn’t flinch. She just stared harder. Unafraid. It was like she actually saw something in me.

  “You think Kiyoshi’d run up to Iowa City or CR? I wanna get Mina somethin’ nice for our anniversary.”

  “How many years?”

  “Two hundred and one. You think you start with paper all over again?”

  Lars flipped through a stack of catalogs beside the desk. The smoke from the cigar billowed out of his mouth.

  “Like I’d know.”

  “I did last time. So what’s your story? You don’t have to tell me, but do you hate this so much? Personally, I love it. In what other job can I kill without remorse? Then come home and lay with a woman who never ages and looks fantastic all the time?”

  “What about her? Did she mind?”

  “Well, it was between living for maybe twenty more years, poppin’ out babies with some guy who was fat, balding, stank, and was all around nauseating. Or me, forever. Come on?”

  “And you love her. Two hundred years later.”

  “A thousand times more than the first second I saw her. She gets me. Ya know? No judgments, no fear. There it is,” Lars said triumphantly clutching the ad he had been digging for. “Hey, you seen Frick and Frack lately?”

  “No, they’re not assimilating too well.”

  “Dwellin’ in the past never solved anything. I got over mine and it was the only way I survived. You over yours yet? Never mind. None of my biz. I know.” Lars walked toward the door.

  “Tie up before D catches you running around. She’s liable to cut you off where you live.”

  “Wouldn’t that be a tragedy. I don’t know how you stand fightin’ with her.”

  “At least she never wears pink.”

  “Jealous.”

  With that Lars was gone and I was alone and afraid.

  Had I really fallen in love with Kiri? Impossible. It wasn’t the dark ages anymore and I wasn’t Lars. Even if I had, my love could only hurt her.

  * * * *

  Kiriana

  “You’re back,” I said with too much of a lilt. God, I sounded like a groupie trying to pretend that I wasn’t.

  “Yes. Do you need anything?” Nye asked.

  “Besides my freedom?”

  Nye just stared at me.

  “Right…food, water, bathroom,” I started a list.

  “The commode is through that door. What are you hungry for?”

  “What do you have?”

  “Pretty much everything.”

  “Fine, then how about a half dozen chicken flautas with some guacamole and a cerveza, por favor.”

  “Tap or bottle?”

  “Bottle,” I replied sheepishly.

  “Domestic or imported? Though, considering your condition I wouldn’t choose alcohol.”

  “You have a pineapple Juarito?” I asked, amazed he’d have my favorite drink.

  “Yes.”

  “You really have flautas and Juaritos?”

  “Yes, and what kind of guac do you want? Lots of peppers and onions? Tomatoes?”

  “Yea. Everything.”

  “Fine. You need help to the commode?”

  “No, I should be fine.”

  I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, knowing I’d have to put most of my weight on my left leg. Warily I stood up. Knowledge of my weakness could not prepare me for the reality of it. I crumpled to the floor as if I were a knight who’d just lost his head on the battlefield.

  Embarrassed I lay there hoping by some miracle Nye hadn’t seen me. His large boots were right by my eyes and I looked up as he was crouching to help. Our eyes locked and I was just a breath away from his lips. Mine puckered as his pulled in and I inhaled deeply to hold back the urge to explore his mouth with my tongue.

  His hands were warm again against my body and I wondered why they weren’t warm like body heat. They were just warm. He lifted me to the bathroom, leaning me against the sink, and then brought me a cane from the bedroom.

  “Here, see if this helps.”

  I leaned on the cane, bracing myself, shifting my weight back and forth until I felt comfortable.

  “It’s good.”

  “Look, it may take me a little bit to get your food for you. If you want, take a bath. There’s a robe on the back of the door and I can try to scrounge up some clothes for you. Yours have to be feeling…”

  “Nasty, yes, they are, thanks. I’m a size two, if you find anything.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Nye left and I spied the huge Jacuzzi. I looked around for something to wash with and found rose water bath bubbles and three types of soaps in a closet. I ran the water in the Jacuzzi and dripped the rose water bath bubbles under the Koehler farmer’s spigot.

  I pulled off the shorts and underwear that appeared to be glued to my body. I slid my lower body into the water, which was just a few degrees below scalding, the way I liked it. My muscles started to loosen as the heat ate into them.

  Pulling off my tank top, followed by my bra, I slid the rest of the way into the water and sighed. I was loving every second of the feeling. Sure, I was a hostage, but it wasn’t all that bad. Nye was gorgeous and obviously not interested in me. He can just be a fantasy. What woman doesn’t have the fantasy? Okay, so this was going too far. This was how I got where I was.

  The bubbles covered my chest. The smell of roses filled my nose as I fell asleep in the warm water.

  “Kiri,” Nye said softly.

  My eyes fluttered as I saw the dark figure I was growing accustomed to.

  “Yes, Nye.”

  “Um…your food?”

  “Thank you,” I smiled.

  I hoped he wouldn’t turn away, but he did. How can a man be so sure of himself and yet timid? Screw this. I wanted him. I love that he called me Kiri. No one ever did that. I love that his hands changed temperature and he seemed ashamed of it. I love that his eyes were jet black, but still sparkled.

  “I’m going to need your help,” I said quickly.

  “What?”

  “I won’t be able to stand up to dry myself. I don’t mean to make you nervous, but I need your help. Or send that woman in here, but I’d prefer you.”

  * * * *

  Nye

  My heart raced. Kiri’s. Body. Naked! And she wanted me to dry her. Help her dress. What was she up to? Did she think I’d let her go if she was naked in front of me? She did offer for D to help her. But I didn’t want anyone with her. Only me.

  It was not like there weren’t windows from the evaporated bubbles showing her soft, sun-kissed skin. I could see the tan line from where her bathing suit had covered her. The light pink skin was even more alluring then the tanned.

  But it was her eyes. She wasn’t questioning herself. She wanted me to do this. No. I must be dreaming. Oh well, if it’s a dream, I might as well finish it out.

  How long had it been since I had a wet dream? Decades would be an understatement.

  “Me?”

  “Yes, you. Either that or I drain the tub and freeze while I try to dry myself in the wet tub, then get dressed while maneuvering a cane. Not as appealing as you holding me up and rubbing me down.”

  Holy. Crap. Yep. I fell asleep while I was cooking. Makes a heck of a lot more sense than this.

  My breath caught as my hand slipped in the water, brushed her leg, then drained the tub. I snatched for the towel on the shelf. Her smile confirmed I was dreaming. I reached for her, feeling the silkiness of wet skin. I started growing the instant I touched her.

  I pulled her up with one arm and wrapped a towel around her with the other. Her body fell onto me and I lost my balance, and we fell
to the floor.

  “Smooth one, slick,” she giggled. “Now what are you gonna do to me?”

  The giggles made her body shake on top of me. With her face right above mine, it would only take the slightest movement for me to kiss her. She licked her lips and I couldn’t take it anymore. I rolled over and trapped her underneath me.

  Kiri might have been trapped underneath, but I felt more trapped by my feelings. I wanted to taste her lips, then work my way down her body. That towel wasn’t enough to stop the urges building. I could feel my hardness pressing against her. Her leg slipped to the side and I fell between them.

  I couldn’t hold back anymore. My lips were on hers and she hungrily tugged the back of my head and held me tight to her. My fingers fumbled at my belt and then my zipper. She released me, a look of desire burning in her eyes.

  Kiri’s neck was as soft as I had imagined as I kissed it lightly. She extended it to give me full access. I licked her from the crook of her neck up to her ear.

  The towel dropped to the ground and I pulled back to see all the glory of her body. Never in my life had I wanted anyone more. The soft, peach-size mounds on her chest called to me. I felt as if I was diving in a pool of warm water as I went for them. My lips surrounded one, sucked the sweet tender skin. Moans escaped her lips as I eased down my pants.

  “Please. Please, Nye.”

  “Yes. Yes, I will Kiri. Anything.”

  “It’s freezing. You’re freezing me.”

  “No, I’m hot. You have me burning.”

  “Ahhh no. I’m going to catch pneumonia.”

  I jumped up and hit the counter, then slid to the floor. I looked down to see my pants were in place. The erection was still there, but it was locked safely away behind my zipper.

  “Why did you get cold?”

  “What?”

  “You got cold. Freezing. Hypothermia cold. Why?”

  “I gotta go.” I jumped up and flew out the door.

  Running from the room I slammed the door and collapsed against the wall across the hall. Staring at the six paneled oak door I licked my lips to remember the taste of her. There was very little I knew at this moment except that I had to get away from her. Why did I freeze her? That didn’t make sense. She shouldn’t be having an effect on me. I should return her. Her leg could heal just as well on her couch at home as here. Yes, I could accelerate her healing, but how much of her being here was for her good as opposed to mine?

  * * * *

  Kiriana

  I sat on the bed eating possibly the best flautas I had ever had. Whoever made these was a master chef. The chicken wasn’t dry. The tortilla tasted handmade, not processed, and the guac was amazing. It was even plated like a five-star restaurant.

  Getting dressed hadn’t been as big of a chore as I thought it would’ve been. Nye must not have been able to find me any clothes because next to the food he’d laid out was one of his shirts and nylon shorts, which had a tie waist so I could keep them up. The best part was even though I could tell they were clean, I couldn’t help but smell him on the fabric. It was a strong man smell that made me calm and exhilarated all at the same time.

  What had I done wrong? Obviously he wants me, even said he’d do anything for me, and his body temperature had dropped so much, but he thought he was on fire. What the fuck? was all I could come up with.

  I saw a remote, then finally noticed the plasma on the wall. Nye must be distracting me if I hadn’t even noticed that yet. I flipped on the TV and I settled into watching McClintock. What could be better than John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara?

  A knock on the door made me straighten up.

  “Yes.”

  The door creaked open and Nye’s black eyes found mine.

  “I’m sorry about…earlier.”

  “It’s okay. Nothin’ like having a guy go screaming from a room in fear to make a girl feel good.”

  His smile made me soften more. His lips were dark with small hints of red undertones. My heart skipped because his smile was big enough to actually show me a sliver of white from his teeth. I had made him happy and that made me happy. All those guys that were happy just because I let them do things to me hadn’t made me feel more satisfied than his smile had. It was as if finding small ways to please Nye could gratify me. The whole better-to-give-than-receive had always been lost on me until this moment.

  “I found you some more appropriate clothes.”

  He was holding women’s clothes that appeared to be closer to my size.

  “Thanks. I’m fine in your shirt if I’m just stuck laying around for now.”

  “How’s your leg?”

  “Stiff, but it was easier to walk on.”

  Nye walked over to the chair.

  “Stop,” I said. “You can’t fit in that chair. Come sit by me.”

  I moved from the center of the bed to the right side so he could sit by me.

  “I won’t try to attack you again. I promise. No sexual innuendo either.”

  I could feel the knot tying up in my stomach from the thought of another rejection. I couldn’t think why this was so bad. He shot me, kidnapped me, and stabbed me with some sort of syringe, but I couldn’t help feeling like he had been protecting me.

  “Thank you, but you shouldn’t be thinking of my comfort right now.”

  “What should I be thinking of? I can’t run away or fight you, so what should I be thinking of?”

  Nye shifted uncomfortably then sighed.

  “Do you think you could walk? You need to try.”

  “Sure.”

  I reached for the cane beside the bed and pulled myself up. Nye’s arm was around me helping my balance.

  “I never knew how much I needed that muscle.”

  “The arrow cracked your femur.”

  “Cracked? I have a broken leg?”

  “No. Not really. It was like a hairline fracture. At least that’s what the X-ray showed.”

  “When did I have an X-ray?”

  “After you passed out…the first time. I needed to make sure.” Nye breathed deeply and escorted me toward the foyer. “Kiri, may I ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  “Do you…I don’t know how to word this without offending you.”

  “I don’t get offended that easy. Tough skin.”

  “Where I come from…if a black man were to even look at a white woman…”

  “Yes?”

  “It would not end well. I’m a little nervous helping you.”

  “Then don’t. I don’t want you to feel nervous.”

  I stopped walking and looked at him.

  “But where I come from, a gentleman would help a lady.”

  Wow, did you pull that out of your ass. Frickin’ whispers.

  That seemed to set him back a little.

  “You don’t mind if I touch you?”

  “As opposed to falling down again?” I inhaled in deep and decided to make my move. “I prefer when you touch me. Nye, you’re beautiful and your hands are strong and comforting.”

  “I’ve never been called beautiful before,” he said, looking at his feet as they shuffled back and forth.

  “Men can be beautiful, but I’m sure you’ve been called handsome.”

  “No,” he said, sounding like a little kid.

  My hand went to his face. My fingers traced his jaw line.

  “Then I guess no one has ever looked at you.”

  His face turned cold so I pulled away. I gripped hard to the cane and turned. We continued our walk. The hallway wound around and then down to a greenhouse.

  “This is amazing. It’s like Wonka’s chocolate room.”

  “I guess so. Without the gummy bears.”

  I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. A roof and walls were made of glass like any other greenhouse, but I couldn’t see any exit. Coming to a point at the center, the roof must have been fifty feet high. The walls seemed a mile away. Looking right, I saw rows of fruits and vegetables. The climbing ones ha
d metal cages and large tall wooden sticks. A stone path split at a set of fruit trees in the center of the greenhouse. To the left was a familiar sight of corn, soybeans, and wheat. Walking by a tree, I reached up and picked a fresh apple.

  “Is this okay?” I said, suddenly realizing I was in a Garden of Eden.

  “Yes, but don’t ask me to share, just in case.”

  “Funny.”

  I pointed to a bench by the tree. “Can we?”

  “Yes,” Nye obliged.

  I bit into the apple. The sweet taste filled my mouth and I moaned. I flushed.

  “Sorry,” I said, wiping the juice from my chin. “I love honey crisp.”

  “Kiyoshi transplanted it when he came here. He got a hold of one of the first trees from the University of Minnesota.”

  “It’s wonderful,” I gushed, taking another bite. “I’m surprised I hadn’t heard of this place. Or that I couldn’t see it when we pulled up.”

  “Excuse me,” a beautiful woman with long dark hair the color of midnight said as she approached us. “You must be Kiriana.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Such the pleasure to meet you.” The woman’s accent and phrasing had me thinking she had to be from somewhere in the Middle East. “My name is Zarmina. I had brought you some clothes, but I left them outside your chamber for I did not know you had come to our greenhouse.”

  “Thank you, I’m quite comfortable in these.”

  “I assumed as much, but Nye insisted.”

  “Thank you, Zarmina,” Nye said then stood and escorted her away as if her presence were an issue.

  A tinge of jealousy shot through my body as he placed his hand on the small of her back and led her away. They were talking in low tones so I couldn’t hear their conversation and I tried to just enjoy the opulence of the garden. It’s not like he’s my man, but it was getting irritating that he seemed to have a harem of beautiful women around him. Maybe he believed in plural marriage and Zarmina was the soft homebody, with her delicate features and white sundress that accented her deep olive colored skin.

  Using my cane I pushed myself up and walked further down the path. Looking over my shoulder I saw Nye sitting on a bench with Zarmina as if I were no longer there. For the first time in my life I felt a pain in my chest and it wasn’t from whatever happened to my leg.