“Jaxon.” Dr. Overby says, tapping me on the shoulder. I’ve been a nervous wreck since they wheeled Lanie away an hour ago. “Sorry to startle you.”
Standing immediately, I take his offered hand. “How is she? Did everything go okay?”
“No need to worry, the doctor doing the procedure just called to let me know that everything is just fine. She’s awake and asking for you.” He pats my shoulder and guides me to the restricted area. “Just as a precaution, I want her to take it easy for a few days. He would like to see her back in a few weeks to see how she’s doing. Some patients go through a bit of depression when they miscarry.”
If he only knew the shit she’s been going through, he would be surprised at how well she is actually taking all of it. “Okay. I’ll make sure she’s taken care of properly.”
“I don’t doubt it.” We walk into the recovery area and into her room. “Look who I found waiting outside.” He ushers me in and silently leaves. He’s smooth, I’ll give him that. When my eyes lock on Lanie’s, I can’t help but see such sadness in hers while she looks back at me.
“Hi.”
“Hey there, Mrs. Montgomery.” She lifts her hand for me. I make the few short steps, take her hand in mine and sit beside her. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m a little uncomfortable, but good.” She focuses on our hands together. “Jax?” Her voice trails off. She’s holding something back. I’ve learned not to push women though, especially Lanie.
“Yeah?”
“Are you sure you want to get caught up with all of this? I mean, you’ve already done so much and you still don’t even know the severity of it all.”
“Lanie, I honestly don’t know if I could ever walk away from you, even if I tried.”
“I was pregnant…”
“I know.”
“It’s just…” Her eyes are focused on our dancing fingers on her lap.
“Hey.” Gently reaching up and lifting her chin, forcing her eyes to meet mine. “Whatever it is, we will get through it together.”
“If you continue this with me, you’re going to need to know what kind of person he is.”
“I think I have a good idea.”
“Imagine that, but worse.” Her hands shake in mine, sending a chill up my spine. When and if I ever get my hands on that fucker, he’s dead. Trying to push that aside, I try to focus on the positive.
“You know what I want to do?” I tug her hands, bringing her beautiful face back to mine.
“What?”
“I want to take you back to the loft and spend some alone time with you. We can watch a movie and eat some pizza and ice cream until we puke.” She tries to hide her amusement, but fails when she begins laughing.
“You sound like a woman.”
“Baby, I can assure you that there’s not one part of me that’s a woman.” Joy finally fills her eyes when she raises her hand, caresses my face and runs her fingers through my beard, focusing hard on the task at hand. “It does help that I had a sister to take care of.” When her eyes reach mine, she smiles.
“I think your sister taught you well.” Her hand slides around my neck and she pulls me closer to her. Our lips are so close, her breath kisses my lips. “But I have to agree. You’re all man.” She has no idea what she’s doing to me. I watch her chest rise and fall, feeling mine do the same.
“I would really like to kiss you right now, Mrs. Montgomery.” Her eyes dance with excitement and she bites the corner of her lip, sending a jolt of energy straight to my cock. Down boy.
“I think I’d like that too, Mr. Montgomery.” Not only does she give me the green light, she initiates the kiss. Her lips are eager at first, almost desperate. I bring my hands to her face in an attempt to slow her down. I pull myself away for a split second and stare down into her amazingly strong soul. When she registers the shift in the air, I gently press my lips to hers again. She invites me into her mouth. Slowly but eagerly I invade her mouth, memorizing the dance between us. Just when we’ve left ourselves breathless, someone clears his throat behind me. We pull away from each other slightly when the good doctor, with the worst timing ever, speaks up.
“I figured you two might want to maybe take that home?” Lanie’s face flushes.
“Doesn’t the nurse usually discharge the patient?” I ask with an annoying tone. Lanie’s fingers land on my earlobe and pulls on the gauge. It’s a warning. “Be nice.” She whispers. I lean my forehead against hers. “I’ll try.”
“The nurse is actually with another patient.” He steps in and takes a seat in the open chair. “And I also just got off the phone with a Brad Tows.” Right away, Lanie’s body stiffens.
“Is something wrong?” I ask, while I watch Lanie’s features change from warm and relaxed to cold and tense within seconds.
“No, no. He wanted to make sure that you were here with her.” He’s lying. When I turn and give him a “Don’t fuck with me.” look, he clears his throat and corrects himself. “He took care of the bill.”
“Did he also request my file?” She asks, looking everywhere but at him.
“He did. But that’s why I decided to come in here. It’s against hospital policy to give out information about our patients. From what I’m gathering, your name isn’t Melanie is it?” I watch her face harden before she shakes her head. “And you two aren’t married are you?”
“Can we leave?” I snap. He glares at me. Now I know what he wants. He wants to know if she’s even mine. “Do you want to know where she lives too? Because I don’t have a fucking problem letting you know she lives with me.”
Her hand takes mine and she squeezes it. “Jax stop.” She whispers to me before continuing aloud.
“Doctor, as far as you know, my name is Melanie Montgomery. I’m happily married to my husband and we just lost our first child. I’m happily in love with this man and as soon as I get the clear from my follow up, we will be trying again for another baby.” Wow, she puts it on smooth. “Now, can we go home?”
Doctor Overby stands and discusses her discharge papers with us. He gives her the rundown of things she can and cannot do for the next six weeks. Once I have her dressed, we leave to go back home, where she belongs.
“Jax, please.” Lanie stands between the two doors of our lofts with her arms crossed. She has no idea how fucking adorable she is.
“I don’t want to hear it. You’re staying here in my loft until I can get the main door downstairs installed and secured before I can take our loft front doors off the hinges.” I continue grabbing some of her things to makes sure she has everything for the next few nights.
“You’re exhausting.” She sighs heavily, waving her hands in the air and dropping her head back against the wall.
“Get used to it, Baby, because I’m not letting you go for one minute.” She watches me turn off the last light to her loft and lock the door. “Don’t look at me like that, Lanie. You’ve had a lot happen to you in the last couple days, and now, it’s three in the morning and you’re standing there like I’ve grown another head.”
“Well, you have enough heads on your arms to make up for the growth.” She spits sarcastically. I decide to ignore her remark for now. After tossing her bag into the living room of my loft, I join her in the center hallway.
“Are you saying you don’t like my tattoos?” I cross my arms in an attempt to mimic her, but she’s too damn cute to equal it.
“I didn’t say that.” Her eyes begin their adventurous trail down my arms. Every moment they begin to twinkle and sparkle, my heart skips a beat. “I rather like them. Except for a few.”
“A few huh?” I step up close to her, pressing her against the wall. “Well, Mrs. Montgomery, you’ll have to show me which ones you don’t like.” Her hand automatically presses against my chest, letting me know not to go further.
“No, I think I’ll let you figure it out on your own.”
I take her hand in mine and step away, pulling her with me into my loft. Once we’re both inside, I make sure the door is locked securely. “I think we will have a lot of movies to watch so I can figure it out then.” I lift her up in my arms and carry her to the bed. “But for now, you need to sleep.”
“Jax, I can’t…”
“I’m taking the couch.” I lay her in the center of my king size bed.
“That’s not necessary. I can take the couch.”
“No.” I sit beside her. “You will take the bed. That’s the end of it. Don’t worry about waking up in the morning either. I’ll take care of the office. I just want you to rest and relax.”
“I have a feeling if I said no, you wouldn’t listen to me, would you?” Smiling, I slowly shake my head. “Fine.”
“That’s my girl.” I pull her in for a quick hug and kiss her on the forehead. “Get some sleep. I’m going to jump in the shower.”
“What? No goodnight kiss?” Her question is both teasing and serious. Standing at the end of the bed, I turn around to meet her smile.
“A man can only take so much.” Placing my hands on the bed, I lean in towards her as she crawls over to me on her hands and knees and stops just before her lips touch mine. “You are a temptress.”
“I don’t want to sleep in your bed when I have my own to sleep in.”
“That’s too bad.”
“It’s not right.”
“What’s not right is letting you sleep on the couch or alone. I’m keeping an eye on you for the next few days and that’s that. Doctor’s orders.” She tries again to argue. “Lanie, for the love of God, no. Now, lay down.” I lean in and give her a quick kiss. It’s not the kiss she want’s, but it’s enough. As it is, by the time she’s truly ready to be with me, I’m going to be sporting a serious case of blue balls.
Standing under the hot water is exactly what I need. This weekend has given me a glimpse of the hell she’s gone through and it’s enough to make me sick. How can one person survive that kind of torture is well, beyond me. My forehead leans against the cold ceramic tile of the shower wall while I let the hot water hit the back of my neck, relieving the tension from this weekend’s adventures the best way I can.
When I turn around and open my eyes, Lanie is standing at the end of the tub. Fully dressed. I’m lost in her eyes, which are green right now, and aren’t leaving mine. No words are spoken. None are needed. Slowly, she moves her hands to the hem of her shirt and lifts it over her head, dropping it on the floor by her feet. Not caring about it getting wet. I’m not worried about her stitches. The doctor said he put that glue stuff on them, making it okay for them to get wet. Her chest rises and falls with each sporadic breath. No doubt mine is doing the same. She begins to undo the button from her pants and slowly pushes them down to meet her shirt. She steps towards me, allowing the water to wet her front. The peaks of her nipples show through her bra like she entered a wet t-shirt contest.
She knows what the doctor said. And, there is no way she will allow me to touch her. I’m doing my best to keep my dick at rest, but fuck, it’s so hard to control. I am a man after all. There’s a beautiful woman, that I’m pretty sure I’ve fallen in love with, standing in front of me with nothing but her white bra and panties.
The closer she gets, the more I can see her body shaking. She trusts me to be near her, but I don’t trust myself with the thoughts I have running through my head right now. I want the woman in front of me. I can see a future with her when she looks into my soul. As gently as I can, I take a lock of her long hair and brush it over her shoulder. I won’t touch her if she doesn’t want me to, but I need her to talk to me here. I need her to trust me first and foremost. It’s important for her to know that I have enough control to take care of her and protect her.
Lanie takes another step closer so our chests are touching. She reaches behind her and unhooks her bra before dropping her hands to her side. My eyes dance with hers as I reach for her hands. We stand in the water for a moment before I release my hold on her and begin trailing my fingers up her arms until they reach her bra straps. My fingers hook under the lacy white straps. I slide them down without taking my eyes off of hers. It falls loosely at our feet. The water is hot, but the touch of her nipples hitting my chest with every breath, sends chills throughout me and has my cock begging for attention.
“I won’t touch you.” She brings her finger to my lips.
“That’s not what this is about. I didn’t want to be alone in there. I’m scared to be alone. Just let me be with you. Please.” She begs.
“If you’ll have me, I would like to be with you forever.”
“I think I would like that too.” She smiles and links her hands behind my neck. I carefully lift her into my arms and turn so she’s under the water with me.
“Drop your head back.” She does what she’s told. I watch her as she closes her eyes and lets the water take over her hair, which helps her relax. I grab the bottle of shampoo and begin to lather up her hair. Her soft little groans let me know that she’s enjoying it as much as I am. When I’ve finished with her hair, I fill my hand with body wash. “Let me wash you?” She doesn’t verbally answer, but nods. I take this time to cherish her the way she should have been cherished her entire life. Starting with her shoulders, I lather every inch of her body with my hands, stopping periodically on small scars I notice have tattooed her body.
“Don’t.” She takes my chin when I’m on my knees and lifts it to face her. Looking down on me, she continues. “Don’t worry about them.”
“I want to kill him.”
“He’s not worth it, Jaxon.” I stand when she continues. “Every bruise, every scar, every time he hurt me with his words, they’re reminders that I survived. They remind me every day that I can be strong enough to live the life I want to live… a free life. A life with you if you’ll have me. They remind me that this isn’t just a dream. Every morning, before I open my eyes, I feel like it’s all a dream and that I’m going to wake up into the nightmare I lived in for so long.”
“Let me be your dream come true, Lanie.” I wipe the water from her face. “I’m no prize. I’m just a man that owns some property and a garage. With me, what you see is what you get. I won’t hide anything from you. Let me be the man that can take care of you and make you happy. If we ever disagree or argue, just know that I will tell you how sorry I truly am. Even if I know I’m right, I’ll never admit it out loud.” I get a giggle out of that one. “I’ve waited my whole life to meet someone who can make me feel a million things at once and nothing at all at the same time. I want to erase those scars and bruises he has imbedded in your heart and on your body. Let me be the man who holds the key to your heart. Because I don’t know who I am when I imagine a life without you. I… God, why is this so hard?”
“What is it?” She runs her fingers through my buzzed hair. God, her touch is sensational.
“I think I'm falling in love with you.” Her eyes light up and her fingers freeze. I’m trying not to scare her. “Look, I know it’s so soon. I know I just told you that I thought I was falling for you, hard. But it’s true, Lanie. I love you. When you were in surgery, even though I know it was simple one, I couldn’t stop but think about what my life would be like if I hadn’t met you. It’s weird, because in a matter of a few short weeks, you’ve changed me.” She studies my face for a few minutes before saying something. Her hands are memorizing my face like she’s seeing me for the first time.
“I’m scared.”
“Baby, don’t be scared…”
“No, I’m scared of the feelings I have for you too. In that same short time, you have showed me that I can live a happy and free life. You’ve given me the freedom to learn to like what I want to like and not be scared to express my own opinion. Because of you, I’m able to breathe without fear of doing something wrong. I’m not just scared to love someone, I’m also scared to be loved. Because in this short time, you’ve shown me how it feels to be loved. It scared me to death when those elevator doors closed and you faced that monster alone. I know how it feels to face him and I know what it’s like to live with the devil. You’re a complete opposite of that. I mean, look at you.”
“I’m just a man, baby.”
“No. You are so much more.” She smiles in a way that takes my breath away. “You’re kind and loving. I see compassion in your eyes when you look at me. I also see how much love you have for your sister and for your nephew. You are so strong, both inside and out. You already are my dream come true.” With her hands placed on both sides of my face, she pulls me down until our lips are pressed together in one of the most desperate, passionate kisses I’ve ever experienced in my life. As much as I want to stay in this moment, I know I need to get some distance. I try to step away, but she stops me.
“I know this is hard for you.” Her eyes drift down to see me standing at attention and she smirks. “It’s hard for me too. I’m not exactly ready to take the next step yet, but I would like to try something.” She holds her hand out for some soap. Having her hands on me and knowing there’s nothing I can do about it will fucking torture me, but I know this is something she needs. She needs to know that I have the strength to wait for however long I have to, even if it kills me. I take her hand in mine and pour some body wash in the center of her palm. Slowly, she rubs her hands together and bites her bottom lip. Jesus fuck! I don’t know if I will survive what’s to come.
She begins by placing her hands on my chest. In a circular motion, she forms a sudsy lather and moves her way over to my arms. “Turn around.” She orders, when she’s finished with my chest. I do as I’m told and take a labored breath when she begins again across my back. “You have an amazing body, Jax.” She rests her front against my back and wraps her arms around my waist. I shut my eyes, relishing in her touch. She trails her hands over my abs, moving them downward, making sure every piece of my body is thoroughly cleansed.
“Turn back around.” She commands. When I do, I can’t believe my eyes. She’s on her knees, looking up at me. “I’m not ready to be touched, but please, let me show you how much I care. I know how hard this is for you.” She takes me in her hands and before I even get a chance to argue, she has me in her mouth.
“Fuck.” I rest my hands on the wall for support. “Lanie, Jesus.” I groan. She starts pumping me from the base of my shaft while her mouth works over my tip before taking me into her mouth again. “Babe, you gotta... I’m gonna...” It’s been so fucking long since I’ve been with anyone, let alone have their mouths wrapped around my cock. I feel like a damn teenager if I let loose too soon, but Lord help me.
“Let go.” Her eyes look up at me before she runs her tongue along the bottom of my shaft. When she wraps her lips around me again and sucks harder, I lose all control. She milks me for everything I have. When she’s done, I lift her up into my arms. She wraps her legs around my waist as I push her against the wall. “Thank you for letting me do that for you.” She pulls me into her, kissing me with so much hunger, I have to stop it now.
“We have to stop.” I rest my head against hers, trying to calm myself before we go too far. She nods and tries to control her breathing. “You didn’t have to…” Her lips fall against mine again to stop my protest. It's rare to have a woman swallow, let alone kiss you afterwards.
“I wanted to.” I release her from my hold. Once her feet are planted on the ground, I wrap my arms around her and kiss her softly, letting her know how much I appreciate what she’s done.
When the water finally gets cold and we’ve both washed each other with our bare hands once again, we dry off and head for bed. We dress quickly. I’ve agreed to lay with her until she dozes off, but once she asleep, I will take up residency on my couch. I won’t lie and say the feeling of her in my arms while she drifts off isn’t the best fucking feeling in the world. She’s different from the rest. She is broken and my new mission in life is to put those broken pieces back together and never let her break again. When I think she’s fully asleep, I begin to inch my way off the bed, only to have her grab hold of my waist a little tighter.
“I know you said you would sleep on the couch, but please just stay with me tonight.” Her eyes are closed as she tugs me back into place.
“How can I say no to that?” I kiss the top of her head and begin playing with her hair again while she gets more comfortable on my chest.
“You can’t, remember? You promised me that I would always be right.” She lightly smacks my chest. “Don’t renege on me now, Mr. Montgomery.”
“Never, Mrs. Montgomery. Now get some sleep.”
“I swear woman, if you don’t get your gorgeous ass back up those stairs and in bed, I will spank it when I get the chance.” I take Lanie’s shoulders, turn her around directing her away from the office and begin walking her back to the stairs.
“I was bored. And I don’t like being alone.” She argues. It’s been a few weeks since we’ve been home and I’ve not allowed her to do anything but rearrange my loft. “Honestly, Jax, I’m fine.” She places her hands on either side of the wall to stop me. “I’ll just sit quietly in the office, I promise.” When I release my hold on her, she turns and smiles. “Plus, you can’t say no, remember?”
“Are you going to hold that to me forever?” I cross my arms. She takes a step down so she’s slightly taller than I am.
“As long as it works, yes.”
“You’re lucky I love you.” I step closer to her and slide my hands around her waist and over her ass to give it a squeeze. I have to admit, Lanie has one of the nicest asses I’ve ever seen.
“I know.” She rests her arms on my shoulders. She hasn’t exactly said she loves me yet, but I’ll take whatever she wants to give. When she presses her lips to mine, I lift her in my arms, making damn sure I get a nice feel of her ass a little more. She wraps her legs around my waist and I carry her to the office. I sit us down so she’s straddling me on the new love seat I had delivered yesterday for her. She notices it and asks. “What’s this?”
“What does it look like?”
“A couch.”
“Guess what.” I kiss her neck. “It’s a couch.” She slaps my arm hard.
“I know that, asshole. Why is it here?”
“Did you just call me an asshole?”
“Maybe.”
“Consider that another check.”
“Should I make a chart for all these check marks you have against me?”
“You can make damn sure I’ve got a list of marks for you. Your ass will be glowing when I’m done with it.” Our relationship has consisted of kissing and maybe a few touches here and there, aside from the one time in the shower where she sucked me off. I’m pretty sure by the time we actually do hook up, my balls will have fallen off.
“Only if you promise to make it worth it.” Her lips meet mine. Just before the kiss gets too carried away, my cell rings. “Babe, either you’re really happy to see me or your phone is vibrating.”
“Feel good?” I thrust my hips up and she gasps.
“You’re a pervert.” She pecks me on the lips once again before climbing off and taking her seat behind the desk. I stand and pull the phone from my pocket to answer it.
“This better be good.” I don’t even try to keep the frustration from my voice when I step out of the office.
“It’s far from good.” Brad says.