Found in Understanding: Refuge Series Book Three by Debbie Zello (24)

Chapter Twenty-Four

He spent the weekend introducing me to a few different ways to make love. I had no problem bending over the back of the couch. In fact, it was quite comfortable actually. Sitting on the kitchen counter, although cold and unsanitary, was another one of his and my favorites.

I went to work on Monday still wearing the grin I have had since Friday night. “Someone had a good weekend,” Paul said, staring at me as I breezed past him.

“Someone did. How was yours?” I said hanging up my hoodie.

“I don’t think it was as good as yours. What did you do get a massage or something? You’re glowing.”

“I did get a massage. Good guess!” I said remembering Understanding’s hands on me. It was definitely a massage. I wrapped my apron around me and tied it. The bell rang on the front door and I began to walk out to take care of the customer.

“You’ll have to tell me where you went for this massage. I want to look as relaxed as you do. You must have had a very good masseuse.”

“He was excellent! But I thought you swung the other way, Paul.”

“I think we are talking about two different things, Neomi. Just what kind of massage did you have?” he said laughing. I felt his amused eyes on me as I left the back room.

I saw a teenage boy, maybe thirteen or fourteen, at the counter as I walked out. His head was shaved close on the right side with a visible nasty-looking scar that ran from the front of his ear towards the back of his head. It was wide and looked painful. His eyes were a piercing blue-green like the color of the ocean just before a scary storm. “Good morning. What can I get for you?” I asked him.

“Good morning, Neomi. May I please have a cup of coffee, black, and an everything bagel toasted with vegetable cream cheese on the side,” he said with a wide-warm smile. I stared at him for a moment because of his choice of words. He sounded so much older than his obvious years.

“Of course, coming right up.” I turned and grabbed his bagel, sliced it and sent it through the toaster. I poured his coffee and got the cream cheese from the fridge. I placed everything on a tray and went to the cash register. “That will be $3.18 please.” He went through his wallet and took out four dollars handing it to me.

“Keep the change, Neomi. Thank you and have a nice day,” he said taking the tray and walking towards a table.

“Thank you and you have a great day too.” I said watching him limp away. He must have been in a terrible accident. The scar was horrifying and once I saw the limp, I was sure something dreadful had happened to him.

I didn’t want to stare at him so I busied myself cleaning and waited on the customers that came in. Fifteen minutes or so later he got up and threw out his cup. He limped to the door and walked out. I watched him unlock a bike from the meter outside of the front door. He struggled to lift his leg over the seat but finally made it and rode off.

The rest of my shift flew by. I just about ran home wanting to shower and change. I wanted to make a nice dinner for Understanding. I wanted to have a typical domesticated evening with him, maybe enjoy a pleasant dinner at the kitchen table, watch some mindless TV on the couch, and make love, somewhere.

The doorbell rang and I sprinted to open the door. Understanding swooped in picking me up and kissing me soundly. I licked his kiss from my lips as he set me on my feet. “What is that for?” he said smiling.

“What?”

“You licked your lips. Are you planning to devour me tonight?”

“I might be. Would you object?” I said querulously.

“Object? No! But what kind of monster have I created, I wonder,” he said with a smirk.

“Monster! You weren’t complaining over the weekend!” I said feigning anger.

“And I’m not complaining now. Perhaps monster is the wrong word. Maybe sex fiend is more like it,” he said grabbing me. “I happen to love sex fiends, actually.”

“Maybe we’ll refrain from any activity and lessen the chance of my falling further into the abyss of deviancy,” I said petulantly.

He opened the door and walked out. The doorbell rang a second later. I opened the door and he swooped in picking me up and kissing me soundly.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Starting over. I missed you today. You and something else smells wonderful. How was your day?” I smiled as I thought that once again his name suits him.

He sat next to me with our legs touching under the table. I had made a pot roast with root vegetables in red wine gravy. His moans as he ate it pleased me. I liked cooking for him. I felt part of a family again. My hand went to my hip in remembrance.

“What are you thinking about right now?” he asked moving his hand over mine.

“How ordinary and completely lovely it is to sit here with you. I feel happy and I like the feeling,” I explained.

“Yesterday afternoon, when we were making love, I was staring at your face. You left me for a few seconds, didn’t you? You went somewhere. Your eyes were vacant and you didn’t see me anymore. Please tell me what happened.”

I got up from the table and took my plate to the sink. I began to fill the sink to wash the dishes. He waited a few minutes and brought his dish to me. He held my arms by my side and wrapped me up in his. “You were thinking about Royce, weren’t you? It’s okay if that’s what it was. Just tell me you weren’t picturing him making love to you.”

“I feel guilty. I’m here doing that with someone else. We never got the chance to. And he never will again. I have a hard time being this happy when I know he’s gone,” I said, the tears slipping down my cheeks. “I held his hand while it got cold. I felt his warmth slip away. He was so special, smart and talented. It’s such a waste to lose him.” I turned in his arms to face him. “I wasn’t picturing him making love to me. I knew who was holding me.”

“I’ve never lost someone I loved like that, Firelight. I have no idea how bad it hurts. I know that if something were to happen to you, I would carry that pain for a long time. I understand your sorrow. He loved you too and I believe he would want you to remember him but not to have it rule your life.”

“I tell myself that all the time. I’m sorry if I upset you. I don’t want you to worry about my feelings for you. I do love you. If I didn’t, I never would have slept with you,” I said placing my hands flat on his chest.

“Says the woman that was still a virgin at twenty-one. I think I can take that one on faith. I know you love me. I also know that you still love him. I think once you love, you love forever. It’s your gift as well as your curse.”

“You know me so well.”

Friday night was supposed to be a surprise for me. Understanding told me to pack an overnight bag and to be ready by two in the afternoon. We were going somewhere and wouldn’t be back until Sunday morning. He was working but would have time to spend with me. All very cryptic if you ask me, but I did as I was told anyway.

I was waiting outside with my bag as he drove up. He got out with his usual smile at seeing me. He had such a heart-melting, swoon-worthy smile.

“Eager, Miss Dillon, that’s good. We’re going to have fun this weekend. Are you ready for that?”

“I am. Now where exactly are we going?” I said handing him my bag. He opened his trunk and placed it next to his. I noticed he had a garment bag. “Was I supposed to bring dress clothes? I packed dress pants and blouses but I didn’t bring a dress.”

“I need the suits to conceal my gun. I am working, remember?” he said opening my door. I got in and buckled my seat belt.

“Are you going to tell me where we are going?” I said with a humph.

“To Mohegan Sun. I’m working security for a concert tonight. Then we’re staying to have some fun tomorrow night. When we get back Sunday, I’ll help you move back into the dorm,” he said pulling away from the curb.

“Who is the concert with?”

“Josh Groban. Have you heard of him?” he said looking at me.

“Yes, I have. He has a beautiful voice. I like his duet with Celine Dion, The Prayer.”

“Well, you have a front row seat and a back stage pass for before and after the show. I have to make sure his Grobanites don’t get too close to him.”

“I don’t want them grabbing your butt either.”

“They don’t want to grab my butt. His is the one that’s in danger of molestation.”

“I want to grab your butt myself,” I said peeking sideways. He ran his fingers down my cheek.

“That can be arranged. In fact, you can count on it,” he said, with a chuckle.

The traffic was heavy the entire drive to the casino. Labor Day weekend was in full force. The line of cars driving into the parking lot was long and moved slowly. We got to the valet parking and hurried in to be registered. Understanding had to be in the concert hall for four o’clock for the sound check. There were some fans that had special tickets to watch the whole proceeding.

I followed our bags, along with a bellman, to the room. He swung open the door to allow me to enter it first. There was a living room with large beautiful windows that looked out over the surrounding hills. The bedroom was off to the right with a giant king-sized bed. This was the first hotel room I had ever seen. I gave him the tip that Understanding had given me before he left to work. “Thank you, ma’am.”

“You’re welcome and thank you for the help.”

“I hope you enjoy your stay,” the bellhop responded as he left.

“I’m sure I will.”