ANDREW woke up to the shrill sound of the satellite phone ringing on his night table. The bright morning sunlight was streaming into his room, and Abby was curled up beside him. He turned and got out of bed to answer it in the back hallway, under the skylight.

“Yes?” He hit the soft key on the right to turn on the speakerphone setting.

“Good morning, Mr. Carrington. This is Bruce at Angel Air Paramedic.”

“Hello Bruce. So how is he?”

“He just got out of two back-to-back surgeries, sir. He’s stable and resting in the private recovery room.”

“And the arm?”

“They’ve inserted six pins to set it, sir. It will need a few months of physiotherapy after it heals. Anywhere between four to six months. The doctor believes he will be fine.”

“Good. Does he need anything? Or his girlfriend?”

“I think they’re both fine. She said his parents would travel down from Reno as soon as the roads are cleared. Probably later today.”

“If they need anything at all—”

“Not to worry sir. They’ll be fine here. We’ll set her up at the hotel next to the hospital if she wants to be close.”

“Thanks for the update, Bruce. Take care.”

Andrew hung up. The news couldn’t be any better. John was out of the woods, and wouldn’t lose the arm or experience any paralysis. With any luck after physio, he’d be as good as new. It was good news all round; and that would be a lot easier to share with John’s friends than the worst case scenario. He decided he would let Abby tell the rest of them.

It was close to eight in the morning. He put the phone down and went straight into the bathroom for a shower. He thought of her as he bathed himself, thinking how lucky he was to have met her, and he guessed, her friends as well. A pang of anxiety seized up his chest for a brief moment. It was getting closer to that time. His guests—and Abby—would be leaving soon. If the plows were already clearing the roads between Reno and Lake Tahoe, it would only be a day at most before they got to his side roads.

He took in a shallow breath as he thought about it. He stepped out of the shower, dried off and put a towel around his waist. Abby was awake when he got back into the bedroom.

“Good morning,” she greeted him with a smile.

“Good morning, Abby. Slept well?” He searched the large closet for a shirt and jeans to wear, and pulled a pair of boxers from one of the top drawers.

“Yes. It must be late. I feel like I’ve overslept.” She sat up and stretched her arms as she yawned.

“You didn’t do too badly. It’s around eight.”

“Okay.” She got out of bed and pulled on the robe before going into his arms. “You smell so good.”

He kissed her hair and held her close, the clothes he was planning to wear still hanging from one arm. If he could, he wouldn’t let her go. Not for a long time.

“I’m going to have a shower.” She looked up at him, studying his eyes and his face. “Everything okay?”

“Yes. Great. And I have good news for you and your friends.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. The air medic phoned. John’s going to be fine.”

“Oh thank God. What did they say?”

He threw the clothes on the bed and gave her the update on John’s status. He could see the relief on her face. She sank into his chest again, and let the weight of her slight frame lean into him for support. It was clear she had been bracing for the worst.

“This is excellent news, Andrew! Sure, he’ll probably miss a few weeks of school, maybe a full semester, if the demands of rehab are intense. But he’s going to be fine! Trina must be ecstatic. Oh, I’ve got to tell the others. I’ll have a shower and go let them know.”

“Perfect. I’ll start breakfast.”

“Wait a minute.” She studied his face again. “Was there something else?”

“No. Not really.”

“You look—well you seem a little worried.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Come on, Andrew. Tell me. What is it?”

“Really, it’s nothing. It’s actually good news. The medic mentioned the roads from Reno to Lake Tahoe are being cleared today. That usually means they’ll get to these lake access side roads later today or tomorrow.”

“Okay.” She smiled, but it was more of a polite smile than her bubbly ones. “So we’ll be able to get out of your hair soon.”

“Yes. Well no. You weren’t a bother. Especially not you.”

“Still, I’m sure you’d like to get back to your peace and quiet again. We’ve created so much chaos and disorder around your place.”

“It wasn’t so bad. And, I—I enjoyed getting to know you, Abby. A lot.”

She laced her hands around his waist again and held him, pressing her cheek into his chest. “Same here.”

He cupped her chin and tilted her head up to look at him. “I wouldn’t have met you otherwise, I don’t think. I wish there was more time before you had to leave.”

She stepped up on her tiptoes and kissed his lips softly. “There’s as much time as you and I want. And I’d like us to get to know each other better too.”

“So you—”

“Andrew, I’m kind of far away, but not too far. San Francisco is less than four hours from here. In good weather anyway.”

“So you…you’d…” he cleared his throat. “Would you like to go out with me sometime, Abigail Wittfield?”

“I would,” she answered cheerily. “I would love to.”

“Great.”

He leaned down and pressed his lips into hers, fiercely yearning for more of her—for all of her. He parted her lips and invaded her mouth with his tongue, taking her mouth in the way he wanted to possess her body but couldn’t. There wasn’t much time before the others would be up. He took what he could, and etched the sensations into his memories as he went.

“Abby,” he groaned into her mouth as he claimed her.

He felt her tiny hands tugging at the towel around his waist. “I want you now.”

“Do you think your friends may be up soon?”

“I don’t really care right now.” She wrapped her fingers over his cock. “I want as much of you as I can get before I have to leave.”

She slid her hand up his shaft, slowly and deliberately. Andrew closed his eyes and let her. He had to return the favor. He pried her hand from his member, took off her robe, and picked her up to deliver her into his shower. He stood in the path of the cold water until it warmed up, and moved behind her to let the water flow over her.

“So, where were we?” He wrapped his arms around her body from behind.

“Oh, I think I remember,” she answered, turning to resume her massage on his cock.

“Ahhhh.” He moaned. “Have I told you just how good you are at that?”

“Perhaps.”

He snaked his hand down her belly and found her slit. “I’ve been thinking. I could work on improving too. Practice makes perfect, right?”

“Mmmm. Not true. It’s you. It’s us. We’re perfect.”

He grinned, chin resting on her shoulder. His two fingers slid inside her slowly, pressing gently against her inner walls, while his thumb strummed on her clit. He kept the motion subtle, but let her know he was there. It became harder by the minute to focus while she so adeptly stroked and played on his shaft.

She rocked her hips and bent her knees, and he sensed she wanted to feel his fingers more deeply, or even better, his cock buried deep, bringing her the pleasure he hoped she would only ever know with him from then on. Sliding his fingers out, he bent on one knee to meet her pussy head on. Sure she could no longer stroke his raging hard-on, but he knew what was coming next would make it all the more worthwhile.

He spread her legs and let his tongue find her clit as he reinserted his fingers and quickened their pace.

“Andrew, oh God.”

“Yes?”

“I—oh God.”

She may have forgotten what she wanted to say. Her legs seemed to weaken and buckle slightly as he continued to plunder her sweet, wet pussy. His fingers were doing wicked things to her insides and he doubted she cared about much else right now.

She shook her head. “Your fingers—”

He pulled his head back and looked up at her. “You mean these fingers?”

He withdrew them. She whimpered.

“Don’t stop, Andrew. Please don’t stop.”

Ducking his hand back down between her thighs, he slipped three fingers inside her this time, pumping the digits in and out of her slowly. He curved them and touched her G-spot, which made her legs tremble even more. He flicked again on her clit with his tongue, circling it as his palm nuzzled against the heat at her lower belly. He could hear her panting more quickly.

He picked up the pace and moved his fingers deeper inside her. Her hips rocked with fervor. She grabbed his hair and pulled. He wisely ignored her and kept up his licking and pumping. She was close. Very close.

He pulled his lips away from her clit again. “I’m not stopping until you come, Abby.”

She moaned and looked like she would sob at his words. Finally, she let go and came. Removing his fingers, he stood up and picked her up high with both arms. She wrapped her weakened legs loosely around his waist. He positioned himself and lowered her onto his swollen cock. He lifted her body slowly again, and lowered her again as he dipped inside her with long, strong strokes.

She clamped her hands on his shoulder when some energy returned. He picked up the pace and thrust into her once again. She tightened her legs around him and ground her pussy down on his cock, and he felt her climax climbing again. He sped up as he plunged into to her wildly. Her legs began to shake again, and she dug her nails down into his shoulders. With a final few thrusts, she welcomed him over the edge with her second climax. He was ready to let it go. He came inside her as her walls undulated through its orgasm. Slowly, he let her legs down, but held up most of her weight.

“Feeling good now?”

She nodded her head. “Better than good.”

“Perfect.” He hesitated as he caught his breath. He had to ask. “I know this is a very late post hoc question, but are you…”

“Yes,” she said breathlessly. “I haven’t been with another man for a long time. At least eighteen months. You?”

“Celibate for two years.”

“And yes, I’m on the pill. I’m clean, and you have nothing to worry about. And you are too. Right?”

“Yes. I’m clean. Not on the pill, though.”

“Funny guy.”

“Come on,” He kissed her hair. “Let’s have breakfast.”

They stepped out of the shower and dried off.

“How about breakfast in bed? It doesn’t sound as if anyone’s up yet.”

“Oh, extra time in bed with you? That could be loads of fun. Sure. In that case, I’ll get breakfast. You relax.”

“No, no. I meant I’ll make you breakfast. My ankle’s fine now. And you’ve all been catering to me the whole time. Let me do this for you. I really want to, especially if it’s our last day or two. Please?”

“Sure. Thanks for the kind gesture.” He started walking to the door, but turned back. “Whatever you’re planning to make, can you make double?”

“Ooooo, getting demanding, aren’t you?” She teased.

“What? Oh, no, it’s not like that. I meant, I don’t think anyone was able to eat last night. It was too nerve-wracking. And I’m starved, so your friends must be too. Let’s go.”

She pulled back her towel and snapped it softly on his butt when he got to the door. “Now get that sexy ass back in bed before I tie you to it.”

He smiled and made it back to her in three quick strides, pulling her into his arms. “Playful are we? After we eat, I’ll let you, but only if you’ll let me tie you up first. But I’ll warn you. You may end up trading in your best night ever for it.”

“Sounds like a dare. I’m game.” She winked.