Found in Understanding: Refuge Series Book Three by Debbie Zello (26)

Chapter Twenty-Six

“I love how you blush. It turns me on like nothing else, besides your breasts, and your ass is amazing. Then there’s your…”

“I get the picture. You’re turned on by everything. Not really news here, Understanding. You’re in for a treat because my mom has blushed like a teenager her whole life. I have a feeling I didn’t fall far from the cranberry bush myself,” I said trying to untangle myself from his legs to stand.

“I really like this chair. I think I’m going to order one for us,” he said feeling the leather.

“Does the stick-figure porn dictionary come with it?” I asked as I walked naked through the room towards the bedroom. I felt his eyes on me and heard a low growl.

“I may have to pay extra for that with models, contracts and everything.”

“Make a package deal. We have to have the book,” I yelled, walking into the shower.

The warm water felt amazing as it ran down my back. I had come so far in the last few months all because of him. I would never have been comfortable being naked before with a man watching me. He made me feel beautiful.

Royce did too and I’m sure if we had had more time with each other, he would have been patient too. I still thought of him often. Being intimate with Understanding triggered the memories.

After I dried off, I got dressed while Understanding took his shower. We were both starving having missed lunch with our participation in chair aerobics. We left the room and went down to the casino level to hunt for dinner.

We decided on Todd English’s Tuscany. We were seated in front of the waterfall. The rocks and water were so rustic and lovely. Kim, our server took our drink order and left us to look over the menu. “What do you feel like?” he asked.

“Grilled swordfish sounds delicious and a salad,” I said looking over to the water. “What about you?”

“I’m going with a steak and salad.”

“Good, I’ll trade you a piece of mine for a piece of yours.” He reached across the table for my hand. His thumb rubbed over my knuckles.

“Tell me that someday you’ll marry me,” he said sincerely.

“Where did that come from?”

“Not an answer. I know you have to finish your degree. I know you want a master and you’re thinking about more. I just want to know if I’m in your equation for the future,” he said. I hated the lost look that was in his eyes. After all he had given me, it killed me to think he doubted my feelings.

“I love you. I know that without any doubt. I don’t want anyone else. But right now I can’t think about marring you or anyone. Time is all I ask. Time and you.”

“I’m going to keep asking until I get a proper answer. Not daily or weekly but I will keep asking,” he said giving my hand a squeeze.

Our dinner was scrumptious, the wine delightful and the chocolate cake for dessert, deadly. We finished and then walked around the casino. Understanding wanted me to put his money in a slot-machine but I couldn’t see wasting hard earned money on a slim chance like that. So I refused to take his money.

We continued to walk around the shops and went into a bar for a nightcap. A woman was singing at a piano. Her voice was so sultry she almost had a rasp to it. I sat at the table and closed my eyes so I could just listen to her.

Understanding got up and took my hand to pull me up. “Dance with me, baby,” he said pulling me to his chest. I relaxed into him as he swayed me around the floor. “What are you thinking about?” he asked.

“That you might be able to end all of the world’s problems if someone could just dance with you,” I said dreamily. I could hear and feel his chest vibrating with his laughter.

“I’ll put in a call to the President and tell him I’m available. I wonder if POTUS will let me lead?” he said continuing to laugh.

We spent our last night of our stay-cation locked in each other’s arms happy and sated. We drove back, stopping to pick up my few boxes of stuff at the apartment and leaving the keys on the counter for James. He was due back today also. Classes would begin on Tuesday.

Understanding helped me to carry all of my earthly possessions into my room. He gave my cell a discerning look and said, “You prefer to live here than at my house? I’m offended.”

“It’s not the room or the company, Understanding. It’s the experience and the independence. It’s my last year. Please tell me you get it,” I explained, pouting. He wrapped me in his arms and kissed the top of my head.

“I get it; I don’t have to like it. Friday night to Sunday afternoon, you’re mine, right?”

“Unless I have a paper due or a test to cram for. You can be very distracting. I can probably work better here alone.”

“You’re going to drive me crazy and probably be the death of me,” he said gruffly. I placed my fingers on his lips.

“Don’t say anything like that, please. Take it back!” I pled.

“I’m sorry sweetheart. That was unthinking of me to say. I’m sorry, I take it back.”

“I know you’re just teasing but that isn’t funny. If anything happened to you…I’d…” The tears began to drip down my cheeks.

“Christ, now I’ve made you cry. Dammit it all to hell, I’m sorry, baby. Don’t cry, I’m an idiot.” I sniffled and dried my eyes. Sometimes I’m just a pinch away from tears and the slightest thing sends me off.

“No, it’s okay. I’m just emotional today. The beginning and end is hard for me. I’ll get a grip.”

My suitemates came in just after Understanding left. I put my things away and made my bed. We spent the rest of the night catching up on our summer flings and things. I called home just before I went to sleep. And that is the way my last year began.

It was wonderful to see Professor Miller again. I waited after class to speak to him. “Professor Miller. How was your summer?” I asked.

“Lovely. My new wife and I went for a month to the south of France. It was simply amazing. The flowers, the food, and the wine…I gained ten pounds,” he said laughing.

“You ate the flowers? Don’t they count as a vegetable?” I said joining him in a giggle.

“You got me! How was your summer?”

“I met someone and it’s going well. His name is Understanding and he has that in boat-loads.”

“No kidding? His name is Understanding?”

“Yes and it gets better. His middle name is Matters,” I said smiling widely.

“Well, I’ll be.”

“Exactly! He’s a lot like Royce in the way he cares for me. He brings me peace.”

“I’m happy for you. Royce would approve. He would want you to be happy. He would want you not to be simply alive, but to live. I wish you well,” he said patting my hand.

By the end of the first week, I had stepped back into the familiar cadence of work, school, study, and friends. When I got into Understanding’s car on Friday night, I was ready to relax in his arms. “I missed you so much, baby,” he said kissing me.

“I missed you too. I’m very glad it’s Friday. What do you want to do?”

“I want to get lost in you and then hold you all night.”

“Sounds perfect!”

In early October, Columbus Day in fact, I was working for Paul when I saw the boy ride up on his bike. He looked so much better than the first time I had seen him. His limp was far less noticeable. His hair had grown in and you could no longer see the long scar that nearly surrounded his head.

He smiled at me as soon as he opened the door. “Good morning.” I said cheerily.

“Good morning, Neomi.”

“You look good. How are you feeling?” I inquired.

“Much better,” he said fingering through his hair to the place where his scar would be. I had a brief deja-vu moment when he did that. Something so familiar about the way he drew his fingers through his hair. I shook the feeling away.

“What can I get for you?”

“Coffee~black, a plain bagel with cream cheese, thank you.”

“Coming right up!” I got his order ready and placed it in front of him. He paid me, took his breakfast to a nearby table, and sat down. He sat facing me as I worked waiting on other customers. At first I thought he was cute, a teenage boy with maybe a little crush on me.

Yet, his eyes were older than his age. He had a way of appraising me that made me feel naked. He didn’t frighten me. I was intrigued by him.

He finished his food and stood to leave. “Bye, Neomi. See you soon,” he chirped from the door.

“Bye, I don’t even know your name!” I returned.

“Jaycon. J-A-Y-C-O-N. My parents wanted it spelled differently.”

“I totally get that. See you soon Jaycon. Have a great day!”

“You, too!”