Callie

We sat in the back of the black SUV as the house manager drove us back up to the cabin. Preston sat upfront, on the phone with someone talking about wiring music up the side of a mountain. I curled up in Noah’s lap and rested my head on his chest. Kate pulled my legs into her lap and smiled before tapping away on her phone.

The further away from the fall, the more my body ached and my head throbbed. Exhaustion threatened to take over, but part of me was too excited to allow it.

Noah held me. His touch eased my aching muscles. We both smelled like mountain and dirt and I couldn’t wait to get back to the house and take a shower.

I drifted to sleep because the next thing I remember was Noah climbing out of the car with me in his arms.

“I can walk.” I said, but wrapped my arm around his neck and clung to him.

“Let me take care of you.” He whispered in my ear.

My insides fluttered.

He carried me up the stairs and we turned towards our room and stopped. Nip sat at attention in front of our door.

“Oh.” I frowned. My little guy waited up for me.

Noah walked us down the hall and sat me down in front of Nip. I squatted down.

He yelped and sniffed my hand. He had to reassure himself it was me. He yelped again and leaped into my arms.

“Oh, baby.” I ran my hand down his back. His soft fur comforted me.

“Someone cleaned him up.” Noah said as he scratched Nip behind the ears.

I stood with Nip in my arms. I nuzzled up and smelled his fur. Flowery shampoo filled my nose.

“Someone needs to get you cleaned up, too,” Noah said and disappeared into the bathroom.

I heard the spray from the shower. I sat down on the end of the bed.

“I heard you tried to rescue me.” I kissed him and let him kiss me back. “You were so brave.”

Nip yelped and wiggled in my hand. I sat him down and he crawled in my lap. He wasn’t done checking on me.

Noah came back into the bedroom. He had removed his shirt and shoes. I pulled off my coat and watched him maneuver around the room.

He pulled out a pair of boxers, one of his Giants practice t-shirts I love to sleep in and a pair of shorts I sleep in. He threw them on the bed.

He knelt in front of me and helped me take off my shirt. I winced from the stretch.

“Easy.” He narrowed his eyes and concentrated. He lifted Nip and sat him on the ground.

Nip protested with a bark.

“Nip.” He said in his best dad voice. “Mommy needs a shower.”

I reached up and took a small leaf out of Noah’s hair.

“So does Daddy.” I grinned. “You going to take a shower with me.”

“Well, I think I have to. I mean, you might pass out or get disoriented.” He touched the bandage on my head. “We need to keep your hair dry.”

“You going to take advantage of me in my weakened state.” I giggled.

“I’ll control myself, Noah said.

My arms dropped to my lap. I blinked.

“Hey,” He cupped my cheek. “You need to stay awake for a bit.”

“Okay.”

“You okay?” He ran his hands down my arms and took my hand.

I nodded and yawned.

“Stand up.” Noah scooted back.

He unbuttoned my pants and slid them down my legs. He ran his hand up my thighs and rested them on my hips. He kissed my tummy and the butterflies flutter like they had taken a dose of speed. I licked my lips and pushed my hair out of my face.

He removed my panties. His hands skimming over my ass as he pushed them down my hips.

Noah stood up.

“Don’t give me that look Callie.” Noah warned.

“What look?” He took my hand and pulled me into the bathroom.

We stopped outside of the shower stall. I leaned in and kissed Noah’s shoulder blade. He looked down. I reached around and ran my hand over the front of his pants. He was turned on, too.

“Callie.” His voice cracked when I squeezed him. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t know.” I ran my hand down into the waistband of his pants. “I’ve never had a concussion before. Maybe it makes you horny.”

“If it did, I don’t think we would be trying so hard to prevent them in the NFL.” Noah pulled my hand out of his pants and grabbed a plastic shower cap sitting on the counter.

Noah grinned and placed the cap over my head. He pushed the ends of my hair up into the cap, careful not to touch the bandage. I saw my reflection in the mirror.

“Now, that’s attractive.” I reached up.

Noah pushed my hand down. He shook his head and nudged me into the shower.

“Watch your head.” He pointed and left me alone.

I stood under the spray and groaned as the hot water pelted my sore shoulders. The heat encompassed me and woke me up. I closed my eyes, but opened them when the sensation of falling made me reach out.

As I reached out, Noah’s arms wrapped around me and pulled me into him.

“I’m here.” He held me as the shower spray washed over both of us. I leaned back into him, enjoying being surrounded by him. Being taken care of by him. He took care of me last time I hurt myself, too.

The last time I was running away from him.

I was running towards him now. Running towards our new life together.

Running towards a happily ever after.

Maybe I should change my URL to