by Lori Zaremba
His face split into a wide smile that made him even more handsome. “You told me when we first met that you don’t do boring. I guess you weren’t lying.” He lifted her hand and pressed his lips to the inside of her her wrist. She wanted to hug herself, enjoying the bliss she was experiencing for the first time in a long while.
Trudy thought back to all the dates she had on in her life. Even with Michael, she never felt this kind of happiness or the butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She wondered if this could be the real thing.
She then flipped the happy coin to the worry side, wondering how this was going to work when he lived in Detroit and she lived in Pittsburgh.
Jason must’ve noticed the wheels turning in her head, as he stopped talking to give her a perplexed look. She snapped out of her revelry just as the food arrived. The waitress placed before her a massive platter of crispy chicken, fried to perfection. Jason’s cheeseburger was served on a bun the size of a dinner plate with a basket of fries to go along.
“Wowee, are you gonna eat all that?”
They enjoyed their meal with good-natured bantering and a lot of food sharing. Trudy even allowed him to eat her drumstick, since she just could not fit it in.
When they tried to pay the bill, the waitress informed them the tab had been funded by the lady whose purse they recovered.
“See, Young, good deeds sometimes have sweet rewards,” Trudy teased.
He responded by sliding his arm around her shoulder and pressing his lips to her temple before taking her hand and leading her outside.
Once outside, they discovered dark, threatening clouds had replaced the sunshine. Observing the dismal sky, Jason handed the helmet to her. “We better get on the road or we’re going to be screwed.” He pulled out a rain slicker and told her to button up.
She was wondering if, in this case, getting screwed would be a bad thing. She wore an amused expression as she buttoned up the rain slicker.
They headed toward Interstate 94 South, taking a shortcut the waitress at Cliff’s recommended, and somehow they got lost. Trudy noticed the sky took on an eerie cast, and the air was thick with moisture, then the rain started as Mother Nature waited for no one. At first, it was a gentle, misty rain, but before long the wind picked up, and it became a steady, icy downpour. Now it was coming down torrentially.
The helmet on Trudy’s head had a severe design flaw, allowing the water that was cascading over it to create a waterfall in front of her face as the wind then blasted it up her nose, in her eyes, and in her mouth when she tried to gasp for air.
Her hair was saturated and falling into her eyes, blinding her, so she buried her face in the back of Jason’s neck.
Lightning flashed with an almost instant clap of thunder in a strange late winter storm. They both realized it was getting too dangerous to continue. Trudy found herself praying to the good Lord for some relief.
Saying a silent amen while pushing her hair out of her eyes, she saw a sign stating a vacancy. She shouted to alert Jason, and he quickly pulled the Harley under a portico that covered the curved driveway in front of the entrance to the Morning Glory Bed & Breakfast. Trudy was elated to climb off that damn motorcycle and remove the evil little helmet.
They stepped inside the small but cheerful lobby. Trudy was soaked through to her skin. She felt terrible that she was creating puddles on the beautiful hardwood floor.
Jason secured a room so the duo could at least dry off and wait out the rain, as it didn’t look like it was stopping anytime soon. Trudy agreed, and the thought of a hot shower was so very appealing after the icy rain had chilled her to the bone.
The innkeeper offered to dry their clothes for them while they rested. He directed Jason to park his Harley alongside his car in a nearby garage, so while Jason attended to his bike, Trudy headed upstairs to peel off her wet clothes.
The room was sweet. A four-poster bed sat in the middle of the space. An antique dresser with a small flat screen TV on it and two tiny nightstands on both sides of the bed completed the room. Trudy found the remote to the television and switched it on. Studying her phone, she saw no missed messages and figured she would call Leslie in a little bit, and then decided to text her instead.
Trudy: Storm derailed our plans, but we are okay. Don’t wait up
Walking into the attached bathroom, she noticed a large clawfoot tub and looked at it longingly but opted for the shower beyond. She selected what she needed from a basket on the counter that held toiletries. She turned the shower on hot and let the steam warm her chilled bones.
Jason came in shortly after to gather up the wet clothes to give to the innkeeper, who was waiting outside the room door with two fluffy robes. When Trudy stepped out of the shower, she was pleased to see one of those robes draped over the hook by her towel. Her cheeks reddened a bit as she realized that Jason probably got a good look at her naked body through the opaque glass of the shower door.
Quickly drying off and using some of the inn’s provided body lotion, she slipped into the garment and went back into the bedroom where Jason waited with a bottle of beer in his hand. She saw that there were three more in a small bucket of ice, as well as a bottle of cabernet sitting on the bedside table.
“Well, hello!” She chuckled, thinking how much she was going to enjoy that wine.
Jason strode toward the bathroom door wearing only his boxers, giving Trudy an eyeful.
“My turn.” He grinned and then mentioned as he passed, purposely brushing up against her, that she should have a glass of wine.
Trudy flipped through the channels of the little TV and snuggled a little deeper into the robe and sat back on the pillows. Maybe because she was just a little bit nervous, she drank the glass of wine and was on her second when Jason came out of the shower.
Only real men can wear a white robe well, Trudy thought sinfully. He was lean with a golden tan that she had yet to ask where he’d gotten. His dark golden hair was tussled from his shower, and his eyes were glowing with promise as he looked at her lying on the bed.
He padded to the window, and looking out, he shook his head. It still was a torrential downpour. Opening another bottle of beer, he took a swig while looking at her. He raised an eyebrow and grinned.
“Well, it looks like we’re stuck here for a little while. What would you like to do to kill some time?”
“Well, I don’t think we can go out dancing in our robes.” Trudy gave a husky chuckle. She had to look away from his intense stare, suddenly bashful of the desire she saw there.
Jason walked a few short steps to where Trudy sat on the edge of the bed. He switched the television station to a music channel while she finished her wine. The room filled with the first few notes of the Stained song “So Far Away.”
“Well, isn’t that perfect?” Trudy whispered.
He held his hand out to her, and a thrill ran through her as he pulled her into his waiting arms. They moved slowly around the small room trying to avoid knocking over any of the furniture. Jason sang along with the lyrics, which suddenly had meaning.
His hands cupped her face, his eyes not leaving hers, and he ran his fingers through her hair. “This crazy hair…I fell in love with it the first time I saw it.”
Trudy felt the smile that pulled at her lips as she thought of the pink color less than a week ago. Before she gave it another thought, his mouth claimed hers. The kiss deepened into something more, something that made her entire body quiver.
The hands that were in her hair lowered and caressed her shoulders before skimming over her body and down to the belt of her robe. Trudy did not complain when the garment slipped from her arms and fell to the floor.
Jason’s lips followed the same path as his hands, finding her most sensitive places along the way. She moaned as little flames of desire smoldered with each touch of his fingers, his lips, and the seductive gentleness in his eyes. Trudy knew without a single doubt that no man had ever looked at her that way before.
By the ti
me he found her mouth with his once again, she was almost out of her mind with passion.
“Beautiful,” he whispered.
Her hands shook as she found the loose knot of his robe. Allowing her hands to explore his muscles and smooth skin, Trudy touched her lips to his collarbone and buried her nose in his neck, inhaling his warm scent.
Jason guided her so that the backs of her legs were against the bed, while his tongue slipped inside her greedy mouth, and his hands cupped her breasts and brought the delicate nipples to a crest. She tossed her head with desire when his lips found one of the aroused peaks. Groaning, she pulled him with her onto the mattress. Together they rolled in a tangle of need. Trudy held him close, needing to feel his warm skin against hers.
When Jason finally entered her, she found her heart almost wanting to burst with the sweetness, and looking into his eyes at that moment, Trudy knew he’d discovered the same truth.
As he rocked her with his body, bringing her to a place of ecstasy, tears escaped her eyes, and his gentle lips stole the words she whispered.
Smiling tenderly at each other, Jason grabbed her hands and lifted them above her head. Together, they journeyed toward the pinnacle, squeezing each other’s hands as something explosive shook them both.
She screamed his name as they went over the edge and finally tumbled into sweet, loving bliss.
The moments ticked by slowly, and when they were finally able to get hold of their emotions, they smiled dumbly at each other.
“Holy shit.”
“Did that just happen?”
They spoke at once, giddy and hugging each other close.
He finally rolled over onto his back, pulling her with him, so her head was nestled in the crook of his arm. Silent and in a euphoric haze, Trudy stared at the window and watched the waterfall that cascaded over it, blocking her view.
They lay there peacefully until Jason broke the silence.
“Tell me about this?” he asked, placing his hand over the scar above her left breast.
Sobering, she looked up at him and placed her hand on his.
She decided she would tell him everything.
Clearing her throat, she began. “I had my suspicions that all was not well with my marriage.”
Jason stiffened next to her, surprised by her words but letting her continue.
“Michael wasn’t happy with all the hours I worked. Some weeks, I would only spend a few hours at home, and those hours I slept.” She let out a long breath. “After my promotion to detective, the job demanded more and more from me. I realized Michael and I were turning into just roommates, sharing the bills and the responsibility of an eleven-year-old son. Every day, I planned to find a way to have more time alone with Michael, but that time seemed to be taken by some other matter.”
Trudy’s voice caught, and he pulled her closer. She found herself telling him things she’d never said to anyone.
“The day I caught a bullet was the day I found out that Michael was having an affair.” She looked up at him, her eyes clouded with sheen anger. She cleared her throat. “My partner Rob and I were wrapping up a case involving several murder victims. We had one suspect in custody and enough information and evidence to arrest a second, the kingpin known as D Money. Rob had received an anonymous tip earlier in the day that the suspect was laying low at a relative’s house in the Hill District, and we wasted no time getting a warrant and heading out to make the arrest.” Trudy took a deep breath before continuing.
“We parked our car near the address where the perp was said to be residing. Waiting for backup, I even made a quick call to Aaron’s sitter to let her know I’d be home late.” Trudy chuckled as she tried to lighten the intensity of the story.
“Once the other squad car pulled up, Rob and I made our way slowly up the street and climbed the steps to the front door, as the other unit went around back. I remember removing my gun from its holster. I pounded on the door.” Her voice now stone cold, the anger and hurt that she kept tucked away simmered under the surface.
Police...open the door. She flashed back.
“The door opened slowly, and I found myself staring down at a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old boy through the screen.” She paused once again to clear her throat. “The boy stepped back.” Trudy’s voice softened as she whispered, “I opened the screen door and walked inside. I never even saw the gun he shot me with. I smelled the powder, I heard the blast, and I saw black.”
She heard Jason gasp as he pulled her closer.
“Somewhere far away, I could hear shouts. ‘Officer down…officer down!’” Trudy dashed away a stray tear that escaped her eye. “There was more gunfire, sirens, and Rob talking to me about staying with him.”
With a shaky voice and covering her eyes with the back of her hands, she paused for a moment before going on.
“This part gets a bit weird. I remember smelling honeysuckle and hearing my grandmother singing.”
The chorus of “You Are My Sunshine” floated through her memory.
She choked up again when she thought of her grandma, and Jason held her closer.
“It’s okay, honey. You don’t have to go on,” Jason cooed.
She ignored him. She had to go on.
“I felt as if I was floating, and I looked into my grandma’s deep blue eyes. I could hear the joy in her voice. She told me I have a son to take care of. I saw her, Jason. She was holding Aaron. Then a strong pair of hands gripped me and pulled me back to earth. All I could think about was holding Aaron. Finally, I regained consciousness. I tried to get up, but something was still weighing me down. There was a male form bending over me, and as the haze lifted from my eyes…I recognize it was Rob. I could see it in his eyes. He thought I was a goner. I wanted to scream, but I could barely whisper. I asked him to please go get Aaron…and Michael.” A sob escaped her throat as the tears flowed freely, covering her cheeks and soaking Jason’s chest.
Trudy continued after a bit. “The next time I woke, it was in a hospital bed. Michael was sleeping in the chair at my bedside. I remember calling out to him. He turned his face toward me, and I could see his left eye swollen shut, and his lip was busted open. I asked him what happened. I later learned from several reliable sources that when Rob went to find Michael, he wasn’t at home, so he headed to Michael’s office, only to find Michael and a woman named BJ doing what she did best. Rob was so furious that he took his anger out on Michael’s face.”
Trudy heard Jason grunt his approval.
She went on to tell him that her mother, Deloris, moved in during the long months of her recovery. Michael moved out, saying maybe they both needed space. The months of rehab were grueling, challenging, and rewarding.
“During that time, I realized I just didn’t need Michael at all. He begged me several times to take him back, but I…I just wasn’t interested.” She gazed up at him and felt the heat rise on her cheeks. “I don’t know where that came from,” she whispered, embarrassed, realizing she had revealed so much about herself.
Trudy shook herself, gaining control of her emotions once again. She didn’t like to reveal her weakness to anyone, but something about him made her want to bare her soul.
She snuck a quick look up at his handsome face, and without thinking, her hand found its way through his hair and pulled his head down to meet her lips.
He held her face tenderly in his hands, his lips brushing away the traces of her tears. He was so gentle that she felt fresh tears welling up in her eyes, and she had no choice but to find his lips for another kiss and then some.
Growling, he pulled her on top of him for even more.
***
Some time later, Trudy stretched and slid from the bed. She picked up her cell phone and read Leslie’s reply to her earlier text.
Leslie: Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do :)
While on her way to the bathroom, Trudy turned to catch Jason admiring her derrière. Laughing, she told him she was hungry as she ducked out of view and closed th
e door.
They decided on cold sandwiches to be sent up from the pub below. They had thought about going downstairs, as their clothes arrived earlier, but Jason said he preferred her naked and in his bed.
Jason flipped on the weather channel to discover the rain would be stopping around midnight, but they decided they would wait until the wee hours of the morning before heading back to the house.
They made love again, and afterward, Trudy fell into a deep, untroubled sleep. She was relieved because it was the first sleep in a few days that she wasn’t interrupted with dreams of Vanessa.
The alarm woke them up promptly, and as Trudy rolled out of bed to take a shower, Jason headed downstairs in search of coffee. Trudy looked in the mirror and almost screeched at the sight that greeted her. Her hair was wild, her skin red from Jason’s whiskers, and dear God, she looked a fright. She brushed her teeth then shaved her legs. Ducking her head under the shower to wash her hair, she was rinsing off when the door opened behind her. She had company. Jason wasted no time as he pulled her back to his chest while his lips blazed a trail down her neck as the water flowed over them. Trudy thought there was a first time for everything, and this was the first time she made love in the shower. Not that she would call it making love. She thought it was more like red hot sex in the shower. Surprisingly, neither came out with injuries.
Trudy gave him a wicked smile as she slipped out from under the water to dry off. She allowed Jason to finish, giggling as he tried to grab her and pull her back in again. She smacked his hands and made a clean break. She dried off and went to find the now-lukewarm coffee he had brought up for her and quickly got dressed. Trudy never lacked for confidence, but this morning as she walked in front of Jason down the steps to lobby, she couldn’t help feeling like she had some swagger in her step.