A Love Like This

by Kahlen Aymes

  She stopped in front of a closed white door. “He should be in here. If he’s not in the lounge, there are a couple of sleeping rooms near the back.”

  Jane turned to leave.

  “Wait. I’m sorry. How will I know which one? I’d hate to barge in on someone.”

  “Ryan’s the only one in there. Everyone else is in the department.”

  My heart pounded in my chest. We would be completely alone and I couldn’t wait a minute longer. “Thank you, Jane. He’ll be very surprised.” I pushed the door open and my eyes quickly scanned the room, entering as she turned to leave.

  A television was on but no one was watching it, all of the chairs and couches vacant. I walked to the back of the room and leaned my ear to first one door and then the other. There was no sound coming from either one. Ryan was probably getting some much needed sleep.

  I turned the knob carefully on the door to my right and pushed it open just enough to see inside. The light was very low, almost dark, and the room was very small. He was lying on the small cot with one arm thrown over his eyes and one leg hanging off of the edge, his foot flat on the floor. I couldn’t help my smile. I was so damn happy to see him and now I could hear him breathing.

  I let the door close but held it with the knob turned so I could latch it without a sound, and then tiptoed the few feet to the cot and slid down the wall opposite Ryan. His scent surrounded me and I saw the 24 hours worth of stubble that had accumulated on his jaw and chin. My body quickened. It still amazed me how moved I was just looking at him. I ran a finger along his forearm to see if a tickle would make him move it. He moaned softly and like magic, his arm moved to his side and his head turned in my direction. I wanted to touch him. I scooted closer to the edge of the bed and leaned on it so I could look into his face, brushing his unruly hair off of his forehead. My eyes drank him in. Jesus, he was so gorgeous. Exhausted and unshaven but still beautiful.

  Ryan drew in a deep breath. “Julia…” he whispered softly but his eyes were still closed. “Baby, you smell so good.”

  My breath stopped and my features softened, biting my lower lip. I felt like he’d reached right inside my chest and squeezed my heart. I pushed the parka from my shoulders and left it on the floor where it fell, sitting up on my knees so that I could lean over him. I let my lower lip nudge his upper one and then my open mouth hovered over his, breathing in his delicious breath, and then I used my teeth to gently tug on his lower lip. My hand roamed lower, under the hem of his shirt, tracing the happy trail down to the tied band of his pants. He was so fucking sexy.

  Instantly, his mouth came to life beneath mine and his arms closed around me, one hand sliding into the hair at the back of my head. “Julia… Am I dreaming?”

  His tongue slid inside my mouth in a desperate kiss and he pulled me on top of his body. When I pulled my mouth from his, his eyes were open. His mouth split into a big smile and his arms tightened in a huge bear hug. “Oh, my God! I missed you, babe! What are you doing here? Did you sneak in?” He pushed my hair off of the left side of my face and kissed my lips gently. “Hmmm?” He kissed me again and then the side of my face at the temple.

  “No sneaking, yet. Jane and Caleb showed me where to find you.”

  “Mmmm…” His nose nuzzled the side of my cheek and his tongue licked at the corner of my mouth and I moaned. “Remind me to thank them later. Jesus, Julia. You feel so good.”

  I straddled his hips and his hands were wild as they roamed over my body on top of my clothes and then under the hem of his sweater that I wore. When they encountered the bare skin of my back and found no bra strap he paused and then sat up beneath me.

  “You naughty, naughty girl,” he said softly as his mouth came back to mine for some slow, sucking kisses and his hands moved around the front to cup my breasts. Both of my nipples puckered beneath his palms and I felt his erection, steel hard and pressing against me. I arched into him and he groaned before his hands moved down to the waistband of the leggings I wore.

  “Ugh… Why?” He pulled on the stretchy material in exaggeration. “Get rid of this shit. I want you naked.” He laughed quietly, but his hands slid into the offending garment and cupped my bare ass cheeks. “Mmm… more naked Julia.” His hands moved lower and he slid a finger into me. “You’re so hot and wet. Uhh… honey, I want to taste you.”

  My head fell back as he moved his fingers deeper until I was gasping. The sweater wasn’t a great choice after all since the collar was interfering with Ryan’s mouth on the skin of my neck and chest. I raised my arms and threw it off, finally rewarded with his low groan and that glorious mouth sucking and kissing along the cord of my neck. He was frantic in his movements, yet somehow measured and deliberate. Slow and deep.

  Ryan pulled his hand free and put his fingers in my mouth. “God, Julia, let me…” he rasped out. “Fuck… I need more. I want you to come in my mouth.” His hands started to peel off the leggings, baring my stomach and hip bones, which he clasped and stood me up next to the cot, pulling at the material as his mouth moved over my rib cage and lower, his tongue leaving a hot trail in its wake.

  Jesus, that was hot and I felt the wetness rush between my thighs, my body opening internally in anticipation.

  “As much as I want that right now, you can’t go back to work smelling like sex.”

  “I don’t care…”

  “Ryan,” I groaned and his hand forced me down so he could capture my willing mouth with his. He kissed me hungrily, again and again, our breathing along with our moans getting louder. I wanted to get him off, but we needed to be quiet about it.

  “Baby… Remember where we are. What if they page you in the middle of all this,” I gasped softly, before sucking his earlobe into my mouth. “I can’t be completely naked and neither can you.”

  “Okay, not completely… but I want you. I’ll apologize in advance in case I get paged and we have to end in a hurry, my love.”

  I pushed him down and then moved lower on his body, one hand sliding up his chest under his shirt and the other working the tie of his pants free. His cock was engorged, huge and hard. Ryan was panting as I pushed the material down just enough so it sprung free and then ran my tongue up the length of it.

  “Uhhh…” His breath left him. “Julia, are you sure?”

  “Completely. I want this inside of me. In any way I can get it.” I said before I took him fully into my mouth. I moaned, letting the vibrations on my lips and tongue, pleasure him.

  Ryan tried to watch me as I worked over him, but eventually his head fell back against the pillows at the same time as his hips surged forward, pushing himself further into my mouth. “Baby… you’re so good. God, it feels amazing, Julia.” Love surged through me like a river. I wanted and needed to give him everything within my power. I wanted him to let go, proof of how much he wanted me and the depth of our love. I raked my nails down over his hips and the tops of his thighs, concentrating on keeping my teeth from hurting him. My hand closed around the base as my tongue circled, sucked and bobbed on him, the head was enough to fill my mouth. He was breathing hard in a short time and I could tell by the sour and salty taste of pre-cum that he was close.

  “Julia, don’t make me come yet. If you make me come like this, I won’t be able to walk, let alone work.”

  “I want to. I want you to come.”

  “Uhh… uhhh… Juliaaaa… please. Not yet.”

  I sat up and looked at him, unable to deny him, but I knew he was left aching, as was I. My body was screaming for his. His blue eyes were on fire and intent as they roamed over me. “You are so fucking beautiful. Come here.”

  He sat up and threw his legs over the side, leaning the short distance back against the wall. I stood up and he turned me around, yanking the offending material that covered me down to my knees and reaching around to slide his fingers down over my stomach, through my pubic hair until his fingers were parting the slick flesh. “Ugnnnn…” Ryan moaned softly in response, his mouth beginning to b
urn trails over my back and shoulder, his other hand grasping my left hip and pulling me backward toward him. “Baby, Julia… I want to feel you around me. Sit on my lap; take me inside.”

  The leggings around my knees prevented me from turning to straddle him. I knew what he wanted and I gave it to him by reaching behind me and guiding his cock to my entrance. I rubbed the head in the wetness and he moaned, thrusting his hips in need. He used both hands to lift me until I was sitting on his lap and then he was pulling me down and filling me inch by delicious inch.

  “Ah, yeah. God, that’s it.”

  My hands on his knees allowed me to move over him and his hands roamed the front of my body as I rode him. The room was silent except for the heavy breathing and soft moans we brought from each other. I was moving on him in long, slow strokes, not wanting it to end too soon, but feeling the tension building in my own body. I clenched on him involuntarily. He moved his hand down and touched my clitoris, applying pressure in slow pulses that matched the rhythm in which we were moving together and I knew I was gone.

  “Uhhhh…” I gasped for breath as my orgasm rocked me and my insides hugged around him as spasm after spasm of pleasure washed through me.

  “Jesus…” Ryan groaned and his arms tightened around me to hold me down on his lap as he released deep inside me. “Fuck, Julia.” His forehead rested between my shoulder blades and his breath rushed hotly over my skin as he jerked again and again against me. “I love you.”

  When he was kissing my back and his breathing regulated slightly, I pulled off of him and turned in his arms in my need to hold him. Instantly, his hungry mouth was on mine in a series of deep kisses. “I love you, more,” I whispered against his mouth.

  Ryan leaned his forehead in the curve of my neck and I could feel the light sheen of perspiration there. “This was the best damn break I’ve ever had, Jules. If I don’t get fired, we’ll have to do this again.”

  “I wasn’t planning on seducing you. Only seeing you. I couldn’t wait another minute.”

  He pushed the hair off the side of my face and placed a kiss on my temple and then one on my cheekbone. “You’re my baby. Right?”

  “Mmmm… always. I want more.” I pushed my fingers through his hair and he leaned into my hand.

  “Me, too, but I should get back before they send a search party.” Ryan’s hands rubbed circles on my back.

  “Okay,” I said reluctantly. “Should I take a cab home or wait for you?”

  “Get a cab. It will be a couple of hours, probably.”

  “Ugh. I don’t want to let go of you now that I have you.”

  I got up off of his lap and pulled up the leggings and retrieved the sweater from the floor and quickly got redressed while he adjusted his clothes and checked for telltale wet spots.

  I laughed softly as I watched him. “Don’t worry; I think I got most of the glop.”

  “Do I smell like sex?” he asked, a grin spreading out on his face.

  I leaned in and sniffed. “Nope.”

  “You can’t tell because it’s on you too, silly.” He gathered me up and lifted me off the floor so he could kiss me hard on the mouth. “Thank you for coming to see me.”

  I giggled and kissed him back.

  *****

  The sun was coming up when I heard the door open. Finally, Ryan was home. I had showered and tried to sleep but all I could do was lay awake and wait for him, reliving the glorious half hour in the doctor’s lounge. I pretended to sleep so that he would shower and climb into bed with the intention to sleep and not make love.

  He didn’t take long and was soon sliding his muscled, naked self in bed behind me. He curled up next to me and pulled me back against him. I was naked as well and he murmured a soft sigh. His strong hand closed around my forearm and his face settled in the curve of my neck.

  “I know you’re awake, Julia. You aren’t breathing hard enough to be sleeping. You can’t fake me out,” he whispered.

  “I guess next time I’ll breathe heavier, then.”

  “Jesus, I’m tired,” he sighed against me.

  I felt content. Safe. Whole.

  “I know.” I looked over my shoulder toward him. “Sleep, my love.”

  “You feel so good against me like this. My whole world exists right here in this bed.”

  My hand traced over his forearm that was wrapped around me. Over and over I lightly traced his warm skin, the muscles and sinew strong beneath my fingers “It’s nice to have you home. You work too hard.”

  “I’m sorry you have to work tomorrow, sweets. It’s too bad we can’t goof off all day, but thank you for asking me to come along. Can I ask for something?”

  “Anything.”

  “Will you make lemon muffins for breakfast? Before my day shift?”

  I smiled and pulled his hand up to kiss it, dragging my mouth over it lightly. I loved this man so much. I’d give him the world and all he wanted was lemon muffins. “Of course. Anything you want.”

  “I knew you would. I don’t care about anything else. Take my job. Take it all. I just want you. I want to hold you forever and never let go,” his voice was starting to slur as he drifted quickly to sleep.

  I snuggled in closer and breathed in his breath as my eyes closed. “Okay, then don’t. Don’t let go.”

  ~4~

  “I’m sorry, babe,” I said in hushed tones. “I’m gonna miss my flight. It can’t be helped.”

  Ellie was crying in the other room, her relationship with Harris in shambles. It was impossible to leave L.A. and head back to New York as I’d planned.

  Ryan sighed heavily on the other end of the line. I could picture the disappointment on his handsome face.

  “Julia, the timing sucks!” he said harshly.

  I flushed guiltily. Ryan had been monitoring the most optimal time to conceive even more diligently than I had, and he’d only agreed to my impromptu trip to L.A. on the understanding I’d be home in time for the weekend. It was rare he had two days off in a row and we’d both looked forward to a weekend sequestered in bed in our quest to make a baby. But mostly, to just soak each other up.

  “I know!” I said adamantly then lowered my voice. “I’m disappointed, too. I’m sorry! But Ellie’s a mess, Ryan.” I cringed when my friend burst into a fresh bout of sobbing in the other room. Surely Ryan could hear her wailing. “She’s devastated. Harris broke up with her last night. I just can’t leave right now.”

  “Christ! Why now? I can’t get a fucking break!” Ryan’s tone became harder. “I knew this was coming! She brought this on herself.”

  “She’s my best friend! I can’t believe you’re being so selfish!”

  “I’m selfish? I let you run off across the Goddamn country on a moment’s notice! It isn’t like we can afford this type of shit, anyway! Ellie needs to grow the fuck up.”

  “You have no idea what it’s like to be dumped by someone you love! It’s never happened to you, so you can’t understand what she’s going through! You’re being a dick, Ryan!”

  “She doesn’t trust the guy! He might as well screw around if he gets accused regardless of what he does! Jesus Christ!”

  “I’m sorry if I can’t make it home in time for the freaking schedule! You’re acting like a spoiled brat!”

  “I’m acting like a man who works eighty hours a week and never sees his wife!” he spat angrily.

  “There’s always next month.”

  “That’s beside the point, and it wasn’t what I said! Just forget it!”

  “Ryan… I…”

  Ellie came out of the bathroom, her face swollen and blotchy, letting her cell phone drop, unbidden, from her hand before she landed on the couch next to me and started to sob quietly, shaking her head. I reached out to take her hand in mine. Ryan would just have to understand.

  I was heartbroken for her and trembling in the wake of the angry exchange with my husband when he sighed heavily on the other end of the line.

  “When do you think you
’ll be home, then?” His voice was quieter, defeated in response to the sound of Ellie’s misery in the background.

  My heart ached at the tone in his voice. He missed me which was the crux of his anger. He was always generous with others, but he was over-worked, impatient and probably horny as hell.

  “I’m not sure. But, I love you.”

  He didn’t respond right away and I turned my back to Ellie so she wouldn’t read my expression.

  “Ryan, I said I love you.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Please don’t make me feel guilty for being here.”

  “I gotta go.” He ended the call before I could respond and I glanced up at my friend.

  “Shit!” I sighed as I threw the phone down next to me.

  “I’m sorry, Julia. I’m ruining your relationship as well as my own.”

  “He’ll get over it. He’s exhausted and not himself.” My words didn’t sound convincing, even to me. “What did Harris have to say?”

  “He won’t take my calls,” she said miserably before another torrent of tears began. I put my arms around her and stroked her hair as she sobbed against my shoulder.

  “Jane!” I shouted as I ran in with the paramedics. We were wheeling the patient in from the ambulance bay.

  “Room 5.” I pointed in the direction I needed them to go. Barry and Neil were the best paramedics around. I’d seen their skills many times in the months I’d been at St. Vincent’s, and as far as I knew, none of the others could touch them. Many patients made it to the hospital alive that might have died with others attending them.

  “Gunshot to the upper left chest, close range 22 through the upper lobe and possibly out the back. We didn’t have time to check for an exit wound, but there is a chance of spinal injury. Reflexes are dead in the legs. The lung is punctured, we’ve aspirated, and started saline,” Barry rattled off the details, while Neil gave the task of bagging over to Jane. “BP: seventy over thirty, pulse is weak, pupils are fixed and dilated. He’s in shock and crashed on the way in. We managed to resuscitate, but it’s a bad one, Ryan.”