“You ready?” I pick her up again.
“Yes. I can walk, slowly, but I can still manage.”
“Humor me, I want you close.” I kiss her.
“Can we sit on one of the chairs? I want to stay with you.”
“That’s fine, I was planning on that.”
Arriving back downstairs, I can see Anna, Justin and Daniel talking in the kitchen to a guy I haven’t seen before. Ignoring them for now and the questions I can see on Anna’s face, I head to the lounge and sit down in the chair closest to the fire with Rona sitting in my lap.
“I’m so tired.” She looks at me sleepily. After kissing me she puts her head down and within seconds is asleep cuddled against my chest.
A few minutes later, Anna comes over to sit opposite me. “Are you okay, dad? You looked really shaken before.”
Looking at Anna, I can see her concern for me. “Now Rona’s in my arms I’m fine.” After a pause, “I’ve never been in love before.... until now.”
“I can see that dad. I should be mad with you because of her age. In fact if you had told me about you both, without the drama of today, I probably would be. After today and seeing your reaction and hers when she saw you, I can’t be mad. You deserve someone to love you as a man and not a father. Rona does, I can clearly see that.”
“Oh, honey you have no idea how much that means to me. What about Beth?”
“She knows. I rang her and told her what happened here and what I suspect between you and Rona. Justin rang Jake to tell him about Tom, so I think Jake probably got the third degree about you both. He’s taken Elise to Beth’s house until everything’s cleaned up here.”
“That’s probably for the best. Did he say how Elise is?”
“She’s upset that Rona got hurt, but okay about Tom, at least that’s what Jake said.”
“Thanks Anna.” I run my fingers through Rona’s hair.
What a day this has turned out to be. It started out amazing and has ended in near disaster.
“Hello Cade. How is she doing?” Daniel asks coming over, taking a seat.
“She’s hurting, but I guess it could have been a lot worse if you hadn’t gotten here so quickly.” I place a kiss on Rona’s forehead.
“I was on my way to you to let you know Nick had been released, when the call came through.”
“Thanks Daniel, for looking after her until I could get here. She means everything to me.”
“I know. I need to get a statement from her Cade, you know that. The guy over there is with the DEA and he needs to talk to her as well. I’m sorry, but can you wake her up? The paramedics can check her out first though, but you know we have to talk to her tonight.”
“Okay, but she needs some privacy.” I start to caress Rona’s face to wake her up.
~~ Rona ~~
Waking up slowly in Cade’s arms, which are wrapped around me, while he caresses my face, is heaven. I want to keep my eyes shut.
“Hi.” I open my eyes and look straight into Cade’s.
“Hi. I’m sorry to wake you but the paramedics want to take a look at you and then you need to talk to Daniel and another guy.
“Daniel’s nice.”
“He’s not that nice though,” Cade scowls.
“Don’t worry; you’re the only one with my heart.” I give Cade a kiss, but he pulls away, much to my disappointment.
“We have company love.” Pointing away from me. I turn and see Anna, Justin, Daniel, two paramedics and a couple of Sheriff’s deputies, if I’m not mistaken and the same strange guy as before, all looking at us.
“Oops!.... let’s get this show on the road,” I try to stand up off Cade, but I’m unable to manage.
“Let me carry you to the sofa. Alright, everyone to the kitchen apart from the paramedics.” At this order from Cade, everyone heads out.
Once everyone moves away, one of the paramedics moves forward, “Hi, Rona right? I’m Lucas and my partner over there is Graham.”
“Hi, it’s mainly my left thigh and hip that’s painful. I don’t think anything is broken, just badly bruised.” I try to explain there is no way I’m going to the hospital.
Cade helps me get my jazz pants down and the bruising on my hip and thigh is a huge and ugly mess, making me wince in pain. Cade pales. “Cade, are you okay?” He looks at me with tears in his eyes. Reaching out, I take hold of his hand, holding tight through the whole examination.
Fully dressed once more, I hold onto Cade’s hand. “I’m okay. Sore but okay.” I pull him closer. “Tell Daniel he’s up.”
“Hi Rona, I’m going to record this if it’s alright. It will also get it over quickly, because I’m not writing everything down.” Daniel puts a tape recorder down on top of the coffee table.
The other guy walks over and sits next to Daniel. He’s a tall guy with broad shoulders, flat stomach, strong thighs and looks out of place in a suit. He looks more like a jean kind of guy and looking up he has a huge grin on his face.
Shit. Caught ogling. I hope he doesn’t get the wrong idea!
“Rona. Is it okay to call you that?” Seeing my nod, “I’m Josh Mitchell and I work for the Drug Enforcement Agency. Do you mind if I ask you some questions along with the Sheriff?”
Holding Cade’s hand, “No, that’s fine Mr Mitchell.” He looks too young to be an agent. I wonder how old he is.
With a slight smile, “Mr Mitchell is my father; Josh will do fine.”
As I’m giving Daniel my statement, Cade’s grip on my hand keeps getting tighter. A couple of times I have to squeeze his hand to loosen his hold. After about thirty minutes Daniel asks his last question.
“Rona, you said Nick told you that the big boss was after him. Did he give you any names, places?”
“No, I’m sorry nothing. I really wish I could help you more, but I didn’t hear anything like that. Although, he did say that he was selling drugs with Tom and a couple of other guys, but he didn’t mention any names or anything.”
“Okay, thank you for your time,” he says, smiling.
“What about Grace, Tom’s sister?” I ask.
Josh frowns. “What about her?”
“Well, is she okay after Tom’s attack?”
“She’ll be fine and it wasn’t Tom, it was Nick who attacked her.”
“Wow.... he has been busy.”
“Thanks Rona, we may need to follow up on a few things with you, but that’s it for now; we’ll leave you in peace.” Daniel starts to gather his things together.
“I’ll be in touch. Take care Rona. Catch you later Cade,” he says, on his way out the door.
“Nice meeting you Rona, take care of yourself.” Josh offers me his hand to shake and passes me a business card. “If you should have any more problems or hear from Nick please call me.... anytime.”
“Thank you, I will.”
“I’ll make sure we get in touch if anything else occurs,” Cade says, maybe a little bit ruffled.
After Josh leaves, I look at Cade, “What was that?” I ask him.
“He’s a good looking guy, around the same age as you.”
Laughing, “You can’t be serious, I love you and you alone, you idiot. Now just come and hold me.” He stands looking at me.
After going through it all again, I just want to curl up and sleep with Cade. Looking at him, he looks ill. “Honey, come here.” He moves to sit on the sofa, where I’m lying, “Cade.” I pull him in close for a kiss. “I love you, I’m going to have a bit of a sleep. I want you to go and have something to eat.” I tell him, smelling something delectable coming out of the kitchen.
“What about you?”
“I’ll try something after I’ve slept. I promise.” Lying back on the sofa, I close my eyes and hope Cade will eat.
~~ Cade ~~
Hell, watching Rona sleep I can’t bring myself to leave her just yet. It’s eight at night, but I feel drained.
“Dad.” Anna whispers.
She’s standing next to me, “Anna, h
eck of a day, huh?” I run my fingers through my hair.
“Dad, she’s okay now. You need to eat.”
“That’s what Rona said.” Looking at her, she looks worn out too.
Holding my arms out to her, “Come here honey.” She walks straight into my arms and hugs me as hard as I’m hugging her. “I needed that Anna.”
“Please come and eat dad. I need to get home, but I can’t leave until I know you’re okay.”
“Alright, it sure smells good. Thanks for doing this. Rona will eat some when she wakes up.”
Moving to the dining table which Anna has organized, I sit down and eat chicken casserole and dumplings. Anna keeps an eye on me from the kitchen. After dinner, I talk to Jake to see how they’re doing and try telling him that Rona will be okay, trying to believe it myself.
Going back to the lounge, I sit down on the end of the sofa where Rona sleeps softly. I need to wake her. I don’t want to take her to bed without a small amount of food inside her. I worry, she hasn’t eaten since breakfast. I gently wake her up and manage to persuade her to eat some casserole, before carrying her up to bed.
“Cade, I need the bathroom.” Changing direction, I carry her to the bathroom, not quite knowing what to do when we get there. “Just put me down in front of the sink, and stay while I take a few steps.”
“Take it easy.” Letting her go isn’t easy, neither is watching her struggle, but she manages just fine.
“I’ll be fine now. Just leave the door slightly open.”
“Okay love.” I kiss her tenderly and leave her alone in the bathroom.
She’s been in there for about five minutes when I hear the shower. I shoot off the bed to see what she’s up to, and there she is, naked as the day she was born, in the shower.
“Cade, I know you’re there. You going to soap me up?”
Shit, how the hell am I supposed to survive this?
“Cade, I’m serious. I’m getting too tired and my hip hurts.” She’s using the seat for support.
I strip down and enter the shower and thought I was doing well, until she gives me a very thorough once over which provokes my enormous erection. “Ignore him; he gets like that every time he sees you naked.”
“If I wasn’t in pain I’d do something about it.” She strokes me as I walk to help her up.
“Don’t touch, I’m helping only. I actually do mean it this time. You’re in too much pain to take me tonight.”
Keeping a grip onto her isn’t too easy, because she’s all slippery with soap. Her breasts with hardened nipples keep rubbing against my chest which is playing hell with my libido.
“Cade, I think this is a bad idea, you’re going to be frustrated as hell.”
“I’ll survive. Come on let’s get the soap washed off, we both need a good night’s sleep.”
After barely surviving the shower, I finally get us both out and in to bed without too much pain – on both our parts.
Rona slips into my arms as soon as we’re in bed. Shutting her eyes, she’s out for the count. I’m not too far behind.
Chapter 15
~~ Rona ~~
The following morning, I can hardly move. My hip and thigh are throbbing and the rest of my body feels stiff and sore. Trying to move, I moan in pain, waking Cade.
We hadn’t had a good night’s sleep. I kept waking up, as did Cade. The last time he was up for me was about four in the morning, when he brought me some more painkillers. It’s now ten thirty and my stomach is growling for food.
“Morning love, how are you feeling?” Cade turns on his side to look at me.
“Stiff.” I reply rolling over onto my good side. I put my hand on his chest.
“You’re not the only one.” I smooth my hand down and stroke his very stiff erection.
Groaning. “Love, you really need to stop. I’m not sure how long I can go before ravishing you. I want you so god damn much; it’s been killing me all night.”
“I want you too, but all I can move is my right arm.” I grin. “So there is no point us both suffering.” I return my hand to his penis. Moving my fingers over the weeping head, all the way down to his balls. I lightly squeeze them. I tighten my hold around him and start moving my hand up and down. He kicks the bed covers off. “Christ, this won’t last long.” He chokes out.
“Kiss me,” I whisper. Our lips meet in a soft light kiss. I get impatient and press harder against his lips, opening my mouth. I want a very hot, wet tongue tango, which is what I get while continuing to stroke his shaft. Moving my hand, I swipe the tip with my thumb, before going back down to the root of him. I let my other hand drift down to his balls. He shivers. I stroke down between his legs, as Cade breaks the kiss and comes over both our stomachs. He groans – loudly. Finishing, he brings my face back to his for another soul shattering kiss.
“You take my breath away love. God, you make me feel like a teenager. I can’t hold back, the minute you put your hands or mouth on me has me ready to explode.... please tell me I didn’t hurt you?” he asks, while caressing my face and my swollen cheek bone.
“You really didn’t hurt me. I love what I do to you.”
“Let me go and get a cloth to clean us both up.”
As he climbs out of bed and heads towards the bathroom, I have a wonderful view of his naked body. All muscle. I love looking at his rear and when he turns around and heads back, I have an amazing view of his six pack and fully erect penis. I move my eyes upwards, meeting his sparkling green eyes.
“How can you be ready to go again?”
He laughs. “The slightest glance from you has me in this condition. Plus, I really need to make love to you, which is not happening anytime soon.”
Climbing back on the bed, with a wash cloth and a towel, Cade cleans me up then tosses them back into the bathroom. Lying back down with me he places a kiss on my forehead, “Do you want to stay in bed and I’ll bring you breakfast?”
I kiss him. “No, I want to come downstairs and be with you.”
“Love, I was planning on staying here with you.”
“Thank you, but I’ll be better if I don’t lounge around too much, I think. Plus, I can hear activity downstairs.”
“Do you want some comfortable clothes?”
Smiling, I kiss him again, “I love you and yes please.”
~~ Cade ~~
Rona, I discover, is one stubborn woman. After taking some more painkillers, I help her dress. She refuses to have me carry her around. I certainly don’t mind; I love having her close in my arms.
At the top of the stairs she does give in and lets me carry her down, but insists on walking again once at the bottom.
We make slow progress, but finally manage to arrive at the dining table where she sits.
Before I can say anything, Jake is at her side taking her hands, “Are you okay? We were really worried about you.”
“Come here. I could really do with a hug.” Jake kneels down as he hugs Rona.
“Elise and Beth made breakfast, so I brought it over for you and Dad.” Jake sounds a bit choked.
“Thank you for caring about me and for breakfast.” Then she looks at me, “Your dad could do with a rest, he went through it as well.”
“I hear you. Dad sit with Rona. I’ll bring everything over.”
“How’s Elise?” Rona asks trying to get comfortable.
“She blames herself for what happened to you. I was trying to get her to come with me, but she thought you wouldn’t want to see her.” He shrugs.
“God Jake, the ones I blame are Tom and Nick. I’m really glad no one else was here, because they had a gun and could have used it on anyone.” Pausing, “I think if Elise had been here, he would have used the gun on anyone in his way, except maybe me. Nick wanted money, after that, who knows what they would have done to me.” I shudder. Cade takes hold of my hand. “Please tell Elise I don’t blame her and I would love to see my friend.”
“You’re a good friend Rona and I’m glad my dad has found
you. Dad, don’t let her go.” He kisses my cheek.
“She isn’t going anywhere, unless it’s with me.”
“Guys, here’s breakfast.” Jake puts the tray of food down on the table.
“This looks good.” Just as the words leave my mouth, Rona’s stomach growls.
Laughing at her, “Guess your appetite is back.” I pass her a blueberry muffin along with a cup of coffee.
From This Moment (Jackson Hole) Page 13