by Abby Knox
In her current state, and with the wind picking up, she wasn’t sure if she could make it.
She forced herself to gulp some freshwater from the river, hoping to quench her thirst.
She wondered if perhaps the jet ski would start up again, and she could simply motor across the channel? Worth a try, she thought.
So she began to hoist herself up. But in her tired state, she slipped.
Her unsteady hold caused her to bump her head on the step, forcefully.
Everything went fuzzy, and as she drifted into unconsciousness, she realized what she would be missing in this life if she died today.
She was a 27-year-old virgin.
What a shame.
If I make it through this, I’m losing it immediately, she thought.
17
Matthew
The wind was whipping his hair and it was getting into his eyes as Jensen tried to keep focused on Gretchen, bobbing in the water.
The pain in his chest—it actually felt like a physical pain—grew the closer he got to her, becoming more and more sure that she was unconscious.
The thought occurred to him that she might be dead.
Fuck me for not asking her to come to town with me today. Fuck. Me.
The freighter was maybe 300 yards away when Matthew pulled the boat in as close as he could without hitting her.
It was 200 yards away when he reached down with the oar to stabilize her enough so he could reach down and lift her into the boat.
One hundred yards when he took half a moment to see if she was breathing. He could hear the colossal metal beast cutting through the river. And in the distance, thunder.
Fuck.
The ship’s horn blew. Its captain could see them in the channel, but there was no way for the ship to stop in time to avoid hitting them. The driver would have to steer. Matthew prayed that he would steer.
There was no time to lash the jet ski to the boat. There was only time to save her life.
The sound of the horn was ear-spitting now.
The behemoth was bearing down on him just as he managed to lift anchor and scoot the little speedboat out of the way.
The motor picked up speed, and when he turned and looked over his shoulder, he realized how close they had come to being killed. The wall of blue painted steel seemed close enough to touch. Which was far too close for comfort.
After this misadventure, there was no way he was going to allow Gretchen to steer a jet ski again.
He would see to it personally, because if she got out of this alive, she was going to be his.
He didn’t know why he had wasted so much time being respectful of the fact that she’d had a waste-of-space boyfriend. But what was done was done.
From now on, she belonged to him.
And he’d be damned if she was ever out on the water by herself again.
18
Gretchen
When she came to, she felt a cotton blanket covering her. She heard a machine beeping, and there was the feeling of someone holding her hand.
She gasped, remembering everything. There was water all around her, a storm kicking up, a freighter heading her way, and a dead jet ski next to her.
She sat up, opening her eyes.
The terror of that moment alone in the water ripped through her memory.
She looked down and there was an IV in one hand. She looked at her other hand, and Matthew’s large hand was on it.
“Where’s my jet ski? Am I dead?”
In the next instant, Matthew’s other hand was on her cheek, his icy blue stare connecting with her panicked eyes. “You’re fine. Gretchen, I’m here. You’re going to be OK.”
“Where’s my jet ski?” She touched the bandage on her forehead. She felt a large knot there and remembered hitting her head and everything going fuzzy.
Then she remembered the oath she had made to herself if she survived that ordeal.
She looked at Matthew and her cheeks went hot.
“Fuck that jet ski. It’s not safe and you’re never getting on one again.”
“You can’t tell me what to do,” she said.
“He can if he saves your life!” The booming, angry voice could be none other than George.
Gretchen peeked over Matthew’s shoulder and saw the old man sitting in the corner, giving her the stare of death.
“What are you doing here, George?”
“When are you going to stop making the men around here sign up for the ‘I Saved Gretchen’s Ass from the Channel’ club?” George roared, his cheeks looking redder than usual against his white beard and captain’s hat. “I’m going to start making tee-shirts, just as soon as I stop having this cardiac episode, you bullheaded girl!”
She winked at him. “Have you seen my jet ski, George?”
“Goddamned, bullheaded, senseless, stupid girl,” he bellowed, and then followed it with a stream of expletives that would make the corpse of George Carlin blush. George was rough around the edges, but Gretchen knew his anger and cussing was borne out of love.
“Teasing, George. Relax, old man.”
A nurse entered the room to check her vitals. “You’re awake.” Then, sniffing the air, she turned and spotted George. “I’m sorry, sir, there’s no smoking in the hospital.”
George stood and muttered something inappropriate and then sauntered out, scowling, pipe still lit.
Matthew turned to her with angry eyes.
“George is right. But also, I should have taken you to town with me today. This never would have happened.”
A smiled. “Yes it would, because I wouldn’t have gone with you. I needed to be alone.”
“Well, that’s where you were wrong. I would have stayed here and kept my eye on you.”
“And I would have found a way to escape either way.”
“Why do you have to fight me off at every turn?”
“In case you hadn’t noticed, I’ve just been burned by a long-term relationship. Excuse me if I’m a little gun shy.”
“You know I’m not him, right?”
“I know,” she said.
After the nurse seemed satisfied and informed her she would be released in a few hours once the X-rays of her head came back, Gretchen said to Matthew, “And that’s why I’m going to let you be the one to take my virginity. Tonight.”
19
Matthew
Matthew’s heart exploded in his chest. She was finally admitting it to herself and to him.
She was his.
He was hers.
There wasn’t anything else getting in the way.
At least not for now.
But the “what ifs” could wait.
And so could the notion of him taking her virginity tonight.
Even if the X-rays came back that she had zero concussion, there was no way Matthew was going all the way with her tonight.
Sex was definitely in the very near future. But today, tonight, it was only going to be him watching her like a hawk.
But that didn’t mean he couldn’t give her a preview.
He had not pictured their first kiss being in a hospital room, but he wasn’t going to waste any more time waiting for the perfect moment or setting.
A field of daisies on a mountaintop at sunset would have to wait.
Because anywhere her lips were, was perfect.
He let go of her hand and cupped her chin as he lowered his face toward her. When their lips touched, the softness of her felt like a dream come to life. Her lips tasted like lavender honey and her skin up close smelled like the intoxicating scent of the earth after a rain—the outdoorsy, life-giving freshness that compels a person to go outside and explore. Seize the day. Have an adventure.
Damn. It was going to be difficult to put on the brakes with her tonight.
Gretchen responded by pressing her lips closer into him.
He felt her hands go to his chest.
He moved to deepen the kiss and she opened to him, letting his tongue tease he
r mouth a little.
Matthew gently inched her back onto the pillow.
He growled, “How far do you want me to go in this hospital bed? I don’t want to pull out your IV.”
“Too late, I already did it.”
Matthew looked at her curiously and glanced down, and she had indeed removed her IV.
“You know that’s there for a reason. It’s there to keep you hydrated and alive.”
Gretchen pulled him back in and kissed him deeply on the lips, pushing her tongue into his mouth.
He could not get enough of her mouth, and her aggressiveness made him growl for more.
She pulled away from his lips and corrected him, “You keep me alive,” she said. “And tonight I’m gonna thank you for that.”
She took one of his hands and kissed each of his knuckles. Then took the tip of his thumb and nipped at it, licked it and blew on it, sending a cooling sensation that almost had his cock busting out of his pants on its own.
Then she covered his thumb again with her mouth and sucked. He had to bite back an audible groan. She repeated this move with each of his fingertips, while keeping her eyes locked on his.
“Go shut the door and put a chair in front of it,” she whispered.
“We can’t do it right here in the hospital,” he murmured, brushing her hair back from her face.
“Well, maybe not everything,” she said, lowering her hand to the waistband of his jeans, “but we can do some stuff with our clothes on. Close the door.”
20
Gretchen
And then to her surprise and shock, he said no.
“No, Gretchen.”
She was bewildered. “No?”
“I’m not going to be the one responsible for putting you into a coma.”
Gretchen rolled her eyes. “A little fooling around is not going to put me into a coma. Besides, I am pretty sure I’m not even concussed.”
“Pretty sure isn’t good enough. And whether or not you are, my job tonight is keeping an eye on you. That’s it.”
The doctor then interrupted their little argument.
“Well, it looks like you’re not concussed, so we’re going to go ahead and release you. Just be careful, get some rest. Lots of fluids. And is there anyone who can keep an eye on you?”
Matthew stood and pointed at his own chest. “That would be me.”
“Are you her husband?”
“Not yet.”
Oh. My. God.
Her heart, her head, her nipples and pussy crackled with anticipation.
Did he really mean that?
Was he really that into her? Or was he just posturing for the doctor, to appear reassuring?
Her doctor, a slender woman with a serious face, crossed her arms. “Young lady, this could have ended very tragically, you know that, right? Trying to swim to shore while pulling a watercraft, in the channel, is very dangerous.”
“I know.”
“You could have died.”
“I know.”
“We see boating accidents like this at least once a week up here on the lakes. People think because these are lakes they are somehow safer than the ocean. There are just as many dangers here.”
“Yes, I know, I grew up here. You’ve treated my sprains and broken bones half a dozen times. You took care of my dad, many times.”
“I remember,” the doctor said with a nod and a sad smile.
“I have lived on the river my whole entire life. Spent every day of my life watching the freighters.”
The doctor replied, “Then you know better.”
Gretchen nodded. “You’re right, I do know better. But my dad is gone, and sometimes I just don’t care what the right choice is.”
Matthew and the doctor exchanged looks. Gretchen looked at Matthew and his jaw was tight with concern.
“May I sit down?” the doctor asked.
Gretchen nodded, fighting back a tear.
Matthew then knew her recklessness had not only to do with her fierce independence and love of adventure. There was something else going on and he was for sure going to find out what it was.
The doctor pulled up a chair next to Gretchen’s bed. “What is it you want to tell me, Gretchen?”
The tears then spilled down her cheeks. “I just miss my dad so much,” she said.
“Give me your dad’s number. I’ll call him right now,” Matthew said.
Gretchen and the doctor looked at Matthew. The doctor then looked at Gretchen. “He doesn’t know, does he?”
He was feeling even more confused now. “I don't know what?”
“Matthew, my mom is in Florida, it’s true. But my dad’s dead. He died last Christmas. Fell through the ice on the river while ice fishing and died of a heart attack.”
“But,” Matthew started. And then it all started to make sense. The phone calls to her father, asking for his advice. That was all her. That was her talking to him as if he were still alive. That was all her grief.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, gazing at her tenderly. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Gretchen,” the doctor said, “I have to ask you this. Are you having thoughts of taking your own life?”
“No. Of course not. I don’t think so. “
The doctor pursed her lips then looked from Gretchen to Matthew. “You say you are going to be staying with her tonight?”
“I wouldn’t dream of leaving her alone after what happened.”
“Good. I’ll need you to watch her for the next few days. Or until her mother arrives.”
“Of course.”
The doctor turned back to Gretchen. “I’m going to have the hospital counselor come and speak to you, but I’m also going to give you a prescription.”
“I don’t need an antidepressant. I’ve never tried anything like that in my life,” Gretchen protested.
“Maybe you won’t need it, and maybe you will. I’m going to write it for you, and it’s up to you to take it. Take it, don’t take it. Just think about it. If you’re having suicidal thoughts, at least consider taking the edge off with something. It’s a very low dose.”
The doctor went over the X-rays with Gretchen while Matthew watched, feeling dumbfounded.
He was kicking himself for missing all the signs that this was a woman grieving. He’d been lusting after her for a month and she was in the throes of depression.
She could have killed herself on his watch.
While he’d been holed up barely writing a word, she’d been suffering, alone.
Well, he thought. Not anymore.
The doctor and Matthew exchanged pleasantries, and Gretchen was released shortly after speaking with the counselor and agreeing to make an appointment with her.
After signing a bunch of paperwork, Matthew insisted on paying her entire hospital bill out of pocket.
Like, literally out of his pocket.
He plunked down a stack of hundreds on that emergency room bill without even blinking.
Regina had delivered dry clothes and was waiting outside to drive them home, as apparently Matthew had ridden with her in the ambulance.
The entire 30-minute drive from St. Eustace to River Rocks felt strange and thrilling.
Matthew would not hear of Gretchen being alone even for a second, so he had insisted on riding in the back seat with her.
“You’re making Regina into a chauffeur,” Gretchen said, protesting Matthew’s overprotectiveness.
“I don’t mind,” Regina piped up. “I’m glad somebody besides George is around to keep you out of trouble.”
Matthew circled her shoulders with one of his beefy arms.
“I’m glad your neighbor agrees,” he said, eyeing her with a look of concern.
She was grateful he had been there for her. Was grateful for the closeness of Matthew, because she knew what she wanted now.
When they arrived back at her A-frame, he thanked Regina and carried Gretchen to her bedroom like a bride.
Gently setting
her down on the bed, he sweetly kissed her forehead.
“I’m gonna lock the office. Be right back.”
She nearly protested. Nobody was around to pester her, because her primary pest and only renter was right here with her!
But she bit her tongue and decided to enjoy watching him walk away.
Gretchen was elated that she did not have a concussion. Therefore, she was not going to a waste another minute.
She was going to show him she was ready for him.
When he turned back to her, she let him watch her slip her panties down her thighs.
“Oh shit, Gretchen. What are you doing to me?”
21
Matthew
He had to fight the urge to rip the panties the rest of the way off with his teeth.
He instead slid them back up her legs and tugged them gently back into place.
“You have a head injury. You’re not thinking straight. As much as I would love nothing more than to devour you like a sweet-ass steak, and as romantic as that would be, I’m just not going to take advantage of you in your current state.”
“I’m fine. I’m not concussed, you heard the doctor!”
He ran his hands over her warm belly and smoothed down her tee-shirt.
But he, too was a doctor, and he wasn’t taking any chances.
As long as he could keep it in his pants.
“Matthew. I am completely fine.”
Matthew had demanded to know where the extra pillows were, and now Gretchen’s bed at home was covered with them. She was propped up with tea, water, and snack trays full of homemade food that the neighbors had brought when they had heard about Gretchen’s accident.
And to top it off, Regina’s dog, Petosky, was sleeping on her bed at the foot of the bed.
“Petosky is a smart dog, he’ll be able to tell the second something is wrong,” Regina had informed them.