Gallows Humor

by Carolyn Elizabeth

  “I’m sorry.” Her eyes filled, finally spilling over.

  Thayer reached to brush her tears away. “You are forgiven, unconditionally. Not that I think you need it, but you seem to need to hear it. That is, officially, the last sorry I will accept from you over this. You did what you felt you had to do to take care of yourself. If our positions had been reversed, I’m not entirely certain I wouldn’t have done the same. And look how far you’ve come? How far both of us have. Now we can go the rest of the way together.” She exhaled while Corey remained silent and thoughtful. “Please, say something.”

  “Thank you,” she said, realizing she had never said it, and finally feeling the tight bands of guilt ease from around her chest. She raised her arm again and pulled Thayer next to her.

  Thayer shifted, getting comfortable on her side, her head resting in the crook of Corey’s arm and her hand covering Corey’s heart.

  Corey held her close, trying to ignore the heat building in her as Thayer’s breasts pressed against her side, the smell of her soap, and the weight of her arm across her chest.

  Thayer sighed. “Are you comfortable?”

  “Very.”

  “Are you relaxed?”

  “Very.”

  “Then why is your heart racing?”

  “Why is yours?”

  Thayer sighed and snuggled closer to her. “Because that’s what being near you does to me.” Thayer smoothed her hand across Corey’s chest.

  “Maybe we should talk about your grandmother again?”

  “Funny you should mention that.” Thayer lifted her head slightly to look at her. “I have a few days off and I was going to pick her up and bring her out tomorrow to spend the day with me. Would you like to meet her?”

  “Yes, but I don’t want to cut into your time with her.”

  “Oh, no.” Thayer shook her head. “You’d be doing me a favor actually. She already knows about you and has been after me for weeks to bring you by, so seriously, stay here tomorrow and we’ll take her out in the boat and fire up the barbeque and work in the garden or something.”

  “I would love that.” Corey smiled and kissed Thayer softly on the mouth.

  Thayer settled back down and sighed. “As long as you packed enough clothes, that is.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Corey couldn’t remember a better weekend. She had an amazing Thursday night with Thayer. They talked, cried, laughed, and held each other. It was intimate in a way she had never experienced and waking up in the morning with Thayer’s body curled around her was euphoric.

  The next day she spent delightfully with Thayer and Lillian. Unsurprisingly, Thayer’s grandmother was a firecracker telling stories of her years at the lake and embarrassing Thayer at every chance. Corey laughed at Thayer’s mortification when her grandmother went into great detail about an article she’d read on the latest in artificial reproductive technology and same sex couples. They had hugged each other fiercely when they drove back to her residence Friday night.

  And now they were throwing an impromptu Saturday girls’ night at Corey’s condo. Thayer suggested it be their coming out party and the official announcement of their relationship. Their friends had been polite and respectful in their inquisitions—except for Rachel—but both Corey and Thayer felt they owed them thanks for all of their support and encouragement.

  Corey was feeling the strain of the last couple of days, both physically and emotionally, as she and Thayer found their way back to each other, but she pushed through. She had been hiding long enough and it was time to put herself back out there.

  They were rushing now, unpacking groceries and getting out the margarita glasses. The girls would be over any minute for dinner and drinks and game night. Even though Corey and Thayer had just reunited, when they discovered all their friends had the same weekend night off, they couldn’t let the opportunity to get everyone together pass by. They had all crossed paths frequently while Corey was in the hospital, but this would be the first official social event, and Corey and Thayer both pretended they wouldn’t rather be cuddling on Corey’s sofa watching movies.

  Corey turned, a bottle of mix in her hand. “Damn it, I forgot the limes.”

  “It’s fine.” Thayer preheated the oven for the enchiladas they had made earlier, poured chips into a bowl and opened a jar of salsa. “No one drinks margaritas for the lime.”

  “I can run back. I can…get…get…” Corey stuttered and hissed a breath, the bottle sliding from her hand and shattering on the kitchen floor in a spray of glass and mix. “No. No. Not now.” She gritted her teeth and wavered, her right hand going to the back of her neck and her cast banging down on the counter to steady herself.

  “Corey!” Thayer skirted the mess and rushed to her, getting an arm around her waist before she collapsed.

  “What do you need?”

  “Help me upstairs.” Her voice was tight, her eyes closed to slits with pain, white-hot and relentless.

  Thayer took her weight as they moved awkwardly through Corey’s condo and upstairs to her room. She eased her down on the bed and asked, “Where are your meds?”

  “Bathroom.” Corey doubled over, gulping breaths and wrapping both arms across her middle.

  Thayer flung open the medicine cabinet and grabbed the bottles and a glass of water.

  From downstairs she could hear Rachel and Cin talking worriedly about the mess in the kitchen. They must have let themselves in. “Here.” She gently opened Corey’s hand and gave her the meds.

  Corey got them in her mouth with a trembling hand and reached for the glass Thayer knew she wouldn’t be able to hold. She sat on the bed next to her, holding the glass to her lips, one hand against the back of her neck to steady her. She could feel the muscles in Corey’s neck, rigid with spasm and no doubt excruciating. Corey closed her eyes and curled into a tight ball.

  “Oh, sweetheart.” Thayer’s heart clenched in sympathy seeing her in so much pain. She got behind her and kneeled on the bed, placing her hands on Corey’s shoulders, her thumbs easing into her rock-hard muscles. Corey groaned against the pressure.

  “Shhh,” Thayer whispered. “It’s okay. Let me help.” She kneaded Corey’s muscles, her shoulders, neck, and base of her head, slowly beginning to feel them ease their attack. She sensed another presence in the room and turned to the door to see Rachel, looking worried.

  “Do you need anything?” Rachel asked quietly, having helped Corey through more than her share over the last few weeks.

  “Can you draw the shades and hit the lights?” She pressed her thumbs into the base of Corey’s head, the spot that seemed to provide the most relief. “I’ll be down in a few minutes.”

  Thayer felt her slip into sleep, her body finally relaxing and the tension leaving her face. She massaged her neck for a few more minutes until she heard her snoring softly.

  Thayer climbed off the bed and flexed her fingers. She straightened Corey’s legs and arranged her into a more comfortable position. She placed a soft kiss on her cheek before covering her with the blanket and heading back downstairs.

  Corey padded downstairs several hours later, bleary-eyed and still dopey. Her living room was alive with raucous laughter as Cin refilled drinks from a pitcher of margaritas.

  “Hey, Cor, how are you feeling?” Rachel hopped out of the armchair to let her have it and moved to the floor next to Jules.

  “Better, thanks.” She rubbed her eyes and gratefully accepted the bottle of water Cin grabbed from the kitchen. She could feel Thayer’s concerned eyes on her and smiled in her direction. “What did I miss?”

  She was disappointed to have missed their gathering, but she and Thayer had come to an agreement the other night. If they were going to give their relationship a chance and see where it went, Corey wouldn’t hide from her—no matter what—and Thayer wouldn’t stop her life or do anything different, thinking she had to take care of her, no matter what. Corey was pleased to see, Thayer keeping up her end. For her part, th
ough, she couldn’t remember anything during the migraine attack, but she was pretty sure Thayer got the full frontal. At least she didn’t throw up.

  “Well, I killed it in Cards Against Humanity,” Dana said smugly and sat back with her drink.

  “I fucking hate that game,” Corey mumbled.

  “Since when are you so delicate?” Cin chided. “It’s supposed to be offensive.”

  “It’s not that. It’s just so clearly made by dudes. I mean if there was a single woman writing those cards, there’d be cards about period farts or cervical mucus.”

  They all gaped at her before roaring in drunken laughter.

  “That’s nasty.” Jules giggled.

  “Oh, but a card about smegma isn’t?” Corey went on.

  They laughed harder.

  Thayer eyed her. “How high are you right, now?”

  “Oh, yeah, Thayer doesn’t know yet that after a headache Corey has no inner monologue for like a day.” Rachel winked at Cin.

  “Totally,” Cin agreed enthusiastically. “It’s like truth serum. If you want to know her deepest and darkest, now is the time.”

  “Oh, really?” Thayer grinned at her. “Well, as fun as that sounds, I’ll probably try not to take advantage of her in her weakened condition.” A chorus of good-natured boos followed.

  “Aw, thanks, babe,” Corey replied and immediately clamped her mouth shut. From the look of surprise on both their faces that term of endearment was new to them both.

  The four other women descended into gales of laughter and Thayer blushed, eying Corey from behind her drink.

  “Shit.” Corey sighed and raked her hands through her hair sticking it up, grinning sheepishly at her.

  Jules recovered first. “So, Corey, can I ask something?” She went on without waiting for an answer. “When I was in nursing school, I was thinking of specializing in neurology. I did some research on traumatic brain injury and long-term effects. Is there something that triggers your headaches?”

  Corey blew out a breath. She had just been talking about this with Thayer. “Sometimes nothing but more often than not, they happen when I’m physically active or I’m hyperemotional, for lack of a better way to describe it.”

  Rachel choked on her drink. “Like the Hulk?”

  “Sure, exactly like that, except instead of turning into a badass superhero, I cry and vomit until I pass out because it feels like someone is sticking an ice pick through the back of my skull.” She meant to be funny but from the silence in the room she could tell it hadn’t worked.

  “I mean, it’s not just when you’re angry,” Jules said.

  “No. Tonight, for example. I was really looking forward to you guys coming over and I’ve been pretty busy the last couple of days.” Her eyes flicked to Thayer. “I guess I tripped the breaker.”

  “Wait. Wait.” Rachel held up her hands. “Physical activity and excitement? Any emotion?” She looked between Corey and Thayer whose expressions said they both knew where this conversation was going. “What happens when you two—”

  “I wouldn’t know.” Corey looked pointedly at Thayer. “The doctor is definitely not in.”

  “What?” Dana blurted, her eyes narrowing at Thayer. “But you told me you couldn’t wait to get Corey—”

  “Okay,” Thayer cut her off. “We don’t need to discuss—”

  “Oh, yes, we do,” Cin chimed in, alcohol fueling everyone’s interest. “So, no sexual healing, for real?”

  Corey laughed and stared at Thayer. “Well?” She held up her cast and waggled her fingers when Thayer stayed stubbornly silent. “She claims it’s my busted arm and sore ribs, but I bet Thayer thinks so highly of herself she’s worried she’s going to blow my mind and put me in a coma.”

  Thayer stared back at her, shaking her head and fighting a smile as the others erupted into laughter again. “That’s very funny.”

  “Clearly.” Corey smirked and gestured to the others still cackling.

  “All right, enough.” Thayer buried her reddening face in her hands. “I confess, Corey has pulled out all the stops.” She glanced Corey’s way to see her grinning like a fool. “But, and I admit it’s getting more difficult, I have successfully shut her down.” The resounding boos and laughter went on for a long time.

  “Because.” Thayer had to yell over the din. “Because yes, I am concerned about her, ahem, overexerting herself.” The laughter escalated. Thayer was laughing now too. “And I have a vested interest in seeing that for our first time, and for that matter, every subsequent time, we are both in peak form.” Thayer grinned at them. “I have standards and a reputation to protect.”

  The laughter died away and their friends seemed to consider her last words.

  “That’s fair,” Rachel agreed.

  “Yeah, never settle,” Jules piped up.

  “I totally get that,” Cin added.

  “Hey,” Corey blurted and looked to Dana who was hiding her laughter behind a long drink. “What the hell?”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  After showing the last of their friends out, Corey leaned against the door, wearily. “They stayed late.” It was after midnight when the party started breaking up and the ladies helped clean up and called cabs since no one was fit to drive.

  Thayer wrapped her arms around Corey’s waist and laid her head on her shoulder. “They wanted to spend time with you.”

  “Yeah, that sucked. I’m sorry.”

  “For what?” Thayer’s head snapped up and she placed a hand on the side of Corey’s face, stroking her cheek. “New rule. Don’t ever apologize to me when you don’t feel well or you need help, okay?”

  “Okay.” Corey smiled and placed a soft kiss on Thayer’s lips, her arm going around her back. “Are you staying?” They were still so new Corey didn’t want to assume anything.

  “Would you like me to?” Thayer kissed her again, deeper and longer and pressed herself against the length of Corey’s body.

  “Yes.” Corey sighed into the kiss, feeling the first stirrings of arousal. She tipped her head and brushed her lips along Thayer’s neck and down lower to trace her collarbone, nipping lightly at the sensitive skin of her throat.

  “Oh.” Thayer shivered, dropping her head back as Corey worked her way along her throat and back up to her mouth, teasing her tongue along her bottom lip before covering Thayer’s mouth with her own.

  Corey dragged the kiss out, slowly and hotly. She could feel Thayer respond, pressing against her, hands digging into her back through her shirt, soft moans of pleasure deep in her throat. “Thayer,” Corey breathed, nipping at her bottom lip with her teeth and smiling at her sharp hiss of breath.

  “Mmm?”

  “I’m exhausted.” Corey pulled away abruptly, a wicked smile on her face. “I’m heading up. Will you get the lights?”

  Thayer stared at her, lips parted, eyes bright with arousal. “What?” She licked her lips, and smiled in defeat. “That’s very clever.”

  “Suffer woman,” Corey called from the stairs. “You deserve it.”

  Corey sighed, her eyes fluttering open as a teasing hand slipped beneath her T-shirt and traced the planes of her belly and along her sides. She sucked in a sharp breath as fingertips brushed the side of her breast. “Thayer,” she gasped, her body coming alive at the touch. “What are you doing?”

  “Shhh,” Thayer whispered, her fingertips tickling across Corey’s breast, hardening a nipple.

  Corey’s hand shot up, gripping Thayer’s wrist, stopping her. “Don’t you dare start something you’re not going to finish.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll finish you. Eventually.”

  Corey let go of her wrist, her gaze steady on her. “What does that mean?”

  “It means, you stay still and let me do all the work.” Thayer slid her fingers across Corey’s chest, slowly circling her other breast. “If I think you’re in pain, in ways I don’t intend, I’ll stop. If you cannot agree to my terms, I’ll stop now.”

  Core
y groaned, her heart thudding in her chest and her muscles contracting as Thayer skimmed her fingers down her belly and slipped them along the inside of her waistband. “Your terms are acceptable.”

  “You say that now.” Thayer leaned over and sealed their deal with a searing kiss before straddling Corey’s hips. She watched her carefully as she settled herself. “Good?”

  Corey’s eyes were hooded with desire, her nipples hardening at the sight of Thayer astride her in a T-shirt and panties. “Good.”

  Thayer slipped her hands beneath Corey’s shirt, her palms sliding against her skin as she eased it over her head and past her cast. “Your body is simply incredible. You’re so beautiful and so strong,” Thayer murmured, running her hands down Corey’s chest, swirling her palms over her breasts, hardening her nipples further. She smoothed her palms down her abdomen. Corey’s taut muscles jumped and bunched beneath her touch.

  Corey’s lips parted, sucking in a panting breath. “Oh, god.” Blood roared in her ears, her arousal aching against Thayer’s weight over her.

  “Shhh. Breathe. I don’t want to have to stop.” Thayer smiled down at her. “I like you like this—ready and wanting.” She took Corey’s right hand, lacing their fingers together and pressing her arm into the bed by her head, holding her there as she bent, raining hot kisses along her neck, working her way slowly up to her lips.

  Corey accepted her kisses, hungrily. Thayer controlled their pace as her tongue darted in and out, tasting her. Then she moved on, trailing wet kisses down the other side of Corey’s neck.

  Thayer stopped and sat back again, surveying her work. Corey was flushed, a fine sheen of sweat breaking out across her face and chest. “Are you all right?”

  Corey nodded, swallowing hard several times. “Yes.”

  “Okay.” Thayer adjusted Corey’s cast comfortably away from her side and out of the way. “Stay still, now.” She waited for Corey’s nod of acknowledgment before pulling her own shirt over her head, sitting back in only her panties.