"Tessa Toussaint is conscious and awake. Come on. I don't want to leave her alone, not now."
"I'll notify the doctor, and we'll be right in." The nurse hurried back to her station and made a general announcement for the doctor to return to ICU.
"What should I say to her? What can I say? I told them to pull the plug." Gloria shook her head. "What will she think of me?"
"Does it matter? You were abiding by her wishes. I've got to get back to her." While her friend might be having a crisis of conscience, Yancy refused to be parted from the reality of Tessa. At the door to her room where he'd spent so many hours over the last days, he stopped. Where would the future take them? Would she think him a fool for having fallen in love with her during the time she was comatose? The questions didn't matter. He'd win her heart no matter what.
"Cherish all existence in the now," he said. "You've taught me the truth of those words.
"Could I have some water?"
"The nurse and doctor will be here in a few, but I'm sure that's okay. Just be careful." He helped her drink take a sip.
When she laid her head back on the pillow, she took a deep breath. "What's your name? Tell me, why do I feel like I know you, like much more than bumping into at a coffee shop?"
Gloria approached the bed. "I've been wondering the same thing, but he's been your guardian angel, spending more time here than I did, I think. Hello, Tess. Boy, I've missed you."
"How long have I been out?"
"The accident happened Monday and it's Friday." Gloria hugged her.
"Seems like forever." He should leave and let the women have some private time. "Now that you're awake, maybe I should let you ladies alone."
"Not on your life, mister." Gloria beckoned him closer. "You were the one who had the faith she would return. After the doctor gets here, I should probably get back to the office this afternoon. You know how busy it is on Fridays after people had a horrible week and decide it's time to look for another position."
The doctor entered.
The look of amazement on his face made Tessa laugh. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Might have been. I swore there were no signs of life, brain activity. But you're awake." He held a finger in front of her. "Let me do a few tests. Follow my finger. What year is it?"
When Tessa answered all of his questions and the doctor took all her vital signs and pronounced her well enough, "to live another fifty or sixty years if you don't have any more bumps on your head," he studied the chart, “The only thing that seems it might explain your reaction is your medication. We removed the I.V. drip, and it could account for the brain activity. I’ve read this medication can have some side effects.” He moved to the door. "Boy, just wait till I write this one up for the medical journals. We'll keep an eye on you for the next few days, but since you don't seem to have any lasting effects, I figure you should be ready to be discharged early next week. Don't push it or overtire yourself."
Tessa waited until he left to grip her friend's hand. "I'm sorry to leave you for a whole week. Is everything okay at the office?"
"Yes," Gloria answered. "Don't worry. You just take it easy and spend some time getting to know Yancy. I have a feeling you guys are going to hit it off." She wiped the wetness from her eyes. "I never dreamed this morning would end with me talking to you. But rest, Tess. I'll be back after office hours."
Then they were alone, just the two of them.
"What did you mean when you said I taught you the truth of the Quarkanian motto?" she asked.
"It's sort of a long story."
"I've got fifty or sixty good years left according to the doctor." Her giggle brightened her face.
"In an ordinary world that should be plenty, but for Quarkanians, we'd only just be teenagers." He reached for her hand and she clasped it tightly.
"Have you really been here every day? That seems odd for someone who you don't really know."
"But I do know you. Pretty well, and I want to spend the rest of my life getting to know you better." The words spilled out before he could stop them. "Sorry, I don't mean to alarm you. I guess I hoped you might give me a chance if you get to know me in this world too."
"I must say, you're talking very oddly. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was you who just woke up from a coma. But there's something I can't put my finger on. Something about you..."
"From the quintessence of my breath, I promise if you let me, I'll stick around just as long as you want me."
"No one has ever said that to me before, except Gloria." She plucked at the covers, suddenly not meeting his gaze. It was odd for the woman who seemed to glow with vibrancy.
"I know you lost your family. While you've been sleeping, I've gotten to know quite a lot about you."
"Then it's time you returned the favor. All I know about you is that you like apple cinnamon muffins and," her forehead wrinkled, "you're crazy about my lasagna." Her eyes got really wide.
Why would she say such a thing? He kept his surprise from showing, wanting to reassure her. Her words gave him hope. Maybe at some strange level like Quincy mentioned, she would know him.
He sat beside her and held her hand. "Let me know if you get tired, but I'm going to tell you a story."
Chapter Eleven
YANCY'S HANDS SHOOK while he fumbled with the key in the lock. Though he dreamed this moment in crystal clear clarity, the actual live event surpassed any dream. Taking Tessa's hand, he picked up her suitcase and led her into his home. Quark made a beeline for them, and unlike the first meeting in their dreams, he politely sat at her feet, his tail thumping on the tile floor. At first, Yancy was confused. He expected something strange, either a replay of the dream or an excited assault which Quark lavished on anyone who came into his home which mainly included lots of jumping and spinning around the person's feet.
Yancy sensed the dog's impatience. "You'd better give him some loving, or he's bound to attack you with paws and kisses."
"Hello, Quark. It's nice to finally meet you."
The dog's ears perked up at her voice and he chuffed, but remained still, shaking with restraint.
Only then did Tessa bend down and scratch his ears. Quark took advantage and licked her hand. She giggled and wrapped her arms around the dog's neck. He sniffed her hair and whined.
"That's so strange. It's almost as if he knows you already," Yancy said.
"He does." She met Yancy's gaze. "I think we both know something unbelievable happened during the time I was in a coma."
Already they compared notes on their memories and found so many similarities it sort of scared him. He could find no scientific evidence for the experience, yet he couldn't deny his own emotions and the truth his mind refused to negate. They had even replayed their argument before leaving the hospital.
He had apologized. “You know I jumped to conclusions. I can only blame my irritation at Bill. He really left us in a lurch. That’s no excuse, but it’s the best I have. Forgive me?
“I’m sorry too.” She pulled his hand so he leaned over her. “Please, if you need answers, ask me. If we’re going to live in the moment, we need to be able to talk about things.”
“I promise I will.” Carefully, he embraced her.
“The first thing I want to do is help Howard-Penn find a replacement for Bill. It might not be someone permanent before taxes are due, but I can certainly fill it temporarily while I look for the right candidate.” All businesslike, even in her robe lying in the hospital bed, the woman continued to amaze him.
His thoughts returned to the present, with the reality of her in his home and with Quark’s obvious approval, everything fit together.
"Okay boy, we'll take you out for a romp later. Right now Tessa needs to get settled." Gently, he took her arm and led her to the loveseat where she kicked off her shoes. "I don't want you to get overtired and do too much."
"Stop treating me like a porcelain doll. The doctor said I could do anything I felt up to and right now," she
gave him a slow sexy smile, "I feel like replaying the first time we sat on the loveseat. Well, with a little exception."
With no delay, she removed her blouse and jeans Gloria brought for her to wear home. "Come here." She cupped his cheeks with her palms and closed in. Her lips grazed his before she deepened the kiss, her tongue slipped inside his mouth.
Her familiar taste swept over him and he needed more. His hands smoothed over her back before reaching for her already hardened nipples.
In response, she hissed softly and let her head drop back.
He accepted the invitation and slid his lips across the soft flesh she revealed. Little suction and wet kisses soon had her breathing faster, panting in his ear.
"I need more."
On her knees, she lifted his t-shirt above his head.
He took the hint and removed his jeans and shorts. "Are you sure? I'm not sure how careful I can be. I want you too bad."
"Who says I don't feel the same? I don't need gentle, I need you, all of you." She leaned over and her hair brushed his stomach. They'd removed the bandages and the bruises on her face had faded to a slight discoloration.
The light played over her features in such a way he wished he were an artist so he could capture it on a canvas. "You're so gorgeous."
Her next actions took his breath away. "Mm. I've wanted to do this since I woke up." She placed an open mouthed kiss on the tip of his cock. In slow movements, she slid her mouth down the side to the base where she flicked him with feather-light touches.
Unable to stop, his hips thrust toward her seeking more of her touch. She encircled her fingers around him and stroked him up and down, her tongue returning to the tip and never letting up on the most sensitive skin.
Watching the head of his cock disappear inside her mouth over and over drove him quickly to the edge. "Tessa, I need to be inside you, now." He reached for the packet from the end table.
Her gaze lifted to his and she pulled away, letting his cock go with a little pop. She nodded.
Before he moved to take her to the bedroom, she scooted up on the couch and straddled him. "I've missed this, you." In some strange sense their first dream-time melded in time and space with this new first time. Her moist center accepted him inside.
When she lowered onto him, she gasped. "You fill me so completely."
They rocked together, kissing, touching, soft whispers and moans leading them to the precipice. Up and down she slid against him, each time a little faster. Just as he thought he couldn't take it for another round, she slowed, rising up until he was almost out of her completely.
He growled, and took her ass in his hands to guide her back down where he needed her. His fingers searched between them for her clit and he rubbed it in little circles copying the rhythm she set. If she stopped he stopped, if she sped up he followed. Her little whimpers grew louder, a sign she was almost at the point of her orgasm.
"Now. Come with me." His words came in an urgent grunt between gritted teeth.
All time stopped as he pulled her closer. The waves of her shudders crashed over him, taking him with her.
She buried her face in his neck, still trembling from the pleasure. "Ooh."
Her sounds of pleasure made him smile. "That was better than the dream of you."
Tessa laughed. "Oh, so much better, though I still want to try some of those things with you as well."
"Never fear. We have fifty or sixty years to experiment."
In response, she squeezed her thighs around him, and spasmed against him. "All for it."
Aware she needed rest, and he did too after their exertions, he maneuvered them against the couch so she nestled beside him. "Rest, baby and then if you feel up to it we'll go out, a real date."
"Hm. I love you." Her words fell, a soft whisper against his chest before she drifted off to sleep.
The miracle that was Tessa made his chest grow tight. Love? So quickly? He mentally slapped his forehead. Of course, why else would the previous week have happened in the way it did?
With her cuddled against him he dozed. Strangely enough, no dreams came.
Yancy jerked awake, disoriented for a moment without the dream of Tessa in his mind, and relished in the reality of her in his arms.
"Finally. I thought you would sleep forever." She giggled against him. "I've had enough sleep the last week to hold me over. Now I'm too excited to sleep. Someone said something about a real date."
They had slept most of the afternoon, so while she might say she didn't need it, her body said otherwise.
"First dibs on the shower." Already she was up and headed for the bathroom.
Refusing to allow her to shower alone, after all she might need assistance, he hurried after her. "No way, woman." Besides, he would never give up the opportunity to run his hands over her wet slicked curves.
A long while later, well-scrubbed, they exited the bathroom. He quickly dressed and while she dried her hair, he took Quark for a quick run.
Once he returned, he found her in full makeup looking more like the Tessa of his dreams than ever. He whistled and debated whether he should kiss that red lipstick off her. "No one would ever know you spent the past week in the hospital. Are you sure you want to go out? I'd like to take you right back to bed. We haven't experimented nearly enough yet."
"Nosiree." She gave him a fake pout before smiling. "You promised me a real date, and I'm holding you to it, though experimenting on a mattress can definitely happen later."
"Milady, I'm at your service, for mattress experiments, but your coach awaits." He held out his arm.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see," he said.
"Oh, a surprise. Well, I love surprises."
During the drive to the restaurant, she was quiet until he pulled into the parking lot of the The Blue Nile restaurant. "I've never eaten Ethiopian food before."
A sense of déjà vu swamped over him. "Then I think it's time you did."
After opening her door he escorted her into the dimly lit restaurant with the exotic decor reminiscent of northern Africa. Intricately carved wooden arches accented each booth set in little alcoves.
"Welcome, Mr. Yancy. It's so good to see you two again this week." The friendly waiter, greeted them.
"Hi Tamrat, it's been a while. Here's someone new for us to introduce your country's excellent cuisine to. This is—" Yancy began.
"Welcome, Ms. Tessa. So good to see you," the waiter finished.
"Thank you, but I don't think—" she stopped and looked up at Yancy. "I haven't, have I?"
Unable to understand Tamrat's actions, he shook his head. "This is Tessa's first visit."
"No sir, we met last week. See?" The waiter led them to a wall covered in pictures of restaurant guests.
In a framed picture, captured in full color, a smiling Tessa with him in a booth. Quincy stood beside them, her hand on his shoulder.
Tessa gripped his hand so hard it ached. Carefully, he extracted his fingers from her vise-like grip. He struggled with the evidence presented. Impossible, but perhaps Quincy was right after all. "Babe, it's weird, but nothing about us has been normal, has it?"
"But you know what this means?" Her wide eyed gaze bounced from him to the picture and back again.
"I think so."
"Would you like your usual table?" Tamrat asked.
"Good idea."
When they were seated and Tamrat left to get their drink orders, he put his arm around Tessa's shoulders. "I told you about Quincy."
"She reminds me of someone." Tessa's brow furrowed as if trying to remember.
A familiar voice spoke up beside them. "Hi, you two. Tamrat was just saying he'd never seen such a perfect couple. You two look good together." Quincy placed her hand on his shoulder.
Tamrat came up then and snapped a picture with his phone. "This one I'll send to you." He grinned, his teeth white against his dark complexion. He passed the phone to them and it was almost an exact duplicate of the one they'd
just seen on the wall.
Yancy snapped his fingers. “I know you, Quincy. You're always in disguise, but I finally remember where I've seen you before."
The woman winked. "I knew you two would get it eventually. Cherish..."
"All Existence in the Now," he and Tessa chorused the end of the motto.
"Exactly. Now that you have one another, nothing is stopping you from barnstorming the unknown. Keep dreaming." Quincy pressed her cheek to his, then reached over to Tessa and clasped her hand. "I'm so glad you're all right. Enjoy your dinner, and your life." Quincy left and while he half expected her to transport in a beam of light as she did in Quest Quarka, she left by way of the door.
"Our ordinary world." Tessa's eyes glossed in the candlelight.
All week he dreamed of her in his home, in his life. His dreams had become a world more ordinary than his daily existence. With her beside him, he finally felt his world return to the more extraordinary promise of the dream. No longer did he chase ephemeral ghosts. She was flesh and blood beside him.
"I will cherish you always, in all ways from the quintessence of my existence. I love you, Tessa."
"And I love you. Thank god for spilled coffee and dreams of the unknown becoming known." Her lips captured his in a deep kiss. Nothing about their lives might be ordinary, but for them the unknown spread out in an invitation to experience the present moment and all the moments to come.
THE END
About the Author
Solera Winters
From the time Solera learned to read, she’s possessed a colorful imagination. In childhood she penned her take off of Nancy Drew mysteries then graduated to sneaking her mother’s romance novels to expand her visions of what is possible.
She began writing to reminisce about her past experiences, as well as create visions of fantasies she still wants to enjoy. Her erotic shorts and poems can be found in several anthologies.
When she’s not writing, she finds Las Vegas a wonderful combination of illusion and reality. From sauntering along the Strip in search of characters to populate her erotic romance novels, to reveling in the endless entertainment opportunities in Sin City, Solera delights in living her dream.
Come Undone: Romance Stories Inspired by the Music of Duran Duran Page 20