Stricken Trust (Stricken Rock)

by Logsdon, S. K.

  “Honestly, Em. He’s amazing. I can’t believe we are together. It’s all thanks to you,” he says and gives my arm a squeeze.

  The ground under my feet is hard and makes for easy walking. It’s rare that I get to spend a few hours alone with my best friend in a place so serene.

  “It’s not me. It’s your bond. You two are meant for each other. I knew it after you told me about him months ago in Indiana. You also make an adorable couple. I wish I was as lucky in love as you two.”

  “I know babe. Claire is fun and I know you love her. But I don’t think it’s love, love. And even if Johnathan is love, love, he’s still not worthy of you. I’m sorry. After the Ashley thing and the plane debacle, it’s hard for me to be friendly with him as much.”

  “Mine and Johnathan’s love relationship or lack thereof has nothing to do with your friendship with him. You two are friends and should be. Don’t let his and my shit get in the way. He did text me the other night asking me to fuck him. He was drunk. It was funny. But I’m sure it will be fine. I’m going to be okay. If I am alone, I’m alone. I have you and James and the babies. That’s all that matters.” I reassure him and tuck my hair out of my face. My nose is ice cold.

  “You have Kyle too. We’ll be your family. So will Claire when she gets back.”

  I nod.

  “Claire is lovely. But if I don’t sleep with her and actually find someone to love other than her, I don’t think she’ll stick around. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. This is a relaxing vacation. Minus the super horny part. But it’s all good,” I state.

  He snatches my mitten covered hand into his bare one and we walk together. I love this! I miss Stacy.

  “Okay, love. I won’t talk about it. How about I give you a rundown of my sex life? That would be exciting,” he chuckles wickedly.

  “Anything is better than talking about my lack of love life. So sure.”

  He stops me and stares into my eyes. “Holy crap Em, are you still the same woman I know? You want to actually hear about it?” His eyes widen with amazement.

  I shrug. “Yes, I guess I do. If you want to share.”

  We turn and continue walking. “Well, I guess things have been hot and heavy. I’m done with women. And I’m very sorry for ever trying to convince you to love me in a romantic way. You were so right about Kyle being who I need to be with. The sex is amazing and I’ve forgotten how much I love to suck cock until we reunited. It’s mind-blowing. He’s the best lover. I really wish you could have someone as tender as Kyle that is also a freak when needed. It’s hard to get both,” he says.

  I can tell by his tone that he’s reminiscing of all the sex they’ve been having. I know it’s not right but I am totally jealous of him. I wish I was doing the same with someone I love as much as he does Kyle. I love Johnathan but not like them. When Claire said it’s hard for me to love, she’s not kidding. I’ve never been head over heels like Stacy. I wonder what it would feel like? Maybe I’ll get that with Johnathan eventually, when it all calms down and he gets his head on straight. To be honest he reminds me of a sixteen year old boy who doesn’t know his head from a hole in the ground. He’s immature in a lot of ways. Except he’s a devoted father it seems. More devoted to that than he’s ever been to me. That’s all I can really hope for in the end.

  “I’m really happy for you, Stace. I know love’s not easy. But I told you I was right about Kyle. I felt it when you talked about him. You need that kind of passion. So who bottoms?” I laugh to lighten up the mood further. “Oh, wow look.” I point and there’s a beautiful red bird sitting on a branch just a few feet ahead.

  I take a step and oh shit! No! No! I trip on a tree branch on the trail. I’m going to down. Mayday, Mayday. I’m going to hit. Fuck! It all happens so fast. I brace myself put my hands out and hear Stacy yell. He can’t catch me in time and I fall hard onto my knees. Holy shit! This hurts. I can feel the rocks on the ground stabbing into my knees through my leggings. I keep upright as best as I can to protect my babies. Landing on all fours like a dog. Fuck I’m hurting. Shit! I can’t stay on my knees. I can feel the rocks grinding. Damn. That hurts! Ouch! I roll onto my side onto the ground.

  Stacy’s beside me. I can’t hear him. The bloods rushing through my ears. I’m dazed. The pain is radiating through my legs and up my back. My I pull my hands to my face and I’ve got gravel ground into them. I look down. Oh thank the lord. I landed okay. The babies are fine. I’m not. We’re far from the cabin. There’s no way I can walk back. Stacy might be strong but he’s not strong like James. Stacy grabs my shoulders and shakes me.

  “Emily! Emily!” he yells. My ears are back in focus. My heart hurts its pounding so hard in my chest and my knees are killing me.

  “Am I bleeding?” I ask between breaths.

  “Where?!” he yells. He’s in major panic mode.

  “On my legs. The babies are fine. I promise. I know they’re fine.” I talk as calmly as I can. Fighting back tears. I can feel them stinging my eyes. The pain is bad. It’s real bad. My knees are on fire.

  “I can’t see!” He explains, his tone shrill. He’s more scared than me. He sucks in crisis situations. I don’t know if I can get up. Damn-it.

  “Stace, just go get James. Get James. I can’t walk right now. Just go get him. The cell service out here doesn’t work,” I order, my tone firm.

  He shakes his head rapidly. “I can’t leave you.”

  “Stop being a fucking girl Stace and get James. I can’t move and you’re not strong enough to carry me back that far. He is. I can feel my knee is bleeding. I need to get back to the cabin. Now please leave me here, it’s a straight shot back. Run back!” I yell. He needs to snap out of this shit. I’ll be fine; I just can’t walk. The pain it too intense.

  He nods and stands.

  “I’ll be back very soon. I’m sorry Em.”

  He squeezes my shoulder. Even that hurts. He takes off running as fast as he can back the way we came. I lay my head against the ground. I’m such a dumbass and now James really won’t let me do anything alone. This sucks! I’m an idiot. I have no choice but to lie here and wait. I don’t want to move. I pull my hands to my line of sight again. Yep, I can see the rocks embedded. If I take them out, I will bleed. I’ll wash them off when I get back to the cabin. I really hope Stacy hurries.

  Chapter Eight

  “Emily! Emily! I’m coming,” I hear James yell in the distance. I can hear his foots steps echoing. He’s nearing. Man, he can run fast.

  “I’m coming my pregnant lady. I’ll be there, don’t get up,” he yells again.

  I tilt my head so I can see up the path. The sun is just starting to lower in the sky. It’s cold out here. My entire face is numb and the pain in my knees is bad, but the coldness of the descending temperature is numbing some of the aching.

  Oh, there is he is! I see him. My James. My sweet James. He’s coming to my rescue.

  He runs up and kneels right beside me.

  “Oh honey, are you alright?” He cups my face in his warm hand.

  “I’m fine. Just take me back to the cabin. Please,” I say evenly. I don’t want to worry him anymore than I have to.

  He uses his other hand and rubs my belly. “Are the babies okay? Do I need to call the doctor?”

  I shake my head. “No, I didn’t hurt them. I protected them. I just hurt myself. My knee is bleeding and I’m in some pain. I need a bath to clean my wounds. Please bring me back to our bedroom.”

  He crouches and shoves his arms under my body and pulls me against him, and he lifts me. So I wrap my arms loosely around his neck.

  “I’m sorry,” I mutter, cuddling my face into the crook of his warm beautiful neck.

  I missed him.

  “Mama Bear, it’s okay. You didn’t mean to. I’m going to walk back nice and slow, so we don’t joggle your body more.”

  “Where’s Stace?” I whisper, kissing his soft neck. His skin tastes good.

  It seems odd that James came
after me but Stacy is nowhere to be found. That’s so unlike him.

  “I might have scolded him rather harshly when he came to find me. I ordered him to stay behind.”

  “Are you going to apologize?”

  He unyieldingly shakes his head. “No, he should have taken better care of you.”

  I nip his neck with my teeth. Since I can’t smack him with damaged hands.

  “Be nice. I was pointing to a damn bird not paying attention to where I was going,” I reprimand.

  “I will not be nice, my pregnant lady. You could have been hurt worse,” he states intensely.

  We arrive back to the cabin once the night is nearly upon us. He takes me inside and Stacy and Kyle are sitting on the couch. I turn my head to see him and they both stand.

  “Emily are you okay?” Stacy asks, he’s bursting with concern.

  I nod. “I’m fine. James is going to take me upstairs and I’m going to get clean. I’ll be back in a while. You two enjoy the cabin. Watch TV, make something to eat. I don’t care,” I softly express. I’m suddenly exhausted. I’m definitely going to bed early tonight.

  “Let me help bathe you,” Stacy offers.

  “I’ll…”

  James cuts me off. “I will clean her. She is my responsibility,” he barks uncouthly and takes me to the stairs and up to our bedroom, with ease.

  “You sit and I’ll undress you,” James instructs, sitting me on the closed toilet.

  “I can do this my bear. I promise.” I tread lightly. He’s amped up and none too happy.

  He turns on the tub water and acclimates the temperature using his finger. Walks into our bedroom and comes back with a tiny first aid kit. I tuck my hands under my dress to pull down my leggings.

  James kneels in front of me and pushes my hands away.

  “I will take care of this Emily. Please let me,” he orders softly. Much better than his harsh disregard for Stacy’s feelings moments ago.

  He takes each of my hands and cleans them with antiseptic wash and removes the little pebbles. It burns and smarts, but he blows on them to help with the discomfort. He’s melting my heart with his kindness. I’ve never had anyone care for me this much. My mom maybe. But that’s her job as a parent. I’ll do the same for my kids. James is just my bodyguard and friend. He isn’t obligated to do this.

  “I’m going to help you stand and I want you to use me for support,” he delicately instructs once my hands are cleansed of debris. I wrap my arms around his neck and he helps me up. My knees are killing me. I wish I could use some major pain killers, they would come in handy right about now. But since I’ve been pregnant I haven’t taken anything. I refuse.

  He pulls my dress over my head and kneels in front of me. I hold onto his shoulders. His thumbs tuck into the top of my leggings and he pulls down, sliding them off of my legs. A shiver of pleasure washes over me. This is so personal and sexual. Even if I’m in pain. He removes each shoe one at a time and then lifts each one of my feet and tugs off my leggings. I’m left standing in my blue boy shorts and bra set. His hands shake a little when he dips into the waistband of my panties and slides them down to reveal my less than perfect pussy. It needs to be shaven and suddenly I am self-conscious. I cover it with my hands and he peers questionably up into my eyes.

  “Sorry James, I need to shave. I just can’t see it. I was going to have Stacy help me.” I blush embarrassed.

  He pulls my hand away. “I will help.”

  Wow. I can’t believe he just said that. He’s going to help me? What? This night is turning out to get even stranger.

  “Your knees are a little busted. I’ll wash the blood off in the tub.”

  “You’ll wash it off?” I look at him like he has two heads.

  He stands and reaches around my back and with one quick shot unclasps my bra like a pro. He’s good! I slide it off and toss it on the floor with the rest of my dirty clothes.

  Then he grabs his t-shirt and pulls it over his head. Oh, damn he’s sexy.

  “Why are you getting naked?”

  “I’m taking a bath with you. This way you can relax and I’ll wash you. Then I will help shave you.” He says, kicking off his boots, undoing his cargo pants which he drops to the floor along with his boxers in one quick swoop. All of them including his socks come off at once and I’m naked facing my sexy six foot two bodyguard with a semi.

  I get into the tub with his help and he gets in behind me. The bath is huge and the water is perfect. I lay my back to his chest. His hands wrap around me lovingly and cradles the babies. I’m so enveloped with his comfort that the water barely stings my broken skin.

  “This feels nice,” I murmur, nestling my head against him and he kisses my hair.

  “Yes, it does. Do you want me to help shave you now or after you’ve relaxed a while?” He inquires in a near whisper. His warm mouth close to my ear. That ignites my insatiable whore between my legs.

  “Now’s okay.” I sit up and slowly prop myself onto the edge of the tub, my calves still submerged in the hot water. “You’re sure you want to help?” I ask, uneasy. This is pressing a little far into the intimacy boundaries.

  He nods grabbing my purple disposable razor and shaving cream from the side of the tub. He squirts the cream into the palm of his hand and lathers it up, then gently applies it to my mound. And fuck does this feel good. I can’t believe his hands are caressing me like this. He glides over my clit and it jumps. Humming for a climax. I purr in my throat at the contact of pleasure. Closing my eyes, he takes the razor, and with his hands he parts my lips, and in even strokes shaves my lady parts. Rinsing the razor in the water between passes. I’m wet. Not just from the water but thanks to his direct contact to my pussy. It loves his warm fingers on it.

  “Do you want me to shave it all off or leave a patch?” He asks.

  How sweet of him. How many men would ask that? Ok. That’s not a very good question because most men wouldn’t even offer to do this.

  “You’re going to be the one looking at it. So whatever you find more appealing.” I answer honestly, staring at him positioned between my legs with his eyes intently focused on my folds.

  He nods and goes back to work. When he’s done, he cups water out of the tub with his hand and rinses me. I touch myself, running my fingers over my bare smoothness. It’s done perfectly with a small landing patch at the top.

  I smile brightly. “Thanks Papa Bear.”

  He drops the razor back on the side of the tub and places his big finger between my pussy lips and I jump. Holy fuck, he feels good. What is he doing?

  “James?” I croak then clear my throat. “James what are…?”

  He puts his other finger to my mouth to shush me.

  James leans his face down, angling himself better and sticks his tongue out and laps my needy core. I moan into the air and arch my back. The warmth of his soft tongue ignites my core as he circles my clit around and around. His breath heavy and hot on my sensitive skin.

  “Oh, James. You don’t have to…” I moan and he sucks my clit into his mouth. “Ohhhhh…. James. That feels so good.” I finger my hair as my breathing accelerates.

  He pulls off my clit a little, giving it gentle sensual kisses. “Am I doing okay?” His voice is husky with lust.

  “Oh, yes James. You’re perfect,” I huff between desire filled breaths. My chest rising and falling hard.

  He sucks my clit back into his mouth. “Ohhh…. God…. If you… Oh...yes…” I moan and pluck one of my nipples. He pushes my hand away, replacing it with his and kneads my nipple with delicate, yet, powerful pulls. That tingle all the way down to my toes. Oh yes, the pain and the pleasure from its tenderness. Fuck, he’s good. I’m going to come soon.

  “I’m… going to come James….I’m… Oh yes…,” he pinches my nipple harder as he nibbles my clit. Oh yes, suck it baby. Suck my clit. Fuck yes! I throw my head back and scream. Exploding into the biggest orgasm I’ve had in months. I buck into his mouth and he sucks me harder. I
can’t catch my breath and my body won’t stop jerking. I take in a deep breath and he pulls away, his lips wet and red from loving my little nub. Damn he’s hot. I gaze down and he has the biggest erection and smile on his face.

  “Thank you,” I muster out.

  Leaning up, he pulls me down to his lips, shoving his tongue into my mouth with such heart rendering force. Oh yes, he wants me. I suck his tongue with passion and he groans in his throat. I roam my hands through his hair and kiss him with everything I have. Like I’ve never kissed anyone before. I slide down into the tub with him, my mouth still on his luscious lips. I’m hot for him again. Damn, my core is begging to fuck him. I want to have sex with James. Right here, right now. I straddle his hips and grab between my legs and position his cock with my hand. He immediately freezes, and pulls his lips from mine. He’s scared. His body starts to shake uncontrollably, as the water in the tub laps violently at the sides. My hand is still wrapped gently around his hard cock. Oh shit, I forgot no one has touched him in years.

  “Are you okay?” I ask softly, as I slide my finger up and down the scar. It’s ridged and hard. I bet it would make me come. Damn. I’m wet for him. He’s so sexy and soft and gentle and perfect. My perfect Teddy Bear.

  He nods slowly with little movement.

  “Do you want me to stop touching him?” I whisper.

  He shakes his head. His body convulsing. The look on his face tells me he’s terrified. This is not the place to show him how much it means to me that he’s letting me touch him. Damn this tub. I let go of his cock and grab his hand and stand.

  “Come with me.”

  “But...”

  I cut him off. “Let’s go in our bed. We can finish bathing later,” I coax, tugging him in tow to our bedroom.

  He climbs onto his side and I slide in on mine. I crawl and position myself between his legs. Completely ignoring the dull ache of my knees.

  His body is so nervous. My poor James. I’m going to show him how much he’s cock is beautiful and wanted. Maybe this will help. Just like the foot tub did for his feet.