by Jude Ouvrard
“I'll try to walk, if you hold my hand.”
He kissed my temple. “Anything, I’ll do anything you need.”
Trying to remain inconspicuous under his beanie, Calvin walked with me down the hospital's hall. Even so, heaps of people stopped to watch him as we went passed. I hated that some people might think he was responsible for the bruises covering my face.
“I love you, Calvin,” I said to him, when one man stared at us and then gave Calvin a suspicious glare.
He helped me into the SUV and drove to his place following all speed limits. He never asked about driving to Broadway Hall. Calvin had decided that my home was his and I loved that.
The apartment had been clean. It smelled good, the scent of citrus in the air.
The sheets on the bed had been changed, and the bed was prepared for my arrival. More pillows, a bottle of water, some magazines and the remote control for the TV was sitting on the nightstand. It was obvious Ms. Clare had been busy. What caught my eye was the gigantic bouquet of purple flowers, sitting on the table in the living room. A mix of different varieties, including some irises – it smelled so refreshing. Their fragrance relaxed me.
“It’s beautiful, Calvin, thank you.”
“I told them to add some irises, because it didn't seem complete without them,” he explained. “It’s like my life. You complete me.”
I was deeply touched by his words. “You're the other half of me, too. You complete me, in every way possible.”
Unable to hide his joy, he pulled me closer and held me in his arms.
“What do you want to do?”
Every movement was uncomfortable, whatever we decided to do, I was certain I didn’t want it to include any movement.
“What about watching a movie?” I loved the idea of being settled on the couch, lying against his chest.
“Alright. Are you hungry?”
“A little.” I wasn’t thinking about food. I twirled a strand of his hair around my finger seductively.
He laughed, and a beautiful smile reached his eyes. One that I recognized. When he spoke, he sounded more like himself. “No way, babe. Not for a few days, anyway. There isn’t a single square inch of your skin that isn’t bruised.”
“I thought it was cool. Almost like tattoos.” I joked trying to diffuse the situation.
“You’re still beautiful. So stop making it harder for me to stay away, or I might not be able to control myself.”
I blushed. In fact, I liked it when he wasn’t able to control himself. It made him raw and outrageously sexy, and it gave him an edge. It aroused me.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but whatever it is, please stop. We’re not doing anything today. I know you’re in pain.”
With an exaggerated sigh, I acquiesced. “You’re right. I am hungry. Feed me.”
I settled onto the couch and waited for him to return from the kitchen.
My head itched beneath the bandage and I wanted to remove it. I had seven stitches in the side of my head and I could only assume they had shaved part of my hair. My hair was dirty and I daydreamed about taking a shower. A warm shower would help to remove the sterile hospital scent from my skin.
“Baby, I’ll be in the bathroom,” I announced, walking towards the bathroom. I removed my clothes, wanting to get in the shower as fast as possible. My stubbornness had me doing stupid things sometimes, this was one of them. I wanted to feel clean, take a well-deserved shower.
I didn’t want Calvin to see me like this. He’d seen some of the bruises, but not all of them. The reflection in the mirror was horrifying; the guy had wrecked me. Being stubborn, I removed the bandage, even though I was supposed to keep it on until the following morning. I wanted to wash my hair, or at the very least, rinse the blood away. The hospital hadn’t told me I couldn’t get it wet, but I figured I shouldn’t use shampoo on the injury. They had shaved my hair around the injury. It didn’t look pretty at all.
I turned on the water, keeping the temperature cool. I washed myself and rubbed some shampoo into my hair on the opposite side to the injury. The water developed a reddish tint, which made me a tad nauseous. I avoided looking at it anymore and rinsed my hair of all the bad memories.
I added more hot water; it had never felt so good to shower. Admittedly, a shower with Calvin had to be the best damn thing in the world, but this was a close second.
As I’d suspected, it took a minute or two, for Calvin to show up in the bathroom to check up on what I was doing.
“What are you doing?” Exasperated, he removed his t-shirt to help me finish rinsing my hair, without stepping inside the shower. “Be careful. You weren’t supposed to remove the bandage, babe. I would love to stay home tonight. I’ve seen enough of the hospital for today, the last thing we need is to have to take you back to the hospital because your head starts bleeding again.”
“I had to wash it, Cal.” I didn’t think I needed to explain myself. Who doesn’t want a shower, when half their hair is covered in blood? I figured he wouldn’t be happy about the situation, but he would understand.
Turning of the water, he helped me dry myself and got me one of his t-shirt and a pair of yoga pants to wear.
“Are you feeling okay?” he questioned.
I wasn’t. Dizziness came on fast and my emotions all of a sudden surged. “I don’t know,” I said, tears beginning to run down my cheeks. “I think I need to sit down.” He lifted me in his arms, holding me close to him as he sat on the couch with me in his lap.
“I’m here. Cry if you need to.”
Cuddling with my man was the best feeling ever. I had missed him so much in the past few days. “I love it here, you holding me, it makes me feel safe.”
“That’s because you are safe here.”
I heard the beep of the oven from in the kitchen. Calvin didn’t move, however, he kept his arms wrapped gently around me and peppered my neck with kisses. “Are you feeling better now? Do you need your medication?”
I shook my head. “I need you. That’s all.”
“I’m right here, sweetheart.” He brushed away the tears running down my cheeks, removing them with the sleeve of his t-shirt.
My stomach growled at full volume, impossible to ignore. “I think I’m hungry,” I suggested with a smile.
“I’ll go grab the food, okay? I’ll be right back.” He lifted me as if I weighed nothing and settled me down on the couch, ensuring I was comfortable.
He returned a moment later with a plate of warm nachos drizzled with melted cheese and salsa. It smelled delicious, making my mouth water and my stomach growled again.
“Now, eat up, you need to regain your strength.”
We ate as if we hadn’t seen food in days. The plate was empty in no time and I sat back on the couch my belly full and satisfied.
Calvin pulled me gently towards him, and we sat back and cuddled in silence. Calvin had brought my medication in from the kitchen and placed it on the coffee table. My back and head had started hurting more during our meal. I flinched when I was trying to find a more comfortable position and Calvin noticed, immediately handing me the pain killers.
I was getting tired and Calvin was yawning too, but I wanted to tell him my plan before we went to bed. All my life, I had struggled with keeping surprises a secret. This time, it was different but I was dying to tell him.
“Before we both pass out from exhaustion, there’s something I want to tell you. It’s important.”
His facial expression went from happy to freaking worried within a split-second, and I loved the way he reacted to everything I said, his emotions clearly visible. He remained silent, watching me with cautious eyes.
“My answer is yes,” I announced.
Calvin looked confused. “But I didn’t even ask you to marry me, yet.”
I laughed, but the action hurt my cheek and pain crashed through my skull. I shook my head at him. “I want to move in with you, baby. I thought about it a lot when you were away and I d
on’t see how we could be apart again.”
“Fuck, you make me so happy.” He kissed my temple. “So fucking happy.” His lips found every inch of available skin. His kisses were soft, exquisite and my favorite thing. I swore to myself, I would never spend a day without enjoying them again.
Chapter TWENTY ONE
EPILOGUE
WE LANDED ON THE MAIN island late in the afternoon, as everything was about to disappear into darkness. I didn’t see a lot of the island, but there was something in the air that hinted tropics. The salty air and high-humidity level was the first thing that struck me. I tried to look around out of curiosity, but as soon as we were on safe ground, Calvin and another man packed our luggage into a small boat, and we were off to our little piece of heaven on earth. When we arrived on the island, the night had taken us into total blackness. The only light came from the flash light the boat guy used, to show us the way out of the boat and up onto the small wooden dock.
I held Calvin’s hand with all my strength. Darkness had always scared the crap out of me and I had no idea where we were, or where we were going. We stepped off the dock and onto the sand, and approached a small walkway created out of flat rocks. We followed the boat guy, who walked too fast for my tastes. I was feeling a little anxious and uncertain.
All of a sudden, our destination appeared. With light glowing from each of the windows, the small white house exceeded all my expectations. It looked so beautiful rustic. The man opened the door and put our luggage inside. We entered the house and I swear, my heart skipped a beat. “Wow!”
The guy handed Calvin a key and then he left, leaving us alone in this beautiful house.
Excited and overwhelmed, I kissed Cal on the cheek and ran around the place, looking at everything. I must have looked crazy because I heard Calvin laugh from behind me. I opened a door which revealed a small bedroom and a second door led to a small laundry room. The third door led into a beautiful all-white bedroom with a double French doors giving access to the beach. I let myself fall on the mattress. “This is too good to be true.”
“Yeah, that’s what I think, too, every morning when I wake up beside you.”
I sat on the edge of the bed with a happy sigh. “Thank you, baby.”
“Anything for you.” He pulled his hair back into a bun. “Wait until the sun is up, you haven’t seen anything yet.”
Waking up with no other sounds than the waves rolling into the shoreline seemed too good to be true. No traffic noise, no police sirens, nothing but the gentle sound of the waves crashing onto the sand. “Thank you for bringing me to heaven.”
“I promised you we would go somewhere together to relax once you recovered. Here we are, babe. I came here for the first time after my interview had aired. It did me a lot of good. I want us to relax and have a good time.”
The last three weeks had been incredible, but kind of crazy. I moved in with Calvin right after the attack. It was the best decision I’d ever made. I needed ten days of recovery at home before I started returning to school, gradually increasing how long I managed to stay each day. Calvin had our bedroom remodelled last week, incorporating a more feminine design. I had never complained about his old bedroom, but, he wanted to make me feel at home. I already did, but I figured it would be a waste of time to try to tell him otherwise.
I had finally met Ms. Clare and we bonded right away. I was helping her with the cooking, every chance I got. She reminded me a lot of mom.
Calvin had signed the football player he met with in Texas and he’d met with another one in New Jersey. His business was keeping him busy and away from me but I understood. It wasn’t every day he could sign great athletes.
Watching him planning his proposals to them amazed me. Not only was he good to me but he cared about these young man.
“The sun agrees with you. Your hair shines like gold nuggets.”
I chuckled. “Gold nuggets?” I thought about what I could say, wanting to tease him a little. “Your green eyes shine like sea grass.”
He laughed. “Very funny, Ariel.”
“Indeed, Thor.”
He smiled, tired. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, sexy.”
He ran his hand through my messy hair.
“How come your hair is perfect when you wake up and mine resembles a hay bale?” I complained.
“You are perfect, like Rapunzel.”
“Alright, alright, Huntsman.” It was my second reference to the actor, Chris Hemsworth and I figured it might not go unnoticed, but it was true – they both had similar features.
His eyebrows rose in surprise. “Chris Hemsworth? You have a thing for him, don't you?”
My face flushed, beet red. “He looks a lot like you.”
“You’re nuts. Come here.” He opened his arms for me to lie against him. “What do you want to do today?”
“Work on my tan, maybe some skinny dipping?”
He grinned. “Oh, really?”
“Yeah. We're alone here. We would be foolish not to take advantage of it.”
“What about right now?” His lips danced on the hollow of my neck. “Please.”
Naked under the white cotton sheets, his strong arms swooped me up and over his shoulder and he hurried outside and into the light blue water of the ocean. Before letting me slide into the water, he gave me a small spank on the ass and I giggled.
“Why do you always do that?” I questioned. Not that I minded.
He shrugged. “It’s something I like.”
My toes entered the water first and next thing I knew the level had reached up to my waist as Calvin let me down into the water. “I love it here, it's beautiful.” Palm trees stood high around the beach line, colourful flowers surrounded us and the beach was to die for.
“I knew you would like it. I'm glad I brought you here.”
“Come here, Hemsworth.” He gave me an irritated stare. “Don't worry; I'll be screaming your real name later.”
“What about now, sweetness?”
My mouth had gone dry; I knew he wouldn't play nice this time. He’d been holding back since I’d been injured, but I was fully recovered now.
“Come here.” We were standing less than two feet apart. I took the step separating us and he pushed my hair back over my shoulders, revealing my breasts to his gaze. “Now that’s better.” A tiny smile appeared on his lips.
His hair was loose and fluttering with the sea breeze. I could see him in a sunscreen commercial or even better, as a swimsuit model. Except he wasn't wearing a swimsuit. I blushed when he grabbed my behind. His erection was already pushing against my belly.
“I wish I could read your mind, sweetness. It kills me when you blush and I don’t have a clue why.” He acted as if he was about to kiss me, and my eyes closed automatically. I expected to feel his lips on mine, but it didn’t come. I opened my eyes again and stared at him with a question in my eyes. “You’d better not be thinking about Chris Hemsworth,” he warned, playful.
I snorted. “Nah. I was thinking about how hot you are, and how hot you make me.”
“Much better.” He started walking out of the water, holding my hand. Droplets of water slid down his beautiful ass. I made a vow there and then, to live here forever, because there would never be a more gorgeous sight than Calvin walking out of the water butt naked. “Stop staring, sweetness.” I lifted my gaze to his and he had that sexy, no-nonsense look on his face. The one which created a dozen fluttering butterflies in the pit of my stomach.
We had lounge chairs which were kept beneath a shady hut and Calvin insisted we use them every day. Only because once we were done and sated, we were too exhausted to move anywhere else.
He stopped by one of the chairs, holding my face hostage between his palms. His thumbs rubbed across each side of my face, as he kissed me, slowly, almost as if he intended to tease me. I tried to deepen the kiss, but he pulled away. “I love you, Iris, with all I have, all I am.”
“I love you too, Calvi
n, always.” I pressed my lips to his and he deepened the kiss, taking control of the situation. The sun was already burning against my golden skin, small drops of sweat forming on my back.
“Hold on a second.” He ran inside the house and return with a glass of ice. I didn’t think anything of it because of how hot it was.
He placed the glass of ice beside the table and we laid down on the chair together, his body over mine. Calvin enjoyed the accessibility of my bared breasts.
“I love touching you like this; your skin is so soft. The reaction your body has to me...it turns me the fuck on. You arch your back when you want me to touch your breasts; you angle your neck towards me when you crave my lips on you. It makes me want to suck your skin hard and leave my mark on you. And I love the way you always circle my waist with your legs when you want me.” His tongue played, encircling my nipple. “I can read the signs, sweetness.”
“I hope you can read them all, now, because I’m about to combust here.”
“We aren’t in a hurry, babe. It’s you and me and a couple of lizards.” He joked, slipping an ice cube into his mouth. “There is no way I’m letting you combust, without trying to stop it.” Calvin sucked on the ice cube before putting his mouth back on one of my nipples.
The cold sensation of Calvin’s tongue compared to the warmth of my skin and the piece of ice touching me every now and then was unbelievable. Holding the cube between his teeth, he let it melt onto my skin as he moved up and down my body.
“Calvin,” I groaned.
“We have all the time in the world, sweetness,” he said. “But I do want to take you now.”
I loosened my legs from around his waist and within seconds he was plunging himself deep inside me. He stayed motionless once he was buried to the hilt, he didn’t move. Instead, he snatched another cube of ice from the glass and popped it into his mouth, and then he kissed me, savouring my lips and the ice slipped from his mouth to mine and back again. I left my mark on his back with my nails when he reached for another ice cube and rubbed it against my body. Calvin loved to make me wait for what I wanted, and the ice was a nice distraction.