Changed

by Heather Dahlgren

  He laughs at me and climbs out of bed to stretch. He leans over to whisper in my ear. “Nothing could stop me tonight baby. That I promise you.” He gives me a wink and walks to the bathroom.

  The doctor came in to do his final check on Kenz. He explained how to care for the lacerations, to follow up with her doctor, also how to bathe with the cast. I am waiting for her to finish changing in the bathroom. I can’t wait to get her home. The last few days have been a fucking nightmare. She is doing much better it is such a relief. I took a quick shower here because I know that everyone is at her apartment to welcome her home. They are all equally relived that this ordeal is over, both the attack and us being apart.

  Kenz finally comes out of the bathroom with a smile on her gorgeous face. She is in her regular clothes, freshly showered looking much better then she has now that all the blood is off her head.

  “You look beautiful, baby. You ready to bust out of here?” I ask while I across the room to pull her to me.

  Once we have our arms around each other she says, “I can’t wait to get home.” I kiss her lips and forehead before pulling away. I have everything all packed and ready to go.

  “The nurse gave me all your paper work while you were in the shower. I put it in the bag. We can drop off your prescription on the way home. Now let’s get the hell out of here.” The nurse brings in the wheelchair. Once she is situated in it, she wheels Kenz to the elevator. Kenz is wheeled outside; I help her out of the wheelchair, thank the nurse, and we leave.

  We get her pain medicine and are on our way home. She has been quite and I’m wondering what is going through her mind. I reach over to hold her hand. “What’s up, baby? You’re in your own head.”

  She turns her head to look at me. “Honestly, seeing all this brings back that night. I’m scared.” I bring her hand to my lips and kiss her palm.

  “Baby, I promise you I will not let anything happen to you. You don’t have to go anywhere on your own until you’re ready. The police arrested him, so you don’t need to worry about it. It will never happen again, because I will kill him before that happens.” She gives my hand a squeeze.

  “Thank you for everything, Campbell. I couldn’t have made it these last few days without you.” We pull into the parking spot and I turn to look at her.

  “Kenz, I love you. You never have to thank me for taking care of you. I want to do it baby. I want to be your rock.” I get out of the truck and walk to her side to help her out.

  We get off the elevator and walk to her apartment. I open the door for her and everyone yells, “Welcome Home.” She jumps because they scared her. Fucking idiots.

  “Oh my God.” She covers her mouth but she is laughing at them. They all come to greet her and I bring her bags to her room for her.

  I look around thinking of the last time I was here. The last few weeks had me thinking I would never be here again. I’m so fucking grateful to have another chance. Now that there are no secrets, we will have a much stronger relationship. I will treat her with all the respect that she deserves.

  I walk back out into the living room and Kenz is sitting on the couch laughing. Damn if the broken pieces of my heart don’t start putting themselves back together. I almost lost her, in more ways than one. That is something I will never forget. I sit down and pull her onto my lap.

  “I need to feel you baby. It doesn’t hurt sitting on my lap right?” She kisses my chin.

  “No, I promise. I need to be as close to you as possible anyway.” We turn our attention back to everyone.

  “Red, do you want a drink? You earned that shit.”

  I shake my head at him. “She can’t drink while taking pain pills, idiot.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me? Fine, but once you’re off of them, we are getting trashed.” He sits down next to Maddie and rests his hand on her thigh. I need to ask him what is going on with them.

  “We ordered food, it should be here soon. I figured you would want something good after having to eat the nasty hospital food.” Dick says sipping his beer. I am so grateful for the friendship my boys have with Kenz. They love her too.

  “Thanks guys. I am actually hungry for the first time.” That makes me happy because she hasn’t eaten much.

  “That’s because you’re home now. You’re more relaxed than being in the hospital.” Becca explains.

  “Alright, this is going to be a happy night, no bringing up bad shit. We are going to hang out, laugh, and have a great time.” Maddie yells. She is right. We don’t need to dwell on what has happened; we need to have fun.

  Now that we have eaten, we are sitting around tell stories of our first time having sex. “So then she is like, hurry my dad is going to be home soon. I got so scared that I pulled out of her, threw my clothes on, and ran home.” Young says. Everyone is laughing at him.

  “Whose turn is it?” he asks.

  “Kenz!” Maddie shouts spilling some of her drink in the process. Everyone is pretty buzzed at this point, everyone but Kenz and me. I only had a few beers because if she can’t drink, I’m not going to get drunk. Now I have to listen to her talk about her first time, this should be fun.

  She laughs and says, “Alright, alright. It was with this guy, Brad. He was in my Math class. He invited me to a frat party, so of course I went. We both had a lot to drink. We went up to his room.”

  “Oh Jesus stop!” I interrupt her. Everyone, except me, is hysterical.

  “Shut the fuck up. I don’t want to hear her talk about it.” She is laughing but kisses my lips.

  “Alright, let’s play something else.”

  Maddie, Young, and Kenz all yell, “Truth or dare!” I can’t help but laugh. It really has become our favorite thing to do.

  “I’ll go first.” I say. “Young, truth or dare?” I am totally going to put his ass on the spot.

  “Why the fuck do you always ask? Dare fucker.” I smile at him, he picks up his drink and slams it back.

  “Okay fucker. I dare you to kiss Becca. Not just a peck, I want tongue.” He shoots me a look and I raise my eyebrows in question. I know he has feelings for Maddie, I want to see how close they really are. Becca looks at me with wide eyes. I give her a wink. Young gets up and wipes his hands on his pants.

  “Okay, fine, no problem. I’ll kiss Becca.” He looks over at Maddie, but she is staring at her cup.

  “With tongue.” I say. Dick and I are laughing at the expression on his face.

  “Yea, I know. Shit, it’s not a big deal.” He walks over to Becca and Maddie finally looks up. I can see she is curious if he is going to do it. “Okay, here I go. I’m going to kiss Becca with absolutely no meaning behind it at all, just doing it because it’s a dare.”

  Kenz looks back at me with questioning eyes. “He and Maddie have something going on. I want to see how serious it is.” I whisper in her ear.

  “Holy shit really?” I shake my head and turn my attention back to Young. He keeps looking over at Maddie.

  “Come one Young, we all need a turn.” Dick says rubbing his hands together with excitement. With one last pleading look at Maddie he bends toward Becca.

  “Oh My God.” Kenz whispers. He is almost right to her mouth and jerks up.

  “Umm, yea I can’t do it. I pick truth.” He walks back over to sit next to Maddie.

  “Can’t do it. Why not? That is not like you at all.” I know I’m pushing him, but I just want to see what he’ll do.

  “Shut the fuck up, Campbell. I pick truth, if you don’t want to then move on to someone else, asswipe.” I laugh at him, but decide to let him off.

  “Fine, asshole. Truth. Do you think you will ever be in a serious relationship?” I smile smugly at him.

  “No idea, maybe. Who’s next?”

  “I’ll go. Dare.” Dick says.

  “I dare you to take off your pants and shirt, but you have to put on one of Red’s shirts.” What a fucking idiot.

  “No problem. Kenz, what shirt do you hate because you guys are going
to have to cut that shit off me?”

  She gets up to get him a shirt and I sip my beer while she is gone. She comes back to her spot on my lap and I kiss her.

  “How are you feeling? Do you need a pill?”

  She turns to me. “Not yet. If I take one, I’ll fall asleep. I would like to be alone with you.” She fucking winks at me and turns around.

  Before I can respond, Dick comes out of the bathroom in his boxers and Kenz’s shirt. We all laugh so hard that we can’t even continue with the game.

  Finally, I tell everyone that we are calling it a night. She really does need her rest. “Thank you guys so much. I had so much fun.” Everyone gives her a hug.

  The guys leave and the girls go to their rooms. I grab her hand and lead her to her room. I close the door behind us, pulling her toward the bed. I sit her down on the bed and kneel in front of her. I take off her shoes and place them on the floor. I look up at her beautiful face. She steals my breath.

  “How are you feeling baby?” I want her so fucking bad, but I don’t want her to be in pain. I can wait, if I have to.

  “I’m alright Campbell. I’ll be better when you’re inside of me.” My girl is too good to be true. I take off her pants and very carefully take her shirt off. I take a moment to appreciate the beauty that is before me.

  “Baby you take my breath away. You are absolutely perfect. Climb up the bed.” She does as I ask while I strip down to my boxers. I climb on top of her. “Are you okay to be laying on your back baby? I don’t want to hurt your head.”

  She reaches up with the hand without a cast and runs her fingers down my face. “I promise you if I feel any pain I will tell you.”

  I turn to the side so I can kiss her hand. I lean down and give her a kiss. I run my tongue along her lips and she easily allows me access. Once our tongues touch, it is almost frantic. I can’t get enough of her it’s been so long. I kiss down her neck to her breasts. I reach behind to get her bra off. Once it is off, I lick both of her breasts enjoying the view of watching her nipples harden under my touch. I suck one into my mouth and pinch the other, and I am rewarded with a moan. After I pay her breasts adequate attention, I kiss and lick a path down her body to her panties. I don’t touch them yet. It has been so long since we have been together I need to worship her. I kiss down one leg and up the other. I kiss up one side of her back to her breasts. I lick and suck them, then kiss down the other side of her. I am running my hands all over her body. She is breathing heavily and arching off the bed. I make my way to her panties again and my cock hardens that much more when I smell her excitement. “Baby I missed you so much. I missed the feel of your body under my hands and mouth.”

  She moans as I run my finger over her panties. “Oh, Campbell, I have missed you so much.”

  I hook my fingers into her panties and pull them down. The sight of her wet pussy begging to be touched is so fucking hot. I run my finger between her folds. “Fuck baby. You know I love when you are so fucking wet. I need to taste you.” I lick her from her ass to her clit, her sweet taste invading my mouth.

  “OH, YES.” I do it again then tell her.

  “Baby, you taste so fucking sweet. I can’t get enough.” She takes her good hand and wraps it in my hair. I suck, lick, and nip at her sweet pussy. I trust my tongue inside of her. She is rubbing that sexy pussy on my face while my tongue fucks her. I pull my tongue out and replace it with my fingers. I begin fucking her with my fingers and suck on her clit. I curl my fingers to hit her sweet spot and suck hard on her clit. “Oh God, yes!” She comes and I lick her dry.

  I climb up her body kissing it the entire way. I have both arms on either side of her head and smile down at her. “So good, baby. So fucking good.” I kiss her slowly, gently. I don’t want to fuck her tonight. I want to make love to her. I want to show her with my body how much I love her. I slowly push into her. We both moan when I am finally in. “Oh Kenz, I have missed this so much. Being with you, looking at your sexy body, and loving you.”

  She smiles through the tears I see in her eyes. “I wasn’t sure we would ever get here again.”

  I kiss her with all the love I feel for her. “Baby, there was never a choice. We are two hearts that became one.” I slowly start to move in and out of her. “We were both living, but now we are alive.” As I talk, I am still slowly moving. “Two souls that were meant to find the other.” I kiss her, running my hands down her body, while keeping my slow rhythm. “Baby we are so intertwined that I can’t remember where you start and I end.” I begin to pick up my pace now. Looking at her beautiful face flushed with desire is my breaking. “You always were and always will be my girl.” I capture her mouth before she can even think to form a response. I keep up my faster pace, but I am close to coming already. I run my hand down her body and begin to rub her clit.

  “Oh, Campbell.” I know my girl is close, I can feel her pussy tightening around my cock.

  “That’s it, baby.” I pick up my pace, careful not to hurt her, and press on her clit.

  “OH YES, CAMPBELL!” she shouts when her orgasm rips through her. I only last one more thrust before my orgasm throws me over the edge.

  We are laying together after we both recover from our orgasms. She is laying on my chest, by my heart, her heart actually. It doesn’t belong to me anymore; she holds it in her hand. She owns me completely.

  “Campbell, you are my whole world, you make me whole.” I smile and kiss her forehead.

  “Baby, you are my world too. I love you so much.” She kisses right where my heart is.

  “I love you too, Campbell.”

  “Kenz are you almost ready, baby? We need to leave in a few minutes.” Campbell yells from the living room.

  “Yes be out in a second.” We are getting ready to meet up with the gang over at the bar. It’s been three months since the attack and since we worked things out. Thankfully, I have healed completely. The physical healing happened faster than the emotional. Thankfully, with the love and support of Campbell, I got through it all.

  Once Joe was released from jail, I didn’t want to leave the apartment. I was terrified that something awful would happen. I had to go to court and face him, which was worse than facing any bullies from high school could ever have been. He was put on probation and had to do 100 hours of community service. The judge allowed his request to do so at home in California. Last I heard, he was also in AA and had to take anger management classes. It was a relief knowing he was on the other side of the country.

  We are both graduating in a few short weeks. I am doing an internship at The Post, hopefully it will turn into a permanent position. Campbell has been looking into football teams who are looking for medical staff. He is trying to keep it local. We have been throwing around the idea of moving in together, but for now, we are happy with the living situation. We are always at each other’s apartments anyway.

  “Baby, what is taking you so long?” I turn to find him leaning against the door frame.

  “Sorry, I’m ready now.” He pulls me to him and kisses me.

  “You look beautiful.” I blush. I love that he can still make me blush after all this time. I hope that never stops. He grabs my hand and leads me out of the bathroom. I get my purse and we leave to go meet up with everyone.

  We get to the bar and it is crowded. Not that it is surprising for a Friday night. Campbell is holding my hand as we make our way to the table everyone is sitting at.

  “About fucking time, you guys.” Young says when we reach the table.

  Campbell flips him off and we sit down. I’m sure there is something going on with Young and Maddie, but every time I’ve brought it up to her, she won’t talk about it.

  “I’m going to get another round of drinks I’ll get you guys one too.” Dick says before going up to the bar.

  Once we are all a couple drinks in we start with our usual game, truth or dare. “I dare you to buy that guy a drink and when he looks at you wink.” Maddie says to Young.

  “D
one.” He gets up to have a drink sent over.

  “You know one time someone is going to kick his ass.” Campbell says sipping his beer.

  “That’s what makes it so much better.” Maddie says. Once he comes back from the bar and the guy looks over, he winks. I throw my head back I am laughing so hard.

  “Your turn, Campbell. Truth or dare?” Young asks.

  I am sitting on his lap, he kisses my neck then says, “Truth.”

  “Pussy.” Dick says next to him, earning a punch in the arm.

  “Alright, fine. What is your biggest fear?” Young asks.

  Campbell laughs. “So fucking easy. My biggest fear is losing Kenz.” He turns me on his lap to claim my mouth. I run my hands up to his hair and he does the same.

  “Holy fuck give it a rest. I’m sure you guys just had sex before you got here.” Young shouts. We pull apart smiling at each other. We did in fact have sex before coming.

  “Alright, my turn, dare.” Becca says.

  Campbell thinks for a minute before he comes up with something. “I dare you to go over grab a pool cue and join that game.” Becca throws her drink back and gets up.

  She does in fact do the dare and we are all shocked. She seems to be coming out of her shell, becoming less shy. I’m so happy for her. I high five her when she gets back and we all laugh.

  After we finish truth or dare, we are enjoying another round of drinks. There is a live band here tonight, so we are all enjoying them as well. They begin to play a slower song and Campbell whispers, “Dance with me beautiful.”

  I get up and follow him onto the small dance floor. He pulls me into his arms; we dance slow and close. I look to the left and see that Young and Maddie are dancing as well. He holds her close, she has her head on his chest. I look to my right to see Dick and Becca. They are both talking and laughing while they dance.

  I love them all so much. It makes my heart swell when I think about how close we all are. I started out with two best friends and now I’m lucky enough to have five. I think back to when I met Campbell here. It seems like a lifetime ago, yet like it was only yesterday. We have come so far since then, since I laid eyes on Mr. Gorgeous. I never would have thought that we would end up together. I look up at him to see he is watching me with nothing but love in his eyes.