Never Far Away

by Anie Michaels

  The tip of his cock found her opening and he looked her in the eye as he sank into her, thrusting upwards.

  “I love you so much, Ella,” he said through rough breaths and a gravelly voice.

  “I know. I love you too.”

  He pushed her hips up against the door, pinning her there with his own, and continued to drive into her. She gripped him with her strong legs and her face found the space carved out for her by his neck, the crook that she belonged in. He felt her heartbeat against his chest and knew his beated just as rapidly.

  Sweat beaded on his brow, the pressure in his groin mounted. Every time he pumped into her she cried out, spurring him on.

  “Oh God, please,” she begged him.

  “Hang on, Baby,” he replied. He brought his hand down between them and used this thumb to circle her clit. Her moans became louder and more crazed, so he pumped into her harder and faster.

  “Yes, please, Porter. Come with me.”

  Within seconds of her command, he was over the edge and taking her with him. They stilled, breathed harsh and panting breaths, their connection still intact. Once he got his breath back and felt strong enough, he placed both hands under her thighs and carried her from the door and down the hall.

  “Where are we going?” She asked as she placed sweet kisses along his shoulder.

  “To make more memories,” he said simply.

  Chapter Ten

  Ella

  Ella woke to the feeling of the mattress dipping down around her. Then she felt Porter’s hand on her thigh. Tingles immediately coursed through her body. Her eyes fluttered open and when they adjusted she was saddened to see Porter sitting next to her in bed completely clothed.

  “Are you leaving?” She croaked, her voice still asleep.

  “Yeah, Babe, I’ve got to go if I’m going to make it to work on time.”

  Ella grumbled something incoherent; early mornings weren’t her thing. She heard Porter laugh at her and then he brushed her crazy hair out of her face. She felt the warmth of his breath on her face and she peeped open one eye.

  “Give me a kiss goodbye.” His voice was soft and sexy.

  She leaned up and brushed a small kiss across his mouth. He hummed in appreciation and she smiled against his mouth.

  “I’ll be in Lincoln City by six, I think,” she said.

  “Ok, text me when you leave. And I left a key to the house on your dresser.”

  He was leaving her a key. To the house. Not his house. The house. The difference in the distinction was felt way down deep in her heart. They were sharing everything now, sharing a life. The smile she already wore grew even wider and Porter’s mouth mirrored hers.

  “What are you smiling about?” She shrugged her shoulders, not wanting to seem like a complete and total sap.

  “Nothing, just you.”

  “Hmmm,” he bent down to kiss her again. “Drive safe. Remember to text me.”

  “Ok, you drive safe too and have a good day at work.”

  “Bye, Baby,” he said and she could feel herself drift back to sleep.

  Ella pulled up to her store, only this time she was alone, without Porter to help ease the panic she felt roiling to the surface. She silently chastised herself for not calling the psychiatrist the doctor had referred her to; obviously, she needed to talk to someone about her panic.

  She spent a few moments in her car, breathing deeply, trying not to think about the man in the dark hoodie who had disrupted her life so suddenly. Through the window of the store she could see Brittany and the thought that someone else would be there with her calmed her slightly. When she felt like her fear was ebbing, she ventured out of the car and into the store.

  Throughout the morning she had a few moments where she wasn’t sure she could push the panic back and at one point she ran to the bathroom, afraid the fear was going to make her sick. She managed to keep everything under control, although she wasn’t entirely sure that the girls at the store didn’t think she was crazy.

  When she wasn’t wracked with worry or trying to maintain the façade of someone who wasn’t suffering, she marvelled at how different her life had become in just the span of a few days. She recalled being in her store and spending days in a haze, when her mind would drift to thoughts about the missing weeks in her mind. Now, she knew with certainty everything that had transpired during those weeks, and she was grateful to take the good with the bad. Her mind had sacrificed her security and mental well-being to bring Porter back to her. She smiled, partly because she knew she would eventually be ok. The panic would subside and her anxiety would ease, but she would never be able to be ok without Porter. So, it was a sacrifice she was willing to make.

  When it was finally time for Ella to leave for the bridal shop, she felt exhausted emotionally. Trying to maintain a calm and cool demeanor while she felt like her heart was going to pound out of her chest was more taxing then she could have imagined. The panic she felt at the apartment and the anxiety she felt at the shop were similar and eerie. In her mind she tied the two events together, which seemed logical as they happened within a few hours of each other. She had a hard time separating the events in her mind, and the longer she spent at the store the more she thought about the night of the shooting and Kyle’s attack.

  “Brittany, I am leaving for the day. Call me if you need anything. I probably won’t be in tomorrow until at least eleven.”

  “Bye Ella. Have a good rest of your day!”

  Ella was glad she had such dependable women working for her and she knew the store was in good hands.

  When Ella arrived at the bridal store, she was relieved to feel her anxiety melting away slightly. It worried her that she knew the physical distance from the store was the reason she felt better; she didn’t like having to feel afraid at her store, the business she’d worked so hard to build up and make successful.

  She immediately heard her sister’s musical laughter deeper in the store and she followed it to her.

  “Ella! So glad you’re here! Kalli and I were waiting for you!” Megan said as she pulled her into a tight hug.

  “Have you tried anything on yet?” Ella asked as she moved to give Kalli a hug as well.

  “No, but I’ve picked a few out.”

  “Why isn’t Mom here?”

  “Well, don’t be mad, but I went out dress shopping with mom last week. I knew she couldn’t make this trip, some school board curriculum thing, so we went alone.” Megan looked at her, waiting for her to get upset.

  “I’m glad you and mom got some time together and that she isn’t missing seeing you try on a wedding dress for the first time.”

  A woman, who Ella assumed was the consultant helping Megan, approached them.

  “You must be the sister and Maid of Honor?” She looked at Ella.

  “That’s me,” Ella said with a smile.

  “Great. Now that everyone’s here, let’s get some choices locked down and get Megan in a dress.”

  As they sifted through dresses, Ella found Megan deferring to her about style choices and different fabrics. Kalli had a lot to contribute and Megan mentioned a few times how lucky she was to have such sophisticated fashion aficionados at her disposal.

  Ella made sure her sister didn’t touch any mermaid cut dresses or any ball gowns. Kalli was a big fan of the sweetheart neckline on Megan, but didn’t like her in the blush colored fabric.

  Ella heard Megan squeal from the fitting room and she and Kalli exchanged excited looks. When Megan came out of the room, Ella was sure she had never seen a bigger smile on her sister’s face. To see her sister so happy and in a wedding dress, immediately brought tears to Ella’s eyes.

  “Oh my gosh, you guys, I think this is the one!”

  Megan was stunning in a creamy white, satin, sweetheart-neck gown with cap sleeves. There was no poof, no bling, no embellishment at all. It was simple. It was classy. It was perfect. The way the satin draped over Megan’s curves was ridiculously flattering and Ella knew Patr
ick would die if he saw his fiancé in this dress.

  “Megan, you look amazing,” Ella said, trying to hold back tears.

  “Do you really like it?”

  “Are you kidding?” Kalli said. “You look phenomenal. Breath taking.”

  “Yes, Megan, you look like a photo in a bridal magazine.”

  “I always thought I’d want something a little more, I don’t know, formal. This looks like lingerie.”

  “You’ve always told me how much Patrick likes you in lingerie.” Ella added with a smile.

  “Yes, but do I want to be up in front of one hundred and fifty plus people knowing that he’s picturing me naked? I’m not sure. Plus, if the dress looks like lingerie, what am I supposed to wear on the wedding night?”

  “Oh, honey. You can find something sexier than this dress. This will be the appetizer to wet his appetite.” All three girls cracked up at the sales woman’s forward comment.

  “Ok,” Megan exhaled a deep breath. “It’s a definite contender, but I want to see more. I cannot commit so quickly.”

  “More dresses, more choices,” Kalli said with a smile. Megan ambled back into the dressing room and Kalli turned towards Ella with a smile on her face.

  “So, I have some news,” Kalli started.

  “Do tell,” Ella answered, returning the giant smile across Kalli’s face.

  “A couple days ago I was on set and ran to the Starbucks down the street to get coffee for the team, and I met a man.” The excitement radiating off of her friend’s face was contagious and Ella found herself nearly bouncing up and down in her seat as Kalli was.

  “I repeat: Do tell!” Ella laughed.

  “I was in line to order and he bumped into the back of me accidentally. He was really apologetic and grabbed my elbow to keep me from falling,” Kalli’s eyes went all glazy and she was far, far away. “Ella, when he touched me, even though it was just my arm, I swear I felt it all the way in my toes.”

  “Oh my,” Ella said, understanding all too well.

  “And he is very handsome, like, lose your breath handsome.”

  “That’s the best kind of handsome,” Ella replied. “What is his name?”

  “Scott,” she said with a deep sigh, making Ella giggle.

  “Scott is a good name; I’ve never met a Scott I didn’t like.”

  “You’d like him, Ella. He’s perfect.”

  “So, did he just bump into you or are you guys gonna go out?”

  “We exchanged phone numbers after he flirted for a few minutes and bought my coffee, and he’s texted me a few times.”

  “This is all very exciting, Kalli. You haven’t dated very much since you’ve been here.”

  “I know. I’m really ready to go out with him, if you catch my drift,” she said with raised eyebrows, leaning over towards Ella so that the sales women couldn’t hear her. Ella laughed out loud and then covered her mouth quickly.

  “I caught your drift. Don’t worry,” she said as she gently patted Kalli’s knee.

  Megan tried on upwards of ten more dresses, but none of them put the smile on her face like the satin one. She was reluctant to put a down payment on it until their mother saw her in it. They still had almost a year until the wedding, so there wasn’t a huge rush to make the decision that day.

  “I will have to come back with Mom soon.”

  “She’s going to love it, Megs.”

  Eventually Megan came out of the dressing room in her normal clothes and sat down next to Ella to put her boots back on.

  “Megan, do you think we could talk for a minute?”

  “Sure, is everything ok?”

  “Do you guys want me to give you a minute alone?” Kalli asked.

  “No, Kalli, it’s fine, please stay and listen.” Ella took a deep breath and then looked Megan in the eyes. “Megan, Porter and I have decided to move in together.”

  Kalli’s hand flew to her mouth in shock and surprise, while Megan’s face lit up with a smile.

  “Really?” Megan asked. Ella nodded her head in affirmation. Suddenly Ella was being pulled into a hug and she felt Megan’s arms wrap around her. “Ella, I am so happy for you and for Porter. You guys deserve some happiness. I’ve never seen a man love a woman like he loves you.” Ella pulled back from the embrace.

  “Patrick loves you, Megs,” Ella reassured her, being reminded of the conversation they shared at the beach and Megan’s ridiculous insecurities surrounding Patrick’s feelings for her.

  “Of course Patrick loves me. I’m amazing. And I love him. There’s no one else in this world that I am supposed to be with and I am going to love him for the rest of my life. But Porter, well, I’ve seen Porter without you. He was only meant to live if you are beside him, Fella. He was empty, lost. He had no direction and no North without you.” Megan’s eyes misted up with tears she was trying to keep at bay. Ella had a hard time keeping her eyes dry as well.

  “Well, that’s not all the news I have,” Ella said, trying to steer the conversation away from the sad, and onto the exciting.

  “OK…” Megan said, drawing out the word, obviously anxious about what Ella had to say.

  “We are moving to Salem so I can open another Poppy.”

  “Oh my gosh! Ella that’s so amazing. You’re going to do great!” Megan pulled her into another hug.

  “And I want you to be the manager of Poppy in Portland, full time.” Ella felt Megan freeze in her embrace. Slowly, Megan pulled back.

  “You want ME to manage Poppy?”

  “Yes, I think you’re the best person for the job. You did great while I was recovering and you’re looking for a job, right?”

  “Well, I mean, yes, I’m looking for a job, but I don’t know about this Ella. What if I mess up everything you’ve worked so hard for? What if I run Poppy into the ground and you have to close the doors and we all end up homeless?”

  Ella laughed at her sister’s over dramatics.

  “Megan, calm down. You aren’t going to ruin anything. You are going to be great, if you accept. You already do a great job at Poppy.”

  “What about Brittany? She’s worked there longer.”

  “Brittany will get a promotion to assistant manager. I really think you’d be great at this. You’ve got a degree in business; Brittany’s degree is in art history. You’re qualified. Please, you’d really be doing me a big favor by taking the job.”

  “You really trust me to take care of your ‘store baby’?”

  “Implicitly,” Ella laughed.

  “Well, I’d like to talk it over with Patrick, but I think I can unofficially accept,” Megan smiled at Ella.

  “I’m so glad, Megan. It will make being in Salem so much easier if I know you’re taking care of Poppy here. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

  “You guys are too much. You make me want a sister,” Kalli laughed.

  “Ok,” Megan said, wiping away the rogue tear that had escaped. “Enough with the sappy.”

  “Yeah,” Ella agreed.

  “We should go celebrate tonight!” Megan nearly shouted, making Ella laugh again. Sometimes, more than others, the eight year gap between them was glaringly obvious.

  “I can’t tonight. I am headed to Lincoln City to stay with Porter.”

  “So, go out there tomorrow,” Megan said with a shrug of her shoulders.

  “Can’t. Porter and I made a promise not to spend any more nights apart.”

  “That might be the sweetest and sickest thing I’ve ever heard,” Kalli said and then gave Ella an apologetic look. “Sorry.”

  Ella laughed.

  “It’s ok. I know it seems sudden, perhaps especially to you, but we just don’t want to spend any more time apart. Plus, since I’ve gotten my memory back, it’s difficult being at my apartment alone.” Megan nodded in understanding.

  “Well, maybe we should all go out on Friday. It will be so fun! Patrick and I haven’t been out in ages! Kalli, you could bring a date. Please?” Megan practically
begged, waggling her eyebrows at Kalli.

  “Ok, I’ll talk to Porter about it. And this would be a good opportunity to hang out with Scott,” Ella sing-songed at Kalli. Kalli blushed and nodded.

  “Well, Kalli, do YOU want to get a drink tonight to celebrate my new job?” Megan asked, feigning insult and annoyance.

  “You know I’m always down for a drink. But let’s find a dive this time, something more my speed.” Megan laughed.

  “You don’t like my dance clubs?”

  “I did, when I was twenty-two.”

  “Hey! I am twenty-two!”

  “I know, but I will get you up to speed with us adults,” Kalli joked.

  The three women stood up and Megan thanked the consultant, promising to bring her mom back to see the dress. They all hugged at the door before Ella left and headed for her car. Before starting the engine she took out her phone and sent Porter a text.

  **Leaving now. Should be about two hours. Do you need me to pick anything up for dinner?**

  **No, I just need you. Here. Drive safely. No hitchhikers.**

  **So, should I kick out the one guy I already picked up then?**

  **Very funny. Be careful.**

  **Always. Love you.**

  **Love you too.**

  When Ella pulled up to Porter’s house she was once again floored by the fact that he had built it with his own sexy, capable hands. She couldn’t wait to begin the process of building their own house. Honestly, she couldn’t wait to watch him build their house; it would be glorious, she was sure.

  She got out of her car and was immediately hit by the unusual warmth that she felt. Granted, it was late June, but for it to be hot outside on the Oregon Coast was surprising. She was grateful that she had worn a breezy skirt with a sleeveless top.

  She was also accosted by the screeching sound of what she thought was a power saw coming from behind the house. She hadn’t been in the shop out back yet. She blushed a little at the thought of most of their time together being spent inside the house in one particular room. She ventured around the side of the house to see the big shop, big enough to house the sailboat he was building, and just as spectacularly built as the house. Of course, the buildings matched. He seemed to be somewhat of a perfectionist when it came to his work and it showed.