She reached up and grabbed the top of the shower enclosure, her face pressed to the wall. “Gun… Oh fuck…” The orgasm wracked through her body, freeing her from any lingering pent-up tension.
“Keep going, love… Come on.” He reached around and massaged her clit, making her come again. “More… Come for me again.” He slipped his hand between the wall and her body, finding a nipple, rolling it between his fingers—twisting, pulling, tugging.
Panting, she went limp.
Holding her tight, he picked up his pace. “I got you, love.”
She moaned as she felt him urging her toward another orgasm. “Gun…”
“Hold on. I’m close.” He pulled out and spun her around, hoisting her up. “Wrap your legs around me.”
As she did, he pressed her back into the wall. She tilted her head back as he pushed back in. “Oh god…”
The slight vibration of her groan passed through his body, making him shiver. “Cora…,” he moaned as she came again. He rested his forehead against hers, whispering “I love you” as he peaked.
With no desire to move, he held her close, resting his head on her shoulder.
She ran her hands up his back. “Love you, too, baby.”
He lifted his head and brushed his lips across hers. “I hope that was a good enough Christmas present because all I got you was the necklace.”
“You are so wrong. You’ve given me so much since last night, I couldn’t imagine any of it wrapped and placed under the tree.”
He let out a sigh and set her down. “Probably should finish before the kids get up.” He stepped back and rinsed off.
Cora stood in awe, watching him. His powerful body, his heightened emotions finally released. He looked relaxed, almost fluid. She smiled, feeling relief, grateful he was hers, now and forever.
Chapter 30
Now that Elaina was in the swing of participating in life again, she took care of herself and her family, relieving Anne of much of the stress.
With the holidays far behind them, Elaina was ready to break free of the house. Explore, go out to eat, maybe take in a movie.
She found the more she ventured out, the more she craved going places. Even just a walk with Nicky and the Erikkson clan was enjoyable.
Not wanting to waste another second, living life to the fullest was the utmost priority for Elaina.
She and Anne went on little shopping trips, putting her new look together. It made Elaina smile to see the real Anne come together and shine. The best part was watching how excited she was to go out on her first date.
Tall and handsome, Jeb Castlebery was the kindest gentleman Anne could’ve found. He was by the book and old-fashioned, enjoying the slight independent attitude Anne had found. They had been on several dates, officially announcing they were a couple.
Occasionally, Elaina would go out without Nicky, especially when Anne and Jeb wanted to take him places. It was good for her son and healing for the new beau, who had lost his entire family to the virus.
Early that morning, Jeb came by to take Anne and Nicky to brunch at the diner in the village, allowing Elaina to do a little grocery shopping without having to drag her son around the store.
She was now in her second trimester and her food cravings were going wild. Glad to have a few extra minutes to explore the store, she checked out the latest products they stocked.
The ultimate mission? Buy several boxes of cereal, along with bananas to slice on top.
Perusing the aisle, making careful, healthy choices, Elaina wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings. As she walked around the endcap, someone knocked her into the shelving, making her grunt. She dropped the handbasket and protectively wrapped an arm around her belly, fearing for the baby.
“Oh, my god… Are you okay? I’m so sorry.”
She looked up. A man stood in front of her with his hands out, looking panicked and unsure of what to do.
“You should watch where you’re going,” she grumbled, standing straight.
“I’m really sorry. I’m in a hurry and not paying attention. I have a job interview later…” He trailed off, running his hand through his already disheveled dirty blond hair. He let out a sigh. “It’s just not a good day.”
Even though Elaina wanted to chew him out, she controlled herself because he looked pathetic. She knew all about “bad days” and could empathize.
“I hope you have a better day. Good luck,” she said with a smile.
“Thanks.” He gazed into her eyes as they stared at one another for a long moment. “I’m Will, by the way. Will Jarvis.” He held out his hand, waiting for Elaina to accept.
“Elaina Daniels,” she offered with a slight nod, taking his hand.
“I’m really sorry, Elaina.”
“It’s okay. I’m fine.”
When he placed his hands on his hips, Elaina’s gaze quickly tracked around his body…assessing, judging. Lean, not bulky. Trim, not cut. His physique was much different from Henry’s, but she still found this man attractive, leaving her to feel a little guilty thinking about someone in that way.
“Well, I should go,” she said. “I need to get home.”
“Oh, right. Gotcha.” Just as Elaina turned, Will grabbed her arm. “Listen, I know this sounds crazy, but would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow? I mean, if you’re not with someone. I presume you are. A woman like you is probably taken. It just would be nice to talk with someone. Sorry, I’m rambling…” He trailed off.
She rolled the idea around in her mind. Her first concern was her children. The second…
Was it too soon?
Would others view her in a bad light if she went out with another man, even as friends?
How would Nicky take it?
How would Anne take it?
Or Gunther?
With all these questions echoing, she gazed at Will, getting no creepy weirdo vibe. He just seemed a little scatter-brained, maybe even a little more than most, but who wasn’t? Including her, it seemed people were still nervous and untrusting of what was around corners or in the darkness of night.
Henry told her to move on, but she wasn’t sure if she were ready for such a big step. She closed her eyes for a moment, picturing the words he had written to her. It gave her little comfort, but she decided there would be no harm in a friendly dinner.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Shaking her head, she smiled. “Yes. I’m sorry. You know, that sounds nice. And no, I’m not with anyone.”
“Oh? That’s great! How about the diner on Main? You know the one?”
“I do.”
“Five sound good?”
“Perfect.”
“Good.” He nodded.
“I should mention, just in case you want to back out, I have a young son and I’m pregnant.” She rested a hand on her belly.
His brows bunched together and he turned his ear toward Elaina, thinking he had heard her wrong. “I’m sorry?”
“I’m, ah…pregnant.” She pulled her coat to the side to show him the little baby bump. “So if you want to back out, I completely understand.”
Will rolled his lips into his mouth, finding himself wondering if he could handle being attached to woman with some extra baggage. Then again, with the state of the world now, everyone had extra baggage.
He shrugged. “That’s cool. I don’t mind. Is the father around?”
“Um, well…no. If we have a nice time, maybe I’ll fill you in.”
“Understood.” He glanced at his watch. “Shit. I’ve got to go.”
“Don’t run into anyone,” she said with a smirk.
Will laughed. “I promise to pay attention.” He waved and took off.
Elaina watched him, feeling excited about the new prospect. While it seemed unnerving, she looked forward to enjoying a meal with a new friend.
Chapter 31
Slow motion.
Everything moved at close to a full stop. Even the drops of blood suspended in mid-
air before hitting the blades of grass.
Shouts and cries turned into moans. Regardless, Gunther’s mind raced as he pushed the blade into Drew’s head.
He tried to will time and his body to move faster, but there was no hope. His physical and mental strength were no match for the laggard time. It took what seemed like several minutes for him to pull the knife free.
Bas had Quinn and Grey, and Gunther needed to get to them before something tragic happened.
He turned his head, his eyelids moving in a slow blink. As they opened, a rifle went off—
POP…POP…POP
—filling the area all around them, the sound waves visible. The small flash from the muzzle repeated several times, leaving Gunther to watch helplessly as each bullet discharged, directed at Quinn and Grey.
Suddenly, time sped up, fast…too fast.
No! No! No!
He didn’t have enough agility to move with the epic advancement of time. He leapt up from Drew’s body and lunged at Bas, driving the knife into his skull.
Gunther turned to grab Quinn before she and their son hit the ground, but—
“No! No! No!” Gunther screamed, sitting straight up in bed.
Cora leapt from the bed. “Gunther?”
He couldn’t breathe.
Gasping.
Sweating.
The sheets soaked through.
He drew his knees up and rested his head on his arms, sagging against his legs.
Deep breaths.
“Talk to me…” She sat next to him and rubbed his arm. “What happened?”
He lifted his head just enough to flash her a mournful gaze, piercing right through her.
“Nightmare?” He nodded. “Come here.” She wrapped her arms around him and held on tight. His body shuddered, his breathing jagged.
He didn’t want to shed another tear. His life was good. He had everything a man could ever want. But here he was in her arms, continuing the laborious effort to regulate his breathing, feeling helpless over a situation he brought on himself.
Gunther pulled free and flopped down on the bed.
She reached out and stroked the scar on his face, then leaned down to brush her lips across his forehead. “Are you okay?”
Barely above a whisper, he said, “No…”
She held his burdened stare for several long seconds. “Stay home today.”
“I can’t. I have a long list of things I need to finish. Not to mention a few personal training sessions.”
She stared at him, feeling sad. Something always stressed out the poor man. If it wasn’t the gym, it was home. If it wasn’t home, it was everyone next door. If it wasn’t next door, it was Carly and Joel. Even Josie, Jake, and the twins had a permanent spot of worry in his mind. She wanted to ease his stress and his burdens, changing the way he looked at his life as if it were a ticking time bomb.
Rubbing his chest, she said, “Gun, you need a day off. You’ve been working seven days a week for months. At this rate, you’ll be taken from us too soon.”
“I can’t.”
She sighed. “Call out sick or something. I can make a nice romantic meal. Maybe we can bathe together, do fun naked stuff together…”
He breathed out, a small smile forming on his lips. “That sounds wonderful, but I just can’t.”
“How about this… Meet with the staff and work it out so you can have one day off a week, even if it’s not the same day every week. I want you to promise me you will work something out.”
He spent a long moment in thought, then said, “Okay. I’ll speak with them after training sessions are done tonight. I can’t guarantee anything, but I promise to try.”
“That’s all I ask.”
He picked up his phone and checked the time. “I have to get moving.”
As she pressed her lips to his, Everette’s cries came through the monitor.
“And there’s my favorite alarm,” Cora said. She stood from the bed and headed out of the room.
After getting the older kids off to school, Cora bundled up the younger ones and took them outdoors. The fresh dusting of snow delighted them. They giggled, hollered, and fell to the ground, rolling around. Their reactions made facing the cold bearable.
“Hey, Cora,” Elaina called out as she walked over, Nicky in tow. “I heard all the laughter and thought I would bring Nicky out, as well.” When she set him down, he toddled off to play. “Actually, I’m glad to see you. I need to talk to you about something before my head explodes.”
“What’s going on?” she asked, her words laced with concern. “Are you okay?” She gazed down at her belly. “Is everything okay?”
“Oh, we’re great.” She chewed on her lip for a moment, feeling shy, yet silly. “I met someone.”
Cora stepped closer. “I’m sorry… Did you say you met someone?”
“I know it sounds crazy, but I met a guy at the store.”
“Interesting…”
Elaina hoped for a little more enthusiasm. She sagged. “It’s too soon, isn’t it?”
Cora grabbed her by the shoulders. “No, not at all. I’m just concerned. Is he boyfriend material, or just someone who wants to hang out?”
Elaina dropped her gaze. “I’ve been thinking that over. I’m kind of hoping boyfriend material. It would be nice to share our lives with someone.” She looked up, wanting approval.
Cora’s eyes widened before she squeezed Elaina’s shoulders. “I think this is great! What’s he look like? Is he sexy?”
“He’s very adorable. His body is completely opposite of Henry’s. He’s thinner, not bulky. He has dirty blond hair, dark brown eyes. He’s kind of all over the place.”
“Well, I can’t wait to meet him. When are you going out?”
“Tonight.”
“I want all the details.”
“Of course.” Then Elaina furrowed her brow. “It feels weird. I was with Henry for what felt like an eternity…” She held her hands out. “Wait. That didn’t come out right.”
“I get it. Our lives were challenging for quite some time.”
“Yeah. I’m just not sure how involved I want to be with someone. In Henry’s note, he said to find a good man to help raise Nicky. So, essentially, he told me to move forward.”
“Well, you have his permission. Why not enjoy yourself?” Cora nudged her with an elbow. “Maybe just get some nooky.”
Elaina snorted. “I don’t feel attractive right now. After being pregnant with Nicky, my body is…different. And now, with the new baby… Henry and I only had sex a few times while I was pregnant. I don’t know if I can even—”
Cora held up her hand. “Stop right there. Do not down yourself or your body. You grew a child in your womb. That right there is a miracle in itself. If a man cannot appreciate a woman’s body after that, he doesn’t deserve to be in your life. Did Henry find you sexy after Nicky’s birth?”
“Oh god, yes. Even more so actually. He couldn’t keep his hands to himself when things were okay between us.”
“See. So hush that naysayer in your head.” She reached out and ran her fingers through Elaina’s hair. “You’re beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“Have you told Anne yet?”
“No. I need to, though.”
“If you’d like, I’ll watch Nicky for a few minutes. Is she home?”
“Yeah.”
“Go talk to her.” Cora smiled when Elaina nodded.
“I won’t be long.” She headed back up the steps and into the house.
When Elaina walked through the dining room, she saw Anne puttering around the kitchen, baking cookies. “Hey, sweetheart. Nicky enjoying the snow with the kids?”
“He is. Cora is watching him for a few. Can I talk to you about something?”
Anne looked up from placing the cookies on a cooling rack. “Of course.”
Elaina took a few breaths, wondering if she were doing the right thing. She played with the cuffs of her sleeves, shifting h
er weight a few times before saying in a quiet voice, “I met someone.”
Anne stared at her for several long seconds. “As in a man?”
Elaina nodded. “His name is Will. He asked me to meet him at the diner tonight at five.”
“And you want this? A date?”
Biting down on her lip, Elaina tried hard not to cry, but she couldn’t control the tears flooding her eyes. “I love Henry. I will always love him, but I think it’s time for me to press on. I know it’s soon, and I’m not saying I will fall in love with Will, but it would be nice to go out with someone a few times.”
“I understand. All I ask is that you always respect Henry’s memory.”
“Of course,” she said, wiping away her tears. “If you’re not busy with Jeb, would you mind watching Nicky?”
“Jeb is coming over for dinner, so it works. He loves spending time with Nicky. He misses his grandchildren.”
“Oh, that’s sad.”
“He doesn’t talk about it much.”
“I imagine.” Elaina reached out and grabbed a cookie. “I’m glad I talked to you about this.”
“I am, too. Thank you for respecting my son…and me.” Anne nodded and smiled, then turned back to the tray of cookies.
Chapter 32
Already running fifteen minutes late, Elaina sat in her truck in the parking lot of the diner. She wanted to go in, but began to have serious reservations. At the very least, she felt like she owed Will an explanation of her life before he decided to get involved with her—something Henry never offered. Wanting to be upfront from the beginning, she didn’t want to cheat Will out of precious time.
Elaina turned the truck off and made a promise to herself that this date would not end up like her first date with Henry. Luckily, wine wouldn’t influence the words coming from her mouth this time. She wanted to do this differently, hoping it was the right decision.
“It’s just dinner,” she said, sliding out of the truck. As her stomach growled, she added, “Okay. Maybe dessert, too.”
When she walked into the diner, she immediately spotted Will.
Sitting in a booth, he stared out the window, then gazed at his phone. His optimistic glance toward the door made Elaina smile.
Full Circle (Shattered Lives, Book Five) Page 24