by G. Benson
“That’s great, Kym.”
Finally taking a bite of pizza, Kym gave another half shrug. “So, you two are finally sleeping together.”
Lane literally spat out her wine and Anna choked on her pizza, looking pointedly down at Toby.
“Oh, please, Anna, he’s almost asleep and he’s a baby. He doesn’t know what I mean.”
“Bo-bo.” Toby murmured around his cracker.
“See.”
Anna squeezed Toby against her, and caught Lane giving her a soft look as she did so. “He’s asking for his bottle; he’s a little genius. See, he completely knows what’s going on.”
Lane fake-glared Kym as Anna got up to get Toby’s bottle ready. “No talk about s-e-x in front of the baby.”
“You two just want to hold out on details. I already know you were going at it pretty much all night.” Kym took a triumphant sip of her wine.
Whipping her head around, Lane stared at Anna. “You told her that?” She appeared torn between smugness and feeling appalled at the over-share.
Wide-eyed, Anna looked at her as she put the bottle into a jug of hot water to warm it up. “What! No, I just said I only got three hours sleep. Kym’s dirty little brain took it elsewhere.”
With narrow eyes, Lane watched Kym drink her wine happily. “You are evil.”
“You’re just so easy to rile up.”
Chuckling, Anna started to walk out of the kitchen. “I’ll be right back, guys, just going to put Tobes down. Say g’night, Toby.”
Toby lifted his head up from Anna’s shoulder and waved his hand. “Bye-bye.”
The two at the table all but swooned.
“You certainly help with the ladies, little man.”
Toby rested his head back on her shoulder and yawned.
Anna got him down with no fuss, and left him tucked up with his blue blanket under one arm and bottle in his mouth, eyes already closed. In the kitchen, the bottle of wine was looking dangerously close to empty.
“Are you two getting drunk to make it through Disney?”
“We’re already both self-confessed kids’ movie lovers.”
“True. I didn’t know how much I liked them until recently.”
“Maybe that’s another fault with your ability to look after the kids.” Lane winked at her as she reached for a cracker.
“Yeah, maybe.” At Kym’s confused expression, Anna filled her in, “We may have had a visit from Sally’s mum at an inconvenient time.”
“The bigot we don’t like? Please tell me you were clothed?”
Wincing, Anna shrugged. “Mostly. It was more the timing—she stopped in to see the kids just before nine. Instead she got me, Lane in shorts that may as well be underwear, the kids ‘dumped’ at my mother’s and me a full-time worker. She was not impressed.”
“Yikes. What did she do?”
Lane was only too happy to jump in. “Gave stony ‘death to you all’ eyes,” she said. “Implied Anna wasn’t good for the kids.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Kym did not seem to find it as amusing as Anna was able to find it now.
Obviously happy that Kym was as outraged as she was, Lane looked triumphant. “Sadly, no. Anna was awesome though. She was all ‘you should really think about what’s best for the kids, Anna’ and Anna was all smooth and ‘that’s all I ever do.’”
Anna flushed as Lane threw her a look.
“It was sexy as hell, actually.” Lane wiggled her eyebrows.
“Break up the eye sex.”
They tore their gazes away, and Anna shot Kym a sheepish look. “Sorry.”
“At least you stood up for yourself.”
“I know how to. Besides, she’s just an angry lady filled with angry words. It doesn’t matter.”
“You’re not mad?” Kym looked surprised.
“That’s what I asked!”
“I was—I am, even. But it was also kind of funny and ironic and it doesn’t matter. I need to let it go. She’ll still be a part of the kids’ lives, at least a little. I’m not going to keep them away from each other completely. So, I’ll just think she’s an idiot but play nice.”
Kym nodded. “Very mature.”
“I can be, sometimes.”
They slowly finished their wine, Anna soaking up the company. The three had an easy banter, a way of talking things over without getting serious. And Anna was relieved that Kym ate two pieces of pizza and would be staying somewhere that wasn’t the hospital.
They eventually moved after the third cry of, “Come on, guys!” from the living room. Kym flopped onto the modular couch next to Ella, who immediately crawled onto her lap, head resting back on her shoulder. Kym wrapped her arms around the girl, and Anna couldn’t help but smile at the two—she was quickly learning that a cuddle from Ella or Toby made anything feel a little better.
Lane sat next to Kym, and Ella threw her arm out to rest on Lane’s leg without taking her eyes off the screen. Anna dragged a giant blanket over all of them and sat next to Lane. Who would have thought sitting at home with kids and DVDs on a Saturday night would be something she’d enjoy so much?
They were all pressed in close, and when Aladdin finished, Anna lost three to one in Monsters Inc. versus The Fox and the Hound. Monsters Inc. won because it made everyone less sad. They settled in again, debating favourite characters and gasping theatrically at the mean monster.
Halfway through, silence settled over them as Ella began to slowly succumb to heavy lids. Kym pulled Ella down so that the small girl was lying in front of her, sharing Kym’s pillow and blinking tiredly. The scene was cuter than Anna would expect from Kym, and she nudged Lane, then looked to Ella and Kym.
Following Anna’s eyes, Lane chuckled quietly and looked back to Anna. “That’s actually ridiculous.”
Anna nodded, leaning more heavily into Lane now that Ella was starting to drift off. Lane’s hand rested on her thigh, thumb rubbing small circles, a touch that started off sweet and comforting but soon started to make Anna’s mind wander to what else they could be doing. She glanced over and saw that Ella was out and Kym was probably soon to follow. Would it really be so bad if they snuck upstairs quickly? She looked to Lane, who was looking at her like she’d read her mind.
They stared blankly at the TV for another ten minutes, Lane’s hand slowly working its way up her inner thigh, the teasing making Anna have to focus incredibly hard on not breathing too erratically.
Anna finally tore her eyes from the TV, looked to see that Kym was fast asleep and snoring softly, Ella curled against her chest. She grabbed the hand that had been torturing her, standing and pulling Lane after her.
They both ran up the stairs, careful to keep their footsteps quiet. Without hesitating, Anna tugged Lane into her room and shut the door quietly. She grinned as Lane backed her against it gently, both careful not to make any thumping noises.
The whole being-quiet-but-burning-with-need thing was just making Anna hotter.
She bit her lip as Lane pressed her against the door and actually gave a soft moan. “Seriously, you have no idea how fucking hot you look when you do that.”
“And you have no idea how much you just touching my leg works me up.”
Lips inches from Anna’s, Lane said, “I can show you how much simply touching you like that affects me.”
Anna tilted her head, lips whispering against Lane’s, their eyes intent on each other. “We have to be quick.”
“I don’t think that’ll be an issue.”
Lane kissed her, teeth dragging against her bottom lip, tongue demanding in Anna’s mouth. Just as eager, Anna responded, thighs between legs as they rocked against each other, both careful to not make a sound.
In no time, Lane’s hand was up her shirt, pushed under her bra, and her thumb swiped against Anna’s nipple; she arched her back a
t the sensation and dragged her nails across the small of Lane’s back, swallowing Lane’s groan. Easily, Anna undid the button on Lane’s jeans, slowly pulling down the zip.
“Shh.”
Lane dropped her head onto Anna’s shoulder as Anna pushed her hand down past Lane’s underwear.
“Fuck, Lane.”
Looking back at Anna, Lane’s lips parted. “It’s what you do to me.”
Lips distracting Anna, Lane’s hand left her shirt and pushing past Anna’s waistband. A hiss escaped her lips as Lane’s fingers moved against her.
Lane groaned into the kiss again. “You’re so wet.”
Fingers clawing, Anna wrapped a hand behind Lane’s neck to press their foreheads together. Lane’s spare hand wrapped around her waist, holding them steady.
Their movements were rushed, almost rough. As Lane pushed two fingers into her, Anna dropped her head back. Lane’s lips were pressed to her neck, more nipping than biting. Anna pressed her fingers more firmly against Lane, feeling her teeth bite down harder. The movement of Anna’s hips was uncontrollable as Lane moved her fingers.
She brought her head down, face pressing into Lane’s shoulder, breath hot and fast against her skin. “Faster, Lane.”
Lane complied, and Anna didn’t know if she could be quiet anymore. She sped her own fingers up, their rhythm lost as they both started to come undone.
Anna came first, leg lifted up, wrapped around Lane, hips rolling forward. It was only minutes later that Lane’s orgasm washed over her, Anna’s name a whispered groan.
Breathing erratically, a giggle escaping her, Anna dropped her leg to the ground and let her head fall back against the door, cheeks red.
Lane grinned slowly, eyes slightly glazed. “What?”
Anna brought her head up to look into Lane’s eyes, which now appeared almost black. “I’ve never come that fast.”
Lane kissed her. “That was intense.”
“I can’t feel my legs.”
“I think I have fingernail marks in the back of my neck.”
Anna grimaced. “Sorry.”
“Sorry? It was hot.”
They stood for a few more minutes before Anna finally sighed. “I think now is where I sneak you out.”
“I don’t think you have to sneak me out when they know I’m here.”
“True.”
“I know I’m not going to stay the night, Anna.”
Anna looked at her almost guiltily. “That obvious, huh?”
Lane brushed slightly dampened hair off Anna’s cheek, then left her hand hovering against it. “I get it.”
Anna’s hand came up to rest on Lane’s wrist, fingers wrapping around it gently. “You are far too understanding.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Well, you are.”
Anna kissed her again, trying to convey the emotion that always welled in her chest when Lane seemed to just get what was going on. Lane smiled into the kiss, and they parted, both grinning stupidly.
“Okay, let’s go downstairs or I’m going to push you onto the bed and I’ll never leave.”
“That really doesn’t make me want to go downstairs.”
Lane shrugged. “Good.” With a wink, she excused herself to the bathroom.
Anna slipped quietly into her brother’s old room to use the en suite, not letting herself pause before walking in. She tried to not smirk at her flushed cheeks while quickly rearranging her hair to its pre-romp neatness.
She met Lane at the landing. Entwining their hands, they quietly went down the stairs. They both peeked into the living room and chuckled to see Kym and Ella still sound asleep, Monsters Inc. playing quietly on the screen. At the front door, Anna brought a hand up to cup Lane’s cheek, pressing her lips to Lane’s in a chaste goodbye.
“Talk tomorrow?”
“Definitely,” Anna agreed, reluctantly pulling open the door.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the munchkin on Monday.”
“So is she, trust me, Nurse Lane.”
Finally, Lane stepped through the doorway. “Bye. Sleep well.”
“I will now.”
A chuckle was all Lane left behind as she disappeared down the walk.
Trying to contain a contented sigh, Anna closed the door and walked into the living room to shut off the TV. She made sure Kym and Ella were completely covered with the blanket before making her way out of the room.
“You’re not kidding anyone.”
Anna froze and turned back to the couch. Kym had her head propped up on her hand, elbow digging into the couch, voice low so as not to wake up Ella. She was grinning widely.
“Oh, shut up, Kym.”
Kym’s snickering followed her up the stairs.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“One day a child is going to come careening through that door.”
Anna chuckled at Lane’s words and burrowed further into her side. “Probably.”
“I think I’ll be more traumatised than the kids.”
Sleepily lifting her head, Anna looked down at Lane. “I’m teasing. The door is locked. We would hear Ella yelling at me through it, and Toby’s baby monitor is on.”
Lane’s face visibly relaxed and Anna lay back down. An easy silence settled in around them.
“Have you heard from Crazy Cathy?”
“No, she’s left us well alone.”
Already half-asleep, Lane hummed her approval.
Despite the bad taste Cathy had left in Anna’s mouth, everything had slowly begun to settle over the last week. Kym came over for dinner, and the kids revelled in her attention. Lane and Anna acted like any friends would in front of the kids and used the night-time and days in the hospital to lavish affection on each other. Ella, now cast-free, seemed to enjoy having Lane and Kym around.
Anna and Lane slowly learnt how to map each other’s bodies, until sometimes, during sex, Anna wasn’t sure where Lane ended and she began. They’d move, coming together urgently, a dance that began when Anna first walked through the doors in the morning to see Lane holding out a coffee and smiling. More than once they met in inappropriate places around the hospital.
Never had she been with someone where conversation came just as easily as the physical side. And what an incredible physical side that was.
“You know,” Anna pressed her lips to Lane’s clavicle, “someone told me something last week.”
“Mm?” Lane turned her head, face against Anna’s hair.
“They said they’d never seen you happier than the last couple of months.”
“Bloody Kym.”
“I’m just—I’m glad. That I make you happy.”
“Good.” Lane murmured. “Because you really, really do.”
Lane rolled suddenly so Anna was under her, head perched on her hand, elbow digging into the pillow. Their legs slipped together easily, smile fading at the intense look that had taken over Lane’s face.
“You keep saying thanks to me, for being understanding, and for everything.”
Anna was mesmerised by the way Lane’s lips moved, the way her eyes darkened, the way the light played across her skin—skin Anna could easily touch all day.
“But you have no idea how grateful I am that you ran me over with a shopping cart.”
“So glad I bruised you.”
“So was I. I went to that party and told Kym I’d been run over by the hottest brunette I’d ever seen.”
At Anna’s disagreeing look, Lane stamped a kiss to her cheek. “You are.”
“You’re just saying that because I put out.”
“True.”
“I mean it though, and Kym was just being polite in her wording—you really have made me stupidly happy. It isn’t just that I wasn’t really happy before, I was actually just coming out of a patch o
f being pretty miserable.”
Anna’s face darkened with concern. “Miserable?”
“I had been feeling a little stagnant. I loved my job, but things here were rough. When Kym’s husband died, well, I knew him fairly well, and she was a mess, and it seemed like all the women I met were crazy. My ex and I had been over for a while, but the sting of her cheating lingered.”
As she listened to Lane talk, Anna pushed Lane’s hair behind her ear and let the tendrils play between her fingers. She knew much of this, but it had mostly come out in banter.
“I wasn’t sure if I would trust someone again.” Lane licked her lips nervously, and when Anna went to speak, Lane rushed on, “I wasn’t blameless in that break up though, Anna.”
“What do you mean?” Anna watched her intently. “Did you cheat on her too?”
The thought made Anna’s heart speed up. Everybody made mistakes, but the idea of Lane cheating seemed so foreign to who Anna thought she was.
“No. Not that. But just as bad.”
Lane dropped back so she lay on her side, leaning on her elbow. Anna mirrored her, leg hooked over Lane’s hip to keep them connected. Despite how close their faces were, Lane avoided eye contact.
“What happened, Lane?”
A flush had risen on Lane’s cheeks. “When I met Alex, she was in a relationship. The first time something happened between us, I didn’t know that. But I did after. And it kept happening. I—there’s no excuse. I guess I thought I believed her when she said they were having problems and were going to end. But it took a long time. I was the other woman for a long time, waiting for that relationship to end.”
Anna blinked. She would never have thought Lane would put herself in that position. They were silent for a minute as Anna digested the information.
Obviously nervous, fingers picking at the sheet over Anna’s hip, Lane gave a half shrug. “It was a bad move, and I didn’t feel good about it. I really did think they were ending, but at the same time, I knew they weren’t over and I let it continue. I found out a year into our relationship through someone that knew them that Alex’s girlfriend had been blindsided when she ended it.” Lane paused. “Clearly Alex was lying to both of us.”
“You didn’t know it was that serious, Lane,” Anna said. The grim smile on Lane’s lips tugged at her heart.