Stuck in Between (Bound by Your Love)

by Bennett, Blakely

  “Not that I can tell. Just some pain in my temples and the left side of my head.”

  “I’ll write you a prescription for Tylenol with codeine. If you have a headache, stay away from other types of pain relievers like Motrin and Aspirin. If it’s only a slight headache, then take plain Tylenol. You might find that your body is sore over the next few days. That’s to be expected. Do what you feel you’re up to and rest as often as possible. If you feel dizzy, stop what you’re doing and rest. If you experience nausea, feeling like you’re about to pass out, or the medicine isn’t helping the headache, please come back into the emergency room or call my number.”

  “Is that likely?” Red asked, taking the prescription and the business card from the doctor.

  “Her CAT scan looked fine so I imagine she just needs some rest and will be good as new but it’s best to keep an eye on things.”

  “Thanks, doc,” Bond said, shaking his hand.

  “An orderly will be in to wheel you out,” the doctor said. As he began to depart, Red patted him on the back and followed him out whispering something I couldn’t hear.

  *****

  Once I was back in the clothes I arrived in, they settled me into the passenger side of Red’s SUV. Bond climbed into the back.

  “Where are we going?” I asked as I watched Red pull out in the opposite direction of his house.

  “We’re swinging by your apartment to get some of your things—”

  “I have some clothes at your—” I stopped myself when I felt a shift of energy from the backseat. Then I thought of all the stuff I had in my car. “Shit, my bag and backpack, my cell phone and wallet. Where is all that stuff?”

  “Probably still with the car,” Bond said. He reached forward and touched my shoulder. “We can take care of that on Monday.”

  “Okay,” I said, settling back into my seat.

  After they filled my prescription, and we went by my place, Red headed to Bond’s apartment.

  “Listen, Jacqs...” Bond started.

  “This is sounding like bad news,” I said. I dropped the visor down so I could see Bond without turning my neck.

  “I have to work tonight and pack up a few things. I’m going to sleep at my apartment today, and catch a ride to Red’s after work.”

  “That makes sense.” I worried that Bond would morph back into his old self.

  “I’ll leave work as soon as I can.”

  “Okay.”

  Red parked in front of Bond’s building and just as Bond got out, he tapped on the glass.

  I lowered the window and said, “Thank you so much for being there today ... or last night, I mean.”

  “Thank you for letting me,” he said and bent down, so our eyes were level. “I love you and I’ll see you soon.” He touched my face and softly kissed my lips.

  “Goodbye,” I said. As Red pulled out into the road, I was scared to look in his direction. I rested my head against the door and closed my eyes.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Let Her Go

  by Jasmine Thompson

  I felt real concern when Red settled me into his room. “Wouldn’t it be better if I stayed in a neutral room?” I said, sorting through the PJs I had at his place. Although I preferred to sleep in the nude, I thought people might be stopping by.

  “Unless you’ve changed your mind and now feel neutral about me—”

  “No, of course not. I just meant since Bond will be staying here too.”

  “Put on the cute pink set with the red lips all over the bottoms,” he whispered as hugged me from behind.

  I stepped from his embrace and slipped on my low- slung, light-pink bottoms and bright pink top. “None of this is really necessary. I’m feeling fine now.”

  “Jacqs, you weren’t fine until I picked up the prescription and you took another painkiller. You need to take a few days to rest. Do you have a hard time letting people take care of you?” He rubbed his beard in frustration.

  “Are you missing the obvious?” Settling onto the bed, I yanked another pillow behind me, trying to get comfortable.

  “Bond will either deal with it or he’ll leave. Plus I want you to get used to being in my bed. I’m not letting you go.”

  “Well then, stop being all manly and come to bed. You must be exhausted.”

  “I’m going to take a quick shower and I’ll be right back.”

  I reached for Red’s phone that lay on the nightstand. Bringing up the text option, I tapped in Lainie’s number.

  Red: Hey Lainie, it’s me. I’m at Red’s. In his bed actually. Are you at the shop? Is Sam with you?

  Lainie: Where’s your phone? And yes, Sam’s here. She just asked if she could stop by at lunch time.

  Red: My phone is still with the car. Maybe she can drop by after work? We’re about to crash (no pun intended). I feel like I could sleep for a week.

  Lainie: Very funny. I’ll tell her and thanks for checking in. Love you, girl.

  Red:Love you too.

  I clicked over to make a call and saw the incoming phone list. The name Tammy showed up six times. Who the hell is Tammy?

  I dialed my mother and waited for her to pick up.

  “Hi Mom.”

  “Hi Jacqueline,” my mother said with a groggy voice.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “Not to worry. I decided to nap when Sarah went down for hers. Are you out of the hospital?”

  “Yes, I’m at Red’s and we plan to sleep for a while. I don’t have my phone so you can reach me on this one.”

  “Okay. Maybe I can come over around dinner time and make a meal for everyone?”

  I must have been overly emotional because her suggestion brought tears to my eyes. “That would be wonderful, Mom.”

  “Who’s that? Are you okay?” Red said as he emerged from the bathroom, a towel low on his hips.

  My mouth hung open for a second and I couldn’t believe the sexy, kind man in front of me was mine. “Uh ... it’s my mother. She would like to come over later and make us all dinner.”

  He held his hand out for the phone. “Hi Josephine.”

  “How do you know my mother’s name?” I mouthed.

  “Yes, she’s doing okay. She still has quite the headache once the meds wear off.” He paused and said, “Yes, the doctor said that’s to be expected.”

  I watched him listen to my mother’s response.

  “I’m hoping to convince her to stay here permanently.” He shot me a sexy grin.

  I fired back the meanest look I could muster.

  He chuckled and said, “Yes, it will take some convincing. Okay, that sounds perfect. See you at five.”

  “What was that?” I said after he hung up. “And who is Tammy?”

  Clutching his stomach and doubling over in laughter, he said, “Damn, Little One, you sure are cute when you get mad.”

  “Answer the questions,” I said, slapping the mattress.

  “Please don’t get worked up. Your mother likes me. Isn’t that a good thing?”

  “How did you know her first name and getting her on your side isn’t fair fighting.”

  “Are we fighting? You must’ve really banged your head. Come here.” He dropped his towel and scooped me into his arms.

  I couldn’t help but relax and sighed, even though I felt cranky. Loving his warm skin from the shower, I snuggled tightly against him.

  “That’s better,” he cooed. He kneaded my neck and rubbed my back. “Tammy is my executive assistant and she calls me often.”

  “I hope she’s an old, ugly woman.”

  “She’s not, but you don’t have anything to worry about. You’ll meet her as soon as you’re well enough to go into the office.”

  He rolled me over so I lay on my stomach and yanked at my bottoms.

  “What are you doing?” I said drowsily. The night had taken its toll. “What if someone comes by?” I waved his hands away.

  “No one will be here before dinn
er time and I’m about to massage you from neck to toe, so just enjoy.” He shed me of my PJs.

  “You mean, ‘shut up and enjoy.’”

  “Yes, something like that.” His big hands spread out over my body, kneading and smoothing out all the tension.

  I dozed off to his gentle manipulations.

  A bright light flashed before my eyes and just before my car crashed, I jerked upright in the bed, breathing heavily.

  “Are you okay?” Red asked, touching my thigh.

  “Just a bad dream.”

  “The accident?”

  “Yeah.” I smoothed my hair and took a couple of deep breaths. “What time is it?”

  Red checked his phone. “It’s just about three.”

  “I’m going to shower and brush my teeth.”

  “How’s your head?”

  “My left side is throbbing a bit, but it’s not too bad.” I scooted out of the bed and headed for the bathroom.

  After washing up, I crawled back into bed, still somewhat in a daze from the events and the pain meds.

  “How was the shower?” Red asked. “Did you feel dizzy at all?”

  “No, but the side of my head is still a little tender.”

  “We should ice it when we go downstairs.”

  “Oh yeah, what do you have in mind?”

  “Only if you’re up for it,” he said, snuggling me in close.

  “Apparently you are,” I said, reaching down to feel his silky hard erection. “Oh that reminds me, the doctor’s office called and I’m all clear.”

  “I wasn’t worried or we would have waited. Once I had found out Bond always wears a condom, my concerns lessened.”

  “Clearly,” I said, stroking his steely shaft.

  “I’ll be gentle and I completely understand if you aren’t feeling up for sex right now.”

  “Can we play it by ear?”

  “How about playing it by tongue?” he said with a devilish grin.

  “Don’t make me laugh,” I said, pushing at his chest.

  “Lie on your back for me. If, at any point, your head starts to hurt let me know.”

  I placed a pillow under my head.

  Expecting him to tongue my clit, he surprised me by starting at my feet with a luxurious massage. Slowly and thoroughly he kneaded his way up my legs to my upper thighs. Gently stroking the inner crevice leading to my mound, he spread me wide and blew across my growing wetness. He caressed my hips and waist using his big hands to work his way under my breasts.

  My nipples strained for attention, and he didn’t make them wait. Brushing across my hard tips, he made me crave more. I arched my back toward him, and he lightly rested his palm across my chest.

  “Don’t strain, love or I’ll have to stop.”

  “Then don’t tease me,” I said with a pout.

  He tilted his mouth to mine and sucked my bottom lip. I gazed up into his eyes, and my heart skipped a beat. This incredible man loves me, wants me, I thought.

  He seemed to witness the change in my eyes as they started to water. “Am I hurting you?”

  The last thing I wanted was to cry. “Not at all, I...”

  “I understand.” He plied his soothing hands down my shoulders, kissed my forehead and eyes and finally my mouth again.

  I let all the tension go and stopped worrying about the tears that fell down the sides of my face, vowing to let his healing love and touch sink in.

  He nibbled and sucked my nipples. “I love your petite body.”

  “She loves you too.” I groaned in pleasure as he pushed my legs open wide.

  He spread my labia and fingered my wetness. “So wet and your smell is exquisite.”

  “Exquisite huh? Well then, what are you waiting for?”

  “You are the impatient one today. Remind me to spank that beautiful ass of yours once you’re all better and I can manhandle you again.”

  I reached down and brought his head to the promise land. “Oh lord, yesss,” I moaned as his tongue lapped at my aching clit.

  Lightly he tapped at my bud as he kneaded my lower back and hips. The sensations swirled around me, and I struggled to keep still. He guided my legs so they rested on the bed. “You’re so red and your clit so swollen, what a turn on,” he said when he replaced his tongue with his fingers.

  My nipples strained toward the ceiling as the rush of my impending climax tingled over the surface of my body.

  With one hand, he circled around my arousal and with the other he fingered my g-spot just inside the entrance of my pussy.

  “Oh lord, don’t stop. Please, please don’t stop. I’m so close, Aidan. Yes, oh man, just like that!”

  “Shh, lay still.”

  “I can’t. Oh please!” The tremors began in my clit and overtook every inch of my body. My back arched off the bed as I lost control. As bliss enveloped me, my mind quieted, and I floated in the high of my orgasm. “Wow, that was—”

  “Are you up for one more? How’s your head?”

  “Another orgasm? You’re sweet, but I don’t think so. I’m so relaxed I think I could melt away. He could use some help though,” I said, pointing at Red’s stiff shaft.

  “The doc said we could have sex if you were feeling up to it, but I don’t think he counted on you screaming your head off. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Mmmhmm.”

  “Okay then, scoot your cute little butt to the end of the bed and lie on your side.”

  I shimmied to the end of the mattress and repositioned the pillow under the right side of my head.

  “Let me do all the work,” Red said as he slid his warm cock inside my already swollen and receptive pussy.

  “Oh yesss,” I hissed.

  His slow and easy strokes reignited my libido and caused my natural juices to flow. “Oh, you’re so wet and tight.”

  “That feels so good ... oh Aidan.”

  Back and forth he drove, clutching my shoulder for leverage. “I’m getting close.”

  “Come for me, big boy.”

  “Oh hell, here goes!” Red grunted out. The muscles in his chest and stomach flexed as he rode his climax to completion. Perspiration glistened across his chest, and his legs trembled slightly. He fell out beside me, heavily panting.

  “Your cock felt amazing. It seems like forever since we’ve been together. Hard to believe it’s only been a few days.”

  “It felt like a lifetime to me. I’d rather us not part again anytime soon.”

  “I totally agree.”

  His naked body languished in the bed, legs over the end, his chest still rising and falling.

  I crawled over to him, resting my head on his shoulder and draping my left leg over his thigh.

  “How’s your head doing?” As he held me close, I could hear the pounding of his heart.

  “I won’t lie, the left side of my head hurts a bit, but the headache I had before hasn’t come back. Right now, I feel satiated and blissful.”

  “That’s what I was going for and I aim to please.”

  “Well you did good.”

  I grazed my hand over his downy soft chest hairs and plucked lightly at his nipple.

  “You’d better cut that out because we wouldn’t want to push our luck. Plus, our friends and your mother might be showing up at any time. The doctor also said no alcohol while you’re taking the painkillers.”

  “Not a problem.”

  Red took me by surprise by sitting up in the bed and taking me along with him. “Put those cute PJs back on and let’s go downstairs.” The blue and green plaid pajama bottoms that he slipped on hugged his hips and the green top made his eye color pop.

  I loved that he, like me, wore PJs around the house, even with my mother coming over. Circling my arms around his waist, I said, “That’s a great color on you.”

  “Thanks. Did you hear that?”

  “Sounds like the doorbell. Did you actually lock the door?”

  “I didn’t want to be disturbed. I’ll go get the door, and yo
u can finish dressing.” Peering down at me, I saw the love and caring on his face.

  I scurried off to the bathroom and wiped up the come from between my legs, loving the smell of our sex. After I had slipped on my PJs, I looked in the mirror and parted my hair on my left side to see if I could find anything there. It felt swollen and tender to the touch, but I found no break in the skin. I filled a cup with water and took another pain pill.

  “Hey you,” Bond said, sticking his head into the open bathroom door.

  I yelp and said, “Fuck, you scared me.”

  “Sorry, Jacqs, I—”

  “What are you doing here?” I said as I ducked under his extended arm.

  “I got my shift covered so I could be here with you.”

  “Oh, that’s sweet,” I said, but butterflies fluttered in my stomach.

  He sauntered past me and sat on the bed where moments before I had sex with his best friend. Leaning back on his arm, he used his other hand to pat the mattress beside him. He gazed up at me with his sexy grin and said, “Sit with me.” The snug jeans did nothing to hide his desire and his tight, black shirt accentuated his well-developed biceps and chest.

  I crossed my arms in front of me, willing my body to get herself under control. “Our friends should be arriving soon.”

  “It’s just us so far. Come on, Jacqs.”

  I looked to the door and back at Bond. Were the same rules still in place? My self-restraint never fared well against Bond’s charismatic nature, and he seemed somehow more relaxed and more cocky than usual. It was highly unnerving. I reluctantly took a seat next to him.

  “How are you feeling? Is Red taking good care of you?”

  Damn, that’s a loaded question. “My head still hurts a bit but ... well, yeah.”

  “That’s good.” He tugged on my arm. “Come over here, I want to hold you.”

  “Well ... I—”

  He shifted closer to me, his natural scent floating around me, scattering my senses. “Jacqs,” he murmured. “I love you more than I’ve ever let myself really feel—until now.” He swept me up in his arms and before I could fight him off, he beguiled me with his lips.

  I became pliant in his arms, and all at once I wished that I could have more self-control and just let it all go.