by Jessie M
He motions at Carter with a small nod of his head and I'm suddenly in real fear of what's coming next. Andrew leaves the stable and Carter lays into me with his iron fist and steel capped shoes. My eyes and head ache with the heavy pounding they are receiving and I feel things crunching in my chest. Such intense pain... it's unreal. I try to defend myself and hit back, but he's a trained fighter, a thug. I don't stand a chance despite my muscular size. My mouth takes a direct hit and I taste blood and feel a piece of broken tooth on my tongue. I take another hard and painful punch in the gut, followed by a sharp kick in the knee. Then, as I'm falling to the floor, clutching my knee in pure agony, out of the corner of my eye I see his fist coming straight for my head, fast and hard. Shit, this is it... I think I'm going to die now... and I never got to make love to Eden... That's the last thing I think as my world turns black.”
I don't know how long I lie there unconscious on the floor. But I'm suddenly aware of hands on me. Of someone touching my face... I try to open my eyes but I can't, they're swollen shut. Everything is throbbing in agony. I try to speak but my mouth won't move. I lift my finger and someone touches it. I start to focus my hearing. I can hear my name being spoken over and over, and someone is crying. I smell her perfume. It's her. I know I'm not dead anyway, I wouldn't be in pain like this if I was.
“Josh... Josh... Please... Joshie baby... Speak to me...” She chokes out the words between sobs.
I try to speak again. “Hospital, Luke, no police, phone, there, somewhere.” I manage to whisper into her ear through my almost closed up swollen mouth. I point my shaking finger and force one eye open a fraction.
“Okay. Hold on baby I'll get it.” She returns a moment later and holds my hand again. I can hear her call for an ambulance and then speak to Luke, tearfully explaining my beaten up state.
“Sorry, tell you, tomorrow... Love you...”
“Shhh, shhh... I love you too. Don't talk. Tell me later. Just keep still. Everything's going to be okay. I'm here and your dad and Luke are coming home.” She lies down next to me on the floor kissing my hair and hugging me gently. I drift off again in a strangely contented mood. I am feeling deliriously happy, maybe I'm just plain delirious because my brain has suffered a severe beating. Whatever, I'm safe in the knowledge that she is looking after me and help is on it's way.
- NINE -
Two days later, I'm actually sitting up in my hospital bed without screaming in fucking agony. I think the morphine has helped a lot with that. I've felt kind of high on the stuff to be honest. I know I look a state as the bruising is really up now. I've never seen so many colours on my face, I was quite horrified when I visited the bathroom today and forced myself to look in the mirror. I daren't look at the rest of me in case I cry like a baby. Two broken ribs, a broken tooth, hairline fractured jaw, swollen knee, a broken little finger... All in all I got off lightly, lots of painful internal bruising but nothing important ruptured, thankfully.
I look at Eden asleep in the visitor's chair, her long hair sweeping down, almost to the floor. She has hardly left my side, holding my hand for hours on end. I take a deep breath as the strongest wave of love washes through me. I look in the other chair. Lorraine is sitting there reading. I touch her shoulder and smile at her as best I can and she smiles back. She really is such a sweetie mum.
I told Eden all about it yesterday evening. She listened without throwing a fit when I explained that our gym client Keira was in fact a beautiful girl, imprisoned by a wicked drug lord, who apparently wanted to kill me for trying to help her escape from his evil clutches. I took her through it all, from the very start. Leaving out the mutual attraction parts... that's not relevant any more. No point upsetting her over that.
She didn't say I shouldn't have got involved, she didn't judge my actions at all. Perhaps she's giving me a break from abuse while I recover or maybe she's still a little shocked by my near death experience in her arms.
I'm so fucking grateful she came to find me so fast. When I was only half an hour late and she couldn't get me on my phone, she was in her car like a shot, driving to my place and ready to give me a piece of her mind for falling asleep when I should be taking her out on her sex fantasy date. I had a bloody good excuse for falling asleep, had that been the case, as we hardly slept a wink Monday night, talking about everything under the sun... Except my worst secrets of course. Some things need to be kept secret. They are too bad to tell anyone, ever. Anyway, falling asleep would have been a nice alternative to the reality. Being badly beaten up doesn't do much for me at all. Hopefully it's a one off in my life.
Nate and Callum have just visited me and were more than impressed with my colourful appearance. Nate brought me some hard toffees for a joke. My fractured jaw and broken tooth were not amused. A stab of pain shot through them at the thought of chewing it. I had to tell the whole story again, from the beginning, for Cal's benefit. My jaw aches like hell from talking.
And Luke and Father. What a team they are. I challenge any drug lord to try and get by the pair of them when they're on the rampage. But ARK & Co will escape my legal wrath, because I'm not pressing charges. Despite my father's passionate reasoning that the law will protect me and Keira too, I'm not going there. I've done what I can, well almost all I can. I'll leave another phone for Keira. Because I think there's a small possibility she may still want to leave. But it's going to be so difficult for her now. Having his baby will change things for her, and for him, I'm certain of that. I'll call her one last time from a public phone and leave her one more secret phone and tell her if she ever needs to talk I'll be there. This time I'll impress on her the need to more careful with it than before. But something tells me she won't leave. She'll marry him and stay. Stay with her millionaire, good looking, fucker of a drug smuggler, loan shark and whatever other corruption he's into. I do believe he loves her in his own perverted way. Maybe she might even love him too. I don't know. Who am I to judge anyway?
One thing's for sure, I'm not going to be the one to bring his empire crashing down around his feet. I have other things to consider. Other people. Eden and her mum. Luke and Father. My extended family. I don't want to cause any more trouble for them or put anyone in danger. Including myself. One beating is quite enough.
I bring myself out of my thoughts as Eden wakes up, stretches out in the chair and gives me a lovely smile that makes my insides melt faster than ice cream in the Sahara.
“Hey baby, have I told you that you look so beautiful today?” I can almost speak normally now that my mouth and jaw are not so swollen, thanks to the anti inflammatory drugs they've been pumping me with.
“Have I told you that you don't?”
“Don't worry baby, soon I'll be all handsome again. Apart from the tooth.” I flash my broken front tooth at her.
“It's kind of sexy. The tooth I mean.”
“It is?”
“Yeah. I like you having an imperfection.”
“I'll leave it then. If you like it.”
“Let's see what it feels like for the both of us shall we...?”
“I'm so sorry I missed our date. I was really looking forward to it.”
“So you keep saying, at least twenty times already. Stop reminding me about it. What's done is done.”
“I can't help it. I'm very, very sorry. It was all my fault. I feel bad.”
“You know, I wish we'd gone the whole way on Monday night now. Then I wouldn't be dying for you so much. It's almost unbearable.” Her eyes stare into mine and I see the longing in them. I suddenly remember Lorraine is there. She seems to be blissfully engrossed with her Dan Brown novel, unaware of the topic of our conversation. I hope she is anyway. I lower my voice a little, just in case.
“I'll be out of here soon, back home. I'm a fast healer and I'll be back on form before you know it. You can come over and help me recuperate, if you like. Nurse me better. Rub me all over with cool sponges, feed me little meals in bed. Perhaps you can give me some gentle physio here and ther
e... to help me get back in the swing.”
“Are you joking? I'm not being your slave. Waiting on you hand and foot. Exhausting myself getting all the working parts of your body back to life. What planet are you living on... hmmm?” She gives me a rather irked look.
“But I thought you might like looking after me?” I can't help but look and feel highly disappointed at her reaction. I want her to love and care for me, even though I can probably manage to get by on my own.
Her mouth curves up in a cute impish smile. “Give me your door key honey, I'll move my stuff in tomorrow so we won't waste any time with your specialised after care.”
“You're a proper little bitch at times, aren't you?” I smile with some pain at her wicked, wind up sense of humour.
“A lovely bitch, who loves you madly.”
“Mmmm, come here and kiss my broken tooth. It feels imperfect and unloved.”
“Like the rest of your face, you mean?”
“Please be nice, I'm a touch sensitive about my looks today.”
And she's very, very nice after that. I love the tooth kiss and the all over my bruised face kiss. The bonus head rub and hair tug are so sweet and sexy I almost pass out with love. I can't wait to get out of here and place myself in her very capable healing hands.
- TEN -
Two days later I'm finally allowed home. I'm off the morphine and the anti inflammatories have done the best they can to get the swelling down. I'm still in some discomfort but nowhere near so bad. I can shuffle around pretty well. I am so pleased to be home in my own place. There's nothing worse than hospital beds in mixed sex wards. Hospital bathrooms leave a lot to be desired as well. I am dying for a long hot shower and a good old thorough clean up. I haven't had the strength or the ability to move my arms to do much proper washing, my ribs hurt too much. We settle Lorraine in with some tea and TV and Eden takes me off for a scrub. I have to admit I'm so looking forward to this. She locks the bathroom door.
“Okay, let's get it all off Josh.”
“Don't you want to undress me slowly?”
“No, this is going to be functional, just take it all off and get in... ” She turns the shower on.
“Right then.” I start to take off my clothes and she takes over. I'm down to my underwear.
“Come on, don't be shy. Those too. She pulls them down with a quick tug.”
I turn and drop them to the floor kicking them away and step in under the hot water. Up to that moment I expected her to scrub me from outside the shower but I'm pleased to say I got that part of my washing experience wrong. A few seconds later the door opens and she gets in with me. My eyes open wide at the sight of her, naked and so gorgeous. I'm fucking cursing my poor physical state right now.
“Oh Eden... ” My eyes and heart hurt to look at her. She's pure perfection, just the right amount of delicious curves and neat strip of hair. The woman of my dreams. This is way too much for my battered body to cope with. At least one part of me isn't battered though. That seems to be working all right, it's stirring already and so fast. I'm staring wildly at her up and down, drinking in this image of perfection, storing it vividly in my brain. She's staring back at me, her eyes cast downwards on my now fully erect state.
“Oh my God. Please tell me you won't kill me with it...” The edge of her mouth curls up a little. She's fighting back a smile.
I love her serious sense of humour. “I'll try my best not to. I promise.” I grin at her more than pleased she finds my size so very appealing.
“Turn round now, I need to clean you up and I'm highly distracted by your front view.”
I turn, removing my very aroused equipment from her field of vision.
Then I stand in the hot stream of water with my hands on the wall being scrubbed, washed and just about as cleaned up as I can get. She takes a very long time over it, getting very close to me.
“Right, I'll leave you to finish your other parts yourself.” And she's gone. I watch her drying herself through the steam misted shower door. Fuck, could anything get any more arousing than that was... I almost forgot every painful part of my body while she was running her soapy hands over me. And I think I've found something I like better than a head rub. Hair washing Eden style. It's just about the most sexy experience ever. She gets dressed and leaves the bathroom and I get out and dry off, wrapping myself in a dry towel.
I go into my bedroom and lie down. I'm suddenly exhausted. That was more excitement and standing up exercise than I've had in days. I close my eyes and instantly fall asleep.
And so it continues for three blissful days. Eden has taken some holiday time off work, obviously I'm on sick leave. The other two instructors can cope for a few days without us.
We sleep together, eat together and shower together. It is the most wonderful time I've ever had in my life. Feeling her gentle hands on me. Her kisses and her love. I couldn't feel more in love and we still haven't gone an inch further. I'm starting to feel much better by day three of her after care. I have very little pain, I'm stronger, I can move fairly freely and I'm almost human again.
“I feel up to that date now.”
“Are you sure?”
“I'm sure all right.” I'll take a dose of strong painkillers, just in case.
“Thank God for that, I'm just about at my wits end waiting and wanting you.”
“Me too... Let's do it tonight, shall we?”
“Baby I want this so much. Come here and give me a tiny taster.”
=== * ===
I check the state of the hot tub in the back garden. It looks fine so I turn it on to heat up while we're gone. Then we drive Lorraine back home, Jordan arrives and we finally set off for our much anticipated date.
Eden is looking spectacular tonight. Her hair is so glossy and dead straight, like a black satin sheet. Her face is more than lovely, with a touch of eye make up and a good slick of her sexy red lipstick. The smart short black skirt and black and red chiffon blouse look gorgeous on her. And of course those shoes. The shoes of my fantasy are on her pretty feet.
I lead her in the restaurant and I'm so proud of her. No one can improve on her looks in my mind. No one is more beautiful than her. Not even Keira. She makes my heart sing as she looks at me. Just a small cute and sexy smile is enough to make me melt with love. We both order fillet steak and sit back to wait with a glass of champagne, deep meaningful looks passing between us.
“I'm so happy tonight.” She says with a sigh and a long sweep of her hand across my arm.
“I'm happy all the time lately.” I so, so am. I take her hand and rub my fingers all over it. I love her hands. The way she waves them around so prettily when she's talking and the cute way she tucks her hair behind her ear with her fingers.
“I can't imagine life without you Josh.”
“You don't have to.”
“We're so lucky. Aren't we?”
“Well I am. I feel like I've won the love lottery.” She leans right across the table and gives me a small soft kiss. Then whispers in my ear.
“I'm almost breathless about what's coming later tonight. I've been hot all afternoon thinking about it. So worked up and absolutely screaming inside to get at you.” She sits back down and looks at my face, hers is a picture of dark aroused beauty.
“I've gone off waiting for my steak all of a sudden. Shall we go?”
“No, let's sit and steam some more. Besides, you need some food for energy.”
The champagne is giving me a little buzz. I'm steaming and buzzing right now. I just can't keep still in my chair in fact. Not a touch of pain either. The painkillers are doing a great job so far.
On arriving back from the restaurant I put my delayed plan into action. I'm praying I'm up to it... 'Up the wall' and other things take a good deal more effort than lying on a bed. I hold her hand and lead her off towards the house.
“Come on baby, let's take a walk.”
We walk up to the house and around the side path, heading off to the back garden. T
he security lights come on, lighting up our way. I'm pleased when I spot steam rising up from the hot tub as we cross the lawn. I take her through the rose arch tunnel and into the clear moonlit darkness beyond.
“Where are we going exactly?” She asks curiously.
“I'll taking you somewhere special.” We enter the small orchard and I stop and pick a large apple, smiling to myself. This is my perfect sweet little touch...
We leave the orchard and cross the lush ankle length grass beyond making for my special spot. I lead her to the huge old oak tree. The tree of my childhood. I lean against it, rubbing the rough bark with my hands, running my finger over a large scratch mark that I made many years ago with a piece of flint. I can see quite well now my eyes have accustomed themselves to the moonlight.
“Luke and I used to play here when we were kids. We had a swing on that branch and we climbed all over it.”
“It's a lovely tree Josh. Beautiful and obviously very old.”
“At least five hundred years, actually.” I pull her towards me and take a bite of the apple. Mmmm, lovely. So sweet. “Here, have a taste.” She takes a bite too. I kiss her juicy apple flavoured mouth and run my tongue over her lips. “So... Now we've both tasted the forbidden fruit, what does Eve want to do with her Adam?” I turn us around, pushing her gently against the old tree.
“Oh Josh... is this it, here?” She is trembling all over in my arms. It's so very cute I can't help but hug her again and again, then stroke her hair and hug her again. Finally I take her face between my hands.
“Yes, your own Garden of Eden, where you and I discover sex for the first time.”
“I'm dying for this... Please, please...” She pulls me close and we sink deeply into each other our mouths greedy and so full of desire. My tongue is tasting her pure heaven again. My fingers run up her neck to her ear. Her skin is so warm and it feels so good beneath my hands, like the smoothest silk. Her hair tempts me again and my fingers wind their way through her dark sleek lengths, down to the very ends. I lean her back against the tree as I reach beneath her skirt. She is gasping and shaking as my fingers hook over her panties sliding them down her smooth legs, over her sexy shoes and off.