by Cm Hutton
Seconds before we arrived at the Hana hospital, Lori Ann looked over to me and said, “Jace, I don’t feel good.” The paramedic looked to me, then back at her.
“What’s going on, ma’am? Tell me…” Before he finished his sentence, Lori Ann started heaving and throwing up, retching in agony. “Shit! Park this fucking thing. We need to get her out of here.”
“What’s happening?” I yelled.
“Don’t know. Could be the ribs.” The ambulance slammed to a stop in front of the emergency room door and the van doors flung open to a host of doctors and nurses waiting for us. I had no idea how it all happened, but I was damn grateful someone had called ahead and had a team ready for us.
There were directions and calls from the nurses and doctors as I ran alongside the stretcher watching Lori Ann’s panicked eyes. The detective was running right behind me telling doctors what he knew of her injuries since I was too freaked out to speak. I looked back at him once and he just nodded his head and kept speaking. Lori Ann was wheeled into a room, and everything went nuts. I was ushered out of the room even as my girl screamed my name through fits of vomiting. I felt helpless. Something was happening, and I didn’t know how to fix it. I sank to my knees outside her room and prayed that God would protect the love of my life.
*****
Time stood still.
No. Time crawled. Three hours of time, to be exact. I watched as the doctors wheeled a sedated, unconscious Lori Ann into the operating room. She had internal bleeding that had to be stopped. And, worse yet, it was coming from her womb. A nurse had come to get me from the hallway to be with Lori Ann as the doctor delivered the news. There was no heartbeat. The blow to her stomach had killed her baby. The doctor immediately discovered it as soon as he laid the ultrasound wand on her belly. She turned to me, closed her eyes and cried, but said nothing. I kissed her face repeatedly and told her how much I loved her and that it wasn’t her fault. I promised her a life full of love and babies, looking to the doctor for hope that it would be possible. He didn’t respond.
Craig, Ty, and Frank were at the hospital by the time she went into surgery. I had Craig call and let Derek know where we were and what was happening, asking him to tell our family to pray for my love. The doctor gravely spoke to me just before going through the OR doors, saying if he couldn’t stop the bleeding, he would have to remove her uterus. There was a significant tear in the wall, and if he couldn’t repair it, removing it would the only way to save her life. It was like a sucker punch. “Detective London, she’s not going to die. I’m only telling you we can’t leave a bleeding, leaking womb inside of her. That would kill her. I’m preparing you for the fact that she may not be able to have children if I can’t repair this. Do you understand?”
“Yes. I don’t care about that. Save her.”
“I will.” He clapped a hand on my shoulder and said, “I’ll come out soon and tell you how things are going. If my nurse comes out, then you’ll know things are a bit more difficult and I can’t leave her. Okay? Doesn’t mean that’s a bad thing, just that she needs my attention.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” And with that, he turned and went to save my girl.
I was sitting on the floor, knees bent with my head resting on my hands on top of them when the sound of the OR door opened. It was the surgical nurse. My heart fell to my feet, and I stood. She held her hand up and smiled.
“It’s not what you think. Dr. McCourt told me to make sure you knew he would be out here himself, but he got called to another OR to assist in an emergency as we were prepping Lori Ann for recovery. Everything went really well and we were able to save her uterus.” I sighed and grabbed the nurse for a hug. “Well, thank you, Detective London.”
“So, she’s okay? What about her ribs, the other injuries?”
“Ribs are okay and healing well. Unfortunately, her lower stomach, her womb took the brunt of the kick. We took a look at her broken arm and it is also on the mend. We reset it in a new cast and it should be able to be removed in a few weeks. For now, she is in recovery and you can see her in a little while. Give her a chance to start waking up.” She paused and laid her hand on my arm. “I know you told us the baby was her husband’s…the abusive man that was killed. But she is still going to mourn that baby. No matter what she tells you, she was a mother…is a mother and will mourn. I wanted you to know that.”
“Thank you. I know. She didn’t really know how to feel about the baby, but I know my girl and know the love she already felt for it. She just couldn’t admit it yet. Do you know if it was a boy or a girl?”
“Are you sure you want to know?” Her face was sad, and I knew the answer.
“Yes. It was a little girl, wasn’t it?” A sweet little Lori Ann that her bastard husband killed. God, how I wished he was still alive so I could see the agony in his face at the realization that he killed his daughter. He deserved to live with that pain, not Lori Ann.
“Yes. But, Detective, what you need to take away from this is that she can still have children and as ugly as it is…as ugly as it sounds…he can’t hurt either of you anymore.” She was right.
“Thank you for taking care of her.”
“You’re welcome. Now, give me a few minutes, and I’ll sneak you in to sit with her.”
“Yes ma’am.” I smiled, then turned to Craig and the guys who shook my hand and leaned in for a quick man hug.
“Thank God, man. I want this shit over.” Craig said.
“Me too. I’m going to go sit with her. I need to see that she’s really okay.”
“Okay. We will get to work on our return trip. Do you know when Legs can leave?”
“No. I’m sure we have to stay a few days at least.”
“Okay, find out and we will book flights. Cops cleared us to leave after forty-eight hours.”
“Sounds good. I’m ready to get the hell home.” I laughed.
Before I walked into Lori Ann’s room, I called Derek.
“How you holding up?” This was how he answered his cell phone.
“Hey. I’m better now. She’s going to be okay and can still have children.”
“Oh, Jace, that’s good news. Mom is out of her mind here. I guess I should’ve told her a little more about Lori Ann’s situation before I completely bombarded her with everything Craig told me.” Derek let out a hard laugh.
“Right. Well, I’m certain I will hear it all when we get back.”
“Coming home soon?”
“Yes. Just as soon as the hospital releases us.” I paused. “It’s all so surreal, man. I mean, every bit of it. The fact that Legs is mine, her crazy husband is dead…never be able to hurt her again, but most of all I can’t get over how close I came to losing her for good…more than once.”
“I know. I’m sorry. But you need to focus on your future with that girl. Hell, you’ve loved her for years.” Derek chuckled, and I did too.
“You’re right. Antonio’s men are in jail, and it looks like they aren’t going anywhere.”
“Good. Now, go see your woman. Tell her we love her too and are ready for both of you to be back home.”
“Thanks, brother. Kiss Claire for me.” I knew that would irritate my little brother.
“Fuck you!” Derek laughed.
“Call you when I know something,” I said as I laughed at him.
“Sounds good.” We hung up, I took a deep breath, and went to see my girl.
*****
The recovery room was quiet, so calm compared to how frantic everything was when we first arrived at the hospital. Lori Ann was covered snugly in a white blanket, an IV still in her arm, and a peaceful expression on her beautiful face. I was relieved, but so sad for all she had been through the last several weeks. And now she’d have to come to terms with the death of her baby. I hated it, and I vowed to myself that I would make the rest of her life a fairy tale…one she deserved, one I would gladly provide.
I watched her closely for ano
ther hour before I saw her gorgeous blue eyes slowly open. She looked at me and grinned, then started to cry. I leaned up and kissed her eyes, whispering, “It’s okay. Cry all you want. I’m here, baby, and you can cry for as long as you want, whenever you want. I’m so sorry about the baby. I know you didn’t want to admit it, but I think you were going to love the idea.” She cried harder, holding her hand on her stomach. “I love you so much, and you can talk to me anytime you want about the baby. Anytime. Okay?”
She nodded her head. Then, with a groggy voice and between sobs she said, “It was a girl, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.” She turned her head away from me and looked at the wall. “Hey, don’t hide the sadness from me, please.” I used my hand to carefully move her face back to mine. “Please,” I begged as a wave of sadness washed over me, and I felt tears threaten. I certainly wasn’t a crier, but I couldn’t bear the idea of her shutting me out of her pain. “I told you I wanted that baby because it…she was a part of you. Please don’t shut me out. I want to mourn with you. I need to mourn with you.”
“Jace…” Her right arm came up and wrapped around my neck, pulling me closer to her. “I hate him. I’m glad he’s dead,” she sobbed.
“I know, baby. Me too. I only wish he was alive to know what he did…what he should have to live with, not you.”
“Oh, Jace.”
“It’s going to be okay. We will do this together. We will heal together. And when the time is right, when you are ready, we will start our own family. Me and you.”
She gasped. “I can still have babies?”
“Yes, I’m sorry. I should have thought…you’ve been unconscious. Yes, sweetheart. You and I can still have a baby.” I winked, and she let out a tiny laugh. Then, my girl looked up to the ceiling and mouthed, “Thank you, God.” I couldn’t help it anymore…a single tear roll down my cheek.
Chapter 27
Lori Ann
I stayed in the hospital for four days just to be sure I didn’t start to bleed again. I had several ultrasounds to check my healing and every time, I had to look away from the screen that held an empty womb where my baby had been just days before. The first one I had a few hours after my surgery. I sobbed openly and held onto Jason like my life depended on it…which was exactly how I felt. He kissed my face and whispered his love into my ear as the doctor worked quickly to check my stitches.
We were flying home by ourselves. Craig and the guys left a few days earlier, and I was happy to have Jason all to myself. As we sat in First Class, high above the ocean, I leaned onto Jason’s shoulder, closed my eyes, and tried to sleep.
He kissed my forehead and said, “Legs?”
“Yeah?” I answered without looking at him.
“I was thinking. Would you rather live in San Diego or Denver?”
I leaned up and looked at him. “What?”
“Well, I was just wondering if you would like a house near my family or near Craig and Keri.”
I smiled and said, “Baby, I don’t care where we live as long as I have you.”
“Good girl. That’s what I hoped you would say.” He laughed.
“Oh yeah? So where do you want to live?”
“I was thinking it would be nice to stay around my family in San Diego, but I’d like to look at buying a house on the beach…one that you and I pick out together.” He lifted my hand and kissed the back of it.
“I would like that very much.”
“Then it’s done. We’ll start looking this week.” He kissed my lips and used his hand to gently lay my head back onto his shoulder. “Sleep, baby.”
“Jace?”
“Yeah?”
“I want you,” I whispered.
“Is that right?”
“Yes. I need you to touch me. I feel like you’re afraid.”
He turned in his seat, causing me to lift my head and tilted my chin to look into my eyes. “I’m not afraid of anything other than hurting your beautiful body. I don’t want to add to your pain, baby. I want you when we can enjoy it together. And just for the record, I have some delicious things planned for that moment.” Jason’s lips slammed onto mine and his tongue pushed its way in, sweeping and devouring my own. I grabbed the back of his neck and met every lick, sweep, and suck he delivered. I loved it. I felt whole having my Jace kissing me like that.
We pulled away from each other, panting. “Now, does that tell you how much I want you? Rest up while you can because when you’re cleared to make love to me, you’re going to need a lot of energy. I believe I owe you a spanking and I have a brand new toy I’d like to try…if you’re up to it.”
I smiled and said, “That sounds incredibly kinky and absolutely wonderful. I’m ready to start living. I want all that you have, all that you want to show me, Jace. You said it was all for our pleasure, and that’s exactly what I want.”
“That’s good, Legs. I can’t wait to get started too. You have no idea the fun shit I have planned for you.” He winked at me, and I felt my body respond. He turned back in his chair, and I resumed my sleeping position.
*****
I’d stopped bleeding about a week after we returned to San Diego, and I was on the tail end of the antibiotics the doctor had given me in Hawaii. I was headed to a check-up with my new doctor and hoping for the all clear to have sex. Jason had been so sweet, so patient, especially when I would burst into tears as my grief took over and was accompanied by my out-of-sync hormones. I felt like I was going crazy. I would even cry over Antonio and the loss of the man I once loved and who loved me. Jason understood. As a matter of fact, he was pushing me to talk about the good things, the good life I had with Antonio. He knew I needed to grieve him too. I had a long way to go, but with Jason by my side, loving me the way he did, holding me tight and telling me all the things that lay ahead for us, I was slowly beginning to feel whole again.
The following week, I met with Dr. Warren for almost an hour. He was an older man who quickly informed me that he had four grown daughters of his own and understood all too well what I was going through. I loved him from the very beginning. By the time we were done, I was cleared for sex, my cast removal was right on schedule for the following week, and I was set with a birth control shot that lasted for a few years. I was a happy girl.
Jason was waiting for me in the waiting room when I walked out with a big smile on my face. I desperately wanted to feel like myself…my old self.
“Everything go okay?” He waggled his eyebrows at me.
“Yes, it did. Let’s go home.” We were still staying at Jason’s house while looking for a new home to start our life. He drove like crazy from the doctor’s office, back to our home. “Hey, slow down. We want to get back safely.”
“I know. I just really need you. Like now!” I laughed, then reached over and rubbed my hands across his cock. He was hard and pushed tight against his jeans. “Baby, please don’t do that. I’m about to come all over myself.”
“Shh…no talking.” I unbuttoned his pants and slid my hand down beneath the waistband of his boxer briefs. Grabbing his hard cock, I pulled it free and started stroking it as he tried to concentrate on driving.
“Dammit! Stop! Please, Legs. I can’t. Feels too good.” I just smiled. “Baby, I have plans. Please stop.” His sweet, lustful voice made me stop my pursuit when I saw that we were pulling into the driveway. “Oh, thank God.”
He parked his truck in the garage and hobbled to my side, yanked me out, and slammed my body against the side of the truck. “That’s two now.” Jason’s mouth covered mine, and his tongue pushed passed my lips apparently in search of my tonsils. He kissed me with such ferocity I wasn’t sure we would make it out of the garage. But as soon as the thought crossed my mind, he scooped me into his arms and carried me inside and straight to our bedroom.
“Two what?” I breathed out.
His devilish eye looked at me and said, “Two spankings. I owe you one from weeks ago.”
“Oh.” Delicious tingles ran down my
body all the way to my core.
Still holding me in his arms, Jason kissed my neck and whispered, “You and I are about to reacquaint ourselves in the best way possible.”
I laughed and said, “Bring it on.”
He put me down on my feet and I stood before him, letting him undress every part of my body. His hands skimmed the sides of my ribs and the edge of my breasts as his mouth continued to nuzzle and kiss my neck. “I need you, baby.”
“Me too.” I reached for his jeans, unfastened them, and pushed them over his hips. “Jace…”
“I know.” When we were both completely naked, he picked me back up and walked me to the bed. “I love you, Lori Ann. You are finally all mine.”
“Yes, Jason. I belong to you.” He lay me on the bed and stood, looking over my body.
“I said I owe you a few spankings, but first I have a little something special planned.” He reached for something in the bedside table drawer before turning on some music and crawling on the bed, carefully lying on my body. Crazy Love by Van Morris started to play, making me smile.
“Oh yeah?” I raised one eyebrow, curious about his plans.
“Yes. I believe I promised you an oil rub not so long ago.” I frowned, remembering his exact promise right before Antonio stole me away. “Hey, no unhappy thoughts. Okay?” He leaned down and sucked my left nipple into his mouth. I arched off the bed and grabbed his hair. He suddenly pulled back and stared at me, lost for a moment.
“What is it?” He asked. “Did I hurt you?”