Lovers Hiatus

by Taylor Love

  It was something about Janae that stimulated his mental and sexual nerves. He enjoyed their debates and poking at her. He also enjoyed the down time where they just hung out and relaxed. Recently they’d even started talking more in-depth about their work, something he had never done with Veronica. He’d tried a time or two but she responded by being visibly bored. She hadn’t been a big reader of anything much less his genre, and didn’t want to hear it.

  It was cool to talk to another writer, one who read fiction here and there among other things instead of getting all their content off Twitter and Instagram. How he ended up with such a basic woman, and lasted so long with her was baffling? To be fair, Veronica was good looking and fun. A full five years his junior, she had been impressed with his casual lifestyle when they first met. His freedom of time as well as his money to live comfortably with an unconventional job had been right up her alley.

  But Veronica had expensive taste that grew while they were together. And the constant fun from their first six months started to annoy him, plus the fact that she didn’t have more drive and direction in life. Somehow, she’d still convinced him to allow her to move in, and things slowly but steadily started going downhill.

  Veronica did temporary administrative work for a living. Assignments that lasted anywhere from three to six months, occasionally longer. She had told him she preferred it that way, that she turned down temp to hire positions. Spouted that foolishness about not wanting to be tied down to a corporation that only used her for what she could do for them. In the two years they dated she’d had six different jobs.

  Damond could rock with her on not wanting to work for Uncle Sam, but the rest was bullshit. He was all for someone making their own path or way in life and doing what they loved. If she had pursued her own craft or business he would have backed and supported that completely. Instead, to him it looked like she wanted a ride through life. Frankly he must have been out of his mind to stay with her so long.

  Okay hell who was he kidding, she had left him. Veronica found a better sugar daddy to provide her with an even better lifestyle than he could. Probably a guy who didn’t push her about wanting more out of her life then chilling. All that noise was in his past where it rightfully belonged. Now he was dealing with a person who didn’t understand the meaning of a closed door.

  “I’m working here, what do you want?” He asked, as Janae barged into the office.

  “Just bringing you some tea. I just got done with my lunch and thought you could use some.”

  “You’re trying to give me a bladder infection with all this tea. It has me running to the bathroom every other second.”

  “Stop exaggerating, I barely get you to drink a cup a day. I made you the wild sweet orange kind that you like so stop complaining. Also, you don’t get a bladder infection from peeing, but from holding it in. Tea helps flush out toxins-”

  Damond quickly lifted the cup and took a sip, glaring. “Happy now? Shut the door on the way out, I was just getting into a scene.”

  “You can be sooo grumpy sometimes. Anyway, have a good afternoon.” Smiling widely she walked out.

  He took another sip almost against his will, and admitted he really did like this flavor. It was just as well she had interrupted him from thinking about her and past relationships. Not that what they had was a relationship...it was more like a situationship at best.

  “Fuck me.”

  Putting the tea aside, Damond was determined to push all women out his head for the next few hours. He had a goal to finish his book before the week was out then start on its sequel.

  JANAE JOGGED UPSTAIRS humming, she enjoyed breeching his man cave of an office just to annoy him. At the same time trying to convince herself she wasn’t mothering him, which he accused her of doing more than once. True, she did bother him about eating three complete meals a day and to drink less coffee, but it wasn’t like she was picking out his underwear for him. Women were natural nurturers, she was just helping another human in her living space, is all.

  Regardless, she didn’t feel like his mother when they were in bed together, or on the floor or in the shower for that matter. God, what Damond was doing to her body was amazing! One guy in her first relationship out of college had called her a cold fish because she wouldn’t suck his dick their first time having sex, said she needed to loosen up. Janae hated to admit it, but that assholes comment influenced her to a small extent, in every other relationship she had. Which was part of the reason she was normally slow to move into the sexual arena.

  Once she did go there, things were usually fine. Not amazing like what she had with Damond, but adequate none the less. She had thought having decent to good sex was “normal”. Many medical and pop culture articles showed that the majority of women were overall experiencing the same—just okay sex. Sure, she knew that some folks were out there having great sex, but they weren’t as plentiful as the TV shows and movies would have you believe. It was no coincidence that the rates of cheating were through the roof as folks searched for that elusive bomb ass sex. Somehow, she had found her person in a remote cabin up north.

  She felt like an archeologist finding a temple of hidden treasure, and she was determined to get as much as possible while she could. Aside from sex there were other perks that Damond gave her. As she’d discovered from the start he was a great, if confrontational conversationalist. She loved that they could talk about a wide variety of topics, from something light to ultra-serious but never boring. Not to mention it was almost a guarantee that he would say something outlandish. Either amusing her, annoying her or sparking her mind to think deeper. Janae honestly loved it. Most men didn’t realize it, but women could get turned on a lot by mental stimulation alone.

  She tried to remind herself that this was all temporary. Janae had two more weeks to go before going home, which she tried not to think about. Wanting to enjoy this closeness, this experience she was having without ruining it with thoughts of the future. For once she was going to fully immerse herself in the unexpected. Her current make-believe reality.

  Like relishing how they slept together each night, though they never started out that way. Sometimes he would come to her, and sometimes she would be the one to give in first, an odd little game of wills they played. Weird, but that was their entire relationship. Sometimes they fell right to sleep, making love in the morning instead. Then there were times they barely said a word before jumping each other. Other times they only talked, well into the night while holding each other.

  Janae would never pretend those moments didn’t make her feel close to him. Just as close as their daily little domestic situations did. Like the tea today or how they ended up sharing a cart the last time they went to the store. Rolling down each aisle like a couple, her with a list and him randomly grabbing things, much like she imagined a married couple might

  “Get a grip girl. Damond is not the marrying kind.”

  Then again, she wasn’t so sure. Out of the two of them he was the one who’d had the longest relationship. For her it had been a year and a half, though the guy had suddenly had a problem with her after she got her doctorate. For whatever reason that had rubbed him the wrong way, even though it was necessary for her chosen career path. It wasn’t like she was one of those people trying to collect degrees just for the hell of it. She had been devastated for a brief time, somehow missing how insecure he was before that moment. Shella had barely resisted saying ‘I told you so’, even though she had. Her cousin had met him three times and never liked him from the start.

  Apparently, Damond had been in another long-term relationship before this last one. Going three and a half years with that woman. He chalked it up to early adulthood as he’d been twenty-five at the time, but to her mind that wasn’t that young. Janae was of the belief he enjoyed having a partner in his life. That instead of the lone wolf she had originally taken him for, he was a pack animal after all. She was the one who couldn’t seem to connect long term to any man, and that thought wa
s outright depressing.

  Chapter Thirteen

  WHEN JANAE CAME BACK downstairs around four that day, she ducked her head inside his office only to find he wasn’t there. Frowning, she called out but didn’t get a response. She even peaked her head in the basement but he wasn’t there either. Going back upstairs she found it a little odd that he wasn’t working this time of day, and he hadn’t come upstairs for a nap. That third step from the top would have given him away, or he would have tried enticing her into some afternoon delight. No, she didn’t think he was in the house.

  Going into the kitchen, she got herself a bottle of water and wondered if maybe he had left. Taking a quick peek out the front window showed it was a calm, sunny winter’s day. The last snow had been over four days ago, and was almost completely melted now. True, it was later in the day than he normally would have driven somewhere. But the days were already shifting, the light lingering longer than when she’d first arrived at the cabin. Which meant he could reasonably go somewhere and be back before dark.

  Her contention was why he wouldn’t tell her before leaving? No sooner than the thought hit her conscious, she cut it off. He was a grown able-bodied man, who despite the fact they were sleeping together was not her man. He could come and go as he pleased. Still, she was annoyed. Leaving the water, Janae went to put her coat and boots on. Heading down to the basement, she used the connecting door to enter the garage. Telling herself she would just take a quick peek and see if his car was still here. It was, and her budding anger moved into concern.

  “Where the heck is he?”

  Clicking the door opener, she waited as it rose and immediately saw him about 150 feet away, with his back to her. She walked out wondering why he hadn’t turned at the sound of the door, he wasn’t that far away. Instead he just stood there, kind of swaying. Starting out towards him, something made Janae go to the side of the garage instead.

  She rarely came outside unless they were leaving the house, she just wasn’t a fan of the cold and snow. It was a wonder she had survived her entire life in Michigan. The state’s saving grace was the terrific summers which made up for winter. But Janae figured since she was out here, it was a good time to look at the generator. She hadn’t forgotten about it, just currently distracted with work and sex. It was right where Damond said it would be, and one quick glance showed her that it wasn’t plugged in properly. Bending down she quickly took care of the issue.

  Janae watched as the indicator lights on top flashed on. The thing looked in fine working order to her. Had he unplugged this? Though she knew it was “possible” it had been knocked out some other way, it was highly unlikely. These things were built exactly so random disconnecting wouldn’t happen. Spinning on her heels she started marching towards him through the slushy snow. He still hadn’t turned around, and just that quickly Janae went from suspicious anger to concern again. Was he ill? When she was ten feet away still nothing, just the light swaying she had noticed from the house.

  “Damond?” She lightly touched his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

  “What the-”

  When he swung around wildly, she had to quickly step back to avoid his reach.

  “It’s just me! What is wrong with you?”

  Damond vaguely heard her words, he definitely saw her mouth moving as he yanked out his earbuds.

  “Jesus woman, don’t you know not to sneak up on a man like that?”

  “I didn’t know I was. I had no clue you were listening to music, I didn’t see them.”

  “They’re cordless.” He held up one giving her a “duh” look.

  “How was I supposed to know that? You’re the one standing out here like a mental patient swaying. I thought you’d had some type of medical emergency. Especially after you never turned around when I opened the garage door or walked over.”

  “Fine, my bad. Just next time yell or something. I didn’t know who was touching me. You could have gotten knocked out.”

  Now Janae smirked. “Why so jumpy? Aren’t you the one always telling me there’s no murderers out here.”

  “Yeah, well one can never be too careful, can they?”

  “Hmm, what are you doing out here? I got worried when I couldn’t find you in the house.”

  “Missing me huh?”

  “No, just concerned and you haven’t answered my question yet.”

  He still didn’t, bending down instead to pick up the pen and notepad he’d dropped, before waving it in her face.

  “I came out to clear my head.” He left out that thoughts of her kept interrupting him all afternoon. “It was working. Zoning out on music and putting some plot points down. Until you, nosey goldilocks came out here trying to give me a heart attack.”

  “Well if you had left a note...I wouldn’t have come looking for you. I’m just glad you’re okay. It’s cold. I’m going back inside.”

  When she turned to leave he pulled her into his chest, crossing his arms behind her back.

  “It’s cute you care about my safety.”

  “No, it was self-preservation. If a psycho had taken you out, I was probably next.”

  “You’re a liar, Professor.” Damond gave her a peck on the lips which she returned. “And not a good one.”

  “Takes one to know one Mr. Hall. Speaking of which, I finally got a chance to take a look at the generator.”

  “Really...” Damond turned his head to the side.

  Janae promptly moved it back with a finger. “Yes, really. You want to know what I found?”

  “Not really, but it seems like you want to tell me.”

  “The cord wasn’t connected to the other thing that goes into the house.”

  “Imagine that?”

  She pushed, not so gently away from his hold. “I’m betting you don’t have to imagine it. You saw it the night the lights went out.”

  “I barely saw shit that night, between the dark and the foot of snow.”

  “Admit it.” Janae crossed her arms. “You unplugged the generator didn’t you? Be honest.”

  “No, I didn’t unplug it.” He shook his head, looked at her and then on a sigh continued. “But I didn’t hook it up either. When I got out there, I saw it was unplugged and left it that way.”

  “I can’t believe you did that!” She sprung forward hitting his chest a couple of times. “You knew how afraid I was. Why would you do that?”

  Damond caught her flying hands and held them with one of his own, pulling her closer until he could wrap his arms around her again.

  “I did it because I wanted to spend time with you, wanted you in my arms.”

  Janae was speechless. “You couldn’t have just told me that, after the lights were running?”

  “Would you have listened? We were avoiding each other, but I couldn’t stop thinking about you. So I figured you being scared would drive you into my arms...and it did.”

  “To think you’ve accused me of being juvenile.”

  “Touché Professor. But a man suffering from blue balls doesn’t think so clearly.”

  Janae kicked his shin. “You should be ashamed of yourself.”

  “You know that hurt, right.” Tightening his hold, Damond pressed a lingering kiss to her pouting mouth. Not pulling back until he felt them soften.

  “You should investigate that violent streak you have, write about yourself in your book.” Damond tried teasing.

  “You are incorrigible. I don’t know whether to feel duped or plain angry.”

  Damond’s shrewd eyes grew serious, something they rarely were. His cold gloved hand, caressed the side of her face. Startling her even more then his look.

  “We both know you didn’t come to my bed just because the lights were out, don’t cheapen what we shared that night. And I’m not ashamed, I’d do it all over again. Hell, I’d take a hammer to the damn thing if it meant us having the last few weeks together. Would you want to miss out on that?”

  “You know I don’t. Of course I went to your room because I wa
nted to. Because I wanted to be with you. But Damond...don’t ever outright lie to me again. Got it?”

  “I hear you and I won’t.” Kissing her forehead he asked, “Dance with me, Janae.”

  “What?” Even now he could make her laugh, sometimes he was so ridiculous.

  Damond focused on programing his phone for a moment, then placed one earbud firmly in her ear, the other in his. Janae heard Babyface’s “Sorry for the Stupid Things” flowed into her eardrum and laughed even harder, giving him a real smile. Stepping into his waiting arms, hers going around his waist, as they stood two-stepping in the snow. In a world that held only the two of them.

  Chapter Fourteen

  THEY DANCED UNTIL THE song ended, which flowed into a kiss before one of their feet slipped and they almost fell.

  “Let’s head in,” Damond suggested. “Your lips are turning blue I can’t have you catching frostbite.”

  “Same for you.” She squeezed in-between his legs. “Or at least the parts of you I’m not finished using.”

  “You got a lot of nerve lady.” But Damond was talking to himself as Janae took off.

  He followed more slowly, until he saw her letting the garage door down and he tried to speed up. Not that he made it, so he had to walk all the way around to the front door. By the time he was inside and undressed he found her already in the living room. Sipping on a hot beverage of undetermined flavor.

  “Did you make me some?”

  “No.”

  “Ain’t that a bit-” He cut off as she gave him a look. “I’m just saying...I was out there longer than you were.”

  “That sounds like a personal problem.” Janae surmised.

  “And I think you’re a little vindictive.”