When We Met

by Marni Mann

  While she disappeared to get changed, I brushed my teeth and washed up, and then I rolled myself into the bedroom. As I rounded the corner, she was just exiting my closet in a T-shirt that she’d knotted at the waist, showing hints of her belly button, and a pair of my boxers.

  “Hell yes,” I said, taking in her lean stomach and toned legs. “You look so hot.”

  She pulled at the loose bottoms of the shorts. “They’re a little big.”

  “But incredibly sexy on you.”

  A blush crept across her cheeks. “Let me help you into bed.”

  I knew I could do it on my own, something I’d practiced with my physical therapist, but I certainly wasn’t going to pass up having Whitney’s hands on me, the closeness of her body while she assisted. Once she got me under the comforter, she went into the bathroom, and I heard the sound of water turning on.

  I was hitting the buttons on the tablet, dimming the lighting, when she finished and came out. Her skin shimmered as though it were wet. She walked toward me, her tits bouncing, braless in my shirt.

  Fuck me.

  She climbed onto the other side of my bed, sliding over until her head rested on my bare chest.

  I reached into her hair, the softness of her locks falling over me. “I could get used to this.”

  I took my time in massaging her scalp, gradually shifting to her face, tracing her lips. She glanced up at me, a hunger so deep in her eyes.

  “Whitney … I don’t know how to navigate my limitations. The old me would have had you naked and pinned against the wall right now.”

  “Is that what you want?” She leaned onto her elbow. “To have me naked?” She held the knot at the bottom of her shirt, as though she were about to loosen it.

  “Yes.”

  “I know your restrictions, and I think we both know how careful and gentle I can be.”

  She got onto her knees, slowly lifting the cotton over her head.

  “Fuck,” I groaned as I stared at her beautiful tits, big enough to wrap my hands around.

  My thumb swiped the hardness of her nipple, and she moaned as I pinched the end and again when I moved to the other side, doing the same. I traveled down to the flatness of her navel, taking my time with her curves, dips I had dreamed about, skin that was so smooth.

  When I began to tease below her boxers, she straddled me, holding the headboard as she kissed me. This was different than all the previous occasions her lips had been on me. She was hungrier. But cautious of her placement, making sure she never moved me, not even when her mouth landed on my chest.

  “I know this goes against every nursing code, but I’ve been admiring your body, especially once I saw these …” She kissed across my abs.

  Every time she landed on my flesh, air hissed out of me, my head grinding into the fucking pillow.

  She paused at my boxer briefs, pulling them down my legs, staring at me from my waist. “My God, Caleb. How have you kept this hidden from me?”

  The hunger turned feral, and I gripped the back of her head just as her mouth lowered onto my tip.

  “Yes,” I moaned, pleasure taking over and spreading through me.

  Her tongue surrounded my crown, her hand gripping the bottom of my shaft, and she bobbed to her fist and back up to my head.

  “That’s it,” I breathed even though she didn’t need to be urged on.

  She sucked like I was her straw, pumping me with tight fingers, covering all of me.

  I couldn’t arch or shift.

  All I could do was take it.

  And she certainly knew how to give.

  But it was starting to feel far too good, and I wrapped her long hair around my fist and growled, “Get up here.” My cock popped out of her mouth, and I added, “Come sit on my face.”

  She smiled as she removed her shorts and crawled up my body until her pussy was hovering over my lips.

  “Fucking gorgeous.” I stared for only a moment before burying my nose and inhaling. “Mmm.” I swiped her with my tongue, sampling her wetness, her taste as good as her scent. “Goddamn it, you’re perfect.”

  “Caleb,” she breathed loudly as I began to lick her clit, giving me almost everything I wanted—watching her come was the only thing left. “That feels … amazing.”

  I knew how to make her feel even better, and my finger slid through her wetness, curving toward the front, gliding in and out of her pussy. While she filled my ears with moans, I worked my hand and tongue at the same time, watching the pleasure spread across her face.

  She moved with a freedom I didn’t have, her back rounding, her hips rocking forward. Each caress from my mouth caused her sounds to get louder. I read her so easily, licking harder when she needed it, faster when she was building.

  And when she screamed, “Oh my God,” tightening around my finger, I sucked her clit into my mouth and flicked just the end, giving her a speed I hadn’t used.

  “Caleb!” she shouted, this time because she had reached the peak. Her navel shuddered, her hips slowing. “Fuuuck.”

  I didn’t stop licking until I knew the sensations had passed through her, eventually pulling out my finger, swallowing the new wetness on my tongue.

  Having watched her face the entire time, I confessed, “That was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”

  “You’re way too good at that.”

  She moved down my body and kissed me. Knowing she could taste herself made me even harder, throbbing to be inside her. She must have felt my need because she began rubbing over my hardness.

  I pulled my mouth away. “There are condoms in my closet, top shelf, next to my suits.”

  “I’ve seen your blood work, I know you’re clean, and I’m on birth control.” She positioned herself over my tip. “Unless you still want to use one?”

  “You don’t have to convince me, Nurse Whitney.”

  She let out a short laugh. “Now, don’t you dare move,” she warned, always focused on my back.

  She lowered until I was fully inside her, her pussy pulsing around me.

  I moaned, “My fucking God, you’re tight.”

  She stayed still for several seconds, her hips finally rocking back and forth. And while I was locked flat on the bed, my eyes wandered her body, starting with her nipples. With each bounce, I grazed their roundness, squeezing them between my fingers.

  I dipped again, holding her curves while I took in the sight. “Whitney,” I huffed, appreciating how lucky I was. I was in awe of her beauty, her body, how she felt while she squeezed me from within. “So fucking wet,” I panted. “And stunning.”

  She was bringing me closer with each thrust, and I pressed the spot where I had just licked, using the softest part of my hand to rub it.

  “Yesss,” she sighed, her head leaning back, exposing the most seductive throat.

  She was determining the speed, owning the control, all while holding her own weight, making sure none of it landed on me.

  “Caleb …” Her hips were bucking forward, her moans lengthening.

  My jaw clenched, my own build increasing. “Fuck … me.”

  A tightness clutched my cock, a thickness pooling inside her. I knew she was almost there again, even before I heard, “I’m going to come.”

  I added pressure to her clit just as my own orgasm began to surface.

  “Ahhh!” she shouted, rising to my crown, lowering to my base, pulling at my own passion until it exploded.

  “Whitney,” I roared, filling her as each round shot out of me.

  She took her final bow and climbed off, our breaths now the only sounds in the room. As her chin rested over my chest, I stared into those dark eyes.

  “You’re incredible.” I gripped her, making sure she didn’t move. “You need to know that.”

  Her smile covered her whole face, and she linked our fingers, laying her head down, positioning her body horizontally across the bed. Several minutes passed before she looked up once more. “What have you done to me, Caleb?”

&nbs
p; “I was just thinking the same.”

  I cupped her cheek, and she kissed the backs of my fingers as my eyes closed. “Good night, baby.”

  Twelve

  Improvements came in small increments. Each morning, I woke with a stiffness still present in my spine, forcing myself to stretch and exercise with techniques Whitney and my physical therapist had taught me. I repeated those practices through the afternoon and evening, pushing myself harder every day. I was relearning my body, my posture, training my mind to find comfort in the moments that were the most painful.

  As my strength grew, I used my wheelchair less, relying on my walker. But help was something I still needed at home, and as Whitney spent more nights at my place, I cut down on Veronica’s hours.

  Our relationship and her responsibilities were colliding in a way we couldn’t control. I didn’t want anyone taking her place professionally, and I also didn’t want her to feel like she was constantly on the job. And since she didn’t want her time overlapping with another nurse, there was no spontaneity; everything had to be planned prior to her coming over. That never seemed to affect Whitney; she was the most easygoing woman I’d ever met, but I was looking forward to when she could fall asleep on my chest and not have to schedule it beforehand.

  Still, I wouldn’t trade those evenings for anything. Not when I got to hear her breathing deepen, watch her face relax, her body twitch as she began to dream. On the nights she didn’t stay, I found myself missing her.

  That was a feeling I hadn’t experienced before.

  Even when the guys were here, occupying my attention, like they were now, I still thought of my girl.

  Today was her day off, and the boys had stopped by before heading to a Red Sox game, Fenway only a few blocks from my condo. They’d brought two large pizzas and a twelve-pack, and Joe handed me a plate and a beer before they joined me on the couch.

  Smith clinked his bottle against mine and said, “Man, you’re looking even healthier than when I saw you a few days ago.”

  “Sex makes you heal faster,” Joe joked, and we all laughed.

  “I’m gaining some of my weight back,” I told them. “I’m up fifteen pounds, most of it muscle.” My appetite had returned; I just couldn’t eat as much as I used to. “But I’m doing much better.”

  Smith wiped the pepperoni grease off his mouth and asked, “Have you been into work?”

  I shook my head while I chewed. “My assistant started coming by a few hours every afternoon, and I’ve been answering e-mails.” Physically, I could push my walker through the building. I just wasn’t ready for my employees to see me that way. “Maybe I’ll venture in next week.”

  “Your parents must be dying for you to get back,” Joe said.

  “You have no fucking idea.” I took another drink. “They’re giving me time, but they want me to dive in like nothing happened.”

  But something had happened, and it’d changed me; the conversation I’d had with my father this morning proved that. He didn’t understand why I wasn’t working full-time from home, and I didn’t know how to tell him I wasn’t the person I had been before. My parents would soon be handing the business to me when they retired to Florida, like they’d always planned. A role they had been grooming me for my entire life, but it came with serious expectations, and I didn’t know if I was ready for it.

  “Is that what you want?” Smith asked. “To throw yourself into the grind again?”

  “No … fuck, I don’t know what I want.” I glanced at the bottle I was squeezing in my hand. “But twenty-hour days, sleeping at the office, flying to the other side of the world, just to get a break from my goddamn desk”—I looked up, knowing they could sympathize—“I know I don’t have that in me anymore.”

  “Does Whitney have anything to do with that?” Joe asked.

  I exhaled loudly. “You know, I could have fucking died on that pavement. But I’m here, and I don’t want to be sixty years old and have a wall full of pictures of myself and perfect attendance at work as the highlights of my life. I want something more.”

  “Man, do I get that,” Smith said.

  Joe’s face told me he agreed, and then he admitted, “You know, my marriage is a fucking mess because of my job.” He got up and grabbed another piece from the counter, giving us one as well.

  “Things must be good with Whitney, then?” Smith asked.

  I nodded, biting the end of the new slice, washing it down with a sip. “I’m meeting her for dinner tonight. First time I’m going out on my own, wheeling there all by myself.” I laughed. “Words I never thought I’d say.”

  Smith gently grabbed my shoulder. “That’s a big step; you’re doing great.”

  I felt my lips pull into a grin, remembering the feel of her mouth when she had kissed me good-bye yesterday. “She’s the unexpected surprise in all of this.”

  “What’s she going to do when she’s off the payroll?” Joe asked.

  I shrugged as Smith’s hand left me. “I don’t think she’s decided.”

  But I had a feeling she would be making that decision soon, especially now that I was more mobile with my walker. I wasn’t going to put any pressure on her; she knew the timeline better than me.

  “With her talent, it won’t be hard for her to find a job,” Smith said.

  I set my plate on the cushion next to me. “She just has to figure out what she wants. I know the hospital isn’t it.”

  “You’ve got yourself a good one there,” Joe said. “Do me a favor and don’t fuck it up.”

  “I’ve already warned his ass,” Smith bellowed.

  “Listen,” I said, chuckling, “I’m doing the best I can.” I pointed at Smith. “Now, it’s your turn because no one wants to be a fifth wheel.”

  Joe pounded my fist. “Ain’t that the fucking truth?”

  The restaurant I’d chosen for dinner was only two blocks from my condo. I’d told Whitney to meet me there, so it would feel more like a date than a duty. It had the best sushi in the Back Bay, and hearing her mention once that it was her favorite cuisine was the reason I’d picked it.

  Veronica helped me shower and get dressed, and I wheeled myself down the sidewalk. I spotted Whitney at the table I’d reserved for us outside. I’d selected the outdoors over the dining room because I wanted her to enjoy the sounds of the city as she ate, and I wanted to see the breeze blow through her hair, the lights of the adjacent buildings glowing on her skin.

  When she noticed me, I was a few buildings down, and she rushed over. “I can’t believe you wouldn’t let me pick you up on my way,” she said, her mouth finding mine.

  I licked her gloss off my lips. “I got here just fine.”

  My arms burned, my fingers a little raw from the rolling. I didn’t care; I would have traveled to the other side of town if that meant I got to see her.

  She insisted on pushing me the rest of the way and parked me at the table.

  I grabbed her hand before she left, kissing the back of it, the coconut scent so strong on her skin. “You look gorgeous tonight.”

  The long blue dress was cinched at her waist, showing those curves that I loved to hold, the top cut low enough to give me a hell of a view of her cleavage.

  “Thank you.” She blushed and took her seat, glancing at the menu. “I’ve never been here before, but the reviews say it’s amazing.”

  “It is. I used to be a regular.” I checked out the list of rolls, trying to remember what I used to order. “But it doesn’t compare to Japan. That’s the best sushi I’ve ever had. If that country isn’t on your list, add it.”

  “It’s already there.” She grinned. “And I’m dying to go.”

  “You will, baby.”

  A waitress appeared at our table and asked, “What can I get you to drink?”

  “Sauvignon blanc,” Whitney replied.

  “Whatever wheat beer you have on tap.”

  “I’ve never had beer with sushi,” she said once the waitress left. “I expected you to
order sake.”

  I took the napkin off the table and spread it across my lap. “The guys stopped by for lunch, and we had a few before they went to the Sox game. I’m sticking with what I started with.”

  “Beer is all Emily drinks, and when I have a day off, she always brings me one when I’m in the shower.” Her brows rose as she studied my face. “Tell me you’ve tried that.”

  “Can’t say I have.”

  “We’re going to change that. It’s one of the best things ever; you’ll see.”

  “Looks like I know what we’re doing tomorrow.”

  She laughed, a sound that didn’t get lost in all the noise around us. Instead, it reached me on the other side of the table, wrapping my chest like her blanket once had. The feeling only intensified when she slid her hand across the small space, clasping mine.

  “Thank you for taking me out.”

  I examined her beautiful gaze. This woman was far more special than she even realized. “There will be many more dinners, Whitney.”

  “Well, my thanks doesn’t end there.” Her stare moved to the sky before it returned to me. “You’ve opened my eyes to things I never believed in.” She took a deep breath. “To feelings I never expected to have.”

  “I’m fucking crazy about you.” I squeezed her grip, watching the headlights of the passing cars dance over her face. “You’re incredible.”

  She shook her head, humble to the last drop. “No, Caleb. You’re the hero in our story.”

  Thirteen

  “Thank you for coming with me,” I said to Whitney as we sat in the backseat of my SUV.

  “Of course.” She grinned, rubbing my neck. “I’ve really been looking forward to today.”

  “So have I,” Alfred added from behind the wheel, glancing at me through the rearview mirror. “We’ve all been worried about you.”

  I smiled at the old man, a face I’d watched age since I was a young kid, working in the mailroom at Hunt Financial. Back then, he had been our maintenance man. A few years ago, when his arthritis had become too painful to continue his job, I’d hired him as my full-time driver.