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Carefully, I sneak out of her bed and walk into the bathroom. It doesn’t take me long to take a shower, brush my teeth, using the extra toothbrush I’d left here, and run my fingers through my hair. I walk into her room, unashamedly naked, and open my bag sitting on her desk chair and take out a clean t-shirt and jeans. I watch her sleep as I get dressed, my heart hammering in my chest just because I’m near her, my aching cock wanting to be inside her. Ignoring my own temptations, I leave the room and walk to the kitchen, taking out all the items I need to make her a good breakfast.

  By the time I’m almost done cooking, my stomach growls, and I’m hoping she’ll eat some because I made enough for a small army. Eggs over easy, toast, bacon, sausage, and hash browns are adorning the kitchen table with two place settings on either side. I’m finishing the country gravy on the stove when I feel her. My entire body responds to her presence before she’s even entered the room. I smile stirring the gravy, as her arms slide around my waist and her hands move up my stomach to my chest. I feel her head lay against my back and hear her sigh.

  “Morning,” I say, still smiling, feeling her touch.

  As I pour the gravy into a bowl her stomach growls. I chuckle. Trying to get her to eat has been hard and it’s worse when I’m not around. Since I’d first found her, I’d been keeping an eye on her, waiting until I could make my move. Between then and now, I know she’s lost weight.

  “Morning,” she whispers. “Everything smells delicious.”

  I turn in her arms, holding the bowl. “Good. I made you a feast.” I smile, lean down and kiss her. “Scoot. We have much to do today.” She gives me a confused look but obeys, and I follow her over to the table, setting the bowl down and sitting down across from her. I don’t wait for her to start, picking up assorted food and putting a generous amount from each on her plate alongside her eggs. She doesn’t refuse, picks up her fork and starts eating.

  “What do we have to do today?” I watch her lips encase the fork, sliding into her mouth. She closes her eyes and lets out a soft moan. I’m forced to adjust myself under the table.

  “We need to find out about your dad,” I say as I begin loading my plate. “Depending on the outcome, we’ll have to make plans, hopefully to get him settled into his new room on my hall.”

  “I hope he gets out today, and I hope moving him back there will brighten his spirits.”

  I nod. “Then once we spend some time with him, me doing his therapy and you visiting, I’m taking you somewhere.” Her brows raise. I let out a chuckle and take a bite. My eyes stay glued on her while she eats, my ears hearing the sounds she makes while eating, and my cock is pushing against my jeans to get out. “Woman. If you aren’t careful, I’m going to take you right here on this table,” I growl. She’s fucking killing me.

  She smiles around her fork then stops and pulls her phone from her pocket. “Hello?” I continue to eat watching her every move and listen to her one sided conversation. “That’s great! Yes, I’ll make sure. Thank you.” She ends the call with a huge smile. “That was the hospital. They said they’ll be releasing Dad by ten. I need to go over to make sure everything in Dad’s old room has been moved to your hall. I’m not leaving everything up to them. I want to make sure.” I stand and lean across the small table, kissing her hard.

  I rub my thumb across her cheek and smile. “We’ll go over there and make sure.” I sit back down and start eating. “Finish everything on your plate and maybe later, after I take you somewhere, I’ll get you ice cream.” She raises a brow but relaxes, her smile brightening her face.

  The rest of our morning was filled with taking a shower together, me adoring her body, and her falling apart around me. We went over to the nursing home and found everything of her dads had been moved already and was in the room across from the storage closet that held our secret meetings, ones I’ve come to love so much. How convenient. I watched as Saige busied herself changing how things are set up in his room, making everything perfect in her eyes before he gets here. She’d brought more fruits and snack foods from home and put everything away. Around ten fifteen, we heard they were bringing her dad into the nursing home. Her face lit up as her dad was brought into the room, only to falter once she realized nothing had changed. He was staring out in front of him, still despondent.

  I’m so fucking proud of her as she picked herself up and put on a smile for him. Talking to him as if he would answer back as I helped him into his pajamas and then into bed. We stayed there for a couple of hours until he fell asleep. While she kept an eye on him, I walked down to the nurse’s station and spoke with Tabitha, the head nurse on my hall, letting her know we’d be leaving soon but would be back later this evening. She assured me she would check on him as many times as she could.

  “Where are we going?” Saige asks me for the third time in the last five minutes. I smile, watching the road, giving her the same answer I’ve given her the last three times. In her distress last night, she must have forgotten I told her I’d be taking her to the gym today where I release my anger.

  “You’ll see.” She huffs and sighs, the same thing she’s done every time. So cute.

  I pull into the gym’s parking lot, finding a parking space easily. After putting my car into park and shutting it off, I turn in my seat and see her look over her shoulder at the building. “Here we are.”

  She turns her head and gives me a confused look. “Power Max? But I’m not exactly dressed to work out.” She looks down at her t-shirt, jeans, and flip flops.

  I unhook my seatbelt and reach around to the back seat and grab the gym bag I’d brought. “I always come prepared.”

  She watches me and tilts her head. “You always pack girls workout clothes in your bag?” Her brow raises and I chuckle, leaning across the seat to kiss her. She’s so fucking adorable. “I took the liberty of packing clothes for you before you woke up this morning.” I give her a wink, another kiss, and get out of the car. I walk around it, reaching her side as she opens her door, closing it behind her once she’s out. Taking her hand, she looks up at me and gives me her beautiful smile as we walk to the front door, I open it for her, and we walk inside.

  “Brice! Good to see you, man!” I cringe at my name.

  Matt greets us immediately and we do our normal man-shake. I start to introduce Saige, even though she’d already told me they’d dated back in school, when he looks at her and envelopes her into a hug. Jealousy flows through my system but I hold back my growl. I don’t know Matt that well, yet, and I’m not sure if he’s one of those fucking pricks who fucks on the side or is true to his wife and marriage. The hug is short lived and I wrap my arm around her shoulders – possessively.

  “How are Penny and the kids?” Saige asks, sliding her arm around my waist. I relax and wait for Matt’s answer.

  He smiles, leaning back against the front counter. “They’re great! Thanks! We just found out that Penny’s pregnant again.” I sneak a peek at Saige, her smile huge. Does she want kids? I’d never thought that far, only to meet her in person and get her to fall in love with me. Do I want kids? With Saige, absolutely. I can envision her belly swollen with my child, the glow on her face, and the happiness we’ll share.

  “That’s amazing! Congratulations! Please, tell Penny I said hello.”

  I’m brought out of my dreams when I hear her voice. Matt smiles. “You can always tell her yourself.” He looks at me. “I’d love for you both to come over sometime. Maybe for dinner?”

  Saige looks up at me, and I smile then she looks back at Matt. “We’d love to.”

  He stands up and grins. “Good. I’ll set it up. I’ve got Brice’s number so I’ll contact him once I talk to Penny. You all enjoy your workouts.” He winks and walks away.

  I take Saige’s hand and lead her towards the locker rooms. “Here. You take the bag and get changed. I’ll change once you’re done.” I hand her the bag and kiss her nose, swatting her firm bottom as she walks into the locker room. Leaning against the wall, outside the locker roo
m, I wait for her so I can change. My phone vibrates so I pull it out, frowning at the text.

  Monster: Killed again. No catch. Evaded.

  Fuck! I slam my fist into the wall at my side. He’s one slippery ass mother fucker.

  “Here you go.”

  Saige’s voice causes me to pocket my phone in a hurry. “Thanks, baby.” I kiss her forehead and walk into the men’s locker room. After changing my clothes, the need to hit something overwhelms me. But I walk back out with a smile, take her hand and lead her around the corner and down a hall. When we walk into the room, her brows lower, obviously confused. I lead her over to a table with several pairs of boxing gloves. I pick up the smallest ones I could see and turn around. “Hold out your hands.” She cocks her hips and holds her hands out. So fucking cute. I slide one on. It’s a little big but the best we can do.

  “Dax. What are we doing?”

  I look up as I’m getting them tied and secure. “Shhh, you’ll see.” I give her a wink and slide on the other one. When they’re all set, I grasp her upper arms and turn her around then gently push her towards an open bag. “Put your feet apart, slightly.” She rolls her eyes but does what I ask. “I figured this would be a better alternative to get out your aggressions and frustrations than hitting me, although I kinda got off on that.” She lets out the sweetest giggle, and my cock hardens instantly.

  I spent the next hour showing her how to hit the bag properly then how to duck and jab moving around it. She was actually pretty good until she missed the bag and hit me square in the jaw. There might be a bruise there later. She felt so bad. She stopped immediately, cupped my face with her gloved hands and kissed my jaw and all over my face. Worth getting hit just for that.

  I took her home, made her some lunch, and then we sat out on her deck and talked until it was time to go see her dad. I’m finding that whatever put us together knows its shit because this girl – this woman – she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I couldn’t love her any more than I already do. Impossible.

  24

  Another month gone by and even though Dad was moved back to his original hall, he’s gotten worse. He hasn’t talked in over a week, not even answering my questions with one word answers like he was before. He’s now been reduced to wearing an adult diaper because as Dr. Turner explained, the dementia has worsened enough that his mind is no longer sending signals to let him know when his bladder is full. My questions – why isn’t he fighting harder? Why has he given up? My opinion? He knew he’d never get to come home and he’s ready to be with Mom and Bobby, even though it means leaving me. Am I hurt? A little. I know in my heart he loves me and doesn’t want to leave me but it’s inevitable he will eventually have to. And the illness won’t allow him to think on his own now, won’t help him to fight something that indestructible. There’s nothing he can do.

  It’s a day like most others. I wake up in Dax’s arms. He doesn’t hurry to rush to the nursing home anymore. He is still doing Dad’s physical therapy to help keep his circulation going, just later now. He made love to me, and I’m finding it more difficult not telling him that I love him in the throes of passion. I want to, but I guess I’m a little afraid. My emotions are so high any more that if something happened between us, I don’t think I’d survive it.

  I’d finally gotten into a routine and mindset that Dad is going to leave me. I’ve also realized that Dax is not. He promises, almost daily, that he loves me and I’ll never be truly alone. I love him even more for that, especially when he’s holding me in his strong arms while we lay in bed at night, kissing my head, and stroking my arm. He makes me feel loved, cared for, and not alone.

  Brooke calls or texts me daily. Sometimes we talk for a couple of hours. She still insists I take a picture of Dax to send to her but with his “business”, I dare not take the chance. Not that I think she’s some undercover person or criminal who will send it out to the masses but because I respect his privacy. She would, however, plaster it on Facebook. Of that I’m sure.

  It’s the end of July now and hotter than crap outside. I can’t imagine what it will be like in August. Dax and I have been spending quality time in the ocean in between visiting Dad and working. Tonight, we decided to go there after dark, the beach aglow from the moonlight. We had our swimwear on from earlier but I had put on a cover wrap around my waist. We laugh as he chased me down the path on the hill and when I stop to catch my breath, he lifts me in his arms and swings me around. I look down into his eyes and feel my heart pounding as he slides me down his body, never taking his eyes from mine, as I wrap my legs around his waist.

  His mouth captures mine. My arms instinctively move around his neck, my fingernails running through his short hair. His head tilts, deepening the kiss. His lips warm and wet, our bodies pressed together, tightly. I feel us move but am unsure if it’s my desire for him causing the sensation or motion until I feel the wetness of the salty water covering my feet and legs, moving up to my waist. He smiles against my lips. I feel him untie my cover wrap, pulling it from around me. Our tongues tangle, and with the help of the water keeping me afloat, he grasps my right leg, pulling it from around him. I let out a guttural moan when his fingers push my bikini bottom aside and enter me, swiftly. My head falls back as he kisses my throat while his fingers move in an out. “God,” I moan, bucking my hips and moving in time with them. He kisses down my throat, pressing hard against the base. Suddenly, he stills.

  Raising my head, I look at him, his skin glistening in the moonlight, water droplets covering his skin. He’s staring at me, as if he’s remembering something. I tilt my head to the side. “What’s wrong,” I whisper, as if anyone’s around to hear me. He never blinks. It’s as if he’s in a trance.

  “I saw you in a dream,” he whispers. “A vision. We were just like this only, it was raining. It’s when I first saw you, when I knew you’d come for me.” My brows lower in confusion. He focuses in on my eyes and smiles. “You see. I’ve loved your far longer than before I met you. You saved me.” I search his eyes, not understanding, but his words wash over me – envelope me in his love. Cupping the back of his neck, I bring his lips to mine.

  He removes his fingers as our kiss becomes frantic. I’m lost in him, lost in my emotions. His hardened cock thrusts inside me. I had no clue he’d even removed my bikini bottom or his swim trunks. I slide down his length until I’m full of him. His face burrows into the crook of my neck as a guttural moan escapes him. We rock. We sway, and I feel I can’t hold onto him tight enough as my impending climax builds and rushes up my body. I tighten my hold around him and squeeze his waist with my legs, closing my eyes. I see flashes of light through my eyelids, much like soaring shooting stars. Burying my face in his neck, I try to catch my breath as he thrusts in and out, keeping my orgasm going. His entire body begins to shudder, as he moves in and out of me a few more times. We both let out sighs as we drift together.

  Finally, gathering much needed air, I move back in his arms and look at the serenity on his gorgeous face. “You dreamt of me?” I whisper.

  Holding me securely in one arm, he cups my face with his free hand, droplets of water hitting my shoulder and chest. “Baby. You came to me in a vision. I’d been wounded.” I gasp. “Multiple shots.”

  I reach up and trace the most prominent light scar across his left cheek with my finger. “Is that when this happened?”

  He nods. “Yes.” His voice breaks. “I was weak, had lost too much blood. I didn’t think I’d make it but then you materialized in front of me. You walked towards me and suddenly we weren’t in the dark, damp sewer where I was trying to survive. You took me into the darkness. It started pouring down rain.” He smiles as he rubs my cheek with his thumb. “You jumped into my arms, much like I’m holding you now.” His smile leaves and looks at me with such reverence. “You leaned back, like you did a moment ago, holding onto the nape of my neck. When I kissed the base of your throat, it was just like my vision. Your long wet hair hung behind you and in
my vision you moaned as you did then.” He leans in and kisses me hard then when he stops, he presses his forehead against mine.

  “How long ago was that?” I ask, memories of another time trying to enter my mind.

  “About two and a half years ago.” His eyes move to mine as he pulls back a little. “Saige. I was in your ICU. I saw you at my bedside.” What? My brows lower as I try to think back. “I’d just come out of surgery, had police protection outside my door.” I search his eyes – flashes of a time I’d gone in to see about a new patient keep trying to form. “I remember opening my eyes and was stunned that you were there. In the flesh. I thought I was hallucinating.

  “It’s you.”

  I cover my mouth with my hand, my eyes well with tears.

  “But there you were, standing by my bed. You are so much more beautiful than the vision portrayed you to be.”

  With my hand still over my mouth, I reach out with my free hand, cupping his face, as if to make sure he is real. Lowering my hand, I cup the other side of his face. “It’s you,” I whisper. I lean in and kiss him, hard, like I’d found my long lost love. Maybe I have. I kiss him in a frenzy, not understanding this, how can a man I met so briefly suddenly appear in my life and completely take my heart? There’s so many questions churning but all I can think about is – it’s him!

  He sets me down, gently, my feet touching the grainy sand. I hadn’t even realized we’d moved. He takes my hand and we start walking up the beach and onto the path. “I thought you were a criminal. The police were protecting your room.” I smile looking up at him.

  He looks down, giving me his gorgeous smile. “That’s fitting.”

  I let out a small laugh. We reach the top of the hill and walk to my backyard. Once inside the gate I take him over to a small wooden platform off the side of the deck with an outside shower to get the sand off our feet. He holds my hand as I rinse them off. “When I came back the next day, you were gone.” I motion to his feet and continue to hold his hand as he rinses his. “I thought you’d died.”