Page 65 of After Care

“That’s amazing,” I said, swiping a hand over my head. “I’m just so surprised.” In fact, I was absolutely dumbfounded to see him sitting on my couch, in my living room, in Chicago. Quickly, I stood again.

“Would you like something to drink? I have wine.” My voice trembled as I turned for my kitchen leaving him behind. My hands shook. Entering the kitchen, I gripped the edge of the counter, pressing my head forward to rest on the upper cabinet.

“What’s wrong?” His soft gravelly voice spoke directly behind me, and I turned to face him.

“I don’t know.” I laughed anxiously. “I’m so surprised…and…nervous.” With that, he stepped forward, filling my space, cupping my jaw and lowering his mouth to mine. My body slowly thawed. His mouth was molasses drizzled into sweet cookie batter, and I licked at his lips, not wanting to miss a drop. His lips led mine, and he tilted his head, increasing the pressure, accelerating the intensity. My hands rose to his biceps, finding the sweater foreign when I’d seen him so often in T-shirts. Slipping up the hills of his shoulders, I found the curl of his hair at the nape of his neck, and my libido kicked in. I pulled myself to him, pressing firmly against his chest and breathing him in with my mouth. He was oxygen, and I hadn’t breathed in weeks.

“There’s my darlin’,” he chuckled against my lips, returning to kiss me with that aggressive appreciation only his mouth gave mine. “Still got your period?”

Nearing the end of my flow, the question should have killed the moment, and in some ways, it did. It was a reminder of our awkward and brusque conversation earlier in the week. “Why?”

“Always a question for a question,” he teased, coming for my mouth another second before pulling back. My lower lip was nipped between his before releasing me. “Let’s shower.”

The comment surprised me until he stepped back and led me to the staircase. Did he want to…? While I had my period?

“Uhm…” I paused as I blindly climbed the stairs behind him.

“Uh-oh,” he teased, leading me into my room after sticking his head into the doorway of Masie’s and then Caleb’s rooms. “Seems like I have some uncorking to do. My fine wine has been stoppered, and she needs a reminder of how sweet she tastes.”

“Oh, God, you can’t do that.” His brow rose as he chuckled in response. I’d misunderstood. He meant me, as a whole. He turned on my shower, and then stepped back, watching me. His bulk filled my bathroom, and a space I considered a little haven suddenly seemed closed in and tight with his presence. I didn’t move, like I’d forgotten what to do.

“How you feel about that shirt?” I looked down at the crisp white blouse. It was fine enough. I wasn’t really a blouse woman, and it had been a little annoying and restricting, but it had been part of my new clothing purchases. Suddenly, two hands snuck into the opening at my neck and tugged. Buttons flew, and the fabric ripped. My mouth fell open.

“There she is,” he groaned, looking from my neck to my waist and back to stop on the nude bra I wore. His hands slipped around my sides, tugging me close to him and capturing my lips once again. The kiss loosened me up. My arms wrapped around his neck.

“I’ll give you a minute. Do what you need to do and then step into the shower.” His directions surprised me once again. We hadn’t showered together before, and I wasn’t sure how this would work, but I did as he said. Stepping under the warm spray, I took a few deep breaths, releasing it slowly and willing my heart to stop hammering. This was Tommy. I wanted him here. I wanted him.

Seconds later, he stepped into the shower, and I lost my breath. Literally. I couldn’t breathe at the sight before me. His tan had lessened, but only a little. The hair on his chest curled. The lower hair led to a treasure I couldn’t peel my eyes from. Already stiff and upright, I swallowed as I took in the pleasure of admiring him covered in water.

“You are a wonder, Mr. Carrigan,” I said, my voice husky and rough.

“You are a beauty, darlin’.” With those words, he stepped forward and kissed me again. The hard length of him hit my belly, distracting me instantly, and I wrapped my fingers around the ridged shaft.

“Fuck,” he growled against my mouth. “I promised myself I’d go slow, but I’ve missed you, darlin’, and those hands feel too good.” I gave him a gentle tug, and he groaned, the sound echoing off the shower tile. He spun me so my back faced him.

“Edie, baby. I can’t wait. Can this first time be fast? I’ll go slow next time, darlin’.” His hands cupped the globes of my backside, and I leaned forward to balance my hands on the steamy tile. A finger slipped through the crack, slowly dipping deeper and lowering to the edge of my entrance. I clenched, uncertain this was a good idea. “Still want to experiment back here one day, darlin’, but tonight is a reunion of other parts.”

He stepped forward, and the tip of him caressed my core as he swept back and forth a few times.

“Are you sure about this?” I said, my voice low and shaky with nerves. I’d never done this before. David was repulsed at the thought, although I sometimes found I was equally excitable even with my period. Tommy didn’t answer me before he slammed into me. The assault was a little awkward, and a tad rough. I wasn’t ready in the way I should be, but as he slid forward and I pressed back, he filled me.

“Let’s get one thing straight, darlin’. You feel me in there?” His voice deepened, demanded, and I nodded, my hand curling into a fist against the slippery tile. I felt him, all of him, and it felt better than anything in a long time. My eyes closed at the pleasure. Uncorking was a good metaphor. Tension released as we connected.

“Answer me,” he bit, and my eyes, which had closed with heavy lids, snapped open. His hand came to my shoulder while the other rested on my hip.

“Yes, I feel you,” I choked as he slid back and then reentered me as if to prove his point. He was in deep.

“I’m bare in there, Edie, because I don’t give a flying fuck about your period or if you’re pregnant or if you’re not.” He stilled, and my eyes widened, taking in the tile I’d seen every day for three years as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. “All I care about is you. And me. Us.”

I nodded, my head lowering as he continued to torture me by pulling almost to the edge and then leaping forward with a heavy thrust.

“You feel me, darlin’?” he repeated, his words filled with meaning.

“I feel you.” I swallowed as my voice caught with the next invasion of my channel.

“Where, Edie? Where do you feel me?” I blinked. Did he want me to describe this? The hand at my hip slipped forward, and his fingers lightly stroked at the sacred spot that would trip me over the edge.

“Deep inside me,” I moaned. He pulled to the edge and stalled. My head rose, and I peered over my shoulder as best I could.