Page 34 of Tank

“Yeah, my leg went to sleep. I don’t know what’s wrong with it.”

Tyson stands, brushes himself off and offers me his hand. “Kick off those heels and let’s get some blood flowing back into those long legs of yours, huh?”

I look at my cream covered hand, and then at Tyson’s.

“Hold up. Tav is an over planner.” He mumbles, bending and looking through the picnic basket.

Hopefully, he doesn’t find what he’s looking for anytime soon, because in this position I have an eyeful of his firm butt right in my face. I bet it looks amazing naked. Although from this angle, naked, I’d also be able to see his balls, and as far as I’m concerned testicles aren’t that sexy. Kinda like a lumpy purse. Covered in plucked chicken skin. Now I feel a little grossed out, and that coupled with my sticky hand and my dead leg that is somehow numb and really painful at the same time is making my face collapse. I know it has when Tyson turns around triumphantly, holding a packet of baby wipes only to frown and drop down next to me.

“Mira, are you alright, Doll?”

“Oh yeah, I was just thinking that I can’t feel my leg but at the same time I can feel it really hurts. And that ball sacks are very unappetizing.”

He stares at me for maybe a beat too long before blinking and shaking it off. “OK then. Well, here you go.”

He opens the wipes then tears a few out and hands them to me, patiently waiting for me to clean myself up, then stands, offering me his hand again. I take it and pull myself to standing. Or at least I try, before my right leg gives out from underneath me.

Tyson catches me with a grunt and pulls me to stand, leaning against his front. “Mira, I need you to shake that leg out. Wiggle it around and get it moving. It must have really gone right to sleep, huh?”

I nod and do as he asks, but instead of blood flow lessening the pins and needles, I get a shooting pain, one that takes my breath away. Tears prickle my eyes and I can’t believe I’m going to have to cut this perfect date short because my body is having a body breakdown. This is what happens when you sit down all day and scoff at all those women out walking in the streets in their activewear.

“You good Doll?”

I shake my head, a tear breaking free. “I’m sorry Tyson,” I can feel my lip wobble and I try to act brave. “I think I need to go home.”

“Are you sure? I can take you back to the clubhouse and get Switch to take a look at you?”

I hide my face and shake my head again. Would I like to spend more time with Tyson? Heck yeah! But I want to do it when my leg, and now my crotch, isn’t on fire.

“No, I think maybe I need a hot bath and some pain meds. I’m sure I’ll be fine. It’s probably from sitting too much or something. I’m so sorry, this has been the most wonderful, fabulous perfect date I’ve ever been on and my stupid fire crotch is ruining it.” I want to stomp my foot in protest but even putting weight on it feels excruciating.

“Wait, what’s wrong with your crotch?” Tyson leans back to look into my face, his large hands wrapped around my biceps,holding me steady, the heat of him warming me.

“Oh, nothing. I think I pulled something.”

He stares at me for a moment, then wraps an arm around me, holding my weight as his other hand fishes his phone out of his pocket. He texts someone and then places his phone back, hisfree hand coming to wrap about me, rubbing my back gently. I sigh into him, soaking up his steady warmth and the scent I now equate to him and him alone. Leather. Wood. Tyson. We stay like this for a minute or maybe more, just leaning on each other in Rose Grove Square, the sound of people moving around us, but we stand solid. Peaceful. The type of peace my mind never has, and yet Tyson magically quietens everything inside me. Like a man-sized weighted blanket.

“Hey there, daters. I’ve been called to chauffeur you two crazy kids.” Tav’s cheery voice sounds out, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“Thanks Brother. Let’s get Mira in the car. I’ll drop her home if you want to pack this up, then I’ll come back for you and my bike.” Tyson says to Tav, who nods and follows his instructions.

I start taking unsteady steps toward the SUV, the pain in my groin getting worse by the second. Tyson takes pity on me and swings me up into his arms, carrying my heft to the car like I weigh nothing. I’m shocked and delighted all in one. He woulddefinitelybe able to lift me up and bang me against a wall.

He places me gently in the passenger side, secures my seat belt and then walks around the front of the vehicle, stopping to take something from Tav before joining me.

“Are you sure you don’t want Switch to take a look?” Tyson asks, his gaze imploring.

“No, I just need to go home. Thank you anyway,” I rest my hand on his.

He turns his hand over, and our fingers twine, gently holding on to each other as he navigates the quiet streets until he pulls up to my little cottage, the lights on from when I left.

“Tyson, I had a wonderful time and I’m so sorry I had to cut it short.” I pout a little, letting him know that going home with a crotch on fire, and not in a good way, is the last thing I want.

He smiles gently at me. “Me too, sweetheart. But look at it this way, it just means we’ll have to do this again to finish what we started.” He winks at me and then gets out of the car, tapping a beat on the hood as he makes his way to my side.

Ever the gentleman he opens my car door, gently lifting me out and carrying me up the front steps of my little house, holding me just so as I unlock my door. He waits for me to push the door open then carries me in, depositing me on the couch.

“Do you need anything? Tylenol? A doctor? Anything?” HIs brows furrow and I know leaving me here like this is killing him.

---