Page 90 of Further To Fall

I sat up, ignoring the pain in my side. “No! I love having you with me. I just don’t want you to be afraid of leaving because, eventually, that will have to happen.”

Austin rolled off the bed. “Well, it doesn’t have to happen right this damn second.” I bit my lip but said nothing as he paced the room, his body strung tight. Then he whirled toward me, bellowing, “He almost fucking killed you!” Austin’s chest heaved, and I said nothing. He continued more softly, his voice full of barely restrained emotion. “He could have killed you, and I just left you there, all alone.”

I knew he was carrying guilt, but I had no idea it ran this deep. I eased from the bed and crept towards Austin. Slowly, so slowly, I raised my hands, cupping the sides of his face. “Baby, I was not alone.” He started to argue, but I put a finger over his lips. “I was not alone. I had Blue, a dog you gave me. I had my self-defense training, tools you taught me. And when I had to draw upon my courage to fight back, do you know what I did? I pictured your face. So, I was never alone. You were with me every step of the way.”

His body shuddered beneath my hands. “I love you, Firecracker. Will till the end of my days.” His arms slipped around me.

“I love you, too, Austin.” I rested my cheek against his chest, listening to the thudding of his heart that hadn’t quite slowed.

“Wish I could fuck you right now.”

I laughed softly, the sound and movement vibrating off his rib cage. “Such a romantic.”

“I’m a truthful romantic.”

“Whatever you say, Romeo.”

Austin pulled back slightly, and I tipped my face up to look at him. His head dipped, and his lips met mine, a soft caress that slowly built in intensity. A fire began to spark in my lower belly. I moaned when he sucked my tongue into his mouth. Austin groaned as he tore his mouth from mine. “Shit, we can’t be doing that. Your doctor said three weeks.”

“You started it,” I huffed.

He chuckled, “Your mouth is too damn tempting. Tell you what, why don’t we go outside? You can lay on one of the pool loungers, and we can get some fresh air.”

I sighed. “Sounds good.” If I couldn’t have Austin, at least I could have sunshine.

THREE WEEKS LATER

I set my purse down on the counter and turned to face Austin. “You heard what the doctor said, I’m cleared to resume all of my normal activities.”

Austin scowled in response, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “I think it’s too soon. Take it easy for another month. There’s no reason for you to jump back into work.” We had been going round and round on this topic since leaving my doctor’s appointment almost an hour ago.

The good news was, I was all healed up. The stitches along my ribs had come out two weeks before, my lungs sounded great, and all the bruises had faded. However, Austin would only be happy if I stayed in bed for another month, moving only when absolutely necessary. While he had gone back to work, I knew it was still a battle for him to leave me alone.

“You know, if I start working again, it’s going to be at the youth program, so you’ll be able to keep an eye on me…” I let the words hang, and Austin shifted slightly as if weighing his options.

“Part-time for the first month.”

I adjusted my own stance, squaring my shoulders. “Part-time for the first week.”

“Two weeks,” he shot back.

“Deal.” I let a grin spread across my face and slowly started towards Austin. “You know the doctor cleared me for something else.” I watched as Austin’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. I laid a hand on his chest as his arms came around my waist. Reaching up on my tiptoes, I brushed my lips against his. “Take me to bed.”

Austin groaned as I deepened the kiss, and I felt him hardening against my belly. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

I pulled back, looking intently into his eyes. “You won’t. We’ll go slow, and I promise to tell you if I even feel a twinge in my ribs.”

He studied my face, and when his decision was made, he lifted me up. With a giggle, I wrapped my legs around his waist and locked my lips to his. Austin wound his way through the house we both now called home, one arm circling my waist, and the other outstretched to keep us from knocking into any walls.

When we reached the bedroom, he gently laid me down on the bed. Stepping back, Austin tore his t-shirt over his head. I soaked in the view of his muscles rippling in the afternoon light. This beautiful man was mine. Leaning over me, Austin brought his fingers to my shirt, carefully unbuttoning each button and planting kisses as he went. My heart began to pick up its pace, and as he reached the button on my jeans, my breath hitched.

Austin paused, his eyes meeting mine as he ran his thumb over the seam in my jeans. The action sent delicious sparks through my core. Before I knew it, my pants were gone, and so were his. I rose up off the bed, letting my shirt fall from my shoulders and unhooked my bra, tossing it to the floor.

Austin stared down at me, eyes full of reverence. “So damn beautiful. It almost hurts to look at you.” He cupped my cheek, then trailed his hand down my neck, palm flattening across my collarbone, continuing on to cup my breast. When his thumb swiped along my nipple and then circled it, I felt a rush of heat.

Austin’s hands skimmed down my sides, continuing their perusal until they found purchase on the sides of my panties. Slowly, he slipped them down my legs and came to rest on his knees in front of me. Just a bit self-conscious, I tried to close my legs. Austin stilled my movement. “Don’t hide yourself from me. Let me look at you.”

I bit the corner of my lip but nodded. Austin pushed my legs open, eyes fixed on my center. His love of every detail of my body had my heart clenching. I’d never felt more beautiful. My head tilted down, watching him study me. While I was unsure at first, I was now fully on board, the sight was hot as heck.

---