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—Banks—
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I carried Simone into my downstairs guest room and kissed her cheek before making another trip to the truck for her bag and crutches. After putting them in the room too, I hovered awkwardly in the doorway.
“Do you need anything else right away?”
“A shower would be nice, if that’s okay?”
I straightened. “Of course. Uh...” I paused and held up a hand. “Okay, I’m not offering this to be creepy, but do you need a hand? I mean, with the boot and—”
“Yes, please.” Simone knotted her fingers as if embarrassed. “I’m literally trying so hard not to scratch the hell out of my skin right now; the hospital smell lingers.” A violent shudder ran through her.
“Let me carry you upstairs to my bathroom; it has a bench built into the shower where you can sit. Do you mind if I open your bag to get what you need?” I offered.
“Toiletry bag will be fine, please.”
I plucked it out, then approached the bed. “Alrighty... on you get.” I gave her my back and squatted into a lower position. Simone’s giggle had me looking over my shoulder. “What’s funny?”
“You’ve got a habit of showing me your ass.”
I smirked and tried to fight off the primal urge to pin her to the bed merely for teasing me. “Get the fuck on, new girl, before I make you find your own way upstairs.”
She climbed on, but not before smacking my ass. “Oh please. I’d have you crawling on your knees before I crawl on mine.”
A rolling chuckle gathered in my chest as I rose with her on my back. “I’d drop to my knees for you every damn time, babe. All you gotta do is ask.”
“Great,” she exclaimed, and threw up a hand. “Now I’m turned on.”
A strangled rumble clawed its way up my throat. “Jesus Christ, you need to keep comments like that inside your head at times like these when I can’t do a damn thing to satisfy that itch.”
“Lies, because I know you can.”
I took the stairs slowly, picking each step as carefully as I chose my words. “And I will again, it just won’t be today.”
“Well, that’s a PG way of saying go fuck yourself.”
My toe caught on the next step, and I stumbled before catching my balance on the banister. Simone shrieked in my ear and tightened her arms around my shoulders. “Oh my god, don’t drop me!”
“I’m not gonna drop you, babe. But stop squirming! And for fuck’s sake that wasn’t what I meant!”
She snickered and pressed her face against the back of my neck while I muttered expletives under my breath.
We passed through my bedroom and into the attached en suite, and I walked directly into the shower and sat her on the bench seat. When I turned to see her watching me carefully, a sharp jolt of awareness hit.
I swallowed and rubbed the back of my neck. “So, how’s this going to work? Are you okay from here, or do you need...”
Blue eyes pinned me to the spot. “I should be okay...”
Numbly, and most certainly awkwardly, I nodded and stepped from the shower. “Okay, cool... Fresh towels are here—” I pointed to the rack at the shower entrance, “—and I’ll be right outside the bathroom, so yell if you need help.”
Simone smiled and pressed her palms to the booth on either side of her hips. “Thanks, Banks.”
I retreated from the bathroom and leaned against the closed door. “Fuck,” I cursed, then pushed off the door to sit on my bed like a nervous teenager riled with anticipation but scared shitless in the same instance.
Simone turned my insides giddy from a single sweet smile. Her perfume all but had me floating in her direction and reaching for her when I knew I shouldn’t.
“Banks!” came her call from within my shower.
I was up and at the door like a shot of tequila coming back up. “Yeah?”
Her voice wavered a little, sending my blood pressure high. “Can I get a little help? Please? Forewarning though, most of my clothes are off.”
“Christ,” I breathed out as my hand touched down on the door handle. “I’m coming in.”
Once inside the bathroom, I shut the door and tiptoed into the middle of the spacious room.
Simone’s face peered around the shower wall. “Why are you creeping?” she laughed.
“I feel like I have to.”
More laughter came as she shook her head. “You don’t, but I need help turning the shower on please. I took my boot off and just got a sharp pain when I tried to bear weight on my ankle.”
I kept an unimpressed tsk to myself. My pending lecture could wait—now wasn’t the time. I stripped off my shirt and jeans and whipped off my socks.
“What are you doing?” Simone exclaimed.
I walked into the shower as if I was alone and naked and smirked while rolling the heavy glass door closed behind me.
“Turning the shower on for you. Then, I’m going to help... I dunno—” I flapped my hand, “—wash your hair or something.”
“Just as well I wasn’t naked, then,” she deadpanned.
My fingers danced through the shower spray as it heated. “I mean, naked is an option, of course.” My eyes dropped down her body, and I willed my dick not to react. Of course it didn’t listen, so to prevent the situation from getting awkward really fucking fast, I turned my back on Simone.
“Water’s ready,” I murmured.
“Okay... give me a second. I just...”
A sodden slap of wet clothing on tiles pulled my attention to my feet. My heart stopped and my lungs clamped.
I eyed her discarded underwear and bra. “What are you playin’ at, new girl?”
“I’ve been wearing those since yesterday, and they needed to come off so I can wash properly. Okay, I’m ready.”
My reply came gruffly as I offered the shower head blindly behind me. “Take this.”
Fingers brushed mine as she took it from my grasp. I balled that fist and pressed it to the shower wall above my head while summoning all control to not turn around.
“Can I use some of your shower gel, please?” came the sweetest voice.
“Sure, babe,” I mumbled, unceremoniously kicking it behind me, only to receive a scoff.
The sound of soaping and water bouncing off her body had my dick hardening beyond the point of being able to hide it. I cursed and tipped my head back, begging the bathroom ceiling for mercy.
With my prayers unanswered, water spray hit the middle of my back. “Want some?” Simone asked innocently.
I coughed and laughed humorlessly. “More than you know, new girl.”
“Turn around,” she purred. “Let me do your chest.”
“You don’t want that, Simone. Trust me.”
“Show me,” she breathed out.
Slowly, painfully, I turned, then squinted against the spray bouncing off my upper chest.
As the beating water slowly descended on my torso, I was able to get a good look at her. She sat naked, legs crossed, and one arm casually draped over her knee, while the other angled the shower spray on my lower abdomen, making me flinch.
Her eyes cut from my erection to my face, and where I thought I’d see embarrassment or nervousness, I found desire staring back at me.
“Come closer,” she stated, aiming the water directly on my dick.
I hissed through my teeth. “Be careful what you ask for, babe.”
The corner of her lip twitched. “And what if I don’t ask? What if I tell?”
“That changes things,” I stated.
She aimed the water at her body again, sending ripples of goosebumps down her arms and legs. Streams of water cascaded over her breasts and gathered in the little pool between her crossed thighs.
“Come here, Banks.”
Two steps was all it took to erase the space. My balled fists hit the wall high behind her head, and I stared down my body at her. Her focus shifted from my erection poised directly in front of her face, to my gaze. I watched her hand rise, though I still shuddered when the pad of her thumb ran over the head of my material-shielded dick.
“Fuck,” I hissed, then repeated the curse hoarsely when she tugged my underwear down.
My dick sprang free and landed in her palm, and I couldn’t help but thrust for more friction. Ragged words at odds with my arousal found their way through my gritted teeth. “Jesus Christ, babe, this isn’t why I came in here.”
“Do you want it as much as I do, though?”
“Fuckin’ yeah, I do!”
One balled fist dropped from the wall like a lead weight and clamped on her shoulder at the first stroke of her tongue. She licked the tip, then circled before her lips wrapped completely around me.
I thrust again and moaned as lust ignited in my veins.
Before I lost myself completely, I stepped away, boosted her into my arms, then sat where I’d lifted her from. Simone got comfortable straddling me; knees wide on either side of my hips and her pussy pressed against the length of my erection, though not letting me inside.
She rocked her hips a couple of times and grinned. My fingertips bit into her ass as hers wove through my hair and tugged my mouth up to meet hers. Tongue lashing hers with wild and unbridled need, I thrust up while she ground down. My body turned languid and heavy, and I reached the point where, fucking or not, both of us were coming in this shower.
As if getting the same surge of urgency, Simone lifted and fisted my cock a few times.
My head tipped back against the shower wall, and I panted, “Fuck, I want to fuck you so bad.”
“Are you sure?” she asked breathlessly.
“Not a doubt in my entire mind,” I growled.
My eyes sprang wide the instant her hand left me and tight warmth enveloped the head of my dick. Simone’s gaze immediately locked with mine and a wavering smile filled with insecurity played across her kiss-reddened mouth.
“Babe...”
“Do you want it?”
My tone rose a notch. “Fuck yes, I want it! But I’m not the only equation in this. Do you?”
She bit her lower lip and nodded, then eased further down my erection.
“Fuck, you’re tight,” I hissed, slowly guiding her with firm hands anchored on her waist.
Her jaw fell slack and her head tipped back. “Oh fuuuck,” she hissed. “That feels so good.”
I licked up the curve of her neck and sucked her earlobe. “You’re in control, baby. You ride it how you want it, and I’ll follow your lead.”
My hands smoothed from her ass to her breasts when her spine arched. I pushed them together and buried my face in her cleavage, sucking and licking my way between her nipples.
Simone’s movements grew more urgent. With each push down my dick, her tits bounced in my face. Every time my tip hit deep inside her, another high-pitched gasp left her open mouth. She changed the angle of her hips and moaned.
“Found the spot?” I murmured while licking a path up her neck again.
“Yeah,” she breathed out. “Oh god, oh fuck, yes, right there!”
I slammed my mouth onto hers again, claiming each cry of ecstasy as it rolled off her tongue. Over and over again until her pussy pulsed and squeezed tighter. Simone pulled away and gasped while a growled curse tore from between my gritted teeth.
“Fuck me harder, baby.”
“Oh fuck,” she cried, then bowed forward as her flesh bore down and spasmed around me.
Blinded by carnality and clawing at the edge, I held on long enough for her orgasm to finally ease before gripping her hips hard and pistoning upward, using my feet planted on the tiled floor as leverage.
Simone cried out as each thrust hit deep inside her. She took everything I gave her until my balls tightened and my erection swelled. I came with a guttural groan that reverberated off the glass and tiles around us.
When awareness returned, Simone’s wide eyes were the first thing I saw. Her expression made my heart drop.
I swallowed thickly, preparing for her regret. “Babe?”
Her eyes flicked between mine. “Yeah?”
“Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“I’m thinking that I liked it.”
My eyes narrowed, but my hand didn’t leave her ass. “Why does that sound like a question?”
Her thick lashes squinted in thought. “I don’t know. But it’s not a question. I liked it a lot.”
“You’n me both.” I smoothed my hands up and down her ribcage. “Jesus Christ, you’re stunning.”
Instead of refuting my comment, Simone smiled and cupped my face, looking intently into my eyes. “Sometimes I don’t feel it but thank you.”
I welcomed the kiss she dropped on my mouth, then hugged her tight. The press of her skin against mine and her weight on my lap brought a deep-seated wash of contentment.
While we still hadn’t labeled our “relationship”, we’d officially blown the friend-zone out of the water. I was sure Simone’s feelings ran deeper than surface level. Though, if she wanted to take things slow, then that’s what we would do.
“You’re the most beautiful woman I know. Scars and all.” I captured her arm and pressed my lips to the gnarled marks on her otherwise soft inner skin.
“Do they bother you?”
“To look at? Not at all. To know why they’re there? It hurts my heart a lot,” I answered honestly.
“It hurts me too. Though I think I’m getting better,” she admitted.
I gazed into her eyes and smiled. My adoration for her never waned. “I’m proud of you, babe.”
The tranquil moment broke when my dick slipped.
Simone’s eyes pinged wide, and she froze. “I felt that.”
“Same,” I laughed. “Time to wash up.” I relocated Simone from my lap to the bench seat, then plucked up the shower head. “I’ll wash your hair, babe. I promise to be careful.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, touching her warm palm to my side as I shifted close.
The water turned her ash-blonde hair darker. It hung down her back in silky sheets that parted as I carefully dragged my fingers through. The suds I washed from the strands tickled their way down her back and pooled around her booty before making their final descent to the shower floor.
Simone sat patiently, never complaining when my fingers accidentally snagged or tugged. While her boot was off, I took a little time to carefully inspect her ankle, noting that the bruising had well and truly begun to color her otherwise pale skin.
“Is it bad?” she asked from above.
I looked up. “Could be worse. The bruising will look pretty gnarly once it’s fully out and the swelling is going to take a while to go down. Keep it elevated and iced today and it will help.”
“It’s not sore at the moment,” she mused.
A knowing smirk hit my mouth. “That’s because you’re still hopped up on hospital painkillers. We’ll need to keep on top of that too; controlling the pain means you’ll heal faster.”
“I’m shit with remembering to take meds.”
I paused for a second before carefully asking, “But you’re on meds, right?”
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Yeah. How do you know?”
“You told us last night before we administered pain relief.” I gently set her foot down. “It’s okay, babe. There’s no shame in having pharmaceutical help when you need it, but we’ll keep you off the non-steroidal anti-inflammatories; they drastically increase the risk of bleeding in the stomach if used while taking anti-depressants.”
Her eyes sprang wide. “That’s scary!”
I hummed. “It is. And taking your meds regularly—same time each day—is a must.”
She grimaced. “I’m not great at that. Now that I’m working at the Lakeside Pint, sometimes I’m so tired after work I forget to take them. I was never good at taking the contraceptive pill either, hence why I stopped taking it years ago after only lasting a couple of months.”
Instantaneous concern whipped through me. “We just had unprotected sex.”
Her gaze locked with mine. “It’s okay, Banks. My period is due tomorrow. We’re in the safe zone. And I trust you enough to assume that you wouldn’t have unprotected sex if you had dick diseases.”
“Dick diseases?” I snorted despite the serious nature of our conversation. “You can rest assured I don’t have any of those, babe.”
“Me neither.”
I smirked. “No dick diseases?”
A playful slap landed on my shoulder. “You know what I mean. There’s no way I’d have STIs; I haven’t had sex in almost two years.”
The gravity of her sentence bore down. I was her first after losing Reagan. That shit was a big deal.
“And are you okay about what we just did?” I asked, keeping a tender hold of her ankle to remain connected with her.
Her eyes cut from her fingers to me. “I wouldn’t have if I didn’t want to. I’ve never wanted to have sex again until recently. Until you.”
She took my breath away. Remaining on my knees before her, I smoothed my hands up her legs and followed the curve of her torso until I cupped her face.
“You came into my world like a storm blowing in across the lake. Beautiful. Wild. Black and blue and utterly breathtaking. I love storms.”
Understanding of my metaphor showed in her eyes, and her whispered reply melted me. “I’m growing to like the shore more with each passing day. Maybe even love it a little.”
I dipped my chin to hide how much that meant to me. Assuming was a whole lot different from hearing it. Simone’s words just solved the ever-present question looping around my head: was she falling too?
“I’m damn pleased to hear that, babe.”
The sweetest kiss got pressed in my hair before Simone hugged my face to her chest. Her pulse raced within her ribs directly under my ear. I kissed the swell of her breast and flicked my thumb over her pebbled nipple.
A shuddering breath entered her chest, and I looked up to see her eyes closed and a little smile on her mouth.
“Darlin’, I’mma take you downstairs now,” I murmured, lips brushing across her skin as my arousal rekindled.
“Okay,” she breathed out, just audible over the shower spray hitting the wall tiles to our side.
I made quick work of shutting off the water and wrapping a towel around my hips, then helped Simone with hers.
With her ankle rebooted and her hoisted onto my back, I picked my way down the stairs while gripping the banister for dear life, terrified that I’d break my precious cargo just when she’d begun to heal.
