After a while, she turns in my arms with a sniffle.Lookingup at me with wide, innocent eyes, she gives me a weak smile.
“Thank you.I’m okay now.You can go back to your room.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
For the first time in a long time, she doesn’t argue.Shesighs, slides her arm around my waist, and nuzzles my chest.Also for the firsttime in a long time, I close my eyes and sleep comes easily.
***Casey***
“Bye, Jan.Thanks for coming by.”
“No problem, sweetie.Take care.”
“You, too.”
I love my friends, but God knows if I have to endure anotherlook of pity, I’ll go crazy.That’s all I’ve been getting for the last ten days,except from Sandy… and Ethan.He’s been wonderful.He even made thearrangements for my father after asking me what I wanted to do.I decided tohave him cremated; I’ll fly back to New York with his ashes and bury the urn inhis plot next to Mom.
I’ve cried on Ethan’s shoulder more times than I can count.He’staken care of me, been here for me, and asked nothing in return.I see thehungry looks he gives me, but he hasn’t acted on them.Sometimes I wish hewould; it might take my mind off my situation, infection be damned.Thespotting stopped two days ago, so it’s not like I can’t.
As if my thoughts can conjure him up, he walks into thebedroom, a duffel bag in one hand.
“Clara brought some of your stuff,” he announces.
He drops it on the floor and perches on the edge of the bed.
“Thank God.Not that I don’t love the T-shirt and boxerbriefs look.”
He gives me one of those looks, his eyes roaming my bodyhungrily.A shiver runs down my spine and goose bumps pepper my skin.
“Looks good to me,” he says.
I can’t do this anymore.He wants me.I need him.I move tomy knees and crawl to him.I see and hear his sudden intake of breath as I slidemy fingertips down his arm.
“Feels good, too.They smell like you… and I love knowingthat they touched your skin before they touch mine.”
“We can’t.”
My need is mirrored in his eyes.“I don’t care.”
His arm curls around my waist, and he pulls me across hislap, cradling me in his arms.
“What do you want, Casey?Tell me what you need.”
“I want you.I needyou.”
With a moan, his head descends toward mine.The instant ourlips touch, it’s like the last two months never happened.Hunger soars throughmy body.When our tongues meet, heat gathers between my thighs.His kiss isunrelenting, a testament to what I’ve denied us for so long.I writhe on hislap as his erection swells beneath my backside, desperate to have it inside me.His hand slips beneath the T-shirt, sliding up my stomach, his thumb brushingthe underside of my breast.
“Ethan… please.Make the pain go away.”
He gently places me on the bed and stands to remove hisshirt.As he drags it over his head, I do the same, tossing mine on the floor.His breath hitches, and we both scramble to remove the rest of our clothes.Finally, he joins me on the bed, resting between my thighs.His lips move alongthe curve of my cheek and down my neck as he whispers sweet words.
“So beautiful… missed you… Love you so much.”
My back arches as he takes my nipple into his mouth.Hislarge hands massage both breasts until I feel I might explode from need.Hekisses his way down my stomach while parting me with his fingers.I spread mylegs for him as he settles between them.
“You’re like a tropical rainforest, warm and wet.”
“Ethan,please.I need you.”
