Chapter 37
“You get the door and I’ll help your mother,” Nick unbuckled his seatbelt before Hannah’s home and climbed down from the car. ‘Gosh everything seems so new,’ she thought watching her neighbor mow the lawn. Rolling her shoulders back she stepped out of the car and went ahead to unlock the door, which she found already open from their rush to the hospital that dreaded evening. Inside everything looked the same, left completely untouched. The television roared and the pillows on the couch were still thrown around.
“Step up,” Nick helped her mother into the home, practically dragging her along on his shoulders. “Where do you want to be? Upstairs or downstairs?” he struggled to balance her. She exceeded that upstairs would be more comfortable and the two drudged their way up the staircase. In the kitchen Hannah readied a glass of water and her mother’s pain medication. ‘Well, here I am, back playing nurse,’ she laughed at herself as she popped open the cap and took 2 pills from the bottle.
“You know what I think,” Nick plodded down the stairs, “I think that I should never leave your side again,” he smiled catching up with Hannah in the kitchen, enveloping his arms around her waste. “You need me far too much.”
“Oh is that right,” she twirled in his arms to place hers atop his shoulders. “That’s pretty funny coming from you, you should try stand up with your crooked humor. But if you insist,” she surrendered, “I’ll never leave your sight.” Smirking at himself Nick softly kissed her lips. “And my mother, how’s she doing? I see you ever so quickly left her side.”
“But my lady, that was just to save you from the loneliness you suffered down here all alone,” she nodded humoring him. “She’s fine, laying in her bed peacefully dreaming.”
“Well,” Hannah grabbed the water and medicine, “go gently wake her to give her these while I whip up something for us to nibble on.” Playfully Nick saluted her and trailed back up the stairs. Giggling at his foolishness Hannah began filing through the cupboard for something to eat.
“Do you want me to leave, after lunch, so you and your mother can have some time alone?” Nick asked returning to the room. “I mean, I’m sure you have a lot more to cover than you did in just those few days in the hospital while I was at the wedding. And I’d hate to be in the way of anything.” Pausing before the cabinet, Hannah turned to face Nick who’d sat on the counter beside her running his and through his sleek hair.
“Of course not,” she kissed him, “It killed me all those days not to see your shining face. Even if you wanted to leave I wouldn’t let you,” she teased tickling his stomach. “You’ve been such a help to me, without you here I’d be lost.” Nick smiled with an expression of relief, and kissed her nose. “Now, Mr. Flirtatious, do you need me to hold your hand upstairs or will you be fine on your own?” she laughed returning to her search through the cupboard. Reluctantly he stepped off the counter and made his way upstairs, humming all the way.
* * * *
Now three days later Hannah and Nick lay side by side on the living room floor staring at the ceiling. “Do you think we should start her soup yet?” she asked breaking their bored silence. Looking at the clock it told her it was only 10:30, far too early for lunch. “I can’t believe you’re still here,” she rolled over to find Nick tracing the lines of the wallpaper. “I mean, I know I forced you to stay...but if I were you I would have left days ago-literally.”
“Oh and miss the fantastic coloring and design of this wallpaper, never!” he slid his hand through his hair laughing at his own bored behavior. “In all actuality I wouldn’t dream of leaving you to take care of your mother alone, even though she does sleep most of the day.”
“Oh come here you smooth bum,” she yanked his arm telling him he wouldn’t be bored much longer. His face a mere half inch away from hers she could see his every line, pore, and curve of skin. “Gosh, is there a single flaw about you? You are perfect both inside and out. I can’t believe my luck,” she trailed her hands up and down his sides. Speechless Nick put his mouth to better use and started meshing with her own.
Sprawled out on the wooden floor their bodies pressed into each other unable to get close enough. Her body gave off such warmth, love, and wanting that it permeated into Nick driving him to kiss her even more passionately. Her hands slid around him and caught hold of his shirt button. Lacing it in her fingers she pushed it through the hole revealing more of his skin. Her hands instinctively moved down the row of bottons, spreading wide more of the fabric. His bare chest pressed into her body.
Following her lead Nick tugged at her shirt, rising it over her head and down her flowing hair. Grabbing her side he tug into her, holding on as if to save his heart from exploding. His hand made its way to her thigh and inched up. Cupping his face in her hands, Hannah pulled his face into hers. Nick started to unbutton her pants when she broke away, “No,” she breathed looking at his stunned face and open mouth. “We can’t do this; not now, not here.” Nick blinked baffled by her sudden lack of interest. “Believe me I want to but probably the living room floor with my healing mother upstairs isn’t a good idea.”
Groaning Nick nodded grabbing his shirt, “You really enjoy being a tease don’t you,” he glared at her. Innocently she shrugged her shoulders fluttering her eyes. “Ok then, gorgeous,” he kissed her forehead, “what shall we do now?” Her eyes brightened as an idea obviously popped into her head. Rushing into the other room she ordered Nick to stay there in the living room, but to move the coffee table back. Shaking his head, he slid the table back wondering what she could possibly have in mind.
“Now, let’s set this baby up,” Hannah lugged the box of Twister into the room throwing it on the floor. Catching Nick’s look of doubt she laughed, “What? Don’t you like the game?” Disagreeing he spread the plastic sheet down on the floor and spun the dial. “Right hand on blue” read the cardboard spinner. Immediately the two squatted down to place their hand on the designated circle. Smiling Hannah reached over and spun it again, this time “Left foot on yellow;” with a stretch she managed to put her short leg on the circle as Nick did so with ease, smirking at his achievement. “Left Hand on red.” Both moved towards each other with their left hands reaching for the red space. “I’m gonna win you know, I’ve never lost,” Hannah said smugly.
“Oh we’ll just see about that,” Nick winked spinning the dial with his right foot. For ten minutes the spinner led them all around the board and each other as their bodies were forced to entangle and twine together. The physical closeness the game brought to say the least inspired Nick to the point of delirium, but he patiently refused to pursue her. As their bodies game tumbling down to the floor, face to face feeling the warmth of her breath, he secretly plotted a night she would not soon forget.
Chapter 38
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