Part 48
The last checkup for AJ entailed x-rays and a myriad of tests to ensure his heart wasn’t damaged. It took a couple hours and the entire time his thoughts were on ‘Stormy’, making him a bear growling and snapping at everyone. Where was she? Was she safe? How could he have thought Nick could take care of her?
The nurse took AJ back to his room to wait for the doctor when he was finished. As she pushed the door open, he felt his heart drop into his stomach and his mood darkened even more.
“Shit!” he mumbled as she pushed him into the room.
The nurse smiled and pointed towards the bed. “Isn’t that who you were expecting?”
AJ looked in the direction she was pointing and his heart jumped back into place. There in his bed was the most gorgeous sight he’d ever seen…his girlfriend…sound asleep. God, she was beautiful!
“The doctor will be here soon to sign your discharge papers and give you your instructions.”
“Thanks.”
The nurse left the couple alone and as soon as the door closed, he got up and moved to the bed. Sitting beside Stormy, he watched the slow rise and fall of her breast and he took in all the changes. Carefully, he reached out to couch the soft, blonde curls letting them wrap around his finger. Slowly, with the pad of his other thumb, he traced the delicate lines of her lips before leaning in to touch them with his own.
Like a butterfly, her eyes began to flutter, slowly at first, and when they were opened, they fixed on him. A sleepy smile spread like the sun rising in the morning.
“Hey,” she yawned.
“Hey yourself, beautiful.”
“Are you finished with your tests?”
“Just waiting for the doctor to come sign me out. I take it the reason you weren’t around this morning was to get your hair done?”
“Uh huh…along with some shopping I needed to do. You know, Nick isn’t nearly as much fun shopping as you,” she said as she sat up.
“Should have taken Howie with you. He loves to shop almost as much as I do.”
Stormy gazed into his deep brown eyes and was a little surprised to see fear. Suddenly, she realized that he had thought the worst and was immediately penitent for not letting him know where she was. Reaching out to touch his face, she apologized. “I’m sorry, Alex. I should have called you but I wanted to surprise you.”
How did she do that? This woman had looked into his soul and seen what he was feeling. He couldn’t hold back the tears any longer as he said, “You’re here now and you’re safe…that’s what matters,” he answered.
Stormy took him in her arms and held him as his tears fell silently on her shoulder. He clung to her obviously afraid that she would slip away if he didn’t hold her tight and the depth of his fear was clear to her. She never wanted to see him like this again and knew that what she had planned was right.
Pulling away so that she could wipe his tears, she kissed his cheeks and whispered, “I’m sorry, Alex. I didn’t mean to scare you like this.”
“It’s okay, baby. It’s just when you didn’t show up this morning and then I couldn’t get you on my cell phone or at the house…I didn’t know what to think. Do you have my cell phone with you?”
“Yeah, it’s in my purse,” she said nodding towards the window where it sat. “Why?”
“Well, if we’re gonna go get that tattoo, I need to call David and let him know we’re coming. Then I want to make dinner reservations for tonight.”
Taking his hands in hers, she smiled, “Slow down, Alex. You haven’t even been discharged yet.”
“It’s only a matter of the doctor coming in and signing the papers and if I call David….”
Stormy placed a finger on his lips to stop him. “I don’t need to see David,” she whispered before placing a kiss where her finger had been.
Confused, AJ started, “But….”
“Shhh,” and she moved so he could see her lower back. “When Nick and I left here last night, I got him to call and he told David what I wanted. David waited for us and had several designs out when we got there.”
AJ’s fingers traced the pattern tenderly, “This is so awesome.”
“It’s one he’d just come up with and he agreed NOT to do it for anyone else. I had to pay for it and agree to go with him to a tattoo convention next spring but it’s a one of a kind.”
“This must have taken a while.”
“About four hours…that’s why I was asleep,” said Stormy as she turned back to him. Worried that he was upset, she continued, “Alex, I know we’d agreed to go together but I wanted…”
It was AJ’s turn to silence her and he did it with a kiss as he lay her back on the bed. His body covered hers and one hand tangled in her hair as his other moved her waist. Tongues dancing together, he found all the spots that he’d learned and teased her for more. He had missed the way her body felt against his, the way it reacted to his and he couldn’t fight his own reaction.
Pulling away, he said, “I need you so bad, Stormy. I want to feel your body next to mine.”
Stormy blushed feeling his erection pressing against her. “I need you too.”
“Tonight, we celebrate. Dinner and dancing and then home to make love all night long.”
“Alex, you’re still recovering. I think the best thing for us to do is stay home, I’ll cook dinner, and we can catch a movie on HBO or something.”
AJ pouted, “I’m tired of being cooped up, baby, and I want to show off my woman’s new look.”
“I promise, when you’re completely well, we’ll do whatever you want,” soothed Stormy as she ran her hands along his sides.
The door opening broke the couple apart as the doctor said, “Well, I see you’re in a better mood than when they were running the tests,” said Dr. Squire.
“Got my woman with me,” beamed AJ as he ran his hand along her thigh.
“Did you give them a hard time?” questioned Stormy.
“Sorta,” blushed AJ. Then defensively, “I was worried about you.”
Stormy gave him a kiss, “Stop worrying. So, Doctor Squire, can I take him home?”
“I don’t see why not. Alex, I want you to be careful though, ease back into your normal routine and don’t try to overdo. You’re going to get tired easily so rest. Let Stormy help you.”
AJ squeezed her hand, “No problem. How long?”
“Six weeks,” said Dr. Squire as he signed the discharge papers. “I want you back in my office for one final checkup and you’re free to go now.”
“He’ll be there,” assured Stormy. “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for Alex.”
“It was my pleasure and good luck to the two of you,” said Dr. Squire as he shook AJ’s hand.
Taking the discharge papers from the doctor, Stormy got up to get AJ’s cell phone and made a quick call while AJ took the bag that was sitting on the end of the bed. He dressed as Stormy called for the limo and when they were both done, Stormy called the house to let them know they’d be home in less than an hour.
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