36. Lincoln #2
“Have you had the chance to shower yet?” she asked, rising from her seat only to kneel on the carpeted floor by the couch. Her fingers skimmed over my skin as she lifted the thin material of my T-shirt. She worked to remove the bandages, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake.
The touch was so feather-like. She was so delicate, as if she didn't want to cause me any more pain.
It was very different from how my own mother went about cleaning the wound.
Being a nursing veteran, I'm sure she saw much worse on a daily basis. While her moves were quick and confident, Cali’s were gentle and reassuring.
Calista laid her palm flat against my stomach as she peeled back the adhesive material. The contact caused my chest to constrict, oxygen refusing to move into my lungs. Warmth travelled south of my body. I had to look away.
“Nothing but sponge baths. My mom told me not to shower for the first couple of days so that the stitches don’t get too wet and cause infection.”
Calista nodded, eyes trained on the mending wound below the gauze. “You should be okay to shower now. It looks like things have dried out a fair amount. It's probably a good idea to wash some of this blood and grime off.”
She traced a delicate finger alongside the pinched skin. I couldn’t help myself. I continued to watch her face. Something about the way she scrutinized her patch-up job made me want to laugh. This girl was nothing short of a perfectionist.
Cali tilted her head as she scanned the length of my torso. “It still looks a little tender. How are you feeling otherwise?”
“Fine for the most part,” I said with a shallow shrug. “It’s more annoying than anything. I can’t really twist, bend, or stretch without them pulling. I've never been more glad that Sadie’s at an age where she's a little more independent.”
A sympathetic smile made its way across her face. “I can take her off your hands if you need a break every once in a while.”
I raised a thick brow at her. “And who's going to give you a break?”
“I'm sure you'll find ways to pay me back,” she replied with a little mischievous twinkle in her eye. “But right now, we're focusing on you.”
She rose from her knees and offered me a hand. “Let’s get you upstairs. I'll help you wash up.”
I stood, ignoring the ache in my side. In truth, moving was still uncomfortable.
At times, I would even skip meals because I didn’t have the energy to make something.
That probably wasn’t in my best interest, and I knew Coach was going to have my ass hanging from a punching bag if I lost too much weight, but I couldn't bring myself to care.
Once we were in the upstairs hallway, I led her into the bathroom that Sadie and I shared.
Sadie’s pink robe, which she wore every morning, was still on the floor by the sink.
The white countertop was cluttered with hairbrushes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and a razor that I hadn’t used in a few days.
Cali bypassed all of it, making her way towards the shower and pulling back the curtain.
She twisted the knob. Water began to trickle out of the old shower head, heavy drops splatting against the tiled floor.
She stuck her hand out, testing the temperature and adjusting it a few times until she was satisfied.
When she turned around, I was standing in the same spot she had left me in.
“Take it off,” she instructed, gesturing to my T-shirt.
I rubbed at the back of my neck. “I might need a bit of help,” I admitted.
Raising my left arm over my head had been difficult since the other night.
Something as simple as dressing myself was next to impossible without feeling like I was going to rip the stitches that travelled along the lower part of my abdomen.
If I were being honest, I had only changed my shirt once since Andrew brought me home from the Pit. But I wasn’t about to tell her that.
Without requiring me to elaborate, Cali moved towards the toilet next to the shower and put the lid down. “Come sit.”
I did as she asked and lowered myself into the seat. She reached for the hem of my T-shirt, slowly lifting it. She maneuvered the black material over my shoulders, taking great care when moving my left arm.
When it slipped over my head, she offered me a smile. “That probably feels better already.”
“You have no idea.”
Her brown eyes shone with happiness at my comment as she tossed the crusty shirt into the hamper. “Do you have any washcloths and unscented shampoo?”
“Check under the sink.”
Cali followed my direction, opening the cabinet beneath the sink and ducking down. It took her a couple of moments of searching, but after rummaging through some forgotten trash, she pulled out what she needed.
“Perfect,” she said. Placing the small stack of cloths and baby shampoo on the counter she continued, “Now that it’s been a few days you’re going to want to wipe the sutures down at least once a day with cool water and some unscented soap.
This should work fine,” she said as she showed me the light yellow bottle.
“I know.”
“Did your mom already give you the rundown?”
I flashed her a withdrawn smile. “This isn’t my first time with stitches.”
“Drew did mention that your mom had to patch you up before.”
“Once or twice.”
“You're a pro, then.” She offered me a gentle smile in return. “I’ll wait downstairs, just call me if you need anything.”
“Wait,” I said once she reached the bathroom door. The embarrassment of what I was about to ask ran up my neck. “Could you help me wash my hair? It's not the easiest thing to do with one arm.”
“Sure.” Calista stepped towards the shower, gesturing for me to step inside. She peered back at me with a humored smile. “Do you plan on showering with your sweatpants on?”
I looked down, wiggling my toes before making eye contact with her again. The last thing I wanted was to make her feel uncomfortable. “You sure?”
“It’s nothing I haven’t seen before.” Heat flashed across her expression, and I knew what she was referring to.
That same heat mirrored itself in my groin as images of the last time we were together infiltrated my mind. Her slender body pressed against mine, trembling with pleasure beneath me. Blood began to rush to the appendage between my legs.
I took in a breath, removing my sweatpants in an attempt to busy myself and ignore the path my mind was heading down.
Wincing as I bent over, I stepped out of them and kicked the limp material closer to the hamper.
I made my way towards the running shower, avoiding eye contact with Cali so that my wild thoughts didn't surge back up.
I stepped inside. The lukewarm water soothed the tension in my coiled muscles.
She was right, I already felt better. I dragged my hands across my face to squeegee the water away from my eyes.
I turned to find Cali stepping into the shower with me.
In her hands was a washcloth and the bottle of baby shampoo she had fished out from under the sink.
Her body was void of the baby blue sweater and black leggings she was wearing when she got here.
My eyes caressed her supple, naked body.
Air caught in my throat.
She cast me a knowing glance, as if she could see what I was thinking. “Just think of me as another set of hands.”
Hands , I repeated to myself as my brain tried to process everything happening in front of me.
I squeezed my eyes shut, reminding myself to stop thinking with my dick.
I shook my head slightly, clearing my mind.
Things between Cali and me had been complicated over the last couple of weeks.
It wasn't fair for me to think the way I was after I'd spent the better half of the month avoiding her.
“May I?” she asked, raising the washcloth to me.
I responded with a stiff nod, unable to trust myself to speak.
She pressed it to my chest, scrubbing my body in gentle circles.
Water and suds streamed down my torso, along with the dirt and grime that had collected on my body.
On their own accord, my eyes fluttered shut.
This was the most relaxed I'd been in weeks.
Water continued to trickle down my body as Cali worked her way around me.
She washed down my left side, careful not to press too hard on the sutures.
With each gentle pass of the cloth, my mind was flooded with images of the last time her hands explored my body.
A groan escaped my lips as I steadied myself by placing my hand on the cold tiled wall.
Cali peered up at me, her doe eyes connecting with mine. “How does that feel?”
I swallowed down a thick glop that had settled in my throat. “Really good.”
The same heated expression she wore earlier passed across her face again. She began working her way back up my body. When she reached my shoulders, she paused. Her warm breath fanned my ear. “I want to make you feel good.”
A low growl vibrated through my throat. Despite the temperature of the shower, my body grew hot. Cali continued to scrub me with tantalizing touches, her hand and the washcloth working in unison to wash my skin clean while simultaneously bringing my mind to filth.
Once she finished washing my arms, she moved lower again. Her hand with the washcloth drifted down to my hip. The other hand cupped my growing erection. A gasp escaped my mouth. Electricity zinged through my body as she trailed her fingers along the length of me.
On their own accord, my hips rocked forward, craving the friction. Forcing my eyes open, I placed my hand over hers. Stopping her in her tracks, she searched my face through damp strands of hair. As much as I enjoyed where this was headed, the last thing I wanted was for her to feel obligated.
“You don’t?—”
She cut me off with a delicate kiss. Her sweet, feminine scent enveloped me. Desire pulsed through my body when a muffled moan left her mouth.
She broke contact, inching her lips away. “I know. I want to.”
My brain didn't have time to register what was happening.
Her gaze never strayed from mine as she lowered herself to her knees.
I stood over her, water dripping from my damp hair.
The little blood I had left in my head drained to the stiff member between my legs.
The baby shampoo continued to run down the length of my cock, leaving a silky film behind.
All thoughts fled my mind as Cali kissed the tip of my shaft.
Leaning backwards, I closed my eyes. Her delicate touch proved to be addictive.
Once she started licking the tip of me, I was done for.
Gasping for air, my fingers reached out for her.
I grabbed hold of her long hair, threading my fingers through it.
She was euphoric, the stream from the shower head beating down on her face.
Her eyes fluttered up at me as water trickled down between her breasts. She captured my member between her sinful lips, dragging her thumb across the underside.
“Fuck,” I hissed. There was no hiding the moans escaping my throat.
They did nothing but urge Cali on. She removed her hand from my shaft, bracing it on my thigh as she prepared to bring my erection deeper.
Stars danced across my vision as my dick hit the back of her throat.
My hand moved to her head, hips bucking as I urged my cock deeper.
A mixture of raw lust and desire coursed through my veins when her hand moved to her center.
I threw my head back against the wall at the new wave of pleasure that hit me. This woman was going to be my undoing.
She continued to pump me in and out of her mouth. The vibration from her moans wreaked havoc on my self-control.
“Are you close?” Cali asked, dainty hand wrapped around the swell of my cock.
I forced out a ragged breath. “So close.”
She hummed in approval, kissing the head of my erection as her hand continued to stroke me. “I want you to cum on me.”
That simple sentence had my breath hitching. “Whatever you want, baby. I’ll give you whatever you want.”
Her mouth tilted upwards as my statement, tongue brushing across her lips as if she were about to devour a five-star meal.
I clenched my teeth together as she whimpered, her index finger slipping into her wet pussy.
The sound vibrated up my member; her lips wrapped tightly around me.
She sucked and another round of stars had me cursing at the ceiling.
I tried to keep my voice down, not wanting to wake Sadie in the room next door.
The sounds echoing throughout the shower told me she was close to coming.
I fisted the hair on the back of her head, imploring her as she brought both of us pleasure.
My hips continued to rock, balls slapping against her chin as she rode her fingers.
I tried to hold back, waiting to release after she had, but that was proving difficult.
I was on the brink of letting go when her body trembled beneath me, a moan vibrating up my erection as she popped me out of her mouth. Her lips formed the perfect shape as she sucked in a gasp, eyes dancing shut .
I massaged the back of her head. “That’s my girl.”
They reopened at the sound of my voice, lashes fighting off the water from getting in her eyes as she peered up at me.
A wicked smile lit up her face. “It’s your turn.”
I threw my head back again when her lips teased the sensitive head of my cock. My hips bucked forward, greedy for more. Heat began to build in my lower back.
“I’m going to cum.”
Cali gave one last suck, before she popped me out of her mouth.
Her hand cupped my balls as she stroked my shaft in a way that had my toes curling.
It wasn’t long before I exploded. Cum hit her face and chest, dripping down against her porcelain skin.
The view, along with the gentle caress of her hands, left my balls tingling.
A little giggle left her lips as she licked a drop of cum off her fingers. My chest tightened at the sight.
She grinned up at me. “I think it might be my turn to shower.”