10. Lennie
TEN
LENNIE
Kade had come over every morning since I’d been rescued, as if he feared I would somehow disappear again.
He most likely felt more guilt than he wanted to let on.
I refused to talk about what had happened, and I could tell it was eating away at him.
I could also tell he was not handling the breakup with Evelyn well.
I knew he loved her more than anything in this world; however, I also could understand his reasoning for wanting to call things off.
He needed to protect her and, in his eyes, breaking up with her was the only way to do that.
I had a sneaking suspicion that this would not be the end for them, though.
You couldn’t have a love like they did and not be together. But I kept my thoughts to myself.
Today we were picking up Evan from the hospital. I climbed into Kade’s SUV and he drove us to our destination. Evan, or as he was called by others, Machine, met us outside the hospital drop-off zone and jumped in the back.
“Get me the fuck away from this place,” he grumbled.
“On it!” Kade said, pumping the gas.
We sat in silence for several moments before Evan popped his head in between the two front seats. “So are you going to tell us how you are really feeling, Len?” I knew he meant well with his question. And I also knew that he and Kade were chomping at the bit to find out what was going on with me.
“I’m okay, everything is healing,” I said with a chipper tone. There was no way I was going to tell them about the nightmares and how my anxiety had skyrocketed. If they knew, they would demand I seek help and I just wasn’t ready for that.
Kade let out a scoff as Evan narrowed his brows at me.
I looked at both of them with a deadpan expression. “I. Am. Fine,” I enunciated. “The more you ask, the more annoyed I am going to get with both of you.”
Evan put his hands up in surrender and leaned back against his seat with a huff.
After a few silent moments Kade ended the conversation with, “We just love and care about you. We want to make sure that you have all the resources you need after everything you have been through.”
I stayed quiet but reached over and squeezed Kade’s forearm as reassurance.
I hated being treated like a glass doll. As if I were broken. I was tough. I kept telling myself I could handle it, though my nightmares begged to differ.
We continued the drive in silence and for the first time, I felt awkward with my best friends.
As if they were strangers to me. I never kept anything from them, but since I was taken, I’d been having a hard time getting a grasp on my emotions.
The only person who knew the extent of my injuries and what really happened was Dante.
He’d continued to send me check-in texts every morning, which I thought was sweet. Every time he texted me, I got giddy for a reason I couldn’t quite understand.
And speak of the devil, just as I was thinking of him a message popped up on my phone.
DANTE:
Morning, how is the bruising on your ribs looking? They should be starting to get a yellowish color.
ME:
Morning!
I wished I could see him again. Part of me even contemplated playing up my pain so he’d come over, but I thought better of it.
ME: They’re still pretty dark, but lighter than when I first saw you.
DANTE:
Sometimes these injuries take a little longer to heal depending on the immune system. Please remember to ice and rest.
I smiled at his text and let the happy endorphins fill me.
ME:
Sir, yes sir!
I accompanied the text with a GIF of Tom Hanks saluting.
When we got to Evan’s penthouse, we were greeted by his very excited Rottweiler, Lucy.
“Well hello, my beautiful Lucy-goosey,” I cooed at the dog, scratching her ears.
Kade and I followed Evan into the kitchen area where Badger had left a plate of freshly made chocolate chip cookies.
As I stole a cookie from the tray, I watched as Evan looked around the vast space where Badger’s absence was clear.
Sadness was evident on his face as he walked to the hall to where the bedrooms were.
Evan had always had plenty of women, living it up and having fun.
But when Badger came into his life, he fell head over heels.
He didn’t say anything else as he meandered to his room with Lucy in tow and closed the door.
Kade looked at me skeptically, then back at Evan’s door. “Do you think we should go check on him?”
I looked over at the closed bedroom door and back to my friend. “I think it’s best if we give him a little space. He just got home. He needs some rest and to deal with,” I motioned around me, “all of this.”
Kade hung his head down, looking defeated before giving me a short nod. “I’ll take you home and check on him in a little bit,” he said resolutely.
I placed an arm on his shoulder and nodded. “Okay.”
As we drove to my house in silence, Kade finally spoke up when we were about two minutes from the condo. “You need to take the rest of the week off from work.”
I looked up bewildered. “Um, no, I am going back tomorrow like we discussed before.”
Kade’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “No, you need more time to heal.”
I crossed my hands over my chest. “Last time I checked, this was my body. I know when I’m good to go back to work, Kade. And I’m telling you, I’m good and I’ll be there tomorrow.”
He shot me a glare. “For once can you do as you’re told?” he bit back.
I let out a scoff. “Is this my best friend talking or the Don ordering?” I said sarcastically.
That seemed to end the line of conversation he was on but then he parked the SUV in front of my condo and sighed before looking back up at me. “I just want you to be as close to a hundred percent as possible before you get back. If it’s money you are worried ab–”
I cut him off. “It has nothing to do with money. I just feel ready. I want to go back to work.”
After a pregnant pause Kade spoke. “Three days more off.”
“Two,” I countered.
He sighed once more. “Fine, two days.”
I gave Kade a kiss on the cheek and got out of the car before going into my quiet home.
That night I got a knock on my door at about a quarter to eight. I was surprised to see Bohdi holding a bouquet of flowers and a bakery box.
“Hey Len, mind if I come in?” he asked with a boyish grin.
Bohdi and I had developed a good relationship throughout the years.
We’d kissed once after admitting our mutual attraction while piss-drunk at a party, but once we were sober, we’d decided to keep it platonic.
If things went south between us, it would affect his work with Kade and put everyone in an awkward position.
But now he was at my door, looking like a Viking snack with his long hair in a man bun and his muscles straining against his black shirt.
My mouth watered from the intensity in his eyes and the physique that was on display.
I opened the door and gave him a welcoming smile. “Of course!”
Bohdi smiled in return and walked in. I looked down at what I was wearing and internally cursed at my old ratty t-shirt and bright-pink yoga pants.
Note to self: get cuter comfy clothes.
Bohdi handed me the flowers. “These are for you. I’m sorry for coming over unannounced, but I thought you could use some company. Dennie was outside on watch tonight, but I sent him home, figuring I could cover for him.”
“Well, they are beautiful, and you are too kind, Boh,” I responded as I walked to the kitchen to find a vase. As I added water and the flowers, I smiled and gestured to the box he was still holding onto. “What’s in there?”
Bohdi gave me a sheepish smile. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I got you an assortment of cookies from Beverly’s Bakery down the street.”
I beamed at him. Beverly’s Bakery was one of my favorites. She was known for her stellar s’mores-flavored cookies, and I prayed he had brought one. Bohdi placed the box on the counter and I eagerly pounced on it. The aroma of freshly baked goodies greeted me, making my mouth water once more.
Sure enough, on top of the pile of cookies was a s’more cookie. I snatched it and took a bite, moaning as the flavor coated my tongue. When I opened my eyes after having my foodgasm, I noticed the heat in Bohdi’s eyes before he shook his head and smiled at me.
“Safe to say I did well?” he teased.
I nodded my head as I took another bite. “So good!”
After I finished the yummy goodness, I motioned for Bohdi to have a seat. He was too big for such a small sofa, but didn’t seem to mind.
He rested his arm casually on the back of the couch. “How are you feeling?”
I sat down next to him and couldn’t help wincing at the pain in my ribs. “Fine, just sore from the cracked rib.”
Bohdi’s jaw tensed at my words. “Can I get you some ice or anything?”
I shook my head. “No, I’m okay, but thank you.”
We sat in comfortable silence as a New Girl rerun played in the background.
“Man, I don’t know the last time I watched TV,” Bohdi said with a sigh.
I looked at him and smiled as I noted how relaxed he looked. I hadn’t seen him like this in a long time.
As the episode continued, Bohdi began to absentmindedly play with the pink ends of my hair. I leaned into his touch until I was snuggled up in the crook of his arm. I closed my eyes, taking in his warmth and his heavenly scent, the smell of spices mixed with the sea.
For the first time in days, my brain wasn’t focusing on what had happened to me.
Instead, it was focused on this man. We turned toward each other.
Before I knew what was happening, his lips were on mine in a passionate kiss.
He groaned into my mouth as our tongues collided.
The action sent a jolt of lust to my core.
I welcomed the distraction. Welcomed the normalcy of being with someone I trusted.
I needed to feel touches that I wanted to override the pain I was still in.
I needed to escape my reality right now. I needed to feel safe, secure, and blissed out of my mind, and I knew that Bohdi could provide that.
He moved his free hand to cup my jaw and tilted my head back to give himself better access. The kiss deepened, and my hands roamed down his chiseled chest.
I climbed in his lap and couldn’t help but grind myself over his erection. He let out another groan and gripped my hips so tightly it was almost painful.
Bohdi pulled away from the kiss to look me in the eye. “Are you sure?” he asked breathlessly.
I nodded and cupped his cheeks before descending on his lips once more. He easily stood, still holding me in his arms, and walked to my bedroom.
As we entered, I fumbled for the light switch without breaking the kiss. Bohdi’s tongue tangled with mine as he walked us backward toward the bed, letting out a moan when I nipped at his bottom lip.
Carefully, he lay me on the bed before standing and taking off his shirt. He was a work of art, with tattoos covering his chest and spilling onto his arms. A six-pack of abs greeted me, a perfect V leading to his pelvis. The sight left me salivating, needing to have my hands on him.
He leaned over and slowly took off my pink yoga pants just as I pulled off my shirt.
I winced in pain from my rib, but didn’t want him to stop.
The heat in Bohdi’s eyes when he saw me completely naked was mesmerizing.
He licked his bottom lip before climbing onto the bed between my spread thighs.
He pressed a kiss to my lips before slowly moving to my neck and then to my breasts.
As he put one pebbled nipple into his mouth, he squeezed the other in his palm.
I moaned from the sensation of him against my skin.
After giving special attention to my breasts, he kissed down to my pubic bone before devouring my pussy. I let out a cry of pleasure as he sunk two thick fingers inside me and sucked on my clit.
I was so close, and I needed the release.
“You going to come for me, Len?” he asked gruffly against my core.
I bucked my hips up, shamelessly rubbing my face against his mouth and beard.
“Yes!” I cried as I felt my orgasm begin to build. “Please don’t stop!”
My plea did not go unnoticed as Bohdi worked his fingers faster inside me while crooking a finger, hitting my sweet spot. I let out a scream of pleasure as my orgasm crashed over me.
Bohdi slowly moved his fingers and tongue, letting me ride out my pleasure before getting on his knees.
My cum covered his mouth and glistened in the light.
He gave me a wicked smile before wiping his lips with the back of his hand.
He leaned over the bed to his discarded jeans and pulled a condom out of his wallet.
I couldn’t help but stare at the large cock jutting up against his stomach. Uncut, thick, and long. He opened the condom with his teeth before sliding it on. Leaning back over me, he gave me a chaste kiss before lining up his cock with my entrance.
Just as Bohdi was sliding his impressive length inside me, something crashed through the window.