CHAPTER 14 #2
Last night, she’d bolted, not wanting to ruin what they had. But now, her heart squeezed at the hope she read in his eyes, and her resolve wavered.
Thankfully, he didn’t wait for an answer. His eyes twinkled as he swiped his cap off the edge of the counter and strode to the door, picking up his flight bag. “Since we can’t go up this morning, today’s lesson will be night flying.”
“You think I’m ready?”
Large palm on the door handle, he turned, his smile slow and supremely cocky. “I’ll get you there.”
·
Nick
He sensed something was wrong even before he closed the door behind him.
Nick pocketed his truck key. “Jannie?”
No reply.
“Jannie?”
Nothing.
The house was dark and silent except for the tick of a large clock on the mantel. Nick flipped the light switch, tossed his flight bag in the entry hall, and crossed the family room.
Footsteps quickening, he headed for the bedrooms and found her door wide open. His heart squeezed when he saw her lying there, curled in a fetal position, illuminated only by the bedside lamp.
Rolf lay right by the bed, chin on his paws, a mournful look in his eyes. As Nick entered, the dog swished his tail back and forth a couple of times but didn’t get up to greet him.
Alarm tightened Nick’s throat. “What’s wrong?”
She rolled to face him, grimacing, and brought her arm across her belly.
His eyes widened. “Are you OK?”
“Not really. Cramps.”
He frowned. “Cramps?”
“Yeah.”
“Did something not agree with you?”
“It’s not because of food.”
He looked at her in puzzlement for a moment, and she made a face he instantly recognized from high school, only this time, she didn’t follow it with, “Duh.”
And then, it hit him. “Oh.”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
“When did it start?”
“It hasn’t yet. I always get cramping the day before, but usually it’s not this bad.” She hugged herself a little tighter. “Maybe it’ll start tonight. Got any Advil?”
“In my flight bag.”
“Good. I’ll take three.”
He hurried to fetch the medication, returning with a tall glass of water and the pills.
She took them with a nod, downed half the water, and gave him a wan smile. “I’m guessing there are no feminine hygiene products in this house.”
“That would be a good guess. The owner is a guy.”
Jannie reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. “It’s fine. I’ll have something delivered.”
“I’ll go.”
“You don’t have to. I can just use my app and order from—”
“I’ll go,” he repeated. “I can be back with what you need before they even start to shop the order.”
Her shoulders relaxed. “Thank you.”
She looked up at him then, her pained expression tugging at his heart. “I was really looking forward to night flying.”
“So was I. We’ll reschedule.” He leaned down to give Rolf an ear scratch. “Watch over her, bud.” To Jannie, he said, “I’ll be back as fast as I can.”
Nick fished his truck key out of his pocket and headed out. Stepping out into the night, he paused to inhale deeply before striding briskly toward his Tahoe.
He hadn’t even used the bathroom, washed his hands, or changed.
What was he doing?
Hell if he knew.
All he knew was that this woman was bringing out every protective instinct he possessed, and some he didn’t even know he had.
He opened the maps app, found the nearest twenty-four-hour Walgreens, then started the truck.
The engine roared to life, and Nick backed out of the driveway, his mind a jumble.
Living with Jannie had been an exercise in torturous self-restraint. Every morning, while she was in that bathroom, he fantasized about going in there and joining her in the shower.
Washing her hair.
And body.
So vivid were the images that he’d had to take care of the problem, a problem that was becoming constant when she was near. Knowing she was in there, without a stitch of clothing, had been impossible to put out of his mind.
And after seeing her in a skimpy towel that day, he finally had a clear image to fuel his fantasies.
He pictured soaping that body of hers, running his hands over every dip and curve, covering those pert breasts in creamy soap, her nipples peaking under his thumbs.
How soapy water would cascade over her belly, running down her thighs.
How he wanted to palm her, then sink his fingers into her, stroking until she came.
Fuck.
He was getting hard.
Again.
He gave the truck more gas to make a yellow light.
This wasn’t normal. He was reverting to the horny teenager he was before sex became enmeshed with other things, making it impossible to get off without a scene.
Hell, he usually never even got hard unless he had some sort of binding device in his hands and a woman kneeling before him, eager to receive it.
And yet, with her, all he wanted was to strip her naked, hold her in his arms, and take her in slow strokes with those long legs of hers wrapped around his waist. Watching her every expression as he filled her.
It would be all he would need.
Or would it?
What would she say if she found out what he liked? What he was?
Nick frowned. He couldn’t see Jannie as a sub.
Not in a million years.
Spotting the Walgreens up ahead, he eased off the accelerator and pulled into the parking lot. As he shut off the engine and started to unbuckle his seat belt, his watch vibrated.
He stared at the photo of what she wanted him to buy, and the reality of his situation struck him.
Nick started to laugh.
He really was going to purchase tampons.
In uniform.