“Let’s get something straight,” he said, his voice sounding ragged. “I love you, and I’m not losing you again. No matter what I’ve got to do to convince you to stay, I’m getting the two of you back together. Then you’re going to live with us in Rapid City, Liam’s coming to work for me, and I’m going to flatten all the wheels on this damn thing so you can’t leave again.”
She didn’t want to hope. She opted for snark. “That’s a pretty expensive tire shop visit, buddy. You’d best be prepared to make sure you can keep me happy.”
Even in the dim light she spotted his playful grin. “Oh, I have no doubt about that. I’m about to show you just a few of the ways I have in my arsenal of persuasion.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “Arsenal of persuasion?”
He nipped at the hollow of her throat. “So I’ve read too many purple prose bodice rippers. Shoot me. You want me to make your eyes roll back in your head, or you want to spend all night critiquing my less than adequate verbal jousting skills?”
She grabbed the back of his head. “Make them roll, buddy.”
“That’s my girl.” He finished pulling her T-shirt off. Then he worked his way down her body, sliding her shorts and panties down her hips and legs until he freed the garments and tossed them onto the floor. He pushed her legs wide apart and dove between them, going right for her clit in a near-frantic way.
It didn’t take him long to make her come, but he didn’t stop. Relentlessly, he forced her to keep coming, using his fingers and tongue to fuck her wet pussy as he worked her clit and rolled her through several orgasms until she begged for mercy.
He sat up, grinning from ear to ear. “Did I just hear you beg me to stop?”
She laughed, breathless. “Yes!”
“Good, that means one more.” She was still laughing when he dove between her legs again and forced one more climax out of her.
“That’s the sound I’ve missed, baby,” he said as he crawled up her body. He quickly shed his clothes, donned a condom, and she happily moaned again as she felt his rigid cock slide deep inside her.
She’d missed this, too. A vibrator was fun on occasion, but it couldn’t supply the warm weight of a man’s body pressing hers into the mattress. Gwen wrapped her arms around him and tipped her hips to take him as deeply as she could. He started slow, kissing her as he fucked her, his tongue flicking against hers, exploring, tasting. She closed her eyes and reveled in the feel of him, how right their bodies fit together.
Just like with Jack, too.
She cut off that line of thinking. There was still a lot of emotional real estate to cover in that department. Just because she was sleeping with Tim didn’t mean this would end happily if she couldn’t get things settled to her satisfaction with Jack.
Unfortunately, she knew she loved the son of a bitch.
Both of them.
She shut down her brain and focused on the delicious feeling of Tim’s cock bringing her to one more orgasm before he finally let himself come. He cleaned up and returned to bed and while she thought they might both lay there and talk for a while, Gwen found herself almost immediately crashing into sleep with the comforting feel of Tim’s arms wrapped around her.
He kissed the back of her neck. “I love you, baby. I mean it, I’m not letting you get away from us a second time.”
“I love you, too.” She just hoped she could patch things up with Jack.
Chapter Fifteen
They took their time working their way back to Rapid City over the next eight days, heading up the California coast into Oregon, through Washington state, then across through Spokane to Idaho and beyond on I-90. She spent a lot of time talking with Tim during the drive. He said Jack’s story was best left for Jack to tell, but to trust him when he said it would explain a lot.
She wanted to believe him, but she also didn’t want her heart stomped on a second time. She also knew that it would tear her heart apart to walk away from Tim again.
They spent the night outside of Spearfish instead of pushing all the way into Rapid City. Gwen felt her heart squeeze in her chest when they pulled into the driveway at Tim and Jack’s house. Tim’s car was parked by the house, but not Jack’s truck.
Tim drove them to the hospital. Jack’s truck sat in the parking lot.
Now that she was faced with the reality of a confrontation, she didn’t want to do this. What could he say to her to take back the hurt and pain of the past few months? Didn’t have the stones to talk to her personally?
Liam grabbed her arm and tightly held on after she got out of the car.
“What’s wrong? Do we need to go back for your cane?” she asked.
He laughed. “Nope. I’m keeping you from running away.”
Tim latched on to her other arm. “Good idea.”
Tim led them up to the third floor and down the hallway to a room near the end of the corridor. He stuck his head in first, then waved them in.
“Hi, Bill,” Tim said. A handsome, older man, a preview of how Jack might look in twenty or thirty years, offered them a wan smile. “How is she?” Tim asked.
When Gwen stepped around Tim, she saw the woman lying in the bed. She wore a carefree smile that brightened when she spotted Gwen. “Melodie!” She sat up in bed and clapped her hands together. “Sweetheart, they didn’t tell me you were coming today! Come here and give me a hug!”
With a nervous glance at Tim, who nodded, she stepped closer.
Her husband gently corrected her. “This isn’t Melodie, sweetheart.”
“Of course she is,” she scolded. “I can see her as plain as you.”
Tim spoke up. “Helen, this is our friend Gwen, and her brother, Liam.”
Helen now had a pretty strong grip on Gwen’s hand. “It’s Melodie and Pete, and you darn well know it.” She smiled at Gwen. “Silly men, aren’t they, Melodie? You and me, we know better.”
Gwen felt at a loss, unsure how to respond. She’d never dealt with someone with Alzheimer’s before. Fortunately, her husband stepped in. “Helen, you need to take a nap. It’s time for your afternoon nap.”
“Oh, is it? Okay.” She lay back in her bed. “Will you be here later when I wake up, Mel? I’ve missed you so much. You too, Pete.”
Tim subtly nodded at Gwen.
“Sure we will,” Gwen reassured her.
Ed kissed his wife. “We’re going to step out and let you sleep, all right?”
“All right.”
Out in the hallway, Ed’s strong façade dissolved. Tim enveloped him in a hug. “You all right, Ed?”
“I’ve had better days.” He wiped his eyes and turned to Gwen and Liam. He extended his hand. “Ed Kelly. I’m sorry, but if I didn’t know she was dead, I’d say you were Melodie, too. It’s like looking at a ghost.”
Gwen spared an inquisitive look at Tim, who offered a slight shake of his head indicating he’d tell her later. This must be part of the story Tim had hinted at.
They were making their way down the hall toward the elevators when Jack emerged from one. When he saw them, he stopped in his tracks. Fear gripped her heart, wondering how he’d react.
He strode toward her, grabbed her, and enveloped her in a desperate hug she reluctantly let herself return when it became more than obvious he didn’t want to let her go.
“Jesus, I missed you,” he whispered in her ear. “I love you. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”
She closed her eyes and really relaxed into his embrace as his words sunk home. “Tim said there’s a story,” she whispered back. “I have a feeling I just figured out a little of it on my own. We met your mom.”