“Private room? What?” I whisper. My mind reels as I notice how the room is much nicer than your standard hospital room. I don’t know how I will pay for all this. There is a reason I lied on my college paperwork to save me on expenses like insurance and other things I’d rarely need.
Jack returns and sits down on the bed next to me. “Easy, Edith. I see your mind spinning. Everything’s been taken care of.”
“Where’s Shelby?” I ask nervously.
“I sent her to Whole Foods to bring back some food, other than Jell-O and high sodium chicken broth.” Jack holds my hand and, although I feel like an eighty-year-old woman with every joint swollen and in pain, a flutter in my belly reminds me that, for eighty, I still have a healthy libido.
“Edith.”
“Jack.” We both speak at the same time and I feel my skin blush, which has nothing to do with my fever.
“Go ahead.” Again we speak at the same time, which frustrates me more.
“I want you to come home with me.”
“I want to go ho… Wait. What? With you?” I’m so confused. I start to wonder what the heck is in these fluids they are pumping into my body.
“Yes, Edith. With me.”
“No,” I say flatly.
“Why not?”
“Because I want to be in my home. My space. Alone.” He’s not listening and it’s pissing me off.
“Well…I kind of broke the door to your apartment. You can’t live there without a door.” Jack is annoyed, which is fine because I am far from happy.
“It’s not my fault you’re destructive,” I pout. I would have crossed my arms if I didn’t think it would have tangled up the IV line in my hand.
“The doctor says you need help the next few days, and I’m offering. Besides, I can help you study for your exam.”
“It’s your class! Isn’t that kind of like cheating?” I try to sit up, but he gently pushes me back down.
“I don’t proctor my exams, and they’ve already been written by Professor Roth for the semester. I haven’t reviewed them yet. Besides, you need to learn the basic principles to pass the exam.”
“You’re going to get fired and you’re going to blame me when it happens.” I try to push him away, but he just grabs me and pulls me closer. His face is against mine and his hot breath heats my already overheated skin. I swear my legs are wet between my thighs, which makes me realize I’m not even wearing underwear at the moment. I squirm under his direct gaze. Damn.
“The only thing that’s pissing me off right now is my inability to let you go. What have you done to me?” Jack’s voice is husky. He rubs his nose against my cheek and ear, slowly dipping his head down to my collarbone, nipping it before returning to my cheek. I moan softly at the feelings that make my nipples pucker under the scratchy hospital gown. I close my eyes again and feel his lips against mine, forbidden and soft. When I smell the faint scent of sweet mint, my lips reach out and finally connect with his. His tongue grazes the edge and I open my mouth. He groans in unison with my own feeble sounds.
Nipping, licking, and sucking, I feel his hands trail down to cup my already aching breasts, fingertips barely touching the peaks. I grab him to kiss him deeper. Holding on like a lifeline, I suck his tongue into my mouth. I instantly realize I’m giving him my germs! I push him away, and he holds his forehead against my sweaty one, breathing heavy.
“What the fuck was that?” I whisper.
“The law of probability?” He chuckles an
d I try punching him, but I’m just too tired to make the effort right now.
“I’m transmitting my flu germs to you.”
“Impossible. I’ve had my flu shot. Kiss away, lovely girl. I rather like your sweet tongue in my mouth,” Jack growls and kisses me again, more gently this time, sweeping his tongue inside my mouth, making me crave him more.
Jack
The doctor finally discharges Edith into my care. He damn well should since I wrote the hospital a check covering all the expenses. Edith doesn’t know it yet and I know it will only be a source of contention, so I decide to omit telling her. Waiting for the hospital bill to never appear is my brilliant thinking.
“Easy, Karate Kid. You’ve been upright all of an hour,” I say to her. She looks like hell knocked her over and came back for a second swing.
“Those references only highlight our age difference, you jackass,” she grumbles as I force her to sit down on my couch.