I is for Ian

We kept fighting our way through, and finally, we made it into the truck. Ian slithered inside and handed the camp stove and two canisters of propane out to me. He then came out with a couple of power bricks.

“These will charge up our phones. I haven’t gotten word when they might come for us, so at least this should keep us connected,” he said.

I felt victorious making my way back into the hospital with our bounty. The only thing I wanted more than breakfast was a shower to get rid of the cold, soggy feeling of the snow.

26

IAN

I sat the camp stove down on the top of the regular stove and the bag with the propane beside it. I yanked the gloves off, tossed them down on the counter, and yanked off my hat. I turned around to see Mina, standing in the doorway of the bedroom. She was also removing her hat and gloves but had a look that said she had zero interest in cooking yet.

“I’m starving,” she said. “But I’m way colder than I am hungry. Do you think there’s enough hot water left in the tank to get a shower in?”

“I would think so,” I said. “It fills up to have enough for the entire hospital. I’d think it’s got enough for a couple of hot showers.”

“Good,” she said, looking relieved. “Then I’m going to get the water going and hop in for a few minutes to warm up. Then I’ll come out and cook breakfast. Can you set everything up for me?”

“Sure. Need any mousing plouse?”

“Mise en place,” she laughed. “If you want to cut up some peppers, I can make us omelets or scrambles. And make sure I have some bacon ready.”

“Oh, you know I will,” I said, laughing.

Mina laughed and turned toward the bathroom door, cracking it open and slipping through. She shut it, but lightly, almost as if it was an invitation. A promise, if I got everything together fast enough. From under the door, I could see the light from the lantern she brought in with her come on. It was the soft, yellow light.

I could only imagine how her body looked bathed in that light. How warm and inviting a steamy shower would be after the cold of the snow.

I tried to shake it off. I had work to do.

As the sound of the water came on, I put the camp stove together and pulled out the cutting board. Slicing up some peppers and onions and putting them aside, I then cut up the other vegetables and dug around in the refrigerator and was delighted to find a small jar of salsa. It wasn’t spicy, but it was something. I could make use of it anyway.

My mind wandered as I prepared the food, thinking back on where I was just a little over a day ago. I was so certain, just so recently, that my life was reaching its lowest point. While I was still pretty certain I had some repercussions coming to me when I arrived back home for how things had gone, at that point, I was also struggling to function after being stranded on top of it and with a woman who hated my guts.

Then last night happened. And this morning. And the rounds after the first one this morning.

We were growing extremely close, extremely quickly, and it felt special. More than just a fling. Really special.

We were attracted to each other like magnets now, unable to get enough of each other. She was insatiable, and so was I. I wanted to touch her constantly. To kiss her every moment my lips were free. Not even our marathon session first thing this morning had been enough.

I was ready for round three.

It was more than lust. I knew that. But I couldn’t let myself think about it. I didn’t know where things were going to go beyond today, and I needed to just focus on enjoying things as they were. Now that things were settled in the kitchen, I could try to do just that.

I turned to the bathroom and listened to the sound of the water in the shower. She was softly humming in there to herself, and I thought it was adorable. I almost didn’t want to interrupt her.

Almost.

I disrobed there in the bedroom, so excited to join her that my cock was already rock hard before I even put my hand on the doorknob. As I twisted it and it opened, I called her name softly.

“Hmm?” she asked from inside the steam behind the curtain.

“Is there room in there for two?”

She opened the curtain slightly and peered out and giggled. I was standing in a pose not unlike Superman, hands on my hips and chest ballooned out. Of course, I didn’t ever remember any superheroes hanging loose quite like I was at the moment.