Read Online Grace Lost by M. Lauryl Lewis - Free Book Online Page B

hands, as if trying to memorize each
detail.  I felt a craving stir deep within my body, and found it difficult
to catch my breath.  The gentle caressing turned to frantic groping with
his hands, almost as if he wanted to devour me.  I heard him moan into my
neck, almost growling.  I desperately tried to turn my body toward him,
craving what I had never before experienced, but his strong arms held me in
place. 
    “Not yet, Zoe, I want the time to
be right,” he said in his deep voice.  “You have no idea how much I want
to make love to you, but I want it to be right.  For
both of us.”
    He lightened his touch, and rinsed
my body off with the hand held shower.  Eventually I couldn’t feel his
hands on me anymore.  I closed my eyes and while his touch was absent, I
waited for my heart and breathing to slow.  I felt a towel placed upon my
shoulders, followed by his hands as he turned me to face him.  I tightly
held the edges of the towel in front of me, trying to stay covered and warm.
    I kept my gaze on my bare feet and
the rubber mat that had been placed on the ground. He placed his hands on my
shoulders as he spoke softly.  “Zoe, look at me.”
    I slowly brought my eyes up to
meet his, excitement and fear dancing in my stomach unlike anything I had known
before.  He leaned down slowly and kissed me lightly on the lips. 
Without backing away more than an inch or two, he spoke gently “I can’t ever
lose you, Zo. You’re so important to me.”  He bent down and lifted me
again.  Cradling me in his arms, he carried me back into the little stone
shack.
    Gus looked up and smiled. 
“It’s about time! I was about to eat all the bacon myself.”   He
laughed, and walked to the door and locked it as Boggs set me back down on the
bed.  Gus had been busy, hauling the old tattered mattress out and
replacing it with an air mattress he had pillaged.  He had kindly put
fresh sheets and a quilt on the saggy bed while I showered.  I made sure
my towel was wrapped around me tight.  Boggs went to the corner and
changed his now wet clothes, opting for a dry pair of sweats and a
t-shirt.  Gus had brought back an assortment of comfortable dry clothes,
as well as three fold-out nylon camping chairs, all in matching red.
    Boggs came back and settled down
next to me, causing the air bed to plump up as he plopped.  He began
drying my hair with a smaller hand towel.  He pulled a white cotton
nightgown over my head. I smiled in thanks as he helped me rid myself of both
damp towels.  He brushed my blonde hair, being careful of leftover
tangles.  Gus joined us, kneeling on the floor next to the air bed.
    “Zoe is it ok if I look at your
wound?” he asked.
    I nodded and pulled my night gown
up so he could inspect my hip.  “It’s stinging a bit,” I said.
    “It probably will for a couple
days.  I can give you another pain pill if you want,” offered Gus.
    “Maybe just half
of one?” I suggested.
    “I’ll get it,” said Boggs.  He
stood and walked to the little shelf to get the pill.
    Gus peeled the old dressing off,
the task made easier by the dampness from the shower.  I winced.
    “It looks a little less red,
that’s good.  We’ll try to do two dressing changes a day for a few days,”
said Gus thoughtfully.  “I suspect it’ll clear up just fine, but you’ll
need to stay on the antibiotic.”
    Boggs returned with half of a pain
pill, a bottle of water, and a piece of bacon. “Thanks, Boggs.  You too, Gus.”   I yawned.
    The activity from the morning had
left me tired, and full of thought.  I sipped on water and ate half a
piece of bacon, then was ready to sleep. 
    Boggs tucked me in between the
crisp new linens on the mattress and kissed me on the cheek, letting it
linger.  I closed my eyes and let my aching body relax, my mind refusing
to shut itself off and surrender to sleep.  Near the fire, the men talked
of plans to relocate soon.  Our stone home was small and would not