Written March 25, 2020
She watched him intently, his eyes closed and his mouth in a pouty, upside-down smile. She felt her stomach flutter, the butterflies created chaos inside her. Sighing, she twirled a strand of her long blonde hair around her forefinger. He was everything she had ever imagined a perfect man would be. Her eyes longingly caressed his body in full length, sprawled across the cotton sheets. The day was finally here!
Closing her eyes and resting her head against the wall to calm the churning in her stomach, she focussed on the day they first met. He entered the coffee shop, his gait confident as he walked up to the counter. Her heart skipped several beats and she felt like a schoolgirl. She stammered slightly, repeating his order back to him. His smile was kind and his eyes penetrated her soul. His fingers lingered on her hand as he reached to take his coffee. She noticed his nails neatly trimmed and his touch soft, like a whisper, when his hand grazed hers. The spark of lightning jolted through her for a mere moment before contact was broken. He winked at her, tipping his cup toward her with a nod. Since that day, he has returned to the coffee shop every weekday morning, always ordering the same coffee, always with an enigmatic smile. He had an air of authority about him, so she wasn’t surprised to learn he was the chief of the local fire department. She marveled at what type of person it must take to walk into the middle of a fire without consideration for one’s own life. A hero, plain and simple. He is a hero.
Her eyes snapped open when he coughed. She peered at him, waiting to see if he would wake. Not realizing she had been holding her breath, she let it out slowly, as he adjusted his position. His chest was clean-shaven, but his face always had a five o’clock shadow. She yearned to run her fingers over his washboard stomach and trace the lines of each chiseled muscle. Soon she told herself, soon. He shifted his legs, putting his left heel against the inside of his right leg making a triangle. She sat frozen, barely breathing, scared that any movement might disturb him. She felt the pounding of her heart bursting against her chest. The loud thwap, thwap, thwap echoed in her ears.
Cody Barnes received a congressional medal ten years ago for bravery when he pulled fifteen elderly patients out of an engulfed burning building, against his own chief’s orders. Cody kept going back into the fire taking one by one out and bringing them to safety. He suffered severe smoke inhalation burns after his oxygen tank ran out. He didn’t wait to be fitted for a new tank, instead, he ran back inside for the last three victims without regard for his own safety. It was later determined that Cody’s tank had been tampered with before being put back on the truck, a mistake the fellow firefighters would not forget. After the investigation was finished, there were four firefighters implicated in what appeared to be intentional sabotage. The guilty were immediately released of their duties, but she will never forget their faces staring back at her in the old newspaper clippings. It was clear they did not just intend to scare Cody, they intended to kill him. During his speech when he received his medal, Cody told the public he didn’t deserve it but rather his whole crew deserved it for their brevity. He dismissed their ill intentions and gave them credit for assisting in saving all the souls in the pensioner’s project that day. She smiled to herself, Karma had given each one of the four firefighters exactly what they deserved.
She uncrossed her legs, her knees aching from sitting in one place too long while she watched him sleep. His dreams are peaceful now thanks to her. He doesn’t suffer the nightmares he used to in the years following the incident. His breathing is calm and easy. She watched his eyes dart back and forth under the lids as he entered another cycle of REM sleep. She let her hair unwind from her finger. Her lips are dry and cracked from the summer heat. She really should get up and get a glass of water. She hadn’t eaten or drank anything for hours. She tiptoed into the kitchen and drew water from the tap, only turning it on slightly so the noise wouldn’t wake her sleeping prince. Smiling over the rim, she stared out the kitchen window and watched a squirrel scurry up a tree. Peace fell over her, as she marveled at the grace of the squirrel jumping from branch to branch. She almost choked on her water and dropped the glass when she heard him moaning from the bedroom. Glancing at her watch she cursed. It’s not time for him to wake up yet! She hasn’t even gotten herself ready! She set the cup silently down on the counter and tiptoed to the bathroom. She stared at herself in the mirror and knew as soon as she did her hair and makeup, he would find her irresistible. They could start their life together in the mingled sweat from their lovemaking. Her heart pounded and the butterflies took occupancy in her stomach once again.
She quietly sifted through her makeup bag, laying the contents out on the back of the toilet. She started the arduous process of putting her hair up in a bun, leaving just enough wisps around the nape of her neck and face to give her a young, angelic look. Once she was satisfied with her hair, she began applying her foundation, scowling at the wrinkles starting to show under her eyes. Her biggest enemy, wrinkles! They gave away her thirty-two years in this world. Her make up skills have been honed over the years and she knew when she was done, she would look at least eight years younger. Swiftly wiping the foundation under her eyes, she began the blending. In less than fifteen minutes she stood back from the mirror, pursing her rose-red lips in the mirror. She made different faces at herself until she mastered her sexiest look possible. Satisfied, she slipped out of her jeans and unbuttoned her shirt. Lowering the silk negligee over her head, she gasped as the fabric caressed her bare skin and fell perfectly to hug her waistline. She stood sideways in the mirror, smoothing it over her flat stomach. She had spotted the negligee in Sac’s two days ago and admired the long slit up the side that revealed her perfectly, long shaped legs. She fixed her diamond choker, to rest perfectly in the middle of her clavicle. Standing back from the mirror hung above the sink, she admired her reflection. Her smile broadened and she thought to herself she is definitely irresistible. Her head snapped back toward the bedroom when she heard Cody moan again. He sounded like he was in pain. She padded quietly across the carpet of the living room and peered through the crack in the door to his room. His eyes were fluttering. He is waking up. She smoothed her negligee again and fixed her mouth in a sultry pout before stepping into the doorway.
“What the hell?” Cody murmured when he saw her. He looked at her with heavy sleep laden eyes. “What the hell are you doing?”
“It’s okay baby,” she crooned. “I thought we could start our day off right. Maybe you would like to slowly mess up my hair and see what beauty lies under this negligee. Do you like it?” she whispered provocatively, running her hand up her inner thighs, teasing him. She watched his eyes narrow and she felt a pang of anger for the first time since meeting him. Her anger melted away within seconds, as she watched him try to sit up.
“My head feels like it was hit by a train?” He looked up at her, his eyes questioning.
“It’s okay. You will feel better in a few minutes. Let me get you some water sleepyhead,” she offered. Without waiting for his answer, she danced to the kitchen and ran the water cold. She watched the same squirrel she saw earlier. The creature looked so happy and carefree, exactly the way she will feel after today. She returned to the bedroom with the glass and gently placed it at Cody’s lips. He drank a little bit before turning his head away, not taking his eyes off her. She smiled gently, placing the cup on the nightstand.
“I gave you a little something to help you sleep so you didn’t have nightmares again,” she admitted. His eyes grew wide, staring at her face before his gaze dropped to the vee at her neckline. She smiled, pulling the vee wider apart so the fabric fell just to the side of her nipples. She pulled up the side of her negligee and climbed on the bed, moving to straddle him and settled herself on top of his groin. She tilted her head back and let out a moan, feeling him come to life beneath her.
“Jesus,” he muttered, his body sinking helplessly further into the bed.
“Oh yeah, baby,” she moaned, grinding back and forth. “I have been waiting for this moment,” she whispered. She peered at him through her half-closed eyes, glowing with passion. “Before we go too far though, I have a present for you.” She reached over toward and snatched a ring off the bedside table. “Darling, with all my heart and all my love, I ask you now before we commensurate our communion. Will you accept this token of my love and marry me?” she whispered.
Cody looked at her, his erection wilting and his eyes wide with fear. What the hell was going on? What the hell is she thinking? How the hell is he going to get out of this mess? His mind screamed back at him, his mouth clamped shut as he tried not to look at her sitting on top of him. He searched his room for anything that might distract her. Think Cody! Think! His mind screamed at him to think of something to get her off him.
“I have to pee.”
“Oh darling of course you do!” she empathized. “Is that why your friend there has gone limp?” she asked, chuckling. Shaking her head, she slipped the ring on his finger before heading to the bathroom to grab the plastic bowl under the sink. She returned with the bowl and smiled. Cody stared at her with disbelief. Does she seriously expect I am going to take a piss in a bowl, in front of her? He watched her as she placed the bowl on the bed beside him and moved to pull down his boxers. He pushed himself to roll in the opposite direction to stop her.
“Oh, come on now darling,” she scolded gently. “Don’t be shy! We are about to discover each other in a very intimate way. There is no need to hide from me,” she crooned.
“It’s not that. It’s, well….” His voice trailed off. “I can’t go to the bathroom in front of people,” he explained.
“Oh, well then I guess we will just have to wait until you really have to go then. If you really must go, then it won’t be an issue.” She set the bowl on the nightstand beside his water glass. She climbed back on top of him and leaned onto his chest, planting a gentle kiss on his lips. “It will be just fine Cody. You’ll see. After today, you won’t be shy to do anything in front of me.”
He could smell her shampoo; her hair tickled his nose and his erection sprung back up despite himself. She rose slightly, her eyes glinted playfully when she felt him grow underneath her.
“You are truly naughty,” she smiled sheepishly. “I just knew we would have a fantastic time together!” She sat up straight and stuck one leg out beside him, her foot stroking his shoulder. She moved off to the side and pulled the negligee away to reveal her leg, exposing her own womanhood to him. He could see she was not wearing panties, which made his erection harder. He looked away in shame, stifling the thoughts that sprang to his mind. He focussed on his arms, they had lost circulation and were aching.
“You know, I can’t fully appreciate your beauty with my hands tied up above my head. I would love to run them over your lovely, inviting thighs.” He lowered his voice and hoped he would convince her to untie him. He raised his hips under her, pushing himself up. She moaned above him and pushed back. He tried to hide the disgust surfacing to his eyes.
“I don’t think we are quite ready for that my love,” she murmured. “How about we slip off your boxers and enjoy each other for a little while first?” She glanced down at him and glimpsed the look in his eyes. Her face contorted, mixed with confusion and hurt, then anger. “You are trying to trick me!” she hissed.
“No, no I am not,” he replied too quickly. “Look, Katelyn. I don’t know why you are doing this or what you want,” he pleaded.
Her eyes iced over immediately. “My name is not Katelyn! Why did you have to ruin everything!” she yelled. “My name is Carlynn! You have said my name every single day for the last 427 days and today, today of all days you call me Katelynn?” She hastily moved off him and glared down at him from the side of the bed.
“Please,” he begged. “I will do whatever you want. Please just untie me.”
“No Cody! I don’t think so. All this time I have been here, right here! Every night, watching you sleep, loving you! Your heart spoke to mine! There was no need for any translation! Our hearts beat as one! I knew it from the moment I met you! Until now! You have deceived me! I thought you were different. You were my hero, my prince! I even rid the world of those who betrayed you! This is the thanks you give?” She turned away from him, her shoulders shaking. His mind raced. Those who betrayed him? His fellow firefighters! She killed them! Realization dawned on him, far too late. He felt a pang of pity for her but only for a moment. When she turned back around, the steel cold stare penetrated him. He stared at the gun she held. His heart stopped beating as the shot rang out and he felt the heat explode in his chest. His eyes grew wide and he tried to say he was sorry before darkness took him.
“They were all innocent,” he whispered. A tear slipped down his cheek.