Note: This is not a stand alone story, it's part of a series, and proper context will be difficult without reading the previous chapters in order.
"If my mouth wasn't so gross I'd kiss you right now" I said, a few tears still falling.
Amee leaned down and kissed me like I was her source for life, and she was almost on empty. Her lips said everything her words would've said if she was speaking, causing me let out a soft moan. She broke our kiss and I could see that she was barely holding it together, so I pulled her close and held her for several minutes stroking her hair, which helped her hold it off a little longer. She had been through a lot too. I loved the way she let all of her weight down on me when she laid on top of me. It made me think that she felt like her heart and feelings were safe with me. I hoped she never stopped doing that.
Amee sighed, then raised up and smiled a little, "I brushed your teeth twice while you were out, the second time just a couple of hours ago. I also washed your hair and bathed you, and washed your feet and cleaned under all of your nails. And I might have kissed and nibbled your toes," she flashed me a slightly coy look, when she saw me smile at that. "I've been monitoring your pupils, and paying attention to your actions and speech, watching for any problems from your concussion. I'm an RN and caregiver, remember?" Amee said, "this is what I do."
I nodded, "Mmhmm, well, Nurse Amee, I'm gonna take care of you too, as soon as I get out of here" I said mischievously, as I checked to see if the coast was clear, then pulled her down close again and slid my hands down the back of her yoga pants and caressed her soft, round ass and kissed her with just enough heat to make her squeak and shiver.
We thought we heard a noise, and she raised up quickly as I pulled my hands back. "Okay then!" she said, clearly flustered, "I'm gonna go see when you get to leave!"
"Yes please! And hurry back!" I said, with some playful excitement.
I saw our Property Manager stop Amee to talk to her, outside the door. Oops, her nipples were hard, sorry about that. He patted her shoulder and she nodded, looking like she was tearing up a little, and he leaned in and kissed her cheek and hugged her, then turned to come in my room as Amee turned and disappeared.
"July, I'm sure sorry about all this, and I thank God you're okay," he said kindly as he took my hand and held it.
"Thanks Gil," I said sweetly, "It means a lot for you to come and see me," I patted his hand. "Was anyone else hurt?" I asked, not having heard everything yet.
"No, thank goodness. The collapse involved four units, including yours, but the other two were unoccupied. I'm happy to say that your car is okay and didn't get a scratch sitting in your garage. It was a close call, but they pulled it back from the edge of the collapse with a tow truck, and it's parked under the covered parking near the tennis courts."
He paused and teared up a little, "I feel like I've known you your whole life, July. Your daddy and I were good friends. I'm sure glad you're alright, sweetheart." A tear snuck down his cheek, and I squeezed his hand and smiled. He bent down and kissed my forehead and I nearly melted. I grabbed his neck and kissed his cheek before he raised up standing straight again.
"Thank you, Gil," I cooed, "Dad loved you too, ya' know."
He nodded, and wiped his tears with a real cloth handkerchief that he'd pulled from his back pocket. I've always loved older folks. They dance to their own beat.
"I've moved you to another property, and Amee said she'll be staying with you, so I'll give her all the details. It's yours for as long as you girls need it, and I won't take a dime from either of you so don't even try it." He said, with a mildly stern look, then softened his look and added, "Your daddy would be proud of you about Amee," his eyes sparkled, "you're both very fine people, and I couldn't be happier for you. He woulda been too." He nodded and winked and turned and disappeared out the door
Did I mention I love older folks?
I was crying when Amee came back, causing her to panic and rush to my side.
"What's wrong?" she asked hurriedly.
"Gil!" I sobbed.
She relaxed and smiled warmly, nodding as she squeezed my hand. "Gil is a special man, that's for sure. I kinda have a crush on him."
"Me too!" I sniffled and tried to chuckle. "He's the sweetest man."
Amee kicked her shoes off and crawled up and spooned me from behind in the bed, "The Doctor will be in shortly. I gave Dana my credentials and she thinks he will release you into my care after he sees you. Gil moved us to a cottage just down the road from the condos. It's a one-story, so no steps or stairs to have to climb with that cast on your ankle. One of my employees is going to my actual home today and will be overnighting us some of my clothes and personal care and hygiene items. We're the same size so we can just share everything that I'm having her send." She was thinking, "There's a grocery delivery being made to the cottage as we speak, including some Ibuprofen, so we're all set for the short term, which is all we need to worry about today."
She remembered more, "Oh yeah, I gave Gil your keys, and he's bringing your car here to the hospital now, so we'll have it. My car didn't make it through the collapse," she frowned and shrugged. "Oh, and I also have your bag and phone...and mine....all of that fell on the kitchen floor next to me, so it didn't disappear when the condo fell apart."
I scooted over a bit and rolled over on my back so she could reach my lips with hers, and she gave me another long loving kiss that ended when the Doctor cleared his throat. We quickly broke it off and Amee rolled out of the bed and walked around and stood out of the way.
The Doctor seemed irritated with Amee for some reason, which irritated me.
"Are you family?" he asked Amee with a skeptical snark.
"I'm her caregiver," Amee replied, smiling, not being baited by his hostility.
"Oh, come on," I interrupted jokingly, "you're a little more than that," I flashed a sexy grin. I didn't like him or his tone, and wanted to get under his skin.
"Professionally or personally?" Dr Smartass challenged Amee with near disgust, ignoring my witty offering.
"Both," Amee said firmly, now staring at Dr Smartass, but still smiling.
Dana walked in, "Oh, hey Doctor," she was all smiles, "this is Amee Wynn, Miss Rayne's friend and private Nurse.....and the Owner and CEO of Medico Property Investments. She's our landlord, both here at the hospital, and the building your office is in."
My eyes went wide in disbelief and I looked at Amee.
Amee's eyes flashed a slight hint of pleasure, and nearly twinkled like stars above her strong-jawed smile. She glanced at me with a subtle satisfying nod. I was absolutely smitten.
"My apologies for my unkind behavior, Miss Wynn. We only seek to protect the privacy of our patients." Dr Smartass was red faced. "Please stay and have a seat," he said to Amee, in a soft pleasant tone.
"Pssshh!" I hissed, making Dana and Amee have to fight off a giggle.
Dana took my vitals and Dr Smartass looked in my eyes and checked my reflexes, and it wasn't long before I was in the passenger seat of the Audi as Amee drove us toward the cottage. We got Dana's number before we left and promised to get together with her soon.
I could see the emotion in Amee's face and eyes, and knew it wouldn't be long until she'd need to let some of it out. She'd lost the loves of her life just a year ago, and then almost lost me....the first person she'd been close to since then. She'd held it together this whole time. For me. I reached over and took her hand in mine and watched her as she drove. She felt me looking at her, and she got a pained look, "Please, July.....we're almost there." Her bottom lip was quivering and tears were swelling. "I just need a few more minutes to get us there and get you inside." She was almost pleading. Her breathing was shaky as her emotions threatened to overtake her. I squeezed her hand and let it go, and looked out the passenger window, giving her the emotional space she needed to complete her mission.
Our cottage wasn't a cottage at all. It was a huge, fabulous one-story house with a stunning ocean view from the covered porch that ran the full length of the rear of the home. Amee set my crutches aside and got me situated lying on the couch, letting out a soft whimper as she slid a pillow under my cast to elevate my ankle. She took a deep shaky breath and finally let herself make eye contact with me. I saw her face crumble and grabbed her hand and pulled her towards me just as her knees gave out and she collapsed on top of me with all her weight, and wailed. Agonizingly. Deep, hard sobs that racked both of our bodies. Parts of her worst fears and biggest heartbreaks spilling out of her.
I held her close and caressed her hair and back, and I cried too...hurt by her anguish. I planted occasional loving kisses on her forehead, just to keep reminding her I that was okay, and I was here. She cried for a long time, sometimes softly, and then harder sobs would fight their way back. I could only imagine what she'd gone through and how scared she must have been that I might die right in front of her, while she held my head above water. For four hours. Down on her knees and reaching forward, as a tropical storm was blasting her with wind and rain, and storm surge waves crashing into the pile of wreckage that was once our condos, just below. She'd earned an unlimited good cry.
"That's it baby, let it out," I whispered through my quiet tears, and she tightened her hold on me until she was literally clinging to me. I could tell she was fighting for control, but the involuntary sobs kept coming. I stroked her hair and started softly humming the melody to one of her favorite country songs that she'd played for me the other night, which made her emotional again, renewing the hard sobs.
"You remember my song?!!" She wailed, with shocked disbelief in her voice, nearly exhausted and unable to take any more emotional triggers, overwhelmed by how deeply it touched her. She sobbed hard again for several minutes as I continued to hum and comfort her. Before long, my comfort started having it's desired effect, and Amee's heavy breathing started to ease. I could feel her relaxing, little by little, and soon she was asleep on top of me. I knew she wasn't finished, but this was a good start. I kissed her cheek and faded off to sleep.
The rumble of the early morning thunderstorm rolling onshore shook the house, and quickly coaxed my eyelids open. I blinked away the confusion and remembered where I was, and became aware of Amee's warm body still on top of me, her face buried in my hair. She had undressed us at some point during the night because we were both naked. I laid there enjoying the feel and smell of her skin, until she moaned and snuggled me as she stirred from her slumber.
"Mmmm, I could get used to this," I cooed as she raised her head up and blinked at me. She smiled sleepily and kissed me, using her lips to say good morning. I loved that about her. She broke our kiss and stared at me like she was about to say something, but didn't.
Thunder rumbled again and the rain got louder on the roof.
I yawned and threw my arms up as I stretched and rolled my hips to the side. "Will you help me take a bath?" I asked innocently. "I'm having sex with a hot girl this morning and need to get ready." I said playfully.
"Oh my! Who's the lucky girl?" Amee flirted back, in a sqeaky morning voice.
