Drake. His house. None of it was familiar and he shook his head. “Good to know,” he managed to say with a smile.
“The w… Ariel, has she been here long?”
“Not immediately, but she was deployed to the Middle East. Once she came back, yes, she’s been here pretty much all of her free time.”
“Middle East?” Memories tingled. “She’s a Marine.”
“Yes.”
So he knew some things but not others. His relationship with Ariel turned up nothing. Or about her. Other than she was a Marine. He glanced to the door, hoping she’d come back in. Something he continued to wish for even as he drifted off.
* * * *
Over the next few days many people visited. His memory hadn’t healed and nurses told him Ariel sat with him as he slept. He realised he had to change his sleeping pattern.
It wasn’t an easy thing for him to do but it worked and he woke to find her dozing in the corner chair. For a moment—okay, a few—he watched her. Everything in him was drawn to her.
He moved his fingers and angled the bed up higher. Her eyes were on him, sharp and alert. With a graceful motion, she rose and walked to his side before taking a seat.
“How are you feeling?”
“Sore.” He gestured down his body. “Guess a shattered hip and leg will do that to a man.”
“Reckon so.”
“Tell me. Are we in a relationship?”
A wry smile as she fixed the pin on her shirt. It was familiar. The flames and the letters PP arranged in a shield.
“No.”
That didn’t seem right. “Are you sure?”
Her smile was wider now. “Quite. Would you like some water?”
He observed her as she poured him some then offered him the straw. The scent of lilacs surrounded him, bringing desire and comfort to him. Tuck—he preferred that name to Pierce—sipped and laid his head back once finished.
“Did we have a relationship?”
“For a time.”
“And you broke up with me why?”
She retook her seat. He decided he favoured her hair loose not drawn back as she wore it today.
“Why do you assume I broke up with you and not the other way around? Have you regained your memories?”
“No, I haven’t. I assumed it went that way because while I can’t recall much currently I’d like to think I’m not foolish enough to let you go.”
She didn’t seem impressed.
He shrugged. “You asked.”
“Maybe I’m a cold-hearted bitch.”
“You wouldn’t be here if you were.” That he was positive about.
She studied her nails. “Do you really think it productive to ask these questions?”
“Only if I want to learn what fool thing I was dumb enough to do which drove you away from me.”
She was clearly uncomfortable. “There wasn’t the respect I needed in a relationship.”
He turned his head so he could see her without straining his eyes. “I didn’t respect you?” More words that didn’t ring right to him.
“It was a few things.”
“Like?” He coughed. “No way I cheated.”
Her expression gave him pause.
“Shit. I cheated? On you?” No way, he wasn’t buying it.
“I don’t know,” she said softly.
There was more to it than that. “You thought I was.”
She cracked her neck. “I had suspicions.”
“If I did, I’m sorry. I know you probably don’t care but it doesn’t feel right in here”—he touched his heart—“that I would have done so.”
She lifted a shoulder. “Like I said. I had no proof, only suspicion.”
“And had you proof?”
“We wouldn’t be having this conversation and you wouldn’t be trying to remember me.”
He held her gaze. “I
will
remember you.”
“I’m sure you will.” She checked her watch.
“Tell me about you.”
“Me? What about me?”
“Anything. And us. Tell me about us. What we liked to do and all that.” He winked. “I’m guessing there was a lot of sex.”
She didn’t comment, just narrowed her gaze a bit. He asked again for her to talk.
“Which do you want? About me or us?” She sipped from his glass, something he was happy to witness.
“All.” He yawned. “I want to know it all.”
She sat back and drummed her fingers along the chair’s arm. “We met for the first time a bit over two years ago when I moved into the place across the hall from you and Steve.”
He remembered that name. Not so much the man, but since he’d stopped by a few times, he did now. “My roommate.”
“And friend, yes.” Her fingers stilled. “We hit it off and would hang out together, share meals, things like that.”
“We dated for that entire time?”
A short bark of laughter escaped her. “No. You…” She licked her lips and stared at the ceiling. “…led a very active social life.”
“You’re saying I slept with a lot of women.”
Her grin came, a mysterious flash of white. “Maybe it was men.”
He chuckled.
Feels good to do that.
“No way, babe. I was not wanting men. Not given how I’m trying to figure out how to make a pass at you now and see if I can convince you for a little hospital extra-curricular.”
Another brief smile. “How do you intend to pull that off?”
“Give you puppy dog eyes and say it itches below the casts?”
“I could get you a clothes hanger.”
“Your touch or nothing, babe.”
“Sorry then. No extra-curricular will be happening.”
“Damn. Fine then, tell me more.”
“We hung out at baseball games, hockey and football. Most sports.”
“Basketball?”
“You and Steve would go to Spurs games. They’re your team.”
“When did we date?” He moved his fingers. “How long?”
“Started in the summer and it ended on Thanksgiving.”
Geez.
What kind of ass was he that she ended it on a holiday? “Were we going to have a second go?”
“No.”
He reached for her hand, first time he’d done so—to his personal recollection—and curved his fingers around hers. She watched him without any expression, which gave him a hint of what she was thinking.
“Can I change your mind?”
She squeezed his hand before disengaging them. “You have more important things to focus on than me.” Ariel brushed some of his hair away from his face. “I have to get going. I’ll see you.”
He grabbed her again and pulled her close. They were nose to nose when he cupped the back of her head, fingers smoothing along her skin.
“Will you hurt me if I kiss you?”
“I might.”
“Good thing I’m already in a hospital then.”
He closed the distance and captured her mouth. She opened beneath his pressure and he sank his tongue into the heat he found. Flashes of memory hit him as if he were flicking through a camera’s data. Images of him and her locked in erotic positions. His body reacted painfully and instantly. A groan slipped from him and she broke away.
“Goodbye, Tuck.” She walked out.
It was only after she had left that he realised a nurse stood near, waiting. He looked at her.
“Yes?”
“Just time for your meds.” She gave him a kind smile. “I figured they could wait for the kiss.”
He was okay with that. As long as she didn’t have to peer under the blanket— she was about the same age as his mother and he had no plans for letting her see his erection.
“She’s a sweet one. And cute. Girlfriend?” She handed him the pills then topped off his glass of water Ariel had poured earlier.
“My future wife and mother of my children.” He took his pills and reached for the drink she held out.
“Such an adorable couple.” She waited until he’d swallowed them all before taking her leave.
Tuck leant back and replayed the kiss in his head. Ariel smelt like lilacs and tasted like heaven. And yes, they were an adorable couple.
Chapter Sixteen
Ariel carried the two bags of groceries to her vehicle. A cold wind whipped around her and she merely wanted to get home and grab some sleep. Much needed sleep. Most of her free time had been spent at the hospital with Tuck.
He was remarkably upbeat given what had happened. He’d had pins placed in his hip and legs and was working on walking now. February had just begun and she was ready for April or so, when the weather was much nicer.
She put the bags in the back then closed the hatch. Fighting off a yawn, she got in behind the wheel. Today, she’d had a shitty day. Spending time with Tuck would have put her in a better mood but she didn’t have time to visit. He was different and she understood it was because he was trying to recall the things he’d forgotten. It was very weird hanging out with him when she was the only one who knew what they’d gone through and done together.
Daily he asked her for specifics on reasons for their break-up. She didn’t expound on it. If he didn’t remember, there was no point in bringing it up.
“Let it go and get home, Ariel,” she told herself as she stared at her reflection in the rear-view.
She drove to her new place. A small studio apartment. It wasn’t bad but she hated having most of her things in storage. After arriving, she carried in her bags and had just finished putting her things away when her doorbell rang. A glance to the monitor and she smiled at the face she saw.
“Hey, Steve,” she said opening the door.
“Hey, stranger. Got a minute?”
She waved him in. “Get you a drink?” Ariel closed the door.
“Please.”
She popped open two beers and passed one along. “What’s up?”
“Tuck comes home tomorrow.”
“That’s wonderful to hear.”
He drank some beer. “It is.”
“But?” she prompted.
“I have to leave for three days. I don’t want him alone.”
Her belly tightened. “What is it you want from me?”
“Stay with him. Keep an eye and stop him from trying to do too much.”
“I don’t know, Steve.”
“You can stay in my room. He needs…us.”
She toyed with her bottle. “So this would begin tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
There wasn’t a way for her to refuse. She couldn’t. Not if she wanted to ever look at herself again without feeling shame. “Okay, I’m in. But I have to work in the morning.”
“Thank you.”
“Wanna stay for dinner?” She’d missed him and wanted to catch up.
Steve hugged her. “I hoped you’d ask. Smells delicious. What is it?”
“Slow cooker ribs.”
“What can I do?”
“Salad stuff. Make yourself at home. I need a shower and change. Be right back.” He toasted her with his beer.
Standing below the shower spray, she closed her eyes and braced her hands along the wall tiles.
Are you sure you’re doing the right thing?
“Nope. Well, right thing? Yes. Smart? No.”
Can you handle it?
“No choice, I have to.” She began washing and tried not to think about Tuck. Or anything they’d done together.
Shower and dinner over, Ariel was horny as she headed to her room almost immediately after Steve had left. Naked, she crawled beneath her blankets and grabbed one of her vibrators. Turning it on, she ran it over her pussy, shuddering with a mix of anticipation and pleasure.
“Damn you, Tuck Carter.”
She closed her eyes and focused on a mental memory of Tuck as she used
yet another
set of batteries to bring herself to orgasm.
* * * *
“How much did he pay you to stay here?” Tuck asked as he slowly made his way from his room to where she’d just put their dinner in the oven.
“Nothing.”
“So then why?”
“Because Steve asked me.” She smacked his hand when he reached for a beer. “None while on your meds. Water, tea, juice, or Coke.” She rolled her eyes. “Or whatever kind he has in there.”
“What?”
She was unmoved by his astonishment. “Steve gave me the list of alloweds and not alloweds.”
“Bastard.”
“I’m sure he’s very hurt by your words.”
“There’s always tomorrow.”
Ariel poured herself some tea then returned the pitcher to the fridge. “I’m working from here the next few days. Brought all I need to do that.” His expression had her smirking, only it fell away when his gaze turned molten.
“So all day, it’s just you and me?”
Heat flared in her belly and her clit throbbed. Ignoring those issues as well as her breasts growing heavy with want, she smiled. “Yes. Steve said you would be handling some things as well.”
“And if I work naked?”
“Then you work naked.” She turned to the fridge and pulled out some fruit.
“You know you’re interested to see if I do.”
She put the items down and arched an eyebrow. “Do it.”
“Is that a challenge?”
Would he do that? “Take it as you will,” she said.
“My scars won’t offend you?”
Ariel didn’t like the nervousness she picked up in his tone. “First, scars would never bother me, nor should they bother anyone worth a damn. Second, since I won’t be looking at you, it’s a moot point.”
“Care to make a wager on that, babe?”
She faced him and arched a brow. “What’s the bet?”
“When you lose”—he raked his gaze over her—“you give me the truth on what broke us up.”
“And when I win?”
“Not happening. And I’m so confident, you can have whatever you want.”
Oh, the temptation.
She held out her hand. “Deal. You’re going to owe me big.”
“We’ll see,” he said with a decadent chuckle. “We will see about that.”
“Yes we shall.” She turned away from him and focused on fixing the fruit salad. These three days would not be boring, that was already obvious.
* * * *
Tuck rubbed his hip, scowling at the scars beneath his fingertips. He could hear Ariel as she fixed breakfast. This was her last day here. It sucked that he couldn’t remember what it was he’d done to her. All he knew was that she was making this recovery so much better. Bearable. Doable.
Beneath his blankets, his cock twitched and stiffened. He wanted her. Craved the feel of her pussy gripping his shaft. Heat curled around him. He knew they’d been together, for he continually had images of them, naked limbs entwined. Faces contorted in the throes of passion. But he couldn’t
remember
how it felt to make love to her. A fact he couldn’t bear.