Derek was silent so long that Jake cautiously opened one eye to look at him. Derek was staring down into his, once again, full glass.
“Was she angry about it?” Derek asked.
“No, she thought she was a freak. I told her what she needed wasn’t wrong. It was a way for her to focus on something besides her fear for her mother. Then I showed her that she could come without any pain.”
Derek straightened. “You had sex with her again?”
Jake could feel the blood rush up into his face. This was totally different then locker-room talk about some girl he’d never see again. This was Lily, and as much as she meant to Jake, he knew she was like a sister to Derek.
“No, of course not. I just”—he waved his hand around—”took care of her.”
Derek nodded. “You said when you started…” Derek paused, his own face flushing. “You know, taking her…” He swallowed and subtly adjusted himself. “You said that you thought you really hurt her and tried to stop, right?”
Jake closed his eyes again. “Yeah, but I didn’t stop.”
“Why not?”
“Because Lily didn’t want me to stop. She begged me to keep going. She sounded so lost.” He felt shame swamp him.
“When you thought you really hurt her, did you enjoy that?”
“Fuck, no. But my cock didn’t care. And in the end, I did hurt her.”
Derek laid his hand on Jake’s arm. “No, in the end, you gave her exactly what she needed sexually. Then you gave her what she needed emotionally. Then you showed her that she had no reason to be ashamed or afraid of her sexuality while you denied yourself.”
Jake sighed. “When you put it like that, I sound great.”
They both laughed.
Jake got serious. “I got off on fucking her hard, Derek.” He turned distressed eyes on his best friend. “I knew I was causing her pain, and Jesus, man, I’ve never come so hard in my life.”
“You gave her exactly what she needed, and when you thought you were causing her pain without pleasure, you stopped, regardless of the fact that you were on the edge.”
Derek’s eyes lost focus as though he was looking at his own life. “The only time something is wrong sexually is when one person is taking what they need without thought to the needs of the other person.”
“Derek?”
He shook it off. “If Lily needs pain to deal with extreme emotional stress and you get off on it, too, I’d suggest doing some research, ‘cause you’re going to end up being a busy, busy boy.”
Although Joyce’s check-in time for surgery was 6:00 a.m. it was after 9:00 a.m. before she was taken from the pre-op area into surgery. Lily spent those three hours with her mother.
Tom visited as well, his mood completely opposite of Lily and their mother. He was a nervous wreck, and knowing that their mother needed to stay relaxed, Lily gently asked him to go in the waiting room. She used the personal nature of some of the pre-operation activities as an excuse, but really it was because Lily didn’t want his obvious and understandable fear to affect Joyce’s forced cheer.
Lily was able to match her mom joke for joke. When there was a pause in the conversation, Lily brought up light-hearted topics, movies they’d seen, television, friends and family, anything to keep Joyce smiling.
The only time it got emotional was when the orderly finally came to wheel Joyce into the surgical suite. Lily hugged Joyce hard, and although starting to go to la-la land on the pre-op drugs, Joyce hugged back with as much fervor.
She raised her hand to Lily’s face. “Don’t worry, beansprout. Everything will be fine.”
“I know, Mom,” Lily said, blinking back tears. “I love you.”
The two women separated, and the orderly began moving Joyce down the hall. Her mother’s “I love you, too” carried down the silent corridor.
The nurse told Lily that her family had been moved into a different waiting room. The original waiting room was for people waiting for outpatient procedures or pre-op for more serious procedures. The other room was for families of patients who would be staying in the hospital after their surgery was completed.
Lily walked into the waiting room and found everyone there— Tom, Derek, Jake, even Trish and her husband James. Everyone stood up when she entered. Trish rushed forward and hugged Lily, the kick she felt from Trish’s rounded belly even more of a comfort than the hug. James gave her a quick hug as well.
“Thanks for coming, you guys,” Lily said.
“I can’t stay,” James said apologetically. “I just wanted to see you before I went to work.” He gave her another hug. “Hang in there, honey.”
“Thanks,” she said. “You didn’t need to come, but it means a lot to me that you did.”
James shrugged, embarrassed. Then he hugged her again, kissed his wife, kissed her belly, waved good-bye to the others, and left.
Lily hugged Tom for a long time and then reached for Derek. He had so often been her bulwark in the past. Lily clung to him and shuddered.
* * * *
Jake was trying not to be irritated. Lily was clinging to Derek like a vine, and Jake hadn’t even gotten the chance to comfort her himself.
He looked over to Tom and saw the same irritation on his face. Tom caught Jake’s eye and smoothed out his facial features. Interesting.
Finally, Lily stepped away from Derek and right into Jake’s arms. She felt so small and slight to him. Although she hugged him hard, she didn’t cling like she had to Derek.
Jake knew that jealousy had no place here, but he just couldn’t help it. On one hand it was good Lily wasn’t relying on Jake for emotional support. He didn’t want her to fall in love with him since their relationship was just an affair. On the other hand, it was like a slap to him that she would rather get comforted by Derek than him.
They all sat down in the more comfortable chairs. Unlike the main surgical waiting area, this one had couches and plush faux leather chairs. Jake also noticed they were clustered in groupings to give families more privacy. Lily sat on the couch next to Derek while Jake and Tom took chairs. Trish had left for work as well, but since her office was based in the hospital, she’d check in throughout the morning.
Although they started out as the only group, as the morning progressed, more of the little seating areas filled up. At one point, an older woman and young man came into the room and sat close together on the couch. The woman had clearly been weeping, and the man had a controlled, stoic look about him.
Not even a half hour after they entered the room, a doctor came in and headed straight for them. It was clear by the look on his face that the news was not good. He asked them to follow him, and at that, the young man’s control cracked. Tears streamed down his face.
Jake saw Lily shudder. She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. Although Derek was there, Jake got up and sat on Lily’s other side. Because she wasn’t sitting directly in the middle of the couch, Jake had to wedge himself in between her body and the arm of the couch.
Lily didn’t shift over to give him more room. Instead, she leaned her body against Jake, as though trying to climb into his skin.
* * * *
Lily was shaken by what had happened to the other people in the room. Someone had died. Her husband, his father, a friend, a grandparent maybe. Someone who was loved had died.
When she felt Jake squeeze in next to him, she leaned against him. Her arms were wrapped around her knees, and she stayed that way. His arm wrapped around her back, and she pulled her legs into a tighter ball and placed her face on her knees.
His hold was comforting. She breathed deeply and took his scent into her lungs. His light cologne drove out the antiseptic smell of the hospital. She couldn’t help but think about the last time they’d been together. She was still embarrassed about what happened, but she couldn’t deny the comfort of his arms now.
She tried not to think about the night before, but it was difficult. Her sore bum reminded her of her humiliating behavior. Jake may have tried to reassure her that she wasn’t a freak, but Lily didn’t really believe him. He hadn’t been in her head when he had abruptly breached her the night before. The pain was beyond a burn or a pinch. It had been white-hot lightning, and it had brought her to a physical and emotional place she didn’t even know was possible. She had been stripped of herself. When Jake had begun to pump into her, stroking her at the same time, the pain had joined with exquisite pleasure, and she had been rebuilt.
The lovely orgasm he’d given her later had, in some ways, reinforced how wrong she was inside. If she were capable of getting such fantastic pleasure, why would she ever need the other kind of pleasure?
It was after two when Joyce’s doctor entered the waiting room. He looked tired, but he was smiling.
They all stood up, and Lily and Tom stepped forward to talk to him, the others clustered behind them. Trish had just gotten off work and had been waiting with them.
“Your mother came through the surgery with flying colors,” he said. “There were no problems at all.”
Tom snatched Lily into a strangling hug.
When he let her go, Lily asked, “Can we see her?”
“She’s in post-op right now. She’s groggy but awake. They’ll be moving her to her room within the hour, and then you can visit as much as you’d like. You know it will be a couple of days before she can go home. Then she’ll need some home care.”
Trish stepped forward. “I’m a home-health nurse,” she said. “I’ll be there daily to help with her drainage tubes and wound care.”
The doctor smiled. “Then she’ll be in good hands.” He placed his hand on Tom’s arm. “I’ll be checking in on Joyce every day until she leaves the hospital.”
With a nod, he left.
* * * *
Later, after visiting with her very groggy mother, Lily headed home. She was surprised and disappointed to find Jake’s truck wasn’t in her driveway.
Lily opened her door and stepped into the house. When arms circled her from behind, Lily screamed and tried to turn.
She felt a warm chuckle and knew it was Jake. “Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Recognizing the suppressed laughter in his tone, Lily said, “You scared the crap out of me.”
Jake’s chuckle turned into an outright belly laugh. “You jumped like I’d poked you with a cattle prod.”
“Yeah,” she asked in a joking tone. “How many times have you seen someone goosed with a cattle prod?”
Once he quieted, Lily asked, “Where’s your truck?”
This sobered Jake the rest of the way. “I left it at Derek’s house and walked over.” When Lily didn’t say anything, Jake felt the need to explain. “I’m not ashamed of what we’re doing. I just don’t want you to have to explain to Tom what’s going on.”
After another beat of silence, Lily said, “Of course. Good call.”
She was trying not to sound as hurt as she felt. Jake turned her gently and kissed her. His warm tongue pushed gently into her mouth and swept over her tongue and teeth. Lily grabbed him tighter.
“I just thought you’d want some company tonight,” he said softly. Then he began nibbling at her neck right under her ear.
Lily shivered.
Irritated at her own susceptibility to him, she said tartly, “Don’t do me any favors,” and once again tried to wiggle free.
Jake held on tighter and swirled his tongue in her ear. “I’m doing me the favor,” he said. “I can’t wait to be inside you again.”
Lily felt herself melting like goo. “That sounds really good,” she said.
Jake grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it up over her head. When his warm hands ran down her sides, Lily felt her nipples bead.
She turned around, wound her arms around his neck, and pulled him down for a kiss. Still holding her shirt, Jake grabbed her butt in both hands.
At his tug, Lily jumped up and wrapped her legs around him.
“God, you feel so good.”
Jake carried her into the bedroom as she rotated on him. “Fuck, Lily, you’re going to make me come if you keep doing that.”
In a quick movement, Jake tossed Lily on the bed. She giggled as she bounced. Jake wasted no time stripping off his shirt. Lily’s mouth went dry at the sight of his hot body, all rippling muscles and smooth skin. Although Jake had a nice little treasure trail leading to the prize, his upper pectorals were smooth and tanned.
Jake quickly shucked his jeans and stood there gloriously naked. Unable to resist, Lily turned on her hands and knees, her head the same height as his groin. Jake’s cock was pointed right at her, the head glistening with pre-cum. Unable to resist, Lily used the tip of her tongue to catch the drop. Jake groaned.
Lily then shifted her head to run her tongue from the top of his balls up to the crown. When she took the mushroom head into her mouth, Jake jerked and grabbed her silky hair. He fought not to fuck her mouth.
Lily sucked on the head and ran her tongue under the sensitive crown. Then she abruptly pushed forward until he reached the soft pallet at the back of her throat. Lily was prepared for a gag reflex, so before she could choke, she pulled back.
She went back to running her tongue along the bottom of his cock. When she reached his balls, she took one in her mouth gently. The light fur covering him made her tongue tingle. When Jake’s legs started to tremble, she moved back up to suck on his cock again.
“As much as I love this, I want to be inside of you when I come.” Jake sounded like he spoke through gritted teeth.
Lily felt his warm hands on her back and suddenly her bra gave way. She sat up and slid the bra off her arms. Knowing what he wanted, she leaned back and unbuttoned her jeans. Before she could slide the zipper all the way down, he was peeling them off, along with her panties.
As soon as the pants cleared her legs, Jake spread her knees. She knew she would never get enough of the feel of his warm, wet tongue on her pussy.
Jake knelt on the floor and tugged her bottom toward the end of the bed. His mouth was ravenous, alternating between deep tongue fucks and slurping licks. He reached up and started plucking at Lily’s nipples.
“Oh, God, oh, God,” she kept chanting. When she started grinding into his face, Jake moved one of his hands down to rub her clit while the other continued to pinch her nipple.