Page 6 of Remnants

Nora

FOUR

Groaning in pain, I lean against the sliding door that leads to my small backyard and watch Sam run outside, terrorizing the poor squirrels.

Sam’s a gentle giant, not a mean bone in that massive body, but the little critters that come around our backyard don’t realize he means them no harm.

So the big oaf gallops around trying to make friends, and the birds and squirrels run like he’s about to turn them into his next meal.

I wince and rub my aching knee. My last client was a killer on my leg.

A large man getting started on a massive dragon piece over his chest. I had to stand over him as I worked on hundreds of tiny scales, and my body just doesn’t handle it very well.

He was a nice guy and tried to keep my mind preoccupied.

He even offered to lay on the floor for me.

It was sweet, but completely embarrassing.

My knee is swollen and I want nothing more than to take my prosthetic off and prop my leg up. But I’m not ready to tell Kaitlin about my leg yet. I’m not ready for her to look at me differently. She already eyes my cane every time I see her, and that’s bad enough.

I look behind me when I hear the delicate tapping at my front door.

I mask the pain on my face as I grab my bottle of painkillers off the counter and swallow one before straightening the best I can as I walk to the door.

When I open the door I can’t help the amused grin forming due to the pretty woman before me.

Kaitlin stands in grey yoga pants and a green shirt that says “Bakers Gonna Bake” on the front.

“That shirt is cute as shit.” I laugh while letting her in. She giggles and brushes the front of her shirt as she walks past me. I inhale her scent: orange blossom and cedarwood. It’s an orgasm for my nose every time she’s near.

I watch her as she stands in my living room that connects to the kitchen.

My small home is dimly lit. I don’t like loud noises or bright lights so I keep the lights soft and curtains drawn.

I suddenly feel somewhat self-conscious as I realize how her house is a giant mansion and I asked her over to my hobbit hole.

“Oh, wow. Is that your military graduation photo?” I freeze at her question before looking to see her staring at a box on the floor I hadn’t finished unpacking. I inwardly groan as she picks the photo up.

“Uh, yeah. That would be the one.” I laugh dryly as I study her face. Her eyebrows are drawn together, forming an adorable wrinkle as she looks over the photo.

“I like you better now,” she states firmly.

I laugh in surprise. “What?”

She blushes but shrugs. “You look calmer now. There’s a lot of anger in those eyes.”

I feel a burning sensation in my chest. There was anger in those eyes. Anger that I had to go into the military to avoid my abusive, homophobic father. It was that or live on the streets. I didn’t want to go. I was so scared, and rightfully so.

“Well, most nineteen year olds are full of anger.” I shrug, trying to make light of the matter as I sit down on the edge of my couch. If I don’t get off my knee soon, I won't be able to walk tomorrow.

“How long were you in?”

“Three years, four months, and three days,” I say almost instinctively. I watch as she sets the picture, so gently, back in the box.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude.” I feel a pang of guilt as I watch her twist her fingers together. As I look at her hands, I notice her ring is missing. Fuck, I shouldn’t feel good about that. She’s probably in a happy marriage and I’m being disgusting.

“You’re not intruding, Junebug,” I say softly. “My time in the military, as I’m sure you can guess, was not great.” She raises a brow as she sits on the large ottoman next to me.

“I don’t know anything besides you were in the army and you received several medals. Just what is written on the Black Widow Ink website.”

“You didn’t search me?” I ask in shock. Kaitlin shook her head.

“No I… figured your history is something that should come from you, when and if you feel like talking about it. Besides, some of those things they talk about when telling stories are one-sided.”

“That box has my photo from graduation, my service pins, letters of recognition, photos of me overseas, and different medals because they think I’m some sort of hero.

” I sigh as I hear someone pull into the driveway—it must be the pizza.

I grunt while starting to stand up. “I gave my life, my sanity, and my body for this country and in return I get a disability check, a box full of crap, and a broken brain.” I go to grab the pizza but Kaitlin pushes me back down on the couch as she gets up.

“I’ll get it.” I watch as she stands and makes her way to my front door. I listen to her sweetly exchange pleasantries with the guy before wishing him a good night and shutting the door.

“I could’ve got it,” I say as I grab my cane and stand up to head to the kitchen. My knee screams in protest but I ignore the fucker. Kaitlin raises a brow as she sets the pizza on my counter.

“How bad is your leg?” she asks casually while looking in my cabinets while frowning as she finds my grey plates. Evidently my dish placement displeases her and that knowledge makes me smile a little.

“What makes you think it’s bad?” I ask while opening the fridge and grabbing a couple beers.

“Well the fact that you have a cane instead of crutches.” She gives me a half shrug.

“I have crutches, too. I just don’t use them often.” I watch as she hands me a plate with a couple slices of pizza.

“I got this pizza for us both, Junebug.” I frown at her empty hands.

She blushes and shakes her head. “I’m on a diet.” She says it so shamefully and soft—like a dirty secret. “I can’t eat that, I’ll end up bloated and I have weigh-in when James gets—”

Oh, that was a slip. She definitely didn’t mean to say his name. I stare at her graying skin and her widening eyes as I take a sip from my bottle.

“Your husband weighs you?” I feel a surge of anger and protectiveness wash over me because, well—fuck! This woman is a knockout. She is sweet and gorgeous with a soft body I would kill to hold. And here she is, too worried to eat pizza and drink a beer?

“I-It’s not like that,” she stammers. “I just have self control issues and James is a doctor so he makes sure I’m eating properly.”

I want to fight her, to tell her that is absolute bullshit, that doctor’s rarely know anything about nutrition and no doctor would tell her to abstain from pizza on occasion to make sure she made weigh-in.

“Tell you what.” I let out a breath, trying to regulate my heart rate. “Eat pizza and drink with me tonight, and I’ll show you how to burn it off tomorrow.”

“Really?” She beams at me, hope written all over her face.

I nod. “I eat more than my brother does, trust me, I know how to stay in shape. But that’s only if you want to. The weigh-in obviously matters to you.”

“Yeah.” She chuckles softly while tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “Just trying to get attractive ya know?”

“Please, you’re already attractive.” I internally wince. I didn’t mean to let that slip. Kaitlin seems unfazed by it though.

“Okay, I will eat with you.” She smiles. “But first I gotta pee. Where is your restroom?”

I point to the door down the hall. It’s not until I hear the door click that my brain starts working and I remember what’s in there. My bathtub, my wheelchair, and several of my creams and sleeves for my prosthetic. My stomach drops as I wait for her to come back out.

Kaitlin walks back into the kitchen and smiles at me. “Alright.” She laughs. “I’ll eat pizza, but I am not a beer drinker.” I stare at her skeptically. Is she just ignoring what she saw in there?

“You’re not going to ask?” I grab her a hard seltzer and she beams as she takes the can. She follows me back to the couch and we sit our food on the coffee table.

“If you want me to know, you’ll tell me. Otherwise, it’s not my business.” She shrugs while taking a sip of her drink.

I let out a sigh. “I was injured while overseas.” I stare down at my pizza, suddenly not hungry. “The outcome was pretty bad.” I lift my pant leg slightly, showing the lower portion of the prosthetic.

I look over at Kaitlin. She is staring down at my leg, expression soft. But the pity or disgust I’m waiting for never comes.

“Does it hurt?” she asks softly.

“Uh… yeah. I mean, it is almost always uncomfortable, but when I have to wear this for too long, it becomes pretty painful,” I state while patting the prosthetic.

“Like now?”

I hesitate before nodding slowly. “Yeah, I just had a long day standing at the shop, so it is hurting.”

“You know you can take it off if you need to.” I freeze and look at her. She is staring right at me, big blue eyes dancing in the dimmed yellow lighting. I give her a pat on her thigh and plaster on my smile.

“Junebug, I never start taking things off on the first date.” I laugh at her look of absolute terror.

“Oh my god! I am so sorry! I didn’t mean—I just thought—”

“Hey, hey, Kaitlin.” I place my hand on her shoulder and give her a squeeze. “I was teasing you. It’s okay, calm down.”

We are still for a moment, my hand resting on her shoulder.

I look from her shoulder, to her heavy-lidded eyes, down to her full, slightly parted lips.

Slowly, I move my hand from her shoulder to the side of her neck.

Her gasp sends a current through me. All I can focus on is her lips and that one little freckle on the bottom one that I want to lick.

I rub my thumb against her jawline as she closes her eyes and leans against me.

She blinks open her eyes and they’re glistening with unshed tears.

“What’s wrong?” My voice comes out as a husky whisper. Her bottom lip quivers as she gives me the most heartbreaking smile I’ve ever witnessed.

“I just haven't been touched…” Her voice trails off but I follow her gaze to my hand. Her husband isn’t touching her? I feel annoyed by this news. She deserves to be worshiped, caressed, and loved. I bring my thumb up to her cheek and wipe away a tear.

“Haven’t been touched where, Junebug?” I softly pull her neck, ushering her closer and fuck, am I loving the fact that she’s not fighting me.

“Anywhere,” she huffs. “I don't think I’ve been kissed in six months—not that it was enjoyable then anyway...” she mutters the last part.

“Let me,” I offer softly, causing her eyes to go wide. It’s as if I’ve popped the dream-like state we were both in.

“What?” she breathes, her face turning red.

“If he’s not giving you what you need, let me,” I say simply.

“Nora, I’m not a cheater. And I’m not going to leave him.”

I roll my eyes while dropping my hand, already missing the warmth.

“I’m not asking you to leave him.” Though I can’t figure out why she would stay if he’s not touching her.

My mind goes back to her talking about the diet she’s on and her wanting to be more attractive.

Is that something he put in her head? “I just thought we could have a casual friends thing.” I watch her chew on her bottom lip.

Is she actually considering this? Part of me is screaming at myself.

I am not a friends with benefits kind of person.

And I am not a homewrecker. But for whatever reason, Kaitlin calls to me in a way a siren would sing to the ships passing by.

“Let me think about it,” she finally says. I nod and am about to reach for my beer when she swings a leg over me and sits on my lap. My eyes go wide and my mouth drops in shock at the act.

“Am I hurting you?” Her eyes are full of concern and I feel her shifting to get off. Quickly, I grip her hips, holding her still on me.

“N-No!” I choke out, my voice hoarse. “I just, thought you were going to think—”

“I am,” she interrupts. “But shouldn’t we have like a trial run, make sure this is even going to be enjoyable for each other.” The breath wooshes out of me. Any thoughts of being calm and in charge have suddenly vanished. I nod slowly and she gives me a small smile.

“Do we kiss now?” Her voice, suddenly shy, lights a fire in my core. I feel myself growing wetter by the second. Deciding words are no longer needed, I grip the back of her head and pull her to my lips. Her lips are soft and full, and fucckk, I never want to let her go.

Kaitlin pulls herself closer to me while slipping her tongue into my mouth.

I release a needy whine while circling my tongue around hers.

I run my hands over her thighs, up her hips, and under her sweater.

I feel her body tense and I’m about to ask what’s wrong when she jerks away as if I’ve struck her.

“What am I doing?” she whispers while getting up off me.

“Katie—”

“I have to go.” Panic fills me as I try to get up. Kaitlin runs out of the living room and as I get up I hear the front door slam shut.

“God damnit!”