Page 69 of Tell Me Your Desires

Chapter Thirty-Six

One month later…

“Hey, babe, c’mere!”

Anya poked her head around the sliding glass door and eyed Jaime on the floating bed. “We just tested that thing. You can’t be ready for round two already.”

Jaime grinned and wiggled her eyebrows. “Is that a challenge?” She had been out of the hospital for a little over three weeks now. Although she wasn’t fully recovered from being shot, Anya had been an exceptional nurse. Strict, but exceptional.

Jaime still recalled that pang of embarrassment when Anya had asked the doctor if sex could be included in Jaime’s physical therapy routine. Jaime had quickly overcome that embarrassment when her doctor had agreed that light to moderate sexual activity could be beneficial to her recovery.

However, Lady A had rules. Jaime was not allowed to overexert herself. They had a firm amount of time in which they could…exercise. And if Anya caught a glimmer of pain in Jaime, they would stop immediately. Jaime had fleetingly wondered if she’d have to sign a contract just to cop a feel.

“Jaime?”

“Huh?” Jaime looked up, surprised to see Anya standing right next to her.

“Are you okay?” Anya touched Jaime’s forehead and cheek with the back of her hand, suppressing a laugh when Jaime swatted her hand.

“I’m fine. You made me think about being naked with you, and I forgot how to breathe for a minute.” Jaime patted the space next to her. “Sit with me. I wanna show you something.”

Anya rolled her eyes and crawled over Jaime’s outstretched legs. “I swear if this is another cat toy…”

“It’s not!” Jaime turned the iPad so that Anya could see the screen. “It’s a cat sanctuary! Look at this! Derek would love this. All I’d have to do is knock a hole in the wall for the bubble porthole. The shelves will be a piece of cake. And look!” Jaime zoomed in. “It has a bridge!”

“You’re spoiling him. He’s gained ten pounds since you moved in, and he sits on your lap when we watch TV! Or was that your goal? To make me the spare human?”

Jaime set the iPad aside and turned to Anya. “I missed everything you said after the moved in comment. I…is that what you think I’ve done? Have I overstayed my welcome?”

“No, baby, that’s not what I meant by that. I love having you here. Obviously, the little porker Derek loves you. I know you probably miss your independence…”

“N-no.” Jaime cleared her throat. “I mean, being here feels…good. I’m beginning to wonder if my apartment is too crowded, you know? Too many ghosts and too many memories. Maybe it’s time to move on from there, but don’t worry, I’m not asking to move in here permanently.”

Even though Jaime would never expect that, she admitted that she didn’t hate the idea of staying here with Anya and Derek.

In fact, Jaime dreaded the day when she would be well enough to leave and be on her own again.

Though the truth was…that was now. She just enjoyed waking up next to Anya.

It had become a drug for her, and honestly, she’d never slept so well in her life.

“You think it’s too soon?” Curiously, Anya liked the idea of Jaime moving in. Would it work between them? Who the hell knew? It had been her and Derek for so long that Anya wasn’t sure she knew how to live with another human. Yet, she found herself willing to try, and that was a surprise to her.

“You…don’t?” Jaime guessed it was official.

The moment that question had left Anya’s lips, Jaime had known the answer.

Anya didn’t think it was too soon, and that was that.

Even though Jaime believed she had moved Taylor in with her too early on in their relationship, Anya was the opposite of Taylor.

She was also quickly becoming everything Jaime had imagined for her future.

Just play it cool and don’t make a fool of yourself. “Babe?”

Anya shrugged. “I heard that if you’re involved in a stressful situation together, it adds at least a year to the relationship. So, maybe we’re a little behind.”

Jaime pursed her lips to keep herself from laughing. “Did you just make that up?”

“Maybe. But I’m a doctor, so I can do that.

” Anya considered their age difference, as well as the fact that Jaime hadn’t lived since Taylor died.

Maybe she needed time to herself, to be free of the constant guilt and pain, so she could finally grow.

“I realize I’m older and I’ve certainly…

sown many oats. If that’s something you need to do before settling down now that you’ve closed this last chapter of your life, I… understand.”

Jaime shifted carefully, testing the pain in her side that faded with each passing day, and gazed back at Anya. “I’ve been in your chambers, Lady A. If anyone can sow my oats, it’s you.”

Anya laughed. “I think the point of oats being sown is variety.”

“I recall a lot of variety in that chamber. Things I’ve never imagined before.

” Jaime reached up, ignoring the slight tugging sensation in the area around her wound, and traced her fingertip over Anya’s eyebrow.

“That’s not who I am, Anya. I want…” Jaime paused, wanting to find the right words without scaring Anya off.

Sharing this space together was one thing, but was Anya ready to share her life with Jaime?

“I want what Max and Rosanna have. I want someone who is there at the end of the day who I can talk to…or not talk to, and will understand. I want someone I can share dinner with night after night, someone to do laundry and dishes with, and someone I can be happy with.” Jaime took a breath as she lowered her hand to Anya’s jaw and held it in her palm.

“Someone to make love to whenever and wherever the mood strikes us…and have it feeling just as exciting and incredible as the first time, but also familiar and comforting.” She leaned in and kissed Anya, one hand soothing her thigh. “I just…I want you.”

Anya was stunned by Jaime’s unguarded honesty and equally as shocked by her own reaction to everything Jaime had just said.

She envisioned herself and Jaime doing all of that…

and more. “Oh,” Anya said finally. Yeah, she wanted what Jaime did, but where was the fun in making it easy?

“Is that all?” She couldn’t hold the mischievous grin at bay for long, especially when Jaime’s face was the picture of confusion.

“That’s not nice,” Jaime laughed, then stopped abruptly. “Wait. Does that mean…?”

“That I want what you do?” Anya tucked her legs under her and took Jaime’s hands.

“I think I could get used to having an actual human being living here with me. Everything you said sounds wonderful. Do I think we’re there, yet?

I don’t know, but I’m willing to test it.

I could give you a couple of drawers. Maybe even half of the closet.

You can stop living out of your suitcase and see how it feels for you to live here and not just recover here. ”

“Whoa. Half of the whole closet? That’s serious! I didn’t even get that in my own apartment!” Jaime teased, but inside, her heart was filled with joy. Was Anya genuinely ready for something so domestic? God, Jaime hoped so.

“Well, I am quite serious about you. Besides, I’m afraid that if I don’t come to some kind of agreement with you to have you here on a more permanent basis, Derek will leave vomit in every other shoe, and I won’t know which one it’ll be.”

Jaime snorted. Anya’s sense of humor never ceased to catch her off guard. It certainly wouldn’t be boring making a home with her. “We can’t have that. So, where do I sign? Or is there a secret handshake?”

“A kiss could seal the deal.”

Jaime frowned. “Oh, um…like on the lips?” She looked around for Derek, scrunching her face up. “I’ve never kissed a cat before. I thought there’d be like a secret paw shake or something.”

“Oh, my God.” Anya picked up a small pillow and smacked Jaime in the face with it.

“Hey! I’m still recuperating here!” Jaime grabbed the pillow and held it out of Anya’s reach. “I don’t think you’re supposed to be beating me with a pillow.”

“Says the woman who wanted me to bring out the flo—”

Jaime pressed her hand to Anya’s mouth. “Hush! Derek is around here somewhere. You can’t be saying those things out loud.”

Anya peeled Jaime’s fingers from her lips. “I can’t say it, but I can do it? Is that the rule?” She chuckled lightly when Jaime shrugged and blushed. “You’re going to be fun, Detective.”

Anya leaned in to seal their deal, only to be rudely interrupted by the buzz of the doorbell.

“I’m going to arrest whoever that is,” Jaime muttered under her breath as she pulled back.

“You’re still on injury leave,” Anya said to her as she reached for her phone. “And isn’t it a good job I’m here to remind you of that?”

“Yeah, well, I’ll just ask Max to arrest them.” She peered over Anya’s shoulder and rolled her eyes at the screen. “What’s she doing back in Reno?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.” Anya clicked the speaker button. “Kate, we’re out back. Come on through the gate.”

“You could have told her we weren’t home.”

Anya shot Jaime a look and disengaged the speaker. “Be nice.”

Jaime rolled her eyes and traced a circle above her head. So what if she still held some animosity towards Anya’s ex? It was a knee-jerk reaction to someone who had seen Anya naked before. Oh, and someone who had betrayed her.

“Mmhmm. Your halo is crooked. It must have gotten stuck on one of your horns.” Anya patted Jaime’s cheek. “Oh, look. Reinforcements are here for you.”

Derek jumped onto the bed and immediately crawled into Jaime’s lap to make biscuits.

Jaime winced as his claws dug into her thighs, but she didn’t dare stop him.

She’d researched why cats do it, and she knew it meant he was happy and comfortable with her or perhaps bonding with her.

Jaime was completely on board with that.

“Hello?”

“Come on back,” Anya called out.

“Or she could go back to where she came from,” Jaime whispered to Derek.

“Meow.”

“Exactly!”