Loving Lauren (20 page)

She felt as if she were falling backwards. Opening her eyes, she realized Chase was laying her down on the bed from their kneeling position. He quickly pulled her bottoms all the way off, then came over her as his thighs spread her legs wider. She watched as he leaned over and took a condom from the table and ripped the package opened. She'd never seen one before and she couldn't help but wonder how that small disk was going to fit over the length of him.

Then he rolled it on like an expert, and she smiled as he pulled her legs up closer to him. “Hang on to me,” he said, then leaned in and started kissing her again. She was so lost in what his mouth was doing to her that when he slid in, she forgot that it was meant to hurt at first. Everything felt so good and when he did quickly breach her maidenhead, she barely felt anything except pleasure.

Her hands gripped his hips, helping him move more quickly. With each thrust, her breath hitched. Her eyes flew open as she watched his face hovering over hers.

His brown eyes seemed to sparkle in the candlelight, and he had a slight smile on his lips until she grabbed his head and pulled him back to her lips.

“You feel so good,” she moaned into his ear.

“Oh, god,” he said, then his motions changed. He took her left leg and hiked it higher next to his chest. His thrusts grew stronger and longer until she too closed her eyes and was lost in the motion.

When he reached down and placed a fingertip on the sensitive skin between them, lights exploded behind her eyes and she cried out his name just as he stilled above her.

He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips and said her name before crushing her with his full weight.

Lauren woke several hours later. Chase had moved to the side and had tucked her into his body. There was a thick blanket over them and she realized she was itching like crazy. Tossing the blanket off, she wished for a light to see why she couldn't stop itching.

“Oh, god,” she said, causing Chase to jolt from the bed.

“What?” It was dark, but she heard him bang into something. “Son of a...” Then she heard him walking slowly towards the light switch. The dim light flooded the room and she squealed.

Large red welts covered her body and she couldn't stop itching.

“What the hell?” He rushed over to her.

“Wool.” She pointed to the blanket. “I'm allergic to that thing. That's why it was out here in the first place.” She continued to scratch.

“Don't. Scratching only makes it worse.” He took her wrists and pulled them away from her body.

“Help me. It itches so bad. I need a shower. I need my lotion.” She used her chin to scratch her shoulder. “I need to scratch.” She tried to tug her hands free as he laughed at her.

“It's not that bad.” When she glared at him, he laughed more. “Well, it's not. I've seen worse. I guess you can't go prancing around like this. If I let your hands lose, will you promise me you won't scratch?”

“I make no promises.” She glared at him and tugged on her wrists.

“Fine.” He leaned down and picked her up and started walking towards the door, her wrists still trapped in his other hand.

“Wait, Chase. What are you doing?” she cried, trying to break free of his hold.

“Well, since you won't stop scratching, I guess I'll just have to carry you to the house like this.” She stilled and looked down at them. They were both as they'd come into the world, completely naked. She thought of what her sisters would think if he walked into the house. Naked. Carrying her. Naked.

“Fine, I promise,” she said between gritted teeth.

He nodded and set her down, still holding her wrists. Putting her chin up, she waited until he released her. Her hands went to her sides and it took all her control not to start scratching.

She closed her eyes and thought about last night and what they'd done, to keep her mind off the itching. She could hear him rummaging around, then finally her shirt was deposited over her head.

“Here, step into these.” She opened her eyes and held onto his shoulders as she stepped into her PJ bottoms. He was completely dressed, down to his boots. When she'd gotten the bottoms on, he picked her back up.

“We'll worry about the rest later. Let's get you into a bath with some salts first.” He hit the light switch with his elbow and shut the door with his foot as they left the shelter.

The sun was just coming up when he marched into the kitchen, carrying her. Thankfully, no one was awake yet.

“Where's your room?” He took the stairs two at a time.

“Last door on the left,” she whispered. “Hurry.”

Her room was the largest in the house and had been her parents’ room. It had taken her almost five years to finally move into it. Every time she thought about moving in, she would back down. It wasn't until Alex started moving her things into the room that she had finally put her foot down and moved her things in. Alex had quickly and quietly moved into Lauren's old room without complaint. Haley was still in her childhood bedroom and, to Lauren’s knowledge, was content.

Chase set her down and when she opened her eyes, she realized she was in the bathroom. He was leaning over the tub, putting the stopper in. Then he switched on the water, testing the warmth.

“It takes a few minutes to get warm,” she said.

“Utt, utt,” he said, looking over at her. She hadn't realized she had started scratching again. Her hands fell to her sides and she tried to think of anything that would take her mind off the itching.

“Do you have any Epsom salt?”

She nodded and pointed to the sink, then tried to focus on something else. Looking around the large bathroom, she thought of all the things she'd like to fix once she could afford it. The old claw bathtub was still in great condition. The stand-alone shower looked new with fresh tile and faucets. But the sink and toilet had to go. She hated the seventies green. Maybe some new paint throughout the entire place?

“Here.” He took her hands and pulled her to her feet. “Let's get you into the tub.” He pulled her shirt over her head and gasped when he saw the large white and red welts covering her skin.

“I know. It sucks, huh?” She looked down at herself and frowned. The welts were a lot bigger now.

“It's okay, we’ll get you all fixed up.” He helped her pull off her bottoms and then walked her over to the tub.

The hot water had almost steamed the room completely. She knew that her sisters wouldn't have hot water for at least a few hours. But then again, they probably wouldn't be up until the water heater was full again. She knew Alex didn't work on Fridays and Haley was hardly ever up this early, but still she tried not to make too much noise as she slid into the warm bath.

It took a few seconds for the salts to start soothing the itch that covered every inch of her body. Finally feeling better, she rested her head back against the ledge and sighed with relief. Chase sat next to her, watching. He leaned over and took a washcloth from the low shelf and dipped it into the warm water, then started running it gently over her skin.

“This should start making your welts go down.” He frowned as he looked at her skin. It wasn't the first time that blanket or another one like it had caused her grief. The first time she remembered seeing her skin welt up was when she was five. Her father had found her fast asleep in the barn, cuddled up to the new colt she'd watched being born earlier that day. Her father had grabbed a horse blanket and had tried to keep her warm as she slept in the soft hay. She'd woken a few hours later, her hands and arms covered with the welts. She'd cried so hard and had associated the pain with sleeping in the hay. It had taken her years to even touch hay after that. Finally, they had found out what had caused the welts when she'd gone on a picnic with her sisters. Alex had spread out a large horse blanket and they'd lain on it wearing nothing but their swimsuits in the warm spring sun. Lauren had started itching five minutes later and had rushed home completely covered in sores.

Looking down at her body, she realized this was the worst it had ever been. She must have lain under that blanket, asleep in glorious bliss, for hours. Looking down at her hands, she realized they were two times their regular size.

“Okay, I didn't want to freak you out,” he said, still moving the washcloth over her arms. “But I think we need to get you down to the clinic.” He stood up and grabbed her large white robe. “The swelling is getting worse.”

She shook her head. “I have some pills. In the medicine cabinet.” She leaned her head back and listed to him rifling around her medicine cabinet.

“Here.” When she opened her eyes he was leaning down, a small pink pill and a glass of water in his hands a glass of water.

After she swallowed the pill, there was a knock on the bathroom door.

Lauren quickly put her fingers to her lips, signaling Chase to be quiet. “What?” she called out.

“You used all the hot water,” Alex complained from the other side of the locked door.

“I'm sorry. I needed a bath.” She closed her eyes and groaned when her sister started in on a long line of complaints. It was an old routine that they'd been through hundreds of times. She was shocked when she heard the door open, and her sister's complaints quickly dropped off.

“It's my fault,” Chase said, quickly. “I covered her with the blanket she's allergic to in the shelter.” He motioned towards her. “She's covered in welts.”

“Oh!” Alex rushed in and looked down at her sister's red swollen skin. “Lauren! I'm so sorry. It's my fault, really.” She turned towards Chase. “I'm the one that didn't want to toss that blanket out. Sentimental reasons. Are you alright?”

Lauren nodded her head and wished she was anywhere but lying naked in front of Chase and her sister at the moment.

“I'm marching down there right now and getting rid of that old thing.” Her sister quickly left the room.

Chase locked the door behind her and leaned back against the door.

“Why?” She looked at him. “Why did you do that?”

He smiled a little. “It was better than listening to her complain for a few hours.” He started walking towards her, removing his shirt as he went. She couldn't stop herself from enjoying the slow striptease he did as he walked towards her. By the time he reached the edge of the tub, he was standing in front of her completely and gloriously naked.

“Scoot up.” He motioned towards the head of the tub.

She chuckled. “There isn't enough room in this thing for two.”

“Wanna bet?” He smiled and her mouth went dry.

She scooted up and watched him grab the edge of the tub and slowly lower himself in the water. “Here, put your legs over mine.” It took them a few minutes to get settled, during which time Lauren giggled more than she had in years. Finally, they settled with her legs over his as they faced each other. He picked up the washcloth again and dumped some of her shampoo into it and his hands, then began to slowly rub her skin.

The extra-strength Benadryl had started working and her head was feeling a little fuzzy. She leaned back as he washed her itchy skin.

“Feeling better?” His voice was low.

“Mmmm.” She nodded, then dropped her head back against the high edge.

He took his time, running the cloth slowly over every inch of her. She knew he was enjoying it as much as she was and by the time he stood up, he could see that her skin was starting to go back to its normal size and color again.

“Here.” He handed her a towel after wrapping one around his hips. “I'll make you some breakfast. You need to rest a little.” He gathered her up after she stood, then carried her to her bed and laid her down gently.

“You don't have to.” She leaned back against her soft pillows and yawned.

“You really needed some food in your stomach before you took the pill. I'll just make you some toast and eggs.”