BTW, I have not made any kind of profit in the making, publishing or posting of this story. This is purely for creative purposes.
PLOT: Playwright John Peter's vacation plans went sideways when the country went on Covid-19 lockdown. The girl he literally met by accident is on lockdown with him. How does he avoid cabin fever for 14 days and control the strong attraction he feels for her? (Slow burn, romance, friendship, angst. Might develop into a relationship)
Warning: I use a lot of profanity for this story. There's still some smut here and there.
Note: 1. Pedro Pascal is the inspiration for this story. (Of course) 2. I named her Aize /ayz/ or /eyes/
Chapter Song: I Want You-Robert Palmer (YouTube)
HIDING PLACE FROM HELL
CHAPTER 20
Quarantine Day 5 Part 3
I want you
The right way
I want you
But I want you to want me too
Said I want you to love me
Just like I want you…
- Robert Palmer
I want you…
I stare at her. Did she...? "What…did you…say?" My hands fall at my side in shock and for a few seconds I hold my breath.
"I said…" Aize suddenly felt nervous. Hold on…something is not right, "I…I want you."
"A…." I'm speechless. I never thought I'd hear it.
"Hi!" We both jumped. Capt. Ben Rubio and another man awkwardly stand in the room. "Eh… did we come at a bad time?" the thin man said.
"Dr. Santos...wait please." Aize steps back. "I'll get dressed." She looks up at me, eyes unreadable.
I nod to her. "Call me when you need help." I step out and look back at the door after it clicked shut.
Ben waved me over, "John, this is Dr. Jun Santos…"
"I'm John Peters. Thank you for coming over so fast." Bowing to each other is the new normal of greeting these days.
"Oh…" Dr. Santos' eyes crinkled over his medical mask. "so you're the one, huh?" He looked back at Ben and nodded.
"What happened?" Ben asks urgently.
"Aize was bringing the weapons inside the house…"
"Weapons?" the doctor squeaks, eyes round as saucers behind his black-framed eyeglasses.
"Yeah. She was doing the interview for the new captain…" I point at Ben.
"Ah…really? Are you finally retiring? Is that your final, final, final, decision, captain?" The doctor looks amused. "Retire already. I'm tired of seeing your face." The doctor chuckles.
"Shut up!" Ben waves the joke off. He points back at me, "And then?"
"Aize slipped and fell on the tiles on her back," I rake the damp hair from my eyes. "She was carrying one of the cases and I think the case hit her on the chest. Here." I tap my fingers on my own where Aize clutched her chest.
The doctor winced, "If she could walk and talk it might not be a broken rib but…we'll see." He goes to the bedside table and lay down his bag.
The three of us turned when the door of the bathroom creaked open. Aize gave us a shy smile as she stepped out. I went to her. "You okay?" I reach for her elbow.
"Yeah." Aize steps out, arms crossed.
"Come. Sit here, Aize." Dr. Santos points at the bed. "And you gentlemen…" he gave us a 'go away' wave.
"Ah! Yes." Ben motions me to follow, "John, show me where the guns are."
I sent Aize one last look before I followed Ben and close the door behind me.
She didn't look back.
=O=O=
I had to move fast to catch up to the still spry seventy year old captain. "Wait, Capt. Rubio, watch your step. It's fucking slippery…."
"I will be fine."
We both stop at the top of the short stairs but I look back at the closed door for a moment.
"She's in good hands." He takes my arm as he steps down. "Jun was Ross's doctor. He's very good. Annoying…but very good."
"How long have you been the captain, Capt. Rubio?"
"Call me Ben." Ben grips my arm a little tighter as we navigate the water dotted floor. "Almost forty years. Before that I was in the army." the old man pointed at a side door near the phone. "If you don't mind mopping the floor the mops are in that room. You'll find some cloths in a pack there too. I need them for the weapons."
"Sure." the side door opens to a small room full of mops and other cleaning items. I grab the pack of chamois cloths on a rack. "Sit here. Let me mop first." Ben took the cloths after I help him to the long wooden chair by the phone.
"Time flies. Aize was born in this house…." The old man looks around with some sadness. "I drove the doctor over to deliver her. I was just a simple security guard then but that night I became her godfather. I've been looking after her like she was my firstborn. You understand?" Ben looked at me intently.
Of course I got the message. "I understand, Ben. How was she as a kid?" I open one of the hall way doors which leads to another part of the patio. Twisting the lower handle of the mop, I squeeze the water out to the grass.
"She's one headstrong kid. Happy." Ben sighed, his gravelly voice softer than normal.
"I heard what happened to her family."
Ben nods slow, eyes down, "She was never the same after that. I don't see that kid anymore."
"How did Aize cope?"
"By working hard. Doing things. Always doing things. Doing things hard. I got worried about her for a while."
"Doing what kind of things?"
Ben shakes his head. "Let's just say that I wouldn't have to worry for her physical safety."
I stopped mopping. Ben nodded at my reaction, the old man stands up and patted me on the shoulder. "I will call the boys to clean the guns."
"Uh, okay. I'll clean up in here…"
Ben shook his head. "The boys will do that too." The captain paused. "I need you….to just be there for Aize." He said quietly. "Okay?"
=O=O=
"So, how's married life, Aize?" Dr. Santos leans slightly toward his patient; his stethoscope on Aize's back listening to her breathing.
"Huh?"
Dr. Santos chuckles softly, he glances at where Aize's eyes are at: the door. "How did you meet each other?"
"Oh… "she glances up at him. "Uhm, at the airport."
"How romantic. I think." They chuckled. "Ben said he's a Broadway producer? How nice!"
"Yeah, he is." She points behind her at John's 'organized mess' of a desk by the AC. "He writes his own plays."
"Wow, accomplished, talented and handsome to boot! You look good together. Happy for you." The doctor points at Aize's front as he returns his stethoscope in his bag, "Okay, let's check the injury." He motioned for her to stand.
Rising carefully, Aize rolled the zipper down and parted the hoodie: she didn't wear the bra since she has to show the bruise for examination anyway. She sucked in a breath as the doctor tentatively pressed on the skin.
"Ah! I see it!" Dr. Santos exclaimed excitedly. "It's like a line….it's beginning to redden. I have to push a little hard, okay? Tell me where. " she nods, eyes staring at a point at the wall. "If only we can go to my clinic. You need an x-ray….this damned virus…" the doctor whispers as he carefully pokes around the darkening skin. He placed a hand on her back. "Ah, there! Relax. I'll press just a little more…let's hope it's not broken." She hissed as his fingers move around the area; pressing and rolling over the hematoma. "Okay. We're done." He motioned for her to zip up.
Taking slow breaths to recover from the examination she closed the hoodie front as the doctor removes the medical glove with a snap. "I know it's not broken just bruised."
"It's not broken but maybe a barely hairline fracture." The doctor frowns, hands on hips. "How do you know what a broken rib feels?"
"Uh…" Aize looks at the doctor uneasily.
"When?"
Aize sighed, sitting back down on the bed. "Years ago."
"Huh? When? Why didn't I know about it?"
"It was a long time ago…."
"Long time?" The doctor blinks, thinking. He shot back at her, face shocked.
"Ross." Aize nodded. "He didn't mean it….he..."
Dr. Santos shakes his head, "Don't make excuses for him, Aize. You and Ben are one and the same. Where was I at that time?" The doctor wonders, he sat on the bed facing her.
"You were in the States that time, I think. He didn't want to go to the first rehab. He was high, he pushed me, I hit the steps of the stairs." She shrugged. "Not in here, at the rehab center."
"Was that when you 'stayed' with him at the hospital?"
"Yes, but Ben took me to another hospital."
"I remember that first rehab. Now I get it." The doctor held up a zip lock bag with some pills, "I'll get you some water and you need to take one of these right now. Put some cold pack on the bruise. I'll get that too. No vigorous activity for about a week." He shook a warning finger at her. Taking the medicine pack, Aize blushed madly at the doctor's apologetic shrug. "Sorry." Dr. Santos chuckled at her reaction. He laid a hand on her shoulder, giving it an affectionate squeeze. "I'll be back."
=O=O=
"Done with the exam?" Ben looks up at the doctor, a pile of items beside him on the couch. "Is it a broken rib?"
"Not this time." The doctor drawled. Then he and the captain traded a look. "You didn't tell me the whole story, amigo." Hands on hips the doctor nodded to Ben.
"'Not this time?'" I stop wiping down a rifle. "She had one before? Why?"
"Not now, John." the captain slid a meaningful look towards me. Ben sighed. "What's the diagnosis?"
"Just a hairline fracture; she'll need rest. Avoid vigorous activity, okay?" the doctor raised his brows to me. I didn't know what to say to that.
"Shut up, Jun!" Ben barked at the doctor.
I raise my hand, stopping the two men from sniping at each other, "Back up guys, when did she get a broken rib!"
The doctor looks down at the open cases and the dismantled gun in Ben's hand. "Yeah, you were not kidding when you said weapons."
The fuck with these two! "Hey! When did she get the broken rib?!"
"Ben will explain. I'm here to get some water for her."
"Jun, I think she had something to drink," the captain nodded to the vodka bottle on the coffee table.
"How much did she drink?" the doctor looks at me.
"Maybe two glassfuls?" I scratch my head, "she mixed it."
"How long ago?"
"Two hours? I think."
"Oh, okay." muttering to himself, the doctor heads for the kitchen.
I turn to the captain, "Ben?"
The old man sighed and scratched his head. "Fine."
=O=O=
Aize has a relieved smile as Ben closes the door. "Do you feel better?"
"Yes. Much."
"What happened, huh?"
"I slipped on the tiles, in the fucking patio….one of the cases hit me on the chest…"
"No, Aize." Ben sits beside her. "Not that."
Aize frowns, "Well, what do you wanna know?"
"I want to know what happened in that bathroom." He casually gestures at the room.
"Nothing happened. Don't you believe me?"
"Are you sure?"
"Ben, I thought you trust me?"
"You want him?" This question came out and he hoped that he did not breach a line between him and his ward.
"Yes."
"Does he have feelings for you?"
Aize looks back at Ben. "I don't know."
"What…?"
She shrugged. "I felt it. He got shocked. He's still nice as always but he's distant…" she sighed. "It doesn't matter now. But Ben, you don't need to protect me."
"I promised at your father's grave that I won't let anything happen to you." The old man's eyes mists up. "I already failed with Ross…"
"Stop it. Ross fooled both of us. I am not Ross and his death was not your fault, hear me?" Aize lowered her head on his shoulder. She took his hand in hers squeezing it to comfort his fears. She wraps her other arm around his. "I'm not a kid anymore, Ben."
Ben Rubio closed his eyes and sighed so deep. "So what will happen now?" All he got from Aize was a slow shrug. His nod of understanding made Aize breathe better than the medication from Dr. Santos. "Whatever happens, I'm here." He gave her a gaze full of affection. "You hear me?"
"Ben, I don't want you to think badly of me…" she swept away the tears that rolled down.
He kissed her head. "Never! Kid, I'm the last person who'll think that about you. I know who you are. I helped raise you, remember?" Aize nods on his shoulder. "Don't worry, whatever happens, good or bad, old Ben is not gonna shoot that son of a bitch if that's what you're worried about, okay?"
Aize snorts, "That's good."
=O=O=
"Hey, there." I kneel by the bed, at eye level with Aize's. I reached across but she didn't extend her hand. "The pain's still there?"
"Dull pain only. I'm a little woozy." She looks at me. "How are you?"
I shook my head, "Me?" I raised a brow.
"You were with Ben. Did he threaten you?"
"Ben?" I smirked. "Nah! He's a teddy bear!"
"Exactly. Bear…claws and teeth. He threatened you."
I shake my head, laying my chin on top of my hand on the mattress. "Nah, I'm fine. No claw marks. See?" I lift the other unmarked hand. "Though he chewed my ass about you."
Aize shook her head, "Oh Ben…"
"He's just worried."
"Yeah. He always is. He's the solid wall behind me."
"You're lucky you have him. Hey," I hurriedly stand up. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to my own." Aize swung her legs down the floor, groaning softly. "I'm taking up your bed."
"So what?"
"Where are you gonna sleep?"
"It doesn't matter. I'll sleep on the floor, on the couch…" I shrug…
"Here." Aize pats the bed. "With me…" and I froze where I stand.
"Aize…" I took a shaky breath. She couldn't look at me when she reached for my hand.
"Just…" She gently tugs me, "stay. Please."
I feel my body begin to tremble. "Uh sure… let me take a shower first, okay? My clothes dried up on me. It's getting icky…" I made a face.
"Okay." she nods, eyes down.
"I'll try to make it a quick one, okay?"
She looked up and down again. "Okay." she whispered, a small smile on her lips. "Go get your shower."
I turned around and paused. Is this my answer? She made the first move and….and yes. I took a deep breath. I went to the wardrobe and took some clothes.
Before I closed the bathroom door Aize is still sitting on the bed head down, hands grasp the edge of the bed.
=O=O=
The pain in her chest forced Aize to loosen her clutch on the mattress. Sweeping the locks of dark hair away from her face, the few stragglers floated up at the deep shaky sigh from her lips. Holding her breath, she reached over and grabs the bag of pills from Dr. Santos. She stopped by the bathroom door but she couldn't hear any noise bathing or otherwise.
'Just a quick one…'
Reluctance.
That is what she saw from all his actions; in the bathroom that afternoon and then from his deep sigh of resignation and the despondent fall of his shoulders before he got his clothes.
Ever since she said those three damning words his withdrawal from her was so glaring not to miss. She'll need to find a time machine so she could go back. And when that happens she'll slap that idiot of herself so hard for being such a fool.
Before her quiet footsteps fully take her out of the room Aize gave the room a once over; her eyes teared up.
=O=O=
Robe off. Belt off. Stud snap open. Zipper down. Jeans slide down the hips, the thighs, the legs…Fuck! It was such a relief to finally take my pants off. The dried up jeans is now slightly stiff and itchy. I left my jeans beside Aize's clothes on the counter…I reach out to touch her blouse...
I got a hazy and hot memory of Aize straddling me...ruffling my hair... shit…the way she rained kisses all over me almost made me insane…those luscious lips and amazing tongue burning me…making me hard...
The white blouse….
I dreamed Aize almost half naked on top of me…my head eagerly buried between her breasts...her face...her face flushed in desire...head thrown back….the tips of her dark hair brushing my hands on her back. I gasped her name as I felt myself hardening…I leaned on the counter...that's my dream, right? I know that was my dream.
I see those beautiful lips parted in ecstasy as I play with her breasts with my hands and with my lips; the moans and the gasps that she made as I nibble and lick and lap on the hardness of her nipples, that silky softness of the underside of her breasts….my mouth wanting to take her all in... I hear her whisper to give her more…suck her nipples harder, her hands guiding my head where she wants my tongue to worship her…she never had to ask twice.
It feels real…the way the two of us lock in a tight embrace as our hips move in that slow sensuous beat…my hips thrusting against her and hers meeting mine…her slim thighs wrapped around me…the heat between her legs…
That was my dream…it was a dream, right? Right?
Now I'm not so sure…dream or for real? I could still feel her skin, smell the scent of her perfume...I remember…
Remember?
The white blouse...I reach for her top…the buttons were askew...that I remember. When she was running, when she woke me up..? The buttons were skewed!
I brought Aize's white blouse to my nose...my cologne...on the front…. Shit!
I raked an unsteady hand through my hair. Fuck!
Did we have sex?
=O=O=