Getting To Know You
Chapter 11
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Previously: After some fun in the sun, Jed stunned Abbey by telling her he loved her; Abbey returned the sentiment
Summary: Jed and Abbey explore their newly admitted feelings
With those sweet words, Jed and Abbey entered a new phase in their relationship. Neither had ever felt so strongly about another human being. The mutual love that flowed between them made the moment special and endearing, overwhelming in a way, but certainly exciting.
Abbey ran towards the bathroom when they returned that evening. She carried with her a towel and a pile of dry clothes in her left arm, which Jed properly discarded as he grabbed her right wrist. "I'll dry you off."
She handed him the towel, shaking as he began to use it to massage her neck and bikini-covered breasts. He turned her around and gathered her hair in his palm to dry off her shoulders. He followed a path down her spine, past her rear and to the backs of her thighs and knees, her calves and her ankles, soaking up the drops of water that glistened on her moist skin.
He carelessly threw the towel onto the bed and replaced it with his hands, squeezing her tense muscles and applying a few warm kisses to soothe her as his kneading led to a more intimate exploration of her half-naked form.
Abbey turned around to face him. He looked at her with a silent question dancing in his eyes. She knew what he was asking, what he was longing for. They had never consummated their relationship and every day that went by, it became harder to fight the urges stirring inside. Not just or Jed, but for Abbey too. This was new territory. She had never before felt the fiery passion she felt with Jed, never experienced the myriad of sensations brought on by a simple kiss or a touch along her back. It was different. It was nice.
She nodded her head and walked over to the bed, sitting on the edge and scooting herself towards the pillow. She lay back, pulling him on top of her as they melted into a steamy kiss. Their lips pressed into one another as their tongues mingled for several minutes. Then, Jed pulled away.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing. Just stay there and hold on. Don't go anywhere." His fingers trembling, he rummaged frantically inside his duffel bag.
"Jed?"
"I'll be right there, Abbey." Like a man on a desperate rampage, he grabbed every article of clothing and clumsily tossed it into a heaping pile beside him. "Damn it!"
"What's the matter?"
He looked up, mentally exhausted. "I can't believe it."
"Jed, what's wrong?"
"I forgot to bring...you know." He trailed off, waiting for her to grasp the enormity of the situation, but beating her to it with his own frustration. "The condoms! I forgot to bring the condoms! I had them in my bag, but it was too full so I had to repack. I guess I left them at home."
Abbey curled her lips inside her mouth and stared down at her still quivering body, lying on top of the mattress. They both knew what this meant.
"It's okay. The drug store will be open tomorrow."
Jed waved his hand at her statement and crawled on top of her once again, nuzzling his warm mouth up to her neck, nipping lightly, just the way she liked it. "Just this once, it'll be okay."
"Jed, we can't." She reluctantly turned against him.
Panting, he climbed off her and sat up beside her. "I know. I'm sorry."
She rolled over, taking his hand in a comforting gesture, pressing her lips to his knuckles. "It's okay."
Jed closed his eyes and enjoyed feeling her warmth. Even that was enough to get him going. "Abbey, please. Don't tempt me right now."
There was a certain bit of arrogance that came from knowing her touch could do such incredible things to him. "Okay. But just one more thing?"
"Of course."
"I bet you wouldn't have forgotten the condoms if you had brought a larger bag."
Unamused, Jed shot her a humorless glare as he rose to his feet to cool himself off. Abbey followed his lead, jumping out of bed then reaching down into her own suitcase and pulling out an unopened box of condoms.
"Abbey!" Jed's juices were flowing once again as a spark of excitement took hold of his emotions.
He reached up to grab them, but she held them out of his grasp. "Uh uh. You said that you wouldn't come running to me if you realized you forgot something. Remember that? You said that anything you needed was in that little bag and that if it wasn't in there, then you didn't really need it."
"This isn't the time to play games."
"I'm not playing. I'll give them to you, but first, I want to hear the words."
"What words?"
He would learn quickly that Abbey could be quite playful when she wanted to be. "'You were right, Abigail. I shouldn't have harped on you about your suitcase.' Say it and you can have them."
"You've got a real mean streak in you."
"Jed."
The admission would be his only salvation. With his jaw clenched, he surrendered. "Fine. You were right, Abigail. I shouldn't have harped on you about your suitcase."
She overlooked his mocking tone and grinned, handing him the box. Just as Jed ripped it open and began to handle one of the foil wrappers, they heard a knock at the door. Abbey rushed to cover herself with her towel while Jed answered.
"Hi. Did you guys happen to pack a first aid kit of any kind?" Millie asked. "Steve has a stomach bug."
"There's a hospital like two miles away," Jed suggested in an attempt to rush Millie out of their room.
"JED!" Abbey admonished. "I'm sorry he's sick, Millie. Let me see what I brought." She leaned over her suitcase and pulled out a makeup bag filled to the hilt with over-the-counter medicine.
Abbey was obviously more concerned than he was. "Jed!" She turned back to face her friend. "I'm sorry he's sick. Let me see what I brought." She walked over to her suitcase and pulled out a bag full of over-the-counter medicine.
"You know, if we wanted, I bet we could open our very own pharmacy on the island," Jed teased.
Abbey ignored him and addressed Millie instead. "Let's go check on him."
"Abbey."
"I'll be back, Jed. Steve needs me."
Abbey ushered Millie out of the room while Jed collapsed on the bed and made himself comfortable.
TBC