Chapter 19

Deja woke up the next morning to find Mort in bed with her. Her sleep must've been so deep that she didn't even feel him entering the bed. Even though the events of the day before still lingered in the back of her mind, she was glad Mort was there with her. She found it strange how the man that frightened her so much not even 24 hours ago, could still give her such a sense of security. Mort was definitely special.

She laid there just staring at him. His dirty blonde hair was tousled and he was still completely dressed. Shoes and all. She smiled as she thought about waking him with kisses. Just as she leaned towards him, he opened his eyes.

"Morning..." he yawned.

"Morning to you too," she replied.

He turned his head in her direction. "Feeling any better?"

"Yeah, a little..." she honestly answered.

"So were you able to make any sense of what happened yesterday?"

"I think so. Do you mind if we talk about it?" Deja really wanted to tell Mort about her past. Even if it meant opening up some old wounds.

He sat up, leaning his back against the headboard, giving Deja his undivided attention. She was a bit hesitant, but after letting out a long sigh she retold the story of her trip to Waverly County Mental Institution.

Mort was in total shock. He didn't know what to say. He thought Deja was so brave for telling him the details of her background. He leaned over and gave her the most heartfelt hug he'd ever given. He was grateful to her for being so honest with him.

"Thank you," he said, continuing to hold her in his arms.

Deja wasn't sure why, but at that moment she began to cry. She couldn't hold back anymore, she just wept and wept.Thankfully Mort was there to support her.

Finally, Deja looked Mort in the eyes and told him she was worried that the events of the last day were scaring her. She was afraid her past was coming back to haunt her.

"Deja, it was incredibly audacious of you to tell me all this. If there's something going on inside of you...a struggle if you will...just know that I plan on being there for you," Mort replied sincerely. He hated to see her in so much pain. If he could do anything to help her he would.

"I needed to hear that," she told Mort. And with that she leaned over and embraced him. Turning her head slightly she began to kiss Mort heatedly. The only thought on her mind was the taste of Mort's mouth on hers. She needed that, simple thoughts.

They finally broke the kiss, deciding it was time to get up and get ready. Mort suggested Deja take a nice long bath and relax. He'd be the perfect boyfriend and fill the tub for her and wash her if needed. She happily agreed.

After pouring in a few capfuls of bubble bath into the running water, Mort called Deja in. She walked into the bathroom with nothing but a towel on. After the tub was filled to capacity, Mort told Deja to get in. She let the towel drop to the floor as she entered the hot water.

Her hair was pinned up so it wouldn't get wet. She leaned completely back in the tub, letting the water engulf her. Mort seemed shy all of a sudden. It's not like he hadn't seen her in the nude before, but I guess this was different. He was totally clothed and she wasn't. She should've been the uncomfortable one, but it was him instead.

Deja closed her eyes and let her body unwind. Mort picked up the sponge, lying on the rim of the tub, submerged it into the water and began to wash Deja's body. He enjoyed watching her body react to his touches. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to feel her lips on his, but now wasn't the time. She needed to be completely relaxed.

Just then she sat up, giving Mort access to her back. He began running a trail from the nape of her neck to the small of her back with sponge. She let out a deep sigh. Just then Mort couldn't hold back anymore. He leaned over the tub and began placing small kisses on her shoulder. Deja was enjoying his advances. She leaned back against the tub once more so that she could look Mort in the eyes. He knelt down on the floor, dropped the sponge into the water and rubbed his right hand through her hair. His left hand was kept steady on the rim of the tub to keep him from falling in.

Their kisses intensified and Mort couldn't hold back any longer. He lifted himself up and proceeded to enter the tub. "What are you doing?" Deja asked worriedly.

"Getting in," Mort said with a sly smile. Deja began to giggle, "You're crazy."

"That makes two of us," he said as he winked at her.

Mort was completely inundated by the water and it began to flow over the edge of the bath tub. He began to kiss Deja with even more fervor. Her soft, wet skin underneath his body was turning him on more than he could have imagined.

She wrapped her legs around his body and pulled him closer to her. She could feel his want for her intensify. She had to have him right then and there. She began to feverishly pull at his clothes, making every attempt to remove them from his body. Noticing what she was doing, Mort got to work on the elimination of his raiments.

Once all of his things were lying, soaking wet on the floor next to them, Mort entered Deja with lust and passion on his mind. Feeling her warmth he wanted to explode. Looking deeply into her dark brown eyes, and continuing to thrust himself into her, he finally erupted. They were both spent and Mort's body had gone completely limp. He just lay there with his head resting on her chest, cradling her. Deja placed her chin on top of his head and traced her fingers across his back. This was the man she would be with forever, she thought to herself. She had told him about her past and he still loved her for it. She could never imagine Mort not being in her life.

After finishing their bath, Deja and Mort decided to take a walk together. They got dressed, had some cereal, and walked out the door. It was around 12 in the afternoon and the sun was beaming down onto them.

They had been walking for about 15 minutes when Mort suddenly stopped. "What's wrong?" Deja asked.

"Nothing," he paused, "Can I ask you something? It's kind of serious..."

"Sure," Deja was curious as to what Mort had to say.

He leaned against a tree that was near the path they were walking. "What if I asked you to move in with me...here...permanently..."

Deja began to laugh. "You're not serious are you?"

"As a heart attack," he let out a nervous laugh.

"Mort, I have a house...and bills...and two jobs..." Deja was flabbergasted.

"Well, I was thinking you could quit your jobs and sell your house."

"Quit my jobs? How am I supposed to pay my bills?" she asked.

"Well, I was thinking that until you sell the house, I could take care of your bills for you." Mort was too afraid to look into Deja's eyes. He didn't want to be rejected.

"And where supposedly are you gonna get all this money from?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Everything finally got settled with the burning down of my house. It took so long because Amy's parents were fighting me for the insurance money. Basically because she and I were in the middle of a divorce. But because I was still the legal owner of the house, and the cause was never determined the insurance company finally handed over the check to me. It happened a few months back. I wasn't sure what I'd do with all that cash, but spending this week here with you let's me know that I should use it for us."

"Wow," Deja was caught off guard. "So you'd just want me to hang around the cabin all year long with you?"

"Well, I figure I'll still keep my house in Datenville, that way we can go back and forth. And maybe you can get some part time work here in Tashmore Lake, only if you want of course, and that would be that."

"And what about the profit from my house, if I were to sell it?"

"Well, it's your house so that money would all be yours. Maybe you could use it for tuition, to go back to school..."

She couldn't believe Mort still remembered her telling him her desires to go back to school. She hadn't mentioned it a lot, but it was enough for him to bring it up. "Let me think about it, okay?" This was a big decision and something she needed to really think about.

"No pressure. I just want to be with you night and day and I figure this is the best way to do that." With that he walked over to her and placed a sweet, delicate kiss on her cheek.

Deja had been off in her world since they returned to the cabin. Mort decided to take a nap, before going back to work on his novel. Deja went outside to the porch and immersed herself in her thoughts.

True enough, she loved Mort. But was she really ready to move in with him permanently? The last time she moved in with a man, things went horribly wrong. But Mort and Darrell were two different people. Deja began to silently pray and ask God to guide her in this decision. She wasn't a particularly religious person, but whenever she had tough decisions to make she depended upon Him to lead her in the right direction.

She continued to sit there and stare out at the lake. She began to picture herself and Mort there. The things they could do there with one another. The location would be perfect for a wedding. And a family. Deja'd always dreamed of having three kids and a dog. That was the perfect dream life for her. Mort was trying to provide that for her and although she was hesitant she felt like she knew what decision she had to make.

She decided to wait another day or so before telling Mort of her choice. She wanted to be positively sure. In her mind, once the decision was made, there was no going back.

They spent the rest of that day on their own. Mort was cooped up with his computer and Deja watched a Chapelle's Show marathon. That show always made her laugh and put her in a good mood. After the marathon had ended, she looked at the clock and saw that it was already 10 pm. She couldn't believe how the day had gotten away from them so quickly.

She headed up the stairs and stopped next to Mort. "You've been working on that thing all day, you must be tired."

"Actually, I'm not," he went on, "I've been on a roll all day. The words have just been flowing from my mind to this screen," he said, pointing at the computer. "I think I'm gonna try to keep going until I either fall asleep or get writer's block. Whichever comes first." He smiled at her.

"Well, I'm beat. So I'm gonna turn in, but before I do I need to tell you something," she said.

"What's that?"

"Yes," she simply stated.

"Yes?" Mort was confused, "Did I ask you a question?"

"Have you forgotten already?" She loved playing games with him.

He sat there for a moment and pondered over what Deja was talking about. Then it hit him. His eyes lit up and an enormous smile took over his face. "Yes? Really?"

"Yes," Deja said, smiling. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her on top of his lap.

"Let me make sure we're talking about the same thing..." he said, laughing. "You're going to move in here...with me...permanently?"

"Yes! Don't make me say it again or I might change my mind," she laughed.

"You've just made me the happiest man in America...no, take that back...the universe!" He leaned forward and gave Deja playful kisses all over her face. She could feel his heart racing as his chest was pressed against hers.

"Well, Mr. Rainey," she said, as she got up from his lap, "I'm going to let you get back to your story and I'm gonna go to bed."

"Sweet dreams," he whispered to her.

"Oh, they will be," she said winking at him.